Lammas

Symbolism: First harvest festival; aging of the Deities, honoring of Sun Gods

Symbols: Corn dollies, cornucopia, grains, the Sun

Foods: Breads, grains, potatoes, summer squash, cider, blackberry pies and jellies, berries, apples, roasted lamb, elderberry wine, meadowsweet tea

Plants & herbs: Ash, camphor, caraway, fern, geranium, juniper, mandrake, marjoram, thyme, sunflowers, wheat

Incense and oils: Allspice, carnation, rosemary, vanilla, sandalwood, aloe, rose

Colors: Red, gold, yellow, orange

Stones: Aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx

Animals and mythical beasts: Roosters, calves, the Phoenix, griffins, basilisk, centaurs

Some appropriate Goddesses: all grain, agriculture, and mother Goddesses; Alphito (Greek), Ashnan (Sumerian), Bast (Egyptian), Bau (Assyro-Babylonian), Ceres (Roman), Demeter (Greek), Gaia (Greek), Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian), Isis (Egyptian), Libera (Roman), Persephone (Greek), Rhiannon (Welsh), Robigo (Roman), Tailtiu (Irish)

Some appropriate Gods: all grain, agriculture, Sun, and father Gods; Cernunnos (Celtic), Dagon (Babylonian), Lahar (Sumerian), Liber (Roman), Llew (Welsh), Lugh (Irish), Neper (Egyptian), Ningirsu/Ninurta (Assyro-Babylonian), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian)

Decorations: Corn, hay, gourds, corn dollies, shafts of grain, sun wheels

Activities: games, country fairs, making corn dollies, baking bread, gathering fruits, visits to fields, orchards, lakes and wells.

Spell/ritual work: Offering thanks, honoring fathers, prosperity, abundance, generosity, continued success, connectedness

FRIENDSHIP SPELLS

SPELL FOR NEW FRIENDSHIP
Inscribe a pink candle with your name, then anoint the rose quartz with sunflower oil. Light the candle. Hold the stone in your hand, and visualize friendships coming your way and a new relationships forming.

Chant three times
open mind, and gain new life,
gone from you, all stress and strife.
open heart, gain life anew.
accept all love that's offered you.
positive thought and word and deed.
enter now, of bane I'm freed
ancient, hear me---grant my plea
to new relationships, open me.

place the stone by the candle, and leave it there until the candle burns down.
carry the stone with you.


THE FRIENDSHIP SPELL

You will need:
A pink candle/red candle (Pink for friendship
A piece of paper (pink)
A pen (Any color ink is fine but it is advisable to use pink for friendship
Some rose incense

The spell: This spell must take three days to perform and is best if done at night.
You may wish to wear something pink

The first part of the spell is to find a room that is dimly lit and begin the spell by first lighting the candle and incense. Close your eyes and meditate, inhale the sweet smell of the rose incense, feeling as if you are totally surrounded by roses.

Totally relax yourself and free yourself from tension
After feeling totally relaxed, take the piece of paper and the pen and write down what you want your friend to be, write everything down. Think about what you want his/her character to be and write everything down.

Concentrate hard on these characteristics and tell yourself that there is such
a perfect person in the world.

Once you think that you have listed everything, look deep into the candle flame of the pink candle and meditate hard on this person you wish to conjure up. Then before you end the spell, repeat this incantation:

''I conjure thee, I conjure thee
I am the queen, you are the bee
As I desire, so mote it be!"

Perform this spell for three consecutive nights to see if you have any more things you wish to add to that list.

On the third night repeat the same procedure, only that at the end of the spell
you use the flame from the pink candle and burn the whole paper and leave the paper in a bowl to cool.

Then drop three drops of wax on the ashes and spiritually cleanse the ash
by waving rose incense over it.

Right after, take a small pouch and empty the ash into the pouch.

Then fill the pouch with a mixture of white and pink rose petals and leaves.
Carry the small pouch with you wherever you are to attract this friend you conjured
into your life.

Another thing is.....

My counter tops! Tired old, boring, and not much more can be said for them.

I've been reading up on "painting" your counter tops!

This would be very easy because.... this is it folks.... My whole counter top, except for a tiny spot next to the stove, and one tiny spot next to the Fridge.....I have a tiny kitchen..... works for me since I DON'T COOK!

I could buy a new counter top, but that entails getting a plumber to remove, and re hook up the sink.... and sometimes it's just not worth it.

