Pagan Preschool

Sweet Osiris

2012-01-23T10:05:00.001-08:00

It is with a heavy heart that I must write that Osiris passed away on Friday evening.

We feel so blessed to have known him, even for this short time.

Thank you everyone for your help, prayers and generosity.

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Advent:: week 3

2011-12-15T13:13:00.001-08:00

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts,
Light of hope that shines in the greatest and the least

The only beast I needed to deal with was myself.

I opened the cabinet to make hot cocoa and an earwig fell out of the tea cup.

Then two days later, I found mold in our RV.

I decided, after dealing with both, that I would look up the message of the earwig and mold symbolism.

Earwig:
That something beautiful and magical is hiding under your hard shell.

Did you know that earwigs have wings?!

They rarely use them and when they do- they neatly tuck them away with their sharp claws.

Mold:

That something is lying dormant and unused. Or that something old and useless is being held onto subconsciously.

Both of those are powerful messages alone, together, I find them MOST intriguing.

While I delve into the meaning of this inner beast- I leave you with my recipe for hot cocoa...

K says I should sell it- that's it's the most delicious ever.

4 cups hemp milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder (or to taste)
Raw honey to taste
Pinch (or two) of sea salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine and whisk to a froth.

Top with loads of marshmallows.

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Saint Lucia

2011-12-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

May your Saint Lucia day be bright an full of light!

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Advent::Tree

2011-12-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

this year i included this section on my treasure map.....

when i put it up, i thought- i hope this takes me somewhere else, where i can form roots.

last night i was cleaning... as i put away a toy, i had the strongest sense that i had been here before....

no....

i dreamed this before.

someone told me once that dejavu is the universe letting you know you are EACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE....

I choose to believe that.

now, when i added forever roots to the treasure map... i meant "forever ties to other people"

but the universe/god/almighty entity/choose your own adventure knew better.

it knew that i didn't need attachments to people to grow those forever roots.

it knew i only needed to ground myself to this earth

root my should to the sturdy soil that will nourish us.

im

exactly

where
*I*
need
to be.

i am learning all the lessons that i am meant to learn.

that i need to carry to my next journey.

speaking with jared about this overwhelming feeling i had, he commented that when we were living in tucson, far before the layoff and the new baby and the fear....

we used to lay in the sun and daydream about

living somewhere cold and chilly year round...

him working at a small start up company that he BELIEVED in and supported....

being able to hike in big green trees....

being able to walk in the sun and not have it hurt our skin...

so while, after the layoff and the scary year that followed- our current position may not feel as stable as life in the desert was....

it might not be surrounded with the same exact community we left behind...

and it might not even look like its working all the time...

but it IS one thing-

it is exactly what we asked for.

Advent Week 2

2011-12-05T12:35:00.001-08:00

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2011-12-05T12:31:00.001-08:00

The second light of Advent is the light of plants,Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance

what a perfect way to celebrate the second week, than by heading out into nature and chopping down your very own tree?

although, it was picturesque, and although these particular trees were planted for the sole purpose of chopping down for the holidays... we felt a little sad as we hoisted the tree to the top of the van to take home.

we said a little prayer, and we thanked the tree.... promising to love and cherish this tree for as long as it would stay with us- not just until after the holidays.

its a beautiful tree... we love it so.....

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Leaky roof.

2011-11-30T12:49:00.001-08:00

In honor of the first week of ADVENT, of rock and crystal and bone.... I share a post from my private journal. About how i am finding my footing, my center, my rocks and bones.

Enjoy ;)

A couple months ago, we discovered a leak in our roof, over our bed.

I was so sad, angry, anxious.

"how much will this cost?"

"how will we fix it?"

"what if we can't fix it?!"

It made me think of a scene in Bottlerocket. Dignan and Anthony are stranded on the side of the road and dignan says, "what a lemon! One minute it's running like a top, the next it's broken down. And I don't have the tools to fix it. And even if I HAD the tools, I don't know that I could FIX a car like that". Paraphrasing here.

I don't have the time or a sturdy Internet connection to seek out the full quote...

So, here I sat, crying and freaking out. Freaking. OUT. I googled "leaky roof spiritual message". Because that's what I do. I google things when I am desperate to try and gain some message. I suppose it's like seeing a Priest? Pastor? Counselor?

This very religious website comes up... After a very long drawn out story- it developed the moral of "you don't know you have a leaky roof until it rains" or more directly "you never know how solid your belief in god is until you hit hard times."

Got it.

Now, being that i'm not a Christian, exactly, I'm not going to take it that directly. But I get where it's going.

My soul has got a SERIOUS leaky roof!!!! And although, in sunnier times, I feel peace.... That's not enough. When it storms, I can feel the rain pour in!!!

It is easy to Be grounded, centered, and calm when it's sunny and your kids are happy and healthy and your bills are paid and there is money in the bank.

You never know how grounded and collected your SOUL is (or isn't) until your roof is leaking and the battery in the van is dead (happened last week) and the kids are all sick (all month) and your head hurts and you are tired.

So, when Jared came home, he tried to fix the leak. it took a few tries. And a few trips to the store. And a tarp. And repeat. But he succeeded. A Month passed.

I began seriously *working* on patience. Calm. I've been exercising daily to clear my energy and get in some "me" time. I started a Gratitude Journal. For collecting my blessings and sketching my life moments. I picked up those knitting needles and used handwork to ground me to simpler tasks.

A couple weeks ago, I was writing in my gratitude journal. Drinking a hot cup of coffee.

I look up.

Overhead, I watch as a leak appears, and grows- quite literally- before my eyes.

I call Jared- "the roof is leaking!!!" I cursed. I got mad for a minute. Then I thought-

"we HAVE a roof."

A little over a year ago- we didn't.

Then I thought-

"we HAVE the knowledge of how to get the tools to fix this roof! And with those tools we HAVE the knowledge of exactly what to do with those tools!"

And I saw, all that we HAVE.

I could feel my feet on the ground. I could feel my soul breathe a sigh of relief.

The holes in my proverbial roof are being sealed. Slowly but SURELY.

Which brings me to another hole in my roof.

Fear. More precisely- fear of LOSING CONTROL.

Yesterday, I was working hard. Busy. Doing lots of- HANDWORK- which is, for me, where the greatest meditation and messages arise.

I was braiding thread to make candlewicks.

I thought- "how blessed am I to have the luxury of buying all these supplies?!"

To have the blessing to have had the weirdest art teacher in high school that taught us things like knitting, latch hooking and candlemaking! (although to be accurate, my first grade teacher taught me to knit first) :)

So I'm standing there wondering how in the world candles can be so cheap when it takes THIS
LONG to braid a freaking wick!!!

The night passes uneventfully.

I wake up to cranky and rashy kids. I start to panic. I struggle for control. I want to fix it. I want them better NOW!!!!!!

"what if they get worse?!"

"what if I don't know what to do?!"

"what if there is something majorly wrong and I don't realize it in time?!!"

I walked past the braided wicks.

It was almost as if they spoke.

"time"

Things. take. time.

In our modern society, nothing takes time anymore! We have machines and medicine and fast food. No need to wait! Ever!

No surprise, then, that anxiety abounds when things go out of our control!

We can control EVERYTHING!!!!!! So we think.

I took a moment to think of my ancestors. All they had was time. Time and prayer and maybe a doctor.

Not I. I have all the time I need- BUT I also have a nursing degree, and knowledge of herbs and homeopathy, and I have brilliant friends, and a doctor not even a mile away, and an excellent fast urgent care down the road!

And I HAVE health insurance.

And I HAVE above all those things- faith. Faith in my children's bodies.

And then the thought arose-

"Another hole in my roof has been sealed."

I have. I HAVE so very MUCH.

Gratitude and faith and love.

What seals your holes?

May the universe never run out of caulking ;)

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Advent!

2011-11-29T10:21:00.001-08:00

Ah!!! Advent!

We are not a religious family, but we ARE a deeply spiritual one.

I love the holiday season. The tradition. The history.

We research and celebrate St Nikolaus Day and we research hannukah extensively. As well as Christmas. I do find, however, that advent is so much more. It is a time to reflect and examine LIFE. What it means to be alive, and the life around you.

The earth, the stones and jewels, the animals, other humans and the interconnectedness of it all.

Steiner's teachings about advent has directed our journey through this time for a few years.

