Witchy Kiss, Inc.

La Befana, The Good Witch

2011-12-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Many holiday traditions exist in my home; some of which have been passed down from my ancestors and others which I have created for my family. Now as my children age, it becomes more difficult to retell the fables or partake in the crafts that my sons enjoyed so much when they were younger.

So, to my surprise last evening, my younger son asked me why we kept our Christmas tree intact until January 7^th. I knew he wanted to hear the tale of La Befana and it made me smile. Just as my Sicilian grandmother told me the tale of the good witch, I would retell it to him, again. I got both us a glass of milk and a few cookies.

I watched him nibble on the cookies as he asked, “Please tell me. I have forgotten why.”

“It has to do with the Epiphany, La Befana and the Three Wise Men,” I replied.

“Ahhh,” he exclaimed, “I remember. The Epiphany is when the Wise men came to Jesus.”

I knew he had remembered since I had told the tale over and again since he was a tot. He watched with the same eyes that I remember when he was as small child. The same eyes I had as my grandmother explained why most of the people we knew had already had taken down their Christmas tree and why we still had ours intact on January 6^th.

La Befana was an elderly lady and known for being a hard-worker and an excellent housekeeper. One evening, there was a knock on her front door. When she opened it, there stood three distinguished and well-dressed gentlemen asking for directions to a star they had seen in the sky. La Befana invited them inside and they rested. They noticed her home was a clean and pleasant home. The Three Kings, called the Magi, claimed that the star would lead them to the Son of God. La Befana said she was unable to help them find their way.

The Magi asked La Befana to accompany them on their search but she claimed she was busy tending to her home and had wasted much time already by visiting with them. The Magi departed and La Befana resumed her chores.

As the star in the sky grew brighter, La Befana had a change of heart. She quickly packed a small bag with baked good and gifts for the baby Jesus and her trusty broom to help the new mother clean once she arrived. She searched for the Magi and for the newborn child, but never did find either.

To this day, La Befana can be seen flying on her trusty broom on the Eve of the Epiphany looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at all of the good children’s houses, climbs down their chimneys and leaves sweets and goodies in their stockings in hopes of finding the Christ child at last.

I like the message in which the story sends to us. That possibly, it’s good to put aside our everyday mundane tasks and take a chance in life; to seek something better than ourselves and sometimes, even, to simply look up at the sky and admire a star.

Monkey Bread

2011-11-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

Does anything smell better than bread baking in the oven during the autumn months? That rule will certainly be enhanced when baking up monkey bread.

While the origin of the name is still up for debate, we do know it began showing up in American cookbooks in the late 1950’s. The old time actress ZaSu Pitts had a variation of Monkey Bread as did Nancy Regan who served it in the White House during the holidays.

Here is a great recipe to monkey around with and has always been a hit in my home. Many mornings when school is closed due to snow accumulation, I’ll make a loaf and serve it right out of the oven. The smell of brown sugar and cinnamon gives the house a calming aroma as the snow falls and blankets the area. On pasta Sunday, I will make a garlic variation with olive oil that is served out of the oven and there is never a piece left over for the after hours.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups lukewarm water (105°-115° F)

2 packets (1/4 oz each) active dry yeast

3 tablespoons granulate sugar

½ cup nonfat dry milk

2 teaspoons salt

12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter. (No Margarine!)

5-6 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/3 cup honey

In a large bowl, combine ½ cup of the water, the yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Let stand for 10 minutes or until foamy.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of water, the non-fat dry milk, the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons butter. Stir into the yeast mixture and whisk well.

Using a wooden spoon, beat in the flour one cup at a time until a dough forms. Knead the dough on the floured surface for about 10 minutes or until elastic. Transfer to a large bowl that has been covered in butter and cover. Let rise in a warm place for about one hour. The dough should be doubled in size.

Punch down the risen dough and knead for two minutes and then let the dough rest for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile butter a 10 inch Bundt cake pan. In a small saucepan, slowly melt the remaining 10 tablesppons of butter, honey and brown sugar. Pull off golk size pieces of the dough and dip into the sugar mix and stack into the Bundt pan in a circular layer. Brush the top with the remaining sugar mixture and cover. Let the dough rise an hour or until doubled in size.

Preheat the over to 375° F. Bake monkey bread for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until set and firm. Take the bread out of the over and let cool for 10 minutes. Turn on rack to cool or serve warm with a tall glass of milk.

Baked Fall Apples

2011-11-18T01:48:00.001-08:00

The first fruit that crosses my mind as fall is in full swing is the apple. From the beginning of time, civilizations have been enamored with the delicious fruit. It’s become associated with love, beauty, pleasure, wisdom and temptation to name a few.

It’s mentioned often in the past writings of authors such as Homer and Cicero and plays a major part in the Bible, tempting Eve to savor its sweet flavor and obtain its knowledge. The apple even sprouted a Roman goddess named Pomona. Her name is from the Latin pomum, fruit. "Pomme" is the French word for "apple".

The cultivation of the apple all began within the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia, then moved with the Persians, the Greeks, and finally with the Roman Empire, the apple made its way into Europe . Today, apples are grown all over the world and their medicinal properties more solidified and the folklore of their history just as interesting. Here’s a great autumn idea for baked apples.

Ingredients:

8 cooking apples

8 tsp brown sugar

8 tsp butter, softened

8 tsp chopped almonds or any but of your choice

8 tsp dark mini chocolate chips
1 tsp cinnamon

A dash of clove

8 pieces of aluminum foil (Large enough to hold one apple)

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Wash and dry apples. Cut each apple into quarters keeping the quarters of the apples together. Core, remove the stems and flower ends.

In a small bowl, combine sugar, butter, almonds, cinnamon and cloves. Mix until all ingredients are combined. Then gently turn in the mini chocolate chips.

Place the apple quarters onto the aluminum foil to form the apple shape and fill the center with 1/8 of the filling. Completely seal the apple in the foil. Repeat for all eight apples. Bake the apples at 350 degrees for approximately twenty minutes.

Check the apples after ten minutes and turn once or twice to ensure even cooking. After twenty minutes, check the apples. The apples should be soft and cooked throughout. The filling should be melted together. Enjoy!

