Celebrating Litha! Sun Salutation Tarot: e Sun Science Spot: What Is

Litha 2016
SpiralScouts International Member Magazine
Celebrating
Litha!
Sun
Salutation
Tarot:
The Sun
ur
O
Crafts,
Recipes,
and More!
Su
Is nn
su i
e! est
Science Spot:
What Is
Light?
Litha 2016
3
Acknowledgements
4
Litha Prayer
5
Litha Activities
6
Sun Salutation
8
Coloring Page
9
Science Spot
11 Recipe
5
Spiral On! Is the semi-quarterly online magazine for
members of SpiralScouts International. Spiral On!'s
objective is to provide ideas, information, and interaction
with the SpiralScout community.
To discover more information and ideas for your scouts, you
can find us at the following:
12 Crafty!
13 Tarot: The Sun
14 Announcements
www.spiralscouts.org
www.facebook.com/spiralscoutsinternational
www.pinterest.com/spiralscouts
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2
Litha 2016
Note From The Editor SpiralScouts International and Spiral On!
Acknowledgments
The editor's
note is the
section in
which the
editor tells the
publications
story. When
meditating on this, my thoughts kept
drifting back to a particular notion.
As the sun rises, we are often
invoked with the feeling of new beginnings,
fresh starts, and rebirth. These feelings can
strike us through the day as we experience
new ideas and experiences, often brought
to us by others who grace our lives.
This is the notion that fixed with
me. The vision that the story I want to tell
in future publications is...Your Story
For upcoming issues, I hope to add
your narratives, experiences, and knowledge to share with the SpiralScout community.
So please, feel free to email us at
[email protected] with your
ideas and writing submissions. What you
want to share, we want to hear.
Speaking of new beginnings, this is
my first edition as the magazine editor. I
hope my style is fresh and agreeable for you
all. I am always eager to hear feedback, so
please do not hesitate to contact me with
your questions, concerns, and comments at
the address above. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a blessed day! - Robin
SpiralScouts International is:
CEO - Donna Conrad
VP - Michele Clausen
Tribal Director - Rick Fairchild
Treasurer - Alexandra Nierosa-Steinmetz
TA - Robin Rees
Secretary - Terra Jenkins
Spiral On! is:
Robin Rees
Special Thanks To:
Wendy Dillon for being a proofread genius.
Rev. Ron (Liomsa) Latevola for permission to reprint his prayer.
Images and Graphics
Pg. 1- Unknown Author: pixabay.com
Pg. 2 - Bonfire by Andriana Herbut; freeimages.com
Pg. 3 - Metal Sun by Jeremy Menking; freeimages.com
Pg. 4 - Rays Of Light by Matthew Bowden; freeimages.com
Pg. 5 - Designed by freepik.com
Pg. 6 - Designed by freepik.com
Pg. 7 - Designed by freepik.com
Pg. 7 - Sun Salutation Deigned by Robin Rees
Pg. 7 - Additional Images Designed by freepik.com
Pg. 8 - Litha Coloring Page Designed by Robin Rees
Pg. 9 - Pexels Photo CC0 License Provided by pexels.com
Pg. 11 - Fruit Salad by Robin Rees
Pg. 12 - Dream Pillow Supplies by Robin Rees
Pg. 12 - Additional Images Designed by Robin Rees using PL content
from depositphotos.com
Pg. 13 - The Sun Tarot Card Rider-Waite PDFU License
Pg. 14 - Additional Images Designed by Robin Rees using PL content
from depositphotos.com
References
Pg. 10
Republished in accordance with guidelines.
http://www.sciencewa.net.au/aboutus/republishing-guidelines
Pg. 13
[1] thelostfound.com/tarot/cards/meanings/sun.html
[2][3] Connolly, Eileen (1979) Tarot A New Handbook For The
Apprentice. North Hollywood, California: Newcastle Publishing
Company Inc.
Pg. 4
A Prayer To The Sun by Rev. Ron (Liomsa) Latevola
examiner.com/article/a-prayer-for-litha-midsummer
Pg. 6
[1] - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara
[2] - yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/here-comes-the-sun/
[3] - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya
[4] artofliving.org/us-en/yoga/yoga-benefits/sun-salutation-benefits
Pg. 7
[1][2] - yogasite.com/sunsalute.htm artofliving.org/us-en/yoga/yoga-poses/sun-salutation
Spiral On!
All content, unless otherwise noted, is original and is copyright to
Spiral On! and SpiralScouts International.
