Darkness + Light: St. Lucy’s Day

Posted on December 12, 2013

image via http://o-ls.blogspot.com/2010/09/once-upon-time.html?m=1

image source = http://o-ls.blogspot.com/2010/09/once-upon-time.html?m=1

December 13th is a church feast day celebrated as St. Lucy’s Day to commemorate the virgin martyred saint Santa Lucia of Syracuse, Italy around 300 C.E. She is associated with the winter solstice, the blind, with light, writers, throat infections, famine relief, epidemics, lamps, and swords. The legend is her faith was so strong a team of oxen could not pull her away from her truth.

Her name comes from the Latin “luz” and literally means “light”. Her worship migrated through uncertain means to Scandinavia, where she takes on Germanic, pre-Christian aspects and is celebrated on Lussinatta, or Lussi Night, which echoes the pagan Wild Hunt myth and takes place on December 13th, the solstice of the ancient Julian calendar.

image by Stuart Patience: www.stuartpatience.co.uk

She appears in white, with a crown of candles and a red sash, bringing saffron baked treats. She ushers in the coming of the light, Yule, and the Christmas season. For a captivating and thorough guide to St. Lucy’s Day, please see Joanna Powell Colbert’s “A Crown of Candles: How to Throw a Fabulous St. Lucia Party” e-book. An excerpt from the music section is below.

Word: 8 Potions for Profusion {Marybeth Bonfiglio}

Posted on December 10, 2013

This is about quantum copy, words that are rooted in connecting you & your people through magnetic, well-written experience. It’s about short -n- sweet -n- sexy, full bodied moments mixed with hard-core expressions of your lifestyle and your offerings.

It’s about being honest and telling the living story: the history, the present and the magical future. When we are true to our heart’s moment, crafting stories that are infused with the flame of your passion, it always drips in Gold. It’s true alchemy.

Long gone are the days of forcing some kind of cleverness. Instead it’s this: you, the tides, the fire, the wind, the earth, purpose, service. It’s about celebrating your path and the inspiration to share that. It’s about your story being the boldest brand you have.

Telling is selling. No. Telling is sharing. And sharing is showing that we all are a part of one another.

I’m honored to share some potions that will help you craft golden copy for your sparkling initiative. Writing takes times and practice, it often takes a circle. I am here to honor and support you as you travel within for the perfect words for your life’s purpose.

word up, bless up.

marybeth

8 ::potions for profusion::

crafting stories:: sharing the life you love.

1: root down, rise up and tell a story:

how did you get to be where you are? what is the a-ha moment? that’s your roots: the why. people want to know the why. maybe it’s a flash of your grandmother & you gardening when you were a child, the first time you sat in circle with other woman, the moment you said Yes. it doesn’t have to be long. it doesn’t need an ending. it’s about the moment, the delicious details of what it looked like when you decided to make a choice. then bring it all back around to what you can offer.

2: learn to beat a rhythm with words:

i love triptychs. threes. repetition persuades people to GET IT, but we gotta have a beat. here’s an example of a rhythmic trifecta on the who i am what i love: Claim the power of story. Spark tales with future’s healing flames. Weave words with sexy lustre. Pick any number and use that as your rhythm to practice writing in that beat. good writing is like a song, and the chorus is what everyone always remembers.

3: don’t process, alchemize:

this doesn’t mean giving up breathtaking content. no. no. no. this means alchemizing your experience from process to story. pro-blogging isn’t journaling your feelings. it’s a genre in itself, taking the point in your journaling you want to take further. so alchemize it into BAM-like copy. you won’t be connecting through flopsy, emotional journaling but through bold fire + truth writing. We don’t need to share all of our process. Some, yes. But some is personal, some is meant for the artist alone in the room. It’s sacred. find away to make that process into a story with an a-ha! That’s the ticket.

4: Short is sweet+sexy:

My heart is in writing screenplays and the most crucial rule of that art is: pick productive words. this does not mean loose the integrity of the story. it’s a constant state of revision, cut, edit, snip, savor, ponder, condense. repeat. remove all the stuff that looks like extra junk, toss the fluffy adjectives. just get to your unique voice. people will feel you faster and stronger, leaner and meaner.

5: alchemy bubbles slowly:

don’t give it all away at once. unfold your stories gradually and master finding the continuous threads and symbols that seem to illuminate your writing. this is your brand without EVEN TRYING! It happens naturally when we dive down to the soulcenter in search for our gems. when I looked back over 7 years of blogging, it was so obvious: alchemy was my thread. it was my “brand” and i didn’t know it while in creation. what i knew was that i was consistently bringing my story back to the elements, magic, transformation, death and birth. so practice writing your story for a month. or a lifetime. the golden threads will be so clear. that is your brand:: full of livity.

6: Be a super shiny earthkeepin’ soulkeepin’ rockstar:

talk about your obstacles. celebrate you clarity. shine on your divinity. define your heroes- give them a name, a place and make them on-going characters. be bright like a bonfire. be gentle like a baby butterfly. be wild like a tigeress looking for a lover. what i’m trying to say is: rise up! don’t hold back your stuff!

7: use visual + word alchemy:

use photos and art to connect your words to your people. share snaps of what you do. keep it real. be poetic. be brief. be spiritual. be hard-core. be silly. be educational. be totally inappropriate {maybe we *do* want to see your boobs, if it helps tell your story, why not?} when you are trying to share information about process, service or product; a photo can get people’s attention and connect with you immediately..

8: alchemy is change:

don’t resist changing. the point is: grow. don’t be monogamous to an idea, brand, or image. this is the art of continual expansion. if you don’t like something, simply move on, but don’t corner yourself into a story that doesn’t feel right anymore. shake it up. shock people. mystify them with your truth. be magic right in front of their eyes. alchemize your world so they can be inspired, more than that – so they can be aflame with their own.

Guest Blog Post: Reclaiming Your Own Wise Woman {Angelique Arroyo}

Posted on December 8, 2013

Grandmothers, do you know my name?
Mothers–do you remember who I am?
Sisters, I can’t see you– darkness has descended.
There is no shadow to keep me company.

