Have a Happy Winter Solstice!

Sorry for the short message, I have been extremely busy with moving and getting my house set up. I am now back to work also. I hope to be posting a lot more during the new year! Also I will be starting my herbal workings come the new year, so I am sure you all with hear about it.

Have a blessed Winter Solstice and Christmas!

~Erin

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. This is my first thanksgiving with Jeff. I am happy about it in some ways, and not so happy about it in others (I woke up at 5am to cook plus we are moving this afternoon!) I woke up bright and early to start cooking. Last night I did the pumpkin rolls. This morning I started the turkey and jello, and pumpkin pie (deep dish). I am currently working on the green beans and stuffing. I completely forgot to buy rolls and potatoes. So Jeff is gonna have to make them. I am taking everything over to his fathers, so he can enjoy it with us. After that we are starting to move! My car will be packed with Thanksgiving food and boxes of stuff.

Last night we signed the papers on the house we are leasing. Its exciting and frightening at the same time. But once we are all settled in I am sure all will be great. We are in a rush to get everything in as we want to be able to celebrate Yule and christmas there.

Some things I am thankful for:

1. My Mother, without her I am sure I would have set the kitchen on fire at least once since I hadnt woken up completely before I started cooking.

2. Jeff, he is a wonderful man. He makes sure I am always OK.

3. To have the lease done and over with. We now have a house of our own.

4. For my Grandmother who was awake at 6am, when I called her because I forgot how to make the family secrete jello recipe. (I have made it 100 times before!)

5. Also to have a job. Michigan is in trouble job wise. Even though I am currently injured and on Workmans Comp. I stilll have my JOB!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and I will post again once the internet is turned on at the new house!

Day Dreams and a Good Blog!

Ok, so one of my dreams is to own a farm. One, because I own and breed horses. Two, because I want to grow my own herbs, veggies and have egg chickens. Three, because I think that would be a great environment to raise children. One day I will have this!

So I was perusing some blogs and cam across a link for Fast Grow The Weeds blog. Its a interesting blog, and I look forward to reading more!

Goddess of the Week #2

Hera

The queen of the Olympian deities. She is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and wife and sister of Zeus. Hera was mainly worshipped as a goddess of marriage and birth. It is said that each year Hera's virginity returns by bathing in the well Canathus. The children of Hera and Zeus are the smith-god Hephaestus, the goddess of youth Hebe, and the god of war Ares. According to some sources, however, her children were conceived without the help of a man, either by slapping her hand on the ground or by eating lettuce: thus they were born, not out of love but out of lust and hatred.

Writers represented Hera as constantly being jealous of Zeus's various amorous affairs. She punished her rivals and their children, among both goddesses and mortals, with implacable fury. She placed two serpents in the cradle of Heracles; she had Io guarded by a hundred-eyed giant; she drove the foster-parents of Dionysus mad, and tried to prevent the birth of Apollo and Artemis. Even Zeus usually could not stand up to her. Sometimes when he got angry, he chained her to the mountain of Olympus by fastening anvils to her feet. However, most of the time Zeus resorted to stratagems: he either hid his illegitimate children, or he changed them into animals.

Hera's main sanctuary was at Argos in the Peloponnesus, where she was worshipped as the town goddess. Also, in this town the Heraia, public festivities, were celebrated. Other temples stood in Olympia, Mycene, Sparta, Paestum, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora, and on the islands of Samos and Delos.

The peacock (the symbol of pride; her wagon was pulled by peacocks) and the cow (she was also known as Bopis, meaning "cow-eyed", which was later translated as "with big eyes") are her sacred animals. The crow and the pomegranate (symbol of marriage) are also dedicated to her. Other attributes include a diadem and a veil. Hera is portrayed as a majestic, solemn woman.

Her Roman counterpart is Juno.

What to expect at a Handfasting and/or Pagan Weddings

Ok, I have been talking a little bit with friends about handfasting and pagan weddings. No, I am no engaged to get married, so dont freak out or get ready to party just yet. Anyways I thought I would do a posting on my blog. It is the "Holiday" Season and it is also a time when a lot of people decide to get engaged. You can find the whole article here, I am just posting the important info. I chose "what to expect" rather than the actual rituals, because I have talked to people who I thought would be happy to come to mine if and when I had one, sadly to find out that they refuse to come because they are christians and its "against" their beliefs. It has nothing to do with their beliefs, and they are just being mean becuase they can/ Oh, well sorry you don't want to be incuded in a important day. Sadly this came from my Grandmother who I am very close with, and has since been a sore spot in our relationship.

It’s true that a Pagan wedding will probably be very, very different than what you’re used to. The good news is that Pagans believe in inclusiveness, and the happy couple is almost certain to be almost hyperaware that some people may be anxious or uncomfortable. They’ll be very careful to let you know what’s coming, and will give you at least a brief overview of what it all means. If you want to know more, just ask – they’ll be as happy to explain the symbolism of their wedding as you would be to talk about yours.

What if your religion doesn’t match?
First off, let’s get a little terminology out of the way. Technically, any wedding that isn’t Christian or Jewish is Pagan, but your friends who call themselves Pagans are probably drawing from Celtic or Druidic traditions (or their best guesses at reconstructing them). Pagans and Wiccans have a lot in common, but they aren’t necessarily the same thing. If the wedding is a Wiccan wedding, they’ll call it that.

