Blessings of Samhain

Witch's, goblins, warlocks, vampires, all the unearthly costumes comes out on this night. Where everyone in one way or another. Trick? or Treat? For years, when I was younger this holiday was to dress up in what ever flavor I decided to dress up for that year. Go out after dark and run from house to house and get candy. As the years have passed since I went from house to house. Samhian, All Hallows Eve, Halloween, has become probably one if not my favorite of all the holidays of the Wheel of the year, and tomorrow is All Saints Day....The New Year. This last year I have learned so much with my faith and my craft. I would not change anything about my path, if I could it would be to learn more and more and I know with time that will happen. The new years approaches, I have many things to be happy for and I am so blessed. First has to be the Goddess Freyja, she and I have a relationship that has become so special to me. There is not a day I don't ask for her blessing, to help me and help the people who are close to me. Samhain is a day to remember for all the people who have left this world. 

     Today take a moment or two out of your day and think about the people who are no longer with us and take a moment to talk to them....yes they can hear you. Tell them how special they were and still are in your life. I think differently and the people who have influenced my life are no longer in my life. Don't get me wrong there is one person who has influenced me is still alive. This might seem weird Jon of Arc was a big influence on me and I do talk to the deceased and she is one I still talk to and has made me so strong. So when you think everything seems impossible, sit down and talk to that one person who was close to you. If they are alive call them go over there and talk to them. There is nothing wrong with talking to someone that is deceased. If you do have someone that was close to and they have parted this world. Stop and talk to them, I promise they will start talking to you, maybe not right away, but eventually they will.

   Final note. I wish everyone a Happy Samhain and Halloween. No matter which one you celebrate... I wish you a happy and safe one. Take special care tonight if you are driving, be careful when driving, them little goblins will be out there. Have a great night.

Jale

He Is No Man

He is No Man

     She looked at her husband, as blood dripped from her lips, she wasn’t sure if she was bleeding anywhere else. Her eyes were black and blue, from the immense beating she just received. She had bruises, scrapes, and cuts all over her body. She didn’t see or feel any other places that were bleeding except her lips and face.  Her husband was passed out on the couch, with what seemed like an empty bottle of beer, she was sure because her vision was impaired. She could tell he was sleeping peacefully on the couch by the slight smile he had on his face. This was normal for her, there were only rare times he didn’t get drunk and use her as a punching bag. He would get drunk and would want to control her or tell her what she could or could not do. When she would say no he would start beating her. She was his play toy, a way for him to act his life frustrations out. To use her as he felt free to use her in anyway shape or form, and she couldn't do anything about it.

     For elven years this was the norm, if anything went wrong in their marriage or someone pissed him off, he would come home get drunk and beat her to no end. There was no end to it; sometimes he would beat her to see how far he could go. It was a game, a way he could control something in his life, when everything went wrong, he at least had her under his control. He would go to jail several times over the years, just to get out a few days later and make up, and would be good for a few months until something went wrong again and he would start right back up. She even left him for a week once and went to live with her parents, but he would charm her to come back home and, nothing would change. She was caught in his web, and the children were caught in the middle and sometimes they would get the aftermath, she knew he was also beating them when she wasn’t around. She had to take the kids and leave, somehow she had to disappear from him once and for all, but how, he would find her…This happens to millions of women worldwide, and we as a society need to stand up and say enough is a enough. 

     To date this has to be the hardest article and blog I had to write. Yes I have written many things some that most people would or could not write. For who I am sometimes if not all the time I can’t keep something quiet that is close or important to me. I recently finished Composition II in school and got a pretty good grade, and my research was on cyberstalking, so I will also include my research in here from time to time. The reason I decided to write this article because I know many women in my life past and present that this has happen to them at least once in their lives if not more. This article is written in their behalf and nothing else. The system we have in place for the justice that needs to take place if far from justice. To many times guys are getting a slap on the hand to just be told not to do it again. So yes this article will be from what I have been told by victims of this horrible crime and will be very opinionated by me and what I think needs to be done to give the justice a new overhaul. Isn’t it about time we protect you’re the people who have fallen into this trap, to let your mothers, daughters, sisters and friends that enough is enough.

     This is normal behavior for a lot of men, now I am not saying all men are bad, there are many men in this world that are very good people, but for this article I am concentrating on the men who are bad. Women need to be respected and treated and a human beings and not a piece of meat. Something that can be used and abused for men enjoyment, whenever and however they see fit. Women of this place we call earth need to stand up. The signs all too apparent, but many women are scared of men that abuse them let be more physical abuse to them or their kids. We are living in a society where this is normal everyday behavior, and the losers are the women and their children. Men have gotten use to showing their muscle in controlling women, beating them up to no end and making them their personal slaves. I say it is time to end this abuse, and stand up and take your lives back. Let no man ever again tell you what you can and cannot do. To use you as their personal punching bag. The time is now, not tomorrow, stand up for your life, take your life back and let the men of the world know that you will no longer tolerate this abuse.

