Webs of Woven Words, Threads, Stitches and Enchantments

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Hallows Blessings!

Hallows Blessings to the Lady's Breed!


Old Hallowmas

Old Hallowmas, All Hallows Eve,
Pumpkin, apple, hazelnut, leaf.
The mounds stand open,
Spirits roam,
Light your candles, guide them home!
Dance a circle in the Blood Moon's light,
All who celebrate upon this night.
As above, so below,
All goes on to ebb and flow!

~ E A Kaufman copyright 1997-2010 - 
from Enchanted, Poems, Spells & Other Enchantments

Blessings Nine!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Day 2 The Truth

2. Something you love about yourself.


Ok, here's where that Leo energy comes in - the thing I love about myself is that I can ALWAYS find things to love about myself. That being said, the thing I really admire in myself is that I can't hold a grudge for anything, can't stay mad for more than a little bit, blow up and am done. Oh, I've tried holding grudges, but it just doesn't work for me. And, generally, whoever I'm mad at, I love them again just a little later on and I love with my whole heart and being.


And well, I just love being this way!


Blessings nine!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Day 1 - The Truth

1. Something you hate about yourself.


The thing I really dislike about myself is that I'm very reactive and high strung - which can mean inappropriate reactions and words best left unsaid. Oh and much obsessive thinking rehashing whatever it was. I long to be that wise woman, patient and calm, at peace with life in general. And, to be honest, I am much closer to that vision now than ever I have been - old age setting in and not giving a rat's ass anymore. Still, sometimes I could just slap the crap out of myself. The temper, the quick, sharp words. I call myself a curmudgeon, a crosspatch (actually, I like crosspatch better) but don't want to happily wallow in it which is what I do sometimes. My motto, and this is no joke, is: "It's good to be Queen!" 


And yet... I have friends who will disagree with this assessment. That's because I am generally well behaved in public and loyal as the day is long. It takes a lot for me to abandon a friend and when I do, it is for darn good reasons - in my opinion, of course. Friends know they can depend on me and I'll fight right beside them - most of the time more passionately than they do. I'm there for them and I'll side with them, even making excuses when they might be wrong! I can get riled up with the best of them, better than most, in fact.


My close friends know this, but I'll mention it here - Shekhinah Mountainwater, one of the mothers of the Feminist Spiritual Witch movement, may she RIP,  almost kicked me off her women's group because I was "too harsh" in my assessment of one of the other women in the group. Of course that woman was an idiot, namby pamby fluff ball and I really did go out of my way to be respectful in disagreeing with her - obviously not enough for her as she went whining to Shekhinah. But my point is, her attitude just got me riled and I immediately fired off a response without thinking it through. This was a women's spiritual group that catered  to wrapping women in cotton wool, with harm to none, for the good of all, etc. etc. I knew that speaking an opinion that went against the standard for the group was not encouraged. There will be some who disagree with my assessment of what went on, private as it was, but this is my blog, so fuck off to them. See - there I go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Still and all, I long to just flow with tide instead of jumping around like a manic wild woman. Well, if my aging process so far is any indication, I should achieve that at some point! Dang, life could get boring!


If I'm REALLY honest here, I have to say I DO wallow in my crosspatchedness, happily, many times. I am a Leo Sun and Leo Moon. For anyone with all that Leo-ness, it sure makes it very hard to hate yourself or much of anything about yourself. Leos just really think they are all that and more - and that would also make me perfectly justified in my reactiveness. In fact, all that Leo-ness makes me what I am and I like it!!! See - there I go again! I just think I'm pretty neat so I can't really hate something about myself. Regrets... I have a few, of course, but not hate, no, not really.


I was worried I wouldn't have much to say. 


Blessings nine!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Thirty Days of Truth... or as much as I can bear to share!


