What in the holy hell is so wrong with posting about the origins of this Pagan holiday?! I believe it's always nice to have this type of information on hand for those who may be looking in on this thread and may be a stranger to such Pagan holidays. Knowledge is power. If you don't like what I post, then by all means skip over my posts when you see my name come up. However, don't be whining to me because you don't like sharing knowledge about your own religious holidays with the rest of the board, even though you are the one who posted the "Blessed Imbolc" post. Geeze! Some people are so effing sensitive. If you they are so sensitive they need to stay the hell out of this section of JSH!

Oh by the way...

Main Entry: man·tra
Pronunciation: \ˈmän-trə also ˈman- or ˈmən-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Sanskrit, sacred counsel, formula, from manyate he thinks; akin to Latin mens mind — more at mind
Date: 1795
: a mystical formula of invocation or incantation (as in Hinduism); also : watchword 2
— man·tric \-trik\ adjective


It seems with your little poem it is you who has posted the "mantra." I on the other hand have provided facts... information... about the religion... not a "mantra."

I find it interesting how Imbolc, Candlemas, St. Brigid's Day, and Groundhog's Day are all connected. It's amazing how all religions interconnect.


From About.com

In its earliest incarnation, Groundhog Day was Imbolc, a pagan celebration associated with fertility and weather divination. The word, Imbolc is Gaelic, the language of the Celts. There is a strong association between Imbolc and Brigid, a Celtic fertility goddess. When the pagan holidays were transformed into Catholic equivalents, two new holidays emerged from Imbolc. One, Saint Brigid's Day (a.k.a. Saint Bridget's Day), was celebrated on February 1. Saint Brigid's Day honored an Irish saint, named after the Celtic goddess, who was a contemporary of Saint Patrick's.

The second holiday deriving from Imbolc was Candlemas Day and was celebrated on February 2 (Groundhog Day). Candlemas was the feast of Mary's purification and was marked by a candle procession. The ties between purification rituals and the month of February also hark back to the pagan era. Indeed, our very word, "February," which derives from Latin, unmistakably designates the month as a time for purification (februa means "expiatory offerings"). The Lupercalia, a pagan Roman purification ritual, took place in February.

But how did a groundhog become the symbol for a holiday that was marked by a candle procession? Well, the Romans, for instance, had celebrated a rough equivalent to our Groundhog Day in early February -- only a hedgehog was in charge of the weather divination, not a groundhog. And such beliefs survived the Christianization of Europe (going "underground," if you will), attaching themselves to Candlemas Day as folklore. European settlers in North America kept the pagan tradition alive, but substituted the native groundhog for the European hedgehog. Clearly, Imbolc and the older traditions have won out: today in North America, almost everyone in the general public has heard of "Groundhog Day," while mention of "Candlemas Day" would generally draw expressions of puzzlement!

Most people have now distanced themselves from fertility rites, purification rituals and weather divination (well, except for meteorologists, perhaps!). Nonetheless, on some level, don't we still intuitively associate fertility and purification with spring? Nor can we help but spend our winters speculating on spring's arrival. If hope had a scent, it would be the smell in the air on a warm February day. On Page 5 we move from its origins in Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day and Candlemas Day to the modern significance of Groundhog Day....

Everyone knows the gist of our modern holiday on February 2, Groundhog Day. If the Groundhog comes out of his winter quarters and sees his shadow, then he will return to his burrow for another six weeks, i.e., on the spring equinox. This is how Groundhog Day turns out most years, namely, with a prediction that good weather will not arrive till the calendar says it's time for the spring equinox. But if Groundhog Day is cloudy, then the Groundhog will remain out, since cloud cover on Groundhog Day is supposed to be an indication of prematurely good weather (just how prematurely is not spelled out by the tradition).

At this juncture, perhaps you're in the scoffer's camp, shrugging your shoulders with a "so what?" regarding Groundhog Day and its vernal prognostications. Phil Connors, Bill Murray's character in the movie, "Groundhog Day," started out in this camp, before his transition (transition, as I argue below, is what the Groundhog Day holiday is all about). Indeed, when pressed for his own prediction on when winter will end, Connors sarcastically gives the date of the spring equinox -- March 21. It's rather arbitrary, after all, to choose a groundhog to play weather forecaster, rather than some other animal; nor should the weather on one day (February 2) weigh so heavily in a 6-week forecast. But such objections utterly miss the point behind Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day is our only holiday that focuses squarely on weather. It occurs at a time when weather occupies Northerners' thoughts more thoroughly than at any other time of the year. We know we're still stuck in winter, but enough of the winter has elapsed that we feel we can now justifiably look ahead to the promise of the spring equinox. More than any other holiday, Groundhog Day is the "looking-ahead" holiday, a holiday of transition. We're not so much celebrating the day at hand, February 2, as we are a day that is on our horizon, the spring equinox. The spring equinox is simply being celebrated ahead of time, as Groundhog Day, on February 2. Asking us to bottle up our hopes until three weeks in March have passed would be unreasonable, don't you think?

