Engaging Hurrican

This brief ritual of offering and of respect is here described as it would be done under ideal circumstances. Working under the threat of an impending hurricane is not ideal, so feel free to improvise and change as suits you best. The real power in this ritual is your intent.

Set up an altar anywhere you can—desks, tables, the floor, anywhere flat.

You will need a large bowl (or whatever you have on hand).

For the offering, you may use fruits, vegetables, coins, jewelry, or similar objects. Rum would be traditional and appropriate, but any kind of sugary drink is an adequate representative. These are to be placed with reverence into the bowl.

If possible, have two lit candles on either side of the bowl. Any kind of candle will do.

When you have assembled the altar, take a few moments to ground and center. Think on what you are about to do and what you hope will be the result.

Recite the following invocation aloud or to yourself.

The Caribe knew better than we
They knew this was more than rain and wind
The saw the power, and they called the power Hurrican
Now, Hurrican, we call to you again
We profess our weakness in the face of your might
Take of this simple offering as a gesture of our respect
Hurrican, you are with us and we are within you
Show your great power, but favor us
Amaze us with your face of pounding surf and driving rain
But we are only human, and as humans, keep us safe
This we ask as humble spirits before divine power
Hurrican, maintain us

Witch Emmie’s Hurrican Charm

You may be able to cobble this together from things you have lying around your home.

Use blue fabric if at all possible.

In the center of the fabric, place any or all of the following: allspice, cloves, nutmeg (Caribbean spices) , a pinch of salt, a silver-colored coin, and a small stone you have found somewhere on your property.

Bring together the corners of the fabric around the ingredients and then tie the bundle with some string.

Keep this charm on you for the duration of the storm.

May you and yours be blessed!

Feasting Medieval Style

To recreate an entire Medieval feast would probably require more room, time, and patience than you have. However, it is simple enough to get a taste of the Middle Ages at your own dining table. The following recipes are straightforward, and only barely adapted for the modern kitchen.

You will be making pork pea soup and honey mead. At an actual Medieval feast, you would serve the soup in a trencher, a bowl made of carved-out bread. You would be given a spoon, but you would need to bring your own knife to the table. Forks were still science fiction.

Amounts are given Medieval-style--that is, spice and add to taste. For the soup, you will want to make certain you add three cups of liquid (chicken broth) for every one cup of split peas you use.

PORK PEA SOUP

Ingredients:

A generous portion of Canadian bacon (the closest thing we have to what a Medieval chef would have used), sliced

Dried, split green peas

Chicken broth (see above note)

One head of garlic, cloved and chopped (yes, use the WHOLE head)

Sliced carrots

One onion, diced

Bay leaves

Honey to taste


PREPARATION:

Begin with the chicken broth. Bring it to a slow boil in a large pot. Gradually add the bacon, garlic, bay leaves, onions, and carrots to flavor the broth. When this has come to a boil, stir in the peas. Leave this all to simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the peas have broken down into a paste. Add honey and serve hot.

HONEY MEAD

Ingredients:

1 quart of spring water

1 cup honey

1 sliced lemon

Nutmeg

Pinch of salt

Juice of 1/2 lemon


PREPARATION:

Boil the first four ingredients together, preferably in a non-metallic pot. Scrape off the scum which rises to the top with a wooden spoon. When there is no more scum rising, add the salt and the lemon juice. Strain the mead, and let it cool before serving.

NOTE: This is non-alcoholic mead.