- Angelique Arroyo

Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve had a deep longing for connection to the old ways of wise women. My mother is one. But she became lost in trying to make a living and putting food on the table with my Dad. She was told that she had to measure up to the standards of a society that sought to neutralize ethnic groups.

She tried to connect to the old ways, but she herself had not been handed her legacy. She even moved my sister and me to Puerto Rico to give us a place to belong! Her own struggles with identity had taken a toll on her and she wanted to prevent the same from happening to us. And yet, even there, in our country of origin, our stories were being put away to make new ones with an American way of life.

Because I longed to give myself and my children this sense of identity, I sought out stories–not my own, but those of people who still had theirs intact. When I was looking for wisdom on building a home and legacy, there was no one to go to! I had to make my own way, not really knowing how. I longed for stories, and a history that was my own. The stories, history and customs of a people lie with their elders, their wise men and women.

The food, music, and way of life individual to every ethnic group is precious and worthy of ensuring its ongoing legacy. The unjust system at work has caused us to internalize messages of self-deprecation in order to fit in and to have access. We need to begin the work of identity reclamation.

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Assimilation, which is the process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a majority group, has been especially emotionally expensive for many women of color, so much so, that generations of younger women are suffering. They do not know the songs of their ancestors, the way of their people.

An example of some of the ways in which we’ve assimilated can be seen in how we hold the commodity of time in America. Ethnic cultures tend to come from a cyclical relationship to time. Rising with the sun, stopping at midday for rest, festivities that go on all night. The emphasis of value is placed on relationship and not on time bound obligations. This is in stark contrast to the American approach: be punctual. End punctually. This leaves no space for a natural flow.

As a Puerto Rican, I can’t tell you how many jokes I’ve heard about “Puerto Rican time”. Always late, always going over. But this value judgment comes because time is being measured against another cultural standard. I’ve realized the gift in the way my ethnic culture moves, and the danger of it being measured against a American standard. As women, there was a time when we worked together, birthed together, cried together and bled together. The fields are filled with stories; quilts speak of the times when we were one.

The more I look around, from family to friends and from the talks I give in my community, the more I notice that there is an epidemic of grandmother-less, Mother-less and sister-less among many women and girls. They are hungry for connection to something they can identify with. A story and history, that is their own. As I work with women of all ages, I see many who struggle with the absence of ethnic identity. I hear it when I speak with young people who are looking to gangs, friendships, music and mainstream culture for a sense of belonging, because they have no connection or sense of belonging.

I see the look on their faces when I call them my sisters, when they are affirmed as young women when I tell them about the beauty of our ethnic heritage. I hear it from adult women who are seeking out their heritage, but are feeling alienated because they weren’t raised with the customs of their culture.

The pain is acute, the chasm wide.

Many of our girls are hungry for conversations that are transparent about womanhood, heritage and identity. They long to hear both the challenges and the victories of our journey in this life. They are each unique, but they don’t know it! Many young women today are constantly being herded into lines to be signed up for the latest program of self-improvement–whether it be education, or self-help. We have programs on how to be “professional”, how to advance academically, how to be _________ (you can fill in the blank). But what is challenging to find is self-KNOWING. The knowing that comes from being connected to all that makes us who we are. That is not dependent on external achievements to define our value and worth.

As we, the collective community of advocates, activists, mothers and fathers continue to do the work of social justice on a large scale, we must equally hold the individual piece of internalized assimilation that needs healing. Just as importantly as making certain that we are not affirming the use of stereotypes spoken of about people of color among each other, it is time to reject the identity assigned to us by those who do not know us. We need to acknowledge that even though our young women are owning their power, by engaging in careers they are passionate about and making life choices that work for them, many don’t know the stories of the heritage they came from.

One of the ways I’ve embodied this work is by continually having the conversation about identity, in circles of women–whether it’s in The Red Tent, or a girls’ circle I hold at the local youth detention center. In these circles, I see the blooming of self-acceptance as women are embraced for who they are. I hear about the sense of connection they have gained because transparent conversations have taken place. And ultimately they feel safe, understood and affirmed.

Another tool for healing that I find powerful is creating circles where the spirit is not one of improvement, but one of ownership and knowing; where we are affirmed in our trusting and our stories. In knowing the past, the present is honored; the stories are tapped into. And the pieces of our identity and movement are acknowledged.

Circles are a space in which we can honor the multi-generational wisdom of women. I equally believe that for women of color, there is a great need to create circles that affirm the beautiful movement of different ethnicities. We are in need of sacred safe spaces, to address the pain of assimilation, to address the story which has been internalized, but which is not ours.

I believe that circles are an essential piece to strengthening our sisterhood, world-wide, and to putting an end to the internal identity crisis so many are struggling with. There has been a traumatic fracture in the souls of women of all ages, and especially in those of young women. Our example is needed in such a huge way–we must, we must stand and reclaim ourselves–for the sustainability of all women!
Please visit Angelique’s website for more: http://thepassionatewisewoman.com

Angelique Arroyo of www.thepassionatewisewoman.com

Them Bones {Bri Saussy}

Posted on December 8, 2013

photo by Bri Saussy

The abalone shell sits in my hand, cool to the touch and rough against my palm. Inside the ivory pieces lay this way and that-sticking out at sharp angles and creating a forest of small shadows. I take a deep breath, grounding, centering, and anchoring in my intention and my question as I approach this rite. And then a I reach in, grab a handful, and flick my wrist out casting them forth-and I sit down to consider what lies in store.

Reading with bones is not for everyone but I cannot think of a better oracle to consult during the season of life/death/life that is All Saint’s Day, Halloween, Samhain, or Dia de los Muertos. We appreciate those that have gone and we recognize that they still speak to us as long as we have eyes to see and ears to hear. Bones tell stories-our stories, the stories of our people and our experiences. Bones illuminate and remind us that life and death love to dance.

Consulting bones is an ancient form of Divination-one of the oldest in fact, dating from at least 1200 BCE and probably much older. In the Celtic lands of Scotland and Ireland as well as during the Shang dynasty in China a specific type of bone reading was performed with the shoulder bone (scapular) of an Ox, Sheep, Cow, or Pig.

