Wednesday 21 December 2011

Yuletide Blessings

Kitchen Witch would like to send everyone

Wonderful Yuletide Blessings

Happy Holidays to you all, have a wonderful time whatever you will be doing and whoever you will be doing it with ;-)


Love, light and happiness.






Kitchen Witch
x

Thursday 15 December 2011

A Yule Story by Blaiddwolf


King Holle stalked the Great Hall. In his wake, the Midwinter celebrants felt the chill of his passing. Not that he was an unkind ruler: not cruel, as such; not harsh, as such. He was merely not sentimental, he did what needed to be done. A man in the prime of life, his hair as white as the snow that covered the ground outside, was tightly braided. his beard precisely trimmed. Cold silver adorned his brow and his shoulders easily carried the huge weight of chinking chainmail.


The merry making was in full swing now. The apple trees had been wassailed, flattered and pleaded with to provide a bountiful crop the following year. Now men, women and children revelled in the warmth from the massive fireplace, specially kindled from the scorched remains of the previous Yule-fire. Winter's chill temporarily chased from their bones.


The tables here were laden with the Midwinter feast, meats, breads, fruits, delicacies especially saved for this very day, the day that had kept the people going through the harsh, dark days. The preparations for this day had occupied many a mind for weeks before hand, there had been no room for despair. The drinking cups were full to brimming, and by the end of the night, the floor will have seen its fair share of mead, cider and ale.


The rafters of the Hall were decked out in winter evergreens, the scent of the pine competing with those of the feast. The red and white berries of holly and mistletoe contrasting in the firelight, more than enough good luck talismans to last the year.


Around the settlement, particularly outside the doors and windows, were lined boots, all stuffed with hay. Offerings to the Lord of the Wild Hunt and his mounts should he choose to pass by that night. Perhaps if he did, he would look favourably upon them all, and turn his attention elsewhere.


Upstairs, the Queen laboured. The child was coming. Soon now. 


Holle's circuit had brought him back to his throne. He sat, and gazed upon the faces. Whilst tonight, hope would return to the world, it would depart from his own. He would not live to see another summer. 


He stood, all eyes turned to watch him as he raised his cup in salutations. Suddenly, he felt the wave wash over him. He staggered slightly, and made the effort to drain his cup. As the cheers echoed around the room, he slumped back into his chair, overcome by the unaccustomed weakness.


The Queen gazed down into the face or her golden-haired, new-born son. Already he was so strong. Duir, she whispered, you shall be named Duir.




(c) Blaiddwolf 2011

Friday 9 December 2011

Lucky Nutmeg

Nutmeg (myristica fragrans)

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Powers:  Luck, money, health, fidelity

It is said that nutmeg was the most prized spice in medieval times.  

During the Elizabethan era it was used to fend off the plague.

Carry a nutmeg with you for good luck, string with star anise and tonka beans for a potent necklace.  Also carry with you to ward of rheumatism, cold sores, neuralgia, boils and sties.   Put on a string (short enough so that it won’t strangle!) for a baby to aid in teething.  Include nutmeg in money & prosperity spells.   To ensure fidelity, cut a nutmeg into four equal pieces, bury one part in the earth, throw one off a cliff into the air, burn one part and boil the last in water.  Drink a sip of the water and take this last piece of nutmeg with you everywhere, even when you sleep.  Carry with you to strengthen clairvoyant powers. 

Considered lucky for people that like to play games of chance – dice, lottery, bingo, cards etc.  Some people drill a hole in a nutmeg and fill the hole with liquid mercury then seal it with wax to bring in the winnings. 

A resident of Banda Island, nutmeg is actually the seed of a plant.  It bears yellow flowers in a bell shape that gives a unique smell when blooming.  The pale yellowish or red fruit of the tree resembles that of an apricot.  Once the fruit is matured the seed is removed and used for medicinal or culinary purposes.

Nutmeg was used in numerous medications in ancient times and even today it is used in several pharmaceutical preparations.  The oil extracted is used in liniments, perfume, hair lotions and antispasmodic carminative.

Powedered nutmeg mixed with apple juice or banana is useful to remedy diarrhoea.   Also take for indigestion – combine the powdered nutmeg with fresh Indian gooseberry juice, also helpful for morning sickness and hiccups.

For insomnia mix powdered nutmeg with Indian gooseberry juice and drink before bed.

Soak half a nutmeg in water and mix with coconut will help with rehydration after vomiting and diaorhea.

Make a paste by rubbing a nutmeg on a stone and mixing the nutmeg with water, apply to the skin to aid with ringworm and eczema.

Use coarsely powdered nutmeg fried in oil until the mixture turns brown (then strain from the oil)  as a external salve to relieve pain, neuralgia and sciatica.

Nutmeg oil can help lower blood pressure.

Massaging with nutmeg oil can help encourage mental activity, relieve stress and anxiety, works as an anti inflammatory to relieve muscle and joint pain and aid in sleep.

Aids as a liver tonic to flush out the toxins from the body and can help heal the infections caused by kidney stones.

NOTE: nutmeg should always be taken in small amounts, heavy doses can be dangerous for your health.

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Making a difference...

Whilst watching some TV with my 6 year old son yesterday an advert came on from the Salvation Army asking people to make donations to help old and lonely people at this time of year.  My son looked up and asked me “will we be doing that mum”?

