Spring Challenge — Healing Intent

I challenge you to create a work that reflects intent, how we connect and heal each other and our planet, as an aware family. I encourage you to create with focused intent for those in need beyond our immediate reach. Reflect our ability to heal each other through creative expression.

I am searching for my role in the relief effort currently focused on the recent devastation of Japan. How do I become an active participant in the well being of those around me that exists under my radar in my own backyard, living in hunger and desolation.

Events in the Universe affect us all, who we stand with to find and give solace defines who we are. I am grateful to be a member of this grand Circle we call a Team.

Details:
Please post a link to your entry once listed on Etsy for us all to see. Don't worry if your item sells you can still be in the challenge, win the poll and have a blog post just about you. If your challenge entry has another destination than Etsy, please post a link where we can see your work, your blog, flicker, etc. I know sometimes when we are creating the piece may tell us who it belongs to before it is finished.

Include a statement in your description connecting your creation to the challenge theme, 'intent and healing.'

Looking forward to seeing peoples creations.

Ideas to run though your head...

The ring of fire, and other natural expressions of our earth's power

Survival strategies — physical, — emotional, -communal

Equinox- balance between the light and dark

Spring is the season of Fire, starting when the Sun (fire) enters into the sign Aries- which is a fire sign and the first sign of the zodiac.

The season of spring encompasses Aries, Taurus (earth) and Gemini (air)
Aries is ruled by Mars, Taurus by Venus and Gemini by Mercury.

Mars is ambitious and inventive, Venus is joy and love, and Mercury communication and intellect.

Due July 1st for Blog poll listing.

Any other ideas? Questions? Feel free to discuss your creative process through this challenge here, on this leaf!
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"Here We Are" Challenge Winner is FaerieNotions!

Congratulations! Tell us a bit about yourself FaerieNotions:

I have been making jewelry for about six years. Beading and working with gemstones brings me a joy I can't describe. I have a huge need to create and share those creations with others. I am a mom of three, two of which are on the autism spectrum. Beading gives me that sense of escape, that break I need, just for me, to help me to get on with my day. There's something peaceful and comforting about stones. They speak to me in a way I cannot convey. I hope that I pass on that sense of peace in everything I create. I aim to make jewelry that is not only pleasing to look at, but also full of positive energy.

Please visit my blog, where I tend to ramble on about thoughtful things:
tryingonmymasks.blogspot.com/

"Here We Are" Challenge!

The Pagan Teams newest Challenge!

As our team worked through the growing pains of settling into our forum at The Tree House and Etsy's new 'team' section we were challenged to create a piece that will show the world that "We are here!"

What will let the world see who we are in relation to our chosen path and craft/art?

The following artist offer these amazing entries! Be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll! Voting open until January 10th!

Click on images to open a full picture in another window! Enjoy!

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# 1 - Wolf Spirit Necklace - Copper Turquoise Chrysocolla from Shadow and Spirits


The Wolf Spirit necklace was inspired by this awesome wolf tooth. I added turquoise nuggets and chrysocolla heishi beads to a 24" antiqued copper chain. The wolf tooth is 1 1/2" long and 3/8" wide. I can shorten the chain if you wish. Convo me if you want it shortened.
No wolves were harmed aquiring this tooth. They are taken from the wild from wolves who have died naturally. This tooth has been bleached to whiten it.

Wolves are highly misunderstood animals, who have gained the reputation of being cold blooded. In reality wolves are friendly and social creatures. Aggression is something they avoid, preferring rather to growl or create a posture to show dominance. Living in close knit packs provide wolves with a strong sense of family, but they are still able to maintain their individuality. Wolves represent the spirit of freedom, but they realize that having individual freedom requires having responsibilities. Wolf is a teacher and pathfinder, and can show you how to balance the responsibility of family needs and not to lose one's personal identity. Wolf teaches us to develop strength and confidence in our decisions. He shows we will learn to trust our insights once we learn how to value our inner voice.

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#2- Gemstone Necklace 21 inches - Moonstone Aventurine - Ways of Old from FaerieNotions

A sterling silver pentacle hangs from soothing aventurine, calming the soul in deep dark hues of green. It is believed by many that stones have metaphysical properties. Iridescent moonstone attracts the eye, offering up protection. This necklace makes a bold statement, measuring at 21", a great length for higher necked shirts. The pentacle is a star, 5 points symbolizing earth, water, fire, air and spirit, joined in a circle. It measures an eye-catching 1" in diameter.

