Last week's horoscope article spawned a lot of good conversation over on Facebook. Renee' has a follow up for you. Melissa's not only talking about squishy things, but is filling in for our beloved La'Trice, who is ill. Loren's taking us to the next chakra level in her series, Lina's talking about being Child-free by choice, and Ariel's talking love. Just in time for today's new moon, Johanna's teaching us about a New Moon garden as well. We have a very special guest artist with us today, so be sure to check out our final piece at the end of today's stew. Karen and I have all of your standards covered, so let's dig right in!
Happy Birthday this week to Mika Hills, Kerry Hansen, Ariel Marie, Tee Yems, Nonna Kae, Raheni EverydayMagicCast, Theresa Chase, Lise Silverwolf, Sandi Crawford, Epona Willow, Jess Carlson, Jo Anne Stone, and Ygraine Lennox. May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life be filled with the very best of good things in abundance!
In the News
Edmonton Witches' Market
Remembering Witch Hunting in Gambia
'Religious Zionism Tantamount to Paganism'
Pagan-Wiccan group explains components of niche religion
Pagans, witches and spiritualists recruited by British Armed Forces - according to figures on soldiers' religion
Here's the True Story of Ohio's Last Witch Hunt
Man Breaks Egg at Court. WITCHCRAFT! rules court.
Witchcraft Disrupts School
New group provides community, dialogue for UCA pagans
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, March 30
The annual Iranian New Year celebration begins on this date and continues for thirteen days. Bonfires are lit and sacred rituals involving eggs and mirrors are performed. A Pagan religious festival was held each year on this day in ancient Mesopotamia to celebrate the sacred union of the God and Goddess, and to give thanks for the creation of the human race.
Monday, March 31
On this date in ancient Rome, the annual Feast of Luna was celebrated at moonrise in honor of the beautiful and powerful Goddess of the Moon and lunar magick. On this date in the year 1848, the famous Fox Sisters supposedly made communication with the spirit world at Hydesville Cottage in upstate New York. Their famous seances gave birth to the popular spiritualist movement, which was all the rage in the United States and England from the mid-1880's to the early twentieth century.
Tuesday, April 1
The month of Venus begins with April Fool's Day (also known as All Fools' Day), an occasion for playing practical jokes on friends, family, and coworkers. This custom dates back to olden times, when inmates of insane asylums were allowed out in the streets for one day each year for the sadistic amusement of those who were (supposedly) normal.
Wednesday, April 2
The old Pagan custom of "carrying death away" is carried out in certain regions of Germany on this day. In celebration of Winter's demise, special straw dolls are burned in sacred bonfires or "drowned" in sacred wells.
Thursday, April 3
In Iran, on the thirteenth day of their New Year, special bowls containing sprouted seeds are traditionally cast into the rivers as offerings in the belief that the bad luck of the previous year will be carried away. The Goddess Persephone's annual return from the Underworld, allowing the Earth to bloom again, was celebrated every year on this date by the ancient Romans.
Friday, April 4
The annual festival of Cybele, the Megalesia, was celebrated on this date in ancient Rome. She was a Goddess of fertility whose cult originated in Phrygia. Her male attendants were self-castrated priests and worship of her was wild and orgiastic.
Saturday, April 5
Festival of Kuan Yin. Every year on this day, Kuan Yin (the powerful Chinese Goddess of healing, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness) is invoked for protection, love, mercy, and wisdom. Offerings of incense and violet-colored candles are placed on her altar, along with rolled-up pieces of rice paper upon which various wishes have been written.
Have a great week! See you next time with more Pagan Lore,
Karen
There and Back A-hen: Just a Bunch of Clucking Nonsense with Melissa "Chicky" Cassick
I am a woman of impulse, I admit.
When someone has a need, my impulse is to help. I think most of us are like that. I find it frustrating when I am unable to help in a practical fashion. With friends on the internet, the best one can do is say, “I will be thinking of you.” I know it helps the person to know that other people are concerned, and hoping for a positive outcome, but for me it is never enough.
When one is closer geographically, I can find a practical way to be of use: bring a ladder over for the friend painting her new apartment, sort belongings with the friend preparing to sell a house, watch the children of the friend who suffered a loss in the family.
