Winter Solstice Salutations
Solstice Blessings!
I am so honored you found your way to my blog.
I:i Nwa-geet-harloda (What clay are you made of?)
This is the ancient greeting used by the first Sistars, who learned it from the indigenous people of Grand Island. We still use it thousands of years later.
Welcome.
I am Ariel Jones. Brown Butter Tales and Tea is a collection of my seasonal rituals and herbal libations for grounding and protection. Some might call it a modern grimoire. I am the Lead Scryer and High Priestess of the Temple of Golden Lights. Scryers understand the subtle energies in the world, and I hope to share these with you.
Our Winter Solstice ritual (see below) was performed as it always has been on Dec 21, when we embrace the shadow side of life and own the weight of our existence. Seeing what to let go of is as important as knowing what to embrace.
On the Winter Solstice,
Ritual bathe and burn cedar for grounding and juniper for protection
Then say her name:
I evoke the seven het-herus
Keepers of all we know
both old and new
Hathor. Isis. Mother of magic and life
I thank you for sight on this waxing moon night.
I fire-scryed while the other Scryers and Adepts chanted to our goddesses. We went so long my eyes went dry, and I blinked.
When I opened my eyes, I heard.
Burn your goals.
And I knew what it meant. Release your plans. Release my plans. Release our plans.
So I did.
I burned my goals like sigils with the cedar and juniper herb wands.
And started to channel into this blog.
Did you observe the Winter Solstice in any way this year? Did it illuminate the darkest, quietest parts of yourself? Did you receive a message affirming yourself to become unbound, unafraid, and unapologetic? Share your thoughts or maybe your intention to try it next year.
Thank you for taking a few minutes with me, but now it's Tea Time at the temple. We are serving White Chocolate Mint Tea. So I invite you to some lighthearted wonder and enjoy a cup with us.
YIELD: 3 SERVINGS
White Chocolate Mint Tea Latte
This white chocolate mint latte has been termed the Jack Frost Latte here at the temple. It is full of peppermint and white chocolate flavor. You can use coconut creamer or any milk or cream of choice. I might be known to spike it with a shot of white rum.
PREP TIME 10 minutes
STEEP TIME 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes
Ingredients
3 tea bags mint tea (herbal or green tea and mint)
2 cups water
3 cups choice of milk substitute or milk
8 ounces quality white chocolate, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
fresh whipped cream, for topping
shaved white chocolate, for topping
Directions
In a saucepot over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the tea bags and sugar. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes.
In a second saucepot over medium heat, bring the milk to a gentle simmer. Stir in the white chocolate, vanilla, and salt until the chocolate is fully melted. Remove from heat and froth using an immersion blender.
Combine. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with shaved white chocolate for each cup.
Nagweet harloda,
