June Newsletter

[Underworld Priestess]

JUNE NEWSLETTER

We hope you enjoy!

 

[Underworld Priestess]

The Month of June

June is the sixth month in the Gregorian calendar. The name stems from the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter, who is the equivalent of the Greek Hera the wife of Zeus.

Birthstone: is the pearl, the Moonstone (gemstone), and the Alexandrite. The meaning is health and longevity.

Flower: is the rose.


References: wikipedia.org

 

[Underworld Priestess]

Zodiac Signs of June

Gemini

The Twins

May 21 - June 21

Traditional
Gemini traits

Adaptable and versatile
Communicative and witty
Intellectual and eloquent
Youthful and lively


On the dark side....

Nervous and tense
Superficial and inconsistent
Cunning and inquisitive


Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, and those born under this sign will be quick to tell you all about it. That's because they love to talk! It's not just idle chatter with these folks, either. The driving force behind a Gemini's conversation is their mind. The Gemini-born are intellectually inclined, forever probing people and places in search of information. The more information a Gemini collects, the better. Sharing that information later on with those they love is also a lot of fun, for Geminis are supremely interested in developing their relationships. Dalliances with these folks are always enjoyable, since Geminis are bright, quick-witted and the proverbial life of the party. Even though their intellectual minds can rationalize forever and a day, Geminis also have a surplus of imagination waiting to be tapped. Can a Gemini be boring? Never!


Cancer

The Crab

June 22 to July 22

Traditional
Cancer Traits


Emotional and loving
Intuitive and imaginative
Shrewd and cautious
Protective and sympathetic


On the dark side....

Changeable and moody
Overemotional and touchy
Clinging and unable to let go


Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac, is all about home. Those born under this sign are 'roots' kinds of people, and take great pleasure in the comforts of home and family. Cancers are maternal, domestic and love to nurture others. More than likely, their family will be large, too -- the more, the merrier! Cancers will certainly be merry if their home life is serene and harmonious. Traditions are upheld with great zest in a Cancer's household, since these folks prize family history and love communal activities. They also tend to be patriotic, waving the flag whenever possible. A Cancer's good memory is the basis for stories told around the dinner table, and don't be surprised if these folks get emotional about things. Those born under this sign wear their heart on their sleeve, which is just fine by them.


References:
http://www.astrology.com/
http://www.astrology-online.com/

 

[Underworld Priestess]

In Case You Ever Wondered...........
The Long, Long List of June Holidays and Special Days

Month Long Observances

•Dairy Month
•Great Outdoors Month
•National Adopt-A-Cat Month
•National Drive Safe Month
•National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
•National Iced Tea Month
•National Rose Month
•National Safety Month
•National Tennis Month
•Potty Training Awareness Month
•Turkey Lovers Month
•Zoo and Aquarium Month

Week Long Observances

•1st Week - National Fishing Week
•2nd Week - National Clay Week
•4th Week - National Camping Week


June 1st
•Donut Day
•Oscar the Grouch's Birthday
Sesame Street Character
•Stand For Children Day
Celebrated on this day in most places.

June 2nd
•Radio Was Patented
In 1896.

June 3rd
•Egg Day
•First U.S. Spacewalk
By Ed White in 1965.

June 4th
•Aesop's Birthday
•Cheese Day
•First Ford Made

June 5th

•First Hot Air Balloon Flight
By the Montgolfier brothers in 1783.
•National Gingerbread Day
•Richard Scarry's Birthday
Author of children's books, born in 1919.
•World Environment Day

June 6th
•D-Day
•First Drive-in Movie Theater Opens
In New Jersey in 1933.
•National Applesauce Cake Day
•National Yo-Yo Day

June 7th
•The Amazing Mumford's Birthday
Sesame Street Character.

June 8th
•Frank Lloyd Wright's Birthday
In 1867.

June 9th
•Donald Duck's Birthday
In 1934.

June 10th
•Ball Point Pen Day
•Iced Tea Day
•Judy Garland's Birthday
Singer and actress born in 1922. Started in the Wizard of Oz.

June 11th
•E.T. Movie Premiered
In 1982.

June 12th
•Anne Frank's Birthday
Born in 1929 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
•The Baseball was Invented
In 1839.
•Magic Day

June 13th
•Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's Birthday
•Race Unity Day
Second Sunday in June.
•Weed Your Garden Day

June 14th
•Caldecott Medal First Awarded
In 1937.
•Flag Day
•"Pop Goes the Weasel" Day
•Sand Paper Invented
Invented by I. Fischer Jr. in 1834.
•World Juggling Day

June 15th
•Fly A Kite Day
Ben Franklin's Kite Experiment in 1752. •Power of a Smile Day


June 16th
•National Fudge Day

June 17th
•Eat Your Vegetables Day

June 18th
•International Picnic Day

June 19th
•Garfield's Birthday
Debuted in 1978.