When it comes to reading bones I prefer the sortilage method where bones, nuts, shells, and seeds are gathered in a unique ritual container. I use an abalone shell. Many bone divination systems make strong use of math and numerology so if you are drawn to such systems I recommend you explore them. I prefer sortilage because it’s easy and intuitive.

My practice is a combination of what my great aunt-a good Scottish Catholic-taught me and what my grandparents taught me. It relies heavily on the presence of the Ancestors making it especially appropriate for this time of year. Research into this system has led me to believe that it comes out of both South American and African Shamanic practices. My family is in Texas so my relatives could have picked it up from either group- both have strong influences in our local folk magic and divination practices. If you enjoy reading Tarot cards, palms, and especially tea leaves or coffee grounds you will probably like this sortilage system too.

Before we get into the how-to, I just want to say a few words about what I mean when I say bones: bones are parts of the skeleton of living things. Some animals do not have bones (like gastropods and crustaceans) but they do have shells or carapaces and these may also be used in bone readings. In reading with bones the first two things we want to notice about working with the remains is what kind of animal and part of the body the bone comes from. In some traditions those who divine with bones also use other objects that are derived from bones like dice or beads, seeds, nuts, or shells of nuts-especially if there is sacred resonance with a specific plant or fruit.

photo by Bri Saussy

Materials

You will need:

Bones or other objects suitable for throwing

A container for your bones

A beautiful cloth, animal hide, or surface to cast your bones onto-I recommend something soft because bones are fragile and can break easily. If this is something that belongs to an ancestor you wish to honor all the better.

Something to represent or honor your ancestors at the altar.

A question…hold it in your heart, speak it off your tongue but we come to the bones with a question in mind.

Options:

I always like to have a fragrant incense burning when I do this work. I also like to record myself so that I can go back over it and consider my interpretation. For me bone reading is one of the “trance-ier” forms of divination so I don’t always have perfect recall as I usually do with Tarot. I also strongly recommend a bit of drumming before you throw the bones-it just helps.

Method:

Open Sacred Space.

Invoke the aid and presence of your ancestors.

Ask your question out loud: I asked,

“What do I need to be aware of as I enter into the dark part of the year?”

Reach your hand into your special container and pull out a few bones-whatever you happen to touch.

Toss them onto the prepared surface for the reading.

First study the overall picture – do the bones make a shape of any kind? A circle, question mark, or radiating sun? Pay attention to the “bird’s eye view.”

Next, notice if any bones are “outside” of the main crowd-if so what bones are they and where are they located?

If you are working with a collection of bones and non bones pay attention to what you drew-mostly bones or not? What unique items are present? Before you analyze pay attention to any messages that spirit may have to give you.

Read the bones:

Over the years I have adapted my system so that the layout accords with the cardinal directions and what they represent in Western Classical magic. I was taught to sit in the West as that is where the Ancestors speak to us from. So my back is to the West and I am facing East in the reading.

The bird’s eye view in my case reminds me of a campfire. There is a cluster of three vertebrate bones in the center and there are smaller outlying rib bones around this central cluster. The single non-bone I have is a preserved alligator claw – sitting directly in the South.

There is a fourth vertebrate bone by itself in the far northeastern corner of my cloth.

I know that the animals represented are a cat and an alligator – the bones are all from a family cat and the alligator claw was a gift.

The center cluster of three spinal bones tells me that hearth and home will be especially important as the wheel turns and the year grows darker and colder. That seems intuitively spot on and I hear as if on the wind advice to have my chimney cleaned out-for the winter will be cold. The fact that there are three of these bones is interesting because there are three of us in my immediate family – myself, my husband, and our son. The spine is considered the most “spiritual” organ in many cultures and it’s absolutely true that my family is the backbone of all I am and all that I do – so this resonates.

The thinner, elegantly curved rib bones almost form a complete outer ring around the 3 central spine bones. These rib bones first make me think of asthma-something I have had since I was born-and remind me that I need to make sure I have the proper medications and treatment plans as we head into “cold season.” But the ribs are also the part of our bodies that protect our vital core organs-so these speak to protection and support. The fact that the circle is not perfect may indicate that during this time of year I need to be especially vigilant about making sure I have the right protection and support in place – that includes asking for help when it’s needed!

The alligator claw is employed in Conjure folk magic for prosperity work. Because it sits squarely in the south it tells me that my prosperity will come from my creativity, my artistry, and in my case, quite literally from working with the element of fire. All of this is true and its presence bodes well for me and my business.

The final bone I mentioned is a large spine bone like the three in the middle but it is sitting off in the north east corner. The first thing I feel when I see this bone is that a guide or ally will come in as Winter is giving way to Spring-this could be someone in the flesh or of the Spirit. Because its that strong spinal bone again it tells me that the individual will support me (and by extension my family) and assist me in the work that I do. During the dark part of the year it would be a good idea to prepare for their arrival.

As you can see the approach here is decidedly Spirit-led, intuitive, and subjective. If reading with bones appeals to you but this method feels too elaborate try a simpler process of picking three runes or three bones from a collection and contemplating their meaning.

What about skulls? Skulls are obviously bones and they are composed of several sections of bone. Because even mice and rat skulls are relatively large the sortilage system does not really work with them. However, you can take a part of the skull-like the jaw bone or teeth and include that in your bone throwing collection.

Found/gifted vs. Purchased:

You can purchase bones on the web in many places. There is no reason why you have to wait to find bones or have someone give you a set of bones before you begin to work with them. However, many people come to divining with bones after they discover bones of their own – in the wild, in their neighborhood, or walking through the city. There is also a growing number of men and women who either hunt themselves or know ethical hunters and/or ritually harvest and prepare animals that have been killed on the highways for various magical purposes-one of which is bone reading. If you do purchase bones I recommend that you work with a supplier whose bones come from ethical sources.