Top Antiviral Herbs

2011-11-18T01:40:00.000-08:00

By: sgiustra

Whether we are heading into a new school year or into the cold & flu season or right smack in the middle of the holiday season, the question of preventing & treating viruses naturally becomes an important issue.

It would be nice if we could start to lessen the chances of contracting these nasty viruses. Luckily, using natural herbs that are easy to incorporate into our diets is an effective way to dodge or treat the common viruses.

Other added benefits to using natural antiviral herbs: no side effects, low cost, safe for children & elderly.

Before getting into specific anti viral herbal remedies, a few words on viruses.

Viruses are infinitesimally small particles that do nothing more than reproduce.

They are the agents that lead to all kinds of health problems including cold, flu & herpes.

Viruses are different from bacteria though the two can be confused by the general public. Medicine has antibiotics which can be effective against bacteria but not against viruses.

However, there are few medications that deal with viruses. Two of the popular ones are acyclovir for herpes & AZT for AIDS.

Luckily, there are many good antiviral herbs.

The rest of this page discusses anti viral herbs that have general effects against any number of viruses.

Best natural antiviral herbal remedies

* Echinacea may be the best general herbal remedy against viruses. Echinacea works by destroying viruses & boosting the immune system so that your own body can then eliminate the virus. Especially good for flu viruses. Take supplements as directed, especially right before flu & cold season. Take in cycles of 6 weeks on & 6 weeks off as needed.

* Hypoxis Rooper (African Potato) improves the immune system according to research.

* Astragalus is also one of the valuable antiviral herbs due to its ability to boost the immune system. Take as directed when needed.

* Agathosma Betulina (buchu) is a natural antiviral that has antioxidant & antiseptic activity & helps the body rid itself of toxins. Good as a preventive.

* Mentha peperita better known as peppermint supports the body’s immune system. Scientific studies show peppermint’s is one of the anti viral herbs that shows a good effect on tuberculosis. Using peppermint essential oil or drinking lots of peppermint tea are pleasant, economical ways of using peppermint.

* Dragon’s blood is a lesser known herbal remedy for viruses. Especially useful against herpes virus. May be available in pill form. Take as directed.

* Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) is one of the traditional antiviral herbs, used for hundreds of years. It seems to increase the ability of the body to fight infections.

* What could you say about garlic, an herb that has so many beneficial effects that it is treated with a reverence by many peoples of the world. Most people find garlic to be delicious too. This natural antiviral can be used for flu, cold & any number of viruses. Consume it raw or lightly cooked in any number of dishes including salads, stir frys, soups etc. Take supplements as directed making sure that supplement has active ingredients.

* Onions are also an anti viral herb though not as effective as garlic. Certainly you could come up with many dishes that contain garlic & onion which go together very well.

* Schizandra Sinesis is a powerful Chinese herb, an herbal remedy against viruses that protects against toxins and cell damage.

* Goldenseal is also an immune stimulant. Many supplements pair goldenseal with with other antiviral herbs like echinacea for a 1 - 2 punch against viruses.

* Olea Europea (from olive leaf) is a very valuable herb & natural antiviral. It helps fight numerous germs. The positive effects of Olive leaf have recently been proven in a variety of clinical studies. Olive leaf also stimulates the immune system.

It may also help stop the production of enzymes that a retrovirus, such as HIV, needs in order to change the RNA of a healthy cell. I’ve used it in place of root canal surgery to good effect. Take supplements as directed but you may need to double or triple dose the first day you are symptomatic.

* Juniper is also an excellent anti viral herbal remedy, excellent against flu & cold virus. Makes a good cold season tea that could be sipped throughout the day.

* Lemon balm also makes a good anti viral herbal tea & is especially valued as anti-herpes.

* Licorice is yet another herb that makes an excellent tea. Effective anti viral herb against many viruses. Take supplement or make a tea out of licorice root.

* Shiitake mushroom is also one of our favorite antiviral herbs. Consume in various dishes or use supplements as directed.

* Ginger, like garlic is a superb herb with numerous health benefits including its natural antiviral effects. Use as a tea or in numerous dishes. Juice a small slice along with fruits like apples, carrots, celery, [parsley - to taste for a wonderfully healthy concoction.

Other natural anti viral herbs

Some other herbal remedies against viruses are not as well known for that purpose but have been cited as antiviral. They include:

* Boneset

* Cat’s claw

* Chamomile

* Cinnamon

* Ginseng

* St. John’s wort

Salvator Giustra is a NYC Teaching Fellow, health researcher, clinical psychotherapist & computer scientist. He currently runs three websites (Healthy World) that advance the idea that good health is based on simple, traditional, commonsense knowledge which research tends to support repeatedly. For info on how water affects health, visit: Healthy Water For info on using herbal remedies, visit: Article Source: www.NewAgeArticles.com

Can a Cave Help The Winter Blues?

2011-11-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

With winter around the corner, or for some whom already have snow on the ground; it’s time to prepare your home for more indoor living.

Like many others I have struggled with preparing for less daylight and lower temperatures but have decided to look at winter differently this year. I’m going to prepare for the upcoming season on a more natural level. I’m thinking about winter from the perspective of a hibernating animal and have decided to turn my home into a cave.

The first thing to prepare your cave is to get rid of clutter. Start with a spiritual cleaning and then pick a main room to act as cave. Get rid of old things you no longer need and put away all spring and summer belongings. Of course, keeping a pair of flip flops around is still optional. I know I find myself wearing them even on the coldest days of the year.

Surround yourself with things that you like. Do you like to watch your herbs dry? Make yourself an inexpensive rack and hang it up. Do you enjoy candles? Place them all around on safe surfaces and bask in the warm glow. Do you have a fireplace or a wood burning stove? Light it up and simply sit around one evening for an hour and meditate, watch the shadows of the flames dance on the wall, or simply daydream. Short mind vacations can help with the hibernating months, too.

Visit the dollar store and decorate for every little holiday imaginable, whether you celebrate it or not. This year I will be decorating starting with Thanksgiving and find other holidays to celebrate. A quick search on Google will offer you a plethora of interesting information. There is a day for just about everything!

