The Sunday Stew: June 1-7, 2014

This week's stew has a definite Pagan flavor. Our chefs are enjoying a late spring and all the thoughts it brings.  Melissa is asking for your input, so be sure to read her article and comment below. Tiffany's sharing African wedding traditions, Renee's going outside, Kathleen is sharing crone wisdom, Johanna is magically gardening and Autumn's got a terrific recipe for lemon balm. We're cooking by the seasons with rhubarb and strawberries, and we have your news, Pagan Lore, astrology and divinations, as well. The Stew Crew welcome Rob Houck and his fantastic artistry to The Stew! Now, go grab that cup of java, and let's dig in!

Happy Birthday this week to Katie McBrien, Anita Bernyk, Rhonda Kachur, Pixie Nyx, Angela Tyman, Desba Claus Silvers, Noel Smith Harrelson, Sandy Hearn, Grace Okezie, Jennifer Morgan Moriarty, Melissa Chickyn-Jane Cassick, Nene Newson, Son ofMorrighan, and Deanna Smith-Powers. May this be your very best birthday ever; and may your next year of life bring you joy, prosperity, peace and all things you enjoy in abundance!

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Good Morning, Sunday Stew readers!  I wanted to start off the first Pagan Lore for the month of June with this beautiful quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who wrote:   “A noise like of a hidden brook. / In the leafy month of June, / That to the sleeping woods all night / Singeth a quiet tune.” 

I love the bit of mystery it conveys!  And now, on with this week's Lore:

Sunday, June 1
This is the Festival of the Oak Nymph. This Pagan celebration honors all hamadryads, the female nature spirits who are believed to inhabit oak trees. Decorate a Pagan altar with acorns and war some oak leaves in your hair. Kiss an oak tree or place a small offering of some kind before it, and the tree nymphs who dwell within it will surely bestow a blessing upon you.

Monday, June 2
Today is the Shapatu of Ishtar, a Pagan festival dedicated to the Goddess Ishtar which is celebrated every year on this date. She is the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian deity who presides over love and fertility as well as war. The birth of the god Apollo is also celebrated today.

Tuesday, June 3
The Festival of Cataclysmos is celebrated annually on this date on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This seaside ritual consists of prayers for the souls of the departed, traditional water games, and a sacred dance. In Japan, a Buddhist ritual for young girls is performed annually on this date, which is dedicated to the Goddesses Befana, Bona Dea, Kuan Yin, Rumina, and Surabhi.

Wednesday, June 4
Whitsunday, an annual Christian festival marking the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples, is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter (which normally falls on or near this date). However, like most Christian holidays, Whitsunday was at one time a Pagan fertility festival, which was celebrated in Europe with a "heathen feast" that marked the death of the spirit of Winter and the birth of the spirit of Summer.  According to English folklore, if a baby comes into the world on Whitsunday, he or she is destined to commit an act of murder or to be murdered.

Thursday, June 5
On this date in the year 8498 B.C., the legendary island-continent of Atlantis sank beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean in a cataclysm believed to have been brought on by the anger of the great god Zeus.  To ensure an abundant harvest, a sacred Corn Dance is held each year at this time by the Pueblo in the southwestern United States. It is dedicated to the Earth Mothers and the nature spirits known as the Rain People.

Friday, June 6
On this date (approximately), an annual festival to honor ancestral spirits begins in Nigeria. The festival, which lasts for one week, consists of street dancing, offerings of food and gifts to the Egungun, and ecstatic trance.  In Thrace, an ancient country in the southeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, a festival called the Bendidia was held each year on this date, which was dedicated to the lunar Goddess Bendi.

Saturday, June 7
The Vestalia, an annual festival in honor of the hearth Goddess Vesta, began on this date in ancient Rome. During the eight-day long festival, the shrine of Vesta was opened to married women. After the festival was over, the shrine was once again forbidden to all except the Goddess' attendant vestal virgins.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  See you next time with more Pagan Lore,
Karen

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Outside

This is a great time of year here in North Carolina.  We’re just getting into the really hot months. July, August and September are really hot for us.  June is really our last month of moderately temperate weather when you can go outside and feel the cool grass on your feet in the mornings.
While most people go to the beach, go fishing or other sorts of outdoor fun, when June rolls around I know kitten season is beginning.  Kitten season is when a lot of litters are born.  In managed feral colonies this can be seen as the busiest time of the year.

Many rescues will spend this time of the year trapping cats and getting them vetted.  I do my part by running a rescue.  I do fundraising as well as trapping, fostering and transporting cats and kittens back and forth when needed.

