“Remember you are dust and to dust you will return.” As a kid, I was always glad I came from a Protestant household so I didn’t have to give up candy…
Ash Wednesday
For my Pagan and other mystical brethren. While this is a Christian post, it’s still a good post on meditation. As well as self reflection during a holy time. As I am now meditating during the Parentalia, I am also sacrificing some stuff for the Ancestors.
So this comes at a good time. Cheers,
– M
As of yesterday, Tuesday the 13th of February the feast of Parentalia and the Lupercalia began. And today is the feast of Saint Valentinus. We got a lot to cover so let’s get started.
– The Lupercalia ~
The three day Roman festival of the God, Lupercus. Every year I honor him by doing spring cleaning in my home. In his name, I wash the floors of the home with holy water. And I clean out things I no longer need.
Contrary to popular belief, Lupercalia had nothing to do with “pagan sex orgies. The entire holiday, was dedicated to Lupercus. In Greek religion he is often compared to Lycaean Pan or “wolf Pan”. Pan in his lupine form. Of course not everyone agrees they are the same person.
That’s not a debate I am going to have here.
Rites of the Lupercal
Lupercus is the wolf incarnation of Faunus. A God similar to Pan. During his month of Februarius, he takes the form of Lupercus to drive out the winter spirits. Specifically shades of the dead. As winter for many cultures is said to be the time of the dead.
The Luperci (brothers of the wolf) the priests of Lupercus, would perform purification rituals for the community. They would use holy water to wash clean all floors and homes. Aspersions of water were used to purify and drive away the dead. And the other spirits that appear during winter. Send them back where they belong.
The brothers of the wolf would wear wolf masks.
Some rituals included remembering Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who founded Rome. And were raised by the she wolf Lupa. Also known as La Lupa Capitolina (the capitoline she-wolf). She’s very popular in Roman culture as a totem of Rome. The Luperci would go to the Lupercal.
Which is said to be the cave at the southwest of the Palatine Hill. Legend says that this is the cave where Lupa was feeding her milk to the twins. Before the shepherd Faustulus found and adopted them. In the Lupercal, the sacrifices of animals were done for the honor of Lupercus and the twin heroes. Usually goats or dogs.
The one and only thing that I could find that sounded like it was “sexual” was a fertility rite.
So in this picture you see an image on the right of men I assume are supposed to be the Luperci. They don’t have the special masks but whatever. The point is just like the more accurate picture, you see them with thongs called Februa which were cut from the flayed skin of sacrificed animals. This is spoken of in the Topography of the Lupercalia by Dr. Krešimir Vuković. The classicist, ancient historian, and philosopher.
Apparently it was believed that if they slapped a woman on the wrist with the februa, pregnant women were protected during child birth. And women that were sterile, would conceive children. That’s it. Yes it was playful because the priests ran around naked and hit anyone they could. It was a fun festival.
And a bunch of people got hit with those februa. But no sexual acts were performed. Let alone “orgies”. This was a holiday for spring cleaning and spiritual cleansing. And a holiday for blessing people.
This holiday goes on for three more days. Ending on the 15th. The reason people mistakenly believe it’s connected to St. Valentine is due to a coincidence. His day just happens to be in the middle of the Lupercalia. But it is not a christianized holiday.
And the original holiday was not about sex orgies. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. No kink shaming here.
The Feast of St. Valentinus/San Valentino/Saint Valentine
Sometimes he’s portrayed as clean shaven. Other times as bearded like right here. I decided on bearded. I’m not going to add the whole history of this man here. Because we have a lot to cover.
I will say that he’s a mystic saint. And he’s actually really good to call upon in magic. For a variety of things. Including,
– Beekeeping
– And all Diseases, including mental disease, epilepsy, and fainting
-Couples especially those are either married or betrothed to be married this also includes love and happiness in marriage
– And Lesbians!
No, it’s not what you think. Lesbos or Lésvos is an island in Greece. So the Lesbians here, are the people of Lésvos. He’s their patron Saint.
So here’s a short story about why he’s associated with love. This small history comes from the History of Ireland (Stair na hÉireann) blog.
“There are many versions of the Legend of St Valentine. But a few things are known. That he was a priest martyred (as in beheaded) on 14th February. In either 269 AD or 270 AD by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Also known as Claudius the Cruel.
Among Valentine’s crimes was secretly marrying Christian lovers.
Claudius, being a sexist as well as a tyrant, decided that those pesky women were the reason he was having so much trouble getting soldiers for his armies. His reasoning was that men didn’t want to leave their families, wives, or girlfriends to go to war. (Apparently it never occurred to him that they might not be all that willing to die for an emperor they detested.) So his solution was to ban engagements and marriages. An edict Valentine, who had a warm place in his heart for all lovers, ignored.
Many churches claim to be Valentine’s final resting place. Including the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street in Dublin. According to the story told there, the Saint’s remains were given to Father John Sprat by Pope Gregory XVI. And a shrine still exists there today,”
Shrine of St Valentine, Whitefriar Street Church
Let’s forget the fact that his feast is almost completely about love and couples. It adds to the chthonic energy already present. Because a Saint is a dead spiritual master. A member of the Mighty Dead. So that adds to the ancestral power of all three of these festivals.