I take pride in offering stones that are natural. There are no dyed or synthetic beads used in my items. That gives each piece a genuine energy that will lift and heal your spirits.

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#3- Tree of Life Pouch from GreenFingers


Whenever I ponder the earth around me, and my place in it, I find myself drawn to the symbolism of trees. Trees are simultaneously rooted and expansive, a condition that I strive for in my life. So I designed a cable pattern that captures the energy of trees, the combination of what we draw in to ourselves and what we release in to the world, and how that exchange of energy is what makes us who we are. But as so often happens,what I got from the design process was more than I expected. My symbolic tree is reminiscent of an hour glass, indicating the passage of time, and the way we flow through it. And the final surprise for me was the way the linear ribs enclose the swirling cables. How fitting for someone who sees life as a spiral, but must operate in a world that often sees life as a straight line.

Pouch is knitted in Plymouth Yarns 100% Superwash Wool. Wash in the machine on gentle, and lay flat to dry. The color is a delicious celery green, much richer than in the photo. The pouch would be perfect to hold most of the oversized tarot on the market. Buttons are vintage wood toggle buttons I found at a local antique store.

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#4- Antler Runes from inkleing


I love Runes and hand woven things! Runes are my favorite divination tool due to the ancient and rustic feel. These Runes are the Elder Futhark hand burned into shed antler. Shed antlers are the ones I find while hiking in Northern New Mexico that the deer or elk drop every year. Meaning the deer and elk were not harmed to obtain the antler that I use. These were hand cut, burned and polished by me. The bag was hand woven on my little inkle loom then hand stitched together in shades of Gules (red) Or (yellow) Sable (black) Argent (white) and Azure (blue) The dimensions of the bag are 7 1/2” X 6” This listing is for the 24 runes and the bag. I also include a blank rune (wyrd) for those that use it and a little chart with the names for each rune. I alway ship priority mail for fast delivery.

Ásatrú, means " belief in the gods " in Old Norse, the language of ancient Scandanavia.
Ásatrú is thousands of years old. It's beginnings are lost in prehistory, but as an organized system, it is older by far than Christianity. Strictly speaking, since Ásatrú is the religion which springs from the specific spiritual beliefs of the Northern Europeans, it is as old as this branch of the human race, which came into being 40,000 years ago.


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#5- Spell Bottle of Household Full Year Fortune Oil from CauladronCraftMinis

This is my Spell Bottle of Household Full Year Fortune Oil. Meant to bring prosperity, health, and loving relations to your family through herbal and symbolic energies, the oil is sealed within a heart shaped glass bottle. This contains approximately 10 fluid oz and is 5 ½” tall. The oil is an olive base with cold diffused botanicals. These include 3 Bay leaves for victory and protection, 2 cinnamon sticks for warmth, vanilla essential oil for wisdom, chamomile for calm, rose leaves for love and healing, apple oil for bounty and wealth, and yellow carnation for friendship and trust. Symbolic elements include gold and copper flecks and a penny for prosperity, rose quartz nugget for love, 13 moonstone spheres for the yearly moons, and a broom for cleansing. There are no synthetic ingredients in this oil, which can be used in washes, candle anointing, and many other ways. This oil was crafted on Dec. 20, 2010 to harness the combined energies of Winter Solstice, a Full Moon, and the Lunar Eclipse.

~~Lions in Mythology~~WackWall Chat~~

No matter what culture or country a lion god or goddess was found in they were certainly a force to be reckoned with…

Lions have appeared in the Bible: Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Ezekiel saw a bunch of creatures with 4 faces, one of which was a lion, Samson killed a lion,John of Patmos saw a man with a face like a lion in Revelations…a couple of others involved thorns and pulling said thorns out of said lions paws…

In the Bible Lions were power,strength,and boldness.

The human race has had a long history with lions. Since prehistory,lion gods have been revered in history and mythology. They have been feared as monsters and or as hybrid creatures symbolizing the best and worst in animal and human kind.

Lions can also be found in Alchemical texts. A green lion eating the sun means the beginning stages of the alchemical process. A red lion means you’ve done it! You’ve found the Philosopher’s stone.

Leo the Lion in the Zodiac:

The Lion has almost ALWAYS been associated with the sun since the beginnings of time. Five Millenia go the Sun’s passage through the sky at midday coincided with the midsummer solstice. He was therefore the constellation of High Summer,which is definitely the realm of the sun.

Leo is an easy constellation to recognize. He looks like a laying down lion. He used to have a tail but some genius in 240 BC lopped it off to make a new constellation called Berenice’s hair…pfft. Leo is the 5th sign of the zodiac and he can be seen facing to the west with his sickle shaped mane of stars. His brightest star is Regulus. He’s best seen around midnight the last days of February and the first days of March.