    We have seen movies on this time and time again “The Burning Bed” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It”. They are only a few movies and one I know for sure was a true story. It makes me happy that Tina Turner could fight the abuse and get on with her life, she showed that women could fight back and take a stand and say enough is enough, but not all women can be like she was, some women are scared to stand up for themselves, fearing that it will make it even worse. I for one think all women can stand up for themselves, I also understand the fear factor, that they don’t want to make it worse than it is, but where does the line end? When is enough an enough. There has to be a time that you have to stand up for yourself. I know my writing can be critical, but what I am trying to do is to motivate the abused women to stand up and do something about it. If you feel you can no longer stay in the situation than leave turn the guy in and take yourself and kids and go to an abused women’s shelter. No man has the right to make you feel below him, no man has the right to beat you and your kids up. The time to take action is now. Leave him now and get to safety wherever that might be get your kids and yourself to safety and turn him in for the abuse he has caused you and your kids. Start your new life today and look forward and not dwell on the past and him.

     I hear the same thing all the time, but I love him? Why could someone love someone when all they do is causing you emotional and physical pain? Because he doesn’t love you, if he loved you he wouldn’t do all the things he has done to you. I firmly believe no matter how many counseling sessions you go to, no matter how many times he says he loves, and no matter all the charm he puts on you. Nine times out of ten it will go back to the way it was before, all the things he is doing is suckering you back to his control, it might be good for a while, but it won’t stay that way for long. Don’t get suckered, be strong and move on with your life. Let no man ever control you, let no man physical or emotionally abuse you ever again. This is your life and you are in control, no one else is.

     To all the men who treat their women like trash, you all are the scum of the world and you are no man. Why must you treat women like they are your property? Don’t you have anything else better to do in your life? Don’t you have anything else better to do in your life and treat women like crap? I bet you don’t treat your buddies like this, because if you did they probably put you in your place or better yet kick your worthless piece of ass into the next century. You can’t control your worthless life in the real world, so you have to show how manly you are and control and beat women up. Wait you are no man, no man would treat a lady like this. Even good men would open doors for their lady, give them flowers on her birthday, pamper her on valentine’s day, and comfort her when she is sick, but no you can’t do this, why? Again it is because you are no man. I know this may be news to you, but turn yourself in, get some help before it is too late. Turn your life around, become a real man and not a little boy.

     Life can be full of surprises, let it be good or bad, and when we walk down the paved road we all hope it will be a good life. This is not good for women, and we as a human race should change this. To make your mothers, daughters, co-workers and friends feel safe. If you have someone you feel is going through an abusive relationships, tell her to leave, to turn the guy in, and take their kids and her to the closest shelter for domestic violence. This can be changed we need to step up to the plate and do what is right, and we all know this isn’t right. Life is so much better. Life is full of ups and downs, don’t let this get you down, get out now and never look back.

     This article was one of if not the hardest article I have ever written.  I wrote this for all the women of the world who are in an abusive or emotional relationship. There is help out there, and not all men are bad, many are very abusive, but you can change your abusive relationship all you have to do is take your kids and yourself and walk out the front door and go to the nearest police station and turn him in, than go to the closest center for women and children of violence. There is help out there, but you have to take the first step. Take that step now!!! Let no man ever abuse you like this, let no man hit you or your kids. Take your life in your own hands and get out now. Never look back.

Written By Dale Jeffrey Henderson 10-20-2010

                           Copyright © 2009-2010, Dale Jeffrey Henderson. All Rights Reserved.

Mabon September 21st

Merry Meet to all my wonderful friends. If you have been keeping track of the Wheel of the Year you will know this is the final one. I started with Samhain and have ended with this one. I hope over the last year you have learned about the different holidays, I know I have. Even as a Wiccan I learn something new all the time. So the Wheel is complete. Whats next. Well I know I want to write my domestic violence piece but at same time I also want to write about my craft and religion. What subject I will write next I have not yet decided. I of course will keep you all posted. So without dragging this out here is the last of the Holidays. Enjoy and as always keep safe and drop me a email if you have any questions.

Blessed Be Jale

Mabon
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!

The Old Ways-Lammas-July 31st

The Old Ways-Lammas-July 31st

The Sabbat of Lughnasadh/Lammas is one of the major Sabbats, and takes place from sundown on July 31st through sundown on August 1st. The ancestry of the holiday is from the Celtic, traditionally a day of feasting, games and dancing. The day is not in honor of Lugh although it was named by him in fulfillment of an oath he swore. The actual holiday honors his foster mother Taillte.




The old Irish Gaelic name for this holiday was “Lugnasadh," pronounced "loo-nah-sah." Literally translated, “nasadh” is related to the Gaelic “to give in marriage.” This may be why this was another popular time for couples to be handfasted, sometimes called “Tailltean marriages,” which lasted for a year and a day. The day is now considered auspicious for signing contracts or for exchanging marriage vows. The more commonly used name “Lammas” is based on Old English, where “hlaf” is “loaf” and “maesse” is “feast.” The first grains were harvested at this time and offered to the gods or on church altars.



