Archive for August, 2011

News & Submissions 8/4/2011

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Arts & Entertainment:

Paranormal Hide and Seek: Interview With Ghost Hunters International ‘s Barry FitzGerald
Since 2008, Ghost Hunters International has traveled the globe, its team members using their knowledge of the paranormal and technical know-how to try to substantiate — or debunk — claims of ghostly sightings.  Last month, the GHI team, led by Barry FitzGerald and co-lead Investigator Kris Williams, returned to Syfy for a third year of investigations.

In the season opener, “Rising from the Grave,” GHI visited Trinidad and the Lopinot Plantation to check out reports that the spirit of Count de Lopinot, a cruel slave master, rises from the grave on his cocoa plantation. FitzGerald and the team remained in Trinidad for the following episode, “Sensing Evil,” and journeyed to a former leper colony on Chacachacare Island. This episode also featured an investigation at the Frigorifico Meat Packing Plant in Argentina where the ghostly apparitions of four murdered workers have been seen throughout the building. Read full story from thenortonreport.com

Native American:

Sacred Site Preserved but Ceremonies Affected
Through centuries, Northern Arapaho hunters tracked deer, bison and antelope across the plains at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in present-day eastern Colorado, where tribal members who lived there are remembered in Denver with streets named after Chief Little Raven and others.

Today, Arapaho people return to their homelands and its sacred places: “Not too far from here there are important sites,” said Nelson White, keeper of the sacred bundle of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. “North, tipi rings. Nearby, that medicine wheel. Medicines in the mountains to the west. And the (Valmont) butte itself is a marker where the people used to go.” Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork

Cherokee Holiday Powwow Welcomes Dancers, Spectators
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Calling all fancy dancers, jingle dancers and grass dancers! The Cherokee Nation will host the 59th Cherokee National Holiday’s intertribal powwow on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2 -3. One of the largest powwows in the state, the event takes place at the Cherokee Nation cultural grounds located behind Sequoyah Schools on W. 810 Rd. south of Tahlequah, Okla. Gourd dancing, social dancing and competitive dancing will be featured, and the powwow is free and open to the public.

Cash prizes of up to $600 will be awarded to the top four contestants in the adult, golden age 55 and up and juniors age 6-15 divisions. Registration is open from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening. Ladies will compete in the areas of cloth, buckskin, jingle and fancy shawl dancing, and male contestants will take part in straight, traditional, grass and fancy dances. Contestants must register and remain in full regalia and participate in both grand entries to be eligible for cash prizes. Read full story from cherokee.org

News:

Prosecution rests in polygamist sect leader trial
San Angelo, Texas (CNN) — Texas prosecutors rested their case Wednesday in the sexual assault trial of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs after playing a key piece of evidence for jurors: an audiotape they allege documents his sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

One juror wiped her eyes as she listened to the recording. Another looked at Jeffs out of the corner of her eye. Still another had a hand covering her mouth.

The tape contained praying at the beginning and end, and in it a man alleged by prosecutors to be Jeffs addresses the alleged victim by name. At one point, the man asked her how she feels, and a girl replies in a small voice, “I feel fine, thank you.” At another point, the man appears to address other people who are present. Read full story from cnn.com

Dead’ Baby Wakes Up Moments Before Its Own Burial
SAO PAULO, Brazil (PIX11)—A baby girl who doctors declared dead was moments from her burial when she awoke and started crying at a Brazilian funeral home. Read full story from wsbt.com

Photography:

Space Pictures This Week: Star Valley, Sun Waves, More (Source: National Geographic)

Religion:

Drunken Odinists protest at Church of the Sacred Heart
A drunken father and son duo staging a supposed protest against mainstream religion had to be talked down from scaffolding on a church spire at the weekend.

The pair were seen high up on scaffolding outside the Church of the Sacred Heart in Watlington Street shortly before 8am on Saturday, and police were called.

The duo, downing Fosters and vodka, told police they were Odinists – a little-known pagan religion that worships a large number of gods. Read full story from getreading.co.uk

Science:

Early Earth May Have Been Orbited By Two Moons
The early Earth had two moons instead of just one — our familiar moon, as well as a smaller companion moon that also rose and set in the sky for tens of millions of years.

That’s according to a new theory that says this smaller moon eventually went careening into our moon and is still there, in the form of mountains on its far side.

