I’d like to report that my depression and anxiety issues are better.  Actually, they are worse.  If it wasn’t for posts that I had written ahead this blog would be quite lacking in content of late.  I sit down to write and find I have nothing to say.

While I strive to find my way above water again please  enjoy perusing this list of books published in the past month (or so) and know that eventually I’ll find my voice again.

Be Blessed

Joyous Lammas

May your harvests be rich ones

Mama Kelly

The Portable Spell Book: Quick and Simple Magick You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime by Ashleen O’Gaea

Energy Essentials for Witches and Spellcasters by Mya Om

The Wiccan Temptress by Marie Bruce

Enchantment Encumbered: the Study and Practice of Wicca in Restricted Environments by Ashleen O’Gaea and Carol Garr

The Witch’s Kitchen: Incense, Oils, And Candle Recipes by Gregory Branson-Trent

Crafting with Nana, A Young Girl’s Journey into Witchcraft by Mille Knox

Dance of the Moon: Celebrating the Sacred Cycles of the Earth by Dan Furst

and you always know the year is winding down when the new year’s calendars come out:

Llewellyn’s 2010 Witches’ Calendar

Written by Mama KellyTags:books, pagan

“Give thanks for the blessings, give thanks for the lessons
Give thanks for all that the Goddess Provides
Give thanks for this showing our dreams are now growing
Give thanks for the presence of the Goddess in our lives

Refrain:
Thank You, Thank you, O Great Mother Thank You”

available on Lisa Thiel’s Circle of the Seasons

“So sayeth Life, the world is mine
the flowers that bloom and the song of the birds
I am the daylight, and the sunshine
So sayeth Life, the world is mine

So sayeth Death, the world is mine,
daylight is but a vain display.
Stars and moon sink in eternal night.
So sayeth Death, the world is mine”

So Sayeth Life, available on Lucidian’s For the Lady & Lord or
download it from Amazon.com

Come, ye thankful people come: Raise the song of harvest home
All be safely gathered in: Ere the winter storms begin
The Earth our maker doth provide: For our wants to be supplied
Come, ye thankful people come: Raise the song of harvest home
Raise the song (raise the song): Raise the song of harvest home

Original lyrics by Henry Alford, 1844. Pagan lyrics by Spiral Dance ©2007

Written by Mama KellyTags:chants, music, pagan, songs

Sweet natural lemonade for just pennies a glass!!!

Ingredients:

5-6 large lemons

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 cups water (brought to boiling)

2 quarts cold water

1. Place lemons in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes.

2. Remove lemons with tongs and place on a clean dishtowel.

3. Roll lemons under your hand to free up juice.

4. Slice lemons as thin as possible on a plate, reserving all juice.

5. Place lemon slices (and juice) in a bowl sprinkling with sugar as you go, using all of it.

6. Let stand for 30 minutes.

7. Use a potato masher to firmly press lemon slices extracting juice, while preserving the pulp.

8. Move contents of bowl to a large pitcher.

9. Fill with 2 quarts of water.

10. Stir and refrigerate until very cold.

Variations:

to make “pink” lemonade take 1 cup of water (out of the 2 qts) and 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries and puree them in a blender and add to pitcher along with rest of water

replace lemons with oranges (about 3 or 4 ) or limes (about 7 or to make orangeade or limeade; be aware that you may need to tweak the amount of sugar accordingly

if you’re serving this to adults too, lemonade can be tweaked nicely with vodka and blue curacao (add a shot of each to a tall glass and fill with lemonade)

Fixing mistakes:

too sweet – using a hand juicer squeeze the juice out of 1 more fruit at a time until you’re happy with the taste

too sour – add more sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until you’re satisfied

too strong – add more water, up to an additional quart, 1 cup at a time

Enjoy!!

Mama Kelly

Adapted from:

Written by Mama KellyTags:beverage, drink, recipe

I cam across CharmingPixieFlora on youtube and decided immediately that her Lammas videos were just what I wanted to feature this week. Her approach to Paganism is so simplt and practical and her energy and enthusiasm are contagious.

Give these videos a look and if so inclined hop over to youtune, give her some feedback, and let her know that 2 Witches sent you.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

her take on Lammas / Lughnasad

learn to make corn dollies

make Lammas ritual oil and incense

Written by Mama KellyTags:sabbat, video, youtube

The Sabbat of Lammas/Lughnasadh is associated with the first harvest of the year – that of grain. A fitting way to mark the day is to bake a loaf of bread from scratch, whip up a batch of corn bread, or even simply serve some grilled ears of corn on the cob.

Traditionally it is a time of excess and plenty. But with the riches that can be found at our local farmer’s markets (or for some their own gardens) comes the knowledge not only that it can’t last, but that we truly do reap what we sow.

And this goes beyond the physical, the literal fruits and vegetables, and reaches into the life we life, the reality we have made manifest by our thoughts and our actions (or lack thereof).

What seeds did you plant in the Spring and what fruits are bearing now?
What can you do to preserve the fruits of the season?
If you are unsatisfied with your harvest, what could you have done differently?

Just some food for thought.