3
Litha 2016
A Prayer to the Sun
The sun is high above us
shining down upon the land and sea,
making things grow and bloom.
Great and powerful sun,
we honor you this day
and thank you for your gifts.
You are the light over the crops,
the heat that warms the earth,
the hope that springs eternal,
the bringer of life.
We welcome you, and we honor you this day,
celebrating your light,
as we begin our journey once more
into the darkness.
So Mote It Be!
- Rev. Ron (Liomsa) Latevola
Spiral On!
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Litha 2016
with
L
I
T
H
A
Activity Ideas To Do with Your Circle or Hearth
ight Up The Night – Host a Bonfire: Litha embodies the fire of the sun so consider
a bonfire to celebrate the sabbat. Make an offering to the deities of your tradition to
engage the solstice further. Though be sure to adhere to safety rules so no injuries
occur.
nvite Family and Friends – Host a BBQ or Picnic: Be it Circle or Hearth, having a
celebration with summer foods is always a good idea. Decorate with sun theme
colors of yellow, orange, and red. Serve lots of fresh summer vegetables and fruits.
Don't forget fun games and activities.
ake To the Garden – Plant Midsummer Vegetables: Engage with nature by planting
some midsummer vegetables and herbs. Basil, green onion, carrots, and peas are
some of the vegetables to plant. Check your local almanac for specifics to your area.
For those who garden by the moon; this midsummer is a favorable planting day.
ike – Explore Nature: Consider a hike in the woods. Or a group photography
scavenger hunt. Have each child use a smart phone or digital camera to find and
photograph the predetermined list. Nature is enjoyed while not disturbing it.
dvance Your Education – Learn and Grow: Spend some time on personal growth,
be it spiritual or worldly. Use this time of year to learn something new about your
traditions, develop a new skill, take a class, try a new activity, or read a book.
Engage and enjoy expanding your mind and spirit.
*Always use caution and common sense when engaging in activities that can be harmful.
If you have questions, research an activity thoroughly through a reputable source before partaking.
Spiral On!
5
Litha 2016
Sun
Salutation
Surya Namaskar
The practice of honoring the sun is an ancient one that is found in
nearly every culture. In India, through its Hindu population, one
such method of worship is through a sequence of yoga movements
and asanas called Surya Namaskar, or better known as Sun
Salutation.[1] The Sanskrit word 'namaskar' itself is born from the
root 'namas', which means "to bow to" or "to adore." [2] Further,
Surya is the chief solar deity in Hinduism and generally refers to
the Sun in Nepal and India. [3]
In addition to honoring the sun, the Sun Salutation has many
physical benefits when practiced regularly. When performed
preferably on an empty stomach, and early in the morning, the
benefits include calming and centering the mind, improving
circulation of blood throughout the body, maintaining health,
and engaging the heart, liver, intestine, stomach, chest, throat,
and muscles. This is why it is highly recommended by all yoga
experts. [4] Please note it is always advised to check with your
physician before beginning an exercise regime.
Many have found this yogic tradition can easily be applied to their
own spiritual practices as a method to honor the sun and its life
giving light.
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See the 12 asanas (postures) of Sun Salutation on the following
page. Namaste!
6
Litha 2016
The 12 Asanas of Sun Salutation
Pranamasana
The Prayer Pose
Begin by standing with feet about hip
width apart, hands either by your sides or
in prayer position. Take several deep
breaths.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hasta Uttanasana
Raised Arm Pose
On your next inhale, in one sweeping
movement, raise your arms up overhead
and gently arch back as far as feels
comfortable and safe.
8
Padahastasana
Hand To Foot Pose
As you exhale, bend forward, bending the
knees if necessary, and bring your hands to
rest beside your feet or as close to your feet
as possible.
9
Ashwa Sanchalanasana
Lunge Pose
Inhale and step the right leg back and look
up stretching the chest to what feels
comfortable.
10
Phalakasana
Plank Pose
Exhale and step the leſt leg back into plank
position. Hold the position and inhale.
11
Ashtanga Namaskara
Knees, Chest, and Chin Pose
Gently bring your knees down to the floor
and exhale. Take the hips back slightly,
slide forward, rest your chest and chin on
the floor. Raise your posterior a little bit.
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12
7
Bhujangasana
Cobra Pose
Inhale and stretch forward and up,
bending at the waist. Use your arms to liſt
your torso, but only bend back as far as
feels comfortable and safe.
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Downward-Facing Dog Pose
Exhale and push back up, liſting from the
hips and the tail bone up, chest downwards into an 'inverted V' (/\) posture.
