Ukraine – WytchenCrafts

UKS BIGGEST SUNFLOWER — Arif Khan and his very tall Sunflowers ~ dailymail.co.uk

Vine House Farm is only one of a few sunflower growers in the UK, and the largest in the UK. Due to the specific growth requirements mean that Lincolnshire is the furthest north Sunflowers can be commercially grown. And Arif Khan grew the giant plants at his home in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex and incredibly the flower has shown real staying power by standing tall well into October of 2018. Still, any further north of Lincolnshire you will have to settle for a pretty bouquet from a florist’s and they will most likely hail from Vine House Farm.

Unless Climate Change/Global Warming continues creating sunny, hot summers such as the one in 2018 for the UK, chances are the country north of Lincolnshire will never be prolific growers of the lovely flowers as is America, from where they hail. And, I imagine soil would play into the growing of them as well…although it is easier to get the kind of soil mix you need than it is to command the perfect Spring and Summer sunshine and warmth needed for the stately Sunflower.

We shall have to be content with what we have…and there will be no wild-gathering for you lovers of finding your herbs and such from the lay-bys and forests and open fields…although, if you fancy your chances, go ahead and give it a try this Spring on growing them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I always say.

And, in case you were not aware, the country which grows the most sunflowers is Ukraine. Until this wretched war, Ukraine produced on average, 11.0 tonnes of Sunflower per year. If you are a fan of Sunflower oil and seeds, as am I, those products likely came from Ukraine. Blessings to Ukraine!

Magickal

Sunflowers harrisseeds dot com — Sunflowers ~ courtesy of Google Images

Many traditions see Sunflowers as good luck and it is thought that if you pick a Sunflower at sunset and wear it pinned to yourself it will bring the wearer good luck the next day.

To find the truth about something, sleep with a Sunflower under your pillow and the next day the truth of the matter will be revealed to you.

Why is the Sunflower a symbol of loyalty? Because each day the face of the Sunflower follows the sun throughout each hour it shines. Would you like someone to be loyal to you? Feed them Sunflower seeds.

For Litha brew a tea of dried Sunflower petals and sprinkle about like holy water in your sacred space for Litha rituals, around your Litha-decorated altar, and sun related spell work and ritual.

Because of Sunflower’s fertility effects it is believed that women of child-bearing years should eat the seeds to help bring a pregnancy if they have been having trouble conceiving.

Add the petals of a Sunflower to your bath to attract happiness.

For attracting wealth and abundance use Sunflower in a variety of ways. The petals can be put into witch bottles, sachets, and poppets to draw wealth. You can also make potpourri with Sunflower and add other flower petals and whole spices which attract wealth to set about in your home or business. Eating the seeds can also help draw wealth.

Sunflowers dried — My dried Sunflower ~ photo by i.macy

Sunday is the best time to do a spell for drawing wealth to your business, if you are a business owner, and the best time of the day is during the planetary hour of the sun. A good way to help manifest your business wealth is to also use Sunflowers on your altar or dried Sunflower as an offering.

Sunflower is a friendship flower according to the Victorian Flower Meanings.

And, Sunflowers are known to promote courage in some cultures.

Healing

Sunflowers were originally cultivated by Native Americans and used for food and medicine. Medicinal uses included using the juice from the stems to treat wounds and infusing the plant in water to treat kidneys and chest pains.

Sunflowers aren’t used in medicine anymore apart from possibly in Native American tribes, however, the seeds are always good for one’s health. The Sunflower oil you purchase in your supermarket is not only better to cook with than many other oils for your health, but did you know it is a wonderful massage oil? Excellent for your skin.

Correspondences

Planetary: Sun

Gender: Masculine

Zodiac: Leo

Element[s}: Fire, Air

Powers: wealth, fertility, luck, loyalty, and honesty/truth

Deity: Baba Yaga, Ra, Apollo, Helios

Many thanks for reading my blog. Warmest blessings to all whom this way wander x

Sources

Dailymail.co.uk

by Isabella @TheWandCarver

Instagram: @thewandcarver

In Europe and America there’s a growing feeling of hysteria

Conditioned to respond to all the threats

In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets

Mister Khrushchev said, “We will bury you”

I don’t subscribe to this point of view

It’d be such an ignorant thing to do

If the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer’s deadly toy?

There is no monopoly on common sense

On either side of the political fence

We share the same biology, regardless of ideology

Believe me when I say to you

I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent

To put the words in the mouth of the president?

