Samhain Blessings!
The festival of Samhain marks the end of the third and final harvest of the year. The last of the fruit and vegetables have ripened and are now stored away, the seeds set aside for Spring planting. The bright colours of Autumn leaves signal their death knell, and soon they are borne away on the cold and bitter winds. Left behind are the naked branches, skeletal limbs reaching up to the skies. It is a time of death and decay, and it is no surprise that our thoughts may gravitate toward sorrow and loss, for this is the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is not surprising that many cultures pay their respects to the ancestors and departed family members at this time of year.
It is customary to light bonfires on Samhain eve to burn away the miseries of the past year. Hearth fires are extinguished and relit with the Samhain flame, ensuring a fresh start to the New Year. People would often set up two bonfires side by side and walk through them as a purification ritual.
Ritual feasts to honour the dead often occur. A place at the table is reserved for the departed and stories are shared. This may also offer an opportunity to converse with the dead about unresolved issues and then let them go.
Dressing up in costumes is an ancient custom which is sometimes called Soulcaking. Mummers would visit houses and stage a play to honour the dead which consisted of a challenge, a battle, a death and a rebirth. Special cakes were handed out to the performers afterwards. Children would dress up and go door to door, offering songs in exchange for food or coins. Large turnips were hollowed out, carved with faces and placed in windows to ward off evil spirits.
It is said that the veil between the worlds is thinnest at this time of year and is an excellent time for divination. Toss a peeled apple over your shoulder, the shape that arises will be the first letter of your future spouse's name. Egg whites dropped in a glass of water foretells the number of children you will bear. Try tossing some nuts onto a fire, if the nuts stay together, so will you and your spouse. Or try to pick up as many warm nuts from the fire as possible, an even number indicates faithful love, an odd number indicates betrayal. Toss a single nut on the fire and make a wish. If the nut burns brightly, the wish will come true.
Another activity is to set out three bowls, one with clear water, one with cloudy water, and the third one empty. Determine what each of the bowls will mean, for example, the clear water indicates success, the cloudy water struggle, and the third failure. Or simply yes, no, maybe. Blindfold a friend and have her ask a question then dip a hand into one of the bowls to discover the outcome.
Samhain, though primarily a festival of darkness and death, also marks a new beginning. This is the Witch's New Year and though we may look on the past with regret and sorrow, we know that the Wheel continues to turn, and fresh opportunities for growth and transformation are immanent.
© Ajna DreamsAwake
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Pathworking ‐ Cave of Strength
 
Some notes beforehand:
The meditation we are going to do is to strengthen us and to help us to become and stay pure and strong. We will face our fears and our self and what of all this is real and what is illusion. This work is not a one‐time meeting; it is something I would recommend incorporating into our regular praxis.
The Cave of Strength
Find a comfortable position. You may sit on a chair or lay down ‐ as you feel comfortable. Close your eyes and breathe calmly in and out. You now leave the room and the house you are in and step outside. You are standing on a meadow and as you look around you see the distant trees of a forest. You enjoy being here and want to explore this place especially the forest is interesting you. As you come closer, you can see how huge these trees are. Beauty and strength emanate from them and it is as if they guard you as you approach the forest.
There is a path leading into the forest and you follow it. After a while, you see the path is leading to a small hill in the middle of the forest. You go up and are curious what you may find up there. When you reach the top, you see the beautiful forest from a different perspective but when you take a closer look to the hilltop, you see that there is a sort of an entrance. Stairs leading into the ground, broad stairs leading down in form of a spiral and they invite you to explore what is down there. Stones surround the circle and you feel the power of this place as you take the first step. It is a positive power, it is strengthening you and encouraging.
Confident, you are going down, slowly, step by step. You touch the walls and feel the cool and soft ground, almost like velvet. You can smell the forest ground, it is so calming and you take a deep breath. When you reach the end of the stairs a hall opens up, a cave. You enter it and suddenly you understand that this is the cave of strength and truth.
You know what to do… You stand now you feel ready to call your deepest fears. One after the other you visualise them, give them a shape so you can face them, look at them as they try to scare and threaten you, see how they change shape the closer you look at them until you see that they are mere illusions, trying to scare you. You see how they cannot escape the power of the exposing light that emanates from you ‐ and dissolve as what they are, illusions. Now you visualise your ego, and do the same. Make the light coming from you shine on your ego and see how the illusions fall apart and how only the truth remains and you feel clear and free. The darkness of the room now no longer feels threatening. You like the calming dark and sit down. As your eyes become used to the darkness you can see that you are in the middle of the cave. It is round and there are runes on the walls. As you stand up you are feeling the clarity, the power of the runes how they strengthen your spine and your solar plexus, how the clear energy permeates you and fills you with strength.
