tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71665044668283867112024-03-13T13:15:51.012+11:00̧ѳŧҿᵲịᾷ...the Kora chronicles...Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-55137442347298327982012-08-24T11:28:00.000+10:002012-08-24T11:29:18.918+10:00QuickeningThe earth is quickening<br />
and our spirit answers from within.<br />
<br />
Here in the southern hemisphere we are crawling out from beneath the veil the covers our existence during the winter. The signs of the upcoming spring are everywhere and this year there are days that even smell like summer already.<br />
<br />
And, the divine within each of us experiences these changes and answers as to a call. But, this year the call is stronger. Also, it seems the call is louder, or broader, or whatever it is that increases the amount of people it touches and the intensitiy of the caress.<br />
<br />
What are you feeling around you?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-77698453605287259452010-09-26T15:38:00.000+10:002010-09-26T15:38:37.752+10:00Ostara BiscuitsI made these easy and fun biscuits to celebrate the beautiful spring weather...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<i><b>Biscuits</b></i><br />
* 125g softened butter<br />
* 1/2 cup white sugar<br />
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence<br />
* 1 egg<br />
* 2 cups plain flour<br />
* 1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
<i><b>Icing</b></i><br />
* 1 cup icing sugar<br />
* 2 teaspoons milk<br />
* 2 teaspoons corn syrup (or glucose syrup available in cake decorating section of supermarket)<br />
* Food colouring<br />
* Smarties, Skittles, sprinkles and other decorations as preferred<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Method</b></span><br />
<i><b>Biscuits</b></i><br />
1. Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees (140 degrees for fan-forced oven)<br />
2. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence<br />
3. Beat egg and add to mixture then beat well to combine<br />
4. Add sifted flour and baking powder<br />
5. Place on to floured board and knead lightly<br />
6. Roll out mixture approx 1/2cm thick <br />
7. Stamp out preferred shapes (dip cutters in flour to aid stamping process)<br />
8. Place on greased pan or tray<br />
10. Cook for approximately 10 minutes - biscuits should be starting to turn a very light brown colour and should not respond like dough in the centre to the touch<br />
11. Allow to cool on pan or tray<br />
<i><b>Icing</b></i><br />
1. Once biscuits are cooked and cooled, mix icing sugar, milk and corn syrup in a bowl<br />
2. Add a few drops of food colouring (for different colours, separate into bowls and/or plan colour mixing as preferred)<br />
3. Smear on cookies and add other decorations<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltJhdJ2MBiKxYbreGMi_XUHHDE-vIRyDabPtQW1UP811xRRnaX0TSS5dUMvuLE3pzwGoK30rUL8bMNpF24AzqgOjdR_cFkp7O3CSdbUWPXnDE4sL6KSW2g0xBjq2YIxRZhbJog-nM4O8c/s1600/DSCF6076.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="178" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltJhdJ2MBiKxYbreGMi_XUHHDE-vIRyDabPtQW1UP811xRRnaX0TSS5dUMvuLE3pzwGoK30rUL8bMNpF24AzqgOjdR_cFkp7O3CSdbUWPXnDE4sL6KSW2g0xBjq2YIxRZhbJog-nM4O8c/s320/DSCF6076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4KgA2_ONfge3_SxEfysHvxRA3yOKOluC9yocNHiz3f8ChWyRHZ6ov5Jsav3CPYdggO7gGV6xmMStiySwN2Wep7__PObit8EmUZLEI8l4oe-ZjVPz6YxL5otX5k-sAYW5bIESaf2lFWk_/s1600/DSCF6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="179" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4KgA2_ONfge3_SxEfysHvxRA3yOKOluC9yocNHiz3f8ChWyRHZ6ov5Jsav3CPYdggO7gGV6xmMStiySwN2Wep7__PObit8EmUZLEI8l4oe-ZjVPz6YxL5otX5k-sAYW5bIESaf2lFWk_/s320/DSCF6087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtLnxRCEi4Bnh0hEtCvNvRg21fVC72yjh3H8gwYDiX59aGoYtu1SBeXkAmn9T1Is0mRCqAQreZyNUCjlscmjmwB3UC06V5eqxuaTKfyC1Xeop7cuVfPujqfO-gp_ngAudEffGGP6fC00v/s1600/DSCF6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="180" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtLnxRCEi4Bnh0hEtCvNvRg21fVC72yjh3H8gwYDiX59aGoYtu1SBeXkAmn9T1Is0mRCqAQreZyNUCjlscmjmwB3UC06V5eqxuaTKfyC1Xeop7cuVfPujqfO-gp_ngAudEffGGP6fC00v/s320/DSCF6093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-37272250938011658752010-09-24T16:41:00.000+10:002010-09-24T16:41:37.105+10:00Ostara - 2010Ostara this year in the southern hemisphere was on 23 September, which was also the time of the full moon and, for those interested in astrology, coincides with the activation of the cardinal cross that began around the time of the winter solstice (google for further info or I really love <a href="http://inharmonyastrology.blogspot.com/" linkindex="232">Divine Harmony's</a> take on all things astrological and how they influence us as individuals).<br />
<br />
On a personal level, I have chosen this time to formally dedicate myself to a further year and a day study on a predominately solitary path. This is something I felt would be the case when I completed my second year and a day of study and now it seems that the timing is perfect on every level for this to begin.<br />
<br />
So, last night I performed my dedication ritual, took my vows and am progressing the work which has been motioning slowly forward but which is now ready to build momentum as it integrates further into my life.<br />
<br />
Some of the things that are now part of my studies are the two new blogs I set up recently. Please feel free to check them out and see if there is anything there of interest...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1card4kora.blogspot.com/" linkindex="233">One Card For Kora</a> - this is usually short posts with a few thoughts on tarot card I choose each day.<br />
<a href="http://korasview.blogspot.com/" linkindex="234">Kora's View</a> - this is just a random photo of something I decided to photograph whenever the mood takes me<br />
<br />
I will still be updating my original blog <a href="http://wendylogic.blogspot.com/" linkindex="235">Curiouser and Curiouser</a> which seems to have developed into mostly cryptic and ambiguous outpourings of some of the rabble that is chatter of my mind.<br />
<br />
With that shameless self-promotion aside, here are some photos of my altar from last night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZUJf81-PjVa1x60FR6BymiHs8estVVLaCC7LqopLCRn5VczbDs83xn-MQMriBsXPO7-xGLxWxiA_Ux2aFb17kVhCtM6Iwsn9F0Xdq7XyGbNm65RuSzZHnHLmv5V0FsKCLIsYaECKCp8p/s1600/DSCF6025.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="236" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSWzkH-HgVDeBEy8ohRvANC8QA46TDBqc_IcWMTBqlBgKuo-oI4tEUxoko6x2dvbQpGRdVnV9nxv2C1QeNoFPBbaGWAQcUMfn6nPjesB2gK7KB1-WIfXTrKkCAsF2PYrlADu91sKWvHO4/s1600/DSCF6041.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSWzkH-HgVDeBEy8ohRvANC8QA46TDBqc_IcWMTBqlBgKuo-oI4tEUxoko6x2dvbQpGRdVnV9nxv2C1QeNoFPBbaGWAQcUMfn6nPjesB2gK7KB1-WIfXTrKkCAsF2PYrlADu91sKWvHO4/s320/DSCF6041.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZUJf81-PjVa1x60FR6BymiHs8estVVLaCC7LqopLCRn5VczbDs83xn-MQMriBsXPO7-xGLxWxiA_Ux2aFb17kVhCtM6Iwsn9F0Xdq7XyGbNm65RuSzZHnHLmv5V0FsKCLIsYaECKCp8p/s1600/DSCF6025.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="238" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZUJf81-PjVa1x60FR6BymiHs8estVVLaCC7LqopLCRn5VczbDs83xn-MQMriBsXPO7-xGLxWxiA_Ux2aFb17kVhCtM6Iwsn9F0Xdq7XyGbNm65RuSzZHnHLmv5V0FsKCLIsYaECKCp8p/s320/DSCF6025.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcepkRNpsJfq7u5bKdHOI2INzQmwK3Imc59gk97ChPhlf2iKdhqK3wqUDih2vOxpoESmPKVuqjblT4OpXodY4M69oSqyU_4saLZqGhwR1AliFtgwih6oOCLQFRUzbmWaTpUa3zavK6AmRC/s1600/DSCF6048.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="239" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcepkRNpsJfq7u5bKdHOI2INzQmwK3Imc59gk97ChPhlf2iKdhqK3wqUDih2vOxpoESmPKVuqjblT4OpXodY4M69oSqyU_4saLZqGhwR1AliFtgwih6oOCLQFRUzbmWaTpUa3zavK6AmRC/s320/DSCF6048.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPCyizE632yXLmCCyQgQoeEzbr34AMil39-W5DPFhJLon1rZHPlqeI484HZftRbebnwx6iY_Xxjhk21-Yn5EdrkwQeAzGfYkHlJUlfm5soD3LYGaV274z1jtZlHX_FMFRThbvxrNqJAaR/s1600/DSCF6045.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="240" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPCyizE632yXLmCCyQgQoeEzbr34AMil39-W5DPFhJLon1rZHPlqeI484HZftRbebnwx6iY_Xxjhk21-Yn5EdrkwQeAzGfYkHlJUlfm5soD3LYGaV274z1jtZlHX_FMFRThbvxrNqJAaR/s320/DSCF6045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzgip1g9vZIxGpmgIH4QFR3G9cV1I6HidUvHAHxEKBStvmvEqDfUh_4FU8WHnRWOaMbRObtv_coqTtBgflWeWT3NDVKnqybe2SMDNy2PnnYojVMrRoQACfHAPmg0_OVdS4IRliWc7mtRi/s1600/DSCF6042.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="241" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzgip1g9vZIxGpmgIH4QFR3G9cV1I6HidUvHAHxEKBStvmvEqDfUh_4FU8WHnRWOaMbRObtv_coqTtBgflWeWT3NDVKnqybe2SMDNy2PnnYojVMrRoQACfHAPmg0_OVdS4IRliWc7mtRi/s320/DSCF6042.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xG1vQkiZR4GiI55tzo0ZFJB8_c3h30GmhipnfGSPnaBP-c7vKZECKB9n8r2oVbPaCu8f3CVgvRXBizZpuQ6s0gQoxgHb-lJqLduqKboqb4abce0B2DCCpS9IP084bZ7lbFApNM3S3Ag1/s1600/DSCF6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="242" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xG1vQkiZR4GiI55tzo0ZFJB8_c3h30GmhipnfGSPnaBP-c7vKZECKB9n8r2oVbPaCu8f3CVgvRXBizZpuQ6s0gQoxgHb-lJqLduqKboqb4abce0B2DCCpS9IP084bZ7lbFApNM3S3Ag1/s320/DSCF6049.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZXa3qrkvHneTd_Lue9VgGJArSlYryT9u22J6Ks-0Dd0HnYNpL_UNyg6K5dUtGeO3mu_NHPGgJaM3_E06T39XB2QtA8cy2L257qL_wxq_UqZp5yth-xOHMt0wrOIF7vbdm0MDjrURE3eO/s1600/DSCF6050.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="243" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZXa3qrkvHneTd_Lue9VgGJArSlYryT9u22J6Ks-0Dd0HnYNpL_UNyg6K5dUtGeO3mu_NHPGgJaM3_E06T39XB2QtA8cy2L257qL_wxq_UqZp5yth-xOHMt0wrOIF7vbdm0MDjrURE3eO/s320/DSCF6050.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU5kf9wud-sUpU4cT1Fu4Npl98zFMTBCqMDQuX9G7Xtx2YKBVCdU0gKLbmUUdCViX2qWXHGUZcEdNqspdWV9Yhs753w_1oQFQsy_f5SXT1Nq5T54CeO6QdirZsXn6NKvwr3dLt3miueBI/s1600/DSCF6056.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="244" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU5kf9wud-sUpU4cT1Fu4Npl98zFMTBCqMDQuX9G7Xtx2YKBVCdU0gKLbmUUdCViX2qWXHGUZcEdNqspdWV9Yhs753w_1oQFQsy_f5SXT1Nq5T54CeO6QdirZsXn6NKvwr3dLt3miueBI/s320/DSCF6056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme7lYam25p8lgCBWnTA34iDygsKtaoB-ZoRilKwCNZ2PQopXBLalJKPyYw7dwDzHWqiRziQPAx8lwB7o0Irv7YLxpM0-T7M9kvNNTi4vys09M-jfjwaF_ohQBVGgDX2XSPiIpzHY3p56J/s1600/DSCF6063.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="245" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme7lYam25p8lgCBWnTA34iDygsKtaoB-ZoRilKwCNZ2PQopXBLalJKPyYw7dwDzHWqiRziQPAx8lwB7o0Irv7YLxpM0-T7M9kvNNTi4vys09M-jfjwaF_ohQBVGgDX2XSPiIpzHY3p56J/s320/DSCF6063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULvjhvJaAHnSxxpHCFHT_ZIrqzPKWFNu-IdB35sbfc68-t-h-M1Z5S9ER7m65BGuiZwsG0yDAGLx6XJFK8klKcJO6PBW-4TyARV9D3bG1-b7q_I1PofXej46PyK07Qc3dJJXgV2HOUhTr/s1600/DSCF6064.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="246" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULvjhvJaAHnSxxpHCFHT_ZIrqzPKWFNu-IdB35sbfc68-t-h-M1Z5S9ER7m65BGuiZwsG0yDAGLx6XJFK8klKcJO6PBW-4TyARV9D3bG1-b7q_I1PofXej46PyK07Qc3dJJXgV2HOUhTr/s320/DSCF6064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZXa3qrkvHneTd_Lue9VgGJArSlYryT9u22J6Ks-0Dd0HnYNpL_UNyg6K5dUtGeO3mu_NHPGgJaM3_E06T39XB2QtA8cy2L257qL_wxq_UqZp5yth-xOHMt0wrOIF7vbdm0MDjrURE3eO/s1600/DSCF6050.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="247" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xG1vQkiZR4GiI55tzo0ZFJB8_c3h30GmhipnfGSPnaBP-c7vKZECKB9n8r2oVbPaCu8f3CVgvRXBizZpuQ6s0gQoxgHb-lJqLduqKboqb4abce0B2DCCpS9IP084bZ7lbFApNM3S3Ag1/s1600/DSCF6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="248" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-8996616813919906132010-06-21T10:38:00.000+10:002010-06-21T10:38:33.215+10:00Blessed Yule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixliugqH7oEca05MRDm9eUO8F_ZIFwXSiAM0S7TFWxF3ssx33W54P9DMNp_vGo26oSgoyZBcLLrtkP-P8wTKWbLQKYaWjmaYiffMbl0-dUVDnMIyMK0jtR0XBVFKScKYGdxdYkPgn9jvpB/s1600/Christmas_Goddess_4_by_mizzd_stock.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="460" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixliugqH7oEca05MRDm9eUO8F_ZIFwXSiAM0S7TFWxF3ssx33W54P9DMNp_vGo26oSgoyZBcLLrtkP-P8wTKWbLQKYaWjmaYiffMbl0-dUVDnMIyMK0jtR0XBVFKScKYGdxdYkPgn9jvpB/s320/Christmas_Goddess_4_by_mizzd_stock.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Today marks the mid point of winter in the southern hemisphere when the daylight hours are the shortest and we enter into the longest night. In pagan mythology, the Goddess is pregnant and will tonight give birth to her son and consort, the God. Tonight brings us the rebirth of the Sun God who will grow and gain strength over the coming months. From tomorrow, the days will slowly but surely begin to get longer and all of the world will work towards the time of awakening as the earth thaws.<br />
<br />
Sending the brightest blessings of Yule to one and all. Blessed be.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-47265219255960670812010-05-17T14:46:00.000+10:002010-05-17T14:46:37.213+10:00Good Night Sleeping SpellBad dreams? Insomnia? Restless, interrupted sleep? Try this Good Night Sleeping Spell and allow the magic within to help you get a good night’s sleep.<br />
<br />
<b>You Will Need:</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Dried chamomile</li>
<li>Bowl</li>
<li>Pentacle</li>
<li>Sea salt</li>
<li>Boiled water (slightly cooled but still hot)</li>
<li>Feather</li>
<li>White pillar candle</li>
<li>White pillow slip</li>
<li>Small pouch (white, blue or black, perhaps with a star pattern etc)</li>
</ul><b>Method</b><br />
<br />
On a night during the waning moon (so, between the full moon and the dark moon), take all items outside and sit quietly for a few moments then say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>As the Goddess is my witness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I seek a greater peace</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From my conscious mind</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To which I bind</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>At the times I should release</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Let the light of blessed darkness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be directed this way hence</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That I may sleep</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Each night so deep</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When I’m ready to commence</i></div><br />
Place the pentacle in the bowl and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>My body seeks a wholeness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>With my spirit and my soul</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This symbol base</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In love and grace</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shall aid me in my goal</i></div><br />
Sprinkle sea salt in the bowl and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The earth compels a nearness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Represented by this salt</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To cleanse and heal</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And truth reveal</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Acknowledged without fault</i></div><br />
Wave the feather over the bowl and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The air creates a clearness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Represented by this feather</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of mind and thought</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And learning sought</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Working here together</i></div><br />
