How to make a corn doll for your altar, this is the doll I made for Lughnasadh.
Next time you’re having corn for dinner, keep your husks. Be sure to dry them in the sun for one to three days. If you’re using dried-out husks, soak them for a couple of hours to soften. (There is no special preparation if using fresh husks).
Materials:
Corn husks (Available in grocery store)
Scissors
Pipe cleaners
Twine or string
Cotton Balls
Instructions:
Fold a husk in half, place two or three cotton balls in the middle. Twist the husk, tying it with string to make a head. There should be a bit of husk in the front and back, below the head, to create a torso.
Make a pair of arms for your doll. There are a couple of ways to do this. I decided to cut and husk in 3 pieces and braid, tying the ends to make hands. Slip the arms between the husks that form the torso, then add a cotton ball to plump the torso (insert a few pipe cleaners into torso to keep standing) tie off at the waist.
Arrange a few husks around the doll’s waist, (overlapping them) then tie in place with twine. After you’ve tied the waist, trim the hem of the skirt so it’s even. You can add a shawl (see 1st pic) and let the doll dry completely.
Once your doll has dried, you can leave her plain or give her a face and some hair. (use hair form husks or yarn)
Be creative and have fun with it! You can add clothing, an apron, bead-work, etc!
I hope this was helpful, feel free to email me with any questions.
In large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, salt and pepper; set aside.
Cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Spread 1 cup meat sauce in 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Layer 4 lasagna noodles, then 1 cup meat sauce and 1/2 of the ricotta mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese; repeat. Top with remaining 4 noodles, then 1 cup meat sauce and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake 1 hour. Remove foil and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until bubbling. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired, with fresh basil leaves. Serve with remaining sauce, heated.
Tip: Without meat; Do not preheat sauce beforehand, simply pour directly into bottom of baking pan.
Folk Names: Jove’s Nuts, Juglans (Latin)Duir, White Oak
The oak is revered as a sacred tree, to the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes it was associated with the supreme god in their pantheon. Also, sacred to Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun and Thor, each of these gods had dominion over rain, thunder and lightning. It is no coincidence that oak trees seem to be more prone to lightning strikes than other trees, whether it be because of the wood’s low electrical resistance or the fact that they are often the tallest in the landscape.
Today, many believe that the Yule log should be made from it. When it is but ashes, those are strewn on one’s land to bring good fortune and wealth in the coming year. Oak leaves’ connection with rainfall is also survived in more recent folklore in a rhyme about which tree’s leaves appeared first, such as the Irish saying:
If the oak before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak!
Magical Uses: Decorate altars with leaves as early as Lammas and Samhain.
Acorns are beaded and worn for fertility
Carrying any piece of the oak draws good luck.
Plant an acorn in the dark of the Moon to receive money.
Carrying an acorn increases fertility and strengthens sexual potency.
If you can catch a falling oak leaf you shall have no colds all winter.
The bark may be gathered and dried, then ground and used as an incense to invoke or honor any of the deities associated with the it.
The oak’s association with Vesta and fire festivals lends itself to working with this herbal tree in conjunction with elemental fire.
When a person is sick, place oak wood in the fireplace to “draw off” the illness.
Make a charm from oak. Take two equal lengths of twig or of a small branch and bind them together in a cross. This represents keeping one’s self in balance with the four elements. It can also be hung in the house for protection.
Acorns may be adapted into amulets and tokens. (Highly appropriate for the Samhain celebration)
It is believed there is no wand as sacred as one made of oak.
Collect an acorn and empower it throughout the winter, then plant it before the snow melts so that the new tree will be one of magic and power.
Acorns placed in windows guard the entrance against lightning, and a piece of oak wood, carried, protects its bearer from all harm.
Oak is used to bring protection against the ferocity of the elements and the dangers of life, and we use oak to ask for divine assistance in having our needs met.
Ritual Uses:
Include oak in the fire for your Midsummer ritual.
The bark may be dried and powdered and used to unite one with the gods and goddesses.
The Druids (traditionally) would not meet for rituals unless an oak was present, and the very words “oak” and “Druid,” some say, are related. Religious idols were fashioned from oak wood, and Witches often danced beneath the tree.