Scientists have long puzzled over those mountains, and the fact that the two sides of our moon are very different. The near side has flat lowlands, while the far side is high and mountainous.

Erik Asphaug, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, says he was at a talk about this asymmetry when he got an idea. “I thought, ‘Well, you know, what about just something colliding with the moon, in such a manner that it didn’t form a crater, but it just made a big splat?’ ” he recalls. Read full story from npr.org

Media:

Despite objections, jury hears tapes in polygamist sect leader’s trial
San Angelo, Texas (CNN) – The state of Texas is expected to rest its case Wednesday in the sexual assault trial of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs.

On Tuesday night, the jury heard audio recordings that, prosecutors said, show Jeffs instructing a 14-year-old victim and his other young “wives” on how to sexually please him in order to win God’s favor. Read full story from cnn.com

Native Hawaiian Fights to Protect a Burial Cave From Development (Source: YouTube – keonikealoha)

Blogspot:

Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

Hump Day Herbs – Kava-Kava

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Kava-Kava

Botanical Name: Piper Methysticum

Folk Names: Intoxicating Pepper, Ava, Ava Pepper, Ava Root, Awa Root


Photo by wallyg

Piper methysticum, means “intoxicating pepper.” It is a mild hypnotic, used traditionally in Polynesia for ceremonial purposes. Young people with strong teeth would chew the tough roots, it was then strained and added to water or coconut oil.

The tonic was drunk at peace ceremonies and other ritual occasions to welcome visiting dignitaries. It was not only used for ceremonial consumption, but also to relax social barriers and enhance social cohesion. Kava-Kava was used as an Offering to deities, it was taken to enhance visions or to increase the power when a priest wished to identify the spiritual cause of an illness.

Deities: Kanaloa, Kane, Lono

Element: Water (Fidelity, Friendship, Healing, Love, Meditation, Prophetic Dreams, Purification, sleep)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Saturn (Endings, Exorcisms, Longevity, Visions)

Powers: Endings, Exorcisms, Longevity, Visions

Medicinal Uses: Kava has been used for anxiety and stress. It is sometimes chewed to relieve throat pain, as Kava produces a “numbing” effect on the tongue and throat. Kava is first chewed in the back of the mouth, (for 5 to 10 minutes) while swallowing the saliva and kavalactones released from the process. It produces an effect similar to that of an over the counter chloraseptic spray to alleviate sore throat by numbing it. It has been banned in Germany, Switzerland, and Canada because of liver injury.  A public safety alert about Kava has been issued by the US FDA  due to liver problems.

Magical Uses: Kava is used to protect you and your home, and invite in good luck.

Ritual Uses: A small amount (chopped root) sprinkled around the house will keep out unwanted visitors. Hang a small piece on your door or put in an amulet to invite in good luck. To induce visions, soak a 1/2 gallon of water mixed with roots and leaves overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and drink a cup before you meditate.

Warning: to much infusion can damage kidneys and liver.

References:

  • The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants by Susan Gregg
  • Medicinenet.com
  • Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs

Note: Consult with a Physician or a certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

News & Submissions 8/2/2011

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Arts & Entertainment:

Gif Recap: ‘True Blood’
Oh, yes.  It’s finally happened!  Sookie and Eric!  Well, that is until King Bill walks in on them.  Damn it Bill!  Royal or not, you have crappy timing!  We wanted to see some Sookie/Eric sex!  And really, Sookie shouldn’t have stopped Eric from staking Bill with that poker.  Instead, Eric kneels before his liege.  Oh, that isn’t going to end well. Read full story from screenjunkies.com

Harry Potter joins the billion dollar club
With his last movie gasp, Harry Potter has finally joined the billion dollar club after a strikingly successful weekend at US cinemas.

Figures show that Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the eighth and final instalment of the boy wizard franchise, has surpassed $1bn (£615m) in global box office returns. The previous best of the series was $974.8m set by the first movie 10 years ago, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read full story from guardian.co.uk

Events:

UPCOMING POW WOWS 2011
Nationwide pow wow calendar covering all events including Gathering of the Nations and more. Check for the next Pow wow in your state or city.

“The Response” Promises Toxic Mix of Racism and Bigotry
A mix of racism and bigotry against American Indians, Palestinians, Muslims, Jews, gay people and others is the backdrop to a mass rally billed as “A National Day of Prayer” that will take place in Texas the first weekend in August.

