Juno, our newest member of the family

 

Juno is 9 weeks old, he was born in our shed. He’s very sweet and now lives indoors with the rest of the cat family.

Effects of the Moon

For centuries there have been myths and stories about the Moon and how it affects people.

The word lunacy derives from the Latin lunaticus, meaning “moonstruck”, and both the Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Roman naturalist Pliny believed that madness and epilepsy were caused by the Moon. 

The Lunar Effect as it's known is associated with strange behaviors.

Science has taken the question of the moons effects seriously enough that there have been a number of studies examining the various claims. 

While science still doesn’t accept the Moon theories, we can rely on our own experience and impressions and decide for ourselves.

 

For some, the Moon theories are only folklore, for many of us, it's 100% real.

While science may dismiss the Lunar Effect, it want until recently Sage Smuggling was considered folklore.

Now, science admits smudging offers great benefits, something ancients have known for a long time.

The ancient practice of burning powerful herbal material is much much more than just a primitive belief that we can simply disregard due to it being unscientific.

This is why we don’t rely on scientific approval.

Regarding the Moon, we're all aware of the age old theory that suggests since the Moon affects large bodies of water such as the ocean (tidal force) it must influence the human body which is +60% water.

Some of us might feel depleted, spiritually, physically and or emotionally during the Moon cycles, saying, ‘it must be a full moon'. 

Other people feel energized, alive, transformed - it's very personal, obviously connected to whatever else is going on in your life. 

Okay, we know the effect the full Moon has on werewolves, but what about cats and dogs?

There have been plenty of studies suggesting that pets get into more mischief and are injured more often when the Moon is fullest, but is lunar activity the reason?

The study, authored by Raegan Wells, DVM, and her colleagues at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said there seemed to be a correlation between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats  when there was a full Moon.

The study, titled "Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle,” appears in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The data, compiled from case histories of 11,940 dogs and cats treated at the university's Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller Moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. 

The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the Moon's three fullest stages—waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.

"If you talk to any person, from kennel help, nurse, front-desk person to doctor, you frequently hear the comment on a busy night, 'Gee is it a full Moon?'" said Wells. "There is the belief that things are busier on full-Moon nights."

We realize that folklore alone does not make for good science, but the research indicates that this folklore may indeed be based in fact. 

Modern studies have associated the full Moon with insanity, traffic accidents, increased aggression, unintentional poisonings and absenteeism, and the female menstrual cycle, but many of the studies are a mixed bag of results. 

"While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full Moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings," Wells writes.

The Pagan Kitchen has 6 cats and 2 dogs and regardless of what the naysayers claim, we see our furry family members affected to some degree during the full Moon.

Because we have some knowledge of ours own cats and dogs behavior, we know when things are different.

So, what does all this mean for pet owners?

It serves as a good reminder to remain aware of your pet's environment and overall health status, and to avoid situations that would put them in harm's way.

 

Words are Energy

We Love Rosemary

Rosemary is one of our favorite herbs to flavor almost everything.

Every chicken dish we prepare usually has rosemary in there somewhere.

Did you know that this wonderful herb has long had a reputation for being helpful with memory?

In ancient Greece, scholars wore sprigs of rosemary when taking tests to give their memory a boost.

Shakespeare also credited the herb with memory - enhancing powers, writing the line 'Rosemary, that's for remembrance' in Hamlet.

Now researchers at Northumbria University agree that rosemary essential oil is helpful recollection, following on from previous research that it boosts memory.

Easy to grow and harvest, rosemary really needs to be in your garden and pantry.

We want to share a recipe for delicious Rosemary Cornbread that we will be making.

3 ounces fresh or frozen corn
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh rosemary leaves (no stems)
1 cup heavy cream
1 package corn muffin mix
1/4 cup finely diced red pepper
2 eggs
1 tablespoon minced shallot or green onions

METHOD

Spray a 13 x 9-inch or 11 x 9-inch cake pan with non-stick oil and coat with granulated sugar.
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into cake pan and bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes at 300 degrees F.
Raise temperature to 325 degrees F and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Serve with melted butter and your Lammas is off to a great start.

