The Mystery forces metamorphosis upon us when we least want/expect it. The most difficult part is learning to embrace (not just accept) it. To open one's arms and envelop the change, pain and all, is an integral part of the process in our growth. Times like these require us to slow down, take life one moment, one hour, one day at a time. When we fight against it out of shock or dismay, we make it worse.
In my martial arts training, we had a mantra of "thought/no thought". It helps us to come to terms with ourselves, reduces anxiety and grants us a state of serenity. In that state, we accomplish more than we ever dreamed possible. I've personally experienced this on so many levels. It's a state in which I was able to break through physical boards and walls, but also through spiritual ones. Most of the time, I get asked how to achieve that state.
What I find is that the attempt is an action that causes us to think too much about it. It's really more about letting go and just trusting The Mystery (Universe/God/Goddess, insert your nomenclature here). When you just allow yourself to "be", you find that the answers are already there, and that you have everything you need to make things happen. Your will, your intent, your trust are the perfect tools to get you where you want to go. So, this week, I challenge you to try a trust-fall, and embrace the change and see where it takes you. ~ Kallan
Now, on to the Stew...
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Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, January 12
Each year on this date, a sacred solstice ritual called the Makara-Sankranti is celebrated by Hindus in India with saffron, songs of joy, and ritual baths in sacred rivers.
Monday, January 13
Saint Silvester's Day. Evil spirits are traditionally driven away with clanging bells on this night by villagers in Urnasch, Switzerland, where the pre-Julian New Year's Eve continues to be celebrated on this date. In pre-Christian Ireland, the thirteenth day of January was celebrated each year as the Feast of Brewing by the ancient and mysterious priests known as the Druids.
Tuesday, January 14
On this date in the year 1967, a psychedelic spiritual "pow-wow" called the Human Be-In took place in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event drew approximately 20,000 people (including Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary) and consisted of chanting, dancing, poetry readings, music, and celebrations of love and the unity of humankind. In Southern India, the three-day Pongal festival begins on this date each year to celebrate the January rice harvest, honor the great sun-god Surya, and give thanks to the spirits who bring the rainy season.
Wednesday, January 15
In ancient Rome, a sacred festival called the Feast of the Ass was celebrated each year on this date in honor of the Goddess Vesta and the ass that saved her. Vesta presided over the hearth and her temple was lit by a sacred fire tended by six virgin priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins.
Thursday, January 16
Each year on this date in the country of Indonesia, the fire-god Betoro Bromo is honored by Buddhist monks and pilgrims who gather at Mount Bromo. At the first stroke of midnight, offerings of food and flowers are cast into the volcano where the god is believed to dwell. On this date in the year 1976, the famous astrologer and author known as Zolar died.
Friday, January 17
Wassailing the Apple Trees, a ritual dating back to old Celtic Britain, is held annually on this date (the eve of the old Twelfth Night). A traditional libation of cider is poured on the roots of apple trees while an old invocation is sung to the tree in order to ensure fertility and to drive away all evil-natured supernatural entities.
Saturday, January 18
In the country of China, the kitchen-god Zao Jun is honored with prayers and offerings of sweet rice cakes each year on this night, which marks the end of the Chinese year. For luck, paper images of the god are burned and dried beans are thrown onto the roofs of houses.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week,
Karen
Saga's Spirit with Loren Morris
The Wolf Moon and Home Protection Spell
January's full moon has many names. One of them is the "Wolf Moon". This year the Wolf moon will be on January 15th. The Farmer's Almanac says that the wolves used to howl in hunger, in the cold and snow, outside the Indian villages by the light of the January full moon, and that's how the moon got the name.
I ran across a beautiful tale about the wolf howling at the moon, I prefer to believe this as the reason for the name. I'm going to shorten it a bit for you, because my racing mind came up with another spell. It stems from a discussion with my two witch sisters, The Three Little Pigs, and the name of the moon in January. It's a home protection spell.
Anyway, the story:
Long ago, on a clear and cold night, the very first wolf came forth from the forest while chasing a rabbit. As he emerged, he caught sight of the moon for the first time. He was entranced by the beauty of the moon. In those early days the moon was full each and every night. She hung so closely and bathed him in silvery light, he was quickly brought to tears.
In his love for the moon, he ran to the highest mountain and called out to her. He wanted nothing more than for the moon to notice him. He sang and sang his love for her. He continued his singing into the night with his love bursting forth in longing.
Read more at Saga’s Cottage Blog
My shop: Saga's Cottage Storybook Art
The Witch's Cupboard with Autumn Earthsong
When I think of January and Winter…along with snow, ice and cold temps, bare trees, quieter days and early dark nights, I think of colds and flus too. LOL I know, but I’m a nurse. And I’ve had a cold and/or flu this time of year..I’m sure you have too!