Find faithful companions to hibernate with. I've already announced to my teenage sons that I will be taking the old board games out from the attic and we will hang on Friday evenings, play a silly game and talk. It’s a great way to reconnect with your children after a busy summer and a nice break from their many activities. They were amused and recalled last winter when I took the beach chairs out of the shed, blew up two plastic palm trees and make tropical fruit drinks. We sat around and laughed and if only for the hour or so, I was able to forget the impending snowstorm that was due to arrive that evening.

Buy some fresh flowers once a week. Carnations are a lovely winter flower, inexpensive and come in so many different colors. My local supermarket has fresh bouquets and one will be amazed how comforting it is to look at a colorful flower as the snow and ice blankets the outdoors.

Make the cave your own. Work within your budget, create a cozy space and you’ll be happier when the weather keeps you indoors. I’m hoping to create a cave where I seldom feel the effects of cabin fever. Wish me luck.

With a positive attitude, a higher dose of vitamin D, exercise, and a promise to myself to always get out into the sunshine, no matter the temperature, I hope to finally get my winter blues under control. I’ll remain optimistic and if all else fails, there’s always beer and Sunday football to look forward to.

Until We Meet Again

2011-10-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

The cool, crisp airs blows, as the colored leaves begin to fall. October is upon us and so is the time to prepare to remember your loved ones past. It’s a time to celebrate the past, acknowledge the present and to lay out a road map for the future.

It all began for me back in my first year of college, and I can still distinctly remember the first day where the professor discussed physics and Einstein’s relativity theory. After that one semester, I could not help but think there was so much more to the universe and to life than I had ever known.

Energy transforms. The human body is energy. Interesting concept whether one looks at it from as scientific perspective or a faith-based one. Now, without bringing out my old physics books and discussing thermo energy and other forms of energy, I must say I feel the same science is applicable to human soul. And, I’m aware I’m not alone.

In old time Europe, bonfires were lit on October 31^st, not only to make a statement that the fires would burn throughout the cold winter, but to also light the path for the dearly departed as they traveled on this special evening.

Many believe this is the perfect time of the year to contact our loved ones who have moved across to a different dimension. The veil between our world and theirs’ is said to be the thinnest and communication is easier than any other time of the year.

If you cannot make it to Mexico during the Day of the Dead, or to a Catholic Church on

All Soul’s Day, or visit Spain as Don Juan Tenorio plays out, you can recreate homage to your loved ones who have passed in your own home.

I find a space in my home where I can construct an altar. I place candles, sage, salt, earth from my backyard and other items to welcome and signify fall.

I place pictures and belongings of my loved ones around my altar and I will light my candles, pray and remember. Often, I can get my young sons involved as I tell stories and tales from my ancestors' past. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I laugh, but I remember and will continue to do so until someday I meet them all again.

Feet, Feet and More Feet!

2011-10-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

by Michael Montgomery

Feet!

We stand on them, use them to pedal a bike, run with them and even tickle them! Their job is more cumbersome than you think and they hold about one-quarter of your body’s bones. But, the feet have become an ignored part of our body and they shouldn’t be.

Your feet are your foundation. They help you balance, determine your posture and support your body’s weight. Many stand on their feet for long hours at a time so foot care can be most important for vitality and good health. Problems with one’s feet can lead to discomfort, back pain and even headaches.

           One should wash their feet daily with a soap, such as Witchy Kiss™ Tired, Achin’ Dirty Dogs, that contains elements such as tea tree oil. It’s great for inhibiting bacterial growth and odor. Pay special attention to the area in between your toes and dry your feet thoroughly.
          Wear cotton socks. They absorb moisture more efficiently than synthetic made socks and will allow your piggies to breathe better.
          Avoid wearing the same shoes daily and pay special attention that the shoes you have purchased truly fit your feet.
          Soak your feet once a week in Dead Sea or mineral salt to extract toxins and keep bacteria under control. You can always try Witchy Kiss™ aromatic, soothing Footsie Tootsie Foot Baths.
          Avoid high heels during the work day and take your shoes off upon arriving at home. Breathing feet are happy feet.
          Pamper your feet once a week with a homemade foot scrub.

You will need:

1 Tablespoon course ground oatmeal

1 Tablespoon cornmeal

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 Tablespoon plain yogurt

2 Teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves

A few squirt from a lime

A few squirts from a lemon

3 drops of peppermint essential oil**

1. Combine cornmeal, oatmeal sugar and peppermint leaves in a bowl and mix well.

2. Add lime juice, lemon juice, yogurt and the essential oil and mix into a grit filled paste.

3. Rub the mixture into your feet, paying special attention to your soles and heels.

4. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Repeat once a week.

The peppermint will deodorize and cool your skin while the brown sugar will remove dead skin cells. Your feet will be soft, happy and you’ll experience better health overall in no time.

**Always take heed to allergies and reactions when using herbs and essential oils. Essential oils can react with certain prescription medicines. Never use essential oils on children, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. One should always seek the advice of their healthcare professional if they have any concerns.

Alaska's Fireweed

2011-09-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

By Michael Montgomery

Like many Alaskan natives, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the fireweed. I could appreciate the beautiful fuchsia-colored petals and thin and delicate leaves fluttering with the soft Alaskan summer winds. However, as the stems grow thicker and the flowers grow higher on the reed, one knows that the beauty of summer is in its twilight.

The fireweed’s presence begins in early spring as the young shoots are collected and used for local salads. It often reminds me how short the spring and summer seasons can be in Alaska.

Old Native legends tell how every fireweed is the soul of a tree lost in a forest fire. When the embers of the fire have cooled and the ashes of burned wood cover the ground, the first plant to appear is the fireweed. It rises up from the ash pile with its pink to magenta colored flowers and dares everyone to admire it.

The fireweed has been used to make fishing nets, blankets and as food. It holds a rich culinary and medicinal history, not only in Alaska but all over the world. It’s been used to make a relaxing tea, in salads, for skin problems and even to treat asthma in young children. Its high content of Vitamin C and pro-vitamin A make it a great additive for soups and it’s used to produce jellies and jams.

Not only do humans use and benefit from the consumption of the fireweed, but so do animals. Natives put it into their dog’s food and hummingbirds feast on its nectar. From hares, to moose and white-tailed deer, the animal kingdom will feast on the fireweed. Even, the little chipmunk will store the fireweed’s seeds for the upcoming hibernation season.

