A Kitchen Witch

A Kitchen Witch can be defined as a Witch who does spells using food, herbs, crafts and kitchen utensils. This type of Witch does not normaly cast a Circle while doing these spells. Using the energy or power from within.  When mixing the ingredients together and preparing food, a Witch concentrates on her own energies and the properties of the food. Using her energy and enhancing it with the food, she imprints her purpose onto the food. This spell is 'activated' when the food is eaten. As the personal energy of the Witch is used, emotions are especially easy to impart. Healing and a sense of wellbeing can be very easy things to accomplish through Kitchen Witchery. Sadly, if a Kitchen Witch feels frustrated with a particular dish or ingredient, these feelings can be transferred to the finished product. This is why a Kitchen Witch, or a good cook, will never cook an unfamiliar dish for a special occasion.

The kitchen can be the most important place in a home  In the kitchen the Witchen as I like to call myself will do a majority of her spells, whether it be just to give the lemonade extra refreshing power or to help heal a sick friend with a cake. Bunches of protective and helpful herbs used for those reasons will often be seen hanging in the kitchen Cookbooks, mundane and Magickal will also be fairly standard.

Fruits and vegetables have special powers,  There are many lists in existence, which describe their powers Recipes are often handed down through families or from teacher to student. As they are highly personal, it is always an honor to receive a recipe from a Kitchen Witch.

Why I stay at home by Margaret Delle

January 29, 2007 by

Margaret Delle  

 

I stay at home primarily because of our children, of course. Before we were even married, my husband and I made sure that we agreed on this, and that no matter our situation, we would do our utmost to keep our children at home with a parent, rather than in daycare. We particularly feel

 that infants and toddlers need a lot of time and nurture provided by mom, and so providing them with those things has become my job, so to speak.

Our children do benefit from this. We rarely have to deal with illness because I can keep them out of the winter germ-pools. If they do get a cold or the flu, I don't have to scramble to find care or ask for a day off-I'm already there. We have our busy days, but we also have days where I spend my time doing things just for them, with them. We can go to the park at a moment's notice and enjoy a good romp. I have the time to sit down with them and read a book on a whim, to play with magnetic letters, to give them paper and taech them their letters, and to sit down for a bowl of popcorn and some hot chocolate on a cold winter morning.

There is no morning rush to get everyone out the door and there are no chaotic evenings where we're not sure who's going to cook supper or what there is to eat. While the world around us is going a million miles an hour, our children's world is a calm, stable haven of peace.

If my being at home only benefitted our children, I would still do it. However, I've been happy to find out that there is a myriad of benefits to our whole family, simply by my being a full-time at-home mom. The biggest benefit is financial. In many small ways, my being at home enables us to live on less (which is good because my being at home means we have less income!). Because I am at home, I have the time to put together detailed menus and shopping lists which keep our grocery bill to a minimum. I'm able to keep track of our finances in detail month-to-month, and I have the time to actually sit down and list exactly what I need when I do have to go shopping

 

Not being confined to a few hours here and there for shopping, I also have the time to go to several different stores to take advantage of deals, and to pay attention to details like price per unit on items I want to purchase. We need not eat out or order in because of lack of time, or

pull in to a drive-through on our way to somewhere else in our busy schedule. That alone saves us hundreds of dollars a month (if you eat out more than once a week, tally up your reciepts and prepare for a shock!). I am also able to work on projects that ultimately save us money, like making my own simple lined curtains for a drafty room, rather than purchasing them at 10 times the cost of the fabric I bought for that project.

Another benefit to us as a family is that being at home means I have the time and energy to create a home around us that is comfortable and welcoming, for us and for guests. My little boys are learning to help me clean, and unless I'm really out of sorts, our house is tidy; floors swept, dishes done, and clutter put away. This is easy to do because I am able to work on it a little every day, rather than waiting for clutter and grime to pile up to overwhelming proportions. This is very important because my personality does not permit me to be comfortable and happy if my home is messy, the beds are unmade, and there are toys and clothes all over the floor.
Being at home and having the time to clean is a huge benefit to me personally. Having grown up in cultures where eating together is very important, my being at home means that I can prepare healthy, delicious meals and set our table every night for good family together time. I can offer my tired husband a drink when he walks in the door and a peaceful atmosphere in which to unwind and relax. We are able to spend close to an hour enjoying our evening meal together, and we relish that time, looking forward to it every day.There may be some women who have the ability to remain organized, calm, and at peace even with a busy lifestyle and career, but I am not one of them.

Were I to work outside the home even part time, all of the things I mentioned above would fall apart-I would not be able to be organized with shopping or finances, to plan our menus and come up with decent meals every night, and I would be miserable coming home every day to face an untidy house. For our family, and for me personally, the benefits of me being at home extend far beyond our children having me available at all times.
 

