Thanks for reading my blog!
Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’
Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon
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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.
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Current Moon Phase: Waxing Moon
Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)
Goddess Aspect: Maiden
Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona
Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiration, Energy, Vitality, Freedom. Workings For “Constructive” Magick (Love, Wealth, Success, Courage, Friendship, Luck Or Health.)
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What’s Happening In August?!?
Goddess Month of Month of Kerea runs from 7/11 – 8/8
Celtic Tree Calendar Month ~ August 5th to September 1st – Hazel
Herb of the Year for 2022: Viola (violet, heartsease) named by the International Herb Association
Flower of the Month for August: Gladiolus
August is National Watermelon Month
AUG. 6: Celtic Fire Festival of Tan Hill.
AUG. 9: Druid Feast of the Fire Spirits
AUG. 9: Roman Vinalia Rustica: Wine festival of Venus and Pan
AUG. 12: Full Sturgeon Moon
AUG. 13: Pomona is the Roman Gddess of Apples and Orchards
AUG. 17: National Black Cat Day
AUG. 23: Roman Festival of Vulcanalia
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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Aug 7
Witchy Wednesday! 5 PM – 7 PM Aug 10, 17, 24, 31
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Aug 14
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Aug 21
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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com
The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.
Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord
You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html
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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!
There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!
During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.
I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!
There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.
For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html
The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Earth Signs and Omens in Nature Course
Learn to read the mysteries of nature! The course covers signs and omens, communication, seasonal rites, trees and shrubs, flowers, plants and weeds, herbs, plant magick, the Guardians of Nature and much more.
http://goddessschool.com/courses/earthsigns/index.html
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com
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The Goddess School Grimoire
http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25
The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.
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Druids Garden
21st Century Wheel of the Year
by DANA
Many of us are now going deeper into the experience of climate extremes. In the summer months here in the US, we are experiencing heat, lack of rain, and drought-like conditions. It is hotter and drier, and that creates stress on plants, animals, and the land. Cracks appear in the earth, plants wilt and wither away, and stream beds dry up. And then, after enduring these conditions, it rains. Even a little rain in these hot and dry conditions is a blessing. You run in it, dance in it, frolick in the rains that bring life back to the land. You raise your hands to the sky, allowing the cool drops to fall on your face, running down your arms. You hear the land breathe a sigh of relief, and the petrichor (the smell of the rain hitting the land) fills the air. This kind of experience fills you with reverence for the rain and the living earth. This kind of experience–an experience of scarcity–is part of what creates deep reverence.
Today’s post–the final in my 21st Century Wheel of the Year series, focuses on practicing reverence at Lughnasadh. The series began almost a year ago, and we’ve gone the whole wheel around, exploring key concepts, rituals, practices, and spiritual insights for how to adapt the traditional wheel of the year to the age of the Anthropocene. These themes are:
Receptivity at the Fall Equinox
Release at Samhain
Restoration at the Winter Solstice
Reskilling at Imbolc
Resilence at the Spring Equinox
Regeneration at Beltane
Revisioning at the Summer Solstice
Reverence at Lughnasadh (this post!)
As we continue to deepen our descent into the age of the Anthropocene, these themes–and many more–will be critically important to find our balance, grounding, and focus.
Reverence
Reverence is the practice of deep respect, which includes gratitude, honoring, and reciprocation. To revere something is to hold that thing sacred–recognizing its deep and intrinsic value–and allowing us respectful interaction and experience. For those practicing nature spirituality, reverence towards the earth and everything on it is often a natural extension of our philosophy. For many, reverence is something you deepen over time, a practice that continues to grow the more you connect with the living earth both physically and spiritually. I also think that reverence is a big part of building deep connections between ourselves and the living earth. Part of a foundation of connection is founded on mutual respect and honor. But, reverence is also something we can work to practice and make a focal point of our lives.
Reverence is a particularly salient theme at Lughnasadh, which has traditionally been considered the “first harvest” festival. The act of harvest is also an act of gratitude–being grateful for the bounty that the earth and the plants provide. For those that continue to grow their own food, engage in wild food foraging, or participate in other kinds of harvests–the gratitude that you experience as you gather nourishing food from the earth is palatable. Even those of us who do not participate in these activities at present can still work to directly cultivate reverence towards the living earth in our lives. Regardless of our life circumstances, focusing on reverence, respect, and gratitude at this holiday is a great way to attune ourselves with the energy of the season and re-affirm our relationship to the land.
One of the big things missing culturally is reverence. If we had reverence for the earth, would the earth be in such peril? If we had reverence for things coming from the earth, would we consume much less of it? In the age of the Anthropocene, reverence and gratitude is in extremely short supply, where it seems that an over-abundance of stuff, input, and things demanding our attention and energy pushes us in very different directions. It is hard to have reverence when you are literally bombarded at all times by too much stuff and an overabundance of media–it makes us a bit numb to the things that ARE important. We are drowning in waste, in stuff, and that can create a sense of feeling overwhelmed rather than grateful. That’s why I started this post with a discussion of rain after a drought–because experiencing the rain after weeks or months of no rain is a lesson in gratitude. Scarcity creates a kind of natural respect in us, it creates gratitude and reverence. When we have the opposite of scarcity–a world full of meaningless stuff–its hard to practice reverence.
But the other part of why reverence is important deals with the age of the Anthropocene and how we navigate these difficult times. Reverence is a balm to the numbness and apathy of the present age–it helps us connect, stay focused, and ground. It reminds us of what is important and what is not, and allows us to focus our attention on the things that are truly important. And of course, it provides a very necessary balm to our living earth and her spirits who are very much in peril.
Reverence, Offerings, and the Harvest
One of the most fundamental practices of reverence throughout the ages is through offerings. In cultures across the world, offerings are made surrounding the harvest season–often, this offering is a portion of the harvest that is returned to the land in gratitude. Offerings may also be made at other times of year, such as the offering of apple cider during wassailing in January.
I find that it is a useful practice to regularly reflect on what you want to offer. Offerings vary quite widely by person and tradition, and can be symbolic, energetic, or physical.. I’ve long argued that while symbolic offerings are important, offerings of time and physical energy are most useful in an age where nature needs so much help from us.
Symbolic offerings include things like an herbal offering blend (see more below), wine, water, cider, cakes, a pinch of cornmeal, or other such offerings. Symbolic offerings can help habituate you into a regular reverence practice (especially if you carry an offering back with you)
Energetic offerings allow you to “give back” energetically by raising and directing energy to benefit the land. These might be rituals, prayers, sacred song and dance, drumming and music, or any other ways that we raise and direct energy.
Physical offerings are when you donate your time and energy to restoring, healing, and supporting the earth. This might include river cleanup, tree planting, or removing invasive species by hand.
It is useful to meditate and reflect on the kinds of offerings you make and try to make some offerings that fit in all three categories. I have also found it easier to move beyond reverence practices as a simple 1-1 relationship. What I mean by 1-1 is that I find some woodland nettle in the woods, and I want to pick some. So I ask permission, and when the woodland nettle agrees, I offer gratitude and an offering for the harvest. That’s a simple reverence practice–I want something so I offer gratitude. While it is important to do this, it is more connected if you develop a longer relationship with the larger spirit of woodland nettle–returning later in the season to scatter seeds, to spend time with the plant outside of the relationship of harvest, and to learn from the plant–to cultivate relationship. I see reverence and sacred relationship as intertwined in these ways.
Conclusion
It’s hard to believe that this series wraps up with this post–but now, we have the full 21st-century wheel of the year with new themes for this present age–and to help us envision and bring about a brighter future. Now that we’ve come the full way around the wheel, I’d love to hear how this alternative wheel of the year has worked for you. Do you resonate with it? Did you try any of the practices? Do you see concepts that perhaps we should explore next?
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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day
Questions and Answers
AUGUST 07, 2022 BY DEBORAH BLAKE
Sometimes it’s handy to be able to get a quick answer to a pressing question. If you don’t have the time (or the inclination) to do a major tarot reading, here are a few fast ways to get simple answers—usually along the lines of “yes,” “no,” or “sorry, no answer.”
Make sure your question is clear in your head; for instance, “Should I take this trip?” Then pull one tarot card, or one card from an oracle deck that lends itself to that kind of use. If the answer isn’t obvious (the Chariot would be “yes” and the Tower would be “no”), listen to your gut. You can also pull one rune stone (Raidho would be “yes” and Isa would be “no”). Or you can use a pendulum, which is best for simple answers. If you want, say:
Divination, tell me true,
what it is that I should do.
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Restful Sleep Spell
AUGUST 06, 2022 BY ARI MANKEY
Long days and too much to do can make falling asleep during the summer a real struggle. Luckily a little magick can go a long way toward getting a full night’s sleep. For this spell you’ll need a small piece of moonstone. Once you get into bed, hold the moonstone in your dominant hand and say:
I now breathe away the
remains of the day,
In blissful sleep and
contentment I will lay.
May the piece of moon I
hold in my hand
Take me to peaceful slumber’s lands.
