Dec 21: The Winter Solstice is a celebration of the heart, vessel of our dreams. Through the darkest time on the planet, we are to find solace once again, returning to our inner resting place. Gallantly gazing upon our life’s daily uncertainty and unknowing future. May the earth fold us in comfort away from any harshness. As the light dims, we are to harmonize and begin to sincerely replenish our hearts and minds. The pagans called this holiday Yule, where the people of Europe and Scandinavia made festive. It is not considered religious. The pagans were naturalists, such as the Native Americans and other indigenous communities around the world. They followed the course of the sun, the moon, and the cycles of the seasons for planting food and generally planning a survival strategy. As winter comes, we recognize our need to rest our minds, hearts, and bodies while warming at the hearth. And as we come back out of the darkest day-night of the year and begin to gain more minutes of sunlight and replenishment each day. We linger for a glimmer of light to awaken, reconnecting our spark to life, to the sun and the conviviality of our own beating heart.
Recipes for Winter Solstice & Yule
Hot Apple Cider
Juice Apples or Buy Apple Cider
6 cups Apple Cider
½ tsp whole cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks
Heat ingredients, simmer, strain & serve hot
Hearty or Veggie Stew
1 ½ pounds Beef stew meat
water (optional)
Vegetable Broth (for Vegetable stew)
¼ c. flour
Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onion
1 tsp thyme
2 tbsp mustard
Salt/pepper
Cook until meat is cooked and vegetables are tender
Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1 in. of water in a large saucepan; add carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until crisp-tender, 7-9 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Transfer carrots to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, horseradish and reserved cooking liquid; spread evenly over carrots. Sprinkle with cheese; top with cracker crumbs. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Turkey-spinach Casserole
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups stuffing mix
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Bake
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, bring broth and butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Add stuffing mix; stir until moistened. Stir in turkey, spinach and cranberries.Transfer to a greased 11×7-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Squash Casserole
6 c. diced yellow squash or zucchini
Onion
Garlic
Salt/pepper
Butter or oil
Add into casserole dish
Bake 325* bake until squash is tender 20-45 mins
Alternative added ingredients into squash casserole
Crushed crackers
Cheese
Sour cream
Yule Log Cake
10×15-inch jelly roll pan – line with parchment paper & butter the paper.
Pre-heat oven to 400°F
4 eggs, room temperature
2/3 c. sugar — 7 minutes beat eggs while adding sugar 1 tbsp at a time
Add sifted flour ½ c to batter – stir, don’t beat
Add another ½ c. of flour – stir
Pour into pan – BAKE 10 min. Do not overcook
While hot, put the cake into a clean dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar so it doesn’t stick.
Remove parchment paper, still warm – roll the cake with the dish towel in. Let the cake cool.
Unroll the cake – spread desired filling, jam, or frosting onto the cake and re-roll the cake.
Frost outside & decorate, Refrigerate to set overnight
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 20/21/22/23 September 22, 2025 (Almanac) Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. A partial solar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Sunday, September 21, 2025, with a magnitude of 0.855. It will be seen in New Zealand and corresponds with their Spring Equinox. The Northern hemisphere is now heading toward “Fall”. Eclipses are about change, and solar eclipses are about getting a gift of some kind. They can be auspicious. It can be to bring something exciting or illuminating into your life.
The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also thank the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees.
Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs, and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort, as he prepares for death and rebirth. Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia.
The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year. At this festival, it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
Symbolism of Mabon: – Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality, and Balance.
Symbols of Mabon: – Wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.
Foods of Mabon: – Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Incense of Mabon: – Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.
Colors of Mabon: – Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.
Stones of Mabon: – Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.
Activities of Mabon: – Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds, and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering a ritual pouring to loved ones —Flowers and trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.
Spellworkings of Mabon: – Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also, those of harmony and balance.
Deities of Mabon: – Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona, and the Muses. Gods: Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man. Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!
