 Ostara Blessing To One and All We are all ready for warmer weather, blue sky, birds making nest and the first spring flowers. But as I write this it is snowing and has been all day. I like the snow, so I remind myself to enjoy this gift because it will soon be gone. Do you find yourself saying this is good but I wish I had? Sometimes by neglecting to be thankful for what we have we close the door on future gifts. By not appreciating the snow and winter it will not stop spring from coming but it will make the wait for it seem so much longer. When one reaches a certain age they realize that every day is a gift no matter if it is snowing or the middle of summer. Appreciate your gifts all of them because some will only come our way once. Today will never happen again it is unique and a gift to cherish, no matter how difficult it may have been.
In this edition of the news letter we look into the Spring Equinox also know as Ostara, and Lady Day. In honor of Lady Day we include an article on how the Goddess is represented "commercially" today. Not exactly what we had in mind perhaps?
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What Do We Celebrate???  OSTARA (pronounced O-STAR-ah) is one of the Lesser Sabbats, and is usually celebrated on the Vernal or Spring Equinox right around March 20/21 (although because of its origins, may instead be celebrated on the fixed date of March 25). Other names by which this Sabbat may be known are Oestara, Eostre's Day, Rite of Eostre, Alban Eilir, Festival of the Trees, and Lady Day. The Christian holiday of Easter is very near this same time, and is determined as the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox.
Ostara is a time to celebrate the arrival of Spring, the renewal and rebirth of Nature herself, and the coming lushness of Summer. It is at this time when light and darkness are in balance, yet the light is growing stronger by the day. The forces of masculine and feminine energy, yin and yang, are also in balance at this time.
Spring Equinox:facts and misinformation |
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How did we Celebrate??  For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz -- which means "new day." It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries.
Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its "western face...is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid's northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent." This has been called "The Return of the Sun Serpent" since ancient times.
The custom of giving eggs on Ostara was known to the early Egyptians, Persians,Greeks Romans and Gauls. The Practice of coloring these eggs also date back to ancient civilization.
In Asia and India, the practice of hunting hidden eggs in spring was symbolic of the belief that we are fully responsible for our actions and reactions, and that we must each find our own way to life renewed. Because this incorporated reincarnation themes, the egg hunt was a time to reflect on the balance of rights and wrongs and how to improve one’s position in the next life.
Vernal Equinox Customs and Lore |
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Celebrations and Rituals Now  The Spring Equinox is a time of new beginnings, of action, of planting seeds for future grains, and of tending gardens. Spring is a time of the Earth's renewal, a rousing of nature after the cold sleep of winter. Eggs and Egg Baskets coloring eggs, bird watching, egg hunts, starting new projects, Wearning new clothes are still ways that are used to celebrate.
Rituals/Magic associated with this holiday are:
fertility rites, rituals of balance, herb work: [magical, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic,] spells for prosperity/fertility, new beginnings, potential, action, Personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation.
Items associated with Ostara:
Colored eggs, baskets, green clothes, shamrock, equilateral cross, butterfly, cocoons, sprouting plants; violets, lily, spring wildflowers, new clothes, lamb, hare/rabbit
Crafts for Ostara rituals and decorations:
Egg Dye:
Natural Dye Sources and Colors
Source /Color
White Grapes /Pale Yellow
Carrot Tops /Yellow
Turmeric/ Yellow
Vanilla Extract/ Yellow Orange
Daffodil Blossoms /Yellow Green
Dandelions /Orange
Onions/ Orange
Orris Root/ Rusty Orange
Paprika/ Orange Brown
Heather /Pink
Madder Root/ Red
Blackberries /Red Violet
Bracken /Green
Red Cabbage /Robin’s Egg Blue
Iris Blossoms /Pinkish Blue
Blueberries /Blue
Black Raspberries /Blue
Beets /Blue Violet
Mulberries /Blue Violet
Cayenne/ Rust
To make your own natural dyes you will need a generous fistful of herbs or plants that produce colored stains, a small- to medium-sized saucepan, and a wooden spoon. Glass saucepans are best, as metal can become irrevocably stained by natural dyes.
