S is for Samhain

Long before I knew about Samhain, Halloween was my favorite holiday.  It trumped even Christmas in my young mind, and it wasn’t just because of the candy and costumes.  There  was something different about Halloween night.  Something seemed magical about the end of October, with its cool, crisp days and early darkness.  I always sensed excitement in the air.  Years later, when I began to discover my personal path to the Divine, I learned about Samhain. 

Summer’s End, the last harvest, was – and still is – a very significant time in the wheel of the year. For many, it was a time to make sure there was enough food to last through the dark days of winter.  It is a time when the veil between our world and the spirit world is so thin that our ancestors could return for a visit.  It is a time to celebrate many things – the season of introspection, the end of the year, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and the harvest of the earth’s bounty.

It’s at this time of year that we most feel the presence of those who have gone before us.  For days or weeks before Samhain, the very air seems to change. In my house, sometimes strange things happen. These little occurrences make me think that the spirits are trying to communicate. 

Unfortunately, Samhain sneaks up on me most years. I have plans, and then I get really busy with work and don't get a chance to do much. This year, however, Samhain comes at the end of the week, and I can devote the weekend to celebrating.  

Some of the things I'd like to do is to hold a mute supper, but that plan is for when I actually have more space.  I can't even see my kitchen table, much less use it.  It's become a catch-all for crap, just like every other flat surface in this place.  SOOOOOO...this year, my Samhain plans involve cleaning and decluttering the joint.   Before Samhain arrives, I will have donated clothes and other unused items to Goodwill.  I'll also hopefully have given the place a good scrub and smudge.  

As for the actual remembering of the ancestors,  I intend to do what we started last year.  Since I don't have a lot of photos here, I am going to get a piece of poster board and write down the names of family members and friends who have passed to the other side of the veil.  The act of writing their names will bring remembrance.  I will also make the rosemary remembrance cookies I like to make but haven't in a while.  I have a spiffy new pomegranate-shaped cookie cutter to use for this.  I have also made a wreath. 

Another idea that might be nice is the Ancestors' Toast.  It's simple enough - just grab a cup of your favorite libation, toast your ancestors, and share stories about them or advice they've given you over the years.  Drink and repeat.  If you're using an alcoholic libation, you might want to use small cups or shot glasses so you don't end up joining the ancestors due to alcohol poisoning...

What are some of your ideas?  Do you have a menu planned yet?  I might use the same menu as last year.  

Last year, I made:

Crock pot cabbage rolls

Roasted chicken

Roasted potatoes

Brussels sprout gratin

Rye bread with caraway seeds

Green Man Cake - a chocolate-hazelnut torte

S is for Samhain

What can I say about Samhain that hasn't already been said?  It's one of my very favorite days of the year, one that I try to carry with me throughout the rest of the calendar year.  

Have some truly terrible Samhain haiku:

Samhain is the time

For our ancestors to come

As we honor them

Samhain is coming

It’s the season of the witch

When our souls can shine

Samhain is a day

In which we can raise power

To carry all year

A magical day

One of wonder and delight

The veil thins this night

R is for Ritual

What do you think of when you hear the word “ritual”?   Does it evoke images of smoking incense, candles, a wand, chalice, and athame?   Or do you associate it with your pre-Pagan days?  Prayers murmured in unison, standing up, sitting down, hymns?   All of the above?

I personally don’t do rituals, per se.  The last time I was in a formal circle, it felt very hollow and a bit silly, even.  Calling the quarters.  People using pen flashlights to read notes.  I dunno, there just wasn’t much appeal. 

Instead of formal acts of worship, I prefer daily practices.  I’ve written before that ritual, for me, largely includes cooking and feeding people.  I see those things as an act of worship – of nature and of the Divine.   The principle is similar, and the practice also has some similarities.  Instead of a wand, I use a wooden spoon. Instead of a cauldron, I have pots and pans.  I sometimes light candles when I cook or bake, and I use herbs, but in a different way most of the time.

I think that acts of reverence for the Divine and for nature are things that should be a part of my daily routine.  That’s one of the reasons my head is always covered.  I try to remain prayerful throughout the day.  I try to give thanks for many things throughout the day.   I personally don’t need to gather together with a group of people and make circle to do it. 

Sometimes it’s nice to be in the company of others, and I do attend gatherings from time to time, but I don’t participate as much as I observe while thinking my own thoughts and conducting a celebration in my own mind.  That’s just what works for me.  Everyone’s practice is different, which is how it should be. I believe the path to the Divine – however you see it – is deeply personal, and no one can tell you how or where to walk it.  

Q is for Quick Kitchen Magic

Feeling stressed? Anxious? Having a bad day?  Want to bring more abundance and prosperity into your life and home?  You only need look as far as the kitchen!

Sometimes, the quickest and simplest things are the most effective for our needs at the time.  Here are just  few really fast and easy things you can do with kitchen/food items to improve the energies in your home and/or bring prosperity and abundance into your homes.

Burn herbs and/or spices over a charcoal.   Use sage to cleanse and purify.  Cloves work nicely for purification as well.  Place the charcoal in a dish on top of a bed of salt.