You thank the power of this place and return to the stairs. You know that you will come back here and that you are welcome any time you feel like. When you reach the threshold, you straighten your spine, take a deep breath and soak the air filling up your lungs with the energy of this place. Then you slowly step up and ascend towards the stone circle. You feel changed, strong, refreshed. Caressing the earth of the walls, and the roots of the trees and plants in it, you feel how much you love all that surrounds you how you are one with all. As you reach the last step and stand on the hill, you look down at the beautiful forest. You no longer feel like a stranger or visitor, you feel part of this place and all that surrounds you. With this feeling, you go back to the clearing. As you walk, you notice some plants that you have not seen in a long time and now, here they are. Animals come close and walk with you until you come to the meadow. You know that they are with you wherever you are, just like the power of the runes and the place you had been to.
With this feeling your turn away from the meadow and see your house, your room, and become aware of yourself. You feel the climate of the room you are in, with its smell, its noise… when you are ready you open your eyes and feel the clarity and peace that is within you, the strength that comes with it.
© M)0(rrigan
M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School.
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Making your Samhain ritual creative adds magic to your pagan sabbat celebration. I will share some ideas for a solitary ritual here. You can always adapt it for a group. You can do this ritual on Samhain October 31st or a few days before.
For your ritual you will need:
Set up your altar on your altar cloth as you feel represents Samhain for you with all your items.
Creative Samhain Ritual
*To start your ritual call the 4 directions and elements casting your circle and facing each direction:
*Light incense if you are using and one of your candles.
*Call upon the Dark Goddess, Crone, Animal Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and Beloved Dead to be present with you in your ritual. They can be anyone you wish to work with directly during this Samhain ritual. Light another candle on your altar.
*Honor this end of the year and thank all the blessings you have received. Honor what is ending and what you are releasing as you head into this dark time as a New Year begins.
*Light a candle and ask for guidance on your new Wheel of the Year ahead as you create your Samhain ritual art. This could be a painting, drawing, collage, vision board, or a creative piece of writing. Spend as much time as your would like intuitively creating this piece for the Samhain. Play music that connects you to the Samhain sabbat if you find it inspires you.
*After you finish your creative piece light the last candle. Spend some time reflecting on what you created and what your ritual art for Samhain has to tell you. What is the wisdom of this art or writing you created?
*Offer your food and drink to the Dark Goddess, Crone, Animal Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and Beloved Dead in gratitude. Enjoy the drink and food as long as you want.
*Thank the Dark Goddess, Crone, Animal Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and Beloved Dead. Tell them they may depart the circle.
*Thank the four directions and elements facing each direction for being with you in this circle. They may depart as well.
*State the "the circle is open but unbroken".
This ends the formal ritual. You can enjoy your Samhain celebration as long as you would like after.
Click on the link to follow Maeve at https://thecreativepriestesspath.com/31-days-of-creative-samhain-day-26-creative-samhain-ritual/
© Maeve MoonBird
Maeve MoonBird is an HP of Order of the White Moon. She is a visual artist who enjoys exploring where creativity and her pagan spirituality meet. Maeve is passionate about sharing the Goddess and spirituality with OWM Sisters.
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Samhain is the last Harvest in the year, marking the end of summer and begin of autumn.
The transition times of the year, like spring and autumn, point to the cyclic nature of life itself.
Samhain is celebrated at the 11th dark moon of the year. Traditionally this was the date when the young witches were initiated. There are sources for numerology that connect the number 11 to Light, in occultism the number 11 is connected to Daath ‐ the hidden Sephira in the Tree of Life.
Anyway, a new moon energy encourages us and inspires us for new beginnings and I feel that Samhain is the perfect time for a strong commitment to walk a new path in life.
Samhain Altar
Meet your Special Ancestor
The veil between this and the other world grows thin and permeable from Samhain on. This is the perfect time to find and connect with our ancestors ‐ be they our physical family, or those we feel like family in a spiritual sense (I for example connected to an old woman from a book ‐ she had impressed me and she felt like my soul ancestor and I wanted to be with her).
Create a safe space where you feel secure ‐ this is necessary to be able to open ourself to the spiritual world. This place can be outside, a room rented for this purpose, a home. We can do this as a single ritual or in a group of close friends or like‐minded women.
Place a bowl filled with water in the middle of the room and, close to it, a lighter and red swimming taper candles ‐ one for each woman.
