Springtime!!!

Well, the snow is melting and the air is starting to get warmer and next weekend the time moves forward an hour. That must mean spring must be around the corner. Now, as much as I love winter with all the snow, I think I'm finally ready to put away the snowboots & heavy coats and bring out the rainboots & lighter coats. When out shopping this weeeknd past, the stores were all full of new spring merchandise, from lawnmowers, to backyard furniture and gardening supplies. I came home and weeded my old planters that were out during the winter and pulling out the old dead plant roots, to get them ready for when I get new plants this spring. I also did the same for my poor neglected indoor planters that used to house my herbs. I am very guilty of letting them go this winter as I was pre-occupied with other things.

So, in honour of the coming season, I changed up my gloomy old blog with a fresh new background. I'm not used to 3 column layouts and I had to adjust some of my widgets to accommodate this change. I searched the land of Google for something that was bright, colorful and pretty. Et Voila!! This is what I found. I like it, I can see little Pagan things in the little window (a hare, eggs, etc)

A Lack of Faith??

Oh Goddess, I miss blogging!! I've been away for far too long and it's not because I didn't want to be (or my internet bill didn't get behind), I have been experiencing a HUGE struggle with my faith this past year. I think I can trace it back to about this time last year when I was depressed about not finding work. I just didn't feel like doing Sabbat rituals or workings. Then I found a job, but at the time didn't realize it was a bad choice for a job. I was working at a hair salon on straight commission, I thought if I did that it would force me to find a clientele. After 9 months working there and not making much money, I left and found a new job. But money was short, bills got left by the wayside as I struggled to get myself caught up. Because of this, my faith took a backseat. I tried to go to public rituals, feasts, but my heart wasn't in it, so I stopped going. I shut myself away from my local Pagan groups and from some Pagans who I really didn't want to associate myself with anymore. The stress of money problems, witch wars, etc, I cut myself off and focused on one thing that actually made me smile throughout all this.

When I woke up this morning, I realized that I needed to make a change in my life, my spiritual life. I'm going to practice my faith my way. Not with what books or fellow Pagans say how I should. I do things a little unconventional, not the norm and I don't add New Age things into my practice. I may not blog as much as I used to (let me get out of my funk first) but I do hope you read it when I do. I also posted today about a meditation I had last week on my Rowan's Deities page.

I'm A Feelin' Crafty

So, I've been battling an annoying cold for the past couple of weeks. It started out as a nagging sore throat, then I got the full brunt of it, now I have a cough that just won't go away. I haven't been deliberately avoiding blogging, I haven't even been on facebook that much (btw, I have a fan page there)
So I thought that today will be a good day to do some crafts with my son. I found a great recipe for salt dough in my recipe book. I used to make salt dough crafts when I was younger in school. I'll share my recipe with you, in case you want to try this fun craft yourself:

Basic Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fine salt
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water (may add more)

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour
• Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water
• Knead until smooth and shape into a ball
• When not in use, wrap in plastic or store in an airtight container

  HINT: To get a softer dough you can add more flour. Adding more salt will lend a more granulous affect. Use wallpaper glue and the dough with be more cohesive. To add color to your dough, use different types of flour or add food coloring or paint. Knead to get an even color. You may also paint your ornaments and sculptures after they dry. Bake in the over for a quicker drying time at 200F

I have a few pix of the preparation, but then the batteries died as we were cutting the dough. I made a star, a triple moon (tricky) and about 9 witches flying on broomsticks (gotta love Hallowe'en cookie cutters). I have hole poked through, so I can hang them up. Next will be the painting process. As you can tell, I'm adding to this as I go along with my craft. My son is having a ball playing with his share of the dough. This is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday.

Now, I'm waiting for the dough ornaments to be completely dry before I start painting them. They're on a cooling rack drying out, I did have them in the oven for about 1/2 hr then I like them to air dry, as well. Weird, I know.

