My first winter in Eastern Washington was bitter. I had lived in
California previously, and I didn't know how to function in really
Cold, snowy, weather. I wandered bewildered through a world
Blanketed in white. Large, soft, snowflakes fell on my head, and my
Feet sank deep into the powdery coldness. Snow slid over the tops of
My boots, encrusted the hems of my jeans and soaked my feet. It was
Cold, miserable and hard to get around. But it was also beautiful.
The snow caused the land around me to shape shift into a pure, white,
Sparkling expanse. I got to know a phenomenon called "freezing fog,"
When the fog moves in despite the low temperatures, and freezes onto
Everything it touches, coating the branches of trees with crystals of
Ice. The ice, though slippery and dangerous, had a beauty that
Caught my breath. It was powerful, and because it is a force of
Nature, I began to wonder how its power could be used magickally.
Water to Ice
To understand how ice can be used in Magick, it is important to first
Understand the element of water. Water is one of the most important
Elements to human beings, because we need it to survive; for this
Reason, water has always been thought of as sacred. Water is in
Constant motion, always flowing. In fact, water is so linked with
The idea of movement that when we see water that is still, we give it
The name "stagnant," a name which denotes unnatural lack of change,
And even decay. It is not surprising, then, that water Magick is
Concerned with things that tend to remain in a state of flux:
Emotions, the subconscious and purity.
Water is like our emotional states; it is deep, mysterious and can
Even be deceptive. We have all heard the phrase "still waters run
Deep," a phrase that describes the churning turmoil that can exist
Beneath a placid demeanor. Water can look calm, but below, out the
Range of our vision, so much can be going on. An entire ecosystem
Exists beneath the surface, out of our eyesight. When we enter the
Water, we enter a new world. The surface of the water is very much
Like the veil that stands between the world of the everyday and the
Otherworld. The veil is normally difficult to pierce, and only on
Certain nights (like Samhain) can we cross it easily. But water can
Help in the process of parting the veil — we can gaze into a bowl of
Water, and see into the otherworld. So water is not only Magickal,
It is also an excellent medium for divination.
Water is also the only element that is capable of changing its form.
It is linked to all of the other elements. Water covers the earth,
And the earth requires water to produce life. Fire can act upon
Water and cause it to unite with the element of air to evaporate and
Form a gas. Finally, when water is cooled, it can combine with the
Element of air to form ice. This capacity for change, and its need
To always move, makes water the quintessential shape shifter. As a
Form that water takes when it shape shifts, ice is ideal for Magick.
Perhaps because all Magick is concerned with change, ice Magick is
Extremely powerful.
Ice Magick
Ice Magick is similar to water Magick. However with ice Magick, the
Power of the spell is increased because of the act of freezing the
Water. When water shape shifts from a constantly moving force to a
Solid, its power is the most potent. Magickally, ice is not
Associated with all of the same properties as water; it's mainly used
For spells that have to do with transformation. Ice can be used
Magickally to perform any kind of Magick that induces a change in the
Caster's' inner state, so it can be used to help reveal personal
Secrets, remember forgotten memories, dispel depression and release
Stress.
Magick is an act of transformation, and ice possesses a strong
Magickal power since it is in the process of changing. Ice spells
Have two phases, the freezing of the water, and the melting of the
Ice. I have seen some spells where the caster writes a problem on a
Piece of paper, immerses the paper in water, and freezes the water to
Put an end to the problem. Those kinds of spells only use one of the
Two phases of ice Magick. It is important to remember, however, that
Problems that are frozen must eventually come back; everything that
Is frozen must melt. I have found that it is more practical, and
More powerful, to use both phases, freezing and melting, in spells.
The freezing of the ice begins the spell, because the caster is
Already thinking of the spell, and planning the ritual, when the ice
is frozen. The process begins as the water solidifies, and the power
is released during the ritual as the ice melts. For this reason, I
find it most useful to freeze "special" ice for spells. Also, most
ice trays are made of plastic. Holding the frozen water in non-
natural plastic is not as effective; magick is natural, and should
ideally involve natural substances. Metal bowls can be used, but the
easiest method is to use cardboard coated with wax (so that the
cardboard doesn't stick to the ice). Small paper drinking cups that
are coated with wax are ideal, as are frozen juice containers that
have been emptied of their contents and washed.
Ice Spells
A piece of ice naturally begins to melt when it is left at room
temperature, so it works like the burning of a candle in candle
magick, changing itself during the spell, thus releasing its energy
to the goal at hand. It is extremely powerful to encircle a candle
with ice and perform a spell. The ice melts and the candle burns —
two elements that work in a cooperative way can produce powerful
results. Spells that use fire and ice are wonderful for obtaining
balance, since they employ the complimentary elements of fire and
water. Also try putting ice in a bathtub while visualizing. This
technique is especially suited for spells involving physical
transformation.
