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Hello everyone,



I hope that all of you have a safe and happy halloween/ samhain.

Oh and have fun trick or treating lol.

Well unfortunately my little rescue mission didn't work. We found that the bird we had rescued was a male blue bird one of the real small ones. Undoubtedly the bird had gotten to much smoke in its lungs or the heat alone caused some major damage. Sad because I hate it it when I can not help animals.

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Oceanne
04:53 Oct 28 2008

:( :( :( You tried though.

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Trying out the halloween profile lol. Hope that its something that everyone will like.

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xxEmaeraldxx
22:34 Oct 27 2008

It sure is cool and very imaginative :)

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Oceanne
22:47 Oct 27 2008

I wanna see!

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Playing the role of a rescuer at this time. My neighbor had a very small bird fly into the opening of the vent for his wood burning stove. Poor thing had passed out from the smoke in the stove. The bird seems to be fine right now. Is eating and drinking, singing a little bit. I figure if nothing else it will take a little time for the birds lungs to heal from the smoke. Once we see that the bird is doing better we will release him back out in to the wild.

Quality Quote to make you think!





"Trouble no one about their religion;



respect others in their view,



and demand that they respect yours."



- Cheif Tecumseh



I might add to this and say that this quote is not to offend anyone or to have anyone bashing the quote. Its just a quote that I find absolute respect in.

Talk about the thing that you find when doing an internet search. Thanks Myrrhkuri for getting me started on this one, by searching for your name on google. lol. While doing this I decided to type in my name here on the rave and found a couple of articles that I wrote a long time ago for a news letter that I was part of. Heck I had forgotten about the news letters.

Will post them in a bit to my journal.

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MyrrhkuriTheFallenOne
05:31 Oct 26 2008

lol glad i could infiltrate your brain. . .

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Samhain Ritual

Ancestor Night, Celtic New Year, October 31st

~Author Unknown~



Tools:

In addition to your magickal tools, you will need:



An Orange Alter Cloth

Cauldron

1 Black Taper Goddess Candle

1 Black Taper God Candle

2 Carved Turnip Candle Holders

1 Black Votive Candle

1 White Pillar Candle

1 Apple

A Bolline

A Plate of Fruit

Vegetables and Breads

Pictures or Mementos of Departed Loved Ones

Samhain Incense (Mint, Nutmeg, Apple)



Preparation:

Sweep area, moving in a deosil manner. Outline your circle with a black cord, fresh turned earth, or salt. Place the black taper Goddess Candle to the top left on altar. Place the black taper God candle to the top right on altar. Place the black votive candle in the cauldron, positioned on floor in front of the altar. Plate of Fruit, Vegetables, and Breads should be put in-between Goddess and God candles at top center of altar. Apple and Bolline should be placed in center of altar, on a Pentacle if possible. Arrange the rest of your tools and props according to personal preference. Bathe or shower for purification. If you have magickal jewelry or jewelry passed on to you by departed loved ones, this is the ritual to wear it all. Sit and meditate to ground and center. When ready to begin, play some appropriate soothing music for ambiance.



Cast the circle and call Quarters...... invoke the Crone aspect of the Goddess by lighting the black taper Goddess candle and saying:



"Dark Mother, ruler of the night, Goddess of death and rebirth, Hear and behold Your child this night as I honor Thee and Thy realm. I stand humbly before Thee, asking for Thy blessing and favor. Lift, now, the Veil between the worlds, as this time-out-of-time begins, That I may commune with my ancestors as they journey to the Summerlands."







Step back from the altar and concentrate on the Goddess candle's flame. Should it rise and flicker, proceed. If not, silently project your wish to commune with your loved ones that have passed on. When you feel that your wish has been acknowledged, invoke the God by lighting the black taper God candle and saying:



"Dark Father, aged Consort of the Crone, Lord of the Underworld, Hear and behold Your child this night as I honor Thee and Thy realm. I stand between Thee and Thy Lady, asking for blessing and favor. As this time-out-of-time approaches, stand ever guard as the Veil lifts, Keep safe my ancestors, and all of my loved ones As they journey to the Summerlands"







Step back from the altar and concentrate on the God candle's flame. If it rises and flickers, proceed. If not, silently project your wishes that your loved ones be kept safe on their journey. When you feel that your request has been acknowledged, step back up to the alter and pick up the apple, saying:



"Tonight as the barrier between the two realms grows thin,

Spirits walk amongst us, once again.

