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| Click on the moon for information on the phases of the moon, sunrise and sunset times, and more! |
| The Wiccan Rede Bide the Wiccan Law Ye Must, In Perfect Love, in Perfect Trust. Eight words do this rede fulfill: And Ye harm none, do as ye will. And evermind the Rule of Three: What Ye send out, comes back to thee. Follow this with mind and heart, And Merry you meet, And Merry you part. |
| Next Full Moon April 13, 2006 12:40 PM EST Full Pink Moon-April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month's celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn. Sometimes also called Full Wind moon. |
| AnneMarie's Pagan Realm-Blessed Be |
| Next Sabbat: Beltane, May 1, 2006 |
| A Recipe for Fried Honey cakes These cakes are not unlike those made on the night before Beltane by women around the turn of the century. These cakes were left in the garden to please Faery visitors. 1/2 cup sweet white wine 2 tablespoons sugar 1 egg 1 cup honey 2/3 cup flour 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon Oil for frying 1/8 teaspoon salt Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl. Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey. Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen. |
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| Beltane
The Beltane Sabbat was traditionally celebrated on May 5th, but in current times is usually celebrated on May day (May 1st.) in the Northern Hemisphere. Beltane is commonly referred to as the "start of Summer" Sabbat. While Beltane does not fall on the solstice ... look to the next sabbat ... many areas are beginning to receive the warmth of the Summer sun by this date. So, the warmth of Summer, not the Summer solstice itself, is first celebrated at this time. On Beltane, the fertility of the God and Goddess is celebrated. (Traditionally, this is the time when the God and Goddess are joined in union, and the God impregnates the Goddess) It is a time of pure joy, bliss, and playfulness. Inhibitions are put aside during this great rite ... allowing the warmth of the Sun to work its "growing" abilities on personalities and filling your soul with courage. Eggs that first appeared for the Ostare ritual are once again used during Beltane. They are used to symbolize fertility, this time of the God and Goddess rather than of the Earth, and the breaking of the egg can symbolize the breaking of ground for crops or seedlings breaking thru the soil to reach the summer sun. The May Pole is a featured event at most Beltane celebrations. Tradition tells of a prominent figure moving their Yule (Christmas) Tree to an open field, stripping it of all but the very topmost branches, and standing it upright out of the ground. From the top hang red and white ribbons ... red to symbolize the God, white to symbolize the Goddess. Men/boys take the red ribbons, women/girls the white, and they dance around the tree ... intertwining the ribbons. The May pole is a symbolic phallic symbol, with the intertwine of the ribbons symbolizes the union of the God and Goddess. While Ostare was the planting sabbat for warmer regions, Beltane is the planting sabbat for colder regions. |
| Beltane Ritual Items Needed: Flowers, drums, maypole, cakes & ale, Parts: Reader, North, East, South, West, God, and Goddess Grounding and Centering: people ground to the sound of a heartbeat drumming Circle Formation: starting at the North, reader slowly walks the circle, dropping flower petals as they go. Banishing: With voices, drums and instruments; starts quietly, and crescendos. Purification: At crescendo, reader throws handful of petals into the air at the center of the circle. Elemental Invocations: At each quarter, a person enacts what the reader says through movement, becoming the seedling as it goes through life Reader: Life is a circle of birth, life, death, and rebirth and from the darkened earth, the circle begins. North: The seed, planted deep within the earth, awakens. It's roots pushing downward into the rich darkness, it's stem thrusting upward into the world above East: Breaking through into the gentle breezes, the seedling unfurls it's new leaves to feel the wind, stretching higher towards the sky South: With the warmth of the sun, the seedling blossoms into color standing tall and proud beneath the radiant globe. It's glory is admired and loved by all West: But soon the bloom withers and fades away. The petals fall way to fruit, nourished and ripened with the fallen rains North/Center And the seed laden fruit, when succulent and full, falls away to the ground below, to be consumed by the earth once more. So mote it be. Deity Invocations: Goddess: Hail Lord, my son, my lover You who are the Green One of the forest the Great Stag of the hunt I call out to you, take my hand and join with me upon this day God: Hail Lady, my mother, my lover You who are the Maid of spring the Silvered Moon of the night I will take your hand and join with you upon this day |