Mix up a floor wash to wash away negativity or introduce love, peace, and/or harmony.   Boil some lavender  and/or rose buds into a tea.  Mix with a little white vinegar.  Add to your wash water to cleanse the cabinets, counters, and floors to bring in some love energy. Rosemary and/or citrus work for cleansing away negativity.  Add some salt to this mixture, too, if you wish.  You can also place the concoction into a spray bottle.

 A dish of sesame seeds, changed periodically, will help attract prosperity.

There you have it:   just a few easy, quick little things you can do using kitchen items and ingredients.

P is for Pagan Modesty

mod·es·ty

  [mod-uh-stee]   noun, plural mod·es·ties.

1.

the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness,etc.

2.

regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

3.

simplicity; moderation.

Now, a lot of people might see that word and think, “Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”  and run screaming.   Keep reading before you run away, though, if you can.

When the concept of modesty is mentioned, people often picture plainly-dressed Quakers, or possibly Amish folk.  Perhaps you picture people (mostly woman, I’ll wager) from other Abrahamic faiths, with their long sleeves, dresses, and head coverings.   It’s what we’ve come to associate with the word. 

Now, if you look at the definition, dress is only part of it.  The definition deals mainly with manner and practice, as opposed to just what people put on their bodies.  

What I put on my body doesn’t make me modest.  There’s no such thing as “more modest than thou” because that is kind of the opposite of the meaning of the word.   I cover my body and my head for other reasons, reasons that I have outlined before. 

Do I consider myself a modest person, a modest Pagan?  Wellllllllll…no, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m all that modest.  In dress, sure.  I don’t boast about achievements and accomplishments that much, either.  I’m a rather atypical Leo in that regard.  (I blame it on the fact that I came early and was actually supposed to be a Virgo. Hehe.)

Am I vain?  No, my self-esteem is actually pretty damn low most of the time.  That’s another story for another time, however.  I may vlog and blog, but I don’t enjoy just talking on and on about myself, even when I’m asked questions.  It makes me uncomfortable to be in the limelight.

Let’s look at the second use of the word.  Regard for decency in dress?  Again, I wear long sleeves and long dresses over leggings. I wear a head scarf.  Therefore, I guess we can say that I am modest in dress.  Do I judge other people for not covering up as much as I do?  Hell no.  If you got it and want to flaunt it, go nuts.  I’m fat and uncomfortable having my pudge hanging out, flapping in the breeze, but that’s just me. 

Speech and behavior?  Do you know me?  Have you seen the amount of swear words I’ve used in this post alone?  Okay, not that many…yet.   Every time I’m outside smoking a cigarette (smoke-free campus), I kind of laugh to myself and wonder what people might think, seeing a woman with flowing dresses and weird scarves out there, puffing away on a menthol.  

The conclusion?   I would not consider myself a modest Pagan.  I consider myself to be someone who chooses to cover up in order to protect my energy and to feel more comfortable.   In my experience, a lot of people use the term modesty very loosely and go against it by boasting about how modest they are.   Kind of like Weird Al’s lyrics for “Amish Paradise”:  I’m a million times more humble than thou art. 

I just like to blend in with the scenery.

You get away with a lot more that way.   

O is for Offerings

This post will focus mainly on how I leave offerings.  There are, of course, a variety of ways of leaving offerings, but if you’re a kitchen witch, what do you do?  No one wants to just leave a bunch of food lying around on the altar, right?  It can spoil quickly, and who wants to offer spoiled food to the Divine?  It can also attract all sorts of unsavory creatures like fruit flies. 

Now, at Samhain, I will leave some food out for the spirits of the departed, but usually only while we eat.  What do you do with the leftovers, then?  You can either bury them or compost them, depending on the food items offered.   The dead feast upon the essence of the food rather than the physical ‘vittles’, anyway.

For a kitchen altar, I have made miniature food items out of polymer clay.  Pictures or other artificial food items can be used to represent the earth’s bounty. 

The way that I tend to send offerings to the Divine and to the spirits of loved ones is by burning representations of those objects.  I may write a letter or draw a picture or cut out pictures of food or flowers or whatever fits the purpose at the time.   To me, burning offerings is an excellent way of sending their essences to where they need to go.  I believe that the intent and message is sent through the smoke via the wind.  I have a little cast iron pot (my cauldron) that I use especially for burning offerings.

The next time you want to offer something but do not want to set out actual food or objects that might be stolen, try burning.  If you don’t have a pot, use a coffee can with some sand or dirt in the bottom, or go out in the driveway.  

O is for...Otherkin

Truth.

Catching Up: N is for Nudity

Nudity.  Does this word strike fear in your heart?   Does it make you uncomfortable?  Do you automatically think of sex?

We are an over-sexualized society.  Nudity is so strongly tied to sex in many contexts that it's nearly impossible for some people to separate the two.  Look at the whole public breastfeeding (non) issue.  In this culture, nudity and sex are not only connected, but they are also used to sell everything from perfume to cheeseburgers.

I could go on and on about this topic, but I'm really just using it as a segue into ritual nudity.   Working skyclad is a part of some people's practices.  It is seen as a symbol of liberation and as a way of connecting to the gods and to the earth.  After all, naked is the way we were born.

And as the sign that ye are truly free,
Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men
And women also: this shall last until
The last of your oppressors shall be dead
(Leland, 1899.)


