Wicca is not a cult. A cult presupposes blind faith in a central figure whose every word is regarded as ultimate truth, and the utter conviction that no other way or philosophy will lead to this truth. You would be very hard pressed to find a Wiccan anywhere who would blindly follow anyone else. Wiccans are historically very independent people who seek truth from within through rituals, meditation, magic, study and communion with nature. Wiccans respect the right of everyone to worship in their own way. We do not feel that Wicca is the only way -- only that it is our way.
Wicca is not synonymous with Satan worship. The very concept of a supreme evil spirit is alien to Wicca. In fact, most Wiccans do not even believe in Satan. The devil is a Judeo-Christian construct and as such, it has nothing to do with Wicca. The notion that witches worship Satan was propounded by the Roman Catholic Church as it made its way across Europe, in an effort to suppress the native earth-based religions prevalent at the time. They succeeded to the extent that they drove the practitioners of these religions underground where much of their knowledge and traditions were lost. Through the work of the Golden Dawn, as well as anthropological and archeological research, many of these traditions have been rediscovered and incorporated into Neo-Paganism, an umbrella term for most modern earth-based and shamanistic religions. Wicca is a positive journey to enlightment through Goddess worship and the mystical art of magick. Unlike many other religions, Wicca does not claim to be the one and only "religion" for everybody, nor does it campain against other beliefs. Wiccans believe that you can be of any "religion" and still be Wiccan and follow the Goddess and God. Wicca is not anti-Christian, Wiccans do not believe in an advenging God, sin or the devil. Wicca encourages free thought, creativity, individuality, personal, spiritual and psychic growth. It is a celebration of the cycles and seasons of the earth and life and believe in living in harmony with all living things.
The Rule of Threes - This lesson well, thou must learn, Thee only gets what thou doust earn! Ever mind the Rule of Threes, Three times what thou givest, returns to thee!
The Law - We are of the old ways, among those who walk with the Goddess & God and receive their love. Keep the Sabbats and the Esbats to the best of your ability. To do otherwise, is to lessen your connection with the Goddess and God. The Rede is the all important part of the life and is not to be broken. Harm non, this applies to all creatures of great and small. Misery is self-created, so is joy, so distain from misery and unhappiness. Do as ye will but harm none. Teach only what you know, to the best of your ability, to those students that you choose, but teach not to those who would use your instruction for destruction or control. Also teach not to boost your pride, forever remember: She who teaches out of love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Goddess and God. Ever remember, if you would be of our way, keep the law close to your heart, for it is the nature of the Wicca to keep the law.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Mabon
MabonMabon is the name of the Welsh God who represents fertility in Welsh lore. Mabon is a time when both day and night are equal, not only is day and night equal but everything is in balance at this time. Mabon is also the time Oak & Holly King. Throughout the year they have challenged each other and then mate with the Goddess. At Mabon, the Holly King challenges the Oak King and wins, the Holly King rules until the Spring Equinox where the opposite occurs.
Lore - A traditional practice is to walk in wild places and forests. Gather seed pods, and dried plants. These can be used to decorate the home and other saved for future herbal magick.
Celebrating the second harvest, balance, honoring the aging deities, honoring the spirit world, darkness overtaking light & celebration of wine.
Colors - Brown, Orange, Violet, Maroon, Russet, Deep Gold
Symbols - Grapes, Wine, Vines, Garland, Gourds, Burial Cairns, Rattles, Horn of Plenty, Indian Corn & Sun Wheels.
Deities - Wine Deities and Aging Deities
Stones - Amethyst & Yellow Topaz
Ritual Oils - Apple Blossom, Hay/straw, Black Pepper and Patchouly.
Food - The foods of Mabon include grains, fruits and vegetables, especially corn. Cornbread is the traditional food as are beans and baked squash.
Lore - A traditional practice is to walk in wild places and forests. Gather seed pods, and dried plants. These can be used to decorate the home and other saved for future herbal magick.
Celebrating the second harvest, balance, honoring the aging deities, honoring the spirit world, darkness overtaking light & celebration of wine.
Colors - Brown, Orange, Violet, Maroon, Russet, Deep Gold
Symbols - Grapes, Wine, Vines, Garland, Gourds, Burial Cairns, Rattles, Horn of Plenty, Indian Corn & Sun Wheels.
