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 were aware of 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 the astronomers 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 Leo. Happy Birthday to all you Leos!!

This is the hot part of summer historically called the Dog Days. To learn about why, click here. 

July 31^st is a Full moon in Aquarius: It is called the Blue moon since it is the 2^nd full moon in the same month. 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.

To learn more about actively using the Moon's energy in your life, see The Moon Through the Signs and Moon Phases. These guides are located in our Library.

August 6^th is the First Friday and the Dunthor Open House: Bring your knitting crocheting or whatever so I won’t be the only one! Click here to see details below. 

August 15^th is a New Moon in Leo: 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 new project, a ritual or to ask for a new vision.

To learn more about actively using the Moon's energy in your life, see The Moon Through the Signs and Moon Phases. These guides are located in our Library.

August 22^nd: The Sun Enters Virgo.

This pendant is a natural amber pebble wrapped in a sculpted setting of sterling silver wire. 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. Amber carries the warm comforting energy of ancient forests and can help to remind us of the rhythms of Earth. According to tradition, amber 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. Silver is a conductor of energy and is said to aid in communication as it improves the transmission of nerve impulses. According to tradition, it is a good metal for healing purposes because it is in tune with the body. Silver can reduce anxiety and help you to relax when solving problems. It is believed to help conduct the energy of stones into your body and auric field.

This pendant is 75.00. I have other amber pendants starting at 35.00.

Click here to see this item and more in my Catalog.

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

I’d like to introduce Maggie! She is a beautiful female tortoise shell kitten and the newest member of the household. We found her while walking Freya on the 4^th of July. Scott wanted to describe “The Finding of the Kitten” so I’ll let him do so in his column. She comes under the heading of "the best laid plans of mice and men...". I seldom make specific requests of the Universe, but when I do, I usually get excellent results. Years ago, we rescued a litter and had three females to raise all at one time; Mary, (who most of you remember) Ilsa, and Sarah. They exercised all those endearing habits that female cats exercise when they are deciding who is to be top cat, like peeing in the most outrageous of places and seeing who can yell loudest in the middle of the night.  In desperation, I requested of the Universe that the next one be an orange male. I went so far as to imply that if it wasn’t it would go to PAWS instead of home with me. The next Spring, Angus showed up. Now we’ve had Freya and 4 cats for a year and the household has been feeling very comfortable and easy to maintain. So I requested NO NEW PETS this year. You can see for yourself how well it worked!

Even when I pulled Maggie out of the drain and set her on her feet, I hoped she’d run off like she had somewhere to go. Instead she ran right to Freya. Freya was overjoyed and wanted to carry her home herself. I carried the smelly, wet beastie home instead and we fed her on the porch where she could have some privacy. Freya decided we were keeping her and gently herded her into the kitchen. I bathed her twice and got as much of the smelly water off her as I could, showed her the cat boxes and then we went to bed.

She was so skinny that Dr. Amy, our cat vet, wouldn’t even estimate closer than to say she was under a year old. I told her about how we found her and Dr. Amy kept repeating incredulously, "What if it had rained?".  Two weeks later, she has established her place in the pecking order, is able to eat without being pushed out of the bowl and has gained 2 pounds! I contemplated Liberty or Julia as names in honor of finding her on the Fourth of July, but naming the girls has always been Scott’s prerogative, so Margaret Liberty Duncan she is.

Saturday, July 17^th: Scott and I watched as Howard Shore conducted the Seattle Symphony in his Lord of the Rings Symphony. Several people in the audience were in costumes and a few brought their Frodo dolls to see the show. The man seated in front of us told the person next to him that Howard Shore had not personally conducted several of the symphonies during the tour. I am grateful I was able to see him conduct and that he got to see how much we all loved his music. Watching the three movies when we got home just makes me even more amazed at how he was able to choose individual pieces and have them flow together the way he did.

The music was accompanied by the conceptual artwork of John Howe and Alan Lee. It was amazing to see the drawings and to notice how many movie scenes were translated directly from the completed sketches. The only things I would have added to the collage of images are both in the second half. One is where Gandalf’s staff is shown while playing the theme where he drives the Nazgul from Faramir and the returning riders. The staff shown is from the first film and I think a drawing of the Lothlorien staff he carries later should have been shown also. Again when Anduril's theme, Aragorn's sword in the 3rd film, is played, a drawing of the shards of Narsil is shown but then there are no drawings of it reforged as Anduril. No big deal, though.