Lammas is the pre-harvest fall festival, honoring the very first signs of the coming autumn season. The ripening of grains (barley, oats and wheat) and corn is a main focus of this time of year. The Green Man was primary to these rites, sometimes called the Corn or Wicker Man. His death is necessary for the rebirth of the next season of crops, with his rebirth at Yule, and coming of age at Beltane.

Why I Became A Witch?

Why I decided to become a Witch?





Over these last few weeks I have gotten some really bad hate emails through Myspace,Facebook,and My Yearbook. I am used to that and that email gets filed into the trash file. The problem I have had problem of late is there are people who are in my life telling me what I believe is not classified as a religion. Do not put down my religion(yes hard to believe that us Wiccans,Pagans, Shamans, Druids and Heathens and what other path you may follow most are classified as a faith so deal with it and move on).

So when people in my life told me what I was practicing and the faith I was following was fake, not real, or make believe what I follow and practice is no Hocus Pocus, no on-line fantasy game, and no Harry Potter movie. What I practice is Witchcraft under the bylaw of Wicca. For you who do not know you have the Ten Commandments. Us Wiccans have the Wiccan Rede your only rule we must stand by is "Ye harm none, and do as ye will" if we break this law than the law of three goes in effect which means it will come back to you three times as bad, with that being said when you do something good than something good will come back to you three times in good ways.

I am an eclectic Wiccan; many pagans follow this path which in short means the take their beliefs from many different faiths. I do follow this path. I am a Wiccan, I am a Witch and yes I do practice the craft of witchcraft. I do have a spell book which is called the Book of Shadows and yes there are spells in it. I do have visions and voice ever since I was a teenager and I also do have out of body experiences. I can travel to places past, present and future and not always of this earth and yes at times I can predict the future sometimes, so this gift makes me a shaman. My Goddess is Freyja if you know of anything of Norse mythology. She is the Goddess of passion, love and romance also of war and magic. She is very fond of cats so cats are sacred to her there are other animals but cats are very special to her. So with her being my Goddess, who I follow I also follow Heathens. Wiccan is the laws I follow to a tee the other faith I mix and match.


Ok I was getting of the subject a bit, the above is who I am and what I follow and practice. When I get emails or people telling me what I practice and believe is wrong or it is a sin or that it is weird and dark. Who are these people to tell me what I can or cannot do? What I can and cannot believe in, when these people more than likely don't even know the first thing about my craft and faith...so shame on them for telling me what I can or cannot do or what I should and should not believe in. I am Wiccan and I’m a Witch and I am proud of who I am. How dare you tell I can't do something so shame on you all. Guess what this is me and it is my life. So deal with it or move on.


I know this blog is a bit long already and it will even get longer so bear with me for a little bit longer. The question at hand why did I decide to become a witch? Why am I an Eclectic Wiccan? Why do I worship the Goddess Freyja? Why do I practice some of the ways of Shamanism? Many questions that a lot of people could not answer so easy, for me it was different; at a young age I knew I was different. I knew I had a gift of seeing and hearing things most people didn't. I could predict my own future and most things I did was the advice from this given gift. Over the years the gift got more advanced more detailed and as of late I have gained the gift of experiencing out of body experience. I was born Christian and raised Christian. So to do this I thought it would be impossible, but I was wrong. I went to church a lot, I did the Sunday school thing, numerous bible studies etc etc. I was the christen boy inside and out, or was I?


There was something eating at me and as I got older and my gift was showing me something besides the life of Christianity. So I started to ask questions at church and when some of the questions could not be answered it started to tear at me more and more to the point that was all that was on my mind. I wanted the questions answered than a now, not tomorrow.


I had this gift and I knew being a Christian I would be judged and mocked for it. At one point my gift was called a sin and that I need to seek out spiritual guidance and physiological help. Was I sick in the head? Was I emotionally different? No I wasn't. I was no longer motivated as being a Christian it didn't move me and going to church wasn't because I wanted to it was because I had to it was horrible seeing everyone looking at me and knowing exactly what they were thinking. They were thinking that I was evil and that I was going to rot in the fiery pits of hell. Which brings me back to my current religion in Wicca we are not evil, we don't cause pain, we don't worship Satan. Now hence your beliefs are different we believe that you can't have good without evil and I strongly believe you have to have both to have balance.


Wicca is a nature religion and we believe in the elements of Fire, Earth, Air, Water and lastly Spirit. We believe in love, peace, and harmony. We expand your horizons through knowledge. We become more one with yourselves and nature through the practice of witchcraft and rituals. Nature and animals are sacred to us. Everything is for the Gods and Goddesses. Some worship one or the other and some worship many. Many of us believe the Gods and Goddesses are of one. So I crossed because I felt good about myself, I was moved and finally found what I was looking for and that was inner peace and happiness.


