A to Z Challenge -- B -- BROOM, FERTILITY, AND PERSECUTION

BESOM -- This is the classical witch's broom.  It is used to cleanse an area of negative energy before casting a circle.  They were originally used as ordinary brooms.  In some places, they are still used as such.  The besom's staff is made of ash, the bristles are birch twigs, and they are tied together by thin willow wood strips.  Besoms were and are used in Handfasting ceremonies because it both thought to be feminine and masculine.

BELTANE -- (Pronounced bell-tayn, Beel-teen)  This Sabbat is also known by the name May Day.  It is a celebration of fertility.  To celebrate the fertility of the land, many would gather around balefires, dance, and well, . . . you know.

It symbolizes the sexual union of the Goddess and God.  Also, the Celts revered the the sun god, Bel.

The Romans had a festival called Floralia, which is for the fertility goddess Flora.  It was similar to May Day, where flowers, dancing, and revelry were used to honor Her.

People still celebrate Beltane and May Day.  Dancing around the May Pole is still popular.  Just so's ya know, the May Pole is symbolic for a man's manly bits. Some places have the May Queen choose the May King (Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green, or one of many names) and they are married albeit symbolically or truly handfasted.  They are the physical representation of the God and Goddess union.

BURNING TIMES -- This is a reference for when many people were tortured and burned.  More of them were women and children.  I'm not talking about just the Spanish Inquisition.  They had their share, but there were other times when so called witches were persecuted.  Let's just say that many of them were innocent and falsely accused.

 BOLINE/BOLLINE -- This is the the working blade. This knife is used to prepare herbs, cut string, and many other physical tasks. They can be both straight or curved.  They are sometimes on the altar.

Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- A -- BLADE, BREATH, AND CARD

A Symbol for Air

AIR -- One of the four Elements.  It is associated with the East. The color that is associated with it is yellow.  The wand is the ritual tool that is associated with it.  Wind magic, divination, travel, and intellectual/mental stimulation are all ruled.  Psychic powers, dreams, and wishes are also associated with this element.  On the altar, a feather is the most usual symbol placed there because winged animal and insects are represented by this element.  It is a projective element.  It is masculine in nature.

ALTAR -- This is the one of the most basic things. It's the place where ritual tools are set to perform ceremonies, sabbats, and esbats. Most altars are split into three sections. The left for the Goddess, the right for the God, and the center is usually a working area belonging to both.  Elemental representations can also be found in the central area.  Most altars are set up facing North or East.  They can be as elaborate or as simple as desired.

AMULET -- This is an object used to deflect specific (like negative) energies away from a person.  It's used as a protective object that is magically charged.  Many things can be an amulet including stone, wood, sachet of herbs, and a host of other things.  It all depends on what is needed to be deflected.

APRIL -- This comes from a Roman word Aprilis and perhaps refers to aperire. It means "to open" in Latin, which most likely means the opening of buds and blossoms. Plus, it may refer to Aphrodite a.k.a. Venus. This was the time of fertility. The Veneralia was celebrated by the Romans on the first. It honored Venus.

ATHAME -- Pronounced ah-Tham-ee, Ath-ah-may, ah-Thaw-may.  This is a ritual tool.  This knife is usually double edged and most likely will have a black handle.  It is consecrated and cleansed of negativity before use.  It is never, never used to cut physical objects. It is one of the symbolic God items and therefore usually placed on the right side of the altar.  

ARCANA -- This is what the two halves of the tarot deck are called.  There are 22 major arcana (e.g. The Tower, The Lovers, The World) and 56 minor arcana.

There are four suits in the minor arcana. Cups, pentacles, swords, and wands are the most recognized ones, but there can be named differently.  For example, wands can also go by rods, staves, or spears.

They predate the modern playing card decks, but a modern 52 card deck can be used in a similar fashion as tarot.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

AND FOR MY NEXT TRICK . . . I BRING YOU . . . THE REVEAL!

THE GREAT AND POWERFUL A TO Z THEME REVEAL BLOGFEST!

