Third Infinity

SUMMER SOLSTICE (C. JUN 21) A. HISTORY At Midsummer, the Sun-god is at apogee (closest to the Earth), and therefore the longest day of the year. The pagans worshipped and celebrated the abundance of life, even as they recognized that this Solstice also marked the time when the Sun began to wane once more toward Winter's darkness. The legends are full of the Sun God dying by whatever method, be it burning alive, blinded with mistletoe, or crucified on a T-shaped cross. In ancient times, this often demanded a human enactor actually dying, followed by a seven-day wake. Some pagan cultures have an Oak King, (symbolizing the light half of the year) being killed by his brother the Holly King (symbolizing the darkening half of the year). "The Goddess, as we have pointed out, is unlike the God in that she never undergoes death and rebirth. In fact, she never changes- she merely presents different faces. At the Winter Solstice she shows her Life-in-Death aspect; though her...

I repeat this incense every year because it's the best I've found. Note this is the type where you mix a powder, then sprinkle on a briquette. No, I don't mean one of those toxic charcoal briquettes you use on the grill. Here's a LINK to the correct type. Scroll down, you'll see them. Look in the links section of this blog and buy your herbs and oils from reputable shops. If you want to burn chemical powders and sniff them, there's a dealer in the red light district. You want the good natural stuff, you pay for it. Why a powder instead of just buying already made? Same reason as above --no chemicals you have to worry about. I don't see the point of loading the air with more chemicals than necessary. The idea here is to cleanse the air and perfume it, not pollute it. While you're at it today, say a little prayer and light a little incense for those lost in the 9/11 Tragedy.

Yeah, I'm really, really late. Forgive me? I found ambergris oil here: http://www.metapot.com/product.php?productid=3079&cat=62&page =

Drying is actually easier than it sounds, if you have a gas oven. Lay the flower on parchment paper. Yes, I specified baker's parchment paper for a reason. It's embedded with silicon, so the flower won't stick to the paper. Turn the oven on very low, 200 degrees F or less. Check every 15 minutes or so. In the humidity of Florida, the flower may take as long as an hour to dry. If you don't have a gas oven and happen to live in a cold climate, put the flower in a paper bag and stick it near a furnace where warm air constantly blows on it. I've actually used painter's tape (Yeah, the blue stuff) to secure the bag opening over part of the vent here in my office. That little flower was drier than the desert in three days! Probably was dry sooner, but I forgot it. (Hey, I'm honest!) Remember, I have a link to Earth Gifts on this blog, so you can get the rest of what you need to make incense. Except the wine, of course.