Ouroboros - the snake around the tortoise, around the world, or in your eye.

Ouroboros

Is a multicultural symbol generally represented as a serpent devouring or biting its own tail.

The ouroboros can represent self reflection, wholeness, self sufficiency, or things of a cyclical nature (i.e. self re-creating self.)

The term used here is of greek origin and Plato described a "complete in itself" creature - the first thing created. In Nordic mytology it is found as the serpent Jormungandr, a child of loki that encircles the world. Other simular symbols are found in gnostic, alchemical, Hindu, Aztec and Toltec sources.

As a magical and archtypical symbol, ouroboros serves as a pointer to completeness with a warning: The serpent devouring its tail destroys in order to create itself.

When I read Plato's description, I thought of a thermodynamic model of the universe -the first creature, is complete in itself, recycling its own waste to create its own form, with nothing outside of itself.


Primary reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros

Personal gnosis is OK as long as it's clearly identified as such.

Short Report: Cedar

Cedar is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Cedrus. There are two types: the Deodar Cedar, native to the Himalayas, and four species of Lebanon Cedar, native to the Mediterranean. Cedar wood is pretty, aromatic, easy to work, strong, lies flat and stays straight, and is insect-repellant and resistant to rot. The tree which in the US is called Eastern Red Cedar actually belongs to the Juniper family. Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar are in the Thuja genus, part of the cypress family. These American cousins do seem to have similar properties.

There are Biblical associations. The Ark of the Covenant and the wood portions of Solomon's Temple were reputed to have been made of cedar. Nine Woods: Cedar is one of the nine woods traditionally placed in the traditional Celtic Druid balefire.

Smudge sticks often contain it as a purifier. It has protective qualities, associations with rites for the dead, and can be substituted in any rite requiring masculine or solar associations.

Use for: Purification; Health and Healing; Luck; Good Fortune; Happiness; Banishing; Releasing; Exorcism; Money and Riches; Justice; Protection; Harmony; Peace



http://www.paganspace.net/profile/CedarMuse
http://www.teenwitch.com/trees/cedar.html
   

Herne - the Hunter, Ghost, God, Poor Unfortunate Vengeful Dude?

Herne

I highly reccomend a google image search under "Herne."
(disclaimer, the information here is derived from my reading - a scholarly analysis will require reference checking on your own. - life is full of all kinds of disappointments)

Herne's story is this (in one version) Herne was the king's master hunter. He was mortally wounded defending the king from a stag, but his life was spared when a healer (druid?) healed him in a ritual where he gained the stag's horns. This healing cost him his skill as a hunter (I have questions here*.) The other huntsmen framed Herne as a thief and he was found hanged from a tree the next day.

Herne is framed as the leader of the wild hunt(* how can one who has lost his skill as a hunter lead the wild hunt?) and is referenced in many ways. He may be a vengeful ghost, a fey spirit, or a god. Some references imply that Herne is a linguistic derrivative of Cernnunos. Shakespear's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is frequently cited as an early reference.

Herne is frequently tied to Robin Hood Mythology, perhaps because Herne is associated with Windsor Forest and actual locations there (The tree of Herne's hanging is shown on some ordinance maps)

Wild hunt's appear in many cultures and the leader of the hunt is frequently female. The hunt is seen as erotic and dangerous. Female hunt leaders are seen as unrestrained female sexuality, but also as devourers of children and/or vampires (Lilith? I think she was framed.)


KK... So...Ostara, easter, beltain - Be you christian or pagan (or heathern or some other dmn thing...)there is a high likelyhood that your god got nailed to a tree (or hung from one or somefin') and then we move to beltain (or Mayday) and we find ourselves in a fertility festival.

There is a caution in Herne's story. The wild hunt is devouring and erotic. The cost of a ticket to Beltain is the sacrifice of ostara (or mayhaps yule?) - this is very simple - If you want to have, you must give.