Lesson of the Hazelnut and Brigids Hazelnut Crusted Salmon Recipe

I've been a flamekeeper to honor the Irish Goddess Brigid for a few years now with a group called Bridgis Mantle. I keep an altar to her all year.  Flamekeepers light and tend a flame, usually a candle from sundown on their day until the sundown the following day. Flamekeeping groups usually have 19 members, and each takes a shift on different days the 20th day the flame is kept by the Goddess Brigid herself, as per tradition. There are many ways to honor her during flamekeeping. Writing, making or listening to music, artistic projects, caring for your animals, blessing your home, and healing work are among the many activities sacred to Brigid. Among her many attributes, Brigid is a Goddess of the hearth, and in a modern home, that's often the oven and stove, she is also a Goddess that feeds the hungry, so I love to make a special meal on my flamekeeping days.

Imbolc (circa February 2) is also Brigids feast day, it's another day when I light candles in her honor, blessing my home.  I also like to make a special meal on Imbolc so I decided to make hazelnut crusted salmon for dinner and a dessert of blackberry strudel topped with vanilla bean ice cream, all are foods associated with the Goddess Herself.

I lit my candles at sundown on my Brigid altar, Once I lit the candles on my altar,  next, I needed to get dinner going, I had been so busy throughout the day I hadn't cracked those hazelnuts yet, so I needed to get on it.

I found a recipe online to use as a guideline. (here is the original) Being a pretty creative kitchen witch and often changing things as I go, I knew I would do the same with this recipe and make it my own.  The one ingredient I knew would not be altered was hazelnuts, and I knew of a store in town where I could get them in the shell.

Just one problem...I couldn't find my nutcracker. Not anywhere! Dan and I tore apart the kitchen and the dining room but to no avail. Everything was put away from Yule and that was the last time we had nuts to crack, so I finally gave up on the nutcracker.  As far as the hazelnuts though, I would not be undone! I grabbed a couple bowls and a hammer and marched undaunted to the concrete front porch. I'm sure the joggers passing by thought I was nuts, no pun intended.

I went forward with my hammer (a tool of Brigid's forge incidentally) and one by one I not only cracked those nuts, but I did it with more speed than I probably could have with the nutcracker. As I worked I figured out the best way to do it, and after crushing a couple, I found the optimal way to do it removing the shell and freeing the meat within with the greatest of ease! The hazel is a Celtic tree that represents inspiration, wisdom, and creative energy, and it occurred to me as I worked that creativity is the problem solving ability that has helped mankind survive and prosper since the beginning of time! How to crack a nut, make a weapon for hunting from bone, flint, and wood, making fire, and every invention since from the printing press to the smart phone was worked out by a creative mind. We think of the term "creativity" in connection with the arts, painting, music, writing, but in fact, humans use the power of creativity in every aspect of life every time we look at a problem from a new perspective. So I listened to the lesson of the hazelnut as it taught me the best way to get my family fed in style, and thus the lesson of the Goddess Brigid as well as she whispered to me on my porch on Imbolc evening, did she plant the idea in my head? "Try turning it point side up, resting on the flat side. one blow with the hammer and it just might work." And it did, just about every time! More about the Celtic hazel tree wisdom here!

I balanced the flat top side of the hazelnut on the concrete and delivered one quick blow with the hammer. The shell popped right off pieces shooting to the sides and leaving the meat of the nut right where it sat and most were in one piece!

Pow! It worked again! Perfect!

I chopped the nuts up for my recipe.

Salmon on parchment lined baking sheet, covered with the mayo and Dijon mustard mix, sprinkled with salt and pepper. Now top with crushed hazelnuts!

Orange zest! Here's what my orange looked like when I was done, if yours does too, you did it right!

Hot from the oven!

I served it up with tiny potatoes, beans and carrots.

It was delish!

Want my version of the recipe? Here you go! I hope your family loves it as much as mine did and I hope it inspires some inspiration!

