Month: August 2021

Full Sturgeon Moon

By Tara Sutphen

The Full Sturgeon Moon (Native American) at 29* Aquarius will culminate, August 22, 2021 5:02am PdT/8:02am EdT (Farmers Almanac).

This Full Sturgeon Moon is about going over plans. It’s a time to pause and take aim on what you want again. You’re at the end of suffering, learning once again to include yourself in open consciousness. You are moving toward knowing that you belong, yet you are becoming clear to be individualistic. Take control of your reading material, study material, friendships, family gatherings and group settings. Its not about isolation in any way, it’s quite the opposite. If you have been hiding out, you are to include yourself. You are to work to achieve your goals and acknowledge others. 

Your future is unfolding to be in touch with the times. Being in clear forward movement. It’s not about your opinion, it’s about your integrity and compassion. The faster you move to your center, you gain a steadiness and solid base. We can move into distress or healing. It’s always our choice. 

Remember to hold sacred space for yourself. You belong to a lovely life, step right back into it. When we need to quiet ourselves, we can. When we need to be proactive, we can. Its arranging your ideas into active movement. Being willing to reach for what we think we want upcoming. 

Meditation leads to clear and thoughtful ways of being. Searching deep within for the answers to your deepest questions and producing solutions to any unrest and disturbances. The planet is full of bounty and blessings and we only need to move our vibrational energy to match that effervescent tone. Its actually a scientific fact, the earth makes a sound. Match yourself to it. Harmonize with the sound. You will find you can feel better and better, no more stress or doubt. Be proactive. Eat well. Drink lots of water. Staying Calm and Breathing Deeply, the new day will dawn and you will trust your mind and its reasonableness. You will think of your children and pets, family members or friends. You begin the balance of creation and beauty. You know your options and benefits… There will be a rightness. 

Here’s some tips on how to make clear decisions. 

• Use your Emotions – How do you Feel:

• What do you want your health to be
• What do you want your career to be
• How do you want to make money
• How much money do you want
• How hard are you willing to work
• How much time are you willing to study
• How much time are you willing to work
• Are you working smarter not harder
• Where do you want to live
• What kind of house do you want
• Where are your opportunities
• What are you afraid of
• What are you NOT afraid of
• What are your opportunities to date
• Who are you committed 
• Over 18 years, do they pull their share
• Do you make conscious choices to clear your confusion – how.   

B. Use your Intellect – How do you reason:

• What do you want your health to be
• What do you want your career to be
• How do you want to make money
• How much money do you want
• How hard are you willing to work
• How much time are you willing to study
• How much time are you willing to work
• Are you working smarter not harder
• Where do you want to live
• What kind of house do you want
• Where are your opportunities
• What are you afraid of
• What are you NOT afraid of
• What are your opportunities to date
• Who are you committed 
• Over 18 years, do they pull their share
• Do you make conscious choices to clear your confusion – how

Reasoning gives you a chance to be more objective about yourself and your needs over the emotional side of your nature.

C. Visualize your future

• Create your perfect world in your minds eye
• Be willing to compromise if you live with others
• No rigidity

D. Stop Arguing

• Make Space in your mind
• Be truthful, especially to yourself
• Make space in your future
• Don’t fight for your limitations
• Do not fall prey to others fear
• Don’t judge others
• Don’t persuade others
• Do you have clear mind and why
• Create strength of mind

E. Progressive Movement

• Use your vitality
• Use your personal power
• We read, therefore learn
• Use your core values
• Take steps to achieve in health, well-being, career, well-being, relationships, love, positive direction
• Use your education
• Use your creativity
• Use your sound plans
• Create strength of body

Forward movement, we have been lead toward knowledge. The internet alone is full of useful information. Decipher, connect, or act accordingly on clueful information.

Everyone knows what’s wrong to do…bad habits, addictions, procrastination or rebelliousness. Bad tempers or isolation, release misfortune and start by being resourceful, capable and enterprising. Learning to listen again. Drinking plenty of water, and meditate. Resonating with the earth and expecting the very best instead of the very worst.

Journal Questions:

Who do you get along with:

• yourself
• others
• Family
• Friends
• Work arena
• Neighborhood
• City
• State
• Country
• World

Are you seen as Contructive or Destructive?

• House
• Love
• Family
• Parents
• Mate
• Children

Where do you build your life:

• Love
• Career
• Job
• Health
• Relationships
• Friendships
• Happiness
• Exercise

How can you be more connected in your personal life or work life: List 3 things if not 3 sentences

• Love
• Career
• Job
• Health
• Relationships
• Friendships
• Happiness
• Exercise

 Your Aspirations:

• Spiritually
• Emotionally
• Intellectually
• Materially
• Physically

What Inspires you:

(5 sentences or more)

Who Inspires you:

(5 people and why)

_____We walk the road of humanity and grasp life with our very breath. We need to remember we aren’t in dress rehearsal. Everyday is a creation of the life we want to live. Maybe all our days aren’t filled with how we’d like them to be, but it is in our good will that we start to create fulfilled and satisfied days and nights. It is only a reach away… meditate and then start moving forward in mind, voice and actions. 