Well, I have decided to participate in Thirty Days of Truth. I saw this at Linda's blog, Ye Olde Crone's Gazzett. She got it from a friend of hers, who likely got it from elsewhere - it's making the rounds. It's a little scary, these questions are very personal, I really will have to do some soul searching, OK, I can do that - maybe. But then to share those answers?  I reserve the right not to publish everything if I feel uncomfortable doing so, LOL! So... I'll begin tomorrow. Here's the list:


30 Days of Truth:

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself

Day 2: Something you love about yourself

Day 3:Something you have to forgive yourself for

Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone else for

Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life

Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do

Day 7: Someone who has made your life worth living

Day 8: Someone who has made your life hell or treated you badly

Day 9: Someone you didn't want to let go, but who drifted

Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn't know

Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on

Day 12: Something you never get compliments on

Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough times

Day 14: A hero that has let you down

Day 15: Something or someone you couldn't live without

Day 16: Something or someone you could definitely live without

Day 17: A book you've read that changed your view on something

Day 18: Your views on gay marriage

Day 19: What is your opinion of religion?

Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21: (Scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you got into a fight a couple of hours before. What do you do?

Day 22: Something you wish you hadn't done in your life

Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life

Day 24: Make a playlist to someone and explain why you chose those songs

Day 25: The reason you believe you're still alive today

Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life?

Day 27: What's the best thing you've got going for you right now?

Day 28: What would you do if you got pregnant (or got someone pregnant) right now?

Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself

Day 30: A letter to yourself

Blessings nine!


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Halloween Stitch!

A little stitch for Halloween - very cute, if I say so myself! The design is from the September/October 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch, By the Full Moon designed by Tracy Horner of Ink Circles. I used DMC floss instead of the recommended Gentle Arts threads. Along with it are a few of the witches from my collection. The witch on the motorcycle is actually a salt and pepper shaker! The two on the opposite side are reproductions of vintage pieces, the witch on the pumpkin is a candy holder. Most of the witches are part of my every day decor and not just for Halloween. I like having them around and they are everywhere ;-).


Preparing for the big day, ritual at Rhiannon's with Raven and myself. It is also Rhiannon's birthday so we will have a little birthday celebration as well. Honoring the ancestors of both our blood and our path is an important part of our ritual, reconnecting with those who have moved on, sweet sadness and celebration.


I just finished making a huge bowl of guacamole as one of Mike's customers gave us a bucketful of Florida avocados from his trees. They are at just-perfect ripeness for eating, so the next few days will include plenty of salads with slices as well as the guac! Nutty, buttery, delicious! Tonight, turkey burgers with, yes you guessed it, guacamole!!! If you're in the area, do stop by for a snack - if you can get Mike to share - he's very greedy with my guacamole!


Alright, that's enough of that, the house needs tidying, there's stitching to do and I have a few potions to brew, so back to the cauldron!


Blessings nine!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Nine Nights of Rituals for Hallows

This year I decided that I would perform nine nights of rituals for Hallows - the ninth night will fall on Hallows. The first night I had planned a ritual of invocations and meditation, but the meditation turned into an interesting journey. I was traveling in the dark, could very much feel myself moving. There were others around me, but they were so shadowy I could not see who they were - not at all threatening, just traveling along. At one point I came upon what looked like an altar in the woods, set on the ground. The altar was actually a huge flat stone that looked a great deal like my own hearth stone, but much, much larger. The item that stood out, and there were many things on the altar,  was a tall glass candle holder, very plain and almost out of place. I could only see the light, not the candle - a glowing, flickering light, of course I'm assuming it was a candle. Once again I was traveling with the shadowy beings, then a visit to what appeared to be a temple of some sort, very rustic and seemed to be in a cave. Finally, home again.

Following the ritual, I went to bed, but had this chant going around and around in my head. I knew I should get up and write it down, but it was so late and I was tired. Well, then of course it took on a melody, it just wouldn't let go, so up and off to the kitchen with my guitar (so as not to disturb my consort) to get that "song" down. Once I did that, I slept like the dead! 