The first light of Advent is the light of stones,
Light that lives in seashells, in crystals and in bones

The second light of Advent is the light of plants,
Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts,
Light of hope that shines in the greatest and the least

The fourth light of Advent is the light of you and I,
The light of love, of thought, to give and understand

This is a common scene in our home. Olive has a rock and seashell collection that she adds to daily.

We took a hike on the first day of advent.

Lo and behold! We found this skeleton amongst the rocks and dirt.

We welcome the love and light we receive from the magical ocean. The beautifully sanded jewels it tosses us and the power to sweep us away. The equal amount of beauty and power.

What lessons do we take from the stones, bones, crystals and rocks?

That even something so simple as a hunk of salt can emit healing ions into the air when warmed.

That when a shell becomes vacant after the death of it's host, the ocean & sand, over time, return to us a work of art.to remind us of the cycles.

The earth can be cut deep, or pushed to great heights. Sometimes it IS just about being in the right place at the right time.

Those were my thoughts... Please share yours!

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Martinmas

2011-11-15T17:53:00.001-08:00

This year, we were on the road for martinmas.

we talked about St Martin, and we discussed ways that we could honor the essence of what St. Martin stood for.

such a concept for adults to talk to kids about.

kids want to share wealth

they want everyone to be safe and warm and loved.

they shine their lights so bright....

so, we gathered two bags of warm clothes to take to a homeless shelter this weekend.

links:

to read the story of St. Martin, click here

my favorite lantern walk song is here...

we were going to build a fire, but the sunset provided us with a much better show of light!

we have internet!!!!

2011-11-15T11:55:00.001-08:00

i pleased to announce, that for the first time in over 3 months, we have WiFI!!!!!

i am hoping to get up all of our blog posts before we lose it again! its sooooo hit or miss over here on the coast! all this fog!

The Magic Onions! This Cosy Life!

2011-11-15T11:12:00.001-08:00

What a giveaway!

i know i am not much of a giveaway follower- but there happen to be two really great ones right now!

the first one is utilitarian.... I have had a bag of local wool in my craft cabinet since bizarre bazaar.... waiting for the tools we can't really afford due to my kids being craft fiends that never leave room in the budget for "mama wants".....

magic onions giveaway is one click away!

it is for A Childs Dream Come True $50 gift certificate!

The second giveaway that i am super excited about is over at This Cosy Life!!!

If you know me even a *little*, you will click that link and think "oh my goodness, jen is going to pass out with excitement when she wins that!"

like i think i would cry.... and I'm not entirely sure i would share it with my kids.

I'm kidding.....

kind of.....

so go enter in these giveaways!!!!!

and if you win and i don't, ill just email you where to send it..... :P

~imbolc 2011~

2011-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

i am so very pleased to welcome in february!

winter has been rather tough, emotionally and spiritually_ bring on the fire!

we are having pancakes (grain & sun symbolism)

cleaning the house

taking down the last of our christmas decorations :(

composting the last of our pine

we are also getting ready for GROUNDHOGS DAY!!!

more info here

If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Come, winter, have another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Go, winter, and come not again.

global goddess' article (favourite of mine)

TO CELEBRATE IMBOLC TODAY . . . (copied from here)
This is traditionally a time of purification — clean your house!
If you have any Christmas greenery lingering, burn it now.
Make your own Brighid’s crosses and hang them up,
especially in the kitchen where her influence can bless your food.
Put out food — cake, buttered bread and milk will do — outside your door:
Brighid and her cow walk through the neighborhood tonight, and will appreciate your offering.
Leave a silk ribbon on your doorstep for Brighid to bless:
It can then be used for healing purposes.
Meditate upon what you would like to see grow in health and strength this year:
for yourself, your family, your community, the Earth,
and ask for Bride's blessing upon your prayers.

Yule

2010-12-29T12:58:00.000-08:00

i havent had the time to really get on and post much about yule.

wiki yule

i tend to follow the kids lead and introduce things as they seem "ready". Solstice and Christmas are pretty easy.... advent and yule are a little more involved and we have been taking it as it comes up.

today we read the "Twelve Days of Christmas" by Jan Brett. In the foreward, she mentioned how the song has pagan overtones. I used this moment to talk to the girls about yule. How like christmas and the Epiphany, Yule is also 12 days, as it is a celebration that came first.

here is a great blog detailing yule and its spiritual importance as we use this time of darkness to look inward and then outward towards the approaching year and sun!

Here- we have been celebrating solstice, advent, christmas and yule.... a mixture of them all. i think the beginning of life is all about discovery... i want our family to understand everything and respect every separate belief.

this is our first holiday season in our new city, and as we have been decorating and reading we have been doing a lot of reflecting on the old house and our old rituals and traditions.

ira has said more than once that she missees tucson and our old home.

liv has been asking to go to our "real home" a lot as well.

I think its pretty spot on that they are desiring to turn inward and "go home". its that time of year.

this is the time where we cling to what is comforting and makes us feel secure and loved.... to get us through this "dark" time.

Winter solstice 2010

2010-12-21T15:32:00.001-08:00

We live in a small space with no place to light a fire and no room for a full spiral... But I think we did a good job improvising!

The girls watched a little bear episode about winter solstice and we read a few books and online stories.

We walked our half spiral and lit our candles.

We lit the lanterns for the snow angels and snow faeries to find their way...

And hung our cranberry garland for them to eat if they get hungry.

After everyone went to bed, Jared and I awaited the lunar eclipse.
Horrible picture! It was totally red! It was the first time we have seen anything like this as adults. Jared and I both remember a summer as children when we watched it (separately).

We even woke up ira.

She said"its red. Im cold. Put me back in bed".

Today, We worked on our season/nature table. Reciting some of Rudolph Steiner/waldorf verses-

Advent week one-
The first light of Advent is the light of stones.
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.
Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.
Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea.
All await the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.

Ira helped build this nativity scene with her toys. She was inspired by this book

She pays much attention to detail. Using two dolls in dresses as Mary and joseph after seeing this page

Ira checked the cranberry garland and was disappointed to see that no snow angels or squirrels had eaten any.

Apparently the local squirrel didn't get the memo.

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St. Nicholas Day

2010-12-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

Instead of putting out their shoes (it was raining) they hung their socks. They got 1 dollar for every year they are and were encouraged to donate or use it for others in some way.

Coloring St. Nicholas and drinking hot cocoa while I read them stories about St. Nicholas.

Ira's-

Liv only wanted to do one, but she personalized it. I love how she cuts up the edges....

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Happy Hanukkah

2010-12-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

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First Sunday of Advent

2010-11-28T22:07:00.000-08:00

I know this blog has been pretty quiet! I do not have my laptop anymore so I cannot update as often as I would like since the sidebar info requires flash or something that doesn't let me access it from my iPhone!

This sunday was the beginning of advent... We spent it Trimming the tree and discussing what advent is, how it I celebrated and why Christians celebrate.

We are not Christians. But we are very spiritual and I do believe strongly in the importance of teaching importance of diversity and respect for others religions. For this reason we also read heavily about Hanukkah and have a menorah.

Ira is very attracted to god and religion and asks innumerable questions and wants to soak it all in. She even watches veggie tales.

So different from her parents :)

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~ november ~

2010-11-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

martinmas is coming!

last years link post

~October~

2010-10-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

We welcome you, October! With open, OPEN arms!

i found this morning verse at

~twig and toadstool~

i think its perfect and something we needed.

the post is also moving- i like the theme of being gentler with ourselves....

Our morning verse

My Heart

I am strong, I am brave, I am valiant and bold.

For the sun fills my heart with his life giving gold.

I am helpful and truthful and loving and free.

For my heart's inner sunshine glows brightly in me.

I will open my arms to the sunbeams so bright;

I will warm all the world with my heart's inner light.

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Michaelmas!

2010-09-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of my very favourite celebration days.

i love the tales of st. george, st. michael, dragons, shooting stars, etc.

here are some links to stories and explanations...

rudolf steiner archive

festival of stones

waldorf library

and a link to previos michaelmas posts here at pagan preschool.

michaelmas

harvest: apples

2010-09-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

we found lots of apples at the farmers market over the weekend...

we try to stick to local produce- so we have been missing apples...

today, as we celebrate the equinox, autumn and harvest- we celebrate apples.

earthschooling apple story

the apple story (traditional)

entering into the equinox...

2010-09-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

this equinox coincides with the full moon...

it is an especially good time to take a look at our lives and ask ourselves-

what is working well in our lives? what areas are we thankful for? What daily blessings are we grateful for? what do we wish to pay more attention to? are there amazing things we are ignoring?

what are things that we are desiring? what needs do we have that are not being met? how can we open up to accept more of what we need?

