Pooka's Page for Grownups...

In this issue, we have a special guest contributor - Six year old Rebecca who's a member of Pooka's Circle on Facebook. With the help of her mum, she made her very first besom and then wrote a tutorial on how she did it for other kids. Rebecca did a great job, both on the broom and the tutorial.

We'd love to see more kids telling other kids how to do the sabbat crafts that they've tried. If your child has done one, share it (along with a photo) on Pooka's Circle.

In our last issue, Team Member Carmen wrapped up her year long "Symbols of the Sabbats" and, in this one, she's beginning a brand new column of lessons for young pagans. In it, she will be teaching the basics - much like Pooka's lessons with Elsie! We hope your child enjoys them and, perhaps, be helpful as you teach and guide your child through the ways of your Path.

Here at Pooka Pages, we all hope you're having a marvelous summer and that your is filled with the promise of a bountiful harvest.

Lora, Pooka and the Team www.pookapages.com

Join our Group on Facebook - Pooka's Circle or visit, "like" and "follow" our Team Page : facebook.com/PookaPagesTeam Also known as Lammas, Festival of First Fruits, First Harvest - This is the first of the three harvest celebrations. Earth’s bounty becomes ripe for gathering. The first loaves of bread are baked from this year’s . Fruits are ready to be canned or made into pies and jams. The bounty of the vegetable garden is being canned and preserved to feed people during the coming winter months. In the midst of all this activity, people still find time to gather at County Fairs that are today’s version of the ancient Lughnasadh Festivals.

In this Issue Storybook Chair- Elsie's Magic Coloring Page - Sunflower by Liliane Grenier Kitchen Witch - Bread in a Bag by Emily Tinsman Short Story - Pooka Knows When He's Kneaded Elsie's Herb Garden - Saving Seeds Activity Page - Make a Seed Packet Wee Witchling's Read-Along - Saving Seeds A Letter from by Fiona Tinker How to Make a Broom/Besom - by Rebecca, age 6 Little Book of Shadows - Broom Magic Coloring Page - Corn Dolly by Hope Mayo The Path of the Witchling by Carmen Sanchez-Bezzard Coloring Page - Pooka Harvesting Corn by Liliane Grenier WitchCraft - to Grow On by Amber A.

The Pooka Pages Magazine is published by Lora Craig-Gaddis This is a FREE Publication for Pagan Children The Pooka Pages is published 8 times a year. To get the current issue, go to: www.pookapages.com Pooka Pages, Lughnasadh 2014 © July 2016 No portion of this publication may be used without the author or artist’s permission. To contact an author or artist or for general inquiries, write to [email protected] Elsie's Magic

