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Triple chocolate – the healthy way before Yule     The centerpiece of my Yule table is definitely chocolate. No turkey or ham, it´s chocolate! While it is still a good three weeks until the occasion, my mind is already set on the treat.   Instead of chowing down bucket loads of pralines a month prior to Yule, I have found a few ways to calm my ever-aching chocolate tooth. Ways that benefit both my taste buds and my nutrient-craving body.   The following three raw recipes all include cocoa, and help curb my appetite for the “real deal” until Yule evening.     Chocolate on Pears (serves 1): 2…

Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21 Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images Goddesses: Great Mother, Befana (strega),…

Winter Magic I write this article for a street person name Dale, who I now believe was a muse in disguise. He showed up recently at the bottom of my off ramp and in the 8 years I have been taking this off ramp for home, I have never seen a street person here. He was tall and lanky with one foot bandaged, but I felt he was more than he seemed (you know that knowingness, that intuition that guides us). I gave him a couple of dollars, he smiled and said thank you. I drove on, but something nagged at the back of my mind. The next day, I…

Mixing up Protection   War Water by Roberto Vargas   Merry Meet. For $10, you can buy four ounces of War Water, which, the description states, has been used for centuries for protection, and when placing and removing curses. While it was created and aged for thirty days using rain from a violent thunderstorm, along with roots and coffin nails, those are not all required elements. And, considering how easy it is to make, it’s something everyone can do. Full moon rain might be nice, but water from any natural body of water or even from the tap can be used. Also consider melted snow. A friend makes his (see…

A Personal Path to Divinity I am asked a lot how do I stay connected to the Divine? And how do I even receive messages from them in a world full of distractions? My answer is simple: I already know who and what this and by the time you finish this article, you will know exactly who and where to find the proverbial “IT”. A lot of people, for some reason, feel that this should be an easy thing to do. It actually is, but only after you try. You cannot just arrive at a conclusion that the Divine is telling you this and that unless you really open your…

Divining By Wish-Bone   In my kitchen, I have two baskets hanging over my stove with recipes jotted onto small pieces of paper & stuffed into them – Pâte Brisée and Pâte Sucré on one and Yummy Good Granola Bars on another – and on the smaller of the two baskets hang five wish-bones. Two from turkeys and three from chickens. The other day, my son was asking me about them. “Why don’t you break them and make a wish?” he inquired. “Isn’t it bad luck if you don’t use them?” I had never considered that. For years, I had done one turkey a year – at Thanksgiving – and…

Uranus still Retrograde in Aries – 12 degrees Uranus is that Planet that hates to be confined. It is known as the “break out” Planet for that reason. Retrograde Uranus can be responsible, more traditional and relaxed. As Uranus goes Retrograde in Aries, there is a feeling of enthusiasm and courage to take responsibility. It is not a time to worry about what others think about you. Do your own thing at your own pace and life will be grand. Uranus goes direct this month on December 21st in Aries – 12 degrees.     Mars enters Aquarius Thursday, December 4, 2014 – 7:10 pm EST The Planet of action…

“If that which thou seek thy find not within thee, thy will never find it without.” (1) The Craft involves deep soul work leading to understanding the authentic self, the connection with the divine, and understanding the Mysteries. If you were Buddhist you might called this enlightenment. What is enlightenment for Witches? Many people new to the Craft read the beginner books and think that that is all there is. I would like to share with you some of the ways that Traditional Witches do soul work, the way they approach and understand the Mysteries and an exploration of what the Mysteries are. This idea was inspired by a course…

MEADOW SWEET ~ Gift of Harmony ~ Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless, but all together perfume the air. ~ Georges Bernanos This is a journey into the Gift of Harmony, a state of natural balance with all life…and yourself…deep within the Universal Soul, of which you are a cherished and intimate part. Allow yourself to go on this inner journey…into the Spirit of your Beautiful Infinite Self. For here is where you shall find your Truth. Begin by getting comfortable. Find a space that feels at ease with your body, and allow yourself to get into a soft state…

Re(de)fining Your Magickal Practice Your personal magickal practice is what serves as the foundation upon which you mold and define what your magickal endeavors will be and ultimately their effectiveness. This is the work that we do in the space of our own making as we work through the challenges and successes of setting foot on a magickal path. This is the stuff that is then shared and offered up in our public lives through ritual, healing work, and the Greater Work we choose to engage in within our respective communities.   Defining Your Magickal Practice By definition (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) the word “Practice” means: 1. A habitual or customary action…