Homes4Her

101 ways to say "I love you"

2012-01-25T13:37:00.000+01:00

http://blessedmommy.hubpages.com/hub/101ways2sayiloveyou-husband

"Today, find some way that your husband is serving you or your family. Does he help around the house? Take care of the car? Fix things that are broken? If your budget allows, give him a new, small tool with a big bow attached. But make sure he doesn't think it's part of a "Honey Do" list!
Maybe your husband's not a handyman, but does he run errands for you? Let you go first? Take care of you when you are sick? Help you make decisions? Praise him for his willingness to serve others. Let him know that you see his unique service as a great strength."

Women tend to keep score... and it's score keeping women always "win". The problem with this is that in the end you will feel used and unfairly treated, that he does "nothing" and you do "everything"... and that's not true.

Ok, so my husband is not good at cleaning, and keeping things in order. But he does most of the shopping. I hate shopping. So it's worth a lot for me.

He cooks, usually.

He takes care of me when I can't do that myself, sees that I take my medication, and other such things, and that is a big job, considering that I have fibromyalgia and I hate it, so I "forget" it.

He loves me and tells me all the time how beautiful and sexy and lovely and good and kind and wonderful I am, and that means the world to me.

I think one of the things that is seldom appreciated is that he's faithful to me. He is there for me, when I need him. Because of him I'm not alone facing the world. We are two in this. We are facing the world together, side by side, hand in hand... and because of that he deserves all the praise and gratefulness and love in the world. Frankly... I mean, just think of all the women you see in the tv, with cheating husbands, abusive husbands, no-good husbands... you're not one of them. Thanks to him. That's worth a lot. To me, at least :-)

30 days husband/wife encouragement challenge

2012-01-20T00:38:00.000+01:00

I met my husband 1995. Four years later we got married. Now, after having been married for almost 13 years [the date is 6th of February... 18 days from today :-)] we still love each other, are in love with each other, and like each other and appreciate each other and are proud of each other... We have seen friends move in and out of relationships, but I don't see the end of ours.

So - what makes our relationship strong?

One secret of happy marriage is to understand that what we have is what we'll have in 10, 20 and 50 years. The fairytale of The Beauty and The Beast should be forbidden! You won't change the other, at least not consciously, manipulating, with intention. If you love each other, you will adjust your being to his/hers, and grow together, but the basic nature of each of you will be the one you were created with. This is why you should marry your best friend, and not the love of your life.

Another secret of happy marriage is to understand that people are pretty much the same. No-one is "The Right One", no-one will provide for all your needs and desires, no-one is perfect and flawless, and if you can't live with the faults and vices of "this one", the faults and vices of "that one" will become too much for you to live with too, one day.

Third secret of happy marriage is to get into it with the decision of that divorce is not an option. I'm not saying that you shouldn't divorce your spouse if he/she is abusive or destructive, but that you shouldn't divorce your husband because... well... he snores. He never takes garbage out. He plays videogames all the time. He watches porn. He has the most irritating manner of eating breakfast. He's working all the time. Such little details can be dealt with. Balthasar Gracian said something like "try to get rid of your vices, but if you can't, turn them into virtues".

Then you have to be ready to communicate. Don't have secrets from each other. Dare to talk about dumb things. Dare to be a human.
Laugh with each other. Often. At least once a day. Even when bad things happen, even when you're in pain, even whatever. Especially when bad things happen.

Also, there was a British tv show about how to train your husband (bring your husband to heel) which was canceled very quickly, because husbands are not dogs. But - the point with it is that positive enforcement works on humans too. We are animals just like all the other animals, and you train all animals best with rewarding them for right actions and NOT PUNISHING them for "wrong" choices. When it comes to human beings, we are intelligent animals and are capable of making right choices if we have the option. So - train your spouse by giving him/her options. Give him/her a chance to succeed in pleasing you. He/she is probably more than happy to do so, if you are willing to do your bit, and work on pleasing him/her.

Also, another thing, my husband has both ADHD and Aspergers, which results in that he's a bit obsessive when it comes to playing video games. He got a new game for Yule, and he's been playing it for the last month. I was complaining a little about being a "Skyrim Widow", and one of my co-workers said that he used to play a lot, but stopped because his girlfriend didn't like it. She thought he spent too much time with the game and not enough with her... so - today he told me that they were supposed to watch a movie together, but ended up with each reading their own magazine... because she read her magazine, and he didn't feel like watching the movie alone. So - she may ignore him, but he may not ignore her? WTF? One secret of a happy marriage is fairness.
I feel often that I'm always doing everything and my husband does nothing, but if we look at what he actually does... I have fibromyalgia, so there are days when I can't do anything but lie in my bed and cry. He brings me tea, painkillers, massages my feet and hand, makes me bath, hot or cold depending on what I want, and does everything he possibly can to make me feel better. I can't imagine my life without him. I can't imagine anyone else who would do that for me.
My husband also cooks most often, he shops, he takes care of the telephone and he does the laundry. He also takes care of all "fixings", like changes light bulbs and such things. So, in my mind he does his share of the household chores. In most families the husband also brings home most of the money.

So - 30 days spouse encouragement challenge.

Day 1

Don't say anything negative about your husband to him nor anyone else. Don't criticise, don't nag.
Say something positive about your husband to him and someone else. Praise him, tell him why you love him.

Two months later...

2011-12-05T22:05:00.000+01:00

It's THAT time of the year again... you know, "war on X-mas".
I really don't know which part of it all amuses/amazes me most:

- Jews didn't celebrate birthdays or Midwinter, so Jesus and his disciples didn't celebrate birthdays or Midwinter. Both are 100% Pagan ideas. So - celebrating ANYONE's birthday, and especially on Midwinter day, cannot possibly have anything to do with Christianity and Jesus, what ever you name it.
It reminds me of that old mission tale: A missionary had Christened the Pagan and taught him he may not eat meat on Fridays. When he comes to visit his disciple on a Friday he sees him eating a steak of game... "What are you doing? Did you not understand that you may not eat meat on Fridays!?" "Of course I did. But I did like you did. I took some water, poured it over the animal and said "you are now a fish"."

- How upset all Christians are about associating Jesus and the cross... "Crossing out Christ"... :-D

- The ignorance of the meaning of X in Christmas

- How they keep writing Christmas with CHRIST while ignoring the MASS part... as most of these people vehemently claim Catholics are not Christians, and Catholics are the only Christians celebrating mass in the first place... :-D

So what would this coming Midwinter feast be without Christ? Exactly the same it is now, my dear. Just without the créches and angels and other Christianized stuff. The warmth, the sharing, the kindness, the consideration, the loving and caring, being together, peace, love, hope, birth of light, charity, generosity... all that existed long time before the current reckoning began.

What ever.

Yule is on 22.12 this year, at 5.30 in the morning. Sun will be rising at 8.44 here in Stockholm, and after just some 6 hours it will be setting.

It's about that time of the year...

2011-10-11T17:22:00.000+02:00

It's about that time of the year... you know, when the "TRUE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN" hysteria breaks lose and every person defining themselves as TRUE Christian... I was thinking of writing to some of the worst and most influential ones and suggesting that instead of getting all hysterical and spreading the panic and bearing false witness against their neighbors, that they might actually BE true Christians and think about pretty things, like Paul told them to do.
Now... one of them actually went on and invented "Jesus-ween". Ween? Halloween is not "hallo-ween" but "hallow-e'en" - All Hallows' Evening. If the Usonian Christians came to the other side of the ocean to see how the European Christian - and they are not all Catholic, BTW - celebrate All Hallow's, in stead of inventing own stupid pseudoholidays, they wouldn't have anything to worry about, but nooo.... Now, all this is nice and so on, but of course they just HAD to say "Every year, the world and its system have a day set aside to celebrate ungodly images and evil characters". *sigh* Arrogant, ignorant, egocentric idiots.

"In 2002, Pastor Paul requested 300 copies of New Testament pocket size Bibles to use for personal evangelism. A few days before Halloween, a word came to him to give out bibles to everyone knocking at his door expecting candy. On that day over 40 bibles were given out without him stepping out of his house. All it took was putting a bible into every bag as they opened each bag with a smile."I bet he became really popular and next year he gave even more pocket size Bibles to kids crowding his door ROTFLMAO! Good luck with "weening" the kids from candy. I'd suggest they prepare a lot of buckets, ecofriendly soap, brushes with long shaft and other such equipment for November 1st, the "Jesus-clean" day, when all these people need to wash off the eggs and toiletpaper from their homes and gardens.

Im surprised... this is probably one of the few strips that are true... The Sabeans worshiped the Moon God who married the Sun Goddess who gave birth to three Goddesses, who LATER BECAME IDOLS... The Daughters of Allah.
Do you know what an Arameic speaking person 2000 years ago would have called God? ʼĔlāhā
Do you know what Arabic speaking Christians call God? Allah
Argh, I need to get out of here!

I'm lazily thinking of writing my own tracks, but those Chick-fans would take that as a compliment, as they are all bigoted, xenophobic idiots.
Nevertheless, suffer through this: Big Daddy to enjoy more of this: Who's your daddy?

Here's Top 13 Pagan Comics
I like Oh My Gods! It seems you can't read them online anymore. I wish Shivian Balaris all the best in life and God speed with his further adventures in life. It was good seven years :-)

Portrait of evil
I get the same feeling in my guts as when dealing with demons and certain people calling themselves ex-witches...

"Christian cross can be considered a secular symbol of death"? No, it can't. Of course, the non-Christians can say anything, but it takes a Christian to be offended by HIS symbol being used as SECULAR to change things. Figures. >:->

“Every true, born again follower of Christ ought to embrace a Christian over a non-Christian.”
Yeah... The religious opinion of a political candidate trumps everything else. Beat your spouse and kids, kick the puppies, steal lollipops from kids, burn Qurans and flags, pee in an elevator, grope every member of the opposite sex you can reach, murder, steal, lie and curse, you're a good guy as long as you are a Christian... of the right denomination, that is. :->
What ever happened to "...without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status"? I mean... don't people UNDERSTAND the concept of xenophobic bigotry anymore? When did it became a GOOD thing to discriminate people who were different from you, something you're PROUD OF, a quality you actually acknowledge and embrace and that just might turn the public opinion on your side?
Now, political opinions I accept as grounds for deciding whom you vote, but religion? You know, if everyone would vote only the candidate that shares the race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national and social origin, property, birth etc, the next US president would be a Caucasian, Roman Catholic, Middle Class woman of about 38 years old, and she would be a Democrat...Let's skip the voting all together, and just choose a representant of the demographic majority.

If you have a good pumpkin recipe, go to "Becoming a witch" and post it in the comments.

2011 Countdown to Halloween
Halloween gone Heathen style
The REAL witches of Halloween
A Fanciful Twist Halloween Blog Party 2011
All Hallows Grim Blog Party
The Witches' Halloween Tea Party
31 days of Samhain

First Blood Pad Cake

2011-10-05T14:12:00.000+02:00

I don't like menstruation. I would cut out my uterus if my gynecologist would allow that. HE starts talking about that we don't know what hormones do and those cannot be replaced with artificial ones and I'd get osteoporosis and other such nice things. *sigh* I think it's easy for HIM to say things like that. HE doesn't have to live through what I have to.

One reason is that I follow Athena and Dark Goddess, so this thing with being a mother and birthing children has never been important to me. Menstruation is only bothersome, an obstacle in living an active life and it makes it really difficult to feel clean.
Other reason is that I have PMDD and it's only getting worse as I age. PMDD is "premenstrual dysphoric disorder" and sort of super-PMS.

I had my First Blood in a very public manner... I was 13, the 7th grade was just turning to end, and the school had a bicycle trip. I had white pants and my brother's bicycle, so when I lift my leg over the rod, the red shone to the whole world - except me, of course. I found out only when I came home and went to bathroom. Nice. I have had cramps through these 30 years, post menstrual migraines about 20 years, mood swings, depression, anxiety... my husband talks about his dragon wife. I'm 42 and childless. You could really say I have been through hell once a month for nothing.

I suppose the only thing I think menstruation is good for, is that you get "free" blood, without anyone needing to die, for magical purposes, to be used in blood magic and spells and as offering to Gods.

Anyway, I don't like the fact that I hate the natural functions of my body. I wish I could be more proud of that, of being a normal, natural woman, a member of the Bleeding Society, which is about 1/3 of world's population, the one thing that connects most women. I wish it wasn't such a taboo, that the ads would show menstrual blood red as it is, that we didn't need to hide and feel embarrassed and grossed out when speaking of it.

I don't know how the rites of First Blood work for other Pagans. I didn't have any and I'm glad for that. I'm glad I had three elder sisters, so that I could steal their pads and things, that I could tell my mother to buy me pads too, when it was time, and she didn't make a fuzz about it. Maybe I would have different relation to my menstruation is she had...

Changing Woman

Red Tide Rising Stories

Blessed by the Moon - Initiation to Womanhood

My Little Red Book

Go our beneath the naked night: Bloody April

So - I have been thinking about the diaper cake, but building this with reusable menstrual pads and such.
The pictures are about diaper cakes, because I haven't seen a pad cake before and I haven't got the time or resources to build one just to illustrate this blog entry, and I don't have kids and my nieces are too old already, so there's no need for this right now, but perhaps I will do that one day.

What do you need?

To build a present cake you will need 3 groups of things:
- the "diapers" - or towels, pads, washcloths, study material or what ever it is you are using.
- the core and building aid, like rubber bands and such
- the decoration

Here's a picture tutorial for "unique" diaper cake. I think the Champagne bottle core is a great idea.

I know, if the girl is 12, it's not a good idea to give her alcohol, but this is her body saying she's an adult... adults do drink. She doesn't need to cork the bottle. She can save it to her 18th birthday or something. But it's a very clear way of telling that she indeed is becoming a grown-up, and to remind her of that it's not only bad things. Not that alcohol is a good thing per se, but it is a symbol of her responsibility of herself and her choices and her body, and what she does with it, and the freedom this responsibility includes. So, don't spoil the gesture by using non-alcoholic champagne or these "funny" champagne bottle bubble baths.

You also need a tray as the bottom for the cake. If you don't glue anything on it, or drill holes in it, you could get a tray the girl will be using in her future home. Trays are nice. Or cake plate

1) the reusable menstrual pads. Why not give the girl a starter kit plus; a dozen of everything, except two dozens of regular menstrual pads. Pantyliners, regular pads, extra liners and night pads. Don't forget the dry-wet-bag.
2) cleaning products. You need some eco-friendly washing detergent and stain removal. A box of salt works miraculously on blood. ;-) Also, add a pack of wet wipes. You can make those yourself.
3) ibuprofen. This was the only thing that gave me any help. Then I got fibromyalgia, and was ordered ketoprofen, which made it dangerous to use any profen at all, and now there's nothing that helps me. But - add a package to the pad cake, just in case.
4) pampering products. Nice soaps, creams and such. Be sure to avoid any antibacterial deodorant soaps for private parts. That leads to nothing but trouble and uncomfort. You can wash the outer area and hair the same way you wash the rest of your body, but never, ever wash the inner labia.
5) pretty underwear.
6) woman things. I don't know what the girl in question sees as things women have, but what ever it is, try to include some in the pad cake. It could be make-up. In my family there was a couple of rules: the kids were not allowed to drink coffee, or use make-up before they had their Confirmation. Now, Confirmation is a Christian thing, and Pagans don't do that, but the First Blood rite could (and should) be seen as the Confirmation.

You will need things like rubber bands, ribbons, flowers and such to keep the cake together and to decorate it. Choose a theme and stick to it. Red is a good idea :-D So is moon. Or choose both ;-)

How to make roses out of washcloths
Face cloth bunny or duckie

Now I have read the first Percy

2011-10-03T13:47:00.001+02:00

and I'm not happy... I mean, I like the book. I think Rick is a great writer. I like the concept of the book and the story. It's his knowledge and attitudes I'm not happy about.

1) the book is telling about a summer of a 12 years old boy. You know, Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets. My Girl. Stand By Me. 6th grade. Preteen. 12.

2) I'm rather angry about the misogyny in the deity attitudes in the book.
- Artemis doesn't have children, because she vow to stay maiden. Athena has, and not only one or two, but "a bunch" of teenaged kids... she's been busy. (Now, they say Athena concieves through some sort of intellectual understanding and is still a maiden, but as Annabeth's father says he would not have managed the College without Athena, I can't understand what She ever saw in the guy. Also, he can't wait to get married and have children with some stupid female. Percy's mother is faithful to Poseidon for at least 12 years, marries this guy just because he reeks so he can hide Percy's demidivinity... Now... as we all know Artemis is lesbian. Why doesn't she "father" children with women through this intellectual understanding Athena uses? I suppose the idea is too controversial and scary for a misogynist like Rick Riordan.
- Aphrodite's and Demeter's children might be able to live in the "real world" without interruptions, because they are not that important... I'd like to remind you of that Aphrodite is the mother of Aeneas.
Who, you might say.
The hero of Aeneid.
What?
The national epos of the Romans.
What?
Equivalent to Iliad and Odyssey.
In other words, Aeneas is a "real powerful force". Not some himbo.
- Demeter and Hera (and Hestia) are Zeus', Poseidon's and Hades' sisters. SISTERS. In other words, just as powerful and important deities. I mean... sure, Zeus got the heaven - and control of weather. Poseidon the sea and earthquakes and such. Hades has the underworld and all souls. Hera has marriage and motherhood, the human regeneration and family... I kind of think that's more important than weather. Demeter is responsible for earth and crops. She feeds every human being on this earth. That's more important to me than some occasional earthquakes and tsunamis. It's not Poseidon who brings fish to the fisherman... it's Thetys. The Lady of the Sea, the Ocean itself. Hestia is responsible for homes and hearths. Aphrodite responds for ALL the feelings and emotions, not only love and sex. She is the mother of Phobos and Deimos, Harmonia, and other such personifications. The Olympian ladies are actually more important to humans than the Olympian lords... Is this considered? No. "Less important". "Childless".
Hera doesn't have children because she's the patron of marriage? It was quite a bit different some 3000 years ago, but today more than half of marriages end in divorce and more than half of the people, both men and women, admit having cheated on their spouses, it would be more fair, honest and truthful and less misogynist to allow Hera the same privileges as Zeus has. After all, she IS the Queen of the Heaven, and if Athena gets to sleep around, so should Hera, and all the other goddesses, AND their children should be considered to be just as important as their cousins and uncles and aunts. Now, I don't have children, but my sister and both my brothers do, and my sister's chidlren are in no way less important, talented, significant and powerful as my brothers' children. The mere suggestion makes me angry.
Also, Hera has mothered several children whose father Zeus is NOT... Parthenogenetic? Or is this a question of keeping the father's identity secret? In any case, it is stupid to see Hera has no children.

Also, Poseidon is married to Amphitrite. If Hera doesn't look at her husband's children with other women kindly, why would Amphitrite? She is the Lady of Seas, which makes it rather difficult for Percy to enter the ocean... But - who cares. After all, we have to make Poseidon likable for the sake of the story, and his "love" to Percy's mother something beautiful, and not just some horny old man's cheating of his wife...
I mean... if the 100 years old virgin vampire stalking a 17 years old girl was creepy, what about thousands of years old god fathering a child with a woman 1/100 of his age?
And what we know of his mother is that she quit High School in her senior year (~18) to look after her uncle, who had cancer, and met Poseidon after her uncle died, got pregnant quickly and was left alone to take care of the child before it was even born. So she was about 20 when this happened, I imagine. I find it hard to take middle-aged men seriously, who claim to see some sort of queendom in young adults, and it's even harder when the "middle-aged man" is a Greek god... who should be seeing the queendom of his own Queen, and not in some human child (which a 20-years-old woman would be to him.) Brr.

So considering this indifference about the "good values" of the male gods, it's offensive, hurtful and deeply misogynist to keep Hera childless because she's matron of marriage. Makes me angry.

Nevertheless, I liked the book and intend to read the next book in the series. Let's see how far I can get until this starts aggravating me more than I can enjoy the books.

P.S. Now I have read the books #2 and #3... Some really bad mistakes. (Helle and Frixos, Rick! Not Europe and Cadmus! Cadmus was Helle's and Phrixus' evil stepmother's father, and Europe his sister. Europe got abducted by Zeus and carried over the Mediterranean and thus she gave name to the continent. Helle just gave name to Hellespont which was the place where she drowned as she fell off the ram. That's unforgivable, Rick...)
In book #4 he's getting very close to insulting Hecate. I don't know if I can get over that, if he does. I hope he doesn't.

P.P.S. Something related: True Blood: conflating the Dionysian cult with Satanism

About BOS and such

2011-09-16T19:36:00.001+02:00

This is the style I'd like my BOS to be

13 goals of a witch

2011-09-16T15:05:00.004+02:00

1. Know yourself.
2. Know your Craft (Wicca).
3. Learn.
4. Apply knowledge with wisdom.
5. Achieve balance.
6. Keep your words in good order.
7. Keep your thoughts in good order.
8. Celebrate life!
9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth.
10. Breathe and eat correctly.
11. Exercise the body.
12. Meditate.
13. Honor the Goddess and God.

What does this mean to you? How do you express this in your life? What do you do to reach these goals? Do you agree these are worthy goals or do you disagree? What would YOUR 13 goals be?

13 goals of a witch - witchvox article

Ben Franklin's 13 week recipe

So that's what you mean by saying you're Christian...

2011-09-15T20:37:00.000+02:00

Hmm... There's something wrong with this... I'm really more interested what you mean when you say someone is NOT Christian. Because...

So you are saying you are not lost anymore. Good for you. I just have to wonder why you act like the rest of us, who you consider being lost?
Also... you're found and forgiven? Forgiven... for what? What did you do? Run away from home? Isn't that something most kids do, and always for a good reasons? I mean - either they are being abused, or they are curious about the world around them, or they are being stifled by bad rules, and there is no room for discussions? I mean... what's there to be forgiven? Especially, if it is as you say, you were LOST. Not run-away, LOST. Like - made a mistake, took a wrong turn without knowing it was a wrong turn, and getting where you didn't intend to go, and trying to get back? What kind of parents "forgives" you for getting lost? Geesh!

Stumbling is being human. We are all "weak" and "strong". We all "fail" and "succeed". We are all "flawed" and perfect in our flawedness.We all have "pain" and "heartaches", emotions, feelings, and some of them are really hard to bear. We were made that way. To me, when you say you're Christian, it means you looks to the Christian God, Jesus, for help with this. And that's fine. I look to my God for help with this amazing thing called life.

