~ Saint Magick – Saint Brigid of Kildare ~ – Ye Olde Dark Arts

saint-brigid

FEAST DAY: February 1

DAY OF THE WEEK: Sunday

CANDLE COLOR: Yellow

LEGEND: Daughter of Dubtach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca, a Christian Pictish slave who had been baptized by Saint Patrick. Just before Brigid’s birth, her mother was sold to a Druid landowner. Brigid remained with her mother till she was old enough to serve her legal owner Dubtach, her father.

She grew up marked by her high spirits and tender heart, and as a child, she heard Saint Patrick preach, which she never forgot. She could not bear to see anyone hungry or cold, and to help them, often gave away things that were Dubtach’s. When Dubtach protested, she replied that “Christ dwelt in every creature”. Dubtach tried to sell her to the King of Leinster, and while they bargained, she gave a treasured sword of her father’s to a leper. Dubtach was about to strike her when Brigid explained she had given the sword to God through the leper, because of its great value. The King, a Christian, forbade Dubtach to strike her, saying “Her merit before God is greater than ours”. Dubtach solved this domestic problem by giving Brigid her freedom.

Brigid’s aged mother was in charge of her master’s dairy. Brigid took charge ,and often gave away the produce. But the dairy prospered under her (hence her patronage of milk maids, dairy workers, cattle, etc.), and the Druid freed Brigid’s mother.

Brigid returned to her father, who arranged a marriage for her with a young bard. Bride refused, and to keep her virginity, went to Bishop Mel, a pupil of Saint Patrick’s, and took her first vows. Legend says that she prayed that her beauty be taken from her so no one would seek her hand in marriage; her prayer was granted, and she regained her beauty only after making her vows. Another tale says that when Saint Patrick heard her final vows, he mistakenly used the form for ordaining priests. When told of it he replied, “So be it, my son, she is destined for great things.”

Her first convent started with seven nuns. At the invitation of bishops, she started convents all over Ireland. She was a great traveller, especially considering the conditions of the time, which led to her patronage of travellers, sailors, etc. Brigid invented the double monastery, the monastery of Kildare that she ran on the Liffey river being for both monks and nuns. Saint Conleth became its first bishop; this connection and the installation of a bell that lasted over 1000 years apparently led to her patronage of blacksmiths and those in related fields.

PETITION SAINT BRIGED: for childbirth, protection from fires, fertility, the hearth, healing, physcians, agriculture, animal husbandry, inspiriation, learning, poetry, prophecy, smithcraft, love.

PATRONAGE: babies; blacksmiths; boatmen; cattle; chicken farmers; children whose parents are not married; dairymaids; dairy workers; fugitives; infants; Ireland; Leinster, Ireland; mariners; midwives; milk maids; newborn babies; nuns; poets; poultry farmers; poultry raisers; printing presses; sailors; scholars; travellers; watermen

REPRESENTATION: abbess, usually holding a lamp or candle, often with a cow nearby

Source: ~ Saint Magick – Saint Brigid of Kildare ~ – Ye Olde Dark Arts

Decision Fatigue – Elder Mountain Dreaming

Decision Fatigue by Phoenix of Elder Mountain:

The up and coming adults in their mid life transformation (midlife crisis for those who didn’t prepare), have a specific issue for their generation: The Pluto in Libra was group born between 1971 and 1982 (45 years old down to the age 34) as a world wide group of people who have Libra issues to contend with in their archetype and of the bigger picture in their lives in their early to mid-forties.I found many of the Decision Fatigue articles written by men and didn’t seem to cover women’s issues or reality, or the emotional sides of issues, so I thought I would share the emotionally draining fatigue that women (and some men) must deal with in this generation:

1. Finding Balance;

2. Right Relationship with Peers;

3. Making Decisions with Scrutiny.

la-balance-4 In decision making, decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long duration of decision making. It is now understood as one of the causes of irrational trade-offs in decision making. For instance, judges in court have been shown to make less favorable decisions later in the day than early in the day by a study of Psychologists. Decision fatigue may also lead to consumers making poor choices with emotional issues at home and become enablers not only of their own behaviors which are draining but also passing it onto their children in their emotional relationships.There is a paradox in that “people who lack choices seem to want them and often will fight for them,” yet at the same time, “people find that making many choices can be [psychologically and emotionally] aversive.”

