SGC Admin News and views

May 2, 2017 (Julian 122) Moon forms Thor’s Hammer with Chiron, Saturn

SGC Admin: We have certainly felt the high somewhat negative energy during the last few days… and have noted the violence and unsteadiness within humanity that seems to have been quiet prevalent this past weekend. Thanks for your input Irregular Oracle… :) let’s put ourselves in a more positive, gentler frame of mind if possible, and perhaps we can ride this wave out with less damage… :)

Grandtrines's avatarIrregular Oracle

May 2, 2017 (Julian 122) Moon forms Thor’s Hammer with Chiron, Saturn

Technically, Saturn square Chiron perfected Sunday, though some events related to that manifested Monday (yesterday).  But with Sun forming a sesquiquadrate to Saturn today followed by a semisquare to Chiron, today might be the “big day.”

Here in Dallas, a police office shot, and killed, a fifteen year old passenger in a car that was pulling away from the police.  A stabbing rampage in Austin (Monday) left one student dead and three wounded.  A shooter shot a paramedic before killing himself and another.  The paramedic will likely live, but only due to a fast response.  A wrong way driver in Ohio had his car explode in a huge fireball caught on video.  We think Tuesday / Wednesday (Mercury direct station) / Thursday through the weekend (the days immediately after the direct station) could be worse.  But…

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SGC Admin News and views

SGC Admin: From our inbox to you: Celebrating the Beltane Sabbat by Patti Wigington:
Celebrating the Beltane Sabbat
By Patti Wigington
It’s time for Beltane, and that means it’s a season of fire, fertility, and passion. As we celebrate the greening of the earth, there are few celebrations as representative of fertility as Beltane. It’s the time when the earth mother opens up to the fertility god, and their union brings about healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around.

For our readers below the equator, it’s nearly Samhain, and the earth is going dormant. Crops are dying, the nights are getting cooler and darker, and it’s a season to honor the endless cycle of life, death, and eventual rebirth. Be sure to scroll down for information on how you can celebrate Samhain.

No matter which one of these you are celebrating in the coming days, I wish you all a joyful and magical Sabbat!
Beltane Rituals & Ceremonies
There are many different ways you can celebrate Beltane, but the focus is nearly always on fertility. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying—and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Setting Up Your Beltane Altar: Here’s how to get started decorating your altar for the Beltane sabbat.
Celebrate Beltane with a Maypole Dance: The Maypole dance is a time-honored tradition. Here’s how to host your own!
Beltane Bonfire Ritual – a group ceremony
Hold a Family Abundance Rite for Beltane: Celebrate the abundance of the land with your family.
Honor the Sacred Feminine with a Goddess Ritual.
Beltane Planting Ritual for Solitaries: If you’re practicing solo, this simple planting ritual will get you into the spirit of the season.
Handfastings and Weddings: Plenty of people are tying the knot during the Beltane season – be sure to read up on all the things you need to know!
Celebrating Beltane with Children: If you’re raising little Pagans, try these fun ways to embrace the Beltane season with your kids.
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Beltane Traditions & Customs
Interested in learning about some of the traditions behind the celebrations of May Day? Learn why the Romans had a big party, and who the popular fertility gods are.

Beltane History: Beltane has been observed for a long time – let’s look at some of the history behind the tradition.
Deities of Beltane: There are gods and goddesses from all over the world that are associated with the Beltane sabbat and the greening of the earth.
Maypole History: Maypoles are for more than just a dance – they have a long and colorful history.
Who Were the Mother Goddesses?
Who Is the Green Man? The Green Man archetype is a well known one – but who is he, and why is he important?
Cernunnos, the Wild God of the Forests: In Celtic legend, Cernunnos is the horned god of the forests, and is associated with the fertility of Beltane.
The Greek God, Pan
Morris Dances and Mummer’s Plays: The British custom of Morris dancing and mummer plays is tied to the Beltane season.
Legends and Lore of Beltane
Legends of the Bees: Did you know bees are a popular topic of folklore and mythology? Let’s look at some of the legends surrounding bees.
May 6: Honoring Eyvind Kelda
Floralia: The Roman May Day Celebration: The Romans honored the goddess Flora during this time of year.
Walpurgisnacht
The May Queen vs. the Queen of Winter
Faerie Lore
Welcome Faeries to Your Garden
The Secret Language of Flowers: In Victorian times, people sent each other secret messages using flowers to tell their story.
What is the Bale Fire?
The Beltane Hobby Horse
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The Magic of Beltane
Beltane is a season of fertility and fire, and we often find this reflected in the magic of the season. Let’s look at some of that spring magic, from ritual sex to fertility magic, along with the magic found in gardens and nature.

