Imbolc is Coming!

A bit of writing I've done over on my examiner column:

History of Imbolc

Imbolc Correspondences


I've been working non-stop the last week or so on some new classes I am taking, and also working on creating a few classes of my own!  Looking forward to sharing them once I figure out what method I'll be using for them.  I'm also considering starting a monthly (or possibly per sabbat) newsletter that would focus on  domestic witchery.  Too many ideas, just not enough time, lol!

I am definitely in that "new beginnings, in with the new" state of this part of the year!




This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

Books, books, books!

I thought I'd take a bit of time today to share a few of the great books I've been reading!  There's always a huge stack (or three) around the house or loaded on my nook and I love sharing great titles!  Here's just a few.

First up is Cook School by Amanda Grant.  This is an awesome little book that shares ideas based on the age of kids and their abilities.  Just like toys are given an appropriate age listing, this book is broken into three age groups: 3-5, 5-7 and 7-11.  Not only are the recipes delicious looking, but they build upon cooking skills from one age to another. Healthy cooking habits are touched on, such as washing your hands after handling raw chicken.  There are 50 recipes to explore, from very simple to more complicated.  They are all on the healthy side as well!  Getting kids involved with cooking their food makes them way more inclined to eat it.   I so wish I'd had this book when my own kids were small!  But I'll be doing the next best thing by giving this awesome little book to one of my favorite people who happens to be preggers!

Next up on my recent reading are some oldies but goodies, part of the Discworld Series series by Terry Pratchett.  While I love all of his books, my very favorites are the books that deal with the Discworld's wonderful witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and the other witches that come through their lives.  If you haven't read these, by all means, get on it!  Here are the books from the series that deal specifically with the witches, in order (even if you don't read the other books in the series, you'll have no problem following these stories) from first to most recent: Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum, The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight.  These are the witches that I want to be; the village witches that help, solve problems, care for the sick and are respected (if not slightly feared, lol) by those they serve.

And last up for today: Sacred Stones and Crystals: Connecting with the ancient wisdom of stones, pebbles and crystals by Philip Permutt & Lyn Palmer.  If you are into stones or crystals, or are wanting to learn more, this is an awesome book!  It isn't just another book listing the correspondences of rocks and  crystals.  This is a really inclusive book that includes information on the history of sacred stone sites, shares rituals and meditations that are super easy to follow, collecting stones (including pebbles you find while out on walks) and, of course some of the correspondences.  One of my favorite chapters in this book, though, is the chapter on creating art on stones, following thousands of years of tradition.  Also included in this jam-packed full of greatness book is info on crystal divination, programming crystals and crystal healing/chakra info.  The info in this book is amazing.

More books another day!




This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

I received free copies of Cook School and Sacred Stones and Crystals.  Plying me with free books does not pay for a good review.

Helping the "Witches" of Africa

Because this subject is in the news once again, I thought I'd rerun this older post.  


Updated to add: I posted this last year as part of Touchstone Advocacy's 30 Days of Advocacy Against  Witch-hunts.  Please join them on Facebook or at their website.

False accusations of witchcraft run rampant in Africa right now.  The accusations are based on a variety of things, including everything from  traditional religious practices to jealousy and from babies with colic to children with autism.

You might have read a post or two here about the "witches" of Malawi.  You might skim over the news articles I've posted on the CPSM facebook page.  Now is the time that you can get involved and help get this information out into the world. 


So what can you do to bring awareness of the witch hunts still going on all over the world?  Read about what's going on and educate yourself.  Write a blog and educate others.  Join a campaign, sign a petition, write letters, make a donation.  


As long as there are people in the world who are unsafe from the accusations of witchcraft, none of us are truly safe.


Here are some links for  more information:


Articles (and more) to read: 

• Witchcraft Legal Aid in Africa
• Missionaries May be Encouraging Accusations of Witchcraft (Via Christianity Today)
• Did Missionaries Trigger the Witch-Hunts (Via The Wild Hunt)
• Witchcraft and Statecraft by the Georgetown Law Journal (downloadable PDF)
• Read the children's book  Eno's Story, about a child accused by a family member of witchcraft. 50% of the purchase price goes to Stepping Stones Nigeria.
• Watch the documentary Return to Africa's Witch Children

Sites to visit (and donate to) and campaigns to join:

• PACT: "Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT) is a global campaign that aims to give a voice to the voiceless and bring about long-term change for the Nigerian child, particularly those at risk of child rights violations including witchcraft-related abuse and trafficking."
• Stepping Stones Nigeria: "There are numerous so-called pastors in the region who are wrongly branding children as 'witches' mainly for economic self gain and personal recognition. We therefore call for all people of all faiths to stand up and support the fight to protect innocent children from the abuse that is caused due to the belief in child witchcraft."
• Join the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network 

Donations to make and letters to write: 

• Make a donation to Stepping Stones Nigeria (a UK based charity) by adding their name into the "charity name" section of the donation form at American Fund for Charity. 
• In UK, donate right at the Stepping Stones Nigeria website.
• Donate through my Just Giving page.
• Write letters to help the children of Nigeria

And while this post mainly focuses on Africa, don't forget these things happen in other parts of the world as well:

• Boy killed in London by family members over witchcraft claims
• Woman beheaded for witchcraft (Saudi Arabia)
• Rampant Witch Killings in Orissa District Causes Concern (India)
• Gaza Woman Murdered for Witchcraft
• Fawza Falih (Saudi Arabia)
• Haitian Cholera Epidemic Sparks Witchcraft Killings
• Tribal Woman Killed by Nephew in Witchcraft Case (India)
• Three brother's lynched, buried alive for witchcraft (Bolivia)
• Ali Sibat (and others, Saudi Arabia)

This is post  copyright to the author.  It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

Monday Mutterings

Popping in quickly to share with you some of what I've been up to lately.

Right before the holidays, I signed up to volunteer at the local food bank.  Now that the kids are getting older and more self-sufficient, I wanted to get involved in a more grown-up volunteer situation (as opposed to scouts, 4H, and years of school volunteering - which were all awesome).  I got my papers in, got a call and showed up to work... only to be told when I got there that they really didn't have room for any more volunteers at this time.  Well, darn.

So I looked into different opportunities, weighing my options, and decided that what I'd really like to do is to volunteer to do is to help local Pagans.  I've had my minister's ordination for almost two years now, and haven't done too terribly much with it as of yet.  So I've written and filled out some papers, hoping to get the opportunity to work with the chaplain's office in two local hospitals and in the county's prison.  I'm currently waiting to hear back (fingers crossed).

I've also been studying a variety of healing/energy type subjects, like Reiki, angel healing and chakras.  I have my first Reiki attunement this Wednesday!

In family news, things are going along nice and regular.  Work, school, sibling rivalry - the regular, lol.  Miss M. is currently in the audition process for her middle school's big play of the year.  She bought a ukulele with her Christmas money (watch out, Amanda Palmer!)  Oldest is working and studying script writing.  Middle guy took wood shop this year, and discovered a real talent, supplying me with both a shelf and an amazing mug tree.

And in other news, I've teamed up with The VinLand Foundation to start a new project called National Donate a Pagan Book Day.  You can find out all about it here: http://paganbookday.blogspot.com/   I hope you'll all join me in donating a Pagan or Pagan friendly book on April 9th!  We're encouraging donations to local public libraries, Pagan libraries/centers/community centers and to local Pagan prison ministries.  If you are involved with any of those, and would like to accept new and/or used books, please write to nationalpaganbookday@gmail.com for more info!


This is post  copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

Ask Mrs. B.

Quite a ways back, I was doing a regular feature on the blog called "Ask Mrs. B."  I haven't done it in quite a while, so I thought I'd give it another go.  I regularly answer quite a few questions via emails and facebook messages on the subjects of Paganism, cooking, books and school issues dealing with kids with disabilities.  I surely don't always have an answer for everything, but I'm always willing to find a site, book or another person who can help out - not to mention all the other readers out there who are willing to lend a hand!

So if you have a question, ask away!  If you'd rather do it anonymously, use my contact tab and I'll keep your personal info private.  In a week or so, we'll take a look at all the questions!

If you are curious about some of the past questions we've looked at, here are a few:

• Bridgett asked: What are the top three ritual/spell tools you couldn't live without and why? ANSWER
• Jen asked: I'd love to know do you buy your seeds online for your veggie garden or do you buy plants already started? Will you share tips on how you garden?  Perhaps some spells/intentions you use to help them all along?  ANSWER
• Asked via an email: I am single, living with diabetes (and an eating d/o), and would like to start making more healthy meals from scratch.  What should I have to stock a small, workable pantry? ANSWER And, since I know you do bread often, how the heck many kinds of flour do I really need?!!? lol  I have bread flour, all purpose flour, and now self rising flour.  good lord! ANSWER
• Amy asked: "What kind of music do you listen to?" Answer
• shirleyhill asked, "What is the backstory of you becoming a Pagan, or were you raised in it?" Answer

So ask away, and we'll get to discussin'!





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Winter Seasonal Eating

Photo courtesy of the author

Planning your meals and shopping according to what's in season has a multitude of benefits.  There is, of course, the obvious health benefits of working fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Buying produce in season is also relatively inexpensive; you get fruits and veggies that are at their peek flavor and if you're able to shop locally, it supports farmers and your community.  Eating seasonally is also a way to help keep yourself in tune with nature and the turning of the wheel of the year.

In the winter, people tend to eat hardier meals and often forget about keeping fresh produce in their menus. Knowing what's in season can help you in your meal planning.  Produce will vary somewhat by location.

2012 Days of Note

January
1 - New Year's Day
5 (evening, into Jan. 6) - La Befana comes to visit
8 - Justitia
12 - Compitalia
16-  Martin Luther King Day
20 - St. Agnes Eve
25 - St. Paul's Day

Moon Phases for 2012

January
1 - First Quarter Moon
9 - Full Moon
16 - Last Quarter Moon
23 - New Moon
31 - First Quarter Moon

Gardening In January

Photo courtesy of the author.

Baby it's cold outside!  If you are like me, though, you're already thinking of spring time and getting back outside in the warm weather.  Here are some ways to help get you through the winter weather and help keep in tune with the earth.  (Think you can't grow things without a "real" garden?  Check out "66 Things You Can Grow At Home in Containers Without a Garden".)

January 2012 Magical Correspondences

January is named after the Roman god Janus.


Magical works to concentrate on in January: banishing negativity, new beginnings, protection, weather divination, wish magic, works to help you achieve your goals


January 2011's Moon Phases:

•  Jan. 9: Full Moon
• Jan. 16: Last Quarter Moon
• Jan. 23: New Moon
• Jan. 31: First Quarter Moon

The Full Moon of January is called:

• Algonquin, Colonial America: Wolf Moon
• Apache: Time of Flying Ants
• Arapaho: When the Snow Blows Like Spirits in the Wind
• Chinese: Holiday Moon
• Cherokee: Cold Moon
• Cheyenne: Month of the Strong Cold
• Choctaw: Cooking Moon
• Cree: When the Old Fellow Spreads the Brush
• Creek: Mulberry Moon
• Haida: Bear Hunting Moon
• New Guinea: Rainbow Fish Moon
• Ojibwe: Great Spirit Moon
• Wishram: Her Cold Moon

Other names for January include: 

• Finland: Tammikuu (Month of the Oak) 
• Czechoslovakia: Leden (Ice Month)
• Asatru: Snowmoon

Zodiac signs for January: Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 20) and Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19). January's birthstone is the garnet.  It's birthflower is dianthus.  The number of January is 1.


Consider working with the colors black, white, red and violet in January.


If you are looking for stones to work with this month, consider  amber, garnet, hematite, jet and onyx. Carry one or more on your person, use them in a monthly magic mojo bag, or set them out this month on a window sill to charge throughout the month. Choose one or more to research and add to your book of shadows.



January's animals: blue jay, coyote, duck, fox, goose, wolf. To incorporate these animals, add a statue or photo of your choice of animal to your altar or read about how them can be used as totem animals. 


Mythical animals to work with: brownies and gnomes.


Plants associated with January include: birch, carnation, marjoram, nuts and pine cones. Keep a small pot of one on your altar, add one or more to your monthly mojo bag, research them, plan recipes around them or make an infusion of them to add to your cleaning water.  Add a bowl of pine cones to your table as a centerpiece, or get the kids to smear peanut butter and seeds on some and hang them out for the birds!


Deities of January:

• Goddesses: Chang-O, Freya, Hera, Inanna, Juno, Pax, Sarasvati, Venus
• Gods : Antu, Janus

Invoke January's deities for ritual.  Honor them on your altar.  Research them for your BOS or create an artwork in their honor.

Month Long Observances of January:

• International Creativity Month (click here for some creativity correspondences)
• National Hobby Month
• March of Dimes Birth Defect Prevention Month
• National Thank You Month (time to write those thank you notes!)
• National Get Organized Month

Sources: 

The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick
The Old Farmer's Almanac 2012
The Spellcaster’s Reference by Eileen Holland
National Geographic, Full Moons: What's in a Name?
The Moon Book by Kim Long

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Monday Mutterings

The Moo

Happy Monday!  I know, I know - it's been a while, right?  I swear, this has been one of my busiest times, the last six months or so.  Too much to do, not near enough time.

But things are going well!  My book has been turned in (fingers crossed it doesn't get sent back with a big, "Thanks, but no thanks" stamped across it, lol!).  Miss M. just finished a volunteer stint and a play.  My middle guy is doing well (knocks wood!) in his first year of high school, and oldest is trucking along at being employed.  
Today is The Moo's  (formerly known as Mimi) first anniversary of living with us.  We cooked up a bunch of yummy dog treats yesterday in honor of the occasion.

And I have to quickly clear something up, because several people have brought it to my attention.  A post of mine was linked to on a blog.  The post, which was written some time ago, has been connected with some sort of witch-war going on between a few people (or groups, I'm not really sure of the logistics on all of this).  Let me just state for the record (I also left a comment at the blog to do the same), that the post was not about any of the groups or people mentioned on that blog.  I am actually Facebook friends with several of the people listed on the blog, though I am not a member of Pagans Against Plagiarism (I'm not a member of a lot of groups, though, so that isn't a comment on the group itself either way).  I have no idea what this whole thing is about, I'm not a part of it from either side, and I frankly don't appreciate being brought into it - though it's nice to read that I am "famous", lol.  Please someone be sure to pass that information on to my mom.  I'm sure she'd be pleased  - and I really would think that being famous would pay better?

So anyhoo, I am, as I'm sure all of you are, super busy this time of year.  I've got all sorts of plans for this blog coming up in the New Year, and I hope you'll stick around to check them all out!!



This is post (and photos) copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

Winner of the Brynn McCullough Pendulum Board!

Thanks to Brynn McCullough for donating such a gorgeous prize for this giveaway!  The winner, picked by a random number generator is.......

A Winner... and a new opportunity!

First up, thanks so much to Beauty Watcher for offering up her gorgeous Seshat star!  The winner, chosen by an online random number generator, is......

Giveaway from Brynn McCullough!

The winner of this giveaway from Brynn McCullough will not only win an amazing Green Fairy Pendulum Board, but also a gorgeous pendulum!

CONTEST IS CLOSED!


The board was created using a combination of decoupage, 23k gold leafing and paint.  It has a piece of amethyst inlaid in the center and the back is covered in embossed felt to protect your working surface.  This board measures approximately 9x11 inches.

The pendulum is handmade and a perfect accompaniment to the board for all of your divination needs.

REQUIREMENTS
Visit Brynn McCullough on Etsy, return here and leave a comment about your favorite piece from the shop.
This entry will not count if I have no way to reach you if you win.  If your profile is private, there's no blog or email connected to it, or you aren't sure,  you must leave an email address with your entries.  If a winner is picked and I have no way to contact that person, a new winner will be selected.

OPTIONAL
For extra entries, you many do any or all of the following.  Each requires a separate post in comments.

• Blog about this giveaway (1 entry), with link back to this page.  Leave a comment to this post with the URL of your blog post.
• Tweet about this giveaway, with a link back to this page.  Leave the URL of your tweet in comments.  This entry is available daily (up to 7 entries; leave a comment for each individual tweet).
• Make Brynn McCullough a "favorite" on Etsy (1 entry)
• "Like" Brynn McCullough at Facebook.   Leave a comment here that you did so. (1 entry)

PLEASE NOTE: Comment moderation, as always, is on.  You won't see your post immediately, but it's there - no need to repost.  =)

Contest ends Dec. 13 at noon EST, with a winner selected by random number generator and announced shortly thereafter.  Giveaway is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Entries must be in English.  Entries containing URL links not connected to this giveaway will be considered spam and deleted.

CONTEST IS CLOSED!

This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!

Upcoming!

Whew!  This holiday season is keeping me jumping and busy!  However, I am lining up a few things for the blog, including some reviews of a few really interesting books I've come across and in honor of the upcoming hibernation winter season, which is straight up learning time in my book, I'm planning on a big theme month starting January 1.  It's going to be dedicated to all things Mexican, including foods, drinks, spiritual practices and deities.  There will be recipes, primers on ingredients, how to tell a good tequila, gods, goddesses and perhaps a few giveaways here and there.  Let the cold winds blow outside, we'll be having a fiesta at CPSM!

Hope you'll stay tuned for the fun!  And if you haven't joined in yet, make sure to come check out the CPSM blog page at https://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsofaPaganSoccerMom.  There are a ton of daily discussions going on there!



This is post (and photos) copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!