Growing Closer

by OMS Patriarch
Sybok Pendderwydd

August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.
Like a matchflame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.
Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.
Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away.

~~ Elizabeth Maua Taylor ~~

Feast
of the Bright One, Rising!
Corn Growing, Peace Reigning
Oath Taking, Comes Reaping
I keep the Feast of Lughnasadh!

Lugh
Samildanach, you I call
Master of All Arts, Wanderer and Trickster
Hound-God, Raven God
Take now this offering here at my Fire

Lugh
Lamhfada, you I call
Spear Bearer, Young Hero
Throne Winner, Giant Slayer
Take now this offering here at my Fire

Thou
Lugh the Champion
Lugh the Crowned One, Lugh the Skilled One
Beneath the circle of your Shield,
I give you this due offering

Land
grow ripe and full and gold
Beneath the Sun and the Thunder
Peace among folk,
Wisdom, strength and hospitality

Join
my heart with the Folk and the Land
In the Blessing of Lugh of the Spear!

~~
Source Unknown ~~

The Beginning of the Tuatha De Danaan

I. Long, long ago, back before the coming together of the worlds, there was nothing but the Void. Over the eons of eternity past, the Void longed in its slumber. The longing within the Void caused It to ponder the emptiness of the chaos about, and even more did the Void long deeply for companionship solitude of oneness. So intense was the longing that eventually the Void
dropped from slumber into a deep sleep, and while there, the Void received a vision. In this vision it was relayed how all the things that should be, could be, and the beauty of it brought joy to the very heart of the Void. Alive with a joy radiating from a newly blazing heartfire, the great Void awoke with a
wondrous war cry. “ABU” was the roar, as the Void stretched out in nine waves against the dark chaos around.

II. So great was the love that the Great Void felt for what had been seen that the Void divided, and from within there emerged two children, Danu and Donn. Stepping out from nothingness into somethingness, Danu and Donn looked about. Then turning back to the center from where they emerged, they espied each other in the mirror of the shining Void. Instantly the sacred flame of the center ignited in their own hearts as well and they became
locked in a loving embrace from which they could not be moved.<6/p>

III. In time their embrace brought forth children. Amongst the children were three sons, Briain, Iuchar, and Iucharba, who were giants amongst the children. None of these children could not find room for their lives as they were bound between their interlocked parents. One of the children, Briain, looked about him and declared that the end of he and his siblings would surely come soon, if Danu and Donn were not parted. Hard it was for him and these two other brothers who were with him, as they contemplated their idea. But as they saw no other chance of survival, they did speak amongst themselves concerning what they felt they should do. In the end a mother’s love for her son, and his for her won out, and Briain decided to take it upon himself to slay his father.

IV. Thus he did with an abandon born of desperation. So great was his fury that he did not stop with one cut. Yea, he did cut his father thrice three times, so all that was left was in nine parts. Taken aback at what She had seen, Danu stood motionless, for the horror of what She had witnessed. In a flash the horror gave way to dread, and then to sorrow. The sorrow started Danu to crying, and the tears swelled in a flood. So great was the flood that it immediately swept away Briain, Iuchar, and Iucharba, who became known as the Three Landless Princes, and the rest of the first children. Hence did Danu become known as the “Waters of Heaven”. Out and away these did
ride the tide of tears to where those tears accumulated as the seas. There, to this day the siblings live, as the Fomorraig of the Sea.

V. Not only were the Fomorraig washed away, but so to were the parts of Donn. These each came to rest, one part in each wave that had echoed out when the Void first awoke. The Crown of Donn became the skies; his brain the clouds; His face the sun; his mind the moon; his breath the wind; His blood mixed with the tears of Danu and became the seas, His flesh the soil; and his bones the stones. Of His seed two remained, one red and one white, and these fell into the soils that was the flesh of Donn.

