tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83702454106509988922024-03-12T22:16:35.547-07:00Astarte Moon Inspirations a life closer to nature's rhythms Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.comBlogger422125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-67169716395412216842015-07-29T11:33:00.000-07:002015-07-29T11:33:45.273-07:00Blue Moon this month 31st July 2015We have a blue moon this month. A blue moon occurs when two full moon occur in one calendar month. This July we had a full moon on 2nd July and are due another on 31st July 2015. This is a very rare event as we haven't had one since August 2012 and the next one is not due until 2018. We will actually have two blue moons in 2018, in January and March but this is obviously a very rare occurrence. The next year of double blue moons is not until 1937!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJI6Mj1bWQ34Wld9QW3TjaPGQUMV8_TAt9FZvyMj8731zxPhCQ-les6ouJ6HSXIfvsV5yWI7Pb_jAx4ysUJ8cEiu_2mwPgHZqumkrD5DQQFCKwRdkQIMtCpvq-uPMFzpA6mV5KyBuxg/s1600/blue+moon+earthsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJI6Mj1bWQ34Wld9QW3TjaPGQUMV8_TAt9FZvyMj8731zxPhCQ-les6ouJ6HSXIfvsV5yWI7Pb_jAx4ysUJ8cEiu_2mwPgHZqumkrD5DQQFCKwRdkQIMtCpvq-uPMFzpA6mV5KyBuxg/s400/blue+moon+earthsky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beautiful pic is from earth sky.org, check out their website for lots of amazing astronomical facts!<br />
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Obviously as our calendar is a man made way of measuring the days in the month, there isn't really any spiritual significance of us having two blue moons in one month. However I still think it is an interesting fact to note and cool for you if July is of significance to you to have two full moons this month! I think we can all agree that the full moon is always something to offer gratitude for and if we get two moons in one month then by my book that's cause for extra gratitude!<br />
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Blue moon blessings to you, AstarteAlison xxxxx<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-70900897619586411372015-06-16T08:49:00.000-07:002015-06-16T08:49:43.205-07:00Summer Solstice/Litha marks the beginning of Intense Energy PeriodOur up coming Summer Solstice marks the start of a few months of intense energy ahead of us. The solstice not only represents the longest day but the time that our beautiful sun's rays are shining most directly and vertically down upon us. We can benefit from this wonderful energy and use this time, building upon the enhanced energy that we feel within ourselves and emanating all around us.<br />
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You can make sun water at the time of the Solstice, sun water made at this time is especially potent and can be used for all sorts of remedies and energising uses. Find out how to make it <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=sun+water" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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Following on quickly from the Summer Solstice we have full moon on July 2nd and then a trio of three super moons in a row in August, September and October<br />
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The July full moon on the 2nd is the Full Buck Moon, Thunder Moon or Hay Moon, named for the abundance of nature at this time of year. This moon follows hot on the heels of the Litha or the Summer Solstice, our earth will literally will be crackling with super charged energy.<br />
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The Supermoon in September comes the closest to us for 2015, being only 357,098 km or 221,890 miles away.<br />
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<a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/supermoon-friday-12th-july-2014-why.html" target="_blank">What is a super moon</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #c9bff2; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://Why do Supermoons Occur?" target="_blank">Why do Supermoons Occur?</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://Why do Supermoons Occur?" target="_blank">Why does the super moon affect me?</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-14820396718852140822015-06-01T10:59:00.001-07:002015-06-01T10:59:57.572-07:00Moon times, phases and names for June 2015<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am looking forward to the power of the full moon shortly, can you feel the energy increasing? Here are the moon phases for June 2015 for you so that you can plan your month accordingly. Living life within the phases of the moon allows your life to flow with much greater eases. As the moon wanes during the first week in June try to spend the time withdrawing a little, contemplating more and perhaps de cluttering your life a little. At the new moon on the 18th June this is a perfect time to start new projects and as the moon waxes during the second half of June you may find you have more energy so use that energy to push projects forward, connect with friends and family and be creative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This moon in June was popularly called the Strawberry Moon or Rose Moon because of the time of the year. This full moon was seen as very spiritual by Buddhists as it was the full moon when Buddha died and received enlightenment. Bright Moon, Seed Moon and Planting Moon are other popular names. Our ancestors lived their lives a lot more in tune with the moon and we have much to learn from their cultures. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy_oIaX8tmQhHNOUZswBpKUU6SsaRApHdv0mw-dk4YKpkpm_qpMkXteZCVE-fVIQvm58Dn9L2UeE5eKF7tV2NtwkVKIzx2zXdBOdbkcP7vr54fReAlw413gGbj2hpHxr43JqyL7ve-g/s1600/Moon-Phases-June-2015-Calendar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy_oIaX8tmQhHNOUZswBpKUU6SsaRApHdv0mw-dk4YKpkpm_qpMkXteZCVE-fVIQvm58Dn9L2UeE5eKF7tV2NtwkVKIzx2zXdBOdbkcP7vr54fReAlw413gGbj2hpHxr43JqyL7ve-g/s400/Moon-Phases-June-2015-Calendar.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are the full moon times for different time zones:</span><br />
<span class="highlight" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 06:19:02 pm</span></span><span class="text-normal" style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Central European Summer Time (CEST)<br />Moon sign: Sagittarius 11° 49'<br /><br /><strong>In other time zones:</strong><br />WELLINGTON = Wednesday * 3rd June 2015 * 04:19:02 am (NZST)<br />SYDNEY = Wednesday * 3rd June 2015 * 02:19:02 am (AEST)<br />TOKYO = Wednesday * 3rd June 2015 * 01:19:02 am (JST)<br />BEIJING = Wednesday * 3rd June 2015 * 12:19:02 am (CST)<br />BANGKOK = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 11:19:02 pm (ICT)<br />DELHI = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 09:49:02 pm (IST)<br />DUBAI = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 08:19:02 pm (GST)<br />MOSCOW = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 07:19:02 pm (MSK)<br />BERLIN = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 06:19:02 pm (CEST)<br />LAGOS = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 05:19:02 pm (WAT)<br />LONDON = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 05:19:02 pm (BST)<br />RIO = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 01:19:02 pm (BRT)<br />SANTIAGO = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 01:19:02 pm (CLT)<br />NEW YORK = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 12:19:02 pm (EDT)<br />MEXICO CITY = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 11:19:02 am (CDT)<br />CALGARY = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 10:19:02 am (MDT)<br />LOS ANGELES = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 09:19:02 am (PDT)<br />ANCHORAGE = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 08:19:02 am (AKDT)<br />HONOLULU = Tuesday * 2nd June 2015 * 06:19:02 am (HAST)</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-338011723438968142015-05-25T07:08:00.000-07:002015-05-25T07:57:44.189-07:00Crystal Charms and Goddesses for Healing which are you drawn to ?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Emerging as I often do like a sleepy kitten from a long sleep when I have had these long stretches of migraines I feel drawn to sit and create so that is what I am going to do today, catch up on orders that need posting and make some new pieces. I would like to make some new healing charms I think so if anyone has any needs then please let me know, I love doing special pieces. Each crystal and charm has its own story to tell and put together may be just the right combination for you to begin your own healing and transformation. First thing I am going to make this afternoon is a good luck charm for my daughter who has been studying so hard for her A levels.