Spirit Animal – Pronghorn Antelope

 

Pronghorn Antelope picture from www.wildlifemangementpro.com

This past weekend, as we drove north, I expected to see several small herds of Antelope because this has been my experience in the past.  Yet, we did not see one.  Then I discovered why there were not any antelope present.  It seems that they were all further south.  As the drought went through central and southern Alberta, Antelope moved south to find food because the drought killed much of the grass and small shrubs that Antelope feeds from.  Antelope will be moving back to its ranges in Central Alberta because there has now been an abundance of rain, and there is lots of grass and water available.

Antelope generally hides as part of its effort to escape predators which includes hunters.  Part of the reason for its colouring is so that it blends into the drier environments.  It does not shed its horns, so is more bovine in that respect than deer-like.  The horns are about having a strong sense of the Earth, and being connected to the Earth and the Heavens by these antennae which appear on the crown chakra and which have roots to the brow chakra.  As their sixth sense sight is so great, Antelope has correspondingly acute vision.  Research shows that Antelope may see seven to eight times better than humans, and the placement of their eyes gives them very wide peripheral vision.  They see trouble coming many miles away.  

Pronghorn Antelope’s message may have different aspects.  Perhaps it is about coming in to your true vision – if you notice the horns more than anything.  Antelope may be warning of pending danger in one’s life – especially if you notice the whiteness of its flicking tail.  The danger may be in business, in one’s personal life, or in one’s spiritual quest.  She tells you to trust your sense of sight and sense of smell.  If it doesn’t look right or smell right, then it isn’t right. If Antelope gives you a display of her speed and agility, then she is telling you that you will soon need to be thinking fast and furiously about some challenge that will be thrown at you, and that the outcome will depend on your brain power.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com   Our August newsletter is now available at www.angelsandancestors.com

Spirit Animal – Fox

Picture of Red Fox from animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

 

Roger and I were out at our friends farm for the weekend.  Sunday morning, while we were sitting at the table, dawdling over breakfast, we saw a very large red fox come down the trail that leads out to the pasture. It made sure that we saw it.  Then after Sage, our dog, dutifully chased it out of the yard, Fox popped up in front of the house about 200 yards away, and strolled through the meadow.  Within half an hour of that event, a smaller fox, came up to the house from the south, and proceeded to trot through the meadow in front of the house. 

Now, as Fox is generally a nocturnal animal, and as these incidents took place between 11:00am and 1:00pm, I knew that something important was going on with Fox and with us.  I realized that he had lessons and messages for each of us.  What was even stranger, was that when we were asking questions through the Russian Tarot system, both Roger and I got Fox cards as our last card. 

So, what are the messages and lessons?  The first thought is that we have many sayings about foxes.  “Sly as a fox” and “When a fox preaches, take care of your geese!”  One gets the idea from these quotes that Fox is quite smart.  So why doe she show her self in daylight?  The message is that although one should be able to camouflage and hide as required, there are times that slyness is about being in the open.  Fox represents camouflage, invisibility, and shape shifting to move between realms.  Part of the lesson in life that Fox teaches, then, is that one can slip out of bad situations unnoticed, and that sometimes one must be noticed in order to move forward to take the lead. 

Wikipedia says, “The Red Fox is most commonly a rusty red, with white underbelly, black ear tips and legs, and a bushy tail usually with a distinctive white tip. The "red" tone can vary from dark chestnut to golden, and in fact can be "agouti", with bands of red, brown, black and white on each individual hair. In North America, the Red Fox's pelt has long, soft hair, whereas the fur of European Red Foxes is flatter and less silky.”  The colours of Fox tell us that it covers all of the chakras, from the base – black/red chakra right up to the pure white and golden chakras in the 8th and 9th chakra.  This means that Fox easily moves between dimensions, and she calls on us to do the same – to be unfettered by the reality that is so very physical and limiting.  We can be any size, shape, and age that we want.  We can go where we choose.  Fox says that all we have to do is to believe!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com    See the upcoming August issue of Angels and Ancestors newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com

Spirit Animal – Arctic Tern

Image of two arctic terns from Wikipedia

 

From Wikipedia -- “The Arctic Tern is famous for its migration; it flies from its Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back again each year. This 19,000 km (12,000 mi) journey each way ensures that this bird sees two summers per year and more daylight than any other creature on the planet…… The adult plumage is grey above, with a black nape and crown and white cheeks. The upper wings are pale grey, with the area near the wingtip being translucent. The tail is white, and the under parts pale grey. Both sexes are similar in appearance. The winter plumage is similar, but the crown is whiter and the bills are darker.”