As each successive flower blooms above the one underneath, Alaskans begin to mark their calendars. As the older blooms seed and turn to cotton and the last of the flowers garnish the top of the reed, one can be rest assured, that according to legend, winter is six weeks away.

Michael Montgomery holds a degree in chemistry and biology and is an avid outdoorsman. He resides in New York and hopes someday to return to his native Alaska to once again admire the fireweed.

2011-09-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

The 13 Preambles of Wicca

By: H.P. Thomas Moore

In addition to the “Wiccan Rede” there are also 13 articles that are followed. These preambles as they are called aid in attuning the self and becoming one with the earth and the spiritual world through study, self exploration and action. Each has lessons that are learned and not all are easy to complete. It is the drive to complete them and the knowledge that is rewarded as well as the spiritual alignment that makes them worth while. What follows is the list of the 13 Preambles, as well as a deeper understanding of each.

1: Know Yourself
2: Know your Craft
3: Learn
4: Apply Knowledge
5: Achieve Balance
6: Keep your thoughts in good order
7: Keep your words in good order
8: Celebrate life
9: Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10: Breathe and eat correctly
11: Exercise the body
12: Meditate
13: Honor the Goddess and God

As you can see from the preambles the worship of deities falls last on the list. I would like to approach that first before we go in depth into each article.

13: Honor the Goddess and God

The Goddess and God are within us as they are also within all living things on this Earth. In this case by following the first 12 articles you are already honoring the Goddess and God because they are a part of you. The 13th article is more about honoring the spirit or energy of the Goddess and God. This can be better achieved after one has attuned themselves by following the other articles. So though at first the 13 Preambles may seem egotistical in a way they are not once you explore them more fully. These 13 Preambles are nothing new, in fact many religions and cultures have them, though they are less stressed in other religions unless you plan on becoming a Priest or Pastor. They are known to us all on some level or another, and we may even follow these preambles without being a Wiccan. That is ok too; these are 13 good things to live by and can benefit anyone regardless of religious background or inspiration.

1: Know yourself

Self knowledge and awareness is something that we all strive to have. How are we going to work with the delicate energies that surround us if we first do not know what is self? This is a difficult one to achieve as there are still so many things out in our world that do not allow us to fully express ourselves as individuals that are aware and filled with love of the self. Once you come to a full understanding of who you are then it becomes easier to accept others for who they are as well. This acceptance becomes one of the first paths to peace. This is not only knowing the self, but accepting the self as well both must be achieved.

2: Know your Craft

How many people do you know that are fully aware of their religion? I’m not just talking about what their places of worship teach them, or what their holy book says. I am talking a full understanding from the conception of the religion to the modern day interpretations of it. Chances are that you do not know many. People tend to follow the teachings that they hear but do not look further into their religion as a whole, unless of course they have a degree in Theology that is. This article talks about having the full knowledge of what your religion is about. Wicca, like most religions is much deeper than the surface information that we are all aware of. It has tradition, it has its guiding forces and it has its incarnation. I know a lot of people that claim to be Wiccan or Pagan and yet have never read or studied the origins of the religion. How are you going to gain a deeper understanding and spiritual awareness if you do not know where you came from to start with? Know your Craft is just that, it is attaining the wisdom and knowledge of your religion.

3: Learn

What does the word learn mean? The dictionary defines Learn as “To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of through experience or study” Learning is something that we do everyday. Each moment that we are alive we are learning and experiencing things. It is the knowledge that we get from experience and study that allows us to make choices in life as well as live our lives to the best and fullest that we are capable of. Think about what the world would be like if no one ever learned anything? Chances are you wouldn’t be reading this article right now because you didn’t learn to read! When we talk about learning here we are not only talking about the lessons that we have each day, we are also talking about the knowledge of the craft and learning our lessons on a spiritual and karmic level as well. To learn is to know, and to know is to grow.

4: Apply Knowledge

Once you have the knowledge from the learning you need to put it into practical application. Wisdom cannot be spread if people were to hide all of the knowledge that they have attained. This isn’t to say that you need to be pushy, but freely share what you know so that you can learn from someone else what they know. This also talks about the application of knowledge of the Rede as well as the Preambles in your life. Apply them fully and you can experience a life you had never thought was possible to explore.

5: Achieve Balance

Balance is important in any metaphysical way of thought just as it is in any religion or philosophy. You strive to achieve a balance of body, mind, and spirit through various forms and knowledge. Many of us have moments when we feel like this balance has been achieved, and yet it fades after a while. Remember that we are all human, and therefore a prone to making mistakes and it is ok to do so. There are of course some individuals out there Sai Baba for instance that has fully attained this type of balance, but for most of us it will come and go. The main lesson is to allow it to come and when it leaves learn and apply what you have learned to attain it once again.

6: Keep your Thought is Good Order

This article is twofold in nature. First it talks about the power of positive thought. Not allowing negative thought patterns to enter your mind is a large part of keeping thoughts in good order. The more that you focus on positive things the more that you will attract those things, as we know from learning about the power of intention. Second, it talks about thinking before you speak. So many people blurt out what they want to say regardless of if it is going to damage someone else in thought or emotion. Think hard about what you are going to say before it is said. Make a conscious effort to plan your words carefully so that what you say can aid in allowing for the greatest good for the persons that you are speaking to.

7: Keep your Words in Good Order

This follows suit to article 6 above. After you have thought about what you are going to say carefully speak those words. Speak in a manner that is soothing and peaceful and try to avoid emotions like anger, hate and frustration in your speech. We can get so caught up in an emotional swirl that we sometimes forget to not express that in our speech. We can certainly tell the person how we are feeling and that sort of discussion is great, that way no one leaves feeling unwanted or insecure with themselves.

8: Celebrate Life

Live each and every day to the fullest that you can experience it. See each day as a new lesson to be learned and do not hold grudges or allow things to bring you down. Sometimes focusing on the day to day living can be the most rewarding, then we are not feeling any anxiety about what the future may hold for us and instead can truly experience life.

