Well, it's been an interesting first week of the new year, no? It's been a crazy-busy one for me, personally.I'll be blogging about that tomorrow, but for today, we have our first official edition of The Sunday Stew in 2014. This week's theme is resolutions and new beginnings.
Our beloved La'Trice is out with the flu, but Autumn Earthsong (our Recipe Siren from Samhain's Sirens) has graciously stepped in to help out with a delicious Winter Stew. The Cap'n is off gallivanting on his ship, but we hope to grab him in port next week. Our hearts go out to Alan Heartsong at the passing of his furry friend this weekend. Please send comforting energy his way and we hope he'll be back with us really soon.
Renee, Kathleen, Adelina,Tiffany, Loren and Melissa all have some delectable morsels for your intellectual enjoyment, and Karen and I have you covered on the standard fare. I'm also shamelessly plugging a shop so good, it'll have you drooling. So, grab your cuppa and let's dig in!
Happy Birthday this week to Tim Thys, Charity Disbrow, Chrissy Wileman, Danette Wilson, Regina Rae McGuire, Sarah Roach, and Donna Ackels. May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, happiness, and abundance in all good things!
Woman's Obsession With Witchcraft Ends When She Faces Demonic Spirit, Finds Power in Jesus' [sic] Name
Pagan Britain, by Ronald Hutton
True-Life Ghost Stories: The Bell Witch Haunting
Stevie Nicks comes to AHS: Coven on January 8
Pagan Ritual Comes to Lodge
The Viking witch's magic wand: 9th century grave relic 'was disabled by terrified villagers who feared its sorceress owner would rise from the dead'
New Term of Unusual Classes Begins
Sunday, January 5th
Twelfth Night and Wassail Eve (in England) heralds the end of Christmastide. In ancient Egypt times, it was believed that the waters of the mystical and sacred River Nile possessed special magickal powers on this date. On this date in the year 1918, renowned astrologer and author Jeane Dixon was born in Medford, Wisconsin.
Befana visits today!
Monday, January 6th
Today is the Day of the Triple Goddess. On this date in the year 1988, Circle Sanctuary of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, became legally recognized as a Wiccan Church by its local Township and County levels of government. Circle Sanctuary's attainment of church zoning was a significant victory for Wiccans around the world, for it was the first time a Witchcraft group had been publicly sanctioned as a church by local government officials.
Tuesday, January 7th
In the seventeenth century, it was customary on this day for a special Epiphany Cake to be baked with a coin in it. Whoever was lucky enough to receive the portion containing the coin was saluted by the family as a "king" or "queen" for the day. As part of the tradition, the "king" or "queen" would draw cross symbols on the ceiling with white chalk to drive out evil spirits and ward off misfortune.
Wednesday, January 8th
This is the Old Druid's New Year. In ancient Greece, Midwife's Day (dedicated to the Goddess Babo) was celebrated annually on this date, while an annual festival called Justica's Day was celebrated by the early Romans. In ancient times, this day was dedicated to the Norse Goddess Ferya (or Freyja), who presided over both love and fertility.
Thursday, January 9th
On this date in the year 1989, Jamie Dodge (a Wiccan who had been fired from her job at the Salvation Army because of her Wiccan beliefs) won a lawsuit against her former employer for violating her First Amendment right to freedom of religion and unnecessary entanglement of government with religion. On this date in the year 1880, "Old Dorothy" Clutterbuck was born in Bengal. She belonged to a hereditary Witch coven in the New Forest of England, and was the High Priestess who initiated Gerald B. Gardner into the Craft in 1939. She passed away in the year 1951.
Friday, January 10th
The Feast of Dreams, a centuries-old ritual, is performed annually by the Native American Indian tribe of the Iroquois to celebrate their New Year, which occurs on this date. In rural England and Scotland, Plough Monday (the first Monday after Epiphany) occurs on or around this date. A plough is traditionally paraded through the streets and a ritual sweeping with brooms is performed to drive away evil spirits from the village.
Saturday, January 11th
In years gone by, an old ritual to ward off Witches was performed annually on this date in many fishing villages along the coast of Scotland. At sunset, a barrel of tar would be placed on top of a pole, set on fire, and allowed to burn throughout the night. Afterwards, charred pieces of it would then be used by the villagers and fisherman as protective charms. In ancient Rome, a festival called the Carmentalia was celebrated annually, beginning on this date and lasting until the fifteenth of January. The festival honored the Roman Goddess Carmenta, a deity presiding over childbirth, whose priestesses cast the fortunes of children at the moment of their birth.
Juturna, the ancient Italian Goddess of pools and still waters, is also honored each year on this day.
