Gods And Goddesses: Centeotl

Centeotl is the god of maize and son of the goddess Tlazolteotl and god Piltzintecuhtli, yet it is also said that Centeotl is the son of another goddess, Xochiquetzal. He is also considered the male counterpart of the goddess Chicomecoatl. Depictions of Centeotl show him as a yellow skinned young man. He is Lord of the Day with the number seven in it, is the fourth Lord of the Night and is protected by the rain god Tlaloc.

Totem: Walrus

The walrus is a very recognizable animal. It is an Arctic animal with the males that can weigh more than a tonne and a half. They have prominent tusks and size creating an animal easy to recognize.

This totem teaches how there shall be opportunities to uncover what is currently hidden, even if what is hidden has a total lack of obviousness being there. It can be treasures of small significance, but treasures regardless.

Being connected to others and that each individual is of importance is another teaching of the walrus. This totem teaches how the two together are important and staying connected is a good thing.

Psychometry is the ability to sense objects through touch and it is the walrus that can help you develop the ability of psychometry. This ability shouldn't be tried just with the fingertips but also with other parts of the body.

Winter's Bark/Canelo

Drimys winteri, more commonly called Winter's Bark or Canelo, is a small tree with notably leathery leaves and waxy flowers. It grow up to 6m in height and 3m in width. It is an evergreen tree which blooms late winter to mid spring.

It grows best in full sun or partial shade and like to stay moist. There is some tolerance to cold weather and to wind, it can also grow in water. This plant is easy to cultivate, however there is a low germination rate. It can be grown in clay, loam or sand.

Gods And Goddesses: Xochipilli

Xochipilli is the god of agriculture, flowers, music, song, beauty, games, art, song poetry and dance. He is also the patron of homosexuals and male prostitutes. His name means "Flower Prince" and is husband to Mayahuel and twin to Xochiquetzal. Being responsible for fertility, Xochipilli is also associated with Tlaloc and Cinteotl. Macuilxochitl is said to be an aspect of Xochipilli but also to be his brother. Xochipilli has a monkey as a companion spirit.

Totem: Starfish

Starfish, also known as sea stars, is a species echinoderm found throughout the oceans. There are starfish who reproduce sexually and asexually and are typically opportunistic feeders, eating animals that cannot evade them.

To trust instincts is a lesson of this totem. It provides a way to see new opportunities that may arise and even help with gaining what is desired.

Regardless of what may happen, the starfish teaches to keep going ahead. Even if there is a failure or a loss, there is always a chance to regain what has been lost. Loss and failure is a normal part of life that may prove to be quite cruel, but giving up doesn't help.

Melbourne Rally

Swaybah Javed is a woman getting plenty of attention as of late for cancelling her rally this Sunday at Melbourne's State Library. She apparently invited 1,800 people though social networking, yet there is bound to be concerns that something may happen. Police have apparently planned for the worst and are on high alert. Islamphobia is unsurprisingly heightened. Concerns for the safety of Muslims has arisen.

Perhaps I am being an idiot with wanting to go to the State Library Sunday to see if anything interesting happens, regardless I wouldn't be surprised if something does happen. I see no reason as to why some would throw the cancelled rally out the window and rally anyway at the State Library. I hold to the personal saying of "There's always that one person" and considering the attention the rally has gotten it shouldn't be a surprise if there is a rally still done by even a small amount of people. To my concern, only the best can be hoped and if lucky the rally will not happen. People tend to be violent and there are probably people expecting a higher level violence to occur within Melbourne this Sunday regardless, possibly even people purposely being violent for the hell of it.

On a side note, French magazine Charlie Hebdo is also getting plenty of attention for its cartoons of Mohammed. Through worries of safety of France and its people have come alive, I must give support of the cartoons and the magazine for publishing the cartoons. They are sticking to the rights to express themselves and to freedom of speech, with any severe action taken in response to try to scare these people being a true disgrace.

English Elm

Ulmus procera is the botanical name of this fast growing and dense plant more commonly called English Elm. It will usually grow to about 15m in height and 10m in width but can grow up to 40m in height and 30m in width.

English elm is an adaptable plant that requires full sun, where it grows best in moist and fertile soils. English elm can however grow in part shade. It can be grown in either sand, loam or clay soils and tolerates soils that are either acidic, neutral and alkaline. Once established it can tolerate drought.

Gods And Goddesses: Xochiquetzal

Xochiquetzal is the goddess of fertility, love, beauty and female sexuality. She is the protector of young mothers and patron to those who are pregnant and artists. Xochiquetzal's name means "Flower Petal."

She has a twin known as Xochipili and she had Tlaloc as a former husband. Xochiquetzal was married to Tlaloc until Tezcatlipoca kidnapped her and forcer her to marry him. She also rules over the day known as Xochitl.

Seduction of a priest was done by this goddess, who then turned the priest into a scorpion to show her power. Xochiquetzal also encourages sex as a means of pleasure over reproduction. She also got to witness the creation of both gods and husmans, where she is said to be the creator of humans.

Innocence of Muslims Sydney Protest

With the protests against the movie Innocence of Muslims going, I was shocked by the protest in Sydney for it. I honestly wasn’t surprised it was within Australia considering that many people who practice Islam have immigrated to this country, yet it was another thing to see the signs that was shown during the protest. The most abundant sign seems to have been that said, “BEHEAD ALL THOSE WHO INSULT THE PROPHET”. Other signs include sayings such as “BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT ISLAM”, “SHARIAH WILL DOMINATE THE WORLD!!!” and “OBAMA OBAMA WE LOVE OSAMA!!!”

