Arachne's Gift

Yeah, I know..never put sharp knives in a drawer. While preparing for our Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, I hurriedly reached into a utensil drawer for a large fork. Instead of grabbing the fork, my finger grazed the edge of a serrated steak knife. Owie, owie, owie! OK, run to the bathroom, get the peroxide and hold a piece of TP over the cut until it stops bleeding. Then put a band-aid on and go about business. That is my usual procedure..but this baby didn't want to stop bleeding! As far as I could tell, it was only a small cut, but after at least five minutes of holding my dripping finger over the sink, I ran to the basement to look for some spiderweb. WHAT?!?

I vaguely remembered hearing that spiderweb will stop bleeding. Finding some cobwebs between the rafters in my unfinished 100+ year old basement, I held the injured finger up and began winding it with cobweb moving in a deosil fashion and voila! the bleeding stopped WITHIN SECONDS! What a sight! A blood covered finger encased in gray cobwebs! I have to tell you, my better half wanted to know what I was doing :)

I left the finger like that for about 30 minutes, then carefully washed off the webbing with a cotton ball soaked in water. The webbing had made a form fitting bandage of sorts and removing it did cause a few trickles to ooze from the cut. Another douse of peroxide, a band-aid, and I was able to continue our dinner preparations. Later that night, I did put a dab of antibiotic cream on it for good measure with a clean band-aid and the cut is now healing nicely.

Taking a quick gander on the web (pun intended) I discovered that this folk healing remedy was used by the ancient Greeks. The spider web acts as a catcher for the blood, essentially doing the job of platelets. Some would say this is not a sanitary procedure and should not be used on humans (do not use spiderweb that has been sprayed with bug spray!) but either I have clean spiders or 19th century doctors were right in confirming that spiders coat their silk with an antiseptic agent. I would say, that in a pinch, this is a good bit of information to know...and I won't hesitate to use it again if need be!

http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/bleeding.html

This page has home remedies to stop bleeding from small cuts. As always, please seek medical attention if needed!!!

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/herb_home_remedy_qa/cobwebs_help_dogs_ear_stop_bleeding.php

This link tells about using spiderweb on a dog's ear.

Sound Booth~"Matriarch"

This CD gives me goosebumps! Joanne Shenandoah (see previous post "The Nammy's") sings in her natural tongue on "Matriarch", a collection of traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women's songs. Miss Shenandoah has dedicated each of the 13 tracks to a special woman in her life. For example, "She Puts Them Up" honors her Aunt, who in Iroquois tradition, is like a mother to her and is also characteristic of Oneida hospitality. Drumming, Native American Flute, Pianolin, Guitar and Resonating Stones round out the clear, sweet voice that is Joanne's. This CD nevers fails to uplift my spirits with these Goddess inspired songs. Highly recommended!

Recorded at "Indian Springs", Oneida Territory, New York and Subterranean Snake Recording in Boulder, Colorado. Produced by Tom Wasinger and Joanne Shenandoah.

1996 Silver Wave Records

http://www.silverwave.com/

The Nammys

Two of the biggest names in the Native American music industry, Joanne Shenandoah and Bill Miller, will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Native American Music Awards. The event will take place at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. (See my entry from March for more on Bill Miller.) This is the first I have heard of Joanne Shenandoah. Where have I been!?! This recording artist has only been in the business since the late 1980's, with 14 albums and a Grammy to her credit. I intend to purchase one of her albums as the sound bites on her website sound very interesting. She is of the Iroquois Confederacy, Oneida Nation and Wolf Clan. Here is a link to her site:

http://www.joanneshenandoah.com/

David Rodgers, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Eastern Woodland Native American Gathering near Tiffin, Ohio last June, is also up for an award at the Nammys. He was honored at the Gathering with the presentation of a Eagle feather for his artistry on the Native American flute. Here is a link to his website:
http://www.flutemusicfromtheheart.com/

Here is a link to the Nammys page:
http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com

Journey to Annwn

There is an oaken door,

Hidden far away.

In a secret garden,

Where the Fair Folk play.

See the spider spinning,

Hanging in the tree.

Come a little closer,

You will find a key.

Ancient locks will open,

Stone steps going down.

Misty air surrounds you,

Fire lights your crown.

