Making a Corn Dolly

Traditionally, the corn dolly was made at Lughnasadh from the last sheaf of wheat (called corn in Europe) that was harvested and then paraded through town for all to see. The sheaf, called the Old Woman, was then placed in the home to protect the spirit of the grain and to represent the Goddess in her Crone aspect. In this aspect she is thought to protect the home and family until winter is over. She was placed high in the rafters near the hearth.

Being a relatively new Wiccan, and just getting used to the idea of all the Sabbats and what each one entails, I didn't manage to get my corn dolly made at Lughnasadh. With Imbolc right around the corner, I decided better late than never, and went about making my dolly. At Imbolc the corn dolly is dressed as the Bride to await the God in his youth aspect. The dolly was then traditionally plowed back in the field at Ostara.

I started with two bundles of wheat I purchased from Michael's and soaked the bottom portions for about an hour.

I took some of the wheat (about 2 inches in diameter) and tied it with white ribbon just below the bushy parts. I cut the stalks to about 10 inches measuring from the bottom of the bushy parts. This makes the body and head.

I then took some of the stalks (about 1/2 inch in diameter), cut the bushy parts off and tied them together about 1/2 an inch from the ends to make the arms and hands.

I then took the remainder of the wheat and divided it into two bunches. With one bunch I bent it over the arm on one side, holding tightly to the whole thing. Then I took the other bunch and bent it over the other side. I then cut the stalks in the back to the same length. I then took my white ribbon and wrapped it around, tied it off and made a bow.

And there you have it! A corn dolly all ready to become the Goddess Bride at Imbolc.

Charging Your Corn Dolly
(from Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac)

Lay the dolly on a table with a green candle and sandalwood incense. Create your sacred space. Light the incense and the candle saying:

"Green for Nature's abundance, and aroma of abundance, luck, and protection."

Pass the dolly through the incense smoke, saying:

"Made of the grain that there is always food in this house;
Tied with white ribbon for protection and peace;
She represents the spirit of abundance;
Kept through the winter to ward illness and want."

Set the dolly on the table and place both hands, palms down over her, saying:

"Through the Earth Mother and the Sun God, with the power of the Elementals, this dolly is charged to protect my home from adversity and illness! So mote it be!

Envision energy being released through your palms into the dolly. Snuff the candle, open the sacred space, and place the dolly in a secure place at home, such as on a kitchen wall or in the rafters.

Reiki

I was fortunate enough to attend a Reiki workshop this past Saturday and gain my certification as a Reiki Level I Practitioner. Our Master, Mary, is a dynamic speaker and she made the workshop enjoyable, informative and fun. I have to also say that my fellow attendees were a great group and I enjoyed spending the day with them all.

Saturday began the 21 day cleanse period whereby I'm treating myself every day and clearing my energy and chakras. So far, I've noticed a feeling of peace and am excited about the changes that are to come.

I'm looking forward to my path as a Reiki practitioner, not only to help and heal myself, but also to help and heal others and to also send that energy out into the world.

Flowers from Brian

I feel this will also help my practice as a Wiccan, especially with visualization and meditation. I find both to be difficult as I'm a doer (my husband likes to call me a putzer) and it's all that I can do to sit and be quiet for a time.

I'm so excited as I continue on these newfound paths and I'm especially excited to share in any way I can. Yay!

Finding that Which is Lost

Back in April, Brian took me to Hawaii as part of my 50th birthday celebrations. It was a wonderful week spent with our friends Bernie and Richard. We toured the island of Maui, snorkeled (seeing turtles in the wild was awesome!), and of course did our fair share of lying on the beach.

While we were touring the island we stopped at a lookout to see if we could see any whales. We were lucky and saw a few water spouts, albeit they were somewhat in the distance. At the lookout was a lady selling necklaces. I wondered over to her van and looked at what she had to offer. After a bit, I found the most beautiful necklace . . . it spoke to me. So Brian bought it for me and I wore it proudly the rest of our vacation.

Wearing the Necklace in Vegas

Then in May I went to Vegas with my sisters, again as part of my 50th birthday celebrations, and wore the necklace there on one or two occasions. After the trip, I unpacked and put things away not really being mindful of what I was doing. Fast forward to November. I was going out and wanted to wear my necklace. I couldn't find it anywhere! I also couldn't believe I hadn't worn or thought of that necklace since May! I searched everywhere, going through all my clothes, through the suitcases, through the purses, but to no avail. Finally in frustration, I gave up. I thought I'd lost it forever.

About a week or so later I was doing some research on the internet and came across a spell for finding something that is lost. I thought, why not? So I cast the spell and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . .

Last Thursday I developed a severe sore throat along with the usual aches and pains that signals flu. On Friday night as I was heading to bed, I wanted something to soothe my throat, so I was looking up in one of our bathroom cupboards for some throat lozenges. In the cupboard I found my little green purse that I sometimes use when I don't want to carry around my big purse. I thought to myself, "could it be in here?" I said a silent, hopeful prayer, opened the purse and THERE IT WAS! MY NECKLACE! Satisfaction and relief swept over me.

Now you want to know the interesting part? I had said the spell some weeks previous, but just that morning I found the spell back in the pile on my desk, said the spell and sent it out to the universe. Thank the Goddess for listening!

So if you've lost something and can't find it back, perhaps it's time to cast your own spell . . .

Spell for Finding that Which is Lost

You may burn an incense that symbolizes finding lost things and a green or orange candle. For added emphasis, you may invoke Saint Anthony into the spell.

~ Magic Help Incense ~
2 T Cinnamon
2 T Vanilla Extract
1 T Rosemary
1 T Thyme
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Allspice
1 Pinch of Salt

"Bound and Binding,
Binding Bound.
See the Sight,
Hear the Sound.
What was lost,
Now is found.
Bound and Binding,
Binding Bound."


Spell to Find a Lost Object

For this spell you'll need a mirror, one orange and one black candle, and a small magnet.

After you have cast your circle, called the quarters and invoked the God/Goddess, light the black candle (for solving mysteries and drawing away the negativeness of the loss) and the orange candle (for luck and precious objects). Visualize the lost object in the mirror as already being found. Place the magnet between the two candles and stroke it towards you as you recite this rhyme:

"By the wavering flame of this black light,
Grant to me of my jewelry a sight.
By the power of this orange flame,
Give me luck to find the same.
In this mirror the jewelry I see
Make the magnet draw them to me."

Substitute the name of the object for the word "jewelry". Say this three times. Close the circle, but leave the candles burning with the magnet between them until the candles burn down.

In a Garden State of Mind . . .

Today is a beautiful sunny day and with most of the snow melting away earlier this week, I'm starting to dream of gardening. About the plot Brian dug up for me last fall and where he built a beautiful arbor. That plot will be transformed into a beautiful moon garden come spring. About the herb garden wheel I plan on planting ~ after Brian builds the wheel. About buying some new perennials to fill in some bare spots and moving other plants that would do better in other places. It's a beautiful dream and one I know will come into being . . . as soon as the ground thaws.

"From December to March there are, for many of us,
three gardens ~
the garden outdoors,

the garden of pots and bowls in the house,

and the garden of the mind's eye."

~ Katherine S. White ~

What's up . . .

I've been busy in my studio the last few days getting some items ready for Valentine's Day and Ostara. I can't believe how time is flying by this new year and with Imbolc right around the corner, I feel like a dog chasing my tail! Add to that my first Reiki workshop this Saturday and well, you could say I'm getting a tad bit overwhelmed. It's all good though and despite the fact that I'm coming down with a sore throat, I'm looking forward to it all!

I just wanted to share a few things I've created. They're all available in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

For Valentine's Day . . .

For Ostara . . .

Snuggles Project

I've been thinking for some time that I'd like to volunteer in some way. All kinds of things popped in my head, but I couldn't wrap my heart around them. And then on Saturday, as I was wondering around the web, I came across the 'Snuggles Project'. I got warm fuzzies just thinking about it.

The 'Snuggles Project' is a group of volunteers who donate their time by making blankets for homeless cats and dogs that are in shelters. The blankets are either crocheted, knitted, quilted or sewn and the site even provides patterns, so you're sure never to get bored with the same old thing. The sizes vary, but I'm looking at making some 24 X 24 inches for small dogs and 36 X 36 inches for larger dogs. Want to make some for cats? They have suggested sizes for them too!

I'm choosing to crochet - it's fast, easy and dare I say it? Fun! The blankets I make this month will be donated to the Houston Poodle Rescue. That's where Bailey came into our lives from, so it has a special place in our hearts. He's pretty happy about giving something back too. Now if I could just stop him from eating all the yarn . . .

12th Night ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR!

12th Night
December 31st

"Thus ends the season of Yule as we prepare for the upcoming year. It's a time to remember from whence you came as well as a time to make plans for the near future. Take oaths, make promises, hold inventory so you know your present position in relation to where you want to be. Remember, "Luck often enough will save a woman (or man) if her (or his) courage holds” (The Celtic Warrior)."

Have you made your resolutions yet? I decided last year that resolutions, quite frankly, suck. I always start out with a big hurrah and by the end of the first week my big hurrah has fizzled, slightly resembling burnt bacon.