And so last summer, when my friend Trixie (you may safely assume this is not her real name) expressed despair over her living situation, I did what any impulsive, well-meaning, practical woman would do: I said, “Come live with us.”
Now, don’t for a minute think I meant forever. But I knew Trixie was trapped in a difficult situation. The apartment she was occupying was owned by an in-law, and theirs was a rocky relationship. Each day brought a new issue for her. It is hard to save money for a new apartment while still paying for the current one. I thought that inviting her family to live with us for a short time would remove them from a toxic environment, and allow them to save up for a more suitable place.
Trixie agreed. Her eldest son is the same age as mine, and they happily shared a room; one playing “MineCraft” and the other “Call of Duty,” but also emerging now and then to eat ramen noodles and torment the younger siblings. My younger son shared a room with Trixie’s younger son – who is the same age as my youngest daughter. The three of them kept each other busy all day, playing school, acting out scenes from “Frozen,” riding scooters, and bouncing on the trampoline.
As for the adults, Trixie and her husband took the upstairs bedroom vacated by one of my boys, and my spouse and I remained where we were. We shared household duties. We watched each other’s kids. Trixie and her husband are both smokers, so whenever they went outside to indulge, they cleaned up the yard, took garbage out, or shoveled the drive. We took turns cooking, and it was a blessed relief to me to have days that I didn’t have to contemplate dinner.
To us, all of it seemed perfectly logical, and far easier than one would imagine. Trixie’s friends were incredulous, though, pondering why Trixie had not moved them in with her parents instead. “Why on earth would I want to do that?” she mused, “They have NO extra room, and there would be no one for my kids to play with!” The school had a hard time comprehending as well, when she enrolled her kids in the district. They refused to list her phone number on her own children’s contact forms, listing mine instead, since I was functioning “head of the household.” One administrator warned her direly, “You know, Mrs. Cassick can kick you out any time she wants to. You have no legal protections.” Why did it seem so difficult for people to grasp that sharing space like this was not a horrendous hardship, and I was never going to leave someone I cared about homeless?
Winter proved more difficult financially than they had expected, and they elected to wait for their tax return to arrive. Now the real challenge: finding an apartment they could afford, with three bedrooms, within our school district, that would allow their dogs. (Did I mention the dogs? No? There are dogs.) Their patience was rewarded with a gorgeous apartment only three streets away from us, with everything they desired PLUS gleaming original woodwork and a balcony. On April first, our cohabitation ends, and we become two separate families again.
And it will be strange, I admit. I will miss Trixie popping downstairs to watch television with me on the evenings our husbands both worked. I will miss hearing our older boys yelling at their video games and comparing notes on middle school teachers. I will miss the young ones prancing through the living room in dress-up outfits: Trixie’s youngest grinning in hat and hot pink platforms, my youngest in princess dress and red heels. I will miss boisterous dinners, when it took the whole meal for everyone to share their highs and lows of the day.
What did we learn from this experience?
There is always a way to help.
Anything is possible with a little planning and a LOT of will.
You need less space, and less stuff, than you think you do.
There are foods in existence that every member of both families will eat.
Your family is who you chose it to be.
In the end, I think I might just be every bit as grateful as Trixie is.
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
Horoscope Revisited
Happy NEW MOON! Last week I share a post regarding the changes to the Zodiac that appeared in an article from 2011. The article I found in Time magazine referred to report from the Minnesota Planetarium Society adding a new sign – Ophiuchus, to the mix and with that addition it rearranged the entire structure of the zodiac as we know it.
Your astrological sign is determined by the location of the sun on the day you were born. So based on the rotation of the earth and where the planets are aligned on the day you were born. Ophiuchus was actually already a sign but was removed by the ancient Babylonians. So the sign was there, we just didn't use it.
Our earth has a slight wobble that causes a pull on the moon changing its location ever so slightly. This isn't a new thing, it’s been around for millions of years. When this was announced again in 2011 astrology websites exploded with hits. People were freaking out over changing their signs. I experienced something similar last week, with comments here on the Sunday Stew page, personal messages on Facebook and even a discussion thread about it on Kallan’s wall.
Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer (see my attraction) has been around for thousands of years. The sun travels through it and babies are born with their sun in this constellation. The myth of Ophiuchus is that he became a healer when he killed a snake and another one appeared with an herb in its mouth that healed the dead one. Pretty cool story. But an old story.