Recipes: Salad Fixings—-Lettuce: any kind Add:
Sliced radishes
Shelled edamame
Cucumbers
Onions
Mushroom
Tomatoes
Peppers
Sliced fruit, like pears, apples, and mangoes
Berries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
Grilled salmon
Roasted garlic, Wild rice, quinoa, or other whole grain
Beans, like pinto, garbanzo
White beans
Celery
Italian Parsley
Wheat berries
Fresh basil (especially nice with a deep balsamic vinegar)
Nonfat ricotta cheese (a little goes a long way)
Scallions
cabbage
Grilled chicken breast
tofu
Roasted beets
bell peppers, thinly sliced
Dill
Any Dressing of your choice. Autumn Apple Cider Chicken or Vegan Soup
Chicken (optional) cooked using Pam spray, browned in a cast iron skillet (preferably)
Cut into cubes for the soup pot
In a big soup pot or crockpot
3 cups apple cider or juice
1 carton reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons Himalayan salt (optional)
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 medium carrots, cut into pieces
3 celery ribs, cut into pieces
2 medium onions, cut
Sweet Potatoes & Ground Turkey or Vegan Casserole
5 sweet potatoes or yams, cooked, peeled, and cubed
Saute’
1 or more pounds ground turkey (optional)
1 medium onion, chopped
5 Green Onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup low-sodium tomato paste
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Add the sweet potatoes or yams, cooked, peeled, and cubed
Dash crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Minced fresh mint (optional)
South of the Border Casserole
4 cups uncooked pasta shapes (whole wheat/ gluten-free)
4 cups vegetable broth or water
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 oz) diced low-sodium tomatoes, undrained
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
Add –
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Combine in a pot, bring the pasta and ingredients to al dente, and the sauce has thickened slightly, 12-15 minutes. Add cheese, melt in the oven, and serve Apple-Cranberry Pie
Dough for 2 pies with lattice tops
2-1/4 cups sugar or Monk sugar (same equivalent)
1/3 cup whole wheat flour or rice flour
pie filling –
tart apples, peeled and sliced (about 8 cups)
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tsp grated orange zest
1-1/2 tsp nutmeg
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
6 cups frozen or fresh raspberries
Bake at 375°F 45-50 minutes. Hot apple cider — In a medium-size bowl, mix sugar or honey, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, mace, and nutmeg. Heat the apple cider until hot, and add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the apple cider. Repost Enquire: Sessions & Seminars +1-310-303-8188 taraappointment@gmail.com
Lughnasadh is the harvest and reaping of 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.
* 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 the same skillet, heat the remaining oil. Spread pasta evenly in the skillet to form a crust. Cook until lightly browned, 5-7 minutes. Turn the crust onto a large plate. Reduce heat to medium; slide crust back into skillet. Top with pizza sauce, sautéed 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 the 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 the pastry in a 9-inch pie plate according to package directions.
Combine 1 cup sugar and the 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 a rolling pin to remove creases in pastry.
Place pastry over filling; seal and crimp edges.
Cut slits in the top of the crust to allow steam to escape.
Brush the top of the 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, for creating the food
Thank the nourishment feeding everyone we love, Thank the Farmer for tending the crops
Thank the handlers for getting the crops to market. Thank you to the market representatives
Thank you, Food Preparers, Thankful for Food. Let us pray. So Much to Be Thankful For
The Sustenance, the Healing, the nourishing, and the nurturing. Blessed Be
Dec 21: The Winter Solstice is a celebration of the heart, vessel of our dreams. Through the darkest time on the planet we are to find solace once again, returning to our inner resting place. Gallantly gazing upon our life’s daily uncertainty and unknowing future. May the earth fold us in comfort away from any harshness. As the light dims we are to harmonize and begin to sincerely replenish our hearts and minds. The pagans called this holiday Yule, where the people of Europe and Scandinavia made festive. It is not considered religious. The pagans were naturalists, such as the Native Americans and other indigenous communities around the world. They followed the course of the sun, the moon and cycles of the seasons for planting food and generally planning survival strategy. As winter comes we recognize our need to rest our minds, hearts and bodies while warming at the hearth. And as we come back out of the darkest day-night of the year and begin to gain more minutes of sunlight and replenishment each day. We linger for a glimmer of light to awaken, reconnecting our spark to life, to the sun and the conviviality of our own beating heart.