VI. Danu looked down from afar and saw the seeds, and did recognize
her beloved within one of them; the red acorn seed of the Oak tree. Again she cried Her tears, sorrow for the distance between them, joy that he would again be, and mostly adoration for him who She loves. Thus there again started from the sullen heavens, a trickle of water. First one drop, then another and another, Her essence rained down in torrents upon the dead world. The divine Waters from Heaven flooded downwards and soaked into
the parched soils, the seeds and soils moistened in the rains of Her love, and life began to spring forth from the seeds, and then all across the Land. The first life on the earth being the Nemedians, the people of the soils and sands and diverse places, kindred of the next children of the Divine Waters, but also different from Them. There they lived on a plain in the Northern parts of the World, that plain being called the Plain of Adoration. The people who lived were called Nemed for sacred was the place of their being. From this one People, two Peoples eventually emerged, the Fir Bolg of the lands, and the Tuatha De Dannan of the skies who did bring culture and laws, but this is much later and the great deeds of their own are told of them.

VII. In the soil fertilized by the tears of Danu, the red acorn also took root, and grew into a marvelous tree which was called Bile Magh Adhair. The Divine Waters from Heaven, nurtured and cherished the greater tree which became the sacred Oak tree, and it became a king amongst the peoples, and amongst them He became known as Eochaidh. The other seed became his brother, who himself became a priest, for noble was his heritage, though imperfect was he in the gnarled Yew.

VIII. Recognizing His beloved, now His Mother, afar off, the Oak seed did stretch upward, striving to again be with Her. Up he pushed himself so that He could caress Her face with his limbs, and dry Her tears with his leaves.  Perfect in the arts was Eochaidh, a fitting craftsman, a fearless and cunning warrior, and a master in the hidden arts. Nurtured by the Waters of Heaven, the Oak did grow many berries, which then fell and grew into wondrous shining beings. These include Oengus Mac Og, the Rowan which is a delight to the Tuath De Dannan, and the Bride Herself who is the Fire in the Heart of Women. Yet in all of this perfection he saw his people around him slip into lethargy, into stagnation, into a condition of living rot because there was no death in those days. Thus the world around them was used to excess, and so it withered from depletion. And so to did the People wither
and become sickly, yet never to die.

IX. Donn, seeing the lingering desolation about him, counseled with his brother the priest about what could be done. Finn had no answer but prepared a journey for Himself, an Imrama across the waves to see what the other lands there were, and if some answer for their trials might be found there. Across the waves Finn then traveled, but no where did He see a newness, in life the world was dead. Thus upon his return, he proclaimed that there should be a time of death, so that there could be renewal; that the ancient magic would again be worked and that Donn would die, His body renewing the world, with His spirit going to the Sea to there build a new land for those who would come during their resting time.

X. Donn would have none of it, as he would not see his brother become stained by fingal, kin-killing, and he would not be even more separated as he was from his Beloved. Finn pressed the matter, supported by the Peoples. In a great rush the two did combat there on the Plain. Great was the battle, and the feats were beyond compare. Eventually though, as two bulls plowing the whole day, exhaustion overcame them. First to feel the pangs was Finn, who in the moment of weakness, found Himself impaled on the blades of Donn. Thus did Finn go off to scout beyond the nine waves. Seeing His brother dead at His feet, Donn was overcome with anger and pain, and for the mighty victory, joy and pride. So much pain and pride did the mighty warrior Donn feel that His heart burst apart, even so did His whole being. Donn then fell from the Plain into the seas, and the parts of His body did again go to renew the world, while His Spirit went to build His house in the Sea.

XI. At the death of Donn the three mighty roots of the Oak did delve deep and grow in strength and girth, a dun each. Thus was the third realm created, and so did the spirit of Donn go to be there, to dwell in his house Tech Duinn, where all Gaels go at their death. Yet in all three realms was Donn, as the wondrous World Tree, which amongst the Gael is called the Bile. This is the Oak whose red acorns are yet a delight to the Tuatha De Dannan, and whose parts have yielded sustenance and protection to mortals. Even to this day, great is the love between the White Cow of Heaven and the Dark Bull of the Otherworld; and by their love do they continue the cosmos.