9: Attune with the Cycles of the Earth

For Wiccans this one is done quite often. Every Sabbat that we celebrate aids us in attuning to the cycles of the Earth, but there is more to it than just that. Attuning with the Earth also means to love and care for the planet on which you live. Strive to aid the Earth in life. Living Green, planting trees, aiding nature and its inhabitants all help you to attune yourself with the Earth. If we learn to attune ourselves sand aid in taking care of our planet than Mother Gaia will see to it that we are taken care of as well.

10: Breathe and Eat Correctly

Remember that old adage “The Body is a Temple”? As we talked about before with article 13 the Goddess and God inhabit us all, just as they do all creatures. Taking care of the body by incorporating healthy living plays a part in honoring the Goddess and God. This does not mean in any way that you have to live on nuts, twigs and berries! It only means that you are being cautious of what you put into your body. Be aware of what you ingest and how it is going to affect your body and its systems.

11: Exercise the Body

This falls into the article above in a stronger fashion. Not only taking care of the body through eating correctly but also through exercise. It is the strength of the body that aids in the strength of the spirit and mind. Doing these can aid as well in achieving the balance from article 5.

12: Meditate

We are all aware of the importance of meditation. It helps us to know what is self and what is not self as well as to connect us with our Higher Self and Guides. Meditation is exercise for the mind and spirit. Meditating in addition to the two articles above become the base foundations for achieving the balance in life. Finding the time to relax the mind can aid us in so many ways and becomes an important aspect to living.

These are the 13 Preambles of Wicca. They are guidelines to follow in order to experience life to the fullest and attune oneself with the spiritual world as well as the physical. Work slowly when following the Preambles, don’t rush them or jump ahead, or you will only cheat yourself in the long run. Take each for what it is and learn the lessons that they have to teach you fully.

Rev. Thomas Moore is High Priest of The Coven of L.I.G.H.T in South West Florida, as well as a professional Psychic and Healer. He teaches a variety of classes in the metaphysical field as well as Wicca and is the Store Manager for Starchild Books in Port Charlotte Florida. www.starchildbooks.com inperfectloveinperfecttrust.webs.com

Article Source: http://www.newagearticles.com/

Do you have a Ghost?

2011-09-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

One night as I lay alone in my bedroom, I could swear I kept feeling something touching my hair. I first turned around and expected to see one of my children standing by the side of the bed. No such luck. I brushed off my shivers and then as I was about to fall asleep, I felt it again. Being the scaredy cat that I am, I put my head of my covers and eventually dozed off. I was glad I had central air conditioning.

The next day on coffee break, I mentioned my experience outside at the crowded picnic tables. Before I knew it, I was bombarded with tall tales of the unknown that lasted almost the entire summer. That first day, as we were walking back into the elevator, one of the older women shrugged her shoulders at me and nonchalantly stated, 'Face it girl, your house has a presence." I could not help but roll my eyes.

While I laughed off most of what the ladies had to say that summer, I had not forgotten about it. Here is short compilation of what the average American office workers that I know had to say about ghostly mischief.

1. Feeling of being watched or one of being touched. I was told that, "Ghosts get bold. They will sometimes touch you to make sure you are real." I need to prove to them I am real? You getting this?

2. Strange behavior in your pets. This was one that the entire crew agreed upon. "Animals can sense what we cannot," exclaimed one girl," My dog chases our ghost right out the door." Hmmmm. My dog chases his tail and partakes in other activities I don't exactly fight enlightening. Maybe I need a new dog?

3. "Shadows. I see shadows out of the corner of my eye," one of the accountants noted. I try to see them head on, but they run from my view." I noticed she had really long hair. It made me wonder if her shadows were her chestnut locks.

4. Missing Objects. This was a favorite among the coffee break crew. I was told that ghosts will move your glasses, or take a sip from your drink. So, the next time, you think you poured yourself a cup of coffee and suddenly your mug is empty. Well, you get the point. I had enjoyed that excuse. Made me realize I am not forgetful. The ghosts took my keys. I wonder if that would work for a sick day at the office.

5. Noises and odors. Creaks, squeaks, footsteps, coughing, and laughter. The list goes on but the one thing they all have in common is the owner of the home cannot explain them. One lady said one evening before she was preparing for bed, an overpowering odor of cologne took over her bedroom. That was how she knew her ghost had come back. She thought he was gone when he had not made his presence known, but after a year, he showed back up and let her know through the smell of his perfume. Possibly, I cannot hear anything in my house because my kids are always screaming or making some kind of noise and some of the odors that go on when their friends cramp into the bedroom to play video games. Well, now that is scary.

6. Moving Objects. Kitchen chairs ajar, closed door opened, couches moved and curtains drawn. According to the work crew, ghosts want us to know they are there and if we ignore them, they will leave us little reminders. I made a joke that I would not mind my kitchen chairs being moved--easy vacuuming. That produced a few raised eyebrows.

7. Electrical items. Last but not least, there were more stories spoken on this than anything else. The flickering of lights, TV's changing channels, and radios blaring an old tune on a station you are sure you never set. I know I have experience the channel phenomena by sitting on the clicker.

Day after day, we sat around on break at work and I listened to so many different types of stories. One morning, one of the ladies announced I looked tired. She claimed they all knew the ghost was pestering me and I was not getting any sleep. She was correct but I was not about to admit myself into the circle of the paranormal office workers. I worked in the lab of the building. This stuff didn't fly with the other white coats.

The co-workers all agreed it was not an evil ghost but a child-like one. One morning, one opened her pursue and tried to hand me a stick of weeds. "It is sage. Just burn it throughout the house, tell the ghost you are tired and it needs to leave you be." I smiled but declined the offer.

Later that afternoon as I was making my way past the marketing department, I saw that bundle of weeds in my co-worker's "out" basket. I moved closer to it. There on a posty note was my name. At first, I started to walk by it, but backtracked, smiled that she was not in her cubicle, and took the sage. Ya know, just in case.

While I will never admit to the group whether or not I used the sage, they did comment that I was looking so much better. I looked so well rested. I smiled and sipped at my coffee, as I watched the fall season clouds move in over the horizon.

Maryann Paige is a paranormal author who resides in the Hudson Valley of New York. Visit her at http://www.maryannpaige.com.

