Hindu Deities Associated with the Days of the Week

Each of the seven days in a week has a special significance and is apportioned to one or more Hindu gods or goddesses and there are several folklores associated with the ritual fasting observed on these days.

On the following pages, we look at the seven days, the respective planet & deities associated with the particular days, relevant tales and legends, and the gemstones and colors that are said to be lucky for those days.

Fasting Associated with the Daily Deities

Hindu devotees keep occasional 'upvaas'or fast corresponding to the fulfillment of a vow or a belief and 'vratas' (fasting and observance of religious rituals) that is analogous with material or other gains. Apart from these special occasions, many devotees also fast on a particular day of the week dedicated to a particular god in the Hindu pantheon to appease him/her. Ancient sages used observances like ritual fasts to spread the awareness of different gods. Fasting and other rituals pave the path of the divine for the devotees to realize god, which is considered the sole purpose of human existence.

The Navagraha - the 9 Celestial Bodies

Navagraha represents the nine celestial influencers in Vedic Astrology. The seven days are named after the seven celestial bodies of our solar system - the Sun, Moon and the planets. Apart from these, mention should be made here of Rahu and Ketu, the two nodes of the Moon - the north and the south, the points of intersection of the paths of the Moon and the Sun. Lunar eclipses occur when the Moon and the Sun are at Rahu or Ketu. So, Navagraha comprises of:

Surya (Sun)

Chandra (Moon)

Mangala (Mars)

Budha (Murcury)

Brihaspati (Jupiter)

Shukra (Venus)

Shani (Saturn)

Rahu

Ketu

Source: http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/ss/sevendays.htm

Interfaith Marriages - Our Responsibilities as Pagan Clergy

"Interfaith marriages and relationships are on the rise. "

http://www.yourtango.com/20071702/finding-our-religion.html?cid=msn

My first reaction as I read about interfaith relationships was that is a good thing - showing the trend in more tolerance, acceptance and open-mindedness that we are so desperately been asking for.

But that fact also leaves us as Pagan Clergy with the responsibility and potential reality of conducting interfaith marriages. As many of us do not come from a Pagan upbringing, we bring with us the memories of other faith ceremonies, having attended them in the past through our families and friends. Still attending such a ceremony is one thing, knowing it deeply to truly honor an interfaith ceremony is another. As we blend together people of different traditions we need to educate ourselves not just about the practices of those traditions, but the customs of such traditions that pertains such celebrations.

Which leads me to a question to all of you Pagan clergy out there:

How comfortable would you be right now to lead an interfaith ceremony? And where do you think you could use more assistance in order to conduct such a wedding?

Blessed Be Peace

Jupiter

Jupiter:


Jupiter's Attributes: Day: Thursday. Basic Energy: Expansion.

Basic Magick: Money.

Element: Fire.

Color: Purple.

Rules: Sagittarius, Pices.

Energy Keywords: Aspiration, benevolent, charitable, confident, dignity, expansion, extravagant, faithful, generous, growth, gullible, human, humorous, indulgence, kindness, merciful, optimistic, orthodox, philanthropic, poise, pompous, radiance, religious, reverent, understanding.

Planetary incense: Mix equal parts of Cinquefoil, clove, hyssop, nutmeg, and sage. Oil Nutmeg oil.

(state the purpose of your working then say)

Massive Jupiter, powerful ruler of gods and men, he who brings loyality, generosity, and faith from the celestial powers, fill this working with your generosity and good fortune and the freedom I need to create the necessary change. Hurl your thunderbolts in a positive way to create an opening so that my magicks may pass to the earthly world. Ruler of Pices and Sagittarius, exalted in Cancer, elements of water and fire, flow and force from the ultimate source!

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/dragon3/belgarionsblends/wiccanrituals.html#jupiter

Nemoralia - Festival of Torches

Nemoralia was the chief festival honoring the goddess Diana. As Cicero noted, there are many Dianas, many “faces” or “roads” by which this mighty Goddess was known and worshipped. Nemoralia celebrates nearly all of the many facets of Diana, glorifying Her as the Lady of the Wilds, Mistress of the Beasts, Goddess of the Moon, Guardian of the Oak, Friend of the Nymph, Grand Midwife, and the Protector of Maidens.

