The Day Of The Dead

The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and other countries can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexican, Aztec, Maya, P'urh'epecha, and Totonac. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2500-3000 years. In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.

The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, known as the "Lady of the Dead," corresponding to the modern Catrina.

In most regions of Mexico, November 1st honors deceased children and infants where as deceased adults are honored on November 2nd. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1st mainly as "D'ia de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents) but also as "D'ia de los Angelitos" (Day of the Little Angels) and November 2nd as "D'ia de los Muertos" or "D'ia de los Difuntos" (Day of the Dead).

Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the period of November 1 and November 2, families usually clean and decorate graves; most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigolds called "cempas'uchitl" (originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for "twenty (i.e., many) flowers"). In modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto" ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or little angels), and bottles of tequila, mezcal, pulque or atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, P'atzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives.

Catrinas, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in MexicoSome families build altars or small shrines in their homes. These altars usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased.

Public schools at all levels build altars with offerings, usually omitting the religious symbols. Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage.

Those with writing talent sometimes create short poems, called "calaveras" ("skulls"), mocking epitaphs of friends, sometimes describing interesting habits and attitudes or some funny anecdotes. This custom originated in the 18th-19th century, after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future, "and all of us were dead", proceeding to "read" the tombstones. Newspapers dedicate calaveras to public figures, with cartoons of skeletons in the style of Jos'e Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator. Theatrical presentations of Don Juan Tenorio by Jos'e Zorrilla (1817-1893) are also traditional on this day.

Island Pacanda, Lake Patzcuaro Mexico - Dia de los MuertosA common symbol of the holiday is the skull (colloquially called calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for "skeleton"), and foods such as sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes, from plain rounds to skulls and rabbits often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.

Jos'e Guadalupe Posada created a famous print of a figure that he called "La Calavera de la Catrina" ("calavera of the female dandy"), as a parody of a Mexican upper class female. Posada's striking image of a costumed female with a skeleton face has become associated with the Day of the Dead, and Catrina figures often are a prominent part of modern Day of the Dead observances.

The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal and often vary from town to town. For example, in the town of P'atzcuaro on the Lago de P'atzcuaro in Michoac'an the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto, a cross, a Rosary (used to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for them) and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child's life, in respect and appreciation for the parents. There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (Spanish for "butterfly") to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there.

In contrast, the town of Ocotepec, north of Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos opens its doors to visitors in exchange for 'veladoras' (small wax candles) to show respect for the recently dead. In return, the visitors receive tamales and 'atole'. This is only done by the owners of the house where somebody in the household has died in the previous year. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors from 'Mictl'an'.

In some parts of the country, children in costumes roam the streets, asking passersby for a calaverita, a small gift of money; they don't knock on people's doors.

Some people believe that possessing "dia de los muertos" items can bring good luck. Many people get tattoos or have dolls of the dead to carry with them. They also clean their houses and prepare the favorite dishes of their deceased loved ones to place upon an altar.

Books in PDF format to read:

Ea Wallis Budge - The Egyptian Book Of The Dead
Howard Phillips Lovecraft - The Haunter Of The Dark

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Raven Power For The Winter Solstice

The Raven's keynote is that of magic, shapeshifting, and creation. While its cycle of power is that of winter solstice. The raven is one of those birds that has a tremendous amount of lore and mythology surrounding it, and it is often contradictory. It is a bird of birth and death, and it is a bird of mysticism and magic.

In the near East, the raven was considered unclean because it is a scavenger. It is one of the foods listed as forbidden in the Bible. The raven is one of the birds that Noah sent out after the floods, but it did not return to the ark. On the other hand, also in Biblical lore is the tale of how a raven fed the prophet Elijah when hiding from King Ahab.

In Scandinavian lore, the raven played a significant role. The Norse god Odin had a pair of ravens who were his messengers. Their names were Hugin (thought)and Munin (memory). Odin was known to shapeshift as a raven himself. This reflects the idea of raven being a messenger of the great spiritual realm.

In the Middle Ages the croak of the raven was believed to foretell a death or the outcome of a battle. It was even taught to the common folk in Christian communities that wicked priests became ravens when they died. Even today, some old timers tell how you can expect hot weather when a raven is seen facing a clouded sun.

The raven is a member of the corvids family, to which belong crows and magpies and other such birds. In truth, the only really significant difference between the crow and the raven is in size, the raven being much larger. It would be beneficial to study the information on the crow for anyone who has a raven as a totem. Much of the same information that applies to one, also applies to the other. It is simply a matter of degree. Rather than repeat that information here, I would like to give you some information not generally associated with the crow itself.

