The Month of July: Spirituality

In my faith, we have a very serious tradition of fasting. This can be from fasting all foods, or something that is in your life a lot, such as soda, Facebook, or anything else that you feel you “Can’t live without” but you really could. We must know what it is like to be without so that when we have that item back, we know how much it meant to us OR how little it really affected us. You will be surprised how much happier you will be once you have fasted something.

Well, for the month of July we choose something to fast. The tradition to not eat leavened bread (Yes, very Jewish sounding), but Paganism is not as far from many of the Judeo-Christian rituals as people care to notice. As is any case, you can choose whatever you want to fast. Last year I fast meat and was vegetarian for the month of July.

The fasting symbolizes a physical sacrifice which shows dedication and suffering. The next part is to wear a head covering during the day-time hours. This means when the sun comes up, you cover your head, I crocheted a beany for my head covering. If you want a more traditional look then you can look up some styles online for head coverings and such.

The head covering symbolizes reverence. It is a sign of respect to the God and Goddess and a beacon to all that are around you that you are hiding your head for a reason.

If you feel you would like to do this, then you should! It is very spiritually uplifting and a powerful way to bring yourself closer to the God and Goddess.

The reason this month is important for fasting is because in August, the Lammas celebration come about which is the symbol of the God dying and the harvest. We fast so that we have a good harvest and to get ready for the death of the God.

Traditional Head Covering

If you have any traditions such as these or will be fasting something this month, please comment below and share your story. If you have an entirely different tradition, please post it also!

Have a wonderful day!

Blessed Be!

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Clearing Your Mind

Avoiding stress…

That is the most difficult task a person in today’s society there are stresses caused from money, relationships, family… to be honest every little thing no matter how beautiful it seems at the start, ends up causing stress.

Yesterday was one of those days for me, I had a very bad day, but thanks to wonderful friends and some very reassuring words I made it through.

As everyone knows, when we are stressed, it feels like there is a cloud over our heads. It gets hard to breath and we are full of anxiety.

We need to take a breath, we need to stop the world around us and there are many ways to do this. Call a friend or go to a close friend’s house and talk it out. Make a game plan and follow through with it. Start with the most important items first. Not necessarily the most difficult to complete, but the most important.

After you have made the list and made some adequate progress, take a break. You must breath and you have to relax and unwind. If you don’t breath then you will blow up and crash. This is what you want to avoid.

A great way to relax is to take a shower or a bath. Then after that you can light some incense and let the air and earth energy ground you again. Letting all of the stresses of your life can be alleviated.

Tea is an amazing way to relax also. Try a new tea, green tea is really nice for stress.

Have a great day everyone!

And I would like to thank my friend Levi for talking me through yesterday.

Blessed Be!

Beauty in Every Thing

Yesterday I was in a coffee shop with a dear friend of mine and we noticed this lonely piano. We didn’t know how often it had been played, or why exactly it was in a local coffee shop, but it was striking. It harbored strength and abhorred anyone who denied its well-deserved attention.

Everything, no matter how random it may seem, or how aged it is always has the right to be loved and cherished. Every living and non-living thing from humans to a piano in a coffee shop has an energy. Why not bring forth its energy positively?

Here is a short prayer that you may want to enlist just to help you along in finding beauty! 🙂

Goddess on High, Hear my cry.

Let me see the beauty of this life

Fill me with love and empower me to do good.

God on High, Hear My cry,

Thanks be to you for your glorious power

Be my guidance, my love, and foundation

Blessed Be!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and please, don’t miss the beauty that surrounds you!

Blessed Be!

This is a beautiful and simple way to bring some color to your house or patio. Let the sun shine in today and make it with love you will be blessed in so many ways!! Happy crafting!

Blessed be!

Homespun Haley.

I felt like I had to do a Pinterest Win because this DIY project was just as freakishly cute and easy as the original pin made it look.

Here is one of about 50 versions of this project: http://pinterest.com/pin/9640586671844445/.

Here is the one I created, with wire and burlap twine from around the house.

I left the lid-ring on the jar, because I liked the way it looked, but you don’t have to. Take some heavy gauge wire, wrap it just under the lip of the jar tightly. Making a loop on either side.

