My thoughts of the day

[Piling]

I think I will try but with a special tweezers for tick :

[Anthea]

Is you cat a gentle animal - one that will let you do anything to it without scratching you - or does he go wild ?

[Piling]

No that's ok, I had never any trouble to cure all my cats and even all animals, since I was a child, I rescued and cured even wild beats. I am like a medicine woman for them, they don;t harm me

The only issue is to take off all the tick, not only its body and do not let it reinject infected blood in my cat's veins. For that reason special tool is better, it turn the tick's head as a screwdriver

[Anthea]

No that's ok, I had never any trouble to cure all my cats and even all animals, since I was a child, I rescued and cured even wild beats. I am like a medicine woman for them, they don;t harm me

The only issue is to take off all the tick, not only its body and do not let it reinject infected blood in my cat's veins. For that reason special tool is better, it turn the tick's head as a screwdriver

Did you manage to remove Piling's tick alright?

[Piling]

No, and I hesitate to do it by force because I have a doubt now : it might be a verruca so I do not dare to take it off and make it bleed.

I will put on it frontline spray sunday and if it does not die it is probably a verruca it is hard to know.

[Anthea]

No, and I hesitate to do it by force because I have a doubt now : it might be a verruca so I do not dare to take it off and make it bleed.

I will put on it frontline spray sunday and if it does not die it is probably a verruca it is hard to know.

Could be a wart - dogs often get them round the mouth and they just drop off after a while

[Anthea]

The Origins of Halloween:
Celtic Roots, Spirits and Pagan Rituals

On 31 October, we celebrate the holiday known as Halloween. Although the revelries and observances of this day primarily occur in regions of the Western world, it has become an increasingly popular tradition across the globe, especially in Eastern Europe and in Asian countries such as Japan and China

Conventionally, we host costume parties, watch scary movies, carve pumpkins and light bonfires to celebrate the occasion, while the younger generations are off trick-or-treating down the road.

Just like any holiday we tend to celebrate, we can trace the origin of Halloween far back in time. Beyond the scary pranks and the spooky outfits, the festivities have a rich, cultural history.

The origins of Halloween can be traced back all the way to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain – pronounced ‘sow-in’ in Gaelic language. It was originally an event that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter in Ireland. The day after, on 1 November, would mark the ancient Celts’ new year.

Like other ancient Gaelic festivals, Samhain was seen to be a liminal time, when the boundaries separating the spiritual world and the real world were reduced. This is why Halloween has become associated with appearance of spirits, fairies and ghosts from the mythical ‘Otherworld’.

Spirits

When the lines were blurred between worlds of the living and the dead, Celts used the opportunity to honour and worship their ancestors. Many, however, were concerned about the access darker and evil spirits had to influence those in the real world.

This is why many Celts dressed their children as demons to confuse the evil spirits and marked their doors with animal blood to deter unwanted visitors.

Sacrifice

With newly uncovered archaeological evidence, historians are almost certain that animal, as well as human sacrifices, were made during Samhain to honour the dead and the Celtic Gods. It is thought that the famous ‘Irish Bog Bodies’ may be the remains of Kings who were sacrificed. They suffered the ‘threefold death’, which involved wounding, burning and drowning.

Crops were also burnt and bonfires were made as part of the worship of Celtic deities. Some sources claim these fires were made to honour the ancestors, while others indicate that these fires were part of the deterrence of evil spirits.

Roman and Christian Influence

Once Roman forces had conquered a vast amount of Celtic territory by 43 AD in Northern France and the British Isles, traditional Roman religious festivals were assimilated with the pagan celebrations.

Join Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney on the dark streets of Edinburgh as they investigate the infamous nineteenth century case of Burke and Hare: Scotland’s most notorious serial killers.

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The Roman festival of Feralia was traditionally celebrated in late October (although some historians suggest the festival occurred in February). It was a day to commemorate the souls and spirits of the dead, and was hence one of the first festivals to be combined with the Celtic festival of Samhain.

Another festival was the day of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. In Roman religion, the symbol that represented this goddess was an apple. This has led many to believe the Halloween tradition of apple bobbing originated from this Roman influence on the Celtic celebration.

“Snap-Apple Night”, painted by Irish artist Daniel Maclise in 1833. It was inspired by a Halloween party he attended in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832.

It is believed that from the 9th century AD, Christianity had began to influence and displace old pagan rituals within the Celtic regions.

At the behest of Pope Gregory VI, ‘All Hallows’ Day’ was assigned to the date of 1 November – the first day of the Celtic new year. The Pope, nevertheless, renamed the event ‘All Saints’ Day’, in honour of all the Christian Saints.

‘All Saints’ Day’ and ‘All Hallows’ Day’ are terms that have been used interchangeably throughout history. The eve before these dates was then called ‘Hallowe’en’ – a contraction of ‘Hallows’ Evening’. In the last century however, the holiday has been referred to simply as Halloween, celebrated on ‘Eve’ before the Day of the Hallows, on 31 October.

