Tempest Smith

On February 20, 2001, a young girl named Tempest Smith killed herself in Lincoln Park, Michigan. Her suicide was directly caused by the taunting of other students at Lincoln Park Middle School who mocked her because she was different and because she was Wiccan. This is a dramatic and extreme example of hundreds of everyday cases of prejudice based on religion. Even those who would never make a racial or gender based slur may still discriminate based on religion, because many faiths teach that their religion is the only right one. We know that change is made one person at a time. So in memory of Tempest Smith and millions of victims of religious discrimination worldwide, I present to you the Pagan Pride Project pledge.

I remember Tempest Smith.
I remember that it's never right to make fun of someone's beliefs.
I remember that sticks and stones can break my bones, but names are words of power that can wound the soul.
I remember that many mocked and one died.
I remember Tempest Smith.
I remember that it takes all types to make a world.
I remember that nature likes biodiversity. This is true of beliefs and ideas as well.
I remember that I make a better witness to my own beliefs by simply living them, not belittling others.
I remember Tempest Smith.
And I remember that another person's belief (or nonbelief) is just as sincerely held as my own.
I remember to have the courage to say, "Hey, that's not right." when I see someone being ridiculed.
And the next time I am tempted to go along with the crowd and tease someone who is different, I will remember Tempest Smith, and I will remember my pledge.
Because what is remembered lives.

Wool of bat?

eye of newt anyone? Fear not! Things are never really want they seem. Witches really aren't so scary. If you visit your grandma she might know some of these. They were just folk names of herbs, not plucking out anyone's eyes, heart, tongue or else wise.

Here are some old time names for herbs:

A Bone of an Ibis: Buckthorn
Adders Tongue: Dogstooth Violet
A Titan's Blood: Wild Lettuce
A Lion's Hairs: Tongue of a Turnip [i.e., the leaves of the taproot]
A Man's Bile: Turnip Sap
A Pig's Tail: Leopard's Bane
A Hawk's Heart: Heart of Wormwood
An Eagle: Wild Garlic
Ass's Foot or Bull's Foot: Coltsfoot
Blood: Elder sap or another tree sap
Blood of Hephaistos: Wormwood
Burning Bush: White Dittany
Bread and Cheese Tree: Hawthorne
Blood from a Head: Lupine
Bird's Eye: Germander Speedwell
Blood of Ares: Purslane
Blood of a Goose: A Mulberry Tree's Milk
Bloodwort: Yarrow
Blood of Hestia: Camomile
Blood of an Eye: Tamarisk Gall
Blood from a Shoulder: Bear's Breach
Bat's Wings: Holly
Black Sampson: Echinacea
Bull's Blood or Seed of Horus: Horehound
Bear's Foot: Lady's Mantle
Calf's Snout: Snapdragon
Cat's Foot: Canada Snake Root and/or Ground Ivy
Candelmas Maiden: Snowdrop.
Capon's Tail: Valerian.
Christ's Ladder: Centaury
Cheeses: Marsh Mallow
Chocolate Flower: Wild Geranium
Christ's Eye: Vervain Sage
Clear-eye: Clary Sage
Click: Goosegrass
Cucumber Tree: Magnolia
Clot: Great Mullein
Corpse Plant: Indian Pipe.
Crowdy Kit: Figwort
Cuddy's Lungs: Great Mullein
Crow Foot: Cranesbill
Cuckoo's Bread: Common Plantain
Clear Eye: Clary Sage
Crow's Foot: Wild Geranium
Devils Dung: Asafoetida
Dragon's Blood: Calamus
Dog's Mouth: Snap Dragon
Daphne: Laurel/Bay
Devil's Plaything: Yarrow
Dove's Foot: Wild Geranium
Dew of the Sea: Rosemary
Dragon Wort: Bistort
Earth Smoke: Fumitory
Eye of Christ: Germander Speedwell
Elf's Wort: Elecampane
Enchanter's Plant: Vervain
Englishman's Foot: Common Plantain
Erba Santa Maria: Spearmint
Everlasting Friendship: Goosegrass
Eye of the Day: Common Daisy
Eye of the Star: Horehound
Eye Root: Goldenseal
Eyes: Aster, Daisy, Eyebright
Frog's Foot: Bulbous Buttercup
From the Loins: Camomile
Fat from a Head: Spurge
Fairy Smoke: Indian Pipe
Felon Herb: Mugwort
From the Belly: Earth-apple
From the Foot: Houseleek
Five Fingers: Cinquefoil
Fox's Clote: Burdock
Graveyard Dust: Mullein
Goat's Foot: Ash Weed
God's Hair: Hart's Tongue Fern
Golden Star: Avens
Gosling Wing: Goosegrass
Graveyard Dust: Mullein
Great Ox-eye: Ox-eye Daisy
Hairs of a Hamadryas Baboon: Dill Seed
Hair of Venus: Maidenhair Fern
Hag's Taper: Great Mullein
Hagthorn: Hawthorn
Hare's Beard: Great Mullein
Herb of Grace: Vervain
Hind's Tongue: Hart's Tongue Fern
Holy Herb: Yerba Santa
Holy Rope: Hemp Agrimony
Hook and Arn: Yerba Santa
Horse Tongue: Hart's Tongue Fern
Horse Hoof: Coltsfoot
Hundred Eyes: Periwinkle
Innocense: Bluets
Jacob's Staff: Great Mullein
Joy of the Mountain: Marjoram
Jupiter's Staff: Great Mullein
King's Crown: Black Haw
Knight's Milfoil: Yarrow
Kronos' Blood: of Cedar
Lady's Glove: Foxglove aka Witches' Gloves
Lion's Tooth: Dandelion aka Priest's Crown
Lad's Love: Southernwood
Lamb's Ears: Betony
Little Dragon: Tarragon
Love in Idleness: Pansy
Love Leaves: Burdock
Love Lies Bleeding: Amaranth or Anemone
Love Man: Goosegrass
Love Parsley: Lovage
Love Root: Orris Root
Man's Health: Ginseng
Maiden's Ruin: Southernwood
Master of the Woods: Woodruff
May: Black Haw
May Lily: Lily of the Valley
May Rose: Black Haw
Maypops: Passion Flower
Mistress of the Night: Tuberose
Mutton Chops: Goosegrass
Nose Bleed: Yarrow
Old-Maid's-Nightcap: Wild Geranium
Old Man's Flannel: Great Mullein
Old Man's Pepper: Yarrow
Oliver: Olive
Password: Primrose
Pucha-pat: Patchouli
Peter's Staff: Great Mullein
Priest's Crown: Dandelion leaves
Poor Man's Treacle: Garlic
Queen of the Night: Vanilla Cactus
Queen of the Meadow: Meadowsweet
Queen of the Meadow Root: Gravelroot
Ram's Head: American Valerian
Red Cockscomb: Amaranth
Ring-o-bells: Bluebells
Robin-run-in-the-grass: Goosegrass
Semen of Helios: White Hellebore
Semen of Herakles: Mustard-rocket
Semen of Hermes: Dill
Semen of Hephaistos: This is Fleabane
Semen of Ammon: Houseleek
Semen of Ares: Clover
Seed of Horus: Horehound
Sparrow's Tongue: Knotweed
Soapwort: Comfrey or Daisy
Shepherd's Heart: Shepherd's Purse
Swine's Snout: Dandelion leaves
Shameface: Wild Geranium
See Bright: Clary Sage
Scaldhead: Blackberry
Seven Year's Love: Yarrow
Silver Bells: Black Haw
Sorcerer's Violet: Periwinkle
St. John's Herb: Hemp Agrimony.(this is not St. John's Wort)
St. John's Plant: Mugwort
Star Flower: Borage
Star of the Earth: Avens
Starweed: Chickweed
Sweethearts: Goosegrass
Tarragon: Mugwort
Tartar Root: Ginseng
Thousand Weed: Yarrow
Thunder Plant: House Leek
Tanner's Bark: Common Oak
Toad: Toadflax
Torches: Great Mullein
Tongue of dog: houndstongue
Tears of a Hamadryas Baboon: Dill Juice
Unicorn Root: Ague Root
Unicorn's Horn: False Unicorn:Helonias Dioica
Unicorn Horn: True Unicorn Root
Wax Dolls: Fumitory
Weazel Snout: Yellow Dead Nettles/Yellow Archangel
White: Ox-eye Daisy
White Wood: White Cinnamon
Witch's Asprin: White Willow/Willow Bark
Witch's Brier: Brier Hips
Weasel Snout: Yellow Archangel
Wolf Foot: Bugle Weed
Wolf Claw: Club Moss
Wolf's Milk: Euphorbia
Weed: Ox-Eye Daisy
White Man's Foot: Common Plantain

Do you remember me?

“When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.
For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it is your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.
If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget, part of who I am will be gone.” --Frederick Buechner

Where have I been?

I dunno seems like forever since I have been around. I was looking around online and found the coolest thing. The spiral scouts. Oh yes....

Focus and Goals:

SpiralScouts has been established:

• to provide an opportunity for minority faith families to interact with their children

• to encourage minority faith children to interact with each other

• to instill in our children the concepts of inclusivity, the balance of gender energies, acceptance of differences in beliefs, other useful cultural customs and values, and an Earth centered spiritual worldview

• to promote the growth and development of interpersonal skills and life skills in these children.

History:

SpiralScouts began as a Pagan Scout group in 1999. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church in Index, Washington was looking for an answer to other organizations that teach or require children to believe certain tradtions. In 2001, SprialScout International was formalized and SpiralScout Circles are now found across the United States and Canada and the program continues to grow.

FireFlies, Ages 3 to 8:

The FireFly Promise:

I promise to serve the Wise Ones,
To Honor and respect Mother Earth,
To be helpful and understanding toward all people,
And always keep love in my heart.

SpiralScouts, Ages 8 to 14:

The SpiralScout's Oath:

A SpiralScout shall:
Respect all living things; be kind and courteous;
be honorable; be mindful of his/her words;
seek out knowledge in all forms; recognize the
beauty in all of creation; offer assistance to
others; value honesty and truth; honor personal
commitments; and respect the Divine in all things.

PathFinders, Ages 14 and up:

The PathFinder Pledge:

I pledge myself to the FireFly Promise, the SpiralScouts's Oath, the fulfillment of all my commitments, made to myself as well as others.
I pledge to serve all my brothers and sisters in every way on our many journeys around the sun together as I find my way through the world.

Membership Criteria:

Membership is open to children of all faiths who are 3 to 18 years old.

SpiralScouts Uniform:

• Activity Uniform: Forest green polo shirt with khaki bottoms (short, pants, skirt or skort) and the SprialScouts neck cord.
• Dress Uniform: Forest green long sleeve oxford shirt with long khaki pants or skirt, and chocolate brown capuche.

Activities:

SpiralScouts activities and learning is based on pagan, earth-based beliefs. Through camping, songs, crafts, wood lore, service projects and other scouting activities, children learn about respect for the Earth, themselves and others. They learn about the balance of energies, explore other cultures and more. They earn badges to wear on their uniforms.

Find a Circle or Hearth:

SpiralScouts International is a growing organization. To find a group near you, check their Web Site list. If you cannot locate a local group, consider starting one!

Why Spiral Scouts:

SpiralScouts offers children of pagan families and families who practice other minority religions an opportunity to participate in activities, volunteering, study and growth. If you would like your children to participate in scouting more closely aligned to your faith, SpriralScouts is a good choice.

An Officer's Life

You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for speeding.
He just worked an accident where people died because they were going to fast.

You wonder why that cop was so meanHe just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid.
You work for 8 hoursHe works for up to 18 hours.

You drink hot coffee to stay awake.
The cold rain in the middle of the nite keeps him awake.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before.

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.
He spills his as he runs code to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house.
He makes sure his guns are clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He watches his buddy get shot at, and wounded in front of him.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in the middle of July and still runs around chasing crack heads.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.

You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready.
He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work asap for a traffic homicide.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.He holds the hair of some college girl while shes puking in the back of his patrol car.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
His shift ended 4 hours ago and theres no end in sight.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He can't make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work.

You yell and scream at the squad car that just past you beacuse they slowed you down.
He's in the driver seat of the squad car, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that their dead when he gets there.

You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public.
He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying.

You criticize your police dept and say they're never there quick enough.
He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.

You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better.
He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and lose's his life doing it.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He would take a bullet for his buddy without question.

You sit there and judge him, saying that its a waste of money to have them around.
Yet as soon as you need help he is there.

A friend sent this to me and I was moved.

Where is my mind

Welcome to the winter months, and I'm starting to feel like a bear. Knowing that I have things to do is not helping me one bit. I am in desparate want of just curling up into a ball, reading a book, and not doing any of the things I should be doing. I will also be in need of a cup of cocoa.