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jGX62Vuu5If3o8VkOPFP0THac3KKbvSVAKgLa-5fC2wL9f2kcvW5ZrVj1E4tseom-0uqSfW5jCho1-m4XqNou7ucc3tiTl4seNwJZEAkSbWK8n0VnhK_Qn8uk9cNw9A3FltQXUHc6g/s1600/goddess+new+moon+pendant+angelite+opalite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jGX62Vuu5If3o8VkOPFP0THac3KKbvSVAKgLa-5fC2wL9f2kcvW5ZrVj1E4tseom-0uqSfW5jCho1-m4XqNou7ucc3tiTl4seNwJZEAkSbWK8n0VnhK_Qn8uk9cNw9A3FltQXUHc6g/s320/goddess+new+moon+pendant+angelite+opalite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon Goddess Healing Angelite Pendant <a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC84XZCwCHtImjOjmIkBOMHdZ7P4NVKa9ht6u6LovK-jq8SndUWs5PMRYet5AYV0tOuvboPJMuRoUOd_kochfbM7-1rfCnkCb0Ek0PsmVZ8-5snZNUeGNWQM9DmtQiRf5fNKuxvJiE-w/s1600/ostara+eostre+pagan+charm+jade+oestre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC84XZCwCHtImjOjmIkBOMHdZ7P4NVKa9ht6u6LovK-jq8SndUWs5PMRYet5AYV0tOuvboPJMuRoUOd_kochfbM7-1rfCnkCb0Ek0PsmVZ8-5snZNUeGNWQM9DmtQiRf5fNKuxvJiE-w/s320/ostara+eostre+pagan+charm+jade+oestre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Moon Jade Charm for luck and positivity<a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aceso was the main Greek Goddess for healing. Indeed her name is said to mean curing. She was known for tackling the healing process, the root cause not just the problem itself, thus can be seen as the root of holistic medicine. We of course have a lot to learn from our ancestors in terms of the way we approach modern healing methods. She shared an altar with Aphrodite and Athena and was the daughter of Epipione and and Asclepius. Aceso also spelt Akeso knew the importance of maintaining good health as well as good hygiene in order to stay fit and well, something that was often neglected when looking to cure a specific disease or illness. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYXV6yKocsIfXoQKpzEmgNHPygm-68oDQqK9Gy2EqPta5ibsJLxkwEEZUYaxZE_koW2KoQqBMHCDjYxmF1B57Umq6HWdaK7bIQsMWj3eD-8wwYk5ynIkr169AH0Uu_f6wFLSlZd6dIA/s320/amethyst%253Dpentacle%253Dcharm-pagan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="306" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amethyst Pentacle Charm may help pain relief <a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of the well known Moon Goddesses such as Aine, Brigid and Isis were known to be powerful healers. Brigid or Brigit was also said to be responsible for fertility and Aine was known for breathing life force into being. Aine is connected with lakes and healing wells. Water is extremely important as a healing aid and I cleanse all my crystals with water from the red spring at Chalice Well gardens in Glastonbury. I bless them all before they are sent out to you so that you may receive the full force of the healing power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are interested in the ancient Celtic ways you might like to take a look at this course that caught my attention. <a href="http://catcaracelo.com/" target="_blank">Cat Curacelo's</a> Celtic mysteries course invites you to look at the background that shaped your own life journey and the shapes and symbols that occurred along the way. Cat says</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">" Whether you are new to 'the journey' or returning to this tribe, this will be a wonderful opportunity to explore and extend your travelling, using visual narrative as a form in this brand new Celtic Mysteries journey that celebrates ancestral remembering and our deep myths."<a href="http://catcaracelo.com/?course=once-upon-a-mythos-celtic-mysteries" target="_blank">Once Upon a Mythos Cat Caracelo</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The important thing to note when looking for healing is to find the right mix of things that are right for you and to remember that your biggest help is Mother Earth. If you are drawn to a particular crystal, goddess, pentacle, stone, herb then there is often a reason for that. Modern medicine can often be used alongside traditional remedies and there is often no reason you cannot take both as long as you check with your healthcare provider. Our earth is a powerful healer and she has much to offer us as long as we give back in return.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLfpzw-TUsxI7L2XQkd4s5wxrTOz1LQCAQh4iMC5lYG0MO81rnii2TLO5_lFZZGTO3a_ZoA3rXZ6seHZoRtLRlyyRiXFFyZDZR2uSvTknOW7qVGcdwGDqi71JmF9CzqS3AF7sgiMJlg/s1600/beltane-dancing-white-spring-glastonbury-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLfpzw-TUsxI7L2XQkd4s5wxrTOz1LQCAQh4iMC5lYG0MO81rnii2TLO5_lFZZGTO3a_ZoA3rXZ6seHZoRtLRlyyRiXFFyZDZR2uSvTknOW7qVGcdwGDqi71JmF9CzqS3AF7sgiMJlg/s400/beltane-dancing-white-spring-glastonbury-2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the earth at Glastonbury White Spring Beltane 2014</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the words of the wonderful <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1848504802/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1848504802&linkCode=as2&tag=astmoopaggodb-21&linkId=XNNY62QQ2AADOVU6%22%3EEarth%20Wisdom:%20A%20Heart-Warming%20Mixture%20of%20the%20Spiritual,%20the%20Practical%20and%20the%20Proactive%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=astmoopaggodb-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1848504802%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Glennie Kindred</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Experiencing deep heartfelt connections to the Earth will bring us closer to understanding ourselves and trusting out intuition. It will help us foster a sense of belonging and love for the Earth and all peoples of the Earth. To live in harmony with the earth, we need to remember our connection to her."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1848504802/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1848504802&linkCode=as2&tag=astmoopaggodb-21&linkId=XNNY62QQ2AADOVU6%22%3EEarth%20Wisdom:%20A%20Heart-Warming%20Mixture%20of%20the%20Spiritual,%20the%20Practical%20and%20the%20Proactive%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=astmoopaggodb-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1848504802%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Glennie Kindred Earth Wisdom</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So do you have a favourite healing goddess, a favourite crystal or a favourite icon? Strong symbols can often make us feel powerful and obviously colour makes a difference in the choice of crystal we go for. A carnelian stone with an owl and wolf charm might be my choice for my exam charm.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Goddess blessings to you, may you be abundant and blessed in all you do this month, AstarteAlison XXXXX</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-92105552799646521612015-05-21T03:25:00.001-07:002015-05-25T07:10:15.097-07:00Waxing New Moon Energy<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.25999999046325684px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As our new moon begins to wax the world is your oyster.Enjoy the increasing energy our earth is giving you right now, start each day smiling!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25999999046325684px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each new moon we have brings with it an air of hope I find, there is something about our Mother Earth at this time of the month that is like no other. We are now in the time of the Waxing Crescent moon, a time of incredible energy and growth. Somehow the grass verges look greener, the sky looks brighter, nature is vibrant with hope and we are too. Embrace the feeling and use this energy to pour into whatever projects you have on the go right now. Wake each day with a smile on your face and a determination that today is going to be a good one.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25999999046325684px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25999999046325684px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enjoy the spring like feeling, Waxing moon blessings to you all, AstarteAlison </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-53603489526699680342015-05-14T11:58:00.001-07:002015-05-14T11:58:20.161-07:00I wish for you a day full of joy and happiness. Positive inspirational quote<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wish for you a day full of joy and happiness, a day when you feel like blowing bubbles just for the sheer joy of seeing them float into the sky, carrying your dreams toward the heavens <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">*´¯`•.¸¸. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">♥</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"> *</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWK6taJckLCBSUpeJCGYHhyphenhyphenl4yzMlX1lCrx8_2C0Zb3AxGsNA5Xt0-UA1TxlXZcYi2LHdvzHBeRdA8RRNtuDw22DOFggF7pkdxzfEvqdZqyC8iDdC6zkO_3SUig-y3JbjNvX8voPt6w/s1600/carys+balloons+happiness+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWK6taJckLCBSUpeJCGYHhyphenhyphenl4yzMlX1lCrx8_2C0Zb3AxGsNA5Xt0-UA1TxlXZcYi2LHdvzHBeRdA8RRNtuDw22DOFggF7pkdxzfEvqdZqyC8iDdC6zkO_3SUig-y3JbjNvX8voPt6w/s400/carys+balloons+happiness+original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-41588804194735851482015-05-03T08:22:00.001-07:002015-05-12T00:31:49.119-07:00Beltane Celebrations and Maypole Dancing Glastonbury 2015<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RVz3DTVfNzJduyY3KABBDCmp5Sm_3glGVNhY2mGMRkn3Ru1Pk73Lm7qMaqCsJtHWhfiXcV8lIk2tj-Zq06Zoet3hFDyrplcDCXQ2g1HLYuuzpdPnmhTYoJZAA1eVBB6DFRmvpd5lGw/s1600/beltane-fire-jumping-2015-chalice-well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RVz3DTVfNzJduyY3KABBDCmp5Sm_3glGVNhY2mGMRkn3Ru1Pk73Lm7qMaqCsJtHWhfiXcV8lIk2tj-Zq06Zoet3hFDyrplcDCXQ2g1HLYuuzpdPnmhTYoJZAA1eVBB6DFRmvpd5lGw/s1600/beltane-fire-jumping-2015-chalice-well.jpg" width="171" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2s5lNH0HK_TRzS6ux5tWJWP5Dg2ohKTrSh46D-6osvv6eae5mrSk10i3qeEmWXgeG48cBOTvnet-yggROhN_o3QhyphenhyphenLSUdehB5cmWo08mtsDqNTvBpfjJWan-D-CA2UkR2eVsH_eOeQ/s1600/tessa-sosha-beltane-chalice-well-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2s5lNH0HK_TRzS6ux5tWJWP5Dg2ohKTrSh46D-6osvv6eae5mrSk10i3qeEmWXgeG48cBOTvnet-yggROhN_o3QhyphenhyphenLSUdehB5cmWo08mtsDqNTvBpfjJWan-D-CA2UkR2eVsH_eOeQ/s1600/tessa-sosha-beltane-chalice-well-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I'm finally sitting down on Sunday afternoon to write a little about Beltane in Glastonbury this year, 2015. We had a lovely day and this year it stayed dry all day! The sun did try to shine on us a little to bring in the glorious start to summer but it was a very brief showing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beltane celebrates the start of the summer on the Pagan Wheel of the Year and it is celebrated in great style in Glastonbury with much joy and merriment. This follows ancient traditions, Beltane always was a festival of great joy, a time for honouring all of our Mother Earth's bounty and the love and fertility that is all around us at this time of year. Beltane is not for the shy it is for celebrating love and not being afraid to express that love.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxrSiATRWSC6rccLA1a0FyFczWUWCFC1BPTqHwiYbhktDxJwWOzHQZVr7adgCRjos49zx4LqptiDYJiVK6GGNzdStrIioZoNMIC6i-tC2gj23V1N-3LGZBJYyIBBuQSvJE5AHYnTjzA/s1600/glastonbury+beltane+2015+celebrations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxrSiATRWSC6rccLA1a0FyFczWUWCFC1BPTqHwiYbhktDxJwWOzHQZVr7adgCRjos49zx4LqptiDYJiVK6GGNzdStrIioZoNMIC6i-tC2gj23V1N-3LGZBJYyIBBuQSvJE5AHYnTjzA/s1600/glastonbury+beltane+2015+celebrations.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjQJ25AOD5FNtLSmXA870FWNjTteJBlFyuYkVqTogdaKAKR1FcEzCsKkfI2piTSfVFSIaNZ1quUPaFTRBK21QmUmblE6O6LeVo86GM9fsFvlg4hyndMWbgHgbI5vb66O6fKn1zSblTg/s1600/beltane+glastonbury+2015+greenman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjQJ25AOD5FNtLSmXA870FWNjTteJBlFyuYkVqTogdaKAKR1FcEzCsKkfI2piTSfVFSIaNZ1quUPaFTRBK21QmUmblE6O6LeVo86GM9fsFvlg4hyndMWbgHgbI5vb66O6fKn1zSblTg/s1600/beltane+glastonbury+2015+greenman.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We started the day with a beautiful ceremony in the Chalice Well Gardens. Having driven down just for the day I didn't think I could make it through the day getting up at 2am so we had to forgo the dawn ceremony on top of the Tor which was a shame. The Chalice Well was beautiful as usual and the fire jumping occurred with great gusto this year which was immense fun! I met Tessa and Sosha there, both looking beautiful in this pic. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the love at Beltane</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The crowning of the May King and Queen and the entertainment in the Town Square was as usual hugely enjoyable with lots of folk joining in with a song to contribute. We the processed up to the White Spring for the blessing of the May Pole. I chatted to Julie Ann there who makes many of the handmade cloaks being worn today. <a href="http://www.avaloncloaks.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.avaloncloaks.co.uk</a>. We then made our way unto Bushey Coombe for the ceremony and Maypole dance.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyFhgrpXT4hAP1oqspJhyphenhyphenLETHFwYQtMqL6iYfTigm7DVX5ujtUbjMmX9HCwvJjKQboyJlOguSb-AWkDTjrP5Uu20k9jx36Ul7ldJHJw0kvAN1NJmYcIz8U1uJhtNBJsW4egOub4iO4w/s1600/glastonbury+maypole+beltane+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyFhgrpXT4hAP1oqspJhyphenhyphenLETHFwYQtMqL6iYfTigm7DVX5ujtUbjMmX9HCwvJjKQboyJlOguSb-AWkDTjrP5Uu20k9jx36Ul7ldJHJw0kvAN1NJmYcIz8U1uJhtNBJsW4egOub4iO4w/s1600/glastonbury+maypole+beltane+2015.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy the photos and if you were there please do drop me a line. If any of you are in them and you would rather I take them down then please do say and I will take them down right away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beltane blessings to you all,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AstarteAlison</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRH5WAUNnn6wVATGpf1LrCipdn15O2bJVKW7lQM1vDjEJ0FVm44mhFGKeqdKfh1SC5lJh2T5_YGAa1JBgCRU6CgNQ8v82FnuSf3U2AsyMexolSy2_VcYk0_IJtCcXOlYEu8oWQkvpNQ/s1600/glastonbury+maypole+2015+beltane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRH5WAUNnn6wVATGpf1LrCipdn15O2bJVKW7lQM1vDjEJ0FVm44mhFGKeqdKfh1SC5lJh2T5_YGAa1JBgCRU6CgNQ8v82FnuSf3U2AsyMexolSy2_VcYk0_IJtCcXOlYEu8oWQkvpNQ/s1600/glastonbury+maypole+2015+beltane.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photographs owned by myself. Please feel free to use them for personal use, any professional use please contact me for prices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-44972761102504687952015-04-28T05:59:00.001-07:002015-04-28T05:59:52.254-07:00The origins of Maypole and Morris Dancing at Beltane<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week we are looking forward to Beltane on the Pagan Wheel of the Year calendar.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5aDWb7UOtRXIIRD6EhyZliJrxVGlDBuWbkseM9KpikGKp32nL3F4_PtcZS8EFGM8psqBkI1I5znlvWBcOF1EA3q3lfqn1nvihD2NKjG3HrZqzBO4kQSzMimoHMu81IttGfSn9X0zog/s1600/greenman+maypole+beltane+glastonbury+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5aDWb7UOtRXIIRD6EhyZliJrxVGlDBuWbkseM9KpikGKp32nL3F4_PtcZS8EFGM8psqBkI1I5znlvWBcOF1EA3q3lfqn1nvihD2NKjG3HrZqzBO4kQSzMimoHMu81IttGfSn9X0zog/s1600/greenman+maypole+beltane+glastonbury+2014.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenmen and the Maypole Glastonbury Beltane 2014</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beltane really does herald the beginning of spring. I have just this morning noticed that my beautiful Ceanothus in the back garden is showing its first blue buds. The tadpoles are turning into little frogs, the birds are looking after their young and the grass once more needs mowing. Spring is indeed in full swing!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maypole Dancing Glastonbury 2014</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our ancient ancestors worshipped the earth we walk upon and venerated her for what she gives her, giving thanks at every turn of the wheel and as Pagan's we like to do the same. At Beltane this is a wonderful time to give thanks to our Mother Earth for all she provides for us. There has been a lovely increase in popularity in recent times in local maypole dances and morris dances so I'm sure you could find one near you happening over this Beltane may bank holiday. The may pole was a traditional symbol of fertility and the red and white ribbons symbolised the entwining of male and female energies. Morris dancing has long been popular at Beltane, reference's made <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9OPYXWLD1uMpr9DIwyO6b7eSTeyrP8MAv39qPaaqvEMC0Qeha3ekJ7SA1xUCBre0eGFaqSOYRiB5vfgOSzmUQnOKPcmdojrYbbN4B4NzLsbYCUk0a7yJcIGLaJEWf9La4QMBvI25FQ/s1600/morris+dancers+glastonbury+tor+beltane+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9OPYXWLD1uMpr9DIwyO6b7eSTeyrP8MAv39qPaaqvEMC0Qeha3ekJ7SA1xUCBre0eGFaqSOYRiB5vfgOSzmUQnOKPcmdojrYbbN4B4NzLsbYCUk0a7yJcIGLaJEWf9La4QMBvI25FQ/s1600/morris+dancers+glastonbury+tor+beltane+2014.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morris Dancers Glastonbury Tor Beltane 2014</td></tr>