It works well for some.  There are those who do find it very freeing, and it may help them feel more connected to the Divine.

 I don't do the skyclad thing.  I'm not big on being nude in front of a bunch of people I don't know, unless I'm going in for surgery or something.

This isn't because I am ashamed of my plus-sized body; I'm not.  I think that my body, as squishy as it is, is sacred.  It is the gift to my soul to carry it around in this lifetime.  I may not take the best care of it most of the time, but we'll talk about that later...

Because I see this body as my soul's gift from the gods, I prefer to cover it up and reveal it only to a select few.  I see it and I like it.  My boyfriend has seen it a couple of times.  Hell, I've even mooned people before.   I don't even show my hair to people, much less my other bits and pieces.  I don't think it's necessary at all.

The Divine knows what my body looks like already.  I don't feel the need to approach prayer or celebrations without clothing.  For one thing, it's not exactly practical in many cases.  Or legal, depending on where you're conducting your celebration/ritual/whatever.

For another thing, I am not approaching the Divine with my body. I am connecting to the Divine with my soul, my true essence.  I go naked in spirit.  My soul is laid bare before the Divine.  I may be wearing clothing on my body, but my soul is naked before the Divine.  And that's what works for me.

N is for Newbies

This post might piss some people off.  That wasn’t an apology. 

Newbies.    The new Pagan or new witch.  We all know them, and guess what?  We all WERE new at one point in time.  Holy smokes!  We were all in the same place as some of these people!  Whoda thunkit?

This post isn’t going to bash newbies (much), but it is going to discuss the attitudes a lot of people in the Pagan community have toward those who are just beginning on their paths.

Ecauldron.com has this tongue-in-cheek post about types of Pagans.   The new ones are described as such:

1. Bright-Eyed Novice:
You just read this cool book about a religion where there's a Goddess and a God, and they meet outside in nature, instead of some scary old building. They think sex is GOOD not evil, and you want to know where to sign up.

Distinguishing Signs:
Mispronounces god/dess names, has to think a moment about which is deosil and which is widdershins. Has a shiny new athame (rhymes with "A-frame".)

Now, again, this is HUMOR, but unfortunately, a lot of people see the “bright-eyed novice” and either roll their eyes or bash them outright.  “How dare you not know such and such?  I’ve known that for years!”    Well, guess what?  You learned it from somewhere, didn’t you, oh wise one?

I’ve been a practicing (sorta practicing, anyway) Pagan for over 15 years now, and I honestly have to say I roll my eyes just as much at the more “experienced” members of the community because of their attitudes of superiority. 

That brings me to a HUGE pet peeve I have:  The term “fluffy bunny”.   As I understand it, the term can be used to describe people who are new as well as people who *gasp* don’t acknowledge the dark sides of the path.    Grow the fuck up, seriously.   Did you get into Paganism because you felt bashed for your beliefs and thought it would be fun to bash other people for their beliefs instead?   Does calling someone a fluffy bunny make you feel better about yourself?   If so, you might need to do some self evaluation there, sparky.

My approach is to listen, answer questions, and help guide people.  The path to the Divine is deeply personal, but sometimes people need help forging their own path.  I’ll let you borrow my scythe for a minute so you can start cutting down some weeds and start walking your own way, y’all.

I try to guide people away from what I see as the misconception that Paganism and D&D are intertwined.   *Whispers*  They’re not.     I’m not necessarily judging your path or your practice if you really, truly, honestly think you’re a dragon or a wolf or whatever, but I am seriously questioning your grasp on reality.  If you want to play fantasy games, go right on, but por favor, don’t attach that shit to me.  

Poor newbies get confused easily  at times, and some of them might think that that’s the norm.  Not so much.  

They are exploring. They are finding what works for them.  Some of them want to do only helpful things (aka “white magic”).  Others might want to pretend to be super-ultra-mega powerful dark witches or whatever, but again, they just need some guidance.   And possibly a boot to the head.   This goes for EVERYBODY, though, not just the newbies.

Not everyone wants guidance, and some people cannot be reached, but I still want to try, if only to protect my reputation.  Yeah, so I’m a bit selfish, but not entirely.

Some people never grow out of the attention-seeking phase.  I’ve known plenty who have, however.  This isn’t the fault of Paganism; rather that’s a combination of self-esteem issues and who knows what else.   Again, though, this isn’t something that only new Pagans exhibit.  I know way more experienced Pagans who are insufferable twits.

My point, after all of my ranting and raving, is this:  

New does not mean bad, wrong, or stupid.  It means new.  It means inexperienced and possibly in need of some more education.  Instead of being all high and mighty about your years of experience, why not try this:

·         Recommend some books by reputable authors.  Show them the basics and let them go from there.

·         Use all of your knowledge and experience to offer advice based on interest – Greek mythology, the Celts, whatever.  Factual, not fictional, please and thank you.

·         Stop using that annoying fucking fluffy bunny term before I puke through my eyes.

·         Foster a sense of community.  Work on bringing people together rather than driving them apart. 

 /bitching

M is for Magical Names

Magical names, Craft names, Witchy names – whatever you want to call them, have a special significance to many.    While not everyone chooses one, many do prefer to take on another name while practicing or attending events.  There are many reasons for this. 