Many times, when we find an entire litter of kittens we can actually tame them, vet them and find them forever homes.  Our kitty socializers, colony feeders, drivers and supporters come in as volunteers.  They are the people who can spare an hour a day to head out and feed two or three colonies.  They are the people who offer to pick up from the vet and drive to the rescue.  These are the people who buy bags of cat and dog food and call us to pick it up.  They are the people who call our vets and add anything from $5 to $500 to our accounts.  We could not do what we do without them.

So as you step outside this summer and look for something to do; maybe think about checking out your local animal shelter for information on volunteering.  Check the Humane Society for links to rescuers that need your help.  Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org) is a great organization that helps volunteers get in touch with TNR groups in the area.

Being Pagan people puts us in a unique position.  We already revere the earth.  We already respect the bird, the snail, the otter and the whale.  We see ourselves as guardians of the garden.  If you have the opportunity, take that extra step to find a group that needs your help.  I know first hand that we can make a difference if we join together.

Anyone interested in donating or looking for help finding someone to work with in your area is welcome to contact me.

Namaste & Blessed Be,
Sosanna
)O(
www.facebook.com/reneesrescues
www.sosannascloset.com
www.confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com

When I was just a young Chick, we attended a Christian church, and I sang in the choir. I love to sing, and I’ll sing just about anything. I draw a line at thrash metal -- too hard on the throat. And I can’t rap. I’ve tried. It’s pathetic.

I remember a song called, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” It was written by a Catholic priest, and based on the bible verse John 13:35 - “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I ponder now -- pondering is a hobby of mine -- how would that phrase end if we substituted the word “Christians” with the word “Pagans”?

I teach my children that “love” is a verb: love is in the things we do for one another. It is not the emotion of love by which the song’s author claims Christians should be known, but by acts of love: which are visible, meaningful, and have an effect.

What are the actions by which Paganism would be known?

How do we know another Pagan when we see one in action?

I have read many articles lately about what is and what is not proper Pagan behavior. I understand the disconnect when the actions one observes deviate dramatically from the known constructs of the path, diverse as our paths may be. I use the judgments I make to attempt to sweep my own path clean of unseemly behavior. I get two points for witchy metaphors.

So I ask myself -- what makes me Pagan? What actions make me uniquely Pagan?

Imagine you spent a day with someone you knew only casually. At the end of the day, you mention that you are Pagan. The person responds, “I thought you were. I could tell by ____________.”

My visitor might notice how earnestly our household lives by the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle.” We consider need vs. want very carefully, buy second-hand, and are zealous about recycling everything we possibly can. Toilet paper tubes get a second use as guinea pig chews, and a third use, come to think of it, because I use piggy poop as fertilizer. Digressions aside, though, we are not unique among households for doing those things. Most people recycle, and have learned to do without. Lots of people hit up local thrift shops -- and if you see any purple dresses in my size, message me. Those things are part of what being a Pagan means to me, but are not what identifies me a Pagan.

Perhaps the person would know by my altar: the time and effort that has gone into creating the perfect space for items that help me clear my mind and focus.  But right now my dresser is doubling as an altar. They might think the wand, cup, and herb basket are just things I like, and my runes pieces of a particularly challenging version of Scrabble.

I think of my gardening, indoor and out, as intrinsic to who I am. But I’m certainly not the only person who grows veggies and herbs, so that’s no give-away either.

By my tattoos? Choosing to be marked in meaningful symbols would be quite a strong indicator, but that assumes my visitor would recognize the Triple Goddess symbol, and get a glimpse at my shapely ankle. Not that I am modest; I might have on fuzzy socks.

My guest could glimpse me under a full moon, whispering words of thanks and praise for the glorious beauty bathing me. I shan’t be skyclad: one chat with local police is sufficient. I doubt I am going to ask that visitor to stay over -- between family and boarders I am well out of rooms. Plus many months, I fall asleep too early: the challenges of being a Pagan who is not a night owl.
This imaginary visitor would know by a holiday celebration, yes? By my May baskets, carved pumpkins, fir tree in my living room--- oh, you know the problem there as well. My guest will know that those are the trappings of certain special days, but they might not realize that they are Pagan in origin.

So how would they know I am Pagan? How would they know you are Pagan? What would be revelatory to someone with just a passing understanding of what Paganism is? I think it is not one single action, but in the complex completeness of our day to day lives. Or does it simply not matter in the least whether anyone would know by our actions that we are Pagan? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Please feel free to share, in a respectful manner, within our comments section. Or feel free to tell me, “You have a lot of nerve, you nosy Chickyn. I will keep my thoughts to myself!” That’s fine, too.