Take three deep breaths. As you exhale each time, imagine all the worries of the day being removed from your body and pushed away. When you are done, place the moonstone under your pillow so that its power can aid your sleep and protect you from any bad dreams.
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Restful Sleep Spell
AUGUST 06, 2022 BY ARI MANKEY
Long days and too much to do can make falling asleep during the summer a real struggle. Luckily a little magick can go a long way toward getting a full night’s sleep. For this spell you’ll need a small piece of moonstone. Once you get into bed, hold the moonstone in your dominant hand and say:
I now breathe away the
remains of the day,
In blissful sleep and
contentment I will lay.
May the piece of moon I
hold in my hand
Take me to peaceful slumber’s lands.
Take three deep breaths. As you exhale each time, imagine all the worries of the day being removed from your body and pushed away. When you are done, place the moonstone under your pillow so that its power can aid your sleep and protect you from any bad dreams.
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The Spirit of Money
AUGUST 05, 2022 BY MELISSA TIPTON
Many of us have absorbed toxic messages about money, and going directly to the source—the spirit of Money—can be a powerful way of breaking free from destructive patterns.
Light a green candle on a heatproof surface, gaze softly at the flame, then close your eyes, coming into a meditative state. Call upon the spirit of Money. If you have a specific concern, you can ask how to heal this issue. Or request more general guidance on how to improve your relationship to Money. When done, snuff out the candle with gratitude.
Money is closely tied to the energy of exchange and flow, so it’s quite common for Money to advise action that requires you to put energy in motion. This could be anything from donating old clothes, surprising a friend with home-baked goodies, or gratefully receiving a compliment.
If you feel called, continue seeking Money’s guidance to maintain this open channel of giving and receiving.
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Seeking Wisdom
AUGUST 04, 2022 BY CHARLYNN WALLS
Today is the Double Seventh Festival in China. It is traditionally a time when Chinese girls go to local temples in order to seek wisdom. We can also seek out wisdom today. We need only tap into the energies of the day. Since we are doing our magickal work on a Thursday, we can work with Jupiter and use the colors blue or purple. Use a candle in one of those colors or in white. If it is a white candle, use a blue or purple marker to write the word wisdom on it. Light your candle and ask for Jupiter to grant wisdom to you:
Jupiter, I call to you. Allow me
a deeper understanding of the
world of myself so I can better
understand the world around me.
Allow the candle to burn completely out so that the magick can take effect. Once it is extinguished, bury any remaining candle wax outside.
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A Wednesday Rite for Now
AUGUST 03, 2022 BY STEPHANIE ROSE BIRD
Wednesday is referred to as h ump day, inferring that we’ve made it halfway through the week. This vision requires looking backward and forward. How about a rite about being in this moment?
Wednesday is the day of wisdom and messages, and with its association to the color green, you may find prosperity flowing your way. This is also a day of the lungs, making it perfect for aromatherapy-enhanced work.
Gather these items:
- Clary sage essential oil
- Matches or a lighter
- A green candle
- A firesafe candleholder
- Pen and paper
Dab your pulse points and third eye (the center of your forehead just above your eyebrows) with clary sage. Light the candle and affix it to the holder.
Walk while reciting the following:
I am here in the now, ready to receive.
Stand back, Odin, no time
today to be deceived.
I listen and wait.
As I walk and listen,
I will learn more about the
meaning of this date.
Repeat this verse at least twice more.
Sit down and reflect on your journey through your home. What messages have the spirits sent to you? Jot down your thoughts. Extinguish the candle.
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Vigil Fire
AUGUST 02, 2022 BY SUSAN PESZNECKER
While the summer nights are st ill warm, it’s a good time for vigil fires, which have long been held for ceremonial purposes.
Begin with planning. What is the purpose of your vigil fire? Where will you have the fire? Will you hold vigil for an hour or two or an entire night? Or something else? Will you stay awake or sleep by the fire? What will you do during the vigil?
Consider your comfort: warmth, food, drink, and a light source.
Consider fire safety, and be sure someone knows where you are and when you’ll return.
Build the fire in a safe location. A log cabin–style fire with wood that can be pushed in from the sides will last for hours.
Hold your vigil at fireside, periodically repeating this chant:
Sitting with the vigil fire, watching
embers through the night.
Powers of vigil, rite and ritual,
shine in me like firelight.
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A Lammas Corn Ritual
AUGUST 01, 2022 BY JAMES KAMBOS
It’s Lammas, the first of the harvest sabbats, celebrating corn and Lugh, an ancient harvest god. Grains are honored during this sabbat, but especially corn.
Begin this ritual at sunrise. Cover your altar in yellow fabric. In the center, place one yellow candle. In front of the candle, lay one ear of corn with the husk removed. Safely light the candle. Meditate on how grains such as corn, the Mother of Seeds, have fed civilization since before recorded history. Then speak these words:
In the stars, the lion reigns.
On Earth, mighty Lugh
rules the grains.
Praise the harvest, praise the corn.
Thank you, Lord and Lady,
for this Lammas morn!
Snuff out the candle safely. Then with care, as if carrying a child, carry the ear of corn to a quiet place outside. Holding the corn, visualize all people on Earth being nourished and fed. Then gently lay the corn on the ground, so it may be shared with our wild friends, such as the squirrels.
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Where Shall I Wander?
JULY 31, 2022 BY NATALIE ZAMAN
Sometimes you just need to get away—but where? First deal with the mundane details. Think about where you can go, physically, financially, etc. Then print out a map that encompasses all the possible areas, and set it on a table or place it on the floor—upside down so that you cannot see the various destinations.
Take a piece of tourmaline. (It’s protective, and you want to get to your destination safely. If you don’t have tourmaline, use another protective stone, like turquoise, or a penny.) Gently toss the tourmaline onto the surface of the upside-down map with these words:
Wither shall I wander,
Where shall I go,
To lift my heart
And heal my soul?
Make a pin prick on the map where the tourmaline lands, and repeat two more times. Flip the map over and your destination will be revealed.
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Sacred Smoke
JULY 24, 2022 BY MELISSA TIPTON
Burning incense is a great way to tap into the power of the air element, and making a homemade batch allows you to connect with this energy on a deeper level.
You’ll need:
- 2 tablespoons sandalwood powder
- 1 teaspoon frankincense resin (can be purchased in powder form or ground by hand with a mortar and pestle)
- ¼ teaspoon guar gum
- Water
Combine the first three ingredients in a small bowl, then add a teaspoon of water at a time, mixing thoroughly. I typically use just shy of 3 teaspoons. Pinch off small chunks of dough and shape them into little cones with your fingers. Let dry completely (this can take up to a week).
Hover your palms above the incense as you chant:
I call upon the power of air!
Please charge this incense with the
energy of change, clarity, and wisdom.
So mote it be!
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Connecting with Earth
JULY 23, 2022 BY DEBORAH BLAKE
The four elements of earth, air, fire, and water are an important part of a Witchcraft practice. We tend to take these elements for granted, but it’s a good idea to take a moment occasionally to consciously connect with them.
The summer provides many great opportunities to connect with the element of earth. If you are a gardener, you can put your hands in the dirt and say thank you. Or you can take a walk outside, being extra aware of when your feet meet the land. Or simply sit on the grass and feel how grounding it is to be in touch with the earth. If you like, you can say these words:
I reach out to you, element of earth,
And thank you for grounding me,
For providing solid footing for my life,
And for all the growth that
springs from your soil.
I am the earth, and the earth is me.
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Finding Lost Objects
JULY 22, 2022 BY CHARLYNN WALLS
Every now and then we all lose something that is meaningful to us. Today we can call upon our faerie allies to help us find what is lost. The Faerie occupy an in-between realm and often have a unique vantage point. Where we may overlook something, you can bet that the Fae will not. For this spell you can simply stand outside in an area that is a little wilder than the other surroundings. If you live in an apartment, you will want to open a window. Speak directly
to those in the other realm:
Faerie kind, hear my plea. Help
return what is missing to me.
Once you have spoken to the Fae, have an offering for them ready to show your appreciation. A traditional offering is that of milk and honey. You can pour this into the wild area after the spell. If you are in an apartment, you can leave the offering in a small dish where it will not be disturbed. You can and should repeat the offering once the object is found.
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Offering for Spirits of the Land
JULY 21, 2022 BY ASTREA TAYLOR
With the moon in Taurus to day, we may find ourselves drawn to the element of earth. One of my favorite things to do is to make an offering to the spirits of the land. They’re always present in natural areas, and they love receiving something beautiful.
Before leaving home, grab something natural that you feel the spirits would appreciate, such as a stone or a natural object like a pinecone. Go outside and walk to a natural area. When you arrive at a place that feels right, align with the energy and set the offering on the ground. Say:
Spirits of earth,
I leave this for you,
In gratitude for all you do.
Leave the offering and make your way home again. When you wish to connect with the element of earth in your magic, you can call to mind the energy of that place and the offering.
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A Witch’s Potion to Bless the House
JULY 20, 2022 BY RAVEN DIGITALIS
A fun way to bless your room, home, or property is to pull out the ol’ cauldron for some boilin’ and bubblin’. Since we are modern Witches, a pot on the stove will suffice! Bring some water to a boil (however much you’d like) and set aside a handful of sea salt along with the herbs you most associate with blessing and energetic protection. Because there are so many, I will leave the herbal concoction up to you!
