Day 2 of Kpt Sandalwood

Oh what a night... 0.0 my goodness. I was not prepared. I had taken about 45 minutes of meditation before I realized I needed help. My hand was cramping and it was getting more difficult for me to meditate. Out came the coffee grinder... I spent about 10-20 seconds grinding it that way. I then put it back in my mortar and took another, I would say, 20 minutes meditating yet again.

This herb is very cleansing and purifying and the beginning of my meditation felt very calm. I have always sensed a sensualness from sandalwood but its in a calm place not an overwhelming or extreme emotion type of sensualness. To me I have found it to be an anchor to your physical body.

After I was done grinding I sifted to give me only the finest powder for my kpt dry ingredients.

Day 1 of Kpt Frankincense

My first night with Kpt was a fairly easy night. Frankincense is a resin that breaks up and powders quite easily. The youtuber Mirth and Reverence suggests a wonderful idea for flying resin chips that looks a bit like a out of control firework display, of putting a towel over the resin and break the resin up that way so it doesn't leave your mortar. I spent time after it had powdered just to spend more time meditating.

Such an old and traditional ingredient. 

For me this made me think of history and ancestors and the ones who would have used these incense since its been used so much over such a long period of time. All of the ones that we are connected to throughout time. The smell that came from the frankincense seemed to be giving me energy and strength. 

I felt this to be a very spiritually connected and purifying, I am glad that I started with this resin I originally chose it to be my first ingredient because the Ancient Egyptians burned Frankincense in the morning and Myrrh in the noon day sun and Kpt at night after the sun had set. I wanted Frankincense first and Myrrh as the middle ingredient. After however it just felt right to have the first night be started with acknowledgement of the past and cleansing.

Another thing I did for this take out my oracle cards that had my ancient Egyptian gods and goddess to be on my altar and part of my meditation.
Some may repeat depending on the night but I did find it a wonderful artistic addition to my meditation.

I realized as well before I burned it. I took time running my hands through the powder, feeling the texture. Smelling my hands.

Kpt checklist and overview

I am going to give you what you do and when and then give you my recipe (mind you I have put some non-traditional ingredients) but that's just me I will make note of non-traditional ingredients though I do think most are obvious.

First thing I did was I cleansed out my mortar and pestle with just grinding rice... didn't powder it or anything came out with some great smelling rice and a friend of mine said she was going to use hers in sachets I might do that my self...

So here it goes the process....

Day zero (Wet ingredients)... pretty simple. (You can scale up or down but I used a small recipe to test the waters... or wines... lol you'll get it in a minute)

take a container with a good air lock seal... (not clear something dark)

this is mine...

put in... in this order...

50 raisins 

1 c. dates (chopped)

Honey is normally added later but MIRTH AND REVERENCE  who I mentioned in my last blog but some in on while making the initial wet mixture I liked it so I did... I eye balled it really but maybe like a tbsp or 2.

(original recipe is lotus oil) I used Jasmine and sweet orange...we shall see how it turns out... just a few drops

and then fill the jar with wine until the other ingredients are covered... just covered not swimming. Also this doesn't need to be expensive wine... I spent I believe 6$ my friends bought anywhere between 4$ to maybe 9$. Dark red wine is what you want.

I added a bit of Dragon's Blood to the mix...

so... don't worry if its not gorgeous doesn't look that great at this point but it really doesn't have to "look" great.

This mixture you stir once to twice a day and refill the wine as the contents become exposed. What is happening is the dates and raisins are absorbing the wine.

You will also want a container to hold your dry ingredients. Each day you only compound one ingredient making it as fine as a powder as you can... I'll admit since I have a slight disability I used my grinder on some ingredients so far (I'm on day 7) for a few seconds to break up fibers of the tougher woods... but than again if you try this recipe you will see why.

My recipe

Day 1 Frankincense 3 Tbsp. or 3 parts

Day 2 Sandalwood 1 Tbsp. or 1 part

Day 3 Benzoin 1 Tbsp. or 1 part

Day 4 Angelica Root (Personal addition) 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 5 Cedar (Exotic element for Egyptians) 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 6 Dogwood (Personal addition) 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 7 Orris Root 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 8 Juniper Berries 1 Tbsp. or 1 part

Day 9 Myrrh 2 Tbsp. or 2 part

Day 10 Bee Pollen (Personal addition) 1/2 tsp.