Pour the water into the bowl and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The water shines with cleanness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Represented by this liquid</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pure once more</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Each drop I pour</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Negativity here I forbid</i></div><br />
Place the candle in the bowl, light it and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The fire instils a boldness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Represented by this flame</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our passion deep</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For restful sleep</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To which I now lay claim</i></div><br />
Place the pillow slip in the bowl so it is completely submerged in the water loosely around the base of the candle being careful to avoid the flame then place three pinches of chamomile in the bowl and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The chamomile invokes a calmness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Instilled into this weave</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That sleep may come</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When each day is done</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And a restful night I will receive</i></div><br />
Spend some time staring into the flame of the candle while filling yourself with a feeling of calm as you visualise yourself lying peacefully in your bed getting a good night’s sleep. Inhale the smell of the chamomile and create a connection to that scent within you.<br />
<br />
When you are ready, extinguish the candle with a few drops of the water from the bowl. Wring out the pillow slip, pour the remaining water and any salt from the bowl onto the ground and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>As the Goddess is my witness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am thankful for this rite</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That brings me peace</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And sweet release</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As I lay down to sleep each night</i></div><br />
Allow the pillow slip and the chamomile in the small pouch to dry (it may not be able to be used that night) then put the pillow slip over your pillow and the pouch inside the pillow slip. As you drift off to sleep, inhale the fragrance of the chamomile and think about when you performed the spell then enjoy a wonderful, restful night's sleep.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-30926192458279149152010-03-30T21:37:00.000+11:002010-03-30T21:37:56.104+11:00Full Moon in Libra Ritual - March 2010This is the ritual I wrote for this Full Moon, which falls in Libra, while the sun is in Aries and which focused onj the balance inherent in Libra as well as the equinox and the relationship with Aries. I am so very grateful to the sisters who shared this ritual with me and am honoured by the inner developments it brought, especially during the night of the ritual and the two days following it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Full Moon in Libra Ritual</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by ~Kora~</span></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Call to Circle</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: [Commence beating of drum to call guests into circle for ritual to begin]<br />
Hear ye, hear ye<br />
The moon rides at her peak<br />
Hear ye, hear ye<br />
I call to all who seek<br />
Join me, join me<br />
With love upon your heart<br />
Join me, join me<br />
Our circle’s soon to start<br />
<br />
<b>RHIANNON</b>: Let all who are ready to stand together in perfect love and perfect trust please take their place here among us now.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Cast Circle</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: Lock the door and drop the sail<br />
Let all who are willing stand<br />
As we cast our circle here deosil<br />
Each hand upon a hand<br />
<br />
<b>RHIANNON</b>: Please join hands with your right palm facing up and your left palm facing down as we cast our circle here tonight.<br />
<br />
<b>KORA</b>: I ask you all to close your eyes and visualise the energy flowing into your right hand, being amplified through your body and being passed on through your left hand. Feel the energy tingle as you receive it from the right and give it on in turn to the left. Your hands and arms will start to buzz and even with your eyes closed you can see the bright, protective white/blue glimmer surrounding us. Now, imagine this ring of energy start to extend up towards the sky and down towards the ground. As it extends in each direction, it starts to curve and the shape of a sphere is formed. We are now surrounded by the orb of light and thus our circle is cast.<br />
<br />
<b>RHIANNON</b>: Please join our voices together as we recite ‘I Am Witch’.<br />
<br />
<b>ALL</b>: <a href="http://thekorachronicles.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-am-witch.html" linkindex="705">I am witch</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Calling the Quarters</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: [facing the guest in the North] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the North, element of fire, manifestation of our spirit through action and passion, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. North!<br />
<br />
<b>NORTH</b>: North!<br />
<br />
[The word 'North' is then said by the person to the right of North and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the north of the altar.]<br />
<br />
<b>NORTH</b>: Hail and welcome.<br />
<br />
<b>KORA</b>: [facing the guest in the West] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the West, element of earth, manifestation of our spirit through practical matters, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. West!<br />
<br />
<b>WEST</b>: West!<br />
<br />
[The word 'West' is then said by the person to the right of West and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the west of the altar.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>WEST</b>: Hail and welcome.<br />
<br />
<b>KORA</b>: [facing the guest in the South] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the South, element of air, manifestation of our spirit through thought, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. South!<br />
<br />
<b>SOUTH</b>: South!<br />
<br />
[The word 'South' is then said by the person to the right of South and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the south of the altar.]<br />
<br />
<b>SOUTH: </b>Hail and welcome.<br />
<br />
<b>KORA: </b>[facing the guest in the East] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the East, element of water, manifestation of our spirit through our emotions, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. East!<br />
<br />
<b>EAST</b>: East!<br />
<br />
[The word 'East' is then said by the person to the right of East and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the east of the altar.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>EAST</b>: Hail and welcome.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Goddess Invocation</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: Goddess Libra, fair and just<br />
In perfect love and perfect trust<br />
I call your presence here tonight<br />
Lend your energy to our sacred rite<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
<b>ALL</b>: Blessed be<br />
<br />
<b>KORA</b>: Thank you, please be seated.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Reading – The Goddess Libra</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The word Libra comes from the Latin for ‘weighing scales’ and it is a pair of scales that the Goddess Libra holds in her hands. She is the Goddess of Justice and represents balance – either a mastery of it or a greater need for it.<br />
Libra is the Seventh sign of the Zodiac and is sometimes referred to as the Balance. The Sun enters Libra around the time of year when day and night are of equal length due to the axis of the Earth and the Sun being roughly parallel. As we celebrate the path of the sun at the autumn equinox, this is also a very special time to be able to harness the balance in power that occurs with the moon in Libra as well.<br />
<br />
In ancient times, the constellation of Libra was associated with the judgment of the living and the dead. Perhaps the greatest fault of this Sign is indecision as Libra individuals often find it difficult to make up their minds and strongly dislike taking sides but we will be combining the energy and action of the sun, which is currently in Aries, and asking the Goddess Libra to bless our actions to create harmony and balance in our lives.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Spellcraft – Libra Balance Mobile</b></i></div><br />
Tonight, we will be crafting mobiles hung with representations of the things in our lives we want to bring into balance. We often feel pulled in different directions in our lives and have a daily need to balance our responsibilities and our interests; the things we need to do and the things we want to do; the people who depend on us, who have asked things of us and who are relying on us; our family; our friends; and all of the many other areas that are in constant battle as they compete for our time. Tonight, we will be calling on the Goddess Libra to help us create harmony in this chaos.<br />
<br />
Please take a few pieces of paper and write something on each one to represent the things you want to balance<br />
out in your life.<br />
<br />
We will then construct the mobiles and attach these areas of balance. This will be a powerful symbol, filled with the energy of the full moon in Libra, and a physical reminder to ourselves that we can create balance if we focus on what we need to do and make sure that we are not putting too much into any one area and thereby creating an imbalance.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Meditation</b></i></div><br />
Please take a few moments to get comfortable. Ensure your back is straight to facilitate even breathing and your feet, legs and hands are resting comfortably.<br />
<br />
Allow your breathing to deepen as you begin to relax. Bring your focus in on the movement of air in and out of your lungs. Know that you are completely safe as you inhale slowly, filling your lungs and taking in as much air as is comfortable for you. Pause for a moment before breathing out and as you release your breath, feel the tension sliding out of your body as well. Continue to breathe in and out deeply, slowly drawing in air as you inhale, pausing for a moment, then slowing releasing that air as you exhale. Keep this rhythm going and enjoy the peace and quiet that is beginning to settle in your mind and in your body.<br />
<br />
As you are releasing all worries and thoughts of the mundane world, notice how your face feels completely relaxed. The muscles around your eyes and your mouth are soft and care free. You can hear the noises of the outside world but there is nothing there that needs your attention right now. Feel how relaxed your shoulders are becoming with each breath out and let the world keep turning as you take a few minutes just for yourself.<br />
Now, notice the symmetry in your body, how you are created in perfect balance as a creature of supreme harmony in design. From the top of your head, down your face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach, hips, legs, knees, feet and toes, you are a living, breathing child of a divine and balanced universe. Allow the boundaries of your body to blur as you become one with all creation through this connection and take a few moments to float comfortably in the space that is you.<br />
<br />
While you are floating there, you start to notice soft colours glowing around you. All around the edge of your vision the colours seem to fade in and out in hues of pink, blue, ivory, green, silver, yellow. Each time a patch of colour dissipates, it comes back after a few moments even more brightly that before. These colours are all so real and so unique, it’s like you can actually feel, smell and taste each one as it materialises before you. What does each colour remind you of? What sensations are you feeling when each colour appears? They are all so different but each one brings a pleasant and comfortable feeling and it’s like you could almost wrap yourself inside that feeling and be happy there forever.<br />
<br />
As you are enjoying these sensations, you notice a tiny flicker of light far, far away. As you turn your attention to the place where the light appeared, it glistens again briefly before disappearing only to reappear a moment later. This time it shines for a little longer, like it is gaining strength, like it can feel your gaze and is being drawn to you. There is a beautiful peace in this light and even though you were enjoying the feeling of the colours surrounding you, what you want now more than anything else is to experience this new, bright, pure, white light.<br />
<br />
The light continues to grow as it gets closer and closer to you. Soon you can see that it is the unmistakeable form of a woman and you know in your heart that this is the Goddess Libra. Her form is stately and proud, yet kind and compassionate. You can begin to make out the shape of her long flowing robes and her entire dress appears to be made of the colours of light that you were enjoying just moments ago – oh, what would it feel like to be able to wear those colours the way she does?<br />
<br />
More and more lines start to appear in this vision before you. Her golden, flowing locks of hair stream out around and behind her as if lifted by a gentle breeze. Her eyes look like two pieces of pure blue/green tourmaline and they are fixed intently yet lovingly directly on you. You can feel yourself rising towards this figure and you know that in moments you will stand perfectly before her.<br />
<br />
When she has almost reached you, you notice that where she usually holds her scales, she now holds your spellcraft balance mobile. It, too, glows with her vibrancy and you can see it is charged with her energy. She begins to raise her arm slowly so that the mobile is in line with her face, then her lips gently part and she breathes a sweet, soft blessing upon the papers. She does this again and again, one breath for each area you are seeking balance in, and you know that it is her will that your wishes here are granted.<br />
<br />
Once she has done this, she lowers the mobile again and you can now see her lips moving. You can’t hear her voice at first but you understand what she is saying. “I am Libra, Goddess of Justice, and I bring you the blessing of balance and harmony in all you seek”. You keep watching her lips move and instinctively understand and listen intently to the message she has for you.<br />
<br />
Now, Libra invites you to talk to her. Do you have any questions that you would like to ask her for she is willing to hear them and respond to you in kind?<br />
<br />
The time has come for you to take the responsibility for your wishes. Libra raises her arm and hands you the mobile you have made. As you reach your own arm out before you to take it, you can feel the glow of her energy tingling through your hand. You take the mobile and you can see that she has already started to draw back. She now holds her own scales again for she has her own duties to continue with in the universe but as she fades, you see her raise one hand to her lips then extend it towards you to send you a parting kiss through the air as she goes.<br />