The raven has a wealth of myth and lore surrounding it. In many ways it is comparable to the coyote tales of the plains Indians, the Bushmen tales of the mantis and other societies in which an animal plays both a significant and yet confusing role. The coyote was both trickster and wise being-fool and wise one. This was true of the mantis in the tales of the Kalahari Bushmen.

In the Pacific Northwest the raven has this same aura about him. In the Pacific Northwest, raven brought forth life and order Raven stole the sunlight from one who would keep the world in darkness. Nothing could exist without raven. Raven is honored in art and on totem poles, reflecting the tales and mysticism that have developed around it.

With raven, human and animal spirits intermingle and become as one. This is reflected in its deep, rich shiny black. In blackness, everything mingles until drawn forth, out into the light. Because of this, raven can help you shapeshift your life or your being. Raven has the knowledge of how to become other animals and how to speak their languages.

Ravens are great at vocalizations, and they can be taught to speak. They incorporate and mimic the calls of other species. In the Northwest are tales of the Kwakiutl Indians who offered the afterbirth of male newborns to Raven so that when they grew up, they would understand their cries. Raven can teach you to understand the language of animals.

Ravens are playful, and they are excellent tool users. They will use stones and anything else that is available to help them crack nuts and such. They are birds not intimidated by others, and they are very fast and wary Because of this, they are not easy prey for other animals or birds. This implies the ability to teach you how to stir the magic of life without fear They are also known for their amorous behavior, reflecting the strong creative life force to which they have access.

This creative life force can be used to work the magic of spiritual laws upon the physical plane. It can be used to go into the void and stir the energies to manifest that which you most need. All this and more is what raven teaches. If raven has come into your life, expect magic. Somewhere in your life, magic is at play Raven activates the energy of magic, linking it with your will and intention.

Raven speaks of the opportunity to become the magician and/or enchantress of your life. Each of us has a magician within, and it is Raven which can show us how to bring that part of us out of the dark into the light. Raven speaks of messages from the spirit realm that can shapeshift your life dramatically Raven teaches how to take that which is unformed and give it the form you desire.

The winter solstice and winter season is the time of greatest power for those with the raven as a totem. The solstice is the shortest day of the year The sun shines the least on this day, thus it is the darkest. From that day forth, the light shines a little more each day This is symbolic of the influence of raven. It teaches how to go into the dark and bring forth the light. With each trip in, we develop the ability to bring more light out. This is creation.

CHANT

Wing so black it shines like Moon at midnight,

O Raven, strong, hear my cry!

Teach me old magick, powerful, bold,

O Raven, eloquent and wise.

(c) Ted Andrews - Animal Speak

Books in PDF format to read:

Leo Ruickbie - The Winter Sabbat
Moses Maimonides - The Guide For The Perplexed
Margaret Alice Murray - The God Of The Witches

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Festival Of Concordia

Today is the festival of Concordia, the Roman Goddess of harmonious relations. Who is she?

Concordia is the Roman Goddess of agreement and harmony. The sister of peaceful Pax, she's very conciliatory and will do almost anything to avoid upsetting people.

Concordia is one of the oldest of the Roman deities, having been worshipped since the earliest days of Rome. She was worshipped in many temples, but the oldest was on the Forum Romanum and dates back to 367 BCE and was built by Camilus. The temple also served as a meeting-place for the Roman senate. she had another temple nearby on the Capitoline Hill.

Concordia is portrayed sitting or standing, wearing a long cloak and holding a sacrificial bowl or an olive branch in her left hand and a cornucopia in her right symbolizing the prosperity that comes with peace.. Sometimes she can be seen standing between two members of the Royal House who clasp hands.

She was also responsible for harmony in marriage, as revealed by her epithet Other epithets include (harmony of the emperor) (harmony of the army), and (harmony of the provinces).

Books in PDF format to read:

Phil Hine - Aspects Of Tantra
Wh Auden - The Lay Of Sigrdrifa
Leo Ruickbie - Imbolc Festival Of The Goddess Brigid

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Resounding Tips For Psychic Development

By Umar Ahmed

To bring round psychic abilities is not an easy piece of work. It is the sociological and cultural wonder which develops your psychics. Acquaint with are millions of the culture who belong to plentiful and character cultural traits all spherical the world. Some culture is character from other culture with reference to plentiful aspects i.e, goods patters, livings, immature position, skills, techniques, development, norms, beliefs, laws, habits, behaviors, rituals, ceremonies, abilities and psychics. In the company of these cultural traits, the psychic fitness is considered to be very most important, such as it is dictate associated to cognitive practice of worldly beings. How to bring round a psychic fitness is the peak to come forth in our course of expression. Today, we courage crack with you some most important tips with reference to task of your psychic abilities. Miscellaneous and character call of connotations are discussed as under.