So what's does that mean now? I am the same person, I believe in the same issues of the world, my attitude and what I like to do is the same. Only thing that has change is my religious beliefs. Wiccans have eight difference holidays in what we call sabots. I have separate blogs on them so they are there for you to read or you can email me or call me if you have any questions. I will be more than happy to answer them for you.


So what do I celebrate? I do celebrate the eight sabots in the name of Freyja and dedicate rituals in her lovely name. Does that mean I won't celebrate the normal holidays when invited by family and friends? No, it just means during that time I will pray and give thanks to my Goddess. This is the life I have chosen for myself and I think it was a good choice and if in the end it was the wrong choice me and only me will be judged. I strongly believe it is the right choice and in the end I will live in peace in the halls of my Goddess and all her wonder.


So to end this very long blog. I have many friends I like. A family I truly love from the bottom of my heart. To Ang the one person I am so in love with and wish sometimes I can show it more, I am learning what love feels like and it feels awesome. Thank You Ang in being there for me when I needed someone like you in my life when I was ready to give up on life, you have shown me life is worth living for even at times when things seem impossible, you have let me think that things are worth it and in the end nothing is impossible. Thank you so very much. I am in so love with you. Thank you all for bearing with me on this very long blog. Have a great week. Love, peace, and harmony to all.


Blessed Be


From Twisted Journal of Jale

Jeff aka Jale

Litha June 21st Midsummer

 June 21st

History of Litha (MidSummer)

Also known as Summer Solstice, Litha, Alban Hefin, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Thing-tide, St. John's Day

In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year, there are four lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. In folklore, these are referred to as the four 'quarter-days' of the year, and modern Witches call them the four 'Lesser Sabbats', or the four 'Low Holidays'. The Summer Solstice is one of them.

Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth's rotation around the Sun. According to the old folklore calendar, Summer begins on Beltane (May 1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st), with the Summer Solstice midway between the two, marking MID-Summer. This makes more logical sense than suggesting that Summer begins on the day when the Sun's power begins to wane and the days grow shorter. The most common other names for this holiday are the Summer Solstice or Midsummer, and it celebrates the arrival of Summer, when the hours of daylight are longest. The Sun is now at the highest point before beginning its slide into darkness.

Humanity has been celebrating Litha and the triumph of light since ancient times. On the Wheel of the Year Litha lies directly across from Yule, the shortest day of the calendar year, that cold and dark winter turning when days begin to lengthen and humanity looks wistfully toward warmth, sunlight and growing things. Although Litha and Yule are low holidays or lesser sabats in the ancient parlance, they are celebrated with more revel and merriment than any other day on the wheel except perhaps Samhain (my own favourite). The joyous rituals of Litha celebrate the verdant Earth in high summer, abundance, fertility, and all the riches of Nature in full bloom. This is a madcap time of strong magic and empowerment, traditionally the time for handfasting or weddings and for communication with the spirits of Nature. At Litha, the veils between the worlds are thin; the portals between "the fields we know" and the worlds beyond stand open. This is an excellent time for rites of divination.

Those who celebrated Litha did so wearing garlands or crowns of flowers, and of course, their millinery always included the yellow blossoms of St. John's Wort. The Litha rites of the ancients were boisterous communal festivities with morris dancing, singing, storytelling, pageantry and feasting taking place by the village bonfire and torch lit processions through the villages after dark. People believed that the Litha fires possessed great power, and that prosperity and protection for oneself and one's clan could be earned merely by jumping over the Litha bonfire. It was also common for courting couples joined hands and jump over the embers of the Litha fire three times to ensure a long and happy marriage, financial prosperity and many children. Even the charred embers from the Litha bonfire possessed protective powers - they were charms against injury and bad wwweather in harvest time, and embers were commonly placed around fields of grain and orchards to protect the crops and ensure an abundant reaping. Other Litha customs included carrying an ember of the Litha fire home and placing it on one's hearth and decking one's home with birch, fennel, St. John's Wort, orpin, and white lilies for blessing and protection.

The Litha Sabbat is a time to celebrate both work and leisure, it is a time for children and childlike play. It is a time to celebrate the ending of the waxing year and the beginning of the waning year, in preparation for the harvest to come. Midsummer is a time to absorb the Sun's warming rays and it is another fertility Sabbat, not only for humans, but also for crops and animals. Wiccans consider the Goddess to be heavy with pregnancy from the mating at Beltane - honor is given to Her. The Sun God is celebrated as the Sun is at its peak in the sky and we celebrate His approaching fatherhood - honor is also given to Him. The faeries abound at this time and it is customary to leave offerings - such as food or herbs - for them in the evening.

Although Litha may seem at first glance to be a masculine observance and one which focuses on Lugh, the day is also dedicated to the Goddess, and Her flowers are the white blossoms of the elder.