Once the water has boiled, add the herbs and place your hands safely in the vicinity of the pot while saying:
Boiling and brewing, this potion’s
alight. Blessed and protected
for all days and all nights.
Simmer for thirteen minutes. Once cooled, strain the herbs and asperge (sprinkle) the potion all around your room, house, and/or property. Leave the strained herbs outdoors to finish working their magick.
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A Ritual of Thanks
JULY 19, 2022 BY JAMES KAMBOS
During July, the earth begins to bless us with its bounty. This ritual gives thanks for our food supply. Begin the ritual at sunset. Drape your altar in rich purple or green fabric. Upon the altar place one glass of red wine or purple grape juice. Face west, then ground and center. Speak these words:
Slowly the sun’s power
begins to decline.
Still we’re blessed with the fruit
of the orchard from the vine.
Great Mother, thank you for
your gifts from the land.
Farmers, thank you for all that
comes from your calloused hands.
Now raise your beverage in a toast and take a sip. Truly stop and think about where our food comes from. Next, carry the rest of your beverage outside. Respectfully pour it upon the earth in a show of thanks. Finally, when you can, purchase something from a farmers’ market to support your local growers.
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Prophecy
JULY 18, 2022 BY BARBARA ARDINGER
The ancient world had ten sibyls, who were prophetesses. The Cumaean Sibyl wrote her prophecies on leaves that she placed at the mouth of her cave. If no one came to pick them up, she let the wind scatter them.
A hot summer day is a good time to try some prophecy. Take advantage of “the heat of inspiration.” First, cut 22 leaf shapes, one for each major arcana card in the tarot, out of colored paper and number them. Next, take your leaves, some colored pencils, and your favorite tarot pack and go outside and find a shady spot. Look at true.
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Heartwings Love Notes 1046 Working with Control Issues
Heartwings says, “Each day is different and needs your complete attention.”
The first skill a baby learns is that of control, primarily control of muscles. Learning to roll over is an important experience. Later, it’s sitting up, crawling, and finally, standing and walking. If you are a parent, do you remember how your child enjoyed dropping things over the edge of his or her highchair? A face full of glee would blossom on my children’s faces as they did so, and it never varied, regardless which of my five children it was. Toilet training was another control hurdle, and learning to sit still, another. As adults most of us are pretty well able to control ourselves.
That’s unless Parkinson’s comes into your life, and control is something very difficult to maintain, at least for some. Speaking for myself, I find I struggle with it pretty much every day. Though I have avoided the “shakes” so far, I still have difficulties with balance and with using my hands and fingers. Peeling carrots or other vegetables, for instance, with any accuracy, takes around four times as long as it once did. While typing on my computer is doable, it goes more slowly than formerly. There are things I used to do without thinking, like shuffling cards, that are now impossible for me to do.
One of the worst aspects of my condition, however, is none of these. It is emotional control. I can burst into tears over something I might once have brushed off or ignored. I can find myself depressed for no reason I can tell, or make sense of. Being able to contain tears when affected in a difficult way is one of the most important aspects of emotional control. One learns this in school, to the tune of “cry baby,” or even in families. I well remember my stern grandmother ignoring my tears. Or a parent saying these familiar words: “Stop your crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.” Perhaps some of my readers can remember similar experiences.
I’m not saying these words to complain, but rather to set the stage. I now understand that control is actually an illusion. We may think we are in control, however, if our bodies choose otherwise, we are not. It is an odd experience, and an uncomfortable one as well, to find oneself unable to avoid a cascade of unwanted tears. It is frustrating to not be able to shuffle the cards. Much of what I once took for granted in my daily life has now become a matter of effort or even finally of surrender. Many things I once did without thinking, I no longer can do, or I must find alternative or new ways to accomplish them.
A key word here is surrender. To keep trying to do what is no longer possible is not smart. To let go and seek new ways to function is best learned as soon as possible. It is said the brain grows when we learn new ways, so that’s a good outcome, and perhaps the potential blessing to come from my or even your current experiences.
May you meet your challenges with courage and welcoming grace.
Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert
PS If you have any stories to share or comments, I’d be so happy to receive them. Do write me at tashahal@gmail.com. More at http://www.heartwingsandfriends.com.
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Green Spaces Does Your Heart Good
~Andrew Weil M.D.
The new findings come from a five-year University of Louisville study that included 408 people, largely at elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases. In addition to collecting blood and urine samples from the study group, the investigators measured the density of greenspaces and levels of air pollution near all of their homes. The tests revealed lower levels of the hormone epinephrine among participants who lived in the greenest areas, which suggests they have lower levels of stress. The investigation also showed that these participants had a higher capacity to repair blood vessels and experienced less oxidative stress (the challenge posed by the constant production of free radicals in the normal course of metabolism in addition to other pressures the environment brings to bear). The researchers reported that their findings were independent of the study participants’ age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, neighborhood deprivation, the use of statin medications and roadway exposure. Study leader Aruni Bhatnagar, Ph.D., suggested that increasing the amount of vegetation in a neighborhood “may be an unrecognized environmental influence on cardiovascular health.”
My take? These welcome new findings add to what we know about the health benefits of forest therapy, which entails spending time in the woods as an antidote to the sometimes-jarring sounds, sights, and smells of city life. Researchers in Japan, where forest therapy originated, have learned that its’ benefits include lower levels of salivary cortisol, a hormone that rises when we’re under stress. Forest therapy can also lower blood pressure and heart rate and trigger a dramatic increase in the activity of natural killer (NK) cells (produced by the immune system to ward off infection and fight cancer). Spending three days in the forest has been shown to increase NK activity by 50 percent, a beneficial effect that can last up to one month. This new study suggests that living in green neighborhoods may have similar benefits.
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The Gift of Friendship
Our best friends are a warm refuge in which we feel free to be fully ourselves.
By the time we reach adulthood, many of us have had the good fortune to have at least one best friend. If we have moved around or changed our life situation repeatedly, we may be lucky enough to have had several. The best friend relationship is often our earliest intimate peer relationship, and it can be a source of great warmth and connection throughout our lives. The details of best friendship change as we grow up and grow older, but the heart of it remains the same. Our best friends are a warm refuge in which we feel free to be fully ourselves, to share our deepest secrets, to rest when we are tired, to celebrate when we are happy — a place in which we feel utterly welcome to give and receive that most precious of all gifts, love.
Most intimate relationships hit bumps from time to time, and one of the hallmarks of an enduring best friendship is its ability to ride out the turbulence and remain intact even as it faces changes. Our best friends are those who manage to love us through all of our transitions, as we do the same for them. We find ways to embrace and appreciate the differences that set us apart and offer love and support no matter what. We allow each other to be exactly as we are at a given moment, even as we allow each other to change over time. In this way, best friends sometimes feel like family. We know we will stick together regardless of where our individual paths lead.
We may be on the phone with our best friends every day, or we may not have spoken for a year, yet we know that our bond will be strong and immediate when we do connect. This bond ties us together even when we are apart and draws us blissfully back into the warm refuge of each other’s company when our paths bring us together again.
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Heartwings Love Notes 1044: A Timely Dance to Do
Heartwings says, “Time can be an enemy or a friend; you can choose.”
“Summertime, and the living is easy,” as the song goes. I confess I have no choice but to take it easy in the hot weather. I wilt. Of course, there are things that must be done, like laundry. I used to hang it up on the porch on racks. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to take the time or the energy for that; fortunately, I have a drier that does it instead. So, I have traded time for money—a higher electric bill, and it’s worth it.
The same is true for food shopping. While I do enjoy walking around the grocery store picking out the items on my list, it takes time I could put to better use. I don’t enjoy making Stephen lug them home and up a steep flight of stairs, either. Enter the grocery delivery service. Again, I am trading time, and more effort as well, for money. I don’t mind economizing in other ways. We eat out less and generally do less driving. Drinking water or making our own iced tea helps too.
The older I get, the more precious my time has become. The sand in my hour glass is piling up on the bottom. One of my daughters pointed out that spending my time creatively, working on writing projects, needs to be a priority. She’s right. The trick is to figure out not the priorities but those tasks or things to do that can be down sized, down played, or simply eliminated.
I have someone to help with the cleaning. Cooking can be simplified. I bake less, or only for special occasions. Stephen has become my sous chef, and he is usually available to stir, peel, or do whatever needs doing while I am preparing a meal. While I have always enjoyed cooking, hot weather does not inspire me to cook much. On the other hand, I prefer cooking from scratch except for baking, because I believe it is healthier. I do try to prepare certain things, like rice or sweet potatoes in quantity, so dinner takes less time.
One of my most daunting tasks has been getting out our vitamins and supplements. I used to do this once a month in less than two hours and have four weeks of envelopes for the next twenty-eight days. The last time it took me two days, pausing in between rounds to rest. Clearly, a change was needed. Not knowing what to do, I did nothing. After a week of dealing with a counter laden with the pill bottles, I was ready to try doing it once a week instead.