Ancient Romans performed the festival on one of two dates, either upon the full moon of August, or the 13 of August (later changed to 15 of August). The festival was also known as the Festival of Torches, so called because worshippers assembled by torch or candlelight at Lake Nemi. According to Plutarch, everyone assembled had made a special ritual of washing their hair before dressing it with flowers. Dogs were also honored and likewise adorned with flowers. Worshippers wrote prayers and wishes upon ribbons, which were then tied to trees. Sacrifices were made of fruits, tiny sculptures of stags, tiny sculptures of mothers and children, and bread or clay in the shape of body parts in need of healing. The hunting or killing of any beast was forbidden during Nemoralia. Slaves and women were free from their duties during the time of the festival, and while men and masters did participate in the festival, they were required to be on equal terms with women and slaves.

Ovid, in Fasti 3: 259-275, write this of the Nemoralia, “Inform me, thou nymph who on Diana’s grove and lake dost wait; thou nymph, wife of Numa, come tell of thine own deeds. In the Arician vale there is a lake begirt by shady woods and hallowed by religion of old. Here Hippolytus lies hid, who by the reins of his steeds was rent in pieces: hence no horses enter that grove. The long fence is draped with hanging threads, and many a tablet there attests the merit of the goddess. Often doth a woman, whose prayer has been answered, carry from the City burning torches, while garlands wreathe her brows. The strong of hand and fleet of foot do there reign kings, and each is slain thereafter even as himself has slain. A pebbly brook flows down with fitful murmur; oft have I drunk of it, but in little sips. Egeria it is who doth supply the water, goddess dear to the Camenae; she was wife and councillor to Numa.”

Dragons and Feng Shui

Dragons and Feng Shui:


Feng Shui dragon symbol is a powerful and auspicious traditional feng shui cure and an excellent feng shui symbol of strong yang / male energy. A pearl, or a crystal, in the feng shui dragon's claw symbolizes wealth, power and an abundance of opportunities.

As a popular feng shui cure, dragons come in many sizes and variations of materials and color. A green dragon, for example, is an excellent feng shui cure for the East - health feng shui area - of your home, while a golden dragon can be a great feng shui cure for wealth and abundance.

Having a feng shui dragon in any part of your home is auspicious. Do not place the feng shui dragon in lower-energy areas, such as the bathroom, the closets or the garage, and do not have too many dragons in your home. Feng Shui-wise, the maximum recommended number of dragons in the home is 5. Also, do not place the dragon(s) too high, meaning not too high above the eye level.

If you want to place the dragon in the love & relationships feng shui area, it is best to pair it up with the feng shui symbol of the phoenix, as dragon & phoenix together are the ultimate feng shui symbol of marital bliss.

There are several ways to decide the best feng shui location and positioning of the dragon in your home. You can make your choice based on:

Your best/lucky directions. Will it look good/harmonious in your home (in relation to all the other elements/items you have) if it will face one of your feng shui best/lucky directions? You can find out your lucky directions by first calculating your Kua number.


The wealth star for the current year. (Check where the feng shui wealth star is located this year) The location of the feng shui wealth star changes every year, so you will have to change the dragon's facing direction, too.
Ideally, you will place your feng shui dragon:
close to an open space, or in an open space
careful not to have the pearl in the dragon's claw facing toward the window or the door.
facing towards the house (to bring in the energy of wealth) but not feel cramped/restricted by facing a close wall.
Dragons are powerful and magical feng shui creatures, give them a lot of breathing room and treat them with respect.

Reading I-Ching - Stick Method

Using sticks to consult the I Ching

Many translators, perhaps in order to make the oriental more palatable to westerners, give directions for using coins to build the lines of a hexagram. I've read some opinions that using sticks is long and tedious and complicated, but ten minutes is plenty of time for me to complete the manipulations, and this method is simple in repetition.

Find a package of bamboo skewers at the grocery, select fifty of them, and cut off their points with wire cutters. Put an elastic band around them and keep them in a particular place - wherever you intend to be using them. Keep with them a small notebook and a pen for recording the lines, along with any translations you have. Always follow the same routine, once you are familiar with how to manipulate the sticks.

Using sticks demands the calming of the body and mind, and places your attention on the subject which concerns you. The more clearly you form your question, the more exact your answer is likely to be, since you are choosing where to dip into the stream of knowledge. Once you have begun to sort the sticks, your mind is free to discuss within itself various aspects of your inquiry, or to become totally receptive to the rote of the ritual sorting and dividing.

What To Do:

Sit in a chair or on the floor, whichever is more comfortable for you.

