MidFall/Samhain 2015 Tarot Blog Hop: Commune, Communicate, Commemorate

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Our wrangler, Arwen Lynch-Poe asked us to write about communing, communicating and commemorating our loved ones who have gone on before us. It is a topic close to my heart, and I can’t wait to read the other blogs!

This is such a strange time of the year. Harvest, thanksgiving, colorful leaves, pumpkins, making wine, drinking wine, children getting tired of school… And there’s the thinning of The Veil. Everyone knows how all the world’s cultures have festivals for ancestors around this time.

For me it is a little more personal. My grandfather died in October. He is not in any history book, but for me he is a hero. He loved us so much  with my sisters I can’t even begin to describe it. (It’s him on the picture with me on his shoulders, a good 20 years back.) When I was small I have always said I want to marry him. 🙂 My granny would say something like “what will happen to me then?” and I’d reassure her that she can stay with us because she bakes the best cakes and cookies in the whole world. How nice of me. Now she always says that she is just waiting when she can join him again.

He was a hero not only for me tho. When he was in the army (those times it was compulsory) he once saved his commander’s life. The commander had a radio which got fused, and he got “stuck” to it by the electric shock. My grandfather arrived in time; he has hit the commander with a broom, freeing him from the radio and saving his life. Later on the commander saved him from being ‘disciplined’ for teasing girls on duty, lol. Those were the times…

He loved my granny’s scones. (She makes the best scones btw so if you want to try them I will post the recipe at the end) Sometimes we would get naughty and eat them secretly in the larder. Of course when we couldn’t eat lunch we were found out, but by that time it was too late.

I could tell so many stories about him it would take pages and pages… But I only want to say one more thing: I’m relieved that he died. He was ill for a very long time, and it was horrible to watch how this once strong and loving man slowly became the empty shell of himself. Thank you, Death for freeing him.

I have made a spread for his memory but it can be used for anyone who left this dimension. I call it the ‘scone spread‘ and it goes like this:

1 Flour: what is this person’s legacy?

2 Milk and yeast: How does this person want to be remembered?

3 Eggs: What can I learn from this person?

4 Butter: What message would this person send?

+ 5 Cheese: Show me a sweet memory! (Optional, only if you knew the person)

Cards are from The Sacred India Tarot.

Hope you enjoyed the spread, it sure gave me a nostalgic smile. And of course, here is the recipe I promised:

Nah, it’s a family secret! ;D …………………………………….. Ok it’s not.

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Granny’s scones

Ingredients:

500g plain flour

250g butter

2dl plain Greek style yogurt

2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

3 eggs

1 packet (7g) of yeast

Process:

1. proof the yeast with the yogurt and sugar. Yogurt has to be at least room temperature (or warmer), as yeast won’t work in cold.

2. mix everything together in a bowl. If you feel it’s too dry, add some warm milk.

3. cover the bowl with a cloth or its lid, keep it somewhere nice and warm, and let the dough rise. It takes 1-2 hours, depending on your house’s temperature.

4. Kneed, then put the dough back in the bowl and keep it in the fridge overnight.

5. in the morning kneed again.

6. roll it to approximately 1 inch thick and cut out the scones. If you don’t have a biscuit cutter, use a beaker. With a knife, make cross marks on their tops. They should look like a castle on children’s drawings. Spread melted butter on top.

7. take a baking tray, spread butter on it and put the scones, leaving some space between them so they won’t stick together. Sprinkle them with grated cheese (optional but this is my favorite part). Let them rise again (max 1 hour).

8. Preheat oven to 180 °C/350 °F/Gas 4 and bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Enjoy. 🙂

And while you are at it, why not visit other participating blogs? Just follow the links to the previous/next blog, or choose from the master list.

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