Yule Blessings

We wish you a blessed Yule!

Yule Blessings

Blessings to you from the Earth Mother.
She is the Moon.
She watches over all of us by.
The light that she casts over the blessed earth.
Walk her night lit path
And happiness you will find at every turn.
Blessed be!

Blessings to you from the Sky Father.
He is the Sun. He holds us up
And brings us strength. Carry his sword
To cleave the evil from your path
And you will be unmolested.
Blessed Be!

Blessings to you from the Great Spirit.
It binds us all together:
Man to woman; beast to beast; all.
We are it and it is us.
Blessed Be!

May you have a wonderful Holiday.
The time has come for the sun to be reborn
He lies in his Mother's womb waiting...
Awaiting his reappearance on this plane.
Let us all rejoice in his rebirth and ours.
Blessed Be!

Source:http://www.angelfire.com/moon/yule/

What are Fulgurites? What do they do?

What are Fulgurites? 

Fulgurites are glassy tubes that are formed when lightning strikes the sand or rock.  Lightning carries extremely large amounts of static electricity which is discharged in a very small spot, and the temperature there has been calculated to be hotter than the surface of the sun.  The heat is intense enough to vaporize the sand at the center of the strike and to melt the material around the edges.  The tube is formed from the melted sand and the hole down the middle is where the vaporized material had been.  Fulgurites come in various shapes, sizes and color.  Some can be hollow tubes and others can be glassy on one side and or sand/rock on the other side.

Fulgurites are one of the most powerful stones for manifesting one’s visions through the power of prayer.  The lightning energy is believed to be the touch of the Divine, still resides in them, and they can act as magnifiers of one’s clear intention, building a powerful resonance between oneself and the powers of the higher worlds.

Fulgurites have a strong, high-frequency vibration, and they seem to hold a clear resonance with the powerful electrical force that created them.  Holding a Fulgurite, one may sense a vortex of energy whizzing through the chakras and all levels of the Light body, purifying and cleansing the entire system.  There may also be a strong arousal of the Kundalini forces of creativity and inner power.

Fulgurites are powerful for grounding the Light body and manifesting one’s higher purpose.  Fulgurite is a stone of prophecy, opening the higher chakras to Divine energy.  It opens and clears the psychic and intuitive senses and can assist one in rapidly connecting with the frequency of the Divine through prayer or meditation. 

Fulgurite is especially helpful for those ready to experience major breakthroughs and to release habit patterns that no longer serve.  Fulgurite will assist you in brining your thoughts into form, so be sure to hold positive thoughts and do this work only after surrendering to the Divine.  This will ensure your creations serve the highest good!

Source-Healing About

Picture:whataearth.com

Stunning Pumpkin Red Chile Bisque by Leslie B. Fay

When Charlie and I were in Taos, New Mexico, we went to a restaurant named "Graham's Grille". The owner/chef Lesley B. Fay made the most incredible soup: Pumpkin and Red pepper bisque. Unfortunately, Graham's Grille is no longer in business but we did get the recipe for this divine bisque and want to share it with you, you will fall in love!

Pumpkin Red Chile Bisque

Serves approximately 12 (or 2 people if you are like Charlie and me)

Ingredients:

Roasted or canned pumpkin 4 C

Milk 6 C

Heavy Cream 2 C

White Wine 3 C

marsala or sweet sherry

Dark rum ½ C

Orange juice 1 & ½ C

Cornstarch 1 TB

Chicken or vegetable paste ¼ to ½ C

Pumpkin spice ½ C

Red Chile Powder ¼ C

Brown sugar, packed ¾ to 1 C

Fresh ginger, micro peeled &grated 1 med knob

Cumin 2 TB

Cinnamon 2 TB

Allspice 1 TB

Thyme 1 TB

Nutmeg 1 TB

Black pepper ½ TB

Cardamom 1 tsp

Garlic powder 1 tsp

Fennel, ground 1 tsp

Instructions:

Start with a large saucepan. To the saucepan, add pumpkin, milk, cream, wine and rum. Slurry together orange juice and cornstarch until smooth, add to pumpkin cream mixture. Add chicken or vegetable base. Put heat on med-high and stir pumpkin cream mixture while cooking it to a boil.

Peel and grate the ginger and add to pumpkin-cream mixture.

