Blog For Free!
Archives
Home
2008 September
2008 August
2008 April
2008 March
2007 April
2007 March
2007 February
2007 January
2006 December
2006 November
2006 October
2006 September
2006 May
2006 April
2006 March
2006 February
2006 January
2005 December
2005 November
2005 October
2005 September
2005 August
2005 July
2005 June
2005 May
2005 April
2005 March
2005 February
2005 January
My Links
Dovetailmyth
BIOMIMICRY
The Natural Step
Alliance For Sustainability
almsthvn blog
DeathbyGlitter's Blog
DanielMacDonald's Blog
dr forbush blog
enki blog
h2Opower blog
graceshaker blog
Howie Luvzus Blog
jerneedog
jt blog
kurtmaddox blog
nullfactor blog
pourquoi Pas? blog
Ruined's Blog
Rand's Blog
rosietulips blog
Shayno blog
surrogate blog
SweetSue
UserFriendly
TabooTenente's Blog
wil wheaton blog
Something Wicca This way Comes
WEST*MART ethical local partnerships Blog
* WORK LESS PARTY, comsume less, live more!
Witchcraze *Not so fun facts*
History of Salem Witch Trials
US Army Chaplain's Handbook RE: Wicca
tBlog
My Profile
Send tMail
My tFriends
My Images
Sponsored
Blog
Blog Posts of Note:
*Magic, Witches and the Bible
*A brief History of Wicca
*Wicca 101 part 1
*Wicca 101 part 2
*Spells and the Modern Witch
*Do Witches Worship Satan?
*Religious View
*Interview with a Witch
*A Witch's Story of Creation
*One Definition of the Divine
*I am a Witch
* Original Sin, from a Witches point of View
*Why a Witch Could care less about Harry Potter
*Satan is not my Sidekick
*The other people: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Bible
I put this link here.
Committee to Protect Bloggers
Something Wicca This Way Comes
I feel so special right now, look Ma! I won an award!
|
| My radio Interview |
| 10.28.05 (10:18 am) [edit] |
The radio thing went really well yesterday, very very surreal. My hubbie went with me, I was way too nervous to drive downtown on my own. as we were driving there we listened to the radio station, we don't normally, actually ever, listen toe the Beat because we're not into the music they play- hip-hop, pop, top forty- stuff. So that added to the surreal-ness of it.
As we were driving along they did a little ad for my up coming interview- now that was really weird- to hear them talking about a Witch named Anne coming into the studio and how excited they were blah blah blah and know that they were talking about me. Then if that wasn't weird enough they segue into, "Stay tuned Hilary Duff tickets up for grabs. You could win!" at that point my hubbie and I just look at each other and start to laugh.
I felt like I had stepped out of myself and was in a movie- soundtrack NOT picked by me.
So we arrive at the station and I get to wait in the green room, how cool was that?! And finally in was time for my interview. I was nervous, and felt silly because I was nervous, but it all went very well. They knew that I had never done an interview, or radio interview, before so they tried to put me at ease. Kid Carson and Mira, and Amy (the producer) were all very nice, super friendly and I had a lot of fun talking with them. After the first couple, questions I forgot I was on the radio and I was just chatting with some very animated people!
I gotta say that they are very good at their jobs; they knew how to prompt me when I got stuck for words and were able to cover my sudden blanks with jokes and comments that get things moving along in the interview. Very impressive- a talent I'd love to have.
The interview was a good mix of fun jokes and serious answers to their questions. I think in the end it came across that Wicca isn't as dramatic as the movie make it out to be, a lot of fun and a serious real religion- at least that how it felt to me and if it came across that way to others that I accomplished my goal.
I know that a lot of you want details- transcripts or an audio file- I do have a CD copy of the interview, but I have know clue how to get in on the internet for all of you to listen too. IF ANYONE OUT THERE knows how and wants to help me do it, please send me a PM and we're chat.
Okay I gotta go- ritual tonight that I have to get ready for- talk to you all again soon- see below for the ritual.
|
|
|
| |
| Dark power Ritual for Renewal of the Earth |
| 10.28.05 (10:11 am) [edit] |
Dark power Ritual for Renewal of the Earth
Stuff needed:
Standard altar (facing north) and tools*
For dark powers: Sandalwood and/or patchouli oil
For protection and dismissal of Energy:
Ground or whole cloves, cumin, mullein, yarrow, nettle
For Dismissal of Energy and healing: rosemary,
For healing and purification: Bay leaves, vervain
For purification and protection: anise or Star Anise, burdock
(not all herbs are required, use what you have handy)
Two dishes for the herbs, see below for combinations.
A black pillar or votive candle
Matching White Candle
A fire proof container for both.
Matches or lighter
Candle snuffer
Plant pot/cauldron and dirt, if not outside.
If outside, plan ahead and dig a hole large enough for one candle within or near area of the sacred space.
*if nothing else have a wand and Boline (sharp knife)
This ritual may be used to direct the dark power of chaos energy into the regeneration of the earth and into opening the awareness of the humanity needed for balance and unity within our world. The nature of mind energy allows it to flow from within the body to the outside to effect changes in the real world.
Much of what exists is first imagined, then brought into being by the deliberate actions of the ones who imagined it.
This ritual is perfect to do THIS Samhain (2005) because of the new moon, which occurs on Nov 1. The new moon emphasizes a new beginning coming out of darkness into new light. This is also why it works as a Samhain ritual.
Samhain honours the dark, and the light that will again emerge in the future. The wheel of the year begins at Samhain. In Celtic Traditions Samhain commences a season of darkness where the veil between the worlds is thin. The God has descended into the underworld and a new God is growing within the Goddess (to be born at yuletide).
This is the time when a small seed is shimmering in the depth of the earth, waiting to grow, and this is the time that a new cycle truly begins. It is a time of assessment, of making the final arrangements that will help the family survive the winter.