I don’t want to read with bones…but I like this method: Some of us come from traditions that do not believe in trafficking with departed spirits – these traditions believe that the world of the departed is fundamentally different than our own and that trying to communicate with spirits or work with the remains of the dead is an unclean and unsafe practice. For instance, many Native American tribes have beliefs along these lines as do Jews. This is not a good or bad viewpoint – it’s simply different from cultures that have a more friendly attitude towards the Dead. If you belong to a culture or tradition that has certain proscriptions against working with the dead or with remains of a deceased creature then bone reading may not be for you. Likewise, if you are Vegetarian or Vegan you may find the idea of divining with bones rather abhorrent. But the method I have described may still call to you – what to do? As mentioned above, you can use shells, seeds, nuts, and seed pods in this type of divination. You can also use found objects like: rocks, crystals, keys, coins, charms, and of course my personal favorite, milagros.

In many parts of the world this time of year was the time for casting oracles. It is believed that our Dead wish to speak to us and advise us. Working the ancestor spirits and bones is a wonderful way to enter into the space where we can hear them fully, allowing their wisdom to help improve our lives. May you be blessed with your bones!

What some of the more popular bones can mean:

-Whole Skull – mental processes, thoughts, wisdom, vision, intuition, communication, and magical potency-also the actual head

-Knuckle bone – strength, skills of your hands, a new stage in evolution

-Rib Bone – protection, support, defending what is vulnerable and precious, concerning the heart, lungs, and pulmonary system

-Knee Bone – flexibility, your physical knees, humility and pride

-Ankle Bone – travels and journeys

-Toe/Foot bone – overall health issues, sensitivity, and psychic awareness

-Finger/hand bone – skill, ways in which you make money and have prosperity, learning new aspects of your work and refining

-Arm bone – strength and endurance, the ability to manifest

-Leg bone – support and stability

-Shoulder (scapular) – what is carried, what you are yoked to for good or ill

-Wrist bone – what connects your strength to your skill, are they matched well, refinement of skill, erotic seduction

-Hip Bone – fertility, sex, and birthing babies and projects into the world

-Spinal Column – support, spiritual enlightenment and evolution, flexibility and grace

-Jaw bone – speech, talking, communication and sometimes gossip

-Teeth – ability to teach or time to go back and be a student

-Nails – search for something that has been hidden, reveal truths.

~Bri Saussy

Warmly Wicked Winnipesaukee >slow< Harvest {Maya Hackett}

Posted on December 8, 2013

photo by Maya Hackett

This menu takes several weeks, and even several camp kitchens to bring together, for an insane meal on the dock. We push simple, low, weather-silvered tables together for in impromptu buffet, using vintage plates to warm our laps.

My first year in New Hampshire was a revelation in language and temperature ~ everything good was “wicked,” and everything possible happened in the sky. It’s tempered my soul in the best way, forcing me to live with the harsher elements, at first to get my food and family on, though I’ve stayed for the beauty and culture of the island.

We gather all the ingredients from local farm stands, like Picnic Rock, which has been run by the same family since 1831. We love to heat their maple-glazed pastry sticks in the oven at 250’ for 3 minutes for an afternoon indulgence. Each of these recipes are a sure-thing, but you’ll need to cook with your nose, listen for sizzles, taste and adjust here and there. They respond best to loving attention, which of course goes right into the bellies of your beloveds. No matter where you live, eating outside with neighbors on pretty plates, beautiful silver, cloth napkins and cheesy tourist mugs creates an instant vacation.

From my family to yours. xx, Maya

More about Maya Jundis Hackett is at urbanorganica.com.

photo by Maya Hackett

I Love D Toffees

Slowly heat 1 cup of local honey, 1 cup of fair trade organic chocolate, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of butter, 2 tablespoons of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla. Stir constantly as it comes to a boil, and make sure everything comes together nice and thick. For harder toffee, cook longer, and for softer, take off the heat shortly after the boiling point. Pour onto a large buttered glass dish to cool a bit. Let the kids use simple cookie cutters, or just cut into squares.

Caramel Pear Cake (Gluten Free)

Preheat oven to 350’. Beat 1 cup sugar with 1 T vanilla and 4 eggs. Stir in 2/3 cup melted butter, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 3/4 cups fine almond meal. Pour caramel into the bottom of the cake dish. Fleck with a pinch of sea salt. Spread thin-sliced wedges of 5 pears in a spiral on the caramel. Pour batter over the top and bake for 30 minutes. Invert onto a dish right away, as the caramel will get hard. Serve hot or cold, it’s totally different each way, but you’ll have to make two to find out.

Quince Rolls

These trees have too much fruit and too little fans. Make them all into rolls & you have a midnight snack that tastes of Autumn all year. Simmer 10 ripe quinces in water for 70 minutes, or until you can easily pierce with a fork. Cool, peel, slice and mash thru a food mill. Measure, return to the pot and cook with equal amounts of organic sugar. You’ll want to stir constantly as the quince dries, making sure to keep it from sticking to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to spread a 1’ layer into your baking dish. Cover with a clean towel & let dry for 10 days. It will shrink some. Flip it over, cover & let dry another 10 days. Cut into dominos, and roll in coconut sap crystals, powdered sugar or brown sugar.

Wild Rose Hip Jam

Gather your baskets and your littles in search of a wild rose bush with 3 pounds of large, vivid red hips. We don’t have any on the island, so this is a main-land thing. Rinse and split each fruit lengthwise to remove the hairs and seeds. You should have about 2 pounds of fruit. Place into your preserving pan, cover with 3 cups of sugar, place the lid on and leave overnight to get cozy. The next day, cook slowly for 30 minutes on medium heat. Do this again the next day, and then again. Pour into sterilized jars, one to a family. Label them, “vitamin C, to be had with toast + butter. you’re welcome.”

Savory Goats Cheese

There’s a mother and daughter here that, like me, began with two goats. Now they have 150. Their goat cheese is lovely, and I can’t help but toss the rounds into jars of olive oil, mint and thyme. After a month, they are sublime.

Field Greens

For each family you’ll need a head of soft lettuce. Mix up the colors and textures to match the fall. If there are edible flowers, grab those, too. Toss the salad with the Savory Goats Cheese and accompanying olive oil, equal parts white wine balsamic or lemon juice, and a handful of crushed hazelnuts and Toasted Pepitas.