Happy New Year, everyone! See you next week with more Pagan Lore,
Karen
My New Year’s Resolution is to be more judgmental.
You read that right.
It should be easy for me to achieve. If there is one thing the internet is rife with -- other than porn -- it’s judgment.
Every day, so-called news stories appear, followed by thousands of comments, calling every action of the subject into question. (If the person is truly fortunate, he or she can be compared to Hitler in few steps.)
“How on earth could she leave the house in that outfit?”
“What kind of parent would allow their child to do that?”
“He’s a fool if he takes her back.”
We pronounce judgment on everything we see, instantly. We read, process, and judge.
And I am here to tell you:
It’s not a bad thing.
Who am I to judge? Well, I am a human. That’s what I am.
We judge. We observe, we cogitate, and we make a decision based on the information presented to us.
We learn to do this from earliest childhood on. Is this worth crying over? Am I full enough to stop eating? Do I refuse to brush my teeth, and accept the consequences? This is all based on a call for judgment. We are programmed to judge, because in many cases, our lives depend on it: Can we trust this person? Is it safe to cross the street here? Am I driving appropriately for road conditions? It is a vital, integral part of what human beings do.
Do we need to turn that off when it comes to other human beings?
I doubt we can. We may dismiss what we are thinking about with an, “oh well – who am I to judge?” but the judgment has already been made. We are simply making an effort to resist acknowledging it, either to ourselves or others. I judge every word that I hear, every action of a loved one, every piece of paper that comes home in my child’s backpack. Why? Because I am supposed to. I was built to. I create who I am daily, hourly, by making these judgments and deciding what is pleasing to me and what is not, what I should like to emulate and what I should not. I build my morals and my personality based upon that.
We are the sum of what we judge.
What’s the danger of judgment, then?
It lies in the expression, and the suggestion of “correction”.
Example:
Who are you to judge how I raise my kids? Well, you’re a parent, an offspring of your own parents, a human being who observes. When I tell you what I did or said to my child, your very natural reaction is to think, “I would never do it that way,” or “That’s just what I would have done.” In fact, if you are a parent, the majority of your parenting style arises from critiquing the skills of other parents, and either attempting to emulate or avoid. How does that possibly hurt me?
It hurts me when you say it out loud, and when you tell me your way is better. It especially hurts me when you suggest my way is damaging to my child.
That’s when harmless interior monologue becomes:
“How on earth could she leave the house in that outfit? She needs to lose at least 20 pounds before putting on a skirt like that!”
“What kind of parent would allow their child to do that? He should have his sons taken away from him!”
“He’s a fool if he takes her back. She should just freaking kill herself.”
That goes beyond judgment, straight to condemnation and sentencing.
And when we react by saying, “Who are you to judge me?” we are really saying, “Who are you to externalize those thoughts, and express them to me? Who are you to imply that you are better than me?”
Not one of us is capable of completely turning off our brain’s demand to pass a judgment on all that enters it.
And that’s what keeps us alive, thinking, growing, learning.
I resolve to keep judging you. And I also resolve to keep my judgment to myself, and figure out how to use it to make myself a better person.
New Beginnings
As I sit here watching the snow fall and the birds lining up for the feeder, I am pondering what changes I would like to see for this new year that is only a sleep away. Some of those changes there is nothing I can do about. The world wide weather is beyond me to help change so we will simply have to learn ways to deal with what we brought on ourselves.
Other changes may be within our power to help along. I have already implemented some changes in my patterns. The morning ritual of watching national and world news has changed. I no longer watch the world news that is available on TV. It is so twisted and negative that it was coloring my entire day with a blanket of dark hopelessness. NO MORE! I refuse to have my day start with that. Now I watch local news mainly for weather and street problems and then turn to the Weather Channel to see what sort of weather I can expect. After that, I turn on music. Now my news comes from the internet and from other countries. Perhaps if everyone refused to buy into the garbage that passes for news in this country we could change not only our own state of mind, but also the content of what is force fed us.
I have made up my mind not to pass on negative and anger provoking items that come my way. Last night I was looking for something fun to watch and found Ghost Busters II on. The whole concept of the anger and negativity in New York creating a river of hostile slime seemed particularly appropriate for a New Year. Maybe the whole concept of "we are what we eat" should become "we are what we read". With this in mind, I started thinking about books that make me feel good and started looking for my copy of Robert Graves "The White Goddess". It appears to have vanished somewhere in one of our moves, so I went on line and ordered a new copy. Now I am open for any suggestions for books that are positive. Any ideas?
