Dark blue background with the phases of the moon in light blue across the top. Below the moon phases is the following text in light blue font: Order of the White Moon presents Seasons of the Moon.

Volume 20 Issue 3
Beltane 2023

Seasons of the Moon is a quarterly online magazine published by students and members of The Order of The White Moon, an eclectic international order of women dedicated to The Goddess. The Order provides personal empowerment and priestess training, and operates local groups. All contributions are original material submitted by our students and members. (We do not accept outside contributions.) Please direct comments and questions to the Ezine Editor.

Beltane 2023

Holy Days
Celebrating Litha: The Summer Solstice, Maeve MoonBird
Walpurgisnacht, M)0(rrigan

Witchy Writings
Herbs and Herbal Sachets, Peace Whitehorse

Thou Art Goddess
The Carpet of Spring, Emily Beatrice

Sacred Sites
Kyiv, Ajna DreamsAwake

Gardening with the Goddess
Garden Update and Spring Lessons 2023, Emily Beatrice

OWM Awareness
OWM Happenings, Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Herne Invocation, Mystic Amazon
Rain, M)0(rrigan
May Day, Peace Whitehorse
I am the Queen, Peace Whitehorse
Beltane, Ajna DreamsAwake

Recipes Fit for a Goddess
Baklava, River

Reviews
Happy Witch: Activities, Spells, and Rituals to Calm the Chaos and Find Your Joy by Mandhi Em Review, Emily Beatrice

Just for Fun
Beltane & Litha Activities, Emily Beatrice

Holy Days

Celebrating Litha: The Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere the Summer Solstice falls on June 21^th, when the sun reaches its northern most point in the sky. The pagan sabbat for this Wheel of the Year is called Litha or Midsummer.

Seasonally the harvest planted in the Spring is starting to grow. The Summer Solstice marks the midpoint of the Summer season, though it is also considered the beginning of Summertime.

Greeting the sunrise on the morning of Litha is a powerful way to celebrate and give gratitude to the solar energy. The sun gives us the most light on this day. After, the days will slowly begin to get shorter and darker as the Wheel of the Years turns toward the Autumn season.

The element of Fire is powerful for ritual on this sabbat. Explore color and candle magic burning yellow, red, orange, or old candles to represent the sun. A bonfire to celebrate Midsummer is also a celebratory way to connect with fire. Midsummer eve is also a traditional time for bonfires.

The water element is also connected to Litha, and connecting to water in any way is also healing and purifying. You can visit the beach or a local lake or river. Cleanse your crystals with water then charge them in the sunlight of Summer Solstice. Carnelian, Sunstone, Citrine, Amber, and Tiger's Eye are some stones connected to this sabbat.

For connecting to the Divine Feminine you can work with any sun, water, and fire Goddesses. Some Goddesses include Aine, Amaterasu, Brighid, Sulis, Sedna, Vesta, Aphrodite, Freya, Olwen, Coventina, and Sekhmet.

An outdoor magical picnic of local seasonal fruits and vegetables of the Summer season is a lovely way to celebrate. Add seasonal herbs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, ginger, and cinnamon to anything you cook or bake. Citrus fruits such as zesty lemon and orange add solar energy to your Midsummer Feast. Honey honoring the bees is also a sweet addition.

The night before Litha, often called Midsummer's Eve, is a powerful time for magical workings especially abundance, prosperity, and love magic including connecting to self love. This eve is also auspicious for divination, gathering herbs, and connecting with the faery realm. Midsummer's Eve is also great for prophetic dreams. Place mugwort beneath your pillow before you go to sleep. Write down your dreams in the morning at sunrise, and reflect on the messages they bring you.

To connect to creatively to the Summer Solstice make a flower crown with local wildflowers to wear with a festive outfit. A sun catcher is a lovely craft to make and hang in your window. Paint or draw a sun wheel while connecting to the energies of Midsummer. Sew a dream pillow filled with lavender and mugwort for dreamtime. Create a love sachet with dried rose petals and rose quartz to place on your altar.

