Long ago in the ancient world of the Ojibwe Nation, the Clans were all located in one general area of that place known as Turtle Island. This is the way that the old Ojibwe storytellers say how Asibikaashi (Spider Woman) helped Wanabozhoo bring giizis (sun) back to the people. To this day, Asibikaashi will build her special lodge before dawn. If you are awake at dawn, as you should be, look for her lodge and you will see this miracle of how she captured the sunrise as the light sparkles on the dew which is gathered there.

Asibikaasi took care of her children, the people of the land, and she continues to do so to this day. When the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to the four corners of North America, to fill a prophecy, Asibikaashi had a difficult time making her journey to all those cradle boards, so the mothers, sisters and Nokomis (grandmothers) took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants.

Our daily lives are filled with multiple choices that determine what we do.

We could choose to spend our time learning about the advances that science has made in discerning what is happening with our oceans and glaciers as a result of global warming; or in the prediction of weather patterns; or in the discovery of genetic coding for a variety of diseases; or in the expanding view of space that lies beyond our own galaxy.

We could learn another language, since most Americans, as compared to Europeans and others, know only one language, not two.

We could become absorbed in our own creative pursuits – we could write a play, learn to sing, or extend ourselves in whatever directions our creative capacities take us.

Most importantly, we could, from the time we are little, recognize that our inner life is as important as our outer life, for we are spiritual beings with a calling to be such upon the earth, and we need to pay attention to the inner world which shapes everything that happens outside ourselves.

By: Scott Christiansen

Crossing Over simply means our graduation from this life to the next. To further answer the question, we must look at our definitions of life, death and afterlife.

Our Programming:

In today’s society, most of us have been preprogrammed to believe in one life. At the completion of that “one life” we have only two options “Heaven” or “Hell”. So, the question would then become, “How can someone on earth communicate with someone in Heaven or Hell?”

Questioning…

The closest most of us can come to understanding God, Goddess and the Divine’s relationship with us, is from a parent / child perspective. As Divinity ultimately created us, we can say that we (to an extent) create our children. Now, how many parents give their child one chance to do something right or to learn a lesson? “Now, little Johnny, if you clean your room I will send you to Heaven, if you don’t I will send you to Hell.” Instead, do we not give as many opportunities as it takes for our children to learn? Does it not make sense that an all powerful creator would do the same? Plato says, “It surprises me no more to be born more than once than it surprises me to have been born once.” I would encourage anyone who wonders what they can learn from their own past lives, or past life experiences to experience a “Past Life Regression” with the help of a qualified regressionist.

By: Mary Hannah

For centuries herbal baths have been used for therapeutic or beauty purposes. The Egyptians made good use of a therapeutic herbal bath. Cleopatra is said to have bathed in milk and the flowers from herbs to keep her skin smooth and moist. Romans had community herbal baths, the forerunner to the modern spa. In strict Jewish faiths, women use a communal herbal bath to cleanse their bodies after menstruation. There are many benefits to taking herbal baths for therapeutic purposes, but the added benefit is that an herbal bath is relaxing too. Here are some guidelines for taking herbal baths.

It is best to wait two hours after you have eaten. It would be great if you could take it before breakfast but since our lives are so busy it is more practical to take you herbal bath before you are going to go to sleep. The temperature of the herbal bath is important. There is no single temperature that is right; it depends on what you prefer. Never have it too hot or too cold. As you soak you can add more hot water as needed. Make sure you are in a well ventilated room that has no drafts. It is best to get out of
the tub after the water has cooled a bit.

By: Dr. Nick Arrizza

A feeling of fulfillment is something we all seek. Here I would like to address this in a way that many of you already know at some level but which I feel is necessary to highlight.

If we look at the word "fulfillment" itself we find the concept of being "filled full". I would like to show you that indeed this is literally what it means to be fulfilled.

If you wish, for a moment, think of something that makes you feel happy. Imagine this thing being in your life whenever you desire it. As you do this allow yourself to note how you begin to feel inside of yourself. Also notice where you feel these feelings.

The Navajo creation story involves three underworlds where important events happened to shape the Fourth World where we now live.

The Navajo were given the name Ni'hookaa Diyan Diné by their creators. It means "Holy Earth People" or "Lords of the Earth". Navajos today simply call themselves "Diné", meaning "The People". The Tewa Indians were the first to call them "Navahu", which means "the large area of cultivated land". The Mexicans knew them as "Apaches Du Nabahu" (Apaches of the Cultivated Fields), where "Apache" (Enemy) was picked up from the Zuni Indian language. The "Apaches Du Nabahu" were known as a special group somewhat distinct from the rest of the Apaches. Alonso de Benavides changed the name to "Navaho" in a book written in 1630. The English name the Diné officially use for themselves is "Navajo". Recently, Navajos have been referring to call themselves by their original name, "Diné".

By: Kestra Imani

One of your best friends is a Wiccan, and you've decided it might be a nice idea to show them that you support their religious choices (whether you share them or not). So, you've decided to send them a Wiccan greeting card for a Sabbat. What a great idea! Only problem is, you might not KNOW what a Sabbat is, WHEN a Sabbat is, or what they're called. Don't worry, we can help.

A Sabbat is essentially a Holy day, similar to Easter and Christmas for Christians. They follow what Wiccans call the "Wheel of the Year" whose turning bring the seasons, and with them, the Sabbats. The word "Sabbat" comes originally from the Latin "sabbatum" which means "to rest." Note that Sabbath and Shabbat come from the same root.

By: Kevin Pederson

Earaches can be slightly painful to extremely painful. An ear ache is caused by a fluid buildup due to some infection or pressure build up in the middle ear. Swimming, bathing, allergies or even cleaning your ear with cotton bud can lead to discomfort, bacterial growth and infection in the ear.

Most common cause of the ache is due to plugged ‘Eustachian’ tubes (a small tube connecting the ear to the nose). If and when your Eustachian tubes become blocked possibility of bacteria buildup or infection, fluid will gather resulting in a painful earache. Increase in pressure leads to pain, hearing loss, itching and swelling. To avoid ear aches and infections, one should keep the Eustachian tube free of pollutants and irritants and regularly clean the nasal passage.

Try some of these home remedies for earache

One day long ago, when souls could still return from the Land of the Spirits, the Sun looked down upon the Earth. 'The People of the Mountain do not like me," she said to her brother, the Moon. "See how they twist up their faces when they look to the sky."

"Ah. but they love me." replied the Moon. "They smile when they see me, and they make music and dance and send me songs."

This did not please the Sun. for she thought she was more important than her brother, and more deserving.

That night, as she always did. the Sun visited her daughter for the evening meal. "How can The People love my brother and not me?" she asked. "I will show them it is unwise to offend me!" And the next, she sent scorching heat onto the land.

As some of you may already know Andi has passed the torch of 5-Feathers to me. While Andi has passed this to me, she will ever be Editor Emeritus and a becon of inspiration and light to lead me on as we re-launch 5 feathers.