Finally, I need to apply discipline and ignore the temptation to read what could be interesting articles in my email. Because I answer whatever emails I am sent by a reader or friend, I need to be especially vigilant. None of this is by way of complaint, please hear me. I am working to find new ways to live efficiently and well as I deal with my daily challenges. Time needs to be my friend as I do so.
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Channeling Pain Into Compassionate Service
Channeling your pain into helping others spreads a tide of curative energy throughout the world.
Pain is a fact of being and one that permeates all of our lives to some degree. Since the hurt we feel may be a part of the experiences that have touched us most deeply, we are often loathe to let it go. It is frequently easier to keep our pain at our sides, where it acts as a shield that shelters us from others and gives us an identity — that of victim — from which we can draw bitter strength. However, pain’s universality can also empower us to use our hurt to help others heal. Since no pain is any greater or more profound than any other, what you feel can give you the ability to help bring about the recovery of individuals whose hurts are both similar to and vastly different from your own. You can channel your pain into transformative and healing love that aids you in helping individuals on a one-to-one basis and spreading a tide of curative energy throughout the world.
The capacity to heal others evolves naturally within those who are ready to disassociate themselves from their identity as victims. In fact, the simple decision to put aside the pain we have carried is what grants us the strength to redeem that pain through service. There are many ways to use the hurt you feel to help others. Your pain gives you a unique insight into the minds of people who have experienced trauma and heartache. You can draw from the wellspring of strength that allowed you to emerge on the other side of a painful experience and pass that strength to individuals still suffering from their wounds. You may be able to council individuals in need by showing them the coping methods that have helped you survive or simply by offering sympathy. A kinship can develop that allows you to relate more closely with those you are trying to aid and comfort.
Helping others can be a restorative experience that makes your own heart grow stronger. In channeling your pain into compassionate service and watching others successfully recover, you may feel a sense of euphoria that leads to increased feelings of self-worth and optimism. Your courageous decision to reach out to others can be the best way to declare to yourself and the world that your pain didn’t defeat you, and in fact it helped you heal.
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Ghost Hunting Theories
Haunted Amusement Parks in America
It’s easy to look at an abandoned amusement park and think it’s probably haunted. It seems to haunt itself with it’s once shiny and active, now dull and quiet appearance. Some haunted amusement parks are abandoned, others still in operation.
Let’s check out some in the US –
LAKE SHAWNEE
ROCK, WV
- ABANDONED –
In terms of this extremely haunted and abandoned park, the land can carry some bad memories. Is it cursed? I’m not sure I would call it cursed as much as “manifesting bad.” When enough bad things happen upon a land, even when good-intentioned people arrive, they may be struck with odd bad luck. It appears to be a cumulative phenomena.
In the case of Lake Shawnee, it began as the home of a settler and his large family. The Indians in the area had killed two of his sons and abducted a third. The father went about gathering up a posse and killed a few members of the tribe. This resulted in the burning of his son on a stake.
In the 1920s, the abandoned land appeared to have a nice setting for a man wanting to put together a speakeasy, a circular swing, a swimming hole, and water slide.
A girl died on the swings, a boy drowned, and many accidents occurred in this rickety carnival and it only had a short run and closed.
Around the 1940s, a developer thought it might make a nice location for some homes around the small lake. They began to dig but hit lots and lots of bones and pottery. It was discovered it had been an indian burial ground and most of the occupants had been children. They covered it back up, and left the site.
Since then, the site is privately owned and can be toured by permission of the owners. In the autumn time, they have ghost tours and even camping on the grounds with bonfire tales.
DISNEYLAND
ANAHEIM, CA
- OPEN –
If a park ever had the most amount of trampling happy kids and adults, this park is it. There are several reported hauntings around the park.
A lady in white is said to stroll Main Street, wearing an 1800s dress.
Walt himself is said to be seen in the window of his apartment above the firehouse on Main Street. Every evening the park lights the window for eternity in memory of the founder. And, upon occasion, his figure is seen.
A teenager that sneaked into the park and crossed the monorail track and got hit is supposedly seen by train operators who say they witness a figure but by the time the train approaches, it disappears.
We just knew that the Haunted Mansion had its own story. A mother supposedly spread her son’s ashes outside the mansion and people are said to witness a crying boy.
BOB-LO ISLAND, MICHIGAN
- ABANDONED –
This Michigan park opened in 1898 and closed in 1993. The rides were sold off to other parks and the boats, that had run for 81 years stopped riding. A tall heavyset man in a suit and hat is seen by those who sneak in to look at the property. It is said to be a performer named “Smiley,” a magician who reportedly studied under Houdini and died during and escape trick.
KINGS ISLAND, CINCINNATI OH
- OPEN –
Another location with bad mojo history. This park is on land that saw a cemetery and also an explosion that killed 100 people in the past.
One of the ghosts is referred to as “Tram Girl.” She is seen wearing a blue dress and says hi to the visitors. It’s believed she might have been interred at the old cemetery.
CEDAR POINT, SANDUSKY, OH
- OPEN –
This popular park was opened in 1870. Today, it’s considered THE premiere rollercoaster park.
In Frontiertown, a woman used to be seen on the carousal riding a military horse. This has been removed, but before it was, the rumor was that a woman married to the carousel carpenter was caught cheating and her husband shot her.
Employees had also reported they could hear music playing after hours, the horses on the carousel were in a different order, or the carousel ran backwards.
The Breakwater Cafe is said to be haunted by a boy who supposedly drowned in the nearby lake.
SIX FLAGS, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- ABANDONED –
With the arrival of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and loss of 1600 precious lives, the park remained closed.
Those who sneaked around to take photos of the still park, have reported shadowy figures, feelings of being watched, strange lights, and sounds.
BTW, there’s a great documentary on the park called “Closed for Storm” that can be found streaming on Amazon Prime and Discovery + channels.
As we move into summer weather, expect me to be sharing haunted campsites, haunted roads, haunted beaches, and more places to explore and have spooky encounters….
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Looking at Life From All Sides
Expanding your perspective opens you to insights and inspirations.
Whenever we examine our lives, we examine them from a particular side or angle. Most of us tend to favor one side over the others. For example, we may tend to look at things from an emotional perspective rather than a financial perspective, or we may prefer to think in terms of details rather than the big picture, or vice versa. To a certain degree, this is not a problem, and these tendencies add color to our individual personalities. However, they can also make us one-sided, blind to the many other ways of looking at our situation. Even if we have decided that we are most happy when we focus on one particular side of things, it is always worth exploring the other sides. When we do, we become well rounded, more understanding of other viewpoints, and even more solid in our own.
Perhaps you are a person who tends to see your life in terms of your spiritual well-being. As a result, other concerns such as financial comfort or social standing may not be prominent in your mind as you make decisions. However, taking just a moment to consider those angles will help you in several ways. One, it will enable you to see more clearly what your priorities are and how they influence your life situation. Two, it will enhance your sense of confidence, because you will see your situation from all sides, even as you choose one. And three, it will help you communicate with others about who you are and what you are doing, because you will come from a place of understanding that your own biases and tendencies are unique as are theirs.
Most of us instinctively come at things from a particular angle, and in many cases this is the right way for us. Still, understanding the other angles only strengthens us. When we look at our lives from all sides, we shed light on the big picture, giving ourselves access to many points of view and highlighting more clearly the one we have chosen to take.
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Ghost Hunting Theories
The Horror of Scary Neighbors
Come on, admit it, it scares you to think of running into weird locals in some backwater roadway or small town, maybe a stretch of the desert while driving alone, but sometimes those weirdos are your very own neighbors!
Neighborhood Stalkers
LeLeyon: Misanthropic Wanderer
Some countries know how to have a legend. Switzerland is definitely one of them. This photo above supposedly is the first picture taken of LeLeyon in his 10 year reign of terror.
This cryptic figure wears a military uniform, a thick clock, and an antique gas mask covering his face.
He’s been reported to wander the woodlands in a certain area, walking the same route over and over again. Someone recently sneaked up on him and got a photo. LeLeyon stared the person down, turned, and walked off.
Many local families will not go in the woods, parents tuck their children away and women avoid the country roads.
Locals hope to find a way to speak with him/her and ask not to be so threatening, but legends are passed around of a person afraid of the apocalypse, someone horribly disfigured, or simply mentally ill.
The Bloody Benders: Neighbor Murderers
In the small town of Cherryvale, Kansas in the 1870s, a German family, the Benders, built an inn to house travelers. Unknowingly, the traveler would enter, sit down at the table, seated with his back to a canvas curtain. The young attractive Bender woman, Katie, would keep his attention while one of the Bender men attacked him with a hammer from behind. They would then, slit his throat, take his money and possessions and toss his body down a trapdoor under the house. Later, they would go back and bury him in the orchard. Katie hung posters in town announcing she was a healer and could cure all kinds of illnesses, as well as talk with the dead. When all was said and done, the family had murdered 11 people. They even murdered a man and buried his daughter alive with his mutilated body! It took a prominent doctor going missing for people to start to cast an eye at the Bender family.