Medicinal Uses: Native Americans used White oak medicinally, it was valued for its antiseptic and astringent properties and used in the treatment of many complaints. The inner bark contains 6 – 11% tannin, and can be boiled and the liquid drunk in the treatment diarrhoea, intermittent fevers, coughs and colds, consumption, asthma, lost voice etc. The bark has been chewed as a treatment for mouth sores. Externally, it is used as a wash for skin eruptions, burns, rashes, bruises, ulcers etc and as a vaginal douche. It has also been used as a wash for muscular pains. The bark is best collected in the spring.
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
Last year, the Commission released a review of the Act, after an increase in the number of false accusations of sorcery were slammed by human rights groups.
But it’s making headlines again as six people accused of sorcery or witchcraft were killed in West Sepik Province by people who had taken the law into their own hands. Read full story from radioaustralia.net.au
Magic Mushrooms Could Treat Depression
After a psychedelic trip on magic mushrooms, people often describe the experience as mind-expanding, consciousness altering, emotionally insightful and even spiritually transcendent. Now, scientists have peered into the brains of people tripping on psilocybin — the active ingredient in mushrooms — and their results revealed a few surprises.
Instead of opening lines of communication between sensory-oriented regions of the brain, psilocybin appears to shut down activity in two key areas of the brain that regulate our sense of self and integrate our sense of awareness with our sense of the present. Read full story from discovery.com
Now an archaeological dig hopes to find out just what happened to a granite cross which vanished 60 years ago.
Legend has it that a Catholic priest ordered it to be removed from the front of St Patrick’s Church in Wicklow town because of its explicit carvings.
Other rumours say local residents had complained it attracted fairies.
Some residents, though, believe the cross may have been buried in the church grounds by Fr Matthew Blake, now deceased, because he disliked the carvings of nude women on it. Read full story from independent.ie
Paranormal:
UFO spotted in Devon
Gary McDermott snapped the glowing red object, with bright flashing lights, after stopping his car to photograph a low-flying helicopter in Plymouth.
The disc-shaped UFO flashed across the sky – just as he was taking the picture – before it disappeared into the night at 9pm on Sunday.
Mr McDermott, who was working night shifts on the city’s famous Royal Albert Bridge, said: “I just couldn’t believe what I had just seen.
“It must have been a UFO – and I cannot believe I am saying that because I don’t believe in them usually. I am always sceptical.
“But this was definitely not a normal aircraft. It was red, the shape they say UFO aircraft is, and had two bright lights coming out of it. Read full story from telegraph.co.uk
The father of two was visiting a friend who was having surgery in the Archway Road hospital when he was told by nurses of “a strange presence” in the 19th Century arches deep underground.
Armed with his camera and accompanied by a curious Whittington administrator, he descended down to the basement to investigate the paranormal tales. Read full story from london24.com
Pictures: Oldest Dinosaur Nests Found in South Africa
The oldest known dinosaur nests have been found at the same South African park where scientists previously unearthed the oldest known dinosaur embryo (pictured), a new study says.
Paleontologists recently found ten nests—each containing up to 34 tightly clustered eggs—in a nearly vertical cliff in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Both the nests and the previously discovered embryo date back 190 million years. Read full story from nationalgeographic.com
Media:
The Rise and Fall of the ‘C’ word (Celts)
Currently, the term ‘Celtic’, and its variations, is alternatively loved of loathed by archaeologists, historians, the general public and the media. Why is this? What has happened to the way the word is defined that causes disparity? How did this word mean previously rational archaeologists such as John Collis, Simon James and the Megaws spentd years arguing about the use of ‘Celtic’ as an archaeoligical term? Read full story from heritagedaily.com
Chamomile is one of the most widely used flowers and effective medicinal teas known. The gentle action of this herb makes it suitable for children and adults, and can be safely used on a regular basis. It is widely used for stomachaches, insomnia, sore throats, cramps and teething children. Matricaria recutita, or German chamomile contains the highest concentration of the essential oils responsible for giving chamomile its healing power. The medicinal use of chamomile dates back to the Romans, who relied on its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also said that the Egyptians dedicated Chamomile to their sun god and valued it over all other herbs for its healing qualities. Except for the small risk of allergy, Chamomile is one of the safest herbs to use.