Herbs and oils can also be used to enhance ice magick. An infusion
of one or more herbs can be frozen, or essential oils can be added to
the water before freezing. When water is frozen, it combines with
the element of air, so herbs and oils that are associated with either
element can be used. Herbs that work best are ones that, when
growing in the natural world, can endure cold and snow, or require
cold weather to germinate. Below is a list of some herbs and oils
that work well for ice magick:
Herb
Oil
Element
Magickal Associations
Aspen
X
Air
Communication
Pine
X
X
Air
Happiness, Exorcism
Rose
X
X
Water
Love, Healing, Psychic Power, Luck
Spearmint
X
Water
Memory
Spikenard
X
X
Water
Happiness
Willow
X
Water
Love, Healing, Divination
Yarrow
X
Water
Psychic Power, Love, Courage, Exorcism
Information in this table was obtained from Cunningham's Encyclopedia
of Magical Herbs and Fern's Plants for a Future.
Ice and Divination
Ice can also be used for divination. Symbolically, the surface of a
body of water represents the veil between this world and the
otherworld. So, when water is frozen, the door to the otherworld is
closed. But as ice melts during a ritual, the door re-opens and we
can look inside.
The surface of melting ice is shiny, and like any reflective surface,
is well suited for scrying. One way to do this is to sit in a dark
room with a yellow candle burning off to the side, so that the light
of the flame flickers on the melting ice. Ice scrying requires
patience — messages will be revealed slowly, as the ice melts. Ice
scrying is especially suited for looking into the past, since the
frozen water symbolically represents a frozen moment in time.
Looking into past lives is possible, as is looking back and trying to
remember a forgotten memory. The melting ice represents the
releasing of memories from the subconscious mind.
Final Considerations
Because ice forms in the natural world during the winter months, ice
magick is best performed in the spring, when the world begins to
thaw. However, it is also possible to perform ice magick at other
times during the year, as the need arises. Dawn is best, because
symbolically, dawn is to the day as spring is to the year.
Ice magick is very powerful. It is a neutral, natural force that can
be used for positive or negative means. It is therefore important,
as it is with any spell, that the caster makes sure of his or her
intentions before attempting it. Remember how beautiful ice can be,
as it sends off prisms of light, but also remember that it is very
easy to slip on ice. Ice should not be feared any more than wind,
rain and storm. The spell caster should approach ice magick with
respect and reverence.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Perfume free laundry detergent
For a large load of laundry, mix:
1 full cereal size bowl of baking soda
1 full cereal size bowl of white distilled vinegar
1/2 to 1 full cereal size bowl of Borax
1 full cereal size bowl of baking soda
1 full cereal size bowl of white distilled vinegar
1/2 to 1 full cereal size bowl of Borax
Instructions: Begin a load of laundry. As water fills the washing machine, pour the baking soda. Make sure you empty the bowl of all the baking soda residue and then pour the vinegar.
The reason for this is that when you pour the vinegar in the bowl while there's some baking soda residue, the 2 ingredients fizz when mixed together and you don't want the bowl to overflow before you pour the ingredients into the washing machine. This mixture is great because it's affordable, easy to use, non-toxic, earth-friendly and completely free of toxic petro-chemicals and irritants.
~Wise Woman Newsletter, November, 2009
EATING LIKE THE ANCESTORS: A PAGAN DIET
EATING LIKE THE ANCESTORS: A PAGAN DIET
By Peg Aloi
In this modern world, many of us do not have a healthy relationship with
Food. Despite so many choices, many of us hurry through meals or simply
Eat the quickest thing available. Our European ancestors had a deep
Reverence and respect for the land and its inhabitants, and their
Relationship to food was a very conscientious one.
Modern Pagans try to enhance their relationship to the natural world,
And one good way to do this is by paying special attention to the food
We eat. This article will look at the ways we can enjoy better health
By aligning our eating habits with those of our ancestors.
Although we have been told for years by the medical establishment that
We need to cut down on fats and red meat, many Americans are losing
Weight on trendy high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. Obviously such
An extreme diet is not healthy in the long run. But the principle
Behind it actually has its roots in our early evolution.
Prior to the advent of agriculture, humans were hunters and gatherers.
That meant eating animals and green plants, and whatever fruits or nuts
Could be foraged. The consumption of grains, which form the basis of
The starchy, agriculture- based foods--such as bread, pasta, potatoes,
And cereals--in our diets began relatively recently in our history. It
Is believed that humans are designed to digest grains efficiently,
Because they are made of both protein and carbohydrates, and the stomach
Utilizes different enzymes to digest these foods. So ingesting them at
The same time can lead to poor absorption of nutrients and faulty
Digestion. This principle forms the basis of the popular
"food-combining" diets, as found in many contemporary books.
The human body is designed to eat meat and plants; our teeth are made
For tearing into flesh and for grinding down plant material. There is
Growing interest these days in so-called "caveman diets," which
Emphasize leaner meat than what we find in grain-fed cattle--such as
Elk, deer, or buffalo.
The healthiest humans in the world (with virtually no cardiovascular or
Heart disease, nor cancer) are the Masai tribe of Africa. These people
Are nomadic cattle herders who eat almost nothing but the meat, marrow,
And milk of their cattle, along with green plants. They also get a lot
Of exercise--walking and running up to twenty miles a day as they herd
Their cattle.