I have been thinking about that large altar stone that looked so much like my own hearth stone. I had been working with my stone during the day, dusting and rearranging the altar, preparing for my ritual. My stone drew me to it the very first time I saw it, yet I can explain nothing about why, only say that it is an important focus during rituals. More than that, I am always aware of it, aware of its spirit. Interesting that I should see something so similar during a journey. I suppose it will explain itself or not, as it chooses.

The second night, I joined my dear friend Raven, also dedicated to Hekate, for a bit of full moon magick. We  included divination, which answered some questions we both had - big surprise, LOL - and then made a libation and left offerings at the crossroads outside her home. 

Tonight's ritual, at my own hearth, just simple invocations and being with the spirits of my home. The series of rituals could be considered a votive offering, I suppose. I have made a commitment to the goddesses and spirits to acknowledge them in a special way, each evening for nine nights. But for what reason? I don't think I know, I just know that it is what I need to do - for them and for myself.

 What you see is Her, 
walking the shadows and howling to the Universe,

forewarning Her arrival.
Black hair falling to Her feet, 
fills the ocean and becomes the waves,

Her legs become the forest; 
Her breasts become the mountains.

Her womb becomes your ancient home.

~Anne-Christine Johnson~
Blessings nine!

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Charm For Travel

A Charm For Travel

Here I am and forth I must:
In the Lady is all my trust.
No wicked thing do me a spite,
Here nor elsewhere, day or night.
Maiden, Mother, Crone, all Three,
Come betwixt any evil and me! *


Take a stone with you from the land where you live when traveling. Ask the spirit of the stone to return you safely home after your journey. Chant the verse above three times. Do not cleanse the stone in any way, just carry it with you as you travel. It can be placed in your car, carried in your suit case or handbag, wherever is most convenient. When you return home, give thanks to the spirit of the stone and the Lady, then place the stone where you originally found it. A little offering and/or libation would be well to do. **

Blessings nine!

* adapted from an anonymous source by E A Kaufman
** copyright 2010 E A Kaufman




Saturday, October 16, 2010

The Hag

THE HAG

The hag is astride
This night for to ride,
The devil and she together;
Through thick and through thin,
Now out and then in,
Though ne'er so foul be the weather.

A thorn or a burr
She takes for a spur,
With a lash of a bramble she rides now;
Through brakes and through briars,
O'er ditches and mires,
She follows the spirit that guides now.

No beast for his food
Dare now range the wood,
But hush'd in his lair he lies lurking;
While mischiefs, by these,
On land and on seas,
At noon of night are a-working.

The storm will arise
And trouble the skies;
This night, and more for the wonder,
The ghost from the tomb
Affrighted shall come,
Call'd out by the clap of the thunder.

~ Robert Herrick ~


Blessings nine!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Give Away at The Old Bagg!

Look at this gorgeous hat!!!! My friend Linda, AKA The Old Bagg, is having a give away at one of her blogs and this gem is the prize. Take a hike over there and enter - very simple, just read and follow the directions.


http://lindaomasoldebaggsnstuftshirts.blogspot.com/2010/10/part-two-sorceress-of-spiders.html


As for me, I'm adding a few more decorations and building my ancestor altar today. Hopefully I will finish my Pumpkin Stew stitch - there are so few stitches left to complete!! My mother gave me a wonderful piece of fabric for the back so I can make a nice little quilt-hanging-thingy. 


Lovely day here at the Toadstool!


Blessings nine!

Halloween Countdown 16


Haunted House 
by Jack Prelutsky

There's a house upon the hilltop
We will not go inside
For that is where the witches live,
Where ghosts and goblins hide.

Tonight they have their party,
All the lights are burning bright,
But oh we will not go inside
The haunted house tonight.

The demons there are whirling
And the spirits swirl about.
They sing their songs to Halloween.
"Come join the fun," they shout.

But we do not want to go there
So we run with all our might
And oh we will not go inside
The haunted house tonight.

