The Magic of Trees

The Magic of Trees

I enjoy my tree friends, I have one in particular in my magical garden that I sit under for hours. She shares her secrets of life with me, she shares her magic. I have deep reverence and gratitude for the trees, they still give us fresh air needed for our life, regardless of our ungrateful behavior. Thank you my tree friends for all that you do. 

Trees connect us to the natural world; they act as primary symbols of the sheer power and presence of nature. They are steadfast, ever-present, strong, long-lived, and they sing of the earth and their place within it. They are the storytellers of location, and they mold and form the landscape we are familiar with. They bring personality and attitude to our locales, and they offer respite, shelter and protection to those who live within them or near them. They are important not only in the spiritual spectrum but also on a purely physical level: they provide us with the clean air necessary for life; they absorb the toxic gasses that would poison and eventually destroy oxygen breathing life forms...the symbolism of trees...were perceived as transmitters of wisdom.

The Love of Trees. Trees teach us about the nature of where we live or the places that we love to visit and spend time amongst. Even the solitary tree in a courtyard of a hospital or the office block where you may spend most of your day has a story; they have something to tell us about the nature of being and the mysteries of life. They are individuals, each one with its own unique personality and sense of place. To spend time among the trees-to observe the turning of the great wheel  and the drama of the sun and moon on the of their being-alter the way in which we perceive them. We may pass these creatures every day and rarely pay attention to them, and yet they are there, ever-present, silent sentinels of the passing seasons.

They inhabit two worlds. Their roots are hidden in the dark, damp underworld, unseen and yet filled with potential. Their trunks reach up from the soil, strong, resilient, lifting its spirit towards branches that become twigs and buds and leaves; with arms outstretched they reach for the skies, where their cells open to the air. They are simultaneously hidden, apparent and present. If we watch and listen with our subtle sense they become teachers of mystery; in the Celtic continuum they are transmitters of secrets who whisper of a deep connection to our ancestors had with the land beneath their feet. And just as we are the sum total of all that has been before us, so are the trees, for each oak contains the memory of all oaks since the dawning of the species; in a magical sense they are as much our ancestors as the human that have long since died.

To watch is to learn, to learn is to feel and that feeling causes us to move closer to the tress and to the mysteries they are privy to. They absorb the world and process it slightly differently than we do, but they are a part of us and we are a part of them, the particles of our breath are absorbed through their leaves. They sense our stories just as much as we sense theirs. The only difference is there is no expectation-we don't have to connect to them, to commune with them, to move closer to them in order to learn the mysteries of being-but if we were to, we would be transformed by it.

The Tree of Life...further mystery can be gleaned with we consider the tree that exists within us...The trees of our world teach us to look inward to the place of mystery that resides within us, and we can access this by focusing on our own internal tree. The mystery of being and the truth of magic lie hidden within us. The branches of our Tree of Life can be seen in expression-it is our consciousness, our psychology, and the wonder of the mind. It is the expression of our life force, our beauty; it demonstrates that we are alive. We are the Tree of Life; it is not something that exists out there or is confined to the dusty corridors of arcane occult sciences; we are it. The Tree of Life is exactly that - life - and it lives within you.

Tree Meditation, connect with your inner Tree

Above excerpt taken from The Book of Celtic Magic: Transformative Teachings from the Cauldron of Awen by Kristoffer Hughes

 The Mother Tree, Learn about the sophisticated, underground, fungal network trees use to communicate and even share nutrients. UBC professor Suzanne Simard leads us through the forrest to investigate this underground community.

Trees are our closest spiritual relatives in the plant kingdom, with their roots reaching into the underworld and their branches like arms reaching towards the sun. As such, they are excellent first point of contact with then inner spiritual landscape and its inhabitants. Many tress have a strong individual presence. Others have something more like a hive consciousness, and others can act simply as a window or bridge into another reality. Like people, they have distinctive personalities and even moods.

Excerpt taken from Faery Craft: Weaving Connections with the Enchanted Realm by Emily Carding

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 There are Trees

There are trees in the mountains

Growing on the edge of the sky.

And these trees in the mountains

Sing to me as a go by.

