One of my greatest obsessions lately has been baking bread. It is one of those odd domestic activities that is deeply satisfying and imparts a discernible feeling that all is right and well in the world. Whether or not everything is right and well is another thing altogether, but a fresh loaf of bread that you baked yourself as part of a meal brings a profound sense of comfort and security. As it is August Eve and time to celebrate the beginning of the grain harvest, I am sharing this bread recipe so that you, too, may enjoy the comfort that baking bread brings. From the feeling of being in touch with older times when all was made at home and from scratch to the satisfaction of a belly full of good food, I hope this recipe brings you as much comfort and joy as it has been bringing me. This time of year does something to me... Fills my head so full of thoughts that words cannot fully express, at least not as well as a collection of twenty or so mushroom pictures... and a leaf...
The weather, as of late, is troubling to me. I live in Wisconsin, and Winter is generally a harsh time. To say it is cold is an understatement when more often than not, venturing outside for more than a few minutes is to risk frost bite. There’s rarely any powder snow as the cold tends to make it freeze, rendering it hard, crunchy, sharp. Winter is a time of the Crone, of remembering our mortality, of taking stock, and letting go. But this year, when it’s nearly Imbolc and we’ve just gotten snow, I’m finding it hard to adjust to this change in the energy currents. Solar energies were off all last year; I’m sure I mentioned that elsewhere. And this made living in tune with the cycles of Nature to be rather difficult, as the rhythm was so different from the norm. Sabbat energy failed to peak as it should, and even Full Moon energy seemed off, as if the Lady was distracted, concerned for Her lover and His unusual behavior. Decorations lay scattered across the floor, lights flicker on the tree erected where our family altar* usually stands. The theme for our altar and celebrations since buying and moving into our first house has been "let's do something different." This is not to suggest that we're not still maintaining our traditions, not still enacting the rites as passed from parents and grandparents, rather what we are doing is looking to create new traditions, new ways in which to celebrate our faith and our family.
Normally, we would have the tree in one corner of the main room, while still maintaining our family altar either in the same room or another. This year we are a bit crammed for space and over the course of years, our Yule decorations have come more and more to include symbolic representations of our faith. This year we've made the natural transition, then, to the tree being the altar. Ostara is fast approaching. Our family's celebrations tend to focus upon one theme for this holiday: the coveted dyed egg. This year will feature a major variation, though, as our celebrations will include my parents and two siblings.And as I've mentioned in the past, my mother has apparently forgotten that we're not Christian, so this will surely be interesting.
"Three Ladies came out of the East
With rhyme and herbs And iron wrought fair. Return again, O thou White Swan, Bride of the Golden hair." -Ed Fitch, A Grimoire of Shadows it seems to be the theme where I live. Imbolc of '03 was surprisingly right on schedule. Walked outside that morning to discover everything melting and drippy. But in the years following that, Imbolc came generally a week early. But, today, it is officially Imbolc in Southern Wisconsin!
It's no secret that 2010 was a very difficult year for many people. Aside from the obvious economic struggles, many of us also faced varying health problems, the like of which were completely unknown before. The year was one filled with change, to the extreme, completely inline with the numerological association of the year with the number three (2+0+1+0=3.) Three is a number of transformation, of spontaneity, and of fire.
And so it was the longest night came to pass. A glowing beacon of promise and hope, the Sun slowly emerged from the loving embrace of the Goddess and took its first radiant steps across the Sky. Even Winter, in recognition of the Sun's gradual return to power, bows in respect; the snows melt a little and puddles fail to freeze.
The Winter Solstice is literally just around the corner and oh, so auspiciously occurring within hours of not just a Full Moon, but a Total Lunar Eclipse, visible to most of the planet. So, while this all sounds terribly exciting and momentous, what does it actually mean to the magickally inclined?
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January 2023
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