Character devotion and resilience

Narrate yourself to begin with multipurpose by assembly at a place, such as home, part, hills or any way. Try to grasp yourself, who you are, and from wherever you enjoy come existing in this world. This is the peak decisive come forth happening self greeting and appreciative. Millions of the culture don't understand their roles of coming in this world, so they get dead in their life and they never get comfortable. So therefore, it is most important for you to set a scrupulous average to pass judgment and understand your psychics as soon as possible, such as it is the psychic fitness which might lead you towards the upwelling of glory and happiness in your life.

Adopting the criticality

Be inauspicious in each aspect of your life. You courage not get a glory until you bring round your psychic fitness. To become a inauspicious in your life is not a surly piece of work. You courage accurate constrain some call of psychic abilities

i.e., think about to peoples do research, be satisfactory, make somebody's acquaintance, cool, weak and convivial with the clusters of your ethnicity. These are all compounding confront of leafy the psychic fitness.

Psychic reading training might make a prodigy

Remain motionless the psychic classes. It courage be consisted of plentiful kinds of psychic trainings i.e, tarot reading, frosty reading, astrology, palmistry, love psychics, clairaudient, psychic and love spells. If you are a suddenly bit exist of these kinds of psychic abilities, next it would be 100% guarantee that you courage never come into contact with a surly or shattering argument in your life. In this regard, the psychologists are saying that leafy a psychic fitness is not an in the air piece of work until you perform some duties of like spiritual, modest and philanthropic towards the culture of the ethnicity.

Character belief

It is one of the powerful type which bring round your psychic fitness. Character belief emerges happening form of spirituality that consists of some call of foresight scamper. Not more than the scamper of self belief, a personality recurrently goes happening abstractions as well as imaginations that weigh up the practice of psychics. In this regard, the kindness unequivocally perceives the notion and develops happening form of a strong psychic that confers you as a athletic and brain personality of the ethnicity.

Salubrious psychic readings might do a prodigy

Investigate on top and on top books and novels courage help you to bring round a good psychic. If you in general view the lives of astrologists, tarot card readers, love psychics and other spiritual healers, next you would skill that it is not surly to read on top and on top novels and become a psychic reader. In fact, it is like happened in all spherical the world, wherever the power of the culture are being paid aware with psychic freedom and leafy their psychic abilities.

Final clarification

In a nut shell, we can say that psychic fitness is grown by means of self devotion, self belief, spiritualization, stress, concern, unassuming nature and philanthropic actions and perceptions. This is the guarantee ever for you that if you comprehend and bring round such kinds of psychic readings, next you would be accomplished to topple the world.

The corral writes articles on psychic fitness. For on top information about psychic reading, guarantee free psychic reading

General Ritual Or Casting Of Circle

General Ritual

2 white altar candles
1 blue candle for north
1 yellow candle for east
1 green candle for west
1 red candle for south
White cord about 19 ft long
Wine or Juice
Cakes or Cookies
Bell

Ring bell three times, Light other candles with altar candles clockwise

East:

"Here do I bring light and air in at the east to illuminate my temple and bring it the breath of life"

South :

"Here do I bring light and fire in at the south to illuminate my temple and bring it warmth"

West:

"Here do I bring light and water in at the west to illuminate my temple and wash it clean"

North:

"Here do I bring light and earth in at the north to illuminate my temple and build it in strength"

Imagine a blue-white light entering you head and down your dominant hand, with your finger focus the light at the circle, directing it at the circle as you walk clockwise and say:

"I cast and conjure thee oґcircle of Art, to set this temple between the world"

End at east

"So Mote It Be!"

Take the bowl of salt and place your finger into it.

"I purify this salt and drive all impure that I may use it throughout this rite. So Mote it Be!"

Drop three portions of salt in the water

"Let the sacred salt drive out any impurities in this water, that I may use it throughout this rite. So Mote It Be!"

With sacred water move east , clockwise, sprinkle the circle

"With purifying water do I bless and consecrate this circle. So Mote It Be!"

Move back to the altar and light incense, got to east moving clockwise

East

"Hail the element of air, watchtower of the east, may it stand in strength ever watching over this circle"

South

"Hail the element of fire, watchtower of the south, may it stand in strength ever watching over this circle"

West

"Hail the element of water, watchtower of the west, may it stand in strength ever watching over this circle"

North

"Hail the element of earth, watchtower of the north, may is stand in strength ever eating over this circle"

"Hail the four quarters and hail the gods. I bid the Lord and Lady welcome and invite them to join me, witnessing these rites I hold in their honour, Hail to the Gods! The temple is now erect! So Mote It Be!"