What is NOT working? what do we need to let go of in order to grasp on to that which makes us more fulfilled?

what negative energy is lying around clouding our vision of happiness?

we are planning a feast tomorrow- i am thinking of having the girls participate in this self inflection to see what their answers are.

THE EQUINOX

2010-09-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

...is coming!

what a great time of year!!

we are very excited for this changing of seasons and harvest!

im compiling info for correct imes/dates, etc...thought i would share-

.gov site

the equinox explained

circle of light

planetarium video

witchvox

exciting exciting!

2010-07-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

entering a new phase of our lives..... and having it all happen right around lughnasadh! how lucky are we?!

we are moving in to a new magical place, with amazing views, and i just know that after letting go of so much history with the sale of our house, and after letting go of energies through beautiful coming of age ceremonies----

we are ready! we are ready for these new doors to open in a positive direction and are ready to only bring positivity and love with us!

so we plan to spend tomorrow as we plan to spend the year!

soaking up some amazing views, soaking up some farmers markets and learning our way around!

~New Moon~

2010-02-15T11:51:00.000-08:00

what a great day to hae the world focused on love, no?

"happiness multiples when divided" heard that today and haven't found the origin... but thought i would share!

tomorrow is Chinese New Year- what a lovely time for festivities! the weather here is amazing, sunny and bright.....and love is in the air.

Groundhogs day!

2010-02-02T21:19:00.000-08:00

we have groundhog crowns to color..... found here via crafty crow

spent some time here.... and here.... was interesting to see the connection made by wiki of Groundhogs day and imbolc and candlemas.

printed out some activities....

math code puzzle

a maze

i kinda think this song is hilarious....

we went outside and pretended we were goundhogs

~Imbolc~

2010-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

we spent imbolc eve baking sun shaped pitas and tortillas and discussing our plans for today...

made candles and a candle holder (just a dar...or two late ;) )

nature walk
trip to library for our brigid book that we have on hold

for more info on imbolc, candlemas or st brigids day, check out these links!

school of the seasons

chalice centre

full moon

2010-01-30T19:02:00.001-08:00

and both my kids are asleep by 8! ruh roh....

new moon...

2010-01-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

acknowledging the break i am taking from this space.

new babe and all.....

WInter Solstice 2009

2009-12-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

here is a link to last years post about solstice....

i posted about our day here on the raising lovies blog....

hanukkah

2009-12-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

we touched briefly on hanukkah last year.

again this website is wonderful~ chabad.org ~

we read

The Story of Hanukkah
by Amy Ehrlich

activities lined up~

third letter code game

dreidel with wooden pieces we bought last year

latkes & applesauce

turned out awesome!

and maybe get a jelly doughnut or two ;)

Advent 2009 day 7

2009-12-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

Solstice Tree Trimming

St. Nicholas Day

2009-12-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

last year's post is here.

I have a stack of activities planned, but the girls were tired from a busy weekend.

So, we spent the evening reading books....

Merry Christmas, Snowden

The First Night
by B.G. Hennessy

The twelve days of Christmas: a christmas carol
a little golden book

A Visit From St. Nicholas: and a santa mouse too!
by Clement C. Mouse

We drew up things we could remember about st nicholas.... well ira came up with facts and I drew.
then she told me things about santa she remembered and I drew those up.... and we compared how similar the images were.... santa is surrounded by child-like elves- st nicholas is patron saint of children and images of him are filled with children. the shoes/stockings, bishop's staff/candy canes etc etc

then we completed this crossword puzzle....

Advent 2009: Day 3

2009-12-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

a taste of winter

advent 2009 day 2

2009-12-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought for you are not ready for thought.
So the darkness shall be light, and the stillness the dancing.
T S Eliot, "East Coker," Four Quartets

Advent Week One: Day One

2009-12-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

some links for anyone interested....

school of the seasons

another school of the seasons newsletter

Owl's wings solstice sun wheel post

Ill be back later to update and share whats going on here!

MARTINMAS!

2009-11-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

some links!

lantern songs

feast of st. martin

Irish celebration of st martin

School of the seasons info

A story telling of crows: lantern song with video

All Souls Procession

2009-11-08T23:54:00.000-08:00

we went to the annual all souls procession and had a blast... we got there late and missed a lot of it... but it was still fun...

i also forgot my camera... :)

Dia De Los Muertos

2009-11-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

the day of the dead

here, in our home, we celebrate this entire week.... we are not catholic... and we are not mexican... but we do believe that celebrating the dead is important... and on samhain- which we very loosely "observe"... we celebrate the end of harvest/beginning of winter and also thehonoring of our dead and the beginning of a new spiritual year....

Today we taught ira what the holiday "dia de los muertos" is about... we went and ate at a local mexican taco shop that was decorated and celebrating... and then we stopped at a cemetary on the way home- because ira was very interested in the process of burial versus cremation during a talk we had last week- so its seemed fitting.

We did not take pictures at the cemetary... we really stayed in the moment and tried to be as respectful as possible.

happy halloween

2009-10-31T10:22:00.001-07:00

Samhain Eve

2009-10-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

We started our day out in the kitchen~

roasting pumpkin seeds...

boiling pumpkin flesh for a puree (I scrap as much meat as possible before we carve).....

making almond butter and cupcakes at the same time.....

yummmmm, pumpkin puree.... what to make? what to make?

CUPCAKES! they are whole wheat cupcakes with way too sweet for our own good icing....

Then, we met up with daddy to head up to....

Tohono Chul Park- they hosted a day of the dead celebration... so we went to see the dambe drummers perform.... then flam chen put on a great performance, per usual.... except.... well... it was an odd performance... there is normally a really great tribal communal vibe to the performances. They definitely brought it, but the audience seemed full of people who were content to sit in chairs and watch the "show". We were surrounded by people who seemed a little uptight and upset with our dancing.

it was a fun night though, they also had live animals and plenty docents to teach the kids about snakes, bats, tortoise, etc.

we met up with great friends we haven't seen in a whil and it was a GREAT night.

pics....

Winternights!

2009-10-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of the festivals marking the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter!

Here in the desert it is the PERFECT time of year to start celerbrating- the heat is mostly gone... and this week, we were lucky to get a cold front that brough really frigid weather!

Well, frigid for us- highs in the 50s... :)

It really did start to feel like winter.

We started the day at the park- with some friends, had lunch with jared and then went shopping for the last of the samhain feast items we needed.

We came home and prepped the kitchen for PUMPKIN CARVING....

I told ira the history behind the harvest festivals, and samhain.... and when i started telling her about spirits coming for dinner- she got way freaked out and left the room to hang with daddy.... oops.

Ill update with pics as soon as my camera battery charges!

and here they are-

Meditrinalia

2009-10-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

from nova roma:

Varro [De Lingua Latina, 6.21] says the following about this day:
"Octobri mense Meditrinalia dies dictus a medendo, quod Flaccus flamen Martialis dicebat hoc die solitum vinum novum et vetus libari et degustari medicamenti causa; quod facere solent etiam nunc multi cum dicunt: 'Novum vetus vinum bibo: novo veteri morbo medeor'."

"The day of the Meditrinalia in month October was named from 'mederi' (to be healed), as Flamen Martialis Flaccus used to say that on this day it was the custom to make a libation of new and old wine and to taste it in order to be healed. Many are accustomed to do this even now when they say: 'Wine new and old I drink, of illness new and old I'm cured.'"

references:
ancient library

roman history

Michaelmas Part Deux

2009-10-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

we made this lovely lady dragon (ira informed me of its gender)

While it was baking and cooling, Ira and I read this wiki page....

we then went and looked at THIS painting and THIS painting.