The family fled and it was never solved as to where they went or what became of them. Many years later, two women were taken to Kansas who were thought to be two Bender women, but there was no way to prove they were. In fact, the family was actually not a family – they were just criminals who posed as a family.
The Leatherman: Creepy Hobo
Since 1862, there have been reports of a wandering hobo who traveled an 365-mile circle from Connecticut to the Hudson River. He spoke only in grunts and gestures and wore a crude suit stitched together of leather. He slept mostly in caves. Many claim he’s still wandering today. He followed this lengthy repeatable circuit in precisely 34 days. When trekking back his history, he actually began his journey in France in the 1820s. He wanted to win the hand of a young woman and was told he must excel at leather work or leave the country all together. In his shame at failure, he went missing. Many years later in 1862, this man in Connecticut showed up matching his description. He had a very strong constitution, but in the 1880s, he passed away in one of his caves. The caves still stand in the woods on the Mattatuck Trail in Watertown, Connecticut.
Peruvian Fat Collecting Gang
No, I did not make this one up! In Peru the cops caught a band of freaks who were stealing people, gutting them like deer and draining them of body fat to sell for cosmetic use. The liquid fat was worth $60,000 a gallon.
Dark Watchers
For hundreds of years in the St. Lucia mountains in California the citizens have caught sight of very tall (sometimes 10-feet) caped figures. Sometimes the figures have a hat and are seen usually in the afternoon, even perched atop a mountain. When the Spanish arrived to the area in the 1700s they referred to these apparitions as Vigalantes Obscuros, or “dark watchers.”
Neighbors With Weird Houses
Forget crabgrass, imagine living next door to these –
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA
Coral Castle in Homestead, FL
Shangri-La in Hightowers, NC
The Peterson Rock Gardens in Redmond, OR
Prairie Moon Garden in Fountain City, WI
Salvation Mountain, San Diego, CA
The Forevertron in South-Central Wisconsin
-okay, okay, I admit I’d like to live next door to this huge steampunk dream, mostly because no one would mess with my house, thinking it was guarded by a missile system.
Movies To Watch
Wrong Turn
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Hills Have Eyes
Tourist Trap
The Hitcher
The Burbs
Neighbors
For those of us in the suburbs, the Klopeks are the ultimate test.
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Hidden Gems & Silver Linings
Life is full of buried treasures. Chances are, you’re sitting on some right now.
Sometimes we have an experience that we don’t understand, but if we look deeply, or wait long enough, a reason for that experience will usually reveal itself. All the events in our lives lead to other events, and all that we have manifested in this present moment is the result of past events and experiences. We cannot easily tease apart the many threads that have been woven together to create our current reality. Experiences that don’t make sense, as well as any that we regret, are just as responsible for the good things in our lives as the experiences we do understand or label as “good.”
This is especially important to remember at times when we feel directionless or unsure of what to do. It is often at times like these that we take a job or move to a place without really knowing if it’s the right thing to do. We may ultimately end up leaving the job or the place, but often during that time we will have met someone who becomes an important friend, or we may have an experience that changes us in a profound way. When all the pieces of our life don’t quite make sense, we can remember that there may be some hidden gem of a reason that we are where we are having the experiences we are having.
It’s fun to look back on past experiences with an eye to uncovering those gems—the dreadful temporary job in a bland office building that introduced you to the love of your life; the roommate you couldn’t tolerate who gave you a book that changed your life; the time spent living in a city you didn’t like that led you into a deeper relationship with yourself. Remembering these past experiences can restore our faith in the present. Life is full of buried treasures. Chances are, you’re sitting on some right now.
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Chunky Peach Popsicles
Make sure to reserve a portion of the peaches as you puree the mixture so the pops will be packed with icy cold, chunky bits of fruit. For a grown-up twist, try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint, lemon verbena or basil.
Servings:12
Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds ripe peaches, (3-4 medium), halved and pitted
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cup sugar, or to taste (optional)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Step 1
Coarsely chop peaches in a food processor. Transfer 1 cup of the chunky peaches to a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, orange juice and sugar to taste (depending on the sweetness of the peaches) to the food processor. Puree until smooth. Add to the bowl with the chunky peaches and stir in vanilla.
Step 2
Divide the mixture among twelve 2-ounce or eight 3-ounce freezer-pop molds (or small paper cups). Freeze until beginning to set, about 1 hour. Insert frozen-treat sticks and freeze until completely firm, about 1 hour more.
Tips
Make Ahead Tip: Store in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.
Tips
Equipment: Twelve 2-ounce or eight 3-ounce freezer-pop molds, or small paper cups with frozen-treat sticks
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:
39 calories; protein 0.4g; carbohydrates 9.9g; dietary fiber 0.7g; sugars 8.5g; fat 0.2g; vitamin a iu 104.3IU; vitamin c 7.1mg; folate 2.5mcg; calcium 0.9mg; iron 0.1mg; magnesium 0.9mg; potassium 89.1mg; sodium 0.1mg.
Exchanges:
1/2 fruit
© Copyright 2022 EatingWell. All rights reserved.Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com 08/04/2022
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Coach Gilberto Chapter 21
Stephen Halpert
It was a hot summer day; sweat drenched his shirt. Gilberto carried his old office table into the condo elevator. After wrestling it down the hall he finally managed to fit it through the front door. He needed a shower and knew it. He paused, took out his crumpled handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
Maria came to help him. “You brought that all the way home from Houndstooth in this heat?”
“For Mona,” he gasped. “Her new table for art.”
Mona joined them in the hallway. She eyed the table and wrinkled her nose. “That’s not the art table you promised me,” she huffed.
Gilberto glared at her. “I promised you a table. This is it.”
“Be polite to your father,” Maria said. “It was hard for him to lug this home for you.”
“It’s a good size for your room,” he said. His voice took on a pleading tone. “Plenty of space to lay out paper and make pictures.”
Mona’s voice was determined. “Daddy, it doesn’t have a light.” She tried the drawer. “And look, the drawer won’t open, it’s all stuck.”
“You wanted an art table. Start with this,” Gilberto said firmly. “We’ll get the drawer open. Right now, the humidity is making it stick.”
Mona thrust her shoulders back and planted her feet. “I don’t want it,” she said.
Maria’s voice was soft and gentle. “Please, Mona,” she said. “Let’s get it in your room and give it a try.”
Mona jutted her chin and gritted her teeth. “No,” she growled.
Gilberto’s eyes flashed. “You’ll use it or nothing. How can you complain. You hardly ever draw anything.”
“Yes, I do,” she insisted, stamping her foot.
Gilberto looked daggers at her. “If you knew how difficult it was for me bringing that table home so you could do your art, you’d be more appreciative.”
But Mona stood her ground. “I don’t want it daddy. It not an art table. It has no easel, no light, and the drawer is stuck and all warped.”
Maria held out her hands, pleadingly. “It is a fine table,” Maria said. “We could paint it nice colors.” she smiled. “Maybe daddy will help us paint it.”
But Mona wouldn’t be persuaded. She sighed, and like a lawyer pleading for her client’s life presented her case. “Mom. It’s not an art table. It has no nice light like the ones in the art catalogue and the drawer’s warped. It’ll never open.”
Ever the peacemaker, Maria tried once again. “Maybe your father can pry it open. He’s very strong you know.”
But Mona shook her head. “Please mom, don’t make me have to have it in my room. It’s mean and ugly.”
Gilberto had had enough. His voice rose into a shout. “How can a table be mean? It doesn’t have a personality. It’s a tool; it performs a function. Use it until we find something better and replace it.”
“It’s ugly, “Mona insisted. Then she kicked the front left leg. “Ow!” she cried out. ” See it doesn’t like me.”
“Don’t do that!” Gilberto cried. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“No, I won’t.” Mona yelled. Then she lifted up the table and threw it to the floor with a resounding crash. Wood splintered. The drawer burst. Cascades of cash flew up into the air like confetti at a holiday parade.
The three of them stared in astonishment, then began gathering it up.
“Must be Willabee’s missing cash,” Gilberto said.
Mona grinned. “Can I have it, Daddy?”
“That’s real money,” Maria said, examining several of the hundred-dollar bills.
Mona sighed. “Guess not,” she said, and went off to her room.
Gilberto stared. He didn’t know what to think. He went into the kitchen and took a beer from the ‘fridge. Then he opened his phone and dialed up Diana Rain. “I think Cy Willabee’s cash is found,” he said.
“I’m on it,” she said. “Be right over.”
By the time Rain arrived Maria had carefully gathered up the bills and placed them in neat stacks, contained in rubber bands.
“$37, 460.” Maria said. “Quite a windfall.”
Rain looked at it and sighed softly. “That was his life’s savings,” she said.
A soft breeze gently ruffled the bills.
Look,” Gilberto said. “A small box.”
Rain reached into the splintered pile and withdrew it. Before she could open it, the box slid out of her hand, glided up into the air and hovered just above reach. Then the lid lifted, and as they watched open mouthed, a small gold ring encrusted in diamonds floated down to Rain and fit perfectly on the third finger of her left hand.”