But... if I have understood Xianity correctly, you consider EVERYONE needs Jesus. So - to you saying that you're Christian is saying that you consider me living a lie, in which I "refuse to admit" I meed Jesus.

"...cannot ever pay the debt."
What debt? I'm assuming you are referring to "Jesus dying for all of us" -stuff.

1) None of us asked to be put here. None of us asked to be created and born. We are all here, everyone of us, because it is God's will. God made us as we are, to be what we are, with everything we were born with, because God wants us this way. We are, every one of us, 100% God's creation according to God's will.
2) The majority of us have not done anything so bad a HUMAN SACRIFICE is needed - none of us have done anything so bad a GOD needs to be sacrificed. We are all fully capable of taking the consequences of ALL OUR CHOICES ourselves. Simply because God IS a loving God. God understands better than we do why we made the choices we made, and God knows our souls better than anyone, and God sees and acknowledges and counts every little shred of goodness in every human being, and there is a lot of those shreds, in every human being. Because God made us.
3) I think if you go and get yourself punished "for my sake", when it's not needed, when I didn't ask for it, and I didn't want it - frankly, I'd prefer you didn't - don't come whining about me being in debt to you. I DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING.

Just as little as a pot owes anything to the potter. It's not the pot's fault if there were inpurities in the clay that made it weak. It's not the pot's fault if the potter left an air bubble in the clay so it shattered in the oven. It's not the pot's fault if it was fired wrong and couldn't stay steady. It's not the pot's fault, if the glazing failed and it looks awful. It's not the pot's fault, if someone drops it and it shatters. And it is not the pot's fault if it cannot pick up the pieces and glue them together by itself...
So - what debt?

Also - God created us. God made us. We are all God's children, God's artwork, and each one of us is a perfect piece of art, exactly as God intended us to be. Why would God NOT love us? Why would God NOT be pleased with us? Why would God not believe we are "worth it"?

So it's incomprehensible to you that God loves you... That is incomprehensible to me.

Flying Friday - my answer

2011-09-09T16:45:00.001+02:00

I didn't "stay a Christian" because of the rules. I didn't "stay a Christian", because I am not a Christian and I have never been one.

I am rather Confucian in my ethics, which means I fully understand the need, importance and significance of rules.

I also believe I carry the rules in my heart. What I don't remember is probably a silly man-made rule which is mostly a nuisance and in worst case harmful. Nevertheless, it is not a stupid idea to think about your rules, the ones you do carry in your heart, that is, your values and ethics and moral laws.

I have studied the Gardnerian law, and found that rather stupid.
I have studied the Alexandrian law, and that is just as stupid.
Most Wiccan laws are based on these two and the changes made haven't made the laws any less stupid, at least when it comes to those I know of. I have been talking about this earlier, several times.

"Underlying all such rules is one basic concept that is also adhered to by virtually all Pagans: "Harm None"."
Bull, I say.

That doesn't mean that I think it would be okay to harm others - or oneself, but that I think it's impossible to live without harming others. I cannot live without eating, and I have to end a life to feed myself. It is only if I was a fruitarian, that I could live without killing an animal or plant to feed myself, and there are very few true fruitarians in the world.

Which is actually a diet I would love to follow... lacto-fruitarian. I'd be happy as a fox in henhouse :-D (Except that I need to give up my tea... :-()
I don't consider "capturing and imprisoning other species, and taking their milk" in any way morally questionable.
There are species that cannot be tamed. Bovines are not among them. Human can provide bovines a comfortable living environment, and provide them shelter, protection and food in exchange of their milk. A lot of human beings choose this kind of relationship with another human being. Every SAHM, for example.
We have Yvonne, the Runaway Cow. Obviously they can leave the relationship if they choose to do so.
Naturally I don't want "factory milk", and I want my milk raw, but that can be arranged, and the more people want this, the more the dairies are going to provide this. Besides, we have future farmers who have sane ideas and attitudes when it comes to animal husbandry, and I think this should be supported.
Last thing is that I am a big supporter of animal conservation, and I am very worried about the hundreds of domesticated animal breeds that are disappearing as we speak. "Enslaving" and "imprisoning" animals is the only way to protect these breeds. You might think it's a worthless cause, I don't.

Nevertheless, I cannot live without harming others. I do consider other lifeforms others, not only other humans. There are so many different ways of harming, Ariadne counts "emotional, physical, financial..." And what about self-defense and the duty to help? Am I to put myself in harm's way to protect someone else from harm? And what about surgeries and other such things when you are supposed to harm someone in order to get good consequences? Like interventions, or exercise and such?
And what is going to happen if I'm "mean"?
Like "kick puppies" mean? Are you even aware how common animal abuse is? So common the minor offenses aren't even counted as animal abuse. Are you aware how common such human abuse and torture as bullying is? It's not only some misunderstood kids who bully others, even grown up, "normal" people do that. It's not even considered child abuse to physically "discipline" your children, and no-one cares one bit when parents mentally abuse their children, in a way, that if they'd do it to another adult, people would be horrified... And the consequences? None.
So, who is "mean", "evil", "malicious"? Some people say we Pagans are, just by refusing to not be Pagans. Some people would say a psychopath serial killer is evil. Or mafia bosses. Or drug lords. The Power Behind Power, who rules everything and decides who lives or dies... you know, all the conspiracy theories. So - what are the consequences of their actions? They might get to jail if caught? Or?
If your heart tells you it's okay to be "evil", be "evil". There are reasons and consequences for everything. If your dream in life is to be a Grey Eminency, go for it. Now, I don't think you are reading this blog, then, but - who knows. I'm just a little... you don't need my permission to do anything, nor should you decide to do something because I said so. Follow your heart wherever it takes you, even if it takes you to abyss. I just keep thinking about Alistair Crowley, The Wickedest Man in the World. :-D

"At the very least, your laws should state that the Goddess and God are deserving of worship, and remind you to be worshipful"
If I need to be reminded of this, do I really believe in God? I don't think so. I couldn't forget that there is Goddess deserving to be worshiped, and worship her with my whole being with every breathe I take, because it's part of who I am.

I have been blessed with a week of atheism. For a week I didn't believe. Where God used to be was... not nothing. No void... just... everything else filled the space. The thought of Goddess didn't fill me with awe, worship, praise and gratitude. It just was. My own place in my life grew to take the place of Goddess, and I realized how very much responsible I am to answer my own prayers... that is the most valuable lesson from the Week of Being Atheist.
I was relieved when I noticed that I believed again, and Goddess was an inseparatable part of my life and being...
Funnily, even though I know Goddess is there to listen to my prayers and to answer them, I also know that my most important mission in life is to be Goddess' tool in my own life.
I am the only human being constant in my own life. I cannot depend on my parents, siblings, children, husband, lovers, friends, relatives, neighbors, or anyone, because none of them is a constant in my life... I am. I am put here to love me. I am put here to see my needs are fulfilled. I am to feed me, dress me, shelter me... and I have been given the talents and skills I have so that I can do that the best possible way. *I*, no-one else.
I have the necessary qualifications to make me happy... because God made me so. It is sort of... destiny, but not quite. You see, Goddess heard my prayers already before I was born, so that She could find me the best possible family, heritage, genes, upbringing, environment and all, so that I would be what I need when I need it. Now, it's not fatalistic, because I have the free will - I choose if I will be there for me or not. Get it? I have the necessary talents, but it's my choice if I learn to use them, or if I choose to use them when time comes. I get the chances, but it's my choice whether I take them or not. I write the manuscript for my own life. Not God. God doesn't know what I will choose when the time comes, because it's my choice, not God's... God is there to see that what ever I choose, it will all be good in the end. (And if it's not good, it's not the end... so don't go killing yourself just because everything seems lost at the moment. Your day WILL come - if you choose to live.)

I have no problems with blood magic. I don't even have problems with animal sacrifice. Or human sacrifice. As long as it's consentual ;-)

Magic is not some magical thing that disappears if you abuse it. Magic is a skill. If you are a witch, you should be able to get paid - one way or another - for the magic you do, you should be able to use magic to protect yourself and others, and if you have no scruples with it, use black magic. It doesn't make your magic magically vanish, it doesn't kick back, or anything like that, just as little as using your sword to kill people makes you forget how to use the sword, or makes the sword bite you back. Magic is a tool, nothing else, nothing more, nothing less. So - you use magic the same way you use all the other skills and tools you have, and follow the same "rules" you do with everything else. Another thing I don't think you need to write down.

If you want to boast, boast. If you want to treat others badly, do so. You will take the consequences of your actions, just as everyone else on this planet. There are no revengeful Gods watching you in the corners, planning on throwing some mysterious "karma" your way, "three-fold law" is BS. If you treat others badly, people will think you're a ---, and will treat you the way they treat ---s, all according to their own ethical rules. It's not that "if you're nasty to people, people are nasty to you, if you're kind to people, people are kind to you". The world is full of nice and kind people who get treated like crap, and nasty people who get treated like something wonderful.
It's just that it's best for your own serenity to be kind, tolerant, respectful and considerate when dealing with others, be their humans, animals, plants, fairies, dragons, ghosts or what ever.
And the way to get there is not by telling yourself that you MUST be kind, tolerant, respectful and considerate, and inventing some punishments if you fail.
The way to get there is by knowing yourself and being all right with what and who you are, and if you are not happy about something in your life, knowing you can change it, and you will change it.
You are not envious of anyone else, because your life is just as you want it - because, you were made for the life you want - and you are not angry with anyone, because their opinions and actions have nothing to do with you.
You don't harbor revenge, because there is nothing to be revenged.
You don't hate, fear or despice anyone, because their lives and choices have nothing to do with you.
You know there's enough of everything so that everyone gets what they want. One person's success doesn't take away your possibility to succeed. There are hundreds of stars, celebrities, artists, writers, fashion designers, beautiful people, mothers, presidents, astronauts... what ever you want to become, you can become. What there is only one of, is you. There is only one you in the whole world, and you are amazing, wonderful, perfect you :-) Just like everyone of us... and as you remember this, you have all the kindness, respect, tolerance and consideration to all other perfect yous of the world. Goddess made us all, to be what we are, with our unique qualities, special designed for us alone, so that we can be the best us...

Anyway, this "to really gain acceptance, we must act acceptable" is just as offensive and wrong and "blame the victim" as "women get raped because they act provocatively".
If I break no laws in my worship, you have no right to judge me, because I worship differently from you. You have no right to deem my morals and ethics less valuable as your own, or my "conduct" less "acceptable" as anyone else's. Frankly, what is my life and my choices any of your business? Mind your own. Live your own life.
Frankly, one of the worst things that happen in this world, is when someone starts excepting everyone else follows his/her rules. "Everyone must believe this way, worship that way, be dressed in this and act like that, and eat their spenach and go to school and brush their teeth and be white and not be Communists and..." BRRR

People who think Pagans are "not acceptable" won't think we are more acceptable, even when we try to live by their rules of what is "acceptable". The Jews tried that with Europe and Christians more than 1000 years, and that lead them to concentration camps and gas chambers. I will not play that game with intolerant, prejudiced and hateful people.

"Some laws state that all who express interest in Paganism should be taught."
No-one needs to answer any questions if they don't want to, or if they don't feel qualified to answer, or if they just don't feel like it. There's plenty of information to answer all the questions people might have, and I believe my faith and being a witch is my private matter, and not much of interest to anyone but me. I will answer sincere questions to my best ability, of course, but I try my best not to engage in conversations with idiots. Of course, I'm just a human being, so sometimes I can't stop myself from doing things I know I better not do.

So - after all this "Pagans are reminded to keep the law and not allow it to be broken"... *sigh*
Or what? You go to hell? Threefold law comes and kicks your ass with karma? You're a bad person and should be ashamed?

In all... you have the law written in your heart. Follow it, and you'll be fine.

Flying Friday

2011-09-09T15:20:00.000+02:00

Pagan Rules

I can hear you already... "Rules?!? What you mean, "Rules"? I'm a Pagan! If I wanted rules I would have stayed a __________ (fill in the blank with whatever organized religion you may have left). Besides, I'm a Solitaire! I do my rituals alone. What do I need rules for?" Fair question...
The answer is simple: Without Rules, we are left without guidance. Forming them into set sentences and including them in your tradition's Book of Shadows ensures that you can study them at your leisure, and refer to them for guidance.
It's all very well to say, "I won't do this, and I'll remember to do that." and, indeed, you DO have all intentions of remembering. However, we are human, and we do forget Having a set of laws in written form is a great memory booster.
Virtually every religion gives their followers a set of guidelines or rules of conduct. In such laws we often find the true nature of the faith, (which can sometimes be quite different from the actual actions of many of its representatives.)
Wicca possesses not one but several sets of such rules. The most famous of these, which has been published in several forms, originated from what is now known as Gardnerian Wicca.
Many other versions exist, and some covens create their own set of laws for use by its members. Underlying all such rules is one basic concept that is also adhered to by virtually all Pagans: "Harm None".

Follow are some examples of guidelines for Laws of interest to Solitary Practitioners. Remember, these are guidelines. You need to get out your trusty notebooks and think hard on each subject. Then, write what YOUR rules are.

WORSHIP:
Sometimes lists times and dates of ritual observances; more generally, At the very least, your laws should state that the Goddess and God are deserving of worship, and remind you to be worshipful. Such words might appear in the beginning of the law. You may also list times and dates of ritual observances. Are you going to have daily morning and/or evening devotionals? Are you going to observe certain days dedicated to certain aspects of the Goddess and/o God, or your Patron? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself.

HARM NONE:
This is the central, unifying theme of most laws: We simply do not cause harm to others. This law, in some form or another, should be in your set. But, you need to consider just what "Harm None" means to you. Does it extend to stopping or preventing harm being caused to someone by another? What sort of harm? Emotional? Physical? Financial? If this rule is broken, either intentionally or unintentionally, what reparations need be made, if any? Once you start thinking on this subject, you may very well fill up pages in your notebook!

BLOODSHED:
Many laws state that blood is not to be shed within the circle, no ritual animal sacrifices may be made. 'Nuff said. Get it in writing!

USE OF MAGIC:
Some generally state that magic is not to be worked for pay, (for it could lead to performing destructive rites) and that magic is also never to be used to boost one's bride or to cause harm in any way. However, some sets of laws to allow for the use of 'the power' (i.e.,magic) to 'prevent or restrain' others from causing harm. (generally known as binding). Some state that one cannot use magic for their own "gain". (Although, personally, I find this unrealistic and unreasonable.) How do you feel about the use of magic?

CONDUCT:
Such laws warn Pagans not to boast or threaten others, and to treat other - Pagans and non-Pagans - with kindness and compassion. In addition, some laws state that Pagans must not use drugs within or without the circle; must not gossip about others, and mustn't interfere with the teachings of other Pagans. (It never hurts to include such messages in you laws. Though you may be the only one to read these reminders of the importance of kindness, the message may, at times, be necessary.) Remember, your rules are not just to give guidelines within circle or during ritual, but also in your daily lives. How you conduct yourself in the "mundane" world influences how the rest of the world views Pagans and Paganism in general. It is all well and fine to campaign for acceptance in the courts and the media, but to really gain acceptance, we must act acceptable!

TEACHING:
Some laws state that all who express interest in Paganism should be taught, unless they misuse their instructions. Such laws have largely been either dropped or reinterpreted. Truly following them today could lead to each Pagan teaching hundreds of students, which would result in poor lessons and, thus, poorly-instructed students. Such laws simply aren't practical in today's world when so many clamor for teachings, especially on the internet! On the other hand, you may not feel qualified to teach, especially if you are just finding your path yourself. Myself, rather than "teach" I gladly "share knowledge". I try not to presume to tell someone how to believe, or what to do, but AM willing to share what I have learned, either from others, or my own experience. Examine your own feelings on this, and decide accordingly.

KEEPING THE LAW:
Pagans are reminded to keep the law and not allow it to be broken. (Sound advice. This usually appears near the end of the law.)

THE LOVE OF THE GODDESS AND THE GOD:
A gentle reminder that we are not alone. (Generally, it's best to begin and to end the law with confirmations of Their love and concern.)

SAMPLE LAWS
Using the above outlines of laws, you can come up with your own. Their precise form, and their method of presentation, is completely up to you. Your laws can be numbered or not. They can be written in rhyming couplets or in prose. Use whichever style suits you.
Here are three versions, that Scott Cunningham has written, and I have adapted to my own. The first is partially based on the above analyses, the second is adapted from "Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner:, as is the third, which deals exclusively with magic.

MY LAW
I follow the Old Ways, I walk with the Goddess and God and receive Their love.
I will keep the Sabbats and Esbats to the best of my abilities, for to do otherwise is to lessen your connections with the Divine. Should I not be able to perform a full rite, I will at least take time to silently remember, and thank the Goddess and God.
Harm none. This, the oldest law, is not open to change. In harming none, I shall also endeavor to prevent harm to the best of my abilities.
I will not shed blood in ritual, The Goddess and God do not need blood to be worshipped.
I shall be kind to all creatures, for hurtful thoughts and deeds are quite draining and are not worth the loss of energy.
Misery is self-created; as is joy, so I shall create joy and distain misery and unhappiness. This is within my power. Harm not.
I shall not teach others but will share information, to the best of my ability, to those students I choose. I will not share information with those who would use this information for destruction or control. I will not do this to boost pride, for one who shares for vanity or glory shall take little pride in their handiwork, one who shares out of love embodies the Goddess and God.
Ever remember, keep the Law close to your heart, this is my nature.
If ever the need arises, any law may be changed, or discarded, and new laws written to replace them, so long as the new laws don't break the oldest law of all: Harm none.
May the Blessings of the God and Goddess be on me always.

THE NATURE OF MY WAY
Whenever possible, I shall hold my rites in wooded areas or on the beach. If this is impossible, a garden or a private room shall suffice, if it is readied with incense or flowers and well cleansed.
I shall Seek out wisdom in in all forms: Books, Friends and also in stones and herbs and in the songs wild birds. I shall listen to the whisper of the wind and the roar of water if I am to discover magic, it is here that the old secrets are kept. Books contain words but trees contain energies and wisdom books never imagined.
I shall always remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing themselves. So I shall be as the willow that bends and sways with the wind. That which remains unbending shall be broken, but that which bends will survive and grow.
I shall not mock the rituals or spells of another, for who am I to say mine are greater in power or wisdom?
I shall endeavor to ensure that my actions are honorable, for all that I do shall return to me three-fold, good or bane.
I shall beware any who would try to spiritually dominate me, who would try to control and manipulate my workings and reverences. True reverence for the Goddess and God occurs within. I will look with suspicion on any who would twist worship from me for their own gain and glory, but I will welcome those who are suffused with love.
Honor all living things, for we are all of the same family: The universe. I shall endeavor to destroy no life, unless it threatens that of another.
And this is the nature of my way. THE LAW OF THE POWER
The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or control others. But if the need arises, the Power shall be used to protect my life or the lives of others.
The Power is used only as need dictates. It is not to be used frivolously.
The Power can be used for my own gain, as long as by doing so I harm none.
It is forbidden to accept money for use of the Power, for it quickly controls its taker. Gifts of the Goddess and God are to be given as gifts to others. Accepting gifts from others for works done in their behalf is acceptable, providing those gifts are not solicited.
Do not use the Power for prideful gain, for such cheapens the mysteries of magic.
Ever remember that the Power is the sacred gift of the Goddess and God, and should never be misused or abused.
And this is the Law of the Power.
Most Craft laws are secret, and can't be published in any form. However, the above examples included here should provide you with enough information to start to create your own laws.
May you do so with wisdom and love.

Almost Midnight

2011-09-07T23:52:00.000+02:00

It's almost midnight and I can't sleep... I'm tired, very tired, and if I went to bed, I'd toss and turn a couple of hours just to fall asleep by mere exhaustion, and sleep to late afternoon... and wake up without feeling rested. I am anxious, because I have a meeting tomorrow. I don't know if it would be better to toss in a bed in dark room, or actually get some work done.

Anyway, here's Ariadne's 13 Steps to Inner Peace

Ariadne's wonderful site exists only on internet archive, as far as I know, which I think is a pity.

I honor the energy of *birch*, for a new beginning.

I am able to change myself as I will to do.

So mote it be!

2.

I honor the energy of *rowan* for protection against evil enchantment.

I will not hobble myself with the chains of past failures. So mote it be!

3.

I honor the energy of *alder*, for the protection of my inner oracle.

I will listen to the voice of the Goddess Within.

So mote it be!

4.

I honor the energy of *willow*, for the lunar rhythms within me as a woman.

I will recognize and heed my own body's cycles.

So mote it be!

5.

I honor the energy of *ash*, the magician's staff.

I will recognize that "as above, so below," I play a part in the larger scheme of things. I will link my inner and outer worlds.

So mote it be!

6.

I honor the energy of *hawthorn* for cleansing and restraint.

I will choose what I place within my body, and empty myself of all that violates my personal well-being.

So mote it be!

7.

I honor the energy of *oak*, the doorway to the mysteries.

I will call upon the strength of the Horned One when I feel in need of protection.

So mote it be!

8. I honor the energy of *holly*, spear of the warrior.

I will not remain passive and victimized, but will choose to fight for my own freedom.

So mote it be!

9.

I honor the energy of *hazel*, the tree of wisdom.

I will heed my own inner intuitions, and will be wise and informed in my choices.

So mote it be!

10.

I honor the energy of *vine*, the tree of conviviality and celebration.

I will love myself and will celebrate life, not seeing the choices I make as deprivations but gifts.

So mote it be!

11.

I honor the energy of *ivy*, the spiral to center.

I will do all that I do because of my own inner desires. I will listen to myself, and will remain balanced and centered while I do this work.

So mote it be!

12.

I honor the energy of *reed*, the tool of the hunt.

I will take direct action when necessary to protect myself, including the "killing" of old patterns, friendships and associations which harm me.

So mote it be!

13.

I honor the energy of *elder* which sees the end from the beginning.

Throughout many lifetimes I have been here. I have the knowledge that I have changed myself again and again. I will start from where I am now, and continue to persist in my path. I will succeed.

So mote it be!

I think these might work as prayer beads... You could have a bead made of each wood, or choose a bead that is symbolical to what Ariadne associates with these 13 trees.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-09-05T02:17:00.000+02:00

I read Sleeping Beauty by Midori Snyder, and I got so tired and sarcastic.