They sing to me of the old ones

Who once lived where I now stand.

They sing to me of the Mother

And the sacredness of land.

There are trees by the ocean

In mist and fog they grow so tall.

And these trees by the ocean

Are sending out their plaintive call.

They're calling us to remember

That we all must live as one.

They're asking us to surrender

Our deeds of greed and destruction.

There are trees in the city

Chocking on smog and pollution.

And yet these trees in the city

Give their very gifts to everyone.

They give us breath.

They give us beauty.

They shelter us from rain and sun.

We must honor and protect them

For the next generations.

There are trees in the moonlight

Their shadows cast upon the ground.

And from these tress in the moonlight

Our roots of peace can be found.

They hold the magic and the memory

And the hope of what's to come.

We walk their path of love and beauty 

and a new world is begun 

There are trees. There are trees. There are Trees.

Excerpt taken from Kathyrn Ravenwood's Chapter "On Becoming a Tree Priestess" in Stepping Into Ourselves: An Anthology of Writings on Priestesses edited by Anne Key and Candace Kant

Deforestation

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Some other statistics:

• About half of the world's tropical forests have been cleared (FAO)
• Forests currently cover about 30 percent of the world’s land mass (National Geographic)
• Forest loss contributes between 6 percent and 12 percent of annual global 
• carbon dioxide emissions (Nature Geoscience)
• About 36 football fields worth of trees lost every minute (World Wildlife Fund (WWF))

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Bee Unity

Bee Unity

As I mentioned in a previous post Buzzing of A Bee Priestess, we are working on a project for children teaching them the importance of the Bees and the planet as well as fun games and adventures. We hope to create a new narrative, a more collective narrative for the future. The goal of this project is to build and encourage community and unity, with a new story of hope for the future. We are the ones this planet needs at this time, we are called to be the working bees, it is our time to build a new hive, a working hive, a more peaceful and resourceful hive. A new hive that understands that everything is connected. Together we can change and transform our future, Bee the Change. Bee Unity

The Bees were worshiped by ancient societies, they knew how important the Bees were to our very existence. They were here long before us and our lives and many other plants and animals on this planet are dependent on the Bees, Bee Love. Bee Unity

The Bees work as a community. They are all born with certain roles that support the hive. Their main objective is the life of the hive, some even give their lives to defend the hive. Their hive is their home, their planet. Without everyone's full support it could not function. The bees can teach us a lot about community and unity. Bee Unity

They not only support their own hive, but are needed for the reproduction of many plants on this planet, much of our food and others species are dependent on their pollination, Bee Giving. Bee Unity

They make Honey!!! Beautiful liquid gold they produce that not only feeds them, but sweetens the lips of millions for centuries. At one time it was the only sweetener there was. They share their sweetness with others, Bee Kind. Bee Unity

What can we learn from the Bees? What lessons can they teach us? What can we learn from the "hive consciousness"? What can we Bee?!?!?!

Bee the Change, Bee Love, Bee Kind, Bee Giving, Bee Unity, Bee 

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Lilith and The Drum Eden

Lilith and The Drum Eden

As I mentioned in a previous post, I started hand drumming to improve my belly dancing, but then it began another Love affair, the beautiful drum, the Rhythm of the All. Previous Post The Rhythm of the All

Yesterday my new drum arrived. I was watching the tracking all day long, I felt like a kid on Christmas. It arrived and I fell in Love with the instrument. I had to find a name for my new drum child. When I play her, it is heavenly, it takes me somewhere. So I decided on the name Eden, but then I fought it because of my first understanding the myth of the Garden of Eden, and the roles played by Adam and Eve. Eden insisted on Eden, then I remembered the missing story, the one with Lilith in it, the "original myth." 

Lilith has been gently saying her hello to me for a bit now, coincidences or perhaps not. The curious cat I am, I dig deeper...Take a bite? ;)

From one of my favorite authors Joseph Campbell: 

"Mythology is not a lie. Mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth — penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words. It is beyond words, beyond images. Mythology pitches the mind beyond that rim, to what can be known but not told."