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by Shakespeare in 'All's Well that Ends Well' point to Morris Dancing being performed on May 1st. It is believed that the Morris dances have magic weaved into them and can bring about luck and ward off evil. More information about the customs and traditions of Beltane or Beltain can be found here <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=beltane" target="_blank">Beltane Traditions</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am particularly looking forward to going down to Glastonbury where there will be much Maypole and Morris dancing to welcome in the Summer. We shall welcome in the dawn with Morris dancing on the top of the Tor followed by a ceremony and Maypole at the Chalice Well followed by another Maypole dance at Bushey Coombe. Do try and get to a celebration if you are able to. If not perhaps you can entwine some ribbons whilst you think of our wonderful Mother Earth and all she provides for us, if you are able to get up and see the sunrise, enjoy the splendour of a new dawn, the wonder of our amazing sun.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morris Dancers welcome the sun Glastonbury Tor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beltane blessings to you,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AstarteAlison</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As always if you are featured in any of my pics and would like me to take it down then please message me, many thanks, Alison </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-65243792054623357852015-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:002015-04-20T11:28:09.698-07:00Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.Sarah Ban Breathach.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again. Sarah Ban Breathnach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very uplifting words from the wonderful Sarah Ban Breathnach. She is the author of the book 'Simple Abundunce', helping you to always look on the bright side. Ironically after writing that book Sarah Ban Brethnach underwent a lot more hardship herself and faced financial ruin at the age of 61 after a lot of very poor business decisions. She writes about it in her book 'Peace and Plenty', and shows us that there is always a way out of the darkness however dark that path might look at the time. Just because yesterday was a bad day it does not mean that tomorrow will be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abundant blessings in all areas of your life, AstarteAlison</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69OT0Uv96UZpih1oIUyh85ghhyX1y-Tm0o-MOVAUIQPFw6k_r6K0b11nvuSwZZaBbx4DPB-rnjYKr6n6A0LcBEP16-fU07hhSRyKUllv5wQM2BK162LwzTa9gTTFt5PrUMxFvEnEfEA/s1600/spring-rains-sarah-breathnach-quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69OT0Uv96UZpih1oIUyh85ghhyX1y-Tm0o-MOVAUIQPFw6k_r6K0b11nvuSwZZaBbx4DPB-rnjYKr6n6A0LcBEP16-fU07hhSRyKUllv5wQM2BK162LwzTa9gTTFt5PrUMxFvEnEfEA/s1600/spring-rains-sarah-breathnach-quote.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-36856573264285000482015-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:002015-04-18T12:00:53.135-07:00New Moon Affirmation. On accepting the challenges ahead of us in life and practicing Gratitude<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a new moon today and with it comes an apology from me for not posting in ages. Too much going on I won't bore you with but hopefully life will get on bit more of an even keel now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So we have a new moon and with it always the hope of new beginnings, fresh eyes on the world, new ways of thinking, amazing opportunities and challenges to be faced. It is an exciting time in the lunar month I always find, as well as sometimes for some an unsettling on, coupled with the time of the full moon I often think this is the most turbulent time, it is how we use this time to our advantage that is the key here really. I have to admit I often do struggle at these times as I do suffer from migraines at the time of the new moon and full moon but try to push through. This is a time of challenge, we all have our challenges to face, the key is how we deal with these. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude are great ways of doing this. Concentrating on the here and now and being grateful for what you have right now, the little things, is a great way to take your mind away from the worry of any larger issues that may be causing you pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What plans do you have for this new moon, do you have any projects you would like to get started on? I plan to book my craft fairs and festivals for the summer over the next few days so that is something to look forward to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New moon blessings to you,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alison</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSf52uYDAZwllj1B9RVoEq0nQ4KESMIP4r3nxRAz8bVDoaGvjE3lFPj1gPHAfRaL2hEUijgJoqTNN7y69w5tfn0jSO_Jk19gp4TA0rne7hfA7fmjrjahewclkdkTNB-iOM1XAqZHV6w/s1600/new-moon-affirmation-challenges-change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSf52uYDAZwllj1B9RVoEq0nQ4KESMIP4r3nxRAz8bVDoaGvjE3lFPj1gPHAfRaL2hEUijgJoqTNN7y69w5tfn0jSO_Jk19gp4TA0rne7hfA7fmjrjahewclkdkTNB-iOM1XAqZHV6w/s1600/new-moon-affirmation-challenges-change.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-12562760959967447312015-03-18T11:46:00.001-07:002015-03-18T11:46:44.688-07:00Wow Increased energy with our Equinox Supermoon Ostara Eclipse!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wow Friday will certainly be a day for increased energy!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a solar eclipse here in the UK that will affect us and much of Europe, below is a map to show you the areas that will be affected. Currently it looks like a good viewing area is actually in the south of England as the weather forecast is said to be sunny here. Those that have headed up to the north of England and further north may be disappointed by the cloud cover sadly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxe4DnlbfT53f0O9aRnELjvAVuCpxaZ-tmeKxBjQq5g81cl-9nBx_M-tqEEHoNp8aPs_tLaHAVjx1aCibbAXOylZ2ECbWArojA_D72LlzL2wOu2cUEoJ8bO9ozCoo-pUSAffZwuQwsg/s1600/eclipse+map+march+2015+astarte+moon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxe4DnlbfT53f0O9aRnELjvAVuCpxaZ-tmeKxBjQq5g81cl-9nBx_M-tqEEHoNp8aPs_tLaHAVjx1aCibbAXOylZ2ECbWArojA_D72LlzL2wOu2cUEoJ8bO9ozCoo-pUSAffZwuQwsg/s1600/eclipse+map+march+2015+astarte+moon.png" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The eclipse is caused by the moon passing in front of the path of the moon. <span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;">The Sun has a diamater 400 times greater than our moon but our moon is 400 times closer to the sun than the moon. (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;">the ratio varies as both orbits are elliptical) Thus it happens that our small moon can totally block out the light from the Sun. How amazing is it that these figures cause this incredible event to occur?!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiLvPnVyhHEknP93-3d15Em4kVxncB3b8fK_VzTgNUmJ3esWTqJCyshv9B_O-DFiG4vN4sFwntetVhY5hC-ZYk2m8tU3H9WEitzhqJ2t9_y4jmCcnU3wg0jnsXqrnntElObhq1B0Hug/s1600/eclipse+march+2015+viewing+times+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiLvPnVyhHEknP93-3d15Em4kVxncB3b8fK_VzTgNUmJ3esWTqJCyshv9B_O-DFiG4vN4sFwntetVhY5hC-ZYk2m8tU3H9WEitzhqJ2t9_y4jmCcnU3wg0jnsXqrnntElObhq1B0Hug/s1600/eclipse+march+2015+viewing+times+area.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not only is this an amazing celestial event itself but the moon we will be having is a super moon. You can find out more about super moons here. How does the <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=supermoon" target="_blank">super moon</a> affect me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our March new moon will turn new just 14 hours after reaching lunar perigree, that is the closest point to the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a supermoon. <o:p></o:p></span>Super moons are known to bring higher tides than usual and the effect that they have on human and animal behaviour is heightened at the time of a Supermoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“The moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” says Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Supermoons can appear as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at their smallest size and brightness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In addition to this being a super moon eclipse it is also falling on the equinox, the day when night and day are of equal length. Thus our </span>special Ostara equinox super moon will travel in front of the sun creating a shadow that falls on our earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some statistics on that equinox eclipse I found interesting from earthsky:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"A <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/supermoon-to-stage-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-on-march-20" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">total eclipse of the sun</a> and the <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/equinox-sun-rises-due-east-and-sets-due-west" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">March equinox</a> do fall on the same date this year: March 20, 2015. The greatest eclipse occurs at 9:46 <a href="http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/universal-time" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Universal Time</a>, while the March equinox comes to pass some 13 hours later at 22:45 Universal Time. </span></div>