A few notes for the concerned:
• Paganism is NOT the same as Satanism. Pagans are very into positive energy and tend to focus on the good in the world. Even Pagans who identify as witches tend to be goody-goodies. A common tenet is that any harm you wish someone else comes back to you threefold. So while Pagans have received some bad word-of-mouth in many parts of the country, you’re actually dealing with some very gentle souls. Believe me, if your loved ones are having a Satanic wedding (and there are at least two breeds of those, which we won’t get into), they will be very sure to let you know.
• Pagans don’t necessarily see Christianity or Judaism as incompatible with their religion. If you’re from a Judeo-Christian background, you may have been brought up to believe that your religion and Paganism are diametrically opposed, but that isn’t necessarily the case in the view of your hosts. They may see the Judeo-Christian deity as one legitimate choice in an array of deities, or they may see their pantheon as different aspects of essentially the same big God you’re used to. Or they may worship nature itself. That point of view still may not thrill you, but it’s important to note that a Pagan ceremony won’t involve any kind of a refutation of your personal beliefs.
• It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be asked to pray to any alternate deities. Again, Pagans are inclusive, and as members of a religious minority they will understand your potential discomfort. You may be asked to take a moment of silence to pray to whomever floats your boat, or there may be parts of the ceremony in which the four elements or the Masculine and Feminine energies are honored. Nothing will get too hardcore on you.
• If you feel the need to (gently) decline the invitation due to your own religious beliefs, the happy couple will understand. But they’ll miss you. They invited you because they love you and want you there. If you can possibly get past any theological qualms, do go. Pagan weddings tend to be harmless, very fun and – in my experience – very moving.

What to wear
Ideally, your invitation will give you a hint, but odds are your Pagan wedding won’t involve traditional suits and cocktail dresses for the guests. An outdoor wedding is a good bet. When in doubt, opt for natural fibers and earth tones with a splash of color. A spring wedding may involve lighter or brighter colors – just be careful, as always, not to outshine the bride.

The ceremony
Pagan ceremonies vary widely, both because there are many different kinds of Pagan and because couples tend to design their own ceremonies.

The ceremony will often start with casting a circle. (Though sometimes you’ll walk in and see a circle that has been cast and consecrated a few hours beforehand.) This involves the officiant turning to each point of the compass and honoring the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air.
You may see an altar in the circle, with traditional implements such as a cup, a knife, and a trowel. It’s possible that you’ll see objects that symbolize the elements, such as salt (earth), a candle (fire), a feather (air), and a bowl of – you guessed it – water.

It’s unlikely that you’ll see the bride given away because Pagans tend to be egalitarian, but you may see something that honors the families – and even the ancestors – of both the bride and groom. The couple will probably approach and enter the circle from the east to symbolize the growth of their relationship.

Like the weddings you’re used to, the officiant may ask if there are any objections to the union, and the couple will state their vows – almost always highly personalized – and the couple will usually exchange rings.

The officiant may have the bride and groom cut locks of each other’s hair and put them in a wooden or silver box to symbolize their union, or you may see them drink from the same cup.
HandfastingMany Pagan weddings involve handfasting – wrapping a cord or ribbon around the couple’s joined hands. This symbolizes different things to different people – a traditional handfasting was a trial marriage, in which the couple stayed together for a year and a day and then had the opportunity to make their marriage permanent. Nowadays a couple is likely to consider the marriage permanent immediately, but keep the handfasting ritual as a part of their ceremony. They may come together in a year and a day to repeat their vows. (If you’re an attendant at a Pagan wedding, be aware that they may exchange vows while their hands are tied, so part of your job may be to hold cards with the vows on them for the bride and groom.)
The officiant will probably give the couple some sage advice on treating each other well and tending their marriage, and then may ask the guests to affirm their approval of this union. You’ll probably be told what to say here, but if not, any positive sentiment delivered with enthusiasm will do.

Finishing the ceremony
The officiant will pronounce the couple married and the bride and groom will kiss, as brides and grooms do. They may also feed each other and use a trowel to bury their locks of hair or handfasting cord. The couple may also jump a broom, which depending on who you ask is either from the exact same or completely different origins as the African-American broom-jumping ritual. At any rate, this symbolizes the couple jumping into their lives together, and to their commitment to making the effort to make their marriage work.

The couple may walk around the circle and greet friends and family, and then the officiant may uncast (or banish or deconsecrate) the circle. This may be the time to break small seed cakes over the couple’s heads – with roughly the same symbolism as throwing rice or birdseed.

The party
Don’t let the earnestness of Pagan wedding celebrants fool you: These people know how to throw a party. Be prepared for some fun feasting and bring your dancing shoes (or dancing bare feet). Above all, cast your worries aside. Pagans tend to be people who have fought for the right to let their freak flags fly, so even if you’re out of your element, you’re not going to get judged. There’s no better time to toss self-consciousness lightly to the side and try a new dance or even take over the conga drum for a minute.

A Pagan wedding is definitely not everyone’s thing, but it sure can be a fun thing for a few hours.

God: Odin

(also Woden or Wotan in Anglo-Saxon myth)

Odin is the chief god of Germanic mythology. Son of Bor and Bestla, Odin was risen to favor mostly by the Vikings, and became known as the supreme god in the eighth and ninth centuries. The Vikings admired Odin's love for the battle, as he was known as the "father of the slain". Odin's prominence demonstrates the importance of warfare to Germanic traditions.

Odin loved to cause conflicts and shifts of power. He once aided Harald, a Danish King, instructing him in tactics and granting him victories for years. In the king's final battle, however, Odin took the place of Harald's charioteer and drove the king to his demise.

Although Odin embodied deceit, violence and war, he also embodied many admirable qualities. He was the most knowledgeable god, with a great love for wisdom. He would willingly sacrifice himself for it.

With the threat of Ragnarok, the death of all gods, Odin built the Valhalla, a great hall of the "heroic dead". Odin would then gather heroes and warriors who were slain in battle, and bring them to Valhalla so they would fight alongside the gods on the Vigrid plain, in an attempt to strengthen and save the gods in the final battle against the frost giants at the time of Ragnarok.
Odin was killed by a wolf, Fenrir, a monstrous offspring of the fire god Loki and the frost giantess Angrboda.

Chilly Autumn Night Delights!

Ok, So I am a big fan of soups in the fall. They just hit the spot just right. I am here sitting at work at 9am! (Eeek, I should be sleeping) And since I am not doing a whole heck of a lot, I am gonna post three of my favorite recipes that I have used many times before! Yahoo, just happened to post part of the recipe which inspired me to post this blog to all of you.

Butternut Squash Soup with Star Anise and Ginger Shrimp! (yumm... I know what I am making this weekend!) Makes 8 servings.