Be blessed

Mama Kelly

19:16
Lammas celebration with the Temple of Astral Light at the Thacher Park Indian Ladder Trail in New York on August 5, 2006

Related reading:

Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest – by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason

Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life – by Pauline Campanelli

The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways – by Edain McCoy

Celebrating The Seasons Of Life: Beltane to Mabon : Lore, Rituals, Activities, And Symbols – by Ashleen O’Gaea

A Year of Ritual: Sabbats & Esbats for Solitaries & Covens – by Sandra Kynes

Written by Mama KellyTags:lammas, sabbat

Our recent outing to the County Fair (and the loss of $100 to do so) made me think that this might be a useful topic as we head into the second half of summer vacation for many kids, a time of year associated with epidemic levels of the cries of “I’m bored!”.

Make Silly Putty and play with an old Newspaper (Sunday comics are best)

Rent $1 Redbox Movies and pop popcorn

Head out to your local park and go on a nature walk

Head out to your local playground and play

Sit outside after dark with cold drinks (watch the stars and lightening bugs)

Make S’mores in the microwave

Make a layered Jello dessert (make it a day ahead)

Teach the kids to make granny squares (piece them into scarves, doll blankets, or afghans as holiday gifts)

Hit the local library (borrow books or movies or see if they are hosting any events)

Play in the sprinkler

Blow bubbles

Have a Soda Fountain night (a night of Sundaes or fancy drinks)

Make Rice Krispie Treats (like these Oreo enhanced ones)

Have a Harry Potter night (read the books aloud, pick a movie to watch, and make appropriate snacks)

Dust off the board games in the closet and have a tournament

Play card games

Check out a local museum

Most importantly focus ons pending time together rather than spending money.  Think back on your own childhood and think about what good memories have stuck with you the longest and use those as your inspiration.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Today I am grateful for an overnight away with my friend M2.  We went to Atlantic City and while I could grouse about problems with the room, a bad meal, and much money lost playing slots I will instead focus on the blessing of being able to enjoy time out with a friend.  I am grateful for laughter and conversation and 24 hours of not having to be a wife or a mom.

Today I am grateful for a few hours out at the county fair with Gamer Dude and our girls.  While I could gripe about how ridiculous it is that a family of 4 had to spend $100 on entrance fees, ride wristbands, lunch, etc. I will instead focus on the blessing of two happy girls who ran about laughing for much of our time there.

Today I am grateful for having a job in a piss-poor ecomony.  While I could complain about the industry I work in, the ineptitude of my management, the lack of a living wage or meaningful benefits I will instead focus on the blessing of having full-time employment close to home that affords me the option of health insurance.

Today I am grateful for taking the time yesterday to skin, trim, parboil, and marinate a bunch of chicken thighs.  While I could whine about how annoying it is that I am the only one who will do this particular job I will instead focus on the blessing of being able to afford food and remember how lucky I am that this is so.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

With all colors big and small,
With all flavors we love it all.

When is candy good to eat,
Every day it can’t be beat.

Written by Lady RoseTags:poem

simple ideas

• serve a family feast with a focus on the fruits of the field … fresh crusty bread, tomato with olive oil and herbs, roasted vegetables, grilled eggplant, etc. followed by a wonderful fruit salad
• have everyone spend the week before Lammas writing things they are thankful for on slips of paper and placing them in a jar – take turns reading these aloud (without identifying the author) during your feast
• hang some bird feeders in your yard saying words along the lines of:

An offering for

my friends of the field

I share with you

the harvest’s yield

• if you are a solitary sit within sacred space and list all the blessings this past season has brought you (your personal harvest), thank the Gods you commune with aloud for each one in turn

other rites

from Pagans.org

from Crone’s cottage

from Secrets of a Witch

from the Great Spirit Community Church

from the Moon Paths CUUPS group

Enjoy!

Mama Kelly

related reading

Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest – by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason

Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life – by Pauline Campanelli

The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways – by Edain McCoy

Celebrating The Seasons Of Life: Beltane to Mabon : Lore, Rituals, Activities, And Symbols – by Ashleen O’Gaea

A Year of Ritual: Sabbats & Esbats for Solitaries & Covens – by Sandra Kynes

Written by Mama KellyTags:lammas

Despite the work situation, the lost hours, the lack of paid time off, the threat of a paycut looming overhead … despite all of it I am going off to Atlantic City for an overnight with my friend “M2″. This was planned months ago as we both hit the big 4-0 this summer and with her free room and a b-day gift card providing dinner it should be a relatively inexpensive outing.

While I was forbidden to procure a gift for my friend who is finally joining me on the other side of the hill I have been naughty, disobeyed her outright, and filled a gift bag with chocolaty goodness and a copy of the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

I will be laughing a lot, and drinking free watered down drinks, and playing penny machines (nickel machines if I really go crazy). The bulk of my gambling fund is coming thanks to the generosity of family when they gave me monetary gifts for my birthday – though I’ll be pulling out just a little bit extra I am sure.

The laptop is staying home, I will be (gasp!) offline from the time I go to bed later tonight (I may get a few minutes on Thurs morning before I leave) and will not be home until Friday.  I may be working both Friday night and Saturday morning to make up for the time I will otherwise miss this week and so I may not get a full update up until late Saturday.

This is it though, the final birthday outing.  It is the last time I will in any way be celebrating turning forty.  It has been a wonderful ride filled with a trip to an Herb Farm, too many presents, too many birthday cakes, and an amazing concert. But, I am glad to get back to life as normal with the knowledge that there is no need to make a big deal out of any future birthdays until, at least, I turn 50 (ack!).

That being said it would be great if this whole birthday thing went out with a bang.  In other words, this would be a good time for a windfall.  If you want to light a candle and send a little luck my way I will accept any and all of it happily and I will of course fill you all in when I arrive back home.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gambling