What amazes me most about drawings in general is typified by the drawing on the screen when Frodo is entering Mt. Doom on the narrow bridge of rock. The rock walls are drawn in great detail and the hobbit on the bridge consists of a scribbled square of pencil with two shaded triangles beneath it and a circular twist of eraser above. Yet it is unmistakably a hobbit crossing the bridge. The music was wonderful, the arrangement was wonderful and the art was wonderful. I highly recommend the experience. 

To get your own Frodo Doll, click here. I must wonder why anyone would want a Frodo sitting around their house with that concerned look on his face.

The Seattle Times reviewed Thursday’s performance here: Click here for the full story.

A quote: "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression." -- Thomas Paine

Another quote: "It is not true that life is one damn thing after another. It is the same damn thing over and over." -- Edna St. Vincent Millay

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 Laura C.:

There is a fire in my belly.

I, now more than ever feel its power
coursing through my veins,
Telling me to listen,

Listen to the wind,
the waves,

And the promise of that first kiss of breath I experienced my first day of life.

It is time to look,
Eyes closed,

Arms open,

Palms to the sky,

Into the wind and Breathe.

-- Laura Clement

From Randy:

Pecans in the Cemetery

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

"One for you, and one for me, one for you, and one for me," said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy was riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard,

"One for you, and one for me, one for you, and one for me,"

He knew just what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, and one for me, one for you, and one for me,"

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord." Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything.

The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all.

Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike. 

From Peggie:

STAY!!

I pulled into a crowded parking lot and rolled down the car windows to make sure my golden retriever had fresh air. She was stretched out on the back seat, and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the curb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically,

"Now you stay. . . Do you hear me? Stay! .. . Stay! "

The driver of a nearby car, perhaps noting that I am a blonde (??), gave me a strange look and said, "Why don't you just put it in park?"

Please come join in the community that has been created over the years with the friends we've made through Inga's Earth Magic. You'll find insight, sharing, healing and fellowship and you are most welcome. 

• 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!

Just for fun, we've begun offering an astrological quiz based on the newsletter at our monthly parties. Our first one was for Cancer 2004. Click here to try your hand.

I'd like to tell you the story of the Finding of the Kitten, of how Margaret Liberty Duncan, a.k.a. Maggie and the newest member of the Duncan clan, came home to live with us on the fourth of July. Like many of the Duncan pets, the middle name often reflects where or when they were rescued. In Maggie's case, Inga, Freya and I were out on our nightly walk on the 4th.  As the sunlight faded in the sky, the citizen fireworks activity really ramped up. We live on the edge of a residential neighborhood, next to the business district in Burien. While the neighborhood was akin to a war zone with lots of stuff constantly blowing up, the business district was deserted so we headed that way. Freya, like many German Shepherds that are used as police dogs, is unperturbed by loud noises so our choice of route was more for us than her.  Nevertheless, the two of us were still repeatedly flinching from all the noise in the air. As we cleared the forest by the Library, we could see the city's fireworks display over Lake Burien so we headed that way past the Courthouse, the Police Station and the Post Office. As none of the buildings in this part of town are more than two stories high, we had a great view as we strolled past all the darkened shops and empty parking lots. As we watched the colorful explosions, we remarked on the cultural contrast between how fireworks are used in Asia and here in America. In Asia, fireworks are used in rituals to scare away demons. In America, they are used to simulate the warfare that resulted in our liberation from the British:

"And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." - Star Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key, 1814

As we watched the aerial display, we remarked on how Americans are fiercely determined to celebrate this holiday regardless of the laws banning fireworks, the extensive property damage and the numerous bodily injuries that occur each year. I found myself thinking about neighborhoods around the world that are being ripped apart by warfare and all the fear, violence, destruction and anguish that goes with it. Then I thought about how some of that violence is being funded by our tax dollars and I couldn't help but think that this exuberant celebration of our revolutionary American spirit is severely disconnected from present day reality.

The public firework display ended and we circled back toward home. We retraced our route which is not our usual approach to these walks. Once Freya has thoroughly sniffed her way down a city block, we move on to a fresh block. But in hindsight, I can see how we were avoiding the din of the adjacent neighborhoods that, if anything, was getting even louder. As we walked alongside the courthouse park, I was expressing my dismay to Inga about all the noise when it happened. Amidst all that racket, I distinctly heard the mewing cry of a cat. I halted and began scanning my surroundings for the source of it. It seemed so out of place and so close that at first, I wondered if I had truly heard it. But then I noticed Freya and Inga were doing the same. I was really puzzled as there was really no place for a cat to hide; no shrubs, no parked cars. "Mew!" I spun around and saw nothing but the deserted street. "Mew!" I looked down at the curb and spotted a kitten's head protruding from the storm drain in the street. What the #%$@????