Soup Ingredients:

2 large butternut squash - halved lengthwise, peeled and seeded
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 whole star anise
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 cup dry white wine
6 cups water
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 sprig thyme

Shrimp Ingredients:

24 large shrimp in shell (about 1 lb), peeled, leaving tail and first segment of shell intact, and deveined
1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set the squash, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Fill each cavity with 1/2 tablespoon of the butter; season with salt and pepper. Roast the squash for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, until tender; cut into large pieces.

2. Toss shrimp with ginger in a bowl and marinate, chilled, 30 minutes (do not marinate any longer or enzymes from ginger will begin to cook shrimp).

3. Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the olive oil. Add the onion, star anise, shallot, ginger and curry powder and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned. Add the wine and cook until evaporated.

4. Add the cooked squash, water, coconut milk and thyme sprig. Simmer over moderately low heat for 15 minutes.

5. Sprinkle marinated shrimp with salt. Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute shrimp in 2 batches, stirring, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per batch, transferring to paper towels.

6. Discard the thyme sprig. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth.

7. Bring soup to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Divide among 8 shallow soup bowls and mound 3 shrimp in each bowl.


Beet Soup in Roasted Acorn Squash (Makes 8 servings, about 10 cups)

Ingredients:

~For Roasted Squash

8 (1- to 1 1/4-pound) acorn squash
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt

~For Beet Soup

1 large red onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 medium beets (2 pounds without greens), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 red apple such as Gala or Braeburn, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 to 5 cups water
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar

Directions:

~Roast Squash
Preheat oven to 375°F.

1. Cut off "tops" of squash (about 1 inch from stem end) and reserve. Scoop out seeds and discard. Cut a very thin slice off bottoms of squash to create a stable base. Brush "bowls" and tops all over with oil and sprinkle salt inside. Arrange squash bowls, with tops alongside, stem ends up, in 2 large shallow baking pans.

Roast squash in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through baking, until flesh of squash is just tender, about 1 1/4hours total.

~Make Soup while Squah roasts

1. Cook onion in oil in a 5-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add beets and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.

2. Add broth and 4 cups water, then simmer, uncovered, until beets are tender, about 40 minutes. Stir in vinegar and brown sugar.

3. Purée soup in 3 batches in a blender until very smooth, at least 1 minute per batch (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a large bowl. Return soup to pan, then season with salt and pepper and reheat. If soup is too thick, add enough water to thin to desired consistency.

Serve soup in squash bowls.

Blue Moon Soup- Cream of Carrot Soup with Ginger
Makes 4-6 Servings

Ingredients:


1 small potato, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 small leek, chopped (1 to 1 1/2 cups)
2 large carrots, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 1/8 teaspoon powdered; or 1/2 teaspoon curry
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
2 1/2 cups milk
Garnish: carrot curls and croutons

Directions:

1. Boil the potato in 2 cups of water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, save the broth, and set the potato aside.

2. Melt the butter in a soup pot on medium heat.

3. Add the leek, half the carrots, the ginger, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon.

4. Add the celery, the remaining carrots, the cooked potato, and the potato broth.

5. Add 1 cup water, and stir.

6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender, about 20 minutes.

7. In a blender or a bowl, blend or mash 2 cups of the soup with the milk until thick and silky smooth.

8. Return the blended soup to the soup pot, and stir while bringing to a simmer.

9. Ladle into bowls and garnish.

Weekly Goddess #1

Mother goddess. Danu or Ana was the mother of the race of Tuatha Dé Danann. Danu was goddess of fertility and the earth. Some believed that Danu and Ana were separate entities, even both are mother goddesses.

Danu was widely worshipped mother goddess throughout Europe. She was known under various names, such as Danu, Dana and Anu in Continental Europe and Ireland. In Wales, she was called Don.

Danu married her consort Bilé (Bile), and was the mother of Dagda, who was the chief leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her other offspring probably were Dian Cécht and Nuada.

With Dagda, Danu was also the mother of Ogma. Her other possible sons were Cian (Kian), Sawan and Goibhniu by Dian Cécht.

Danu was also known by another name – Brigit. Here, as Ana or Brigit, she was known as the daughter of the Dagda. She was mother of three sons; all of them were named Ecne.

In some of the sources, Danu or Ana was the proper name of the war-goddess Morrigan.
In Munster, Danu was associated with two round-topped hills, which was called Da Chich Anann or the Paps of Ana, because they resembled two breasts. Da Chich Anann literally means the "two breasts of Ana".

Getting back to the Pagan Blog!

Ok, so I know I have not been posting really good pagan snippits like I was origionally trying to do. Well I am going to try and post a once a week Goddess/God/Holiday/Ritual. So that is 4 posts a week. I am holding myself to this!

On another note, last night was the pagan meetup I go to. Again I stress go to fun pagan things, you cant meet people who are pagan is you dont go out and be social! Anyways, last night was one of the best roundtables yet for me. I was in back pain, but I had a lot of fun. I usually do not. So get out and have some fun people!

Did you vote today?

I just voted! I hope everyone votes, if you don't you can't complain about what is to come!

Blessed Be- The Full Blessing!

Blessed Be, Traditional greeting of witches.

It is a shortened form of a blessing included in the "initiation" ceremony of many traditions. In full, the rite is as follows:



Blessed by thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways

Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the Sacred Altar.

Blessed be thy womb/genitals, the fount of life, without which we would not be.

Blessed be thy breasts, erected in beauty and in strength.

Blessed be thy lips, which shall utter the sacred names.



To say "Blessed Be" to another is to imply this full blessing. (Taken from the Witch Book by Raymond Buckland)

Totally belated Samhain!

Ok, so I am a ratfink! I have for two Wednesdays straight hurt my back out at work! It is November 3rd and I didnt do any ritual for Samhain other than my night before cleansing ritual bath and meditation. For the past 2 weeks I have been having back pain. I try not to let it get me down, but Egads does it just suck!

