Terra's Blog

Thrive Trailer

2012-03-06T15:23:00.000-06:00

This is a must-see documentary.

Almost Springtime!

2012-02-13T18:49:00.002-06:00

As we approach the midpoint of February there is a little bitof Spring anticipation in the air. Withthe first of the Spring Sabbats having already passed (and do I hope everyonehad a blessed Imbolc/Candlemas), you can definitely feel the gentle stirringsof Mother Nature as she begins to wake. This year so far in the South as well as in other parts of the US wehave had a very mild winter. TheTemperatures here in Tennessee stayed in the high 50’s to low 60’s for about 3weeks which was awesome. Unfortunatelythere has also been the blooming of many early spring bulbs including Daffodils. With that being said we are facing a coldfront that will be moving in this week. Hopefully this cold front doesn’t destroy allof the pretty flowers that are springing up. But with all of the beautiful weather for thepast few weeks I am in full on Springtime mode. And what do I like to do best in theSpring? Gardening! Yes. Realizing it is too early to start my garden or even my seedlings atthis point, I have decided that now is the perfect time to plan the layout ofmy garden as well as check up on my seed stores. This year I plan on making my garden bigger. In addition to the usual single garden rowalong my fence line, I want to make a second row of raised beds in front ofthat one with walking space between the two of course. So, planning that out will be my firsttask. I will be taking before and afterpictures to post up on here as well as a video. Look for that in the next couple of months.

Sweet Potato Pie

2011-11-23T23:22:00.001-06:00

Sweet potatopie is family staple in my household for Thanksgiving. It is indeed a delight I would not want to bewithout on Thanksgiving Day. Here is ourrecipe.

Prepare the pie crust. Homemade is always best!

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato (about a pound)

1/2 cup butter (one stick, softened)

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

Fresh harvested sweet potatoes from our garden

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake sweet potato whole in skinan hour, or until done. Let cool to touch and remove the skin.

Baked and peeled

Mash the sweet potato in mixerbowl and add butter. Mix well withmixer. Next, stir in the sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Mixon medium speed until smooth. Pour mixture into an unbaked pie crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for aboutan hour, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool andset for about an hour before serving.

Mash and mix well

Pour into pie shell and bake

Enjoy and have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Paying For Graveyard Dirt and Asking Favors

2011-11-11T19:57:00.001-06:00

There comesa time in every practicing witch’s life that you have to make a little trip tothe graveyard. For some I know this canbe a very anxiety laden chore and for others it’s quite exhilarating. I tend to fall into a different category. Visiting graveyards for me has always been avery peaceful, calming and grounding experience. There is a certain calm that exists only in acemetery. I find that most reassuring. Most people like to go to the park and relax, have a picnic lunch orjust commune with nature. Me, I wouldmuch rather enjoy and share my lunch with the spirits of those who have passedon. I see this as a perfect way to establish arelationship with the spirits who live there in the cemetery.

If you arenew to this practice then this is a great way to ease into it and become acquaintedwith it. Coming to the graveyard to paya visit and ask nothing of the spirits at the time, but just to take the timeto get to know them. Doing this breeds a relationship of trust. Get to know those who have passed on beforeyou. Have a conversation, share a snack,sing a song and just be with them. Overtime you will have established a relationship of trust. You will begin to know who you can talk toand who you can’t, who you can ask a favor of and who you can’t.

When thetime comes that you have to do a little “work” in the graveyard then there arecertain things you should do and certain other things you should bemindful. Now, everyone has their own wayof going about this. Here is my method.