Deities - Wine Deities and Aging Deities
Stones - Amethyst & Yellow Topaz
Ritual Oils - Apple Blossom, Hay/straw, Black Pepper and Patchouly.
Food - The foods of Mabon include grains, fruits and vegetables, especially corn. Cornbread is the traditional food as are beans and baked squash.
Colors of the Wind
In every land, the winds have a different folklore associated with them; even within the same land mass, winds bring different gifts and messages. In inland areas, for example, the wind has a different quality to that which blows along the coast. Certain winds are thought of as bringing luck, health, sickness, disquiet, and so on, because they blow from a certain direction associated with those qualities. But there is no fixed lore on this matter. We can discover the qualities and gifts of the winds wherever we live in the world, seeking out their regional meanings form our own observation rather than relying upon findings and traditions from other lands and cultures--findings that have little relevance to out own situation.
The weather vane of our own emotions and moods is very much attuned to the winds. Even in places where seasonal variation is less differentiated, the subtle changes in the wind speed and direction , the changes of tides and other subtle indicators of weather have an effect upon us, Our living breath is seen as pertaining to the nature of the winds that prevailed when we were born: our first breath gave our bodies their initial contact with the greater world around us when we emerged from the womb, No matter how the winds blow thereafter, out bodies will have a memory of that moment and carry certain predispositions of character.
*make a point of checking the direction of the wind against your own prevailing mood each day. Stand where you can feel the breeze flow. Note your findings and record the weather that each wind brings with it. Use this as a compass of your own behavioral swings.
The weather vane of our own emotions and moods is very much attuned to the winds. Even in places where seasonal variation is less differentiated, the subtle changes in the wind speed and direction , the changes of tides and other subtle indicators of weather have an effect upon us, Our living breath is seen as pertaining to the nature of the winds that prevailed when we were born: our first breath gave our bodies their initial contact with the greater world around us when we emerged from the womb, No matter how the winds blow thereafter, out bodies will have a memory of that moment and carry certain predispositions of character.
*make a point of checking the direction of the wind against your own prevailing mood each day. Stand where you can feel the breeze flow. Note your findings and record the weather that each wind brings with it. Use this as a compass of your own behavioral swings.
Basic Mediation for Pammy
Every religion, faith and sect has a form or variant of meditation. This is the simplest form of meditation. Anyone, pagan or not, can do this.
With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It can even affect our health. We are often so busy we feel there is no time to stop and meditate! But meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.
Meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition. This is a profound spiritual practice you can enjoy throughout the day, not just while seated in meditation The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation. We choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. We can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If we wish, we can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep our back straight to prevent our mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.
We sit with our eyes partially closed and turn our attention to our breathing. We breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control our breath, and we try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is our object of meditation. We should try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.
At first, our mind will be very busy, and we might even feel that the meditation is making our mind busier; but in reality we are just becoming more aware of how busy our mind actually is. There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but we should resist this and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath. If we discover that our mind has wandered and is following our thoughts, we should immediately return it to the breath. We should repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.
If we practise patiently in this way, gradually our distracting thoughts will subside and we will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Our mind will feel lucid and spacious and we will feel refreshed. When the sea is rough, sediment is churned up and the water becomes murky, but when the wind dies down the mud gradually settles and the water becomes clear. In a similar way, when the otherwise incessant flow of our distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, our mind becomes unusually lucid and clear. We should stay with this state of mental calm for a while.
Even though breathing meditation is only a preliminary stage of meditation, it can be quite powerful. We can see from this practice that it is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling the mind, without having to depend at all upon external conditions. When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life. So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress. Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, we will be able to reduce this stress. We will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of our usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, we will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and our relationships with others will gradually improve.
With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It can even affect our health. We are often so busy we feel there is no time to stop and meditate! But meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.
Meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition. This is a profound spiritual practice you can enjoy throughout the day, not just while seated in meditation The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation. We choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. We can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If we wish, we can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep our back straight to prevent our mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.
We sit with our eyes partially closed and turn our attention to our breathing. We breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control our breath, and we try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is our object of meditation. We should try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.
At first, our mind will be very busy, and we might even feel that the meditation is making our mind busier; but in reality we are just becoming more aware of how busy our mind actually is. There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but we should resist this and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath. If we discover that our mind has wandered and is following our thoughts, we should immediately return it to the breath. We should repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.