Place about three cups of water in the pan and allow it to come to a low boil; add the plant material and stir occasionally so that the water becomes a very deep version of your desired shade. The color the eggs take on will always be significantly paler and you may need to add, boil, strain, and repeat to get the darker shades you desire. When you have the water the shade you want, strain the plant material out of the water, return the water to the pan, and bring the water to a light simmer. Add to it a pinch of salt, a tablespoon or two of vinegar, and a couple tablespoons of cream of tartar. Mix these in well. Remove from heat, and place eggs in the dye until they attain the desired hue.
Cascarones
Cascarones (pronounced cahs-cah-ROE-nays) are eggshells that have been collected for many weeks and carefully hollowed out. They are then decorated and filled with a variety of substances that will shower over their recipients when cracked over their heads. Common cascarone fillers include confetti, lavender, sage, perfumed herbs, and flour or cornmeal. Though the idea now is more one of playfulness, it was once a very real tool for making magick and offering the blessings of the equinox to others.
Items you will need to make your own cascarones include eggs and some clear carton-sealing tape. You will also need bowls to catch the inside of the eggs as you hollow out the shells; colorful items with which to decorate your eggs, such as paints and decals; and some herbs or confetti with which to fill out the empty shells. A small kitchen funnel can also be useful to have on hand.
Start by emptying the eggs. Make a small hole in both ends of the egg (I use a fork tine) and, with the narrow end down, gently blow the contents into the waiting bowl. Wash out the empty shells with cold water and let dry. Paint and decorate the shells before filling them. The filling is done by taping up the smallest hole and using a small funnel in the larger hole to channel your desired contents into the egg. Be careful not to fill the shell more than three-quarters full or it will not break well and could be solid enough to hurt the recipient of your attention. When full, seal the other end with clear tape and store in a cool, dry place until Ostara morning.
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Goddess™: On the proliferation of goddess imagery in popular culture Written by Sandra Mizumoto Posey, Ph.D.
Change happens slowly, but when it finally hits, the years of individual strides and steps culminate in a burst of change. Trouble is, change doesn't always take effect in the ways we'd hoped.
When the "goddess movement" was birthed out of feminism in the early seventies by groups of women passionate about both political and personal growth, it started with small circles of women determined to use magic as a tool for change. Leading figures during this decade included such notables as Zsuzanna Budapest, Shekinah Mountainwater, and Starhawk. The Wiccan religion, which was first birthed by Gerald Gardner in the mid-twentieth century, had grown into a viable alternative religion in both Europe and America. As one of the first modern Western religions to worship a goddess as well as a god, it was a logical starting point from which feminists could build their new faith. Wicca formed the skeletal structure of the new women's religion, including seasonal rites and the use of magic, but was altered in ways that made it truly different. Some continued to include male god imagery, but a significant variant not only focused solely on the goddess but made it a women's mystery religion where only women attended the rites, only women were taught magic, and seasonal rites became inseparable from the cycles of a women's body as she moved from pre-menstrual maidenhood through her post-menopausal crone years. This sect came to be known by several monikers, such as Dianic Wicca, Dianic Witchcraft, and simply "goddess religion."
One of the primary sacred narratives of Dianic Witchcraft was built upon the idea that in civilizations past women held higher status than contemporary society and was only lessened when matriarchy gave way to patriarchy. Built upon archeological finds of female statuary interpreted to be goddesses, the idea was birthed first by scholars but only became the foundation of new religious movements when the idea had gained a foothold in feminist circles. Many of the scholars (such as Marija Gimbutas & J.J. Bachofen) who presented these ideas do not find currency any longer with most academics. This development has parallels with the larger Wiccan movement, whose own sacred narrative includes the idea that it has a direct linear connection with pre-Christian European witch-cults (as proposed by Margaret Murray), an idea which contemporary academics have long considered unfounded. However, whether or not the idea of matriarchy is in fact a viable and factual history is beside the point. The role these ideas play among contemporary Dianics and Wiccans is as sacred history, a potent symbolic web upon which ideas for a new worldview and societal change can blossom and grow. Key factors of this different society for both groups include empowerment for women and a more symbiotic relationship with nature.
Witches of either sect understand that there is magic that happens when symbols become manifest as reality in the form of tangible objects. First it is only within the realm of the groups that birthed them - jewelry and adornments with representations of goddesses and magical symbols, bumper stickers, books on nature religions, etc. - until the symbols, if not always the idea behind them, seep into a wider cultural milieu. Items such as those mentioned above move from esoteric mail order catalogs and small metaphysical shops into the women's studies or occult sections of larger bookstores (in the case of books) or museum gift shops (in the case of deity statuary or jewelry). Spell candles now find their way into gift shops of every sort. Still, even these things are perceived by the larger public as fringe items - possibly even with satanic implications (in the case of pentacles, for example). A lack of interest may even result in their falling below their radar at all. Then, arriving with a force that makes it seem almost sudden, despite the slow trickle over several decades, goddess symbolism is everywhere. "Good Witches" have become stock characters in TV dramas from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to Aaron Spelling's "Charmed."
In high end beauty catalogs and stores we find Charmed World's spell-casting kits that come with items such as "Wash that man out of your hair" shampoo and conditioner, Eau de Fortune money-drawing fragrance designed to release your inner tycoon!" and "Temptress" bubble bath in hot pink containers. The contact page of their website bears this caveat:
CharmedWorld is not affiliated with any organized religion. Rather, it is our belief that there is magic within all of us. We hope that our whimsical products empower people to be proactive in their lives and, at the same time, have some fun. We would also like to stress that our products cannot be used to bring harm to any one, nor to make any one act against their will. Have fun! And, most of all, have a "charmed" life!
The text above and at various places on their website suggest Wiccan influence without being explicitly stated. These pink potions are still in the broomcloset with regard to their inspiration. Wiccan influence can be seen in the "harm none" ethic voiced above as well and in the text of one of the spells: "I beseech thee, dear Goddess, let it be true. So be it!"
Despite their assertion that products cannot be used to "make anyone act against their will" their descriptions for their spell kits belie their stated ethics. The Tie the Knot magical spell, for example, bears this description:
Would your man rather have a root canal than discuss your "future"? Do weddings make him comatose? Does he cringe everytime you pass a jewelry store? Help him lose those ball-and-chain blues, cast this spell to get to the "I do's."
Less explicitly witchy and even more mainstream is Jacqua Girls "Goddess Gathering Kit." According to their website, Jacqua Girls products has "distribution to more than 2,000 prestige gift shops, specialty and department stores in the United States, England, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia, France, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong." Package details state:
Get all your goddess girlfriends together for a night of rituals, and beauty to bring out the best in your life. Includes for 4 people:
Juturna Aromatherapy Spray
Isis Jasmine Incense
Kali Herbal Foot soak
Gaia Clay Mud Mask
Aphrodite Jojoba Lotion
Wish Boxes
Hestia candle
Bindis
Henna Tattoos
Invitations
Women have been gathering for thousands of years to share in story-telling, ritual, beauty, and bonding. In this fast-paced world we seldom take the time to gather in this ancient way. This kit was created to encourage you to gather with your friends for a meaningful and memorable time and discover your true goddess potential. So may it be!
Here again a Wiccan influence can be detected in the phrase "So may it be" and the names of popular goddesses, but otherwise the kit makes no mention of spirituality. Instead, the intent is to "discover your true goddess potential." As goddess imagery seeps further and further into popular culture, the word goddess begins to shed its religious implications and seems to connote beauty with a liberal dash of female bonding thrown in. Here, we make wishes, not magick. Dark and powerful Kali is relegated to soothing tired feet.
The Go Goddess game also doesn't make any mention of magic or religion (though they do refer obliquely to spirituality and include "chakra-colored candles"), but does borrow a phrase from Dianic Witchcraft, paraphrased prominently on their website: "What does a goddess look like? Look in the mirror. You are a goddess." Below this, the creators state that the Go Goddess game is:
. . .an enriching catalyst to realize our dreams, recreate our lives and fulfill our unique potential.By bringing women together to share life's experiences, Go Goddess! is a great way to connect with friends, make new ones, and realize the goddess that's blossoming within each of us.
There are no right or wrong answers, and no judgments. Go Goddess! is a concept for living, a spiritual oasis that bathes you in positive, supportive energies, and inspires you to be the best you can be - to be the best mate, mother, sister, daughter, lover and friend. That's what we all want, isn't it?
Unlike the Jacqua Girls kit, the Go Goddess game leans more heavily toward female bonding and empowerment than beauty. This is pop psychology with a Goddess twist rather than either religion or cosmetics, but it seems clear that our beloved goddess is destined to attain pop culture saturation as a synonym for beauty - hairless beauty.
The most audacious use of goddess imagery is without a doubt the Gillette Venus Razor for women. The television commercial for this product pans over dozens of svelte women in white bathing suits kicking their smooth hairless legs to the pop tune lyric "I'm your Venus." The close-up of the razor itself reveals a handle shaped to look like a woman's body with her arms raised above her, much like the Nile river goddess. The slogan for this product, "Reveal the Goddess in You" (which is, by the way, trademarked) suggests that the word goddess, here, refers to a woman finally free of all that unwanted body hair.
As much as we want to believe in symbols as archetypes that shape our consciousness as a species, symbols evolve and meanings change. The fact of the matter is that once the meaning has changed, it loses some of its power even for those who embrace it. The use of the swastika by the Nazis has never regained its luster. An extreme example, to be sure, but the goals of feminist witches have never been modest. They seek to change the world for the better, but unfortunately much of the world does not want to change with them.
Document Copyright © 2001 Spiritualitea.com & Sandra Mizumoto Posey, Ph.D., author of Cafe Nation: Coffee Folklore, Magick, & Divination (Santa Monica Press, 2000). This article may be reproduced as long as no changes, additions or deletions are made to the text. All the information in this paragraph must be included on the document whenever it is distributed or reproduced.
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Notions, Potions and Spells w/ Lady Wyndesong  "Reality is merely an illusion,
albeit a very persistent one."
Albert Einstein
This season is about new beginnings and rebirth. Here I will give you spells to help enhance that. But the key is to remember that you create your own reality, what you believe to be true is what will be true about every aspect of your life and you control what you believe.
Ostara Incense
1 part Benzoin
1 part Dragon's Blood
1/2 part Nutmeg
1/2 part Violets
1/2 part Orange Peel
1/2 part Rose
Ostara Oil
8 drops frankincense oil
4 dropsbenzoil oil
4 drops dragon's blood oil
2 drops nutmeg oil
2 drops violet oil
2 drops orange oil
2 drops rose oil
Carrier oil of your choice
New Beginnings Oil
Carrier Oil of your choice
Sliver of Moonstone
Small bottle
1 part birch
1 part elder
1 part freesia
1 part dragons blood
Place oil, herbs and moonstone in bottle let stand for 14 days. It is now ready to use to annoint candles or talisman.
Ready Made Oil for New beginnings: New Mown Hay
Seperation Spell
If you are in a situation with another person or entity and wish to sever the relationship
with a minimum amount of stress, wait for the Dark Moon and you will need:
black candle
fireproof bowl/container
scissors
pencil
small piece of paper [large enough for two names]
Write your name and the other name on the piece of paper space so they may be cut apart.
Lay the paper with both names on the altar and visualize your current situation.
Now cut the names apart as you are cutting them visualize a peaceful seperation each turning their back on the other and walking away. Now take the candle with the other name on it and light it in the fire as it burns say We are free I from you and you from me ,we go our seperate ways in perfect peace and perfect hamony as I so will so must it be.
Dispose of the asheswhenthey cool let the candle burn down.
Regeneration Potion [skin]
The winter weather sometimes take a toll on our skin causing it to become dry..here is alittle potion to help with that.
1 oz wheat germ oil
11 drops patchouli oil
11 drops sandalwood oil
Mix thourghly apply by placing a few drop on you finger tips or in your palm and rub lightly into the skin that needs regeneration.
Aries Bath Salt[also for beginning new ventures]
1 cup sea salt
10 drops basil oil
10 drops carnation oil
10 drops of ginger
Love Me Bath Salt
1 cup sea salt
8 drops rose oil
4 drops jasmine
4 drops sandalwood
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Coming Soon!!Ask Lady Dyanna  Submit your relationship, career, money questions to Lady Dyanna. Have your question answered here or in a private e-mail no question to big or to small.
Lady Dyanna
The Tarot Speaks
The Emperor is the major arcana astrological association of the Zodiac sign Aries.
Aries is the sign associated with this season as Spring Equinox begins when the Sun reaches 1 degree Aries.
Minor Arcana Associated with this season is Wands/Staves with the Ace of wands heralding new beginnings.
Either of these cards coming up for you in a reading at this time is excellent. The Emperor heralds Leadership capabilities, business pursuits, and represents you or someone you will be dealing with up right it is a good card to pull for career and business.
The Ace of Wands indicates new ventures, new ideas, new projects , and travel. Upright it indicates it is time to begin that project or venture that you have been pondering all winter. It is a card that indicates it is time to put ideas into action. So go ahead and start that project, open that new business, look for the new job, or take the trip that you have been thinking about.
Free 3 minute Tarot reading :
Lady Dyanna |
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Aromatherapy For You with Crystal Dawn  This time we are looking at stress and exhaustion in your life and how to use essential oils to calm it and to help keep you healthy.
Many people find their blood pressure up due to stress and exhaustion. here is a simple formula to help you relax and lower your blood pressure:
2 Table spoons of Vegetable oil [your choice]
10 drops Lavender oil
10 drops Lemon Balm
10 drops Rosemary
Stress Relief Massage Oil
Choose your Carrier Oil[Sweet Almond Oil, Sunflower Oil,Grapeseed Oil]
2 tablespoons Base oil
10 drops Lavender
10 drops Jasmine
10 drops Chamomile
I know we are all young at heart so lets see if we can help our skin look as good as we feel.
This formula can be used in a bath, as a face oil or body rub,
Antiaging Essential Oils to Fight Wrinkles
Geranium oil 6 drops to the bath and 30 drops to a Carrier oil such as Sweet almond, Sunflower .
After your bath rub Geraminum body oil over your entire body..You will see a marked improvement in your over all skin health.
AntiWrinkle oil
2 tablespoons almond oil[base]
10 drops Lavender
5 drops rose
5 drops carrot oil
10 drops Neroli
Use every night on the face, neck and down to the collar bone if you like.
Stress Relief/Relaxation Technique |
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Lessons in Spirituality with Rev Diana Lesson 2
The main method of connecting to your Divine which activates your personal power is through meditation. The other method that works well is affirmation. The combination of meditation and affirmation also work well. In this lesson you will have the information to practice both methods. Ultimately you will choose the method that works best for you.
You will find that whatever method you choose will become a staple in your future practices as you continue to maintain control and change your life.
Meditation serves as a means of relaxing and releasing daily tensions. Consider for the duration of this class finding at least half hour in your day in which you may sit quietly and release the everyday thoughts. Do not fight them as they flow into your mind just let them flow until they stop.
A Simple Method of meditation To get you Started...
If you have practiced meditation before then use the method with which you are comfortable.
If you have never practiced Meditation Before;
Select a time of day and a place when you can be alone and undisturbed for at least half an hour.
Wear loose comfortable clothing and sit in an upright position with your back and spine as straight as possible either at a table or desk.
On the table place a single white candle in a holder.
Before lighting the candle mentally imagine yourself surrounded by a pure white spiritual protective light or aura. Now proceed with the steps below.
For approximately 10 minutes no need to time yourself. Look intently into the burning candle flame.
The candles need to be at least one foot away from your head.
Concentration of your visual gaze will steady your mind help focus it and quiet your daily thoughts.
After 10 minutes close your eyes, concentrate on the after image of the candle flame it will be in the area of your third eye this image will fade out after a few minutes.
The most important part of this exercise is that you have moved from an outer focus to an inner focus.
Using this method prepares you for the inner focus that is necessary to connect with your inner divine.
There are many images that may occur once the after image from the candle is gone. There are no specific images to seek at this time.
Meditation is the key to connecting with your inner divine, through that contact you can activate your personal power so it may be used in your daily life.
Please work with this for at least a week as we will be building on this exercise for the remainder of the course.
Meditation Techniques |
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Seasonal Crafts and Decoration Ideas
Seasonal Colors
Gold, light green, grass green, robin’s egg blue, lemon yellow, pale pink, and pastels
This seasons decorating favorites include eggs, chicks, bunnies and the first flowers of spring all of which tie in with Ostara the Vernal Equinox so welcome spring and keep them out until Easter if you like. To be able to keep the eggs around that long I recommend that you remove the insides of the eggs then decorate the empty shells. Or use styrofoam eggs for your decorative endeavors.The symbolic image of the egg is almost as important as its organic aspect, so don’t overlook using eggs crafted from wood, or plastic.
Below are just a few ideas:
Pysanky Eggs
Most of these crafts can be a family endeavor parents choice
These eggs were decorated using Pysanky, the ancient Ukrainian folk art of wax-and-dye egg decorating. To create these designs, stick metal pins in pencil erasers, dip the pinheads in melted wax, and draw wax patterns on hard-boiled eggs before dyeing them.
[picture 1]
Bunny Buckets
Craft for Children and Adults
What You Need:
Clear or green 1-liter soda bottle
White, orange, and green adhesive craft foam sheets
2-inch-wide wire-edged ribbon
Hole punch
Chenille rickrack
Scissors
Crafts glue
Instructions:
1. Rinse bottle and remove label. Cut away the top third of the bottle with scissors.
2. If desired, glue rickrack around top of bottle.
3. Cut rabbit silhouettes or carrot tops from the foam sheets, remove paper backing, and press in place around the top of the plastic bucket.
4. Punch a hole on each side of the plastic bottle bucket, about 1 inch from the top. Cut a 15-inch length of ribbon and thread through each hole. Knot ribbon ends in place inside the bottle.
[picture 2]
Nest
A nice display for altar or table
Small nest bought from a craft store
use your own decorated eggs, or plastic eggs to create a single display or grouping.
Egg Tree
Using a candelabra that holds votive or tea lites replace the candles with decorative eggs to make a different kind of egg tree this year.
[picture 3]
Ribbon Eggs
Narrow ribbons and rickrack make instant egg decorations (just adhere with glue). For even easier decorating, look for self-adhesive fabric tape in pretty colors and fun patterns -- a great find from scrapbooking supply stores.
[picture 4]
Ostara Crafts for young Pagans
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Seasonal Foods & Recipes
Foods: fish, maple sugar candies, hot crossed buns, sweet breads, hard boiled eggs, honey cakes, seasonal fruits, milk punch, egg drinks
Baked Sandwiches
12 slices of bread, crusts removed
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 cups diced ham (vegetarians may substitute alfalfa sprouts)
Line the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch greased pan with 6 slices of bread. On top of that place the ham and H cup each of the grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Cover this with the other 6 slices of bread and sprinkle the remaining cheese over it.
In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and milk well, and pour over the sandwiches.
Bake for 1 hour, or until top is golden, in an oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees.
Minty Roasted Lamb Chops
Ingredients
1/2 cup snipped fresh mint leaves
2 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
8 lamb rib or loin chops, cut 1 inch thick
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen peas
1/4 cup milk, half-and-half, or light cream
1/4 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
2 Tbsp. coarsely snipped fresh tarragon
Melted butter (optional)
Fresh herb sprigs (optional)
4 slices hearty bread, toasted
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In bowl combine mint, lemon peel, garlic, the 1�teaspoon salt, and pepper. Place chops on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush both sides of chops with olive oil. Press mint mixture on both sides of chops. Roast, uncovered, 17 to 20 minutes (145 degrees F for medium-rare, 160 degrees F for medium).
