The Sacred Glen
Volume #3 Issue #3
Litha 2009
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
Dragonfly
Susan
Arlais
Spiralotus
RedJadeBird
In this issue:
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
Plant Medicine
Sacred Holidays
Sit a Spell
Mothercraft
Garden of Eatin'
Harvests from the Printing Press
Spider Woman's Web
June 2009
6/20: Old Slavic Kupala--Goddess Morana/Lada and God Jarilo/Lado marry, bringing
peace and ensuring a good harvest.
6/20 eve: Vigil for lost fathers; night of mourning and healing.
6/20 to 6/21: Inti Rayni--Inca festival honoring Sun God Inti.
6/20 to 6/21: Feast of the Great Spirit/Great Mystery that encompasses Mother
Earth and Father Sky - honoring Deity as Orenda (Iroquois), Asgaya Galun Lati
(Cherokee), Wakan Tanka (Lakota) & Awonawilona (Zuni).
6/20 to 6/23: Lakota Sun Dance--Festival of prayer, fasting, dancing, and
healing in honor of Sun God Wi; offerings are also made to Maka/Mother Earth and
Haokah/Father Sky. Lakotas believe all Deities are aspects of Creator
Takuskanskan.
6/21 (1:45 a.m. EDT): Summer Solstice--Marks the beginning of
Summer and the longest day and shortest night of the year; celebration of the
light with dancing around a bonfire.
6/21: Taoist festival honoring Shang-Ti/Heavenly Emperor, Father of Justice and
Law, and manifestation of the Te (Virtuous Inner Power). Also celebrates the
peak of the masculine Yang half of the year and the Shen of Fire, South, and
Summer; prayers are made for strength and maturity, and offerings are made to
the ancestors.
6/21: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Guardian of the Disabled.
6/21: Beginning of Cancer (the Crab/Scarab).
6/22 (3:35 p.m. EDT): New Moon.
6/22 to 6/25: Iroquois Green Bean Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the bean
harvest; celebrated with tobacco offerings, singing, drumming, dancing, and
feasting.
6/24: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as Rahmat - Mercy.
6/24: First appearance of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, Mother of All
Peoples (Yugoslavia 1981).
6/24 to 6/27: Zuni Corn Dance--for fertility and rains to aid the maize, bean,
and squash crops. Prayer sticks are planted in the fields.
6/25 eve to 6/26 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena - as protector and
defender.
6/29: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Eleggua, Intercessor and Ruler of
Destinies. Yorubas/Santeros celebrate with divination and food offerings.
6/29 to 7/3: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Haurvatat, creator and
protector of water.
6/30: Oharai/Grand Purification Festival--Shinto rite exorcising evil from the
world.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
July 2009...
7/4: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that alienation and
hunger for possessions results from ignorance of interconnectedness.
7/4 to 7/11: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon, Supreme Goddess
of Nature and Perfect Buddha of many emanations; celebrates Her enlightenment
and Her vow to help all sentient beings.
7/7 (5:21 a.m. EDT): Full Moon ( Red/Mother Moon).
7/7: Tanabata--Shinto rite honoring the Kami of the Stars.
7/7: Amitabha Buddha Day--Day Tibetan and Mahayana Buddhists do good deeds and
chant the name of Buddha God Amitabha/Omito/Amida to gain entry to His Pure Land
and aid in attaining nirvana.
7/13 to 7/15: Obon--Zen Buddhist festival honoring departed ancestors.
7/14 (A 8/24): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Osiris - partner and true
love of Isis, and father of Horus; guide of all husbands, fathers, and judges.
7/14 to 7/25 (I 7/23): Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi--Community
gathering for democratic decision making. Forseti and Tyr, Gods of Justice and
Self-Sacrifice, were honored.
7/14 eve to 8/19 eve (7/28 peak): Delta Aquarid Meteor Showers.
7/17 (A 8/27): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neteret Isis - partner and true
love of Osiris, and mother of Horus; guide of all wives, mothers, healers,
advocates, and teachers.
7/19 eve: Laylat al-Mi'raj--Commemorates the night journey of Muslim Prophet
Muhammad to heaven.
7/19 to 8/1 (A 8/29 to 9/11): Old Egyptian festival marking the return to Egypt
of Neteret Isis, Neter Osiris, and the rains that inundate the Nile River.
7/20: Old Slavic festival of God Perun (the Thunderer).
7/21 (10:35 p.m. EDT): New Moon.
