Third Infinity

  Samhain (October 31st)   HISTORY   Samhain to the Celts was their New Year's Eve.   That mysterious moment belonging to neither past nor present, or this world nor the other.   It was a time when the herds were slaughtered and the meat salted, which also led to the use of salts in magic ritual as a disinfectant against psychic or spiritual evil.   On this night also, the spirits of dead friends sought the warmth of the Samhain fire and communication with the living.   The divinatory aspect of Halloween is understandable for two reasons.   First, the psychic climates of the season favored it, and second, the anxiety about the coming winter demanded it.   The fertility ritual aspect was reflected in legends of gods and heroes.   As such, it was a time of deliberate (and tribally purposeful) sexual freedom.   That is primarily a Celtic tradition, as many other superstitions say to refrain from sex for fear that your forme...

SUMMER SOLSTICE (C. JUN 21) A. HISTORY At Midsummer, the Sun-god is at apogee (closest to the Earth), and therefore the longest day of the year. The pagans worshipped and celebrated the abundance of life, even as they recognized that this Solstice also marked the time when the Sun began to wane once more toward Winter's darkness. The legends are full of the Sun God dying by whatever method, be it burning alive, blinded with mistletoe, or crucified on a T-shaped cross. In ancient times, this often demanded a human enactor actually dying, followed by a seven-day wake. Some pagan cultures have an Oak King, (symbolizing the light half of the year) being killed by his brother the Holly King (symbolizing the darkening half of the year). "The Goddess, as we have pointed out, is unlike the God in that she never undergoes death and rebirth. In fact, she never changes- she merely presents different faces. At the Winter Solstice she shows her Life-in-Death aspect; though her...

Carving a pumpkin this fall? Don't throw any of it away! By Jeff Yeager Posted Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:44am PDT Related topics: Food and Drink , Holidays , Veggies More from The Green Cheapskate blog "Jeff, can't we at least celebrate the holiday before you eat the decorations?" I've heard that more than once from my long-suffering wife during our 26-year marriage. You see, cheapskates like to celebrate Halloween and other holidays just like everyone else. But we grimace at wasteful rituals like throwing away a perfectly good pumpkin after using it for only a few days as a decoration. Americans buy more than one billion pounds of pumpkins at Halloween, and the vast majority of those end up in the trash. But at the Green Cheapskate's house, we eat our jack-o-lantern, every last bit of it. While some particularly meaty varieties of pumpkins are specifically grown to be eaten (including Sweet Jack-be-Littles, Cheese Pumpkins, Sugar Pumpkins, and some delicious heirl...

Samhain (October 31st) 8. HISTORY Samhain to the Celts was their New Year's Eve even. That mysterious moment belonging to neither past nor present, or this world nor the other. It was a time when the herds were slaughtered and the meat salted, which also led to the use of salts in magic ritual as a disinfectant against psychic or spiritual evil. On this night also, the spirits of dead friends sought the warmth of the Samhain fire and communication with a living. The divinatory aspect of Halloween is understandable for two reasons. First, the psychic climates of the season favored it, and second, the anxiety about the coming winter demanded it. The fertility ritual aspect was reflected in legends of gods and heroes. As such, it was a time of deliberate (and tribally purposeful) sexual freedom. That is primarily a Celtic tradition, as many other superstitions say to refrain from sex for fear that your former (dead) friends would take over your body and you might have A Change...

VII. AUTUMN EQUINOX (C. SEPT 21) A. HISTORY “The two Equinoxes are, as we have pointed out, times of equilibrium. Day and night are matched, and the tide of the year flows steadily. But while the Spring Equinox manifests the equilibrium of an athlete poised for action, the Autumn Equinox's theme is that of rest after labor. The Sun is about to enter the sign of Libra, the Balance. In the Stations of the Goddess, the Spring Equinox represents Initiation; the Autumn Equinox, Repose. The harvest has been gathered in, both grain and fruit, yet the Sun- though mellower and less fierce than he was- is still with us. With symbolic aptness, there is still a week to go before Michaelmas, the festival of Michael/Lucifer, Archangel of Fire and Light, at which we must begin to say au revoir to his splendor." (WBC p.116) Unlike Lughnasadh, which marked the time of beginning to gather the harvest and emphasized the sacrifice aspect of the God, Autumn Equinox marks the c...

This is one of those versatile "serve for several occasions" recipes. Zuchinni for Lammas, Apple for Mabon, and Carrot-n-Pineapple for Samhain. I substitute a full cup of Spenda for Baking for the sugar in the recipe. I like my quick breads sweet, but you're welcome to use the correct substitution amounts on the package first to see how you like it.

The Equinox Cleaning Is this like spring cleaning? Yes. Spring cleaning was a necessity in historical times when the house remained closed up all winter, gathering soot and smoke from the fireplace as well as the accumulated mess made when people are cooped up inside for long periods of time. That being said, we all need to do a thorough cleaning now and then. I recommend doing so at the equinoxes. In fall, we’re getting ready to shut our homes up for the winter and the holidays. Friends will visit, parties will be thrown, and of course we all want to show our homes off to the best advantage. In spring, we’re driven to open our homes to the warm spring breezes. However, let’s be honest. Very few of us have the time to strip our rooms completely one by one, washing anything that holds still for it. However, a few things can be done in a very short period of time. First things first! Take down the curtains, carpets, and throws. Dump them in the washer and/or load them in the car for a tr...

