Tag: Cook

Calendar of the Moon for February 13th

Calendar of the Moon

13 Nion/Anthesterion

Anthesteria Day 3: Khutroi

Color: Purple
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a purple cloth set a great jug of water, the ship of Dionysos, a wreath of grapevines, nine purple candles, and a cauldron in which are many beans.
Offerings: Food. Feed people in the community.
Daily Meal: Beans and lentils and rice. Grains cooked with honey. Only water to drink today. A great meal should be prepared, and many people from outside the community should be invited, especially those who are in need. If there is not room, the meal may be cooked and taken to the appropriate shelter or soup kitchen.

Khutroi Invocation

After the joy of the vine,
We come to water and work.
Water of the flood, which washed away
Our ancestors, may you give us
Only aid, and may we not see
Your terrible aspect, drowning the millions.
Work of the world, the greatest of which
Is the giving of sustenance to those who have none.
As we come to a better understanding
Of what it is to be past childhood,
After the day of joy and mirth
We come to the threshold
Of work and toil for the good of others.
For this is truly the mark
That we have passed youth and innocence:
When we realize the Fate does not
Take care of everyone, including we ourselves,
And that we must stand in for Fate
And alter the order of the world,
Giving of ourselves that others may survive,
And thus become Fate.
On this the Day of Pots
We open our cooking fires
To the rest of the world.

(All depart and proceed to the kitchen, where the meal is prepared in silence, with all meditating upon the effort that it will take to feed all that they can, and what that means to one’s understanding of oneself as a mature being connected to the web of life.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

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Hold An Imbolc House Cleansing Ceremony

Hold An Imbolc House Cleansing Ceremony

By , About.com

Give your whole house a thorough cleaning at the end of winter.

A clean physical space feels good spiritually.

Be sure to clean your windows so they’re free of winter’s grime.

No one really likes to clean, but we all know we feel better when our physical space is tidy. It’s one of life’s necessary chores. Start your spring off with a good thorough cleaning, and then follow that up with a spiritual cleansing. This is a great ritual to perform at Imbolc — remember that for many of our ancestors, washing came only a few times a year, so by February, a house was probably smelling pretty ripe. Pick a bright sunny day to do a clean sweep, and then invite friends and family to join you in a blessing of your home.

First, do a complete physical cleaning of your house. Put on some music and thoroughly clean every room. Strip sheets off the beds, turn the mattresses, dust every surface, and vacuum every floor. Sort through those piles of paper on your desk, and get rid of things you don’t need to keep; file everything else. Gather up the kids’ toys and put them in baskets for easy storage. If you need to get rid of things, do it now — set aside a box for charity and put gently used items in it. Set aside another box for trash, and see if you can fill it up!

Once your house is clean — and this assumes you did the kitchen as well — it’s time to have some fun. Call up some friends and invite them over for a potluck. Cook up some Imbolc-themed comfort foods, such as Braided Bread or Beer Battered Fish & Chips, and have a small potluck celebration. Ask each guest to bring a small token to bless your house — pebbles, shells, interesting bits of wood, beads, etc.

You’ll also need the following:

  • A bowl of water
  • Some sea salt
  • A smudging bundle of sage or sweetgrass
  • A blue candle
  • Some Blessing Oil
  • A bowl or bag

Begin at the front door — it is, after all, where you welcome guests into your home — and go through the house in a sunwise direction (clockwise). Ask your guests to help you by smudging the perimeter of each room with the salt, sage, candle flame and water. You may wish to say some sort of incantation as they do this, something like:

With the purifying power of water, with the clean breath of air, with the passionate heat of fire, with the grounding energy of earth we cleanse this space.

As you pass from room to room, anoint each door and windowsill with the Blessing Oil by tracing the shape of a pentagram or other symbol of your tradition. This prevents anything negative from crossing into the home. If you like, you can offer a small incantation as you do this, something like:

May the goddess bless this home, making it sacred and pure, so that nothing but love and joy shall enter through this door.