The love affair the public has with their sign is age old. Nearly as old as Ophiuchus being ejected from the lineup. Our *new* signs are actually quite old and even when it was announced in 2011 by Parke Kunkle, even he said he doubted it would make that much difference to those who were happy in their sign.
As a Piscean, I can say that I’m pretty happy as a fish. I know that many of the traits are wishy washy and emotional but I’m ok with that. I’m not sure I could have pulled off Aquarius as well. But who knows, maybe that little wobble will turn me into a snake!
With the number of years behind the current astrology set up, and the fondness humans have for their signs I do not believe that we’ll see any changes to this line up. EVER.
So, no fear my pretties, your sign is safe.
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
I chose to be Childfree long before I came to walk a Pagan path. I never wanted to have children. I am not a child-hater (despite what many have said about me), I just prefer the company of adults rather than kids. I have been aunt to three rather dysfunctional adults (one is actually okay…just a bit of an enabler). The biggest surprise for many who learned I am Childfree was that I worked with kids for 30 years of my life in Social Services and Child Protection. Yes, I protected kids and still didn't want any of my own….go figure…
When I was younger I was pressured by my Christian friends and family as a “woman”, “a good Christian”, and “a responsible adult” to have a child of my own. I was told it was my ‘duty’ to have a child and raise it according to God’s laws. I asked about adoptive children and was told that was ‘not an option’ for me at that time. After all, I was young and even if there were ‘problems’ there were fertility centers that could help women fulfill their ultimate spiritual role. I finally said that I didn’t know if I wanted to have children at all and I was told that it was my holy obligation, as a woman and as a Christian, to have my own children as long as I was physically capable of giving birth. Seriously…
Soon after, I found my way to Wicca and Paganism. Being CF came up almost immediately as I found myself confronted by the worship of the Great Mother. I was a young woman and there were plenty who didn't accept or understand my choice. It was common to hear, ‘Oh, you still have plenty of time’ or ‘you’ll feel differently when they are your own’. No one I spoke to could help me reconcile being a CF woman on a path that venerated mothers as part of the sacred cycle of life…a role I would never play. There were groups that celebrated the joys of birth and motherhood from menstrual rituals on forward. I felt like there were too many people who insisted my identity and purpose in life was directly tied to what came out of my uterus. I felt like a spiritual failure and a defective Pagan woman.
At one Pagan festival, I was feeling particularly gloomy. A woman came to me and asked what was wrong and I just blurted out my frustrations. She listened and had a gentle smile. “There is more to being a mother than giving birth to babies. You can raise animals or plants…you can teach…you can nurture pets, friends, family, or strangers…you can give birth to your creative spark through cooking, gardening, painting, writing or music. Goddess does not need you to have babies…you nurture what makes you happy and the world will be better for it. That’s all Goddess wants for you. ”
That changed much of how I walked my path. I began to see creation in all its forms as celebrations of the sacred. I felt more a part of the spiritual path I was guided to than ever before. Art, love, music, food, joy were all acts of creation that I could engage in and connected me with the Divine. I finally came to hear more from men who felt the same as I did and how their CF choice impacted their experiences on the Pagan path as well. I was not alone…I never was.
The path I walk now as a CF Witch is still rough at times. Walking through the mundane world which is certainly ‘child-centric’ can be difficult for any CF person on any path. There are still many of us who are struggling with acceptance for who we are - regardless of spiritual path - because we are CF by choice. Not wanting to have children is not the same as not wanting a good life. We don’t have to hide who we are and what we chose as much as we used to in fear of being ostracized. However, it’s still a difficult balancing act for many. I still deal with it myself. But for any who need to reach out, I offer my hand in friendship and support…one CF individual to another…one spiritual being to another. Let us find what sparks your joy and nurture it together…
After The Stew, Come have Dessert and Coffee with Lina each Sunday at: Mid-Stride Moxie
Saga's Spirit with Loren Morris
This week will be the 2nd in the Chakra Series. Your energy centers are important to your health and well-being and your relationship with the Universal Energy. As I said last week, they are your spark plugs in your "vehicle". We want your vehicle to be a running smoothly, so let's give it a tune-up. This week's focus is on the Sacral Chakra, the Svadhisthana. Svadhisthana means "one's own abode".
