Halloween

Halloween is the modern name of the Irish and Scottish holiday originally called Samhain (pronounced Sow-win); Samhain is the Celtic-Gaelic word meaning “summers-end”. It begins at dusk on October 31, and marks the doorway to the dark half of the Celtic year, the opening of a new cycle. The early Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain, and so spirits of the dead could visit the living.

Agenda:

1. Plan a costume:
Originally, folks probably dressed in costumes and masks at Samhain to scare off any spirits that were bad. Now we do it because it's fun!

2. Carve a pumpkin:

Pumpkins didn't grow in Ireland or Scotland, but early Celts carved the images of spirit-guardians onto turnips and set these jack o'lanterns before their doors to keep out the unwelcome visitors from the otherworld.

3. Make Soul Cakes:

It was also a custom in Britain and Ireland for people to go ‘a-souling’ on Samhain- go door to door, singing and saying prayers for the dead; this is the origin of trick-or-treating! These people were called Soulers, and people gave them Soul Cakes. Each cake eaten represented a soul freed from suffering.

Ingredients:

• 2-3/4 c. white flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. each ground cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg
• 3/4 c. butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp. white wine vinegar

Yield: 12 cakes-

1- Thoroughly mix the flour, sugar, and spices. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2- Add in a beaten egg and the white wine vinegar and mix with a wooden spoon until firm (I had to add a little water to get it to hold together); cover and put in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
3- Preheat the oven to 375ºF and grease 2 cookie sheets. Flour a board and roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut into rounds with a coffee cup dipped in flour. Press the handle of a wooden spoon into each cake to make a cross on the top.

5. Place cakes on the pans and bake 15-20 minutes until slightly brown.

4. A Halloween Feast:
For me, Samhain is the culmination of the Winter Nights Festival. My family is together tonight, and so we will feast.

Full Squirrel Moon

Tonight is the full moon, my monthly time for action and release: I look again at the “seeds of intention” I planted 2 weeks  at the new moon and decide on my next steps to take, I take those steps, then I release my expectations in order to clear space for new ideas and new intentions.

The squirrels are creating great entertainment these days for my dog Sadie!

This full moon is called the Squirrel Moon, because the squirrels are busily gathering nuts for the winter. This is a good time for me to gather my forces inward.

Agenda for today:
1. Altar:

It's time to discern what to put on my altar for the next month. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke?

Last week, after Navratri, I honed my altar down to a few items. Today I add-

• a picture of a mountain, for stillness and meditation.
• a turquoise candle for thought and study.
• the rune "isa", ice- for the stillness of a frozen day.

Each month at the full moon I put a motto or quote on my altar, to ponder as a theme for the month. This month:

~ Rabindranath Tagore

2. Journal:
Review the intentions I set 2 weeks ago, at the new moon. Review also the goals I set at the beginning of the year.

Do these aims all still seem vital? 
What topics of study are of interest to me now?
What are some current events or issues I wonder about? 
What new skills might be useful? 

3. Practice at my theme:

My theme this month is stillness. When I leave time in my daily routine for study, writing, meditation, and prayer, I honor the full rhythm of life- the yin time of "being" balances my yang times of action and doing. In the stillness, my ego disappears for a bit. I can then turn back to the outside world, seeing myself as a part of the whole rather than as an isolated individual. 

This week I am starting with these topics of study:

• How to be more patient
• "The Endless Practice" by Marc Nepo
• Abstract composition
• Marketing

4. Mountain Pose Meditation:

Mountain Pose is the foundational pose for all standing yoga postures. It helps improve balance and inner calmness. It seems simple, but it’s important to learn how to do it correctly, so find out how here.

The image of the mountain represents meditation, and the resting of body, mind and spirit. When practicing the Mountain Pose I use this visualization:

Picture my favorite mountain- it’s shape, it’s peaks, the rocks, the trees, the undergrowth.
Imagine that I am this mountain, rising from the surface of the earth; say, “I Am the Mountain.” Feel my splendid stability. I have reached the peak of upward movement, and in stillness I hold my place.

See time passing- day turns into night, the moon rises over me, gradually dawn comes again. The seasons change- snow covers me, rain strikes me, then sun bakes me. My surface changes, but the essence of the mountain remains the same.

