and open to Her Wisdom."
5th Day of the 11th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Artemis
Lunar Tree Cycle of Gort/Ivy
12th Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Gort/Ivy
Moon Phase: waxing Crescent
Moon rises: 12:02PM EDST
Moon sets: 9:21PM EDST
Moon in the Mutable Fire
Sign of Sagittarius
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The lessons of
illness.
Sun in Libra
Sunrise: 7:26AM EDST
Sunset: 6:47PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "What
sorrow is unexpressed within you?"
Lughnasadh (Gwyl Awst) Quarter
of the Year
October 11th, 2010
This is MOON DAY - the Day of Remembering and Feeling. Being this a month of Ancestral Awareness, this could be a good day to reflect on our ancestors and the upcoming Samhain honoring of them.
THE BAT
Being nocturnal Bats have long been associated with evil. In some parts of the world they were thought to be Witches, and one flying close to you it was said to be a Witch over-looking or trying to bewitch you. Having said that I have heard it said that Bats flying close to the house indicate that the spirits of Witches past are looking out for you. Should one fly into the house it portends death or very bad luck for someone you know. In other places the Bat is considered lucky, and carrying a Bat's bone will ensure good fortune. It used to be thought that carrying the right eye of a Bat will render a person invisible. A Bat hitting the side of a building is said to foretell rain while seeing them fly near the house in the early dusk means good weather is coming.
Contrary to the many beliefs, Bats do not get entangled in long hair. Experiments have proven that not only do Bats try to avoid people, but that no amount of hair will prevent one from immediately freeing itself. Furthermore, although a couple of varieties will drink blood of animals, most Bats are vegetarian and will not bite unless provoked. In many parts of the world it is considered very unlucky to kill or harm a Bat, and could even shorten your life. This is probably just as well as many Bats are endangered and need all the protection they can get. If possible, this season visit a zoo with a Bat-house you can walk through as a way of getting closer to these timid creatures.
[From Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]
LILITH
Lilith has long been considered one of the first Witches, and has become the archetypal wicked Witch. She was represented as being the terrifying power that the Sumerians called Lamasthu and the Greeks Lamia, and is known by many other names including Baba Yaga. It is probable that Lilith was a form of the Babylonian Goddess Ninlil. Lilith was described as a night demon, with a beautiful face, luxuriant hair and great wings; however, instead of feet she had talons. In common with other demonized Deities she was reputed to steal, kill or drink the blood of babies and small children, creeping to the cradle at night.
Lilith appears in early versions of the Old Testament as the first wife of Adam, before Eve. In these tales she was created equal to Adam but refused to take the subordinate position in the relationship, notably with regard to intercourse. As a result Adam cast her aside, whereupon she went to Jehovah and tricked him into revealing his secret name of power, much as Isis had done in the earlier Egyptian story. In return she demanded that he give her wings, but it is said that he also cursed her with sterility. Perhaps this is intended to give a reason why she should harm the young. She was considered especially dangerous to infants in the first week of life, on Sabbath evenings, and to those born to unmarried women, conveniently reinforcing a number of strictures on the activities of women. Certainly Lilith did not fit in with the authorized image of womanhood: she had refused to show humility and obedience to man or God.
[From: Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]