Plus him being an occultic saint, with mystical powers just adds more magic to the next few days. Finally, the Parentalia.
Dies Parentales (days of the ancestors) The Parentalia
The Parentalia officially started today at 12pm. When this happens, all images of the Gods must be covered. Beginning February 13, it begins a nine day festival dedicated to the ancestors. The Roman people truly revered their ancestors. Almost as much as the Gods.
Most ancient cultures were like that. In our modern world, most of the faiths and communities have abandoned their ancestors. Even the more modern witches are like that for the most part. I was. It took me a while to learn that the spirits must be honored. And not just human spirits or your relatives.
During the Parentalia, there is no worship to the Gods. All reverence goes to the ancestors. All of them. The first part of the ritual was to be done in public.
The Tomb of Tarpeia
Tarpeia was the daughter of an ancient Roman commander. She was a Vestal virgin. But she was far from holy. She betrayed her own people to the Sabines. Believing that she would receive jewelry payment, she not only betrayed the other virgins to the Sabines.
She actually opened the gates for them to enter the city. When they came in, instead of paying her, they killed her slowly. By crushing her with their own shields. Then tossed her body off of a rock. Which to this day is called the Tarpeian Rock.
The very first part of the Parentalia, was to go to the tomb of Tarpeia. And give an offering to the collective di parentes (dead of the family). On behalf of all of Rome. Traitors and criminals were also ceremonially thrown off the same rock her body was tossed off of. This was seen as a collective sacrifice.
The Mānēs or spirits of the dead, were given offerings at the familial tombs outside the city. Wine soaked bread was one of the most favored offerings. Garlands, salt, sprinkled corn, violets, and wheat was also acceptable to them. Which is kind of weird because salt normally repels the dead. But then again, using spices from the kitchen to feed certain spirits is well documented. The Paterfamilias (father of the family) or head of the family, acted as a sort of high priest of the family.
Performing these rituals on behalf of everyone’s ancestors. Presumably I assume that would also mean the mother’s side of the family. But I wasn’t able to find any info online about that. According to the Alchetron site,
” From Parentalia to Caristia all temples were closed, marriages were forbidden, and ‘magistrates appeared without their insignia,’ an indication that no official business was conducted. William Warde Fowler describes the Parentalia as ‘ practically a yearly renewal of the rite of burial,‘ “
Lighting lamps at the tombs was also a good offering for them. So the practice of burning candles to the dead is actually older than we think. For all we know, the church may have adopted such practices from our Pagan ancestors. Every family had their rituals to their dead in secret. And while they did visit family shrines, they also had household shrines.
When they didn’t visit the familial tombs, they would use a red brick as a makeshift street shrine. And leave food offerings there. The dead weren’t just in the tombs. They would wander the streets and re-visit the living world as well. The living also visited the dead in their tombs to have picnics.
From History and Archeology Online,
It reminds me of modern traditions today. With the day of the dead in Mexico. American families who prepare banquets at wakes of their loved ones. Or Southern Appalachian and Liberian families who go to the cemeteries every Decoration Day. Which is the original holiday memorial day was based on.
This is a time of personal meditation. Of contemplation and self reflection. We meditate on our ancestors. On their effects on our lives. This festival is for quiet contemplation.
Trying to reconstruct this feast is hard sometimes. For one thing, the original opening rituals and prayers were done by vestal virgins. And while I have a good relationship with Vesta, I am neither female nor virgin. But I work with gatekeeping and liminal magic a lot. So I explained to her a long time ago, that while I am not a consecrated virgin I wanted to work with her for special prayers.
She accepted. The Gods are reasonable. And they can be flexible with those who love them. The next problem I encountered was I am not in Rome. This is clearly a Roman religion.
Based on the country side and cities. I am no where near the tomb of Tarpeia. So instead I used a shrine to Janus, the God of the double doors. I won’t say where it’s located. But I also use it as a public vault of the dead.
For dead neighbors. But also Roman departed. And random ghosts who roam the streets and need a home can live there. I also have buried dead animals there. Even nonhuman spirits (faeries mostly) who associate with the dead live there.
Especially those who protect the dead.
I usually offer a roasted chicken. But any dinner left over is given to them. Steak, fish, etc..even vegetables and bread. Recently I started leaving them cookies. When all else fails, libations of water, fruit juice, and wine or brandy.
In traditional practice this was an initial offering for all of the dead. And then you focused on just yourself. Problem is, not all neighbors honor their dead. Even in Florida, with all the Santeros and other groups, most people are still in Christian churches. And they have the belief that the dead are fine and don’t need help.
That they’re automatically with God. That they are “protected by Christ”. All this despite the fact that Christian, Jewish, and Muslim lore all mention ghosts. And souls that need help. Or worse, they don’t believe at all.
