herb lesson 7 COPAL RESIN

The term "copal" was derived from "copalli," a Spanish word meaning incense, which is what copal is used for. Copal ranges in color from pale yellow, orange, red and white.

This resin comes from a family of trees known as Bursera. These are small trees that are related to both frankincense and myrrh. Copal producing trees can be found growing in all of the Americas and is a few million years younger than true amber, but the untrained eye has a hard time telling the difference. Copal is “young amber” & the vast majority is 50 years to 10,000 years old whereas, some amber is up to millions of years old. Columbian copal is usually about 250-10,000 yrs old. Some scientists claim the oldest copal is 33,000 years old from Misunani, Japan. Copal will eventually become Amber as it ages and has a very similar vibration.

It is considered sacred to many peoples of South and Central America, including the Mayans. Mass quantities of copal resin were burned atop the Aztec and Mayan pyramids.

Copal resin incense is burned year round in the churches of Mexico and has been used as an offering to the gods in Central America. Is best known for its use in Mexico in the homes during Day of the
Dead. The familiar scent of copal helps the souls find their way back during their annual visit
home. Maize(corn) is the food of the people, so copal is the food of the gods, they would even so far as to shape the copal into ears of maize.

Copal incense has a clean, light, woody scent similar to pine or turpentine, almost fruity or citrus at times. Some people say it is similar to a very light myrrh scent, or a combination of frankincense and lemon. It is great incense for clearing negative energies and making positive changes. An extremely positive and loving energy, copal can help one to feel more content and peaceful with life, but also can aid in making changes when life is not as wonderful as it could be. To use just sprinkle a few granules onto hot incense charcoal and add your intentions.

Gum copal resin incense is excellent for smudging. If the space is full of negativity, stagnation, or a loved one has been ill, copal can cleanse the space quickly and raise the vibrations at the same time. If one has been feeling stuck in present circumstances, copal can be a true aid in helping to move forward in a positive direction.

Copal unites the energizing force of the Sun with the grounding, transmutative properties of Earth. A powerful yet gentle healer and cleanser, copal draws out and transmutes negative energy of all kinds on all levels. Copal aids in physical self-healing, emotional healing of depression, and environmental clearing.

One of its most unique characteristics is that copal never needs "clearing." Copal opens and cleanses all of the chakras. Highly protective, copal also aids in the manifestation of ideas to reality. The life force trapped within copal promotes fertility, and its protective and environmental clearing properties make it a good stone to use to prepare a healing or birthing room.

Use copal with the solar plexus chakra to increase confidence, mental clarity, and creative self expression. Copal also links to the crown chakra, allowing awareness in during deep meditations.

Copal awakens psychic abilities and boosts the auric body. Copal can remove energy blocks and aligns the physical with the etheric bodies. It increases the awareness of each person's individuality while maintaining a strong connection to humanity as a whole.

Copal is associated with the signs Gemini, Leo and Sagittarius.

this weekend alchemy is at Silver Kingdom renaissance faire.
next week finds us at Anime Next in nj.

alchemy will be debuting new products and have a fresh stock of favorites at both places.
new items include cellulite cream & 2 new roll on perfumes!
"little red" for her and "big bad" for him.
returning faves are sunburn soother and goldenseal cream.
all creams are made with raw shea butter.

upcoming apothecary items inculde inhalation bags for sinusitis, headaches and sleep and more fairy tale themed roll on perfumes!

herbal lesson #6 Alkanet

Alkanet is burned as an incense to purify the area of negativity, and is also used to attract prosperity in all forms.
Ends the work of those who try to trouble your money matters or jinx your gambling luck.
It attracts money and is an excellent addition to any mojo or gambling hand.

This makes a blood red dye but when alum is added to it the dye becomes grey-green.
A wine decoction of alkanet is used as a rub for sore backs. An ointment of alkanet is sometimes used for sores, bruises, and cuts.