Lughnasadh/Lammas The First Harvest Next

Lughnasadh also known as: Lammas, August Eve, The Festival of Bread, Elembiuos, Lunasa, Cornucopia (Strega), Thingtide (Teutonic) is celebrated at the beginning of August.

Lughnasadh (loo-NOSS-ah) is named for the Irish sun God, Lugh, and is regarded as the first of the three Pagan harvest festivals.

Lughnasadh is a grain harvest event, so you'll see corn, wheat, barley and grain and bread all over the place.

Ripened fruits and vegetables are also a part of the traditional celebration.

The threshing of grain was considered a sacred act, in fact, many threshing houses had wooden covers under the door so that no grain would be lost or wasted.

The early harvest and the threshing of grain has been celebrated for thousands of years.

By the way, that's the real meaning of word "threshold."

At Lammas or Lughnasadh, it's time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that a change is coming, the summer days will soon come to an end.   

The plants of spring drop their seeds to guarantee future crops, grains are prepared to be harvested and the fruits are ready to be collected.

Lughnasadh is a time to be grateful for the food we have and to remember that It is a time to celebrate and prepare ourselves to the changing seasons and the ever turning Wheel of the Year.

At our gathering we are having fried chicken and corn on the cob.

We will have big garden salad, most of it out of our garden.

Lots of fruit and Fresh loaves of bread & butter.

We are making corn bread as well, chicken gravy and homemade mashed potatoes.

For dessert were making a blackberry pie and homemade ice cream.

Happy Summer Solstice

Here's a great recipe for Shrimp & Crab Ceviche, perfect for a Midsummer treat.

Here’s what you need…

Cooking oil (peanut oil is good but use whatever you have on hand)

18 corn tortillas, or as many as you want.

1 1⁄2 lbs medium cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped

3⁄4 lb lump crabmeat

1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 -2 jalapeno chile, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped

1 small red onion, finely chopped

Add salt to taste

2 avocados, peeled, seeded and cut into slices

2 limes, cut into wedges

DIRECTIONS

Pour oil into a heavy medium pot to a depth of 1” and heat over medium-high heat until temperature is hot enough.

Working in batches, fry tortillas until light golden brown, turning once, about 30 seconds.

Transfer the tostadas to a paper towel-lined plate to let drain and cool.

Put shrimp, crab, lemon juice, cilantro, cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, and salt to taste into a large bowl and stir to combine.

Spoon Ceviche evenly onto tostadas, garnish each with a slice of avocado and serve with lime wedges on the side.

You could even fry up tortilla chips and make appetizers.

Even it's just a small group or even by yourself, you can celebrate the Midsummer with a few fun things to do and eat. 

Taking a hike, tending the garden, reading a good book, watch movies, do something for someone else, cooking, or spend some time on personal spiritual growth. 

Research Pagan history and beliefs, do a Tarot card reading for yourself.

Whatever you decide, be good to yourself and enjoy the Midsummer energy and make the Shrimp & Crab Ceviche.

Why Paganism Is Growing

Christianity is an interesting thing.

It’s broken down into many different sects, each with their own set of beliefs, rules, and practices.  

Each one claims to be the way, sometimes the only way to salvation.

But the things they all have in common is manipulation, fear, promises and money.

Then there are all the rules.

With their different idea of a God comes the dogma, the rule books (Koran, Torah, Bible, etc.) .  

These books control all aspects of their lives such as what they can eat, drink, or what activities they can participate in, moral decisions, family decisions, or who they can associate with.  

Enforcement is managed through a combination of manipulation and fear.

But heavens, which God to choose? 

There are so many choices, who’s to decide which God to follow?

This conditioning leads to numerous issues for many younger people.  

Once they start researching the histories of their religions, they immediately see that they have been misled.

With their eyes opening, they see that their holiday’s and customs were mostly stolen from pagan beliefs and practices.

It eventually becomes obvious that religions simply copy doctrines from one to another another and put their twist on it.

Human beings, have spiritual needs.  

Many are feeling lost or rejected because they don’t fit in to the religious box.

And so people begin to search for alternatives.  

This is where paganism becomes one of those alternatives.  

Paganism doesn’t have all the dogmatic threats.

Pagans choose the path they want to follow and which Gods or Goddesses they wish to honor, if at all.

