The Triple Spiral is one of the most ancient religious symbols, dating back over 5200 years.  It represents the three aspects of the Triple Goddess:  maiden, mother, and crone.  Ancient religions were mostly matriarchal in nature, meaning that they gave equal respect to men and women.  Creation could not exist without the goddess and her male consort.
 
Women were given great respect in the Celtic pagan community, having equal rights with men and also fighting alongside them in battle.  Marriages were for a term of  from two to seven years, with both parties given an option to renew their vows or not at the end of that period.
 
"The spiral is the cosmic symbol for the natural form of growth, a symbol of eternal life, reminding us of the flow and movement of the cosmos.  The whorls are continuous creation and dissolution of the world; the passages between the spirals symbolized the divisions between life, death, and rebirth."  (Stepanich, Kisma K.; Fairy Wicca Tarot, Llewellyn Publications, 1988.)

Washing Wool:  The Soak and Spin Method
 
Simple wool garments that can be hand-washed, such as sweaters, can also be laundered in a top-loading washer, using it as a washbasin that spins.  Here is how:
 
  • Be sure the sweater has no buttons or decorative trim and does not contain angora or mohair, which are difficult to clean.  Keep light colors separate from darks, and wash reds by themselves.  Turn the sweater inside out before washing.
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  • Fill the tub with an appropriate amount of warm or cold water, add a mild detergent, and run the machine just long enough to mix.
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  • Shut off the machine and immerse the sweaters.  Do not agitate them.  Let them soak for 10 to 20 minutes, then set the machine to the Spin setting to extract the soapy water.
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  • Remove the sweaters from the tub and refill it with plain water.  Let the sweaters soak for another 10 to 20 minutes with no agitation, then spin to extract the water.  Repeat if they still feel soapy.
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  • Lay the sweaters flat to dry, and reshape them as needed.  (Consumer Reports, How to Clean Practically Anything, 2005.)
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