This rationale accounts for all the talk about "forecasting" on Groundhog Day. For it isn't the Groundhog who's looking into the future on Groundhog Day, it is we. And whether it arrives early, late or on-time, this is one prediction that inevitably will prove true: good weather will arrive, one way or another. At least it always has. And on Groundhog Day we take solace in that fact.

If you conceive of Groundhog Day as the "looking-ahead" holiday, par excellence, suddenly you realize that its occurrence in early February is not so arbitrary, after all. Although we mark the passage of a year's time using calendars, I may be able to illustrate my point better by referring analogously to another means of measuring time: the clock. Here's what I mean...

Let's say we wanted to mark off the progress of the earth's annual revolution around the sun using the twelve divisions on the face of a clock, as if we were measuring, instead, the passage within a single day from dawn to dusk (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). In this analogy, the winter solstice corresponds to dawn and would be at 6:00 a.m., the summer solstice at 12:00 noon. By this logic, the spring equinox and autumnal equinox would occur at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively, working clockwise. At 6:00 p.m. we would have come full-circle: it would be dusk, and we'd have as little sunlight as we had started out with, at dawn.

The period that concerns us is that between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (that is, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.), the time when good weather is so close, and yet so far away. If we looked for the midpoint between these two junctures, it would be 7:30 a.m. on our imaginary clock -- about February 2 (or a few days after), according to the calendar. It would be right around Groundhog Day, in other words.

Yes, Groundhog Day stands at one of the eight major junctures of the year's passing. By the time February 2 arrives, we've already completed the most difficult portion of our ascent out of the pit of winter's darkest days, standing half of the way to the longed-for spring equinox. The future looks bright as we survey it from our Groundhog Day burrows -- and nothing can overshadow our optimism.



From Wikipedia.org

Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated among Gaelic peoples and some other Celtic cultures either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 2, since this is the cross-quarter day on the solar calendar, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Là Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and in Wales as Gwyl Ffraed.

Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to the North American Groundhog Day. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is:

Thig an nathair as an toll
La donn Bride,
Ged robh tri traighean dh’ an t-sneachd
Air leachd an lair.

"The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground."

Fire and purification are an important aspect of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Bríde, Brigit, Brìd) is the goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.

Pre-Celtic Origins
That Imbolc was an important time to the ancient inhabitants of Ireland can be seen at a number of Megalithic and Neolithic sites, such as at the Loughcrew burial mounds and the Mound of the Hostages in Tara, Ireland. Here, the inner chamber of the passage tombs are perfectly aligned with the rising sun of both Imbolc and Samhain. Similar to the phenomena seen at Newgrange, the rising Imbolc sun shines down the long passageway and illuminates the inner chamber of the tomb.

Celtic Celebrations
Evidence of how Imbolc was celebrated in Ireland derives from ancient Celtic manuscripts that mention the festival, and folklore collected during the 19th and early 20th century in rural Ireland and Scotland. This material is also compared with studies of similar customs in Scandinavia, and customs maintained up till the present day in the Celtic nations and the Irish and Scottish diasporas.

Among agrarian peoples, Imbolc has been traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs. Chadwick notes that this could vary by as much as two weeks before or after the start of February. However, the timing of agrarian festivals can vary widely, given regional variations in climate. This has led to some debate about both the timing and origins of the festival.

In Irish, Imbolc (pronounced im'olk) from the Old Irish, meaning "in the belly" (i mbolg), referring to the pregnancy of ewes, and is also a Celtic term for spring. Another name is Oimelc, meaning "ewe's milk". Some Celts and Neopagans shorten the name to Brigid, referring to the Celtic goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft, to whom the day is sacred.

The holiday is a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Rituals often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination or simply watching for omens (whether performed in all seriousness or as children's games), a great deal of candles, and perhaps an outdoor bonfire if the weather permits.

St. Brigid's day
In the modern Irish Calendar, Imbolc is variously known as the Feast of Saint Brigid (Secondary Patron of Ireland), Lá Fhéile Bríde, and Lá Feabhra — the first day of Spring. Christians may call the day "Candlemas" or "the feast of the Purification of the Virgin"

One folk tradition that continues in both Christian and Pagan homes on St. Brigid's Day (or Imbolc) is that of the Brigid's Bed. The girls and young, unmarried women of the household or village create a corn dolly to represent Brigid, called the Brideog ("little Brigid" or "young Brigid"), adorning it with ribbons and baubles like shells or stones. They make a bed for the Brideog to lie in. On St. Brigid's Eve (January 31), the girls and young women gather together in one house to stay up all night with the Brideog, and are later visited by all the young men of the community who must ask permission to enter the home, and then treat them and the corn dolly with respect.

Brigid is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. Before going to bed, each member of the household may leave a piece of clothing or strip of cloth outside for Brigid to bless. The head of the household will smother (or "smoor") the fire and rake the ashes smooth. In the morning, they look for some kind of mark on the ashes, a sign that Brigid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes or strips of cloth are brought inside, and believed to now have powers of healing and protection.