August 3 , 2011 – Open Lughnasadh/Lammas Ritual (Bring a DISH)
Merry Meet! Come and join in the celebration of the next turninsg of the wheel. 13 Magickal Moons is hosting an Open Lughnassad/Lammas Ritual on Wednesday August 3 at 7:30pm during Tea Nite. Join us for an evening of magick and mystery! Bring a dish to share and be sure to dress accordingly for the weather!!!

News:

Woman killed over suspected sorcery
BARIPADA: A 45-year-old woman was arrested from Thakurmunda area in Mayurbhanj district for allegedly killing a tribal woman suspecting her to be practising sorcery. The accused Jaba Tudu was produced in the court on Monday and remanded in judicial custody.

Police sources said Tudu, a resident of Nunadiha village, beheaded Jamuna Hansda (55) suspecting that the latter practised black magic on her husband. Read full story from ibnlive.in.com

Religion:

Druid Heights in Marin County
On August 11th the Golden Gate National Park Conservatory is offering an exciting opportunity and no doubt local Pagans will want to get in on this deal.  For on the 11th there will be a hike to Druid Heights in Marin; which is located just above Muir Woods.

Local Pagans might have heard of Druid Heights, but then again, the area has been kept so secret that maybe they haven’t.  The community is typically off limits to hikers and random visitors, but for only two days this summer (the first was July 30th) a lucky group of people will be treated to a hike and evening of amazing poetry amongst the beautiful architecture that is known as Druid Heights. Read full story from examiner.com

The Hindu secularists : Liberals or Hypocrites?
Today, we can find many people who are quick to christen famous Hindu gurus as “dhongis” and “pakhandi”. Such people generally hold the view that to become a guru all one needs is to chant a few mantras and promote the supertitions. These people think that the millions who follow the advice and teachings of such gurus are “fools” and ignorant of the modern science. Moreover, they not only percieve Hinduism as a mix of cast system, dowry, sati pratha etc but also use these assumptions as a basic elements of their argument to further denigrate their own culture and the ancient knowledge. These are the set of people who have never read even the bhagvad-Gita, the works of the world famous scholar Sri Aurobindo or the testimonials of the famous scientists like Heisenberg, Nicholas Tesla, Albert Einstein etc. Read full story from chakranews.com

Media:

Understanding the religious history of the Knights Templar
The group has come to everyone’s attention because of Anders Behring Breivik’s killing spree in Norway, now just over a week ago. He claimed in his rambling manifesto to represent a modern-day “Knights Templar”. Read full story from cnn.com

Sect Leader Warren Jeffs Defends Polygamy, Threatens Court With ‘Sickness and Death’ From God
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs may be the one on trial, but he told court officials that if they don’t stop prosecuting him on two counts of sexual assault of a child, they would face an even bigger problem — the wrath of God. Read full story from abcnews.com

Blogspot:

Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

Happy Lughnasadh!

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Lughnasadh!

My Lughnasadh corn doll. (Instructions below)

Next time you’re having corn for dinner, keep your husks. Be sure to dry them in the sun for one to three days. If you’re using dried-out husks, soak them for a couple of hours to soften. (There is no special preparation if using fresh husks).

Materials:

  • Corn husks (Available in grocery store)
  • Scissors
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Twine or string
  • Cotton Balls

Instructions:

Fold a husk in half, place two or three cotton balls in the middle. Twist the husk, tying it with string to make a head. There should be a bit of husk in the front and back, below the head, to create a torso.

Make a pair of arms for your doll. There are a couple of ways to do this. I decided to cut and husk in 3 pieces and braid, tying the ends to make hands. Slip the arms between the husks that form the torso, then add a cotton ball to plump the torso (insert a few pipe cleaners into torso to keep standing) tie off at the waist.

Arrange a few husks around the doll’s waist, (overlapping them) then tie in place with twine. After you’ve tied the waist, trim the hem of the skirt so it’s even. You can add a shawl (see 1st pic) and let the doll dry completely.

Once your doll has dried, you can leave her plain or give her a face and some hair. (use hair form husks or yarn)

Be creative, have fun with it! You can add clothing, an apron, beadwork! I hope this was helpful, feel free to email me with any questions.

Enjoy! Happy Lughnasadh!

Lisa