Vendredi: The Shape of Your Tea

Time once again to look at a few meanings of the potential shapes left behind after that relaxing cup of tea:

Package or gift ~ something unexpected is on the horizon

Paper or scroll ~ news; a possible announcement of promotion, or other life improvement

Pen or inkwell ~ the opposite of the above; disturbing messages

Pencil ~ temporary situation set to change, possibly for the better depending on shapes nearby

Pipe ~ a time of relaxation; nothing is fabulous or new, but life is good

Purse ~ financial gain

Racket (tennis) ~ winning a dispute or argument

Rake ~ time to organize, both in business and at home

Rod & reel (fishing) ~ either the petitioner is about to score a large gain of some kind or they are out “fishing” around for something they will never attain

Saucer ~ the petitioner is in debt, perhaps over his/her head

Saw ~ gossip or malice toward the petitioner, most probably from someone they do not know well

Scales ~ legal issues; blind justice for good or ill

Scepter ~ much like a saucer; the petitioner is strained fiscally

Scissors ~ the petitioner should beware of deceit, especially in one close to them

Scythe ~ good faith; a trustworthy friend.  Look carefully at the shapes around the scythe, however; there may be a risk of losing a faithful friend

Shovel ~ hard work leads to success & recognition

Spoon ~ the petitioner is “hungry” for attention

Stove or oven ~ a snug, comforting home & loving family is there for the petitioner, regardless of his situation otherwise

And so we end another Friday post; Vendredi heureux ~

Header: Cotton Exchange, New Orleans by Edgar Degas c 1873

Jeudi: Weather-Wise

Birds were the village wise person’s first weather indicator in times gone by.  Neither past events, the shapes and colors of clouds, the stars nor even the calendar date were as trustworthy as animals, and particularly birds, when it came to day to day forecasts.  Animals on the ground, especially the familiar rodents that hibernate in winter, were excellent harbingers of the seasons.  It was the birds, though, that told an old wife whether or not she could hang out laundry, walk down to the village or thatch her roof tomorrow.

Particularly in cold climates in the Northern Hemisphere, the beautiful birds known as Bohemian wax wings were a harbinger of either bitter cold or relief from same; usually the former, unfortunately.  These birds wing their way across the sky in large flocks, darting, swooping and changing directions with abandon and precision that would make the Blue Angels jealous.  In North America they currently range over most of Canada and the northern U.S. and they are listed as “permanent residents” in South Central Alaska and Pacific coastal Canada.

An average group of wax wings, which can range from 20 to 50 birds, massing on a tree, flying off and then returning is said to be a sign of snow within 24 hours.  Large numbers of more than 50, perhaps two or three flocks together, huddled in rows on the branches of trees, the roofs of barns or the tops of fences are said to signify very harsh weather and unusual cold. 

In colonial times, this sign also foretold more illness than usual in both men and domestic beasts.  Some even imagined it as a portend of the end of the world.  Old wives would advise that people safeguard their health and that of their children.  Animals should be brought into barns and not left out to pasture as well, and the next spring’s seed stock should be checked frequently for mildew and rodents to prevent future famine.

While I’ve yet to witness apocalyptic occurrences after odd behavior in wax wings, they surely have a way of showing up and then leaving.  The next day, almost without fail, the snowfall will arrive.  Some old weather “superstitions” are still worth paying attention to.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Alaskan Bohemian wax wings, photo by the talented Clark James Mishler from his website; this photo also appeared in Anchorage Daily News

Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

Valentine's Day is a week away, ladies, and it is no good excuse for you to sit around waiting for him to “get you something”.  Be creative, be thoughtful, and make your man a gift to pamper him that he can appreciate all year round.  How about a nice aftershave with the rich, earthy scents of sandalwood and rosemary?  Here’s what you’ll need:

¾ cup witch hazel

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

12 drops sandalwood essential oil

5 drops rosemary essential oil

3 drops tea tree essential oil

Simply funnel all these ingredients into a bottle with a tight-fitting lid.  Shake the mixture up and then pat on facial skin after shaving.

The witch hazel and vinegar are astringent while the sandalwood and tea tree oils are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.  Rosemary adds a nice “nose” and helps improve circulation. 

Got a lady friend rather than a gentleman?  Consider replacing the sandalwood oil with rose otto essential oil.  This makes a great pre-moisturizing astringent for just-shaved legs.  These recipes are adapted by me from an aftershave recipe in the wonderful Reader’s Digest Book of Herbs.  A votre santé ~

Header: Breaking the Law with Style via Mid-Century

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Valerian, which is usually referred to in hoodoo as “vandal root”, is one of those plants whose awful scent has put it in high demand for protective magicks.  Historically, and now in modern herbal medicine, the dried root is brewed into a tisane to relax those who felt anxious and to help one sleep.  Some Native American tribes used a tea made with valerian as a cleanser; its astringent properties were also utilized to heal wounds.

In American Pow-Wow, valerian root is used for banishment, exorcism and protection.  Silver RavenWolf says that the plant was to be gathered with the left hand as Sirius was rising and that honey should be left as an offering to the valerian after harvesting.  This was then mixed with rosemary, fennel, sage, hyssop, lavender, basil, mint and holy water to keep away ghosts, evil intentions and ill-tempered elementals.

Old wives would pin a sprig of valerian to their marriageable daughters’ clothing, thus attracting men like meat attracts dogs.

It is probably from this traditional use that modern Wiccans derived the use of the dried plant in love sachets and incenses.  Scott Cunningham also mentions hanging the plant in the home to ward off lightening strikes and the evil eye. 

