Views thoughts and ponderings...

Yule, The Roots of Christmas

2011-12-04T16:34:00.000-08:00

Yule is the Winter Solstice that marks the first day of winter and shortest day of the year. A solar festival in celebration of the return of the Sun and light. The Solstice is a turning point in the wheel of the year, when the sun symbolically dies and is reborn. The balance has tipped as far toward the dark as it can go, the night of the greatest lunar imbalance. The earth has laid long periods of darkness, and grows weary from the lack of sun. After this day, the days grow progressively longer.

Yule comes from the Scandinavian word Jul. The tradition originated in Egypt in pre Christian time, century’s prior to Christianity, with a twelve day celebration of the rebirth of the sun. Greenery was used to decorate everything. News of the sun welcoming festival spread and soon other countries began to celebrate it. The Roman solar festival, Saturnalia, was celebrated with candles, singing feasting and gift giving. A Winter Solstice celebration spread throughout Europe and is now the Yule festival we know today.

Candles were burnt and placed around to mark this festival. Last years Yule log is lit at sunset on the 25th of December, its ashes and remains were thought to have guarded their homes against fire or lightening. The remains were placed around fields for good luck for next years harvest. The largest remaining part of the log was kept for next year’s burning. Holly and ivy were thought to symbolize the “light” in the “darkness” of the winter days. Evergreens basically symbolized the rebirth in winter.

Yule is a festival, not just a single holiday. The Yule season or Yuletide begins on the solstice, which is the Mother Night of Yule, and ends 12 nights later with Twelfth Night/New Years. In honor of the birth of the sun on December 25th, this festival was slowly converted to Christmas as the sun and earth believes rivaled Christianity in popularity. December 21st was marked as the day when the sun was reborn, also being the shortest day of the year. This time was sacred, as it had its association with the winter.

The Encyclopedia Romana reveals that many Christmas traditions were adopted from a Roman celebration Saturnalia. It also states that “by the middle of the fourth century AD, many of its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas." It is obvious by these references that the end of December was a time of pagan celebration and that it was adopted as the birth date of Jesus Christ. It is not mentioned in the bible that Christmas is a festival practiced before the birth of Christ, or a celebration in honor of the birth of Jesus or clearly when Jesus was born. The world book encyclopedia States, “the early Christians did not celebrate the birth of Jesus... because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” Moreover, early Christians did not celebrate Christmas as Christmas, however they celebrated the festival.

Nearly every tradition associated with the Christmas celebration has been stolen and derived from the Winter Solstice/Yule, a pagan celebration. The origins of these practices should not be ignored by Christians and those who claim to be followers of the Jesus way of life should take a closer examination of this and ask themselves, is Christmas really a Christian holiday? Is Christmas a Christian festival? The answer is simply no. Christmas is a pagan festival, taken or adopted by the Christians at a time when they wanted to convert pagans to Christianity.

In roman history, the empire was divided. The Christian church inside Rome adopted this idea, and from then on, all the rituals and rites, including the symbolism, have been taken by the Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christmas tree, hollies, etc. are all taken from the ancient pagan festival Yule/Winter Solstice.

Thus, a pagan festival, celebrated long before Christ’s birth, found its way into recognized Christianity.

A little more ….

The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log…are relics of pre-Christian time.
The Yule log was commonly used in a rite of Teutonic nature believes. The Yule log is believed to be a branch of the oak tree, which was placed on a fire on Mother Night (Christmas Eve). The next day it was referred to as the "Branch of God".
The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by authorities to be traceable to the pagan customs of decorating buildings and places of worship at the feast that took place at the same time as Christmas.
European pagans brought holly sprays and trees into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as refuge from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship. The earliest Roman Christians apparently used holly as a decoration at the Christmas season.”
Mistletoe was sacred because it mysteriously grew on the most sacred tree, the oak, was ceremoniously cut and a spray given to each family, to be hung in the doorways as good luck. To hang it over a doorway or in a room was to offer goodwill to visitors. Kissing under the mistletoe was a pledge of friendship. Mistletoe is still forbidden in most Christian churches because of its Pagan associations, but it has continued to have a special place in home celebrations.

Where Halloween Came From

2011-10-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well here we are again, the season of Fall in the month of October. Fall is my favorite time of the year and October my favorite month. I love the colors and the feeling of the energy in the air at this time, as the veil between the worlds grows thinner. It's a time to celebrate the last of the 3 harvests as the earth prepares to rest while we travel through the dark side to the year. Samhein, better known as Halloween, is the time to honor our ancestors and those who have gone before us, A time to think about endings and think about new beginning for the coming of the new year. Do you know what Halloween is really about? Well, climb aboard your broomstick and come fly with me as I fill you in on the true meaning of Halloween...

What is Halloween? Where did Halloween come from? Why do we dress up in costumes, go trick or treating and place lighted pumpkins in our windows and on our doorsteps? Like Christmas, the real meaning behind the Holliday, including it's name, and what it represented during the ancient times, has been lost. Let's take a trip back to ancient times and discover where Halloween came from.....

Did you know the name Halloween is actually a contraction of All Hallow's Eve? When Christianity arrived in the Celtic countries, the church discouraged communication with the spirits. November 1st was created as a day for celebration of the Saints of the Church, with the hope of displacing the pagan customs. This holiday was called All Saints Day, or All Hallows Day. The night before was called All Hallows Eve, or Hallow'een, as we know it today. Many Halloween traditions, as many other Christian celebrations, are disguised adaptations of the more ancient pagan and Celtic traditions better know as Samhain.

Samhain, pronounced 'sow-in' or 'sow-een' or 'sav-en' means the end of Summer and the last harvest. When the Earth says it's farewell to the Summer and prepares for winter. This is the time for reflection and to honor the Ancient ones who have passed on before us. The Veil between the worlds is lifted at this time, making communication with ancestors and departed loved ones easy. A magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended.

Samhain is an ancient festival that roots back as far as ancient Egypt. When celebrating the end of the harvest and the long days of summer are replaced by the coming of winter, have long been in existence. It is documented in folklore sources such as "The Golden Bough" by Sir James Frazer, that the circle of birth, death and rebirth has been linked to the seasons and harvest, in many cultures.

Since ancient times in the Celtic cultures, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead. This day marks the new year and the beginning of the cold months to come. The last harvest of crops is celebrated with fairs and festivals. In addition to its agricultural significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. October 31st is exactly between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice and considered a very potent time for magic and communication with spirits. This is the time when the "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest. The dead were invited to return and feast with their loved ones. Ancient customs vary from placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who have passed over.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today this traditions is still practiced. A candle was lit and placed in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set at the table and around the hearth for the unseen guests. Apples were buried along roadsides for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. This was a night of magic and chaos, when The Wee Folk became active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was not advised. People dressed in white, like ghosts, wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as someone or something different from themselves, so not to be recognized, in order to fool the Nature spirits.