<br />
You continue to watch her fading form until she is only the most minute speck of light in the far distance once more. You feel calm, yet confident, peaceful, yet excited, but most of all you feel loved.<br />
<br />
Again those patches of gently pulsating colours attract your attention and you watch as they continue to fade in an out all around you. Each colour seems to have the same feel as it did before, the same taste, the same smell, but it is somehow more developed than it was earlier. You realise that now that you have connected with these colours, they will always be part of you and you will be able to experience them again at any time you wish.<br />
For now, however, you know that it is time to return. Your breathing is still gentle and peaceful and you start to take a few deeper breaths, filling your lungs with air and coming back to yourself slowly, bit by bit, with every breath out. You again feel the symmetry in your body from your toes, feet, knees, legs, hips, stomach, chest, arms, shoulders, neck and face. You feel completely relaxed and rejuvenated as you start to move your fingers and perhaps gently stretch and yawn as you come back completely and when you are ready you can open your eyes.<br />
<br />
[Sharing about the meditation.]<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Cakes and Ale</b></i></div><br />
<b>RHIANNON</b>: May the Goddess Libra be among us and bless these cakes and ale for good fortune and good balance in us all. Blessed be.<br />
<br />
<b>ALL</b>: Blessed be.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Releasing the Goddess</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: Goddess Libra, fair and just<br />
In perfect love and perfect trust<br />
We thank you for your presence here tonight<br />
And for lending your energy to our sacred rite<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
<b>ALL</b>: Blessed be<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Releasing the Quarters</b></i></div><br />
[All face North]<br />
<br />
<b>NORTH</b>: [personal choice of words to release the power of the North then extinguish the north candle on the altar]<br />
<br />
[All face East]<br />
<br />
<b>EAST</b>: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the East then extinguish the east candle on the altar] <br />
<br />
[All face South]<br />
<br />
<b>SOUTH</b>: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the South then extinguish the south candle on the altar] <br />
<br />
[All face West]<br />
<br />
<b>WEST</b>: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the West then extinguish the west candle on the altar] <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Opening the Circle</b></i></div><br />
<b>KORA</b>: Our circle is open, yet unbroken. Merry meet and merry part<b> </b>and merry meet again. Blessed be.<br />
<br />
<b>ALL</b>: Blessed be!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-5798517352849380562010-03-30T21:25:00.001+11:002010-03-30T21:25:44.188+11:00I am WitchThis poem or incantation can be found with various adjustments and has been credited to a number of different sources (where any citation is provided at all). The version below is as it was taught to me and as I use it at this time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I am Witch</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From beneath me arises the energy of the earth,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my home and my foundation.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From above me pours down the light of the sun,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the enchanting moon.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To my right hand flows the strength to control and direct,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the power of magic.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To my left hand comes the skill to divine and to heal,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the source of blessing.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before me arises the perfected one I strive to become,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>my magical true self.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Behind me falls the one I was,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and with it my discarded failures.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Around me circle the eternal stars,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>lamps of wisdom in the deeps of space.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Within me grows the Flame of Life,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the light of experience and understanding.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am Witch.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be.</i></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-87357950672374083502010-03-26T11:48:00.000+11:002010-03-26T11:48:06.984+11:00Mabon Ritual - March 2010This is the group ritual we performed recently at a local park to celebrate Mabon this year. I tried to make it a relaxed, light and fun evening with a focus on chanting and making noise. It ended up being such a lovely celebration, raising some very special energy and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this time with some very beautiful friends.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MABON RITUAL</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">by ~Kora~</div><br />
<b>Reading – What is Mabon?</b><br />
<br />
As with each of the sabbats, Mabon has been known by many names throughout history and across different cultures. Some of these names include Cornucopia, the Feast of Avalon, the Festival of Dionysus, Mea'n Fo'mhair (Druidic), the Second Festival of Harvest or the Second Harvest Festival and the Wine Harvest.<br />
<br />
However it is known, Mabon is the Autumn Equinox. This means it is the mid-point between the summer and winter solstices and the time when day and night are of equal length as the sun crosses the equator.<br />
<br />
Mabon represents balance but it is also a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth. In ancient times, this is the second major harvest, when the gifts from the mother are reaped and we give thanks for the abundance of our lives. In today’s modern times, we are no longer so dependent on the harvest festivals, but we still have the opportunity to give thanks for all of the blessings that enrich and fulfil our lives.<br />
<br />
Mabon is a reminder that we reap what we sow. In Wicca, we see this as a physical reflection of the seeds we plant in the earth as the warms began to break through the winter around the time of the spring equinox six months ago, but we all also see this as a powerful metaphor for all of the things in our life. We are responsible for our own happiness and we know that it is through our own thoughts and actions that we will benefit and achieve all we set out for in our lives.<br />
<br />
Mabon is a time to assess our performance – without blame and without regret. As the wheel begins to turn towards the colder months and our minds begin the process of introspection, we look at what has worked for us and before we turn to thoughts of what we need to think about changing. But, for us now, the focus is on the positives in our lives and that is something we should all take a moment to reflect on.<br />
<br />
As such, we will now take a moment to go around the circle and give each of us the opportunity to give voice to something we are thankful that we have achieved or received in our lives.<br />
<br />
[The speaker gives thanks for a blessing in their life, followed by the person to their right and so on until all within the circle have expressed an element of gratitude.]<br />
<br />
<b>Casting Circle</b><br />
<br />
Tonight, we celebrate Mabon, the autumn equinox and one of the eight sabbats of the wheel of the year. Please, join hands as we cast circle.<br />
<br />
Let our voices rise as one in the Elemental Chant and our drums and instruments resound as we in the southern hemisphere call the quarters deosil from the north. Please take up your instruments as you begin to feel the energy of the chant.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fire, the Earth, the Air, the Water</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Return, return, return, return</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aye-a, aye-a, aye-a, aye-a, aye-a</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aye-o, aye-o, aye-o, aye-o</i></div><br />
May the Goddess, in all her aspects, be present here in this circle. We call upon the Goddess with The Goddess Chant, that you may lend your energy here in this circle tonight.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Isis, Astarte,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana, Hecate,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Demeter, Kali,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Inanna</i></div><br />
<b>Mabon Park Blessing</b><br />
<br />
We take this time to send out blessing to the area around us. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share this time together in nature and we pour our positive energy into the turning of the wheel and the changes it will bring to all living things around us.<br />
<br />
We will now raise energy through drumming and noisemaking as a form of sympathetic magic to all that lives around us.<br />
<br />
[Everyone to take up instruments; commence drumming/noisemaking]<br />
<br />
<b>Cakes and Ale – Poem: Turn the Wheel to Mabon</b><br />
<br />
[Cakes and ale to be distributed]<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Turn the wheel; turn the wheel, to the Mabon March</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Autumn breeze and maple trees still joyous as they parch</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Resplendent in the richest gold with jewels of red and brown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We lament about the shortened days: ‘O, how soon the sun goes down!’</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Harvest one and harvest two, in our memories are stored</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Corn and grain and welcome rain, are our toil’s reward</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Equal are the night and day, thus balances the divine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Turn the wheel; turn the wheel, as we enjoy the Mabon wine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><br />
[Sharing of cakes and ale followed by general discussion on Mabon.]<br />
<br />
<b>Opening circle</b><br />
<br />
Please take up your instruments as we send our thanks to the quarters.<br />
<br />
[Drumming/noisemaking to commence]<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Spirits of the north, element of fire</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We thank you for your presence here this night</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We bid you hail and farewell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Spirits of the east, element of water</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We thank you for your presence here this night</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We bid you hail and farewell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Spirits of the south, element of air</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We thank you for your presence here this night</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We bid you hail and farewell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Spirits of the west, element of earth</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We thank you for your presence here this night</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We bid you hail and farewell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hail to the Goddess in all her aspects</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We thank you for your presence here this night</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We bid you hail and farewell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><br />
[Chant to open circle]<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>May the circle be open</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But unbroken</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May the love of the Goddess</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be ever in your heart</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Merry meet and merry partM</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And merry meet again</i></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-16296710412639709652010-03-25T23:00:00.001+11:002010-03-25T23:01:01.741+11:00Mabon Ritual<b>Reading – What is Mabon?</b><br />
<br />
As with each of the sabbats, Mabon has been known by many names throughout history and across different cultures. Some of these names include Cornucopia, the Feast of Avalon, the Festival of Dionysus, Mea'n Fo'mhair (Druidic), the Second Festival of Harvest or the Second Harvest Festival and the Wine Harvest.<br />
<br />
However it is known, Mabon is the Autumn Equinox. This means it is the mid-point between the summer and winter solstices and the time when day and night are of equal length as the sun crosses the equator.<br />
<br />
Mabon represents balance but it is also a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth. In ancient times, this is the second major harvest, when the gifts from the mother are reaped and we give thanks for the abundance of our lives. In today’s modern times, we are no longer so dependent on the harvest festivals, but we still have the opportunity to give thanks for all of the blessings that enrich and fulfil our lives.<br />
<br />
Mabon is a reminder that we reap what we sow. In Wicca, we see this as a physical reflection of the seeds we plant in the earth as the warms began to break through the winter around the time of the spring equinox six months ago, but we all also see this as a powerful metaphor for all of the things in our life. We are responsible for our own happiness and we know that it is through our own thoughts and actions that we will benefit and achieve all we set out for in our lives.<br />
<br />
Mabon is a time to assess our performance – without blame and without regret. As the wheel begins to turn towards the colder months and our minds begin the process of introspection, we look at what has worked for us and before we turn to thoughts of what we need to think about changing. But, for us now, the focus is on the positives in our lives and that is something we should all take a moment to reflect on.<br />
<br />
As such, we will now take a moment to go around the circle and give each of us the opportunity to give voice to something we are thankful that we have achieved or received in our lives.<br />
<br />
<i>[The speaker gives thanks for a blessing in their life, followed by the person to their right and so on until all within the circle have expressed an element of gratitude.]</i><br />
<br />
<b>Casting Circle</b><br />
<br />
Tonight, we celebrate Mabon, the autumn equinox and one of the eight sabbats of the wheel of the year. Please, join hands as we cast circle.<br />
<br />
Let our voices rise as one in the Elemental Chant and our drums and instruments resound as we in the southern hemisphere call the quarters deosil from the north. Please take up your instruments as you begin to feel the energy of the chant.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fire, the Earth, the Air, the Water</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Return, return, return, return</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aye-a, aye-a, aye-a, aye-a, aye-a</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aye-o, aye-o, aye-o, aye-o</i></div><br />