Hazelnut Crusted Salmon

Ingredients

2 lbs salmon fillets, boneless with skin on, I used Aldi brand 

1/2 cup olive oil mayonaise

2 tbsp dijon mustard

1 1/2 cups chopped hazelnuts

1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (or dried rosemary ground)

1 tsp. fresh thyme (or dried)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp orange zest

Preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. mix the mayo and dijon together. Put the salmon on the baking sheet skin side down. Brush or spread the dijon/mayo mixture over all the fillets. Top with the chopped hazelnuts. Sprinkle the herbs over the tops of each piece of salmon then top with orange zest. Bake about 15 minutes.

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Visit Me at the Authors Booth at St. Louis Pagan Picnic 2016

 Lots of people are asking me if I'll be at St. Louis Pagan Picnic this year, the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes, I will be there!" But please read on, there's an important change that you'll need to know if you want to find me there!

Last year we didn't vend, but I really love to be involved with Pagan Picnic, we just had too much going on to have time to prepare. Many people don't realize that it takes us literally months to make all the products that we've brought in the past, and with all my growing publishing demands, we just didn't have the time. This year isn’t looking much different, with tons of work on the old wooden art table. I really still want to be involved with Pagan Picnic, but we needed to re-think things to better serve the needs of my family, my deadlines, and my Pagan Picnic friends. We love our St. Louis peeps, let's face it dears, we've all watched our kids grow up over the years, forged friendships, danced to the drums, and made magic together. I absolutely can’t imagine a year of not being there, so this year I AM going to participate, but just in a different capacity than as a vendor. 

Yes, selling our wares has become a big part of my Pagan Picnic experience, but being involved in a spiritual community should never take a back seat to business, that’s just not who we are, or who we ever want to be. That's why I will be joining the Authors Booth at Pagan Picnic instead of doing a vending booth!

Some of my books and decks,; some I've written, some I contributed articles to, some of these I've illustrated. Come see me at the Author's Booth at St. Louis Pagan Picnic and find out what pretties I'm bringing including the new book I wrote that I hope to have there The Witch's Mirror!

I'm also very delighted to be offering free workshops both days as well, something that I’ve been too busy with vending to manage in the last couple of years. I’m excited about having an opportunity to join in more in of the Pagan Picnic activities with everyone, I’m looking forward to having time to attend rituals again, attend a couple workshops, and have more time to chat with the attendees at Picnic instead of just selling. Of course as always, we plan to bring a generous cache of donations for the raffle and I'll have my books and decks for the Authors Table and a few small items  "road show style,"



But Mickie, We Want to Shop For Art!

Of course we don’t want to disappoint anyone who loves to shop with us, so we've worked out a perfect solution. Watch for the ad in the program (and I'll have coupons at the Authors Booth too) with a special coupon code just for Pagan Picnic to all of our online stores so that our Pagan Picnic friends can still get goodies from us with free shipping for the month of June!  Have you ever come by our booth and we didn't have the art you wanted on the product you wanted? This also solves that problem because we'll make exactly what you want just for you while you shop in your pajamas from home. You don't have to haul it all over Tower Grove Park either, it will just magically show up at your front door. When you shop with us online, we have literally everything in stock and even make custom stuff for people. We can add your name to that mug you wanted, personal text to a garden flag, and we don't charge a dime extra for that either....and for Pagan Picnic peeps, free shipping in all throughout June!


Did You Say Free Workshops? Tell me More...

The dates and times for the programming are still TBA but I will be presenting an hour long workshop on Saturday and one on Sunday. Watch the Pagan Picnic website for the schedule, but here's the workshops that I'll be bringing you:

Sacred Coloring, Tips and Tricks

Adult coloring books and coloring pages have become very popular for relaxation, and it’s a great alternative to traditional meditation.  Join Pagan artist Mickie Mueller and learn tips and tricks to maximize the magical aspects of coloring making the experience even more sacred. Mickie will also share colored pencil and marker shading techniques to take your coloring to the next level, as well as the meanings of different colors and how they help you manifest your goals magically through the process of coloring. Will she also have a couple free coloring pages for you to take home and color later on? Of course she will!