Whereas the Root chakra was all about learning to love yourself and developing your relationship with yourself to give yourself a good foundation in the world, the Sacral chakra is all about developing your relationships with other people in your life. It is about your movement in this world of ours. Your flow of movement. It is your center for developing your emotions and sexuality. This is your pleasure center.
The Sacral chakra is located at your genitals. It's associations are: the sense of taste, the water element, your hands, the deities Vishnu and Rakini, and Sobek (a crocodile fertility symbol). Its color is bright, brilliant orange. It resides over your urinary tract, reproductive system (men and women: ovaries, testicles, womb, genitals), kidneys, and your bladder. It is represented by a 6 petal lotus.
Read the rest of this post at Saga's Cottage Blog
Not Your Grandmother's Gingerbread House: Generation Y Witchery with Ariel
It’s a cliché, but still an undeniable truth that there’s a lesson to be learned from every relationship, good or bad. In high school, my best friend and I used to get together with a couple of other pagan friends to share in magickal practice. Sadly, when college rolled around, they went away to school while she and I stayed local. So, it was just the two of us for awhile. The only pagans within our age group that we could find were each other; that is, until the fall semester of 2012. That was my first semester back in the United States after being abroad and it was also the semester we met Sam and Casey (names have been changed).
Sam and Casey were great, and absolutely refreshing. The four of us did everything together-we hung out on campus, at my dad’s place, we went to Sam’s and did rituals; we celebrated the Sabbats together and went shopping at occult shops. On Samhain, we all went to the Witches’ Ball and had a wonderful time. Sam and Casey introduced us to more of their pagan friends, as well-it was a very social experience and it allowed my best friend and I to realize a daily practice was something that we had been neglecting. The few months we shared were very imaginative and creative, but after some time things got carried away. Sam and Casey started to get a little too literal and a little too dangerous.
Terry Pratchett describes it as ‘cackling’. He says in his book, Wintersmith: “ ‘Cackling’, to a witch, didn’t just mean nasty laughter. It meant your mind drifting away from its anchor. It meant you losing your grip.” Sam and Casey were definitely cackling. I remember being in the car with Sam, once; he was driving and realized he had left one of his necklaces (which he considered an amulet of great power) at Casey’s. He started getting very upset and lost control of the car before I calmed him down and called her so she could look for it. In another instance, Casey’s boyfriend physically attacked Sam and his plan to defend himself was to chant a ‘spell’ (which obviously did not work and should never be a method of defense in any instance).
Ultimately, my best friend and I decided we had to part ways with them for our own safety, but we did learn a few things: never let your imagination get you too carried away, always keep a good head on your shoulders, but also have fun and look for the magick in everything around you- including instances of everyday life. Even now, all this time later, I still miss Sam and Casey and I still talk about them, but whenever I think about those few months we shared, I don’t remember the trauma-I remember the good times we had, and that comforts me. That was the greatest gift they could give me-those memories; they give me comfort when I am sad and make me appreciate the life I am living in this moment, in this body, and in this time, on this planet; and memories are eternal.
When we were friends, Sam and Casey liked to say that I had ‘dark magick’ and they liked to pretend to be spooked by it, but I know the love that they had for me was genuine. I felt it, and that feeling is something that I hold on to. That’s why this week, since the topics include Veneralia and the Festival of Kwan Yin, I want to honor Sam and Casey and the goodness that they brought into my life, despite the bad times; that same goodness which I have bottled up and can get a taste of whenever I need to.
Magick in Motherhood with Autumn Noel
My 19 month old is whining, I’ve burnt the garlic bread; I kiss my husband in greeting as he walks through the door. The dog needs out, my floors are sticky and I’m trying not to give into my pregnancy nausea that’s been ailing me for fourteen weeks now. Bath time is calling, I’ve got to work in the morning... did I ever dry that load of laundry? My mind is going a million miles a minute…but then I catch a glimpse of the candle lit on the corner of my stove, next to a little silver medallion, and a tiny bowl etched with stars and moons. I take a deep breath and reach for my “lucky” spoon; I stir my spaghetti sauce and quote in my mind from one of my favorite blogs “I am one with the goddess and open to her wisdom”…
It took me a long time to get here, happy in a simple day-to-day, almost “boring” version of paganism. When I began my path with a basic knowledge of paganism, I hunted for months and months, online and reading books, asking questions to what I consider “big names in the blogging community”.