They be family, friends and foes,

Pets and wildlife, fishes and crows.

But be we still mindful of the Wee Folke at play,

Elves, fey, brownies, and sidhe."







Cut the apple crosswise with the Bolline to reveal the symbolic pentagram at the core. Take a bite of one half of the apple and set it back on the Pentacle. (This apple and others will be buried outside later, after the ritual is done) Continue:



"Some to trick, some to treat,

Some to purposely misguide our feet.

Stay we on the paths we know

As planting sacred apples we go."







Now take your wand in your projective hand to bless the "Feast of the Dead". Wave it over the plate of fruits, vegetables, and breads, saying:



"This Feast I shall leave on my doorstep all night.

In my window one candle shall burn bright,

To help my loved ones find their way

As they travel this eve, and this night, until day.

Bless my offering, both Lady and Lord

Of breads and fruits, greens and gourd."







Replace the wand on the altar, step back and bow your head. Stay silent for a minute or two as the blessing is given. Proceed by lighting the black votive candle in the cauldron and saying:



"Dark Mother Your cauldron is a well of death and rebirth,

Dark Father Your sword both protects and annihilates.

Hear me now as the past year slowly dies, only to be reborn again.

Today, the last of the Harvests is complete.

This symbolic harvest is of my thought-seeds,

Planted and nurtured throughout this past year.

May the good come to pass and the bad be cast aside.

With Your divine guidance and protection,

I step into the New Year,

May I have good health, prosperity, and happiness."







With the flame of the black votive candle light the white pillar candle, saying:



"As the New Year is born, we are all reborn

With new hopes and dreams.

Guide me in the future as in the past.

Give me strength and courage,

Knowledge and fulfillment,

Assist me as I attempt to achieve my goals."







Snuff the black votive candle and replace it. Remove the white pillar candle from the cauldron and place it in the center of your altar. Stare in to the flame and think about the goals that you are setting for the upcoming year. When done, say:



"Every beginning has an ending,

And every ending is a new beginning.

In Life is Death, and in Death is Life.

Watch over me, my loved ones, and all of my

Brothers and Sisters, here and departed,

Who, tonight are joined together again for

Fellowship and celebration.

Bless us all as we light our bonfires, our hearth fires,

And the eternal fires in our hearts.

Guide us and protect us,

Tonight and throughout the coming year.

Blessed Be! Blessed Be!"







As you say "Blessed Be!" stretch out your arms over your alter as if to embrace all of your ancestors, your departed loved ones, and everyone on Earth. As you say "Blessed Be" again, embrace yourself with a reborn love and pride.



It is now time for meditation and spellworking. Associated spellworkings would include those for protection, self-confidence, and dissuading harm. If there is no spellworking, celebrate with Cakes and Ale, then release the Circle. Clean up. You are done. Leave the white pillar candle burning somewhere it won't be disturbed. Some use it as the single candle in their window, but I leave it on my altar and use an electric candle in the window to dissuade a fire!

Samhain Celebration, Children Activities



Samhain is the third and final harvest of the year. Although most of today's Pagans are no longer countryfolkes, growing crops and tending cattle or other livestock, this can still be celebrated as a harvest, the harvest of the "thought-seeds". Also the Celtic (and Witches') New Year, t'is a day for remembering the past and forecasting the future.



Bright Futures



Materials:

10-12 flower bulbs, A trowel or small shovel, a small spot of earth for a flower bed.



Decide where you want the flowers to bloom in the spring. Dig the holes for each bulb two and one half time the diameter of the bulb. Place or pour some fertilizer into the bottom of the hole. Place in the bulb, root side down, and cover with dirt. Water the area well. (Tell the children about how the bulbs are buried just as the Sun God starts his journey to the Underworld. Just as he is not really dead, neither are the bulbs. They are warm and alive beneath the ground, in the womb of the Mother Earth, gathering strength for when they emerge and bloom as bright as the Sun, come next spring.)