The Arctic Tern is so named because it spends all its “living” time in the air and in either Antarctica or the Arctic.  A Tern spends all its time in the air, and will land only to build a nest (on the ground) and lay and hatch eggs.  Nesting may happen once in every one to three years.  Mating happens at about four years of age, and the Tern mates for life.  The life span is approximately thirty years. Tern eats as she flies, catching insects in the air and over the surface of the water.  If the flying route is oceanic, then she eats small fish and small crabs, lobsters, crayfish and shrimp. Tern plucks this food from the surface or just under the surface of the water.  She does not dive into the water. 

Arctic Tern travels through our area usually in the spring, on her migration to the Arctic, and then sometimes in the fall as she travels back south.  This year, however, several Arctic Terns seemed to have stayed in the area for the summer.  Perhaps the available food in the North is diminishing and she is unable to readily feed her offspring.

What messages does Tern bring to us when she flies over our heads with such determination to reach another destination?  Perhaps she is telling us to spread our wings, and fly from one end of the world to the other, for with out experiencing different climates and cultures, we make decisions based on other people’s biases. Tern may also be saying to take a more long term look at your life.  Tern commits to her mate for life and to flying except to mate.  She is focused! Is it time to refocus your life? Is it time to evaluate your relationship?  As Tern eats absolutely fresh food, perhaps she is sending you a message about your diet.  Are you eating fresh food that is good for your body or do you eat junk food and prepared food from restaurants or boxed food from the super market.  Tern lives her life to the maximum.  Do you?

Judy@angelsandancestors.com   Tell me your story about meeting Arctic Tern!   See www.thestoryoflight.com for info on the book and to link to get your ebook copy of the book to carry on Mobipocket.

Spirit Animal – The Toucan

Photo by Thiago Filadelpho from the article headlined below.

 

CBC featured a story on the Toucan on July 23 2009 called “Toucans' huge beaks make them cooler — literally” and you can find it at http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/tech-toucan-bill-cool.html. 

The picture caused to me to think about why this bird looked so familiar. Then I remembered that, as a child, our family would visit my Grandmother in her nursing home.  The nursing home had a set of bird cages at the end of each hall.  There was a Toucan In the cage at the end of the hall, close to my grandmother’s room.  My brothers and I chatted with Toucan each time we visited. 

It was interesting to me, that Toucan was showing up again in my life after thirty plus years of silence.  Toucans are only found in Central and South America. They have red, yellow, blue, black or orange plumage, often in vivid patterns. Toucans have short bodies and legs, and their wings are shorter in comparison to other birds since Toucan does not fly very far.  She eats mostly fruit, and will eat some insects and small lizards if they are in range of her very large beak.  The noise that she makes is somewhat like the croak of a frog. South Americans have many different tales about Toucan, however, the story that resonates with me is the Toucan can be a tribal totem and the medicine man can use it as an incarnation to fly to the spirit world.  The story implies that Toucan is very smart, and very much part of the spirit world.

Toucan may bring several different messages.  They are:

• Are you eating enough fresh fruit in your diet? Fruit is critical in maintaining high levels of Vitamin C that helps the immune system fight viruses.  Toucan eats mostly fruit and has few diseases that it needs to fight.
• It is now time for you to begin crossing into the spirit world to talk to and to understand what is happening beyond this physical, third dimension.
• Take time, now, to clean and align your chakras.  Toucan’s colors cross over all the colours of the chakras and she takes care of her coloured feathers with zeal.
• Are you taking enough time to care for yourself?  Or, are you spreading yourself too thin? Are you trying to do to much and to go to many places that do not add benefit to your life?  Toucan stays close to home, flies only short distances, and stakes a territory.
• Do people need to hear what you have to say?  Toucan has a rough voice that carries for up to half a mile! Everyone hears her.

Spend time contemplating the picture of Toucan, and meditating with her.  She may bring you wonderful messages of inspiration.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com    See www.thestoryoflight.com for info on the book and to link to get your ebook copy of the book to carry on Mobipocket.