Two days before Christmas my husband reached the big 66. So now the question arises as to the when and if of retirement and what to do with all those hours. Do we fill those hours with pointless ways of staying busy or do we find something to do that makes a difference? I have done a lot of volunteer work down through the years with various organizations and found it both satisfying and fun. My husband has never had the time to indulge in "giving back" so now it will be his turn. What that giving back will be I have no idea at this time, but I am sure it will happen.
These are just the start of the changes I am making in this new year and I am sure that other things will occur to me as this next month drags by. January is always a month of change for me so who knows where it will lead.
Begin the Beguine…
My introduction to the ‘Beguine’ was a fabulous tap dancing number with Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell from the musical ‘Broadway Melody of 1940’. This couple danced to a song written by the incredible Cole Porter, and arranged in a swing style by the fabulous Artie Shaw. I love that song, but had no clue what a spiritual definition of a ‘Beguine’ actually was until recently. Admittedly, what brought me to this particular topic was not the search for communities of women living spiritual lives of Christian mysticism. I was searching for guidance and inspiration on how to shape and form my spiritual goals for the coming year. The song which came whispering in my mind over and over was ‘Begin the Beguine’...and so began my search. I have found more inspiration for me from learning about the real Beguines.
Beguines were single, Christian women who lived around the 13-16th centuries in semi-monastic communities of their own formation, influenced by the Franciscans. They lived lives of religious devotion in self-governing communities and were not under the jurisdiction or guardianship of male clergy. These lay women lived independently in these orders, but did not take permanent vows as nuns did. They were free to own property, get married, and have children. Beguines were an example of a ‘middle road’-women living devoted, spiritual lives…halfway between the common people and the solitary isolation of convent nuns. The only requirement was to do ‘good works’ while with the Beguines, and devote their lives to chastity and charity. The women were very often widows and would come to live their lives in religious and spiritual devotion amongst their like-minded sisters.
“Love flows from God to man without effort. As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings—thus they go whithersoever they will. United in body and soul, yet in their form, separate—“ –Mechthild of Magdeburg
Read the rest of this article at Mid-Stride Moxie
Befana
Each year, on the night of Jan. 5, the Eve of Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, Befana comes to visit children, in Italy.
All Times Eastern Standard Time.For time conversions click here.
Sunday, January 5
Great day for business, All Day
Monday January 6
Moon Void of Course from 4:44am-2:45pm then enters Aries
Tuesday, January 7
First Quarter Moon, 10:39pm
Wednesday, January 8
Moon Void of Course from 2:36pm -9:23pm then enters Taurus
Thursday, January 9
Great day for business, All Day
Friday, January 10
Great day for business, All Day
Saturday, January 11
Moon Void of Course from 5:58am-7:25am then enters Gemini
Mercury enters Aquarius, 4:34pm
Waxing Gibbous Moon, 8:51pm
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![]()
This week's tarot is the 9 of wands. This is a card of courage, testing, strength and resilience. It's that project you've come close to completing, but at the last minute, something happens that causes a setback, or a challenge pops up that you weren't expecting. The 9 of wands is here to remind you that you have what it takes to overcome this and come out victorious. Remember the platitude that it is always darkest before the dawn. The dawn will break, just hang in there and keep going. This is the final test before reaching your ultimate success; once this is over, you're free.
You may have found hidden enemies and saboteurs recently. This is not a bad thing. It's simply an encouragement to be resilient and keep going- you're obviously doing something right. Recognize what you need to do to turn over a new leaf and move on. This is your time to draw a line in the sand, set your boundaries and stick to them. Be prepared to fight for your own self and sanity, and to come out stronger in the long-run.
Totem: Beaver
"Busy as a beaver" is a term used for people who have high energy and are constantly working, investigating and exploring their worlds. Beaver is the 2nd largest rodent in the world and there are two specific types; the North American beaver and the Eurasian Beaver. Beavers are known for their dam-building skills and tree-felling capabilities. They are a very old species; fossils have been found as far back as the Pleistocene age.
Beavers in the spiritual realm are the dream-builders and doers of the world. They inhabit both land and water, and are therefore very comfortable in who they are.
Beaver helps us accomplish our goals and dreams and teaches us how to work as a team without ego getting in the way. Beaver reminds you that in order to make your dream come true, you must ACT upon it. Beaver embodies the qualities of being methodical, practical, and down-to-earth. But, they also know how to play.
Beavers are very family-oriented and fun-loving. Balancing work and play is one of their key skill-sets. It is wonderful to work toward your dreams, but you should never do so at the expense of your self, your friends and your family.
Kallan is a professional Tarot and Totem reader. If you would like a reading, please use the contact form at the top of the page. Pricing varies per reading, but prices are always reasonable, and in-kind trades are sometimes negotiable.