7/21 to 7/27: Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the maize
harvest.
7/22: Christian feast of St. Mary Magdalen, disciple and priestess--Savior Jesus
made her His priestess by purifying her seven times; she anointed Him in
preparation for His sacrifice and witnessed His torture, death, and
resurrection.
7/22 eve to 7/23 eve: Hekatombaion Noumenia/Old Athenian New
Year--Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses.
7/23: Beginning of Leo (the Lion/Lioness).
7/23: Mayan Sun Festival--honoring Sun God Ahau Kin; celebrated with devotional
offerings of food, song, prayer, and a ritual procession that symbolically
travels to the four quarters of the Universe.
7/25 (Th B 7/7): Chokhor Duchen--Tibetan Buddhist celebration of the Buddha's
first teaching.
7/26: Christian feast of St. Anna, mother of Blessed Mary and grandmother of
Blessed Jesus; guide of grandmothers and elderly women.
7/29 eve to 7/30 eve: Tish'a B'Av--Jewish fast day mourning the destruction of
the Temples in Jerusalem dedicated to Elohim.
7/29 eve to 8/17 eve (8/12 peak): Perseid Meteor Showers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial
purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2009
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2008 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com
Honeysuckle
By Morgana
When I was a child we had a honeysuckle bush growing in our backyard and my
sister and I would spend many a spring afternoon picking the flowers and making
ringlets to wear on our heads.....that is after we had our full of eating the
flowers! As a teenager I continued to love the honeysuckle scent and wore it as
a perfume. I remember sprinkling talcum powder scented with honeysuckle on my
bedsheets every night so I would sleep wrapped in the scent. Now I am an old
woman, and still find myself deeply attracted to this scent. I live in the
woods surrounded by honeysuckle and will sit outside each morning listening to
the birds and taking deep breaths of this heavenly scent. For me, this is the
essence of heaven itself.
Honeysuckle, also known as woodbine, has been used medicinally for centuries.
It has been used to treat urinary complaints and asthma, as well as during
childbirth. The flowers are used to remove toxins from the body as well as to
reduce fever, especially fever from summer heat, and diarrhea. Honeysuckle tea,
from the flowers, can be used for sore throats and as an expectorant.
Magically, honeysuckle growing near your home brings good luck. If you bring it
in the house and place it in a vase it will bring prosperity. Hung over the
door, it keeps fevers at bay for everyone within. Worn as a ringlet on the head
it brings lovely thoughts and clairvoyance. Honeysuckle is a favorite of the
fae and many a faery ball has been held under the honeysuckle plants.
Make a dream pillow using blue or purple cloth cut into a small square. Stuff
with honeysuckle flowers and leaves, sew shut with blue or purple thread. Place
between your pillowcase and pillow for prophetic dreaming and dreams of the fae.
Litha
By Morgana
Litha, or Midsummer (Summer Solstice) is the day of the year when the sun
appears highest in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the day with the
most daylight hours, and happens circa June 20th to the 23rd. This year, Litha
falls on the 21st.
In ancient times, Summer was a wonderful time. The cold dreary days of winter
had passed. Flowers were in full bloom, the days were warmer and longer, the
crops were planted and showing signs of great bounty. The June full moon,
called the honey moon, was the time when it was best to harvest honey from the
bee hives. Because this time of year was in between planting and harvesting, it
was a time of many weddings. It was believed that the God and the Goddess came
together at Beltaine. Humans did not want to compete with the gods, so they
waited until June for their weddings. Afterwards, couples would celebrate with
a meal that contained honey. A small vestige of this practice can be found in
the modern practice of couples taking a 'honeymoon' after marriage.
In June at Litha, the Goddess is seen as heavily pregnant. The God is at his
peak of manhood. All around is abundance. Litha is a day of honoring the sun
and the life that it brings. In ancient times, fires were lit and burned until
midnight. Love spells and divination were performed around the fires. Couples
jumped the fires, and it was believed that the crops would grow as high as they
were able to jump. The bonfires also served as a type of sympathetic magic,
giving an extra 'boost' to the sun and it's warmth. In Rome, the Goddess of the
Hearth, Vesta, was honored at this time of year in a festival called Vestalia
that lasted from June 7th to around June 15th . In China, Litha was a time of
honoring the divine feminine and the earth. Christians converted this day to
the birth day of Saint John the Baptist. For modern pagans, Litha is an ideal
time to reaffirm your vows to the Lord and the Lady. It is also a wonderful
time to gather your holy water that will be used through out the year. This
water can be gathered from any source of free running and living water. On the
next full moon, place it in a glass bowl with a crystal in it. Place it outside
at dark on the ground under the full moon. Ask the Mother's blessing on it
while swirling your hand over it in a clockwise direction. Bring the bowl in
before sunrise. Pour the water in a dark bottle and store in a dark place until
ready to use.