Upon enteringthe cemetery I ask Baron Samedi’s permission to enter. Once granted, I proceed on. The best time to collect or “pay” for somegraveyard dirt is between the hours of 9:00 pm and 12:00 midnight. There are occasions when you would need to doyour work between Midnight and 3 am. Iusually reserve that time for my “dark energy” work. Most cemeteries close at sunset so you wouldneed to be very discreet in your actions. Always bring flowers. Most timesif you’re caught at the gravesite after hours the simplest explanation would bethat you are simply there to pay your respects to a loved one as you are on yourway home from work. At that point youwould simply leave the flowers on one of the gravesites and exit the cemetery quietlyand call that little trip a wash or a “water haul” as my Mama would say. If you don’t attract the attention of those passingby or security then it’s time to get to work. Locate the grave of the spirit you are most comfortable with and asktheir permission to collect a little bit of dirt from the site. Upon getting that approval then proceed tocollect a small bit of dirt into a clean bottle. Don’t be greedy, take only what youneed. After collecting I usually depositnine dimes in the disturbed dirt and gently cover it back over. Thank the spirit for the help and quietly leavethe site.

Collected graveyard dirt from my store.

If you areat the grave site to ask a favor of the dead or to solicit the help from aspirit then the payment is slightly different. If you are trying to bury an item in the grave (asking the spirit of thepassed over one to help you with this certain chore) then ask the permission ofthe dead and ask them to help you with this matter. If permission is granted then quickly burythe item. I usually deposit petitionpaper in a small hole that I make with a spoon at the site and fill the hole upwith a little rum and a cigar. Afterwards, petition Baron Samedifor his help, thank him, tell him of the offering you left and exit thegraveyard. Do not look back.

There arenumerous reasons you can go to the cemetery to do work, this was just tworeasons I shared in which I visit. Asyou become more comfortable with communing with the dead you will develop yourown ways of doing this blessed work. Asa general rule however I make it a point to thank Baron Samedi as I enter andas I leave the graveyard. He is after allthe keeper of the graveyards and of the crossroads. Also remember to never look back. Don’t doubt. Trust that the work you have done is sufficient and you trust that yourwill be done.

Michael Jackson as Baron Samedi

On a side note I like to share this picture of Michael Jackson. It is one of my favorite pictures of him and to me I think he is imitating Baron Samedi.

Lazy Fall Day With the Family

2011-09-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

Altar/School Room

2011-08-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

So I can hardly believe it’s time for school again. Where did the summer go? It seems like literally yesterday that I was out tilling the garden and getting ready to plant our first seedlings in anticipation of a warm spring. But with the turning of the wheel another season has come and gone, and we are excited to start this new school year. My baby girl will be entering the 5^th grade this year and so it is an exciting time for her. She is officially a “tween” and a “middle schooler” as she so constantly reminds me now. This is a time of transition for her and I look forward to seeing her make this next step.

Now 5^th grade will also test me. Am I smarter than a 5^th grader?? Let’s hope so, LOL. Time and tutors will tell. I’ve heard other homeschooling parents say that 5^th grade was their hardest grade. We are a week into the new school year and I have to say so far so good. I will however supplement her curriculum with Khan Academy. Every little bit helps.

I have for some time now been meaning to upload a video or pictures to show what our school room looks like. Several people have asked for such. Just as many if not more have inquired about what my altar/ witchy room looks like. Well, these rooms are one and the same. I teach out of my witchy room. Since I have a working altar in there it really comes in handy as a teaching tool when I am explaining the craft to her and we are covering metaphysics. I have one side dedicated to the school room and the other side of the room for all things “craft”. She loves it and so do I.

Sweet Melissa Banana Bread

2011-07-06T18:11:00.000-05:00

Lemon Balm from my herb garden

This recipe is a traditional favorite of my family’s. It has become a true staple in our home especially during the spring and summer months. The lemon balm herb (we always call it Melissa) that this recipe calls for really brings out the sweetness of the bananas in this bread. In the hot summer months our herb garden is overrun with lemon balm and so this makes good use of our darling Sweet Melissa. Serve this sweet bread along with a cool glass of milk and it makes a great offering to the Fair Folk, too.

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 ¾ cups of unbleached all purpose flour

¼ cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup xylitol sugar (wood sugar) or agave nectar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp minced up fresh lemon balm

1/3 cup almond milk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour loaf pan and set aside.

In a bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Once that is done blend in the eggs one at a time until creamy. Add in the bananas and lemon balm. Set aside. In a different mixing bowl sift the flours and baking soda, and salt. Slowly incorporate this mixture into your sugar mixture. Do this a little at a time while adding your milk.

