A Recipe for Happiness in 2010

Take twelve whole months.
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness,
hate, and jealousy.
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.
Now cut each month into twenty-eight,
thirty or thirty-one different parts,
but don’t make the whole batch at once.

Prepare it one day at a time
out of these ingredients.
Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience
one part of courage
and one part of work

Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and meditation,
and one good deed.
Season with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cupful of good humor.
Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness
and you will enjoy a Happy New Year

[ author unknown ]

Good Luck Foods for New Year – a collection of recipes from around the world and different cultural traditions that are eaten for good luck on New Year’s:

• Long Noodles: Asian countries, long noodles are eaten on New Year’s Day in order to bring a long life
• Pork: many countries, including Austria, Cuba, and Spain, view pork as a good-luck food…pigs root for food, they keep their feet planted and push their snouts forward, signifying progress and future properity
• Lentils: lentils (symbol of coins) are eaten throughout Italy for good fortune in the new year
• Fish: North America, Asia, and Europe, people eat fish to celebrate the new year; people associate fish with moving forward into the new year since fish swim forward…others think fish symbolize abundance since they swim in schools
• Dark Greens: (color of money) greens such as kale, collards, and cabbage, are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day because of their association with wealth and economic prosperity
• Black-eyed Peas: common good luck food in the southern United States.. thought to bring prosperity, their shape and abundance representing coins
• Pomegranates: eaten in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries for luck in the new year,  associated with abundance and fertility
• Citrus fruits: Chinese celebrate New Year’s Day, with oranges and tangerines to promote prosperity. This tradition developed from a play on words: “tangerine” and “orange” sound much like “luck” and “wealth,” respectively, in the Chinese language
• Grapes: At midnight on New Year’s Eve, revelers in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries eat 12 grapes — one for every strike of the clock and month in the year. This custom grew from a grape surplus in the Alicante region of Spain in 1909, and celebrates the coming of a sweet year.
• Round Cakes and Breads: Eating round or ring-shaped cakes, pastries, and breads is a popular New Year’s tradition in various countries, such as Greece (vassilopita, a cake containing a hidden good-luck coin), Italy (sweet panetonne), Mexico (rosca de reyes cake,) and Holland(puffed, doughnut-like ollie bollen)

Just for fun here’s a link to a comprehensive list for some of the good luck rituals from around the world:  Global Good Luck Traditions 

Wishing every one a joyous, healthy New Year filled with bright blessings now and always, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:good luck, happiness, new year, New Year traditions, New Year's

Don’t wait for it to come out on dvd, see it now and definitely see it on the IMAX 3d big screen if you can.  Don’t let anyone tell you much about it – just SEE it.

The special effects are awesome, the acting was first rate by a mostly unknown cast of actors, the story line well constructed and engaging - but it is so much more.   Just go and enjoy it, don’t over think it, just let yourself be immersed in the world and go along for the ride.

Avatar touched the very core of my wiccan\pagan soul.  I can’t really put into words the profound affect it had me.  Tears were freely running down my cheeks half way through the movie, by the end I was crying and even after the credits it took me a few more minutes before I was composed enough to walk to the car, and once in the car I cried a bit more.  There is one line in the movie that put me over the edge and tears just wouldn’t stop, even thinking about it makes my eyes fill up again with tears.  I had a similar response when I first watched the movie Dances With Wolves, and to this day I can’t watch more then a minute or two of that movie without getting all teary eyed. 

In case you were wondering – I totally loved the movie Avatar.   Just go see it!   Every single person on the planet needs to see this movie.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:movie review

I may have to put an iPod touch on my Yule list for next year so I can get this app.  The Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards is one of my favorite decks and this app is a perfect way to carry it every where.

Goddess Tarot App for Iphone and Ipod - available in Lite free version or full version for $2.99. Some of the features: four spreads (1 card, 4 card, 8 card, and 10 card); browse all 78 cards and 22 Goddesses (includes text and art); save readings.

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:goddess, iphone, tarot

The days following the Winter Solstice (or Christmas) are an inbetween time, filled with centuries of traditions and magic from many cultures and religions, a time that is not a time (out of the ordinary, existing outside the day to day rules and routine).  In ancient Babylon, these days were seen as the time of a struggle between chaos and order, with chaos trying to take back over the world and many traditions for this time of year are associated with driving away evil spirits for the start of the new year.

The origin and counting of the Twelve Days “is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures.  in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany  (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with the following day considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th). In these traditions, the twelve days begin December 26 and include Epiphany on January 6.”

No matter which days one decides are best for celebrating the 12 days of Yule it is an excellant time for reflection, gaining wisdom from the previous year and setting goals and magical intentions for the upcoming new year.

Rather than making “resoultions” that if not met by year’s end or are abandoned within a few weeks of the new year’s start which can lead to giving up, guilt and negative feelings of self worth, I will be focusing on small, doable steps that are part of a broader overall plan. I will also allow myself to be flexible, realistic, and adapt as life unfolds and circumstances warrant.