Which is bad for their poor ancestors who need that love and support in the afterlife too. So my modern practice is split into three : Offerings for the Living, immortal spirits (non humans) to help the dead out. Offerings for the public dead which is everyone. Which I do outside at special shrines. And finally personal offerings at home for my own dead.
Because they do like to have their own rituals done for them. So I honor pretty much any spirit who needs the help right now. And I do it for the community. Sometimes talking to them is sad.
They tell me how much they wish their own relatives would help them. But they’re grateful for any help they can get. So I try to go all out for them. I give them feasts. I give them offerings and spirit homes.
And above all, I give them love. Especially love.
The offerings were done daily. And it served a dual purpose. One was to strengthen the blood bond between ancestor and descendant. Specifically the protective powers of the ancestor. And second, it’s an Apotropaic ritual to drive away enemies of the family.
Be it a spirit or a human. Or even disease and bad luck. It ends at midnight in the 21st of February. On the ending feast known as the Feralia. There’s a bunch of stuff that has to do with holidays that end this day.
But for now that’s about it. But first one final thought.
Astrological Forecast
Finally, we have a new astrological update from Lynn Hayes. Mars (God of War) enters Aquarius (Water Bearer) on February 13th (Tuesday). The union of fire and water. Perfect for a Dragon. And then immediately joins with Pluto (God of the Underworld).
Which increases the power of this chthonic time. From Lynn herself,
Now that’s just part of what she said in her newsletter. But I thought it bared mentioning. Seeing as this is a conjunction of the Gods Mars and his uncle Pluto. Happy Parentalia, Lupercalia, and Saint Valentinus day!
– M
Sources :
2) Topography of the Lupercalia by Dr. Krešimir Vuković
3) St Valentine | Stair na hÉireann
5) Numina Romana – Spirits in Roman Religion
6) Parentalia – Imperium Romanum
7) Appeasing the Ancestors: The Parentalia and Feralia in Ancient Rome
8) Appeasing the Ancestors: The Parentalia and Feralia
Happy Year of the Wood Dragon everyone, Kung Hei Fat Choi! Losar Tashi Delek! 🀄️🐲🐉
We are now in Year 4722 according to the Chinese Calendar (thank you for that info Ferrebeekeeper). Here we have some amazing links to share to read.
An explanation of the Wood Dragon from Ferrebeekeeper here.
The Year of the Wood Dragon is coming — what it means for your zodiac sign
2024 YEAR OF THE WOOD DRAGON CHINESE HOROSCOPE FORECAST
2024 The Year of the Dragon: Newcastle celebrations
Key Traits of the Wood Dragon Chinese Zodiac Sign
The 2024 New Year’s Report : The Most Violent Year yet?
Lucky and Unlucky Days to cut your hair
Buddhist calendar for important spiritual days in January
Paht Chee Forecast for 2024 – Year of the Wood Dragon
The 24 Mountains Stars of 2024
Lucky Colors to Wear in the Year of the Wood Dragon 2024
Tai Sui 2024 – General Li Cheng
Your Luck & Lucky Symbols for the Year of the Wood Dragon 2024
Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) 2024/2023: Feb. 10, Animal Sign Dragon, Horoscope
Flying Stars in January 2024: Sum-of-Ten Indicates Great Productivity
Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) 2024/2023: Feb. 10, Animal Sign Dragon, Horoscope
Good & Bad Days to Cut Hair for January 2024
Flying Stars in January 2024: Sum-of-Ten Indicates Great Productivity
Feng Shui Astrology for January 2024
Significant Spiritual Days for January 2024
Happy Lunar New Year! Learn All About This Celebration
Welcome to the Year of the Wood Dragon!
Year of the Dragon 2024 Predictions
A Wonderful Hello Kitty Wood Dragon Salute! (This is my favorite, don’t judge. I love cute stuff)
Khapse- Tibetan New Year Deep Fried Cookies
Tibetan Buddhist Butter Sculptures
Astrological Forecasts
First we start with the predictions of Geomancer, Master Joseph Chau. I tend to agree with his divination more so than others. He said that in terms of economics, this year is a mixed bag. He says that,
“Industries such as construction, real estate, information technology, and restaurants are poised for growth, while others, including banking, tourism, and trading, may face challenges,”
He warns against not just political conflict, but personal conflict. Including backstabbing and jealousy. What really caught my attention was this part,
“Health-wise, attention is drawn to respiratory issues, digestive problems, and potential accidents involving cars and airplanes. Natural catastrophes such as typhoons, floods, fires, and earthquakes are also predicted in various parts of the world,”
If you recall, in the New Year’s Report the Santeros warned of diseases of the lower body this year. The stomach mostly. In fact, almost immediately I’ve noticed a rise in stomach issues among women particularly. As well as womb issues. Also in Florida, we have non stop had airplane accidents.
Just yesterday another plane fell. Now I can always say, “well it’s the crappy infrastructure Florida has now,”. But this slightly goes over the top. So infrastructure aside, I wouldn’t even get on a private jet right now. In fact, the plane that fell yesterday in the middle of the road was a private jet.