Some people choose a special, new name because they feel it fits their newfound selves. Others may choose a magical name because they don’t want to be ‘outed’ by having their real name in groups, on forums, or associated with Paganism in any other way.  There are also a few who just wanna be ‘cool’.  Come on…you know it’s true.

Names, preferences, and beliefs and practices change over time, so it isn’t unusual for a magical name to be changed once it no longer ‘fits’ its owner.   There is also the phenomenon of Ravens, Morganas, Willows, Wolves, and Ambers in the Pagan community.  I can’t tell you how many people I’ve encountered who went by Raven or Wolf or had a name that included one (or both, ahem) of those monikers.

There are many, many methods for choosing a name.  Numerology is used by some.  Magical names that reflect the owner’s path are also used.  Yet another method is meditation and allowing the name to just come, perhaps as a message from a personal deity.   Whatever name you use, it should be one that is carefully chosen and not just a “flavor of the month” that you’ll grow out of before you’re ready to change your socks.  Of course, if that’s your style, far be it for me to judge, of course!  

This brings me to my name.   When I first embarked on my path to the Divine, I had a different name.  You’ll probably laugh.  One day, I was in that state between asleep and awake, and a name came to me.  It reflected my personality and my intentions.  My brain said to me, “Greenlady”.   Not Lady such-and-such, mind you, but adopting a Lord or Lady title is something rookies tend to do.  It resonated with me…sort of.  I didn’t really use it, though.   I felt strange having another name.  I didn’t feel it the way I wanted to feel it 

 So I went without for a long time.

I don’t believe magical names are necessary at all.  In fact, for a lot of people, they may not even be desirable.  I never thought I HAD to have one, but I did like the idea of being called something other than by birth name, which I consider rather boring.  It doesn’t really fit me either.  I like my surname, but my first and middle names are just ‘meh’. 

Fast forward a few years to a non-practicing Pagan-flavored Agnostic woman living in Istanbul, absorbing local culture and customs (and fooooood!).    Wait, let me go back again.  Further back, to middle school English class.   We read the myth of Persephone, and I became enamored.  The name Persephone was – and still is – very beautiful to me.   I explored this story a bit more and read more about mythology.

Later, I became a huge fan of one of her symbols – the pomegranate.   I had had a few pomegranates before moving to Turkey, but there they are plentiful and more flavorful.  Juice stands press these gorgeous fruits into a dark red juice that is tart on the palate.   I began to connect with this symbol of Persephone, of the womb, of  life and rebirth. 

I couldn’t just call myself ‘Pomegranate’ though, now, could I?  That would be silly (she said facetiously). 

Nar.   The Turkish word for pomegranate is nar.   Now, I may not be Turkish, but I consider that just an accident of birth.  It’s a country that I really love, a beautiful country with a long and colorful (and often bloody) history.   I was learning the language, and food vocabulary is what we learned first.  After all, teachers gotta eat, right?  

The pomegranate is a sacred symbol in many belief systems, and I identify with its season of fall.  I explored the symbolism a bit more, and it just felt right.  I am Nar.   Nice to meet you. 

Money and Magic

Money has been on my mind a lot lately.  There's never enough of it to go around, never enough to cover every single bill that needs to be taken care of.  It's a situation, one that makes me lose sleep and cry from time to time.

In the past, I have written about ways to save money in the kitchen, and I do my best to use a lot of those methods.  Still, there isn't much I can do to make my electricity bill lower (I've tried) or the cell phone plan, or, or, or...

I looked at my bank account this morning and saw that the car insurance had cleared.  The water bill is next.  I barely have enough to get gas in the car and a few crappy grocery items.  Payday for the Aussie is the 26th.  For me, it's the 30th.   What's a girl to do?

Sometimes people turn to magic to help with money woes.  I do and don't.  I've been known to whip up a batch of Prosperity Shortbread Cookies from time to time (actually my go-to "get a job" cookie recipe), but as for doing spells to get money, I steer clear.  Why?

Well, it has been my experience - and that of others I've spoken to - that the Universe is not particular.  You can be specific, but it still does what it wants.  If you're not specific, look out!  You might be in for quite a ride.   No, the Universe isn't terribly particular in HOW it helps when you ask it for help.

To illustrate further, a dear friend related a story to me of a man who needed a certain amount of money.  He prayed.  He did spellwork.  He did this and that to get this amount of money, and it worked.  Sort of.  It worked in such a way that it made me want to avoid money magic for the rest of my life.  Let's just say it involved a horrific auto accident in which he remained in the back seat, while his legs joined the driver in the front seat.  He got his money, but at what cost?

I don't do spellwork for money because the money might come from a source I'd rather it didn't.  An inheritance, for example.  I'd rather not have anyone die just so I can get a few extra dollars.  I'd rather not win a settlement from an accident that leaves me disabled, either.  I'm gonna pass on that and just rearrange my retirement funds to get the money I need in order to get caught up on the bills, bills, bills.