Pour into prepared pans and bake for about an hour or until toothpick test comes out clean.

Enjoy and share!

Garden Update in Pictures

2011-06-23T15:30:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to do a garden video update, but the weather here in Nashville has been unforgiving. There has been tons of rain and a thunderstorm at least every other day. So instead of a video update I thought I would just snap a few photos to let you see how well everything is thriving this year. In spite of the rain or maybe because of it the garden is producing well.

The scarecrow is busy protecting our corn

The first corn silk buds coming through

The first of the cucumbers

Crook-neck squash...my favorite

Hail Damage to Garden

2011-06-16T09:12:00.001-05:00

Yesterday's hail storm was awesome and terrible at the same time! Here in Antioch, which is a suburb or Nashville in Tennessee, we had a thunderstorm which produced 1-2 inch hail stones for the greater part of an hour. While I knew that my car might suffer some random dings and perhaps even scratches I didn't think about the garden. I guess it could have been worse but my crops did suffer some damage. I am hoping that this is just minor damage and that it will not endanger the plants production. Mainly affected were my squash plants and cucumber plants. A couple of peppers sustained damage as well.

Hail Storm

2011-06-15T16:39:00.000-05:00

Sudden thunderstorm with 1-2 inch hail today.

Setting Lights Altar Service for Free

2011-04-20T18:44:00.005-05:00

Setting lights is the traditional practice of candle magick which involves the burning of a charged vigil candle or oil lamp and writing your wish, intent or petition on a slip of paper and placing it under this candle or lamp to achieve your magickal goal.

Here at Terra Traders we always have candles and lamps burning on our altars with petitions under them. This is a free service I offer to all of my clients as well as for those just needing help. If you are in need and would like for me to set a light for you just send me your name as well as your need and I will personally set a light for you under the appropriate candle. Please be brief in your description. Your petition will remain under the candle for 7-9 days depending. It’s that simple.

Visit TerraTraders and click on the FREE SERVICES link on the top right hand side of page.

Natural Dyes for Ostara (Easter) Eggs

2011-03-15T20:15:00.001-05:00

Ostara is fast approaching and you can feel spring in the air. Well here in Tennessee you can feel spring coming especially with the temperature forecast to be in the mid 70’s toward the end of the week. This year my family and I are going to have an egg dying party. I haven’t dyed eggs with my sisters since we were little kids and I look forward to resurrecting that tradition this year for the first time in over 20 years at my parents house along with our own children. This time will be a little different though. Instead of using commercially bought food colorings for the eggs many of which have petroleum in them, we will be endeavoring to make our own natural food coloring using various natural plant and vegetable extracts.
There’s several ingredients in your kitchen that you can choose from. Here’s a small list of suggestions to get you started.
•    Beet juice will give you a lovely shade of magenta. You can juice a raw beet or drain the liquid from a can of beets.
•   Turmeric gives a golden yellow color to your eggs.
•   Chlorophyll drops (which can be purchased at any health food store) will turn the eggs a deep shade of forest green. You can also juice any green leafy vegetable and achieve a similar result. Experiment to get the shade of green you want.
•   Carrot juice will give a pale peach color
•   Coffee will produce a soft brown color
•   Blueberry juice will give a violet color
Adding vinegar to these colors and bringing the mixture to a boil will help the colors adhere to the eggs better. The longer the eggs sit in the color mixture the bolder the color will be. Remember, that these colors will not be a vivid as those of the store bought food colorings, but hey Ostara is all about the pastels anyway. Happy Coloring!

Figure Candles

2011-03-01T16:56:00.001-06:00

Candles have always played a part in humankind’s celebrations, rites and rituals. Once Prometheus stole fire from the gods/goddesses and presented it to us, we have honored that gift in one way or another. Whether it be that of a birthday party, a wedding, church service, prayer vigils or even a romantic dinner for two, candles have always held a special place in marking and observing the milestones of our lives. When we do this we honor Prometheus and let a little magick into our lives.

