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We’re almost a week into Mercury’s Current Retrograde (July 7 to August 2, 2019) and I admit that the communication problems in my house have included everything from the inability to find the right words in my brain, to personal communication faux pas, and even my internet router crapping out on me. Yes – Mercury is in retrograde and like many people I’m feeling the shift.
I’m not usually one to feel t he retrograde, but this time it seems to be particularly strong. Fed up with the communication calamity, it’s time for me to make sure I’m grounded, calm and focused. That means I’m switching up the crystals on my alter to help boost specific energies in my home that will help us all to make it through. Here are four fabulous crystals I’m adding to my home to combat those crazy vibes.
- Black Tourmaline – assists in letting go of chaotic energy. This is one of my favorite stones for it’s ability to transmute the negative into positive. It works with the root chakra, grounding you into the energy of the Earth.
- Hematite – is another great piece for grounding, and it packs a punch especially when paired with black tourmaline and smokey quartz.
- Blue Lace Agate – Now that your space is grounded, get some great energy in to ease communications with this beautiful and gentle throat chakra stone. It also promotes promotes good decision-making, and organization. Blue Lace Agate is all about finding your voice but in a very calm way.
- Fluorite – a great overall promoter of peace and harmony. EnergyMuse.com calls it an energetic vacuum cleaner, that sucks up and neutralizes negative energy to bring harmony and balance.
To sum it up you want stones that are going to help you stay grounded, promote peace within, and aid in clear communications.
We’ve got another couple of weeks to get through this retrograde phase, and then we’ll be good until October 31, 2019 which is the next time that Mercury goes retrograde.
Macumba, like voodoo, appears to be both exciting and romantic to the visitor, but many of these forget that macumba is a religion to a large proportion of the Brazilian population. It should be treated and respected as such. White Oak Grove CUUPs was thrilled to have a recent discussion group on the religion lead by Betsy U. Betsy lived in Brazil for some time and was able to give us an exciting and unique perspective on Macumba.
‘Shinto is essentially a religion of gratitude and love.’
– W.G. Aston Shinto, the Way of the Gods
Shinto is the indigenous “religion” of Japan. It is not a “full” religion in that it has no written scriptures and is not a way to explain the world. Shinto teaches ethical practices but has no commandments. Shinto: Way of the Spirits was originally presented by Allen Reed for White Oak Grove CUUPS September 2, 2018. ©2018 Allen Reed
A flame within a chalice, first deigned by Hans Deutsch in 1941, is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently. What does this have to do with the greek Goddess of Home and Hearth? Continue reading “Hestia Symbolism in the Unitarian Universalist Association”
“I know that I hung
on a wind-battered tree
nine long nights,
pierced by a spear
and given to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree
whose roots grow in a place
no one has ever seen.
No one gave me food,
No one gave me drink.
At the end I peered down,
I took the runes—
screaming, I took them—
and then I fell.”
(Havamal verses 138 – 139, “The Poetic Edda” translated by Jackson
Crawford)