Confusion

I've been catching up on a lot of reading, as of late, hence that's why I hardly posted. I was distracted by YoVille on Facebook, but now I got what I needed to get done there, I decided to read. Been reading some of the books I have on my shelf that I bought months ago. I bought them because I felt drawn to them, others, that were recommended for me to read. A lot of the subject matter was Green Witchery. No, not just about being environmentally conscious (which is a great thing to be) but about growing plants and living with nature. Growing your own plants/herbs/flowers. A few of these books were heavily encouraged (see, pushed on) by someone who is no longer a friend. This is what she was interested in. She tried to get me to follow what she was into. I read these books, which were good, but when it comes to growing things, I do not have a green thumb, it's more a beige thumb. Everything I try to grow, ends up dying within a few weeks. Ok, I did manage to successfully grow catgrass last year, but that was about it. Even if I go to a nursery to buy plants, they die in a matter of weeks, even when I do what they told me to do to keep them living.

I've also been reading about Hedgewitchery, something that I find interesting. But again, I'm getting discouraged, my meditations are all wonky, as of late. I can't seem to concentrate on keeping my mind quiet. I had this problem when starting with meditations last year, but over came them back in the summer. Now, I'm back to square one. Does this happen to you as well?? I miss the communion I was having with my guides in the Otherworld. I never thought I would be able to go there, but I had just started when my mind wouldn't stop chatting. Argh!! It's frustrating!! Was I ready to travel there??

Another topic I've been reading about is solitary witchcraft. There are a lot of books out there and the newest one I got last week was by Marion Green. I read it, thought it was a good book, there were some things in it that sounded interesting. It's a sort of "beginner" book if you're new to the craft, but it also lets the adept see things in a new light. I read it through once & now I'm going through it again, as suggested, and reading the suggested reading. The only thing is: I can't find any books by Dion Fortune. I know they are suggested reading, but her books come up a lot when I'm reading. I want to see why they are so special.

I got confused when reading this book, it opened up a vault of info about different paths, healing, divination, hedgewitchery, joining a coven. These are things I have been trying to decide what to do. I know I should feel drawn to something, but I'm not sure which path. Divination is the closest, as I have been reading the Tarot for 18 yrs now. I am trying Runes, but they are hard!!! I know this is something I have to decide for myself, but it's like having to choose between chocolate, great sex and Robert Pattinson (yes, I have a thing for him), can't I have it all?? Oy Vey!!

Women of Witchcraft Tribute

Saw this on my friend, Sandy's profile. Thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy:

What's new

Oh, I've been a distracted little witch this week. I've been on Facebook playing one of their apps, called YoVille. It's a virtual little town where you go to work, earn coins to buy furniture for you apt, or buy a house, decorate, trade gifts with other YoVillians (nickname). I have a ritual room in my apt and I traded for a cauldron this week. It was a leftover Hallowe'en decoration. If you're on this app, look me up, I'm Silverstar.

Okey-dokey, I bought myself a couple of belated birthday gifts last week. I got a sterling silver Triple moon pendant, that has a moonstone in it. I also bought myself a sterling silver Pentacle ring.. I took some pix of my witchy jewellry which I'll share with you all:

My Pentacle ring

My Lucky Charms

My Ankh

My Pentacle necklace w/ moon phases


My Greenman on a black ribbon

My Spiral necklace

Imbolg Postings

Well, another year has past & a new one has arrived. I spent my day de-decorating my place, as my son is at his father's. This has always been a tradition in my family to take down our holiday decorations on the 1st day of January. When I was still living at my parents', we always did it with the Tournament of Roses Parade on TV in the background. We would occasionally stop to glance at the wonderfully decorated floats, going along the road in Pasadena, CA. I could never get over seeing the sun shining bright, looking like summer on the TV. Today, the air was chilly, the sky was overcast and as I took things down & packed them away, the snow started. Fast forward to 4 hours later, the snow is still coming down ever so gently. There is a calm in the air.

I got an email last night from my friend, Lisa, I had posted on my Facebook that Imbolg was only 32 days away. She sent me a link to a video from Lisa Thiel. So, that got me started. I know we just finished with Yule/Solstice, but as we all know, Sabbats occur every 6 weeks. I dug around in my BOS for some info on this Sabbat. I have tons of stuff on it, that I will be adding as it gets closer. I have recipes, chants, lore, crafts, etc. It was my 1st major Sabbat that I observed last year. I have plans for making a wreath this year to hang on my new front door. I will be posting a new slideshow in the upper right-hand corner with some beautiful Imbolg images I've been collecting throughout the year.

