Well, my days of the week/ the month are all sorts of messed up right now. It’s a combination of my need to adapt to a state that has daylight savings time (I know, I know: EVERYBODY has daylight savings time except Arizona), and the fact that I’m far enough north that its dark by 4PM. I feel like my day is over before it’s started and I have utterly no idea what time of day or day of the week it is anymore. I’m leaning into it. This is my time to hibernate. With no family visiting this year- the holidays are going to be quiet in a way that I’m not 100% sure that I like, but I’m making the best of it by taking advantage of the chance to rest after a long and chaotic year.

I’m not used to the cold and it has me wanting cozy snacks and warm desserts, the kind that make you feel toasty and childlike on the inside. Since I don’t havefamily in town- I’ve been trying to rein in the labor and the compulsive need to bake en masse. Instead, this year I am focused on small batch, fresh made desserts and sweets. Thomas and Taylor appreciate it because it means my kitchen does not quite look like a perpetual war zone this year.

What’s not to Nog?

A few months ago I made my Grandmother’s Rice Pudding for the first time on my own and it came out great. I have only ever had it cold, however, because that’s how she made it for my grandfather. I heard somebody talking about warm spiced rice pudding the other day and it got me to thinking. Holidays, toasty desserts, rice pudding, spices….what says holiday spice more than Egg Nog? So, I nabbed some of Taylor’s bottomless Egg Nog stash and here we are.

Full disclosure:

You will not find any standard rice pudding with a dash of ‘Egg Nog inspired spices’ here. Oh no my friend. What we are about to make is a full fat, clog your arteries, buttery, warm-you-from-the inside-out, sweetly spiced, real cooked-in-Egg Nog creamy rice pudding. So buckle up buttercup. Grab a glass of Scotch, turn on some Nat King Cole, and take your cholesterol medication. We’re gonna get nogged.

Mis en Place (get your shit and get it together):

• 2 Cups Cooked, UNSALTED Rice, you can use brown as it’s more nutrient dense, but I find this is one of the few things that white works better for me (1 cup dry white rice will yield 2 Cups once cooked)
• 2 Cups Eggnog. Any ‘nog will do but I am of the opinion that the thicker the better. Alcoholic is fine, but for family baking purposes, I actually prefer store bought non alcoholic Eggnog. For the consistency we want, Lucerne is king here.
• 1/3 Cup white granulated sugar.
• Pinch of salt (less than ¼ tsp)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla

Procedure:

1. In a medium Saucepan combine all ingredients on medium heat. Stir, to break up clumps of rice and combine thoroughly.
2. Stir until the egg nog begins to simmer and bubbles form around the edges. You do not want a full rolling boil as this can scald your eggnog and cook the eggs.
3. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir gently.
4. Continue cooking until pudding is thick and creamy with an almost porridge like texture but slightly softer (about 15-20 minutes). TRUST THE PROCESS. It’ll seem like it is developing slowly and you may be worried its too thin but it will all come together at once.
5. Can be chilled and served cold which is still delicious but honestly, warm with a dash of cinnamon is the way to go in my opinion. If refrigerating, cover to the surface with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap to prevent a skin from forming.

Have fun and Stay Warm!

All the best,

Mikaela

All real symbols have power: The rising sun, the peace sign, Harry Potter’s Lightening shaped scar, the ‘S’ on Superman’s Chest. But symbols only have power because people believe in them. Symbols have the power we give them. Let’s talk Sigils. We’ve discussed setting intentions and using manifestation as a tool for change already. Today I want to dive a little further. Sigils are a psychological tool that you can add to your belt to help manifest those positive changes.

History of Sigils

Sigils have been used for hundreds of years in a number of cultures and religions as marks of power. Symbols of everything from deities to prayers and promises. The word sigil derives from the Latin word segillum or ‘seal’ and etymologists also speculate connections to the Hebrew word segula meaning ‘action, talisman, word’.

The Ancient Egyptians used sigils for invoking deities and for protection. In medieval they were common in the science of Alchemy. Sigils are one of those topics that usually has people getting defensive or accusatory quickly and I have never understood why. ‘Sigils’ as a concept is a very broad term, and they are ubiquitous.  

Don’t believe me? Star of David: Sigil. The cross of Jesus Christ: Sigil. Yin and Yang: Sigil. Buddhist Om: Sigil. Hamsa: Sigil. Nazar: Sigil. Triquetra: Sigil. Astrological Sign: Sigil. Zodiac: Sigil. Rose Compass: Sigil. Sun Symbol: Sigil. Moon Symbol: Sigil. See where I’m going with this?

These symbols travel, evolve and are absorbed and adapted by cultures as they move. It’s a concept that has always fascinated me and probably part of the reason I was so obsessed with the Dan Brown ‘Davinci Code Books’ and Tom Hanks’ later portrayal of Professor Langdon as a kid.

Formal Modern Uses

In modern witchcraft sigils are used to focus energy and strengthen manifestations. Some Wiccan doctrines use the practice of turning people’s names into sigils for positive sympathetical magics (general protection and positive attraction). These can be highly specific phrases turned into images, or general big concepts you are trying to introduce to your life: Protection, Guidance, Focus, Manifestation, or Determination.

Psychology and Sigils

From a psychological standpoint think of it as a meeting of “The Mind attracts what it dwells upon” and “Seeing with your Mind’s Eye”. ‘Out of sight out of mind’ but in reverse. Rewiring your brain isn’t easy.  A lot of people struggle with positive affirmations; with our inner dialogue either being too loud or not loud enough. It’s very easy to get disconnected from it, or have it be drowned out by the constant flood of outside input.  

Sigils provide a visual reminder, a front-and-center image to keep at the forefront of your day-to-day existence. Which, if you are a visual person, or ADHD like me and struggle to keep specific thoughts in your head at any given second- is a priceless tool. Sigils provide a visual touchstone during the chaos of any given day to remind me about whatever my current manifestation or self-talk project is.

Nothing is inherently ‘powerful’ or ‘mystical’ about the concept of sigils. Symbols have power because we give them power. The idea behind the application of sigils is that it is a grounding point or a tool to help you focus on the manifestation at hand.

Creating and Using Sigils

Technically, you could choose any existing image or symbol as the touchstone for your manifestation. However, if it’s a symbol that already has a strong meaning attached to it- that can kind of defeat the purpose. Plus, you want it to be as specific to you as you can make it. You want the association of that symbol to be so strong in your own mind that it creates instant visual reinforcement every time you see it. It should also be highly specific to your current project. Unfortunately, using standard symbols makes this hard as almost all of them have some kind meaning attached to them already.

So how do we bypass this? We make our own symbol. Now if you’re an uber creator like my sister, Taylor, where ideas and pictures readily flow into your mind- this could be anything and probably sounds like a piece of cake. If you’re more like me, and you need some kind of inspiration, flow of concept, or launching pad this can sound really challenging.

The good news is: There are tools for that. A number of different systems exist for creating sigils and they are all different and range from simple and more runic to complex and highly abstract. An easy pinterest or google search will bring up a myriad of results and how-tos.

I prefer the straightforward method because I feel like life is complex and abstract enough without me mucking about too much.

Simply Put:

1. Write out your sentence, desire, or goal in Capital Letters. An example might be: SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES.
2. Get rid of every repeating letter. The above example will leave you with: GLYBOUDR
3. Simplify the remaining letters into basic shapes.
4. Overlay those basic shapes into a single graphic.
5. Enclose the graphic in a basic geometric shape (circle, triangle, square, hexagon, or trapezoid, etc.) I am partial to circles because they are soft and warm, but sometimes a more masculine shape feels better for a particular concept etc. You do you.

Application:

Once all that is done, you now have a sigil. Now you take that image and you put it someplace you will see it all the time, or multiple places. Your car, your bathroom mirror, the door of your fridge, the wall of your cubicle, your wallet. You can draw it on a piece of paper, wood burn it onto something if you want to get more fancy, or take a picture of it and make it your phone screen. But every time you see that image you repeat your phrase and you repeat this action until the picture is synonymous with your phrase.

After a day or two of essentially Pavloving yourself with this concept or idea it takes on a bit of a life of its own. Instead of you seeing that graphic and making an effort to intentionally repeat your message to yourself as a reminder, the graphic does it for you and it goes from conscious effort to unconscious byproduct, subliminally reinforcing that thought every time you see it. It magnetizes itself into the forefront of your mind all on its own. Congratulations- you’ve given a symbol power. Maybe not to everyone, but for yourself. That’s impressive and the amazing thing is- it wasn’t even that hard.

Give it a try

Next time you feel like you’re struggling to manifest something or get truly intentional about a change in your life go ahead and give this a try. It really is just spicy psychology. If you’re an out of sight out of minder like me, then put it in sight in a way that isn’t just another ignored sticky note with a scribbled sentence on it crammed in with all the others. Make it unique, noticeable, and something that will catch your eye. I really hope it helps!

All the best,

Mikaela

“Why don’t you do something more valuable with your time?”, “Parents should be encouraging their kids to pursue more productive hobbies.”, “What’s the point?”. I hear a lot of variations of these sentiments, and it grinds my gears every time something like this comes up in conversation. Hopefully it grinds yours too. So today, my young adventurers- we’re going to discuss the academic benefits of Dungeons and Dragons. That way the next time a co-worker, friend, PTA mom, or your least favorite and overly judge-y aunt or uncle gives you a hard time you are prepared defend your questing decision. Or maybe you are that judge-y friend/aunt/uncle/PTA mom; let’s talk the truth about D&D.

Critical thinking and Problem Solving in D&D:

I personally think this is obvious- however, it must not be, considering the number of people that make scathing remarks. D&D really stretches your critical thinking and problem-solving muscles. It’s a large portion of the game. You are solving constant unexpected problems in real time.

Weather as a player unraveling puzzles, piecing together plot points, and trying to solve the overall mission of your campaign. Or as a DM who has to constantly outmaneuver their own players because someone made a ridiculous decision and the entire party went in the wrong direction as a result. The Paladin read too much into an obscure detail and now you have to figure out how to get them back on track without telling them you’re getting them back on track.

You have to ask questions and collect information through observation and constant character development in order to further the plot. Because the game is open world and open dialogue there are millions of possibilities in every interaction. Which means that your solution to the problem isn’t the only solution. And the decisions you make at the beginning of the campaign may force you and your DM to create or solve an entire different problem by the end of the story.

I haven’t played a single campaign where myself or my party didn’t unintentionally complicate or thicken the plot through our own actions thereby creating NEW and unforeseen problems to solve. The entire game is one constantly evolving puzzle that technically nobody is in control of. Which happens to make for great fun.

Creativity in D&D:

Dungeons and Dragons exercises all your creative capabilities. Not only character creation but also execution. You have to figure out how to play the character you’ve created: how they talk and what they would do in any given situation. Its almost like method acting a video game.

Creativity is also in necessary in finding solutions to every unexpected plot point your DM throws at you. You have to remember that your character is limited to the resources they have on hand or can create and utilize within their environment. Their magical, frequently hostile, and foreign environment. That means most of the time you have a team of people trying to McGuyver their way to solutions in a pinch.

I once played in a party that came upon a large camp of goblins on a mountain. We were trying to reach the top of it in order to access the temple at its peak. Our DM implied that the goblins were hostile and would be an active obstacle to us reaching our goal. Technically we were supposed to defeat the goblins, and 9/10 times that would have resulted in combat. Except we were low on supplies, two of our party were injured and we were far outnumbered.

Instead we used a magic frog totem we had picked up somewhere, Mage-Hand, a really good illusion, and my characters pet pygmy dragon to convince the goblins that a member of our party was their deity. Then we demanded a blood sacrifice that led them all to joyously jumping off a cliff. Not what our DM had in mind. But as far as solutions go- we technically defeated them. Creative problems require creative solutions.

Creativity as a DM

If you’re a DM- I take my hat off to you because you have the hardest job of all. regardless if it’s a homebrew campaign or you’re running one of the classics. You get the challenge of creating the ambiance your players experience and setting the tone. Whether that’s music, food, scents, lighting, props, maps, or creating the whole world. You also play 85% of all the different characters, stretcting yourself to distinguish each individual NPC and switch between them smoothly. You are a creative genius.

Teamwork and collaboration in D&D:

Very rarely during a campaign have I ever found myself off on my own without the rest of my party. In a successful campaigning party you learn to utilize everybody’s strengths. This balances out the team and helps cover your weaknesses. You begin to rely on certain characters to cover your back and collaborate in order to come up with solutions and ideas and solve mysteries.

D&D teaches you how to trust your teammates and how to delegate. You learn how to best utilize the players you have on your team- something that is a hugely useful skill in any leadership role. You don’t always get to pick the players on your team (or your employees) but you can learn how to best utilize the team you do have.

Math & D&D:

Math has never been my strong suit. My father would tell you that math was my greatest challenge in school and therefore one of his greatest challenges as a parent. Many of his evenings were spent sitting with me at the dining room table going over whatever the current school math topic had been. Or reading my math book to see what was coming next so he could teach it to me at home because I really struggled to focus in class on it.

I always thought it was a combination of ADHD (what I find uninteresting is almost impossible for me to focus on because there’s no dopamine in it and it is therefore a chore) combined with the fact that it was a “real time problem solving” kind of subject. Meaning it wasn’t full of information I could zone into reading or gobble down and memorize (those were the subjects I loved). I might have been able to memorize a rule or the definition of a numerator. But each equation was different and it felt like having to start over for every single math problem.

Creating Interest

D&D really helped me with my basic arithmetic as well as being able to do equations rapidly in “real time”. All of a sudden I had constant, basic math problems wrapped in an adventurous package tied up neatly with a ribbon of spontaneity and excitement (AKA dopamine). Exactly what my overactive imagination needed.

Application of Skills

During game play you are constantly adjusting your hit points, health points, cantrips, and major spell slots based on the moment to moment interactions and combat.

“I rolled my D6 for damage three times for that attack with my Warhammer and I’m advantaged because I’m raging and utilizing dwarven resilience. So that adds 2, plus my strength modifier of +2, so I deal….17 damage”

It sounds silly, but it was an effective tool in helping me apply practical math. I did better in school because of it.

Story telling in D&D:

Say what you want about story telling not being a necessary life skill- but this is a hill that I am willing to die on. Mankind has been telling stories since the beginning of time. We use them to teach lessons, share faith and beliefs, and connect with people from generation to generation. Some of the most popular modern stories are variations of the same tales we have been telling each other since the bronze age. No fairy tale: Origins of some famous stories go back thousands of years (sciencenews.org)

A Valuable Skill

Story telling is one of those skills that’s hard to teach or learn because of the way modern society is structured. But it is a valuable skill, a vastly underrated one. People connect through story telling. And I believe connection is what drives humanity. Companies spend millions of dollars every year trying to figure out how to connect with their audiences.

Story telling can make you a better communicator. It can help you relay problems and solutions in a way that people can relate to. If you work in merchandising or marketing it can help grab people’s attention.

Now you can take meetings full of statistics and numbers that nobody is really listening to anyways and turn them into a problems, situations, or stories that are relevant to the person you’re talking to. People listen to what they find relevant to them. Become a good story teller, and all of a sudden you have their attention.

If you are a DM- you’re a story teller.

You lead a group of people on an epic adventure that they have to interact and engage with. You describe worlds and people and lay multi-faceted plots at people’s feet in a way that brings them alive in the moment. If you always wished you could be in your favorite movie or book, Dungeons and Dragons is a dream come true. You get to bring that world to life for someone.

If you are a player- congratulations, you’re also a story teller.

You may not have written the campaign or created the world you’re playing in. But you tell your character’s story. Their current situation, adventures, and their backstory. You bring to life the way they talk, think and move.

Changing Educational Paradigms:

I think Educators need to consider the value of D&D as a practical application way to stitch multiple topics together. The key to educational benefits of Dungeons and Dragons is that in play, kids’ curiosity is turned on. And curiosity happens to be education’s rocket fuel. The Surprising Educational Benefits of Dungeons and Dragons – Let Grow

Are You a Teacher?

I would urge you to look into the science and psychology behind it and talk to your local educational board about incorporating it into curriculum or the classroom even in small ways. If you have a critical thinking class (and I believe all schools should) that’s a great place to apply it on a larger scale.

Do You Teach History?

Run a one shot set in the time in history or event you are studying and make your student’s participate in history in groups. You’d be amazed at what they learn about an event or time period when all of a sudden the weaponry of the American Revolution affects their hit points, or they’re struggling to complete their mission because the taxes on tea are to high and all of a sudden they get why people were pissed off.

Biology?

Pull a Miss Frizzle. One shot episode where all of your students are a white blood cell and their mission is to fight off a disease. Osmosis Jones here we come!

English?

Guess who gets to break their students up into teams and assign each team a different Shakespeare play. Tell them to run a one shot based off their play using only Shakespearean vernacular.

Assign each student a different author, then let build a character based off that author. Their mission is to battle the other authors but they’re limited to weapons and resources found in that author’s stories.

Have the entire class campaign through a book after you read it, see how they interpret it and what they get out of it. All of a sudden the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a lot more interesting to your students when they are debating whether or not Frollo is a warlock or a dark paladin.

If nothing else, I hope this has opened your eyes to the possibilities and the amount of value there is in the game. Come back soon to see the next installment of our Dungeons and Dragons series. You can find our previous post here.

Happy adventuring!

Mikaela

It’s Finally happened! It’s cold outside. I think the last of the heat snaps are behind us and there is frost on the ground in the mornings. The holidays are literally around the corner now. That means that grilling season is (mostly) over for me and now begins the long baking, roasting, braising, soup eating season. I’ve got a serious weak spot for anything I can turn into a tart or savory pie. Today we are going to be making Savory Mushroom Tarts. 

Autumn always makes me want to cram in a few more foraging hikes before it gets too cold. Somehow, in my head, that translates into a strong need to cook with mushrooms. Which are, in my humble opinion, a highly underrated flavor and food category. The pacific northwest is a great place for portabellas, porcinis, and oyster mushrooms.

I’ve finally turned my husband on to mushrooms if they’re cooked into things in interesting ways. But I’m also that weird person that, as a child, could easily be found sitting down at a table with an entire container of white button mushrooms, eating them whole.  

I promise this recipe is not as “bland” as that. Its savory, warm, and speaks straight to my prehistoric “hibernation brain”. It’s also super easy to make and looks way fancier than it is. It’s homy enough to be eaten at home alone, but unique and dressy enough to wow at your next dinner party if that’s more your thing. With minimal prep, low cook time, and mostly hands off cooking, this recipe is one of my Go-To’s. 

I really dislike it when people wax poetic for a million pages that mean you have to scroll through before getting to the recipe, so let’s get right to it.  

Mis en place (aka: get your shit, and put it in its place): 

• 1 premade pie crust (you can use Pillsbury if convenience is necessary- and let’s be honest, this time of year its usually necessary. Or, you can use my recipe here.) 
• 1/3 of a cup ricotta or goat cheese (Ricotta will give you a sweeter, more mushroom forward flavor. Goat is going to result in a stronger more aromatic tart). 
• 6 ounces (about 170.1 g) of sliced mushrooms (you can use cremini or portabella if that’s what is available to you but if you really want to elevate the flavor, I love using oyster or porcini mushrooms or a mix of several).  
• ¼ of a yellow onion, cut into thin slices (not diced, it makes for a weird final texture). 
• 1.5 ounces (about 42.52 g) of shredded gruyere cheese 
• 2 ounces (about 56.7 g) grated parmesan for garnish 
• A touch of kosher salt or sea salt and black pepper 
• A Pinch of Nutmeg 
• 1 egg, separated 
• Olive oil 
• A sprig of thyme, chopped or 1 tsp dried thyme 
• A flat baking sheet 
• Parchment paper is useful, but not necessary. 
• A medium large skillet 

Procedure: 

Let us know what you think, and feel free to leave any pictures, variations you enjoy, or questions and trouble shooting. Have Fun!  

~Mikaela  

Today is a two for one. With the advent of baking season, I figured I would share my favorite pie crust recipe with you. This is the pie crust I use for everything. It can be varied or changed by adding herbs, seasonings, or spices depending on what the occasion calls for; but I have yet to find a pie crust recipe to beat it.  

Of course, I am a little biased because my grandfather taught me to make this pie crust recipe, but he made the best pies, and he was very proud of them. He usually stayed out of Grandma’s way in the kitchen unless it was making homemade ice-cream, fish fry, or pie. And he had perfected his pie crust.  

In future recipes if you ever see it call for a pie crust, this is the one I am using.  

Mis en place (get your shit and put it where it goes): 

• 3 Cups of Flour 
• 2 tsp of salt 
• 1 Tbsp Sugar 
• 1 ¼ Cups of butter or Crisco, cut into small pieces (I have actually found that an even split of the two produces the best result). 
• 2 egg yolks 
• 1/3 Cup milk 
• 1 Tbsp of lemon juice 
• Wax paper for rolling 
• Pastry cutter (can be done by hand, but this is much faster and produces a better texture). I like this one from Sur la Table but you can technically get them from amazon.

Procedure: 

1. Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter using pastry claw or by hand until pea-sized chunks form. Add Yolks, Lemon and Milk. Mix with pastry claw or by hand until a sticky dough forms.  

2. Roll out between wax paper. Trust me when I say use wax paper. The excellent flaky texture is a result of the high fat content and sticky dough. Flouring a surface will result in a blander, tough crust. Nost using wax paper or trying to forgo the flour will result in a ripped crust during rolling, or a mess. Wax paper also makes for quicker clean up and an easy transfer to a pie plate.  

This dough can be used immediately or stored in the freezer. It makes one crust, perfect for struedel toppings, or open faced pies. If you are doing a sealed pie, or most fruit pies- you’ll want to double the recipe and roll out in halves.  

Have fun! 

~Mikaela  

Calling my resident foodies! This one is for you. Whether you are classically trained, self-taught, or grandma taught. Hell, even if you have no idea what you are doing at all. If food excites you and you want what you eat to always be an adventure. If you are looking for a new way to be creative, and food is not your forte but you want to try, then this is definitely for you. Today I’m going to introduce you to the Flavor Bible with the promise that your life will never be the same.  

A relic of history: 

Much to my general dismay, cookbooks are becoming a thing of the past, even though every celebrity on the planet at some point makes one. With the advent of smart phones and the magic that is Pinterest at your fingertips; who needs to go buy a whole cookbook for one recipe when there is some variation of it for free online? We won’t hate on Pinterest. I fucking love pinterest, it’s a problem. 

It comes with the territory, but I love cookbooks. I love trying new recipes, and different cultural cuisines. They make great inspiration even if I end up changing the recipe eventually. It used to really tick Taylor off because I’d sit in the living room and read them out loud when I got a new one. As if everybody cared as much as I did about “Sausage stuffed Onions!!!!” or “Oh my GOD crème brule crusted cheesecake?!”

But I get it, I do. Despite my own love of cookbooks and my own extensive collection of them, I still find myself frequently turning to Pinterest for a quick recipe dopamine hit. It is much faster to type in exactly what I’m looking for than it is to flip through pages and pages and try to remember. “Is it in the Betty Crocker Better Homes and Gardens or am I thinking of Alice Water’s Green Kitchen Cookbook?” 

I will never tell you that regular cookbooks are obsolete. They have their uses as well as a special place in my heart. However, some are better than others. Most cookbooks are good if you know what you want to cook already and just need to know the how part.  

A different kind of Cookbook: 

The Flavor Bible is a different kind of cookbook. A true bible. Your guide to the divine flavors of the world. This book is the Codex of Cooking, a veritable grimoire for culinary magic. You see, unlike a regular cookbook, which may have a theme or common author but is essentially a collection of recipes to be followed and exprimented from. The Flavor Bible has not one recipe in it. Not one. 

Instead, you’ll find color theory for food. I do not mean the whole ‘eat your color wheel’ food pyramid schpiel. This book is the Rosetta stone of taste buds. It seeks to teach flavor affinities. The Flavor Bible is intended to help creatives getting creating with a tool already in their belt. Three hundred and ninety-two pages of mad science and sheer genius.  

Can you tell this is my favorite cookbook? 

For those of us that have one thing in the kitchen that we know we want to use, but don’t know what to do with it. Or the guy that found the strange new fruit at the farmers market so duh you bought it… but you have no idea what it tastes like or what to use it in. This book is for you.

For the mixologist that has a flavor profile for a new cocktail in her head, and now needs to inspire a dish that compliments it without over powering it. Even for the baker that isn’t sure if that savory is weird to use with that sweet because can you put cardamom in that? 

The Flavor Bible can not only teach you about using and balancing the four basics tastes (salty, sour, bitter, and sweet). But, it can also teach you to brighten flavors by using acids and add nuance to dishes by layering flavors and harmonizing contrasting flavors.  

Confession time:  

And it’s Easy to use. Easy as pie. That’s the make or break for me when I’m recommending something to someone. Confession time: I hate culinary jargon. I love the industry. I love the grit, problem solving and creativity that the food service industry demands. But I hate jargon and I dislike people who give themselves airs over food.

Food is first and foremost sustenance. And yes, it is art. But two things I don’t think should be gatekept are food and art. I believe in teaching people things in simple laymans terms and not over complicating things that don’t need to be complicated.  

You could know absolutely nothing about flavor or cooking, pick up The Flavor Bible and use it. The majority of it pages are alphabetized lists. It starts at A and goes all the way to Z listing off hundreds of ingredients. From when they are in season, and what main profile it fits in to. Down to the cuisine they are most common in, and even sometimes alcohol compatibility.  

Know your ABC’s: 

As an example, let’s say you have pears in your kitchen that you need to use. But you really don’t know what you want to do with them. It’s been a long week, and your creative juices are running low. You flip to the section with all the P’s. Then go alphabetically until you hit “Pear” and you pick the right species of pear (yes, if gets that specific). Underneath pear is a list of all the flavor affinities that compliment pears. Everything from sweet to savory along with a few suggestions of typical dishes, when the best pears are in season, and where they’re from. There’s even a brief list of flavors that do not mix well to save you from making any obscure but terribly unpalatable mistakes.  

Pears not your thing? Or maybe you need to do a little reverse engineering and start with the minor details to pick your main course. You have this Turmeric you’re trying to use, just go to T, find turmeric and work your way through the list of forty-three different things that are complimentary to Turmeric.  

Trouble Shooting

Maybe you’ve already got a complex dish, but something is missing and you’re really trying to elevate it. This book is still your best friend. I can’t tell you how useful it is to be able to cross reference between pages covering the major components of a dish and have a eureka moment because I either found a flavor that complements all six things I’m trying to balance and all of a sudden baby cherubs are singing. Or, I realize that the reason my flavor is a little off is because I missed a major flavor profile, and the dish is out of balance. Suddenly, it’s fixed, and life is good. 

If I never convince you of anything else in your life, I hope I convince you to go get yourself a copy of The Flavor Bible. This is what I would have been burned at the stake for in the 1700’s. Because I will preach this until the day I die.

If ever there was a magic book full of witchcraft and spells- it’s this one. Bible is a fair and accurate term. You want to make potions that don’t taste like Polyjuice? This is your baby. If you’ve ever wanted to be an alchemist- this is the closest to alchemical genius, you will ever get, if only because it is worth its weight in gold in my opinion.  

Now go get Creative! 

Mikaela 

Summer is over. Samhain has passed. Leaves are falling and the dark days are approaching. This for me is a time when I feel like my flavor pallet changes for the year. My cravings for crunchy vibrant salads, crisp citrus, and smokey salmon has passed and suddenly I want rich warm soups, hot chili, and crusty bread. After hot days not wanting to be in the kitchen, I suddenly want to fire up my oven and bake like the world is ending

I want food that is rich in flavor, heavy on the spices, and warm enough to combat the damp chill that covers everything. For me, one of the best flavors that screams “Autumn” for me is Cloves. I love pumpkin as much as the next girl, but the sweet warmth of cloves and hint a bitterness has a heavy aroma I need and adds complexity to a lot of my favorite dishes.  

I believe in cooking with intention and purpose, I try to make sure my food has impact and poignancy behind it. After all, this is what I nurture myself and my family with. I have always maintained that food should make you feel something. This means knowing a lot about what you cook with. Today, let’s pay homage to what I consider to be the King of Spices, Syzygium aromaticum. 

Cloves in Science and Medicine: 

Cloves come from the flowers of a tropical evergreen tree in Indonesia. They are a notable ingredient in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine and have been used for centuries to help regulate the body. Not only are they dense in antioxidants but they are also high in fiber. Because they are rich in manganese- they are a great tool for regulating blood sugar if you struggle with diabetes. 

Cloves are Antibacterial and can also be used to specifically treat tooth aches as a result of the compound eugenol. Additionally, the eugonal found in cloves is a strong natural anti-inflammatory. It can be ingested in foods and teas, or applied topically as oil in this case. For inflammation specifically, I prefer tea as I haven’t has as much luch with the topical application. 

Cloves act as both an excellent cough suppressant as they help to relax the muscles of the throat. They can be chewed on directly in this case or brewed into tea and mixed with honey. I like to grind them up finely and make losenges with honey. Cloves can also be used to ease nausea, gas, and vomiting. If you’re like my sister and prone to being munched on by bugs- cloves are your best friend as they function as a natural insect repellent; Clove oil diluted in water and popped in a spray bottle works on people, plants, patios and gardens.  

Cloves in History & Mythology: 

The word ‘clove’ comes from the Latin word ‘Clavus’, meaning nail, in reference to their shape. Hailing from Indonesia they we heavily traded in Ancient Rome and China. The spice was so revered in Rome that it became more highly prized than gold. Because at times only the wealthy could afford them, they became heavily associated with prosperity.  

In the 18^th century, it became a custom at Christmas to push cloves into oranges and give them as fragrant gifts for protection and good luck charms for the new year. They were also traditionally used in perfume balls called Pommanders to ward off illness.  

Ancient Egyptians believed that Osiris was buried with cloves to ensure his rebirth and eternal life. Additionally, they were also frequently used as offerings to deities and rituals involving the spirit world. Cloves are also associated directly with Thor, the Norse god of Thunder and Agriculture and the protector of mankind. 

In Magic: 

Cloves are associated with prosperity, abundance, and cleansing. They are masculine and protective in nature, heavily associated with the element of fire and Jupiter.  

You can be grind up and sprinkle them to stop gossip, and burning them is an excellent way to cleanse and bring good luck to your home. They are commonly used as part of banishings, and can be used in conjuntion with rosemary to attract abundance. If you need to reset your space, cloves are your friend.  

Many people still hand orange and clove pomanders in their homes to attract abundance and raise the vibration of their personal space (plus, the smell is invigorating). They can be hung from strings or used to decorate yule trees.  

because of it’s high concentration of manganese, cloves can also be used as an essential oil to help you focus if you struggle to stay grounded and present (ADHD Yo) as well as added to sleep sachets can be used to get more restful and restorative sleep. 

Care and growing of cloves: 

Due to their natural native climate- cloves are not so easy to grow in most of the U.S. however, it is possible to have success in either a controlled greenhouse setting, and limitedly in pots inside. If you want to attempt growing your own the soil should be well draining, fertile, and similar to orchid mix. If the climate is to cool or dry, cloves will not bloom, and even in healthy conditions they may not reach flowering maturity for seven years. They need bright light and require soil temperatures above 75 degrees.

To date, commercially grafting cloves onto other plants has not been successful, and the majority of commercial clove production still comes from Indonesia. Cloves are not considered a begginner plant or easy to culivate and as the fruit requires processing- you’re most likely better off getting your gloves from a grocer or a local herbalist.  

What are some on your favorite things to cook with cloves or use them for? I use them in much of my fall baking as well as in my hommade chai blend, which is super easy to make in a larger batch and divvy out throught the season. Would you be interested in learning how to mke your own chai?

All the best, 

Mikaela. 

Holy Crow, It’s November. With the start of Daylight savings time and the onset of the holidays- we are quickly approaching the close of yet another year. For a lot of people, this is a time of gratitude (as well as a time of stress. but let’s manifest the positives, shall we)?  For me this is also a good time to start reflecting on myself and my year.  

We’ve covered the history of tarot and its traditional applications. As well as gone over my personal beliefs on its uses. If you missed that post, you can find it here. I figured now would be a good time to go over one of my favorite (and to me one of the most useful) spreads.  

Types of Tarot Decks and Spreads: 

As we discussed previously, not all spreads can be used with all decks. Some decks are designed more towards the traditional fortune telling. A few that focus on a particular subject or aspect. Then there are those that are more Oracle based, or introspective; these are my favorite. However, at its core, this one can be used with most I have found (if not with a little bit of modification).  

I originally found this spread as part of my favorite deck. That might be why I am more inclined to this one, but also, it prompts a lot of reflection and self-dialogue; which is what I am looking for. It’s very straightforward (or as straightforward as the concept of tarot can be) and very simple. This is not one of those spreads that involves 13 different cards in different positions, personally that’s not really my style, but we’ll build to that sort of stuff eventually, for educations’ sake. This spread only calls for 3 cards. 

The cards:  

The Aspect:

The first card, or the card on the left side of the triangle, is the Focus card. In this spread this is ‘the Aspect’ it represents a facet of yourself that needs to be addressed. This is the main source of reflection.

It could be in regards to a particular question or issue in your life, or it could be something that your attention is otherwise focused on. For good or ill, or just something that is; this card represents something that is prevalent in your life currently.  

The Soul:

The second card, or the card on the right side of the triangle, is the Soul Card. This card represents a facet of yourself that is one of your strengths. You may still need to address something within this strength (especially if this card appears inverted or reversed in the spread). However, it is an aspect that you are completely capable of addressing.

This card often seeks to highlight a strength that I may have neglected, taken for granted, ignored, or failed to harness. It can be a tool to remind you of skills and knowledge to help you on your journey or address your current question or situation. 

Let Two Become 1:

the final card, or Apex of the triangle, is the binding card. This serves to present you with a possible path or course of action that may allow you to marry the information set before you. It typically forces me to consider alternate solutions to whatever my current situation is.

This is the card that says, “this is your problem or obstacle, that is one of your best strengths, and here’s how you use that strength as a tool to solve your problem”. This is the card that helps you find wholeness and balance within whatever your quandary is. 

Setting up:  

Now that you know what each piece is for and represents, let’s go through the actual process. Make sure you set aside adequate time to really complete the reading. It’s not like in the movies where you shuffle a deck, flip a couple cards and have wisdom imparted from the beyond. This is a guide and a tool for meditation. Adequate time to reflect is really the whole point.  

I prefer somewhere quiet, where I know I’m not going to be interrupted, or my attention and focus called away constantly. Honestly, I typically try and wait until I am home alone, just for my own piece of mind and my dislike of being perceived. But, realistically this isn’t easy or doable for many of us, and I get it. Still, find a quiet space. A chair with an end table will do. Cross-legged on your bed is fine if that works for you. Hell, a blanket on the floor works if that’s your vibe. The point is to find a spot that is comfortable and that you feel you can relax in.  

I like dimmer lighting. Not for the hocus pocus fortune teller vibes, but because I find most artificial lighting to be really harsh and it hurts my eyes. I’ve switched most of the lights in our house to be flickering torch lights so the light is more diffuse which helps significantly. But again, not necessary. I just find it helps relax the muscles of my eyes, therebye allowing me to more easily relax as a whole.  

I typically light a candle, or incense, or turn on an oil diffuser. Again, not technically necessary; but something I find to be hugely beneficial. Meditation is a multi-sensory process. Having a scent or oil within that experience that is different than the average smell of your space can help you focus in the moment, and if you build the habit using the same sent every time you can pretty much Pavlov yourself into that state of focus and relaxation more easily over time using that scent as a trigger.  

You can play music if you want. I know a lot of people that use abstract music or ambient meditation tracks in the background. Personally, that has never helped me because I find it too distracting for myself. But I do see the value in it for other people.  

Performing the Tarot Spread: 

Get comfortable, spend a minute or two settling into a position that is easy to maintain. Let your body work through its fidgets. Spend a moment or two focusing on your question or current situation. Shuffle. There is no right or wrong way- you can’t over shuffle. I tell people to shuffle until it feels right, focusing on your question as you do so. It is up to you to decide if you’d like to cut your deck or just deal from the card on top.  

Make sure you pull all three tarot cards the same way. That means if you are side turner- all three cards need to be turned to the side. If you are a top flipper, then you need to flip all three long ways as you deal. This is how you get accurate pulls. Otherwise, you may end up inverting a card that wasn’t meant to be inverted, or vice verse. 

Your first card should be placed to the left side of your cloth, blanket, table, or space. The second card should go to the right. When you pull your third card this should go at the bottom, or inverted apex of the triangle closest to you.  

Take a moment to just look at the cards, see what the artwork looks like, what it might mean, how it makes you feel. Make sure you have your guidebook handy; begin reading the meanings of each card, reflecting on its overall meaning as a card, but also in regards to its position in the spread. Each tarot card on its own has meaning, but the same card might inspire totally different thoughts in the ‘aspect’ vs the ‘soul’.  

Once you have looked at and reviewed each card individually, take a few moments to reflect on their meaning together. Especially the ‘two become one’ card. Ask yourself follow up questions. Be honest with yourself during your evaluation. Nobody else is here to judge you, and the cards themselves are not a judgement. The only person that stands to gain anything is you. All the cards serve to do is present possibilities and prompts.  

At this time I take a few minutes to just sit and meditate. Yes, I am still reflecting on the thoughts as a whole, but as opposed to reading the meanings, and reflecting on myself and actively thinking and examining the cards; this is when I close my eyes and simply sit, allowing myself a few moments to passively process everything.  

Closing the Tarot Spread

When I’m done, and feel calm and settled, I typically spend some time journaling about the experience and my thoughts. This functions both as another form of review, which sometimes prompts new thoughts. But also gives me a tool and something to refer back to if I ever want it, as well as a resource if I ever find myself in a similar situation. I also like to look at my entries at the end of the year as a way of reflecting on my personal growth and journey.  

As a final note:

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Yes, there is a level of solemnity to Tarot, because you should always evaluate yourself with grace and compassion and there’s no point doing it if you’re not going to take it seriously. But, the universe isn’t going to strike you down for not having all the pomp and ceremony in the world or because your card pull wasn’t the smoothest most choreographed thing since Cher’s “Dark Lady”. You should be relaxed and calm. The ambiance tips I laid out are meant to help guide you to that space of relaxation. If it becomes something that is about the ambiance and not about the reflection, peace, and finding inner balance; then that defeats the purpose. 

Have fun! If you’d like to know what Tarot deck this spread came with is Ravynn Phelan’s Dreams of Gaia. You can find more about her, her art, and her other works here. We’d love to hear about your own journey!  

All the best, 

Mikaela  

So, you want to play Dungeons & Dragons? But you’re an introvert. You’ve got your dice. You’ve got a basic idea for a character in your head. Hell, you may even have a group of friends to play with. But you’re not sure where to go from there.

Not to worry young adventurer, the Guild has got your back. Below is a list of our favorite resources for beginners. By no means comprehensive because the resources are endless. However, we’ve sorted and shlogged through the ones we’ve used over the years and narrowed it down to the ones that we love the best for the absolute beginners.

Those of you that, like us, want to learn the in-depth mechanics and nitty gritty character-building aspects without feeling like you have to ask a million questions in front of others. You’ll still probably have to ask some questions, but we get it; we don’t like feeling publicly inept either.

DND Player Guidebook:

This kind of goes without saying because honestly, for a beginner it’s hard to play without one. but honest-to-god this is also still on this list because at the end of the day, this is the DND basics bible. You can pick it up at any Barnes N Nobles, most gaming stores, and like everything else these days, Amazon: Amazon.com: D&D Player’s Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook): 9780786965601: Wizards RPG Team: Everything Else

Note Book or Campaign Journal:

This is a preference thing. But for me, I wanted to be able to record our campaign as well as anything else I thought would be noteworthy or useful. Especially since while you’re learning it can be hard to catch every detail since you’re focusing on mechanics. For me, it came in handy because I was able to refer back to things months later that ended up being useful for my party as a whole. Its also a great place to sketch things for reference.

Technically speaking you can use anything from a binder with paper in it, to a spiral notebook etc. You can even use a laptop and type things if you are so inclined. It’s not my preferred method because personally I prefer to write and it limits my ability to sketch. But, at the end of the day- its up to you. As we know, my sister and I can be a little extra so I typically try and find a notebook or record keeper that I feel really fits and reflects my character.

For my barbarian I had a brown raw leather bound book. For my last rogue I actually found one that had a lock on it that I thought fit her vibe. This one in the link is the one I just bought for the new character I just built that I’m going to use in Taylor’s first DMing Campaign. Amazon.com : Rosmryx DND Notebook or Journal, 200 Pages Hardcover Dragon Embossed Leather A5 Notebook, RPG & DM Character Notebook, Dragon Journal for DND Gifts or Accessories, and Players Handbook or Spell Book : Office Products I encourage you to have fun with it. It’ll add to your overall experience playing.

DND Character Sheets:

Now, some of those notebooks come with character sheets in them already. And the players handbook has a master copy that you can always scan and print if you have access to a scanner. Or, you can print them from online. dungeon and dragon character sheets – Search Images (bing.com)

For a beginner- I have found that the best thing to do is to print one and then go to Kinkos or something and get it laminated. You spend a lot of time erasing in the beginning. Honestly, its just faster and less paper waste. When you’re not playing you can slide it into a sleeve protector, so nothing gets smudged and then pull it out next time you play.

RPG Player Character Building Book:

This is by far my favorite thing on this list. On one level, character building isn’t hard, don’t let people intimidate you with that. On another level, it can be overwhelming as a first time player. The DND handbook will walk you through the basics: Race, Class, Background, Alignment, backstory, etc. BUT, then there’s making a character that is layered, detailed, and roll-playable. You can go basic, sure. But DND is one of those things that the more you put into it, the more detail and life you give it- the more you’ll get out of it.

This book is a great tool for figuring out how you want to play your character once you’ve built them. The Beauty of this book? You can get it in hard copy/ paper copy if you’re like me and want the tangible thing, or want to actually fill out the prompts in the book. OR its also available on kindle unlimited (AKA FREE) for on-the-go endless use. The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create the Most Interesting Story for Your Character (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series) – Kindle edition by D’Amato, James. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

DND Beyond:

This is technically the grand cheat code of beginners guides for actual game mechanics. Basic access is free- which is a great place to start. If you want access to some of the more obscure races (or are going more non-traditional/ homebrew) then there are things you end up paying for. Either way, totally worth it if you want to focus on getting into character instead of how to roll your dice and do the math portion.

This takes out ninety percent of the guess work involved if this is the part that intimidates you. You can create your character, run your sheet, even roll digital dice (if you happen to forget yours) and it will do all the modifier math for you. If you want the action, social, role-play adventure part but looking at all the variables and what goes with what makes you nauseous- then this is your best friend. You can find the link to start for free here: D&D Beyond Character Sheet (dndbeyond.com)

Hopefully, these resources make your early days of adventuring less intimidating. If you’re new to the blog or just trying to decide if you think DND is for you- check out our guild talk post Q&A on DND here. We’re excited to continue our Dungeons and Dragons Series with you. We have a new campaign starting soon as Taylor steps into the roll of Dungeon Master for the first time. Are there other resources you have tried or really love? Let us know!

We’ll see you on the battlefield!

Mikaela

It feels like every single year goes a little bit faster. The blinks get closer together. I blinked and it was spring. I blinked and it was midsummer. Another and now not only is it fall, but October is essentially over and Samhain is here. The holidays are approaching at a rate that would alarm even an Olympic sprinter. This year went faster than most of them because I feel like this year for me, has been packed with more monumental or life-altering changes & milestones than many of the recent years combined.

That sense of time speeding by in pockets might make me feel melancholy, but at the same time, this is the gateway to my favorite time of year. The shifting of seasons is always an interesting time, but autumn makes me feel such a specific way that it stands out in my memory every year. It’s something I try to savor.

I’ve tried to describe to several people over the years- and I don’t know if I’ll ever do it in a way that truly conveys the sense of wonder that I feel. Even spending most of my life in Phoenix, Arizona, a place that we jokes has 2 seasons: hot and dry cold; no snow, no changing colors and falling leaves, no spring bulbs. Just prickly trees, greens that still look brown, and pollen such a violent shade of yellow that you know its going to make you sneeze.

Don’t Blink

No matter where I have been in the country, October somehow brings this one specific day. You wake up and the air smells different. It doesn’t matter that 2 days before it was still 92 degrees outside, or the summer flowers were still in full bloom here in Washington. All of a sudden it’s crisp, the air somehow looks cleaner and less dusty; it’s not as heavy. Colors seem brighter, and sunshine looks less oppressive, more blue. All of a sudden there are more people outside in the park; telling you that even if it sounds goofy in a way, other people feel it too. We’re all somehow still running on the same primordial clock. That was always the morning that I knew Summer had said goodbye for the year.

Here in Washington, it’s a much easier thing to describe, because it’s such a visual change- and I treasure it even more. There are big crunchy orange and red leaves on the ground. I wake up to crows between the sleepy trees along the trail outside my apartment. The sunlight is extra sparkly on the mornings it’s out between the growing days of grey clouds and rain. All of a sudden, it smells like mulch and harvest. Its much different than Phoenix, but no less specific of a feeling.

There’s this anticipation in the air. The long hot days are over, and we’re entering a season of rest and closing. Of quiet evenings in warm homes, and soon of louder nights filled with laughter, family, and glittering lights. This is my favorite time of year. It’s the quiet deep breathe before I get to fill my cup with chaos, joy, family, and connection. I get to take quiet time for myself to rest before the big outpouring of myself over the holidays.

Tomorrow is Samhain again already. Given my current contemplative mood, I thought today would be a good day to discuss the history of Samhain and share some easy ways to celebrate at home- if you so choose.

A Festival of Fire:

Not be confused with Halloween, Samhain (pronounced sow-win) was originally a pagan festival celebrated by the Celts. Samhain was the most significant and largest of the Great Feast days and the most important of the four Fire Festivals; traditionally the only day of the year that the Hearth fire was allowed to go out while the final harvest was collected, before being relit as part of the communities celebration after being blessed by the Druids. It was a sacred time. Certain accounts even mention death sentences for people who violated rules or committed violent crimes during this time. Prayers were said, blessings given, cattle were sacrificed, and community bonfires were used to sanctify the Hearth’s for the upcoming year.

A Festival of Souls

Originally it was celebrated as the day that the veil between the physical world and the spirit world was at its thinnest, allowing more interaction with the beings of the otherworld. (Samhain – Celtic Origins, Rituals & Halloween | HISTORY)

Offerings were left outside of doors, villages, and fields for the Sidhe, to protect them and earn goodwill from anything crossing the barrier between worlds. People often wore animal or monster costumes so the fairies would not kidnap them.

During the middle ages, carvings on turnips and pumpkins were used to ward of fairies and other wicked beings. It was during this time that the “Dumb Supper” became a tradition. During which spirits were invited to dine with the family as a way to interact with ancestors and other deceased friends and relatives.

Christian Involvement in Samhain:

Over time, and through the rise of the Christian Church, Samhain traditions became intermingled with other Christian practices. First adapting to “All Saints and Martyrs” in the 5^th Century, and then as “All Hallows Eve”, “All Saints Day”, and “All Souls Day” in the 9^th century by Pope Gregory. Eventually, many of  Samhain’s practices and traditions became synonymous with the modern celebration of Halloween.

“The Farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past; the more we’ve come to need Halloween”

Paula Guran

That doesn’t mean that the original spirit of the festival isn’t still there. The growing season is over, the harvest is complete, the long nights are approaching. Now is a good time to reflect on what you have accomplished this year, and settle in for a rest, while blessing and protecting your home for the upcoming dark season.

Celebrating Samhain at home:

Just because most towns are no longer holding massive feasts and community bonfires- does not mean that you cannot acknowledge the significance of this time in the natural world. Samhain is not about devil worship, black magic, or the macabre and grotesque. It’s about harvest and celebrating the role that each season plays. It’s a time to honor those that are gone, with maybe just a smidge of the magical and mystical peaking through the thinning veil for those of us that are superstitious. Below are my favorite ways to have intentionality in savoring this time.

• Take a nature walk: you’ve probably seen me say this in any ‘celebratory’ holiday post. That’s because many of these holidays center around the changing of the seasons, and one of the best ways to experience that and appreciate it is to get out in it. See it, touch it, taste it, smell it. It was particularly easy for me this year, being in a new space with vibrant colors and so much to soak up.
  Make sure you aren’t glued to your phone while you’re out. Look at the leaves, or the clouds, or whatever it may be. Smell the crispness in the air. Let the wind sit on your face and focus on what right now feels like.

• Set up or refresh your altar: Yes there are the stereotypical symbols or Halloween, but so much more can go into the sacred space this season. Symbols have power. Skulls, ghosts, I tend to decorate with my favorite leaves that I’ve picked up on the aforementioned nature walk. allspice berries, broom, catnip, mountain ash berries, mugwort, mullein, oak leaves, acorns, rosemary, sage, pine cones, and straw are also good symbols.
  Taylor tends to merge this a little bit with her appreciation of Dia De Los Muertos. She always puts up pictures of people we loved and lost, with a special focus on any recently significant losses. We light candles for each loved one and spend time talking about them together, honoring their part in our lives.

• Host a Dumb Supper for yourself and your family: This meal is traditionally mostly silent, thus the name. Leave an empty place at your table to honor the deceased. Focus your meal on products of the harvest: dark grain breads, the darkest of summers berries, root vegetables, game meats, cider or wine. On this day the table is a sacred space. Before sitting down to eat, gather everyone for a prayer:

“Tonight we celebrate Samhain. It is the end of the harvest, the last days of summer, and the cold nights wait on the other side for us. The bounty of our labor, the abundance of the harvest, and the success of the hunt all lie before us. We thank the earth for all it has given us this season, and yet we look forward to winter, a time of sacred darkness.”

• Visit a cemetery: I know- this is where I lose some of you, or you think I’m going to tell you to perform seances in disrespectful places. Not so. But this is a time of honoring the dead. Now is a good time to visit graves of loved ones. If I was home, this would be the time I would go to my grandfather’s and grandmother’s memorial; or stop to chat with my Uncle Alois. Its another way to feel close to them and honor their memory. To let them know that I’m still thinking about them.
  Since I can’t be home this year I instead visited a local cemetery.
  There are two where I live, and the old historic one is no longer active and doesn’t get a lot of visitors. I spent some time walking rows and reading names, I can’t help but wonder who they were and what they were like. I like to lay flowers at some of the ones that catch my eye or feel right. I like to think that this way, they aren’t forgotten.
• Reflect: look back on your season of growing. Review Journals, planners, photographs, evidences of your growths this year. Look back on whatever goals you set yourself and assess how you faired. Meditate. When you are done introspecting- write down your thoughts and feelings about your experience.

• Clean and reset your hearth space: homes have certainly changed since everyone had a functional hearth. The concept remains the same. The hearth was the center of the home. A place of nourishment, gathering, and safety. The touchstone that grounded most families. When I did have a fireplace, this was the time I would deep clean it and pull it apart in preparation for winter use. If you don’t have a fireplace, it is still a good time to deep clean your kitchen. Spend some time caring for the space that nourishes you. On a practical note: you’ll thank me when the holidays roll around.
• Bonfires: Samhain was the greatest of the fire festivals. Go outside, light a fire- a firepit will do if a bonfire isn’t an option. Let the smell of woodsmoke seep into your skin and relax you. Let the heat from the fire keep away the growing snap in the air. Spend time welcoming the chillier evenings and long nights. This is a good time to meditate.

• Connect with your community: This might feel harder in the anti-social, demanding, fast-paced world we currently live in. But in times past, Samhain was an important time to connect with your community because everyone relied on everyone during the long winter months. Now is a good time to check in on friends and relatives and make sure they’re okay.
  Find a local organization to help- lots of communities will look for volunteers at this time of year to help with food and shelter for the homeless, or under privileged. There is a need for community now more than ever. Get out of your house- go to a fall festival or a pumpkin patch. Make new connections and friends in your community.

However you choose to celebrate, make sure you do so with intentionality. Focus on the feeling in your heart as this season closes. Take time to rest, recharge and prepare before the glitter and sparkle of the holidays suck us in for another grand finale. Take a minute to make sure your eyes are wide open before you blink and its spring again.

When black cats howl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

Happy Samhain!

Mikaela