A Thanksgiving Blessing~~~~

Hello Everyone,

Right now I am staying out of my kitchen while my niece and children are doing pre-Thanksgiving preparations, baking pies, figuring out what foods go into what serving dishes, stretching out the table and setting the table cloth, bringing up the extra chairs, chilling the sparkling cider, and soft drinks (beer for the men folk) and a couple of dogs underfoot hoping for a handout to fall from the counter or table or secretly given to them.

But on Thanksgiving everyone who is a practitioner should remember this day as a day of Thanks for the blessings we have and to share them with those who are least fortunate be they human or animal.

I remember as a child even when my Dad was out of work, how the family would share what they had with those who were in an even worse situation.   My family although practitioners, were and are Catholic, like Marie Laveau.   And the teachings of Jesus is important to me.

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American Holiday, a time for family to get together or those that are considered family.  It is a time to realize how blessed we are.

That is why I share this quote from the Bible for Thanksgiving:

From Matthew 25: 35-40

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."

Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?   When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?   When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"

And the Lord will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me."

We should do this for those who are in far more difficult situation and it is also important to care for our pets and those animals who live in the wild especially during these harsh winter months in the northern climates.

We really should do this year around, not just for the holidays, and it matters not of what belief or lack of belief you have, if everyone one of us did this, without thought of repayment or compensation, we would be wealthy beyond belief and it would not be a financial wealth but that of honor, respect, dignity, valor and of love.

So not only should that quote from the Bible be recited at the Thanksgiving table but also this prayer:

Bless us Oh Lord

For these thy Gifts

Which we have received

from your Bounty,

Through Christ your Son.

Bless us Oh Lord

For protecting us and our loved ones

from harm, and want

Through Christ your Son

Protect Oh Lord,

our Loved Ones who cannot

be with us on this Day of Thanks.

And are watched over by Christ Your Son.

And remember Oh Lord

Those who have gone before us

into your kingdom and your love,

that we may remember them and give Thanks

for the good they have done and

the sacrifice that they have done for Family and Friends.

We ask this and pray for this through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Bright Blessings to All of You,

Ms. Q

A Spiritual Quote for this Season of Thanks~~~

Hello Everyone,

Ms. Q, even in her weakened state, sometimes can still be a force to reckon with and we just don't want to cross her.

But she insisted that today of all days that everyone who is a practitioner remember today as a day of Thanks for the blessings we have and to share them with those who are least fortunate be they human or animal.

Last night she was telling me and my cousins how as a child even when her Dad was out of work, how her family would share what they had with those who were in an even worse situation.  Even though her family were practitioners they were and are of Catholic or Christian Faith, even a few members who married into the family were Jewish (maybe not so orthodox), so there would be times when both holidays were celebrated. 

But Ms. Q, after her Granny passed away insisted being given a hand sewn sampler that her Granny did as a young woman,  which was framed,  it hung in her Granny's dinning room and it hangs in Ms. Q's as well.   And every Holiday when the family is gathered together Ms Q insists that this quote from the Bible be spoken over the table before we say Grace.

From Matthew 25: 35-40

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."

Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?   When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?   When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"

And the Lord will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me."


Ms. Q also remembers that it is important to care for our pets and those animals who live in the wild especially during these harsh months in the northern climates.

But she says we should do this year around, not just for the holidays, and it matters not of what belief or lack of belief you have, if everyone one of us did this, without thought of repayment or compensation, we would be wealthy beyond belief and it would not be a financial wealth but that of honor, respect, dignity, valor and of love.

In Ms. Q's words, "Blessings to All of You"

THANKSGIVING---WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A WITCH.

Dear Ms. Q,

Although The Thanksgiving celebration is secular in design it was created by a spiritual need.

Before the Pilgrims had their Thanksgiving celebration, there were different harvest festivals celebrated in Europe as a way of giving Thanks and they usually occurred before the first snow fall, when it was easier to get around.

It is believed that the first thanksgiving feast was done by Spanish explorers in Florida in the late 1500's but it wasn't until the Thanksgiving celebration by the Pilgrims with the local native Americans did it become more mythologized, granted they did have a harvest celebration because the Native Americans taught the pilgrims what they could do to prevent starvation. and it is said that they consecrated it to God to preserve them from want.

The exact date is unknown but it most likely occurred in the Fall after most of the harvest was done.

Later on George Washington issued a proclamation to celebrate Thanksgiving under God as the first Thursday in November very soon after All Hallows, again before the first Snow Fall, and it continued sporadically in Early November until 1863.

President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that the 4th Thursday in November but not the last Thursday in November be recognized as a Day of Thanks and that all be consecrated to Christ this was do to the terrible battle of Gettysburg, and the thousands of Deaths. Lincoln was not an overly religious man, but he did have spiritual beliefs, he was going through difficult times, his son had died, he had doubts about the war, but it wasn't until he walked among the graves at Gettysburg that he asked the people there to pray not only for the Dead but to pray to consecrate Lincoln to Christ.

What he saw at Gettysburg moved him profoundly, and he then wrote the Proclamation. People there after traditionally celebrated a Day of Thanks both secular and spiritual on the 4th Thursday.

But it was not made into a National Holiday until 1941 when President Roosevelt signed a bill Making the 4th Thursday in November (but not the last Thursday in November) as Thanksgiving. Many people liked the idea at having a National Day of Thanks and retailers liked it too as it began to define retail wise the start of putting together the Christmas shopping season. By doing this it gave exactly 1 month for people to prepare for Christmas.

That is why the Macy's parade starts with a Turkey Float and ends with Santa Claus arriving at Macy's.

But for a witch to set aside a Day of Thanks is a good thing, to have it separated from any other religious connotation except to be glad and grateful for what blessings one has received, for having survived the trials and tribulations of the year and hopefully be renewed with a new spirit to face the year to come, this is a good thing.

It is always best to celebrate with a pot luck dinner, with each person bringing a dish, and it is best for each person to let the hostess know what dish they are thinking of bringing or what would the hostess assign them---that way you avoid 100 desserts or 100 salads.

It's like the story of "Stone Soup" in which a town was starving, but with each person putting what they had into the big soup pot it made a delicious soup that everyone could eat and no one starved.

Again the candles should be yellow, orange, warm brown, and gold as well as the decorations, dried corn, gourds, a basket woven cornucopia (you can used fake fruit such as grapes, apples, pears or the real thing).

For many going to church to give thanks is a good way of starting the day, then returning to make sure the Turkey is baking just right, it sets the mind frame, then enjoy not only the food but the good company. Having Candles lit safely around the place also makes for a sense of warmth. I also recommend a potpourri simmering smelling of cinnamon and vanilla.

But most importantly once all the food is set out, to say a prayer of Thanks.

The most common is:

Bless us Oh Lord
For these thy Gifts
Which we have received
from your Bounty,
Through Christ your Son.

Bless us Oh Lord
For protecting us and our loved ones
from harm, and want
Through Christ your Son

Protect Oh Lord,
our Loved Ones who cannot
be with us on this Day of Thanks.
And are watched over by Christ Your Son.

And remember Oh Lord
Those who have gone before us
into your kingdom and your love,
that we may remember them and give Thanks
for the good they have done and
the sacrifice that they have done for Family and Friends.

We ask this and pray for this through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.