We as a family do our bit for charity, we always donate to collectors in town and in the stores, always drop a few coins in any boxes that are at the checkout in the stores, via both schools when they have charity collections and each Yule we make up a present box for a less fortunate child but his comment made me think about what other ways there are for all of us to help in our communities, not just at this time of the year but all year round.   So here are some ideas:

Donate to a charity the cost of a present, there are plenty of charities to choose from and most have websites that you can donate to online to make it even easier.

With the help of your children, sort through their toys and clothes that they have outgrown and donate them to a charity – it will also make room for the new ones they will receive at Yule too!

Purchase Yule cards from your favourite charity, one Pensioners Club that I know make their own handcrafted cards to sell.

Buy gifts for overseas projects, we did this last year from the Good Gifts Guide, gifting mosquito nets, money for literacy skills, clean water and even a goat!

If you buy gifts for your pets see if your local animal hospice sells any items, the money will then go to the hospice to help the animals.

Buy an extra gift and drop it into your local church or shelter.

When doing your festive food shop buy an extra can or two and drop it into your local shelter, or buy extra pet food and drop that into your local animal hospice.

Bake a cake or pudding and seek out a local community group that might like to sell it at their festive fair or use it as a raffle prize.

Check out your local area when buying your Yule tree, a lot of local community groups sell trees.

If you are hosting a Yuletide party, ask your guests to donate a coin or two to your nominated charity.

Buy fair-trade food and drinks for your Yuletide festivities.

Something that will cost you nothing but a bit of time – donate blood!

Check in on any elderly neighbours to make sure they are OK.

If you are buying a new mobile phone or computer this year, check out your local area to see if there is anywhere you can donate your old one to.

And what about those presents you receive that are not really your kind of thing?  Donate them to a local charity.

Recycle your Yule cards, plenty of places collect them after the festivities.

Try and shop locally for your festive food and gifts, keep the small businesses going or use the online sites folky and etsy.

Even when it’s chilly it’s nice to get outside for a walk with the family, visit a local park or beach and pick up the litter as you go.

I would love to hear any other ideas!

Tansy
x

Monday 5 December 2011

Marco's Pendulum

Two of my very favourite fiction books are written by author Phil Rickman, writing as Thom Madley - the first is Marco's Pendulum and the sequel is Marco and the Blade of the Night.


Both stories are about a young boy and his escapades in Glastonbury. If you have visited Glastonbury and know even a little bit about it, these books will explore the places that you know and love with a bit of the local lore and history thrown in too...oh and of course a bit of magic!


Amazon says of Marco's Pendulum:


When Marco is dumped in Glastonbury to stay with his weird hippy grandparents for the summer, he's sure he's going to hate it. But he soon starts to recognise the magic of the place - the magic that a development company is planning to exploit and, his grandparents are sure, destroy the process. With his mysterious new found talent for dowsing, Marco is quickly drawn into the dangerous struggle to protect the ancient mysticism of Glastonbury.


and of Marco and the Blade of the Night:


Glastonbury is a town steeped in mysticism, magic and religious cults. So when Marco's friend Rosa pulls a strange rusted object out of the riverbank, the rumours start spreading. The power of legends is back in full flow and the hunt for Excalibur is on.


Although written for the teen market I love them!


Phil Rickman, writing for children as Thom Madley, is the successful author of a series of adult thrillers featuring the Rev Merrily Watkins. Phil has worked as a journalist and a TV and radio reporter. He currently presents the book programme, Phil the Shelf, for BBC Radio Wales


Tansy
x

Thursday 1 December 2011

Cloves

Cloves
(Eugenia aromatica, Eugenia caryophyllata)

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Jupiter, Uranus
Element: Fire

Magical Properties: dispel negativity, protection, money, anti gossip, visions, cleansing, exorcism, love, clairvoyance, divination, memory, peace of mind, psychic development, spell breaking.

The name clove, as well as Spanish clavo, Catalan clau, Portuguese cravinho and Tagalog clovas, ultimately derives from Latin clavus (because of shape resemblance).  The word made its way into English via Old French clou.  The word clove is related to the verb cleave (which is what you can do with a nail) and therefore also to clove as in a clove of garlic.


Cloves have a mild antiseptic quality and can be used to ease toothache in the form of clove oil, or in tea as an expectorant for colds, also to ease nausea or vomiting.  Cloves will promote sweating with fevers, colds and flu.  They are also used in some whooping cough remedies. Cloves are antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic so they will help prevent disease and infection.   They are safe for pregnant women to take.  Use clove oil in a mouthwash too.  Cloves also ease digestive ailments.

Clove tea is also good for relaxing and calming the nerves.

Chewing on a clove after you have had spicy or garlicky food not only helps with digestion but assists in sweetening the breath.

Wear cloves in an amulet to dispel negativity and hostility and also to stop gossip.   Carried they can stimulate the memory and can also be added to attraction spells. 

Clove oil can be worn as an aphrodisiac.

Place cloves in sachets with mint and rose to chase away the blues and to aid with sleep.

Also carry with you to bring comfort in bereavement and mourning.

Burn in incense blends to attract riches, drive away negativity, purify, bring about astral sight and produce spiritual vibrations.

Try putting a tablespoon of cloves into a pot of simmering water to fill your house with a beautiful aroma and fill it with magic.

Cloves are native to the Molucca islands in Indonesia.  Cloves were once very expensive, causing wars to be fought in Europe with native peoples to secure the rights to the clove business.

Natives in Molucca would plant a clove tree for every child that was born.  They believed the fate of the tree was echoed in the fate of each child.

And of course apple pie wouldn't be right without cloves in!

Tansy
x