Tiffany and I went to a great local pagan store, Earth Lore and shopped for odds and ends. I am pinching pennies right now so I didnt get anything. We went and got lunch and also went to a cute little cider mill and got apple cider and cake doughnets. I had a date that night and we went to out to eat and decided since I wasnt in too much pain that we should go to Erabus (Worlds largest haunted house, 4 stories tall) before heading over to a halloween party. Did I mention we didnt dress up for this said party? LOL, well the haunted house was fun, except I got molested by a money (robot) and had to walk bent over for a while (stupid low ceilings). So by the time we got to the party I was hurting good and proper. So what do you do when your in pain? You take pain meds! LOL, this is where it gets funny. So I took a vicodin, didnt work. So I took another 30 mins later, didnt work either. So I try a Skalaxin, its like valium, muscle relaxer, and.... take another vicodin!

Now I am not a druggie, but I wanted to feel normal-ish. LOL, well I can still remember it. I felt just loopy. Oh man did I act like it, I snorted when I laughed at everything and I think I drooled a little. Anyone remember those weeble-wobbles? That was me! Thank goodness I eat a bunch of junk food or I would have just been sick as can be. Know how to hurt a already hurt back?? Puke with a hurt back!

Geeze, I get off on tangents. Anyways, so no Samhain for Erin. How sad! But at least I am feeling better and I am on a upswing at the moment. Now everyone lets light a candle and send positive thoughts my way on getting the house I want and job transfer!

So until next time...( I hope with Witch's Ball pics, if Amber would ever send them to me!)

A blog a long time coming...

Ok I am sorry, I used to post a lot more, and I know I always say this. But sadly I am sorry my life has got a little crazy of late. I have hurt my back yet again, this time at work. (sigh!) As for some news about me, school is tough, work is awful (me hurting my back again), and I have met a pagan man (horray for me!).

On another happy note, on the 18th of October I went to the Detroit area Witch's Ball, it was lots of fun. My date and I went with Tiffany and her husband Ryan. Remember Tiffany ways going to go into the army, and litterly just before she was to ship out she found out she was pregnant. I plan on posting pictures... when I get them from Ambrosia from Magick Taboo. Which leads me into talking about Magick Taboo, a great podcast that is just great fun to listen too (beware PG-13 rating). Listen to them! So say hi to Deo and Amber!

I am gonna sign off for now, I hope to post more before Halloween, if not have a great Halloween!!

Disturbing article I found....

On some local news, I see people have evolved so much in the last century.

"FERNDALE, Mich. (AP) - Ferndale police say an adult education student tossed liquid on a teacher because he believed she was a witch who needed to be purified.

Police say 20-year-old Darin Najor of Ferndale threatened the teacher last month at Taft Education Center a day after confronting her about Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," which focuses on the Salem Witch Trials.

Detective Ken Denmark tells The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak that Najor says he was trying to purify the teacher with holy water. Denmark says Najor also had a lighter and wanted to, in his words, "burn the witch."

Najor is charged with assault and battery and faces an Oct. 23 hearing. He is free on bond.

Court records didn't list a lawyer for Najor, and there was no telephone listing under his name."

link to story

Coming out of the Broom-Closet...

Ok, some advice on coming out of the broom-closet to your VERY VERY CHRISTIAN family members. I like to think of myself as someone who can be nice and break news lightly if need be. Well, this time I just came out with a shout so to speak. Here is a little back ground. My parents divorced when I was just a few weeks old. I had zero contact with my fathers side of the family until I graduated from high school. Anyways, I still don't talk to my father. But I learned I have a brother who is 4 years younger than me and we talk through Myspace and letters. Also I started talking to my Grandfather (my fathers father). Ok, my father is a Mormon. That being said, my Grandfather is a Evangelical Christian who has his own Ministery. Now I am not a Christian hater or basher. To each their own. But anyways...So since I have not meet anyone from this side of the family its hard to feel for who they really are. So anyways, my Grandfather is always asking to fly me out west to meet him and the family. Well, so being the perfect granddaughter (blunt to a fault), I tell him, by the way I am a Wiccan/Pagan and I don't want to be converted... so don't waste your time. LOL it wasnt just like that, I did put it nicer, but you get the jist of it. I have not heard from him as of yet, so we shall see if my invitation is still there. Though really I don't know if I would even go. I am a very shy person (hence the blog), and meeting a bunch of people I have never met ALONE would kinda suck for me.

Ok, until Next time....

A Quarter of a Century Ago....

Well, I am now 25 years old! Egads, where has the time gone? Lets see, I know all of you will say I have so much time, but lets list the things I thought I would have had accomplished by now, shall we? Ok, I am not a mother, no biggie I gave myself from 20-30 to have my 1st, I am now to the half way point. I say 30, because having your 1st child before then cuts down on the medical problems for the mother and child, also to be done having children by 35, because this cuts down on lots of birth defects and issues associated with women waiting and having children later in life. It doesnt prevent it, but cuts down on the issues I would rather spare my child if I can.

Wow, I went off on a little tangent, another accomplishment I have not reached is being in my career. I know when I left High School, I wanted to be a horse trainer/breeder on the large scale, then video editor. Well low and behold neither has panned out. Though I do breed horses. School is going to take longer than I thought, so I am saying being done and in my position as a Physicians Assistant by 35 now. I thought I would be married, well that didnt work also. I ran from marriage twice. Both times for the best I think!

Until, I am inspired again....

So I have done it again!

Quick note here (I am at work)...

Ok, so I have mentioned that I have the odd gift of telling someone they are pregnant and then 6 weeks later they will be 6 weeks pregnant. Well this is the 3rd pregnancy I have predicted. 6 weeks ago I went to the renfest with my friend and low and behold, I talk to her today and she is 6 weeks PREGNANT!

I know, laugh it up! If you don't want to be pregnant, I guess don't hang around me then, lol!

Quick Note from the Solitary Witch!

Ok, I know I am not blogging as much as I used to do. Bad Me! Bad, Bad, Bad!!! On that note, Tiffany is now off to basic training. I will miss you my sister. Last week Meghan, Tiffany and I did a protection ritual for her. I also made her a horsehair braided anklet. It held 4 of my horses tail hairs in it. Baily, my Thoroughbred for speed; Khadar, my Arabian for agility; Fyrestorme, my Connemara for durability and dextarity; and Pixie, my German Riding Pony for playfulness. If your interested in horses you can see my breeding program at Rohan Sport Ponies.

