The Mystical Cauldron


Lughnasadh Edition - July/August 2009





Table of Contents

Tailteann Games

Lughnasadh Magick

Eeeewwww Bugs!

Recipes for the Feast


Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-na-saw) is celebrated around July 31st - August 2nd, and is the first of the three harvest Sabbats. Lughnasadh is when we celebrate and harvest the grains that we are just beginning to get harvests of (the first of a plentiful crop that will see us through the winter months). Of course, fruits and vegetables are very bountiful at this time of year as well. Even though many people do not grow and harvest their own food anymore, the meaning of this holiday is not diminished by that fact. We celebrate the bounty of our own life's harvest; the work we have done in and within our own lives as well as in our community. As witches, we honor the first harvest and give thanks to Mother Earth for sharing Her gifts. The gathering of the first crops of the year is also a manifestation of the success and extent of the power raised during the Beltane ritual. Lammas (meaning 'loaf-mass') is the name under which Lughnasadh was Christianized. This was the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and lain on the church altars as offerings to God.

Lughnasadh honors the mystery of the growing grain, which is transformed into the life-giving element of bread. Because bread was one of the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration. The reaping, thrashing and preparation of these breads spawned great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following year. The sun's power has been diminishing, as has the God's. It is on this day (the last day of summer) that He is finally defeated. Lugh, the God of the Light half of the year is not killed, but rather the ability to grow is taken from him. The God is still prevalent as his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring. Make yourself ready for the coming time of introspection by getting rid of bad habits or unwanted things in your life. Sacrifice them by throwing symbols of them into the Sabbat fire. Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year. Visit one of the local 'pick-your-own' farms in your area and actually harvest some of your own food. Emulate the sacrifice the God makes by giving of yourself; share your harvest with others who are less fortunate.



Tailteann Games

Games are traditional at Lughnasadh, both to celebrate the wake of Lugh's foster mother Tailltiu and as a symbol of Lugh's battle with Balor.


Lughnasadh Magick

Just as we work toward a bountiful food harvest, we can also work toward other types of harvests. Wouldn't you love to be able to grow a fresh crop of Self-Esteem that you could harvest when you needed it? Well, guess what? You can. The following exercise will show you how to accomplish this.

Happy harvest!

Into a notebook, you should write down all your faults, deficiencies, failures and shortcomings. Hold nothing back; be ruthless and be merciless with yourself. Keep going back to the book, adding more to it each day. Once you have accomplished this, repeat the process with your good qualities. Be just as thorough in searching them out as you were with your bad qualities.

Divide your faults into three groups… 1) serious major faults, 2) less serious, more occasional faults, and 3) minor and infrequent faults.

Now assign your good qualities into three groups also… 1) major asset, 2) fairly consistent good qualities, and 3) minor virtues and occasional flashes.

When you have completed that, write each fault and each virtue on a separate slip of paper along with the group you assigned that fault or virtue to. Fold the slips of paper into fourths and store them in a dish of some kind. Place this dish on your altar. Each day, pull one of the slips of paper out and read it. Spend the day thinking about that fault or virtue.

If it is a fault, work on finding ways to correct it. Actively try to reduce or eliminate it.

If it is a virtue, spend the time celebrating, rejoicing and putting that virtue into use even more.

Rewrite both lists, from scratch each month. You will see, over time, that the 'faults' list grows shorter, while the 'virtues' list grows longer.

Allow your self-esteem to be fed by this positive reinforcement. You will begin to feel an emotional change within a fairly short period of time. That positive emotional change will increase as the months go by. It isn't likely that you will rid yourself of all your faults but as long as you are working on it, you are growing as a spiritual person and harvesting the benefits of that!


Bug Herbal 101

copyright 2000 demares

In the following article I have used essential oils either alone or in a blend of more than one, unless otherwise stated. You can use fresh or dried herbs in place of some of the essential oils, but then you will be making a garden tea, which is, simply put, herbs that have been steeped over a 24 hour period. Garden Teas are not nearly as pleasant smelling in your home as the essential oils, or as strong, but are still effective, although I choose to use the teas outside in my garden.

If you decide to use the Garden Teas instead of essential oils, I would simply place the tea into containers and place them where you need them, instead of spraying inside your home. Nothing here is harmful to children, pets, or household furniture, but, still use caution and common sense. Do not spray anything directly onto a child or pet, unless you know for certain they are not allergic or sensitive to certain herbs. This comprehensive list of items will help to rid the home and garden of the pests mentioned below. So now onto the 'Cleansing'......enjoy yourself and the article!!

Getting Ready:

This is what I want you to do. I want you to arm yourself with the following ingredients and tools!! No bug, insect, creepy crawlie, mosquito, fly, flea, rodent, aphid, slug, moth, gnats, plant lice, snail, caterpillar, ant, beetle, eel worm, tick, lice, nematode, weevil, cockroaches, bees, hornets, spiders or moulds and fungi will ever come near you and yours ever again!! Ready??

