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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Nov 21, 2004 23:51:59 GMT -6
Here are my two bits about your question Phalon: Click hereThe pentacle is a pentagram inside a circle (right side up). The pentagram represents the interconnectedness of the elements and the spirit and the body. And the circle represents all life. It is used as a representation of the element Earth. Generally it is the main symbol used in rituals and on altars. However, a lot of this is open to interpretation depending on who you ask or which books you read. Personally I prefer other symbols. The Triquetra, which I use as my avatar. The Triskele which is a symbol represented by three connected spirals (I should note here that that one is primarily a Druidic symbol). And the triple moon Lunar Goddess symbol. You can see a picture of the last in the above link. It’s just a matter of personal meaning to me….preference. If you like I could explain those as well but I won’t bore you unless you are interested. ;D
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Nov 24, 2004 15:53:29 GMT -6
Lunar Goddess symbol......
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Post by Phalon on Nov 24, 2004 16:32:08 GMT -6
Hey Scrappy - that is really cool looking. Explain away - I'm interested.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Nov 25, 2004 1:02:33 GMT -6
Lunar Godess Triple Goddess Both symbols represents the three fold nature of the Goddess as being maiden, mother and crone, as well as the three phases of the moon. Waxing, waning, and full. The Triquetra is a little more ambiguous. I haven't found anywhere that says conclusively whether or not it is Christian or Pagan in origin. A pagan definition is that it represents the threefold nature of the Goddess as virgin, mother and crone. It symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The inner three circles represent the female element and fertility. The Christian version is the holy trinity. I wear a silver one around my neck. To me it represents (the points of the triangle) the three stages of life that each of us must pass through, childhood, motherhood or middle age, and old age. And the circle represents all life around us. It's reminder that I cannot get to one without first going through the others. Also that life is change, and while I may not like it I do have to deal with it. The Triskele I will leave for another post, as I'm finding it hard to find a picture of it.........hope this muddles things right up. ;D
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Nov 26, 2004 0:25:47 GMT -6
Ok…Here’s a pretty good picture of the version of the Triskele that I use. I have used the description that came with the picture because they explain it better than me. This version of the Triskele is called the Cauldron Symbol and is found on many Celtic artifacts. It represents the Maiden, Mother and Crone aspect of the Goddess. In the Cauldron, divine knowledge and inspiration are brewed. The Cauldron was believed to be under the power of the Earth goddess Ceredwen the goddess of transformation. Transformation or Shapeshifting was an integral part of Celtic belief. I feel I should note here that there is an old family legend that says my family are descendants of the Black Irish. The Black Irish are said to be shapeshifters. I’m sure it’s baloney but it’s an interesting family story. Hope that explains. Weren’t we supposed to be discussing gardening? ;D
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Post by Joxcenia on Nov 26, 2004 9:57:21 GMT -6
In case anyone is interested in triskelion jewelry:
The 4 Triskelions are at the very bottom of the page, just above:
"91. Freya's Herron Celtic Cross"
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Post by Gabbin on Nov 26, 2004 21:03:58 GMT -6
That is interesting. Hmmm. When I went to England this October I learned a lot of Viking history from my pals. One place which they took me was a Jorvik Museum-Yorvik means York-it had a lot of similar designs from ancient folks. I bought a nice black leather band for my wrist; it is similar to the ones found at this ancient site, now a museum.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Nov 30, 2004 10:05:51 GMT -6
Well ladies.....shall we move on to more gardening? What comes after Aloe?
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Post by Phalon on Dec 1, 2004 20:20:33 GMT -6
Scrappy, I thought the symbols and the explanations were very interesting. Neat, also, about your family history. Thanks for sharing. There is nothing that says this thread has to just be about gardening.
But, if we are to continue, why not stick with the A's. How about Achillea? Achillea, pronounced a-kil-lee-a, is the botanical name for Yarrow, and is not only a great medicinal herb, but a great punning herb as well. We heard Xena use it when she screamed, "ACHILLEA THEM ALL!!!" Little Orphan Annie even sang about it. "To Yarrow, to Yarrow...I love ya, to Yarrow. You're only a day away."