Turnip the Lights



Materials:

Materials: 1 turnip and one flashlight per child. Sharp knife and spoon (adults only)



Slice off the top of each medium size purple-top turnip. Hollow out the middle with the knife and spoon. Save the turnip meat (remind children "waste not, want not") for cooking later. Carefully carve facial features through one side of the turnip. Cut a circle in the bottom of the turnip to fit snug over the head of a flashlight. Turn on the flashlight to go trick-or-treat-ing. (Tell the children about how the Celt children would dress in all white, dress up as the opposite gender, or wear straw disguises to fool the spirits out walking around on Samhain)



Jack-o-Twist Lantern



Materials:

1 mini pumpkin and 1 taper candle for each "lantern" to be made.



Cut the top off of a mini pumpkin. Make sure the opening is no larger than a quarter. Remove the seeds with a small spoon or the tip of a peeler. Allow children to paint faces on the pumpkins before sticking a taper candle into it. Carefully cut the center out of the top of the pumpkin, slightly smaller hole than in the pumpkin itself, and slip over the candle. Press the top down gently until it is a tight fit. ( Explain to the children how the Pagan children used turnips rather than pumpkins to make Jack-o-Lanterns, as pumpkins were not indigenous to Europe, but rather introduced after the discovery of North America.)



Natural Old Maid



Materials:

21 leaves, 21 index cards, glue, felt markers.



This is a two part activity. Start a couple of days before Samhain by sending the children outside to gather leaves. These leaves should not be thoroughly dried and crinkled up, but rather turning color and still pliable. Explain the importance of getting the leaves from the ground rather than off the bushes or trees. Press the leaves by placing them between paper towels and stacking books on top of them. After 2 or three days, remove the leaves and select 10 pairs and one odd-one-out. Glue the leaves to the index cards, and allow the children to decorate each pair as desired. Shuffle the cards and deal till all the cards are dealt. Each child picks a card from the one on their left, laying down pairs for all to see. Play continues until all pairs are matched. The child holding the odd card WINS.



Nature Says



Materials:

Acorns, pine cones, rocks, seeds, leaves, twigs, or any other natural item.



Have the child(ren) gather all natural items in the backyard, or if hiking along the trail. Assign an action to each type of item, such as *rock--jump*, *twig-hop*, etc. Start by showing one object, and the children calling out the associated action, then acting it out. As they catch on, start laying out the items in "sentences" on the ground. Watch the silliness and laughter grow. (Explain to the children that in ancient times children made up games with only natural materials. That there were no TVs or radios, or bikes, etc. Remind them that Nature is not only beautiful, but fun, too.)



Hide and Seek



Materials:

Rocks and Sticks.



This can be played in the backyard, along a nature trail, or at the beach. First the adult goes down the path and leaves "directions for the children to follow. The directions are made by placing piles of rocks and twigs along the side of the path. Perhaps three rocks and a twig sticking out to the left means that the next clue is three steps forward and to the left. One rock in a circle of twigs could mean to stand still, turn slowly in a circle for the next clue. Next, the child and a second adult start down the path and try to find you. (Explain how the villagers and others would find their way to each other and back home again by leave natural "secret clues" along the various paths.)



Samhain Door Wreath



Materials:

Items from Nature, fine wire, sheet of corrugated cardboard, collection sack, small nail.



First, take a Nature hike. Have the child collect items from nature, such as pine cones, seeds, leaves, berry bunches (remind the child how important it is to thank the plant for its gift, and to take only what is needed.), acorns and caps, flowers, etc. When you get home, spread out collection on some newspaper. Cut out a circle about 15" in diameter, from the cardboard. Cut a smaller circle out of the middle. Have the child choose which objects go where on the cardboard background, and hand the object to you. Wrap the wire around each object so it can be fastened to the cardboard. Poke two small holes in the cardboard ring for each item. Feed the wire through and twist in back. Keep fastening objects onto the ring until it is full and no cardboard shows. Hang the wreath on the front door with the nail. (Explain that "wreaths of bounty" used to symbolize giving thanks for a prosperous year, and an invitation for others less fortunate to share in the good fortune.)



Making a Besom



Materials:

4ft dowel- 1" in diameter, ball of twine, scissors, straw or other pliable herb stock.