Finally, once you’ve gone through the house, ask each of your guests to deposit their blessing token in your bowl or bag. Keep it in a place of honor in your home — on the mantel or in your kitchen is a good idea. Gather around the dinner table, break out the goodies, and enjoy a feast with your friends and family!

Tips:

* If you don’t have Blessing Oil, you can use rosemary oil instead. Make your own by infusing fresh rosemary in grapeseed or flaxseed oil.

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Your Ancient Symbol Card for Jan. 22nd is The Golden Egg

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Golden Egg

The Golden Egg denotes the opportunity for substantial material gains. However, the Golden Egg is also a reminder that unmanaged greed ensures what gains are made will be lost.

As a daily card, The Golden Egg suggest that the prospects for you to increase your financial wealth are very strong today. Seize whatever opportunities come your way, but don’t ride them too long or you may find yourself no better off than you were before they came along.

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Calendar of the Sun for December 30th

Calendar of the Sun

30 Yulmonath

Obatala’s Day

Color: White
Elements: Earth and Air
Altar: Upon cloth of white set a cup of coconut milk, eight white candles, the figure of an elephant, a white flywhisk, a bowl of white rice, and eight white or clear stones.
Offerings: Rice and coconut milk.
Daily Meal: Coconut anything and rice.

Invocation to Obatala

Great White King
Great White Queen
Pure as the snow
On the tops of mountains,
To sit in your space
On your white cloth
Is to be in the high place
Of objectivity
And perfect justice.
To work with your hands
Is to create life anew
Being both father and mother
Being the healer of wounds
That has no gender
As healing has no gender.
To touch with your vision
Is to see past the flaws
And faults of your children
To a cleaner place of fairness
Upon the high unbroken snow.

Song: Mountain God

(The ritual should end with a round of drumming and dancing.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

The Witches Magick for December 30th – Lemon Uncrossing Spell

Lemon Uncrossing Spell

Purpose: To get rid of negative energy.

Items You Will Need:

A cup of salt
A fresh lemon
Athame

Light white candles and protection incense. Anoint brow, heart and throat with oil. Put the lemon in the center of your altar and cut it into 4 slices (round).

Chant:
“All spells against me congregate in this lemon, that’s your fate.
Sour spell to sour fruit, you must go there cause it’s your suit.
Bound to this lemon evermore. Each spell against me that’s your store.
All in this lemon, now I see, and as my will so mote it be!”

When you feel that the chant has captured the negative thought forms in the lemon, begin to sprinkle the salt on the lemon.

Chant:
“Uncrossed! Uncrossed!
This salt for me breaks up the attacking energy.
As lemon dries in salt and air,
I’m freed from harm and all despair.
Uncrossed and happy now, you see!
And as my will so mote it be!!!”

Use lots of salt and when you are finished, thank all the elements.
Leave the lemon near your altar where you can watch it.
If it dries out, your work is done. If it should mildew, repeat the ritual.

A Little Humor For Your Day – ‘Man Goes To Dentist (Pun)’

Man goes to a dentist

A man went to his dentist because he feels something wrong in his mouth. The dentist examines him and says, “that new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is eroding. What have you been eating?”
The man replies, “all I can think of is that about four months ago my wife made some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was delicious…Hollandaise sauce. I loved it so much I now put it on everything — meat, toast, fish, vegtables, everything.”
“Well,” says the dentist, “that’s probably the problem. Hollandaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is highly corrosive. It’s eaten away your upper plate. I’ll make you a new plate, and this time use chrome.” “Why chrome?” asks the patient.
To which the dentist replies, “It’s simple. Everyone knows that there’s no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!”