In a teapot, place 1 tsp. of chamomile flowers per cup of water.
Boil the water, then let it cool slightly (using boiling water will cause the various therapeutic compounds in chamomile to evaporate).
For best results, steep the tea less than 5 min.
Therapeutic Effect:
The healing effect of chamomile is primarily due to the chamazulene and alpha-bisabolol in its essential oil.
Chamomile has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antibacterial effects.
It calm the nerves and induces sleep.
Chamomile tea can be used in healing compresses or added to bathwater.
For treatment of gastric problems:
The essential oils in chamomile combined with other ingredients, such as sulfur and calcium, help relieve gastrointestinal inflammation.
To ease pain and stimulate the digestion, drink 3 or 4 cups of freshly prepared tea daily for a period of several weeks.
For relief of intestinal cramps:
The flavonoids in chamomile tea can prevent gas and relieve cramps.
For menstrual cramps, a chamomile tincture is better because its flavonoid concentration is a third higher than that of the tea.
Medicinal Uses:
For eye problems:
A Chamomile tea compresses helps relieve eye pain, eye strain and eyelid inflammation.
Soak 2 cotton pads in lukewarm tea and place them on the eyes for a few minutes.
Warning: Strain the tea thoroughly to remove any pieces of chamomile flower.
For inflammation, restlessness and insomnia:
A chamomile tea bath provides quick relief from skin inflammations, restlessness and insomnia.
Add 1 qt. of chamomile tea to a bathtub full of warm water.
For insomnia, take the bath before bedtime.
For menstrual cramps:
A chamomile tincture can alleviate menstrual cramps.
Add 2/3 oz. of chamomile flowers to 1 ½ oz. of 100 proof alcohol and let it steep for 1 week.
Strain and store in a dark vial.
Take 10 drops in a glass of water.
For flu and cough:
The germicidal effect of a chamomile vapor helps destroy the germs that cause flu and alleviates coughing.
Pour 2 qt. of hot water over 2 cups of chamomile flowers.
Cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapors.
Warning: Do not use if you suffer from cardiovascular disease.
Healing Tea mixtures:
For gastric complaints:
1 oz. chamomile
2/3 oz peppermint
1 oz. caraway seeds
2/3 oz. angelica
Use 1 tsp. of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep the mixture 10 min and strain. This soothes the gastro intestinal tract and stimulates digestive activiy, making it useful for stomachaches or a too full feeling.
For Cystitis:
1 oz. chamomile
1 oz. yarrow
1 oz. sage
Use 1 tsp. of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep the mixture 5 min and strain. The anti-inflammatory components relieve bladder pain and urinary discomfort. Drink as much as you wish daily until the inflammation has healed.
For skin problems
1 oz. chamomile
1 oz. dandelion
2/3 oz. fennel
Use 1 tsp. of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep 5-10 min and strain. This medicinal tea blend stimulates metabolic activity, which helps promote the healing of inflammatory skin conditions, such as abscesses, boils and acne.
Warning: Chamomile has been known to cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed or other members of the daisy family.
References:
The Complete Guide To Natural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
Pagan mom challenges Bible giveaway at North Carolina school
WEAVERVILLE, N.C. – A pagan mother’s challenge to the distribution of donated Bibles at a local school has prompted the Buncombe County Board of Education to reevaluate its policies regarding religious texts.
Ginger Strivelli, who practices Witchcraft, a form of Paganism, said she was upset when her 12-year-old son [who did not wish to be photographed for this article] came home from North Windy Ridge intermediate school with a Bible.