Starting at the bottom line of the next page in the notebook and working toward the top, write the date in the lower right corner. Keep the pen next to the notebook. Put the elastic next to them, and one of the sticks. You should have forty-nine of them in your hand. [Maybe the traditionsl fiftieth is in case one of them breaks.]

Place the bundle across your knees, left to right, and roll it with your palms, as if you were making a snake out of clay. [This shuffles and separates them.]

With your right hand, grab some of the pile, using a deliberate snatching motion. Pick up what's left with your left hand and put that pile next to your left thigh, parallel to it. Put the right hand bundle back down on your knees or next to your right thigh, reserving one stick. Put that stick between the little and ring fingers of your left hand and close your fingers to hold it.

Pick up the left hand pile with your right hand and pinch off groups of four sticks with your left forefinger and thumb. Put them back down next to your left thigh as you pull them out, until you have four or fewer. Add these to the stick in your left hand to make a bundle of two to five sticks. Pick up the right hand pile with your right hand, pinch off groups of four, and add the remainder to the same bundle.

Gather the sticks of the two piles into one bundle, sort of dropping it onto your leg (vertically) to even up the ends. Place the bundle across your knees and roll it with your right palm. Grab some of it with your right hand and move the rest to your left side. Put the right hand pile down across your knees [or to your right] except for one stick which you place between the ring and middle fingers of your left hand, to start a second bundle. Pinch off groups of four from the left pile and add the remainder to the stick between yourring and middle fingers. Pinch off groups of four from the right pile and add the remainder to the second bundle in your left hand.

Grab the sticks, stack them, roll them, divide them with your right hand, and place one stick from the right pile between the middle and first fingers of your left hand, to begin a third bundle. Add the remainders from the left and right piles.

Now count how many sticks you have in your left hand. [I usually count by twos.] Write this number on the lower left corner of the notebook page. You have completed the first (bottom) line.

Shuffle the forty-nine sticks, and find five more lines. Write each number above the previous one, so that the sixth number is at the top of the column. Draw next to each number its corresponding line type. [see below]

On the right side, just above the date and starting on the sixth line's line, draw the two hexagrams of the changing lines. First draw the basic lines and then redraw it using any changed lines. Look up their numbers using the chart of upper and lower trigrams. Read meanings.

Use as many translations as you can, because there are so many ways to look at any subject. [The more approaches you consider, the more guidance and understanding.] Since the original is in Chinese, many combinations of that symbology are valid. Your answer will depend upon your approach (angle), so you may need to consider highly conflicting ststaments carefully, to distinguish which person or event is relevant. Since change, by definition, varies with time, the interpretations can be looked at sequentially.

Lines:

If the number is thirteen, draw a solid line with a circle on it - a changing yang line (yang then yin) - the solid line changes to a broken line.

If the number is seventeen, draw two short lines - a yin line - a broken line.

If the number is twenty-one, draw a solid line - a yang line - a solid line.

If the number is twenty-five, draw two short lines with am X between them - a changing yin line (yin then yang) - the broken line changes to a solid line.

Dragon Magick - Types of Dragons

Types of Dragons:

Amphisbaena - An African dragon with two heads, one at the end of its long tail and at the head end. It has a curiously bird like body with the feet of a rooster, and by grasping the tail head with the other is able to travel by rolling around in this hoop. Usually portrayed as having a scaly body and a pair of feathered wings. The modern day lizard was named for this known dragon.

Amphitere - This type of dragon can be found in Britain, the Middle East, Egypt, and several Latin American countries such as Peru. Their appearance is similar to that of a gigantic jade-colored snake with multi-colored feathered wings, and some also possess a single pair of front legs. In European and Middle Eastern countries, the Amphitere is known to possess all the secrets of the world save one, and are born with such fantastic powers as hypnotic eyes, which are usually invested in guarding the treasures of the land, like myrrh trees, gold, and other assorted riches. Even the body parts of an Amphitere are special. If its teeth are planted, an army of battle ready undead warriors will spring up, eager to help; its blood, when drunk, will give one the power to understand animals; and a potion of dried Amphitere eyes mixed with honey will cure the consumer's headache, even the vilest of migraines. The most famous of the Latin American Amphitere is "Quetzalcoatl," whose name means "most precious serpent." The quetzal bird, which has a beautiful multicolored tail of almost two feet long, was named for this well known dragon. The Latin American Amphitere has only a pair of wings and a jade, feathered serpentine body.

