Episode #7 - A quick visit

Episode #7

Just a quick visit for now.

Episode 6 - Ostara, Earth Hour, and The Hope of Spring

Episode 6 of the Magical Earth

Greetings, Fellow Travellers, and welcome to the Magical Earth.

We recorded this episode mid-March - but due to being waylaid by assorted colds and flu bugs, working overtime, school, family obligations, and life ... we are thrilled to finally get this up and out.

The time change also seemed to have contributed to the ebbing of energy, as we wait eagerly for the coming of Spring - and we all strongly encourage Jacinthe to stop knitting mitts, hats and scarves to allow the energy of Spring to finally make it self manifest.

Alex has started the final class of her term, Jacinthe has been doing a lot of overtime, Susan has been sick with every pesky bug that is making the rounds, and Cliff has joined the Environmental Policy Group at his work to effect some "Green" changes in his workplace. He is also hard at work at an online writing project "Carpe Arcanum" and working on his column, the Digital Pagan for The Pagan Activist.

At one point, Susan recalls Barb's "Beltane in the Snow" chant/mantra, calling out to the Goddess to "Take of the White Dress, Put on the Green Dress". Say it with us now...

Jacinthe shares an article from a back issue of What is Enlightenment magazine about the Environment. Learn more about what is Enlightenment / EnlighteNEXT - Andrew Cohen's publication. Spring/Summer 2001 issue - Dialogue with Andrew Cohen and Rabbi Michael Lerner. The article discusses the unique and powerful relationships between spirituality, environmentalism, activism and human nature, and how we missed opportunities to effect change when it was timely, and now (in 2001) how we must effect bigger and more difficult changes becuase of the severity of the challenge ahead.

We talk about the impact of recycling on the lives of the poor in developing countries, who have depended on the affluence in the effluence of what the big cities throw away to earn a living picking out recyclable bits and pieces from the landfills.

We also discuss the impact of biofuels on the cost of food crops (which we see at the cash register) and how even "low-cost"vegetarian staples like TVP have risen dramatically in price as biofuel agribusiness has an impact on sustainable agriculture. Good TVP recipes, anyone?

Solar power is becoming more affordable for the average home and even apartment dweller with the innovations by companies like "Veranda" - check it out.

For more information on James Lovelock, the scientist who "founded" the Gaia Hypothesis

as referenced in our conversation and the final chapter of Triumph of the Moon - check the links above, and do some Googling on your own - you'll be glad you did.

We discuss plans for Earth Hour - now passed - sorry! But plan to do something next year for Earth Hour 2010! For the record, we had a great time on March 28th, at The Witchery - and the Ritual from Episode 4 was a great fit.

Pick a Pack of Pickled Pagan Podcasts takes us to a review of "Pagan Parents on the Edge" - and a discussion of episodes old and new. Arrowind and Foxfire do a great show. Cliff's favourite episode is an early one where they talk about the books that influence them, which leads to a mention of the Church of All Worlds.

This episode is brought to you by The Chariot - Self-Mastery of will and desire, leaving the past behind, and moving forward with purpose and clarity. This takes us to a Cliff's idea of a great introduction, as we move into the Sacred Poetry section, and a prayer supposedly written by that charming old snake catcher, St. Patrick, that Susan found in her current favourite daily read - Earth Prayers from Around the World

Alex's Bookshelf pick is a follow up to her website visit to www.geraldgardner.com - we discuss the reissue of Witchcraft Today. This gives us a springboard to batt around ideas about how Wiccan practice has changed, flowed and ebbed over the decades of its evolution.

Our previous bookstudy books have been (in order)

1. Pagans and Christians - The Spiritual Experience
2. The Circle Within
3. The Historical Mary - Revealing the Pagan Identity of the Virgin Mother
4. Savage Breast - One Man's Search for the Goddess
5. Triumph of the Moon

and our next choice - we are pleased to announce our pick of a Canadian Pagan Author -

Brendan Myers - The Other Side of Virtue

We invite you to follow along by joining our open community discussion forum - where we talk about many things - communitaspaganus@yahoogroups.com

After summing up our evening, we close with a prayer from the Jewish Tradition that so wonderfully expresses our committment to a life of action. We use this as a chant, a mantra, and "sing it" from time to time.

We are here to do,

and through doing learn;

and through learning know;

and through knowing

to experience wonder;

and through wonder

to attain wisdom;

and through wisdom

to find simplicity;

and through simplicity

to give attention

and through attention

see what needs to be done

We are here to do.

-- Pirkei Avot 5:27

Until our paths cross again,

Walk softly.

Episode #5 - Dedicated to Brighid - she's the reason for the season...

Episode #5


Greetings, Fellow Travelers, and welcome to the Magical Earth.

Episode 5 starts with our Greeting, as usual - and our check in reveals that once again we are pumpkin-infused and with traces of whipped cream on our faces. Tempis Fugit! It is already February (or darned close).

We talk a bit about personal fitness, financial fitness, and the concept of resolutions based on changing the calendar. Cliff and Alex visited the local Wellness Expo, and found a few interesting weight loss tips - and one very unappetizing solution. They also tried out "the chi machine" and the "hothouse" - and loved them.

Cliff has started contributing to a website called "The Pagan Activist and Cliff's column, the Digital Pagan - the next column will be on social networking.

Jacinthe has been working on her knitting, and has found a new knitting podcast to tickle her ears - having fallen in love with David Reidy, and his "Sticks and String" podcast - he has a passion for the environment, for shopping locally at Australian mills and farms, honors his knitting ancestors and does "magic" (stage magic). Mr. Reidy - you do great podcast - and even for non-knitters - his joyous exploration of the knitting community is heartening. We don't know if he's pagan - we don't think he is - but at times, his views on the sacred earth, the need for community, the use of natural resources - and - he makes sure the blue tongued lizards are not hiding in the lawn grass before he mows - make us feel like he's a kindred spirit - and kindred knitter.

We give props and shout outs to the Podkin, and the listening community - please give us - and all podcasters - feedback on what you like and what you don't. We (all of us podcasters) love to hear from you. Write reviews on iTunes, or email - you can email us and we will get back to you!

The theme that emerges is that of "doing" - as a corollary to "being - and that doing is also learning. We talk about our indiviudal lessons of the Imbolc Season, and the way that the Goddess Brighid has touched our lives.

Susan expresses the hope of resurrecting the Cil Gallchno of Brighid - where devotees can take part in a symbolic "tending of the flame" one day in a day rotation, with Brighid catching the flame on the 20th day - and holding the blessing of the flame over all of us.

A group of us did this for several years some time ago - as part of the "Order of Brighid" (Susan and Jacinthe are still members) - and some of us would like to restart it as an independent observance, possibley under their umbrella - or on our own. Please contact us if you would like more information on how this works - or if you want to do it as part of the Cil Gallchno (Susan's group) - please let her know and she'll send you info).

We talk about Elders, Teachers, what teaching looks like in the 21st century (books, blogging, podcasting, lecture series, webinars etc), getting paid for teaching, how to repay your teachers for teaching you with an exchange of energy that has meaning - which can include cash! We also kick around "how the myth of not paying for teaching affects our Elders" and would love feedback from you on this matter.

Alex reviews www.geraldgardner.com as a resource for the Wiccan Community and we discuss what we find there.

Pick A Pack of Pickled Pagan Podcasts - we talk about the Pagan Centered Podcast - a great podcast not for the faint of heart, and who earn their explicit rating with every episode. Funny - insightful - not politically correct - and worth listening to. The sound quality of some episodes is a bit dodgy - but please, perservere - if your ears aren't bleeding - you aren't listening hard enough!

Earth Hour is coming up March 28th, 2009. Learn all about it and create an event where you are. We'll be doing something at the Witchery that night - if you want to join us, please email us to let us know! We'll be doing the Earth Ritual from the last episode - by candlelight.

Get the word out - register with Earth Hour (each country has their own site) and do your part to make everyone aware of the importance of limiting energy consumption to help reverse climate change.

We're happy to help with cheap advice on what you (yes YOU!) can do to hold your own pagan celebration of Earth Hour! Email us! Join with us in energy, if you can't be with us in person. Tell 13 friends... and they'll tell 13 friends.... and so on and so on - don't you want to sit in the dark with people who want to sit in the dark with you? Let us know your events and we'll post them and announce them to help you out! the more the merrier!

We touch on the concept of environmental activism as a form of frugality - and how "frugal is the new black" (as well as the new green). There are lots of great blogs on frugality - and even one called "The Frugal Pagan".

Susan reads some Sacred Poetry - Homecoming by Linda Reuther from the collection "Her Words - an anthology of poetry about the Great Goddess" edited by Burleigh Muten. Please read the article about Linda Reuther - her amazing journey to know the Goddess in her lifetime of honoring Gaia. Truly Inspiring.

We wrap up by talking about what we are taking with us from the holy day of Imbolc - from the Flame and Well of Brighid. How was your Imbolc celebration? Let us know how she touches you - and may Her shaping of your soul be gentle - may you be as malleable metal between the hammer and the anvil of Her Forge.

Until our paths cross again,
Walk Softly.

Episode Four - A Ritual for the Earth

Greetings, Fellow Travelers, and welcome to Episode 4 of the Magical Earth Quadcast.

This is our first "betwixt and between the Sabbats" episode. Hope you enjoy it. Our next episode will be out around Imbolc.

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded and listened and passed on a recommendation to a friend about The Magical Earth. We are at over 1500 downloads of our first three episodes, and over 2100 downloads if you count our "call for Yule blessings" and "Happy 2009" soundsquibs. We thank you - thank you - thank you - for the kind words, the emails, and the comments.

Episode Four - And Now, for something completely different.

Some Background is in Order:
On our discussion group Communitas Paganus, I (Susan) am posting poetry appropriate to certain days of the year, mostly so far taken from a book called Earth Prayers, a collection of prayers, blessings, poetry, scripture from many Traditions all centered around the Earth. I found a segment that was credited to The United Nations Environmental Sabbat Service - and as I dug deeper - and found the entire ritual - I knew we had to do "something" with it.

In a Public Ritual Jacinthe and I had done several years ago as part of a fundraising initiative for the victims of the Tsunami of 2005, we had encountered a piece of sacred writing called the Chinook Psalter, and now found a slightly different version of it as part of the site hosting the UN Sabbat Service. There was also a blessingway prayer that we liked as well on the same site, so we included that also.

We wrapped these three pieces within the framework of the Gaiaist Wiccan Liturgy, making few modifications for flow and consistency within the construction of our sacred space. The Gaiaist Wiccan Liturgy evolved from the Spirit-Haven Liturgy, both written by Susan Hurrell and Jacinthe Labbe and workshoped since 1993 in numerous private and public circles.

So - to begin the New Calendar Year, and in anticipation of Earth Hour 2009, we start our year with a ritual to take responsibility for the state of the Earth, and to honor the Earth, Gaia who gives us life, and all of her creatures.

We invite you to join with us - light candles at the Quarters if you wish, and to share in this sacred rite.


"The Greeting" written by Ralph Blum (The Book of Runes)
I honor your gods, I drink at your well. I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place. I will not negotiate by withholding. I have no cherished outcomes. I am not subject to disappointment.

The Gaiast Wiccan Ritual Liturgy for Creation of Sacred Space

The Self-Blessing
We are one with Universal Energy, for we are its creation. It is our eyes, and we see clearly. It is our ears, and we hear with discernment. It is our mouths, and we speak truth. It is our hands, and we do sacred work. It is our hearts, and we give and receive love. It is our feet, and we move forward on our journey. And so it is.


Calling the Elemental Compass
From the East, we receive clarity, which we transform into ideas. We are one with the Air, the breath of life.

From the South, we receive passion, which we transform into activity. We are one with the Fire, the passions of life.

From the West, we receive emotion, which we transform into responsibility. We are one with the Water, the flow that connects all life.

From the North, we receive stability, which we transform into accomplishment. We are one with the Earth, Gaia who gives us life.

From the Center, we receive grounding, which we transform into tranquility. We are a part of the circle of life.

From heart to heart and hand to hand, we are one people, serving Gaia.


The Invocations
She appears with the moon rise, as She returns to light the night sky
with her ever changing face and its silver light of mystery.

He appears with the sunrise, as He returns to light the new dawning day
and warm the world with His golden rays of power.

Her potential is wisdom. Her power is emotion.

His potential is strength. His power is passion.

Reborn each night from darkness is
She who brings forth hope and mystery.

Returning each morning from darkness is
He who is our single source of light and life.

Her womb brings forth regeneration
in the never ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

His seed brings forth new beginnings
in the never ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

For Holy is the Great Goddess,
Maiden, Mother, Crone.

For Holy is the Great God,
Youth, Father, Sage.

Let now the blessings of the Great Moon Mother descend.

Let now the blessings of the Great Sun Father descend.

Become One and Unite within this sacred space.

The United Nations Environmental Sabbath Service

From “Only One Earth,” a United Nations Environment Program publication for “Environmental Sabbath/Earth Rest Day,” June 1990; UN Environment Program, DC2-803 United Nations, New York, NY 10017.

A Call to Prayer
We who have lost our sense and our senses –
our touch, our smell, our vision of who we are;
we who frantically force and press all things,
without rest for body or spirit, hurting our earth and injuring ourselves:
we call a halt.

We want to rest.
We need to rest and allow the earth to rest.
We need to reflect and to rediscover the mystery that lives in us,
that is the ground of every unique expression of life,
the source of the fascination that calls all things to communion.

We declare a Sabbath, a space of quiet:
for simple being and letting be;
for recovering the great, forgotten truths;
for learning how to live again.


A Prayer of Awareness
Today we know of the energy that moves all things:
the oneness of existence,
the diversity and uniqueness of every moment of creation,
every shape and form,
the attraction, the allurement, the fascination that all things have for one another.

Humbled by our knowledge,
chastened by surprising revelations, with awe and reverence
we come before the mystery of life.


A Prayer of Sorrow
We have forgotten who we are.

We have forgotten who we are.
We have alienated ourselves from the unfolding of the cosmos.
We have become estranged from the movements of the earth.
We have turned our backs on the cycles of life.

We have forgotten who we are.
We have sought only our own security.
We have exploited simply for our own ends.
We have distorted our knowledge. We have abused our power.

We have forgotten who we are.
Now the land is barren.
And the waters are poisoned.
And the air is polluted.

We have forgotten who we are.
Now the forests are dying.
And the creatures are disappearing.
And the humans are despairing.

We have forgotten who we are.
We ask forgiveness.
We ask for the gift of remembering.
We ask for the strength to change.


(the ritual calls for a time of meditative silence) Musical Interlude by Marc Gunn entitled 'Song of Assisi' and can be found on the Podsafe Music Network


A Prayer of Healing
We join with the earth and with each other.
To bring new life to the land.
To restore the waters.
To refresh the air.

We join with the earth and with each other.
To renew the forests.
To care for the plants.
To protect the creatures

We join with the earth and with each other.
To celebrate the seas.
To rejoice the sunlight.
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with each other.
To recall our destiny.
To renew our spirits.
To reinvigorate our bodies

We join with the earth and with each other.
To create the human community.
To promote justice and peace.
To remember our children

We join together as many and diverse expressions
of one loving mystery:
for the healing of the earth and the renewal of all life.


A Prayer of Gratitude
We rejoice in all life.
We live in all things.
All things live in us

We rejoice in all life.
We live by the sun.
We move with the stars

We rejoice in all life.
We eat from the earth.
We drink from the rain.
We breathe from the air

We rejoice in all life.
We share with the creatures.
We have strength through their gifts

We rejoice in all life.
We depend on the forests.
We have knowledge through their secrets

We rejoice in all life.
We have the privilege of seeing and understanding.
We have the responsibility of caring.
We have the joy of celebrating.

We rejoice in all life.
We are full of the grace of creation.
We are graceful. We are grateful.

The Chinook Psalter (adaptation)

We call upon the earth, our planet home,
with its beautiful depths and soaring heights,
its vitality and abundance of life,
and together we ask that it
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the mountains, the Cascades and the Olympics,
the high green valleys and meadows filled with wild flowers,
the snows that never melt, the summits of intense silence,
and we ask that they
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the waters that rim the ear, horizon to horizon,
that flow in our rivers and streams,
that fall upon our gardens and fields,
and we ask that they
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the land which grows our food,
the nurturing soil, the fertile fields,
the abundant gardens and orchards,
and we ask that they
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the forests, the great trees
reaching strongly to the sky
with the earth in their roots and the heavens in their branches,
the fir and the pine and the cedar,
and we ask them to
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the creatures of the fields and forests and the seas,
our brothers and sisters the wolves and deer,
the eagle and dove,
the great whales and the dolphin,
the beautiful Orca and salmon who share our Northwest home,
and we ask them to
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the moon and the stars and the sun,
who govern the rhythms and seasons of our lives
and remind us that we are part of a great and wondrous universe,
and we ask them to
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon all those who have lived on this earth,
our ancestors and our friends,
who dreamed the best for future generation,
and upon whose lives our lives are built,
and with thanksgiving, we call upon them to
Teach us, and show us the way.

And lastly,
we call upon all that we hold most sacred,
the presence and power of the Great Spirit of love and truth
which flows through all the universe
to be with us to
Teach us, and show us the way.

Litany of Six Directions (adapted)
(Source unknown; inspired by a traditional Native American blessing.)

We turn to the West for a blessing to the Spirit of Shalom, Peace:
make us whole, make us holy,
help us to love You and one another with our whole heart,
our whole mind, our whole being, we pray: Empower us, Spirit of the West

We turn to the North for a blessing to the Spirit of Integrity:
give us Your strength and the courage
to endure all the problems we may face, we pray
Empower us, Spirit of the North

We turn to the East for a blessing, to the Spirit of Illumination:
open our eyes to the sacredness of every living thing, we pray
Empower us, Spirit of the East

We turn to the South for a blessing, to the Spirit of Transformation:
help us to grow in wisdom and grace and the goodness of the ages, we pray
Empower us, Spirit of the South

We look to the Heavens, to the Spirit of Openness:
fill us with a breadth of vision to see that Your love embraces all, we pray
Empower us, Spirit of the Great Sky Father

We touch the Earth for a blessing,
and thereby touch the Spirit which lives among us and within us:
help us to be more human
and to praise you through the work of our hands, we pray
Empower us, Spirit of the Great Earth Mother

Let us go from here blessed and renewed
in the Spirit of Peace,
in the Spirit of Integrity,
in the Spirit of Illumination,
in the Spirit of Transformation,
with hopes lifted high to the heavens
and with hearts loving the earth
in the name of our loving, creating, nurturing divine presence,
no mater what names we use to call its presence and power into our lives.

And so it is.

The Devocations

She appears with the moon rise, as She returns to light the night sky
with her ever changing face and its silver light of mystery.

He appears with the sunrise, as He returns to light the new dawning day
and warm the world with His golden rays of power.

Her potential is wisdom.
Her power is emotion.

His potential is strength.
His power is passion.

Reborn each night from darkness is
She who brings forth hope and mystery.

Returning each morning from darkness is
He who is our single source of light and life.

Her womb brings forth regeneration
in the never ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

His seed brings forth new beginnings
in the never ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

For Holy is the Great Goddess,
Maiden, Mother, Crone.

For Holy is the Great God,
Youth, Father, Sage.

We give thanks for the blessings of the Great Moon Mother.

We give thanks for the blessings of the Great Sun Father.

As we prepare to depart from this sacred space

Releasing the Elemental Compass
We honor our transformation, and thank the Centre for tranquility.
May we remain one with the Centre, and learn from all the directions.

We honor our accomplishments, and thank the North for stability.
May we remain one with the Earth, Gaia who gives us life.

We honor our responsibilities, and thank the West for emotion.
May we remain one with the Water, the flow that connects all life.

We honor our activity, and thank the South for passion.
May we remain one with the Fire, the fuel that empowers life.

We honor our ideas, and thank the East for clarity.
May we remain one with the Air, the breath of life.

From heart to heart and hand to hand - (repeat as needed) - The Circle is Open, but Unbroken. Know the Mystery of the Unbroken Circle.

Bide the Wiccan Law we must, in perfect love and perfect trust. These words the Wiccan Rede fulfill - and ye harm none, do what you will. Lest in they self-defense it be, every mind there one law be. Honor this with mind and heart, for Merry we meet, merry we part, and merry we meet again.



AfterChat

Last year members of the Gaiaist Wiccan Tradition here in Winnipeg got very involved in promoting Earth Hour and held an event and open ritual at our Temple Space. This year, Earth Hour is Saturday March 28th, with the hour of darkness being from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time. We are discussing using this as the ritual, in candlelight at our Temple space.

We invite any local people to contact us for details, or to attend that event. Details will be found on a Facebook Event Page for Earth Hour Winnipeg - and we also have an Earth Hour Winnipeg Group on Facebook. Join us there.

We also invite and encourage "you" to celebrate Earth Hour by joining with us in energy, and hosting an Open Circle or Private Event to perform the United Nations Earth Sabbat Ritual at 8:30 pm your local time on March 28th. Please use your own circle casting or sacred Liturgy - however you wish to create sacred space is entirely up to you - that magick will be in sharing the words of power in the Prayer of Awareness, the Prayer of Sorrow, The Prayer of Healing, and the Prayer of Gratitude, followed by the Chinook Psalter, and the Litany of the 6 Directions.

We love to help support and promote your efforts "everywhere" to make this a sacred event to honor Our Mother Earth. Join our Facebook Earth Hour Group (you don't have to be from Winnipeg) and or find a group for your location (or start one!) and email us to let us know what you are doing in your circle, grove, clan, tribe, coven or Tradition.

Find ways to spread the word to family, friends, your workplaces, where you shop, wherever you go - ask them how they will be celebrating Earth Hour. Write your political representatives to ask what their commitment is in supporting Earth Hour. Let's make this a bigger event than last year - and increase our commitment to stewardship of the Earth's resources.

Until our Paths cross again,

Walk softly .....

Happy Calendar Changing Day

Happy Calendar Changing Day

From all of us here at the Magical Earth, we would like to wish you a Happy Calendar Changing day.

Episode #3 - Happy ho ho!

Click on the Pod Icon to listen


Welcome, Fellow Travelers - it's Yule-tide - and we are happy to be with you all again for our last show of 2008. We start, as always, with Ralph Blum's "Greeting" - the way we have opened our sacred work with this poem for years and years .... Our 2nd "take" - due to the blowing up of the lightbulb in our Himalayan Salt Lamp - which made for a flurry of sparks and activity. Nothing dire - just an unexpected "sizzle" to the start of our first take. We're all fine.

We quote the late visionary Arthur C Clarke - who said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." This is one of Clarke's Three Laws that govern the Universe.

Our quick check-in reveals that we are hyped up on hot chocolate, pumpkin pound cake and whipped cream, and that Alex got some more work done on her tattoos - see pics on our Facebook Fan Page - and we all have tattoos by Jodie Wentz of Rock Road Tattoo - the best tattoo artists anywhere for spiritual themed pagan tattoo work - in our humble opinion. Her "secular" tattoo work is also wondrous, but for we Crafty folk - she has been our first choice.


This episode is brought to you by the Rune - Isa - and we talk about the beauty of winter and the need, at this most hectic time of year, to take time to STOP - PAUSE - REST - and enjoy the moments in winter where nothing seems to be moving.


Pumpkin Pound Cake Recipe - courtesy of Jacinthe's Kitchen, and taken from 1500 Best Bars, Cookies, Muffins, Cakes, & More by Esther Brody.

3 cups all-purpose flour - ½ tsp salt -½ tsp baking powder - 1 tsp cinnamon -¼ tsp ground cloves - ½ tsp ginger -1 ½ cups butter, softened -2 ½ cups granulated sugar -1 tsp vanilla - 6 eggs -1 cup canned cooked pumpkin purée (not pie filling)

1. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
2. In a large mixer bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, until well blended.
3. Beat in flour mixture alternately with pumpkin, making 3 additions of flour and 2 of pumpkin, on low speed, beating only until well combined. Spoon into two prepared baking pans (greased and floured).
4. Bake in pre-heated oven for 60 to 70 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and dry). Let cool the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes – then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Changes that I made to the original recipe: I used a mix of wholewheat, graham and unbleached flour. I thought that the graham flour would give it a nuttier flavor. I used ¾ persimmon purée and ¼ pumpkin purée – both created in my kitchen.


Best served topped by whipped cream, with a steaming mug of Hot Chocolate (also topped by whipped cream - the balm to all the season's stresses.)


We are so blessed and amazed to have so many of you listen to us. Thanks and we appreciate every download! We only keep going because you keep listening! Thanks to our Podkin for their support!

Speaking of Podkin... Pick a Pack of Pickled Pagan Podcasts - We listen to a lot of podcasts - we compare days of stored podcasts on our computers - and wonder how many days of podcasts YOU have to listen to? What do you listen FOR in a podcast? What makes you subscribe - or unsubscribe to a podcast? What is important? What matters? Should it be edited or "live and raw"? Does sound quality matter? Music - how much is the right amount? We want to "review" a couple podcasts each episode, to introduce our listeners to other great Pagan Podcasts out there - so please go and explore these three podcasts that are our "regular listens" -

• The Wigglian Way - Mojo and Sparrow are the Elders of the Pagan Podcast community - not that theirs is the oldest podcast, necessarily, but their generosity of spirit, their support and encouragement to their Podkin (that's us) to go out and try to do it.
• Druidcast - Damh the Bard (Dave, for you non-Gaelic speakers) from the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids - an amazingly intelligent show that has great music (and occasional music themed show).
• Moonshine - Tegan has the best theme music of any podcast (though Susan has a soft spot for Druidcast's "The Hills They Are Hollow" - but that is a proper song, not a "theme" per se). A great podcast with a great perspective and some "southern spice".
  

Sacred Poetry this episode is from Andrew Harvey, and is called "Song for the Divine Mother.

Alex leads a discussion about "Triumph of the Moon" by Prof. Ronald Hutton - the book that our circle as been studying for the past year (or more). (new people always welcome to join the book study, by the way - if you are in the Wpg area, email us for information). This winds its way about how media has influenced our "visioning" of Craft images and then winds its way back to the book and how Wicca is a syncretic religion, whether we like it or not.

We recommend listening to Episode Four of Druidcast to hear Prof. Hutton deliver a lecture on the Horned God - hearing his speaking style and being able to enjoy his sense of wit and humor really open up "getting" Prof. Hutton's writing style. It "is" an academic text (and is printed in 6pt type) but what some people "read" as dry-ness is really a cutting sense of wit and "edge" that does not translate well to the printed page. There are several of Prof. Hutton's lectures on various Druidcast episodes - and all are well worth the listen - as is Druidcast in its own right. We also mention Prof. Hutton's "stirring and uplifting" rendition of Crowley's "Hymn to Pan" from Episode Four.


Cliff won Nano this year so his blogging has been a bit "tardy" but we are very proud of him for writing 50,000 words in 3 days! We discuss how to put the sacred back into the season. What does it mean to Pagans to put the "Sacred" back into this holiday season? What do you do? Let us know!


There will be a small token of congratulations to the first person who can correctly identify by name the newly started blog by Jacinthe. (disclaimer: members of The Magical Earth, their immediate families, and anyone that Jacinthe has personally told, are not eligible to win the prize. so there.)

We close with our own holiday wishes, and a poem submitted to us by a listener, Craig - thank you for sharing with us, and our listeners... Hope you had a "Cool Yule" and spent it exactly the way you wanted to!

Yuletide is Here

Flame ye the old Yule log, with scythe cut mistletoe
Spiral oak and ivy, holly hung head to toe

The hooves of Herne strike the crag, early in the morn
The Boar is slain for the roast, to rejoice the Sun reborn

Wassailing in our hearts and hearth to a healthy, happy home
Children gather stockings awaiting the jolly Gnome

To fill with sweets and treats delight as in the days of yore
As Fathers told the tales of old and ancient Yuletide lore

Mother sits by the fire sipping a hot mulled wine
Remembering a Winter long since past and a lad so handsome and fine.

Who kissed her once, under the sprig when she was ere a lass
As snow did blow the cold wind fro and icicles glittered like glass

So make merry ye folk who toil with yoke, come gather under the tree
and to all of ye young and old behold a bright warm Blessed Be!

(c)CraigWicce Yule 2008

Episode 3 - Blessed Yule

Welcome to episode 3 of the Magical Earth.

the show notes will be posted December 23rd sorry for the delay.