School is crazy, I dropped my speech class. I just can not handle 4 classes plus working full time. There is just not enough time in the week for me to do all the work! In my Anthropology class, Myth, Magic and Folklore I hope to do a book report on Drawing Down the Moon. Which is one of the best Pagan/Witchy books out there.

Also I wanted to do a roundup of my favorite Blogs.

Mrs. B at Confessions of a Pagan Soccar Mom, she always has a great Witchy blog.
The Wild Hunt Blog, Pagan News... I rarely go more than a day or two without checking this blog.
Nourished Mother, a great Girl who did a home birth with just her and her hubby, and she is a kick butt Herbalist also!!
WeedDance Farm, I love this blog, its a Herbal blog, and a fellow Michigander!
Last but not least, I just found this blog off of Mrs. B's page today, but it was so cool I had to post a link to it NeoPagan Ink, all about our Pagan tattoos! I have no tattoos or piercings (big baby), but like them none the less.

So... Until I find some more free time again...

I am Back!!

Ok, I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything. These past few weeks have been crazy. This sadly is my schedule until mid-december. I rarely get a free night to myself these days. My witchy sister Tiffany has enlisted in the Army, thank Goddess as an Army Medic. Now I am not a supporter of the miliatry (government making the calls), but I do support the soldiers, they are very brave, warriors to the bone! Also, since this being 9/11, I thought I would make a point to post this on my blog. So there is another Pagan in the military! Be safe sister, I will see you soon!

So, in the theme of the season, I would like to share some ghost experiences. As you all know, I work midnights at a local hospital. So, a while ago I was down in the concourse area around 3 amish. I was on my break reading a book. At this time of night there is nothing open, so I am sitting down on the couches reading my book and I hear the sound of faucetts running water. I look around, and go back to reading my book, pushing it off as just the pipes. Then about 15 feet away from me there is a sign. It is one of those that is metal around like a frame and a thick almost poster board like sign is slipped down inbetween. Well the poster part came out of the sign frame, this spooked me enough to go look at it. Well there was no way I could see why or how it came out of the frame. Anyways so I quickly turned tail and went to the elevator to go back to my floor. So I get into the elevator and all is normal, I hit my floor number and the doors close. Well as soon as the doors close the lights go out. I mumbled a few choice words, I felt like "something" was there. Anywho, I rumage around in my scrubs pocket to get my phone to call into my unit and let them know I am stuck in the elevator. So once I get the phone open and dial in the number and just before I hit send the doors open and I am on my floor. Creepy I know, it gets better, I walk onto my unit and they just finnished with a crash, so a patient had died.

Another story, I get a call last night from my friend Chris freaking out because he experienced his fist haunting. He is a security guard, and was locking up and he felt something touch his shoulder. The old mansion, now a school, is said to be haunted. Anyways he called me so I could go look at it sometime and to make him a charm to protect him and repell ghosts. We shall see what comes of this.

On a last note, September 27th is Pagan Pride Day! I will be going with my mother to a festival locally. Bring out your flare and show your pride!!

Until next time... (hopefully sooner than last time)

A very Quick Update!

Ok, well I know it has been well over a week since I last posted anything, so I thought I would update all of you who read my blog. The fall Semester has started, though my schedule is kinda screwy, I have been to one class now twice, with another starting in a few minuets with the rest starting over the next few days and next monday. I am taking 14 credits this fall in 4 classes. My crazy schedule is mon-thurs plus having to go do three 12 hr midnight shifts somewhere without losing my weekends! Also I must confess I am addicted to a video game, Shaiya, its loads of fun and free!

So, until next time...

Pagan Shopping!

Ok, well I just love the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Pretty much it is like one big Pagan Marketplace, every booth and store has something pagan. Anyways I got some great things. I went there with a set amount of money (very easy to whip out the credit cards there), and a shopping list. I am rebuilding my whole alter. Long story short, a few years ago I moved away and left all my stuff with my Mother, her boyfriends bible thumping sister burned it all in a effort to "cleans the house of the devil" when she found my stuff during a garage sale. Well she will or has already found out that karma is a B**ch!! So... back on subject, I got myself a broom, chalice and a ceramic jug for my waters I use for ritual, herbalism, and scrying. Tiffany, Meghan and I all got brooms. I choose all my tools on how they speak to me, though touch and feeling. When we went to the broom shop, I walked up to the brooms and I felt the need to go to the back, so as I walked in the back a broom caught my skirt and I turned and there it was! Its handle is a natural greenish color wood and all twisted. If you like my chalice and Jug (travel mug) you can see more of Paint Creek Pottery and purchase them here, also if your interested in these brooms by L&W Creations, you can contact the artist by email here. Here are some photos.

(Meghan, Me, Tiffany)

(Me and my awesome twisted wood broom)

(Meghan and her twisted wood broom, with the Goddess carved into it)

(Tiffany and her Husband Ryan, and her twisted wood broom)

(Tiffany and her Triple Moon Pentacle headpiece)

(A close-up of the stoneware chalice and jug)

I always advise people to go to the Renaissance Fairs, you can find unique things for your alter, every day pagan needs, and just fun things in general. I will be going back in two weeks again with my Mother to get more things.

So, until next time...

My not so Witchy Garden

Ok well, most of the blogs I read have shown their gardens so far. Well my garden is a very sad thing. I planted last spring, and that was it! I have been so busy this summer plus with my injuries. In june I fractured my sacrum (bone holding spine, hips and pelvis), then once I was kinda healed and back to work I got a foot contusion (bone bruise). Ontop of those injuries, I had school with a crazy professor who thought this was grad school not undergrad entry level class. So, I am so very new to herbalism and learning my herbs, this is my first year of sorta gardening. So anyways here are some photos!

That is me, trying to clear the area for next years REAL garden

My Mom, see how tall those things are. I think they are vervain? Here is some more...

My Lavender, its really coming in nice!

The huge hibiscus! I will be drying those soon!

The roses, those also will be dried and also made into rose water!

The gigantic raspberry bush! Its working on its 3rd batch of berries! I love these, I want to plant a blackberry bush next to it in the spring in the hopes they might mate.