2. Meanwhile, cook peas according to package directions. Drain. Place in food processor or blender. Add milk and 1/4�teaspoon salt. Cover and process until nearly smooth. Transfer to bowl; stir in tarragon. Drizzle peas with melted butter; top with fresh herb sprigs. Place chops on bread slices alongside peas. Makes 4 servings.
Braised Lamb with Dill Sauce
Ingredients
3/4 pound tiny new potatoes
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 lamb rib chops, cut 1-inch thick
2 teaspoons cooking oil
3/4 cup water
2 teaspoons snipped fresh dillweed or 1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Fresh dillweed (optional)
Directions
1. Remove a narrow strip of peel from center of each new potato. Place potatoes and carrots in a 3-1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker. Brown both sides of lamb chops, a few at a time, in hot oil in a large skillet. Drain off fat. Place lamb chops on vegetables. Pour in water; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the fresh or 1/4 teaspoon of the dried dillweed, the salt, and pepper.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4 hours.
3. Transfer chops and vegetables to a serving platter. Cover chops and vegetables to keep warm.
4. For the sauce, strain cooking liquid into a glass measuring cup; skim fat from cooking liquid. Measure 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Combine yogurt and flour in a small saucepan. Stir in cooking liquid and remaining 1 teaspoon fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried dillweed. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve chops and vegetables with sauce. Garnish with additional fresh dillweed, if desired.
5. Makes: 3 servings
[picture 1]
Deviled Eggs With Smoked Salmon
Ingredients
1 Dozen hard boiled eggs
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup chopped smoked salmon
pepper to taste
Directions
Cool and Peel hard boiled eggs, slice lengthwise and carefully remove yolks. Mash yolks and add mustard, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and salmon. Fill each egg white half with the mixture. Cover and refrigerate.
Red Potato Salad
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds new round red potatoes
1 cup light mayonnaise or salad dressing or regular mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sweet or dill pickle relish
1/3 cup sliced green onion
3 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped
Directions
1. Scrub potatoes thoroughly; cut into bite-size pieces. In a large saucepan place potatoes and enough lightly salted water to cover potatoes. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or just until tender; drain. Cool slightly.
2. In a very large bowl stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, pepper, and salt. Stir in the pickle relish and onion. Add the cooked potatoes and eggs. Toss lightly to coat. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours. Makes 10 side-dish servings.
3. Bacon-Avocado Potato Salad: Prepare as above, except before serving stir in 1 avocado, seeded, peeled, and chopped, and 3 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled.
Apricot Preserve and Sage Cookies
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons snipped fresh sage, lemon thyme, or rosemary, or 2 teaspoons dried sage or rosemary, crushed
3 tablespoons milk
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
Fresh sage leaves (optional)
Sugar
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl stir together flour, sugar, and cornmeal. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling. Stir in fresh herb. Add milk and stir with a fork to combine. Form mixture into a ball and knead until smooth. Divide dough in half.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until 1/8 inch thick. Using a 2-1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out dough.
3. In a small bowl combine egg white and water. Brush half of the cutouts with the egg white mixture and, if desired, top with one or two small sage leaves. Brush leaves with egg white mixture. Sprinkle with sugar. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake about 7 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
5. Snip any large pieces of fruit in apricot preserves. Spread the bottoms of cookies without sage leaves with preserves. Top with sage-topped cookies, flat sides down. Makes 16 sandwich cookies.
To Store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze unfilled cookies up to 3 months. Thaw cookies; fill.
