Although it has been just over a year since we moved to Kingston, NY, in some ways it seems like a lifetime, in others, no time at all. One of the things that we have been able to do since moving here is connecting with Nature! Across the street from us is a nice large wooded area with a stream running through it, which you can see in this first picture (which is the view from my office window). In the late Spring and early Summer you can really hear the stream flowing. There is also lots of wildlife around here!
The ones that seem to show themselves the most would be the birds. We have Blue Jays, Cardinals, Juncos, Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Robins, Crows, Ravens, Blackbirds, and Hummingbirds... and those are just the ones that show up in the back yard! While I am on the subject of birds... One of the most amazing things we discovered recently is actually about 5 1/2 miles from the house, is the family of Bald Eagles! We were able to catch a glimpse of the nest, before the leaves started growing on the trees. If there are babies in the nest, we have not seen them yet... I hope to soon though.
Another wonderful thing about the road we live on, is a little spot only 5 miles North of us... The Waterfall! It is set back from the road so if you don't know it's there you could easily miss it. There has been many a time when either going to or coming from the store I stop just to clear my head and re-focus my thoughts. It is a great spot to meditate and relax. Any time our friends come to visit, the Waterfall is always a stop on the tour of the area. Sometimes even making multiple trips there during a single weekend.
I have a feeling that the longer we are in this area, the more things will reveal themselves to us, when the time is right for them to do so. Until the we will continue to enjoy what we have right now.
Something for Everyone
Blog of Shadows
Monday, June 29, 2015
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A Chocolate Ritual
Materials required: On the altar there are brown candles; a Tootsie Roll (the great big one-as the athame); a large glass with milk in it,(the chalice); a small dish of Nestle's Quick and a spoon; a small dish of chocolate sprinkles; a plate of cupcakes and some Yoo-Hoo along with a goblet.
CLEANSE THE SACRED SPACE:
High Priestess/High Preist takes the small bowl of chocolate sprinkles, scatters them and says:
"Chocolate sprinkles where thou art cast
No calories in thy presence last.
Let no fat adhere to me
And as I will So Mote It BE!"
High Priest/High Preistess takes the small bowl of Quick, scatters some and says:
"Nestle's Quick where thou art cast
Turn this milk to chocolate, fast.
Let all good things come to me,
and make my milk all chocolatey!"
HP or HPS CASTS THE CIRCLE(using the tootsie roll as the Athame)
HPs or HP CALLS THE QUARTERS:
"Mousse of the East, Fluffy one!
Great prince of the palace of dessert.
Be present, we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all moochers
Approaching from the East."
"Fondue of the South, Molten One!
Great prince of the palace decadence.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all diet
Approaching from the South."
"Cocoa of the West, Satisfying One!
Great prince of the palace of thirst.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all carob
Approaching from the West."
"Rocky Road of the North, Cold One!
Great prince of the palace of crunchy.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all cheap imitations
Approaching from the North."
MAIN RITUAL: HANDMAIDEN (Henceforth known as the Swiss Miss):
"Listen to the words of the Mother of Chocolate; who was of old called; Godiva, Ethel M, Sara Lee, Nestle, Mrs. See, and by many other names:"
HPS: "Whenever you have one of those cravings, once in a while and better it be when your checkbook is full, then shall you assemble in a great public place and bring offerings of money to the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all Goodies. In the Mall shall you assemble, you who have eaten all your chocolate and are hungry for more.
To you I shall bring Good Things for your tongue. And you shall be free from depression, and as a sign that you are truly free, you shall have chocolate smears on your cheeks, and you shall munch, nosh, snack, feast, and make yummy noises, all in my presence.
For mine is the ecstasy of phenylalanine (FEEN-EL-AL-A-NEEN), and mine is also the Joy on Earth, yea, even into High Orbit; for my law is: "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.
Keep clean your fingers, carry Wet Ones always, let none stop you aside. For mine is the secret that opens your mouth, and mine is the taste that puts a smile on your lips and comfy padding pounds on your hips. I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the tummies of men and women.
Upon earth, I give knowledge of all things delicious, and beyond death.......well, I can't do much there. Sorry about that. I demand only your money in sacrifice; for behold, chocolate is a business and you have to pay for those truffles before you eat them."
