Don't Just Walk By, Use That Wild Plant!

Here are some simple uses for Wild Plants!

 

 

 

Violets: Add moist, cool, soothing, violets to your facial steam. Make a simple mouthwash by

brewing violets as a tea. You can also use violets in the bath for an inviting, relaxing scent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferns: Do easily fatigued and aching feet keep you from hiking? On your next trip to the woods, try cutting off a few fronds and place inside your shoes or boots; they provide a quick and refreshing cushion for tired feet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dandelions: Keep your hair healthy while using this natural high-lighting rinse! Simply brew a

strong tea of dandelion leaves and flowers. Pour over your hair and scalp after shampooing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eucalyptus: Uplift your spirits and repel insects at the same time naturally by hanging a few leaves inside your shower for a great start to your day, or tuck a few leaves inside flower arrangements to ward off flying pests when entertaining out-doors!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elm Leaves: Natural rescue for dry brittle nails! Simply brew a strong tea out of the fresh leaves and

soak your nails in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes a day!





Eucalyptus For Fleas? Yes! 15 Herbs For Your Pets!

If you have pets, then you are all too familiar with the pesky li'l critters we lovingly call FLEAS. (ok maybe not lovingly lol).

If you are like me, you hate to put harmful chemicals on your beloved pets! Well don't fret; I have found the perfect info for you and your four legged friends....read on m'friends, you'll like this!.

15 HERBS FOR YOUR PETS (and Sanity!)

 

 

Eucalyptus~Spray a dilution of Eucalyptus oil and water on everything in the house, including furniture, carpet, and wherever your pets sleep to deter these pesky pets. Place sachets of the eucalyptus leaves in strategic places around your home. You can even plant a Eucalyptus tree in a pot to repel the darn beings...BE AWARE; THIS PLANT IS TOXIC TO CATS. So keep the plant out of reach to them! If you don't want to chance it or cannot come across the eucalyptus, you may substitute the oils of rosemary and peppermint.

 

 Dogs can benefit greatly from the eucalyptus oil as a flea deterrent, Here's how:

 

1. Add 2-3 of the oil in a spray bottle.
2. Spray on your dog and let dry 

 

 

You can also use it as a shampoo:

1. Mix 32oz no-tear shampoo with 4-6 drops of the oil.
2. Shampoo your doggie and leave the lather for about 5min.
3. Rinse and repeat, watch it doesn't get into eyes

You can also rub the oil on your dogs' collar!

 

 

 

Valerian~Like humans, dogs are soothed by this herb, by calming them and helping them sleep. Try a combo of the following to lower blood pressure and treat asthma in dogs:

• Valerian
• Chamomile
• California Poppy

Valerian has the opposite effect on cats. It works as a stimulant and gets them moving. Though I am certain this is not necessary!

 

 

 

 

 

Milk Thistle~Speak to your vet before using..but this herb protects an improves the liver. Look to it if

your pet is on any medication that compromises liver function.

 

 

Garlic~This bulb provides wealth of health benefits for your pet(..and YOU)! It can lower triglycerides and blood cholesterol levels and prevent blood clotting in the cardiovascular system It also enhances liver function, fights off bacterial and fungal infections and makes a fantastic flea and tick repellent.



Dr. Richard Pitcairn, in his book, The Complete Guide to Natural Dogs and Cats, recommends the following amounts of fresh garlic for dogs according to their weight:

• 10-15 pounds: 1/2 clove
• 20-40 pounds: 1 clove
• 45-70 pounds: 2 cloves
• 75-90 pounds: 2 1/2 cloves
• More than 100 pounds: 3 cloves

Garlic can be toxic in large amounts, so limit your dog's garlic consumption to 5-9 days per week and avoid giving it to puppies until they are at least 6-8 weeks.






Ginger~Prepared as a tea, pour in your pet's water dish or over food, or administer as a tincture;
ginger soothes an upset stomach.










 Calendula~Anti-inflammatory an anti-fungal benefits is what you'll get from this wonderful herb-great for healing. Apply the petals of the flower directly to a wound or make it into a tea and use as a topical antiseptic wash to kill bacteria. You can also add fresh or dried leaves to your dog's food to improve digestion. Use only one 1tsp dried petals or 1tbsp of fresh petal per 20lbs. Soak your dog's toothbrush in Calendula tea before brushing to help prevent gum disease!