Crops left in the fields on Samhain were considered taboo and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, originally called bone-fires, where bones were thrown into the fire as offerings for a healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year. Stones were marked with names and tossed into the fire and retrieved the next morning. The condition of the retrieved stone would predict the person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity. The ashes were spread over harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas, Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest, and Martinmas (celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Hence, is where today's Halloween came from..

As we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life. .....
Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain! .....

Easter - The Splitting of Hares

2011-04-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

The roots of the Easter tradition do not reveal the truth about Christ’s resurrection, perhaps we should uncover the truth of its origins.

Easter celebrations were held hundreds of years before Christ was born, as festivals of spring honoring Eastre the great mother goddess of the Saxons, who's sacred animal was the hare. This name was fashioned after the ancient word for spring, Eastre. The goddess Ostara was the Norse equivalent whose symbols were the hare and the egg. From this comes our modern tradition of celebrating Easter with eggs and bunnies.

The name Easter does have a religious meaning, but the religion is not Christianity. Instead, the word Easter is derived from an ancient Teutonic goddess of fertility named Estere.

Going back even further into antiquity, Easter can also be traced to the ancient goddess Ishtar, and is associated with the deification of women goddesses in western religion up to and including the Catholic deification of Mary.

The pagan roots of Easter do not end with just the name.

Easter Rabbit and Eggs - The symbols of rabbits and eggs can be traced to pagan fertility celebrations. The use of the egg goes back to ancient Mesopotamia where it was closely identified with another goddess of fertility, Astarte. The following quote from the ancient Egyptian historian Hyginus explains the connection: “An egg of wondrous size is said to have fallen from heaven into the river Euphrates. The fishes rolled it to the bank, where the doves having settled upon it, hatched it, and out came Venus, who afterwards was called the Syrian Goddess [that is, Astarte].” Some historians also claim that eggs were prominent in Egyptian temples and Druid springtime ceremonies. The Easter Bunny can also be traced back to the Teutonic pagan celebration of Estere or Astarte. It is in connection with this festival that the pagan adherents looked to the hare as a symbol of fertility because of its prolific nature. During this celebration eggs were believed to have come from the hare as a symbol of a new, abundant spring. Christian inherited the custom of looking for eggs left by the Easter bunny.

Easter Sunrise Service - This custom can be traced back to the ancient Pagan custom of welcoming the sun God at the vernal equinox - when daytime is about to exceed the length of nighttime. It was a time to "celebrate the return of life and reproduction to animal and plant life as well."

Easter Candles - Candles lit in churches on the eve of Easter Sunday. Some commentators believe that these can be directly linked to the Pagan customs of lighting bonfires at this time of year to welcome the rebirth/resurrection of the sun God.

If you’re wondering what Teutonic fertility goddesses have to do with Christianity, you’re not alone. Biblically, there are no connections. Therefore the question remains, why does Christianity celebrate Easter?

The answer lies in the ingenious way that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices. After discovering that people were more reluctant to give up their holidays and festivals than their gods, they simply incorporated Pagan practices into Christian festivals. As recounted by the Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer, clever clerics copied Pagan practices making Christianity more palatable to pagan folk reluctant to give up their festivals for Christian practices.

by Cybercat April 3, 2011

Nemetona and the Magical Grove

2011-03-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's here! The light side of the year is underway! The blooms and buds are awakening and pushing their way open from their winter slumber. New growth is beginning to hide under the dead foliage left over from the last growing season. It is time to start getting our gardens cleaned up and ready for another year of garden magic!

1.Cut back perennials and last years dead growth and foliage to make room for the new growth that should now be appearing underneath.
2. Clean dead leaves and other fallen foliage out from under and around plants and shrubs to provide clearance and circulation to grow.
3. Start prepare the soil in the garden for planting.
4. Plant new shrubs and plants.
5. Fertilize.
6. Clean moss from concrete and wooden patios, walks, porches, driveways and decks.
7. Declutter and clean out the garages, closets, cupboards and storage areas of unwanted and no longer used items.

A Little Ostara History ...

Ostara is the Spring Equinox - also known as Eostre, Easter and Alban. This is the first day of Spring and one of the four solar festivals. A day of balance where day and night are equal in length, it is neither winter or summer

Ostara is a fairly new celebration honoring the rebirth of Mother Nature. There is speculation that this day owes it's roots to the Roman invasion of Ireland. However this day has long been associated with Nemetona, a Romano-Celtic Goddess of the magical Grove. The name Nemetona is thought to be derived from Nemhedh, who was the leader of the third invasion of Ireland. Nemetona means 'grove', and holds special significance to the Celts.

The woodlands are thought to be magical and sacred places. Perhaps this beauty of natures magic is why Nemetona and the grove of the wood is associated with this day. Even in the cool wetness of the early spring, it is obvious that winter is over.

Christmas, Another Stolen Holiday

2010-12-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Here we are again, in the dark side of the year when nature is bginning it's long slumber into winter. A long needed rest after a busy growing and harvest seasons. We are well into the hollidays and rapidly approaching another the Winter Solstice.

Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, it is a turning point in nature, the shortest day and the longest night, when the dark half of the year gives way to the light. It is a celebration of the return of the light, when the sun is reborn.

Candles are burnt and lights are lit and placed around to mark this festival. Last years Yule log is lit at sunset on the 25^thof December, its ashes were thought to have guarded their homes against fire or lightening. The ashes were also placed around fields for good luck for next years harvest. The largest remaining part of the log was kept for next year’s burning. Holly symbolised the “light” in the “darkness” of the winter days and evergreens symbolized the rebirth in winter.

Yule is also a festival, not just a single holiday. The Yule season or Yuletide begins on the solstice, which is the Mother Night of Yule, and ends 12 nights later with Twelfth Night/New Years.

In honour of the birth of the sun on December 25^th, this festival was slowly converted to Christmas as the sun and earth beleives rivalled Christianity in popularity. The Christian church inside Rome adopted this idea, and from then on, all the rituals and rites, including the symbolism, have been stolen and taken by the Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christmas tree, decorating with evergreens, holly, mistletoe, etc. are all taken from the ancient pagan festival Yule, the Winter Soltice. Another pagan festival, celebrated long before Christ’s birth, found its way into recognized Christianity.

The bible does not mention that Christmas is a festival practised before the birth of Christ, or a celebration in honour of Jesus’ birth, or clearly when Jesus was born. The world book encyclopaedia States, “the early Christians did not celebrate his (Jesus birth) because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” Early Christians did not celebrate Christmas as Christmas, it was taken from paganism, however they celebrated the festival.

The Encyclopedia Romana reveals that many Christmas traditions were adapted from a Roman celebration called the Saturnalia. It also states that “by the middle of the fourth century AD, many of its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas." (Encyclopedia Roman, 2007, “Saturnalia”). It is obvious by these two references that the end of December was a time of pagan celebration that was adopted as the birth date of Jesus Christ.

