HAMMER & STONE VOL 2 No 2
Celebrating Lammas
MAJOR ARCANA PART 2
Eating LOCAL Irish Soda Bread Scones “New” Coven Rules Dalai Lama’s Rules for Living A Zine of Localism, Liberal, Pagan, Alt. & free thinkers
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The Summer of Life Pagan Events Calander •
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Working with the Tarot The Story of the Major Arcana - Part 2 In the first part of our story we walked through the first seven parts of our Traveler's life. Now we will continue and finish his tale. Strength The next card is Strength or Fortitude the 8th card. For the first time, our traveler in life enriched by all his encounters and invigorated by his knowledge can see what he is up against in a new challenge, his “other self�. Sensing that only by fearless confrontation can the primeval forces within is understood. Strength, gives the ability to calmly battle with the wild man that has stepped out from the shadows in which it has existed up until now. This challenge or fight is not one of destruction but of self control and integration. The Hermit Inevitably, this process of self-examination leads to the Hermit or the 9th Card. As the Hermit solitude defines you, this time your path leads from the outer world to that within. The Hermit determined to find happiness in the fulfillment of those unknown feelings first felt when his strength bloomed. However, when the Hermit seeks to long the inner path life intrudes again to set him on his way. The Wheel of Fortune Life presents our traveler with the illusion of control other times life lets our traveler know that there is no control. When the Wheel of Fortune, or 10th card, spins he is off again on a new voyage to some place unexpected or unexperienced. The final outcome of these experiences can only be determined by what our traveler learns or fails to learn.
in the feminine aspect Justice looks at our traveler and his life with open eyes. Justice will take the wide view and only step in when there is a dispute that can not be settled by introspection or personal action. Completely impartial Justice is not always sweet. The Hanged Man The first step to true wisdom is knowing that you do not have any wisdom. Having experienced the ride of both inner and outer life our traveler is confronted with the realization that he is helpless. This is a profound shock to anyone and in response our traveler does the only thing he can do, become still, bound, and assume literally different view on life; the Hanged Man card number 12. This is also a leap of faith and by putting his head closer to the earth he hopes to rediscover the root of his spiritual energy. Death (Transformation) For every man to grow spiritually he must face the challenge of renewal. Death, the 13th card is this point of renewal. It can be literal or it can be spiritual but to come thought this card always means to experience a transformation as life cycles never ending. Our traveler as the Hanged Man made his self sacrifice. The reward is the release of his old personality and now he poses the ability to go in any direction he desires. Death has removed the problems of personality, so much the bane of The Hermit, and now new energy is released. Temperance Temperance is the 14th card. Our traveler has once again take steps on the path of life and is confident that he knows some measure of it. The imbalance hinted at all those previous cards begin to even out. This is the feeling of the card Temperance. For the moment there is again some rest some chance to breath and take in what has been experienced. But it is not over yet.
Justice Fortune can be something that is difficult to understand and to address. The yearning for The Devil balance and redress to perceived wrongs leads Life is both a cycle and a pendulum and after to the desire for Justice the 11th card. Justice experiencing the rest that Temperance provides holds both balance and a sword; depicted again 3 (Continued on page 9)
By Mixer: This recipe is slightly large for the mixer (perhaps not as I've pared down the ingredients--you tell me if this is a problem — I always do it by hand) so you'll have to stop and push the dough down frequently while the mixer is kneading it. Stir the yeast into the water in a mixer bowl; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the milk and oil with the paddle. Combine the rosemary, salt and flour and add to the yeast mixture. Mix until the flour is absorbed, 1 to 2 minutes. Change to the dough hook and knead on medium speed until velvety, elastic, smooth and somewhat moist, about 3 minutes. Finish kneading briefly by hand on a lightly floured surface.
Living in Season: Rosemary Diamante Bread Living in Season: Rosemary Diamante Bread It's hard to imagine cooking bread in this kind of heat but Lammas is the Loaf Mass, the holiday celebrating the first harvest of grain, when loaves of bread are brought to the church to be blessed, so I'm providing a copy of my favorite bread recipe. It's from Carol Field's The Italian Baker. I first found it in Field's book years ago; now I see it in stores all the time. It is so simple that I can make it without any problem, yet the bread is stunning and flavorful.
