pixie24k's blog: "To each his own..."

Making wassail is a favorite Yuletide custom deriving from the Saxons. Enjoy! 2 pints brown ale 1/2 pint dry sherry (or dry white wine) 3 ounces sugar 3-4 apples 1/2 lemon 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (180 degrees celcius). Wash, peel, and core apples. Place the apples, sugar,and 4 tablespoons of the brown ale into a glass baking dish or heat resistant bowl and bake together for 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Peel the lemon rind, removing only the bright outer layer. Remove the apples and their collected juices from the oven and set aside. On top of the stove, set out a large pot, and add to it the remaining ale, sherry or wine, lemon peel, cinnamon, gingerand nutmeg. Mix this together and simmer gently over a low flame for 10-15 minutes. Add the apples and juices and serve immediately. Non-alcoholic Wassail 1 gallon apple cider 1/2 gallon orange juice 1 pint cranberry juice 4 cinnamon sticks 24 allspice berries 36 cloves 1 large orange 1 cup brown sugar Press cloves into the orange. Combine all ingredients in a pot and boil it over high heat for 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

If you need love to keep your love true, This simple rhyme tells what you must do. Open your mind to a magickal way Of keeping your partner from going astray. When the moon waxes you must brew a tea From magnolia buds gathered most secretly. Sweeten with honey if you should prefer; Clockwise with silver spoon be sure to stir. For vows of love from being recanted Make sure as you stir, these words are chanted: "Lover be faithful, lover be true. This is all that I'm asking of you. Giveth thy heart to no one but me. This is my will, so mote it be!" As soon as you can share this herb tea With your woman/man to ensure loyalty. But 'fore to your lips the tea cup you raise, Chant with a whisper this rhyming phrase: "Brew of Magnolia, Venus' herb, Work for me now enchantment superb. Let (name of lover) and I be united as one. With harm brought to no one, this spell is done." Provided your magick is sealed with a kiss, A faithful relationship will come of this.

Walk the fields and forests, be refreshed by the cool winds and the touch of a nodding flower. The Moon and the Sun sing in the ancient wild places. The deserted seashore, the stark desert, the roaring waterfall. We are of the Earth and should revere Her, so do Her honor. Scott Cunningham

... souls, which are a burning breath, rose through the air towards the fires of the sky, in virtue of their lightness. When they reached the upper zone, they found in ether about the moon surroundings like their own essence and remained there in equilibrium. Conceived as material and as circular in form, they were, like the heavenly bodies, nourished by the exaltations which arose from the soils and waters. These innumerable globes of a fire endowed with intelligence formed an animated chorus about the divine luminary of night. Franz Cumont

Bide the Wiccan Law you must,in perfect love and perfect trust. Live and let live; fairly take and fairly give. Cast the Circle thrice about, to keep all evil spirits out. To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme. Soft of the eye and light of touch, speak little and listen much. Deosil go my the waxing Moon, sing and dance the Witches' Rune. Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, and werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane. When the Lady' Moon is new, kiss thy hand to Her times two. When the Moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire speak. Heed the Northwind's mighty gale, lock the door and drop the sail. When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth. When the Westwind blows o'er thee, departed spirits restless be. Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow. Elder be the Lady's tree-burn it not, or cursed be! When the Wheel begins a turn, let the Beltane fires burn. When the Wheel hath turned to Yule, light the log and let Pan rule. Heed ye flower, bush, and tree, and by the Lady, Blessed be! Where the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and truth you'll know. Whenever ye have a need, harken not to others' greed. With the fool, no seasons spend, nor be counted as his friend. Merry Meet and Merry Part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart. Mind the Treefold Law ye should, three times bad an' three times good. When misfortune is enow, wear the Blue Star on your brow. True in love ever be, unless thy love is false to thee. Eight word the Wiccan Rede fulfill: "An' it harm none, do what ye will!" Rede of the Wicca