This is run by someone many of you know on Facebook as Sterling Silver Rose, and I have to say, when I got wind of her opening up this shop, I was drooling before I even got a chance to taste it. She was kind enough to send me a sample of this lemon fudge:
I'm sitting here just moments ago, minding my own business; when a knock comes upon my door...
Our beloved La'Trice is out with the flu, but Autumn Earthsong (our Recipe Siren from Samhain's Sirens) has graciously stepped in to help out with a delicious Winter Stew. The Cap'n is off gallivanting on his ship, but we hope to grab him in port next week. Our hearts go out to Alan Heartsong at the passing of his furry friend this weekend. Please send comforting energy his way and we hope he'll be back with us really soon.
Renee, Kathleen, Adelina,Tiffany, Loren and Melissa all have some delectable morsels for your intellectual enjoyment, and Karen and I have you covered on the standard fare. I'm also shamelessly plugging a shop so good, it'll have you drooling. So, grab your cuppa and let's dig in!
Happy Birthday this week to Tim Thys, Charity Disbrow, Chrissy Wileman, Danette Wilson, Regina Rae McGuire, Sarah Roach, and Donna Ackels. May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, happiness, and abundance in all good things!
In the News
Woman's Obsession With Witchcraft Ends When She Faces Demonic Spirit, Finds Power in Jesus' [sic] Name
Pagan Britain, by Ronald Hutton
True-Life Ghost Stories: The Bell Witch Haunting
Stevie Nicks comes to AHS: Coven on January 8
Pagan Ritual Comes to Lodge
The Viking witch's magic wand: 9th century grave relic 'was disabled by terrified villagers who feared its sorceress owner would rise from the dead'
New Term of Unusual Classes Begins
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Good Morning, and welcome to the first edition of the Pagan Lore for 2014!
Sunday, January 5th
Twelfth Night and Wassail Eve (in England) heralds the end of Christmastide. In ancient Egypt times, it was believed that the waters of the mystical and sacred River Nile possessed special magickal powers on this date. On this date in the year 1918, renowned astrologer and author Jeane Dixon was born in Medford, Wisconsin.
Befana visits today!
Monday, January 6th
Today is the Day of the Triple Goddess. On this date in the year 1988, Circle Sanctuary of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, became legally recognized as a Wiccan Church by its local Township and County levels of government. Circle Sanctuary's attainment of church zoning was a significant victory for Wiccans around the world, for it was the first time a Witchcraft group had been publicly sanctioned as a church by local government officials.
Tuesday, January 7th
In the seventeenth century, it was customary on this day for a special Epiphany Cake to be baked with a coin in it. Whoever was lucky enough to receive the portion containing the coin was saluted by the family as a "king" or "queen" for the day. As part of the tradition, the "king" or "queen" would draw cross symbols on the ceiling with white chalk to drive out evil spirits and ward off misfortune.
Wednesday, January 8th
This is the Old Druid's New Year. In ancient Greece, Midwife's Day (dedicated to the Goddess Babo) was celebrated annually on this date, while an annual festival called Justica's Day was celebrated by the early Romans. In ancient times, this day was dedicated to the Norse Goddess Ferya (or Freyja), who presided over both love and fertility.
Thursday, January 9th
On this date in the year 1989, Jamie Dodge (a Wiccan who had been fired from her job at the Salvation Army because of her Wiccan beliefs) won a lawsuit against her former employer for violating her First Amendment right to freedom of religion and unnecessary entanglement of government with religion. On this date in the year 1880, "Old Dorothy" Clutterbuck was born in Bengal. She belonged to a hereditary Witch coven in the New Forest of England, and was the High Priestess who initiated Gerald B. Gardner into the Craft in 1939. She passed away in the year 1951.
Friday, January 10th
The Feast of Dreams, a centuries-old ritual, is performed annually by the Native American Indian tribe of the Iroquois to celebrate their New Year, which occurs on this date. In rural England and Scotland, Plough Monday (the first Monday after Epiphany) occurs on or around this date. A plough is traditionally paraded through the streets and a ritual sweeping with brooms is performed to drive away evil spirits from the village.
Saturday, January 11th
In years gone by, an old ritual to ward off Witches was performed annually on this date in many fishing villages along the coast of Scotland. At sunset, a barrel of tar would be placed on top of a pole, set on fire, and allowed to burn throughout the night. Afterwards, charred pieces of it would then be used by the villagers and fisherman as protective charms. In ancient Rome, a festival called the Carmentalia was celebrated annually, beginning on this date and lasting until the fifteenth of January. The festival honored the Roman Goddess Carmenta, a deity presiding over childbirth, whose priestesses cast the fortunes of children at the moment of their birth.
