Pagan

[Ts_kaijira]

In CA Rosemary is grown as a hedge. I have access to plenty if anyone in another region needs some.

A Druid by calling, Occasional herbalist, and Wiccan with my Wiccan friends, I seek to embrace nature always. My sanctuary (backyard) was seriously enhanced by Tommi this year - who truly loves to get dirty. *chuckle

In charge of our Grove Beltaine public ritual, Tommi volunteered to build the Maypole! Do any of you have favorite Maypole rituals? And if there is anyone in So. CA interested in that, search for Raven's Cry Grove for announcements of public events.

[Bit]

Hi Dusa, OkieBlu, Kaijira!

We make our own Fiery Wall of Protection. It's easy to make because half the ingredients come out of your spice cupboard. You don't have to do anything complicated.

1 part each powdered Frankincense, Myrrh, and Dragon's Blood resins
1/2 part each Cinnamon, Turmeric, and Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper
1/4 part Black Pepper

Mix together thoroughly--but gently! avoid the sneezles!--and let sit 24 hours for the scent to blend and develop. Burn on charcoal tablets or melt over a candle in an incense stove.

Cone incense: You can buy makko powder with other incense powders. Mix it with your incense blend as one quarter of the volume. Add water until you have a moldable paste, and form cones from it. Let dry a week or so before burning.

Tips for homemade incense:
Don't grind resins and gums in a coffee grinder; use a morter and pestle
Don't make incense cones too small or they won't burn
You can mix incense with glue to make clay and mold it into scented amulets--but they won't burn right with the glue in them

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by Ts_kaijira

...
In charge of our Grove Beltaine public ritual, Tommi volunteered to build the Maypole! Do any of you have favorite Maypole rituals? And if there is anyone in So. CA interested in that, search for Raven's Cry Grove for announcements of public events.

I organise our local community Beltane celebration in my Brooklyn neighborhood, and have been doing it for the last… I'm not sure. It may be eight or nine years now. My good friends who formerly put it together are lovely straight people, very dedicated to the Goddess and their spiritual lives, but their Beltane ceremony was so rigidly gender typed that it practically gave me hives. Women guarded the hole. Men planted the pole after play acting a little force against the women. Women teased the men by demanding a bigger pole. Men teased the women by demanding a smaller hole. Yikes! Unfortunately, many Pagans play act this way at Beltaine, and they have no idea how offensive it is.

My friends handed Beltane duties off to me and another dyke friend when they moved out of state, and we do it very differently. It's open to all, but we often get a strong queer presence. After the loose ribbons are tied to the top of the pole, we invite all who are feeling their male/masculine/God energy to bring the pole into the circle by passing it between their legs. All who are feeling their female/feminine/Goddess energy are invited to guard the hole. Those who are bringing the pole into the circle approach respectfully, and we who are guarding the hole discuss the merits of the pole they're presenting. After a moment of consultation we decide that it's a beautiful pole, and that we welcome them to plant it in our hole. The group parts, and the pole is planted. Then we do a ceremony and dance around the May Pole.

I currently have a huge collection of May Poles from years past hanging around my backyard because they had to be removed from the community garden where we celebrate every year. They're very pretty, but they are rotting in the rain and snow. I wish I had room to keep them somewhere they wouldn't be so exposed to the elements.

[okieblu]

Any pagans or wiccans in OK?The local UU church used to have a CUUPS chapter meet there on a regular basis. It would be nice to get that started again.

[tara_kerrie]

Hey angie, my aunt and uncle are pagan. My uncle is even a clergy member (whatever that means). If you are interested maybe i can introduce yall.

[tara_kerrie]

Originally Posted by Ts_kaijira

In CA Rosemary is grown as a hedge. I have access to plenty if anyone in another region needs some.

A Druid by calling, Occasional herbalist, and Wiccan with my Wiccan friends, I seek to embrace nature always. My sanctuary (backyard) was seriously enhanced by Tommi this year - who truly loves to get dirty. *chuckle

In charge of our Grove Beltaine public ritual, Tommi volunteered to build the Maypole! Do any of you have favorite Maypole rituals? And if there is anyone in So. CA interested in that, search for Raven's Cry Grove for announcements of public events.

If anyone in Arkansas needs some maybe i can be close
Enough to be the pick up and delivery boy!!!