Crescent Cakes

1 cup firmly ground almonds
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 drops almond extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg yolk

Combine almonds, flour, sugar and extract until thoroughly mixed. With the hands, work in butter and egg yolk until well-blended. Chill dough. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Pinch off pieces of dough about the size of walnuts and shape into crescents. Place on greased sheets and bake for about 20 minutes. Serve during Simple Feast, especially at Esbats

http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/recipes

Yule Ritual

The altar is adorned with evergreens such as pine, rosemary, bay, juniper and cedar, and the same can be laid to mark the Circle of Stones. Dried leaves can also be placed on the altar.

The cauldron, resting on the altar on a heat-proof surface (or placed before it if too large), should be filled with ignitable spirit (alcohol), or a red candle can be placed within it. At outdoor rites, lay a fire within the cauldron to be lit during ritual.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant.
Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand before the cauldron and gaze within it. Say these or similar words:

I sorrow not,
though the world is wrapped in sleep.
I sorrow not,
though the icy winds blast.
I sorrow not,
though the snow falls hard and deep.
I sorrow not,
this too shall soon be past.

Ignite the cauldron (or candle),using long matches or a taper. As the flame(s)
leap up say:

I light this fire in Your honor,
Mother Goddess
You have created life from death;
warmth from cold;
The Sun lives once again;
the time of light is waxing.
Welcome,
ever-returning God of the Sun!
Hail Mother of All!

Circle the altar and cauldron slowly, clockwise, watching the flames. Say the
following chant for some time:

The wheel turns; the power burns.

Meditate upon the Sun, on the hidden energies lying dormant in winter, not only
in the Earth but within ourselves. Think of birth not as the start of life but
as its continuance. Welcome the return of the God. After a time cease and
stand once again before the altar and flaming caldron. Say:

Great God of the Sun,
I welcome Your return.
May You shine brightly upon the Goddess;
may You shine brightly upon the Earth,
scattering seeds and fertilizing the land.
All blessings upon You,
reborn One of the Sun!

Works of magick, if necessary, may follow. Celebrate the Simple Feast. The circle is released.

Yule Lore

One traditional Yuletide practice is the creation of a Yule tree. This can be a living, potted tree which can later be planter in the ground, or a cut one. The choice is yours.

Appropriate Pagan decorations are fun to make, from strings of dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks (or popcorn and cranberries) for garlands, to bags of fragrant spices which are hung from boughs. Quartz crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from sturdy branches to resemble icicles. Apples, oranges and lemons hanging from boughs are strikingly beautiful, natural decorations, and were customary in ancient times.

Many enjoy the custom of lighting the Yule log. This is a graphic representation of the rebirth of the God within the sacred fire of the Mother Goddess. If you choose to burn one, select a proper log (traditionally of oak or pine). Carve or chalk a figure of the Sun (such as a rayed disc) or the God (a horned circle or a figure of a man) upon it, with the Boline, and set it alight in the fireplace at dusk on Yule. As the log burns, visualize the Sun shining within it and think of the coming warmer days.

As to food, nuts, fruits such as apples and pears, cakes of caraways soaked in cider, and (for non-vegetarians) pork are traditional fare. Wassail, lambswool, hibiscus or ginger tea and fine drinks for the Simple Feast or Yule Meals.

From: http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/sabbats

Pagan symbols for Yule Tree

Holly berries and leaves, apples, winter birds, fairies, lights, snowflakes, candles, stags, suns, moons, gingerbreadmen, mistletoe, acorns, bayberry and cranberry garlands, wreaths, Winters, Santas, Mirrored Glass Globes to Amaterasu, Balls etched with Holly leaves,candles, wreaths and birds abound in the stores.

From: http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/sabbats

Yuletide

Yule is nearly upon us, I'm very excited about the Winter Soltice, or that may be I'm just plain excited it's winter (I may be a fire sign but summer is not my season), June brings to us the Sabbat of Yule, in the top end, this is Christmas, here down south it is the 21st June. I can't wait, I'm already picturing the pork roast I am going to cook and it's making me salivate. There will be potatoes and soup, golden rolls and pumpkin, egg nog (never had it before - should be interesting) and all manner of other wonderful wintery treats!

Garden Witch’s Herbal by Ellen Dugan

“Enrich your Craft—and your spirit—by working with the awesome energies of nature. In this follow-up to Garden Witchery, Ellen Dugan takes us further down the path of green magick, revealing the secret splendors of the plant kingdom.

From common herbs and flowers to enchanted shrubs and trees, Dugan digs up the magickal dirt on a wide variety of plant life. Encouraging Witches to think outside the window box, she shares ideas for incorporating your garden's bounty into spellwork, sabbat celebrations, and more. Tips for container gardening ensure that city Witches can get in on the green action, too.

This stimulating guide to green Witchery—featuring botanical illustrations of nearly fifty fascinating specimens—will inspire you to personalize your Craft and fortify your connection to the earth.”

I have just finished reading this fantastic book. I am a fan of Ellen Dugan; I find her writing interesting, fun and conversational. This book is quite possibly one of the best I have read on Garden Witchery, how to create a garden for magick and enjoyment. It is divided into sections called: Conjuring a Garden with Heart, Green Witchery in the City, Wildflowers and Witchery, Magick of the Hedgerows, The Magick and Folklore of Trees, Gothic Herbs and Forbidden Plants, Herbs and Plants of the Sabbats, Herbs of the Stars and Magicakl Herbalism.

Each chapter delves into the different areas of creating, maintaining and using a magickal garden, my favourite chapter was on the Magick and Folklore of Trees, it inspires a sense of wanting to create that perfect little outdoor sanctuary with the Oak, Ash and Thorn, a sacred circle to invite in the Fae folk. The section on forbidden plants was a fun and interesting read, it takes a look at the historical “Witch’s Plants” such as Hellebore, Black Nightshade, Belladonna and Yew, she doesn’t advocate using these plants by any stretch but it is an insight into the days of old when Witches were thought to use these herbs for baneful magicks. Perhaps the most helpful part was how to create a container garden and what plants are best used for this. Now I have to admit I have the luxury of living in the country so I have the space but it has inspired me to create some larger pot gardens to place around my yard.

I’m an avid Witchy Gardener, I like to grow things and it seems that quite often I have great success growing things – except for Basil, they keep dying on me. I think they are very fussy herbs, they either like it where you put them or don’t, but I have found that putting them in pots has a greater success. Oh well, maybe one day I will get lucky with Basil.

The Full Moon

The Full Moon is a powerful time, perhaps more so than any other time each month. It is a great time to perform rituals and spells and if you have been thinking about performing some magick, pull out those supplies and have at this full moon.

FULL MOON:

The full moon is the most powerful time to perform a spell or ritual. Your psychic powers are at their peak and you are at your most energetic time.

Magick to perform:
Invoking, Cleansing, consecrating, and charging, Blessings and protection, Healing, Gardening, Marriage, Fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth, Family matters, Developing intuition, awareness, and mental power, Divination and guidance in life decisions, Spiritual direction, Strength and safety, Manifestation, Psychic Power

Moon rises at sunset, sets at dawn; best effects between these times
Moon is 14-17 1/2 days after the new moon
Purpose: completion of a project
Pagan Holiday: Summer Solstice
Goddess Name: Sekhmet's Moon
Goddess Energy: fire goddesses
Offering: flowers
Theme: Power
Rune: Sowilo
Tarot Card: the Sun