The Sacred Glen
Volume #2 Issue #1
January 2008
The Sacred Glen is a publication of Daughters of the Greening online school. All articles within this ezine are written by students of the school and are their own personal property, unless otherwise credited. Daughters of the Greening is dedicated to teaching about the sacredness of all life and offers classes in Sacred Ecology, Holistic Healing, Discovering Past Lives, Faery Magic and Women's Spirituality. The school is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older.
The Sacred Glen Council
Morgana Ravenwings
Dryw
Stephanie Mayfield
Carole
Belou
Susan Allen
In this issue:
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
The Goddess Speaks
Animal Medicine
Gaia's Resources for Health
Sit a Spell
Garden of Eatin'
Harvests from the Printing Press
Spider Woman's Web
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
Holy Days, January 2008
1/5: Twelfth Night Christian observance of the close of Christmastide.
1/6: Epiphany Christian commemoration of the manifestations of the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The homage of the magi to the infant Jesus is honored by some. For others the Baptism of Jesus is the remembered event. A season of the Christian year from the close of Christmas to the beginning of Lent.
1/10: Hijra, the Islamic New Year Hijra is the first day of the month of Muharram. It marks the Hijra in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina to establish the first Islamic state.
1/14: Makar Sankrant The first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year, falling at a time that marks the change from decrease to increase of the sun. Days become longer from this point on so it is a time for celebration.
1/14: Seijin-no-hi Seijin-no-hi or 'Coming-of-Age Day' is a national holiday in Japan. Young women and men twenty years of age go to shrines, wearing traditional clothing. Their families announce their adulthood to the kami or spirits, and pray for health and well being for a lifetime to come.
1/18 - 25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Christian observance with prayer for the restoration of unity between the churches of the faith.
1/19: Ashura An Islamic optional single day fast recognising the Creation, Noah's departure from the ark, and the saving of Moses from Pharaoh.
1/22: Tu B'shvat Jewish celebration of the coming of spring by preparation of foods native to Israel. It is also known as "New Year for Trees" - a method for determining the age of trees for tithing purposes.
Parts Excerpted from:
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2007
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2006 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com
The Goddess Speaks
By Morgana
The Sphinx, a monstrous being of Greek mythology, has Her origins in Egypt and perhaps even Ethiopia. In Egypt, the Sphinx is a figure of an unwinged lion, lying down, with a human upper body. Often times the body was made to look like the current Pharaoh, and the Sphinxes lined avenues which approached the temples. The largest Sphinx is that of Giza, which with the exception of the paws, is made of one block of stone. The dating of the Sphinx in Giza is under question, with many believing it to be much older than the pyramids, and dating to a time when Egypt was lush with greenery and water. Others believe it was built during the time when the sun rose in the constellation of Leo. It sits facing in that direction, thus banishing the darkness each day.
She was sent as a punishment by the gods to plague the town of Thebes for some ancient crime. Some believe that she was sent by Hera who was angry that the people had not punished Lains, who had carried off Chrysippus from Pisa. Others claim she was sent by Hades, or Ares for the slaying of his son. Still others say that she was one of the women, perhaps ancient priestesses, that were thrown into madness and metamorphosed into monstrous figures.
Whoever she originally was, she offered a riddle to the people. Anyone answering incorrectly was put to death. The story goes that in an effort to rid the land of this terror, the regent of the land, Kreon, offered kingship to any man who could answer her riddle. Oedipus, made famous in modern times by Freud as the king who killed his father and married his mother, approached the great Sphinx.
She asked, "What has four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?"
Oedipus answered the sphinx, "Man." Man as a baby spends his time crawling on all fours, walks on two legs as an adult, and uses a cane (three legs) in old age.
And with that answer, Oedipus became king of Thebes, marrying his mother Jocasta. The sphinx responded by killing herself.
The Sphinx in both cultures carries the attributes of protection and destruction. She is a powerful being who demands, and gets, respect. Deal with her graciously, and learn from her ancient wisdom.
Animal Medicine
Crocodile
By Morgana
The Crocodile or Alligator totem opens us up to the primal energies of creation and destruction. She is the chaos of creation, full of fury and ferocity. Although Crocodiles and Alligators have subtle differences, they are much more alike than they are different. Popular myth says that Alligator jaws hinge on the bottom and Crocodile jaws hinge on the top. In reality, both hinge in the same manner. The difference between the two being that when the mouths are closed, the bottom teeth on a Crocodile are clearly visible. Crocodiles are also able to survive in salt water, and have developed salt-extracting tear glands, which is where the myth of crocodile tears comes from. Both Crocodiles and Alligators descend from the Archosaur of the Triassic period. They are indeed, modern dinosaurs.