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/127787/how_being_a_stayathome_mom_benefits.html?cat=9

thenaturalisticg strengthen must come to a end

I'm not sure the reason I started a website but after compiling massive amounts of stuff into the site and paying for hosting I think that I am just going to transfer everything from the site onto here and delete the site.
so just letting anyone who actually reads this what I'm doing so that the five hundred posts conning soon don't cause any surprise, anger, stress or what ever. 

The cost of living

When did the world become a jumble of bills and price tags?
When did it start to cost so darn much to live?
What happened to the days when you just traded some vegetables or a cow for the things that you didn't grow or couldn't make yourself?
Life was so much simpler 200-300 years ago.
With the addition of solar panels and batteries, composting, and smarter purchases. I hope to make it out of this crazed world of money money money and to create a place to live in which I can cut my bills by more then half. In doing so and not being so dependent on the grid of society I hope to find a happiness that right now eludes me. What all will I give up and what will I keep in my life I don't really know. I'm not going to give up blue jeans and ribbed tanks that much if for certain. Internet? no I think I will keep that as well. Satellite well if I could get my husband to give up football which is not likely to happen. Okay I will admit its not just him I might want to keep that as well but if we keep these things what do we give up? how about power and gas(no not fuel) With one wind mill and some solar panels and a lot of batteries we should be able to do with out power. and with fireplaces and a coal stove we can get rid of natural gas. with a large garden and a green house plus my husbands hunting we shouldn't need to buy a lot of food just seeds.  It is no longer cheaper to make clothing as it cost more to buy material then it does to buy three articles of clothing. okay maybe not if you shop Prada. Blankets and some linens can be made cheaper and it is something that is fun to take time to do.
I happen to enjoy fresh garden vegetables and to crochet and quilt. I love digging my hands into the earth and to create with a needle so these things will not become a problem for me. Coal however I hate hate hate but even though i am not a newspaper subscriber I receive a portion of the public announcements in my mail every week. you can compress newspaper to burn the same way coal does. Now to start saving newspapers oh man I am going to look like a hoarder before I even get them made. Next thing to do is to buy some land to start building this dream house. what you thought I already lived there nope I live in a tiny rental just like most of you. 

Yule Decorating

I have decided that this year my children shall make there own Decorations for the house and one small tree in the kitchen as the larger tree my husband says must be decorated with "normal decor"  darn non  pagans anyways.
So we have started with a craft a day for the month of December leading up to Yule.
First we made Luminaries out of cans, paint, a nail, and a hammer.
Next we made spell stars which proved much harder then the you tube video showed.
Then came popcorn garland for the tree, I was going to hang it outside but that didn't work out.
yesterday was Pomanders which are oranges and cloves rolled in cinnamon.
Today we will be making our own window frosting to decorate the windows.
Then Bird feeders from pine cones peanut butter and bird feed.
Next some bells from aluminum foil for the tree
Then Paper embroidered decor for the tree
After that we will roll some candles in gold glitter to light the night before yule
Then we will make Solstice cakes just for fun
Tue's the 11th we will make sun ornaments either from the same recipe as the stars or from salt dough
Wed. wheel of the year ornaments
Snowflakes and moon cookies on Thurs the 13th
Next will be Yule sachets
Then we will make Pine cone ornaments with pine or holly and ribbon all tied to pine cones
Sun. the 16th we will make bay ball ornaments for the tree
on the 17th we will go on a field trip to gather fun stuff for the yule log
next we will make marshmallow snow man for the tree
on the 19th we will make the yule log by putting all the decorations on it
on the 20 we will make sun cookies
the 21st is yule the winter solstice when we will burn the log eat the sun cookies and sing carols while also having a feast,
every week we will learn a new pagan friendly carol and at some point in there we will make cookies for our family and neighbors.
Hmm sounds busy when you list it like that. But is should be a memorial month for the kids.
Blessed Be Every one. 

Who is Santa Claus by lady springwolf

Who is Santa Claus:

By Lady SpringWolf

 

As we pagans already know, many of today's Christmas celebrations are rooted in pagan practices. And Santa isn't an exception.

 

The winter solstice is a time to celebrate the return of the sun following the shortest day in the year. It's no wonder the church adopted these holidays as the birth date of their Savior. But from ancient Celtic and Norse mythology we also enjoy such holiday traditions as holly and mistletoe (sacred to the druids), the yule log, and even Santa Claus in his aspects of Father Time, or Father Winter, or the Holly King as part of our Yule History. 

 

The Pagan Origins:

We have to go back a bit find the pagan legend and myth associated with Santa. One of the first places to start is with the Germanic people and the Norse God Odin. The 13th Century Poetic Edda is a complication of stories and poems from Scandinavian history, some as early 985AD. In this work and from Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda we learn about Odin riding an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, that can leap great distances. At Yule, Odin leads a great hunting party through the sky in celebration. This story gives rise to comparisons of Santa and his 8 reindeer flying through the sky. 