By Processor: Make sure your processor can handle the volume of this dough. Even when done in 2 batches, there will be about 2 cups of flour plus liquid to be processed. If you have a large-capacity machine, use a dough blade. Stir the yeast into 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Place the rosemary, salt and flour in a food processor fitted with the dough or steel blade and process briefly to mix and chop the rosemary. Stir the oil into the dissolved yeast. With the machine running, pour the yeast mixture, cold milk and 3/4 cup cold water in a steady stream through the feed tube and process until the dough gathers into a ball. Process 45 seconds longer to knead. Finish kneading by hand on a lightly floured surface until smooth, velvety, elastic and slightly moist, 2 to 3 minutes.
This recipe comes from a baker from Ferrara named Luciano Pancalde who invented this bread while trying to reproduce a bread served years ago to the d'Este family, rulers of Ferrara, which was described as a rosemary bread with a crust sparkling like diamonds. In his recipe, the top of the bread is slashed into a star and sprinkled with sea salt to create the sparkling effect. Makes two round loaves. I've adapted the recipe slightly to make the portions work better with the sizes of packaged yeast available to me. If it's too hot to make bread for Lammas, save this recipe and try it for autumn equinox. 21 grams dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water 3/4 cup milk at room temperature 1/4 cup olive oil 3 T finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 T salt About 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 t coarse sea salt By Hand: Stir the yeast into the water in a large mixing bowl; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the milk and oil. Combine the rosemary, salt and flour and stir into the yeast mixture in 3 or 4 additions. Stir until the dough comes together. Knead on a floured surface until velvety, elastic and smooth, 8 to 10 minutes. It should be somewhat moist and blistered.
First Rise: Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Shaping and Second Rise: Gently punch the dough down on a lightly-floured surface but don't knead it. Cut the dough in half and shape each half into a round ball. Place the loaves on a lightly floured peel or a lightly oiled baking sheet, cover with a towel, and let rise 45 to 55 minutes (but not until truly doubled).
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Baking: Heat the over to 450 F. If you are using a baking stone, turn the oven on 30 minutes before baking and sprinkle the stone with (Continued on page 5)
cornmeal just before sliding the loaves onto it. Just before you put the loaves in the oven, slash the top of each loaf in an asterisk with a razor blade (I use a sharp knife but the lines aren't as crisp as they could be). (This is also a good time to bless the loaf—I say something along the lines of "By north and south, by east and west, this loaf is blessed.".) Sprinkle half the sea salt into the cuts on each loaf. Bake 10 minutes, spraying 3 times with water. Reduce the heat to 400 F and bake 30 to 35 minutes longer. Cool completely on racks. Resources: Field, Carol, The Italian Baker, Harper Collins 1985
The Dalai Lama’s Rules for Living 1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three Rs: • Respect for self • Respect for others • Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone every day. 9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. 14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Herbal Moment Rosemary Ancient Greeks and Romans knew this shrub well. In their world, it enjoyed a reputation for improving memory and rejuvenating the spirits. Greek scholars wore garlands of rosemary during examinations in order to improve their memory and concentration. Shakespeare also wrote that it improved recollection. Christians called rosemary the “Holy Herb” and associated it with Mary, who, according to Spanish legend, draped her cloak over a rosemary bush on the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, turning the color of the blossoms from white to blue. In traditional European medicine, rosemary was used internally as a tonic, stimulant, and as a carminative to treat flatulence. It also treated dyspepsia, mild gastrointestinal upsets, colds, headaches, and nervous tension. In India and China, rosemary leaves attacked headaches. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible. Crush the leaves and sprinkle them over roast chicken, pork or lamb for a wonderful flavor and aroma. Use rosemary to make herb butters or mix into fresh salads. Add to potato dishes, soups or stews, and bake it into bread. Steep rosemary in vinegar or olive oil, and add to salad dressings or use as a marinade for meats or vegetables. On the outdoor grill, enhance the flavor of meats and vegetables by adding a few stems to the coals near the end of the cooking period. Use sprigs, leaves or flowers as an attractive, edible garnish. 5
Lammas Love Baking from the for the first Harvest I confess that these aren’t authentic scones. I adapted an Irish Soda Bread recipe in Recipes from a Vegetarian Goddess by Kerri Allrich (one of my most used cookbooks) but find a scone like shape is more convenient for a grabn-go breakfast or snack. The recipe below is Allrich’s with my variations at the afterward. Irish Soda Bread 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 4 tablespoons sugar 1teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup currants 1 tablespoon caraway seed 1 free-range egg 1/4 cup canola oil or melted stick margarine 2/3 cup milk or almond milk Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a
sharp knife, cut an equal-sized cross into the center-top surface, about 1/2-inch deep, and sprinkle lightly with flour. Bake on the center rack for 25-30 minutes, until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Place on a wire rack and cool before serving. Cut the bread into wedges and serve in a basket, with plenty of butter or margarine. Notes: I’ve successfully substituted 1 cup whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the unbleached. I also cut back the sugar to 3 tablespoons for diet’s sake. And I only keep soy milk in the house and have found it works fine in place of the milk or almond milk. I also use raisins in place of the currants. And egg replacer works well when I want to eat vegan or simply forgot to buy eggs. Now for the actual <your flavor here> Scones, mix up the batter according to the directions omitting the currants and caraway. Substitute a 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of your preferred dried fruit (raisins, blueberries, cranberries, cherries) and/or nuts (walnuts, pecans, toasted almonds) and/or seeds (poppy, sesame). Drop 8-10 large spoonfuls of batter onto a non-stick or greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool before storing. The reheat well in the microwave. I occasionally think about experimenting with freezing the scones for later, but they never seem to last long enough for me to try. Contributed from: http://www.eclectorama.com/
round cake pan with stick margarine. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, currants, and caraway seeds. Whisk together. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, and milk. Pour into the dry ingredients and combine with a wooden spoon, until moistened. Batter will be a bit sticky.
Miscellaneous Native American Facts • • •
Mound the batter onto the pan. forming a • rounded-shape loaf in the center of the pan. Smooth out the surface as best you can. With a 6
One out of every 100 Americans is an Indian. Just 190 years ago, less than 8,000 non-Indians lived in Michigan. Tobacco is an Indian original (it was not abused as today). Indians invented the rubber ball.
your face? Lie very still and breathe slowly and deeply. I would like to take you on a walk with me this summer's dayâ&#x20AC;Ś
A Lamas Mediation Meditation can be a funny thing. Some say it has to be done under specific conditions, others say it has to be done with a specific unvarying ritual; my experience is that it can be done any place and by any means that works for you. Do not start by placing limits on the thing that is meant to take those limits away. Read the meditation below, then find your place and your method and relive your own version change it as your mind leads you and discover what is out there to discover.
Slowly with peace open your eyes and stand up. Around you is a meadow, near to a wild patch of blackberries partly sheltered by a wood grove. The first berries you see are light green still young but as you watch they slowly changing before your eyes through shades of red into black. The first fruits of High Summer. Awareness comes to you that your feet are bare; the grass underneath them warm, humid and just a bit ticklish. Brushing your face a light breeze brings the lazy bleat of herd of sheep, their presence noted in the grass cropped short by numerous mouths. You can scent the warmth of the grass, the dark earth, the dung of the sheep, the richness of the foliage near and far. With easy steps you begin to walk alongside the grove sun warmed until you can hear the tinkling of a stream not far away. The air and the light caress your skin, holding your body in the kind of cocoon only Summer can offer as you continue on. A gentle incline leads you to a lovely vista. An endless meadow, green grass spotted with daisies and clover with a stream flowing just at the base of the slope in front you. The sun is striking on the water thousands of gems all dancing to the tuneless melody of birdsong and water; with a deep lasting breath the tranquility of this place lets you feel good just being here.