May the Goddess, in all her aspects, be present here in this circle. We call upon the Goddess with The Goddess Chant, that you may lend your energy here in this circle tonight.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Isis, Astarte,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana, Hecate,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Demeter, Kali,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Inanna</i></div><b>Mabon Park Blessing</b><br />
<br />
We take this time to send out blessing to the area around us. We are grateful to have the opportunity to share this time together in nature and we pour our positive energy into the turning of the wheel and the changes it will bring to all living things around us.<br />
<br />
We will now raise energy through drumming and noisemaking as a form of sympathetic magic to all that lives around us.<br />
<br />
<i>[Everyone to take up instruments; commence drumming/noisemaking]</i><br />
<br />
<b>Cakes and Ale – Poem: Turn the Wheel to Mabon</b><br />
<br />
<i>[Cakes and ale to be distributed]</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Turn the wheel; turn the wheel, to the Mabon March</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Autumn breeze and maple trees still joyous as they parch</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Resplendent in the richest gold with jewels of red and brown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We lament about the shortened days: ‘O, how soon the sun goes down!’</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Harvest one and harvest two, in our memories are stored</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Corn and grain and welcome rain, are our toil’s reward</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Equal are the night and day, thus balances the divine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Turn the wheel; turn the wheel, as we enjoy the Mabon wine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div><br />
<i>[Sharing of cakes and ale followed by general discussion on Mabon.]</i><br />
<br />
<b>Opening circle</b><br />
<br />
Please take up your instruments as we send our thanks to the quarters.<br />
<br />
<i>[Drumming/noisemaking to commence]</i><br />
<br />
Spirits of the north, element of fire<br />
We thank you for your presence here this night<br />
We bid you hail and farewell<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
Spirits of the east, element of water<br />
We thank you for your presence here this night<br />
We bid you hail and farewell<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
Spirits of the south, element of air<br />
We thank you for your presence here this night<br />
We bid you hail and farewell<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
Spirits of the west, element of earth<br />
We thank you for your presence here this night<br />
We bid you hail and farewell<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
Hail to the Goddess in all her aspects<br />
We thank you for your presence here this night<br />
We bid you hail and farewell<br />
Blessed be<br />
<br />
<i>[Chant to open circle]</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>May the circle be open</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But unbroken</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May the love of the Goddess</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be ever in your heart</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Merry meet and merry part</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And merry meet again</i></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-72831609787504196812010-03-21T17:40:00.000+11:002010-03-21T17:40:59.496+11:00Apple Mabon Bread<b>Ingredients</b><br />
* 2 ½ cups grated apple<br />
* 2 cups raisins or craisins<br />
* 1 ½ cups boiling water<br />
* 3 Tbs olive oil<br />
* 1 cup honey<br />
* 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon<br />
* 1 ½ tsp salt<br />
* ½ tsp ground clove<br />
<br />
* 3 cups whole wheat flour<br />
* 1 ½ tsp baking soda<br />
* ¾ cup chopped nuts<br />
<br />
<b>Method</b><br />
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 for fan forced) and grease two loaf pans.<br />
Combine the first nine ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.<br />
<br />
In another bowl, mix together the last three ingredients.<br />
<br />
Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and combine well. Pour into prepared loaf pans and bake for 40-60 minutes. Use a cake tester to check when cooked. Remove from pans and place on a rack to cool.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-83032501795712902222010-02-02T10:29:00.000+11:002010-02-02T10:29:43.172+11:00Triple Wish Pouches – Love, Health and Insight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V_3d_2CoydXxhOBl1nrMQDnJ3JJYs0aYLgVFKW2HiPiF3qu45zWrF61Gls5cKOWNkV1S2ZnEV1K4m19y8_eok1bkiBhK9JK9NPM5CizkSkWtx-NWDTkoK_s8XhxJjB9AcJik-WP8A9hG/s1600-h/Triple+Wish+Pouches+%E2%80%93+Love,+Health+and+Insight.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="284" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V_3d_2CoydXxhOBl1nrMQDnJ3JJYs0aYLgVFKW2HiPiF3qu45zWrF61Gls5cKOWNkV1S2ZnEV1K4m19y8_eok1bkiBhK9JK9NPM5CizkSkWtx-NWDTkoK_s8XhxJjB9AcJik-WP8A9hG/s320/Triple+Wish+Pouches+%E2%80%93+Love,+Health+and+Insight.jpg" /></a></div>This spell focuses on love, health and insight but the overall concept could be used for any three things you would like to enhance in your life.<br />
<br />
All ingredients are fairly common and the overall spell is simple yet powerful. I do so love to follow the tenet that to bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme. Lavender is the base ingredient and should end up as the dominant fragrance in the pouches, so use more of this than the other herbs. All herbs have been chosen as they all have magical uses associated with love.<br />
<br />
You will need:<br />
* Lavender (love, protection, sleep, dreaming, longevity, purification, happiness and peace)<br />
* Pink and white rose petals (love, psychic powers, healing, divination, luck, protection and purity)<br />
* Jasmine (love, protection, money and prophetic dreams)<br />
* Chamomile (money, sleep, love and purification)<br />
* Rosemary (protection, love, mental powers, purification, healing, sleep and youth)<br />
* Strawberry flowers (love and luck)<br />
* Three bay leaves (protection, psychic powers, healing, purification and strength)<br />
* A bowl to mix the herbs together in<br />
* Three small coloured pouches (pink, blue and purple)<br />
<br />
Add lavender to the bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Lavender from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and peace</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Sweet dreams at night</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>And days so bright</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>As my abundance does increase</i></div><br />
Add pink and white rose petals to bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Rose petals from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and healing</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>White so pure</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>And pink adore</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Forever happy feeling</i></div><br />
Add jasmine to bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Jasmine from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and protection</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Dreams prophetic</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Life energetic</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Filled with great affection</i></div><br />
Add chamomile to the bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Chamomile from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and purification</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Money and wealth</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Happiness and health</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Through inspiration and motivation</i></div><br />
Add rosemary to the bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Rosemary from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and power</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Heal and protect</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Divine connect</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>In this and every hour</i></div><br />
Add strawberry flowers to the bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Strawberry from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of love and sweetness</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Good luck and fortune</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>By sun and by moon</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Brings abundance and completeness</i></div><br />
Mix all ingredients together in the bowl while saying:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>All things from the Goddess</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plants of love and more</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>My life abounds</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Your love surrounds</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>My intentions ever pure</i></div><br />
Write the word “LOVE” on one of the bay leaves, “HEALTH” on another and “INSIGHT” on another.<br />
Place the LOVE leaf in the pink pouch then add one third of the herb mixture and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Mother, maiden, crone</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Love in my heart and home</i></div><br />
Place the HEALTH leaf in the blue pouch then add one third of the herb mixture and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Mother, maiden, crone</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Health wherever I may roam</i></div><br />
Place the INSIGHT leaf into the purple pouch then add one third of the herb mixture and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Mother, maiden, crone</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Insight in all I know</i></div><br />
Tie the pouches together and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Mother, maiden, crone</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>My triple wish is sown</i></div><br />
As lavender is associated with the element of air, air will be used to seal the spell. Do the rest of the spell each day until you have used all of the herb mix and on the last day, crumble the rosemary leaves as you say each verse for the last time.<br />
<br />
Take a small pinch of the mix from the pink pouch and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>The love I have within me</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>With the world I share</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>I send it out to the universe</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>As it’s carried through the air</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Throw the mix into the air then take a small pinch of the mix from the blue pouch and say:<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>The health I have within me</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>With the world I share</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>I send it out to the universe</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>As it’s carried through the air</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Throw the mix into the air then take a small pinch of the mix from the purple pouch and say:<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>The insight I have within me</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>With the world I share</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>I send it out to the universe</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>As it’s carried through the air</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Throw the mix into the air then tie the three pouches pouches together and say:<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>The law of three on air will blow</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>As above, so below</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Blessed be</i></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-69782344018741540952010-01-29T22:11:00.001+11:002010-02-01T16:45:06.024+11:00LughnasadhWhen Lughnasadh rolls around on the 1st or 2nd of February in the southern hemisphere or 1st or 2nd of August in the northern hemisphere, the fields are full and fertile. Crops are abundant, and the late summer harvest is ripe for the picking. This is the time when the first grains are threshed, apples are plump in the trees, and gardens are overflowing with summer bounty, which makes Lughnasadh the first of the harvest sabbats.<br />
<br />
It's the dog days of summer, the gardens are full of goodies, the fields are full of grain and the harvest is approaching. Take a moment to relax in the heat, be grateful for the food we have on our plates and reflect on the upcoming abundance of the fall months. At Lughnasadh, it's time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months and recognise that the bright summer days will soon come to an end.<br />
<br />
<b>Alternate Names</b><br />
* August Eve<br />
* Ceresalia<br />
* Elembiuos<br />
* Feast of Cardenas<br />
* Feast of Lugh<br />
* Festival of Green Corn<br />
* First Festival of Harvest<br />
* First Harvest<br />
* Harvest Home<br />
* Lammas<br />
* Lughnasa<br />
<br />
<b>Pagan Mythology</b><br />
The God is middle-aged now and His power is waning as His strength is being fed into the grain. Rituals at this time thank the Goddess for her bounty and the God for giving of His strength. This is a time to start seeing the fruits of plans made earlier, the time when goals are almost accomplished.<br />
<br />
<b>Themes / Symbols</b><br />
* Baking bread<br />
* End of summer<br />
* First harvest fruits and vegetables<br />
* Honouring the Parent Deities<br />
* Honouring the Sun Gods<br />
<br />
<b>Traditional Foods</b><br />
* Ale<br />
* Apples<br />
* Barley cakes<br />
* Berries<br />
* Berry pies<br />
* Breads<br />
* Elderberry<br />
* Grains<br />
* Lamb<br />
* Meadowsweet tea<br />
* Nuts<br />
* Potatoes<br />
* Rice<br />
* Wild berries<br />
* Wine<br />
<br />
<b>Herbs, Plants and Flowers</b><br />
* Acacia flowers<br />
* All Grains<br />
* Aloes<br />
* Blackberries<br />
* Corn and Cornstalks<br />
* Crab Apples<br />
* Frankincense<br />
* Ginseng<br />
* Grapes<br />
* Heather<br />
* Hollyhock<br />
* Myrtle<br />
* Oak leaves<br />
* Pears<br />
* Rice<br />
* Rye<br />
* Sloe<br />
* Sunflower<br />
* Wheat<br />
<br />
<b>Incense</b><br />
* Aloes<br />
* Rose<br />
* Sandalwood<br />
<br />
<b>Gemstones</b><br />
* Aventurine<br />
* Carnelian<br />
* Citrine<br />
* Peridot<br />
* Sardonyx<br />
* Yellow Diamond<br />
<br />
<b>Colours</b><br />
* Brown<br />
* Gold<br />
* Green<br />
* Orange<br />
* Red<br />
* YellowWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-64764234510792599812010-01-19T12:13:00.001+11:002010-01-19T16:44:41.726+11:00Different Information in WiccaYou will probably have noticed by now that there is an abundance of information on Wicca, witchcraft and magic but much of it is incomplete, inaccurate, or contradictory. Part of learning the path is about exploring the different topics, either through research, meditation, practice, application, divine guidance etc, and finding what “fits” for you.<br />
