️ Ruth Ellis (1899 - 2000) was the daughter of former slaves. She came out as a lesbian when she was 16-years-old to the complete acceptance of her family. In 1937, Ruth and her longtime partner moved to Detroit from their hometown of Springfield, Illinois for the promise of higher wages. There, she became the first woman in Michigan to run her own printing business. She printed fliers, posters, and stationary in the front room of her home, which also quickly became a hotspot for Black LGBTQ social life. Before long, Ruth was helping those who came around in any way she could, including by paying for college tuitions. After the Stonewall uprising, 70-year-old Ruth began giving speeches in support of gay and lesbian rights all across the country. She remained an activist for the rest of her long life and even spent her 100th birthday leading the San Francisco Dyke March. At the time of her death at 101, she was recognized as the oldest out lesbian in the US. She is the subject of the documentary “Living With Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100” and is the namesake of the Ruth Ellis Center, a shelter for homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth in Detroit.
‘Tis the season for family, friends, and food! But you’ll still have the perfect figure in our Monique Criss Cross Open Bottom Girdle! This sexy girdle will be your best friend for the upcoming holidays!
Just wrapped a holiday photo shoot with my two Smart Doll girls. Here are a few teaser shots with my go-to studio equipment. You should always feed your dolls after each shoot! Also thinking about offering free holiday post cards. Be sure to vote on my story if you’d be interested! #smartdoll #smartdollkizuna #smartdollanniversarykizuna #smartdollmelody #smartdollcortex #behindthescenes #photoshoot #dollphotography #christmasdoll #christmastree #christmasphotoshoot #holidays #christmas #dolls #doll #dollsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrbyjbFgTl6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f8sq06bp64s9
May Wine is acknowledged as the ritual potion for Walpurgis Night or May Eve.
Woodruff, also known as Queen or Master of the Woods, is the required ingredient.
Although there are complex methods of creating May Wine, at its simplest: steep sprigs of sweet woodruff inwhite wine for several hours. Bruised strawberriesand/orsugar may also be added. Serve and enjoy.
(fromThe Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes)
Folklorists believe that the first festivals arose because of the anxieties of early peoples who did not understand the forces of nature and wished to placate them. The people noted the times and seasons when food was plentiful or not and reacted accordingly. Harvest and thanksgiving festivals, for instance, are a relic from the times when agriculture was the primary livelihood for the majority. Festivals also provided an opportunity for the elders to pass on knowledge and the meaning of tribal lore to younger generations and give them the opportunity to let off steam in an acceptable yet controlled way.
General agreement exists that the most ancient festivals and feasts were associated with planting and harvest times or with honouring the dead. These have come down to us in modern times as celebrations with some religious overtones. Harvest festivals are still carried out in many Christian churches and celebrate the fullness of the harvest. Among the most attractive are the harvest-home festivals in Britain where, in the autumn, parish churches are decorated with flowers, fruits and vegetables. Harvest suppers where a community join together to celebrate the bountiful harvest have their beginnings in the pagan beliefs of the three harvest sabbats (Lughnasadh, Mabon and Samhain) belonging to the Wheel of the Year. […]
The majority of people who are new to spell working will acknowledge that for them common sense backed up by practical action is normally more productive than theoretical or mystical thinking. In magical working, as in everyday life, when we have to handle a wide range of circumstances, common sense in dealing with them will normally produce the best results.
However, when we are confronted with the unusual or difficult, or are faced by extreme anxiety, even the most practical-minded among us will theorize in order to make sense of what is happening. We have not moved such a long way since those times, in the distant past, when our ancestors and people around the world routinely believed that if the crops failed then the gods must be angry. Practices carried out then are still with us in the form of many of the festivals and feasts, which still have relevance in the societies where they began. Some of you may choose not to use the spells in this section, but they do offer a return to basics and give fascinating insights into how our ancestors dealt with everyday challenges.