Recipes for Winter Solstice & Yule
Hot Apple Cider
Juice Apples or Buy Apple Cider
6 cups Apple Cider
½ tsp whole cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks
Heat ingredients, simmer, strain & serve hot
Hearty or Veggie Stew
1 ½ pounds Beef stew meat
water (optional)
Vegetable Broth (for Vegetable stew)
¼ c. flour
Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onion
1 tsp thyme
2 tbsp mustard
Salt/pepper
Cook until meat is cooked and vegetables are tender
Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1 in. of water in a large saucepan; add carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until crisp-tender, 7-9 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Transfer carrots to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, horseradish and reserved cooking liquid; spread evenly over carrots. Sprinkle with cheese; top with cracker crumbs. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Turkey-spinach Casserole
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups stuffing mix
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Bake
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, bring broth and butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Add stuffing mix; stir until moistened. Stir in turkey, spinach and cranberries. Transfer to a greased 11×7-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Squash Casserole
6 c. diced yellow squash or zucchini
Onion
Garlic
Salt/pepper
Butter or oil
Add into casserole dish
Bake 325* bake until squash is tender 20-45 mins
Alternative added ingredients into squash casserole
Crushed crackers
Cheese
Sour cream
Yule Log Cake
10×15 inch jelly roll pan – line with parchment paper & butter the paper.
Pre-heat oven 400*
4 eggs room temperature
2/3 c. sugar — 7 minutes beat eggs while adding sugar 1 tbsp at a time
Add sifted flour ½ c, to batter – stir don’t beat
Add other ½ c. of flour – stir
Pour into pan – BAKE 10 min. Do not overcook
While hot- put cake into clean dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar so it doesn’t stick.
Remove parchment paper, still warm – roll the cake with the dishtowel in. Let cake cake cool.
Unroll cake – spread desired filling, jam, or frosting onto cake and re-roll cake.
Frost outside & decorate, Refrigerate to set overnight
Friendships can be a meeting of souls, where we are mysteriously drawn together and the connection is cosmic. Many of us don’t get a lot of time with people we enjoy, but it only means we are on individual earth journeys. Camaraderie is constructive in building our character. The building blocks of life, whether it be your siblings, family or friends, the more you value others, they in turn will appreciate you.
Sometimes no matter how we try, we’re not acknowledged by another. These are shamanic signs to discern unconditional love from conditional expectations. Not everyone can stay near to each other. We can learn from others and move on about our daily schedules. We all want the worthwhile friendships, easy connections and a contentment we didn’t know existed.
Attaching emotionally or intellectually is usually more than being mere acquaintances. Sometimes you’re interested in the same hobbies or just open to life experiences. The path of friendship, we don’t always know where we are going, there can be duality and decisions regarding people. What makes a right or wrong decision. Do we take a chance for others to enrich our lives. There is a big difference of possession and helpfulness, it’s better to openly share so that life becomes rich and unsorted. It can be quality vs quantity. We are too brighten each others day, we are to guide our friends in life. If you are a true friend, you never put that person in jeopardy. In the real world, safety is key.
And then there are the ones who would do anything to save you, even from your self. But what do you do to protect your relatives and allies. How do you keep them non-toxic and out of harms way. This can be physical recklessness to disregard, to wounding words to selfish behavior. We can easily misunderstand, just as others can easily misinterpret us. Where did a bond unravel, we do hear stories of close friends ending badly. Why wouldn’t your consistency hold another in place. Were they never a friend, or was it you. Do you hold a reliable pattern. What constitutes worthy friendship. How do we go the extra mile. Whether it is an emotional or intellectual bond. Whether we meant to include others or not. Maybe we can come to understand the basics of companionship. After all, many people just light up your life for no reason at all, and shouldn’t it stay that way.
Journal Questions:
Do you see yourself as a good friend?
What do you believe are your strengths and weakness’ in friendship?
Recognition of Friendship:
How to Make Friends –
Be a Good Listener
Be Friendly
Commonalities
Cooperation
Caring
Helpfulness
Support
Laughing
Staying a friend through bad events and good times
Being vulnerable
Offering advice
Taking advice
Encouragement
Problem Solving
Deep Conversations
Easy and light observations
Loyalty
Betterment
Understanding
Motivate
Empathize
Constructive Criticism
Building self-esteem
Solution
Decision
Importance
Cherish
—-To Have Friends you must be a Friend, nothing is ever perfect but friends should be a calming voice in any storm, a hand to hold when scared or ill, laughter a-wild, and a beacon of hopefulness. The earth revolves around humans and it’s fitting to put our best foot forward. Sometimes we’re led to learn things so we meet our future and the appropriate people for our personal community.
——-“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” -William Shakespeare
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