Golden Seal~You can help your dogs and cats for eye infections and weepy eye for dogs by making
an eye wash from this natural antibiotic. Simply make into a tea and let cool. The herb also teats bowel and stomach ailments.









Dandelion~This bitter diuretic may help bladder problems. It will also stimulate bile production n dogs who lack adequate amounts of stomach acid and it helps circulation in the liver. Shred the root after thoroughly cleaning into your dogs' food. A tincture made with cat's claw and dandelion root
contains natural cortisone which can be very beneficial to cats with itching and allergies.










Catnip~We all know that catnip makes felines go crazy, but it actually serves a purpose beyond our cat thyme (Teucrium marum)
own entertainment; it relieves stress and nervousness. Catnip tea is very calming for cats with itchy skin. If your cat doesn't respond to catnip, try using

Echinacea~The immune system boosting benefits of Echinacea is wonderful for fighting infections in your pet. Try making this tea:

1. Pour one cup of boiling water over 1 tsp dried herb (or 1tbsp if fresh).
2. Steep the tea, covered, for 15min.
3. Strain into a jar and let cool.

Prepare fresh every day! You can also use a tincture of the herb:

• Combine 3 drops for each tsp of water.
• To administer use an eyedropper to squeeze the appropriate amount of tea or tincture into your pet's mouth. Give the treatment three times per day; discontinue after one week.

Dosages:

• 1/2 tsp a day for pets weighting less than 20 pounds.
• 1 tsp for pets weighing 20-40 pounds.
• 1 tbs for pets weighing more than 40 pounds.

Ginkgo~This herb is used most often for dogs exhibiting cognitive disorders. Ginkgo may also be beneficial in treating congestive heart failure due to its ability to increase dilation of blood vessels.biloba showed that  it was effective in treating some symptoms of cardiovascular disease, including feline thrombosis (blood clots)
According to studies from Vanderbilt University, ginkgo

White Willow Bark~A pain reliever similar to aspirin, this herb is used mainly for dogs with arthritis. It can also aid in the prevention of blood clots. White willow bark and other substances that contain salicylates, are toxic to cats and should not be used.









Holy Basil~This herb has anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties! If your pet suffers from ringworm, clip the fur around the lesions (being careful not to irritate and cause it to spread), Apply two to five drops of holy basil oil to the affected area three times daily to speed healing.

Licorice Root~This root is a natural cortisone that relieves allergies and arthritis n cats, this root also helps digestive and endocrine disorders. Because it soothes mucus membranes, licorice works great for colds and other respiratory problems.










Aloe Vera~Administer the herb internally (consult vet first!!) to teat infections, gas and constipation.
Apply the gel of the leaf topically as a treatment for burns scrapes, or minor skin irritations.

Ok....I hope this information helps soothes and inform all the parents and the pets that own them!!!

 

 





        Cleaning Your Swarovski Crystal

 

 

 

Swarovski recommends that you polish  your Swarovski crystal  regularly with the Swarovski  polishing cloth. If soiled, use   soft brush to wash your crystal  in lukewarm water containing  a small amount of a mild detergent. Then rinse under running  water. Dry with a soft, lint-free towel and finish with the Swarovski polishing cloth. To help you clean and care for your crystal, Swarovski has produced the Swarovski Cleaning Kit.  The kit includes a natural bristle brush with a                         Plexiglass handle, a pure cotton polishing cloth, cotton gloves and a small bag of  crystals for decorative purposes.    When handling your crystal, it is recommended that you wear  the Swarovski Gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. This will  help maintain the brilliance of your Swarovski crystal.   Swarovski Jewelry   Swarovski Jewelry is fashion jewelry, and as such, it is either gold or rhodium plated, and a certain amount of wear and tear will  occur over time. Swarovski's plating  standards are very high and under normal circumstances your Swarovski Jewelry will have a very long life. To  ensure the lasting beauty of your  Swarovski Jewelry, do not use sonic cleaners,  boiling water or commercial jewelry cleaners.  Jewelry cleaners usually contain ammonia or alcohol which  can have a damaging effect on the plating. Swarovski recommends that you occasionally  polish each piece with a soft lint-free cloth. If your jewelry is very dirty, wash your jewelry using warm water, a mild dish detergent and  a soft bristled brush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water  prior to drying with a soft lint-free cloth. Please note: Do not wash the Swarovski simulated pearls.  These shouldbe buffed with a soft dry cloth. Also, it is a good idea to put your Swarovski Jewelry on after applying perfume, hand cream or hair spray. Never wear your jewelry in the bath,  in bed, doing dishes or when exercising.  This can cause unreasonable stress and wear  and tear. Store your jewelry in the soft pouch or box provided by Swarovski to prevent scratching.  Chains and necklaces will retain their  shine and glitter best if they are hung up when not  being worn. Do not store your Swarovski  Jewelry in areas of excessive heat or sun exposure.

