Crafty Kitchen Witch

Yule Goddess Doll Items needed: newspaper unbleached muslin (1 yard) sisal rope white glue florist wire small egg-shaped Styrofoam ball trim Directions: 1.Fold one section of newspaper in half and roll it lengthwise. 2.Fold the roll in half, and twist a twist tie at the upper third of the folded roll to form the body and legs. It may be helpful to stuff the legs into a large bottle while you work. 3.Cut off a 20 inch section of florist wire and twist the ends together. Twist the ends into a loop approximately 1 inch long, and bend the wires close together. This will be the arms and hands 4.Stick two pieces of florist wire approximately 6 inches long into the wide end of the Styrofoam ball and fold them around the ball, twisting them together to hold it securely. With the remaining wire, secure the ball to the loop of the newspaper - this will be the head. 5.Thread the arms through the paper of the loop, not the loop itself, to help it ...

It's inarguable that modern life affords us with many wonderful Conveniences the ancients never had, like electricity, telephones, and heating. With the planet Uranus, the computer genius, now in Aquarius, there's a lot More to come. Unfortunately, although these advances in communication and Technology have pulled us closer together intellectually, they've drawn us farther Away from our spiritual selves, and we've lost a great deal of the connection The ancients had with our mother, the Earth. One of the most important traditions we've lost is the concept of the Eight seasons. Yes, eight. Ancient peoples realized that the earth was Alive, and therefore in a constant state of change. They knew that those Changes occurred far more often then four times a year, and that, in fact, The Earth made a transition that was quite noticeable about eight times a year, Or every forty-five days. It makes sense, too, if you think about it. Take summer, for example. The Sun ...

Festive Muffins 1/2 cup soft butter or margarine 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1/2 cup milk 2 Tbsp rum 1-1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup ground pistachios 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cardamom 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel 1/2 cup chopped pistachios Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter with sugar and vanilla until creamy and light-colored. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in milk and rum. In a separate bowl, mix flour, ground pistachios, baking powder, salt, spices and lemon peel. Add this mixture to the butter-sugar mixture just until blended (don't over-mix). Lightly fold in 1/4 cup chopped pistachios. Grease 12 muffin cups or line cups with muffin papers. Evenly portion batter into cups. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chopped pistachios. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until done. Tip: Pulse pistachios in a food processor until coarsely ground. Solstice Morning Cinnamon Rolls 4 cups all-pur...

The Yule log is a central part of Yule festivities. The log is  kindled from the remains of the previous year's Yule fire(This piece  was kept in the home throughout the year for protection . . The Yule  log symbolizes the light returning to conquer the darkness. According  to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the  householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been  bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it  was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and  dusted with flour before set ablaze . The log would burn throughout  the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially  put out.  A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for  modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold  three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one  ...

Some Craft Projects and instructions and Recipes for Winter Solstice Projects for you and your family Blessed Yule Herbal Yule Trees By  Darlene Bersch You will need: A small 8" to 12" artificial Christmas tree. Pieces of german statice, dried purple, pink, blue statice. Pieces of baby's breath, love-in-the-mist, cock's comb, and other dried floral materials. Hot glue gun. Mauve or blue or any other favorite color ribbon-about 1/4-1/2 inch in width. Start tucking in pieces of dried floral material into the branches of your tree, hot gluing them in place. Fill in all the branches until tree is  full, and you almost see the green of the tree. Top the tree with a tied ribbon, adding 1 star anise to the top! *** Yule Kissing Ball Source: Unknown Items needed: * Red velvet ribbon, 1/2 inch and 1 inch * 6 or 8 inch embroidery hoop * Mistletoe * Florist wire * Hot glue Directions: 1. Separate the two pieces of the embroidery hoops and fi...

Galen Starwalker 12/20/92 A circle may be marked on the floor, surrounding those who will participate in the ceremony. An altar is to be set up a little north of the center of the circle. The altar should have an image of the God and Goddess with an incense burner placed in front of the images. Two white altar candles, dishes of salt and water, goblet of wine or fruit juice, cauldron with a special candle to symbolize fire and light, a little bell (if you have one) the athames and a small dish of the cakes or cookies for the Cakes and Wine ceremony. When everyone is ready the participants should assemble in the circle area. Purify and cast the Circle but do not light the candle in the Cauldron. Designated Priest: "Let it be known that the Circle is about to be cast, let none be here but of their own free will." The Priestess then says: "This is the night of the solstice, the night that the darkness is triumphant over light, and yet on the morrow, ...

Gods and Goddess for the Winter Solstice By Patti Wigington, About.Com While it may be mostly Pagans and Wiccans who celebrate the Yule holiday, nearly all cultures and faiths have some sort of winter solstice celebration or festival. Because of the theme of endless birth, life, death, and rebirth, the time of the solstice is often associated with deity and other legendary figures. No matter which path you follow, chances are good that one of your gods or goddesses has a winter solstice connection.     * Alcyone (Greek): Alcyone is the Kingfisher goddess. She nests every winter for two weeks, and while she does, the wild seas become calm and peaceful.     * Ameratasu (Japan): In feudal Japan, worshippers celebrated the return of Ameratasu, the sun goddess, who slept in a cold, remote cave. When the the other gods woke her with a loud celebration, she looked out of the cave and saw an image of herself in a mirror. The other gods convinced her to emerge fr...

Basic Altar Set-Up: On the left side of your altar place a black candle for black draws in light (all light & energy) and keeps us warm & trhe einter night on the longest evening of the year. On the right side (accrossed from the black candle) place a white candle because white is the sending of all colours. It's wonter magick is glistening snow, the fur of the snow rabbit, the white caps on the ocean, the gleam of diamonds & cubic zirconias that sends our messages & protective power. The sparkling white of snow & the gleaming of the ice help us to honour the Snow Queen. In this exact fashion, place the following candles upon your altar, in this order: Silver [Left]- Brings the Moon's magick to The Earth. It is the frost that kills unwanted evil & harm to Mother Earth. Gold [Right]- Is the Sun. To bring light into the darkest days of the year. To honour the birth of The Sun, again. And, the energy to keep our strength & to win above all odds- to...

Many or most of us who practice in Wiccan and/or other Neo-pagan traditions have family members and friends of other faiths. An enjoyable ritual that enables all to share the joy of the seasonal can be the making and blessing of a fragrant Yuletide Potpourri. Offer a party on or near Winter Solstice. Serve hot mulled cider and cookies, and ask everyone who comes to bring ingredients for the potpourri: sprigs of various varieties of fragrant evergreen trees -- pine, yew, spruce, cedar, juniper. Fresh herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil, thyme are good, and also spices such as cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Dried apples or other dried fruits, nuts, small pinecones and winterberry can also be added for color and texture. Provide a very large container (cauldron, dishpan, washtub) that all can gather around while breaking the ingredients into small pieces, mixing them into the container. Begin by setting the intent, perhaps: We gather at the time of Winter Solstice, when the lo...