Nearly every tradition associated with the Christmas celebration is stolen and derived from the Winter Solstice, Yule, and actually a pagan celebration. The origins of these practices should not be ignored by Christians and those who claim to be followers of the Jesus’ way of life should take a closer examination of this and ask themselves, is Christmas really a Christian holiday an festival? The answer is simply no. Christmas is a pagan festival, taken and adopted by the Christians at a time when they wanted to convert pagans to Christianity.

A little more ….

The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log…are relics of pre-Christian time.

The Yule log was commonly used in a rite of Teutonic nature believes. The Yule log is believed to be a branch of the oak tree, which was placed on a fire on Mother Night (Christmas Eve). The next day it was referred to as the "Branch of God".

The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by authorities to be traceable to the pagan customs of decorating buildings and places of worship at the feast that took place at the same time as Christmas.

European pagans brought holly sprays into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as refuge from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship. The earliest Roman Christians apparently used holly as a decoration at the Christmas season.”

Mistletoe was sacred because it mysteriously grew on the most sacred tree, the oak, was ceremoniously cut and a spray given to each family, to be hung in the doorways as good luck. To hang it over a doorway or in a room was to offer goodwill to visitors. Kissing under the mistletoe was a pledge of friendship. Mistletoe is still forbidden in most Christian churches because of its Pagan associations, but it has continued to have a special place in home celebrations.

Where Halloween came from

2010-10-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

Beltane

2010-04-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

As the wheel continues to spin faster through the seasons each year, spring has sprung and May 1st is upon us. Which brings us to the next milestone in the wheel, Beltane, more commonly known as May Day. The beginning of the warmer and the lighter half of the year. Beltane is second in significance or equal to the Samhain celebration, better known as Halloween. Samhain marks the start of winter and occurs on the opposite side of the wheel of the year, falling midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

The History, as I know it....

Beltane comes from the Celtic word meaning “balefire.” Beltane, or May Day is the fertility festival marking the beginning of summer. While the modern May Day celebration, particularly in the United States, seems a far cry from its ancient roots, the Celtic festival Beltane enjoys a renaissance.

Beltane much like Samhain, has changed over the years. It is believed that Beltane is a Celtic reinvention of an even older Roman festival, Floralia, which celebrated the goddess Flora and the flowering of spring.

Beltane, like Samhain, is a time when the veil between the worlds is thought to be thin, a time when magic is possible. Where Samhain revelers must look out for wandering souls of the dead, Beltane merrymakers must watch for mischievous Fairies.

Many begin their celebration at sundown on April 30th. May Eve festival is one of the Ancient Celtic "Fire Festivals", from sundown on April 30th to sundown on May 1st, or around May 5th, when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus. It is the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the "Wheel of the Year" is returned to the Goddess.

The Celtic day starts and ends at sundown, all village hearth fires were extinguished and two Beltane fires were lit on hilltops. The villagers would drive their livestock between the fires three times, to cleanse them and insure their fertility in the coming summer, then put them to pasture for the summer. Jumping over the smoldering balefire was thought to insure protection for individuals. Couples wishing for fertility would "jump the fires" on Beltane night.

Beltane celebrations include dancing around the “May Pole” to insure fertility for the coming year. People often decorate their neighbor's doorsteps with fresh flowers tucked inside homemade baskets. Sometimes the baskets of flowers were left on the doorsteps of people who were too ill or old to attend the Beltane celebrations. In this way, the entire town could participate in the joys of the coming spring.

Other May Day customs include: Walking of one’s property (“beating the bounds”), repairing fences and boundary markers, processions of chimney sweeps and milkmaids, archery tournaments, Morris dances, sword dances, feasting, picnics, music and drinking.

In America May Day is not widely celebrated. An American May Day tradition that has died out, is making and delivering of the May basket, which is a basket filled with flowers and various other gifts, then anonymously placed on the doorstep of a friend or family member.

Celebrate the earths turning of the wheel to the awakening of the light and bright side of the year and have a Merry Beltane!

Nemetona and the Magical Grove

2010-02-15T11:56:00.001-08:00

Spring is rapidly approaching, the blooms and buds are beginning to wake up from their winter slumber and new growth is appearing from under last years dead foliage. As Spring draws nearer, we begin to see the days become longer. The dark side of the year will soon be behind us, as Spring chases away the cold winter months and spreads it's warmth across the earth. It is time to get our gardens in order for another year of garden magic!

You can start by.....
Removing the dead foliage from under and around plants and shrubs to provide clearance and circulation to grow.

Cut roses back to 1 1/2 feet high. Remove the small and the inner canes, to open the center of the plant. Use a systemic fertilizer to discourage bugs and encourage new growth.

Prune trees and shrubs to keep them in the desired shape and size.

A Little Spring Equinox History ...
Ostara, the Spring Equinox - also known as Eostre, Easter, Alban, Lady Day or Summer Finding, is one of the four solar festivals. This is the time when day and night are of equal length. It is the first day of Spring and is tradionally the day of balance, neither inter or summer.

This day was not one of the original festivals honored in early Celtic days before and during the realm of the Druids and early Celts. It is a fairly new celebration honoring the rebirth of Mother Nature.

There is speculation that this day owes it's roots to the Roman invasion of Ireland. Ceaser being the God who returns to the maiden land of the Celts. However, reviewing Celtic mythology and history, this does not play out. The day has long been associated with Nemetona, a Roman-Celtic Goddess of the magical Grove. Nemetona means 'grove', and holds special significance to the Celts.

The woodlands are thought to be magical and sacred places. The name Nemetona is thought to be derived from Nemhedh, who was the leader of the third invasion of Ireland.

Even in the cool wetness of the early spring, it is obvious that winter is over. Perhaps this beauty of natures magic is why Nemetona and the grove of the wood is associated with Spring Equinox.

Voices From the Cauldron - October

2009-10-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

What happened to September? Mabon came and went so quickly!! Fall is my favorite time of the year, especially October. October is a transitional month when the weather can't quite make up it's mind what it wants to do.

October is a very magical month and draws us to one of the most favored Pagan hollidays in the wheel of the year, Halloween!!

Here's why...

The true meaning of Halloween.

What is Halloween? Where did Halloween come from? Why do we dress up in costumes, go trick or treating and place lighted pumpkins in our windows and on our doorsteps? Like Christmas, the real meaning behind the Holliday, including it's name, and what it represented during the ancient times, has been lost. Let's take a trip back to ancient times and discover where Halloween came from.....

Did you know the name Halloween is actually a contraction of All Hallow's Eve? When Christianity arrived in the Celtic countries, the church discouraged communication with the spirits. November 1st was created as a day for celebration of the Saints of the Church, with the hope of displacing the pagan customs. This holiday was called All Saints Day, or All Hallows Day. The night before was called All Hallows Eve, or Hallow'een, as we know it today. Many Halloween traditions, as many other Christian celebrations, are disguised adaptations of the more ancient pagan and Celtic traditions better know as Samhain.

