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"Blessed be the earth, and all who dwell upon it.
We give thanks for the season now departing from us,
For the blessings it has bestowed upon us,
And upon those with whom we share this world.
Blessed be the new season.
We pray that it will be a time filled with peace,
With abundance, with prosperity,
With wisdom,
With love."
The Witch's Besom!
Sit back and enjoy a brief ride through the history and uses of a witch's broom!
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Harvesting and storing your magickal herbs!
Whether you’re an apartment dweller with a few small containers on the patio, or a rural gardener with an entire patch of magical goodies to choose from, harvesting homegrown herbs is a gratifying experience. You can either harvest a few bits at a time, as you need them, and use them fresh, or you can gather entire bunches at once to dry and preserve.
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Although there’s no hard and fast rule about what to use when cutting herbs, some magical traditions recommend the use of a boline, or ritual cutting tool, for herb harvesting. If your tradition doesn’t require this, you can use any pair of garden snippers.
Keep in mind that the best time to harvest your herbs is early in the day, after the morning dew has dried away. Harvesting them early, before the sun has had time to dry them out, allows the plants to maintain their essential oils, which is an important part of herb use. The oils are what .
Basic cutting: if you’re only going to collect what you need for a ritual or working, simply snip off the leaves or stems that you’re going to use that day. Some herbs, like basil, are easily stripped of leaves just by sliding your fingers along the branch. Others, like rosemary, have a woody stem that is easier to snip off in its entirety. During the summer months, snipping off leaves and stems will encourage new growth in your plants.
If it’s the flowers you’re after, such as chamomile or lilacs, collect blooms after they’ve developed fully and opened up. If you’ve got a plant whose seeds are the main focus, be sure to wait until the seeds have fully developed and begun to dry and turn brown on their own. An easy way to gather seeds, such as on the dill plant, is to place a paper bag over the head of the plant, and shake it into the bag. Any dry seeds should fall easily into your paper sack.
Bunch cutting: If you’d like to gather entire bundles of herbs to hang up and dry, snip off the stems where they branch off from the main plant. This not only encourages new growth later in the season, it also makes it easier to hang them up in a bunch.
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When you dry herbs, you have a couple of options as to method. A bundle or bunch of herbs can be tied together with string–use about a dozen stems tied together to make a nice fat bundle–and hung in a dry, airy place. It’s generally not a good idea to hang them in direct sunlight, because they can burn and become over-dry. You can hang them from a drying rack in a warm spot in your house, and let them sit for about three weeks. This is usually enough time to dry most herbs - you’ll know they’re done drying because the leaves will crack when you pinch them.
Again, if you’re harvesting the seeds or blossoms, use the paper bag method. Secure the bag over the head of your drying bundle, and as the plant dries, the seeds and flowers will fall off into the bag.
Another method that some people like to use–and it works well if you’re in a hurry–is to lay the gathered herbs flat on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven at a low temperature. This will take a few hours, and it makes your house smell amazing. Be cautious, though; you don’t want to overbake your herbs, because they’ll be useless if they burn.
If you have a dehydrator, you can use that in a similar manner as the oven method. Fortunately, a dehydrator works at a lower temperature than your oven, so the risk of burning your leaves is lower. Be sure to check them periodically to see if they’re done drying. Again, when the leaves crumble to the touch, they’re ready to go.
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To store your herbs, there are a variety of methods you can use. While a plastic Zip-loc bag works well to keep air out, it doesn’t keep out the light, and that’s something you want to be sure to do. Use colored glass jars, or ceramic containers with an airtight lid to store your herbs. Be sure to label each jar with the herb’s name on it–and if it’s something that might be toxic, make sure you indicate this on the label, particularly if you have children in your home. Keep your herb jars in a cool, dark area; don’t store them over the stove or in an area that is known for high heat.
Source: learnreligions.com
learnreligions.com/harvesting-drying-and-storing-magical-herbs-2562025
Hi There!
With Memorial Day here this weekend, it got me to thinking about the real meaning of the holiday. I mean, where I live Memorial Day for alot of folks its the big summer kick off weekend, have a picnic, do some yard work, go to the local parade. If anyone is interested in a nice summary of the real history of Memorial Day, I found this site : www.usmemorialday.org
Memorial Day is about honoring the dead (not something unfamiliar to Voodooisants!) The fallen that have given their lives so that every day our lives can be better ones.
There are lots of things someone can do to honor these fallen heroes. It can be as simple as going to a local cemetery and placing an American Flag on a veteran's grave. The Memorial Day Foundation
will do this for people (for a small fee) that cant get out and do it themselves. The bouquets are very nice and quite reasonable. Going to the local VFW or American Legion ceremonies that will be happening this Monday is something else we can do to show our support. Very often at these ceremonies, "Taps" is played.
These are the words to "Taps." Often, a shorter version, shown here in italics, is played:
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh. Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest. God is nigh.
Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear. Friend, good night.
~~~~~~
So, I encourage you all to get out and do something to honor our fallen Heroes this weekend. Also, a nod to our own wonderful General Ogoun could be in order!
Thanks for reading this far! I will leave you with this prayer:
Each year we give this tribute
Out of thankfulness and love
For your loyalty and courage
Virtues that set you above.We’ll never forget you gave your all
That others can be free
You paid the ultimate earthly price
Immortal you will ever be.We walk the byways, streets of towns
Country lanes, through parks
At ease, at peace, possible because
Of missions upon which you embarked.When there is no setting sun
And tides stretch out o'er all the land
No birds to fly, no songs to sing
Then we'll come and take your hand.For now we won't forget
An emptiness your parting left
You gave your life in freedom's call
In God’s eyes you're ever blessed.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
Light and love
Sister Bridget
Happy Friday the 13th!
Belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day is believed to be the most widespread superstition in the US. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, about 17 million people fear Friday the 13th.
This year, there are THREE of them! Each, exactly 13 weeks apart.
Where did all of this fear stem from? It can be hard to tell. There is the basic idea that Friday is considered an unlucky day, and 13 is considered an unlucky number, put the two together, and you have a very unlucky day.
Folklorists think the dread goes back at least a few centuries, and may well trace its roots all the way to Biblical times, when the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus and caused his Crucifixion, which was held on a Friday. Whatever the origin, by the late Middle Ages both Friday and the number 13 were considered bearers of misfortune. That potent combo, more than any specific association with the date, is what has deemed Friday the 13th unlucky.
One study in the UK showed that the actual amount of cars on the road was lower than normal, yet the accident rate was much higher than normal. Their conclusion - "Friday 13th is unlucky for some. The risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52 percent. Staying at home is recommended."
Some folks believe this superstition to be hype and urban legend. Some folks choose to stay home and read a good book. However you choose to spend your Fridays the 13th this year, I wish you luck!
Love
Sister Bridget
Hi there!
By popular demand, I am now offering Skype as an option for doing readings! Skype is a way to do free video chatting! My Skype ID is sisterbridgetcorfield .
For more info about Skype, should you need it, please see http://www.skype.com
Have a great day!
Love
Sister Bridget
Hello!
Below are some pictures I took while fishing with Marran and Parran this Spring. Hope you enjoy them :-)
Light and Love
Sister Bridget
Marran having a fine day!
Marran and Parran and a Fishy Friend!
Here is the little fella that I caught, being held by Parran's bother, Andrew. We threw him back (the fish, not Drew....) and he swam away to live another day :-)
The Neighbors! A mess-o-chipmunks lived in a rock pile right next to where we were seated for the day. These little guys were quite brave and really seemed fond of rice crispy treats! They were awesome entertainment in between nibbles on the line.