Rituals at Samhain can help us to understand and acknowledge our weaknesses, our negative habits, and other aspects of our selves we may not be proud of- our personal darkness.
Samhain is an introspective time, we echo the decent of the God deep inside the earth, when work can be done to assess and retune ourselves and divest ourselves of traits we no longer need.
The ritual
Create ritual circle
Call the watchtowers
Greet the Lord and Lady
Rub the oil on the black and white candles, from the base to the top. Empower the Lord to the black candle and the Lady to the white.
Using the boline, Inscribe the following runes to the black candle:
Magical power: As
Destruction: Hagal
Overcoming resistance: Thorn
Protection: Eolh
Questing: Rad
Cycles: Ior
On the white candle, inscribe:
Light: Ken
Healing: Sigal
Victory: Tyr
New beginning: Beorc
Favourable outcome: Jera
Hold up the unlite black candle and say:
Great Lord of Shadows, leader of the wild hunt, willing Sacrifice of Lughnassadh, I call upon thee with this thy candle. Bring to it the power of your destructive forces and the chaos of untamed energy under the guidance of the elementals and with thy own protection.
Set the candle in the fireproof container
Move your wand slowly in a circular motion over the top of the candle, contraclockwise, say:
Bring to me the wrongs of the world; bring to me the sorrows. Bring to me the pain of the Earth: bring to me the fears of tomorrow. Here in this candle, I direct the flow; here in the candle the chaos will go. Here in the candle, the endings are sent; here in this candle the chaos is spent.
Set down the wand and light the black candle. Hold up the white candle and say:
Great Lady of darkness, Crone of the Tomb, Lady of Discord, I call upon thee with this thy candle. Bring to it the power of your transformative forces and the rebirth of energy into new forms under the guidance of the elementals and with thy own protection.
Set the candle in the fire proof container. Move wand over the top of the candle clockwise and say:
Heal thou the wrongs of the world; wipe away sorrows. Heal thou the pain of the earth; brush away fears of tomorrow. Here in the candle the energy flows; here in this candle new forms are engendered. Here in this candle new beginning evolve; here in the candle is chaos resolved.
Set down the wand and light the candle.
Drop cloves, mullien, cumin, yarrow, rosemary, nettle (or whatever combination of above) into the black candle and say:
These are the old forms of Chaos absorbed by the flame and purified by fire.
Envision the troublesome aspects of the world in the flame, and add more herbs, if you need. (war, famine, disease, greed, natural disasters, pollution- as well as your own troubles- sadness, depression, pain, envy, greed, grief whatever negativity you wish to be free of) See them all consumed in the hungry flame of destruction. See the Wild Hunt gathering these hurts all together.
Now drop into the flame of the white candle: rosemary, nettle, these herbs are the ‘crossover’ herbs, channeling the energy of the black candle to the white. They add the bay leaves, vervain, anise, burdock and say:
These are the Chaos forms transformed though the healing power of the Crone and brought into the Light.
Snuff out the black candle. Let the white burn and envision people living in balance, children playing, green spring growth, clear water flowing, all things that bring peace and peace of mind. Also meditate on your personal healing, see yourself in balance, relaxed, happy, think good thoughts. After meditating on these renewed visions awhile leave the candle to burn while and raise your arms the universe and say:
Great Lady of Darkness and Light, Great Lord of Darkness and light, together you dance the spiral of life, death, and rebirth in our hearts, our lives, and our world, yet we are one with thee and thee with me. Let the dance move to renewal and let thy great peace descend upon us and transform us that we may thrive in love for one another. So mote it be!
Lower your arms and say:
My blessings take with thee and thine come upon me, The ritual is ended; the circle cleared.
Open the circle and ground residual energy. Bury the black candle in the ground (or cover with dirt/sand in a plant pot/or cauldron) and say:
Back to the dark cauldron, onto the bower, let the Darkness this candle devour.
Keep the white candle as your candle for world peace and light it whenever you wish, until the candle is finished. Even if you choose not to leave the black candle buried melt it down, do not use it again.
*
This ritual was slightly reworked from Ann Moura’s “Green Witchcraft II, Balancing Light and Shadow”. All spoken words are as written by her.
The information about Samhain is from “the Learned Arts of Witches and Wizards” by Anton and mina Adams. This is the most concise and simple explanation of Samhain I’ve ever read, and I really like. I’ll most likely be stealing to for my interview.
|
|
|
| |
| On the radio tomorrow: what Halloween means the Wiccan\'s |
| 10.26.05 (5:33 am) [edit] |
My radio interview is tomorrow morning. I'm feeling remarkably calm about the whole thing- it could be the large amounts of valerian and vetiver that I've been consuming to calm my nerves, or it could be that im actually feeling, what is this? Confindent! this is a new and odd thing for me to be feeling this so excuse me while i adjust.
The show is on the Beat 94.52FM Vancouver BC canada - theBeat.com
At 750 am pacific standard time.
FM
|
|
|
| |
| AlarmClocks Kill Dreams |
| 10.25.05 (6:00 am) [edit] |
My friend Ben and my sister (not the one who went to New Orleans, the other one) are very involved with The Workless Party in Vancouver. Ben's running for mayor of Vancouver! Good LUCK BEN!
Ben made a movie. He does stuff like that. So if you're in the Vancouver Lowermain Land, come check it out.
Their friend Denise has a blog check it out http://www.westmart.org/.
|
|
|
| |
| My Sisters Story from Hurricane Katrina |
| 10.25.05 (4:41 am) [edit] |
My sister wrote this for her works website, i stole it to post here. it's long, but a good read.
 As some of you know I spent a week down in Louisiana assisting in the animal care and rescue effort after hurricane Katrina. I was part of a team of 18 veterinarians and veterinary technicians that was formed by an organization called CAAT – Canadian Animal Assistance Team. Our mission was to go to the main animal shelter in Gonzales, LA to assist in the care, rescue and rehabilitation of the animals left behind in New Orleans. I thought I would share some of my experiences to let you know what it was and still is like down there.