<br />
That said, in different traditions of Wicca (as with different denominations in other religions), specific information is taught as being singularly true and correct; however, it should be remembered that while these things may be correct in that particular tradition, many Wiccans are eclectic and/or solitary so have the freedom to determine their own truths when it comes to practical application and understanding of the technical aspects of the craft.<br />
<br />
Another point to remember is that several aspects of Wicca are determined by the natural laws of the earth and these are affected by where you physically are on the planet.<br />
<br />
Some things are not negotiable, such as the directions of the compass points – north will always be north, but there are some things that have other considerations, mostly being whether you are in the southern hemisphere or the northern hemisphere. This affects things like the seasons and therefore the Sabbats. Another aspect affected by this is the directions to cast and open circle, often referred to as deosil and widdershins. Widdershins roughly means ‘against the sun’, which is clockwise in the southern hemisphere but anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere while deosil can be defined as ‘with the sun’, which is anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere and clockwise in the northern hemisphere. Often you will find the definitions of the words deosil and widdershins as clockwise and anticlockwise respectively; however, this is based on the northern hemisphere’s viewpoint only and misrepresents the true meanings of the words.<br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, the moon phases are the same in both hemispheres although the direction of the crescent when the moon is waxing or waning is reversed. So, in the southern hemisphere, a waxing moon appears are a leftward curved crescent (like the letter “C”) and the opposite in the southern hemisphere during the waning moon phase. This is reversed in the northern hemisphere. A quick visual representation of this is (O) for the southern hemisphere and )O( for the northern hemisphere. Check out <a href="http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/applets/equatorialmoon/equatorialmoon.html">this very cool animation </a>to help understand what happens with the moon in different parts of the world.<br />
<br />
Other things you will often find differ are correspondences. Some of this is due to overlap, for example, the colour purple is often used to represent intuition but it can also be healing, while blue can also be used for both of these purposes. Red can represent love, but so can pink. The heart chakra is usually represented by the colour green but rose quartz can also be used for various matters of the heart, including working with the heart chakra. When looking at correspondences, consider the impact of conditioning, be it social, spiritual, historical, cultural or just personal experience as this may have played part in the accumulation of the different correspondences. In the end, pre-existing correspondence lists can be used as a guide but your choices in how to use them are broad and open to your own preferences and interpretations.<br />
<br />
The point of all this is that the best thing to do is to research and explore all of the various aspects involved in Wicca as you journey along your path with appropriate respect to established teachings in order to determine what works best for you.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-75648411137427784272010-01-11T21:34:00.002+11:002010-02-01T16:44:39.905+11:00Parsley Spell for Cleansing and StrengtheningsThere are several ways this spell can be used:<br />
* Use every day for one moon cycle starting on the day after the moon is 100% full. During the waning moon, focus mainly on the cleansing aspects while building on the strengthening aspects once the moon begins waxing.<br />
* Use by night at the full moon to increase the intensity of the spell.<br />
* Use at dawn as a great way to start the day.<br />
* Use at spring as part of an ‘out with the old, in with the new’ strategy.<br />
<br />
You will need a knife, preferably your boline if you have one, and a small container of water. Moon water would be ideal however any pure, clean water can be used. The water should be consecrated and ready for magical use.<br />
<br />
The spell should be performed while wearing white clothing or it can be done sky clad. The intention is to cleanse your body of negative or dormant energy and allow it to be filled with positivity and strength.<br />
<br />
Kneel before the parsley plant, breathe deeply three times then say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Plant of cleansing, plant of strength</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Parsley from the Goddess sent</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>I ask her now for but a length</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>That her powers may be lent</i></div><br />
Carefully cut one sprig of parsley and say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Thanks to the Goddess, blessed be.</i></div><br />
Place the sprig of parsley in the water. Using your athame or your finger, stir the parsley in the water three times then say:<br />
<br />
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Heed the flower, bush and tree</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>The cleansing power of parsley</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>I take within and focus true</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>That I soon may feel renewed</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>My health and strength in great reserve</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>Day by day will be preserved</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>My soul once heavy now set free</i></div><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><i>By the lady, blessed be</i></div><br />
Eat the sprig of parsley.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-73914758173590780862010-01-02T22:47:00.001+11:002010-01-09T01:05:53.609+11:00P.A.N. – Pagan Awareness NetworkThe <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.paganawareness.net.au" linkindex="18">Pagan Awareness Network (PAN)</a> is an Australian not-for-profit group who work to increase awareness of pagan beliefs and activities. They have a strong and thorough website containing much non-denominational material and information regarding paganism and aim to correct misunderstandings, foster tolerance and assist in the growth of the pagan community.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paganawareness.net.au/" linkindex="19">PAN</a> was started in Australia in early 1997 following the withdrawal of ‘regional controllers’ from the Witches League for Public Awareness (Salem Mass. USA). Not wanting to waste the work that had already been invested, they began with a website and some pamphlets that aimed at demystifying pagans and paganism. The group went on to host <a href="http://www.paganawareness.net.au/PAN//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=86" linkindex="20">Full Moon Circles</a> with the first public circle on 23 March 1997. Such events are still held in Seven Hills, New South Wales. They are predominately a means for like-minded people to make contact with one another and organise pagan moots and gatherings.<br />
<br />
Active socially as well as politically, <a href="http://www.paganawareness.net.au/" linkindex="21">PAN</a> work to promote religious tolerance and have pagans rights recognised in Australian laws and culture. They publish a bi-monthly newsletter called <a href="http://www.paganawareness.net.au/PAN//content/blogsection/6/130/" linkindex="22">The Small Tapestry</a> and a larger annual newsletter called The Tapestry, which is available to members of the association.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-64948083643417937642009-12-24T17:31:00.000+11:002009-12-24T17:31:06.824+11:00LithaLitha occurs on longest day of the year, which, in the southern hemisphere is around 21 to 23 December when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn and for the northern hemisphere it is when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer around 21 to 23 June. It is the first sabbat of the waning year.<br />
<br />
Other names for Litha include Alban Heruin or Alban Hefin (Druidic), Feill-Sheathain, Gathering Day, Midsummer, St John's Day, Summer Solstice, Thing-Tide, Vestalia, Whit Sunday or Witsuntide.<br />
<br />
There are many themes for this time of year, some of which are as follows:<br />
* Abundance of light<br />
* Balefire, especially jumping over the balefire<br />
* Fairies<br />
* Fertility of plants and harvest<br />
* Fires / Bonfires<br />
* Mistletoe<br />
* Oak Trees<br />
* The Sun – sun wheels, peak of the sun’s strength<br />
<br />
The colours of Litha are the bright colours of summer, particularly blue, gold, green, orange, red, white and yellow.<br />
<br />
Traditional foods for Litha are:<br />
* Ale<br />
* Corn cakes<br />
* Garden fresh vegetables<br />
* Honey<br />
* Honey cakes<br />
* Lemons<br />
* Mead<br />
* Oranges<br />
* Pumpernickel bread<br />
* Squash<br />
* Summer fruits<br />
<br />
Popular herbs, plants and flowers include:<br />
* Carnation<br />
* Chamomile<br />
* Daisy<br />
* Elder<br />
* Fern<br />
* Frankincense<br />
* Heather<br />
* Honeysuckle<br />
* Ivy<br />
* Lavender<br />
* Lemon<br />
* Lily<br />
* Mint<br />
* Mistletoe<br />
* Mugwort<br />
* Oak<br />
* Rose<br />
* Saffron<br />
* Sage<br />
* Sandalwood<br />
* St. John’s Wort<br />
* Vervain<br />
* Wild Thyme<br />
* Yarrow<br />
* Ylang-ylang<br />
<br />
Popular incenses at Litha are:<br />
* Frankincense<br />
* Lemon<br />
* Myrrh<br />
* Pine<br />
* Rose<br />
* Vanilla<br />
* Wisteria<br />
<br />
Litha-related gemstones include:<br />
* All green gemstones, especially emerald and jade<br />
* Diamonds<br />
* Lapis Lazuli<br />
* Tiger’s Eye<br />
<br />
In Pagan mythology, Litha is seen as the time when the Oak King, who represents the waxing year, is triumphed over by the Holly King who represents the waning year. The two are actually one God, the Horned God, but the Holly King is seen as the growing youth while the Oak King is seen as the wise and mature man.<br />
The Goddess is also celebrated at Litha by many Pagan traditions. She is seen as the woman heavy with child, who will give birth to the God at Yule. She is also seen as the bounty of coming harvests, of protection and sustenance.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-28561539944490159312009-12-15T11:12:00.000+11:002009-12-15T11:12:53.525+11:00Saint Patrick’s BreastplateSt Patrick's Breastplate is a prayer commonly said to have been written by Saint Patrick in the fifth century however as the style is based on that used in druidic incantations it is most likely that it was actually written in the eighth century and therefore was never uttered by Saint Patrick at all.<br />
<br />
Other names for this prayer include "Faeth Fiada", “The Lorica of St. Patrick" (or sometimes simply “The Lorica”) as well as “The Deer’s Prayer” or “I bind until myself today”, which is the first line of the prayer. The reference to Saint Patrick’s Breastplate arises from the words in the prayer seek God’s protection and it most often used for protection on a journey.<br />
<br />
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is often sung today as a Christian hymn, particularly on Saint Patrick’s Day or Trinity Sunday and is currently included in the English Hymnal, the Irish Church Hymnal and The Hymnal (1982) of the U.S. Episcopal Church.<br />
As the prayer was originally written in old Irish, it has been translated into English. There are two common translations, the first is the more traditional translation by Cecil Frances Alexander and is as follows:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The strong name of the Trinity,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By invocation of the same,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Three in One and One in Three.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind this day to me for ever,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His baptism in the Jordan River;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His death on cross for my salvation;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His bursting from the spicèd tomb;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His riding up the heavenly way;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His coming at the day of doom;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself today.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself the power</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of the great love of the Cherubim;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The service of the Seraphim,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All good deeds done unto the Lord,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And purity of virgin souls.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The virtues of the starlit heaven,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The glorious sun's life-giving ray,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The whiteness of the moon at even,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The flashing of the lightning free,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The stable earth, the deep salt sea,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Around the old eternal rocks.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The power of God to hold and lead,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His eye to watch, His might to stay,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His ear to hearken to my need.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The wisdom of my God to teach,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His hand to guide, his shield to ward,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The word of God to give me speech,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His heavenly host to be my guard.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against the demon snares of sin,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The vice that gives temptation force,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The natural lusts that war within,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The hostile men that mar my course;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Or few or many, far or nigh,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In every place and in all hours</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against their fierce hostility,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind to me these holy powers.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against all Satan's spells and wiles,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against false words of heresy,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against the knowledge that defiles,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against the heart's idolatry,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against the wizard's evil craft,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against the death-wound and the burning</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ be with me, Christ within me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ behind me, Christ before me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ beside me, Christ to win me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ to comfort and restore me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ beneath me, Christ above me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in hearts of all that love me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I bind unto myself the name,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The strong name of the Trinity;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By invocation of the same.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Three in One, and One in Three,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of whom all nature hath creation,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Praise to the Lord of my salvation,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>salvation is of Christ the Lord.</i><br />
