The Stonecutter

Beltane Is Coming

 

Beltane is a Fire Festival. The word 'Beltane' originates from the Celtic God 'Bel', meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic word 'teine' meaning fire. 

Together they make 'Bright Fire', or 'Goodly Fire' and traditionally bonfires were lit to honour the Sun and encourage the support of Bel and the Sun's light to nurture the emerging future harvest and protect the community. 

Bel had to be won over through human effort. 
Traditionally all fires in the community were put out and a special fire was kindled for Beltane. 

"This was the Tein-eigen, the need fire. 

People jumped the fire to purify, cleanse and to bring fertility. 
Couples jumped the fire together to pledge themselves to each other. 

Cattle and other animals were driven through the smoke as a protection from disease and to bring fertility. 
At the end of the evening, the villagers would take some of the Teineigen to start their fires anew." 

(From Sacred Celebrations by Glennie Kindred) Green Man - Beltane

 

 

May Day, still celebrated is all about welcoming Summer. 

The Germanic Pagans celebrated the night before by lighting a bonfire, and dancing around a Maypole which symbolized a big throbbing Schwanz.

The night before May Day, known as Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night) is celebrated by German Pagan Folk band Faun, and they do it beautifully.

 

The Video by Faun proves that Paganism is alive and well.

May Day, still celebrated is all about welcoming Summer. The Germanic Pagans celebrated the night before by lighting a bonfire, and dancing around a Maypole which symbolized a big throbbing Schwanz.

The night before May Day, known as Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night) is celebrated by German Pagan Folk band Faun, and they do it beautifully.

Faun’s “Walpurgisnacht” of German Pagans coming out to celebrate goes like this:

“In den Abendhimmel steigen 

Heute Nacht die Zauberweisen

Wildes Volk und Liliths Art

Lauernd Winde heimlich fahrt

Lasst uns zu den Feuern streifen

Raunend nach den Sternen greifen

Gutes und auch böses Wort

Tragen wir heut fort und fort”

In the sky tonight

The witches rise

Wild Folk and Lilith's kind

Lurking, secretly riding the winds

Let us wander to the fires

Whispering, reaching for the stars

Both the good and the bad word

We carry on and on tonight

An English translation really doesn't do justice to how poetic this sounds in German. But as you listen you can feel the music.

 
The very beginning has this nice drum rhythm that lets you know you’re in for something special. Then after the vocalists do some beautiful harmonizing, they move into the chorus.

“Hört die Geigen, hört die Geigen,

Die Feuer sind entfacht

Folgt dem Reigen, folgt dem Reigen

In der Walpurgisnacht”

Hear the violins, hear the violins

The fires are ignited

Follow the dance, follow the dance

In the Walpurgisnacht

As we, in the Northern Hemisphere will be celebrating Beltane, 

our Brothers & Sisters in the Southern Hemisphere will be celebrating Samhain.

 

Native Americans Natural Remedies

We want to share a list of plants that are common in North America, used by Native Americans in their medicine.
Some of these plants that are still used today as natural remedies, such as chamomile. It would be interesting to know how the Indians came to the knowledge that the plant has healing properties.

Native Americans knew a long time ago about the benefits of White Sage.

White Sage has been a traditional choice for burning and smudging for the Native Americans because of all of the herbs, it is one of the best for cleansing. 

Medicine People used this herb on people who were ill, to bring them back from the negative place where their body and soul laid. 

Today, sage is often used in smudging ceremonies everywhere for those who are seeking balance and pure thought, spirit and body. 

Here's the list:

Here's a list of plants that are common in North America, used by Native Americans in their medicine.
Some of these plants that are still used today as natural remedies, such as chamomile. 

It would be interesting to know how the Indians came to the knowledge that the plant has healing properties.