If you are in need of a small amount to help you get through the month, I think it's all right to burn that green candle.  Leave out a dish of sesame seeds.  Plant a money plant.  Visualize a little extra coming in from somewhere or something.  Then, you must take some action to make it happen.  Again, the Universe ain't too damn particular, so you kind of have to take matters into your own hands for those small amounts.   Have a yard sale.  Put something on eBay.  Practical steps of that type are what you need to take to make it happen.   Don't depend solely on magic for anything, really.  That's been my stance for a very long time.

Also, evaluate your reasons.  Why do you need the money?  Were you frivolous earlier in the month?   Or did something big and unexpected come up, like a car repair or a home repair?  Did a pet have to go to the vet?   For me, it's a chiropractic bill that my insurance didn't fully cover.  It's a cancelled satellite bill (Suddenlink finally came through and I was able to drop that awful Frontier bullshit).   It's home repairs and owing my parents back payments for the trailer because the Aussie was out of work and I wasn't able to give them anything.   I haven't been buying crazy shit that I don't need; I've just been trying to survive.   (Okay, maybe Internet isn't a necessity, per se, but I do have to work at home sometimes, so it sort of is...)

Anyhell,  it boils down to this:  Avoid the temptation to do money spells for big amounts.  Little bits of prosperity magic should be fine.  Just remember to do your part, too.  Don't leave it all up to magic.

L is for Lammas

L is for Lammas

At Lammas, the goddess is the Grain Mother, the Corn Mother.   John Barleycorn meets his end.  He is cut down, milled, baked into bread and made into alcohol, consumed, and reborn from the earth in seed form the following year.  This is the first harvest, a time to reap what we have sown.   Farmers and hedgewitches are rewarded with the fruits of their labor, and the hopes and dreams that we have ‘planted’ are starting to come to fruition. 

Throughout Europe, the first and last cuttings of grain held special significance.  The first cutting was milled and baked into bread to be shared among members of the community.  In this way, the life-sustaining powers of grain/bread could be given to all. 

As a kitchen witch, this idea appeals to me.  I enjoy feeding people, and I feel especially called to donate to food banks during the harvest holidays. This first harvest holiday gives me the opportunity to dig my paws into some bread dough.  It's in this way that I feel most connected to the harvest because I do not grow or mill grain myself.  

When I bake bread, I really get into it.  I love to infuse the food with my intent - harmony, love, peace, prosperity, etc.  Music helps me raise energy, so I sometimes have my boyfriend drum as I knead.  

I chant:

Hoof and horn,

Hoof and horn,

All that dies shall be reborn

Vine and grain, 

Vine and grain,

All that falls shall rise again

Sometimes I shape the dough into rough sun or person shapes.  Two of my favorites to make during this time of year are rye bread and corn bread. The latter doesn't have to be kneaded because it's a batter, but corn is appropriate to the day. 

For a Lammas table, some local beer and wine accompany loaves of fresh-baked bread.  To make a complete meal, add some hearty beef stew and a nice green salad that utilizes as much fresh, local produce as you can get. 

Rye Bread (Hodgson's Mill recipe) 

This recipe yields two loaves, or perhaps one giant bread dude. 

2 cups warm water

2 envelopes yeast

1/4 c brown sugar

Bloom the yeast in the warm water with the sugar for 10 minutes, until frothy. 

In a mixing bowl, add:

Yeast mixture

1/4 c molasses

3 1/2 c rye flour

1 T caraway seeds

2 t salt

1/4 c melted butter

3 T cocoa powder

Gradually add 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups bread flour, one cup at a time, to make a soft dough. 

Knead (and chant!) for 10-12 minutes. 

Put dough in an oiled bowl and allow it to rise for an hour until doubled in size.  

Divide dough in half and gently work out the air bubbles.  Shape into loaves. 

Allow the loaves to rise another hour until doubled again.  Slash the tops.  

Preheat oven to 400 F and bake for 25-28 minutes.  

Cornbread:

3/4 c. cornmeal
1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tablespoon (T). baking powder
3/4 teaspoon (t. ) salt
1 cup milk (1 1/4 for buttermilk)
1 egg
2 T. melted shortening

Mix ingredients and pour into greased baking pan (I use a cast iron skillet). 
Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.

You could grill some corn on the cob and add a cup of kernels to this as well.  Delicious.  

Decorate the table with greenery, late summer flowers, corn and sheaves of grain if you can get them.   Orange, yellow, and purple candles illuminate the scene.  

L is for Litha

Background

Summer is here!  Time for grilling, catching (and releasing) lightening bugs, and handfastings.  Winter was long and harsh. Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure it was going to end.  But now, it’s summer, finally!  Oh, summer, I am so glad to see you.  Bring on longer days. Bring on the warmer (hotter) temperatures. Bring on the thunderstorms!  We’ve been having a lot of those lately.

Litha, or Midsummer, celebrates the longest day of the year and the power of the sun.  The crops are flourishing from the power of rain and sun.  The earth is alive and kicking and we come together to give thanks for the food that is growing and for a break from the long, dark nights of winter. 

Litha honors the power of the sun and of the God.  Fire figures prominently into this sabbat, and the Oak King currently reigns supreme.   

Summer is my second favorite season, after autumn.  I love this time of year because of the variety of fruits and vegetables that are available.  As Litha approaches, I begin to think more about the strength of the sun and the power of the God.  Without the sun, there would be no life on earth.   This is a time when the Earth Mother depends upon the Sun to help bring forth life.  Litha is a time to honor father gods and mother goddesses.  Fertility is still in the air (and in the ground).