Samhain, pronounced 'sow-in' or 'sow-een' or 'sav-en' means the end of Summer and the last harvest. When the Earth says it's farewell to the Summer and prepares for winter. This is the time for reflection and to honor the Ancient ones who have passed on before us. The Veil between the worlds is lifted at this time, making communication with ancestors and departed loved ones easy. A magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended.

Samhain is an ancient festival that roots back as far as ancient Egypt. When celebrating the end of the harvest and the long days of summer are replaced by the coming of winter, have long been in existence. It is documented in folklore sources such as "The Golden Bough" by Sir James Frazer, that the circle of birth, death and rebirth has been linked to the seasons and harvest, in many cultures.

Since ancient times in the Celtic cultures, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead. This day marks the new year and the beginning of the cold months to come. The last harvest of crops is celebrated with fairs and festivals. In addition to its agricultural significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. October 31st is exactly between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice and considered a very potent time for magic and communication with spirits. This is the time when the "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest. The dead were invited to return and feast with their loved ones. Ancient customs vary from placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who have passed over.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today this traditions is still practiced. A candle was lit and placed in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set at the table and around the hearth for the unseen guests. Apples were buried along roadsides for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. This was a night of magic and chaos, when The Wee Folk became active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was not advised. People dressed in white, like ghosts, wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as someone or something different from themselves, so not to be recognized, in order to fool the Nature spirits.

Crops left in the fields on Samhain were considered taboo and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, originally called bone-fires, where bones were thrown into the fire as offerings for a healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year. Stones were marked with names and tossed into the fire and retrieved the next morning. The condition of the retrieved stone would predict the person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity. The ashes were spread over harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas, Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest, and Martinmas (celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Hence, is where today's Halloween came from..

As we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life. .....

Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain! .....

Cybercat October 3, 2009....

Falling For Mabon

2009-09-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

MABON (Autumn Equinox) is September 21st and my busy Summer is coming to a close. After spending the Summer attending various events, working full time, gardening and projects around the house, keeping up with my studies and my group events, I have found a cool rainy, almost fall, day to write another episode in my very neglected blog! Feel free to write comments or send email to stimulate my creative imagination.

Since Fall is just around the corner, I thought what a more appropriate time then this, to write about Mabon, in other words Autumn Equinox. The wheel swiftly moves forward to Fall, leaving the long warm days of the light side of the year behind us to linger in our memories.....

Mabon is the second harvest of the season and time for mid-harvest festivals. It is a time of thanks and a time of balance. Once again the hours of daylight and darkness are equal. It is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the bounty and gifts of the earth that nature has provided us.

The harvest is winding down. The fields are getting sparse because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. The remainder of the crops are turning brown and getting ready to go dormant. The warmth will soon be behind us and the cold lies ahead.

On Mabon, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings from the earth and nature. The idea of a harvest festival is nothing new. In fact, people have celebrated it for millennia, all around the world. In ancient Greece is was a festival held in the fall to celebrate the harvesting of grapes for wine. In the 1700's, the Bavarians came up with Oktoberfest which actually begins in the last week of September and was a time of great feasting and merriment, still in existence today. In some cultures across the world, Mid-Autumn festivals are celebrated on the night of the Harvest Moon and is a festival of honoring unity.

Although the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving falls in November, many cultures see the second harvest time of the fall equinox as a time of giving thanks and a time to determine how well the crops did. However, by the end of November, there's not a whole lot left to harvest.

As the wheel turns forward and the dark side of the year begins, the earth is getting ready to hibernate for the cold winter months a head. But for now, as she starts yawning and becoming sleepy, the crops become dormant and die, the leaves turn and fall from the trees, we have a whole palette of new colors and another beautiful season to enjoy while Mother Nature prepares for her slumber. Merry Mabon!

March Madness and Spring Equinox

2009-03-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

March Madness is upon us!

The blooms and buds should be starting to push through their winter slumber in our gardens. New growth is beginning to hide under all of last years dead foliage left over from the last growing season. It is time to start getting our gardens cleaned up and ready for another year of garden magic!

You can start by.....
Cutting last years dead growth and foliage away to make room for the new growth.

Clean dead leaves and other fallen foliage out from under and around plants and shrubs to provide clearance and circulation to grow.

Cut roses back to 1 1/2 feet high. Remove all canes smaller then your little finger and the inner canes, to open the center of the plant. Systemic fertilizer should be used at this time to discourage bugs and decease and encourage new growth.

Prune unwanted branches from shrubs and trees to keep them shaped and within the desired size.

A Little Spring Equinox History ...
Ostara, the spring Equinox - also known as Eostre, Easter, Alban, Lady Day or Simmer Finding, is one of the four solar festivals. This is the time where the day and night are of equal length. it is the first day of Spring. it is tradionally the day of balance, neither winter or summer.

This day was not one of the original festivals honored in early Celtic days before and during the realm of the Druids and early Celts. It is a fairly new celebration honoring the rebirth of Mother Nature.

There is speculation that this day owes it's roots to the Roman invasion of Ireland. Ceaser being the God who returns to the maiden land of the Celts. However, reviewing Celtic mythology and history, this does not play out. The day has long been associated with Nemetona, a Romano-Celtic Goddess of the magical Grove. Nemetona means 'grove', and holds special significance to the Celts.

The woodlands are thought to be magical and sacred places. The name Nemetona is thought to be derived from Nemhedh, who was the leader of the third invasion of Ireland.

Even in the cool wetness of the early spring, it is obvious that winter is over. Perhaps this beauty of natures magic is why Nemetona and the grove of the wood is associated with this day.

Yule The Roots of Christmas

2008-11-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

In roman history, the empire had been divided into two. The Christian church inside Rome adopted this idea, and from then on, all the rituals and rites, including the symbolism, have been stolen and taken by the Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christmas tree, hollies, etc. are all taken from the ancient pagan festival Yule, the Winter Solstice.

Thus, a pagan festival, celebrated long before Christ’s birth, found its way into recognized Christianity.

First of all, it is not mentioned in the bible that Christmas is a festival practised before the birth of Christ, or a celebration in honor of Jesus’ birth, or clearly when Jesus was born. The world book encyclopedia States, “the early Christians did not celebrate his (Jesus birth).. because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” Moreover, early Christians did not celebrate Christmas as Christmas, it was taken from paganism, however they celebrated the festival.

Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, it is a turning point in nature, the shortest day and the longest night, when the dark half of the year gives way to the light. The decorating of Christmas trees, the Yule Log, the Christmas ham, decorating with evergreens, holly, mistletoe and more were all originated from the Yule Traditions. The celebration of the return of the light, when the sun is reborn.

Candles are burnt and lights are lit and placed around to mark this festival. Last years Yule log is lit at sunset on the 25th of December, its ashes and remains were thought to have guarded their homes against fire or lightening. The remains were also placed around fields for good luck for next years harvest. The largest remaining part of the log was kept for next year’s burning.