Pooka lay sprawled on the broad stone window sill, his furry black tummy warmed by the sun. He flicked an alert ear when the garden gate opened, but he was used to his witch receiving visitors throughout the day. They'd come to buy herbal remedies for their ailments, charms to bless their homes or rose petal lotion for their complexion. Occasionally, if they had a problem, they'd ask for a tea leaf or tarot reading. So he only half listened through the open window when Mrs. Gilmore, the neighboring farmer's wife said: "Elsie, dear, I need a bit of your magic spice mixture. Did you know that horrible Lavinia Hinkle intends to enter the Lammas Faire Cake Competition again?" Pooka could almost hear his witch shrug her shoulders. "She always does." "And, thanks to your special spice blend, my cake has beat hers every year!" chortled the plump woman smugly. Elsie laughed and said, "I'll be right back." Pooka heard her little boots trot back to the herb room and then return. "Here you go." Mrs. Gilmore promised, in exchange, to bring Elsie some extra eggs, cream and butter this week. She then left the cottage carrying a small packet. Extra cream? That sounded pretty good to the cat. A short while later, the garden gate squeaked open again. Pooka cracked one eye open and this time it was their friend, Randy Mackellar, from the village book store. "Darling girl," he exclaimed when Elsie opened the door. "Your garden is absolutely fabulous! I am so glad you're not entering the flower competition at the Faire this year. My poor roses wouldn't stand a chance!" Pooka heard Elsie laugh. "You wouldn't by any chance be needing some more of my Plant Potion?" "Not only adorable and an amazing little gardener, she's also a psychic!" teased Randy. The garden shed door squeaked open and a moment later Elsie said, "Here you go." "Yes!" cried the young man triumphantly. "Now I'll be sure to win again this year and I promise that the next rose I breed will be named the 'Elsie's Enchantment!" "Don't you dare!" laughed the girl. Pooka stretched lazily. He sat up and scratched behind his ear with a hind paw. As he did, he noticed Randy pause at the garden gate to exchange greetings with Miss Mary, the church organist. Randy went on his way and Mary entered the garden. "Hi, Elsie," she waved. Elsie, who'd been bent over cutting a bouquet of lavender, straightened up and waved back. Pooka was curious. Miss Mary was always friendly when they met her in the village, but definitely not a regular customer at the cottage. So, when Elsie invited her in for a cup of tea, the cat leaped off the window sill and followed them in. As Elsie put the kettle on, Miss Mary looked around. "Your cottage is so warm and homey... and it smells so good in here!" "Thank you," said Elsie as she measured the tea into the little brown pot. "Which reminds me," Mary went on. "Do you remember that mysterious sachet mixture you sold to me last year?" Elsie nodded. "Yes. It was lavender, clove and patchouli oil mixed with..." "Oh, don't tell me!" exclaimed Miss Mary clapping her plump hands over her ears. She then turned bright pink. "You see, I used some of it in the stuffing for the quilt I entered in the contest last Lammas. The judges kept sniffing my quilt and I really do think that's why I won." Elsie poured their tea and placed some lemon verbena cookies on a plate. The organist looked a bit startled as Pooka, who was perched politely on one of the chairs, reached a paw out and helped himself to a cookie. Her eyes widened a bit more as the witch poured a bit of tea into a cup, added a healthy dose of cream and then set it in front of the cat. "So, why don't you want me to tell you the recipe?" Elsie asked the organist. "Then you could just make it yourself." Miss Mary's round cheeks flushed a rosy pink. "Oh, dear... I'm not sure our minister would approve. I mean, there must be some sort of magic in it." Elsie waited. Mary sipped her tea and nibbled a cookie before glancing over at the witch timidly. "But, surely it couldn't hurt to use a bit of it again this year?" Elsie smiled and headed toward her Herb room. "I'll be right back," she said. While they waited, Pooka couldn't help smirking a bit as the organist kept a close eye on him. It almost seemed as though she expected the cat to tie on an apron, head over to the stove and begin supper preparations.

After Miss Mary had left, with her bag of sachet mixture tucked in her purse, Elsie went to the parlor to read a book. Pooka trailed behind her, jumped into her lap and sat on the book. He then fixed her with a quizzical Look. "Yes?" the witch sighed. "How come you never enter the Cake Contest? Or the Flower Competition or the Quilting Contest?" demanded Pooka. "You're good at all that stuff. Come to think of it, you never enter any of the competitions at the Lammas Faire." "Because, everyone in the Village knows I'm a witch. So, if I won, people would say I cheated by using magic," Elsie explained. "But they don't mind using your magic to help THEM win!" objected Pooka. Elsie grinned and rubbed behind his ears. "Yeah, well, people are funny that way," she admitted. "It's human nature." "I'm glad I'm a cat!" Pooka announced. The girl gathered his furry little body into her arms and snuggled him. "I'm glad you are too!"

Lughnasadh Bread in a Bag by Emily Tinsman

This is a really cool recipe because squishing things is always fun, Right? And, your grownup will like it too because it doesn't make a big mess. (Just a little one.) The bread comes out slightly. You can add herbs like rosemary, sage, pepper, thyme, and bit of shredded cheese Or, you can add spices, like cinnamon, cardamom and clove. Or just make it plain. It's deliicious no matter what! It makes 2 mini loaves or 1 normal sized loaf. Note: With regular flour, you'll get more of a "muffin" texture. For a finer, "bread-type" crumb, use bread flour.

You'll need: 3 cups flour 3 Tbsp sugar 1 packet of fast rising yeast (2 ¼ tsp) 1 cup warm water 3 Tbsp olive oil