"Out of a stock of brave heroines, of determined and clever girls, we found ourselves waiting at the bedside of a heroine whose talent rested on her ability to . . .well. . .rest. What indeed did this mute slip of a girl who became the epitome of passivity mean to young, contemporary women eager to claim their own destinies? What did she mean to us, as writers and folklorists who as children had felt emotionally stranded by a heroine whose awakening from death–feigned–as–sleep depended on a Prince's perseverance? "

Sure, it's over 10 years ago, but - why must EVERYONE be active?

Fairytales, myths, legends, stories, archetypes and all that are very powerful stuff. You can TRY to water them down, drown their soul, spirit and message, but you can't. Not even Disney, with their Victorian bourgeois nursery ma'amselles approved version could do it. But it's pretty bad that people who have been working with myths and fairytales for decades not to be able to see the truth in this specific fairytale, simply because the heroine SEEMS to be passive... Doesn't she know that fairytales are all allegories and symbols, dreamspeak to the core of humanity, and NOTHING is what it seems? Clarissa Pinkola Estés' "Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype" had been published 1992, and I can imagine Midori swollowed it immediately, as I did, and for the same reasons. Didn't she learn anything from it? Didn't she understand anything?

This groaning over Sleeping Beauty and her passivity is also coming from a woman who thinks Beauty would have been a more worthy heroine, because her "dauntless courage saved her father, her sisters, and a hideous Beast". Oh, geesh! As if you didn't know Beauty and the Beast, a 18th century fantasy, is responsible for a lot of girls believing their LOVE will CHANGE him from beast to beau... Brrr... Sleeping Beauty is at least a genuine article.Courage? Codependency, I say. Psht.

Anyway, the subject of the panel was "What Does Sleeping Beauty Mean to Me?" Well... IF she means to me "mute slip of a girl", unworthy example for a modern woman, "epitome of passivity", a fairytale heroine who left the receiver/listener/reader "emotionally stranded", someone whose life depended on someone else, THEN SAY SO!!! Why this insistance of that ALL fairytales MUST mean something ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE, EMPOWERING etc. to EVERYONE??? Why not use the opportunity to talk about the historical roles of women and how they feel wrong for a modern feminist, a woman "eager to claim her own destiny"?
Why? Uh. No answer to that question either.

"We made excuses about the poverty of versions worth discussing."

Uh. If you have a mind of your own, ANY ONE version is enough. Dig deeper, Midori, dig deeper, and dig deeper into you. You will find the truth of Sleeping Beauty - inside you... because you are Sleeping Beauty, as much as this fact makes you uncomfortable and upset... But, alas, that is one point in you you don't want to discuss... so you desperately seek a version of Sleeping Beauty you can use to avoid discussing this uncomfortable fact... *sigh*

But Sleeping Beauty, how she betrayed us by her sleep! Among the pantheon of heroines, even those who married easily in happily–ever–after tales, Sleeping Beauty's inertia was almost an admission of failure, of shame at my gender's lack of spirit.

Every human being lacks in spirit every now and then, despite their gender. Gender is irrelevant, and should be. Why is it so threatening to admit your humanity, human weakness, Midori? You are not a superwoman, none of us is...
A lot of women WANT to become SAHMs. Every woman who has ever sighed over the necessity to leave home for work understands that desire, and should have ovaries to admit it. And I have to say, 90% of all women who work outside home have sighed over it. 90% of women who have chosen to stay at home, and work as a housekeeper to herself and her family, or mom, or home based entrepreneur or artist, say it was the best decision they ever made. I don't say anything about men, because I don't know anything about men's attitudes on this matter, but as men are human beings too, I think they think the same. After all... everyone understands "I HATE MONDAYS!!!" So what about being honest about that and admitting we would rather work at home...
No, don't start yapping about being your husband's little slave and all that stuff. I'm married and I stay at home, because of health issues, and I am nobody's slave. That too is totally up to you. If a woman - or a man, for that matter - WANTS to be someone's slave, be it. It has nothing to do with me. And even though there are still situations where the women - and men, don't forget that - live in a slavelike situation in our modern world, and that's not right, most of us do not. Most of us do make our own destinies. Even those of us whose destiny it is to sleep in the tower for the rest of our lives, because no "prince" is coming to rescue us, and we don't have the means to wake up on ourselves.

"We may not have liked her passivity, but we had to yield to her enduring presence and salute her tenacious survival."

Oh, bull! It's not Sleeping Beauty, you idiot, it's The Myth. And that should have told you, you have misunderstood the fairytale wholly.

So - as these people couldn't get the story, they started looking for a version they could understand. Now, as they didn't understand the core, they couldn't understand any of the versions either. You have to understand this about fairytales - you can try to water them down, but you will never, ever be able to touch the core of the story... how ever child friendly you make it, how ever much you manage to please the ma'amselles - and that's the easy part, because all the sex and violence has been added to keep people interested. That has nothing to do with the core of the myth. As Midori should have understood...
Well, anyway, as they don't understand the story, their take on it became "the transformation of fairy tales".
It's so I could cry...

Here are the fairytales mentioned in the article, so you can read them yourself and make your own mind up on what is the message and the core of this story.

"Satisfied, the young woman comes to the palace, retrieves the Sultan's son from his grave, and reveals her true identity. "Now I know," she says, "that you will go to any length for the woman you love.""

Huh? He did it for SOMEONE ELSE!!!

Who could not admire this Sleeping Beauty?

Well... Sure, she's a great heroine, solves her own problems and all that, but... it's not Sleeping Beauty, is it?

On our panel, I noted that the European tales seem to be focused on the men, not the slumbering heroine...

...Despite this emphasis on the actions of the male characters, Terri argued that the conflict between the women in the tale is also an important element

Ah, but, Midori, that is because you don't understand the tale.

Also, there is a piece here I don't read in the story. Perhaps because I'm ND, I have a look at the social games from outside...

A woman touched by fairies, evidenced by the magical sleep, is dangerous. She is a threat to the whole society, and one cannot count the man, obviously magically forced, seduced, to see the danger... anyone touched by fairies, how ever innocent, is a living homing device, inviting the fairyworld to this one... Ever heard of Halloween? I mean the REAL one? Samhain? I strongly suggest you read Terry Pratchett's Lords and Ladies. The king's mother would have been protecting the whole society by burning the young woman... and, frankly... considering the source... who do you believe more, the woman or the man? Do you choose to believe the cook's story about how the mother told her to boil the children, or the mother's story of that she was just protecting the community as her son, the king, was temporarily under a spell...?

Also, still at 19th century it was considered the woman's fault that she didn't produce children. Happen to see the movie, Marie Antoinette? Still today a lot of men accuse their wives of bearing only daughters, even when we KNOW the man is the only parent able to produce the essential piece of a boy child - Y chromosome. She was not giving the king a child, not because she'd be sick, or he'd be sick, but because she refused to... So, yes, she was "evil", and she should have left her place without fight to a woman who clearly could produce children, and twins at that! Because she didn't, it was obvious she didn't love her husband. You should read Griselda's story and realize that THAT was a portrait of a "good" woman - and as a "bad" woman, the king's wife did deserve all the bad consequences she got.

Again, the focus on gender... *sigh* Neither the Italian, nor the French focuses on men. They tell the story with a man as one of the main characters, because of the historical context. The introduction of a woman touched by fairies to a normal society would not have been possible without a male catalyst, neither could the village elder be a woman without a male catalyst... and in both of these stories the village eldest IS a woman... the queen... In one she's the king's wife, in other the king's mother. King is just a royal insignia, if you so wish. He does nothing significant, he says nothing significant, he works only as a catalyst. His job is to bring the fairygirl into the village, his job is to justify the queen's position and power - in the critical moment he isn't even there! He's somewhere else, hunting or something... as you have read a lot of fairytales and myths, you know this happens all the time.
Where is Cinderella's father? Absent.
Where is Snowwhite's father? Absent.
Where are the seven dwarves whose job is to protect and provide for Snowwhite, when the Witch Queen visits her? Absent.
Red Riding Hood? Absent. Bluebeard? Absent...
Take any old fairytale with female lead, and you'll find that men in the story obediently play their supporting roles... the princes fight dragons, rose bushes, giants and witches, to be there to save the princess and give her a reasonable reason to be where she needs to be. The prince is a robot with a mission. He doesn't rape Sleeping Beauty - nor kiss her, or kneel by her bed - because he loves her. He does it because he has to, because that's his part of the story. He's just a drone!
I don't understand how anyone who has read fairytales with intention could believe anything else... he could just as well be under a spell. Of course not under the spell of the girl, because she is not a witch. Sleeping Beauty is just a girl, an ordinary girl. Sure she's a princess, but that's only because at that time people were just as interested of princesses as we are, and she had to be able to "disappear" without anything getting disturbed. An ordinary girl gone missing would have left a hole in the working order. Princesses are rather unnecessary things, don't you think?

Nevertheless, all that is in reality very uninteresting, as fairytales are messages in disguise. The princess is YOU, the queen, the king, the princes, dwarves, fairy godmothers and everyone else in the story are just... props... it's a dream you are having. Sleeping Beauty is the story of a person - male or female - who is waiting for something, scared of the obstacles; dragons, rose bushes, linen and spindles (work :-D) chooses to sleep in stead of doing something about the situation. Sleeping Beauty is a story of coming of age. She doesn't want to grow up. She wants to be a little girl all her life. She doesn't want to let go of her foolish childhood games and take upon herself the duties, responsibilities, hardship of adulthood. So she pretends it's not there. She sleeps. Princes come and try to wake her up, but they all fail and get stuck in the thorns, until one, resilient one, manages to get through and wakes her...

I have been sleeping for 40 years. Every now and then an idea passes and almost manages to get me awake, but I'll quickly fall back to my sleep. When will my "prince" come by? When will it arrive, the idea, dream, ambition - passion, if you wish - so strong and resilient that it won't give up, but will force me to wake up? Obviously it was not a mortal man, I've been happily married to my husband for 12 years now, and he didn't manage to wake me up. It must be something bigger, stronger, more real, more... a man? Ridiculous!

Sleeping Beauty is diminished in other ways in these later, more "civilized" versions. Earlier variants suggest that the father is the character most at fault, bringing the curse down on his daughter through improper dealings with the fantastic (such as slighting an important fairy). But Victorian versions seem to suggest the girl is responsible for her own fate, punished for her disobedience to her father's command not to touch the spinning wheel. In these versions, it is not only Briar Rose who suffers, but her parents and the entire court who must sleep for a hundred years.

Uh. So it would be okay if she is punished for her father's wrongdoings, but it's a bad thing that she is responsible for her own fate? >:->

(One can imagine that to the class–obsessed Victorians, a privileged daughter handling the tools of the lower classes provoked alarm, threatening to lower the status of the family. Briar Rose's sin can only be expiated when a man worthy enough, both in heart and noble status, redeems her from her transgression — restoring both Beauty and her family to its former social position.)

Let's look at this idea. The Victorian upper class women didn't have much else to do but crafts, so the dangerous linen doesn't much make sense in the Victorian frame - but it might have meant something when this story was created, as this is an old fairytale. So - if Sleeping Beauty is frozen in her "sin", and not only her but her whole family and world, until the Redeemer arrives, the one who will watch over her and see that she won't "sin" no more... then what? What does that make of the fairytale? Yet another thread left in the wind...

In our century, Sleeping Beauty no longer speaks to a common identity, a single icon to shape the female image for new generations. Instead, our Princess finds herself portrayed in many different guises: as a helpless 1950s stay–at–home girl, a bold space opera heroine, an oppressed time–traveling queen, a stoic Holocaust survivor, a sexually abused child, and myriad others.

And what does she make of this? She's been given several alternative interpretations:

We have the story of an American prom queen and her football team captain; she is being brought up as a poor girl, and she is good and kind, and all that, and then she finds out she's a princess and before she can meet her parents and start her new life as a princess, everything is put on hold... for what? The prince must feat the dragon, the dragon that stops her from entering her new life that is totally strange and scary to her, a life she hasn't been prepared for in any way or manner... It sure looks a bit different explained like that... :->

Then we have a child who is being molested, and the story of a prince is just a dream she entertains to be able to survive. What does she do with this interpretation? What is Sleeping Beauty's dream IS just a dream?

There is the reminder of that when we sleep we usually also dream... what did Sleeping Beauty dream about and what is the significance of that?

And she goes on and on, giving examples on other contemporary interpretations... but doesn't enter into answering the question that began all this: what does this mean to you?

Happily she ends the article

In the oldest versions, we had rediscovered some of Beauty's original wit and strength. Even as each successive generation tried to tame or alter the substance of her nature, Beauty's power as an agent of transformation continued to shine forth from the core of her tale.

Oh, yes... Sleeping Beauty might have some substance as the witty and resourceful, magical heroine from Arabian Nights, but as the "seemingly passive" heroine, she is worthless. "Beauty's power as an agent of transformation"? No... It's about HER transformation... Uh. SHE is the main character of the story. Main charcters don't just sit there - or sleep - and act as agents of anything. All the fairytales are about the change of the main character. SHE is the one who has to learn something. SHE has to change. SHE has to wake up and take upon herself her new role in life. *sigh*

What ever.

It was not God, it was...

2011-09-03T23:15:00.000+02:00

My husband is having X-files marathon. In one episode a preacher tells about a little girl who was really sad and shaken because her big brother told her Moses and God didn't part the Red Sea, it was wind and the ocean waves. The little girl asked the preacher if miracles do happen or is the Bible just fairytales?

Well... Let me tell you another story. Once upon a time there was a kind farmer, who used to leave a bowl of milk out every night to God. Every morning the bowl was empty, and the farmer was happy because God had drank his milk.
One day, a smart ass skeptic came to visit this farmer and laughed at his simplicity, stupidity. He persuaded the farmer to stay up and wait hidden by the milk bowl to see who drank the milk. Very soon they saw the culprit. A young fox cub, who had lost his mother, jumped on the low stone wall, ran to the milk and drank it all with good appetite. Then it disappeared into the night.
The farmer was angry and decided not to feed forest animals any more. What kind of creatures had been drinking his libation earlier?
But in the night God appeared to him. God told him that She was saddened by his decision, because She had been able to feed the fox cub, and many other needing creatures before the cub, because of the kindness of the milk farmer...

You see... I would have told the little girl "You're brother is right. Moses did not part the Red Sea. It was the wind and ocean... but who do you think told the wind and the ocean to do that?"

I am not Christian, nor Jewish, and the stories in the Bible are fairytales to me. I am a Pagan, and I know that myth is not synonymous to lie. Just because something is "invented" doesn't mean it less true. Frankly, what is truth? We cannot even be sure of that! I am fully convinced fairies exist. I have seen a unicorn with my own eyes. Angels exist just as sure as you and me exist. Of course, we cannot be quite certain of that we exist, or matter exists, or anything, it is quite possible that we are all just God's dream, and when God wakes up, we vanish like a dream vanishes in the morning...

Goddess is...

2011-08-31T21:30:00.000+02:00

The Goddess is creation
The Goddess is birth
The Goddess is death

She is the old woman
and the ancient wisdom
She is the fall,
leaves that slowly fall
towards the ground
the Winter
Long sleep
Violence
Tempest
Darkness
the Womb of the Earth
She lightens up the riches of the underworld
She rules over Life and Death
She is the magick
She is the Mystery
She is the power
She is the Fire that burns
around the mountain of death
She is the Queen of the Witches
She is the Skillful
Fearsome
Violent

The Goddess is Creation
the Goddess is Birth
The Goddess is Death

She is the Mother
She is Birth
She is the Child
She is the Giver of Life
She is the Spring for ever flowing
from the mother's breast
She is the Quickening of Life
from the Mother's Cave
She is the Green Fertile Earth
Protectress of All Life
She is the Swelling of Woman
She is the Weight
She is the Womb
with the full grown Child
She is the Child Bearing Woman>
Fertility and Overflowing
She is Summer and Autumn

The Goddess is creation
the Goddess is birth
The Goddess is death

She is the young woman
the spring
that opens earth's womb
and gives warmth and life to earth
She is the wind in spring
she is the joy
she is the soul of the earth
she is love and lovemaking
she is receiveness
she is fertility
she is the blooming
she is peace, joy and light
she is the creator
she comes from the darkness and
spreads the light.

I used to have a homepage at Geocities, but then Yahoo! stopped the service, and I lost my site. I was a bit sad, because I thought this poem was lost. I wrote it. First part is The Crone, second The Mother and last The Maiden. I hope you enjoy it :-)

Mmm... I do love houses....

2011-08-25T08:31:00.000+02:00

I received a comment from a very kind anonymous, and he/she made me very happy :-)
He/she suggested Natural Homes group at Facebook, and there are pictures, links to information, videos... ah.

This is Clark Sander's house built of stone... lovely :-)

Then there's this home, which is so hobbit-y and I love it :-D I think I have mentioned it somewhere else, though, but it's worth mentioning again :-D

Holy cow and Charlie's Goddesses

2011-08-13T06:34:00.000+02:00

I really, truly hate it when ordinary people are called "goddesses". To me Goddess is the name for a female God. Millions of people on this planet believe their God is feminine. Associating this word to... er... how to put it nicely? Women who have sex for earthly goods... No. NO!
But for some reason, most of the people in the Western society have no problems with this. I suppose they don't think it might be offending to anyone, after all, they believe every other religion except their own is humbug and BS, so there's no need to respect other people's beliefs either.
It could be the fact that most of these people are so used to think human beings are divine, that they don't realize the absurdity of the idea.
But - what ever happened to "do unto others"? I mean, if you think "OMG" is swearing and foul language and "taking God's name in vain", why do you think it's okay to use other religions' "names of God" in vain?

There was a woman in Penn&Teller Bullshit episode "Profanity", Ginny Foster. She said: "...because if you are going to profane a deity, I guess it might as well not be your own."
WHAT?

She said: "The use of profanity degrades society. English is a living language. We have an opportunity to bring it to life. And when we say ugly things, then that living language becomes an agent of death."
Then she goes on saying: "Mork and Mindy is a tv show from a long time ago, and Mork had the best word, shazbot. And so, if you hit your thumb with a hammer, you can say shazbot. My father is a Mexican, so I was around Spanish a lot, so this one word I use when I'm really angry is "santa vaca". If you say "santa vaca", you can really get mad and really blow off some steam, and then you won't be bothering anyone".
Oh? In what way importing swearwords from invented Orkan language or existing wordly languages, like Spanish is bringing English to life, opposing the use of existing English swearwords?

You could say "fan" (Swedish swearword, pronounced a bit like the F-word, except with longer "ah" and -n in the end in stead of -ck. Like "fun" but with long vowel. fu-un. It means "the devil", and is about the worst swearword in Swedish you can use. To me - a Finn - it's about as offensive and ugly as flan, fun and fan, though the long vowel sound makes it a bit silly.)
You could also use the Galactica swearword "frak". It doesn't "mean" anything either... the problem here is that it's not the MEANING of the words that's offensive, degrading, foul language, bad manners and what ever people are trying to say, but the IDEA of swearing.

I have been speaking about this several times, but I'll say it again. Perhaps someone understands some day.
When I grew up, I was the youngest of six, and NOBODY USED PROFANITIES OF ANY KIND EVER. I was over 10 before I even heard a profanity. I didn't get into the habit of expressing my anger with swearing. I didn't get into the habit of expressing my surprise with swearing. I didn't get the habit of swearing just for the "fun" of it. I didn't swear. It's quite enough to express your anger by saying you're angry. It's quite enough to express your surprise with "oh!" Simple exclamations, like "ow!", are quite sufficient when you hit yourself in thumb with a hammer. (Though why would you do such a thing in the first place, is beyond me. I have never hit myself in my thumb with a hammer, even though I have been building things since I was 10.)
NOW I swear like most other people. I was taught by my peers. Am I dumber and less mature as when I was 10? No. It really is just a habit. Might be a bad habit, but as a habit, it's in no way worse than smoking (which actually physically harms the bystanders. Swearing doesn't.) or drinking "diet soda" (which is a habit that harms both you and the environment, and supports a huge company that got rich by selling dirty water to people. Swearing doesn't.)

Ginny Foster's suggestions for "non-offensive swearing": "For crying out loud!", "Shut the front door!", "Santa vaca!", "Oh my gosh!", "I swear to Buddha"...
Well... when you scream things like that, when you scream ANYTHING in frustration, anger, because you think people around you are stupid... you are swearing.
(She also teaches her students that it's the DUTY of the person sitting next to driver, to show handsigns to their fellow trafficants. She isn't flipping the midfinger, she's using both hands. That makes it okay. For some reason, it doesn't even cross her mind, that a) ignoring the other trafficants' hand signs and "stupidity" in traffic would be a more mature, sensible and less offensive way of reacting, and if you now HAVE TO give space to stupid, instant, instinctive reactions, there already is a hand-sign that says it all very well and non-offensively. One hand, palm outward, all fingers extended. It says all kinds of things, like "hi!", "stop" and "talk to the hand"... which, in fact, is very rude. On the other hand, if you are so bothered by what other people are doing, you really need to grow up. YOU. Not the people you are angry with.)

Jim O'Connor, author of "Cuss Control": "When you get really mad, you say "oh, that's a bunch of balderdash".
When you get really mad you say nothing.
Mostly, because you don't get really mad, especially over things someone else says. No, really. Don't. What's the point?

"I'm generally offended by crude language, by language I just don't think has a place among adults that respect each other".
"If somebody swears during a conversation with me, I think they are underestimating my intelligence, or underestimating my opinion on myself. I don't think it's protected speech, and I think that if people are somehow exposed to that, against their will, the government should take action to protect their people."
- Jim Lafferty; Traditional Values Coalition

Jim thinks the Xians should have the "freedom" to attempt to convert non-Xians. I find that EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE AND INVASIVE OF MY PRIVATE LIFE AND MY PERSONAL VALUES. In my mind the government should protect me against fundamentalists like that, who think their values are more valuable than my values. Unfortunately for me, the first amendment protects the Xians' right to exercise their religion freely, meaning, they have the right to try to push their crap to everyone they meet. They don't have the right to force themselves to my homes, though. And the same first amendment also tells the government that it may not create laws to abridge the freedom of speech. So, Jimmy-boy, you just have to do what we have to do, when you come to us with your offensive language and behavior, and walk away.
(BTW, Jim, I don't think anyone is underestimating your intelligence, but everyone is underestimating your opinion on yourself.)

P.S: I'm more offended by bitch (used of a woman), slut and (w)ho(re) than the C-word.
P.P.S. What the Bible says about cussing, swearing and taking God's name in vain. Really.

10 reasons to why I'm Pagan

2011-07-14T18:36:00.001+02:00

tongue in cheek... I made the "10 reasons why I'd be Christian".