•June 20th
•Tasmanian Devil's Birthday
Debuted in 1954.
•Bald Eagle Day
•Father's Day
Third Sunday of June.
•Ice Cream Soda Day

June 21st
•First Day of Summer/Midsummer/Litha

June 22nd
•US Department of Justice Established

June 23rd
•Edward VIII - King of England's Birthday
Born in 1894.
•Johannes Gutenberg's Birthday
Born in 1400.
•June Carter-Cash's Birthday
Born in 1929.
•National Pecan Sandies Day
•National Pink Day
•Soap Opera Day
•Typewriter Patented
In 1868.
•United Nations Public Service Day

June 24th
•U.F.O. Day
First documented UFO sighting on this day.

June 25th
•Eric Carle's Birthday
Author of several children's books.
•LEON Day
LEON is NOEL spelled backwards. It means six months until Christmas.

June 26th
•Bicycle Patented
In 1819.
•National Chocolate Pudding Day
•Toothbrush Invented
In 1498. Check out my page for this special day!

June 27th
•Captain Kangaroo's Birthday
Bob Keeshan.
•Helen Keller's Birthday
Born in 1880.
•Melody for Happy Birthday Song
Written in 1859.

June 28th
•Paul Bunyan Day

June 29th
•Camera Day

June 30th
•Meteor Day
•Superman's Birthday

From: http://familycrafts.about.com/library/spdays/bljundayslong.htm

 

[Underworld Priestess]

Midsummer

History: Midsummer, the summer solstice (circa June 21) also known as Litha, arrives when the powers of nature reach their highest point. The earth is awash in the fertility of the Goddess and the God.
In the past, bonfires were leapt to encourage fertility, purification, health and love. The fire once again represents the Sun, feted at this time of the longest daylight hours.
Midsummer is a classic time for magic of all kinds. Litha represents the midpoint of the year, and Pagans understand that the winter months will soon follow. It was custom on this night to light large bonfires after sundown, which served the purpose of providing light to the revelers and warding off evil spirits. Other customs included decking the house with birch, St. John's Wort, and white lilies. Two chief icons of the holiday are the spear, as the symbol of the Sun God in his glory, and the summer cauldron, as the symbol of the Goddess in her bounty. Litha is also a time for family gatherings or reunions, parties, and entertainment including various athletic games. The Sabbat is also known for the blessing of animals of all types, from farm animals to familiars. Decorations are any summer flower.

Plants:
The plants associated with Litha are: surprised ak, mistletoe, frankincense, lemon, sandalwood, heliotrope, copal, saffron, galangal, laurel and ylang-ylang

Colors:
White, Red, Gold, Green, Blue and Tan

Stones:
Include all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade. Other appropriate gemstones are tiger's eye, lapis lazuli and diamonds

Incense and oils:
You can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, lemon, pine, jasmine, rose, lotus, or wisteria.

Animals and mythical beasts:
Robins, wrens, all Summer birds, horses and cattle.

Mythical Being:
Satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds and manticores.

Gods and Goddess:
Father Gods and Mother Goddesses, Pregnant Goddesses and Sun Deities. Particular emphasis might be placed on the Goddesses Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Venus and other Goddesses who preside over love, passion and beauty. Other Litha deities include Athena, Artemis, Dana, Kali, Isis, Juno, Apollo, Dagda, Gwydion, Helios, Llew, Oak/Holly King, Lugh, Ra, Sol, Zeus, Prometheus, Ares, and Thor.

Symbols:
Fire, the Sun, blades, mistletoe, oak trees, balefires, Sun wheels and faeries.

Altar decorations:
Summertime flowers - especially sunflowers - love amulets, seashells, aromatic potpourri and Summer fruits.

Foods:
Fresh vegetables of all kinds and fresh fruits such as lemons and oranges. Summer squash and any yellow or orange colored foods. Traditional drinks are ale, mead, and fresh fruit juice.

Herbs:
Carnation, chamomile, cinquefoil, daisy, elder, fennel, hemp, honeysuckle, ivy, larkspur, lavender, lily, male fern, mugwort, pine, roses, Saint John's wort, wild thyme, wisteria, vervain and verbena.

Colors
Orange:
Energy and confidence. Orange is the color of summer. It is adaptability and stimulation. Celebrate with a midsummer bonfire!
Gold:
The color of the Sun God as he is at his strongest this day. It is the color of intuition and many make their wishes for health and prosperity written in gold ink.

Incense:
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Mugwort
1 part Chamomile
1 part Gardenia petals
A few drops Rose oil
A few drops Lavender oil
A few drops Yarrow oil
Burn at Wiccan/Pagan rituals at the Summer Solstice or at that time to attune with the seasons of the Sun.

Pathworking:
Go for a holiday walk. Get out in the fresh air, and as you get your walking rhythm going, let your mind slip into a light trance. Think about what this day means to you, and the abundance that is undoubtedly coming your way.
Think about what you have planted recently in your life. Are you working to keep in thriving? What can you do to add fire to this new and tender joy in your life? How can you make it stronger? Listen, and go to where the gods beckon you.
Send a wish to the Goddess on the petals of a rose. Kiss your wish onto the flower, and float it upon a natural body of water. Chant a spell of passion, and know that your wish will make it home to her.

Plan a summer celebration. If you wish, make it a potluck. Enjoy all the fruits and young, tender vegetables of the season. Visit your local farmers’ market for the region’s ripest and finest, and use your imagination to create a truly seasonal and magnificent meal. Be sure and include some pork, or something creatively “fiery” and summery if you’re a vegetarian. Mmmm…barbecued tofu comes to mind. And what about those complex carbs? How about some “wild” rice?
　

　  

[Underworld Priestess]

A Midsummer Ritual
Written by: Underworld Priestess

Casting the Circle
(3x clockwise with athame and 1 time with sage)
Stepping from darkness into the light
Midsummer is what I (we) celebrate on this day.
By the fire which burns within,
By my will, which stirs the elements,
Let nothing harmful in,
So mote it be.

Calling Quarters
East
Hail guardians of the watchtower of the East,
Breath of the ancestors,
I call upon thee and the element of Air
To join me in this sacred space.
Be welcome in my rite!
(light yellow candle and offer lavendar).
Blessed Be!

South
Hail guardians of the watchtower of the South,
Will of the ancestors,
I call upon thee and the element of Fire.
To join me in this sacred space.
Be welcome in my rite!
(light red candle and offer lavendar)
Blessed Be!

West
Hail guardians of the watchtower of the West,
Blood of the ancestors,
I call upon thee and the element of Water.
To join me in this sacred space.
Be welcome in my rite!
(light blue candle and offer lavendar)
Blessed Be!

North
Hail guardians of the watchtower of the North,
Bone of the ancestors,
I call upon thee and the element of Earth.
To join me in this sacred space.
Be welcome in my rite!
(light green candle and offer lavendar)
Blessed Be!

(Turn towards the altar)
Spirit of my ancestors,
I call thy name into the night!
Come, be welcome in this my rite.
Blessed Be.
(light white candle)

Calling the Goddess and God
Goddess
Great Mother we call on thee tonight
By the flame that burneth bright,
O Great Mother!
I call thy name into the night!
O Great Mother!
Behold your daughter, strong and true
In thy honor, if it is thy will
Be welcome in my rite!
(light silver candle and offer lavendar)
Blessed Be!

God
Great Father I call on thee tonight,
By the flame that burneth bright,
O Horned One!
We call thy name into the night,
O Horned One!
Behold your daughter, strong and true
In thy honor, if it is thy will
Be welcome in my rite!
(light gold candle and offer lavendar)
Blessed Be!

Sun Guidance Spell
Chant and light a yellow candle:
"Summer son glowing bright,
Guide my way on this and every day,
Let the light of day,
Help me find my way.
Blessed Be!"


Chant to the spirits:
"Grant O Spirits, Thy Protection and in Protection, Strength
And in Strength, Understanding and in Understanding Knowledge
And in knowledge, the Knowledge of Justice
And in the Knowledge of Justice, the Love of It
And in the Love of it, the Love of all Existence
And in the Love of All Existences, the Love of Spirit and All Goodness".

Blessing Cake and Ale
We bless these cakes in the name of the Great Mother
Who provides sustenance that we may live
(said while one holds plate up in the air)
We bless this wine in the name of the Horned God
In honor of his essence which gave us life.
(said while holding glass in the air)

Farewell to the God and Goddess
Great Mother,
By the flame that burneth bright,
O Great Mother!
Thank your for being with me tonight
O Great Mother!
Behold your daughter, strong and true
May I retain your bounty and comfort.
(extinguish candle, bury lavendar)
Farewell.

God
Great Father,
By the flame that burneth bright,
O Horned One!
Thank you for being with me tonight,
O Horned One!
Behold your daughter, strong and true
May I retain your strength and bravery
(extinguish candle and lavendar)
Farewell

Farewell to the Quarters
North
Farewell guardians of the watchtower of the North
Bone of the ancestors,
I thank thee and the element of earth
For your blessing and protecting my circle.
(extinguish candle and bury lavendar).
Farewell

West
Farewell guardians of the watchtower of the West
Blood of the ancestors,
I thank thee and the element of water
For your blessing and protecting my circle.
(extinguish candle and bury lavendar).
Farewell

South
Farewell guardians of the watchtower of the South,
Will of the ancestors,
I thank thee and the element of fire
For your blessing and protecting my circle.
(extinguish candle and bury lavendar).
Farewell

East
Farewell guardians of the watchtower of the East,
Breath of the ancestors,
I thank thee and the element of air
For your blessing and protecting my circle.
(extinguish candle and bury lavendar).
Farewell

Opening the Circle
3x with athame wider shins
May the circle be open but never broken
May the Goddess and God be ever in our hearts
Merry meet and merry part
And merry meet again.