The Sacred Glen
Volume #2 Issue #3
March 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
Belou
Susan Allen
Special Artwork by:
Hope Allen
Gavin Allen
In this issue:
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
The Goddess Speaks
Animal Medicine
Sacred Holidays (Double Feature)
Gaia’s Resources for Health
Garden of Eatin'
Harvests from the Printing Press
Beware the Ides of March???
Announcements
Spider Woman's Web
Sacred Days of the Ancestors
Holy Days, March 2008
2/26 eve to 3/4 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries.
2/6 to 3/20 (OC 3/10 to 4/19): Lent.
3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month– Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man.
3/1: Mindfulness Day– Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you are connected to each and every sentient being that has ever existed.
3/2: Christian feast of Blessed Mary, partner of St. Joseph and mother of Blessed Jesus--honors her as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all mothers.
3/2 to 3/20: Baha'i feast honoring the one Deity as `Ala'--Loftiness, followed by the Fast--time of purification by fasting from sunrise to sunset.
3/5: Navigium Isidis– Old Romano-Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea; celebrated with the launching of a boat of offerings.
3/5: Day commemorating the birth of Taoist Lao-Tzu (570? BCE). Taoists seek enlightenment and live in harmony with Nature.
3/5 to 3/6: Mahashivaratri– Hindu fast, night vigil, and feast for God-Goddess Shiva-Shakti (union of Will and Power), who dances to create, destroy, and re-create the universe. Tantric Hindus believe Shiva is within all men and Shakti within all women.
3/7 (12:14 p.m. EST): New Moon.
3/8: International Women's Day– Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment.
3/8 eve to 3/9 eve: Remembrance day for Rabi'a al-`Adawiya (d. 801), Sufi saint and preacher; she loved Deity passionately. Sufis seek Truth through love, wisdom, and action.
3/9 (2:00 a.m.): Daylight Savings Time begins--set clocks ahead 1 hour.
3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence.
3/13 eve to 3/14 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa)--as protector of wild animals and vegetation.
3/25: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Passion and Fertility.
3/15 to 3/21: Old Anglo-Teutonic festival of Goddess Ostara, celebrating the annual rebirth. Her Hare gave gifts of eggs--signifying rebirth.
3/16 (OC 4/20): Palm Sunday– Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself for the liberation and redemption of all.
3/16 to 3/20: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Mainyu, creator and protector of humans.
3/17: St. Patrick's Day– Old European festival marking rebirth of the Green Man/Green George (God as deciduous vegetation); merged with the Christian feast of St. Patrick.
3/18 to 3/22: Holi– Hindu festival celebrating the courting of God Shiva by Goddess Parvati, and the efforts on Her behalf by Kama (God of Love) and Rati (Goddess of Passion). Shaivas are devoted to God Shiva in all His aspects.
3/19: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Osanyin, Orisha of Deciduous Vegetation.
3/19 (some transfer to 3/31): Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Mary and foster-father of Blessed Jesus--honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all fathers.
3/19 eve to 3/20 eve: Mawlid al-Nabi– Day commemorating the birth of Muslim Prophet Muhammad (570).
3/19 eve to 3/21 eve: Jewish fast of Esther and fest of Purim– Recalls a planned massacre of Persian Jews and their deliverance by Queen Esther; time for helping those in need.
3/19 to 3/23: Quinquatrus of Minerva– Old Roman festival of Goddess Minerva (Greek Athena)--as font of artistic inspiration.
3/20 (1:48 a.m. EDT): Spring Equinox– Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual creation with egg hunts and exchanges.
3/20 (OC 4/24): Maundy Thursday/Last Supper of Savior Jesus– He washed the feet of His male and female disciples, gave them bread and wine as His body and blood, and told of the Paraclete (Our Mother, the Holy Spirit) who would come after Him.
3/20 to 3/21: Old Sumerian festival celebrating the return of Dumuzi (God of Life and Death) from the Underworld to be with Inanna (Goddess of Life) for the verdant part of the year.
3/20 to 3/21: Festival of First Creation– when Goddess-God Amenet-Amen (as Goose and Gander) laid and fertilized the Cosmic Egg from which all emerged (Old Egyptian); when Goddess-God Teteoinan-Teteoitah created all Deities and all existence (Aztec); when concentrated matter flared forth to make the universe (scientific theory).
3/20 eve to 3/22 eve: Feast of the Seas– honoring Goddess as Mamacocha (Inca), Hina Ke Kai (Hawaiian) & Tehom (Old Canaanite-Hebrew); and God as Njord (Old Norse).
3/21 (2:40 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (White/Virgin Moon).
3/21: Taoist festival honoring the Shen (Deities) of Water, East, and Spring; prayers are made for growth. Taoists believe the unity of Yin (Eternal Feminine) and Yang (Eternal Masculine) make up the psyche-matter-energy of the eternal all-encompassing Ch'i.
3/21: Naw Ruz– Baha'i New Year (Year 164) and feast honoring the one Deity as Baha--Splendor.
3/21: Beginning of Aries (the Ram/Ewe/Lamb).
3/21 (OC 4/25): Passion Friday– Fast day to mourn the torture and killing of Savior Jesus by civil and religious authorities, and to contemplate the sacrifice made for the liberation and redemption of all.
3/22 (OC 4/26): Holy Saturday– Vigil remembering Savior Jesus in His cave tomb.
3/23 (OC 4/27): Easter/Pascha– Christian celebration of Lord Jesus' resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
3/26: Mahayana Buddhist festival of Bodhisattva Tara/Kuan Yin/Kannon; celebrates Her "birth." She declared women the spiritual equals of men.
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
Changing Woman, also known as Estsanatlehi (self-renewing one) is both an Apache and Navajo Goddess who never gets old. She changes her age by walking towards the east, and getting younger as she goes until her young self merges with her old self and she begins again. She is also known by the names White Shell Woman, Painted Woman and Turquoise Woman
went from infancy to puberty in four days, and from this the first puberty ceremony ensued. She also gave the people the Blessingway ceremony, during which blessings are given to the person being honored. This ceremony is often held at birth, but also at different points in our lives when a blessing is needed. For example, when a woman conceives, when a young man heads off to war, etc.
There is more to read about the ceremonies in which she is invoked at
http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/maria/Sunrisedance.html which describes an Apache Sunrise Ceremony.
Pictures of a young Apache girls puberty ceremony can be seen at
http://www.bigredhair.com/apache/index.html
This Goddess represents the cycle of the seasons, as shown by the colors of her outfits, and she also represents cycles in our lives, particularly menstrual cycles. She speaks to us not only of cycles, but of renewal and of honoring change as the only constant there is. Call on Changing Woman to help you through any cycles that you are passing through and you will find her strength and understanding manifest within you.
Chameleon
By Morgana
Chameleons are small lizards that are native to North Africa and Syria. Their most noteworthy trait is their ability to change the color of their bodies according to their environment, the amount of light around them and their mood. This ability is partly to hide from predators and partly a means of communication. They are slow moving creatures; moving one foot only after the other is firmly planted. They give birth both through egg-laying and live birth. But no matter how they are born, they begin catching prey within a day of birth.
Chameleon Medicine includes the art of shape shifting and adaptability.
They teach how to use intuition wisely, how to detach, how to be
sensitive to the environment, both physically and psychically, psychic
self-defense and how to understand prophetic dreams. If Chameleon is appearing to you, whether in person, through dreams or other means, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
Are you being too sensitive, or are you not being sensitive enough to
what is going on around you?
Are you moving too quickly? Are you getting ahead of yourself?
Do you need to protect yourself from unwanted psychic influences?
Are you really feeling what you think you are feeling or are you picking up someone else's feelings?
Are you being too easily influenced by others?
The appearance of Chameleon always means good news, a new way of seeing things, changes taking place around you, and gifts coming your way from spirit. If you find gifts coming your way, pounce on them! If you don't, the opportunity may be lost. Although Chameleons are slow moving critters, they still react with lightening speed when it comes to food, and we can apply that to spiritual food as well.