Llewellyn's Witch's Coloring Book featuring Llewellyn artists  Mickie Mueller, Elisabeth Alba, Kathleen Edwards, Jennifer Hewitson, Wen Hsu, and Carloyn Vibbart. I'll be using this coloring book and Animal Totem Mandala Coloring Book by Wendy Martin and Natalie Zaman to demonstrate coloring techniques.   

Become a More Powerful Witch through Mirror Magic

Mickie Mueller, the Author of the new book The Witch’s Mirror, discusses the theory and uses of mirrors in magical practice. Everyone will get their own enchanted witch’s mirror to keep. We will use our mirrors as we perform a simple yet powerful spell to connect with your true self, boosting your personal power and thus your magical energy. Mickie will also have a non-reversing mirror on display that shows your face as others see it, not in reverse as we usually see our own reflections; it’s a curiosity of science and magic!

The spell in the mirror workshop is an extra spell that's not in the book...oooohhh...bonus! Won't be in St. Louis for Pagan Picnic? You can pre-order The Witch's Mirror from Llewellyn, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or watch for it at an IndieBound bookstore near you.

If you plan to be attending St. Louis Pagan Picnic in beautiful Tower Grove Park June 4th and 5th, come by and see me at The Author's Booth at St. Louis Pagan Picnic, I hope to have the very first copies of my brand new book The Witch’s Mirror! I'll also have copies of  Voice of the Trees: A Celtic Ogham Oracle, Mystical Cats Tarot, Llewellyn’s Witch’s Coloring Book, and  I'll a few books I’ve illustrated on hand. 

Here are links for more information about St. Louis Pagan Picnic:

http://www.paganpicnic.org

https://www.facebook.com/STLPaganPicnic

Blessed Be!
Mickie Mueller

Llewellyn's Midsummer Book on my Midsummer Altar

Midsummer, it's the longest day of the year, the point when the sun is at it's zenith, the Summer Solstice, and a magical in between time, this year it falls on June 20th.  It's also called Litha. I've got my Midsummer altar all set up and ready for honoring this significant stop on the Pagan wheel of the year. Even though it's been a rainy week, (forgive my low-light photos) my Midsummer altar is brightening up the place and radiating out Summer energy into my home when I need it the most.

My Midsummer altar all dressed up with my God and Goddess candle statues.

I'm so happy to have my copy of Midsummer by Deborah Blake, the latest release in the Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials series.   I've discovered that these little books are simply a perfect addition to my Wheel of the Year altar, I'm keeping the set nearby as a reminder of the cycles of the earth and I'm placing the current Sabbat book on the altar for easy reference and inspiration, plus they really look pretty! 

My mom Amanda Bryant of Frogbirds House started making these lovely sets with an altar cloth and electric candle wrap for each sabbat, I love these!  This one features a beautiful bright sun on a blue sky, I hope it's magic summons up blue skies here!  Want your own? Click here

I was inspired by both Deborah Blake's correspondences list in the Midsummer book and what is in bloom right now in the fields here at Aelfheim.  I made a bouquet in the cup from my Celtic Faeries Tea For One set and used my grandmother's antique owl "flower frog" to prop the flowers up.  I included two kinds of wild daisies, queen Annes lace, rosemary sprigs and lavender. Grandma often created fresh flower bouquets and included fresh herbs, so she would approve.  I'm watching for the St. Johns Wort to bloom so I can add some.  

One of my illustrations for the "Old Ways chapter in which Deborah explores old Summer Solstice traditions and practices.

My illustration for the "New Ways" chapter. Witchy Summer Solstice curb appeal introduces this chapter full of modern ways to celebrate.

I'm stuck with store-bought tomatoes until my are ripe, but Deborah included a recipe for a chocolate tomato cake using green tomatoes which sounds intriguing, and there are some on the vine! I'm going to try her rosemary shortbread cookies for my Midsummer night cakes and ale!

The correspondences section, full of inspiration!

I hope you enjoyed visiting my Midsummer altar, may you enjoy the Summer Solstice as you grow abundance, and perhaps have a Midsummer Night's Dream!