The Romans thought of Leo as the Nemean Lion slain by Herakles as one of his Labours.

Here's a few Lion God/desses:

From Bali is BARONG, a protective spirit. His dance is an important and sacred dance.


From Egypt there's SAKHMET. Goddess of War and Vengeance. She was married to Ptah,the creator.Her name means "Powerful", and you didn't want to get on her bad side; because she forgot herself and started slaughtering both sides in a war with mankind.


AKHER is one of the Oldest of the Egyptian Lion Gods. He guarded the Gates of Dawn through which the Bark of the Sun emerged each morning. He also opened the doors of the Underworld for the newly dead and was able to cure snakebites. He certainly had a lot of opening to do.


ARENSNUPHIS: He’s from the Greco-Roman age of Egypt. He was portrayed as either a lion or a feather headed guy. He had a temple built for him in Philae during the reign of Ptolemy IV.


DEDUN: He was Nubian and a god of Incense and Wealth. He was either a lion or a guy too.


MAHER:He was worshiped in the Nile Delta.He was fierce and aggressive like most of your other lion gods, but he was also a protector of the Innocent and a god of Healing. He had a temple in Bubastis.


MENHIT: Another chick lion Goddess. She was the wife of Khnum. Her name means “She who Slaughters”, so she must’ve been the life of a dull party. She rode at the head of the army killing off the enemy.


SHU and TEFNUT: a Sister and Brother duo pictured as being full lions or people with lion heads. She was Rain and he was the Sky.



PAKHET: the tearer. Another lovely young lady with a lion‘s head. She was worshiped in Middle Egypt and is rather unknown.


BES: an Old Friend. I love this little guy. A dwarfish fellow sometimes depicted wearing a lionskin. He watched over infants, birth and the home. He was a god of Luck and Fortune.


From India:

NARASINGHA: the man-lion, the Fourth incarnation of Vishnu.


YALI: this interesting creature had the body of a lion and the head of an elephant. Hmm.


From Persia:

IMDUGUD: He is the Sumerian version of the Native American Thunderbird, not the car. He brings the south wind, carrying the rains on on his back and his roar is the thunder. He’s depicted as a bird with a lion’s head.


MANTICORE: This lovely gent had the body of a lion, and the head of a man with many rows of sharp teeth, a scorpion’s tail and the voice of a flute…betcha he didn’t get out much.
Like the Sphinx, he’d give his prey riddles to solve before he ate them…


NINGURSU: A god of Fertility, Rain, and Irrigation. His hang out was Girsu and he was an Eagle with a lion’s head.


PAZUZU: A real baddie. King of the Evil Demon Winds…doesn’t sound like HE was much fun either, but he was inscribed on birthing amulets. He had the wings of an eagle, the tail of a scorpion and the claws of a lion.


Greco/Roman:

CHNUBIS: this little known guy was a lion headed snake.


CHIMERA: A classic. The lovely beastie had the body of goat, a snake for a tail and the head of a lion. He was a fierce fire breathing creature…maybe he needed a breath mint?


GRIFFIN: Another classic. He was a combination of Eagle and Lion parts. His claws were supposed to change in the presence of poison. He guarded treasure, the Tree of Life, knowledge and the path to Salvation.


SPHINX: One of the best known of the lion/whatever Bunch. He had the body of a lion and the head of a man. Sometimes like in Greek Mythology it was a SHE sphinx and had the torso and head of a woman and the rest of the body of a lion. They guarded tombs, and symbolized power, riddles and wisdom.


Some people think that DRAGONS have Lion’s claws, so let’s include one of those also…


In Indonesia,the Singa is a Dragon that appears as a lion to the mountain people of Sumatra.

Some of my favourite lions are the Chinese Temple “Foo Dogs“. They are believed to have mythic powers that protect one's home or place of business. You can find them outside of Chinese restaurants most commonly. I have a set on my front steps. They’re usually pairs. The female has a puppy under her front paw while the male has a ball.

In Chinese Mythology, the Lion came from Heaven where he was mischievous and created trouble. Jade Emperor got pissed, cut off his head and tossed both pieces to earth. Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, felt sorry for Lion and tried to help. She sent an enchanted red ribbon to tie his head back on. Then she offered to send him back to heaven. She sent him off to a Buddha for some special grass: the only type of grass that would restore lion’s strength. The only catch was the Buddha didn’t wanna share any of his special grass with lion. But Lion was stubborn and determined to have some. He waited until the Buddha fell asleep,then ate his fill. But first,Lion performed a ritual.