1) Writing
The Pagans invented letters, writing, literature, fiction, fact books, even ink and printing press. Hard to top :-D

2) Surgery
Saves lives, and have been saving and improving lives since Pagans invented it a couple of thousand years ago. Pagans also invented the rest of medicine, or most of it. Thank a Pagan every time you go and see a doctor or take medicine.

3) Astronomy
and navigation, sailing, ship building, aviation, space travels, moon walk... all thanks to Pagans.

4) Democracy
The Greek had it, the Vikings had it... also freedom of religion, freedom of speech and practically all civil and human rights. Lovely things :-)

5) Tolerance
Multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance, openmindedness, curiosity, will and ability to learn... the Romans especially were amazing with their ability to adapt and adopt... Really, if you go to meet other cultures with the idea of that they are stupid, primitive and lesser wilds, you won't learn anything from them.

6) Drums
Frankly, Pagans "invented" all music, but drums are my favorite.

7) Visual art
Cave paintings might not be advanced, but they do engage you, even today... And the Greek sculptures... or Scythian sculptures. Or Indian sculptures, or Chinese or... well... most Pagan sculptures are amazing :-)
I fully appreciate the beauty of nature, but mankind has beautified the world.

8) Pantheon
or Newgrange, the seven wonders of antique world, Great Wall of China; or a lot of other Pagan buildings. Frankly, we have to thank Pagans for the fact that we have houses to begin with.

9) Animal husbandry
Thank Pagans when you pet your cat ;-)

10) Zero
and the principles of mathematics. But zero is... divinely beautiful in its perfection.

Also, Pagans invented the wheel, cooking, metallurgy and all the other crafts, agriculture, irrigation and hundreds of other things. Heron inventor would be a reason in himself.
Also, mead. Claude Lévi-Strauss thought the invention of mead as a marker of the passage "from nature to culture".

If you appreciate ANY of these things in your life, thank a Pagan. ;-)

Eveyone is a lying hypocrite

2011-06-29T09:14:00.001+02:00

I am having problems with negative thoughts.
Why do some people think its okay to claim they appreciate honesty more than anything, but when you are honest they find it okay to punish you for it, by bullying, mocking, harassing and persecuting you?
Why do they think it's okay to spread unbased gossip about others?
Why do they think it's okay to claim your conclusions based on a couple of words and a lot of misunderstanding is the truth about other people?
Why is it supposed to be bad that you publish something negative someone said in public group in the same public group? And that is supposed to be MY offense against you, who said it in the first place? Why are you fully innocent to what you say yourself? I don't get it. I really don't get it.

Some people get a good reputation for something stupid, and then they are untouchable. You may not criticise them, you may not tell them they are wrong or did something bad, you may not point out the inconsistency of their words and actions, if you do, you get flogged, and your reputation for ever more is ruined, not because you are a damned besserwisser and "negative", no, because you are a "bad person", attacking a "good person".
If A does this and B does the same thing, the consequences should be the same, don't you agree? But they aren't. The consequences are totally depending on if you like A and B. Whether they have shown ability to think intelligently or not, whether they are honest and reliable or not, whether they have shown prejudices or not, whether they have violated all your ethical rules or not, all that is totally indifferent, the only thing that matters if whether these people are your friends or not.
No, not even that... whether you consider these people to be your friends or not.

How do you know someone is lying? They claim to appreciate honesty more than anything else. They say they hate liars. If you ask doctor House, he's say the person is a human being and alive. Most people lie, every third minute they say something untrue. Either it's a real lie, or white lie, or something they are not aware is a lie, but if you are a human being, you lie. I lie, you lie, everybody lies.

Another thing that is true for every human being is that everyone is a prejudicous and hypocritical. Everyone. If you are a living human being, you have prejudices of several things, some of them negative, some of them false. If you are a living human being, you are a hypocrite. You don't live as you preach, and you do preach. The biggest hypocrisy of it all is when you claim you are not hypocritical, that you hate hypocritical people, and when you justify your bullying, mocking and harassing another human being with "he's being a hypocritical, prejudicous liar". So are you. So am I. Everyone is.

Except perhaps those who never say a word, who never visit internet debate groups, who live by the "I'm full of it and I know nothing" motto.
But, as said, you don't see those in the internet (laughing out loud)

It would be better to be an honest a-hole and admit that you cannot be sure of that every word that comes from your mouth IS truthful, that you cannot be sure of that your assessment of each situation, your understanding of what others are saying or what they mean with their words, your estimation of your environment and your fellow beings, is intrinsically flawed and based on your beliefs, prejudices and experiences in your life, and anyone over 10 years has plenty of experience and misunderstood "learning" to tackle. This is called "a filter" and it gives its taste to every piece of input and output. That you do allow your prejudices, beliefs, what other people say about these people and all kinds of irrelevant things decide your opinion on this person AND what he/she says.

And how is it supposed to be something to brag about that you don't have the slightest understanding of privacy? Why is it supposed to be a justifiable reason to pick locks and hack other people's accounts and send spies to closed groups, that you think they MIGHT be saying something negative about you? I don't like you, so is it a surprise to you to know that I state I don't like you? Is it necessary information to you so that you and/or your friends could violate the rules of privacy? No. The only thing you have achieved by mocking the members of a private group for not saying anything interesting in their group is to reveal that YOU are an a-hole.

People believe it's okay to break an agreement, violate trust and tell what they found out in a confidential discussion to others, whether it is their friends, or enemies of their enemies...
People believe you can - and should - break any ethical rules for the sake of "friendship".
People think others have to EARN respect and forgiveness... but respect you give to others is the measurement of the respect you have for yourself, and you need to forgive to be free and able to carry on with your life, take back the power you gave to the person who "offended" you.

In the end, all this is irrelevant. The only person I'm hurting is me. The people who did all that to me don't give a dime about me, or the others they keep hurting.

It's just that I don't understand... but - I'm full of it and know nothing, and I'm pretty sure I have done a lot of things other people don't understand.

World Environment Day

2011-05-28T12:33:00.000+02:00

5th of June - the first Sunday of June - is the world environment day. I invite all of you to join the "pick a piece of litter a day" movement, and especially to pick a certain type of litter - cigarette butts - next Sunday.

"Cigarette butts are the most common litter in the world. Even many decent people throw their butts thoughtlessly on the ground. Cigarette butts, however, contain thousands of chemicals of which several are toxic and carcinogenic. For example heavy metal cadmium is not degradable, but instead it accumulates in the food chain and comes back to people."

I also invite all crafters to create a pocket bin to be given to all smokers you see on the streets. It can be made of any metal or plastic case small enough to fit your pocket. In Sweden the plastic snuff boxes are perfect for this purpose. Decorate the box so that the smoker will accept it and use it.

Anti-fur and anti-leather shirts.

2011-05-27T14:10:00.000+02:00

I have a zazzle shop.I thought it might be a good idea to mention it here too :-D Here are my newest shirts:

Stop shaving t-shirt

someone else's skin t-shirt

Frankly, I am not that fundamentalist about wearing fur and leather.
I think it's not ok to have fur farms - growing animals just for fur - but sheep and rabbit fur - animals that are eaten - is 100% okay.
Also, food animal leather, like pig skin, kidskin, cowhide and such, is fully acceptable. If you eat the animal, you can use the skin/fur too.
Providing, naturally, that the animals weren't grown on a factory farm, but cared for during their life, and killed humanely and quickly...
I am aware that that is almost impossible in today's society, but I also consider us having a choice and therefore responsibility.

I also have some Pagan themed shirts:

It is difficult to stay positive...

2011-05-24T17:06:00.001+02:00

In a discussion about the "Rapture Day", a Christian woman asked "why doesn't the world laugh at any other RIDICULOUS religion?"

What does she know about "the world laughing" at other religions? Nothing. I am not Christian, and that has been used to ridicule my faith, my God, my opinions and my persona by Christians, Atheists and other people. So, dear Christian woman, "the world" laughs at everyone different from themselves. You don't need to be bitter about your faith being ridiculed. Just avoid those people and places where they dwell, and keep your faith. YOU know your God is not fake, invented, fantasy figure, or anything else people not knowing better claim, and that should be enough.

Also, the fact that you don't seem to be able to notice, see or understand that yours is not the only ridiculous religion being laughed at, is one of the reasons to why people mock people like you. You take yourself way too seriously and elevate yourself above other people.

Also, very few people representing other religions walk about bothering other people by telling them they are wrong, and because of that will burn in hell... Your God, your beliefs, YOU burn in hell.

But it's good that you acknowledge Christianity being a ridiculous religion.

"Why doesn't the world curse by saying "Budah dam*, etc..."??"

"God" is not the name of your God only, you know. You don't have the exclusive right to the word.

Also, Buddha was not a god. He was just an enlightened human being, who had a lot of good and interesting things to say about the world and people and how to live your life. It reminds very much of what a certain Jewish man is said to have taught some 400-600 years later.

"dam*" refers to damnation. It is in the Anglish society very much associated with Christianity. I don't recollect the concept of damnation existing in Anglo-saxon paganity... The expression itself is sort of a prayer: the one saying it is actually begging God to damn whatever "it" is - "May God damn it!"

"A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, 'curse' may refer to a wish that harm or hurt will be inflicted by any supernatural powers, such as God. "
- Wikipedia: Curse

So "the world" doesn't curse by saying "Budah dam*" because "the world" has been raised in a Christian society.

"Research looking at swearing in 1986, 1997, and 2006 in America found that the same top-ten words of a set of over 70 different swear words were used. The most-used swear words were fuck, shit, hell, damn, goddamn, bitch, boner, and sucks. These eight made up roughly 80% of all profanities.
Two words, fuck and shit, accounted for one-third to one-half of them.
The phrase "Oh my God " accounts for 24% of American women's swearing. "

"Oh my God" naturally are the first words of a prayer where God is asked to give the person courage to stand the situation or a prayer of thanking. Again, people who have not been raised in a Christian society (which is what the WHOLE Western world is, even when you might disagree.) don't swear by using that expression.

"THE TRUE GOD is known to be the TRUE GOD even by the heathen who deny Him. "

FYI, I am a Heathen and I don't deny the TRUE God, but I deny the divinity of any woman-born human, like Jesus, Buddha or Confucius.

-------------------------------

A Usonian guy doesn't think being impregnated during a rape is a big deal. While denying the women a possibility to plan ahead and prepare for such occasion by signing a specific insurance that garantees the abortion of such pregnancy, the guy simply tells women to "plan ahead". How, that he doesn't mention.

"My best friend was the child of a 16 year old's rape. She knew her attacker. You never knew pain and torture until you looked into her eyes after her mother beat the hell out of her for reminding her of her attacker. She wished almost every single day that her mother had aborted her since she never knew a mothers love. ALL because of a rape. My friend killed herself at 16. The same age as her mom when her mom was RAPED."
- Min, Care2

In my mind being forced to first carry a piece of your rapist INSIDE you for 9 months, then suffer the childbirth to then be forced to LIVE and provide for that piece of your rapist for the rest of your life IS a "risk to the life and wellbeing of the woman".
I remember the women raped during the Bosnian war, raped and forced to have the child... A lot of them did kill themselves. Some killed the child.

Also, I happen to believe in "soul". I don't know when the spirit enters the body, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't do so before the body looks like one. In some cultures the person is said to be born at the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, but in some cultures it is believed that the soul might not enter the body before the child is a couple of years old.

-----------------------------

Slut-march? No, thank you. I am not a slut and I refuse to call myself so. What you call me is your choice, but if you call me a slut, I will consider you an idiot.

""a Toronto police officer's comments that women should avoid dressing like "sluts " in order to maintain their safety from sexual assault ."
No. I actually expect men to be able to control their lusts however women are dressed - or not dressed - and I know a lot of men who would not sexually assault a woman, to know that it is possible for men not to assault a woman. Frankly, if a man thinks a woman is a whore because of how she dresses AND thinks he can have his way with a "whore" without needing to ask her permission, he is an idiot who should be locked in for his own best.

To those people who think a woman is a whore because she dresses like one
- this person is not a police officer, even though he is dressed like one.
I know it can be hard to know the difference,
considering that the uniform has even the word "police" written on it,
and has US flag on it too.
Sure, don't take my word on it, but I strongly advice you not to take his word on it either...

Whores, as everyone knows, are people who provide sexual services as their profession - that means that ANYTHING sexual you do with a whore, you are expected to pay to her/him, and just as little as you can walk into a restaurant kitchen and help yourself, you can walk to a whore and "help yourself".

It is interesting that people who like to express the opinion on that "if a woman dresses like a ---, she should expect nothing but to be treated like one ", don't get how stupid that opinion is... and frankly, I haven't seen many others get it either. Next time, idiot, when you see a woman dressed like a ---, you should pay her for watching her. Or just shut up. What is it to you how your fellow human beings dress? And haven't you ever seen naked people? Buy a Playboy or something and help yourself, so you don't need to get so upset. Or watch some MTV.

Now - I don't think Carrie from Sex and the City is a fashion icon.

There is nothing sexy, classy, stylish, fashionable or worthy to be copied in this outfit.
The same goes with Christina Aquilera and Lil'Kim in the "Can't Hold Us Down" video.

That's just ridiculous. But I assume this is the style this police officer meant with "dressing like a slut".
The thing is that if I was a man, I wouldn't want a piece of meat every other man has already either seen or seen AND fingered.
Why do I assume these girls might be fingered by another guy? Because they ARE sluts? No. I don't think they are sluts. Let me tell you a story.
A Swedish young woman was in a bar in Greece and someone put his hand into her panties... Now, I am not condoning that in any way, the guy doing this is a creep and sexually assaulted the Swedish girl, and nothing she did or worse excuses, justifies or explains his behavior. But -

if she was dressed even remotely like this, he didn't have any difficulties to assault her. This woman is SERVING her private parts for anyone to see... of course a creep who doesn't understand any better gets ideas.
Even though this woman can probably get away with it without being assaulted because she's Usonian in USA, and a Swedish girl would get away with it too, IN SWEDEN, in the Mediterranean countries the culture is VERY different.
I don't think ANY Greek girl would wear something this short, especially NOT with string panties - or no panties at all... You really can't tell - and NOT in a night club. Look at how the local girls dress and adjust your style to that. For your own safety.
I suppose some people think that just because one SHOULN*T be sexually assaulted even when wearing only a C-string and tassels, just because it's WRONG, then it WON*T happen either... I don't get that kind of thinking. We KNOW the world doesn't always work as it should, but I suppose we have come so far in Scandinavia with the women's liberation, young Swedish girl doesn't understand the rest of the world hasn't caught up with us...
What I am saying is that to some degree I agree with the Toronto police officer. I believe a lot of women could have saved themselves from certain sexual assaults - like being fingered in a Greek nightclub - if they had been wearing something different. Always wear a pair of jeans when in a nightclub in the countries around the Mediterranean. Have your pretty minidress on top of those, but wear jeans for your own safety. Even if the creep gets caught and punished - which happens very seldom - it doesn't remove the experience. If wearing a pair of jeans can save you from it, heaven's sake, wear a pair, and don't be stubborn for the sake of principles!

(I am aware of the fact that wearing a pair of jeans won't protect you from being sexually harassed, assaulted, even raped, but it is one thing to be pinched through jeans and totally other to have someone's hand in your panties.)

Also, I am not recommending "modest clothes" to the whole world. If you like them, sure, but I happen to like high heels, corsets, generous cleavage and wide skirts above and below the knees. I have no problems with shorts, not even hotpants, or showing a lot of skin. Wear what ever you like. But if you dress like those four ladies in above pictures, don't be surprised when people tell you you look ridiculous, because they are telling you the truth.

--------------------------------------------

"This is a place for the creatures who lurk in the night, with a candle with them. This candle is Christ. This is a place for Christians who live among the darkness. The Darkly Inclined, people of the Gothic Society. This is a sanctuary like no other, one where we can be ourselves and not be ashamed. God made Goths for a reason. Why not be proud of his very excellent idea."

What? Uh... facepalm.

--------------------------------------------

I was watching this interesting documentary Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory where "Willie" was making "handmade chocolate"... The chocolate was roasted by machine, ground by machine, conched by a machine, tempered by machine, poured into moulds by machine and wrapped by machine. So... handmade?
Regretsy would have a ball with his "handmade" chocolate :-D

------------------------------------------

I read about people who had turned down a great role... and everyone thinks "poor sod!"... but I was also watching the ESC, and RedOne wrote a song to a Russian boy band... and I thought, that it's not the ROLE that made the actor, but the ACTOR that made the role. Like with Nigella Lawson and Annabel Langbein. They both have a very similar style of presenting the food they make, but when Nigella makes everything sound sensual, Annabel just irritates me.

------------------------------------------

To wrap this up: there was a white (not albino, but "blonde") kiwi bird hatched in New Zealand :-) Lovely!

------------------------------------------

Also from ESC;

You are wonderful :-)
Truly :-)

Tutorial: solid perfume

2011-05-14T11:37:00.000+02:00

at oh my! Handmade goodness

I think it's great that the world is getting more and more aware of that
a) if it's made by someone, it can be made at home, by you, in some form or another
all the beauty products are just chemistry and cooking, putting ingredients together in a certain order and doing things to them, and that is automatically, almost magically turned into something else.
b) keep it simple.
There is a lot of stuff, chemicals, in the "stuff" you smear on your skin, body, hair, teeth, and it's not good. If you wouldn't eat it, why would you want to smear it in your face? (well, that reasoning doesn't always work, as I happily "smear" cat on my face, but I wouldn't eat it :-D I mean, I love to sniff cats :-) They smell so wonderful, and are so soft and when they purr... cat radio. my favorite channel .-) Makes me happy. But I wouldn't eat a cat. Also, I wouldn't eat soap either, how ever pure ingredients it's made of. But I brush my teeth with soap.)

When you make your own cosmetics at home, you know exactly what's in there and how fresh it is. Some of the products on the shop shelves have been standing there for weeks, months, even years. Brrr....

Countdown to Beltane, Day 1

2011-04-01T10:28:00.002+02:00

Today is April Fools' Day. It's 30 days to Beltane, the feast of feasts and song and dance and merrymaking and lovemaking...

I am going to post a similar countdown to Beltane as I posted to Ostara, and the same goes as for Ostara countdown; if you leave comments, I'll link to your blog, or if you leave links to an interesting page, I'll link to that.

I appreciate comments, it would be enough to just say ":-)" or "thanks for posting this", if you find it hard to express your thoughts. Just give me a little word to remind me I'm not alone. :-)

I was reminded of the difficulty of reading heavy posts, so I will be sharing the information into three: in this will be information relevant to household, living and general holiday information, myths and lore;
in Need More Fiber will be all crafts, daily ornament and such and
in Goddess Food will be all the recipes and menu suggestions, and Goddess information.

You might wonder about my choice of separator line?
Christian?
No. This one is fully Pagan.

First, it's a sign of fish made with waxing and waning crescent of the moon, just like the zodiac sign of Fishes is. In that sign the two moon crescents represent two fishes and are back to back, tied together with a line.

The legend tells that Aphrodite tied her son Eros to herself so that he wouldn't get lost, when they were threatened by Typhon, transformed into fishes and swam to safety.

This fish sign is the Mandorla, almond shape, the shape of the vulva.

This fish was also the symbol of the sea God Oannes.
(Oannes-Ioannes association, Fisherking and Kingfisher, and John the Baptist - Bran the Blessed association)

Fish is also the symbol of April 1st. Poisson d'avril, the April Fish, is what April Fool is called in France. The March-April issue of Marie Claire Idées is usually full of fishes made in different art and craft methods, and in France they give chocolate fishes to each other on this day. Sounds like a much better tradition than the practical jokes version.

This fish is a sign for Beltane.

Kitsune - Japanese trickster spirit

"Tibetan thangka. This dakini is of high status, considered to be a Female Buddha. Her dancing power is iconic, repeated in almost all dakini images. Like Kali, she wears a garland of severed heads. In her right hand she holds a knife used for cutting away illusions, including the illusion of separate ego identity. With the dorje handle of the blade, using the butt, she shatters all mirrors of subjectivity. In her left arm she cradles a magic staff adorned with banners. In her left hand she holds a skull-cup filled with blood—hence the term, blood-drinking dakini. The five-skull crown signifies the Tantric principle of transmutation of the poisons of the five emotions (variously named): anger, jealousy, greed, hatred, and obtusity or denial. The dakini drinks these emotions ecstatically, for to her they are taste delicious and converts them into wisdom nectars."

Colombine-Arlecchina - the female trickster from Commedia dell'arte

Colombina by Mark Satchwill

Old tarot fools

It looks to me like the symbolical meaning of The Fool has been changed quite a bit during the years we have practiced tarot...
Nevertheless, the tarot Fool is an interesting card. If you plan to take the Fool's Journey, you start it with a day of doing, saying and thinking the exact opposite...
When you are afraid of doing something, you should do just that.
When your inner voice tells you you are worthless, tell it it's wrong, you are very valuable and worthy, as there is not one other being on the whole universe like you.
When you notice you are looking down, look up.
If you "always" go right, go left this time.
You are The Fool. You have the right to look the people in their eyes and see them, really SEE them.
You have the right to do foolish and silly things, dare and try, experience and live the life like a child, as if you were seeing everything the first time.
If the stars were visible only once in every 100 years, everyone would gather out to watch the amazing show. Act as if they were visible for only tonight. If it's cloudy, you can repeat the experiment tomorrow, or day after that. It doesn't matter, because they ARE up there, every night. But you might not be around, so don't push until tomorrow what you can do today. Except if it's boring. If you are not around tomorrow, no-one will care whether your dishes are done and your shoes in perfect order.

Nevertheless, these older Fools remind me of the Wild Man or Woodwose or the full-body Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green

and funnily enough... we are back where we started. You see, Green Man is usually accompanied by Sheela-na-gig... They are not especially connected, just themes used back at the time the first churches were being built, but they do accompany each other quite often.

Some influence for this post:
Origins of April's Fools' Day
The Pagan Origins of Jesus and Christianity; The Fish, Jupiter and the Zodiac
The Mermaid
Female Tricksters
Trickster Women
The Trickster: A God's Evolution
Kosmos Idikos: Crystal Japan
The Sheela Na Gig Project

Ideas on how to decorate for Beltane:

I found this: tis the season to set the table, and I have to say it doesn't look at all like Christmas to me. It looks like a spring table setting.
Here's how to make a cone topiary with flowers, here's a ball topiary made with silk ribbon and vintage flowers (both ribbon and white flowers belong to Beltane), and here's a rose topiary with fabric flowers.
Here's how to make royal icing snowflakes, but for Beltane you'd naturally make flowers.
Good Housekeeping tells how to make those flowers for wine glasses. (It's picture #9)

Some simple flower forms you can try to make with royal icing

You can also use them to make sun catchers.

