Vasant Panchami

Today is the first day of spring in India; Vasant means "spring" and Panch means "fifth", and it’s celebrated on the fifth day after the new moon in January or February.

Vasant Panchami is also the birthday of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education, learning, and the fine arts. Folks all over India take part in art and painting competitions, poetry recitations, and music festivals today.

 Students will take a break from studying, and put their books on the altar to be blessed.

Agenda today:
1. Look for signs of spring:

Reina is enjoying the balmy 47º weather.

It may be spring in India, but we have another month of cold coming. Still, I can see signs of change: The nut trees are blossoming (to which my sinuses can attest), camellias are in bud, and I see violets and daffodils poking up. Spring is definitely on its way- just not quite yet.
Today I will find joy in the first signs of spring.

2. Make a Rangoli:
The colors yellow and white are important today: People wear yellow and white clothes, eat yellow and white foods, and decorate with yellow and white flowers, to symbolize purity, peace and knowledge. To prepare for Vasant Panchami, Hindus buy new (yellow) clothes, and decorate their homes with flowers. They also make rangoli designs on the ground in front of the door of the house with flower petals, to welcome Saraswati.

Below is the rangoli I made two years ago, with yellow, white, and red rice flour, leaves, and pine needles. For more information about rangoli, and how I made the colored rice flour, see Pongal.

1- First I looked at some rangoli designs and made a plan.







2- Then I drew circles on my sidewalk with white chalk.

Sadie thinks this is interesting, but odd.

3- Then I sprinkled on the rice flour, and rubbed it in a bit.

4- And finally, I added some leaves, pine needles, and a camellia blossom in the center.



3. Start a new project:
Because Vasant Panchami is the birthday of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education and the fine arts, today is an auspicious day to start new projects. This festival is celebrated in many schools in India, and often parents will choose this day to teach children to write their first words.


The word auspicious makes me smile! Since today is an auspicious day to start a new project, today I will start my Wish Flag Project, for my daughter's wedding... 

YES! I've said it! My daughter is getting married in May to a great guy, and we are each going to create a little garden flag with a wish for the two of them. Today I will start to cut the cloth, sew casings, and also write up instructions for others who want to help. 

4. Make moong dal:

Moong dal with naan- yumm!

Sweet saffron rice and saffron wheat pudding are traditionally served for Vasant Panchami, but, really, any yellow food is appropriate.

What I really feel like tonight is a simple meal of hot yellow lentils, called moong dal in India.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion
• 1/2-inch ginger root
• 1 medium tomato
• 1-c. moong dal (yellow lentils)
• 1/4-tsp. cayenne powder
• 1/2-tsp. turmeric powder
• salt
• 2-3 Tbsp. oil or ghee or butter
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1/4-tsp. garam masala powder



1- Chop the onion and the ginger root very finely, and also chop up the tomato.

2- Combine the dal, tomato, onion, ginger, cayenne, and turmeric in a pot with 4 c. water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, until the dal is soft and thick. You may need to simmer with the lid off for the last five minutes, or, if the dal looks too thick, you can add a little water. Also add salt to taste.

Spices, pepper and garlic, ready to go into the dal.

3- Meanwhile, peel and mince 4 cloves of garlic and chop one jalapeno pepper.

4- When the dal is done, heat oil or ghee or butter in a small frying pan. Add the cumin seeds and fry for 30 seconds. Add the garlic and pepper and fry for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat, and add the garam masala powder, and stir.

5- Add spices to the dal, and stir well. Serve hot with steamed rice or naan, and a dollop of plain yogurt on top.

Stillness on the Sabbath

Today is Sunday, which I celebrate as my Sabbath, meaning that I keep it simple, slow-paced, and peaceful. I take time out from busy-ness so I can practice deepening my inner life-- how I feel, how I behave, and how I connect.

Draft for "Stillness", from my Message in a Bottle series, acrylic and collage on paper

January has sped by for me, with lots of activity, travel, and committee work, and framed by a new year's celebration on each end of the month. Today I will take a pause to focus some attention on myself, inside and out.

Sabbath Plan:
1. All Day Meditation:
I begin my celebration of the Sabbath right away when I awaken-- I pause before jumping out of bed to remember God, and acknowledge that I have God within. I hold that remembering through the day, lightly, like a dove resting on my shoulder. I remember to smile and allow love to shine.

2. Altar:
Today I added to my altar:

• the Greek Delphic injunction- Gnothi Seauton- Know Thyself.
• a grey candle for objectivity and release, an unbiased color, useful for pondering complex issues and neutralizing bad feelings. 

3. Journal:
My theme this month has been stillness. I have spent a little extra time in study, reflection, and meditation. Today I will decide on one aspect of my nature to focus on for the next several weeks, and begin to collect information and advice on ways to work with it. I will keep a separate journal to track what I learn. 

Today I light the grey candle on my altar, center on my body, my breathing, and all of my physical sensations. When I am grounded, I observe the feelings I am having right now: Just take an objective inventory. As a feeling enters, I hold it gently, then let it float away.

I ask:

What difficult feelings or moods do I struggle with repeatedly in my life? 

What are the attitudes or actions that flow from them?

From my journal: It's an easy question! I am over-reactive when I feel I've been wrongly-criticized or misjudged. I get a little self-righteous, and I have a hard time letting it rest; I become indignant and combative, and hold grudges- sometimes for years. It's very hard for me to forgive "transgressions" against myself.

4. Health:
As I focus on myself and my inner life, I balance that with attention to my body. The weather has kept me inside far too much this month! I need to respond with some extra exercise and a better diet. Simple steps I plan to take this week:

Sadie is taking me home after a morning walk to the park.

• Be kind to my body with a better diet. Make a checklist, and try for 5 cups of water, 4 whole grains, 3 servings of veggies, 2 fruits, and 1 yogurt each day.
• Get outside for longer walks now that the weather is better- aim for 7000 to 10,000 steps a day.
• Make an appointment for a check up as soon as possible-- I'm not sure how much longer I will have my federally-subsidized health insurance and when it's gone I'll be without health care again.

Chinese New Year of the Rooster

The first day of the Chinese New Year is called Yüan-tan, the "Day of Origin". This one day determines the luck for the entire year, so Chinese people are careful to use their best manners and to remain honest and peaceful. 

They spend the first days of the year making visits to friends and relatives: Parents and grandparents receive the first visits, and so on, until by the fourth day very casual friends may drop in. The fifth day is reserved for visits to people who live further away.

Visitors greet each other with kind words to help encourage a year of prosperity. The most common greeting is:

Gung hay fat choy 

(Pronounced "Goong Heyy Faat Choy")

Congratulations, may you be prosperous!

This is the year of the Rooster. The rooster is dependable, waking people up on time in the morning, and is supposed to be able to predict the future. People born in the year of the rooster are warm, generous, diligent, and sociable. They are quick thinkers, and always have good plans for solving problems. They are sometimes impatient.

Agenda for today:

1. Eat jai for breakfast:

In Buddhist tradition, no meat is eaten on this first day of the year. It’s traditional to eat a breakfast of jai, a hot vegetarian dish that is part of a Buddhist rite to give thanks for the fruits of the earth. There are many recipes for jai; you can adapt mine to suit your taste.

Ingredients:

I'm using Nappa cabbage this time, and
some kale from our garden.
The black fungus is in the center, soaking.

• 1/4-c. black fungus (fat choy)
• 1 tsp. + 3 Tbsp. oil
• 2 eggs
• salt
• 4 large Chinese cabbage leaves
• 3 slices fresh ginger
• 1/2 onion
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 lb. firm tofu
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2-oz. of cellophane noodles (mung bean threads) 

Yield: Serves 4-

1. Soak the black fungus in cold water plus 1 tsp. oil for 15 minutes or until soft.

2. Beat 2 eggs in a bowl. Season with salt, and fry in a pre-heated oiled pan. 

Cool, then cut the egg into strips. Set aside.

3. Rinse 4 large leaves of Chinese cabbage, dry, and slice into 1/4-inch shreds. Also mince the fresh ginger, chop all the other vegetables, and cube the tofu. Drain the black fungus and cut into strips with scissors.

4. Combine vegetable broth and soy sauce.

5. Preheat a wok and add 2 Tbsp. of oil. Stir-fry the ginger and cabbage for a few minutes. Remove and set aside with the egg.

6. Add 1 more Tbsp. of oil to the wok, and stir-fry the remaining vegetables, black fungus, and tofu. Add the broth mixture, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 20 minutes, adding water as needed.

7. Meanwhile, cover the noodles with warm water and soak for about 15 minutes. When they are soft, drain them and cut into 2-inch pieces with scissors.

8. Add the noodles, cabbage, ginger, and egg strips to the wok. Bring back to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and cook until the noodles are translucent- about 5 minutes. Serve with tea.

3. Give gifts:
Visitors at the New Year always bring a gift. Chinese New Year presents are similar in spirit to Christmas presents, but tend more often to be food items. Visitors bring gifts such as-

• candied fruits or cakes
• Chinese tea
• flowers
• a bag of oranges or tangerines
• hóngbāo money (see below)

4. Hóngbāo:

Hóngbāo envelopes made by my art class students.

One tradition we try to maintain is gifts of hóngbāo for our kids. Most Asian stores carry these small red envelopes in an assortment of designs, or you can always make your own with red origami paper.

Remember to fill the envelopes with paper money only, and in even numbered amounts. The color red is good-luck, so money wrapped in red will surely multiply.

Supplies: Red origami paper or other thin red paper, pencil, scissors, glue stick, black pen, gold and silver metallic pens.

1. Click on the pattern to the right, and download it. Print on card stock and cut it out.

2. Trace onto red paper and cut it out again.

3. Fold on the dotted lines, and glue the flaps closed (except the top flap).

I teach my students the traditional Chinese way to show respect to their elders, with a bow, which should lead in return to receiving hóngbāo. If it doesn’t they can say, “Hong Bao Na Lai," which is "May I have the red envelope, please!"

Chinese New Year's Eve, and New Holiday Moon

Serving a whole chicken or fish tonight is traditional
to symbolize family togetherness.

In China, New Year's evening is called Ch’u-yeh, the "evening of discarding", because we can finally be done with the old year, and with winter. The last day of the year is busy, because it’s the last chance to complete preparations and be ready to start the year fresh.

AND tonight is also the new moon; this moon is called the Holiday Moon in China, because of the New Year Festival. Normally the new moon is on the first day of the year, but because the moon is new tomorrow in China, we celebrate a day late here in the U.S. 

When the running around is done, the family spends the rest of the day at home together. This holiday, more than any other Chinese holiday, stresses the importance of family connections. The afternoon and evening are filled with many ceremonies- Ch’u-yeh is a day of thanksgiving for the blessings of the old year. All of this is followed with a big feast!


My preparations aren’t as intense as this, because I’ve already celebrated the start of my New Year. Still, I enjoy practicing many of the customs as a way to honor the beginning of the end of winter.

Agenda for today:
1. Journal:

The new moon is my monthly time for “seeding” intentions. I write down what I hope to focus on in the next 30 days or so, and then give my ideas a period of gestation, like seeds in the soil, before I take action. Having this regular time each month to focus my goals has helped to give me clarity of purpose.

What are my next steps in life?
Where is my path leading me next?
What am I hungry for?

List my intentions for the month of February in these areas- Self, Friends and Family, Teaching, Artwork, Writing, Home and Garden, Work/Business, and Volunteer work.

2. Welcoming Ceremony:
Last week, on Little New year, we sent the Kitchen God and his wife to heaven in a fire. Today I will have a small ceremony to welcome the Kitchen God and his wife back home. 

First I will draw a new portrait, and hang it in the niche. Then I'll light incense and red candles, and have a moment of silence to think about ways I could be more kind and helpful to my family.

3. Thanksgiving ceremony:

Chinese families fill this afternoon and evening with many ceremonies- they give thanks-offerings to a variety of Chinese gods, to their own ancestors, and to the Spirits of the mountains, forests, and rivers. They light incense and candles, and place flowers, fruits, and other special foods on the altar; then they bow and offer sincere thanks.  

I will find time today to privately thank God for the blessings I have received in the past months. This has been a physically and emotionally challenging year, but I have many things to be grateful for! This ceremony is traditionally done in the afternoon, when other work is done. 

1. First I serve myself hot tea in my studio, on a pillow on the floor, and enjoy it leisurely.

2. Then I light a small white candle. I center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. I especially feel gratefulness for this quiet, peaceful space to sit, warm and dry.

3. Next I say a prayer of gratitude to my ancestors, and to the Spirits of the mountains, forests, and rivers, and God in all forms. I send thanks for the blessings of the old year, and ask for an abundance of new blessings for the New Lunar Year.

4. Make a prosperity tree:

The prosperity tree, or money tree, is a tree-shaped charm with coins for leaves, meant to help bring wealth and good fortune to the family.

Supplies: 

For tree- a branching twig, clippers, small yogurt container, plaster of Paris, masking tape, gold spray paint

For coins- white paper, gold foil paper, pencils, stapler, scissors, black pens, red paper

1. Clip the branch to height you want, and trim the side stems even on each side.

2. Fill the container halfway with water, and begin to sprinkle in the dry plaster.  As you sprinkle, break up any clumps. Continue to sprinkle (without mixing) until the plaster mounds up a bit above the water. If some dry plaster sits above the water, then you've added enough.

3. Use the bottom of your tree branch to stir the plaster. It will begin to set as soon as you stir it. Insert the branch and tape it to the edges of the container to hold it until the plaster dries.

4. While it dries, you can make the leaves to hang on the tree. The money tree leaves are in the shape of ancient Chinese coins, round with a square hole.

Draw a circle with a square in the center on a 2 x 2-inch square of white paper. This is your pattern.

5. Cut and stack five 2 x 2-inch pieces of gold foil paper, such as origami paper, place the pattern on top, and staple around the outside of the circle.

6. Cut the inside square space first- hold the papers on a thick pad of newspaper and poke a small hole with the point of the scissors. Cut through all the papers at once.


7. Next cut the outside circle, and separate your coins. Add Chinese characters around the sides of your paper coins with a black pen, if you want.

8. You can also write other wishes for prosperity on red paper strips, to attach to the tree.

9. Spray your tree branch and container gold. Hang the coins and wishes.

5. Have a feast:
Traditionally, the whole family gathers to share a grand feast on this night. I made a roasted chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and fried rice for two, and it was very tasty, though we do miss the rest of the family.

Here is a simplified Asian-style whole roast chicken recipe.

Ingredients:

• whole chicken
• 2 tsp. chopped garlic
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. Chinese Five Spice Powder
• 2 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce
• ¾ c. of water
• ¼ c. brown sugar, packed
• sesame oil
• 2 Tbsp. corn starch
• 2 Tbsp. water

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Rinse the chicken, and place it breast up in a roasting pan. Let it warm just a little at room temperature so it will bake evenly.

2. Combine the garlic, ginger, spice powder, soy sauce, ¾ cup of water, and brown sugar, and stir well. Pour this sauce evenly over the chicken. Put the lid on the roasting pan and cook for 2 hours.

3. After 1 hour, take the chicken out and baste it well with the sauce. Replace the lid and return to the oven.

4. In the last 30 minutes of cooking remove the lid so that the skin becomes crisp and browned. In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water so that there are no lumps. 

5. Don't try to remove the chicken to a plate- it will fall apart! Pour the juices off into another pot, and skim off the excess oil. Bring the sauce to a boil. Add the corn starch mixture and whisk. Reduce the heat and let the sauce thicken up.

6. Sprinkle the sesame oil over the chicken, and serve in the pan with the sauce on the side.

Babinden

Today is the Slavic holiday Babinden (bah-bean-den): Baba is "grandmother", and the in is possessive; den is "day", so the meaning is "Grandmother’s Day". It’s also called Midwives Day.

Babinden is an ancient festival, still celebrated in Bulgaria, to give thanks and show respect to the women (or men) who have helped in the child-birthing process, and for all the other skills and knowledge the grandmothers have: Growing food, cooking, herb lore, looking after their grandchildren, and teaching folklore and traditions. 

The roots of this festival, however, are in fertility rites. In Bulgaria, a house full of healthy and beautiful children is a basic value, and so this is still the underlying focus of the rituals on Babinden.

Early this morning, young women in Bulgaria visit the local midwife or doctor. They bring gifts (socks and shirts), soap, a towel, hot water in a ceramic bottle, and their young children. They perform a complicated symbolic hand-washing ritual, the purpose of which is to ensure easy births in the future and tall, strong children. The midwife gives a silver coin to each child she has delivered.

About lunchtime all the women go back to the midwife’s house without their children, bringing gifts and food: Bread, chicken, sweets, wine and brandy. This is a "women’s only" party (except the doctor might be a man, and sometimes male musicians attend- but they must dress as women) and it gets pretty wild! The women drink, dance, sing dirty songs, tell jokes, and gossip, and it goes on into the night.

Agenda today:
1. Journal:
Today I will think about all the grandmothers in my life- my ancestors and my older friends. Also, I'll think about the grandchildren in my life: Honorary grandchildren of the present, and possible children-of-my-children, sometime in the future.

What burning questions would I like to ask my grandmothers? 
What wisdom would I like to share with my grandchildren?

Make a list of grandmothers I have had, and those I have still, and plan small ways to honor each of them in the coming weeks (cards, gifts, food, visits, a lighted candle and a prayer...)

2. Housework:
Every year on Distaff Day I kick off a month of deep cleaning. My house has certain mold-related issues that need attention now.

I take it one room at a time, and next week I will work on the bedrooms (because they seem to relate to fertility):

• I will wash the bedding.
• Vacuum and dust, especially under and around the bed.
• Clean the mold from the walls and windows with detergent and warm water, then use a solution of ¼-cup bleach in 1-quart water. Wait 20 minutes and repeated. Wait another 20 minutes. Applied Borax solution and don't rinse, to help prevent mold from growing again.

3. Make pitka, Bulgarian bread:

Pitka is a basic Bulgarian bread recipe that is made in many ways, with cheese filling, or with honey, etc. I stuck to simple buttery bread, formed as rolls but then baked together so you need to pull it apart to eat it.

This is a nice gift for a Grandmother in your life!

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 c. milk 
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 3 eggs (reserve 1 egg yolk for brushing)
• 5 Tbsp. plain yogurt
• 4 Tbsp. oil
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 6 c. flour
• 1/4 c. butter

Yield: 1 loaf-

1- Heat the milk to warm (100º), and combine with the sugar and yeast. Let stand until foamy.

Kneading with a bread hook.

2- Combine the eggs (reserve 1 yolk for brushing), yogurt, and oil in a small bowl. Whisk the salt and flour together in large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and the egg mixture to the flour, and mix to make a smooth, soft dough, slightly sticky to the touch. (I mixed on low in my Kitchenaide).

3- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes (I used the bread hook on my Kitchenaide).


4- Divide dough into 3 balls in a large greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled. 

5- Oil a 9 or 10-inch round cake pan or spring-form pan. Melt the butter. On a floured surface, divide the dough into 6 or 7 pieces, each about 7-inches long.

Before final rising.

6- Brush one side of each piece with the melted butter, roll up into a spiral, brush some more butter onto the outside, and put it in the pan. Repeat to make 6 or 7 rolls.


7- Preheat the oven

I made this sign to carry in the march.

to 350ºF. Let the rolls rise again until they fill the pan, then brush with the egg yolk thinned with a little water, and put them in the oven. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden on the outside and completely baked on the inside.

4. Women's March:
Today is the Women's March in Washington DC, and also in many other towns across the country. I am going to be part of the march in Portland, Oregon, with my daughter. It seems a fitting way to celebrate Babinden!






5. Hand-washing ceremony:

In Bulgaria and elsewhere, water is a symbol of purity and has healing powers. Many Bulgarians will have a house-blessing after Epiphany (January 6) with a sprinkling of holy water. Several other water related rituals are also performed this month.

We sometimes have a small hand-washing ceremony at the end of art class, outside under the apple tree. My students hand me the soap, and pour water over my hands. I splash the water up into the air and say "May you all be tall, beautiful, and healthy!" Then I give them each a silver coin from my stash of foreign coins!