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

Blessed Spring Equinox

It's the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara or on your everyday Gregorian calendar, the first day of spring. I woke up to a lovely sunny day and decided to experience the signs of spring around Oak Haven Cottage nestled in our Midwestern small town. Join me, will you, lets see what magic we can find.

Let's step out the door and explore, magic is all around if you just know where to look! I bet you have many or all of these magical plants in your yard too.

I'm delighted to see a bee! They are facing so many challenges, poison in my yard won't be one of them, they can harvest pollen from my dandelions all they want.  Some people just can't stand these wildflowers, but they are edible (if you don't spray with poison) and have many health benefits. Dandelions have magical uses in spellwork as well, they increase psychic ability, are used for calling in helpful spirits, making wishes, protection while sleeping, banishing anger and bitterness, and boosting self expression. Dandelions are associated with Goddesses Hecate, Rhiannon, and Brigid and the God Belenos. Dandelions are aligned with both the sun and the underworld. 

Creeping Charlie is in bloom of course! In old witch's grimoirs it's sometimes referred to as ground ivy or cats foot. Use it for protection against baneful magic, overcoming shyness and anxiety, peaceful sleep and meditation,  also for welcoming friendship, and healing.

The forsythia a traditional Ostara flower was hurt by the freeze a bit, but still beautiful. What would a witch do with forsythia? Spells for optimism, positive state of mind, and healing healing troubled nerves.

I stated aloud, "Blessed Ostara, Spirits of the Land, show me your magic!" And low, I saw a sparkling in the grass! You can't tell by this photo, but it's a lovely little quartz druzy that sparkles in the sunlight! Druzy quartz strengthens the spirit, quells feelings of dread, reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Thanks spirits, this is going on my Ostara altar when I bless the hexenspiegel necklaces I'm making today! More on that at the end of this post. *wink, wink!*

The elm tree that I love to look at from my kitchen window is in bloom. Elm is a tree associated with elves and the Goddess, aids powers of concentration,  balance between heart and head, love, protection from lightning, and meditation in the realm of the fae.

This plantain is hanging out at the base of the elm which has dropped blooms on it, but like most yards I have plantain growing everywhere. Considered a common weed by many, witches know it holds magic for healing, squelching gossip, protection, driving away nightmares, and even protection from snakes, (both literal and figurative.) Also a great poultice for insect bites and stings and other skin problems 

I was delighted to spot a little shepherds' purse! This sweet little wildflower packs a magical punch including

magic for a healthy pregnancy, vitality, perseverance,  healing, prosperity, and protection.

I just love tiny Persian speedwell, also known as birds eye dotting the grass, in addition to being just sweet and charming, it's great for spells such as healing or fertility. In folk magic it was sometimes sewn into garments as a charm for protection. Also use it for banishing negativity and baneful spirits.

The honeysuckle by the bird feeders outside my dining room window hasn't bloomed yet, but it's getting lovely, tender spring leaves. Witches use the wood of honeysuckle Honeysuckle, aka woodbine for magic involving love and devotion,. The blossoms for psychic powers, money and prosperity magic. The honeysuckle growing in your yard can be charged to provide magical protection.

Moss is so magical to me, it always has been. Traditionally moss is a mysterious faerie plant, can be used in prosperity magic and magic to bring comfort and peace. I find it even more fascinating since I discovered that microscopic Tardigrades, also known as water bears live in moss. These tiny guys are the most badass creatures, they're so resilient they can survive the most extreme temperatures and can even survive space! Plus, they're adorable, look them up if you haven't seen one. "Hi water bears! I think your awesome!" wave, wave!

That was fun, thanks for joining me. Now that I've enjoyed the world in bloom around me, I have work to do today. Yesterday I made a prototype for a new batch of hexenspiegels and put them on Etsy so that people may pre-order them if they like. These magical witch's mirrors are a beautiful way to banish negativity from your personal space. Since so many people have felt as if they are under a barrage of negativity these days, I thought the Spring Equinox would be a great time to whip up a bunch of these fantastic magical charms that I wrote about in my book The Witch's Mirror.

I might paint the new hexenspiegels out on the porch if the weather holds up, it's a beautiful day and that would fill them with even more joyful energy.

I'm making these lovely magical witch's mirror charms today on the Spring Equinox, I'll be blessing and charging them on my altar later this evening and then I'll start shipping them out to happy Etsy friends who order them. Want me to save you one? Here's where to pre-order yours, get one before they're all gone: Click here!

 

You can visit the link to read more about the magical hexenspiegel, I have lots of info there and more pics too. If you want to make your own hexenspiegel or learn more about working with mirrors for magic, check out my book The Witch's Mirror.

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac Giveaway

Whoo-hoo! I just got my author copies of the Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac! I had the honor of writing the "Crafty Crafts segments of this really cool almanac, so it's giveaway time!!!

Enter on Instagram, here's the link: Click HERE to enter!

Here's how to enter:
1. Follow @mickiemueller on Instagram
2. Repost this photo (above) on Instagram. 3.Tag#SabbatsAlmanacGiveaway and@mickiemueller That's all you have to do and you'll be entered into the drawing on Friday July 22! Make sure you complete all three requirements for your entries to be counted. 

More info about this awesome almanac and a couple sneak peeks...read on...

These are really fun crafts, I made them all to make sure I had the directions correct, I hope you enjoy them! This art is by Carolyn Vibbert.

This almanac runs from Samhain 2016-Mabon 2017. It was so cool to flip through the pages and see the illustrations that Wen Hsu did for my articles, she really nailed them perfectly! I've always admired her work. I illustrate a lot of articles and books for other authors, so it's really cool to be on the other side of that, I must tell you, they really are beautiful! Carolyn Vibbert created the other interior illustrations and the clever cover art is by Ellen Lawson. I've got two books, but I only need one...I think it's time for a celebratory giveaway!

One of Wen Hsu's awesome illustrations for my articles, this one is for the Samhain article! "Magic Divination Witch Bottle"  I think this illustration is my fave!

This essential guide offers fun and fresh ways to celebrate the eight sacred holidays. Enrich your spiritual life throughout the year and discover powerful wisdom and ideas from a wealth of popular this is a great guide with fun and fresh ways to celebrate the sabbats, more than 50 articles for both new and experienced witches, great ideas on marking the sacred points of the wheel of the year with great contributors:

Linda Raedisch, Melanie Marquis, Mickie Mueller, Michael Furie, Elizabeth Barrette, Suzanne Ress, Kristoffer Hughes, Dallas Jennifer Cobb, Sybil Fogg, Kerri Connor, JD Hortwort, Stacy M. Porter, and April Elliott Kent

"Sand Cast Crystal Grid Candle Holder" the illustration and the actual crystal grid project that I made!

The almanac includes creative, low-cost arts and crafts projects that I wrote just for you. There are also ideas for celebrating the sabbats as a family, simple recipes for delicious appetizers, entrees, beverages, and desserts. There are super helpful section on astrological influences with full and new moon rituals as well as extended rituals for groups and individuals. There are handy journal pages for keeping track of your festival plans and memories, and fascinating Pagan folklore and customs too!

My "Harvest Abundance Braid" and "Wheat Pentagram Wall Hanging" with my actual Abundance Braid in the background!

If you want to enter to win, click HERE and follow the easy instructions on the Instagram post!

Good luck!

Just in case you don't win but want a copy so that you can use my crafts and all the other great sabbat ideas too, here are links where you can get your own copy:

Llewellyn: https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738737706

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Llewellyns-2017-Sabbats-Almanac-Samhain/dp/0738737704

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/llewellyns-2017-sabbats-almanac-llewellyn/1122705364?ean=9780738737706

Or shop at your local bookstore, check Indiebound for sellers near you: http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder 

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Winter Solstice at the Cottage

The winter solstice and the celebration of Yule marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night.  The days get shorter and shorter in the winter and this day marks the mid-point the that some call the first day of winter, or more accurately, midwinter. After the solstice, the days will begin to get longer again.

Many people celebrate in many different ways, pilgrimages to sacred sites alligning with the rising sun like Stonehenge or New Grange, many do big group rituals and parties, or solemn solitary observances of the rebirth of the sun. Yesterday I celebrated quietly at our new small town cottage.

If you follow my social media you might know that we recently moved our home and studio from the country house of Aelfheim to the 115 year old small town house, Oak Haven Cottage. We love our charming new home and workspace, but between the move, illustration deadlines, and making sure our Etsy orders continued to go out regularly, I haven't had much time to blog.  I thought the quiet peace of the winter solstice was a perfect time to catch up here.

Miss Freya likes it here too, she's having a moment of zen, doing a little doggie yoga on the couch under the light of the Yule Tree.

At sunset I lit a candle that I crafted myself using recycled wax, magical oils, herbs and positive intentions. I placed it in a pretty glass tumbler with gold decorations and surrounded it with holly, ivy, and oak. One of my favorite Yule observances is to light a vigil candle at sunset to burn all through the longest night, symbolically keeping the light of the sun during its longest rest.  I had some interesting dreams through the night, all guiding me into the newly growing light ahead.

Our Yule tree is decorated differently than usual. My standard traditional decorations are in the very back of our storage shed, and tons of random stuff is piled in front and in top of it. I could have dug it all out, but in an effort to simplify, I opted instead to "make do" with some red and gold dollar store decorations this year. I found some bells to represent the ringing in of good vibrations. Various stars on the tree represent magic and the five elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Glittering pine cones hold new life within and remind us of the vibrancy that remains even though the darkest night and the coldest winter. 

After I lit my vigil candle, I went outside to see the sunset and look around, connecting with the spirits of the land. I walked around observing quietly in the early evening on this sacred sabbat.

The light glowed merrily from the window of the attic studio, Dan was up there working on orders for our Etsy customers, I would go up and assist him shortly. The big white oak offers its energy to this turn of the century house. I wonder about the past residents and imagine their faces gazing out of that window, how the sights have changed over the years.

My cauldron of sage has taken up residence on the front porch, it's still got some life in it here at midwinter, I wonder if the green will last until spring.

We have no outlets outside, so solar lights frame the doorway. I like the symbolism of gathering the sunlight all day so that the lights glow with that energy at night. As a bonus, my electric bill doesn't increase because of adding holiday lights, very earth friendly. I'm planning to get more strings of solar lights for next year! 

This fairy is camped out by another solar light in a garden bed. I think she's wondering if there are bulbs or other annuals beneath the earth resting and dreaming of the coming spring. I'm looking forward to discovering what wildflowers will spring up in the yard, which birds will browse at the bird feeders, how the sunlight will fall so I can decide where to plant a a few things in the spring and summer. 

Until then, I'll spend time getting to know the rhythms of small town life.

Blessed Be,

Mickie

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials: Mabon

It's the Autumn Equinox, and amongst the many things that I'm acknowledging gratitude for today is the box full of books I illustrated that came in the mail from Llewellyn last week! Today I thought it would be appropriate to share the Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials book Mabon by Diana Rajchel!

I currently have a crystal grid set up, so instead of my usual seasonal altar, I added my Mabon items around the grid so as not to disturb it. Included is an electric candle and wrap made by my mom, you can see more of her work at FrogBirdsHouse.etsy.com 

Apples hanging out among the crystals will become some kind of dessert later.

This is the chapter opener for the "Old Ways" chapter where Diana discusses old Traditions celebrating the harvest.

Last year when I was working on these illustrations I was cracking up watching the squirrels running across the yard harvesting acorns, so I had to include one in the "New Ways" chapter opener.

I loved her description of the scarecrow from the crafts section, this guy was fun to draw with his dismayed expression.

The lovely Demeter with many other magical correspondences grace this page.

I love the crow on the cover, the cover art was designed by the talented Kevin R. Brown.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into Mabon from the Llewellyn's Sabbats Essentials.  Think mindfully about all that you're grateful for today, thank the Universe, and appreciate all the little things in life. The world is a magical place!

Available at Barnes & Noble Mabon from the Llewellyn's Sabbats Essentials
Available at Amazon Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials book Mabon

Blessed Be!

Mickie 

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