Plum Butter & The Goddess

Well, very early this morning I had my cup of tea and then went to sleep and here I am on a Sunday afternoon just finishing up a batch of plum butter. As I stirred the pot I remembered something I had written, in 2005 and posted to a group I belonged to, about another batch of plum butter. It was just

after Hurricane Katrina. I'd like to share it here along with pictures of today's endeavor.

My task today, which is no hardship really, is to make plum butter. The juicy garnet-colored orbs are truly a gift from the Goddess. I make fruit butters all summer, preserving them in faceted jam jars. They sit on a shelf until a gift is needed, especially at the Winter Solstice. I began giving homemade gifts many years ago. People so appreciate something homemade or handmade - it makes them feel comfy and mothered. Although not a mother to children, I still seem to do a great deal of nurturing through daily tasks.

I stood at the kitchen sink washing the fruit carefully, then slicing and placing the plums gently into my big jam pot. As I sliced then stirred, it occurred to me how much love I put into this act. A priestess of the harvest, lovingly preparing the gifts of the Lady to be gifts to those I love. What could be more nurturing than stirring love, and of course, my Reiki symbols, into the fruits of the Goddess.

This also makes me think of "women's work" - do we, modern women, feminists, dismiss certain tasks women do because we see it as patriarchal? Is it? I do embroidery which has long been considered women's work and dismissed as something negative or not worthwhile by some modern women. Is it really something that constrains my freedom, my creativity, my worthiness? Cooking for family and friends, does that restrict me? As I stir the plums, I consider how much love I gently stitch and cook into my various "womanly" pursuits; how I incorporate prayers, Goddess symbols and magic into embroidered samplers; how I stir healing prayers and love into my cooking. Yes, all these things I do with love - for those who receive my gifts, from the threads and the fruits themselves, and most of all, from myself to myself. Truly a lesson in the law of return.

My kitchen is filled with the sweet scent of fruit and spices, steamy and warm, a cat rubbing against my legs- how could this be anything but the greatest of pleasures?

Well, time goes by, four years since I scribbled and shared those thoughts. I am still stitching, making jam, baking and following where the Goddess leads me. I am still placing all those good things into everything I do.

Ya' know, life is really good!

Blessings nine!

(all photos copyright 2009, E. A. Kaufman)

(all entries copyright 2005-2009 E. A. Kaufman)

The Witching Hour

Luna, every woman's friend
To me thy goodness condescend
Let this night in visions see
Emblems of my destiny

~Mother Goose

Just after midnight, longing for a cup of tea. It was an interesting day. I resigned from my Pagan group finally. It has been brewing for months and I just did it. I feel peaceful, like a weight has been lifted - obviously the right decision.

As for Mother Moon, She is coming on full. A couple of friends will join me for ritual a week from tonight. We will gather around the cauldron and make welcome September. The year goes by and my beloved Autumn is almost here. I've already filled bowls with autumn herbs, leaves, twigs, mini pumpkins, broken cinnamon sticks, cloves, rose hips and other plant matter, topping them off with spicy essential oils that remind me of autumns past. A bit of fall decorations are ready to be scattered about as well.

Ahhhh.... all is right with my world. And now for that tea!

Blessings nine!

Witches, stitches, books & the color red!

Well, last week I turned 53 and my friends made sure I celebrated. While Mike and I celebrated quietly - my choice - I was taken out by friends for dinner & lunch four times!!! I am very blessed with my buds. My Mom sent some cash with which I bought a new witch for my collection - fell in love with this and couldn't resist. Thanks Cross Stitch Cupboard and Mom!

On the Everything Austen front, I have read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, which I enjoyed very much; very different and perfect for those of us who love Jane Austen and vampires! I know, it's a heck of a combination. I also read Jane Austen Ruined My Life and What Would Jane Austen Do? - both good reads too. I have yet to start the Austen sampler, but will get to it soon. So there I am with the challenge!

Stitching update: Haven't taken a stitch on the Nativity, but I am planning to work on it later today. The Strawberry House is coming along and it is very pretty indeed. So much to stitch and not enough time!

Stash Alert!!! New charts - Sampler Sisters of the Thread, which I am ready to start. I will be stitching it on 40 count pearl barley linen - love this! - Witches Nine and Cape Cod Girls, all three by The Primitive Needle, my favorite designer. I love that primitive look. I am making a small change color-wise on Sampler Sisters. The dresses for the three ladies with be stitched in red, old reds to be sure, keeping that primitive look, but I wanted some color. There is also another reason which I will discuss below. Received Witches Stitch Too by Homespun Elegance and Spellbound by Monsterbubbles which I will stitch on dark purple linen - yeah!!! Another addition for the witch wall.