The holly and ivy were thought to symbolise the “light” in the “darkness” of the winter days. Evergreens basically symbolised the rebirth in winter.

Yule is also a festival, not just a single holiday. The Yule season or Yuletide begins on the solstice, which is the Mother Night of Yule, and ends 12 nights later with Twelfth Night/New Years.

In honour of the birth of the sun on December 25th, this festival was slowly converted to Christmas as the sun and earth believes rivalled Christianity in popularity. December 21st was marked as the day when the sun was reborn, also being the shortest day of the year. This time was sacred, as it had its association with the winter.

Many of these celebrations took place for centuries before the birth of Christ. For example, In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21st or December 22nd and is called the winter solstice. The Encyclopedia Romana reveals that many Christmas traditions were adapted from a Roman celebration called the Saturnalia. It also states that “by the middle of the fourth century AD, [many of] its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas." (Encyclopedia Roman, 2007, “Saturnalia”) It is obvious by these two references that the end of December was a time of pagan celebration that was adopted as the birth date of Jesus Christ.

Nearly every tradition associated with the Christmas celebration is stolen and derived from the Winter Solstice, Yule, and actually a pagan celebration. The origins of these practices should not be ignored by Christians and those who claim to be followers of the Jesus’ way of life should take a closer examination of this and ask themselves, is Christmas really a Christian holiday?
Is Christmas a Christian festival. The answer is simply no. Christmas is a pagan festival, taken or adopted by the Christians at a time when they wanted to convert pagans to Christianity.

A little more ….

The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log…are relics of pre-Christian time.

The Yule log was commonly used in a rite of Teutonic nature believes. The Yule log is believed to be a branch of the oak tree, which was placed on a fire on Mother Night (Christmas Eve). The next day it was referred to as the "Branch of God".

The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by authorities to be traceable to the pagan customs of decorating buildings and places of worship at the feast that took place at the same time as Christmas.

European pagans brought holly sprays into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as refuge from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship. The earliest Roman Christians apparently used holly as a decoration at the Christmas season.”

Mistletoe was sacred because it mysteriously grew on the most sacred tree, the oak, was ceremoniously cut and a spray given to each family, to be hung in the doorways as good luck. To hang it over a doorway or in a room was to offer goodwill to visitors. Kissing under the mistletoe was a pledge of friendship. Mistletoe is still forbidden in most Christian churches because of its Pagan associations, but it has continued to have a special place in home celebrations.

Fall In The Garden

2008-09-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that Fall is here and Summer has come to a close. The morning commutes are now delayed by school buses as the kids head back to another year of classes. Where did the Summer go?

It seems like just last week when daylight lingered until nearly 10:00pm. Now the darkness is slowly spreading it's blanket earlier over the evening sky as the days rapidly grow shorter.The Summer flowers are blooming slower and less plentiful. The gardens know the dark side of the year has slowly crept upon us.

The Summer flowers will soon be gone by the approaching cool nights to come. The trees and plants will put on their Fall attire, in colors of orange, yellow and gold to brighten the grey sky's, and prepare for the shorter days and dormancy of Winter.

It is now time to think about the final harvest of the year and all the beauty that the Fall season brings. The warm golden glow of the Fall sun as it reflects the orange and yellow leaves, pumpkins in the garden, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and Halloween. All these things are here and it is now time to prepare for Fall.

It is time to start some Fall preparations in the garden, by cutting back plants that have grown leggy and are beginning to show signs of turning yellow and brown. Deadhead spent flowers and trim shrubs no longer blooming. Clean up old and dead foliage that has dried and dropped to the ground under plants and shrubs. Remove the under foliage from plants and shrubs, that have turned brown or yellow, fertilize acid lovers such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and plant Spring bulbs. Add a layer of mulch around tender plants who's root need protection from the cold harsh temperatures of winter.These are just a few things that you can do to start preparing your garden for the dark side of the year.

You will need to continue trimming and deadheading throughout the next couple of months. Be sure to savor the energy your garden is putting out in it's transformation into Fall.

Spring and Summer Home & Garden Spruce Ups

2008-05-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are again, another turn of the wheel to the light side of the year. The time when the earth awakens from it's long slumber and begins to color the earth’s palette with flowers and fill the air with warmth. This is the time to open windows to let positive energy of the fresh air flow into our living spaces and chase away those cobwebs hiding in the once dark and neglected corners

Energy is in everything around us. We can feel the effects of both good and bad energy in our surroundings throughout our daily lives. It's important to take the time to clean, organize and be creative with our living environments and spaces. It creates good energy that not only helps the betterment of our wellbeing, but also helps those who visit our space. The energy we create in our surroundings reflects who we are as individuals. We are what we create.

Here are some ideas you can do to welcome in the good energy of the light side of the year....

In the Garden

Flowering bushes and shrubs are beginning to bloom. Trees leafing out and blooming. Perennials are waking up and raising their little heads above the ground in search of the warm sunlight. With all these awakenings and new growth, comes our most favorite plant of all, THE WEED! Now is the time to get these nasty little nuisances under control.

Here are a few things you can do...

Add a layer of mulch to your beds in open bare areas where the pesky little weeds like to invade. To take it a step further, lay cardboard or newspaper down first, then lay the mulch on top. The mulch alone will help with the prevention of weeds but the stubborn ones will still find their way through as the season wears on. Newspaper and cardboard will actually prevent the weeds from coming through and will be effective for a few years to come, while being environmentally friendly and will cost you virtually nothing at the same time, except more hours to relax in your garden instead of pulling weeds.

Plant ground covers, such as sedums, they prevent the weeds from coming in. These plants are low maintenance, grow and spread rapidly without becoming invasive. There are many varieties to choose from. Be sure to select varieties that are hardy and evergreen, so they will be around for years to come and continue to choke out the weeds that cross their path while adding beauty to your garden.

Outdoor Living

Transform your deck or patio into an outdoor room by painting the concrete or wood. Place containers planted with evergreen shrubs and small trees around, which will add year around greenery to your deck or patio. Plant flowering annuals, perennials and herbs in the edges of the containers for color throughout the summer months. If you have a wall of fence along a side of you deck or patio, be creative with paint and outdoor wall art.

Pick up used furniture and paint it with weatherproof paint. Add a simple water feature, birdbath, birdhouses and feeders to bring is a little wildlife and whimsy. All of these things can be made very inexpensively from used items found in thrift store, at garage sales and even things you already have.

Indoor Living

Now is a good time to clean, reorganize, and update old and out of date items and decor. Go through closets, cupboards and storage areas. Get rid of any items that you have not used in over a year and most likely won't in the years to come. You can get money for your items by selling them on Craig's List. For those with the time, space and energy, have a garage sale. I personally find the Craig's List works the best for me. It is fast, easy and convenient and a way to make a few extra bucks! Or donate your items to a charity.