Aah! Jokes

Daily Feng Shui News for Sept. 20 – 'National Punch Day'

It’s ‘National Punch Day’ and since almost every punch recipe uses ginger ale as a main ingredient, today let’s look at how invaluable ginger can be when added to your daily diet. From a physical perspective, ginger is said to quell nausea and motion sickness while aiding digestion. It is also considered a most potent all natural anti-inflammatory medicine, especially useful when treating arthritis or rheumatic complaints. From a metaphysical perspective, ginger is considered a money attractant as well as an effective conduit for communicating with the invisible realms. So whether it’s dispelling debt or creating better digestion, ginger delivers a knockout, one-two punch, even when using just a pinch.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Mabon Cooking (Yum!) – Flaming Apples

Mabon Comments & Graphics

Flaming Apples

Prepare one apple for each person. Use McIntosh or Winesap apples. Wash, core, and peel the skin down about ½ inches from the top. Fill the center with brown sugar and butter. Top with cinnamon. Place the apples in a baking dish with about 1 inch of water. Bake the apples for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Remove the apples to a warmed serving dish; pour heated cognac over each apple, ignite and serve flaming.

Mabon Crafting – The Corn Baba or Dolly

Mabon Comments & Graphics

The Corn Baba or Dolly

To make a Corn Baba, strip the husks from a dried ear of corn and soak them in water until pliable. Drain the strips on a paper towel and press flat with a warm iron. Take one strip and wrap around a cotton or foam ball to for the head. Attach the head to the cob with tape or glue. Use several long strips to cover the head and body. Cut a narrow strip of husk for arms and roll into 7″ length. Tie off at the ends with strings. Attach to cob and then fashion dress from strips of corn husks. Finish the doll using the silk or yellow yarn for hair. Embellish with colored ribbon, buttons, hats, and a basket.

Calendar of the Moon for August 16th

Calendar of the Moon

 

16 Coll/Metageitnion
Day of the Apple Tree

Color: Apple-green
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon an apple-green cloth set a vase of apple branches, a bowl of apples, a single green candle, a pot of soil, seeds, a bowl of water, a jug of cider, and a bell.
Offerings: Plant seeds. Feed people outside the home.
Daily Meal: Vegan, with apples, applesauce, and cider.

Invocation to the Green Man of the Apple Tree

Hail, Green Man of the Autumn!
Apple tree of immortality
Whose branches hide the white hind,
Whose fruit nourishes all,
Whose juice gives gladness
To those who work your Earth,
Whose seeds show the pentad
Of the eternal Goddess,
Tool of Eris which shows
How the mighty may fall
Beneath your spreading branches,
Equal to the lowest in their folly
And fate; this is your gift,
Love-fruit, merry one,
Brightest star in the harvest
With the universal star at your core.
Teach us that this joy
Belongs to everyone,
As does your gift of health,
So may we all be hale!
We hail you, sacred apple tree,
Green Man of the Autumn,
On this your day of greatest nourishment.

Song: Here’s To Thee, Old Apple Tree

(Each comes forward and plants a seed in the pot of soil, saying, “Hail Green Man of the Earth!” Water is poured onto the pot, and then the rest is poured out as a libation. Pass the cider and apples around for everyone to share, and pour out the last as another libation. Ring bell and dismiss.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun for Monday, August 12th

Calendar of the Sun

12 Weodmonath

Amaranth and Quinoa Day

Color: Brown
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a brown cloth set an armload of amaranth stalks, a basket of quinoa stalks, a jug of water, bowls of the threshed grain, amaranth flour bread and quinoa porridge.
Offering: Give food to the poor.
Daily Meal: Amaranth bread and quinoa porridge.

Amaranth and Quinoa Invocation

(The jug of water is passed and the remainder poured out as a libation.)

I sing the praises of Amaranth,
Great grain of the Mexican desert,
Sacred grain growing taller than a man
Yet with the smallest seed of all,
Abundance in the dry time
Savior in a drought,
I sing the praises of Amaranth.

(The amaranth bread is passed and the remainder scattered in the garden.)

I sing the praises of Quinoa,
Great grain of the high mountains,
Nourishment of the south continent,
Reaching closest to the sky,
Porridge and cleanser,
Ground under the gleam of gold,
I sing the praises of Quinoa.

(The quinoa porridge is passed until it is finished.)