View of Mt. Bachelor from our favorite campground.

5. Take Action:
The full moon is a time to celebrate life, stay up late, see friends, exercise harder, and be more creative and outgoing. The crazy full moon energy builds and builds; it’s best to acknowledge it so it doesn’t throw me off balance. This surge of energy allows me to take action on intentions I set two weeks ago.

Dusshera- the End of Navratri

Dussehra is the day after the nine nights of Navratri- the wrap up day. The word Dussehra comes from the Sanskrit Dasha (sun) and Hara (defeat). It's the day to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, and marks Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana.

In some parts of India, people burn huge straw effigies of Ravana. Also, people put on plays in which scenes from the epic saga of Ramayana are enacted by professional troupes.

Agenda:
1. Clear my altar:
After the last week, with Navratri, Al Higra, and Winter Nights, my altar has gotten quite full. 

Today I cleared it off entirely, and replaced only the items that I want to continue to use as a focus. I am adding back:

• God's eyes- to watch over us
• my straw doll- for luck and protection
• a blue candle- for unity
• an early photo of me and W- as a symbol of synergy
• The rune "Hail"- meaning "the wrath of the elements and the power of fundamental forces of nature" (This rune came up in my rune reading last week as 'that which I can expect in my path' --I want to think about that some more!)

2. Use sprouts to make Spinach Wheatgrass Rice:

I am left with this beautiful bowl of sprouted grains from my altar.

In India these seedlings are a symbol of good luck- the taller they grow, the better the winter harvest will be. 

On this day the sprouts are either put into a river to release the power that is blossoming in them, or they are given to people to wear in their caps or behind their ears, for luck.

My sprouts are very long and lush and I want to serve them to my family as actual food-energy. This is an Indian spinach rice recipe to which I’ve added the sprouts- you could wash the soil off and use the grains, but I've chosen to cut the grass at the soil line.

Ingredients

ALL of these veggies are from my garden, except the ginger.

• 1 c. rice
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1/2-inch piece of fresh ginger
• sprouted grains (just the grass)
• 1 bunch fresh spinach
• 1/2 big onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 tsp. oil
• 2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 2 curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala
• salt to taste

1- Wash the rice and cook in 2 cups of salted water.


2- Mince the jalapeno, garlic, and ginger. Cut the sprouted grains into small pieces with scissors. Chop the spinach leaves, the onion, and the tomatoes.

3- Heat oil in a frying pan. Add jalapeno and mustard seeds, and fry for 2 minutes. Next add curry leaves, ginger, and garlic, and sauté on low heat for another few minutes.








4- Add the sprouts, chopped spinach, onion and tomatoes. Mix well and add garam masala and salt to taste.

















5- Cover the pan with its lid and cook on medium high flame until spinach is cooked.

Add cooked rice and mix well. Serve with yogurt. 

Navratri, Part 3

Navratri is a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights, which are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon. This is the final three nights.

Agenda Today:
1- Add to my altar:
For the next three nights the Mother is invoked as Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, wisdom, speech, music, and all the creative arts. Saraswati means "the essence of self". Hindus often put books and art tools on the puja so that Saraswati can bless them.

Today I added two of my favorite books of wisdom, and my jar full of paint brushes, to rededicate myself to the search for Truth and Inspiration.

2- Meditation:
During Navratri, Hindus work on their vyavhaar (behaviour) and acharan (character). Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

On my path I pass through the stages that everyone has to pass through- one naturally leads to the next. As I eliminate an undesirable quality, I develop the virtue opposite to it. Each time I succeed in developing and strengthening my good qualities, I am ready to receive another bit of the Light, moving towards enlightenment- that is what the nine days of Navratri are all about.

On each morning of Navratri I light a small white candle, center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. For these next three mornings I meditate on my inner wisdom, and the new light and understanding I have received this season.

3- Make sundal: 
Many Hindus eat only vegetarian foods during Navratri; often a different sundal (dry legume dish) each night. 

Served with homemade naan and green beans.