I believe you can never have too many candles and what type of candles you use helps to give your magick that special boost. There are several types of candles that we use in our rites and rituals such as pillar candles, jar candles, figure candles, tapers, chimes, etc. So what does it all mean? Here is a simple guide for you.

Figure candles. These are candles that have been carved or shaped into the figure and likeness of a person, deity or symbol. They come in various colors. Each color also has its own meaning. The color of the candle combined with the shape of the candle will greatly enhance your ceremony, ritual, spell, etc.

Keep in mind the most common colors and you’ll know how to use each candle.

Red usually deals with romance, sex magick, and passion.
Green is luck, money and finances.
White is for purifying and blessings. I use this color to substitute for any color I’m lacking also.
Black is banishing, protection and reversal of bad fortune
Blue is for peace, tranquility and calming a situation.
Orange is for attracting energy your way.
Yellow is for communication.
Purple is for connecting with the divine
Lavender is for divination.

Those are just a few of the colors, but combined with the correct candle you’re on your way to making some powerful magick.

Skull candles. These candles can be used in ancestral magick, to call upon the power of those who have transitioned on to the next phase of existence. This candle also carries the vibration of commanding, compelling and persuasion. It is oftentimes used to bend someone or situation your way.

Cross candles. Although older than Christianity, those with a Christian or catholic background find these candles easy to work with. I have found that these candles are good for working with and calling on the angels. It’s the candle of sustainability. They will keep a situation flowing. Use green for continuous money flow, red for continuous love, blue for peace, etc.

Cat candles. Call on the energies of the Egyptian Goddess Bast with this candle. Use the black candle to return negativity and hexes back on the one who sent them. Use the green cat candle to bring good luck and money. The red bast candle is for sex and romance. Ask Bast to help with all these things when burning this candle.

Coiled Snake candle. Although commonly used to break things apart and cause destruction, this candle can also be used to call upon the kundalini energy to rise. On the flip side this is an excellent candle to use to break apart relationships.

Devil candle. I don’t necessarily believe in the existence of the devil so to me this is a representation of Pan. I use this candle for banishing (black) and to bring about a situation quickly such as fast money (green), fast love (red), etc. Also a good candle for breaking hexes, removing jinxes, and aiding in exorcisms.

Seven Knob candle. Choose the color candle of the candle according to your purpose and burn one section or knob a day for seven days.

Witch candle. Burn a candle to bestow a witch’s blessings on your spell or ritual.

Naked Male or Female candle. This candle represents a person, either you or the target of your spell. Red will bring back a lover, green will bring back the person that owes you money. You can also use petition papers under these candles to better clarify your intent.

Couples candle. This is a candle of a man and a woman standing side by side. Looks like a cake topper. Perfect candle for use in marriage spells and binding two people together spells.

Entwined Couple candle. This is a figure candle of a couple locked in an intimate embrace. This is best for sex magick and to spice up your love life. I also use this one for binding couples.

Divorce candle. This candle is of a couple with their backs turned to each other. It is really self explanatory. Use this candle to break up a couple or to aid in an unbinding spell.

Happy Imbolc Everyone

2011-02-02T14:11:00.000-06:00

Have a Blessed Imbolc

Imbolc Activities

2011-02-01T17:22:00.002-06:00

This year most of the United States will be under a blizzard warning for Imbolc. So the weather limits the activities we can do for this Sabbat, but there are still plenty of activities that you can do for this day.

The book Circle Round, which my family and I absolutely love, has several ideas for Imbolc such as making Brigit Dolls (Bride Dolls) using the last sheaf of wheat or grain from the last harvest the previous summer. We used corn for our doll this year. After crafting the corn doll, my family and I write down on small slips of paper what we would like to see accomplished this year. Things we want to acheive or come to pass. After we've all written these down, the slips of paper are then folded and stuffed into the doll. Later on in the evening at the conclusion of our Imbolc ceremony and feast, we have a small bonfire to the goddess where we light the doll and let her carry our wishes, hopes, and desires to the Goddess. If the weather doesn't permit an outdoor fire we will do a small indoor cauldron fire.