Day 11 Cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 12 Mint (Original herb but changed amount) 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 13 Galangal Root 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 14 Copal 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

Day 15 Dragon's Blood 1 Tbsp. or 1 part

Day 16 Gum Arabic 2 Tbsp. or 2 parts

Day 17 Rose 1 1/2 tsp. or 1/2 part

After reducing the herb or resin to powder, or as close as possible, during meditation we take that ingredient burn a small portion on its own I personally burn it as acknowledgment of the ingredient itself and work and effort I put in. 

Kyphi (Kpt) Incense

Kyphi was an incense made in Ancient Egypt that was documented by the Greeks. We actually don't know the name they really used for the incense the Greeks wrote down since Kyphi or Kpt is actually a general term for incense itself. This recipe was used in the Temples and could very from temple to temple, from my opinion, based upon which God or Gods that were worshipped or based upon what ingredient would be able to be obtained or even what each temple could afford. This recipe is fairly expensive for today's standards for a individual recipe, let alone in Ancient Egypt at the time it was made. Premade Kyphi sells for about $26 an oz. The Greeks version of this recipe was written based upon the incense in the Temple of Ra, but even so there are a few versions out there. These recipes and more history on Kyphi or Kpt can be found by google search, therefore I am not going to list all of them here.

When I first heard of this incense it was introduced to me by a friend as project, and indeed it is a project, that she wanted to try. She found the recipe on youtube from a youtuber named  MIRTHandREVERENCE who I fell in love with. Not because we have similar styles in practicing our spiritual paths, what drew me to her was something far greater than finding someone that practices the same way you do, it was her positive energy, thoughtfulness and her outlook on life and situations. She made a series of what she does to make Kpt. Walking you through what her process is in making the wet and dry ingredients. Kpt is much more than throwing herbs in a mortar and pestle and having it smell good or even what the ingredients bring. The process is a meditation. Taking your time with each ingredient working with the texture the smell the energy on a individual level and building a bond with what you are making. Now, there are traditional recipes who knows if when compiling the recipe the Greeks missed one or two. Or the Egyptian priest did not give them certain ingredients.

Most ingredients I find in recipes I have my own opinions on. Mostly the commonly used herbs. Since I have a bad reaction to both lavender and sage especially I have had to find substitutes and in doing that I have taken to going by feel of herbs instead of always referring to encyclopedias or guides (for correspondences and meanings). If its a herb or flower etc. that I don't use often of course I check for poison factors, parts used etc. So this was an opportunity for me. I had not worked with many of these herbs before but also I don't know why but I had never really sat down and meditated while using my mortar and pestle to grind up 1 herb at a time. WHY? Not a clue. What a wonderful idea. To interact and to see the true nature of that 1 herb and just see what happens.

This incense takes weeks, warning, it is a TIME project but it is so worth the time if it is something you want to do. It smells wonderful and is a beautiful process. I am currently on day 7 but I will right I will catch you up and I have got pictures!

New Crecent

New Crescent / Waxing Crescent / First Quarter

The Crescent is the Waxing is the moon growing in volume from new in the sky and the first quarter is when half of the moon is lit after this point the increasing luminosity of the moon is called Waxing Gibbous. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.
Positive activities:
Gathering information; Making plans; Laying a Foundation; Emotions; Start of change. This is a time of regeneration. Anything you do to strengthen your body, to fortify yourself, is much more effective that when the moon is waxing. The body absorbs more easily...both good and bad. Matters concerning growth, protection, healing, advancement, abundance, to increase knowledge, spirituality, and fertility. This is the time for spells dealing with new beginnings of every nature or to draw something to you, in personal life as well as in business and finance. It is also the best time to plant seeds and new plants.

New Moon

The new moon is when the first sliver of the light after the dark moon.

The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Beauty, health, and self-improvement, Farms and Gardens, Job Hunting, Love and Romance

Dark Moon Vs. New Moon

Dark Moon vs New Moon- What's the Difference

There almost always seems to be a little confusion as to these two terms. Often, too, they seem to be used interchangeably -which only adds to the confusion.