Now for the color red. Tonight, well actually last night as it is three AM, the Sisterhood gathered for our Blood Mysteries class. All priestesses are required to attend this class along with the students so off I went in the Strega-mobile. We watched the film Bloodtime, Moontime, Dreamtime by Roberta Cantow followed by wonderful discussion and sharing of moonblood memories. Here is a link to watch a six and a half minute sample of the film: http://originaldigital.net/bmd/index2.html#

All women ought to watch this beautiful film. No matter if one still bleeds or not, it is inspiring and empowering. Most of the women in the film wore red as they were interviewed, many danced in red dresses and stunning red cloaks, reclaiming moonblood as something beautiful, sacred and powerful - NOT a curse or something dirty. As I sat pulling skeins of thread for the Sampler Sisters, looking at the subdued, primitive colors, it came to me that I should dress the three women in red, in honor of all women, our power and our sacredness.

Blessings nine!

Austen Challenge - Two down, Four To Go!

OK, so I've watched Lost In Austen, thanks to Netflix and Sunday, I watched Persuasion -oh I do love that version - which I own. And now... I own Lost In Austen as well! It arrived today along with the paperback, What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown - thank you Amazon. I can't wait to get started on that. I also decided to stitch this freebie Jane Austen sampler I found on-line instead of the small design by The Sampler Girl. It has a row of women - Marianne, Elizabeth, Elinor, Emma and Jane, with those names below, a nice little border and flowers. As for The Sampler Girl, I will treat myself to one of the larger Austen samplers, just because I like them - decisions, decisions, which one? One other change in my list - I will read Jane Austen, A Life, by Carol Shields, instead of reading Persuasion again - which I can do anytime.

Other books recently acquired: Hekate Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este & David Rankine. This book is SO wonderful! So much information in one place about my beloved matron goddess. I also purchased a copy of Unbound, A Devotional Anthology for Artemis by Bibliotheca Alexandrina. One of my poems is included and of course I wanted a copy. It, too, is a very fine book.

Back to stitching: I also received the book, Bewitching Cross Stitch by Joan Elliot. I had to get it from England. I purchased the book for one design, Mother Moon. Yes, I know - am I crazy??? Well, no actually... it is a gorgeous design. Happily there are a few other designs in the book that I really like as well. So there!

On the Heirloom Nativity front, I am stitching the shepherds, well actually the pine trees next to the shepherds. It looks like this piece will not be ready for Christmas as I am heading back to school - yes, at fifty-three - at the end of August. Four nights a week will not leave much stitching time. Who knows though, perhaps I will stitch more than I think.

I did take a few stitches on Salem Remembered by Primitive Needle. I will have to get some photos up to show these pieces off.

Finally had some needlework from last year framed. All look divine. Cross Stitch Cupboard does a beautiful job framing.

Here's the revised Everything Austen CHallenge List:

1. Watch Lost In Austen - done!

2. Watch Persuasion - done!

3. Read "What Would Jane Austen Do? - begun!

4. Read Jane Austen, A Life.

5. Read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre - ordered and waiting for release!

6. Stitch the little freebie Jane Austen sampler.

OK - I'm updated!

Blessings nine!

I am Lost in Austen - Everything Austen Challenge

I have decided to join the Everything Austen Challenge - which actually began July 1st - I was still trying to finish my list of six Austen-themed things I will do. So here they are, one of which, I just accomplished:

1. Reread Persuasion

2. Watch the movie, Persuasion - the one with Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds

3. Stitch one of The Sampler Girl's Jane Austen designs

4. Read "What Would Jane Austen Do?"

5. Watch the movie - "Lost In Austen" - and thanks to Netflx, I just watched it this evening - a really wonderful, sweet, funny film.

6. Read "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda George and due out in August - OK, I know it sounds weird, but how interesting!

So there I am, I just have to pick out that Austen inspired needlework project.

Blessings nine!

Tarot, Eleusis & stitching

Another Sunday! Yesterday I spent the day stitching and re-reading The Homeric Hymn to Demeter (Translation, Commentary & Interpretive Essays by Helene P. Foley) along with tidbits from The Road to Eleusis (Wasson, Hoffman & Ruck.) To experience those mysteries, to know the secrets, I have a great longing for them - perhaps, someday, in someway, I will know what I need to about them.

Then I take this little test... and while this result is, of course, no surprise to me, there is Demeter! As usual for me, these mysteries seem to appear when I least expect them.