XII. The brother of Donn, Finn who did go and see into the abyss, and who did battle with his brother for the renewal of the cosmos, never did leave the service of His King. Because He did first explore those unknown places, He knows the pathways, thus does Finn guard the portals to that Other land, and with His Finnians and hounds collect the souls of the newly dead in a Great Hunt. Thus do humans to this day find the Yew tree in graveyards,
and burry black dogs in graveyards as well. These that the hound Bran who delivers death and his master Finn find the beloved departed before they tarry long. When the souls are found, those who are worthy are announced by the howls of Finns hounds, and are guided with honors as they are safely delivered to the doors of Tech Duinn. There they become charges of Donn, compatriots of the Daoine, and Donn shall again deliver these His children
to the gates of world of mortals in their time as children of the Land. Those that receive not the howl remain doomed to roam as the Slough. But the tales of the Fhianna are yet other stories.

~~ Source Unknown ~~

Cân
Gwydion i Lleu

Derwen a
dyf rhwng dau lyn,
Yn cysgodi’n dywyll awyr a glyn,
Oni ddywedaf i gelwydd
O flodau Lleu y mae hyn.

Derwen a
dyf mewn maes uchel,
Nis gwlych glaw, nis tawdd gwres,
Cynhaliodd ugain dawn –
Ar ei brif, Llew Llaw Gyffes.

Derwen a
dyf dan lechwedd,
Noddfa tywysog hardd,
Oni ddywedaf i gelwydd
Fe ddaw Lleu i’m harffed.

Gwydion’s
Song to Lleu

Oak that
grows between two lakes,
You darken the air, you shade the valley,
But unless I lie, these fallen leaves
Are the scattered flesh of Lleu.

Oak that
grows in a high field,
Rootless in rain, unburnt by fire,
Crest of your pride, Lleu Llaw Gyffes –
Man of a score of gifts.

Oak that
grows beneath a crag,
Refuge of a noble prince,
Unless I lie, Lleu will come down
Out of your arms into mine.

Oir-Spindle

From summer’s shedding comes a bolt of lightning to electrify
the season with new possibilities and intent.

Fearn-Alder

Descending within brings promise of fruitation for the next season.

NGeatal-Reed

All that was ever desired will be obtained.

Walking through trials of separation is never easy yet the road is blessed every bit of the way to make room for the new that will arrive, for this is the harvest of this year. In order to arrive upon her shores we must cut away the old, decaying especially the pain and suffering that hides beneath the surface. Traveling within now clears the path of the hedgerow in order to gain clarity and understanding during the process of endings. It unifies belonging and begets self confidence. By walking forth with new understanding, we gain our hearts desire for Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) then we can rest.

Working with Oir in Ogham is like working with Raku in Reiki. In the palms of your hands draw Oir in violet light, feel this power come alive. Visualize what needs to be cut away in your life and let Oir shoot out like a lightning bolt at your target creating the ending if possible on a good note, know that Oir is working on your highest good.

Now draw Fearn (white light) and NgEtal (green light) on both palms of your hands and bring the energy within your body entwining through your spine spiraling up to your higher self, sometimes known as the 8th chakra and let it cascade down into the aura utilizing this energy as both a shield and as knowing love and intention coming into light.

Let a stalk of wheat
be your witness
to every difficult day.
Since it was a flame
before it was a plant,
since it was courage
before it was grain,
since it was determination
before it was growth,
and, above all, since it was prayer
before it was fruition,
it has nothing to point to
but the sky.
Remember the incredibly gentle wheat stalk
which holds its countless arrows fixed
to shoot from the bowstring —
you, standing in the same position
where the wind holds it.