Field Poultry with Mustard Sauce

large rabbit + strips of bacon for each slice

organic dijon mustard

fresh thyme

layer pieces with thyme, 1 bay leaf, 4 crushed garlic cloves, a little rosemary, 1 sliced onion

baste generously with olive oil. cook slowly for several hours. discard herbs and onion.

brush with mustard, crown with generous sprig of thyme, wrap in bacon.

arrange in an oiled gratin dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, 375’ 30 minutes.

deglaxe dish with white wine + 1 T white vinegar

**Island Nut*Stuffed Cabbage**

Take a large, 2-3 lb. cabbage. Remove outer leaves, separate & rinse. Blanch in boiling water for two minutes, then shock in a bowl of cold water. Spread on a towel to dry.

Nut Stuffing: In a large bowl, mix together 1 C each of cooked brown rice, fresh bread crumbs or almond meal, chopped walnuts, finely-chopped mushrooms, finely chopped onions, and grated carrot. Add 2 C grated cheese, 1/2 C minced pepper, 5 beaten egg, 2 T tamari, 2 T Dijon mustard, & 1/2 t. each, thyme and sage.

Spread a clean cheesecloth on the table. Starting with the largest leaves, layer with spoonfulls of stuffing, re-creating the cabbage. Pull up the cloth corners & tie tightly up top. Place into a pot slightly larger than the cabbage, (creating the island) above a few carrots, a chopped onion, several peeled garlic cloves, a bay leaf & some salt. Cover with water, bring to a boil, lower, and simmer covered for three hours.

Serve large spoonfuls in bowls with broth and a slice of toasted bread.

Baked Pumpkin Cheese Soup

Preheat oven to 375’. Cut a ladle-wide lid into a pretty, 6-lb pumpkin. Have your kitchen helpers remove the fibers, separate and rinse the seeds. Lay them on a towel to dry. Place the pumpkin in a deep dish, Layer the inside with chopped 4 cloves of garlic, small cubes of dry bread, shredded Gruyere or Cheddar, a rosemary stem, sea salt, and pepper. Cover with thin heavy cream and replace the pumpkin lid. Cover with foil and bake for about 2 hours. Remove the foil & gently scrape the flesh from the sides, slightly mashing the ingredients together.

Toasted Pepitas

Roast the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan over medium-high heat. Add a bit of salt, a pinch of cayenne, and a Tablespoon of maple syrup. Cook until dry and toasty.

Roasted Root Vegetables

potatoes, beets, carrots, kohlrabi, onions, leeks, turnips, parsnips

Scrub mixed roots, cut to even size & pile single-layered into a casserole with plenty of olive oil, whole peeled garlic cloves, sea salt & pepper. Roast at 375’ for 45 minutes, toss & cook for another 15-45 minutes, as liked.

Tea Magic {Lindsay Luna}

Posted on December 8, 2013

photo by Lindsay Luna

The altar cloth is laid out, incense spirals through the air as I prepare to concoct a custom tea inspired by the magic of autumn. This time of year is full of visual turning points. The golden gates of summer have closed, leaving behind dusky skies filled with ashy smoke from the wood burning stoves. Crisp leaves fall at our feet bearing the skeletal limbs of the aspen trees. As I pull leaves roots, flowers and seeds from the apothecary cupboard I pause and listen to what plants speak to me. Their vibrations become the audible chants of the Deva spirits.

I settle into a meditative rhythm as I begin to stir the herbs deosil, direction of the sun.

Inspired by Mother Nature’s pageantry of color, I sprinkle in calendula and safflower petals and the blend sings autumns praises.

photo by Lindsay Luna

The aroma begins to release as the herbs transfuse. I declare to the botanicals that they provide the receiver with a reminder that all things must come to and end, to make time for celebrations and feast on your successes. With the stirrings of magic in the air, I believe autumn to be the most auspicious time to begin a tea ritual practice, a time for reflection and gratitude.

This is the season of ‘thankfulness’ for the cornucopia of abundance. We have worked hard to cultivate our dream seeds and tended to them as they grew. We watched them ripen and harvested the fields of their manifestation.

photo by Lindsay Luna

Now is the time to celebrate. Now is the time for tea.

The candles are lit, come inside. Have a seat by the fire and sit for a spell as I start the kettle. I have a story to share…Let’s take a moment before the kettle sings, sit in stillness and see what it brings.

Fill your body up with breath.

Belly, lungs, open your chest.

Pause and then release.

Slowly dear, there’s no hurry here.

Take this moment to give peace and thanks.

photo by Lindsay Luna

The kettles ready and the water’s hot, fill your cup with all you’ve got. Steep your herbs and let’s breathe again. We are taking a journey as the veil thins. Honor the past, and the dearly departed. Light a candle to guide the broken hearted. Now stir in some honey to renew the sweetness of life. Lift the cup to your lips and draw in the spice. Let the flavors of the season wax on your tongue. Dance and sing for autumn has begun!

Recipe: Autumnal Brew

A pinch of brown sugar

Fresh slice of orange

1 apple wedge

1 slice fresh ginger root

1 fiery cinnamon stick

A sprinkle of whole cloves

1 whole aromatic star anise

Half of a vanilla bean

A splash of cream (or dairy alternative)

A dollop of raw honey

A dusting rreshly grated nutmeg

In a small sauce pan bring 8 oz. water to a rolling boil.

Add the following ingredients: apple, orange, ginger root,

cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, vanilla bean.

Let simmer for 8-10 minutes.

Strain botanicals through a fine mesh colander or your tea infuser.

Add honey, cream and dust lightly with nutmeg.

Enjoy!

~Lindsay Luna, Danmala Teas

Lindsay Luna of Danmala Teas: www.danmalateas.com

Wheel of the Year {Marybeth Bonfiglio}

Posted on December 8, 2013

We gather things every time we leave the house. I end up with stones and leaves and pods and flowers and sticks and bark and shells and berries and rosehips all in my pockets. Every countertop ends up being a “nature table” in our place, which is beautiful, but also can get a wee bit crazy. So a few years back we began making a very purposeful earthcraft: a Wheel of The Year.