What The Heck Is EFT & How Can It Help Me?

Good Afternoon everyone! I have been away for a bit and now I am eager to jump back into the swing of things. If you have been following for some time, you know I love to share info that will help and inspire you to look at things a new and/or different way. To open your mind to try things differently and for some, the first time.

I am not sure if you have heard of EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques, I am sure some of you have but are not sure what it is and how it can help you to take control of your life and the situations in it.

So read on and be sure to let me know what you think of this technique and if/how it has transformed your life.......

...Peace...

What The Heck Is EFT & How Can It Help Me?

EFT stands for "Emotional Freedom Techniques" and is one of a developing suite of "Meridian Based Therapies" now available. They are simple, powerful methods of healing many physical and emotional issues. They can help release Phobias, anxieties, addictions, anger, trauma and limiting beliefs.

EFT has been described as "acupuncture without needles" and uses the same energy meridians that have been used in traditional Chinese acupuncture for 5,000 years. Instead of needles, gentle tapping on specific meridian points is used to move healing vibrational energy through your meridians while you think about your specific problem. The basic tapping points are pictured on the drawing above.

 

For many emotional issues, the negative feeling you are having is caused by a conditioned disruption in one or more of your meridians. Any stimulus which reminds you of a past trauma recreates the disruption in the present and leads to the negative feeling. The combination of tapping the meridian points while holding the negative thought in mind neutralizes the disruption in your merdians and subtle energy system, dissipating the negative feeling. You will still have the memory of the event but will no longer feel the negative emotion when you think of it.

  More complex issues are handled by tapping on each aspect of the original trauma one at a time, systematically, until the negative "charge" of the whole experience melts away. The energies that had been wrapped up in these memories (or repressing them) are then freed up to be channeled into more positive pursuits.

 EFT in a Nutshell

 First, rate the intensity of your problem (your "SUDS" level - Subjective Units of Distress) on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being worst. Then tap the Karate Chop point or rub the Sore Spot while saying a "Setup Phrase" to address possible Psychological Reversal (unconscious, self-sabotaging beliefs.) See chart in the upper-left corner for all tapping points.

 The Setup Phrase should state the problem to be addressed along with an affirmation, for example: "Even though I have this chocolate craving, I deeply and completely accept myself." Repeat this Setup phrase 3 times, then move to the tapping points and tap about 6 times at each spot while stating a reminder phrase of the problem (i.e. "This chocolate craving.") Tap all of the points while repeating this reminder phrase - this is to keep you "tuned in" to the thought-field of the problem. Rate your SUDS level again. If not a 0, repeat the EFT process, addressing all other specific aspects of the problem as needed until your SUDS level is down to a 0.

Based on impressive new discoveries regarding the body's subtle energies, EFT has been proven successful in thousands of clinical cases. It applies to just about every problem you can name and it often works where nothing else will

A Scientific/Quantum Physics Explanation of Why EFT Works
Based on the work of Alex Lees and Gloria Arenson
A thought/emotion is a collection of photons held in an electromagnetic field in our meridian system. It is a "potentiality" in our energy field and meridians, but there's no molecular movement yet or physical occupation of space in the body. The brain, which is connected with the meridians, picks up on this potentiality and converts it to a language the body can understand: the neuropeptide. Dr. Candace Pert has 15 years of research behind the following statement: "The biochemical equivalent of the emotions are the neuropeptides." The neuropeptide then causes a release of relevant chemicals into the body - i.e. stressful, negative thoughts release cortisol, adrenaline, etc. causing a negative, unpleasant feeling in the body.

While the meridians carry energy throughout the body, there are seven energy centers in the body called chakras. The concept of chakras was first developed in ancient India. Chakras act like transformers and convert subtle energies into chemical, hormonal, and cellular changes in the body. Candace Pert's research revealed that there are clusters of emotional receptor cells in the chakra areas.

