Meditate today into a deeper consciousness of your inner spirit that needs to be acknowledged. You don’t have to disengage find your greater self. You need only to create the opportunity to go deeper into your central being. As you go deeper and more profoundly within. You become aware of your molecules and atoms and how they are starting to change, They are becoming filled with the God-light. Find yourself going into the Universal flow. Connect to your outer aura and the atmosphere begins to thicken. As it becomes more concentrated, your aura starts to shine. It is the God-light penetration of your spirit. As you stay in this state of thoughtfulness for a few moments. Deep within the portals of future pathways begin to open. These light trails are your soul-intentions. You are connected to all unconditional love. You now are in sync with the direction of your goals.
The earth again is transformed into your playground. You are feeling as though you are being revived. You will not back out of the portal, you will go easily into this state of being when you sleep and in your awakened dreaming. Your energetic pull takes you further into your smooth future. Onward prosperity will come easily on earth. You are to live in wholesome wellness. Such wholesome wisdom. Such wholesome abundance. Money and Safety come easily. As you change your vibration to a thickening effervescence, you are allowing the attraction factor to be turned on more and more. You will expect miracles, good changes, amazing people, and fortuitous events to appear. Be in the Now. We Ask it, Beseech It, Mark it, and So it is…
“In the world’s audience hall, the simple blade of grass sits on the same carpet with the sunbeams, and the stars of midnight” – Rabindranath Tagore (Indian Poet, Playwright and Essayist, Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, 1861-1941)
Summer Solstice marks the end of the waxing year. And the rays of the sun directly strike one of the two tropical latitude lines. June 21 marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, as winter begins in the southern hemisphere. On this day, the earth’s “circle of luminescence” will be from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle. The equator receives twelve hours of daylight, as there will be 24 hours of daylight at the North Pole and 24 hours of darkness at the South Pole.
All over the world people honor this day as an important reminder of the apex of light and to cast away evil and their problems. Northern Hemisphere inhabitants use June 21 as the day of celebration, but the splendor of light lasts from new moon to full moon.
Worshipping the Sun’s great power, all cultures celebrate in some way. Celts and Slavs dance around bonfires while Chinese marked the day honoring Li, the Goddess of Light. The celebrants of modern and ancient ceremonies tune in that life comes from the sun. It is life giving and life supporting. We’ve recently had the good fortune to have electricity, greenhouses, and shipment suppliers. How will you celebrate? We all may not get a chance to dance around the bonfire but it’s a time to bask in the light, sit in the sun, cast our worries away and awaken to our lives.
Recipes:
Summer Pasta Salad
2 cucumbers chopped
2 big tomatoes chopped
1/2 red onion chopped
5 tbsp lime juice
4 tbsp cilantro (coriander)
2+ tbsp honey
salt/pepper
2 cups shell macaroni (optional: gluten free)
Directions
Cook pasta, drain.
Combine lime juice, cilantro, honey, salt & pepper in small bowl.
In a large bowl, combine pasta vegetables. Toss gently in lime dressing.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
1 (16 oz) pkg large shell pasta (optional: gluten free), ½ c. dill pickle juice plus 4 tbsp. pickle juice (divided), 2/3 c. mayonnaise (optional: veganaise), 1/3 c. sour cream (optional: plain yogurt), Salt & Pepper to taste, ¾ c. sliced or diced dill pickles, ¼ c. onion, 2 tbsp. minced fresh or dry dill spice, (optional: 2/3 c. diced or grated cheddar or almond cheese)
Directions: Cook pasta to pkg specifications. Rinse & drain cold water, add ½ c dill pickle juice, set aside, In another bowl, add 4 tbsp dill pickle juice , mayo, sour cream, salt & pepper (optional: dash of cayenne), Drain off excess pickle juice from pasta and mix with dressing, chill one hour and serve.
Spinach-Strawberry Salad
Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1/2 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1-1/2 teaspoons minced onion 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1 bag (10 ounces) fresh spinach 1 pint strawberries, sliced thin In a blender, combine the sugar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oil, and vinegar. Blend well. If the dressing seems thick, add a few drops of water.
