Kitchen Home News

“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou Who gazest ever true and tender On the sun's revolving splendour.” - Pedro Calderon de la Barca My sunflowers have bloomed this week and they make me so happy every time I go out to water the garden! Seeing their nodding faces, happily following the sun just makes me smile. A few fun facts about sunflowers: Sunflowers belong to the genus “helianthus” - a name that refers to the sun god Helios. Images of sunflowers have been found in the Andes mountains, in temples. As well, priestesses of the Incan people used to place large sunflower disks of gold on their clothing. Native Americans used sunflower seeds as offerings, and these were placed on the graves on their ancestors. They also used the seeds for blue or black dye, and the petals for yellow dye. Sunflower seeds are full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Magical uses are said to include happiness, fertility, health, wisdom, confidence, and the elemental correspondence is fire. 　 　 　

We are having a rather dramatic storm today. The thunder has been crashing for an hour now, and the lightning has hit in a few places and sparked fires. Thankfully, they have been put out promptly by the rain, and the water bombers that are still around fighting a fire north of here. I know that when a storm is raging, my energy increases and my sensitivity is heightened. Apparently, our ancestors thought thunderstorms were a time of action as well. The Romans believed that thunderstorms were the god Jupiter, hurling lightening bolts in battle. The Nordic people thought thunder was the sound of Thor’s hammer, and that he also had the ability to throw lightening. It’s not easy to take advantage of a storm for a magical purpose. Often it’s difficult to predict when, or if (regardless of the promise of the local weatherman) the storm will hit and how long it might last. Weather systems generally move quickly through our valley, so trying to put together a ritual or set an intention and ho

I started thinking about the moon yesterday and I realized that I don’t pay much attention to the last quarter. I meditate quite a bit during the new moon, sending my energy inward to mirror the new energy building as the moon begins to wax. During the waxing moon, I think of my desires, set out goals and enjoy the energy building as Luna grows stronger each night. By the time the full moon has arrived, I may be planning a spell to send out my intention to the universe, or designing a ritual of offerings to a specific god I work with as a petition, or of gratitude. But by the time the moon is waning, I seem to find myself waning and my path working falls by the wayside. I don’t feel especially connected to the 3rd quarter, and the last quarter seems like a blank space in my practice. It doesn’t move me the way the rest of the cycle does. I’m trying to figure out why. The first clue I’ve found is that this part of the cycle of the moon, is harder to see. I’m a visual girl. You can talk

I used to have beautiful hands. Perfect fingernails, not too long, not too short. A nice pink tone with striking white tips that everyone thought were French, but were natural. Soft skin, with no lines, spots or scars. I could have been a hand model. But that was before gardening. Now I have Garden Hands. As of this morning, a nail is chipped from banging it on the edge of the stone water feature. The dirt I gathered while weeding, is stuck so far under my nails I may never get it out. I have sun spots that look like constellations, floating across the back of my hands. The wrinkles only go away for a brief moment after I slather on my cure-all handcream, and then return to taunt me. I have three scratches from the hydrangea, and a nick in my pinky from trying to pull out a stubborn weed, and catching a rock instead. I used to have perfect hands. But they didn't know the feeling of the early morning earth. They didn't know how basil smelled, rubbed between their fingers. They d