I repeat this incense every year because it's the best I've found. Note this is the type where you mix a powder, then sprinkle on a briquette. No, I don't mean one of those toxic charcoal briquettes you use on the grill. Here's a LINK to the correct type. Scroll down, you'll see them. Look in the links section of this blog and buy your herbs and oils from reputable shops. If you want to burn chemical powders and sniff them, there's a dealer in the red light district. You want the good natural stuff, you pay for it. Why a powder instead of just buying already made? Same reason as above --no chemicals you have to worry about. I don't see the point of loading the air with more chemicals than necessary. The idea here is to cleanse the air and perfume it, not pollute it. While you're at it today, say a little prayer and light a little incense for those lost in the 9/11 Tragedy.

While too "expensive" for me on a low carb diet, I try to be fair to those who don't have to watch every crumb they put in their mouth. Save this little treat for Sunday mornings or Sabbats. To me, this is a great "cake" for Cakes and Ale. Served with a hot mulled apple cider, it's perfect for a fall treat.

Yeah, I'm really, really late. Forgive me? I found ambergris oil here: http://www.metapot.com/product.php?productid=3079&cat=62&page =

This coffee cake should be in everyone's BOS as one of the most versatile things you can serve all year 'round. There's rarely a time when a fruit of some kind isn't in season, but there's always canned or frozen. I've even used canned pie filling, skipping the first paragraph, since essentially that's what you're making. A hint from me: instead of using two tablespoons to scoop out small bits, get a 2 tablespoon disher and use it. You'll be a whole lot less frustrated. I use the dishers anytime I need to scoop out small amounts, like when baking cookies.

Note that y0u can use this recipe twice! While it's wonderful for Lammas to have a Corn Fritter, it's great to have Apple Fritters at Mabon! Don't you just love recipes you can use more than once a year?

'Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods, And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt, And night by night the monitory blast Wails in the key-hole, telling how it pass'd O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes, Or grim, wide wave, and now the power is felt Of melancholy, tenderer in it's moods Than any joy indulgent summer dealt.' William Cunningham VI. LUGHNASADH (AUGUST 1) A. HISTORY Lughnasadh (pronounced `loo-nus-uh') means the commemoration of Lugh. He was a fire- and light-god of the Baal/Hercules type. His name may be from the same root as the Latin "Lux", meaning light (which also gives us Lucifer, `the light bringer"). In mythology, the historical replacing of one god by a later form is often remembered as the killing, blinding or emasculation of the older by the younger, while the essential continuity is acknowledged by making the younger into the son or grandson of the elder. In Irish legends, Lugh was the younger, superior g...

EOSTAR/OSTARA/SPRING EQUINOX She comes, a maiden, barely clad, In peeking buds and newborn leaves. Holds up her arms to her young Lord, To warm the seeds she holds within. "Spring is the reibrth of the earth, the fulfillment of the promise made by Candlemas. It is also the time of planting. And of acknowledging that those things growing now were planted in the autumn by the Goddess. And so it is the time of beginnings, of starting those things you wish to "grow" during the year, and of continuing to work on those things the Gods have given you to do. Oh, and it makes the promise of the fullness of the earth to come." Welcome to my writing on Eostar/Ostara/Spring Equinox. The Sabbat goes by a variety of names. Pick one, they all mean the same day and the same celebration. The approximate date used is March 21. However, this varies from year to year, depending on when the actual equinox happens. Consult a good calendar. Let me state clearly: ...

This is the time when my coven begins the serious hunt for the nine sacred woods that comprise the bundle of wood decorated and cast into the balefire at Beltane. It's important to gather them now so they may dry properly and burn well in May. The nine kinds of wood used in the Beltane fire One of the best-known Celtic traditions for Beltane is the lighting of the Beltane fires. These huge fires were set to welcome back the sun for the light (summer) half of the year. All the hearth fires were extinguished on May Eve, and then they were relit the next day from the Beltane fires. The fires were started with nine sacred woods, each with various magickal properties. People would gather and dance around the fires through the night, jumping over the flames to ensure a successful and prosperous summer. a.. Birch - The Goddess, or female energy b.. Oak - The God, or male energy c.. Hazel - Knowledge and wisdom d.. Rowan (Mountain Ash) - Life e.. Hawthorne - Purity and fairy magi...

This is but one of my egg bread (aka challah) recipes.

March St. Patrick's Day candy-making St. Patrick's Day candy is incredibly easy thanks to a product from Wilton called Candy Melts . With a shamrock mold, (usually under five dollars) you can have green shamrock candy in half an hour. It's that easy. Eostar- while I will discuss the holiday in more detail in a separate message, this is one of my favorites. Who doesn't love a celebration of spring and new life? Sculpted egg- Sculpy in spring like colors and a wooden egg to serve as the basis is all you need. You can cover the egg in what ever colors please you, in what ever patterns please you. Then all you need to do is bake in the oven, following directions to have a permanent Easter egg as a reminder of the fun you had. Don't forget to inscribe the year before baking. Nine sacred woods-while I will remind you of this when I post the Sabbat information, here is a list of the nine sacred woods: oak, rowan (a.k.a. mountain ash), Willow, Hawthorne, Hazel, Apple, ...