Care of the eyes is very important for people with this medicine. Their eyes are their most vulnerable part. They will also benefit greatly from the practice of yoga and learning about the kundalini. Right breathing will be of a great health benefit to those with Crocodile medicine. If Crocodile is calling to you, whether through dreams or other means, be ready for the opening up of some very primal energies in your life. New knowledge, and new wisdom are on their way. A word of warning: When Crocodile brings new knowledge your way, be very careful not to be consumed by it. Sit back and chew on all you are learning for a while. Think before you act. Remember, timing is everything!!
Gaia's Resources for Health
Affirmations for January
By Belou
Practice one or all of the following affirmations 30 times a day for 30 days.
These affirmations help to build up the energy around you and within the
Universe to manifest these desired changes in your life.
I love myself.
Peace, calm, knowing.
I know the Universe is leading me towards my highest good.
There is no for jealous and envy in my heart so full of love.
I trust the Divine and embrace the mysteries of life.
The Heart is an Organ of Perception
Submitted by Dryw
The heart can act as a "mind" or an organ of perception because approximately 60% of heart cells are neural cells, which function similarly to those in the brain.
The fully online heart can produce an electromagnetic field that is 5,000 times stronger than the brain's, that can be detected by sensitive scientific instruments up to 10 feet away.
The EM field passes through the heart; the information embedded in the field travels along a neural pathway to the brain, where it is analyzed and its meaning is extracted.
It is also possible to entrain with other EM fields intentionally, allowing the information in these fields to pass into you in the form of information you can use.
Learning to Think with Your Heart in Four Steps
1) Focus on a natural object, such as a plant or a flower or a piece of fruit. Notice its appearance, its colors and shadings. Immerse yourself in its sensory aspects (or, put another way, come to your senses). This is the first step in getting out of your head.
2) Continue to look at the object before you and ask yourself, "What does it feel like?". this activates the heart as an organ of perception and helps naturally to shift your attention to the object's electromagnetic field. You will then experience a unique feeling complex, which you probably can't name, as the object's electromagnetic signature moves through your heart.
3) Allow the feeling to fill you. Breathe through and with the feeling while continuing to focus on the object in front of you. Notice how your breathing has slowed, your vision slips into softer focus, colors seem to brighten, and your body relaxes. These physiological shifts always accompany the movement into heart centered perception.
4) Reach out with your heart field and hold the thing in front of you. Allow yourself to feel a sense of caring for it. (this creates specific alteration in the EM field of the heart). As you do this, the two fields will entrain, and you will feel a flow of energy between you and it. If you do this with a plant, you might at this point ask it to tell you about itself. George Washington Carver used the process to deepen his understanding of food plants such as the peanut. "Anything will give up its secrets," he said "if you love it enough".
Stephen Harrod Buhner, Spirituality and Health, April 2006.
By Belou
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Strengthening and clearing. Excellent nerve tonic, clears mind aids concentration.
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Refreshing and uplifting. Good for depression nervous tension, useful in skin care.
Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) Astringent. Good for oily itchy scalp and insect repellant.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Warming. Strong antiseptic, blends well with orange. (Skin irritant)
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) Very relaxing. Useful for PMT, nervous and muscle tension. 'Euphoric' oil.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globlus) Antiviral and Clearing. Use for cold flu. Antiseptic protective during winter.
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Balancing and used in skin care.
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) Fortifying and warming. Useful muscle tonic. Aids digestion.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Refreshing and uplifting. Good for stress. Refreshing in the bath. A good pick - me - up.
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) Relaxing and luxurious. Anti-depressant. Most sensual of oils. Aids to labour.
How to Make a Besom
By Belou
Materials:
1.Four foot dowel or stick (1 inch in diameter.)
Ball of twine
scissors
Straw, twigs, or herbs for the bristles.