Your Supply List:

  • One carpenters tool belt -- (with lots of pockets and cotton is fine)

  • 3 spray bottles -- (650ml or approx. 4 cups each)

  • cotton balls and/or cotton strips -- (daring decor enhancers!)

  • peppermint essential oil -- (this smell keeps away mice and other insects)

  • spearmint essential oil

  • citronella essential oil (not synthetic) or lemongrass essential oil

  • sage essential oil

  • thyme essential oil

  • lavender essential oil -- (another smell mice and insects hate)

  • eucalyptus essential oil

  • red cayenne pepper -- (powder)

  • garlic essential oil or fresh crushed garlic in a jar -- (much better to use the crushed! If you have never used garlic essential oil, it is the most horrible smelling concoction and heaven forbid if you spill any! I don't think the smell would ever come out...*blech*)

  • bay leaves -- fresh or dried, if dried add a few drops of bay essential oil

  • water -- (tap water is fine, but don't use hot water, lukewarm is preferable, if your home is using well water you might want to opt for distilled or bottled water instead)

  • plastic baggies -- (for the cotton balls)

  • safety pins -- (if you use the cotton strips, just pin them to any branch you have handy, add the essential oil's first, and as they waft in the breeze they will send a message that this property is off limits!)

  • Ice Tea -- (lots of ice and maybe a shot of vodka. Hey!!..Bug repelling isn't easy...*grin*)

  • Oh! and don't forget your hammer (it is a carpenters tool belt isn't it? Besides if you miss a bug or two and they are big enough....well you get the idea!!)

Mixing It Up:

You are going to make up each, of the three, spray bottles with the following blends:

1st bottle: peppermint essential oil(10 drops), spearmint essential oil(8 drops) and citronella essential oil( not synthetic) or lemongrass essential oil (5 drops) and water

2nd bottle: thyme essential oil(8 drops) , sage essential oil(5 drops) and lavender essential oil (10 drops) and water

3rd bottle: garlic essential oil (4 drops) or 2-3 cloves crushed or 1 tablespoon of fresh crushed from jar, 1 teaspoon of red cayenne pepper and water

Shake your bottles up really well, hang them from your new *cool* bug belt, load up on some cotton balls. Just put 4-6 drops of essential oil on the cotton ball, (pick one essential oil like peppermint or load them up with one of the blends above) and stick them in separate baggies, then into a pocket, put a few cotton strips with some safety pins in another pocket, your bay leaves in another baggie, gloves if you like and grab the iced tea!!

Get outside and spray everything insight, with all 3 bottles, (this will take some practice--most people can only spray with 2 bottles at first -- *wink*), spray the yard, the plants, the ground, the trees, the pots, the chairs, the table, the fence, old wood, new wood, swings (only use the garlic in and around your plants!!), etc..

Take your cotton balls and shove them into plant pots, garbage pails, underneath bushes and in the cracks of the sidewalk and foundation of your house. If you are using the cotton strips loaded with the essential oil's now will be your chance to decorate your yard (and keep the flying thingies away). Hang them from tree branches with the safety pins, or off your car aerial!

**NOTE** probably should restrict yourself with the garlic, to just the ground, like underneath plants, for slugs, snails and spiders!!

Now go into the house----DO NOT bring the garlic spray bottle inside....leave it outside or somewhere safe.. ick!! (unless you have a cement basement with crawlies...then you can use the garlic down there). Now with your other 2 bottles (by now this should be child's play), spray everything in the house!!

Spray in and out of cupboards, linen closets, rugs, chairs, door jambs, laundry hampers, the kids rooms (eeek!!), bathroom, curtains, garbage pail, etc. Now grab some more cotton balls and shove them into the cupboards, closets, plant pots, the crack in between the stove and counter, behind the fridge, and so on!!.. If you are still using the cotton strips...hang them decoratively from your windows and ceiling fans....wow!! fashion statement here!! You can also use any of the blends in a pail full of water and wash your floors and walls with it, (not the garlic!). This is perfect for not only bugs but getting rid of germs, especially when someone in the home is sick, but, honestly, everything just smells so wonderful after you spray the house, you won't care if it kills germs or not!

And you are done!! Your house smells fantastic! The breeze is wafting in a wonderful scent from the garden....and if you look carefully.....no Bugs!! Give yourself a pat on the back, a good cup of tea and a wee bit of chocolate! You have done an excellent job!

**NOTE** these sprays will not harm or damage, any fabrics or furnishings that I know of!! I have been using the essential oil sprays in my home for a number of years and nothing has ever stained. I would control myself with silks, just in case!...Spot check those areas you are unsure of! If you have a pet that has fleas, use the peppermint/lavender essential oil's mixed in regular table salt, and sprinkle your carpet with it, leave on over night and then vacuum. The salt and essential oil's will kill the eggs and fleas. On the pet, simply sprinkle salt onto the fur and brush through. Repeat this procedure for at least a week daily.

I do the bug cleansing approximately every 6 weeks throughout bug season, but in between those times I always have a spray bottle handy filled with water and 15 drops peppermint essential oil and 10 drops lavender essential oil. This combination is perfect for refreshing your home, disinfecting, and keeps a large number of bugs away! On top of that, it smells heavenly!

**Cockroaches - Toss bay leaves (fresh or dried) and eucalyptus oil on cotton balls in your cupboards, nooks and crannies!!....yes, I know, the other cotton balls are already in there!! Oh well.. no worries...at least you will be bug free!! (one scent will not cancel out the other scent).

**Bees - to make bees take to a new hive, soak the following blend onto a piece of material and find someone really brave to rub the inside walls of the hive or do what I do and get the longest stick you can find (about 30ft ought to do it), attach the material to the end of the big stick and veeeery carefully shove it into the hive (go at night!!), and then, run like heck to the closest body of water!!

Here is the Bee blend:

1 drop Hyssop essential oil

1 drop Fennel essential oil

1 drop Thyme essential oil

1 tablespoon of warm water

Moulds and Fungi:

Use 4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil and 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil in 4 litres of water, (that is a bit more than 4 quarts or a little over a gallon) and attach to a sprayer on your hose and spray everything in your yard (you should know the drill by now!!), if you don't have a sprayer, use a watering can or spray bottle, just takes a wee bit longer.

Garden Teas - You can also use garden teas in spraying equipment! Elderflower tea discourages moulds on everything, while chive tea is particularly good with the grey, dusty mould that blights the delicate rose. Nettle tea treats mildew on cucumbers and horsetail tea helps to protect the plant against many types of fungus due to high silica.

Garden Teas: How to's

Herb and Flower - Use 1 cup of dried or 2 cups fresh herb or flower to 2 cups of water. Boil the water, pour on to the plant material and leave to stand for at least 4 hours. Strain off the liquid and store. Use 2 tablespoons of this tea diluted in 4 litres (that 4 quart thingie again) of water in a watering can or garden sprayer.

For a more concentrated tea, fill a jar or pail with the herb or flower material, cover with boiling water, leave to stand overnight, strain off and use as above.

**NOTE**older plants are not as effective in Garden Teas, use younger plants!

The Finale:

There that is it!! You are now on your way to being the only house and yard on the block with no creepy crawlies, rodents or flying kamikaze's ...you did it!! Now continue to do this a few times a day, for at least a week or until all of the critters have found a new home!! (this will probably be your neighbors yard-- hope you are not good friends with them!!)


Recipes

Crockpot Chicken

A great way to make a delicious meal without heating up the whole kitchen!

8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

4 potatoes, cubed

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 (10.75 ounce) can milk

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

Directions

Put the chicken pieces and potatoes into a slow cooker. Combine the soup, milk, cornstarch and dry soup mix and pour over the chicken and potatoes.

Cook for 8 to 10 hours on low. Serve!




 

Corn Salsa

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped onion

Directions:

1. Chop it and mix it. It's best to let it sit for a few hours to absorb all the flavors. It lasts three or four days in the refrigerator.

Try it on burritos or with chips on a hot day.




 

Buttermilk Seed Bread

Ingredients

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1 teaspoon white sugar

3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons margarine, melted

3 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

2 tablespoons flax seeds

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 cups bread flour

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

Combine buttermilk, butter or margarine, honey and the yeast mixture in a large bowl. Add the salt, all of the seeds and the whole wheat flour. Stir to combine.

2. Add the bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.

3. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F). Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.

5. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.

Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into the prepared pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.

6. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 30 minutes or until the tops are brown and the bottom of a loaf sounds hollow when tapped.




 

Sweet Vidalia Onion Pie

1 1/2 cups crushed buttery round crackers

1/3 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups sliced sweet onions

2 eggs

3/4 cup half-and-half

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, mix together crushed crackers and 1/3 cup melted butter. Press mixture firmly into a 9 inch pie pan and set aside.

3. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet and sauté onions until translucent and tender but not brown. Spread into prepared crust.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, salt, and white pepper. Pour mixture over onions then sprinkle top with shredded cheese.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.



Berry Trifle

Ingredients

1 (10.75 ounce) package prepared pound cake, cubed

1 (10 ounce) package frozen blueberries

1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries

1 (10 ounce) package frozen blackberries

2 tablespoons praline liqueur

1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 cup milk

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Place cubed cake in bottom of large glass serving bowl. Layer the blueberries, raspberries and blackberries on top of the cake. Sprinkle with praline liqueur.

2. In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix, milk, condensed milk and 1 cup of whipped topping, stir well. Pour mixture over frozen berries. Top custard with remaining cool whip. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour or in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before serving.


Table of Contents

Tailteann Games

Lughnasadh Magick

Eeeewwww Bugs!

Recipes for the Feast


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