Actually, the name Achillea came from the Greek hero, Achilles, who was advised by Aprhodite to use the herb to dress his wounds during the battle of Troy.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Dec 2, 2004 22:30:16 GMT -6
Glad you enjoyed the descriptions. And I'm glad we can discuss other Wiccan stuff besides gardening. Ok here's my two cents about Yarrow:
YARROW: Achillea millefolium G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water. Magical uses: Courage, love, marriage charms, dispelling negativity, psychic abilities, divination. Uses: A very potent healer, it intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it. Helps eliminate toxins (good for colds). Most useful in its abilities to staunch blood flow. In poultice form , it is useful against infections and swelling. In magic there is evidence that yarrow was often used as a component in incantations. The tea drunk prior to divination will enhance one's powers of perception (a touch of peppermint brightens this brew up and always works better). Also drink the tea to stop arthritis symptoms such as swelling and inflammation associated with weather divination and generally end all aching, sore muscles, or stiff joints or back pain. A powerful incense additive for divination and love spells.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 2, 2004 23:37:43 GMT -6
All that and it's easy to grow. Just a sunny spot with fairly decent soil and it'll spread all over the place. I have it in my garden, not for medicinal or any other purpose, other than it's one of the only things that'll grow in that spot - west side of the house, hot blazing sun beating off the siding, and it blooms non-stop all summer. Of course it gets kinda wilty at the end of the day during our dryest times, but perks back up with a bit of water, and that's probably what keeps it from taking over the garden.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Dec 20, 2004 0:37:34 GMT -6
Anyone got anything else for Yarrow?
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Post by Gabbin on Dec 20, 2004 0:51:50 GMT -6
I have achillea; tendon to be in the front area. I have the multi-colored ones, so tiny and cute. Very happy flowers. And they are okay dried, as well.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 21, 2004 20:57:46 GMT -6
Winter Solstice tonight, and I wonder how our practicing Wiccans are celebrating?
Why don't we move on to something seasonal then? Mistletoe. No, no, no...not what you get when you stay out in the cold for too long and develop a bad case of frostbite. Mistletoe? Count them. I've got all ten of mine.
The Druids considered mistletoe sacred. It grows as a parasite from the trunks of a variety of trees, and they believed this to be a sign that it had dropped from the sky as a gift from the heavens. This was especially so, if found growing on an oak, which they also considered to be a sacred tree - and an an oak with mistletoe growing on it was especially sacred. Mistletoe is evergreen, and this, to them, represented life, especially during winter, when most other trees shed their leaves.
I wonder though, where the tradition of being kissed under the mistletoe stems from?
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Dec 21, 2004 22:07:41 GMT -6
Here's some random stuff I pulled off the web about Mistletoe........
Mistletoe got its name in the second century, from the Anglo-Saxons. "Mistel" is the word for "dung," and "tan" is the word for "twig" -- misteltan is the Old English version of mistletoe, and this name tells us that mistletoe is named after bird droppings on a branch. One of the beliefs in the early centuries was that mistletoe grew from birds. People used to believe that, rather than just passing through birds in the form of seeds, the mistletoe plant was an inherent result of birds landing in the branches of trees.
The holiday has absorbed a wide range of customs and traditions from many cultures, and mistletoe is one of them. For example, one French tradition holds that the reason mistletoe is poisonous is because it was growing on a tree that was used to make the cross that Jesus was crucified on. Because of this, it was cursed and denied a place to live and grow on earth, forever to be a parasite.