The Dark Moon

Astronomically, this refers to the period when the Moon is not visible in the sky. This lasts between 1-3 days, depending upon your location. This is the period between the end of the Waning Moon up to and including the very start of the Waxing Moon, when the Moon is again illuminated by the Sun.

Astrologically and magickally, this refers to the period when the Moon is not illuminated in any way, it is the period between the end of the Waning Moon and the start of the Waxing Moon.

Beth

When there are two dark cycles of the moon in any given calendar month is called a Black Moon. It is believed that the second dark moon of a time of great power within the spiritual world and any magic worked during this time is especially powerful like a Blue moon.

I do not believe that this is a time for “spell casting” but a time of reflection and planning. Divination scrying and crafts such as Black Salt.

A short pause to look at the Moon

This is a reflection on my view on the moon. 

The moon is a representation of the feminine. The moon waxes and wanes in phases that symbolize the cycles of life and time. Accompanied by the stars I feel at home and part of a much greater something then just myself. The moon feels like a second home and has been backed up by science where the moon was made from the left over material of the earth when it collided with another space planetoid.

      The moon has 5 distinct types… Dark moon, New Moon, Waxing, Full Waning and New Moon, each of the types has its own properties. But there is also a blue moon and Black moon. The moon affects so many aspects of our lives. It was thought to believe the full moon use to make a person loose their minds. It has been proven that the moon affects the tides of the sea.

BOS: Burn? Bury? or Pass on?

So I was talking to a witchy sister of mine about Books of Shadows and the ever pressing should ones BOS be a secret book nobody knows, kept and guarded, or should it be able to be seen by everyone. My first comment I must make is that you should do what you feel is right for you. If your not comfortable showing it to friends, family, or strangers then don't.

One popular idea about the BOS is that it should be secret and burned/ buried with the witch when he or she passes. So discussing this with my witchy sister this came up and thinking about this and the times that is was first done, my theory is that because being exposed as a pagan or witch, whatever the term you wish to fill in, could not only damage you but your family and friends. There were so many for lack of better word problems associated with being "exposed" until very recently that it was much safer to take the book with you to the grave as it were. Still to this day even we are met with fear and animosity like the most recent article I had seen about a Arkansas town banning a pagan temple.

That being said, the idea of burning or burying knowledge is a hard one for me. How much information has been lost because of this ritualized burning of knowledge. I have one book that is extremely personal and will have special plans for. As a parent, though, I want to have my child and if I have future children have the opportunity to expand on what I have done if they choose to follow this path as well.

That being said I am not saying that I go showing my BOS to everyone I meet and who come into my home. My books are a little obvious as far as the look of them but no one seems to notice them that much. I have a few and some are more private then others, however, when I pass on I want my children to have the choice. So what I guess I am saying is that even though I see the reasoning of why it was done in the past I feel like that we are in a time that we should start hording our knowledge keeping it and expanding on it.

Ressurecting this blog

Hello everyone,

I am bringing back my old blog... my life has gone been crazy since my last post. The last time I posted I had just found out I was pregnant I think. WOW it is mind blowing lol... well we have had a few moves... graduated from my college and my little witchlet is growing up before me... I also feel like I have grown spiritually... I can't wait to get started.

Greek Mythology: Asteria

Asteria is the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. Asteria was the Titan Goddess of nocturnal oracles and falling stars.

Asteria turned herself into a quail and flug herself into the Aegean Sea to escape the advances of Zeus. Becoming the "quail island" Ortygia.

According to the writings of Hesiod Asteria and Perses are the parents of Hecate.

Greek Mythology: Leto and the Birth of the Twin Gods

Leto was the Titan Goddess of Motherhood. When she had an affair with Zeus and got pregnant, Hera was furious. Hera went to her grandmother Gaia (the Earth) and asked her not to let Leto give birth on the mainland, any island at sea, or any place underneath the sun. So Leto was forced from land to land not allowed to rest and give birth. Until she wandered to the floating island of Delos which was mainland or a real island. Leto asked the island to allow her to give birth and in exchange her children would bring wealth to the barren island. The island agreed and Leto gave birth to Artemis right away however, she would be in labor 9 days and 9 nights to give birth to Artemis' twin Apollo. Artemis assisted in the labor which is why she is a Goddess of Childbirth. Later in keeping to her word Delos became very prosperous. Many came to worship on the island where the Twin Gods were born and the island became sacred to Apollo. 

Pagan Parenting: Children's Prayer

 Pagan Parenting/ Pregnant Pagan Series can't decide which one to choose...

Moon and stars in the sky
Watch over me as the sun say bye
Protect me while I lie my head
and close my eyes and go to bed
Bless me now day is done
and tomorrow we will have some fun


...lol

I made it up while I was getting into bed...

Pregnant Pagan: Herbs

So recently getting pregnant has become a new kind of mindset... you have to worry about a lot making sure you get enough calories and water eating right etc. but also being pagan I started to have a whole other number of worries... 1 of which being the herbs that I come into contact with and that I burn and so on... so after doing a lot of research on the internet I found there was a lack of a list of herbs to avoid while pregnant.
SO I went through the entire Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham and made my own list... and I want to share it with all of you... maybe if you get pregnant yourself or are making someone something and want to be careful

Note: This is a list of Poisonous herbs and also ones that Pregnant (P) or Nursing (N) women should not be consuming (x) or using now I must say that other factors go into what maybe bad for the individual this does not take into account many amounts because some herbs though not poisonous should be taken in light amounts and not for long periods of time... Again if you have other factors you need to look up the herb(s) in question... but this should narrow it down a bit... there are some comments about children and toddlers this is not all encompassing for everything they shouldn't have it would have been just an extra comment that was in the book. G is Good also if you are looking at herbs be careful about folk names...

Adam and Eve Root ...Poison
Agaric... Poison
Aloe ... dried P N, Fresh (x)
Angelica... P
Anisa... P
Apple seeds in large amounts is poisonous
Alkanet... X
Almond, Bitter... X
Anemone...X
Apricot seeds... X
Asafoetide... P and do not give to children
Avens... X
Avocado seeds ... X
Barley spouted seeds... X
Basil ...PN X  do not give to children or toddlers
Beech nuts... in large amounts X
Beets large amounts of the leaves X
Belladonna... Poisonous
Wild Bergamot... P
American Bittersweet ...Poisonous
Bladderwrack... PN
Bleeding Heart... X
Bloodroot...P, Poison
Blue Flag... P, Poison
Boneset... X
Borage... Herb: X, seed oil G
Bracken... X
Brazil Nut... processed only
Briony... Poison
Broom... Poison
Buchu... P
Buckthorn... PN
Cactus... some are poisonous
Calamus... Poison
Camphor... X
Carrot seeds... P
Cascara Sagrada... PN
Castor... Poison
Catnip...P
Ceder... leaf and berries P
Celandine... Poison
Celery... P
Chamomile, Roman... P
Cherry... Seed and wilted leaf X
China Berry... Poison
Chrysanthemum... Poison
Cinnamon...above food amount : P
Cloth-of-Gold... X
Club Moss... X
Cohosh, Black... PN
Clotsfoot... PNX
Columbine... Poison
Comfrey...X
Cotton... Root and Bark P
Crocus... X
Cyclamen... X in large doses
Cypress... P
Daffodil... Poison
Daisy... Poison
Deerstongue... X
Dodder... P
Dogbane... X
Dutchman's Breeches... X
Elder, American... Ripe fruit G all other parts X
Elecampane... PN
Euphorbia... Poison
Fenugreek... Seeds: P
Fern... Some are Poisonous look up specific
Feverfew... P
Fleabane... X
Foxglove... Poison
Garlic... N
Ginger... Dried root above food quantity: P, fresh G
Golden Rod... P
Golden Seal... P
Gourd... Some poisonous
Groundsel... X
Heliotrope... Poison
Hellebore, Black... Poison
Hemlock...Poison
Henbane...Poison
Henna... X
High John the Conqueror... Poison
Horehound... P
Horse Chestnut... Poison
HorseRadish... above food quantity: X
Horsetail... P
Hyacinth... X
Hydrangea... X
Hyssop... P
Job's Tears... P
Joe-Pye weed... NX
Juniper... P
Kava-Kava... PN
Larch... large amounts X
Larkspur... X
Lemongrass... P
Licorice... P
Lily... some poisonous
Lily of the Valley... Poison
Lobelia... Poison, P
Mace... X
Mahogany, Mountain... seeds and leaves Poison
Maidenhair... P
Male Fern... Poison
Mandrake... Poison
May Apple... Poison
Mimosa... P
Mint (look up specific)
Mistletoe... Poison
Morning Glory... Poison
Mugwort... P
Mulberry... Unripe berries, bark, twig, and leaf X
Myrrh... P
Nutmeg...X
Oregon Grape... P
Parsley...P
Peach... Seeds leaf bark X
Pear... Seeds X
Pennyroyal...P, oil is Poisonous
Periwinkle... Poison
Plum and Wild Plum... Seeds and wilted leaf X
Plumeria... Poison
Poke... Poison
Pomegranate... Root and stem X
Poppy, illegal... X
Potato... Greens X
Prickly Ash... Bark P
Purslane... P
Quassia... P
Ragweed... X
Ragwort... X
Rattlesnake Root... P
Rhubarb... PN
Rice... dont eat raw
Rose... Greens X
Rosemary... P
Rowan... X
Rue... P
Saffron... P
Sage... P
Sagebrush... P
St. John's Wort... Poison
Senna... PN
Sloe... Fresh flowers and seeds X
Snakeroot... X
Snapdragon... X
Solomon's Seal... Berry X for children
Southernwood... P
Spikenard... P
Squill... Poison
Stillengia... N
Sweet pea... X
Tansy... P
Thistle... older plants X
Thistle, Holy... P
Toad Flax... X
Toadstool.... Poison
Tobacco... Poison
Tomato... Greens X
Tonka... Poison
Trillium... P
Uva Ursa... Poison, P
Vervain.... P
Vetch, Giant... X
Vetivert... P
 Wahoo... Poison
Wolf's Bane... Poison
Wood Rose... X
Wormwood... Poison, PN
Yarrow... P
Yew... Poison
Yohimbe... Poison

That's all folks... for now lol...

Finding Your Niche

For the longest time I was a very in the broom closet solitary pagan and witch. I learned most from books and as time progressed youtube videos. However, besides book knowledge I really didn't explore the crafty side of paganism which I now love so much.

What I am trying to say that we all have a niche. In divination, herbalism, history, kitchen witchery, folk magick, and many others... I started down this path and with no guidance and I could not understand why but I never could get the hang of tarot... I can use them but it wasn't until I found Runes that I really started getting the handle on a divination tool. I also had always loved history and mythology... even before I knew about paganism. However, I am one of those witches that loves to sit at a crafting table for hours making oils and bath salts, corn dollies, and cauldron splashes.

Imbolc Offering Stones

Plain Offering Stones recipe from Krazyboytx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7LL3wMUmgw

2 cups organic flour, 2 cups warm spring water, 1 cup sea salt, 2 tbsp organic oil, 1 tbsp cream of tartar.

You can add:

pastel food coloring- colors: White, Red, Pink, Yellow, Green and Brown.

glitter

herbs you can use:

Basil

Peppermint

Sage

Rosemary

Ginger

Cypress

Clove

Bay Laurel 

Heather

Violets

White and Yellow flowers

Cinnamon

Stone chips:

Amethyst

Bloodstone

Garnet

Ruby

Onyx

Turquoise 
and you never can go wrong with Citrine and Rose Quartz

Celebrating Sabbats

I know its random and it might get off track but...

I love the Sabbats! There plain and simple but obviously there is more to it... Sabbats are a celebration of the sun, the cycles of the Earth and the seasons themselves, and I find that is the be the best thing to celebrate that everyone can come together and appreciate. More then a particular deity every pagan can appreciate Winter Solstice or Beltane. I also feel though that anyone from any religion can celebrate the change of the season and what each one brings to us. My favorite seasons are Spring and Fall... when everythings changing and the weather is cool spring brings bright colors and pastel and the reds and oranges of fall just bring a joy to me even though it means the cold will soon be here.

I love that Imbolc is coming up so soon because for me I get to honor one of my patron God Eros!...

My favorite thing to do for Sabbats and I'm sure its obvious from my previous blogs is crafts... I is a crafty witch lol... I find new things to do every year and I have my traditions that I seem to do every year... and I seem to mix a lot of my Sabbat crafts together... for Yule I made a corn dollie next year I plain on dipping the husks in colors like green and red. I love hearing of other peoples crafts... (so anyone know of good crafts please send them my way)...

What's you favorite holiday and are their any particular crafts you do for it?

Surfing for Sabbats Activities: Ostara

One of my favorite Sabbats... I know its a little soon but I don't care... I might add more later as I find new ideas
http://www.youtube.com/user/CharmingPixieFlora#p/u/119/TQT96iSToFE
http://www.youtube.com/user/CharmingPixieFlora#p/u/120/CKML9xxempc
http://www.youtube.com/user/CharmingPixieFlora?blend=1&ob=0#p/u/99/PfdGQXd7QiA

So obviously for this holiday it is traditional to paint eggs that are boiled... neat idea that I did last year though was to hollow the eggs out before hand... but there are so many other ideas that you can do with your eggs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AKdU2oDLrw
you can also use a drumel to do a design in the egg...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://voices.yahoo.com/5-easy-ostara-crafts-pagan-kids-2880027.html

Mini Eggshell Planters
Another great craft for the ritual altar or to decorate a sunny windowsill, these little eggshell planters are perfect for the season.
You Will Need:
Carton of eggs
Growing medium
Cotton balls
Knife
Scissors
Plastic spoons
seeds
Egg Dye
Permanent Markers
Tap eggs on the top "pointed" end with the knife until they crack. Peel back a small section of shell and allow the egg to fall out. Try to keep the bottom 3/4 of the egg intact. Reserve the eggs for recipes.
Wash eggs carefully with hot water and rinse thoroughly. Set on a rack to dry. If you like, you can carefully trim around the edges of the egg with a craft scissors, or peel it back for a jagged look. Remember to keep about 3/4 of the egg intact.
If you like, at this point you can dye the egg shells carefully. Another cute option is to draw a face on the shell, so that the plants growing out look like hair. Just make sure your colors and decorations are dry before proceeding.
Place the egg shells back into their carton, open-side up. Put a cotton ball into each eggshell. Spoon some growing medium into the eggshells. This can be potting soil, soil-less potting mixture, or peat moss.
Sprinkle some grass or herb seeds onto the soil. Sprinkle with water to just moisten the soil, and dribble with a little water each day to keep it moist, but don't over-water. You can leave the eggs in their carton and set them right on a sunny windowsill.
Do this two to three weeks before Ostara if you would like to place the eggs on your altar. Transfer them to a basket with a grassy/cottony bedding and be careful not to tip them. Alternatively, place them into egg holders.
The plants will begin growing out of the top of the eggs. If you would like to transplant them into the garden or a bigger pot, just crack the egg first so the roots can push through. Then pop them right into the soil. The calcium in the egg shell will be good for them.

Sun/Moon Masks At the equinox, night and day are in perfect balance. These fun masks remind us of that. They can be hung on the wall, or worn during revelry.
You Will Need:
One round 12" balloon
Strips of newspaper
2 tbsps white craft glue
1/4 cup all purpose flour
½ cup of water
Tempra paints
Paint brush
Paper plate
Scissors
Page reinforcers
Glitter (optional)
Ribbon
Cheap plastic table cloth or drop cloth
Mix the flour and water in an old disposable container until it has a glue-like consistency. Add two tablespoons of craft glue, which helps the paper mache stiffen better.
Blow a balloon up to be approximately the size of the child's head. Then make it just a little bigger. Tie it off to secure it.
Dip the newspaper into the glue mixture and layer it onto one half of the balloon. Do three to four layers overlapping each other. Make the mask oval-shaped, about the size of the child's face. Allow the paper mache to dry thoroughly before continuing.
Pop the balloon and remove it from the mask. Trim the edges around the mask to make them neat if you like.
Place the mask against the child's face and estimate where the eyes will be and gently make a mark with pencil or crayon. Also make marks about ½ inch from the side edges of the mask, just higher than the ears, on each side. These will be where the tie will go to tie it around the child's head.
Remove the mask from the child's face and cut out eye-holes with the scissor. Punch holes with a paper puncher (or poke through with a scissor) to make the holes for the ties. Put stick-on page reinforcers over the holes to strengthen them.
One half of the face will be the sun, the other half will be the moon. Cut a paper plate into triangles and glue them to the "sun" half of the mask with plain craft glue. Allow it to dry. This will look like the rays of the sun.
Paint the mask. Paint the sun half with reds, yellows and orange flaming colors. Paint the moon half with a silver or white. Sprinkle glitter on it and draw symbols or features. Let the child decorate the mask however he would like. Allow the mask to dry.
Thread the ribbon through the holes and tie it around the child's head, letting the holes rest on the child's ears.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaracrafts/Ostara_Crafts.htm


