Before leaving on a trip, create a protective sachet for your car. Add the following to an orange pouch or cloth – one Tiger’s Eye, a pinch of Sage, a Silver Coin and three pieces of Galangal Root. Empower your pouch with protective energy, and tie it with a red ribbon. You can also anoint it with Protection Oil.
Place in your car for protection against thieves, accidents and danger.
An easy way to stop malicious gossip is as follows:
Write the name of the person who is gossiping on a piece of white paper. Now think positive thoughts and send loving energy to them (I know it sounds crazy, but…). Place the paper in a glass of water and put it in the freezer. This will freeze the problem.
If you also wish for people to not be so nosy or involved in your business, you can add black ink to the water. This will cloak you from their prying eyes.
Remember to add positive thought. You are not trying to control the person, you are protecting yourself from harmful thoughts, and sending positive energy to deflect negative intent. Harm none!
Take a fresh banana, red ribbon and a piece of parchment, and reflect upon that which you seek the truth about.
Light a white candle, and clear your mind. Then, on the parchment, write that which you want to know. Fold the paper towards you three times. Then, slice the banana open near the middle, and push the paper into it. Tie the ribbon around the banana to seal it up, and make sure to have a longer strand attached, so you can hang the banana. Say out loud:
“The truth will be shown to me, as I will – So mote it be!”
Hang the banana outside, on a tree – or on a nail outside your front door. When the banana has spoiled, you will know the truth in any matter.
To ward off evil spirits or energy:
In a small jar, place sage, sandalwood, galangal and brimstone herbs. Mix well and sprinkle sea salt on top. Cute a three inch piece of red string, and tie one knot into it, and place it in the jar. Next, place three pins or nails in the jar and close it shut. Light a black candle and say:
“Pins that price, herbs and string, to protect me now, my angels do sing!”
Hide the jar in a dark place to ward off evil.
Another easy, energy efficient way to make tea:
1 qt. Water
3 T. Herb tea
Fill a jar with water. Add herbal tea. Let it sit in a sunny spot outside for at least 4 hours. Strain into a clean pitcher.
For leaves, flowers, and crushed seeds:
1 cup water
2 tsp. Herb tea
Boil water in a glass, enamel coated or stainless steel pan and take off the burner. Add the herb tea to the water. Cover, and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a cup. Can be sweetened with honey..
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups sugar
1 cup Tang orange drink
1 cup instant tea
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp. ground cloves
Add all ingredients to a large bowl to mix. Stir until blended. Store in a tightly covered container. Add 2 ½ to 3 tsps., of tea mixture to hot water. This also makes a wonderful gift
Wiccan Tea Rite
The purpose of the rite is to thank the Gods, and for the Gods to bless the person for the following day.
For the Wicca tea ritual, practitioners would generally use an anointed red candle and pure spring water, as well as the herbs for the tea. Pure spring water is preferred because it is said to contain more energy than normal tap water. Spring water has been retrieved directly from its source and has not been treated with as many chemicals as tap water.
The initial preparation begins with cleansing the teapot and cup. If required, the herbs should also be blended. The spring water is then boiled.
When the water is boiled, the candle is lit while the following is intoned:
“Gracious Goddess, You are who the Queen of the Gods, The Lamp of Night, The Creator of all that is wild and free; Mother of woman and man; Lover of the Horned God, and Protectress of all the Craft; Descend, I Pray, With Your Lunar ray of power, Upon my rite here! Blazing God, You who are the King of the Gods, Lord of the Sun, Master of all that is wild and free; Father of woman and man; Lover of the Crescent Goddess, and protector of all the Craft; Descent, I pray, With Your Solar ray of power, Upon my rite here!The water is blessed with the following:
O Lady of the Mountain Streams, O Lord of The Green Glade Creek, I call on You to bless and purify this water With Solar rays and Lunar beams. So mote it be!The herbs are blessed with the following:
Thou has grown by favor of the Sun, the Moon, and of the dew. I make this intercession, ye herb: I beseech thee to be of benefit to me and my rite, For thy virtues are unfailing. Thou art the Dew of all the Gods. The Eye of the Sun, The Light of the Moon, The Beauty and Glory of the Sky, The Mystery of Terra. I purify thee so that whatever is wrought by me with thee may, In all its powers. Have a good and speedy effect with good success. Be purified by my prayer and be powerful! So mote it be!The herbs are then placed in the teapot, and water is added. As the tea is steeping, a prayer is said to the Gods, asking for their blessing. After the tea is finished, the following is intoned to finish the ritual.