1. In a plastic baggie place 1 cup flour, sugar and yeast and add in warm water. Seal the baggie and push all the air out. Squish with your hands until mixed together. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Bubbles will form. 2. Open the bag and put in 1 cup of flour, oil, salt and any herbs or seasonings. (We added fresh rosemary.) Seal bag again and squish until mixed. 3. Add the last cup of flour and keep squishing the bag until it's all well blended. Remove dough from bag and put onto a lightly floured surface. Knead 6 or 7 times until smooth and sort of rubbery feeling. (If you have trouble, ask a grownup or your cat to help you.) 4. Cut the dough in half and place each half into a greased mini loaf pan (or put the whole thing into one large loaf pan). Cover your loaves with a damp tea towel and let them rise for about 30 minutes in a warm area. (We put ours outside. It was definitely warm out there and ours rose in about 15 minutes!) Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Pat will be celebrating her 70th birthday on Aug.4. Pooka wants to know if she'd like some help blowing out all those candles? (And, of course, he's also available to stay and eat some cake afterward!) Also, on Aug. 4, little Zelda will be 4 years old. Happy Birthday, Zelda! Christopher is a really special kid - smart, funny, caring and never lets anything hold him back. Pooka hopes he has an extra great birthday of Aug 24 when he turns 10. Talena will be 13 on August 31 and Pooka wants to know if she'll say "hi" to Elsa and Anna for him? McKenna, you will be a great big 5 years old on Aug. 31. (Pooka's Answer for McKenna: It depends on his mood, but mostly cuddly.) Pooka Knows When He's Kneaded!

Elsie had been rushing around all day preparing for their Lughnasadh Celebration and the feast that followed. Their friend, Nathan, and his grandmother would be joining them right after the Lammas Village Faire. "Why didn't we go to the Faire this year?" Pooka asked. His witch raised her eyebrows and nailed him with a Look. "Remember last year?" Pooka was suddenly grateful that the black fur on his face disguised his blushing cheeks. "Oh, yeah," he mumbled. Elsie trotted back to the herb room and collected incense and candles for the altar in the parlor. "Can I help?" asked Pooka. "I don't think you can carry these," said Elsie. Pooka looked at his little paws and said, "You're probably right." Then the girl began wielding her feather duster around the room. "I can help dust!" exclaimed Pooka. Elsie remembered the last time he'd "helped" dust. Pooka used his tail and she was still finding shattered pieces of Granny Witch's crystal potpourri bowl. "That's okay!" she told him quickly. After the altar was set up and the parlor cleaned, Elsie headed toward the kitchen. Pooka trailed behind her. He sat on the wooden kitchen table and watched as Elsie kneaded the dough for their special Lughnasadh bread. The little witch rhythmically pushed her hands into the dough, over and over. "Can I help?" he asked. Preoccupied with her task, his witch mumbled, " I've got it." Pooka's feelings were quite hurt. After all, cats are experts at kneading. They learn, as tiny kittens, how to knead their mommy bellies and help the nourishing milk come out . And it's a skill that no cat ever forgets! So, why didn't she let him help? Elsie divided the bread dough into 3 long sections and braided them together. She then covered the dough with a damp tea towel so it could rest and rise. Just as she did, there was a knock at the door. Elsie trotted down the hall to answer it and Pooka heard Mrs. Finch, one of the older village women say, "I'm so glad you're home, Elsie! My arthritis is troubling me and the pharmacist is all out of your Arnica Ointment." "I have more in the Herb Room," said Elsie. "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" "No thank you, dear," said the woman. "I have to get back. There's a tall stack of letters that need to be typed for the Faire Committee." "I'll just be a moment," Pooka heard the witch say. The cat eyed the dough under the tea towel and thought, "Here's my chance. I'll show Elsie what Real kneading is!" He pulled the towel off. Then, he thoroughly licked both front paws to make sure they were clean and dug in. Mrs. Finch left and Elsie returned to the kitchen. Pooka was sitting proudly next to the pummeled and flattened dough. "Now THAT'S how you knead bread!" he told her.

Mikie Lee will be 22 and Pooka hope she gets lots of cool Big Kid toys for her birthday! Max will be 6 on Aug. 13th and, on Aug. 6th, Bronwyn will be 9. Two crazy cat girls have their birthdays in Sept. Eila's first birthday is on the 1st and her mommy, Zoe's, birthday is the 15th. Zoey is going to be 7 on Aug. 2. Pooka thinks that's pretty much a perfect age for any kid to be! But then, 10 is also an awesome age - and that's how old Nate will be on Aug. 3. Fearless little Alice Rose will be 1 on Aug. 31 and Pooka hopes Bubbi doesn't eat all the cake! Moira will turn 2 on August 16 and Pooka thinks Moira really must be a magical unicorn child. Veronica Nova will bloom into a 9 year old wildflower on Aug. 9. On Aug. 22, Chevelle will be 5 and Pooka hopes she gets lots of pink frosting on her cake and a whole bunch of baby dolls for her birthday! Saving Seeds

Would you like to know what the most amazing Magic is? Hold a seed in your hand and look at it. Inside that tiny, hard, brown kernel there is an entire flower, bush, a or even a big, tall tree! All it wants is some earth, air, water and fire (sunshine).