| Beltane ritual Continued: Goddess: You are my Sun, whose radiance has wakened me from my slumber God: You are my Earth, from who's blessed womb I sprang Goddess: You are the sweet air from which I breath God: You are the water which quenches me, and today, I drink of you (Goddess and God kiss playfully) Goddess: Not but a taste… yet, for first we dance and then we may drink, and feast. God: Well… then let the dance begin. Music and May Pole Dance After dancing is ended, the feast of cakes and ale begins Song: "And She Will Rise " from Fire Within by Libana with added lyrics The Earth is a Woman and She will rise The Earth is a Woman and She will rise We… will… live… in… Her… We… will… live… in… Her… The Sun is a Man and He will rise The Sun is a Man and He will rise We… will… live… in… Him… We… will… live… in… Him… Cakes & Ale Goddess and God feed one another first and then distribute to the circle. Goddess: We have danced and now we drink and feast. God: May this bread made from the fallen grain fill and restore you for the coming year. May you never hunger. (God feeds cake to Goddess, and vice versa) Goddess: And may this nectar from the ripened fruits quench and renew you for the coming year. May you never thirst. (Goddess feeds juice to God, and vice versa) (Goddess and God pass cake and ale to the circle) Closing God: Lady, with my fill of you, my end draws near. Goddess: But with our joining, the fields will grow and ripen to harvest. God: Farewell my Lady, forget me not for I will come again Goddess: Farewell my Lord, I cannot forget you for you are already a part of me. Reader: And with the seed sown once more, the cycle begins again. (Circle sings song to say devoke the Elements, repeat four times) Song : "The Earth, The Air, The Fire, The Water" from The Circle is Cast by Libana "The earth, the air, the fire, the water, return, return, return, return The earth, the air, the fire, the water, return, return, return, return Ah aye Ah aye Ah aye Ah aye, Ah Oh Ah oh Ah oh Ah oh Ah aye Ah aye Ah aye Ah aye, Ah Oh Ah oh Ah oh Ah oh" |
| For more information on Beltane rituals and lore click here and here. |
| Beltane Cakes 1 Oat Cakes Here is a tasty way to enjoy traditional Beltane oats. INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 cups oat flour • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 3/4 cup butter • 1 egg • 1 cup mashed banana • 1 3/4 cup rolled oats • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp each nutmeg and cinnamon PREPARATION: Preheat your oven to 350F. Stir the flour, baking powder, and brown sugar together until well blended. Cut in butter, then add egg and fruit. Drop filled tablespoons of dough onto a greased cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between each. Bake for 15 minutes. |
| Beltane Cakes 2 2 cups oatmeal - fine (take regular rolled oats and grind in a blender) 2 Tablespoons lard 2 Tablespoons butter 1/2 Tablespoon sugar 3/4 cup hot water 1 egg 1 Tablespoon of milk 1 teaspoon of sugar DIRECTIONS Oven 350 Knead together and cut into round shapes. Put on ungreased cookie sheet and top with a glaze of 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Bake seven minutes, turn and bake another seven minutes, or bake on a griddle. (If you can't grind the oatmeal, you may need to add 1 cup of flour. They are a little dry - but nutty tasting.) |
| May Wine INGREDIENTS: 1 bottle of white wine (German is ideal) 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced 12 sprigs of woodruff, fresh PREPARATION: Pour wine into a wide mouth jar or carafe. Add the sliced strawberries and woodruff, and let sit for an hour or more. Strain and serve chilled |
| Strawberry Punch
1 bottle white wine 1/2 cup brandy 2 Liters white grape juice Woodruff flowers Pint Strawberries, sliced. Add all the ingredients to the bowl and chill for 1 hour, add the strawberries. |
| Beltane Incense 3 Parts Frankincense 2 Parts Sandalwood 1 Part Woodruff 1 Part Rose petals a few drops Jasmine oil a few drops Neroli Oil Grind all ingredients in mortar and pestle, let dry and burn on hot charcoal blocks in fireproof incense burner. |
| Cupid's Exotic Love Tea
Ari Rapkin 1 cups water 1/4 cup honey 1 cup apple juice 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 6 Celestial Seasonings Cranberry Cove Tea Bags Bring water and juice to a boil. Stir in honey and cinnamon. Add the tea bags. Remove from heat. Let stand for one hour. Add 6 cups cold water Pour into glasses with ice. Sit back, sip and fall in love. Can be stored in the refrigerator for three days. |