EFT addresses the negative thought/emotion you are focusing on AT ITS SOURCE - in its photon/potentiality phase in the meridians. Tapping resets the subtle energy in the body's meridians and neutralizes the negativity within that particular thought field. It is no longer processed by the brain, and outside stimuli no longer triggers the thought-field. The cascade of neuropeptides and chemicals that had caused the bad feeling in our body is also no longer triggered.

 Here is a tapping script you may find useful....

This first tapping script addresses having negative thoughts....

refer to the chart above for tapping points

Fear of Negative Thoughts



(You might want to try and substitute “I’m afraid of my

negative thoughts” if that feels right)

Karate chop point: Even though I’m deeply afraid of

what might happen, I accept who I am and how I

feel…Even though I live with these fears every day, I am

willing to consider relieving them now…Even though I’m

afraid not to feel fear, I accept who I am and how I feel.

EYEBROW: I’m always afraid of what might happen

SIDE OF EYE: What if something bad happens to me?

UNDER EYE: I feel the fear in my vibration every day

NOSE: I can feel the fear no matter what I do

CHIN: I don’t feel safe unless I’m feeling worried

COLLARBONE: I’m afraid to let go of my fear

UNDER ARM: I don’t know how to feel any other way

HEAD: What if I can’t let go of my fear?

EYEBROW: I will consider letting go if my fear

SIDE OF EYE: I’m afraid to let go of my fear

UNDER EYE: I intend to be freer and lighter

NOSE: I love feeling peaceful more often

CHIN: I’m ready to let go of my fear

COLLARBONE: I love feeling grateful about my life

UNDER ARM: There is so much to feel grateful for

HEAD: I appreciate who I am and how I am living

I am also going to include a tapping script for showing gratitude; when you feel/show gratitude for what you have or are, you attract more of the same, ie...good health, abundance...love.

Karate chop point: Even though I feel a little down right

now, I choose to focus on positive emotions…Even though

I don’t feel very positive right now, I accept who I am and

how I feel…Even though I’m wallowing in self-pity right

now, I accept all of me and how I feel.

EYEBROW: I’m always afraid of what might happen

SIDE OF EYE: What if something bad happens to me?

UNDER EYE: I feel the fear in my vibration every day

NOSE: I can feel the fear no matter what I do

CHIN: I don’t feel safe unless I’m feeling worried

COLLARBONE: I’m afraid to let go of my fear

UNDER ARM: I don’t know how to feel any other way

HEAD: What if I can’t let go of my fear?

EYEBROW: I’m always afraid of what might happen

SIDE OF EYE: What if something bad happens to me?

UNDER EYE: I feel the fear in my vibration every day

NOSE: I can feel the fear no matter what I do

CHIN: I don’t feel safe unless I’m feeling worried

COLLARBONE: I’m afraid to let go of my fear

UNDER ARM: I don’t know how to feel any other way

HEAD: What if I can’t let go of my fear?

Well I hope this has given some food for thought...have a most peaceful evening......



Cognitive Distortion-Part 2

G'day....Welcome to part 2....did you get anything out of Part 1? I would love to hear about your experience after reading!

There is plenty of evidence that shows how our thoughts can create

stress in our lives; stress than can be avoided or diminished if

we learn how to control them. Thus the term Cognitive Restructuring

comes to mind. But what does this have to do with the Law of

Attraction?

The Law of Attraction is commonly linked to new age thoughts;

however, it is based on the premise that states "what we think

about the most, we become."

Therefore, if we want to attract positive outcomes, we must learn

to control our thoughts. This is how cognitive restructuring and

the Law of Attraction are linked. Does it make sense?

The internal dialogue that goes on inside our heads is constantly

interpreting, making assumptions, explaining, judging and prejudging

every situation we encounter daily and most of this goes on

unconsciously.

The way we think can help or hinder us, we can make things seem

good or bad, better or worse, black or white, threatening or

non-threatening, dangerous or safe, difficult or easy, etc. etc...

you get the idea.

Some of us tend to see common events in a more positive light,

while others tend to view things in a negative way. This thought

pattern creates blockages, obstacles and disadvantages in their

life. So what is a person to do to change these negative habitual

thought patterns?

Cognitive restructuring is a process of recognizing these patterns.