I am a blogger who will be trying to post at least once a day, but if I miss a day...no worries. That's why I have a button about "Blogging without Obligation" I don't do the whole automated blogging. It's not me. It's an impersonal way to blog. You can copy & paste info months ahead and on a scheduled date, it magickally appears. There's no personality to it. If you do it, good for you, but I think blogs should have a bit of you in it. Automated blogging is a lazy way of blogging, in my opinion. I can see using once & a while, but for all your postings??

Anyway, I'm sitting at my pc, sipping my Cranberry Green Tea, watching the snow fall. What a perfect way to start the new year off. I hope that you all had a most Blessed New Year's last night and that the Blue Moon energized your spirit.

Love & Light!! )O(
Rowan

Imbolg

The Earth begins to stir from her long winter slumber. As the days’ lengthening becomes perceptible, many candles are lit to hasten the warming of the earth and emphasize the reviving of life. “Imbolc” is from Old Irish, and may mean “in the belly”, and Oimelc, “ewe’s milk”, as this is the lambing time.

We sense the rising of sap in the trees, the awakening of seeds deep in the soil and the promise of the coming Spring. The thaw releases waters (Brigid is also a goddess of holy wells), all that was hindered is let flow at this season. Imbolc means in the belly, or quickening. It is the time of the stirring of life within the Mother Goddess. The seeds of personal growth, which slept within us at Yule, begin to germinate.

Imbolc is a time of preparation and purification when we clear out old clutter and make way for new growth. Spring cleaning or the taking out of the old was done at this time. This purification process is both external and internal, spring cleaning time for our souls as well as our homes. Homes are cleaned both physically and energetically to create an environment for optimal creativity, balance and joy in the coming growing season. Fire ceremonies and other spiritual clearing rituals are performed for spiritual cleansing and blessing.

This holiday is a traditional time for initiations and dedicating oneself to new levels of spiritual exploration & commitment. Initiations and dedications are transformational ceremonies, which quicken new growth and invite our spirit allies to support us in the next phase of our evolutionary journey.

Some New Changes

As you may see, I have taken down the Yule theme to my blog and put up a New Year's theme. I chose a blue theme, as a calming & refreshing way to come down after all the holiday craziness. I know that the Julian Calendar doesn't celebrate it til this upcoming weekend and we Pagans already had our New Year's with Samhain. I have a little montage of New Year's pix off to the upper right.

This is a busy time for me as well. First, there was Yule/Solstice, then came Christmas and now, next week I will be celebrating my birthday (as well as my son's father, too, the day after) School stars back on the 4th for my little guy. Busy, busy, busy!!

I managed to get my 2010 Witches Datebook (Llewellyn) and the Sabbats Almanac & the Witches Almanac (not published by Llewellyn) all before the New Year arrives. I just have to get out to the calendar kiosk in the mall to pick up the Witches Calendar & a mother's calendar for the kitchen. They're starting to go on sale, now that Christmas is done. They're even cheaper after Jan 1st, but the pickins are slim.

Well, that's about all that I have for now. I've been cleaning a lot around the house, since I was away last week for the holidays. I spent 4 lovely nights with my family and I am glad to be back home with my 2 kitties, who missed their mommy a lot.

Love & Light!! )O(
Rowan

T'was the Eve Before Midwinter

'Twas The Eve of Midwinter, and all through the coven

The Witches were cooking strange things in the oven.

There were mugwart frittatas, and dragon's-blood stew

And mescaline eggnog and mandrake fondue.

There were hot mountain oysters and road-kill pate

And spotted-owl kidneys, and wombat flambe.

The circle was cast and the herbs had been smoked

In hopes that the Goddess would soon be invoked.

When out by the hot tub arose such a clatter

I jumped on my broom to see what was the matter.

And what should I see in the blackberry thorns

but a soaking wet Goddess and eight unicorns!

"I was just sitting down with my vibrating phallus

And a good book," she muttered, "You bitches are callous.

I came when you called, over all my objections,

And got lost in the woods--you give lousy directions.

You turkeys invoked me, now look at my dress

My period's late and I've got PMS."

She cursed and she muttered, she looked like a wreck

The unicorns whimpered and shat on the deck.

We gave her some weed and we got her some grub

We brought her clean towels and she soaked in the tub.

Then she rose, hot and dripping, and gave us her blessing

And jumped in her chariot, without even dressing!

"On Isis! On Eris! Oya and Astarte!