Our trip began very early on a Wednesday morning with a bus ride from Vancouver to Seattle. We flew from Seattle to Atlanta and then continued to New Orleans. We arrived in New Orleans that evening and we were pretty much the only plane at the airport. Most of the airport was closed and not operating due to Hurricane Katrina and the impending Hurricane Rita. It was very eerie arriving at an airport with virtually no one about and no other planes present. We were greeted by our team leader, Donna Lasser, a technician from Granville Island Veterinary Hospital who was the organizer all of this, and she proceeded to escort us to two white stretch limousines. Imagine our surprise to see limos waiting to take us to the animal shelter. We were traveling in style!
 We didn’t get to see too much of the city itself as the sun had gone down and it was pretty dark out. What we did see showed us the power of the hurricane. Billboards were either ripped apart or blown down, there were lots of broken trees, sides of buildings missing or destroyed and there was a ton of debris all over the roads. There weren’t too many cars traveling the roads either or people about. It felt like we were in a ghost town or something.
Eventually we arrived at the Lamar-Dixon Expo site which was where the animal shelter was located. The site is in a place called Gonzales, which is about a 45min drive north of New Orleans. We drove in through tight security – the military presence at the site was in abundance – and proceeded to where we’d be staying. Our group along with about 300 volunteers were all being housed in an enormous military style air-conditioned tent erected by FEMA. There were rows of cots to sleep on and a fair amount of space to move around. There was also a ton of individual tents set up all over the grounds as well as dozens of RV’s and campers.
Our first night there, we went on a tour of the facility and I couldn’t get over the size and magnitude of this operation. It was overwhelmingly huge and chaotic! The number of people running around working and helping out was crazy – there was an estimated 1500+ volunteers working there. Approximately 1200+ cats and dogs, about 200 or so horses and a handful of exotics such as birds, snakes, turtle, fish, lizards, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, tarantulas, etc. were all being housed in 6 huge open aired barns and 2-3 big show rings. The animals were kept in wire cages, which were then kept in huge horse stalls – anywhere from 3-6 cages were kept together in one stall. The cat area consisted of even more cages stacked together in each stall. There was an ICU hospital set up for the animals that needed constant medical attention as well as a "hospital ward" for animals that needed various treatments and monitoring. All this was also outside so it was literally impossible to get away from the heat and humidity. There were showers and washrooms for everyone, with an armed guard posted outside the woman’s shower. There was a first aid tent set up and a food tent where all the volunteers were fed and watered well. There were also a couple of air-conditioned ‘cool-down’ tents to get some relief from the heat, as the temperatures during the days were 95F – 110F with a humidity of 90-95%.
As we were walking around that first night I was suddenly hit by a huge wave of emotion. I was hearing the dogs bark, people talking, horses whinnying and all I could think about was what those poor animals went through and how they must be feeling now: stressed, scared, uncertain about their surroundings, hoping for some attention as well as basic care- food, water, walks and maybe a hug or a pat on the head. It was such an overwhelming feeling of sadness and concern that I wasn’t sure what to do with such feelings.
 About 70% of the dogs were pit bulls and they were pretty much all un-neutered or un-spayed. Believe it or not there were some females there that had just given birth or were about to give birth. The animals were all in various degrees of health, anywhere from looking ok to extremely emaciated, dehydrated and unwell. Some animals were covered in sores, chemical burns, some had a weird fungus on their hair coat, some were missing hair and some were coming into the shelter covered in this green, slimy goo. They were all stressed, scared, hungry, thirsty and starving for attention. It was so heartbreaking to see them. I so badly wanted to run up to each and every animal to give them hugs and cuddles and let them know everything was ok and we were here to help.
My first full day was spent in the ICU area caring for the extremely sick, emaciated and dehydrated animals. It was just heartbreaking to see the state that some of these animals were in when arriving at the shelter. Some of them were so emaciated they looked like living skeletons with skin draped over their bones, but the amazing part was that they still had enough energy to walk, wag their tails and show that they hadn’t given up yet. One dog came in that had been found tied up to a fence and it had been pulling so hard to get off the fence that the collar had cut into it’s neck. His neck was so badly lacerated and infected that I thought for sure he’d put up a fight when we began to treat it. But the poor guy was so tired, dehydrated and maybe he was just grateful for being saved, that he just lay there the entire time we were cleaning and treating his wounds. I was in disbelief! The cats in the ICU were in no better condition; emaciated, missing fur, and very dehydrated. Most of them were on IV fluids but they still had enough energy to lift their heads and some would rub their faces on our hands. We were pretty much run off our feet that day, as it was non-stop. I became so overwhelmed with emotions a couple of times that I had to just walk away and take some time to get my head back. Some of us met back at the FEMA tent and had a good cry.
Later that day, word was going around that they were going to evacuate the shelter as Hurricane Rita was going to cause some terrible weather for that area. We did end up being evacuated and a very kind, generous family opened up their homes in Baton Rouge for all of us to stay. We packed up our belongings and made our way 30mins north to Baton Rouge. Back at the shelter, a handful of people from the Humane Society and SPCA stayed behind to ride out the storms and continue caring for the animals.
The families were so good to us. The night of the hurricane, they threw us a Mardi Gras party with homemade jambalaya and other good Cajun food. They even brought out bags of a Mardi Gras beads and we had fun throwing the beads at one another and decorating ourselves with them. The party was a great distraction from the weather outside. The weather was pretty bad – tropical storm force winds and there were also tornado warnings going on during the night. That in itself was quite an experience. But this family was so nice! It was so heart warming to know that there are people out there who are so willing to help others and open their hearts and homes to people in need. We actually ended up staying with the families for the entire week we were in Louisiana. They didn’t want us to leave!
