The Mystical Cauldron
Midsummer Edition - June 2009
(parts taken from paganwiccanabout.com)
In the midst of cookouts, camping trips and other mundane summertime outings,
it can be easy to forget about Midsummer (the summer solstice). But, as with each of the spokes of the Wheel of the Year, it represents a turning point. In this case, it's the point at which the sun is at its highest power.
This is the day when the Holly King defeats his brother, the Oak King, and begins his six-month-long reign, returning us to the
"dark half" of the wheel. At Yule, the Oak King is reborn and will rule until Midsummer comes again.
The Goddess, who wed her consort the God at Beltane, is now heavy with the fruits of that union. Even as the light of the sun begins to fade, that energy returns to the earth in the form of ripening fruits and grains.
Many Wiccans consider Midsummer the time when the God's energy is at its height because of the common association of the sun as male.
Many Sun Goddesses have also existed: the Celtic Sulis, the Germanic Sunna, the Norwegian Sol, and the Roman Sul Minerva, to name a few. Some Wiccan traditions see the
Goddess as ruling the warm half of the year, and the God as ruling the cold half...
others see the Goddess as reigning supreme over the cyclical battle between the Oak
and Holly King.
Regardless of which mythology you warm to the most, the essence of Midsummer is a sense of
moving forward from potential into actuality. Suggested colors for this Sabbat's ritual are
colors associated with the Sun... crimson, orange, gold, and white. If possible, hold your ritual at high noon, when the sun is at its peak of power for both the day and the year. Meditate upon your goals and how you wish to manifest them into action. This is also a good time for divination by fire.
You could also re-enact the defeat of the Oak King.
Making Sand Paintings
You Need:
Colored sand (various colors)
White glue
Paint brush (old one)
Paper (as thick as possible to prevent warping)
Pencil
PREPARATION:
1. Make sure to cover work surface completely. Lightly sketch design onto paper. Make design fairly simple with large areas of color. Stay away from tiny details.
2. Place your drawing on top of another clean piece of paper that you have folded in half and then opened again. This will aid you in not only in catching the extra sand but then in pouring in back in the original container.
3. Pour some glue into a disposable container (paper cups work well). Thin glue with a few drops of water to the consistency of paint.
4. "Paint" glue onto areas of picture. (Paint only the areas that will be the same color until all areas of that color are complete. )
5. Sprinkle or pour sand over the fresh glue and then tip the paper to get rid of the excess sand. "Paint" more glue and sprinkle more sand until all areas of the selected color are completed. Extra sand can be carefully poured back into the original jar.
6. Then move on to each different color completing all areas of one color before moving on to the next. Let dry.
7. To outline areas, run a thin bead of glue right out of the glue bottle to outline area, sprinkle desired color of sand, let set a few seconds and gently tip page to get rid of excess sand. If bead of glue moves when you tip the picture it can be pushed back into place gently with a toothpick. More touchup work and be done to the edges of your outlines when the glue begins to dry but is still a little pliable. The outlines add depth and texture to your pictures for just the right finishing touch and can also be used to cover imperfections.
Making a Wave-Maker
A simple project with a scientific lesson about density and lots of fun to play with too!
You Need:
Clear, empty 2 liter plastic soda bottle
Vegetable oil
Food coloring (blue works best)
Water
PREPARATION :
1. Start with a clear, clean empty 2 liter plastic soda bottle.
2. Fill half way with water. Add drops of food color to desired color (twist top on and shake to combine color). Adding more color if necessary. Any color will do we used blue (like the ocean) and we recommend to stay away from yellow because the oil is already yellow.
3. Add vegetable oil to fill (all except about an inch on the top). Seal bottle tightly with cap.
You are now ready to experiment.
Swirl the bottle while it's standing up or lay it down on its side and rock back and forth to create "waves". You will find many interesting things to do with it. Try creating large bubbles by turning the bottle top over bottom a few times. Really shake it up to create millions of tiny bubbles. Look into the depths of the bottle when it has so many tiny bubbles with an "unfocused" gaze to get a holographic type effect. It also really looks great when lit from behind. Hold it up to the window on a sunny day to get an even more colorful effect.
Sometimes the oil gets a little cloudy when you've been playing with your wave maker
a lot. Just let it sit still for several hours or days and the oil will eventually return to normal
Making a Stepping Stone for the Garden
MAKING THE MOLDS
For round stepping-stones, use a handsaw to cut a 2 1/2-inch-wide section from the building form. In the area where you'll be setting the path, dig a hole just large enough to accommodate the form and set it into the ground, firming the soil around it. Alternatively, you can create a free-form stone by simply digging a hole in the shape you desire, roughly 2 1/2 inches deep. Once the mold is complete, place a 1-inch layer of pebbles, small stones or gravel in the bottom.
MIXING THE CONCRETE
Following the directions on the bag, combine the concrete with water in a mixing tub, stirring it with a hoe. It's ready to pour when it doesn't fall off a hoe held nearly parallel to the ground. Use the hoe and a trowel, if necessary, to scoop the concrete into each form. Smooth the surface with a scrap of wood.
ADDING MEMENTOS
When your fingertip leaves a lasting impression in the mixture (usually after one to two hours), you can start customizing. Using a stick or pebbles, write your name and the date, make impressions (of your hand, a favorite toy, a prize begonia) and add your mementos.
Let the stones cure for several days. If your winters are severe, cover the stones with a cloth and mist them with water several times a day for three or four days to keep them from cracking. Remove the cardboard forms with a craft knife.
Making a Bug Hotel
This simple, yet sturdy, insect observatory lets young entomologists check in guests, then check 'em out.
WHAT YOU NEED
Oatmeal container
Markers
Poster paints and brushes
Utility knife
Screen
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
Step 1: Use markers or poster paint to decorate the outside of the oatmeal container, making sure you post the house rules!
Step 2: Paint or draw the shutters, then use a craft knife (adults only) to cut them out with sideways H shapes
Step 3: Paint the door, then cut it out, making sure its bottom edge is at least 1/4 inch above the floor inside (to keep guests from checking out too early).
Step 4: Roll the screening so it rests snugly around the inside of the container. Trim so the top edge fits beneath the lid and leave a 1-inch overlap where the side edges meet.
Be sure to provide guests with food (notice what they were eating when you found them) and water (a filled plastic bottle cap should meet their needs).
Making a Summer Treasure Box
This clever treasure box, which is organized around the principle that anything goes, has ample room for plastic bags of beach sand, seed packets, subway tokens, maps, sea glass, photos, finger paintings, invitations or even a tiny book of best friends' autographs.
Start with a sturdy cardboard box (one with a lid)
Decorate the box any way you like. Label with your name and the date. As you amass odds and ends over the Summer, you can tuck them inside or, if you prefers, glue some onto the outside of the box. To give the box a durable finish, brush on a coat of white glue thinned with water or cover with Con-Tact paper.
The Sacred Spiral Dance is the eternal dance of the One Heart.
The Sacred Spiral Dance is of profound significance since it is the map of our journey into the Greater Love. During this Dance, we move in two spirals towards a central point. Together we form the patterning of the One Heart. Our partner in the spiral opposite us represents both our True Love and our Lover from Beyond the Stars. When we meet our partner in the center, the two become One. Then as our newly formed One Being moves out of the center into the Spaces-In-Between the two incoming spirals, we have entered the passageway to the Greater Love. At the end of the Dance, we have all joined together as One Vaster Being in the Greater Love.
When the Sacred Spiral Dance is truly mastered, you will notice a sparkling iridescence in the air and perceive each of the two spirals as triple overlays. This is the sign that you have totally immersed yourselves into the Spaces-In-Between.
Instructions for the Sacred Spiral Dance:
Part One: Moving into Position (without music)
Choose a partner who represents your Lover from Beyond the Stars. Now form one long double line of all the partners facing the same direction along the edge of your room.
You now have two long, single lines. The leading couple begin a slow walk in a clockwise direction, lifting each knee to hip height, placing each foot softly on the floor in a diagonal position pointing outwards. This walk is done in unison with a gently flowing motion from side to side. Each dancer tries to place their feet in the exact spaces previously occupied by the dancer in front of them, further strengthening the One Being. Everyone's hands are still in prayer position in front of their hearts.
Halfway across the room / space, the first dancer of the outer line of dancers will stop and face inwards with the rest of his line doing the same. The inside line continues on with the slow, flowing step until the ir first dancer reaches the point exactly opposite their partner. The inside line then stops and faces inwards. The two single lines will form two elongated spirals beginning on the right of the first couple.
As the partners in the opposite spirals align with each other, they slowly open into the One Heart where they remain for the rest of the Dance. From this point onwards until we reach the outer circle of the Greater Love, we will only look at our partner.
The Sacred Spiral Dance begins:
1. As the music starts to play, the first couple begins the dance by moving in a clockwise direction, always remaining totally focused on their partner. The actual step is one of raising the left leg and moving it to the left with a smooth dipping motion. Then bringing the right foot in towards the left. This is followed by a pause of random length which is determined by the lead couple of this dance.
Since one of the purposes of this Dance is to take us into the Spaces-In-Between, (the Greater Reality), our steps will not necessarily follow the beats of the music. This necessitates that each spiral aligns as One Being. We need to feel as though there was an invisible connecting us to the dancers on both sides of us. If we do this, we will automatically take a step to the left each time the person on our left moves.
2. The two lines of dancers slowly spiral into the center, being careful to leave sufficient space between the incoming spirals to create the Spaces-In-Between.
3. When the first couple reaches the center of the spiral, they lightly touch fingertips. Then, remaining together at the fingertips, the two become One Being and reverse direction, spiraling outwards in a counterclockwise manner within the Spaces-In-Between the ingoing spirals of dancers.
4. As each couple enters the center point, they touch fingertips, becoming One Being and follow the first couple
spiraling outwards counterclockwise in the Spaces-In-Between. This outwards
spiraling continues until you have reached the outside of the two ingoing spirals.
5. As the first couple arrives at the outside of the Dance, they form the beginning of a new outer circle by linking little fingers of one hand and facing inwards while continuing the sideways dance step in a counterclockwise fashion, keeping their arms upraised at the sides with palms forward. They are thus forming the circle of the Greater Love.
6. Each couple who arrives at the outside of the Dance, joins with the outer circle by linking themselves together with their little fingers. Once you are in the circle of the Greater Love, you can now look at everyone in the outer circle, experiencing the fullness of the Greater Love.
7. This continues until everyone is in the outer circle. The last couple closes and completes the circle by linking little fingers with the first person in the outer circle.
8. Now the Sacred Spiral Dance moves to a new level of sublime ecstasy as you continue dancing counterclockwise as one synchronized, organic whole.
9. From this point until the end of the tape of music, you can create your own variations to the Dance. One movement is to gently dance into the core of the One Heart and slowly dance out again still joined by our little fingers. You can also stop dancing and stand quietly with arms upraised & fingers joined. (This serves as a powerful anchoring of the Greater Love.) It's important that you maintain the subtle focus of this dance by keeping it slow and quiet. There's often so much energy that it's easy to get rowdy at this point and disperse all the energy. But if you can keep it deep and subtle, you will be triggered into sublime ecstasy.
10. If it feels appropriate, you can drop hands and move into free form, ecstatic dancing, feeling your entire being now fully anchored in the Spaces-In-Between.
BLT Wrap Sandwiches
3 oz. pkg. vegetable-flavored cream cheese, softened
4 large flour tortillas
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 avocado, chopped
2 cups mixed salad greens from purchased bag
10 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
Directions...
1. Spread some of the cream cheese on each flour tortilla.
2. In large bowl combine tomatoes, avocado, salad greens, cooked bacon, and ranch salad dressing and mix well.
3. Place on tortillas and roll up.
4. Serve immediately. 4 sandwiches
Japanese Style Chicken Yakitori and Beef with Ginger and Soy
Chicken:
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup Tamari dark aged soy sauce, available on the Asian foods aisle
2 tablespoons light oil, such as wok oil or vegetable oil, eyeball it
1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut in half on an angle
5 scallions, cut in 1/2
Beef:
3 inches fresh ginger root, minced or grated with hand grater or microplane tool
1/4 cup tamari dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons light oil, such as wok oil or vegetable oil, eyeball it
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 1/4 pounds beef sirloin, 1 1/2 inches thick
Steak seasoning blend or fresh ground black pepper
1 package, minimum 40 count, 8-inch bamboo skewers
Directions...
1. Preheat coals for tabletop hibachi or preheat grill to medium high to high heat.
2. Combine sherry, sugar, dark soy and oil in a shallow dish.
3. Turn cut chicken and scallions in marinade and let stand 10 minutes. Wash hands.
4.Combine ginger and soy, oil and sesame oil in a second shallow dish for the beef.
5. Cut raw meat against the grain in thin strips. Thread strips on to skewers, reserving several skewers for chicken, set into ginger and soy mixture.
6. Season meat lightly with steak seasoning blend and turn in ginger and soy to coat.
7. Set meat aside. Wash hands.
8. Cook chicken pieces and scallions in a single layer over hot coals for 3 or 4 minutes on each side.
9. Transfer chicken and scallions to a serving plate and set several bamboo skewers on the edge of the plate for spearing meat and scallions.
10. Place beef skewers on hot grill surface and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side in a single layer, turning once.
11. Transfer to a serving plate. ENJOY!!
Non-alcoholic Sangrias
½ C. grape juice
½ C. orange juice
¼ - ½ C. Lemon-lime soda
Maraschino cherry or orange slice to garnish.
Directions...
1. Mix ingredients, add ice cubes and serve!
Midsummer Sand Castle
1 quart vanilla or coffee ice cream
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
Candy seashells, pebbles and gummy octopuses (available at most candy shops)
A plastic sand castle mold, 5 inches tall and 5 1/4 inches wide (sold in most novelty stores), or a rectangular or cylindrical quart-size Tupperware container
A toy flag (just cut out a small paper triangle and glue it onto a toothpick)
Directions...
1. Allow the ice cream to soften for about 15 minutes at room temperature, then spoon it into your castle mold. Be sure to fully pack any crenellations on the bottom of the mold. Tightly cover the top of the mold with plastic wrap and keep it in the freezer overnight, or until solid.
2. In a mixing bowl, toss together the sugar and cinnamon to make beach sand. If the color looks too light, add a little more cinnamon or a teaspoon of instant hot chocolate mix.
3. Cover a large tray with aluminum foil. Fold the edges of the foil into a lip for catching excess cinnamon sugar.
4. At least 3 hours before serving (or up to several days ahead of time), unmold the castle. Fill a 2- to 3-quart pot with hot tap water. Then remove the mold from the freezer. Holding it open-end up, carefully and quickly (for no more than 2 seconds) dip it into the hot water. The object is to warm the mold without melting more than the surface of the ice cream. Immediately top the mold with the foil-covered serving platter, invert onto a flat working surface and lift off the mold.
5. Working quickly, sprinkle a generous base coating of cinnamon sugar on the sides and top of the castle. Gather and reserve any spilled cinnamon sugar to use later. Immediately return the castle, uncovered, to the freezer until it is frozen solid (at least 3 hours). Then wrap the castle with aluminum foil until serving time.
6. Shortly before serving, spread the remaining cinnamon sugar on a flat, foil-covered surface. Remove the ice-cream castle from the freezer, unwrap and roll the sides in the cinnamon sugar. Set the castle on a serving plate and sprinkle the top with more cinnamon sugar. Spread the rest of the cinnamon sugar on the plate to resemble a beach. Add the candy shells and pebbles and the gummy octopuses. Finally, top the castle with the toy flag. Makes 8 1/2-cup servings.
Watermelon Cake
Boxed Cake mix- white (for 2 layer cake)
2 pkgs Kool-Aid type drink mix - watermelon or cherry flavor
White frosting
1 cup Sugar
Green food coloring
1/3 cup Raisins (or chocolate chips)
Flour
Ingredients according to cake mix directions (water, oil, eggs,
margarin
e, etc.)
Oven safe Pyrex mixing bowl (2-3 quart) - for baking in
Directions...
1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease and flour oven safe mixing bowl. Be sure that your bowl is completely oven safe. It must say it right on the bowl to be assured of being oven safe most glass bowls are not oven safe.
2. Put cake mix in another bowl with 2 packages of Kool-Aid type drink mix and 1 cup of sugar, stir to combine. Add rest of ingredients listed on cake mix package and mix as directed.
3. Roll raisins (or chocolate chips) in flour and add to finished cake mix (just raisins not any extra flour).
4. Mix well and pour into oven safe bowl. Bake 50-55 minutes. Checking every 5 minutes after 40 minutes for doneness with toothpick inserted in center of cake. When it comes out clean the cake is done. Remove from oven. Let stand 10-15 minutes before inverting onto cake plate to remove cake. Let cool completely.
5. Stir green food coloring into frosting a few drops at a time to make a nice light green.
6. Frost cake; bringing spatula from the bottom to the center (the uneveness of the frosting will resemble where the vine was attached to the watermelon)
7. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring onto a small dish. Dip tip of your frosting spatula into the color and onto the cake in a radial pattern. Do this around the whole cake. Don't worry if streaks are too dark; when you do the next step they will lighten up and, besides, the streakier the better for a watermelon cake.
8. Starting at sides of cake run spatula all the way up the cake and almost to the center and then stop. Repeat this all the way around the cake.
9. Serve to your guests and watch their reaction!
Fruit Bowl
What a beautiful way to serve fruit. Great for picnics or parties or just to make the day special. Goes great with breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Large melon (honeydew, cantaloupe or watermelon)
Lots of other summer fruit
Orange juice
Directions...
1. Wash melon and all fruit thoroughly before beginning.
2. Cut a very thin slice of bottom of melon to make it stand up straight. (This may or may not be necessary or possible with a watermelon).
3. Decide where top of "bowl" will be on your melon and mark lightly all around with tip of knife.
4. Cut zigzag pattern all around and remove top piece.
5. With a spoon scoop out any seeds. Save top piece aside for "individual fruit bowl".
6.Cut out melon flesh to within 1" of the side. Remove in large pieces and cut into small squares.
7. Place in medium to large bowl. Cut up all your other fruits into small bite-size pieces as well; taking care to remove all seeds, pits, hulls, etc.
8. Place these into bowl with melon pieces.
9. Drizzle orange juice over top and toss.
10. Scoop back into melon. Save any extra fruit for refilling melon as needed.
Quite a variety of fruit can be used for this recipe. We used honeydew melon, cantaloupe, dark cherries, green grapes and strawberries. Use whatever is fresh and in season.
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