Ancestors Speak – Using Dandelions (Weeds) as Medicine (Herb)

 
Picture of Dandelion from www.wildmanstevebrill.com
As the summer rolls on, I am more intrigued by the idea of the plants that we know as “weeds” being healing plants.  I wonder then why someone labelled plants like quack grass and dandelions as weeds.  Could it be so large pharmaceutical companies like Monsanto, can create herbicides that wipe out healing plants? It is just a silly thought that I had.
Our Ancestors used dandelion leaves or greens in the spring, in salads and with bread and cheese, to get the nutrients that were not available through the winter.  Yes, Dandelion was a tonic.  Not only is the early spring dandelion rich in vitamins, it also has a mineral component.  Now, however, we simply eat artificial vitamins.
The tea made from Dandelion roots and leaves is used to soothe rheumatism, gallbladder and liver conditions, indigestion, and to relieve fluid retention.  Dandelion does have anti-inflammatory medicine within its roots, and therefore seems to be effective in treating arthritis or other inflammatory joint problems.  And, it is easy on your stomach!
Dandelion leaves and roots may be dried in the oven, after being thoroughly washed, at about 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spread the leaves and roots over parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Try to keep the roots and leaves from overlapping since they dry faster. It may take two to three hours for a tray full of Dandelion to dry.  Keep checking it after two hours.  When it is dry, crush it, and store it in a glass jar to keep freshness, or store it in the freezer, taking out what you need to make a weekly pot of tea. 
Did I mention that a delicious wine may be made from the Dandelion flowers?  Well, that is not really medicine.  Perhaps I better stop now.
Judy@angelsandancestors.com   Do you have a story about Dandelion?  Share it with me, please!     Watch for the August 2009 newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com 
See  Ancestors Speak – Quack Grass As A Remedy; Ancestors - Home Remedy for Diarrhea, IBS, Colitis Symptoms

Spirit Animal – Cedar Waxwing

  Cedar Waxwing – picture from www.pbase.com

Over the past two weeks, when the dogs and I walk in the woods, one or two cedar waxwings fly along with us and sing a song of trills and whistles.  Since they are trying very hard to get my attention, I spent some time finding out about the bird.

First, the birds are migratory, and arrive in Calgary in the early spring, any time in March.  They come in flocks of hundreds, and several flocks visit our back yard, and sit on our mountain ash, eating berries.  Cedar Waxwing’s diet is pretty much always fruit and berries (it loves the sweetness of life) except at breeding time, when it will eat insects as well.  In fact, the berries that it eats may affect the coloring of the feathers, making the light red/orange a much more vibrant red, and changing the yellow color to a more orangey-red hue. 

Second, while their favorite habitat is woodland with access to lots of berries, the Waxwing loves to be near open, running water, such as a stream, creek, or river.  Waxwing needs lots of water to help process its sugar rich diet. 

Third, Waxwings mate in early summer, coming together as a pair only for the season.  They make their vows as a couple by passing flower petals or some food back and forth.  They may have two nests through the summer as the eggs hatch within two weeks, and the young leave the nest after eighteen days.  Both parents feed the young.

Waxwing teaches lessons around going beyond the physical demands of the body (food and shelter needs found in the base chakra) and speaks to the joy of belonging, for they belong in flocks and pairs (which is what the second and third chakras, orange and yellow in color are about), and Waxwing sings of the sweetness of life.  Its love of running water is about letting all emotions run off your body.  Feel them to the utmost and then let them go.  It is stuck emotions that cause pain and illness, for many people.  Waxwing’s mask is a reminder that sometimes all that other see is the mask that they perceive.  And, for many of us, our truth is hidden, even from ourselves. 

Wishing you days of light and laughter,

Judy@angelsandancestors.com     See our upcoming new moon meditation on July 22 http://www.angelsandancestors.com/workshop.html#newmoon

Spirit Animal – One Pound Deer

This is a beautiful story, told in pictures, as sent to me by my friend Theresa, because she knows that I love animals.

A "little guy" like you've never seen before.

This tiny deer was delivered by Caesarean section at a wildlife hospital after a car killed his mother.  Little Rupert, who is so small he can fit in an adult's hand, was born after vets failed in their battle to save his mother.

Photo credit to Jeff Moore

 

 

 

 

 

At just six inches tall and weighing just over a pound, he is now in an incubator in the intensive care unit at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire.  He has only recently opened his eyes.
Les Stocker, founder of Tiggywinkles, said, "Rupert's mother had very severe injuries.  We brought him out and got him breathing, and then he went into an incubator on oxygen.  He is now being fed by a tube."

Rupert in an incubator – photo by Jeff Moore

 

 

 

Staff members are optimistic that Rupert, now five days old, will make a full recovery.  "Deer are very, very tricky, but this one has spirit.  He's an extremely feisty little guy and quite pushy," Mr. Stocker said.

                                         ***************

This little guy sends out a great teaching to the world – no matter what the odds are against you, if you decide (choose) to accomplish anything, you will accomplish it.  The key is to never give up!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com    See the July newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com

Ancestors Speak – Quack Grass As A Remedy

 

Picture of quack grass from www.omafra.gov.on.ca

A. on the side shows a non flowering plant, while B. shows the leaf base

 

When I was a child, part of our summer routine was to weed the garden and to pull out all the quack grass and other weeds from the plants that would provide food for us over the winter.  Quack grass is very tricky to pull out because it has long, winding roots that spread for great distances under the surface of the Earth.  It was a frustrating thing to pull this root out of the Earth for kids.

I now have a new perspective on quack grass – also called couch grass, after reading an old book on herbal remedies for different ailments.  The book says that the dried quack grass rhizome (another name for root) contains a polysaccharide or carbohydrate that may be used as a dietary food for diabetics. Remember that insulin was not discovered by Canadians Banting and Best until 1921.  Prior to that year, a herbal remedy was used or a tonic was used to keep diabetics going.  The book also said that the grass roots were used to treat gout and to treat skin problems.  The rhizomes are brewed as a tea, and either sipped as a tea, or used warm as a wash for the skin including the face. 

To make tea:  Pull up quack grass roots in the spring before it starts to form new stems.  You might need to see some green shoots peeking through the ground to know where the grass is located.  Wash the roots thoroughly, and let the moisture evaporate.  Then, dry them in the oven at 55 degrees Celsius or 131 degrees Fahrenheit. Store in a dark jar to preserve from dampness.  The dried roots should store well for several years.    Crush the dried roots and boil them in water to make a strong tea, about a one-half teaspoon of herb per two cups of tea.  Or, boil the water and add 1/4 teaspoon of herb for two cups of tea.  Let steep for ten minutes.

May you now look at quack grass in a different light!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com     See Roger’s book on line at Amazon.com 

The Story of Light: Path To Enlightenment (Paperback)  by S. Roger Joyeux (Author) 

Spirit Animal – Seahorse

 

Seahorse picture from www.seaphotos.com

Seahorses have been showing up for me over the last two weeks – in pictures, on clothing, and in my dreams.  I have never really paid that much attention to seahorses so I did some research to see why they might be important to me right now.

 

Some facts:

• seahorses have skin, not scales, that stretches over bony plates
• seahorses swim upright, and use their tails to grab onto seaweed and long grasses or coral appendages
• because they have no teeth, seahorses swallow shrimp, tiny fishes and plankton bits as a whole piece
• the male carries the eggs to maturity
• the courtship dance of the seahorses lasts up to eight hours
• seahorses are found from England to the tropics and off the coast of Nova Scotia Canada down to Uruguay

Legends around seahorses include the belief that Seahorse is mystical and that seahorses may actually be seamen and seawomen under the new moon.  Asian cultures use Seahorse in different medicines to treat asthma, impotency, heart disease, thyroid problems and to lower cholesterol. This means that Seahorse is always hunted.

Seahorse teaches lessons about camouflage and territory.  One needs to choose the area one lives in with care, and then one needs to learn how to live in that area in harmony with all around it. She teaches us about eating that food that is best for us – each of us is unique – and Seahorse says eat only those foods that agree with you.  As seahorses in general are used in healing, Seahorse reminds us that we are on this planet to be in service to one another. She shows us, by example, service and sacrifice.  The role reversal between male and female seahorses is also a great example of gender balancing.  Seahorse may be telling you to rebalance the areas of your life where you may be too masculine or feminine or, not feminine or masculine enough.

Seahorse brings a lot of guidance for all of us.  She is slow moving and takes her time to enjoy life.  May you have a few “seahorse moments” over the next few days.

judy@angelsandancestors.com       See the July newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com

Ancestors Speak – Full Moon

Picture of full moon from www.freefoto.com

 

 

 

 

The moving Moon went up the sky

   And no where did abide:

Softly she was going up

   And a star or two beside.  ---- From “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge

This is the night of the full moon as well as a lunar eclipse.  It is a powerful Moon Time. 