After the storms were over we weren’t allowed to go back to the Lamar-Dixon shelter right away, as there were still some concerns about severe weather and flooding. We were itching to do some work and be helpful so we ended up going to Louisiana State University and working at the shelter there. What a difference between the two shelters. At LSU most of the animals had known owners and they weren’t being kept in such cramped quarters. Most of the dogs were housed in their own stalls and didn’t have to share space. Quite unlike the animals at Lamar-Dixon where most of the animals had no known owners and there was such an over-abundance of animals that space was in limited supply. Again there were mostly dogs and cats at the LSU shelter with there being more cats at this place then at Lamar-Dixon. Security was fairly tight as well. After 12noon there were no in and out privileges until later in the afternoon. We stayed there for day doing various tasks. I was in the cat ward and spent of the time assessing animals, watering and cleaning litter boxes. It was somewhat of an emotional relief seeing animals in a bit better shape than at the other shelter.
I should quickly talk about the security. Security was really tight at both shelters. The military were all over the place keeping guard at the gates, the women’s showers and patrolling the grounds. There were some pit bulls stolen from both shelters within the 2 weeks prior to us arriving hence one reason for tight security. There was also the fear of what happened with the huge crowds of people at the Superdome and other human shelters – riots, gangs, muggings etc therefore another reason why security was everywhere. No one could be at the shelter without wearing a form of identification stating their name, where they were working and who they were i.e.) vet, vet tech, volunteer, owner and the like.
 Over the last few days we spent our time divided between working at the shelter, working at an animal triage centre in New Orleans and some of the team going out with animal rescue groups. The triage centre was set up by some of the Canadian vets who came down with the group. Rescued animals were first brought there for assessment and treatment then were transferred at the end of the day to Lamar-Dixon. The triage centre was also great because rescuers could drop off animals and then have more room to go back out and do more rescuing. The animals also didn’t have to wait in the vehicles for hours while the rescue teams were continuing their searches. The triage centre would treat anywhere from 150-250 animals daily.
Some of our team went out on animal rescues. Every morning at 5:30am rescue teams would meet and be given addresses and areas of New Orleans to go to and search for animals. A lot of owners who had to leave their pets behind phoned the SPCA and Humane Society to let them where their pets could hopefully be found. Experienced animal handlers along with SPCA and Humane Society volunteers and other volunteers would drive to these houses and neighbourhoods to look for and rescue pets. The rescues were definitely something people would never forget. Some houses needed to be broken into by breaking down doors, smashing out windows just to gain access. Once inside, the devastation was very real. The mould, mildew and dampness were awful. Floors were rotting, carpets were soaked and one could see the water lines on the walls of those houses that were flooded. Rescuer had to wear masks and gloves when entering the houses. The smell of rot, decay and unfortunately deceased animals was pretty bad. The houses and yards were searched for animals and anything found alive was taken out. Nothing breathing was left behind…including some goldfish found swimming in their bowls. Yards were searched as well as underneath houses and other buildings on the property. Any animal that could not be caught was left food and water. Even nasty dogs that would allow themselves to be caught were rescued. A lot of animals were only too happy to see people and be given food, water and attention. One girl on the team said she opened up a can of food to give to one dog and suddenly another dog came bounding around the side of the house and pretty much leaped on her with happiness. Cats were also coming up to the rescuer and were so happy to be fed and petted and have some attention paid to them. Unfortunately there were animals found deceased or in pretty bad shape.
When animals were found in houses or buildings the rescuers would then look for any type of identification to who the owners were. They would look for bills or papers with names and phone numbers on them so they could try and contact the owners. The houses were also spray painted indicating that animals had been picked up, how many animals there were, if any animals were deceased or if food and water was left. Every night there were anywhere from 150-300 animals being brought from New Orleans to the Lamar-Dixon shelter. Then on the flip side, about 150-200 animals were being shipped daily to various shelters throughout the States. Before those animals were shipped they were all micro chipped, vaccinated and dewormed. Photographs were also taken of each animal and eventually all the animal’s pictures and information would be put onto a website, www.petfinder.com, for owners to look through and hopefully find their animals.
I spent another day working in the ICU at the shelter and again it was just as chaotic and overwhelming as the first time I worked there. Dogs and cats were still arriving needing treatment for dehydration, starvation, sores, infected eyes and other various ailments. There were also puppies being brought in with parvovirus, a really nasty contagious virus that needed care and treatment if necessary. At the end of the day a litter of four 2-3 day old kittens were brought in. They were found in a parking lot with no mother in sight. The vets in The ICU did not want the kittens to stay there, as they didn’t have the ‘man-power’ to look after newborns. So the decision was made to bring the babies back to the house we were staying at and we would feed and look after them there. The last 3 days of our trip were spent feeding and caring for "the babies". A girl on the team named them Katrina, Rita (after the hurricanes) and Louis and Anna (for Louisiana). Unfortunately we couldn’t bring them home with us but a nice vet from Kentucky took them back to her hospital to raise.
The day came for us to finally leave and I had mixed feelings about going home. I was really anxious to get home, see my family and get away from some an emotional situation but yet I felt like I still wanted to stay because there was still so much more that needed to be done. But I was so emotionally and mentally drained by what I had witnessed and gone through that the thought of just getting away from it was comforting. It was helpful to know that another team from Vancouver was coming down to take our place.
To sum up how the experience was for me would be like this: it was an overwhelmingly, intense emotional time for me. I’m glad that I went and was able to go with a group of such dedicated, compassionate vets, vet techs and assistants and I felt honoured to be working in such a huge humanitarian operation. Would I do something like this again? Probably yes…I would have to think about it first but working in a profession where animal health and welfare is of the utmost importance to me the decision really wouldn’t be that difficult. I can also honestly say that during the one week I was gone I gained a new appreciation for what I have and what I can offer to myself, to my family, to my friends, and our four legged companions. But I think most of all I discovered a new place deep in my heart that is full of greater respect and a greater appreciation for life.
If you would like any more information regarding the Canadian Animal Assistance Team and their travels as well as giving any donations the web site is www.caat-katrina.org
|
|
|
| |
| book covers |
| 10.24.05 (10:18 am) [edit] |
Yup it's typical as soon as i panic, everything fixes itself. Thanks Nullfactor for your willingness to help me out. :D It's all good now.
This is my new book cover:
This is the old cover I was just playing around with and now can't remove... argh
This is the back cover:
|
|
|
| |
| ARGH!!!!!! |
| 10.24.05 (9:48 am) [edit] |
So over at lulu where I'm publishing my book I'm working on uploading my book cover. I was playing around a few weeks ago and uploaded an okay sample cover to see how it all works, now i've got my final cover all read to go and upload and MOVE ON!!!
but for some unknown reason i can't convive this computer porgram that this new cover is a different file and everytime i try to load a new file it doesn't do anything and leaves the old ulgy cover in place. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My new on is so much better and I can't upload it!!!!!! ARGH
RANT RANT....RANT.... Rant ... rant....
|
|
|
| |
| I made relish! |
| 10.23.05 (12:53 pm) [edit] |
I made relish!
I've never really done any canning. I've watched my mom and helped a bit, but never tried it on my own. Most of our tomatoes didn't ripen this year so i had all these green tomatoes and although I liked the idea of trying to make some "fried green tomatoes" I knew i had to many to use them up that way.
When I found a receipe for "green tomatoe relish" I thought "good I can use those tomatoes" and "I like relish!" So i made it.
It tastes different from the kind my mom always made, sweeter, even though I only put 4 cups of sugar than the recipes six. and with the added tumeric the relish turned orange and has a much different flavor than my mom's recipe.
heres the recipe and a picture of the end result! only one jar didn't seal properly, which is okay cuz that's the one we'll eat first!
Oh and I've never felt more like a "witch" than when i was stirring this huge bubbling pot on the stove. It was great fun!
FM
GREEN TOMATO RELISH RECIPE with cabbage and onions, along with bell peppers and green tomatoes.
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 quart ground onions
• 1 quart ground cabbage, about 1 large head
• 1 quart ground green tomatoes
• 18 bell peppers, a combination of green, red, and other colors, ground*
• 1/2 cup salt
• 6 cups sugar
• 4 cups vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons celery seed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
PREPARATION:
Combine onions, cabbage, green tomatoes, green and red bell peppers and salt; cover and let stand overnight. In the morning drain well. Put vegetables in a large kettle; add sugar, vinegar, water, celery seed and tumeric. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Pack into hot sterilized pint jars.
Seal and process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.
(1,001 to 6,000 feet, process 10 minutes) *Red bell peppers can be expensive, but they are sweeter and add color to the relish. Makes 8 to 10 pints.
|
|
|
| |
| backpack, dora, and my computer |
| 10.23.05 (11:20 am) [edit] |
We got a “Dora The Explorer” computer game in a box of cheerios; prizes in cereal boxes sure have changed since I was a kid. My son loves it. It is getting annoying, but he's learning his colours, shapes and numbers as a result of playing this game four times a day, so I’m doing my best to put up with it.
However, we only have one computer and every time I sit down to do some work, this little voice sneaks up behind me and says "backpack?" and when I say, "later it's mummy's turn right now." the voice says a little louder, "backpack?". "You’ve had your turn it's mummy's now."
"Backpack!" says the voice much louder.
"Backpack is napping right now."
"Map?"
"Map is napping too."
And then everything deteriorates in to cries and screams and me getting a smack and the kiddo going into the play pen for a timeout.
I sit down at the computer get two minutes of work done. The ruler of the universe is two so he gets two minutes in the playpen. Then I hear, "MA! MA! MA!" so I get him out of the playpen, he runs into his room, plays with his 'toot toots' (train) for a couple minutes, I get another two minutes of work done and then this little voice sneaks up behind me and says, "backpack?"
So if you’re been wondering where I’ve been, know you know.
If you want to donate some money to the “buy Fairmoon her own laptop computer” or have one you would like to sell me ultra cheap, please let me know.
|
|
|
| |
| Interfaith article at Timeless Spirit |
| 10.19.05 (5:02 am) [edit] |
The November issue of Timeless Spirit http://www.timelessspirit.com... is Published! My Article about Interfaith Relationships is published under "Wiccan Voices". I'd like to say thanks to PastorDave http://pastordave.tblog.com/ for being so awesome, he let me quote him! Thanks so much. Enjoy, and enjoy all the other great writing at Timeless Spirit!
FM
http://www.timelessspirit.com/" title="http://www.timelessspirit.com/" target="_blank"http://www.timelessspirit.com...
|
|
|
| |
| The Dark Goddess and the Dark God |
| 10.18.05 (3:21 pm) [edit] |
The dark aspects of the Goddess and the God are more than just a personification of the negative influences of life. They are the apposing force that keeps light in balance. Without the dark, we cannot know light; without sorrow, death, and pain we cannot know joy, life and happiness.
The Dark Goddess is known through out mythology by various guises; death crones, wise hags, war, disease, and barrenness of the land. The Dark God is the silent Host of the underground realms, the known secrets of a wise old universe. He is the harbinger of Chaos and inevitable change.
The Goddess is the bone mother. She collects the skulls of the dead, while the God as the Wild Hunt harvests the energies of the Souls to be reborn.
In ancient times, death and dealing with the aftermath of death was an everyday occurrence and as much apart of the daily routine as setting the bread to rise and airing the laundry. People slaughtered their farm animals, and people; the very young and the old died at home, often with little or no warning.
In today’s society, we are sheltered from this sort of everyday death. Our meat has been dead for days when we buy it and does not resemble the living animal it once was. Childhood disease is much more rare and babies do not die as commonly as they once did (thank whatever God’s you believe in for that!) and the elderly are not usually in our homes when they succumb to their deaths. We know little of death and fear it. Too many death and dark are synonymous with Evil, bad and wrong.
