Between the Earth and Stars (formerly Media Astra Ac Terra)

Hello again! It's been too long, but I have some news, and some invitations.  :) Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene --

This is another mostly off-the-cuff episode, with topics touching on introversion, relating to the world spirit-to-spirit, and some updates on my ongoing projects. I mentioned a few books during the episode, including the following:Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan CainNetworking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora ZackThe Candle and the Crossroads by Orion Foxwood And, of course, I mentioned the author website for H.D. Grogan, at www.hdgrogan.com.  :) The musical break was "Children of Lir," by Sora, at www.soramusic.ca.You can also find that song on Mevio's Music Alley at www.musicalley.com. And lastly, in the addendum I mentioned the Tara Brach podcast, which is a great resource for people on any spiritual path, Buddhist or not. Find it on iTunes, or go to www.tarabrach.com. Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandstars.org

Hi everyone! I wanted to give you all something to listen to, since so much time has gone by, but time is still tight. So this piece is a bit of an experiment in learning to speak off the cuff into the microphone instead of tightly scripting everything.  :) The topic is highly appropriate to the recording method, too - I talk about my recent experience with learning to move forward after making mistakes. Thanks for listening (and thanks for your patience!) Bright and dark blessings,Oraia Helene www.earthandstars.org

Anthology: Rainer Maria Rilke / Reflections: Connecting Through the Breath This final episode of 2012 is full of winter-themed music, plus poetry and a reflection on how the breath connects us with the world. Mevio's Music Alley:http://www.musicalley.com "The Book of a Monk's Life" by Rainer Maria Rilke (translation by Jessie Lemont):http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38594/38594-h/38594-h.htm. Joanna Macy: http://www.joannamacy.netOrion Foxwood: http://www.orionfoxwood.com Musical tracks:"Yule Tides" by More Human Than Humanhttp://www.musicalley.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=0367335d2851f90454d2496f278eaf1f"Winter Wind" by Jon Schmidthttp://www.musicalley.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=c33d0bc61927d3d5b15df7fbfa87ac61"Winter Sun" by Cross the Borderhttp://www.musicalley.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=2188d29ef3c1d8d0d960fcca0549f723 Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful new calendar year! Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandsta

Reflections: Fall Foliage / Main Show: Skipping Through the Minefield (Politics) Thank you very much for your patience in waiting for this episode to come out!  I was sick for a few weeks around the time I would have released the September episode, plus I chose a particularly difficult topic for the main segment this time around: politics.  Or, really, my thoughts on how to handle the topic of politics, which is particularly relevant in the USA right now. But first, we'll take a look at the colors of fall foliage, in a new Reflections segment. Promos:penniesinthewell.podbean.com/www.baphmetis.com/ Thank you very much for listening! Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandstars.org

Earth Below: Chakra Stones / Poetry by Fiona MacLeod / Main Show: More Random Thoughts As I explain in the introduction, this is a short, weird, eclectic episode collecting an Earth Below segment about stones and the chakras, a couple of poems from Fiona MacLeod (aka William Sharp), two short segments containing random thoughts I've had recently, and some songs from my most recent concert with the Greenfield Community Chorus. The Writings of Fiona MacLeod:http://books.google.com/books?id=53Q4AAAAIAAJ Greenfield Community Chorus:http://www.greenfieldcommunitychorus.com HP Lovecraft Live Podcast:http://hplovecraftlive.podbean.com/ Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandstars.org

Anthology: The Enchantment of Gearoidh Iarla / Earth Below: Apatite / Main Show: Of Families and Ancestors In this episode, I share another story from a collection by W.B. Yeats, and then we take a look at apatite in the "Earth Below" segment.  In the main segment, I'll try to weave together some of my thoughts on family with my experience over the past year overcoming my reluctance toward ancestor work.  I hope you enjoy the episode! Anthology segment was "The Enchantment of Gearoidh Iarla," from Fairy and Folk Tales of Ireland by W.B. Yeats Music was "Mary Magdalene and the Song of Solomon" by Ralph Buckleywww.ralphbuckley.com On the Common Ancestors of All Living Humanshttp://tedlab.mit.edu/~dr/Papers/Rohde-MRCA-two.pdf Check out Vajra's work at Conjure Oilswww.conjureoils.com Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandstars.org

In this episode, I share my experiences and observations regarding coming out of the broom closet, in one long segment.  It's a really personal episode, and I keep thinking of more things I could have said, or said better, but hey, life's always a work in progress, right?  :) For more information about International Pagan Coming-Out Day, visit www.pagancomingoutday.org. Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene -- www.earthandstars.org