Song: Lammas Prayer

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Crone's Corner – APPLE DIVINATION

Crone’s Corner – APPLE  DIVINATION

* If a girls peels an apple in one long piece at midnight on Halloween, and then  tosses the peel over her left shoulder or into a bowl of water, she will be able to read the first initial of her future partner’s name in the shape  assumed by the discarded peel.
* If a girl peels an apple at midnight on Halloween and hangs the peel on a nail by the front door, the  initials of the first man to enter will be the same as those of her unknown lover.
* If a group of unmarried boys and girls each attach an apple to a string and twirl the apple over a fire,  the order in which the apples fall off the string indicates the order in which they will all be married. The owner of the last apple to drop will remain  unmarried.
* In a group of unmarried boys and girls, each person marks an apple and places it in a large bucket of  water, along with unmarked apples. Without using their hands, the teens attempt to take bites out of the apples floating in the water. The teen is fated to  marry the person whose apple they bite. Another variation of this custom consists of hanging the apples from strings tied to a tree.

Refresh the Whole House With Lemon

Clean the drains. For this task, you’ll need lemons. To determine how many, just count the drains in your home—be sure to include the toilets and the dishwasher—and divide by two. Cut each lemon in half, squeeze the juice of one portion down each drain and flush well with hot water. This will take care of any nasties living in your pipes.

Calendar of the Sun for February 17th

Calendar of the Sun

17 Solmonath

Fornacalia: Day of the Ovens

Color: Brown
Element: Fire
Altar: This ritual should be performed in the kitchen, with the altar built on top of the  or inside the oven. Set a brown cloth with a  and many loaves of bread on .
Offerings: Give some of the loaves of bread to those who have need of it.
Daily Meal: Everything baked – breads, cakes, pies, casseroles.

Invocation to Fornax

Goddess of the Oven
Lady of Fire Enclosed,
Sacred Baker of our food,
We all started as dough,
Raw and soft and unformed,
And we were patted into shape
By those who raised us,
Yet we could not bring ourselves
Fully grown to the table
Until we had endured
The hardening flame.
Be kind to us, Lady!
As we go through life
Let us not be scorched
Or spared the fire
But bring us gently through
To be our final selves.

Chant: Baker of the Loaf of Earth
We endure your fire

(One of the loaves is broken and handed around and shared, some more are set aside to eat later, and then the rest are taken to some deserving place and donated.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun for February 12th

Calendar of the Sun

12 Solmonath

Day of Diana as Lady of the Animals

Colors: Brown and green
Element: Earth
Altar: Lay with cloth of earth colors and set with representations of many animals, as well as a crescent moon for Diana. Burn cypress incense.
Offerings: Animal figures. Kindliness towards the other creatures of the earth.
Daily Meal: Serve both  (for the prey animals) and  (for the predators).

Invocation to the Lady of the Animals

Goddess who runs with the rabbit,
Fleet of foot, silver of tail;
Goddess who runs with the wolf
Who follows on its path,
Lady who runs with the cycle,
From Life to Death to Life again,
Who is with fish and frog,
Bird and butterfly,
And all that runs on four legs
Or crawls upon the ground,
Lady of our sisters and brothers,
Those who became one with
Our ancestors,
Those who gave their lives
That we might live,
Let us never forget, Diana
Of the deep forest, that this world
Is a shared one
And not ours alone.

Chant: Diana Diana Brother Wolf and Sister Bear
Diana Diana Brother Mouse and Sister Hare
Diana Diana Brother Stallion, Sister Mare.

(All go outside, where treats of seed and peanut butter are hung on branches for the forest spirits, and any livestock are given special treats.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

FIRE OF LUST POTION

FIRE OF LUST POTION

Items needed:

1 ounce bourbon

1 ounce vodka

3 ounces slow gin

Orange juice

1 pinch allspice

Add the first three ingredients in order to a tall glass of ice.
Fill the glass with orange juice and add a pinch of allspice. As you stir, chant:

“Fire of lust and fire of passion
Bring to me some satisfaction
Lust unbridled I desire,
Bring me now what I require”

Share the drink with the person you desire.

