Beltane!

May Day is almost upon us! Soon it will officially be Summer, days of beaches and watermelon and camping and air conditioning! This season Beltane will span from April 30th to May 5th.

Want some ideas for Beltane (Beltaine, Bealtaine, Bealltainn, Boaltinn, Boaldyn, or May Day, whatever you call it)? Here are some non-ceremonial spells, recipes, and craft ideas!

May Bush ideas! Click pic for source.

Decorate a May Bush! If you happen to have some leftover egg shells from Ostara, you can use these. Decorate with ribbon for the intentions you want for the next half of the year. Here is a link for color correspondence. Some suggestions would be colors for protection, fertility, and love.

Scatter plant some flowers! You can get some cheap seeds everywhere, but I highly recommend looking at the native flowers in your area and planting those. Here are sites for the US, the UK, and France (because I get a lot of views from there. Bonjour!). You can use them to "sow the seeds of desire" or whatever it is you want; just focus on what it is you would like to sow out into the Earth/Universe and either chant while you scatter, sing, dance, or whatever you feel like doing.

Go to the Renaissance Festival! The one here in Waxahachie, TX ends on May 27th this year. They might also have a May Pole you can attend!

Sunlight Jars!

Make crafts! Here are some great things to make from my favorite craft blog. Spiral Goddess salt dough plaque, Sea glass heart pendant (which you can also make hanging things with, and I am sure you can make any shape, like a Sun [another cool sun], Moon, or Star [an idea how]), Sea shell ornaments and chimes, fake deer antlers (really cool!), or this REALLY AMAZING Sunlight-In-A-Jar (here is an eBay account that sells the solar panel tops cheaper than anywhere else).


Here is a site that gives some pretty good protection spells and ideas for amulets. I don't really like giving ceremonial spells, especially links to other sites, because of ethical issues. If you choose to search for other ceremonial spells and rituals on the internet, know that they should only really be a template and that the most powerful spells you can do are the ones you make yourself. Perhaps soon I will post some spell bones/templates for y'all.

Host a party. Make crowns of flowers and have contests to see who wins the title of May Queen and May King. One of the games can be a throwing contest. Have music and dance! Have a bonfire if you have the room, or make a small fire in your cauldron using rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and A LID which is important if you need to snuff the flames. Make sure to practice safe fire habits!

Maypole. You can either make an actual Maypole or you can make a smaller one from a paper towel roll or small rod.

Poetry is always good.

How about some Beltane stories for those with children?

Do some divination! Now is a great time, since it is the second time of year that the Veil is at its thinnest.

Food! Here are some awesome recipes for you. Candied Violets with Lemon Poppyseed Cake, more recipes for the Sabbat, and some with pies! A list from A to Z, and more with variety.

Other things I found that are worth reading.

Last but not least, some chants for you!

Bring flowers of the rarest
bring blossoms the fairest,
from garden and woodland and hillside and dale;
our full hearts are swelling,
our glad voices telling
the praise of the loveliest flower of the vale!

O Goddess we crown thee with blossoms today!
Queen of the Witches and Queen of the May.
O Goddess we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Witches and Queen of the May

Do you have any suggestions yourself?

Monday Blues - Pasta!

I know I haven't been writing last week - partly because of work, but mostly because I dunno what to post about.

But today I will introduce two new recipes! First up, Pasta. Here is how I make it.

Ingredients:

1 lb - Delallo organic Fusilli pasta (whole wheat)
1 jar Emeril's pasta sauce (I like the Roasted Gaaahlic) or Newman's Own pasta sauce
1 lb ground turkey (93% lean)
1/4 can olives, sliced (I would prefer green, but I only had black. Also, I put in 1/2 can in pic)
1/2 jar jalapenos
1 or 2 bell peppers, color of choice, sliced (unfortunately, I didn't have any, so no bell peppers in pic)
1 onion (ditto above)

Brown the turkey, boil the pasta until al dente, and drain both. Throw everything into the pot, stir, and serve hot. Leftovers should be chilled and can be eaten cold later. Easy and quick!

Next, the drink!

1 gallon container
1-2 cups Real Lemon juice (depending on your wanted pucker)
1 cup sugar
water

Put the Real Lemon juice and sugar into the container, and fill the rest of the container with water. Stir, serve cold.

Monday Blues - Tri Bean Chili

Since revamping my lifestyle, I have become a picky eater. I can't cook with butter anymore, fast food makes me sick, and my body actually craves things that I used to hate. However, taste is still my biggest issue! So, Mondays are new recipe days!

Today, Tri Bean Chili! I originally stumbled upon it at BodyBuilding.com and have since made modifications of my own. While it does take longer, the taste is phenomenal. This batch makes a weeks worth of food for three people.

Tri Bean Chili when it's done! Now that's tasting the rainbow.

• 2 lbs. extra lean ground turkey(I get 93% lean turkey when I can. Ground chicken is also good)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 each of red, orange, yellow, and green bell peppers, chopped
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 4 - 4 oz. cans of Rotel (I use the cans with habenero peppers) (Do Not Drain)
• 3 or 4 - 15 oz. cans Organic Tri-Bean Blend (drained)
• 1 tbsp. organic sugar
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 3 tbsp. regular yellow mustard (I use Dijion Mustard)
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. dried or fresh cilantro
• Optional - 2 sweet banana peppers, chopped
• Optional - 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped
• Optional - Sprouts (I used "Spicy Sprouts", but bean sprouts are good too)

In a big skillet, brown the turkey on medium heat. This shouldn't take very long, since turkey cooks faster than ground beef. Drain any fat and put the meat in a big pot. Take the skillet again and add onions and bell peppers with some olive oil and sautee until onions are soft or when the bell peppers are soft yet juicy/crunchy.

Meanwhile, add the Rotel (Do Not Drain), Tribeans (these ARE drained), and spices (and the banana peppers and jalapenos if you are using them) to the big pot, except the cilantro and sprouts. The pot should be on medium/sort of low heat (notch 5 on my 10 notch stove). The pot should be getting hot right around the time the onions and peppers are done. When they are done, throw everything into the big pot, stir, and serve hot.


If you like tea, try some Sun Tea with it. Put some water (hot or cold, doesn't matter) and tea bags into a glass jar, put outside, and bring in when the water turns dark. Especially good when living in the South/is Summertime. I personally don't think it needs sugar, but sweeten to taste.

Chili and tea, an awesome and surprisingly filling dinner.