SWISS MISS: "Hear now the words of the Goodie Goddess, she in the dust of whose feet are the cheap imitations, whose body graces candy racks and finer stores everywhere:
HPS: I, who am the beauty of chocolate chips, and the sastifying softness of big bars, the mystery of how they ge the filling inside of truffles, and fill the hearts of all but Philistines with desire, call unto thy soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of candy; from me do all confections spring, and unto me all of you shall return, again.... and again....and again...... and again. Before my smeared face, beloved of Women and Men, thine innermost divine self shall be enfolded in the rapture of overdose.
Let my taste be within thy mouth that rejoices. For behold, all acts of yumminess and pleasure are my rituals. Therefore let there be gooeyness and mess, crispness and crackling, big slabs and bite size peices, peanut butter and chocolate covered cherries all within you.
And you who think to seek me, know that your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the Mystery; "We shall sell no chocolate until you pay for it."
For behold; I have been with you since you were just a baby, and I am that which is attained at nearly any shop in the land. Messed Be."
SWISS MISS: "Hear now the words of the Chocolate God, who was called Ghirardelli, Milton Snavely Hershey, Bosco, Fudgesicle, and by many other names."
HP: "I am the strength of the candy rack, and the piece that fell on the floor, but looks like it might not have gotten too dirty, and the deepest bitterness of dark chocolate. No matter how you try to resist the call of chocolate, I will hunt you out and I will become your sacred prey.
I am warmth of hot cocoa in the dead of winter, and the call of the road that leads you to that really expensive Godiva store downtown. I give you my creatures, the fire of love of chocolate, the power of jaw strength to bite off a piece of that frozen Milky Way bar, and the shelter of Haagen Daz when that big date didn't work out.
You are dear to me, and I instill in you my power of a piece of chocolate that you had forgotten you had hidden, and the power of vision and magickal sight with which you can spot a candy counter a mile away.
By the powers of the half melted bar in the glorious sun, I charge you, by the darkest depths of the bottom of the cocoa pot and lingering smell of bittersweet chocolate, I charge you, and by the beauty of a perfectly swirled vanilla butter cream, I charge you.
Follow your heart and your instinct, wherever they lead you. The wealth in your pocket can buy you treats that a Mayan king would envy. Take joy in that first bite of lecithin emulsified cocoa, and in the last satisfying slurp of Yoo-Hoo. Yet you must be wary of deceit. Eat not of that which is called "Baking Chocolate" for it is vile and bitter.
Lastly, always remember to leave some chocolate behind you. Be not greedy, but let yourself be known as a connoisseur. Leave a little for someone else. I am with you always, just over your shoulder, or around the next corner.
I am the Lord of Chocolate, and when you have reached the end of your hoard, I will never be farther away from you than that 7-Eleven on the corner. I am the spirit of the Wild Child; the Inner Child who can never get quite enough. If you are a true chocolate lover, then your soul and mine are intertwined."
CUPCAKES & YOO-HOO: (The blessing of the Yoo-Hoo)
HP: "Be it known that milk chocolate is not better that dark chocolate."
HPS: "Nor is dark chocolate better than milk chocolate."
HP: "For both are better than the falsely named 'White Chocolate'."
HPS: "And neither one is carob". HP: "As the frosting is to the cupcake."
HPS: "So the creamy nougat is to the Milky Way Bar."
BOTH: "And when they are eaten, they are yummy in truth, for there is no greater snack in all the world than one made of chocolate."
(The blessing of the cupcakes)
HP: "Frosting is keen,"
HPS: "And the frosting is neat."
BOTH: "Great Goddess! Let's eat!"
Feasting and drinking(chocolate liquer, if possible), music and dance.
Dismiss Quarters.
HPS: "Oh, ye mighty goodies of the ______(north etc)_________,
We thank you for attending our rites and guarding our circle and ere you depart for your sweet and sticky realms,
We say unto you: "N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best."
ALL: "Chooooc-laaate."
(After all the quarters have been dismissed, give a final, satisfying belch at the East.)
Close circle.
By: Buckmeister Thu 30 Sep 93
CLEANSE THE SACRED SPACE:
High Priestess/High Preist takes the small bowl of chocolate sprinkles, scatters them and says:
"Chocolate sprinkles where thou art cast
No calories in thy presence last.
Let no fat adhere to me
And as I will So Mote It BE!"
