SGC Admin Bits and Pieces, Inspirations..., Pagan/Wiccan

SGC: From our inbox to you; “Celebrating the Sabbat, March 20 By Patti Wigington”

 

 

 
Celebrating the Sabbat, March 20
By Patti Wigington

Spring has finally arrived! March has roared in like a lion, and if we’re really lucky, it will roll out like a lamb. Meanwhile, on or around March 20th, we have Ostara to celebrate. It’s the time of the vernal equinox if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a true marker that Spring has come.            There are many different ways you can celebrate this Sabbat, depending on your tradition.

May your Sabbat be a magical one!
Rituals to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways you can celebrate Ostara, but typically it is observed as a time to mark the coming of Spring and the fertility of the land. By watching agricultural changes — such as the ground becoming warmer, and the emergence of plants from the ground — you’ll know exactly how you should welcome the season. 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 Ostara Altar: Try these tips to set up your altar for the Spring Equinox.
Ostara Altar Photo Gallery: Be sure to check out some of our readers’ photos of their Ostara altars – and find some inspiration!
Ostara Ritual for Solitaries: This simple ritual is designed with the solo practitioner in mind.
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Chocolate Rabbit: This fairly ridiculous Ostara rite for kids is silly fun for the whole family.
Ostara Rebirthing Ritual: Celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal with this rite.
Ostara Labyrinth Meditation: This meditation ritual will help you with some problem solving during the Ostara season.
Earth Meditation: As the earth begins to warm back up, use this meditation to help get yourself grounded.
Celebrating Ostara with Kids: Got little Pagans? Here are some great ways to include them in your Ostara celebrations!
Read Now
Ostara Customs and Traditions
Interested in learning about some of the traditions behind the celebrations of March? Learn why St. Patrick hated snakes, and why the Easter bunny brings eggs for us to eat!
Ostara History: The vernal equinox has a long magical history. Here’s how it’s been celebrated through time.
Deities of Ostara: Meet some of the gods and goddesses associated with the spring equinox.
Spring Equinox Celebrations Around the World: Pagans aren’t the only ones celebrating this time of year – here’s what the rest of the world is doing!
Who was Eostre?: Was Eostre really an ancient goddess of spring?
Matronalia, March 1: The Romans celebrated an early version of Mother’s Day at the beginning of March.
Easter Eggs: Pagan or Not?: Are Easter Eggs secretly Pagan?
Can You Really Balance an Egg on the Equinox? Have you ever heard about balancing an egg on the equinox? Let’s look at the science behind the rumor.
Beware the Ides of March!: The Ides of March were an unlucky day for a certain Roman emperor.
St. Patrick and the Snakes: There’s a lot of speculation on whether or not the snakes were a metaphor for Pagans – did St. Patrick really drive them out of Ireland?
Pagans and Lent: Should Pagans give things up for Lent, just because their Christian friends and family members are?
Read Now

Ostara Crafts & Recipes

As Ostara rolls in, you can decorate your home (and keep your kids entertained) with a number of easy craft projects. Start celebrating a bit early with a St. Patrick’s Day Snake Wreath or a basket of naturally-dyed eggs. If you’re thinking about planning a feast, be sure to check out these recipe ideas!
Read Now
SGC Admin Bits and Pieces, News and views

Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter Tours and Memorials Key West Florida: Captain Victoria Impallomeni-Spencer

SGC Admin: When we lose a loved one, it is difficult to say goodbye, we will always miss them.. and choosing the most thoughtful or ideal way to intern or release our loved ones isn’t always easy…Our family recently said goodbye to a loved ones “earth suit” in the most beautiful and peaceful way .. From the back a small boat into the clear ocean water of Key West surrounded by mangroves…

photo: property of Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter
photo: property of Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charters website

Captain Victoria and Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter services was the right choice for us and we feel it was right for our loved one too..

Photo: property of Dancing Dolphin Spirits Charter

Captain Victoria also offers other charter tours beside memorial ones… :)

The moment we met Captain Victoria and her assistant Kandy we felt comfortable. Captain Victoria and Kandy guided us on board and helped us to stow our things.. They even produced blankets, just in case the wind was cooler than we had dressed for.

We really weren’t sure what to expect, but we are so glad we said goodbye to our loved one this way… Captain Victoria took us out to see the dolphins, they came, it was magical… :) we felt blessed and joyful… We even saw an Osprey  fly right across the bow… it was amazing…

We chose a beautiful Mangrove grove… the water was clear, everything was just right… Captain Victoria explained the importance of the Mangroves to the whole life cycle… :) A spiritual and healing feather ceremony was held, it was calming, soothing and peaceful…

Captain Victoria has many years of experience, she looks at the water like we would look at a road map… Her knowledge is boundless, and it is wise to listen well when she speaks… :)

Kandi (If she is there on your charter)  is kind and caring, always at hand when needed, taking photo’s and video’s and happy to answer questions and keep you comfortable, while Captain Victoria guides the boat… and wow it’s wild … :)

For more information, pricing or to book a charter with Captain Victoria please check out

SGC Admin Bits and Pieces, Full Moon & New Moon Dates

Spring Forward… :) Clocks go forward tonight… Daylight Savings time begins… Full Moon Too…

Image result for free graphics clockDaylight Savings Time Begins… :) March 12 2017

Set your clocks 1 hour ahead when you go to bed tonight… Evenings will be “brighter” but mornings will be darker again for a little while… The good news is we are heading for longer days and shorter nights and that means spring and summer… :)