Ashwa Sanchalanasana
Lunge Pose
Inhale and step the right foot forward and
look up stretching the chest to what feels
comfortable.
Padahastasana
Exhale, bring the leſt foot forward and step
into hand to foot position. Remember,
bend the knees if necessary, and bring your
hands to rest beside your feet or as close to
your feet as possible.
Hasta Uttanasana
Raised Arm Pose
Inhale and rise slowly while keeping arms
extended, raise your arms up overhead
and gently arch back as far as feels
comfortable and safe.
Pranamasana
The Prayer Pose
Exhale, as you straighten the body, then
bring the arms down and hands up into
prayer position. Repeat the sequence,
stepping with the leſt leg. [1][2]
Litha 2016
Spiral On!
8
Litha 2016
What
Is
Light?
Spiral On!
9
Litha 2016
Science Spot - What Is Light?
Written By Cris Burne - ScienceNetwork WA
www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/energy/item/3750-explainer-what-is-light
Is Light?
a) the sunlight penetrating our atmosphere,
b) the flare from a birthday candle,
c) radio waves from the distant universe, or
d) the microwaves you use to heat dinner?
The answer is: all of the above.
Take an electric field vibrating up-anddown, link it to a magnetic field vibrating
left-and-right, and you have electromagnetic
energy, otherwise known as light.
All light waves travel at the same speed,
rippling through space at 300,000 kilometres
per second, but light with different
wavelengths—measured as the length of one
up-and-down cycle—has different energies.
Most light waves, University of Western
Australia astronomer Dr. Luke Davies says,
are shorter or longer than our eyes are able to
see.
“We’ve successfully evolved to see the
type of light that’s most useful on Earth,” he
says.“We can only see a really tiny fraction of
light.”
On The Electromagnetic Spectrum
To see just how much light we are missing, we can map light onto a scale called the
electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, moving from
super-short wavelengths at one end through
to mega-long wavelengths at the other.
Visible light—the light that makes up a
rainbow—forms just a tiny blip; the shortest
visible light waves are violet and blue, stretching through to red, the longest wavelength
we’re able to see.
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Light waves longer than visible red are
lower in energy and classified as infra-red
(heat), microwaves or radio waves.
Light waves shorter than visible violet
are more energetic and called ultraviolet,
X-rays or gamma rays.
It’s A Wave, It’s A Particle
Just to really complicate things, light is
not an ordinary wave.
“When it’s travelling, light acts as a
wave, but when it hits something and gives
over energy, it acts as a particle,” Dr. Davies
says.
These packages or particles of lightcalled photons—have no mass, but their
energy and momentum help explain why light
is able to act with a force when it collides with
other particles.
Putting Light To Work
We can bend, reflect, gather and
observe light.
Called photonics, the science of light
has helped us develop mobile phones (radio
waves), speed cameras (microwaves), remote
controls (infra-red), sterilizing lamps
(ultraviolet), X-rays, PET scans (gamma rays)
and more.
Dr. Davies says he is excited for what
the future will reveal as we continue to expand
our understanding of and uses for light.
“For astronomy, light is the most important thing we have, it’s our only real window
into the universe,” he says.
10
Litha 2016
Easy-PeasyLemon-Squeezy
Fruit Salad with
Marshmallows
Serves 4*
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup of peeled and
chopped apples (125g)**
- 1 cup of pre-packaged mandarin
oranges – drained (175g)
- 1 cup of canned pineapple
chunks – drained (200g)
- 1 cup of strawberries, stems
removed, quartered and cut
(150g)
- 1 heaping cup of bananas, cut
medium thick (150g)
- 1 cup of mini marshmallows
(50g)
You can also add what other
fruits you wish. Some popular
additions are grapes, kiwi, pears,
blueberries, and maraschino
cherries. Simply keep it to a
general 1:1 ratio. Other popular
non-fruit additions are nuts and
unsweetened shredded coconut.
Have fun and enjoy!
Directions
Chop up fruit and combine all
ingredients in large bowl. Cover
and place in refrigerator for at
least a half-hour. Serve and enjoy!
Per Serving* - Calories: 155, Fat: 0.3g, Carbs: 39g,
Protein: 1.1g
*Information provided is based on recipe as
written. Serving size and nutritional information
can change with additional ingredients and
brands.
**To keep the apples from browning, squeeze a
little lemon juice over the chopped apples and stir
to coat.
Always use protocol food preparation standards to
ensure food safety.
