Keep your energy levels up in the dark time by adding some home grown vitamins and minerals from your windowsill. It does not require a special sprouter like this one, but can also be planted in soil. Some take as little as 4 days to grow others maybe a little longer. Some work, some don’t. Experiment and see what does grow and which ones you like to eat. I am not a fussy eater and just through and mix it up with no real system behind it . I have been eating the sprouts on soft cheese with toast, added to salad, on top of baked beans and today even into my protein drink that was a mix of soya milk, yogurt, spinach and fruit. A handful of sprouted lentils added more protein, minerals and vitamins.

                                                                                                                        Robert Louis Stevenson

Some serious work went into this parcel with so many knitted items that she can do in a couple of sittings. HOW? I can hardly manage scarfs and she makes items as a present. Even a cardigan. Amazing. A bag and two pair of socks that I can show walk again in my yoga class .

A new table-cloth that has already been taken over by my big goddess. she did not even ask, but just demanded it .

Handspun wool for a special occasion/ project

Further more some books, incense, Calendula seeds for me to plant from her own garden, crow feathers …

Why can I not get parcels like that on a monthly basis?

Thank you very much!

  “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

                                                                                      Oprah Winfrey

Image: glitter graphics

Yes, I must be getting old. This day usually makes me feel a certain loss. The loss of darkness and cold. Never before have I craved the sun and the warmth as much as I have this year. I am not talking about a heat wave, but pleasant temperature and signing birds. Again we have reached the point in the wheel where we start returning to the light and I am sure I will be whinging about that sooner rather than later as well . Untill then I will leave you with

Yule Blessings

May your days be filled with love and light and I don’t say that many times .

~ )O( ~

Yuletide Myths and Rituals

In some traditions, the winter solstice (on or around 21st December) is known by its Saxon name of Yule. Yuletide is a time of feasting, when the Yule log, made of the root of a great oak tress, or the Ashen Faggot (a bundle of sticks from an ash tree) burns in the hearth for the 12 nights of the festival. It should be as big as possible and is lit from a piece of the previous year’s log. As many homes no longer have an open fire, today’s Yule log is usually symbolized by a log-shaped chocolate cake.

For pagans, Yule is the time of the birth of the Star Child, Modron, also known as Mabon, the sacred Son of the Mother. He is the Child of Promise, whose coming brings hope to the wintry world. Like the birth of the real child, his coming is eagerly awaited within the ritual, and gifts of magical significance are offered to the young boy who takes his part in the Mystery Play of Mabon. The ritual tells of the magic child’s birth and as he ages one year for one day, by Twelfth Night he is old enough to earn his magical instruments and symbols, which are shown to the whole company. This time of year can also be a time of initiation for other young people into the tradition of the clan. It is customary to exchange gifts at Yuletide.

Source: How to make White Magic/ p. 93

Source: Angel – google

~ )O( ~

They are very fast and friendly.

Contents of issue 13, copied and pasted

Editorial…page 4
The Grapevine…page 5
Yule…page 6
A four-page special dedicated to the festival of Midwinter
The Birth of the Sun God at Midwinter…page 10
A short story
An Introduction to Divination…page 13
Using a standard deck of cards in divination – part one
The Moonstone Turns One…page 16
A look back at some of the best bits of the past year, as voted by the readers
Natural Magic…page 19
This month we are looking at Mistletoe, Holly and Pine
Walking With Spirit…page 21
Sue Little Sparrow is back with an interesting tale to tell…
Magickal Creatures…page 24
Centaurs
How, Why, If…page 26
Jen Cavacas saysWiccan All Celebrate Christmas
From the Wildwood…page 29
The inspiring Sheena Cundy returns with another Celtic tale
Superstitions…page 33
Magpies
Gods and Goddesses of the Pagans…page 35
Epona
Pagan Chants…page 37
Crystal Correspondences…page 39
Tourmaline
The Kitchen Witch Cook Book…page 40
4 winter recipes that will warm you right up!
Stereotypes…page 42
A poem by Rowan
From a Different Perspective…page 43
This month Aristotle is making us think…
Rites and Rituals…page 44
A Spell for Peace
This Month’s Competition…page 46
Inspirations…page 47
KT let’s us know what inspires her the most
The Craft…page 48
Yule Log
Symbology…page 49
Stag Moon
Under the Rowan Tree…page 50
Out and About with Rowan
Ask Pandora…page 51
The Wheel of the Year…page 53
Credits and Acknowledgements…page 54
Coming Next Month…page 55

TA-DA!

Evil! My kids unfortunately already insulted my bunny. Both (15 & 5) called it CUTE. How dare they. This bunny is a menace in disguise.

I added some extras to the basic pattern like the nose, bow and the tail.

This bunny has already got a restraining order. Don’t make it mad.

I enter a twisting path

that has shapes

much like my life

As I move, shift directions

I can shift my Seeing

The path is clearer now,

more peaceful, more sure.

excerpt Feather Williams 2009

Image: google

I am looking into more companies that sell cosmetics free of animal testing. I get some stuff from Lush, a few items from Superdrugs with the leaping bunny on, but also checked Ives Rocher again as I can’t find the leaping bunny on the UK site. While surfing I stumbled across the following site clearing Ives Roche and some other names to be cruelty free here and outside Europe and also found a petition to sign.

Article to read

Petition to sign

Cruelty Free Shopper

I am still not 100% sure when it comes to Ives Rocher. Can anybody clear this up for me? The company does not seem to be listed with the Leaping Bunny. The Body Shop (now owned by L’Oreal) and Lush are not either. What list is out there that you can trust? Here a list where it says that they are definitely test which do include Rocher and Body Shop.

Don’t be fooled:

How To Interpret Cruelty-Free Claims

If you look at a product that makes no mention of animal testing – be suspicious. If a company can make a claim, no matter how meaningless, they usually will. It’s hard to believe but there are no laws to prevent companies from deliberately misleading consumers about their animal testing practises.

PZ Cussons makers of ‘Original Source’ products say:

“None of our products are tested on animals. We support the development and acceptance of alternative methods which reduce or replace the use of animals in product safety evaluation.”

Notice they mention product testing but not ingredients. Many cosmetic companies also add statements about how much they support and invest in the development of alternative methods of testing – which is a ploy to distract consumers from the fact that they also still test on animals.

Clarins say:

“In 1987, Clarins was the first French company to cease product testing on animals.”

Again no mention of ingredients.

Estee Lauder say:

“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law.”

Avon say:

“Avon does not test products or ingredients on animals, nor do we request others to do so on our behalf. Avon will conduct animal testing only when required by law.”

Seemingly strongly worded statements like this are made by many companies – and it sounds very comprehensive. But they are not being completely honest because they do still buy and use ‘new to the world’ ingredients that have been tested on animals during their development. Any legal requirement to test on animals only arises because of the companies desire to use new chemicals in the hope of increasing their sales. Many companies also include rabbit logos on their packaging – but this is no guarantee that the item is genuinely cruelty-free either.

It’s not just cosmetics, many household cleaning products also contain animal tested ingredients.

See the list at the bottom for the biggest offenders and I am shocked to see Ecover there which I have been buying.

Where do you buy reasonable priced cosmetics and household products in the UK that are free from animal cruelty and are environmental friendly????????

Followup: Yves Rocher IS on the leaping bunny list. I just spelled it wrong. Woo Hoo!