Featured:
Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials Midsummer by Deborah Blake (illustrated by lil' ole me!)
God and Goddess Statues by Sacred Source designed by Mickie Mueller
Altar Cloth and Electric Candle wrap by Frogbirds House (my mom!)
Celtic Tree FaeriesTea for One Set by Mickie Mueller Studio


Blessed Be!

Mickie

Growing Pains for Mickie Mueller Studio

I have an important announcement today for my dearest St. Louis and Illinois area Pagans. Due to scheduling with my upcoming publishing deadlines we're not going to be able to prepare for vending at Pagan Picnic this year, so it's with deepest regrets that I'm announcing that our booth will be absent this year. We are donating some awesome items to the raffle though, see the pics in this post. If you're in the area for Pagan Picnic, make sure you pick up a few raffle tickets, it helps the community and you might win one of these items pictured here, or many other pretties donated by the generous Pagan artisans and vendors in the St. Louis area. 

We are going to try to take a day off from all of my current work to attend so we can at least see everyone, after all selling art is only part of why we go to Pagan Picnic, a big part of it is community, sharing, seeing friends, and the magic of the weekend! Gods willing, we will be vending again next year.

This year we're doing some of the biggest and best donations that we've ever had for the raffle booth!

I think this will be the first Picnic we've missed in about 20 years, we love the event and the community so much, this was one of the hardest decisions Dan and I have ever had to make. 

Among our donations; a Mystical Cats Tarot purse, Swirling leaves pentacle necklace and earrings, Greenman and Greenwoman sconces I designed for Sacred Source.

We've always worked hard to grow our art business slow and steady so that we could always keep up with demand, but this year was an unusually busy year for the publishing end. I had many unexpected opportunities come my way both illustrating many books (more than I've ever had before) and I’m also working on revisions for my upcoming book that I've written. 

More donations include two Llewellyn periodicals that I have articles in 2015 Witches' Companion & 2015 Magical Almanac and Dryad Spirit tea for one.

At this point, vending at Picnic would mean my deadlines wouldn't be able to be met, that's just not an option. We're doubly disappointed because we planned to share booth space with my mom Amanda Bryant of Amanda Bryant's House of Frogbirdhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/FrogBirdsHouse, we were really excited to let you see her magical embroidered flameless candles in person! Watch for a donation from her at the raffle booth as well. My mom is awesome!

Dan made this Hecate wall sconce up just for a Pagan Picnic donation, we're also donating this set of 8 Sabbat ornaments from The Hidden Path and a Greenman Stein.

It's an exciting new phase for us, but it has it's growing pains as well. We're so sorry to cancel and we hope you can bear with us while we get ourselves acclimated to the changes this year as we explore new paths and create new magic for everyone.

Blessings,

Mickie

Sneak a Peek at the Beltane Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials Book

I was working like a mad woman to finish up the book I've been writing by the deadline and Beltane kind of crept up on me. Thankfully two great women had my back, my mom Amanda Bryant of FrogBirdsHouse and author Melanie Marquis, the author of Beltane in the Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials series. I actually finished writing my manuscript on Beltane, emailed it off to my editor, and began flipping through my Beltane book for some quick inspiration to celebrate the day! Do you want a peek inside this awesome little book...for you, anything!

Mom has been embroidering these awesome sabbat sets of altar cloths and electric candle wraps. (click here to see more of her work) I was so happy with the Beltane set, I love a good bonfire, so this depiction for Beltane was perfect! I set up my altar with the lovely set, added my God and Goddess candle holder/statues from Sacred Source, and looked up quick correspondences for Beltane that Melanie Marquis added to the back of the Beltane book to finish decorating! 

I just love the covers for this series, designed by Kevin R. Brown, I can't wait to have the whole series, it's going to look gorgeous sitting on the bookshelf! 

The book goes into the "old ways" traditions as they've been celebrated in the past.  I just had to include a bonfire and maypole in this illustration beyond the old time witches gate to her cottage.

For the "new ways" section I illustrated the modern witches entrance, including Melanies mini tabletop maypole in the window, a modern torch for the Beltane flame outside, and of course a faerie garden statue to represent the faerie legends surrounding Beltane.

