O.K. Let’s talk about one of my favorite things to eat this time of year….Pan de Muerto. It is always a part of my Dia de los Muertos celebration, both on my ancestor altar and in the stomachs of those who celebrate the holiday with me. There are a number of recipes for this sweet, fragrant bread but this is my version which turns out beautifully every time I make it. Some place dough “bones” on the top of this bread but I keep mine simple. You can make it ahead and freeze it but put the orange sugar glaze on it AFTER it thaws. It also makes mind-blowing French toast the next day! Enjoy!
Pan de Muerto, “Bread of the Dead” From Globalgourmet.com Adapted by David Eck
BREAD: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup water 5 1/2 cups flour 2 packages dry yeast 1 tsp. salt 1 T. whole anise seed 2 T grated orange zest 1/2 cup sugar 4 eggs
GLAZE: 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup orange juice
FOR BREAD: In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling. [100-110 F degrees]
Meanwhile, measure out 1 1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups of flour, yeast, salt, anise seed, orange zest and sugar. Beat the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down and shape into 4 loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with “bones” placed ornamentally around the top if desired. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.
Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool and paint on glaze.
FOR GLAZE: Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush. If desired, sprinkle on colored or regular sugar while glaze is still damp.
NOTES: You can buy anise seed in the spice section of Whole Foods. It’s very reasonably priced there. You can use rapid rise yeast in this recipe which may cut down on the rising time. Keep an eye on it. You can also make this recipe in a mixer with a dough hook.
Here’s a meditation exercise I wrote several years back. It’s a powerful tool for sharpening your magical intentions and life goals during autumn.
FALLING LEAVES MEDITATION
Materials needed: printed copy of the tree, pen or pencil
1. Place the image of the tree in your lap or on a table in front of you where you can see it.
2. Sit still and upright, relaxed and alert.
3. Focus on your breathing. With each exhale let your body relax more deeply.
4. When you are ready take a look at the tree. Focus your attention on the TRUNK of the tree. This represents a GOAL you’d like to accomplish in this season of your life. When a goal comes to mind, write it next to the tree trunk. Don’t force a goal to materialize. Spend some time in silence listening to your heart and spirit until it emerges with absolutely clarity.
5. When you have a goal in mind, turn your attention to the LEAVES on the tree. Think about the THINGS YOU NEED TO LET GO OF in order to make room in your life for this goal to be accomplished. This is a time to think about the things that no longer serve a useful purpose in your life. When these things come to mind, write them next to the leaves on the tree. If you have trouble letting go of things, remember that they will become the compost that provides nourishment for the tree. (Some people might find it helpful to close their eyes during this part of the meditation.)
6. Finally, turn your attention to the ROOTS of the tree. Think about the PEOPLE AND RESOURCES you will need to bring into your life in order to accomplish your goal. What kinds of things will feed and nourish your goal as well as yourself? When these things come to mind, write them next to the roots of the tree. (Some people might find it helpful to close their eyes during this part of the meditation.)
(I cannot remember where this spell came from. If you know the author, let me know so I can attribute the source.)
Here is a simple spell that uses something many of us have in ample supply this time of year: acorns! I have a huge 150+ year old oak tree in my back yard that produces a voluminous supply of these little magical nuggets. They’re quite popular with the local black bears but they always leave some for me to use as well.
This spell can be used as a meditation mantra, while in a magic circle, or even placed in a mojo bag. The choice is yours. Let your intuition guide you regarding how to use it. We could all use a little courage these days so I hope this comes in handy.
The mightiest of trees springs from a tiny acorn. Help me to remember that the small can be vicious. Bless me with the strength and will of the oak. Grant me the voice of the thunder. Help me to roar when I would normally squeak. And help be to make my voice louder than my insecurities.
Close up of ripe wheat ears against beautiful sky with clouds. Selective focus.