The Summer Solstice is a time to reflect on what we have planted and started to grow this year. It is a time to feel thankful for the sun and the light, even as the days will be waning and growing darker now. We can connect to our own personal power and internal light. There is hope for the upcoming harvest that will nourish us later this Summer and Autumn.

Bright Litha Summer Solstice Blessings.

Click on the link to follow Maeve at thecreativepriestesspath.com

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.

Walpurgisnacht

Festivals like the Walpurgisnacht were originally fertility rites, like the pagan festival of Beltane, where nature was honored. The Walpurgis Night certainly is a love ritual since ancient days.

A ritual for two in love

Seek out a nice spot in the woods. Find a place where you are safe and secure, laying out blankets or skins, to make it cozy. You now call Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt, into you. Invoke the strength and power of this Goddess, until you feel Her presence and then you will hunt ‐ no animal, but the man! You can, as well, just be with yourself and invoke the Goddess and Her power within you, feel Her energy and be playful with yourself ‐ just relish in these lustful energies. There is a magic, the most beautiful magic of the world.

This union is not only purely a physical one, you pay homage not only to yourself but to nature, all the gods, and spirits who mean well, with you.
As a woman, you may dedicate this festival to yourself. Nourish your life, give it power. Celebrate your being a woman, give yourself totally to yourself. Become aware that the earth survives with and through you.
Our children need the transmission of life. The world needs you, and by you connecting and melting with Mother Earth, with the Goddess, you feed them and yourself.

Your ideas and plans are worth living them ‐ share them with others. May is the month of growth, the prosperity of flowering, of celebration.

A little charm on Walpurgis

Achieve what you want!

Dig out on Walpurgis Night (30th April) a bulb/onion (of a flower) of your choice.
This bulb symbolizes your desire, which then is to develop into reality. Hold the bulb close for a while, then out toward each of the four directions. Start in the East, then South, West, and North.

Thank the Goddess for listening to you and for the love She has given. Now think hard on what you want to achieve and how it will be if your wish has come true. Then put the bulb into the earth and water it. Find a nearby stone, place it in a small bag (red would be ideal) and carry it with you. The spell will make itself felt in the coming months.

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

Witchy Writings

Herbs and Herbal Sachets

Two small mason jars filled with herbs atop a wooden table, with a purple and lavender crochet blanket in the background

Used in magick as well as cooking, herbs are an important part of a witch's tool chest. Herbs can be home grown, purchased, or wild‐gathered.

Herbs I like to grow include chives, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, lavender, and red clover. If I can find a clover that produces four‐leafers, then I am ecstatic. I grow my herbs in pots on my deck, not just because it is convenient to the kitchen but because our soil here is incredibly poor. Herbs I don't grow I can get at the local herbalist shop, the Rosemary House, in Mechanicsburg, PA. A variety of herbs can usually be found at metaphysical shops and suppliers, and even at the grocery store, either fresh in the produce department, or in jars in the spice aisle.

Herbs that grow wild in my area include coltsfoot, foxglove, dandelion, catnip, peppermint, and spearmint. I'm sure there are others. Take a walk outdoors and see what grows wild near you.

Wild gathered herbs, like those you grow or buy fresh, will need to be dried. But there are some herbs that are only used fresh. Do your research so you know what can be dried and what needs to be obtained fresh.

To dry herbs, discard any part that is brown or insect eaten. Wash what remains thoroughly. Pat dry making sure all dirt and other unwanted stuff is removed. You can place them to dry in a warm area out of direct sunlight. Turn frequently to be sure no mold sets in.

When dry, your herbs can be stored in jars. Dark jars are best, but clear ones work if you can store them out of the light. Large‐mouth mason jars and other large mouth jars work well. I actually store mine in labeled plastic baggies in a large rectangular basket.

If you get flowers for a special occasion, or grow them, many flowers can be used in magick. A couple that come to mind are rose and marigold. Another commonly grown flower is purple coneflower, or echinacea. Dry the petals of the flowers as you would an herb.

Rosemary
Vervain
Bay laurel
Yarrow
Rue
Frankincense
Cinnamon
Eucalyptus
Mistletoe

Rose
Marigold
Pine needles
Juniper berry
Patchouli
Sea salt

As you work more and more with herbs, your collection will grow from procuring special herbs for specific purposes.

Tools you will need include a boline ‐ a special magickal knife used for cutting herbs among other things, NEVER USE YOUR ATHAME! ‐ a mortar and pestle (for crushing the herbs), jars, baggies, a place to dry herbs on paper towels or cookie sheets, and a basket to use in herb gathering.

Herbal Sachets

A small purple sachet bag, laying atop a book entitled The Witch’s Broom: The Craft, Lore & Magick of Brooms

These little fabric pockets of magick can be made a few different ways. A drawstring pouch can be used, or a simple cloth pouch tied shut at the top with ribbon, string or twine. Or you can sew the pouch shut rather than tying it. Cotton is a good fabric to use. Silk and satin work well, too. Most are square or rectangular, but can be made circular, triangular, or even heart‐shaped! Don't use loosely woven or mesh fabrics as the herbs inside will work their way out.

I prefer to sew my sachets completely shut so as to make sure it will not come open and spill the contents out.

Fashion your pouch, leaving it open on one side. Determine the sachet's purpose and research to see what herbs are good for that use. Gather the herbs you need and fill the pouch or drawstring bag.

Salt, soil, gemstones, charms or even a dab of essential oil can be mixed in with the herbs in the sachet to strengthen the intent.

Some use fresh herbs from the garden or the grocery. I prefer to use dried herbs because I have found the sachet lasts a lot longer using dried herbs. Fresh herbs can become moldy with time so it is best to use a drawstring bag or one tied shut so the state of the herbs inside can be monitored.

The color of the pouch ‐ and even the thread used, too! ‐ can be meaningful towards the intent of the sachet. Research color correspondences to decide what fabric and thread to use when making the pouch.

Sachets can be placed in a drawer to keep clothes smelling fresh. They can be placed under the pillow for promoting dreams or preventing nightmares. They can be carried in a pocket or purse. I have even placed them in vehicles for protection. The purpose of the sachet is only limited by your imagination!

Click on the link to follow Peace at Witchy Writings

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.

Thou Art Goddess

The Carpet of Spring

light purple wildflowers with budding trees in the background

wildflowers and fallen tree branches with budding trees in the background

close-up of light purple wildflowers with bright green shrubs lit by the sunshine in the background

Every year it seems that we are blessed with an abundance of wildflowers. They start with little pops of color here and there until the forest floor explodes in pastels.

Sacred Sites

Kyiv, Ukraine

Nestled along the banks of the Dnieper River, lies one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Much of the early history of Kyiv comes from the "Primary Chronicles: The Tale of Bygone Years" by Nestor, a Christian monk. Nestor writes that the city was founded in 482BCE by three Scandinavian brothers, Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv, and their sister Lybid. Kyiv ("belonging to Kyi") takes its name from the eldest brother.

By the 9^th century, Kyiv held the seat of power over a vast territory known as Kyivan Rus'. It encompassed the areas now known as Belarus, Ukraine, and Western Russia. The term 'Rus' refers to the land of a people called Rus. They were a collection of tribes who shared a common language and culture, and who were comprised of Vikings, Scandinavians, nomadic tribes from the Asian Steppes, and Slavic peoples. In the 13^th century, the city, and its empire, were destroyed by invading Mongols. It was eventually occupied by Lithuania, Poland, and, ultimately, Russia. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian parliament proclaimed the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in the city on August 24^th, 1991.

Archaeology suggests that the area has been populated since the late paleolithic era, about 25,000 years ago. During the Iron Age (about 1,200BCE), agriculture and raising livestock led to a permanent settlement. In 882BCE, the city of Kyiv was conquered by Oleg of Novgorod, who expanded the realm by subjugating the local tribes. Legend has it that the Riurikid dynasty was founded by the Vikings, led by Prince Rurik. Oleg was guardian to Rurik's son and heir, Prince Igor I. Their descendants ruled until 1598, when they were succeeded by the House of Romanov.

Saint Olga of Kyiv

Olga was known by many titles: "Viking Saint Queen of Russia", "Missionary to Ukraine", and "Scourge of the Drevlians".

According to the Primary Chronicles, Olga was of Viking descent and wife to Prince Igor I of Kiev. Igor was murdered by a neighboring tribe, the Drevlians, led by Prince Mal. Mal then demanded that Olga marry him and sent ambassadors by boat to collect her. She asked that they wait, so that she could prepare. In the morning, she had her people carry their boat into city, and then dropped them into a trench that had been dug overnight, burying them alive.

Olga then sent word to Mal that he send his most distinguished men, to act as her escort. Mal complied, however, when these chieftains arrived, Olga invited them to bathe first. Once they entered the bathhouse, Olga had the doors barred and set fire to the building.

Olga again sent word, stating she was on her way and asked that great quantities of mead be available, for her husband's funeral feast and for her wedding. She invited Mal and the Drevlians to join her in feasting, but she and her people did not partake. When the Drevlians were drunk, she ordered her followers to kill them. Olga's revenge was not yet done. She went on to slaughter every single remaining Drevlian.

Olga then assumed the throne as regent to her three‐year‐old son Sviatoslav. Olga conquered and subjugated the surrounding tribes, she established trading‐posts and set up regional governments across her empire, with Kyiv as the capital.

Around 950BCE, Olga traveled to Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, and met with Emperor Constantine VII. He was smitten by her beauty and her intellect (although more likely, it was her lands that he coveted). Olga declined his proposal as she was a pagan, however… if the emperor baptized her, she would consent. But this was a ruse, once baptized, Olga stated that she could not marry him as he was now her Godfather and their relationship would be viewed as a sin in the eyes of God. Constantine admitted that she had got the better of him and sent her on her way back to Kyiv.

It is uncertain why Olga chose to convert to Christianity. Perhaps the violence that arose from the early years of her reign led her to seek forgiveness and to live a life of peace. She took the name Elena, and, upon her return to Kyiv, set out to spread Christianity through Rus', she built churches and attempted to convert her people. She died in 969BCE. Her grandson, Prince Vladimir, became the first Christian ruler in Kyivan Rus'. In 1547, the Russian and East Orthodox Churches named Olga a saint, giving her the honorific Isapóstolos "Equal‐to‐the‐Apostles". She became the patron of widows and converts. Her feast day is July 11^th.

Berehynia

The Goddess Berehynia was originally a female spirit of light, who merged with the Slavic Goddess Mokosh, to become the Ukrainian Hearth Mother. She is the life‐giving Mother, Creatrix of heaven and all living things, and the Mistress of Heavenly Water, upon which the world relies for fertility and fruitfulness. She also controls people's destinies as a Goddess of Death. In 1991, She took on the role of Protector Goddess for Ukraine and became associated with nationalism and women's empowerment. In 2001, in honour of the tenth anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, sculptor Anatoliy Kushch created a statue of Berehynia. It was erected in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) overlooking the city of Kyiv. Wearing traditional Ukrainian dress, She stands proudly, lifting Her hands to heaven, holding a branch of Guelder Rose (Kalyna), a national symbol of Ukraine. Berehynia has become a symbol of strength and hope for the people of Kyiv and for Ukrainians around the world.

Слава Україні!

Slava Ukraini!

https://ua.igotoworld.com/en/poi_object/2028_ukraines-independence-monument.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_of_Kiev
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyiv
Image courtesy of https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Berehynia.jpg

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.

