Dark Days Ahead

November 10, 2016,  our world woke up to Donald Trump as our new president. Such a sad, sad way to start the day and the rest of our lives. I won't say we are doomed, although, that's what it feels like. They say it's always darkest before the dawn and I hope that is true because a darker day I have never seen. All of the strides our country has made in human rights, and ecological advances will be set back a hundred years if he has his way. Rape will become common place and the rapists will walk free, the big companies will be allowed to rape and pillage our Mother Earth in the name of “progress”, bigotry will once again rule and the greed of the very rich will be allowed to continue to grow until it destroys us all. Our only hope are the young, they at least have the sense and courage to stand up for what is right and will not lay down and let him and his political machine roll over them.

The Hopi's predicted this long, long ago, it is the beginning of the end of life as we know it. But they also predicted that we will survive this and become a better world for it, which gives me hope for the future of our children and grand children.

The revolution has begun and not just in this country, it is world wide. The Awakening has begun and even Trump is not strong enough or rich enough to turn it back. We will win, but I think the cost will be high and very painful. Wish it could be otherwise, but we have to feel the pain to understand and appreciate the good that will follow. 

 

Fresh Lemon Vinaigrette

Fresh Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 large garlic clove, pressed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Whisk together first 5 ingredients. Gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until blended.

Note: To prepare ahead, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature, and whisk before serving.

Basil-Peach Chicken Breasts

 Basil-Peach Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

4 skinned and boned chicken breasts (about 2 lb.) (Make sure chicken is patted dry before seasoning and placing in pan - other wise it doesn't brown properly.)

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

2 garlic cloves, minced

12 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

1 cup reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth

4 large peaches, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)

Garnish: fresh basil leaves

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Cook chicken in hot oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from skillet, reserving drippings in skillet.

2. Reduce heat to medium. Add shallot to hot drippings in skillet, and sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 45 to 60 seconds or until fragrant. Add basil, chicken broth, and peaches. Return chicken to skillet, and turn to coat.

3. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until chicken is done.

Recipe can be found at http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/basil-peach-chicken-breasts#

BASIC ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING

INGREDIENTS

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled

1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

Pinch of dried oregano

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients in small bowl and whisk to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Being a Pagan means you walk your own path, responsible for your own actions and answerable to no one but yourself. In the end Karma has total control. 

THE MAGICKAL USES OF SANDALWOOD

Planet - Moon

Gender-Feminine

Element - Water

Basic Powers - Clairvoyance, divination, good luck, meditation, protection, success.

Scent - Woody, sweet, clean

Mineral association - Emerald and turquoise

Lore- Scatter sandalwood to clear a place of negativity. Burn for protection and healing. Possesses high spiritual vibrations especially when mixed with frankincense and burned at the full moon. Mix with lavender to make an incense designed to conjure spirits.

In the orient, sandalwood is a funeral herb believed to carry the soul into the next life. With sandalwood, deep states of relaxation take place on the spiritual level. Burning sandalwood incense can benefit healing work by promoting a deeper relaxed state in the healer, increasing spiritual energy. Sandalwood also relaxes the heart and throat chakras.

Burned to exorcise demons and evil ghosts, conjure beneficial spirits, and promote spiritual awareness. Sandalwood incense is also used by many Witches for protection, astral projection, healing rituals and in wish-magick.

Lower grades of Sandalwood (light colored with little scent) are not recommended to use in magic.  Mix with Frankincense and burn at séances and Full Moon rituals.  Sandalwood beads are protective and promote a spiritual awareness when worn. The scents of frankincense and sandalwood have some of the highest vibrations inherent in any plant. They will resonate with aspects of ourselves or with Devic/Angelic beings of the highest order. 

Sandalwood is used as an incense base for: Protection; Healing; Exorcise; Spirituality; Wishes; Full Moon Esbats; Wards Negativity; Astral Projection; Reincarnation; Spirit Offering.

Stimulates clairvoyance, aids in seeing past lives, healing, clearing, protection, calms the mind.   Write your wish on a chip of sandalwood and burn in censer or cauldron. As it burns it sets the magic flowing, but remember to visualize your wish at the same time.

Sandalwood is one of the most valuable woods in the world. All parts yields Sandalwood oil, particularly the heartwood and the roots, which yield about 6 percent essential oil. Recorded in Ayurvedic medicine and Egyptian embalming, the oil is now used as an inhalant for its expectorant and sedative effect on coughs and as a powerful antiseptic for lung and urinary tract infections. Sandalwood makes a popular incense, as its calming effect aids meditation. It is commonly used for funeral pyres in India, where devotees believe the scent protects places from evil spirits. 

Sandalwood is often used as an as an aphrodisiac.  Sandalwood is recommended for use when consecrating altar cloths, and it is said to be associated with Hod on the Tree of Life.

http://herbalriot.tumblr.com/post/55502738623/the-magickal-uses-of-sandalwood

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She Is The World