Ritual Sex and the Great Rite: Beltane is a time of passion and fertility, so for many people, it’s a time for ritual sex. Here’s what you need to know.
Fertility Magic and Customs: There’s a lot of folklore surrounding fertility. Let’s look at some beliefs from around the world.
Chocolate and Sex: Chocolate as an aphrodisiac? You bet! In fact, it’s scientifically proven.
Make Magic in Your Garden
Sacred Plants of the Beltane Season: Let’s look at some of the plants that are considered sacred to the Beltane season.
Plant a Magical Moon Garden: If you’re a night owl, consider planting a moon garden, full of fragrant plants that open and bloom at night.
Magical Spring Flowers
Spring Garden Folklore
Forsythia Magic and Legends
Lilac Magic & Folklore
The Magic of Dandelions: Dandelions are everywhere in the spring, so let’s look at some of the magic and folklore behind them.
Magical Herbal Correspondences
Magical Prosperity Soap
Horse Magic, Folkore and Legends
Butterfly Myth and Magic
Graveyard Dirt: Do you use graveyard dirt in magic? You can – here’s how.
READ NOW
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From our inbox to you from the Dark Pixie on “what it means to be an empath”

newsjoywhatmeanstobeanempath

An empath is one who is sensitive by nature, able to feel the moods of others and at times pick up their intentions, thoughts and more. Many empaths are lightworkers, if not all, which means that in addition to one’s personal life purpose, the empath is meant to serve humanity for the highest good of all. Likely, if you are an empath, you are drawn to doing just that in whatever capacity feels the most fitting for you.

At heart, empaths are kind, generous, loving and dedicated individuals, but many also have mischievous and solitary natures. Many empaths share a close bond to animals and nature because the vibration is a match more than with many people.

Living in the world as an empath can be challenging at times. An empath must shield and ground daily to avoid picking up unwanted energies. Care must be taken with relationships of all types because often the light of the empath is sought by those who have dimmed their own.

Another challenge can be found in the competing desires of wanting to help and serve versus needing solitude; balance must be realized but this can take many life lessons to accomplish. Most of all, an empath must remember to give themselves the warm love and compassion that they so freely lend to others, believing in themselves and embracing their life mission in every way.

About Joy:
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Jocelyn Joy Thomas is an intuitive empath with an Etsy shop where you can purchase readings from her. She has a few empath readings that she offers, including for love, career, and your spiritual path – check them out, fellow empaths!
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From our inbox to you from: DailyOm Madisyn Taylor on “seeing the bigger picture”

Seeing The Bigger Picture


BY MADISYN TAYLOR

 

We have created imaginary boundaries, sectioning ourselves into countries and states, forgetting that in reality we are all living together.

Seeing an image of the planet Earth taken from space inspires awe in many of us, since we can clearly see the connectedness of all of us who live upon this planet. We have created imaginary boundaries, sectioning ourselves into countries and states, forgetting that in reality we are all living together, breathing the same air, drinking from the same water, eating food grown from the same earth. We share everything on this planet, whether we are conscious of it or not, with other people, and those people are our brothers and sisters. Keeping a photograph or painting of the planet Earth in a prominent place in our homes can be a positive way to remember our interconnectedness.

Meditating on the fact that any sense of separation we have from one another is truly an illusion, we will naturally begin to make more conscious choices in our daily lives. The simple act of preparing food, or determining how to dispose of our refuse, can be done with the consciousness that whatever we do will affect all our brothers and sisters, no matter how far away they live, as well as the planet herself. When we foster this kind of awareness in ourselves out of a feeling of awe, it becomes easier to be conscious than to fall back into old habits of thinking of ourselves as separate.

When we contemplate the earth in her wholeness, we attune ourselves to the truth of the bigger picture, which is the Earth, and all of us, every one of us, living on her body. We are connected to one another in the most intimate way, because we literally share our living space. As more people become aware of the reality of our inter-dependency, things will shift in a positive direction, and much of the discord that we see now will give way to a more cooperative, loving conscious. This is happening already, so as our consciousness grows, we can join with the many other minds working to live in the spirit of togetherness.
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From our inbox to you from: Patti Wigington & Making Magic in Your Garden
Making Magic in Your Garden
By Patti Wigington
 

The garden can be one of the most magical places in your life. As spring approaches, let’s look at how to plan, create, and grow your magical garden, as well as ways to create specialty gardens, herb plots, and more!
Garden Folklore and Magic

The very act of planting, of beginning new life from seed, is a ritual and a magical act in itself. To cultivate something in the black soil, see it sprout and then bloom, is to watch a magical working unfold before our very eyes. The plant cycle is intrinsically tied to so many earth-based belief systems that it should come as no surprise that the magic of the garden is one well worth looking into.
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Plant a Magical Moon Garden

 

A lot of people don’t realize you can grow plants and flowers that bloom at night. Cultivating a moon garden is a great way to get in touch with nature, and it provides a beautiful and fragrant backdrop for your moonlight rituals in the summer. If you plant these lovelies close to your house, you can open the windows and take advantage of their aromas as you sleep.
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As spring arrives, our gardens begin to bud and eventually bloom. For hundreds of years, the plants that we grow have been used in magic. Flowers in particular are often connected with a variety of magical uses. Now that spring is here, keep an eye out for some of these flowers around you, and consider the different magical applications they might have. 

Magical Flower Correspondences