“I’m so busy” I thought “These things are too in depth for me; I just have no idea how to be a witch” There was no way my average life would ever be so magickal; so spiritual, as to what I’d been reading for the past months. So I got flustered, and decided to cool it for a while. I had learned a lot in the past few months, but still nothing was clicking. And then one day, I had a little awakening, a realization… Maybe everything I’d been living for the past 27 years or so had already been magickal and spiritual.
Perhaps there wasn’t really any specific way to make me more “witchy”. I’d always had a connection and love of seasons and celebrated them, I’d always lit candles at home in the evenings for good karma, I’d always cooked and planned dinners for my family, because I wanted them to know how much I loved them, I’d always believed that the Divine is One in several different representations. So with my new found realization I went on living my life. And as time went on, things began to shift and change naturally; an herb garden outback, a little bedroom alter for meditation and prayer, celebrations for each of the sabbats with my husband and little one…domestic witchery, is what I like to call it.
I’m Autumn Noel, and I’m the newest stew chef. I am 29 years old, a mother of soon to be two (in September!) and wife of four years to a pretty cool guy. My life is incredibly average and honestly, I really like it that way. I tend to my little one, cook and clean, do the laundry, read bedtime stories and love watching weeknight TV on ABC (… Dancing With the Stars anyone?
My husband and I practice these moves weekly at our home…and we’re getting really good if I do say so myself.) Give all this a tiny (..and by tiny I am defiantly not referring to my waist line) “witchy” twist and I am one happy girl. I don’t have time for casting many a circle, and I don’t go around professing my witchy love to all of my neighbors, I’m really still in the broom closet. But if you look closely you’ll find solstice artwork hanging in my home and the shape of Gaia proudly displayed on jewelry, flower pots and even as a dolly in my daughter’s toy box. We whisper prayers at night to the God and Goddess, and wave hello to Mother Nature in the morning.
As you can see, my life is definitely not as magickal and spiritual as all the other pagans out there, but I am very happy here in my unforced, simple, domestic version of paganism. That’s what’s so great about this common faith/spirituality we share, we are all so different, but us witches are the most welcoming group you’ll ever meet! I am proud to be here and thankful for the opportunity to write for the Sunday Stew. I am excited to “get my weekly witch” on with you!
Brightest Blessings,
-Autumn Noel
The Magical Garden with Johanna Lawson
Most of us are now waiting for first frost dates to pass to get to planting outdoors while our seedlings begin to emerge under lights indoors. Some of us are wandering through nurseries and garden centers taking notes of which plants we must have for our gardens. Some magical gardeners in warmer climates may already be seeing green leaves and bright blossoms (lucky!) while some of us in cooler regions may still be struggling with snow or wind chill factors (boo-hiss!). Whether we are in a hold pattern or in full bloom, no magical garden should be without some sort of wildlife visiting, nesting, or working there. With the new moon’s arrival today and the moon in Her first quarter all week long, it is a perfect time to invite feathered, winged and furried friends to our gardening spaces. Doing this deepens our connection with nature and with Mother Earth, creates small ecosystems to help our planet, and strengthens our magic.
Existing gardens may already have a regular rotation of seasonal visitors or year-long inhabitants. You may know what birds arrive when and which flower brings the most bees. Perhaps you live in or very near woods or wild areas and already have an abundance of wildlife that grace your garden. But maybe you want to bring a certain type of butterfly to your garden or attract a bird that has remained elusive in your years of gardening or bring more bees for pollination. Perhaps your vegetable garden gets chewed up by a pesky unwanted insect every year and you want to bring the bugs that will keep it under control.
Take a few minutes today and hit the books or the internet. Research that bird or butterfly you have longed to see among your flowers, shrubs and trees and what its favorite things are. What does it like to eat? Where does it like to nest? What type of plant or flower is a host for its larvae? What bug eats those aphids? Please keep in mind your region while doing this. For example, if you would like a Cerulean Warbler to roost in your yard for a bit but live in, let’s say, Montana, you may be sorely disappointed. Where you live is sometimes unfortunately not a native region for the bird, critter, butterfly or bug.