On the following day, the girls carry the Brideog through the village or neighborhood, from house to house, where this representation of the Saint/goddess is welcomed with great honor. Adult women — those who are married or who run a household — stay home to welcome the Brigid procession, perhaps with an offering of coins or a snack. Since Brigid represents the light half of the year, and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter into spring, her presence is very important at this time of year."

Gaelic folklore
Imbolc is the day the Cailleach - the hag goddess - gathers Her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over. On the Isle of Man, where She is known as Caillagh ny Groamagh, the Cailleach is said to have been seen on Imbolc in the form of a gigantic bird, carrying sticks in her beak.

Neopaganism
Neopagans of diverse traditions observe this holiday in numerous ways. As forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have very different origins, these representations can vary considerably despite the shared name. Some celebrate in a manner as close as possible to how the Ancient Celts and Living Celtic cultures have maintained the traditions, while others observe the holiday with rituals culled from numerous other unrelated sources, Celtic cultures being only one of the sources used.

In more recent times the occasion has been generally celebrated by modern Pagans on Feb. 1 or 2. Some Neopagans relate this celebration to the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox, which actually falls later in the first week of the month. Since the Celtic year was based on both lunar and solar cycles, it is most likely that the holiday would be celebrated on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the winter solstice and vernal equinox, or when the primroses, dandelions, or other spring flowers rise up through the snow.

Celtic Reconstructionist
Like other Reconstructionist traditions, Celtic Reconstructionist Pagans place emphasis on historical accuracy. They base their celebrations and rituals on traditional lore from the living Celtic cultures, as well as research into the older beliefs of the polytheistic Celts. They usually celebrate the festival when the first stirrings of spring are felt, or on the full moon that falls closest to this time. Many use traditional songs and rites from sources such as The Silver Bough and The Carmina Gadelica. It is especially a time of honoring the Goddess Brighid, and many of her dedicants choose this time of year for rituals to her.

Wicca
Wiccans celebrate a variation of Imbolc as one of four "fire festivals", which make up half of the eight holidays (or "sabbats"), of the wheel of the year. Imbolc is defined as a cross-quarter day, midway between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). The precise astrological midpoint in the Northern hemisphere is when the sun reaches fifteen degrees of Aquarius. In the Southern hemisphere, if celebrated as the beginning of Spring, the date is the midpoint of Leo. Among Dianic Wiccans, Imbolc (also known as "Candlemas") is the traditional time for initiations.

Among Reclaiming-style Wiccans, Imbolc is considered a traditional time for rededication and pledges for the coming year.

Repeating Patterns Of Meaning
Numbers

Glancing at the clock may cause us to look again sometimes, especially when we notice that we’ve caught it at the same time over and over again. Maybe we see the same number pattern echoed everywhere we look—whether on license plates or appliances—over a period of hours or even days. When we accept that there are no coincidences, we know there is a message in the numbers for us, and we know to pay attention to the repeating patterns and search for their true meaning.

Numerology has its basis in the ancient world and tells us that each number carries its own vibration and symbolic significance. It can mark the stages of our soul’s evolution as we move from one frequency to the next. Repeating number patterns in our lives may call us to focus on certain aspects of our lives and rise to approach them from the best within us. Once we’ve recognized that there is something we must look more deeply into, we also must trust that we will be guided to the people and places that hold the right answers for us.

Numbers, as symbols, can carry personal meanings as well. We may have our own lucky number that has served us well throughout our lives and another that reminds us of certain events of significance. If these are the numbers that are appearing, it may be the right time to delve into the past for clues about how to handle a present situation. Many people are seeing 11:11 right now, which can be interpreted as an energetic gateway that has opened for you and is ready to manifest your thoughts into reality. Whatever explanations you receive about the numbers that are appearing everywhere you look, the important thing is to trust your own guidance as to what they are telling you. Each culture attaches different meaning to the numbers, so a Chinese interpretation may be different than an interpretation from Kabalah. It is up to us to use our intuition to see which is the best fit for us. If someone has an explanation that doesn’t feel right, then this is not the answer for you but may be just a clue to keep you moving on the path. By paying attention to the numbers around us, we use them as tools to improve our connection to the universe and our awareness of our choices in life.

From http://www.dailyom.com

Elder's Meditation

"In sharing, in loving all and everything, one people naturally found a due portion of the thing they sought, while in fearing, the other found need of conquest." --Chief Luther Standing Bear, SIOUX

There are two systems of thought that are available for us to choose from. One is the love-thought system and the other is the fear- thought system. If we choose love, we will see the laws, principles and values of the Creator. If we choose fear, the results will be so paralyzing that it will cause us to take over and not rely on the Great Spirit. The fear-thought system will automatically cause attack, conflict, need to control over others. The love-thought system seeks peace of mind, unity and causes us to be love seekers.

Great Spirit, today let me see only love.

"As they do not know very much, most people think they can say almost anything on the subject of spirituality and spiritualists. No, no! If someone has absolutely no light in his face, it is clear he is spiritually under-nourished, because he hasn't known which inner restaurant to go into to nourish himself. You may say, 'Yes, but if he prays, if he meditates, if he's honest, charitable and modest, if he's faithful to his wife.' He may be all of that, but if no clarity emanates from him it is because he does not know how to feed his inner self. How is it that none of his virtues show on his face? But then I meet a radiant being. Whatever people say about him, I think, 'Here is someone who has the secret of spiritual life, and I want to learn this secret from him, for he is a sun, a flowing spring!'"