Every year when we begin to enter into the West, the Autumn, the underworld – when the earth begins to show signs of death – we create a Wheel of The Year – a calendar of sorts, a seasonal timepiece for our wall. It’s something we can add on to throughout each season as we gather our goodies when exploring. It’s fully symbolic and textural; it’s multi-dimensional and beautiful. It’s a gorgeous way to watch the seasons change right on your wall. The tradition is to move around the wheel for each season – creating The Wheel around Samhain/Hallow’s Day/Day of the Dead {November 1, 2013} whatever you like to call that magical moment and then burning it the following Autumnal Equinox – or Mabon – as some folks like to call it.

What you need:

Long bendy branches- we used vine maple because that was what was growing right outside our yurt in the forest. We left leaves on to keep the look all viney and lovely. You need enough branches to bend in a circle {you decide how large you want your Wheel} and be relatively sturdy.

2 strong sticks to make the “cross” in the center

Thin gold wire, twine wire, floral wire – any of them work.

Fall earth treasures {this time we used: chestnuts, raven feathers, hawthorn berries, rosehips, fallen leaves, a spider, bones… etc.} try to use only earth and organic goods – when it’s time to burn next Hallow’s Day – it won’t be toxic.

Hook to hang the Wheel up on a wall.

How to:

Create a circular wreath with your branches. I did about 3 rounds of branches and intertwined them to make a nice, big, strong circle. I used thin gold wire to attach the branches where needed- which was in many places to keep it all together.

Take your 2 sturdy sticks and cut them down to fit inside the circle. I used wire to connect them at the center and at the top and sides of the circle.

Then take your gathered fall items and attach them with wire, or just tuck them into the circle of branches. Autumn falls on the West on the Wheel- so find a spot on the wheel that is west and begin there {I make my Wheel like a traditional 4-sectioned so West looks really like NorthWest- which is fine with me}. At this point it’s really easy to stuff things in between the branches, otherwise use the wire to attach. Try not to go with glue. When burning that will only create toxic fumes.

wheel-of-the-year-marybeth-bonfiglio-feathers

Hang up your wreath somewhere that helps you remember the beauty of the season. Attach beauty all through the Fall season as it comes into your life At each seasonal turn, gather special treasures that are symbolic to you for that season. It is an on-going process of gathering and filling the space on the Wheel that represents the season.

For winter – North – we will gather pinecones, cedar and fir boughs, quartz crystals, white feathers, licorice ferns, and all the glory that shows up for us in our hearts during the winter.

For spring – East – we might find robin eggs and feathers, buds, sprouts, little vials of rain water, seeds… etc.

For summer – South – we’ll gather sunflowers, blooming flowers, bright golden flowers of all kinds, berries, seashells, vials of sand, etc… everything that is summer to us.

Ritual:

On the next Autumn Equinox burn the Wheel of Year completely down. You can intuit the day that feels best for you – but somewhere right around the first day of Fall. {Just make sure you burn the Wheel of the past year before you begin making your new one!}

Gather your people together {or do this alone if solitude is what you need}. Eat good food. Make a nice fire in the hearth or bonfire outside. Take the wheel and throw it in the flames. Allow the past be burned down to ash. State what you release from the year. Say goodbye. Shed your skin. Melt down the masks. State what is to grow from the ash. Know what you want your new year will look like and tuck that in your heart – bring it out when making your new Wheel around Hallow’s Eve.

Fully feel the letting go.

Begin to walk into the next turn of the Wheel. Create it with your hands. Ready. Present.

In magic and love.

Pay attention. This is how the ancients kept time.

Guest Blog Post & Give Away! {Falan Storm}

Posted on December 5, 2013

I can’t say enough about how valuable and powerful I believe Falan’s messages are, whatever season of life you’re in, working in supportive harmony with our inner cycles can be one of (if not the) most important things we can do for ourselves and those we love. In case you missed her piece in Autumn’s Field Guide, we’ve published it below annnnd Falan’s generously offering a free entry to her beauiful, powerful e-course “She-Cycles”. Comment here and or on our FaceBook page to enter the contest. We’ll reveal the lucky winner no later than Monday the 9th, you can learn more about She-Cycles here.
xoxo

Harvesting Your Feminine

Inside of you there is a place that holds the truth. A place that holds the balance, the vibrancy, and the nurturing you seek. A place that holds the history of yourself and the women before you. A place that most women desire, on a cellular level, to live from.

This place is your womb.

The home to your feminine. The home to your creativity, your intuition, your vitality, and your greatest insight into exactly what you need at any given moment. However, in our linear world of going, doing, and accomplishing most women have lost contact with the wisdom within themselves.
We don’t feel good about ourselves if we aren’t getting something done all the time. If we aren’t making ourselves available to everyone’s needs. If we aren’t smiling and parading our way through each day, with party favors blowing out our ass.

One of the biggest things every woman is seeking is balance. Right? The infamous balance that we think will make our life beautiful and easy and simple. But balance is bullshit. It doesn’t exist in the form we are seeking. Balance in the idea that we can give an equal amount of time to all the things that mean something to us isn’t real, and we will never achieve it.

But, here’s the thing. There is a different type of balance and you don’t have to seek it. It’s inside of you. It’s a cyclical balance that supports all the seasons of our lives. You can connect with it by harvesting your feminine. And by harvesting your feminine, balance is
not the only thing you will find. You will also find the connection, creativity, rest, energy, and the groundedness you crave. You will find your root, your womb, your center. You will find your truth.

Here are four ideas to nudge that feminine wise root inside of you:

Use your cycle.

Your menstrual cycle is truly your own inner system to give you the exact “balance” you are seeking. Begin to pay attention to your cycle, charting it, noticing it, and appreciating it. It will guide you to a wisdom you have forgotten about until it is found, and only then you will see it was there all along. It is a cycle of abundant energy and creativity, and restorative rest and retreat. Your “PMS” is really a time of revealing your current truth, not a time of irrational bitchies. Your bleeding is really a time of releasing, not a time of inconvenience. Your cycle is the greatest window to your health, not just an irritating cramp induced resistance.

