Today in History –> On this day in history in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar, the”dictator for life”of the Roman Empire, was murdered by his own senators at a meeting in a hall next to Pompey’s Theatre. The conspiracy against Caesar encompassed as many as sixty noblemen, including Caesar’s own protege, Marcus Brutus…
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Frigga’s Handmaidens:
Eir
She is known as a healer. That said, Eir’s name translates roughly to the word “mercy,” and in addition to being one of Frigga’s handmaidens, she is listed among Odin’s Valkyries. This has led some modern heathens to speculate that, in addition to her healing skills, she was the source of “mercy on the battlefield,” which, depending on the circumstances, could mean a clean death for those already dying from their wounds.
Fulla
Not much is known about Fulla. She is called a virgin and goes about with her hair unbound and flowing. She wears a gold band around her head. She carries Frigga’s casket, a small chest, and also cares for Frigga’s shoes. She is considered someone with whom Frigga shares her secrets. Fulla may be the Volla listed in the Second Meresburg Charm, Frigga’s sister, or, potentially, Frigga herself.
Gefjon
Gefjon has four sons, whom she changed into oxen in order to carve land for herself out of Denmark; folklore has it that Zealand is Gefjon’s property. Her name means “giver,” and this has caused her to be confused with Freyja, whose byname, Gefn, means the same thing. However, as Frigga’s handmaiden, she protects maidens and unmarried women. This, taken along with the myth about Zealand, is enough evidence to suggest that she is a goddess in her own right.
Lofn
Lofn is the handmaiden who clears the way for permission to be granted for marriages, particularly those marriages which would otherwise be seen as forbidden.
Sága
Sága is an interesting character. Her hall, Sökkvabekk, refers to sunken benches, the implication being a bog or fen. Frigga’s hall is Fensalir, which also involves a fen. Frigga is married to Odin; Sága is known to sit with Odin in her hall and drink mead with him. In fact, there are so many similarities between Sága and Frigga that many scholars contend that they are one and the same, and that Sága is one of Frigga’s bynames. The Prose Edda mentions her as one of Frigga’s handmaidens.
Sjofn
Sjofn helps turn the minds of men and women to love.
Snotra
Snotra is known to be wise and courteous.
Syn
Syn is known as the handmaiden who bars the doors to the hall and guards against those who are forbidden to enter. It is also said that she can stand in assembly as a party for the defense, in cases that involve her.
Var
Var is most concerned with hearing the oaths people make, particularly the marriage oath.
Vor
Vor is also known to be wise, but she asks questions, and nothing can be concealed from her. Vor is the last of Frigga’s handmaidens that we have record of.
This natural hand sanitizer combines antimicrobial herbs to kill the bugs that cause infection. It can be used when out and about without the need for water.
½ cup aloe vera gel
2 tsp. herbal-infused oil
1 tsp. thyme tincture
10 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
Put the aloe vera gel into a small mixing bowl, then slowly add the infused oil, whisking together thoroughly.
Add the tincture and essential oils and whisk again.
Pour into pump or squeeze bottles, seal, label and date. Use as needed.
Shelf Life Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place.
If you love the effects of ginger on your immunity and digestion, this tea is a must add to your catalogue of teas. In addition to the ginger, Gingerade contains the nutritive herbs of milky oats, fennel, and honeybush, which create a delicious blend. Rosemary, known as the herb of remembrance, supports the mind and memory. Lemongrass, with its delicate citrus scent, brightens the mind and uplifts mood.
3 parts milky oats
2 parts ginger
2 parts honeybush
1 part lemongrass
1 part rose hips
1 part fennel
1 part dried berries (e.g., elderberry, blackberry, blueberry)
0.5 part rosemary
1 drop lemon essential oil, or fresh lemon zest to taste
Hot Infusion: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Infusion: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons tea in a lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place for at least 2 hours.
Old Man’s Beard or Traveller’s Joy (clematis vitalba)
A native perennial found in hedgerows, wood edges and scrub, it may be a beautiful plant, but it was said to do the Devil’s work for him by trailing into the other plants and choking them. Used medicinally in homeopathic preparations for rheumatism and skin eruptions, the plant contains protoanemonin and ingestion leads to severe abdominal pain and gastrointestinal irritation. Contact can cause skin irritation, which is why it was known as herbe aux gueux (‘beggar’s weed’) in France, having once been used by beggars to irritate the skin in order to simulate sores. The acrid smell of the foliage causes profuse watering of the eyes and nose when inhaled.
Magical propensities: None found.
This ointment is ideal for cold hands and feet. Warming juniper and ginger help assist circulation to the small capillaries in the extremities, while comfrey heals chapped skin.
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons dried comfrey leaf
2 tablespoons dried juniper berries, lightly crushed
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
1 fresh red chilli, chopped
1 cup olive oil
1 oz. beeswax
Place the herbs, berries, spices and oil in a bain-marie. Leave to infuse over a very low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Strain, discarding the herbs and retaining the oil. Return the oil to the bain-marie, then add the beeswax, stirring until dissolved and melted. Pour into jars, then seal, label and date.
Apply as needed. Wash hands after applying and do not touch eyes.
Shelf Life: Up to 2 years.
This vegetable concoction is a beautiful green color reminiscent of a lush, grassy meadow. Gin is the perfect base for the savory ingredients. The preparation of the drink is quick and simple due to the ease with which snow peas and basil are muddled.
