Preparing for end of Summer

Summer is coming to a close and I have just a few things left from my summer list to accomplish. I didn't post my summer list but I can share some of the things that were on it that I did this summer.

Me in on the beach in Condado, Puerto Rico

Work on my tan. I did this... IN PUERTO RICO! Woo!

Some of my burly-q friends dressed up as peanut butter and
jellyfish. :)

The Mermaid Parade at Coney Island!!! (This was near the Solstice so I used this as my way of celebrating it!

Here I am at the parade as a Portuguese Man-of-War

See The Dark Knight Rises in the Theater.

Buy 2 Maxi Dresses  and 2 pairs of Sandals (I bought 3)

Make a Salt Scrub

Dry My Sheets Outside. (I LOVE THIS!)

Make a hair rinse out of beer- I used wondered soldiers left around the house after a BBQ.

Make my beach playlist: there was a LOT of Beach Boys and Lady GaGa

4th of July Fireworks (I did this in Puerto Rico also.)

Here is half of my new bathing suit- my tail is covering the rest.

Buy a new Bathing Suit. 

Me with some blue eyeshadow/eyeliner on. 

A Blue Eyeliner pencil

Update Hurricane Kit Apparently, we get them now in Brooklyn so... I updated it

New Flashlights, a waterproof document holder, 

charcoal for the grill, non-perishable, and emergency water

Get a bowl of cheap sunglasses (Greatest thing I've ever done. Ever.)

Big Daddy and I parasailing

Do a water sport: Jet Ski's and Parasailing! 

Make Fish Tacos 

Make Homemade Popsicles (Vanilla Banana and Nutella... YUM!)

Champagne Cocktails (watermelon is really refreshing with champagne)

Sea Glass/Beach Jewelry: I found a great bracelet at TJ Maxx

Paint the House: We painted the living room from an apple green to a neutral tan

Some things I'm in progess with:

Try/Invent 6 salads: I'm on salad three: I'll post the recipe tomorrow

Find 5 summer books: Love Languages, Walt Disney Biography, Moll Flanders, Killing Yourself to Live, and I need 1 more!

This is my bedside self-help book
for the summer. It's pretty good.

Nothing like the film. :) 

I'm working on it. So far it's wonderful
for anyone who loves Disney.

One of the most funny books I've ever read!

Some things I have yet to do! 

I have less than 1 month to get on it!

Geocaching

Make a new canopy for our bedroom

Put up the hammock and make some pillows for it

Put up the damask fabric on the bedroom wall

Try a lobster roll

Make some lemonade ice cubes

Puppy Picnic

My Fall List of Fun Things to Do!

Things To Do This Fall

My pumpkin last year

 Fall is coming and it's my favorite time of year, every season I make a list of fun things to do as well as a list of things that are hallmarks of that time of year.  Fall is the time to ready for winter. A time of stocking up, making repairs, and snuggling in the chilly air with the people and animals that you love the most. Here is my list of 50 fall activities and things that I will do around my house here in Brooklyn to enjoy and get the most of out this magical season!

□ Go to a Pumpkin Patch □ Haunted House (Not TOO scary!) □ Go for Fall Wine Trail □ Contemplate agreeing to go Camping □ Oktoberfest □ Pillow Fort and Scary Movie with Big Daddy □ Go Horseback Riding □ Go Antiqueing □ Scenic Drive Upstate □ Buy 3 new sweaters! □ New pair of boots for fall □ Get Chimi a Jets Jersey from Big Daddy □ Put Away Summer Bedclothes □ Put away Summer Clothes □ Donate Clothes □ Repair Scarves and Gloves and Shoes □ Dry Garden Herbs □ Plant some mums View of Autumn color in my neighborhood □ Get the garden ready for winter □ Put Fall Scents around the House ; candles,  wallflowers, and scented oils/potpourri □ Make a Wreath for the Door □ Put up Fall Decorations □ Get a Cinnamon Broom for the front door □ Re-Paint the kitchen □ Do a Recipe Swap with my friends □ Plan Halloween Party □ Host Football Gameday (1 Giants/1 Jets) □ Have “bonfire” and roast marshmallows □ Pumpkin Carving Party! □ Pick some colorful leaves and send them to my Floridians □ Pictures with piles of leaves □ Renaissance Faire □ Learn to Play Backgammon □ Picnic in the Park □ Make Apple Butter □ Make some Beer with Bid Daddy □ Homemade Stew with Dumplings □ Make Homemade Marshmallows □ Learn to make toffee □ Make 5 Pumpkin Dishes Chimi's 1st Halloween October 2007 □ Make a Pecan Pie □ Cross-stitch □ Make Family Calendar □ Make Countdown Calendars! Woot! □ Re-Organize the kitchen with Big Daddy so  it’s how we both like it □ Host Thanksgiving? Get out invites! □ Plant some bulbs for Spring □ Clean Outside of my Windows □ Repaint the house numbers □ Try some new vegetables from the market Chimichanga having a photoshoot in some leaves

To Bind or Not to Bind?

There are many different paths in the Pagan forest of spirituality. Many have strict rules regarding using one's power to exert power over others some say, "Never do it!" others say "Do what you feel!" I believe that anytime you feel the need to exert power over another you need to look at why. Are you afraid of them? Are you angry with them? Are you in love with them? Are they dangerous? Are you dangerous?

In the last few years of my life I found myself faced with this issue, on more than one occasion and with more than one person.  It is my belief that you should not focus yourself on controlling another being's free will. This will always come to bite you, in my humble opinion and in my experience. But what do you do when you are worried or afraid that someone else is danger to you? I will share with you what I have done in the past and what worked for me and how I went about it.

Binding an individual can seriously backfire on you and you should not decide on such a thing lightly. In Wiccan belief it's "Harm none." In Voodoo, it's normal to try to seduce the spirit world into bringing your desires to fruition- but always at a cost (it's more in depth and complicated than that but that is for another article another day.) I am not a Wiccan. I don't worship Wiccan gods- I choose my own deities based on their representations and I will invoke deities from multiple backgrounds and belief systems. So while I'm not strictly bound by "Harm none" I try to heed it as much as possible. However, I finally arrived at a place where binding was likely necessary to "cool off" the other individual.  How I arrived to this place is through a long hard road of uneasiness, meditation, and acceptance of the consequences should this backfire. Luckily for me, it worked wonderfully.

Here is the situation:
An individual living in my home that I am un-related to otherwise began to systematically destroy my home life.  Unhappiness and mental instability (actually diagnosed by doctor- not my own diagnoses) were in the air and I began to really worry about my safety, the safety of the animals in my home, and the individual themselves, whom I actually liked as a person.  I felt that this individual was hurting themselves and could not control it, in fact, the person admitted to me that they constantly hurt themselves and could not control it with or without medication. So, I decided to take action to maintain the protection within my home of its inhabitants.

Here is what I did:
1. I wrote the individual's name on slip of paper.
2. I meditated with this in my hand, with incense and candles before my altar,  for guidance.
3. A memory came to me, actually from my trip to New Orleans, about how to spiritually use a freezer. I took the slip of paper and I thought of calmness, I thought of patience and relaxation, of unwinding something.
4. Once I felt unwound I quickly rolled the piece of paper bearing the name up very very tightly and wound it with rubber bands (twine would have probably looked nicer but I was doing this on the fly and rubber bands were at hand.)
5. Essentially, I "bound" them to peace and considering that this is a person who gets angry and runs hot I put their little bound self  into the freezer- to cool them off.

Result:
 I must admit, while I was hopeful I was also skeptical. Within 24 hours the most remarkable thing happened. This person came home from work and stated that while they had been upset they had figured it out. Everything was falling into place and they were going to leave my home for a home they were more excited about (win-win) and that they were so happy that I was such an understanding person.
Huh.
That was impressive.
I have experienced no malice or problems since. I've not heard anything negative, I've not felt anything negative, and when I do see this person they are quite happy in my presence without dominating or trying to manipulate it. So, hopefully, I brought this person peace, which was my intention, even though my reasoning behind making the decision was to protect myself and those around me. 

Herb of Week: Thyme

Thyme ~ Thymus Vulgaris

DISCLAIMER: Remember, I am not a doctor, psychologist, licensed herbalist, or priestess

ALWAYS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL! This is article is for information ONLY.

Thyme is a common kitchen herb that packs a punch! Used to treat several types of infections (respiratory, mouth, and bladder/urinary tract), whooping cough, gastric and intestinal problems, depression, some skin ailments, as well as an antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic.

As an antiseptic is can be used as a compress for wound dressing, sores, rheumatic pain, insect bites and stings.  As a mouthwash, skin cleanser, anti-fungal for athlete's foot and as an anti-parasitic for lice, scabies, and crabs.  Tinctures (4 oz thyme to 1 pint alcohol) and essential oils can be applied to the skin for anti-fungal or anti-parasitic needs. For skin inflammations and sores, make a poultice can be made by mashing the leaves into a paste and applied to skin inflammations and or sores.  