To Purchase Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth

Lilith and Eve

The Story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden is one of the founding myths in western culture. So many of our most basic concepts about men, women, sexuality and the relationship between human life and nature are based upon what is described in this story, and thought of as holy truth. These concepts are entrenched deeply in our psyche; we are largely unaware of them. If we are to be free, we must first become aware of these basic concepts and of the roles they play in our lives, and then do our work as witches to change them.

...The purpose of the discussion is to bring to the surface the hidden agendas of the monotheistic religion...Issues such as childbirth as a punishment to women, violence and control in a relationship, women as temptress, the role of men and their relation to responsibility, our naked bodies as a source of shame and many more. Discussing and sharing our thoughts...allows each person to find his or her newly reclaimed images of Adam and Eve; this helps us reclaim our own unique masculinity and femininity and choose a more equal relationship between the two.

Excerpt taken from one of my favorite books to reference. Stepping Into Ourselves; An Anthology of Writings on Priestesses 

Reclaiming Adam and Eve, Chapter written by Hava Montauriano 

Edited by Anne Key and Candace Kant

To Purchase:  http://www.goddess-ink.com/priestessanthology.html

Previous Post "The Soul Has No Gender"

According to midrashic literature, Adam's first wife was not Eve but a woman named Lilith, who was created in the first Genesis account. Only when Lilith rebelled and abandoned Adam did God create Eve, in the second account, as a replacement. In an important 13th century Kabbalah text, the Sefer ha-Zohar ("The Book of Splendour") written by the Spaniard Moses de Leon (c. 1240-1305), it is explained that:

At the same time Jehovah created Adam, he created a woman, Lilith, who like Adam was taken from the earth. She was given to Adam as his wife. But there was a dispute between them about a matter that when it came before the judges had to be discussed behind closed doors. She spoke the unspeakable name of Jehovah and vanished.

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/eve-women/7evelilith.html

The Following was taken from Mother House of the Goddess, great resource!!! http://themotherhouseofthegoddess.com/2015/03/11/the-goddess-lilith-reclaiming-womens-power-survival/l/

The origins of the Goddess Lilith are shrouded in mystery which seems appropos for Her.  She is a banner for female power, authenticity, and the act of reclaiming parts of our Selves that are vital for survival.  Many of Her stories are dark – whispers of stealing babies and cavorting with demons.  They call Her a winged succubus, the bride of the devil and the patriarchy has seemed determined to make Lilith an object of fear and loathing.

As a Goddess with no cults or defined ritual ceremonies, seeking the threads of Lilith’s origins can be challenging.  Lilith’s most ancient forms seem to be of a Bird and/or Snake Goddess.  Her name appears as a spirit of the wind in early Sumer, associated with Queen of Heaven and Earth, Innana.  By 2400 bce, as patriarchy began to encroach on Sumerian myths and traditions, Lilith was transformed into a demon of the night who caused storms and destructive winds.  Several classes of demons were named for Her: the vampiric Lillu demons, the Lilitu (she-demons), and the Ardat Lili and the Irdu Lili who haunted lonely places waiting to prey on humans and conceive demon babies.

The Lilu, the Lilit, the night Lili,

Enchantments, disasters, spells,

Illnesses, evil charms,

In the name of heaven

and in the name of earth

Let them be exorcised.

~ from an ancient Babylonian seal

This litany of demonic beings is at complete odds with the graceful Spirit of the Air and Maiden of Innanna’s temples that was represented by a lily and surrounded by owls and lions.  

As Sumerian culture was further superseded by the Babylonian, Hittite,and Semitic civilizations, the demonization of Lilith continued.  In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Lilith is the snake that rests in the tree and refuses to vacate it.  The Goddess Innana turns to the”hero” Gilgamesh who in turn slays the serpent (sound familiar?) and restores the tree to Innana.  Of course, in this rendition as created by men, the Goddess Inanna is grateful to Gilgamesh for banishing Her previous handmaiden – more layers to the banishing of Lilith.

Lilith was absorbed into Hebrew legends after the Babylonian exile(approximately 586 bce) and installed into Jewish demonology as a “buyer beware” sign to the Hebrew women who continued their tradition of praying to the Great Goddess.  To promote submissiveness and adherence to the new monotheistic religion that the men were creating, Lilith was held up as a woman rejected and cast out.  When She does not submit to Adam as his first wife, She is called the mother of demons and accused of killing children.  She was the ancient symbol of what happened to women who demanded equality and disobeyed their husbands.

