Leo is depicted as a male lion, a creature used in heraldry to represent kingship and majesty. The ruler of Leo is the Sun, the center of our solar system, and the point around which all the other planets rotate. It is interesting to note that scholars knew this fact in antiquity. We base our belief that they didn't know this on maps and tables that were astrological, not astronomical models. In Astrology, for all practical purposes, Earth is the center because it is where we live. If they hadn't known the Sun was the center, they could not have made the star charts and constellation tables as accurately as they did.

Leo is a fixed, Fire sign. It is self-confident, generous, warm-hearted, dramatic, a powerful leader. It can also be proud, vain, extravagant and arrogant.

The monthly installment of The Great Astrological Light Bulb Joke:

Q. How many Leos does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Leos don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will get a Virgo in to do the job for them while they're out.

Note: I have no idea who originally wrote this. Erika sent it to me years ago and I still think it’s as funny as it is insightful!

July 22^nd the Sun enters the constellation Leo. Leo is the hottest and driest, as well as the most playful and creative time of year. Our task, during its season, is to balance hedonism with duty. You know...hang out at Greenlake all day, enjoy the plethora of fairs and festivals the city has to offer, and enjoy these glorious long, warm evenings but remember to water the garden when you come home. Responsibility is good for you but so is taking time to play in the sun.

July 25 - 27 is the 57th Annual Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering, the sixth oldest gathering of its kind in the United States. It is always held at the King County Fairgrounds, in Enumclaw, WA, right across the street from Charlie’s house.

July 28^th is a New Moon, The Moon and Sun are conjunct in the sky. The moon is dark and gradually increases to a crescent. This is the time to begin a ritual involving a new project, to ask for new vision.

July 28^th is the night to watch the Delta Aquarids meteor showers.

July 31^st is JK Rowling’s birthday! 

August 1^st is the first Friday of the month and The Duncan & Thornell get-together. This month’s party will go from 7 to 10:00 pm because Scott and Inga have to get up really early on Saturday! 

August 1^st is also Lammas. Lammas or Lughnasadh honors the Sun god Lugh, the ripener of grains. The Solstice is past and the days are beginning to get shorter, we are already moving along to Autumn and harvest time. Traditionally, this is the time to bless the harvest tools, local water sources and beehives. Grain offerings or newly baked loaves are burned upon the altar in celebration of the first harvest. Villagers would decorate the springs and fountains with wreaths of flowers. Choose a time today to go outside and enjoy the riches of nature. Float a few flowers in a bowl or basin of water and allow them to coax a little Summer into your home. 

August 4^th is Sean and Cynthia’s 1^st Anniversary. Congratulations, you two! 

August 11^th is a Full Moon. The Moon and Sun are opposite each other in the sky. The Moon reflects all of the Sun's light. This is the time to perform rituals for protection, clarity of vision and consecration.

August 23^rd is Scott’s Birthday, and the day that the Sun enters the constellation Virgo. Look for the Virgo newsletter.

Amber is not technically a stone at all. It is an organic like jet or ivory, consisting of the fossilized resin of trees. This transparent or translucent golden-orange gemstone has been used for jewelry since ancient times since it is softer than crystal or stone and relatively easy to carve and drill even with primitive tools. Finding beads from Roman and pre-Columbian times is not uncommon although when worn on a daily basis genuine amber tends to dehydrate and crack. It should not be left in the sun or worn frequently during the heat of the day. Amber is now mined but the earliest amber was simply found washed up on beaches surrounding the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. Plastics and synthetic resins are frequently used to imitate Amber. 

Amber carries the warm comforting energy of ancient forests and can help to remind us of the rhythms of Earth. It resonates with Leo and wearing it can help to support growth in the areas of positive self-image, responsibility & generosity. It is too easy in these stressful times to focus on our needs and desires and to become self-centered rather than expansive. Wearing amber can help to keep us focused on using our strengths correctly and generously.

To learn more about how to use Gemstones in your daily life, click here to see our "What Gemstones Should I Wear?" guide in our Library.

Click here to learn more about purchasing Inga's Earth Magic Jewelry.