Last, but not least the mystery plant. I have no clue what it is. Anyone know?

Ok, until next time...

Keeping your MOUTH SHUT!

So, I have learned to just keep my mouth shut. Now I am not making claims I can make things happen just by saying or suggesting it. But I have had 3 clear instances where this has happened.

First off. my best friend is named Tara, she is married to a man named Ryan (I wont write about my feelings on him) and has a 2 years old son named Gabriel. Ok, so back in August of 2005, I was moving out to Milwaukee, WI for a contract photographer position with my ex Bruce and his 3 children (Brett, Brandan and Hanna). So Tara was just acting off. I looked at her and pronounced that she was pregnant! She told me I was insane and my witchy ways have gone to my head. Low and behold 9 months later she was going though labor and poof Gabriel was here! So about a month ago, we are on our way to a concert (Mindless Self Indulgence) and I again say she is pregnant. I am not predicting anything I was just joking, like I was the first time. Well I get a call and she is 6 weeks preggers. Now I guess I am to blame. Its all my fault (she was on the depo shot this time)!! Both times I said she is pregnant and 4 weeks later she finds out she is 6 weeks pregnant. Now I guess I can tell if a woman is 2 weeks pregnant (wink wink)...

Wait there is more.... so I am at work. I have a dementia patient who is like 90 some years old and his son is there. Well this patient proceeds to try and get out of bed. I say no, he ends up fighting me and kicking me. His good for nothing son stands at the end of the bed wringing his hands and is like I hope he doesn't have another heart attack. Well I hear this and in my effort to keep the old man in his bed I say "stay in bed, you don't want to have another heart attack"... not a minute after I say this does my guy go blue and proceeds to have a heart attack! THANK the Goddess that we all acted fast and he came out of it. Since that incident he has come though my unit a few more times on his visits to the hospital and been just fine and combative like a good ol' dementia patient should be! I have yet to see his son with him since.

So anyways. I am just keeping my mouth shut! (I hope all of you got a laugh out of this!!)

A quick Blog while I am at work...

So... it is 6:24am and I am sitting here after a slow night of work with a hour until I can punch out and go to bed. So what do I do? I look at petfinder.com.... Sigh, I must be a idiot. I love animals, and I am looking at the kittens. Geeze! I want them all. I have decided since there are so many people I know who have kittens throughout the year, that I will only take the black ones. Its sad that in the 21st century people still hurt black cats, saying they are the devil and witches familiars. Well this Witch will take them in! So I am on a mission to take in and rehome the black cats in me area that I can take. I know I can't save them all, but I can save some. I might just keep a few. I do have 3 cats already though, lol, I must be crazy.

Until next time....

Pagan Child’s ADC's

This is something cute I came across!

A Pagan Child's ABC's

A is Athame, the knife that we use.
B is for Beltaine, when partners we choose.
C is for Circle where we all are one.
D is for Deosil, path of the Sun.
E is for Esbat, when we gather round.
F is for Fire and its crackling sound.
G is for the Goddess in beauty and love.
H is the Horned One, our Father above.
I is for Imbolg, candles light the way,
J is for June when it's Midsummer's Day.
K is for Karma, the things that we do.
L is for Lammas, harvest's almost through!
M is for Moon, riding way up so high,
N is for Nighttime, which darkens the sky.
O is for Ostara, when we hunt for eggs,
P is for Pan, with hairy goat legs.
Q is the Quarters and there are just four,
R for the Rites when we open the Door.
S is for Samhain, end of the year,
T is for Tarot cards, futures to hear
U is Undines from the watery West,
V is Vervain for protection and rest.
W's Widdershins, the path of the moon.
X is the sign that's the sign of the God.
Y is for Yule and the sun's return,
Z is the Zodiac, 12 signs to learn.

My furture plans...

Ok, so some plans for the future. I want to be a mother, very very badly. I am a single woman without any real prospects of a husband. So I am a woman of the 21st century! I don't need a man to have a baby, just his DNA. LOL, as much as I keep telling myself this one I have yet to find my ideal "sperm donor". At the major sabbaths and solstices I ask the Goddess for her help. Anyways, in preparation for my future motherly ways, I am in the very very hard process of converting over to organics. Since I moved back in with my mother, 1 to save on rent, 2 because I am finishing my college degree, and 3 because she is lonely. We have converted to 100% organic milk, cheeses, yogurt, and eggs. We purchased half of a organic cow and pig. (I try not to think about it) that is filling up our standup freezer and kitchen freezer. I am trying as best as I can to grow my own herbs. That is not going so well. I grew organic raspberries, tomatoes and strawberries this year without problems though. YAY me!

Your probably wondering where I am going with this? Well in my quest to become a mommy, I am trying to eat correctly and flush out all the impurities that processed foods have placed in my body. Man, can I tell you that I feel a lot better eating the same things I do normally, just organically. A lot of people tell me that they would eat organically also if it wernt for the cost of the food. Well I am here to give you some tips in purchasing organic foods. Here in the Detroit, Michigan area we have Costco, I know there is costco in other states, and we have Sams Club also. But Costco has a lot of organic foods. And they cost the same if not less than the processed foods. I also shop at Meijers (michigan store comparable to WalMart). Now the cost is a bit more at Meijers for the organic vs the normal non-organic. But by far is the result more desirable. You eat less food, you lose weight (no growth hormones!), and you have less health problems.

I am in the never ending battle of trying to find the time to cook. I like the food better when I do cook, but I keep myself busy almost always and I have to tell myself to slow down and cook my meals. This seems to be the case when going into work. I work from 7pm to 730 am at least 3 nights a week. I NEVER cook before I go into work. So I buy frozen organic meals. Some are good, some are not so good. But they are out there and the price might be a little more or not. Shop around!

I feel that when eating organically and cooking the foods, you are closer to the Goddess. When eating organically you are taking in what She has given to you without soiling it with chemicals and growth hormones. Also I am eating for the purpose of sustaining my body. But don't get me wrong, I love to eat and to cook. I am crazy in the way I have close to 100 cookbooks and find myself going through them to find recipes that I want to try. I even get the magazine Taste of Home. All recipes can be converted to organic meals!