Most commonly Thyme is used to treat bronchial problems due to its anti-tussive (cough supressing), antispasmodic and expectorant properties. For bronchial and gastric problems, make a tea to be used once per day to treat coughs, bronchitis, chronic candidiasis, whooping cough, indigestion, bronchial infections and halitosis.

Thyme essential oil can cause adverse reactions in it's pure form and should be used sparingly as a medicinal treatment.   If taken in a tea, drink only once or twice per day, and if used on the skin, be aware that it may cause irritation. 


 It is a good digestive aid, helps menstrual cramps and is a great cold remedy. Thyme is also known as a stimulant. It stimulates the circulatory system, and can help raise low blood pressure. For people with a slow digestive system, it can help to stimulate it, and has also found to be helpful for those who are fatigued, lethargic, or depressed. It is also thought to help memory by stimulating the chemical reactions in the brain. Taking a warm bath with thyme can help relieve insomnia and it is thought to help slow hair loss when used as a hair rinse after shampooing. 

USING THYME ESSENTIAL OIL: Check for any allergic reaction before using, put a few drops of diluted essential oil on the skin of your arm to test for any reaction. Should a rash or redness occur wash the area and discontinue use immediately.Inhaled reactions can occur as well, so if the scent of thyme essential oil causes headaches, dizziness, or other discomforts remove yourself from the room and get some fresh air until the feeling passes. It is always prudent to consult with your primary care physician before starting any essential oil treatment.

Warnings: do not ingest thyme oil, it can lead to headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, thyroid impairment and heart and respiratory depression 

Magical Uses:
Planet: Venus 
Element: Air 
Magic Properties: clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, courage, divination, dreams, exorcism, faeries, happiness, healing, love, money, prevents nightmares, protection, psychic development, purification 


Other magical properties: compassion, confidence, contacting other planes, grieving, magic, meditation, Midsummer, passion, release, renewal, rituals for the dead, Summer rituals, and wishing

It is widely believed to help guard against nightmares when used within pillows.   It is also thought that by Wear a sprig of fresh thyme to a funeral  to  protect yourself from the sadness of others and use in rituals for courage and compassion.

Treatments:
Cuts and Wounds: Use fresh leaves
Antiseptic- Tincture
Stomach treatment- Infusion


Sources:
http://celei.hubpages.com/hub/The-Healing-Properties-of-5-Common-Household-Herbs-and-Spices

http://www.unc.edu/~reddeer/magick/herb.html
http://windspirit57.tripod.com/id4.html
http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-thyme.htm
http://www.pharrah13.com/herbal_uses.html
http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbThymeMed.htm

Tinctures: What are they?

What is a tincture?
According to www.thefreedictionary.com a tincture (for our purposes) is:
"a plant extract made by soaking herbs in a liquid (such as water, alcohol, vinegar, or glycerine) for a specified length of time, then straining and discarding the plant material. The remaining liquid is used therapeutically. Tinctures typically are made at a concentration of 1:5 to 1:10."


How are they made?
Herbs are taken (either in fresh, dried, or powdered form) and soaked in alcohol (vodka  is preferable so it can be ingested) in a closed glass or plastic container. It is then stored for a period of time (anywhere from 8 days to a month depending on the recipe) until it is ready to be strained through a muslin cloth (depending on the herb cheesecloth may be equally suitable.) Tinctures are then stored into appropriate containers and may have shelf life of up to 5 years as the alcohol serves as a preserver of all the plant's properties.
Learn how to make one here.

Why are they used? Pros? Cons?
Pros:
Total control of the content of the tincture.
Small amount goes a long way because of the nature of tinctures.
Easy stored and lasts a long time.
Work quickly as they enter the bloodstream fast


Cons:
Takes a long time to prepare.
Can be expensive to make.
Storage concerns, must be kept in a cool dry place.

Tincture Recipes:
Sweet Dreams Tincture

For PMS:
6 Tbsp. Black Haw
4 Tbsp.Valerian
4 Tbsp. Chamomile
5 Tbsp. Dandelion
6 Tbsp. Dong Quai
Process time: 6 weeks
Shelf Life: 5 years
Application: 10-15 drops in hot tea/water 3x a day approx. a week prior to menstruating.
http://cloverleaffarm.hubpages.com/hub/Healing-PMS-Naturally

For Headaches/Migraines:
3 parts Lemon Balm
2 part Feverfew
Process Time: 2-6 weeks
Shelf Life: 5 years
Application: Take 1/4 to 1/2 Tsp. every 30 minutes until Migraine subsides.
http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/05/how-to-treat-migraines-with-an-herbal-tincture-at-home-a-recipe/

Lammas Altar 2012

Here are some photos of my Lammastide altar, with explanations:

Lughnasa/Lughnasadh Altar and Dinner Spread 2012

This is my Lammas Altar from my party earlier in the week: Appropriately colored candles, offerings for the spirits and I have representations of the harvest, of the warrior and of the craftsman (though Big Daddy took this picture BEFORE we ceremoniously placed them on the table).

The candle is almost out after the party- you can
see the offering in the background. Some corn
meal and bread and a little cheese was
paired with a nice frothy beer.

 (The offerings are NOT for ingestion- they were subsequently buried in the backyard- NEVER NEVER NEVER eat spirit food.)

Big Daddy and I's ritual:

I cleaned the room and smudged with sage, which Big Daddy found very smelly. At sunset, on the nose, I lit the candles. I place the breads and flowers on the table and then the bounty of summer as well as the bounty of our local deli. Then I filled a pretty container of mine with some grain and took my athame (fancy ceremonial knife) and presented it to Big Daddy.

Some of the flowers I purchased
for Lammas.

This time of year the focus is on the masculine energy taking the helm, so we both felt it was important that he be the lead in our ceremony. He took the athame and focused on the warrior aspects and the craftsman (Big Daddy actually IS a craftsman who works with his hands everyday.) Then after he placed it on the altar/dinner table, I came forward accomplishing the same task but with the offering of grain, or in my case, corn meal. I thought about how that grain could tip the balance between life and death. How fortunate we were that, for us, we would survive the winter with what we had. That this year the suffering would not come from hunger and that I was grateful to all the people who had worked to ensure that we would live. I thought of the farmers and I thought of Big Daddy and even myself to make sure that we all would have enough. Then we ate from the same piece of bread and drank from the same cup. Then we tucked into a great conversation about the holiday (no joke) and ate with the chihuahua gorging herself on deli meat (not a normal activity for the little pup.)

Another picture of my Lammastide Altar/Dinner Table

Then the friends arrived and the evening just got better. Everyone loved the bread and all of the food. In fact, they ate everything, which was lovely. Great conversations, great people, great food, and holiday focused on bounty, how could we not reflect on how rich our lives were in that moment. It was beautiful and the magic of friendship, love, and generosity was definitely in the air.

Sunflower in flower arrangment

You can see that I put some flowers in the center (all currently in season) with 2 orange candles, 1 red and 1 white (it was also an esbat so the the white was for the moon.)  I place some of the bread in the center on my mother's cake plate, which you can't really see but TRUST me, it'll pop up over and over again as well as a loaf off to the side. I also placed a bowl of strawberries to represent the bounty of the summer. Then the two goblets of beer for Big Daddy and I.  Then I also placed some cold cuts, cheese, some potato chips (what's a party without chips?!), homemade jam, and homemade honey butter.

What did you do for Lammas? I'd love to see pictures and hear about the rituals from your celebration!

Common Ailments Healed at Home: Sore Throat

Sore throats happen to everyone. But what are some natural ways to heal one? 
First, you should identify the source of the sore throat. Is it an allergy? Is it a cold? Is it overuse of your vocal cords? Is the the air?


If it's an allergy, 2 things:


1. If your throat is tight and you are having trouble swallowing you may be experiencing anaphalaxus and you may need medical attention. Seriously.
2. If it's a common allergy that you have experienced before and it is not serious, your sore throat may be from drainage from your nose into your throat while you sleep. Gross, I know. Try rinsing your nasal cavity before bed with a saline solution of warm water and about 1/4 tsp of non iodized salt in a neti-pot. This rinses away the pollen and whatever else is trapped in your nose/nasal cavity. Also give yourself a saline gargle, this may help with that.


If it's from being ill:
1. GO TO THE DOCTOR. You don't want to discover that you have strep throat and you've been treating it with tea and now have a major infection.
2. If it's really just a common cold, create a concoction of equal parts honey and vinegar. I know, you realize now how much I love vinegar, but it's really useful. This concoction tastes horrible, but so does many cough syrups. Take it like a liquid medicine. Two to three spoonfuls at a time as needed.  (DO NOT GIVE THIS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 DUE TO THE HONEY!) The vinegar kills bacteria and germs and the honey is a natural antiseptic and will soothe and protect your throat while it heals.