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<a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/supermoon-to-stage-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-on-march-20" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Supermoon total eclipse of equinox sun on March 20, 2015</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After this 2015 equinox eclipse, the next solar eclipse at the March equinox will happen on March 20, 2034. Then there will be two more in this century: 2053 and 2072. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A solar eclipse can only happen at <a href="http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/new-moon" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">new moon</a>. For a solar eclipse to take place at the vernal equinox, therefore, the new moon must come on the equinox date. Of course, a March equinox new moon doesn’t always necessarily guarantee a solar eclipse. <a href="http://earthsky.org/space/why-isnt-there-an-eclipse-every-full-moon" style="color: #00539b; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Here’s why.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New moons recur on (or near) the same calendar dates every 19 years. This 19-year lunar period is known as the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Metonic cycle</em>. Amazingly, you can project this 19-year cycle for centuries into the future (or past) to figure out when the new moon will occur on the March equinox."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In ancient times eclipses were things to be dreaded. They were often seen as signs that the Gods were angry and were greatly feared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now of course we know that is not the case. We will probably find there is a fair bit of turbulence going on however due to these events going on in the skies above us so perhaps prepare yourselves for a few choppy days at sea! Ride the waves of the turbulence and see the eclipse together with the new moon as a doorway to new adventures, open the door and do not be afraid of what you find on the other side! Ostara Oestare brings new adventures, new beginnings and a spring in your step, as the world awakens so do you! Take a page out of nature's book and find it within you to flourish as you are meant to! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Special Ostara Equinox Supermoon Eclipse blessings to you! AstarteAlison</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-3165986962240335962015-03-06T08:32:00.002-08:002015-03-06T08:32:48.815-08:00March Full Moon, a wonderful time to increase your psychic energy<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a full moon at the moment, the full moon in March is often called the full Crow moon as the cawing of the crows herald the coming of spring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Other names for the March full moon are Lenten Moon and Full Sap Moon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Full Moon brings a time of increased energy for many of us. You may find that you are more restless than usual or have a burst of activity and find yourself completing unfinished jobs. It is also a time for heightened psychic energy. You can enhance that energy with a crystal such as amethyst.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Amethyst is great for worry and stress, amethyst aids restful sleep. Enhances memory and improves motivation. Balances hormones, strengthens immune system and fights pain. Amethyst also is wonderful at increasing psychic energy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjVaisg34lI-aSy8DBq_KXE0ZD1b7pDvYauwF3yJrVdQCfxgJzWZsAzca4QyT-6dxBNpG8D-UVS5ag1bGRpxF9Phl318iBbPVEDobENnRFZ8ZFLndjZ4t6HcHIJlEFF8rNDnVw-hXfQ/s1600/pendant+amethyst+healing+silver+point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjVaisg34lI-aSy8DBq_KXE0ZD1b7pDvYauwF3yJrVdQCfxgJzWZsAzca4QyT-6dxBNpG8D-UVS5ag1bGRpxF9Phl318iBbPVEDobENnRFZ8ZFLndjZ4t6HcHIJlEFF8rNDnVw-hXfQ/s1600/pendant+amethyst+healing+silver+point.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This beautiful amethyst crystal is a wonderful way of increasing the your psychic energy at the time of the full moon or indeed at any time throughout the month. The necklace is available at the Astarte-Moon shop along with other crystal healing products. <a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Amethyst is connected to your crown chakra, wear this wonderful pendant to balance that chakra and enhance your connection to spirit and your inner self.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The beautiful amethyst point pendant comes with a lovely velvet gift bag and surprise free gift as with all Astarte Moon jewellery. The pendant is also heavy enough to be used as a pendulum for divination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy the March full moon, may your projects reach fulfilment, your dreams be realised and your inner self connected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blessings, AstarteAlison</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amethyst Pentacle Charm</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-91605334740916730192015-02-20T12:56:00.001-08:002015-02-20T12:56:25.552-08:00Chinese New Year of the Sheep and Goat 2015 and New Moon<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Chinese New Year of the Goat/Sheep/Ram to you all and Blessed New Moon to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a bit of confusion this year over which animal the year represents as the Chinese symbol Yang covers three animals the sheep, goat and the ram! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This period is also known as the Spring festival and many families take part in traditional family festivities in order to bring good fortune to the coming new year. The dragon dance is a traditional and well known part of the festivals that take place around the world over this period of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope that this new moon brings you lots of good luck and fruitfulness as the year of the sheep/goat begins. This is a perfect time for commencing any new activity you might like to look in to. Some things may have come to an end in order to allow new and exciting events in your life to enter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My fortune cookie this year read:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Sometimes when you think it is the end, it is really a new beginning."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought that was very appropriate for the new year and the new moon. Often we mourn over a loss but sometimes we have to look beyond that and see that sometimes we have to lose in order to gain and that is part of the shift in our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I send to you many new year, new moon blessings, AstarteAlison <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">☽</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">✪</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">☾</span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-43776481498459633342015-02-12T13:57:00.001-08:002015-02-13T09:53:58.026-08:00Free Valentines E-cards for you to send to your loved ones this Valentines Day<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some free Valentines e-cards for you to copy and send out to loved ones to let them know you are thinking of them. Simply right click to copy and then you can save and print out or email to your loved one. I'd love a mention if you do! If you are on your own, print one out for yourself and remember you are wonderful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check out my previous post on the Pagan origins of Valentines Day, makes for interesting reading, I had fun researching that one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Valentines Day blessings to you. AstarteAlison</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-84247536522959183012015-02-09T11:44:00.002-08:002015-02-10T00:50:05.035-08:00The Pagan origins of St Valentines Day<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is Valentine's Day on Saturday and at the moment it feels like the world has gone crazy with red roses and hearts everywhere!