Our Ancestors used times like tonight to work on creativity and completion.  For example, they would gather as a group under the Moon to ask the Goddess that was powering the Moon at that time to help them finish a project, dream, or wish.  The celebration might be by dancing and throwing offerings to a fire, or it might be by sitting in silent prayer or meditation. 

When our Ancestors worked with the Moon, they  believed they were working magic by uniting themselves with a force of Nature that seemed to control the tides of the seas, and caused the vegetation and trees to be most healthy.  Many rituals and spells were completed by the light of the full moon.

If you have project that needs completion, sit outside in meditation or prayer tonight, and ask Great Spirit or Goddess or God to assist the the completion.  Don’t try to control the outcome by stating exactly how it should happen; simply ask for what you need, and let the Universe deliver.

If you have crystals, you may want to set them outside tonight to soak up the moonlight and to be cleansed by the energy of the full moon eclipse.

Happy Full Moon!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com      See the July newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com

Buddha Speaks – A Story About Laziness

Picture of Buddha from www.rainbowcrystal.com

Lately, as the weather has been nice and hot, I find that I want to spend time outside, and not do the daily chores that must be done in the house. I knew I was being irresponsible, yet, I continued letting some tasks pile up. Then I was listening to my Buddhism lesson, and the following story was part of the teaching. I knew that this was a direct message to return to my diligent ways of working.

Perhaps this story will make you smile too, and spur you to action.

**************************************************

Once upon a time there was a world famous teacher and holy man in the city of Takkasila. He had 500 students training under him.

One day these 500 young men went into the forest to gather firewood. One of them came upon a tree with no leaves. He thought, "How lucky I am! This tree must be dead and dry, perfect for firewood. So what's the hurry? I'll take a nap while the others are busy searching in the woods. When it's time to return, it will be easy to climb this tree and break off branches for firewood. So what's the hurry?" He spread his jacket on the ground, lay down on it, and fell fast asleep - snoring loudly.

After a while all the other students began carrying their bundles of firewood back to Takkasila. On their way they passed the snoring sleeper. They kicked him to wake him up and said, "Wake up! Wake up! It's time to return to our teacher."

The lazy student woke up suddenly and rubbed his eyes. Still not fully awake, he climbed up the tree. He began breaking off branches and discovered that they were actually still green, not dry at all. While he was breaking one of them, it snapped back and poked him in the eye. From then on he had to hold his eye with one hand while he finished gathering his bundle of green wood. Then he carried it back to Takkasila, running to catch up. He was the last one back, and threw his bundle on top of the rest.

Meanwhile an invitation arrived to a religious ceremony. It was to be held the next day at a remote village. The holy man told his 500 pupils, "This will be good training for you. You will have to eat an early breakfast tomorrow morning. Then go to the village for the religious service. When you return, bring back my share of the offerings as well as your own."

The students awoke early the next morning. They awakened the college cook and asked her to prepare their breakfast porridge. She went out in the dark to the woodpile. She picked up the top bundle of the lazy man's green wood. She brought it inside and tried to start her cooking fire. But even though she blew and blew on it, she couldn't get the fire going. The wood was too green and damp.

When the sun came up there was still no fire for cooking breakfast. The students said, "It's getting to be too late to go to the village." So off they went to their teacher.

The teacher asked them, "Why are you still here? Why haven't you left yet?" They told him, "A lazy good-for-nothing slept while we all worked. He climbed a tree and poked himself in the eye. He gathered only green wood and threw it on top of the woodpile. This was picked up by the college cook. Because it was green and damp, she couldn't get the breakfast fire started. And now it's too late to go to the village."

The world famous teacher said, "A fool who is lazy causes trouble for everyone. When what should be done early is put off until later, it is soon regretted." "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." (Story modified from www.buddhanet.com)

Judy@angelsandancestors.com See the “Stop” meditation in the July newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com

Spirit Animal – Cricket

Jiminy Cricket picture is from theniftynewlywed.files.wordpress.com

 

When I think of crickets, I always think of Jiminy Cricket who befriended Pinocchio in one of Walt Disney’s early movies.  The Cricket acted as Pinocchio’s conscience and guide because Pinocchio was not a real boy.

When Cricket comes to you, know that it too is behaving like a guide, and in some cases, a conscience.  The Chinese believe that if a Cricket comes to sing for you, then you are blessed with luck and abundance.  There is also an old European belief that Cricket’s song keeps away evil spirits. One myth links Cricket to the Moon, as the Moon Goddess’s servant.  Another myth says that if Cricket is singing in your house, it must not be evicted because it will bring prosperity.

Field cricket – picture from www.entnemdept.ufl.edu 

 

Cricket lives mostly in the country because it love to eat organic plant material. If it is tasty enough, Cricket will also eat decaying plant matter.  Healthy food is difficult to find in the cities for Cricket.  Mostly, Cricket lives along roadsides, pastures, and in meadows.  Some may be found under rocks and logs.   In various countries, there are tree crickets, ground crickets, mole crickets, bush crickets, ant crickets, and sword-tail crickets. 

Only the male Cricket can sing.  The females are silent, and move through the world at night, almost invisibly, supporting the idea that they are the messengers of the Goddess.  Cricket has very strong hind legs for jumping.  This allows them to move quickly over a large distance, relative to their size. 

Some of the teachings that Cricket brings, that may resonate for you if Cricket has sought you out, are:

• Find a  way to jump over any difficult blocks in your life since we do not need to experience every set back
• If Cricket chirps for several songs, and then becomes quiet, he is telling you that a big storm (problem) is coming to your life.  Watch for a physical upheaval, or an emotional upset, or even a spiritual shake up.
• Cricket is associated with intuition.  If you have been getting gut feelings, or “knowings” and if you have ignored them, Cricket is telling you to pay attention – you are being given guidance.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com   See the July newsletter at www.angelsandancestors.com – read the great story about hummingbird contributed by one of our blog readers.

Spirit Animals – Pelican, Deer, and Heron

Today was a magical day in the park.  The air was absolutely still as you can see from this picture of the water.

 Picture of Bow River channel by Judith Hirst-Joyeux July 2 2009

 

The next blessing was to see a small flock of pelicans floating along, ignoring the dogs and I and watching the water intently for fish and frogs.

Pelicans on Bow River channel by Judith Hirst-Joyeux July 2 2009

Pelicans are about spirituality, and being at one with all. The message for me was about taking everything in life as part of the flow and doing or not doing, and to simply allow with out railing against life.

Buck with velvet on antlers  by Judith Hirst-Joyeux July 2 2009

Seeing this buck is indeed a gift – especially one with the velvet still on its antlers. I took several actions over the last five days that I now consider to be mistakes.  Clearly, the message is that I do not need to judge anything.  I can be gentle with myself, and appear in my truth to others – what I do is who I am – complicated.

 Blue Heron on Bow River channel by Judith Hirst-Joyeux July 2 2009

The last wild life member to present itself this morning is Great Blue Heron.  Heron’s message is that it is okay to be solitary, and stick in an environment that you know.  It is also okay to wade through your emotions, experience them, and then release them.  The small mallard ducks beside heron also reflect this thought.  Heron’s neck is shaped like an S or half of a figure 8.  Heron tells me that life is not a straight path – but like the windy pathway I walk with the dogs, flows and curves so that you will have different adventures and growing experiences. 

The messages are all good and all appropriate.  I am grateful.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com     See  The Story of Light by Roger Joyeux on Amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Story-Light-Path-Enlightenment/dp/0968652123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244657456&sr=1-1

See the July newsletter on www.angelsandancestors.com for a great chicken curry recipe.

Ancestors Speak – July 1

     July 1 calendar picture by Judith Hirst-Joyeux

 

Our Ancestors had stories and ceremonies for every month of the year.  July rolls around and people talk about how Julius Caesar created the Western world calendar in about 45 B.C.  July is named after him.  

The patron Goddess of July is the Goddess, Athena.  She has many aspects – Warrior goddess, goddess of wisdom, goddess of goodness, goddess of common sense.  Most of us know her as a Greek goddess, however, she has roots in African and Celtic belief systems.

Some of the things to know about July from an ancestral belief system are:

• the gemstone for July is a ruby
• July is about prospering, enjoying and attuning with nature
• in Europe, sometimes called the month of the barley harvest
• days grow shorter as a sign of reversal
• the strongest healing properties in July are prevention and protection
• the tree of July is the oak tree

Happy July 1!

judy@angelsandancestors.com    See the July newsletter now on line at www.angelsandancestors.com