“I think he’s proposing to you,” Maria said.
Rain smiled. She studied the ring. “Diamonds,” she said. “He usually proposes every night before we go to sleep. But I never expected anything quite like this.”
Maria smiled and patted her shoulder. “That’s so wonderful,” she said. “You’re so lucky to have him.”
Gilberto sensed Rain’s quiet feelings of appreciation.
“Yes,” she choked out.
“I think a celebration is in order,” Maria said. She left and came into the living room with a bottle of Champagne and three fluted glasses. “Wait,” she said. “Be right back,”
She returned with a fourth glass. “Cy, I hope you ‘ll have some Champagne to celebrate,” she said. “I think you and Diana make an amazing couple.”
A shimmer of light seemed to glow in the room. Gilberto opened the bottle and began pouring. Just as they lifted their glasses, Mona barged in.
“Daddy, if I can have some of that money then I can buy my own art table.”
Before he could answer five twenties flew from the accumulated hoard and landed in Mona’s hand. “There you go,” Rain smiled.
Mona grinned and clutched it. “Thank you,” she cried as she ran back to her room.
“A toast,” Maria said, “To Diana and Cy,” May you remain happily together.”
“Thank you,” Rain said, taking a few sips.
Maria glanced at the fourth glass and pointed. “Look!” Slowly, the Champagne in Cy’s fluted glass was vanishing.
To be continued
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Kitty Kat’s Korner
=^..^=
Why Do Cats Bring You “Gifts”?
By Susan Logan McCracken
Although I’ve had indoor-only cats for my entire adult life, I grew up with several outdoor cats who earned their weight in paper currency as “working” cats on my parents’ farm. Although these cats were friendly toward humans, I think they would have climbed the curtains if we tried to keep them indoors. But they were sure great at their jobs: catching mice, rats and moles in particular that shredded my parents’ lawn.
Our tuxedo cat, Miss Kitty, would wait patiently for a mole to come out of its hole beneath the grass, then she would grab it and bring it to my parents, who praised her for her work. I remember during a garage sale, Miss Kitty brought one of her “gifts” and dropped it right in front of one of our customer’s feet. You can imagine the alarm that the shopper expressed. I can’t remember anything more, but I’m guessing she never returned to any of our garage sales!
Love Language
Giving gifts is considered to be one of humans’ love languages, a concept made popular by Gary Chapman’s best-selling book The 5 Love Languages. Do cats have love languages and could gift giving be one of them?
Miss Kitty did receive a lot of praise from my parents whenever she brought her prey to them, and I guess you could surmise that she felt the love and repeated the behavior.
I consulted with board-certified feline veterinarian Gary D. Norsworthy, who owns the Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio and has more than 40 years experience practicing veterinary medicine.
“The older I get the more I am convinced that genetics is a major player in personality traits,” Dr. Norsworthy says. “I believe this is one example of that.”
Dr. Norsworthy recounted the story of one of his patients, Ret, who brought home tree bark, a deflated soccer ball and a horse’s bridle. Ret’s retrieving behavior began when he was 6 months old and his humans, a sweet senior couple, gave him treats every time he brought them one of his treasures.
Dr. Norsworthy refers to cats who engage in this behavior as retrieving cats. “These cats are not trained; they come by it naturally. Their unusual behavior may be increased with rewards, but retrieving cats are often driven to make their owners happy with or without rewards. If you have one of these unique cats, enjoy their special talent.”
Hunting Instinct
All cat species are carnivores and have an instinct to hunt. Among lions, the lionesses hunt for food and bring it to the cubs as a team, while male lions protect the pride. Other feline species are solitary hunters, but the females still share the food with their offspring and teach them to hunt.
Female domestic cats also hunt and bring dead or injured prey home to their offspring to teach them how to hunt. One theory is that spayed females, as they do not have offspring, bring their prey to their humans instead. In other words, they consider their humans as family.
You might inadvertently reward this behavior without realizing it. If you jump, scamper trying to catch the thing, then give your cat a treat, you just rewarded the behavior.
If your cat plops a toy or other object in front of you, he is most likely looking for some playtime. That is a good time to indulge your cat’s need to play. Cats are hardwired to play and might engage in destructive behaviors or have health problems if they don’t get enough playtime.
Curbing Predation
If you’re concerned about your cats bringing prey animals into your home, here’s how to get them to stop.
Keep your cats indoors. Studies show indoor-only cats live longer.
Provide regular playtime. They need the stimulation and exercise.
Use food or treat dispensing puzzle toys to simulate hunting followed by eating.
Feed a high-meat protein diet. Cats need animal protein to thrive.
In a recent study, researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom found that people who provided their cats with a high-meat protein, grain-free diet and introduced five to 10 minutes of play with prey-simulating toys each day experienced a 25% to 36% decrease in the numbers of animals the cats captured and brought home.
The researchers concluded that nutrition and playtime were so successful in curbing feline predation that these noninvasive, positive methods worked better than impeding their hunting abilities by such measures as adding bells to their collars, which they wrote had no discernible effect. The study, “Provision of High Meat Content Food and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats Felis catus,” was published on Feb. 11, 2021, in Current Biology.
No matter their reason for bringing you gifts, your cats see you as family as much as you see them as family. And like you, their basic needs for a healthy life include proper nutrition and exercise.
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Georgia Nicols’
Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, August 07, 2022
All Signs
This week the Sun is opposite Saturn and at odds with Mars. It’s a Mexican stand-off. (Think The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.) Meanwhile, in another part of the desert, Venus is opposite Pluto. (Yikes!) Power struggles and sneaky sabotages might take place. Nevertheless, if you keep your wits about you, and are aware of what’s going on, you’ll be fine. If conflict is unavoidable, be smart and pick your battles, especially when things come to a head by Thursday’s Full Moon. Afterwards, separate yourself from negative energy. Seek out people who nourish you. Life is too short for boxed wine and bozos. Oscar Wilde said, “True friends stab you in the front.”
Aries (March 21-April 19)
There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that family relationships might be intense this week. Ditto for relations with your kids, and perhaps. a lover. Disputes about money, earnings and possessions might also occur, especially when dealing with a boss, parent or someone older. But these challenges do not have to define your week. As the Full Moon approaches on Thursday, they might intensify; however, afterwards, they will diminish. The reason you can flow through this week with confidence and charm is because lucky Jupiter is in your sign! Jupiter always brings divine protection; plus, it boosts your confidence and sense of optimism. Nothing to fear. Metaphors be with you!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You are part of a tense dynamic with Saturn and Sun being at odds with your sign. (You might want to buy the ring tone app of the haunting opening of the theme song of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.) There’s no question that you will encounter difficulties dealing with parents and authority figures this week. (They might have difficulty dealing with you as well because Mars is in your sign, which means you’re no shrinking violet.) Midweek, you will feel tension building up before the Full Moon taking place at the top of your chart. You’ll feel pulled between the demands of home and family versus the demands of your career or public reputation. Everything settles down by the end of the week. Hey, no mud – no lotus.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Pay attention to everything you say and do this week because this is an accident-prone time for your sign. This means verbal gaffs as well as physical accidents. Think before you speak or act, especially because you might be fixated on a financial situation or something you own. You might also be caught up in ideas that are political, religious or race -related and this could upset your peace of mind. Fortunately, after the Full Moon peaks on Thursday, things will quiet down. (Btw, you can attract money to you this week.) Family conversations will be productive and interesting. Short trips and discussions with others will intrigue you. (Don’t fry bacon when you’re naked.)
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This week begins with passionate intensity because Venus in your sign opposes Pluto, which means, “I must have that!” Suddenly, your world is black-and-white – there are no greys. You have temporarily lost the ability to see that everything is relative. (Of course, all generalizations are false, including this one.) You might meet someone new. Existing relationships might be overshadowed by guilt and manipulation. Be wise and put a lid on things. Don’t express your feelings right away because by the end of the week, everything will look different. If you act out at the beginning of the week, you will end up with egg on your face. (Ketchup helps.)
