Abarra ca Pocus!

We are WITCHES.

2010-10-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

"We are WITCHES.

We believe in the Power of the Universe.

We follow a religious tradition that is older than any other in this world.

We pay homage to the 5 elements of nature on a daily basis.

We greet the Sun and the Moon as Father and Mother,we are in tune with the cycles of nature.

WE ARE WITCHES...

CHILDREN OF THE EARTH ...

FOLLOWERS OF THE CRAFT OF THE WISE....

BEWARE IF YOU HARM US" - Lucas Meyer

All Hallow's Eve, Halloween, Samhain....

2010-10-29T06:07:00.001-07:00

signs you may be a techno pagan....

2010-10-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

From the Pythorium

You might be a techno-Pagan if:
Your altar has a keyboard
Your patron Deity has a homepage
You end your circle with Ctrl-Alt-Del
You keep a Disk of Shadows
You buy altar supplies at Future Shop or Computer City
You have a mouse pad as an altar cloth

Divination

2010-10-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

I have a ring
has 3 words imprinted on it:

wisdom
honour
strength

when I put the ring on, the direction of the words - are reminiscent of power hands - one outward, one inward

so if the words are right side up for me to read them....then the word facing me will be my focus for the day

transversely - if the word faces out when I put on the ring that word will be the the focus of the day in what I see or hear or participate in during my interactions with my peers, colleagues and friends.

sometimes I get a cusp...the tail end of one word and the start of another...which splits the focus between the two...

I've been working with this ring for many many years....and I've always found that at the end of the day...when I still my mind before meditation I can find the singular most important connection as relates to the divinity the ring has given me in the morning...and I try to figure out what I've learned from it...

sometimes it's easy as seeing the nose on my face...sometimes I have to really dig for it...sometimes I don't find the lesson until it smacks me 2 or 3 times...but eventually the ring gives me the big AHA!

divinity comes in many sizes, shapes, faces and manners....one just has to be open to it

~Wyz~

What's Wicca

2010-08-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

From Beliefnet.com

Paganism (or "Neopaganism," which means the new Paganism) is the overall name for the modern nature religions. Just as Christianity has many different forms (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and so forth), so does Paganism. Some of the forms of Paganism include Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidism, Shamanism, Odinism, Goddess spirituality, and many others. Although there are differences between the many forms of Paganism, they also have much in common.
Witchcraft and other forms of Paganism have nothing to do with devil worship or Satanism. On the contrary, Paganism teaches the importance of living an upstanding and ethical life, just like any other religion.
Christians subdivide God into a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Wiccans do the same thing, only they see God as a Mother and a Father. In other words, as a Mother Goddess and a Father God. In fact, one of the biggest differences between Paganism and Christianity is that some Pagans prefer a feminine image of the Goddess over, or in addition to, the traditional masculine image of God.
To Pagans, it makes no sense to see spirituality as separate from the material world. The Goddess is present in the material world, just as she is present in prayer and meditation. For this reason, Pagans see nature as holy and many Pagans get involved in recycling and ecological preservation as a way of expressing their religious convictions.
Most Pagans talk about magic -- an easily misunderstood term. To Pagans, magic is not about pulling rabbits out of hats, or conjuring up spirits to do one's bidding. [Some Pagans prefer the spelling "magick" to differentiate their practice from this type of magic.] Instead, it is best seen as using spiritual power in their daily lives. For example, just about anyone who believes in God will pray for healing when someone is sick. What Christians call prayer, Pagans call magic. It's basically the same thing: relying on spiritual power to achieve our goals and live happier lives. Just as Christians ask for God's blessing through their prayers, Pagans ask for the Goddess' blessing through their magic.
Wicca is basically a new religion. It didn't really exist before the 1940s. But it is based on ancient spirituality (such as the spirituality of the Druids, the ancient priests of Ireland and Scotland), as well as on modern science and psychology. For many Pagans, following this religion is about getting in touch with one's (ancient) roots. For example, the more I have learned about the ancient Celts, the more I admire their civilization and spirituality. Modern Pagans try to honor the old ways of our forefathers and foremothers, who lived close to nature and who believed in Mother Earth as much as in a heavenly Father.
Hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of people around the world follow the Pagan path. Pagans come from all walks of life: rich and poor, male and female, straight and gay, high school dropouts and Ph.D.s. Pagans can be found in every corner of society: as lawyers, teachers, computer programmers, doctors, nurses, mechanics, and writers. The U.S. military has a thriving Pagan population, since many Pagan groups consider it an honorable thing to be a warrior. The Military acknowledges Pagans as practicing a valid religion, and many military bases have Pagan chaplains or chaplain assistants.

What Do Witches Do?

When people become Witches, how do they practice their spirituality? Wicca is considered a craft of the wise. It involves the pursuit of wisdom in many forms. Thus, people who explore the old religion will do any or all of the following:

Study. Witches often love to read, and many longtime practitioners of the craft have houses crammed full of books. Nowadays, this love of research also extends to the Internet, where countless websites provide information on mythology, ritual, Goddess lore, and magic.
Ritual. This would be the closest equivalent to going to church or synagogue. Rituals can be performed alone, in small groups, or in larger gatherings. As a general rule, they are performed on the night of the full moon, new moon, or on one of eight special Pagan holidays known as Sabbats.
Magic. Less formalized than a ritual, magic consists of any activity aimed at channeling spiritual energy to achieve a specific goal. This can be as simple as meditating before a lit candle or as complex as an intricate ritual involving a series of carefully prepared symbolic objects. Incidentally, the process of doing a magical working is known as casting a spell.
Craft activities. Many Wiccans and Pagans love to make candles, incense, oils, salves, herbal tinctures, and other items, imbued with natural ingredients that have spiritual significance. Such items are created only for positive magical or healing purposes, and are often used in spells or rituals.
Nature-based activities. From planting an herb garden to helping clean up a polluted river, to simply enjoying long walks in the woods, nearly all Witches and Pagans truly the outdoors. To Pagans, such ecological activities as recycling or composting are not just good civic duties; they are also spiritually sacred acts.
Other activities designed for spiritual growth. These miscellaneous pursuits can include meditation, studying a divination system such as astrology or Tarot, taking classes to develop psychic or intuitive ability, or making pilgrimages to ancient sacred sites such as Stonehenge in England or Newgrange in Ireland. Because Witches and Pagans regard all of life as sacred, any of these activities can be spiritually meaningful and an important part of their overall religious observance.

There's no one right way to be a Witch, and so not all Wiccans will do all of these things. But this variety of activities shows the richness and depth of spirituality that is available to modern Pagans.

Quarter Call Variety

2010-08-03T18:36:00.001-07:00

Quarter Call Variety

from the Pythorium

Yet another way to call the quarters when casting a circle. Don't get stuck in a ritual rut.

Welcome East, power of Air!
Intuition, knowledge and wisdom,
Come and send forth your inspiration,
And be here now.

Welcome South, power of Fire!
Energy, heat and flame,
Come and send forth your passion,
And be here now!

Welcome West, power of Water!
Emotions, love and courage,
Come and send forth your tranquility,
And be here now!

Welcome North, power of Earth!
Stability, structure, and growth
Come and send forth your strength,
And be here now!

Nature never ceases to amaze me...

2010-06-03T06:53:00.001-07:00

Beltane

2010-04-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

"The fires of Beltane kindle the night reflecting the Green Man’s glance
His lady Queen of the May delights us all with her spiral dance
"Follow me to the source of all" he said "I am eternal fire"
"Come with me to the source of all" she said "I am your heart’s desire"

Celtic Druidism

2010-04-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

The potential of the Path of the Celtic Druid today
Celtic Druidism is the ancient spiritual tradition of Ireland, it roots lie in the oldest temples in this island where many modern Druids still honour the Solar and Lunar cycles. Druidism is a spiritual path to gaining and holding inner Light and expressing your higher self. This path does not lead anywhere but as a Celtic Druid you have to walk it all the time. Walking this path is only possible by being balanced and in your centre. To be in your centre is to achieve a balance between thinking and intuiting. It is only in your centre that you can discover and express your magical higher self. Being in this balance means being in the godlike awareness we call the 'Witness'. This is where the modern Celtic Druid of today holds his/her awareness ie 'turned on and in balance'.

Technically speaking, this is not about killing the ego, it is not about killing the intuition, it is not about killing our base brain (medulla oblongata) it is about working with all three and not being controlled by any of them. We need our left brain (thinking) and our right brain (intuiting) synchronised to transcend the reptilian brain (fight or flight) to activate the connecting bridge (corpus collosum) to hold our awareness in the higher mind. This I suggest is best done by focused magical training on a spiritual path of self-realisation in unity with Nature.

Witches Rune

2010-03-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

2010-02-06T09:35:00.001-08:00

"The continual exhalation of mosses gives the temperate rain forest much of its essential character; from bird song to banana slugs, it seems as if the entire forest is stitched together with threads of moss" R.W. Kimmerer

Mosses are an entrenched and enchanting part of all forests, and none more so than in the Pacific Northwest. This is because mosses need moisture in order to photosynthesize (and thus produce energy); dry moss cannot grow or reproduce. While other plants have roots that soak up water and nutrients from the ground, and strategies to conserve water, mosses absorb them directly from the air and from rain and spray water, and thus they grow most abundantly in consistently moist places. Luckily for them, mosses are poikilohydric- they dry out when the environment is dry, but can revive again once conditions are wetter. Most plants, if dried out completely, will wilt and die. By absorbing and retaining water from air vapour, and slowly releasing it to the ground, mosses actually contribute water to the forest, keeping the soil moist for trees and other plants to grow. As mosses increase, so does humidity from their ‘exhalations’, bringing about favourable conditions for even more moss to grow.

Their role in forest ecology is tied to, but goes far beyond, water balance. Mosses are preferred seedbeds for many tree seedlings, they get woven into the nests of many bird species (often providing a cushion for their eggs), are food for slugs, and countless insects and fungi depend on them for habitat. Large wet moss mats may contribute to the infrequent fire cycle in our regional forests- lightning may smolder on moist moss, but will never ignite. Ferns and other plants that grow on trees do not root directly into the tree bark; they depend on moss to be a substrate. Mosses are not eaten by most animals (including humans) due to the tough compounds in their tissues and their low nutritional value. This is used to good advantage by hibernating bears though- prior to getting into their dens bears will eat mosses and other tough fibrous vegetation, in effect producing an “anal plug” that keeps them from defecating through the winter.

Being food-focused to a fault in my foraging, the many ecological and human values claimed by mosses are an inspirational reminder for me to keep a broad outlook. Consider that historically, dry mosses were used as diapers and as menstrual pads- their combination of absorbency and large air spaces would effectively wick moisture away, while providing mild antiseptic properties that no doubt prevented diaper rash. They were used as lamp wicks, scrubbing dishes, insulation for humans (Otzi, the “Iceman” preserved in the European Alps, had his boots packed with Neckera moss to keep his toes warm) and for homes (e.g. chinking cracks in log cabins), a component of artisan works, and used in food preparation. Salmon were scrubbed with moss prior to being dried, while camas pit-cooks used moss as a source of steam during the cooking. Linnaeus, the father of modern plant taxonomy, bedded down on a portable bedroll made of polytrichum moss during his botanical explorations. It is not known whether he used a pillow made of Hypnum moss (think ‘hypnosis’) that was said to impart special dreams to the sleeper.

Human use of moss today is focused on epiphytic mosses (those that grow on trees) as decorative floral products. Every year tens of millions of kilograms of moss are harvested from the Pacific Northwest, bringing in tens of millions of dollars. Much of this takes place in National Forests of Oregon and Washington, but includes British Columbia (for which les information is available). Moss harvest has been significant since the 1940s, originally for use as a fruit-packing material, and has increased in the past couple decades as alternatives to timber harvest have been sought. It has shifted from patchy harvesting by local residents looking to supplement their income, to full time strip harvesting by seasonal crews from outside the region. While regulations exist, they are criticized as being insufficient and poorly enforced. Modeling exercises have projected the depletion of mosses in some areas if current harvesting rates continue, and some National Forests have enacted a moratorium until better management can be demonstrated. Ecologists are working to develop guidelines based on scientific and local knowledge of moss distribution and growth patterns. Peat moss harvesting from our boreal forests for use in gardening is a topic for a whole other ‘Non-timber Tidbit’.

A less commercial human use of moss is to monitor pollutant levels. Mosses usually lack a protective cuticle, and so they readily absorb heavy metals and other substances from the air and rainwater. Since they are often widespread, abundant, and grow in regular patterns, they can be appropriate tools for “bio-monitoring” pollution over time and space.

Recipes for such a non-edible forest product being scarce, the following one for Jamaican Sea Moss Drink, while having no relation to mosses as we know them, may be appropriate, as it includes the tropical non-timber forest products cinnamon, nutmeg, and the beautiful orchid vanilla, as well as the red algae carrageen:

- 1.3 L water
- 15 g dried carrageen
- 400 g condensed milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tp linseed /flaxseed (optional)
- Freshly-grated nutmeg
- Few drops of vanilla extract
- Little rum to serve (optional)

Soak the carrageen in cold water for about 15 minutes. Drain and place it in a saucepan with water, cinnamon and linseed and bring this mixture to a boil and cook until it begins to thicken. Strain the mixture using a sieve and discard the seaweed, linseed and cinnamon stick. Pour the liquid back in a pan and add condensed milk, vanilla essence and freshly-grated nutmeg. Boil the mixture and whisk vigorously to cool it. When this mixture begins to set, whisk it again vigorously and when the mixture cools, whisk once again and then finally cool it in the refrigerator. Before serving, whisk it again and add a dash of rum.

Wolf Moon

2010-01-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

Robert Britt

- Space.com

- January 29, 2010

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight

Tonight's full moon -- called the wolf moon -- will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name.

But why will this moon be bigger than others? Here's how the moon works:

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles from Earth. The moon's orbit around Earth -- which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days -- is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles closer than the other.

So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.

Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year, according to Spaceweather.com.

As a bonus, Mars will be just to the left of the moon tonight. Look for the reddish, star-like object.

Full moon craziness

Many people think full moons cause strange behavior among animals and even humans. In fact several studies over the years have tried to tie lunar phases to births, heart attacks, deaths, suicides, violence, psychiatric hospital admissions and epileptic seizures, and more. Connections have been inclusive or nonexistent.

The moon does have some odd effects on our planet, and there are oodles of other amazing moon facts and misconceptions:

* A full moon at perigee also brings higher ocean tides. This tug of the moon on Earth also creates tides in the planet's crust, not just in the oceans.
* Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.
* In reality, there's no such thing as a full moon. The full moon occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon are all lined up, almost. If they're perfectly aligned, Earth casts a shadow on the moon and there's a total lunar eclipse. So during what we call a full moon, the moon's face is actually slightly less than 100 percent illuminated.
* The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches a year.

The moon illusion

Finally, be sure to get out and see the full moon as it rises, right around sunset. Along the horizon, the moon tends to seem even bigger. This is just an illusion.

You can prove to yourself that this is an illusion. Taking a small object such as a pencil eraser, hold it at arm's length, and compare its size to that of the moon just as it rises. Then repeat the experiment later in the night and you'll see that the moon compares the same in both cases.

Alternately, snap two photos of the moon, with a digital camera or your cell phone, when the moon is near the horizon and later when it's higher in the sky. Pull both photos up on your computer screen and make a side-by-side comparison.

Astronomers and psychologists agree that the moon illusion is just that, but they don't agree on how to explain it.

For Haiti...

2010-01-16T23:05:00.001-08:00

Tonight I light my candle for the people of Haiti... I'm proud of the humanitarians mobilizing and I pray that they will be of service and come home safe - that the Haiti mission and the resources that people are sending/taking (from the goodness of their hearts and the depth of their wallets)is not mismanaged.

I also pray that each and every one of those scumbags that have started scams to take advantage of this horrific situation are are held to the task of the law of three....what you sow shall be returned upon you times three...

So mote it be!

Maple Sugar

2010-01-16T07:32:00.001-08:00

‘Tis the season for that sweetest and most Canadian of non-timber forest products- it’s maple syrup time in the Vancouver Island bush! Many people associate maple syrup with the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) that grows in eastern Canada, and for good reason. Quebec produces most of the world’s supply of the sweet stuff (with Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia pitching in modestly as well), for a total of over 25 million liters (L) per year. But hobby and commercial maple syrup tapping on Vancouver Island is growing, and an industry based on our regional bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) is emerging. Its syrup is darker and has a unique flavour which has been described as more robust than that of sugar maple.