 

In some traditions of Odin's Yule time ride, children could place their boots near the chimney filled with treats for Sleipnir and Odin would reward them for their kindness with food, candy or gifts. The tradition still continues Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. In other Germanic countries the practice has been replaced with hanging stockings. 

 

On the Celtic side, the origins of the Holly King are little dubious, but there are links to the Great Kings of Ireland and the legend of the Holly King. With going too far into the history of Ireland, Between 8000-7500 BCE the Ice bridge between Scotland and Ireland collapses. Tribes of around 50,000 to 60,000 hunter gatherers are now "trapped" in Ireland. The population dwindles to about 10,000 as animals and food run out sustaining themselves in a variety of methods, including the consumption of mildly poisonous Holly berries. Around 6500-5500 BCE the Cuilleain ("Holly" (holy) men step onto the scene. Also known as the "Shining Ones" of Wicklow Hills, these men save the dwindling population from barbarity and are the first priest kings to preach self-wisdom, organized religion for humanity and salvation. Through their efforts to save their people, some of these early Priest Kings sacrifice their lives in battle. From these early priest kings, the concept of the Holly King who saved his people from the depths of the winter ice is born. 

 

Through these early mythical legends, The Holly King begins his battle with his twin brother the Oak King at the Summer Solstice. As the year is wanning the Holly King prevails and begins preparations to save and maintain his people through the cold winter. In order to accomplish his mission, he travels the land to hunt, fish and harvest. Transporting these life saving items in a wagon or sled pulled by eight deer. These 'gifts' of life are provided to all his people, and in exchange they provide care and comfort to his team of deer.  

 

There is also suggestion that the 8 reindeer plays pagan significance. Just follow along here, it comes together in the end. Even in those ancient times the number 9 was an important spiritual number. 9 witches often made up a coven. 9 feet was the diameter of a perfect circle. And maybe that's why "the whole 9 yards"; which refers to the 9 yards of material for a Great Kilt worn by many Celtic highlanders is so important. When we think of Santa we think of Santa and his 8 tiny reindeer. And most people focus on the 8 reindeer. Well now add Santa. 9 souls traveling through the winter sky to bring presents for the rebirth of the year. It's a stretch, but there are those who believe this is where the 8 reindeer got their start.

 

The Holly King lived way up North, where he could survive in the cold during the reign of his brother in the spring and summer. The Oak King who needed the warmth to survive, lived in the warm forests in the south and falls into sleep while his brother of the cold reigns over the world during the fall and winter months. 

 

Ancient pagan deities such as Befana (a gift-giving Roman goddess); the Holly King (a Celtic Winter god); and Thor and Tomte (Norse gods who, respectively, rode across the sky in a chariots drawn by goats and gave presents to children at the end of the year) have all fed into the Santa legend. 

 

In many of these early pagan legends, presents are given to children or young families to represent abundance and fertility. After all this is the time of the rebirth of the Sun. Presents were exchanged to honor that rebirth and to give wishes or hopes to the person receiving the gift for abundance and fertility in the coming year. Now don't assume that 'fertility' means giving birth to a child. Remember these people had to live off the earth and the crops they grew. They didn't have grocery stores on the corner to trot down to and buy food for their families. So in most cases the fertility was for the coming growing season.

 

Santa didn't become a Christian figure until the 3rd century with Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. He lived on what is now the coast of Turkey. Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD which became a festive day to honor this Bishop and his life. It's still a day recognized in many European countries as St. Nicholas Day. His parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Many stories are told of his generosity, and caring. Especially his protection and care of children. Because of his life work, he became synonymous with Santa Claus. Though many of the stories retold today cannot be verified and are likely just oral stories that were created to entertain children and to further incorporate pagan legends with Christian figures.

 

It's impossible to point to the one real 'first' Santa, because Santa is a culmination of mythological legends and stories. But from many of the earliest pagan stories and legends we can find pieces of the Santa legend in our Celtic and Scandinavian  mythologies

 

The Evolution Of Santa: 

Santa gets his name from Dutch legend in the form of Sinter Klaas or "Sinterklaas". Historical documents suggest that Sinter was brought by settlers to New York in the 17th century. As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as "St. A Claus," but it was the popular author Washington Irving who gave Americans their first detailed information about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. In his History of New York, published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving described the arrival of the saint on horseback (unaccompanied by Black Peter) each Eve of Saint Nicholas.

 

This Dutch-American Saint Nick achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas by writer Clement Clarke Moore. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus's laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which Saint Nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. (Moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his nose" was drawn directly from Irving's 1809 description.)