Shit on Shame.

This part of yourself that holds the truth and this part of yourself where your feminine lives gets muddied with shame. Body shame, sexual shame, money shame. The “I’m not good enough” socially supported shame. I urge you to load up on veggies and water and take a nice, healthy shit on this shame. And you don’t even have to work hard to do it. Just begin the journey of harvesting your feminine. Of acknowledging it, connecting with it, giving it what it needs, and allowing it to reveal your truth.

Let go of linear.

With whatever pressure you have on yourself to be a certain, accomplished way, you must remember you are a woman. Of course you carry both masculine and feminine energies, but you are not meant to live only a masculine, linear, active life. You are cyclical and
you are meant to flow in and out and around the curves and hills and waves of your beautiful, and sometimes challenging, life. Let go of the need to perform perfectly and continually,and begin checking in with yourself to know what you really need in any given moment.

Use your intuition and inspiration to spark your action.

Connecting with the cyclical nature of yourself, you will have times where your energy is high right alongside your inspiration. This is the time to act, do, go, aim, create, and birth your womb gestated dreams. Following this will be a time where your access to your intuition is high alongside your desire to rest. Give that to
yourself.

We must learn to harvest this abundant wisdom that lives inside of us. Your body is designed to
self regulate, to bring forth life and ideas, and to share that truth inside when you follow the
rhythms of yourself and harvest what it reveals.

Falan Storm is a Mama to three, and a writer for women who want to feel free in their bodies. She lives in the beautiful Appalachian mountains, homeschooling, living life simply, and sharing ways to live a meaningful,
feminine life at falanstorm.com

all souls day. dia de los muertos. hallowmas

Posted on November 3, 2013

to our beloved departed, ancestors, animal friends, parents, friends, lovers, children…. we honour you, we love you, we celebrate you.

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
― Kahlil Gibran

“Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.” – George Eliot

“If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.”
The Crow (1994)

tamber, autumn 2013 rising appalachia and passionate wise woman

Posted on October 23, 2013

Our beautiful sister-friend and contributor Angelique Arroyo of The Passionate Wise Woman had the deep honor of interviewing Chloe and Leah Smith of Rising Appalachia. The work these women are doing in the world to “use Music as a tool with which they yield political prowess” is so truly important and powerful, we had to publish pieces of the article here for you. You can find the entire interview in Amulet’s Autumn Field Guide.

AA:
As a Passionate Wise Women-Tell us a little bit about what you are up to in the world.

RA:
Rising Appalachia is on a mission. We are continuing to learn our work as soul crafters…piecing together the deep seeds of story and song and making them explosive and applicable to the bodies that need them. Its been an amazing journey to carve out ones life through sound. It has not always been an easy road, but it has been fiercely rewarding. Rising Appalachia began as a tendril of revelry for our musical upbringing, and has turned into an entire bright and powerful movement dedicated to bringing voice to the voiceless, bringing melody to people’s stories, making space for people to be heard.
Our work through traditional music studies and contemporary lyrical composition keep digging us deeper and deeper into the role of troubadour. Its an ancient role…the song catcher, the bard, the griot.
We have to leave room in our lives to catch the songs when they come, and follow the muses. And then be truly dedicated to the work of brining it to stages and making it an experience that our audience can connect to. Deepening our art, and provoking it to be a true experience and hopefully a catharsis for our audience.

AA:
Cultural expression is not only present in your songs but in your expression, how important has your heritage & culture been in your work?

RA:
***Yes. Well we are continuing to sculpt our relationship to both cultural identity and creative expression. It has been a deep part of human identity to adorn and decorate oneself. I decided at a very young age that my aesthetic would be self designed and not tied to any fad. I shaved my head when I was 10, and started painting my face and building my own costumes when I was very young. Then as a traveler, I began very naturally to pick up elements of the dress in the places I was living and working. I spent many years in Latin America and the Caribbean, and then several years in India. Returning to the US felt like a bit of an attack on the senses …all the plain clothes and bright lights. I have always felt a bit like an alien in my own culture . When Chloe and I moved to New Orleans we took very strongly to the relationship that that voracious city has to costuming, parades, masks, and the catharsis of carnival. Its deeper there than simple festivity. The art of building your costumes (and there are many more celebrations than just Mardi Gras. There is also Super Sunday, LundiGras, the Eris Parade, Ash Wed, many many more) is often a year long process and the act itself is a full on ritual. You build your dreams and sorrow into your aesthetic. You use the art of dress to tell your story, and simultaneously to set yourself free of the struggles that are knocking at your door that year. It imbedded in us an even stronger relationship with how we want to hold our image. The lines can feel quite blurry between honoring a tradition and using something as a fashion statement, and we walk that think line. Our aesthetic is influenced by traditional and creative expressions from all around the world, but also from our own stories and relationships to those places. We have been accused by a few of our critics of all kinds of psudu-hippy, wannaby native, neo-tribal things…but really we would be much less comfortable in a pair of khakis and some Nikes. We adorn the way we are, and hold a close relationship to the way that we present ourselves individually. It has been very very important to us both as performers and as individuals, to move through the world with the utmost relationship to creative expression, and also honor culture identity by creating our own voice, and not borrowing traditions that are not ours. Culture appropriation is a real thing, and it can be hurtful to the communities that hold their dress and traditions sacred. It is a deep part of our dialog to learn how to be present within the diversity of our communities, how to honor everyone’s voices and stories, and how also to create our own unique way of being and adorning. We are crafting our own culture here. All of us.

AA:
What’s some extra sauce you can share with other Passionate Wise Women as they work out living their Passion?

RA:
***I have been working on a new song that I want to be a rallying song for all of us when we feel feeble- as we ALL do feel feeble sometimes. It ties in a Howard Zinn quote that has helped me for many years that says “What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.”
This continues to feed me so deeply when I am tired or worn down.
I am adding verses and the chorous says: “ Find a way, just steady your gaze, weather you fumble or stand graceful darlin’, just find your way…”

It will hold also my favorite thoughts from a dear friend Mr Nick Slie working down in New Orleans who always says “you got to fake it till you make it”

AA:
What is next for you and Rising Appalachia?

RA:
***Rising Appalachia is at a really important cross roads right now…We are for the first time researching some more industry, which would help our ability to reach a larger audience, as well as the ability to hone in on our creative voice. This is a new move for us, as we have been fiercely proud of our autonomy as a self run powerhouse…But we are finally in a position where the work load is too much for us to handle on our own. This is such an honor that we have come this far in our own hands, and to have more work than we can handle, but also brings forth a real sense of vulnerability as we have to ask for help. We are calling in the right mighty forces and people who know how to move with this project, from a well crafted business perspective, as well as a strong hand in the music industry itself. We don’t want to loose our relationship to radical arts, but we don’t want to start loosing impact due to things simply falling through the cracks either. In order to take the next step we need some well-versed professional crew to join us. The family is growing. But it is not just about the music industry either…Its about finding the right soul who can work within the business of good music and understand the deep roots of our mission. We have A LOT of work to do. We need our team to be well oiled badd asses, and ready to take it all on with us…
So, that being said, if you are out there…we are seeking you. We are ready to take this whole thing up to the next level, more touring, new recordings, bigger stages, cultural education projects, outreach projects, ready to build bigger and bolder collaborations…We are ready to let the world know what we are doing! …and we will need help to make that happen.
The call is out.
Seeking hard working angels!

Leah (& Chloe), I want to thank you deeply for doing the work you do in the world! And for honoring us with your presence here at The Passionate Wise Woman. You heal us.

Rising Appapalchia BIO
Growing up in the American South, and taking great inspiration from global roots music from their travels around the world, Sisters Leah and Chloe tear into sound with sensual prowess as stages ignite. Listen to their beautiful sound for strong poetic voclas, soul singing, spoken word rallies, banjos, fiddles, many beats of drums, kalimbas, beat box, eclectic instrumentation, groove and dance parties alike…
Intentionally self-managed and produced for the last 6 years…they have toured heavily both nationally and internationally boasting events all across the board but including: Joshua Tree Music Fest, Envision Festival, Burning Man, Rootwire, Naropa University, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, National Public Radio All Songs Considered, The School of Americas Vigil, Nunez Arts Festival New Orleans, Emory University Schwartz Center, The Floyd Festival, The Beacon Theater NYC, The Lake Eden Arts Festival, Radio Popular Italy, Guerilla Radio Amsterdam, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Highlander Center 75th Reunion, Urkult Sweden, and this year their line up includes several new markets including Lightening in a Bottle, Symbiosis, and the Ozara festival in Hungary…
They have self-produced 5 albums, one full length documentary DVD, a new collaborative release with The Human Experience, and more coming on the daily…

LINKS:
1.Rising Appalachia Music Videos:
Scale Down- http://youtu.be/Bmr5rdaemYk
Swoon-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mxCBWCarQE&feature=share&list=PL0508545E9DCC3E1D
2. Rising Appalachia Documentary trailer (brief history of our work and background)- http://youtu.be/zjmeoawIfR8
3.Music: (these tracks are available for you to download for free off bandcamp and are a good mix the Rising Appalachia sound! Thanks!)
Bandcamp http://risingappalachia.bandcamp.com/

Angelique Arroyo is breeder of passionate wise women, a keeper of the Way. This Way is the passionate woman’s way of diving into the center, being with ourselves {all parts of ourselves} so we can heal and honor the whole of our souls, raw and real. You can find her at ThePassionateWiseWoman.com liberating, reigniting & nourishing the souls of her sista’

*tools and talismans* autumn 2013 field guide

Autumn Field Guide 2013

InBody, Autumn 2013

Posted on December 12, 2013

Posted on December 10, 2013

8 ::potions for profusion::

crafting stories:: sharing the life you love.

1: root down, rise up and tell a story:

2: learn to beat a rhythm with words:

3: don’t process, alchemize:

4: Short is sweet+sexy:

5: alchemy bubbles slowly:

6: Be a super shiny earthkeepin’ soulkeepin’ rockstar:

7: use visual + word alchemy:

8: alchemy is change:

Posted on December 8, 2013

Grandmothers, do you know my name? Mothers–do you remember who I am? Sisters, I can’t see you– darkness has descended. There is no shadow to keep me company.

- Angelique Arroyo

The pain is acute, the chasm wide.

Posted on December 8, 2013

Materials

You will need:

Options:

Method:

“What do I need to be aware of as I enter into the dark part of the year?”

Read the bones:

Found/gifted vs. Purchased:

What some of the more popular bones can mean:

Posted on December 8, 2013

I Love D Toffees

Caramel Pear Cake (Gluten Free)

Quince Rolls

Wild Rose Hip Jam

Savory Goats Cheese

Field Greens

Field Poultry with Mustard Sauce

Island Nut*Stuffed Cabbage

Baked Pumpkin Cheese Soup

Toasted Pepitas

Roasted Root Vegetables

Posted on December 8, 2013

I settle into a meditative rhythm as I begin to stir the herbs deosil, direction of the sun.

This is the season of ‘thankfulness’ for the cornucopia of abundance. We have worked hard to cultivate our dream seeds and tended to them as they grew. We watched them ripen and harvested the fields of their manifestation.

Now is the time to celebrate. Now is the time for tea.

Recipe: Autumnal Brew

Posted on December 8, 2013

What you need:

How to:

Ritual:

In magic and love.

Posted on December 5, 2013

Harvesting Your Feminine

Use your cycle.

Shit on Shame.

Let go of linear.

Use your intuition and inspiration to spark your action.

Posted on November 3, 2013

Posted on October 23, 2013

tools and talismans autumn 2013 field guide

Grandmothers, do you know my name?
Mothers–do you remember who I am?
Sisters, I can’t see you– darkness has descended.
There is no shadow to keep me company.

**Island Nut*Stuffed Cabbage**