Jot down some notes on what you will physically need to plant, make, buy or repurpose to bring this creature into your garden. Then it’s time to work on the magical portion of the program. Design a ritual or write a charm for calling the creature to your yard. It need not be anything fancy or ceremonial. Tonight, head outdoors and do your magic. Ground and center yourself. Cast a circle if you so desire or are performing a ritual.
Aided by the magic of the new moon, call out to this creature with your spirit, telling them that your garden offers them all they need – nourishment, protection, a place to birth their young, to name just a few examples. Envision the creature living, feeding, nesting, happy in your magical garden. Hear its song. Hear the flap or buzz of its wings. Hear its little feet scurrying across the ground. Leave a small offering, maybe something associated with the creature, like honey if you are calling to bees or sunflower seeds if you are calling to birds. Then, this week work towards that goal. Hang that feeder, build that bird house, or plant the seeds of its host plant. Continue that silent call to the creature as you work. This can be done for those who have patio, courtyard or rooftop gardens too.
Now, don’t think I haven’t thought of the people who have no outdoor gardening space to themselves! Hang a windowsill planter outside a sunny window. Plant some flowers specifically for bringing bees, butterflies or hummingbirds. There are small bird feeders and bird houses that cling to windows too. If these are not allowed where you live, as is the sad case with some apartment buildings or condo communities, just head out to your local park or community garden and just send out that silent call to see the bird or butterfly you have always wanted to see or the one you know would be beneficial to the natural community. Visit that place often and keep your eyes and ears open!
A few words of caution: Some neighbors may not take kindly to a raccoon, a groundhog or a swarm of bees. I live in a row home and my own yard has attracted many different creatures over the years. My neighbors have, on occasion, complained about the amount of birds or the curious groundhog that appears every March. (Fine! Blame the nature-loving, gardening witch not the loss of habitat from the new shopping center!) I just try to calm their fears, educate them about the garden/habitat I have created, and send them happily on their way with a handful of herbs for cooking.
If your township has a problem with whatever creatures are visiting your gardens, try to have the rules changed if it benefits the natural community or ecosystem, or when all else fails, sadly, comply with the rules. Also, NEVER approach raccoons, groundhogs, skunks, foxes or any other wild creature for a selfie opportunity, hand-feeding or any other reason for that matter! I don’t think I need to explain why.
New Moon Blessings to you all!
The Spice- with Guest Blogger Melissa 'Chicky' Cassick
Editor's note: our beloved La'Trice Lott is down with flu/strep. We send her love and healing blessings and wish her a very speedy recovery! In the meantime, Chicky has graciously agreed to fill in for Trice with her usual flair. Enjoy!
Polish Cooking for Clueless People Who Married into Polish Families
Every summer, my community holds a Polish Heritage Festival. When the music and laughter come wafting from the Town Park, my husband and I exchange a long, deep look, link up hands without speaking, and walk the block and a half to the pavilions and tents. Perhaps he is pulled by the swelling of the Borczynski blood in his veins. Maybe I am tugged by the beat of the polka bands, playing long into the night.
Whatever draws us in, it is the food that ties us up and forces us to stay.
Pierogi! Golabki! Chrusciki! These are more than just made up swear words we allow our children to use. These are recipes every Polish child should be taught by a heavily accented, scarf wearing grandma. They are sacred.
I remember eating my first full platter of these delicacies, spooned onto my plate by a young woman behind a makeshift counter. The caterer was a well-known Buffalo establishment, renown for Polish cuisine. Brian and I sat down, picked up forks, and dug in. He compared each bite to things his grandmother and great-grandmother had made, remarking on textures and spices. I simply shoved forkful after forkful into my disbelieving mouth. This… This… was paradise! This was art! This was a symphony! This was… cabbage. Cabbage? Really.
Cabbage. Potato. Dough. Grease. Frying pan.
Congratulations, reader, you have just graduated from Basic Polish Cooking school. How did they make such amazing variety of food with these simple ingredients?
“I know how to do this,” I said to Brian, through a mouthful of fried dough and tasty tuber. “You take a starch, fill it with fat, wrap it with another starch, and cook it in another fat.”
Brian paused, fork hovering above the sausage. “Yes, that’s pretty much it.”