Decision fatigue can lead people to avoid decisions entirely, a phenomenon called “Decision avoidance” or projecting it onto a spouse to make all the decisions and then becoming angry it wasn’t done the way they wished it to be done. Passive aggressive decision fatigue syndrome. The Virgo in Pluto group had to deal with the onset of “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – but many Libra in Pluto people tend to be healthy physically when they apply a routine such as yoga class or meditation and don’t show the same physical signs of stress. They are showing that its a mental sign of distress.

Decisions are a mental body process, but true “right relationship” to our life, family, friends and our world are instinctual relationships based on our “known values” and instinct is our emotional body. If we do not know what our values are, this can be troublesome because the mental body is linear, it cannot see or perceive holistically or 360 degrees in personal decision making. This is where the trouble begins for this particular generation in this particular stressful issue.

The younger Libra generation who are reaching full adulthood (37-45) now, are at the Midlife and life is asking them to make “important decisions based on right relationship to find balance” more than other generations. The group older than the Libra group are the Pluto in Virgo generation (1957 – 1970) who at their midlife had to contend and deal with Virgo’s archetype of Health & Communications and getting things in order and structured.

This can lead to Decision Fatigue, not only personally but adding to a complex and overwhelming modern technological age of too much information, which at midlife, its a third layer on top of an already busy life in the ‘fullness of life’ of a three stages of a persons life. This can lead to bad decisions when one is exhausted or no decisions of meaning at the most important time of life. Learning to free up some decision making space and learning to say “no” in huge amounts is important. This is because the Pluto in Libra generation has much more relationship issues than they recognize. A lot more to the many, many relationship and life decisions that are knocking them off balance day by day, once the thirties are over.

Since Libra, Leo and Scorpio are the three “social, love, and partnership relationship signs (sun or moon), verses the family relationship signs of Cancer, Capricorn and Taurus, the Libra generation needs its mirrors of friends, partnerships and social partnerships in order to see the self more clearly. This can up the amount of decisions, especially if married with children or raising children within a divorced home.

index So if you are having overwhelming decision fatigue making you too tired from the chaos within, i heard a great interview on the radio with the two women who wrote this book on the left. I am not a reader but I know a lot of people find value and these two women who I thought had great ideas, and great value and ideas proven to work, and how to work with decision fatigue.Please do pass along this helpful information if you know someone suffering from indecision who are stressed out or sleeping a lot because they are overwhelmed.

It can add one more puzzle peace to your healing!

Source: Decision Fatigue – Elder Mountain Dreaming

Through Shade and Shadow!! – Natalie J Case

Today is the release date for Through Shade and Shadow!! It is now available in both paperback and kindle!

Also, today is the day that my Goodreads Giveaway is open to enter. Sign up between now and midnight on the 10th of February for your chance at one of two signed books I’m giving away.

And, NEW, if you want to order an autographed copy from me, you can now do that on my facebook author’s page! All of my current works are listed, and there’s even an option to bundle all three for a discount.

I am very excited to share this book with you and rest assured I am hard at work on the sequel so hopefully you won’t have to wait too long.

Once you’ve read it, I hope you will consider leaving a review, whether on Amazon (US, UK, CA, AU, etc) or Goodreads. Reviews are important in getting the book in front of more people.

As always, thanks for reading. And maybe Saturday I’ll open up an Ask Me Anything kind of post. I love hearing from you!

Source: Through Shade and Shadow!! – Natalie J Case

Wild Horses Deserve a Better Film than ‘Unbranded’

by Libby Blanchard as published on High Country News

“I found the documentary disturbing. Scenes of negligence towards the mustangs abound…”

A few nights ago, I downloaded the acclaimed 2015 film Unbranded. This crowd-funded film, made by Fin and Fur Productions from Bozeman, Montana, depicts the journey of four young men who ride mustangs from the Mexican border up to Canada, traveling through some of the most beautiful public lands in the American West.

Unbranded is marketed as a celebration of the American mustang, both wild and under saddle. It was featured at the Banff Mountain Film and Telluride Mountainfilm festivals, and continues to be promoted widely. Last year, it was a top download on iTunes and gained over 150,000 likes on Facebook. Outside Magazine and the Los Angeles Times gave it glowing reviews.

But I found the documentary disturbing. Scenes of negligence towards the mustangs abound. A dog drives a horse to jump a barbed wire fence. The horse’s hind leg gets ensnarled in the wire, and the animal struggles to pull free while the boys watch.