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This week in All Signs above, I mention the dynamic of a Mexican standoff, which takes place between the Sun, Saturn and Mars. Behold! The Sun is in your sign at 3 o’clock, which means Saturn is opposite your sign, and Mars is at high noon. So, what’s it going to be? Wooden spoons or darts? Remember: anger makes everyone miserable. Meanwhile, patience is the antidote to anger. You have to ask yourself. “Do I want to have a happy week?” Of course, you do. Therefore, avoid doing things that trigger conflict with others because who needs this? You have the advantage of the Sun in your sign. This happens only once a year! Let the Sun restore and rejuvenate you! You’ve got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive, and ee-lim-in-ate-the negative.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Yay! You have a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for this week’s planetary challenges. Yes, you’ll feel some tension, especially with coworkers and issues related to higher education, medicine and the law — but this is nothing you can’t handle. Perhaps the biggest challenge is at the beginning of the week, on Monday, when issues with a friend or a member of a group might become intense. Someone might try to coerce you to agree with their ideas. Or they might try to manipulate you or guilt trip you so that they can get their own way or stop you from doing something. Don’t fall for this. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You can sidestep much of the tension this week. (Albeit, you might encounter difficulty with kids, friends and groups, as well as shared property, insurance and the wealth or debt of someone else.) At the beginning of the week, you’ll have strong feelings about a boss or someone in authority. This might be about a romance? Or you might feel passionately about something related to design, layout work, redecorating or how something looks. Of course, many people don’t realize how much you are affected by your immediate surroundings. Furthermore, they don’t realize you have an excellent eye for beauty, colour, composition and furniture arrangement. (Apparently, fellow Libran Oscar Wilde’s last words were, “Either that wallpaper goes or I do.”)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
At the beginning of the week, you have strong views about religion, politics or racial issues. Or perhaps, you’re involved with travel plans, legal issues or medical matters? Whatever the case, you will state your views, which like a chain reaction, might upset bosses, older family members, as well as spouses, partners and close friends. (Oh yeah; you’ll be in the thick of it!) Fortunately, the ace up your sleeve is the fact that right now, the Sun is at the top of your chart casting you in a flattering spotlight. You are admired! (Others will understand and forgive.) This means you can skate through skirmishes building to Thursday’s Full Moon, after which, your dreams are free! (With a small charge for alterations.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
As the philosopher of the zodiac, this week, you might find yourself in conflict about politics, religion or racial issues. Or perhaps it’s about challenges you face dealing with travel plans? Issues at work will further complicate things. (Is there no justice?) As this week begins, you might be caught in the throes of a passionate love affair because you’re overwhelmed by obsessive feelings. (Possibly your strong feelings relate to shared property or inheritances.) In either case, you are prepared to stand up for your beliefs. Pay attention to what you say and do because the Full Moon on Thursday is an accident-prone time for you. Be mindful. After that, you’re free!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Be patient with partners and close friends at the beginning of the week because people are entrenched in their views, including you. Passionate feelings will lead to passionate beliefs and intense conversations. (Einstein said, “Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”) The thorny issues that you face this week, especially leading up to Thursday’s Full Moon, will deal with shared property, financial and practical issues, especially related to your kids, or something to do with vacations and social outings. (Why is there always so much month left at the end of the money?) These issues matter to you because you want to feel secure in your old age.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
This week you might be at cross purposes with partners, domestic situations and your desire to do things the way they’ve always been done. (Or because you are an unconventional, spontaneous individual –maybe you want to do things different from the way they’ve always been done?) Whatever the case, issues will build in intensity until Thursday, when the only Full Moon in your sign all year occurs. (Gulp!) The secret is to stay flexible. Remember, the rigid trees are the first to snap in a storm. Fortunately, Jupiter will keep you optimistic! (Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.)
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Oscar Wilde said, “Work is the curse of the drinking class.” This week, you agree. Initially, as the week begins, a romance might grab you by the throat. You might feel obsessed by passion! (Possibly, parents will be challenged by their kids.) But as the week goes on, work-related issues will build until the Full Moon on Thursday. Note: This tension could affect your health. It might also be tension related to your pet. Whatever the case, it will likely trigger arguments with everyday contacts – siblings, relatives and neighbours. This makes it tough to keep the peace. Be wise. Don’t be foolish on Twitter. Don’t end up in Facebook jail. Say nothing you will later regret.
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Weekly Horoscopes beginning Sunday,
07 August 2022
If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.
Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.
Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19
Your horoscope for this week:
True, the past week’s events were sudden and, often, unsettling. Still, you’re now recognising them as timely breakthroughs; and judging by the current planetary activity, there’s yet more excitement to come. The challenge? Recognising that because, in certain situations, you’re short of facts, decisions must wait. In the meanwhile, focus on decluttering your life and schedule of activities and objectives that really should be history.
It can take courage to admit you are struggling with a big responsibility. You took on this work because of the challenge of doing something completely new, and you will learn as you go. Even so, relying on your own limited knowledge where greater expertise is necessary would be foolish. Be willing to accept help and guidance from an experienced colleague. An offer to join a training course is worth considering whether to add to your qualifications or to develop new skills.
In the run-up to Friday’s Full Moon, the urge to purge, to clear out, to space clear and generally prune should increase. Don’t underestimate your efficient sub-personality. If care needs to be taken, it’s that you could in your determination to make space, you could throw away something that would be useful. This is as true of working partnerships as it is of items. Yes, you’re right in that tough decision do need to be made and arriving at graceful conclusions, a challenge. Just how responsible you are for other people’s happiness could bring uncomfortable emotions to the surface. Yet this seems to be a week for going back to basics in order to survive.
Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20
Your horoscope for this week:
Sometimes setbacks are nothing more than difficulties to be overcome. However, those you’ve been facing since late July and which continue this week, are an invitation to rethink increasingly troublesome situations and, equally, to explore options you’ve rejected, some recently. Why, then, would you consider these again? Times have changed and so has your vision of the future. The more you explore, the more you’ll learn.
Before continuing with joint arrangements, ask yourself what you hope to get out of them. It may be that these have become a habit you haven’t given a lot of thought to recently. If so, you could replace these routines with something more fun or productive. You aren’t sure whether you can trust a colleague. Watch them carefully, and you could learn more from their actions than their words. A change of scene will help curb your restless instincts.
Friday’s Full Moon configures with Saturn which is presently moving over the career zone of your solar chart. This is responsibility time. It may not be easy to make decisions and yes, considerable investment of cash and energy could leave you feeling as though resources are drained. It might help to know that as of Friday 12th, Venus begins its transit of the apex of your solar chart and that actions taken should soon be rewarded. You won’t be the only sign to feel that the cupboard is bare and that there is gloom and doom ahead. However, with Uranus travelling through your sign, your entrepreneurial spirit ought not to be too far from the surface – bringing with it the options to create new revenue streams.
Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20
Your horoscope for this week:
Currently, you’re focusing on decluttering your life. In part, you’re reviewing your goals; but, equally, it’s about eliminating outdated plans and passions. You’re clearing the way for the powerful cycle of change and growth that begins on 20 August, when fiery Mars moves into Gemini, its first visit in two years. The more you let go of now, the more swiftly those breakthroughs will appear.
Getting a balance between pursuing personal aims and being there when other people need you is important now. As well as getting on with your own concerns, keeping in touch with friends, listening to loved ones and showing a willingness to carry out responsibilities to the best of your ability. This will help you keep a well-balanced and healthy outlook. Sharing your knowledge of an unusual subject in workplace conversations will impress a senior colleague.
Take time to consider your expertise. With Mercury moving over the base of your solar chart, a review of qualifications would surely be wise. This might also be the time to look around for an appropriate course to begin in September. There is strong possibility that as Neptune has been moving through your career zone, that you have spread yourself too thinly. It might help to discuss with a professional adviser or mentor how you could repackage recent experience. Revising your CV by Friday’s Full Moon would surely be a valuable exercise. Though obviously much depends on your personal chart, this might also be the moment to push yourself into a role that requires accepting more responsibility and 2 – 3-year commitment.
Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22
Your horoscope for this week:
Recently you’ve faced a series of shakeups. Initially, these seemed an unsettling nuisance. Gradually, however, you realised events were shifting your focus from once-meaningful goals to new and, often unfamiliar, ideas and settings. Take things slowly. For now, explore. As you learn more, you’ll find yourself not only intrigued by the unexpected, your intuition will tell you which direction to go next.
Be sure to let those you care for know how much you appreciate them being in your life. It doesn’t matter how busy you are and how heavy your responsibilities are; there are friends and loved ones who are patiently waiting for your company. You never know when things or people you take for granted might suddenly disappear. An older colleague will give some practical guidance. You wish you had listened to them when they tried to help you before.
Do you really want to know that there’s a Full Moon on Friday (12th)? If you’re a Cancerian who knows that you tend to go over the top at this time of the month, then it may help. You could choose to pull your shell down hard over you, preventing others from witnessing your reaction to events and to their decision-making. This Full Moon configures with Saturn; suggesting a melancholic if not cold and hard time. Businesswise some tough, tough decisions might need to be taken. Yet this is also a time when professionalism should win out. Worrying is not a productive energy. Instead, you could choose to show just how quietly organised and efficient you can be and so prove yourself indispensable – especially to those trying to get a new project off the ground.
Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22
Your horoscope for this week:
The Leo New Moon, on 28 July, introduced a timely fresh perspective on certain tricky situations. However, turning them into lasting plans hasn’t been easy. The problem isn’t your ideas but that, as a fire sign, you’re often impatient. The solution? It’s not figuring out ways to speed things up, but to use this time to declutter your life of outdated passions and potentially troublesome obstacles.
It doesn’t matter how many different methods and approaches you take to complete a job; nothing seems to be happening. You know you are fooling yourself by thinking progress is being made when in actual fact, you’re just chasing your tail. Get to the root of the problem to work out how to resolve it. This will pull you out of a rut. Later in the week, duty won’t get a look in when you are more in the mood for fun, frolics and flirtation.