Sacred Holidays: Ostara and Easter
Ostara
By Morgana
On or around March 20th of this year falls the Vernal Equinox, also known as the first day of Spring, or Ostara (in pagan circles). Ostara is one of the lesser sabbats, and is a time when day and night are equal. It is a time of harmony and new beginnings, and is the day that the sun enters into the constellation of Aries. In many traditions, it is the beginning of the New Year. This is the time in pagan mythology when the young God, who was born at Yule, is now a young man. The Goddess has returned to her maiden aspect and can be seen in the new blossoms, the new leaves and the mating of the birds. Both She and the youthful God celebrate a sacred marriage (heirogamy). The Goddess conceives, and in nine months will once again give birth the the God. Some traditions celebrate the day of Ostara on the full moon after the Vernal Equinox, while others celebrate it on the Vernal Equinox proper. It is also known as Lady Day, and this title dates back to the festivals of Aphrodite and Venus, which were also celebrated around this time.
Ostara is a virgin/maiden Goddess. In honor of her, ancient peoples would gather for games, rituals and feasting on this day, welcoming the longer days and the warmth that was soon to be. It was a custom to never wear any new clothing before this date, so often the people would spend months making new clothes specifically for this festival. Hence springs the more modern custom of buying a new Easter outfit each year.
Also associated with Ostara is the rabbit. It is said that the rabbit so wanted to please the Goddess that he decorated eggs in Her honor. She was so pleased with them that she decreed everyone should celebrate in this manner....hence the custom of colored eggs being delivered by a bunny. Other customs surrounding this holiday include planting seeds (particularly sweet peas), taking walks in nature, decorating doorways with fresh greens, and feasting on things such as eggs, milk, cheese and hot cross buns.
Get outside!! Take a walk!! Feel the newness of creation bursting forth all around you and breathe this spirit into your own life! Buy a packet of seeds, perhaps herb seeds, and fill them with intentions you have for yourself this year. Then plant them, and watch as they grow and these intentions come to manifestation for you. This is a time to start over, to begin anew and to bring freshness to your life.
Enjoy!!
Ostara Correspondences
by Belou
Herbs/Flowers: Honeysuckle, Iris, Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Tansy, Violets, Cinquefoil, Crocus, Daffodil, Dogwood, Lily, Acorns, Celandine, Irish Moss, Ginger, Hyssop, Linden.
Incense/Oils: Violet, Jasmine, Rose, Sage, Strawberry, Lotus, Magnolia, Lavender, Narcissus, Ginger, Broom.
Colors: Pastels, pinks, blues, yellows, green, gold, peach.
Stones: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Red Jasper, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Amethyst.
Foods: Light foods, fish, maple sugar candies, hot crossed buns, sweet breads, hard boiled eggs, honey cakes, seasonal fruits, milk punch, egg drinks.
Tools/Symbols/Decorations: Colored eggs, baskets, green clothes, shamrock, equilateral cross, butterfly, cocoons, sprouting plants; violets, lily, spring wildflowers, new clothes, lamb, hare/rabbit.
Gods/Goddesses: Eostre (Saxon goddess of fertility), Ostara (German goddess of fertility), the Green Goddess and Lord of the Greenwood.
Essence: Strength, birthing, completion, power, love, sexuality, embodiment of spirit, fertility, opening, beginning.
Dynamics/Meaning: The God comes of age, sexual union of the Lord & Lady, sprouting, greening, balance of light and dark.
Purpose: Plant and animal fertility, sowing.
Rituals/Spells: Spellcrafting, invention, new growth, new projects, seed blessing.
Customs: Wearing green, new clothes, Celtic bird festival, egg baskets coloring eggs, collecting birds eggs, bird watching, egg hunts, starting new projects, spring planting.
Element/Gender: Air/Male.
Threshold: Morning/Dawn.
Easter: A Christian Perspective
By Susan Allen
The lights in the church dim and the stage is illuminated. On the right side, stands a church, with a perfectly framed image of Jesus. On the left side of the stage is a run down city alley. As the music plays, people dressed in fine clothes greet each other, shake hands, and embrace as they enter their perfect church. On the city street, the people are dressed in whatever they can put together for clothing. They huddle around a flaming garbage can for warmth and rub their arms and legs. One of the homeless tries to enter the church and is turned away by the perfectly dressed Christians. The church goers are disgusted and appalled that these yucky people could even fathom the idea of entering their holy place.
Suddenly a young man appears; he is also dressed in street clothes. His expression is sad as he looks at the homeless struggling for warmth and for food. He attempts to go into the church to plead with the people there to help those less fortunate. He too is turned away. He makes several attempts to plead on the homeless’ behalf; the most fervent occurs when a homeless man collapses from extreme cold. Finally the young man goes to the homeless with bread, water, blankets and warm clothing.
The Christians storm out of their church in a rage and pull the clothing off the young man. Under his street clothes he wears pristine white cloth. They spread his arms and nail him to a cross. They force a wreath of thorns on his head. They laugh and jeer and slap each other on the back in congratulation. A young woman parishioner begins to cry with realization at what she has done. She races to the cross and pulls him down, but it’s too late, he’s already gone. With the help of the homeless, they clean him up and lovingly prepare him for burial. As they weep at his grave, a miraculous thing happens: he comes back to life. He glows with Holy light as he embraces all of the homeless. The parishioners cry and weep with remorse and he embraces them as well. And so the song ends.
This human video at the Lebanon Family Church in Lebanon, Missouri is one of the most powerful representations of what Easter means to Christians that I have ever seen. After the video and a prayer, they passed around the sacrament: the taking of Jesus’ blood and body in remembrance of his sacrifice for all humanity. I remember my dad asking me if I wanted my children to participate in this ritual, and his surprise when I said no. He was equally surprised that I did take part in the ritual. It was only later that I had a chance to explain.
No ritual should ever be done without truly understanding the why of the ritual. My children were then 9 and 7, too young to understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for them, for all of us. They could not possibly understand that the grape juice, while delicious, represented the blood that Jesus shed and that the little white wafer represented the body of Jesus that was so badly beaten, bruised and sacrificed by the very people he was attempting to save. Without understanding who those items represented and why it was so important, it would have been just juice and gross flat bread to my children.
As to why I participated in the ritual: no matter where my spiritual journey takes me, I can recognize the Divine who have graced us in the past. And Jesus was Divine.
Often Easter is shadowed by the sadness of Jesus’ death. Many Christians only have a vague idea of why he was murdered in the first place. They know that without his sacrifice their sins would not be forgiven, and their place in heaven would not be secure. But few of them think about who Jesus really was. He was a rebel and an outcast. He broke all of society’s rules with love. Love for all creatures. He loved the homeless, the lepers, the children, the mentally ill, the animals, all equally. He didn’t believe in social status, he felt that all people were equal and equally deserving of God’s love. And scariest of all for the establishment, he taught that God could be found in everything, and as such established churches were not necessary.
So Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death on the cross for rocking the boat, for believing and teaching that everyone deserved God’s love no matter who they were or what their status. He taught that no one was undeserving or condemned as long as they believed and practiced love before any other emotion. He believed in forgiveness and that people can change.
“For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
He said that God loved everyone and that through him; all people were forgiven and guaranteed their place in heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice was one of the most monumental sacrifices any human being could give: their own life for the lives of others. In Jesus’ case, it was the spiritual lives of others he was saving, not their physical lives. Jesus gave people the hope that no matter how wretched or wonderful their physical lives might be, their soul would be protected and rewarded in the afterlife. That is what Easter means to Christians, it means forgiveness and unconditional, eternal love.
What does Easter mean to you?
“Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . Christ’s triumph over death gives us life – life that is not corruptible, but eternal . . . We should celebrate the freedom Jesus Christ has given us by overcoming death. This is what Easter means to me.”
Anonymous
“Easter makes me think more of Jesus’ sacrifice than I normally do. Throughout the year when I pray I try not to just think about myself and my needs, or the needs of others, but I don't usually think about the sacrifice and suffering he went through for our sake.”
Lisa Chapman
“Easter is a holiday that celebrates when Jesus rose again.”
Ryan Chapman
“To me, Easter is the Christian's celebration of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. I focus on the resurrection, as it is symbolic of what born-again believers feel is the crux of our faith. This is critical for believers in Jesus Christ, because without His death and resurrection there is no Christianity and no Christian Easter. Each Easter my heart and mind sings "He is alive." I cannot even type this phrase to describe my feelings to you, without enormous emotion, gratefulness and peace.
Besides basic Christian doctrine, [Easter] is the knowledge of the truth that Jesus died to pay the penalty of death that I deserve for my sin, was buried, and rose with a glorified body, thereby gaining victory over death and the grave. When I put my faith in Him by believing through faith in Christ alone, I have the promise of one day having eternal life with Him.”
Rose Myhre
“Easter means gratitude”
Nessa
“I grew up Roman Catholic and the Easter season still has a lot of
meaning for me . . . I always felt that Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus, was a remembrance of a great sacrifice for all people of the world so that we too could die and be reborn. It was a hopeful time that gave us the promise of a place in Heaven. And, as a kid, it was all tied up with coloring Easter eggs, candy, a brand new Easter dress, white lilies in the big crystal vase on the table and special bread and pie that grandma used to bake just for Easter.
Now, as a Wiccan, I see this time of year as a time of renewal, rebirth and transformation. Ostara and Easter are similar in their shared meanings of rebirth and renewal. However, I now see this time as a part of the larger turning of the Wheel of the Year and the cycle of the seasons. I find that I have a more rounded and larger view of the day, in view of where it fits in the Wheel of the Year.”
Wally
“Honestly, Easter for me felt like a guilt trip . . . I always was stuck on the "Jesus died on the cross to save your soul" business . . . I guess I felt like I put Him there...I drove the nails into his body and killed him because He knew I was going to sin. I had a very difficult time with that concept . . . . Now that I have a different perspective, I look at Easter and see "rebirth".”
- Dana
“For me, Easter is a mixture of great sadness and great joy. I am saddened so by humanity and the fact that what happened to Jesus continues to happen today to many people who stand up for what they believe in. They may not be murdered on a cross or beaten until they can no longer stand, but equally devastating things are done to them. But at the same time, I feel great joy in the fact that Jesus existed, that he was such a wonderful man, and that he was able to instill such a sense of hope in people. Jesus gives me hope for humanity through his message of loving each other above all else. Easter reminds me of his wonderful gift of love and sacrifice for all, no matter whether or not they choose to believe in what he did for them. And his sacrifice was pronounced by his words: ‘Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.’ I love them, Father, even if they never love me back. Unconditional love is Jesus and Easter reminds me of that.”
Susan
Songs
“Creed” by Petra
I believe in God the Father-maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His only son
I believe in the Virgin birth
I believe in the Man of Sorrows bruised for iniquities
I believe in the Lamb who was crucified and hung
Between two thieves
I believe in the resurrection on the third and glorious day
And I believe in the empty tomb and the stone that the angel rolled
Away
He descended and set the captives free
And now He sits at God’s right hand and prepares a place for me
This is my creed- the witness I have heard
The faith that has endured
This truth is assured
Through the darkest ages past
Though persecuted it will last
And I will hold steadfast to this creed
I believe He sent His Spirit to comfort and to reveal
To lead us into truth and light
To baptize and to seal
I believe that He will come back the way He went away
And receive us all unto Himself
Though no man knows that day
I believe He is the Judge of all men small and great
The resurrected souls of man receive from Him their fate
Some to death and some to life
Some to their reward
Some to sing eternal praise forever to our Lord
*Words and music by Bob Hartman using the “Apostle’s Creed”
“Love” by Petra
Love is patient, love is kind
No eyes of envy, true love is blind
Love is humble, it knows no pride
No selfish motives hidden inside
Love is gentle, makes no demands
Despite all wrong, true love still stands
Love is holy, love is pure
It lasts forever, it will endure
Love knows when to let go
Love knows when to say no
Love grows in the light of the Son
And love shows the world
That the Son of Love has come
Love is loyal, believes the best
It loves the truth, love stands the test
Love is God, sent His Son
Love forgives, all we have done
In this world where hatred seems to grow
True love goes against the flow
And becomes so hard to show
In this world where push turns into shove
We have strength to rise above
Through the power of His Love
Lord we need to know that power of Your love.