What I will be doing during the 12 days of Yule:

An overall life review – what goals have I neglected, are there goals I need to discard or new ones I want to add; what habits and practices are positive and life affirming for myself and family, which ones need to be discarded, added or tweaked.  Followed by a simple new year’s eve ritual to give thanks for the previous year (embracing the mistakes, the ups and downs, both the good and bad times, releasing the old hurts, stress, negativity) and blessings for the new year (clearing the way for a fresh new year and welcoming the new lessons to be learned, the good and the bad times, opening heart, mind and spirit to wisdom and love).

Setting a Focus for 2010 – to add meaning and overall purpose for the upcoming new year, I will be focusing on a theme for the year and planning an overall goal for each quarter of the year that reflect the chosen theme. 

Goal setting to achieve 2010 focus and overall life goals  - reasonable, doable small steps for the upcoming year, mapping out steps to take to achieve the goals and mapping out a timeline on the calendar.  In other words, visualize and set forth intentions, followed by real world activity to manifest my goals.

My overall theme for this year is Organizing – this has been my goal for decades, and in the past I’d always feel bad that I didn’t “finish” getting my entire house done and my life organized.  But realistically my health and pain levels and lack of time (since I work full time and other life demands that require my time) make it impossible to get the entire house and my life organized to perfection, so I was setting myself up for failure.   This year my approach is going to be very different.  I will pick much smaller tasks that I can achieve, such as a bookshelf at a time or a few boxes sorted each month, etc.

NOTE:  this year New Year’s Eve is a  Blue Moon, December 31st, one idea is to a and\or set up an altar, write out your goals and charge them with the Full Moon energy (ie. can keep them in a jar or box on the altar throughout the year; write them in your calendar or journal, leave it on the altar overnight and carry with you throughout the year).

Tips:  keep goals simple and doable (break down big goals into smaller tasks); make sure your goals are realistic within the time frame you’ve set  (i.e. don’t set a goal like save a $10,000 dollars in a year if your expenses and debt are overwhelming – instead set a goal of paying down debt and creating a budget; don’t set a goal of building a website in a year when you don’t know anything about computers – instead set a goal of taking a computer class); don’t overwhelm yourself with too many goals and tasks; create categories to organize your goals (i.e. self improvement, home, work, family, spiritual, community, etc.) with only one or just a few goals in each category; be gentle with yourself and adjust your timetable as needed. Build in positive feedback and rewards for yourself along the way.  For example to help change your inner landscape and clear away inner obstacles create daily positive affirmations, inspirational music to listen to, inspirational amd empowering books to read.  Create positive feedback in the physical world, for example take a big positive step to start off the year that will create a positive environment for smaller changes to continue reaching an overall goal; create a symbol of your goal that you see daily; give yourself positive rewards along the way as you complete tasks.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year filled with bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:goals, new year, resolutions, Yule

Today I am grateful for getting over the last remnants of my recent upper respiratory infection to be completely well in time for the holidays.

Today I am grateful for a truly happy holiday weekend with no moments of angst and a house filled with laughter.

Today I am grateful for everyone in my home being so spoiled, not just in terms of the financial aspect of gift-giving, but in terms of everyone getting things they wanted and needed.

Today I am grateful for a wonderful visit from my dear friend “M” (who will be referred to as Drama henceforth). Drama has been coming to out house for Christmas for about 5 years now, and as it is generally the only time we see her each year it is always a true gift to simply be in her company.

Today I am grateful that the new year is upon us. While it still boggles my mind that it will soon be 2010, I a grateful for a new year with no mistakes in it yet, and the opportunities it grants for fresh starts and new beginnings.

May you and yours be blessed

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:Christmas, family, holidays, Xmas

Presents are wrapped, a menu is planned, food is bought, cookies (baked last weekend in large quantities with my friend “E”) are wrapped up on the table for Christmas morning. We are as ready as we are going to get.

Things are still really stressful, Miss Artistic’s issues are not going away any time soon, and as a result my holiday spirit is not what it usually is and I am hoping to “get into it” by the morning.

I wanted to pop in though and wish each of you who celebrate the day, religiously or secularly, a joyous day filled with wonderful sweet surprises and more love than you can shake a wand at.

Blessings!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:Christmas, family, holiday, Xmas

This past weekend Teacherman (my hubby) and I had the awesome pleasure of attending Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice concert at St. John the Divine’s Cathedral in New York City.  It was the 30th anniversary for the concert and construction on the cathedral was complete so the entire cathedral was open for the first time in many years.   We have wanted to attend the Winter Sosltice concert for over 20 years, ever since we first went to see Paul Winter in concert and heard about it, so even a winter blizzard that was rolling in wasn’t going to keep us from going.  It had already started to snow earlier in the morning, but by afternoon the snow had temporarily stopped. The weather channel was calling for 12 inches or more by later in the evening. We left early in the afternoon and arrived in New York by train with of plenty of time.  We then took a cab up to the cathedral and found a restaurant near by and had a lovely dinner.  On the way back to the cathedral we stopped in a bookstore to browse and warm up a bit and then made our way to the cathedral.  It was a truly wintry magical evening honoring the longest night and the sun’s return and a reminder to one and all to focus on the blessings in our lives and to always remember that even in darkest of night, the light continues to shine.