Midsummer is one of the Holy Days when faerie activity is at it's zenith.
Sitting under a willow tree, a lilac bush, or in a field of lavender will aid in
seeing them. Go outside at dusk or dawn on Midsummer, sit on the ground,
center, and patiently wait. If you are lucky you may be granted a view of their
world. Placing a dab of lavender oil on the eyelids (being careful not to get
any into your eyes), or peering through a holed stone will also aid in seeing
them.
Traditional foods for this time of year include fresh fruits and vegetables,
lemon balm tea, chamomile tea.
Herbs and flowers are mugwort, vervain, lavender, honeysuckle, lily, ivy,
yarrow, elder, fern.
Litha Oil
8 drops lavender
6 drops rosemary
6 drops clary sage
2 oz of carrier oil, such as sweet almond
Add the essential oils to the carrier oil in a dark glass bottle. Add a crystal
or some glitter if you like. Allow to sit for two to three days for the scent
to develop.
Annoint candles with this for spellwork involving the fae, or touch a drop to
the eyelids (being very careful not to get any into the eyes) to see them at
dusk on Midsummers Eve.
Midsummer Incense
Recipes by Scott Cunningham
Midsummer Incense #1:
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Mugwort
1 part Chamomile
1 part Gardenia petals
a few drops Rose oil
a few drops Lavender oil
a few drops Yarrow oil
Burn at rituals on the Summer Solstice to attune with the season and the Sun.
Midsummer Incense #2:
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Benzoin
1 part Dragon's Blood
1 part Thyme
1 part Rosemary
1 pinch Vervain
a few drops Red Wine
(The above recipes are taken from Scott Cunningham's book "The Complete Book of
Incenses, Oils & Brews" Lewellyn Publications, 1989/1992.)
Mini Ritual for Litha
By Arlais
Litha marks the high point of the year, the moment when the sun is at the peak
of its power. It is an auspicious time of the year, a time to work magick and a
time to gather herbs. This mini-ritual invokes the power of Saules Mate to make
a wish come true.
Saules Mate is an Indonesian Sun Goddess. Her very name means "sun". She rides
across the sky by day in a carriage drawn by golden horses, and she crosses the
waters by night in a golden birch boat with a red sail that colours the morning
and evening skies.
For this ritual you will need a yellow candle and an offering for Saules Mate,
perhaps a gift of freshly gathered herbs. Bring a cushion or something to sit
on.
Before starting decide on the wish you intend to ask Saules Mate to grant.
Prepare yourself with a ritual bath and add some of those freshly gathered herbs
to the water. Prepare the ritual space in the usual way. This ritual may be
performed at any point during midsummer but the most auspicious time is at
sunrise on the solstice. If you can safely perform the ritual outdoors then do
so.
Cast the ritual circle, take a seat in the centre of this sacred space and light
the candle. Meditate for a moment on the solstice, on what it means spiritually,
magickally and personally. When you are ready, invite Saules Mate to join you.
You may notice a golden glow within the circle when She is present. Take some
time to commune with Her. Does She have a message for you? Ask Her to bless your
wish and bring it into being.
Turn your attention to the candle flame. Within its yellow glow see the power
and heat of the sun itself. Visualise your wish. Take time to make it clear and
strong. Visualise it as already achieved. Place that wish into the candle flame
and see that flame, as a symbol of the sun, give it life. Hold that vision and
know it will be so.
Snuff out the candle flame and thank Saules Mate for Her presence and gifts.
Remember to make your offering to Her.
Open the circle and ground.
Mothercraft- Dreamcatcher Wreath- For Personal and Family Wellbeing
by Amber Dragonfly
A beautiful grapevine grows abundantly behind my studio. Last summer, I let it grow to its heart's content and by fall it was an unruly Medusa trying to take over every inch of available surface. In honoring the plant's life force, I waited until it went into winter's sleep to harvest, receiving a generous 25 feet of thick beautiful vines. I was inspired by my friend's homemade wreaths, placed in specific areas on her land, to hold a particular focal point. The centers of her wreaths held a homemade 5-pointed star supporting her family's spiritual path and calling in the support of the five elements of spirit, earth, fire, air and water. I choose to make a similar wreath but with a different center.