*Words and music by Bob Hartman based on 1 Corinthians 13
Easter in the Germanic language
By Dryw
The modern English term Easter developed from the Old English word Eastre, which itself developed prior to 899. The name refers to the goddess Eastre in Germanic paganism, who was celebrated at the Spring equinox, and has cognates in Old High German ?star?n, plural, Easter (modern German language Ostern). The Old English term Eastre ultimately derives from ?ast - meaning the direction of east. This indicates it originally referred to a goddess associated with dawn. Corresponding Indo-European traditions occur with the Roman goddess Aurora and the Greek goddess Eos.
In England, the annual festive time in her honor was in the "Month of Easter" or ?ostur-monath equivalent to April/Aprilis. In his De temporum ratione the Bede, an 8th Century English Christian monk wrote in Latin:
"Eostur-monath, qui nunc paschalis mensis interpretatur, quondam a dea illorum quae Eostre vocabatur et cui in illo festa celebrabant nomen habuit."
Which translates as:
"Eostur-month, which is now interpreted as the paschal month, was formerly named after the goddess Eostre, and has given its name to the festival."
Some scholars have suggested that a lack of supporting documentation for this goddess might indicate that Bede assumed her existence based on the name of the month. Others state that Bede's status as "the Father of English History," having been the author of the first substantial history of England ever written, might make the lack of additional mention for a goddess whose worship had already died out by Bede's time unsurprising. The debate receives considerable attention because the name 'Easter' is derived from Eostur-monath, and thus, according to Bede, from the Germanic goddess Eostre, though this etymology is sometimes disputed.
Jacob Grimm took up the question of Eostre in his 1835 work Deutsche Mythologie. Grimm notes that Ostara-manoth is etymologically related to Eostur-monath and writing of various landmarks and customs which he believed to be related to a putative goddess he named Ostara in Germany.
From Wikipedia-Etymology German
Gaia’s Resources for Health
Affirmations
By Belou
Practice one or all of the following affirmations 30x a day for 30 days. These affirmations help to build up the energy around you & within the Universe to manifest these desired changes in your life.
I am safe in all of my relationships. I am always treated well.
As I forgive myself, I am forgiven by others in the world.
I trust Spirit to guide me.
I allow my true love to find me easily and effortlessly.
My light and love enter my heart and bless my life.
How to manifest Mr. or Mrs. Right
By Belou
1. Create a clear picture in your mind of your perfect partner. These vibrations can
attract your imaginary man or woman into your life.
2. Make a relationship collage with pictures of things that are important to you.
3. Be specific when you visualize the environment and your future together.
4. Put it in writing. Make a list of your needs and wants in a satisfying relationship.
5. Place the list where you can see it often. The more time and energy you devote,
to it, the closer the reality becomes.
6. Focus on the list and verbalize it. Repeat it aloud for even greater impact. There's
nothing like the power of the spoken word.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
5 whole eggs, dyed if desired
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1.In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.
2.Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly. Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
3.Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4.Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long roll about 36 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braided ring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and use your fingers to slide the eggs between the braids of dough (eggs can be raw and dyed, they will cook with the bread in the oven).
5.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place loaf on a buttered baking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Brush risen loaf with melted butter.
6.Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until golden.
Submitted by Susan (adapted from allrecipes.com)
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm 2% milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 egg
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons dried currants
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 dash ground allspice
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
Topping:
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon 2% milk
1.In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. Stir in butter, egg, sugar and salt. Combine 3/4 cup flour, raisins, currants, cinnamon and allspice; add to the yeast mixture and mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2.Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3.Punch dough down; shape into six 2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross on top of each bun. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
4.Beat egg yolk and water; brush over buns. Bake at 375 degrees F for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Combine icing ingredients; pipe over buns.
Submitted by Susan (adapted from allrecipes.com)
Harvests from the Printing Press
Partner Earth Restoring Our Sacred Relationship with Nature by Pam Montgomery
She gives explicit exercises to help us tune into our surrounding life energies, using traditional wisdoms, visualizations, and personal experiences of her own that have helped her in realizing and creating the sacred space needed to connect with these allies that have so long been neglected. This book, as its title suggests, is aimed at healing the rift between ourselves and our Partner Earth. She shares a great deal of her personal experiences with us in this book.