In this episode, I share my experience watching and meditating with Tibetan Buddhist monks as they created a sand mandala of compassion.  I also read some listener feedback, and explain why the episode is so short this month.  :) Find the Gajang Tsawa Monks at www.tsawamonksusa.com. See a picture of the finished mandala of compassion here:http://earthandstars.org/between-the-earth-and-stars-episode-44 Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene --www.earthandstars.org

Earth Below: Sugilite / Anthology: The Fairies' Dancing-Place / Main Show: Oraia's Random ThoughtsIn this episode, we take a look at sugilite in the "Earth Below" segment, then introduce the new "Anthology" segment with a fairy tale collected by W.B. Yeats.  In the two-part main segment, we look at the value of "I don't want to" feelings, then share a meditation on mud.  Yes, mud. :)Irish Fairy Tales by W.B. Yeatshttp://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31763Music is "The Sidhe Set" by Avalon Risingwww.avalonrising.comPromo for Baphmetis Meditation at www.baphmetis.comDon't forget to contact me if you'd like to join our group for Module 2 of Orion Foxwood's Fairy Seer Apprenticeship Series this summer! Email oraia@earthandstars.org by the end of April 2012.Bright and dark blessings,-- Oraia Helene --www.earthandstars.org

In this extra-long episode, we take a very close look at a number of the popular predictions and assertions made about the year 2012 and the "end of the world."Stars Above Segment: Planet XEarth Below Segment: Pole ShiftsMain Segment Part 1: Galactic Alignments and Solar FlaresMain Segment Part 2: Mayan CalendarsMain Segment Part 3: Mayan Prophecies and Final ThoughtsLinks:Search for Near Earth Objects:http://impact.arc.nasa.govFoundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican studies:http://www.famsi.orgFAMSI Presentation on the 2012 Issue:http://www.famsi.org/research/vanstone/2012/index.htmlUpdated Theories on the Tortuguero Monument Inscription:http://decipherment.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/more-on-tortugueros-monument-6-and-the-prophecy-that-wasnt/Books of Chilam Balam:http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/maya/cbc/K'atun Prophecies from the Chilam Balam:http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/maya/cbc/cbc27.htmThe Popol Vuh:http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/pvuheng.htm"The Mayan Word" Documentary:http://www.youtube.com/watc

Earth Below: Rutile / Main Segment Part 1: Dedications and Initiations / Main Segment Part 2: Belonging In this episode, we take a look at rutile (and one of my favorites, rutilated quartz) in the "Earth Below" segment, then we have an extra-long, two-part Main segment on dedications, initiations, and belonging. Links: "Varieties of Initiatory Experience" by Isaac Bonewits:www.neopagan.net/Initiation.html "The Sundering of Feri" by T. Thorn Coyle, where she added a fourth variety:www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Sundering-of-Feri-T-Thorn-Coyle-01-24-2011.html Promos were for New World Witchery at www.newworldwitchery.com, and Pennies in the Well at penniesinthewell.podbean.netMusic was "Shine" by Wendy Rule; find her at www.wendyrule.com. One more note: In the second part of the Main segment, I gave a slight paraphrase of a quote by Robert Anton Wilson, and realized during editing that it wasn't clear exactly where the paraphrase ended and my own comments picked back up.  The original full

Stars Above: Canis Major & Canis Minor / Reflections: Dogs & Spirits / Main Show: Old Apples and New Beginnings In this episode, we take a tour of Canis Major and Canis Minor in the "Stars Above" segment, then get into some thoughts about dogs and spirits in the new "Reflections" segment.  We finish up with a look at apples in the Main segment.  Yes, that's right.  Apples. I want to apologize for a brief section of the show, in the main segment, that contains a strange buzzing sound, like some feedback or something that got into the recording.  I'm not sure what caused that, but it only lasts for about twenty seconds and doesn't come back, so I hope you'll forgive the slight disturbance. Links:Eye on the Night Sky podcast: http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=7071077Witches' Education League: http://www.witcheseducationleague.com Books mentioned in the Reflections segment include The Other End of the Leash, by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D, and several books by De

PathWorking: The Empress / Earth Below: Malachite / Main Show: The Chakras and the Tree Episode 39 begins the use of the new podcast name!  Welcome to "Between the Earth and Stars." In the first segment, we return to the PathWorking series on the tarot, which was started for the Kakophonos podcast at www.kakophonos.com.  In the second segment, we take a look at malachite in the Earth Below segment (which was formerly the Terra segment.) Then in the main segment I walk through a comparison between the seven major chakras and the placement of the spheres of the Qabalistic Tree of Life in the body.  This (finally!) completes the three-part series I started back in episode 35 and continued in episode 37. During the break, we hear a song from the Greenfield Community Chorus, of which I am a member!  This was a live recording from our first public performance, and features the song "A Winter Charm."  We also end the show with another song from that performance, called "We Are the Water."&n

Brand new promo for the podcast formerly known as Media Astra Ac Terra, and now known as Between the Earth and Stars.  :)  Please listen to the beginning of episode 38 if you haven't heard that news yet, and please substitute this promo in your podcast if you feel inclined to play one.  :)  Thank you!