Gardening with the Goddess

Garden Update and Spring Lessons 2023

A month or so ago when I was plotting my garden for the growing season, I got the bright idea to add not one, not two, but SEVEN more raised beds to my garden. 4 are for more produce beds. 2 are for blueberry bushes (I need to move mine). 1 is a 16ft bed for sunflowers. (Also, I need to move like a dozen plants in order to place and fill the 16ft bed.) My goal is to get them all put together by May 1^st. We're in growing zone 5b according to the USDA. Our last freeze date is something like mid‐April, although snow was in the forecast this week. So far I have assembled half a produce bed, and completely assembled the 16ft bed. I just need to assemble and fill the rest of the beds… and fill them with composted soil. My goal for filling the beds with composted soil isn't until next growing season. It's a little pricy and our little compost doesn't make enough to fill that space.

Hurry up and wait. That's the lesson I'm working through this spring. It's something I've dealt with before in a different context. The difference being I didn't have control over it last time. This time it's affecting the one thing I have control over. I can get the garden bed frames made, but I can't fill them. Patience. Everything has a season. Everything in its own time. In the meantime I can focus on what I can do. I can transplant, I can sow seeds, I can weed, I can cover for frost and shade from the sun, and I can water. Those are things I can do now, and things that need to be done. The rest will fall into place when the opportunity arises, and if it doesn't? It probably wasn't meant to be.

OWM Awareness

White Moon Happenings

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.

Visit and like us! The Twitter feed and Facebook page are available to the public. Feel free to share these links. We appreciate your feedback so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

May the Peaceful, Compassionate, and Healing Presence of the Goddess be with you now and always.
Blessed Be

HP Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit

Herne Invocation

Herne, Hunter!
I don't know much about you
I know you are protective
And can be wild when hunting,
Enjoying the chase
And the baying hounds.

You are the Lord to the Lady,
Living in the forests
And the wilds of nature,
The Sun to her Moon.

Teach me to understand
And to connect with you,
So that I can learn and grow
In spirit, and joyous freedom.

Perhaps my lover is close to you
Even if he doesn't realize it.
He loves being outside,
And is akin to Chiron,
The Wounded Healer.

Please draw closer to me
Along with your Lady,
So I may know the mysteries
Of the Elements,
The secrets of the Stars,
And the hidden wonders
That are in Nature.

May I touch your antlers?
They may be soft or fierce,
But you are my Father, so
You will not turn on me
Even when you are running
In your Wild Hunt
(If I am very careful)!

May I join the hunt?
I would not wish to kill,
But to run and howl
Would be so freeing,
The pagan blood,
So long denied
And even unknown,
Would wake in me at last!

Take us with you!
My lover could ride with you,
And I could ride with
The Lady and her maidens!
My soul may be timid,
But I can learn.

Call to me, Wild Ones!
And I will answer.

© Mystic Amazon (Beth Johnson) June 2005
Late beloved OWM Sister, HP Mystic Amazon, died February 18, 2021. Mystic Amazon's poetry and rituals keep her memory alive in our hearts.

Rain

it's raining on my flowers
it's raining on my dreams

it's raining on my life
it's flooding all my fear

it's raining on my sorrows
it flushes away my pain

i could sleep here forever
just listening to the rain

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

May Day

May Day comes, Holy Beltane!
Leap across the bale flame,
Dance around the Maypole,
In the Goddess' name!

The Earth is a‐greening,
Springtime is here!
Everything is blooming,
It's a wondrous time of year.

The Wheel has turned once again
To this joyful time of growth.
The Sacred Rite performed
By God and Goddess both.

The union of the Deities
Brings new life to the Earth.
Put out the fire Beltane‐eve
And kindle anew in the hearth!

For all kinds of fertility
Go through the Beltane smoke.
Leave an offering outside
For all the Fairie Folk.

To talk to those who've gone before,
The veil between the Worlds is thin,
The time is ripe, the time is good
To contact friends and kin.

Don your festive clothing,
Celebrate with food and drink,
Dance and sing, dance and sing,
In red and green and pink!

I am the Queen

I am the Queen of the East you see,
And the Fairies dance with mirth and glee!
The Sylphs and Zephyrs ride the Air,
And wand and incense both are there.

Dawn and Spring, and crimson hues,
White and yellow and light blue.
Wind and Breath, the Aspen tree,
Topaz gems and Birds and Bees.