Pam Montgomery is the Director of Green Terrestrial, an herbal product and educations business, conducting workshops across the country on herbs, Earth awareness, and co-creative partnership.
A very personally inspired book, I enjoyed reading her journey into learning what true Earth partnering entailed for her.
By Dryw
Beware the Ides of March???
by Dryw
The word "Ides" comes from the earliest Roman calendar, said to have been established by the mythical figure Romulus. It denoted the mid-point of the month, the 15th. The Roman calendar was arranged by three main days a month:
(K) Calends (1st day of the month)
Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months)
Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months)
Used in both the Roman and Julian calendars, this way of establishing specific days continued into the Renaissance Age.
So here we learn that the soothsayer's warning to "Beware the Ides of March," simply was meant as a warning to Caesar to be cautious of the 15th day of March (the day Caesar was slain) yet that famous line from Shakespeare has forever imbued that date with a sense of foreboding.
Announcements
Author of Ecoshamanism, and group facilitator for shamanic practices, James Endredy has traveled the Americas holding workshops, and is actively involved in preserving the world's indigenous cultures and traditional sacred sites.
Greetings Friends,
We are excited to announce two Ecoshamanic initiations in March in magical Sedona Arizona. The initiations will be facilitated by founder James Endredy, author of Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices of Unity, Power, and Earth Healing. Be sure to check out James’ new best-selling book: Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness. Here are the event details:
First Initiation: Entering the Vortex March 19, 20
Tasks: the art of counter-practice and how to apply it to your everyday life
- Inducing altered states of consciousness through ecoshamanic practice in nature
- Learning to see in holistic systems within the spiraling reality
- Forming new cognitive maps through bioregional awareness
- Constructing a personal ecoshamanic temple
- Making of offerings to attain balance with the spirits of nature
- Learning to create ceremonies and rituals with the powers that rule the world - wind, water, soil, and fire
- Learning the steps to fashion an animal spirit jicara
- Making a first approach to ecoshamanic chanting
- Experiencing an internal energetic cleansing with the sacred flame
- Discovering personal ways to share in the unfolding dream of the earth
The two days of this initiation will be held at various power spots throughout the Red Rock Mountains in and around Sedona. For those of you that have never visited Sedona: These power spots are super concentrated with the energy to help transform human consciousness, and thus perfect for this initiation of power and healing. The exchange of energy is $300.00. For more info go to www.JamesEndredy.com
Second Initiation: The Embrace of the Earth March 21,22
Tasks:
- Internal preparation at home for the Embrace of the Earth Rite
- Making of offerings to the land and construction of the tombs
- Preparing mentally, physically, and spiritually by sweat lodge cleansing, fire purification, water practices, blessings, and group work, among others (depending on weather conditions and the location)
- Passing through the all night Rite of Passage
- Learning steps to integrate discoveries made while in altered states during the night
- Making of offerings related to your personal experience during the Rite
- Leaving the land as we found it
The two days of this initiation will held at Gold Depot learning center in Sedona. Gold Depot is a 501c non profit and a portion of your tuition goes directly to their great cause. Gold Depot is the same place where we recently had the History Channel come to film this ceremony as part of an upcoming 2 hour special. The exchange of energy is $300.00.
For more info go to www.JamesEndredy.com
We hope that you can join us! Feel free to direct any questions directly to James Endredy at Earthspirit@JamesEndredy.com
Spider Woman's Web
Here are some links we love!!
National Geographic’s guide to living green
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
A website filled with great metaphysical and scientific information!!
http://www.crystalinks.com/
A place that explores anomalies in science and history....
http://www.halexandria.org/
To make a difference in a child's life....
http://www.children.org/
Be an angel for animals!!
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
A healing site....
www.ripeningthesoul.com
A wonderful shopping experience!!
www.ArticulationsSantaFe.com
Source of Susan’s Easter Experience
http://lebanonfamilychurch.org/
Order of the White Moon
http://www.orderwhitemoon.org
Links to Daughters of the Greening:
Information on Courses
Tarot Readings
Prayer Requests
Email: school@daughtersofthegreening.com
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