The craziest thing I have heard someone claim directly to my very face is that women should be legally allowed to rape and murder men, but this has to be a first for me seeing someone claiming though a sign in a protest (within Australia) that freedom of speech should be limited in some form. Even the person who made that claim about how women should have certain legal rights allowed me to have the right to speak out against his disgraceful beliefs.

Everyone should have the right to insult Mohammad and Islam regardless of who they are. People can insult any other religion and its founder(s) but why not Islam? There is nothing special about Islam or Mohammad that requires anyone to give either this religion or its founder special treatment. Surely if I insult Islam and Mohammad cruelly throughout my life until my death, punishment of Hell would occur to me if God exists.

As far as I am personally concerned, the poor excuses of protestors have earned plenty of criticism and deserve plenty more. They are pathetic and giving many people reason to discriminate against Muslims and those whom are stereotypically Muslim. Congratulations to those people, as it are such people who are causing innocents to be punished with discrimination.  It makes Islam look “great”, doesn’t it?

Totem: Beaver

Beavers are a large rodent whose numbers within the US was considerably larger in the past. It is a creature known for chipping through wood and for making homes to protect themselves from predators.

The beaver itself teaches to try to make ones dream come true, to act on them and to make it all a reality. It may be difficult and it may be a long path, but the beaver teaches to aim for it anyways.

In order to accomplish something, you must work to make it possible. This totem teaches to work in order to gain accomplishments, to complete something. Work may be like a dream, it may be difficult and it can take a long time, but in the end it can easily be worth it all.

Priorities are important, and it is the beaver that teaches to have our priorities straight. While accomplishing something on trying to make dream a reality, priorities can be problematic at times. Looking at ones priorities and making sure they will work in the long run is needs to be done.

Spider Flower

The Spider Flower is scientifically called Cleome spinosa and is an annual herb growing up to 1.5m in height. Propagation is through seed, where it is to be sown in spring or early summer.

It requires full sun and is a fast grower. Low maintenance is needed and spider flowers can be easily grown in loam soil. It is partly drought tolerant once it has becomes established. Regular watering should be given.

Gods And Goddesses: Ah Puch

Ah Puch is the ruler of Mitnal and god of death. He is a skeletal figure with protruding ribs and at times wore bells. As he ruled over Mitnal, the lowest of the underworld and as god of death is associated with dogs and owls. Ah Puch is represented as a decomposing corpse with exposed spine, ribs and jaw. He was also called Kizin, The Stinky One, Lord of the Ninth Hell and Destructor of the Worlds.

Ah Puch was thought of as a hunting figure by the Mayans, stalking the houses of those who were injured or sick. People engaged in loud mourning after the death of a person in order to let Ah Puch know someone has died. Ah Puch once killed the god Iztamna and when this god was resurrected ah Puch was punished to the underworld. In anger of this confinement, Ah Puch kicks the pillars of which earth stands causing earthquakes.

Totem: Quoll

Quolls is a carnivorous marsupial of Australia known for opportunism. They are related to the Tasmanian Devil and are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and predation by non-native animals.

Fears can be a great problem for holding back people for a number of things whatever it may be. The quoll teaches to let go of fears, to not allow them to create setbacks.

To be a part of action, to do it, this is what the quoll teaches to allow. It is the quoll which gives advice to allow action in one’s life and to go into it without concern.

As an opportunist, the quoll takes chances gaining whatever it may please. It also teaches to be an opportunist, to grab whatever opportunity there may be and make use of it.

Small Cranberry

Vaccinium oxycoccos is a species of fruiting shrub better known as Small Cranberry. It is an evergreen trailing plant that enjoys cooler regions and boggy soils. It grows to the height of 50cm and 2m, requiring full or partial sun and is a frost hardy plant. The fruits are edible and can be used in medicine.

Small cranberry is a plant with a dislike for lime and a preference to acidic and moist to wet soils. Loam is the choice of choice of soil to grow small cranberries.

Hair

A particular thing amongst religions is the growing of hair regardless if it on the head or facial. Within the pagan community I have found a lack of comments made towards the growing of hair, this struck me as odd due to the diversity of the pagan community.

An argument in particular for the growing of hair, head or facial, is that a deity for one reason or another demands it to be grown or cut off. I haven’t heard of a pagan deity whom demands this, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if a deity expected hair to be grown out or clean cut if a person becomes a devote. Another argument goes in a rather interesting direction, where it is said hair gives power but another argument states hair takes away power. This leaves a person to choose which to believe, to either shave all their hair off to gain more power or to grow it for the same effect.

About a month or two ago I heard that many Taoists in the past have grown out their hair, beards and moustaches, leaving them uncut, as it is natural for it to grow. Why I haven’t heard this naturalistic argument used by a pagan for the growing of hair may have been missed completely by me, but it remains an argument I haven’t seen used by a pagan as of yet. It is this particular argument I myself adhere to, as I see in nature the growth of hair from the top of the heads and faces of people.

Amongst what could be said, hair seems to have some of power regardless of the multiple views people may take upon it. Hair or lack of thereof has its own power and says something about the person.

Gods And Goddesses: Ayauhteotl

Ayauhteotl is the goddess of mist, fog, nighttime, fame and vanity whose name means “Mysterious Goddess of Nature”. Her mother is said to be a goddess called Teteo Inan and she is a manifestation of another goddess called Chalchiuhtlicue.