Clearly their healthy hearts and lungs are helped by the fresh air and
Exercise, but the quality of the food they eat is also significant. In
The Western world, much of the meat we eat is raised for slaughter, and
Animals are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones for more efficient
Production. The health dangers of a high-meat diet are not just due to
The low fiber, high-fat content, but also to the traces of these toxic
Substances that remain in our tissues.
So what do we eat to stay healthy--especially if we can't walk twenty
Miles each day? I propose a lifestyle that attempts to eat as our
Ancestors did: simple, healthy foods in reasonable amounts that are,
Where appropriate, specific to our ethnic background or our region.
In earlier generations, foods were not full of pesticide residue or
Hormones and antibiotics. Our oceans and lakes were not laden with
Chemicals. Fruits and vegetables were not tainted.
Today, therefore, there is no better way to spend our food dollars than
To buy organically grown produce and naturally raised meat and fish.
Unfortunately, in some areas organic foods are expensive and hard to
Find. The greater the demand for these products, the more widely
Available, and cheaper, they will become--so ask for them. We may raise
Our eyebrows at the higher price on apples grown without pesticides, but
Isn't better health and a cleaner environment worth a few extra pennies?
Our ancestors did not have grocery stores, microwave ovens, or
Refrigerators. They hunted and gathered from season to season, and they
Stored what they could to get them through winter. Fruits and
Vegetables, nuts and seeds were eaten raw, and so kept all of their
Nutritional value. One of the best ways to align ourselves with the
Natural rhythms of the seasons, as our ancestors lived, is to eat
Locally grown raw foods.
Most cities and towns have a farmers' market in late summer or early
Autumn when so much of the harvest is available. Depending on your
Area, you could get wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables from April
Through November. Local grocery stores will also make an effort to sell
This local produce so look for the signs that identify foods as "locally
Grown." Think of how a tomato you eat in the middle of the winter is
Tasteless, or how store-bought apples in spring are mealy--they have
Usually been picked prematurely and shipped a long way. We can enhance
our health and get great pleasure from our food if we take advantage of
the growing seasons in our area.
It is believed by holistic healers that the human body stays healthiest
by eating foods grown in our natural climate. These foods protect us
from infections and enhance our natural immunity because of pollination
and other environmental factors. So even though I love Florida oranges
and grapefruit in winter, they are not as health-giving for me as summer
raspberries grown in Massachusetts.
We are also products of our ethnic heritage. Being half Italian and
half Irish, I notice tastes and preferences, not to mention food
sensitivities, particular to my background. Traditional cultural food
preferences develop over centuries, based on climate and availability.
As customs form, that particular group's genetic make-up is affected by
the foods eaten over many generations. My Italian half prefers to cook
with olive oil (much healthier than other oils), while the Irish side
likes butter (still better for us than margarine or other partially
hydrogenated fats). The Italian likes savory herbs such as basil and
rosemary and thyme; the Irish likes good old salt and pepper. Neither
of these influences has allowed me to stomach hot, spicy food--but
someone of Mexican or Spanish descent would have no problem eating lots
of red hot chilies.
You can find out which foods might aggravate certain chronic conditions
(headache, fatigue, indigestion, insomnia, and so on) by finding out as
much as you can about your mother's natal nutritional habits. When my
mother was carrying me, she broke out in hives whenever she ate
cheese--so even though my Italian and Irish ancestors were great cheese
lovers, I need to eat it in moderation.
It is believed that the current rise in peanut allergies in children is
due to an increase in peanut consumption by pregnant and nursing mothers
(maybe trying to get their protein from nonmeat sources). Understanding
our personal nutritional needs, including what we are allergic or
sensitive to, helps us choose foods that enhance our immunity and align
our health in subtle ways. In this way, we can then avoid any
self-medicating with painkillers, sleep aids, caffeine, or toxic
substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, or prescription medications.
Many health complaints can be traced to a nutritional deficiency, yet
nutrition is not a required field of study in medical school. Is it any
wonder then that the Western world is plagued by so many
lifestyle-related disorders directly linked to poor diet?
As modern Pagans, we seek a closer relationship to nature, and we feel a
need to be stewards of the Earth. By following a spiritual path that
emphasizes personal responsibility and self-transformation , we make our
way in the larger community by choosing to make the world a better place.
By choosing naturally raised meats and fish over factory-farmed
products, we show our support for humane methods of animal husbandry.
By choosing organically grown local produce, we show our support for
small, noncorporate farms that choose not to poison our environment with
pesticides. Food need not be a political issue, but by aligning our
lifestyle choices with the eating patterns of our ancestors, we can not
only honor our past but help to preserve our future.
Link unknown
By Peg Aloi
In this modern world, many of us do not have a healthy relationship with
Food. Despite so many choices, many of us hurry through meals or simply
Eat the quickest thing available. Our European ancestors had a deep
Reverence and respect for the land and its inhabitants, and their
Relationship to food was a very conscientious one.
Modern Pagans try to enhance their relationship to the natural world,
And one good way to do this is by paying special attention to the food
We eat. This article will look at the ways we can enjoy better health
By aligning our eating habits with those of our ancestors.
Although we have been told for years by the medical establishment that
We need to cut down on fats and red meat, many Americans are losing
Weight on trendy high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. Obviously such
An extreme diet is not healthy in the long run. But the principle
Behind it actually has its roots in our early evolution.
Prior to the advent of agriculture, humans were hunters and gatherers.
That meant eating animals and green plants, and whatever fruits or nuts
Could be foraged. The consumption of grains, which form the basis of
The starchy, agriculture- based foods--such as bread, pasta, potatoes,
And cereals--in our diets began relatively recently in our history. It
Is believed that humans are designed to digest grains efficiently,
Because they are made of both protein and carbohydrates, and the stomach
Utilizes different enzymes to digest these foods. So ingesting them at
The same time can lead to poor absorption of nutrients and faulty
Digestion. This principle forms the basis of the popular
"food-combining" diets, as found in many contemporary books.
The human body is designed to eat meat and plants; our teeth are made
For tearing into flesh and for grinding down plant material. There is
Growing interest these days in so-called "caveman diets," which
Emphasize leaner meat than what we find in grain-fed cattle--such as
Elk, deer, or buffalo.
The healthiest humans in the world (with virtually no cardiovascular or
Heart disease, nor cancer) are the Masai tribe of Africa. These people
Are nomadic cattle herders who eat almost nothing but the meat, marrow,
And milk of their cattle, along with green plants. They also get a lot
Of exercise--walking and running up to twenty miles a day as they herd
Their cattle.
Clearly their healthy hearts and lungs are helped by the fresh air and
Exercise, but the quality of the food they eat is also significant. In
The Western world, much of the meat we eat is raised for slaughter, and
Animals are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones for more efficient
Production. The health dangers of a high-meat diet are not just due to
The low fiber, high-fat content, but also to the traces of these toxic
Substances that remain in our tissues.
So what do we eat to stay healthy--especially if we can't walk twenty
Miles each day? I propose a lifestyle that attempts to eat as our
Ancestors did: simple, healthy foods in reasonable amounts that are,
Where appropriate, specific to our ethnic background or our region.
In earlier generations, foods were not full of pesticide residue or
Hormones and antibiotics. Our oceans and lakes were not laden with
Chemicals. Fruits and vegetables were not tainted.
Today, therefore, there is no better way to spend our food dollars than
To buy organically grown produce and naturally raised meat and fish.
Unfortunately, in some areas organic foods are expensive and hard to
Find. The greater the demand for these products, the more widely
Available, and cheaper, they will become--so ask for them. We may raise
Our eyebrows at the higher price on apples grown without pesticides, but
Isn't better health and a cleaner environment worth a few extra pennies?
Our ancestors did not have grocery stores, microwave ovens, or
Refrigerators. They hunted and gathered from season to season, and they
Stored what they could to get them through winter. Fruits and
Vegetables, nuts and seeds were eaten raw, and so kept all of their
Nutritional value. One of the best ways to align ourselves with the
Natural rhythms of the seasons, as our ancestors lived, is to eat
Locally grown raw foods.
Most cities and towns have a farmers' market in late summer or early
Autumn when so much of the harvest is available. Depending on your
Area, you could get wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables from April
Through November. Local grocery stores will also make an effort to sell
This local produce so look for the signs that identify foods as "locally
Grown." Think of how a tomato you eat in the middle of the winter is
Tasteless, or how store-bought apples in spring are mealy--they have
Usually been picked prematurely and shipped a long way. We can enhance
our health and get great pleasure from our food if we take advantage of
the growing seasons in our area.
It is believed by holistic healers that the human body stays healthiest
by eating foods grown in our natural climate. These foods protect us
from infections and enhance our natural immunity because of pollination
and other environmental factors. So even though I love Florida oranges
and grapefruit in winter, they are not as health-giving for me as summer
raspberries grown in Massachusetts.
We are also products of our ethnic heritage. Being half Italian and
half Irish, I notice tastes and preferences, not to mention food
sensitivities, particular to my background. Traditional cultural food
preferences develop over centuries, based on climate and availability.
As customs form, that particular group's genetic make-up is affected by
the foods eaten over many generations. My Italian half prefers to cook
with olive oil (much healthier than other oils), while the Irish side
likes butter (still better for us than margarine or other partially
hydrogenated fats). The Italian likes savory herbs such as basil and
rosemary and thyme; the Irish likes good old salt and pepper. Neither
of these influences has allowed me to stomach hot, spicy food--but
someone of Mexican or Spanish descent would have no problem eating lots
of red hot chilies.
You can find out which foods might aggravate certain chronic conditions
(headache, fatigue, indigestion, insomnia, and so on) by finding out as
much as you can about your mother's natal nutritional habits. When my
mother was carrying me, she broke out in hives whenever she ate
cheese--so even though my Italian and Irish ancestors were great cheese
lovers, I need to eat it in moderation.
It is believed that the current rise in peanut allergies in children is
due to an increase in peanut consumption by pregnant and nursing mothers
(maybe trying to get their protein from nonmeat sources). Understanding
our personal nutritional needs, including what we are allergic or
sensitive to, helps us choose foods that enhance our immunity and align
our health in subtle ways. In this way, we can then avoid any
self-medicating with painkillers, sleep aids, caffeine, or toxic
substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, or prescription medications.
Many health complaints can be traced to a nutritional deficiency, yet
nutrition is not a required field of study in medical school. Is it any
wonder then that the Western world is plagued by so many
lifestyle-related disorders directly linked to poor diet?
As modern Pagans, we seek a closer relationship to nature, and we feel a
need to be stewards of the Earth. By following a spiritual path that
emphasizes personal responsibility and self-transformation , we make our
way in the larger community by choosing to make the world a better place.
By choosing naturally raised meats and fish over factory-farmed
products, we show our support for humane methods of animal husbandry.
By choosing organically grown local produce, we show our support for
small, noncorporate farms that choose not to poison our environment with
pesticides. Food need not be a political issue, but by aligning our
lifestyle choices with the eating patterns of our ancestors, we can not
only honor our past but help to preserve our future.
Link unknown
Spell Pouches Colors
- A white pouch can be used for Spiritual enlightenment, cleansing, clairvoyance, healing, truth seeking; Rituals involving lunar energy' May be substituted for any color.
- A yellow pouch can be used with spell fostering activity, creativity, unity; brings power of concentration and imagination to a ritual.
- A gold pouch can be used in a spell to attract the powers of cosmic influences; beneficial in rituals intended to bring about fast luck or money, or in rituals needing solar energy.
- An orange pouch can be used in a spell to promote creativity, the ability to speak one's mind, ambition, career matters and the Law, self-confidence. It is also a solar color.
- A pink pouch can be used in a spell for romance, friendship; it is a standard color for rituals to draw affections; a color of femininity, honor and service
- A red pouch can be used in a spell to foster health, passion, love, fertility, strength, courage, will power; increased magnetism
- A silver pouch can be used in a spell for the removal of negativity and encourages stability; helps develop psychic abilities; attracts the influence of the Mother Goddess.
- A purple pouch can be used in a spell which promotes power, success, idealism, psychic manifestations; ideals for rituals to secure ambitions, independence, financial rewards, or to make contact with the spiritual world.
- A brown pouch can be used in a spell of materiel increase; eliminates indecisiveness; improves powers of concentration, study, telepathy; increases financial success.
- A blue pouch can be used in a spell to promote a cool calmness, loyalty, or whenever an influence needs to be increased, for rituals to obtain wisdom, harmony, inner light, or peace; confers truth and guidance.
- A light blue pouch can be used in a spell for inspirational meditations, peace and tranquility to the home, for rituals to obtain wisdom, harmony, inner light, peace and guidance.
- A green pouch can be used in a spell for ambition, growth, new beginnings, prosperity, fertility, success; stimulates rituals for good luck, money, harmony, and rejuvenation.
- A grey pouch is a neutral color and is useful when negates or neutralizes a negative influence.
- A black pouch can be used to to banish evil or negativity as in uncrossing rituals.
Imbolc Ideas Having To Do With Fire
By Starhawk, Anne Hill, and Diane Baker.Brigit Fire
Whether we circle around a hearth, outdoor bonfire, or kindle a blaze
In a cast-iron cauldron, in the season of Brigit we welcome the
Return of light. Here are some suggestions for a safe and cheerful
Blaze.
Cauldron Fire
You will need:
A cast-iron pot of any size
A lid that fits snugly, for putting out the fire
Bricks, hotplate or other heat-resistant material to set the cauldron
On.
Epsom salts
Rubbing alcohol
To keep the blaze going for 45 minutes in a five quart cauldron, you
Need 1/2 gallon of Epsom salts and approximately 4 to 6 pints of
Rubbing alcohol
Any cast-iron pot can be made into a cauldron with a fire of Epsom
Salts and rubbing alcohol. This is a very safe blaze. Once the
Cauldron is secured on a heat-proof surface, pour the Epsom salts in
Until the bottom is covered, approximately 1 inch deep. Pour rubbing
Alcohol over the salts until the alcohol is about an inch higher than
The salts. Hold a lighted match just above the alcohol. The liquid
Will light and produce a strong orange flame. The flame burns cool,
Unlike a wood fire, and it is difficult to burn things
In. When the flame gets low, cover to snuff out completely. Add more
Rubbing alcohol to the cauldron and relight carefully. The warmer the
Rubbing alcohol, the more quickly it ignites. This fire recipe leaves
A significant amount of sediment in the bottom of the cauldron. For
This reason, it is best to dedicate a pot strictly for cauldron use.
Kindling a Fire
This holiday is a good time to teach your older children how to set a
Fire and kindle a blaze. Most children are eager to help lay a fire,
But may be too scared to light one. Using long matches often eases
Their fear, and with supervision they can become quite proficient at
Lighting fires. Children are great at gathering wood. A note of
Caution about burning found wood, however: Make sure you inspect the
Wood. Scrap plywood gives off toxic fumes, as does wood that has been
Painted or coated with urethane. Make sure the wood you are burning
Has not been coated with creosote. Creosote is a dark, often tarry
Preservative and is commonly found on wood washed up on the beach.
Its fumes are toxic, and when burned, the treated wood creates a
Smoky, stinky blaze. Creosote is easy to identify by its smell, which
Resembles that of turpentine or paint thinner.
Egg Carton Fire Starters
You will need:
Paraffin wax or beeswax (old candle stubs work great for this)
The bottom halves of cardboard egg cartons
Sawdust, pine needles, scraps of cotton material, dry pinecones, or
Shredded paper
Scissors
A pot
Reuse all those old candle ends in this practical, convenient fire
Project. Stuff each cardboard egg holder with sawdust or other
Flammable material. Melt the wax in a pot, over low to medium heat.
When the wax is melted, carefully pour the wax into each depression
In the egg cartons. Make sure the wax does not overflow. Let cool.
After the wax has cooled down, use scissors to cut the fire starters
Apart from each other, leaving the hardened wax inside its cardboard
Shell. To use, set one or two fire starters in your fireplace,
Surround with kindling and larger wood, and light. The fire starters
Will keep burning long enough to light even the most stubborn logs.
Fire Safety
Never leave candles lit and a blazing fire unattended. It is a good
Idea to have a pail of water or a fire extinguisher close at hand
When having a fire. If you often light fires at your home, try
Growing an aloe Vera plant, or keep some of the pure gel on hand in
The fridge, to use as first aid for burns. Fires at the beach are
Popular in all seasons, and eliminate some of the risks of fires in
The woods or in the meadow. Few people are aware of how to extinguish
A beach fire safely, however. Covering up a beach fire with sand
Actually insulates the coals, keeping them burning through the night.
Those hidden coals will still be red-hot in the morning waiting for
An unsuspecting person to step on them. Always douse a beach fire with
Water - seawater works as well as fresh water - until there are no
More live coals. Wait for the steam to clear; then using a stick,
Turn over all the coals to make sure no smoldering coals remain.
Candle Hat
One holiday tradition in Scandinavian countries is for the girls to
Wear garlands in their hair that hold a circle of lit candles and
Bless the light's return. We've adapted this candle custom to honor
the returning light for Brigit. These paper hats are a simple and
safe variation. Draw an inner circle on a 9-inch paper plate, about
an inch from the rim. Next draw very light lines dividing the circle
into quarters. Draw four rectangular candle shapes, keeping the
dividing lines as guides for the candles' centers. The rectangles
will meet in the center of the plate in a small square. Cut out the
candle shapes, preserving their connection to the ring at the rim.
This connection serves as the base of the candle. Bend candles
from their base to stand upright. Decorate candles with markers,
crayons and glitter. use the discarded plate material to cut flame
shapes. Color them bright flame colors, then glue or staple them to
the top of the candles.
Brigit Candles
You will need:
1 recipe salt dough clay
a bowl of water
8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper, one for each candle
wax paper, cut into 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets, one for each candle tape
1 T vegetable oil
toothpicks
small bowl
candle making supplies
Honor Brigit with new special candles. These candles use molds made
from coiled salt dough ropes so that each completely unique candle
bears the spiral imprint of the coil.
Taper Candles
Make ropes by rolling salt dough clay between your hands. Each rope
should be two or three feet long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. If
younger children can't manage such lengths, have them make smaller
segments that can be joined later with a little pressure and water.
Dip your fingers into the bowl of water occasionally if the dough
tends to crack. Roll the paper into a 1 inch wide cylinder and tape
it shut. Around this cylinder, tape a piece of wax paper. Coat the
wax paper with a thin layer of oil. Lightly moisten a salt dough rope
with water. Lay the paper cylinder on its side at one end of the
rope. Roll it along the dough, wrapping the rope up the cylinder
until it is six inches tall. Be sure the edges of the coiled rope
always touch. To provide extra support, at intervals stick several
toothpicks vertically through the coils. Make a bottom for the mold by
shaping another piece of salt dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle
that's larger than the coiled tower in diameter. Moisten the bottom's
surface, then carefully lift the coiled tower onto the bottom piece
and press gently to make a seal. Pull the paper cylinder out. This
slides out easily, leaving the wax paper. Remove it by gently tugging
on the wax paper with one hand while you support the clay coils with
the others. Inspect each part of the mold, looking for tiny cracks
where melted wax could leak. Press these shut. If the coils start to
sag, quickly fashion a paper cylinder around the outside of the coils
and tape it closed. Trim it to the same height as the clay, so it
won't get in the way when you are pouring wax. Set the mold in
an empty bowl, in case wax leaks through. You are ready to pour.
Pouring the wax is thrilling. Go very slowly up each level to make
sure no wax is leaking through. If a leak appears, carefully pinch it
shut and pour again. Insert the wick. The wax will harden within an
hour, long before the clay dries. To unmold, just unwind the clay. If
some sticks, soak the candle in cool water and then gently rinse off
the clay. The candles have a wonderfully craggy spiral looping from
bottom to top, and burn with a lovely strong flame.
Beehive Candles
You can also make beehive candles with great success by coiling ropes
of salt dough in a small, deep bowl. A rice bowl is the perfect size.
It's easier to start with making a spiral, about 3 inches across,
outside of the bowl, then transferring this into the bottom of the
bowl. Next coil the rope inside the bowl until you reach the top. The
candle is burned with the dome side up, so the wick has to be
extended through the wax at the bottom of the bowl. When the wax is
firm enough to insert the wick, use a slightly larger straw than
usual, and push it firmly through the candle, into the dough beneath,
straight to the bottom of the bowl. The candle unmolds easily: Lift
candle and mold from the bowl and uncoil the mold.
Brigit Candleholder
To echo the Goddess's symbol of the serpent, make this candleholder,
which resembles a coiled snake. Follow directions for making a mold
for taper candles, with the following differences:
1. Size your holder by wrapping a paper cylinder around whatever
candle you intend to use. Remove candle before proceeding further.
2. Dough ropes should be about 1/2 inch wide and a foot long. If
candleholder is taller than 4 inches, use toothpicks for extra
support.
3. Make the bottom by coiling a rope into a small circle. 4. After
the paper cylinder has been removed, use your candle to gently test
of the open end of the candle holder is large enough to accommodate
the candle. If it's too small, delicately press the opening wider. If
it's too large, fill in with bits of salt dough.
5 Bake the holder as directed. Turn after the first hour to be sure
it does not stick to the pan.
6 Cool completely after baking. Then paint with snaky patterns,
finishing with eyes on the end of the top coil.
Whether we circle around a hearth, outdoor bonfire, or kindle a blaze
In a cast-iron cauldron, in the season of Brigit we welcome the
Return of light. Here are some suggestions for a safe and cheerful
Blaze.
Cauldron Fire
You will need:
A cast-iron pot of any size
A lid that fits snugly, for putting out the fire
Bricks, hotplate or other heat-resistant material to set the cauldron
On.
Epsom salts
Rubbing alcohol
To keep the blaze going for 45 minutes in a five quart cauldron, you
Need 1/2 gallon of Epsom salts and approximately 4 to 6 pints of
Rubbing alcohol
Any cast-iron pot can be made into a cauldron with a fire of Epsom
Salts and rubbing alcohol. This is a very safe blaze. Once the
Cauldron is secured on a heat-proof surface, pour the Epsom salts in
Until the bottom is covered, approximately 1 inch deep. Pour rubbing
Alcohol over the salts until the alcohol is about an inch higher than
The salts. Hold a lighted match just above the alcohol. The liquid
Will light and produce a strong orange flame. The flame burns cool,
Unlike a wood fire, and it is difficult to burn things
In. When the flame gets low, cover to snuff out completely. Add more
Rubbing alcohol to the cauldron and relight carefully. The warmer the
Rubbing alcohol, the more quickly it ignites. This fire recipe leaves
A significant amount of sediment in the bottom of the cauldron. For
This reason, it is best to dedicate a pot strictly for cauldron use.
Kindling a Fire
This holiday is a good time to teach your older children how to set a
Fire and kindle a blaze. Most children are eager to help lay a fire,
But may be too scared to light one. Using long matches often eases
Their fear, and with supervision they can become quite proficient at
Lighting fires. Children are great at gathering wood. A note of
Caution about burning found wood, however: Make sure you inspect the
Wood. Scrap plywood gives off toxic fumes, as does wood that has been
Painted or coated with urethane. Make sure the wood you are burning
Has not been coated with creosote. Creosote is a dark, often tarry
Preservative and is commonly found on wood washed up on the beach.
Its fumes are toxic, and when burned, the treated wood creates a
Smoky, stinky blaze. Creosote is easy to identify by its smell, which
Resembles that of turpentine or paint thinner.
Egg Carton Fire Starters
You will need:
Paraffin wax or beeswax (old candle stubs work great for this)
The bottom halves of cardboard egg cartons
Sawdust, pine needles, scraps of cotton material, dry pinecones, or
Shredded paper
Scissors
A pot
Reuse all those old candle ends in this practical, convenient fire
Project. Stuff each cardboard egg holder with sawdust or other
Flammable material. Melt the wax in a pot, over low to medium heat.
When the wax is melted, carefully pour the wax into each depression
In the egg cartons. Make sure the wax does not overflow. Let cool.
After the wax has cooled down, use scissors to cut the fire starters
Apart from each other, leaving the hardened wax inside its cardboard
Shell. To use, set one or two fire starters in your fireplace,
Surround with kindling and larger wood, and light. The fire starters
Will keep burning long enough to light even the most stubborn logs.
Fire Safety
Never leave candles lit and a blazing fire unattended. It is a good
Idea to have a pail of water or a fire extinguisher close at hand
When having a fire. If you often light fires at your home, try
Growing an aloe Vera plant, or keep some of the pure gel on hand in
The fridge, to use as first aid for burns. Fires at the beach are
Popular in all seasons, and eliminate some of the risks of fires in
The woods or in the meadow. Few people are aware of how to extinguish
A beach fire safely, however. Covering up a beach fire with sand
Actually insulates the coals, keeping them burning through the night.
Those hidden coals will still be red-hot in the morning waiting for
An unsuspecting person to step on them. Always douse a beach fire with
Water - seawater works as well as fresh water - until there are no
More live coals. Wait for the steam to clear; then using a stick,
Turn over all the coals to make sure no smoldering coals remain.
Candle Hat
One holiday tradition in Scandinavian countries is for the girls to
Wear garlands in their hair that hold a circle of lit candles and
Bless the light's return. We've adapted this candle custom to honor
the returning light for Brigit. These paper hats are a simple and
safe variation. Draw an inner circle on a 9-inch paper plate, about
an inch from the rim. Next draw very light lines dividing the circle
into quarters. Draw four rectangular candle shapes, keeping the
dividing lines as guides for the candles' centers. The rectangles
will meet in the center of the plate in a small square. Cut out the
candle shapes, preserving their connection to the ring at the rim.
This connection serves as the base of the candle. Bend candles
from their base to stand upright. Decorate candles with markers,
crayons and glitter. use the discarded plate material to cut flame
shapes. Color them bright flame colors, then glue or staple them to
the top of the candles.
Brigit Candles
You will need:
1 recipe salt dough clay
a bowl of water
8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper, one for each candle
wax paper, cut into 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets, one for each candle tape
1 T vegetable oil
toothpicks
small bowl
candle making supplies
Honor Brigit with new special candles. These candles use molds made
from coiled salt dough ropes so that each completely unique candle
bears the spiral imprint of the coil.
Taper Candles
Make ropes by rolling salt dough clay between your hands. Each rope
should be two or three feet long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. If
younger children can't manage such lengths, have them make smaller
segments that can be joined later with a little pressure and water.
Dip your fingers into the bowl of water occasionally if the dough
tends to crack. Roll the paper into a 1 inch wide cylinder and tape
it shut. Around this cylinder, tape a piece of wax paper. Coat the
wax paper with a thin layer of oil. Lightly moisten a salt dough rope
with water. Lay the paper cylinder on its side at one end of the
rope. Roll it along the dough, wrapping the rope up the cylinder
until it is six inches tall. Be sure the edges of the coiled rope
always touch. To provide extra support, at intervals stick several
toothpicks vertically through the coils. Make a bottom for the mold by
shaping another piece of salt dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle
that's larger than the coiled tower in diameter. Moisten the bottom's
surface, then carefully lift the coiled tower onto the bottom piece
and press gently to make a seal. Pull the paper cylinder out. This
slides out easily, leaving the wax paper. Remove it by gently tugging
on the wax paper with one hand while you support the clay coils with
the others. Inspect each part of the mold, looking for tiny cracks
where melted wax could leak. Press these shut. If the coils start to
sag, quickly fashion a paper cylinder around the outside of the coils
and tape it closed. Trim it to the same height as the clay, so it
won't get in the way when you are pouring wax. Set the mold in
an empty bowl, in case wax leaks through. You are ready to pour.
Pouring the wax is thrilling. Go very slowly up each level to make
sure no wax is leaking through. If a leak appears, carefully pinch it
shut and pour again. Insert the wick. The wax will harden within an
hour, long before the clay dries. To unmold, just unwind the clay. If
some sticks, soak the candle in cool water and then gently rinse off
the clay. The candles have a wonderfully craggy spiral looping from
bottom to top, and burn with a lovely strong flame.
Beehive Candles
You can also make beehive candles with great success by coiling ropes
of salt dough in a small, deep bowl. A rice bowl is the perfect size.
It's easier to start with making a spiral, about 3 inches across,
outside of the bowl, then transferring this into the bottom of the
bowl. Next coil the rope inside the bowl until you reach the top. The
candle is burned with the dome side up, so the wick has to be
extended through the wax at the bottom of the bowl. When the wax is
firm enough to insert the wick, use a slightly larger straw than
usual, and push it firmly through the candle, into the dough beneath,
straight to the bottom of the bowl. The candle unmolds easily: Lift
candle and mold from the bowl and uncoil the mold.
Brigit Candleholder
To echo the Goddess's symbol of the serpent, make this candleholder,
which resembles a coiled snake. Follow directions for making a mold
for taper candles, with the following differences:
1. Size your holder by wrapping a paper cylinder around whatever
candle you intend to use. Remove candle before proceeding further.
2. Dough ropes should be about 1/2 inch wide and a foot long. If
candleholder is taller than 4 inches, use toothpicks for extra
support.
3. Make the bottom by coiling a rope into a small circle. 4. After
the paper cylinder has been removed, use your candle to gently test
of the open end of the candle holder is large enough to accommodate
the candle. If it's too small, delicately press the opening wider. If
it's too large, fill in with bits of salt dough.
5 Bake the holder as directed. Turn after the first hour to be sure
it does not stick to the pan.
6 Cool completely after baking. Then paint with snaky patterns,
finishing with eyes on the end of the top coil.
From "Circle Round" By Starhawk, Diane Baker and Anne Hill
Courtesy of Witches Moon
Busy Busy Busy...
Hey everyone. Yes I have not been here for awhile that is because I have been so busy... With work and my other job I did not have much time. Now that one of my jobs is ending for the summer I do have some time.
I have partnered with my sister at the flea market and now we have a bigger booth!! Ya I have my own spot!! I will be highlighting what I make here and still give information when I can. I wish I had more time to sit and write.
I have partnered with my sister at the flea market and now we have a bigger booth!! Ya I have my own spot!! I will be highlighting what I make here and still give information when I can. I wish I had more time to sit and write.
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