Self Title..excerpt from "Inside The Dragon's Heart"

Self Title

I am the same but different

Just a human wanting to fit in

My gifts a torment at times

The stares too hard to take

Dreams never peaceful

The voices in my head never cease

The pain unbearable

A world’s emotions in my soul

Candles lit chants sang

Incantations made for those in need

Keeping to myself

Alone the tears hurt no one

You say witch like it’s a bad thing

Yet the mirror shows no evil

Displays a woman with incredible love

Just waiting for a chance to fit in

Sher Boudreau..2003-01-28

DAILY TIP DEC 19 2011 HOLIDAY VERSION

DAILY TIP DEC 19 2011

HOLIDAY VERSION

Switching from shopping for gifts to setting up for Christmas!

Christmas dinner is the focal point of the family gathering surrounding this holiday.  Having a table that is fit for a King can be intimidating, here are the first few tips to get you started.

1. To make a bow out of linen napkins, roll them diagonally, then slip one end through a napkin ring, then take the other end and loop it through the ring and gently pull until you have your bow. 
2. Use recipe cards for place settings. Write a name on the card. Along with the menu and any special ingredients or activities for the day. 
3. Mix and match your dishes. Dollar stores are excellent for picking up different colors and festive patterns. Value Village, can be a great resource as well. 
4. Candles make everything special. Red, green, white, gold and silver candles are perfect choices. Keep the candles for the grown-up tables and use battery powered candles on the kids'. 
5. Centerpieces can be made easily by a couple small branches of Evergreen. Lay the branches to make a circle, place fresh cut pomegranates at each end. place a silver or gold metal tray in the center of the circle. Place candles on the tray (melt a little wax from the candle to keep the candle in place)

More to come so stay tuned!

A PAGAN CHRISTMAS part 6

A PAGAN CHRISTMAS

part 6

NATIVITY SCENE vs YULE ALTAR

For Christians around the world, the most important aspect of their decorations is their Nativity Scene. A visual display of the depiction of the 'Story of the birth of Jesus Christ'. The Nativity scenes can be made from wood, plastic, ceramic or even stuffed felt and generally have the same pieces: 

• stable
• star
• angels
• shepherds
• Mary
• Joseph
• baby Jesus
• Magi
• animals
• hay

Elaborate scenes can have motion, lights and music and are displayed prominently in the home or on the front lawn. (larger scale) Of course, the best Nativity Scenes are the ones that are 'live' in nature. Many churches perform live scenes during Advent (the time frame leading to Christmas Eve) to teach the story to new Christians and in hopes of converting the non Christians.

Living nativity at St. Wojciech Church, Wyszków, Poland, 2006

For Wiccans and other Pagans that celebrate Yule. It is a tradition that a Yule Altar be decorated and is usually placed where normal rituals are performed in the home. As with the Nativity Scene, the Yule Altar has key components:

• Red, green or gold Altar Cloth
• Evergreen boughs
• White candles
• A single pillar candle of either red, gold, orange or yellow
• mini lights (solid color is preferred but multi-colored strands are fine as well)
• Holly leaves and berries
• Laurel leaves
• A cauldron 
• Oranges, lemons, grapefruit (any citrus will work for symbol of life)
• Cinnamon sticks or essential oil (I like using both)
• Whole nutmeg
• Myrrh incense (Christian overlap)
• Pine cones, symbolic animals (stuffed animals, plastic, wooden are fine)

The components for the Yule Altar are to depict life being reborn. A request for blessings from the Goddess and the cauldron is to represent the womb of the great Mother. The Altar can even be used as the focal point of the room. Adorned with

other decorations to make it look even more festive. Mead (honey wine), mulled cider or wine is used for toasting and blessing.

Sample Yule Altar with Stag 

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP NOV 1 2011

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP NOV 1 2011

Start the New Year on the right foot, by laying a plate out with offerings to your ancestors who has passed before you. Light a candle and thank them for making you who you are today and reflect on sacrifices made and cherish moments that would go unmarked.

Fiesta de la muerto We honor you our ancestors in all you have done and passed down. We thank you for starting our path and encouraging our journey. May the stars that engulf you shine brilliantly onto the new generations to follow. So Mote it Be

Gaia Iah 

DAILY PSYCHIC # 9

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP

Make sure when you build your altar that you have all the elements and guardians in order. Keep extra candles close by in case of emergency rituals. Must have for your altar: cloth, candles, smudge, athame, crystals, scrying tools and of course your book of shadows (spell book). If you have to tear down your altar after each use, keep everything together in a box or special location that you have easy access to.

Namaste'

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP # 2

DAILY PSYCHIC TIP # 2

Pagan emergency kit : candle, smudge, feather, token, mirror, salt. Perfect for the unexpected.

Another Day excerpt from 'Blood Stained Talons'

Another Day

As a blanket covers the bed

So to do the clouds shroud the skies

Light fades sending the day a bed

Darkness engulfs the terrain below

Echoing in the loud silence

The cries of the wild sing out

A symphony to Mother Nature

Hailing her beauty and strength

The moon exudes its ominous luminosity

Playing hide and seek within the heavens

No glimpse of celestial brilliance

The stars fall silent in the shadows

With a final puff on to the flickering candle

Resounding goodnights exclaimed to all

All memories of the day diminish into slumber

The only voice is the whispering wind

 

Earth’s inmates sleep as an innocent baby

Comforted in the bosom of dreams

The blanket swaddles the soul

As Another day falls into eternity

Sher  June 18, 2010 ©