The Witches' Voice, Incorporated?

2011-03-23T13:04:00.001+01:00

I was given a link to a Facebook group (or something) called The Witches' Voice, Inc. (NPO)

It says it is "a neutral forum open to all adherents of the various Heathen religions, Pagan, Witch, Wiccan traditions and to Solitary Practitioners who/that follow a positive code of ethics such as The Wiccan Rede or The Ring of Troth's, Nine Virtues."

A NEUTRAL forum for all who follow a POSITIVE code of ethics? I'm sorry but according to my experience, every entity (a person or inc.) who requires their "friends" follow a "POSITIVE code of ethics" a) define by their own standards what is "positive" and thus also what is "negative", and therefore b) are not neutral, how ever much they like to use that word to describe themselves.

So, what is so "positive" about The Wiccan Rede (which is in reality not a rede at all, neither a code of ethics, but a poem that sounds nice, mystical and rhymes) or Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru?

The "positive code of ethics" of "the wiccan rede" reads:

Bide within the Law you must,
in perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live,
fairly take and fairly give.

Light of eye and soft of touch,
speak you little, listen much.

Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree
by the Lady blessed you'll be.

When you have and hold a need,
harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend
or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should
three times bad and three times good.

Be true in love this you must do
unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

"perfect love, perfect trust", "let love and light be your guide" but "with a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend"? "be true in love UNLESS your love is false to you"? Meaning, you don't need to be true in love IF... well, what justification could there REALLY be for you NOT to? How could someone else's actions be any reason for you to act any differently than you know to be right?

And didn't God create the fools as well as non-fools, and who of us actually is anything but a fool, what right do we have to deem others as "fools" and ourselves as "non-fools"? I'd rather be a friend of a sacred fool than a sanctimonious sage, which is what EVERY ONE COUNTED AS A SAGE IS.

Also, every sane and moderately intelligent person knows that you can do very little that harms none.
Of course we could walk very, very slowly and brush the earth before us to make sure we won't accidentally step on anyone, but how did we get the brush? A broom is made of freshly cut wisps. You can't make a broom, at least not a good broom, of the dead branches you find in the forest.
Also, what gives you right to even take those? Those serve as home and food for many lives.
So you wipe the earth on which you step with your hands? Or go nowhere. After all, why would you need to go anywhere?
You shouldn't eat anything, because everything we eat is living materia. Something had to die to feed us, whether it is a cow, a carrot or a seed. I suppose one can only eat fruits and unfertilized eggs, and drink water...
But if you don't eat, because that would harm someone or something, and you don't go anywhere, because that might harm someone or something, you will harm yourself, and you too are "someone or something"...
No, I hate that "code or ethics", because it's unrealistic and stupid. Just one of those rules that sound so nice, and everyone likes to quote as "their code", but no-one lives by. I'd rather pick plants to make medicine to help my fellow human beings, I'd rather have a garden and sow seeds as I walk, to see there will be plants and food to my fellow life forms on this planet even after I have "fairly taken", and murdered some carrots and pigs to feed me. I'd rather walk and meet other people than sit egocentrically under a tree and get enlightened or something. I'd rather live and accept that I too am part of the great circle of life, and my destiny will be to one day feed someone or something else. Be eaten, rot and decay, turn into soil and feed plants to feed other animals, who in turn will die, be eaten, rot and decay and feed others. Amen to that!

Also, three-fold law? Now, there's some "bah, humbug", if I ever saw any. The world is "unfair". I shouldn't do "good" to be rewarded or avoid doing "bad" to avoid punishment, but to be able to look myself in the eyes in the morning and like who I see. I cannot and shouldn't use other's conduct as justification to do "bad".

No, I don't consider this as "positive code of ethics".

Then the Asatru "code of ethics". Passivity is for sheep and Gods are not for the weak. We refuse to be spectators, we act and seek to fulfill our quest, whatever it may be... for example, genocide.
There is no compassion, kindness and solidarity, understanding that we all have our weaknesses and strengths and no-one of us stands alone. We all, everyone of us, need others, each and everyone of them. We might not know how, when and why, and it's not for us to know either, but the girl you mocked yesterday might be the one on whom your success depends tomorrow... maybe the geek of the class will be responsible for the computers in your plane. Do you really want to put your life in the hands of someone whose life you made to hell in High School? I wouldn't...
Strength and courage is not everything.
What's so "positive" in these "nine virtues"?

I cannot quote any "code of ethics" as mine. I happen to agree with most Confucian and Epicurean wisdoms, but not with all of them, so I cannot say I'm Confucian or Epicurean, or following those codes of ethics. Nietzsche and Schopenhauer sound often true to me, but sometimes not, so I don't follow them either.
The Golden Rule is not worth much in my mind, the so despisingly named Silver Rule is much better, even though people who don't think much see no difference in them... except that one is "positive" and other "negative", and they think "positive" must be "better", thus "Golden".
I'm Ketutarian. Naturally, *I* consider my ethics "positive", or "good", but not everyone agrees with me in that. How do I know if The Witches' Voice is open for me?

Frankly, none of this matters one bit. Most Wiccans and Asatruende don't follow the official "code of ethics" of their religion either, but adjust them to their own, personal "code of ethics", and deem it just as "positive" and "good" as I do, just like every other human being on this planet. Nevertheless, I think Witchvox should be a little more... how do I say it... perhaps, be a little more careful with what they actually believe and what code of ethics they actually follow, and what they actually tell people. My little writing about trolls and sockpuppets is the most read entry in this blog, and the truth is that if you are ok with yourself, if you are satisfied with your life, happy with who and what you are, you don't give anyone else the power to shake your serenity, and no trolls in the world will disturb you. But... who in this world is okay with herself? Not many of them are in discussion forums and Facebook :-D

Some bits and bobs that didn't get in

2011-03-21T21:46:00.000+01:00

Feather wreath tutorial

gumdrop wreath

Here's the button wreath tutorial, and a large egg template to print, if you think it's intimidating to make an egg shape.

You can also make the egg mobile by printing out the large egg on construction paper, cutting smaller egg shapes into it and covering the eggs with pretty paper. Then you sew the eggs back together, but from top and bottom only, so that the eggs can swirl.

Here's easter egg wreath, with a smaller egg template, which you can enlarge for your purposes.

Melissa's scrap fabric ornament is no longer available, but I suppose it's made a bit the same way as this rag ball ornament, or this one. Use cheap plastic eggs inside.
You can also find more things to do with the plastic eggs here.
You can also make this kind of wonderful wreath with different scrap fabric balls.
It isn't rocket science to make patchwork balls. You can use likesided triangles, cut 20 and sew them together into a ball, like the paper ball you can make of old Easter cards. If you cut the triangles of scrap fabric and sew the allowance inside the ball, you'll have a scrap ball.
Here's how to make a pentagon ball and here's how to make a ball of segments.

Ming makes wonderful cupcakes and I think her n:o 23 would be very Ostara-y

I love these lemonade bottles with the summer flower tags :-) Can't you just see them with spring flowers and daffodils for Ostara?

I think these bunnies would make a pretty easter basket: crochet four of these panels, a square base and then crochet them together into a basket, add a handle and starch it hard.
Here's one lonely bunny that would work as a book mark or insert on an album or book cover.

Ostara roundup

2011-03-21T02:18:00.001+01:00

Well... 30 posts + 2 about this subject, and three comments... and one of them from my husband.
Celestial Elf posted about a machinima video at YouTube she made for Lisa Thiel's music.

Not bad :-)
Dragonfly shared with me her opinion on my disappointment to that Pagans don't seem to be much interested in the Eight Feasts.
My husband comforted me a little because one of the links I posted had gone dead.

Amazing. I'm totally blown away by the lack of interest.
I have been told it's "interesting", "very good" and such things, but... no-one comments. What am I supposed to think? Am I making ANY difference in ANYTHING? I have a feeling I could have just done this for me and no-one had been any less influenced, inspired, helped...
I am feeling very lonely and... pointless, I guess. As if my work with this blog is futile, totally worthless, of no interest to anyone.

I didn't have a good Ostara. I argued with my husband, I didn't manage to keep up with my timetable, so I was too tired to celebrate Ostara, and I'm very depressed at the moment. Waves of sadness flow over me every now and then, and the walk in the forest with our dog, which usually makes me happy, didn't do anything for me this time. I'm just tired and sad.

I wrote this 30 days' countdown to Ostara with hopes of that someone would have reached out to me and told me I'm not alone, that there are others out there sharing my dream and love of Sabbaths, and homely arts and love of Goddess, and wish to make all the Eighth Days as big and lovely as Yule and Samhain and Beltane.
Most of the Yule, Samhain and Beltane traditions are not older than one or two generations, and in practice all of our traditions are not older than we are. We have created, adopted and adapted EVERY tradition we call our own at some point in our lives. We can create ourselves good, solid traditions today, traditions our children will carry on, create meme heirlooms for generations to embrace and evolve and make their own...

Fran's Free Spells and Witchcraft has some interesting blog entries about Ostara.
Llewellyn didn't bother posting anything about Ostara - or hasn't posted anything about it yet.
Witchvox doesn't seem to be much interested either. There is "Rediscovering the Old Ways" and "The Magical Egg and Celebrating Ostara Through Food". (There's "We Call It Ostara" at Facebook.")
(Which BTW reminds me of this fascinating blog entry at Judeness. Go read it.)

My Life After Loss tells about why not to mix festivities and traditions.
I agree with her and disagree with her...
I think you should celebrate what ever you celebrate any way you like.
But I also think you should be aware of where your traditions come from. WHY you do what you do.
I also think if you find one religion or culture horrible, hateful, unlikable or something bad, don't take their traditions either, how ever nice they are.
I think the Christians lost their "right" to celebrate Jewish feasts during the 1700 years of discrimination, harassment and persecution they put the Jews living among them through, and they lost their "right" to celebrate the Pagan feasts when they chose to be Christian and not Pagan, which happened somewhere between 300 and 1700 in most parts of Europe. But that's me, and my personal opinion, and it has no relevance what so ever to anyone else but me, and as I'm not Christian, not even to me.

Pagan Pages. org has some articles, but nothing I expected to see.

Wildfoxtheoldone reposted the lesser banishing ritual of the chocolate rabbit

Pagan Mom Blog posted some crafts for children at Ostara.

Nestled under rainbows shares a very nice Ostara with us :-)

We have still plenty of snow. The only flowers I've seen are pussywillows.

Spirit Blogger posted today's spirit message. "Celebrate Ostara".

Global Illumination Council posted about the Ostara "Super Moon".
Here's 7 great photos of Saturday's "Super Moon". She is indeed a beauty :-)

Pantheon has some great Ostara related articles; Our Martyr of Easter, which makes me so deeply sad, because this kind of hatred towards everything different and intolerance of how other people choose to live their lives still exists and causes death and misery; 13 songs for Ostara; a playlist of a sort with Ostara music :-) Wyrd Designs - the Holy Tides and two about St Patrick; Irish Snakes Survive and Thrive and Ostara, St Paddy's and Spring

Pagan Soccermom managed to post a couple of things this year: Ostara Page (links to previous postings she's made about Ostara), Ostara Egg Dyes from Kitchen and Ostara Candle Ritual.
(This from a woman who says:

"Why not stretch your celebration out and make it last? Think about the mainstream holidays. Not the commercial aspect, but the family traditions that people hold. Few people do them all on Christmas day, right? Days, if not weeks, are spent making holiday cookies, decorating a tree, creating decorations with the kids. Not enough pagans, I think, carry that sort of thing on.")

Stone Cottage on the Hill talks about Spring Wanderings.

Gus in A Pagan's Blog gives 8 ideas for celebrating Ostara.
Considering that we Pagans are supposed to be creative and imaginative people, it's surprising we don't seem to be able to produce more ideas... it's the same old activity lists and magical correspondences being posted in most blogs over and over again. (Like Kris Bradley does in Examiner or Rik Potter in his/her blog.) Can't we do something new like Gus does?

I promise to try more and do better for 30 Days of Beltane, which countdown begins on April 1st. :-) I sincerely hate, hate, HATE "practical jokes", which is nothing but bullying and mental torture made "justifyiable and acceptable" by naming it "jokes". But common day of silliness, doing something silly, foolish, daring and childlike, would be lovely.

Rose Ariadne's Witchcraft Blog shares how she celebrates Ostara.
Rowan Pendragon talked about St.Patrick's Day, shared a spell for Ostara and an audio-video Ostara Sunday.

Raymond Lawrence Gallery has a long blog list on Ostara.

4ofWands has some interesting blog entries at this time of the year. I love her Hail Hekate, Full Of Light... Moon is still lovely.

Lizzie posted a nice poem on her Serenity Sunday for Spring and Ostara.

I was sitting on the sofa watching television with our dog, when we started hearing "pip-pip-pip", repeatedly, from kitchen. It sounded like an electronic alarm, and we looked at each other. It wasn't the egg clock, neither my mobile phone, and my hubby had taken his with him, so it wasn't that either... I wondered about this puzzle for good 5 minutes, until I realized it was a Great Tit singing to his chosen one :-D
They used to sing "titityy, titityy", two short and long, now they sing just two or three short ones... They learn new songs from somewhere, possibly from the electronic alarms. Pity.
But still lovely :-D

Rhythm of the Home shares a St.Patrick's Day's Story Bag idea... one could make it about Ostara.

Mystic Moon Coven has a pretty good page on Ostara.

30 days of Ostara; Day 30

2011-03-20T11:13:00.000+01:00

How to make ribbon pansies

tag monster - I just see a hen, perhaps several, and a rooster, with feathers made this way...

Sew a fabric bowl
pretty fabric flower bowls
scrap fabric bowl

Make yourself and everyone else happy, and don't serve salads made with jello, marshmallows and mayonnaise, but something fresh and green. Use fresh, sweet spinach and dandelions, early strawberries, if you are lucky to live so low South there are strawberries,

Today's ornament is Victorian paperdoll. Add the girls some bunny ears or Easter bonnet, a basket and flowers and ribbons all over. :-)
(Remember that you can change colors with your paint program, like Paint, Photoshop or Paintshop, if you have such.)

Go and get yourself cute overload! And happy Ostara!

30 days of Ostara; Day 29

2011-03-19T11:13:00.001+01:00

Make candy necklaces
You can also make candy garlands and wreaths the same way.
You can also make the candies of fabric, and get a healthy and long-lasting candy garland.

You can also make "conversation hearts", in any shape you like, for example doughnuts, and thread into a rubber string to make the "classic" candy necklace, or make "conversation eggs" for Ostara.

Grow egg heads. Now, this should have been done already two weeks ago, but better late than never, huh? Try different seeds, like cress or herbs.

This pretty ATC is clay on stained glass...

looks like velvet applique and embroidery on batik.

It's made by Paulie Rollins.

Puff pastry eggs

Stained glass tulip cookie pops

They say that "Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Moonstone, Red Jasper, Rose Quartz" are stone correspondences of Ostara. I wonder how they come to that conclusion? Moonstone I can understand, but the rest?

30 days of Ostara; Day 28

2011-03-18T11:12:00.000+01:00

Ostara symbols: baskets, eggs, chicken, ducklings, lambs, baby animals, bunnies (both hares and rabbits), spring birds (esp. cranes), spring flowers, clovers (flowers, leaves, four leaf clovers), budding twigs, pussy willows, sprouting bulbs, colored ribbons

Use these as you would use hearts for St. Valentine's Day or stars and evergreen trees for Yule.

Here's some pictures on how to make millinery flowers
Hatstruck speaks quite a lot about millinery, and here's how to make stamens for millinery flowers.

Then, here's some old bonnet patterns :-D
19th century sun bonnet
Bonnet from 1952 "How to make hats"
make your own sun bonnet in less than two hours
Apron bonnet
1857 sun bonnet, illustration and pattern
here's a bonnet for a doll. You can enlarge it to fit people. :-) (You can just double all the measurements, that is change the grid to 1 inch in stead of 1/2 inch, but I think it's a bit big bonnet then. Make a dummy of paper or cheap fabric and adjust the pattern to fit your head and preferences.)
Regency bonnet or how to triftfully turn a reticule and a straw hat into a bonnet fit for Eliza Bennet
If you don't have a reticule, use this tutorial :-D

That is, if you'd like to make your own "Easter Bonnet", or just a sun bonnet :-)

Here's some recipes for Easter cookies, but the good old-fashioned sugar cookies are the best :-D

Kusudama balls would be absolutely lovely for Ostara :-)
Tutorial part 1 and 2 at Folding Trees :-) It's a wonderful site.

30 days of Ostara; Day 27

2011-03-17T11:11:00.000+01:00

Haven't you always wanted bunny slippers?
Here's also chick slippers :-)
What you do is take any slipper pattern you like, make the ears for the bunnies or pompoms for the chicks/duckies, and sew them on, and give them face. That's it.
Here's free patterns for knitted slippers and here for crocheted slippers
(Yes, they have easter pattern links too. Knitted and crocheted.)

Today's ornament: filet crochet "sun catchers". If you don't want to learn to filet crochet, you can also make them with cross stitches :-)

Animals corresponding to Ostara:
- hares, rabbits, bunnies,
- hens and chickens, all baby birds from ducklings and chicken to wild bird babies, eggs and nests
- sheep and lamb (lambs and kids are born at this time of the year, also sun moves to Aries)
- all baby animals
- snakes (Persephone's animal, symbol of the Great Mother, start to move at this time of the year after long winter sleep.)

What to do with this information? Come on, look around you! There's depiction of these symbols everywhere, bunnies and chicks as long as one can see! Every and each bunnyrabbit or spring chicken is a small prayer to Eostre. Make candy that looks like these animals, make toys, embroider them on dish towels, print them on table cloth, applique them on cushions... you know what to do with them. :-)

How to make jellybeans at home

I recommend using cornstarch jelly as centers. The flavor and color is in the sugar coating, not in the jelly itself. You can leave the lemon from the recipe, but it gives the candy a slightly sour, fruity flavor.

Corn Starch Jelly

5 cups water - a quart and a cup.
1 1/2 cups sugar - 12 ounces.
1 small lemon
3 heaping tablespoons starch - 3 ounces.

Boil 4 cups water with the sugar in it, and juice of the lemon.
Mix the starch with the other cup, and stir it into the boiling syrup.
Let simmer about 15 minutes to become transparent and almost clear.
Pour it into moulds.
(Be careful though, because the "jelly juice" might damage the mold)

How to make cornstarch molds for jellybeans

You can make any shape with any clay, air-drying, paper clay, polymer clay, ordinary earthen clay, as nothing of your negative will be left in the mold. It's just cornstarch.

(This is, BTW, how you make bunny shaped sugar cubes... You just make the sugar and water blend runnier, and use half caster sugar and half confectioner's sugar. It takes a bit longer to dry than the ordinary sugar cubes, but you could dry them in not too warm oven, like meringues, to avoid browning them.)

Jellybean bracelets

Well, it's not rocket science to figure out how to

decorate cupcakes with jellybeans to make these pretty flowers,

but here's how...

30 days of Ostara; Day 26

2011-03-16T11:10:00.000+01:00

Egg carton of curiosities

egg carton sewing kit

egg carton bulletin board
egg carton eggs
"whimsicle" flowers :-)
egg carton pendant lamp - absolutely amazing... think in white lilies or yellow daffodils...
cute, cute, cute! egg carton wreath (take a look of the other crafts too, nice :-))

This decor is downloadable

When in Mabon Demeter lost her daughter and we played the first act of the myth of Persephone, in Ostara she returns, together with snakes, and her Mother decorates the world with flowers and greenery.

You can act the myth and make dolls yourself.
Here's how to make papier mache puppets, parts 1, 2 and 3
I suggest you use empty eggs as the core of the heads... it's small and light, but also sturdy.
Here's some alternatives
Here's bunny and chick

here's a suggestion for puppet theater. I have been thinking about this kind of theater, but also simply hanging a sheet or blanket across the doorway high enough so that the puppeteers can hide kneeling behind it, but low enough for them to reach up with their puppets.

Veganizing Ostara
I have to say that it's bad to avoid giving children anything that even reminds of eggs, like felt eggs, paper eggs or tin eggs, in their baskets, or avoiding egg hunts, but then eat fake "ham", "chicken" and "eggs" at dinner.

Today's ornament is this: Easter Embroidered Wall Hanging
Make the squares as small as they are in the instructions, and you have ornaments :-)

30 days of Ostara; Day 25

2011-03-15T11:10:00.000+01:00

In Norse mythology, Iðunn is a goddess associated with apples and youth. Iðunn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, she is described as the wife of the skaldic god Bragi, and in the Prose Edda, also as a keeper of apples and granter of eternal youthfulness.

The name Iðunn may mean "ever young" according to John Lindow or "rejuvenator" according to Andy Orchard, or "the rejuvenating one" according to Rudolf Simek.

19th-century scholar Jacob Grimm proposed a potential etymological connection to the idisi. Grimm states that "with the original form idis the goddess Idunn may possibly be connected." Grimm further states that Iðunn may have been known with another name, and that "Iðunn would seem to be an Elvish word, but we do not hear of any other name for the goddess."

Some surviving stories regarding Iðunn focus on her youth-maintaining apples. English scholar H. R. Ellis Davidson points out that buckets of apples were found in the 9th century Oseberg ship burial site in Norway and that fruit and nuts (Iðunn having been described as being transformed into a nut in Skáldskaparmál) have been found in the early graves of the Germanic peoples in England and elsewhere on the continent of Europe which may have had a symbolic meaning and also that nuts are still a recognized symbol of fertility in Southwest England.

Fertility Goddess Idunn is fetched back by Freya in bird shape (a crow, crows return to Scandinavia at this time of the year), and Idunn is a seed of spring.
- Dannie Druehyld, The Witch's Handbook

In the Ostara pages goes around this recipe:

Fresh Herb Soup

1 tablespoon butter or margarine, unsalted
2 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
2 tablespoon fresh chervil, minced
2 tablespoon lemon sorrel leaves, minced
2 teaspoon fresh tarragon, minced
1 cup celery ribs - finely chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
Salt and Pepper
1 pinch sugar
4 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
Dash freshly ground nutmeg
Grated cheddar cheese

Mix ingredients like you would any other soup, and enjoy!

Now... are you really to put the toasted bread in the soup (like for pappa al pomodoro)? Or is the bread, nutmeg and cheese supposed to be topping?