In the old days, people gathered seeds in late summer and early fall, around Lughnasadh and Mabon. They'd then save them to plant the following spring. You can do that too!

You know when a flower in your garden blooms and then turns brown and turn sort of ugly? This is when the Magic is happening and the seeds are forming. Often, then, you can put a piece of paper under the flower, shake the stalk gently and Whoa! All these tiny miracles of seeds will land on the paper! Save them in a jar or packet. Then you can plant them next spring and have lots more of those pretty flowers.

Maybe you'd rather grow some yummy fruits or vegetables? You can - often even from the ones your grownup brings home from the grocery store. You can save the seeds from ripe, juicy things like melons, tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins. Scrape the seeds out carefully onto a paper towel to dry. It's okay if, once they're dried, they stick to the paper towel. In the spring, you can just plant the whole thing!

Once you have your seeds all completely dried out and put in a packet, you should label them so you don't forget what they are. Then you need to store them in a cool, dry place. (Maybe your grownup will let you keep them in the veggie bin of the refrigerator?)

You want to make sure no moisture gets to them before you're ready to plant. One way to do this is by adding a couple tablespoons of dried powdered milk wrapped up in a bit of toilet paper to your packet. The milk will absorb any moisture before it can get to your seeds, Next comes the very hardest part.... Waiting for spring so you can give your tiny seed the four elements it needs to magically become a whole new plant! Make a Seed Packet: Write the name of your seed on the front of the packet and then turn it over. Fold the # 1 flap over the back and then fold the # 2 flap over and glue it. Fold the # 3 flap over and glue that. Put your seeds (and dried milk tissue) inside. Then, Fold the #4 flap over and glue it shut. Saving Seeds

Pooka watched Elsie shake some dried

flowers into a bag. "What are you doing?" Pooka

asked. "I'm saving the seeds to plant next year",

Elsie told him. Then he saw her gathering dried

beans and putting them into an envelope.

"Why are you doing that?" Pooka asked. "I'm saving them to

plant next year", said Elsie. That night Elsie served peas with their supper. Pooka did not like

peas. He shoved them to one side. "Why are you doing that?"

asked Elsie. "I'm saving them to plant next year," smiled

Pooka.

On Sept. 1, Baili Ferrel will be 19 and Sypher will be 9 on Sept. 13. Someday, Sypher will probably be either a scientist or a psychologist. Our very own Hope Mayo's birthday is Aug. 24 and nobody knows how old she'll be since she's determined to stay a kid forever! Story will be 10 on Sept. 13. Pooka thinks she should write a story about unicorns. Willow will probably be spending her 7th birthday on Aug. 16th dancing under the stars. Cassandra will be 3 years old on Aug. 16 and, on Sept. 11, two year old Freyja will most likely be celebrating with lots and lots of friends. Accalia is a Lughnasadh child, born on Aug. 1. This year she'll be 7 years old and Pooka hears that she's really doing great with her reading skills. Orlaith will be 10 on Aug. 27 and her sister, Rose, will be 9 on Sept. 11. Elsie thinks these 2 little Kitchen Witches will especially enjoy making the recipe in this issue! A great big Happy Birthday to Meelah Isis who will be 12 on Sept. 12. Also, an especially Happy Birthday to Damian who'll be 8 on Aug. 22 and to bubbly little Rosemarie on her first birthday, Sept. 2. Anthony, who'll be 7 on Aug. 25, is a huge fan of ninjago and fortnite and Atlanta will be 15 on Aug. 14. On Sept. 2, Donovan will turn 3 years old. Donovan may be little, but he's already a Big Helper. Jax is hitting a home run on Aug. 29. He'll be 8 years old then. Rowan Peter turns 6 on Sept 2 and Elsie hears he's already a Master Potion Maker. Barrett will be 9 on Aug. 28 and little explorer Roman turns 2 on Sept. 8. And a big Happy Birthday to Cerridwen who will be 6 on Sept. 15. A Letter from Scotland

Dear Little Witches,

Have you felt a warm summer breeze moving over your skin? Could you imagine what it might be like to be the wind? Here’s a story about a little summer zephyr and its adventures at Lughnasadh. Hope you like it!

***

The little wind shook itself awake. Summer was here, it was Lughnasadh and it was an air of Lughnasadh, wasn’t it? The wind gently yawned and its breath rustled through the fields of , making the crop look like the waves of the ocean swept through it. The little wind liked this idea so it happily blew some more warm breezes through the fields, delighting in the ripples and rustles of the plants.

Some children noticed the waves moving through the fields and shouted: “We can play at being pirates!” The wind stayed with them for an hour or so, playing along with the little ones by blowing the barley sea in many directions for them, feeding their imaginations as they boarded each other’s ships and fought Long John Silver for control of the pirate’s treasure. The children’s laughter made the little wind happy. But all too soon the young ones were called away by their mothers as farmers began to harvest the crops.

The little wind was left alone. “I am the wind on the sea,” it thought. “Now, where did I hear that before? A long time ago, that’s for sure.”

And the little wind floated gently across the land, spreading the warm breezes of summer as it passed.

In a farm byre some men were discussing the wheel of the year and its cycles and seasons. “I’m telling you, the repetition and ritual is important. We don’t do it one year and we’ll have no milk. No milk means no winter cheeses either,” said one voice.

“It’s just superstition,” answered another. “How can the cows be affected by what we do to please the Gods and the Sidhe? It’s nonsense!”

“Nonsense you can think it,” said the first voice, “but it was good enough for my father’s father, so it’s good enough for me. Anything that shows we respect the land and the seasons is what we do.” And with that, the owner of the first voice bent over something he was working on. “How will you even know it’s worked?” asked the second.

“I’ll know.”

The little wind was curious – what was it that was good enough in the past and good enough now? Why would the cows care? The little wind crept in for a closer look.

The first man had made beautiful charms from red and blue threads, twigs and berries. They were really pretty and he fastened them around the cow shed. He put some of the smaller ones in the milk buckets. And then he began to plait coloured ribbons through the cows’ tails. The animals looked really pleased, as did the first man. The second man only scowled.

But the little wind was so happy it blew a little harder than it meant to – and it blew off the hat of the complaining man. The hat landed outside the byre in a pile of messy, sloppy, stinky and runny cow pats.

“Haha!” laughed the first man. “Superstition, is it? How do I know if it’s worked?”

And the little wind moved on just in case the laughter turned in to an argument.

Night came – or what passed as night in the land. It never truly got dark in the summer and, even at midnight, the sky streaked the colours of early evening like a banner flying from a castle.

The little wind met the smell of bannocks cooking and followed it to find out where it was coming from. Some people were cooking over a fire and the aroma of bannocks rose into the air. The flames danced in time with the wind as it passed over the fire to where the pirate children sat quietly, making a corn dolly. The little wind was so interested in what they were doing that some of the corn stalks blew away, causing the children to chase after them. The little wind drew back a bit and watched.

Eventually the children finished their work and the most beautiful lady made from corn stood there. She was nearly as big as the children and her gorgeous clothes made the little wind slightly sad that elements couldn’t have such finery. But only for a moment – corn dollies couldn’t go where they pleased and see what they chose, so each to their own. But the wind did not know what the corn dolly was for, so it stayed around for a while to see what happened next.

Someone – in a very loud voice – demanded: “Who will give sanctuary to the ? Who was last to gather in their harvest?”

There was much shouting and laughter and a sheepish-looking man stepped forward. “That’ll be me, then,” he replied.

The little wind watched in astonishment as the children lifted up the corn dolly and excitedly led the embarrassed man towards his house. “Did you leave the guidman’s grun?” they asked.

“I did,” said the man.

The little wind had no idea what the guidman’s grun was but the man’s answer pleased the children, so it must be something nice. A procession followed the corn dolly, the children and the man towards the man’s little house. The little wind followed behind. Once they reached the house, the children took the corn dolly into the kitchen and placed her in a small box that had been made into a bed for her. Applause broke out and the wind felt the wave of cheer from the crowd. “The Cailleach’s safely home and the harvest is in!”

The wind wasn’t too sure it understood all of this but it was a happy little wind who liked to see happiness around it, so all was well in the world.

“Now for the guidman’s grun!” shouted the children. The farmer handed bannocks to the little ones and lifted a large pot of ale into his hands. The little wind followed again as the folk made their way to a far corner of a field that had not been harvested. In fact, it looked like it had never been harvested. It was a wonderful piece of untouched wilderness, home to many creatures: seen and unseen.

The people left the bannocks and ale, stood quietly for a moment and then began to make their way back to the bonfire. The little wind could see what the people could not: the breeze saw the Sidhe smile happily as they accepted the presents of bannocks and ale. The little wind understood what the ‘guidman’s grun’ was – the piece of land left untouched for the Sidhe –a place for the good neighbours by the good neighbours.

The little wind felt that it had learned a lot. It was beginning to tire now as it had blown around most of the day, playing with what it was to be a summer wind. But before it found somewhere to rest for a while, it had one more thing it wanted to do. All the people were around the fire now, laughing, singing and eating. The little wind wanted just one of them though – the man with the smelly hat who thought all of the Lughnasadh rites were just superstition.

It wasn’t hard to find him. The smell of cow poo still clung to his hat, even though he’d washed it. The little wind noticed the man still had a scowl on his face. Even the little summer wind couldn’t blow that away, but, with a laugh, it blew a hard gust and the hat once again flew from the miserable man’s head – and straight in to the fire!

“Superstition, my eye! Maybe that’ll make him think twice in future!” laughed the little wind as it drifted away to sleep.

Lughnasadh Blessings to you and yours, Till next time,

Fiona Tinker WitchCrafts

Make a Broom/Besom by Rebecca, age 6 – with a little help by her mum.

Hello fellow little witches! A couple of weeks ago, with the help of my mum, I made my first besom and it was fun! We thought you would enjoy making one too.

What you need: 1 stick 1 bunch of dried broom-corn (secured with some wire) – we found one already made in a craft store sandpaper painting equipment (acrylic colours of your choice, paintbrush, a water cup) fake flowers, try to use fabric ones – fairies don’t like plastic ribbon(s) of the colour(s) of your choice

Optional: straight cutting knife for woodwork varnish

1. First of all you need to choose a stick – this is going to be the handle of your besom. It needs to be as straight as possible and you need to be able to hand it easily – and (my mum insisted) safely. Please don’t take a branch from the trees in this season, you might hurt them; I would suggest you go for a walk around, there are usually a lot of sticks on the ground; choose one that is calling you.

2. The next step is not mandatory and you might want to skip it. Also, if you choose to go ahead, you might need the help of a grown-up. You need to shave the stick, removing as much of the bark as you are comfortably with using a straight knife. We didn’t remove all of the bark in order to preserve the life of the wood; but we did remove some to make it look straighter and smoother.

3. The next step is to scrub it with sandpaper to make it as smooth as possible; also to avoid thorns or splinters.

4. Then you can paint it. Choose the colours you want, but ideally one for each elemental power. For mine I have chosen yellow (air); red (fire), dark blue (water) and green (earth), but feel free to choose the colours that you like the most. Once it is dried you can move on to the next step.

5. We decided not to varnish it, but you might feel like it. You choose. (Note: Varnishing will preserve your paint job.)

6. Pour some vinyl glue in the middle of the dried broom-corn bunch and carefully insert the stick. Depending on the thickness of it, you might find it useful to poke a little bit in the middle to prepare the space for the stick.

7. Add the flowers inserting them between the stems of the broom-corn.

8. Secure the lot, using the ribbon(s) you have chosen, pulling them around really tight. Wide width ribbons work best, but thinnerr ones can go on top.

Your besom is ready!

To make it truly magical, don’t forget to ask the elementals for their blessing and to dedicate it to the Goddess (and/or God) in your chosen form (mine is Bastet).

Pheonix will be 11 on August 3rd and his mother is so proud of him! On Aug. 14th, Draven will turn 7 and, on Sept. 11, Dyson will be 4 years old. Christian Aloysius be 7 on Sept. 1. Happy birthday, boys! Kolton River has overcome a lot of challenges this year. Nine, in numerology is a very special number and that's how old Kolton will be on Sept. 14th. Congratulations, Kolton! Future Zoo-Keeper, Kelsie, will be 11 on Sept. 9 and Czech will be 9 on Aug. 11. On Sept. 4, Maddisen, a special Child of the Earth, will be 7 years old. On Sept. 4, Pooka hopes that Kiara gets to celebrate her 9th birthday with a great big purple-frosted cake and a nice long trail ride. Gentle, compassionate Rowan Drake will be 6 on Aug. 2 and Pooka hopes that Olive, who turns 3 on Sept. 9, gets to have a party under the stars! Broom Magic

Pooka's Broom Spell to be Rid of Nightmares

Take your broom and sweep your room 'Round three times against the moon (widdershins) Announce in a voice that's loud and clear: "No Bad Dreams are allowed in here!"

Then turn and sweep round in the way of the sun (deosil) announce to the stars "Only dreams that are fun, Dreams that are happy and filled with delight Only these dreams may enter my night."

Then, get into bed and recite out loud everything that makes you feel happy or proud. Seal it by saying: "Goddess Bless!" and to the Goddess, leave the rest....

To Welcome Visitors - prop your broom outside by the front door.

When a Visitor has Outstayed their Welcome - Lay your broom on the floor with the handle pointing toward the door.

A new house needs a new broom.

The Path of the Witchling by MommaWitch Carmen

You are about to begin a magical journey on the Wiccan Path. In each Pooka Pages Issue, beginning with this one and ending with Midsummer 2019, you will be learning many things about Wicca as well as doing activities to help guide your way with a bit of fun. Never be afraid to ask questions of those your are studying with. It is fun to share and learn together. There will be thirteen lessons with a few issues having two. So find a place to sit, relax and have fun on this journey to becoming a Witchling with your very first exciting lesson.

Lesson 1

The Turning of the Seasons - The Wheel of the Year

There are many different people who believe different ways. There are many different celebrations for the same kind of days. As a Witchling you will learn about nature and the beauty of each season, There are eight holidays celebrated, each for a different reason. Our holidays are called Sabbats and each has a name, , Imbolc, Ostara and we call May Day, Beltane. Then we have Litha, Lammas, Mabon and the next is Halloween. We call it Samhain; a special night when magic can be seen. ******** The Wheel of the Year holds all these special days, As nature teaches us to celebrate in very natural ways. We will start in December, as the year goes around And end in October, when the leaves cover the ground. At this time the seasonal holidays are now coming to an end, The snowflakes and cold, crisp air are upon us once again. The Wheel of the Year is ready to make a natural turn. And for the sun’s warmth and bright rays, we begin to yearn. ******** A tree from the forest with ornaments and lots of twinkling lights, Fills us with cheer and warms our hearts on this coldest of nights. We light the Yule log; we bake cookies; we wrap a few gifts, And we gaze out the window and watch the snow as it drifts. In the coming days the light will begin to last longer, As the rays of the sun grow brighter and stronger. So welcome this season with love, joy and fun. This Sabbat of Yule honors the rebirth of the Sun. ******** In February comes Imbolc, and candles light the night. For the days are often dreary, so we warmly welcome this light. We honor Brigid, a fire Goddess of poetry, healing and art. And now is the time to create what is truly in your heart. Imbolc is also Oimelc, which means the ‘milk of the ewe’ And soon the baby ewes will be coming into view. We look forward to the Spring and warmer days to come, Yet still enjoy the colder days that are heated by the sun. ******** Spring Equinox, called Ostara, is a time of rebirth. Crocus bulbs and green grass start to sprout from the earth. You’ll see chicks and little bunnies and wee birds starting to fly, And gentle spring showers will fall from the sky. We dye some eggs and hide them; we eat a chocolate bunny too, And walk in our bare feet upon the new grass covered with dew. It is a time for planting tiny seeds in the sacred ground, and daydream of the blossoms that will soon be all around. ******** The Sabbat of May 1st is called Beltane and you should know, That at this time we sing and dance around a tall Maypole. The Maypole is wound with ribbons of colors dark and light, And sometimes great ‘Belfires’ burn throughout the night. The Maypole, a symbol of the God, rests within our Earth Mother, a symbol of the Goddess, and our connection to each other. Mother Nature shares her many colors on this Beltane day, So take the time to notice them before they fade away… ******** To the heat of Midsummer, or called Litha by some, We journey towards the hotter days that are yet to come. The crops begin to ripen on this Solstice Day in June. We know that we will be able to harvest them soon. It is time for picking tomatoes or strawberries by the bunch, And taking time to go to parks and share a picnic lunch. Summer days of Litha are hot and filled with fun, It is a time to give thanks for the hot rays of the Sun. ******** In August there is Lammas, the first harvest of the grain; The Festival of Bread is also another name. It is also called Lughnasadh, for Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun, And now the grain harvest is enjoyed by each and everyone. This harvest brings in corn, barley, and wheat. And we bake special breads for a very tasty treat. Some may use wheat or corn to make a tiny doll, In honor of the harvest which is shared by all. ******** Mabon in September marks the second harvest at this time, And grapes are picked and cooked into jellies, jams and wine. Nuts are plentiful at this time and we pick berries to bake in pies, And the Harvest Moon will soon brighten up the darkest skies. Also called Autumn Equinox, it brings a balance of day and night; Which means we have the same amount of darkness and daylight. We honor the Goddess for her blessing of this harvest we share, And we honor the God as He protects the animals everywhere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In October there is Samhain…some call it Halloween, It is the last harvest and a night where magic can be seen, We carve pumpkins with faces and place candles inside. This is to help guide the spirits of our loved ones who have died. We share a feast of thanks for the many blessings we share, A feast for our loved ones to show them we care. A cookie, called a soul cake, placed outside your home, Reminds your loved ones that they are not alone. ******** These eight days that we share are sacred times you see; A time of celebration for friends and family. As we share our sacred faith, with joy and with love. We honor all our blessings, from the God and Goddess above. Now, of course there is a bit of homework for you. What is the holiday we are celebrating now? Read about it again in the poem above . Use the power of your imagination and then draw a picture or write a story of how you would like to celebrate this Sabbat. Perhaps you would like to do both.

What is waiting for you in the Mabon issue of Pooka Pages? You will learn about the Witchling Rule that you should always follow and about our connection to all things. Please don't forget to keep your first lesson in a special notebook so you can add each lesson and look back on them as you do new lessons.

Have a Blessed Lammas and enjoy your studies!

WitchCrafts

Wheat to Grow On

by Amber A.

Wheat is being harvested to make yummy bread. Good wheat is grown by planting healthy seeds and making sure that the ground they were planted in was healthy as well. In spring a lot of us planted our own seeds in the form of goals. Now some are coming into fruition and are ready to be harvest, while others still need to grow stronger. For this craft we will be making pieces of "wheat" from salt dough. These pieces we will write the goals that we have been working on.

Materials: Salt Flour Food coloring Water Cooking oil Bamboo skewer Scissors/butter knife Wax paper

To make them:

In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, ¾ cup water, 6 drops of yellow food color, and1 tablespoon of oil. Place wax paper on a baking sheet. Dust hands in flour. Take a palm size amount of the dough and roll into an oval. Put skewer into the bottom of your oval. Place oval on the baking sheet and cut out a small triangle from the top. Then cut diagonal lines into the sides like in the picture. Don’t cut into the bamboo skewer. On one side off your wheat, use your cutting tool to gently draw diagonal lines from your cuts to the middle. On the other side, gently draw diagonal lines that end slightly below your other side’s lines. Remember to put loving energy into making them.

Repeat this process until you have as many wheat pieces that you want. Then bake them for 3 hours at 200˚F. Let cool before writing your goals on the back of your wheat pieces. You can place your wheat in flower pots, but don’t let the dough get wet or they will go bad.

After you have achieved your goal, then you can pick it out of the pot, show thanks for reaching your goal, and burry it outside. If some are still in the flower pot by Samhain, then you can pick them and access what you need to work on during the dark months to achieve them. You can ask others for suggestions. If your goal changes, remove them from the flower pot and you can dispose of them how you see fit. If you have a goal that I want to keep cultivating, like gratitude, then leave it until spring and make a new one to replace it. This will keep the energy renewing itself. Happy Harvest!

Happy Birthday, Gabriel. On September 14, you'll be 4 years old! All of the Garden Fairies will be celebrating when Lillia Raine turns 9 on Aug. 17. (Thistle says to be sure and leave a bit of birthday cake outside for them!) On Aug. 26, Valeska will be 12 and, on Sept 6, Sebastian is going to be 17. Delilah Sage will be 3 on Aug. 17th and, on August 29, Tabitha will be 19 years old. Pooka wishes he could be there to help both girls celebrate! On Aug. 14, Dylan will be swimming his way into his 5th birthday. (Pooka says: Dylan, what if you could actually ride your bike under water? Wouldn't that be fun?) Cady will be 9 on Sept. 15 and her little brother, Jimmy, is turning 4 on Sept. 3. On Aug. 7, Gubby (Gabriel) will probably be spending his 5th birthday playing Pokemon Go. On Sept. 5, Jack (whom Pooka hears is a pretty great big brother) will be 11 years old. Dorothy Ellen (a future Nascar driver who's currently practicing with her Hot Wheels) will be 1 year old on Aug. 5.