Alkanet makes an all natural dye for cosmetics,ointments, lip balm and oils.
When added to cold processed soap, it turns anywhere from light blue to lavender as it reacts with the lye.

my goodness but it has been a while since my last posting!
i now have a huge van to cart more stock around and am carrying corsets and steampunk style clothing.
unfortunately my herbal apothecary will be cut by 2/3 because i just cannot lug it around anymore.
my health has been deteriorating more rapidly than my marriage and i am trying to get all to the point of self-reliance.

my new hobby is making little top hats.
they sell for under 20.00
not too shabby.

and i continue to give chats on etsy tues & thurs at 9 pm est.
drop by sometime!

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well, i survived faerie con.
it was a terrible disappointment.
the hotel room was 300$ for 3 nights, site fee was $950, gas was $150, tolls were $50.
and there was food, cost of goods sold and a stipend to our helper.
this was the first time at a non-charity event i lost money.
i have only lost money once before at a children's make a wish renaissance faire in maine.
i know the economy is bad but this was disastrous.
with that high of a site fee there is a big crowd.
there was almost no crowd at all.

i ordered chinese food for delivery and took a bath while andrew and kieth, our helper, made a beer run.
i had just sat down and turned on the tv when the front desk called to say that i had to come down for the food.
i had to get dressed again and head down with wet hair and no make-up because the delivery man was waiting.
apparently they do not let deliveries upstairs at this event.
a few people i talked to said this was never an issue at this hotel before.
i think they wanted us to pay the $8 a slice for their pizza and $4 for a cup of yogurt.

i can't say i had a bad time, but it wasn't fun.
i am still debating if i want to give it another try.
andrew and keith had fun drinking and met some nice people.
but as for me, the jury is still out.

guess who is guest blogger for mrs b on the 12th?
i am so excited!
i barely write my own blog out of boring myself to death never mind an imaginary reader.
there is just something so good about mrs b that i jumped at the chance of writing something.
it is not long and it is not life changing, but it's mine.

have you visited mrs b's blog?
you should!

tide & time

sometimes i wonder where my magic goes.
it was here yesterday...
with all that goes on here at the Zoo i often feel bereft and powerless.
then the magic starts.
a whisper in the air, a scent, a touch of color and i realize i am not alone.
if this feeling could stay with me forever i would never feel sad again.

Herb Lesson #4 Gotu Kola

Use in any meditation incense.
Burn before meditation, but not during.

Gotu kola is good if irritability or anger is creating distress and anxiety.
It has been recommended when people are having trouble concentrating. When combined with meditation Gotu kola can reduce anxiety and improve mental clarity.

Preliminary results showed it can be beneficial in improving memory and may also help overcome stress and fatigue. Two older Indian studies reported that it helped improve intelligence, general mental abilities, and behavior in mentally retarded children.

A later study examined how the herb affected brain neurotransmitters in laboratory rats. For two weeks, some rats were given an extract of fresh gotu kola leaves. They scored three to sixty times better than untreated rats in tests of learning and memory. A decrease of neurotransmitters was correlated with their improved learning and memory.

Topically, it relieves- inflammation, strengthens tissue at wound sites, and helps rebuild damaged skin tissue. In one clinical study of a topical preparation of gotu kola, thirteen of twenty patients with poorly healing wounds experienced complete, accelerated healing.

mrs b shout out

i don't usually link to blogs and i definitely don't spam, but my new favorite blog deserves some extra love.
confessions of a pagan soccer mom by mrs b is hip, smart and just plain good.
and there is a fabu giveaway of a tarabu bag this week:
http://silvermoonwitch.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-giveaway-today.html
check it out if you get a chance!

now if only she will join our pagan team on etsy through our ning network...
http://paganhandmadeteam.ning.com/

some one blogged me!

it's so nice to be liked!
gia wrote a lovely piece about our booth.
gia's winslowshire blog
i love winslowshire faire.
it is a benefit for a farm that rescues and provides a permanent home for injured and abused animals of all kinds.
there are horses, cats, peacocks, emus, chickens, dogs and more all living in harmony.
how can you not love that?
to learn more go to winslow animal sanctuary.

pics of maine pagan pride day

i love maine ppd. it is run so well and the energy is very balanced.
here are some pics of our booth

Root Woman's House Cleaning

tell people you need to cleanse a new home or just get rid of a lingering heebee jeebee feeling, most people will tell you to smudge. while excellent advice it is just a part of a bigger picture.