High Priest/High Preistess takes the small bowl of Quick, scatters some and says:
"Nestle's Quick where thou art cast
Turn this milk to chocolate, fast.
Let all good things come to me,
and make my milk all chocolatey!"
HP or HPS CASTS THE CIRCLE(using the tootsie roll as the Athame)
HPs or HP CALLS THE QUARTERS:
"Mousse of the East, Fluffy one!
Great prince of the palace of dessert.
Be present, we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all moochers
Approaching from the East."
"Fondue of the South, Molten One!
Great prince of the palace decadence.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all diet
Approaching from the South."
"Cocoa of the West, Satisfying One!
Great prince of the palace of thirst.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all carob
Approaching from the West."
"Rocky Road of the North, Cold One!
Great prince of the palace of crunchy.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all cheap imitations
Approaching from the North."
MAIN RITUAL: HANDMAIDEN (Henceforth known as the Swiss Miss):
"Listen to the words of the Mother of Chocolate; who was of old called; Godiva, Ethel M, Sara Lee, Nestle, Mrs. See, and by many other names:"
HPS: "Whenever you have one of those cravings, once in a while and better it be when your checkbook is full, then shall you assemble in a great public place and bring offerings of money to the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all Goodies. In the Mall shall you assemble, you who have eaten all your chocolate and are hungry for more.
To you I shall bring Good Things for your tongue. And you shall be free from depression, and as a sign that you are truly free, you shall have chocolate smears on your cheeks, and you shall munch, nosh, snack, feast, and make yummy noises, all in my presence.
For mine is the ecstasy of phenylalanine (FEEN-EL-AL-A-NEEN), and mine is also the Joy on Earth, yea, even into High Orbit; for my law is: "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.
Keep clean your fingers, carry Wet Ones always, let none stop you aside. For mine is the secret that opens your mouth, and mine is the taste that puts a smile on your lips and comfy padding pounds on your hips. I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the tummies of men and women.
Upon earth, I give knowledge of all things delicious, and beyond death.......well, I can't do much there. Sorry about that. I demand only your money in sacrifice; for behold, chocolate is a business and you have to pay for those truffles before you eat them."
SWISS MISS: "Hear now the words of the Goodie Goddess, she in the dust of whose feet are the cheap imitations, whose body graces candy racks and finer stores everywhere:
HPS: I, who am the beauty of chocolate chips, and the sastifying softness of big bars, the mystery of how they ge the filling inside of truffles, and fill the hearts of all but Philistines with desire, call unto thy soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of candy; from me do all confections spring, and unto me all of you shall return, again.... and again....and again...... and again. Before my smeared face, beloved of Women and Men, thine innermost divine self shall be enfolded in the rapture of overdose.
Let my taste be within thy mouth that rejoices. For behold, all acts of yumminess and pleasure are my rituals. Therefore let there be gooeyness and mess, crispness and crackling, big slabs and bite size peices, peanut butter and chocolate covered cherries all within you.
And you who think to seek me, know that your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the Mystery; "We shall sell no chocolate until you pay for it."
For behold; I have been with you since you were just a baby, and I am that which is attained at nearly any shop in the land. Messed Be."
SWISS MISS: "Hear now the words of the Chocolate God, who was called Ghirardelli, Milton Snavely Hershey, Bosco, Fudgesicle, and by many other names."
HP: "I am the strength of the candy rack, and the piece that fell on the floor, but looks like it might not have gotten too dirty, and the deepest bitterness of dark chocolate. No matter how you try to resist the call of chocolate, I will hunt you out and I will become your sacred prey.
I am warmth of hot cocoa in the dead of winter, and the call of the road that leads you to that really expensive Godiva store downtown. I give you my creatures, the fire of love of chocolate, the power of jaw strength to bite off a piece of that frozen Milky Way bar, and the shelter of Haagen Daz when that big date didn't work out.
You are dear to me, and I instill in you my power of a piece of chocolate that you had forgotten you had hidden, and the power of vision and magickal sight with which you can spot a candy counter a mile away.
By the powers of the half melted bar in the glorious sun, I charge you, by the darkest depths of the bottom of the cocoa pot and lingering smell of bittersweet chocolate, I charge you, and by the beauty of a perfectly swirled vanilla butter cream, I charge you.