So I have picked Elderberry as my herb for January. Elderberry syrup is my main reason for picking it. I’ll get to that in a minute.
 |
Picture courtesy of Wisconsin State Herbarium |
The Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) bush/tree is a large deciduous shrub with corky gray-brown bark. Corky because the inner pith of the stems is easily removed. Its leaves grow on both sides of the stem. Tiny white flowers bloom in early summer followed by berries that are green, then red then black. The berries are harvested in the fall and used when fully ripe. Eating the red or green berries can cause stomach issues..don’t recommend it! Unripe berries can actually be poisonous when taken in large quantities. The ripe berries, when cooked are perfectly safe. These berries are often cooked into pies and jams, a wine and elderberry syrup. The syrup can be put on pancakes or waffles, blended in smoothies, blended in your hot tea or even made into a cocktail!
The medicinal use of Elderberries and Elder flowers has been a well loved folk remedy in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa for centuries. Elderberry is an antioxidant, lowers cholesterol, boosts the immune system, improves vision, improves heart health and is an anti-viral…..great for coughs, colds, flu and viral infections. Elderberries contain Vitamins A, B and large amounts of C. They are a mild laxative, a diuretic and diaphoretic which aids in lowering fevers. Using elderberry can help prevent flus and colds and if you have it…they help to reduce the symptoms and shorten the illness. Elderberry is also an anti-inflammatory and can help with asthma, and urinary and bladder inflammation. As you can see, Elderberry is a wonderful thing to have in your cupboard…it’s like a full medicine chest!
In History and mythology, the Elder tree was associated with the Goddess Hulda in the Norse tradition and later it was Freya who dwelt in the Elder tree. Hulda was Queen of the Faeries and the Lady Elder. It was believed that Hulda protected those who cared for an Elder Tree. It was also a gateway to the Fae and if you fell asleep under an Elder Tree you would wake up in Faerie world. The Elder tree was considered sacred to this Goddess, and the tree's gifts were regarded as her blessings. It was commonly believed that Elders were inhabited by a tree dryad who was thought to represent the soul. Thus, Elders were often planted around homes and farms where the Goddess could be asked to protect the caretakers through prayers and offerings. It was believed that cutting down an Elder was prohibited except to use the leaves, flowers or berries for magickal or medicinal purposes, and the tree dryad or Goddess must be asked first! Also, in Christianity, it’s believed the cross Jesus was crucified on was Elder, and that Judas hung himself for betraying Jesus, from an Elder tree.
Now let’s talk about magick. The Magical Properties of Elderberry is as follows:
Gender: Female
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deities: Holda, Venus
The magickal properties of Elderberry is Protection, healing, prosperity, sleep and exorcism. Some ideas for how to use Elderberry for magick:
-Place bundles of leaves and branches at your front door
- Scatter Elderberries to the four corners for protection
-Plant a tree in your yard
- Carry any part of the tree on you for protection ie..throw dried berries in your pocket
-Elderberry oil or water was used in blessing rituals.
-make a branch into a wand
-make and drink Elderberry wine and offer it to the Gods as a gift
-Go ahead and take that nap under the Elder…go visit the Fae!
I will most definitely be planting an Elderberry tree in my yard this Spring! Next time, you'll receive my recipe for Elderberry syrup. You are going to love it! In the meantime, stay healthy and think about getting some dried elderberries in your cupboard for the Winter. You’ll want them after you see my recipe !
Blessings and Love,
Autumn Earthsong
There and Back A-hen: Just a Bunch of Clucking Nonsense with Melissa Chicky Cassick
“Brrr…”
My new favorite movie is “Frozen” – because I can relate. No, I can’t make ice and snow appear. But the refrain of the Snow Queen’s show-stopping song is, “The cold never bothered me anyway…”
I can relate.
The old farmhouse I grew up in was heated with an ancient oil furnace, aided and abetted by a large wood-burning stove. My father loathed paying for heating oil. To confound my sisters and me, he drove a nail into the thermostat upstairs, preventing us from turning it above 62. Keeping the wood-box filled was one of my jobs. It required a heart-pounding descent down icy stone steps into the spider-infested outside cellar. My fingers freezing, I would pile as many logs into my arms as I could, to avoid a second trip. Then dash back upstairs to dump them -- checking first to make sure that no cat had taken residence in the warm wooden box while I was fetching.
During the famed Blizzard of 1977, we heated with the stove only, shutting off the rest of the house. My sisters and I were alone, my parents stranded in town. They thought they had time for one more run for supplies before the storm hit, but they couldn’t get back out to the farm. We spent eight days in the kitchen, sleeping on the floor, and eating our way through mom’s fruit cellar – canned pears, canned peaches… pickled beets? But we weathered the storm, and I felt like a hearty adventurer.