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Frater Astrum - Temple Of Flame The Ritual Opening Of The Veil
Allen Putnam - Mesmerism Spiritualism Witchcraft And Miracle
Aleister Crowley - The Supreme Ritual The Invocation Of Horus

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Festival Of Terminus

Festival of Terminus, the Roman god of boundaries and border markers.

In Roman religion, Terminus was the god who protected boundary markers; his name was the Latin word for such a marker. Sacrifices were performed to sanctify each boundary stone, and landowners celebrated a festival called the " Terminalia " in Terminus' honor each year on February 23. The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill was thought to have been built over a shrine to Terminus, and he was occasionally identified as an aspect of Jupiter under the name " Jupiter Terminalis ".

Ancient writers believed that the worship of Terminus had been introduced to Rome during the reign of the first king Romulus (traditionally 753-717 BC) or his successor Numa (717-673 BC). Modern scholars have variously seen it as the survival of an early animistic reverence for the power inherent in the boundary marker, or as the Roman development of proto-Indo-European belief in a god concerned with the division of property.

The name of the god Terminus was the Latin word for a boundary stone, and his worship as recorded in the late Republic and Empire centred on this stone, with which the god could be identified. Siculus Flaccus, a writer on land surveying, records the ritual by which the stone was sanctified: the bones, ashes, and blood of a sacrificial victim, along with crops, honeycombs, and wine, were placed into a hole at a point where estates converged, and the stone was driven in on top.

On February 23 annually, a festival called the Terminalia was celebrated in Terminus' honor, involving practices which can be regarded as a reflection or "yearly renewal" of this foundational ritual. Neighboring families would garland their respective sides of the marker and make offerings to Terminus at an altar-Ovid identifies these, again, as crops, honeycombs, and wine. The marker itself would be drenched in the blood of a sacrificed lamb or pig. There followed a communal feast and hymns in praise of Terminus.

These rites were practised by private landowners, but there were also related public ceremonies. Ovid refers to the sacrifice of a sheep on the day of the Terminalia at the sixth milestone from Rome along the Via Laurentina; it is likely this was thought to have marked the boundary between the early Romans and their neighbors in Laurentum.

Also, a stone or altar of Terminus was located in the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill. Because of a belief that this stone had to be exposed to the sky, there was a small hole in the ceiling directly above it. On occasion Terminus' association with Jupiter extended to regarding Terminus as an aspect of that god; Dionysius of Halicarnassus refers to "Jupiter Terminalis", and one inscription names a god "Jupiter Ter."

There is some evidence that Terminus' associations could extend from property boundaries to limits more generally. Under the Republican calendar, when the intercalary month Mercedonius was added to a year, it was placed after February 23 or February 24, and some ancient writers believed that the Terminalia on February 23 had once been the end of the year. Diocletian's decision in 303 AD to initiate his persecution of Christians on February 23 has been seen as an attempt at enlisting Terminus "to put a limit to the progress of Christianity".

Source: Wikipedia

Books in PDF format to read:

Aleister Crowley - The Soul Of Osiris
Bernard King - Meanings Of The Runes
Leo Ruickbie - Imbolc Festival Of The Goddess Brigid

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Member Of Healing Guild And First Live Tarot And Pendulum Reading

I am very excited today. I was recognized as a accessory of the Cure Bludgeon at Sacred Mists. :)))) Morgaine is my tutor for my pendulum class and she not compulsory that I sit a reveal at it and perhaps become a accessory. I sent in a advise yesterday and got my reaction this daylight. :))))

One of my ambitions is to become a healer so I'm very soft about becoming a accessory of the Cure Bludgeon and time nimble to help out at Sacred Mists. I am to boot looking comfortable to attending the rituals and meetings with my guy members of the Mists and learning what I can from them. My upper meeting is Tuesday night and I can't drop :)))) I am in suspense to control the Reiki Attunements and sit the class as against the clock as I can so that I am nimble to help particularly residents. I flaxen desire to release up the money to be nimble to pay the teaching for it.

I did my upper fix in place tarot and pendulum reading last night for my sister. :)) I was very very soft with the consequences. The pendulum was flaxen as sensitive in fore of her as it has been for me and I felt that the answers it gave were vivid fixed based on what I know. A two of a kind seemed to completed attachment to her on questions that I didn't know about. I to boot did two tarot spreads for her, a Once, Arrangement, and Future Increase and a What courage I find love spread. Both came out fantastic! I discussions the cards were very very prominent to her spy and completed it easy for me to help hint her. She seemed far afield mediator and happier like I was done with the reading which is spiky what I hope to transpire. I am so excited that I am in due course time nimble to help residents.

Currently I action on work some yardwork and playing outskirts with the kids. I to boot hope to do some studying on Chakras in my stand-in time and do some reading after that on.