Happy New Year

I'm going to be taking a few days off from blogging but I'll be right back in 2011 with my regular Serenity Sunday post. I wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year and I'll see you all next year!

Silly Picture Of The Week

Yes, she is actually SLEEPING like this!

(For about 45 minutes until she fell over)

Fear Not The Devil

This is one of three cards in the tarot deck that have a tendency to strike fear in the hearts of those who's reading it turns up in...The Devil. This card, despite the depiction, is really not all that scary if you know a little bit more about it.


The Devil in the tarot deck has little or nothing to do with the frightening winged skeletal creature, in fact, this card is all about bondage...bondage to outmoded ideas that are no longer useful...bondage as in addictions....bondage to our weaknesses and bondage that comes from letting our boundaries be crossed without respect.


When I look at the two little figures that are chained to the pillar, one can only notice that if these little animals really wanted to, they could quite easily slip from the chains that hold them. Why do they stay...is it out of duty...is it out of fear....? Change is a life altering event but if we continue to sit in fear and remain chained to the old ways, what a sad lonely life lies ahead of us.


It takes greater courage to shed our fears and take bold new steps to improving our situation and our outlook on the world because if we can change our own world, what's to stop us from enacting that change in the world around us? Try something positive and new today and see how it affects the world around you.

Tarot of the Magical Forest


Next week...The Tower

Recipe Of The Week

Potato soup with ham


6 med. potatoes, chopped
1 med. onion
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. flour
1 c. diced ham
2 c. milk
1 tsp. parsley flakes


Dice potatoes and onions; boil in water until done. Drain off water and save. Add butter to potatoes and onions until butter melts. Add flour, ham and parsley; stir lightly. Pour in 4 cups of potato water and then milk. Turn heat up to medium and stir until soup thickens, about 5 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Serenity Sunday

Serenity


Opening the vein a beat trickles from my heart,
Serenity has its weakness in the form of love,
A fantasy that captures the heart,
Ignites the spark from within,
Drawing closer ever near,
A seed of joy races in the mind,
That touches the very soul,
Let the two become whole.

My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Great friends


4.) Twinkling lights


5.) Spiced cider


6.) Colorful ribbons


7.) Good cheer


8.) Peace of mind


9.) Egg nog


10.) Holiday music

Merry Christmas!

Silly Picture Of The Week

Warm folded towels are Calliope's favorite things!

Mistletoe

Mistletoe

Also known as the golden bough. Held sacred by both the Celtic Druids and the Norseman. Once called Allheal, used in folk medicine to cure many ills. North American Indians used it for toothache, measles and dog bites. Today the plant is still used medicinally, though only in skilled hands...it's a powerful plant.


It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day.


Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a very special ceremony held around this time...five days after the New Moon following winter solstice, to be precise. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from a holy oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground.


Celts believed this parasitic plant held the soul of the host tree. The priest then divided the branches into many sprigs and distributed them to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. The folklore, and the magical powers of this plant, blossomed over the centuries A sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from faeries. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd. And so forth.

The Five Of Swords

The five of swords suggests some form of dispute has just taken place, or is about to occur. Someone will come out of this feeling very victorious and the person for whom this card has been chosen must tread with care if they don't want to be the loser. It will take a lot of hard work and patient effort to settle current disputes. Equally, there is evidence of possible enemies or treachery. So they should prepare themselves for a rocky ride ahead and watch their back.


When the five of swords appears in a spread, the querent should never relax their guard. Otherwise just when they think they've got 'everything in the bag' something will happen to spoil it all. On the plus side, this card helps them to acknowledge how far they can go. They'll know their limit and they'll be willing to admit when they've reached it.


Also, it's recommended that they pay attention to their physical health. Life will not be easy for them at the moment and they could tend to disregard their health and general well-being. It is however important, that they should make the effort to remain fit and robust. They should eat little and often, exercise daily and take time to relax as well.

Blessed Yule

The wheel of the year makes it’s final turn

And on this night, to my log I add wishes to burn

I welcome the return of the God and the light

And ask Goddess’ blessing on my wishes this night

In this upcoming year increase mankinds prosperity

Not only of money, but of spirit and peace

Let their love of each other, and our planet increase

So as my Yule log burns all night I pray for that kind of prosperity

It is my sacred Yule time wish, with thanks so mote it be.

Recipe Of The Week

HONEY GLAZED HAM AND ORANGE BRANDY
SAUCE


1 5-7lb ham
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. barbecue sauce (any brand)
Score ham on fatty side (1/2 inch deep). Combine honey, barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Spread mixture over top of ham. About 1/2 hour before ham is done, spread 1 cup brandy sauce on top. Continue baking for remaining 30 minutes. Slice ham and serve with Orange Brandy Sauce.


ORANGE BRANDY SAUCE:


2 tbsp. brandy or cognac
1 c. orange marmalade
1 c. orange juice
1/4 c. brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 c. raisins (optional)
Combine ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes. Yield: 3 cups sauce.
Make ham earlier in day and refrigerate. Reheat 300 degrees and cover loosely with foil. Serves 6-8.

Serenity Sunday

The Yule log is a central part of Yule festivities. The log is kindled from the remains of the previous year's Yule fire. This piece was kept in the home throughout the year for protection . . The Yule log symbolizes the light returning to conquer the darkness. According to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze . The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out.


A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.


Once, the Yule log had been the center of the celebration.
There are many traditional ways to collect your log; Some collect a log at Beltane and dry out till Yule. Others use the thickest part of the Yule tree trunk to save till it becomes next years Yule log. Still others will make a ritual of trekking into the woods at yuletide and dragging their Yule log home.


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Terrific friends


4.) Twinkling lights


5.) The Yule log


6.) Hot chocolate


7.) Crisp mornings


8.) Chocolate chip cookies


9.) Holiday movies


10.) Honey roasted peanuts

Silly Picture Of The Week

Calliope is sporting a naked tummy this week after her spay surgery, it must feel better sitting like this

Forest Blessings Incense

 Forest Blessings Incense


Items:


1 part flat cedar (dried)
1 part Juniper berries (dried)
1 part pine needles (dreid)
Parchment stars
"star" hole puncher
1 piece of Parchment paper.
"Yule" oil or other blessing or protection oil.
Toothpicks
Big wooden mixing bowl


Procedure;


Using a mortar and pestle, pound and release aromas of each herb, separately.
( this means do not over grind, just till you can smell the herb, your done)


Add all three pounded herbs to your bowl.
Next with a "Star" hole punch (these come in flowers, crosses, angels. use what YOU like)
Punch out "Parchment stars" out of your Parchment paper.
Next, Dip toothpick into "Yule" oil (or other oil thats special to you. It should be a protection or cleansing oil and preferably made by you.)
Dab a small drop of oil onto each "Parchment" star.
When done with all "Stars" add to bowl with other herbs.
Visualizing protection and cleansing in your home;
Chant;


"Cedar, Juniper and Pine,
Bring protection to me and mine.
Stars of paper, herbs and oil
Cleansing now as I toil.
By the Law of three,
So mote it be.."

The Three of Rods

The Three of Rods suggests taking a look at how what is happening now relates to the whole picture. It also represents the initial completion of the project. The seeker may be disappointed because there is still so much left to do. Your past efforts are starting to pay off. You've reached an important milestone. You've gone as far as you can by yourself and are in need of some group energy.


Practical knowledge. Envisioning possibilities. Trade and negotiation. Cultivating the early stages of an undertaking. Negotiations.


Reverse - Not knowing how to proceed. Difficulty in taking the first step. Ideas remain up in the air. A need for self discipline. A need for a foundation of knowledge. Assistance with ulterior motive. Diminished adversary. Beware of help offered.

Deck Review- The Silver Era Tarot

Remember the good old days when black and white film was king, a time of those wonderful, lovable characters like Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplain and even Our Gang ruled the silver screen?...well today I'm reviewing a wonderful deck that takes us back to a time of black and white images, when things were simple and the images were comforting and familiar...introducing the Silver Era Tarot.

The Silver Era Tarot, created by Aunia Kahn and authored by Russel J. Moon, is simply wonderful to behold because unlike silent films, she has added a little something extra, a dash of color on each card. Each card has one rich hue added to it's image that enhances the card's meaning beautifully. It could be a bouquet of flowers, the pinafore on a dress or a richly colored hat... the color simply makes the cards pop!

This deck is comprised of seventy-eight wonderfully artistic cards that measure 3 1/4" x 5 1/4" x 2"  and come in a sturdy keepsake box and a ninety-six page LWB (little white book) that describes each card and its meaning upright and reversed along with a small thumbnail image of each card. The card stock is perfect for shuffling and if your deck seems a bit sticky, simply wipe them down with a furniture polish wipe and they will nearly shuffle themselves.

I just can't say enough about the artistry of the Silver Era Tarot, with it's new-age interpretation of classical ideas expressed with artistic breakthroughs in new bold and groundbreaking ideas as it brings tarot into the 21st Century for older generations to rediscover and expose to a whole new generation of learners and thinkers. It would make a wonderful deck for beginners and experienced alike.

Silver Era Tarot

Artwork by Aunia Kahn and text by Russell J. Moon
Schiffer Books
ISBN: 9780764334382