Spiral On!
11
Litha 2016
‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ Inspired Craſt
7
6
To make our pillow, let's start with creating a
blend of dried herbs. You can use the guide below to
help you decide what dried herbs to use. Additionally
you can visit an online resources or read an herbal
book to help you create your desired blend.
Once done, place your herbal blend in an
airtight container and set aside.
For the pillow, first select a piece of fabric.
Wash and dry the fabric. Next cut the fabric into to
equal shapes. Squares are the easiest, but you can cut
whatever you want; cloud shapes, animal shapes, star
shapes for example. Next with the right side of the
fabric together, stitch along the edges, leaving an
unsewn place along one area. Once completed, turn
the pillow right side out through the unsewn opening,
and using the funnel, fill it with your stuffing
(optional) and your herbal blend. Complete the pillow
by sewing the open area closed.
Congratulations! You are done! Place your
dream pillow under, inside, or next to your sleeping
pillows to enjoy sweet smells and sweet dreams.
1
4
5
3
2
What You Will Need:
1 – Measuring and Cutting Tools
2 – Fabric of Your Choice
3 – For a Non-Sew Alternative, Try a Muslin Bag
4 – Thread
5 – Needle or Sewing Machine (Not Pictured)
6 - Funnel
7 – Dried Herbs of Your Choice From Your Trusted Source
8 – Pillow Stuffing (Optional) (Not Pictured)
Lemongrass: Invokes light exotic feelings.
Marjoram: Calms restlessness and nervousness.
Promotes comforting dreams.
Mugwort: To activate dreams and help recall dreams.
Use sparingly as can be overly stimulating.
Peppermint: Enhances clarity and vividness in
dreams.
Rose Petals: Brings warmth and love to dreams.
Rosemary: Calming and helps recall dreams.
Sage: For insight in dream and peace of mind.
Thyme: Induces sleep and promotes peaceful dreams.
Anise: To help with nightmare prevention.
Basil: To help with nightmare prevention.
Catnip: Relaxing and helps bring deep sleep.
Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, and said to keep
stressful dreams away.
Hops: Relaxing and brings peacefulness.
Lavender: Soothing, relaxing, and eases tension.
Lemon Balm: Relieves stress, anxious, and nervous
feelings.
Lemon Verbena: Upliſting and brings 'lightness' to
dreams.
Spiral On!
12
Litha 2016
The tarot has a rich
history that can find its
inspiration from
ancient times. However
it is perhaps the Major
Arcana and its cards
that are the most
widely recognized for
their esoteric and divination nature.
In the Major Arcana,
each card shows a pictogram along with corresponding title that
The Sun from the
Rider-Waite Tarot Deck represents the meaning
of the card. While many
interpretations can be found throughout books
and the internet, there is a general consensus
on the meaning. Here is a concise interpretation
provided by the Lost and Found.
The sun shines down on a naked child riding
a horse. The child wears a feather and a wreath like
the Fool. His nudity shows that he has nothing to
hide. The four sunflowers behind the child symbolize the four elements, which now turn toward him
instead of the sun for their ultimate development.
The child holds a red banner representing the conquest of life in his hand; the left hand which symbolizes the subconscious. The meaning of this is
that this conquest is a skill that is now natural for
the child and he can perform it without conscious
thought. This card is about new beginnings. The sun
will shine for you and everything will seem to fall
into place. You will possess youthful energy and
clarity of mind. [1]
Yet, The Sun's symbolism and significance
does not end there.
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In Eileen Connolly's book "Tarot A New
Handbook For The Apprentice" (1979), she
describes the twenty-two cards of the Major
Arcana as...
A story – the story of life – with 22 chapters.
To fully understand the story, you must become
involved in and study each chapter thoroughly, not
only for itself but also for its relationship to the
chapters that precede and follow it. Each card is a
separate chapter in the story. (p. 50) [2]
From this we can derive the cards importance, not just as an individual entity, but as
part of the whole. Connolly recommends to
form a deeper understanding to the cards,
meditating on the story of each card to attain
the spiritual understand of the card and its
symbols.
Here is a meditative prayer from Connolly's (1979) book to help enhance your understanding of The Sun.
The Sun – After the soul has undergone the
trials of faith, the bonds that tie it to the earthly
plane are severed, and man can know true liberation and attainment. The knowledge of the true
nature of his being and the part he is playing in the
Universal Plan brings him the glorious reward of
union with the God within himself. (p.54) [3]
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13
Litha 2016
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14
Litha 2016