Remove the stems from the spinach and tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. Arrange them on individual salad plates or in a salad bowl. Arrange the strawberries on top. Drizzle the dressing over the strawberries and serve.
Bonnie Brae Strawberry Pie
A mixture of cooked and fresh berries helped make this pie a family favorite.
1 quart strawberries or 1 large package frozen strawberries, thawed and drained 3/4 cup water 4 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup sliced berries, fresh or frozen, thawed and drained whipped cream whole berries for garnish Combine strawberries and water in saucepan. Cook until just softened, about 4 or 5 minutes. (Let frozen berries thaw; heat but don’t cook them.) Mix together cornstarch, sugar, and water until smooth; add to hot berries. Cook over medium heat until clear. Add lemon juice; immediately remove from heat and let cool. Place sliced berries in cooked pie shell. To assemble pie, pour cooked mixture over berries, top with whipped cream, and garnish with whole berries.
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Wedding Cake
Yield: Makes 12 to 16 servings.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 3 cups sugar 4 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 6 egg whites Preheat over to 350° F. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Pour in buttermilk and begin mixing slowly. Continue to mix until well blended. Add flavorings and stir. In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold the egg whites into the cake batter. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 20 minutes at 350° F, then lower heat to 300°F and bake for about 25 minutes longer, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove cakes from oven and cool on racks. After 10 minutes, remove from pans and continue cooling on racks.
Cream Cheese Frosting 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 3 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract No wedding needed to have this cake
The Druids celebrated with “The Wedding of Heaven and Earth”.
Two people represent Mother Earth and the Sun King. Create a Bonfire, dancers adorned in garlands and flowers, and young men jumping through the tall flames. A time of cleansing and renewal. The participants playing Mother Earth and the Sun King go to each participant, and speak to each person as though planting seeds of growth, imparting words of love, wisdom, thankfulness and prosperity.
Candle or Bonfire Ritual
With a candle or your bonfire – Give blessings in the 4 directions. Cast a blessing for yourself, a blessing for the harvest, a blessing for your loved ones, and a blessing for the earth. (make this blessing 3-5 sentences long for each subject) A Call to Love
Single women are to sleep with 4 flowers under their pillow Flowers:
Flowers blooming in your area, also daisies, roses, lilyof the valley, calendulas, marigolds
Decorations:
daisy chains, lavender wreaths, rosemary garlands Head wreath
Circle base, thin gauge wire, or vines and tie or wire on flowers of your choice Symbols:
Fire to celebrate the power of the sun, Sun Wheels, Medicine Wheels, Stone Circles, Candle Circles, Mother Goddess, Ripening fruits, Sun Dials, Feathers, and Swords/Blades. Candles:
Green & Blue representing the earth White representing God light
The Full Strawberry Moon (Native American) at 1* Capricorn will culminate, June 21, 2024 6:10pm PDT/9:10pm EDT (Farmers Almanac). This Full Strawberry Moon is about coming back constructively into your powerful self.
How do you want to be seen in the world? What do you want to actively pursue? Take the time now to look inward to gather the knowledge that you need to be more self-aware and productive. You might’ve been in the planning stages recently and in the past months, but now is the green light to start gaining momentum to the goals you want to accomplish. Capricorn is always ambitious but this full moon is on the summer solstice. You are to learn to shine. You are being positioned to gain light and speed. Know what you want and why you want it!
Proactive Movement:
Focus your mind
Solving issues and problems
Set goals
You are in the present
Make good choices
Don’t be lazy
Begin and Begin Again
Take an extra minute to do things well
Do not worry on what you can’t control
Build a team or resources
Take the initiative
List your skills
List your leadership abilities
List your cooperation abilities
List what you’d like to learn
Look at the best in others
Look at the best in yourself
Surround yourself with problem solvers
Stay away from troublemakers
Keep a steady mind and wit
Be respectful and responsible
Treat past failures as opportunities
Channel frustration into production
Channel anxiousness into production
Develop a schedule
Value your time
There is always a way to achieve
When you actively move towards becoming knowledgable or successful, you allow your life to flow in the direction of fulfillment. Move forward as the past is already gone. Decisions are to be made in your future. Allow yourself to start making good to great choices.