</div><br />
The second translation by Kuno Meyer is somewhat more modernised and is as follows:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through a mighty strength,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the invocation of the Trinity,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through belief in the threeness,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through confession of the oneness</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of the Creator of Creation.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ’s birth with His baptism,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His crucifixion with His burial,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His resurrection with His ascension,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His descent for the judgement of Doom.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the love of the Cherubim,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the obedience of angels,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the service of archangels,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the hope of the resurrection</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to meet with reward,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the prayers of patriarchs,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In prediction of prophets,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In preaching of apostles,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In faith of confessors,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In innocence of holy virgins,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In deeds of righteous men.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through the strength of heaven;</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Light of sun,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Radiance of moon,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Splendour of fire,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Speed of lightning,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Swiftness of wind,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Depth of sea,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stability of earth,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Firmness of rock.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through God’s strength to pilot me:</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s might to uphold me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s wisdom to guide me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s eye to look before me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s ear to hear me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s word to speak to me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s hand to guard me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s way to lie before me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s shield to protect me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>God’s host to save me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From snares of devils,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From temptation of vices,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From every one who shall wish me ill,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Afar and anear,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Alone and in a multitude.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I summon today all these powers</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>between me and those evils,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against every cruel merciless</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>power that may oppose my body</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and soul,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against incantations of false prophets,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against black laws of pagandom,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against false laws of heretics,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against craft of idolatry,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against spells of women and</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>smiths and wizards,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against every knowledge</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that corrupts man’s body and soul.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ to shield me today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against poising, against burning,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Against drowning, against wounding,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So there come to me</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>abundance of reward.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ with me, Christ before me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ behind me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in me, Christ beneath me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ above me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ on my right,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ on my left,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ when I lie down,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ when I sit down,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ when I arise,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in the heart of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>every man who thinks of me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in the mouth of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>every one who speaks of me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in the eye of</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>every one who sees me,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ in every ear</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that hears me.</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I arise today</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through a mighty strength,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the invocation of the Trinity,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through belief in the threeness,</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Through confession of the oneness</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of the Creator of Creation.</i><br />
</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-24891975543152170982009-12-04T23:17:00.001+11:002010-02-01T16:43:15.046+11:00The Delphic OracleThe Delphic Oracle is one of the most famous oracles of Ancient Greece. Located at the town of Delphi on Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis in Greece, it is site of the Temple of Apollo.<br />
<br />
Legend has it that Apollo came to Delphi, in some stories he appeared in the shape of a dolphin carrying Cretan priests on his back and in others he walked there to pick laurel, which is a sacred plant and has many links to his life and worship.<br />
<br />
The Delphic Oracle was originally said to be inhabited by an enormous female serpent or dragon, called Pythia, who spoke the prophecies of Gaia and guarded the oracle as the centre (sometimes referred to as the navel) of the earth and the whole universe. Apollo killed the serpent, casting it into a great chasm on which the Temple of Apollo was built and claimed the oracle from Gaia (although there are also stories where the oracle was handed on via various bequest with Apollo eventually being given it as a birthday present).<br />
<br />
The role of Pythia was then filled by a woman, chosen from the Delphic community. In some stories she had to be a young virgin but later as a celibate post-menopausal woman. Pythia was upon a brass tripod above the chasm, which emitted vapours, which were said to be caused by the decomposing corpse of the serpent although modern theories have suggested it may have been ethylene gas or methane or that the chasm may have been a seismic ground rupture.<br />
<br />
Pythia was said to then enter a trance like state, sometimes also enhanced by chewing bay leaves, in which she would pass on the messages of the oracle.<br />
<br />
There are different stories as to how often this occurred, some say only once a year on Apollo’s birthday (the 17th of the ancient month Bysios, which corresponds to our current second part of February and first part of March) and then later to the 17th of every month, except in Winter when Apollo left Delphi.<br />
<br />
In some stories, Pythia spoke in garbled language that was interpreted by the attending priests, however most say that her words were fully comprehensible but the meaning was cryptic and this is what the priests interpreted.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://the%20delphic%20oracle%20is%20one%20of%20the%20most%20famous%20oracles%20of%20ancient%20greece.%20located%20at%20the%20town%20of%20delphi%20on%20mount%20parnassus%20in%20the%20valley%20of%20phocis%20in%20greece,%20it%20is%20site%20of%20the%20temple%20of%20apollo.%20legend%20has%20it%20that%20apollo%20came%20to%20delphi,%20in%20some%20stories%20he%20appeared%20in%20the%20shape%20of%20a%20dolphin%20carrying%20cretan%20priests%20on%20his%20back%20and%20in%20others%20he%20walked%20there%20to%20pick%20laurel,%20which%20is%20a%20sacred%20plant%20and%20has%20many%20links%20to%20his%20life%20and%20worship.%20the%20delphic%20oracle%20was%20originally%20said%20to%20be%20inhabited%20by%20an%20enormous%20female%20serpent%20or%20dragon,%20called%20pythia,%20who%20spoke%20the%20prophecies%20of%20gaia%20and%20guarded%20the%20oracle%20as%20the%20centre%20%28sometimes%20referred%20to%20as%20the%20navel%29%20of%20the%20earth%20and%20the%20whole%20universe.%20apollo%20killed%20the%20serpent,%20casting%20it%20into%20a%20great%20chasm%20on%20which%20the%20temple%20of%20apollo%20was%20built%20and%20claimed%20the%20oracle%20from%20gaia%20%28although%20there%20are%20also%20stories%20where%20the%20oracle%20was%20handed%20on%20via%20various%20bequest%20with%20apollo%20eventually%20being%20given%20it%20as%20a%20birthday%20present%29.%20the%20role%20of%20pythia%20was%20then%20filled%20by%20a%20woman,%20chosen%20from%20the%20delphic%20community.%20in%20some%20stories%20she%20had%20to%20be%20a%20young%20virgin%20but%20later%20as%20a%20celibate%20post-menopausal%20woman.%20pythia%20was%20upon%20a%20brass%20tripod%20above%20the%20chasm,%20which%20emitted%20vapours,%20which%20were%20said%20to%20be%20caused%20by%20the%20decomposing%20corpse%20of%20the%20serpent%20although%20modern%20theories%20have%20suggested%20it%20may%20have%20been%20ethylene%20gas%20or%20methane%20or%20that%20the%20chasm%20may%20have%20been%20a%20seismic%20ground%20rupture.%20pythia%20was%20said%20to%20then%20enter%20a%20trance%20like%20state,%20sometimes%20also%20enhanced%20by%20chewing%20bay%20leaves,%20in%20which%20she%20would%20pass%20on%20the%20messages%20of%20the%20oracle.%20there%20are%20different%20stories%20as%20to%20how%20often%20this%20occurred,%20some%20say%20only%20once%20a%20year%20on%20apollo%e2%80%99s%20birthday%20%28the%2017th%20of%20the%20ancient%20month%20bysios,%20which%20corresponds%20to%20our%20current%20second%20part%20of%20february%20and%20first%20part%20of%20march%29%20and%20then%20later%20to%20the%2017th%20of%20every%20month,%20except%20in%20winter%20when%20apollo%20left%20delphi.%20%20in%20some%20stories,%20pythia%20spoke%20in%20garbled%20language%20that%20was%20interpreted%20by%20the%20attending%20priests,%20however%20most%20say%20that%20her%20words%20were%20fully%20comprehensible%20but%20the%20meaning%20was%20cryptic%20and%20this%20is%20what%20the%20priests%20interpreted./" linkindex="14">Click here</a> for an online Delphic Oracle - it's not very convincing but it's still fairly interesting nevertheless.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-26643450268761751722009-11-27T15:36:00.001+11:002010-02-01T16:44:06.537+11:00Spellcraft - Healing Old Wounds<i><b>Scenario </b></i>:<br />
You have a 25 year old friend who has recently had a surprise visit from an old boyfriend who had been quite abusive during their short relationship.<br />
<br />
Your friend had thought that she was over it all but this chance meeting had bought up some bad feelings for her to a point where she was having bad dreams and it was now disrupting her life. She was feeling scared and fragile and her self esteem had plummeted.<br />
<br />
She has come to you for help and asks to create a spell/talisman to help her return to a more stable mindset.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Response </b></i>:<br />
<br />
I have put together a little spell kit and a letter for my friend in response to this scenario. The kit contains the following:<br />
* a pink candle<br />
* a toothpick (to inscribe the candle)<br />
* sweet musk incense oil<br />
* small pink organza pouch containing rosemary and thyme<br />
* sodalite<br />
* rose quartz<br />
* hematite<br />
<br />
<i>To My Friend,</i><br />
<br />
<i>This is a difficult time and my heart goes out to you for all of the emotions you have found yourself confronting once again after bumping into your old boyfriend. I remember how you were during your relationship and have seen how much you have strengthened and grown since it ended but I understand that you are still dealing with and trying to work through the pain and hurt you felt during the time you were together. I was very relieved to hear that you have contacted a counsellor and are working through these issues however, as you requested, I have put together a little kit containing a few items that I hope will also be helpful.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The colour pink is used to represent the heart and is the universal colour of love. It is used throughout this spell to restore your ability to love yourself and to feel worthy of love from others. As a result of combining the fiery, lustful colour red and the neutralising and pure colour white, pink is perfect to represent the red passion that brought you and your old boyfriend together initially, as this is an essential and honourable part of who you are, and the white cleansing purity that is needed to restore balance and calm without creating a state where love no longer exists at all.</i><br />
<br />
<i>There are no particular words you need to recite for this spell to work as it is something that works with your heart not your head and I didn’t want you to have to remember more than was necessary. If there is anything that you wish to say as you work through this, please do say it as all words that come from your heart are perfect for this spell.</i><br />
<br />