~~ Ishihara Yoshiro ~~
(Like Underground Water, translated by N. Koriyama and E. Lueders)

O God of the ripening fields,
Lord of the Grain,
Grant me the understanding of sacrifice as
You prepare to deliver Yourself
Under the sickle of the Goddess and
Journey to the lands of eternal summer.
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
Teach me the secrets of rebirth
As the Sun loses its strength
And the nights grow cold.

Lughnasadh Ritual:

Place upon the altar sheaves of wheat, barley or oats, fruit and breads, perhaps a loaf fashioned in the figure of the Sun or a man to represent the God.
Corn dollies, symbolic of the Goddess, can be present there as well.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle of stones (any familiar casting of circle will do)

Recite the Blessing Chant. (free worded style, can be used)

Invoke the Goddess and God (invite them to attend)

Stand before the altar, holding aloft the sheaves of grain, saying these or similar words:

“Now is the time of the First Harvest,
when the bounties of nature gives of themselves
so that we may survive.

O God of the ripening fields, Lord of the Grain, grant me the understanding of sacrifice as you
prepare to deliver yourself under the sickle of the Goddess and journey to the lands of eternal summer.

O Goddess of the Dark Moon, teach me the secrets of rebirth As the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold.”

Rub the heads of the wheat with your finger so that the grains fall onto the altar.
Lift a piece of fruit and bite it, savoring its flavor, and say:

“I partake of the first harvest, mixing its energies with mine
that I may continue my quest for the starry wisdom of perfection.

O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun, gracious ones before Whom the stars halt their courses, I offer my thanks for the continuing fertility of the earth.

May the nodding grain loose its seeds to be buried in The Mother’s breast, ensuring rebirth in the warmth of the coming spring.”

Consume the rest of the fruit.
Works of magic, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple Feast.
The circle is released.

Source: © John & Caitlin Matthews

you
are quite the tumbleweed,
setting up roots for a short while,
then moving on when adventure called.

i am not the same
as you.
i am more along the lines of a redwood.
it’s far more pleasing for me to stay in one place
and watch the seasons change.

i suppose tumbling
from place to place gets lonely.
i know being here, seeing the same things day in and day out,
gets boring and a little dreary. i have learned to cope.
it’s in my nature to adapt.

do you remember others
you’ve left behind?
i’d love to hear the stories you have locked away.
where is the chest of secrets you harbor?
i bet it’s filled with trinkets and memories of past relationships,
and, maybe a little regret.

a tumbleweed you
are.
your roots, i am sure, are very short.
it’s easier to move on that way.

if only it were the
same for me.
i couldn’t move even if i wanted.
blasted roots stretch too deep, and spread throughout the forest.
i guess the good thing is i’ve grown to love my surroundings.

have you found your
contentment?
leaving when it gets a little gusty
doesn’t nurture the buds you leave behind.
do your roots dry out from the barren topsoil?

one day you should
fight your nature.
don’t listen to what drives you to travel.
take root and stay awhile.
you may find them growing longer than you think.

why be a tumbleweed,
when you could be like me.
i am stable as a redwood,
for the most part.

i’ve learned
over the years how easy it is to get attached
when you give your surroundings a chance
to grab hold
and love you back.

I am not aware of any particular association of Lammas and lavender (except for the lovely alliteration of those twin L’s), except that it blooms at Lammastide in Seattle.

When I took a nine-week class on herbs from a local herbalist, EagleSong of RavenCroft Garden, she assigned us all the task of getting to know one plant. We were to spend time with it, daily if possible, and get to know it in every possible way, from the scientific study of its components to its many medicinal and culinary uses. The plant I chose was lavender, a favorite of mine before, but now it is entwined with my life on a much more intimate basis.

