July 2008 - Alternative Faith

Alternative Faith

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Alternative Faith - July 2008

MMMM...MOON CAKES AND ALE...SORTA'

July 22nd 2008 16:14

Nuthin' says lovin' like sumpthin' from the Coven...to steal a phrase from the old Pillsbury commercials. But I have a couple of interesting recipes that come out of a cook book I received from one of my Witchy friends in Merry Ole' England..."The Cauldron Cook Book"...offers some unique recipes and I wanted to share a couple of them with you.

Following is the recipe for MOON CAKES: You can make this recipe for your group or whenever you want something special for the "cakes and ale" portion of your next ritual. I've made these and they're pretty tasty...Please be careful when baking...they will crisp and burn quite quickly...

8 oz. Ground Almonds
4 oz. Regular Baking Flour
4 oz. Butter or Margarine
2 oz. Shredded Coconut
2 tbls. Dried Egg
6 Tbls. Honey
1/2 teas. Cinnamon
1/2 teas. Ground Mixed Spice
1 teas. mint (fresh is better, finely chopped) but dry will work too.

Mix the almonds with the flour, eggs, herbs and spices. Cream together the honey and butter until light and fluffy then fold in the dry ingredients. Chill, roll out and cut into moon shapes or other shapes of choice. Place on a greased and gloured baking sheet and cook in a heated oven (200 C.) 400 degrees for 10 or unitl a very pale gold...AGAIN...BE CAREFUL...they will burn easily...enjoy!!!

THEN...There's the ALE recipe...actually GINGER BEER

5 quarts of boiling water
1 1/4 lbs of sugar
1 0z. Whole Ginger - bruised
2 Lemons
1/4 oz Cream of Tartar
1 0z Fresh Yeast

Thinly pare the lemons and remove all the white pith with a very sharp knife. Cut the lemons into thin slices and remove the seeds. Put lemons in a non metallic bowl with sugar, ginger, lemon rind and cream of tartar and pour on the boiling water. Leave until it reaches "blood" heat (hmmm, a Viking term for "stick your finger in it and it's warm)

Stir in the yeast. Leave covered with a cloth in a warm place for 24 hours. Skim the yeast from the top and strain the beer carefully from the sediment. Bottle in screw top bottles. The ginger beer will be ready in 2 days... YUM!!!

May your next moon ritual or sabbat be plentiful and tasty with these two new recipes.
Until next time,
Blessed Be
White Willow

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Posted By: Witch Willows Wanderings - Category: Wicca, Holidays, General Paganism, News, General Religions

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CELEBRATING FIRST HARVEST - LUGHNASADH

July 15th 2008 19:58

Lughnasadh (loo-na-sah) is the first of 3 harvest festivals. Derived from an old Irish word Lunasa (meaning August), it honors the old sun god Lugh (Loo), but for all intents and purposes it is primarily a grain festival, often called the Sabbat of First Fruits.

Most of the ritualistic celebration and symbolism used by today’s pagans was given to us primarily by Irish Tradition. But let’s not forget, across the world there were other celebrations taking place. Native Americans celebrated in early August in honor of the Corn Grandmother, which is called the festival of the green corn. Ancient Romans honored Ceres, who was their grain goddess. In ancient Phoenicia, this Sabbat honored the grain god Dagon and a great amount of the harvest was sacrificed to him.

There are other names for Lughnasadh, such as First Harvest, August Eve, Lammas (which translated means “loaf-mass”) which is the most commonly used name. Perhaps because so many seem to mis-pronounce Lughnasadh. (grins)

The Irish Sun God, Lugh (translated literally means “the shining one”) was a god of many talents and skills and was in fact said to be able to transform to human so as to worship with the druids. Lugh was, in fact, considered the primary deity of the druids. Lugh was god of the harvests, fire, light, metallurgy and the protector of the weak and ill. He was also King of the Tuatha De Danann, a mythical race of early Celts and the consort of Dana, the first great Mother Goddess of Ireland, so is it any wonder that Lughnasadh would be focused on him?

Since Lughnasadh is the first of 3 harvest festivals, it was often celebrated as one of fertility. While it is true that certain crops were being harvested, part of that harvest was thrown back into the fields to insure that autumn crops would thrive. Certain groups and covens would perform the great rite on this day, preferably in a fertile field. Corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and summer squash are all used in magickal spells for fertility.
The celebration of Lughnasadh is one of the largest of any of the Sabbats. All of the first fruits of the season are consumed, especially any/all grains that have been harvested. Often the feast would be consumed inside circle with generous libations being made to the deities.

Corn or maize as it was called by our Native American ancestors, is the most well known and celebrated of the crops, and is a major entity for solar festivals, particularly in North America and Europe since the 1600’s. However, the Native Americans revered maize long before that. Corn is known to have been cultivated as early as 7,000 years ago in Mexico and the S. Western U.S.

It is common practice among Celtic and English witches to hold back a small portion of the corn harvest to make the Imbolc (Imbolg) corn dolly. Each year a new corn dolly is made to replace the one from the previous year. Make sure to take the old dolly from the place where it has been blessing your home and bring it into circle or on your altar.
For many, Lughnasadh is a time for counting one’s blessings while gathered in circle. A loaf of bread is passed clockwise while coven members break off a portion to be consumed after they announce all the things they’re thankful for.

A perfect pastime for Pagans (and ok, non pagans too) is star gazing. August is the perfect month, since it is renowned for meteor showers, and shooting stars. It’s a wonderful way in which to connect with god/dess and our place in the universe. Let’s not forget that wee bit of folklore that if we wish upon a shooting star, our wishes will come true.

While it’s still warm, it’s a great time to give something back to Mother Earth. How about getting involved in “Adopt A Highway” where you clean up a portion of the roadway of debris and litter. The same holds true if you live near the ocean or beach…you, or you and your group can plan a day of picking up litter and making the Mother shiny and clean. This is an excellent way in which we pagans can “practice what we preach” with regards to the environment.

However you decide to spend Lughnasadh, be sure to include eating some yummy fruits and veggies from the bounty of the Mother and don’t forget to give thanks for all that you’ve been given this year, as we move to the end of summer and the second harvest festival of Mabon.

Until next time, Blessed Be.
White Willow

"The Sabbats, A New Approach To Living The Old Ways" by Edain McCoy

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Posted By: Witch Willows Wanderings - Category: Wicca, Holidays, General Paganism, News, General Religions

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LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS...OH MY!

July 10th 2008 16:58

Animal Guides, Allies and Totems

Have you ever watched an eagle soar above the tree tops and feel an exhilaration you can’t explain? Are you drawn to certain animals without knowing why? Do you want to run with the wolves, swim with the otter, or do you fantasize about dragons??? All of these animals whether real or imaginary make up a long list of Animal Guides, Allies or Totems.
You’re probably asking yourself what exactly is an Animal Ally or Guide. For centuries, nearly all Shamanic cultures have believed in Animal Allies or helpers. While these creatures have the appearance and most characteristics of ordinary animals, they are able to communicate with the Shaman. Often these animals become protectors and guides for the Shaman, both in the “other-worlds” and in this physical realm.

The Celts believed in Individual Animal Allies as well as Clan animals. Many of the Celtic clan names reflected this. To the Native Americans these same animals are called Totem animals. In what may have been the precursor of the Heraldic insignia, the Celts would display a banner on which were displayed the picture or symbol of their clan animal. On their personal shields and armor, their clothing and often tattooed on their bodies were the pictures of their personal animal ally.

There is one thing to remember about animal guides, they choose you. The old Shamanic way of finding an animal guide was to go on a journey to the other world or on a “vision quest.” The Shaman would watch carefully for an animal to appear and if it appeared at least 3 times to him/her, they knew they had been accepted by the animal. A Shaman usually has one very important animal guide or ally who acts as a protector and close companion during journeying, but it is not uncommon to have several others who will help with specific problems or issues. Some guides will be with us our entire lifetime, offering guidance and aiding us in our world. Others will come into our lives to help us work through a specific problem or lesson, and once we’ve accomplished that goal, they will move on to work with someone else who needs their help.

Following are some of the more popular Animal Guides and their significant traits:

BEAR: Protective, hidden strength, inward Looking, to know oneself.
BUTTERFLY: Changeling, Able to transform. Balanced in all things, grace and beauty.
COUGAR: Self assurance, ability to lead, move unseen. balance.
COYOTE: Humor in all things, Deceiver (without malice). Trickster
CROW: Crows are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. They remind us to look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life.
DOLPHIN: Joy and happiness. Harmonious with oneself and surroundings.
DOG: Holds the key to unconditional love. Serve Selflessly. Able to forgive freely.
EAGLE: Sacred messenger. master of patience, bringer of visions from spirit, ability to hear spiritually. Ability to heal. Able to see beyond the horizon.
HAWK: Awareness, teller of truths. Messenger, able to move between the seen and unseen world. Prophetic insight.
LION: Fearlessness, balanced leadership, gentle and patient.
OTTER: Bringer of Joy and laughter, lightness of touch, woman medicine.
OWL: Wisdom, ability to see into the shadows, a solo worker but able to assist others when required.
RAVEN: Destroyer/Rebuilder, explorer of the unknown, mysterious.
SNAKE: Associated with rebirth, able to see the true person, guardian of sacred places and keeper of hidden knowledge, power, life force, and able to use earth energies.
WOLF: Wolf is the teacher and it will guard you as it teaches you. Wolf can teach you to use ritual to establish order and harmony in your own life. Wolf helps us to understand that discipline within a group can create true freedom, find new paths and take new journeys. Loyal, independent.

So it goes that you may already have your animal allies or guides in place. You may recognize them, talk to them, and they may assist you in living your daily life.
There are a lot of great articles and books out there that can teach you about animal guides and help you become familiar with your personal ally. I’ve only listed a few of the more popular animals to pique your interest and help you get started. Now it’s up to you to follow the path that leads you to what you need to know. Like the Eagle, I’m a messenger, and it is for you to go on your own vision quest to find those beings that will help you in your life’s journey. May I recommend the following:

Animal Speak, by: Ted Andrews
By Oak, Ash & Thorn by: DJ Conway

Until we meet again, Walk in the Light,
Michelle White Willow

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Posted By: Witch Willows Wanderings - Category: Wicca, Holidays, General Paganism, News, General Religions

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Wicca, The Other Religion

July 1st 2008 18:40

"Religious Freedom," do those two words make you twitch, do you break out in a rash, and are you sitting there saying..."Yeah right?" If you're a pagan like myself, you've probably had at least some experience with "good Christian folk" trying to convince you that you're doomed, will most certainly burn in hell and worse. If you're one of the luckier ones, you've only been the butt of a few derogatory and hurtful remarks. However, on the other side, you may well have been subject to personal persecution including hate mail, harassing phone calls and even physical assaults and discrimination.

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Posted By: Witch Willows Wanderings - Category: Wicca, Holidays, General Paganism, News, General Religions

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JULY, TIME FOR FIREWORKS, PEACE, & HONORING THE DEAD

July 1st 2008 16:38

Did you know that July 4th has been celebrated for centuries? While this country has been celebrating it's independence on this date for the past 232 years, people in Rome have celebrated July 4th as The Day of Pax, the goddess of peace, and Concordia the goddess of harmony and agreement and goodwill in the home.

The month of July is full of lesser known religious and pagan festivals, and celebrations. Here are a few that you may not have been aware of.
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Posted By: Witch Willows Wanderings - Category: Wicca, Holidays, General Paganism, News, General Religions

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