African Wedding Traditions

Wedding season is here: white dresses, hundreds of dozens of floral bouquets, sharp tuxes and 3 piece suits, high heels, double side stick tape, billowing clouds of hot steam, and the flash of cameras.
Oh, the high stress of looking like perfection,  and the overwhelming emotions of this being THE day!

It's a great time to look towards the future, but this is also the time to look backwards to honor our ancestors, elders and families.
One of the common ways in the African American community is to jump the broom. 

It goes back to slavery times when we weren't allowed to marry. The broom signifies sweeping away what was before this day. We don't bring the emotions or drama from either family or friends into our new life as one. We have our broom displayed above our wedding curio. 

Something that is lesser known is hand washing.  

What is Essential?

Being a typical Virgo list maker, I have lists for all kinds of things. In fact, I have lists of my lists. Now I am working on a new list since my husband and I are giving serious thought to becoming Snowbirds.

I thought my list of what to grab in case of storm evacuation would be a good starting place. That one includes the fireproof box that has all of the really important papers in it, but it is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to what would be important for a new traveling life. Years ago I gave all of the family pictures and jewelry and keepsakes to my children who were interested in such things. Those are safe and I don't have to worry about finding some place to store them.

As I sit and think about what is truly a necessity, I realize how little of what we own really qualifies. We have boxes and boxes of stuff stored that haven't been opened in years. I have a feeling that anything that hasn't been opened in 5 years is not really a priority. My craft room is going to have to have a major shake-down, and I will force myself to part with a lot of it. Those empty containers that I have accumulated for years are going to have to go along with the really ugly fabric that I am never going to find a use for.

I clear out clothing twice a year so that won't be a huge issue, but what do I do with books that I have never been able to part with? Those I have to find a place for! You know the ones I mean; those books that are feel good parts of your life, and you reread them every year or so such as my bird book that lets me locate and identify any new bird that I am not familiar with. We have treasured pieces of art that have to find a home in the RV because I can't imagine life without them.

Right now our goal is to allow my husband to see this country up close and personal. His view of most of the country has been from 30,000 feet or from an interstate highway rushing to get to some destination. He has never had the leisure to just wander and experience this country. He has probably seen more of foreign countries than he has the USA. Plus, we would like to volunteer some time with VISTA. That sort of experience he has never had time for, either. So, as you can see, our next years are going to be busy ones but filled with things we have wanted to do "when we had time".

The Natural Magic of Planting for Pollinators

As Pagans, we celebrate the rhythms of nature – the turn of the seasons, the phases of the moon, and the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth – and our magic draws from the natural energies of these rhythms and cycles. Understanding the inter-connectedness of all living things and being good stewards of the land, we know that pollinators are essential to life on this planet. Unfortunately, today our world is becoming an increasingly unnatural place, disrupting those natural rhythms and cycles.  By planting to help keep the balance of nature for our pollinators, a magic that needs no ritual or ceremony is created in our very own backyards.

Many creatures are considered pollinators. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and birds pollinate the majority of the world’s crop plants. Without pollinators, the world as we know it would cease to be. We have all heard about Colony Collapse Disorder in which entire hives of honey bees have either died off or disappeared. Many scientists are now pointing to a specific chemical compound, neonicotenoids, as the main culprit in Colony Collapse Disorder. Neonicotenoids are found in insecticides and are a systemic pesticide, meaning they are taken up by a plant through its roots and distributed throughout the tissue of the plant, its stems, leaves and flowers, and even into the pollen and nectar. In a recent study at Penn State University, 121 different pesticides were found in samples of honeybees. But neonicotenoids do not only threaten honeybees. There are now studies being conducted on their effects on some of our most beloved pollinators, like the Monarch butterfly and hummingbirds. However, chemicals are not the only suspected reason in the decline of native pollinators. There are other contributing factors including loss of habitat, disease and parasites.

The good news is that we can help, we can make a difference, and, if enough people do it, we may start to turn things around before it is too late. It’s very easy and only takes some changes in our gardening practices. By doing it, you help restore some of that balance and rhythm in nature and witness some of the greatest natural magic you have ever seen.

First, and foremost, stop using pesticides! They are not good for you, your kids, your local environment, and the pollinators. In a perfect world, and if I was in charge, I would ban their use altogether. There are other ways of ridding our gardens and lawns of unwanted bugs and weeds. Avoid planting invasive species and plant disease and pest resistant varieties of plants. Try introducing beneficial bugs, those that eat the unwanted ones, to your garden. Remove pesky weeds and insects by hand. Know your landscape and your soil. By planting according to the needs and specifications of your landscape, you can avoid many plant diseases and infestations. It’s all about understanding the individual environments of our own backyards and how best to interact with them. All that said, I understand that sometimes, after all other natural methods have been tried, pesticides must be used but please do so only as a last resort and do so responsibly, always following the directions for use, storage and disposal on the product label. (That’s a Master Gardener PSA.)