Our house was on the banks of Tonawanda creek, which had a habit of disregarding said banks, and taking residence in our basement, yard, and driveway each spring and fall. A surprise thaw hit right before Christmas one year. My mother and I returned from holiday shopping to find the last quarter mile of the road to our house impassable. The headlights of our Ford Gran Torino station wagon, dubbed the “Tank” by one of my sister’s boyfriends, sank below the water as we tried to convince it that it was really a submarine.
Alas, nobody told the engine, which coughed indignantly and then died. No choice left to us, Mom and I opened up our doors, and walked through the ice-strewn water, which reached my waist. My mother later marveled at how calm I remained, and how matter-of-fact my reaction to water seeping through the floorboards.
The cold was in my blood, and I discovered I shared my father’s loathing of high heating bills. I rented a house as an adult, and the first gas bill of the season sent me flying to the phone to cry foul. The estimate was based on the usage from the previous winter, when another family lived there. I obligingly provided a meter reading to the surly woman at the heating company, who responded flatly, “That’s an abandoned house.” No. It’s the home of a woman who owns MANY pairs of fuzzy socks and warm sweaters. And my friends knew to bring the same cozy accessories when they came for a visit.
Brian and I chose to marry in February, when the glittering icicles draped from the eaves of our church’s sanctuary plunged all the way to the ground. Snow fell the day of our wedding, creating a perfect blanket of white around the snug stone and glass building. The loveliness of the sparkling night took my breath way, and my goose-bumps were caused in equal part by the chill, the beauty, and my handsome husband.
I have dreamed about Antarctic exploration, climbing in the rigging of the Endurance as a member of Shackleton’s brave crew. I have pictured my ancestors toasty warm in their longhouse, two or three generations gathered around a crackling fire, eating deer meat and singing. I have imagined myself a Canada goose, winging above snowy tundra, and plunging into icy waters.
My mother used to say that exposure to the cold was good for you, because it thickened the blood, making you more resistant to illness. Of course that is not literally true, but you know I love a good metaphor: we can learn to adjust to anything that we must. No amount of complaining will melt the snow; no power of will can force the mercury higher on a numbered tube. So you adapt: add a second pair of socks, tuck in a thermal undershirt, button your coat all the way to the top, and get out there to marvel at the clean, white, sparkling perfection. Touch an icicle. Examine a snowflake. Look for the tiny tracks of snow birds, searching for winter berries and treats. Trace the crystal patterns of frost on a puddle. Listen to the crackle and crunch of the ice beneath your feet.
The extremes of Nature are testament to her tremendous power, but even in bone-freezing chill, our Mother gives us works of art.
For that exquisite beauty, the cold is a small price to pay.
Uncharted Seas with Cap'n Dave
The one thing that appears to be on everyone's mind at the moment is how freaking COLD it has suddenly turned! Record-breaking temperatures all across the Midwest, marching down into the southern states, cold that is even lower, in some places, than the surface of Mars???
Yes, the weather outside is indeed frightful, and I'm sure that everyone is done with wanting to just let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Visions of tropical destinations dance in their heads and suddenly the notion of hibernation doesn't sound so bad! Go to sleep when the cold hits, wake up when it's warmer. I'm fine with that idea!
Yet while our attention is focuses upon one thing - extremes in temperature - we tend, as a species, to lose track of other things. We focus on that which is bad, yet don't dwell for too long on things that are good. Happy things are fluff pieces, yet Armageddon gets ratings. Why is this?
Our entertainment consists of violence and car chases, while things that make us laugh tend to be due to someone else's misfortune. Is our race so mired in negativity that movies focusing upon positive emotion are looked at as merely "chick flicks", and woe be to any guy who watches them on his own?
This is what I'm seeing, and it gives me extreme pause, especially when I find myself enjoying a good action flick like The Avengers, V for Vendetta, or The Matrix...all of which are very violent movies. Hell, I even write stories with conflict in them! Battles, warfare, strife...oh, we cheer when the bad guy gets his, but I often wonder just why do we need to have conflict all the time?
Because it's exciting. Yes, deep down, we enjoy watching something crumble. It's in our nature to be violent, which is why so many religions focus upon keeping that violence in check...yet even religion gets co-opted, and soon we have the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the horrible things that continue to this very day...all in the name of God? What's that about?
Religions that truly seek to change the violent nature into something pure, something positive, something good, are looked down upon by the religions that are dripping in blood. Sadly, the latter are the majority religions, and they can't even agree with one another who is "right" so they war with themselves!
Our Gods are violent, our entertainment is violent, our nature is violent, and we focus upon that which is horrific, terrible, terrifying, while glossing over that which is wonderful and positive.
Can we change at all? Or are we so immersed in the bloodbath of the eons that we have drowned within it?
I'd like to think that we can change. It will be hard, yes, and it will require an extreme conscious and conscientious effort on behalf of each and every person on an individual level.
It starts with you.
Stay warm, stay safe, and stay positive!
Ashe'!