Intellect, Truth, Ideas, Thought,
Travel, Freedom, Find the Lost.
Eurus wind and sense of smell,
Clear your mind and ring the bell.

I am the Queen of East you see,
Drop your cares, come dance with me!

I am the Queen of South and Fire,
Spirit, Blood, Life, Will and Ire.
Salamander, Firedrake,
Flames they rule and coals they rake!

Red and Gold, Orange and White,
Opals and the sense of Sight.
Notus wind and Vision work
The Almond tree in bloom, the Dirk.

Athame and Sword, Candles and Heat,
Summer's Noontime warm and sweet.
Illumination, Learning, Will,
Purification, Heal the Ill.

I am the Queen of South and Fire,
Come to find your heart's desire!

I am the Queen of the West you know,
Where waves roll in and waters flow.
Emotions, Feelings, Love, the Tides,
Lakes and Pools where Water bides.

Twilight, Autumn, Cauldron, Cup,
And Willow tree is springing up.
Undines, Nymphs, Mer‐men and ‐maids,
All of them the Mother aids.

Wind of Zephyrs, sense of Taste,
Aqua gems around your waist.
Blue‐green, Indigo, Black and Gray,
Sleep and Dreams and End of Day.

The Queen of the West I am, 'tis true,
In all these things I'll be with you.

I am the Queen of North and Earth,
The moorlands that surround the firth.
Midnight, Winter, Mountains too,
Stones and rocks, the Cow and Bull.

Gnomes and Dwarfs and Trolls, oh my!
Boreas and Ophion winds rush by.
Sense of Touch and tree of Oak,
The Crystals that adorn my cloak.

Ivy, Wheat and Rye and Comfrey,
Corn and Oats and Rice and Barley.
Treasures, Wealth, Success and Work,
Money and Riches around you lurk.

I am the Queen of North, I say,
Black, Brown, Green and nought of day.

I am the Queen of your Inner Soul,
I love you true and make you whole.
I am the moon a‐riding high,
Lighting up the nighttime sky.

I am the Mother, Maiden, Crone!
I'm everywhere, I am your own.
Within you and without I live,
To you dear child my all I give.

The Triple Will, The Goddess free,
I give my love and grace to thee.
I've many names and faces too,
I pluck the stars to hand to you!

I am the Goddess, know you Me,
Forever bless and worship Me.

Beltane

Gather Round the Maypole Friends
Twist and Turn and Back Again
Dancing, Laughing, Joyful Glee
Now pair off lovers, Secretly

In Love's embrace
The Goddess Grace
The May Queen and Consort Lay
Entangled Limbs on this Sweet Day

Gather Round the Maypole Friends
Twist and Turn and Back Again
The Lovers Rest in Quiet Heaps
In Fall the Bountiful Harvest Reaps

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.

Recipes Fit for a Goddess

Baklava

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
1 pound chopped nuts
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup honey

Directions

Gather all ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13‐inch pan.
Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside.
Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered.
Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 to 8 sheets deep.
Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows then make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.
Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
Remove baklava from the oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.

River is a Priestess of the Order. She is currently in the Level IV High Priestess Training Program.

Reviews

Happy Witch: Activities, Spells, and Rituals to Calm the Chaos and Find Your Joy by Mandhi Em

"Dedicated to every obstacle that was secretly hiding an open door." (Em, 2022, page 5) That is how Mandhi Em opens this book with her dedication. I was very, very worried about this book. Positivity is one of those things that seems to be forced as a standard under the pagan umbrella.

Not all the time, but there is a lot of, "Good vibes only" and "Everything is a lesson" within general modern pagan literature. Which isn't exactly appropriate for every person or situation. It doesn't allow for much room to feel the feelings that many need to feel in order to move past whatever they're going through.

While Manhi Em's book, Happy Witch: Activities, Spells, and Rituals to Calm the Chaos and Find Your Joy, does feel like it's leaning towards that toxic positivity line, it is more of a guide to rediscover the joy of witchcraft by using it as a tool for wellness. It's a fast read, only 6 chapters. It's a really, really basic witchcraft overview curtailed for more mainstream witchcraft. Not everyone is going to enjoy it or find it fits their vibe, but if you are stuck within your practice, it would be a good book for journaling prompts to explore how you can move past that stagnation and grow.

