GREETINGS

And another new year has begun.  It’s amazing the number of new years you can celebrate in a year, if you really try:  Celtic, Chinese, Western, Jewish, etc., one for each culture, each on a different date.  But, in general, the dominant culture here in the west has decreed that the calendars will be changed on January 1st. 

In my family, we’ve spent a year in our tiny house now.  We’ve had many changes, good and bad.  I’m not sure which outweighed which; but I’m kind of glad 2004 is over and we can start 2005 afresh. 

—Catherine 

OCTOBER OPEN FULL MOON

Hearthstone meets the Friday before or the Friday of the Full Moon at the First Unitarian Church at 14th and Lafayette in Denver. The church doors open at 7, and we like to start at 7:30.  (We are NOT big proponents of Pagan Standard Time, but if there is weather related driving trouble or a problem on the freeway, we've been known to wait a bit longer.)

Remember, please, that the policy at Hearthstone is not to enter in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, as there are people you don't know there, but to enter with a willing heart and an open mind, and leave your differences at the door.

Join Catherine (a Celtic folk musician-bard-harper) and Alia (of the WingIt Tradition) in the January OFM to celebrate cycles: seasonal cycles, lifetime cycles, and the rhythm of the Universe, with folk songs and a little bit of Imbolc thrown in.

THANKS AND A TIP OF THE HAT

for November:

Thanks and a Tip of the Hat to Cecelia, Thor and friends for our November Open Full Moon developed around the concept of Anam Cara, which means "Soul Friend".  We may discover one or several soul friends in the course of a lifetime; people with whom we share a deep bond in which our souls flow together.  Friendship must begin with self-love, friendship with our own self and an awakening of our inner light. We each were given a candle, and we contemplated the light within. We each then received a tea bag as a reminder to make time to visit with those we cherish. And if I may include the humorous ending: as we shared pretzels (for "cakes"), I heard a few spontaneous comments about how pretzels symbolize that we are all intertwined...and a little twisted.

—Arynne

SUGGESTED DONATION

We have determined that our break-even point is about $4 per person.

We aren’t going to start collecting at the door, and no one will be turned away for not having a donation.  However, we would like to suggest a donation of 4 to 7 dollars per person.  (The extra is to cover the pagans that are unable to donate.)  If you can’t afford it, you are still welcome – if you can afford more, we’d be delighted to accept it.

NOTE:  Hearthstone is a church and your donations to Hearthstone are tax deductible.  If you would like to write a check so you can keep track of your donations, we can certainly handle that as well.

WISE WOMAN WAYS

by Deb Hoffman

This is a  time-honored and tested cough syrup that gets me through the winter cough and cold season.  Works great for both that deep chest cough and also that irritating dry-throat kind of cough as well.

Horehound-Hibiscus Cough Syrup

• 2 oz dry horehound
• 4 cups water
• 4 cups honey
• 1 oz Echinacea tincture
• 1 oz osha' extract
• 1 pint hibiscus infusion (will need 1 oz hibiscus flowers)
• 1 TBSP marshmallow root powder
  (up to 3 TBSP as needed for thickening)
• 1 cup brandy

Optional:

• 1 oz lobelia tincture
• 1 oz hyssop tincture

If no tincture available, can also add 1 oz dry herb to the horehound solution, add extra cup water for each ounce of dry herb.

1. Add horehound to 4 cups water.  Bring to boil and boil long enough to reduce liquid to about 2 cups. Let cool, and then strain out herb being sure to press as much fluid as possible from the herb.  This can be done by placing a large piece of muslin cloth into a strainer, pour the fluid and herb into the strainer.  When the fluid has run through, pull up the corners of the cloth around the herb and squeeze until no more fluid remains.
2. Make the hibiscus infusion by placing 1 oz of hibiscus flowers in a jar, add 3 cups boiling water, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.  Strain the flowers out of the liquid.
3. Mix 2 cups of horehound decoction with 2 cups of hibiscus.  Cool until just warm, and then add 4 cups of honey.
4. When solution is room temp, add marshmallow root powder, tinctures, and brandy.  Mix well.
5. Place in a glass container with a tight lid and store in a cool, dark place. 

The honey and brandy are both preservatives, and this mixture will remain good for a year or more.  Always shake well before use. 

Dosage:  1 tsp as often as needed.   Do not give to children under the age of 1 year old.

EARTH TEMPLE DATES

Earth Temple will be meeting at Small Gatherings which is located at 66th and Wadsworth (NE corner) unless otherwise noted. The start time will be7:30 pm. The dates have changed from Saturday to Friday. The dates are as follows:

Feb. 4 - Open Imbolc
Mar. 11 - Open Esbat
Mar. 18 - Open Ostara
Apr. 8 - Open Esbat
Apr. 29 - Open Adult Beltane
May 6 - Open Esbat
Jun. 3 - Open Esbat
Jun. 17 - Open Litha
Jul. 8 - Open Esbat
Aug. 5 - Open Lammas
Sep. 2 - Open Esbat
Sep. 16 - Open Mabon
Sep. 30 - Open Esbat
Nov. 4 - Open Adult Samhain
Dec. 2 - Open Esbat
Dec. 16 - Open Yule
Dec. 30 - Open Esbat

GUEST COLUMNS?

If you have something to say, and are willing to let Alia or Catherine edit it slightly, (generally for grammar – Alia has the soul of an English teacher and I want to be one) please feel free to submit your writing.   Content will not be edited.   We can usually make room for more voices.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER and COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Please note that information and opinions contained in the articles in this newsletter are the responsibility of the authors only.  No endorsement by Hearthstone Community Church, Inc. is implied. 

All writings are copyright to their respective authors.  Please obtain permission before reprinting anything here with the exception of the Open Full Moon Dates.  Those may be copied and transmitted as needed.

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