But this can not be true. Death is as much a part of life now as it has always been and though we fear it, we cannot hid from it. To embrace the dark, to respect death and give it its due does not mean one must worship dead things. Honouring our ancestors, showing Respect and Grief for those we have lost is not worship. It is healing.
When the traditions of the Dark Lord and Lady first came into being, death was not so feared. People knew death; they lived with it everyday. They felt grief and the pain of loss, but there was nothing evil about it; it was just part of the natural cycle that is life and mortality.
The Dark God dies willingly at Samhain by entering the earth, the underworld, and thus brings his vitality to the land where crops will be grown in the next season. Though this self sacrifice, he revitalizes the earth.
The underworld is the womb of the Mother Goddess. Within Mother Earth, the Dark God sheds his energy, transforms, and then grows to become the New God who will be born at Yule.
The Crone becomes, not the terror of death, but the joyful passage of new creations, new life, created from stagnation and loss. She is the mother who will bring forth a New God, one on warmth and sunshine. He will grow and bring with him vitality once again to the earth, thus spring will occur again though him.
The Dark God and Goddess are not forces to be feared. Respected, yes, but to fear them continues ones own cycle of fearing their own darkness. We all hid parts of ourselves away in to dark. There are things that “are better left unsaid”. To hide these away is natural, but not healthy. Samhain and the Dark powers offer us an opportunity to face these dark pieces of our personalities. We can give their energies, and the energy used to contain them back to the Lord and Lady to be transformed, renewed into clear energy, light rather than dark.
The ritual, coming soon, that we intend to do this year will enable us to do just that. Not only are we doing this for ourselves we are also going to call together the darkness of our earth, bring the sorrows and pain of our planet to our sacred space and return it to the Goddess and God to be renewed and restored. The Dark powers are intense and this plans to be a fairly intense ritual. I’ll post it soon for you all to read.
|
|
|
| |
| Full Moon Rituals |
| 10.18.05 (4:23 am) [edit] |
The teachers are still on strike here and i'm still looking after two extra kids as well as my own. So I don't have a lot of time to write, or bum around here. Regardless here are a couple of common full moon rituals (not written by me) to read.
Full Moon Communion
This exercise may be done alone or with a close friend.
Sit outside under a tree or around vegetation. If it is too cold, sit
inside where you can see the moon.
Stare at the moon in silence. Take time to reflect on the beauty of the
moonlight and on the wonder of nature around you. Be appreciative of
your life and of the marvellous light and the influence of the moon.
Feel the power of the moon coming down into the top of your head. Enjoy
the energy for at least ten to fifteen minutes.
Acknowledge the Moon Mother as an enormously powerful feminine entity.
Begin to see her face. You may notice that her mouth seems to be open to answer your question or give you advice. She specializes in affairs of the heart, feelings, creativity, spontaneity, and psychic abilities.
Ask her for answers. Feel her light and warmth and watch her mouth move.
Hear the answers she gives to you.
(Source Unknown)
Drawing Down the Moon
1. Open your circle
2. State your purpose “To Draw down the Moon”
3. Open your chakras
4. Stand in the Goddess position
5. “I now draw the power of the moon Priestess
Into myself, merging with her power,
The pure essence of the Goddess”
6. Concentrate on the energy flowing to you, through you and then when finished into the Earth.
So mote it be
|
|
|
| |
| Yippiee.... |
| 10.18.05 (4:15 am) [edit] |
..it's fixed.
FM
|
|
|
| |
| my computer is broken... |
| 10.17.05 (6:27 am) [edit] |
|
... it doesn't work, i don't know when it will be fixed
FM
|
|
|
| |
| Wheel of the Year |
| 10.15.05 (10:31 am) [edit] |
This is a section of "basic wicca 101". I'm reposting it because over the next while, when i can find the time, I'm going to post some stuff about Samhain, or Halloween. This holiday is a mojor one for wiccan's and the most misunderstood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wiccan’s all generally follow the same holidays, they are approx. six weeks apart and as wiccan roots are earth based the holiday and rituals are very crop and harvest based.
WHEEL OF THE YEAR -The Wheel of the Year refers to the yearly cycle of the Seasons, and to the sacred festivals, which celebrate them.
ESBAT -An Esbat is a monthly ceremony or ceremonies, usually tied to the cycle of the Moon. Esbats are commonly held at the New or Full Moon, but can also be held at the Dark Moon.
SABBAT -A Sabbat is a major Wiccan Festival. There are four Grand Sabbats, whose energy is primarily feminine.
These are:
Samhain or Halloween, Nov 1, Wiccan New Year and a time to honour ancestors
Imbolc or Candlemas, Feb 1, celebration of the return of light
Beltane or May Day, May 1, honours the fertility of earth and blessing for crops
Lughnassadh or Lammas, Aug 1. the first harvest and honouring of earth bounty
There are four Lesser Sabbats as well, whose energy is primarily masculine.
These are:
Spring Equinox or Ostara, March 22 approx. welcoming spring
Summer Solstice or Litha, June 21 approx, celebrates new growth
Fall Equinox or Mabon Sept 21 approx last harvest honours earth’s bounty,
Winter Solstice or Yule Dec 21 approx. celebrates the resting part of the year
These festivals describe the process of Involution and Evolution on personal, seasonal, and Divine levels. There are a number allegorical stories that are often considered cornerstones of Wiccan belief. Although they are not considered Divine, or even considered by some sects, they are well respected in the Wiccan community.
One describes the Divine process of the Wheel of the Year.
It begins at Yule when the God is born to the Goddess.
Imbolc in Feb celebrates his venture into boyhood.
Ostara marks him becoming a man.
At May Day, he unites with the Goddess and she becomes pregnant.
At the Summer Solstice, her bounty grows and shows the world her fertility.
At Lammas, the God’s energy is waning and the Goddess full of vibrant life is coming into
her own.
At Mabon, she is almost ready to give birth.
At Samhain, the old God dies to make room for the new. And at Yule, the cycle begins again.