On Ishtar! Inanna! Kali and Hecate!"

We heard her exclaim as she climbed through the air

"Thank Goddess there's only eight sabbats a year!"

My Yule Ritual

I'm still on a high from last night's Yule Ritual & Feast that I attended. It was glorious!!! I got there about 20minutes before it began, sat with my friend, Heddy and her friend, Cathy, who was wearing sandalwood. I had some patchouli in my hair, so we smelled so good last night. That our little joke all night, about how we were the best smelling Pagans there.

We chatted until it was time for the ritual to begin. We all lined up to be cleansed by a sage smudge, so I even smelled better lol!! Cathy & I were the only 2 who shed our winter boots to go barefoot for the ritual. I think it makes the energy flow better when there's nothing between you & the floor. It was an indoor rite, as it is very cold now here in the Maritimes to go outside for a ritual, not as mild as it is over in the UK & Europe to do outdoor rituals.

The room was in total darkness as we joined hands & cast the circle. We chanted, called the quarters (Heddy welcomed the North) and chanted some more. The ritual itself was a beautiful one. It's been ages since I've participated in a group ritual for a Sabbat. The only other one was Samhain in '93 and I had no idea what I was doing when they asked me to call on the element of the West, but I digress.

There was about 30-40 who participated in the rit. There were a few children who got to light the Yule Log. We all got candles to welcome the coming sun as the days are going to be growing longer. The Wheel is definitely turning again.

Then, there was a huge feast after the ritual. We had roast turkey, tofurkey for the vegans, mash potatoes, corn, carrots, mixed veg, 2 kinds of stuffing and gravy. There was also hot apple cider to warm your insides...yummy. Just when you think you've had your fill, out come the desserts: pumpkin pies, cookies, a Yule Log cake, more sweets. I do have to thank my friend, Lisa, who slaved over a hot oven preparing this feast. She did an awesome job!!

I got to meet some more new friends, as well as those who I met at the Witches' Ball a month ago. We all sat around the table discussing issues important to Pagans, books we've read, music and how we should all go see "Avatar". I guess it's has a very Goddess-friendly view of things & an important message as well. I do plan on going to see it after hearing about it from one of the ladies at our table.

All in all, I had a wonderful time last night. I was so energized when I came home I had to ground some of that energy before going to bed, so I danced around my livingroom to Blackmore's Night. I tired myself out so much, I don't even remembering hitting the pillow.

Blessed Be & Happy Yule!!!!

Rowan

My Yule Altar

Well, I've been a little busy this Yule season, with making sure my son has something from Santa under the tree, I managed to get my altar set up for the Sabbat. I'm going to be busy this weekend, I have a group ritual I am attending on Saturday evening. It is my first group ritual in a very long time & I'm looking forward to going. I'll be posting about it for you all. I'm also going to be wrapping gifts...I've been putting it off too long.

On this upcoming Wednesday, I will be heading off to my family's for the holidays. As you all know, I am still in the "closet" about my spirituality, so I know that I will be going to church on Christmas Eve with them. I will do as I did last year & see the Pagan symbolism in the decorations in the church, in the Christmas hymns & in the nativity. I know it's really the Goddess giving birth the to Sun King. While I'm away at the family's, I will not be posting any blogs.

I've been inspired today, it snowed last night. In addition to setting up my altar, I made a pomander to place on the altar, as well as I made a Sun Wheel out of my son's popsicle sticks & painted it gold. I made my own homemade simmering Yule pot-pourri. All I did for that was use orange peel (dried in the oven at 200F for 2 hrs), cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon & lavender. I did cheat, I didn't have any cinnamon sticks on hand, so I used ground cinnamon. I placed all the ingredients (except the dried orange peel) into a bowl and crushed them together with the handle of a screwdriver. A very good substitute if you don't have a mortar & pestle. I placed water in a pot on the stove on low heat and plaed the pot-pourri in a small collander (ok, I don't have a double broiler, either) to simmer over the water. My place just smells divine!!!

More Yule Stuff

Yule is the time of year when Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the Winter Solstice. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, this will be on around December 21, but if you're below the Equator, your Yule celebration will fall in June. This Sabbat is considered the longest night of the year, and following Yule, the sun begins its long journey back to earth. Try some or even all of these ideas -- obviously, space may be a limiting factor for some, but use what calls to you most.