Re-arrange and straighten up the items in closets and drawers. Store items in labeled boxes or plastic bins. Place like items together. Place items that are used frequently in areas that are easy to get to. Place items that are less frequently used, out of the way, like in high places, the attic or in the back of storage areas.

If you want to update and spruce up your rooms, painting and rearranging furniture will do the trick. The only cost is the paint and a some of your time. Paint an accent wall, paint designs and boarders on walls, paint a scene on a wall. Paint the woodwork, paint the furniture. You can create the look and feel you want. For example: Paint one wall with a scene, like of the forest, then paint the rest of the walls a color that blends, such as gold or yellow. You can go one step further by selecting a contrasting color to paint the woodwork, baseboards, molding, doors and cabinetry.

Paint boarders or designs on walls and doors.

Crown molding is another way to update and give a room an elegant and up to date look.

You can give furniture a whole new look with paint, by painting the table tops one color and the legs another color. Paint designs and boarders on furniture. The things you can do with paint are unlimited.

Make your space appear larger then it actually is by hanging a mirror that reflects a window and removing unnecessary clutter. Both of these decorating tips are most important to help keep out bad energy and to keep the good energy flowing throughout the space.

Create some good energy!

Contact Cybercat Designs for indoor & outdoor decorating advice and more decorating ideas.

Don't just stand there, deck those walls!

2007-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

When it comes to sprucing up your walls, paint is the cheapest way to change a room. If you find a couple of colors you like, but are not sure of the shades, buy a pint of each color and paint two coats on a section of the wall. Before you decide on the color, spend a few days observing the wall during different times of the day. Lighting can change a color dramatically. What looks good in artificial light may not be what you want when you see it in natural light.

Faux paint techniques, such as ragging, sponging, marbleizing or stenciling, will give a room an expensive look without a lot of expense. Painting the woodwork a contrasting color is another way to update a room and make the walls stand out, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.

Painting the cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms will give the room a completely different look. It updates the room dramatically and can make the room look rich for only the cost of paint and a some work on your part.

Inexpensive wall accessories can be a good way to finish off your walls and make the room pop. You can be creative by using old picture frames or old window frames and putting mirrors, posters or photographs in them. Also, try making a collage of small inexpensive framed prints. Hanging a quilt or old shutters or windows above the head of a bed, that doesn't have a headboard, can really add and finish the look of a bedroom.

You can find picture frames, old shutters and windows at antique shops and second hand stores. You can paint them with an accent color or give them a rustic look by rubbing them with steel wool.

Wall sconces are another way to give the room an expensive look with very little expense. This is another way where you can get creative. You can find lantern tea light holders in all styles, shapes and sizes almost everywhere. There is a wide variety of wall hooks and hangers to choose from in the hardware section of most stores. You can get creative by painting the hooks and hangers and the lantern tea light holders.

So don't just stand there... email me at cybercatdesigns@yahoo.com and I will be more then happy to help you deck those walls!

Cybercat November 11, 2007

Halloween - Voices From The Cauldron

2007-10-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

The true meaning of Halloween.

What is Halloween? Where did Halloween come from? Why do we dress up in costumes, go trick or treating and place lighted pumpkins in our windows and on our doorsteps? Like Christmas, the real meaning behind the Holliday, including it's name, and what it represented during the ancient times, has been lost. Let's take a trip back to ancient times and discover where Halloween came from.....

Did you know the name Halloween is actually a contraction of All Hallow's Eve? When Christianity arrived in the Celtic countries, the church discouraged communication with the spirits. November 1st was created as a day for celebration of the Saints of the Church, with the hope of displacing the pagan customs. This holiday was called All Saints Day, or All Hallows Day. The night before was called All Hallows Eve, or Hallow'een, as we know it today. Many Halloween traditions, as many other Christian celebrations, are disguised adaptations of the more ancient pagan and Celtic traditions better know as Samhain.

Samhain, pronounced 'sow-in' or 'sow-een' or 'sav-en' means the end of Summer and the last harvest. When the Earth says it's farewell to the Summer and prepares for winter. This is the time for reflection and to honor the Ancient ones who have passed on before us. The Veil between the worlds is lifted at this time, making communication with ancestors and departed loved ones easy. A magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended.

Samhain is an ancient festival that roots back as far as ancient Egypt. When celebrating the end of the harvest and the long days of summer are replaced by the coming of winter, have long been in existence. It is documented in folklore sources such as "The Golden Bough" by Sir James Frazer, that the circle of birth, death and rebirth has been linked to the seasons and harvest, in many cultures.

Since ancient times in the Celtic cultures, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead. This day marks the new year and the beginning of the cold months to come. The last harvest of crops is celebrated with fairs and festivals. In addition to its agricultural significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. October 31st is exactly between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice and considered a very potent time for magic and communication with spirits. This is the time when the "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest. The dead were invited to return and feast with their loved ones. Ancient customs vary from placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who have passed over.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today this traditions is still practiced. A candle was lit and placed in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set at the table and around the hearth for the unseen guests. Apples were buried along roadsides for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. This was a night of magic and chaos, when The Wee Folk became active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was not advised. People dressed in white, like ghosts, wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as someone or something different from themselves, so not to be recognized, in order to fool the Nature spirits.

Crops left in the fields on Samhain were considered taboo and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, originally called bone-fires, where bones were thrown into the fire as offerings for a healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year. Stones were marked with names and tossed into the fire and retrieved the next morning. The condition of the retrieved stone would predict the person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity. The ashes were spread over harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas, Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest, and Martinmas (celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Hence, is where today's Halloween came from..

As we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life. .....

Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain! .....

Cybercat October 3, 2009....

Preparing For Fall In The Garden

2007-09-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that Fall is here and Summer has come to a close. The morning commutes are now delayed by school buses as the kids head back to another year of classes. Where did the Summer go? It seems like just last week when daylight lingered until nearly 10:00pm. Now the darkness is slowly spreading it's blanket earlier over the evening sky as the days rapidly grow shorter.

The Summer flowers are blooming slower and less plentiful. The gardens know the dark side of the year has slowly crept upon us. The Summer flowers will soon be gone by the approaching cool nights to come. The trees and plants will put on their Fall attire, in colors of orange, yellow and gold to brighten the grey sky's, and prepare for the shorter days and dormancy of Winter.

It is now time to think about the final harvest of the year and all the beauty that the Fall season brings. The warm golden glow of the Fall sun as it reflects the orange and yellow leaves, pumpkins in the garden, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and Halloween. All these things are here and it is now time to prepare for Fall.

It is time to start some Fall preparations in the garden, by cutting back plants that have grown leggy and are beginning to show signs of turning yellow and brown. Deadhead spent flowers and trim shrubs no longer blooming. Clean up old and dead foliage that has dried and dropped to the ground under plants and shrubs. Remove the under foliage from plants and shrubs, that have turned brown or yellow, fertilize acid lovers such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and plant Spring bulbs. Add a layer of mulch around tender plants who's root need protection from the cold harsh temperatures of winter.