first get some chinese wash or mix up a faux chinese wash using a new bucket, lemons, purified water, salt, lemongrass essential oil and a clear crystal.

now scrub!

everything in the house needs to be washed-don't forget walls, ceilings, door, the undersides of tables, both fronts backs and insides of cabinets, closets etc.

next sprinkle sea salt all over the floors and using a brand new broom sweep the floors from farthest corner to front door and continue sweeping until you are at the road. don't bring the broom back inside. dispose of it far from the home but preferably at a crossroads. retuning the broom will just bring all that mess back with you.

take cut dried angelica herb ( named after the archangel and a powerful protector) and place it above all the windows and doors, rugs and around the outside of the home. small pieces of this should fit completely unnoticed above the top trim on windows and doors. a small piece tucked under a welcome mat is a good idea too.

lastly, smudge with a mix of white sage, lavender and sweetgrass.

the chinese wash gets rid of the bad vibes, the salt banishes them, angelica prevents them returning and the smudging with these herbs brings loving energy back in.

there are other ritual cleansings, but this is my favorite way for maximum results.

Kittens, Again

we had a litter of kittens 5 weeks ago.
last week they came downstairs to join the rest of the household.
they are absolutely adorable and so much fun to watch.
they are not much fun to clean up after however.
the little devils are now eating kibble but will not use the litter box.
we have a tiny pan dedicated just to them.
we even put one of Tuna's poopies in it so they could go where mommy's scent was.
nope.
i just found where they are hiding it all.
under one of my bookcases.
while cleaning the living room i put my hand under the bookcase to check for old socks, toys and game pieces.
imagine my surprise...
stepping on the half eaten "presents" my older cats leave me was more pleasant.
now the little bastards are sprawled out across the entire sofa taking a nap.
faking innocence.
yes, there is a good reason cats have a bad reputation.
it is well earned.
and i wouldn't change it for anything.


*update*
i just saw one take a crap beside the box.
i can't win with these guys!

update #1

i'm heading out the door for war of the roses.
i'm not a huge sca fan but andrew is so this is our compromise.

updates will be few and far between for a bit as my computer is broken.
andrew is unemployed again.
he was spending all his time playing online games so i removed his computer.
in retaliation he took my laptop and smashed it repeatedly into the walls and floor.
needless to say i took a cooking mallet to the inside of his after this.

he spent the next day making a frankenstein computer from the carcasses of dead puters he never threw away.
and seldom gives me the time to do my work.
all because of his games.

and i do not have the $600 to replace my laptop.
see you folks and have a safe holiday weekend!

herb lesson 4: copal resin

The term "copal" was derived from "copalli," a Spanish word meaning incense, which is what copal is used for. Copal ranges in color from pale yellow, orange, red and white.
This resin comes from a family of trees known as Bursera. These are small trees that are related to both frankincense and myrrh. Copal producing trees can be found growing in all of the Americas and is a few million years younger than true amber, but the untrained eye has a hard time telling the difference. Copal is “young amber” & the vast majority is 50 years to 10,000 years old whereas, some amber is up to millions of years old. Columbian copal is usually about 250-10,000 yrs old. Some scientists claim the oldest copal is 33,000 years old from Misunani, Japan. Copal will eventually become Amber as it ages and has a very similar vibration.
It is considered sacred to many peoples of South and Central America, including the Mayans. Mass quantities of copal resin were burned atop the Aztec and Mayan pyramids.
Copal resin incense is burned year round in the churches of Mexico and has been used as an offering to the gods in Central America. Is best known for its use in Mexico in the homes during Day of the
Dead. The familiar scent of copal helps the souls find their way back during their annual visit
home. Maize(corn) is the food of the people, so copal is the food of the gods, they would even so far as to shape the copal into ears of maize.
Copal incense has a clean, light, woody scent similar to pine or turpentine, almost fruity or citrus at times. Some people say it is similar to a very light myrrh scent, or a combination of frankincense and lemon. It is great incense for clearing negative energies and making positive changes. An extremely positive and loving energy, copal can help one to feel more content and peaceful with life, but also can aid in making changes when life is not as wonderful as it could be. To use just sprinkle a few granules onto hot incense charcoal and add your intentions.
Gum copal resin incense is excellent for smudging. If the space is full of negativity, stagnation, or a loved one has been ill, copal can cleanse the space quickly and raise the vibrations at the same time. If one has been feeling stuck in present circumstances, copal can be a true aid in helping to move forward in a positive direction.
Copal unites the energizing force of the Sun with the grounding, transmutative properties of Earth. A powerful yet gentle healer and cleanser, copal draws out and transmutes negative energy of all kinds on all levels. Copal aids in physical self-healing, emotional healing of depression, and environmental clearing.

