Ostara 2007

Everyone, I am sure, is familiar with the dictum “The more things change the more they remain the same.” Well, Llewellyn has altered that a bit. This year it is more a case of “The more things remain the same the more they change.” The format of this annual has not changed, nor have some of the contributors. But this year they have brought on board a significant number of “newcomers” (if only to the annuals).

As with any compilation work there are multiple points of view, although there seems to be a dominance of eclectics. I’m not sure if that is because the eclectic view is replacing “lineaged” in the Pagan/Wiccan population, or if it is just a function of who chose to submit articles for this annual publication.

Most of the usual sections are back: “Lifestyles of the Witch and Famous”; “Witchcraft D.I.Y.”: the Almanac section; “Sweep Me Away”; “Over the Cauldron”; and “Media Witch.” They have dropped one section this year (“Eye of Toad, Ear of Newt” which was a consumer guide).

Twenty four articles are contained within the five sections. None of these articles are particularly “heavy weight,” but you wouldn’t expect that with only an average of eight pages per article. However, keeping with past trends, the articles are wide-ranging in topic, and the quality is good.

The Almanac entries contain the usual data for Llewellyn – moon sign, moon phase, a color associated with the planetary ruler of the day, and any festival(s) associated with the date. There are also a few news items included as filler/educational material. Some of these items are sure to have been missed by the average Pagan, and are intriguing for that reason alone.

This year there appears to be a heavy emphasis on the twin ideas of daily meditation and daily ritual. Both of these are good ideas and are often stressed as necessary for the beginning student (which they are). However, as various of this year’s contributors point out, the need and benefit of these practices doesn’t stop just because we have progressed beyond the beginner/Dedicant/Neophyte stage of our journey. It is all too easy to lose that connection the Divine (or at least the awareness of it) that helps to sustain us at the beginning of the journey.

Do I agree with everything in this Almanac? Certainly not, but even the parts I disagreed with made me examine WHY I disagreed with them. If for no other reason I found it well worth the price.

If you are one of the individuals out there who disapprove of everything Llewellyn just because it is Llewellyn, nothing I can say will change that, I am aware. If you are an individual who only reads “deep,” “serious,” or “scholarly” works, this book won’t appeal to you. If, however, you are open to the opinions and feelings of those who trod the semi-forgotten pathways leading to a personal experience of, and connection to, the Divine, you will find a source of inspiration between the covers of this book.

"Fear comes with imagination, it's a penalty, it's the price of imagination." Quote from "Dr. Bloom" in the book, Red Dragon written by Thomas Harris

Imagination is the cornerstone of magick. The Witches' Pyramid has sides made from "To Know", "To Dare", "To Will" and "To Keep Silent". It has an interior, or base, of "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust". No one mentions its cornerstones. Love and fear are opposite each other on a continuum of emotions. All emotions are born of either love or fear...or both. Emotions born of love are positive, happy, peaceful, content. Emotions born of fear are negative, greed, anger, hate, jealousy. It, therefore, makes sense that the Witches' Pyramid would need to include a little fear since it already includes its opposite, love. Balance in magick is a necessity, after all.

Let me explain. If those who do magick do it without fear of the Three-Fold Return, then magick would be done constantly. It would be done without regard for consequences, since there would be no reason to fear any consequences. However, Three-Fold is an extremely important consideration in magick. Magick without consideration of consequences is a fool's game. I have met very few witches or pagans who are fools, so it is logical to believe that the vast majority of us consider the possible, and probable, consequences of any magick that we are planning to do or have already done. Consideration of consequences is born of fear. Fear is an excellent teacher, as is Love.

When teaching the Witches' Pyramid to any who would learn of it from you, please consider including the Cornerstones of Fear. Without its cornerstones, the Pyramid could not stand.

The elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth consist of a subtle, vaporous principle and a gross corporeal substance. Therefore, each is two-fold in nature. Air has a tangible atmosphere which is the breeze that caresses your face and moves the leaves upon the tree. Air also has an intangible substratum that may be called spiritual air. Fire, therefore, is both visible and invisible. Fire is comprised of a material, touchable flame and a spiritual flame. Water consists of a dense fluid and a spiritual essence that has a fluid nature. Earth also has two forms; the solid ground beneath our feet and the rarified earth of the spirit planes. To better explain the differences between these two levels, the terms "element" and "elemental" are used. The term "element" refers to the gross physical, touchable portion. The word "elemental" refers to the ethereal, spiritual portion. The elemental, or spiritual component, is inhabited by a host of beings that are called Elementals or Nature Spirits.

The "people" of the elements are divided into four distinct groups. The Air Elemental is the Faerie Sylph. The Fire Elemental is the Salamander. The Water Elemental is the Undine. The Earth Elemental is the Gnome. The fifth element, which is known as the Akasha, or Spirit, is its own Elemental. The Nature Spirit of the Akasha is the divine spirit being that resides within you and every living being.

Elementals resemble humans in appearance, but they reside in their own realms. They do their work on the Winds of Change that emanate from the Veil that separates this level of existence from other levels. Most humans are incapable of seeing or even sensing Elemental because they are not able, or perhaps willing, to see beyond what their senses perceive on the gross, physical realm.

Acorn Flour & Bread

Acorns have many uses and, at one time they were a dietary staple. Acorns are very tasty once you get the tannins out of them. Acorns can be stored or used quickly. To store them, place the unshelled acorns in the sun on a tarp or porch. Leave them for the duration of the sun on a sunny day, about 8 hours. Make sure to roll them around a few times so that all sides are exposed to the sun. Placing them on a tarp makes that process a lot easier. Use the acorns that are gathered in autumn first. For one thing they have a higher fat content and for another they will get moldy sooner than spring acorns. Do not collect acorns that are old. To ensure that you only collect new ones, go out under your oak tree while the acorns are young and still on the tree. Rake and remove all the debris under the tree so that when new acorns fall you will be able to collect them. Older acorns may be dull looking or have mold on them. Be careful not to collect those.

One way to acorns is to make acorn flour. Start by shelling the acorns. There are two ways to remove the tannins. One is to let nature do it. The other is to help nature along. To let nature do it, crush the acorns and place the pieces on a tarp or piece of cardboard. Pizza boxes work nicely for this. Place the box in the sun for 4 hours with the acorn pieces exposed to the sun. Stir the pieces at least twice during the four hours. To help nature along, place the shelled acorns into a pot that will allow you to cover the acorns with water by about an inch. Most of the acorns will float at first. Place the pot on to boil. The water will turn dark brown in about ten minutes. Drain and replace the water. Repeat this no fewer than 4 times. The water that comes off of the acorns can be used to dye wool and fabric. The water is also a natural astringent and is very good in the treatment of poison oak or ivy. Once this process is completed, the acorns are ready for drying. Place them on cookie sheets or in a pizza box. You can put them in an oven on low for about an hour or you can allow them to dry in the sun. Once they are dry to the touch, crush them using a hammer or a food processor. It is easier to start with a hammer, then use the processor. Stop crushing them when they are a mostly fine powder like regular flour. The acorn flour can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to a year or used immediately.

To make acorn bread:

2 cups acorn flour
2 cups cattail or white flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup maple syrup or sugar
1 egg
½ cup milk
3 tablespoons olive oil

Bake in pan for 30 minutes or until done at 400 degrees

These ingredients will product a clay-like dough. Using the ingredients given above will produce a sweet, moist, nutty bread. The ingredients can be varied to produce different types of bread or muffins or pancakes, etc. Acorn bread is highly nutritious. It has an energy giving combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Enjoy!

Sacked witch 'told pupils she could teach them spells'