Then we read Nkosnati and the Dragon: from Hear the Voice of the Griot by betty staley and edited for children by Steve Spitalny. You can find it here....

and because it takes about an hour to bake.... we had time to selectively read pieces (because some parts were n ot what I would want ira to hear so young)of this story and ira loved playing with the cursor tracker.

then we painted-

Michaelmas Circle
Songs and verses compiled from the Wynstones Autumn book, the oral tradition, and other sources
The autumn wind blows open the gate,
O Michael, you, you we await.
We follow you, show us the way.
With joy we greet the autumn day,
Good morning, good morning
And I wonder who is this Michael? And I hear the wind sing:
Michael, God’s great knight,
Strong and pure and shining bright.
I’ll be a knight of Michael, too,
And polish my crown to a golden hue.
Ask the gnomes the iron to mine,
Iron from the stars, from the earth, so fine,
To bring to the blacksmith, who with his might
Will make me a sword, so strong, so bright.
And we follow the falling stars to the mountain cave where the gnomes are working.
And the gnomes say:
With fire and stone, we work with a will
With our strength and our skill.
The iron we soften and then we bend
Into hammers, swords, and nails to mend.
Dear gnomes, may I have some iron?
Are you noble? Oh, yes.
Are you good? Oh, yes.
And do you hear the singing of the stars? Oh yes.
Then you may have some iron.
(Song) Thank you little gnomes, in your crystal homes.
Oh bring me a galloping horse for to ride,
A crown on my head, the iron by my side.
Off to the blacksmith we must go.
Galloping, galloping, off we go.
Dear blacksmith, will you make me a sword?
Of course! for:
I am a blacksmith, strong and true, Best of work I always do.
All day long my hammers go, slinging, clanging, clanging, so,
A rickety, tickity, tickity, tick,
A rickety, tickity, tickity, tick.
Thank you, kind blacksmith, for your might.
I’ll polish my sword, so fine, so bright.
I will use it for the right,
Not for some silly quarrel or fight,
But to drive away evil, I will try
And protect those who are weaker than I.
(After a week or two of the preceding, the following is added.)
Oh bring me a galloping horse for to ride,
A crown on my head, my sword by my side,
For it’s off the to castle we will go.
Galloping, galloping, here we go.
The knights came together and proclaimed
No fear here! Michael, be my guide and stand by my side.
And they knew that Michael was always ready to help.
Michael, God’s great knight,
Strong and pure and shining bright.
Barbara Klocek

Michaelmas

2009-10-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

we were away on a roadtrip during michaelmas... i am aware that this is not a typical "pagan" celebration... I realize that this may or may not have been a celebration to mimic equinox celebrations.... but as an eclectic pagan- I enjoy almost all traditions and beliefs. I am, personally, drawn to stories of saints and angels just as I enjoy reading about greek goddesses. I am also, personally, quite fond of waldorf theory.... which also focuses on michaelmas... it all fits together in this brain!

so even though we were gone on the actual date, I still had things planned for when we returned... then my little little got chicken pox. Now that that is all over and we are in the eye of the storm (i assume my older little will soon get them) we are celebrating things we missed :)

stay tuned!

our little nature nest has some great links here

im thinking our little celebration tonight will definitely involve some of those lovely ideas, like a silk cape, the story of Li Chi, and maybe some applesauce making?

:)

im also thinking of a dragon craft that might use up some of the hundreds of paper grocery bags Ive accumulated over the years!

additional references from non-pagan/non-waldorf sites- beware- content is christian/catholic:

wiki

feast of st. michael

historic-UK.com

Autumn Equinox

2009-09-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the theme of balance.... the equinox.... bringing equal amounts of day and night. Its the second of three harvest festivals (lammas the first, samhain the third) and we tend to celebrate it with a big, scratch, harvest stew. We started making that yesterday....and we have some butternut squashed prepped and ready to go for the feast as well.

The plan for today is to go harvest some acorns for crafting and decoration, some apples and grain for a cobbler, and the makings for a spiced apple cider (kids and I) and some wine for the hubby.

Back later with pictures!

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun's reminder to honor balance- and the underlying blessing to those of us in the desert.... the suns reign is over- the night will now begin to cool us for longer periods!

New Moon

2009-09-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

new moon ritual info

The new moon is the birthing cycle of the moon's various phases. The new moon phase is an optimal time for planning and seeding your intentions. Seedlings need a period of gestation before they break through the soil and reach for the sunlight. This is also true for our ideas and our desires. The dark side of the moon, with its mysterious unseen forces, offers a nurturing environment where our intentions can establish roots before their miraculous manifestations begin to sprout and reach out to the stars.

I am not much of a "ritual" person, im more of a "actively setting intentions" pagan....

I like to use these magical times to reflect on where i am, where we are, what we want and how to choose the path that leads there.

During this new moonphase, we took to the mountains. BEcause where we are- is a hot hot place... we are hibernating still and we are unbalanced. There is always a struggle in the desert to balance time in nature and time in city life. As a family, I have found we need both. We need museums, coffee shops and restaurants just as much as we need to run around in the forest or desert. Because this family of mine- we are a social bunch.... not because we need to be around friends all the time, but because we enjoy watching social interactions, we like learning, and we like challenging what we believe and what others believe. If we allowed ourselves to become an island in the sea of humanity- would it allow for growth?

Well, lately- we have been too involved in society... we had lost the balance. We were feeling defeated and depressed. From the house, to the car, to the building, to the car to the house. Fast fast go go. Hot hot hot.

What a breath of fresh air the mountains were. In every sense.

Our intentions are set- for this next month, year, life phase- we want more outdoors to balance our hectic schedules!

September 1!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

The only sign that fall is approaching here is that Starbucks brought out the pumpkin spice lattes!

Actually, that is not true. Our daily highs have dropped from 110degrees to anywhere between 90-100... we have been getting bits of rain. Very very small bits of rain.

It looks as though we will have a wet(ish) weekend, with Tropical Storm Jimena. Which is interesting that Friday is the FULL MOON.

Then Labor Day on Monday.

A full week and weekend... very promising opportunity to coax fall into visiting us.

randomness

2009-08-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

Lately- our days are still spent indoors escaping the heat.... so we find ourselves doing really random art & craft projects....

shapes and lots of glue!

2009-08-03T13:43:00.001-07:00

We cut out a bunch of shapes, and then keira turned those shapes into different shapes, and then we glued the bits together randomly... Then when they dry we will go back and see what we think they are.. like clouds. Just a fun excuse to sit together and use glue. Liv is really getting the hang of ripping paper and gluing it. Its fun to watch the progression. This is one of my favourite things to do during our afternoon craft time. Its a great way to stay present in the moment, not worrying about what you are making, just cutting and gluing... then gazing and daydreaming about all the things your random things can be.

Lughnasadh!!!!

2009-08-01T17:43:00.001-07:00

We celebrated the first round of fruit ready to be harvested at a local farm!

The not yet ripe apples.....
The delicious peaches.....
A beautiful moment in the trees....
the young crops....

Our treasure....
the yummy fire (then oven) roasted corn....
Then we took a walk in the cooling evening, the waxing moon.....
A joyful ira....
Liv- collecting her rocks....

A beautiful day and a beautiful night... the tone we intend to set for this coming autumn.

Lughnasadh Prep!

2009-07-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of the fall harvest festivals! The midway point between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox.

Also, even though summer is no where near leaving us, well, at least not in the sense that it will soon be chilly.... there is a definite shift in august... the 105+ daily temps slowly become 95+daily temps.

Its a slow change, a steady change, the seasons here flow seamlessly from one to the next and mingle into each other. This gradual shift can leave us not quite sure what season we are in. Often times I find myself in a sweater and jeans thinking, "when did this happen? When did the oppressive heat leave?" only to an hour later be stripping off the sweater and exclaiming, "why is it still so hot?!?"

Living here, as a transplant from the midwest, i am always trying to balance the natural ebb and flow of the beautiful desert with the seasonal/wheel of the year traditions I have celebrated my entire life in the midwest where the seasons are so very textbook.

I do this for many reasons, one being, that I do not envision us always living here, so I want my children to learn of the major seasonal themes and almost monthly changes in scenery. I also like to imagine the interconnectedness of all the regions and their differences and contributions to the world.

I think of my friends in alaska that are still in need of a furnace at night in july.... or my friends in germany and their rainy days. I sit and think of all the places in the world and their unique climates and that while I am locked away indoors avoiding the heat, I have friends locked indoors avoiding thunderstorms. I want my kids to be aware of the magic that comes at seasons end. How you spend every night outdoors in a tank top, and one night, on your way to your car, you stop and feel the wind change, get the shiver down your spine and think, often out loud, "its hoodie time...." Sure enough, the next week brings decreasing temps, and next thing you know leaves are changing and falling.

Here in the southwest, we still have a good two or three months of solid summer, as I define summer. Though, to be fair, we start to move into the more enjoyable sort of summer, kind of like spring.... where those of us who hibernate from the heat start to head outdoors and enjoy the scenery again.

Im new here, Im learning as I go... I never quite know where I stand in regards to ethical farming in the desert, is it wrong to grow at all here? what is the impact? I put my own garden plans off until I answer that for myself.