Stand around the bowl holding hands and walk widdershins, chanting
Keep chanting over and over again. Imagine how you descend to the Dark Mother, each woman willing to meet with her special ancestor. When you feel you are 'there', let each woman take a candle and light it, and place it in the bowl of water. When all have placed their candle, stay quiet and watch the light swimming in the bowl. When you feel the time is right to go up, extinguish the candles. Hold each others' hands and walk back chanting ‐ this time deosil. Let the participants each pick a candle from the bowl. It is a nice souvenir of that evening and they can also use them to reconnect with their ancestor at any time.
To close the event and ground I would suggest some cake and sweets… and chatter.
© M)0(rrigan
M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School.
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On December 21, 2022, in the Northern Hemisphere, is the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The pagan sabbat celebrated is Yule. This is a time to welcome the light returning, hope, and renewal, as the days of sunlight will get a bit longer each day until the Spring Equinox March 20, 2023.
You can greet the sunrise on this day, as part of your Yule ritual. Your ritual can be done anytime on this day however. The evening is a lovely time on Yule to reflect the sun light returning on the darkest, longest night of the year, as you light candles.
For your ritual choose candles and incense that represent the Yule season for you. You may also want something celebratory to eat and drink after your ritual. You can also wear a festive outfit to add to your Yule celebration.
Invite any Winter Goddesses and Crone Goddesses you feel connected to into your circle, along with your animal spirit guides and ancestors if you wish.
Having a symbol of the sun on your altar helps honor the sun light returning on this Winter Solstice.
Have a bright, blessed Yule.
Click on the link to follow Maeve at https://thecreativepriestesspath.com/yule-ritual-and-reflection/
© Maeve MoonBird
Maeve MoonBird is an HP of Order of the White Moon. She is a visual artist who enjoys exploring where creativity and her pagan spirituality meet. Maeve is passionate about sharing the Goddess and spirituality with OWM Sisters.
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The winter solstice is the first step into the light, from the darkest night of the year. The difference may not be recognizable to us immediately but from this day on light and life are growing.
© M)0(rrigan
M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School.
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Consider that you are a new member of a Coven. You are handed a large, heavy book, and everything in this book is written out in longhand. Your task? To make yourself a copy of this book, also written out longhand. A daunting task? Absolutely. But what is this book? It is the Coven's Book Of Shadows, or BOS.
What is in this BOS? It is the Coven's sacred text. It probably contains rituals and celebrations, the rules of the Coven, and the names of the secret gods and goddesses that the Coven works with.
Once the covener has made their own copy, this BOS then grows with that person. It is a place to record efforts, achievements and personal practices such as meditations, realizations made, experiments and research. Some call this personal BOS a "grimoire", which is simply a book of magick spells, incantations and invocations. But it is more than that. It is the record of a magickal life.
Can the solitary Witch have a BOS? Yes! A BOS is a very personal thing. I will share with you what I think is important to include in a solitary's basic BOS. There are a few writings that I consider to be very important. I keep copies of these in my BOS:
That is the start of my BOS. From there, I include rituals and spells I've done, meditations, notes on festivals and other activities I have attended. And much more. In short, a record of my magickal life.
I must confess, my BOS is not all written out longhand. In most cases, I write up what I want on the computer and print it out for inclusion in the book. Some things are handwritten, but not much. If I had the time I would handwrite everything, because I believe doing so gives the book more power.
I also include in my BOS various items such as the aura photos I've had done, my natal chart, and the results of readings I have had done ‐ astrological, numerological, and others, for which a report was produced.
I also keep a record of various things I have created ‐ herbal incense mixes, oil blends, holy water I like to use ‐ anything for which I've developed a "recipe".
I am a writer of both prose and poetry, so my BOS contains writing I have done on various topics. I also love to craft, so I include photos of Craft‐related crafts, such as the small maypole I made, and the Stang (upright altar) with the Sun god's face, and much more.
In short, if there is something that is important to the Witch, something representing it can be included in the BOS. The BOS is a very personal book, and the more you include in it that pertains to yourself, the more powerful your BOS will be.
Click on the link to follow Peace at Witchy Writings
© Peace Whitehorse June 21, 2020
Peace Whitehorse is the founder of Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.
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Everywhere around you, you see nature in its dual role of destroyer and consoler;
strangling on the one hand, and healing on the other; no sooner splitting the
carved stones asunder than she dresses their wounds with cool, velvety mosses,
and binds them with her most delicate tendrils; a conflict of moods so contradictory
and feminine as to prove once mor ‐ if proof were needed ‐ how well
'Dame' Nature
merits her feminine title ~ Author Helen Churchill Candee describing her first
impressions of Angkor Wat.
Deep within the heart of the lush jungles of Cambodia, lies the vast Temple
Complex of Angkor Wat. At 170 miles2, the "City of Temples" is the largest
religious structure in the world. Although it had been used as a place of pilgrimage
for over 900 years, it was not known outside East Asia until
'discovered' by French
adventurer Henri Mahout in 1860.
The five towers of the main temple are thought to represent the five peaks of
Mount Meru, Home of the Hindu Gods. The surrounding waterways and canals
served a dual purpose: symbolizing the waters of the cosmos, as well as serving as
irrigation for rice fields. This system was able to sustain a large population for
generations and brought wealth to the region. However, by the 13th century,
Angkor's irrigation system became over‐stressed and broke down. At the same
time, Angkor and the Khmer Empire were increasingly threatened and attacked by
invading armies. Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century, by all but Buddhist
monks, and, less than a century later, the jungle had reclaimed many of
the temples. From the 15th century to the present day, Buddhist monks of various
sects have cared for Angkor. Their presence has been a major factor in the
ongoing preservation of the site.
The ancient Khmers venerated the goddess Prajnaparamita, Goddess of
Transcendent Wisdom. She is often associated with the Asian Goddess Tara and is
considered the Mother of all the Buddhas. Angkor remains the site of Her largest
gathering of worshippers. Hindu Goddesses which adorn the walls of the Temple
include Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. Avalokiteshvara, a male Boddhisatva who
later transformed into Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, is also widely depicted. But
nothing can compare to the images of the Devatas.
In Angkor Wat are found more than two thousand Devata reliefs. These feminine
images are the deities of natural and wild places. Those represented as flying or
dancing, were responsible for leading the souls of the dead to the supernatural
world. The Devatas, placed on either side of doorways, were guardians of the
gateways between the mundane world and the supernatural. They are linked with
water, divine serpents and the Moon. The Devatas are also associated with fertility,
abundance and growth. Local people venerate these reliefs and refer to them as
Srei Krup Leakkhana,
"Excellent Women". Many couples continue to visit the site to
pray for fertility.
Angkor Wat was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1992 which has led to an
increase in funding dollars to restore the Temple to its original grandeur. The
number of tourists making pilgrimage to the area is also on the rise. Westerners
seeking out ancient sacred sites have also contributed to funding the ongoing
reconstruction of this magnificent temple. This Eighth Wonder of the World is being
reclaimed from the wilderness and is once more being recognized as making a
significant contribution to the spiritual lives of the people of East Asia and the global
population.
http://www.devata.org/
© Ajna DreamsAwake
Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.
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There are many lovely spices you can use to add to your Yule season celebrations and magical practice. If you love kitchen witchery, this is a great season to work with these spices in your Yule baking and cooking.
Enjoy exploring these winter spices adding magic to your Yule season in your home, rituals, and kitchen.
Click on the link to follow Maeve at https://thecreativepriestesspath.com/winter-spice-magic-for-yule-season/
© Maeve MoonBird
Maeve MoonBird is an HP of Order of the White Moon. She is a visual artist who enjoys exploring where creativity and her pagan spirituality meet. Maeve is passionate about sharing the Goddess and spirituality with OWM Sisters.
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OWM is proud to announce that River, of Dark Moon's Heart, has completed Level III of our White Moon studies, and has been elevated to the rank of Priestess. Priestess River has applied to Level IV and hopes to continue her studies on the path to becoming a High Priestess and Ordained Minister within the Order.
Please enjoy her lovely Level III Final Project on the Baba Yaga.
OWM is proud to announce that Veritas, of Dark Moon's Heart, has completed Level II of the White Moon Studies to become an Adept in the Order. Please enjoy her Final Project on Persephone.
We recently hosted our Annual Gathering on Zoom. HPs offered workshops on a variety of topics. We closed the Gathering with a beautiful ritual centered on gratitude. We want to thank everyone who participated, and huge thanks to our presenters.
With Yule just around the corner, it will soon be time for our Annual Yule Gift Exchange. This is a wonderful way to pass on to our Sisters those magickal items that we have cherished in the past, but now no longer use.
We are always delighted to welcome our new students in Sacred Three, Moonlit Path, Peace Grove School, Pyramid of Light, and Dark Moon's Heart from all over the world! We are always happy when sisters find their way to OWM!
More About OWM
If you're not an OWM student and you'd like to learn more about the Order of the White Moon, the schools offering Traditional White Moon Studies, or browse the Goddess Gallery, we welcome you to learn about us!
For those who are not currently Sisters of the Order but would like to feel supported, we encourage you to visit OWM's website and submit a Prayer Request. This Public Outreach program is one of the ways that OWM gives back to the community. We offer prayers, distance healing, and loving support to members of public.
You can connect with OWM on social media! Follow us on Twitter at @OrderWhiteMoon for regular updates on Seasons of the Moon, the Weekly Tarot Zodiac and other OWM public outreach programs. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/orderwhitemoon.
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Harness made of baler twine.
© Peace Whitehorse December 16, 2020
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Merry Yule and Blessed Solstice!
In the new year that is coming upon us
Let us remember those less fortunate,
Goddess among us and Goddess within us,
© Peace Whitehorse, December 22, 2011
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© Peace Whitehorse, Lammas 2014
Peace Whitehorse is the founder of Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.
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Directions
In a medium pot over low heat blend in the honey, sugar, butter. When mixing, make sure the sugar melts completely. You can heat the sugar a bit with the honey and the butter.
Put the dough in a muffin pan ‐ I have special muffin forms from my mother that were passed down to her from my grandma. They had been forged by my aunt's husband decades ago but regular muffin tins should work.
Bake them in a pre‐heated oven 180‐200°C (375°F) for 10‐15 minutes. Use a toothpick to see if the muffins are cooked through. If there is still dough stuck to the toothpick, leave them in a few more minutes. If it comes out clean, you can take them out. Allow to cool.
Enjoy!
© M)0(rrigan
M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School
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Thank you for reading, we hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you.
Many blessings to you and yours,
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If you have a scent you like very much ‐ incense of any kind, oil, sticks… ‐ use it to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
If you are experienced in journeying with the drum, I encourage you to use this technique in this working.
There are things that are visualised but also things that are not defined and left open ‐ so you may have messages coming to you. For example, the runes are not predefined. I experienced the Mannaz rune as very powerful in helping to face fear. I felt the Mannaz rune on my back behind my shoulders ‐ supportive.
Ritual Work
*Four Candles: Black, Orange, Red, Or White Colors of your choice
*Incense if you would like: Cedar, Rosemary, Patchouli, Cinnamon, Clove, Sandalwood, or Pumpkin Spice
*Altar cloth Orange, Red, Yellow, Gold, Black, or Brown
*Items to represent Samhain such as Pumpkins, Gourds, Leaves, Cauldron, Acorn, Broom, Dried Flowers, Apples, Witch
&ast
Any items that may represent the Dark Goddess, Crone, Animal Spirit Guide, Ancestors and/or Beloved Dead for you this Samhain that you wish to connect with in ritual
*Creative materials for drawing, painting, collage, vision board, or creative writing
*Optional music to play while creating ritual art
*Food and Drink: anything related to the late autumn season such as apple cider, wine, pumpkin bread, apple crumble or soul cakes
You may want to dress up in a celebratory way or even a costume to feel more creatively connected to the sabbat. If you like glamour magic, get self expressive and put makeup on before your special Samhain ritual.
North/Earth
East/Air
South/Fire
West/Water
"Hekate, Cerridwen ‐ Dark Mother take us in.
Hekate, Cerridwen ‐ let us be reborn"
Some questions you can reflect on during your Yule ritual in your journal are:
Yule Altar
*Put the raisins in some red wine and let them soak for 7 days. Grind sandarac, mastic, frankincense (Oman first choice if possible), benzoin Siam, and the juniper berries, then grind the raisins separately (press them before so they are not too wet from the wine). Now add the cinnamon and mix well ‐ the consistency is right when you can form tiny cookies to put on the charcoal.
Witchy Writings
Sacred Sites
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668
Holistic Living
Winter Spice Magic for Yule Season
Winter spices to use during Yule season include:
OWM Awareness
The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Braided rope made reins,
Jingle bells sewn everywhere
Even in his mane.
Packed snow in the alley
And loose snow in the lot,
Jericho is ready to go!
We take off at a trot.
Oh what fun with that old crate
Wired to the sled.
Watching Jerry trot along
Tossing up his head.
That pony really loved the snow,
Snorting up a storm,
Pulling me on a makeshift sleigh,
On a frosty winter morn.
Merry Yule and Blessed Solstice
Hail the return of the Light and the Sun!
Goddess among us and Goddess within us
Help us remember our work to be done.
Show us the pathway that we should take.
Guide our footsteps, upon earth we walk,
And guide our minds, decisions we make.
Not just now but the whole year through.
Let us recognize our blessings to count,
Let us remember to sing praise to You.
Help us remember that You are the One!
Merry Yule and Blessed Solstice,
Hail the return of the Light and the Sun!
Recipes Fit for a Goddess
Ingredients
Once the mixture has cooled, add the eggs.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, potash and the spices. Blend in the butter mixture to form the dough.
Add the almonds and candied fruits and, last but not least, the water.
Seasons of The Moon Staff