The recipes and crafts section is awesome!  I've decided I'm just going to celebrate the season of Beltane, going beyond just the day, that way I can enjoy some of her awesome recipes. Blessed Lemon Custard, Sexy Rosemary and Garlic-Roasted Asparagus, and Magical May Wine...yes please!!

Ok, I just had to share a shot of this set my mom made for my Wheel of the Year altar!  I love how the light of the electric candle shines though the candle wraps she makes, and these new altar cloths are so cool! She has some really nice candle wraps and stuff over at FrogBirdsHouse

I loved her description of the Mini Tabletop Maypole, it was really fun to illustrate!

I love the correspondences sections in these books, a super quick and easy reference guide for witches on the go!

After flipping through the book Beltane I found the inspiration I was looking for, and also having recently read Deborah Blake's new book Everyday Witchcraft, I decided a quick Beltane ritual and offering to the Fae would be just the thing after finishing up writing my first stand-alone book on this auspicious day.  I ventured deep into the fields of our home at Aelfheim with a small dish of wine, bread with real butter and honey in a wooden dish, a red, white, and black cloutie to tie to my wishing tree, and a solar lantern to light the way.  The moon is close to full now, so the landscape was illuminated with a milky light.  I reached the stump that I use as an altar and set my offerings and the solar lantern upon it.  Taking a moment to take in the beauty of Aelfheim at night, I was simply in awe and speechless for quite some time.  I spoke to the spirits of the land from my heart offering thanks for their constant blessing and inspiration as I made my offering to them.  When I was ready, I tied my cloutie to the tree as I made a wish (sorry, can't tell) then I made my way back to the house.  I tried to snap a photo, but there was just no way to capture the glow of the moonlight, lantern, and the magic all around my outdoor temple amongst the trees, so this description will have to suffice.

I hope you had a blessed Beltane and that you enjoyed getting a peek at my Beltane author and the illustrations inside Llewellyn's new Sabbat Essentials series Beltane book.  I can't wait to get my Midsummer one in the mail! Speaking of Deborah Blake, she wrote that one, Can't wait!

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Pre-Winter Solstice Nature Walk

Dan made a proposal today..."Walk with me outside, let's see what we find."  How could I resist?!  We've been discussing a project that will probably happen as I get further along on my current publishing deadlines, but we need to start gathering bits and bobs from nature to make some new, special, one-of-a-kind creations that we hope to start on in the spring.  So we grabbed the compost to take out, a collection basket, put on jackets, and headed out.

So we ventured out to walk the enchanted grounds of Aelfheim, our home in the woods. At first glance, it seems as if the land is barren,  the ground is strewn with fallen leaves, the trees are bare.

Some of the oak saplings still have their leaves, the sunlight shining through them looks like stained glass.

We found deer tracks everywhere, they are actually coming much closer to the house than we knew. 

Wild rose hips were plenty in the meadow, we have lots of wild roses growing everywhere.  They look quite festive, many of the other wildflowers that have gone to seed look like puffy snow, a pretty effect.

A big hawk flying over got Dan's attention, he's always on the lookout for them.

Even in December, we saw signs of life, a little frog hopped across our path, I told him, "Go hibernate silly froggie, cold weather's coming!" We also saw a honey bee, woolly worms, and a tiny spider on this lone blooming dandelion. 

My basket was filling up by the time we passed by the elder grove.

This is some of the prettiest moss, it's colors seem very Winter Solstice to me.  I think this is where the faeries must meet, on a stump near a grove of oak, persimmon, and juniper.  

My basket is full of some great finds! A turkey feather, many other feathers too, seed heads, berries, wild rose hips, acorns, we even found what we think is the jawbone of a fox, more research and we'll know what it is for sure.  The land rendered forth many treasures. 

Even though it's so close to the Winter Solstice, the weather warmed up more and more while we were out. Dan ended up with his coat tied around his waist, and I tied my hair back, it's actually 66 degrees Fahrenheit right now.  It couldn't have been a better day to get out of the house.  Now I feel refreshed, inspired, and ready to work on some of my illustration projects and writing on my new book as well!