Add all spices. Cook the bisque until the mixture just starts to boil. Turn off the heat. Taste to adjust any of the seasoning, sweetness, heat from chile or spices. If desired more cream can be added to the finish.

Serving:

Top bowls of soup with Mexican crema or Sour Cream Fraiche (sour cream mixed in equal amounts with heavy cream) and toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Serve with crispy corn tortilla chips.

Antiflu/Sore Throat Folk Remedy

Antiflu/Sore Throat Folk Remedy

 
2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup boiling water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Grind together the cayenne and salt to make a paste, add water, steep and cool, add vinegar.

Sip throughout the day.


Picture from frontiercoop.com

Melody’s Stone – Super Seven Crystal

A popular stone – also known as Melody’s Stone – Super Seven Crystal, one of the wonderful crystals our mother earth has produced. Getting rare as apparently mined out.
It’s said Super 7 crystals is a rather interesting crystal, also known as Sacred Seven or Melody’s Stone. Consists of Amethyst, Clear Quartz. Smoky Quartz, Cacoxenite, Rutile, Geothite and Lepidocrocite (not always all 7 minerals are present). This stone is very sought after.  It is one of the few stones that retains all the energy and clarity of each mineral.

Super 7 Stone also known as Melody’s Stone has all the energies of:
Amethyst
Smoky Quartz
Clear Quartz
Rutile
Geothite
Lepidochrosite
Cacoxenite

Seven minerals of Super Seven Crystals
Healing Properties of the seven minerals present in Super Seven Crystals:

AMETHYST one of the quartz present. Play an important role for those seeking spiritual enlightenment.  Amethyst promotes patience and calmness in stressful situations. A crystal for transforming negative energy into positive energy.

CLEAR QUARTZ CRYSTAL, also known as Clear/White Crystal, the mother stone of all quartz family, known for emitting energy and aids communication and clarity. Clear Quartz Crystal increases energy flow and harmonize the environment.

SMOKEY QUARTZ  spotting light to dark smokey grey to near black color.  Sometimes heat to become smokey quartz. Enhances focus, good business acumen and very useful for stressful environment. An excellent grounding crystals.

CACOXENITE  brings spiritual enlightenment, opening the mind to new concepts, promote new ideas and understanding, and seeing the positive side of life.

GOETHITE  Heals grief, a powerful energy to aid you to release emotional blockages. Enhance creativity & clairaudience.

LEPIDOCROCITE  Can be found in quartz. Calms ADHD and Hyperactivity. It brings healing energy into the glands, meridians and organs. It can be used for cell renewal, shrinkage of tumours, for disorders of the liver, reproductive organs and iris. From Melody – Love is in the earth

RUTILE  Red, gold or silver colour. It grows in immaculately straight lines almost through anything in its path, usually Quartz. Gives one strength and positive energy, letting almost nothing to stand in one’s way. Alleviate depression & increase self-reliance and physical vitality.

Source: http://www.secretcrystals.net

Use of Incense

The students of Mckinley High School found this cool article and wanted to share it. Thanks Mckinley High and Bailey!

Use of Incense
Burning incense likely originated as people chose various materials to burn for heat and cooking. When people burned roots and specific types of wood, an aromatic smoke wafted out of the fire, creating the first types of incense. In the Far East and Middle East, frankincense became extremely valuable, even more than gold in some instances. It's surmised that gold and frankincense were among the gifts of the Magi presented to the infant Jesus. People began trading frankincense and myrrh, and this lasted for hundreds of years.

Ancient Egyptians used incense in their worship of gods, and they burned it continuously in temples.
Specific types of incense were used in the worship of specific gods. Remnants of incense have been
discovered in the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs.

Ritualistic Use of Incense

Burning incense involves powerful olfactory sensations as the strong scents fill a room. The ritual of
incense can involve burning it to achieve specific purposes. Native Americans engage in smoke and
smudging ceremonies, and these rituals have similarities to burning incense. Some people burn incense during meditation to assist with achieving a level of calm and focus. Buddhists burn incense with the purpose of purifying an area. During Buddhist ceremonies, people burn bundles of incense while bowing to plaques or statues in the temple. Buddhists also burn sticks of incense near plaques and statues. Incense can also assist with increasing or adjusting the energy in an area. Finally, some people use incense to attract supernatural entities or to dispel them from an area.
 
