Is the weather getting warmer in your area yet? Mother Nature was showing
us some signs of a warmer winter until we got a light dusting of snow last
night, reminding us that it's still mid-February. The above picture was
taken in January, on a beautifully snowy winter morning. We decided to
take a moment to enjoy the snow and build a Snowlady in the likes of Astra from
Glen's comic,
The Many Moons of Astra.
We hope that Imbolc found you celebrating the return of light to our
Earth and enjoying a warm holiday in the midst of a cold winter. Ostara
will be here before we know it, bringing spring and a blooming of flowers to
brighten our world. Until then, Goldentree Wands made another fun video
for you to enjoy. Illustrating what our wands are NOT capable of doing,
while poking fun at ourselves. We hope you enjoy!...
Ostara, one of our lesser Sabbats is our day of spring and rebirth. Flowers
begin to bloom and plants begin to sprout new life. Ostara is the Virgin Goddess
of Spring in ancient Germany. As life begins in the spring certain deities would
return from the Underworld and start a new life. A few of these deities are
Odin, Attis, Osiris, Dagda, Mithras, Orpheus, Hera, and Persephone. The
biggest symbol of Ostara is the egg, it is the universal symbol of new life,
eternal life, and fertility. The Easter Bunny does in fact come from a Pagan
background. The legend of the Goddess Eostre. A lowly rabbit wanted to please
Eostre that he laid the sacred eggs in her honor, decorated them, then humbly
presented them to her. She was so pleased with the rabbit that she wished all
humankind to share in her joy. In honoring her wishes, the rabbit went through
all the world and distributed these little decorated gifts of life. To
discuss this topic and more, please join us on our
forums.
This wood is all about
balanced energy. Oftentimes, people will focus only on one or two
details of their lives, neglecting the rest. This wood's energy
helps us to step back and see the big picture, not getting overwhelmed
by the details. It helps to balance the energies within us or a
situation. Myrtlewood will aid in decision making, but not luck.
This wood is very
versatile. It is good for healing, creating abundance, and for
nurturing passionate love. However, it has a very honest energy
and will not tolerate deception or "creative truth" in any of
your workings with it.
STONE-OF-THE-SABBAT:
Sunstone
Gender Association:
Masculine
Planetary Association:
Sun
Elemental Association:
Fire
Other magical properties:
Sunstone was first used by the Vikings as a navigation tool on their
ocean-going vessels. The translucent, opalescent flash within the
stone will only occur in particular alignment to the sun. This
translucence is very sensitive to light, and is able to be seen even in
very poor lighting. In this way, the Vikings were able to
determine the position of the sun even when it was hidden behind thick
layers of clouds, since the sun's rays were still reaching the earth in
the same direction as they would on a cloudless day.
This anecdote is very illustrative of the powerful energy of the
Sunstone. It is protective, and acts as a guide no matter how
unclear a situation may be. Use this stone in any protective
ritual, and you will find the darkness and negativity easily cleared
away. If used in divination, extremely direct and clear results
will be obtained. This stone can also be used for health and
healing, and will burn away the negative energies causing illness and
mental unrest. Sunstone is a very potent stone, with virtually
limitless uses.
Glen's new Unique One-of-a-Kind Wand design,
Eternal Flame, is the first
of it's kind. Made with seven woods and two stones, this wand
contains amazing fire energy. Click
here to read more.
A new scent has been added to our selection of
Mini Incense Packages - a
scent of Coconut can bring joy to any ritual.
If Dragons are your thing, our new
Pewter Dragon Pendant will
bring the wow to any conversation.
This gorgeous
Pewter Tree with Moon Pendant
allows the wearer to connect with the moon and Mother Earth,
simultaneously.
Willow went to Texas for a week in December and came home with some beautifully
energetic stones. Click the pictures below to see larger photos, different
angles of the stones, and read about the energy each one can bring to your life
and home.
Mix
all ingredients in your Mortar and Pestle and burn on a charcoal disk to
celebrate Ostara and the coming spring. All above
ingredients (with the exception of Bergamot Oil or Orange Peel) and charcoal can be purchased from Willow's
Herb Cellar.
EGG CASSEROLE RECIPE Courtesy Paula Deen
8 hard boiled eggs
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon House seasoning, recipe follows
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 cup freshly grated Gruyere
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Gently remove the shell from the hard-boiled eggs and cut in 1/2. Place cut side
down in a baking dish greased with margarine.
In a saucepan, melt the margarine, add the flour, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3
minutes. Add the half-and-half gradually, and stir until mixture thickens and
season with house seasoning. Add the dry mustard and the Gruyere and stir until
melted. Pour the sauce over the eggs and sprinkle top with Parmesan. Bake for
approximately 20 to 30 minutes until bubbling and top is golden brown.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Corned Beef and Cabbage from Celtic Folklore Cooking by
Joanne Asala
Once a traditional food for Easter, this is now
linked with St. Patrick's Day in the minds of Americans. The cabbage should have
as much dark green leaf as possible for flavor as well as tradition.
Place brisket in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Stick cloves into the
onion; add to saucepan with bay leaves and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, cover,
and simmer until meat is tender- about 2 hours. Cook cabbage in the meat stock
just until tender and serve with the beef. many families serve this with mustard
sauce.