In hoodoo, valerian/vandal root is sometimes used as a substitute for graveyard dirt in jinxing tricks.  Vandal root is also burned with Uncrossing Incense to send back jinxes made against the root worker.  The dried plant is sprinkled on doorsteps to prevent unwanted visitors from approaching a home.

Probably because of its calming effect when ingested, valerian/vandal root is also used to stop fighting between spouses.  A vandal root should be wrapped round with a picture of you and your spouse.  Carry this for three days and then remove the vandal root and drop it in running water to “carry the anger away”.  Replace the root with a love herb such as a rose, lovage root or – for women in particular – rosemary and keep the pictures and herb with you from then on.  Your marital strife should subside.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Miracle of the Jealous Husband by Titian c 1511

Dimanche: Swimming

Conversation by Paul Casale via American Gallery

Vendredi: Leaves, Masks and Needles

It has been snowing for the last seven hours here, and so I have had more than one cup of tea already today – to say nothing of coffee.  Should I have found any of the shapes in my spent tea leaves, they might just indicate…

                                                                                                                    

Ladder ~ climbing the ladder of success; slow, steady advancement

Lamp ~ the petitioner is searching for enlightenment.  They will need to study and seek sage advice to achieve their goal

Leaves ~ these have various meanings: a garland of leaves means acclaim while falling leaves indicate illness or a downturn in fortune.  Grape leaves indicate anger on the part of the petitioner or one close to them.  Fig leaves tend to indicate negative gossip against the petitioner; fern leaves mean someone is disloyal.  Oak leaves may point to a long, healthy life.  Two or more relatively unidentifiable leaves foretell good fortune in the near future

Letter or envelope ~ news, perhaps that the petitioner has been waiting for, will soon arrive

Lock ~ a roadblock that the petitioner must work through rather than around

Mantle, robe or shawl ~ the petitioner is covering up something personal

Mask ~ deception which works either for or against the petitioner, depending on nearby shapes

Mountain ~ the petitioner has an altruistic goal that should be pursued

Mushroom ~ movement in business; takeovers, expansion

Nail ~ possible false accusation or unjust court decision against the petitioner

Needle ~ a love affair; if near a cat, deer or shawl, an illicit one

Nurse ~ someone close to the petitioner may be in danger of serious illness

Oyster ~ a very propitious sign; joy, wealth of all kinds

And so we will close for today.  I wish you far fewer hazards than are faced by those in my neck of the woods today, and Vendredi heureux ~

Header: Veil of Winter by William St John Harper c 1890

Jeudi: Great Spirits

Today is familiar to most Americans as Groundhog Day, the day when we wait to see if the rodent after which it is named will peek out of his den and either scurry back in because he “saw his shadow” or climb out and presumably ask the gathered crowd “How’s it goin’?” while scratching himself.  Since the former occurred this morning in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it is assumed that we must gripe and groan through six more weeks of winter.

This amusing if somewhat lugubrious ritual is in fact a gross diminishment of the origin of this calendar day.  Once, many millennia ago in the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, England and France, it was around February 2^nd that the spring lambs were born.  This renewal of life represented the rise of the greatest creation goddess of the Celtic people.  Out of the ashes of the hag of winter came the bride of spring and summer; the generous one who was known as Brigid or Brigit the “bright one”.

Brigit was called Bride (pronounced “breed”) in Scotland and parts of Ireland.  She was known as Brigandee or Brigandu in France and as Brigantia in England, Cornwall and Wales.  Her aspect was threefold but unlike the Mediterranean triple goddesses who wore three faces – maiden/mother/crone – Brigit was always a young woman; not yet a matron but no longer a maiden. 

She was the inventor of smith craft; her priestesses were virgins who tended a sacred forge where pure gold was crafted into royal ornaments.  Brigit was also the muse of poets and the inspiration of artists and she brought to humans the benevolent gift of healing in all its forms from herbal medicine to magickal trance.  In her triple form she was often depicted as holding a torch, a cauldron and a snake to represent each aspect respectfully.

The seat of Brigit’s worship by the time the first Christian missionaries crossed into Ireland was Kildare so it stands to reason that the Christian saint who merged with one of the greatest goddesses in history is now known as Bridget of Kildare.  The ancient place of Brigit’s worship, at whose center was an enormous oak tree, became known as the abbey where she, as Abbess, literally ruled the land benevolently.  The virgins became the nuns in her care and Saint Mel the bishop who blessed her vows, allegedly in the late 400s.  The story goes that the aging saint absentmindedly read the vows for a bishop rather than an abbess and, when the ceremony was over, could not take back the mistake.  Through this the Church allowed St. Bridget almost as much power as the goddess in whose stead she stood.  It was the Abbess Bridget and her successors who chose the Bishops of Kildare from then on.  It should come as no surprise that each was required to be a practicing goldsmith.

The virtually pagan worship of St. Bridget at the Abbey of Kildare survived nearly into modern times.  It was forced underground during the persecutions of Cromwell and slowly the traditions were forgotten.  Although there are still “Catholic ministries” that claim a link to the Celtic roots of the Abbess of Kildare, their modern brand of “Bridget worship” is sadly watered down even when compared to the rituals and traditions of a few hundred years ago.

Some of Brigit’s power and inspiration of awe survive to this day, and in some fairly innocuous places.  The mammoth stones used to create such pre-Celtic monoliths as Stonehenge are often referred to as “bridestones”, suggesting a far more ancient origin than can be traced.  Most endearing of all, in Britain – particularly Ireland – a girl named Bridget (or Brigit, like my daughter) is born with a nickname: “Brighty”.  In this way, as in so many others, language keeps alive what prejudice has tried so hard to destroy.

Header: Saint Bridget of Kildare from the Cill Dara Ministries website