The Sunday Stir: May 15, 2016

A light read for your Pagan Sunday morning!

Meme of the Week:

https://www.facebook.com/InTheGrayMist/

In the News: Stories of Pagan interest from around the world

7 Crazy Historical Beliefs About Witches

Fairies, witches, spirits and Shakespeare - a guide to the folklore of the Clydach Gorge

Americans leaving religion, and turning to witchcraft

Witchcraft: Woman held for killing son, mother-in-law

Suspected witches die after drinking Pastor's holy water

Astrology

Monthly Horoscopes from Darkstar Astrology
Weekly Horoscopes from Tarot.com

Remember to get your Daily Magic Guide and Tarot Reading on the Facebook page each morning!

This Week's Totem: Coyote

Also known as the American jackal, brush wolf, or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It occurs as far north as Alaska and all but the northernmost portions of Canada. The coyote evolved in North America during the Pleistocene epoch 1.8 million years ago, alongside the now extinct dire wolf. It fills roughly the same ecological niche in the Americas that is filled in Eurasia and Africa by the similarly sized canids called jackals, among which the coyote is sometimes counted. Its closest living relative is the gray wolf.


The coyote is an amazingly adaptive animal. Native American lore is rich and plentiful where coyote is concerned.  Coyote is both creator and trickster. He is filled with magic, but it doesn't always work as intended. Therein lies the lesson- coyote always bring hidden wisdom with his trickster magic.

Those who carry coyote medicine are known to be pranksters, and like the coyote, they tend to get caught up in their own machinations. In many stories, coyote makes things more complicated than they have to be.

Coyote teaches the balance of wisdom and folly. These two go hand in hand. The ability to not take one's self too seriously is the epitome of coyote medicine.

Coyotes are very family-oriented, despite what television and theater would have us believe. We always see the coyote as a loner, when in fact, he has a very close-knit family unit. Many times, coyotes mate for life. The father is very conscientious and participate in the care and raising of young. Both parents train their young in hunting techniques.The male cares for his mate while she is pregnant, taking on the hunting and feeding of them both.  Those with coyote medicine are wonderful parents and care-givers.

When coyote shows up, it's time to ask yourself some questions. Am I taking myself too seriously? Have I forgotten that playtime is essential to good health? Am I over-complicating a situation? Is someone playing tricks on me? Am I tricking myself?

"Coyote is you, me, booby traps, jet airplanes with toilets that don't work, blind dates, and all the humorous and whimsical things we encounter along the way." ~Jamie Sams/David Carson "Animal Medicine Cards"

Coyote always brings laughter and groans. Learning to laugh at ourselves and find the wisdom in our folly is crucial to our survival.




Meditation Time




Today's meditation comes from Omnia. The song is called "Alive". Listen to the song and let the lyrics sink in...

Hot like the sun
Wet like the rain
Green like the leaves
Life is a game

Stars in my head
Shine Moon shine
Everything's cool
And I feel fine!

Can you touch
the root that feeds us?
Can you hear
the words that I say?
Can you feel
the music move you?
Can you feel alive today?

Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedibodah
Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedah

(Goddess Vana
Sweet vernal goddess)

Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedibodah
Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedah

Falledal do, falledal dea
falledal do, falledal da
falledal do, falledal dea

Ya Vana Dea ribeda

(Dance for Vana,
Hail goddess of spring)

Can you touch
the root that feeds us?
Can you hear
the words that I say?
Can you feel
the music move you?
Can you feel alive today?

Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedibodah
Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedah

(Goddess Vana
Sweet vernal goddess)

Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedibodah
Vana Dea
dzjo Vana Dea
la Vana doh
aribedah

Falledal do, falledal dea
falledal do, falledal da
falledal do, falledal dea

Ya Vana Dea ribeda

Can you touch
the root that feeds us?
Can you hear
the words that I say?
Can you feel
the music move you?
Can you feel alive today?

Strong like the grass, tall like a tree
Free like the wind, eternally
Nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Just running wild, again and again and again...

Can you touch
the root that feeds us?
Can you hear
the words that I say?
Can you feel
the music move you?
Can you feel alive today?

Falledal do, falledal dea
falledal do, falledal da
falledal do, falledal dea

Ya Vana Dea ribeda

Bumblebees and blossom, only trees and me
Humble bees and blossom, only trees and me...

 Kallan is a writer, adventurer, bibliophile, and baking enthusiast who loves learning, science, religion, philosophy, geography, anthropology, politics, peppermint, her children and grandchildren, friends and  friends who are family, being outdoors, animals,  walking, hiking, and the earth.