This story is allegorical and quite common among many earth based religions and ancient mythologies. Gaia in Greek myth gives birth to Cronos and then with him fathers the Titan's and humans.
In some interpretations of this story, the God is separated into two. The God of the waxing year, (Yule to Midsummer) is called the Oak king and then during the waning year (Midsummer to Yule) the Holly king. The Holly king slays the Oak king, only to die himself at Yule when the new Oak King is born. That story has always confused me, and I do not truly understand it.
The Wheel is divided in to two halves the light half and the dark half. This coincides with the seasons. Spring and summer is the light half, when there is more sunlight and everything is fresh and growing. The dark half fall and winter is sometimes called the little death; or time out of time. Everything is dark, plants die and it seems as though the world is holding its breath waiting for the light to return.
When Wiccan’s talk about the dark; the Dark Lord and Lady; their darker sides, they are not discussing something evil or bad. They are talking about the opposite of light, nighttime and aspects of their personality that they do not like and shut away in the dark. Greed, envy, anger, frustration; many people close those emotions off and hide them away. This time of year, the dark half is a time for introspection into our darkness, shine some light on them, and let them go.
For some, this can be a scary thing to do. Especially when we had “deep dark secrets”, we would prefer to hide away. No one wants to let their “demons” out, and so these negative aspects, which are not inherently evil, fester there in the dark, until they over power us and perhaps lash out in unhealthy “evil” ways.
Many rituals at this time of year involve looking ay these aspects and working on healing them. The Ritual that we plan to perform this year will do just that. It will give us the opportunity to heal our dark sides and bring them light. More on this later.
|
|
|
| |
| yup i'm gonna be on the radio |
| 10.14.05 (11:00 am) [edit] |
Some of you know the start of this story, and some of you don't, I apologize for my lack of communication for the past while-- such is life right now, anyway, it's official I will be going on Vancouver's The Beat 94.5 morning show on Thursday the 27th of oct, to talk about 'what the craft is' and 'what halloween means to wiccans/witches/whatever' . it will be at 750am pacific time and if you have the opportunity to listen (over the internet for your guys far away, if that works-it never has for me) that would be cool, just don't tell me until AFTER that you did, cuz otherwise I'd freak out!
hold on, wait, I already AM freaking out! :D and yet I'm also pretty excited-hence the post...
FM
ya miss posting for a week and ya fall right off the hotblog listing! Argh.. someone should shot that thing, cuz now I'm all axious to get back on, so come on, leave a comment and help me out!
|
|
|
| |
| Thanksgiving-- canadian style |
| 10.09.05 (6:45 am) [edit] |
I don't have much to say about anything today, just wanted to say a happy Thanksgiving to all the Canunks on TBlog!
Thats all, must make pie!
FM
|
|
|
| |
| radio show bitter waters and thanksgiving |
| 10.08.05 (1:50 pm) [edit] |
it's been a busy week for me, I'm working on getting my book ready to publish and learning all sorts of great and wacky things about computers
for somereadon when i started working on the headers and footers a line appeared in the header. I straight horizontal line that I didn't put there and how I can't figur eout how to make it go away.
if anyone has any idea how to get rid of a line in the header of a word doc, PLEASE PLEASE contact me!!
I'm also learning all about cover design, because i am now working on my cover myself. My darling friend H created a good cover for me, and i'm using a portion of her work in the new cover, so I'm just full of al sorts of computer knowledge these days. yippee!
now if i can just get adobe illustrator to work on my new hard drive, life would be practically perfect!
In other news, I had an email from the producer of a morning radio show asking be to come and do an interview about being a witch and halloween. I waffle between thinking, "THIS IS SO COOL!" and "holy shit I'm way to chicken to do THAT!"
But they seem to be really interested in what halloween really is about for us witchypoos, so it would be good oppertunity to shed some light.
It's the Beat 94.5 in vancouver which is mostly pop rock and has a young audience of listeners. When i know the date i'll let all you vancouverites know, and I guess if you know how that internet radio thing works, those of you from outside the lower mainland could listen too. Just don't tell me until AFTER, because it'll totally freak me out!
for all you non canucks outthere, this weekend is canada's thanksgiving!! HAPPY TURKEY DAY! i'm making the turkey and stuffing this year and sister1 is making potatoes and bread, while sister2 is making veggies. I'm making the pies too!!
it's pretty exciting.
that's about it... i'm off to mess with adobe illustrator.
FM
sorry if there's typos, i didn't proof read, i'm in a rush I've got a million things to do.
|
|
|
| |
| New Moon Esbat (that means holiday- sort of) |
| 10.03.05 (1:09 pm) [edit] |
What some witches do on the New Moon, if they remember, care, or don't have to go to school- like me.
NEW MOON ESBAT
Begin by clearing and releasing all excess energy, as usual. Release all tensions and anxieties. Just let them flow through and out of your body, like a gentle wave of energy, exiting through the soles of your feet.
Now take up the Athame (a ritual black handled knife, usually dull), Sacred Tool of Air, and face the East. Point the Athame outward, visualizing a beam of white light shooting from the Athame’s tip to what will be the outer edge of the Magic Circle. Beginning from the East, make a deosil (clockwise) circle, demarking the border of the Magic Circle with a barrier of light.
Say:
“Behold, I do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones, a Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! . In perfect love and perfect trust I cast this Circle”
The Watchtowers (directions) are now called, beginning in the East; using the Wand to draw up the pillar of light and say:
“I do invoke You, O Golden Eagle of the East! Power of Air! Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, Powers of Air and Inspiration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our minds and our eyes and strengthen our thoughts as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”
“Hail and Welcome!”
The process is repeated for each Quarter, using the Wand to draw up the pillar of light. At each Quarter, the invocation varies to acknowledge the specific Guardians of that Quarter.