The only problem I have is the weird edge. Do I fill it in with putty before painting, do I just remove it or do I paint the whole thing..... or just the strip of white between the two pieces of wood????



I'm not sure what to do. But I'm thinking if I re-do the counter top, then maybe the cabinets would look better.... and I won't have to paint them!

HELP!!!!

Making a list of Fall and winter projects!

I love my new bedspread, but I'm getting tired of my old head board. Thinking something new my be needed!



I'm also thinking of getting rid of the "top" of the china cabinet! I don't know why, but the clutter is driving me nutso! And re-staining the bottom a darker color.... Like cherry??? Same goes for re staining the dinning room table and chairs the same color!

This T.V. stand has gotta go!!!! It's old as the hills, but to replace it I want to get a new flat screen TV, and then just have it on a simple elegant table! Instead of this huge monstrosity!!!

Also thinking about removing the pictures and shelves in between the book shelves, and just adding more book shelves to fill the wall!

And last but not least. the kitchen. I removed the top cabinets over the breakfast bar a few years ago, and love the openness. But I'm thinking of maybe doing the breakfast bar in some kind of "foe" stone, and then painting the kitchen cabinets!

Also want to get rid of all the oak trim and doors in the house!!!! I'm soooooo sick of OAK!!!

Any suggestions?????

haaahhhaaaa

LOL

Signs and Colors!

Color correspondences are just one more valuable ingredient in any astrological reading of a horoscope or interpretation of zodiac influences, but they are equally important when combining astrology with a magic spell or ritual. The appropriate colors for a particular astrological sign when combined with a spell or incantation can be included to symbolize the intent or purpose of the spell being cast.

The traditional associations for particular colors as listed on this page are intended to provide the historical, traditional correspondences of color as employed over the last few centuries.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18): Sky Blue

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20): Lavender

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19): Red

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): Green

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21): Pink

Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22): Silver

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22): Gold

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Navy

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Green

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): Red

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21): Navy

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19): Brown



FIRE
Direction: South

Qualities: hot and dry, light and active

Color: Red

Metal: brass, gold, iron, steel

Type of magic: tantra, healing, candle magic

Zodiacal signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Tattvic symbol: red triangle (Tejas)

Tattvic tide: March 21 - June 21

Season: Summer

Hour of day: Noon

Celtic name: Deas

Major Arcana Card: judgment (XX)

Minor Arcana suit: Wands

Symbolic creature: lion, fire-breathing dragon, horses

Alchemical symbol: right side up triangle

Symbols: fire, sun, stars, volcanoes, candle flame, hearth fire

Plant: nettle, red poppies, garlic, onions



WATER

Direction: West

Qualities: cold and moist, heavy and passive

Color: Green

Metal: copper, silver

Type of magic: fertility, mirror magic, purification, healing, divination, dream magic

Zodiacal signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Tattvic symbol: silver crescent (Apas)

Tattvic tide: September 23 - December 23

Season: Fall

Hour of day: twilight

Celtic name: iar

Major Arcana card: Hanged Man (XII)

Minor Arcana suit: Cups

Symbolic creatures: scorpion, snake, dolphin, dragon(serpent), all water creatures

Alchemical symbol: upside down triangle

Symbols: waterfalls, all bodies of water, waves, fog, rain

Plants: all water plants, fern, lotus, moss



AIR

Direction: East

Qualities: hot and moist, light and active

Color: Blue

Metal: aluminum, mercury, tin

Types of magic: To find an object that has been lost or stolen, magic of the four winds, visualizations, divination.

Zodiacal signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Tattvic symbol: blue circle (Vayu)

Tattvic tide: June 21 - September 23

Season: Spring

Hour of day: Dawn

Celtic name: airt

Major Arcana card: Fool (0)

Minor Arcana suit: Swords

Symbolic creatures: eagle, hawk, butterfly

Alchemical symbol: right side up triangle with a line through the middle

Symbols: sky, wind, clouds, incense

Plants: aspen tree, mistletoe



EARTH

Direction: North

Qualities: cold and dry, heavy and passive

Color: Yellow

Metal: lead, mercury

Types of magic: fertility magic, tree magic, herbal lore, prosperity, rune casting, knot magic

Zodiacal signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Tattivic symbol: yellow square (prithivi)

Tattivic tide: December 23 - March 21

Season: Winter

Hour of day: midnight

Celtic name: Tuath

Major Arcana card: Universe (XXI)

Minor Arcana suit: Pentacles

Symbolic creatures: bull, sphinx, stag

Alchemical symbol: upside down triangle with a line through the middle

Symbols: mountains, caves, gems, fields, rocks

Plants: red poppy, thrift plant, ivy, grains



SPIRIT

Direction: the Center

Color: White

Metal: meteorite

Qualities: timelessness, spacelessness

Tattvic symbol: black oval (Akasha)

Time: Now and all time

Major Arcana card: Fool (0) and Judgement (XX)

Tarot suit: Major Arcana

Symbols: spiral, the cosmos

Idea's for your Lavender harvest!