So far it seems the spiritual people of the world are on track. The rest of his article is an explanation by him of what this year means for your zodiac sign. So just click on his name above. And you will be able to access the article. Next is is Tsao-Lin Moy.
She’s the founder of various spiritual businesses. And is very well versed in religion and metaphysics. She says that the element of wood will effect all the zodiac signs. So no matter what your primary element is, it will be effected by Wood. She says,
“Wood is the element of Yang. It is the energy of spring, of reaching toward the light while deepening roots into the soil. The Wood element is associated with the liver and gallbladder and relates to planning and execution. A sign of vitality and vibrance, Wood is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi or Chi (circulating life force) and blood within the body. When emotions are out of balance, Qi does not flow and there is stagnation.
If left untreated the results are irritability, anger, and poor decision-making.
Dragons tend to have careers where they can share, articulate, and express their wisdom. Generally healthy, they run the risk of running fast and running on adrenal fumes. The ‘fire’ in their bellies can manifest as stomach and digestive issues such as acid reflux. Drained resources can lead to problems with circulation and body aches, while poor sleep can result in impatience, moodiness, and melancholy for Dragons.”
I would also like to add, that such a stagnation would cause health problems in anyone. If this is true, that would explain a lot. Such as why so many people are getting lower abdominal diseases. The ones that we were forewarned about. The root chakra which is our spine, legs, bones, pretty much our power body, is where our chi comes from the earth.
It’s how our life force gets into our bodies. So now we know a lot more about what’s happening this year. It makes sense why we need to focus on water. In order to feed the earth element. Water is often seen as our life force as well as the Earth.
The running on fumes adds another explanation. It means we’re overusing our chi and burning ourselves out. Because the Dragon influence of this year drives us.
Continuing on,
“Dragons are Yang in nature; enigmatic, intelligent, spiritual & wise. Dragons are curious. They’re independent thinkers and love to gather knowledge. Apropos of this, the symbol of the Dragon holds the Pearl of Wisdom. They have intense focus; setting goals they will dive deep into a subject gaining expertise and mastery.
Above all Dragons value intelligence, wisdom, and loyalty. Dragons don’t tolerate stupidity and can be unforgiving if cheated. Never try to manipulate or trick a Dragon.”
She advises that we balance the energy of the Dragon (Yang) with the Earth (Yin). Because then you could use the combined energy to enhance your prosperity. And anything else you want to accomplish. You don’t need a ritual for that. Just your will and focus.
Though a good ritual wouldn’t hurt. Her final recommendations are as follows,
“Use your divine wisdom to make health a priority. Pay attention to hunger pangs; eat at regular intervals, chew slowly, and don’t skip meals. A springtime liver detox can clear out metabolic waste. While meditation may not be appealing to Dragons, breathing exercises and sound baths are great for Dragons. Taper excess caffeine and other stimulants that interrupt sleep. Consider substituting dandelion, burdock, and stinging nettle teas for coffee,”
For her forecasts on what happens via your zodiac sign go here.
From the Flying Stars Website,
You can read the rest of their prediction here. I don’t want to take away from their website. You can just read it there. Next we have the Paht Chee Forecast for 2024 – Year of the Wood Dragon. And again, we are seeing the same thing from the Letters of the year (in my new year’s report), pop up in Chinese Feng Shui.
Next we have the The 24 Mountains Stars of 2024. The Mountain Stars are powerful in Feng Shui. Click the link above to see what you need to do to increase your luck. Finally, are leaving Period 8. The era of the number 8.
And we are about to enter Period 9.
It should also be noted that in Western Numerology, the number 9 is slow, but long lasting prosperity. The Nine Periods each last for 20 years. So it’s time to take advantage of this number and gain our power. But it will also be a more tumultuous period. Possibly marked by Revolutions.
But it’s also a time of prosperity. So it depends on who and what will be effected.
The Spiritual Drought
In this Chinese New Year, the world will enter the year of the Wood Dragon. And with it, a massive imbalance in our world. Too much earth, and not enough water. That’s the ruling theme for this year. The world is not being nurtured by water.
Too many dreams are being sacrificed in the name of what we think is practical (a perversion of the earth element). Or what we think is reasonable. And we’re not nurturing each other or ourselves like we used to. Grounding is great. Earth is great.
Earth lends power to all of us. It makes us invincible in any almost situation. Especially battles. The problem is, we have too many battles. Too many of us are stuck in defensive or offensive strikes.
Normally, I would say this isn’t bad at all. Because most of the time, people lead a sedentary life style. Too many are wasting their energy and time on social media. On pleasure. And on feel good stuff.
Especially this time of the year. So I was happy with the more aggressive magma energy of the underworld stirring our world up. More and more people becoming conscious and educated on things they weren’t before. And no longer standing for it. No longer being passive.
But if there’s no water, you’re grounding with desolate earth. And your soul becomes desolate as well. In resisting the cement of the establishment, we’ve all entered overdrive. Even after we broke our selves free (or free enough). I have felt it too.