Vikings dating back to the eighth century believed that mistletoe had the power to raise humans from the dead, relating to the resurrection of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a dream that he was going to die. His mother, Frigga, the goddess of love and beauty, was frantic about his dream and said that if he died, everything on Earth would die. To ensure her son's safety, Frigga went to all of the elements air, fire, water and earth, as well as to all of the animals and plants and asked them not to kill Balder. In the same way a child would be heckled these days if his mother asked kids not to pick on her child, Balder was teased and had things thrown at him. It was thought that, because of his mother's power, he was immune to harm. Balder's only enemy, Loki, found a loophole in Frigga's request for her son's safety... mistletoe. Mistletoe grows on the tree it attaches itself to, and therefore has no roots of its own and could not be affected by Frigga's request. Loki made a poisoned dart with mistletoe, and tricked the blind brother of Balder, Hoder, into shooting the arrow that killed Balder. For three days, all the elements tried their hardest to bring Balder back to life, but failed. Finally, the tears that Frigga cried for her dead son changed the red mistletoe berries to white, raising Balder from the dead. Frigga then reversed mistletoe's bad reputation, and kissed everyone who walked underneath it out of gratitude for getting her son back. Another myth in mistletoe's past comes from Britain. In the first century, the Druids in Britain believed that mistletoe could perform miracles, from providing fertility to humans and animals to healing diseases and protecting people from witchcraft. The Druids would cut mistletoe off oak trees in a special ceremony five days after the new moon following the winter solstice. The Druids believed that the mistletoe would become contaminated if it touched the ground, so they used a special white cloth to catch it. The Druids then sacrificed two white bulls while prayers were said, and priests gave out the mistletoe sprigs to the people, who believed they would then be kept safe from evil spirits and storms. Mistletoe is also said to be a sexual symbol, because of the consistency and color of the berry juice. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe could have come from either the Viking association of the plant with Frigga, the goddess of love, or from the ancient belief that mistletoe was related to fertility. The correct mistletoe etiquette is for the man to remove one berry when he kisses a woman. When all the berries are gone, there is no more kissing underneath that plant. It is believed that an unmarried woman not kissed under the mistletoe will remain single for another year.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 21, 2004 22:51:47 GMT -6
Neat information, Scrappy. I remember Loki and Freya, (Frigga) and Balder from researching, (however briefly), the Norse golden apple myth in Mything P. Interesting, how bits of information crop up from time to time and all tie together eventually.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 29, 2004 13:59:42 GMT -6
Just a bit more on mistletoe....I was kissed under it today; a big wet best friend kiss on the cheek, and no, that is not the bit of information I'd like to share, but it did bring about some interesting details.
I told my friend the Scandanavian myth regarding mistletoe, and she in turn told me that where her mother lives in Florida, it grows wild in the tops of the trees, "planted" there by birds who eat it, and then spread the seeds through their droppings. I thought that mistletoe was strictly a European plant, so when I came home I checked a couple of my reference books. What I learned is that there is a European species, and an American species, both so similiar in appearance that it is almost impossible to distinguish one from the other.
A huge difference though, if the plant is used medicinally. The European mistletoe, (Viscum album) lowers blood pressure, slows heartbeat, relaxes spasms and has sedative effects. The American mistletoe, or false mistletoe, (Phoradendron flavescens), causes a rise in blood pressure.
This illustrates the importance of knowing the botanical name of the plants that you are looking for....and makes my job at the nursery a whole lot easier. The common names of plants vary from locale to locale; often one plant having several different ones, but the binomial, (first name genus, second for the species), one never changes.
I should also add that for either mistletoe, use for anything other than the kissing tradition should be done only by a qualified practitioner. All parts of both plants are toxic, and sale and use for therapeutic purposes are restricted in some countries.
One more note which I found interesting...because of the abundant use of the plant during the holiday season it is grown commercially - but because it is a parasitic plant, it requires a host, one of the more favorable being apple trees. Since the apple trees fall dorment in the winter when mistletoe is in demand, it is grown in orchards as a second crop to the apples, and harvested when the trees are bare.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Dec 29, 2004 19:19:57 GMT -6
Very cool Phalon......
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Post by Phalon on Dec 29, 2004 22:45:01 GMT -6
Oh shoot, I just saw Prmystic logged in a second ago, then *poof*, she's gone. I was going to ask her if she knew about that soltice god that Gabbin was inquiring about over in Mything P. I bet she'd know.
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Post by Gabbin on Dec 29, 2004 23:28:49 GMT -6
That is interesting, Gams. I have heard that mistletoe it poisonous. Maybe just if I go munching it off an apple tree limb I guess.
Okay, my Venus Flytrap is going to bloom again cuz I feed it so many juicy flies and stuff. So, Gams, I tried to pollinate it with a que-tip and it didn't take. Obviously, I am just not getting the thing impregnated or whatever. So my question is.........am I impotent?
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Post by Gabbin on Dec 29, 2004 23:31:15 GMT -6
I should emphasize that I want my seeds to spread all over the planet; friends are waiting. They may even pay good money for them. LMAO
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Post by Phalon on Dec 30, 2004 22:55:18 GMT -6
BOLL, Gabbin. Your tenacity is admirable, but your plan to procreate sounds a bit seedy; a real fly-trap by night operation.
So, I looked this up for you. I found the Venus Fly-Traps are plants native to the south eastern states. Funny, I thought they'd be more exotic than that.