South:
“I do invoke You, O Red Dragon of the South! Power of Fire! Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, Powers of Fire and Manifestation! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our courage and passion and strengthen our resolve as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”
West:
“I do invoke You, O Blue Dolphin of the west! Power of Water! Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, Powers of Water and Compassion! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our hearts and our emotions and strengthen our sensitivity as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”
North:
“I do invoke You, O Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, Powers of Earth and Integration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our souls and our Higher Selves and strengthen our understanding as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”
Since Esbats are Lunar ceremonies, the Goddess is invoked first. The Maiden is Goddess of the New moon; it is this incarnation that we invoke.
“O Maiden Goddess, we do invoke You at this time of the New Moon, when the waxing light carries our hopes forward! Joyful Maiden, Lady of Laughter, Mistress of All Arts –the Sun and Moon are Your adornments, and the Sky Your mirror. Lady of Creativity, Playful One, Bless us we pray, and share with us Your qualities of inspiration, self-expression, and wonder! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”
Invoking the God for a New Moon, brings balance to the Esbat. Here we will invoke the God in His archetype of Hero God.
“O Gentle God, Hero and Champion, Friend and Protector, You are the Brother of the Maiden, Her Companion and Her Other Self –Lord of the Sun and Fire. Be with us we pray, and share with us Your qualities of courage and passion. Help us to carry our dreams and hopes forward in this time of the New Moon! We bid You Hail and welcome!”
Finally, invoke the Ancestors. These can be your physical Ancestors, or your philosophical Ancestors.
“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”
The Nature of the Esbat gathering
“We come together tonight to celebrate the Esbat of the New Moon. From now until the Full Moon the Lunar energies will wax and grow stronger. We attune ourselves to this energy, that our hopes and goals may grow stronger during this period as well. Now is the time of the Maiden Goddess, Lady of creativity and self-expression. Let us call upon our own creativity in this our undertaking!”
The Ritual
This Ritual is intended to attune oneself to the energy of the Waxing Moon, and to repair the aura and reinvigorate the energetic system.
Being by closing your eyes, visualize the dark moon, and the thin sliver of light it will become.
“Holy Maiden, at this time of the New Moon we ask You to help us to attune to Your energy. Give us the gift of Your essence, that we may grow even as Your light waxes.”
Imagine a beam of clear white light coming down from the Moon, entering your body through the Crown Chakra and going into your Heart. Let the Moon’s light form a ball of light in your Heart Chakra –clear, beautiful white light, pure and vibrant and full of strength and joy.
As more and more light enters you, let the ball of light in your Heart Chakra begin to fill your body –see it expanding slowly through your chest, through your limbs, filling you, suffusing you. Imagine the light begin to expand beyond your body, moving out beyond the borders of your body, a few inches at first, then a few more, then about three feet in every direction, to form a ball of light all around you. Strong, clear, beautiful white light.
This is your Aura. Feel the edges of your Aura for holes or tears. If you find any, take a moment to seal them with the white light.
Now, coming down the beam of light from the Moon, imagine another wave of energy. This energy is also white, but filled with filled with tiny, glittering stars of every color imaginable. Let the energy with its multi-coloured stars fill you. Let it fill your Aura; until you are full of tiny glittering stars.
Then, coming down from the Moon, feel another wave of energy. This is white light filled with silver stars. Let it enter through your Crown Chakra and fill you, the glittering silver stars swirling within you. Let it fill your Aura. As more and more of the light enters, the multi-colored stars become obscured, and soon all you can see are the silver stars. Then they become denser, fuller and fuller –until at length you seem to be filled with a potent silver glitter, swirling and moving within you, scintillating and sparkling.
Now imagine the beam of light from the Moon disappearing. Give thanks to the Goddess for this gift of Her energy.
Now let the image fade. Keep what energy you need, and release the rest into the earth, allowing it to flow out through the soles of your feet.
Take time to “come back into yourself.” And then move on to the blessing feast. Eating and drinking will help ground you again.
Bless the Chalice and/or food you will share. These are often termed “cakes and ale” but the term is purely ceremonial. “Cakes” are most often crackers, candies, slices of fruit, or as we will represent them here. Of course ‘ale’ can be juice, wine, water, whatever you choose for your blessing drink.
“Behold, in the name of the Goddess and the God, may this cup be Blessed. As we share it, may it be as a bond between us, a token of the love we bear for Them, and They for us, and we all for each other! So Mote it Be!”
Take a sip from the chalice. Now Bless the cookies, or cakes or bread, whatever you have chosen.
“Behold, in the name of the Goddess and the God may this produce of the Earth be Blessed. As we share it may we refreshed, sustained, and strengthened. So Mote it Be!”
Eat some of the cookies, and then continue with the ending of the ritual.
Thank and dismiss the Ancestors, God and Goddess.
Thanks and dismiss the Watchtowers.
Dissolve the Circle.
“Behold: As Above, So Below! As the Universe, So the Soul! As Within, So Without! May the Circle be Open, but never Broken! Merry Meet –Merry Part –and Merry Meet again!”
Fairmoon, based on the Correllian Tradition, rewrote this ritual. Invocations and Ritual based on Correllian Trad.
|
|
|
| |
|
Demystifying Misconceptions
This Blog chronicles the journey of one woman as she attempts to define her faith and place in the universe.
I'm a geeky sort of Fae most of the time
Blog Posts of Note:
*Christian and Wiccan at The Same Time
*A Walk with Jesus’ Mom
*Finding God in Wicca
*Universal Myth and Personal Myth- Definitions in Consensus Reality
The Matrix: Systems Healing and Thinking, an Introduction
*Magic, Witches and the Bible
*A brief History of Wicca
*Wicca 101 part 1
*Wicca 101 part 2
*Spells and the Modern Witch
*Do Witches Worship Satan?
*Religious View
*Interview with a Witch
*A Witch's Story of Creation
*One Definition of the Divine
*I am a Witch
* Original Sin, from a Witches point of View
*Why a Witch Could care less about Harry Potter
*Satan is not my Sidekick
*The other people: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Bible
|