Ok enough rambling or food, until next time...

Weekend Musings...Some advice to people new to the craft!

Ok, time for me to impart some advice. Look and look at as many things as you can. Read books, the good and the bad. Read blogs and talk to people. Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and the such are very open people. We may not come right out and say I AM A WITCH/PAGAN/DRUID, but if you come to us without any malicious intent we gladly will impart any knowledge we might have to those who seek it.

As, you can see I like to post witchy graphics on my page. I am sure you will see lots more of them to come, I just can't post a blog without some kind of eye-candy. Just right click over all the graphics and save them to your desktop, then go to www.photobucket.com or some other photo site and get a free account, then upload them. You can then share the graphics with your friends on your own blog or myspace. Speaking of Myspace, I have a myspace! Add me as your friend, just click the link myspace and add me to your friends. Sorry no facebook or whatever pages, takes to much time just to keep up my myspace page. Though I do have a paganspace page, but I don't go onto it at all.

Ok, now I want to introduce my blog helpers, I have three little helpers who are always with me when I blog for some reason. I shall go from oldest to youngest, though not in the order of how long they have been in my life. (sorry for the poor quality cell phone pictures)

My oldest is Orion, he was a rescue of mine. Been with me for 6 years. We call him our crazy old man, he is a peach colored medium hair. He takes off one side of his whiskers almost always. Sometime he takes off both sides. He is loving and crazy mean at the same time. I think he is bipolar. He only knows how to speak grumpy cat. He announces his arrival into any room with a string of meows and hisses.

My middle "child" is Maverick. Been with me for 7 years. A solid black medium hair. He was out of a barn cat at our old horse stable. He is my helper in the kitchen and when I go and work in the herb garden. He is the only one who is indoor/outdoor cat. I have tried keeping him inside, but he just hates it. If I am doing any ritual he seems to always be at my feet or in a perch close by.

Lastly, is Buffy (yes, named after Buffy the Vampire Slayer). She has been with me for little over a year, and she is a short hair tabby. She was a wild barn kitten who I domesticated from crazy wild (note the skull and cross bones collar) to now always in my shadow giving me love. I like to refer to her as my magick cat in training. She is always on the table when I am trying to prepare my herbs. (its and never ending battle) She will always try and get onto the alter to see whats going on. By far she is my most interested in the things I do. She is my shadow.

I love my kitties, they help me do just about everything. Even help me corral the three hell-beasts (dogs) in the back room (thats Orion's job). I always like to know they are with me, they "see" the things I don't or they know before I do. I guess I can call them a security system.

So, enough ramblings for one day... Until next time!

Whats a Solitary Witch to do?

Ok, so a little more about myself. I am a kinda out of the broom closet witch. My family and friends know, some just pretend to not know also. At work, well maybe 1 or 2 people know. I got outed a few months ago for the most crazy reason by a psycho nurse. BTW, I work at a hospital at a Emergency Tech. So, your probably thinking, what crazy reason would this nurse out me? Well I was reading a Harry Potter book not a out in the open book on Witchcraft or the Occult, and she cheated on her husband, and he found out and kicked her out. Of course its nothing she had done, its all MY FAULT and I had put a CURSE/HEX on her! So she goes about telling everyone on our unit that I hexed her. She even went so far as to tell management!!! Which when the time came for them to talk to me, I stopped them quickly saying they are going into religion and if this went any farther I would have to go to HR.

I don't feel the need to flaunt my religion at work. I rather not talk about it really there at all. If someone asks me I will answer them, but NEVER do I start up the conversation about religion. I had a interesting night the other night (I work midnights, 12 hour shifts 7pm to 730am), I was tending to this little old woman who was dying. I can't beat around the bush, when your 90 years old and have cancer plus pneumonia really we are just there to make you comfortable. Anyways, she asked me "Are you a witch dear?", I was so taken aback that I said no. She then said, "too bad, if you were you could do a spell for me to get better". I felt aweful. I don't wear anything that would proclaim me a witch at work. I wear a raw quarts crystal point and the triple moon sign. Which when people ask I just say its the moon, as I love the moon. I don't want to give anyone anxiety. I deal with a lot of elderly, and a lot of them are to the bone christians. I have nothing against christians, I even wear a saints bracelet after the holidays (when a lot of elderly come to the hospital to die sadly) to make them feel at ease.

I guess this entry is really me just venting the last few days. I have not be able to get online to blog. I work 3 nights a week plus go to school full time. When I get free time I try and relax, meditate, read a romance book or study a little bit of herbalism.

So until next time...

From www.learningherbs.com - Supermarket Herbalism lessons 2-7

Here are the remaining videos from the 7 day Supermarket Herbalism course from LearningHerbs.com... Again a note, I did not make these nor have anything to do with the production, I just found them extra interesting!

Day 2 Cold & Flu Tea



Day 3 Making Tea for Digestion and More



Day 4 Pink Eye Remedy



Day 5 Herbal Cough Syrup and Garlic Oil



Day 6 Herbs for Stress



Day 7 Wrap Up

From www.learningherbs.com, I did not write this, thought you should see it though!

Day 1

Welcome to Supermarket Herbalism!

Learning about herbs is an incredibly rewarding, inspiring, creative and nourishing experience, not to mention healthful.

I remember how overwhelming it can be as well. All those plants, all those remedies, Which ones to use? How much? Is it safe? Do they really work?

I admit that it does take a little time and some experimenting to find what works for you. Some of you may want to know a lot and become teachers or practitioners. Others may simply want to know what works and what they need to do to keep their families healthy.

That’s where I come in. Even though herbal medicine is incredibly simple to learn and use, it doesn’t seem like that to the beginner.

There is a very important secret that the herb books forget to mention.

That secret is that the key to learning is taking it ONE EXPERIENCE at a time.

The more experiences we have, the more we learn. For example, if someone tells you that ginger tea is good for a cold, that will inspire you to make the tea. If it works, you might go and look up ginger in your reference book. You’ll find out HOW ginger works for a cold and you might find out a few more things out about ginger on the way, such as the fact that it helps with digestion issues. The next time you need a digestive aid, you might make ginger tea. Also, in looking up ginger, you might also read a bit about other herbs, remedies, and recipes. Before you know it, you’re off making a remedy with a different herb.