Chakra rainstick from
last year

Another activity to do is to make a rainstick. Rainsticks are an excellent item to have this time of year. Shaking the stick, we call the Spring rains forward to hasten spring and chase away the winter snow. This is also a good time of year to make candles. We always replenish our candle supply during the week of Imbolc. We block aside about three days of just making candles. Tapers are the easiest to make, but all types will come in handy for the year. Be creative and create a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. A witch can never have too many candles. Have a blessed Imbolc.

Fertility Spells for Imbolc

2011-01-28T15:49:00.002-06:00

This is a good time of the year to craft and conjure fertility spells. Gaia is about to give birth to spring which makes this a perfect time to harness that energy and use it for our own purposes.
There are several things you can do for your fertility workings, starting with the bed itself. Your bed is a sacred space. In many ways it acts as an altar whereupon you perform your sex magick. Treat this space as you would any other altar and keep it free of negative energy. Smudge this area regulary.
One of the simple things you can do when it comes to the bed is to hang I-Ching coins strung on a red silk cord around your bed or tied to your bed post. You can also use cowrie shells strung on a red silk cord if I-Ching coins are not available to you or if you feel a greater affinity to the shells over the coins. They both work well. It’s just what “feels” right to you.
You can also dab the post of the bed or the head and foot board of the bed with Astarte oil. Also use this oil to dress and anoint candles and charms that will be place near the bed.
Figure candles work well for fertility spells. You can use a single figure candle that represents you or you can use a male/female joined figure candle.
Take the figure candle and anoint the genital and abdomen area of the candle with Astarte oil. Carve your name and your desire into the candle and roll the candle in a mixture of ground up mugwort and high john. Light the candle right before you make love.

Another fertility idea that can be tried is a fertility mojo bag. It’s a conjure bag filled with various herbs, roots, stones, and charms. I craft these bags myself and offer them at my webstore Terra Traders . For best results take the mojo and wear it around your waist or hang it in between your breasts. Hang it over the bed or under the mattress when you make love.
So try any or all of these spells/charms to see what works for you. The important thing is to be positive and stay focused on your goal and above all enjoy it.

Homemade Butter for Imbolc

2011-01-25T21:12:00.005-06:00

This is my recipe on how to make homemade butter. Kids love to make this also. So get your little ones to lend a hand. They will enjoy helping out.

It’s a very easy recipe. The only things you will need are: a jar with a tight fitting lid, a couple of marbles and heavy cream. The size jars I like to use are the small canning jars or just little baby food jars. The size is perfect for the little ones to hold onto and shake without dropping. You can even use the big mason jars for the bigger children and adults.

First, fill each jar about 2/3 of the way with the cream and insert a marble or two depending on the size of the jar. Screw the lid on tightly and start shaking. At first, the marbles will easily glide through the cream (begin to churn), but as you continue shaking, the cream will thicken. After a few minutes the cream will thicken considerably and you won’t feel the marbles move as much or at all if the marble is stuck in the cream at the bottom of the jar. Once this happens you will begin to see butter form at the bottom of the jar and liquid rise to the top of the jar. This liquid is buttermilk. You can pour this off and store it for later use. We use the buttermilk to make Irish Soda Bread which is another great recipe for Imbolc. You now have unsalted butter. To make salted butter, just add salt to the jar before you start shaking. You also add various herbs to the process to make a nice herb butter or a little honey to make a sweet butter.

This is a great activity to do with the family in celebration of Imbolc. Press butter into molds (sun shapes are great) and refrigerate. Enjoy.

Imbolc

2011-01-24T18:46:00.002-06:00

We’re over halfway through this winter season. The days are starting to stretch out again and the nights are getting shorter. The Sabbat of Imbolc or Oimelc is drawing near. This day comes about when the Sun is 15 degrees in Aquarius making it the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This usually falls on or around February 2nd. It is the first rite of Spring and it’s also one of my favorites. Oimelc means “ewe’s milk”. The literal translation of Imbolc is “in the womb”. The earth known as Gaia, being pregnant right now is starting to feel the first stirrings of spring. This is called the quickening (the first movements a mother feels in her womb). It is the time of the year when the sheep which are pregnant start to lactate and give milk. This was always a definite sign that spring was around the corner. Other names for this day are Candlemas and Brigit’s Day.

