June 1, 2008

• The Webnovel & June

  Tattoo

  For those who haven’t read anything yet, here are the posts so far…

  
  
  

  Chapter 1.1 in which Glory is not mindful of the store
  Chapter 1.2 in which Glory is made to do something she would really rather not
  Chapter 1.3 in which Glory thinks she might be sick
  Chapter 1.4 in which Aaron makes a mistake
  Chapter 1.5 in which Glory is made to see the error of her ways
  (Chapter 1 to conclude next week)
  

  
  
  

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  June
  

  
  June is the sixth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month of summer. It is the “door of the year,” the gateway to the inner realms. The original name for this month was Junonius. It was named for the Roman goddess Juno, patron of the female sex, and so this month was considered an excellent month for marriages. As Juno Moneta, whose temple was located on the Capitoline hill in Rome, she was guardian of money and wealth. June is sacred to Juno and all gods and goddesses who preside over love, passion, and beauty.

  The Irish call June Meitheamh or an t-Ogmios, the young month. The Anglo-Saxon name was Aerra Litha, “before Litha.” The Franks called it Brachmanoth, “break month.” June is called Fallow by the Asatru.

  The first Full Moon of June is called the Hot or Strawberry Moon in parts of America. It is also referred to as the Strong Sun Moon, Lover’s Moon, and Rose Moon, and it has been called the Moon of Making Fat and the Moon of Horses, and name similar to one of the names for May’s Moon. It shares the names Mead Moon and Honey Moon with July.

  Cancer becomes dominant on June 21st as the sun passes from the constellation of Gemini. Roses are for those born this month. June plays host to many stones claiming to be its birthstone. Of them all, emerald is listed most, followed by agate, chalcedony, turquoise, pearl, cat’s eye, or alexandrite, in that order. Pearl and moss agate are also birthstones of Gemini, and moonstone or pearl is the birthstone of Cancer. Chrysoprase, sapphire, and topaz are also connected to Gemini, while albite, chrysoprase, emerald, green tourmaline, opal, pink tourmaline, and rhodochrosite are associated with Cancer.
  
  
  

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  Lunar Holy Days
  

  
  The first Sunday of this month is date of the Bulgarian Rose Harvest Festival.

  The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Double Fifth Festival, occurs on the fifth day of the fifth moon. It is one of the three most important of the annual Chinese festivals, the other two being the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year.

  Chu Yuan, the divine poet, lived in the third century BCE, serving the King of Chu during the Warring States period. He enjoyed the full confidence and respect of his sovereign at first, but eventually he was falsely discredited by rivals and found himself in disfavor. During that time, he composed his immortal poem, “Encountering Sorrow”, an allegorical description of his search for a prince who would listen to good counsel in government. Never able to regain his emperor’s favor, on the fifth day of the fifth moon in the year 295 BCE at the age of 37, Chu Yuan held a stone to his chest and leaped into the Milo River in the Hunan Province. Respect for the minister caused the people living in the area to jump into their boats in a vain attempt to find him while other villagers threw rice dumplings in the river to distract dragons and evil spirits lurking in the water. This unsuccessful rescue attempt is a part of what the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates in its annual races. The annual Dragon Boat Festival was at one time a Pagan Summer Solstice ritual designed to appease the dragon gods of the rivers.
  
  
  

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  June 1st
  

  
  The festival of Carna honors the Roman goddess of doors and locks equivalent to the Norse goddess Syn, the includer and excluder. Carna (Carne) acted as guardian of the larger organs of the body (heart, lungs, and liver), of domestic life, and the life of man. She warded off all the influences of evil spirits. She “opens what is closed, and closes what is open.” Doors and windows should be repaired on this day especially considering Tempestas, goddess of storms, also lays claim to this day.
  
  
  

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  The temple of Juno Moneta was founded on the summit of the citadel. Money derived from the goddess was called Moneta as it was coined in the temple of Juno Moneta. Beginning on the previous night, offerings were made to Jupiter and Juno Regina. This is the beginning of the Secular (Centennial) Games dedicated to Proserpine, Juno Regina, Diana, the Moerae (Parcae), the Eilithyiae, and Terra Matter. Offerings were made beside the Tiber to the Moerae, the Eileithyiae, and to Terra Mater today and tomorrow. On the following day (after the first night), processions were held in honor of Apollo and Artemis. Hebe, Cup-Bearer of Olympus, was also honored.
  
  
  

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  This is also the festival of the Oak Nymph, honoring all hamadryads (female nature spirits who are believed to inhabit oak trees). Decorate a Pagan alter with acorns and wear some oak leaves in your hair. Kiss an oak tree or place a small offering of some kind before it, and the tree nymphs who dwell within it will surely bestow a blessing upon you.
  
  
  

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  Ma’at and Ra go forth in secret on the 18th day of Epipi. 
  
  
  

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  The Witchcraft Act of 1563 took affect in England.
  
  
  

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