Moonlit path awaits you,

Through enchanted trees.

Softly now..eyes closed..

For that is when you see.

Wise and loving Old One,

Rocking with Her tea.

Look into Her cauldron

Bubbling...So Mote It Be!

Soon your time is over,

Thank Her as you leave.

Life becomes a dream now,

Ever Blessed Be!

Poetry

By Aganippe

May 7, 2005

Artwork

"Court of Faerie"

By Thomas Maybank

1898-1925

Reading Room

I'm behind...WAY behind. With spring cleaning..yes. Updating this blog..yes, guilty. However, what I really am referring to is reading Harry Potter. I've only read the first two books in the series (collective gasp heard amongst wizards and witches!). She must not own the third book, they say. Nope, I have them all with the exception of the last installment released a few days ago (with much fanfare I might add.) OK..she must be SO busy, that she hasn't had any time for books. EHHH...wrong again. I'm currently reading "The Corn King and the Spring Queen", the 1931 historical novel by Naomi Mitchison. So why haven't I picked up "The Prisoner of Azkaban"? I was bored with the first two Harry books.

Let's face it..the Harry Potter books, originally written for kids, are entertaining fantasy but outstanding literary works they are not. So why the "Potter Mania" among adults? Well, while allowing for individual taste, some young adults WERE kids when "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" hit the book shelves in 1997 , so they grew up with the stories. Some are parents of young readers enjoying the fun alongside their little Harrys and Hermiones..while others simply follow the leader of the "What's New and Hot Club". Don't get me wrong, I think the Harry Potter novels are beneficial because they have kids actually reading books and using their imaginations in this day and age of computer games and scheduled play dates..but are the stories leading them to the occult world as some christian fundies/book banners suggest?

My own interest in subjects pagan was awakened after reading "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley in 1985. That wonderful take on the Arthurian legends gave me a starting point to my long held "there is something missing from christianity" feelings, and I was left with the aura of coming home again. I began reading everything I could on the Druids which led me to Wicca and well, here I am, a Wiccan Witch! But that set of events would not have transpired if the seeds of unrest were not there to begin with..the book itself did not "seduce me to the dark side".

Are the events in the stories a true representation of the neo-pagan movement? Hardly, though I believe J.K. Rowling did work enough similarities into the fantasies to give finger pointing fundies something to obsess over. For instance, I think the sorcerer's stone in the first book is a take on the philosopher's stone, a legendary substance which enabled adepts in alchemy to compass the transmutation of metals. Some witches do have wands and/or work with herbs (although I have yet to witness wands like the ones from Ollivander's and mandrake that screams while being harvested.) The Mysteries of the Universe and connecting with Nature are so much more phenomenal in this Witch's opinion!

So will I ever get around to reading the next Harry Potter? Eventually, yes. I have heard the books do get better as they go along..but right now I have some spring, oops pre-fall cleaning to do. Where's that magick wand when I REALLY need it? :o)

Raven in the Snow

"I have watched the seekers searching for their gold~The rape of the land, generations unfold~Nations of the world, their rise and fall~I've watched it all, I'm a Raven in the snow" One of my favorite CD's is "Raven in the Snow" by Bill Miller. Songwriter, educator, performer, artist and Grammy award winner (2005 Best Native American Album, vocal or instrumental~"Cedar Dream Songs") are just a few of the words that come to mind when describing Bill. He describes his music as "alter-Native American" blending folk, rock, country, new age, tribal chants and drumming.~ Born one of nine children, his father was of the Mohican nation and his mother of German descent. The family lived on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation in Wisconsin in near poverty. Although his father was an electrician and draftsman, racial hatred required his father, who had designed many of the buildings in Appleton, Wisconsin, to take his name off the designs and clean toilets and empty trash to keep his job. Growing up Native was not easy for Bill with alcohol abuse and two suicide attempts by age 19 a symptom of his drained spirit. Luckily, music saved him from a life of despair. Bill feels that art in general has the ability to tear down prejudice and promote understanding between all of us...just one reason his live performances are backed up with personal stories. Bill feels that the United States doesn't realize what a tremendous resource Native Americans are and that it is going to be gone soon (2.5 million Native Americans nationally including 750 Mohicans, 1998 statistic). He also stresses seeking wisdom before knowlegde..quite the opposite of our "information seeking age". ~I was fortunate to attend a performance of his for an artist/lecture series at a small, local liberal arts college in 1998. Even though the concert was free, the small auditorium was sparsely filled...but those of us in attendence were soon captivated with the first strains from his Native American flute to his rock n' roll numbers to his heartfelt stories. As we stood applauding at the end of the evening, those interested in purchasing Bill's CD's were invited to come down front. This man, who had just filled the auditorium with his artistry, soul and energy was quiet, humble and almost shy as he sold and autographed CD's. I purchased "Raven in the Snow" that evening. Since then I have added "Native Suite", "Ghost Dance" and "Spirit Rain" to my collection. Each album is different and unique, but Bill Miller's spirit is the thread that connects them all for me. To hear sound clips of Bill's music, touring information, etc. go to: http://www.billmiller.net/index.html

Gray Wolves...Off the Endangered List!

Gray Wolves (Canis Lupus) of the Western Great Lakes Region are no longer listed as an endangered or threatened species the US Fish & Wildlife Service announced on January 29. The proposed delisting of the northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf is next up on the chopping block. The Gray Wolf has been listed as endangered since the 1970's when only a few hundred wolves were left living in Minnesota. Good move or bad? My initial reaction is concern. True, the Gray Wolf recovery program has been successful in repopulation efforts with the numbers now approximately at 4,000 in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin..but has public thinking changed enough to keep a new generation of hunters from slaughter? With delisting, local enforcement will be by state or Native American tribe. There will be a mandatory 5 year monitoring once the wolves are off the endangered list, with the option of relisting if numbers again become too low...but I still have to wonder. Alaskan wildlife officials have resumed aerial gunning attacks on wolves to maximize moose and caribou for hunters. Dozens of unsolved wolf killings have occured in Idaho. Where and when will it stop?~The wolf has undeservedly retained the reputation of being a threat to both beast and man. The idea of wolves as human killers dates back to medieval Europe and is deeply ingrained. Parents in areas with wolves have been known to speak out at public meetings fearing for the lives of their children. Only 16 attacks in North America have been documented during the 20th century and all involved animals that were either rabid or habituated to humans. The idea that wolves are imbued with "surplus killing reflex" is misinformation that fuels the "thrill kill" myth surrounding wolves. The Massachusetts Bay Colony offered the first bounty on wolves in North America in 1630, the hunt was on, and the next centuries saw the wolf population greatly decreased. This mindset continued well into the 20th century with Theodore Roosevelt calling them beasts of "waste and desolation". ~Today, elk hunters (elk hunting is a multi-million dollar activity) are one group that would like to see the wolf population controlled. Many put the blame on wolves for decimating the elk herd in Yellowstone National Park, but grizzly bears, mountain lions and a prolonged drought along with increased elk hunt quotas allowed since 1996 have all taken their toll. Human hatred of wolves essentially began with the domestication of livestock. Ranchers are another politically vocal group against wolf repopulation. Decades ago government hunters known as "wolfers" poisoned, shot and trapped wolves at the request of ranchers, but the fact is that wolf kill accounts for only a small portion of livestock loss. According to the United States Department of Agriculture there were 104 million head of cattle raised in 2005 with 4,400 lost to wolf kill... for which ranchers are compensated with state and private funds. In comparison 22,000 cattle were lost to killing by domestic dogs. The "bogey man" image continues. In 2005, a black bear attack was attributed to wolves by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when the mangled body of Kenton Carnegie was found at Points North Landing, a mining camp in a remote area of Saskatchewan. Wolf biologist Paul Paquet of the World Wildlife Fund came on the scene and correctly assessed the situation as not the result of a wolf attack. ~Humans have the largest and most extreme range on Earth than of any other mammal. Historically speaking, guess who is second? The wolf. It seems to me that wolves are able to live with humans, but can we give wolves the space and freedom they need to survive? Wolves are necessary to the ecosystem that we, as humans, are a part of. As the Lakota say "Mitakuye Oyasin"...all my relations. What we do to all of Earth's creations, we do to ourselves. I hope we can learn the lesson before it's too late. Aho!~To comment on the proposal to delist the northern Rocky Mountain wolves email: NRMGrayWolf@fws.gov For more information go to: http://www.governmentguide.com/govsite.adp?bread=*Main&url=http%3A//www.governmentguide.com/ams/clickThruRedirect.adp%3F55076483%2C16920155%2Chttp%3A//midwest.fws.gov/wolf/index.htm