The bible speaks of the evil serpent who offers Eve (the new wife) a bite of the apple in the Garden of Eden.  Here again is Lilith as the serpent Goddess but in a twisted fashion as the root of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.  Eve has been blamed for accepting the temptation of the serpent for 2000 years, but Lilith was the vehicle for that temptation.

For centuries, Lilith was relegated to the dusty, depths of the Zohar and only spoken of in prayers of protection against Her evil behavior.  If men had wet dreams, it was blamed on Lilith. If infants died in their sleep, it was blamed on Lilith.  She has been shrouded not only in mystery but in hundreds of years of fear, blame, rage, and isolation.  Patriarchy established a pattern of a “woman” who disobeys man, flees from man, lives in isolation, takes out Her rage on innocents, and is the eternal femme fatale (emphasis on fatale).

What is left for modern women?  Is Lilith just another casualty of patriarchy or has She survived over two thousand years of histrionic repression?

Like the screech owl for whom Lilith is named, Her screech cannot be silenced.  She is all women who have been subjugated, humiliated, and cast out from male-defined society.  Her rage is the rage of women who have realized that our natural women’s sexuality has been made dirty by men who fear the power of it and the power of free women.

Lilith is the experience large and small of each and every woman on this planetat one or more times in our lives: the rape victim who was asking for it; the woman who is told to shut up and, if she fails to do that, who is ignored; women who bump up against “glass ceilings;” women whose natural rhythms are disrespected, bullied into hiding, and are even denuded through pharmaceuticals and surgical manipulations; women who are told through nearly every aspect of society that they are not good enough, pretty enough, thin enough, or accomplished enough – and that they never will be; women told that their growth depends on the surrender of their bodies against their will and true desires; women who are subjected to sexual mutilation; the woman who lives in fear and isolation in her relationship with a man.

As I was writing this copy, I saw Lilith standing on the shores of the Red Sea. She was standing in the surf, wind blowing Her long red hair in tangles and the expression on Her face was one of calm defiance.  Gone was the rage, the humiliation.  The elementals danced around Her in delight.  Here was a woman, a Goddess who has heard it all and been called every negative name in the book.  Here was a woman, a Goddess who mourned and then gathered Herself together to stand tall and straight and beautiful once again.  Here is a woman, a Goddess that is the symbol of reclaiming our Women’s Power and surviving.  

Lilith brings us the message of creative female force in the breath of Her beloved spirits of Air. In Her serpent form, She calls us to cast off the parts of our lives that our suppressing us. Through all forms, She invites us to stand with Her and to know that we are never, ever alone.

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The Suns Healing Rays, Solstice Blessings and Happy Fathers Day, a tale from deep within

Summer Solstice Blessings and Happy Fathers Day!!! 

Today is a powerful day the falling of two holidays and the connection between personal events and events in the world. The masculine parts of ourselves need healing, we need to heal ourselves to heal the world. So, I look within...

Today is filled with Joy and Pain, for myself and the world. The recent events across the world have left many hurt and wounded, tensions are high, anger and pain on all sides, this has been growing and will continue until we heal. Now I can't expect others to do what I am not personally able to do, so today marks an important day for me. 

My relationship with my own Father has been far from ideal. I tried connecting with him my entire life, but he is emotionally unavailable. I have to let go of pain and anger for him not being there, abandoning me when I needed him the most and not protecting me when a child should be protected. I tried pleasing him as a child and adult, I wanted him to notice me and spend time with me. I wanted attention and needed the Love I desperately desired from him. I even tried to connect with him and impress him by going to the same college, I learned golf so I could possibly play with him and I sat through hours of football I did not like just to spend time with him. I desperately wanted him to Love me, he gave me what he could. I have not spoken or seen my father in years. I am thankful for what he could give me, nice things and a excellent education. I have broken relations with my entire family in self preservation, it was the best thing for me to do to heal myself.

