By Andy Kerr as published on his Public Lands Blog

“Bovine bulldozers have caused more harm to the public lands than mining or logging…”

Private “Welfare Cattle” being herded onto BLM Antelope Complex in Nevada, while Wild Horse roundup was being conducted ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

It costs more to feed a domestic house cat than to graze domestic livestock on federal public lands.

This has generally been the case since the early 1900s, when the federal government first required ranchers to pay a fee for grazing their livestock on millions of acres of federal land, primarily in western states.

Each January the USDA Forest Service and the USDI Bureau of Land Management calculate what the federal grazing fee will be for that year. For 2017, it’s $1.87/animal unit month (AUM), down from $2.11/AUM in 2016. An AUM is the amount of forage…

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Oak Tree ~ June 10th-July 17th ~ Celtic Astrology

Good Witches Homestead

Summer Solstice ( Alban Hefin )

Celtic Symbol: The White Horse or The Golden Wheel

Zodiac Degrees: 18º00` Gemini – 14º59` Cancer

Ruling Planet: Jupiter – Jovyn; Mars; Element: Water; Metal: Gold; Color: Gold

Ancient Gods Associated With Jupiter: Greek – Zeus; Celtic – Dagda; The Green Man, Janus, Diana, Cybele, Hecate, Pan

Symbolism: Sovereignty, rulership, power, Strength & Endurance, Generosity & Protection, Justice & Nobility, Honesty & Bravery

Stone: Diamond, Aventurine

Flower: Coltsfoot

Song Birds: Oriole, Wren

Folk Names: Jove’s Nuts, Juglans

The Druidic religion was reputedly based on the oak-cult mythology and all ancient thunder-gods were associated with the oak tree. There is evidence to suggest, however, that the oak-cult was imported into Britain from the Baltic regions during the Bronze Age; and although it became the principal sacred tree of the Druids, the rowan, willow, elder, and alder cults were already established. As Druidism evolved, the significance of the…

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Tracking Canada’s Horse Slaughtering Trade from Alberta to Japan

Straight from the Horse's Heart

by Anna Brooks as published on VICE

The practice is legal in Canada, unlike the United States

Walking through the Calgary International Airport, you’ll pass a bronze statue of wild horses running.

Entitled “Breakaway,” the immortalized horses were intended to be a metaphor for Calgary’s spirit and strength.

But there’s another story of horses at the Calgary airport, a story some veterinarians are calling a “huge animal welfare issue.”

For years, animal advocacy groups like the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) have opposed the transport of live draft horses to Japan for slaughter. In Canada, alongside Mexico and parts of Europe, this practice is legal, unlike countries like the US where horse slaughterhouses are banned.

Horse meat is a delicacy in Japan, and places like Kumamoto specialize in fresh dishes like basashi—horse sashimi. Horse oil is also a sought after beauty product in Hokkaido, where it’s used to treat…

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The Grounding Stone: Hematite

Good Witches Homestead

With its iron content, hematite has a strengthening influence on the physical body – especially the blood, body temperature, and circulatory system. Of all the grounding stones, hematite is perhaps the surest – very few people fail to be brought down to a steady, focused state due to its stabilizing influence on the physical body.

Energy: strong, secure, straightforward

Colors: steel gray to iron black, sometimes with red spots

Uses: Hematite is excellent for grounding, enhancing the circulation of bodily fluids, manifesting light and energy, protection, astral projection, strength, and working with the shadow self. Boosts low self-esteem. It is helpful for kidney problems, tissue regeneration, headaches, hysteria, and feelings of vulnerability.

Star Sign: Aries
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Chakra: Base

Tips For Hematite

Wear hematite to enhance your personal magnetism

Give hematite as a gift to those who need strength to cope with a situation

Place hematite in your…

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Tuatha De Danann

Feel Good ‘Father’s Day’ Sunday: Wild Burro Dads of the Black Mountains

Straight from the Horse's Heart

By Carl Mrozek

“In honor of Dads everywhere, CBS Sunday Morning will feature wild burro jacks shepherding their family bands in the Black Mountains of Arizona, where I filmed them this spring. The nature segment is the last one of this magazine-style program.

Enjoy the burro clip and the wild world around you !”

Click Image to view video

“Also, I would like to include the Mom’s Day video: Mustangs of the Music Mountains featured on on CBS Sunday Morning on Mom’s Day: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/ nature-horses/

for a belated Happy Mom’s Day to all moms !”

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Taking up the Path of the Bard, Part I

The Druid's Garden

Bardic Artistic Expression through Clay, Sand, and Straw (cob)! (This is part of a tree piece I collaborated on at Strawbale Studio in Michigan)

A group of people sharing stories and songs by the fire. A fine pair of leather shoes. A beautiful woven garment. A tale full of twists and mystery. Finely wrought iron doors. An amazing wood carving on a stump. A marble sculpture. A wildly painted mural on a wall. A cob structure with whimsical trees and forms. A song that reaches deep within you when you hear it. A rousing speech. Each of these, and so many others, represent the natural creative expressions of humanity. Taking up the path of the bard is one of three paths in the druid tradition (along with the work of the Ovate and the Druid). Yet, many people aren’t sure how to take up the path of the bard because…

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CHRYSOCOLLA: Peace Crystal

Good Witches Homestead

Chrysocolla is a very beautiful stone with a lot of beneficial energy. Chrysocolla is a stone of peace, increased wisdom, and discretion. It promotes level-headedness, encouraging clarity of thought and a neutral, cool attitude during turbulence. It can be used to decrease nervousness and irritability. Chrysocolla looks like the earth as seen from space.

This, in combination with its Goddess-like qualities, makes this a natural stone to use in meditating for world peace. Hold this very special piece of the earth in your hand, and visualize the peace and calm which emanate from it spreading until it circles the globe. It is known as a healing stone among Native American Indian cultures where it was used for strengthening the body’s resistance and bringing about calm feelings where it is upset.