As Inga held Freya back to give the kitten and me room, I knelt in the street and examined the situation. At first, I was careful to not touch the cat because I've learned over the years that panicky cats can bite and scratch.  But I sensed restraint on the kitten's behalf and that it welcomed the assistance. All it could get through the grating was its head and one paw. I gently began lifting up on the heavy grating only to realize that it was bolted in place.

I saw a rear leg pop out through another hole in the grating and I realized that the kitty was clinging to it in a frantic effort to stay up out of the standing water below. I wedged my arm in through a hole in the grating and was able to place my hand under its rear feet. I was hoping that the kitty could then push its way out while I gently assisted but it just didn't fit.  I began to wonder how far the kitty had traveled underground to emerge in this drain. But such speculation would have to wait as she was making it really clear verbally that she urgently wanted out.

As I had exercised my immediate rescue options, I traded places with Inga and I took over keeping a very concerned Freya at bay. She goes automatically into momma mode in response to the troubled cries of kittens, puppies and children. Anyway, with Inga's smaller hands and arms, she was able to better align the kitty's body.

Inga then gently, yet firmly, pulled and pushed the kitty up. As the kitty began emerging from the storm drain, Freya and I felt a sense of elation. But it was short lived as the kitty's hips wouldn't fit through the opening! Undeterred, Inga held the kitty up with one hand, put her other arm back into the storm drain, rearranged the legs and the kitty popped out. Woo-hoo!  Now that she was free, we could see that she was a weaned juvenile, probably 3 or 4 months old and female. Inga put her down to see what she would do. We wondered if she'd zoom off and head for home to some nearby apartments on the other side of the park. But she just stood there on the sidewalk and kept mewing at us. When she did make her first move a moment later, it really surprised us. She ran over to Freya and stood under her! Freya began licking the kitty and nosing her around while making comforting noises. Inga and I watched in amazement. We knew right then and there that this kitty was coming home for some food and shelter as leaving her alone in the park was not an option.

Inga carried the kitty as I walked Freya but the half mile journey took longer than usual as Freya kept doubling back to check on the mewing kitten. At one point, Inga knelt down to let Freya closely inspect the kitty and Freya tried to pick her up behind the neck like momma cats do. Figuring she'd do a better job of getting the kitty to our house, Inga declined Freya's offer.

As Inga carried the kitty, she remarked on how the kitty was skin and bones. Inga could feel every vertebra in her spine. Not surprisingly, the kitten devoured the food we served up on our front porch. She then resumed her constant, loud meowing, causing Freya to want to come out and check on her. We held the front door open and once Freya had sniffed her from head to toe, she herded the kitty right into the house. Ok, so Freya's adopted a kitten.  After watching the kitty's comfort and affection with Freya and us, we were taken aback when she clearly was terrified of our cats, a friendly bunch to be sure. Our cats respectfully gave her space while we gave her the standard new cat tour of the food, water and cat boxes. As I watched her inspect the facilities, I was struck by her rapidly evolving composure. Half an hour ago, she was trapped in a storm drain, frantically trying stay alive and here she was stomping around the house like royalty. Amazing!

How my conscious mind rebels at these synchronistic events. What if we turned left instead of right? What if we didn't hear her? The fact that we walked right up to that particular storm drain in the nick of time clearly indicates that we were guided. When I have Inga guide me in meditation to learn more of the mechanics behind such an event, what I encounter are the higher selves of all involved, completely unified in Light and Love, with big smiles and clearly thrilled with the successful outcome. So, in this case, the higher selves of Freya, Maggie, Inga and me seeing the possibilities, joined forces and started the process of herding our conscious minds to the right place at the right time. There is no guaranteed outcome; only intention, intuition and action. As I experience yet another miracle like this, I see my worldview shifting to trusting my higher self to guide me through life and accepting that I’m part of a much larger purpose. Sounds like body, mind and spirit alignment to me. – Scott Bruce Duncan */:-)

• Stanky (1977 Honda CB750F2 Super Sport): Updated with new progress and more photos.
•  

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