I don’t think we should stop resisting evil. Far from it. But it’s time to change tactics. We have already used our raw power to break free from sedentary state. From the cement of apathy and ignorance.
Now it’s time to wash what’s left of the cement from our bodies. Gently. To flow with water. Bruce Lee actually talked about this many times.
Imbalances are cured through spiritual counter balance. What this means is, spend the first six months of the year meditating only with water. Then, on month 7, you can re-incorporate the Earth. This should balance you out. Ask your spirits how this is to be done.
You could also work with spirits of water. Or spirits who are associated with water. Learn to redirect your energies towards nurturing yourself. And your dreams. Just don’t totally lose yourself in the water either.
You don’t want to accidentally create a new imbalance.
The strength of water, is also it’s weakness. It opens up your mind to visions. Which is why Neptune Retrograde is good for spirit work. It even allows you to enter the spiritual world. However, that’s also its weakness.
Too much water, leaves you ungrounded. And then your mind floats the same way the air signs do. When the astrology is ungrounded. So if you notice that water energy leaves you ungrounded like that, don’t wait to re-incorporate the earth. Everyone reacts differently.
Lucky Colors & Their Meanings
According to the flying stars site, the lucky colors of this year are : blue & black (wealth), white, gold, & silver (intelligence), red (support and authority), green (recognition of your talents), and finally yellow (fostering of good allies). Wearing each of these colors is supposed to personally stabilize your energy for this coming year. Next we talk about who the ruling Chinese God of this year is.
The Tai Sui of 2024
Every year the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Chinese God, chooses someone from his court to rule that year. He has sixty divine generals. And one of those generals is anointed as the Grand Duke of the planet Jupiter. Jupiter you see, is seen as a planet of wealth and power across cultures. In Rome, Jupiter was the Supreme God.
So this is a very important planet in Astrology. Even astrologies from different cultures. Whatever God or spirit is in charge of this planet, is very important. And obviously very powerful. So it’s important to stay on the good side of whoever will be in charge.
For this year, the being in charge is General Li Cheng.
The sacred direction of the Tai Sui this year is going to be the South East direction of your house. That is the direction where the wood dragon spirit will be. So that direction should be kept quiet at all times. Don’t ever face that direction. Because doing that is a challenge to him.
You should burn incense or candles and leave fruit offerings to both the Tai Sui and the Dragon. Divine with your spirits or ask a specialist on the best way to do this. The sign of the dog directly conflicts with the Tai Sui. So anyone born under that sign will be afflicted. The sheep and ox are afflicted indirectly by the Tai Sui.
Taken directly from the website :
Now that sounds good and all. And it is don’t get me wrong. But there is a down side. One, if the Jade Emperor chose him to rule us this year, that means there is going to be a massive overhaul. Imagine having a forensic accountant audit you.
Making sure that all accounts are balanced. Now this is for our own good. We need balance. And we desperately need to redo how we are living our lives. So that’s a good thing.
And he will give us support.
But remember that a Mercury retrograde is kind of like that too. We have our lives in an upheaval to change something we wouldn’t change on our own. So there’s no telling what kind of upheaval there will be this year. We are being told that good leaders will emerge to rise up and help us. But over all I think you should learn to rely on yourself.
Because for some signs, leaders won’t help at all.
Trouble for Zodiac Signs
Please pay attention. If you were in the following. It comes from the China Highlights.com site.
“Recent/upcoming years of the Dragon are 2024, 2012, 2000, and 1988. If you were born in one of the years, then you are a Rabbit. You will experience your zodiac birth sign year (benmingnian) in 2024, which is considered bad luck,”
So expect the ride to be particularly bad for you. The sign of the Dragon, Goat, Dog, and Ox are also considered unlucky this year. Because they directly oppose the ruling Tai Sui. The luckiest zodiac animals are Monkeys, Roosters, and Pigs. Anyone falling under those signs shouldexperience good luck.
The same article mentions important things you should do on specific dates. And other important tidbits and details you may need. Another important thing I wanted to bring up. There are days that are lucky or unlucky for cutting your hair. Most Westerners don’t know this, but there are days where it is bad to cut your hair.
Why? Because hair is on the crown of the head. And the soul lives in the mind. This is actually a common belief among the ancients. Even in Yoruba religion, we are cautious with who touches our heads. Even barbers, because evil sorcerers and spirits can attack the soul directly through the head.
It’s the chief center of power for the whole body. So evil spirits and certain types of bad or enemy witches, will attack that area first. That’s why you shouldn’t just allow anyone to touch your children. Or you. You don’t know with what intentions they are doing this.
Now, we aren’t going to delve into the intricacies of this. There’s too much information and cultures to cover. This specifically comes from a Buddhist text. Tibetan Buddhist. So every year there is an updated calendar done by Tibetan Buddhist Monks.
These calendars detail exactly when the spiritual essence of a person is weak. So you actually need the extra hair as a natural shield. Cutting it on the wrong day, opens your mind chakra to foreign influences. And bad spirits, who will see you leaking your energy through that chakra. And go after an easy meal.
The good news is, even after a hair cut, it only takes about a day or so for the mind to adapt. It can adapt the flow of its own energy to the new hair length. And as long as you aren’t being attacked that day by someone, you’re good. And the flip side is, cutting your hair on good days brings prosperity. That means you’re opening your soul and mind up to prosperous energies.
Which it will naturally feast upon. The calendar for these days is here.
Zodiac Signs
Now, for positive stuff about your signs. And opportunities you can read this article instead. Now for a mix of good and bad info go there following. This is a Feng Shui Astrology Calendar which means it balances both concepts with the zodiac signs of each person. For some it will be bad.
For others, good. Speaking of good, the normal Feng Shui calendar for this month is extremely good. And this is a normal Buddhist calendar for important spiritual days in January. It tells you who is in charge of what day. And the special kinds of rituals you should do for success.
Well that’s everything. Cheers everyone!
– M
I’ve often written in Florida about how much I hate the heat. But perhaps I have taken it for granted. This is what passes for cold or frost here.
Others are buried in snow for months in some places. And they beg for the light of day to shine once more. Normally, I don’t think about it. Because the heat here is a real killer. I only worry about when I will get some nice cool.
In the last few days, the Mollusk Meteorologist, was proven right. He’s our version of Punxsutawney Phil. The groundhog who predicts the weather. Unlike Phil who predicted an early spring, the Mollusk Meteorologist told us there would be a longer winter. We have had cold rains and cold winds.
Thank the Gods. Pagans in other parts of the country are praying for the return of the Sun. And here I am bribing the Sun Gods with offerings to take their time to come back. So here I am enjoying this frosty weather. The animals and plants not so much.
I started adjusting my prayers to have weather that is neutral. That can be just chilly and cool enough for me. But warm enough for the animals and plants. But just a few days ago, I had to take another thing into consideration. There was something the Tuatha Dé Danann wanted me to take care of.
It took me a while to figure it out. But essentially they told me I need to directly help the spirits of the land. But I’m already doing that, I thought. Then I saw this article on WordPress recently.
It was titled, ” Do Faeries feel the cold? “ By British Faeries. And it turns out that in at least in some instances, they do. Perhaps even in spiritual form. This makes sense to me. Because I can tell you from experience that Ghosts, or at least some of them, can feel the cold.
In fact even the Catholic Church tells you that Purgatory or Limbo bound ghosts can feel cold. There’s actually a very interesting story from the book, ” Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages, and Warnings from Purgatory, ” by Gerard J.M. Van der Aardweg. There was a Lutheran Minister in Germany I think it was. And he had ghosts walking into his church. Asking for his prayers and comfort.
In Santeria we are taught to feed our dead holy candles. To give them warmth. And imbue them with holy energy. This is partly based on Catholic traditions. But at the same time, we have similar beliefs in other cultures.
He thought they were demons at first. But soon realized they really were ghosts. Seeking help to get into Heaven. We see a similar theme in Buddhism with the Hungry Ghosts. Well the article was similar in that it speaks of nature spirits.
Who need comfort and food as well. The article spoke at length about practices for the Fae to feel better. Mostly everyone would go to sleep early and allow the Fae to spend the night. To eat and drink water. To use the warmth of the hearth and what not.
There was even an interesting part about a family. That was often visited by the Fae. So much so that a little white dog (faery dog) would appear. And that was a sign that they needed to finish whatever they were doing. So the Fae could spend the night.
The article is amazing and I highly recommend it. So I won’t spoil anymore after this final part. But basically mistletoe used to be hanged over the front door during the frost. So that the Fae could inhabit the plant to sleep at night. So the Shining Ones told me I needed to do something similar.
The Tuatha Dé Danann and the other Gods I serve, told me that I needed to do something similar for the Native Spirits. They have long been abandoned. And while immigrant communities often do magic for their own spirits. The indigenous spirits often don’t have that. We live in a country that has been stolen from the Niiji people.
That’s what they like to be called instead of “Indian” or even “Native American”. Many don’t recognize America as a real country. But as a foreign occupying power. And like the Palestinians, they hope one day they will get their country back. That doesn’t mean they want to kick people off the land.
Simply, they want their sovereignty over their country back. Which is the right of all nations. But I digress. The spirits of the land came to me in my mind while I was meditating. I wanted to know what it was that I wasn’t doing right.
So I let them send me the visions. It was a cold haze. And dirty too. Like polluted energy. I remembered that according to many Niiji Elders, what you do to the land is done to the spirits in their world.
So if you care for the land and leave food offerings behind, you are feeding the spirits. And making their lives better. But likewise, if you destroy trees, or pave everything with concrete, you bring them pain. They don’t always die. But often times the result is worse than death.
My regular shrines outside are used as spirit houses for any entity that needs a home. Or wants to rest and eat and drink. But those are apparently only for immigrant spirits. I needed to go to my Niiji shrine and ask for them to allow wondering Niiji spirits access. That they needed to be remembered and cared for as well.
I assume the weird grey haze may also have been a sort of messed up limbo these spirits live in. I came to the Niiji Shrine. And I did just that. But I also took it a step farther. I did a divination with the Gods and spirits of all the other shrines.
And asked if they would also take in Niiji spirits as well. And they all said yes. They said it was only right. Since they are on land belonging to other beings. So now all my shrines have been modified to accept Niiji spirits.
No matter the religion of the culture. After all, we’re all just guests here. Our hosts didn’t ask us to be here. We just came here regardless of permission. So we all need to show our hosts proper respect in their country.
And on their land. Respect the spirits. Love the land. Protect nature. And follow and obey the Niiji our Hosts.
Cheers,
– M
While walking along the beach we were lucky enough to come across this beautiful Hag Stone. Some have one large hole through them whole others have …
How to Activate & Use A Hag Stone
Granny moon has also written these Gems
And
– M
Graceland Memorial Park is without a doubt, a place of great sanctity and peace. It’s actually many different types of cemeteries. Each catering to different faiths. One of the most popular is the Beth Israel Gardens for people of the Jewish faith. I have been to many different cemeteries.
Including animal cemeteries. But at least in Miami, Florida, nothing beats Graceland. Many of my family are there. It’s a place that has everything from Christian to Free Mason Graves. And a few beautiful oddities inside.
On the day of Candelaria (Candlemas) I visited my Great Aunt. And on the way home I recognized the cemetery where so many of my ancestors are. Graceland Memorial Park. You know how some cemeteries are creepy and you can feel the anger and death there? Not this place. This is a cemetery where you feel light and dare I say it, love.
I decided to enter it to grant the offerings for Oya and the Virgin of Candelaria. I left some food and coins in the bushes by the front gate. As well as a broken Corpus Christi (body of Christ). That small figure of Jesus crucified that is usually glued to a crucifix. I buried it there.
And said some prayers about the Angels watching over the bodies of the dead. Just as they watched over the body of Yeshua (Jesus) in his tomb. I also prayed Oya and the Virgin of Candelaria as well as all the Gods of the dead of all cultures. I asked for all bad energy in this coming year to die. And be buried here.
Entombed with the dead.
The Land of Grace
I have gone there to honor the dead on more than one occasion. I have visited the Community Mausoleums. Which are for anyone to be buried inside of. And I was surprised by what I saw. There were these huge cardboard box signs with hanging from one of the highest drawers.
I read messages of love written on them for the dead. One was a beautiful but heartbreaking love letter in Spanish. It was a wife telling her dead husband how much she misses and loves him. I saw a couple tenderly watching over the grave of their deceased child. Not with sadness.
But with a reverence I’ve never seen before for a dead child.
It was almost as if they were caring for them and parenting them from the world of the living still. Graceland is a special place for both the living and the dead alike. You actually feel the peace here. No negative energy. In fact I feel safer there than I do in most places.
During the day and late evening you can feel this weird energy in the air. And at night it’s like you can feel the dead walking around. Not in a creepy way, but like people living in an apartment complex almost. I’ll be honest, it creeped me out at first.
But as time went on, I realized the creepy feeling at night was them saying,
“You’re not supposed to be here friend,”
So I try only to visit during open hours. My rituals during the day work just as well as they do at night. And this is by command of the dead themselves. It’s weird it’s like they’re in Heaven during the day in a dream frequency or state. But then they come down to earth to protect the land they sleep in.
They also seem to discuss community affairs.
I remember hearing about ancient cultures that consulted the dead. And how the dead were even asked if marriages or land deals should be done. Like a council of the Ancestors. It seems like Graceland has something similar. So to my dead friends at Graceland, I give you much love.
Will be visiting soon during the open hours. With proper offerings of Piedra de Alumbre (alum stone). And with lots of coins, wine, and food. As well as water. And finally a lot of love.
– M
The wheel of the year continues turning and once again we find ourselves at the transition point from winter’s deep sleep to the first awakenings of …
A Time of Renewal: Brigid Emerges at Imbolc by Judith Shaw
Just when I thought Florida couldn’t possibly get any weirder than it already is, it throws me a curve ball. So apparently, all those hoity-toity people in Tampa are complaining. Due to a mysterious thumping sound at night. And it could be that the fish are conspicuously fucking in their water supply. Ewww, I mean the water in Florida is already dangerous.
Between the toxic waste pond where they sort of just dumped anything gross into the water. But I digress. It seems now we have to worry about FISH CUM in our water supply. Man, I didn’t sign up for this shit.
But anyways, before you read the article I’m going to paste here, you should watch this small 30 second video explaining what’s going on over there. According to Florida Conspiracy Theorists.
Here’s the funny Atlas Obscura article mentioning this.
LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT ON A foggy winter night at Oldsmar Pier in Tampa Bay, Florida, a group of friends stopped in their tracks as an eerie noise seemed to roll in off the ocean and reverberate around them.
