New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Near the time of the Vernal Equinox, the ancient Romans honored the goddess Cybele with a festival-they borrowed this tradition from the Greeks. Cybele is an Earth Mother, a goddess of nature- especially caverns and mountains. This spring festival celebrated the death and rebirth of Cybele's son, Attis. A felled pine tree representing his body was decorated with sashes of linen and violets-which are said to have grown from his spilled blood. This festival actually lasted for several days. ...
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) Among the most interesting Mardi Gras traditions is the King Cake, a ring-shaped loaf of sweet bread or cake. Its three colors of sugar represent desired qualities: purple (sovereignty), green (prosperity), and gold (purity). Charms made of metal or another oven-safe substance (often with trailing strings, so you can find them without biting into them) is baked into the cake for divination to tell what the coming year holds for you. These include a coin for wealth ...
Conflict is inevitable and can lead to positive change, but we always hope it will be resolved peacefully. To help ensure the conflicts in your life resolve without aggression, make a peace powder that you can sprinkle when things get tense. Gather up some of the following dried herbs: rose petals, chamomile, lavender, jasmine blossoms, thyme, sage, lemon balm, or catnip. Crumble everything as small as you can with your fingers, and then grind even finer with a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, ...
Are you an insomniac? Many people suffer from insomnia for a number of reasons. To help cause sleep, you can either make a sachet or stitch your own "dreamtime pillow." For the latter, simply get some cotton and cut a piece of fabric (preferably black, white, or indigo) to size. Stitch up the sides, leaving the end open. Stuff the pillow both with cotton and with a combination of any of these herbs: agrimony, lavender, mugwort, bay leaf, hops, and poppy. Under the light of the Moon, dedicate ...