Sap usually flows heaviest and sweetest in Dec- Feb, but the season can run between the tree’s leaf-fall and bud-burst (Nov- early March). The sugar content of bigleaf maple is slightly lower than that of sugar maple (about 2% and just under 3% respectively), and it takes about 40-65 L of bigleaf sap to make one of syrup. A good tapping tree will produce 60 L of sap per season, though harvests of 200 L have been recorded. Unlike its eastern counterpart, bigger bigleaf maple trees are not necessarily better producers, but those growing in open areas and forest edges tend to do relatively well. While sap flow varies among trees in an area, those that are heavy-producers tend to be consistently productive over time.

Maple sap makes a refreshing drink that contains amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium. You can add richness and flavour to hot beverages, baked goods, rice, soups, and stews by cooking with sap in place of water. It is said to make bread rise higher; some dispense with yeast altogether when baking with sap. The uses for maple syrup go far beyond pancakes and french toast of course; use it as a sweetener when baking or for hot drinks, as a glaze when cooking fish or meat, add it to baked beans, top off ice cream or any other dessert, or ferment the syrup for beer, wine, or vinegar. For more information, inspiration, and a rousing good time, take part in the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival in Duncan on Saturday February 6th! (http://buybcwild.com/sweet-winter-festival-west-coast-maple-syrup)

While it's tempting to go on in celebration of maple syrup, we would be remiss not to discuss all the other values that maples offer. Bigleaf maples are tall, beautiful, and sprawl across coastal landscapes from BC south to California. Well-named, they have typically maple-shaped leaves that grow 15-30 cm wide and v-shaped pairs of winged seeds (samaras). Mosses, lichens and ferns often completely cover bigleaf maple, encouraged by the high calcium levels found in the tree’s bark. The total weight of these other organisms can be up to 4-times that of the tree’s own foliage, and can form a mat thick enough to provide a substrate into which other trees at times take root.

First Nations across the country have used the bark of various maple species medicinally. Infusions and decoctions have been taken to treat tuberculosis, coughs, boils, sore throats and diarrhea. Some communities traditionally rubbed leaves on a young man’s face so that he would not grow thick whiskers. The wood has been used to make paddles, spindle whorls, and other implements, while the wide leaves have been fashioned into temporary storage containers. The flowers make a nice and colourful, if somewhat tart, addition to a salad. Sprouted seeds were sometimes eaten by Nlaka’pamux, and bark from sugar maple has been dried and pounded and sifted into flour for making bread. In the spring the bark and inner bark of bigleaf maple can be crafted into rope and baskets respectively. The wood is used for furniture, musical instruments, paneling, or veneer, but generally the fast-growing trees frustrate foresters more often than excite them, as they compete with local conifers.

But back to maple syrup now, and a delicious Recipe for Maple Candy courtesy of the Vancouver Island Sapsuckers newsletter:

- Butter a 9x9” glass baking dish and add about ½” of syrup.
- Bake at 250º F for several hours until thick and bubbly. Cool until it forms a thick taffy-likeness. Pour onto wax paper and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Melt chocolate in a microwave oven or in a double boiler (nut lovers may want to add nuts to the melted chocolate).
- Remove maple from freezer; break into pieces while still frozen. Dip maple pieces in melted chocolate and place on wax paper.
- Place the chocolate coated maple in freezer for a few minutes to solidify. The end result is a bit like the Turtles candy only better.

Cautions: Seeds from some maples are reportedly poisonous. Teas and decoctions of bark and inner bark of some species cause vomiting or diarrhea.

2010-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Who knew, but junipers are not just lovely to look at, beautifully fragrant, ecologically valuable, and the flavouring used in gin! Juniper is an important traditional medicine, particularly for Interior First Nations, and was often used for purposes related to childbirth or urinary conditions. Teas made from the berries have been taken to stimulate the appetite, calm hyperactivity and ease water retention, as well as to treat a range of conditions including colds, diarrhea, swelling, bleeding, and heart, lung, and kidney problems. Traditionally juniper boughs were burned or boiled to purify houses and inhabitants from infection and harmful spirits. Nowadays juniper incense is still commonly used and has been commercialized.

Though used more commonly as flavouring rather than as food, some First Nations traditionally cooked up juniper berries and dried them into cakes to eat throughout the winter. People would also chew on small bits of bark or berries to suppress hunger. European chefs are particularly fond of juniper berries, and use them in soups, marinades (see recipe below), stuffings, stews, and sauerkraut. Their bitter-sweet taste and aroma are said to be particularly suitable to stronger meats and game.

The berries have also been used to make jewelry- some people would scatter them over anthills, allowing the ants to eat out the berries' sweet centres thus leaving a hole for threading onto necklaces. Strings of berries would then be dried over a greasy fire and polished. An anti-dandruff hair rinse can be made by boiling juniper branches, and most parts of the plant produce a brown dye, using ash from burnt green needles as a mordant. The boughs of juniper are also used and sold as a floral green, and the plant is often used in landscaping as a garden ornamental.

Various juniper species abound in our BC woods, with the common juniper (Juniperus communis) most frequently encountered. The species lives up to its name as it is the only circumpolar conifer in the northern hemisphere. Junipers are low-growing conifers that trail along the ground, forming mats up to 3m in diameter and 1 m in height. Their needles are green and prickly, their bark is thin and scaly, and their cones look like berries- pale green at first and bluish when mature.

Berries should be harvested either when they are still green but fully grown (for gin) or when they are completely ripe (to flavour food). Dry them and store in an airtight container in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, and lightly crush them just before using to release their flavour.

Those who love the flavour of Bloody Mary's but don't want the alcohol are advised to soak juniper berries in tomato juice for a few days and then follow your favourite Bloody Mary recipe, omitting the alcohol. Though the conventional drink is made with vodka, this variation apparently tastes just like the real thing! Once you've got that under your belt, try this recipe for Juniper Wild Meat Marinade:

1 onion
1 carrot
1 stick celery
4 tbsp Olive Oil
300ml/10 fl. oz. red Wine
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs thyme
3 sprigs parsley
2 sprigs marjoram
1 sprig rosemary
6 black peppercorns, lightly crushed
6 juniper berries, lightly crushed

Slice the onion, carrot and celery. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the vegetables gently for 6-8 minutes, stirring. Add the wine, garlic, herbs, peppercorns and juniper berries. Bring to the boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Cool before using. Strain after marinating and use as cooking liquid, either alone or mixed with stock.

Cautions: Pregnant women should avoid juniper as it can cause uterine contractions and thus miscarriage. Large or frequent doses can lead to convulsions, kidney failure, and an irritated digestive tract.

2009-12-24T10:45:00.000-08:00

Let there be Peace♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Let it begin with me♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Let there be Peace ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Let it begin with me ♥ ♥ ♥ Let there be Peace ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Let it Begin with me♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...Let there be Peace♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...

PEACE!

My Friend Tam wants:

2009-12-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

to advise you of Mercury going into Retrograde...Dec. 26th - Jan. 15th.

It's not a good time to sign contracts, make important business decisions and things of that nature.

You may also experience issues with your car, unusual amount of traffic, accidents, cell phone drama, email and computer issues...you have been warned.

That is all...carry on.

Yule

2009-12-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Yule Lore (December 21st)

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Deities of Yule are all Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green
Man, The Divine Child, Mabon

Coming up roses

2009-12-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

They say that nothing is perfect, but the more I learn about roses (Rosa spp.), the more I suspect that they may be wrong. Most parts of the shrub are edible, the fruits are a source of nutritious wild food . . . and colour throughout the winter, their beauty is appreciated the world over, they are teeming with therapeutic properties, and the romantic appeal of the cultivated long-stem variety is marketed to the tune of billions of dollars annually (the human rights and environmental violations associated with parts of this industry are far from perfect of-course, but then, are hardly the fault of the flower itself, and the potential for positive development does exist!).

There are hundreds of species of rose in the world; common ones in this area include baldhip (R. gymnocarpa) and Nootka (R.nutkana) rose. Both are prickly shrubs with compound leaves, pink flowers that grow at the branch tips, and reddish coloured fruits (hips). Baldhip rose is smaller (up to 1.5 m tall, with flowers 1-2 cm across and hips up to 1 cm across). It has soft, straight prickles and grows in a variety of habitats (open to wooded, dry to moist, low to mid-elevation). Nootka rose is larger (up to 3 m tall, with flowers 4-8 cm across and hips 1-2 cm across). It has a pair of large prickles at the base of each leaf, and generally grows in open habitats such as streamsides, clearings, and roadsides.

Rosehips are well known for their high vitamin C content (3 hips contain as much as an orange!) as well as high concentrations of many other vitamins (like A, B, E, and K), minerals and antioxidants, and have been produced into nutritional supplements. They are popular as tea, and in many food products such as jellies, syrups, and baked goods. Rose petals are used for their fragrance and flavour in wines, preserves, and baked goods (and a quick internet search can provide you with a wealth of odd and mouthwatering recipes: rose petal ice cream, rose petal pesto, rose petal flan, rose petal mango sauce…). Rose water, produced from the distillation of rose petals is in many Middle Eastern sweets, cosmetics, and ceremonial purposes. The buds, young shoots, and leaves are also edible raw or cooked.

Volumes could be written about the medicinal values of roses (and of-course, many have). Some highlights include the traditional use of stem or root bark tea for stomach and digestive concerns, and to reduce labour pains. A wash made from the bark of Nootka rose was used for sore eyes, and rose petals were mixed with wine to make a tonic for earaches, toothaches, and uterine cramps. Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties have been researched, and recent studies confirm the anti-viral properties of Nootka rose. These, along with their relatives the Saskatoon berry are being developed as a treatment for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

As if all this weren’t already more than enough, rose sprigs were said to keep ghosts away from babies; a wash made from rose branches was used to hide the human scent of hunters; and theplant's inner bark was sometimes smoked like tobacco. Their fragrance of the flowers and hips has contributed to potpourri and to body powder, and roses have aroma-therapeutic value! They are said to replace depression, irritability or sadness with a sense of well-being and optimism (and act as an aphrodisiac to boot).

Rosehips are usually harvested in the fall after the first frost when they are a bright or dark colour and are somewhat soft. Use them fresh or air-dried to retain the maximum nutrient content. When drying rosehips it is suggested to spread them and allow to dry partially, split them to remove the seeds, then allow them to dry completely to ensure that they don’t rot. There are many warnings against eating the seeds, which one disregards at the risk of having an “itchy rectum” (though, it must be noted, that cooked seeds have been eaten to relieve sore muscles). Bearing this in mind, enjoy the following recipe:

Recipe: Rose hip crumble pie

• Pastry for single-crust 9-lnch (22 cm) pie
• 1 cup (240 mL) dried rose hips
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) milk
• 1-1/2 cups (360 mL) sifted flour
• 2 teaspoons (10 mL) baking powder
• Dash of salt
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) shortening
• 1-3/4 cups (420 mL) brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks, beaten
• 2 egg whites

Prepare pastry and line a pie pan while you soften the hips in milk. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream in shortening and brown sugar, mixing well. This makes a crumbly mixture - reserve 1 cup of it for topping. To the remainder add the egg yolks, milk and rose hips. Beat the egg whites until peaks hold form. Fold into the berry mixture. Spoon into pie pan and sprinkle with the crumbly topping (and feel free to throw in some pecan halves if you so desire). Bake at 350oF for 35 - 45 minutes.

Cautions: Eating too many rosehips or petals can cause diarrhea. Avoid consuming the seeds of the hip as they have hairs that can irritate the digestive tract. As with all members of the rose family, the seeds contain small amounts of cyanide that will be destroyed when cooked or dried.

Candle Colors and what they mean.

2009-12-01T08:43:00.001-08:00

By: Mona

Candles in the craft are used to help to increase a spells
power, or to influence a particular power. I have provided
a list of colors, which I use. This is what my coven uses,
and is offered to help you in your journey into the craft.

White:

A balance of all colors; Spiritual enlightenment, cleansing,
clairvouance, healing, truth seeking; Rituals involving
lunar energy' May be substituted for any color candle.

Yellow:

Activity, Creativity, unity; brings power of concentration
and imagination to a ritual; use in rituals where you wish
to gain anothers confidence or persuade someone, or in
rituals that require solar energy.

Gold:

Fosters understanding and attracts the powers of cosmic
influences; beneficial in rituals intended to bring about
fast luck or money, or in rituals needing solar energy.

Pink:

Promotes romance, friendship; standard color for rituals to
draw effections; a color of femininity, honor, service,
brings friendly, lively conversation to the dinner table.

Red:

Health, passion, love, fertility, strength, courage, will
power; increases magnetism in rituals; draws Aries and
Scorpio energy.

Silver:

Removes negativity and encourages stability; helps develop
psychic abilities; attracts the influence of the Mother
Goddess.

Purple:

Power, success, idealism, psychic manifestations; ideals for
rituals to secure ambitions, independence, financial
rewards, or to make contact with the spiritual other world;
increases Neptune energy.

Magenta:

Combination of red and violet that occillates on a high
frequency; energizes rituals where immediate action and high
levels of power or spirtual healing are required.

Brown:

Earthly, balanced color; for rituals of meterial increase;
eleminates indecisiveness; improves powers of concentration,
study, telepathy; increases financial success; locates
objects that have been lost.

Indigo:

Color of inertia; stops situations or people; use in rituals
that require a deep meditational state; or in rituals that
demand Saturn energy.

Royal Blue:

Promotes laughter and joviality; color or loyalty; use to
attract Jupiter energy, or whenever an influence needs to be
increased.

Light Blue:

Spirtual color; helpful in devotional or inspirational
meditations; brings peace and tranquility to the home;
raditates Aquarius energy; employ where a situation must be
synthesized.

Blue:

Primary spiritual color; for rituals to obtain wisdom,
harmony, inner light, or peace; confers truth and guidance.

Emerald Green:

Important component in Venusian rituals; attracts love,
social delights, and fertility.

Dark Green:

Color of ambition, greed, and jealousy; counteracts these
influences in a ritual.

Green:

Promotes prosperity, fertility, success; stimulates rituals
for good luck, money, harmony, and rejuvenation.

Grey:

Neutral color useful when pondering complex issues during
meditation; in magic, this color often sparks confusion; it
also negates or neutralizes a negative influence.

Black:

Opens up the deeper levels of the unconscious; use in
rituals to induce a deep meditational state, or to banish
evil or negativity as in uncrossing rituals; attracts Saturn
energy.

Article Source: http://www.spells4free.com

Getting nutty

2009-11-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Beaked hazelnuts (Corylus cornuta) are not only tasty, they are a great wild source of energy, protein, unsaturated fat, and B vitamins amongst other nutrients. The nut, which is actually the seed of the fruit . . . is one of the few seeds that were consumed regularly by First Nations People in this region. Similar to but smaller than the cultivated variety, beaked hazelnuts can be eaten as-is, roasted, candied, ground into flour and added to soups, breads, sweets and all manner of dishes; and edible oil can be produced from the seeds. Harvest usually occurs in the fall, and the nuts can be stored in their husks for up to 12 months if kept cool and dry. For harvesters with a sweet-tooth, the seeds are softest and sweetest in mid to late autumn.

Beaked hazelnuts are tall shrubs (2-4 m) with rounded, coarsely-toothed leaves that turn yellow in the fall. The nuts are enclosed in husks that are light green and covered with prickly hairs that project into a beak (hence the name), and grow in pairs of clusters of three at the ends of the branches. Hazelnuts grow in open forests and clearings. Their distribution is widespread throughout southern British Columbia and Canada (with some more northerly disjuncts such as near Hazelton), but they are not so abundant that they weren't traditionally worth traveling or trading for, and burning was sometimes used as a management technique to enhance productivity. Competition between squirrels and human harvesters can be fierce; rodents often cache them away for the winter as soon as they start ripening, though sometimes this benefits only the sneaky humans who pilfer them away.

Not simply a wonderful snack, a multitude of medicinal uses have also been developed for hazelnuts. One example, considered inadvisable, is consuming the hulls so that their sharp hairs expel worms. This traditional practice was adopted by early physicians, who later deemed it an intestinal irritant. A bark infusion was used to treat hives, colds, and fevers; the raw nut would be eaten to strengthen women before giving birth (as well as for hay fever); the bark was applied as a poultice to close wounds; and an infusion of the branches and twigs was used to purify the blood and to treat heart and gastrointestinal complaints. The flexible branches were sometimes used for rope or for brooms, and roots were woven into coarse baskets.