We think of this newsletter as a community forum. You, our friends and clients, are welcome to participate. We celebrate diversity and we'll print whatever you send in be it Wiccan, Christian, Pagan, New Age, etc., as long as it reflects Love. You may choose a one-time holiday to write about or have a regular column. We'll give you space and a byline! Please send in your own book reviews, ideas for rituals, ideas about stones, your journal excerpts, your experiences and most of all, ask us questions. We love answering questions!

From Stephanie :

I’ve finally found a website that explains where the moon, earth and sun are when we see the different phases of the moon. It has activities and a test. Hope you enjoy it!

http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/moon/lunar_phases_main.html  

From Scott:

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." - Harriet Beecher Stowe

Click here to learn more on the Harriet Beecher Stowe website.

From Donnie:

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit Europe for the second time. I was there for five weeks and had an amazing time experiencing so much in such a short amount of time!

On one excursion, my friend Ernst and I visited Edinburgh, Scotland for three days. Although we didn't travel anywhere else in Scotland, we had a great time in Edinburgh during those three days! And although more metropolitan, Edinburgh was still a nice taste of Scottish culture!

When we first arrived in Edinburgh, and were looking for our hotel, we stumbled across a curious little Pagan/New Age shop called "(un)Familiar". We decided to come back later on. The next day, we went back to the shop and browsed around. I already knew I was going to make a nice-sized purchase with all the neat things I was seeing. So I took my time looking around and chatting a bit with Claire and Dee, who run the shop. The shop was very nice and charming with various things of interest. I even got a picture taken with Claire and Dee! It was good to "accidentally" find such a nice shop with nice people. Just another one of those nice little random experiences that stay with you!

So, if you're ever in Edinburgh, and stumble across an "unfamiliar" little shop, go on in and have a look, and tell them Donnie sent you!! ;) Click here to see the (un) familiar of Edinburgh website.

We've always wondered what would happen if we got the friends we've made through Inga's Earth Magic (IEM) into a room together. Why? Because every one of us has a unique gift to offer to the world. And if we get enough of us in one place at the same time, something magical is bound to occur.

• When: The 1st Friday of every month. Please join us for dinner. We start eating around 7 PM. Or join us for dessert later on!
• Where: Our place (click on LIBRARY in the navigation bar at the top of the screen and then MAP ROOM for directions)
• What to bring: Just your enthusiasm and love! There's a big pot of pasta on the stove, salad, bread and plenty of microbrews and red wine. If you have specific preferences, please bring whatever you'd like.
• How long: Until the good conversation ends! If you'd like, you can spend the night on one of the couches with the kitties or bring your sleeping bag and mat and camp out on the floor of Inga's office.
• RSVP: Just let us know in advance via e-mail or phone if you are coming and if you are bringing guests so we don't run out of food or beer!

The strange happenings continue at our house. I opened the refrigerator to check the beer supply after our last open house only to find it fairly decimated and much to my surprise, a defaced ten dollar bill. Grateful guest? Mischievous elemental? Lord knows around here. Stuff has been disappearing and reappearing quite a bit lately. Anyway, I put the ten spot to good use the next morning at the local espresso stand and I haven't looked back since.

Meanwhile, Freya continues to settle into the Duncan / Thornell family. She's healthy, happy and gaining confidence with strangers. We've never met a more content, calm animal and her energy is a delightful addition to our household. She really enjoys watching us putter in the yard and she's always eager for a session of fetch in the backyard. Tennis balls are good but pine cones are preferred.

Work has been extremely stressful for me of late due to the continuing downsizing and subsequent layoffs. It has been a challenge to stay grounded and centered and I've been relying heavily on the insights I gained during my motorcycle ride to Arizona this past May. I've been journaling as I continue to assimilate and apply what I learned and I'll share that with you in the Virgo 2003 newsletter. The silver lining in this very dark cloud is that I'm getting lots of opportunities to practice management of my energy in the form of intention, emotions, boundaries and psychic protection. If things were going well, I probably would not be working so diligently on all this. Unfortunately, I seem to still need adversity to really work on my growth. Many years ago, my holistic doctor asked me a question about my trials and tribulations with chronic pain: "Are you paying a heavy price for this growth?" I said that I was indeed, at which point he suggested that I start getting my money's worth.

In the meantime, get out and enjoy  Leo! -- Scott Bruce Duncan */:-)

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