When planting a pollinator-friendly garden, use a wide variety of plants – different shapes, different colors, and those that bloom from early spring through to late Fall. A garden that is blooming through most seasons offers a variety of food sources to a variety of pollinators. Always try to plant native flowers, shrubs and trees because they will attract the bees, butterflies, insects and birds that are native to your particular region. Try to plant in clusters so that pollinators can find these sources of pollen and nectar. Avoid planting hybrid flowers because often, in their attempts to create the perfect beautiful blossom for us, plant breeders have created a perfectly useless bloom for pollinators, with no fragrance, nectar or pollen in them. (I just learned that myself while researching this article!) To bring those beautiful and colorful butterflies, always put in a few host plants into your landscape. Host plants are those where butterflies lay their eggs and then, as the larvae emerge, act as food sources for caterpillars.

Lastly, pollinators, just like people, need water and shelter. Provide a source of water for all of the little visitors. Many of us are not so lucky as to have a pond, creek or stream on or very close to our property. So add a bird bath or two to the garden. Hummingbirds seem to be more attracted to moving water, so a fountain, sprayer or mister works well. A small area where water puddles is a good source of water for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. In fact, a good old fashioned mud puddle provides much-needed minerals for pollinators. You can create one in a little depressed area in the garden soil, lined with a few pebbles or flat stones. Pollinators need shelters and nesting areas too. A pile of dead wood, made from branches that were pruned or that fell in storms, offers a wonderful nesting area for some pollinators. Some bees nest in the ground during the winter and only need a bare patch of soil. If you do not have many trees and shrubs in your garden, add birdhouses for feathered pollinating friends to roost in bad weather or to build their nests. And never clean up your garden in the fall unless it is to remove diseased plant materials. Let the plants wither up for the autumn and just let them be. Many pollinators will overwinter in these dormant areas. Wait until spring to clean it all up.

Once your pollinator garden is planted and ready, sit back and watch the magic happen. It may be slow at first or you may have an instant flurry of activity. You will begin to see varieties of bees, butterflies and birds you have never laid eyes on before. In the few years that I have been gardening for pollinators (three to be exact), I have brought hummingbirds, blue mud dauber wasps, cicada killers, and mason bees, only to name a few new visitors, to my yard. I have also noticed a huge increase in the amounts of blossoms on my plants, almost as if they know they have more customers for nectar and pollen. Each time a new species of pollinator arrives, I know it is Mother Earth’s way of saying thank you to me for helping her continue to dance to her rhythms and through her cycles.

My Blog:  http://johanna-villagewisewoman.blogspot.com/

Nature's Most Wanted with Julie Baker

Life Outside

With the return of summer, comes the return of many living things that have been dormant, or have migrated away during the winter months.  The world seems to explode with new life and nature puts on the first of many brilliant shows.

For many this means herping season has started.  Herping is the practice of going out, and looking for reptiles and amphibians.  It’s like a treasure hunt, but most of us do not KEEP the treasures. We find them, capture them for the purpose of study, measure them, weigh them, photograph them and then let them go back into their environment.   Many people with the skills to do so, take it a step further and get blood, stool, and saliva samples which they can later test, or have tested to give them an idea of the general health of our indigenous populations.  Maryland, where I live, has 27 species and subspecies of snake, two of which are venomous, 21 species of salamander and newts, 20 species of frogs and toads, 19 species of turtles, and 5 species of lizards.  This makes for a Treasure trove of beauty for the curious adventurer.  With a few books in hand and a desire to learn a swath of woods becomes both stunningly beautiful, but also an educational wonderland.

The flora and fauna that surrounds us, even in small patches, teems with life.  Knowing about this, life helps us not only understand the world around us, but also to appreciate it. I personally feel, that those who claim an affinity or spiritual bond with nature should also take extra steps to learn about its various species, not just out of books, but up close, personal, and with a wide open curious mind.

My friend Mike adventures into his own back yard on a daily basis, armed with his camera, and his love, and find the most spectacular things.  Tiny creatures, leading tiny lives, he aims his camera at them and captures a frame of their tiny lives. He then shares them with others.  To show the world around him how these animals look to him. I personally admire his work so much; the depth of which he sees life is inspiring.   Here are just a couple of his captures:

From spiders to lizards to beetles and birds; from the shockingly bright color of tiny orchid mites to the flash of a hawk’s wing, we are part of the life around us. In the middle of it, and to know that we are connected to those tiny mites as well as that swooping hawk is to be able to know beauty in its truest form. 