The Gideons International had delivered several boxes of the sacred books to the school office. The staff allowed interested students to stop by and pick them up. Read full story from foxnews.com
More about Pendulum dowsing
We look at this anicent method, which was used by the Romans, Greeks and also by Nostradamus to predict the future Melissa D’costa
The practice of pendulum dowsing is not a new phenomenon and dates back to the anicent Romans and Greeks who used it to predict the future. It is said that ‘scrying’ (another word for dowsing or divination) was a common practice during that time and was even used by Nostradamus. Read full story from indiatimes.com
Finding spirituality through shamanism
In this fast-paced world, many seek deeper peace through spirituality, meditation and religious devotion. For some, a course on shamanism offered by the anthropology department can expand spiritual knowledge. Bonnie Glass-Coffin, an anthropology professor, teaches such courses, including cultural anthropology, spirit and health, and shamanism.
Glass-Coffin said a survey was taken by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) in 2004 in which freshmen from public and private institutions were asked if they were religious or spiritual and if they considered this aspect to be a significant part of their lives. Read full story from usustatesman.com
Infrared Image Shows Helix Nebula in Fresh Light
The nearby Helix nebula just received the piercing infrared gaze of a giant telescope in Chile, and the resulting image reveals cold gas normally hidden among warmer star-lit material.
Helix’s central star once resembled the Sun, but its outer layers of gas and dust sloughed off. The resulting planetary nebula, located some 700 light-years from Earth, is what telescopes now see. Read full story from wired.com
Witchcraft trial hears how tortured boy drowned
A teenage boy allegedly tortured and killed because his attackers believed he was practising witchcraft struggled to get out of the bath where he was drowned but had no strength left, a court has heard.
The Old Bailey watched video footage of police interviews with the brother of 15-year-old Kristy Bamu – who cannot be named for legal reasons – carried out the day after Kristy was allegedly killed by Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu, both 28, because they believed he was a sorcerer.
Kristy was found dead in the bathroom of a blood-covered flat in Forest Gate, east London, on Christmas Day 2010. He had 101 injuries and was covered in deep cuts and bruising allegedly administered by an “armoury” of weapons. Read full story from guardian.co.uk
“By ordering teachers to remove Rethinking Columbus, the Tucson school district has shown tremendous disrespect for teachers and students,” said the book’s editor Bill Bigelow. “It offers teaching strategies and readings that teachers can use to help students think about the perspectives that are too often silenced in the traditional curriculum.” Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork
Thindwa’s ASH launches fight against recognition of witchcraft
BLANTYRE: The Association for Secular Humanism (ASH) says it has formed a task force to ensure that Malawi “continues not to recognise witchcraft despite some quarter’s desire that our law should be reviewed to recognise witchcraft.”
In a statement made available to MaraPost, ASH said it “considers any moves calling for recognition of witchcraft as retrogressive and unconstitutional and not in line with modern and democratic principles.” Read full story from maravipost.com
The Eagle Nebula, located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, is visible as a fuzzy red spot to backyard astronomers with a modest telescope.
In 1995, NASA’s Hubble space telescope captured a famous image of one region within the Eagle Nebula: a star-forming cluster named NGC6611, known as the “Pillars of Creation.” Light and heat from young stars carved out the iconic pillars, which are each several trillion miles long. Read full story from wired.com
One Of World’s Oldest Cypress Trees, ‘The Senator,’ Burns In Florida
Investigators are now saying arson was not the likely cause of a fire that on Monday destroyed a cypress tree in Central Florida that was an estimated 3,500 years old — making it perhaps the oldest such tree in the nation and one of the oldest in the world.
Known as “The Senator,” the tree that once stood 165 feet tall (before a hurricane lopped off about 45 feet in 1925) was more likely brought down by a fire that had been smoldering inside it — without being detected — since a lightning strike about a week ago, investigators say. Read full story from npr.com
Media:
Q&A with Joe Berlinger, Director of West Memphis Three Documentary
In 1993 acclaimed director Joe Berlinger arrived in West Memphis, Arkansas, a community still in shock after three eight-year-old boys disappeared, then were found dead in a nearby ravine. Facing a public that was both enraged and afraid, police scrambled to make an arrest. Soon three local teens—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley—found themselves in court, accused of the murders.