Book Review: Apocalypse Not / Story: The Crystal Well / Main Show: Making Change Episode 38 starts off, yet again, with some important announcements, including the introduction of a couple of new segments.  First, we have a book review of John Michael Greer's Apocalypse Not: Everything You Know About 2012, Nostradamus, and the Rapture is Wrong.  Then I share a short story called "The Crystal Well."  I wrote this for the 2011 "All Hallow's Read" episode of New World Witchery, which you can find here: http://newworldwitchery.com/2011/10/28/podcast-special-all-hallows-read/ And in the main topic I share some of my thoughts about making conscious changes in our lives. During the segment breaks, we hear Gaia Consort sing "Evolve," from their album Evolve.  You can find them at www.gaiaconsort.com.  We also hear a promo for Chris Orapello's new meditation podcast Baphmetis Meditation, at www.baphmetis.com. Last but not least, don't forget to send in your questions for the upcoming Pagan Pod

Now that the Scrying Bowl podcast has ended, I wanted to share this 10 minute meditation track, which frames ten minutes of silence between two sets of three bells at beginning and end to help you structure your meditation time.  I hope you find it helpful in your meditation practice - even ten minutes can really make a difference in your day! Blessings, Oraia Helene

Astra: Astrological Aspects / Terra: Kyanite / Main Show: The Tree of Life Episode 37 starts off with a number of important announcements!  Then the Astra segment takes a look at five important planetary aspects in astrology, the Terra segment addresses a listener question and then offers a look at kyanite, and the Main segment takes a walk down the Lightning Flash of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. In the main segment, I mention Colin Low's excellent "Introduction to the Kabbalah," which you can find online at www.hermetic.com/caduceus/qabalah/kabbalah.html During the break, we get to listen Pandemonaeon sing "Hunter," from their album Dangerous Beauty.  You can find them at www.pandemonaeon.net.  We also hear from the new podcast Divine Community, at divinecommunity.wordpress.com. Last but not least, don't forget to send in your questions for the upcoming Pagan Podkin book!  Email me at oraia@earthandstars.org, and feel free to visit my website at www.earthandstars.org. Brigh

Episode 36 is a highly unusual episode, coming right on the heels of the second annual Pagan Podkin Supermoot and attempting to share some of the fun without boring you to tears.  :)  I offer some personal musings on why I'm a witch, share a little musical interlude (with permission) from a band who performed at last weekend's Eastern MA Pagan Pride Day, and bring you along for a laughter-filled discussion of stones and the witches who love them, featuring Saturn Darkhope from Pennies in the Well and her covenmate Holly. Find more about the Super-Moot at www.paganpodkin.com Find more of Featherscale's music at www.featherscale.com Find Saturn (and occasionally Holly) at penniesinthewell.podbean.com Find New World Witchery at www.newworldwitchery.com Find Peter Paddon's Crooked Path podcast at crookedpath.mypodcast.com And be sure to check out Lamyka's new venture, Pagan Bedtime Stories, at lamyka.libsyn.com Thank you for listening, and I hope you'll visit me at the Temple of the Earth and Sta

Astra: The Summer Triangle / Terra: Tourmaline / Main Show: The Chakras Episode 35 takes a look at the three constellations who contribute stars to the asterism called the Summer Triangle in the Astra segment, and in the Terra segment we learn about tourmaline!  And in the main segment, I give a brief overview of the body's seven main chakras. I'm changing the way I do show notes, so you'll find more information here in the future, with more detailed postings at my website, www.earthandstars.org. In the main segment, I mentioned the books The Serpent Power by Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe), Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, and Hands of Light by Barbara Ann Brennan.  I also mentioned, but didn't actually name, a CD by Jonathan Goldman that incorporates sacred names from the Qabalah with chakra seed syllables and mantras - it's called The Lost Chord, and it's fantastic.  :) Visit Misanthrope Press at www.misanthropepress.com for more information the upcoming anthology, Etched Offerings: