Samhain's Sirens October 13, 2017

WOOHOO!! It's Friday the 13th!! 

Our lucky day!! Wait til you see what we have in store for you to kick off this weekend!

Before we move into new business, we need to announce the winner of yesterday's Past Life Regression Giveaway from Touch of the Goddess. Without further adieu, here is our winner:

Trish S.!

Congratulations! Please be sure to confirm that it is okay for Sharon to have your email address (you can email kallan.kennedy@gmail.com or simply post your permission in the comments. We have your email on file. Sharon will reach out to you to set a date/time for your reading.

Now, on to the festivities!

Today's Music: Longtime Traveler by The Wailin' Jennys

This is a Siren favorite. It's got a Samhain-feel to it. If you've never heard it, give them a try. We think you'll fall in love with their dulcimer tones as well!

Dark Maiden / Crone

by Silver Swan

There's just something magical about Samhain. There's an electricity in the air that gives a sense of excitement to anyone who can feel it- be you witch or not. I put this down to the veil thinning between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Maybe it's just my excitement over my favourite time of year. I've spoken to enough Witches to know it's not just me that senses this energy though.

As the veil thins and the world prepares for Winter, according to the lore of the Wheel of the Year, this is the time when the Goddess changes her robes. Now is the time that we have access to Her knowledge and wisdom as the Crone Goddess. As she grieves for her beloved God who has descended to the Underworld, She too descends looking for Him and it's this connection that makes divination a key aspect of Samhain.

The Crone is one of three aspects of the triple Goddess of Maiden, Mother and Crone. When one thinks of Samhain, their first thought is of the Crone and the hag appearance that has become a popular, if somewhat false, representation of witches within the media. It was one of the first things that I learnt whilst beginning my Path several years ago as I followed the Wheel of the Year. It took me a while to dig through the media representation of the Crone to discover the true meaning of this aspect.

The Crone, the third aspect of the triple Goddess, is linked to death and decay - a natural part of our cycle of life, death and rebirth. She is the dead of Winter, but also the promise of the Spring to come. She is the grandmother- teacher and support to the Maiden and Mother. She is the wise woman whose knowledge spans the decades she has lived. She is the link between the land of the living and the land of the dead- the link to the other side from which we can learn and harness our own knowledge from.


In the past year, I've worked closer with the Goddess than I ever have before. So as Samhain approaches, the Goddess I work with changes.  During the light Half of the Year, I worked with Aphrodite and all that She encompasses. But as the Dark Half took over, another Goddess came through. I thought maybe Hecate or Cerridwen, both of which symbolizes the Crone aspect of the Goddess. But not even into my 30’s yet with no children other than my feline companions, the Crone or even Mother didn't come through. Instead, I started working with the Dark Maiden.

This is a term that, to me, is relatively new. Some say that the triple Goddess of Maiden, Mother and Crone is based upon the phases of the moon. The maiden is represented by the crescent moon of which there are two- waxing and waning and so there are two versions of the Maiden, turning the triple Goddess into four. I've seen arguments to say that there are more, but that's another story.
The Dark Maiden that came through to me was Persephone.. I'm not talking about Goddess of Spring, flowers and fertility. I'm talking about the Goddess of the Underworld, Hades’ Queen who lives in the Underworld for half of the year.

The work that I am doing with Persephone has just begun- including meditational work and dreamworld visions that are very much centered around shadow working; much alike the stories and mythos of Ancient Greek, Persephone was there to guide me, much as she does the souls who enter the underworld. I was apprehensive to be working with a “Dark Goddess” as I wasn’t entirely sure what this encompassed- but Persephone is a firm but caring Goddess, full of the secrets of unknown knowledge.

To me, this is what the Dark Goddess represents. Not a fearsome tirade of death (seriously, the thought crossed my mind) but an introspective evaluation of who I am and the mysteries I seek. Persephone herself became my guide, showing me that the darkness is okay. That's the best way to perform a self evaluation. Laying yourself bare before a Goddess is a damn scary thing- but the kindness and authority that She greeted me with is something I will not forget.

Silver Swan first stepped onto her path when she was 13. Over a decade later, she defines herself as an Eclectic Pagan and a Solitary Witch. With a keen interest in crystals, ancient Greek & Egyptian Pantheons, Herbology and Holistic living, much of her Path revolves around her connection with the Goddess, the cycles of the earth and her love of the ocean.
Living in the beautiful town of York, UK, Silver Swan spends as much time as possible reconnecting with nature and developing her Path. She also maintains her blog- The Solitary Pagan and her online shop, Ocean Crystal.

Chicken Sausage Hash

submitted by Paula Lupi

My family is big on breakfast for dinner so I am always looking for something we can all enjoy. I really enjoy this recipe served with a side of breakfast sausage with blueberries patties that I get from my local Amish market.

The Real Paleo Diet Cookbook

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Makes: 4 to 6 servings

2 pounds ground chicken
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried sage
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup shredded red or golden beets
½ cup Chicken Bone Broth or no-salt-added chicken broth

In a large bowl combine ground chicken, thyme, sage, rosemary, and black pepper, working mixture together with your hands to evenly distribute seasonings through the meat.
In an extra-large skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook about 8 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up meat. Using a slotted spoon, remove meat from skillet; set aside. Drain fat from skillet and wipe skillet with a clean paper towel.
In the same skillet heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook about 3 minutes or until onions are tender. Add green pepper and shredded beets to onion mixture; cook about 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in reserved chicken mixture and Chicken Bone Broth. Heat through.
If you like, make four indentations in the hash; crack an egg into each indentation. Cover and cook over medium heat until eggs are desired doneness.

Paula Lupi does what she can to keep herself and family healthy. One of the steps towards that was eating more in the Paleo side of choices. While integrating these changes into every day meals Paula also learned that she has a gluten sensitivity.  She is a mother of three, but two are now out of the house, and a wife and partner to her husband of 27 years.
Paula enjoys spending time outdoors with Mother Nature, her hands in the dirt, and sweet talking the herbs and vegetable to grow healthy for the table.
She has two Boxers – Izzy and Vino, a polydactyl cat – Scrunch, two lizards – Ford and Karma, and her Chilean Rose Tarantula – Morticia.

Samhain's Sirens Cocktail Hour

Our favorite Cocktail Witch is back with one of her famous recipes!

Witches' Heart by Ciel Luciole

Ingredients:

1 ounce Vodka (can be adjusted/increased depending on size of glass and preference)
1 tablespoon Grenadine
Viniq Liquor 
Dry Ice (Optional)

Instructions:

Combine grenadine and vodka in glass then fill to the top with Viniq Liquor. If you like it sweeter use more grenadine. Flavored vodka can also be used if preferred and the amount of vodka is adjustable, of course. If using powdered dry ice pour into the glass prior to filling with liquid. If using regular dry ice drop the chip in after combining the liquid.

As far as presentation goes this cocktail has them all beat hands down thanks to the dry ice! If you can’t find dry ice it is still looks great thanks to the shimmery liquor but if you can locate the dry ice, do! If you can find powdered dry ice that does work best. If not try to find the pellets. Worst case scenario you’ll end up with a five pound block of the stuff like I did! If you end up with the pellets or a massive block of ice you can always take a few pellets, or chip a few pieces off the block, and crush the ice in a baggie. 

Warning!! NEVER HANDLE DRY ICE WITH YOUR BARE HANDS! Unless you are looking to become an international criminal and need to burn off all your fingerprints please use caution and gloves when handling dry ice! 

It looks amazing but was somewhat challenging to photograph due to the constant motion. The shimmer in the liquor was also hard to discern in the picture due to the bubbling caused by the dry ice but trust me; it looks fabulous.  

The Viniq liquor was also a challenge to find, at least in my area. If you are unable to locate Viniq, or just don’t care for it, you can easily create your own shimmer effect with Pearl Dust that can be easily purchased at any craft store. Just replace the Viniq with the moscato of your choice. 

The taste is good and the look is even better! This is the cocktail you want to go with if you are looking to really impress at a party, without a doubt!

C.L. (Ciel) Luciole spent a big portion of her childhood trying to understand why the Catholics of her community kept telling her magic was evil when such wonders could only be a gift from God, right? As a young teenager she picked up a copy of The Spiral Dance by Starhawk and knew instantly that she had found what she was looking for. She has walked the path of the Witch ever since. She spent two decades studying various traditions of paganism and witchcraft and, finding none that truly spoke to her heart, finally decided to take her accumulated knowledge and start her own tradition and the Covenant of the Starspun Grove and The Starspun Path was born. She is now the Priestess of a thriving coven and community group in her area of Northeast Ohio and is committed to serving her community to the very best of her ability. That typically comes with a healthy dose of brutal honesty and plenty of sass and is known in her community for her irreverent nature.
Visit C.L. and the others of her tribe at; The Coven of Misfit Witches 

Today's Giveaway from Wildly Witch/Secret Services Shop

1-year Tarot Reading or Totem Medicine Wheel Report (winner's choice)

This is a special "Tree of Life" spread that I use to show you what you can expect over the next year of your life. You'll get insights and advice on pitfalls to avoid, as well as areas in which you may excel over the next twelve months. You'll see yourself as the Tarot sees you, where you are, and where you are currently going on this particular path. Each position has a unique planetary component that is explained in this detailed report. This one is a client favorite. 
Retail price: $50.00

This Totem Reading gives you insights into who you are, through this exclusive Secret Services Shop Report. It makes a wonderful gift for you or your loved ones.

You’ll receive a pdf report with visual cues, key words, and detailed notes on each totem and its position on The Wheel. This will tell you about yourself, your unique gifts, and an introduction to your spirit-helpers.

You’ll also have a summary page which gives you a snapshot of your totems. Should you have any questions about your report, I’m always happy to assist you via email or Facebook.
Retail price: $45.00

Here's how to enter:

US Residents

First entry:  Go to  the Wildly Witch Facebook page, like and follow, then leave her a comment telling her you're visiting from Samhain's Sirens. Come back here and let us know you did.

Second entry: Share this giveaway on your Facebook page (note: Facebook in no way endorses our giveaways). Come back, tell us you did in the comments (share the link, please).

Third entry: Share this giveaway on Twitter or Instagram (your choice). Come back, post the link to your share in the comments.

Fourth entry: Like the Samhain's Sirens Facebook page. Leave us a comment below letting us know you're a follower (hint: this is going to be a gimme if you do it now or if you've done it in the past. It'll be one of the entries for all of our giveaways).

Canadian Residents

For 4 entries, please correctly answer the following question in the comments section:

  How many oceans border Canada?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

You have until 11:59pm EDT  on Sunday to enter this giveaway. Winner will be announced in Monday's post. 

Entries submitted without email addresses or past the deadlines will be considered invalid. Canadian residents: you must answer the question correctly to be entered. 

Good luck!


That's it for today. See you tomorrow for some crafty fun!

Happy Samhaining!