Herbs collected at dawn are especially potent.  Some believe the fairies come out to par-tay at Litha as well.

Colors of Litha are the colors of the sun, of flames, and of the growing plants – red, gold, blue, green.  These colors decorate altars and tables in the forms of candles and summer flowers.  Symbols include fire, summer greenery, and representations of the sun.

My Litha

As a kitchen witch, I delight in coming up with ideas that use the amazing produce this time of year provides us.   I like to use the sun/fire theme in my cooking for this sabbat and make meals that have some SPICE to them!  I want to feel the heat of the sun on my skin and in my bones, to warm myself from the inside out. 

I recommend decorating with strings of dried red chilies and oranges to represent flames and the sun.  Pick a yellow, red, or gold candle to burn in the kitchen on this day.  Put on some lively music – pipes, for example.   The goal is to bring the vibrancy of the season into the kitchen along with the rest of the home. 

Smudge anything and everything with sage first to get it ready to really welcome the God into your home. 

The menu calls for fresh food, food cooked over a fire (grill), and spicy dishes to reflect the heat of the 

summer sun.   Think fiery Indian or Thai cuisine for your menu plans.  Spices and chilies not only kept food from spoiling in the tropical heat, it also stimulates the appetite and the sweat glands, helping you cool off a bit. 

Menu

Grilled and chilled vegetables with curry dip

Beef curry  - I am (in)famous for this dish

Rice

Mango lassi

Grilled and Chilled Vegetables

3 bell peppers – green, red, orange – seeded and quartered

1 lb asparagus, trimmed

12 green onions, trimmed

2-3 small zucchini, cut into slices

2 Japanese eggplant, cut into slices

¼ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

Preheat your grill or use a grill pan on medium-high heat. 

Brush the washed, trimmed vegetables with olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper

·         Bell peppers:  8-10 minutes on the grill, turning 1-2 times

·         Asparagus and green onions:  4-6 minutes on the grill

·         Zucchini and eggplant:  7-8 minutes

Work in batches.  Keep the peppers together, and so on.

Remove the vegetables from the grill and allow them to cool to room temperature or chill them in the refrigerator.

Curry Dip

½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream

¼ cup mayonnaise

Juice of ½ lemon

1 garlic clove

2 teaspoons curry powder

Salt and pepper

Combine ingredients in a food processor, beginning with the garlic to chop it finely.  Chill and serve with grilled vegetables.

Beef Curry

2 lbs boneless chunk, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped

4 red chili peppers, finely sliced (Serranos work nicely)

1 inch ginger, grated

½ teaspoon ground cardamom (or about 3 whole pods)

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon  (or two whole sticks)

1 ½ tablespoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 whole cloves or 1/8 teaspoon ground

3tablespoons oil or ghee

1 to 1 ¼ cup water

Heat oil or ghee on medium-high heat.

Cook onions 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium and cook 10 minutes.

Add garlic, ginger, and chilies.  Cook until garlic is soft and fragrant, 3-4 minutes.

Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves.  Toss to coat everything with spices.  Cook 2-3 minutes.

Add beef and stir again to coat.

Pour in water.  Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for approximately an hour.  Stir occasionally.

Remove lid, stir, and allow beef to finish cooking until tender, another 20-30 minutes.   If whole spices were used, remove cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks before serving.

Serve with steamed rice.

Mango Lassi

1 cup plain yogurt

½ cup milk of choice – dairy, almond, whatever

1 ¼ cup mango, cubed and frozen

Sugar or honey to taste, optional

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Sprinkle with cardamom before serving, if desired. 

K is for Kitchen Witch

Since I’ve written several posts on what being a kitchen witch means to me, I thought I would do something a little bit different and discuss the various ways of introducing witchery into the kitchen.

Ways of Making Your Kitchen a More Magical Place

1.       First of all, repeat to yourselves: I do not hate the kitchen.  I do not hate the kitchen. I do not hate the kitchen.

For many people it is a place of drudgery.  Food prep, cooking, and cleaning can take up so much time that a lot of people prefer to avoid this space as much as possible.   However, we all know it is healthier and more economical to cook at home as much as possible. 

If you are like me and already love being in the kitchen and feel most at home there, skip to the rest of the list.

2.       Set up an altar.  The stove/oven combination is the closest thing most homes these days have to a hearth.  This makes it the ideal location to set up an altar.  On the back of the stove, you can place a small representation of your chosen hearth deity.  Add a candle to represent the hearth flame.  You can also leave a small dish for offerings nearby.   This is a good location because it is out of the way, but you should still choose things that are easy to move if you need to.

3.       Decorate.  Paint if you can.  Make it homey with earth tones or spice it up with bold colors like terra cotta, yellow, shades of red.  If you can’t paint, you can put up pictures.  Use poster putty if you aren’t allowed to put holes in the walls.  Hang up pictures of your kitchen deity, your favorite foods, and anything else that inspires you.  Put pictures on the fridge, or decorate it with paint that washes off easily. 

