Category: Pagan

Native American Smudging: The Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing ‘Smudging’ is the common name given to the “Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing,” a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition. It is a ritual way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies or influences. The theory behind smudging is that the smoke…

Carol of the Bells Tune: “Traditional Ukranian Carol” Words by Hilda Marshall Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells All seem to say, “Throw cares away.” Yuletide is here, bringing good cheer To young and old, meek and the bold Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song, With joyful ring, all caroling One seems…

The Celtic people, who lived more than 2000 years ago feared the evening of Oct. 31 more than any other day of the year. It was the eve of their festival of Samhain. Samhain was a joyful harvest festival that marked the death of the old year and the beginning of a new one. The…

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Opal is hydrous silica, often with some iron and aluminum. Its chemistry is SiO2.nH2O; amount of water varies up to 10 percent. It ranges in color from White, yellow, red, pink, brown to gray, blue and even colorless. It is most easily recognized by its rich internal play of colors(opalescence). Its hardness ranges…

Combine herbs, berries, flowers, and vinegar and what do you get? Healthful herbal or infused vinegars can be an extra boon to your health, too. Dioscorides, who reportedly traveled through Egypt with Nero’s army, found that Egyptian medicines included vinegar combined with honey, brine, thyme, or squill, and this mixture was used for many health…

The Oak is known as the father of trees and for good reason. It can live to well over 700 years – as symbol of strength, longevity and knowledge. It gives the impression of presiding over everything around it, quiet strength and determination, the ability to let all things pass by but leave no impression…