Ostara is a marker of the coming of spring. New life is all around us, showing in the green shoots on the trees, sprigs of grass appearing from the mud, and even -- if we're lucky -- a few flowers poking up. It's a time of chicks and eggs, newborn lambs and calves, and the days are getting a bit longer and a bit warmer. We can smell the freshness of the earth when we're outside. A fun project to do at Ostara is make and decorate a tree for the Sabbat. It doesn't have to be huge or fancy, but it's nice to have one sitting indoors to remind you of the changing seasons.
You'll need:

• Several lightweight branches
• Some florist's foam
• A flowerpot
• Acrylic paints
• Spanish moss
• Small spring decorations 

First, paint the pot with spring designs -- flowers, butterflies, ladybugs, eggs, etc. If you have kids, this is a lot of fun. If you don't mind them getting a bit messy, let them use thumbprints to make designs. Allow the paint to dry.
Cut a chunk of florist's foam to fit into the pot and then insert the branches into the foam so that it forms a tree shape. Hang the decorations -- eggs, ribbons, flowers, etc. -- on the branches. Use salt dough and cookie cutters to make ornaments to hang, if you like.

Use the Spanish moss to cover the florist's foam in the top of the pot. Place your tree on your altar during ritual, or use it as a tabletop decoration.
Note: Try to use branches that have already fallen on the ground, rather than taking them from a live tree. If you must cut from a living tree or bush, make sure you do so in a way that will allow for new growth on the plant. If you have forsythia bushes, they may be blooming right now - their branches are perfect for this project!
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http://kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.com/2011/03/ostara-crafts.html

Snake Wreath

St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, at least according to legend, but what he really did was eliminate a lot of the old Pagan faiths by introducing Christianity. Many Pagans and Wiccans quietly protest St. Patrick by wearing a serpent pin or shirt on St. Patrick's Day. If you'd just like to do something a bit quirky and different, you can decorate your front door with a Spring Snake Wreath instead.

You'll need the following supplies:

• A grapevine hoop or other wreath form (available at craft stores)
• Spring greenery, such as ivy
• A bag of rubber snakes
• A hot glue gun
• Florist's wire
• Some ribbon

Start by decorating the grapevine wreath with your greenery. Don't use too much, because you'll want to leave room for the snakes. Next, arrange the snakes around the wreath, and hot glue them so they don't fall off. Depending on the size of your wreath -- and your snakes -- anywhere from six to a dozen should be fine. Just a word of caution here - don't touch the tip of your hot glue gun to the rubber snakes. Trust me, they don't like this.

As a finishing touch, tie a length of ribbon into a bow and fix it in place with the florist's wire. Use an additional loop of wire at the top to hang the wreath up.



thats all folks!!! lol for now...

Greek Mythology: Persephone

Goddess of the Spring and Queen of the Underworld
Married to Hades
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
Symbols: Pomegranates, Bats, Mint, Lilies, Wreath of flowers
Roman Name: Proserpina... Other names: Kore

Some sources talk about how many Olympian gods had pursued Persephone including Apollo, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Ares. However, Demeter was the classic over protective mother and hid her away (after that is when she was abducted by Hades). There isn't much written about Persephone's life outside of the Underworld once she was abducted. There are however many stories that involve the Queen of the Underworld.

One of which is the story of Orpheus... a poet, and musician that was married to a young girl named Eurydice but when she fell into a nest of vipers she died. When Orpheus found her he played such a sad song on his lyre that even the Gods wept. They told him to go to the Underworld to get her back and when he played for Hades and Persephone it melted their hearts and Persephone convinced Hades to give him the chance to get his wife back... which I should say is EXTREMELY rare. All Orpheus had to do was to walk back the way he came and not look back. One step from exiting the Underworld he couldn't resist worried that his wife was not behind him he looked back and he saw her disappear.