Let the Revelations begin!

Okay, my lovelies, it is time!  Yes!  With great antici --- say it! say it! -- pation!  (I be quoting something there!  Heh heh!) you have waited for this day, this minute, this second. Now, to fulfill your wish.

The theme to which I have decided on is:

Wiccan, Pagan, and Other Random Coolness!

You're dying of the excitement now, right?

Nah, I knew you wouldn't be, but I was fascinated to delve into this.  There is so many traditions that we have, expressions that we say, and much more that can be found by delving into pagan history.

There will be plenty of pictures and fascinating tidbits that I didn't even know.

The origins of many things will be come to light as we explore.

I hope to enlighten and sweep away some of the mystery with this year's A to Z.

BOOK CHALLENGE 2015 #7 A BOOK ON THE BYU HONORS LIST

An Ideal Husband (Image from Amazon)

The BYU Honors List has many titles to chose from from different periods of history and places around the world.  It was a difficult decision, but when I saw that Oscar Wilde was on there, I thought, "Why not?"

Since I was thinking of choosing another one of his works for a different challenge (Well, I still am, but that's beside the point), I went with An Ideal Husband.

I had watched the movie based on the play and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It stars Rupert Everett and Minnie Driver as Lord Goring and Mabel respectively.

So, I read it and am surprised to say that the play was even more amusing than the movie.

Main premise of the play is that Arthur, Lord Goring, has to help his friend who is being blackmailed by an old acquaintance.  Mrs. Cheveley wants a scheme to pass the House of Commons despite it being a swindle.

Taking place within 24 hours, the play is fast paced within the three acts.

A funny misadventure with witty banter among the characters.

BOOK CHALLENGE 2015 #6 A BOOK WITH A NUMBER IN THE TITLE

Book 2 One False Note

One False Note is the second book in the 39 Clues.  In this book, the two Cahills, Amy and Dan, travel into Germany and Vienna following the musical clue from the first book.  They follow the life of Mozart and of his sister as they try to find the next clue.  It's a race against others who are ruthless enough to kill.

With death-defying explosions, mystery, and adventure, they do pack a wallop. They have historical figures, places, and facts all throughout the book, but in such a way that I wasn't realizing I was learning things.  The books take those historic figures like Mozart, Ben Franklin, and Marie Antoinette and have them connected through the fictional Cahill family.

These books are in the Juvenile section of my public library.  Written by various authors including David Baldacci, Rick Riordan, and Margaret Peterson Haddix.  I picked up the first on a whim, and I must say that they are quite fun little books.

I would definitely recommend them.

OF MIST AND MAGIC -- THE EBOOK AND ALBUM

Cover design by Daniel Pennystone

I entered a writing contest on Writerlysam's blog.  I did an earlier post about it.

It was to take the song Eternal Rest For a Ronin from Of Mist and Magic album and retell a fairy tale.  The winners of the competition would be published in the Of Mist and Magic ebook.

GUESS WHAT!?  My flash fiction is published in it!

Okay, okay.  That is not the most worthwhile thing about it.  I had to gush . . . just a smidge.

Nope, the best thing about this book that it will support Elevate Life and Art studios, a youth organization in Asheville, NC through full donation of all proceeds.

What is so amazing about this collaborative book besides some awesome authors? There are stories from the kids from Elevate Life and Art!

So clicky clicky the links or the pretty pretty book cover on the side panel and get an awesome book as well as helping others achieve their dreams!

BOOK CHALLENGE 2015 #5 -- BOOK WITH A ONE WORD TITLE

Infinity

I've read a couple of books by Sherrilyn Kenyon under her pseudonym of Kinley MacGregor.  I have not read anything of her Dark Hunters series.

This is a spin-off of that series.  It has characters from the main, romance series showing up in this first book, including Kyrian from Night Pleasures and Acheron from -- well, Acheron.  Heh heh.

It had some great LOL moments.

I liked it enough that I'm going to read the second book, which you will probably see here as a different Challenge entry.  That is, if I don't find something different to fill the category.