What signs of life are you still seeing near your house?

Blessed Be!
Mickie

Sneak Preview...Secret Illustration Project Revealed!

I started a big illustration job for Llewellyn during the summer of last year, eight books that are illustrated with beautiful black and white pencil like I did for the companion books for Voice of the Trees and Mystical Cats Tarot. I've been having so much fun with this job that I took some photos as I worked because I knew that I wanted to share this project with you as soon as I could.  Well, now this set of lovely books is available for pre-order on Barnes and Noble and Amazon and I got the official OK to share with you...here is a sneak preview of this amazing project that I'm so honored and excited to be a part of!

Early stages of the chapter opener; forms of divination here include cards, crystal ball, tea for reading the tea leaves as well as spell elements such as a candle, oils, herbs and a pen with parchment.

As soon as I got the email from Lynne at the Llewellyn art department and saw these beautiful book covers, I was "all in" to take on this big job filling the pages of this series of books with magical illustrations! I thought the covers look like an invitation to a witch's garden party to celebrate each sabbat.  I gasped when I saw them, so much inspiration, upon reading the description of the books, I knew this was a series that I would want to own myself. I thought of how pretty they would look on my bookshelf, and how delighted I would be to flip through them for ideas as each sabbat approached. I knew I had to be a part of this lovely series!

From the Amazon listing for the first in this series Ostara which is slated for Jan. 2015, "Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch’s year.  A well-rounded introduction to Ostara, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!"  Pre-order here

While I was working on illustrations for Mabon, it was actually that time of year.  Right out my studio window I was watching squirrels running back and forth with acorns and hickory nuts. Since the squirrel was mentioned  in the manuscript as one of the animals associated with Mabon, our squirrel ended up running across the modern witch's front path in this chapter opener.

The witch's garden gate for a chapter opener, can you guess which sabbat this is for?

I always gang as many illustrations on a sheet as I could while still leaving room for labeling them and for the art department to digitally separate them after scanning. 

Part of the fun of illustrating this sabbat series is getting to revisit some of the concepts, deities, and teachings in order to offer a fresh take on the standards.  For Lughnasadh, I wanted to include Lugh in this chapter opener since he's one of the major deities of this holiday (it's named for him after all)  I've illustrated Lugh several times before, but this black and white may be one of my favorites.  

Re-inventing the wheel... this is another concept that I've illustrated before quite a few times before.  I have a black and white poster that's been circulated for years that I re-created as a design for my Sacred Source Wheel of the Year plaque, and I also illustrated one for The Well Worn Path deck.  So I did my best to come up with a fresh approach taking my inspiration from tradition as well as continuing the garden theme that was my original inspiration. 

I have three more books to illustrate, Samhain, Yule, and Imbolc, I'll have the manuscripts from those authors later on in December, so I'm working on Magical Almanac 2016 illustrations now to have them out of the way as soon as the last manuscripts are ready.  Part of the fun of working on this project is getting to read the manuscripts for the books, I have to make sure the illustrations work with what the authors have written so I've done my best to take lots of inspiration from their work.  The authors for the first five books are Kerri Conner, Melanie Marquis, (she wrote two) Deborah Blake, and Diana Rajchel.  These are really good books, chock full of no nonsense information on each sabbat. They discuss the ways the sabbats were celebrated in the old days, and new traditions as well. There are very creative craft projects, delicious sounding recipes, loads of spells, divination, rituals, and a handy section for correspondences.  I actually can't wait to get my hands on the finished books myself.  These will be released as the seasons progress starting early next spring well ahead of each sabbat so you can read them ahead of the sabbat and take full advantage of some of these great ideas, Watch for them to come out one by one, just like the seasons turn through the Wheel of the Year.   If you want to be the first to get them as they come out next year, here's a link for pre-ordering the first in the series, Ostara, and four more are available for pre-order as well.

Which Sabbat is your favorite? Which one would you love to have more recipes, crafts, and ritual ideas for?

Blessings,
Mickie