(I found the answer from Aisha's BOS: "Melt the butter over medium heat in a large heavy pot. Add the herbs and celery and cook, stirring, until wilted and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, salt, pepper, and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Place a slice of toast in each soup bowl and pour the soup over. Dust with nutmeg and sprinkle with grated cheese)

Here's another green herb soup with avocado
Spring spinach and herb soup

In ancient Rome, the calendar year began on March 15. The 15th of each of month was known as the ides, from a Latin word that indicates division of a month. At any rate, back in 44 b.c., the legendary emperor Julius Caesar summoned members of the Senate to meet in the Theatre of Pompey on March 15. Previously, a soothsayer had warned Caesar to "beware the ides of March," but since not much had happened that day, Caesar felt confident attending a Senate session. After all, the men of the Senate were loyal to him, so how much harm could he possibly come to?
Unfortunately, Caesar had enemies within his own Senate, and upon his arrival, several members of a group known as the Liberatores fell upon him and stabbed him to death.

Make Ostara egg surprise ball

Make sock bunny

Dye eggs with silk
Now, I would use old silk ties, blouses and boxers for other projects, but the scraps left over from those projects, that are too small for crazy patchwork ;-), like seams, could be used to tie eggs with.

Birdie in a nest game

30 days of Ostara; Day 24

2011-03-14T11:10:00.000+01:00

make felt yourself for ornaments
small flowers to decorate felt egg shapes. They can also be made into bird nests, with appropriate fabrics and wool "eggs"

really cute cookies with windows :-)
I'd like to see hens and roosters with colorful feathers...

many popcorn ball recipes - form them into eggs

lentil salad and edible flower decoration :-) Really sweet!

In ancient Italy in the spring, women planted Gardens of Adonis. They filled urns with grain seeds, kept the in the dark and watered them every two days until they sprouted. You can do this yourself with grass seed in baskets. You can then put your decorated eggs on the altar, etc. in your grass filled baskets. Talk about how this custom persists today in Sicily, where women plant seeds of grains–lentils, fennel, lettuce or flowers–in baskets and pots. When they sprout, the stalks are tied with red ribbons and the “gardens” are placed along roads on the Christian Good Friday. They are meant symbolize the triumph of life over death.

Decorating cookie tins - here's another tutorial on the same thing, with a little more modern expression
doilies used to decorate tins. If you don't want to use Martha's stencils, paint the lid first in the color you wish to have the doily on, carefully glue a doily on with rubber glue, and spray with the color you want your tin to be. Remove the doily, carefully as not to smudge the paint, let dry and nudge the rubber off. Varnish.
Pearly treasury tins

something different: cookie tin banjo and tambourine.

Book of Shadows, Book of Light...

2011-03-14T08:44:00.000+01:00

The beloved child has many names, and so does a witch's spell book. It can be called the Book of Shadows (BOS), Book of Light and Shadows, Book of Light, Book of Twilight, Book of Wisdom, Book of Spells, (sometimes the simple way is the best :-D), The Book of [which ever word you feel defines your magic best].
Book of the Dead and Mirror Book are other names for this book.
Goddess Unveiled might be a useful name for some people's Spell book.
The word Grimoire (Grammar) is often used of a book of magical wisdom.

At one point the witches felt "Book of Shadows" was "too dark", "too negative" word to be used of their personal magical journal, so some people created "Book of Light". Even though "Book of Shadows" refer to the fact that for centuries witches had to keep their art and craft hidden, not that the magic written in BOS would be dark and shadowy.

Also, I am the daughter of the Dark Goddess, so I believe in the power of facing our shadows, acknowledging and accepting that life is both light and dark, and controlling the smoke and mirrors that is in every person's life, especially in our minds. We all have been conditioned when we were children, by the people who controlled our upbringing. (These people are usually our parents and siblings, but some people don't have those, or those people are not present. Even these people have been influenced, brought up and conditioned by others. We all are.)

Nevertheless, I like the idea of dividing the magical life into dark and light, and having both BOS and BOL.

The structure of BOS is the same as the structure of BOL, but the purpose of BOL is to have something you can go to when the dark of life is too depressing. You are to start reading your BOL and be uplifted, reminded of the good things in life, the beauty, kindness and truth in world, all the happy and joyful things, things you enjoy and love.

* Get yourself a book, a binder, an album, how ever you wish your BOL to be. You can make every page as an artwork in itself, and bind them together into a book, or make an art journal; found the pages in beforehand and write and embellish afterwards. What ever rocks your boat.
* Decorate the cover and spine. Use colors and embellishments that make you happy, that make the book an object of beauty and joy, something you want to leave on the coffee table. Remember to make the book so that it speaks to your inner child. Use colors, images and embellishments you would have liked as 10 years old, or even younger. Think rainbows, sparkle and unicorns. Don't use black, even if your inner child is an Emo Goth. Use dark colors with iridescent effects, like oil in water, if you prefer dark colors, but don't use black.

* Write the title page, which says what book is this and what is its purpose, and bless the book.

Some suggestions on what to write in the book:

- lists of what you love, count your blessings, gratitude journal, things of bliss and cute overload.
Write down what makes your heart sing, even a little :-) Thoughts that made you smile. Sensations that made you happy of being alive and able to sense.

- make theme pages by your lists

- write down poems, song lyrics and quotation you find good, happy, joyful, soothing, gentle, kind, lovely, wise, funny, upbringing, comforting... words that make you feel good, okay, glad.

- write also down wise words, good advice and aphorisms that remind you of the reward of being good, kind, gentle and merciful.

- write your personal brag book; document the things you have done, achieved, created you are proud of.

- decorate and illustrate every page of your book. Every page should be an art journal page, scrapbook page, illustrated manuscript page, an artwork in itself, an artwork that makes you feel good, happy and appreciative of the miracles of Life. Use colors and pretty pictures. Make collages, add scraps and postcards and anything flat and pretty.

- don't be afraid of tears. Sometimes great joy and happiness is combined with sorrow.

http://www.utopiaskye.com/LS/Book%20of%20Light/light.html
http://www.ardrianacahill.com/cbol/bol.html

30 days of Ostara; Day 23

2011-03-13T11:09:00.000+01:00

Ostara fun for everyone
The games suggested sound fun :-)

About.com has "Countdown to Ostara"

Decor to Adore is going to have a Spring Craft Linky Party

"I will also host a Spring Craft linky party on April 15th for everyone who would like to show off their Easter crafts. To participate in the Spring Craft Linky just grab the button and link up on April 15th."

knitted chicks from Purlbee

Perhaps not at Ostara yet, but soon the nettles will be ready to be picked.

"When the nettle is young, its leaf forms an excellent vegetable; when it matures, it has filaments and fibres like hemp and flax. Nettle fabric is as good as canvas. Chopped, the nettle is good for poultry; pounded it is good for cattle. The seed of the nettle mingled with fodder imparts a gloss to the coats of animals; its root mixed with salt produces a beautiful yellow colour. It is besides excellent hay and can be cut twice. And what does the nettle require? Little earth, no attention, no cultivation. Only the seed falls as it ripens, and is difficult to gather. That is all. With a little trouble, the nettle would be useful; it is neglected, and becomes harmful." '

Nettle recipes
You can use it as spinach and make everything you'd use spinach for, like spinach, pine nut and feta cheese pastries or spanakopita.

catnip bunnies from Coffee&Cream

In the area of Lanark, Scotland, the spring season is welcomed with Whuppity Scoorie, held on March 1. Children assemble in front of a local church at sunrise, and when the sun comes up, they race around the church waving paper balls around their heads. At the end of the third and final lap, the children gather up coins thrown by local assemblymen. According to the Captial Scot, there's a story that this event began ages ago when troublemakers were "scoored" in the Clyde River as punishment for bad behavior. It appears to be unique to Lanark, and does not seem to be observed anywhere else in Scotland.

For some reason that lamb doesn't look quite as happy as the girl...

One thing that surprised me was that when searching "easter snacks" all I got was sugar, sugar, sugar... cookies, rice crispy treats... don't the kids get more than enough sugar with all the candy and desserts eaten at Holidays?
I found this though: Healthy and fun snacks. I remember coming home from school and being hungry like a bear, and being home alone and capable of cooking and baking already then, I founded a steady base for my obesity. I wish someone had been making a little effort and seeing there was something "healthy and fun" to eat. It would have been nice if there had been just a plate of veggies cut in fingerfood with a bowl of nice dip...
The parents could use this time of the year and make their kids eat "bunny food" (salad) :-D

30 days of Ostara; Day 22

2011-03-12T12:09:00.000+01:00

paper ball

four sided ball ornament
If you make egg shapes, not circles, you get nice egg ornaments.

Here's a nice egg shape, and here's another.

Here's how to make these little lanterns, in French

3annabah has made a nice panorama egg by quilling
and here's a pretty egg for embroidery - but you could fill it quilling and use as an ornament or card decoration.

"In some early cultures, the nocturnal hare was actually considered a symbol of the moon. In addition to feeding at night, the hare's gestation period is approximately 28 days -- the same as a full lunar cycle. In European folklore, the rabbit connection to eggs is one based on confusion. In the wild, hares nest in what is known as a form -- basically, a nest for bunnies. When the hares abandoned a form, it was sometimes taken over by plovers, who would then lay their eggs in it. The locals would then find eggs in the hare's form."

Here's how to make these silly felt ornaments - in French

Quite a list of Ostara recipes.
I have to say that I couldn't eat Avgolemono, what ever it tastes. The curdled eggs... brrr....

30 days of Ostara; Day 21

2011-03-11T12:08:00.000+01:00

Easter at Aristotle.net

Cute felt birds - lovely for Ostara made of yellow and pastel colored felt, decorated with feathers.

bunny finger puppets

half-eaten gingerbread man... You could make the half-eaten chocolate bunnies. I hate that cartoon. Poor bunnies. But if that kind of humor appeals to you, go ahead and make yourself some half-eaten felt bunnies. You can even cut out the speech bubbles and stitch on the side of the bunnies.

History of the chocolate bunnies
molded chocolate bunnies
Chocolate bunny cake
Chocolate bunny bread

and if you crochet this fellow of chocolate brown yarn, you get an "eternal" chocolate bunny :-)
Here's another one, and here a more traditional, knitted one.

"Ostara is the solar festival that marks the transition from the dark to the light half of the year: day and night are of equal length. On this day, the sun rises due east and sets due west"
(exactly at 6, everywhere on this planet. I think that's magical.)

"Ostara is a celebration of conception, regeneration and the triumph of light over darkness."

"Just as Ostara is a time to sow the seed that will be harvested later in the year, it is also a time to act on new ideas and begin ventures that will grow as the year proceeds. It is the point when, conceptually at least, the sun enters the sign of Aries and the astrological cycle begins again. Ostara is a time for renewal, when we should reaffirm our commitment to those things that are important to us and revitalize our journey towards our goals. "

30 days of Ostara; Day 20

2011-03-10T12:08:00.000+01:00

Some Easter baking at Joy of Baking. I have to say the chocolates surrounded by the yellows, creams and whites of lemon cakes, coconut cake, white butter cake, pavlova and cheesecake screams Ostara! Couldn't be better...
I'm going to celebrate my birthday about a month after Ostara, and that's the Christian Easter weekend, so I'll be having an Ostara brunch/tea thingy... my only problem is "who will eat all of that?" :-D
It's a Finnish tradition to serve seven kinds of coffee breads, but I have always found it very difficult to limit myself... I will have a chocolate cake, but I think I'll have a marzipan cover with daffodils. I want to make some sugar cookies and bébes, and pashka, and pavlova with yellow fruits, like peaches and passion fruit... and some other things :-D
Like macarons and huge lemon swirl meringues... I don't know what's with me and meringue right now. I'm dreaming of everything meringue. Lemon meringue pie. Sorbet. Perhaps it's the Ostara :-D
And egg pie... I just love egg pie. (Or custard pie, as it's also called.)
Also, there should be some buns. Perhaps I'll make Hot Cross Buns...

When I read "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" I fell in love with the Easter traditions Maria described. That year (I was about 12) I made a bunch of decorated boughs and on Palm Sunday I walked around our estate and left one bough to each field and forest. I blessed the area waving my "wand" to each direction and asking health and prosperity from Goddess.
It was a very good year, everything we did in the grounds succeeded, and even though it was a rainy summer, we managed to make hay at the exact right week, when it wasn't raining, so we got dry, good quality hay for our sheep that year, when everyone else was swearing over the wet hay... If I remember correctly, we could even sell a bit of the hay in the Spring.
My mother believes firmly that it was because of my little blessing trip, and she still asks if I could do it again.

Here's a list of bird seeds. It's essential to keep feeding the birds at Springtime, because the insects aren't here yet, but the winter seeds have been eaten.

Sharing nest material with wild birds
You can put there pretty much anything - all the strings, yarns and threads that are left over from your crafts, clippings of hair from both human and animals, the hair that's in combs and brushes.

Spring grooming cuts down pet shedding

Very easy origami rooster basket

Make a kusudama ball for Easter

Rose kissing ball

30 days of Ostara; Day 19

2011-03-09T12:07:00.000+01:00

Save the shells after breakfast and use them to make candles or seeding pots.

Fun Ostara crafts

The Pagan Ostara transformed into Two Christian celebrations.

The first is the Annunciation. Ostara is sometimes called the Lady Day, and as Virgin Mary is the Christian Lady, it was natural the Goddess worship part of Ostara was turned into veneration of Virgin Mary. Also as Spring Equinox is 9 months before Yule, it was found appropriate to celebrate the annunciation of the virgin birth. Angel Gabriel comes to tell the news to Mary carrying a white lily, like the Roman youngsters visited their sweethearts in this very day. Accepting the lily was seen as official engagement, and it wasn't unusual that nine months after this visit, the bride gave birth to a baby. The date of Annunciation is 25th of March.

The second is Easter, which adopted its name and symbols, and the rebirth mythology. Combined with the Jewish adaptation of Spring Equinox celebrations; Pesach, we have the Christian Easter. Pesach is no longer attached to Spring Equinox, but falls on Nisan 15th every year. It's always a full moon on Pesach 1st, and usually the full moon after equinox, but sometimes not. The Christian Easter falls on the first Sunday after full moon after Equinox (21.3. as the fixed date according to the Church), so they count their date much more "pagan" :-D

Rice crisp easter eggs? I think I'd prefer a rice crisp treat bunny or chicks... One could make those with the chocolate molds as well. Rice crisp treat Ostara lamb... :-)

The Easter Lamb Cake is a Catholic tradition, and Cake Wrecks is having fun with the more or less horrifying (horrified?) lamb cakes... "lamb fleeces" (it might be interesting to make the fleece of meringues... hmm...) and "lamb-entations". I love Cake Wrecks... please, what ever you do, don't do things like these: "Easter, is that you?".

30 days of Ostara; Day 18

2011-03-08T12:07:00.000+01:00

Cute scrabble tile ornaments

You can make yourself a lovely, primitive bunny like this, here's the pattern

I have been thinking about a list of movies with Ostara themes, but I can't find anything about "rebirth", "new beginnings", "new start" or "fresh start"... and I find it odd. There are tons of movies with these themes.
But here's a list of movies touching the theme "liberation/freedom". I plan watching them with Ostara in mind and seeing if I can recommend any of them.
I suppose the movies: Sleeping with the enemy, Enough and Double jeopardy might work...
I'm also thinking about Bucket List, 7 things to do before I'm 30; Last holiday (both versions) and It's a wonderful life would do too.
Hook is a great movie about rebirth.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day sounds great :-)
Chocolat, absolutely. About changes, beginnings, chocolate and Easter.

I'll work on this :-)

Eccles Cakes
Simnel cake
Making gum paste daffofil
Cinnamon lamb stew yum yum!

Collect empty egg shells so that you can make different egg shell crafts, like this "wisp of spring" garland. Empty eggs before you dye them, because the dye can suffer from the egg blowing process. Have a stick ready so that you can keep the egg shells pushed down the dye, if you wish to dye them. There are many different ways of decorating egg shells.

Crochet egg garland - you can also sew buttons on the ribbon and add a string on the eggs, and alternate different Ostara ornaments in your button ribbon garland.
Also, crochet eggs to be used as they are, and decorate them with embroidery. Really cute :-)

I also like the bunny-egg -paper garland

30 days of Ostara; Day 17

2011-03-07T12:07:00.000+01:00

Make geode eggs

make crystal sugar sticks / rock candy

how to make sugar cubes and how to decorate them
The trick is to use only water and confectioner's sugar to make the icing, no egg whites or meringue powder.
(You can also form any figures out of the water-sugar icing, to be used as sugar cubes...)

Here's some Easter teas for you to enjoy and get inspired by:
corgyncombe courant and Tasha Tudor's Hot Cross Buns for Easter Tea
Marisa's Minis Easter Tea Party and
Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup of Bonnets and Bunnies, Carrots and Cake

I love these vignettes and displays :-) And I adore the Peter Rabbit carrot cake with marzipan vegetables... The garden looks very rich, moist and lovely :-D

In Sweden there was a tradition, that the night before "Waffle Day" (Our Lady's Day 25th of March) the children put out their shoes or socks so that Crane could fill them with candy and a little present. The present was of practical kind, usually a tool of some sort, or something from faraway countries, where the cranes spent their winters, as a souvenir. Sometimes the presents were in eggs, that the crane would have laid in the shoes or socks.
In some places the date wasn't set, but when the crane arrived to the area, he also visited the houses nearby, leaving presents to the children.
In some families there were also sooty foot prints from the hearth or fireplace leading to the shoes, showing where the crane had walked. Adults were having fun painting crane footprints everywhere, on the walls and ceilings as well. The children then followed the prints to their presents.
It was also a tradition to "run crane", barefeet run 7 or 9 times around the house, and young people ran to throw in letters (either with a joke or sort of Valentine written on) in to their friends' homes. As the fire was put down, the kids used to throw in these letters through the chimney. This naturally happened when the chimneys in houses were still open the whole way down to the fireplace. The youngsters could be dressed as cranes with bags on their feet so that one wouldn't guess who they were by footprints.

Cute candy decoration ideas from Good Housekeeping. I really like the tulips and the liquorice nests :-)

Crochet a Victorian straw basket. You can use anything in stead of straw, for example plastic bags cut into "plarn" or paper yarn, and use pastel colored yarn instead of the brown silk yarn in the pattern.

30 days of Ostara; Day 16

2011-03-06T22:01:00.000+01:00

I love poppy seeds in pastries!
In Poland they make this thing called Makowiec for Easter (and other holidays).
I have a recipe of rich poppy seed and chocolate cake somewhere, I'll post it when I find it.
Here's poppy seed potica - just don't be that scroogy with the filling.
And here, of course, Haman taschen filled with poppy seeds. It is Purim, after all ;-)

In Germany they use to decorate wells for Easter... now THIS is what I'm talking about! :-D

The custom of the Easter fountain (or well) (Osterbrunnen) is an old tradition designed to celebrate the importance of water as a life giver and it is believe that the water that has been blessed on Easter Sunday has special powers. Throughout the year, women collect hollowed eggs, hand paint them and string them together to make colourful garlands that will be used to decorate the villages' central fountains. They also make arches and crowns of evergreen branches decorated with a few eggs and some times with little rabbits as well as roosters or hens. The crowns and arches are usually placed on the tip of the fountain. All these decorations come up a week or so before Easter Sunday and stay on the fountain for about a week after, making the town center a very colourful and festive sight, especially on Saturday's Market with all the vendors stalls around it.

Crafty Crow's Easter crafts for kids and others. There's so much to do there!

E l e m e n t a l   H o m e s c h o o l i n g

All of nature is waking up and growing right now: green stalks springing toward the sun, babies being born, light growing in strength evermore. The season of new beginnings, springtime is the best time of year to begin new projects and bring to life new interests, dreams, desires. We can manifest new intentions just as easily as flowers spring up. Olivia at Ostara Easter tableOstara rushes in spring's element, air--its direction is east. Air can move between people, subtly mixing scents and undercurrents of communication; as wind, air can quickly disperse stagnation. Often symbolized by the sword or blade, air can swiftly cut through to the heart of the matter, or like a tornado, fiercely blow away what we've become over-attached to. Air reminds us to live lightly and let the winds of change flow through us. Air alters our thoughts and blows a fresh breeze through our expectations and ideas, and air rules intellectual facility. Spring is a special time to invite new challenges of the mind into our lives, begin areas of study, consider old problems with a breath of fresh air and concentrate on affecting positive change. Also symbolized by bells or music, air affects sound, scent and methods of communication. Birdsong has returned, flowers release their fresh scents, we can be outdoors and talk and sing freely, and meet different people again. East rules Ostara and springtime, just as east is where the sun rises, giving birth to the new day.

    * meteorology: oxygen, air currents, weather patterns, clouds, wind
    * hot air balloons, aeronautics
    * birds, eggs
    * hatching, birth
    * multiplication, vocabulary, quizzes, riddles, games for quick thinking
      and intellectual facility
    * music, sound
    * aromatics, aromatherapy, sense of smell
    * architecture, homes, nests
    * trees, wood
    * methods of communication, pen pals
    * maps, graphs, organization
    * Asian studies
    * Crafts: kite making, (also:windmills, weather vanes), pysanky/egg decoration, woodwork, incense making

This is from Lady Griddlebones and Celeste Moondancer's Witchcraft 101:Ostara, which I printed 1999.
It doesn't seem to be around anymore, except here, and that looks like no-one's been there for years...It's great information, though, and I'd hate to see it vanish.
Read also the "Rabbits at Her feet" part. It's wonderful :-)

Here's some easter crafts for kids
How to make the sweetest little Easter basket of yogurt cups.

30 days of Ostara; Day 15

2011-03-05T15:54:00.000+01:00

Timetable for a perfect Ostara

5. Saturday
Plan. Think about what kind of party you want. Write lists.

6. Sunday
Talk with your friends and arrange who will come and help you with cleaning and doing the heavy shopping.

7. Monday
Order what needs to be ordered; flowers, meat, hairdresser

8. Tuesday
Get yourself a party outfit. (See that the whole family has something to wear. There's still time to order what is missing. Don't forget proper underwear, like underskirts if you plan wearing a skirt aso.)

9. Wednesday
See that there is enough film (ha! everyone has a digital camera now-a-days!) and batteries for the cameras.
Get a photo album /scrapbook and plan how to document your Ostara.

10. Thursday
Write your Ostara card list and check all the addresses.

11. Friday
Get most of the things you are going to need for the party, that can wait, like beverages, candy, candles aso.

