Moon Phases

silly thoughts

But I find it hard to stay awake during the day. I just feel so energised by the presence of the stars and planets, but as soon as the sun shines, it’s gone. I guess I need to focus my efforts on harvesting the sun’s energy. After all, it is my guardian planet. I’m gonna have to get back to you on this one, need to find out more on how to deal with it

Ostara Recipes

Ostara, the Spring Equinox, is approaching. And of course one of a celebration’s must-haves are food and drinks! So of course I just had to come up with a list of recipes!

Crispy roast potatoes with Rosemary 700g Small new potatoes 2 Tablespoons Olive oil ½ teaspoon Salt 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 ½ Tablespoons Fresh rosemary, chopped Cover new potatoes with water and bring to a simmer. Cook 5 minutes. Drain and toss potatoes in pan over heat until outside of potatoes are dry. Add olive oil, salt, garlic, and fresh rosemary. Place potatoes in a pan, in one layer, and bake in a 180°C oven until crispy and browned, about 15-20 minutes. Serve with roasted and grilled meats or poultry.

Hot Cross Buns Frosting: 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon milk 1 cup orange juice Dough: 3 cups unsifted flour ¾ cups granulated sugar 1 cup evaporated or whole milk ¼ cup butter or margarine, softened 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 and ½ teaspoons cinnamon ¼ teaspoon allspice 1 cup raisins (optional) 1 cup walnuts (optional) 1 package dry yeast ¼ cup hot water (for dissolving the yeast) 1 large, well-beaten egg. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. While the oven is warming, combine all ingredients except yeast, hot water, the egg, and the frosting ingredients and mix well. Dissolve the yeast in the hot water, then add it and the egg to the rest of the mixture. Combine well. Shape into a ball, and place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover the mixture with a cloth and allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for about an hour, until it has about doubled in size. Shape the dough into round balls about 3 inches across and place them at least 3 inches apart on a lightly greased and floured baking sheet. Place the sheet into the preheated oven. After 5 to 8 minutes of baking, open the oven and use a sharp knife to slash one equal-armed cross into each bun about ¾ of an inch deep. Allow the knife to pry open the slashes slightly so they will be less likely to bake themselves closed again. Return the buns to the oven and allow them to bake another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the buns are a nice brownish gold. While the buns are baking, combine the frosting ingredients and beat them to a smooth, even consistency. When the buns are done, take them out of the oven and, while they’re still hot, drizzle the frosting onto them.

Ostara Buns 4 cups pastry flour 2 cups sugar ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 tube almond paste ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 5 eggs, slightly beaten Icing 1 cup confectionary sugar ¼ teaspoon almost extract 1 tablespoon soft butter 4 teaspoons water Preheat oven to 375*F.  Combine bun ingredients in large bowl until a medium-soft dough forms.  Add a little flour as needed for consistency.  With your hands, shape biscuit-size balls.  Slightly flatten the balls when you place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.  Cool.  Beat icing ingredients together until smooth.  Frost buns with large cross (+) with icing.  Great for an Ostara breakfast.

Vareneky Dough: 2 cups flour ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon oil

Filling: ½ pound sharp cheese, shredded 2 cups mashed potatoes Heat 3 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt in large pan. Mix flour, egg, salt, milk, and oil until sticky dough emerges. Roll out dough on floured board ¼ inch thick. Cut into circles. Combine cheese, mashed potatoes. Fill centers of dough circles with filling, 1-2 tablespoons. Wet edges of dough, fold in half. Pinch together to seal. Drop into simmering water; cook for 10 minutes. Remove and drain, then fry in butter until brown. Yield: 6-8 servings

