06 May 2008

Dandelion Wine, Blessed Beltane, Happy Summer!


The Dandelions are Blooming! They bring forth the Happy Child of my heart!

We are making the wine this year, and the Yeast are happily bubbling away, munching their feast of sugar in the wine pot. What a Glorious sound...well brewing wine. Care is taken in every step. And love is communicated and shared amongst Plant, Human, and Yeast Culture. We are merrily partaking in the process together. Ahhh... I do love winter's snows and the crisp fall air. And yet how we can experience that there is everything to love about every season, about this most precious place called Earth.

Bless everything, and the Blessings return...


Here is the receipe I use for Dandelion Wine, from the book, Healing Wise, by Susun Weed:


"Dandelion Wine a la Laughing Rock
our year's supply for rituals and medicine

2 gal/8 liter crock
3-5 qts/3-5 liters blossoms
5 qts/5 liters water
3 pounds/1.5 kg sugar
1 organic orange
1 organic lemon
1 pkg/8 grams live yeast
wholewheat bread toast

Find a field of dandelions in bloom on a glorious shining day.
Follow the honey bees to the finest flowers.
Pick them with a sweeping motion of your parted fingers, like a comb.
I leave the green sepals on, but get rid of all stalks.
Back home, put blossoms immediately into a large ceramic, glass, or plastic vessel.
Boil water; pour over flowers.
Cover your crock with cheese cloth.
Stir daily for three days.
On the fourth day, strain blossoms from liquid.
Cook liquid with sugar and rind of citrus (omit rind if not organic) for 30-60 minutes.
Return to crock. Add citrus juice.
When liquid has cooled to blood temperature, soften yeast,
spread on toast, and float toast in crock.
Cover and let work two days. Strain.
Return liquid to crock forone more day to settle.
Filter into very clean bottles and cork lightly.
Don't drink until winter solstice.
Preparation time: A week's worth of effort yields a drink
not only delightful but good for your liver, as well."

25 March 2008

Welcome Home

I know that Spring has come
when roused from my bed
by their trumpeting overhead.
I welcome them home
with a song in my heart,
but know too, that death of the greening
soon come in time
when they depart.
Welcome Home My Friends.

Thank You, Mr. Silverstein


Just How brillant can one man be?

Thank you, Mr. Silverstein.
I offer a few selections of his many gems, here, from:

Falling Up
poems and drawings
by Shel Silverstein

- copyright 1996, by Shel Silverstein.
***********************************
THE VOICE

There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
"I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong."
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you-just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.


***********************************

WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' 'bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done . . .
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.

***********************************

THREE STINGS

George got stung by a bee and said,
"I wouldn't have got stung if I'd stayed in bed."
Fred got stung and we heard him roar,
"What am I being punished for?"
Lew got stung and we heard him say,
"I learned somethin' about bees today."

( note: this poem has an illustration to go with it that must be seen )

************************************



04 March 2008

Amma

"The desination is only one - oneness.
So do not criticize anyone.
Never injure the feelings of your friends
or your spiritual companions.
Let them have their own beliefs.
Show respect - that is your responsibility to mankind."
~Amma

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
May there be peace everywhere

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings be happy

27 February 2008

Lunar Wisdom

I remember traveling, as a small child, in the back seat of my Mother's LTD Ford. My face pressed against the glass, I watched the Moon as She followed us. No matter which way we turned, I searched through every window of the back seat to connect my eyes with Her. She was always there, guiding us on the late night's journey Home. How safe I felt knowing She was there, Her Light so soothing, healing. Even as the twists and curves of the highway and backroads brought us ever deeper into the mountainous terrain of our home, and I lost sight of her, still I knew She was there, watching and holding me, my wise old grandmother. It would be then that I would curl up in the white vinyl corner, with my sweater under my head, and drift off into heavy sleep.

Such a common childhood experience, I think, though perhaps not often articulated. How we are still so connected with our Inner Knowing when we are small. And how, when our souls yearn to reawaken to the "hidden" mysteries of our Being on this physical journey, we seek reunite with our wisest selves- the children we "once" were.

The Moon, among other things, represents the Intuitive side of our natures. Perhaps when we gaze at the Moon this gift of inner knowing, also referred to as Intuition or "gut instinct", a gift that we are all born with into this physical existence, is activated. And perhaps our Souls, our Highest Selves are being reminded of the promise that we made to ourselves, long ago, before we knew of this Earthly life, before our eternal souls were once again made flesh- that when answers to our deepest questions were being sought, we would turn our eyes and our hearts to her, and She, in Her Silvery Luminescence, through the still beauty of Night, would tell us again, that all that we seek already lives inside of us. And that we can still access this, even when She (our intuitive sense) seems to have disappeared into the mountains (obstacles), as the road takes unexpected twists and turns.

And then, we breathe deeply, knowing that we are loved and we are Love.


I heard this story at the Conference on Green Hermeticism, last year at the Suluk Academy in New Lebanon, NY. I was told that it it has been circulating for quite some time. I was told that what the child said was overheard by the parents via the baby monitor in the room:

A one and a half year old child
creeps quietly into the room where
a newborn sibling lay resting in its crib
The toddler whispers to the baby,
"Remind me what it was like...
I'm starting to forget..."


God/dess Bless you all in your journeys to Remember.
Hope you enjoy my amateur photo of the Eclipse.

Resource List


I would like to invite you to share in this resource list, for those of you who are on or are finding themselves drawn to the path of the Lightworker, also referred to as Shaman, Curandera, Medium, Healer, Mambo, Priest/ess among many others. May the Creator always give you comfort and strength as you find your way through this Journey.




06 February 2008

February Jam Buzz

The Following 8 oz. jars are SOLD OUT
until this coming SUMMER 2008:
CHERRY Preserves
PEACH Preserves
LOVE APPLE Jelly


Still Available, in relative abundance are (8 oz jars):
* Dandelion Flower Jelly (like a ray of sunshine!!)
* Elderberry Jelly (from my fresh-frozen, wild,
hand harvested elderberries)
* Red Clover Blossom and Fresh Mint Jelly
and, of course,
* Apple Butter
(hand harvested, unsprayed apples and simmered
in brown sugar & spices for 7 1/2 hours- till perfection!)

PLEASE NOTE: 4 OZ JARS WILL MOST LIKELY BE NO LONGER AVAILABLE

SEE JANUARY'S JAM POSTING FOR PRICING AND PURCHASING INFORMATION

01 February 2008

Ode to Spring! Sing a Love Song to the Earth!

Deep beneath the blanket of snow and icy rains,
there is a shift that is occuring.
Soon, it will be tree tapping time,
the first swells of bud running thick along their branches.

Today we welcome the spring.


What Dream-Seeds do you intend to plant this Spring?
Light a Red candle,
Celebrate the return of the Sun King!

27 January 2008

Reviews

" We just want to share with the world,
especially those who don't know Ursula,
that this new website was genuinely created from the heart,
which is how she does all things in life,
with love and true caring......
..if you don't believe us,
just try the apple butter!!!!! "

- Liza & Joe.......Getaway-on-the-Falls......Woodstock

24 January 2008

photo

full moon rise in the eastern skies

16 January 2008

Dear Winter: a prayer poem


Thank you,
Thank you for the Solitude.
For the Time within to Reflect
and to Review Life's Lessons.
Life is stirring within the Earth,
and deep within me,
the Dreams
of Longest Winter's Sleep
are beginning to stir.
Slowly, moving motionless toward Intent-
Now I sit in the Fullness
of this Empty-Urgent space,
gathering Courage to leap
saber-toothed into the Unknown,
to manfest this Dream,
to be In and Of,
and yet not of
this World.

Walking In Beauty,
In Love
and Gratitude.

14 January 2008

Church of the Sacred Earth-Meetings



1) Eight Meetings per year to celebrate/mark the turning of the seasons multi-cultural, simple ceremonies to foster a spiritual relationship/understanding of Earth,
her cycles and all life therein
Cross Quarter days
(general ceremonies to honor and celebrate the Earth's changes) on, or about-

March 21 - mid spring
June 21 - mid summer
September 21- mid autumn
December 21 - mid winter



Other meeting days
(for deepening awareness and further Earth-Spirit connection) on, or about-
February 1 - spring (seeds)
May 1 - summer (flowers)
August 1 - autumn (fruits)
October 31/ November 1 - winter (decay)


2) Monthly, New Moon, Community Potluck Meetings
We meet as a community on the lunar cycle of renewal (new moon) to create and
share nourishment in the forms of:


A) compassionate listening (Talking Stick ceremony- with moderator-
everyone is heard, no interruptions-
certain themes may be introduced at the beginning of the circle)
B) ( preparing and then) sharing food and drink
C) making music and merryment together and
D) cleaning up together (shared responsibility)




*


For Schedule of events
and more information about simple
seasonal ceremonies,

classes/workshops,
moonthly potlucks and

other opportunities for co-creation,
please contact Ursula at sacred_earth@yahoo.com

Church of the Sacred Earth-Woodstock, NY: Letter


The first record I have of the concept of this church is

in one of my journals from the year 2000.

It is time...

Here is an edited version of correspondence I circulated

in my community a couple of years ago:

*

"August 30, 2006 and October 21, 2006


My Dear Family/Community,
It is apparent on many levels that we, as a human community, and that of all plant and animal life, are in danger due to the mass global destruction of habitat and overuse of natural resources. With the loss of the health of this planet, we are seeing the deterioration of human health and the many seen and unseen flora and fauna that together make up a complex system of life sustaining environment To say that we are but a strand in a great web of life here is a statement whose truth is much deeper than the cliche it seems to have become. We are moving away from a time on Earth where the acquisition of material wealth and individual gain as a standard of one's success in this life no longer serve the continuation of life on this planet. Recycling our cans and bottles is not enough. Our food come to our grocery stores from all over the world. People have evolved into believing that health and happiness can be found in a pill. We have absolved ourselves from all responsibility of what we create. Too many have fallen out of touch with what our indigenous forebears knew- where their water came from, what foods grew in their region (most often because they had to grow it themselves or traded what they had with a neighbor), what plants gave healing medicines, and how to care for and interact with animal life. In other words, our ancestors knew Gratitude.
Church of the Sacred Earth is a Calling: to Community, to a practice of Gratitude, to Education, Action, to Acknowledging that this Earth is infused with Divine Life and to Commitment to give our energy back to the land that sustains us- on a community level with a global perspective, knowing full well that this entire planet vibrates holographically.
I awoke with a start at 2am on the 2nd of September 2006 with these words echoing through from the Dreamtime:
"We are leading a new way for the humans in our community..."
With Love and deep commitment to the miracle of this Life, I invite you to join with me in this sacred journey..


Greenest and Highest Blessings,
Rev. Ursula Carrie
Woodstock, New York"
*
*
*
"Deep partnership is the essence of evolutionary impeccability. Surely the day of the lone wolf is over and, in our "grow or die" world, we will prevail and prosper only if we develop mastery in the areas of co-creation and interdependency. The level of partnership being called for creates dynamic synergy for stepping into our full nature."
- Jean Houston, Ph. D.

13 January 2008

Winter 2008 Jams-Jellies-Preserves - REVISED!


The following jams-jellies-preserves are currently available...


8 oz jars: special $5 ea

  • Elderberry jelly
  • Dandelion Flower jelly (w/ organic lemon juice)
  • Red Clover Blossom tea and Mint jelly
  • Apple Butter* (a favorite! you'll never be able to get it from the store again :)

Currently, I also have some limited stock of

8 oz Jars: special $5 ea.

  • Love Apple Jelly (tomato with hot pepper and hint of basil- delicious, different)
  • Cherry Preserves
  • Strawberry-Rhubarb Preserves

HOW TO BUY-

stop by Elijah's Cafe at

54 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY

phone- 845-679-9524

Coming soon... Herbal Infused Vinegars....

Ursula Carrie's Kitchen

My jams, jellies and preserves are becoming legendary in my small circle of friends and family. It has always been a deep pleasure to feed folks good, rib sticking, home cooked food. Creating these "products" is a passion that materialized from within my very cells. An ancestral calling, if you will. I spend all spring, summer and fall, sometimes even into the early winter, hand harvesting wild flowers and berries, as well as purchasing locally grown produce, organic and/or direct from the farmer when available, and then chopping, sugaring, cooking, stirring and canning. Every week during the growing season has its project, and it changes with the season. I make everything in small batches, ensuring attention to the details, from the harvest to the application of a simple jar label.
You are sure to feel the love and magic in every mouthful.

Welcome


Thank you for your visit! While I am coordinating the efforts to establish a "regular" website, I invite you to review this blog on which I will post information about the products and services I have to offer you all.