So here I am, in the desert, far form my comfort zone, and trying desperately to celebrate my spiritual connection to the earth in an environment that is severely foreign to me.

So this weekend we are heading to a town about an hour away where the daily temps are about ten degrees cooler and there are a plethora of farms that are all celebrating the first harvest! Our favourite farm just opened its doors in the past couple weeks...

The first harvest, in july, was corn. This month, on Lughnasadh, they continue with corn and begin the peach mania festival. Also available to us to pick this weekend are peaches, asian pears, gala apples, bell peppers, black eyed peas, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, cantaloupe, honeydew, sweet corn, summer squash ans tomatoes!

Im very excited. Planning lots of crafts and activities to start on friday, Lughnasadh Eve... which also happens to be my 5 year wedding anniversary!

Im linking up some info for anyone interested in planning things to do this weekend... have fun!

Wiki link for Lammas

School of the seasons, Celebrating Lammas

Lughnasad is one of the great Celtic fire-festivals, so if at all possible, have your feast around a bonfire. While you're sitting around the fire, you might want to tell stories. Look up the myths of any of the grain Gods and Goddesses mentioned above and try re-telling them in your own words. [from the food for thought section of SOTS]

Geo citites info page

Lughnasadh is a time of bounty, celebration, and hopes for an abundant harvest season. We celebrate the bounty of our own life's harvest, the work we have done in and within our own lives as well as in our community. We understand and acknowledge the need for successes in both the physical and spiritual realms.[quote from geocities link]

Craft day!

2009-07-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

I spent the majority of the day cleaning and reorganizing our craft room/office.

We have a art studio in theback yard that is not yet attached to electricity... so we keep non perishables out there and use our office as the office craft space. I bought a craft closet a while back and it seems to get out of control within days of organizing, so a good session was due.

As it goes, ira was immersed in glue, glitter and craft supplies all day. TV? you say???? whats THAT!?! ;)

gluing ribbon to a coat hanger- she was going to make a mobile of sorts, but got distracted by-
stamps!!!!!!
Which led her to making puppets??? lol

Then she attempted a stop motion film... she actually made a film with video- but its 5 minutes of moving puff balls that I am betting only ira and I enjoys watching ;)

Pics of the solar eclipse

2009-07-22T22:18:00.001-07:00

if only we could see it from where I am! :(

national geographic site pics

video of the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century.

wheel of the year

2009-07-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

so we have been working on the rhythm of time.... last year we focused more on passing of the seasons... this year I am trying to incorporate a better understanding of the months.

ira lost interest pretty fast in the measuring portion... but decided to join back in once i started drawing the themes. She chose most of what i drew, after a short story about each month.

Food Chains

2009-07-22T11:19:00.001-07:00

RIP sea monkeys

2009-07-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

I misread the directions and overfed the sea monkeys... apparently it suffocates them.

Lovely.

I was heartbroken. I sat staring into the aquarium- looking, searching, hoping for one, just one survivor.

Nothing.

Jared said, "we can buy more!"

I said, "That's not the point."

I worked up the courage to finally break it to ira....

she said, "we can buy more mama!"

I guess I am the only one incredibly saddened by this horrible turn in events.

You were a great bunch of sea monkeys- sea monkeys- I enjoyed spending the last 5 days with your squirmy little selves. I hope your journey was peaceful.

Now off to thesea monkey supply website to order more eggs.

This feels odd.

SONORAN DESERT

2009-07-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

we are off to the weekly night time visit to the sonoran desert museum.

ira is learning about bats bats bats.... so i looked up some fun facts and printed off some activities to do today before we go.

will report back later about how it goes!

big brown bat fact sheet

California Leaf-nosed Bat fact sheet

seek and find activity sheets... if you mouse/scroll over the objects it links to info sheets.

SMALL UPDATE

On the info sheets of the gila monster, hummingbird, bobcat, harris hawk, diamondback rattlesnake and thejavelina- there are sound clips you can listen to!!!

Fun facts we discovered looking htrough the fact sheets of the things we found....

pepsis wasp (tarantula hawk wasp) -
disturbs the tarantulas web to draw it out, stings it- lays an egg on it and seals up the burrow so it cannot escape, once the eggs hatches the wasp kills the still alive spider. crazy.

Anna's Hummingbird-
only bird known to fly backward.... heart beats 1260 beats per minute.

spotted bat-
solitary and territorial unlike other bats. echolocation low enough to be heard by humans.

pallid bat-
eats half its body weight in ONE night!

Great horned owl-
unable to move eyes so they have to rotate their head up to 270 degrees... this is possible because of their extra vertebrae. The females lay 2-6 eggs but the male and females both take turns protecting and feeding the babies.

Harris Hawk-
1 of only 2 raptor species that hunts as a group. 8 TIMES better vision than a human. they do something called backstanding- where each one stands on the next ones back- to help them see further away and to provide shade to each other when they spread their wings.

Ringtail-
able to scale vertical heights- trees, cacti.... their hind feet rotate 180 degress to allow them to also descend these great vertical limits as well.

We also learned that the mountain lion is a natural predator of the bobcat.... I found that so interesting... I wouldnt have thought that they would hunt within the cat family.

bats

2009-07-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

what we have learned....

they live in caves, and here in tucson, under bridges over washes....

they eat bugs, use sonar.... and if you build a bat house in your yard... they help keep the mosquito population under control.

ira likes bats and we went to the desert museum specifically to talk to the "bat docent" but she wasnt there. she usually has a bunch of bat replicas, and skeletons and diagrams and such. We saw her once at the museum and once hiking at sabino canyon. We couldnt find her, so we came home and did a bat craft. we made little bats, threaded them on string and hung them in our own bat cave.... in our living room.

Full circle

2009-07-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

I posted about an agave here last year.

Well saturday night, we completed the cycle.

Here is our agave- deceased.

such an interesting plant.

Crystal Garden

2009-07-13T14:41:00.001-07:00

we have a lot of crystals around here, and in our town there is an annual gem and mineral show... not to mention the local museum that features amazing specimens of minerals, crystals, etc from all over the world.

ira watched a show about mixtures and reactions... she was asking to do an experiment where we mixed two things together and had a huge reaction. I can think of a few- and we are going to do a couple more experiments this week.... but first I bring you our crystal garden, that I have since broken... but thats neither here nor there :)

when I went to buy the sea monkeys, this was also on clearance.... the craft/homeschooling gods were smiling upon me this weekend.

Ira had an absolute blast with this. I did too.... these crystals grew before our very eyes, in well under two hours.

sea monkeys

2009-07-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

we do a lot of talking about life cycles. Ira asks a lot of questions about each animal, bug, bird, etc including- how does it have babies, does it lay eggs, what happens to the eggs.

We recently spent an entire day on wikipedia and watching shows about frogs and butterflies and their cycles so when I saw that sea monkeys were on sale I thought it was definitely something she would find fun. Not to mention how cool her father and I think they are.

On day 1- we had to fill the tank and add a packet of water purifier... then let it sit for 24 hours.

on day 2- we opened the sea monkey packet with the eggs and "magic powder" and added it to the water.... within hourswe could see little black dots that looked like they were moving.
we have to wait until day 5 to start feeding them. so exciting.

This morning- day 3- there are actual sea monkey resembling whitish squirmy thingies swimming around. Ira is FASCINATED.

dig!

2009-07-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

the new/old exhibit at the botanical gardens is about dinosaurs.... they do it every year, but its still fun.

Ira is WAY into dinosaurs right now. We have dinosaur cards that we flip through and read every night.

here she is going through the greenhouse... with giant jurassic bugs and dinosaurs.

time flies.

2009-06-28T14:43:00.001-07:00

when you are having fun.

we missed march, april, may & june- mostly to morning sickness and first trimester mood swings.

we are hoping to get back up and crafting/learning/communing with nature for july!!!!

