"What Is...?" Wednesday

Mabon 

Autumn Equinox is the time of the descent of the Goddess into the Underworld. With her departure, we see the decline of nature and the coming of winter. This is a classic, ancient mythos, seen the Sumerian myth of Inanna and in the ancient Greek and Roman legends of Demeter and Persephone.


In September, we also bid farewell to the Harvest Lord who was slain at Lammas. He is the Green Man, seen as the cycle of nature in the plant kingdom. He is harvested and his seeds are planted into the Earth so that life may continue and be more abundant.


Mabon ("Great Son") is a Welsh god. He was a great hunter with a swift horse and a wonderful hound. He may have been a mythologized actual leader. He was stolen from his mother, Modron (Great Mother),when he was three nights old,but was eventually rescued by King Arthur (other legends say he was rescued by the Blackbird, the Stag, the Owl, the Eagle, and the Salmon). 


All along, however, Mabon has been dwelling, a happy captive, in Modron's magickal Otherworld -- Madron's womb. Only in this way can he be reborn. Mabon's light has been drawn into the Earth, gathering strength and wisdom enough to become a new seed. In this sense, Mabon is the masculine counterpart of Persephone -- the male fertilizing principle seasonally withdrawn. Modron corresponds with Demeter.


From the moment of the September Equinox, the Sun's strength diminishes, until the moment of Winter Solstice in December, when the Sun grows stronger and the days once again become longer than the nights.


Symbols celebrating the season include various types of gourd and melons. Stalk can be tied together symbolizing the Harvest Lord and then set in a circle of gourds. A besom can be constructed to symbolize the polarity of male and female. The Harvest Lord is often symbolized by a straw man, whose sacrificial body is burned and its ashes scattered upon the earth. The Harvest Queen, or Kern Baby, is made from the last sheaf of the harvest and bundled by the reapers who proclaim, "We have the Kern!" The sheaf is dressed in a white frock decorated with colorful ribbons depicting spring, and then hung upon a pole (a phallic fertility symbol). In Scotland, the last sheaf of harvest is called the Maiden, and must be cut by the youngest female in attendance.

Deck Review- The Transparent Oracle

There's a wonderful new oracle deck out right now, called The Transparent Oracle by Emily Carding, who is also the creator of The Transparent Tarot and Tarot of the Sidhe. Her latest creation, The Transparent Oracle is nothing less than fantastic.

The Transparent Oracle deck has seventy transparent circles, that can be used as a layered system by themselves or in conjunction with The Transparent Tarot. I absolutely love the layering concept because it gives your readings so much depth and combination possibilities and depending on if you choose three cards or more, you can see all the images and how they mesh together to develop an aesthetically pleasing mandala like picture. This kit also comes in a sturdy storage box and white reading cloth.

This outstanding deck is separated and inspired by seven directions, East; West; South and North as well as the directions of Above; Below and Within and the accompanying one hundred and twenty-eight page book explains that in order to understand the seven directions, it is helpful to consider yourself the center of your universe as you perceive it. The four directions North; South; East and West all correspond to the elements depending on where in this world we are at and the directions of Above; Below and Within are all the same no matter where we are all located.

When I first got The Transparent Oracle, I was a bit daunted by the thought of a round deck and just how I might shuffle it but with a little thought and a few tries, I was able to gently shuffle them just as I would any rectangular deck with no further issues. I absolutely love this deck and all the possibilities for interpretations it holds as well as it's unique shape and wonderful images.

After shuffling the deck well, with the question in mind about the grayer days of fall and winter ahead, I wanted to know how I might transition more smoothly, I drew three cards... (number 22) Rain which is from the direction West, (number 60) the Red Dragon from the direction Below and (number 26), the Otters, also from the direction West. 

The Rain card can represent melancholy and dissatisfaction... generally emotions that can easily set in in a climate like mine, known for the rain that keeps Washington state so green, the Red Dragon is about inner power and drive and the otters signify joy, family and play.

Pulling these cards together I saw a beautiful three layered picture about the fact that days are going to be getting much shorter with lots of good old Pacific Northwest rain, the need to dig down to my inner strength on the dreary days... knowing that in the Spring, the sun shall return and by adopting a playful attitude, enjoying my family and our time together like the otters, I will be able to combat my seasonal blah's. 

This is an amazing deck and I was absolutely struck by the cards accurate yet uncanny ability to see right to the issues I find myself mulling over now that the rain has begun and the days of warm summer sunshine are waning. This is an excellent deck for personal meditation, exploration and understanding and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether beginner or experienced!

The Transparent Oracle

Schiffer Books

ISBN: 9780764334863

Size: 6" x 11 3/4" x 1 1/2"

Gardening Tips

October is rapidly approaching and can be such an uncertain month for gardeners. Though winter can come to stay at any moment we often can get an Indian summer throughout the entire month. If heavy snowfall and cold weather seem likely, rush to complete outdoor work...with emphasis on harvesting and winter protection.


After mounding tender roses, cut the tops back to half their height, then if there is time defoliate the remaining canes. Before snow and after defoliation is a good time to prune all deciduous trees and shrubs. Consider the fall seeding of Swiss chard, head lettuce, Spanish onions and parsnips. Here are a few gardening tips for fall.


Before the ground freezes down
~ Complete the harvesting of vegetables such as cabbage and sprouts.
~ Dig remaining root crops.
~ Dig gladiola and cure corms in a warm, dry place.
~ Complete planting of tulip bulbs for spring bloom.
~ Continue to water woody plants if soil becomes dry.
~ Mound up tender roses before snowfall.
~ Rake up leaves and save for compost area.
~ Clean out eaves' troughs.
~ Dig the vegetable garden, turning under decomposed organic matter.
~ Pot up special tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for winter forcing.
~ Repair fences, walks and other elements of your yard.
~ Plant your spring flowering bulbs as early as you can so they have time to send down a few roots before the ground freezes hard.


After the ground freezes down
~ Prune trees and shrubs.
~ Complete the mounding of tender roses and place straw covering over strawberries.
~ Protect woody plants against wild animals if they pose a problem.
~ Service the lawn mower and other mechanical equipment.
~ Store cold frames, wheelbarrows, and other garden equipment under cover.
~ Clean and store hand tools under cover.
~ Reduce watering of houseplants but increase humidity.
~ If snow cover is uncertain mulch perennials.


When harvesting vegetables, you may wish to save the waste leaves and return them to the garden later in the form of compost. Make sure they are free of disease before adding them to the compost bin; if uncertain then toss them out.

Prepare bulbs for indoor winter bloom
Flower bulbs for winter forcing indoors are specially selected kinds pre-treated to provide mid winter bloom. After potting and watering they are kept in a cool, dark place to grow roots. When the roots are developed they are pulled out of the dark into the warm sunlight of a window where they will delight you with blooms to enjoy in the cold of winter.

Serenity Sunday

Pagan Serenity Prayer


God and Goddess grant me:
The power of water to accept with ease and grace what I cannot change
The Power of fire for the energy and courage to change the things I can
The Power of Air for the ability to know the difference
And for the Power of Earth for the strength to continue my path.











My List:


1.) My family


2.) Great friends


3.) Warm blankets


4.) Hot chocolate


5.) Gentle rain


6.) Turning leaves


7.) Memories


8.) Spiced pumpkin candles


9.) Vitamins


10.) Ghost Hunters

Silly Picture Of The Week

There's nothing like a good nap!

Recipe Of The Week

Spaghetti Squash

The flesh of spaghetti squash comes out in long strands, very much resembling the noodles for which it is named. In this recipe, the 'noodles' are tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can substitute different vegetables, but be sure to use ones that have contrasting colors

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons sliced black olives
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm. Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

"What Is...?" Wednesday

I read a book for Harper One recently and reviewed it last Monday. It was a good book too but I lost a friend of eight years and it broke my heart...Why? Because I chose to be tolerant and see the world of Islam through the Prophet Muhammad's eyes by reading this book. Sadly, that wasn't the only thing that happened, I got angry tweets about it on Twitter as well because the author was disliked so much... Am I going to stop reading...NO...am I going to stop reviewing...NO. I always expected to get crap for being a Pagan, I however, did not expect crap for being tolerant and understanding. So here's today's "What Is Wednesday" post....


Religious Intolerance

Religious intolerance is intolerance against another's religious beliefs or practices.

The mere statement on the part of a religion that its own beliefs and practices are correct and any contrary beliefs incorrect does not in itself constitute intolerance (i.e., ideological intolerance). There are many cases throughout history of established religions tolerating other practices. Religious intolerance, rather, is when a group (e.g., a society, religious group, non-religious group) specifically refuses to tolerate practices, persons or beliefs on religious grounds (i.e., intolerance in practice).

Wikipedia

It looks like intolerance is the new trend and a more horrible trend for the world's future can hardly be imagined. How might this poisonous trend be stopped? Fear and suspicion are powerful forces, but we have resources to combat them: clear consistent thinking; specific  principles based on equal respect for human dignity and understanding.

Because intolerance is  caused by fear, we also need to confront it on the emotional level, using everything we know about the workings of emotions such as fear, sympathy, disgust, and respect. One thing we know is that demonization of "the other" is far easier if people know nothing much about this "other," and have never been encouraged to think what the world looks like from that different viewpoint. In order to move beyond a climate of fear, then, we need more than good principles: we need the cultivation of sympathy, and therefore we need approaches through education and understanding, not just through argument and hatred.

Deck Review- Epicurean Tarot Recipe Cards

I have an absolute treasure to share today, a fabulous deck that "delights the palate and enriches the soul"... I introduce the Epicurean Tarot Recipe Cards by Corrine Kenner...This remarkable collection of seventy eight, beautifully illustrated cards combine the classic images from the Universal Waite Tarot with scrumptious, mouth watering recipes that capture the pure essence of each and every tarot card. 

Packaged in an over sized box (5" x 7") for display in the kitchen, these are superb cards with a brief explanation of the tarot card imagery...alongside you will find a delicious and quite detailed recipe which comes complete list of all necessary ingredients to complete the dish.  There is a LWB (large white book, in this case) that comes with this set and wonderfully details the tradition of tarot cooking and explanations for each tarot card in the deck. There's even ways to use these gorgeous cards in a spread called the Cook's Cross, a variation on the Celtic Cross Spread and a three card, meal planning spread.

The Major Arcana of twenty two cards from the Fool to the World inspire such dishes as The Magician's Four Suit Stir Fry to The Hanged Man's Upside Down cake. The  fifty six Minor Arcana cards  are divided into the four suits...Wands (fire) inspires spicy and hot dishes; the Cups (water) stimulate the palate with ingredients such as seafood and fresh fruit; the Swords (air) spark a more literal context as in chopping, cutting and dicing and Pentacles (earth) features wholesome and hearty dishes like home grown vegetables and savory meats. Some of the cards include recipes like the Two of Sword's Dill pickles, the Nine of Wand's Standing Ribs, the Page of Cups Shrimp Cocktail and the Five of Pentacles Baked Beans.

Corrine Kenner who's work on the tarot is widely published, and her classes and workshops are perennial favorites among students in the Midwest. Corrine is a certified tarot master, and she holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from California State University, Long Beach.  Corrine Kenner did a fantastic job on this deck and I have to say it would be an excellent gift for the cook who has everything or just a wonderful gift idea for the tarot lover...a true "must have!"

US Games Systems

ISBN: 1-57281-254-0

Size: 5" x 7"
Artist: Written by Corrine Kenner

Images used with the permission of US Games Systems

Book Review- Muhammad

I had a marvelous opportunity  to read a terrific book called Muhammad, by Deepak Chopra which chronicles the life of the Muhammad and how he rose from being just a simple man to the last Prophet. This book really gave me insight into his life and just exactly what Islam is about. Did you know that Islam means "peace?"

Born in 570 C.E., Muhammad saw himself as an ordinary man, a merchant, father, husband  and businessman who often sought solitude from the rough and tumble life of the city, Mecca. His father, Abdullah, was killed on a caravan trip when he was just a small boy and was raised by his uncle Abu Talib. He simply saw himself as "A man among men."

The story of Muhammad is told through the eyes of those closest to him... by those who were touched by his wisdom and during his lifetime he battled misunderstanding and  hatred, even from his own relatives, to protect and nurture the new faith. At the age of forty, he staggered out from his place of refuge high above the city a shocked and shattered man having just been visited by the angel Gabriel and with time he began to "recite" just as Gabriel had told him to. Recite is the root word for the Koran (or Qu'ran) and Muhammad found himself dumbstruck by this angelic command because he was known for his quiet observation and did not join in with other common practices. 

I found this to be a wonderful insight into Islam, it's roots and the man who made it all possible for the believers. Deepak Chopra has done an excellent job of bringing Muhammad's character to life so that we can truly see him in a new light. I had known little of this Prophet and to be able to understand his culture and beliefs was truly an amazing journey. In this world today, especially after 9/11 it was refreshing to understand the true nature of Islam and with understanding comes tolerance...a little something that we could all use a dose of no matter different our faith or beliefs are.

Serenity Sunday

An affirmation is a spoken or thought phrase that harmonises your energy field and thus evokes feelings of well being.


This really is the idea, you repeat a phrase that you find uplifting repeatedly until the reality of that statement becomes grounded in your physical world.


An affirmations job is to evoke positive feelings in you, to uplift you, or shift you into a more positive and hopeful state of being at which point the Law Of Attraction (Like attracts like) sets to work mirroring, affirming and confirming that you are indeed absolutely right to feel so hopeful and optimistic.


The key is choosing the right affirmations for you, ones that really evoke feelings of well being and thus “work”.


Breathe, relax, pause and gently ask inwardly for the optimum affirmation to become conscious for you…


~ “I am safe”
~ “Opportunities are everywhere, something will turn up”
~ “Every problem is an opportunity for growth and evolution”
~ “Lots of people have overcome similar problems, so will I”
~ “I am focused solely upon solutions to my problems”
~ “I am fully supported in finding solutions to all my problems”
~ “In time I will look back at this and laugh” etc…


Only you really know what works for you its just a case of trying different affirmations until you begin to feel more optimistic. Trust yourself. Then after awhile try new ones that may bring even greater feelings of hope and well being. Stick with it, keep practising shifting yourself into feelings of well being make it a habit, why settle for less?


My List:


1.) My family


2.) Great friends


3.) Changing of the season


4.) Laughter


5.) Mulled wine


6.) Rose petals in a basket


7.) Hot baths


8.) Good music


9.) Movie night


10.) Tarot cards