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not against most of these celebrations that we have it just feels like every year there is more and more stuff you can buy! As someone selling things to folk though I don't feel I can complain too much about the commercialisaion of these celebratory days that we have!(<a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/">http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a> if you want to check the site out, sorry unashamedly advertising there but girl's got to pay her bills!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is estimated that approximately a billion Valentine's cards will be sent around the globe on February 14th! I wonder how many roses will be sent to accompany them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/">http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">February 14th was originally a Pagan festival of love celebrated in Rome. It was the feast day of Juno, Queen of the Gods and the Patroness of Marriage. This day was followed by the feast of Lupercalia. The feast was named for Lupercus the hunter of Wolves, he has also gone by the name of Pan (Greek), Baal, and Nimrod in other Pagan cultures. The God Baal was known as the Sun god to the ancient Pagans. It is also said that the symbol of the heart was obtained from the Babylonians and that the word for heart was 'bal'. Thus the heart became the symbol for Nimrod or Baal.This could be the origin of the heart we now associate with Valentines Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Couples that had been matched together during the feast of Juno would stay together throughout the celebrations of Lupercalia. The match making occurred from the boys pulling the names of the girls they would be with out of a jar. Often these unions despite how they started would prove to be deep and long lasting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was towards the end of the 5th century that the Christian church decided to ensure there were no Pagan overtones to the day and dedicated February 14th to St Valentine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However you celebrate and whatever you call the day I hope you enjoy some time with your loved ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With love light and blessings to you all, AstarteAlison</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gCUcr3gx07AjwLUgCciNynnflRaW5uEGKcE4NB0uSK8V57EJBs6xI8szw_k7azZHgpv6pM29FZStzgU3kmx0Xus4y6IPf-6sLkRs2_1cembVCj79Sdt37JwlPkwdwOtVMdmrsh4xeA/s1600/jessica+galbraith+angel+of+virtues+card+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gCUcr3gx07AjwLUgCciNynnflRaW5uEGKcE4NB0uSK8V57EJBs6xI8szw_k7azZHgpv6pM29FZStzgU3kmx0Xus4y6IPf-6sLkRs2_1cembVCj79Sdt37JwlPkwdwOtVMdmrsh4xeA/s1600/jessica+galbraith+angel+of+virtues+card+love.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/">http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-4348094432809943282015-02-02T09:36:00.000-08:002015-02-02T09:36:04.599-08:00Imbolc Blessings to you, sending gratitude to Gaia<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc blessings to you and all you hold dear. The earth is struggling to awaken although much of our planet is still in the grips of winter, we hold onto the idea that spring is around the corner. Snowdrops fight their way out of the cold still earth, reminding us that there is hope in the stillness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also send our Lammas love to all those in the Southern hemisphere, giving thanks for the harvest that our Mother Earth brings us at this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever you are send out thoughts of gratitude today to our wonderful Mother Earth Gaia for all she provides for us at these times of the turning of the wheel and every day of our lives to sustain us, remember each and every living creature in your prayers, they are all part of this wonderful world we are lucky to be a part of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc and Lammas blessings, Alison </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif'; font-size: 13pt;">☽</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Menlo Regular'; font-size: 13pt;">✪</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif'; font-size: 13pt;">☾</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-257631796114048092015-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:002015-01-28T05:25:51.589-08:00Super New Moons in January February and March. Can you feel the increase in energy?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How has this moon phase been for you? I've taken full advantage of the New Moon this January and gone full on into creating my new website, it is something I have been meaning to do for a long time and have been putting off. As many of you know I suffer from migraines and this puts me off starting big jobs like this knowing that it may be hard to finish them but I decided that I just had to go for it. Our waxing moon has really been in my favour these past few days and I have been able to work really well and have got so much done. I'm very chuffed with myself!! I am also feeling a great deal of gratitude for the wonders of the universe that we inhabit and it's ever changing nature. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even my daughter who is not particularly into this sort of thing commented that the moon must be giving her energy as she was feeling it too! She is busy with a heavy work load from school at the moment and so it really helped that the waxing moon was giving her the energy to get through it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a super new moon this January so that may have something to do with it. This means that our new moon was closer to the earth than she normally is. A super moon has to be within 361,836 kilometres or 224,834 miles to be defined as a Supermoon. At the time of the super moon the effects that we normally feel at the new moon will be accentuated. This super new moon also brings wider ranging tides than normal. The tide rises higher, which is called a Perigean spring tide and also plunges much lower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More information can be found on super moons here: <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.com/search?q=supermoon">What is a Supermoon?</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our February new moon will also be a super new moon as will be the new moon in March of this year. February's new moon occurring on the 18th will be the most 'super' of the three as it is closest to the lunar perigree. Perigree means near our earth. The new moon on February 18th 2015 occurs at 23.47 UTC and the lunar perigree occurs eight hours later. Our moon in March will arrive on the 20th, approximately fourteen hours after pedigree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We will therefore be in for a real treat in February. I'm looking forward to making even more progress on my blog and website then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you would like to take a peek at my website it is <a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/">http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk</a> or you can click on the shop button at the top of the page here. I would love to know what you think, any improvements I could make etc. I'm still learning my way around the new programme. Steep learning curve but I'm getting there!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-80359476840721741992015-01-20T11:35:00.000-08:002015-01-20T11:35:11.959-08:00New Moon Blessings to you xxx<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2800000011920929px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Moon blessings to you all.Now is a great time to get stuck into a new project.Mine is working on my new website-slow but getting there! Astarte-Moon.co.uk will soon have a new look so keep an eye out! I hope it will be worth it, it's a steep learning curve but luckily the moon is in my favour, the waxing moon phase we will be in now will hopefully help me on my way!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2800000011920929px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Moon blessings to you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2800000011920929px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alison xxx</span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-19368688097724516292015-01-19T08:35:00.002-08:002015-01-19T08:35:39.931-08:00Brigid's Imbolc blessings positive inspirational quote. Follow the Brigid bliss.