Colors of the Season:

Winter is here, and even if the snow hasn't fallen yet, there's a definite chill in the air. Use cold colors to decorate your altar, such as blues and silvers and whites. Also find ways to include thereds, whites and greens of the season. Evergreen boughs never go out of style, so add some dark greens as well. Cover your altar with a cloth in a cool color, and then add candles in a variety of different wintery shades. Use candles in silvers and golds -- and sparkle is always good too!

Symbols of Winter:

Yule is a Sabbat that reflects the return of the sun, so add solar symbols to your altar. Gold discs, yellow candles, anything bright and shiny can represent the sun. Some people even get a large pillar candle, inscribe it with solar symbols, and designate it as their sun candle. You can also add evergreen boughs, sprigs of holly, pinecones, aYule log, and even Santa Claus. Consider antlers or reindeer, along with other symbols of fertility.

Other Signs of the Season:

There's no limit to the number of things you can put on your Yule altar, as long as you've got the space. Consider some of these items as part of your Sabbat decor:

• Fruit and nuts
• Mistletoe
• Snowflakes, icicles, even a bowl of snow
• Candy canes
• Bells
• Sun Wheels
  

~~Courtesy of About.com: Paganism/Wicca

A History of Yule

A Festival of Light:

Many cultures have winter festivals that are in fact celebrations of light. In addition to Christmas, there's Hanukkah with its brightly lit menorahs, Kwanzaa candles, and any number of other holidays. The Pagan holiday called Yule takes place on the day of the winter solstice, around December 21. On that day (or close to it), an amazing thing happens in the sky. The earth's axis tilts away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sun reaches at its greatest distance from the equatorial plane. As a festival of the Sun, the most important part of any Yule celebration is light -- candles, bonfires, and more.

Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Celtic Celebrations of Winter:

The Celts of the British Isles celebrated midwinter as well. Although little is known about the specifics of what they did, many traditions persist. According to the writings of Pliny the Elder, this is the time of year in which Druid priests sacrificed a white bull and gathered mistletoe in celebration.

Roman Saturnalia:

Few cultures knew how to party like the Romans. Saturnalia was a festival of general merrymaking and debauchery held around the time of the winter solstice. This week-long party was held in honor of the god Saturn, and involved sacrifices, gift-giving, special privileges for slaves, and a lot of feasting. Although this holiday was partly about giving presents, more importantly, it was to honor an agricultural god.

Welcoming the Sun Through the Ages:

Four thousand years ago, the Ancient Egyptians took the time to celebrate the daily rebirth of Horus - the god of the Sun. As their culture flourished and spread throughout Mesopotamia, other civilizations decided to get in on the sun-welcoming action. They found that things went really well... until the weather got cooler, and crops began to die. Each year, this cycle of birth, death and rebirth took place, and they began to realize that every year after a period of cold and darkness, the Sun did indeed return.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.

In some traditions of Wicca and Paganism, the Yule celebration comes from the Celtic legend of the battle between the young Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King, representing the light of the new year, tries each year to usurp the old Holly King, who is the symbol of darkness. Re-enactment of the battle is popular in some Wiccan rituals.

~~Courtesy of About.com: Paganism/Wicca

Holiday Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

• 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon cold water

1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Beat in molasses and egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, salt, cinnamon and cloves; add to the creamed mixture alternately with water. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

2. On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a rocking horse cookie cutter or cutter of your choice dipped in flour. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9-11 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

New Goodies

So, I needed a pick-me-up yesterday, I headed into my Pagan store to look around. Ok, I just can't go in & look around without getting something. I ended leaving the store after about a half hour with a goodie-bag filled with assorted crystals, new Sandalwood incense and a book.

The book is called, "Spellcraft for Hedge Witches" by Rae Beth. I'm not at all familiar with her & her writings. I started into the book last night before going to sleep. I like it, in spite of the fact I know nothing of the author. If any of you out there know about her, let me know.