If it's from overuse:
Relax your throat. Stop talking and don't clear it all the time. If you feel like you want to clear your throat just hum. I know that sound really strange but clearing your throat is much like rubbing your vocal cords with an SOS pad. Humming gently vibrates your cords and loosens any crap on them without injuring them. Next drink some tea with lemon and honey and keep your throat warm and disinfected. Feel free to use the vinegar/honey syrup as well.


If it's from the air: 
You may have dry air and need a humidifier. In the wintertime I have this problem and in the summer I have this problem. In the winter it's because of the dry air and I simply put a pot of water on my extremely hot radiators. You can also just use a humidifier. In the summer it's because of the air conditioner, so then I just plug in the good old humidifier. Make sure you check the filters on your A/C often and keep them clean.

Raspberry Leaves (fresh)

Here are a couple of treatments:

Make a "tea" with about 2 teaspoons of raspberry leaves or blackberry leaves with 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep anywhere from 8-10 minutes, strain and allow to cool. Use it as a gargle. DO NOT DRINK IT. Feel free to add some Elder flowers if you have some. (You can buy raspberry leaf tea also)

Sage 

You can also make one from sage. Sage is great for sore throats. Take about a teaspoon's worth and steep in hot water. Add some honey and vinegar and use it as a gargle as well. Like before, DO NOT DRINK IT.

You can add tumeric to hot milk, though dairy is not good for your throat if you are experiencing some phlegm, I would suggest putting it in some tea, about 1/2 tsp. to 8 oz of tea.

You can take horseradish (1 tbsp.), ground cloves (1 tsp.), and some honey (1 tsp.) and add it to warm water and drink it. 

You can also try steaming yourself over a bowl of hot water with a tower over your head. Eucalyptus oil, Rosemary oil and Sage oil are all good additions to sooth a sore throat.


Upon some research I found a weird one from the Amish, is take a peeled garlic clove, slice it in half and suck on it like a cough drop, occasionally bruising it with your teeth.

Here is a great link to a recipe for an herbal throat lozenge that you can make at home.


or even some pastilles in this link.





Sources:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-sore-throat.htm
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/herbal-remedies-for-sore-throat.htm
http://www.learningherbs.com/sore_throat_remedies.html
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/health/sore-throat-secrets.html

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. I, the blogger  do not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Celebrating with Friends

Happy Lammastide everyone! I'm ready for more visitors tonight. Just need to set up the table with the bread and beer and other nibbly treats.  Big Daddy chose a few brews and has managed to leave some of the bread alone. I will also put out some charcuterie and cheese and maybe some olives along with the rosemary olive oil and flavored butters I'll be putting out. The table will be adorned with some small bowls of grains, some in-season flowers, red and purple candles, a few knives here and there and perhaps a few tools as well. (Because the holiday is also known as Lughnasadh or Lughnasa- it is also a holiday for the God Lugh, he's the God of craftsman and is also a great warrior. So having some tools or representations of weapons/crafts/or skilled labor is not uncommon for the altar.) I will do a separate post of the actual party and setup.

Yule 2009

I, personally, love to have my friends over for my holidays but I also recognize that many of the symbols found in Wiccan/Pagan beliefs have very negative connotations in modern Christianity, and most of friends are Chirstians. So, I don't make an altar out for the public. In fact, you would NEVER know my altar was there if I didn't point it out to you. It just looks like a display on a table of family pictures, some fruits, stones, shells, and spices as well as some candles and a knife. I keep the pentacle out of sight as it can really upset people and I don't need any religious animosity building in my home. I employ the same technique in my holiday decor. I put out colored candles and no one is the wiser, they ask about the knife or the hammers and I tell them that it's "tradition" that this is the time of year to channel the warrior or to take up a new craft. The word "tradition" seems to really appeal to non-pagans and makes it more palatable to them, sort of like covering family photos, mirrors and clocks when someone passes away- it's not necessarily religious it's "traditional."

Samhain 2011

I want to make something very clear, I'm not ashamed of my religion. It's just that it's mine. I don't want to spend all my time defending my beliefs, nor do I wish to spend time convincing people that I don't worship Satan. That I have zero interest in Satan, that he doesn't factor into my life at all, I neither fear him nor concern myself with him, but I don't disbelieve in his existence. These thoughts seem to be hard for many to wrap their minds around so I don't bother trying to make them. I keep my beliefs on the interior and I while sharing my holidays and traditions with my friends I keep it fun for them, which makes them more receptive and understanding when they finally DO ask about them.

I would love to hear from everyone about this. My only request is that no one be derogatory of anyone else's beliefs, to enjoy tolerance we must exhibit it ourselves.
Do you have friends over for your sabbats that are not of the same persuasion? How have you dealt with this situation?