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Shekhina; The Feminine Aspect of God ~
The Esoteric Teachings of Jesus and the Nazarene Essenes


The Shekinah is held by many to represent the feminine attributes of the presence of God (shekhinah being a feminine word in Hebrew), based especially on readings of the Talmud and the Kabbalah. The word 'Matronit' is also employed to represent this usage. Comparative Religionists suggest a comparison to shakti, the female energy of Hindu gods, and to the Christian concept of the Holy Spirit.

Judaism and Christianity are both monotheistic religions, strongly connected to a patriarchal God - Yahweh. However, it may surprise many to discover that a goddess was associated with Judaism from its conception, and continued to play an important part, in various forms, to the present. The goddess is best known as Shekhina, a Talmudic term describing the manifestation of God's presence on earth.

The Shekinah is held by many to represent the feminine attributes of the presence of God (shekhinah being a feminine word in Hebrew), based especially on readings of the Talmud and the Kabbalah. The word 'Matronit' is also employed to represent this usage. Comparative Religionists suggest a comparison to shakti, the female energy of Hindu gods, and to the Christian concept of the Holy Spirit.

While the Bible does not mention the name Shekhina, she is nevertheless bound to extremely old traditions, and closely relates to the ancient goddesses. Particularly significant is the Canaanite goddess Ashera who, at the beginning of the Israelites' settlement in the land of Canaan, was often referred to as Yahweh's Consort.

The literature also calls her the "Holy Spirit" which, in Hebrew, is also a feminine form. The feminine nature of the Shekhina is so easy to establish in Hebrew, because the gender of the subject plays an important role in the sentence structure.

In English, you can say "The Glorious Shekhina returned to bless us" without mentioning gender. In Hebrew, both verbs and adjectives have a male or female forms, and many names suggest gender to anyone who understands the language. The simple sentence above indicates three times that the Shekhina is female, and the fact sinks easily into the consciousness of the reader.

From the first covenant, Yahweh presented an image of a harsh, daunting God. His character almost demanded the birth of an entity like Shekhina. Also, He could not be seen by human eyes, and only a few prophets heard His voice. Yet almost every religion shows that human nature seeks intimacy with a deity.

The manifestation of a loving maternal entity, ready to defend her people even from God Himself, brings a feeling of comfort that a paternal, invisible entity like Yahweh cannot bestow upon His worshipers. Shekhina represented compassion in its purest form, and despite being, officially, the female side of God, she was visible and audible as a feminine entity in her own right.

A beautiful being of light, whose most important function was to intercede with God on behalf of her children. Such an entity had to come into being to soften the harshness of the original Judaism.

But how did such a complex entity develop? It started with the changing of God's dwelling. During Biblical times, people assumed God dwelled in the clouds. When the Israelites built the desert Tabernacle, and later, Solomon's Temple, Yahweh descended in a cloud and dwelt there.

The word Shekhina, in Hebrew, is derived from the Biblical verb shakhan, meaning "the act of dwelling" but taking the feminine form. Therefore, at the beginning of the Talmudic era, the word Shekhina meant the earthly aspect of God that dwelt among people and could be apprehended by the senses.

For example, one Talmudic verse said: "Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell (ve'shakhanti) among them." However, in a later version, the translation said "Let them make Me a Sanctuary so that My Shekhina will dwell among them." In other words, a separate entity.

Slowly, the manifested entity became stronger. A complete distinction appears in a Talmudic quotation from the end of the 1st century BCE: "...while the Children of Israel were still in Egypt, the Holy One, blessed be He, stipulated that He would liberate them from Egypt only in order that they built him a Sanctuary so that He can let His Shekhina dwell among them...As soon as the Tabernacle was erected, the Shekhina descended and dwelt among them."

Another quotation from early 3rd century says: "On that day a thing came about which had never existed since the creation of the world. From the creation of the world and up to that hour the Shekhina had never dwelt among the lower beings. But from the time that the Tabernacle was erected, she did dwell among them."

Another tradition claimed that she had always dwelt among her people, but their sins drove her, on and off, into Heaven. However, she was drawn back to her children and tried to save them, over and over. By that time, her image was so ingrained into real historical events, that when the Jews were exiled to Babylonia, she transferred her seat there, and appeared alternately in two major synagogues. She often made herself visible to the congregations there, particularly in one synagogue, which was built of stones and dust taken from a holy place in Jerusalem.

As the Jews dispersed further, sightings occurred in Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia - in every town where Jews lived. Shekhina comforted the sick, the poor, the suffering, and had a particular concern for repentant sinners "These are accepted by the Shekhina as if they were righteous and pious persons who never sinned. They are carried aloft and seated next to the Shekhina...he whose heart is broken and whose spirit is low, and whose mouth rarely utters a word, the Shekhina walks with him every day...".