12. Saturday
Clean your home properly, with your friends, and decorate it.
Don't forget to clean the spirit of your home too!

13. Sunday
Crafting day - with kids or friends
Make cards and decorations, if you're into that.
Make presents, if you are not. (Or just wrap presents.)
Just be together, if you are not crafty people. Enjoy eggnog and cookies.
14. Monday
Send cards.
Baking day.

15. Tuesday
Make candy, if you are into that sort of thing

16. Wednesday
Prepare foods that need a couple of days to be at their best, like freshly salted salmon.

17. Thursday
Have a party rehearsal and take notes. You still have a couple of days to see you have everything you need.
Put last minute touches on the house, get the flowers

18. Friday
Fetch the things you ordered.
In the evening, do something that is not associated with Ostara in any way. Watch a Christmas movie, (because it has nothing to do with Ostara), take a looooooong bath, eat pop corn.
Send the kids to the movies or to have a pajamas party with their friends.

19. Saturday
Make all food that can be made day before and prepare for the rest.

15 Easter Celebration Menus

20. Sunday
PARTY TIME!

30 days of Ostara; Day 14

2011-03-04T10:25:00.000+01:00

Bluebird Papercrafts have some absolutely amazing Easter crafts! She is also very generous and shares a lot of patterns and tutorials. Wonderful!

Make your own marshmallow peeps.
Here's the bunny, that can be used in a lot of different projects. Cut it out of felt and make bunny peep garlands, for example.
The chick peeps are a little different, they aren't cut but piped. You could make the sunflower cake. It's really cute. :-) (But I would make it a chocolate cake. I think chocolate frosting on yellow cake is cheating.)
Here's how to make them of felt.

Crochet pansies :-) Yes, it's a Turkish site, but the symbols are universal.
A cute pansy doily
I just love pansies... they are so happy flowers :-)

A rabbit gathering from German Brigitte magazine.
Here's how to make the rabbits for the mobile and here's how to make a mobile. Just replace the origami fish with bunnies :-)
Spagat also has free printable eggs and bunnies for a mobile

Cashmere bunny tutorial and spring mini tote to act as Ostara basket :-)

These macarons look so Ostara-y!

30 days of Ostara; Day 13

2011-03-03T14:29:00.000+01:00

Sew a fabric Ostara basket

How to host a perfect brunch:

1. have a buffet
2. have several egg dishes for Ostara brunch, like deviled eggs, scrambled eggs, Italian egg bread etc. Beautiful boiled eggs can be made in good time beforehand and they look really pretty.
3. Other things to serve:
ham, lamb (have cold, smoked leg of lamb, it's really good) and salmon;
cheese
pastries; brioche, challah or pashka is good bread for a brunch, but you could also bake bagels (really good with cream cheese and lox ;-)) or bunny or birdie buns.
I like to serve my veggies raw, in pieces, so that people can eat them on sandwich or as salad, or as fingerfood, what ever they prefer.
Quiche would be nice for a brunch. Choose foods that can be prepared beforehand and served cold or kept warm for a longer time without the food quality suffering. Also, serve food that is already cut in portions and prepared, for example slice the bagels, cut the bread and pie aso.
4. Desserts: serve cupcakes, bars/brownies/blondies, fruit salad, cinnamon rolls... things that can easily be picked and eaten. Waffles would be wonderful for Ostara brunch. Peaches and apricots look very Ostara-y, like big egg yolks. You could make a peach quark pie (replace cherries with canned peaches), or buttermilk pie bars.
5. Tea and coffee, but alcoholic beverages belong to brunch as well. It's usually something "fruity" like Bloody Mary, Bellini or Mimosa. You could also try eggnog or another egg drink, to honor Ostara ;-).
6. The more guests you have the more tables you should have. It's a good idea to serve meats and vegetables on one table, beverages on another and desserts and sweets on yet another. Besides, if you have several small tables, you can decorate each table differently. Leave room before the serving platters, so that your guests can put down their plates as they take food.
7. You can set a table for eating, and if you do, set a place for each guest, with placeholders, napkins and cutlery. Don't use centerpieces or only low centerpieces on this table, so that your guests can discuss with each other.
If you don't have set places, place the cutlery in the end of the buffet table with napkins.
8. Set the tables already day before.

Easter bunny craft

Ostara ritual

30 days of Ostara; Day 12

2011-03-02T14:25:00.000+01:00

Knitted easter eggs

Try preparing ham in coca cola. It's really good!
You can also try the ham cooked in balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.
This one, cooked in maple syrup, apple juice and mustard is delightful too.

These maple and orange glazed carrots are good side dish for an Ostara dinner.

"The name is thought to be derived from a goddess of German legend, according to Jakob Grimm in his Deutsche Mythologie. A similar goddess named Eostre was described by the Venerable Bede. Bede indicated that this name was used in English when the Paschal holiday was introduced. Since then this name (not the holiday) has been converted to Easter, or in German Ostern. Some scholars question both Bede's and Grimm's conclusions due to a lack of supporting evidence for this goddess. Others argue that a lack of further documentation is not surprising given that Bede is credited with writing the first substantial history of England (in which he described Eostre as a goddess whose worship had already passed) and Grimm was specifically attempting to capture oral traditions before they might be lost."

Take walks in parks, woods or other green areas. Make the walking a ritual in itself. Wear flowers in your hair, or as a necklace, and strew them around and on your alter.
Take a walk and look for signs of emerging life in the forests and fields or in a local park.
Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.

Take photos during your walks and use them to illustrate your "30 days of Ostara" journal. If there are flowers in where you live, pick some and press them to be put in your journal later.

30 days of Ostara; Day 11

2011-03-01T12:59:00.000+01:00

"Sheep, particularly rams are associated with fertility, interestingly enough, lambs are now associated with Easter."
It is because of Attis, Cybele's lover, who was a shepherd. There are not many Goddesses associated with sheep. We have Brigid, Lakhar and Sirtur, but Brigid and her sheep are associated with Imbolc. Sheep (ram) are usually associated with God, and naturally Sheep God's wife is a Heavenly Ewe.
I suppose one reason to why sheep are associated with Ostara is that at the Spring Equinox the sun moves from Pisces (fishes) to Aries (ram).

The flower symbolism associated with pussy willows is motherhood.
In England and Russia they say people used to tap each other on shoulder with wisps of pussy willow, to wish health and prosperity. In Finland there's a tradition of "virpominen".

One of Eostre's devotees was a small hare who wished very much to give a gift to his goddess, but he didn't know what he could possibly offer that would be of any value to her. Then one day while foraging, the hare came across a fresh egg, a very prized commodity indeed. The little hare wanted very badly to eat the egg, as it had been a long time since he'd feasted on anything finer than dry grasses. Before he could take a bite of his prize, he realized this egg might make the perfect gift for Eostre. But, he pondered, Eostre could have all the eggs she wanted, anytime she wanted them. She was a goddess, a creator, the embodiment of Life itself. Giving her just any egg would never do. How, he wondered, could he make this egg a fit offering for his goddess?

The little hare took the egg home and pondered how to make it as beautiful and new as Eostre made the world each spring. He began to decorate the egg. He painted it in the hues of Eostre's spring woods and placed upon the shell symbols sacred to Eostre. When he felt he could not make the egg any more beautiful, he took it to Eostre and offered it to her.

Eostre was so pleased by the little hare's sacrifice of his egg to her, and by the manner in which he decorated it for her, that she wanted everyone--especially children, who are themselves symbols of new life--to enjoy these representations of her bounty. Since that Ostara day long ago, the descendants of that hare have taken up the task of delivering decorated eggs to the world's children at spring. They are called Eostre's Bunnies or, more commonly, the Easter Bunny.

(In my mind this story is leaving out something very important.
It is not good to ask the little hare to keep sacrificing and giving, just for the "fun" of it. The Goddess should have been so moved by the little hare's sacrifice that She made the hare into her special pet, who was being fed and cuddled by Her handmaids, and never go hungry again, never be in need for anything ever again.
Also, it is not okay of the Goddess to ask the little hare be making Easter eggs for human children. What have the kids ever done to the little hare? Nothing. What have the little children done to Goddess Eostre so that She would be forcing hares to decorate eggs for all eternity just to please the little ingrates? Symbols of birth? Nah. All babies are, not only human babies. I don't like this kind of art-ism. No, asking the little hare and all his/her descendants for ever more to make Easter eggs to little children would be like telling your husband-to-be to give diamond rings to every girl around. This story needs a better ending... hmm...)

Easter cubes, baskets and cards - printables
metal egg tag . you don't need a dremel. Most metal sheets/foil are thin enough to be cut with ordinary scissors and you can use a simple nail and hammer to punch a hole on it.

30 days of Ostara; Day 10

2011-02-28T11:03:00.000+01:00

Living Crafts have a lots of wonderful ideas for Ostara decoration.
This should be a cross stitch freebie Easter decoration, but the link is dead. It's not rocket science to copy the pattern from the photo, though.

Mini Easter gift bag printables

"The Sun Wheel, a symbol of perfect balance at the Equinox, is the inspiration for the traditional spring roll known as the Hot Cross Bun."

Fabric Easter egg tutorial

One Ostara symbol is the Green Man

A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit. Commonly used as a decorative architectural ornament, Green Men are frequently found on carvings in churches and other buildings. "The Green Man" is also a popular name for English public houses and various interpretations of the name appear on inn signs, which sometimes show a full figure rather than just the head.

The Green Man motif has many variations. Found in many cultures around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities springing up in different cultures throughout the ages. Primarily it is interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, or "renaissance," representing the cycle of growth each spring.

Fresh and colorful Easter table settings

Table setting is naturally only one of the many things you need to consider when planning a party. A holiday is just another party, a lot bigger though, more a weekend than a party, but the things you need to consider are the same.

- how many meals and what meals? Dinner party, brunch, tea, all of them? Potluck? Something else?
- At whom and when?

- what are you going to eat?
- entertainment?
You need to think about two things here:
a) movies, stories, games; the things you do when you "do nothing", when you're alone, when you wait for the "next activity", like opening gifts
b) caroling, trick-or-treat'ing, egg hunting
- colors, symbols, flowers?
- music?
- appealing to nose - smells and scents?

- countdown calendars
I'm a big fan of these :-) Take a look of the hundreds of "Advent calendars" and "countdown calendars" and make yourself one decorated with the colors and symbols you associate with Ostara. It's no use copying these hundreds of correspondence lists online, if the symbols and colors mentioned there do nothing for you. Even though we have some common symbols, most of our symbols are unique and very personal. I for example do not associate purple and green with Samhain, but a lot of people do. To me Ostara is mainly green and yellow, for new growth and sun, but pastels are kind of nice too. Ostara is a little of a children's room, and most things meant for small children are made in pastels.

- what are you going to wear? I like the idea of dressing up for Sabbaths; being a witch or a monster on Samhain, an elf on Yule, an angel at Imbolc and wearing white peasant linen on Beltane. On Ostara I like the idea of a Victorian cotton dress with light print and laces. One also needs a bonnet... to keep the bunny ears on ;-)

Some of these things need to be prepared in good time beforehand. There's about 3 weeks left to Ostara. You should know by now how you want to celebrate it.

Also, do NOTHING you don't like. It's a holiday, a celebration AND a vacation in one.

30 days of Ostara; Day 9

2011-02-27T09:40:00.000+01:00

Edain McCoy in her book The Sabbaths says that the lily, Easter Lily, was a symbol of life and love in the ancient Rome. I really don't trust her much, but I like her tales and stories. Holiday traditions have been born with less credibility, so I don't much care whether she has her facts right or not.

...[Lily] adorned Ostara altars and temples. Young men, playing the role of the lusty young God, would present them (lilies) to the young women they were courting. Accepting the lily meant much the same thing as accepting a diamond ring does now.

The classic origami lily
How to make a gumpaste lily
Easter lily is naturally all white, with just a touch of green-yellow in the center. You could paint the petals with a little green and gold.
hand lily :-D
crepe paper lily
very pretty paper lilies
Nice egg carton lilies. Just paint them white.

crepe paper crocuses
very pretty paper crocuses

So cute chalkboard pots :-) and other tutorials from "Totally Tutorials"

Eggs-in-basket
They are NOT called "toad in a hole". That's sausages in Yorkshire pudding (which in Sweden is called pancake.)

I call these "bullseye" or "one-eyed egg sandwich" and make them as sandwiches.
I fry one piece of graham toast, an egg sunny side up, and another piece of sandwich with a hole cut on with an egg cup, and the "hole" should be fried too. Then I assemble the sandwich - one piece of fried graham toast, the egg, sunny side up, yolk in the middle, season it with some salt and paprika, the hole-y piece of fried toast, carefully placing the yolk in the hole, and then top it with the fried "hole". It doesn't need any butter or mayonnaise or so, the frying makes the bread greasy enough. It's really delicious, and one "villain" to my obesity. But it's really good, looks nice and would work as part of Ostara brunch :-)

Alana George's Easter Ornament Swap - be inspired ;-)

Really easy fleece bunny. Make a whole row on the window cill :-D

I really dislike Martha Stewart, but she has an army of great photographs and wonderful, talented craftswomen working for her...

30 days of Ostara; Day 8

2011-02-26T18:53:00.000+01:00

You really need to plan your March and Ostara, to make your Ostara the best holiday you can.
Think about what Ostara is, how the world and nature looks at this time of the year, and what are you looking after and waiting for.

It's still February, and it doesn't LOOK like Spring at all. I am anticipating that the snow melts and there will be small brooks everywhere. I'm waiting for the roads to turn from ice to sand. I'm waiting for the first "titityy" of the tits. I'm waiting for the first flowers of the Spring, the First butterfly, the smell of wet trees in the forest. I'm waiting for willow kittens. I'm waiting for the days to get warmer and longer and lighter. I'm waiting eagerly for the weather to get warm enough for me to get to my little balcony garden and start making it in order.
I will be decorating my house with all these things and their symbols. I will be making the REAL Spring come to my home before it comes outside, as sympathetic magic, inspiring Mother to "do it better". She will :-) I will be emulating Eostre as she travels through the nature and turns white into green, and make my home flower.

Then think about your favorite Holidays and feasts. Christmas, Samhain, birthdays? Tea party with your friends? Take all the details that make these feasts and holidays wonderful and lovely, and adjust them to fit Ostara.
I love Yule.
I love the long preparing streak, baking and preserving and filling the freezer with goodies to be eaten at Yuletide.
I love making cards and getting cards.
I love thinking about the presents, choosing presents, making presents, wrapping presents, giving presents and getting presents.
It's a tradition that at Ostara people get the new summer clothes, and wear them the first time at Spring Equinox. In Sweden there was also a tradition of Crane Eve, when the returning cranes left presents to children in their shoes and stockings. It was usually new tools or an exotic souvenir, as the cranes had been aboard ;-)
I love Yule carols and stories, in books and movies.
I love all the Saint days of December with their old traditions, like Lucia day, celebrated in Sweden, or St Nicholas' Day, celebrated in Holland.
I love the scents of freshly baking gingerbread and hyacinths, I love the sight of lights reflecting from Yule baubles and glitter, I love the sight of candles on every window, I love all the good tastes of Yule, and I love the carols and bells. And I love the feeling of love infusing the whole world. It's almost as strong as it was on my wedding day... I love the warm and fuzzy feeling of not being alone.

How about you?

And how will you be able to adjust this to fit Ostara?

A little gardening checklist for the month of March

Spring chick and Easter egg craft tutorial
European bread basket sew-along, parts 1, 2 and 3 - the last part, how to add ties seems to be missing... weird. But there's another tutorial, a third, and a free pattern from Coats and Clark, to give you some ideas on how to move on.
It's really silly easy, so you could make several, in different sizes and make a display of them, or give to all your friends and relatives as Ostara gift :-D

In Ukraina the housewives showed off with an Easter basket. There were supposed to be at least one embroidered napkin or cloth, but the showiest SAHMs had two; one under the bread, the other covering the bread.
The bread is decorated with sun symbols and there's all kinds of superstitions concerning the bread. It's called Pashka. Pashka dough is similar to challah or brioche dough.

Upon placing the paska into the oven say: "Holy paska, be as grand and beautiful as the sun, because we are baking you for the sun. Let all members of our family be healthy. Let our children grow up as quickly as you grow. Come out as beautiful as you go in!"

In the basket should also be eggs, a little pot of butter, sweet cream cheese, spicy sausage (kovbasa/kielbasa) and a little horse radish and beets and salt.

Polish farmer's cheese and Polish cheese pierogis
Ukrainian sweet cheese dessert (baked)
Pashka cheese dessert (unbaked)

30 days of Ostara; Day 7

2011-02-25T18:24:00.000+01:00

Felted easter bunny by Dianne Parmelee

There's tons of simple Ostara ornaments one can make of felt. You can cut the figures with the help of cookie cutters and then just sew together with embroidery floss and add some decorations with more floss or by gluing on more felt, like Brooke did here. Eggs, bunnies, chicks and lambs are all good for Ostara, also all spring flowers.

Quilted ball tutorial 1 and 2 - use Ostara fabrics; yellow, green and pastels, so your ornament will look Ostara-y.

"fake" quilted disc

folded star hotpad/trivet tutorial

I just noticed that Final Fantasy is having Little Ladies' Week. I suppose it is to honor Hinamatsuri, the Girls' Day in Japan, celebrated on March 3rd. On 8th of March is then the International Women's Day. I think we should apply this in some ways to our lives. We all need to embrace the little princesses in our hearts, and drink pink lemonade and dress in our best clothes - or as fairytale princesses :-D Just think about Enchanted :-) It is a lovely movie, and I say we need a little bit of that in our everyday lives.

Some Ostara recipes

Making a bunny out of napkin for Ostara table setting. The photo isn't very good, but I hope you can figure out how to do it :-)

Added: Here's the same at Good Housekeeping and here's a bit different napkin bunny

30 days of Ostara; Day 6

2011-02-24T10:44:00.000+01:00

In Finland the tradition is to sow ryegrass (not rye, even though some people sow cereals, like wheat) in small bowls, baskets or trays. It is usually still winter outside.
Some people make fake grass by weaving or sewing "ryijy" (rya rug) with spring green linen thread.
One can also grow mustard and cress. Pretty and good on sandwich ;-)

eggs covered with yarn, felt face added

Ostara symbols: eggs, rabbits, cauldrons; Ostara is about New Life, beginnings, birth. All life starts from an egg - or a seed, which is practically the same thing, so both eggs and seeds are good to eat at Ostara.
Ostara magic is about new beginnings, life and fertility and balance, as this is Spring Equinox. It is good to plant seeds as part of the ritual or spell cast during Ostara.

Meditate on the imagery of the seed. Consider a seed and how it relates to the earth, how it falls from its mother plant into a rich loam made from the breakdown of other plants. Consider how the seed is influenced by sun and rain, by the energy from sky and earth.
Or Contemplate as a seed an idea or situation in your life, then imagine the seed breaking open and sending out roots and sprouts. Study what these roots and sprouts look like, where they find barriers and where they grow most strongly.

There are two different opinions on Pagan egg hunts. As the Pagans used to hide eggs in the nature as gifts to the nature spirits, one theory is that the early Christians used children to find out their Pagan neighbors, as the kids found the eggs, and the people whose property the eggs were found on were supposedly Pagans.
This is though just a theory. I believe it's good to organize egg hunts, as there are always eggs that are not found and then will be left to the nature spirits and wildlife.
You can also take a walk in the wild and toss Ostara eggs into the woods. Someone will find them and be happy. ;-)

Here's a funny Ostara egg hunt for group of adults :-)

You can also make a private, family egg hunt. Get a present for each member of the family and hide them, in paper eggs if you wish, around the house, and have the family members search for their eggs. If you want, you can have several eggs for each member, or appoint each member of the family to get an egg to one other member of the family, like Secret Bunny, and also hide the egg.
Don't get candy or sweets in the gift, but something else enjoyable and likable, like paper dolls or small book of tricks or puzzles.

Here you have two tiny cacti in egg cups. You could start a tradition of giving cacti and other succulents in egg cups as Ostara gifts to your family and friends, so that in the end everyone has a wonderful terrarium AND a collection of egg cups. :-D

One traditional Easter meal in Finland is mämmi. The sweet flavor is very specific, but best cold with cold cream or milk. One can add a little sugar if one wishes.

30 days of Ostara; Day 5

2011-02-23T14:15:00.000+01:00

In Finland we have something called Mignon eggs. Fazer has been making these for over 100 years now. The Mignon eggs are filled with nougat ganache, but they are still very good :-)

Here's how to make these :-)

How to make a washcloth bunny:

You can take any longer strip and bind it into a bunny, like for example a strip of dough and make bunny buns ;-)
You can also make bunnies from napkins for Ostara table setting.

Cute...

You could make Ostara piñatas that look like eggs.

This panorama egg is made by winding thread around a balloon, gluing it on place, then the balloon is popped, hole cut and "egg shell" varnished to keep it steady, and filled, and decorated.

Carrots are not very Ostara-y things, but bunnies are, and bunnies and carrots are associated, so one could make a garland of bunny and carrot cones... naturally filled with candy :-D
Here's how to make the bunny cones
and here's a "carrot full of candy".

Carrots are actually rather sweet and make great candy:
carrot candy

carrot cake is naturally a well-known sweet, and you can make cake pops of carrot cake, or cake truffles or petit fours.

Carrot jam can also be made into candy. (sugared jelly candies recipe, pate de fruit)

My parents told me that during the war the carrots were sliced into thin coins and boiled with sugar into candy - that is, candied.
Here's carrot cake decorated with candied carrots
and here's carrot cupcakes with spiced buttercream frosting and candied carrot crisp topping
(Here's the better carrot cake recipe :-D)

With all the sugar and boiling, one can make carrots into a less healthy option :-D

You can also take the easy way out and fill a clear plastic bag with orange candy (or dried apricots... if you wish to have it a bit more natural ;-))

Great (and cheap) Easter Basket Ideas from More Style Than Cash

About some other feasts of this time of the year:

"The Festival of Isis was held in ancient Egypt as a celebration of spring and rebirth. Isis features prominently in the story of the resurrection of her lover, Osiris. Although Isis' major festival was held in the fall, folklorist Sir James Frazer says in The Golden Bough that "We are told that the Egyptians held a festival of Isis at the time when the Nile began to rise… the goddess was then mourning for the lost Osiris, and the tears which dropped from her eyes swelled the impetuous tide of the river."

