Category: Pagan Crafting

How to Make a Yule Log

How to Make a Yule Log

By , About.com Guide

 

As the Wheel of the Year turns once more, the days get shorter, the skies become gray, and it seems as though the sun is dying. In this time of darkness, we pause on the Solstice (usually around December 21st, although not always on the same date) and realize that something wonderful is happening.

On Yule, the sun stops its decline into the south. For a few days, it seems as though it’s rising in exactly the same place… and then the amazing, the wonderful, the miraculous happens. The light begins to return.

The sun begins its journey back to the north, and once again we are reminded that we have something worth celebrating.  In families of all different spiritual paths, the return of the light is celebrated, with Menorahs, Kwanzaa candles, bonfires, and brightly lit Christmas trees. On Yule, many Pagan and Wiccan families celebrate the return of the sun by adding light into their homes. One of our family’s favorite traditions – and one that children can do easily – is to make a Yule log for a family-sized celebration.

A holiday celebration that began in Norway, on the night of the winter solstice it was common to hoist a giant log onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. The Norsemen believed that the sun was a giant wheel of fire which rolled away from the earth, and then began rolling back again on the winter solstice.

As Christianity spread through Europe, the tradition became part of Christmas Eve festivities. The father or master of the house would sprinkle the log with libations of mead, oil or salt. Once the log was burned in the hearth, the ashes were scattered about the house to protect the family within from hostile spirits.

Because each type of wood is associated with various magickal and spiritual properties, logs from different types of trees might be burned to get a variety of effects. Aspen is the wood of choice for spiritual understanding, while the mighty oak is symbolic of strength and wisdom. A family hoping for a year of prosperity might burn a log of pine, while a couple hoping to be blessed with fertility would drag a bough of birch to their hearth.

In our house, we usually make our Yule log out of pine, but you can make yours of any type of wood you choose. You can select one based on its magickal properties, or you can just use whatever’s handy. To make a basic Yule log, you will need the following:

  • A log about 14 – 18” long
  • Pinecones
  • Dried berries, such as cranberries
  • Cuttings of mistletoe, holly, pine needles, and ivy
  • Feathers and cinnamon sticks
  • Some festive ribbon – use paper or cloth ribbon, not the synthetic or wire-lined type
  • A hot glue gun

 

All of these – except for the ribbon and the hot glue gun — are things you and your children can gather outside.  You might wish to start collecting them earlier in the year, and saving them.  Encourage your children to only pick up items they find on the ground, and not to take any cuttings from live plants.

Begin by wrapping the log loosely with the ribbon. Leave enough space that you can insert your branches, cuttings and feathers under the ribbon. In our house, we place five feathers on our Yule log – one for each member of the family. Once you’ve gotten your branches and cuttings in place, begin gluing on the pinecones, cinnamon sticks and berries. Add as much or as little as you like. Remember to keep the hot glue gun away from small children.

Once you’ve decorated your Yule log, the question arises of what to do with it. For starters, use it as a centerpiece for your holiday table. A Yule log looks lovely on a table surrounded by candles and holiday greenery.

Another way to use your Yule log is to burn it as our ancestors did so many centuries ago. In our family, before we burn our log we each write down a wish on a piece of paper, and then insert it into the ribbons. It’s our wish for the upcoming year, and we keep it to ourselves in hopes that it will come true.

If you have a fireplace, you can certainly burn your Yule log in it, but we prefer to do ours outside. We have a fire pit in the back yard, and on the night of the winter solstice, we gather out there with blankets, mittens, and mugs full of warm drinks as we burn our log. While we watch the flames consume it, we discuss how thankful we are for the good things that have come our way this year, and how we hope for abundance, good health, and happiness in the next.

 

About.com Guide

 

Magickal Crafting for November 7th – Witch Soap

WITCH SOAP

4 lbs lard
13 oz lye (1 can)
5 cups cold water
1 tbsp lavender oil
1tbsp patchouli oil
1 cup fresh strawberry juice
1/4 cup dried soap bark herb (optional

 

In a large enamel or iron kettle, melt the lard over very low heat. (Never use metal) In a separate pot, stir together the lye & the water. Heat lard until small bubbles begin to appear – do not boil.

Remove from the heat & slowly pour the lye solution into the lard. With a big wooden spoon, stir in the lavender & patchouli oils, the strawberry juice & soap bark herb. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

Pour into 2-inch deep greased pan & allow to cool overnight. Cut the soap into squares and leave in the pan for at least 3 days before removing. Place the Soap bars on waxed paper & allow them to age in a draft-free area approximately 4-6 weeks before using.




