KWW: Greening the Cleaning

Over the Yuletide break I have been pumping out so many new crafts I am super proud of myself for. Two of these are just so awesome I had to share.

I use to use the swiffer mop system, then when I wished to go green I purchased the OMOP by method for cleaning.( I wrote about this in one of my other posts.)

What does that have to do with KWW? Well with holidays some what over and many of your family member & friends having trooped through your home your going to want to do some cleaning. I know I do. There are two kinds of cleaning I will be doing here is some info about it.

I have been seeing all over etsy cute little washable cloths to go on the swiffer and I thought “uhh I can make that”, I mean how much greener is -re-usable?? So i researched and found a pattern on Lily yarn whic was easy to whip up. It took a little over 2 hours and used less than one ball of Lily sugar'n cream yarn. Then I decided to make one for the omop because that's what I use the most, I made the blue one for all floors and the brown for the wood floors. 

I had a chance to use this after christmas dinner and this baby works like a charm. there was no pattern for the omop so i created one. (side not i will sell the pattern on my etsy once i get it up, and the cloths themselves as well YAY)

Now for the cleaning:
there are many ways in which to harmonize a home, you can ring a bell, clap, cast a circle, light an incense, or even say a blessing while throwing salt. Because I know I will have several family members & friends over for New Years I will wait until after to do the big cleansing.
however i will do a quick floor wash to help clear away some of the negative vibes, and then before New Year's day do one more big cleanse & clean so my home starts the new year on the right footing. 

for wood:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tsp castile soap
4 drops bergamont or sweet orange essential oil

Add ingredients to a small spray bottle apply to wood and clean up with a damp cloth, then go over it with a dry cloth to make them shine.

Pine fresh floor cleaner:
1 gallon hot water
2 tbsp liquid castile soap 10 drops pine essential oil
5 drops cypress e.o 

recipes from herbal home hints

There are many other ways to cleanse the home as well you can create a floor wash to cleanse the front of the home of event he kitchen. here are some recipes I am familiar with (i however eliminate the ammonia, as I can't stand the smell). these washes are bigger within the Candomble' traditions of Santeria, hoodoo, & voodoo, but they are slowly making their way into the craft. 

I hope you find a great way to cleanse your home and harmonize for the new year.
Be Blessed

12 days of Mithra-mas day 4

December 29th Feast of Fools

Feast of fools--

Feast of buffoons--

Feast of ass--

Feast of fools---

Feast of the sub-deacons

Feast of the Fool’s Bishop

Feast of the lower clergy

-- From: La Pete De L’Ane

In the ancient Roman tradition of Saturnalia, it was customary to choose a mock King who ruled over chaos instead of order. When the early church attempted to get a greater grasp on the ancients they banned the traditions of anything 'pagan', but many people simply adopted a more 'christian' like version called the Feast of Fools.

It became a modern adaption of the saturnalia custom which allowed for the crowning of King of Fools whose job was to act as foolish as possible. The custom of switching roles also took place during the feast, as kings served their servants and lords and ladies gave up their position for this one day of acting up. This day allowed many to relax from the strict rigors and rules applied to their roles while allowing those on the lower class to also relax and taste what it meant to be from the ruling class.

The king of fools was chosen by hiding a coin or symbol within a cake or meal, when everyone had their piece the person with the coin became the King of Fools. his job entailed insulting the guests, chasing women, wearing silly clothing and entertaining the members of the hall, much like the jester.  Generally flaunting the rules and roles of society.

The real origins of the feast of fools perhaps pertains to the tradition of Kingly sacrifice. Where a year king was chosen and allowed to rule, at the end of his year he was killed to ensure the return of the sun, the earth's fertility and the good fortune of the tribe. In Scotland, they would bake bannock cakes, and purposely burn one, then place all the cakes within a bag, the person to draw the burned cake became the king. 

How to Celebrate

Why not host your own feast of fools party? 

• Invite your guest to come in their most unusual outfits as possible. 
• Reverse the menu, eat dessert first, then dinner then appetizers
• How about having the ladies act the role of men, and men the role of ladies? Holding doors, men seared first, anything you can think of.
• food fight anyone??
• everyone could wear makeup that doesn't match, as well as paint their nails garish colors (men and women)
• relax, and enjoy the party.

Tired of parties this season? How about making this into a mediation? Sit back and think about what you consider foolish, what acts and things would make you feel silly.  Think on what prevents you from letting go and having fun. Does the idea of being perceived as foolish bother you? Why?

Consider that the fool in the tarot story is the only one who simply opened the door, while the others argued about how to open the door or argued on the merits of the door being opened. It is in the middle age stories it is the ultimate "fool" who finds the Holy Grail, Perceval, whose innocence and belief took him where others feared to travel, yet he received the greatest reward.

Why not meditate also on what the fool in the tarot deck means, of the many interpretations these seem to be universal:

• beginning
• spontaneity
• apparent folly
• Faith

If nothing else, indulge in a few games, and acting silly today even if it just means making faces in the mirror.


Information from Wikipedia "Feast of Fools", Tarot information from LearnTarot.com, mediation idea derived from Winter Solstice by John Matthews

Be Blessed and Silly

Book Review

As a follower of the Celtic tradition it is often times a trial to find good information and well researched books, as this is one of the most written about traditions in which many people have confused both the fairy-tales & their fantasy as a ‘true’ source of info. 


Each day we learn more about the Celts: about how they truly worshiped, what & who they were.


One of the best researched books, well written books about Yule I have found has to be Winter Solstice by John & Caitlyn Matthews. This writing duo does an amazing job researching and truly seeking to use historical accuracy (at the time of their writing for as we all know archaeology is a field that is very fluid as new information arises each day to change what we once believed to be true).  


It is my personal belief that as writers or purveyors of information that we should strive to share the accurate information, because if I change the meaning of a word here, and you change it when you have received it when it finally reaches twenty other people it's not the same and the true information or the true translation of something will be lost. This probably has to do with the fact that my mom is a professor and I heard a lot growing up that one must reference your information, and be accurate, not just make it up off the top of your head; particularity in the context of history.  There is room for interpretation, but one must strive to share what is considered to be the "truth" about events and people.


It's one of the reasons I either love books or hate them, there is almost no in between for me, because you have a responsibility (especially now  a days when people don't do their own research but simple take what they have been told to be true) to give the proper information.  As evidenced by the fact that I don't stop talking about them; they do a wonderful job. Not only do they share their research information if you wish to read it (some of which I did) they as well as give where you can learn more about something that might have intrigued you.  


This book gives a more in depth look at the traditions of christmas and where they stem from, while sharing traditions that can be added into your own celebrations which can help reconnect us to the season. Especially as many people are saying they no longer feel the magic of the season; this book would help to set your mind in a place of greater connection instead of focusing on the outer trapping so much it would help to make the season something to do consciously and with joy.


I love this book and truly believe it should belong on everyone's shelves. If you would love it too make sure to pick up a copy for yourself and maybe your family,


Bright Blessings

Snow Storm 2010

These are the pictures from today, the day after the storm ended actually the storm ended at 9am. We went out and shoveled from 1030 to like 1230.

Well we didn't really have to shovel as we have a snow-blower, but it can't go near the cars so we had to dig those out, and clean up what it left behind.

It's funny to watch people as the wind lifts the snow from the shovels and blows it northward, how everyone stops and turns their back to the wind so the snow blows against their backs instead of into their eyes, earlier in the morning the wind wasn't as intense and the weather wasn't as cold, but as the two hours wore on it got frigid. And I was happy to turn the shovel over and head inside. 
I had the “fun” job of clearing the front porch, I can actually feel now the pain of doing it.

Here are the chairs which looked so nice only last nite with the light dusting of snow.

Even the potted plant and the water hose are covered, I can't make it to the front door period.

A friend’s mother had the nerve to say today that snow isn't heavy O_o I didn’t mean to but I snapped back “how would you know you've never shovel, your back and knees won’t allow you”. Now that might sound mean, but this woman will use her back pain and knee pain to get out of doing anything remotely looking like work, O_o but she will quickly throw on heels and head to the club, after telling you she couldn't help you because her back was hurting. Le Sigh, i’m trying but sometimes people just say the dumbest stuff and think your supposed to take it because they are your elders. Ok sorry for the mini-rant, but it just bugs me that she was willing to write our pain off because it’s not on the same level as hers. Ugh MOVING ON!!

it wasn't all work, later in the afternoon the mail truck got stuck in our drive0way because the snow plow came thru and pushed all the snow we had worked so hard to clear, right back into the end of the driveway O_o snowplow FAIL, 

but this was fun to watch. (i know sounds mean, but hey I have to get my seven chuckles somewhere) 

Give snow a minute and it will find it's way into anywhere. this is  near the garage door

The potted arrangement my mother worked so hard on which sits int he front bay window.

You can barely see the holly branches within it

What the snow looked like before we cleared it away, it's about knee deep at the moment.

looking out over the deck

there is so much snow i can't open the screen door to go out on it.

Some places lost power, but we were fine, tons of left-overs, lots of cookies, plus new movies to watch meant we were well entertained. And for those of us who simply were too tired, it was a great time to hibernate.

Although ti wasn't great snowball or snowman weather, this was great powder to go skiing and sledding on, especially since we live next to two huge hills and two parks known for their hills. several people snowshoed (is that the word? what the past tense of snowshoe??) it over to the country club and used the golf course hills as a sledding and tubing course, ahh to be young and reckless again. (shh!! I'm going later tonite)
I hope you were safe from the storm and made out ok
Be Blessed my loves

12 days of Mithra-mas day 3

December 28th Holy Innocent’s Day, Children-mass,

This is a day associated or dedicated to children.  For the christians today is the day to remember the children slaughtered on the orders of King Herod to preen the christ child from becoming king in his place.  During the middle ages this day was considered unlucky, with the belief that nothing started on this day would prosper. In Northamshire England it is known as Dyzymas Day, “ Nothing began on Dyzymas day will ever be finished”

There is also the tradition of beating children on this day, the belief being that if the children are mad to suffer today they will have no suffering the rest of the year, as well as to drive any ‘evil’ spirits out of the children.  These beating rarely involved real cruelty, the underlying theme seemed to be equality.  The beating implements are freshly gather evergreen and rosemary, a chant usually said when doing the beating is :

“ fresh green, long life

give me a coin”

More on the history of today is contained here on this video

How to honor the children:

We should reflect on the nature of children, think about your own childhood, and that of any offspring. consider the things you best love about children, and about the things you best loved about your childhood. Consider the good moments and the bad, think on how you have been influenced by both, consider how you have changed to keep the bad from your own children, or the children in your life.

Celebrate Childhood

• make a list of the five qualities which best describe your childhood, and if you have children ask them what things are most important to them right now. Compare the two lists and be prepared for some surprises
• Now compare your list to before children and after children
• Most importantly praise your children on this day and honor the qualities of youth that never truly leave us—they are still buried somewhere inside even if you are a sage or a crone.
• Today would be a good day to really reflect on your childhood and consider how it has impacted you as an adult, are there fears your still holding on to? beliefs that have never left, toys and treats you still remember and won’t let go of?
• Consider donating to charity for children today or even dropping of some cloths to a local women’s shelter that takes in children as well, or even make ti a day to go and visit the children’s ward with some games and make a child’s day.

I hope these ideas inspire you and allow you to love the child within as well as those in your life. As always the information contained here was from the Winter Solstice by John Matthews.
Blessed Be