Correspondences

Purpose
Rededication to the Lord and Lady, beginning of the harvest, honoring the Sun God,
honoring the pregnant Godddess

Dynamics/Meaning
Crowning of the Sun God, death of the Oak King, assumption of the Holly King,
end the ordeal of the Green Man

Tools, Symbols & Decorations
The sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits & flowers, feather/flower door wreath, sun wheel, fire, circles of stone, sun dials and swords/blades, bird feathers, Witches' ladder.

Colors
Blue, green, gold, yellow and red.

Customs
Bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with others, cutting
divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, herb gathering, handfastings, weddings, Druidic
gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, needfires, leaping between two fires, mistletoe
(without berries, use as a protection amulet), women walking naked through gardens
to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables, honor the
Mother's fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed
over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.

Goddesses
Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Venus, Aphrodite, Yemaya, Astarte, Freya, Hathor,
Ishtar, all Goddesses of love, passion, beauty and the Sea, and Pregnant,
lusty Goddesses, Green Forest Mother; Great One of the Stars, Goddess of the Wells

Gods
Father Sun/Sky, Oak King, Holly King, Arthur, Gods at peak power and strength.

Animals/Mythical Beings
Wren, robin, horses, cattle, satyrs, faeries, firebird, dragon, thunderbird

Gemstones
Lapis lazuli, diamond, tiger’s eye, all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade

Herbs
Anise, mugwort, chamomile, rose, wild rose, oak blossoms, lily, cinquefoil, lavender,
fennel, elder, mistletoe, hemp, thyme, larkspur, nettle, wisteria, vervain ( verbena),
St. John’s wort, heartsease, rue, fern, wormwood, pine,heather, yarrow,
oak & holly trees

Incense/Oil
Heliotrope, saffron, orange, frankincense & myrrh, wisteria, cinnamon, mint, rose, lemon, lavender, sandalwood, pine

Rituals/Magicks
Nature spirit/fey communion, planet healing, divination, love & protection magicks.
The battle between Oak King, God of the waxing year & Holly King, God of the waning
year (can be a ritual play), or act out scenes from the Bard’s (an incarnation of Merlin)
"A Midsummer Night’s Dream", rededication of faith, rites of inspiration.

Foods
Honey, fresh vegetables, lemons, oranges, summer fruits, summer squash,
pumpernickel bread, ale, carrot drinks, mead.

Beltane April 30th/May 1st

Reflecting On The Past

Reflecting On The Past

Today I want to talk on reflecting on my past prior to 2010... Well not really I want to go even more back in my past...actually to my last two years in the especially between 1988 till I got out in 1990. So the other day I was searching Facebook and put in the group search the last ship I was on USS Wainwright...and out of my there was a group and of course I got curious I had to know more...you know the person I am or maybe you don’t...when I am set on something or had to know something, I have to know everything about not some or partial...I have to know every detail. So that is what I did. So I joined the group and hold and behold I found so of my shipmates and didn't have to pay a dime for it. The Navy was some of the nest and some of the worst times in my life.

 Someone recently asked me if I could would I go back in time and change anything in my past? I didn't have to dwell on the question to long and of course the answer was no. Even though I have had some bad times in my past but I learned a lot so no I wouldn't change a thing... The one and only thing I do regret in my past is not staying in the Navy a little longer but it wasn't meant to be.

 The navy thought me a lot the number one thing it taught me was to grow from a immature boy into a grown man, at first it was hard to and I did get it trouble my first few years I hanged around the boys...but boys will be boys right? Well being one of the boys did get me in some trouble. It took some harsh learning, but once it was drilled into my head I became a man, don't get me wrong being a man doesn't mean you can't get into trouble, men get in trouble all the all the time, besides guys will be guys. It also taught me to be more open and not to be as shy...even all these years later I am still shy sometime, you wouldn't think so now, but it's true I am still shy sometimes.

 So no regrets in joining the navy I learned so much in the four years I was in. I learned a lot and met many friends who after twenty plus years I am in contact with and who are very good friends. So that right there to me worth more than any bad experience I went through while I was serving. I left the navy with many friends who would do anything for me if it is in thief power... As I weigh my experiences in the navy I had lot more good times than bad times so in the end of my career in the navy it was so worth and I would do it again if I could so that would be the one thing if I could change my past was to have served more time...but it wasn't in the cards.

 Sometimes when I am down and depressed which isn't very often, but I am human and it happens to the best of us...when I am thinking not straight or if I'm feeling depressed and think my past life was worthless or that I wasted my life or I was a failure, than I come back to realization, that none of that was true it was far from the truth. I have many things to be thankful for even though most of 2009 wasn't the greatest of years. First when I almost lost hope in life...we have to go back to November of 2008 when I dedicated my life to the Goddess and the dedication to the Pagan and Wiccan way and the introduction to the Craft of witchcraft...it changed my life... It is really hard to explain it in words all I can say it change me. It changed the way I think, the way I believe in things. Today I look at the world and my life in a new and different way...I am renewed than I was a few years ago, back than I was ready to give up. Today I am ready for anything and there is no such word as giving up. Today I am so happy to be alive.

 There are many things past and present that I am thankful of. I have a job even though it's not the highest paying job in the world, but is a job I like and the people there will bend backwards for me to make sure I get to and from work...I don't drive something I should have done years ago but that something I have to do now to learn to drive and that is in the works with family and friends at work...when I was let go at the VA hospital in early 2009 I lived with brother than I moved in with my parents which is where I am now. My ride to and from work was my dad who got sick and was put in a short term assisted living. So my friends have helped me in getting to and from work. I am greatful for everything they have done for me going out of their way to help...and that right there means a lot to me...so I am thankful for finding the job when I did.

 So August I found a job that wasn't the highest paying job in the world, but I met a group of people who have shown me that there are people who are still caring and that to mean more than any high paying job in the world.

 Which brings me to September of last year; I met Ang my friend, my girlfriend, my soul mate. She is the most awesome person any person could know or be with. She is the reason I keep going, she is my shining star, my hon. my sweetheart, my best friend, my girlfriend and my soul mate, and she is the reason why life is so worth it. To My Ang I love you so much thank you for coming into my life when you did, you have been there for me when I needed you even sometimes you don't think so. Thank you for everything you have done for me, you have made my life so worth it. You are the greatest girlfriend that any guy can ask for...You have made this ole boy the happiest guy in the world and I thank you for that. Thank you for being part of my life.

 For my Pagan and Wiccan friends I thank each and every one of you who have been there for me and having the patience with my zillion questions and giving advice and guiding me on the right path. You are my special friends and I thank you from the bottom of my heart... I have really been blessed and I am privileged in learning from the best. Blessed be to all my spiritual friends.

 Everything I have learned in life started from I was in the navy a group of guy stuck on a ship in small living quarters. We all learned from each other from the sea dog who was a lifer who made the Navy there life to the young squid who had no clue what they got their self into, not knowing if the Navy was there bread and butter for the next twenty or so years or if it was going to be a short term adventure and a experience that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Boys would become men and would me the most diversify culture of men in the world and it didn't matter your race or color what matter these guys would become friends and it will last a lifetime and really that is all that matters. We would leave the navy and live different lives but. The friendship in the navy would be a value that would never leave us we will always remember the friends and would think of them and the good times and something that can't ever be taken from us. Memories will always be there.

 To wrap everything up...got to love my writing they tend to be long, anyway I do miss the navy sometimes, it thought me a lot it was my stepping stone in becoming a man and it was the navy who define who I am today. The short four year I learned who I was. Them days I have many good memories and experiences. What I learned in them days I still use today. I do think if I didn't join the navy that my life would be different in a bad way I think. I have no regrets going in the navy what I learned is special to me. I want to thank all my shipmates’ friends and acquaintances of the Uss Simon Lake and USS Wainwright thank you for letting me become a person who I am today. You have given me a lifetime of memories that I will never forget. I know I did not know everyone and if I had more time back than I would have known more of you guys and gals. Thank you to all the shipmates I have stayed in contact with over the years. I will never forget you all and what I learned from you all. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. What I learned in the navy I use today in my life in how I was taught how I learned to believe in things and how I think today. Years have passed and yes I am older and wiser, the navy still close to my heart the navy made me more open and it made into a person a person who I am today. As I got older I learned more especially when I became a Wiccan and even more once I met my girlfriend Ang. So I thank everyone who has taught me things. So my life as I reflect on it now is nothing but happiness and the memories are mostly of good memories and of good experience... Yes I did have some bad times but what have learned from the Navy, the Wiccan and Pagan faith and all my friends within the circle, my friends, my family, and my girlfriend is to be positive and to get rid of negativism. With the help from people dating back to 1986...I give credit to each and everyone for without all you I would not be who I am today. Thank you all for showing me that in the end no matter what's going on in life good or bad that life is worth it. That everything in the end turns out good.

Peace and love to all my friends

Dale Jeffrey Henderson. AKA Jale

Twisted Journal of Jale






Blessed be

Empire of Jale

Ostara

Spring Equinox (Eostre/Ostara)

Find out about the Spring Equinox - the Wiccan Eostre or Ostara Sabbat - this month's seasonal witchcraft Sabbat celebrated by modern Wiccans and pagans.

The Rites of Spring

By Dr Leo Ruickbie, Director of WICA.

The end of March is the focus for a number of religious and traditional celebrations. As the sun appears to cross the earth's equator on the 20th or 21st of March, entering the Zodiacal sign of Aries, day and night will be equal in length. This astronomical phenomenon is a day anciently revered amongst Pagan peoples. Their festivals included Alban Elfed, the Teutonic festival in honour of Eostre, Roman Hilaria Matris Deûm, Welsh Gwyl Canol Gwenwynol ('Day of the Gorse'), the Wiccan Eostar (Ostara) Sabbat and the Christian Feast of the Annunciantion of the Virgin Mary (Lady Day) as well as Easter itself.

Origins and History of Ostara

Today, Ostara is one of the eight major holidays, sabbats or festivals of Wicca. It is celebrated on the Spring Equinox, which in the northern hemisphere is around the 20th or 21st of March and in the southern hemisphere around the 23rd of September. Its modern revival is linked to some of the oldest traditions of mankind.

The Month of the Goddess

The name is thought to be derived from a goddess of German legend, according to Jakob Grimm in his Deutsche Mythologie. A similar goddess named Eostre was described by the Venerable Bede. Bede indicated that this name was used in English when the Paschal holiday was introduced. Since then this name (not the holiday) has been converted to Easter, or in German Ostern. Some scholars question both Bede's and Grimm's conclusions due to a lack of supporting evidence for this goddess. Others argue that a lack of further documentation is not surprising given that Bede is credited with writing the first substantial history of England (in which he described Eostre as a goddess whose worship had already passed) and Grimm was specifically attempting to capture oral traditions before they might be lost.
Despite these reservations, the idea of Eostre has become firmly established in many minds. Without any consideration of these problems, the folklorist Dr Jonathan Young categorically states:

Easter has deep roots in the mythic past. Long before it was imported into the Christian tradition, the Spring festival honored the goddess Eostre or Eastre.

According to Bede and Einhard in his Life of Charlemagne, the month called Eostremonat/Ostaramanoth was equated with April. This would put the start of 'Ostara's Month' after the Equinox in March. It must be taken into account that these 'translations' of calendar months were approximate as the old forms were predominantly lunar months while the new were based on a solar year. Thus start of 'Eostremonat' would actually have fallen in late March and could thus still be associated with the Spring Equinox.
The holiday is a celebration of spring and growth, the renewal of life that appears on the earth after the winter. In mythology it is often characterized by the rejoining of the goddess and her lover-brother-son, who spent the winter months in death. This is an interesting parallel to the biblical story in which Jesus is resurrected (the reason Christians celebrate Easter), pointing to another appropriation of pre-Christian religious figures, symbols and myths by early Christianity.

Word Origins

Etymologically, Eostre, or, as it is sometimes called, Ostara, may come from the word 'east', meaning dawn. Others have also tried to link Eostre with 'estrogen' and 'estrus'. These words, however, are more widely considered to be derived from the Greek oistros, meaning 'gadfly' or 'frenzy'. Interestingly, the word 'spring' (from to spring, to leap or jump up, burst out, 0ld English springan, a common Teutonic word, ccompare German springen), primarily the act of springing or leaping, is applied to the season of the year in which plant life begins to bud and shoot.

The Antiquity of Ostara

Ostara is a modern Wiccan festival and there is no evidence that Spring Equinox festivals were called by this name in the past. However, there is no direct 'proof' of many Christian or pagan traditions, so a lack of evidence should not necessarily be taken as disproof.

Wiccan Interpretations

The Cycle of Birth, Death and Rebirth

Goddess of fertility and new beginnings, we take this opportunity to embrace Eostre's passion for new life and let our own lives take the new direction we have wanted for so long.

Goddess.com.au

Many Wiccans situate Eostre (Ostara) within a symbolic cycle of birth, death and rebirth. As the quotation from Goddess.com.au demonstrates, the particular role of Eostre is internalized and turned into a self-empowering meditation. Again Dr Young re-inforces this, by no means definitive, interpretation:

The annual event in honour of Eastre celebrated new life and renewal.

However, other views also add a darker element, according to Mike Nichols:

The god of light now wins a victory over his twin, the god of darkness.

Nichols has attempted a reconstruction of the symbolic events of this time of year using the Welth mych-cycle of the Mabinogion. By this interpretation the Spring Equinox is the day on which the reborn Llew exacts his revenge on Goronwy by piercing him with the spear of sunlight. Reborn or returned to health at the Winter Solstice, Llew is now able to challenge and defeat his rival twin and mate with his lover/mother. Meanwhile the 'Great Mother Goddess', miraculously returned to virginity at Candlemas, now receives the sun god's advances and conceives a child. This child will be born at the next Winter Solstice, nine months from now, at once closing the cycle and re-opening it.

Christianity and Easter

Contrary to what the Church may try and tell you, Christianity came late to the Easter party. There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. A comment made by St Chrysostom on I Cor. V. 7 has been supposed to refer to an apostolic observance of Easter, but this is erroneous. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians. The ecclesiastical historian Socrates (Hist. Eccl. V. 22) states that neither Jesus nor his followers enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival. He attributes the observance of Easter by the Church to the perpetuation of an old tradition, just as many other customs have been established.

Superstitions and Traditions

The Shock of the New

Elements of old beliefs linger in current 'superstitions'. According to these, it is said that something new should be worn at Easter to bring good luck. Easter Parades reflect this idea about wearing new clothes.