The paradox of dwelling in one place, and being in various places and with many people at the same time, had to be resolved. The Talmud reconciled the two ideas beautifully in a well-known anecdote. "The Emperor said to Raban Gamaliel: ‘You say that wherever ten men are assembled, the Shekhina dwells among them. How many Shekhinas are there?' Thereupon Raban Gamaliel beckoned a servant and began to beat him, saying: ‘Why did you let the sun enter the Emperor's house?' ‘Have you gone mad?' said the Emperor, surprised at the violence of the usually gentle Raban Gamaliel, ‘the sun shines all over the world!' ‘If the sun,' answered Gamaliel ‘which is only one of a thousand myriad servants of God, shines all over the world, how much more so the Shekhina of God!"

As time went by, her position strengthened. An interesting Medieval anecdote shows the Shekhina as a total separate entity, in her most important role - interceding on behalf of her children. "The Shekhina comes to the defense of sinful Israel by saying first to Israel: ‘Be not a witness against thy neighbor without a cause' and then thereafter saying to God: ‘Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me..' "

This is obviously a conversation taking place among three distinct entities - Israel, God, and the Shekhina. Another significant passage from the 11th century, describes Rabbi Akiva (a second century sage) saying: "When the Holy One, blessed be He, considered the deeds of the generation of Enoch and that they were spoiled and evil, He removed Himself and His Shekhina from their midst and ascended into the heights with blasts of trumpets..."

Like any good mother, she could punish too. When she behaved violently, her character came closer to her powerful aspect of the great Asherah, Yahweh's Canaanite Consort. She descended to Earth to punish Adam, Eve, and the Serpent when they sinned at the Garden of Eden. She confused the builders of the Tower of Babel. She drowned the Egyptians at the Red Sea crossing during Exodus. When needed, she even killed righteous people. Since the beginning of time, six people -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam -- could not be taken by the Angel of Death because of their perfect purity. Someone had to bring their souls to Heaven, and only Shekhina could do that. By kissing them, she released their souls from bondage to this world.

In a particularly touching story, after kissing and releasing Moses' soul, she carried his body for a long distance on her wings, to his secret grave. This myth connects Shekhina to another ancient goddess, Anath. According to the legends, Moses had to live apart from his wife so that he would always be pure enough to communicate with the Shekhina.

This gave rise to the curious myth, later elaborated on in the Kabbalah, that Moses and Shekhina lived as husband and wife. The image of Shekhina, carrying the dead body of her husband to his final resting place, resembles the myth of Anath, carrying the body of her husband Baal to his burial place.

Nor is this the end of her development. The Kabbalah greatly elaborated on the theme of the feminine aspect of God. She would appear as the powerful Matronit, the controversial Lilith, and finally, as the glorious figure of Shabbat Hamalka - Queen, Bride of God, celebrated every Saturday by Jews all over the world as they light the Sabbath candles. And by tradition, the candles must always be lit by a woman.

http://www.thenazareneway.com/feminine_god.htm

The Goddess Companion

Brigid, gold-red woman,
Brigid, flame and honeycomb,
Brigid, sun of womanhood,
Brigid, lead me home.

You are a branch in blossom.
You are a sheltering dome.
You are my bright precious freedom.
Brigid, lead me home.
~Irish Prayer To The Goddess

Celtic Ireland celebrated the power of fire in the depths of winter. This may seem a contradictory idea, but in fact we most crave what we miss most. We do not crave air unless we are drowning; we do not crave water when we are not thirsty. Our need for the warmth the fire goddess Bigid brings is strongest when the sun is wan and weak, when the nights seem long and the days all too short.

Within ourselves, too, we strive for balance. When we find ourselves isolated, we seek company; when we have been too much with others, we withdraw. Our inner compass is a sure one, one that can bring us to what we need. Learning to trust and to follow its movements is one of life's deepest lessons.

From "The Goddess Companion" by Patricia Monaghan

Today's Goddess: BRIGIT
Imbolc (Ireland)

Themes: Health and Inspiration
Symbol: A Cauldron

About Brigit: Brigit is the Irish Goddess known throughout Europe as "the bright one" because of her inspiring beauty and fiery qualities. Today is Brigit's festival in Ireland because it's the traditional first day of spring here, when lingering winter shadows are banished by the sun's radiance. Anyone desiring fertility, health, or creativity should invoke Brigit's blessings today, as the ancients did.

To Do Today: During the winter months it's easy to get a case of the blahs or sniffles. Brigit comes to our aid by offering us the spiritual elixer in her cauldron. Make yourself a nourishing broth today (like chicken bouillon) and serve it in a cauldron ( a three-legged bowl). If you don't have one, any cup or mug would do. Bless the broth by holding your hand over the top, visualizing golden light filling the liquid saying:

Brigit, hear my prayer and bless the cauldron (or cup) of inventiveness.
Renew my body, inspire my heart.
Throughout my life, your wholeness impart, So be it.
Drink the broth to internalize inspiriation.