Journal Questions:
Are you constructive or destructive:
About yourself
Or others
Family
Friends
Work arena
Neighborhood
City
State
Country
World
Are you trying to be invisible – or are you outwardly visible?
House
Love
Family
Parents
Mate
Children
What do you want and why
Love
Career
Job
Health
Relationships
Friendships
Happiness
Exercise
How can you change: List 3 things if not 3 sentences
Love
Career
Job
Health
Relationships
Friendships
Happiness
Exercise
Your Aspirations:
Spiritually
Emotionally
Intellectually
Materially
Physically
__By being more conscious of what you want and why you want it, when you do start creating momentum you will find your life improves. Your personal growth will bring you satisfaction and new ideas. Remember that some of your goals will not only be about a successful career. To lead an enriched life, we wish to maneuver many choices, including gaining love and good health. We need to be embarking upon our contentment and enjoyment of the world. Allowing ourselves to find our center and expand.
—— “Simply put, the Law of Attraction states that you will attract into your life whatever you focus on. Whatever you give your energy and attention to will come back to you. So, if you stay focused on the good and positive things in your life, you will automatically attract more good and positive things into your life. – Jack Canfield (Author & Motivational Speaker)
Beltaine is the “Celebration of the Light”,the light time of the year. The dark time being remembered by Samhain. May 1 is the day in the middle of the spring and the summer equinox’ (10* Taurus). May Day is the time for love and the happiness of summer on it’s way.
Beltane | Beltaine is a celebration of the union of souls, The union of minds, and the union of bodies. The earth mother calls her progeny to replenish the earth. Flowers decorate hair and everywhere. Maypole ribbon dances, with two circles interweaving around a decorated tree or pole, clockwise dance circles. Bonfires or candles to spark the sacred fire of union and fertility.
Druids and Pagans raised the Beltaine fires on hilltops on May Eve, the fires were lit in order to bring the sun’s light down to earth. Earth awakening from it’s long winter nap and the flowers are in bloom and frolicking abounds. Joy alights your body, mind, and spirit, the colors become brighter, you see the best in everyone, casting away all worries and doubts you collected over the winter time.All nightmares become daydreams of love, hope and harmony.
Beltaine or Beltane is an anglicization of the Irish “Bealtaine” or the Scottish “Bealtuinn.” — “bel,”brilliant”, “tene” “fire”
Things to do on Beltaine alone or with a group
Create a Beltaine circle or group
Buy or Pick flowers
potluck
maywine (alcoholic or non alcoholic)
Candles, Fireplace, Bonfire — Lighting a fire with a blessing
May pole (you can use a tree if you don’t have a pole) garnish w. greenery and flowers – tie long ribbon
If you create a May pole, make lots of wishes while you walk clockwise into your future, and at the end of wrapping the ribbon say a blessing for yourself and end with “to love and be loved, So it is”. If the tree/pole ribbons pretty and sturdy enough you could leave until Samhain.
Some of the questions that you can ask your friends or family are:
What were the highlights in your winter? Everyone must come up with at least one if not several highlights. What are the dreams to enliven your spring and summer? Every one should convey their intentions for the summer.
Making Maywine
Ingredients
• 2 bottles of dry white wine
2 cups strawberry liqueor
Non-Alcoholic version: Substitute sparkling water and grape juice, sparkling water and apple juice
• 5 thin orange slices
• and/or
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 12 sprigs of woodruff
• 1 teaspoon sugar (more or less, as preferred)
• Edible flowers (to be added after all ingredients have been mixed together)
Directions
Soak the dried woodruff overnight in the wine.
Add the rest of the ingredients, stir with a wooden spoon, and let it steep for an hour or so.
Serve very cold, with edible flowers floating atop in the punch bowl.
The taste is both sweet and fruity.
American Heritage Dictionary
wood·ruff Audio Help (wŏŏd’rəf, -rŭf’) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. A fragrant perennial herb (Galium odoratum) native to Eurasia and North Africa and widely cultivated as a shade ground cover, having small white flowers and narrow leaves used for flavoring wine and in sachets. Also called sweet woodruff.