H is for Home Protection

H

 

 

 

Home Protection

 

Supplies:

  • Water
  • Salt
  • Bowl
  • Garlic Salt (optional, see procedure)
  • Powered Rosemary (optional, see procedure)

 

Time: A bright, sunny morning

Procedure:

Start by mixing water and salt in a bowl. Add garlic salt and powdered rosemary if you need to clear out ghosts or spirits. Consecrate the mixture.

Begin at the main entrance of the house or apartment.  Sprinkle some of the consecrated water by dipping your fingers in it and making the sign of the pentagram. In a firm and commanding voice with all of your power behind it, say:

Evil shall leave but not enter.

 

Proceed counterclockwise through the house, repeating the procedure in every corner of each room, at all the windows, doors and mirrors. Don’t forget telephones, fax machines, televisions, modems, radios, computers that are connected to the Internet — any outside connection to your house. (It doesn’t hurt to do the mailbox after you finish with everything inside the house.)

Repeat the spell annually, or whenever you feel in need of it.

Calendar of the Sun for February 2nd

Calendar of the Sun

2 Solmonath

Oya’s Day

Colors: Purple, burgundy, dark orange (pottery color), copper
Element: Air
Altar: Lay out the nine sacred items of Oya: the purple cloth, the black flywhisk, the copper crown, the rainstick, the broken pottery rolled up in a woven mat, the earthen pot of candles, the basket of graveyard earth, the buffalo horn, and the glass knife. Burn incense.
Offerings: Plums, eggplants, red wine. The house should be swept thoroughly before the ritual.
Daily Meal: Cooked plums or . Cooked eggplant. Millet. Red wine. .

Invocation to Oya

Hail, Lady of the Wind,
Weather goddess most unpredictable,
Whirlwind that  all away
Before its inevitable path!
Hail, Lady of the Rain,
Bringing water to grow
Our crops and slake our thirst!
Hail, Water Buffalo Woman,
Crashing through the underbrush
Unstoppable as fate!
Hail, Carrier of the Container of Fire,
You who can unleash
New beginnings from the ashes!
Hail, Mistress of the Marketplace
Hetaera of the smashed crockery!
Hail, Lady of Death,
Duena de la Cemetaria,
Princess of Graves!
Hail, Keeper of Souls,
Mother of dancing Egungun!
Hail, purifier of the motivations,
In whose mirror we see ourselves,
Who cuts away our illusions!
Hail, Queen of the Air
Whose essence we breathe!

Chant:
O-ya! He-yi! (This should be accompanied by a drum circle, with trance dancing.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

This Witches Spell I Give To You On Jan. 1 – Corn Wealth Spell

Witchy Comments~Magickal Graphics~

CORN WEALTH SPELL

For wealth and prosperity for a year, take the husk from an ear of corn and put
a dollar bill along with a note written on parchment,
“Oh, dear god of luck,
money is like muck,
not good except it be spread.
Spread some here at————–(write in your address).
Blessed Be.”
Sign your name.
Sprinkle the dollar bill and note with Coltsfoot leaves.
Roll the husk up and tie together with green string or ribbon.
Hang the token up above the entryway with green cord.
That husk should bring riches into your home or business by the bushel.

Calendar of the Sun for December 30th

Calendar of the Sun

30 Yulmonath

Obatala’s Day

Color: White
Elements: Earth and Air
Altar: Upon cloth of white set a cup of coconut milk, eight white candles, the figure of an elephant, a white flywhisk, a bowl of white rice, and eight white or clear stones.
Offerings: Rice and coconut milk.
Daily Meal: Coconut anything and rice.

Invocation to Obatala

Great White King
Great White Queen
Pure as the snow
On the tops of mountains,
To sit in your space
On your white cloth
Is to be in the high place
Of objectivity
And perfect justice.
To work with your hands
Is to create life anew
Being both father and mother
Being the healer of wounds
That has no gender
As healing has no gender.
To touch with your vision
Is to see past the flaws
And faults of your children
To a cleaner place of fairness
Upon the high unbroken snow.

Song: Mountain God

(The ritual should end with a round of drumming and dancing.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]