Tree of Life

       April 30/May 1st marks Halfway to Halloween on the calendar but April 30th also used to be believed as a day where dark magic was practiced so today’s Saint was honored to combat that. April 30th is also the feast of Saints Pius V and Marie Guyart of the Incarnation. In 2024 due to it being a Leap Year the actual halfway to Halloween is on May 2nd.       Today would be a fun day to watch spooky movies about witches to realize and acknowledge the existence of the supernatural but that evil has been overcome by Christ’s passion and resurrection especially during the Easter Season. In Bavaria they dress as witches to ward off demons and witches on this day and some cultures Easter customs replicate trick or treating and costumes. Putting up a Halloween decoration, wearing orange and black, using Halloween/Autumn scented candles, Halloween music and scary stories are a fun way to celebrate Halloween and to plan for it as well even by means of ...

In celebration of my husband Geoffrey and I being joined in Holy Matrimony on December 17th 2022 I created this post to reflect on the many customs, legends and other beautiful things surrounding marriage. What is Marriage? The Oxford dictionary defines marriage as: the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship. The word "marriage" from Middle English, Old French and Latin mariage, marier and maritare respectively translates "to provide with a husband or wife” or maritari meaning to get married. Think of when two things are paired together "married together" ie the 2 become 1. Similarly, matrimony is from Old French and Latin matremoine and matrimonium respectively. They combine mater and monium translated as mother condition because of the role that a new bride would take on in some cultures. Husband comes from old Norse and old English translating to “hus” (house) “bondi” (tiller of the soil) and husbonda, male...