One of its most unique characteristics is that copal never needs "clearing." Copal opens and cleanses all of the chakras. Highly protective, copal also aids in the manifestation of ideas to reality. The life force trapped within copal promotes fertility, and its protective and environmental clearing properties make it a good stone to use to prepare a healing or birthing room.

Use copal with the solar plexus chakra to increase confidence, mental clarity, and creative self expression. Copal also links to the crown chakra, allowing awareness in during deep meditations.
Copal awakens psychic abilities and boosts the auric body. Copal can remove energy blocks and aligns the physical with the etheric bodies. It increases the awareness of each person's individuality while maintaining a strong connection to humanity as a whole.

Copal is associated with the signs Gemini, Leo and Sagittarius.


http://magicalalchemy.com/item_111/copal-resin.htm

age of aquarius

here is info that a dear friend, cathy kane, sent me:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE AGE OF AQUARIUS is here!!! !!!!!!!!! !
(Saturday 14th February 2009 @ 7:25am GMT)

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derision's
Golden living, dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius

This year the exact alignment spoken of nearly 40 years ago will occur with the end of a Piscean influenced society, reflected through the American government of the past, and the old financial institutions. The old regime has been driven from power by the unification of a single, collective, awakened voice. The new Aquarian era has begun in the United States of America and is being extended through a hand of partnership to the world to join in unison.

The alignment of Mars and Jupiter, with the Moon in the 7th house occurs as Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, and Chiron the Wounded Healer, the Sun and the North Node all align in Aquarius. To make this even more significant it occurs on February 14, 2009, Valentines Day, at 7:25am (GMT). For those of us on the Pacific Coast, that is 11:20pm the night before (February 13th). On the East Coast 2:20am on the 14th and those
in Switzerland and Germany 8:20am on the 14th.

The Seventh House is commonly referred to as the House of Partnership. Within this House, we see a shift away from the self toward another - a partner.

In cooperating and relating to others we unite for the purpose of achieving something grand. Purpose is important to the Seventh House the act of accomplishing something great. In uniting with others, we become a more valuable member of our world: we make a contribution, one small cog in the wheel of life. We have purpose. Cooperation and partnership help to expedite our purpose in life.

We are on the cusp, leaving the Age of Pisces and moving forward into the Age of Aquarius fully. The alignment of Jupiter with Mars has occurred twice already once in 1973 and again in 1998. Reflect on what
was occurring in your life at this time as it has a significant message for your journey forward. Open your heart and visualize the emerald green and magenta ray of light coming together to restore balance.

The Age of Aquarius is symbolic of a great spiritual transformation, a new sense of democracy, freedom and humanitarianism. The end of religious separation and the return of the first religion, earth religion and a deep spiritual connection to one another. This transitional period between two ages is considered to be a process that occurs over many years, not on an exact day or year.

The alignment will last for approximately 18 minutes so make a commitment to join with people from all over the world at this time and pray that our leaders of all nations are guided by love and peace and we as citizens of the world come together to support the changes of this new era. Be the change you dream about. Join together with the world this night and pray for unification and healing. It starts with us.

The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius: A Rare Astrological Concentration The most profound spiritual traditions of ancient times perceived the manifest world, at all scales of existence as being generated and
pervaded by a cosmic trinity of active, passive and neutral principles - the divine essence of the masculine, feminine and child. The Vedic sages of ancient India saw the male/active life-force energy they called the pingala and the female/passive energy they called the ida weaving around and through our chakras and the child/neutral energy they called the shushumna as channeling up through them.

When these divine masculine and feminine energies are balanced and so able to fully `birth' the divine child energies within us, the ancient sages saw the so-called kundalini energy that otherwise lies dormant at the base of the spine, surge through us enabling us to fully embody our divine nature.

The purpose of the sacred marriage between the divine feminine and masculine that the ancient peoples, such as those of Malta, enacted in their temples was thus not only to bring cosmic harmony and fertility to their land but within themselves. For such balance enables the energetic activation or `birth' of the divine child within us and the attainment of enlightenment.

When this cosmic trinity of consciousness is harmonized and fully expressed within us, we are truly `healed' and `whole' as embodied by the universal symbol of the caduceus as a representation of healing from earliest times.

For millennia, only the highest adepts understood and have attained such wholeness. But elders and mystics around the world are saying that now is the time, when we have evolved to a point where we are all able to awaken our inner divinity.

This is our spiritual destiny at the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

In mid February, we are offered cosmic support to this re-membering of who we really are, by a rare astrological concentration that brings together a number of planets together with the North Node - denoting
higher purpose - in Aquarius. And which energizes and inspires the possibility for transcendental breakthrough and healing.

We measure our global sense of both space (longitude) and time (universal time - UT or GMT) from the prime meridian located at Greenwich, England. We can perceive the collective influence of this momentous astrological event by looking at the alignment from this globally `centered' perspective. When we do, something extraordinary and exquisite emerges.

At dawn on 14th February the day dedicated to St Valentine, the patron saint of Love, the Moon in Libra enters the seventh house of relationships. And Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house of spiritual transformation.

Forty years ago, the intuitive words of a song called Aquarius, brought the dawning of the new age into our collective awareness:

When the Moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars.
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars.

At dawn on 14th February the Cosmos actually embodies this perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of love and peace and the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

The Aquarian chart of 14th February reveals an incredible concentration of cosmic influences blending with the energies of Aquarius in the twelfth house. Expansive Jupiter and energetic Mars are aligned with the higher purpose of the North Node. The presence of Chiron the wounded healer offers us the opportunity to heal the schisms that have separated us for so long. Neptune emphasizes collective humanitarian movements and the co-creation of social justice. And the presence of the radiant Sun enlightens the entire alignment.

Mercury also in the twelfth house but just beyond the cusp in Capricorn, allies with transformational Pluto to communicate and anchor the Shift throughout our global structures and institutions.

The Moon in Libra in the seventh house emphasizes harmonious real-ationships.

Venus in Aries in the first house energizes and empowers dynamic co-creativity.

And whilst Saturn the great task master in opposition to Uranus the unexpected awakener is suggesting an ongoing confrontation as the dregs of the unsustainable old paradigm reluctantly give way to the untested hope of the new, their placements in Virgo and Pisces brings practical altruism and visionary inspiration to the transition.

Alignment view from the horizon

At 7.25am on 14th February - and for the 18 minutes of the alignment, we invite you, in the universal heart, to add your own intention for love and peace and to co-create the dawning of the Age of Aquarius to that of the Cosmos. In whatever way feels appropriate for you, you may choose to align with7.25am (UT) or 7.25am your own local time energizing a wave of intention that will surge around the Earth.

Having searched for over a thousand years, I can find no other alignments in the past of this incredible significance. But amazingly, at one moment in time nearly fifty years ago, the collective voices of our ancient ancestors seem to have been given such a cosmic voice to energetically seed this coming Age and the birth of the Aquarian human.

In 1962 at the same time on the same day, as 2009, Jupiter and Mars were in Aquarius in the twelfth house and the Moon in the seventh house. But then the awesome concentration of planets that energize the 2009 alignment was missing.

And instead of the North Node (higher purpose) being aligned with Jupiter and Mars as it is in 2009, it was in opposition.
What this means is that back in 1962 it was the so-called south node rather than the north node that was aligned with Jupiter and Mars.

The south node represents what we bring in from the past. So in 1962 the potential for us the birth the Age of Aquarius came through from our collective race memory - but only now are we able to fully manifest its higher purpose. In 1962 we essentially took a collective in-breath of possibility and now with the cosmic support of the Aquarian alignment of 14th February 2009 we are able to take the out-breath and make it happen.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


well folks, the universe has done its part.
the rest is up to us.