Draw: Family

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Prize Package One

Dream Interpretation Prize Package - Deck & Book by Belinda Recio and Eileen London (website)

Package includes -
1 Deck of Dream Interpretation Cards
1 Sosanna's own Handmade Card Bag
1 Instruction Handbook
1 Sosanna's own Caged Crystal
**Retail - $80.00**

Prize Package Two

Tarot Discovery Prize Package Deck and Book by Amy Zerner & Monte Farber (website)

Package includes -
1 Deck of Tarot Cards
1 Sosanna's Own Handmade Card Bag
1 Instruction Handbook
1 Instructional DVD
1 Sosanna's own wire wrapped Citrine Pendants

**Retail - $80.00**

Too many of us the term "Yule Log" refers to a tasty rolled cake usually made with chocolate and a rich cream inside that is amazingly tasty. I make a yule log out of pumpkin flavored cake with a cream cheese frosting that is completely to die for.

I've been known to sell a few of these around this time of year.  For this week's Pagan Blog Project, I thought I'd share my recipe for the Yule Log I make.


Roll
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. soda
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup pumpkin (canned- not pie filling, pure pumpkin)
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp. soft butter

How to put it all together
Mix the roll ingredients except nuts.
Grease & wax cookie sheet.
Pour into pan & sprinkle nuts.
Bake 15 min. at 375 degrees.
Roll into T-towel for about 10 minutes.
Unroll & spread in filling.
Then roll it back up.

So this is day two of me taking my vitamins again.  For a long time now, probably about six months, I've been not eating the best in world and neglecting my exercise and vitamin routine.

I started taking them again yesterday and earlier this week I had hubby pick up 6 pieces of fruit for me.  I used to eat that many pieces a day!  I have to say it's been a very long time since I took care of myself.  I was in a major mania since just before Thanksgiving.  I always get a little whackadoodle around the holidays but this time it was really bad.

Hubby and I headed out on Thanksgiving and we had to turn around and come home due to panic attacks.  We decided it was best if I stayed away from my family.  I have a huge amount of guilt associated with it.  But still it's probably for the best.

I got word yesterday that hubby will be working on Christmas day and my silly brain decided that I should go over to my Grandma's house.  I know inside that's not the right decision. No matter what happens my brain will turn it around to a negative.  If my sister speaks, I'll say she's putting on a front.  If she ignores me I'll be hurt she didn't try.  If she doesn't show, I'll judge it.  There's really no reason to do all that stuff.  I keep repeating the same behavior over and over.

So I've decided that this year, I'm not going to go.  I'm going to stay home with my animals and just veg.  Maybe I'll work on the shop, or practice my embroidery.  I'm not going to go over there and feed that crazy monster any more.

Instead, I'm going to "try" (I know Yoda I know... Try NOT ... DO)  to keep eating my fruits and getting my vitamins in me.  Maybe the reason I'm on a sparkle now is because my diet is fubared.  I need to keep my fruits coming in and stop eating so many carbs.  Yeah that's the ticket.

Since my mother left I've gone from a size 10/12 back to a 12/14.  I know not a HUGE difference but a big deal to me.  Hubby confessed that he preferred a little meat on my bones so at least I know he's not completely grossed out by me.

(put the bat down)

So today I've had my breakfast and I'm on my third glass of water before 9:30 am.  That's a good thing.  I'm looking forward to the new year.  Good things to come.

No one can take away from you what you do not give them.   Do not give them the power to hurt you.  Embrace the Sparkle.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season.


























No matter how you celebrate it. Enjoy it.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

Most children grow up being taught that if they're good a jolly old man will bring them toys at Christmas and if they're naughty, they'll get a lump of coal. For my final posting on December tradition's I'm going to give you a history of Santa Claus.


The primary inspiration for Sinterklaas is thought to be Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was known for his work with the poor and needy.


Due to the German and Scandinavian influence on the holiday, many comparisons have been made between Santa and Odin. As many other traditions of the holiday were Christianized it's thought that the modern Santa was also pulled from this God worshiped by many of the Germanic people. Some stories include one of Odin riding an eight legged horse named Sleipnir that could leap great distances, here again tying to Santa's magical reindeer. The tradition says that the children would put carrots or straw in their boots by the chimney for Sleipnir to eat, Odin would reward the children by replacing the food with gifts or candy. This is where the idea of putting stockings by the fireplace are thought to have originated.


Father Christmas is usually seen as a jolly fat man with a beard and a long green robe. He represents the spirit of Christmas, that being good cheer. He is most notability depicted in Charles Dickens's story "A Christmas Carol".


After the 1823 publication of the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" the modern Santa gets most of the characteristics we know today. We know this as "Twas the Night Before Christmas". His clothes, his jolly face with rosy cheeks and even his reindeer are named.


To keep up with the modern age Santa sites are popping up all over the web. There's Northpole.com, Claus.com and even noradsanta.org.

The real spirit of "Santa" or of Christmas is that of giving. Reaching out to those who are less fortunate and giving back the blessings we have in our own lives. The spirit is out there and alive, as we saw most recently with the Secret Santa gifts of paying off a layaway at a Kmart store and the 50,000.00 donation to the Salvation Army.

These are big gifts to some of us. In this economy some barely have enough to feed themselves much less go and payoff someone else's bills right? There are so many things you can do to give back that don't include cash. Volunteering is a great way to help others. Usually these groups need bodies. They need people to come down and help with a Soup Kitchen or a Food Bank. The local animal shelter needs people to come down and interact with the animals to help them be more familiar with people and possibly adopted. Tell someone they left their bread at the end of the register. Hold the door for someone who is busy with their kids.

It's easy to continue the giving traditions of St. Nick, Odin, Father Christmas and Santa Claus. We have the ability to open our hearts and give back.




Wishing each of you a joyous holiday season.

Namaste & Blessed Be!
Sosanna
)O(

Whether you cover your tree in tinsel or leave it off. Choose to use a star or an angel; each Christmas Tree is individual and represents it's owner. It has been called by many names, Yule Tree, Christmas Tree and Holiday Tree.

As a kid, we always had a tree.


That me, the tall one, without the big pink fuzzy feet.


I still love this time of year. I love the chill in the air and the crunch of the ground beneath my feet. I love the Yule time season and I do still love a Christmas tree.

The history of the Christmas tree has Pagan roots. (Pun intended) Druid priests in Great Britain used evergreen plants/trees in Yule ceremonies to celebrate the Winter Solstice. In the 1500's German's began using evergreen trees as a symbol of hope for the coming springs.

The modern Christmas tree is a descendant of this same tree used in Druid ceremonies. It's thought that the first was introduced to the US by German immigrants in the mid 1700's. Today there is a great deal of controversy over the words Holiday vs. Christmas tree. In order to be more inclusive of those around us, some in the US have started to use "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday Tree" to make those who have other holidays in December feel included.

For more information on Christmas around the world check out this cute site. I have even found a great page on the History Channel, that has lots of info on the history of Christmas.

Here's a great video on the life of a Christmas Tree.




Wishing you all a GAGA Holiday Season!




Namaste & Blessed Be!
Sosanna
)O(

Too many of us the term "Yule Log" refers to a tasty rolled cake usually made with chocolate and a rich cream inside that is amazingly tasty. I make a yule log out of pumpkin flavored cake with a cream cheese frosting that is completely to die for. I use this recipe but I add a bit of cinnamon to my frosting as well and I leave out the walnuts.



Another type of "Yule Log" is a piece of wood burned in a hearth or fireplace to celebrate the passing of the Yule season. Sometimes practiced on the Winter Solstice or during the twelve days of Christmas. A small piece of the log is removed from the fire and kept to burn in the following year's Yule celebration. At least that's how one story goes. It says the fire should be tended all night and kept burning, if it went out on the first attempt at lighting or through out the next twelve hours it would be a bad sign for the year to come. Most agree that the log should never be purchased however some say it should be taken from a neighbor's property as opposed to it's owner's yard.

Sometimes when a fireplace isn't available a yule log is set with candles and the candles take the place of the actual log burning.




Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, as the Yule Log represents this time, we have Holly, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Oak, Spruce, Pine, Ivy, Fir and Poinsettia that also claim a spot in this holiday. The colors are red, green, white, silver and gold, or what I like to call Christmas colors. Most traditions celebrate with a meal and gift giving.

Some forms of Wicca celebrate this time as the rebirth of the Great Horned God, seen as the new sun, which interestingly enough can be seen in Christianity as well, where they celebrate the birth of the "son of God" in the form of the Baby Jesus in a manger.



There are many customs around the celebration of the Yule season as well as around the month of December. Just have a look at these:

Pancha Ganapati - This is a Hindu festival from the 21st - 25th that celebrates Lord Ganesha

Winter Solstice - a Celtic celebration from 21 to 23 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 to 23 in the Southern Hemisphere

Yalda - a Persian celebration on the 21st in celebration of the Winter Solstice

Saturnalia - Ancient Roman festival held in honor of Saturn originally celebrated on the 17th

Boxing Day - A gift giving day observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other areas

Flying Spaghetti Monster Day - Pastafarians have this day to reject all religious dogma, so yes, Virginia even Atheist's have "Pasta Claus"

For a list of some of the winter celebrations check here.

The point here is that as different as we try to be, the more similar we become. Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas? Really is it that big of a deal. Just live and let live.

For my family, we'll be having our first Yule log burning, as we just got a lovely wood stove. I'm not sure how I'll handle fishing out part to save for next year, but I will certainly do my best.

For those that don't have a fireplace, here's a video of a fire burning for your enjoyment.





I'll also be making the "other" Yule Log to take to Grandma's. So if you'd to see how to make one I found this video on YouTube.



For my fellow Pagans, I'd like to share this really nice Yule song I found on Youtube.




Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(