Take the straw or other herb stalk that you have chosen and soak overnight in luke warm salted water. The water swells the stalk slightly for bending without breakage, and the salt dispels former energies. When ready, remove stalks from the water and dry for just a bit. Not too much or the stalk will stiffen up, again. Place the dowel on a table where you have room to work. Start lining the stalks along the dowel , about 3 inches from the bottom, moving backwards. Begin binding the stalks to the dowel with the twine. Tie very securely. You may add as many layers as you like, depending on how full you want the Besom to be. When stalks are secure, gently bend the top stalks down over the binding. When all have been bent over, secure the stalks again with more twine a couple of inches under the first binding. Allow to air dry for a day or two. The dowel can then be stained, painted, or carved into to make personal. Remember to concentrate and charge at the next full moon. (Explain to the children that the Pagans used to "ride" their Besoms through the fields, jumping as high as they could. This was to show the God/dess(s-es) how high they wanted their crops to grow the next year. Also jumping over bonfires at the Sabbat festivals was for good health and prosperity.)



Poems



Gather 'round the bonfire, burning so bright

Watch the shadows dancing, in its flickering light

As the music starts, and we begin to dance

Just maybe, if we're lucky, ahhhhh perchance

We shall see some kindred spirits, as they pass by

On their way to the Summerlands, beneath the Samhain sky.

--- Akasha



As I lay in my bed, 'tis the end of the year

And I thank the Goddess and the God

For bringing me to here.



Before I close my eyes, one more wish I make

I pray to the Goddess and the God

The next year through me take.

Well my dear friend, its a day of sleep here. With a mist type of rain its making it hard to keep my eyes open. Guess that I just need the sleep but oh well will get all the sleep that I need when I am dead and gone. lol. at any rate its time to do some school work for the day and maybe will get some rest from that next week.

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xxEmaeraldxx
20:40 Oct 17 2008

You are not the only one that needs sleep.. I've been awake at times I know I shouldnt be this week worried and stressed about Audits at work next week!

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This I found very interesting it came in on AOL.

Thought that I would share with you all here.





Rock Fractures on Mars Reveal Paths of Ancient Groundwater



Local planetary geologist Chris Okubo is on a mission to understand the past roles of groundwater and faulting on Mars by studying similar locations on Earth. Okubo works in the Astrogeology Research Program for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Flagstaff.



“The presence of liquid water on Mars, whether past or present, is a key clue to whether Mars ever harbored life,” Okubo said, explaining his work with NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), a spacecraft currently orbiting the red planet. “My research interests are split equally between understanding deformation on Earth and then applying this knowledge to other planets.”



Recently, Okubo and colleagues from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California as well as from Nevada, Utah, and Italy used high-resolution images from a powerful telescopic camera aboard the MRO to analyze layered rocks in areas around Mars’ equatorial region.



“We were looking at rock fractures called ‘deformation bands’. We saw hundreds of small fractures that appear to have directed water through ancient Martian sandstone that now can be seen on the surface. This is very exciting, because what we’re seeing is the visible effect on the color and texture of rock made by extensive groundwater flow billions of years ago.”



Okubo and his colleagues made their findings in part based on fieldwork in the Colorado Plateau in Utah and Arizona, which has similar weathered sandstone that exposes ancient deformation bands. The rock formations of the Colorado Plateau are generally valued by planetary geologists as accessible study sites for comparison to Mars.



Deformation bands commonly form in sandstone as dense clusters of small-scale faults within deformed rocks. For comparison to the newly-observed Mars features, Okubo and his colleagues studied the deformation bands of the Navajo and Wingate Sandstones. “Since we have an emerging understanding of how groundwater flows along deformation bands on Earth, this discovery of deformation bands on Mars is an important link to building our understanding of how ancient groundwater behaved on that planet,” Okubo explained.



The new study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Geological Society of America Bulletin. More information and images from Mars can be found at:

http://www-b.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-180



The researchers used images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This camera reveals smaller details on the surface than any previous camera to orbit Mars. Chris Okubo’s principal work with the MRO mission is to provide commands to the camera for specific times, locations and exposures and to participate in analysis of the images.



The mission of the USGS Astrogeology Research Program is to establish and maintain geologic, scientific and technical expertise in planetary science and remote sensing in order to study and map extraterrestrial bodies, plan and conduct planetary exploration missions, and develop new technologies in data processing and analysis, archiving, and distribution.









The USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.

Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list or RSS feed.



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