The Last Scottish Witch

Helen Duncan (November 25, 1897-December 6, 1956) is in the news. Her 72 year old granddaughter Mary Martin, who lives near Edinburgh, is campaigning to have a pardon issued for her granny who was convicted in 1944 for "pretending to be a witch". England's last witchcraft law was not repealed until 1951 by the government under Prime Minister Winston Churchill (who had been ordained into the Grand Ancient Order of Druids). Martin vividly remembers being harrassed by classmates and labeled "witch-spawn" and "evil-eye". She hopes that a pardon will clear the family name. Mary says her grandmother committed no crime and that "in the modern world, it is ridiculous that this conviction stands". In contrast, a full pardon for the 20 people convicted of witchcraft and executed during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials was handed down in 2001. ~Helen Duncan was a well known Spiritualist medium during the 1930's and 194o's, conducting seances for those wishing to contact their departed loved ones. Churchill and King George VI were said to be her clients. Those who witnessed her seances reported that she was able to materialize ectoplasm from her mouth while in trance. In 1941, while conducting a seance for the concerned parents of a missing sailor, Helen revealed that their son had gone down with his ship, the HMS Barham... a fact that the war office did not reveal until several months later in an effort to keep morale high. On January 14, 1944, with war time tensions escalating and the D-day landing being planned by Allied Forces, police raided a seance and arrested Helen in her then hometown of Portsmouth. It was rumored that the war office did not want to run the risk of military manuevers being revealed by Duncan. She was brought to trial in London and sentenced to 9 months in Holloway Prison, being denied an appeal. She was released from prison on September 22, 1944. With the repeal of the 1735 Witchcraft Act in 1951 and the official recognition of Spiritualism as a religion by Parliament in 1954, Helen should have been free to practice her craft. Not so. In November of 1956, police again raided a private seance being conducted by Helen and searched her, a dangerous act for one under trance. She was later taken to the hospital with second degree burns across her stomach. Helen Duncan passed over 5 weeks later.~ A bronze bust of Helen Duncan, presented to the town of Callander where she was born, gives rise to controversy even today with those of strong religious views objecting to its public display. As a consequence the sculpture is currently on display at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. Here is a link to the official Helen Duncan website with information on the campaign for her pardon. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/helenduncan/

Who was Hypatia?

Hypatia of Alexandria was a Hellenized Egyptian philospher of the Platonic school, teacher, mathematician, astrologer and pagan. The exact date of her birth is not known but speculations range from350-370 CE. She was the daughter of Theon, the last fellow of the Museum of Alexandria, of which the Great Library founded by the Ptolemies was a part. Hypatia received students in her home, many of whom were prominent christians who extolled her virtues. She is believed to be the sole woman represented (lower left, dressed in white and looking at the viewer) in Raphael's 1510 "The School of Athens" (pictured above). Her contemporary, the christian historiographer Socrates Scholasticus in his Ecclesiastical History portrays her as follows:
There was a woman at Alexandria named Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher Theon, who made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time. Having succeeded to the school of Plato and Plotinus, she explained the principles of philosophy to her auditors, many of whom came from a distance to receive her instructions. On account of the self-possession and ease of manner, which she had acquired in consequence of the cultivation of her mind, she not unfrequently appeared in public in presence of the magistrates. Neither did she feel abashed in going to an assembly of men. For all men on account of her extraordinary dignity and virtue admired her the more. In 391 CE Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, destroyed several Roman pagan temples at the same time that Emperor Theodosius I published an edict prohibiting various aspects of pagan worship. Hypatia's death in 415 CE was at the hands of a violent mob. Just who was responsible for the riot is not known but theories include: a spontaneous christian uprising that was allowed to occur, a conspiracy by the Emperor or a peasant mob made up of both christians and pagans. Hypatia has been said to be the first "famous witch" to be punished under christian authority.