4.       Live plants are wonderful to have, especially if you have a place for culinary or magical herbs.  Just make sure you don’t grow anything poisonous in the kitchen!   Aloe is great for burns and for home protection.  Rosemary is a purifying herb that also imparts a wonderful flavor to many different dishes.   Check out a book on magical herbs (Cunningham, for example).  I also like Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen. 

5.       Keep it neat.  Yes, I know, this is the hardest part.  I can’t really tell anyone how to clean a kitchen since mine is usually a cluttered mess.  My boyfriend does the dishes and most of the straightening after I finish wrecking the place to make a delicious meal.   Still, a clean kitchen is a safe and happy kitchen.  You don’t need to get down on your hands and needs to scrub the floors, but a nice floor wash is a good thing to have.  Lavender and rosemary brewed together and poured into the mop bucket makes the room smell nice and gives it a bit of spiritual cleansing and protection as well.  No herbs?  Just use some salt.  Essential oils would work as well as an herbal infusion.

6.       Remember that cooking is a basic act of magic.  Not only are you taking raw ingredients and turning them into something nourishing and tasty, you are also infusing the food with your intent.   Relax.  Put on some music.  Try not to cook when you’re in a foul mood.  If you start out in a bad mood, smudge the area first.  Make a cup of tea.  Sit down and take a few deep breaths.

7.       Don’t forget your kitchen deity.  A small dish for offerings from meals can be used, but if you don’t like the idea of leaving food out, make artificial representations part of your altar.  You can make things out of polymer clay, use a picture, or buy some play food from the toy section.   Just as long as they know you are thinking about them.

8.       Prepare yourself for the ritual of food preparation.  Light a candle.  Decorate a special kitchen witch apron.  Acquire a special knife, wooden spoon, cutting board, pot, whatever.  These are your magical tools. These are your implements of creation, so get something you really like.  Scour thrift shops and garage sales if you’re on a budget.  Find something that really calls to you. 

9.       Add seasonal touches to celebrate the turning of the wheel of the year.  Real or artificial leaves, flours, and fruits.  Strings of dried herbs, garlic, or chilies.  Cranberries in the colder months.   Get creative!

1.   Chant or sing as you knead dough.  Stir clockwise to impart positive energy. Scrub/wash counterclockwise to remove negativity.

1.   Embrace your path.  It may not be glamorous; in fact, it is rather mundane, but it is so very, very important.  Know that you are sustaining life and honoring the gods and goddesses.  You are celebrating the harvest holidays.  You give and receive the blessings of nature.  You are goddess.  You are god.

K is for Karma

(I bet you all thought I was going to do the kitchen witch thing, huh?  I like to keep people guessing.)

kar·ma  /ˈkɑrmə/

 noun

1.

Hinduism, Buddhism. action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either inthis life or in a reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the 

means of reaching Brahman. 

2.

Theosophy. the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished in oneincarnation according to that person's deeds in the previous incarnation.

3.

fate; destiny. Synonyms: predestination, predetermination, lot, kismet.

4.

the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something: Lets get out of here. Thisplace has bad karma.

Karma is a concept that is a part of a variety of Eastern religions.  It makes up the laws of cause and effect.   In the religions of which karma is a part, one’s deeds and actions affect all incarnations of one’s soul.   That which one has done in a previous life affects the current life, and so on.

Basically this:   What you do in one life (to either yourself or others) will carry to your next life. 

Karma is central to Hinduism, Buddhist, and Jainism although the concept of karma does differ between these religions.   For this post, I am not going to focus on Eastern religions.  Instead, I am going to discuss the New Age theosophy of karma and my thoughts and feelings on it.

To the New Ager, the Pagan, the Neo-Pagan and others, this is rather like the threefold law.  Simply put, What goes around, comes around.  

This is something that I grew up hearing from my Western family members.  Any time anyone did something selfish, mean, nasty, or just plain douchey, either my grandmother or my mother would say, “What goes around comes around.”  

For a while, I sort of believed it.  I would still like to, but I call bullshit right now.   Considering all that has fucked up in my life, I’d be led to believe I had been Hitler in a past life or something, while some of the dicks I have encountered must’ve been akin to Joan of Arc.   Nope, not gonna fly with me.

Do I believe in reincarnation?  I think it’s plausible, or at least as plausible as anything else concerning what happens to us after death.   Do I believe bad things can come back to a person?   Maybe, but is there some sort of cosmic guarantee?  Not that I’ve seen. 

I’ve seen plenty of people get away with being complete and total pricks their entire lives, seemingly with no negative consequences.  “But, Nar,” you might be saying, “you don’t know where they are or what’s happening to them now.”

True, I do not.   And if I can’t see it, I don’t know that ANYTHING is happening.  

“Patience, young grasshopper”, you might be thinking.  Pfffft!  

I think that the concept of karma is – at least in this context – too close to that of sin.  I read a really great post from last year’s Pagan Blog Project that discussed this very idea.  I wish I could remember the name or address of the journal. 

As Christians (and many of us were at one point), we are told that we will pay for our sins, either by going to hell or maybe by coming down with a nasty case of boils all over our bodies or something. Who knows.  I never really paid *that* much attention. 