2. Any of various plants of the genus Asperula, having whorled leaves and small funnel-shaped flowers.
Woodruff is sold in the herb section at markets and nurserys..
The Full Worm Super Moon (Native American) will culminate on March 25, 2024, 12:01AM PT / 3:01 PM ET (Farmers Almanac). We have an Annular Lunar Eclipse. When we have an eclipse, it’s time to change or let go of something holding us back. Take time to meditate on what you’d like unblocked or cleaned up in your life as it brings something exciting or illuminating to each of us.
The Worm Moon wants us to concentrate on becoming aware of our beauty and self-worth. We can start with our health care regime. Letting go of negative self-talk. How are you supposed to get back on track with “you putting yourself down”?
Giving Yourself Positive and ProActive Affirmations:
I am Confident
I am Lovable
I am Fair
I am Honest
I am Helpful
I am Skillful
I am Giving
I am Patient
I am Capable
We’re always continuing toward our healthful well-being. It’s important to remind ourselves daily to become our very best selves. We’re always working toward a result.
The aspects of every full moon gently guide us toward cleaning up all sorts of human situations. We’re looking into the meaning of life and a deeper resonance of thought. You are tuning in instead of tuning out. You are finally ready, you want to handle living on Earth instead of Earth handling you.
Journal Questions:
Write a paragraph on how you can improve your personal habits…
How do you proceed with your ability to create, are you waiting around for it or making it happen?
Love
Career
Job
Health
Relationships
Friendships
Happiness
Exercise
How do you proceed with your short-term goals
Spiritually
Emotionally
Intellectually
Materially
Physically
Change. What is affecting you and how do you fix it
——How do you get your balance back? It’s all about faking it until you make it. You don’t need to be shy or untrusting of how you make choices and decisions. Get a handle on all the fear and what-ifs. Life is action. You do know the difference between right and wrong. You do know the difference between what creates or breaks your health. You do know the difference between action and inaction. You do know the difference between many small and large possibilities. Start developing your life instead of doing things to break it.
—-“But, if we consider, as physicists now claim, that everything is energy—everything we see, everything we think, everything we do—then it is just possible that this same law of conservation of energy applies to questions of morality. A conservation of moral energy, a maintenance of equilibrium… a balance exists and must be preserved. If an action is taken that disrupts that balance, then an action similar in kind and degree is required to restore equilibrium.”
Estelle Erasmus, an award-winning journalist and writing coach, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Week, Next Avenue, WIRED, The Independent, The Washington Post, Salon, AARP: The Magazine and more. She has been editor-in-chief of five national consumer publications. She is also an adjunct instructor for NYU’s School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, where she recently received the 2023 Teaching Excellence Award, and teaches a journalism course at NYU’s lauded High School Academy each summer for rising seniors who travel from around the globe to attend. She also hosts the popular Editor-on-Call events for NYU, where she is in conversation with top editors from prestigious publications.
Erasmus was the “All About The Pitch” columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine, and teaches writing classes there. She is host/creator of the popular podcast Freelance Writing Direct. She is a three-time Blog Her Voice of the Year winner, and performed an original work in the inaugural New York City production of Listen to Your Mother. Estelle’s articles for the New York Times and Washington Post have gone globally viral (with more than 500 comments on her NYT piece, “How to Bullyproof Your Child”). She has appeared on “Good Morning America”, “Fox News with Ernie Anastos” and has had her articles mentioned on “The View”.
She speaks often about publishing and improving your writing at conferences such as The American Society of Journalists and Authors, The Writer’s Digest Conference, Hippocamp, The Erma Bombeck Writer’s Conference, Mom 2.0, and more.
Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published from New World Library is available for order online and wherever books are sold.
Despite once being called the “Dating Diva” in her single days and teaching Power Dating (as noted in her New York Times Styles Tiny Love Story), she’s been married for nearly two decades, has a teenage daughter and a Havanese dog. She loves to decompress by watching reality television. In her spare time, she loves singing, reading, visiting museums, playing tennis, and acting as taste-tester for her daughter’s baking adventures and her husband’s wine explorations.
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.
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.
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
LifeForce Activation 