Juturna, the ancient Italian Goddess of pools and still waters, is also honored each year on this day.
Happy New Year, everyone! See you next week with more Pagan Lore,
Karen
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
Resolutions
Resolution: to be resolute, to have resolve, a course of action.
This time of the year everyone makes a resolution. They look at things that want to change and promise to work to accomplish those for the upcoming year. Some of these things are to become more active, write a book or lose weight. This year I have a resolution to do my best to not take things so personally.
I was recently asked by a group to come in and help them with their copyright issues only to be told that I was trying to bully his group or take over. I have a variety of projects that I’m working on, but took the time to try to help this group only to be run down and actually libeled in the process. As I sit here today reading the screen captures of the conversations of those involved I have two very strong feelings. Hurt and anger.
I’ve found that many times over the past year those two feelings have spent entirely too much time in my life.
It is my resolution that going forward, I will not join groups and offer to assist them. When approached with an offer of streamlining process or assisting with enforcement I will say, thanks but no thanks. I will do my best to answer truthfully and directly and bow out of any support roles.
This year I am looking forward to getting my kilns fired and sharing my creations. I’m looking forward to spending time in the studio, taking photos and sharing that work with the public. I will present my work, accept the criticism and move on.
I guess really my New Year’s resolution is just like most 40 something women out there. I want to lose weight. The weight of anger and strife. The weight of hurt and discouragement. I want to deflect the words of those that would run me down, call me names and lie on me. I want to reflect that energy away from my soul and open it up to the positive of those near and dear to me.
To each of my dear friends I thank you for standing by me this year, through all the crazy drama and all the laughs and smiles. I will be looking forward to making this the best year yet.
I stand, resolute.
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
There and Back A-hen: Just a bunch of clucking nonsense with Melissa Chicky Cassick
New Year's Resolution
My New Year’s Resolution is to be more judgmental.
You read that right.
It should be easy for me to achieve. If there is one thing the internet is rife with -- other than porn -- it’s judgment.
Every day, so-called news stories appear, followed by thousands of comments, calling every action of the subject into question. (If the person is truly fortunate, he or she can be compared to Hitler in few steps.)
“How on earth could she leave the house in that outfit?”
“What kind of parent would allow their child to do that?”
“He’s a fool if he takes her back.”
We pronounce judgment on everything we see, instantly. We read, process, and judge.
And I am here to tell you:
It’s not a bad thing.
Who am I to judge? Well, I am a human. That’s what I am.
We judge. We observe, we cogitate, and we make a decision based on the information presented to us.
We learn to do this from earliest childhood on. Is this worth crying over? Am I full enough to stop eating? Do I refuse to brush my teeth, and accept the consequences? This is all based on a call for judgment. We are programmed to judge, because in many cases, our lives depend on it: Can we trust this person? Is it safe to cross the street here? Am I driving appropriately for road conditions? It is a vital, integral part of what human beings do.
Do we need to turn that off when it comes to other human beings?
I doubt we can. We may dismiss what we are thinking about with an, “oh well – who am I to judge?” but the judgment has already been made. We are simply making an effort to resist acknowledging it, either to ourselves or others. I judge every word that I hear, every action of a loved one, every piece of paper that comes home in my child’s backpack. Why? Because I am supposed to. I was built to. I create who I am daily, hourly, by making these judgments and deciding what is pleasing to me and what is not, what I should like to emulate and what I should not. I build my morals and my personality based upon that.
We are the sum of what we judge.
What’s the danger of judgment, then?
It lies in the expression, and the suggestion of “correction”.
Example:
Who are you to judge how I raise my kids? Well, you’re a parent, an offspring of your own parents, a human being who observes. When I tell you what I did or said to my child, your very natural reaction is to think, “I would never do it that way,” or “That’s just what I would have done.” In fact, if you are a parent, the majority of your parenting style arises from critiquing the skills of other parents, and either attempting to emulate or avoid. How does that possibly hurt me?
It hurts me when you say it out loud, and when you tell me your way is better. It especially hurts me when you suggest my way is damaging to my child.
That’s when harmless interior monologue becomes:
“How on earth could she leave the house in that outfit? She needs to lose at least 20 pounds before putting on a skirt like that!”
“What kind of parent would allow their child to do that? He should have his sons taken away from him!”
“He’s a fool if he takes her back. She should just freaking kill herself.”
That goes beyond judgment, straight to condemnation and sentencing.
And when we react by saying, “Who are you to judge me?” we are really saying, “Who are you to externalize those thoughts, and express them to me? Who are you to imply that you are better than me?”
Not one of us is capable of completely turning off our brain’s demand to pass a judgment on all that enters it.