Follow your heart and your instinct, wherever they lead you. The wealth in your pocket can buy you treats that a Mayan king would envy. Take joy in that first bite of lecithin emulsified cocoa, and in the last satisfying slurp of Yoo-Hoo. Yet you must be wary of deceit. Eat not of that which is called "Baking Chocolate" for it is vile and bitter.
Lastly, always remember to leave some chocolate behind you. Be not greedy, but let yourself be known as a connoisseur. Leave a little for someone else. I am with you always, just over your shoulder, or around the next corner.
I am the Lord of Chocolate, and when you have reached the end of your hoard, I will never be farther away from you than that 7-Eleven on the corner. I am the spirit of the Wild Child; the Inner Child who can never get quite enough. If you are a true chocolate lover, then your soul and mine are intertwined."
CUPCAKES & YOO-HOO: (The blessing of the Yoo-Hoo)
HP: "Be it known that milk chocolate is not better that dark chocolate."
HPS: "Nor is dark chocolate better than milk chocolate."
HP: "For both are better than the falsely named 'White Chocolate'."
HPS: "And neither one is carob". HP: "As the frosting is to the cupcake."
HPS: "So the creamy nougat is to the Milky Way Bar."
BOTH: "And when they are eaten, they are yummy in truth, for there is no greater snack in all the world than one made of chocolate."
(The blessing of the cupcakes)
HP: "Frosting is keen,"
HPS: "And the frosting is neat."
BOTH: "Great Goddess! Let's eat!"
Feasting and drinking(chocolate liquer, if possible), music and dance.
Dismiss Quarters.
HPS: "Oh, ye mighty goodies of the ______(north etc)_________,
We thank you for attending our rites and guarding our circle and ere you depart for your sweet and sticky realms,
We say unto you: "N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best."
ALL: "Chooooc-laaate."
(After all the quarters have been dismissed, give a final, satisfying belch at the East.)
Close circle.
By: Buckmeister Thu 30 Sep 93
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Selenite
Selenite is a popular crystal that comes in many natural and finished forms. This gemstone is named for Selene, Greek goddess of the Moon because of its moon-like glow. Some people see the stone change with the waxing and waning of the moon. It is a stone of protection, is said to align the spine, benefit the skeleton, heal old emotional wounds and transform negative energy to healing, forgiveness and acceptance. Selenite is a good stone for Taurus.
Selenite is a crystallized form of gypsum. It can be found in the salt plains in northern Oklahoma, and in giant caverns in Mexico. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has a selenite crystal digging area in Oklahoma that is in operation from April through October 15th. The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge has a wildlife observation tower at the entrance to the digging area, and you can take up to 10 pounds of crystals and one cluster each day. Single crystals, penetration twins, and clusters are the typical crystal shapes found, and clusters up to 38 pounds have been found there!
Selenite is used to cleanse and recharge other crystals by placing them on the selenite or including it in the space you store your stones. Many people prefer this method of cleansing and recharging to using salt, as it is less abrasive and a LOT faster!
Selenite has a very long crystalline structure that helps create a peaceful atmosphere around itself. Rubbing a smooth piece of Selenite will calm and lift your energy. Selenite corresponds to the 7th, or Crown Chakra at the top of the head, and promotes flexibility, and clarity in decision-making. Placing a selenite stone on your third eye chakra can help you to improve your psychic or telepathic abilities.
With all of the power that selenite holds, it is a very fragile stone. It is water soluble and will scratch easily. Many people believe that this is because it exists between the material and the ethereal planes. It is a very special and powerful stone, and you would do well to have several around your home.
Selenite is used to cleanse and recharge other crystals by placing them on the selenite or including it in the space you store your stones. Many people prefer this method of cleansing and recharging to using salt, as it is less abrasive and a LOT faster!
Selenite has a very long crystalline structure that helps create a peaceful atmosphere around itself. Rubbing a smooth piece of Selenite will calm and lift your energy. Selenite corresponds to the 7th, or Crown Chakra at the top of the head, and promotes flexibility, and clarity in decision-making. Placing a selenite stone on your third eye chakra can help you to improve your psychic or telepathic abilities.
With all of the power that selenite holds, it is a very fragile stone. It is water soluble and will scratch easily. Many people believe that this is because it exists between the material and the ethereal planes. It is a very special and powerful stone, and you would do well to have several around your home.
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