He bowed 3 times: once for the Earth, once for heaven and once for Mankind.

Lion does that to get their blessings. When Lion was done eating, he laid down because that was strong grass and he too falls asleep. When lion wakes up, he had returned to his full strength, and his dream is fulfilled. Again he performs his ritual, and with his new found power he can return to heaven once again.

So concludes tonight's sermon on Lions in mythology...thanks and good night.

Cherokee Calendar

A little background first:
The Cherokee Tribe was basically an southeastern group, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia.
In the 19th century, white settlers in the United States called the Cherokees one of the "Five Civilized Tribes", because they had assimilated numerous cultural and technological practices of European-American settlers.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the Cherokee Nation has more than 300,000 members, the largest of the 563 federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States.
On the Native American thread on Etsy, we're learning to speak Cherokee or at least write the words phonetically.
*that was just a side comment*
I've always loved Native American culture

The Cherokee Moons Ceremonies were the ancient seasonal round of ceremonies practiced
during ancient times by the Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya or Cherokee People.
Although a modern calendar year comprises 12 months, there are actually 13 cycles or phases of the moon each year.

The seasonal round of ceremonies was based on 13 moons, and was considered a necessary spiritual element for growth and encouraged social gatherings among the Cherokee Clans.
They believed the number 13 was significant. Not only did this number correspond to the lunar cycles of the year, but by a startling coincidence, all species of turtles living in the ancient homeland (in fact, all species turtles in the world) always
had 13 scales on the back of their shells. As a result, Cherokee culture associated the spaces on the back of the turtle with the 13 yearly phases of the moon.

These phases have shifted over time and do not fall within the 12 month year calendar year, precisely every year...

Here's a quick overview of the months:

JANUARY: Cold Moon Unolvtani
A mid-Winter or "Cold Moon Dance" is usually held in the community as well, marking the
passing or ending of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle.
Hearth fires are put out and new ones made.

FEBRUARY: Bony Moon Kagali
Traditional time of personal-family feast for the ones who had departed this world.A family meal is prepared with place(s) set for the departed. This is also a time of
fasting and ritual observance.

MARCH: Windy Moon Anuyi
Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons.New town council fires are made.

APRIL: Flower Moon Kawoni
First plants of the season come out at this time. New births are customary within this
time frame. The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend against sickness and conjury come out now.
A dance customary at this season was the "Knee Deep Dance" of the Spring or Water Frog.

MAY: Planting Moon Anisguti
Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from last
season.

JUNE: Green Corn Moon Tihaluhiyi
First signs of the "corn in tassel", and the emerging of the various plants of the fields. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming festivals of the ensuing growing season.

JULY: Ripe Corn Moon Guyegwoni
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals. A common reference of this moon is the "first roasting of ears" (of corn)...sweet corn-moon.

AUGUST: Fruit Moon Galoni
Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time.

SEPTEMBER: Nut Moon Duliidsdi
All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of the forest were gathered as this time. Hunting traditionally began in earnest at this time.

OCTOBER: Harvest Moon Duninudi
The time of traditional "Harvest Festival"

NOVEMBER: Trading Moon Nudadaequa
Traditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for
manufactured goods, produce and goods from hunting. This was a time also when the needy among the towns were given whatever they needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.

DECEMBER: Snow Moon Usgiyi
Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of season.
Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.

This next part is from my Llewellyn's date book...

First Sweet Corn, then dent corn ripen for the harvest. As a staple food and sacred
material, corn attracts much attention throughout it's life cycle.
To the Choctaw, this is the Crane Moon, recognizing the big wading birds. The Sioux call
it the Moon of the Middle Summer.

July brings a bunch of new foods, corn and tomatoes are ripening, along with squash and
cucumbers. Visit your local farmers' markets to enjoy the fresh seasonal produce.
Watch birds and other animals raising their young. But be careful and respect the sun's
power.
Rituals in July celebrate the staple crops. Rituals to honour the Sun, light, fire, and so forth are also appropriate. Magically tap into the power of the Sun to full spells for success and prosperity.
The Cherokee call corn Selu and it's one of their Goddesses...

This represent the Corn Goddess and the Trail of Tears and not forgetting
http://www.etsy.com/listing/50183222/selu-ayatlidi-corn-necklace
So ends tonight's lecture....

Kicking Bear is the one who's graciously teaching us Tsalagi (Cherokee)
Wado KB!