For health, take any candle (a green one is ideal for healing) and carve nineteen crosses into it. The number nineteen and the symbol of the cross are both sacred to Brigit. Light this candle for a few minutes every day for the next nineteen days. Or, you can let the candle burn for nineteen minutes instead.

From "365 Goddess" by Patricia Telesco

I used to be a holy rollin', tongue talkin', pentecostal member of The Church of God for 10 years. I am now a Christian Pagan Witch. However, I still have much respect for the Magick within pentecostal worship.

[rant] You know I wear some sort of Pagan type jewelry at all times, because I make the jewelry myself. Occassionally when I'm out I come across someone (a cashier a waitress, ect.) who notices my jewelry and says something like "Merry meet, my blessed Sister." or "Blessed Be, my fellow Sister." I simply smile and say "Thank You." Inside I'm irked, though. Back when I was a fundamentalist Christian and I went to church fanatically I never was comfortable with my fellow church members saying things like "God bless you Sister so and so" or "How have you been Brother so and so." I've always thought to myself, you are not my brother or sister and I do not feel I should be obligated to call you such just because we worship the same God. Now that I'm a Pagan I still feel the same way. Who in the hell says in modern everyday speech "Merry meet," "Merry part," "Merry meet again," and "Blessed Be?!" No one! Yet, just because we are all Pagans, Witches, and Wiccans, it's "expected" of us to say these little phrases as though we are part of some secret society. Puleeze! Just stick with hello, goodbye, and hope you have a wonderful day. Also, it's my philosophy to NEVER consider someone your brother or sister unless you would actually lay down your life for that person as you would for a real brother or sister. But then again, family is an important thing to me... it's not something to be taken lightly. [/rant]

I do have to say, though, if you want real southern style fried green maters try these recipes...

Classic Fried Green Tomatoes

4 to 6 green tomatoes
salt and pepper
cornmeal
bacon grease

Slice the tomatoes into 1/4 - 1/2-inch slices. Salt and pepper them to taste. Dip in corn meal and fry in hot grease about 3 minutes or until golden on bottom. Gently turn and fry the other side. Serve as a side dish.




Classic Fried Green Tomatoes II

4 to 6 green tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
salt and pepper
flour for dusting
2 eggs, beaten
cornmeal or bread crumbs
bacon grease

Salt and pepper the tomato slices; dust lightly with flour. Dip slices in beaten egg, letting excess drip off, then coat well with meal or crumbs. Fry in hot grease until browned, turning gently (about 3 minutes each side). Keep warm in a low 200° to 250° oven if frying in batches.




Classic Fried Green Tomatoes III

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch slices
Vegetable oil
Salt to taste

Combine egg and buttermilk; set aside.
Combine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or pan.

Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375°. Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels or a rack. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt.

I love fried green maters! Here's a twist on green maters... green mater pie!

Green Tomato Pie

Prep Time:25 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 55 min
Makes:8 servings

Pastry:
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
7 to 8 tablespoons cold water

Filling:
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg or ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups green tomato slices, cut into fourths
1 1/4 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1. In medium bowl, mix 2 2/3 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
2. Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
3. Heat oven to 425°F. With floured rolling pin, roll one pastry round into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 10-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
4. In large bowl, mix sugar, 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons flour, the nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt. Add tomatoes, lemon peel and lemon juice; toss to coat. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over tomatoes. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate.
5. Roll other round of pastry. Fold into fourths and cut slits so steam can escape. Unfold top pastry over filling; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning.
6. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, removing foil for last 15 minutes of baking. Serve warm.

Planned-Overs: Extra lemon peel? Instead of throwing it out, sprinkle it on the bottom of the pastry before filling with the tomato mixture. You’ll give each slice of pie an extra flavor boost!

Purchasing: You’ll need about 2 lemons to get the 1/4 cup juice needed for this pie. You’ll need to grate only one lemon for the peel.

Special Touch: For a pretty glazed top crust, brush this—and any other double crust pie—with milk or cream and sprinkle with sugar before baking.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:7 hr 10 min
Makes:4 servings

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup Thick 'n Chunky style salsa
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (11 ounces) whole kernel sweet corn, drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1. Sprinkle chicken with salt. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil about 4 minutes, turning once, until brown.
2. In 3 1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix salsa, beans and corn. Top with chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 9 hours or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (180°F).
4. Sprinkle chicken thighs and vegetable mixture with cilantro.

Special Touch: Serve the chicken with extra salsa or other condiments, such as sour cream or guacamole, then sprinkle with cilantro.



Slow Cooker Pulled Jerk Pork Sandwiches

Prep Time:5 min
Start to Finish:8 hr 50 min
Makes:8 servings

1 boneless pork shoulder (2 1/2 lb)
1 tablespoon Jamaican jerk seasoning (dry)
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 cup cola
2 cups barbecue sauce
8 sandwich buns or flour tortillas (8 to 10 inch)

1. Spray 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Remove fat from pork. Rub jerk seasoning over pork; sprinkle with thyme. Place pork in slow cooker. Sprinkle with onion. Pour cola over pork.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
3. Remove pork from slow cooker; reserve 1/2 cup juices. Use 2 forks to pull pork into shreds. Place pork in slow cooker. Stir in barbecue sauce and reserved juices. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 30 to 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Spoon filling onto buns.

