"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
--Helen Keller
Helen Keller was a woman beyond reproach who overcame many obstacles. Possibly this was her daring adventure. She was her own free spirit in the presence of fate. Other great women that come to mind are Madame Curie, Amelia Earhart, and Queen Elizabeth I. What is your own daring adventure? As stated above, always keep your face toward change. Change is good but does create fear. We must go beyond the fear.
I do not want my life to mean nothing when my journey ends. I want it to be my own special adventure. I want to know that I have changed someone's life in a positive way. It is simple: give to others as you give to yourself. You must create your own adventure.
Although today is the final day of October and celebrated as Halloween there are other names for today. Wiccans call it Samhain, meaning "End of Summer", and the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands.
Originally called the "Feast of the Dead" in Celtic countries it was celebrated by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of individuals still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set around the table and the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. We commonly think of carving pumpkins but instead turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos.
Being a spirited chaotic day/night I want to discuss a poisonous plant we have heard of in great literature. The purple spotted stem of this large plant with white flowers can be confused with carrots, parsnips and wild anise. It is the Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). You would think it has no medicinal properties, but it does. It was used in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans for arthritis. I find this hard to believe, however there is a fine line between its therapeutic use and toxic levels. Poison hemlock has been used as a sedative and for its antispasmodic properties. Overdoses can produce paralysis and loss of speech, followed by depression of the respiratory function, and then death. All former Latin students know that the famed philosopher, Socrates died by hemlock. After being condemned to death for impiety in 399 BC, Socrates was given a potent infusion of the hemlock plant. Plato described Socrates' death in the Phaedo
"The man … laid his hands on him and after a while examined his feet and legs, then pinched his foot hard and asked if he felt it. He said ‘No’; then after that, his thighs; and passing upwards in this way he showed us that he was growing cold and rigid..."
The parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a root vegetable related to the carrot. Parsnips resemble carrots, but are paler than most carrots and have a sweeter flavor.The parsnip is richer in vitamins and minerals than its close relative, the carrot. It is particularly rich in potassium with 600 mg per 100 g. Those patients on certain cardiac medications must be careful in eating too many parsnips. If on a 'water pill' or diuretic, the parsnip can be a good source of the potassium you are losing when taking the diuretic. The parsnip is also a good source of dietary fiber.
RECIPE
The taste of warm roasted vegetables makes a great Fall Salad per Martha. She uses roasted shallots, parsnips, carrots and beets, but you can use butternut squash and turnips. Since Wiccans carved turnips for Halloween-use them
For roasted vegetables:
1. 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2. 8 baby red or golden beets, peeled and cut in half
3. 8 shallots
4. 4 medium parsnips ( about 1 pound) - peeled cut into 3-inch lengths
5. 6 long carrots ( scrub them good, peel and cut lengthwise)
6. 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary leaves
7. Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Drizzle beets with olive oil. Then bake them at 450 degrees. Let them stand and cool. Cut them in halves. Put the roasted shallots, parsnips and carrots
in a large bowl with remaining oil. Add salt and pepper. Sprinkle with rosemary. You need arugula. Clean well. Dry well. Place in refrigerator for that crispy feeling.
After arugula is ready use a rectangular place, line up arugula. Carefully place all roasted vegetables on the platter.
Sprinkle lightly with vinegar if desired. Serves 4. Thanks to Martha and Rick
Top photograph: Although this pillow was made for a Christmas gift, for today she can be the Bostonian Witch!
Bottom photograph: Parsnips
Until tomorrow...
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