And that’s what keeps us alive, thinking, growing, learning.
I resolve to keep judging you. And I also resolve to keep my judgment to myself, and figure out how to use it to make myself a better person.
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
New Beginnings
As I sit here watching the snow fall and the birds lining up for the feeder, I am pondering what changes I would like to see for this new year that is only a sleep away. Some of those changes there is nothing I can do about. The world wide weather is beyond me to help change so we will simply have to learn ways to deal with what we brought on ourselves.
Other changes may be within our power to help along. I have already implemented some changes in my patterns. The morning ritual of watching national and world news has changed. I no longer watch the world news that is available on TV. It is so twisted and negative that it was coloring my entire day with a blanket of dark hopelessness. NO MORE! I refuse to have my day start with that. Now I watch local news mainly for weather and street problems and then turn to the Weather Channel to see what sort of weather I can expect. After that, I turn on music. Now my news comes from the internet and from other countries. Perhaps if everyone refused to buy into the garbage that passes for news in this country we could change not only our own state of mind, but also the content of what is force fed us.
I have made up my mind not to pass on negative and anger provoking items that come my way. Last night I was looking for something fun to watch and found Ghost Busters II on. The whole concept of the anger and negativity in New York creating a river of hostile slime seemed particularly appropriate for a New Year. Maybe the whole concept of "we are what we eat" should become "we are what we read". With this in mind, I started thinking about books that make me feel good and started looking for my copy of Robert Graves "The White Goddess". It appears to have vanished somewhere in one of our moves, so I went on line and ordered a new copy. Now I am open for any suggestions for books that are positive. Any ideas?
Two days before Christmas my husband reached the big 66. So now the question arises as to the when and if of retirement and what to do with all those hours. Do we fill those hours with pointless ways of staying busy or do we find something to do that makes a difference? I have done a lot of volunteer work down through the years with various organizations and found it both satisfying and fun. My husband has never had the time to indulge in "giving back" so now it will be his turn. What that giving back will be I have no idea at this time, but I am sure it will happen.
These are just the start of the changes I am making in this new year and I am sure that other things will occur to me as this next month drags by. January is always a month of change for me so who knows where it will lead.
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
Begin the Beguine…
My introduction to the ‘Beguine’ was a fabulous tap dancing number with Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell from the musical ‘Broadway Melody of 1940’. This couple danced to a song written by the incredible Cole Porter, and arranged in a swing style by the fabulous Artie Shaw. I love that song, but had no clue what a spiritual definition of a ‘Beguine’ actually was until recently. Admittedly, what brought me to this particular topic was not the search for communities of women living spiritual lives of Christian mysticism. I was searching for guidance and inspiration on how to shape and form my spiritual goals for the coming year. The song which came whispering in my mind over and over was ‘Begin the Beguine’...and so began my search. I have found more inspiration for me from learning about the real Beguines.
Beguines were single, Christian women who lived around the 13-16th centuries in semi-monastic communities of their own formation, influenced by the Franciscans. They lived lives of religious devotion in self-governing communities and were not under the jurisdiction or guardianship of male clergy. These lay women lived independently in these orders, but did not take permanent vows as nuns did. They were free to own property, get married, and have children. Beguines were an example of a ‘middle road’-women living devoted, spiritual lives…halfway between the common people and the solitary isolation of convent nuns. The only requirement was to do ‘good works’ while with the Beguines, and devote their lives to chastity and charity. The women were very often widows and would come to live their lives in religious and spiritual devotion amongst their like-minded sisters.
“Love flows from God to man without effort. As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings—thus they go whithersoever they will. United in body and soul, yet in their form, separate—“ –Mechthild of Magdeburg
Read the rest of this article at Mid-Stride Moxie
The new year. A time for new beginnings, fresh starts and facing the future. It's also the time to cut old ties, end unproductive cycles and saying good bye to negative people and things.
This new year starts with a new moon. Something that hasn't happened in 19 years. This year is pointing all signs towards starting anew.
The year of the Wood Horse. A time to act fast, buy that home, launch that business, travel the world, make a big purchase, get a promotion at work, have a breakthrough – take a leap and fly. If it’s right, then there’s nothing to think about. Just follow instincts.
Over the past week I've been preparing and meditating on what I want from this new year. What I want from myself. I'm not just a mother and a wife but also a woman. About 2 weeks ago, my father-in-law fussed me out saying it's great that you have sacrificed the past 6 years for your kids, to your marriage and husband but now is the time for you.
Aside from a few ppl and those that have been seeing me on social media, I have been using this past year to slowly discover what I want for myself. I've been on the path of returning my hair to its Goddess given kinks, coils and curls. (February 11th will make my one year mark part a relaxer. Woohoo!) I've slowly been losing weight, and cleaning my eating by cutting red meats, sugars and simple carbs.