Although this is a day to honor the coming spring, most places in the northern hemisphere still have snow on the ground and it’s bitterly cold outside. Some places may be seeing the first hints of spring such as the return of certain flocks of birds, early buds on trees and the first blades of grass.
Since Imbolc is one of the four fire festivals, my family usually has a small bonfire in honor of the returning warmth. So even in the cold snow we gather around our fire and look forward to the return of spring. During this time it is also our custom to make milk dishes such as custard and ice cream. My daughter has a blast helping us make fresh butter during this time of the year. We then press the butter into little sun molds in honor of the day.
For me, this is a time to rededicate myself to my craft and to the path I have chosen to walk. So whatever your magickal or mundane background ( wiccan, pagan, witchcraft, hoodoo, christian, etc.) this is the time for you to enjoy spending time with your family and friends and looking forward to the bright days ahead. This festival or holiday carries the vibration of hope and it is a time when we all feel optimistic about how the rest of the year will turn out.

My New Website

2011-01-23T12:14:00.002-06:00

Okay, it's been a while since I have last updated my blog, but I have been busy working on the redesign of my website Terra Traders. It was a much needed change.

I know how hard it can be sometimes to find occult, wiccan, and witchcraft supplies and services so I am hoping to make Terra Traders the one stop shop for all of those witchy and magickal needs.

Not only is this the shop for your basic and not so basic spiritual and esoteric supplies, we also offer our services such as tarot card readings, psychic readings, astrology readings, custom spell castings, rootwork, setting lights and house blessings/ house cleansings. We also handcraft mojo bags/gris-gris bags/medicine bags, also known as lucky hands, as well as crafting dream pillows, and poppets/voodoo dolls. I also make my own jewelry version of the mojo bag called a mojo necklace. These necklaces are made to order with your specific need in mind.

Here you will also find the odd curios such as brick dust, graveyard dirt, coffin nails, and other ritual supplies for your entire hoodoo, voodoo, occult and esoteric needs.

Shadow Work

2010-11-18T16:41:00.003-06:00

The dark part of the year is once again upon us. As the trees lose their leaves, the days get shorter and the animals get ready to go into hibernation this is a time of quiet reflection for us. As the grass and the trees go dormant or turn all their energy inward, we must do the same. Quiet inner reflection on the events that have come to past. This is also a great time of year to do shadow work. One of my favorite authors is Debbie Ford. She has an excellent book called, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. It is a book that I highly recommend at this time of the year. She explains how we deny and hide the darker side of our nature rather consciously or unconsciously and reject that part of ourselves we are not comfortable with, thus creating an inauthentic self.

So this time of the year as the night stretches on and the days grow shorter, it is an excellent time to do some shadow work. Get in touch with that part of yourself that you try to hide from others. As lightworks on this planet we must know that our light casts a shadow. Sit and have a talk with this shadow. Get to know and LOVE her. Embrace her. Welcome her in and be on your way to becoming a whole person.

Elemental Invocation

2010-11-17T18:49:00.001-06:00

From the East the Air the Sylphs, the breeze

I call your knowledge to set my mind at ease.

From the South, the Fire, the Drakes the heat,

I desire you now for this task we meet.

From the West, the Water, the Undines, the flow

I call forth your love and bask in its glow.

From the North, the Earth, the Gnomes, the ground

I call you to stabilize my circle round.

Light without and light within

Guard me now, your kith and kin

First Harvest

2010-06-17T10:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, we harvested our very first crops. Just two days ago when I went out to the garden and checked the plants I saw no crops that were ready to pick, but yesterday after the afternoon rain showers passed I went to check on the garden and wow! There were cucumbers, zucchini, crook neck squash, banana peppers, and green bell peppers just ready to be plucked. I even saw a slightly green tomato on the vine. So yay, first fruits!