Once they are out in the open, we can challenge and change them

from cognitive distortions to empowering thought patterns. This

process is called cognitive behavioral therapy, and trained

therapists can help you with that.

However, with a commitment to change and the right information,

you can achieve great results without the need of a therapist. It

all starts with the right attitude and making a conscious effort

to implement positive self talk.

Here are a few tips that will help you restructure your thoughts

so you can activate the Law of Attraction with ease:

1. Become Aware.

Make a conscious effort to become the observer of your internal

dialogue. It may be difficult at first but with a little practice

it can be accomplished. Commit for a day, then for two, and then a

week until it becomes a habit.

2. Keep a Diary.

Jot down your feelings and experiences every day for a week. At the

end of the 7 days, read what you wrote and examine your inner

dialogue. Do you notice a negative slant in any of your comments?

It is very possible that the event that caused you to write what

you did may not look as terrible or huge anymore. Armed with your

comments on paper you'll be able to examine your inner dialogue.

3. "Stop-Cancel" Technique

The next step would be to bring the practice live by canceling or

stopping your self talk right when it happens. For example, if you

are in a meeting and a coworker that you dislike makes a comment,

you may find yourself thinking something like "here we go again,

the "know it all" is talking again."

Consciously cancel the thought by saying to yourself "cancel, cancel"

or "stop" and switch the thought to a more positive one. Remember

that these thought patters hurt you, not your coworker. If you are

having negative thoughts when you are alone, you should say the words

"stop" or "cancel" aloud for a more powerful effect and immediately

substitute the thought for a more positive one.

4. Soften Your Words

Words are very powerful and they affect us when we hear them, when

we see them and when we speak them. Avoid using words like "hate",

"anger" or "pain". Substitute them for milder words with similar

meaning. For instance, instead of saying "I hate him", say "I don't

like him", and instead of "I have this horrible pain in my leg" say

something like "The discomfort in my leg is strong."

5. Open Your Mind to Change Blocking Statements

If you ever find yourself saying something like "I just can't do

this" or "That is an impossible task", first use the "stop-cancel"

technique and then open your mind to other possibilities.

Empower yourself by thinking of possible solutions to a problem,

think of somebody that has accomplished what you're trying to, and

analyze how they did it. You may want to start with a question like

"How can I tackle this situation" to incite your mind to come up

with solutions.

You can learn to overcome your faulty thinking and negative

programming. It's just a matter of willingness, commitment,

practice and patience.

Yes, it can take time but the rewards are enormous: Cognitive

Restructuring will help you activate the Law of Attraction with

ease.

 I don't now about you, but I got a lot out of these last two posts, I found that using the 'stop/cancel' teqhnique works wondrs for me!

Cognitive Distortion: How Do You See The Events In Your Life?

G'morning Everyone! I realize posts have been far and few between; all I can do is apologize and blame it on my pain. I have to admit, if I thought more positively it would probably help wonders....this is what my post is today; how do our thoughts sabotage and/or make matters worse...Do you ever stop and realize that you had negatives thoughts and words being thrown around your brain without you even realizing it? I do, and I believe many of you do too....it's almost like an automatic coffee maker, it gets set and it does the rest all on it's own....

             WE NEED TO STOP THIS!!

Read on to acquire some skill sets to put a stop to self-sabotaging!

Dr. Aaron T. Beck came up with the definition of cognitive

distortion and cognitive therapy back in the 60's. When he was

working with depressed patients he noticed that the common

denominator were the negative thoughts and conceptions that

seemed to guide their lives.

Dr. Beck termed these cognitions "automatic thoughts" as they

seemed to appear spontaneously. He classified cognitive distortion

into three groups: negative views about the self, negative views

about the world at large and negative views about the future.

By helping patients identify their thought patterns they were able

to think more realistically which lead them to feel better, heal

emotionally and behave more functionally in their environments.

This is how cognitive therapy was born.

As a matter of fact, it is quite possible for all of us to have

negative and unrealistic views at any point in our lives even

without a mood disorder diagnosis. We tend to call this phenomena

"pessimism" in which our mind fails to be objective for a specific

period of time, especially when under stress. Fortunately, this is

short lived for most of us.

Here are the 10 common cognitive distortion states. See which one

you recognize as an "old friend." We have all experienced at least

one and more likely several of them.