Em lays out clear steps within the sections of her chapters. Each chapter is broken up into about 8‐10 sections to guide the reader. Most of what is in the chapters is pretty standard for witchy self‐help books. It gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling while I was reading it, but there are some main stream catch phrases used that give me a little bit of an ick feeling. If the reader can get past them I think it's a nice journaling pocket companion to have on hand. Happy Witch: Activities, Spells, and Rituals to Calm the Chaos and Find your Joy can be found on Amazon and is free through Kindle Unlimited.

Em, M. (2022) Happy Witch: activities, spells, and rituals to calm the chaos and find your joy. [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com. ISBN: 978‐1‐5072‐1972‐0

Just for Fun

Beltane & Litha Activities

Oh no! The Wheel has continued to turn and the next set of Sabbats have snuck up on us again! Check out the list below for some family friend ideas for Beltane and Litha.

BELTANE

‐‐ Ritual Bath: Ritual bathes are a really easy activity to complete. It doesn't have to be complicated. You don't have to add fancy soaps, oils, salts, herbs, etc… Those things are nice to set the scene, but they aren't required. Ritual is about setting an intention and raising the energy through a task. It's a physical task to help your mindset as you complete the outcome.

‐‐ Maypole: There is some suggested evidence that incorporating the maypole into a spring celebration began about 2000 years ago. The Maypole is a fertility symbol. The pole representing the masculine, and the flowers and ribbons representing the feminine.

‐‐ Craft a Flower Crown: Beltane is the halfway point between spring and summer. It's a celebration of fertility and sensuality. A crown is traditionally a symbol of power, and a flower crown represents different things depending on your cultural background. Some see it as a sign of respect and honor. Different flowers mean different things depending on the message you want to send the world about yourself. Creating your own flower crown is a fantastic way to express yourself through creative play.

‐‐ Faerie Offerings: A few years ago, faerie gardens were very popular. Designating a space for the fae and leaving them an offering is an easy activity to do.

‐‐ Wildflower/Plant Identification: There are plenty of books and apps out there to use to identify plants. You don't need to go into the forest or a wild area. Just take a walk around your neighborhood and see what catches your eye.

LITHA

‐‐ Sun Tea: Litha celebrates the sun. The easiest activity you can do is to make a jar of Sun Tea. You need to let your tea steep in a glass jar or container for at least 2 hours of direct sunlight, no more than 4 hours. The warmer the outdoor air, the less likely you're going to have bacterial growth in your tea. Get creative with your tea! (I like spearmint sun tea.)

‐‐ Make Honey Treats: There are a ton of recipes out there for sweeties and treats where honey is the star of the show.

‐‐ Watch the Sunrise: If the weather is holding and it's reasonable for you to wake up early enough, great the sun!

‐‐ Draw the Sun: Please don't look directly at the sun. Take a minute to write down your feelings and intentions for the season. Then use whatever tools at your disposal to draw your interpretation of the sun. It doesn't have to be the traditional circle and rays. Create a physical representation of how the sun warms you.

‐‐ Bee Water Station: Honey is generally abundant during Litha, and the bees are hard at work pollinating. You can buy a bee watering station for under $50. But, you can also make one with a shallow bird bath or dish and a few rocks or marbles or float a few corks for them to land on. Bees work hard, and a watering station allows them to rest in a safe environment. Bees do drink water, but they also use it to regulate the temperature of the hive.

Emily Beatrice is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon. She is Usui Reiki I & II certified and feels called to support others on their healing journey.

The articles featured in Seasons of the Moon are written and/or submitted by members of the Order of the White Moon and are their own intellectual property. Please feel free to share this publication but do give credit where credit is due and link back to the source.

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,
Seasons of The Moon Staff

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Volume 20 Issue 3 Beltane 2023