I was blessed, by a second father in my life. My Father in Law he was one of the most amazing people I have ever met.  He passed away this year. He was loved by all, not a bad word could be spoken about this man. He raised 3 beautiful loving children and he gave all of himself to the world. He was a true hero. He loved me and accepted me as his own. I can still hear his voice and he still lives on within each of his children and grandchildren. I feel him with me and I miss him.

Happy Fathers Day to both of my Fathers, I love and miss both of you very much. I forgive you Dad for your shortcomings and I know you gave me the best you were capable of.

Here comes the Sun-Beatles

In the recent most tragic events in Charleston. I was deeply moved, deeply moved by how the victims family and friends handled themselves and sent a even bigger message to the world. No matter what faith or non faith you come from, I believe there is a lesson to be learned by us all. They gave Forgiveness...Forgiveness is how we heal personally and as a society. 

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/06/19/charleston-shooting-dylan-roof-bond-hearing-relative-forgive-nr.cnn

I feel this is the "Divine Masculine's" brightest side shining brightly through, it illustrates great strength and power. In all the darkness around the situation, there is Beautiful light, the Beautiful light of Forgiveness.

The Divine Masculine Archetypes and Healing

Archetypes are unlimited. Everyone is different. Each of us is here to dance in the way that is unique to us. The following are some of the archetypes I have met on my own journey as a Shaman and Priestess to The Divine Mother and Father. In the inward journey of the soul, we celebrate the light and the dark. The shadow illuminates that which needs to be healed. The light guides and indicates direction. Remember: Do not judge, for everything in the end is divine.

The Patriarchal Dark Father:  He is the energy of totalitarianism, the authority figure, all about manipulation and control. The Dark Father sees the feminine energy as less than himself. In reality he is afraid of the power of the feminine vision; deep down he understands that in the face of Her love, nothing can be deceived. He is deception, control, manipulation and loss of innocence through senseless acts of violence and brutality. This energy is not male. It is a disease because of the suppression of the divine feminine and divine masculine principles. It is a raging illness that culturally and individually it is time for us to let go of. Stop seeing this archetype as the masculine. Be brave and watch what happens. 

The Good Son:  He is the son and henchman of the Dark Father. Often the one to do the dirty work. He never takes responsibility for anything. It is never his fault. He is just doing his job. He’s not the boss and he doesn’t make policy; but boy can he implement it. Diligent and effective, he has often been brutalized by the Dark Father. Seeking his love and approval, he looses himself in the process of never obtaining it. Often he will evolve into the Dark Father through bitterness, attachment to external validation and lack of unconditional love and acceptance. He is part of the patriarchal illness. He is Not of the Divine Masculine Principle

The Sun King:  The first archetype that reflects the natural order of Divine Masculine Energy he is the illumination of the wisdom of the Sacred Masculine. He hears the Divine Mother’s insight and direction and comes up with a plan. He is never depressed and never feels like it can’t be done. He is the wind beneath your sails; there is nothing that you can’t do. He is warmth, compassion and unconditional in his wisdom and love. He celebrates the dance between the feminine and masculine principles and is honoured in the Celtic tribal traditions through the Eight Festivals, i.e. Samhain, Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, and Autumn Equinox.

The Merlin: He is gatekeeper to the Sacred Mysteries. He is of the Earth but travels extensively in the other worlds. He is like the veil or mist, seen but not seen. He is known to appear at the right time only to disappear again. His Power and Wisdom lie in his ability to facilitate a reclaiming of our personal power. He is dedicated to the releasing of the suppressed feminine and masculine principles; and is ever present in the journey. Winter and Autumn are his favourite seasons. 

The Prince Consort: He is the counter part to the High Priestess. He is that part of ourselves that emerges only after we re-claim the Divine Feminine within. The Prince Consort remained trapped in the Netherworld (not of the spirit world and not of the earth world) helpless to act when the Dark Father seized control of the Earth Mother. His role is to facilitate and support the energies of the Divine Feminine. For it is the High Priestess Morgainna who rescued him from the Netherworld. Aspects of him have emerged throughout history as in the Knights of the Round Table. He represents the ideal of youthful gallant, self-sacrificing for the greater cause, male energy. He is the Stag Prince.