No one takes attendance, nor are there penalties, shunning, disfellowships and there is no collection plate.

So, what does paganism stands for?

Paganism is an umbrella term which was actually coined and brought into use as a derogatory term by the Christian Church.  

It was a way of demonizing anyone who didn’t belong to their beliefs and church.  

It’s been going on a long time, the Christian church has always been busy proselytizing and converting any and all non-Christian people from the ways of their ancestors to the ways of Christianity.  

Anyone who didn’t convert or tried to retain the old ways, was branded as a pagan, which at the time meant they were either evil, in league with demons, practiced witchcraft, sacrificed humans, drank blood, or any other of a litany of horrific deeds and beliefs.  

Though shalt not suffer a witch to live.

- Exodus 22:18

For more than a thousand years, non-Christians were persecuted, tortured, killed, imprisoned, stripped of wealth and title, and had their lands and families destroyed at the hands of church masters who were doing God’s work.

Being pagan carried was often a death-sentence in the Middle Ages as the church reshaped the European continent, the New World, and across the earth.  

The warning was always the same; the church was good and  paganism was wrong, evil, and meant certain eternal damnation.  

And as Christianity grew stronger the condemnation grew as well as the numbers of people executed in horrible torture chambers or gallows.  

Today, paganism is no longer under the church’s threats, it no longer carries a death sentence and is considered a real religious practice by most people.  

Like Christianity, there are different beliefs and groups; the actual number is unknown but it includes Wicca, Occultists, Druidism, Witchcraft, Santeria, Native American beliefs, and many others.  

There are different methods and practices used by the different groups, but there is mutual respect and a unwritten code of honor between them. 

Deemed evil, witches were the most aggressively persecuted group, mainly because they challenged the church’s authority the most.  

The challenge to the church wasn’t obvious, but strong enough to warrant the church dishing out horrible punishment and suffering upon anyone accused of witchcraft.  

Historians have identified many reasons why the church had such strong negative feelings toward witches, but the most obvious one was the fact that they were natural healers.  

Using plants, herbs, and items from the forest, ancient witches could concoct a medicine (potion or spell) that would ease symptoms and cure health problems.  

Like today, the church insisted that prayer to their God was the answer to all catastrophes.

In truth, the witches potions worked and the prayer had little to no effect on anything.

As a result, the church had to demonize and then eliminate the witches, which led to the horrors of the religious purge.

Modern research and medicine has validated witchcraft healing, making prayer healing seem obsolete. 

Tragedy, viruses and hardship are part of the church’s primary recruitment tools.  They prey upon those desperate for help.

But people are beginning to see that the God of these churches doesn’t seem interested. The world continues to suffer and prayers aren’t being answered.

Perhaps he is powerless or doesn’t exist at all.

This community of pagans are bringing back the old Gods and Goddesses.  

They are networking and sharing any remaining scripts or texts from long ago.  

No longer do they fear the church.

Pagans are gathering in homes, forests, and backyards in small groups to honor nature.

Covens and groups are being formed and stones, herbs, crystals, and magickal objects are being used to reconnect the the magic of the earth.

It’s no longer taboo to say that I’m more in touch with myself and others around me.  I feel grounded and have a connection with the planet, the soil, and the elements.  

Paganism is growing because people want to raise their energy levels, to vibrate at a much higher level.

As their eyes open, they can see things that were always there, but never notice them.  

With paganism, there are no rule books to follow and are free to make their own decisions.

You create and maintain your own moral compass.

You don’t have a master, priest, lay leader, or other guide telling you what to do.

You can practice all alone in any method you feel is right.  You do not need another human being to the middle man/woman to reach the higher power you seek.

Paganism is all about working with nature, the planet and the energies of all living things.

Paganism is built around self-healing and spiritual cleansing.

It’s about empowering,  learning of our own strengths and weaknesses and how to become stronger.

Healing of the body is done with plant medicine and other spiritual practices.

There is a place for modern medicine, but it’s not our only options.

Harm none is a generally accepted principle among pagans – we don’t like people telling us what to do and we in return don’t interfere with the lives of others.

For us, the Old Religion is the magic of the Earth itself. 

It is the essence which binds all things together.

White Sage

We've been busy drying out our White Sage from the past fall, making smudge sticks.