Hazelnut cultivation, already considerable in many parts of the world (led by Turkey with about 75% of global production), is increasingly common in the Pacific Northwest. One Vancouver Island outfit is growing hazelnut trees to take advantage of their relationship with truffles, the unique-tasting and extremely valuable underground fungus. While there is no end to the mouthwatering recipe ideas to bring some hazelnut sweetness into your life (e.g. macaroons, sweet breads, butters, sauces, chocolate hazelnut tortes, and the list does go on), this week's focus promotes another non-timber forest product, plantains

Recipe: Hazelnut Plantain Casserole

¼ pound lean bacon, diced (or surely some wild venison will do to stick with the local theme!)
1½ cups stock
½ cup wild onion, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
12 cups plantain leaves cut in strips
2 tbs sugar
½ lb hazelnuts, finely chopped
1½ cups red wine
2 tbs wine vinegar

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a heavy skillet cook meat and save. Cook the onion in the fat until it is soft but not brown. Stir in the plantain leaves and toss until all the leaves are well covered with fat. Put the greens in a 5 quart flame-proof casserole and cover tightly, cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Add the wine, vinegar, stock, salt, pepper, sugar and meat. Cover and bake in oven for 1 hour. Add the chopped hazelnuts, cover and put back in the oven for another hour, making sure the liquid does not cook away too fast. The greens are cooked when they are tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Season more to taste if so desired. Serve with pride.

Fascinating facts most people will never know about clubmoss

2009-11-20T13:42:00.001-08:00

In an attempt to move away from mushrooms (perhaps only briefly), and from edibles (though there is such a bounty out there), this week's focus is on clubmoss!

Not quite true mosses, because they have well-developed vascular systems . . . (i.e. "veins" to transport water and nutrients), clubmosses are low, evergreen herbs that often trail along the ground.

This group of species is a relict of the earliest plants that came onto land some 400 million years ago. Some of their ancestors were tall trees, and they now constitute much of the coal and fossil fuels that we currently extract from the Earth. Some common species include ground cedar (Lycopodium complanatum) which grows in dry, open woods, and bears a resemble to a miniature, scaly cedar bough; stiff clubmoss (L. annotium) which appears somewhat like a bunch of little dark green bottlebrushes growing straight up from horizontal runners; and running clubmoss (L. clavatum), similar to its stiff cousin but with a soft slender bristle at the tips of its stems. Clubmosses reproduce asexually (cloning) and sexually (by spores, which are like tiny, simple seeds that the plants produce and disperse in massive amounts).

Some Druid considered clubmosses to be sacred and collected them according to elaborate rituals, displaying them on alters for good luck. Some Ditidaht however believed that anyone who handled running clubmoss would become lost in the woods. This has not discouraged some of them (as well as people from many other cultures) from using clubmosses for Christmas wreathes and other decorations.

While humans have eaten clubmoss, they are generally described as unappetizing at best, and poisonous at worst (though they are occasionally browsed by moose). Medicinally they have quite a bit to offer. Studies show that clubmosses contain alkaloids that can increase urine flow, relieve spasms, stimulate bowel movements, reduce fever and inflammation, and even combat bacteria and fungi! Fir clubmoss (L. selago) contains 'huperzine', which has been shown to improve learning and memory by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, an essential neurotransmitter, and it is being studied for use in Alzheimer's disease.

The spores of clubmoss are particularly exciting. They are high in oil, which makes them soothing to the skin, resistant to wetting, and flammable. People have of course put these properties to good use, and clubmoss spores have found their way into powder for flash photography, stage lighting, and fireworks. Spores were used traditionally by some Aboriginal groups to dry wounds and treat nose bleeds or diaper rash. More recently they have been used as body powder, as an absorbent in dry shampoos, as a "dry parting compound" in foundry work to prevent metal from sticking to wooden molds, and as a dusting powder for pills, suppositories, latex gloves, and condoms. Some people are allergic to these spores, and there has been concern about "granulomatous masses" (or bumps) on the skin of people using condoms or gloves resulting from this allergy. Not to worry excessively however, these masses are not lethal or carcinogenic, and are easily remedied. Be aware of the cautions included below, but it is of interest to note that the spores themselves have been used as a remedy: for diarrhea, dysentery, rheumatism, indigestion, uterine problems, swollen thighs and water retenion.

Cautions: Some clubmosses contain toxic alkaloids that can cause pain, vomiting, or diarrhea when consumed. Clubmoss spores can irritate mucous membranes and damaged skin. Exposure to spores can cause allergic reactions from dermatitis to asthma.

Though mushroom season....

2009-11-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Though mushroom season appears to be winding down, it is hard to let go, and there are still many around to appreciate- none more so than boletes! The bolete family, which comprises hundreds of species . . . is easily recognizable because the underside has a spongy pore layer rather than gills. And there are many boletes out there worth getting to know.

The estimable 'Mushroom Jim', who graces Royal Roads with the inspired Can I Eat that Mushroom course every fall, distills his considerable bolete wisdom thus: "Timing is everything. It may well be that there is only a part of one day that any bolete or bolete patch is truly at its peak". Indeed. Though it varies by region and by species, wiley harvesters have come up with a variety of climatic cues to tip them off to this peak- three weeks after the first rain; or two weeks after an inch of rain has accumulated. Many boletes are prone to parasites and may quickly rot once they are past their prime, prompting some harvesters to collect early in the morning ("before the insects wake up").

It is certainly not too late to find young fat jacks (Suillus caerulescens / ponderosus, not to be confused with matte jacks, slim jacks, or tamarack jacks), which are still popping up amongst the fir trees on Royal Roads grounds. If the slippery (when wet) top doesn't deter you, they can make fine eating, though they don't quite attract the rave reviews of some of their relatives. Fat jacks have golden-tan caps and a yellow sponge layer. Some boletes will stain a blue or green colour when you scratch their spongy surface; this species does not, though if you cut the base of the stalk it may gradually develop a green hue.

The king bolete (Boletus edulis) is one of the most sought after mushrooms worldwide- "delectable... no mushroom is more substantial or satisfying!" states David Arora, fungal authority extraordinaire. The king has a yellow-to red-to brown cap atop a thick white or brown stalk, and grows individually or in small clumps on the ground in coniferous forests. This species is also known as porcini, because it is 'plump as a little pig'. As one of the official weighers at the Bamfield Mushroom Festival's biggest-bolete competition, I got to admire and handle many of these (all-too-often rotting) kings, and the prize-winner was just shy of three pounds! Not just a hearty meal, king boletes are immuno-stimulating and contain lots of vitamin B, and thereby help to maintain a balanced nervous system. There is also, by the way, a Queen bolete (B. aereus) which has a darker cap when young and grows more commonly among hardwoods in states to the south. Its flavour is preferred over the king by some, but dismissed as bland by others.

Admirable boletes (B. mirabilis) are another gem- they are a respectably sized maroon mushroom with a yellow pore layer, an affinity for hemlock trees, and a lemony flavour.Then there are the birch and aspen boletes, Leccinium scabrum & L. insigne, described as tasty and as excellent respectively. There are also the 'wonderfully dense' butter boletes (B.appendiculatus), and we're just gettign started.

It must be explicitly stated though, that not all boletes are edible. Satan's bolete (B. satanas) is a species best enjoyed from a distance; it has a red sponge layer that stains blue when scratched (if that's not the work of the devil...) and causes severe gastro-intestinal distress. It has never been recorded to cause death though, which cannot be said of the red-pored bolete (B. pulcherrimus), a reddish brown specimen which also grows amongst conifers in British Columbia.

Back to the ones we like to eat though- all of them have high moisture content, so dry-sauteeing them (cooking them without any grease at high heat until they give off water) is a good way to concentrate their flavour. The sponge layer is particularly damp, and some people do away with it altogether (leaving this part it in the forest can both increase the mushroom's reproductive potential and reduce the sliminess of your harvest). Some connoisseurs find this to be the most flavourful part though, and dry it for use in soup stocks.

This recipe is from "Wildman" Steve Brill, who claims that you'll find it difficult to conceive that food can taste so good:

Recipe: Broiled boletes (fit for a king!)

1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. chili paste or 3/4 tsp. cayenne hot pepper
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp. mellow miso
1 tsp. rosemary, ground
1/2 tsp. thyme, ground
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. juniper berries, ground (optional)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
10 cups king bolete, other choice bolete caps, or other mushrooms

Puree all ingredients except the mushroom caps in a blender and toss with the mushroom caps. Broil on a rack in a broiler 4-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Broilers differ greatly, so check often to make sure the boletes don’t begin to burn. Turn with a spatula, tongs, or fork and broil 4-8 minutes, or until you’ve lightly browned the other side.

Caution: Never, ever, harvest, serve, or eat any mushroom without being certain of the species and its edibility. King boletes can accumulate cadmium, copper, lead, and mercury, so make sure to choose clean harvesting sites.

Peace!

2009-11-05T05:25:00.001-08:00

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

To find peace one must be at peace with themselves
To find peace there should be no conflict that can involves violence
To find peace there should always be a solution to solve a problem
To find peace there should always be kindness
To find peace one must desire peace
To have peace in the world one must strive hard in order to achieve peace
With peace there should be no more violence, anger, hatred, war, families torn apart, and anguish
With peace there will be unity, families are together, love is in the air, happiness is all around the world, and in our hearts as well

~Jeffrey Liminsang

Stay Tuned

2009-11-04T10:22:00.001-08:00

Samhain

2009-10-31T11:34:00.001-07:00

The very soul of the Pacific Northwest...

2009-10-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

There is a special place in the hearts of west coast residents for the arbutus tree (Arbutus menziesii). Its crooked demeanor, peeling limbs, and manner of taking root in rocky bluffs while reaching twisted branches to the sea . . . seem to capture the spirit of this place and provoke the creative impulse. Countless paintings, poems, and photographs, as well as books, plays, and theses have been inspired by the arbutus. "It's not just a tree” says broadcaster Ketzel Levine, one of many who wax eloquent, “it's a sentient creature with curative powers that are drawn from the very soul of the Pacific Northwest".

Arbutus is the only broadleaf evergreen tree native to Canada, and its next of kin include other cherished locals salal and huckleberry. It is particular about where it grows- rarely more than 8 km away from, or 300 m above, the sea. In Canada the arbutus is limited to extreme southwestern British Columbia but its range stretches down the Pacific coast to California, where it is called the madrone. It is claimed that one of the biggest arbutus trees alive, boasting a spread of 23.8 m, grows close by on Esquimalt Lagoon.

While gardeners may bestow them with love and attention only to lament their vulnerability to various fungal ailments, in the wild these trees prefer harsh conditions- dry rocky sites with full exposure to sun and wind are characteristic. Unfortunately humans desire these same areas for homes and businesses, and many are concerned over the arbutus tree's fate in the face of habitat loss.

Bees and hummingbirds are attracted to the clusters of fragrant white flowers, and its orange-red berries are a favourite food of songbirds, mice and deer. Though astringent, they have been eaten by First Nations People after roasting or steaming, and have been made into jellies and sweet cider, which was said to create an appetite.

Medicinal uses of arbutus have included making an infusion of the bark and leaves to treat bladder infections, stomachaches, or cramps; this was also given to horses with sore backs. Traditionally, fresh leaves were chewed to treat colds and sore throats; these days, pharmaceutical companies are churning out studies on the antibacterial properties of these same leaves. An infusion of the bark has been used to soften skin and enhance its luster. Fresh leaves were applied to burns, while dried ones were smoked as tobacco. The berries continue to be used in jewelry and decorations, and beautiful artisan crafts are created out of the hard wood, which has an impressive range of colours and textures. Many comment on the wood's superior burning- hot and slow- but such a commonplace use of this iconic tree does not sit well with most.

Not surprisingly, the arbutus has a prominent place in Pacific Northwest myths and lore. A Straights Salish story recounts how an arbutus atop Mount Newton (near Sidney) was used by survivors of the Great Flood to anchor their canoe. Another traditional belief held that it was best for people to avoid touching the tree, otherwise their luck might "peel off" like the bark. Yet another Aboriginal account holds that should the arbutus ever disappear, the planet will fly apart and be utterly destroyed.

In lieu of a recipe for this week's non-timber species (though some do make jam from a European variety of the tree), an offering from local poet Richard Olafson, from the book In Arbutus Light (Ekstasis, 1989)

In Arbutus Light- An Arbutus Triptych

O ARBUTUS!

Arbutus in autumn,
Sacred boughs wet with rain
Whose webbed roots hold
The splintered earth together,
Stone cracks open
When wooded muscles
Stretch to the sea.

Arbutus by the shore
Rise and sing tonight,
In light shining
Off the sea
Rant in silence at the water
Of the world.

Harvest Moon

2009-10-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

What's it mean for you?

or

Salad from the Sea!

2009-10-02T12:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, the forests are still busy popping up mushrooms these days, making people such as ourselves driven and giddy, but let's pause for a moment and expand our horizons to consider the wonderful resources present in the sea. What better excuse to head out in a kayak (as if one is needed!) than to harvest some of the many local seaweeds that enhance our meals, medicines, body care and general joie-de-vivre?

I did just that recently, and came home with some sea lettuce (Ulva latuca), a beautiful emerald-green seaweed with thin translucent leaves that span 20-40 cm across and have ruffed edges. It can be free-floating or grow attached to substrates, but does not have a true rooting system. Sea lettuce is often found in shallow water, near exposed rocks and stagnant tide pools. It is quite tolerant of high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, so large volumes of it could be indicative of potentially polluted waters (thus making it incumbent on harvesters to only harvest in areas that known to be relatively clean and well away from contaminant outflows).

Sea lettuce has been enjoyed throughout the world for many centuries- raw, dried, or roasted; in salads, soups, or stews. It can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days, or frozen for up to 6 months without losing flavour. It is said to be high in protein, vitamins, minerals (notably iron), and fibre, and the term "super-food" has been associated with it more than once. After his first bite of sea lettuce-pesto, my harvesting companion, who had been yawning and ready for a post-kayak nap, declared rather uncharacteristically that his body felt abnormally full of energy and vitality.

Due perhaps to its antibacterial properties sea lettuce has been used to treat burns and as a base for body cleansers; it has been fed to livestock in many countries; has been gathered to use as packing material for "more precious" edible seaweeds and fish; and it makes a nice (and aromatic!) garden mulch.

Sea lettuce is not always associated with all-things-good however; in areas with wastewater or high nutrient loading there are instances where the algae has grown out of control, depleting oxygen and forming mats that choke out other aquatic organisms. If very large amounts wash up on the beach the rotting process can be not only smelly but dangerous- hydrogen sulphide gases build up under a crust of algae. There have been cases of people losing consciousness from these fumes, as happened this summer along a French beach plagued by high levels of agricultural run-off.

Such problems are not specific to this species of algae, and they are certainly a dire warning against over-taxing our aquatic and marine systems with pollutants. They are not, however, any reason to avoid digging into a lovely roasted sea lettuce salad (harvested from clean waters of-course):

Recipe: Roasted sea lettuce salad
6 tomatoes
1 avocado
10 gr dried sea lettuce
1 lemon
4 Tbsp olive oil
salt (to taste)

Roast the dried sea lettuce in a hot oven for 30 seconds or so, just until it becomes crispy (careful, it burns easily!). Chop the tomato and mix it with the avacado and sea lettuce, and stir in the lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Itadakimasu!

Caution: Sea lettuce is tolerant of high levels of nitrogen and phosphates, and can thus grow in areas that are polluted; make sure that your source is coming from water that is relatively clean. Luckily for sea vegetable harvesters, there are no poisonous look-alikes to popular edible species (though if you're in the tropics, avoid blue-green algae finer than a human hair).

2009-09-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

How exciting is one mushroom that's been parasitized by another mushroom, which makes it turn orange and lumpy and smell mildly of seafood?! Pretty special, I'd say. Welcome to the wonderful world of lobster mushrooms. (Hypomyces lactifluorum).

Lobster mushrooms grow by completely covering their host fungus, which include a variety of species, most commonly the short-stemmed Russula (a white, gilled mushroom that has little to offer in terms of flavour until the Hypomyces has its way with it). While some have wondered whether the lobster can be poisonous if it has a poisonous host (which it usually does not), they have been eaten for centuries and commercialized more recently, without known ill effects.