Recipe using Lemon Balm

Happy Sun Day my friends!  Hope you’re enjoying the Stew this week and that all is well with you and yours.  Last week I told you all about Lemon Balm…one of my favorite herbs.  This week and next week I’ll be posting some recipes using Lemon Balm.
This recipe is VERY yummy!!


Lemon Balm Bread

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. fresh lemon balm

1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Zest of one lemon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 – 2 tbsp. lemon juice

Combine milk, one cup lemon balm and thyme in a saucepan; gently bruise herbs to release the oils.  Bring to a boil then remove from heat; cover and let cool.  Strain and reserve liquid, discard herbs.  Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs one at a time.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture, a small amount at a time, alternating with reserved milk.  Chop remaining 2 tbsp. of lemon balm and add to batter; blend in lemon zest.

Pour batter in a greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake at 325* for 45 mins or until wooden toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then continue cooling on wire rack.

Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice, mix until smooth and pour over cooled bread.

This bread is very lemony and nice.  Perfect with tea!  Use less zest to soften the lemon taste if desired.

Hope you enjoy it! I’ll be back next week with more Lemon Balm yumminess!!

Blessings and love, Autumn

Cooking By The Seasons with Kallan Kennedy

This feature stands in place of The Spice. Our beloved La'Trice is taking an extended hiatus from The Stew. We'll miss her!

Here, I will share recipes for foods that use ingredients in season (in North America). This week, strawberries and rhubarb are in season, so we're going to combine them for a delicious treat!

Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar (raw sugar is recommended)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3 cups diced rhubarb
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup rolled oats

photo credit: Allrecipes.com

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix white sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, strawberries, and rhubarb. Place the mixture in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Mix 1 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar, butter, and oats until crumbly. You may want to use a pastry blender for this. Crumble on top of the rhubarb and strawberry mixture.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until crisp and lightly browned.

Saturn until July 20

Mercury from June 7- July 1

It's time to play by the rules this week, kids. The Emperor is all about authority, structure, and doing things by-the-book. This card is often associated with legal matters, disciplinary actions, and officialdom in all its forms. 

If you are facing difficult choices, this energy is going to help you stay focused and maintain self-discipline. If you are in a leadership role, you may be called upon this week to exercise a firm-but-fair hand with those who follow. You may have discussions concerning contractual agreements, profit sharing, subsidies or management.

If you have a strong desire to see your ideas manifested on the physical plane in the form of material gain or accomplishment,  an opportunity will arrive that could be the foundation of a very successful future.

~ also known as the American jackal, brush wolf, or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It occurs as far north as Alaska and all but the northernmost portions of Canada. The coyote evolved in North America during the Pleistocene epoch 1.8 million years ago, alongside the now extinct dire wolf. It fills roughly the same ecological niche in the Americas that is filled in Eurasia and Africa by the similarly sized canids called jackals, among which the coyote is sometimes counted. Its closest living relative is the gray wolf.

The coyote is an amazingly adaptive animal. Native American lore is rich and plentiful where coyote is concerned.  Coyote is both creator and trickster. He is filled with magic, but it doesn't always work as intended. Therein lies the lesson- coyote always bring hidden wisdom with his trickster magic. 

Those who carry coyote medicine are known to be pranksters, and like the coyote, they tend to get caught up in their own machinations. In many stories, coyote makes things more complicated than they have to be. 

Coyote teaches the balance of wisdom and folly. These two go hand in hand. The ability to not take one's self too seriously is the epitome of coyote medicine. 

Coyotes are very family-oriented, despite what television and theater would have us believe. We always see the coyote as a loner, when in fact, he has a very close-knit family unit. Many times, coyotes mate for life. The father is very conscientious and participate in the care and raising of young. Both parents train their young in hunting techniques.The male cares for his mate while she is pregnant, taking on the hunting and feeding of them both.  Those with coyote medicine are wonderful parents and care-givers.

When coyote shows up, it's time to ask yourself some questions. Am I taking myself too seriously? Have I forgotten that playtime is essential to good health? Am I over-complicating a situation? Is someone playing tricks on me? Am I tricking myself?

"Coyote is you, me, booby traps, jet airplanes with toilets that don't work, blind dates, and all the humorous and whimsical things we encounter along the way." ~Jamie Sams/David Carson "Animal Medicine Cards"

Coyote always brings laughter and groans. Learning to laugh at ourselves and find the wisdom in our folly is crucial to our survival.

Here is a link to some Native American folklore regarding this Wise Trickster.

That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy! (Leave a comment!)