And so I simply agree with myself that yes, I will eat better, I will exercise more and I'll try to spend less money. I don't set dates as I consider myself a work in progress, trying all year long to accomplish tiny goals I set for myself daily, weekly or monthly. I don't need a resolution to tell me that I need to clean out my closet.

So in lieu of making resolutions this year, I decided that a simple prosperity spell would work well for all areas of my life. This one was written by Elen Hawke from her book 'The Sacred Round'.

A Simple Prosperity Spell

What you'll need:
- a fresh green candle with candle holder
- altar candles
- matches or lighter
- Patchouli oil
- a censer, cauldron or other fireproof container with charcoal
- Frankincense incense or a mixture containing Patchouli
- a bowl of water
- a container of salt

Cast your circle or simply do this spell at your altar. Light the altar candles and charcoal block for incense. While the charcoal is igniting, sit quietly and breathe deeply and calmly to ground and centre yourself. Place some incense on the charcoal.

Consecrate the green candle through the elements, then prime it with Patchouli oil, concentrating hard on your magical goal as you do so, voicing it in your mind over and over again, putting emphasis and energy into the words.

Now hold the candle to your third eye and concentrate hard on visualizing prosperity; see how circumstances will be for you when the needed prosperity arrives, be very determined; believe that your desire will come about; specify that it happens in a way that is right for you and harms no one, including yourself. Will energy into the candle so that your visualization is empowered. When you feel you have done enough visualization, light the green candle from the altar candles, saying:

"I light this candle to bring prosperity into my life.
To the free will of all and the highest
good for all concerned.
In the names of the Goddess and God, so mote it be.
Blessed Be."

Let the candle burn for a while (if you are doing this spell as part of another rite, then until the end of the ritual will do). When you snuff out the candle, visualize prosperity as though it is already a part of your life.

Relight the candle every night for a predetermined period of time. A good length is until the end of the moon's cycle (ie. until just before the next new moon). If you feel you need more time to reinforce the spell, then rekindle the candle nightly until the moon returns to the same phase in which you started. Be sure to leave enough of the candle to burn each night and make sure it's completely consumed by the end of the final lighting.

This spell could also be done with an orange candle and cinnamon oil. Using orange helps you to be more determined if you are feeling unsure about whether the spell will succeed. Green is good if you're prepared to let things flow in a gentle manner, coming to fruition in good time.

A little bit of fun from my favorite singer 'Pink' . . .



And a . . .

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want, you get.

A year in which you cherish
The past year’s memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a holiday
With happiness galore;
And when it’s done, I wish you
Happy New Year, and many more.

~ Joanna Fuchs ~

12 Days of Yule ~ Day 11

11th Day of Yule – Remembering the Noble Virtue of Perseverance
December 30th

"If you give up, you die. It really is simple, isn’t it? No matter what you are doing, see it to its conclusion. Even if you try and fail, realize that the only real failure is not trying. Failure is evidence that someone has tried. Success is failure defeated."

'The Tortoise and the Hare' is a fable attributed to Aesop. The story goes that a hare, who thinks rather highly of himself and who ridicules a slow-moving tortoise, challenges the tortoise to a race. The hare soon leaves the tortoise behind, and confident of winning, decides to take a nap midway through the course. When he awakes, however, he finds that his competitor, crawling slowly but steadily, has arrived before him.

There are many interpretation's to 'The Tortoise and the Hare' fable. Some view the fable as morally ambiguous, while later interpreters have asserted that it is the proverbial 'the more haste, the worse speed', or have applied it to the Biblical observation that 'the race is not to the swift'. In Classical times it was not the tortoise’s plucky conduct in taking on a bully that was emphasized, but the Hare’s foolish over-confidence.

I view it another way. The tortoise, knowing full well that he couldn't beat the hare, decided to take on the challenge anyway. He started, continued and finished the race. He didn't tell himself that he couldn't do it. He didn't give up halfway through the race, he finished it. It was through his perseverance that he showed us that we too, even though we be tortoise's, can start and finish the race - any race.

We don't have to have boat loads of confidence to win at the situations in our lives. We just have to show up, put in our best effort and persevere.

12 Days of Yule ~ Day 10

10th Day of Yule – Remembering the Noble Virtue of Self-Reliance
December 29th

"Do not create co-dependent relationships in any way. Do not let your happiness, or your success, be determined by anyone else. Be responsible for yourself. Rely on your own efforts to secure your needs."

"I've learned to trust myself, to listen to truth,
to not be afraid of it and to not try and hide it."
~ Sarah McLachlan ~

I lived most of my childhood, adolescence and adulthood as an on-again/off-again Christian. It seemed to me that's what was expected, and being a people-pleaser that's what I did. It wasn't until this last year that I took a leap of faith and started to trust myself. To listen to my own inner truth. To rely on what that truth told me and to follow it, wherever it led me.