Basilisk - The king of snakes and all other reptiles, and even the word Basilisk is contrived from the Greek word for king, basileus. They are represented as a lizard a little less than three feet long with a large tuft on its narrow head representative of a crown, and thick bird-like legs. This beast is incredibly venomous, savage and destructive, and even its eyes carry the incredible power of being able to kill a full grown man instantly at a glance. The only three creatures that can kill a basilisk are a cock, whose crowing sends it into an unnatural and fatal fit, the weasel, which can bite it to death and itself if it happens to glance into a mirror or confront another basilisk.

Bunyip - An Australian dragon, the Bunyip is considered one of the largest types of dragons and may be one of the strangest looking as well. It has the body of a cow, the tail of a whale, and the head of a bulldog ~ with horns!

Cockatrice - A very small dragon that ranges in size from about the length of one's finger to just under a foot. They bear a remarkable resemblance to the newly hatched drakelings of the western variety, but possess wings and are incredibly beautiful. They also can spit flame or breath fire should they choose, and some decide to take an easy life by disguising themselves as one of the children of an unwitting dragon parent.

Drake - A dragon resembling the traditional western type that possesses no wings. It looks a great deal like the wyrm except for the fact that it retains its fore and back legs. They cannot fly, and range from 4 to 40 feet in length, depending on their environment.

Eastern Dragon - The Eastern dragon is representative of wealth and good luck, unlike its western cousins. As to appearance, the dragon deities of China are believed to have a camel head, cow ears, piercing and powerful eyes, a snake neck, clam belly, tiger feet, eagle claws, and is covered with one hundred seventeen carp scales in which eighty one are of yang essence and thirty one of ying. Males are often represented as having extra scales on the neck, a pearl under the skin and several small wings. The eastern dragon is also believed to go through seven forms in their lifetimes of three thousand years, and the most commonly seen of these forms is the sixth. Many of these dragons will freely bless the righteous person with happiness and wealth, and are represented as guardians of the water. There is a dragon in every bit of water, from the tiniest rain drop to the largest ocean. They are often invisible to mortal eyes, although one can sense their presence or hear their voices through gongs and the jingling of coins. They also sometimes take the shape of a newt or snake so as to visit our world without causing panic. Most fly by using the earth's magnetic current to soar, and are representative of these currents much like the French Wouive. Only the Royal Celestial Chinese dragons have five claws on each paw, and live in and guard the palaces of dead nobility and the gods.

Elemental Dragons - There are several divisions of different types of elements, namely water, fire, stone, earth, wind/air, energy, star/infinity, shadow and trinity (combination of any three elements).

Faerie Dragon - A very small dragon of only a couple inches long with a pair of multi- colored butterfly-like wings. They also have large eyes for their face, and some have a long, aardvark shaped nose with a long, straw like tongue. The faerie dragon is very rare, but the diligent true believer may find them deep within the forests, usually within glens and glades. Faerie Dragons, as the name suggests, will be found near faerie mounds, faerie rings and only the most beautiful places of the forests.

Hydra - The Hydra is usually represented as an immense dragon with thick legs and a even thicker tail with multiple heads. This dragon is a living symbol of the fertilizing powers of water due to its ability to regenerate itself when hurt or even killed. The earliest accounts of the Hydra can be seen on a Syrian seal which dates back to the fourteenth century BCE. According to Ancient Greeks, the Hydra possesses nine heads atop nine snaking necks, one of which is immortal. When any of the other eight are cut off, another two will grow in its place. The second labor of Hercules consisted of having to kill the Hydra of the Lerna swamp, and finally succeeded only in having his nephew Iolus searing each neck at the base with a burning stick as its head was cut off, and burying the immortal head under a rock. He then cut up the remainder of the Hydra's body to prevent regeneration, and dipped his weapons in its gall so the least wound from one of them would be fatal. The Christian Bible speaks of probably the most infamous hydra in history, which is portrayed in The Apocrypha as a huge red dragon with seven heads with a crown topping each head, and ten horns. This dragon fought a war with Michael and his angels, and was then cast, with his followers, out of Heaven and back onto Earth. The open mouth of this dragon is portrayed in Christian myth as the gateway to hell.