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc blessings to you and all those you hold dear, wherever you are, all around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May the Goddess Brighde be in your hearts and her love bring all the goodness of the first awakenings of spring to you and those around you. Brighde, Brigit or Brigid was celebrated as the Goddess of Fertility, may she bring prosperity, fertility and happiness into all aspects of your lives. Brigid was said to be the mother of the God Yule, she is nursing him now at Imbolc as he grows strong. She is known as the fire goddess and many celebrations centre around fire building and the lighting of candles. Brigid is one of the few Pagan goddesses who still survives to this day, she was adopted by the Christian church and was worshipped as Saint Brigit, although she was de canonised in the 1960s, she is still venerated in Ireland. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJqkj4WmJ5P6hAgqoWYx32v8pwn8ZbLdIRUZeokpiGTxkAjekYKTLLALBv_EzJnpWyNdUiZExp5JSGbd9qItmB_TKlc5VoVIE_gu1uH69NpmJURA4OHZEajmXYvkCIiKWnP74cZxaEw/s1600/imbolc+brigid+cross+wheel+of+year+pagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJqkj4WmJ5P6hAgqoWYx32v8pwn8ZbLdIRUZeokpiGTxkAjekYKTLLALBv_EzJnpWyNdUiZExp5JSGbd9qItmB_TKlc5VoVIE_gu1uH69NpmJURA4OHZEajmXYvkCIiKWnP74cZxaEw/s1600/imbolc+brigid+cross+wheel+of+year+pagan.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Embrace the spirit of Brigid and bring her love and joy into your lives. Our earth is awakening, allow yourselves to awaken and blossom, you will be amazed at the wonderful happiness that lies waiting ahead of you. Follow the Brigid Bliss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brigid's blessings to you, AstarteAlison</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-47880792241690744102015-01-14T13:36:00.001-08:002015-01-14T13:36:51.585-08:00Ten Fun Facts You may not know about Imbolc, festival of Brighde<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ten Facts You may not know about Imbolc</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So of course you know that Imbolc is celebrated on 2nd February and that is is the festival of the Goddess Brighde, Brigid or Brigit. There seems to be many different spellings of her name around! Imbolc celebrates the beginning of our earth's awakening and the return of the light. So the following are just a few facts about Imbolc that I put together that you may or may not know!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc derives from the word Oimelc which means lactating sheep, hence the connection to the spring time and fertility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc is also said to be translated as 'in the belly'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvIIGpLWSIWHOOr_q4DffUVCE_-Rwy8ht1ub1xsG_xuoLO72mYaNRTaFGEJYs2_wYoby9NrX0do57T34FD8drNCvzUoyGOE_BG4yHKJZZz0BcQTX7uJlfrO0g80kz4muEVV-CrU2ltg/s1600/imbolc-blessings-orig-pagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvIIGpLWSIWHOOr_q4DffUVCE_-Rwy8ht1ub1xsG_xuoLO72mYaNRTaFGEJYs2_wYoby9NrX0do57T34FD8drNCvzUoyGOE_BG4yHKJZZz0BcQTX7uJlfrO0g80kz4muEVV-CrU2ltg/s1600/imbolc-blessings-orig-pagan.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brighde is known as the Goddess of fire and Imbolc is strongly related to fire with bonfires being lit throughout the land in ancient times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brighde or Bridey dolls and Brigits cross are strong Imbolc symbols</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc is often a good time for spring cleaning and cleansing of ones living space to prepare for the year ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imbolc was re-named Candlemas and celebrated by Christianity </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Groundhog day is celebrated on Imbolc and it is said it originates from the legend of Brighde's snake emerging from the ground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trees representing Imbolc are the Rowan and the Willow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Other symbols for Imbolc are the snowdrop, the swan, candles and the plough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy this wonderful season of our earth's awakening, may the spirit of Brighde bring love and light into your hearts and your homes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blessings, Alison</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-54383166607817968622014-12-30T14:14:00.001-08:002014-12-30T14:14:21.129-08:00Moon Phases for January 2015. Full Moon in Cancer<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2015 hopefully will bring a year full of possibilities and happiness for us all. Below are the moon phases for you to help you work with those to help you enable those dreams to come true. Working within the phases of the moon helps you to use the natural forces of the universe work to your advantage: building towards things you wish to grow within your life during a waxing moon for example and looking at things you might want to let go from your life during a waning moon, for example. As we are in the time of a waxing moon on first January this is actually an excellent time for creating those New Year's resolutions or plans that you will actually stick to, their strength encouraged by the growing strength of our wonderful waxing moon. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="highlight">Our Next Full Moon is Monday 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am</span><span class="text-normal"><br />Central European Time (CET)<br />Moon sign: Cancer 14° 30'<br /><br /><strong>In other time zones:</strong><br />WELLINGTON = Monday * 5th Jan 2015 * 05:53:18 pm (NZDT)<br />SYDNEY = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 03:53:18 pm (AEDT)<br />TOKYO = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 01:53:18 pm (JST)<br />BEIJING = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 12:53:18 pm (CST)<br />BANGKOK = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 11:53:18 am (ICT)<br />DELHI = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 10:53:18 am (IST)<br />DUBAI = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 08:53:18 am (GST)<br />MOSCOW = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 07:53:18 am (MSK)<br />BERLIN = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am (CET)<br />LAGOS = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 05:53:18 am (WAT)<br />LONDON = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 04:53:18 am (GMT)<br />RIO = Monday * 5th January 2015 * 02:53:18 am (BRST)<br />SANTIAGO = Monday * 5th Jan 2015 * 01:53:18 am (CLST)<br />NEW YORK = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 11:53:18 pm (EST)<br />MEXICO CITY = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 10:53:18 pm (CST)<br />CALGARY = Sunday * 4th January 2015 * 09:53:18 pm (MST)<br />LOS ANGELES = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 08:53:18 pm (PST)<br />ANCHORAGE = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 07:53:18 pm (AKST)<br />HONOLULU = Sunday * 4th Jan 2015 * 06:53:18 pm (HAST)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text-normal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This full moon is in Cancer encouraging us to be very honest about our feelings as we go into 2015. Look deep into your heart and examine all your personal relationships to make sure you are on the right track. Keep all that is good in your life and let go of anything that is not. Venus is in retrograde encouraging us to examine past relationships, heal them and thus strengthen current ones. Full Moon Blessings for January 2015 to you all, may the moon in Cancer bring you all that your heart desires, feel the bliss, blessings, Alison</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-30840755964100176942014-12-30T12:38:00.000-08:002014-12-30T12:38:20.675-08:00As we look to the New Year, Hold on to what is good. Inspirational New Year Quote 2015As we look to the New Year, Hold on to what is good, Let go of what is bad. It really is that simple. Mandy Hale.<br />
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New Year Blessings to you all, hope that 2015 brings you a year full of health and happiness. This is wonderful advice from Mandy Hale. The New Year is a good time for looking at what we do and don't need in our lives. I'm not one for a big new year's resolution list but it can be a good time to just take a bit of time to reassess and look at what is working and what is not. Make a few changes, make a new years resolution list if that is what works for you but only if you know it is a realistic one that you can stick to. Keep the good and let go of the bad and look forward to a wonderful 2015 full of bliss and all that you deserve.<br />