Again, I call bullshit.  Why?  Just because I don’t have absolute proof?  Well, that and the fact that I honestly don’t think the Divine is so invested in our puny little human wheelings and dealings that It feels like punishing us for shit.   Plus, I don’t believe in sin.   There are some things that shouldn’t be done because of that whole Golden Rule thing, but there are a whole lotta people who don’t think about that concept, either. 

Why do bad things happen to good people and good things to crappy people?   The way I look at it is, we all get a turn.  Some days you’re the pigeon. Other days, you’re the statue.  I think the universe shits on each of us in turn, but through OUR HUMAN ACTIONS.   For example, child molesters don’t always fair too well in prison. 

I think that the concept of karma, cause and effect, good stuff and bad stuff coming back to us, lies within.   One reason I think that is the fact that the goddamned piece of shit maggot fucker who poisoned my parents’ dog is still alive and well.   If I want results, I’d have to get those results myself.  Believe me when I say I have many, many plans that I would absolutely love to execute, but going to jail for that scummy son of a whore isn’t worth it. 

What you send out into the universe might come back to bite you in the ass, but not because of karma.  If you try to cast a big, bad, boogey spell on someone and they find out and come and punch you in the crotch, there you go.  There’s your karma.   The only way being an asshole is going to affect your current life is if you get caught and someone decides to do something about it.  Fortunately for many assholes in this world, most people are pretty damned apathetic.  Slacktivism is the new thing these days.  No one wants to go in for a good old-fashioned ass-whooping because then WE’D get punished for that.    Punished by the po-po, not karma. 

Our crappiness is answered for either in this life or not at all.  Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.  We don’t even know if anything does happen after death, so there’s no guarantee that a child molester or warmongering dickface politician will get his or her comeuppance later. 

Act.   If someone cuts you off in traffic, give that asswipe the finger and don’t worry about coming back as a cockroach in your next life.   If someone kicks your dog, you go rip that person’s face off and dance on it.  

Karma isn’t going to get you satisfaction.

A little glove-slap, on the other hand…

J is for Jack O' Lantern

I'm actually EARLY for the Pagan Blog Project this week!  I know, I can't believe it either.  I got inspired.   This week, I decided to do another video post.

Now, there are many versions of the story of the first Jack O' Lantern and the man behind the name.  I decided to tell the version that I first learned when I was around 9 years old.

Also, check out my new YouTube channel introduction!  My boyfriend, the Aussie, provided the music via 4-chamber flute.

And here is the story:

J is for Jack in the Green

Jack, spirit of the woods, I look for you when I walk amongst the trees.   I scan the trees for your face, hoping to catch a glimpse of your leafy countenance.  I seek you out because I long to know you better.  I am a daughter who needs your guidance and wisdom.  

Jack, have we killed you or chased you from your home with our houses, our machinery, our pollution?  Or was that you who rustled the branches as I strolled past?   If you are trying to get my attention, I am listening.  Tell me what to do to make you strong again. 

I write these words for a planet that seems to be dying, for gods who seem to have been forgotten by so many.   Maybe I’ve read too much Tom Robbins (not possible), but what people refer to as the ‘old ways’ are fading into obscurity or gone all together.   For some of those ways, that’s a good thing, but for the reverence of nature and the changing of the seasons, the turning of the wheel, that’s not such a good thing. 

 

Sure, there are smatterings of people who wish to reclaim these traditions, but putting on a black cloak and a turkey platter-sized pentacle ain’t gonna do it.  Look at us.   Look at all of the non-renewable resources we are using up at an alarming rate.  Look at the changes in the environment: climate change and extinction of formerly endangered species just to name a couple.  And for what?  To build bigger cities to house more people who have no respect for nature.  We complain about wild animals invading “our” space, when it’s the other way around. 

Look at me.  Here I am, sitting on my fat ass after having driven to the store to buy supplies so I can go camping and “get back to nature” a bit.   I disgust myself sometimes.   I don’t recycle as much as I should.   I live half an hour away from my place of employment, and the bus schedule doesn’t match up with my schedule at all.  I smoke.  I don’t throw my butts on the ground or out the car window, but they do go in the trash.  I know there are many more examples that I’m not thinking about currently. 

What to do, then?   I have found some tips to help the planet, and I am happy to see that I do many of the things on the list such as not leaving the water run when I brush my teeth, taking short showers, and walking when I need to do some errands around town. 

The link:  http://www.50waystohelp.com/

I do not see this planet as a usable commodity.  Maybe I won’t be back after I die.  Maybe I will be reincarnated, who knows.   Even if I don’t have to live here after a while, other people will.  Your children. Their children. Many more generations will have to inhabit this place.   Part of my path involves being considerate of others and respecting the place I live by not trashing it completely.   For me, in order to be a better person and feel closer to the Divine, I feel that I must take care of the foliage and the dirt that line that path.   Then, maybe, just maybe, Jack in the Green will show himself.  Maybe we will once again feel the presence of the gods and goddesses, once we welcome them back.   Perhaps they once roamed the earth, but I feel that now they don’t want a whole lot to do with either it or us.  

We have some work to do.  Who’s with me? 

I got this tattoo when I was 21.  That was *quite* some time ago, and it really needs to be touched up.  It's on my chest, just in case anyone was wondering about placement. 

Jethro Tull's "Jack in the Green".   Its lyrics give me hope.