Garden Update #2

2010-06-13T13:57:00.001-05:00

Here is an updated video of my vegetable garden.

Goddess Pasta Salad for Litha

2010-06-07T10:59:00.004-05:00

This is a simple recipe for enjoying on those lazy summer days and it makes an excellent dish for your Litha celebration.

1 box (12 oz) tri colored spiraled pasta

1 large head of broccoli cut into florets, discard the stalk

1 small onion, diced

2 medium tomatoes, diced Or one can of diced tomatoes, drained

1 bag turkey pepperoni

1 small can black olives

Salt and pepper to taste

Goddess salad dressing or Ranch salad dressing

In a large pot, bring to a boil lightly salted water. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Add the broccoli, onion, tomatoes, and pepperoni and toss together with the salad dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving.

School's Out or Is It?

2010-06-07T10:27:00.004-05:00

School is finally out for summer. When you homeschool does school ever officially end though? Do you just say "okay, no more learning, let's just drop it for two and a half to three months and pick it back up in the Fall?" Learning doesn't end even during the summer. Being the primary educator of my 7 almost 8 year-old, I have to be aware of the fact that I am still the teacher and it's hard to break out of that "teacher" mode.

Is it just me or does going to the hardware store or any store for that matter (as a homeschooler) to pick out new faucets, light bulbs, etc., turn into a field trip where the faucet purchase turns into a discussion on the water cycle and the importance of conserving water? Buying a single light bulb leads into a discussion on Edison and Tesla which turns into a trip to the library and an Internet search on the two men and their contributions to society? You get my point. I'm not complaining, but am I the only one who does this? Just found it odd that I am walking through Lowes with the hubby and kid discussing Nikola Tesla, Tesla coils, HAARP, wireless technology and AC current all because we needed to change the light bulb in the hall closet at home.

Garden Update

2010-06-03T18:47:00.014-05:00

It's been a while since I have last blogged. As some of you may know, Tennessee where I am from experienced a record breaking flood which started on May 1st. Our rivers, creeks and streams were inundated with three days of heavy rains. This May Day flood was devastating and the people of this great state are still recovering. I was fortunate in that my primary residence did not suffer any damage. My garden however was affected by this heavy downpour.

Some of the plants and seeds were washed away such as my carrot seeds, but for the most part the garden was spared. The heavy rains saturated the grounds for such a long time that I was afraid the plants would suffer from root rot, but that didn't happen. The plants in the garden, particularly the tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers are thriving and flourishing thanks to the extra water. I will be posting an update video at a later time.

Beltane Champagne for the Underage Witches

2010-04-28T11:17:00.004-05:00

I first made this champagne for my sister’s wedding reception and it was such a big hit that I now include it in most functions I host now including birthdays and the Springtime Sabbats. My 7 year old daughter absolutely loves it. So here is a drink recipe for the little ones to have while the big witches enjoy some May wine. Blessed Be!

1 (46 ounce) can of pineapple juice
1 (32 ounce) bottle of white grape juice

1 (32 ounce) bottle of white cranberry juice
2 (2 liter) bottles ginger ale

You can make an ice ring to go in the champagne to add a nice touch.

To make the ice ring fill a ring shaped cake pan half full with water or ginger ale.

Allow to freeze in the freezer until partially frozen ( kind of slushy).

At this point you can add some colorful edible flower heads such as marigolds, daisies, dandelions, roses or whatever you like.

Position the flowers around the ring the way you want them and add more water or ginger ale to the ring to finish filling up the cake ring.

Place the ring back in the freezer and freeze until solid.

Once frozen solid remove and place in a large punch bowl just before serving.

Place all or half of the ingredients in the punch bowl and serve.

As the punch gets low, and it will :) just add the second half of your mixture.