<i>This spell will work best when performed at night during the new moon or at dawn on a Sunday or Monday as may suit you better. It should be seen as a new beginning as it will help you discard all of the feelings that are no longer honouring you and will prepare you for your new start.</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Part One – Candle Dressing</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>Take the pink candle and inscribe with words that describe the emotions you would like to be feeling – love, confidence, balance, peace, healing, self-worth, beautiful etc. Dress the candle with the sweet musk oil.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The sweet musk works with the positive aspects of love and will remind you that the offering of your heart and love reflects on your strengths, not your weaknesses. It should help you recall sweet and innocent memories and will be used to create a positive association and act as a trigger to provide strength and reassurance any time the negative memories start to re-surface.</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Part Two – Purification Bath</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>Draw a warm bath free from any soaps or other additives and add the herb sachet containing rosemary and thyme to the water. Place the dressed candle in sight of the bath, undress and stand for a few moments just breathing deeply until you feel a sense of peace and calm. Light the candle and get into the bath.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Once in the bath, breathe in the aromas of the rosemary and thyme and know that both of these herbs have powerful protection and purification properties. As you gaze into the flame of the candle, allow all of the negative feelings to flow out of you and direct them towards the flame. It may be painful as each thought rises up within you but know that you are safe where you are and that the flame is accepting those negative thoughts and memories from you and cleansing them in the fire while the rosemary and thyme are doing the same through your physical body. Remember, tears are cleansing also so if they start to flow, just allow them to and think of them the release of all of the pain you have been feeling that is also being accepted by the purification bath and therefore cleansed from within you.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Rosemary is an excellent herb for clearing negative energy and thyme is wonderful for promoting courage. Both are powerful healers and can aid with sleep and preventing bad dreams. They are also perfect herbs for love and even though right now it seems that love has been at the centre of all of your grief and pain, they will actually help you work through this so you will be able to separate from this misconception and to once again see love as the positive experience that it is. Not all offerings of love are meant to be eternal but we can always learn a little more about life from them each time.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Do not allow yourself to spend too much time thinking about the negatives of your past relationship. If you start going over the same events and feelings you know you are ready to move onto the next stage.</i><br />
<br />
<i>As the candle burns, reach out your senses and invite the smell of the sweet musk to come to you. As you start to smell its sweet aroma, start to think of all of the ways that love is wonderful. Think of all of the things about yourself that make you happy. Recall every compliment that you have ever been given. Think about things that you do, things that you wear or things that you own that make you happy and that give you a great feeling about yourself. I know there are many so this should keep you busy for a while. Keep watching the flame of the candle and know that it has burnt away all of the feelings that you no longer need to hang onto and you are ready to be filled once more with all of the feelings that you inscribed on the candle earlier.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Once you feel ready, get out of the bath. At some point in the next 24 hours, remove the used herbs from the bag and bury them in the earth.</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Part Three – Crystal Pouch</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>Take the three crystals from the small pink pouch.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The blue stone is sodalite. It helps to create a sense of emotional balance and calm so will help at any time you feel like you are starting to become emotionally charged over thoughts of your old boyfriend. It also enhances self-esteem, self-acceptance and self-trust as well as rational thought, objectivity and truth.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The pink stone is rose quartz. It is the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace and will work directly with your heart. This stone will help you heal and will also prepare you for future love both from yourself and from others are you move forward.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The dark silver stone is hematite. This stone is a grounding stone and will work to harmonise everything you have done so far as part of this spell with your mind, body and spirit. It is also a great stone for strength, which is something that you have always had but have now been reminded of through the work you have been doing with your counselling and this spell.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Now, dress each of the crystals in the sweet musk oil. Think about their properties as you rub the oil over them and visualise yourself as these properties apply to you while breathing in the sweet smell of the musk.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Place the crystals in the pouch.</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Part Four – Maintenance and Completion</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>Carry the pouch for seven days if you performed it at dawn or 28 days if you performed it during the new moon. If you start to feel doubt or negative feelings about your old boyfriend surface, take the pouch out, close your eyes (ensuring you are in a safe place to do so first i.e. not driving etc) breathe in the sweet musk smell and recall the positive feelings and traits you have been working with during this spell. Place it under your pillow at night so it can also work with your subconscious mind as well as help alleviate any bad dreams. </i><br />
<br />
<i>At the end of the required period, return the remaining items to me.</i><br />
<br />
<i>If you have any questions or if you would like any clarification, please contact me as soon as possible. I know you will work through this and that all will be well once again soon.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Blessed be, my friend, blessed be ♥</i><br />
<i>~ Kora ~</i>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-30123561647272425552009-11-16T22:45:00.000+11:002009-11-16T22:45:33.219+11:00The Nine MusesThe beginning of the mythology of the Muses is somewhat confused and contradictory leading to a school of thought that the concept of inspiration for literature and the arts that the Muses stand for was originally embodied in several non-specific goddesses who were the patrons of poets. Later there is a suggestion that there was only one Muse but it is commonly believed that there were originally three Muses, who were the daughters of Gaia and Uranus. The three Muses were Melete (pronounced <i>mel-uh-tee</i>) who was the Muse of practice and meditation, <b>Aoide </b>(pronounced <i>ay-ee-dee</i>) who was the Muse of song or voice and Mneme (pronounced <i>nee-mee</i>), which is sometimes said to be the shortened form of the name Mnemosyne (pronounced <i>nee-mos-uh-nee</i>) although other sources indicate these are separate deities, who was the Muse of memory.<br />
<br />
Of these original three Muses, Mneme was said to have had nine daughters by the God Zeus (in some stories this was a result of Zeus lying with Mneme over nine consecutive nights) and these daughters were known as the nine Muses. It is believed that the nine Muses did not originally have specific domains but provided inspiration for all poetic pursuits and it was as a result of artistic representations of the Muses, particularly in sculptures, where each was depicted with a different emblem in order to differentiate between one another and it was from these representations that their domains were later defined.<br />
<br />
<b>Calliope </b>(pronounced <i>kuh-lie-ah-pee</i>) is the eldest and highest ranking or most superior of the nine Muses. Her name means “beautiful voice” or “fair voiced” and appears as a mediator in a story about an argument between Aphrodite and Persephone over possession of Adonis where she decided that time with Adonis would be shared between the two suitors as well as allowing Adonis some time to himself. She is the patron of epic (or heroic) poetry and is usually depicted with a writing tablet and stylus. Calliope has been partnered in different stories with the was God Ares, with whom she had four sons, Mygdon, Edonus, Biston, and Odomantus who were the founders of the Thracian tribes known as the Mygdones, Edones, Bistones and Odomantes respectively, and also had two other famous sons, Orpheus and Linus although it is not clear as to whether these were by Apollo or the King Oeagrus of Thrace and in some cases Linus is said to be the daughter of Calliope’s sister, Urania.<br />
<br />
<b>Clio </b>(pronounced <i>klee-oh</i>) means “the proclaimer”. She is the Muse of history and is usually seen with a parchment scroll or a set of tablets. Clio is credited with introducing the Phoenician alphabet to Greece and had one son, Hyacinth, with Pierus, the King of Pieria.<br />
<br />
<b>Erato </b>(pronounced <i>eh-rah-toh</i>) is the Muse of lyric or love poetry. Her name is derived from the Greek word eros and means desired or lovely. In art, she is depicted with a Kithara (which is a member of the lyre family and which Erato invented) but also sometimes with a wreath of roses or a love bow and arrow as is carried by Eros (Cupid).<br />
<br />
<b>Euterpe </b>(pronounced <i>yoo-tur-pee</i>) means the “giver of delight” or “rejoicing well” and she is the Muse of music. Her symbol is the flute and she is credited as the inventor of the aulos (or double flute). According to Homer's Iliad, Euterpe became pregnant by the river god Strymon and bore a son, Rhesus.<br />
<br />
<b>Melpomene </b>(pronounced <i>mel-pom-ah-nee</i>) is the Muse of tragedy and, as such, is typically shown with a theatrical tragedy mask although sometimes also carries a bat, club or sword and wearing cothurnus, which were boots traditionally worm by actors, and a garland or crown of cypress. Her name means “the songstress”.<br />
<br />
<b>Polyhymnia </b>(pronounced <i>pol-ee-him-nee-ah</i>) means “the one of many hymns” and she is the Muse of sacred poetry or divine hymns and sometimes also of geometry, mime, agriculture and meditation. She is usually shown with a serious and pensive expression and often wears a veil.<br />
<br />
<b>Terpsichore </b>(pronounced <i>turp-sika-ree</i>) is the Muse of dancing and is usually holding a lyre whilst either dancing herself or while sitting down with others dancing to the music from her lyre. She was mother to the Sirens by the river God Achelous.<br />
<br />
<b>Thalia </b>(pronounced <i>thuh-lie-ah</i>) is the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry and her name means “flourishing”. She usually carries a theatrical comedy mask although may also be shown with a shepherds staff or a wreath of ivy.<br />
<br />
<b>Urania </b>(pronounced <i>yoo-rey-nee-ah</i>) or Ourania means “heavenly” She is the Muse of astrology and her symbols are a globe and a compass. She is sometimes listed as the mother of Linus from a union with Apollo.<br />
<br />
As with most deities, the muses can be seen as archetypes however it is particularly interesting with their being descendants of Mneme, one of the three original Muses who was the Muse of memory. There are many references to the Muses being able to provide the gift of inspiration as well as being able to take it away and in this context the link to memory is frequently made but in an inverse sense as the Muses act to take away the memory of inspiration. While the connection to memory is logical given that they are the daughters of the Muse of memory, this rationalisation appears incomplete. If one applies the concept of the collective unconscious to the gifts bestows by the Muses, it can be seen that the gift that the Muses bestow on those they work with are not new gifts but are a connection to the memories held in the collective unconscious.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-88239167587761420852009-10-15T00:19:00.004+11:002009-10-15T00:36:37.901+11:00The Goddess MaiaPronounced May-ah, the Goddess Maia appears most commonly in Greek and Roman mythology but is typically represented as a fertility goddess associated with spring and the month of May.<br /><br />In Greek mythology, Maia is the eldest of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. She was said to be the most beautiful of all of the daughters but was shy and chose to live alone in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia and is therefore sometimes referred to as a mountain nymph. The God Zeus fell in love with Maia while he was married to Hera. Zeus met with Maia secretly in her cave where, according to the Homeric Hymn they were “unseen by deathless gods and mortal men, at dead of night while sweet sleep should hold white-armed Hera fast."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie49zStf9kLyDXV9APb4EWDFd0H9PvKCKfEpC9sR3fHoFcQNbV0qkf2bA1G9-Fsjaxg9MDYsSXvN4mw1xk7oKZGRlvpUJpzbf13dqsw4hSMa8x672qpw6fi5y3wPelpCYwETSmKkooDsBr/s1600-h/maiahermes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie49zStf9kLyDXV9APb4EWDFd0H9PvKCKfEpC9sR3fHoFcQNbV0qkf2bA1G9-Fsjaxg9MDYsSXvN4mw1xk7oKZGRlvpUJpzbf13dqsw4hSMa8x672qpw6fi5y3wPelpCYwETSmKkooDsBr/s400/maiahermes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392448383545323890" border="0" /></a>Maia fell pregnant to Zeus and gave birth to Hermes. One night while Hermes was still an infant, (in some stories on the very night of his birth) after Maia had wrapped him in a blanket and fallen asleep, Hermes crawled out of the cave and went to Thessaly where he stole some of Apollo’s sheep and hid them in his mother’s cave. Apollo was enraged by the theft and confronted Maia who showed him Hermes who, as an infant, should not have been capable of such a deed. Apollo was not satisfied, however, and appealed to Zeus, who sided with Apollo and declared that the sheep should be returned to Apollo.<br /><br />During this debate, Hermes invented the lyre using a turtle shell, which he was playing when Apollo returned to the cave to reclaim his sheep. Apollo was instantly enchanted by the lyre and exchanged the stolen cattle as well as other gifts for this new and wonderful instrument.<br /><br />Maia is also sometimes referred to as the “Grandmother of Magic” due to her son, Hermes, having been the one to discover and master this art.<br /><br />Other than Hermes, Maia had no other children of her own but she was charged by Zeus to raise his son, Arcas, when his wife, Hera turned Arcas’ mother, Callisto into a bear upon discovering Callisto and Zeus’ affair. Arcas is thought to be the namesake of Arcadia, which is a region of Greece in the Peloponnesus.