Chinese New Year is always fun for me because I love celebrating new beginnings. Plus, the Chinese have created some beautiful practical artwork and items over the centuries. Plus, I love the story of how Chinese New Year began. Don’t know it? Check out The Holiday Spot for their tale on Chinese New Year.

Yule is not just about presents and about homecoming in my eyes. It’s about family and about pruning away the things that don’t work anymore. It’s a time where I look into the ice reflections and ask myself, “Where am I going and where do I want to be?” I normally do this using a bowlful of water with a sprinkle of salt or with a hand-held mirror. I concentrate on seeing me as I am now and how I want to be once springtime arrives. I see what is surrounding me– what things clinging to me that are holding me back and what things would move me forward– but aren’t because of those clinging vines.

During this time, I also start putting together my recipes for the holiday. One of my faves is my apple cranberry sauce. This sauce is great for Thanksgiving or anytime of the year when you can get fresh cranberries and apples. I’ll post it later next week.

Today, I’ll be redoing my altar, shaking off the last of the winter thoughts and bringing in the freshness of spring. Because I’m also a fire baby, though born in September, I will be creating a small pile of sacred sticks to be used in various rituals for this summer season. The colours for the altar are brighter as we head into the second half of the year, bringing to mind the Oak King’s time to reign.

For me, cooking becomes lighter, but at the same time, more flavourful with herbs and spices that allow you to experience other countries and other places all without leaving your own home. Beltane is also the one day a year we can let go of ourselves- to lust freely and have that lust returned. In the olden days, babies conceived at Beltane were considered triple blessed and cared for not just by the parents, but by the village. Why? Because children born at this “between” time were considered to become great among them either as druids as seers or even as warriors. Their abilities were linked to this thinning between this mortal realm and the other realms as well.

Tonight, I might let myself go a little bit- drinking some of my Keel and Curley wine. Then I might take my male and turn the erotic tables on him for tonight. It’d serve him right since I’ve been suffering since the hysterectomy. I still have another week until I’m fully able to play, but there’s no saying I can’t pleasure him. *grins* Today is a day of physical and spiritual pleasure. One that you take and do in a manner befitting the gods and mankind. One of giving and receiving. You cannot give unless you receive. You cannot receive unless you give. For me, it means cooking for my family, walking Shango and enjoying the bright sunshine, and then preparing a special chocolate dessert I know my male and my nephew, who’s coming over, will especially enjoy.

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large yolk
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces white chocolate chips

Directions

Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cloves together in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove pan from the heat, add the bittersweet chocolate, then set aside until melted.

Whisk the eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla together in a medium bowl, then slowly whisk in chocolate. Stir in the flour mixture to make a loose dough. Don’t overwork the dough. Fold in the chips. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (or 325 if convection option is available).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form dough into balls, about 2 inches or 1 1/2 ounces each, and put on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a couple inches between the cookies. Bake until outside is crackly, but the center is still moist, about 13 to 15 minutes, or 12 in convection. Cool on a rack.

How do I prepare for my personal Yule before handling my family for Christmas? I’ve been preparing for weeks actually. I’m actually off this Yule, so for me it’s a blessing. I’ve started baking for myself and the male all week. Yesterday I made my favourite Dutch Apple Cake recipe, and I added in Maraschino cherries for a hint of extra colour. I even made pulled pork last night using my own blend of spices in the slow cooker. *sigh* It turned out better than I thought possible because I was tweaking the seasonings. I think I’ve finally found the right spices that just enhance the pork without overwhelming it. Go me! Today, I’m relaxing and I’ll be making cookies and some Yule bread. Tomorrow, we’re cleaning up the house, which will give me the clean feeling of renewing the sun and bringing spring to the house, even though we’ve been having unseasonably warm weather here in Florida.

The other thing I’ll be doing for Yule is my annual ritual. This includes spell working for peace in the upcoming year and to bless those in my family and friends. I do this every summer and winter to ensure those I love are always cared for. I also thank the gods and goddesses for the time of winter- the time that allows us to think more on ourselves and what we wish to get rid of, what we wish to change of ourselves.

Winter is a time of core realizations. It’s a time to prune away the deadwood in our lives and get back to the basics of life and living. It’s breaking it down to family, friends, and living life simply and contentedly. It’s a time for me that I spend rereading my favourite books on divination, basic spiritual practices and I make lists– what I want to do, what I know I can do, what I need to do to get to the first list. Then I work out how I can honestly do it all without sacrificing anything. Then I rework the lists. I can’t always do what I’ve done. I’ve started to accept this, though it hurts me deep inside. So, I have to retrain myself as if I was a new person in the world of writing and in the world of being me. This means little steps. This means having people to help me along this journey this year, like Kell, Nik, Lena, and others. People who love me for me and want me to succeed– they also aren’t afraid of kicking my ass. LOL

Spending time baking and thinking this Yule is important to me. It’s the gift of life and the gift of endings. Things change in the dark half of the year. This is where the shortest day is. This is where twilight and darkness is greater than daylight. It’s when you become more aware of not just the physical but the spiritual aspects of yourself. Take the time to honour this part of yourself- even if you’re not a believer of any major religion. Why? Because we’re all spiritual. We all need to honour that aspect to come to terms with our entire essence.

Happy Yuletide and may the Gods and Goddesses bless you this year!

Cyn’s Dutch Apple Cake

3 medium peeled apples, diced (3 cups) (Can be tart or somewhat sweet)

3 tbsp sugar (for apples)

1 cup sugar (for cake batter)

2/3 cup softened butter

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon, divided

1 tsp nutmeg

In a large bowl, combine the apples, 3 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Let sit about an hour.  In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla. Combine flour and salt, then gradually add to the wet mixture, beating until just smooth.

Fold in the apple mixture into the cake batter. Then pour this into a well greased 9 inch loaf pan or a 8×8 pan that has high sides.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or so until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes on a rack, then remove to cool further or serve warm.

Personally, celebrating the sun god, Lugh can be difficult. I have lupus and more importantly, I don’t easily deal with the sun. Now, mind you, I love the sunshine, I like the heat- just my body has issues with too much of a good thing. Yet, everytime at this year, I am outside more, I’m swimming, I’m moving and hopefully working on a garden of my own or of someone else’s. I thank the universe for providing me the tools necessary to live life to the fullest. How thankful for the day and what you have are you? Take a moment to thank the universe and the gods you believe in for what you’ve been provided. 

This is also prime baking time. I love to cook and bake, when I can make the time and when I’m feeling up to it. So this is when I break out into making bread, muffins, and more. A few years ago, I discovered a No Knead Bread recipe, which I’m sharing with you. It’s simple, easy, and as you make it, think on the ingredients used to make the bread and how it was harvested for your use. 

No Knead Bread Recipe

Yield: one 1 lb loaf

3 cups bread flour (I like Harvest King bread flour)
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
3/4 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt)
1 1/2 cups warm water

Covered pot (five-quart or larger cast iron, Pyrex, ceramic, enamel…something that can go into a 450F oven.)

1. Mix dough: The night before, combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on countertop.

2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you’ve got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.

3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven.  Holding towel, dump wobbly dough into pot. Doesn’t matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover, bake another 15-20 minutes or until the crust is beautifully golden and middle of loaf is 210F. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes. 

The other thing I enjoy doing of late with this time of year– canning. Gods, I remember when my parents and grandparents would can cukes, beets, tomatoes and more. But when the winter came, there were always bread and butter pickles, pickled beets, relish and other good stuff to eat, reminding us of the hot summer days. I’m not a huge canner– partially because of space and because of time, but I’ve been learning how to do both refrigerator canning and the old tried and true techniques. Though I won’t give out Grampa Bob’s pickled beet recipe (I just can’t. I promised!) I can tell you there are some easy recipes where you can take the time to can things via your fridge. Check out Food Network and some other foodie places for some easy recipes. Gather up the ingredients and for the first time- do it exactly as they tell you. Once you master it, then you can tweak to your hearts content. 

Harvesttime is one of happiness, joy and a time to be grateful for all we’ve been given. It’s a time when those of us who have, give to those who have not. It’s a time to be part of the earth, to thank her and to give to her. So, take this time at Lughnassadh to be part of the harvest time. Even if it’s just to make food and to tell others about how it got to the table. 

What goes into a house blessing? Asking for peace and serenity from the powers that be. To make your home a refuge against those things that would wish you harm. To keep those who live there happy and healthy. It’s also a way of protecting the home as well. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep vigilant or take care of yourself, but it does help provide that extra dose of help that sometimes we all need. 

First, take a few pennies and clean them with salt water. Rinse them and pat them dry. While you do this, think about how you want your place to be. Envision it becoming that place of peace and joy. See it in your mind and heart as being a place you love having people over because it’s that place where people want to come over and relax– that your place is known to be the best place to feel safe and sound. Once you’ve done that, light two candles, one for the gods and one representing your home. Call upon the Elements and the gods to witness and bring their blessings of good wishes for your new place (if you’re renewing the blessing- ask them to continue showering blessings upon it). 

Place the pennies before the house candle. Line them up in correspondence to north, east, south, west. As you place each one around the candle, recite, “These markers are reminders, boundaries against those things that would do us harm. We will have peace and happiness in this house. Just as they block out the bad, they let in the good.” Repeat this for each penny. 

Allow the power of the moment to fill you and when you feel the power of protection surrounding and enveloping the pennies, take them one by one and place them in the four corners of your home that correspond. What this does is mark the boundary of your home and it puts the protection and blessing into play. After the last penny is in place, thank the gods and the Elements for their help and blessings on your new home. Release them with your thanks and with offering. (I normally have some oil and birdseed I put outside to offer nature at that point.) Blow out the candles, and place your items away. 

I often recharge my home protection every 4-6 months. It’s also a good way of “spring” cleaning, regardless of the time of year and allowing you a chance to clear out any negativity or bad things that might’ve been slowly getting past your boundaries.

One of the exercises that I was taught to do and one I recommend to those I teach is to dress in a swimsuit or something you don’t mind getting wet in. During a good rain storm- one that’s not overly filled with thunder and lightning, go out into it. Let the water penetrate your skin as you think on what water means to you- both personally and as a human. Take the time to truly enjoy the sensation of rain coating your body, filling you with energy and with the power of the elements within you. 

Another thing I usually do is put out a special jar that I capture that rain water in. I’ve done it for regular rain storms and for hurricanes. No joke. I use that water when I work spells- using the power inherent in that water to help boost my magick and my intent. It may seem silly, but when you remember the huge storm that not only rained over 5 inches of rain in your neighborhood, but the lightning and the wind that broke tree branches, you’ll be able to envision that power guiding and directing your spell, thus increasing the efficacy of it. 

Energy is inherent in all things. Using water- whether in the form of rain, river, waterfall, or elsewhere, is one way to not only use the power for your benefit, but to become aware of its importance in your daily life. By recognizing that link to you and you to it, you start the process of balancing all the elements in your life, thus bringing you more happiness and energy.

Making a pendulum is quite easy and there are a variety of ways. First, if you have a bail (think a double flap that bends in half) that you glue to a stone, then you insert a string or a chain into it, so it dangles on the chain. The second way is to string a large bead on a string to dangle. Another way is to use a charm on a necklace, letting it rest against the largest piece that blocks it so it can’t come off. Either or all of these methods are usable. 

Once you’ve created your pendulum, it’s time to cleanse and charge it. Normally, I’ve washed the stone or bead in salt water, depending on the type of stone it is. I’ve also cleansed the chain in jewelry cleaner. Then I normally “bury” it under a pile of salt from full moon to full moon. Once that’s done, I bless it and consecrate for its use in divination purposes. 

Pendulums can’t answer complex questions. In fact, yes, no or maybe is the easiest for it to answer. To do so, hold the pendulum chain in your hand, letting the pendulum itself dangle just barely above a table. Once it’s still, think of a question that can only be yes. Watch how the pendulum moves. It might go up and down or side to side or a circle. That motion is for a positive answer. 

Do the same for a negative answer- still the pendulum, think of a question whose answer is no. Watch for the pendulum to designate how the answer is. Do once more for a maybe or not sure. This will help you to establish for all time the way the pendulum reacts to those questions. 

I have a special cloth that I’ve marked with yes, no, maybe, not sure on it. This allows me to remember which direction is which in case I’ve not worked with my pendulum for a while. It also allows a place to keep the pendulum and its energy intact. This is important so other implements’ energy doesn’t interfere with its capability. 

Now that we’ve gotten the basics of answers instilled in the pendulum and ourselves, it’s time to practice. Use short, simple questions that can be answered with our responses. Make sure you clear and rest the pendulum between questions. If you’re in a group, designate only one person to ask the question to the pendulum. This way there will be no rush of questions and no mixup of answers. 

Practice doing this at least once a month or more often as needed. I recharge my pendulum every other month by placing it where the full moon can charge it for at least a few days.

For me, I have religious beliefs, but my spirituality isn’t tied into just that alone. I find that my spirituality is based more on my being in balanced with the natural world and the progressive behaviour we humans have created. I believe in that our world is one of balances– any one thing can tip that balance by doing one thing more than another. It doesn’t rely on any god or goddess to right the wrongs caused by humans, but it requires us to do so. 

I don’t need the trappings of religion to be spiritual. I can easily worship anywhere at anytime. My friend only feels comfortable within her church or at Bible study group. For her to give thanks and praise outside of that area makes her uncomfortable, though she says that her god is everywhere. We often laugh a lot about how I can give thanks to the plants we pass or the animals we see, thanking them for brightening our day and yet, for her to be greatful to her Maker, she finds it hard to break out of the mold she’s chosen. 

Yet, she’s content with her beliefs and how she practices them. The same with myself. It’s not about who is right or wrong, but how we choose to live our lives to the fullest that make a difference. I don’t disagree with her beliefs nor do I condone them. (It often makes for interesting arguments since I’ve got many many years of comparative theology under my belt!) But I do feel that we should honour our spirituality and our beliefs anywhere at anytime. Perhaps what the world needs right now, isn’t religion– but to be more spiritually aware of our world and our place within it. We are caretakers- the highest known level of civilization among all other creatures. We should be in awe of the world around us– and work to keep balance between our progress and the natural world as well. 

For in the end– it’s the journey and what you do along the way that most matters for now and for those who follow.

Now is the time where ancient farmers would begin their planting for this year’s harvest. Usually by this time, the first frosts would be over, thus preventing destruction of the baby plants as they came up through the soil. This time is symbolic of the coming light half of the year- more sun, more rain. 

For those of the pagan persuasion, this is the time to let go of those dark things that were dragging us down and to become new in this time of the year. It’s a time to grow and become more. It’s a time where we are in tune with the earth and its moments. 

Yes, there is that randiness to Spring. It’s a time for sexual play and for those who were young to come into their sexuality. Yet there is more than that- it’s a time to celebrate surviving a cold winter where the lesser could’ve passed away into the Otherworld. 

Ostara for me means cooking and baking. I bake breads and cakes using the leftovers or what’s canned. It’s a time to bring in the sunlight and to get the first harvest of the winter products– like strawberries here in Florida. It’s a time when I do what I enjoy– early walks and late afternoon walks where it’s just warm enough without being too warm. 

I also set up my Spring altar with spring flowers, new incense and I spend time thinking on what more I want to do this year. It’s a good time to let go of past hurts and to start anew. 

Welcome to Ostara– a chance to start fresh at the beginning.