February is a wrap

2009-02-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

not officially until tomorrow.... but Im wrapping up the month now, because I will not have time this weekend~

farewell february~

it was short and oh so very sweet!

st. brigids day-feb 1
candlemas- feb 2
imbolc- feb 1 & 2
sementivae- feb 2
groundhogs day-feb 2
disting-feb 4
lunar eclipse-feb 9
full moon- feb 9
lincoln's 200th-feb. 12
Parentalia-feb 13
st. valentines day-feb 14
Lupercalia-feb 15
ash tree month-feb 18
Feralia-feb 22
Caristia-feb 22
Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras-feb 24
new moon-feb25
ash wednesday- feb 25

valentines crafts

2009-02-17T09:37:00.001-08:00

my card to jared...

ira's card for daddy.....

ira's book for her favourite neighbours~ nicole and doug.....

portrait of doug.....

portrait of nicole......

felt board made on the fly with scraps that we have since decided is creepy..... so it went back in the scrap pile

lupercalia

2009-02-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

wiki

the purification of man, beast and earth.

a day to celebrate the fertility of women and the fertility of the earth.

a day of rest.

many sources claim many things, from all that I have read, what seems to be the overall theme that I am focusing on is that it was a day of purification and fertility. More of a magical celebration than a religious one.

We are all still recovering from illness, so we took the day of rest quite literally.

This weekend is scheduled to be the big dig. The tilling and amending of our garden soil.

We will most definitely do a purification of the land and a blessing ceremony so there will most assuredly be loads of pictures from that :)

Here is hoping that the littlest will enjoy being on mama's back all day.

February is a beautiful month here, if not a tad on the chilly side for me. Today it is a bit rainy. But this weekend it will be high 70s and sunny.

st. valentine's day?

2009-02-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is mentioned by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-1601):

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

(William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

in this house, we have never been very big fans of valentines day.... in fact, we usually boycott all things valentines day in order to fight that huge consumerist machine that tells every woman they need diamonds and flowers and chocolate. However, now that ira is 3 and a half- she notices certain themes happening, and I feel a little bit obligated to expose her to these things so that she feels experienced and not "out of the loop" so to speak.

besides, a day that celebrates love & affection is a great day in my book.

AS with everything else, we are not rushing out to buy the marketed items. we will make some hearts, discuss love, and I will save the big- this is a pagan holiday absorbed and twisted to look christian discussion for another year ;)

look forward to our Lupercalia post!!!!

from wiki

Lupercalia
Main article: Lupercalia
Though popular modern sources link unspecified Greco-Roman February holidays alleged to be devoted to fertility and love to St Valentine's Day, Professor Jack Oruch of theUniversity of Kansas argued^[16] that prior to Chaucer, no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love existed. In the ancient Athenian calendar the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.
In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia, observed February 13 through 15, was an archaic rite connected to fertility. Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier "or "the chaste Juno," was celebrated on February 13-14. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia.
It is a common opinion that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to christianize celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia. The Roman Catholic Church could not abolish the deeply rooted Lupercalia festival, so the church set aside a day to honor the Virgin Mary. ^[17]

Chaucer's love birds
While some claim the first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer^[18]this may be the result of misinterpretation. Chaucer wrote:
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.
This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia.^[19] A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381.^[20] (When they were married eight months later, he was 13 or 14, and she was 14.)
Readers have uncritically assumed that Chaucer was referring to February 14 as Valentine's Day; however, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in England. Henry Ansgar Kelly has pointed out^[21] that in the liturgical calendar, May 2 is the saints' day for Valentine of Genoa. This St. Valentine was an early bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307.^[22]
Chaucer's Parliament of Foules is set in a fictional context of an old tradition, but in fact there was no such tradition before Chaucer. The speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as historical fact, had their origins among eighteenth-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. Most notably, "the idea that Valentine's Day customs perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present"^[23]

Abraham Lincoln

2009-02-11T21:44:00.000-08:00

wiki

white house bio

activities

i think we will stick to the basics.... born in a one room log cabin, color some pages, maybe build a log cabin from sticks.

Charming of the Plow

2009-02-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

disting

honor the feminine

well, i was intending on tilling & readying my garden this weekend, and i was going to bring some dirt in & bless it....

Another thing done was to go to the four directions or four corners of the land and gather dirt and bring it in the evening before the blessing. Then mix the earth with ewe’s milk and with tallow and after the Disting, take the dirt again and put it where it was, honoring the boundaries and claiming the land anew for Goddess and the female Ancestors and of course, for their descendants. from here

but i am sick. sick. sick....

so, i baked some muffins with ira & accepted some beautiful love in a bowl stew from my awesome friend Julia.

so, she may not be an ancestor- but i am definitely feeling like honoring her :)

Hopefully i will get a moment to light a few candles & say a few prayers to my ancestors that i know are with m e everyday.

AWWW phil....

2009-02-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

punxsutawney phil saw his shadow.... so winter will continue for another 6 weeks.

today we are coloring sheets and puzzles found at groundhog.org in the teachers corner!

will post pics later!

check out this page for a ton of songs, poems, etc....

Groundhog Day
Old Groundhog stretched in his leafy bed.
He turned over slowly and then he said,
"I wonder if spring is on the way,
I'll go and check the weather today.
If I see my shadow between eleven and noon,
I then will know that I'm out too soon.
I'll crawl back in bed for six weeks more,
Pull up the warm covers and snore and snore.
But if no shadow gives me a scare,
I know that spring is in the air,
I'll wake my friends and wish them cheer,
With glorious news that spring is here."

Imbolc, My Candlemas

2009-02-01T19:35:00.001-08:00

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, winter, have another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go, winter, and come not again.

Well, its not a shocker for anyone who has ever spent any time here in the desert- but it was a bright, sunny, 71 degree day today. Im *guessing* that trend will continue. :)

while walking through our home, lighting candles, ira and I discussed that many people all over the country- including family back in michigan.... were still in the deep trenches of winter.

the concept of bitter cold is not something we are familiar with, and certainly not something ira could comprehend.

We discussed that, although we do not get bitter cold or snow, we still tend to close up our doors and pretend the 50 degree days are winter.... and that this day, this turning tide.... is a day in which we can open the doors and windows, let the sun in and when the sun falls.... we light up our home to show how much we love the light and the fire of the sun.

we are eagerly awaiting your return...we miss daylight that arrives at 4 a.m.

We started spring cleaning, we are saving some imbolc activities to spread over this next week leading to the full moon.

building building

saint brigid's day

2009-02-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

well, i usually love to go into the stories with ira regarding all the saints... I love the stories and lessons gleaned from each one.

this one in particular may just have to wait until later in the week, as we are all a bit sick.

as briefly mentioned in a previous post, we had pancakes this morning to signify and give opportunity to discuss the sun.

well, i decided to stick with food symbolism... and from what i remembered from my research... saint brigid is the patron saint of newborns, infants, midwives, chickens, and and and... the list is quite long.

so- for dinner- we ate eggs.

February- take one

2009-02-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

I am an eclectic, earth based pagan who tends to celebrate the whole first two weeks in february for numerous reasons.

First, I am drawn to fire & light festivals and all the days marking significant changes in lunar/solar activity.

Here in arizona, if you are not a sun worshipper, it is easy to begin to feel oppressed by the unrelenting heat and unforgiving fist of the strong all day sun. I am fortunate to be a sun worshipper. not in the sense that i lay about in it- no- that would be entirely unsafe considering my pale complexion.

I love the clarifying, detoxifying effect the sun & its heat gives. Much like the purification of a fire in a hot sweat log. I feel renewed, enlightened.

So, I am overflowing with joy this imbolc/candlemas/st brigid/sementivae/groundhogs day/full moon/st valentine/lunar eclipse season!!!

I feel re-inspired after this long, discombobulating mercury retrograde crafting slump we have been in. Ive been reflective, and hermitish, but ready to dive back into life and set things afire!

We are spring cleaning, burning/composting solstice things, tilling our garden, fertilizing our citrus, etc.... more on that later....

First a breakdown of the first joyous week! (can i express how THRILLED i am february is here- im not a gloomy weather gal ;) )

feb. 1- st brigid's day

feast in honor of the irish saint brigid of kildare.

im thinking we will discuss the saint AND the goddess brigid & possibly make a brigid's cross.....

feb. 1- imbolc

The First of February belongs to Brigid, (Brighid, Brigit, Bride,) the Celtic goddess who in later times became revered as a Christian saint. Originally, her festival on February 1 was known as Imbolc or Oimelc, two names which refer to the lactation of the ewes, the flow of milk that heralds the return of the life-giving forces of spring. Later, the Catholic Church replaced this festival with Candlemas Day on February 2, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. The powerful figure of Brigid the Light-Bringer overlights both pagan and Christian celebrations.

tonight, at sun down, we are lighting every candle in our home, turning on every light & dancing around in celebration of the first signs that the beautiful sun is heading home!

this week we are looking at beautiful 70 degree, cloudless sunny days!

global goddess has a beautiful piece regarding imbolc and relating it to the quickening you feel when pregnant to our great mother earth. read it here.

feb 2- imbolc

Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Wheel of the Year, celebrated among Neopagans, Wiccans, and other similar cultures either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 2, since this is the cross-quarter day on the solar calendar, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Là Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and in Wales as Gŵyl Fair.

Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to the North American Groundhog Day.

Fire and purification are an important aspect of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Bríde, Brigit, Brìd) is the goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.^[2]

feb. 2- candlemas

Since Candlemas is often considered the beginning of spring, you can perform another ritual act of purification: spring cleaning. This would be a good time to do a thorough house cleaning, sweeping the floors with salt water, banishing the gloom of winter and creating a sparkling, shiny new setting for spring.

feb. 2- groundhog's day!

we will of course be watching bill murray in the movie....

its a fun day & i, for one, love punxsutawney phil

he is real, btw- click the name ;)

Feb.2. - sementivae

this is the second half of this celebration honoring ceres

She was beloved for her service to mankind in giving them the gift of the harvest, the reward for cultivation of the soil. Also known as the Greek goddess Demeter, Ceres was the goddess of the harvest and was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve, and prepare grain and corn. She was thought to be responsible for the fertility of the land. from here

February is HERE!

2009-01-31T23:17:00.000-08:00

AND mercury turns direct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank goodness.

check out that super long list of amazing february festivals!

thats a lot of fun for the shortest month of the year.

new moon

2009-01-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

well, we want to sell our home, but there are a few things that we must do first.... knowing, "if you want a project to prosper start it on a new moon".... we had the contractor come by today for a quote.

we are open to sell.

we are open to stay.

we are open to life

on this magnificent day!

Ira is fighting of her sniffles, so i put off all crafting/projects of any type until more vibrant days!

for anyone looking for more insight on the new moon, or the eclipse read more here

Sementivae

2009-01-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

This is the Festival of Sowing! Cakes of spelt are offered to Tellus (Mother Earth), and to Ceres seven days later (Feb. 2).
Ceres gives the corn its virulency and Tellus houses it.

sementivae

rowan tree

2009-01-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

late on the posting- sorry! we have been super rushed!

Yesterday we ushered in the Rowan Tree month!

Rowan (Luis) 21 January–17 February
Rowan, or mountain ash, is a potent tool for divination. Collect rowan sprigs during the Rowan Moon to use as catalysts during your divination exercises.
The Druids inscribed symbols onto rowan rods. These were scattered about as a question was asked, and the varied patterns created by the fallen sticks determined the answer.
Rowan is associated with the festival for Imbolc. It is a member of the apple family, and if you cut across the berries horizontally, a tiny, pentagram-shaped seed container will be revealed, much like a wee version of the one found inside an apple.
Leafy rowan twigs bound with red ribbon were often placed in stables and biers to protect livestock.
Some Southern and Eastern Europeans believe that Rowan protects again the rising of spirits from grave, i.e., the undead. In ancient graveyards, one will often see planted a Rowan tree.
Some also believed that wearing a rowan necklace or placing a rowan cross on the door protected against witches.
The rowan, however, is actually sacred to witches. Rowan’s qualities are protection, magic, intuition, a protector against enchantment, and as a guard of the sacred gateways into the Otherworld. Some witches them around their necks and used the berries as "worry berries," similar to the way a catholic might use a rosary./

from here!

tomorrow is.....

2009-01-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

End of Birch Celtic tree month!

tons of great info here

this totally speaks to my life & what this past month has been like....

Birch (Beth) 24 December–20 January
The birch tree was a totem tree of Celtic shamans. It was seen as their “World Tree,” the axis upon which the universe spun.
Birch is associated with the Winter Solstice.
Birches often grow at the edge of woods, being the first to sprout up on new ground, breaking down the soil so that the less hardy strains can spread pout and thrive later.
Qualities associated with birch include inception, fertility, conception, cleansing, purification, birth and rebirth.
The twigs of a witch's besom or broom are most often made of birch which is thought to remove astral debris from the circle’s edge.
The birch is also the home of Robin Redbreast who captures the Wren on Dec. 26, Wren's Day. See December.

more info from faerie faith here.

Each of the 13 lunar months and 5 solar seasons also has its own particular 'glyph,' or line, from the Song of Amergin, an ancient poem said to have been chanted by the chief bard of the Milesian invaders of Ireland as he first set foot to the island in 1268 BC. This poem was reconstructed by Robert Graves in The White Goddess and related to the Beth-Luis-Nion alphabet, as shown in the table above.

Each of these lines speak of a particular essence of the lunar energies, and when studied in-depth, can help lead to a greater understanding of the tree month.

carmenta feast take 1

2009-01-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

wiki

info page

Carmenta

".....was the goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children, and a patron of midwives . She was also said to have invented the Latin alphabet"

agave

2009-01-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

such a beautiful way to show off that it is soon to die.....

agave

Each rosette is monocarpic and grows slowly to flower only once. During flowering a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of fruit the original plant dies, but suckers are frequently produced from the base of the stem which become new plants.

full moon rising

2009-01-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

check out our full moon tonight... and this article!

the wolf moon.

AND....... look out, mercury is going retrograde.

Friday:

moon rising

Later Friday Night:

Saturday Night:

sunday:

nature walk

2009-01-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

we are ever so slowly adding to our winter nature table.

today went on a nature walk, to look for white stones.

we also found

a fish:

A dragon:

ahhhh life

2009-01-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

is good.....

we didnt do anything on the list....

but we danced, and sang, and danced.

we made meatloaf, colored, crafted....

our little womens christmas day!

2009-01-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

i am planning on taking today to focus on reconnecting myself to my two daughters in a spiritual sense... all the visiting & community events have been so much fun, but im feeling a need to "reset" if you will.

bring our house back down to calm.

thoughts on how to do this-

sage the house
take down tree
use crystals on solstice tree to adorn bendith (our desceased mulberry)
lighting a fresh candle in each room and asking the universe/great spirit/ [insert personal preference here] to fill each room with light & love.

activities begging to be finished today-

nature table
seasonal shadow box

little christmas

2009-01-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

we are making preparations for january 6th- little christmas....

Women's Christmas

Little Christmas is also referred to as Women's Christmas (Nollaig na mBan in Irish), or sometimes even Women's Little Christmas. It is so called because of the tradition, which is still very strong in Cork, of Irish men taking on all the household duties for the day and giving their spouses a day off.[2] Most women will either hold parties or go out to celebrate the day with their friends, sisters, mothers, aunts etc. Bars and restaurants usually have a majority female clientele on this night. Children often buy presents for their mothers and grandmothers, and it closely resembles Mother's Day in this respect.

While originally a rural tradition, in recent years, Women's Christmas is enjoying something of a revival, both in Ireland and abroad. It is becoming popular in the Irish emigrant communities in Britain, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. For the Irish Women's Network of British Columbia, Canada, for example, this event is the highlight of their social calendar.[3]

The tradition is not well-documented, but one article from The Irish Times in January 1998, entitled On the woman's day of Christmas [4], informally describes both some sources of information and the spirit of this unique occasion.

making any plans? SHARE!

Hanukkah

2008-12-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

great info

we strive to instill a wealth of knowledge and respect into our children. Especially in regards to the world's religions.

along with our earth based celebrations, we will be reading about all the festivals of light and learning the ways in which others around the world celebrate their faiths.

kids stories

december 22

2008-12-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Gáttaþefur

WINTER SOLSTICE

2008-12-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

it's here!

december 21 wiki

yule wiki

Germanic Neopaganism

In Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve a meal and gift giving. Further attempts at reconstruction of surviving accounts of historical celebrations are often made, a hallmark being variations of the traditional. Groups such as the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize the celebration as lasting 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice.

Pagan Calendar - Roman Calendar

Divalia - (All Day Event)

Dec 21 Every year

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divalia
The Divalia was a Roman festival held on December 21, in honour of the goddess Angerona, whence it is also called Angeronalia. On the day of this festival the pontifices performed sacrifices in the temple of Voluptia, or the goddess of joy and pleasure, who, some say, was the same with Angerona, and supposed to drive away all the sorrow and chagrin of life.

december 20

2008-12-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

wiki

the ingredient is sugar!

Mother Night - (All Day Event)

Dec 20 Every year

http://odin.org/faq.html
December/Yule 20 Mother Night - Beginning of Yule (Sacred to Frigga)Moth er Night: As the night before the Winter Solstice, this is the time when the New Year is born. We honor the beginning of Sunnas return and the breaking of Winter�€™s spell. This is a time to honor Thor and Freyr, celebrate by Blot, Sumbel, and High Feast. Burn a Yule Log and jump the flames for luck and purification.http://asatru.org/ Holidays.html

december 19

2008-12-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

wiki

ingredient today is potatoes!

december 18

2008-12-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

wiki

Ingredient today is Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Homer called it "liquid gold." In ancient Greece, athletes ritually rubbed it all over their body. Olive oil has been more than mere food to the peoples of the Mediterranean: it has been medicinal, magical, an endless source of fascination and wonder and the fountain of great wealth and power.

Besides food, olive oil has been used for religious rituals, medicines, as a fuel in oil lamps, soap-making, and skin care application.

more info

saturnalia

2008-12-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

eat drink. be merry.

we painted ;)

and danced....

december 17

2008-12-17T09:16:00.001-08:00

ingredient today is WINE!

this is honor of today being.............

Saturnalia!

Saturnalia
Saturnalia is the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn, which took place on 17 December. Over the years, it expanded to a whole week, up to 23 December.

The Saturnalia was a large and important public festival in Rome. It involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch (lectisternium) set out in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the public rites there were a series of holidays and customs celebrated privately. The celebrations included a school holiday, the making and giving of small presents (saturnalia et sigillaricia) and a special market (sigillaria). Gambling was allowed for all, even slaves; however, although it was officially condoned only during this period, one should not assume that it was rare or much remarked upon during the rest of the year. It was a time to eat, drink, and be merry. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis, i.e. colorful, informal "dinner clothes"; and the pileus (freedman's hat) was worn by everyone. Slaves were exempt from punishment, and treated their masters with disrespect. The slaves celebrated a banquet: before, with, or served by the masters. A Saturnalicius princeps was elected master of ceremonies for the proceedings. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals which led to more tomfoolery, marked chiefly by having masters and slaves ostensibly switch places. The banquet, for example, would often be prepared by the slaves, and they would prepare their masters' dinner as well. It was license within careful boundaries; it reversed the social order without subverting it.

The customary greeting for the occasion is a "io, Saturnalia!" — io (pronounced "yo") being a Latin interjection related to "ho" (as in "Ho, praise to Saturn").

saturnalia ritual

about.com

Biblioteca Arcana and Nova Roma offer suggestions for turning December 17 into a celebration of Saturnalia.

Bringing trees indoors to decorate is a modern custom. Nova Roma suggests decorating outdoor trees with sun and star symbols, and using swathes of greenery over doorways, windows, and on people. But Nova Roma emphasizes that decorations are secondary to revelry, feasting, drinking, merry-making, pranks, and gift-giving of Saturnalia. If you can get your friends and neighbors in the spirit, wrangle a parade permit from your municipality so you can dance (like a Roman) in the street.

Biblioteca Arcana's suggestions are for celebrating the religious aspects of the Saturnalia and its two adjoining holidays, the Opalia for Saturn's wife, Ops, goddess of plenty, and the Consualia for Consus, "god of the storage bin." The site provides a complete ritual with an equipment list, information on preparation, location, timing, the banquet, and the conclusion.

Io Saturnalia!

history.com

saturnalia recipes

catch up!

2008-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

we have been so busy enjoying the days- I havent posted since friday!

I am not going to post all the links I normally do- I am short on time at the moment.... but I may come back and add links later!

December 13- tomato

We went to the farmers market and ira was in charge of picking our tomatoes... then we talked about them growing on vines, how we grow them in the desert, what bugs grow on them, etc.

We did a small craft- the page for our stew cook book and then ate some tomatoes. :)

December 14- salt

This day was interesting. ira loves salt so she was very interested in learning about it.

we use sea salt in our food, so we talked about where the sea salt comes from, how they get the salt out of the water, etc.

we glued salt to the paper for the ingredient book.

December 15- pepper

We were super short on craft time, so we just made the ingredient page. ira pretended to sniff the pepper and sneeze. We talked about how pepper adds taste and spice. We have a pepper mill, so we talked about what that does,etc.

December 16- butter

we made butter!

We just poured some cream into an old jelly jar and shook it for about 30 minutes.... I had forgotten how much FUN making butter was....

We discussed what butter was, how its made, etc.

so much fun!

December 12

2008-12-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

The stew ingredient is WATER!

and it is a full moon! a supermoon!

i am going to approach this day as a combined "lesson" of the interconnectedness of the moon & water....the tides....

we will see how it goes...

water wiki

full moon wiki

tides wiki

esbat info if you are so inclined...
check here or here or here for rituals

im not one for the wiccan rituals anymore... but i do find them quite a beautiful way to begin the journey into pagan living.

December 11

2008-12-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

December 11- ONIONS!!!

fun facts

Onions, one of the oldest vegetables known to humankind,

The Ancient Egyptians worshipped it,[7] believing that its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternal life. Onions were even used in Egyptian burials as evidenced by onion traces being found in the eye sockets of Ramesses IV. They believed that, if buried with the dead, the strong scent of onions would bring breath back to the dead.

In ancient Greece, athletes ate large quantities of onion because it was believed that it would lighten the balance of blood. Roman gladiators were rubbed down with onion to firm up their muscles. In the Middle Ages onions were such an important food that people would pay their rent with onions and even give them as gifts.[7] Doctors were known to prescribe onions to facilitate bowel movements and erection, and also to relieve headaches, coughs, snakebite and hair loss. The onion was introduced to North America by Christopher Columbus on his 1492 expedition to Hispaniola. Onions were also prescribed by doctors in the early 1500s to help with infertility in women, and even dogs and cattle and many other household pets. However, recent evidence has shown that dogs, cats, and other animals should not be given onions in any form, due to toxicity during digestion. [8]

i could quote every word on the wiki page- but i won't ;)

read it it is so interersting!

the aahmaazing onion. lol

december 9 & 10!

2008-12-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

December 9:

Parsley

Fun Facts
liked this ;) evil parsley

Parsley's germination is notoriously difficult. Myths suggest that "germination was slow because the seeds had to travel to hell and back two, three, seven, or nine times (depending on sources) before they could grow."[1] Germination is inconsistent and may require 3-6 weeks.[1]

Furanocoumarins in parsley's seed coat may be responsible for parsley's problematic germination. These compounds may inhibit the germination of other seeds, allowing parsley to compete with nearby plants. However, parsley itself may be affected by the furanocoumarins. Soaking parsley seeds overnight before sowing shortens the germination period.[1]

Parsley grows well in deep pots, which helps accommodate the long taproot. Parsley grown indoors requires at least five hours of sunlight a day.

[edit]

and this was insteresting as well...

Medicinal use

Tea may be used as an enema. Chinese and German herbologists recommend parsley tea to help control high blood pressure, and the Cherokees used it as a tonic to strengthen the bladder. It is also often used as an emmenagogue.[citation needed]

Parsley also appears to increase diuresis by inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase pump in the kidney, thereby enhancing sodium and water excretion while increasing potassium resorbtion.[3] It is also valued as an aquaretic.

When crushed and rubbed on the skin, parsley can reduce itching in mosquito bites.[citation needed]

When chewed, parsley can freshen bad breath.

botanical.com

December 10:

Paprika

fun facts

ground bell peppers!

I literally had no idea!!!!!!

Im learning as well!

lots more info at this great page!

I am going to combine days here a bit!

2008-12-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

We had an outing yesterday that took up a BUNCH of time- and then we are planning a fun outing for this afternoon- so I am doing the posting for december 7 & 8 together and then will post projects & pictures as they occur----- I just may not have a whole lot of time at the computer these next few days....

December 7

pearl harbor

Allspice Wiki

botanical.com

ancient wisdom herbs

December 8 Wiki Facts

if you are at all interested in catholicism....[of which i am fascinated] read here....

cloves

wiki

encyclopedia of spices: cloves

botanical.com

st. nicholas day!

2008-12-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

december 6 facts

st. nicholas about.com

st. nicholas center

st. nicholas wiki

We are doing lots of fun stuff today!!!

making solstice tree ornaments from plastic bags and yarn!

coloring pages of st. nicholas

making paper cutouts of st. nicholas!

we opened the last box of the playmobile advent and discussed how santa started off as saint nicholas- more on that later...

lots of pictures to come!

The ingredient for today.... is thyme!

wiki

about.com

botanical.com

pictures!