Blessings nine!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A Spell For the Home

A Spell For Protecting Your Home

This is a sort of an ongoing spell that you continue adding the ingredients to. It brings protection for your home and family. Keep it where it can be seen. If you use a decorative jar it will look pretty in a window or on a shelf.

Gather:
a glass jar with a lid - a canning jar, decorative jar or old jar from food is fine.
snips of thread from each family member's clothing
if you have pets, add a bit of their fur or feathers
a bit of dried rosemary, rue and cinnamon

Wash and dry the jar and lid. Smudge with sage or your favorite incense. Add the bits of threads from your family's clothing while asking the Goddesses and the spirits of your home for protection, good health and happiness for them and yourself. Keep the jar where it can be seen. Whenever you sew a button or repair a seam, embroider, etc. add the left over bits of thread to the jar. When sewing needles wear out, add those as well. Every so often add a very small pinch of the herbs and ask again for blessings and protection.

Blessings nine!

(adapted from my book Enchanted, Poems, Spells & Other Enchantments, available for $12.00 + $2.50 postage) 
copyright E A Kaufman 1996-2010

***


Saturday, October 9, 2010

Home Again, Hot Peppers, Bugs, Eel and Such





I have returned from my mother's and am settling back into life at the Toadstool. The Schmoodle was beside himself to see me when I arrived and has not left my side - to be honest, I was just as delighted to see him - oh how I missed my little furball! My favorite man was off with his bonsai group and their show at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami, but returned home by midnight and appropriately greeted me etc., etc. after a three week separation!


I immediately unpacked upon returning with the exception of books and needlework. I am exhausted. I don't know about anyone else (well, actually I do, but never mind) I just never sleep well away from home. I was SO sad to leave my mother - we had a great time, but at the same time just wanted my own little Toadstool Condo and all its lovely things that make my life so pleasant. Oh well, I will go back up in November - Enchanted Earth is hosting a concert featuring Kellianna - I'll kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

The last two evenings at my mother's were spent playing bingo - which... I LOVE!!! Who knew??? I'm really surprised, but I'm going to have to find a local group, I do love it! Oh, did I mention that between the two of us we won $75.00 over the two nights? A great team. 

And now a little something I found whilst reading Jane Austen blogs!  You may (or not) find it interesting, peculiar or a combination of both - which I did and therefore decided to display those things I have eaten from this list - which includes those I will NEVER eat! This isn't really a Janeite thing, but I did get the link from a Jane blog so hence the bit of Jane-speak!


From Andrew Wheeler:
Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers. (Note by W of S: some things just didn't sound as if I needed to know what they are!) 



Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.


1. Venison

2. Nettle tea (regularly)
3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush (ah, love it!)

11. Calamari (fried, I love this too!)

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich (nothing like it!)

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart (another nothing like it!)

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream
 (oh, oh, delish!)
21. Heirloom tomatoes (have I mentioned that I am addicted to tomatoes?)
 
22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras
 (AHHHHH)
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas (tried them and won't eat them again! Why would anyone?)

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar

37. Clotted cream tea (another AHHHHHH)

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects (ok, one flew in my mouth and down my throat, no choice but to swallow!)

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini
 (another AHHHHHHH!)
73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost
 (no clue, but it doesn't sound whilesome!)
75. Roadkill

76. Baijiu (???)

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail
 (haven't yet, won't say never, but unlikely - the slime!!!)
79. Lapsang souchong (most delightful blended with a nice Assam, 1 part LS, 3 parts A)

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict
 (yummy!)
83. Pocky
 (what? I don't think I can eat something named Pocky!!)
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa (I have to find out what this is - anything rose is delightful!)

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano (isn't poblano something to do with hot peppers?)

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake 


61 out of 100 - I think, it's almost 3:30 AM, I'm bleary eyed. Now that I've finished that,  I can sleep!


Blessings nine!