A Diversion...

Am I the only one to notice that the statue of hecate that is in the Vatican museum (remember she is a torch bearer) strongly resembles the statue of liberty? 
judge for yourself...

A Hecate Delight

I wonder if she tried this... mmmmmm.

Whole roasted heads of garlic

This way of cooking garlic is totally delicious do not be deceived by its simplicity the resulting paste is luscious, rich and sumptuous. 

When making jacket potatoes I often serve roasted garlic and onions as a couple of side dishes and it’s so easy: - just stick a few heads of garlic and a few small raw onions in the oven about 35-40 minutes before the potatoes are cooked.

You can also mash the roasted garlic cloves with a fork and use in any dish calling for garlic.

Garlic puree is delicious spread over warm French bread (the ultimate garlic bread) or mixed in to cooked pasta with olive oil, fresh basil and Parmesan.

Method

1.  Preheat the oven to 400°F
2.  Peel away the outer layers of the garlic bulb skin, leaving the skins of the individual cloves intact.
3.  Using a knife, cut off 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of the top of cloves, exposing the individual cloves of garlic  
4.    Place the garlic heads on a baking tray     Drizzle a couple tsp of olive oil over each head, season with salt and pepper 
5.   Bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes, or until the cloves feel soft when pressed
6.  Once the garlic has cooled enough to handle… get involved…  squeeze the individual cloves with your fingers either strait into your mouth or on to your plate

I hear she likes the odd clove...

We'd best start with Garlic I think... because Hecate and garlic go back a long way! follow the link below... 
article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3284/is_314_81/ai_n29405664/pg_2/

the whole book will be available soon... 

Garlic: allium sativum

Garden plant: widely available

Parts used: Bulb

Gathering: Bulbs grown at home should be unearthed in September when the leaves start to die back. They should be stored in a cool dry place. Alternatively, garlic can be gathered all year round in any grocers or supermarket.

Actions:

Antiseptic,Anti-spasmodic, Anti-viral,Cholagogue, Diaphoretic

Hypotensive.

Indications:Despite the fact that Garlic is often overlooked it is nevertheless a most amazing medicine. Garlic gives the body a great deal of support and protection against disease. It is almost without equal amongst plants as an anti-microbial agent, it is effective against bacteria, alimentary parasites and viruses.

Garlic is particularly useful for lung problems and should always be considered when the respiratory system is under stress. Conditions such as bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, recurrent colds and influenza all benefit from treatment with garlic. It may also be useful in the treatment of whooping cough and as part of a regime for those with bronchitic asthma.

Garlic will act as a preventive for most infectious conditions both respiratory and digestive.

Taken over a long period of time garlic will reduce cholesterol levels and lower high blood pressure. It can also be used externally to treat ringworm. 

Preparation and dosage: A clove should be eaten three times a day. 

Folklore, History and Kitchen Witch: Garlic is under the dominion of Mars and it t is fitting that the god of war should rule a plant whose name, of Anglo Saxon origin, is Gar (a spear) and Lac (a plant) or spear plant…

Garlic has been used as a medicine since time immemorial. According to Leslie Gordon garlic was known by the Chinese as early as 2000 BC and has been used medicinally by them ever since. The first century Roman writer, Pliny the elder, claimed that the Egyptians honoured garlic as a deity at the taking of oaths. He also attested garlic’s continuing popularity as an effective cure all by ascribing sixty-one remedies to it in his Natural History.

In 1649 Culpepper included the wonders of garlic in his Complete Herbal where he claims that this ordinary kitchen item would: provoke the urine and women’s courses, help the biting of mad dogs, and other venomous creatures; kill the worms in children, cut and void tough phlegm, purge the head, help the lethargy and be a good preservative against, and a remedy for, any plague, sore or foul ulcer’…  this is indeed an altogether impressive list for this familiar vegetable. 

It is common knowledge that garlic is proof against vampires and even, on occasion, the advances of unwanted lovers. Garlic’s reputation as a herb of protection, which is also another nod to its planetary ruler Mars, goes way back into antiquity. According to Theophrastus (371 -378 BC) garlic was left on piles of stones at crossroads as a supper for Hecate the ‘changing woman’ whose protection was eagerly sought by all. In his Odyssey Homer writes that the god Hermes gave garlic to Ulysses as an antidote to the evil magic of Circe, this highlights the use of garlic against dark magic. The use of garlic as a herb of protection has remained popular in neo-pagan circles largely because of this long held belief in its power against evil. Actually, should it be necessary to deter unwanted spirits of any kind you could do worse that hang Garlands of garlic around your doors and place bulbs or cloves of garlic on windowsills with a sprinkle of salt.

Garlic is a component of the very famous "Marseilles Vinegar" or "Four Thieves Vinegar". There are many variations on both the legend of the four thieves and the recipe for their vinegar, but briefly, and as it was told to me, the story surrounds four French men who plundered the homes of plague victims around Marseille in the 1600’s and yet remained unaffected by the plague themselves. They were captured and, as the penalty for looting was death, they bargained for their lives by offering the magistrate the recipe for their vinegar.  It is said that he happily accepted their offer and that they were spared. 

Moon in Taurus...

the moon moves into taurus today.. it feels good to have the moon in my sun sign I feel more at home with the earth element.. here's another picture of Hecate and her torch.. She looks like she's at a festival busking... I reckon she's into fire poi watch this space for more on that!

Divergent Paths...

Looking at a bit of myth it seems that Hecate helped Demeter to search for Persephone by providing light from her torch during the hours of darkness. This vase painting shows Hades returning Persephone to her mother in his chariot accompanied by Hermes and Hecate holding her torch.

Hecate the Torch Bearer

it's strange how I always seem to end up here with the story of the rape of Persephone and this time it was totally unexpected... divergent paths are her speciality I suppose..

Cursing and Curing

Astonishing, you start a journey and then life simply guides your hand.. Such lovely friends and family. I just hope they know how much their love and support means to me.. Just a bit of editing today so a little disappointed with my output but at least I'm feeling much better after my reflexology session today ahhhhhh must start the research for this herb garden where did the idea come from? Can't help feeling that the inclusion of the poisons in the herb garden points to the beginning of the idea that if you can't curse you can't cure. I've downloaded some work by Apollonius Rohodius will keep you updated it seems that Sophocles and Euripides had some ideas about Hecate and herbs.. I'm off to bed... thinking about garlic.. 

Working hard on the recipe section of the herbal today.. still got a streaming cold... not much of a bloody advert for my own remedies. The dog is fine.. 

Connections

hey there just to connect you to my other blogs and website
http://mamalouradford.blogspot.com/
http://crudaterra.blogspot.com/
http://www.holisticdimension.co.uk/welcome.html

Mind the Dog

I know I already have a couple of blogs going but this one is different... this time it's different ... Hecate the changing woman let me know it was time to start my magnum opus... and this is just one facet of that work. There will be more... much more... books, dvd, vids on youtube, workshops, visit's to the woods on the dark moon and, well, who knows where the road will lead me... and if you decide to come along for the ride that'd be great it's always fun to have some company... just mind the dog