Direct Link:

https://youtube.com/shorts/2o9Er3eDifM? ... RRCzLUChxL

[Anthea]

I Am The Great Witch Azzara

Bringer of Peace - Spreader of Love

Internationally Known

A natural born witch of a line of witches

Clairsentient - Psychic - Clairvoyant

A caster of spells - weaver of magic

And a very nasty person

[Anthea]

Black hats, cauldrons and broomsticks
the historic origins of witch iconography

Whether they’re knocking at your door trick or treating, or hung as decorations in shop windows, witches are rife at this time of year. They’re easy to recognise, wearing tall, pointed hats, carrying broomsticks, or peering into a cauldron – but where did these stereotypes associated with witches come from?

1. Broomsticks

Much like brooms today, in the 1500s the broomstick was a household tool used to sweep hearths and floors. In rural villages, broomsticks were also often used as a form of signage by alewives, who would place them outside their cottages to show that ale was for sale within. Somehow, this innocuous object found its way into stories of witchcraft.

An image from Martin Le Franc’s Le Champion des Dames believed to be the first of a witch on a broomstick. The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd

The first image of women flying on broomsticks is believed to be in the manuscript of French poet Martin Le Franc’s Le Champion des Dames (The Defender of Ladies), published in 1485. Women sat astride broomsticks are drawn alongside the text, in the margins of the pages, much as accused witches were often maligned women on the margins of society.

One of the most influential pieces of writing on witchcraft was the Malleus Maleficarum published in 1486 by German clergyman Heinrich Kramer. Kramer’s anti-witchcraft tract alluded to witches flying on anointed broomsticks with the aid of the devil. Given that the work is firmly rooted in misogyny, and depicts witches as a direct threat to the domestic sphere, it’s fitting that such a mundane household item became an object of malice.

2. Cauldrons

Another domestic item, the cauldron, has also become synonymous with witchcraft.

The Three Witches from Macbeth by Daniel Gardner (1775). The National Portrait Gallery

Instead of stews and broths, witches are often shown using cauldrons to stir up potions and spells. Again, it’s likely that this is rooted in ideas of women subverting their usual household duties, as well as a connection to healing practices.

In the 16th and 17th century, people relied on lay healers, people who learned their craft through experience and knowledge passed down through the generations. These healers were usually women who had knowledge of herbal remedies and salves that would claim to cure ailments and heal people and sick animals.

As the reformation drew in and the church became more powerful, lay healing practices and unlicensed healing was pushed aside in favour of trained physicians. With this shift, lay healers boiling herbs in their cauldrons were looked on with increasing suspicion.

3. Tall black hats

Portrait of an Older Woman in a Pointed Hat, artist unknown (c. 17th century). Concept Art Gallery

Depictions of witches vary across Europe, but there’s no doubt that a tall, black hat has become associated with witches, especially in the UK and the US.

There’s no definitive source for this strange stereotype, but speculation about where it came from is rife, ranging from ideas about Quaker hats to general medieval dress.

Women in early modern (1500 to 1780) Wales typically dressed in long, heavy woollen skirts, aprons, blouses and a large woollen shawl, and a traditional tall, black hat, so there is speculation among some researchers that this served as inspiration for the wide-brimmed hat of the fairy tale witch.

This is fitting given that Wales, along with Cornwall, was seen by Protestant reformers of the early modern period as a land rife with magic and sorcery.

Outside of Europe, tall black hats have also been found on mummies from 200BC unearthed in Subeshi, China, leading scientists to name them the “the witches of Subeshi”.

4. Long, scraggly hair

Depictions of witches usually involve women with long, scraggly hair, often trailing behind them as they ride their broomsticks.

Black-Haired Woman Reading by Adolf von Becker (1875). Finnish National Gallery

It’s likely that this conception of witches comes from the dichotomy between “good” Christian women and their “bad” witch counterparts that was established during the reformation.

In the post-medieval period, married women ordinarily covered their hair beneath a cap, and loose hair was generally regarded as an improper attribute of temptresses and the dissolute.

Agnes Griffiths, a Welsh woman accused of witchcraft in 1618, was reportedly seen through the window of her home using something sharp to prick a wax figure, and was described as doing this “with her heare aboute her eares”. The accusation suggests disdain for women who refused to conform to expectations of their gender. In an extension of this, witches were also suspected of hiding wax, which they would use for their sorcery, in their hair, contributing to the stereotype of witches as having greasy locks.

5. Black cats

Women accused of witchcraft between the 14th and 17th centuries were often accused of keeping a familiar – an animal that was actually the devil or a demon in disguise.