As for stitching, the nativity is moving along and I plan to do more today. I am hoping to do a little bit of something else as well, because I have a short attention span where stitching is concerned (other things also) so I need to move around to different projects.

Perhaps another nap! I love an afternoon nap. It is cozy and refreshing especially when followed by a lovely cup of Earl Grey. That is what Sundays are for, pleasures and comforts.

You are The Empress Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation. The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful. The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

A Lovely Morning

This morning as I sat at the computer, I heard the chirping of the baby ducks that visit us almost daily, both morning and evening. Of course, we generally give them some bread so they do like to visit. They are getting bigger every day. This morning the mother duck was not out there with the babies and I was a little worried. However, after a few minutes, I looked up and across the sky, rather low to the ground, is a duck flying toward us - the mommy! All is well in their world.

I also heard the screeching of a squirrel - this is not unusual either as the squirrels and birds are constantly arguing. This morning, one of the birds was dive-bombing one little squirrel, pecking at her repeated as the squirrel ran. Later, after our ducks left for their daily wanderings, the squirrel came right up to where I was standing and just stared at me. I got her some nuts and she was very pleased. This one is very brave and doesn't run from people.

Other items on today's agenda - the making of apricot butter. Every June I make this lovely, golden fruit butter which is so simple and delicious. Just sugar and fruit cooked over a low flame for about two hours and then put in jars and processed in a water-bath. Delicious all through the year on toast or shortbread or even chicken! The apricot butter is a very welcome gift at the Winter Solstice.

And... stitching my mother's solstice gift. Only time will tell if she gets it this year or next. I am stitching the Victoria Sampler's Heirloom Nativity Sampler. Yes, I know - a witch, married to a Jew, stitching a nativity sampler for her Catholic mother!!! They've burned women for less! What can I say, I love my mom and she loves Madonna images and related items, so I want to do this for her.I have also been working again on the Salem Remembered sampler which I started last year, but put down and never got back to. I love that sampler, but I've got to get the nativity done. I will take a break now and then to take a few stitches on this piece.

Blessings nine!

The Vestalia - June 7th - 15th

The Vestalia was a Roman celebration of purification, preparation of first fruits and honoring of Vesta, the Roman Goddess of the Hearth.  To celebrate the Vestalia, the Vestal Virgins, Roman priestesses of Vesta, made mola salsa (a holy cake). They walked to a sacred spring, fetched water,  then carried it in special jugs with a base designed to tip the jug over if it was set down. The water for the mola salsa was never to come in contact with the earth. The salt used to make the cake was also prepared in a ritual fashion. Brine was pounded then baked in a jar until it formed a rock so hard that the Vestals had to use an iron saw to cut it.  Grain used for the cakes came from ears of spelt gathered on the 7th, 9th and 11th of May. From these ingredients the Vestals made the mola salsa which were then offered to Vesta. 

The Vestalia continued for 8 days, during which time women would enter the temple to worship. They  dressed simply, removing their shoes before entering and bringing offerings of ordinary foods, baked in their own hearths. Only women were permitted to enter Vesta's temple - with the exception of the Pontifex Maximus.

Also honored were bakers and millers. Millstones and the animals used to turn them, were dressed with garlands of violets and small loaves.

A Ritual for the Vestalia

This is a ritual of purification and renewal. Tidy your home, especially the hearth or kitchen stove, which will serve as your altar. Gather the following items:

a new white candle - any size you like

matches or lighter

wine, juice or tea sweetened with honey and spiced with rose petals, rosemary and cinnamon

bread or cake that you have baked yourself - eg. - a simple beer batter bread, zucchini bread, blueberry muffin, carrot cake.

Fresh, ripe summer fruits

small bowl with a pinch of salt, barley and rosemary

another bowl with rose petals, rosemary and barley

Bathe, dress yourself in white, cover your head with a veil.

Bring your mind and spirit to the sacred place that is ritual.

As you light the white candle say:

This flame I kindle in Vesta's name,

It is part of Her eternal flame.

It lights my heart, my mind, my spirit.

Vesta, I call Your name & remember You.

In all fires, in every flame, I know You.

I remember and honor the Old Ways.

I strive to grow in wisdom, may You guide me.

I reaffirm my commitment to the Old Ones, 

May You grant me determination to continue the journey.

I acknowledge my connection to all beings of the Earth,

May You assist me in making strong that connection.

Grant Your blessings, Vesta, oh Sacred Flame,

Upon my hearth, my home, my family, my life.

Go outside your home and pour a libation of sweetened, spiced wine, juice or tea upon the ground.