Ingredients: 

• 1 c. moong dal (yellow lentils) 
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder 
• salt to taste 
• 4 tsp. oil 
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds 
• 1 - 2 green chili peppers
• 1 tsp. fresh gingerroot
• 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice 
• 1/4 c. coconut

Yield: 4 servings-

1- Combine the moong dal, 3 c. water, turmeric, and salt in a heavy bottomed pan. Simmer on medium for 10 - 12 minutes, stirring frequently. Do not over cook- the moong dal should be soft, but still whole and not mushy. Drain and set aside.

2- Meanwhile, chop the green chili and mince the ginger.

3- Heat oil in a wok or frying pan, add mustard seeds, chili, and ginger. Stir and fry for a couple of minutes, then add the drained moong dal and saute for a minute.

4- Add grated coconut and lemon juice. Mix well. Serve hot.

4- Visualization and prayer:
I end each day of Navratri with a prayer. For these last three nights I honor the intuitive aspect of the Mother.

Saraswati is dressed in white, holds a scroll and plays music on a veena. She is called the Flowing-One because she comes from the river, and offers the gift of fluidity in speech and thought. She is the embodiment of the knowledge of Truth and spiritual wisdom. Saraswati shines with the pure light and uplifting energy of sattwa.

I picture this Mother spirit sitting on the blossom of my heart, sprinkling me with cleansing waters, and shining the light of wisdom, peace, and Truth.

“Thank you, Great Spirit, for providing energy for the earth to move around the sun, and for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. You are the earth. You nourish support, protect, and mother all creatures, all beings. I ask you to help me to develop and maintain patience, forgiveness, compassion, loving-kindness, and integrity, and guide my voice to speak the Truth." 

6- Saraswati Mantra:
I focus on my image of Saraswati and chant- 

• Om - the primodial sound 
• Aim - from which knowledge and powers of speech emanate 
• Sa-ra-swath-yai - goddess of wisdom 
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

(You might want to chant along with someone who knows how. Many YouTube versions exist, and my favorite is here.)

Navratri Continues

Navratri is a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights which are broken up into sets of three, and during each set a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon. This is the second set, when Lakshmi visits.

Agenda Today:
1- Rangoli:
Today I made a rangoli of Lakshmi's footprints on the threshold of our front door, with chalk and rice flour, to welcome the Goddess of success.

2- Add to my altar:
For the next three nights the Mother is invoked as Lakshmi, goddess of material and spiritual wealth.

I added a bowl of coins from around the world, for the nurturing quality of the Shakti. (Notice that the seeds have sprouted!)

3- Meditation:
During Navratri, Hindus work on their vyavhaar (behaviour) and acharan (character). Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

The word Lakshmi comes from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning aim or goal. After Durga has destroyed the old structure of my personality, a constructive process can begin. Lakshmi heals and nourishes my spirit and brings me steadiness of mind. She bestows spiritual and material wealth, good food, health, and happiness. 

On each morning of Navratri I light a small white candle, center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. For these next three mornings I meditate on my inner life-giving force of creativity, and the qualities and habits I wish to cultivate in the days ahead.

4- Make sundal: 

Many Hindus eat only vegetarian foods during Navratri; often a different sundal (dry legume dish) each night. 

Tonight I plan to make Sweet Corn Sundal.

Ingredients:

• 2 c. frozen sweet corn
• 1-2 green chilies
• 1 small carrot
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/4 c. grated coconut
• salt to taste

1- Steam the corn in water according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.

2- Finely chop chilies and carrot.

3- Heat oil in a wok or frying pan; add mustard seeds and stir until they start to pop, then add chilies and carrots and sauté for a minute.

4- Add the cooked corn, salt to taste, and coconut. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes until all is combined. Serve hot or warm.

5- Visualization and prayer:

I end each day of Navratri with a prayer. For these next three nights I honor the constructive aspect of the Mother. 

Laksmi is a beautiful golden woman with four arms, sitting on a fully bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud. Cascades of gold coins flow from her hands, and she wears gold embroidered red clothes, indicating her offering of prosperity. Lakshmi brings the growth and unfolding of whatever is life-enhancing. 

I picture this Mother spirit sitting on the blossom of my heart, gently opening it to accept love and happiness into my life.

“Thank you, Great Spirit, for providing energy for the earth to move around the sun, and for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. You are the earth. You nourish support, protect, and mother all creatures, all beings. I ask you to help me to develop and maintain patience, forgiveness, compassion, loving-kindness, and integrity. Give me the persistence to succeed at my goals, and bless me with abundant health and happiness.”

6- Lakshmi Mantra:
I continue to focus on my image of Lakshmi and chant-

• Om - the primodial sound 
• Shreem -  from which beauty and feminine energy eminates
• Ma-ha - great
• Lak-shma-yai - goddess of wealth
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

(You might want to chant along with someone who knows how. Many YouTube versions exist, and my favorite is here.)

Al-Higra

Al-Higra begins tonight at sunset, when the crescent moon is sighted. Higra means migration, and also an escape from a dangerous situation. The original higra was the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, after he learned that another Arab tribe was trying to assassinate him. This date became the Muslim New Year, on the 1st day of the month of Muharram.

Photo by Alan Gilespie.

Today Al-Higra is celebrated quietly, with prayers, readings, and reflection, not the hoopla we associate with the New Year. Muslims tell the story of Muhammad’s flight through the desert on camel-back with sword-wielding thugs in pursuit. They reflect on their own migrations, actual or of the soul. Because higra means moving from a bad state of affairs to a good one, many Muslims use this time to think about resolutions for the New Year.

Agenda Today:
1. Journal:
I sometimes find it a stretch to relate personally to Muslim holy days because they are not seasonal- they shift every year- and I am a seasonal kind of girl. This year Al-Higra comes at a good time for me, as my life is in transition. Also I am currently working through the cycle of Navratri, which is all about transition.

Today I consider:
If I am on the path to a new life-
  What resources do I need for the journey? 
  How can I better enjoy the journey?
  How will I know when I have arrived at my destination?

From my journal: Aren't I always, everyday, on a path to a new life? That is just how life goes. Right now I have greater uncertainty, and a feeling of turmoil, but really I have all the "gear" I need for this trip: I have my integrity, my good heart, my family and community, my experience.

2. Read the story of the Higra:
I watched this fun school play enactment on YouTube.

3. Prayer:
It would be pointless for me to try to pray like Muslims do; I would not get it right, and it wouldn’t mean much to me. I do however enjoy praying with sibha beads, a string of 33 beads. And for this first week of Muharrem, I will use them as I repeat some of the 99 names of Allah:

Ar-Rahman - The All-Merciful
Ar-Rahim - The All-Beneficient
As-Salam - The Source of Peace

Al-Karim - The Generous
An-Nur - The Light

4. See the crescent moon: 

I plan to go out at sunset tonight to view the crescent moon. The crescent with a star is the symbol of Islam; the moon’s rebirth after darkness gives us hope each month.

Autumn Navratri and New Chrysanthemum Moon

Navratri is a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights, symbolic of the nine months in the womb.

Navratri is celebrated at least twice each year in India, in the spring and fall, because these are times when nature and people undergo great changes. Autumn (Sharad) Navratri begins on the day of the new moon in late September or early October.

The Chinese call this ninth new moon the Chrysanthemum Moon. The chrysanthemum is a symbol of long life and endurance because of its ability to withstand colder temperatures. According to Chinese scholars, it shows the virtues of one who can endure temptations and maintain grace.

Agenda Today:

1- Paint Chrysanthemums:

I bought a chrysanthemum to plant in the pot on the porch, and yesterday I took some time to practice my Chinese brush painting, thinking on the qualities of endurance and grace.




I got excited, and attached the rice paper to a small canvas, and proceeded to paint the abstract shown below.

Endurance- acrylic on canvas.

2. Journal:

What are the possibilities?

What might give my life more wholeness?

What would I most like to do in life that I'm not getting to?

List my intentions for the next four weeks in these areas-

Self, Friends and Family, Teaching, Artwork, Writing, Home and Garden, Work/Business, and Volunteer work.

3- Make a rangoli design:

Rangolis are rice flour designs, made on the floor or a metal plate. At Navratri a new design might be made each day, with dots, squares, flowers, birds, and so on- each one designed to welcome the spirit of the Goddess.

Today I made a rangoli on the silver plate that holds my diya lamps, choosing a design that I found at this site. 

I made my own colored rice flour- for more information about rangoli, and how I made the colored rice flour, see my Pongal post. 

First I used a sieve to sprinkle the pink rice flour evenly onto the plate.


Next I used a stick to trace the design- it's hard to see, but I made dots first to get the right spacing.

4- Plant seeds:

My three cereal, soaking overnight.

Most Hindu households sprout a bowl of seeds for Navratri, called the Nava-Dhanya (nine cereals), each a symbol of a different planet. 

Last night I put three kinds of grain seeds in a bowl of water to soak overnight: Wheat for the sun, rice for the moon, and corn for the earth (corn is not a Hindu grain but important to me!) 

Cereals spread on a layer of damp soil-
next I will cover with another layer of soil. then spray with water.

Today I planted my seeds and watered them well; the sowing, sprouting and growth of the grains is intended to bring peace, abundance, and joy to the household. As they sprout during the nine days of the festival, they will remind me of the vibrancy of life and the creative energy of the Shakti.

5- Set up an altar for Mother Nature:
The nine nights of Navratri are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon- the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati. For the first three nights the Mother is invoked as Durga, goddess of strength and courage.

Durga is on the left, above the bowl of seeds.

Today I made an altar to honor the Mother. My altar is in no way authentically Hindu- I make it for my own use, to remind me of the work I am doing. If you want to see an authentic puja, watch this video.

I set out pictures of the three goddesses and added:

• my rangoli design- to welcome the Shakti
• bells- to keep me awake
• diya lamps- for the Light of God
• God's eyes- to watch over us
• my harvest doll- for autumn
• an empty bowl- to remind me to start each day with no expectations
• and a bowl of soil with seeds- for the creative energy of the Shakti

6- New Moon Meditation:
During Navratri, Hindus work on their vyavhaar (behaviour) and acharan (character). Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

On each morning of Navratri I light a small white candle, center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. For the first three mornings I meditate on my strengths- the ways that Durga shines in me- and the qualities or habits I wish to let Durga destroy.

7- Make sundal: 
Many Hindus eat only vegetarian foods during Navratri; often a different sundal (dry legume dish) each night. 

Tonight I will make Channa Sundal, with chickpeas- spicy and good!

Ingredients: 

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• salt
• 1/3 c. grated coconut
• pinch of cayenne

Yield: Serves 2-

1- Open the can of chickpeas and rinse and drain. Set aside.

2- Add oil to a wok or frying pan and heat. Add the mustard seeds to the hot oil, and stir for a few seconds, just until the seeds begin to pop.

3- Add the chickpeas and the red pepper, and mix well. Add a pinch of Asafoetida (helps with gas!), salt to taste, the grated coconut, and a pinch of cayenne. Mix and stir for few seconds then turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for few seconds. Serve with yogurt and naan.

8- Visualization and prayer:

I end each day with a prayer. For these first three nights I honor the destructive aspect of the Mother. 

Durga is a warrior- not an easy image for a pacifist, but important to acknowledge. Durga rides a fierce tiger, and has 10 arms, which hold weapons and a lotus flower. She destroys  the evils that threaten the stability of the cosmos, and she helps the universe to continue with its cycle of creation, preservation and destruction.

I picture this Mother Spirit entering my heart riding her tiger. I see Her wipe out my anger, greed, laziness, procrastination, indifference, pride, defensiveness, and jealousy.

"Thank you, Great Spirit, for providing energy for the earth to move around the sun, and for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. You are the earth. You nourish support, protect, and mother all creatures, all beings. I ask you to help me recognize those aspects of myself that are not helpful. Give me the strength and courage to maintain my physical and mental balance, and to destroy my vices and defects so that what is good and pure has room to unfold.”

9- Durga Mantra:
I continue to focus on my image of Durga and chant-

• Om - the primordial sound, 
• Dum - the energy which protects from all negative influences, 
• Dur-ga-yei - goddess of strength, 
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

(You might want to chant along with someone who knows how. Many YouTube versions exist, and my favorite is here.)