The name lavender comes from the Latin verb “to wash;” both the Romans and Greeks scented soap and bathwater with the herb. In the Middle Ages, it was considered a herb of love. Kate Greenaway in Language of the Flowers says it means distrust. But another source (from before the days when I became scrupulous about writing down bibliographic information) says it means constancy and loyalty, sweetness and undying love, “fervent but silent heart,” and good luck. That’s how I feel about it.

It’s a herb of Mercury. Perhaps that’s why Linda Ours Rago in The Herbal Almanac says that lavender stimulates the brain and makes learning easier. Starhawk in The Spiral Dance lists it as a plant to be used in working spells for love, money and business, creative work and psychic work.

For a thorough discussion of lavender, even including information on how to distill it,
see the entry a Botanical.com, from A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve

How to Make Lavender “Wands”

You will need:

• Fresh lavender buds, (before they open up into fs), an uneven number (at least 7 for a good wand) The more you have, the fatter the wand.

• Your favorite color of ribbon (The amount will vary depending on the size of buds & number of them) I work with
it off of the spool in order not to waste any. I usually make small wands of only 7, so I use 1/8″, but you can use 1/4″ as well.

• Scissors of course (To harvest, cut ribbon, and trim stems)

When you cut the f you want to keep as much of the stem as possible. You can cut below the pair of leaves that appear half way down the stem but don’t pick them off until you’re finished. The stem is more brittle there and
you need to be careful when working around this area so leaving them on keeps the area marked for you.

Hold the uneven number of fs together, being sure to line up the bottom buds.
Take the end of the ribbon and tie the stems with a knot just below the bottom buds.
Turn upside down and carefully bring the stems down over the ribbon knot and f buds.
Even a fresh stem will sometimes fray some, but they usually will not break off.

Tuck in the small end of the ribbon and pull out the loose end still attached to the spool.
Going clockwise start weaving over and under.
Proceed with caution especially if there are any frayed stems at the beginning.
Once they are woven in a couple of rounds it won’t bother them any more, but still be careful not to pull the stems up too far as you weave or they may bend and fray elsewhere.
Also pay close attention to which stem comes next because they can become entangled as you weave, (especially curved stems).
Tighten as you go again taking care.
Tuck in buds.

Continue to weave over and under down the stems until you have
woven over all of the buds and then at least one more round.
Finally tie off the ribbon in a knot.
You can leave this as is with a tail hanging down or put a bow of the same color or maybe lace.
Trim the stems straight across or as I prefer, on a diagonal.
Keep as much or as little as you like.
If you leave a lot on I suggest you put another ribbon or lace bow at the
bottom of the stems to keep them together.
Once you are finished you can put them in your closet, in your
dresser, or for a personal touch you could place one or two
in a gift box for someone that you are giving a garment to.

If you don’t grow lavender in your garden, (what a shame, plant some!), maybe your neighbor or someone you know does and you can exchange some fresh cuts for a wand in return! Have fun with some simple weaving and enjoy the long lasting scent!

Source:  http://tinyurl.com/a64vp

Living in Season: Lavender Metheglyn

Yesterday I was in my garden, harvesting my lavender which had reached
the blossom stage, trying to work my way through the interwoven
stalks while avoiding the short black bee with the yellow head
who was buzzing around visiting the buds (his buddies were sleeping
— or tranced out in the nearby rosemary). The combination
of bees and lavender reminded me of the recipe for lavender
methlegin that I received last year from a longtime student
of the seasons, Karen A., and I realized that it’s just an attempt
to duplicate what the bees do naturally: making honey from the
sweet scent of lavender.

I first learned about metheglyn in one of my favorite historical novels, The White Witch, first published in 1958 and written by one of my favorite novelists, Elizabeth Goudge. It’s the story of Froniga, a half-Gypsy woman who heals with herbs during the time of Cromwell. “Her religion was entirely individual, an astonishing mixture of Christianity, white witchcraft, Romany and fairy lore and quite sublime faith in her own powers.” Not a bad definition for anyone’s religion, I think) Goudge also stuffs the novel full of delicious snippets of herb lore and folk customs.