The more you use herbs, the more you will learn. Many herb books are meant to be for reference. You grab them off the shelf when you need them.

The more you experiment and use your books, the more you will learn about plants and what you can do with them to bring health into your life. Many buy several herb books, really wanting to learn, but are still confused and don’t know where to begin.

Why a Supermarket Herbal?

I chose to call this the "Supermarket Herbal" because I wanted to make sure anyone could run out to their local market and get the ingredients you need to do this course. No need to buy dried herbs or go out and pick something. That will come later if you choose.

Right now, let’s stick with some things you are already familiar with and use them in new ways. You probably didn’t know that there are wonderful herbal remedies located right down the street at your local co-op or even Safeway.

Once you make these remedies with items you probably already have in your kitchen, you will see just how simple it is.

I am hoping this free herb course allows you to access even more of the free remedies posted on LearningHerbs.com.

You are now officially on your way to becoming a home medicine maker!

Let’s get started with…

Day 1: Gathering your herbs

Well, there may come a day soon where you will go out and gather herbs from the field or shop for them at your local herb shop.

For now, let’s take a look in the fridge so you can get started.

Time to build our first herbal apothecary..

SO LET'S GO TO THE SUPERMARKET! Watch the video below...

Click on the the little play arrow on the lower left of the video to play it. This goes for all the lessons in this course.

This is a YouTube embedded video. If it does not work for some reason, search for "Supermarket Herbalism" within the YouTube.com web site.

Check to see if you have:

1) a bulb of garlic and an onion

2) a 3 inch or more piece of ginger root

3) a lemon (or 100% lemon juice)

4) a jar of honey

5) a potato (optional)

6) a small container of oats

7) peppermint tea (bags or loose)

8) chamomile tea (bags or loose)

9) A pint of whole milk (external use) (if you're vegan, just skip it rather than email me on the evils of milk)

10) A muslin bag or pack of cheesecloth (available at all supermarkets)

For the tea, often Celestial Seasonings brand has plain peppermint or chamomile. If not, look for tea names such as “Calm,” which might be chamomile or ‘Refresh,” which might be mint. If you can’t get straight chamomile or mint, then do the best you can with these other teas. For now, it’s ok that the teas are in tea bags.

Hey, I wanted to learn about herbs, most of these are just food from my supermarket!

Garlic, ginger, oats, potatoes, lemons…yes, common foods…that are plants. Herbs are plants. It’s all semantics. They are all considered important medicinal herbs...even honey.

Isn’t it great that you didn’t have to purchase any herbal supplements or pills?

---

A bonus lesson for today....

You saw I talk about using a potato for burns in the video. Here is a bit more on that..

The potato, a burn remedy?

I bet you never though of the potato or honey as a burn remedy.

Herbs are excellent for first aid. I take care of virtually every first aid situation that comes up in my family with the herbal potions and salves that I have made.

However, did you know that there is a first aid friend in the potato?

About burns

These treatments are for minor burns or sunburn. For burns that effect a large area or for more serious burns, seek medical attention.

If you have a minor burn, make sure you get cold running water on it immediately. If it is not clean, make sure you clean out the burn with cold running water.

THEN, peel and slice or peel and grate a potato.

Apply the potato onto the affected area. Keep replacing it as needed. At some point, you may need to hold it on with a bandage or gauze.

This mass of grated potato you are using is called a poultice. Now you know that a poultice is a mass of plant matter that you apply to an affected area in a first aid situation. You see this term a lot in herbal books.

Potato is excellent for drawing out the heat.

Other uses for potatoes:

-Itch relief, a poultice for sties

Perhaps the most ironic thing would be getting burned making french fries. Then you could treat the burn with your left over raw potatoes!

Another minor burn remedy: your honey!

Once you are finished using your potato, protect and heal the burn by simply applying honey to it. Wrap in a sterile bandage. Honey has soooo many uses that there are entire books written about it. We’ll use honey again tomorrow!

---

Myrl Evans of Harvey, Louisiana recently wrote me.

Myrl writes about honey:

I was bitten by a pitt bull last Summer. I went to the doctor, got a tetnus shot and a prescription for $150.00 threw it away.

I went home found my info on honey and washed the wound and used the honey as a dressing for a week.

Today you Can bearly see where I was bit. You can put tea tree oil in with the honey and it heals faster. I am a firm believer in

Using honey as a dressing, food, facial moisturizer. I also mix honey and cinnamon and put it on toast instead of using butter or margarine.

---

Another idea: you can also wrap a burn in bandages soaked in apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is yet another supermarket herbal remedy that has a myriad of uses. In fact, I own a book called “Honey, garlic, and vinegar.”

---

Ok. Go gather your ingredients at your local market...

See you tomorrow!

Another Social Group and more...

Ok, well Tiffany and I went to another social group. It was fun. I can't stress enough that everyone should get out there and meet new people. Anyways, so it happened we went to the new pagan social group on the day when they had planned a small ritual for Lammas. We just watched though were given the option to join right in. I was happy to see that they were all happy and laughing during the ritual, not all serious and boring. The group, like the one we went to Tuesday night is a menagerie of solitaries and covens of different paths. It was nice.

Some things of interest. I have been very interested in herbalism lately. I am trying to suck up all the knowledge I can get on it. Though I am a complete novice when it comes to this, I am going to try my hand at making my own essential oil this year. I have a nice large healthy lavender bush this year that is almost ready to be harvested. I will post about it once I do. Also I am working on a neat little craft, candle making. I know a lot of people make candles, but I feel that candles made especially for rituals are very much needed. So I am going to start with candles that are in jars, made out of beeswax and colored correctly. I will post on here some photos of them once I make them. A lot of people have asked me if I plan to sell them...lol... well I guess its going to have to depend on how well they come out! Though I plan on using only local organic beeswax and herbs along with crystals that correspond with the ritual these candles are designed for. If any of you have any ideas or advice please let me know!