In Your honor, Vesta, Beloved Guardian of the Hearth,

I offer this libation to You.

Accept now my gift of sweetness,

I offer it in honor and love.

Make an offering of some sort of bread or cake you have baked yourself and some first summer fruits. As you lay the offering on the ground, sprinkle the bread or cake with rosemary and a pinch of barley and salt.

Vesta, Beloved Guardian of the Hearth,

Accept now these offerings from my heart,

Bread from my own hand, and ripe fresh fruits,

I offer them in honor and love.

May You find favor with this Daughter of the Hearth.

Return to your hearth (fireplace or kitchen stove) raise the bowl with the rose petals, rosemary & barley

and say:

Here, upon my home's shrine to Vesta, a gift for the Guardian.

May You, Sweet Vesta, find favor with this Daughter of the Hearth.

Leave the bowl on the hearth or stove and let the candle burn as long as you can.

May Vesta's blessings be upon us!

Ritual & invocations copyright 2009 E A Kaufman

Magick & Chocolate

So... I begin my blog with a little magick!

While one can certainly get into a mess with love spells, people have been doing them for thousands of years. As a collector of old charms and spells, I can attest to the abundance of them. An interesting source for me is the book "Ancient Greek Love Magic" by Christopher Faraone. Here's an example of an actual spell used in late antiquity by a man named Apalos to encourage a woman named Karosa to have sex with him!

Aye, lord demon, attract, inflame, destroy, burn, cause her to swoon from love as she is being burned, inflamed. Goad the tortured soul, the heart of Karosa, whom Thelo bore until she leaps forth and comes to Apalos, whom Theonilla bore, out of passion and love, in this very hour, immediately, immediately; quickly, quickly....

This was said whilst burning herbs, spices and certain household items to cause the woman to burn with passion.

On a lighter note:

Can chocolate be magical? Certainly. And it can be healthy too if you don't over-indulge. Use very fine, organic ingredients and there you have it - a sensual, healing and magical experience!

From an article by Dr. Jane Starr Hull:

"...Chocolate was first recorded as a 'thing of pleasure' in 600 B.C., and according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, chocolate is jammed with more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables by a factor of two.

Antioxidants, mainly polyphenols, are quickly absorbed into the blood where they have a positive effect on cholesterol levels, help in preventing cancer and heart disease, and participate in slowing down the aging process. But antioxidants have a different form in chocolate than in green tea or red wine, for example. They appear in larger more complex molecules not usually found in other foods, part of the reason they are so effective as antioxidants.

The antioxidants in chocolate act against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad guy) and increase HDL (the good cholesterol). Chocolate's catechins are important antioxidants, which are also found in green tea, but are four times more potent in chocolate than in tea. And that's just in the chocolate - the solids from the cocoa bean are the strongest. Cocoa beans are actually a fruit.

The effects are the same in men as for women, and they're the highest when the antioxidants are from cocoa powder. The most effective chocolate is dark chocolate rich in oleic acid, the good fat found in olive and coconut oil. Next is milk chocolate, still much higher in antioxidants than many foods tested to date. White chocolate has none of the benefits of the darker chocolates. Low-quality chocolates usually have cottonseed or soy oil added to them.

Chocolate contains magnesium, which some researchers think explains the reason people crave chocolate. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a stimulant released in the brain when people fall in love, stimulating the 'feel-good' brain chemicals serotonin and endorphins..."

Hmmm... yes indeed, definitely an excellent addition to any love spell!


The cake below is a wonderful romantic dessert to share and very quick if you're feeling like Apalos and want it right away! Add just a pinch of damiana, crushed rose petals and cinnamon to enhance romantic energies!

Chocolate is a lovely offering to Aphrodite and Hera as well - any of the Gods really, so don't forget to share.


5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons organic sugar

2 tablespoons fine quality organic cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons olive oil (sounds strange, but it is very good - or use organic butter, melted)

3 tablespoons organic, dark chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract (also very good for love spells)

1 large coffee mug

Mix the dry ingredients together in the mug, then add the egg mixing thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil, mix well. Add the chocolate chips. vanilla extract then mix again.

Place your mug in the microwave, cook for 3 minutes (1000 watts). Your cake will rise over the top of the mug, don't worry, it will be fine! Let cool a bit then tip out onto a plate and indulge. Be sure to use a bite or two as an offering to Aphrodite or Hera!

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel quite virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because it only takes 5 minutes to create chocolate cake, any time of the day or night!

This made the rounds via email, but I think the original recipe comes from someone named Don Fulton.

Blessings nine!