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Much love and rainbow hugs, Alison xxxx <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif'; font-size: 13pt;">☽</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Menlo Regular'; font-size: 13pt;">✪</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif'; font-size: 13pt;">☾</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-25844940356853752442014-12-17T03:14:00.000-08:002014-12-17T03:14:37.231-08:00On Combining Christmas and Yule, Winter Solstice<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How do you combine Christmas and Yule in your family traditions? Do you celebrate both traditions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our family I have only been a Pagan for approximately four years. My teenage daughters therefore in regards to Paganism, how can I put it; 'gently support' what they term their Mum's 'hippy ways'! They love what I do and I know a lot of it is rubbing off on them but they in in no way put them selves in my camp it just wouldn't be cool! Perhaps if I had become a Pagan whilst they were toddlers it might have been different. I look wistfully every year at the mothers and their very young children all dressed up with flowers in </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">their hair at the maypole in Glastonbury for Beltane!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas is therefore a very big event in our house. Although adults really now my girls adore Christmas and get really excited which I love. I have no problem with celebrating Christian holidays alongside Pagan ones and have not let go of a lot of my Catholic upbringing. I believe in religious tolerance for all religions, every religion has something to offer and we can never say one is better than another. Personally I like to draw from many different religions in my personal beliefs. For me Paganism is about worshipping our Mother Earth </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">not about whose religion is the better one.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Yule Altar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So to celebrate Yule at the Winter Solstice this year I will be lighting candles and having a private mediation, welcoming the return of the sun. I struggle with the long dark days so will be very glad that our sun is returning to light our earth. For that I give gratitude to our wonderful Mother Earth Gaia. I like to bring the outside into the house at this time of year so have made our mantlepiece into an altar to honour our Mother Earth, the Goddess Gaia. This is following ancient Pagan customs of bringing greenery such as holly ivy and mistletoe into homes for good luck, more on ancient customs can be found <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.com/search?q=yule">here</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ3Tm7emnMiHCtThDsPj8zJ8gdxFNuUmWHF8jZiIeuc4XNTQg_Kg6gDiI7zJLxaznYwjZvmtYEnuu_v46fQQA2Wp8XzqRC1Cm5rxCDHDpTO_a-vpziRTnjbouFOvqQ6I216lUeLCv2w/s1600/yule+christmas+tree+pentacle+pentagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ3Tm7emnMiHCtThDsPj8zJ8gdxFNuUmWHF8jZiIeuc4XNTQg_Kg6gDiI7zJLxaznYwjZvmtYEnuu_v46fQQA2Wp8XzqRC1Cm5rxCDHDpTO_a-vpziRTnjbouFOvqQ6I216lUeLCv2w/s1600/yule+christmas+tree+pentacle+pentagram.jpg" height="320" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Pagan Christmas tree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although our Christmas tree is festooned with baubles and memories of holidays past I also like to Paganise it a little with ornaments I have made and pentacle charms. Perhaps you can have a go at making your own pentacle charm to go on your Christmas tree this year? Pentacle charms like the one depicted here are still available in the <a href="http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=18&zenid=f5d1f05b8ac37f6f5208fcf64f155aef">Astarte Moon Shop</a> as well. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvePEavaqNJjp5Yd4Ai6l84mbgURLfZ-Sfck9q66qMsD_5R9NE4P1D_WikxksnDuCJjJCYL_On0NZrQpRPHaTFORHRdVSbMk1P_3HxDmTc8bh4xp-xyJqyfT7bt9BkiVpSgXeGAsJeA/s1600/pentacle_pagan_yule_charm_pagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvePEavaqNJjp5Yd4Ai6l84mbgURLfZ-Sfck9q66qMsD_5R9NE4P1D_WikxksnDuCJjJCYL_On0NZrQpRPHaTFORHRdVSbMk1P_3HxDmTc8bh4xp-xyJqyfT7bt9BkiVpSgXeGAsJeA/s1600/pentacle_pagan_yule_charm_pagan.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yule Pentacle charm-Astarte-Moon Shop</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blessings of love and light for the return of the sun at Yule to you, AstarteAlison</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-74050817022487191232014-12-08T12:08:00.000-08:002014-12-08T12:08:24.939-08:00You are the magic, absolute belief is the key. Positive Waxing Moon Inspirational Affirmation<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are the magic, absolute belief is the key.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a wonderful positive affirmation, print this free e-card out if you like and put it somewhere where you will see it all the time, such as the back of your front door. You are the magic, you can achieve your dreams. Now is the perfect time to set in motion those dreams as we are in the time of a waxing moon, a great time to repeat those positive affirmations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Magickal blessings to you, Alison</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370245410650998892.post-75897642713631242302014-12-04T08:25:00.001-08:002014-12-05T13:14:50.092-08:00Cold Yule Moon Saturday 6th December 2014. Moon phases December<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are coming up to our beautiful Yule Cold Moon on Saturday 6th December. We haven't seen any snow here but the other side of the Atlantic have had more than enough already! This December Full moon was often called the Snow Moon, Cold Moon or frost Moon for obvious reasons! More background on Full Moon names can be found here: <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.com/search?q=december+moon">Dec Moon names</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Full Moon is our Christmas moon, our Yule moon. It is often thus named as 'The Long Nights Moon' or 'The Moon Before Yule' as the Solstice occurs usually around the 21st December when we have the longest night and the shortest day. More information on the Pagan celebration of <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.com/search?q=yule">Yule</a> may be found here. <a href="http://www.astartemoonblog.com/search?q=yule">Yule Celebrations</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below are details of Full Moon times wherever you might be.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gCPn7vPhvnBg7kzgUbmg4d8QWPStBQl2FmlO1bv5fXFEigUZNOyX9vmpBfps6f2FgsWG8qr8NdL1sFBRm50FSLFvydi6MIftcyoMYslk42IZRCrLYIi_n17ZDHrBCRdfqCbvyGIZTw/s1600/full-moon-setting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gCPn7vPhvnBg7kzgUbmg4d8QWPStBQl2FmlO1bv5fXFEigUZNOyX9vmpBfps6f2FgsWG8qr8NdL1sFBRm50FSLFvydi6MIftcyoMYslk42IZRCrLYIi_n17ZDHrBCRdfqCbvyGIZTw/s1600/full-moon-setting.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting moon earth sky.org</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="highlight">Saturday 6th December 2014 01:26:48 pm </span><span class="text-normal">Central European Time (CET)<br />Moon sign: Gemini 14° 17'<br /><br />WELLINGTON = Sunday * 7th Dec 2014 * 01:26:48 am (NZDT)<br />SYDNEY = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 11:26:48 pm (AEDT)<br />TOKYO = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 09:26:48 pm (JST)<br />BEIJING = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 08:26:48 pm (CST)<br />BANGKOK = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 07:26:48 pm (ICT)<br />DELHI = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 05:56:48 pm (IST)<br />MOSCOW = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 03:26:48 pm (MSK)<br />RIYADH = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 03:26:48 pm (AST)<br />BERLIN = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 01:26:48 pm (CET)<br />LAGOS = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 01:26:48 pm (WAT)<br />LONDON = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 12:26:48 pm (GMT)<br />RIO = Saturday * 6th December 2014 * 10:26:48 am (BRST)<br />NEW YORK = Saturday * 6th Dec 2014 * 07:26:48 am (EST)<br />MEXICO CITY = Saturday * 6th Dec 2014 * 06:26:48 am (CST)<br />LOS ANGELES = Saturday * 6th Dec 2014 * 04:26:48 am (PST)<br />HONOLULU = Saturday * 6th Dec 2014 * 02:26:48 am (HAST)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text-normal">And here are the moon phases for December 2014, sorry I am a bit late in updating this post for you.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Full Yule Moon Blessings to you, Alison</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07881364834752476550noreply@blogger.com1