Be sure to very tightly secure the wire, so it can hold the weight of the jar. Tie burlap, twine or wire to the hooks at the length you like. I doubled up on this burlap twine. Just in case.

Toss in some water and pretty flowers and you have yourself instant prettiness. I wanted…

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The Morning Light

(Photo Courtesy http://thelonggoodbye.wordpress.com)

The God and Goddess show themselves in subtle ways. In my last post I spoke about the signs of the God and Goddess from a decision in having soup. This morning I woke up later than usual, but I was refreshed for the first time in a long time. As I stretched and wiped the sleep from my eyes I noticed the sun beams shining through the window and perhaps it was the Vitamin D beginning to come into my body, but I felt a divine presence. It was powerful and it filled me joy. As I got out of bed this familiar light followed me throughout the house. As I washed my face, the light came through the window and made me smile.

Now that I have my morning coffee and write this blog, I feel strong and empowered. It was no doubt the God and Goddess’ way of saying hello. Blessings of the God and Goddess are powerful, but hidden. It must be us who decide to receive them.

For example, If someone gifts you something, you’ll never know what is underneath the wrapper until you actually accept the gift and unwrap it.

 

We must see the blessings in our lives and accept them. Many people believe they are “not worthy” for a divine blessing, but that is not true. You were not created to be unworthy, you were created by love and acceptance. The blessings of the God and Goddess are ever present around us, receive them.

Be true and kind to yourself.

Have a wonderful day.

Blessed Be! Sheldon

Blessings from Broccoli Cheese Soup

Today I went to a restaurant and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get, but I went in with my head held high and decided to let chance take its course.

Well when I went in the waitress asked me if I wanted the broccoli cheese soup, and she continued to boast about the quality and the flavor, so I did.

It was the best broccoli cheese soup I had ever had and I am happy I had it because now I feel upbeat and happy and there isn’t a cloud in the sky in my mind. I also found out that I had a calcium difficiency and that was linked to a medical problem I had been having. What a blessing! Broccoli and the cream in the soup are both amazing sources of calcium.

You are probably reading this wondering, “What does this have to do with Paganism?” Well, think about it. No matter what we are doing in life we are always going to be taken care of. We don’t have to know every answer to every little thing in our lives, because the God and the Goddess will always be there for us. They provide for us and always allow us an amazing and blessed path. Whether it is a food choice that will ultimately be the key to solving an on-going medical issue, or if it is a problem with love, or a question of faith. The God and Goddess will work to make sure you are happy and strong.

Never lose sight of the signs that are around us everyday, you may be surprised. If we live a life full of love and purity of heart by helping others and loving them and ourselves, we will be rewarded with blessing far beyond our comprehension.

And since this is a food, I have included a recipe for Broccoli Cheese Soup!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Prep Time 10 Minutes Cook Time 30 Minutes

Servings 10

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

• 1 whole Onion, Diced
• 1 stick 1/2 Cup Butter
• ⅓ cups Flour
• 4 cups Whole Milk
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 4 heads Broccoli Cut Into Florets
• 1 pinch Nutmeg
• 3 cups Grated Cheese (mild Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Jack, Etc.)
• Small Dash Of Salt (more If Needed)
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Chicken Broth If Needed For Thinning

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter in a pot over medium heat, then add the onions. Cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes, then sprinkle the flour over the top. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute or so, then pour in milk and half-and-half. Add nutmeg, then add broccoli, a small dash of salt, and plenty of black pepper.

Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender. Stir in cheese and allow to melt.

Taste seasonings and adjust if needed. Then either serve as is, or mash it with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree it in a blender, return it to the heat and allow to heat up. Splash in chicken broth if needed for thinning.)

Recipe from “The Pioneer Woman Cooks!” Visit here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Have a blessed day!

Blessed be! Sheldon

Adventure

Take the time to be spontaneous! Never accept a life of the mundane.

Today my friend and I are takin a well deserves mini-trip to her hometown and it has been an absolute blessing so far.

Find an excuse to reconnect with an old friend. Car trips are awesome because they allow you to talk and become closer as friends.

We will also be having a belated Litha celebration with some fellow Pagans. This will include a Bon fire and general gaiety. It will be a blast!

Life should be an adventure my friends. Start one today!

Blessed be!