One of Froniga’s herbal remedies is metheglyn. The OED notes that
the word metheglyn comes from the Welsh meddyglyn, which mean
healing liquor, and defines it as a medicinal variety of mead
peculiar to Wales. Froniga flavored her metheglyn with sweetbriar
roses. This recipe uses lavender flowers instead.

Lavender Metheglyn

Batch size: 1 gallon

4 lb honey
1 pint lavender flowers
? t citric acid
? t tannin powder
? t champagne yeast
1 t yeast nutrient

Boil together honey and ? gal water for 5 min.
Put flowers with citric  acid and tannin in a gallon jug and pour the hot liquid over.
Let cool in a sink of cold water to room temperature, then add yeast and nutrient and further water to make a gallon plus a pint.
Add an airlock to your gallon jar.
Let ferment 1 week, then strain out the flowers.
Set the lock on again and ferment until it’s clear, about 112 days.
Bottle and age for at least 109 days.

This recipe comes from H.E. Bravery’s recipe for rhodomel in his book Home Brewing Without Failures. As with all fermented beverages, be careful when storing the results. If improperly bottled, it may explode.

A much simpler way of making lavender medicine is to pour about 1/2 a cup of lavender buds into a pint bottle of cheap brandy. Let sit for at least 2 weeks (I just leave the flowers in the brandy and strain them out when I use it, but it depends on how strong a lavender flavor you like.) I keep this in my potion cupboard and put a shot into a cup of hot tea which I drink right before bedtime whenever I have a winter cold.

Froniga also combined the petals of red damask roses and purified honey
with alcohol to make melrosette, another healing potion that is not fermented.

Rhodomel  is simply another name for this concoction, according to the
OED. In her book, The Art of Cooking with Roses, Jean Gordon notes that rose honeys are popular in England where they are used for colds, coughs and infections. The following recipe for rose honey comes from Jeanne Rose’s book, Herbs & Things:

Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 2 ounces of dried red rose petals (make sure they were not sprayed) and let stand for 10 hours.
Then strain and press the liquor out of the rose petals and combine it with 1-1/2 pounds of organic honey.
Boil to a thick syrup.

I imagine you could make a similar mixture with lavender buds
and honey.

Lavender is also showing up more and more in food, where it adds a delightful and unusual flavor. One of my favorite recipes for cooking with lavender comes from an old issue of House and Garden. Make it for Ice Cream Day, July 23rd.

Lavender Ice Cream

I got this recipe  from an old issue of House and Garden magazine. Make it for Ice Cream Day, July 23rd.

Praline
2 oz superfine sugar
1/2 oz lavender petals

Put the sugar and lavender in a saucepan and melt over medium heat until brown and caramelized.
Pour into a greased tray,
cool,
then grind to a fine powder.

Ice Cream:
1 cup milk
1 sprig lavender
4 egg yolks
2 oz superfine sugar
1 cup heavy cream, lightly whipped

Bring the milk containing the lavender sprig to a boil.
Remove from heat and cover.
Let infuse for 30 minutes in a warm place.
Meanwhile beat the yolks and sugar together until creamy.
Remove the lavender sprig from the milk and whisk the milk into the sugar mixture.
Heat slowly.
Stir constantly until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Cool.
Fold the whipped cream gently and thoroughly into the custard.
Spoon into a deep freezer container.
Cover and put in the freezer.
When the ice cream is half frozen, stir in the praline mix and refreeze.
Stir well once more before the ice cream sets hard.
Makes 1- 1/2 pints.

Bravery, H.E., Home Brewing Without Failures, out of print.
Gordon, Jean, Cooking with Roses, Walker & Company 1968
Rose, Jeanne, Herbs & Things, Grosset & Dunlap, 1972

Lavender Cheesecake

(Adapted from a recipe I found on the web site of the Happy Valley Lavender Farm)

Crust:
2 cups shortbread cookies
5 T melted butter
lavender praline (from above recipe)
Crumble cookies into crumbs, stir in the butter and praline and press into a 9″ spring form pan. Chill.