"For the ancient Romans, the Feast of Cybele was a big deal every spring. Cybele was a mother goddess who was at the center of a Phrygian fertility cult, and eunuch priests performed mysterious rites in her honor. Her lover was Attis (who also happened to be her grandson), and her jealousy caused him to castrate and kill himself. His blood was the source of the first violets, and divine intervention allowed Attis to be resurrected by Cybele, with some help from Zeus. In some areas, there is still an annual celebration of Attis' rebirth and Cybele's power, called the Hilaria, observed from March 15 to March 28."

"In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a sun festival, celebrating the imminent end of the winter. It has now blend together with the Christian Lent tradition, and is thus celebrated as the last week before the Lent.

Maslenitsa includes masquerades, snowball fights, sledding, riding on swings and plenty of sleigh rides. In some regions, each day of Maslenitsa had its traditional activity: one day for sleigh-riding, another for the sons-in-law to visit their parents-in-law, another day for visiting the godparents, etc. The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa, formerly known as Kostroma. (Some scholars believe that the scarecrow symbolizes Mokosh.)

As the culmination of the celebration, on Sunday evening, Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a bonfire. Any remaining blintzes are also thrown on the fire, and Lady Maslenitsa's ashes are buried in the snow (to "fertilize the crops").
(Some regard kostroma burning as a sacrifice to Jarilo. It is assumed that the custom of burning a scarecrow replaced the human sacrifice formerly practised by Slavic pagans. Today, many celebrations burn scraps of paper on which are written sins along with the effigy in a bonfire.)"

"Purim is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rescue of Jews living in Persia from certain destruction at the hands of Haman, an evil Persian nobleman. The king was married to a Jewish woman, Esther, who together with her uncle managed to expose Haman and rescue the Jews of Persia.

Much of Purim is spent in various stages of merrymaking and charitable acts. One tradition of Purim involves the creation of a food platter or basket for neighbors and local charities. During Purim, many participants wear colorful costumes and masks while parading through the streets."

Purim is most likely developed from the Persian Nowruz, New Year, which is celebrated at Spring Equinox.

Pagans don't BOTHER celebrating Sabbaths...

2011-02-22T11:59:00.000+01:00

At least some of the mystery has been revealed. I just read Pagan Soccer Mom's post on why she doesn't celebrate the Sabbaths.

"I thought that the sabbats just had to be celebrated in full regalia - circles and calling all the quarters, rituals galore! Buuuut, as I mellowed out and really got to the core of my beliefs, I figured out that it's not necessary."

Of course it's not necessary. But do you really think it's a great message to send your children and other Pagans that the world turns around and seasons follow each other, and that's nothing to bother about for a Pagan? That the miracle of Equinoxes is not a miracle. It's just a date like any other. Who cares? Not Pagan Soccer Mom.

Of course it's not NECESSARY, but it's PART OF BEING A PAGAN. If WE don't celebrate our Sabbaths, who does? Leave it to Christians, so that they can steal them and infuse the old traditions with their horrible anti-life messages?

Of course it's not necessary, but I have noticed that I feel better, spiritually, when I do honor the Holidays. Celebrating "in a big way", lifting these 8 days apart from the rest of the year, doing more than "cooking a really nice, season appropriate dinner", "doing a simple candle ceremony" and "TRYING to do some sort of activity".

Frankly, if one cooks ONLY for Sabbaths a "really nice, season appropriate dinner", it's no wonder we don't even KNOW what is eating season appropriately nor know how to cook simple and quick, yet "really nice and season appropriate" dinners.
Cooking is not rocket science nor brain surgery. Not everyone might be a GREAT cook, but everyone can be a good cook.
As we MUST eat, why not make eating and preparing of the food into a Holy Sacrament. Our Mother gives Her BODY to us to feed us, She has made this lovely, beautiful, fertile world just to feed us - physically and spiritually. Every morcel you put in your food should be laced with gratitude and prayer.

After the long and cold wintertime it's finally time for the snow to melt and new growth replace it. It's like the liberation of the Jews from Egypt! Everyone who gardens waits eagerly for the Spring to arrive to be able to get back to their garden. In just a couple of months all this we are living in will be gone. Is that not something to celebrate "in a big way"?

Even though it was lovely that it snowed, the scarce light reflecting from the icy surface doesn't replace the wonderful sunlight streaming in through the windows. Have a day when you wash the windows and decorate them and the windowsills in a ceremonious way, and enjoy the returning light.
It's only now you can SEE how the light returns, faster every day that goes, the sun rises earlier and earlier...
Can you smell the melting snow in the air? Take a walk in the forest until you can smell it.
Listen to the birds. Soon there will be the First Butterfly of the Summer. One day you'll find a winter bug buzzing on your window. Welcome these signs of returning life and celebrate it.

"Something that has always frustrated me... ...[is] when someone thinks that if they miss celebrating on the actual sabbat day, that they've just missed out."

Frankly, they just did. Do you know that you can balance an egg on the ground on the exact moment of Equinox? Not a minute earlier or later. (Perhaps this is just a myth, I haven't tried it out yet, but there are some witches who say they have actually done this and it's not a myth.) If there is such magic in the air on that specific day, what other magic is in the air?

Frankly, give it a decade and see the difference in keeping the specific days and just randomly waving in that general direction. And do it properly. It's not enough to repeat the correspondences and symbolism like a parrot, THINK about what the day really means. Tune into Mother's breathing and FEEL how she gets up and starts moving... how Her heartbeat gets quicker and stronger...

"The sabbat marks the start of the season."

That depends totally on the Sabbath. Four of them mark the start AND the end of a season, but four, Ostara included, mark the height of the season.

Also, all the preparation work before and landing after are not part of the actual ceremony, but PREPARING FOR IT or LANDING FROM IT. Sure, life sometimes makes it harder to celebrate, and sometimes we have to celebrate a day or two earlier or later, but that doesn't mean the actual Sabbath day isn't important. Celebrating Ostara "sometime in March, or perhaps April" is stealing some of the importance of the day. It is saying that you put all kinds of other things before the Holy Day you are to keep.

Of course we should see Ostara and all the other Sabbaths as Great Holidays, and treat them as we treat every other Holiday. We should take everything we love from other holidays, and adjust them to every holiday, so that Pagans answer the question: "what's your favorite holiday" with "all of them!"
Of course we should be planning for a big family feast, making holiday cookies "days, if not weeks" before Ostara, decorating the house and doing things with the children,your friends or alone, like preparing the Holiday cards and making simple, cheap ornaments, and I agree with her in that this happens so sadly seldom among Pagans today. This is why I'm trying to chance this fact.

I want "12 days of Ostara", a feast for "carrying out the Ostara" on 13th day;
I want Ostara movies and Ostara carols;
I want Ostara food and scents that take you instantly back at your childhood Ostaras;
I want Ostara traditions that your children and grand-children will carry on to generations come;
I want us Pagans to honor Ostara and other Sabbaths as they should be honored.

Goddess marked the days and She keeps Her part of the deal. Is it too much to ask that we FIND time to do ours?

30 days of Ostara; Day 4

2011-02-22T10:52:00.000+01:00

Sugar easter eggs, panorama eggs, egg kaleidoskopes
I really like these :-)

Bakerella's cake pops

I haven't managed to find out why these herbs are listed as Ostara correspondences:
Broom, Celandine, Cinquefoil, Elder, Ginger, Honeysuckle, Iris, Jasmine, Mugwort, Sage, St John's Wort, Vervain, Violets

To me herbs corresponding to Ostara are:
Daffodils, jonquils, narcissi
Easter Lily
crocus
tulips
broom, willow, sallow, osier and hazel
Alliums; onion, garlic, leek, shallot, chives etc. (It's an Aries plant, even though I personally hate the taste of the whole group.)

a long list of Easter links

How to grow sprouts. Sprouts are really good to eat and cheap and easy vegetable at this time of the year.

Growing daffodils indoors - forcing bulbs
It's a bit too late for this year, but try next year :-)

my little mochi has some nice felt tutorials; chibi rabbit and a reindeer pocket that can easily be turned into sheep; just sew in a circle of fur on the lid of the purse/forehead of the sheep

How to make sarubobo (pocket monkey) - add rabbit ears, and you have a pocket bunny.

Fun egg collecting game - works a bit like mahjong (In German)

The photos aren't correct. I need to take today's picture and get photo paper and new ink for the printer.

It's just to illustrate what I'm doing.

It is so amazing

2011-02-21T12:40:00.001+01:00

to find no interest what so ever to this. Why am I even bothering?

I mean... I have been looking for Easter/Ostara things the last month or so, and I find practically nothing. No-one seems to be interested in Easter/Ostara. We Pagan have a wonderful chance of taking back our holidays, drown the Christianized versions, beat the drum for the forgotten ones, make each and every one of The Eight as big as "Halloween" and "Christmas", but no.

Kelli's easter decoration
Kelli is not Pagan, but Christian, but I like her style. This scene especially is lovely.

Pagans don't seem to be much interested in antique and vintage things, interior design, entertaining, household, decorating, even crafts. It amazes me to no end, because I always looked at myself as some sort of mediocre, ordinary and rather uninteresting person, that the world is full of people, others than me, who DO things. I am a dreamer, they are the doers... and no it seems that I have to become a doer to make my dream come true.

I don't have a house. I live in a rather shabby apartment, and not shabby chic, just shabby. Nothing has been done here since 70's when the house was built, the floors are plastic carpeting from 70's, the wallpapers are painted several times over, and they weren't put in place especially well in the first place either. The ceiling... oh. I don't even want to talk about the kitchen. All in all, I live in a place which is NOT a good "backdrop" for different Sabbath ideas, and I am not a good photographer. And... so on and so forth. I'm no Martha Stewart, that's for sure. Especially not economically ;-)

But I thought there are Pagans out there who live in pretty houses, who are creative and productive, who like holidays and love to decorate their pretty houses for the different holidays, and go holiday crazy 8 times a year. Of course we all have our favorite holiday, but why keep quiet of the rest?

Christmas About 665,000,000 results
Valentine's Day About 173,000,000 results
Halloween About 168,000,000 results
Easter About 91,100,000 results
Thanksgiving About 70,800,000 results
Yule About 18,900,000 results
Passover About 10,900,000 results
Midsummer About 10,700,000 results
Rosh Hashanah About 7,450,000 results
Purim About 7,420,000 results
Fourth of July About 5,530,000 results
Samhain About 4,010,000 results
Beltane About 993,000 results
Pesach About 962,000 results
Mabon About 538,000 results
Litha About 482,000 results
Ostara About 425,000 results
Imbolc About 330,000 results
Lughnasadh About 99,900 results

I really believed that when Pagans might not be rich and conventionally "pretty" "cute", but more bohemian, indie eccentric, special and a bit surreal, and replacing the lack of material resources with excess of mental resources, creativity and imagination, motivation to experiment with unusual materials, and artistic abilities to create oneself what one cannot afford to pay to someone else to create, like fancy scrapbook papers and stamps.

But where are they?
Are Pagans so bohemian and independent that they don't even bother celebrating the traditional holidays?
Where are the Pagan soccer moms and domestic goddesses? Where are house witches (apart from kitchen witches and hedge witches)?

30 days of Ostara; Day 3

2011-02-21T10:13:00.000+01:00

How to make pompom chickens
We actually made a special card form for the chicks in school (some 30 years ago...). It had a smaller circle on top of the larger circle, so on didn't need to join two pompoms.
Use thin yarn and cover the circles as tightly as you can, so you get a nice surface for your pompom chick.
You can also make pompom bunnies.
Or these, a little more advanced pompom bunnies with pipe cleaners and cupcake liners.

Bunny buns for Ostara brunch:
Hot cross bunny buns
Easter bunny buns and another recipe with a nicer image
German bunny rolls
egg and bacon filled steamed bunny bao
eating rabbits

The bunnies on top of the egg sticks are made of salt dough.

Ullabenulla's Easter Egg Theatre can be downloaded from Castles in the Air

Easter bunny is a Pagan fertility symbol, and the animal of the Moon Goddess. The egg is a symbol of the Sun God, whose animal is the rooster. At Ostara the Sun God and Moon Goddess come together, night and day are in balance, equally long.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, children sat on the lap of the Easter Bunny as they now sit on Santa's lap. Some surviving photos are quite scary :-D

I need to get a photo and color the bunny but then this is done :-)

30 days of Ostara; Day 2

2011-02-20T09:58:00.000+01:00

In Sweden there is a tradition of decorating twigs with colorful feathers. In Finland we used to decorated twigs with tissue paper tassels. There are usually no spring flowers out yet this high up North, practically the only Ostara flower we have is willow kittens.The twigs are brought home a couple of weeks before Ostara, so that the small leaves burst out, adding a lovely spot of spring green.

Ostara is the Spring Equinox. It is also called the Lady Day. There are several Lady Day's celebrated at this time of the year, like Purim and "The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary". (In Sweden Annunciation is called "Vår Fru Dag", The Day of Our Lady, and it sounds the same as Våffeldag, it's a tradition to eat waffles.

Ostara can be celebrated on either Spring Equinox (20.3. - which is what I do), or the nearest full moon (19.3.) This year the full moon is on Saturday and Spring Equinox on Sunday, so there's no problems :-D

Dalecarlian egg waffles

3 eggs
1 1/2 dl sugar
3 dl flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
150 g melt butter
pinch of vanilla to flavor

Whip eggs and sugar well. Fold in flour, baking powder and vanilla (if you use dry vanilla. Vanilla extract is blend with eggs.) and finally melt butter.
Brush the waffle iron with butter only for the first waffle, the rest won't stick because there's so much butter in the batter.
You need about two tablespoons of batter for each waffle.

Eat with kinuski (Finnish fudge sauce)

Nigella's kinuski sauce (fudge sauce)

These thread spool ornaments are the cutest! They are also not very difficult to make. :-)

Daily picture - my printer isn't working... :-(

But it's my husband and our baby in the dog yard. It's really cold here.

This is the layout for 20.2. I can't finish it, because I have no photos. Fun. NOT!

30 days of Ostara; Day 1

2011-02-19T12:32:00.000+01:00

Ostara is the Wiccan name for Spring Equinox. The name has been modeled after Easter, being another name of the same Goddess; Ostara, Eostre, Easter, Ester, Astarte. The Christians have named their version of the Jewish holiday Pesach Easter, because that is what they celebrated, and replaced with the new symbolism and ideas. Pesach is in all practicality the Jewish celebration of Spring Equinox, the spring-time New Year, Rosh Hashanah being the Autumn New Year. The Jews do not celebrate equinoxes, but have a fixed date for their celebrations. They follow a moon calendar, which makes the date "fluctuate" in the Roman sun calendar, so the Christians have adjusted their date for Easter by the moon and the old Spring Equinox celebration that the Christian holiday replaced.

Ostara is not one of the Big Four (Beltane, Samhain, Imbolc and Lughnasadh) but it is one of the Big Eight, and I think it should get at least the same amount of attention as another "lesser four", Yule (or Christmas, as it's more commonly called :->) To me all the eight are important, and in my mind the "lesser four" are more important than "first days", "Big Four", because those have been calculated after the Sun days. I have always felt the equinoxes and solstices are important.

Ostara falls on 20th of March this year, so there's 30 days to Ostara from today.

To give Ostara the honor and appreciation it deserves, I will be posting something Ostara related every day to Ostara;
- Ostara lore
- Ostara recipes
- Ostara crafts, "ornament a day" and ideas for Ostara decorations

I am going to make a "December Daily" album for Ostara, documenting my 30 days to Ostara and Ostara itself in a 30 pages mini album with one photo on each page.

Here's a list of Ostara activities you could try during the 30 days of Ostara. Document your experience with photos, dried flowers and such.

About scrapbooking: designing with dots and stripes. I'm mad about dots and stripes :-D

How to make Jordan almonds yourself from scratch.The nests in the next picture are filled with Jordan almonds. Really cute :-)

Here's how to dye eggs with natural dyes. In Hungary they then scratch the design on the egg, revealing the white shell from under the dye.
Here's a little more suggestions about what to use as dyes, and also about the color symbolism. Also other Ostara recipes.
Dyeing eggs with teas (Interestingly, hibiscus gives blue too)
These Easter eggs with natural dyes are really pretty...
Dyeing eggs with leafs and flowers printed on

You should also remember that different hen breeds lay different color eggs... you can have pale blue and green, even pink eggs without dyeing them. Then, of course, these eggs end up different color when you dye them. The dye charts are made for white eggs.

If you wish to join me, I'd appreciate it. :-) Leave a link to the comment section to your blog, and I'll put up a link in my blog :-)

I would also appreciate ideas and links, so if you have something, anything, related, it would be nice if you posted it.

OWOH 2011

2011-02-18T20:33:00.000+01:00

Now, after the happening is over, let's share some statistics:

I visited EVERY ONE OF THE ALMOST 900 BLOGS. Every single one.
I had 454 visitors to this blog entry and 106 comments.
That means that HALF OF THE OWOH PARTICIPANTS DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO VISIT THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS' BLOGS.
SHAME ON YOU!

OWOH is supposed to be about visiting each others' blogs, learning to know each other and find new, interesting blogs to follow. It's about you getting some advertisement and paying for it by giving some attention to others.
No wonder it wasn't as good for me this year as it was the previous years. The "one world, one heart" feeling wasn't there. *sigh*

What ever.

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Random.org gave me the number 27 and the comment #27 is Jody, from Tumbleweed Trails.

Congratulations, Jody! I hope you enjoy the deck and post a little pictures of what you do with it :-)

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Welcome to my blog for 5th and last OWOH - One World, One Heart happening, where bloggers come together :-)

I was a bit worried that I wouldn't make it, because I posted last year's OWOH wins to the receivers only yesterday... No, don't worry, it won't take as long this year.:-D I made a promise that I would have the gift ready and also an envelope to post it in, before I gave myself a permission to participate. ;-)

I have not been well lately, so this blog hasn't been updated properly, but I do post every now and then, and every now and then I post more than other times.

I'm 42 in 2 months, married, childless but not petless. We have a dog (so if you don't want dog hair, don't participate in this drawing.)
I am an artist and a crafter, a renaissance woman. I paint, draw, craft (fiber crafts, paper crafts), sculpt, make dolls, create fashion... or I am interested in these things. I have fibromyalgia, and it's making my life pretty miserable, and limited. My hands hurt usually so bad I can't even use them.
I love reading and writing, singing and music, I play recorder (badly :-D) and train our dog when I am not in too much pain. He's the smartest dog in the world, and it's a pity I'm so sick. :-(

I love the Pagan Sabbaths, from Halloween and Yule to all the rest of them. My dream is to make all 8 as big as Christmas :-D

This blog is my spiritual blog and a lifestyle blog. I am Pagan, and even though some of my ideas and thoughts are very "New Age", most of them are not. You will get a good idea of who I am if you look around here.

P.S. I am not very fond of Christians, and every now and then write something that is not nice to read about the subject, so if you are Christian, or find such rantings distasteful, hop over every blog post about Christians and Christianity. There is enough to see without those rantings too.

My thank you gift for one lucky visitor is a used deck of tarot cards, "Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights". It has not been used much, because even though I love the art work, the cards don't speak to me.

As said, they are very beautiful, and could be magnificent bases for ATCs, or as decoration in cards and scrapbooks.

Now, how to get a chance to win this?
a) you have to have an active blog
b) you can live anywhere in the world
c) leave a comment

I will pick a random number from hat the 17th of February - that's a week from now - and inform in this blog who is the winner, and I will also contact the winner in mail if I can. Otherwise I will ask the winner to contact me with her/his address information, so that I can post this bag to you. So be prepared to visit this blog again 18th of February, so that you won't miss your prize.

What to do when faith and love doesn't matter...

2011-02-17T13:19:00.000+01:00

I am being loved by my family, and even though I see this as the greatest blessing of them all... I always write my family as the first on the gratitude list :-) - there are days when this doesn't matter.
I am being loved by my God and love my God with all my being, but there are days when this doesn't matter either.
Today is one of those days.

If my family and God now really loves me, how could they allow me to get into this situation, being overweight and sick and too tired to do anything, really?
Frankly, who cares. I suppose there's the thing with "free will". Not God nor my family can stop me from doing what I choose to do, even when it means that I'm driving myself straight down the hill. I know my own responsibility and accept it fully.

It would be nice if my family would have intervened, come to my home, raided my fridge, freezer and cupboard and thrown away all sugar and carbs, sat me down and told me how they love me and are worried about me, and how I'm hurting them by killing myself with food...
No. It would not have been nice, not at all. I would feel extremely violated, hurt, offended, and the fact that they love me would be the only reason for me to forgive, but I would never forget, and what is the forgiveness worth without forgettal?
No, I wouldn't trust my loved ones again. I would take it as the ultimate vote of inconfidence, that they were telling me I cannot take care of myself, but need a ward, a legal guardian, to feed me.
Of course, I do. Otherwise I wouldn't be fat. But it's not a nice thing, anyway.

It would be nice if God incapacitated me somehow from eating me to death.
No, it would not. I don't want to be in coma for days, weeks, months, years, what ever it takes to lose half my weight. I don't want cancer or any other such disease. I don't want bulimia or anorexia, even though I look at the people suffering from these illnesses with a slight envy. I want to be thin, and sometimes I think I want it so bad I'm ready for anything... but I'm not. I can stop eating right now. I can decide not to put any food in my mouth again until I have reached BMI 19. (OK, 22. It's 37 right now.) If I have some of these diseases, I will not be able to choose. Also, the side effects are pretty bad.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. God loves me, my family loves me, good.
The thing is that sometimes it's not enough.
I have ambitions. I have dreams. I have hopes and ideas and wishes and desires, just like everyone else, and in the end the truth is the same. I am the only person alive, the only one, the only existing being that can give myself all that.
Me.
By choosing, by doing, by working, by planning, by committing and keeping the commitments - for myself.

The love I have in my life will make it easier. I know I have my family's full support for anything I choose to do, and that is already a huge help. Thinking about all the people who are NOT supported by their loved ones... makes me really appreciate the love and support I get.
Also, I know God wants what's best for me, and that God GAVE me my dreams, ambitions, hopes, ideas, wishes and desires, because I was made for those dreams... all my talents, interests and gifts are specially designed to make my dreams happen, by The One whose design is flawless...

But these days, like this one... it's all about me. How I don't love and respect myself enough to give me what I most want, to keep my own promises to myself. How I keep giving myself stones instead of bread, eating cakes and not carrots, putting on more weight instead of working the excess out, collecting more information and things instead of making something of it, procrastinating one more day away I was given as a marvelous gift, wasting one more chance to make it happen, being one step closer to The End, but none closer to The Goal...