It hasn't been an easy path to follow. Being a solitary, I've had to rely on myself, to educate myself, to practice, to seek out new truths and to follow those truths, so long as they ring true. If at some point they don't ring true anymore, then I'll rely on myself to alter that truth so that it does ring true. It's an ever-changing landscape, but I know that I can rely on myself to stay the course.

One truth that is ringing ever-louder is that I have to be responsible for myself. For the truths or untruths that I tell myself, or if I choose to listen to others, what my portion of responsibility is in what they're telling me. No one has power over me. I'm responsible for myself and I have to rely on myself to tell myself so.

It's a process, and even at my age I'm still growing, still learning, still working on those parts of me that harbor the child within. You see, she still relies on me, and I'm not going to let her down . . .

12 Days of Yule ~ Day 9

9th Day of Yule – Remembering the Noble Virtue of Industriousness
December 28th

"Life requires that we work hard. Never sit back and take the easy way out in regards to your ability to create a lifestyle for yourself. No matter the lifestyle you choose, know that your elevation in life, or lack of it, may be (but not always) the direct result of your depth of diligence. Do the best you can, and know that your efforts have been suitably rewarded."

Be the Best of Whatever You Are

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley -
But be the best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,
Some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie, then just be a bass -
But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew;
There’s something for all of us here.
There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail;
If you can’t be the sun, be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail -
Be the best of whatever you are!

~ Douglas Malloch ~

12 Days of Yule - Day 8

8th Day of Yule – Remembering the Noble Virtue of Discipline
December 27th

"Our way is not an easy way. In many aspects, we fly in the face of the society around us. Stay true to the ideals of the ancient Celtic ways as they unfold in your life. Be diligent in the study of your beliefs. Stay true to the goddesses and to the great Celtic people."

Well, here we are on Day 8 of the 12 Days of Yule - a little more than halfway through the Yule season. While this time of year lends itself to spiritual matters, matters of the heart, and of one's beliefs, I find that the ideas coming to me each day are not necessarily of that sort. I guess because I practice, read and endeavor to be a spiritual person most days of the year so during this time my attention is also focused on mundane issues . . . like, well, the body. And with the calendar New Year fast approaching, resolutions are coming to mind.

My body is in a sorry state. I haven't exercised since it got so cold outside that it could freeze off any parts exposed in a matter of seconds. No excuse really, I could be exercising in the house. Apparently my body isn't aware of that - and I'm not telling. I'm eating carbs like they're going out of style and well simply put, I'm a bulging heap of mashed potatoes. Add to that the sugar 'fog' I've been living in and well, discipline . . .

So it's time to get tough with myself. To initiate some 'discipline'. Time to get the eating under control and to that end we're going back on our clean eating regime starting next week. Discipline . . . I'm also going to start using my Leslie Sansone walking tapes every day, starting tomorrow. Discipline . . . And I'll be hitting the weights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Discipline . . . And I'd really like to use those beautiful new skates Brian bought me for Yule last year, let's say at least once a week. Discipline . . .

I'm making that my new mantra . . . DISCIPLINE . . . a simple word really and I think a much better word than 'motivation' (if I could just find some) or 'determination' (sounds like I should climb a mountain) or 'just do it' (sounds like nagging to me). The word discipline conjurs up a sense of responsibility. Responsibility to myself and no one else . . . just me . . . oh, and the muffin top . . .

12 Days of Yule - Day 7

7th Day of Yule – Remembering the Noble Virtue of Hospitality
December 26th

"Welcome those into your house and your life as you can. In today’s world, we cannot trust everyone with whom we come in contact, but we can exercise caution and be as welcoming as possible. Similarly, be a proper and respectful guest when you are welcomed."

With most of my family up in Canada, a niece down in Florida, and one of my sisters on her way to Africa, I don't get to spend as much time with them as I would like. But they all know that my door is open to them at any time.

It seems that with my friends too, most of our time spent together is in eating out at a restaurant, taking in a movie, or hanging out at Barnes and Noble. It seems to me that the fine art of entertaining or 'hospitality' is just that . . . a fine art like that you'd see hanging in a museum.

With people spending so much time at work, running around doing errands, or grocery shopping, it can feel that when one gets home it's time to kick off the shoes, brew a cup of tea and just relax by a warm fire. It can sometimes seem that the mere thought of hospitality is enough to exhaust even the most stoic of us.

In the end though, when one does make the effort to invite a few family or friends over, the feelings of connection and being linked in to the world can be a pretty good tonic. Here's a toast to all of you who make the effort and to those of you who enjoy those efforts!