		
	
			


	



			
				


	

		
Pagan Craftiness of the Day for Nov. 5th – Make Your Own Silver Cleaner

			


	

		
Pagan Craftiness of the Day


 


SILVER CLEANER


 


For silver cutlery, lay a sheet of aluminum foil in a pan, cover with a few

inches of water, and add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of

soda. Bring to the boil, drop in the cutlery, simmer for five minutes, then

remove and rinse.


For silver jewelry, shred aluminum foil until you have enough to half-fill a

jar. Add a teaspoon of salt and fill with water. Drop in Jewelry, cover the jar

and leave for five minutes, then remove and rinse the jewelry.

			


	



			
				


	

		
Magickal Goody for February 3rd – Witch Soap

			


	

		
Magickal Goody of the Day


WITCH SOAP


4 lbs lard


13 oz lye (1 can)


5 cups cold water


1 tbsp lavender oil


1 tbsp patchouli oil


1 cup fresh strawberry juice


1/4 cup dried soap bark herb (optional)


In a large enamel or iron kettle, melt the lard over very low heat. (Never use metal) In a separate pot, stir together the lye & the water. Heat lard until small bubbles begin to appear – do not boil.


Remove from the heat & slowly pour the lye solution into the lard. With a big wooden spoon, stir in the lavender & patchouli oils, the strawberry juice & soap bark herb. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.


Pour into 2-inch deep greased pan & allow to cool overnight. Cut the soap into squares and leave in the pan for at least 3 days before removing. Place the Soap bars on waxed paper & allow them to age in a draft-free area approximately 4-6 weeks before using.

			


	



			
				


	

		
8 Ways Not to Use Vinegar

			


	

		
8 Ways Not to Use Vinegar


    

  • Chaya, selected from Networx
    • 



By Adam Verwymeren, Networx


Common household vinegar is one of those wonder products that people are always discovering new uses for. Whether you want to drive away dandruff, eradicate mildew, or keep bugs at bay, vinegar has been proposed as a solution to just about every problem under the sun.


But while it has a number of uses, vinegar isn’t always the solution, and on occasion it can be downright dangerous. Here are the top 8 ways not to put this miracle substance to work in your home.


1. While vinegar is good at cleaning many things, you shouldn’t confuse it with soap. Alkaline cleaners like dish detergent are ideally suited for lifting grease, whereas vinegar will have little effect on it. If you have a greasy cleaning job, reach for regular soap and leave the vinegar on the shelf.


2. You should never use vinegar on waxed surfaces. The vinegar will only strip the wax off, dulling the sheen on your nicely shined car. However, vinegar is a great option if you’re looking to remove an old coat of wax before you put down a fresh layer of polish.


3. Do not use vinegar on marble countertops or other stoneware, as it can cause the stone to pit and corrode, according to the Marble Institute.


4. Your smartphone and laptop monitor probably have a thin layer of oleophobic coating that limits fingerprints and smudges. Acidic vinegar can strip this off, so you should never use it to clean sensitive screens.


5. Cast iron and aluminum are reactive surfaces. If you want to use vinegar to clean pots and pans, use it exclusively on stainless steel and enameled cast iron cookware.


6. While both bleach and vinegar are powerful cleaning agents, when mixed together they make a powerful chemical weapon. Chlorine gas, the stuff used to clear the trenches in World War I, results when bleach is mixed with an acidic substance, so never mix them together.


7. While vinegar can be useful as an insecticide, you shouldn’t spray it directly on bug-infested plants as it can damage them. However, you can use vinegar’s plant-killing effect to your advantage by using it as a weed killer, as suggested by several people on Hometalk.


8. If you’re the victim of an egging, do not try to dissolve the remnants of this prank away with vinegar. Vinegar will cause the proteins in the egg to coagulate, creating a gluey substance that is even more impossible to clean up, says Popular Mechanics.


I also feel obligated to say that although vinegar is touted as a great way to remove mildew and mold, like bleach it only kills surface mold. Most mold problems are deeper than what you see on the surface, and your best bet is to kill them at their source (which is usually leaks and rotting drywall).

			


	



			
				


	

		
Herbal Gifts from the Kitchen

			


	

		
Herbal Gifts from the Kitchen


Little Cooking Wreaths – can go right into soup pot, or hang in the kitchen to be plucked from and used


Twist chive stalks into a 4-5″ circle, forming a wreath base. Twist in sprigs of thyme, parsley, oregano, marjoram and basil seed heads,to fill out wreath. Add a short sprig of rosemary or sage. Let dry thoroughly –wreath will shrink slightly. Thread 3 or 4 dried chilies on sewing thread and tie around wreath top. If wreath is to hang,

cover thread by embellishing with a bow of kitchen twine or narrow ribbon. Present your gift in a bow-tied plastic bag to preserve flavor and minimize shattering.


Herb & Spice Blends – To present your gift, pack blends into small labeled jars with lids, attached to an herbal cookbook.


For Beef: mix 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 2 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried minced onion.


For Fish: mix 2 tablespoons dried dillweed, 2 tablespoons crumbled bay leaves, 2 tablespoons freeze-dried chives.


For Fruit Pies, Spice Cakes & Cookies: mix 2 tablespoons, 1

tablespoon ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoons ground mace, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, 2 teaspoons ground cloves, 2 teaspoons ground cardamon.


For Vegetables: mix 2 tablespoons dried oregano, 2 tablespoons dried basil.


For Poultry: mix 2 tablespoons curry powder, 2 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons dried lemon rind.


For Tomato Sauce: mix 2 tablespoons crumbled basil, 2 tablespoons dried minced onions, 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon crumbled dried oregano.


For Lamb: mix 1 1/2 tablespoons dried marjoram, 1 tablespoon crumbled dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon white pepper, 2 tablespoons garlic powder.


Good Bread Herbs include your favorite white or wheat bread recipe with this blend presented in a decorated muslin bag.


Blend together 2 tablespoons dried crumbled sage, 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon dill seed, 4 teaspoons caraway seed. On gift tag: Will flavor 2 average loaves.


Citrus Spice Simmering Potpourri


Layer following ingredients in a gallon jar and add oils to

corresponding ingredients. Shake well and age 1 day before using:

Directions for Use on gift tag: Add 1/2 cup mixture to a small saucepan filled with 3 cups of water and bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 15-20 minutes. Mixture may be reused several times, after adding water to it.


1 cup 1″ cinnamon sticks 1 cup whole allspice

1 cup star anise 1 cup coriander seed

2 cups dried orange peel 1/2 cup cloves

1/2 cup crushed nutmeg 10 drops cinnamon oil

10 drops allspice oil 20 drops sweet orange oil


Lemon-y Footsoak a great treat at day’s end or for pampering someone special! Present gift with instructions for use on gift tag, tied onto a pretty jar or a plastic bag tied with a simple bow…


Crush and place in a jar, or tie in a bouquet and place in plastic bag, for presentation: 5 sprigs of fresh lemon balm or10 sprigs dried lemon balm. (Rosemary may be substituted.)Recommended Instruction Tag to read: Bring 8 cups water to boil,combine with contents in large pan or bowl, and let steep until water is warm and comfortable. Soak feet 10-20 minutes.

			


	



			
				


	

		
Make Beeswax Votives to Manifest Your Desires

			


	

		
Make Beeswax Votives to Manifest Your Desires


by Sylvana


When I first began in the Craft, you couldn’t just go down to Larry’s Market or Fred Meyer’s and buy spell candles, as you can now. Neither could you find witchy stores like Edge of the Circle, Travelers or Odyssey Books. In those days, we made our own spell candles, oils, incenses and tools, or we had things handed down to us and given to us as gifts by our high priest and priestess or coven mates. We also sometimes converted everyday items to our magickal purpose, like the silver dinner bell I still use in ritual today and my antique trivets that serve as wards for our covenstead.


Sometimes, I am glad to have the luxury of purchasing ready-made seven-day candles, like the green “Money Drawing” or “Protection” or the blue and white “Harmonious Home.” But I fondly remember the days when all of us witches made our own candles. This time of year is traditional for the making and blessing of candles, and my coven still gets together at Imbolc for celebration, feasting and to make and bless candles for our coven and personal use. Making them yourself imbues them with your own energy and purpose, as well as making them a more powerful tool for your magick — besides, it’s fun!


If you’d like to create your very own spell candles and don’t have a coven or group to make candles with, this article will tell you how, with a little effort, you can construct and bless your very own magickal spell candles. The instructions following discuss making short spell votives, but you can easily adapt the approach for bigger candles.


You will need:


* A sharp knife or craft knife


* A metal-edged ruler or straight edge


* Small pieces of paper in various colors


* Pens, colored pencils or crayons


* Beeswax sheets in various colors


* Wicking


* Herbs and flowers


* Oils


* Small tokens, coins or stones


* Wax paper


* Cutting board


* Scissors


You can purchase the beeswax in craft stores or candle supply shops; it generally comes in 6-x-9-inch sheets. Look for colors that correspond to your magickal purpose:


* Red: Lust, passion, health, animal vitality, courage, strength


* Pink: Love, affection, friendship, kindness


* Orange: Sexual energy, earth energy, adaptability, stimulation


* Brown: Earth energy, animals


* Yellow: Intellect, mental energy, concentration


* Green: Finances, money, prosperity, fertility, growth


* Blue: Calm, healing, patience, peace, clairvoyance


* Purple: Spirituality, the fey, meditation, divination


* Black: Waning moon, release, banishing, absorbing and destroying negativity, healing


* White: Waxing or full moon, protection, purification, peace, awareness; good for most workings


One sheet of each color wax that you want to use should be enough to begin with, as it will make about four votive-size candles. Fresh beeswax should have a distinctive scent and be soft and pliable, not brittle. Fairly thick cotton (not lead) wick is preferable as beeswax burns fairly fast. Ask the store for recommendations if you’re unsure what exactly to get.


Assemble all of your ingredients and tools, with plenty of room to work. Choose a sheet of beeswax and some herbs or flowers and maybe an oil that are all in accordance with your purpose. To learn more about the associations for herbs, flowers and oils, check tables of correspondence such as are found in many basic books on the Craft. You’ll need only tiny amounts of the herbs and flowers, because if you add too much, your candle will turn into a torch! Also, if you like select an appropriate token or write the candle’s purpose on a tiny piece of paper to add to the candle.


To create a candle, lay a sheet of beeswax onto a sheet of slightly larger wax paper on top of your cutting board. Measure in 2-inch increments down from the top of the beeswax sheet along the edge of the long side, and make a mark on both sides of the wax (see Figure 1). Lay the straight edge along both marks, and cut so that you have about four wax pieces, each about 2 by 6 inches. This will be enough to create at least four votives per sheet of wax, depending on how large the sheet is and how small you cut the pieces. Next, cut a piece of wick about 2&fraq12; inches long, and lay it onto the beeswax along the edge of one side (see figure 2) so that the wick is flush with what will be the bottom of the candle and is protruding from the top by a bit.


Begin rolling the candle by folding the very edge of the wax over the wick and pressing down gently to stick the wax in place (see figure 3)


Then begin to roll the wax firmly around the wick so that it creates a tight roll; once you have one layer of wax around the wick, stop. Sprinkle a tiny amount of herbs or flowers evenly down the length of wax next to the wick roll (figure 4). Place your paper or token inside the candle, near the bottom. Then roll some more, sprinkle some more, brush a tiny bit of oil on at about the middle of the roll and continue until the candle is completely rolled and is about the size of a regular votive candle (figure 5). Seal the wax edge by pressing it down firmly against the candle, while not smashing the candle.


Once you have finished all of your spell candles, do a ritual and raise energy to bless and consecrate them to your purpose. I like the simple blessing following.


A Candle Blessing


Set up an altar with your usual tools, where you can easily move around it. Place your candles on the altar, along with a small amount of wine or juice and a few cookies or pieces of bread. Cast your circle in your customary way. Call whatever elements, gods, quarters and so on that you normally call. When you are ready, raise your athamé or wand to the eastern sky, draw it down in an arc to point toward your pile of candles and say the following:


“Element of air, imbue these candles with magick! Let them carry my intention on the winds and back to me. Infuse them with inspiration and the strength of my will. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”


Draw the athamé to the southern sky and down toward the candles, saying:


“Element of fire, energize these candles to my purpose! Bring your warmth and light to me. Let your heat turn reality to my will. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”


Turn now to the western sky, and draw the athamé down toward your candles, saying:


“Element of sacred waters, heal my magick. Make my purpose clean, and let my magick flow free. Cleanse all for the best; heal all I touch. Let your healing power flow. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”


Turn finally to the northern sky, and draw the athamé toward your candles, saying:


“Element of earth, bring my magick into being. Bless these candles, and let them burn true. Bring grounding and practicality to me. With your deep power please imbue them. Thank you for your presence! So mote it be!”


Ask the god and goddess of your choice (and any other beings that you work with) for their blessings.


Then chant the following, slowly and softly at first, then picking up energy as you go:


“Candles burn oh so bright, bring my desires every night and day. Candles light my magick spell, now draw success my way.”


When the energy has reached its peak, direct it into the candles. Ground out any excess energy. Have cakes and wine, and offer a libation to the elements and gods for their participation. Then close your circle.


Now your magickal spell votives are ready for you to use for your spells or whenever you need them. Have fun, and may all of your magick be wondrous!