Beltane

2010-04-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

“Oh, do not tell the priest our plight, or he would think it a sin; but we have been in the woods all night a-conjuring summer in” –Rudyard Kipling’s A Tree Song

The season is upon us once again when the veil between this world and the Otherworld or Astral plane is at its thinnest. I am referring to Beltane which is opposite Samhain on the wheel of the year. Whereas Samhain (summer’s end) is a time to reconnect with the ancestors and those who have passed over, Beltane (summer’s beginning) is the time to connect with the people of the Fae or Faerie Folk. Faerie Magick is often worked at this time. This is actually reversed for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere who will be celebrating Samhain right now. My family always makes faerie houses for our main family altar. Outside the houses we often leave, tiny bells, crystals, shiny trinkets, sweet cakes and milk as an offering. This often brings the Fae into the house from the gardens.

Beltane which means “fire of Bel or Bel’s fire” is celebrated when the sun is 15 degrees into Taurus. It is the perfect time to make a Bel-fire. This fire which consists of the woods from the nine sacred trees is lit to welcome back the light and fertility to the land which is now fully waking up from its long dark slumber. It is a celebration of the union between the Goddess and the God. The Goddess is symbolized at this time as the May Queen Maia and the God is the Greenman. This celebration includes dancing around the May Pole (phallic symbol), “frolicking” in the woods, going “a-maying”, and leaping the Bel-fires. All of this is to generate that loving frisky energy that Gaia loves and send it back to the land to ensure a blessed planting and a bountiful harvest.

It is custom in our family tradition to make faerie houses, weave wreaths (honeysuckle, dandelion and jasmine are my favorite combination), dance around the May pole, and to camp out in our back yard while roasting marshmallows to make smores.

Have a blessed Beltane everyone!

Earth Day

2010-04-22T20:34:00.006-05:00

Happy Earth Day everyone! I spent my holiday getting my garden ready. Well should I say, my husband did most of the work? He tilled and I planted. Here’s a video I did of the results. Enjoy.

Spring Cleaning, but Why?

2010-04-15T11:35:00.002-05:00

Okay, once again it's that time of the year. I am proud to say that I have just now officially finished all of my spring cleaning. After a couple of weeks of chasing out dust bunnies, cleaning windows, washing down cabinets, cleaning out the junk drawer and a whole slew of other things, I am done. So why did I do all of this I wondered as I sat down on the couch and admired my handiwork? Why do we “spring clean”? What is it about the time surrounding the Spring Equinox that makes us want to clean our houses from top to bottom?

We are compelled to clean our living spaces during the Spring for the same reason that a soon to be mother will “nest” and prepare for the arrival of her newborn baby. She decorates the nursery, buys clothes, diapers etc. all in anticipation of a new life being born.

The Earth, also known as "Mother" Nature or Gaia is a living breathing entity and she does the same thing. As a part of Gaia we "nest" when she does. She becomes pregnant in Midsummer and gives birth every Spring Equinox. She gives birth to the flowers, trees, grass etc. It all is born anew each Spring. As a part of her, we children of Earth prepare and “nest” each year at the Spring Equinox in anticipation of her giving birth to nature once again. We want everything to be just right for this new arrival called Spring.

So we are called or compelled to prepare for Spring by the natural turning of the Wheel of the Year. "That's kinda cool, huh?" my daughter said, when I explained this to her. I say, I'd have to agree with her.

Ready To Plant

2010-04-14T19:58:00.003-05:00

Okay, so it was another hot spring day (85 degrees) in Nashville today. It was however the perfect day to do school with my daughter on our back deck. The joys and flexibility of homeschooling! The deck overlooks our vegetable garden, so while she worked away at her school books the hubby and I planned out this year’s garden. We were thinking of scaling back on the planting this year because we had so many crops last year, but I think we’ll end up going all out again this year. It’s all just so much fun to share our abundance with family and friends.

We will till the area sometime this week and plant around the 20th or 21st. It’s a chore because our soil has a lot of clay in it. Great for detoxing the body through the hands and feet as we work in the garden, but not good for the plants. So we’ll have to work on that. I actually can’t wait to get my hands in the soil and bask in Gaia’s glory.

The garden runs the length of our property along the fence which has the perfect amount of sun and shade throughout the day. As we plant I’ll post more pics. Happy gardening everyone!