Eggs and Rabbits

The Easter Bunny is German in origin. He first appears in literature in 16th century as a deliverer of eggs. All rabbits and hares were thought to lay eggs on Easter Day, but the Easter Bunny specifically sought out and rewarded well-behaved children with coloured eggs in a manner reminiscent of Yule customs. The movements of the hare, leaping and zig-zagging across the fields, were thought to hold clues to the coming year.
Eggs themselves are obvious symbols of resurrection and continuing life, as well as fertility. Early humans thought the return of the sun from winter darkness was an annual miracle, and saw the egg as a natural wonder and proof of the renewal of life. As Christianity spread the egg was adopted as a symbol of Jesus's alleged resurrection from the tomb. According to Young, the Easter Bunny is:

a continuation of the reverence shown during the spring rites to the rabbit as a symbol of abundance. The honouring of such emblems of fertility extended to eggs. The egg serves as a representation of new life. It stands for the renewing power of nature and, by extension, agriculture. The egg can also symbolize regeneration in a spiritual or psychological sense. The ritual of colouring Easter eggs stems from the tradition of painting eggs in bright colours to represent the sunlight of spring.

The Inner Bunny

Young goes on to suggest that:

This might also be a good time to find the inner Easter Bunny.

Whether you feel up to the challenge or not, the Spring Equinox is an ominous reminder of the ways in which Christianity has subverted and perverted the old traditions of Europe - a process that many are seeking to reverse and at what better time than now.

Brief Bibliography

• Bede, De Temp. Rat. c. xv.
• St Chrysostom, Commentary on I Cor. V. 7.
• Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, trans Samuel Epes Turner. Harper and Brothers, 1880.
• Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911.
• Goddess.com.au, accessed 9th February, 2006.
• Grimm, Jakob, Deutsche Mythologie. 1835.
• Nichols, Mike, 'Lady Day: The Vernal Equinox', 1999.
• Socrates, Hist. Eccl. V. 22.
• Young, Jonathan, 'Symbolism of Spring', Vision Magazine, April 2003.

News About this Spring Equinox (Eostre/Ostara) Article

This article has been cited by Justine Hawkins, 'The Eostre bunny', The Guardian, 23 March 2008, url: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/mar/23/bunnies.

2009 As I Experienced It....Through My Eyes

I am Jeff or better known as Jale(My Witch name).....Many of you don't know me or don't know me that much than there are some of you who have known me for some time. In November of 2008 my year and day started and it ended in November of 2009 duh lol. As I look back on 2009 before August it seemed like everything was falling apart and the only thing that was keeping me afloat was my divine purpose in life and that was worshipping the Goddess, and as being her student. I wanted to give up so many times in 2009, with the lost of my job in January and loosing my apartment, so I had to move in with brother I stayed there till July and moved in with my parents. I love my family and they have helped me in many ways. The Goddess did answer my prayers in August and than again in September, first in August I found a part time job at Circle K which now has went full time and yes not the greatest paying job in the world I love it and I am around people, and right now it is a job I plan to be with for sometime. In September i found a person a very special woman that I have since than fell in love with, she is everything to me, we are so alike in many ways and so different in many ways, but I know this is the person for me and I care for her more than any person I have cared for in my whole life. I would do anything for her and I have finally felt love the way it should feel like. If you are reading this my love thanks for being there for me. So the later months of the year were great months and when I went full time I again know the Goddess was there watching me and helping me overcome something I didn't think was possible, she gave me love, she gave a job that I love so much and she gave me a different way of thinking and believing. Being a Wiccan Witch first and Heathen and Pagan second, I have learned so much this last year, yes I still get hate mail of who I am, but not once did I ever consider any other path, I truely believe this is my calling and the Goddess has shown and taught me many things in this last year. Yes I have been around Wiccans since 1986, but 2009 was the year were I took it to where I know will be with me till the day I go to Summerland. So yes the year didn't start off to good but it sure ended with a bang and I am so happy in how it ended, and 2010 can only get better, and next on the list is my own place. I want to wish everyone a great 2010 Blessed Be Everyone. And may the Gods and Goddesses look over you this year and may it be the best year of your life.


Blessed Be


Jale

IMBOLC

Imbolc Lore
(February 2nd)

Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth.

The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.

Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up. In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the "water of life" is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic), Disting (Teutonic, Feb 14th), Lupercus (Strega), St. Bridget's Day (Christian), Candlemas, Candlelaria (Mexican), the Snowdrop Festival. The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin. All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses are honored at this time.

Deities of Imbolc:
All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

Symbolism of Imbolc:
Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.

Symbols of Imbolc:
Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid's Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.

Herbs of Imbolc:
Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

Foods of Imbolc:
Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.

Incense of Imbolc:
Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.

Colors of Imbolc:
White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.

Stones of Imbolc:
Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.

Activities of Imbolc:
Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride's Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires maybe lit.