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Riebeek Valley News


Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel
Drive through the small agricultural town of Malmesbury and over the Bothman’s Kloof Pass to these twin towns named after Jan van Riebeeck, the 17th-century Dutch explorer of the Cape. The towns developed only a few miles apart because of a disagreement about where to build a church. In the end, two separate places of worship were built, and two distinct towns grew up around them.

Riebeek West is the birthplace of Jan Christiaan Smuts, one of the country’s great politicians and leader of the United Party in the 1940s. D. F. Malan, prime minister of the Nationalist Party in 1948, was born on the farm Allesverloren, just outside Riebeek Kasteel. This wine estate produces some great red wines, an exceptional port, and world-class olives and olive oil. The kasteel, or castle, in question is the Kasteelberg (Castle Mountain), which stands sentinel behind the towns.

Disenchanted city dwellers have been buying up cottages here to use as weekend getaways, and others are moving out to the small towns and commuting into the city. It’s not hard to understand why. Children play in the street and people keep sheep in their huge gardens—a far cry from Cape Town life. There are numerous restaurants, some galleries, and plenty of olive products to buy, including excellent olive oils and bottled olives. Huge groves in the area do well in the Mediterranean climate.

You’ll hear the distinctive, rolling accent of the Swartland here. Known as the “Malmesbury brei,” it’s characterized by long “grrrr” sounds that seem to run together at the back of the throat. In Afrikaans, brei means “to knit” or “temper,” both of which make sense when listening to somebody from the Swartland.

bettyboop57: Imagine a WomanImagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman.A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.Imagine a woman who trusts and respects herself.A woman who listens to her needs and desires.Who meets them with tenderness and grace.Imagine a woman who acknowledges the past’s influence on the present.A woman who has walked through her past.Who has healed into the present.Imagine a woman who authors her own life.A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf.Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and wisest voice.Imagine a woman who names her own gods.A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.Who designs a personal spirituality to inform her daily life.Imagine a woman in love with her own body.A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.Who celebrates its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.Who refuses to use her life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.A woman who sits in circles of women.Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.Imagine yourself as this woman.“Imagine a Woman” by Patricia Lynn Reilly Peace & Blessings, Maritza :) Pavel Kiselev - Yin-Yang @ betty boop:  Beautiful writing…I AM THAT WOMAN!!!

bettyboop57:

Imagine a Woman

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman.
A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.
Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.

Imagine a woman who trusts and respects herself.
A woman who listens to her needs and desires.
Who meets them with tenderness and grace.

Imagine a woman who acknowledges the past’s influence on the present.
A woman who has walked through her past.
Who has healed into the present.

Imagine a woman who authors her own life.
A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf.
Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and wisest voice.

Imagine a woman who names her own gods.
A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.
Who designs a personal spirituality to inform her daily life.

Imagine a woman in love with her own body.
A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.
Who celebrates its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.
A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.
Who refuses to use her life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.
A woman who sits in circles of women.
Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

Imagine yourself as this woman.

“Imagine a Woman” by Patricia Lynn Reilly

Peace & Blessings, Maritza :)

Pavel Kiselev - Yin-Yang

@ betty boop:  Beautiful writing…I AM THAT WOMAN!!!

(via wolfdancer)

Someone once said -“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.

—(via soul-surfer)

I’ve been making a list of the things they don’t teach you at school. They don’t teach you how to love somebody. They don’t teach you how to be famous. They don’t teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don’t teach you how to walk away from someone you don’t love any longer. They don’t teach you how to know what’s going on in someone else’s mind. They don’t teach you what to say to someone who’s dying. They don’t teach you anything worth knowing.

—Neil Gaiman (The Kindly Ones)

(Source: onherway, via gottfried)

wolfdancer: Susan Seddon Boulet ~ Goddess Lilith Black is the shadow. Dark is the hidden. What is banished is repressed. Lilith is all of these.What we fear, therefore deny or repress, becomes our shadow.  One of the largest misconceptions still pervading the Western World is that our shadows possess only ‘negative’ things; that the darkness – black – is necessarily evil.Darkness, so often perceived as evil, demonic, frightening, is in fact, merely an absence of light.  The “occult” is only that which is hidden.  What we refer to as our ‘dark side’ is only that which we do not let others see, what we do not wish to acknowledge about ourselves.Our shadows, those disowned parts of ourselves that fill the air surrounding us, are comprised merely of the things we perceive to be or have been taught (both directly and indirectly) are unacceptable, threatening. That does not mean they are necessarily bad.  They could just as easily be positive things.  Quite often, the most vital, interesting, the very essence of a person, is buried in darkness.The definition of what is viewed as acceptable female behavior is so restrictive – the boxes we force ourselves into so tiny – that we must send most of ourselves away.  Because any use of the more ‘powerful’ parts of our personalities may feel dangerous or threatening, women will, quite often, hide them within the protective shelter of their shadows.  Unfortunately, these can include strength, intellect, wisdom, and intuition.Because women feel inclined to keep themselves ‘small,’ they carry with them large shadows.  Because we are afraid to own the contents of our shadows, we cannot become whole.  Because we do not own them, they possess us.Energy must move.  What is pushed down and rejected – denied – will go somewhere.  “Unless we do conscious work on it, the shadow is almost always projected; that is, it is neatly laid on someone or something else so we do not have to take responsibility for it.”2A common theme in what remains of the myths and stories of the Goddess is that of a female character making a descent into the underworld. There she meets a ‘dark sister’ – a Lilith — whom she must assimilate.  Indeed, many feminist scholars have suggested that the ‘female quest’ is an inward journey – a trip through the labyrinthine course of the soul.It is in the journey through her own ‘underworld’ that a woman meets her unaccepted selves – her Lilith selves – and begins to integrate them. Psychological health is only possible through the integration of these many split off parts of the self.A woman who is afraid of her own power will hate a powerful woman.  A woman who has pushed down her intellect will be jealous of a woman who displays hers. To keep our own power dead, we need to kill the power in each other. This takes up our time, uses all our energy – keeps us eternally busy.

wolfdancer:

Susan Seddon Boulet ~ Goddess Lilith

Black is the shadow. Dark is the hidden. What is banished is repressed. Lilith is all of these.
What we fear, therefore deny or repress, becomes our shadow.  One of the largest misconceptions still pervading the Western World is that our shadows possess only ‘negative’ things; that the darkness – black – is necessarily evil.

Darkness, so often perceived as evil, demonic, frightening, is in fact, merely an absence of light.  The “occult” is only that which is hidden.  What we refer to as our ‘dark side’ is only that which we do not let others see, what we do not wish to acknowledge about ourselves.

Our shadows, those disowned parts of ourselves that fill the air surrounding us, are comprised merely of the things we perceive to be or have been taught (both directly and indirectly) are unacceptable, threatening. That does not mean they are necessarily bad.  They could just as easily be positive things.  Quite often, the most vital, interesting, the very essence of a person, is buried in darkness.

The definition of what is viewed as acceptable female behavior is so restrictive – the boxes we force ourselves into so tiny – that we must send most of ourselves away.  Because any use of the more ‘powerful’ parts of our personalities may feel dangerous or threatening, women will, quite often, hide them within the protective shelter of their shadows.  Unfortunately, these can include strength, intellect, wisdom, and intuition.

Because women feel inclined to keep themselves ‘small,’ they carry with them large shadows.  Because we are afraid to own the contents of our shadows, we cannot become whole.  Because we do not own them, they possess us.

Energy must move.  What is pushed down and rejected – denied – will go somewhere.  “Unless we do conscious work on it, the shadow is almost always projected; that is, it is neatly laid on someone or something else so we do not have to take responsibility for it.”2

A common theme in what remains of the myths and stories of the Goddess is that of a female character making a descent into the underworld. There she meets a ‘dark sister’ – a Lilith — whom she must assimilate.  Indeed, many feminist scholars have suggested that the ‘female quest’ is an inward journey – a trip through the labyrinthine course of the soul.

It is in the journey through her own ‘underworld’ that a woman meets her unaccepted selves – her Lilith selves – and begins to integrate them. Psychological health is only possible through the integration of these many split off parts of the self.

A woman who is afraid of her own power will hate a powerful woman.  A woman who has pushed down her intellect will be jealous of a woman who displays hers. To keep our own power dead, we need to kill the power in each other. This takes up our time, uses all our energy – keeps us eternally busy.

List ye, O man, and be wise.
Far ‘neath the earth crust,
in the Halls of Amenti,
mysteries I saw that are hidden from men.
Oft have I journeyed the deep hidden passage,
looked on the Light that is Life among men.


There ‘neath the flowers of Life ever living,
searched I the hearts and the secrets of men.
Found I that man is but living in darkness,
light of the great fire is hidden within.

—The Emerald Tablets of Thoth (via heartmindspirit)

(Source: heartmindawakening)

Incense

which-witch:

Acacia: Burned with sandlewood to stimulate psychic powers.
African Violet: Burned for protection and to promote spirituality within the home.
Allspice: Burned to attract both good luck and also money.
Aloe: Burned to attract good fortune, love, spiritual vibrations, and strength.
Althea: Burned for protection and to stimulate psychic powers.
Anise Seeds: Burned as a meditation incense.
Basil: Burned to exorcise and protect against evil entities(such as demons and unfriendly ghosts), and to attract fidelity and love, good luck, sympathy, and wealth. This is also an excellent incense to use when practicing love divinations.
Bay: Burned to facilitate psychic powers and to induce prophetic dream visions.
Bayberry: Burned mainly to attract money. Protection, wishes, prosperity, happiness, control
Bergamot: Money, Attraction, Prosperity, Protection, Uplifting of spirits.
Benzoin: Burned for purification and to attract prosperity.
Bistort: Burned as a powerful incense to aid divination.
Bracken: Burned in outdoor fires to magically produce rain.
Carnation: Protection, Strength, Healing, Lust and Love.
Cedar: Burned for purification, to stimulate or strengthen they psychic powers, attract love, prevent nightmares, and heal various ailments including colds.
Cedarwood: Healing, purification, unhexing, protection, money, attraction.
Cinnamon: Burned for protection and to attract money , stimulate or strengthen psychic powers and aid in healing.
Citron: Burned in rituals to aid in healing and strengthen psychic powers.
Clove: Burned to dispell negativity, purify sacred and magical spaces, attract money, and to stop or prevent gossip.
Coconut: Burned for protection.
Copal: Burned for purification and to attract love.
Damiana: Burned to facilitate psychic visions.
Dragon’s Blood: Burned to dispell negativity, exorcise evil supernatural entities, attract love, restore male potency, (Many witches also burn this for protection when spell casting and invoking.)When added to other incenses Dragon’s Blood makes them stronger.
Elecampane:Burned to strengthen the clairvoyant powers and scrying abilities.
Frangipani: Burned as an aphrodisiac, can be calming and seductive.
Fern: Burned to exorcise evil supernatural entities.
Frankinscense: Burned to dispell negativity, purify sacred and magical spaces, protect against evil, aid meditation, induce psychic visions, attract good luck.
Fumitory: Burned to exorcise demons, poltergeist, and evil supernatural entities.
Galangal: Burned to break curses.
Ginseng Root: Burned to keep wicked spirits at bay and for protection against all forms of evil.
Gotu Kola: Burned to aid meditation.
Heather: Burned to conjure beneficial spirits.
Hibiscus Flower: Burned to attract love.
Honeysuckle: Friendship, healing,happiness, psychic powers, money.
Horehound: Burned as an offertory incense to the Egyptian God Horus.
Jasmine: Purification, Wisdom, Dreams, Fantasy, Money, love, to induce prophetic dreams.
Juniper: Burned to break curses and hexes, and to also increase psychic powers.
Lavender: Burned to induce peaceful rest and sleep , and to attract love.
Lilac: Burned to attract harmony into one’s life, and also to stimulate or increase psychic powers.
Mace: Burned to stimulate or increase psychic powers.
Magnolia: Nature, Trees, Hair Growth.
Mastic: Burned to conjure beneficial spirits and increase psychic powers.
Mesquite:Increases the Magical powers of All Healing Incenses.
Mint:Posesses Strong Healing vibrations, conjure beneficial spirits.
Myrrh: Spirit Communication, meditation, psychic defense, locating lost things or people, purification, consecration, healing, exorcism, and banishing evil.
Neroli: Confidence, Insomnia.
Nutmeg: Attract prosperity, increase psychic powers, aid in meditation.
Orris Root: is used for digging deep into the moon-ruled subconcious and uprooting what is hidden.
Patchouli:Burned to attract money, love and promote fertility.
Pine: Burned for purification, to banish negative energies, break hexes and return them to their senders, exorcise evil supernatural entities.
Poppy Seeds: Burned to attract love, good luck. money, and promote female fertility.
Rose: Burned to increase courage and attract love and induce prophetic dreams. Rose has the strongest Love vibrations of any incense and is used in all forms of love enchantments.
Rosemary: Burned to purify, aid in healing, prevent nightmares, dispell depression, promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams.
Rue: Burned to help restore Health.
Sage: Burned for protection against all forms of evil,and to purify sacred spaces and ritual tools, promote Wisdom, attract money, and to aid in healing the body, mind and soul.
Sagebrush: Burned to aid healing and to banish negative energies and evil supernatural entities.
Sandalwood: Burned to exorcise demons and evil ghosts, conjure beneficial spirits, and promote spiritual awareness, healing.
Star Anise Seeds: Burned to increase psychic powers.
Strawberry: Burned to attract love.
Sweetgrass: Burned to conjure beneficial spirits prior to spellcasting.
Thyme:Burned for the purification of magical spaces prior to rituals, aid in healing and attract good health.
Vanilla: Burned to attract Love and increase th powers of the mind.
Vervain: Burned to exorcise evil supernatural entities.
Vetivert:Burned to break curses and for protection against others magic and thieves.
White Sage: Burned for purification, healing, cleansing. (it is used to wash off the “outside” world.)
Willow: Burned to avert evil, attract love and promote healing.
Wisteria: Burned for protection against all forms of evil.
Wormwood: Burned to stimulate and increase psychic powers. ( When mixed with sandalwood and burned at night in a cemetary , wormwood is said to conjure spirits from their graves.)

(via skeletalearth)

Meredith: There is a reason I said I’d be happy alone. It wasnt because I thought I would be happy alone. It was because I thought if I loved someone and then it fell apart, I might not make it. It’s easier to be alone. Because what if you learn that you need love? And then you don’t have it. What if you like it? And lean on it? What if you shape your life around it? And then it falls apart? Can you even survive that kind of pain? Losing love is like organ damage. It’s like dying. The only difference is, death ends. This? It could go on forever …

—Meredith Grey - Grey’s Anatomy  (via hit-or-miss)