If we practise patiently in this way, gradually our distracting thoughts will subside and we will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Our mind will feel lucid and spacious and we will feel refreshed. When the sea is rough, sediment is churned up and the water becomes murky, but when the wind dies down the mud gradually settles and the water becomes clear. In a similar way, when the otherwise incessant flow of our distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, our mind becomes unusually lucid and clear. We should stay with this state of mental calm for a while.
Even though breathing meditation is only a preliminary stage of meditation, it can be quite powerful. We can see from this practice that it is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling the mind, without having to depend at all upon external conditions. When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life. So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress. Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, we will be able to reduce this stress. We will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of our usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, we will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and our relationships with others will gradually improve.
Friday, July 24, 2009
RENT
I finally got to see Rent live again tonight!
After having lived so close to NY for years and years, I've seen Rent on Broadway more then 20 times. I own the movie and, I have the soundtrack not only in my computer but my Ipod and on disc in my car. I know every word to both the live version, the movie and the soundtrack. I make pop culture references most people dont get without having seen the show a few times. I am a certified Rent nut.
The show was fantastic! The man who played Tom Collins (Joseph M. Haladey III) was by far the best "Collins" I have ever seen. To me, he even surpassed Jesse L Martin's Collins. The North Canton Playhouse's Shamara Costa belted out an AMAZING Joanne too.
The people who came with me, should be proud of me. I didn't sing out loud! (OK OK I lip synced the whole darn thing but, I did not make any actual noise lol) However, I sang at the top of my lungs the whole way home. LOL I walked in my door, uploaded my photos and immediately turned on the soundtrack. You would think I would be all Rent'ed out by no, not by a long shot. LOL Having read my playbill more thoroughly at home, I realized, had I stayed a little bit later, I could have met the cast. Now I sit here contemplating buying another ticket to see it Sunday and meeting the genius that is Joe Haladey...
A bit obsessive, maybe... I'll keep ya posted.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Cat Scratch Disease
There is nothing scarier to a parent than while their child is sick with a disease they had never even heard of. Up until December 2006, I thought Cat Scratch Fever was just a Ted Nugent song. Then my 3 year old daughter was brought to the ER with swollen lymph nodes and a fever of 103. All from one tiny bit mark on her arm.
It all started with a kitten named Vaca, she looked like a tiny cow and, our children loved her. Our baby however, was convinced Vaca lived to serve her as a playmate. She dressed her up, drug her around the house and basically abused her in the ways only a toddler can. Each time the cat scratched her or defended itself my husband and I would respond with a “well, that’s what you get for hurting the kitty…” We naturally assumed that she would learn a lesson from the pain and learn to treat the cat better. Little did we know that the lesson would last about 6 months and cost us tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection that typically causes swelling of the lymph nodes. It usually results from the scratch, lick, or bite of a cat — more than 90% of people with the illness have had some kind of contact with cats, often with kittens. About 40% to 50% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives. Cats that carry B. henselae do not show any signs of illness; therefore, you cannot tell which cats can spread the disease to you. It is thought that fleas spread the bacteria between cats; however, there is no evidence that fleas can transmit the disease to humans. Once a cat is infected, the bacterium lives in the animal's saliva. Kittens or cats may carry the bacteria for months. Cats less than a year old are more likely to be infected.
The Emergency Room visit consisted of a doctor convinced Eva, our 3 year old, had a terrible case of Strep Throat. When the test came back negative, he then proceeded to call it a virus and told us to follow up with her pediatrician Monday morning, (children never get deathly ill during office hours!) Armed with nothing but Motrin, I bought my lethargic toddler home and pushed fluid and piggybacks fever reducing medications until 8 am Monday morning.
Arriving at the office, the staff who has known my child her entire life, jumped to attention. My normally talkative and (for lack of a nicer word) inquisitive child was clinging to me, still swollen, still febrile. The doctor saw her immediately and she was then transported to the Children’s Hospital in Hartford, CT. It was there they noticed the scratch and bite mark on her arm. Through a blood test they were able to establish the bacterium in her blood.
Normally it takes a couple of weeks for a scratch or bite to cause one or more lymph nodes close to the area to swell and become tender. (Lymph nodes are organs of the immune system that are often called glands.) These swollen lymph nodes appear most often in the underarm or neck areas. They normally range in size from about ½ inch to 2 inches in diameter and may be surrounded by a larger area of swelling under the skin. The skin over these swollen lymph nodes may become warm and red, and occasionally the lymph nodes drain pus.
