Monday, March 21, 2011

March 21st - Blackberry Pie

Technique: Salt Dough Modelling

Materials:
flour
salt
water
wallpaper paste
small aluminium pie case
acrylic paints

Tools:
general sculpting tools
rolling pin
oven

March 21st marks the Autumnal Equinox here in the southern hemisphere, referred to by many pagans as Mabon.

"Among Wiccans, the most common Wheel of the Year narrative is that of the God/Goddess duality. In this cycle, the God is born from the Goddess at Yule, grows in power at Vernal Equinox (along with the Goddess who has now returned to her maiden aspect), courts and impregnates the Goddess at Beltane, wanes in power at Lammas, passes into the underworld at Samhain, then is once again born from Her mother/crone aspect at Yule. The Goddess, in turn, ages and rejuvenates endlessly with the seasons, being courted by and giving birth to the Horned God." Wikipedia

Mabon then, is the time between Lammas and Samhain. It is the second of the three harvests, the first beginning with Lammas and the last culminating with Samhain. Only twice in the year does the light and dark hold equal balance in the sky, and from this day onwards the nights will become longer and the days shorter and the weather cooler until Yule marks the shortest day and longest night, and then they increase again until there is balance again at the Spring Equinox.

Foods that are at their peak this time of the year are grapes, figs, pomegranates, blackberries, apples and pears, nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts. Mmmm blackberries. The bushes grow wild in the hills around Adelaide, and it has been said you can pick blackberries in any month that has an 'A' in it, but I find late February/early March to be the best time to go picking.

Some days I start the blog and I haven't a clue what ornament I am going to make. Today was like that until I started rambling on about the blackberries! In honour of the autumnal equinox, I present to you a blackberry pie ornament =)

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