Friday, January 4, 2013

January delights the senses

Tapping into the seasons is a way to not only maximize your time and energy but it also helps a line our chores to better fit our environment and use the seasons to our advantage.
Hearth recipes, snow magick,  winter crafts, and planning ahead are all wonderful uses of this time.
January is a time of reflection and introspection.  A time to use snow magick, do crafts and make plans for the spring gardens. It's cold crisp air reminds us of the ever changing wheel of the seasons and of our own mortality. 

It is a wonderful time to reach out to family that you may be at odds with and also reconnect with old friends as we fire up our fireplaces and enjoy some good conversations.

Snow magick
Snow is a natural purifier. It insulates seeds and seedlings from the winters fury while it cleans the earth. This makes it a perfect element for winter rituals.

Snowball spell.

As the moon wanes, make a snowball outside your house. Holding the snowball visualize red lights streaming from every window and door straight into the snowball. Now visualizing the red turning to blue as you place it on the ground. Say:

I release all negetivity from my house and my life and let it return to the earth.

Now allow it to melt naturally. if you live in a warmer place you can use ice.

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In January if you haven't already done so and wish to have house faeries winter over with you here is a way to invite them in. I do this every year. In the past I have had house faeries and a funny old gnome once. This is the incantation I used yesterday to do just that. then you should put down some bread and honey for both the ones remaining outside and those wintering over with you as an offering. 

Welcoming the faerie folk in for the winter
Go outside with a piece of bread with honey on it. call out to the faeries and say this"

Garden faerie and little gnomes
Come now from your winter homes.

Warm yourself by my hearth tonight,
I offer it freely to those of love and light.

Any not willing to be polite and respectful to me,
can remain behind in winters menagerie.

Those who share my hearth tonight,
may leave freely with mornings light.

If you choose to remain here,
I will hold that connection very dear.

Then put down the bread and say:

This is for those who remain behind. Eat in peace.
Those coming in will have food by the hearth.

Then go inside and place another piece of bread with honey near your hearth or in the kitchen.

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From the heart of the kitchen
Here is a great vitamin packed drink that costs only pennies to make and is so good for you.

Homemade "Health food Quality" Oat milk

Oat Milk is so good for you and can be so expensive in the stores. Our Kroger just recently discontinued Hemp milk, Eric's favorite. We figure this is next. I prefer adding some vanilla to mine. Eric likes it plain.


Prep time: 8 Hr 5 Min Serves: 5- 6 cups


1 c rolled oats (regular or quick cook)

6 c cold water
1 pinch salt

  Add all ingredients to a large bowl and soak overnight covered with a cloth. Use a blender to whip the milk out of the oats. Strain the milk through a fine sieve, or cheesecloth, into a bowl. Store in a clean glass jar in the fridge. Will keep for several days.

To make it vanilla oat milk simply add vanilla extract to taste. I use 2-3 tablespoons.
  Note: You can still use the leftover pulp ot make oatmeal or throw it in your bread dough.
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To keep the winter chill at bay There is nothing like hot Chocolate. This one uses dark chocolate which has been deemed good  for weight loss.

Here is a wonderful gift in a jar dark cocoa recipe from a friend on JAP

Janet's Dark Chocolate Cocoa Fix! Gift in a jar.
 by Janet Scott
This is so amazingly yummy! Warms your insides and cures your chocolate craving! Make up a lot for gifts and send to your friends, family, teachers or even your mail man. I have to make that guy happy, you know what I mean!
Serves: 6 half pint jars
Ingredients
2 c powdered sugar
1 c white sugar
1 c dark chocolate cocoa
2 tsp instant coffee powder
1 c instant dry milk
1/2 c powdered buttermilk
Directions
1. Put all ingredients in a bowl. Using a wire whisk blend really well. ***You can make this using all dry powdered milk and no powdered buttermilk. If using the buttermilk you will have to refrigerate it.***
2. 1 1/2 tablespoons of mix to hot water
3. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup. Or just put a bunch of mini marshmallows on top!

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