The good news is that by bringing them to awareness, we can start

working on them consciously. Always remember the premise that we

are the direct result of what we think of most of the time.

1. All or Nothing.

The characteristic of this distortion is the focus on extremes. You

can recognize this form of thinking if you commonly use "always" or

"never" in your statements; for instance "I never get to go to the

movies" or "I always get yelled at." As an all-or-nothing thinker

you are seeing things bigger and uglier than they really are.

2. Jumping to Conclusions.

These people jump into conclusions before hearing the whole story

or looking at the evidence. Usually their conclusion has a negative

slant; for instance "The party will be boring and nobody will talk

to me, so I won't go" or "She's so smart and beautiful. She won't

like me, so why bother trying to talk to her."

3. Mental Filter.

As the term implies it, these individuals filter information not

based on reality. They take the positive aspects of life for

granted while amplifying the negative events. None of the scenarios

are real; such as a person that believes their whole day is ruined

because of a traffic jam without giving much thought to the

promotion he got last week.

4. Disqualifying the Positive.

For these individuals positive occurrences are just coincidences

or a result of mere luck. They never give positive events the

importance they deserve. On the contrary, a negative episode is

usually seen as something terrible and huge, much worse than it

actually is or could be; for instance "I just won a trip to

Disneyland and know my kids would be thrilled, but I hate the

long lines. I will get sore feet so I won't go."

5. Over Generalization.

These individuals base their future life experiences in isolated

events that they have experienced; such as "I got a headache at

the beach last Sunday, so (my conclusion is) I get headaches at

the beach."

6. Magnification and Minimization.

The emphasis is put on the qualities of other people or events

by exaggerating them to extreme proportions. At the same time,

negative characteristics are minimized or ignored completely.

Uncomfortable situations look like catastrophes to these people;

such as "I got a flat tire, my day is ruined."

7. "Should" Statements.

Self expectations are huge and always self imposed. These people

are not flexible with themselves making their life a stream of

constant stress; for instance "I should have gone to the grocery

store first. I don't have time to go now."

8. Emotional Reasoning.

These individuals let their emotions interfere when making

decisions or getting to conclusions, without allowing themselves

to be reasonable. By becoming emotional they tend to distort

the facts. They end up feeling powerless; they believe unfair

situations "happen" to them. Their emotions won't let them see

events objectively; such as "You made me cry, so you are mean

to me."

9. Personalization.

People who personalize tend to blame either themselves or others

about the events that happen in their lives. When the blame is

self imposed it creates a lot of stress. These individuals are not

objective either; such as "I'm not good enough for you, that is why

you left me."

10. Labeling.

These people are always placing labels on others or on themselves.

These labels are usually inaccurate and have a negative slant to

them; for instance "I'm so stupid" or "She's so pretentious." These

labels are seeing as absolutes. Other qualities or other aspects of

ourselves or of others are ignored. We are all multi-dimensional

beings with both, qualities and defects. Placing labels don't let

us see this.

Often times, this negative thought and cognitive distortion

patterns begin in childhood and can go unnoticed for years. They

become part of who we are quite by habit. This is why becoming

aware is so important. Do you notice any of these distortions

in your internal dialogue?

Becoming aware of our thoughts and behaviors is the first step to

move beyond them and grow. The scientific process to get rid of

these is called "Cognitive Restructuring" and the rewards are not

only empowering but permanent.

Come back tomorrow for the 2nd part of this 2 part series....

Cooking With Spiritual Intent Pt. 2

Greetings everyone....today's post is a continuation of last weeks post; Cooking With Spiritual Intent. Enjoy!
 

Cooking With Spiritual Intent

Amuletic Appetizers and Snacks

Nuts In Orange Glaze~Nuts were considered a food of the gods in Scandinavia, Greece, and Rome. The walnut's resemblance to the brain made it perfect for folk remedies dealing with the mind. Also, in Elizabethan times, sweet plates known as "comfits" were assembled.These often included nuts or nut pastes, such as marchpaine ( the medieval spelling of marzipan ), to please the palate:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 cups toasted pecans or walnuts

Heat the sugar, orange peel, and orange juice in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring regularly. Stir in pecans and bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 min. until the nuts are coated and the liquid is evaporated. Spread the nuts on a greased cookie sheet to dry.