There’s no such thing as a winnable war

It’s a lie we don’t believe anymore

Mister Reagan says, “We will protect you”

I don’t subscribe to this point of view

Believe me when I say to you

I hope the Russians love their children too

We share the same biology, regardless of ideology

But what might save us, me and you

Is if the Russians love their children, too.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Gordon Sumner / Serge Prokofieff

I hope most of my lovely readers remember Sting or real name, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE, an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He was the frontman, songwriter, and bassist for new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984. He went on afterwards to dabble in many genres of music, including reggae and ska.

He first sang this song in 1985. He rarely sang it since as he felt it would never be relevant again. In his own words from his @theofficialsting Instagram account…

“I’ve only rarely sung this song in the many years since it was written, because I never thought it would be relevant again. But, in the light of one man’s bloody and woefully misguided decision to invade a peaceful, unthreatening neighbour, the song is, once again, a plea for our common humanity. For the brave Ukrainians fighting against this brutal tyranny and the many Russians who are protesting this outrage despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment – We, all of us, love our children. Stop the war”

Of course, the Russians love their children; I don’t doubt it in the least. And many are brave souls who have protested – and have been arrested – in contempt of this war waged upon Ukraine. We must not paint all Russians with the same brush. I have read accounts in my news feed of how many citizens have fled Russia since the beginning of this conflict so as not to be stuck in Russia when things went pear shaped. They find they are treated with contempt in other countries. I beg of you, please, wherever you live… do not allow yourself to be the people who hate everyone just because their president is being a complete <insert word of choice>. Remember – We share the same biology, regardless of ideology.

It shows in the battlefield. Many Russians thought the point of going to Ukraine was to practise manoeuvres and keep the peace. Five Russian soldiers, captured by Ukraine forces were interviewed and had this to say – “Frankly speaking, they [Russian government] tricked us,” the officer replied, referring to his military superiors sitting in Moscow. “Everything we were told was a fake. I would tell my guys to leave Ukrainian territory. We’ve got families and children. I think 90% of us would agree to go home.” Yes, the Russians love their children, too.

There has been much in the news that back the feelings of the Russian soldiers. Thousands of Russian people have been arrested for protesting their president and the war on Ukraine. Can you imagine this in your country? Maybe America can as I have read that some states in the US have made laws that makes it easy to arrest or run over with a car anyone protesting. In Russia you are given up to 15 years in prison for protesting. You are arrested for calling the war, a war.

The people of Russia are becoming weary of this sort of treatment.

“There is no monopoly on common sense

On either side of the political fence”

Despite the removal of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in Russia, the outside news gets back to Russian citizens, anyway. Of course, there will always be presidential supporters in Russia. These are mostly, but not limited to, the older generation who are most likely to watch Russian State TV. The young ones of Russia, however, are not afraid to stand up to the government and we must be proud of them. They will be the ones, if encouraged, to bring about the right kind of change to the future of Russia.

“When Marina Ovsyannikova burst into Russian living rooms on Monday’s nightly news, denouncing the war in Ukraine and propaganda around it, her protest highlighted a quiet but steady stream of resignations from Russia’s tightly controlled state-run TV.” ~ from BBC News, 13 March 2022

I am quite sure any of you who are keeping up with the news of what is happening between Ukraine and Russia have seen this. One very brave Russian news presenter on Russia State TV News’ Channel 1 decided the truth needed telling and with her very large handmade “No War” poster came onto the screen like a small avenging angel. For her “sins”, she pays a £280 fine and spends 10 days in jail. She is lucky. Many of the thousands of Russian protesters picked up over the last three weeks may spend up to 15 years in prison. What is even more telling are the resignations by other news presenters on Channel 1. My, the times are a-changing.

Meanwhile, the president of Russia’s credibility is sinking faster than a rock and President Zelenksyy’s [Ukraine if you’re only just joining] fanbase has exploded all over the world. The young ex-comedian and actor only took over the role of President in 2019. His honesty and goodness and love of his country and people has shone brightly though the darkest days of this terrible war foisted upon him by a small man who feels like chucking his toys out of the pram. If there were more Volodmyr Zelenkskyy’s in this world, democracy would never be in question again – at least not until the next one who learnt nothing of history came along and figured they could make dictatorship really work. But you and I know the meaning of madness already – trying the same thing repeatedly expecting a different outcome each time. It did not work in 1945 and it will not work in 2022, either.

There are good people in Russia…good people who fled Russia…good young Russian men sent to Ukraine to fight who did not want to fight and who gave themselves up. Please do not paint them all with the same brush, hec, not even the old ones who believe whatever they are told. They are not bad. We know who is. I will now leave you with this – Tired of It by Leonard Wolf Very much worth the watch and listen. Please like, subscribe, and comment.

Many thanks for reading and liking and warmest blessings to all whom this way wander x