Spiritual Cleaning

2011-09-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Many partake in a yearly ritual called spring cleaning. However, some of us look at the seasons a little differently. While I usually do some spring cleaning, it’s the fall season that grabs all of my attention.

As the sunlight begins to wane, I prepare my home for additional indoor activity and get it prepared for the short days of winter. Since much more time will be spend indoors, it only seems logical to put everything in its place to prepare for the months ahead.

The first thing to do is to rid your space of clutter. In the Western world, we are consumer-driven economies and it’s easy to accumulate goods that play no part in our life or goods that we really don’t need. I always begin fall cleaning by taking a long hard look at the products in my house.

This year, I began clean-up by giving a friend a bread maker. A year ago when I purchased it, I thought it would be a great investment. I always make homemade bread and this would allow me to do so in a jiff. Then, I realized I never opened the box because it took away all of the labor of break making and that is what I most enjoy. There would be no kneading and I simply cannot break bread without feeling the dough in my hands. So, off to a friend the bread maker went as my hands continue to partake in the meditative task of kneading dough.

If you survey your home, you’ll find plenty of items that you can give to others or to the less fortunate. This gives you more open space and less clutter and that’s always a good thing.

So, after all the goods that you haven’t used in a year are gone, start by partaking in a good old-fashioned scrubbing of the house. I use lots of ingredients found in my fridge to clean my house, such as lemons and vinegar and it leaves a fresh, natural scent and keeps my house as chemical free as possible.

After the unused goods are gone, clutter is to a minimum and the house is clean, I begin the most important cleaning task there is: spiritual cleaning.

Spiritual cleaning can be performed in many ways and by anyone of any of the various faiths practiced in the world. One can simply walk through the house asking for peace, or create an elaborate ritual to get rid of the old and negative and bring in the new and positive. There will be some additional clean-up after the ceremony if completed, but it will be well worth it.

What I use:

1 Large Sage Smudge and a smudging pot

A Bowl of Sea Salt

A Bowl of Blessed Water

Keep pets and small children away while you clean. Place the items on your altar or your kitchen table to work. Start by lighting your sage smudge walking through the house and saying a prayer such as:

Bless this house and keep it safe for my children and I. Creator, watch over all who live and enter here and keep us from harm. I make it so by my will.

So It Shall Be.

Walk into every room in your house and allow the sage smoke to fill the air. Sage smells wonderful and it also a natural disinfectant. Be sure to get the smoke into every nook anc cranny and pay particular attention to the areas of doorways and windows. Many use a smudging feather to move the smoke around the house but I simply use my hand.

**Please remember sage burns very hot and the embers will stay lit for a long time. If you do not have a smudging pot, please extinguish your smudge safely outdoors by sticking it into the dirt. Do not place in glass!

After the sage smudging is complete, take your bowl of salt and say a prayer in every room as you sprinkle the salt into corners, onto window sills and across doorways. Pay special attention and all entrances and exits into your home and that include wood stoves and fireplaces. Ask to cleanse all of the negativity from the air and from your home as you do so.

After you have sprinkled your salt around, repeat the same prayers asking for all negativity to leave as your sprinkle the water in the same place as the salt. Dip your hand into the bowl and flick your fingers to spread the blessed water. Repeat with the same prayers and cover every area of the home.

Clean up and know that your home is ready and spiritually cleaned for the upcoming winter season.

Basil Oil

2011-09-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

Despite being a summer loving girl, there’s not much I can do as the Wheel of the Year turns but to accept it. I keep myself busy during the cooler autumn months by preparing for winter.

Homemade baked breads for freezing, herb oils and butters are some of the goodies I will make for the upcoming fall and winter season. Here is a recipe for basil oil. Why pay the crazy prices in the stores when you can make your own. I use it on salads, fresh tomatoes, chicken, and potatoes. Enjoy!

~~Always sterilize your jars. I wash my jars with hot, soapy water using a bottle brush. I rinse well in cooler water and stand jars on a baking tray. Heat the oven to 200°F/180°C - don't be tempted to heat the oven any higher or you may risk the glass breaking. Close the oven door and sterilize the jars for about 45 minutes.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves

1 cup of boiling water

2 cups olive oil

Rinse and drain basil leaves. Pat leaves dry with a towel. In a blender or food processor, combine basil leaves and olive oil. Whirl just until leaves are finely chopped (do not purée).
Pour mixture into a 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until oil bubbles around pan sides and reaches 165° on a thermometer. This should be about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand until cool, about 1 hour.
Line a fine wire strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and set over a small bowl. Pour oil mixture into strainer. After oil passes through, gently press basil to release remaining oil. Discard basil. Serve your basil oil or cover in a sterilized jar and store in the refrigerator up to 3 months. The olive oil may solidify slightly when chilled, but it will quickly liquify when it comes back to room temperature.

I See a Full Moon Rising

2011-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

The full moon has long been considered a wondrous event by societies throughout the ages. The full moon reminds us that we too can be whole and it beckons us to take action to meet our life goals.

I often use the full moon to reiterate a major change in my life which I prayed for underneath the new moon. On the night of a new moon, I may battle a bad habit, such as smoking cigarettes; or, think about something I’d like to draw into my life, such as a relationship.

Then, on the night of the full moon, I will hold a private ceremony outdoors to solidify my desires.

Every ceremony can be different and please feel free to add your elements, magickal tools, prayers and style. Never fall into another’s dogma. Create your own to empower yourself. Sometimes, we can certainly afford an elaborate spread for worship and other times, we can simply use what we can find in the backyard. Either way, own the power. It’s yours.

This ceremony focuses on the autumnal full moon, gives thanks for the harvest and hold elements to represent this specific time of the year.

Okay. Let’s get started.

What you will need:

Four candles: Green, yellow, red and blue.

Items that represent the season: apples, small pumpkins, gourds, fresh fallen leaves, or corn stalks, to name a few.