Lobster mushrooms grow on the ground in coniferous forests (and are particularly abundant at Royal Roads these days!); hemlock is a tree with which it is often associated. Even for a fungus this species is rather odd-looking. It is medium-sized, bright orange like a cooked lobster (making it nice and visible when you're wandering through the woods), and takes on a distorted version of the shape of its host. It tends to develop into an inverted pyramid with a concave cap and indistinct gills on the underside, though it can continue growing into a shape that is knobby, deformed, bizarre, yet quite unique. The lobster's texture has been described as "smoothly pimpled", and it has inner flesh which is white and firm until it starts to decay, which seems to happen relatively quickly with this species once water and dirt get trapped in the cracks of the flesh. Not to worry though, if it has lost its culinary appeal, it can always be used as a dye!

Lobsters will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. They should be washed (a toothbrush works well to get the dirt off), be trimmed of any brown bits, and are nice sauteed or cooked into a frittata:

Lobster Mushroom Frittata
1 oz. dried Lobster mushrooms or a handful of fresh ones
3 Tbs. butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
6 eggs
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

In bowl, pour heated milk over coarsely chopped Lobster mushrooms and let sit for one hour. In saucepan, lightly saute onion in 2 Tbs. butter. Beat eggs into milk and mushrooms. Add onions and the remaining ingredients. Heat the remaining butter in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium high heat. When quite hot add the egg mixture and cook until bottom is set. Place under preheated broiler to finish cooking and brown the top.

Caution: While lobster mushrooms have been enjoyed for hundreds of years, it is always best to try just a small amount of any new mushroom at first. This species it quite distinct-looking, making it a good one for people less familiar with edible mushrooms to try harvesting, never eat or serve a wild musrhoom if you aren't sure of it's edibility!

Oysters

2009-09-18T11:25:00.001-07:00

"If one mushroom can steer the world on the path to greater sustainability, fighting hunger, increasing nutrient return pathways in ecosystems, destroying toxic wastes, forestalling disease, and helping communities . . . rebalance waste streams that currently overload our ecosystems, oysters stand out" (Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running).

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are heralded for both their tastiness and for their ability to remediate degraded landscapes. They grow on dead hardwood trees (rarely on live trees or on conifers) such as poplars, alders, or willows; are white, grey, tan, or brown; and grow to 25 cm broad. There is often no stalk, but if present it will be short, thick, and off-centre. The gills are white (sometimes grayish with age), fairly deep, and run down the stalk, should one be present to run down. Their name relates to the shape of the cap, which has an oysterish resemblance to it, and some claim the flavour is reminiscent of this seafood as well.

Spore-colour is a characteristic feature of mushrooms which, unlike so many other characteristics, remains constant over time and space. Spores (which are like seeds) can be observed by laying the mushroom cap, gills-down, on a piece of paper (half dark-half white paper is good to ensure a contrasting spore colour), and leaving it covered for a few hours to allow the spores to fall out, leaving a lovely "spore print". Those of oyster mushrooms are white, a characteristic which recently saved me from feasting on a similar looking brown-spored mushroom growing nearby, likely a Crepidotus.

Oyster mushrooms are well known for their ability to break-down contaminants including petroleum, mill wastewater , PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), industrial dyes, and certain pesticides; they are used as "mycoremediators" to clean up areas polluted with these toxins. They also contain medicinal properties which show promise for reducing blood cholesterol, tumour inhibition, and improving liver function in AIDS patients.

While it's hard to beat the fun of wild-foraging, oysters are also one of the easiest mushrooms in the world to cultivate. Wood, straw, coffee grounds, moist cardboard and many other substrates can be inoculated with mushroom spores or mycelium, and sometimes harvested for years. They are said to be tastiest when young, and best picked before the caps flatten. Oysters are a good source of many nutrients, notably protein, B & C vitamins, and have a mild nutty flavour. Non-humans that enjoy oysters include gnats, beetles, deer, squirrels, and even some turtles; if you'd prefer avoiding some extra protein with your oysters though, soaking them in water briefly should get rid of the little critters.

To prepare oyster mushrooms for food, it is recommended not to wash them until you are ready to cook with them, to never peel them, and to always use lemon juice or another acid in their preparation (along with butter, salt, and perhaps a little white wine). As with all wild foods there is no limit to the creative recipe ideas out there; this week's offering is for Marinated, grilled oyster mushrooms, courtesy of 'Sustainable Table'.

1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 lb fresh oyster mushrooms
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp peanut oil
1 Tsp chopped garlic
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp Mongolian fire oil
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Mix all ingredients together and marinate mushrooms for a half-hour. Shake off excess marinade from the mushrooms and grill with coarse salt and fresh pepper for 4-5 minutes on each side on a medium-hot grill with the lid down. This technique should leave grill marks and lightly brown the mushrooms. These mushrooms may also be used as a topping for pizza, crostini, or chop up and mix with grilled onions and sour cream for a dip. Almost any marinade will be good with oyster mushrooms- you can also use beer, red wine and garlic in a pinch!

Caution: About 10% of people are allergic to oyster mushroom spores, and experience reactions such as fever, headache, congestion, coughing, or malaise. As with all mushrooms, *never** harvest, eat or serve any unless you are confident that about the species and its edibility.

Essential Oils

2009-09-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

You don’t have to be a patchouli-wearing hippy to gain the many benefits of essential oils.

Pure essential oils not only have a wide range of therapeutic and healths benefits, but are easier on the environment and save you money when it comes to household cleaning, laundry, and filtering your tap water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that 80% of chemical exposure occurs in your home. They also state that cleaning and personal care products are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution (www.epa.gov).

Since you only have to use a small amount, creating your own cleaning and personal care products is easy and relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the cost of the chemical based, store bought products.

Here are a variety of ways to use the benefits of pure essential oils in and around the house:

Water Filters
Essential oils can be added to the post-filter side of water purifiers to help purify the water. Use peppermint, lemon, clove, or cinnamon.

Cleaning
Essential oils can be used to create many effective non-toxic (and wonderfully fragrant) cleansers and disinfectants. The oils that are excellent for cleaning include:

Cinnamon
Clove
Eucalyptus
Thyme
Spruce
Lemon
Lemongrass
Grapefruit

Here's a recipe for a good, basic household disinfectant:

Fill a spray bottle with water and a squirt of dishwashing soap.
Add 3-5 drops each of lavender, lemon and pine essential oils.
Shake well.

Floor cleaner:

Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water.
Add 5-10 drops lemon, pine, spruce, melaleuca or Purification.

Hard Floor
To clean hard floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Then add 5-10 drops of lemon, pine, spruce, melaleuca, Purification, or any other suitable oil. If the floor is especially dirty, add several drops of dishwashing soap. This will clean even the dirtiest floor.
1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water
5-10 drops lemon, pine, spruce, melaleuca, Purification, or other oil
Dishwashing soap if needed

To freshen a vacuum cleaner:
Sprinkle several drops of lemon or Purification onto half a tissue. Let the vacuum cleaner suck it up or place it into the collecting bag. If your vacuum cleaner has a water reservoir, add a few drops of oil into it before cleaning.

Fighting dust mites
Recent research has shown that eucalyptus oil kills dust mites that live in bedding. 25 drops of eucalyptus essential oil added to each load of laundry or 1/2 ounce to a jug of laundry detergent is all you need.

Hot tubs and saunas:
Use 3 drops per person of lavender, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, thyme, lemon, or grapefruit to disinfect and fragrance the water.
For saunas, add several drops rosemary, thyme, pine, or lavender to a spray bottle with water and spray surfaces. This water can also be used to splash onto hot sauna stones.

Kitchens and bathrooms:
The kitchen and bathroom are often a source of odors and bacteria. Use the following mixtures to freshen, deodorize, and disinfect the air, work areas, cupboards, bathroom fixtures, sinks, tiles, woodwork, carpets, etc. These blends are safe for the family and for the environment.

Since the oils separate easily from water, always shake well and keep on shaking the bottle as you use these mixtures. They will deodorize and clean the air instead of covering the odors.

Single oils: Rosemary with lemon, Eucalyptus globulus, and lavender.
Blends: Lavender with Purification

2 drops rosemary
4 drops lemon
3 drops Eucalyptus globulus
4 drops lavender with 1 quart water
Shake well and put in a spray bottle.
3-4 drops lavender
5-6 drops Purification with 1 quart of water
Shake well and put in a spray bottle.
Pine with chamomile, melaleuca alternifolia, lemongrass, or clove

The following recipes are excellent cleansers for work areas, cupboards, bathroom fixtures, sinks, tiles, woodwork, carpets and more. They clean bacteria and odors; freshen, deodorize and disinfect the air.

Mix into 1 quart water:

2 drops rosemary
4 drops lemon
3 drops eucalyptus
4 drops lavender

Shake well and put into a spray bottle. Shake again before using.

Another recipe for cleaning:

Mix into 1 quart water:

3 - 4 drops lavender
5 - 6 drops Purification

Shake well and put into a spray bottle. Shake again before using.

Another all-purpose cleaner:

Water
2 Tablespoons Borax
1 Teaspoon Castile Soap
15-20 drops Essential Oils such as Pine, Lemon, Melaleuca, Citronella, or Lemongrass (or any combination of the above)

Add Borax to a 1 quart spray bottle.
Fill with warm water.
Add Castile soap and Essential Oils.
Shake and use.
Can also be made with Purification

Window cleaner

Mix in 1 quart spray bottle:

1 cup White Vinegar
10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
Water

Mix vinegar and water in spray bottle.
Add essential oil.
Shake and use.

Laundry

Stain Remover
Use a drop or two of Lemon oil on a stain. Let it sit a few minutes and rub off with a clean cloth or throw into laundry cycle.

In the Dryer
Instead of using toxic and irritating softening sheets in the dryer, toss in a dampened washcloth with 10 drops of lavender, lemon, melaleuca, bergamot, or other oils added. While the oils will not reduce static cling, they will impart a lovely fragrance to the clothes.

Painting
Adding essential oil to paint will counteract the unpleasant smell. And because essential oils are not fatty oils, they will leave no oil spots on the walls. Add a 5 ml. bottle of your favorite essential oil, such as White Angelica, Abundance, or Sacred Mountain, to 1 gallon of paint. Mix well.

Eternal Haunted Summer

2009-09-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

this may bear watching...

http://www.eternalhauntedsummer.com/

Chanterelles: Gold is growing in our forests once again!

2009-09-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

I know that I'm not the only one that's been foraging these prize 'shrooms from Royal Road's grounds lately- chanterelles are back, and are well-sought after! With a feature article in this month's Vogue magazine . . . the allure of this favoured edible mushroom has clearly gone beyond the typical wild forager cohort (whatever that may be) to the more glamorous mainstream. The most common species, the golden or yellow chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), is yellow-orange to bright orange, with a concave cap (some say 'trumpet shaped') when mature and with well-spaced, thick gills running down the stalk (which itself is solid rather than hollow). The flesh is white, the mushroom is medium-sized (up to about 15 cm tall and wide), and it does not have a veil, ring, or volva. If this all comes together with a nice apricot or pumpkin odour, then you've got the right mushroom! (But, of-course, *always* check with an expert and/or multiple field guides before eating or serving them if you're just learning!!).

Chanterelles grow on the ground, often under conifers and oak trees in young to mature (30-80 year old) coniferous forests (look for Douglas fir, spruce, or hemlock stands with mossy floors). A couple look-alikes that are probably best avoided include the western jack-o'-lantern (which have thinner and more crowded gills and do not have white flesh) and the false chanterelle (which have thinner, more orange gills, a less solid stalk, and often a browner cap).

To harvest chanterelles cut the base with a sharp knife rather than pulling it to avoid damaging the mycelium, and collect them in shallow baskets rather than buckets or plastic bags to avoid having them rot. It's best to harvest in dry weather for the same reason. They can be stored for a week or so in the refrigerator, or for longer periods by drying, freezing, or pickling. Most harvesters recommend not washing them (which causes them to absorb water) but rather brushing off dirt and plant material while still out in the woods.

Before freezing, pickling, or preparing chanterelles it is recommended to dry-sautee them. This involves slicing them and cooking at maximum heat in a skillet without butter (but a bit of salt is okay to draw out moisture). They will start to give off water in which they can be cooked for a few minutes, and save some liquid for later use as stock. After this feel free to add all the butter and garlic that you like, or use the chanterelles in soups, omelettes, dips, bread (really!), salads, meat dishes, or perhaps some golden chanterelle puffs.

It was hard to choose a recipe for this week's non-timber forest product, but the CNTR's Tim Brigham is awfully proud of his mom's recipe for "Delicious Chanterelles" that go well with pasta, meat, or on toast as an appetizer, so we thought that it deserved a wider audience:

1 onion or 2-3 shallots, finely chopped
1 lb fresh chanterelles, sliced
butter
½ cup (or more) of port or Madeira wine
1 cup (or more) whipping cream
salt and pepper to taste

(all amounts approximate)

Slice the Chanterelles. Sauté onions or shallots in butter until slightly brown; remove from pan. Dry sautee mushrooms in the pan until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Add onions and port. Turn temperature down, add the cream and heat gently (do not boil after adding the cream). Add salt and pepper to taste.

And, just in case you're not a regular Vogue reader but are interested in their scrumptious-sounding recipe for chanterelle salad with frisee, poached eggs, and black truffle vinaigrette, you can access it here: http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2009/07/the-mushroom-forager/

a pagan rant

2009-09-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

from Dark Lady Jade (I finds I likes it :)

"I get really aggravated too when people tell me I can't practice my religion the way I do.

"You can't be a pagan and support the war, or any kind of violence.

I don't support the war, but I could if I choose to. I support my troops, and refuse to demonize them. And they can take their pascifism and shove it up their asses. I wont' be a bully, but if I'm attacked, I will fight back."

"Paganism is all about the light."

Paganism is honoring both the dark and the light. There are those that lean towards light, and then there are those like me who leans towards dark. but we both recognize the other. Nature is light and dark, loving and cruel. Neither side should be denied.

"You can't blend Heathenry with Wicca."

Oh, hell yes I can. I've done it for years and the universe is still intact, lol.

"If you have Freya as your patron, you must honor her with animal sacrifice."

I was actually told this by someone on a Yahoo list. She said the Freya told her personally that she wants blood. Well, if that's the case, then she hasn't let me know this, so I assume she's not complaining with the wine, beer, wienies and cookies I've been offering. I cannot and will not kill an animal unless it's attacking me.

"You can't be Wiccan and eat meat."
Watch me.

"you can't call yourself Wiccan unless you have several degrees and belong to a coven that can trace it's origins back to Gardner's original Black Forest Coven."

Good luck on the origins hunt. If you practice Wicca, you're Wiccan, it's as simple as that."

'ware the retrograde....

2009-09-09T12:52:00.001-07:00

Mercury retrograde in Libra & Virgo [Sep. 7 – Sep. 29, 2009]

From Astrology on the Web www.astologycom.com

At 04:46 UT (Universal Time), on Monday, September 7th, 2009, Mercury the cosmic trickster turns retrograde at 6°13' Libra, in the sign of the Scales, sending communications

, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until Sep. 29, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.

Everything finally straightens out on October 18, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde. Mercury normally turns retrograde three times a year, but this year he turns tail four times, which is unusual. The effects of each period differ, according to the sign in which it happens (see box for Retrograde Periods in 2009).

2009-09-09T10:53:00.001-07:00

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is one of the most abundant shrubs that we're blessed with in coastal B.C., and you may have noticed that they're becoming chock-full of tasty purple berries these days. It grows from low to medium elevations in wet or dry forests, rocky bluffs, or near wetlands or other openings; but seems to do best in moist, well-drained areas. The branches are recognizable by their interesting pattern of angling slightly between successive leaves, which are themselves thick, evergreen, and 5-10 cm long. Flowers are white (sometimes pinkish) little urns, and fruits are bluish-purple and, while tasty, feel hairy or sticky to the touch. Both grow in a line of 5-15 along the branch tips.

Historically and currently the berries have been eaten fresh, dried, or in preserves. In most parts of the Pacific Northwest coast salal was the most plentiful and important fruit. The Kwakwaka'wakw ate them dipped in eulechon grease, the Haida used them to thicken salmon eggs, and the Ditidaht chewed young leaves to suppress hunger. Branches have been used in pit-cooking and added as flavouring in fish soup.

Traditionally the leaves were used as a stomach tonic for diarrhea and to treat coughs and tuberculosis; modern medicine points to their antioxidant properties; and a poultice made from the leaves can be used to ease insect stings, cuts or burns.