With no physical evidence linking the teens to the crime, prosecutors pointed to their black clothing and interest in heavy metal music, indications, they said, that the teens had formed a devil-worshipping cult and, inspired by the full moon, murdered the boys as a sacrifice to evil spirits. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com
I love this recipe, it gives quiche a whole new taste. Hubs does NOT like quiche, but fell in love with it. Enjoy, and let me know what you think if you get a chance to make it.
Hash Brown Quiche
Prep time: 34 minutes
Baking time: 25 to 30 minutes
Servings: 6 to 8
Ingredients:
3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham
1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
Press hash browns between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Press onto bottom and sides of an 8-inch pie plate. Drizzle with butter. Bake for 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF.
Combine ham, Cheddar and bell pepper in a medium bowl and mix well. Spoon into the hash brown crust.
Beat eggs in a small bowl. Add milk, salt and black pepper and mix well.
Pour egg mixture over ham mixture. Bake until set, about 25 to 30 minutes. (I like to broil it for about a minute when done)
Variation: Add 1/4 cup finely chopped onion to the ham mixture.
Tip: To double the recipe, use a 13 × 9-inch baking dish. Press the potatoes into the baking dish as directed, then mixed and baked the quiche according to the recipe. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.
Happy Thursday friends! I have a question for you all today about your path.
I realize we all follow different paths, I’ve been a witch for quite some time. It wasn’t until 10 years ago I really looked into the spiritual side of it. I started reading up on Wicca and the different paths, still never found one that suited me. I consider myself an eclectic witch, and tend to do things my way.
When I was growing up there was no internet, you couldn’t easily access information on witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, etc. Of course you could buy books, but I was a crazy teenager and never really cared about anything other than hanging out with friends and partying. Here I am 10 years later searching for more, for something new. That’s not to say I want to be anything other than a witch, I guess I’m on a new journey in my path. It could also have a lot to do with the disability that hit me a couple years ago. My life has changed drastically, I’m not able to get around as much, so I find myself reading a lot. The more I read, the more my views have changed. I’m doing things a lot different these days.
Life is constantly changing and we’re constantly changing as people, so my question to you is:
Did you start on one path and move onto something else. (e.g. Did you start as Wiccan and find yourself elsewhere on your journey?)
Thanks for listening, I hope to hear from some of you.
Nettle, is a perennial herbaceous, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and is best known as a member of the genus Urtica. It has several hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on its leaves and stems, which act like needles that inject histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation when in contact with humans and animals.
Nettles have been associated with death and burial customs. During the Bronze Age, burial cloths have been found that were woven of its fibers. In the highlands and the islands of Ireland, people believed that nettle grew from the bodies of the dead. The Welsh believed, if fresh Nettles were put under the pillow of a sick person and stayed green, the person would live, if they turned yellow, that person would die. In Denmark, people thought that nettles grew from the blood of innocent victims.
Deity: Thor
Element: Fire (Courage, Exorcism, Health, Lust, Protection, Strength)
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Mars (Courage, Exorcism, Hex Breaking, Lust, Protection, Sexual Potency, Strength)
Medicinal Uses: Stinging Nettle have been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), for urinary tract infections, for hay fever (allergic rhinitis), or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites.
Magical Uses: Brooms made of Nettle are used to sweep out evil and send it back. To remove a curse and send it back, stuff a poppet with Nettle or carry it in a sachet. For healing power, pluck a Nettle up by it’s roots and recite the name of the sick person and his/her parents. Place Nettle leaves into pockets to be safe from lighting. If dry leaves are placed into shoes, it will keep evil from leading one to harmful places. Sprinkle Nettle around the house to keep evil out and send it back. To avoid avoid danger sprinkle in fire, it can also be carried on one’s hand to ward off ghosts.
Ritual Uses: To consecrate an Athame, plunge heated blade into an herbal bath with nettles. In the Kawaiisu tribe, children who wished to study witchcraft had to walk through Nettles as practice. It also played a major role in fishing magick, as it was once used for fishing nets. It would be a great herb for knot magic.
Other Uses: Seeds have been known to be be soaked in water for twenty minutes, then used for a final rinse after shampooing.
Warning: Stinging Nettle should not be used by pregnant women and should never be applied to an open wound.
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!