It would be understandable if you were in highly protective and security conscious mode. Friday’s Full Moon is in your opposite sign and you may feel that others are placing unexpectable burdens on you. The more efficient you can show yourself to be the better. Practicalities have to be addressed. You would be correct in thinking, that this would be pouring Earth on a Fire and that your spirit could so easily be put out. What you need is considerable understanding – though it may be a case that you have to give before you receive. Anticipate reaching a major turning point by the end of this week when reviewing your career and the control you have or have not over a situation would be wise. It might help to discuss this with a Libra or Aquarius.
Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22
Your horoscope for this week:
For several weeks you’ve been wrestling with tricky questions. Now that your ruling planet, Mercury, has moved into Virgo, the facts you’ve been seeking will come your way; and, equally, you’ll have the clarity necessary to make certain pivotal decisions. Still, with things moving so swiftly, both the circumstances you’re dealing with and your own priorities are likely to change, possibly more than once.
You’re looking for ways to bring improvements into your life. If you are hoping to gain a better position, let your work speak for itself. There’s no need to exaggerate your accomplishments. Those in high positions already know what you are capable of. It will come as a relief when domestic plans that have been discussed are set in motion. You wondered if this day would ever come. Any problems that do crop up will not be as serious as you think.
With Mercury moving through your sign, you could be in hyper active mode. The default system for Virgo is to worry. In the lead into Friday’s Full Moon, tough decisions need to be taken. It might seem that others are failing to take responsibility for recent actions and so understandable if you feel overwhelmed; and yet: it’s precisely these chaotic conditions that your efficiency side surfaces and you create magic. With others in panic mode, your ability to think creatively and to view obstacles as challenges should get you noticed. Others will surely find you indispensable to their team and as a result, a career opportunity could open up ahead of8 your birthday.
Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22
Your horoscope for this week:
You’re faced with a range of decisions. The challenge? These are meant to be ‘final’. However, with the foundation on which they’re based shifting, changes are inevitable. Actually, that’s for the best, because events aren’t just exciting, they’re taking you into new, and worthwhile, territory. Resist the temptation to make promises. Instead, for now, regard plans as more of an experiment than anything lasting.
It will be upsetting to discover someone you had trusted has been keeping secrets. There is no excuse for their behaviour, even though they will try to explain it in a way that makes their actions seem justified. Refuse to let them get around you if they have been disloyal or unfaithful. A team effort will hit a brick wall. This all has to do with differing views. You will reach an agreement when it is agreed that if this situation continues, nothing will get done at all.
Pay attention to detail. By Friday’s Full Moon (which accents the research and development area of your solar chart), you could be ready for a launch. True, that will likely bring with it considerable responsibility. Yet this may be something that’s been planned for some months. Focus is essential with pricing and estimates requiring careful attention mid-week. It’s probable that you have many allies. With Jupiter moving through your opposite sign – albeit retrograde – those that you bounced ideas off between mid-May and late July, should be ready to give essential support. The art is in knowing exactly what and when to delegate: another of this week’s challenges.
Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21
Your horoscope for this week:
As a Scorpio, before making even simple plans, you think things through, so changes are rare. Except that recently and now, during the coming week, changes are as frequent as they are unexpected. While, initially this seems unsettling, it’s about breakthroughs. Some will have been on your mind, but others are as puzzling as they are surprising. Decisions? They can wait. For now, focus on exploration.
Refuse to feel intimidated when an older relative or neighbour starts to treat you like a child. Contention in a group situation will contribute to the tension you are already feeling. It might be useful to remind yourself of how you have helped others in the past. They weren’t so opinionated or pushy when they needed you. Health is up and down. You will be either feeling elated and euphoric or empty and low. There seems to be nothing in between. Take it nice and slow.
Last Friday’s First Quarter Moon was in your sign and the coming Full Moon this Friday, is in another of the Fixed signs. This represents a super busy week for Scorpio: one that is focused on asset management and space clearing. You won’t be the only sign to feel overwhelmed by tasks. In your case, it could be that you’ve attracted too much mess and that there are too many things you’ve outgrown or no longer need. By clearing space, you create opportunity for fresh developments – which should be plentiful from the Full Moon. The art is to show Virgo or Cancer colleagues, that you have everything in hand, and are ready to move forward.
Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21
Your horoscope for this week:
You’re already aware that certain ideas or offers are thrilling. Yet twists and turns aren’t just inevitable, they’re forcing you to rethink even simple plans. For you, as an inquisitive Sagittarian, that’s not only easy, it’s fun. Still, certain uptight individuals are annoyed with the resulting delays. Apologise politely, explaining you’re in the midst of a cycle of exploration and decisions really must wait.
Not only will you find it hard to believe how quickly things start to happen, but some events will seem almost too amazing to be true. Despite being caught by surprise, you will cope with the unexpected. It would be good to use any time you have on your hands later in the week to tie up as many loose ends as possible or to look for someone who is willing to take over some of your responsibilities temporarily. Make the most of every opportunity.
Starting the week with fresh strategy would be wise. With much still in upheaval and systems still not bedded in, the challenge is to get both people and items into the right place. You’d perhaps agree that the last two years have seen this as a constant and relentless issue. Endlessly you’ve had to make adjustment – a theme that hasn’t quite run its course. However, it may be that contacts made since the middle of May will return with ideas as to how you might progress together. In the days leading up to Friday’s Full Moon, anticipate exciting developments. Whilst these would surely disrupt routine once more, on this occasion what’s suggested may be entirely appropriate and relieve pressure.
Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19
Your horoscope for this week:
You may already have noticed you’re in a period of twists and turns. Annoying as the resulting unpredictable events are, they’re forcing you to rethink both longstanding arrangements and more recent plans. Certain individuals want these dealt with swiftly. Instead, invest time in exploring your options, especially those you’d once have dismissed. What seems least likely now, could work out best in the long run.
It will be hard to explain why you are anxious about what’s ahead when there is nothing to suggest things will go wrong. It could be that being able to get through a few meetings, seminars or discussions without contention is what means most to you. Someone who tends to be argumentative should be kept at arm’s length. A senior colleague has convinced themselves that a new contract is worth pursuing even though there will be objections.
Friday’s Full Moon accents a key financial axis of your solar chart. It’s probable that you are en-route to making tough and important decisions. Before Friday, the Moon passes through your sign – which will hopefully give you considerable voice. Whilst finer details could be time-consuming to resolve, and unexpected developments (including alteration of a design), leave you momentarily both excited but also exhilarated, it does appear that you’re coming to conclusion about an issue that’s preyed on your mind for at least the couple last couple of years. You might also need to give careful consideration to developments in a close colleague or partner’s career. The impact that this is having on your schedule may be considerable and require review of your commitments.
Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18
Your horoscope for this week:
Yes, you’re inquisitive, enough that often you’ll rethink seemingly solid plans. Yet you also have a stubborn streak. The current cycle of change, triggered by events as sudden as they are far-reaching, is forcing an extensive rethink. This has roused the inflexible side of your nature. Instead, regard this as instructive. The secret? Despite your reservations, takes chances. You’ll soon realise how wise this was.
It will be clear when you receive a message early on that you will be dealing with something out of the ordinary. You will have to give some serious thought about who and what you support. In dealing with a business issue, all views will be considered. Nothing will be ruled out. A new start is something you have been considering for some time. Any advice on any subject can be found by talking to others who have been through similar experiences.
Friday’s Full Moon is in your sign and comes just a day after the Sun arrives at right angle to one of your ruling planets, Uranus. It’s probable that you will be at the centre of high drama. The build-up will surely start earlier in the week when it becomes apparent that certain systems are no longer efficient. It might also be that you are chasing invoices and finding others to be either administratively incompetent or elusive. Even so, it would be wise to make clear that present behaviour is unacceptable and that you need to see better results. Given that you likely have considerable excess energy, you could usefully deploy that in space clearing; making it obvious that you’ve come to the end of one particular way of working.
Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20
Your horoscope for this week:
Recently, you’ve been wrestling with issues, from personal doubts to tensions with those around you; and, worse, you’re unable to discuss these. For now, regard them as a game, a sort of obstacle course. This perspective prevents you from taking these too seriously. Actually, your reactions are preparing you for the powerful insights that come with the Pisces Full Moon, in four weeks’ time.
This is not an inactive time as such. Even if you are keeping to the background and some people are finding it hard to contact you, you will be busy with important concerns. There’s a reason why you are keeping to yourself, and it’s because you want to get on without any distractions. Keeping your thoughts and feelings hidden will be wise. Romantic plans will forge ahead nicely in the weekend. You will cherish intimate moments shared forever.
Colleagues who worry more than they take action, may require you to steer their career-ship midweek. Consider, is this the best use of your energy? It’s often the case that Pisces expertise is undervalued. You perhaps need to show – particularly within a large organisation, – that you’re carrying too great a load. Though this may be temporarily inevitable, it might be wise before Friday’s Full Moon, to make clear that this is not a situation you wish to continue and that you need reassurance that there will be reappraisal in the not-too-distant future. Note that the Full Moon coincides with Venus’ Leo ingress. It’s likely to be a day of high drama. That being the case, rehearsing what you need to say as you make confrontation would be wise.
~CelestialPrognostication
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