Makes 2  1/2 cups

Magical Associations: Thought, concentration, mental productivity

Celebrations: Graduation, Labor Day, St. Stephen Festival, Festival of Sarasvati

Sun Wheel Pickle Tray~In this recipe, the fiery spices and yellow food coloring combine with the layout to create the visual effect of sun energy radiating to your guests. Celery is associated with the element of fire and planetary aspect of Mercury. For an Elizabethan quality, add strawberries and rhubarb (fiery fruits) to the platter:

• 1 small jar dill gherkins (pickles)
• 1 small jar pickled white onions
• 1 16oz can large pitted black olives
• 1 8oz bottle green olives
• 8 celery stalks

Cream Cheese Stuffing:

• 1 8oz pkg. cream cheese softened
• 2-3 drops yellow food coloring
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 tsp dried dill weed
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried onion or 1 tbsp fresh minced onion

Blend together the cream cheese and the food coloring; the yellow food coloring will give it a slightly golden hue. Mix in the chives, dill weed, garlic powder and onion. Stuff the celery stalks and black olives with the cream chess mixture. Arrange the gherkins, white onions, olives and celery on the tray alternating, celery, beside it put a row, from center out of white onions alternating with black olives, then another celery, so on and so forth. Place the nuts in the center.

Magical Associations: Fire magic, masculine attributes, increasing strength or leadership potential, conscious and logical thinking, mild aphrodisiac qualities.

Celebrations: Summer Solstice, Candlemas, Beltane, Feast of Banners, Birthday of the Sun

 

Cooking With Spiritual Intent

G'morning everyone.....

Please forgive my absence of late; have had a tremendous amount of happenings in my life, so bear with my posts if they are not occurring in due manner.

Since early times, food has been used to celebrate after ceremonies such as a new birth, blessing a new home, celebrating a wedding etc...For example, ever wonder why people without thinking stir their soups and stews clockwise in preparation?

This is never mentioned this fact, it just happens!

A rural superstition form the Ozark Mountains tells us that clockwise, the direction the sun moves through the sky, is the best way to mix any food to insure success of the meal and the health of those eating it. Many early cultures, specifically the Celts, performed their ceremonies following the same solar motion.

Such folklore is a token of the ancient world, when light was the emblem of safety, warmth and the time to hunt. This information became a natural part of the human code. This is also illustrated in prayers before meals. Prayers before eating acknowledge Nature's gifts, and release a supplication for divine favor so disease will not be allowed to enter the body. 

Prayer at mealtime is present in a variety of cultural groups and settings. These ar but two illustrations of how the chronicle of culinary arts has been entwined with the more general history of humankind.

Using rudimentary implements and procedures, early humans devised the basis of an art which would be forever influential. Hunting and gathering defined the earliest spells, ceremony, and community roles. Developments and changes in the area lead to an expansion of cooking techniques as well. Children were taught procedures that proved to be successful so that a kind of familial rite was born, food appropriate to peasants or kings were dictated by etiquette, social contrivance and superstition. This ritualistic aspect and memorization and careful guarding of family recipes, gives kitchen magic tremendous potential for moder practice.

Coming up are recipes that can be used for ceremonies, celebration and seasonal magical cooking suggestion for your home and circle. If a food has importance that influences its spiritual function and characteristics, it is noted in the recipe. This little bit of historical information has an important magical bonus. If your patron goddess is Athena, wheat better way to honor her than by placing a Greek dish on her altar? This is but one example of how creative cooking will enhance your magic and at the very least will fill your home with personally significant and tasty foods.

There are a number of recipes that list uncommon ingredients, a good example are foods made with flowers; these types of dishes open a whole new world of taste sensation  from vitamin and mineral rich source; blossoms. Some of you might be hesitant to try such dishes; if you can get past your initial reaction, you will learn that flowers were readily eaten from the time of Ancient Greeks up through the turn of the century. Their flavor is similar to that of many common herbs or vegetables, and they also lend a wonderful fragrance to the finished dish. Use caution when cooking with flowers as many people have allergic reactions to common flowers. It is also important that the flowers are free of pesticides, dyes and other contaminants. If you are not comfortable with eating flowers or are finding it hard to find local fresh supplier of flowers and other unusual ingredients in the recipes, there are non-flower alternatives given for each recipe.