I have also learned how to fake out a name for things I invent. A perusal of Polish recipes online will reveal that names vary by region, and spelling seems a rather optional requirement. My formula: Take any two consonants, add a vowel, add four more consonants, and stick an “e” or and “i” on the end.
Thus I created:
Dwomkzce, pronounced “dump-chkee.” I’m going to say it’s potato and bacon, wrapped in a cabbage leaf, wrapped in a flaky pastry, dropped into hot oil, drained and served with horseradish.
You laugh, but I bet it’s served at next summer’s Polish Heritage Festival.
Chicky’s Cheater’s “Golabki” Casserole
This is what happened when I tried to make cabbage rolls to impress my mother-in-law: plenty of cabbage, but not so many “rolls”. This was easier and tasted yummy. I leave out the tomato sauce that appears in many versions, because my husband doesn’t care for it. Feel free to adjust in any way you like! There are as many varieties of Polish recipes as there are Polish cooks!
1 head of cabbage
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic; about half a bulb if more is desired
1 pound ground turkey
1 ½ cups cooked brown rice (I use instant; white is okay too)
salt and pepper to your taste
Remove core from cabbage, and slice into ¼ - ½ inch strips. Place in a large bowl, cover with warm water to soften, and set aside.
Saute onion and garlic in melted butter at low to medium heat until softened. Raise heat slightly, add ground turkey, and cook until browned. Remove from heat.
Drain the sliced cabbage. In a large bowl, mix cabbage, ground meat mixture, rice, salt, and pepper together thoroughly -- use your hands and really dig in there!
Butter a 9x13 baking pan. Spread the whole mixture into the pan. (If you have extra because your cabbage was bigger, just use a bigger pan or make a second smaller one to share.)
Bake at 350 for about an hour. I usually cover the pan for the first half hour to keep it moist. Alternatively, if you like a moister casserole, you can add chicken or vegetable stock.
Traditionally served with sour cream; I use lowfat plain yogurt to make my kids truly resentful.
This Week in Astrology
All times EDT
Mars Rx until May 19
Saturn Rx until July 20
Sunday, March 30
New Moon in Aries, 2:44pm
Great Day for Business!
Monday, March 31
Great Day for Business until VoC
Moon VoC from 4:06pm through the night
Tuesday, April 1
Moon VoC until 1:20am , then moves into Taurus
Wednesday, April 2
All's Quiet in the Heavens
Moon VoC 2:03am -7:47am, moves into Gemini
Waxing Crescent Moon, 5:03am
Friday, April 4
All's Quiet in the Heavens
Saturday, April 5
Moon VoC, 10:55am -5:39pm, moves into Cancer
Venus in Pisces 4:30pm
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Given that so many Astrologers are talking about this new moon and April, I wanted to share this with you. Many thanks to Lori Savko Perdue for the find!
The Weekly Divine with Kallan Kennedy
Kallan Kennedy is a professional tarot/totem intuitive with more than 20 years of divination experience. She offers private readings to her clients via her website, Secret Services. Order your personal reading today!
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| Londa Tarot |
This Week's Tarot: Four of Wands
Key Words: Celebration, Freedom/Release, Good Fortune
The Four of Wands heralds a dramatic, perhaps surprising change in life for the better. It is a time of celebration, family and fulfillment. Important projects will reach a new milestone. If you've been feeling trapped, the energy is right for you to claim your venue of escape. Enjoy your well-deserved rewards and entry into a cycle of good fortune.
This Week's Totem: Grasshopper
Keynote: Uncanny Leaps Forward
When grasshopper appears, it signals a time of leaping forward in your life. Grasshoppers like to find the sunniest places to rest. They know when to leap right to the warmest and lightest grassy mounds. They know the precise moment to make that jump. Those with this totem have phenomenal timing, and rhythm. Listen to your own intuition, because someone else's beat may not work for you.
Grasshopper's message is to listen to your own intuition. Don't listen to those who tell you it's never been done before, or that it can't be done. Remember, the grasshopper leaps up and forward- never backward in life. It's time to make a jump!
Pagan Art
Today, we feature the art of Miss Margery Cassick. She has colored a lovely picture of Eostre from the Pooka Pages Ostara Edition. We want to thank her for her contribution to this week's Sunday Stew. We hope we'll be able to feature more of her art again for our readership.
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 are used with permission.
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