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
New Beginnings
January is a time for new beginnings. As part of this process I’ve started a new blog project. A friend of mine and Torchbearer for the Covenant of Hekate, share a list of questions that is used as sort of an interview.
I decided to create a blog around my devotion to the Goddess Hecate, called By Her Fires. On January 1st I started my first entry, “A Basic Introduction to the Goddess Hecate.”
As part of my dedication to the goddess I wanted to take part in this project as a way not only to delve into her mysteries but also as a way to share this information with others. I hope to be able to join my blog with other individuals who may be interested in taking part in the journey with me. The questions are set up in such a way that they can be applied to any deity. If anyone is interested in taking this new journey with me, feel free to send a message and I’ll add your link to the blog roll.
If you’re just beginning the path or a seasoned veteran this is a great way to learn more about a deity.
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
My shop: Sosanna's Closet
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
The Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony is held in January or February. When the dipper constellation appears in the sky directly overhead, you then wait for the new moon to be seen. The spiritual year begins after the new moon appears when the big dipper is directly overhead. You then wait 5 days after the new moon to begin the ceremony.
The ceremony traditionally begins with "The Stirring of the Ashes". This is a thank you for the blessings of the previous year. A ceremonial naming event gives the tribal names to all the babies born during the previous year and two dances are held. One is the Bear Dance and the other is the Feather Dance.
Bear Dance is a healing ritual and can be for either actual physical healing or spiritual healing.
Tobacco is usually burned on a fire to carry thanks to the Creator for the blessings of the previous year and as a plea for a good growing season in the coming year. Dreamsharing is an important part of the ceremony and is a way of understanding dreams by sharing them with the others. Helping someone understand their dreams is an honor. Sometimes it is simply a matter of an unresolved conflict but sometimes goes deeper than that or is a sign of an actual illness.
The next to the last day of the Ceremony is the Feather Dance and is one of thanksgiving to the Creator for the past year. Turtle shell rattles are used to set the rhythm for the dance. It is one of the four sacred ceremonies of the year.
The is a double purpose ceremony. It not only thanks the Creator for the blessings of the previous year, but also asks for blessing the coming year. Games are played that predict the new growing season. In a number of ways there are similarities to the the Imbolc celebration. People who live closely to the earth and her mysteries give thanks for those blessings and ask her help with what is to come.
The ceremony traditionally begins with "The Stirring of the Ashes". This is a thank you for the blessings of the previous year. A ceremonial naming event gives the tribal names to all the babies born during the previous year and two dances are held. One is the Bear Dance and the other is the Feather Dance.
Bear Dance is a healing ritual and can be for either actual physical healing or spiritual healing.
Tobacco is usually burned on a fire to carry thanks to the Creator for the blessings of the previous year and as a plea for a good growing season in the coming year. Dreamsharing is an important part of the ceremony and is a way of understanding dreams by sharing them with the others. Helping someone understand their dreams is an honor. Sometimes it is simply a matter of an unresolved conflict but sometimes goes deeper than that or is a sign of an actual illness.
The next to the last day of the Ceremony is the Feather Dance and is one of thanksgiving to the Creator for the past year. Turtle shell rattles are used to set the rhythm for the dance. It is one of the four sacred ceremonies of the year.
The is a double purpose ceremony. It not only thanks the Creator for the blessings of the previous year, but also asks for blessing the coming year. Games are played that predict the new growing season. In a number of ways there are similarities to the the Imbolc celebration. People who live closely to the earth and her mysteries give thanks for those blessings and ask her help with what is to come.
Notes from the Circles with Alan Heartsong
Grief for Pagans
It’s still winter, and during winter months death rates increase dramatically. Grief is part of the holiday season for a lot of families, as a result of this phenomenon. Some pagans I’ve spoken to have said “grief is grief, it’s a human thing, not a pagan thing”. They’re not entirely wrong, since it is a human emotion. The issue I have with that attitude however, is that as pagans we’re affected differently.
Don’t get me wrong, in spite of knowing about the cycle of life and how death is a natural thing, and in some cases a big relief, I know that
Grief
Still
Sucks.
If you’ve never lost a friend, watched a family member die, or had to make the decision to euthanize a beloved pet, then you may not be able to relate to this emotionally. However, reading this may help you in the future. If you’ve recently lost someone dear to you, I’m sorry if this post is a trigger for a flood of emotions, but it’s my hope that you’ll gain something useful out of continuing to read.
As pagans and magical practitioners, we play a more active role in the functioning of the universe. We actively reach out to spirits, deities, and the dearly departed as part of our spiritual lives. The attachments we form with other people frequently lead to telepathic bonding, shared images/sensations/emotions, etc. When someone we love dies, we *must* sever that bond and quickly in order to avoid keeping their spirit stuck on our plane and unable to move on.