1. Alfalfa: It facilitates digestion and helps with blood clotting. Some are used to temporarily treat arthritis, bladder and kidney, but also bones. Strengthens the immune system.
2. Aloe: A cactus from plant whose thick leaves can squeeze the juice that can then be used for the treatment of burns, bites of insects and wounds.
3. Aspen: Tea is made from bark or xylem and is used to treat fever, cough and pain. It contains salicin, which is also found in the scabbard and which is the basic ingredient of aspirin.
4. Bee pollen: In combination with food, it increases energy, helps with digestion and strengthens the immune system. If you are allergic to honey bees, you are probably allergic to bee pollen.
5. Beeswax: It is used as a balm for the treatment of burns and bites of insects. It is used exclusively for external use.
6. Blackberry: Milled root, bark and leaves are used to make tea which is excellent for the treatment of diarrhea, reduce inflammation and stimulate metabolism. It can be heated for treating pain in the throat, ulcers in the mouth and inflammation of the gums.
7. Black Raspberry: The roots of this plant are crushed and used as a tea or boiled and chewed to relieve coughs, diarrhea and general intestinal distress.
8. Buckwheat: The seeds are used in soups and as porridge to lower blood pressure, help with blood clotting and relieve diarrhea.
9. Cayenne: The pods are used as a pain reliever when taken with food or drunk in a tea. Also used to treat arthritis and digestive distress. It is sometimes applied to wounds as a powder to increase blood flow and act as an antiseptic and anesthetic to numb the pain.
10. Chamomile: The leaves and flowers of this plant are used in the form of tea for treating problems with the intestines and nausea.
11. Chokecherry: Considered by Native American tribes as an all-purpose medicinal treatment, the berries were pitted, dried and crushed into a tea or a poultice to treat a variety of ailments. These include coughs, colds, flu, nausea, inflammation and diarrhea. As a salve or poultice it is used to treat burns and wounds. The pit of the chokecherry – much like apple seeds – are poisonous in high concentrations. Be sure to pit the cherries if you’re considering this for any use.
12. Echinacea: This plant is used to strengthen the immune system and treat infections and fevers. It is also used as an antiseptic for the treatment of cough, colds and flu.
13. Eucalyptus: The oil from the leaves and root of this plant is used to make tea for the treatment of cough, sore throat, flu and fever.
14. Fennel: A plant with a licorice flavor, this is used in a tea or chewed to relieve coughs, sore-throat, aid digestion, offer relief to diarrhea and was a general treatment for colds. It also is used as a poultice for eye relief and headaches.
15. Feverfew: Used to this day as a natural relief for fever and headaches – including severe headaches like migraines – it also can be used for digestive problems, asthma and muscle and joint pains.
16. Feverwort: Another fever remedy that also is used for general pain, itching and joint stiffness. It can be ingested as a tea or chewed, or crushed to a paste as a salve or poultice.
17. Ginger root: The root of this plant is milled and fed with food, and can be stored in the form of tea, balsam or coating. It helps in digestion, it works anti-inflammatory, increases circulation and relieves colds, cough, flu and bronchitis.
18. Ginseng: This is another contemporary herb that has a history that goes back across cultures for millennia. The roots were used by Native Americans as a food additive, a tea and a poultice to treat fatigue, boost energy, enhance the immune system and help with overall liver and lung function. The leaves and stems also were used, but the root has the most concentration of active ingredients.
19. Goldenrod Although today considered for the plant that causes allergies and sneezing, Indians have considered it for medicinal plant. In the form of tea, it is used to treat bronchitis and lung problems, but also flu, inflammation and sore throat. It is also used as an antiseptic for cuts and injuries.
20. Honeysuckle: The berries, stems, flowers and leaves are used to topically treat bee stings and skin infections. As a tea, it is used to treat colds, headaches and sore throat. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
21. Hops: As a tea it is used to treat digestive problems and often mixed with other herbs or plants, such as aloe, to soothe muscles. It also is used to soothe toothaches and sore throat.
22. Licorice: Roots and leaves can be used for coughs, colds, sore throats. The root also can be chewed to relieve toothaches.
23. Mullein: As an infusion in tea or added to a salad or other food, this is a plant that has been used by Native Americans to treat inflammation, coughs and congestion and general lung afflictions. It is quite common and you probably have it growing in your backyard or somewhere close.
24. Passion flower: The leaves and roots are used to make a tea to treat anxiety and muscle pain. A poultice for injuries to the skin such as burns, insect bites and boils also can be made from passion flower.
25. Red clover: It grows everywhere and the flowers, leaves and roots are usually infused in a tea or are used to top food. It is used to manage inflammation, improve circulation and treat respiratory conditions.
26. Rose hip: This is the red to orange berry that is the fruit of wild roses. It is already known to be a massive source of vitamin C and when eaten whole, crushed into a tea or added to food it is used to treat colds and coughs, intestinal distress, as an antiseptic and to treat inflammation.
27. Rosemary: A member of the pine family and used in food and as a tea to treat muscle pain, improve circulation and as a general cleanser for the metabolism.
28. Sage: This bush is a natural insect repellent, and can be used to treat digestive problems, but also for the treatment of colds and sore throats.
29. Spearmint: It is used for the treatment of cough, colds, respiratory problems, but also for the treatment of diarrhea and the strengthening of circulation in the blood.
30. Valerian: The root of this plant in the form of tea alleviates pain in the muscles and pain in general, and has a calming effect.
31. White Pine: Ubiquitous and the needles and the inner bark can be infused in a tea. Used as a standard treatment for respiratory distress and chest congestion.

Source: https://livingwellmindness.com/31-long-forgotten-native-american-medical-cures/

Witchcraft and Eggshells

It helps block negative energies from a physical space so pressing it into chalk form, or sprinkling it can work as a barrier to keep unwanted energies away.

Some say it even blocks out the benign energies at work as well, so it’s great for those times when you need to reset for a little while.

Sprinkle it across thresholds such as windows and doors or even use it to draw sigils. 

It can also be used to enhance your intuition because it protects you from that which seeks to take advantage of you when making decisions.

Simply rubbing a little of the powder on you or dabbing a dot onto your third eye energy point is said achieve this. 

Another use is purification and is especially useful in the bath. 

It dissolves easily in water so adding it to a bath intended for purification can amp up the cleansing effect.  

 How to make it:

1. Boil water in a pot
2. Place empty eggs shells in boiling water carefully.
3. Boil for 10 minutes.
4. Drain water from shells and place on paper towel to dry overnight.
5. When shells are completely dried, place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment.
6. Bake egg shells for about 10 minutes or until they are completely dried at 200 degrees (F).
7. When cool enough to handle, place egg shells a few at time into an electric coffee grinder and pulse until finely ground.
8. Store in airtight container away from heat or moisture. 

To protect from Salmonella (a harmful bacteria that can make you sick) store your used egg shells in the egg carton and refrigerate until you are ready to boil your shells, making sure never to leave them sitting out for long. 

Egg shells make great plant food so you can share with your plants. I use this in my homemade pet food as a calcium supplement.