When preparing these recipes, fill your heart and soul with intent for the magical association you are seeking or the event you are celebrating. All spells and magic start with intent. Actually visualize the intent forming in your heart and running down through your arm, through your hand onto the ladle or spoon used for stirring and into the food itself; stronger the intent, the more power of the result. 

Amuletic Appetizers and Snacks

Stuffed Mushrooms~Most often a food for the elite, mushrooms appear again and again in fanciful tales of fairy folk, making them a perfect edible when combined with thyme (a favorite wee folk home) for kinship with or understanding of, the fey:

2 tbsp butter, divided

2 tbsp diced green pepper

1/4 cup chopped mushroom stems

2 tbsp chopped onions

3/4 cup bread crumbs

2 tbsp cooked, crumbled bacon

1/4 tsp dried thyme

Salt

Pepper

1/2 lb large mushrooms, stems removed

12 small slices cheese (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Melt 1 tbsp of the butter over low heat and saute the mushroom stems, green pepper, and onions until tender. Mix in the bread crumbs, bacon thyme, salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into the mushroom caps. Place the caps on a cookie sheet. Melt 1 tbsp of the butter and drizzle over the stuffed caps. Top each with a cheese slice. Bake for 15 min. Serve Hot

Makes aprox 1 dozen

Variation: Use large cherry tomatoes with the seeds scooped out instead of the mushroom caps. Substitute rosemary for thyme and add 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese to he mixture before stuffing. This is for Love.

Magical Associations: Strength, faerie magic, psychic ability.

Celebrations: May Day, Lammas, before divination efforts.

Muffin Munchies~Cheese, caraway and pimento are all foods for adoration and fecundity. In some areas, caraway was valuable enough to be used as a form of currency!

1 package (6) English muffins

1 cup cottage cheese

2 tbsp pimento, drained

3 tbsp caraway seeds

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp minced chives

12 cheese slices any kind

Preheat oven to 450F. Toast the muffins until golden brown. Mix the cottage cheese, pimento, caraway seeds, salt and chives. Spread on the muffin halves. Place cheese slices on top of the muffins in a decorative or symbolic pattern. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Heat in the oven for

Makes 12 servings

Magical Associations: Enjoyable sexual encounters, romance, love, prosperity.

Celebrations: The Great Rite, Valentine's or Sweetest Day, Coming of Age, anniversaries, handfastings and most observances.

Hot Cheese Canapes~Cheese has been prepared and eaten for at least 5,000 years! It was sometimes made into wedding cakes in ancient Greece. Curry is a spice of cleaning or for any fire-related festivals:

1/4 lb. brie or other soft cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 tsp oil

1/4 cup sliced or chopped almonds

Dash of curry powder

Salt and pepper

Toast Pieces for Canapes (see below)

Using a fork, blend the brie, butter, and oil in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Mix in almonds, curry powder, and salt and pepper. Spread over toast pieces. Garnish with a whole almond.

Makes 3/4 cup spread

Variation: For an extra-spicy flair, prepare the toast the same way you would prepare Bounty Bagel Chips (see below), substituting bread slices for bagel slices.

Magical Attributes: Earth and fire elements, goals, purification, energy, love

Celebrations: Beltane, Summer Solstice, Valentine's Day

Toast Pieces For Canapes:

10 slices bread, any flavor (if bread is hand-sliced, make slices 1/4 inch thick)

Toast bread slices in a toaster set on medium darkness. If a toaster is unavailable, preheat the oven to 400F. Place the bread slices on an ungreased cookie sheet; bake, turning occasionally, until lightly brown on both sides. Trim crust and cut toast into quarters.

Makes 40 pieces; serves 10

Bountiful Bagel Chips~The roundness of the bagel makes it a wonderful solar symbol (especially when baked) while the hole in the center is lunar, adding fruitfulness:

3 bagels any flavor

1/2 cup butter

1 tbsp ground sesame seeds

1 tbsp garlic powder

Preheat the oven to 350F, Slice bagels into 1/4 inch thick disks. in a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Mix in the sesame seeds and garlic. Brush each bagel slice with the butter mixture. Place the slices on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 8 min. turn slices over and bake an additional 7 min. until crunchy. Serve warm or cold.

Makes about 6 dozen chips

*Note: Buy day old bagels from a local store or deli; they slice better and are usually cheaper. Choose your bagel type and spices according to magical goals, such as cinnamon bagel with ginger butter for prosperity.

Stay tuned for more recipes on next posting