May you feel supported and loved throughout all of your days. Goddess bless!
HERBAL LEMON COOKIES
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar, divided
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/3 cup lemon thyme and/or lemon balm finely chopped
Cream the butter and 1-3/4 cups sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well.
In a seperate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and herbs. Add to
the creamed mixture and mix. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls, 3 inches apart, on a
greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Sprinkle lightly with the
remaining sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until barely
browned. Cool slightly, then remove to a rack.
BUTTERMILK SCONES
3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 oz (1 1/2 stick) unsalted, cold butter, cut into pieces
1 cup Buttermilk
3/4 cup Currants
1 teaspoon grated orange or lemon Rind
1 Tablespoon Heavy Cream
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons Sugar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking
powder, baking soda and salt using a fork. Stir well. Add the butter and cut
into the flour mixture, using a pastry blender, your fingertips or two knives,
until the mixture looks coarse, like fresh bread crumbs. Add the buttermilk,
currants and orange rind until just moistened. Form the dough into a ball and
press on it so that it holds together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured
surface. Knead lightly a dozen or so times. Cut dough in half and roll into a
circle 1/2-inch thick, about 6 to 7 inches across.
Glaze: In a small bowl combine the cream, cinnamon and sugar; stirring well to
blend. Brush the glaze onto the dough.
Cut the dough into 6 triangle shaped pieces. Place the scones 1 inch apart on an
ungreased baking sheet. Roll out the rest of the dough, top with glaze, cut out
triangles and place on baking sheet. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes or until
the tops are golden. These are best served warm, but taste great at room
temperature too!
Incantation by Alice Hoffman
A review by Susan Allen
In the late 1400’s early 1500’s while Spain was encouraging Christopher Columbus to sail the ocean blue, atrocities were occurring on the home front. Incantation is the story of a young girl, raised a Christian only to discover at the worst time possible that her family has been pretending to be something they’re not. In a time when Jews and Muslims were being persecuted by Christians, it was convert or never see your family again. Many families converted to Christianity but continued to practice their true religion in secret. They continued to do so until the Spanish Inquisition began in 1481 with a new mission to uncover hidden Jews within the Christian community, try them for witchcraft and Judaic practice, and burn them at the stake for their crimes. It is during this time that Estrella deMadrigal discovers that she is one of these “secret Jews” that the soldiers are looking for.
Estrella learns through love and loss that some secrets should always be kept secret, that betrayal exists even amongst the best of friends, and that hope is still the most powerful way to enact change.
Many of us know about the Salem Witch Trials, we know of the Holocaust, but rarely do we take a moment to realize that persecution has existed throughout history and has affected all groups of people. Incantation is the story of a girl whose entire world has been turned upside down by the fact that not only is she not a Christian, but all of the things she’s been taught and practiced will earn her death. Estrella’s lessons are summed up by the titles of the mini-sections of the book: Be Careful, Never Trust, Who Can You Tell, and Who Betrays You.
This is a magnificent tale of persecution, perseverance, trust, hope and love. Hoffman did thorough research to ensure that she was true to Judaic Kabbalahistic practices. She allows a glimpse into a religion that many of us may be unfamiliar with. Once again, Hoffman takes what we know of religion, what we know of tolerance and shows us the lessons we can learn from history. We do not want to be doomed to repeat a history such as this.
Remember what I’ve told you.
Remember me.
-Estrella deMadrigal
Spain 1500
Here are some links we love!
http://www.goddessgift.net/index.html
Ancient 'Herstorical' Wisdom and Inspiring Gifts for the beautiful Goddess
within each of us.
Authentic reproductions of ancient artifacts found throughout the world's
museums.
http://www.goddess.com/
Live in the Lady's Light
http://www.spiralgoddess.com/
Whatever you experience in your daily life, we offer you a place of rest and
renewal, a sacred place with jeweled altars, sacred caves, quiet groves and
seashores.
http://www.mothergoddess.com/
This site is dedicated to the female aspect of Creator and Creation - She whose
back we walk on and whose food we eat. Mother Earth.
http://www.goddessgift.com/
. . . a site to celebrate, to nurture, and to share understandings of the
goddess in every woman.
Your own personal goddess awaits you here. She will guide you on the path of
self-discovery and personal growth, helping you recognize your strengths in ways
that allow you to use your innate talents and strengths.
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