I say normally because, within three days of her first symptoms, one of Eva’s lymph nodes had swollen to a size of a plum on her neck. Within ten days, a head formed on the lymph node, (similar to the biggest pimple you have ever seen). We had been seeing the doctor once a week to monitor the nodes. From day one, the doctor had also put her on Zithromax. By week 2, she was taking a full dose of the antibiotics everyday. If you are not familiar with the medication that is also called a Z-pack, traditionally it is taken in a full dose on day one and half doses for 4 to 5 days following. My 3 year old was taking the full dose and continued to do so for over 130 days.
Twenty-one days in, Eva ruptured the giant pustule on her neck in her sleep. The smell alone was horrifying. We went back to the doctor only to be sent to the lab for more blood work and return to the doctor to find out what should have been good news. While there was an inordinately high level of the bacteria still in her blood, they believed the rupture meant the end of the worst. They bandaged her neck and put her on a secondary antibiotic (Bactrim) to take in conjunction with the Zithromax. We went home feeling a sense of peace that this was almost over.
Thirty-three days in, a second pustule began on her face in front of her left ear. They are no longer calling it Cat Scratch Fever but a rarer strain of the same illness called Parinaud Oculoglandular Syndrome. Apparently, in atypical cases of cat scratch fever she could get even sicker, with no clear sign of the end. No one thought to tell us that a person may develop infections of the liver, spleen, bones, joints, or lungs, or a reoccurring high fever without any other symptoms. She had gotten an eye infection known as Parinaud Oculoglandular Syndrome. That she could have developed inflammation of the brain or seizures, although this is rare.
Obviously we brought her back to doctor, after all it was Tuesday and we went every Tuesday. He, as frustrated as we were, introduced the option of surgery to drain the pustule before it exploded like the previous one. Our question was if we allow the surgery, will that be the end of this? Our baby has now been on antibiotics for over 40 days. I have left my job because the daycare will not allow her to attend with a disease they are not familiar with. While Cat Scratch Fever is not contagious, they were concerned with her risks of higher infections.
April 17, 2007, 138 days in, Eva went to the Children’s Hospital for her surgery. It took less than an hour and she came through like a trooper. It had been our tradition that after every doctor visit she was allowed to go to McDonalds for a small fry, her first words after the surgery was “do I get my fries now?” The hospital staff loved her. Most importantly, we may have been done with all of this.
Seven days post surgery, 138 days of Zithromax, Bactrim, and Arythromyicin, Eva had no visible symptoms, no pustules, and the swelling was gone, as was the fever. It was gone. Our final visit to the doctor included champagne. While we still needed to be aware of her contact with cats, she was healthy again. She will always has the bacterium in her blood but, it is so much less parts per million, that she can lead a completely normal life.
If you're concerned about cat scratch disease, you do not need to get rid of the family pet. The disease is relatively rare and usually much less than what happened to Eva. A few simple steps can go a long way toward limiting your child's chances of contracting the disease.
Teaching your children to avoid stray or unfamiliar cats can reduce their exposure to sources of the bacteria. To lower the risk of getting the disease from a family pet or familiar cat, kids should avoid rough play with any pets so they can avoid being scratched or bitten. Have your family members wash their hands after handling or playing with a cat. Regular flea checks for your pets are also advisable.
Take it from me, telling your child “That’ll teach ya” doesn’t pay off.
It all started with a kitten named Vaca, she looked like a tiny cow and, our children loved her. Our baby however, was convinced Vaca lived to serve her as a playmate. She dressed her up, drug her around the house and basically abused her in the ways only a toddler can. Each time the cat scratched her or defended itself my husband and I would respond with a “well, that’s what you get for hurting the kitty…” We naturally assumed that she would learn a lesson from the pain and learn to treat the cat better. Little did we know that the lesson would last about 6 months and cost us tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection that typically causes swelling of the lymph nodes. It usually results from the scratch, lick, or bite of a cat — more than 90% of people with the illness have had some kind of contact with cats, often with kittens. About 40% to 50% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives. Cats that carry B. henselae do not show any signs of illness; therefore, you cannot tell which cats can spread the disease to you. It is thought that fleas spread the bacteria between cats; however, there is no evidence that fleas can transmit the disease to humans. Once a cat is infected, the bacterium lives in the animal's saliva. Kittens or cats may carry the bacteria for months. Cats less than a year old are more likely to be infected.
The Emergency Room visit consisted of a doctor convinced Eva, our 3 year old, had a terrible case of Strep Throat. When the test came back negative, he then proceeded to call it a virus and told us to follow up with her pediatrician Monday morning, (children never get deathly ill during office hours!) Armed with nothing but Motrin, I bought my lethargic toddler home and pushed fluid and piggybacks fever reducing medications until 8 am Monday morning.
Arriving at the office, the staff who has known my child her entire life, jumped to attention. My normally talkative and (for lack of a nicer word) inquisitive child was clinging to me, still swollen, still febrile. The doctor saw her immediately and she was then transported to the Children’s Hospital in Hartford, CT. It was there they noticed the scratch and bite mark on her arm. Through a blood test they were able to establish the bacterium in her blood.
Normally it takes a couple of weeks for a scratch or bite to cause one or more lymph nodes close to the area to swell and become tender. (Lymph nodes are organs of the immune system that are often called glands.) These swollen lymph nodes appear most often in the underarm or neck areas. They normally range in size from about ½ inch to 2 inches in diameter and may be surrounded by a larger area of swelling under the skin. The skin over these swollen lymph nodes may become warm and red, and occasionally the lymph nodes drain pus.
I say normally because, within three days of her first symptoms, one of Eva’s lymph nodes had swollen to a size of a plum on her neck. Within ten days, a head formed on the lymph node, (similar to the biggest pimple you have ever seen). We had been seeing the doctor once a week to monitor the nodes. From day one, the doctor had also put her on Zithromax. By week 2, she was taking a full dose of the antibiotics everyday. If you are not familiar with the medication that is also called a Z-pack, traditionally it is taken in a full dose on day one and half doses for 4 to 5 days following. My 3 year old was taking the full dose and continued to do so for over 130 days.
Twenty-one days in, Eva ruptured the giant pustule on her neck in her sleep. The smell alone was horrifying. We went back to the doctor only to be sent to the lab for more blood work and return to the doctor to find out what should have been good news. While there was an inordinately high level of the bacteria still in her blood, they believed the rupture meant the end of the worst. They bandaged her neck and put her on a secondary antibiotic (Bactrim) to take in conjunction with the Zithromax. We went home feeling a sense of peace that this was almost over.
Thirty-three days in, a second pustule began on her face in front of her left ear. They are no longer calling it Cat Scratch Fever but a rarer strain of the same illness called Parinaud Oculoglandular Syndrome. Apparently, in atypical cases of cat scratch fever she could get even sicker, with no clear sign of the end. No one thought to tell us that a person may develop infections of the liver, spleen, bones, joints, or lungs, or a reoccurring high fever without any other symptoms. She had gotten an eye infection known as Parinaud Oculoglandular Syndrome. That she could have developed inflammation of the brain or seizures, although this is rare.
Obviously we brought her back to doctor, after all it was Tuesday and we went every Tuesday. He, as frustrated as we were, introduced the option of surgery to drain the pustule before it exploded like the previous one. Our question was if we allow the surgery, will that be the end of this? Our baby has now been on antibiotics for over 40 days. I have left my job because the daycare will not allow her to attend with a disease they are not familiar with. While Cat Scratch Fever is not contagious, they were concerned with her risks of higher infections.
April 17, 2007, 138 days in, Eva went to the Children’s Hospital for her surgery. It took less than an hour and she came through like a trooper. It had been our tradition that after every doctor visit she was allowed to go to McDonalds for a small fry, her first words after the surgery was “do I get my fries now?” The hospital staff loved her. Most importantly, we may have been done with all of this.
Seven days post surgery, 138 days of Zithromax, Bactrim, and Arythromyicin, Eva had no visible symptoms, no pustules, and the swelling was gone, as was the fever. It was gone. Our final visit to the doctor included champagne. While we still needed to be aware of her contact with cats, she was healthy again. She will always has the bacterium in her blood but, it is so much less parts per million, that she can lead a completely normal life.
If you're concerned about cat scratch disease, you do not need to get rid of the family pet. The disease is relatively rare and usually much less than what happened to Eva. A few simple steps can go a long way toward limiting your child's chances of contracting the disease.