Green beans with Rosemary vinaigrette 3 Tablespoons Raspberry vinegar 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced 1/3 cup Olive oil 8 cups green beans Combine first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place beans in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat and serve. Ostara Bread ¾ cup soy milk 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast 3 ¼ - 3 ½ cups flour 1/3 cup maple syrup or agave nectar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup vegan margarine ¼ cup warm water 1 cup quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked 2 ½ teaspoon flax meal mixed with 3 Tablespoons water 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar 2 tablespoons soy milk Mix flax meal and water and let sit while moving on to the next step. Heat  soy milk and margarine in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until margarine is melted; cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup water. In large bowl combine margarine/milk mixture, dissolved yeast, 1 cup flour, oats, sweetener, flax mixture, salt and cinnamon; mix well. Add enough additional flour to make soft dough.  Knead on lightly floured surface 8-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Shape to form ball. Place in greased large bowl, turning once to coat surface of dough. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until double in size.  Punch dough down. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough in half. For bunny body, shape ½ to form a 36" long rope.  Loosely roll up rope spiral fashion; pinch dough to seal end tightly. Place about 3" from bottom of greased large cookie sheet; press down slightly. Divide remaining dough in half. For bunny head, shape one half to form a 25" rope. Loosely roll up rope spiral fashion; seal end tightly. Attach to top of body on cooked sheet by pinching dough together. Divide remaining dough into thirds. For tail, shape on third to form a 15" long rope.  Loosely roll up like others; pinch to seal end. Attach to side of body on cookie sheet by pinching dough together. Shape remaining dough to form two 3 ½ long bunny ears. Attach to head by pinching dough together. Let rise about 1 hour or until nearly double in size.  Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire cooling rack. For icing, remaining soy milk and powdered sugar, mix until smooth.  Drizzle over cooled bread. Serves: 1 bunny shaped loaf Ostara Honey Cakes recipe ½ cup Riesling wine (German white wine) 1 egg 2/3 cup flour 1 cup honey 2 tbs sugar 1/8 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp nutmeg Dash of salt Beat the egg together with the wine. In another mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, sugar and salt. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Stir until blended through. Let sit for 30 minutes. In another small bowl, mix the honey and nutmeg. In a skillet, heat up about a ½ inch of oil. Drop a tablespoon of batter into the oil and fry until golden brown. Drain off the oil, and dip into the honey mixture.

Source/credit: http://recipesforapagansoul.weebly.com/ostara-mar-20-23.html

This is longer then I expected. Oh well. - Mara

Astrology/Cosmic Witch

http://www.houseofwidow.com/

Elemental Circle Casting

Magical Spells & Exercises Masterpost

Instead of imagining a generic glowing line, this circle conjures the powers of the elements to assist in casting the circle.

Correctly banishing this circle is very important.

As with a very simple circle, you will use your finger or a tool to ‘draw’ the line, but at each cardinal point you will summon elemental powers.

Begin by facing east. Say,

“I conjure you, benevolent powers of fire. Stand to the east and watch over my circle. Empower it and protect it.”

As you say this, imagine a fiery red pentagram appears in the air before you.

Continue drawing the circle and turn to the south. Say,

“I conjure you, benevolent powers of earth. Sand to the south and watch over my circle. Empower it and protect it.”

Imagine an earthy green pentagram floating before you.

Continue drawing the circle, turn to the west, and say,

“I conjure you, benevolent powers of water. Stand to the west and watch over my circle. Empower it and protect it.” Imagine a watery blue pentagram hovering before you.

Continue the circle and turn towards the north. Say,

“I conjure you, benevolent powers of air. Stand to the north and watch over my circle. Empower it and protect it.” Imagine a pentagram the color of desert air hovering to the north.

Finish your circle by drawing the line back to the beginning eastern point. As soon as the circle connects with itself, it “clicks” and glows with great power.

When you are ready to banish the circle, begin in the north. Say,

“I banish you, powers of air. You came as a helper, now leave in peace.”

Repeat this for all the elements, going counter-clockwise.

When all the elements are banished, turn counter-clockwise once more and erase the circle with a simple banishing.

Why?

When pure elemental powers are called, they put all its derivative spirits in their place. It is like inviting the boss in to the office. If any little fiery spirits are acting up and planning on ruining your spell, when the elemental intelligence of fire arrives they will be set straight and become unable to harm your work. This means that the circle conjures benevolent powers in order to banish unwanted powers.

Easy Sleep Tea

Ok, I will admit that this is not really a spell. But what witch doesn’t love doing a little herbal remedy when they can. These herbs will create a very relaxing tea that can help put you to sleep naturally. You can also use this tea along with any other spells for a little added boost. 

Keep reading

Ostara Incense

For Ostara incense, you could make a blend from any of the following scents or simply choose one… jasmine, frankincense, myrrh, dragon’s blood, cinnamon, nutmeg, aloes wood, benzoin, musk, African violet, sage, strawberry, lotus, violet flowers, orange peel, or rose petals.

Ostara Oil Ingredients 6 drops Rosewood 4 drops Geranium 4 drops Chamomile 3 drops Myrrh 2 drops Cedarwood 1 drop Bay ½ oz. Carrier Oil such as Jojoba or Almond

Ostara Oil Ingredients 10 drops Almond 10 drops Patchouli 10 drops Elder 10 drops lavender 10 drops Violet ½ oz. Carrier Oil such as Jojoba or Almond

Ostara Incense Recipe by Scott Cunningham

2 parts Frankincense 1 part Benzoin 1 part Dragon’s Blood ½ part Nutmeg ½ part Violet flowers (or a few drops Violet oil) ½ part Orange peel ½ part Rose petals

Burn during Wiccan rituals on Ostara (the Spring Equinox, which varies from March 20th to the 24th each year), or to welcome the spring and refresh your life.

Source:https://www.ravenandcrone.com Photo: Etsy