My little goodie bag of crystals had about 9 stones on it, along with descriptions of them. I got a clear quartz, moonstone, jasper, 2 pyrite, jade, kyanite, blue lace agate, & magnesite. The only stone without a description was the magnesite, which resembles a wad of chewed up gum. I Googled it and this is what I found:

"helps with motivation, visualization, grounds intellect, cell purification, convulsions, bones and teeth and helps lessen PMS"

I went to the Witch's Ball

So, I went to the Witch's Ball on Saturday night. I was a little hesitant about going, as I was going solo. It was a costume ball at a quaint little bar in downtown Halifax, called the Seahorse Tavern. It's located in bar-central, in the basement of a restaurant. It is known as Halifax's oldest bar.

I dressed as a witch...but a classy witch. I wore my little black dress, my cloak, pointy hat and ankle boots. I felt a little out of my comfort zone, as the dress is a wee bit low-cut, so there was boobage. I wore my favourite pentacle on a long chain. My hair was big, the eyelashes were on, lips were red. If you saw me, you'd think I was just another party-goer going downtown for some fun (which I was), except for the pointy witchy hat.

The ball started at 9pm, I arrived a little after 10pm. I felt awkward, not knowing if there would be anyone I knew that would be there. I didn't see anyone at first, but then my facebook friend, Lisa came over to the door. I remembered that she told me she would be in a toga. I said hi & told her who I was. We hugged and ended up hanging out all night. She introduced me to members of her coven & her High Priestess.

There were about 5 bands playing that night. That first was a techno (??) type duo who were speaking their lyrics to heavy beats. When they finished, there was a belly dancer who did 2 numbers to Loreena McKennitt music. After she was finished, another band came on, they played a salsa/zydeco type rhythm music. They had a lot more people on the dance floor. You could feel the energy rising in the whole bar. About half of the attendees were in costume, some were very creative (the wolfman dude was cool).

I met a whole bunch of new Pagans. They were so nice. We shared our stories about how we came to our path in life, and just some general girl talk (guys, clothes, etc). While we sat at the booth chatting, there was a fire-eater performing. Things got a bit touchy with her set, as the bar has a low ceiling, but thankfully there was no fire. After she finished, a Sudanese drum band came out. They were awesome!!! Talk about rhythm in the place. All you could see was a full bar of dancing Pagans. Loved it!! I did leave during the last band, as it was already around 2am and this witch isn't used to staying up that late.

All in all, I had a blast!! The people I met were genuine, nice and now friends on facebook.

What's A Witch To Do??

So, I'm debating about going to the Witch's Ball this weekend. I want to go, but funds are a wee bit tight, as it is in between pay cheques and I just paid rent. This week I've been living off my tips in the salon, but work hasn't been busy this week, so what I do get affords me milk & bread every couple of days and bus fare to get to & from work, oh yeah lunch, too. I hate being broke...it sucks.

I really want to get out there to meet my fellow Pagans in the city, but then again...are they all going to be college-age fluffy bunnies who just want to play dress up?? There's not a lot here in Halifax, in terms of anything Pagan. The Nova Scotia Pagan Alliance (NSPA) holds monthly meetings, I go when I can (when my son is at his dad's), but the majority of the people who attend these are college-age....there a a couple of older people who go, but I find the topics a bit mundane. There are pub meets that another group puts on, but they hold them on the first Wednesday night of the month, either here in Halifax or across the harbour in Dartmouth. I don't know about you, but I can't go to a pub in the middle of the week when I have to work the next morning. Needless to say, I haven't been to one of their meet 'n greets. There are public rituals held on the Sabbats, but I don't feel comfortable sharing a ritual with people who don't fully appreciate the meanings & symbolism. I do want to get out there in the Pagan community, but I'm at a loss as to how to go about doing it.

Maybe I will save up my tips these next couple of days and get all gussied up in my finest Witchiness & go. I could cast a spell on the bartender so I can get free drinks........n'ah, that's not ethical, but it would be fun ;-)

)O( Blessed Be,
Rowan

The Three Witches by Wm Shakespeare

Thrice, the brinded cat mewed.
Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined.
Harpier cries ! 'Tis time!
Round about the cauldron go;
In the poisoned entrails throw:
Toad that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one. Sweltered venom, sleeping got,
Boil thou first i'the charmed pot.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witch's mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravined salt sea shark,
Root of hemlock digged i'the dark,
Liver of blaspheming jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Slivered in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth-strangled babe,
Ditch-delivered by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron
For the ingredience of our cauldron.
Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon's blood;
Then the charm is firm and good....

Pix of Pumpkin Carving