Join the harvest of hundred fields, hearty and tame All going back to one single grain Offer light to the coming day, inspire a child Water the field, surrender to the earth Water the field, surrender to the earth
I cannot get this Nightwish song out of my head. “Harvest,” from their current album Human :II: Nature, is an absolutely gorgeous tune filled with a sense of majesty and adventure. It speaks of our need to “water the field,” i.e. pass on our knowledge, love, etc. to those around us before we die and “surrender to the earth.”
Some people may think that’s a morbid topic, but I find it highly motivating. It reminds us that our time on earth is limited. Therefore, we need to be intentional regarding how we spend our remaining days on this gloriously beautiful globe. Will we squander our time pursuing things that really don’t matter such as a bigger house, or will be be good stewards of our abilities and resources and use them to change the world for the better?
During this time of year, when the veil is thin and our ancestor’s voices are the loudest, it’s a good time to simply sit and listen. Are we doing the kind of work we were destined to do or does the Universe have something else in mind? And if the Universe has something else in mind, how will we accomplish this? What resources and knowledge do we need to make it happen?
One technique to help us listen more closely is shamanic drumming. I did this with The Welcoming Circle at Asheville’s Raven & Crone last month. We began by casting a magic circle. (Use whatever technique works for you.) Then we sat in silence with our eyes closed while we listened to a recording of shamanic drumming (you can find those easily on YouTube). Our goal was simply to listen and see if the ancestors and powers that be had any wisdom they wanted to share with us as individuals. Everyone kept a pen and paper handy in case they needed to write something down. During this time it was my job to monitor the circle and make sure no unwanted forces/energies tried to break though.
After about a period of ten minutes (you can do this longer if you like) we stopped and I gave people the opportunity to share with the group what they experienced during this time and what wisdom they received. If they wanted to keep it to themselves, that was good as well. I was surprised at the diversity of responses and the depth of what strangers were willing to share with others. After we closed the circle and ended our time together, we all left with things we needed to ponder during the coming week.
I share this with you because I hope you will be intentional in the coming weeks in seeking out the wisdom of our ancestors and the Universe in general. You can do this by yourself or with a small group of trusted friends. I recommend you try the group process if possible because there’s something about those combined energies that makes this a powerful experience. The side benefit is that you will have people who can hold you accountable to see if you acted on whatever message you received.
As we make our way toward Samhain, don’t let these weeks pass you by without doing some kind of active listening. You may discover that you’re exactly where you need to be and are doing what you were called to do. OR you might be prompted to take a risk and embark on a new journey, spiritual or otherwise.
Let us all” join the harvest of hundred fields, hearty and tame.” What will we do to water the field before we surrender to the earth??? Only you can answer that question.
“In my estimation. a middle path exists between abject gullibility and mocking cynicism regarding the ‘Elder ways.’ Yes, much of contemporary Paganism, whether of the North, South, East, or West, has been recovered in recent times, albeit in many cases from genuinely ancient remnants. But, then, what belief system is not an amalgamation of ideas from across time and space? What we know of Christianity today bears little resemblance to its early or even medieval manifestations. Taoism has had many forms and interpretations. Likewise Buddhism. Belief systems always do.
Modern Paganism in all of its varieties harks back to the most ancient times, but its form is in reality the product of a long accumulation of influences. What modern Paganism really does is provide a medium, in the common form of the ceremonial circle, within which threads and traces of ancient ways can be reclaimed. It is about a set of philosophies and practices —such as animism, animal totemism, seasonal celebration, chanting, and spellcraft—the share a common ancestry with shamanism and have surfaced far and wide and in many cultural guises across the centuries.
If the ways have been broken, it is because their practitioners were persecuted. My own opinion is that rather than having to mount everything in an antique frame, we should recognize that Pagan tradition consists of a variety of subtle and subversive threads woven through history. Each of us, even in as simple an act as picking up the Runes, is a weaver in its ongoing revival.”—Paul Rhys Mountfort, Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting & Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle
I usually don’t post quotes this long but Paul Rhys Mountfort offers us a deep insight here that should be read more than once and pondered for a while. What I hear him saying is that religious traditions are not fixed things, they are fluid. Furthermore, I will be the first to admit that the dominant form of Christianity has done more than its fair share of persecuting those they perceived as different and labeled as heretics. [They still do.] Because of this, we sometimes only have fragments of traditions and rituals from which we try to reconstruct a modern form of these ancient practices.
For example, Heilung, whom I absolutely adore, calls what they do “amplified history.” They take fragments of ancient texts and set them to music. Their concerts are more like rituals than performances. However, they will be the first to admit that what they do is not 100% authentic because that’s an impossible task. What they have succeeded in doing is create something new from something old and its power and beauty cannot be denied.
I’m not exactly sure where I’m going with this post. My thoughts on this quote are still a work in progress and I welcome you to comment as well. In writing rituals and speaking of magical practice I do not kid myself into believing that what I post here is 100% authentically reconstructed from the old ways. That’s not only impossible, but its really not helpful either. Instead, we must continually ask ourselves how fragments of ancient history and spiritual practice speak to us now, in this era. We must treat them with respect but also not be afraid to adapt them in ways that are useful to us. Then others will take what we have created and adapt it again after we leave this earthly plain.
I am one of those weirdos who love to do deep research into a particular ritual or spiritual practice. It is then, and only then, that I feel free to adapt it to the times in which we live. These ancient fragments of wisdom and spiritual practice are gifts to us from ancestors long gone. We honor them by finding ways for these ancient forms of ritual and magic to speak to us in a new and fresh ways. This means we can feel free to adapt them but must do so carefully and lovingly, allowing the Great Spirit to guide us in the process. Blessed be!
Vervain has a long and beautiful history as a cleansing herb, among other uses. Ancient Egyptians dedicated vervain to the Goddess Isis and used it as a common ingredient in love potions. The Ancient Druids used it to cleans sacred spaces and in divination.
The Ancient Romans followed the Druid’s lead and used vervain to ritually cleanse their homes and temples. Some also placed vervain on their altars in honor of Venus and Diana. Legend has it that King Solomon cleansed the Temple with vervain which is not in the Tanakh (Old Testament) but it wouldn’t surprise me considering it’s widespread use during this time period.
Legend also had it that vervain was used to stop the bleeding from the wounds of Jesus after his crucifixion, hence its nickname “herb of the cross.” It is also said that Christians would cross themselves and say the following prayer while harvesting the herb:
Hallowed be thou Vervain, as thou growest on the ground For in the mount of Calvary there thou was first found. Thou healedst our Savior Jesus Christ, and staunchedst his bleeding wound, In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I take thee from the ground. [http://usesofherbs.com]
Vervain is known scientifically as Verbena officinalis and was brought to North America by the Puritans. (Does anyone know how the Puritans used it?) Today vervain is still used among Pagans and others for the ritual cleansing of sacred space and is also incorporated into a wide variety of charms and spells. It also has an American cousin, blue vervain, which is also called verbena. Its scientific name is verbena hastata. Both have beautiful flowers but the herb is usually harvested before the flowers appear.
For those who want to plant it in their herb gardens and flower beds, vervain likes the sun and is not particular about the soil its grown in. It’s a fairly hearty perennial and will come back year after year. I have some growing in my medicinal herb garden and can testify that bees and butterflies love it so that’s another good reason to plant this wonderful herb in your garden!
Here’s the ritual we did at Sunday night’s Welcoming Circle. It’s perfect for the upcoming month when the veil between the world is at its thinnest!
ANCESTOR RITUAL
CASTING THE CIRCLE—(Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials, adapted)
Take up your wand or athame. Then walk around your designated area three times. The first time around, say:
We take this place to hidden space Between worlds, between veils, Where life and death can interlace.
The second time around, say:
All within this sacred round is protected, From sky to deep below ground.
On the third round, say:
May all beings that truly see our good Come guard this circle—come, From city, sky, water, or wood! So mote it be!
CALLING THE QUARTERS (David Taliesin)
Elemental Spirits of the East and of Air, keepers of wisdom and mystery, whisper into our ears all that we need to know. May the cool fall breezes that rustle the leaves beneath our feet point us in the direction we need to go. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the South and of Fire, purifiers of heart and mind, burn away the clutter and confusion from our lives so that we may have absolute clarity regarding your will for our lives. May the bonfires of fall that give us light and warmth, bring comfort to our weary souls tonight. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the West and of Water, vessels of peace and compassion, may our thirst for justice and equality be quenched. May the fall rains which nourish the roots of the trees, give strength to the dreams you have planted in us. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the North and of Earth, stewards of hearth and home, gather around us the community we need to make us feel safe and loved. As the fall harvest continues, we ask you to bring about a harvest of good things into our lives, Hail and welcome!
Everyone face toward the center of the circle. (David Taliesin)
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, We learn to see in the dark. We search for the deep, hidden mysteries of the Divine, And dine at Wisdom’s table of intuition and creativity. Great Spirit, who is known to us by many names, Be with us tonight. We are blessed by your presence. Hail and welcome!
WELCOMING THE ANCESTORS (adapted from John Beckett, patheos.com, Under the Ancient Oaks)
Let us now invite our ancestors to join our circle. (Light first candle.)
Fathers, Mothers, Grandfathers, Grandmothers, ancestors we knew in this life, we invite you to our circle. We thank you for giving us life, for caring for us when we were young and helpless, and for teaching us to stand on our own. We remember you at your best.
If there is an ancestor you would like to remember, Call their name now, silently or aloud. (Pause for names) Hail and welcome!
(Light second candle)
Great, great, great grandparents, ancestors so old your names are lost to us, we invite you to our circle. We live in times very different from yours, but we are not so very different, and a part of you lives on in us.
We cannot call the names of these ancestors because we do not know their names. But think now of that ancestor who first crossed the great ocean, who survived war and plague and famine, who first learned the skills that would create civilization. Remember them now. (Pause 6-8 seconds) Hail and welcome!
(Light third candle)
Ancestors of spirit, mighty dead, we invite you to our circle. We do not carry your blood but we carry your spirit: your thoughts, your ideas, your dreams. We thank you for inspiring us and enlightening us, and for founding and creating the traditions and institutions that mean so much to us.
If there is a spiritual ancestor you would like to remember, call their name now, silently or aloud. (Pause for names) Hail and welcome!
(Light fourth candle)
Ancestors most ancient, you who share few of our genes, you who lived on a very different Earth so long ago we can barely conceive it, we invite you to our circle. We thank you for surviving under most difficult circumstances. Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and Australopithecus; long-extinct mammals and even-older vertebrates; smaller and simpler creatures stretching back to the first life. Sometimes we struggle to see ourselves in you, but without you we would not be.
Remember these most ancient ancestors, and remember that some of them are also the ancestors of other species alive today. When St. Francis called the wolf his brother, he had no way of knowing just how right he was. (Pause 6-8 seconds) Hail and welcome!
SHAMANIC DRUMMING AS WE MEDITATE AND LISTEN FOR WISDOM (David Taliesin)
CLOSING (David Taliesin)
Elemental Spirits of the North and of Earth, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the West and of Water, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the South and of Fire, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the East and of Air, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
CLOSING CONTINUED (adapted from John Beckett, patheos.com, Under the Ancient Oaks)
Ancestors we knew in life, Ancestors whose names we know not, Ancestors of Spirit, and Ancestors most ancient;
we thank you for attending our circle and blessing us with your presence. May there be peace and love between us now and forever. Stay if you will, Go if you must! We bid you farewell!
CLOSING CONTINUED (David Taliesin)
Great Spirit whose hidden wisdom Has been revealed to us tonight, We give you thanks. Give us strength to act upon what we have learned, And illumine the dark days of autumn With your insight and creativity. Stay if you will. Go if you must, We bid you farewell!
And now the circle is open but never unbroken Because it is a circle woven in love. Whatever energy is left in this space We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude. Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.
My friend and co-facilitator of The Welcoming Circle, Theresa “Tree” Higgins passed away on the Summer Solstice. Due to scheduling conflicts a gathering in her honor was postponed until yesterday. I was asked to conduct the ritual and with the help of a beautiful prayer from a friend, put the following together to remember my fallen Norse sister. I share it with you in case you need to do something similar for a departed loved one. I used a lot of Tree’s own words from a ritual she wrote for The Welcoming Circle.
CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF THERESA “TREE” HIGGINS
MEDITATION SONG “Norupo” by Heilung Norwegian Rune Poem, 13th Century
CALLING OF THE QUARTERS (written by Tree Higgins)
Hail, Guardian of the East! Keeper of sacred winds that carry our love beyond this realm. Hail, Guardian of the East, stand and protect this sacred circle!
Hail, Guardian of the South! Bearer of the Phoenix who dies in fire and is reborn of his own ashes! Hail, Guardian of the South, stand and protect this sacred circle!
Hail, Guardian of the West! Keeper of all the rivers of crossing! Hail, Guardian of the west, stand and protect our sacred circle!
Hail, Guardian of the North! Keeper of the earth from whom all things rise and all things return! Hail, Guardian of the North, stand and protect our sacred circle!
ANOINTING (written by Tree Higgins)
I will now anoint those willing so that the light once shared with the departed may shine for awhile here.
(While anointing) Let the love you have been given and the love you gave be the light that shines through the Veil.
ANCESTOR RITUAL (written by Tree Higgins, adapted)
We stand here and now to honor those who have passed from our sight but not our hearts and to honor our ancestors whose sacrifices and choices made it possible for us to be here today.
We will take a moment in silent reflection for those we have lost, especially Tree Higgins. And then we will go around the circle and allow people to share a memory of our fallen sister, Tree.
(Share a memory.)
BLESSING OF THE CUP (written by David Taliesin; prayer to Hel source is unknown)
The cup in the center of our altar is filled with mead, the ancient drink of the Vikings. Tree had a Viking heart and a Viking spirit that was not easily extinguished.
We pour our love and memories into this cup As we offer a prayer to the Norse goddess Hel.
In pre-covid times, we would pass this cup and everyone would have a drink from it. But, today, we will release the contents of this vessel to the earth after our gathering is finished.
I will also offer everyone the chance to taste a little mead in the individual cups provided.
Let us pray, Goddess Hel, Keeper of the Dead, Lady in Blue, and Caretaker of Those who pass on, we come to you now with offerings and prayers to ask for guidance and help in this trying time.
Our friend and sister, Theresa “Tree” Higgins has passed on and now walks the long and winding path to the land beyond. It pains us to not have her with us but we are confident she has arrived in a more peaceful place than the one she left behind.
We come to you and trust that you have met her early on her journey and walk beside her. Guide her so that she is never not lost or alone. Lead her so that she does not stray. Care for Tree as you have cared for so many before her.
Of this I humbly and kindly ask you. From ourselves to the earth to you, we give this gift. Blessed be!
RELEASING THE QUARTERS (written by Tree Higgins)
Hail, Guardian of the North! We thank you for your watch. We release you now. Please go freely on your way.
Hail, Guardian of the West! We thank you for your watch. We release you now. Please, go freely on your way.
Hail, Guardian of the South! We thank you for your watch. Please go freely on your way.
Hail, Guardian of the East! We thank you for your watch. Please go freely on your way.
Now the circle is open but it is never unbroken because it is a circle woven in love. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!
For several years author Lisa Wagoner and I co-facilitated The Welcoming Circle at Asheville’s Raven & Crone. It became a jumping off place for many seekers who are new to earth-based religions and magic. We tried to give them a firm foundation to build on and connect them to the resources they needed to grow in their chosen spiritual path. So, I was very excited and proud when I first heard the news that Lisa was asked to write a book for Llewellyn. I knew she would do a great job with it and, indeed, she did!
Positive Pagan is more than just a book. It’s a lifestyle. In Lisa’s words “When used in this book, the term ‘positive’ describes the energy that flows within one’s self. No matter the obstacles or hardships, or how wonky or horrific the world seems, positivity helps to move forward.” I have always believed that we receive back whatever kind of energy we project out into the universe. Even when bad things happen to us, we always have a choice regarding how we will react to them. Will they leave us feeling sad and defeated, or will they give us the motivation to make positive changes in our lives and in our world? Clearly, Lisa falls into the latter category. And as someone who knows her personally, she definitely practices what she preaches.
The book itself is impeccably organized and is jam packed with practical information and tons of rituals. It’s the perfect book to give to someone who is new to the Craft or Paganism and provides a solid foundation for them to build on. It’s also a great book for someone who feels like their spiritual path is either stagnant or ineffective. Positive Pagan will definitely help to jump start their magical practice. Everyone will find ideas that are well suited to them.
One of the strengths of Positive Pagan is the clarity of Lisa’s writing. It is easy to understand, concise and accessible to everyone. She continually asks the reader questions to ponder and it feels like she’s taking you by the hand and gently leading you through everything.
The other strength is that she never comes across as dogmatic regarding “the way things should be done.” Instead, she offers the reader a buffet of tools, ideas and rituals from which they can sample and see what works for them. And, trust me, it’s quite a feast!
Needless to say, I highly recommend this book and hope you’ll consider adding it to your collection. It’s one of those books you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
I gave yesterday’s post a little more thought and came up with a theory as to why many Christians are, unfortunately, antagonistic to their Pagan brothers and sisters. If Christians view time in a linear fashion, then everything new that comes along is an improvement on the old. Judaism is an improvement over Paganism. Christianity is an improvement/completion of Judaism. Today’s Christians understand Jesus better than Christians who lived in the Dark Ages. Etc, etc. It’s an elitist kind of thinking and many explain why some Christian are so intolerant of views other than their own. They are right and everyone else is wrong. nd of story.
Needless to say, I don’t subscribe to this kind of thinking. In fact, I believe it’s cutting the roots off the spiritual tree which, of course, means the tree is going to die. We see signs of this in all the absolutely crazy things people are saying in the name of Jesus today. It makes me cringe because the Jesus I believe in looks absolutely nothing like the Jesus they believe in.
Celtic Tree of Life
If Christians adopt the Pagan view of time as cyclical, the whole picture changes. Pagans have a gift to give to Christianity that can connect the tree back to its nourishing roots. Instead of every generation feeling superior to the one before it, we see that all of our ancestors tried to connect with the Great Mystery using the best words and rituals they could envision. Each generation possess a gift of wisdom about the Sacred that they pass along to successive generations. If we reject the gift, it weakens the tree. If we accept the gift, we inherit thousands of years of wisdom that make our spiritual tree strong and vibrant.
For example, NeoPagans have reached back to their Ancestors of old and listened carefully to their wisdom. They have taken many of their traditions and beliefs and adapted them in a way that is powerful to to 21st century people. The new ways are not superior to the old. They are merely a new expression of the same connection to the Divine.
Likewise, modern Christians such as myself are listening to the voices of our spiritual Ancestors as well. I love the spirituality of the Christian mystics whose voices have been silenced over the ages by mainstream Christianity. I also reach back to old rituals that were used centuries ago and adapt them in ways that speak to 21st century Christians.
The last piece of the time puzzle is that there can also be “cross-pollination” on the tree. Christians can learn from Pagans. Pagans can learn from Christians. We both can listen to other voices on the tree such as Buddhism, Native American spirituality, etc. The Ancient Ones have much wisdom to share with us if we only have ears to hear them. My biggest fear is that if Christians keep doing their “superior dance,” thinking in a linear fashion, they are going to destroy themselves, and possibly all of us. This kind of thinking only breeds hate, misunderstanding, and violence.
Wouldn’t it be better for all of us to hop on the Sacred Wheel and enjoy the ride together? I think it would make for a happier and healthier planet.
Sabbats and Sabbaths 