Salal is a now a major commercial species: it comprises about 90% of the province's floral green exports and brings in millions of dollars annually, making it the second most important non-timber forest product (after mushrooms) in B.C. Salal harvested for floral arrangements is most highly prized when it consists of dark green leaves free of blemishes, usually from plants growing deeper in the forest.

This article only scratches the surface of this phenomenal plant; if you're interested in delving deeper, first make up a batch of wild salal-cranberry relish (recipe below), and then pick up a copy of the book "Salal- Listening for the Northwest Understory" by Laurie Ricou (NeWest Press).

Recipe: wild salal-cranberry relish (courtesy Seattle Times)

Rind of 1 orange (coarsely grated)
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups salal berries (tiny berry stems are okay)
3 cups cranberries (raw, whole)

Cook all ingredients on low heat until the berries are tender, and feel free to add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger. Tastes great served with salmon!

Heart Cards

2009-08-27T09:03:00.001-07:00

I had 2 pull up twice today - apparently I'm meant to have both....

Believe in yourself - you're are a good person...

Reclaim your power and regain your freedom...

2009-08-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata), found in moist forest, clearings, and river banks (and in abundance along the Juan de Fuca trail), is not the choicest-tasting berry of the bunch. They have been named 'monster food', are purported by some to be posionous, and taboos have been developed against eating them. A Kwakwaka'wakw belief held that eating the berries would render a person unable to speak, and some Interior nations purported that it could drive a person crazy. The berries are eaten by other mammals and birds in large quantity though, and have also been named 'raven food' on the coast and 'grizzly berries' in the Interior.

The deciduous shrub, a few metres high, can be recognized by its paired flowers which look like little yellow bells growing in fused bracts. They produce shiny black berries that are about 1 cm across. While it may not make for a nice snack, the plant still offers an eclectic assortment of other values (beyond, of course, its immeasurable integral worth). People with hair have rubbed crushed berries on it to counter dandruff or greying, while people without hair have rubbed the same on their scalp to counter baldness. Some whalers drank a tea made with twinberry bark to ease the afflictions of enforced sexual abstinence, and new mothers have rubbed this same tea onto their breasts to stimulate milk flow.

Leaves and sticks can be boiled and applied to swellings, sores, scabs, and broken bones; chewed leaves were applied externally to itchy skin, boils, and gonorrheal scars; and a decoction of leaves or inner bark was used as an eyewash. A tea from the berries is said to cleanse the stomach and purify the body, and the crushed berries themselves produce a black dye. The stems have been used as building and crafting material (sometimes adorned with the aforementioned black dye) and the hollow stem makes for a nice drinking straw. Perhaps the most common human use associated with black twinberry is as an ornamental plant, due not only to its aesthetic appeal but to its resistance to air pollution.

Heart Card of the Day

2009-08-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Remember the Magic within You!"

Blackberries

2009-08-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Blackberries need no introduction to most of us, especially this time of year as they're ripening and making our strolls through the woods that much tastier. The tall shrub with big thorns and . . . tri- or 5-foliate leaves (i.e. with 3 or 5 leaflets) are Himalayan blackberries, Rubus discolor. They have a lot to offer- they're everywhere, the berries are big (1-1.5 cm thick) so it doesn't take long to fill up a bucket, and being an invasive species they spread quickly and there's less concern about over-harvesting. The native trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) are common as well, though not quite as abundant or evident. They crawl along the ground, and have smaller thorns, smaller (but just as delicious) berries, and smaller trifoliate leaves. Males and females are on separate plants, so if you find a nice patch of blackberries with a distinct lack of berries, it could be a male bush.

The berries are of course wonderful to munch on, toss in a smoothie, make a pie, preserves, syrup, wine (try it as a base for mulled wine in winter), and who doesn't love a nice blackberry buckle? But let's not stop there. The stems of blackberry are edible raw or steamed.... needless to say it's advisable to scrape off the thorny skin, then enjoy raw or as a potherb. Tea can be made from dried leaves; most recommend waiting until they are getting dry and red to harvest them. Leaves and roots have been used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, fevers, hemorrhoids, excessive menstruation, and mouth sores. Some Nations have used the berry juice to stain wood, hides, and other materials. People have made fibre and twine from the stems, some communities have reportedly used large piles of thorny stems as barricades for protection, and the Coast Salish Nation has used trailing blackberry stems as a scrubbing cleanse before spirit dancing.

Blackberry lime-ade
4 cups blackberries + some for garnish
1 cup sugar
1 kaffir lime leaf (crushed) or 1 tablespoon grated lime zest
1 green cardamom pod, lightly crushed
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 8 -12 limes)
Thin lime slices, for garnish
2 cups ginger ale or sparkling water
Ice cubes
Squeeze the juice out of the blackberries through cheesecloth and set aside. Combine sugar, 1 cup water, lime leaf and cardamom in a small saucepan and boil. Simmer for 10 minutes or so, until you get a thin syrup.Remove the lime leaf and cardamom, allow the mixture to cool, and then chill it. Combine the blackberry juice, syrup and lime juice and refrigerate. Stir in the ginger ale when serving it, and garnish with lime slices and blackberries. Kick back, soak in the sun, smile, and enjoy...

Caution: Avoid wilted leaves; make sure they're completely dry if you use them for tea, and even then don't drink too much of it as it can irritate the bowels and stomach.

Magic Happens

2009-08-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

this picture is a full moon over the Himalayas that a friend posted on her facebook

and it reminds me of this the first full moon of August...the Sturgeon Moon..

The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month.

A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze.

It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

Haws...

2009-07-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

According to Mother Goose (and who are we to argue?) "The fair maid who, the first of May, goes to the fields at break of day, and washes in dew from the hawthorn tree, will ever . . . after handsome be".

This may be a fine (if perhaps shallow) reason to celebrate hawthorn trees, but if you missed the 1st of May, or if everlasting handsomeness isn't what you're looking for from a non-timber forest product, not to worry, there's more.

The fruits (called haws) of hawthorn trees are edible and were eaten by regional First Nations, but not usually prized as they are fairly dry and mealy. Throughout the world, notably in Europe, China, and North America, people have come up with home and commercial products such as jellies (recipe below), drinks (hawthorn schnapps being one intriguing example that merited another recipe below), candy and vinegar. More well known is the use of hawthorn flowers and fruits for treating the heart; several species have been developed into pharmaceutical preparations for cardiac conditions. Traditionally hawthorn has been used not only for heart ailments but also kidney disease, blood purification, insomnia, weight loss, inflammation, diarrhea, menstrual discomfort, and dysentry. The very hard wood can make a nice walking stick, and thorns have been used by people as fish hooks and by predatory songbirds as stakes upon which to impale their prey.

Hawthorns grow around the world; the native black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) is a medium to large sized shrub with heavily armed branches bearing stout thorns. The bark of older wood is rough and scaly, somewhat like an apple tree. It has leaves that are more-or-less egg-shaped with teeth around the top part. The white flowers have 5 petals and grow in clusters. They develop into blackish-purple fruits (haws) that look like small apples and have many seeds. Many of the hawthorns that grow in this area are non-native species that have reddish haws. The native black hawthorn is found widely throughout the southern half of Vancouver Island, usually at low elevations in full to partial sunlight.

The haws are picked when dark and ripe; make sure to collect only a small amount from each tree to minimize the impact on haw-loving wildlife, and watch out for the thorns! They literally have been known to poke people's eyes out. Fruit can be frozen or dried for longer storage.

Recipe: Hawthorn schnapps
Fill a glass jar 2/3 full of clean haws and cover them with clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof). Close the lid tightly and let steep at room temperature for 5-6 weeks in the darkness. Shake it lightly and have a taste from time to time, then strain and filter into a clean glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Store it for a couple of months then serve at room temperature. Cheers!

Another recipe: hawthorn jelly
1.1 kg hawthorn berries (haws)
1.2 L water
sugar (quantity depends on berry juice produced)
juice of 1 lemon

Cover haws with water and cook them at a simmer for about an hour, until the berries are soft. Pour them and the cooking liquid through muslin cloth and allow to drain into a bowl overnight- if you'd like clear jelly then be sure not to squeeze the cloth in order to get as much as you can out of it. Discard the haws and add the liquid to a pan with 400 g sugar for every 500 ml of liquid. Heat this gently with the lemon juice until the sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil and cook until jelly begins to set. Pour the jelly into warm, sterilized jars to store, or, alternately, dig in right away as there's no need to let it sit!

Caution: Beware of eating too many haws, as nausea and diarrhea may follow, and due to its components which affect heart rate and blood pressure, people with any heart conditions should only consume under the guidance of a doctor. Children and women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid consuming them.

WyzWmn has left the building....

2009-07-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

should be back around the 22nd
all things being equal and the river don't rise....

Oregon grape for food, wellness, beauty...

2009-07-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

The forest edges are getting a little bluer these days as Oregon grape (Mahonia spp.) berries are starting to ripen. Oregon grape (both the tall and dull varieties) is . . . a classic example of a multi-purpose non-timber forest product (NTFP) and has been taken advantage of for food, medicine, dye, crafts, landscaping, and floral products (not to be too utilitarian about such matters- they certainly have integral value and ecological benefits as well!).

Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 2.5 m (tall variety) or 0.8 m (dull variety) high. The leaves contain 5-11 or 9-18 leaflets (for tall and dull respectively) and are thick, leathery, shiny, and have spiny teeth along the edges. The yellow flowers grow in clusters 3-8 cm long and develop into blue berries. Both species grow in dry forests of southern BC, with the dull grape concentrated closer to the coast, and growing in moist as well as dry forests.

Uses: This plant is often used in Christmas decorations as “mock holly”. The berries are not sweet but can make a fine jelly (see recipe below) or wine. The flowers and young leaves can be munched on as well (personal observation- flowers get sweeter as the season progresses). The roots and leaves are thought to be medicinal for various purposes including digestive complaints, blood purification, uterus conditions and skin problems. The plant has antioxidant, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties. And if all that were not enough, the bark can be used as a yellow dye.

Harvest: Foliage can be collected with pruning shears from spring onwards but are often harvested in late fall or early winter for Christmas decorations. Commercial harvesters tend to focus on leaves with dark green foliage; these tend to be found in shady locations. Flowers and berries are harvested when ripe, usually in early and mid-summer respectively. Watch out for the spines, you may want to pack some gloves along! For medicinal purposes the roots are considered most potent in the fall and are collected from then until early spring. No matter what the purpose be sure not to overharvest!! Collect from no more than 25 per cent of the plants in an area, and if harvesting roots then replant any rhizomes (underground stems) with buds on them, and don't harvest in the same area for a couple years to allow for regeneration. It is best to harvest the plant after the berries have fallen or been eaten by wildlife to maximize regeneration potential and minimize impact on wildlife food sources.

Preparation: To clean debris from the berries you can pour the hardy fruits into a shallow box and give them a gentle shake. Then transfer them to another container and repeat the process until they are free of debris, and rinse. If using the roots wash them carefully with potable water and avoid removing root bark; a brush should not be used. Chop the root to desired size before drying as dried roots are difficult to process. While flowers and leaves are not commonly consumed, some will eat them raw, or will simmer young leaves until tender.

Recipe: Oregon grape jelly (courtesy Oregon State University Extension Service)

Select firm ripe Oregon grapes. Wash, leaving on stems. Place in large preserving kettle, covering with water. Boil 10 minutes, then mash and boil 5 minutes longer. Drain through jelly bag. Measure juice into large preserving kettle and boil 10 minutes. Add ¾ as much sugar as juice. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil rapidly until it sheets from a spoon. Remove from heat, skim at once, and pour into hot, sterilized jars. Adjust lids and process 5 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Cautions: Pregnant women should avoid this plant as it may stimulate the uterus. Consumption of high amounts can cause nosebleeds, skin, and eye irritation. Adults should not consumer Oregon grape for more than 7 consecutive days and children for no more than 3 days. Also best to avoid if taking antibiotics for diarrhea

Finding Home

2009-06-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

courtesy of the Executive Pagan

Litha...midsummer solstice

2009-06-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place around the 24th of June and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between cultures.

Background

European midsummer-related holidays, traditions, and celebrations are pre-Christian in origin. They are particularly important in Northern Europe - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden - but are found also in Ireland, parts of Britain (Cornwall France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, the Ukraine, other parts of Europe, and elsewhere - such as Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, and also in the Southern Hemisphere (Brazil), where this imported European celebration would be more appropriately called Midwinter. especially),

Midsummer is also sometimes referred to by Neopagans and others as Litha, stemming from Bede's De temporum ratione in which he gave the Anglo-Saxon names for the months roughly corresponding to June and July as "se Ærra Liþa" and "se Æfterra Liþa" (the "early Litha month" and the "later Litha month") with an intercalary month of "Liþa" appearing after se Æfterra Liþa on leap years. The fire festival or Lith- Summer solstice is a tradition for many pagans

Solstice celebrations still center upon the first day of Summer according to the calendar. However, there are some who still choose to hold the rite on the 21st of June, although this is not always the longest day of the year.

As a Christian holiday, Midsummer day (June 24th) is the day of the nativity of John the Baptist. It is six months before Christmas because Luke 1:26 and Luke 1.36 imply that John the Baptist Jesus. It is observed by both the Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant churches. This even though it doesn't say in the bible that Jesus was born in December. ^[1]
was born six months earlier than

In Estonia and Latvia, the traditional Midsummer day, June 24th, is a public holiday. So it was formerly also in Sweden and Finland, but in these countries it was, in the 1950's, moved to the Saturday between June 20th and June 26th.

Canada (Quebec)

In Quebec, Canada, the celebration of June 24 was brought to New France by the first French colonists. Great fires were lit at night. According to the Jesuit Relations, the first celebrations of St John's day in New France took place around 1638. In 1834, Ludger Duvernay, printer and editor of La Minerve took the leadership of an effort to make June 24 the national holiday of the Canadiens (French Canadians). In 1908, Pope Pius X designated John the Baptist as the patron saint of the French-Canadians. In 1925, June 24 became a legal holiday in Quebec and in 1977, it became the secular National Holiday of Quebec. It still is the tradition to light great fires on the night of the 24th of June.

United Kingdom

USA

Solstice fire in Montana

Midsummer celebrations are held throughout the US. The NYC Swedish Midsummer Battery Park, New York City, attracts some 3,000-5,000 people annually, which makes it one of the largest celebrations after the ones held in Leksand and at the Skansen Park Stockholm. Sweden Day, a Midsummer celebration which also honors Swedish heritage and history which has been held annually on the sound in Throgs Neck, in New York City since 1941. Swedish Midsummer is also celebrated in other places with large Swedish and Scandinavian populations, such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and Lindsborg, Kansas. The Swedish "language village" (summer camp) Sjölunden, run by Concordia College in Minnesota, also celebrates Midsummer. celebrations in in

Geneva, Illinois, hosts a Swedish Day (Swedish:Svenskarnas Dag) festival on the third Sunday of June. The event, featuring maypole-raising, dancing, and presentation of an authentic Viking ship, dates back to 1911.

The Seattle, Washington neighborhood of Fremont puts on a large Summer Solstice Parade & Pageant, which for many years has controversially included painted naked cyclists. In St. Edwards Park in Kenmore, Washington, the Skandia Folkdance Society hosts Midsommarfest, which includes a Scandinavian solstice pole.

A solstitial celebration is held on Casper Mountain in Wyoming at Crimson Dawn park. Crimson Dawn is known in the area for the great stories of mythical creatures and people that live on Casper Mountain. The celebration is attended by many people from the community, and from around the country. A large bonfire is held and all are invited to throw a handful of red dirt into the fire in hopes that they get their wish granted.^[5]

Neo-Pagansim

As forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have very different origins, these representations can vary considerably, despite the shared name. Some celebrate in a manner as close as possible to how they believe the Ancient Germanic Pagans observed the tradition, while others observe the holiday with rituals culled from numerous other unrelated sources, Germanic culture being only one of the sources used. In Neo-druidism, the term Alban Hefin is used for the summer solstice. The name was invented by the late-18th century Welsh Romantic author and prolific literary forgerer Iolo Morganwg.^[6]

How To Annoy Wiccans

2009-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

from the Baron

How To Annoy Wiccans

1. Preach to them about the "True Religion".

2. Borrow their eyeliner and then don't give it back.

3. Snicker when the fat ones go skyclad.

4. Be considerate. Arrange their Altar so it looks neater.

5. Clean their "tools."

6. Untie the knots in their cords.

7. If they mention Magick, ask them to explain... you never understood that dumb card game...

8. Step into that drawn circle and ask them what their doing.

9. Sharpen that dull knife of theirs.

10. Claim to be a non-Wiccan witch.

11. Ask if they can wriggle their nose like in Bewitched.

12. Put on your best Judy Garland voice and ask "Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"

13. Throw water on them and expect them to melt.

14. Explain how adding "an it harm none" completely misses the point of Thelema. Then explain what Thelema is.

15. Lend them a copy of Liber OZ.

16. Take them to a Catholic mass or, better yet, a fundamentalist revival meeting.

17. Turn their pentagrams upside down.

18. Recite good poetry during ritual -- backwards.

19. Cast that circle counter-clockwise.

20. Tell the goddess to put up or shut up during the invocation.

21. Ask if they can do those things like in that movie...what was it?... oh yeah, "The Craft!"

22. When they start talking about "the Goddess" start chanting things in Ouranian barbaric or Enochian. Explain later that you have a subconsciously wired bullshit-cut-off switch.