Sage Smudge

A small bowl of sea salt

A small bowl of blessed water

A fire proof bowl for burning (I use a small fire pit on the side of my altar)

A small, hand-held besom sweep

A small altar bell

Two small pieces of Paper

Pen

Create your sacred space on an outside altar and gather your items together and place them upon your space. I place my four unlit candles in the center of my altar until they are ready to be used. I try my best to get under the moon if I can. If you cast a protective circle, this is the time to do so. Light your sage smudge and place it into a pot and use your besom sweep to push the smoke over your altar to purify it.
Many traditions begin their ceremonies from the East. I have chosen to start with the North. I begin by ringing the altar bell to clear the air. Light the green candle and hold it to the sky and say a prayer of your own or you can use mine.

I call upon the powers of the Earth,

Made by our Creator

To come into my sacred circle,

May you bless us and keep us

During our thankful abundance

At this Season of the Harvest.

Place the green candle on the Northern section of your altar.

Light the yellow candle and hold it to the sky and recite:

I call upon the Power of the Air,

Made by our Creator

To come into my Sacred Circle,

May your power sweep away all negativity

And usher in abundance

At this Season of the Harvest.

Place the yellow candle on the Eastern section of your altar.

Light the red candle and hold it to the sky and recite:

I call upon the Powers of Fire

Made by our Creator

To Come into my Sacred Circle

May you cleanse me of all negativity

And place the fire of passion into my heart

At this Season of the Harvest.

Place the red candle on the Southern part of your altar.

Light the blue candle and hold it to the sky and recite:

I call upon the Powers of the Water,

Made by Our Creator

To Come into My Sacred Circle

May you wash all woes and impurities

From my heart

And cleanse me with your powers

At this Season of the Harvest.

Place the blue candle on the Western part of your altar.

As the candles burn, I raise my hands to the sky and recite:

Majestic Moon, Hear my Calling,

I celebrate the Season of the Harvest.

As the Wheel turns, I ask for love,

For abundance and contentment.

I ask for bad habits to die and be

Replaced with those that can uplift me and the world.

And so it shall be!

Take the pen and paper and write down what you want released from of your life. Whether it be a bad habit, such as smoking, to end an unhealthy relationship, bad luck, debt, etc.
Crumble up the paper and throw into your fire pit or small fire. Watch it burn and say aloud or over again to yourself that this particular issue is out of your life. NOTE: Please be careful when working with fire.
Take the pen and paper and write down what you would like to welcome into your life, whether if be health, love, to mend a friendship, etc. Place the piece of paper underneath your small water bowl and pray for it to come to you. Visualize it and see it. Make the dream you wish for all yours.

Depending upon the weather and my mood, there are various ways I will end the ritual. Sometimes, I will simply open my circle and end it quickly. Other times, I will sit and mediate until the candles have gone out. The choice is yours.

The next full moon arrives on September 12, 2011 at 09:27 UTC. The moon will be in the sign of Pisces and is called the Corn Moon or the Harvest Moon. It will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun.

Blessings for a successful full moon rising!

Hops Sachet for Insomnia

2011-09-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Margaret Thatcher once said that sleep is for wimps and she may be right; however, many of us need much more shut eye than we’re getting.

Many who suffer from insomnia knows the affliction has carried some famous names with it such as Napoleon, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and King George III. What we don’t know is how most in the past decided to fight it.

In our contemporary society, physicians will check for sleep apnea and then possibly recommended sleeping pills or something stronger to help the awakened victim drift off to into next dimension. For many of us pharmaceuticals are not an option we’d like to consider. So, one can certainly partake in the various natural remedies, with a professional’s guidance, such as ingesting valerian root to obtain some shut eye.

In my quest for a natural remedy for sleep, I came across the hops pillow. In fact, many say it cured King George III of his aliment.

The hops vine is a perennial, fast growing and a climbing plant. It can reach heights of 33 feet during the growing season. It’s used to brew beer since most grains do not keep well, so bitter herbs such as hops are added for flavor and to preserve the beer. Hops also had sedative properties and can be enjoyed in a spa like bath as well.

To make your hops sleep sachet:

You will need:

One large muslin bag

Dried hops to fill the bag

**lavender blossoms

**a few drops of jasmine oil.

Place hops into a bowl, mix with the lavender blossoms and add a few drops of jasmine essential oil to the mixture. Let dry and stuff your bag with the herbs. Place underneath your pillow or hang from your bedpost.

If you have sewing skills, by all means, make a large pillow and fill it with dry hops. You can add different oils such as jasmine, rose or lavender to your own liking. Remember not to make it too strong and if you suffer from allergies, any type of sachet made with herbs or plants may cause other problems.

Hopefully, your hops sachet will let the dreams begin!

Strawberry Facial Peel

2011-08-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

As our skins ages, it loses the ability to shed dead cells as well as its elasticity. This is where nature is able to play a part in helping keep mature skin in line. Try nature’s recipes for a skin booster. The strawberries contain high levels of alpha-hydroxy and the white willow bark holds salicylic acid. Together they will brighten your skin, remove the dead cells and clean your pores.

What you will need:

5 large strawberries

1 egg yolk, beaten

1 teaspoon of honey

1 white willow bark tablet (check you local health food store)

2 drops of frankincense essential oil

Cornflour

Grind white willow tablet in a mortar until a fine power.
In a separate bowl, smash the strawberries until they are as fine as you can get them.
Add powder of willow bark to the smashed strawberries and mix well.
Add beaten egg yolk, essential oil, honey and mix thoroughly. Add pinches of cornflour to thicken the substance to a facial mask consistency.
Smooth the mask onto damp skin and let it dry. After about 10 minutes, rinse off with luke warm water.
After the mask is removed, splash some cool water onto your face to close your pours.

Garden Critters

2011-04-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

Walter, our groundhog before he was moved to greener pastures.

The most difficult part of gardening can be combating the varmints. Whether one has slugs, deer or birds, it can be a full time job keeping nature’s pesky creatures from feasting on your hard work. Every growing season I feel as if I’m a warrior. Either I’m combating slugs or chasing the local groundhog away from my garden.

I used many natural pest control recipes over the years to much disappointment. As I pen this article I wish the methods I’m about to speak were miracle cures, but they are not. There are times they don’t appear to work either. Nature has a way of adapting and finding ways to feed itself. Garden critters are no different.

Slugs: I have tried everything to rid my garden of these pesky creatures. Many claim a thin layer of coffee grinds but that has never worked for me. Plus, one year I actually put too many grinds in my garden in a desperate attempt to keep the slugs away and ended up having mold and mildew all around my shade loving plants.