You may actually be causing undo stress to your plant. They don't care for fondling, prefering instead; self-gratification. The little seeds will form on their own, but it may take years for the seedlings to actually digest flies. If yours is, it is probably at least 4 years old. They will start to multiply at this point by bulblets, and can be divided at about seven years, when they get the itch to leave.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Jan 12, 2005 22:17:37 GMT -6
One question for the plant people about Mistletoe. Here in arizona we have a parasitic plant that is called Mistletoe but looks nothing like it. It grows mainly on the Mesquite trees. Is this the same thing? Or a close cousin perhaps?
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Jan 22, 2005 23:20:18 GMT -6
Ok ladies. What's next? Got any Valentines plants we want to discuss? Like roses. Lavendar? Someone pick.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Jan 23, 2005 0:53:59 GMT -6
So...tomorrow night is the full moon in January. The first full moon of the year. Also known as the Wolf Moon. Great time to do protection or strength magic. Good time to make plans for the garden and decide what you are going to plant for the coming year. Course if you live in my neck of the wodds you could be growing things all year long.
Also the beginning of February brings Imbolc/Candlemas. Time for spring cleaning and renewal. The sun will be coming back. For those of you living in snow bound Midwest I bet that’s great news. I like to do a little bird magic this time of year with seeds and new feeders. Course I always have leaned toward the animal side of things.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Feb 24, 2005 16:28:07 GMT -6
So have we done apples?
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Mar 10, 2005 18:55:12 GMT -6
Ok everyone! It's almost time for Ostera! YAY! Though not my favorite pagen holiday certainly right up there. Thought it might be time for another small lesson. Anyone else feel free to jump in.
*starts a small fire in the clearing and places small copper kettler on the flames* Thought I'd start some tea.
First Two minute drill:
Spring equinox marks the first time of the year when the length of the day equals the length of the night. The exact date changes each year, but it usually falls on the 21st or 22nd of March. It's also known as Eostre, or also Lady Day. Some Pagans refer to Beltane as Lady Day, as well so try not to get confused.
The name of this Sabbat comes from the Saxon Goddess of the Dawn, Eostre. Her symbols are the egg and the rabbit, and this is primarily why these fertility symbols are so prevalent even today. Coloured eggs were left as offerings to Her.
The God and Goddess have grown past their childhood and are falling in love. They will not consumate their sacred marriage until Beltane, but the fertility of their joining is already celebrated. New flowers are seen, new livestock is born, new projects are started. Everything is new and bursting with life.
As with Yule and Christmas, Ostara is closely tied with Easter and many of the traditions that we see for Easter are actually based in Pagan practices.
Colouring Eggs - Though chemical dyes are available today to give you every colour of the rainbow, people used to colour eggs with natural 'dyes' made from herbs, berries and vegetables. With a little work, you can still get any colour you could want.
Spring Cleaning - The new spring warmth drives us to shed our winter clothes and it invigorates us to clean our homes. Open up windows and banish the stale winter air from your home.
Eating Chocolate - My favourite tradition, and I'm sure the Goddess loves it too. In the past, sweet foods (like honey) were offered to Eostre on this day. But once this modern-day delicacy was introduced in association with Easter, it took over the holiday.
Herb Gardens -To ensure a good harvest of herbs in the summer, an herbal garden should be planted at Ostara. If your local weather doesn't permit such a thing, you could plant some seeds indoors.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Mar 10, 2005 18:59:28 GMT -6
A prayer for Ostera:
"Here I am on this day, Ostara, Lady day, Rite of Eoster, The Vernal Equinox, and the first day of the planting season. I am here to understand life, death, and rebirth, and to give reverence to those who have endured each."
"I stand at the gate between the living and the dead on this night where both light and dark are equal. I am here to witness the union of the Goddess, Mother Earth, the Waning Lady of the Moon, Of My God, Green Man, the Waxing Lord of the Sun. Conception...a necessary transition on the wheel of the year."
"Elder Gods wish to bestow upon us the gift of knowledge. Thus they shall speak."
"May these newly planted seeds material, spiritual, and symbolic bring us plentiful fruits and bounties."
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Post by Phalon on Mar 10, 2005 22:52:13 GMT -6
Interesting, Scrappy. I wrote a bit about Eostre a couple of years ago in Mything Persons, but not so in depth, (go figure, eh. my two minute drill not as thorough as yours). Nice to learn more.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Mar 11, 2005 0:21:11 GMT -6
Care to add anything? Like maybe about little fluffy bunnies that lay eggs?
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