One of the only time Hades pursued another woman it was the nymph Minthe that caught his eye who  Persephone transformed her into the mint plant... another nymph that he pursued was Leuce who she transformed into a white poplar tree... He however returned the favor when a man named Peirithous went to the Underworld to abduct her and bring her back to the Earth as his bride... when he arrived with his friend Hades offered them a seat... sitting in the chairs of forgetfulness stone chairs that wrapped themselves around the two.

Another myth was when Aphrodite entrusted the care of Adonis to Persephone she became so attached to the baby that in the end Zeus had to pass judgement that 1/3 of the year Adonis would be with Persephone 1/3 with Aphrodite and 1/3 to whoever he chose.

Greek Mythology: Hades

God of the Underworld
Born the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea
Roman Name: Pluto
Symbols: Cerberus, Helm of Darkness, Cypress, Narcissus, and the key of Hades



The Dividing of the Three Realms:
After the defeat of the Titans time came to divide the three realms of the world (Sky, Sea, and the Underworld) between Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Hades being the oldest was obviously suppose to be entitled to the best of the best being the king of the gods and god of the sky... well it didn't work out so smoothly because Zeus argued that without him they all would still be in the stomach of Cronus, their father. So they came up with drawing lots (which is kinda like drawing straws) for the three realms and as luck would have it Zeus was given the Sky, Poseidon the Sea, and Hades was given the Underworld..

Personal note: Now poor Hades had no luck at all and he is given such a bad stigma... dark, moody etc. but seeing it from his perspective. He was the eldest by all accounts entitled to be the king of the Gods and God of the sky... wouldn't you be upset. Besides that being God of the Underworld he isn't very welcome on mount Olympus... that has to suck...

Persephone (Summed up a little bit)

Given what I was saying in the story of dividing the three realms Hades went to Zeus basically saying that the least he could do for him is give Hades a wife. So (without consulting with Demeter) decided that he would give Hades his daughter Persephone. Persephone was a young goddess of spring and daughter of Demeter.
So Persephone was picking flowers in a field alone (which in Greek Mythology is never a good beginning for the young girl). When the ground opened up and from this abyss came Hades on his 4 horse chariot. Hades grabbed Persephone and dove back into the darkness and the earth closed back behind them.
When Demeter went to look for her daughter and could not find a trace she panicked. Not resting or stopping she looked everywhere for her daughter but no one had seen what had happened to her. In her search she let her Goddess duties of the lands agriculture fall to the way side and the land because dry and barren no crops would grow and livestock died. Demeter came cross the path of Hecate who told her that her daughter was taken but she did not know by whom. So both went to the God Helios, god of the Sun, and who saw everything. He told them what had happened and tried to assure Demeter that Hades was a good husband for her daughter. However, Demeter didn't agree and threatened to keep the earth barren forever and therefore kill all of humankind. Demeter went to Zeus to get her daughter back and Zeus agreed. Zeus sent Hermes to retrieve her.

During this time however, Hades had one of his servants convince Persephone to eat a fruit from the Underworld before she left. Now different sources will give you different numbers (3, 4, or 6),  but it is mutually agreed that Persephone did eat the seeds of a pomegranate. Why is that so special you might ask? Well once one eats the food that comes from the Underworld you are bound to the Underworld forever.
So when Hermes came to retrieve Persephone and bring her back to her mother... the "damage was done" as it were. The Titan Goddess Rhea and mother to Zeus, Demeter and Hades came up with a compromise that since Persephone eat the seeds from the pomegranate that she would spend part of the year with Hades and the other with her mother.
Each year as Persephone goes down to the Underworld the earth again becomes colder and infertile and when Persephone is returned life comes back and becomes warm and green. This is what we refer to as the seasons.

One of my favorite statues... carved by Gian Bernini in 1621-1622 called the rape of proserpina

Side picture of the Bernini statue looks so incredibly real

Personally and I know many would argue that I am wrong (that is the beauty of opinion... but please don't be writing hateful comments)... I believe that Persephone really grew to love Hades, I felt like it was kinda God and Goddess 101 to know that to eat the food of the Underworld you would be bound to the Underworld from then on... and another thing the few times that Hades did look at other girls why would Persephone care if she didn't have feelings for him.