Recently, my cat Simon died. I’ve had Simon and his sister Jezebel living with me for the past 13 years, since they were 4 months old. A few years ago, Simon had a nasty case of pancreatitis and hadn’t been really well ever since. Last Friday, he was having trouble breathing so I rushed him to the emergency vet. I got home around 1am, thinking that with them watching him in the oxygen tent he’d be better in the morning and so I went to sleep. At 5am, I woke up with my heart racing, knowing he’d died. When I called the vet, I got it confirmed. While I was crying, I went to my temple room. As soon as I could talk coherently, I lit incense and a candle, called him by every single endearing name I could remember ever having used, and said “I bless you and release you because I love you”. I severed the bond so his spirit wouldn’t be trapped here, so he could move on to the Summerland.
It still hurts to write that, but no matter how much I’m feeling and no matter how many tears fall, I know that I did what I should have to release him from the loving bond we shared. I’m missing him terribly, but I’m not keeping his spirit prisoner here, and that’s a relief for me.
Because we routinely manipulate the mystic forces of the cosmos, we have to be responsible in all areas of our life. If you’ve lost loved ones and not released them, you don’t have to wait to do so. If you’re still grieving and being haunted by them, release them with love. Severing the bond doesn’t mean you stop loving them, it just means you don’t have them chained up in the metaphysical basement. And, it helps you move through the pain.
The other thing I do, is that when the pain hits and I’m trying not to cry, I purposely bring up a happy memory. By replacing the grief with a happy memory, you make it easier for yourself to remember the love instead of hurting. With Simon, one of those memories is of him and his “string on a stick”. It was a clear acrylic rod with a fuzzy rainbow string attached that he not only loved to play with, but he would play fetch with. That silly boy would drag it from other parts of the house to where I was so I’d play with him. I could throw the stick, and he’d go grab the string and drag it back to me. There were a few times that I’d wake up in the middle of the night and find the string laying across my throat. I never was sure *quite* what message he was trying to send, so I’d call him my little Mafia cat and hide the string before bed for a few days.
You can do this with your loved ones too, and you will find it helpful. If you work with a group, don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Grief is one of the most disempowering emotions I have felt, and you have to let people help you rebuild your strength. Letting friends help you is also a gift to them.
The other thing to keep in mind while grieving, is to purify yourself and your space regularly. I’m still smudging daily, because I’m exuding grief vibes all over the house. I’m dousing myself with a purification potion (ie tea made from purification herbs with some love thrown in) before I get out of the shower. This is how you avoid creating a depression spiral in your living space. Plus, the act of doing something positive for yourself like this helps stave off the helpless feeling that grief can bring to you.
With enough work on it, you will find the grief easier to bear, and then you’ll just remember the love with just a little melancholy. Some time after that, even the melancholy feelings will fade and you’ll just be left with the love and the happy memories.
I am not trained in either psychology or psychiatric medicine, but these simple methods have worked for me over the years. I have lost best friends, pets, and dear family members and struggling through each of those losses got me to where I am today, with better tools to handle the emotions.
I hope you remember the love.
Blessings,
Alan
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
I can’t stand the idea of New Year’s resolutions. By this time, literally two weeks into the New Year, most people have broken their resolutions, even if is a thought in their minds of how they are going to try to get around the promises they just made to themselves. However, that is really not the problem I have with them. Resolutions are submissive in nature. They are created as a way of getting one’s life back in a proper, respectable and compliant line of thoughts, words and deeds with the rest of society. Nothing shocking that will lead to others feeling jealous, less than, etc. Everyone can be the same and strive to gain the same tired, craptastic virtues (whether they really want them or not). To me, New Year’s Resolutions are just a way of taming our wild natures…like herding sheep back in their pens. Make a list of do’s and don’ts and the world is back to being nice, neat, and orderly…
F*ck that sh*t!
I am a Witch…my true spirit self is born of the Wild Woman. My Goddesses are spirit sisters of the cosmos…wild and ever-changing natural beings…magickal and magnificent…fierce and fabulous! We tend to play small to appease those who cannot handle our true, divine selves. We speak quietly around those who do not believe in their own power and cannot abide that we revel in the glorious spiritual energy of our own. There is a magnetic pull in us that draws others of a like mind in toward us. We are meant to guide, to love, to teach, to bring joy to the lives of others. Religious beliefs, race, ethnic background, culture, class, etc don’t matter in the least. My energy is connected with every living thing down to a cellular level. We are meant to dance and raise the spiritual vibrations of the world, not put them into a spiritual coma! We often hear about what kind of ‘carbon footprint’ we will leave on the planet. I ask you, what kind of spiritual footprint will you leave?
More than once I have heard men and women say, “This is going to be OUR year! I just know it is!” Funny, they say that every year and very rarely do things change. Folks have the ability to dream for a few moments but never to give voice to what they want. They fear judgment from other sheep; they fear being called ‘crazy’, ‘selfish’, ‘stupid’ and other such words. I used to trot in line like others, but I have not worn those kinds of mental and emotional shackles for a very long time. Why do we cower when we are made of stars? Why do we behave like tamed animals when we are meant to fly freely? We are spiritual beings meant to Know, to Will, and to Dare. Yet still we do not act. We make lists…we plan…we talk of changes…we do not act…we do not change.
We feel isolated and lost, but we don’t engage the spiritual energy which already connects us to everyone and everything. We buy into the bullshit that quiets us down and separates us from the world. We come to believe that there is no real abundance and that the resources for happiness in the world are finite. How dare we hope to have love, joy, passion, creativity, or magick? We can’t all be happy, loved, creative, joyful, beautiful human beings, can we? Of course we can, because we already are! Is that to say that we won’t ever feel bad, tired, angry, or sad? Silly-we are fallible human beings after all! We will always have up days and down days…life is about finding the balance. But if you tell yourself you don’t have a right to want or ask for more than what the ‘controllers’ tell you what you are allowed to have…well, then you will always be settling for less. My goal is to be myself-no matter how many people are uncomfortable when I am happy, sad, angry, smart, stupid, funny, joyful, clumsy, spiritual, peaceful, loud, etc. The only thing I will ever be is me, and I will only play the parts in this life as myself and by my rules. Perfect? No way, that’s not possible and it’s also kinda boring! But, there will be no restraints on my soul…no box to put my spirit in for safe keeping…no fading of the colors in my rainbow…no place to hide the light of my Wild self. You don’t have to like me, because I am comfortable in my own skin and your approval is not necessary. Your company, however, would definitely be welcome for the next dance, sing-a-long or lengthy, juicy discussion!
Start a spiritual self-revolution of your own. Dare to overthrow the ideas in your head and in your environment that do not serve to support the wild, loving, fantastic spiritual self that you are! If you are willing to throw away that wish list of how you can be like everyone else, I will happily show you how you can be your true self. Deep inside, we all sense the magick within ourselves and others. Like attracts like-we learn to listen to the hum or spirit, to feel the energy, to hear that beautiful song that magick sings to us. Others, well…don’t. Some are just lost and waiting to find a way back to it. And still others will try to tame you, make you sit still, be quiet, and dim the light you shine so bright. Break free from the rules of conformity and be who you are meant to be. Let this be the year when you start a revolution! Defy the old rules of what and who you were told and taught that you were allowed to be. Let this be the year your spiritual self comes out to play. And if you need a little encouragement from time to time, just let me know and I will happily be your spiritual coach and cheerleader. Be bold, be bright, be daring, be joyful, be alive….be YOU!
“Don’t bother keeping resolutions…Get up and start a REVOLUTION!!”-Adelina Soto Thomas
The Spice with La'Trice Lott
Most of the country is in the grips of powerful winter storms. My little corner of the world is experiencing record low tempatures and, the largest amonut of snow in 20 years. I don't know about you but, this type of weather brings to mind 2 words: COMFORT FOOD. One of my all time favorites is Chicken Pot Pie. I use pre-made pie crust but, if you and dough get along, go for it and make it from scratch. Also, this recipe is divided into 6 individual pies, feel free to make one large pie, if you like.
Chicken Pot Pie
1 lb cooked chicken, cubed
1 stick of butter, divided
2 Carrots, peeled and diced
2 Stalks of celery, diced
1 med., yellow onion diced
1 cup potatoes, cooked and diced
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
3 cups chicken broth, warmed
1-1/2 cups whole milk, at room temp
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 pie crust
6 ramekins, buttered
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out pie crust. Using a bowl slightly larger than the ramekins, trace and cut out 6 circles to top pies. Place cutouts in fridge until ready to use.
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large dutch oven. Add carrot and cook for 5 minutes. Add onion and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onions are translucent and carrots are soft.
Add the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter and let it melt. Once melted, add flour and stir often while cooking for 2 minutes.
Pour in chicken broth and milk and let simmer until mixture thickens about 6-7 minutes.
Now add frozen peas, corn, chicken, herbs and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheets. Distribute potatoes evenly in the ramekins.
Spoon pot pie filling into ramekins and top with pie crust. Using a sharp knife to cut vents in the crust
Place tray in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until crust is brown and flaky.
Let cool for 10 minutes, then DIG IN.
This Week in Astrology
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| Capricorn by Melissa Findley |
Sunday, January 12
Moon Void of Course (VoC) from 4:22pm through the rest of the day.
Monday, January 13
Moon VoC until 7:24pm then moves into Cancer
Tuesday, January 14
All's Quiet in the Heavens (prep time for the full moon)
Wednesday, January 15
Full Moon in Cancer 11:52pm
Thursday, January 16
Moon VoC 12:31am-6:00am then enters Leo
Friday, January 17
All's Quiet in the Heavens
Saturday, January 18
Moon VoC 3:51am-8:23pm then enters Virgo
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Pawsitively Witchcraft
Hi there, I’m Tiffanie Or T.K. depending on who you talk to or what time of day it is and I’m here to add a doggie bag of delights to your weekly stew. So Sit, Stay and Wait for pawesome tips & tricks and random info about including your favorite furry (or scaly) pals to your witchy workings.
By now everyone knows that when the weather turns hot you need to make sure you pets have plenty of water, but did you know that it’s just as important during the winter months? Most pet owners normally only look for the signs of dehydration during the hot summer months but dehydration can also occur just as easily during a cold spell! So I’ve teamed up with Luna (the amazing white boxer) to give you some tips and advice on keeping your pup hydrated during this cold snap!
How to check if your pup is hydrated or not.
Step 1- Monitor your pup’s water intake.
If your are not filling up that water bowl with clean water at least once a day(or if your dog is like Luna 3x a day) then you need to start keeping a closer eye on your pet’s drinking habits.
(Luna would like to add that while toilet bowl water is super delicious to canine kind is not a suitable water source. *grumble grumble*)
To give you an idea on how much water your pet needs to be drinking, they say that a pooch needs around one ounce of water for each pound of doggie body weight per day. That means if your pooch weighs 5 pounds they need to have at least 5 ounces of that universal solvent (water) every day.
Step 2- Skin Elasticity Test
Don’t worry this super simple test is not only free to do, but takes only a few seconds. This is a super simple way to help you find out if your pup is dehydrated. To perform the Skin Elasticity Test you gently and lightly pinch the scruff (or the skin between your pups shoulder blades) and lift it about ONE inch or so. Kind of like when mama dogs lift up their pups. Also you are not pinching hard here, just firm enough to get ahold of the skin. Now let it go! What your looking for, is to see if the skin retains elasticity by snapping back into place. I.E. If when you let go your pet’s coat should instantly regain its former shape, lying flat on your dog again. If it does that then your pup has passed the test and is nicely hydrated. If it does not snap back into place and slowly goes back into place or doesn’t seem to move at all means that your pup receives a failing grade and a trip to your vet is in order ASAP! I recommend performing this test every day! That way you can know immediately if there is a change in your pet and monitor them so you can catch things early!
Step 3- Convincing your stubborn diva pup to drink more water
This is actually a fun step! There a number of cool ways to get your pup to drink more water that do not involve a funnel and duct tape. (What? I swear I’ve never done that…ever….) So what is a concerned fur-parent to do? The answer is TRICK THEM! Here at Paws Out HQ I simply add a little flavor to Luna’s water bowl. Her personal favorite is Peanut butter. You can either add a little bit of PB2 (which can be found at any grocery store next to the peanut butter aisle. Or, you can add sodium free chicken or beef broth! I just add a splash or too and Diva Dog Luna goes bonkers and laps up the whole bowl! I’ve also seen pet parents take a bit of regular peanut butter and just mix it with water until it’s soup instead of using the powdered peanut butter. Now make sure it’s low sodium or sodium free. Sodium equals salt which kinda of defeats the purpose of getting your pup to drink more water.
*I do know that they make special waters and all kinda of additives you can buy at the pet store but those tend to be high in sugars and have all kinds of strange chemicals and what not. So I personally can’t endorse them. *
So there you have it. 3 awesome tips to keep your pups hydrated!
By now everyone knows that when the weather turns hot you need to make sure you pets have plenty of water, but did you know that it’s just as important during the winter months? Most pet owners normally only look for the signs of dehydration during the hot summer months but dehydration can also occur just as easily during a cold spell! So I’ve teamed up with Luna (the amazing white boxer) to give you some tips and advice on keeping your pup hydrated during this cold snap!
How to check if your pup is hydrated or not.
Step 1- Monitor your pup’s water intake.
If your are not filling up that water bowl with clean water at least once a day(or if your dog is like Luna 3x a day) then you need to start keeping a closer eye on your pet’s drinking habits.
(Luna would like to add that while toilet bowl water is super delicious to canine kind is not a suitable water source. *grumble grumble*)
To give you an idea on how much water your pet needs to be drinking, they say that a pooch needs around one ounce of water for each pound of doggie body weight per day. That means if your pooch weighs 5 pounds they need to have at least 5 ounces of that universal solvent (water) every day.
Step 2- Skin Elasticity Test
Don’t worry this super simple test is not only free to do, but takes only a few seconds. This is a super simple way to help you find out if your pup is dehydrated. To perform the Skin Elasticity Test you gently and lightly pinch the scruff (or the skin between your pups shoulder blades) and lift it about ONE inch or so. Kind of like when mama dogs lift up their pups. Also you are not pinching hard here, just firm enough to get ahold of the skin. Now let it go! What your looking for, is to see if the skin retains elasticity by snapping back into place. I.E. If when you let go your pet’s coat should instantly regain its former shape, lying flat on your dog again. If it does that then your pup has passed the test and is nicely hydrated. If it does not snap back into place and slowly goes back into place or doesn’t seem to move at all means that your pup receives a failing grade and a trip to your vet is in order ASAP! I recommend performing this test every day! That way you can know immediately if there is a change in your pet and monitor them so you can catch things early!