These are just a few things that you can do to start preparing your garden for the dark side of the year. You will need to continue trimming and deadheading throughout the next couple of months. Be sure to savor the energy your garden is putting out in it's transformation into Fall.

Gardening Tips

2007-05-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice is rapidly approaching, which means warm sunny days are ahead and gardens are beginning to cry out for our attention. The plants have woken and are reaching for the warmth of that bright, round sphere in the sky, better known as the sun. This is the growing season. The time for our gardens to flourish with lushness and color. Here are a few tips to help the plants in your garden grow, bloom and look their best throughout the summer season.

FERTILIZE
Use a time-release fertilizer. Most time-release fertilizers will last up to 4 months by continually releasing a little fertilizer each time the plant is watered. The plant will produce new growth and continue to bloom throughout the entire season.

For Established Plants:
Dig a 1 to 2 inch deep trench around the base of the plant, sprinkle time-release fertilizer in the trench and cover the fertilizer with soil. Follow instructions on the fertilizer container for the proper portions to use. For a little added boost, add and mix in some steer manure or rich compost and work into the ground around the base of the plant.

For Annuals:
Add time-release fertilizer to the prepared hole prior to planting the annual. This will help promote new growth and insure consistent blooming throughout the summer.

For Containers:
Sprinkle time release fertilizer evening around all the plants in the container. Mix well into the soil around each plant. You can also add some steer manure or compost and work into the soil of the container for an added boost.

TRIM
Remove old and dead branches and leaves from plants and shrubs. This will make room for new growth and help keep the plant healthy. This is also a good time to shape the plant up a bit. However, if the plant is blooming, wait until after the plant has finished blooming before cutting back foliage.

DEAD HEAD
Remove dead flowers from plants. This is especially important for roses, flowering shrubs and annuals that bloom throughout the summer. Deadheading encourages new growth and flowers.

WATER
The best time to water is either in the early morning or in the evening. Never water during the heat of the day. Most established plants and shrubs do not require watering more then every few weeks, unless they are shade plants or a variety that requires moist soil. Over watering can lead to root rot. Many evergreens and perennials do not like wet feet. Most herbs such as rosemary, lavender, thyme, sages, mints and sedums are draught tolerant and do much better with less frequent waterings.

For Containers:
Containers dry out faster and require more frequent watering. If containers have full sun exposure, it is best to water them at least every other day or daily when the temperature rises over 85 degrees. Plants that are not deeply planted in the container will dry out much faster. Watering twice daily is sometimes required on extremely hot days. Check the soil in containers daily, by pushing your finger an inch into the soil to determine if the container requires watering. The top couple inches of the container may appear dry but the soil often remains wet farther down inside the container. Plants that are deep rooted can go longer without water.

BLACK SPOT
This is an ongoing problem in the Pacific Northwest. I have yet to find a solution that will eliminate or get rid of black spot completely. One of the best solution is to continually pick off any infected leaves. This will not eliminate black spot, but will help keep it from spreading. Always keep the ground area under and around roses clear of leaves. Leaves infected with black spot in the ground will infect the soil. Black spot will come up through the roots of the rose from the affected soil.

APHIDS
To eliminate aphids from roses and other plants and shrub, add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap to water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the area where aphids are present. Baking soda can also be added, but is not necessary for eliminating aphids but can aid to some fungus and rust that often forms on roses. If you have an ongoing problem with aphids, purchase some ladybugs and let them loose on your roses. Ladybugs eat aphids. You can purchase ladybugs in Fred Meyer garden centers or at local nurseries.

RHODODENDRONS & ACID LOVING SHRUBS
Here is the Pacific Northwest, rhododendrons are one of the easiest growers. However their leaves can turn brown and drop on an ongoing basis. This is often caused by lack of acid in the soil. Feeding rhododendrons, azaleas, camellia and other acid loving plants twice a year will eliminate this problem. After the plant has bloomed, always remove the spent flowers and feed the plant with a fertilizer specific for acid lovers. Feed again in the fall. This will eliminate the leaves from turning brown and dropping off. Plus it promotes new growth, better foliage color and plentiful and vibrant blooms the following Spring.

These are just a few tips to help give the plants in your garden a boost to be the best they can be for the summer months ahead. If you have questions on plant care and advice on yard, garden and patio design for the small space, please email me at cybercatdesigns@yahoo.com. and take advantage of the magic, surprises and bounty your gardens have to offer.

The Merry Month of May

2007-04-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

May Day traces back to the Pagan holiday Beltane, which is a celebration of Spring, the beginning of the warmer, lighter half of the year. Out of the eight major holidays, or sabbats, Beltane is second in significance or equal to the New Year's celebration, Samhain or better known as Halloween. Samhain marks the start of winter, Beltane occurs on the opposite side of the wheel of the year, falling midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. This holiday is associated with the Goddess and fertility.

Beltane comes from the Celtic word meaning “balefire.” Beltane, or May Day is the fertility festival marking the beginning of summer. While the modern May Day celebration, particularly in the United States, seems a far cry from its ancient roots, while the Celtic festival Beltane is enjoying a renaissance.

Beltane, much like Samhain, has changed over the years. Some traditions existed only in a single village, while others were found throughout the culture. It is believed that Beltane is a Celtic reinvention of an even older Roman festival, Floralia, which celebrated the goddess Flora and the flowering of spring.

Beltane, like Samhain, is a time when the veil between the worlds is thought to be thin, a time when magic is possible. Where Samhain revelers must look out for wandering souls of the dead, Beltane merrymakers must watch for mischievous Fairies.

Many begin their celebration at sundown on April 30th. May Eve festival is one of the Ancient Celtic "Fire Festivals", from sundown on April 30th to sundown on May 1st, or around May 5th, when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus. It is the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the "Wheel of the Year" is returned to the Goddess. This Festival also marks the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Maiden to Mother.

Because the Celtic day started and ended at sundown, all hearth fires in the village were extinguished and two Beltane fires were lit on hilltops. The villagers would drive their livestock between the fires three times, to cleanse them and insure their fertility in the coming summer, then put them to pasture for the summer. Jumping over the smoldering balefire was thought to insure protection for individuals. Couples wishing for fertility would "jump the fires" on Beltane night.

Beltane celebrations include dancing around the “May Pole” to insure fertility for the coming year. People often decorate their neighbor's doorsteps with fresh flowers tucked inside homemade baskets. Sometimes the baskets of flowers were left on the doorsteps of people who were too ill or old to attend the Beltane celebrations. In this way, the entire town could participate in the joys of the coming spring.