3 snow peas
3 basil leaves
Sprig dill
Bar spoon pink and black peppercorns
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce Sour Mix
Garnish basil leaf and pink peppercorns
Muddle the snow peas, basil, dill, and peppercorns in a shaker. Add the gin, Sour Mix, and ice to the shaker and shake vigorously. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a basil leaf and pink peppercorns or garnish of your choice.
The draugr (also called an aptrgangr) literally means “one who walks after death. There are many Norse myths and tales about the draugr and its creation.
The person may become a draugr if he has unfinished business after death, or if he is infected by another draugr. Some believed that anyone who was mean, nasty or greedy could become a draugr after dying. Others believed that a draugr arises because he felt he was wronged in life.
A corpse can be identified as a draugr if it is found in an upright or sitting position. If seen walking around, a draugr will have several distinctive characteristics.
• A pale, deathly skin tone
• Superhuman strength
• Stench of decay
• Large, bulky body
A draugr was said to be able to shape-shift, control the weather and see into the future. He would rise from the grave as a wisp of smoke and float through rock. Most are active at night, but there isn’t any proof that they are sensitive to sunlight.
Some myths about the draugr claim that the spirit may have some form of intelligence and ability to communicate.
The draugr would slay his victims, devour the flesh and drink the blood. After drinking the blood and consuming the flesh, it was thought the draugr would grow larger.
A draugr could be destroyed by beheading or burning. If the spirit is burnt, the ashes need to be poured into the ocean.
There are different methods of preventing a draugr.
• Place a pair of open, iron scissors placed on the chest of a recently deceased.
• Hide straw or twigs inside the clothes of the deceased.
• Tie the big toes together.
• Drive needles through the soles of the feet to prevent the deceased from being able to walk.
• When lowering the coffin, lift and lower it three times to confuse the draugr’s sense of direction.
Denmark spread the belief that a corpse could only rise and return from the dead by walking through the door it entered. Norse culture adopted the same belief; they would prevent the return of a deceased by surrounding the body with people and carry the deceased feet-first through a door. The door was then bricked up so that the draugr could not enter it.
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, this is a simple fruity blend. Using dried fruits creates a wonderfully sweet tea — a healthy and satisfying choice when you crave sweet foods.
2 parts rose hips
2 parts hibiscus
2 parts dried berries
1 part lemongrass
1 part linden
1 part white tea
0.75 part cinnamon
Hot Infusion: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Infusion: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons tea in a lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place for at least 2 hours.
The Eight Branches of Chinese Medicine
Meditation: As long ago as the fifth century B.C.E., Taoists practiced meditation as a tool for cultivating inner peace. There is always an aspect of the mind that is quiet, calm, and present; however, it can be masked by thoughts, stories, and emotions that pull us out of the present moment. The mind can be like a toddler, running around from place to place, with an attention span of about one minute. It can easily switch from one emotion to the next. Meditation is not simply the practice of stopping all this chaos and quieting the mind; rather, it is the building of awareness about the mind’s habitual nature and the reduction of its distractions.
Exercise: Moving our bodies daily is vital to our overall well-being. Physical activity also moves our blood and cleanses our organs. Tai chi and qigong are both ancient forms of exercise used in Chinese medicine for the cultivation of energy. When visiting east Asian countries, you will see groups of people coming together to practice these movements every day. Even if you don’t know these two ancient practices, walking, running, swimming, dancing, hiking, playing sports, and even stretching are all wonderful forms of exercise.
Nutrition: Food is like medicine. It can nourish us to our very bones, bring us back from illness, and give us a tremendous amount of energy for living. Many of us are getting sick. Returning to natural, unprocessed, whole foods that match your constitution, align with the season, and support you through any imbalances you may be experiencing is the most direct way to find balance. Through this lens, each meal provides an opportunity to heal from the inside out and to prevent illness rather than be vulnerable to it.
Cosmology: Cosmology refers to the foundation of any spiritual tradition that reveals the core beliefs of how we human beings came to exist and what helps us to thrive. In Taoist cosmology, human beings are not seen as separate from the natural world but rather as a manifestation and integral part of it. Therefore, to cultivate a state of balance, we must look to the natural world around us and mimic the rhythms and cycles we see.
Fang Shui: Just as we can benefit from finding balance inside ourselves by meditating, exercising, and eating a diet that is aligned with nature, we can benefit from creating a similar balance outside ourselves. This is called feng shui, and it encompasses the practice of enhancing health through the environmental balancing of the home, office, garden, and other sacred spaces.
Bodywork: Touch is vital to our overall health. The physical practice of being touched in a therapeutic way allows us to relax deeply and experience the release of tension on all levels. Bodywork gifts us with a number of amazing endorphins (feel-good hormones) most especially, oxytocin.
Herbal Medicine: Chinese herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years as a vital tool for maintaining health throughout the life cycles and seasons. Eating medicinal plants from the earth allows us to be in direct relationship with the earth. In addition to a diet that is in sync with our nature, herbal medicine can target specific health imbalances and enhance the healing benefits of meals.
Acupuncture: The final branch of Chinese medicine is also the newest of the eight (though still more than two thousand years old)—the practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture is the art of inserting very fine, sterile needles just under the skin in strategic places to nourish, calm, or otherwise direct the movement of energy. This ancient art form has been found not only to reduce pain but to influence myriad systems in the body, mind, and spirit. From anxiety to leaky gut syndrome to depression to inflammation, acupuncture treats us on many levels. While this practice can certainly address everyday imbalances, I have found it to be most beneficial when used as a tool for prevention.
Source: Everyday Chinese Medicine.
Mark Bere Peterson’s Counterculture, Urban Legends, Paganism & Witchcraft 