 

There are many Celtic scholars who point Santa's beginnings to the Celtic Holly King, who has been depicted with a Holly wreath as a crown. Or as the Druid Holly King who wore holly in his hat. In both cases, the Holly King traditionally wore green garments with red accents. What else would a "holly" king wear. 

 

His clothing seems to have changed color in the late 1800s when Santa started wearing the modern red. The Dutch "Sinterklaas" is an elderly, serious man with white hair and a long, full beard. He wears a long red cape over a traditional white bishop's alb. Some point to the influence of the Catholic church and it's attire for the different levels of the Priest Hierarchy for this color combination.

 

In the 1840s, an elf in Nordic folklore called "Tomte" or "Nisse" started to deliver the Christmas presents in Denmark. The Tomte was portrayed as a short, bearded man dressed in gray clothes and a red hat. As migrations of people traveled through Scandinavia their traditional influences also began to merge. By the end of the 19th Century, Norway and Sweden had also began integrating these images into their winter cultural celebrations. Most notably replacing the Yule Goat, who brought presents with the Dutch influenced Sinterklaas. 

 

British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged even more as migrations from Europe came to the Americas. "Santa Claus" by name, was first used in the American press in 1773,  but he had lost his bishop’s apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. The influence of  Scandinavian cultures continued as "A New-year's present, to the little ones from five to twelve" is published in New York in 1821. In this little seasonal book, an annonymos poem "Old Santeclaus" is described as an old man on a reindeer sleigh, bringing presents to children. Later in 1823, The Sentinel in Troy New York prints "A Vist From St. Nicholas", better known today as "The Night Before Christmas". In this poem and story Santa is still a small old elf and the original reindeer were named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem (Dunder and Blixem came from the old Dutch words for thunder and lightning, which were later changed to the more German sounding Donner and Blitzen).

 

One of the first modern images of Santa came in 1863 by American cartoonist Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly. In 1869 a color collection of Nast's pictures were published in which Santa appears in a red suit. This collection included a poem by George Webster "Santa Claus and His Works", which places Santa's home near the North Pole in the ice and snow. Images of Santa in red became more popular in the large cities of the east and midwest, but it still hadn't caught on throughout the rural countryside or even around the world. 

 

By the 1900s additional images depicting Santa in a red suit sprang up each season furthering the image around the country. 

St Nicholas Magazine 1916

Saturday Evening Post 1925

 

Regional images however still held onto old cultural traditions. This was especially true throughout Europe. It wasn't until the Coca-Cola Company commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images using Santa Claus in 1930, that his image began it's world wide view as we know it today. Even though Sundblom didn't invent the image of Santa in a red coat, their advertising strongly helped emphasize this image into rural American and around the world. Like Nast before him, Sundblom made his version a human-sized version of Santa Claus, rather than the elf of Moore's poem. [Coke Lore & Santa History].  In modern versions of the Santa Claus legend, only his toy-shop workers are elves.  

 

Similarities:

Modern Christmas traditions have a lot more in common with Pagan legends and practices than some want to admit. Just knowing there might be an association between the two can cause some fundamentalists to discard centuries of celebration for fear of aligning their beliefs with Paganism. But the fact is, through our evolution, humanity began it's walk here on Earth through honoring and worshiping nature. They had to in order to survive. At some point everything and everyone in the world was some type of Pagan practitioner. So it's reasonable to think that as humans evolved, so did their beliefs. But that doesn't mean they totally discarded all of those early perceptions. We influence each other each and every day. And certainly our past influences our views and beliefs today. 

 

We are all much more a like than we are different. And there is enough room in the world for each of us to honor the Divine force in our life, without degrading or impeding the choices of others to honor and practice in their own way too. After all, on both sides of the fence, Christian, Pagan, or Jew isn't that what this time of the year is all about? Peace and compassion?

  

Odin compared to Santa

Odin and His Mighty Horse:

Among early Germanic tribes, one of the major deities was Odin, the ruler of Asgard. A number of similarities exist between some of Odin's escapades and those of the figure who would become Santa Claus. Odin was often depicted as leading a hunting party through the skies, during which he rode his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. In the 13th-century Poetic Edda, Sleipnir is described as being able to leap great distances, which some scholars have compared to the legends of Santa's reindeer. Odin was typically portrayed as an old man with a long, white beard -- much like St. Nicholas himself.

Treats for the Tots:

During the winter, children placed their boots near the chimney, filling them with carrots or straw as a gift for Sleipnir. When Odin flew by, he rewarded the little ones by leaving gifts in their boots. In several Germanic countries, this practice survived despite the adoption of Christianity. As a result, the gift-giving became associated with St. Nicholas -- only nowadays, we hang stockings rather than leaving boots by the chimney!