<br /><br />Maia and her sisters Taygete, Elektra, Alkyone, Asterope, Kelaino, and Merope were turned into doves by Zeus. In some stories this was said to be deliverance from the pain they felt at their father, Apollo’s punishment following he and his brother, Menoetius, siding with the Titans in their war against the Olympians in the Titanomachy (or War of the Titans). As<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAp06W96CKmXpA5i9SYnOXxKp7OvEoJCM88z-rMluOGszON2f295AblD6zx8l1-CxJW72Ngk5BQaVtcvYwZfpqSTBbeigJEE50W2Gqp7CvTv8cJFROnJW72gnZcvU3IqYsyTgSnF9iiUY/s1600-h/MaiaPleiades+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAp06W96CKmXpA5i9SYnOXxKp7OvEoJCM88z-rMluOGszON2f295AblD6zx8l1-CxJW72Ngk5BQaVtcvYwZfpqSTBbeigJEE50W2Gqp7CvTv8cJFROnJW72gnZcvU3IqYsyTgSnF9iiUY/s400/MaiaPleiades+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392448712362910466" border="0" /></a> a result of his involvement, Zeus ordered that Atlas to stand at the western end of the earth and hold up the heavens on his shoulders (not the earth as is the common misconception due to later artistic interpretations). In other stories, the transformation into doves was deliverance from the pursuit of Orion. As doves, they flew into the heavens and turned into stars to form the Pleiades in the constellation of Taurus.<br /><br />As a Greek goddess, Maia’s name is given to mean “great mother”, "midwife", "female doctor", “nurse”, "good mother", "foster mother", or "aunty". As a Roman goddess, however, Maia is also called Maia Maiestas, meaning the “good goddess”, “great or powerful”, “more” or “she who is great”. Other names for Maia in Roman mythology include Bona Dea, Fauna or Ops and she is celebrated as the Goddess of Spring, typically on the 1st of May but also sometimes on the 15th of May, which is also the date of her son, Mercury’s, dedication of his temple (NOTE: Mercury is the Roman name for the God Hermes).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyL2kteJOPkO0tJcLepAbC59PGogQNDH9cHclpPTzLHeVCIg6uWo17HuVuor6E-vdN3po8LXD6A8lYVyipESnKZW4QvxBNZiOxXNDwdHap_u0RzY32ha94UENqGxTjZ-BxTurvaE9nDn6/s1600-h/maias-day.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyL2kteJOPkO0tJcLepAbC59PGogQNDH9cHclpPTzLHeVCIg6uWo17HuVuor6E-vdN3po8LXD6A8lYVyipESnKZW4QvxBNZiOxXNDwdHap_u0RzY32ha94UENqGxTjZ-BxTurvaE9nDn6/s400/maias-day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392448977150492306" border="0" /></a>Maia was often associated with Vulcan, sometimes as his wife, as both were deities of heat – she in terms of the increasing natural heat of the earth at the commencement of spring and he in terms of fire and volcanos. In ceremonies held on the 1st of May, a pregnant sow was often sacrifices by the priest who oversaw the rites of Vulcan, however some sources indicate that a sow-shaped wafer could be substituted. The choice of the sow represents the fecundity (pronounced fi-kuhn-di-tee, meaning fruitfulness, fertility and also referring to the capacity to produce many offspring) of the earth and therefore of the goddess Maia.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-59530986194914305702009-10-05T22:17:00.000+11:002009-10-05T22:18:43.754+11:00What Tarot Card Am I?<p align="center"><img src="http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot/fantastical/10.jpg"></p><br /><h2 align="center"><font face="Verdana"><b>You are The Wheel of Fortune</b></font></h2><br /><p align="center"><font face="Verdana">Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of <br />intoxication with success</font></p><br /><p align="center"><font face="Verdana">The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.</font></p><br /><p align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b>What Tarot Card are You?</b><br><a href="http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot">Take the Test to Find Out.</a></font></p>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-64656792995578699302009-09-21T15:09:00.006+10:002009-09-21T16:06:26.359+10:00Little Ostara Lemon TartsWith spring in the air and time on my hands, I decided to cook something for Ostara. A recipe for little lemon tarts recently caught my eye so I decided to use this as a base for some Ostara themed treaties. Here's how it happened...<br /><br />Firstly, I gathered the ingredients for the tart base:<br />* Cooking spray OR 1 tablespoon of oil<br />* 2 cups plain flour plus a little extra for kneading<br />* Pinch salt<br />* 125g butter - chopped<br />* 2 teaspoons castor sugar<br />* 1 teaspoon lemon rind - grated<br />* 1 egg yolk<br />* 3 tablespoons iced water<br /><br />Next was the ingredients for the filling (yum!):<br />* 125g creamed cheese - softened<br />* 1/2 cup castor sugar<br />* 2 egg yolks<br />* 2 tablespoons lemon juice<br />* 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk<br />* Food colouring and items to decorate (optional)<br /><br />To make the tart bases:<br /><br />* Sift flour and salt into a bowl<br />* Rub in butter<br />* Add sugar, lemon rind, egg yolk and water<br />* Mix with a knife<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_99nSOl3ulu6h48WgNDa4udR-cb9jew-GurJruPXkNd-swUKuFRuJcOeHydLhJo4kZ4D3KPMPjCWmPW6o48fU0wrxH6ftpCUjRmOjwyYVG-qikkNqyHDwk_X_t3UB6g2tozT10LwWaqAv/s1600-h/DSCF3191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_99nSOl3ulu6h48WgNDa4udR-cb9jew-GurJruPXkNd-swUKuFRuJcOeHydLhJo4kZ4D3KPMPjCWmPW6o48fU0wrxH6ftpCUjRmOjwyYVG-qikkNqyHDwk_X_t3UB6g2tozT10LwWaqAv/s320/DSCF3191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383793178296546578" border="0" /></a><br />* Knead gently on a lightly floured surface<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v1KJlWJqEF-QtmsHV3G-mHplmee5SHGrTfIiO_tOrSEBKKkiCT5kjPFv9AzQeSBv7FxO1sGrCIJpntskwlISDb5XBHd_J6aJvZoG1R8Wmf5JBLWgDbF5_CuyMxb6ijr1nSNf4hCWEQhN/s1600-h/DSCF3203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v1KJlWJqEF-QtmsHV3G-mHplmee5SHGrTfIiO_tOrSEBKKkiCT5kjPFv9AzQeSBv7FxO1sGrCIJpntskwlISDb5XBHd_J6aJvZoG1R8Wmf5JBLWgDbF5_CuyMxb6ijr1nSNf4hCWEQhN/s320/DSCF3203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383793188002764834" border="0" /></a><br />* Cover in cling wrap and place in fridge for 10 minutes<br />* Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius<br />* Grease two 12-cup patty tins (the recipe I was working off called for "shallow cup" patty tins but as I didn't have any of those I used normal ones and just pushed the bases a little higher up the sides)<br /><br />Then on to the filling:<br />* In a separate bowl, add cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk<br />* Mix with electric mixer until smooth and thickened<br />* Add lemon juice and condensed milk<br />* Beat with electric mixer until well combined<br />* Separate into bowls and add food colouring as desired<br /><br />Then back to the base:<br />* Roll out a portion of the base dough between two sheets of baking paper until approx. 3mm thick<br />* Cut the dough using a 7cm fluted round cookie-cutter<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOQJF2wpoGr_u4o76hk0oM90aWdiLWSiNwX42lZMtozuTPLAM5InG7e86tqYG6KS0-EUGhkpM7esk94pPzWLbAwMAxAhTxGaIXo0zhbZELrRobFKCxnFrIugTEyyosbCJC3-J_S2cQiqY/s1600-h/DSCF3209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOQJF2wpoGr_u4o76hk0oM90aWdiLWSiNwX42lZMtozuTPLAM5InG7e86tqYG6KS0-EUGhkpM7esk94pPzWLbAwMAxAhTxGaIXo0zhbZELrRobFKCxnFrIugTEyyosbCJC3-J_S2cQiqY/s320/DSCF3209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383793197267611154" border="0" /></a><br />* Carefully place each round into a patty cup, pressing down gently into shape<br />* Lightly prick each round three times with a fork<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGrbFhyILbzQgnpra5lU_P9YVlk9n3CNDqCj-DvG_KNL_IkDFRwjcU9MUqcVSs2fBmLNRIE1GtmdKItIVo72Bb4z9I9ywo0zg_f_DrxDzwMh78ez3ZFdovN2gJ4ccvVPGQZm3mHddVCFR/s1600-h/DSCF3211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGrbFhyILbzQgnpra5lU_P9YVlk9n3CNDqCj-DvG_KNL_IkDFRwjcU9MUqcVSs2fBmLNRIE1GtmdKItIVo72Bb4z9I9ywo0zg_f_DrxDzwMh78ez3ZFdovN2gJ4ccvVPGQZm3mHddVCFR/s320/DSCF3211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383793204460397154" border="0" /></a><br />* Bake for 10 minutes or until just starting to turn golden<br />* Remove from over and allow to cool slightly<br /><br />Now put it all together:<br />* Spoon the filling into each of the cases<br />* Bake for 5 minutes or until set<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOlrq_Ryc16Zlw3zcydnp-vA_qcTXSLOVDnxzWGqpn5dG_CEvor63_BJ1T1JgnaPj7RolIft60G1_d_Nz7uTFxGNZTaX1iaxWLqs8RbyebaXujiSPUrTr5hFhsVnVSNZcvQktmR82ihEG/s1600-h/DSCF3213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOlrq_Ryc16Zlw3zcydnp-vA_qcTXSLOVDnxzWGqpn5dG_CEvor63_BJ1T1JgnaPj7RolIft60G1_d_Nz7uTFxGNZTaX1iaxWLqs8RbyebaXujiSPUrTr5hFhsVnVSNZcvQktmR82ihEG/s320/DSCF3213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383793213770228658" border="0" /></a><br />* Allow to cook before removing from patty tins<br />* Decorate using skittles, smarties, piped icing, sprinkles etc to look like flowers and the bright colours of spring<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlp3jbvdnPMiFPVEvFWXWE0f7MtyxnsT-hCsIRZ7PxUDG5NCtTJeYA0UuETYWosMon4tFNCg16bPWrTE78W31bzVRpHdFsZRXYVOhHZyQ3bDSYpF8MmtDDtpBp3-wom4Ow4V9B2zyy2yh/s1600-h/DSCF3218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlp3jbvdnPMiFPVEvFWXWE0f7MtyxnsT-hCsIRZ7PxUDG5NCtTJeYA0UuETYWosMon4tFNCg16bPWrTE78W31bzVRpHdFsZRXYVOhHZyQ3bDSYpF8MmtDDtpBp3-wom4Ow4V9B2zyy2yh/s320/DSCF3218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383794680840218930" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-32171848333844871812009-09-21T07:00:00.002+10:002009-09-21T07:13:26.030+10:00OstaraOstara is one of the Wiccan sabbats celebrating the spring equinox, which is then midpoint between the winter and summer solstices. This is the time where balance is restored and the world starts to bloom into life. Spring has finally arrived! In the southern hemisphere, Ostara occurs between 21 and 23 September each year. Other names for this sabbat include:<br /><br />* Alban Eiler (Druidic)<br />* Bacchanalia<br />* Eostre’s Day<br />* Lady Day<br />* Spring Equinox<br />* Vernal Equinox<br /><br />The themes for this celebration are balance, birth, creation, new life, butterflies, eggs, fertility, light overtaking the darkness, rebirth, transformation and the God and Goddess in their youthful phases.<br /><br />In pagan mythology, this is the time when Persephone returns from the underworld to be with her mother, Demeter, and all of the earth blooms in celebration and renewed care and nurture. It is a season of play and joy, as the renewal of the Earth is readily apparent. This is the time to plant, and to begin new projects, a fertile time when ideas and plans start to grow. Rituals at this time celebrate the young God and Goddess, the restoration of plants and animals after the cold of winter.<br /><br />Traditional foods associated with Ostara are:<br /><br />* Dairy foods<br />* Eggs (especially hard-boiled)<br />* Honey<br />* Honey cake<br />* Leafy green vegetables<br />* Milkshakes and milk punch<br />* Nuts<br />* Seeds (such as pumpkin and sunflower)<br />* Spring fruits<br />* Sprouts<br />* Waffles<br /><br />All pastel colours are in favour at Ostara, particularly light blues, greens, pinks and yellows.<br /><br />Traditional Ostara herbs, plants and flowers are:<br /><br />* All spring flowers<br />* Crocus<br />* Daffodil<br />* Ginger<br />* Gorse<br />* Honeysuckle<br />* Iris<br />* Irish Moss<br />* Jasmine<br />* Jonquils<br />* Narcissus<br />* Olive<br />* Peony<br />* Rose<br />* Strawberry<br />* Violet<br />* Woodruff<br /><br />Incense popular at Ostara include:<br /><br />* Any type of floral fragrances<br />* Jasmine<br />* Rose<br />* Sage<br />* Strawberry<br />* Violet<br /><br />Gemstones associated with the time of Ostara include:<br /><br />* Amethyst<br />* Aquamarine <br />* Moonstone<br />* Red Jasper<br />* Rose QuartzWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166504466828386711.post-34797377893368542852009-09-11T17:30:00.005+10:002009-09-11T17:37:44.096+10:00Malachite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvOvBZJiJK5WWCNqiVPGnn0l24_fu_iQbl1rlt6aJuU02BHx0OwT_iubMbPu-yi8-DPBbdk5KSD8aLJ497-5u6a5UWiWpGtGxqTpeiv_RFwhaJQPLpHRBUkjwEdpmNt6uq_Ud9z8bxliB/s1600-h/Malachite3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvOvBZJiJK5WWCNqiVPGnn0l24_fu_iQbl1rlt6aJuU02BHx0OwT_iubMbPu-yi8-DPBbdk5KSD8aLJ497-5u6a5UWiWpGtGxqTpeiv_RFwhaJQPLpHRBUkjwEdpmNt6uq_Ud9z8bxliB/s320/Malachite3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380110346059480850" border="0" /></a><br />A beautiful bright to dark green crystal, usually with stripes or swirling patterns, Malachite has a silky appearance and is found in the Congo, the Middle East, Peru, Romania, Russia, Zaire and Zambia. The green colouring of Malachite comes from copper with the water content affecting the depth of the green and the dark/light patterns.<br /><br />Chemically, Malachite is closest to Azurite and can actually be formed from Azurite as it crystallises. As a result, the two are often found together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cXmyl2qJFljxG_ff89YdH3BWPH_lJdJ2kF1DkStdvlNm5qqPsw11TQfJZLKHvEMgEgDzhWX0ECsn_BM373VDAYV5fHt9j7SQ-_A-BEvHUUNQRIAp0GjwPTzCM8H80mrBz1nVZpTvWVt2/s1600-h/malachite2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cXmyl2qJFljxG_ff89YdH3BWPH_lJdJ2kF1DkStdvlNm5qqPsw11TQfJZLKHvEMgEgDzhWX0ECsn_BM373VDAYV5fHt9j7SQ-_A-BEvHUUNQRIAp0GjwPTzCM8H80mrBz1nVZpTvWVt2/s320/malachite2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380110425615107682" border="0" /></a>Malachite is toxic therefore should be used cautiously when carved or used in crystal water. It should not be taken internally. Malachite is also sensitive to acid, heat, hot water and ammonia. As such, polished Malachite should not be washed in water, acids or any product containing ammonia.<br /><br />The word Malachite may be a derivative of the Greek words "malache" meaning "mallow" (a green herb) or possibly "malakos" meaning “soft”. Both aptly relate to this green, soft stone.<br /><br />Physically, Malachite is often associated with the following:<br />* Stomach<br />* Liver<br />* Kidney stones<br />* Lungs<br />* Immune system<br />* Multiple sclerosis<br />* Circulation and other issues related to the blood (e.g. reducing bleeding, blood purifying, blood pressure)<br />* Radiation and chemotherapy<br />* Sleeping problems<br />* Asthma<br />* Bones and bone marrow<br />* Cancer<br />* Growths and tumours<br />* Joints<br />* Muscles<br />* Inflammation<br />* Bacterial infection<br />* Brain disorders<br />* Purging of toxins<br />* Vertigo<br />* Child birth<br />* Morning Sickness<br />* Pain relief and trauma<br />* Epilepsy<br />* Gall Bladder<br />* Infections<br /><br />Magically, Malachite is generally used for the following purposes:<br />* Protection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFP421_1Qym96s6391ilu9qlGhCX5xNduptZUSgYViX3Jj7nhidc1Py55IjG4InzzOr-Rx3Aywj66Rf8aux5l5wOmyexFhmWo5DQFWGBky7hcBvbXjEQnV1EGzUL6LDsZ4-2R_EYQMucm/s1600-h/Malachite1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFP421_1Qym96s6391ilu9qlGhCX5xNduptZUSgYViX3Jj7nhidc1Py55IjG4InzzOr-Rx3Aywj66Rf8aux5l5wOmyexFhmWo5DQFWGBky7hcBvbXjEQnV1EGzUL6LDsZ4-2R_EYQMucm/s320/Malachite1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380110501148676514" border="0" /></a><br />* Transition and transformation<br />* Clearing negativity<br />* Promotes faithfulness and loyalty in relationships<br />* Accepting responsibility<br />* Releasing inner truth<br />* Clarifying emotions<br />* Assisting in physical and psychic healing<br />* Meditation<br />* Psychic visions<br />* Self-expression and creativity<br />* Money matters<br /><br />Malachite may assist with the following:<br />* Depression<br />* Anger<br />* Nightmares<br />* Addiction<br />* Anorexia<br />* Confidence<br />* Emotional healing<br />* Trust<br /><br />Malachite has a feminine feel to it and is associated with the astrological signs of Capricorn, Scorpio, Taurus and less commonly Libra, Aquarius and Sagittarius.<br /><br />Malachite can be used on the heart chakra due to its green colour for matters of the heart but also the throat for self expression and creativity. In history, the ancient Egyptians used ground Malachite for their eye make-up and over children’s beds as a protection symbol.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10974190496077346318noreply@blogger.com7