Image result for free graphics full moon

We also see a Full Moon tonight in the sign of Virgo .. Check our post Here to see what it’s all about… :)

SGC Admin Eco News, News and views, Recipes and Tips

Dayle’s Switch to a Vegan Diet… come share the journey… :)

SGC Admin: Dayle Lovely, (yes that is her name) :) and she is a very lovely person inside and out … is a long time follower and supporter of SGC, having been a part of the SGC family from the get go, we are so happy to share Dayle’s present journey with you, our readers… :)
Dayle, was recently diagnosed with Arthritis, she is a young, vibrant woman, devoted wife and outstanding mum so the news wasn’t very welcome :(  At first Dayle took the “regular” route of prescribed medication from her doctor to help alleviate the pain so she could move about her day with relative ease. However, after doing her own research and with the guidance of a family member who “suffers” with the same affliction, Dayle decided to change-up her diet.
“We are what we eat” is how the saying goes, which makes sense, seeing as what we eat repairs and builds our cells, muscle, tissue and bone…. and it also makes sense that sometimes, the food we are ingesting can have a negative impact on the whole of our body, (such as in the spread of Cancerous cells) or on specific parts of our bodily makeup.. (such as the make up our blood cells, our muscle strength and bones).
When arthritis attacks the body, it attacks the joint bones and the surrounding tissue… over time the joints become painful and swollen making movement a challenge and sometimes impossible. Arthritis takes away the strength in the affected area’s (such as the gripping motion used to pick up or hold things), along with making the person tired, it causes frustrations and interrupts the regular daily flow of the “victims” life.
Due to her research and her aunt’s guidance, Dayle has embarked upon a “Whole food plant-based diet”… Giving up the meat wasn’t an issue for Dayle, but the other animal products such as cream, eggs and cheese presented another challenge…..
We thought Dayle’s journey may be interesting and helpful for any other folks out there thinking of giving this diet a try, and we asked Dayle if she would share her journey with SGC :) We are happy to report that she is more than happy to share to help others…

Please feel free to comment with your own experiences and to share your own favorite “Whole food, plant-based” recipes in the comments section or send us an email to: astrostar61@hotmail.com

 

We introduce to you ..

Dayle’s Vegan Journey… :) 1st post: April 28 2016

This is the first lunch recipe shared by Dayle with our readers… it is early on in the switch, so as of yet there aren’t    any physical (joint condition and energy levels) changes to report…

 A few people have been wondering what I eat on a whole food, plant-based diet. Here’s today’s lunch.

  • humus,
  • Avocado,
  • Baby spinach,
  • Cilantro,
  • Kale
  • Cucumber
  • on whole grain bread, done Panini style.

I don’t have a Panini pan, so I just used a frying pan, no oil or butter, and toasted the bread with a 5 lb weight on a smaller pan to press it down. (Who knew I could use my weights in the kitchen?!).

The heat makes the humus all melty, giving it a melted cheese consistency. I’ve paired with some cherry tomatoes and baby carrots. I’m still feeling a little peckish, so I’ll follow it up with a couple clementines. That will fill me up nicely.

Prep and cooking time:

It took me about 5 minutes to make this, including the time in the pan. It was delicious!

Dayle… :)

Dayles Vegan Diet
copyright: Dale Lovely Photo’s
Disclaimer: SGC staff & Dayle Lovely are not responsible for any outcome regarding this diet or recipes given. SGC blog readers are encouraged to do their own research and/or contact their own health care provider regarding any drastic or long term changes to their present diets.
SGC Admin "thoughts", Bits and Pieces, Views and Tips...

From our inbox to you from DailyOm on “Uniting in thought and action” a circle is more than just a circle… :)

SGC Admin: From our Inbox to you from DailyOm on “Uniting in thought and action”

July 20, 2016
Uniting in Thought and Action
The Power of the Circle by Madisyn Taylor

When we are in circle with others

the energy stays contained within the group giving back to all. 

There are many reasons for why a gathering of people in a circle is powerful. A circle is a shape that is found repeatedly throughout the natural world, and it is a symbol of perfection. We recreate this perfect shape when we join others to form a circle.

Being in a circle allows us experience each other as equals. Each person is the same distance apart from the next participant, and no one is seated higher than or stands apart from others in a circle. From tribal circles to the mythical round table of King Arthur, the circle has been the shape adopted by gatherings throughout history.The circle is acknowledged as an archetype of wholeness and integration, with the center of a circle universally understood to symbolize Spirit – the Source.

When a group of people come together in a circle, they are united. This unity becomes even more powerful when each person reaches out to touch a neighbor and clasps hands. This physical connection unites thought and action, mind and body, and spirit and form in a circle. Because a circle has no beginning and no end, the agreement to connect in a circle allows energy to circulate from one person to the next, rather than being dissipated into the environment.

Like a candle used to light another candle, the connection with spirit that results when one person joins hands with another is greater than if each person were to stand alone. People who take part in a circle find that their power increases exponentially while with the group. Like a drop of water rippling on the surface of a pond, the waves of energy produced in a circle radiate outward in circular motion.

While one person may act like a single beacon that emanates light, a circle of people is like a satellite dish that sends out energy. There is power in numbers, and when the commitment is made by many to face one another, clasp hands, and focus on one intention, their circle emanates ripples of energy that can change the world.