Teaching your children to avoid stray or unfamiliar cats can reduce their exposure to sources of the bacteria. To lower the risk of getting the disease from a family pet or familiar cat, kids should avoid rough play with any pets so they can avoid being scratched or bitten. Have your family members wash their hands after handling or playing with a cat. Regular flea checks for your pets are also advisable.
Take it from me, telling your child “That’ll teach ya” doesn’t pay off.
Beltane
Beltane is a Celtic festival which signals the beginning of the bright half of the year. Beltane may be translated as "fires of Bel" or "brilliant fire" and is name after the god Belenus.
The festival begins on Beltane Eve with two bonfires started from nine different woods. Domestic animals and people pass between the bonfires to eliminate disease and misfortune. In the days before electricity, the bonfire was used to light brands which rekindled lights throughout households in the village. Ancient Beltane festivals customarily included sexuality, dancing around the maypole, and singing.
Modern pagan celebrations include maypole dances and jumping the cauldron for fertility purposes. Fertility in this sense is extended beyond reproduction and includes fertility of imagination and other similar concepts.
In terms of the God and Goddess cycle, Beltane marks the union of the two deities, bringing new life to the earth. It is a traditional time for Handfastings (marriages), and was a time for couples to make love outside to bless the crops and the earth. Maypoles were often danced around at Beltane to bring fertility and good fortune. The later addition of ribbons which were wrapped around the pole by the dancers brought a further sense of the integration of male and female archetypes, mirroring the union between the God and the Goddess. Beltane lore also includes washing in May-day dew for beauty and health, and scrying in sacred waters, such as ponds or springs.
The festival is sometimes referred to as Roodmas, a name coined by the medieval Christian Church in an attempt to associate Beltane with the Cross (the Rood) rather than the life-giving symbol of the Maypole. Beltane was also appropriated by the Church as the Feast Day of Saint Walpurga, who was said to protect crops and was often represented with corn
Traditional symbols used to represent Beltane are the May Pole (the traditional full-size one is about 10 feet tall), May baskets, crossroads, eggs, butter churns and chalices. Symbolically, many Pagans choose to represent Beltane with fresh flowers all around the ritual area as well as their homes and the cauldron is often totally filled with gorgeous springtime flowers. Roses, bluebells, marigolds, daisies, primroses, violets and lilac are associated with Beltane.
Dairy foods and eggs are in tune with this season. Sweets of all kinds, honey, and oats are all fine foods for Beltane. Simple dishes such as vanilla ice cream and egg custard are quite traditional fare on this day.
For something a little different, try some of the recipes below:
Fried Honey cakes
These cakes were left in the garden to please Fairy visitors. If you plan to leave an offering to the Fairy, double the recipe to keep some for your family. They're scrumptious.
1/2 cup sweet white wine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup honey
2/3 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Oil for frying
1/8 teaspoon salt
Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl.
Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.
Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen.
May Wine
1 bottle of white wine (German is ideal)
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
12 sprigs of woodruff, fresh
Pour wine into a wide mouth jar or carafe. Add the sliced strawberries and woodruff, and let sit for an hour or more. Strain and serve chilled.
Dandelion Salad
1/2 pound torn dandelion greens
1/2 red onion, chopped2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
In a medium bowl, toss together dandelion greens, red onion, and tomatoes. Season with basil, salt, and pepper.
Makes 4 servings
Candied Violets
1 Egg
WhiteGranulated Sugar
Violets
Whip your egg white until it is frothy, but does not peak. Gather the Violets, washing them quickly in cool water and allowing them to drip-dry. Then, dip each Violet in the egg white and roll the flowers in the sugar to coat them evenly. Be careful not to put the sugar on too thick. Finally, leave the petals on waxed paper to dry for 1 day. These may be stored for several months in an airtight container (waxed paper between each layer.) without losing fragrance or flavor.
Strawberry Cookies
3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup shortening1/4 cup milk1 egg, lightly beaten2 teaspoons grated lemon zest1 teaspoon almond extract2 1/2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powderred and green food coloring
Cream the sugar and shortening until fluffy, on medium speed if using an electronic mixer. Beat in egg, milk, zest, and extract. Sift flour and powder together in a bowl and gradually add to the other mix. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Half dough and put the other half back in the fridge. Form dough into flattened balls and roll to 1/8 inch on a floured surface. Using strawberry-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies, and cut out little indentations like strawberry seeds if desired.
Put 1 tablespoon of water into each of two dishes and add a few drops of each color of food coloring. Paint the cookies with a paintbrush using the colors, making the body of the strawberry red and the stem and leaves green. Bake them on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes, and then cool on racks. Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.
Yield: 5 dozen
The festival begins on Beltane Eve with two bonfires started from nine different woods. Domestic animals and people pass between the bonfires to eliminate disease and misfortune. In the days before electricity, the bonfire was used to light brands which rekindled lights throughout households in the village. Ancient Beltane festivals customarily included sexuality, dancing around the maypole, and singing.
Modern pagan celebrations include maypole dances and jumping the cauldron for fertility purposes. Fertility in this sense is extended beyond reproduction and includes fertility of imagination and other similar concepts.
In terms of the God and Goddess cycle, Beltane marks the union of the two deities, bringing new life to the earth. It is a traditional time for Handfastings (marriages), and was a time for couples to make love outside to bless the crops and the earth. Maypoles were often danced around at Beltane to bring fertility and good fortune. The later addition of ribbons which were wrapped around the pole by the dancers brought a further sense of the integration of male and female archetypes, mirroring the union between the God and the Goddess. Beltane lore also includes washing in May-day dew for beauty and health, and scrying in sacred waters, such as ponds or springs.
The festival is sometimes referred to as Roodmas, a name coined by the medieval Christian Church in an attempt to associate Beltane with the Cross (the Rood) rather than the life-giving symbol of the Maypole. Beltane was also appropriated by the Church as the Feast Day of Saint Walpurga, who was said to protect crops and was often represented with corn
Traditional symbols used to represent Beltane are the May Pole (the traditional full-size one is about 10 feet tall), May baskets, crossroads, eggs, butter churns and chalices. Symbolically, many Pagans choose to represent Beltane with fresh flowers all around the ritual area as well as their homes and the cauldron is often totally filled with gorgeous springtime flowers. Roses, bluebells, marigolds, daisies, primroses, violets and lilac are associated with Beltane.
Dairy foods and eggs are in tune with this season. Sweets of all kinds, honey, and oats are all fine foods for Beltane. Simple dishes such as vanilla ice cream and egg custard are quite traditional fare on this day.
For something a little different, try some of the recipes below:
Fried Honey cakes
These cakes were left in the garden to please Fairy visitors. If you plan to leave an offering to the Fairy, double the recipe to keep some for your family. They're scrumptious.
1/2 cup sweet white wine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup honey
2/3 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Oil for frying
1/8 teaspoon salt
Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl.
Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.
Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen.
May Wine
1 bottle of white wine (German is ideal)
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
12 sprigs of woodruff, fresh
Pour wine into a wide mouth jar or carafe. Add the sliced strawberries and woodruff, and let sit for an hour or more. Strain and serve chilled.
Dandelion Salad
1/2 pound torn dandelion greens
1/2 red onion, chopped2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
In a medium bowl, toss together dandelion greens, red onion, and tomatoes. Season with basil, salt, and pepper.
Makes 4 servings
Candied Violets
1 Egg
WhiteGranulated Sugar
Violets
Whip your egg white until it is frothy, but does not peak. Gather the Violets, washing them quickly in cool water and allowing them to drip-dry. Then, dip each Violet in the egg white and roll the flowers in the sugar to coat them evenly. Be careful not to put the sugar on too thick. Finally, leave the petals on waxed paper to dry for 1 day. These may be stored for several months in an airtight container (waxed paper between each layer.) without losing fragrance or flavor.
Strawberry Cookies
3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup shortening1/4 cup milk1 egg, lightly beaten2 teaspoons grated lemon zest1 teaspoon almond extract2 1/2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powderred and green food coloring
Cream the sugar and shortening until fluffy, on medium speed if using an electronic mixer. Beat in egg, milk, zest, and extract. Sift flour and powder together in a bowl and gradually add to the other mix. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Half dough and put the other half back in the fridge. Form dough into flattened balls and roll to 1/8 inch on a floured surface. Using strawberry-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies, and cut out little indentations like strawberry seeds if desired.
Put 1 tablespoon of water into each of two dishes and add a few drops of each color of food coloring. Paint the cookies with a paintbrush using the colors, making the body of the strawberry red and the stem and leaves green. Bake them on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes, and then cool on racks. Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.
Yield: 5 dozen
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