Another scene shows a horse limping from a torn muscle in its hindquarters, the after-effect of setting him loose to graze with his halter on. Any real horseman knows that a horse can easily catch its hoof in the webbing of a halter negligently left on, resulting in severe and potentially permanent injuries.

But the most egregious scene is when the boys force their horses up dangerous terrain. Someone notes that the route is a bad idea, but no one has the maturity or leadership to turn back. After struggling up the steep mountain face, one horse — unable to gain purchase in the loose, unstable footing — kneels down in exhaustion. When the boys provoke it back onto its feet, the mustang struggles for a foothold. Unable to find purchase, it tumbles off the mountainside, rolling through the air down a significant drop before crashing onto flatter ground.

At this point, I turned off the film, disgusted. When I finished it later, I discovered — unsurprisingly, given the negligence and ignorance throughout — that one of the horses dies. This fatal injury, likely a cervical spine fracture, is never explained. Instead, the death is romanticized by these self-identified cowboys, who say it is “satisfying to know that he died in the wild where he belonged, not in a holding pen.” Yet there’s little moral high ground for the cowboys to stand on: A horse was fatally injured under their care, a circumstance that is neither common nor acceptable on a horse-packing trip.

The film’s storyline is also troubling. A veterinarian and various Bureau of Land Management officials talk about how hard it is to protect public lands from overgrazing while still conserving the mustang as an American icon. The solution: moving “surplus” mustangs from the range to federally run holding pens to prevent further degradation of the land and starvation of the horses. Yet the filmmakers make only a slight attempt to explore the contentious political context of too many mustangs roaming the public land. The title, Unbranded, by the way, makes little sense as the BLM freeze-brands every horse that it rounds up for adoption or life in a holding pen.

The only comprehensive thread woven through the documentary is the account of four fame-seeking boys who disregard the welfare of their horses to inflate their own egos. Instead of being exalted, the American mustang is treated as a cheap, easily replaceable commodity available for irresponsible use.

While some reviewers have criticized the choices of the protagonists, virtually all conclude that the film is redeemable because of its cinematography. Unbranded does depict sweeping vistas, but this doesn’t excuse the behavior of the people we’re watching. As Aristotle observed, when storytelling goes bad, spectacle is substituted for substance. Richly painted sunsets and the drama of needlessly frightened, panicking horses become ends in themselves.

As wrong as it was for these young men to treat their mustangs neglectfully, it is also unfortunate for the public to accept this behavior. To celebrate this documentary at film festivals, to mount no outcry about it in over a year, is to condone behavior that is neither common nor acceptable. Those of us who love the West and its mustangs should stay away from this documentary.

http://www.hcn.org/articles/mustangs-deserve-a-better-film-than-unbranded

Source: Wild Horses Deserve a Better Film than ‘Unbranded’ | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

Emu Oil: Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Emu oil has become popular recently due to health claims surrounding its uses and benefits.

Before using emu oil, it is important to understand what it is used for and what possible health benefits it has. It is also important to learn about the possible risks and side effects of using the oil.

What is emu oil?

The emu is the second largest living bird by height and is native to Australia.

An emu is a flightless bird, scientifically named Dromaius novaehallandiae. The bird is native to Australia but is now found in many countries because of a rising popularity of nutritious emu meat and medicinal emu oil.

Emu oil itself is a bright yellow liquid, made up of mostly fat, which is collected from the deposits below the skin of the bird. Once the fats are collected, they are passed through various filters and processes until pure oil is produced. It is a widely available commercial product with some unique benefits.

There are also different types of emu oil, based on different levels of filtration and processing. Most emu oils will go through full processing in order to reduce bacteria and contaminants. Some emu oils are refined more than others in order to create higher contents of fatty acids.

Organizations such as the American Emu Association have certification programs that aim to ensure that the emu oil people buy is pure and that the emus enjoyed the best possible lives. Completely pure emu oil will always be fully refined and is the type of emu oil studied for its beneficial effects.

Uses and health benefits

The use of emu oil originates from the Australian Aborigine culture. According to their oral history, emu oil has been used for over 40,000 years. The oil has been used to relieve minor aches and pains, help wounds heal quicker, and protect skin from the elements.

The Aborigines first introduced emu oil into European culture as a natural sunscreen and moisturizer. European settlers soon adopted the use of emu oil and many other natural remedies that the Aborigines provided. Since then, people have discovered many more benefits to emu oil.