A witch with a black cat at her feet, The Love Potion by Evelyn De Morgan (1903). De Morgan Centre

Familiar spirits were said to come in any number of guises, from frogs and rats to dogs, small horses and even badgers. In a perverse parody of breastfeeding an infant, witches were believed to feed the familiars from their own bodies, and were often consequently stripped and searched for a “witch’s teat”.

The cleric Robert Holland’s witchcraft treatise, which presents some colourful ideas about witchcraft, recounts a story about a witch who would always have a docile rat feeding in her lap.

It goes on to claim that demons would appear in the form that was easiest to keep as a pet, such as cats, mice and frogs, and tells of an old woman and her daughter who were known to have kept the devil for a long time in various animal guises. Supposedly, the older woman fed the animals with blood from her own breasts.

In one particularly famous case of witchcraft, that of Elizabeth Clarke of Manningtree, Clarke admitted to keeping several familiar spirits, and the most well remembered of these was her cat, Vinegar Tom.

https://theconversation.com/black-hats- ... phy-266417

Broomsticks
(just outside front door, signifies whether or not I am in to visitors)

Cauldrons
(small copper for spell casting)

Tall black hats
(everyone wears hats in winter, mine is just a little more pointed)

Long, scraggly hair
(mine is short and neat)

Black cats
(I am a dog person and my garden is full of birds)

Incense
(for Rituals)

Sage Smudge Sticks
(Energy Clearing|Spiritual Home Cleansing)

Witches Salt
(sprinkled by doors keeps evil energies out)

Crystal ball
(essential for scrying and increased energy)

Pendulums
(brass is best, never use crystal)

Cards
(forget instruction book)

Crystal wands
(have their own energy)

Wooden wands
(made for me the traditional way)

Staffs
(2 made for me by my wand maker)

Oils
(over 200)

Herbs
(assorted)

Witches ball
(takes evil entities ages to escape)

Candles
(lots of them, use small ones)

WARNING:

Do not play games using Harry Potter wands

Witchcraft is not a game - it is a craft

[Anthea]

Roj Bash Kurdistan is over

20 years old

Within our posts is information that cannot be found elsewhere

Started by an artist, an author and joined by myself (a poet)

I Joined Roj Bash Kurdistan

Thursday 18 October, 2012

Total posts: 31,173

Roj Bash Kurdistan started Tuesday 15 March, 2005

Total posts 126975
Total topics 15532
Total members 7619
(no need to become a member to view articles
everyone is welcome to copy and share information)

We are NOT paid

We run Roj Bash Kurdistan in the hope that we are contributing to an Independent Kurdistan

Also to remind Kurds of their ancient history/culture that is under attack by Islam and Arabization

We also hope that non-Kurds might learn more about Kurdish history/culture

We now take pleasure is sharing just how ancient DNA testing proves Kurdish history to be

This is ongoing and excitingly proves Kurdish rights of their homeland goes back many thousands of years

[Anthea]

12 years ago we used to chat
and laugh my friend and I

But in the past 12 years, sadly I have watched Kurds lose their pride and dignity

Gone are the freedom marches

Only Kurds in Southern Kurdistan and Eastern Kurdistan seek for independence

The vile Kurdish leaders in both Northern and Western Kurdistan are only interested in their own self aggrandizement and have sold out to their slave masters

Kurdish leaders have brain washed the people so much that Kurds seem to have become immune to logic

When referring to Kurdistan, we are referring to land that has been the Kurdish homeland for many thousand of years

100 years ago it was stolen and divided without the knowledge or consent of the Kurdish population

Since that time all those who were given control of Kurdistan have indulged in an ongoing genocide

It is not wrong for Kurds to want to reclaim their homeland in the names of the fallen heroes

For Kurdish pride and dignity and for their children who deserve a county of their own

But Kurds stupidity cannot be reasoned with, exposed, or even fought directly

With the help of certain political parties, It spreads silently, rendering people blind to truth and immune to logic

Every Kurd knows a family member or friend who died fighting for freedom, time to respect their memory

WAKE UP REGAIN YOUR LAND AND YOUR DIGNITY

[Anthea]

Winter starts TODAY

Heavy rain and strong winds, could even freeze tonight

Having a few puta problems also people having trouble getting onto forum

We will be back to normal soon

[Anthea]

Hello Again Boys And Girls

I am have electrical difficulties, had to rebuild my vacuum cleaner

Having a new router today

Expecting place to be partially rewired

[Anthea]

Dear Santa

Please may I have an:

Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop

Processor Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX, 24 cores
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090
Memory 32 GB DDR5
Storage 2 TB, M.2, Gen5 PCIe NVMe, SSD
Display 16", WQXGA, 240Hz, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, Advanced Optimus, ComfortView Plus, G-SYNC, 4K Cam

I am a poor starving disabled lady and cannot afford the £4,029.00

[Anthea]

I am starting a new business

What I need is an honest, intelligent business partner based in Southern England