I make this every year and everyone loves it. There may have been a bit too much Brandy in it a couple years back, my Aunt’s first sip came straight out of her nose. LOL! Anyways, I’m looking forward to making it again this year, it makes the house smell yummy. If you get a chance to make it, let me know how it turns out.
Happy Yule!
Dead Soldiers
Cook Time: 2-4 hours
Ingredients:
Approxamitely 12 bottles of Woodchuck Hard Cider (1 gallon)
2 C. cranberry juice
1/2 C honey
1/2 C sugar
2 oranges
Whole cloves
1 apple, peeled and diced
Allspice
Ginger
Nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks (or 3 Tbs. ground cinnamon)
1/2 C – 1 C brandy (optional)
Preparation:
Set your crockpot to low, pour in apple cider, cranberry juice, honey and sugar, mix carefully. While it heats up, stir so the honey and sugar dissolve. Stud the oranges with the cloves, and place in the pot. Add the diced apple, allspice, ginger and nutmeg to taste — a couple of tablespoons of each is plenty. Snap the cinnamon sticks in half and add.
Cover and simmer 2 – 4 hours on low heat. About half an hour prior to serving, add the brandy, if desired.
Tip: For people with cinnamon allergies, add an extra 1 1/2 tbsp of both allspice and nutmeg! (Thanks to Natalie Pagan!)
Gratin Dauphinois should be crispy on both the top and bottom. It should have a rich, cheesy taste. Look closely once you take it out of the oven, you will notice the cream has turned into a curdled, cheese-like substance. Don’t be alarmed, this is what makes gratin most desirable. As the potatoes absorb water, you get a concentration of fat and protein, exactly like fresh cheese curds.
Ingredients:
2 pounds starchy potatoes
1/2 clove unpeeled garlic
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Swiss cheese
1 cup boiling milk or cream
2 cups 1/4 inch sliced fully cooked ham (optional)
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 425F. Peel the potatoes and slice them 1/8 inch thick. Place in cold water. Drain when ready to use.
If you choose to use ham: Dice and heat in a skillet for 2-3 minutes, season with salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside until ready to use.
Rub baking dish with cut garlic, then with 1 tablespoon of butter.
Drain the potatoes and dry in a towel. Spread half of them in the bottom of the dish. Top with half the salt, pepper, cheese, and butter. (ham, if desired)
Place the remaining potatoes over the first layer and season. Spread on the rest of the cheese (ham) and divide the butter over it. Pour on the boiling milk.
Set the baking dish on upper rack of preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, the milk is absorbed, and the top is a golden brown.
Valerian is a tall perennial with heads of sweet scented pink, blue or white flowers which bloom in the summer. Its one unpleasant quality is the the smell of the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots. However, cats and rats relish in it. Some herbalists suggest that Valerian was the secret of the legendary Pied Piper of Hamlin’s irresistible power over rats!
Planet: Venus (Beauty, Fidelity, Friendships, Good Fortune, Love, Money, youth)
Magical & Ritual Uses: If you’re lucky enough to grow Valerian in your garden, Great Magic can be worked with the blooms.
Powdered, it is sometimes used as “graveyard dust.”
Use to purify your ritual space.
To ward off evil: Hang a sprig of Valerian under a window.
Guard against lightning: Hang sachets with powdered Valerian in the home.
As a sleep aid: Place a sachet with powdered Valerian in pillows.
A sprig of the plant pinned to a woman’s clothing will cause men to “follow her like children.”
For marital troubles: Wrap Valerian Root and a picture of you and your spouse in brown paper. Carry this for three days, then take out the root and throw it into running water. Replace it with Lovage root and keep that with the picture from there on.
As an uncrossing incense: Burn it alongside a reversing candle, and send the curse back to the person who crossed you.
To stop an unwanted visitor: Sprinkle Valerian root across your front steps, calling the person’s name, and commanding that he/she be unable to cross over. To make it more potent, add black pepper and salt.
For self purification: Make an elixir of Valerian to take daily (in very small doses).
To curse an enemy: Burn Valerian root with Black Arts Incense and a black candle, carve your enemy’s name in it with a coffin nail. Place his or her picture or name on paper face-down under the candle. Hide Valerian root in his/her car, so that they will have bad luck. (Personally, I would NEVER do this)
Medical Uses:
A powerful nerve stimulant and antispasmodic.
Sedative and pain-killer.
The purified extract is also used for epilepsy.
Warning: Large doses can cause headaches, vertigo, nervous agitation, muscular spasms, and hallucinations.
References:
Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
Paul Huson: Mastering Herbalism: A Practical Gude
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Dill is a member of the Umbelliferae family, related to carrots and parsley. It is easily spotted in the garden due to the thread-like, feathery leaves. In ancient civilizations, Dill was so valued that it was accepted as a means of payment. Today, the leaves and the seeds are highly regarded for both medicinal and culinary appeal. Dill’s essential oils found in the seeds make it a versatile naturopathic remedy, it’s great for stomach and intestinal problems, mild insomnia, nervous ailments, flatulence and heartburn. It is also widely prescribed for many diseases of the liver and gallbladder and may be recommended to treat gastric problems in children. In the kitchen, it is a flavorful addition to many dishes and excellent for accenting fish, poultry, potatoes, cucumbers and cheese.
Components
Dill leaves have vitamin C, folic acid, beta-carotene and potassium.
The seeds have iron and calcium which provides a mild dietary fiber.
The curative effect of the seeds is greater then that of the leaves, due to the fact the seeds contain more essential oils.
The flavor comes from the oils, with a similar taste to that of fennel, spicy and a little sweet.
Therapeutic effect
Dill’s essential oils help calm a nervous stomach, alleviate bloating, flatulence and some liver and gall bladder ailments.
A great cure for intestinal bacteria that can cause diarrhea.
A tea mad from dill seeds helps stimulate the milk in nursing mothers and can soothe colic in babies.
Be sure to eat dill in moderation, excess amounts can impede kidney functioning.
For hiccups Dill has been used as a hiccup remedy. Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. A tea made from the seeds can relax the diaphragm.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of dried dill leaves.
Cover the cup, let the tea steep about 10-15 min.
Sip slowly once the infusion is cool.
For insomnia
Pour boiling water over 1 teaspoon of crushed dill seed and 1 teaspoon of mixture herbs, steep and strain.
Add lemon juice to taste, season with salt and white pepper.
It’s excellent on bread or melt over vegetables.
To promote lactation
2 oz. dried dill leaves, 2 oz. anise seeds, 2 oz. alfalfa, Honey
Mix all the herbs is a container. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of the mixture, steep for 15 min.
Use honey to sweeten.
Drink 2-3 cups of per day.
To ease bloating An infusion made from dill seeds is an effective remedy for bloating and stomach discomfort. It also helps promote bowel function and has a diuretic effect.
Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of wine and 2 tsp. of crushed dill seeds.
Boil the mixture, and then let sit for 3 hours.
Drink up to 2 cups per day.
Store no longer than 2 days.
Kitchen hints
Store Freshly cut dill in perforated foil pouches in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Dill completely retains its flavor and aroma when frozen.
Dried dill is often used to pickle cucumbers, cabbage and other vegetables. Use to flavor steamed vegetables.
Dill loses much of it’s flavor in drying, it must be used in greater quantities than when fresh.
Excellent for making vinegar. Pour 1 qt. of white wine over 2 oz. of fresh dill, let stand for 3-4 weeks.
Dill is great in mayonnaise Blend some mayonnaise with dill seeds or fresh dill, add a few drop of lemon juice, black pepper and a bit of mustard.
The leaves and seeds can prevent bloating. They are a great addition to a cabbage dish, the dill can prevent the bloating that cabbage causes.
Tip: Dill seeds are excellent breath fresher. The essential oils disinfect the mouth, which kills the bacteria. Chew on a small amount of seeds between meals.
References:
The Complete Guide to Naural Healing
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
Over the past several years the paranormal field has been flooded with new groups springing up every day at an astonishing rate. With new shows popping up every season, it seems to have encouraged many people to explore the unknown. Although these shows have really opened some doors it has also created a nightmarish reality for clients looking for real help and for the people who are dabbling in the paranormal as a hobby.
First off let’s examine the shows themselves. All of these shows that are currently on television have been produced by people who have never ever been a paranormal investigator or actually researched the paranormal. These producers are out there to entertain and have no idea what it actually is like to be a paranormal investigator. All of the paranormal teams receive emails from producers looking for locations. They are very quick to fly out to a location and interview clients without following any protocols or concerns for their actions. I have personally received complaints of location producers interviewing clients with negative hauntings in their home and making false promises to help them. Of course they leave and all hell breaks loose in the client’s home and they never hear back from the producer. These shows are out there for ratings, nothing more than that. They are happy to exploit the teams for personal information on case files. No team should ever give up client information without contacting the client first. Even then it makes me question the teams themselves and wonder if they are media hogs wanting their 15 minutes of fame. These producers have no morals and are happy to exaggerate, exploit and stage evidence in order to gain more ratings.
Now let’s take a look at the type of investigators these shows are inspiring. Remember when watching these shows they are for pure entertainment purposes only. Too bad this has been the only education that new investigators receive. So many young investigators follow their lead without seeking any training or education. The biggest pet-peeve that I personally have with this is the fact so many feel that provocation is the best method of investigating hauntings. They never stop to consider the fact that most hauntings are people, human and deserve respect not belittling vulgar comments. So many of them are thrill seekers and nothing more. Very few of them analyze audio or do evidence review. They live in the moment and have no care for actually being a productive part of the paranormal research.
The other nightmare that has stemmed from these new teams is the chaos of them working on private cases. Most of these teams are not out there to help but thrill seekers wanting to push the limits. They have no understanding of types of entities and have no care what their actions will result in. I have personally been horrified with the stories my clients and even other investigators divulge to me. The most recent one was from an investigator who openly told me that they brought an Ouija board into a client’s home just to see if it worked. The thing that made this even more horrifying is that I personally told this investigator the ground rules months ago, which they broke every one of them without ever thinking what it would cause for the clients or themselves. This just sickens me and boils my blood to no end.
These shows also hardly ever talk about dangers within the paranormal field. Most new investigators don’t ever stop to consider there are dangers in this field. Of course there are the obvious dangers of hazardous conditions of the locations but there are also other dangers. When going out to investigate there is protective measure that should be followed. The biggest danger is taking a hitchhiker home. Every investigator has the possibilities of developing an attachment, even when you follow the rules. Attachments happen often within the field but mostly with hot headed newbies who tend to challenge entities then find themselves up a creek without a paddle. Over the past year I have received five new clients that are actually investigators themselves. It just makes me cringe! It is all fun and games until they find themselves in a situation that they have no clue on how to resolve.
Another danger is the lack of education and narrow minded individuals who have no clue about the types of entities. So many of these people only classify entities into either human or demonic. Mainly this occurs due to television. So many shows throw out the word demonic for ratings and the scare factor. These teams have only used television as role models and never consider elementals, thought-forms, psychic vampires, and parasitic entities to name a few. There are many different types of spirits but so many jump to the big D word, Demonic. Personally I do believe in demonic spirits but over the many years of investigating there is not one case I would ever label as demonic. Let’s face it; on the food chain we are pretty low on the totem pole, only ants to such ancient entities as these things Television has flooded the minds of many people that their homes are demonically possessed. This has created a nightmare in itself. There are certain methods in identifying what type of entity you are dealing with but, most of these newbies have no clue on how to do so. The cold hard fact, if you can’t identify the type of spirit, you can’t resolve the problem.
Now let’s look at how to identify the type of team you are searching for. This is especially vital if you are suffering from a hostile haunting:
What is the mission statement?
How much experience do they have and what are they considering as experience? Watching television and reading books is not considered experience.
Look at the team itself and each investigator. What is their paying professions, educational backgrounds and read their bios if available. Make sure they are not letting just anyone into their team. Also it very important to see if the team does a background checks on each of their investigators.
Does the group have a formal set of investigation guidelines and rules? Are they requiring each investigator to attend seminars and other forms of training? Do they have liability disclosures and client contracts? This can indicate how serious and professional the team is.
Are they going to public investigations or holding meet-up groups? Note: Any group that is willing to take anyone on any person wanting to explore the paranormal is not a real team. They are only meet-ups, a group of people out for the thrill of it.
One major problem in this field is self-titling. Anyone can earn the title Reverend or Minister by purchasing it through the Internet. Authentic means they have theological training through either a college or a church. Also note the newest addition to these self-titles is the term demonologist. True demonologists have spent many years in a formal educational system studying theology and the occult. Most people who hold these titles on Facebook are self-titled and not authentic. This can actually make the problem worse than better, so be careful.
Do they charge for their services? Never ever pay any team to come out to investigate or preform a cleansing. This is a major red flag… No one can ever guarantee to rid your home of spirits.
Guaranteed services: Again no one can ever promise to rid your home of spirits. Also remember not all spirits need to be removed. Only small percentages are considered hostile and most are misunderstood due to television programs creating fear and terror.
Get references if they are available. If not you can also Google the team to see what others are saying about them and to perform a background check.
Examine their website with a fine tooth comb. Especially pay attention to their evidence if they have it available. If they have clips or videos of them investigating are they using provocation? Are the disclosing private information? There are many teams out there that are happy to post a picture of your home all over the internet without ever thinking of privacy.
What methods do they follow? Are they 100% science based or spiritual? If it involves a private case that needs help it is best to have a mixture of science and spiritual aspects. Also make sure the group is not 100% male or 100% female. There should be an equal balance.
Lastly, it is up to the client looking for help or the person wanting to join a paranormal team to make sure the team is reputable. There are no governing authorities over the paranormal field. This makes it even more important to do your research beforehand. With so many new shows coming out has only created a side show carnival of thrill seekers. Be careful and educate yourself before ever becoming involved with any team. Always remember the television shows are only entertainment and there is a lot of exaggeration and staging involved with them. They are only out for ratings and not out to educate the public. Eventually I do believe there will be some sort of governing body over the paranormal field but until then it is essential to do your research and don’t buy into the television hype!
Historic Jordan Springs has been documented as far back as 1549, when the Catawba Native Americans discovered the sulfur springs. They believed it had healing powers, for almost two centuries the Native Americans visited annually for ceremonial rituals.
Since then; three hotels have stood on the property, as well as a hospital during the civil war, a brothel, a school, a rehab for children, a monastery and a resort for the Washington Elite.
Since 2008, Jordan Spring’s chief investigator and Director of Paranormal investigations, John Rossi, has done extensive research of the building and the Devil’s Backbone (where the cold water sulfur springs are located). He leads overnight investigations, as well as paranormal tours of the property.
One ghost that can be found in the building is a little girl who likes to play games. She can be seen in the main attic, where she loves to play hide and seek. There is an EVP recording where John asks her if she wants to play hide and seek. You can clearly hear her saying, “Seeeeek!” In the grotto, which is part of the Devil’s Backbone, EVPs have been captured in Native American language. John feels this area is very unsettled due to the fact that it was a spiritual site used by both Native Americans and later Catholics when it was a monastery, there may be a bit of spiritual disharmony.
Pagan Pride festival dispels myths
Amanda Hyde admits it was the spells and rituals that drew her to paganism as a rebellious teenager. But more than a decade later, that shock value has long subsided.
“There are a lot of misconceptions,” she laughed.
For 10 years now, Hyde has organized Pagan Pride Day in Hamilton as a chance to celebrate their beliefs and give outsiders a glimpse into their lifestyle to dispel the myths.
“A lot of people think of pagan people as fringe folk. But you come here and you meet teachers, police officers, government workers…” she said of the volunteer-run event. Read full story from metronews.ca
UConn students display Pagan pride on Fairfield Way
The first Pagan Pride Day took place on Fairfield Way Saturday afternoon in order to educate students about the Pagan beliefs and make the community aware of their presence on campus.
Sponsored by the Pagan Organization of Diverse Spirituality (PODS) they manage to attract a few people in and out of the event who were curious enough to learn more about the different religions that were represented. Each stand had their own unique religion that branches off from the Pagan religion. The beliefs ranged from Troth to Witchcraft and Wiccan and each stand handed out information on them. Read full story from dailcampus.com
Arts & Entertainment:
Why Witches Will Replace Hollywood’s Obsession With Zombies & Vampires
Maybe you’ve noticed something in Hollywood when it comes to action and horror movies; they jump on the popularity of a trend faster than you walked out of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. We’ve already been treated to a debacle of 80s cartoon remakes, with Transformers, G.I. Joe, The Smurfs, and a new Ninja Turtles reboot headed our way, courtesy of Michael Bay. But Hollywood, faithful as you’d expect to deliver what the people want, goes beyond that.
When a zombie movie is released to major success, a multitude of zombie films randomly appear to be thrust into screens everywhere. After Danny Boyle’s 2002 feature 28 Days Later, we were treated with Resident Evil, House of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Dawn of the Living Dead, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Shaun of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Zombieland…you get the point. The fact is, we saw a whole lot more big budget zombie flicks after the success of one, and it’s not just a case of the undead. Read full story from whatculture.com
News:
Pagans practice, live in hiding in Wyo.
LARAMIE, Wyo. – - Becca Haskins has “the best job in the world,” she says, working in a lab at a Powder River Basin coal mine.
For that, she thanks her faith – paganism.
Before Haskins got the job, she performed a spell with candles. Then everything fell into place.
Haskins is 22, lives in Gillette and applies her faith as a “solitary practitioner,” meaning she is not affiliated with a group.
Among pagans, Wyoming is a state of solitary practitioners, the result of low population, wide spaces between cities and towns and dozens of pagan sects. The exception is Laramie, which has the Wolf Tree Kindred. Read full story from standard.net
Man ‘used witchcraft to traffic children’ for prostitution An alleged people trafficker cut the chest of a vulnerable 14-year-old girl with a razor during a series of “juju” witchcraft rituals aimed at terrifying young recruits into silence before selling them into prostitution across Europe, a court heard yesterday.
Osezua Osolase recruited and raped impoverished young Nigerian orphans and forced them to undergo West African rituals in which hair, nails and blood were removed to “cast a spell” over them and ensure their obedience, Canterbury Crown Court was told. Read full story from indpendent.co.uk
Witchcraft at Fourah Bay
Two boys of No. 3 Foster Street, at the Fourah Bay community, East of the capital on Thursday, September 13th openly confessed of practicing wizardry, after being conjured by a witch doctor called, Umaru Kamara, a native of Yoni Bana Chiefdom.
The eldest of the confessors named Osman Njai and his cousin, Amidu Savage, 13 and 12 years old respectively, confessed to a mammoth crowd of family members and relatives including journalists and people of that community that they were responsible for the multiple mishaps facing their family relatives in the spirit realm. Read full story from sierraexpressmedia.com
Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and spices in a bowl.
In another bowl, sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Add the flour mixture, stirring until just moistened. Stir in apples, raisins and walnuts. Spoon the batter into pans.
Bake the loaves for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Place all the topping ingredients in a small bowl and stir to blend.
When the bread comes out of the oven, sprinkle with the topping.
Let sit for 15 minutes, remove from the pans and let cool on a wire rack.
Can also do in muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Thyme is a perennial shrub, and a member of the mint family. With over a hundred varieties, the most common being garden and lemon thyme.
The Greeks used Thyme “to make a burnt offering.” In the Middle Ages, Europeans placed it under pillows to promote sleep and ward off nightmares. Women would also give the leaves to knights to bring courage. Thyme was also placed on coffins and burned as incense during funerals to send one into the next life.
Planet: Venus (Beauty, Fidelity, Friendships, Good Fortune, Love, Money, youth)
Magical and Ritual Uses:
To stop nightmares or have prophetic dreams: Place beneath your pillow, or burn on charcoal and take in the aroma. (it is also great for meditation)
For Money: Plant THYME in the garden. Fold a dollar bill around THYME leaves, then fold again to make a packet, tie it up, and bury it on a full moon at the middle of a crossroads.
Growing various types of THYME: Encourages the devas to be lively.
To see Fairies: Carry in a amulet or sachet.
Money-Protection: Combine THYME, MINT, and BAYBERRY.
For purification: Burn prior to a ritual to cleanse the area. In spring, make a cleansing bath composed of MARJORAM and THYME to ensure all the sorrows and ills of the past are removed.
THYME is also carried and smelled to give courage and energy.
For good health: Thyme is burned or worn in an amulet. It is excellent in healing spells.
It is also used to communicate with friends and relatives who have passed. THYME can be a most useful on SAMHAIN.
References:
Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
Paul Huson: Mastering Herbalism: A Practical Guide
Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.