I am lying on the ground, the warm sun shining on my upturned face. I lay awhile, with my eyes closed, feeling the warmth on my skin and smelling the warm scent of the earth and grass around me. Nearby, I can hear the birds singing, and there is a running stream just within earshot. Can you hear it? Listen carefully. Can you hear the running water? Can you hear the birdsong? Can you feel and smell the good Earth under your body, the warm sun upon
Walk slowly over to the stream and look into it. The running water is clear and you can see shining pebbles on the bottom, the occasional minnow whipping its tail between the rocks. Sit down, it is warm enough, you can dabble your toes in the stream. At first it is icy cold, and in a moment your toes are numb. Concentrate on the warm sun on your back, you will not get cold here. Breathe deeply of Mother Earth's goodness. The ground is solid under you, the water running free around your toes, the air clean and warm as you deeply breathe it in. Let yourself tilt back to lie on the earth, with your toes still in the waters and take in more even measured breaths. What have you done this season? What things 7
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loom. Out of the two for me finding varieties that where once developed for my specific local climate and that have stayed out of the modern homogenization process of Corporate farming means I have a greater likelihood of getting food that has more nutrition per serving and as I get older and more "smooth" around the edges this has become an important consideration. Since it is my personal view that I am one component of the greater divine eating within my climate contributes to being holistic.
Living within Mother Earth Climate Aware Eating
E
As many ideas that occur my take on food consumption did not form in a vacuum. People close to me influenced me first then key pieces of literature, podcasts, and finally "formal" movements. I was influence by the people close to me in both positive and negative ways. The positive is what this post is about the negative is the observation that many of my fellow pagans eat a lot of snack and fast food. Along with a lot of extra weight the modern American diet has left a lot of people I care about with health problems or increased risk of health problems. If you have not read "Fast Food Nation", by Eric Schlosser then you should make that one of your starting points in understanding just what kind of barrel pagans are spiritually put over.
very Saturday morning I get up and go to
our local farmers market and purchase the fruits and vegetables for the next weeks dinner table. A trip like this has been part of a weekly ritual for many years now and started back in California where the Mega-chain supermarket reigned supreme. For me it started out as a way to bypass the corporate infrastructure and give my money to farmers that would again spend locally and keep the cash in our own local cycle. By keeping the mega corporations out of my food chain I lessen the chance for human mistakes (contamination) and for increased nutrition (less processing). From a spiritual stand point it is much easier to be in touch with the energy that is local to me as I am part of the land and the climate that I live in as I previously noted. For me the impact is much greater on the personal level if I can interact, visit, and even participate in blessing the lands where my food is produced. One step closer for me was to join a Community Supported Agricultural business (CSA). The one that seems to be working the best in our area also happens to be organic and heir-
In the web article "Eating Local: A Matter of Integrity", John Ikerd gives a good over all cultural perspective of the reasons for the new buzz word "Locavore". I believe it is important to put any movement in context and to think about the complete plan you have for eating what you do. Just eating local does not mean your doing all that you can do to eat within your climate or to do what has the biggest impact to help live with our Mother. As pointed out in the study conducted by Christopher Weber & Scott Matthews of Carnegie Mellon University published in "Environmental Science & Technology" the type of local food you choose can have a greater impact than the distance it has traveled to your table from a climate stand point. "Shifting less than one day per week's (Continued on page 13)
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The Story of the Major Arcana Con’t (Continued from page 3)
once again our traveler discovers turmoil. The Devil is the 15th card. Darkness and the disturbing things it that arise the Devils chaos and plots are forces that have to be seen for what they are if growth is to continue. The Tower Our traveler is confronted at card 16, The Tower. Here he sees a process of unlearning those things that where presented as certainties. The conflict with the Devil brings down all that was assumed and now he truly sees a new light of powers that lie within. For every light there is the absence of light, for life there is always the absence of life. Understanding that this is part of nature is necessary as the Traveler moves on. The Star The battle of the Tower and the understanding it brings our traveler can leave him disoriented and from the sky comes the light of the Star our 17th Card. Its faint light takes away the worry of wandering blindly providing reassurance and guidance towards the ultimate goal. However, one final adventure is before our traveler’s steps. The Moon The adventure our traveler must face is that of the Moon. This moon is not the comforting face of the night or the divine light of the Goddess but the confusing, vexing, and glamorous light of wild places. The Moon can be supremely attractive, fascinating and the danger is becoming eternally lost in its facets or its dark side. The adventure comes because the Moon must be tested, tasted and understood. Faith is the tool for this exploration and must be used with confidence.
forted. Judgment Unlike Justice which is imbued with balance, the 20th card Judgment, symbolizes willingness to let go of all individuality and the trappings of ego no matter how spiritually or deep and no matter how physically hard won. It is the acceptance that all that came before is not longer and never was truly needed. The Judgment is the fulfillment of our traveler’s path. The World Bliss, being one with everything, having no boundaries or even the understanding of boundaries is the nature of the World the 21st and final card of the Major Arcana. From this card, to the innocence of The Fool is now just one simple step away to let the cycle repeat. No end, no beginning, just everything.