While there I picked up the Silver Solstice cd (music from the 25th Winter Solstice Celebration). I highly recommend it and all of Paul Winter’s cds, these are a few I have: Earthbeat, Wintersong,  Journey with the Sun (Summer Solstice), and Wolf Eyes- songs from the cds are also available for downloading and make a great addition to a magical musical collection.

It was truly a magical and awe inspiring event – the music floated through the cathedral, beating drums awakened the soul, the golden ship (symbol of the sun) sailed down the center aisle, the whales sang and the sounds of the night (owls, crickets) paid homage to the longest night and then the vibrating sounds of the sun gong were heard as it it was slowly raised 100 feet, all the way to the ceiling of the cathedral.  We howled with the wolves and honored the Mother Earth.  The beautiful voices of the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble inspired joy and celebration in the heart.  The Forces of Nature Dance Theater performers were a delight to the eyes and ears.   A gigantic spiral Solstice Tree (inspired by the tradition of the Tree of Life and World Tree) graced the stage, adorned with a myriad of bells, gongs and chimes (to symbolize the diversity of beings in the life family).  At the conclusion of the concert, the Sosltice Tree was brought to the center of the stage and all the dancers and singers danced and sang around the tree in celebration, and everyone in the audience got to their feet, clapping along to the beat of magnificant drumming.  As everyone was leaving the cathedral  we were greeted by the blizzard.  Several inches of snow had arrived and a blanket of snowy sparkles covered everything.  Someone in the crowd began howling to the wolves and it echoed across the wintery wonderland, and a chorus of howls rose up from the crowd as we all stepped out into the night howling and laughing as we began our journey homeward.

Words truly can’t describe the experience.  Below are some links and youtube videos of some of the highlights from past concerts, there is even a link for a free download of 9 Paul Winter tracks.

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday filled with blessings, love and light, Lady Rose

Paul Winter Links and Videos:

FREE Downloads - 9 tracks from Paul Winter’s Solstice Journey (http://paulwinter.bandcamp.com/)

Links provide by Paul Winter’s Living Music from an email we recieved: “To give you a feel for music of the Pokrovsky Ensemble, we’ve collected a few videos from past solstices and performances given in Russia. We’ve also found a video of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, our other special guest ensemble.”

2008 Winter Solstice – nice overview of varioius performers who have performed last year, begins with the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble performing one of my favorites (they also performed this year)

2008 Finale – can see the Solstice Tree, but a different song then the one played this year

2004 Winter Solstice, 25th anniversay – nice overview, can see the Sun Gong ascending 100 feet

Forces of Nature Dance Theater - video of a performance they did at Central Park. Seeing them in person at the Paul Winter Concert was incredible.

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, Paul Winter, Winter Solstice, Yule

We are still in the midst of things related to Miss Artistic’s latest crisis. Things are still difficult, and will likely continue to be for quite some time, but they are, at least for now, stable.

In the meantime, we are desperately trying to get ready for the holidays.

This weekend found us visited by my dear friend “E” and the second occurrence of our cookie baking extravaganza. We fully intend to do it again next year, but with slightly better planning in terms of recipes and ingredients and arrangement of cooling areas and platter prepping areas.

Hubby spent much of Saturday wrapping gifts and has the bulk of it done it seems. I finally got my cards written and Gamer Dude will be bring me to work tomorrow so that he has the car to get the cards to the pot office and some other errands run as well.

There is still more to buy and more to wrap, my holiday meal to shop for, and a birthday to get ready for (Miss Artistic is turning 15!).

It will be a frantic paced few days, but soon it will be Christmas morning, my own belated Yule, filled with sweet hot coffee, more cookies than one family of five can eat, a fire in the fireplace, and presents opened by happy (and hopefully grateful chilldren).

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers for their continued patronage. I also want to thank those of you who light candles for us and who hold us in your thoughts as I lean on that gifted energy often.

May each of you be blessed with the knowledge that even in the darkest night that the light will always return.

Blessed blessed Yule!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:baking, cookies, family, Yule

We are pleased to announce the winner of our blog contest – ERICA. I’ll be sending an email your way so we can arrange for shipping of your 2010 Season of the Witch Calendar.

A big thank you to everyone who participated and for being a fan of 2 witches blog.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose and Mama Kelly

Written by Lady RoseTags:contest, witch calendar

We have a bit of a crisis going on here related to Miss Artistic.

Obviously, for the sake of her privacy there is little that I can share other than she, and the family as a whole, can use any support, energy, white light, prayers, etc that you see fit to send our way.

In the meantime, enjoy the holiday season hold your loved ones close, and be blessed!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly