The offering,

Hit the local herb shop (which boasts over 700 types of plant material!) today to collect incense supplies. I would have wild-crafted what I could find, but city living tends to send you to store bought instead.

I really wanted to add some storax to the blend, but this was a spur of the moment idea. I wouldn't have the storax till next week some time and I'd like to have this made during the dark moon.

I was considering (shed of course) snake skin as an ingredient, but I somewhat hesitated because A. I knew I had to ask someone for it. B. I didn't want them asking WHY I wanted it and C. weird? Whatever. I walked into the reptile store and was mesmerized by a great wall of tiny baby corn snakes: opals, lavenders, butters, bloodreds, fire, charcoals. They're one of the MOST colorful species of snake and the most docile (I once had a miami corn (R.I.P. Bartholomew) that disappeared while I was on a mad trip to Chicago once). Getting back on track now, there was a perfectly intact skin next to a little bloodred. The lady behind the counter wasn't at all threatening so I wasn't too shy to ask and she was happy to give it to me - no questions asked.



Shit yes, there will be snake skin in my incense! Something gives me the feeling it will add an extra kick of awesomeness.

Questionable vegan behavior by some I suppose, but look at it this way: little brothers skin isn’t going in the trash, it is being honored. As far as I'm concerned, if it fell off, died naturally, I found it, etc. I will USE it in my practice as it sees fit.

On Bealltainn and cakes,

Veganized this Beltane cake recipe I found here. Made it just last night, smells amazing. Gingery, spiced sugary noms. Has a chewy texture and is fairly dense. The oatmeal is awesome in it, adds great texture. I recommend using the old fashion oats.

The original recipe called for something like, 14 oz of brown sugar on 7 oz flour and 3 oz of oatmeal! That very thought makes my teeth hurt, I cut the sugar by HALF and yes still sweet as hell. Egg replacer, it was my first time using it actually. I usually sub in a well ripe banana or apple sauce with a pinch xanthan gum. I didn't follow the instructions and used the replacer dry, came out fine.

I added the oats to the soy milk and oil, but mixed all other dry ingredients with each other, including the brown sugar. The 1/4 cup apple sauce I used at the end because the batter was insanely thick after adding in the oaty mixture.

12 oz - Soy milk
3.5 oz - Old fashion style oats - any oat of your choice really
7 oz - Wholewheat flour
3 oz - Vegetable oil (Healthier: 4oz apple sauce)
8 oz - Brown Sugar
1/4 cup - Apple sauce (if you're using the oil!)
1 TSP - Baking soda
1/4 TSP - Baking powder
1/2 TPS - Salt
1 TSP - Cinnamon or Pumpkin spice
1 TSP - Ginger powder
2 1/2 TSP - Egg replacer (or one large ripe banana and a big pinch xanthan gum)

If you decide to use xanthan gum, be sure to add it to the dry mixture.

These are the site instructions:

Method:

1. In a saucepan, heat the milk with the oats, butter and sea salt. Cook until thickened then leave to stand until it reaches room temperature.
2. Mix in the brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add the flour, baking soda and spices and mix well.
4. Grease a 9 inch x 13 inch baking tray and pour in the mixture.
5. Bake in the centre of the oven pre-heated to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas mark 4 for 30 mins.
6. After cooling to room temperature the cake should be covered tightly until ready to serve.
7. When ready to serve the top of the cake can be dusted with icing sugar then cut into squares.

I won't be doing any formal ritual really, I'll be leaving an offering at my mountain and possibly spending time with the grove of large Hawthorn trees I found the other day. While I was out there a small elderly man was plucking the flowers from the Hawthorn's and couldn't help but think, HOLY SHIT is he using those for MAGICS?! I mean, why would an older man be picking Hawthorn flowers on the night of the full moon? Sounds witchy to me. The man smiled at me as I walked by (probably gaping at him) and stupidly, I didn't ask him why he was picking them (self, next time, don't be a pussy). Later I found out that a tincture of Hawthorn flowers and leaves are a great heart tonic and help with vascular disorders apparently. Perhaps that was why he was picking them? Fuck if I know.

DAMNIT I WANT SOME CAKE.

PS: I figured one of those, "Oh hai, iz my new blog" crap would have been lame, because I am horrid at first posts.