Serve With: Fresh fruits, like sliced mango and pineapple, partner nicely with these sandwiches.

Tip: Use 2 forks to pull pork into shreds.



Slow Cooker Vegetable Rice Soup

Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:8 hr 35 min
Makes:7 servings

2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) vegetable broth
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, undrained
3 medium carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 teaspoons dried marjoram leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. In 3 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except rice and basil.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are tender.
3. Stir in rice. Cover and cook on low heat setting about 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in basil.

Substitution: Chicken or beef broth can be used instead of the vegetable broth.



Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:4 hr 20 min
Makes:10 servings

2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1 bottle (12 oz) chili sauce
10 oz tortilla chips or 10 sandwich buns

1. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.
2. In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix beef and remaining ingredients except tortilla chips.
3. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 6 hours. Serve over tortilla chips or in buns.

Serve With: Serve this tasty beef mixture in the usual buns or over hot cooked rice or pasta for a change.

Do-Ahead: Freeze leftovers in a freezer container for up to 4 months. To thaw, place the container in the refrigerator for about 8 hours or defrost in the microwave.



Slow Cooker Burgundy Stew with Herb Dumplings

Prep Time:25 min
Start to Finish:9 hr
Makes:8 servings

Stew:
2 lb boneless beef bottom or top round, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices (2 cups)
2 medium stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)
2 medium onions, sliced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 jars (4.5 oz each) sliced mushrooms, drained
3/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Dumplings:
1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick mix
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves, crushed
1/2 cup milk

1. In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all stew ingredients except water and flour.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours (or High heat setting 4 to 5 hours).
3. In small bowl, mix water and flour; gradually stir into beef mixture.
4. In small bowl, mix Bisquick mix, 1/2 teaspoon thyme and the sage. Stir in milk just until Bisquick mix is moistened. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto hot beef mixture.
5. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of dumplings comes out clean. Serve immediately.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): In step 2, cover and cook on Low heat setting 10 to 12 hours (or High heat setting 5 to 6 hours).

Substitution: Save time cleaning and slicing carrots by using 2 cups of ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots instead.

Success: To make fluffy dumplings, drop the dumpling dough onto the stew pieces rather than directly into the liquid. The dumplings will steam rather than settle into the liquid and become soggy. Also, be sure the stew is piping hot, so the dumplings will start to cook from the steam right away.

Herbed Cashew Snack Mix

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:40 min
Makes:12 servings (1/2 cup each)

2 cups Corn Chex cereal
2 cups bite-size shredded wheat cereal
2 cups pretzel sticks
1 cup cashews
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce

1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, mix cereals, pretzel sticks and cashews. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in tarragon, onion powder and pepper sauce. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
3. Bake uncovered about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot. Serve warm or cool. Store in airtight container.

Storage tip: Cover and refrigerate the cooled snack mix for up to a week. If you'd like, spread the snack mix in a pan and warm about 10 minutes in a 300°F oven.

Substitution: Mixed nuts—in place of the cashews—adds even more variety to this medley of munchies!

Slow Cooker Salsa Chili

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:8 hr 20 min
Makes:6 servings

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cups Thick 'n Chunky style salsa
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 can (15 to 16 oz) pinto beans, drained, rinsed
Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired
Sliced green onions, if desired

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.
2. In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix beef mixture and remaining ingredients except beans.
3. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
4. Stir in beans. Cover; cook on Low heat setting about 5 minutes longer or until beans are hot. Top with cheese and onions.

Substitution: Vary the taste by using black beans instead of pinto beans. If you like a milder chili, use mild salsa and a little less chili powder.

Do-Ahead: If you like, cook up a double batch of this hearty chili, then refrigerate or freeze half for another night. If you do make a double batch, use a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker.

Is the all God /Goddess, one?
I believe that there is One Divine Entity who is genderless. However, because we are but mere humans, we have a hard time trying to grasp such a concept. So over man kind's history we've given this Great Divine Entity many faces, many names, different genders, ect., all in an attempt to make this Great Divine Entity more familar to us. Yes, I do believe all the God and Goddesses of the world throughout mankind's history is this one Great Divine Entity.

Do you think Jesus is the only savior?
No. Jesus is but one of many "sons" of Gods and Goddesses which died and were resurrected. All one has to do is dig a little into ancient religious history to know this. Do I believe Jesus is the only way to blessed eternal life in Heaven? No.

Do you believe you will go to Hell if you sin?
I have a rather eclectic view on life after death. I believe in reincarnation. I don't believe that a human soul reincarnates into animal bodies, though. I believe that once a soul learns all it's supposed to learn it gets it's reward... maybe it's in a place like heaven. I also believe that certain souls who just can't seem to learn the lessons they need to learn they are ultimately damned to continueally reincarnate over and over again making the same horrible mistakes in life... in a way damning themselves in a type of "hell" never fulfilling all that their soul needs to know before being rewarded. I do believe in ghosts for I've had my own paranormal experiences. How do the spirits of the dead fit into my views of the afterlife? I never claimed to have it all figured out... I do know I'm ever questioning and ever learning.

