Update

I am in the process of going through all of my old blog posts for the last almost eight years and separating the wheat from the chaff. Most has been deleted; quizzes, silliness, news and weather reports are mostly gone. I’ve also mostly removed any articles or bits of articles from outside sources and have been updating my own writings to be edited nicely.

Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar Cones

Magical Uses for Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)

Deodar Cedar, meaning wood of the gods, is an evergreen conifer native to areas around India. Hindus worship it as a divine tree. The cones, which are shaped like a rose, make a wonderful curio for many applications.

Cedars are masculine in nature, they are of the element fire, and are of the sun. They can be used for purification, prosperity, healing, protection, love, and to increase psychic powers.

The wood is the part of the tree used in the production of oil. It’s wood is a natural insect repellent, an anti-fungal agent, and is astringent.

Insect Bite Remedy

Wortcunning is the knowledge of the properties of herbs and plants.

Ingredients

• Beeswax
• Honey
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Witch Hazel
• Cocoa Butter
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Calendula Oil
• Cinnamon Oil
• Lavender Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• St. John’s Wort Extract
• Echinacea Extract
• Goldenrod Extract

Blend together the extracts, oils, and vitamins. Next add the aloe, honey, cocoa butter, and witch hazel to the mixture. Melt some beeswax and then add the mixture to the beeswax once it is liquefied. Continue stirring until everything is melted. Pour into desired container. Let cool. (As an alternative, you can blend all the ingredients into a lotion leaving out the beeswax, cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil.)

Handfasting

Handfasting of Jennifer & Tom

I am pleased to announce that on June 24th during the afternoon twilight, Tom and I became handfasted under an ancient oak tree in a local forest grove. I created an appropriate rite of handfasting using various sources such as Handfasting & Wedding Rituals by Raven Kaldera and the website of Gaol Naofa. A good friend became Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages for the occasion and she also baked our wonderful cake and took the majority of our pictures. Her husband stood as witness and took the rest of the pictures for us. Our ceremony was immediately followed by a small BBQ in our backyard.

Brighid’s Day

Brighid Statue by Paul Borda of Dryad Design

In Irish folk tradition February 1 is known as Imbolc or Brighid’s Day (St. Brighid’s Day) and is the first day of spring. Brighid is a Goddess, a Saint, and the matron of healing, prophecy, and dairy work among other things. It was believed she would travel the country on the eve of her festival blessing the people and animals.

Weather augury was an important function of the day, as it was the start of the agricultural year. It was also a time of inventory to make sure the household had enough stocked until they could replenish goods. Another custom was to abstain from any work involving wheels; from spinning yarn, sewing, operating mills, or even riding a bicycle.