Step 3- Convincing your stubborn diva pup to drink more water
This is actually a fun step! There a number of cool ways to get your pup to drink more water that do not involve a funnel and duct tape. (What? I swear I’ve never done that…ever….) So what is a concerned fur-parent to do? The answer is TRICK THEM! Here at Paws Out HQ I simply add a little flavor to Luna’s water bowl. Her personal favorite is Peanut butter. You can either add a little bit of PB2 (which can be found at any grocery store next to the peanut butter aisle. Or, you can add sodium free chicken or beef broth! I just add a splash or too and Diva Dog Luna goes bonkers and laps up the whole bowl! I’ve also seen pet parents take a bit of regular peanut butter and just mix it with water until it’s soup instead of using the powdered peanut butter. Now make sure it’s low sodium or sodium free. Sodium equals salt which kinda of defeats the purpose of getting your pup to drink more water.
*I do know that they make special waters and all kinda of additives you can buy at the pet store but those tend to be high in sugars and have all kinds of strange chemicals and what not. So I personally can’t endorse them. *
So there you have it. 3 awesome tips to keep your pups hydrated!
Weekly Divinations with Kallan Kennedy
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| The Vanessa Tarot Deck |
Weekly Tarot: The High Priestess" A pure, exalted and gracious influence. Education, knowledge, wisdom, and esoteric teachings. The forces of nature. Intuition, foresight, and spiritual revelation of the most mysterious and arcane sort."~facade
The High Priestess is the guardian and master over intuition and all things esoteric. She represents wisdom and serenity, and knows how to unlock the secrets of The Mystery and Her magics. She teaches through a more Socratic method rather than lording her attained knowledge over others. She fosters power from within, rather than power over- she does not believe in controlling others.
When she arrives in a tarot reading, it's usually to advise the querent that he/she has the answers within, and that sometimes it isn't necessary to act to attain our goals. Sometimes our force of will, combined with allowing the seeds of desires to blossom and grow.
Take some time this week to just be still and know that your power comes from within. You'll be amazed at what that can do for you.
Weekly Totem: Swan
Swan
Key Words: Grace, Beauty, Self-empowerment, Transformation
The Swan is one of the most powerful and ancient of totems. It is found in nearly every indigenous culture’s totemic line-up.
Swans in Nature
Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although they may eat small amounts of aquatic animals.
Swans normally mate for life. The male swan is the only bird in nature known to have a penis. The male is extremely attentive to and protective over his family.
Some swans have a wingspan of nearly 10 feet. Their wings are extremely strong (they could beat a man to death, easily). Swans can fly as fast as 60 mph.
The Mute Swan is actually the most vocal of all species. They have 8 different sounds in their repertoire.
They are not known to be aggressive toward humans, and actually can remember the face of those who have been kind to them in the past.
Swan Totem
Swan’s message is that it's time you began realizing your own true beauty and recognizing your power from within. A Swan totem heralds a time of altered states of awareness and the development of intuitive abilities.
Swan people have the ability to see the future, and have a great aptitude for ‘going with the flow’. They can adapt to changes in their lives with grace and dignity. They are extremely intuitive and have strong psychic abilities. They know who is calling when the phone rings. They are strong (a swan can beat a man to death with his/her wings) and beautiful. Some are silent, some sing beautiful songs. They tend to attract people easily, although most prefer smaller groups.
You may have read Hans Christian Andersen's tale, "The Ugly Duckling", but did you know that it's a prevalent tale in many cultures?
In Native American mythology, there is a story of how Swan (as an ugly duckling) meets with Dragonfly (the keeper of dreamtime mystery) and asks for entrance into the Dreamtime. She tells Dragonfly that she is willing to submit to whatever plan The Mystery has for her. He takes pity on the poor ugly creature, and allows her to enter the Dreaming Lands. Several days later, he encounters Swan again, but she is now one of the strongest, most beautiful creatures he has ever seen. He asks her what happened, and she tells him that because she was willing to submit to the flow of the currents of the Dreamtime River, and was willing to see the beauty in all things that shaped her, her form was changed.
Swan encourages you to discover your strength and beauty from within. All of the events and situations that have transpired in your life have shaped you into who you are today. This is cause for celebration and not despair. Embrace your unique beauty, skills and gifts and allow the current of Dreamtime to work its magic to transform you.
Kallan Kennedy is a professional tarot/totem reader. Please use the contact form at the top of the page if you'd like a reading from her.
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 and 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!