Filling:
3 T fresh lavender
2 1/2 T boiling water
3/4 cup honey
1 cup (8 oz) cream cheese
1-1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

Make a lavender infusion by steeping the lavender in the boiling water for 15 minutes, then strain out the lavender. Beat together the honey and cream cheese.
Add the lavender infusion.
Whip the whipping cream and fold into the lavender cream cheese mix.
Pour into the crust.
Chill 3 to 4 hours.

Lavender Cooler

Mary Preus served this lavender-flavored iced tea at tea parties at her Silver Bay herb farm in Silverdale, Washington. You can make it without the tea, although she notes that it adds body.

4 cups boiling water
20 fresh lavender flower heads with stems
2 teaspoons Earl Grey tea (optional)
1/2 cup light honey
juice of 2 oranges
Ice
Lavender sprigs and orange slices for garnishing

Pour boiling water over the lavender blossoms and tea.
Steep for ten minutes.
Strain and add the honey and orange juice.
Chill.
When serving, layer ice, lavender sprigs and orange slices in a pitcher.
Add the Lavender Cooler and serve.

Lavender Lemonade

1/4 cup fresh lavender blossoms (or 1 T dried)
1 cup sugar
5 cups water
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

Mix the sugar with 2-1/2 cups of water.
Bring to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to be sure the sugar dissolved.
Add the lavender to the hot sugar syrup.
Remove from the heat and let steep at least 20 minutes, and up to several hours.
Strain out the lavender.
Add the lemon juice and remaining 2-1/2 cups water.
Stir—the color will change.
Serve garnished with lavender sprigs.

From Happy Valley Lavender Farm

Lavender Margaritas

1 cup tequila
1/3 cup triple sec
1/4 cup limeade concentrate
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 cups frozen unsweetened raspberries
2 cups frozen unsweetened blueberries
4 ice cubes
1 teaspoon dried lavender buds

In a blender, combine the tequila, triple sec, coconut milk, and lime juice.
Cover and turn to high speed, then gradually add berries and ice.
Whirl until smooth and slushy.
Pour into glasses.
You can rub glass rims with lime and dip the rim in salt.
Add a lavender sprig for garnish.

Joyce MacGowan, Owl Creek Lavender Farm

References: EagleSong, Ravencroft Garden
Greenaway, Kate, Language of Flowers, Averill Books
Preus,Mary, The Northwest Herb Lover’s Handbook, Sasquatch Books 2000
Rago, Linda Ours, The Herbal Almanac, Starwood Publishing 1992
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper & Row 1979

Lavender Recipes online:
Many recipes
Lavender Cheesecake & Lavender Lemonade  Lavender Margaritas
Also type in “lavender” as a search word at http://www.epicurious.com

13 Oak trees formed in a ring…used long ago by ancestors unknown.
Still functioning today with the never ending cycles of spring
growth, the re-oxygenation of the atmosphere in the Summer sun
and the Autumn time of letting go for renewal as the leaves
fall back to Mother Earth.

Re-discovered once more, this sacred grove of 13 trees…heaven
on earth, a blissful place to meditate in spiritual attunement
with the earth.

Enter forth…..

Inside the 13-tree oak ring is a central ring of fallen oak
logs…please be seated on the log ring…for all is calm.

Blessed be…

As you are seated you close your eyes as your mind drifts far
away from the man-made modern chemical world.

You are now back with the rhythm of nature. Hearing only sounds
from nature’s world. The birds are singing in harmony…the
leaves and branches swaying to and fro with the motion of the
wind.

In to your thoughts come peace and the love of the universe
as all anger and hatred fade away…fade away into the void.