The best method to rid your garden of slugs is cumbersome and done by the light of the moon. In the evening, venture out into your garden, armed with a flashlight and simply pull the slugs off of your plants. I pinch the bottom leaves off of my plants to deter the slugs from taking refuge underneath them. I also use empty tuna fish cans and place them into the soil and fill them with beer. I do this in the evening because the beer will evaporate throughout the day. The next morning, I venture back out and see that my beer traps have several slugs in them.

Birds: Birds are tough and most deterrents don’t last forever when dealing with them. Be creative. Short of netting your entire garden, one can partake in the scare tactic methods like I do. I have a scarecrow planted in the center of my garden. That never worked alone. I live in New York and our birds have an attitude and never play by the rules. When I arrived home from work one afternoon, I saw a few birds perched on my scarecrow.

This year my garden will have a scarecrow, which I’ll move around the garden each week, two wooden poles decorated with strings of aluminum pie pans and two shepherd hooks with wind chimes. The glare of the pie pans and the sound they make when combined with the wind chimes keeps my flying friends at bay.

Deer: Is there anything more difficult to deal with than deer? I must say no. The best deterrent is to erect a fence of at least eight feet, but the expense is high and many of us don’t want a fence. I have tried all of the gardening tidbits such as hanging Irish Spring soap and spraying garlic around the perimeters, but what worked best for me was when my neighbor’s dog would come over for a visit. He marked up the yard and I noticed when he did so, there would be no visiting deer. Someone told me to place human hair in cheesecloth and hang near the garden. I haven’t tried that but believe I will be sticking to the visiting dog method.

Critters: Rabbits and groundhogs are my least favorite garden pest to deal with. Children can be your best defense against the critters because when my sons were younger they would run after the rabbits and groundhogs. They also named them, but that’s another blog entry. The best thing to ward them off is to trap them and bring them to the woods. There are many humane traps available at your local gardening stores. I used a Havahart trap. I know it’s a lot of work but when critters like groundhogs are left unattended, they will eat it all. Trap the groundhog and save your okra and spinach!

Wonderful Shade Gardens

2011-04-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

It’s that amazing time again! Spring! In my yard, it time to look for the fairies and prepare the soil for the upcoming May planting.

When I first moved to my house, I worried about my property with its mature trees and abundance of shade. Then, with notebook in hand, I visited the library, researched on the internet and spoke to my local farmers and came up with a list of great shade-loving plants and flowers.

I came to learn to love my shady areas more than any other place in my garden. When my children were younger, before they became cool teenage boys, they claimed it’s where the fairies lived. I’m certain they were correct!

Here are some of my favorites for my shade-loving areas in my yard.

Hostas: I always start out with planting one of my favorites called funkia or commonly known as Hostas. These shade-loving perennials can add spice and mystery to your garden. They come in dozens of shapes, sizes and colors. (Great for plating zones 3-8).

Ferns: While there are many varieties, please check with your local gardening center to see which grows best in your area. For my garden, I have chosen the ostrich fern, which is hardy and easy to grow. (Great for zones 2-8).

Solomon’s Seal: a native root to the eastern United States, the unassuming flowers can add touches of color to your garden. They attract bees and hummingbirds, and appear to repel deer. (Great for zones 5-9).

Impatiens: My shade garden would be incomplete without the pretty colors of the “Touch-me-not” as impatiens are known here in North America. They come in a huge selection of colors and will truly spice up any shade garden. (Great for zones 9-11).

In my shade garden I start with preparing the soil with peat moss and composted manure. The soil should be moist but not soggy. This will spread disease. Decide which type of shade you have: full shade, partial shade and medium shade. Then, get your pad and paper out and explore the colorful magickal shade garden that you can create.

This is only a short list of foliage that can be planted in the shade. There are so many more options, such as Lady’s Mantle, Meadowsweet, Snapdragons, Winter Creeper and so much more. Get your pad and pen out and explore the amazing garden you can grow under the cool guise of the shade.

I’m Wishing on the Full Moon

2011-04-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

I’m aware that one is to wish upon a star, but I have always tried to go the extra mile in my life. I wish on the full moon. I’m not alone in my admiration for it either. From the beginning of time, people have been mesmerized by the full moon. It has inspired poets, scientists, psychics and even horror writers.

The next full moon occurs on April 17, 2011 at 10:44 EDT. Whether you know it as the pink moon, the seed moon or the wind moon, it’s a time for new beginnings. Just as spring has made its arrival, it’s time for us to clean out our homes, plant our gardens and get ready for life and rebirth. It’s time to gaze into the sky like our ancestors did and hope for new beginnings.

And, if you missed last month’s “Super” moon, don’t fret. April’s full moon will not disappoint. It will only be 941 miles further away from the Earth than last month’s moon. So don’t forget to watch it rise and set in the skyline and make a wish upon a full moon. Hey, why not?

How to Make Blessed Moon Water

2011-04-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

There are many uses for blessed water and many have their favorite, personal reasons for creating it. I often use my blessed water to wash my hands of the day’s troubles and woes.

What you will need:
A Full Moon
The amount of water you’d like to bless
A silver or wooden bowl to hold the water
A jar for storage after the blessing ritual is complete
Your favorite crystal or stone
Sea salt
~~

My bowl of water is placed on a large ledge that protrudes out from my windowsill. It keeps the water safe from various night creatures as it is energized by the lunar rays. My bowl is made of bamboo and is special to me since it was a gift from someone I care for deeply.

I place my favorite stone in the center of the bowl. I use an amber stone, which banishes negative energy, and that is the sole purpose of my blessed water. I take a small handful of course sea salt and rub it in between the palm of my hands and say a prayer as the salt drops into the water. I ask for the angels of protection to help me in keeping a positive heart, mind and soul. I ask the goddess to allow the rays of the moon to purify my water for future use.

The water will be kept outside overnight so it can be energized by the moon’s light. The next morning, I bring the water inside, run it through a cheesecloth and place it into a mason jar for future use to cleanse my hands of negative energy or to wash my altar items.

The next full moon is arriving May 17, 2011. I’ll be working on my blessed water that evening. Maybe you can do the same as well.