23. See if they know any Hebrew attributions for, say, Tarot. Then ask them why they know.

24. Ask them who Gerald Gardner was. Ask them which degree rites they've been through. Ask them why they haven't, if it's part of the authentic Celtic tradition. Duck, and remind them about the "an' it harm none" bit.

25. Talk to their cat. Tell them the cat says it wants human sacrifices.

26. Scream "KALI YUGA!" when they invoke the Goddess.

27. Ask them who you have to sleep with in order to get initiated to the 3rd Degree.

28. Ask why so many Wiccan rituals bare a striking similarity to Golden Dawn rituals.

29. Half way through a ritual, ask the high priestess to wake you when the sex starts...

30. Edit their book of shadows, inserting material from one of the assorted Necronomicons or the Satanic Bible.

31. Ask them to recommend a good book on the subject of Wicca. When they respond, repeat that you wanted a good book on Wicca.

32. When one tells you that s/he is a Witch, tell them not to be so hard on themselves.

33. Explain the difference between 'skyclad' and 'houseclad';

34. Remind them the moon has four phases, not three;

35. Men - wear amber and jet.

36. Wear a white rob and hood to the summer solstice. Say your swastika is just a rune.

37. Worship the devil and call yourself a 'real witch'.

38. Tell them that the green ray only appeals to people that like having their brain shut down.

39. Tell them the story about how Gardner coined the phrase 'Blessed be' after he 'hired' a West Country priestess from a local brothel who gasped it during the five fold kiss.

40. Point out that you can't meaningfully be a Kabbalist unless you're Jewish. No, wait, that's for annoying Hermeticists...

41. Ask "You're not going to turn me into a frog are you?"

42. Put fire wood around the maypole.

43. When they tell you they're a Wiccan, nod and say, "Oh, ok, so you worship Satan, right?" When they get upset and try to explain that they're not Satanists, they're Wiccans, say, "Did Satan tell you to say that?" As they get more upset, ask them if they're going to sic their Satanist friends on you.

44. When they paint their nails, ask if them if they are tuning Goth. When they say no, ask them if their goddess likes them to be pretty.

45. Hide their Athame, and then when they ask you, tell them that "Santa, the Dyslexic Demon" told you to steal it. Later Explain that "Santa, the Dyslexic Demon" is really Satan.

46. During ritual stand up and scream, "The Devil, I see the devil! You brought him here!!" Then start laughing as they look around.

47. Ask if they fly on their brooms. If they say no, accuse them of not being "true" witchs.

48. Ask them to do anything you've seen on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

49. Tell them to "Be gone, before somebody drops a house on you."

50. When asked how you enter the circle answer "With perfect love and perfect lust."

51. Carry a copy of LaVey's book The Satanic Witch around with you and watch the fun happen!

52. Ask them to do a love spell for you.

53. Ask them if you can borrow their book of shadows for new material for your stand-up comedy act.

54. Ask if they could tell you what really happened to Elvis.

55. Ask them if Wicca will save their souls and go to heaven.

56. Ask them if they like it hot cause they are going to hell and it's HOT down there!

57. Ask a difficult-to-know question and, when they cannot answer, say "I thought you witches were psychic or something!"

58. Tell them that the Horned God is really Satan.

59. If they are wearing a pentagram, start asking about what it's like to be Jewish

I am a Pagan

2009-06-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

I am a Pagan.
I am a part of the whole of Nature.
The rocks, the animals, the plants, the elements are my relatives.
Other humans are my sisters and brothers, whatever their races, colors, ages, nationalities, creeds, or sexual preferences.
The earth is my Mother and the sky is my Father.
The sun and moon are my Grandparents, and the stars my ancestors.
I am part of this large family of Nature, not the master of it.
I have my own special part to play and I seek to play that part to the best of my ability.
I seek to live in harmony with others in the family of Nature, treating others with respect, not abuse...

I am a Pagan.
I pay attention to the seasons within myself - of beginnings, growth, fruition, harvest, endings, rest, and beginnings again.
Life is a Circle with many cycles...

I am a Pagan.
I acknowledge that the Divine is everywhere in the energy of life.
I am Animistic. I sense the life force in the oak tree on the hill, in the herbs in the garden, in the birds singing at my window, in the boulders on the hill, in myself, and yes, even in "things" such as my car and computer.
I understand that everything has its physical and non-physical aspects. The physical and spiritual are deeply intertwined, not separate, and one is not better than the other.

I am a Pagan.
My worship is one of communion, not groveling.
I share my views with others when I sense it is right, but I do not proselytize - there are many ways, not one way, of spiritual growth.
My holy places are under the open sky … in the ..Stone Circle in the oak grove on the top of the mound ... on the Vision Rock on the high cliff … in the Garden in the fields … in the Sweat lodge by the stream … by the clear pool of the Sacred Spring … in the Rainbow Cave in the valley.

Yet my worship can be anywhere … my magick circle is portable.
I can call to the four quarters, to the earth and sky, and to the central spirit point wherever I may be.

I am a Pagan.
I journey to the Otherworld in my dreams, my meditations... I fly with my consciousness through time and space.
I return with insights.
I go between the worlds for healing, growth, and transformation.
Psychic perception is a natural, not supernatural, part of my daily life.

I am a Pagan.
I attune myself to the four elements of Nature - Earth, Air, Fire, Water - and to the fifth element, Spirit, which is the force that connects all.
I see these elements as parts of my self - my physical body is my earth, my intellect my air, my will my fire, my emotions my water, and my inner self is my spirit.
I endeavor to keep myself healthy and in balance in all these parts of Self.

I am a Pagan.
I hear the cries of Mother Earth.
I see the pollution of the air, the soil, and the waters.
I see the games being played by nations with the fire of nuclear weapons.
I see spiritual pollution, too - selfishness, hatred, greed for money and power, despair.
I sense these things, but I sense, too, a cleansing, healing energy manifesting on the planet at this time.
I know that I can help bring the planet into greater balance by seeking balance in my own life.
I know that my attitudes and my way of living can make a difference.
I endeavor to be a channel for healing and balance.

Author Unknown (borrowed from Danae Dunning's FB page)

Full Strawberry Moon

2009-06-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!

Strawberry moon' which rises each year in the same location over the Remarkables Mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand

Why do people bless us

2009-06-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

when we sneeze?

from Wikipedia: Sneeze:

Onomatopoeia
Some common English onomatopoeias for the sneeze sound are achoo, atchoo, achew, and atishoo, with the first syllable corresponding to the sudden intake of air, and the second to the sound of the sneeze.

A similar linguistic approach has been taken with several other languages; in French, the sound "Atchoum!" is used; in Finnish "Atsiuh!"; in Icelandic "Atsjú!"; in Swedish "Atjo"; in Danish "Atju!"; in Dutch "Hatsjoe!" or "Hatsjie!"; in Hebrew and Lithuanian "Apchi!"; in German "Hatschie!"; in Estonian "Atsihh!" and "Aptsihh!"; in Hungarian "Hapci!"; in Polish, "Apsik!"; in Russian , "Apchkhi!"; in Turkish, "Hapşu!"; in Italian, "Etciù!"; in Spanish "¡Achís!"; in Portuguese, "Atchim!"; in Romanian "Hapciu!" ; in Malayalam "Thummal"; in Filipino "Hatsing!"; in Japanese, "Hakushon!"; in Tamil, "Thummal"; in Kannada, "Akshi"; in Korean, "Achee!" and in Vietnamese, "Hát-xì!!". In Cypriot Greek, the word is "Apshoo!", incidentally also the name of a village, which is the cause of much mirth locally.

In Howards End, by E.M. Forster, a sneeze in polite society is "A-tissue" - a literary allusion to its respective remedy.

Historic instances and practices
In the Hellenistic cultures of Classical Antiquity, sneezes were believed to be prophetic signs from the gods. In 410 BC, for instance, the Athenian general Xenophon gave a dramatic oration exhorting his fellow soldiers to follow him to liberty or to death against the Persians. He spoke for an hour motivating his army and assuring them of a safe return to Athens until a soldier underscored his conclusion with a sneeze. Thinking that this sneeze was a favorable sign from the gods, the soldiers bowed before Xenophon and followed his command. Another divine moment of sneezing for the Greeks occurs in the story of Odysseus. When Odysseus returns home disguised as a beggar and talks with his waiting wife Penelope, she says to Odysseus, not knowing to whom she speaks, that "[her husband] will return safely to challenge her suitors"". At that moment, their son sneezes loudly and Penelope laughs with joy, reassured that it is a sign from the gods (Od. 17: 539-551).

In Europe, principally around the early Middle Ages, it was believed that one's life was in fact tied to one's breath - a belief reflected in the word "expire" (originally meaning "to exhale") gaining the additional meaning of "to come to an end" or "to die". This connection, coupled with the significant amount of breath expelled from the body during a sneeze, had likely[citation needed] led people to believe that sneezing could easily be fatal. This theory, if proven conclusively, could in turn explain the reasoning behind the traditional "God bless you" response to a sneeze, the origins of which are currently unclear. (see "Traditional Responses To A Sneeze" below for alternative explanations). Sir Raymond Henry Payne Crawfurd, for instance, the late registrar of the Royal College of Physicians, in his 1909 book "The Last Days of Charles II", states that, when the controversial monarch was on his deathbed, his medical attendants administered a concoction of cowslips and extract of ammonia to promote sneezing.[4] However, it is not known if this promotion of sneezing was done to hasten his death (as coup de grace), or as an ultimate attempt at treatment.

In certain parts of Eastern Asia, particularly in Japanese culture and Vietnamese culture, a sneeze without an obvious cause was generally perceived as a sign that someone was talking about the sneezer at that very moment - a belief that is still depicted in present-day manga and anime. In China, Vietnam and Japan, for instance, there is a superstition that if talking behind someone's back causes the person being talked about to sneeze; as such, the sneezer can tell if something good is being said (one sneeze), something bad is being said (two sneezes in a row), or if this is a sign that they are about to catch a cold (multiple sneezes).

Parallel beliefs are known to exist around the world, particularly in contemporary Greek, Celtic, English, French, and Indian cultures. Similarly, in Nepal, sneezers are believed to be remembered by someone at that particular moment.

In Indian culture, especially in northern parts of India, it has been a common superstition that a sneeze taking place before the start of any work was a sign of impending bad interruption. It was thus customary to pause in order to drink water or break any work rhythm before resuming the job at hand in order to prevent any misfortune from occurring.

The practice among certain Islamic cultures, in turn, has largely been based on various Prophetic traditions and the teachings of Muhammad. An example of this is Al-Bukhaari's narrations from Abu Hurayrah that the Islamic prophet once said:
When one of you sneezes, let him say, "Al-hamdu-Lillah" (Praise be to Allah), and let his brother or companion say to him, "Yarhamuk Allah" (May Allah have mercy on you). If he says, "Yarhamuk-Allah", then let [the sneezer] say, "Yahdeekum Allah wa yuslihu baalakum" (May Allah guide you and rectify your condition).

Traditional responses to a sneeze
In English-speaking countries, the common verbal response to another person's sneeze is "(God) Bless You" or the lesser common "Gesundheit" (the German word for "healthiness"). There are several proposed origins for the use "Bless you" in the context of sneezing:
Various alleged but conflicting superstitions relating the sneeze to evil spirits. This includes beliefs that a sneeze could release one's soul, thus leading to its possible capture by lurking evil spirits (as explained in the "Historic instances and practices" section above), or that the evil spirits could enter the body though the open mouth of a sneezing individual, or that the individual is sneezing out sins or evil spirits which had taken residence within the body and is thus in need of the blessing to prevent the exorcised spirits from re-entering the body. Some proponents of this last theory have further suggested that it was bad luck to open the mouth again to thank the person who uttered "Bless you" for fear of circumventing the original purpose of the blessing.[citation needed]
Some say it came into use during the plague pandemics of the fourteenth century. Blessing the individual after showing such a symptom was thought to prevent possible impending death due to the lethal disease.
Attempting to bring the sneezing individual back from the brink of death in the brief moment during the sneeze when the heart skips a beat, which otherwise leaves the sneezer momentarily in limbo between states of life and death
A polite way of congratulating the sneezer for his or her impending good luck as signaled by the sneeze.
In various other cultures, words referencing good health or a long life are used instead of "Bless you":
In Albanian, one says Shëndet (shuhn-det), to which typical responses are Faleminderit, meaning "Thank you", or Shëndet paç, meaning literally "May you have health".
In American Sign Language, it would be appropriate to do the Excuse-Me sign.
In Arabic (Levantine Arabic), the response is صحة (Sahha), which likely evolved from the word صحة (Sihha), meaning "health", or نشوة (Nashweh) which means "ecstasy". The response is either thank you شكراً (Shukran) or تسلم (Tislam/Taslam) which means "may you be kept safe".
In Arabic, the typical response to a sneeze is يرحمكم الله (yarhamkom Allah) and the answer is يهديكم الله و يصلح بالكم (Yahdeekom Allah wa yousleh balakom) or شكراً (thank you). However, it is more common to say Alhamdo lel lah i.e "All praise is for Allah (God)", to which people will respond Yarhamokomo Allah, meaning "God Bless you".
In Armenian, one says առողջություն (aroghjootyoon).
In Azeri, sneezing is usually followed by the response Sağlam ol, which means "be healthy". Sometimes, Afiat is used, similar to the Persian response.
In Bosnian, one says Nazdravlje, meaning "To your good health". The person who sneezed usually responds with Hvala, meaning "Thank you".
In Bulgarian, one says Наздраве (Nazdrave), which means "[to your] health" or "cheers". The person who has sneezed can then say Благодаря (Blagodarya), which means "Thank you".
In Chinese, one says (bù hǎo yì si) (Standard Mandarin) or (Standard Cantonese), meaning "excuse me" or "sorry".
In Croatian, Na zdravlje (almost always pronounced nazdravlje) ([to your] "Health") is said after a sneeze. For sneezer it is polite to reply Hvala meaning "thank you."
In Czech, one says Pozdrav Pánbůh, meaning in colloquial Czech "Bless God" or "Greet God".
In Danish, one says Prosit, from the Latin meaning "to your benefit". Originally used when toasting, today it is used only when someone sneezes.
In Dutch, one usually says Gezondheid (literally translated as "health") or Proost (which means "cheers", see Latin below).
In Estonian, one says Terviseks, which means "[to your] health".
In Ethiopia, one says Yimarih/Yimarish, which means "[May God]have mercy on you".
In Finnish, one says Terveydeksi, which means "[to your] health".
In French polite speech, after the first sneeze, one says à vos souhaits which means "to your desires". If the same person sneezes again, the second response is à vos amours, which means "to your loves." Santé ("Health") is the informal response.
In German, Gesundheit ([to your] "Health") is often said after a sneeze. This is also common in parts of the United States.
In Greek, γίτσες (jitses) ([to your] "Health") is said after a sneeze.
In Hebrew, one says לבריאות (livri'ut), meaning "to health".
In Hindi, one says Satyam (sat'yam), meaning "truth".
In Hungarian, one says Egészségedre!, which means "[to your] health".
In Icelandic, one says Guð hjálpi þér! ("God help you!"). There is also an old custom to respond three times to three sneezes like so: Guð hjálpi þér ("God help you"), styrki þig ("strengthen you"), og styðji ("and support").[5]
In Irish, one says Dia linn!, which means "God [be] with us!"
In Italian, one says Salute, which means "[to your] health".
In Japanese, a sneezer might apologize for the outburst, by saying ｷﾝﾜｹ (Sumimasen) or ｸｵﾜｵｽ (Shitsurei shimashita), meaning "Excuse Me". In formal occasions and less often within the family, after one sneezes, someone else blesses them by saying ｨｾ｢ｶﾉ (O-daiji ni), meaning "Take Care" in informal contexts and something along the lines of "Get Well Soon" in a more formal situation.
In Korean, a sneezer might say ?(Nuga nae yaegi hatseo), meaning "Did someone talk about me?" after a sneeze.
In Kyrgyz, one says Акчуч! [aqˈʧuʧ] (which may be based on an onomatopœia of the sound of a sneeze, like English "atchoo" discussed above), to which one may respond Ракмат!, meaning "thank you", if the person who said "акчуч" is liked.
In Lithuanian, one says Į sveikatą, which means "to your health". And person which sneezes answer Ačiū that translates as "Thank you".
In Macedonian, one says На здравје(na zdravje), meaning "[To Your] Health". The person who sneezes usually says Здравје да имаш (zdravje da imash) which means "Have Health [yourself]", or just says Благодарам(blagodaram) "Thank You" or Фала(fala) "Thanks".
In Maltese, one says Evviva, which comes from the Latin for "[He/She Is] Alive!".
In Norway, Sweden and Denmark, one sometimes says Prosit - Latin for "[May It] Advantage [You]".[6]
In Persian, if the sneeze is especially dramatic, Afiat Bahsheh (عافیت باشه) is said, "[May] Cleanliness/Purity be bestowed [upon you]".
In Polish, Na zdrowie ([to your] "Health") is said after a sneeze as is Sto lat ([I wish you] a hundred years [of health]).
In European Portuguese one says Santinho, which means "Little Saint".
In Brazilian Portuguese, one says Saúde, which means "[to your] health".
In Romanian, one says Sănătate ("[To your] Health") or Noroc ("[To your] Luck").
In Russian, the appropriate response is будь здоров(а) (BООD' zdah-ROV - to a male sneezer, or BООD' zdah-RO-va - to a female sneezer), which means "be healthy". For the sneezer it is polite to reply спасибо (spah-SEE-bah) meaning "thank you".
In Serbian, Na zdravlje (almost always pronounced nazdravlje) ([to your] "Health") is said after a sneeze. For the sneezer, it is polite to reply Hvala meaning "Thank you."
In Slovak, Na zdravie ([to your] "Health") is said after a sneeze. For the sneezer, it is polite to reply Ďakujem meaning "Thank You."
In Somali, one says Jir, which means "Live Long".
In Spanish, one says Salud, which means "[to your] health" and Jesús (in Spain) referring to Christ (similarly to God bless you in English).
In Tamil, one says Nooru aayisu for the first time, which means "(Have a life of) 100 years", for the second time it would be Theerga-aayisu which means "(Have) a Long life" and for the third time it would be Poorna-aayisu which means "(Have) a healthy long life".
In Telugu, particularly around the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, the phrase is Chiranjeeva, which translates to "(May you be blessed with a) Life without death".
In Turkish, a sneezer is always told to Çok Yaşa, i.e. "Live Long", which in turn receives a response of either Sen De Gör ("[and I hope that] you see it") or Hep Beraber ("all together"). This is to indicate the sneezer's wish that the person wishing them a long life also has a long life so they can "live long" "all together". For more polite circles, one might say Güzel Yaşayın, i.e. "[May You] Live Beautifully", which may be countered with a Siz de Görün ("[And may You] witness it").
In Urdu, the response is traditionally Al-hum-do-lillah, i.e. "All praise is for Allah (God)".
In Vietnamese, the response is traditionally Sống lâu, i.e. "Live long" which, like "Bless You", is an abbreviation of "Wish you a long life" or "Lạy Mụ" /layh-moo/, from the culture of Middle Vietnam, meaning "Mother Nature blesses you."