We've posted this video before, we wanted to share it with you again.

White sage (Salvia apiana) is a plant native to high desert, and grows mostly in California.

For hundreds of years, white sage has been regarded as a sacred, cleansing, purifying, and protective plant.

The leaves of the plant are a whitish-green, and just by rubbing the fresh leaves between your thumb and forefinger you release a refreshing, cleansing scent.

Native Americans used and use White Sage to cast off evils spirits and negative energies.

White sage is used in rituals and ceremonies for protection and get rid of negative and toxic influences.

The White Sage plant is alive, it has it's own energies, offering protection, and clearing. 

Sage Smudging is a ritual where the leaves of the Sage plant are burned, and the smoke is brought into areas where clearing and protection are needed.

As the leaves are burned, the smoldering leaves smoke attaches itself to any negative energy in the area, object or being. 

As the smoke clears, the spirit of White Sage carries with it the negative energy that was once attached, back up to the Spiritual Light.

You can perform this smudging ritual on anything or anyone that needs a clearing.

You can use White Sage to help you clear a room, a building, or a property of any negativity.

White sage can assist you in releasing energies and thoughts that no longer serves you. 

You can use Sage to help you cleansing unknown energies from a stone, or something that you received as a gift.

Once you have lit the smudge stick and there are flames, blow them out quickly. 

Do not let it flame burn.

Once it is lit, and the flame is blown out, it will smoke.

The movement and release of the energy comes with the smoke and not with the flame.

The use of dried white sage however, is a 2,000 year old Indigenous practice. 

The shamans used dried sage plants on their fires as a ritual.

Any conflict, anger, illness or evil was absolved by the sage smoke, cleansed from the energy field of a person.

You can smudge whenever you feel the need to do so.

* When you move into a new residence.

* When you begin a new job or start your own business.

* Before, but especially after a visitor enters your home.

* After an argument or any illness.

* Upon returning home from crowded situations.

Do Pagans Have a Moral Code of Ethics?

Pagans are accused of ignoring the Ten Commandments and not accepting any kind of moral code of conduct in general.

Many Pagans are accused of having no morals because we don't subscribe to the traditional dogma preached from pulpits and as a result, they we will all burn in Hell, or something like that.

So, how to respond?

We believe that this indoctrination of religions in general make a deliberate effort to eliminate independent thought, and that's not a good thing.

One thing that we disagree with is the assertion that the Bible is a good example of morality.

It's just our collective opinion, but the Bible is full of ‘holy’ actions that are absolutely counter to our sense of moral behavior. 

If we really want to be morally upstanding people, it's our obligation to thoughtfully consider how our actions might affect others, the earth and ourselves.

This is what ethical and moral people do, that's how we learn.

Discouraging the ‘thinking’ part in decision making and blindly following the ‘ethics’ of a religious doctrine leads to many of the destructive actions that are common today.

Trying to force someone’s morality and ethics on people is like a fart…

So how do we know what's right and wrong?

How do we figure out the morality/ethics question? 

For most Pagans we learn through trial and error.

We hopefully keep doing what works and stop doing what doesn't.

When we make decisions, we need to take a good look how those decisions and actions have influenced our lives and that of those around us. 

We decide if it was the right thing to do, or if we need to make changes.

Through experience and education we learn, develop, adjust and become better people.

Regardless of the Paganism you practice, we can agree on the Wiccan Rede: 'An it harm none, do what ye will'. 

For us it's an affirmation of our freedom to act, combined with the requirement of taking responsibility for our actions.

The Wiccan Rede is known by Witches, Wiccans and Pagans, and it it's a pretty good moral code.

Here is a list of "Nine Noble Virtues" as used by some Norse Pagans:

• 

Keep Your Circle Small and Real

It’s difficult to imagine that some people may not have your best interests at heart.

This post is a reminder, keep your circle small.

Be selfish and selective choosing friends and remember, “Not everyone deserves a seat at your table.”

This is gonna sound contradictory, but sometimes, the best way to add value to your life is by subtracting from it.

Take a good look at your circle of friends and do yourself a favor by subtracting people who drain your energy.

This may not seem like a happy subject, but it is one that may bring happiness in time, by weeding out the bullshit and negativity.