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Take a little time to light a candle tonight and think about those who have gone before...

Watch on YouTube

Blessed Samhain!

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This is so lovely...

Water Blessing Song Grand Invocation - Nalini Blossom

We pray for healing
Blessings of the water
We pray for healing
Blessings of the sea
We pray for healing
Blessings of the river
That they may flow in crystal purity

Uchu no mugen no chikara ga kore kotte
Makoto no daiwa no miyo ga nari natta


This beautiful song is based on Dr. Masaru Emoto's mantra for healing the waters of the earth. The translation of the mantra is:

The Eternal Power of the Universe has gathered Itself to create the World with true and grand harmony.

I find this mantra so peaceful and calming and loving. I use it as a walking mantra when I am out and about. Since I have no car, I have to walk a lot, and having a mantra really helps me center and be mindful as I walk, remembering to be in the moment and enjoy what I'm doing instead of thinking only of where I'm going to.

My other walking mantra is Gate Gate, a Buddhist chant that blesses those who travel.

The chant goes like this:

Gate gate parangate parasangate bodhisva

Translation:

Gone, Gone,
Gone beyond,
Gone beyond the beyond,
Blessings on the journeyer and on the journey.

I love intentional music, that which is used in religious rituals, meditation, and other spiritual arts. I play long mixes of pagan and Buddhist music when I'm cooking and especially when I'm baking. It's very centering to hear such music when you're working with your hands to make something to nurture others. I sing the songs as I'm working, and intentionally channel the feelings of peace, love, and one-pointedness into the food I make.

Enjoy!

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The King Stag leaps
over mountains
avatar of the wind
and lover of the leaves
in his eyes the reflection
of secret waters
a spring of mystery
soundlessly treading
the bridal earth
the pines' final bed

the King Stag changes
from moment to moment
now shy and tender
now fierce and regal
glimpsed for a moment
within his city of branches

almost invisible
almost invisible

gone

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Copyright © 1999

Thumbing my nose at today's bacchanalia of stupid:



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Snakes are beautiful, powerful, sensual creatures who have been revered by countless native cultures as embodiments of knowledge and wisdom, and as symbols of regeneration and eternity. I consider the celebration of their murder to be reprehensible and distasteful.

So there.

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Santiage - Loreena McKennitt


The sun gains its power, the earth burdgeons, and all of life celebrates. Today is Beltane, the Great Day in the pagan calendar, when we celebrate life and Our Mother, the Goddess of Earth and Stars, the Lady of the Universe. All hail Her glory and beauty, Her wonder and delight, Her allure and glamor!

The Circle Is Cast - The Robert Gass Chorus, featuring Divy Nelson


Today She joins with Her Sacred Consort, and Their love fills the Universe and brings forth life. We celebrate Their power, which flows like a river through all things, bursts forth in the flowers and trees, the rivers that run and the ocean that roars. Fires leap up to heaven, light pours down on life, and everything is renewed, quickened, energized. The ground beneath us is charged with erotic energy, and everything...DANCES.


By the earth, this is Her body.
By the earth, Mother of us all.
By the earth, the future and past.
The circle is cast.

By the air, this is Her breath.
By the air, sweet wind of life.
By the air, from the first to the last.
The circle is cast.

By the fire of Her bright spirit,
Shining candles in the night,
By the fire of Her bright spirit.
Shine (shining) shine Your light on me.

By the waters, this is Her blood.
By the waters, the calm and the flood.
By the living waters, running slow, running fast.
The circle is cast, the circle is cast.

Yemaya, Innana, Rhiannon, Cybele,
Chicomecoatl, Akewa, Aphrodite, Demeter, Gaia,
Athena, Shekina, Ganga, Pele, Uma, Kali,
Hera, Hecate, Meboze, Oya, Paso Wee, Diana

Blessed Beltane!