The Wonders of Yarrow

2009-05-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

From ancient Chinese and European civilizations to Indigenous Nations of the Americas; from back in Neanderthal times (truly!) to modern day herbalists, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is celebrated throughout the world for its varied medicinal properties. The aromatic plant grows up to 1 m. tall and has fern-like divided leaves (up to 10 cm long) that grow up the hairy stems. The flowers are white (rarely pink) with yellow centres and grow in clusters at the top of the plant. Cultivated varieties sometimes have differently-coloured flowers. They grow commonly throughout British Columbia, particularly in open areas like clearings, meadows or along the edges of roads or woods.

Uses: To scratch the surface of the many uses of this wonder-plant, yarrow has sedative, pain-killing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-spasmodic constituents. For tea or medicinal purposes the flowers are preferred, but the whole herb (which is more bitter) can also be used. Internally the plant has been used to treat fevers, colds and diarrhea, cool burns, soothe earaches, and purify blood. The plant stimulates salivation and has been used to improve appetite and digestion.

Externally yarrow has been used to stop bleeding, treat sores, mosquito bites, sore eyes, pimples, and as a hair rinse. Smoking it is said to relieve headaches and mashed leaves or roots have been used topically to soothe sore teeth. Some people smear the leaves on their skin to keep mosquitoes at bay. Its insecticidal properties have been taken advantage of by starlings, who sometimes line their nests with the plants thereby reducing insect parasites; and studies have shown yarrow oil effectively killing mosquito larvae. While sometimes planted in gardens yarrow does have a tendency to spread; the dried herb has been used in powders, perfumes, and floral arrangements. Though not often used for food, yarrow has been parboiled as a vegetable, and in Sweden has been used in place of hops to make beer.

Harvest: Flowers can be harvested as they start to bloom in the summer, but before they open completely. Snap the flowers off by hand before they open, or use pruners if you get to them a bit later in the season. Harvesting in cool weather is advisable to avoid heat damage.

Preparation: The plant can be used fresh or dried for teas and tinctures. For drying, leaves or stems can be tied into bundles and hung to dry at 21- 32^oC,or spread out on drying racks which may take from a couple days to up to 2 weeks. Wood heat provides a nice even heat for drying if available. The leaves, flowers and roots dry at different speeds and so should be dried separately. They can then be stored in opaque, air tight containers. The shelf life is about 1 year; after this the herb may be suitable for tinctures.

Caution: Yarrow contains thujone which can be toxic if consumed in large quantities; some people may be sensitive to yarrow applied on the skin and develop dermatitis

Bright Blessings

2009-05-25T21:57:00.001-07:00

this past 5 days
has been a reminder
to me
of what is truly important

Ancient Riders

2009-05-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

From the website: www.ancientriders.org

'The Ancient Riders is a group for motorcycle enthusiasts who are pagan. All bikes are welcome. All people who ride are welcome, we are however a Pagan organization. By Pagan we mean that our religious and philosophical beliefs are Pagan. As Pagan people our spiritual paths are earth based. Our group is open to Wiccans, Druids, Celts, Asatru, and any other Pagan paths.

As free people we are not bound to conventional mores. We are responsible people who encourage safe responsible riding. We are also free thinkers who live life to the fullest and experience all we can. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, or brand of bike. All are welcome. We don't care what your spiritual path, or motorcycle make, let's live life in peace as brothers and sisters."

Full Flower Moon....

2009-05-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

May

In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time.

Thus, the name of this Moon.

Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.

Merc in Retro!

2009-05-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

I hate to be the bearer of bad news....but...
(isn't but the liar's word?)

Mercury in Retrograde is BACK ...
from yesterday (May 7th) until June 14th.
gak!

Get out your red candles all ye
witches and warlocks
all fae and sprite
all wee folk
good folk, elementals alike
all nymphs, and pixies
and centaurs too

remember your blessings
people of peace and fair folk

keep red fire burning
to ward off the blight!

Blessed Beltane

2009-05-01T07:18:00.001-07:00

It is a fact that May Day, which the children do enjoy with all vibes, is not an overly prominent holiday in America. Yet, it does have a long and notable history as one of the world's principal festivals. The origin of the May Day as a day for celebration dates back to the days, even before the birth of Christ. And like many ancient festivals it too has a Pagan connection.

For the Druids of the British Isles, May 1 was the second most important holiday of the year. Because, it was when the festival of Beltane held. It was thought that the day divides the year into half. The other half was to be ended with the Samhain on November 1. Those days the May Day custom was the setting of new fire. It was one of those ancient New Year rites performed throughout the world. And the fire itself was thought to lend life to the burgeoning springtime sun. Cattle were driven through the fire to purify them. Men, with their sweethearts, passed through the smoke for seeing good luck.

Then the Romans came to occupy the British Isles. The beginning of May was a very popular feast time for the Romans. It was devoted primarily to the worship of Flora, the goddess of flowers. It was in her honor a five day celebration, called the Floralia, was held. The five day festival would start from April 28 and end on May 2. The Romans brought in the rituals of the Floralia festival in the British Isles. And gradually the rituals of the Floralia were added to those of the Beltane. And many of today's customs on the May Day bear a stark similarity with those combined traditions.

May day observance was discouraged during the Puritans. Though, it was relived when the Puritans lost power in England, it didn't have the same robust force. Gradually, it came to be regarded more as a day of joy and merriment for the kids, rather than a day of observing the ancient fertility rights.

The tradition of Maypole and greeneries:
By the Middle Ages every English village had its Maypole. The bringing in of the Maypole from the woods was a great occasion and was accompanied by much rejoicing and merrymaking. The Maypoles were of all sizes. And one village would vie with another to show who could produce the tallest Maypole. Maypoles were usually set up for the day in small towns, but in London and the larger towns they were erected permanently.

The Maypole tradition suffered a setback for about a couple of decades since the Puritan Long Parliament stopped it in 1644. However, with the return of the Stuarts, the Maypole reappeared and the festivities of May Day were again enjoyed. One of the great Maypoles, was
The changes brought about by the Reformation included attempts to do away with practices that were obviously of pagan origin. But the Maypole, or, May tree, was not issued in practice at the behest of the second Stuart.

Although they succeeded in doing this, Maypole with most of the other traditions, many still survived. And Maypole is one of them. In France it merely changed its name. In Perigord and elsewhere, the May Tree became the "Tree of Liberty" and was the symbol of the French Revolution. Despite the new nomenclature, the peasants treated the tree in the same traditional spirit. And they would dance around it the same way as their forefathers had always done.

Maypoles and trees:
Trees have been linked to a part of celebration, perhaps, to the days ancient New Year rites. The association of trees to this celebration has come riding on the back of the spring festival in ancient Europe. Trees have always been the symbol of the great vitality and fertility of nature and were often used at the spring festivals of antiquity. The anthropologist E. O. James finds a strong relationship between the ancient tree related traditions of the British and the Romans. According to James' description, as a part of the May Day celebration, the youths in old Europe cut down a tree, lopped off the branches leaving a few at the top. They then wrapped it round with violets like the figure of the Attis, the ancient Roman god. At sunrise, they used to take it back to their villages by blowing horns and flutes. In a similar manner, the sacred pine tree representing the god Attis was carried in procession to the temple of Cybele on Rome's Palatine Hill during the Spring Festival of March 22.

Roots of May Day celebration in America:
The Puritans frowned on May Day, so the day has never been celebrated with as much enthusiasm in the United States as in Great Britain. But the tradition of celebrating May Day by dancing and singing around a maypole, tied with colorful streamers or ribbons, survived as a part of the English tradition. The kids celebrating the day by moving back and forth around the pole with the the streamers, choosing of May queen, and hanging of May baskets on the doorknobs of folks -- are all the leftovers of the old European traditions.

Beltane

2009-04-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

found this courtesy of English, Pagan in Canada's FB page

Cleanse negativity

2009-04-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

From time to time we all need a little help in this area!
I know I sure do....
There's lots of different suggestions"

from Free Candle Spells:

"The first signs of the appearance of negativity is an uneasy feeling that something is “wrong” or just “not right”. If you are an intuitive person or a sensitive, you can almost “feel” negativity like fog, enveloping and bearing down on you. Whether this is emanating from a person or is in a room or house, it is the feeling that makes your hair on your arms or the back of your neck “crawl” or can even make you feel like just breaking down and having a good, long cry right there. The person “affected” by negativity, is depressed and wears a scowl or appears teary eyed. Their appearance might not be as tidy as it would be if they were in a positive mood and there would be barely a hint of energy or happiness in their demeanor.

There are various forms of “cleaning” or “cleansing” a home, building or apartment of negativity. Some are known by culture, some are Universal. I will list various tips to use to clean a place of negativity.

Discard all old newspapers, magazines and mail that you do not need. Donate all old clothes, shoes, appliances and things you no longer need or use. Give them to charities who sell them to others in need. If they are too worn, throw them out. If you are saving clothes that are smaller that you are now, consider keeping them for one year. If you have fashions over one year old, donate them to a women’s shelter, who can use them in their “dress for success” programs to help employ and empower abused women.

If it can’t be fixed, as in computers, electronics and televisions, take them to the nearest landfill that takes these materials. That includes old cell phones, too.

If you can’t bear to part with the things because of the cost of the item, then have a yard or garage sale. That way you reap a bit of the money spent, while helping out others.

Clean house top to bottom, from the back of the house to the front, with either pine or lemon fragrance cleaning products. Make sure that you get every corner, baseboard, windowsill and all crevasses you can. Make sure you do not dump the dirty wash water in the sinks. Dump it into the toilet, then flush. You are ritually “flushing away negativity” as you push the handle down. Move furniture and vacuum, then toss out the bag. Clean the windows with an ammonia-based product. Clean out under the sink, tossing half empty shampoo, conditioner and hand cream bottles. Reorganize everything.

Wash all bedding, pillows and blankets. Send the quilts to the dry cleaners. Use a cup of ammonia in your wash water. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT USE AMMONIA AND BLEACH TOGETHER IN THE SAME WASH WATER. It creates a toxic gas that can kill. For white clothing, wash in ammonia wash cycle first; then re-wash with bleach.

Buy some white sage in a bundle or frankincense, myrrh or copula incense and burn and smudge (some say “smoke”) each room, moving from the back of the house to the front.

Buy a bunch of white glass 7-day novena-type candles, one for each room of the house. Clean them inside the wax and outside the glass with lemon juice; let dry. Set one in the center or each of the rooms on a glass plate. Light ad say The Lord’s Prayer or Psalm 23 (”The Lord is my Shepherd”).

In Caribbean cultures, it is appropriate to swish a sip of white rum in their mouths, then spew it in a fine spray in the corners of the room to “seal” it while the white candle is burning.

In Asian cultures and belief systems, banging a loud gong, drum or ringing a bell vigorously will clear out any negative “spirits” as the loud cacophony is disturbing to them.

One you have effectively cleaned the house, light some incense pleasing to the senses like lotus, rose or any blessing or spiritual brand incense. then begin the cleansing of negativity on yourself.

Run a very warm bath with a couple of cups of Epsom salts in the water. Soak yourself, including your head, in the mixture. Epsom salts is not only great to soothe those tired, achy muscles, but to also chase away negativity. Most spiritual practitioners have them on hand when they work on a difficult client case.

Once done, stand up, shower off and soap up. Using Castillo soap is traditional in some cultures as it’s purity (coco butter and soap) gives the feeling of innocence.

If you are one who gets emotionally turned in twists and knots, pouring coconut juice from fresh coconuts over your head, then wrapping your head in white toweling, can “cool” your thoughts and emotions down. This is done in many Caribbean cultures.

After your shower, lay down for awhile and nap or just rest without distraction. You will feel weak after this bath.

If available, apply a few drops of Fiery Wall of Protection, Blessing or Healing Condition Oil to your body. Apply a few drops in your palms and spread lightly over the body will envelope you in protection.

Do not answer the phone if the person that gives you the “creeps” calls you. Use your answering machine or voicemail as it was intended. It is not a “given” that just because the phone rings or the doorbell rings, you absolutely must answer it. Let all calls go the voicemail, then call back the ones you care about.

Use these same techniques for the whole family. You may find that it will take more than one application, especially if you live with others."

from Sacred Sage:

"The following are suggestions for the use of sage for those of you not familiar with the custom. Some words of caution: sage burns very hot, and the embers stay hot for a long time. Always burn sage in a little metal container, an abalone shell, or some type of ceramic or ironstone dish. Put some clean sand in the bottom as an insulator, and NEVER use glass. When you're finished with the sage, cover it with sand and leave it in the container you were using. When you want to use the bundle again, just shake the sand off.

When you light the sage, let it flame and then blow the flame out at once. It's the smoke you want....not the fire.

FOR HEALTH: Science has discovered that the healing properties in sage come from antibiotic agents they have identified. Some people boil sage and drink the water as a tea. Many have found relief in the smoke for sinus congestion and pain, and even for migraine headaches. For this purpose, break off a single leaf, and breathe the smoke through your nose. Use common sense here. If this bothers you....Don't Do It.

FOR PERSONAL CLEANSING: If your energy is low, or you feel depressed and out of sorts, or if you have been around negative people in a negative situation, try cleansing your entire energy field. The most effective way to do this is with a broad, strong feather, or a group of feathers in a fan. Have someone sweep the smoke over the entire outline of your body, front and back, head to toe. Don't forget the top of your head and bottom of your feet. If you don't have someone to do this for you, pass the sage bundle around your own body covering as much area as you can. Breathe deeply and calmly while doing this, and you'll notice the difference at once.

Before going to bed, try using sage to clean away the physical and emotional grime and stress of the day. For a peaceful night's rest, break off a single leaf, and burn it carefully in your safe container. Be sure there's no paper around, or anything that can catch fire. Remember to blow the flame out at once. You don't want the fire......you want the smoke. :)

FOR GROUP CLEANSING: If you're in a group where this would be appreciated and welcomed, this is an excellent practice. First of all, use the entire bundle to cleanse the room, or the area where you will be. Be careful of dropping hot embers if you're inside as they will burn a carpet. Start at the back of the room, walk along each wall reaching as high as you can, and then criss-cross the center of the room letting the smoke rise at its own pace. As you walk, ask that only positive energy be present, and that the group be blessed with experiences for their highest and best good. Then cleanse each person as they enter the room as described above in Personal Cleansing. Ask that they be made peaceful, and blessed with positive awareness and learning.

FOR HOUSE CLEANSING: To cleanse and bless your house or apartment, again use the entire bundle to light. Open your front door. Go to the back of the house, and cover as much of the room as you can reach. Be sure to hold the bundle as high as you can. Don't forget the corners of the rooms. Work from the back toward the open door at the front. Go into every room, including bathrooms, closets, utility rooms, kitchen...everywhere. When you get to the front door, say "Anything not here for the highest and best good of those who live here, be gone. You are not wanted, and you are not welcome. This home has been cleansed and blessed." Then walk out the door, close it, and sage around the door and door frame. Leave the bundle outside to burn itself out. Make sure you put it on dirt, or on something that will not burn.

Sage is a wonderful gift from Mother Earth. Use it wisely, and it will serve you well. Aho."

Truth Spell

2009-04-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Truth spell
by Tigerlily

Materials:
Thyme
A red candle
An herb dish

Pour the Thyme into the herb dish and say:
"Purification I do conjure
So that thoughts be spoke,
No be pondered"

Light the candle and say:
"Passion so red,
Set to the fire,
Let the truth be said,
As is my desire"

Drop red wax onto the herbs and say:
"Mists of thyme,
Fire of red,
Send the truth to my head"

Now go to your front door and release the herbs to the wind.
You shall let thyme fly and receive the truth.

An Ostara story

2009-04-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

from Taliesin Soladraig:

The goddess Eostre created a race of humans and loved them as her children.

Eostre also possessed a beautiful bird that laid different colored eggs every time it laid.

The goddess loved her children and would do anything and give them anything they asked for.

One day her children asked her for the beautiful bird so they may love it as she does.

Loving her children as she did she gave them the bird to play with.

The bird, not liking this, would fly out of the children's reach eery time they came close.

This flustered the children and angered Eostre.

She transformed the bird into a land bound animal so that her children could catch the bird. She changed into a rabbit.

There was only one thing: the rabit continued to lay the multi-colored eggs.

Embarrassed by how she angered the goddess the rabbit hid the eggs out of shame.

The children found the beautiful eggs and it made them happy.

And thus was the punishment of the bird that she would lay her eggs and hide them for the goddess' children to find every year for ever.

Here is the story of the "Easter" bunny for your enjoyment. Now go out and find some eggs.

Happy Ostara everyone.

Heart Card of the Day

2009-03-19T09:10:00.001-07:00

You are Making a Difference in People's Lives

Tis a Day for Promises....

2009-03-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today I celebrate the green

most specifically the Green Man

there's a lot of history
around March 17th

truth be told
not much of it has to do with me
I'm not a "Kiss me I'm Irish"
kinda girl

I am a druidic witch with a lunar lein

I am the the result of hundreds of years
of persecution
by religious zealots
I am a "snake"

a snake of the sort
run out of Ireland
in days of old
by a certain saint....
celebrated on March 17

so I choose to celebrate
the green
and my Irish heritage...
no more
no less

ethics and morals

2009-03-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

every human being
grows up
with a set of ethics
and morals
that speak to the very fibre
of their being...

these would the be the
rules and regulations
by which one runs their life

most of us got the basics
from our families...
the parental units...
and their parents...
our spiritual leaders...
clergymen and women...
our educators...teachers...
counselors and peers

and then there's the laws of the land
that are loosely based on
the basic ethical and moral
tenets of mankind....

as we grow up
if we are feeling
and thinking human beings
our "rules and regulations"
get examined more and more closely
on a regular basis

and we make decisions
as to which one's will remain
important to us
and which ones will not

over the years
some will change the basics...

sometimes it's done to fill
a perceived void in one's life

and sometimes it's done to justify
things that that may be causing us
a crisis of conscience

sometimes we re-evaluate
what we've been taught
to tighten the concepts
over what we learned
at the knee
of those that have gone on
before us...

as adults
we make educated decisions
hopefully based on fulfilling
the needs of our morals and ethics

I say all this
so that I may also say.....

As an adult
I do not expect anyone
to follow my personal path
and by the same token
no one should think
that I will compromise
what I believe
for the good of the "all"
(I did that once upon a time...
and the outcome was abhorrent to me)

My basic belief patterns
have evolved out of all of the
above suggested processes
and out of years of research and experience
some of which taught me lessons
the hard way
harder than most have to experience

Out of all of this
has evolved
a steadfast belief
for me
in the tenets
of the Wiccan Rede

"Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, An it harm none do what ye will."

I strive to never
intentionally harm anyone
I am not always successful
but I strive

Should it come to pass
that I harm someone
I do my personal best
to set things right

I own up to what I did
and I apologize

and make whatever restitution
I can
wherever possible

and then
when I am alone
I agonize over
what went wrong
and what lesson I can learn
from this particular episode

recently
I have had occasion
to have 3 people in 2 days
tell me that I need to "lighten up"
to not hold so dear
the basic tenets of my beliefs
to allow for things to happen
without repercussion
or consternation
both to me
and about me

I can't see myself doing so

better yet
I don't want to

and if this means that
it's time for me to move on
then so be it

I chose to remain
true to what I believe
and those who are unable to understand
will probably not even realize
when I am gone.

I am but a work in progress
in my life
I have experienced
hunger
pain
loss
addiction
anger
violence
victimization
and sadness
and I may well again....

but I have also experienced
joy
bliss
pride
amusement
peace
enlightenment
fun
and love

and I will continue on this path
this path
that is right
for me

So Mote it Be

cross posted from WyzWmn's World

Numerology...

2009-03-08T13:02:00.001-07:00

Your Life Path Number is 1
Your Life Path Number represents the path you should take through life and the talents and skills you have to make your journey a rewarding one.

Having a 1 Life Path makes you a born leader. You are committed to your goals and strive achieve them. You enjoy living in the limelight and seek attention and praise. You must avoid becoming too aggressive and conceited when dealing with others.

Positive Traits
Individualism, Leadership, Boldness, Courage, Creativity, Determined, Ambitious, Pioneering.

Negative Traits
Egocentric, Overbearing, Repressive, Indolent, Weak.

Associations
Tarot: The Magician
Astrology: Sun, Aries, Mars, Mercury, Uranus
Rune: Ansuz
I Ching: #1 Ch'ien
Tree of Life: Kether, Crown
Hebrew Letter: Aleph, Yod
Shamanism: Monkey, Unicorn
Element: Fire/Sun
Alchemy: Gold
Aura: All colors
Colors: Red,
Gemstone: Ruby
Crystals: Garnet, Pyrite
Months: January, October
Week Day: Sunday
Numbers: 10, 19, 28, 37, 46, 55, 64, 73, 82, 91, 100
Flowers: Azalea, Iris, Lilac

sorry folks

2009-03-06T19:04:00.000-08:00

I've been busy and sick
which is hugely unfair
but true....

I'll be back...

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-18T07:47:00.001-08:00

Your Presence Creates Beautiful Harmony

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-17T07:16:00.000-08:00

Allow miracles to happen

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-13T07:35:00.001-08:00

Your Tolerance is Appreciated

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-11T07:37:00.001-08:00

Be Yourself and Enjoy Life!

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Your Presence Creates Beautiful Harmony

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

Access your inner Wisdom....

What Kind of Empath are you?

2009-02-08T12:38:00.001-08:00

You Scored as Precog

You are a Precog Empath. You are a visionary & a human thermostat. You can predict outcomes and see where paths may lead. You are a good scout and a guide to others. Be careful of your dreams. Your sight penetrates the veil that hides the truth from mankind. (from "The Book of Storms" by Jad Alexander at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Empaths/)

Precog

95%

Fallen Angel

90%

Shaman

85%

Traveler

80%

Universal

75%

Judge

75%

Artist

65%

Healer

45%

Book of Storm Empath Quizz

2009-02-08T12:30:00.001-08:00

You Scored as Potential Empath

You possess the traits of a potential Empath, which means you have not fully tapped in to your abiltiies. Something is holding you back. When you are ready, look out world. from the Book of Storms Series newsletter on Yahoo!Groups.

Potential Empath 94%
Certified Empath 88%
An Intuitive 56%
Unbonded Empath 44%
Not an Empath 31%

Quizzfarm

Ever Searching....Ever Finding...Ever Wondering....

2009-02-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

does it amaze you sometimes
to discover
how other people perceive you?

how other people see
your search for your path?
your search for your true self?

This past week my boss and I had a talk
about what kind of visuals we see
when we think of each other

I'm a pagan
and she's an ecopsychologist

so much the same
and so very different

The boss is a Gemini
and she is very definitely twins
and Air

what I see when I envision her....
is a meandering woodland path
as she flits back and forth from spot to spot
"oh...look at this...
oh look at that...
oh look at this"
enthusiastic and engaged
energetic
and not really paying attention to our responses

so much so that when she envisioned a picture
for the cover of our current calendar...
it looked like this...

on the other hand
I'm a Leo
a very strong Leo
I'm all about the fire and ruled by the sun
although I clearly identify with moon

The boss says that I'm also about heart
and being centered and steadfast
and portals...
and when she thinks of me
she also thinks of woodland paths
not so much in the line of duirwaghs
faery portals
but those that lead to something

me
I see myself and my path
as a different walk
than even many of my pagan brethren

for I am both, all and neither....

I identify with
both the goddess and the god
in everyone and everything...

I identify with all the
gods, goddess' and elements
earth, fire, water, air,
I identify very strongly with spirit
and
I identify with humanity as a whole

yet I neither do I identify with any one specific
deity, element, faith or path or person

I strive to be inclusive
and earthly
I am strongly moved by nature

I strive for kindness in my day to day
and globally

I do not ritualize
nor do I proselytize

I collect
and I share
and I love.

and if I am not successful
I do my best
to learn the lesson
this path has offered me
and then I do my best
to move on
placing one foot
in front of the other
on this path
that I can so clearly see

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

Be Yourself and you will warm people's hearts

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-03T09:13:00.001-08:00

Your sensitive heart is greatly appreciated

Heart Card of the Day

2009-02-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

It is safe to express your inner beauty

The Circle and the Flame

2009-02-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Circle and the Flame: in celebration of Imbolc

The Circle and the Flame for Imbolc
Wolf moon rises, broken promises
are healed and the feast begins:
as they say, “in the belly”,
the wintry light is pregnant
with Summer’s milk and flowers;
ewes’ udders waken light
and all the wights delight;
Tribe and Land, language and rocks,

meet in the circle of this flame:
the bones of earth, elemental nooks
of all the circle’s measure
hold the ancient tribes in bondage
to the laws of fealty;
knowledge of this old way
begins in words borne of valor:
deeds of ancient warriors dying
for the people of the Land;
remembrance of this light,
the women show their troth
sewing banners of the woolen cloth
with twisted threads of memory
to hold the thoughts of poets strong;
spider, asp, and wasp; thistle, gorse, and nettle:
all children of the goddess lands:
keepers of its mysteries;

Niall of the Nine Hostages knows this truth:
the Old Crone cast her eye upon him,
and he recognized the green spark of goddess tears;
the center holds, the Bilious, the World Tree:
golden leaves waving above
gathers the tribes into the inner circle;
so in the dead month, under the wolf moon
we celebrate in feasting,
when raven’s nest and lark’s sing,
and rain brings lambs to birth;
for then the Old Woman of the year,

Cailleach, rises with her white wand,
a bride of spring, breathing power
into the Winter King, releasing him
from his dour sleep of harsh snow,
while serpent lords scatter
to the four winds of time,
knowing their time is at an end;
then the “Exalted One”, Brigid,
golden haired, encircled by children
comes among her people
to celebrate the Feast of Imbolc!
poem by: Steven Craig Hickman

A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

2009-01-31T10:48:00.000-08:00

A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

I am a Pagan and I dedicate myself to channeling the Spiritual Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal myself and others.

I know that I am part of the Whole of Nature. May I grow in understanding of the Unity of all Nature. May I always walk in Balance.

May I always be mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its Unity and may I always be tolerant of those whose race, appearance, sex, sexual preference, culture, and other ways differ from my own.

May I use the Force (psychic power) wisely and never use it for aggression nor for malevolent purposes. May I never direct it to curtail the free will of another.

May I always be mindful that I create my own reality and that I have the power within me to create positivity in my life.

May I always act in honorable ways: being honest with myself and others, keeping my word whenever I have given it, fulfilling all responsibilities and commitments I have taken on to the best of my ability.

May I always remember that whatever is sent out always returns magnified to the sender. May the Forces of Karma move swiftly to remind me of my spiritual commitments when I have begun to falter from them, and may I use this Karmic feedback to help myself grow and be more attuned to my Inner Pagan Spirit.

May I always remain strong and commited to my Spiritual ideals in the face of adversity and negativity. May the Force of my Inner Spirit ground out all malevolence directed my way and transform it into positivity. May my Inner Light shine so strongly that malevolent forces cannot even approach my sphere of existence.

May I always grow in Inner Wisdom and Understanding. May I see every problem that I face as an opportunity to develop myself spiritually in solving it.

May I always act out of Love to all other beings on this Planet - to other humans, to plants, to animals, to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to other entities.

May I always be mindful that the Goddess and God in all their forms dwell within me and that this divinity is reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.

May I always channel Love and Light from my being. May my Inner Spirit, rather than my ego self, guide all my thoughts, feelings, and actions.

SO MOTE IT BE!

written by Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, Autumn 1980
© 1980, Selena Fox, Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 USA; (608) 924-2216; circle@mhtc.net; http://www.circlesanctuary.org/
Copies of the Pledge to Pagan Spirituality by Selena Fox may be downloaded, photocopied, and placed on websites for personal and group use as long as it includes the credit and copyright info noted above. Advance written permission must be obtained for reprinting in publications

Heart Card of the Day...

2009-01-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Give Yourself Permission to Succeed

Heart Card of the Day

2009-01-29T07:43:00.001-08:00

Focus on what brings you Joy!

Heart Card of the Day

2009-01-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

Open Your Mind to new Ideas

Heart Card of the Day

2009-01-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Forgive - Let the Past be the Past

Heart Card of the Day

2009-01-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

Relax...allow things to unfold

I AM A WITCH

2009-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a "Witch".
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a Witch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a Witch.
Being a witch entails raising my children to be strong people
Who have a solid sense of personal and social responsibility
Who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in
Who love and respect themselves for the beautiful beings they are.
Being a witch means that I am free to be the wonderful creature I am,
With all my own intricacies, contradictions, quirks and beauty.
Being a witch means I won't compromise what's in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak up against it, I am defined as a witch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone else's maid or when I act a little selfish.
I am proud to be a witch! It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
By Goddess, I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So, try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.
And if that makes me a witch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. I love this, I can call myself a witch now and not feel bad about it!
SO MOTE IT BE

"I Am A Witch" Poem by Sandi Thomas
"I Am A Witch" Ribbon is registered to the WOTC, Witches Of The Craft.
Assembled by "Laine " @ Unicorns Promotions