Lindworm - The Lindworm is believed to be an offspring of the classic wyrm. This is one of the few dragons native to the Americas, discovered by Marco Polo, who wrote of them in great detail in his journals. They have powerful forelegs which they use to push themselves across the soil, and a long, muscular tail that can be used like a whip as a weapon. One of the dangers of the Lindworm is they immensely enjoy eating horses, and will often kill a rider in the simple attempt to make the horse buckle to its knees. These reside in streams and under the earth, and have very sharp eyes which enable them to see in the dark as well as any cat. The Lindworm is a semi-dragon whose ancestors consist of both lizards and wyrms.

Naga - These are thought to be huge snake-like dragons with human faces which live in Patala, an under water region beneath the earth. This type of dragon originates from Pakistan, from the legend of the Naga Apala, a god who was able to keep evil dragons away in exchange for offerings from the locals. However, when they gradually forgot to do this, he changed himself into a poisonous dragon and became the plague of the countryside himself in punishment to the humans of the area for abandoning their god.

Peluda - A wingless neo-dragon with a back like a porcupine.

Salamander - In medieval times, the Salamander was known to be part dragon and therefore immune to fire. Some believed that the hissing and popping of the fire was a Salamander singing to them, or perhaps even casting a spell over their house. Through this, the Salamander soon became associated with witches, and a true witch was believed to be able to escape the fire by turning into a Salamander and escaping to his/her gods where she/he was given a new form.

Serpent Whale - A water dwelling dragon that is similar to the legendary Loch Ness monster, but does not possess a neck. They range from dolphin to whale size and are found only in the open oceans.

Tatzelworm - This dragon has the appearance of a snake with the forearms of a cat. Many Sicilian farmers say they have seen the Tatzelworm, and a few even claim to have killed one. They consider it a threat to both themselves and the over-all well being of their farms.

Western Dragon - When most people think of dragons, this is what comes to mind. The traditional western dragon is a four-legged, winged, gigantic fire-breathing reptilian dragon with a nasty temper and an affinity for chaos and gold. Like humans, some have been the scourges of the country side, demanding tribute for their protection, but others are fair and just. Some kings, such as Uther Pendragon of legend, King Louis XIV, and many others, have chosen to make these dragons their symbols. The western dragon is thought to symbolize sovereignty, ancient wisdom and knowledge.

Wyrm - The most ancient of dragons, the wyrm looks basically like a huge snake with no legs or wings, with a bushy head resembling the mane of a lion. They originate in England, and perhaps the most famous of these is the Lambton Wyrm.

Wyvern - The Wyvern is a dragon with a single pair of wings (which sometimes act as arms), a tail, and a pair of forelegs. The word "Wyvern" originated from the French word wyvere which means both serpent and life. The French Wyvern is known as Vouivre or Wouive, is portrayed as a serpent with the head and body of a beautiful woman with a ruby or garnet set between her eyes. This jewel is used to guide her through the mortal underworld. She is the protector of the earth and all living things, and as one author poetically put it, she is ‘the spirit that breathes or inspires." The Wouive is a personification of the magnetic currents that, which even then the ancients knew, span the earth. (These currents are known to the experienced magick user as ley lines.)

Source: http://www.fox-moon.com/drag/dragon9.html

Prayer for Religious Freedom

God of Many Names

we call upon thee today
to create and preserve the right
for everyone to pray, worship, or otherwise honor you
in any way each one of us chooses
and honor the right of those who choose not to belief

Great Spirit of Many Names

we cry out for peace today
for all of our brothers and sisters
who need your aid
in the name of Religious Freedom

Freedom to all

So mote it be

From the Event "Call to Light for Religious Freedom" in responds to the Gov. of Texas call for prayer for our nation
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136920273062404

Inner Child Cards - Wishing Upon A Star

"To wish upon a star is to connect once again with the higher forces of life, be they guardian angels or celestial bodies of light. The star of the cosmos is mirrored on Earth as the five-pointed star seen through an apple core or a five-petaled flower such as the rose. The five-pointed star is also a symbol for the creative aspect of humanity and the evolutionary potential of each individual. Making a wish followed by an offering to a wishing well is a form of prayer and ritual that goes back many centuries. The association with water reveals the enchanting power of water goddesses and the Moon." - From the Book to the Card Set "Inner Child Cards" by Isha and Mark Lerner

Even though this set is considered a Tarot set and has the traditional amount of cards, it seems to me much different from any of the Tarot sets I have, because it's "language" is different. Not only in imagery it also "speaks" in many of the cards with very different meanings - specifically for someone like me who reads more intuitively then "by the book" . One can build a very interesting relationship with these cards and if you are looking for a non-traditional set, I recommend it.