This year my word will be PUSH.
P.ress
U.ntill
S.atsified
wit.H.in
Really it's self explanatory. I'm going to go strive to MY happiness.
Far too many years I've let the voices of my parents and their spouses and my husband's family control my internal peace.
This year, like I did in 2009, I'll be cutting out family who really don't care about the happiness, betterment or peace of my family while reconnecting with the elder members. I've already gotten their numbers and plan on making a conscious effort to open my family and heart to them. My moon sign is Scorpio, so yall know how hard this is.
This is my year of rebuilding and refinding myself. I can't wait to see how the goddess, particularly Kali (she's been calling me for a while), will lead me.
Saga's Spirit
Befana
Each year, on the night of Jan. 5, the Eve of Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, Befana comes to visit children, in Italy.
Who is Befana?
Befana is an Italian strega. A strega is an Italian witch. Befana has a large nose and chin with warts, carefully mended clothes, and tattered shoes.
She will enter the home through keyholes or down the chimneys and decide who has been good and who has been naughty. She fills the stockings of good children with all sorts of goodies. The bad children get coal, onions, and garlic. Instead of milk and cookies, wine and fruit are left for Befana. She doesn't have the sleigh with reindeer, she flies on her broom. She also uses her broom to sweep the floor of each home that she visits before leaving.
Read more at Saga's Cottage Blog
My store: Saga's Cottage
My spirit boards at Lapulia Studio
Facebook: Saga's Cottage
The Spice with La'Trice Lott
La'Trice is out this week with the flu. Please send energy for her swift recovery. In the meantime, Autumn Earthsong has agreed to step in and serve up one of her own spectacular recipes!
Hello everyone…for this edition of The Stew I’m sharing a wonderful, hearty stew recipe. It’s done in the slow cooker…perfect for something delicious to come home to… or those slow, snowy Sundays when you don’t have to go anywhere at all. Add a nice crusty bread and a salad and you have full meal!
Snowy Day Beef Stew
1 medium-size onion, finely chopped
2 medium-size carrots, cut into 1/4′ thick slanting slices
1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into quarters
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2 to 2 1/4 pounds lean boneless beef round, trimmed of fat and cut into 1″ cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsps dried thyme
1 can (about 14 1/2 oz.) stewed tomatoes
1/4 cup red wine or beef broth
1 package frozen peas, thawed
salt to taste
In a slow cooker, combine onion, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. Coat beef cubes with flour, then add to cooker and sprinkle with thyme. Add tomatoes and wine. Cover and cook at low setting until beef is very tender when pierced (8 to 10 hours).
Skim and discard fat from stew, if necessary. Stir in peas. Increase cooker heat setting to high; cover and cook until peas are heated through (10 to 15 more minutes). Season to taste with salt. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Blessings and Love, Autumn Earthsong
This Week in Astrology
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Capricorn by Josephine Wall |
Sunday, January 5
Great day for business, All Day
Monday January 6
Moon Void of Course from 4:44am-2:45pm then enters Aries
Tuesday, January 7
First Quarter Moon, 10:39pm
Wednesday, January 8
Moon Void of Course from 2:36pm -9:23pm then enters Taurus
Thursday, January 9
Great day for business, All Day
Friday, January 10
Great day for business, All Day
Saturday, January 11
Moon Void of Course from 5:58am-7:25am then enters Gemini
Mercury enters Aquarius, 4:34pm
Waxing Gibbous Moon, 8:51pm
Planets in Retrograde (Rx): Venus (until Jan 31), Jupiter (until Mar 6), Pallas (Jan 6-Mar 13, 2015)
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Weekly Divinations with Kallan Kennedy
Tarot: 9 of Wands| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Vanessa Tarot |
Clik here to view.
This week's tarot is the 9 of wands. This is a card of courage, testing, strength and resilience. It's that project you've come close to completing, but at the last minute, something happens that causes a setback, or a challenge pops up that you weren't expecting. The 9 of wands is here to remind you that you have what it takes to overcome this and come out victorious. Remember the platitude that it is always darkest before the dawn. The dawn will break, just hang in there and keep going. This is the final test before reaching your ultimate success; once this is over, you're free.You may have found hidden enemies and saboteurs recently. This is not a bad thing. It's simply an encouragement to be resilient and keep going- you're obviously doing something right. Recognize what you need to do to turn over a new leaf and move on. This is your time to draw a line in the sand, set your boundaries and stick to them. Be prepared to fight for your own self and sanity, and to come out stronger in the long-run.