The Story Like any tale the one I have told has my spin on it. In being human we all will tell the story of The Sun our lives in a slightly different way. The point is The Sun 19th in tale, dawns and chases the that there is a story, there is a path, and on that night from all corners, even its cousin The Star path we can catch glimpses of what is around is eclipsed. The traveler has attained true under- the next bend. In my next post on The Tarot I standing at last. The light of day sheds its rays will explore what place the Suits have in deck, on the highest achievement of our traveler’s their general meanings and why they fill in the soul in its gift of life all will grow and be com9 details of any reading.
New Coven Rules By Raven Emrys Excerpted From: http://hubpages.com/hub/NewCovenRules
Every Coven should have some rules that people can look at so they know what sort of conduct is appropriate or inappropriate for members; and by knowing and fully understanding them, their behavior can be far more conducive to harmony and fellowship within Coven. Here are a few that I am thinking about instituting:
No coven member shall consume their weight in beans before arriving for ritual. This has happened in the past, and the results can be devastating. It is unpleasant when 32 cubic yards of methane are unexpectedly released into the atmosphere within Circle, and other Coven members begin dropping to the floor unconscious, turning blue, gasping for air and struggling to keep from being overcome by the vapor. Add to this, the presence of the open flame of the candles on the altar and the quarter candles. Several years ago, the north wall of our altar room was blown clear out when the methane expelled was detonated by the flame of a single candle and the explosion that followed interrupted our rites. Please be considerate of others, and make every effort not to render them victims of a tragic episode, particularly as the Guardian of Air is called. We evoke the 'Power Of The Winds', but make every effort not to "break wind".
If the rite is to be skyclad, please remember your position in space in relation to the candles.
Remember folks - "Never Again the Burning Times" also applies to Wytches in our Circle.
Please use deodorant before arriving for ritual. As we all raise our arms in welcome to The Lord and Lady, it would be nice if They are not dropped from the sky by an assault on Their Senses that leaves Them crashing into the Circle by an unexpected blast that renders Them incapacitated. If this can have that sort of effect upon the very Gods Themselves, how much more likely would it be to immobilize your brothers and sisters in Circle?!!
When doing robed rituals, please lend some consideration to the material of which your robes are made. Nogahyde is right out, as are robes that faintly resemble the battle regalia of Attila the Hun! Similarly, while it may be cute, a robe festooned with images of Homer Simpson, Bart, and the rest of the Simpson family... are contrary to the atmosphere we are attempting to establish.
Do not wear combat boots in Circle. When doing rituals as a group outdoors, you will likely need something on your feet, but we tend to take a dim view of combat boots in Circle. It tends to establish the wrong ambiance.
Don't score the High Priest and High Priestess! Your High Priest and High Priestess, while appreciating the compliment, are nevertheless apt to take a dim view of their Coveners holding signs which have 9.3, 8.6, 9.5, 10.0 and such relating to performance and style points. Please remember this is Wytchcraft, not the ABC Wide World of Sports!!!
For the rest of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;rulesâ&#x20AC;? please check While folks of another certain religion out the link at the start. may appreciate the rare "Burning Bush", we have noted this can lead to negative effects upon a Covener who carelessly fails to exercise due caution, and inadvertently ignites their genitalia! 10
Share the Zen My Heart Burns Like Fire Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: "My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes." He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life. • • • • • •
In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate. Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction. Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests. Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it. When an opportunity comes do not let it pass by, yet always think twice before acting. Do not regret the past. Look to the future.
Personal Visions Social A place to step on your first stone of your personal journey, discuss what has been found, what has been understood and what still needs more exploration. On the web at: http://personalvisions.ning.com Powered By: 11
Points on the Circle
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have you started or tried to start? What do you feel has been a success? Hold these things in your minds eye and smile, congratulate yourself, you have done well. Things you have worked hard for have borne fruit. Focus on the warmth of the bright sun as it shines down upon you now.
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Augusts' full moon is on Wednesday the 5th. “The Corn Moon” Selu is the Cherokee Goddess of corn; Celebrate her name in this time of Harvest.
The cold water between your toes makes itself known again helping you to honestly remember those things that have not really tomorrow. Begin to weave the stems together worked out. What are you putting lots of into a daisy chain, or simple braid. Be mindful energy into, only to find it unworthy and of this seasons successes and what could be constantly tiring? What things could you have done to bring more good fortune. Finish done differently this season? The cold on weaving the stems together and know that this your toes is the crisp and yes small work also represents what WHAT HAVE YOU DONE sharp reality of things which you must do to correct those THIS SEASON ? must be faced, and your life is failings even if it might be WHAT THINGS HAVE YOU to precious to hang onto difficult. Breathe deeply and STARTED OR TRIED TO START? look at your daisies in your those things which are not WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS working out. Don't let palm, feel the warm sun on your BEEN A SUCCESS? yourself be lost in these things back and empower your ideas but again breathe deeply for a for the future. moment. With your new found treasures stand up once As your body will it sit up slowly and gaze more for it is time to go back. You can feel the into the stream. The water is always moving, warm sun shining upon you, and there is a ever-changing, just like life is. You can build gentle breeze has gone warm. Rich smells of on your successes and learn wisdom from the summer make you pleasantly light upon your failings and so let something new grow. Now feet. Walk back to that patch of berries. Look reach down into the cool clarifying water and into the mass of prickly twigs; you can see the pick up a small pebble. Study it carefully, green berries, soon to be black. Food for the every change in color, every glint of light, birds and meadow folk, their first harvest of how it hides these things as it begins to dry. this summer. Find that spot marked by the Put it in your pocket; it is there to remind you outline of your body and lie back down once of your strengths and weaknesses, so that more the smell the earth and the grass rushing when you awake from this dream you can up to fill your mind. Listen - you can hear remember them and act. birdsong and, far off, the lilting song of the stream. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and Take your feet from the cool waters and stand listen. You know you can come back to this up in one smooth motion. The music of the beautiful place any time. Today you have water is so delicate and the sunshine learned something about yourself and the continues to warm your skin. Feel your feet fruits of your life, and you can be happy with dry as you stand there on the small bank. this knowledge. Breathe slowly and deeply, and Walk with measured steps over to the nearest you can gradually begin to hear the sounds clump of daisies in the meadow and sit down around you in this world echo the beauty of slowly. Pick a few flowers giving thanks to those from your personal one. Mother Earth as you do so. She won't mind that you have picked them for from their Slowly open your eyes. Welcome back! stems you will weave your ideas for 12
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worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more greenhouse gas reduction than buying all locally sourced food," Weber and Matthews wrote. Keeping this in mind is key when you plan your diet or join a challenge like the "100 Mile Diet". Of course if your vegetarian or vegan then the steps to managing your food within your local climate may have a head start and we can all further that start with growing what we can in our own yards. After all working and worshiping directly with the soil is one of the most sacred things we as humans can do and its even good for you. Then next time you sit down to eat think about and thank those that grew your food, those that helped get it to your table, and Mother Earth for the chance to continue to enjoy her bounty. For additional reading you may want to try "The Omnivores Dilemma A Natural History of Four Meals" or "Exposed The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products - Who's at Risk and What's at Stake" which take you down a couple more related paths on being aware of our world.
BEFORE THE RAIN by: Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1906)
W
E knew it would rain, for all the morn
A spirit on slender ropes of mist Was lowering its golden buckets down Into the vapory amethyst. Of marshes and swamps and dismal fens-Scooping the dew that lay in the flowers, Dipping the jewels out of the sea, To sprinkle them over the land in showers. We knew it would rain, for the poplars showed The white of their leaves, the amber grain Shrunk in the wind--and the lightning now Is tangled in tremulous skeins of rain!
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The Circles Opening
NATURE'S CALM by: Alcman 7th Century B.C.A.
THE mountain brows, the rocks, the peaks, are sleeping, Uplands and gorges hush! The thousand moorland things are stillness keeping; The beasts under each bush Crouch, and the hivèd bees Rest in their honeyed ease; In the purple sea fish lie as they were dead, And each bird folds his wing14over his head.