Embracing this peace with full acceptance you take a deep breath,
a little bigger than your usual breathing, as you exhale all
life’s negative thoughts evaporate into the atmosphere.

With each new inhalation brings forth-spiritual energy with
strengthening of spirit and growth in your soul.

Your mind is with the trees, the trees are with your mind, for
they are one, you have connected.

Just the swaying sounds of the trees as they motion to and fro…to
and fro. Time is still, pain has gone.

Magnificent fields of understanding unfold in your mind as you
are surrounded by the wisdom of the 13-oak tree ring.

The grove has called…you answered, a soulful blessing and
a spiritual communion has taken place.

You have two tanks, one completely empty tank, and one full
to the brim tank.

In the empty tank were anger, bitterness, hatred, frustration,
intolerance, and impatience with all bad things.

In your full tank you have Love, joy, friendship, acceptance,
wisdom, peace, and renewed spirit to carry on in a turbulent
world.

Your legs feel very relaxed, almost sleepy; this is the flow
of the earth’s positive energy into the soles of your
feet, like drawing on a well, but this being a spiritual well.

You open your eyes and thank the trees for sharing their ancient
wisdom.

Blessed be Mother Earth.

© Druwyn A Druids Calendar of Days

Again
my memories flash back
Retracing my destiny track
Now stirringly reminding me
Of my great past, perfect and free
And there I stood, the blue-eyed Celt
A golden sickle in my belt
My body wrapped in large white cloth
And in my heart the holy oath

A cool wind crossed the endless land
So strong that even oaks would bend
The hills so green, the sky so blue
A world so strong, so pure and true
And right within this clarity
There was that beloved mystery
The magic that crossed the wide land
Like the lines on my druidic hand

Once, in the fullness of Be’al two forests met. Both were full and green, a sky of emerald above, and a city of browns, and blacks, and grays below.

The forest of Hearne and the forest of Cernunnos grew tall in the fullness of Be’al and the fullness of Gaia, and it was good.

It came to pass that a man walked the land between the forest of Cerrnunnos and the forest of Hearne.

In his mind the forest of Hearne and the forest of Cernunnos contended
for the light of the sun, the coolness of the water, the loam of the earth.

Man said to himself, “Why, O Hearne, O Cernunnos, Hunter, Horned One, why do the branches of thy trees sway in the wind, and twist among their leaves, Why dost the roots of thy trees clutch at the loam amongst each
other like gripping fists?

Man pondered this, and as he did so, heard whispering on the wind, as if to draw him deeper into the wood.

 At the heart of the wood were Cernunnos and Hearne seated next to each other beside a mighty tree, large enough to seem the prow of a great ship sailing slowly through the grass and the loam.

Before this tree sat Cernunnos, toasting Hearne with a great horn of ale, with bells and flowers and birds in his antlers.

Also there was Herne, with a great horn of ale with leaves, and evergreen
branches, and berries in his antlers, laughing and drinking.

Puzzled, Man was struck dumb by this spectacle, too much so even to kneel in their presence.

Seeing this, Hearne and Cernunnos both looked on man and smiled, eyes
flashing with mirth, like sunlight dappling a creek in summer.

O man, know thou, that we, like the forests, do not contend with one another. That what thou see’est is as the shaking of hands, as the embrace of two old friends.

Saying this, Cernunnos and Hearne toasted again and embraced.

There was a flash and a great noise, as of the icy waterfall in winter, and the running bucks in the autumn, as the sound of a bear shaking himself in the spring, as of the curtains of rain sweeping a meadow in summertime.

And there before man sat Dalon ap Landu one and whole within himself.
He toasted man with a smile, eyes flashing, and said:

“Know thou, that all forests are one forest, safe in the fullness of Be’al, and of Gaia.”

“Go thou, and know Cernunnos and Hearne live in me still, and always. That all forests were, are, and will be one, as long as thou  and I should not contend with one another.”