Other May Day customs include: walking the circuit of one’s property (“beating the bounds”), repairing fences and boundary markers, processions of chimney sweeps and milkmaids, archery tournaments, Morris dances, sword dances, feasting, family picnics, music, drinking, and maidens bathing their faces in the dew of May morning to retain their youthful beauty.

In America May Day is not widely celebrated. An American May Day tradition that has generally died out, is the making and delivering of the May basket, which is a basket filled with flowers and various other gifts, then anonymously placed on the doorstep of a friend or family member.

Celebrate the earths turning of the wheel to the awakening of the light and bright side of the year and have a Merry Beltane!

Mother Nature has done it again!

2006-07-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

As we rapidly approach the peak of the Summer season, our gardens are putting on their best performance of the year. Flowers are in full bloom, trees and shrubs are full of lush green leaves and vines have traveled and intertwined their way through their trellises. The gardens have exploded with color and fragrance, while vegetable plants and fruit trees are laden with the promise of a bountiful harvest.

My garden has come alive and enchanted with it's lush greenery and palettes of color. As I step into my garden, I feel the warmth of the sun and smell the sweet fragrance of jasmine, roses and lavender mixed with the spicy scent of rosemary, sage and mint. I see the brilliant blue sky and hear the song of birds while busily feasting at the feeder and splashing in the bath. A squirrel sprints across the fence top to check the feeder for cracked corn and nuts. Mother Nature has done it again!

How often do we visit our gardens and truly appreciate all the beauty it has to offer, but instead, look out the window at our gardens only thinking "the shrubs need pruning, the weeds need pulling, where will I find the time!"

In a couple months our gardens will begin their transition in preparation for the Winter season. The flowers will die to the ground and trees will drop their leaves, leaving their bare branches reaching up into the cold gray sky. Our gardens will be absent of the lush greenery and color they are so proudly displaying for us now. We will look out our windows at our gardens thinking how we can't wait for Spring when our gardens come alive again.

Being an avid gardener and nature lover, I try to get as many doses of my Summer garden as possible. Though I have a very small yard in a densely populated neighborhood, I have turned it into a private escape away from the hectic word of corporations, traffic and busy schedules. When I look out my window, my garden beckons me to step out and discover the magic within.

I have loaded my garden with a large variety of trees and flowering shrubs, perennials and herbs, planted in both the ground and in containers. I can walk along the pathway to a bench, where I can sit and gaze upon all the different foliage, flowers and yard adornments around me. I can observe the birds, butterflies and insects as they go about their busy little lives.

I think about how my plants and flowers have grown and transformed into all their glory, as I water and maintain them. Gardening brings amazing pleasure and is very therapeutic for us, as we are reaping now what we sowed in the Spring and years gone past.

When you are in your garden weeding, pruning and watering, don't think of it as a chore, instead, let your mind drift away from the daily grind and focus on the beauty around you. Become one with your garden as you feel the stress fade away. Take in the intoxicating fragrances, listen to the song of the birds and the leaves rustling in the breeze. Feel your body come alive with energy as the warmth of the sun engulfs you. Enjoy your garden while it is alive, for it won't be long untill Mother Nature takes away what the Summer is now offering us, and transform our gardens for the next season, that will soon be upon us.

Stop look and listen

2006-07-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Motorists claim they didn't see the pedestrian who stepped out in front of them. However, by Oregon state law, pedestrians have the right of way on corners and in crosswalks. Motorist are required to stop!

We as motorists need to be more responsible in our actions toward pedestrians. This requires the motorist to slow down and look when approaching intersections where they are not required to stop. By law the motorist must stop if a pedestrian is either in the crosswalk or about to cross the road. Sorry motorist! You may want to shave and apply your makeup at home, before you get behind the wheel! Leave the book and newspaper on the passenger or back seat. Don't make phone calls. Motorists need to stop multitasking and give their full attention to their motoring skills.

The burden of responsibility does not always fall upon the shoulders of the motorist. There are several locations where it is not safe for pedestrians to walk. No crosswalks or side walks. What is a pedestrian to do? When I was a child, I was taught to stop, look and listen. I was not to proceed to cross a street unless it was clear of all traffic coming either direction.

Should a pedestrian cross a busy 4 lane street with a center lane for left turning traffic and expect the traffic, that is traveling between 35 and 45 miles an hour, to stop? Or is this considered jaywalking? Jaywalking is illegal however if a pedestrian, while jaywalking, is struck by a vehicle, who is at fault? As pedestrians we too need to take responsibility and use common sense and good judgment when crossing streets. When walking around moving vehicles, always remember to stop, look and listen.

Pedestrians verses vehicles

2006-07-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

On a dark and wet December evening, my neighbor was leaving work from a downtown high rise building, like many other professionals . My neighbor proceeded to walk across the street in the crosswalk with a walk signal, then BLUMP! Before she new what happened, she was lying on the cold wet street with excruciating pain in her left knee and wrist. Her purse and laptop were flung, laying several feet beyond her. She had been struck by a vehicle, an SUV that was turning left on a red light.

Feeling stunned and fortunate to be conscious, people gathered and my neighbor was soon rushed off to the nearest hospital, where she later underwent major knee surgery. The diagnosis of her knee injury was 9, out of a scale from 1-10 in severity. Her left knee was completely shattered and is now loaded with pins and metal plates that extend down throughout most of her leg. If her knee would have been unrepairable, she would have lost her leg from just above the knee down.

Now seven months later, still in constant pain, my neighbor is now able to walk without aid. However she will not be able to take the long walks through the neighborhood she so thoroughly enjoyed. She will no longer be able to do many things, but will always have the company of pain with her what ever she does and where ever she goes.

My neighbor is only one of so many pedestrians struck by a vehicle while crossing in a crosswalk with a walk signal. Pedestrians are struck by vehicles now almost daily. Even worse, many vehicles don’t even stop!

Have motorists become possessive and compulsive, thinking the roads belongs to vehicles, or is this the result of multitasking behind the wheel, or rude and reckless driving? My neighbor was lucky to only suffer injuries instead of losing her life as so many others have.

In the state of Oregon, pedestrians have the right away over vehicles. This means when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, by law, the vehicle must stop!

Multi tasking behind the wheel

2006-07-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

When I was commuting twenty-seven miles one way to and from work, I was astounded at the activities I observed taking place by motorists as they maneuvered their vehicles in and out of traffic and while stopped at traffic lights.

Aside from using cell phones, I observed men shaving, women putting on makeup, such as mascara. Motorists eating with utensils, reading books and the newspaper. Motorists turned around attending an infant in the car seat as they proceeded to drive forward, just to mention a few. How many accidents have occurred, pedestrians struck and innocent lives taken due to motorists not focusing on their driving but instead, multi tasking behind the wheel.

In my commuting travels, I estimated at least 6 out of 10 motorists focusing on other activities while driving their vehicles. This is not counting the number motorist using their cell phones.

Would traffic accidents and mishaps be reduced if motorist were to give their undivided
attention to their driving rather then multi tasking behind the wheel?