Caution: When burning candles, make sure to always place them on something nonflammable and do not ever leave one of these candles burning alone, even for a second, as they sometimes flare up or fall over and can easily ignite anything in range. Be careful also of wearing flammable clothing around these candles!

			


	



			
				


	

		
13 Natural Ingredients to Clean Almost Anything!

			


	

		
13 Natural Ingredients to Clean Almost Anything!


    

  • Jessica Kellner
    • 



Everyone wants a clean home, but clean these days means more than no dirt and grime. It also means no potentially toxic chemicals. Clean up your cleaning act by ditching toxic commercial cleansers in favor of homemade versions. With this list of grocery store basics, you can clean just about anything.




Shopping List


With these easy-to-find items, you can clean just about anything.


■ Baking Soda: scrubbing, whitening

Use baking soda to eliminate odors and to whiten. A paste of baking soda and water can help whiten sinks and bathtubs, and a box of baking soda in the fridge, bathroom or cupboard helps absorb odors.


■ Beeswax: polishing wood

You can forgo oily wood polish in favor of all-natural beeswax. Find a local beekeeper, and you support your local economy in the process!


■ Cornstarch and Club Soda (or any unflavored fizzy water): lifting stains

For a quick treatment to stains on carpets or drapes, cover the stain with absorbent cornstarch. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then pour fizzy club soda to lift the stain. Also try cornstarch on oil dripped on clothing.


■ Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfecting, removing stains

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant. To kill mildew, combine baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to create a paste, put on mildew and allow to sit for a few minutes before wiping away.

■ Lemon: removing stains and odors

Lemons are a great all-purpose odor remover in the kitchen. Run half a lemon over a dirty cutting board to help remove odors such as onion or fish. Put half a lemon (chop it up if your disposal has trouble with large objects) down the disposal and grind it to remove odors from the kitchen sink. Lemon juice adds cleaning power to all-purpose solutions.


■ Liquid Castile Soap: sudsing power

Liquid castile soap is an all-natural, olive oil-based soap great for all-natural dishsoap, floor cleaner and more. For a floor or wall cleaner, combine a cup of vinegar with a gallon of hot water and a few drops of soap.


■ Olive Oil: polishing wood

Olive oil can naturally condition wood, as well as skin and hair!


■ Pine Oil: cleaning soft wood floors

Pine oil is naturally conditions wood floors, and it smells fresh.


■ Plant Essential Oils: chemical-free fragrance

Although they are chemical-free, pure essential oils are strong. Always do a sniff test before buying to make sure you’re not sensitive to the fumes, and use caution when handling pure essential oils. A few drops of essential oil can add antibacterial and antifungal power to a cleaning solution. Most important? They leave behind a fresh scent. Look for pure, undiluted essential oils in dark brown or blue bottles. Store away from sunlight.


■ Salt: scrubbing

Thick kosher salt gives power to your elbow grease. To clean stubborn soap scum, combine baking soda and kosher salt and scrub.


■ Washing Soda (sodium carbonate): scrubbing, removing stains and cutting grease

Washing soda is a powerful cleaning ingredient that acts much like baking soda but stronger. Use washing soda to clean toilets, or mix with water for a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Many natural cleaners recommend borax, but recent studies by the Environmental Working Group have found that it’s overly harsh. You can replace borax with slightly milder washing soda in nearly any recipe


■ White Vinegar: disinfecting, removing stains

White vinegar is a powerhouse of cleaning. Disinfecting and deodorizing, vinegar is a go-to product for germ-ridden spots such as countertops, door handles and telephones.



			


	



			
				


	

		
Herbal Nail Strengthener

			


	

		
Remember to nurture your nails with an herbal infusion.


2     tablespoons chopped horsetail or crushed dill seed


1     cup boiled water


1     tablespoon almond oil


Infused chopped horsetail or crushed dill seed in boiled water. Cover and steep 20 minutes. Strain and pour into 2 small bowls. Soak your nails for 10 minutes or longer. Massage 1 tablespoon of almond oil into the nails and cuticles. Use the infusion to soak the toenails and massage any leftover oil into the toenails.

			


	



			
				


	

		
Rose Oil Skin Softener

			


	

		
This lovely handmade lotion can be applied to pumiced elbows, knees, and feet.


4      tablespoons vegetable glycerine


1      cup rose water


4      tablespoons cornstarch


5      drops rose oil, optional


2      drops lavender, optional


Combine vegetable glycerin, rose water, and cornstarch, and heat over a double boiler to thicken. Cool, add rose oil and lavender (optional). Stir and apply to chapped or dry skin. Bottle any leftovers.