O Mistress of the Holy Moon, O Master of the Sacred Sun, I give thy thanks for Your presence here, And blessings given. I now bid Thee farewell. Blessed Be! Hail fair Moon, Ruler of the Night; Guard me and mine Until the Light. Hail fair Sun, Ruler of the Day; Rise on the morn To Light my Way! So mote it be!How To Make Red Clover Tea
Red clover blossoms can easily be used fresh or dried to make herbal tea. Red clover tea has traditionally been drunk to treat the following ailments: breathing problems, problems of the female reproductive system such as menopause and heavy bleeding, cancer of the female reproductive organs, and to purify the blood. Red clover tea is also used externally to treat itchy skin conditions.
Things you will need:
Red clover blossoms
Water
First Recipe:
Fresh Red Clover Tea
To prepare herbal tea from fresh red clover blossoms, steep 3 fresh blossoms in 1 cup of hot water for 15 minutes.
Second Recipe:
Dried Red Clover Tea
To prepare herbal tea from dried red clover blossoms, steep 2-3 teaspoons of the dried herb in hot water for 15 minutes.
Third Recipe:
Red Clover Tea Without Heat
If you prefer to make red clover tea without heat, you can simply add a cup of red clover blossoms to a pitcher of water and allow it to stand in the refrigerator for 24 hours before drinking.
Fourth Recipe:
To Use Red Clover Tea Externally
Prepare the herbal tea as instructed above and allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Apply the red clover tea wherever needed to sooth itchy skin. Red clover tea can also be added to bath water to sooth itching skin.
Warning:
Peppermint leaves or honey can be added to red clover tea to enhance flavor.
By Lo Lankford
Memorial Day brings all kinds of relaxation and reflection, as many of us take the day off and sometimes even have a little BBQ fun. Get into the spirit with these five DIY tips that will have you decorating and dressing in style.
Planning a shindig? Want to make a little party picnic for the family? Look no further than this Memorial Day set of printables. On sale for $10 (for a limited time) from Anders Ruff, this pack includes 1 sheet of party logos, 1 sheet of drink wraps, 1 sheet of blank party labels and an 8″ circular banner. Party on!
Got a wee one joining in on the festivities? Why not dress her out in her USA best with this $20 Memorial Day elastic wrap skirt from Auroras Chic Boutique. This handmade “scrap skirt” (that you could easily make yourself) is “pinked” to prevent fraying and features both fabric and tulle.
Skirts not your thing but still want something cute for your little girl? Why not try your hand at making one of these DIY Memorial Day headbands from Connor KJ. For the craft lovers with less time on their hands, order this original design for only $5.
If it’s boy stuff you’re after, how about one of these DIY berry baskets for holding food, plants or anything your little imagination can think up! From the aptly named Cute Kids Food Box, the boxes come as a set of six for $12. Just like at the local farmers market, only upcycled to holiday perfection.
Into adorning your door? Try your hand at a DIY holiday wreath, like the Memorial Day one pictured here from Land G Designs. If you’d rather buy the real thing, 16″ wreath is $32 and was made from original vintage stock.
Brandi, selected from Diets in Review
What’s red and white and blue all over? We hope it’s your diet this weekend!
Let the patriotic theme of summer commence as we unofficially kick-off the season this weekend. Memorial Day means the kids are out of school, the pool is full, and the grills are firing up. And when the grills fire up, the mayonnaise-laden salads make their debut, too.
Stop.
You don’t have to overdo it to enjoy your holiday weekend. You don’t even have to under do it to avoid any post-weekend regret. Just enjoy a little bit of everything, serve healthier sides and dishes, and get up and move when the pool, volleyball or bocce starts.
If you’ll fill your table with red, white, and blue foods, you’ll be on the right track. Plus, it will match your T-shirt. Or your aunt’s flip flops.
Start with the red foods. These are one of the brightest colors in the food rainbow and provide a laundry list of vitamins, minerals and even fiber. Bell peppers roasted for sandwiches, juicy tomatoes sliced for sandwiches and watermelon diced for easy snacking are just a few of the red foods we insist you eat this weekend!
We also think strawberries and raspberries are pretty darn good for you (and tasty) and you’ll love them in our Red, White, and Blue Sangria. Berries, white wine, and a little fruit juice concentrate is all you need for this refreshing, healthier cocktail.
Next, focus on the white foods. These are not breads, crackers and pasta. Instead find the white foods that actually boast a lot of nutritional value. Like the other white meat, and the other, and the other. Grill white fish, lean cuts of pork, ground turkey or even chicken breasts for a high-protein, low-calorie cookout that can still include burgers and sandwiches.
As well, we’ll argue for the whiteness in a big portobello mushroom cap. Grill these and dress them like any other burger for a meatless cookout meal that’s a winner. Or, try this Raw Portobello Mushroom Stuffed with Basil Pesto.
Finally, fill up on the blue foods. These foods are a rich source of antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals.
The obvious choice is blueberries, one of the sweetest tastes of summer. We used them to a make a blueberry balsamic reduction and then topped our Red, White, and Blueberry Turkey Burger Sliders made with roasted , bell peppers and feta cheese.
Blue corn tortilla chips are slightly healthier than the regular varieties. They are usually baked and made with little-to-no added sodium, and even seem a little sturdier when scooping homemade guacamole.
by Judi Gerber
For many people, Memorial Day is just another day off, and is seen as little more than the unofficial start of summer and a great day to barbecue. But, the real purpose of the day is to remember those who have died in service to the United States.
If you are looking for a way to truly observe Memorial Day, you can visit a cemetery and place some of your homegrown flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Or, if you aren’t a gardener, but are equally concerned about the negative environmental impacts of conventional flowers, buy organic flowers.
A more lasting remembrance is to plant a tree, or even a garden, in memory of a lost loved one or other service members. As I have written about before, giving somebody the gift of a garden is one of the most memorable things that you can do. This is all the more true if you create a “memorial” garden either in remembrance or in honor of someone.
Aside from remembering those we have lost, there are some things we can do to help the thousands of men and women now serving. For example, are you a gardener? Do you want to make a difference? Then why not put your green thumb to use. For service members that are deployed, consider “adopting” their garden while they are gone. You can even involve his or her family in the care of the garden. Not only will they benefit from beautiful flowers and delicious food, but working in the garden is therapeutic and can help them deal with the stress that comes with the deployment of their loved one.
Not only can you take care of their garden for them, but, if you incorporate edibles, when it comes time to harvest, you can donate that produce to a local veteran’s agency or hospital, or to other military families whose loved one is also deployed.
You can also create a cut flower garden and give the flowers to the same veteran’s organizations. Or, you can go and regularly place them on military grave sites and deliver bouquets to other military families as well.
With the hot days of summer just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about breaking out the sunscreen. And even though this is ‘Sunscreen Day,’ you should probably be using it all year round. So, no matter the season or the SPF, here are some fast and fun ways to know if you need to use protection. When outside, if your shadow is shorter than your actual height, you can get sunburned. If it’s overcast or cloudy, you still need sunscreen. And, of course, if you’re going to be in the sun between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon, you’ll need protection. But if you still manage to get sunburned, then just do this: Fill a one-quart jar with equal parts milk and ice and two tablespoons of salt. Soak a washcloth in this mix and place it on any burned body parts. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes and then reapply as needed. The milk will serve to absorb the heat from the burn while the ice and salt bring the balm. This secret sunburn therapy really is the last line of daily sun defense. But you wouldn’t need it at all if you just applied an appropriate amount of sunscreen to begin with!
By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com
A financial opportunity may surface today. It’s a great day to fearlessly exercise your negotiation skills. On the personal front, a relationship may become more serious as commitment issues are placed on the table.
About the Number 6
Theme: Family and Social Responsibility, Service, Healing
Astro Association: Gemini
Tarot Association: Lovers
General Meaning: Fellowship. When communal bonds unite people, great success is possible. But such bonds can develop only when personal interests are subordinated to goals that serve the greater good of all. The broader the basis for action, the greater the benefits that can be achieved. And conversely, the greater the potential good, the more powerful the support behind it. A spirit of cooperation steadies the boat, but it helps to have a beautiful island to row towards.
Learn to respect the strength in diversity, for a community’s true power lies not in its numbers, but in the diverse skills and resources of its members. Just as the stoutest walls are reinforced with many different materials, so the strongest groups allow differences to co-exist inside the whole.
With a unified group solidly behind you, even difficult enterprises can be attempted without great risk
Witches Of The Craft® 
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