Anti-Inflammatory

Emu oil has been used for over 40,000 years by Australian Aboriginal people.

The most popular benefit of emu oil is its use as an anti-inflammatory. In a review posted to the journal Nutrition, researchers noted that the potent anti-inflammatory effect of emu oil may be beneficial in treating conditions like ear inflammation, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and even prevent bone loss induced by chemotherapy.

Emu oil is also popular with massage therapists, who use it to help treat people with arthritis.

Enhancing skin moisture and absorption

The skin easily absorbs emu oil. This can help lock in skin moisture, making the skin less prone to cracking or drying out. Emu oil is often suggested for the dry skin associated with cancer radiation.

It appears that emu oil can pass this absorbable trait on to other compounds when they are mixed together. This property may explain why emu oil is regularly mixed into moisturizers containing other helpful compounds.

Stimulating the skin

The research also signals that applying emu oil to the skin may help increase the number of healthy skin cells. Emu oil stimulates the skin to reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, and rejuvenate aging or sun-damaged skin.

Emu oil has also been recommended for use in the treatment of skin conditions like alopecia, rosacea, hypopigmentation, shingles, and dermatitis.

Healing wounds

Because of its painkilling effect, antioxidant levels, and ability to reach deep into the skin, emu oil is great to apply on small wounds, cuts, bruises, or burns. It can help ease the pain of minor wounds, and the antioxidants may help protect the skin from additional damage.

Bug repellant

Applying emu oil to the skin before heading outdoors can actually help repel insects. This is partly due to substances called terpenes found in the oil. Many insects are disoriented or repelled by terpenes, and putting the oil on the exposed skin is a great way to keep bugs at bay.

Reducing cholesterol

When taken orally, emu oil may actually reduce cholesterol in the body. Researchers found that when compared to olive oil, subjects who were fed emu oil had significantly reduced cholesterol levels. More trials are needed to substantiate these claims, but the results are promising.

Treating ulcers

According to some research posted to Pharmacy Today, emu oil may also help treat ulcers.

In people who had ulcers, applications of various levels of emu oil had a protective effect. In some cases, the oil even reduced the size of the ulcers.

Breast sensitivity

For breastfeeding mothers who experience pain, emu oil may be used to reduce breast sensitivity.

According to a peer review posted to Nutrition, emu oil may also reduce the breast sensitivity common in breastfeeding mothers.

When newborns latch onto the breast, some women may experience pain caused by an improper latch. This can result in soreness, engorgement, cracked and dry skin, and pain. These symptoms may be severe enough to cause some new mothers to stop breastfeeding.

Researchers found that when breastfeeding mothers used an emu-based cream for a 24-hour period beginning soon after delivery, the breast areola and nipple skin was more hydrated.

Before feeding her baby, a woman should wipe her nipple and breast with a warm cloth to remove any residual oil. This is because emu oil has not been proven safe for infants and children to ingest.

How does emu oil work?

While many topical creams claim to be effective for dry skin, arthritis, and inflammation, most creams and lotions are made up of large particles that cannot penetrate the skin. However, emu oil is made up of smaller particles, which allows it to carry many healthful compounds to deep layers of the skin.

Emu oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), antioxidants, and compounds, including:

Essential fatty acids: Emu oil is high in omega-3, omega 6, and omega-9 fatty acids. This help reduces inflammation, ease muscular pain, and arthritic joint pain. They may also help relieve signs of wrinkles, scars, and blemishes by nourishing the skin cells.
Vitamin A: An antioxidant and essential nutrient, vitamin A is an excellent skin tonic.
Additional compounds like carotenoids, flavones, polyphenols, tocopherol, and phospholipids.

Side effects, risks, and considerations

Emu oil is a natural product and there are few documented side effects. Some people may experience skin irritation when applying emu oil directly to the skin as a topical ointment. To prevent this, a person should apply a small amount of emu oil to a small patch of skin, such as the back of one hand. If an allergic reaction occurs, they should stop using the oil.

It may also be important to consider the source of the emu oil. Emus thrive when they have plenty of room to roam and are able to eat a rich diet. Low-quality living conditions may result in an inferior quality oil. It is best to buy oil from a reputable source, especially as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not regulate its production.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before taking emu oil by mouth. It is important to consult a doctor about the possible uses of emu oil and if it will affect a pregnancy.

Source: Emu Oil: Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs