APPALACHIAN PAGAN ALLIANCE AUGUST 2003 Newsletter Editress; Ginger Strivelli August was a busy month for us all with the witchlings heading back to school, and all. We kept in touch in the yahoogroups APA chit chat list as always, and held our usual thrice monthly cyber-space meetings. Looking forward to planning our usual Samhain events attending APA rep groups, and our APA Yule gathering. FROM OUR BOOK OF SHADOWS: Twine Twine intertwine, Let my love be wholley mine, If your heart be kind and true, Deeper grow your roses hue (Incantation from 1910 postcard) --------------------------------------------------- "It is impossible to imagine the universe run by a wise, just and omnipotent God, but it is quite easy to imagine it run by a board of Gods. " Quote by H. L. Mencken ---------------------------------- Harvest Apple cake Recipe Submitted by Ginger Strivelli 1/3 cup butter 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 medium sheep's nose or granny smith apples, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup whole berry homemade cranberry sauce 1-1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup veg. oil 2/3 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla/1tsp cinnamon, 1/2tsp 'pumpkin pie spice' 1 egg Top with ice cream, or whipped cream or shredded cheddar cheese. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in heavy 10-inch cast iron pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Arrange apple slices in 3 rows in pan. Spoon cranberry sauce between rows. 2. Mix flour, granulated sugar, and spices in large bowl. Add oil, milk and vanilla and the egg. Beat with electric mixer or stir well. . . Pour over fruit. 3. Bake about 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Immediately place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan and turn the cake out onto the plate. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream or shredded cheddar cheese. ------------------------------ The poem By Don Blanding: It's more than just an easy word for casual goodbye; It's gayer than a greeting and it's sadder than a sigh; It's all the tender messages that words cannot convey; It's tears unshed and longing for a loved one gone away; It's welcome to Hawaii and it's lingering farewell; It's all the dear and silent things that lovers lips can tell; It's woven into flower leis and old Hawaiian songs; It's frailer than the spider web and strong as leather thongs; It's fresh as dew on ginger blooms and older than the moon; It's in the little lullabys that native mothers croon; It's said a hundred different ways In sadness and in joy; Aloha means 'I love you', So I say 'Aloha Oe'. --------------------------------------- Sacred Space Section By Beth Beheler. Creating sacred space is an important task for Witches/Pagans. It can be used repeatedly for ritual and spells, storing power each time, and if you are lucky enough to own land, you can create a space that may be used for generations! Of course, if need be, you may re-create your sacred space each time you use it, and let the energies generated in workings reside in your tools. Here is one way to prepare sacred space--first, choose a location that will not be disturbed and has room for your altar/ritual items. Using a broom, "sweep" the space vigorously, visualizing all negativity being swept away. Then smudge the space with a purifying incense such as sage and cedar. Spend some time in the area, visualizing its intended uses and feeling the energies that naturally occur there. Then if you want permanent items, such as markings for the Quarters or Circle, place and dedicate them for use within the sacred space. Set up your altar, and cast a Circle. Make your first working a dedication of the space. Then rededicate at each sabbat. Enjoy your sacred space!