Spiritual Use of Incense

Frankincense history has a strong connection with spirituality and using incense in church. Burning incense  in a Mass has been used in conjunction with preparing a congregation for prayer and the rituals associated with a religious service. Catholics use incense as a type of offering to God and an expression of devotion. 

The Catholic church, with its strong history of ritualistic rites, believes in the power of incense to increase the austerity of church services and the devotion of worshipers.

Healing Use of Incense
 
Incense and fragrance also have a connection with healing. Incense blends can have a positive impact for people suffering from depression, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety. The scents of frankincense can have a strong sedative effect, bringing peace and relaxation to those who breathe it in. Frankincense has a citrus scent. Sandalwood incense has sacred properties, and it may help relieve insomnia and depression. Eucalyptus incense has properties that may help respiratory ailments.

Burning Incense

The method of burning incense depends on the type of incense. Incense sticks and cones are two of the most common types of incense. A stick is narrow and straight, while a cone typically has a spiral shape. Burn times vary, but cones usually burn longer than sticks. Incense powders or loose incense are simply ground resins that burn in containers with a combustible source such as special charcoal pieces. Loose incense could include resins such as sandalwood, cloves, and cinnamon. Incense oil does not require burning. Rather, this type of incense emits scents into the air simply by being placed in small containers. Japanese incense is called "koh," and it resembles short strands of dried spaghetti. Common resins for koh include sandalwood and aloeswood.

To burn incense sticks or cones, place them in a special holder designed to support them during burning. Light the tip of the incense with a flame, and then blow out the flame to allow the smoke to emit from the incense. This smoldering is the process that fills the air with scent. Although incense-burning does not involve an open flame, the source of the smoldering is exceedingly hot and will cause burns if touched.
 
When burning loose incense, the container must be able to withstand high temperatures from the
combustible source. The container should be designed for incense-burning, and it should have insulation around it to protect against fire and heat damage. When burning incense, always supervise the process. Never leave burning incense unattended, especially when children and pets are present. 

Sources:
http://www.fragrancex.com

Holding a Candlelight Ceremony for Pet Loss

Holding a Candlelight Ceremony for Pet Loss

By Carrie Grosvenor

A candlelight ceremony for pet loss serves as a memorial service to remember a cherished pet that has passed away. These ceremonies can be comforting for pet owners, who struggle with the grief associated with the death of their companion animals. Even years after pets have gone, there can still be lingering pain and sadness when remembering them. 

Losing a Beloved Pet

The death of a family pet can be just as devastating to some as the passing of family members or friends. This is because, to many, a pet is a true family member, afforded all the love and care taking as any other. Pets are a large part of many people's lives, and their deaths are deeply mourned.

Companion animals, just like people, sometimes pass away quite suddenly, leaving their owners surprised and saddened. Even when a pet death comes after a lengthy illness, it's still a sad occasion. There is also grief and feelings of guilt associated with the decision to have a pet euthanized, where owners second guess themselves and wonder if there wasn't a better alternative. 

Holding a Candlelight Ceremony for Pet Loss

A candlelight ceremony or candlelight vigil can bring some comfort to grieving pet owners, calling attention to their loss and giving them a time and place to deal with their sadness. These ceremonies can be done privately, with friends and family members, or with a group of others who are going through the same situation. 

How to Hold a Candlelight Ceremony

The best part of a candlelight ceremony is that the only necessities are candles. Candles are thought to provide light for the departed, and their warm glow helps to relieve stress and anxiety for participants. They can also set the mood of the ceremony, allowing time for quiet reflection. Special pet memory candles can add a personalized touch.

Here are some ideas for a candlelight ceremony for pet loss:

• Any type of candle can be used, from votives in glass holders to handheld tapers, or a group of pillar candles.
• Create memory candles for each pet being remembered, and have the owners light their pet's candle.
• Let each guest speak for a few minutes about his or her pet, sharing personal stories and feelings.
• For a ceremony where only one pet is the focus, create a memory table with favorite toys or other items, along with a candle and framed photograph.
• Prayers, poems, and other prose can be recited, or hymns sung.

Once the candles have been lit, they can be left to burn for a while. Some pet owners prefer to have the candles snuffed out, and then distributed to those who lit them. In this manner, participants can take their candles home and light them in private, allowing for personal reflection and private grief. 

The above picture is of our beloved English Pointer, Jack, we will always miss him.