“We literally questioned if it was aliens,” says Emelle Lee, one of the friends on the pier. “It was so loud that a few other people came out of their homes to check it out.” The group eventually wrote it off as some weird effect of the dense fog, perhaps distorting the sounds of passing ships or air traffic around the airport, just a few miles away.
For the past few winters, residents in the Tampa Bay area have been reporting similar experiences: an eerie thumping bass heard in homes up to a mile inland. While many people assumed it was a new nightclub or a noisy neighbor, fish acoustics expert James Locascio, who works at the MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in nearby Sarasota, has another idea. He believes it could be the epic mating calls of black drum fish.
“Everybody thought, ‘I have this jerk neighbor and I can’t find them,’” says South Tampa resident Sara Healy. “Who would think, ‘Oh, must be the fish.’ That’s ridiculous.” For Locascio, however, it wouldn’t be the first time.
In 2005, as part of his dissertation, Locascio helped communities in Punta Gorda and Cape Coral—about an hour’s drive south of Tampa—trace their own mystery noise back to the percussive sound that gives black drum fish their name. The species (Pogonias cromis) makes a bumping-bass beat by flexing muscles against its swim bladder during mass-spawning frenzies.
The loud, low-frequency sound waves can travel long distances, through the ground and potentially into people’s homes. Locascio compares it to being disturbed by the thudding of a cranked bass speaker in a passing car when you’re tucked in bed. “That’s kind of the experience people are having with this.”
Locascio isn’t sure whether the sound is a mating call or results from the act of mating, but he knows the noisy courting takes place on winter nights—an observation that coincides with locals’ reports of something going bump in the night.
In October 2022, complaints of a similar sound appeared in a Facebook group for South Tampa moms. Some members said the creepy noise woke their kids, who then couldn’t go back to sleep. The sheer mystery of its source was perturbing for everyone—local outlet Fox 13 News reported that it stumped even the police. Theories and suspicions popped up across the internet, ranging from souped-up car speakers to alleged activities at a nearby Air Force base. Over the years, reports have been concentrated in South Tampa.
But extend across Tampa Bay and even south to Sarasota—which makes sense, says Locascio, if black drum are the source. “Tampa Bay is a big place and fish move around,” he says.
On January 14, Healy—who is an administrator of the South Tampa moms’ Facebook group—finally heard the sound for herself, in her home, a mile from the water. “I stopped mid-stride and I looked at my husband and said ‘Do you hear that?’” says Healy. “I was really excited because I hadn’t heard it yet.”
The next day, more people reported hearing the sound, some claiming it was louder than ever, says Healy. Some members of the Facebook group even drove around trying, unsuccessfully, to track down the source. People were angry and confused, and Healy wanted answers. She did some digging and found year-old news stories quoting Locascio about black drum mating as the possible explanation. So Healy contacted him and they came up with a plan.
Healy crowdsourced funds to pay for underwater recorders, which, beginning this month, Locascio will deploy around the docks of homeowners also eager for answers. While Locascio says he’s confident that black drum fish are the sound’s source—rather than cruise ships or party boats—he can’t say for certain without hard data. “I’m a scientist,” he says. “We want to show the data, explain the data, and defend the data. We’re truth-seeking.”
Healy and Locascio hope the findings will be helpful for residents, even if there’s nothing to do about the noise. “You can’t get rid of the fish and you really shouldn’t want to,” says Locascio. “It’s just part of the natural environment that people can enjoy. People live here because they appreciate the weather, the water, and the wildlife.”
“I think the reason it bothers people is because it’s unknown, and it’s in their house at night, so it’s a bit spooky,” he says. “Taking the mystery out of it, or at least providing an explanation, can give peace of mind.”
That’s the end of the article
Now you’re probably wondering why I put “I blame the Democrats” in the title. That’s because in the last few years I’ve heard some weird shit. Especially in politics. From my great aunt thinking Antifa is a “guerrilla organization” that will try to overthrow the government (wrong movement Tia). To crazies who blame Obama for turning frogs gay. No really, that’s apparently a thing. So given all the conspiracy theories down here about what the noises are, don’t be surprised. Soon we someone will say the Democrats are the reason the Fish are too horny. And then they’ll start slut shaming the fish and telling them they need Jesus Christ.
Time to start getting my water elsewher- Oh, wait a minute. It’s water and all water has some kind of fish. So……
Fuck me, I mean no don’t fuck me. You know what I mean. Have safe sex everyone.
– M
“In January 2024, the night sky over Florida witnessed an extraordinary event that has since captured the imagination and curiosity of both locals and the global community. A fireball-like object, akin to a UFO, was spotted in the densely trafficked skies, sparking widespread debate and intrigue. This article delves into the details of the sighting, the ensuing investigations, and the broader context of UFO sightings in an era of increasing aerial activity,”
I was supposed to write about this. But I was so busy I forgot lol. Oh well, I see someone else did. Good job.
– M
A few weeks ago I was on Crete, having coffee with an archaeologist friend. She happened to mention something strange. Crete has always been a …
Snake Priestesses of Crete as Earthquake Oracles? by Laura Shannon
Adventures of A Mage In Miami 