—-“I have been finding treasures in places I did not want to search. I have been hearing wisdom from tongues I did not want to listen. I have been finding beauty where I did not want to look. And I have learned so much from journeys I did not want to take. Forgive me, O Gracious One; for I have been closing my ears and eyes for too long. I have learned that miracles are only called miracles because they are often witnessed by only those who can can see through all of life’s illusions. I am ready to see what really exists on other side, what exists behind the blinds, and taste all the ugly fruit instead of all that looks right, plump and ripe.”

― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun

Repost 🙂

http://www.tarainsight.com 

Lughnasadh

By Tara Sutphen

Lughnasadh is the harvest and reaping great rewards, it is also a day of feasting. Lugh, is the Celtic God of Light and this Pagan Sabbat is the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. Some bake a figure of the “corn god” in bread, and then symbolically sacrifice and eat it. The tradition of eating and sharing the first fruits, vegetables and grains of the season started with Lughnasadh in Ireland. In England, it became the medieval festival known as Lammas day. In keeping with the Lughnasadh tradition, the first grains were offered to the gods, the form of a baked loaf of bread. The loaf was blessed and cut into four pieces, with one piece placed in each corner of the home for good luck.  

The non-sporting competitions in festivals were singing, dancing, poetry-reading and storytelling. Trial marriages were performed, couples would join hands through a hole in a slab of wood. The experimental marriage would last one year and a day, after which it was annulled without question.

Celtic festivals like Lughnasadh was an opportune time to make political, social and economic deals. All weapons and rivalry’s were laid down so the neighbors could get to know one another. Chieftains held important meetings, farmers would make trade agreements about crops or cattle for the coming season. 

A common tradition of Celtic festivals were to visit holy wells. People would give offerings to the wells and decorate them with flowers and garlands, they could leave coins or clooties (cloth). They would walk around the well in a sun-wise direction praying to the Gods.

Recipes

Farm Fresh Quiche

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cups chopped fresh mustard greens or spinach
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add broccoli and onion; cook and stir until broccoli is crisp-tender. Stir in greens and garlic; cook and stir 4-5 minutes longer or until greens are wilted.
  Unroll pastry sheet into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edge. Fill with
  broccoli mixture. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, milk, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir in 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup Swiss cheese; pour over vegetables. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
  Bake 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Wild Rice Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 4 cups cooked wild rice
• 2 jars (4-1/2 ounces each) sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds

Directions

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in broth; bring to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the cream, chicken, rice, mushrooms, pimientos and parsley; heat through.
  Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.

White Spaghetti Casserole 

Ingredients

• 4 ounces spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 can (2.8 ounces) french-fried onions, divided

Directions

• Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat egg. Add sour cream, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture with Monterey Jack cheese, spinach and half of the onions. Pour into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated though. Top with remaining onions; return to the oven for 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown.

Pasta Pizza Skillet Casserole

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
• 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce
• 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
• 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
  In a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms, green pepper and onion; saute until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm. Increase heat to medium-high. In same skillet, heat remaining oil. Spread pasta evenly in skillet to form a crust. Cook until lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.
  Turn crust onto a large plate. Reduce heat to medium; slide crust back into skillet. Top with pizza sauce, sauteed vegetables and olives; sprinkle with cheese and Italian seasoning. Bake until cheese is melted, 10-12 minutes.

Layered Fruit Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• FRUIT SALAD:
• 2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 2 medium kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
• 3 medium bananas, sliced
• 2 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned
• 1 medium red grapefruit, peeled and sectioned
• 1 cup seedless red grapes

Directions

• Place first 6 ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Cool completely. Remove cinnamon stick.
  Layer fruit in a large glass bowl. Pour juice mixture over top. Refrigerate, covered, several hours.

Berry Pie

Ingredients:

5 cups fresh blueberries

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 (15 ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts

1 cup sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon sugar

Method:

Sprinkle berries with lemon juice; set aside.

Fit half of pastry in a 9-inch pie plate according to package directions.

Combine 1 cup sugar and next 3 ingredients; add to berries, stirring well.

Pour into pastry shell, and dot with butter.

Unfold remaining pastry on a lightly floured surface; roll gently with rolling pin to remove creases in pastry.

Place pastry over filling; seal and crimp edges.

Cut slits in top of crust to allow steam to escape.

Brush top of pastry with beaten egg, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar

Bake at 400° for 35 minutes or until golden.

Cover edges with aluminum foil to prevent over browning, if necessary.

Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Lughnasadh or Lammas is a harvest festival. In other languages:

Irish – Lá Lúnasa 

Welsh – Gwyl Awst (August Feast)

English – Apple Day  (drinking Apple juice, Apple cider, or Mead

Lughnasadh Harvest Spell

sit down in the middle of a circle of candles (tealight)

Cup your hands ready to receive

Repeat Aloud:

Thank you Mother Earth and our Amazing Land  

Thank you for the seeds creating the food

Thank the nourishment feeding everyone we love, Thank the Farmer for tending the crops

Thank the handlers to get the crops to market, Thank you for the market representatves

Thank you Food Preparers, Thankful for Food. Let us Pray. So Much to Be Thankful For

The Sustenence, the Healing, The nourishing and the nurturing. Blessed Be