Totem: Beaver
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| North American Beaver |
Beavers in the spiritual realm are the dream-builders and doers of the world. They inhabit both land and water, and are therefore very comfortable in who they are.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Eurasian Beaver |
Beavers are very family-oriented and fun-loving. Balancing work and play is one of their key skill-sets. It is wonderful to work toward your dreams, but you should never do so at the expense of your self, your friends and your family.
Kallan is a professional Tarot and Totem reader. If you would like a reading, please use the contact form at the top of the page. Pricing varies per reading, but prices are always reasonable, and in-kind trades are sometimes negotiable.
The Shameless Plug
My first gushing, shameless plug of the year is for Sterling's Fudge Emporium.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Click here for their website! |
My son grabbed up a piece of this delectable treat as soon as it arrived. His response? "MY GOD, that's amazing!" It was a five-star success in this household. The white chocolate/lemon blend is mixed to perfection. I've never had fudge this good- including my own!
Sterling's has been sending out samples across the country, and here are some of the reviews:
Sterling, I just wanted to leave you some Feedback on you Fudge. You have outdone yourself. For all of you out there looking for Gourmet Fudge, look NO further. I have not had a homemade treat like this in a very very LONG time. From the first bite to the very last, this was, at the least, Amazing. With either a glass of cold milk or a fine red wine it is a treat for both the taste buds and the mind alike. Something to savor. Not overly sugary or bitter. Extremely WELL done! Kudos to you on your new venture! You have a repeat and consistent customer here!!
One of the best I have ever eaten! My favorites are the Maple and Banana and Chocolate. It's not overly sweet with just the right amount of Mmmm tucked in it. Get the 2 lbs because you will not want to share!
Last night, I received a package in the mail. I wasn't able to get to it then, as it was in Berkeley and I was on the boat in Emeryville. Needless to say, I was pouting severely because I knew what it was - a block of lemon fudge from Sterling's Fudge Emporium, courtesy of Rose for my sampling pleasure. It was like knowing that the one present that you have been waiting for is sitting there, under the tree, and you can't open it!!! However, this evening, I was finally able to satisfy my taste sufferance, and believe me when I say that "satisfy" is far too tame of a word. Just the tiniest corner broke off when I unwrapped it, so that was the first bit to go into my mouth...and such delicate flavors burst upon my tongue that made my eyes roll back, a smile played on my lips, and an involuntary "Ooooooo" escaped. I was in heaven! I love white chocolate anyway, but this was positively divine! It melted in my mouth straightaway with just the creamiest texture, not the sicky-sweet that I've experienced with commercial products in the past - not by a long shot! This is the real deal! Now, were I making it for myself, I would probably add more lemon, but that's me. I'm a citrus nut. My wife actually eats lemons. Whole. No salt or sugar or anything. She remarked that it could use more lemon as well but, then again, I think she was expecting more of a lemon bar type of lemony, having only experienced your typical milk chocolate fudge in the past and not knowing what to expect. I, on the other hand, knew what fudge was and while milder than I was expecting, I still found it to be "just right". Thank you, Rose, for this wonderful treat - and rest assured, I will be telling my friends and joining your fudge-of-the-month club!!! Now to savor the remainder...oh, yeah!
OMGs - We had the Coconut Fudge and it was incredible. I highly recommend it! Eli used the words decadent and amazing!
Adrian Miles
I'm sitting here just moments ago, minding my own business; when a knock comes upon my door...
I am in Bacon Fudge HEAVEN ... OMG this is delicious ... Not just that, but it has a beautiful aroma ... You are a genius ... Smoky, salty, sweet, without being too sweet ... I had to put it down, and walk away
Anyone who loves bacon and fudge, will fall in love with this first bite ... Thank you Sterling's Fudge Emporium, you have a fan and customer for life!
TimandAlicia Babb Hopkins
Sterling,Thank you again for the fudge. The Lavender was absolutely delicious and I would recommend it to everyone,the chocolate from the bacon was also very very good I just could not get past the bacon in it but the other members of my family just loved it and it was their favorite. Melissa brought me over some Banana and it to was out of this world. Don't know what you are doing but keep it up.Thanks again and Happy Fudging!! Ha Ha!
This shop is located in Florida, but she sends all across the United States AND she even has a Fudge of the Month Club! You totally have to get in on this. Check out the Facebook Page and like/share.. they do GIVEAWAYS!
Ordering can be done through the Sterling's Fudge Emporium website. Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss out on!
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are copyrighted to their owners and are used with permission.
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Ordering can be done through the Sterling's Fudge Emporium website. Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss out on!
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are copyrighted to their owners and are used with permission.
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!