Take the straw, and allow it to soak overnight in warm, lightly salted water. (the water softens the straws to make them pliable, and the salt soaks out former energies). When you are ready to make your besom, remove the straws from the water and allow them to dry a bit, but not so much that they lose the suppleness you will need to turn them into your besom. Find a work area where you can lay out the length of your dowel, and begin lining the straws along side the dowel. Starting about three inches from the bottom lay the straws, moving backward, along the length of the dowel. Begin binding these to the dowel with twine. You will need to tie them very securely. You can add as many layers of straw as you wish, depending on how full you would like your besom to be. When the straw is secured, bend the top straws down over the twine ties. When they are all gently pulled over, tie off the straws again a few inches below the original tie. Leave the besom overnight to allow the straw to dry. The dowel part of the besom can be stained, painted, or decorated with pagan symbols, your craft name, or any other embellishments you choose. Dedicate your finished besom in your circle as you would any other ritual tool.
Lentil Soup with Broccoli Rabe
A good, hearty winter soup!
Ingredients:
1.2 tablespoons cooking oil
2.1 onion, chopped
3.2 carrots, chopped
4.2 ribs celery, chopped
5.1 clove garlic, minced
6.1 pound lentils
7.2 1/2 quarts water
8.2 tablespoons tomato paste
9.1 bay leaf
10.2 1/4 teaspoons salt
11.1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
12.1 pound broccoli rabe, cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths
13.1 1/2 lemons, zested
Directions:
1.In a large saucepan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
2.Stir in the lentils, water, tomato paste, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
3.Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the broccoli rabe until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
4.Stir the lemon zest into the soup. Remove the bay leaf. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with some of the broccoli rabe.
Yield: 4 servings
by Dryw
Parsnip and Butter Bean Soup
Wonderful winter food, this soup is highly nutritious, very warming, and full of flavor. Sweet parsnips make particularly delicious soups and are economical, too. Substituting with any other root vegetable will work also, as I know alot of us aren't crazy about parsnips or rutabaga families (although, I sure am.) This may work well with carrots, also, although I have never experimented with them on this recipe.
Ingredients
2 TB olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, sliced
2 large parsnips, washed and chopped
3 medium potatoes, washed and chopped
1 can (16 oz.) butter or lima beans
3 1/4 cups vegetable stock or chicken if you're non-vegetarian
1 tsp fresh lemon juice ( I use Realemon)
1 bayleaf
1/3 cup light cream ( can substitute with low fat milk, or soy milk if desired, just add to amount below)
2 1/2 cups skim or soy milk
sea salt and black pepper to taste
Heat oil in a heavy pan and stir in the onion and garlic. Cover and cook gently until softened, 8-10 minutes. Add the chopped parsnips and potatoes and stir well, then add the butter or lima beans with the juices from the can. Pour in the vegetable stock (or chicken stock) and add the bay leaf and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer very gently until the vegetables are completely softened, 20-25 minutes.
Discard the bay leaf, then if desired, puree the soup in a blender or food processor with the cream or milk. Thin with the remaining milk. Season to taste. I use a masher for this rather than a blender, because of the clean up time involved. It won't be as smooth as a blender renders it, but I like the rougher texture, so this works well for us.
From Linda's Kitchen, modified by Dryw
"The Artist's Way" A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
by Julia Cameron
"The Artist's Way links creativity to spirituality by showing in nondenominational terms how to tap into the higher power that connects human creativity with the creative energies of the universe, and guides you through a variety of highly effective exercises and activities that spur imagination and capture new ideas. Whatever your spiritual orientation, The Artists Way will resonate to your creative mind with truth, wisdom, and inspiration."
The author feels that creativity is the natural order of life, and when we open ourselves to the divine's creativity within us, we become creative beings. She also states that our creative dreams, yearnings and desires are inspired by this creative, divine Source, and as we move towards our sacred dreams, we move towards our own divinity.
This is very well written, and addresses all mediums of self expression, whether it is through dance movement, painting, writing or anything else you perceive as a self expressive art form. It is experiential exercises that connect us with our Source, leading us towards our ultimate fulfillment in creativity, including recovering a sense of self identity. A good read whether you are yearning to create anything from thoughts to novels to paintings. This book will help lead you there.
Spider Woman's Web
Here are some links we love!!
Andromeda’s Store!
http://www.trueilluminations.com/
A Witches Mall
For All of Your Metaphysical Needs, from herbs, to books, and altar
supplies
http://a-witches-mall.vstore.ca/
A beautiful gallery:
http://www.effusion.bz/
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