The Goddess Companion

Greetings to you, moon, our guiding jewel!
I kneel to you, I offer love.
I kneel to you, I raise my hand to you,
I lift my eyes to you,
O moon of the seasons!
Greetings to you, my darling one! Greetings to you,
O graceful one!
Steering tides as you journey, you light up the night,
O moon of the seasons!
Queen of guidance, queen of luck, queen of love,
O moon of the seasons!
~Traditional Scottish Invocation To The Moon

Before the calendar measured time, we marked the year by observing the planets in their stately parade across the night sky. We noted the tides and the moon's phases and the length of days. We attuned ourselves to the seasons. We did not grow angry when there was snow in winter or rain in summer. We recognized that nature is more powerful than we are, and we honored her strength.

Now we live indoors, our lights shine at night; we mark the days and weeks and seasons on our dayminders and calendars. We have lost the sense of connection to the currents of time as they flow through our world. In the process, we have lost our sense of connection to that world. Honoring the lunar goddess was a daily part of ancient tradition in Ireland and Scotland, where bowing to the full moon and praising her beauty was a monthly ritual. Even when we do not see her, the moon still pulls the tides; she pulls as well on our inner tides, drawing forth .womanly blood as she moves through her own phases. To honor the moon is to honor the primal connection between womanhood and nature's feminine force.

From "The Goddess Companion" by Patricia Monaghan

The Goddess Companion

The Goddess is an eye of fire,
born from a cauldron of strength.
The Goddess is a radiant fire,
born from an ocean of fear.
The goddess is strong and fearsome.
Her Magic is strong and powerful.
When she grows angry, she strikes,
and her enemies wither from her wrath.
~Egyptian Coffin Texts

The feminine force is not only warm and matronly, friendly and girlish. It is also a power of fire and strength, or righteous anger and powerful wrath. As the Egyptians knew when they honored Sekhmet, the wrathful lion Goddess of the sun's fire, nature cannot be contained nor constrained within our human vision of gentleness and love. She is vaster than that. She is all the natural forces or purification and change; she is fire as well as earth and water.

So, too, each woman has the fierce fiery power of the primal Goddess within her. And there are times when that power should be used, nature. Once the purifying fire has done its work, the kindlier aspects of the Goddess will return. seasons when the soul, and the exterior of life that reflects it, must be purged and cleansed. A woman must not retreat from the challenge of using this power, for it is a part of her feminine

From "The Goddess Companion" by Patricia Monaghan

The Goddess Companion

How I love that dark beauty,
seducing the world
with her black hair,
how I love her!
How I love my black darling
who lives in the heart of the world,
int he heart of our hearts,
in the hearts of the gods,
how I love her!
Because she is black,
I love black.
Because she dances,
I love dancing.
Because she is beautiful
and black with dancing
hair, I cannot help
myself, I adore her!
~Indian Poet Ramprasad

In India one of the most beloved Goddesses is Kali, the black dancer who brings death to each of us and to the entire world at time's end. How can people love death? Is not death something to be feared, to be postponed at all costs? How can we embrace Kali and all that she means?

Yet the insight that lead the Hindu poet Ramprasad to write his magnificent prayers to Kali is one that can benefit all of us. For we are - all of us - mortal beings who will one day face death. There is no avoiding Kali. She will be with us at the end; it is no good to pretend she will not. To lie in constant awareness of her presence is to live fully in each beautiful, brief moment. To live with Kali means not to lapse into mindlessness and thus lose the preciousness of life. To love Kali is, in the most profound fashion, to love ourselves and all those around us. embracing her is most deeply embracing ourselves.

From "The Goddess Companion" by Patricia Monaghan

Today's Goddess: Auchimalgen
Bonfim Festival (Brazil)

Themes: Protection; Blessing
Symbols: Silver or Lunar Items; Water; White Flowers

About Auchimalgen: A Chilean Goddess of the Moon, Auchimalgen protects us from all evils and disasters that lie in wait in the months ahead. Her husband is the sun, who blesses the land with light, while she shines through the darkness to keep her followers safe and inspired.

To Do Today: Count your blessings today, and give thanks for them. In our rushed society, this is something that often gets overlooked, and life is far more pleasant when we appreciate the little things.
Wear any silver-colored clothing or jewelry to honor Auchimalgen, and burn some lunar incense (coconut, jasmine, lemon or myrrh) to fill the sacred space of your home with her protection.

The Bonfim Festival takes place in Brazil today in a church known as the "church of happy endings" because it was built by a ship's captain in gratitude for a safe return to land. The priests of the area wash the steps of the church with flower water to cleanse and bless the sacred place anew, and as a way of thanking the gods for their ongoing kindness. In keeping with this tradition, sprinkle the doorway to your home with any floral scented water (or personal cologne or perfume) to draw Auchimalgen's beneficent energies to you.

From "365 Goddess" by Patricia Telesco