The Gentle Sage: He is the Divine Male in action. He knows what to do and he does it. Rarely acknowledged for his wisdom or actions, he is a constant surprise, for he can shape shift to meet the needs of any situation that evolves on the Earth Plane existence. Other examples are the Green Man, Herbal Wisdom and The Green Fire.

The Gentle King: He is the wise and tolerant ruler. Representing the Soul’s resources, he is able to tap into the Akashic Records. He understands and reflects a love for humanity even when they don’t deserve it. For the Gentle King is wise to the ways of the world and will always act as an example, never using force or control. The gentle King embodies the will of the One Heart, One Understanding, One Teaching. (e.g., Acknaton, and King Arthur) 

Christ-Buddha-Krishna: If you have difficulty with religious or philosophical teachings than do not use this archetype until you are ready. There is so much separation and duality that has been caused by the misinterpretation of The Ascended Masters Teachings. Focus on the Teachings of Christ; not on the Church or other organized realities. Unresolved issues with church and state may come up. The Christ-Buddha-Krishna archetype is one of my best friends. This archetype is an unbelievable source of inner-strength resources and inner peace and is represented by the colour gold. This energy says:  I am learning to love and be loved. I am worthy of receiving love and support and abundance in all area’s of my life. Set your spirit free and trust the deeper wisdom’s of love and acceptance. - See more at: http://vitalitymagazine.com/article/the-sacred-marriage-from-within/#sthash.A4RCdofr.dpuf

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Forgive ourselves, Forgive others, guide ourselves toward Love, Compassion, Unity, Peace, Healing and Forgiveness.

Song: Litha (Summer Solstice Song)
Artist: Lisa Thiel
Album: Circle Of The Seasons

I am the fire that burns within your soul
I am the Holy light that fills and makes you whole
I am the Flame within, that never dies
I am the sun that will ever arise

Power of the Sun we honor you this night
We leap across the fire to keep our spirits bright
Power of the Sun, fire in the night
We leave behind, that which blinds, to restore our sight 

I am the fire that clears away the old
I am the holy light that guides you to your soul
I am the Flame Of Love for which you yearn
I am the sun that will always return 

Power of the Sun we honor you this night
We leap across the fire to keep our spirits bright
Power of the Sun, fire in the night
We leave behind, that which blinds, to restore our sight 

I am the fire that burns within your soul
I am the Holy light that fills and makes you whole
I am the Flame within, that never dies
I am the sun that will ever arise

Power of the Sun we honor you this night
We leap across the fire to keep our spirits bright
Power of the Sun, fire in the night
We leave behind, that which blinds, to restore our sight

I am the fire that clears away the old
I am the holy light that guides you to your soul
I am the Flame Of Love for which you yearn
I am the sun that will always return 

Power of the Sun we honor you this night
We leap across the fire to keep our spirits bright
Power of the Sun, fire in the night
We leave behind, that which blinds, to restore our sight

Summer Solstice

On or around June 21

Litha, Summer Solstice or Midsummer is a celebration of the Goddess and God at the height of their power.  They are the King and Queen of the fertile lands, and together they rule over the fertile, growing Earth.  Their mature love for each other ensures the success of the ripening crops. The Goddess heavy with pregnancy mirroring the heavily laden fields, orchards and gardens. The God is the living representation of the summer sun, the Sun King who nurtures and protects the Earth Goddess.

The Sun God of Litha is also the Oak King, God of the light half of the year.  The Oak King is also at the height of His power, but a new challenge to his authority, the Holly King, God of the dark half of the year, is born on Summer Solstice. Though Litha marks the zenith of the Sun and the day of the longest light, it is also a day of sadness.  From this day forward the Oak King/Sun King will begin to falter and weaken, for with birth comes death,  the birth of the Holly King brings the death of the light half of the year and we begin to spiral into the darkness. We have begun to move towards winter.
 

The power of the Sun at Solstice is protective, healing, empowering, revitalizing and inspiring.  It adds a powerful charge to all spells, crystals and herbs.  Divination on this night is traditional.

More Information about the Summer Solstice

Infinite Love and Light to All!!!

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