Easy Lavender Body Powder

2/3 cup arrowroot powder
2/3 cup corn starch
6 tbsp. white clay*
3 tbsp. dried lavender
*Clay available at most health food stores

Grind whole Lavender flowers in a clean coffee grinder to desired fineness. Use a glass bowl, mix arrowroot powder, cornstarch and Lavender. Optional to add a few drops of essential oil to boost scent. Stir.

Store in a glass sealed container. Nice as a gift in a shaker bottle with holes in the top.


Lavender Wands
Lavender favours, or faggots, were originally used to scent linen and other stored fabric and clothes. They were often used to mark the dozens, and the half-dozens, in piles of linen in a bride's dowry chest, and it was usually the children who were set to work to make them. Nowadays, they make nice small gifts, either individually or in a "bunch" to put in a vase.

YOU WILL NEED:
Freshly gathered lavender stems, about 30cm. (12") long and 1 metre of narrow ribbon.


METHOD:
Take an uneven number of stems of lavender, 15 is about right. Tie these together tightly, with the end of the ribbon, just below the flower heads. Turn the bunch upside down and carefully bend the stems back over the flower heads, one by one. Start to weave the long end of the ribbon in and out of the stems, as there is an odd number it will have a basket effect. Shape the head as you go, pulling the weaving tight as you get to the bottom of the flower heads. Wind the ribbon round a couple of times, and slip knot the end. Use any remaining ribbon to make a bow. Trim the ends of the stems level. You can bind these with the ribbon too, and make a loop to hang up the "favour".



Frances' Secret Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookies!…

Makes approx 3 dozen

1/2 cup real butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
*** 2 Tbsp. dried Sweet Lavender flowers (3-4 Tbsp. fresh flowers)
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups white flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 generous cup good chocolate chips
Bowl 1: Blend butter, sugar & Lavender until smooth. Add egg, milk & vanilla in next.

Bowl 2: Blend oatmeal, flour, and baking powder together; add in your chocolate chips to this dry mix.

Blend both mixes together to form soft dough.
(If it is too sticky, add a bit more flour.)

Place by teaspoons onto baking tray.
Set oven @ 350° F
Bake 10 minutes for soft cookies, 15 mins for crisp ones.

OPTIONAL: Add 3 or 4 pieces of crystallized ginger finely chopped OR zest of one orange. OR: 1 cup nuts, raisins, coconut OR dried sweetened cranberries.
FOR A CHOCOLATE dough base: Add ½ cup of cocoa powder in with flour & sugar and decrease the chocolate chip amount slightly.


Lavender Harvest Fudge

2 cups (12 oz.) good chocolate chips (for special occasions use Belgian chocolate!)
1 tin (300 ml) sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbsp. dried Lavender flowers (3 Tbsp. fresh)
- measure, then grind finely, use a clean coffee grinder
Melt everything together in a double boiler. Add 3 tbsp. butter. Stir until smooth and melted.

Pour into a pan lined with wax paper (approximately 9" x 9"). Cover with Saran Wrap. Chill overnight.

Cut into 1" squares. Wrap like "sweets" in twists of wax paper. Decorate with a sticker smiley face!

*Recipe can be doubled, use 9" x 12" pan. Stripe it using white chocolate for top layer and dark for the bottom.

**Optional: Sprinkle fresh Lavender on top layer to decorate!

does anyone love me?

Does anyone live near the Frog Queen??????
http://strangelittlegirlblog.blogspot.com/

She's having a class on how to make this sweetie!!!!!!

I'll pay you to make one and send it to me!!!!!!



He's SOOOOO CUTE!!!! I will hug him, and kiss him, and call him George!!!!!!

ohhhhhhh

I almost forgot!!!! I picked up this poster at the convention for my girlfriend Barb. But, I may have to keep it. LOL