[picture 2]
Russian Tea
1 pot hot tea
1/4 teaspoon each clove and nutmeg
1 whole cinnamon stick
Rum or Vodka[optional]
Sprig of mint
Steep cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon in the tea for several minutes. When ready to serve add rum or vodka to each cup with a sprig of mint
Buttery Yellow Citrus Cake
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
6 egg yolks or 3 whole eggs
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1-2/3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
2 tsp. finely shredded lemon or lime peel
1 tsp. finely shredded orange peel
2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice
2 Tbsp. orange juice
1 recipe Lemony Whipped Cream Frosting
Directions
1. Let butter and eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour two 9x2-inch round baking pans; set aside.
2. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, and baking soda; set aside. In large bowl beat butter on medium 30 seconds. Gradually beat in sugar until combined; beat 2 minutes more. Add yolks one at a time, beat well after each addition. Add flour mixture and milk alternately; beat on low after each just until combined. Stir in peels and juices. Spread batter in prepared pans.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until pick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool.
4. Prepare Lemony Frosting. Place one layer flat side down on plate; spread top with frosting. Stack second layer flat side down; spread remaining frosting. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate. Makes 12 servings.
5. Lemony Whipped Cream Frosting: In large chilled bowl beat 2 cups whipping cream, 2 Tbps. powdered sugar, and 1 Tbsp. instant vanilla pudding on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Fold in 1 Tbsp. shredded lemon peel. If made ahead, chill 24 hours; stir before spreading. Makes 3-1/2 cups
Hot Milk Sponge Cake with Tropical Topper
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1 recipe Lime Syrup with Tropicla Fruit
Directions
Let eggs stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease one 9 x 2-inch round cake pan (batter will overflow a shallower pan); set aside.
In small bowl stir together four and baking powder; set aside. In large bowl beat eggs on high about 4 minutes, until slightly thickened. Gradually add sugar; beat on medium 4 to 5 minutes until pale yellow and thickened. Add flour mixture; beat on low to medium just until combined.
In small saucepan over low heat stir milk and butter until butter is melted; add to batter, beat to combine. Pour batter in pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack . To serve, cut cake in wedges; top with Lime Syrup with Tropical Fruit. Serve immediately. To store, cover and refrigerate untopped cake. Makes 9 servings.
Lime Syrup with Tropical Fruit: Shred 2 tsp. lime peel; set aside. In pan combine 1/4 cup each lime juice and water with 1/2 cup sugar; cook and stir to dissolve sugar. Increase heat; boil gently, uncovered, 3 minutes (don't stir). Cool 5 minutes. Stir in peel and 4 cups fruit (mango, papaya, and carambola/star fruit).
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Poetry and Books
Equal dark, equal light
Flow in Circle, deep insight
Blessed Be, Blessed Be
The transformation of energy!
So it flows, out it goes
Three-fold back it shall be
Blessed Be, Blessed Be
The transformation of energy!"
- Night An'Fey, Transformation of Energy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter,
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!
Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The Plowboy is whooping-anon-anon:
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
The rain is over and gone!"
- William Wordsworth, March
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gone were but the Winter,
Come were but the Spring,
I would go to a covert
Where the birds sing;
Where in the whitethorn
Singeth a thrush,
And a robin sings
In the holly-bush.
Full of fresh scents
Are the budding boughs
Arching high over
A cool green house:
Full of sweet scents,
And whispering air
Which sayeth softly:
"We spread no snare;
"Here dwell in safety,
Here dwell alone,
With a clear stream
And a mossy stone.
"Here the sun shineth
Most shadily;
Here is heard an echo
Of the far sea,
Though far off it be."
- Christina Rossetti, Spring Quiet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Witch's Travel Guide to Astral Realms (Paperback)
by D.J. Conway
An Excellently written book on Astral Travel. Astral travel is already part of your psychic makeup—you do it every night in your dreams. The key is learning to remember and consciously direct your astral travels. This complete how-to guidebook on astral projection includes historical lore, a foundation of astral realm basics, and a simplified learning process to get you “off the ground.” You’ll learn easy exercises to strengthen your astral abilities as well as a variety of advanced techniques—including bilocation and time travel.
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Love and Light
--The Team at (Ravenhawks')
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