The Ancient Magickal Food

[Guest guest]

The Ancient

Magickal Food

by Jim Weaver

 

Before the Parthenon was built on its overlook above

ancient Athens, and

before the great pyramids towered above the sand dunes of

Egypt, yogurt

was already one of the world's most ancient foods. Since

before

recorded history, yogurt was believed to be a magickal

and healing food.

In fact, along with grains, yogurt is on of the foods

which literally

helped fuel the growth of human civialization.

 

As is the case with most foods dating far back into

antiquity, the exact

time and place yogurt originated is lost forever in the

mists of

centuries. Most likely, yogurt's origin took place in

ancient

Mesopotamia {present-day} Iraq or even present-day Iran},

sometime after

plants, goats, and sheep were domesticated. Therefore,

some authorities

date yogurt's beginning to as early as 5000 BC.

 

Since there was no refrigeration back then, goat's mild

that was

probably stored in gourds or goatskin bags would have

naturally

fermented in Mesopatamia's warm climate. This fermentation

process gave

us the creamy semisolid dairy product we now call

yogurt. Add luckily,

some brave sould we'll never be able to identify decided

to sample this

food, and then shared it with his or her fellow

villigers. Due to

yogurts' seemingly miraculous occurrencew, the ancients

believed yogurt

was a divine gift of the gods and goddesses.

 

From Mesopotamia, the idea to use yogurt as both a food

and magickal

healing substance spread to all areas of the ancient

world. As time

passed, yogurt became one of the most basic and most

respected foods of

Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

 

Middle Easterners have an almost mystical attachment to

yogurt, and few

households are without a constant supply of fresh

homemade yogurt. To

do this, a few tablespoons of yogurt must be ever set

aside to serve as

thh " starter " for the next batch.

 

In rural areas of the Near East, it is the custom that if

a family

should move a great distance, to ensure the new home

would have yogurt,

the wife will spread a small amount of her current yogurt

supply on a

clean cloth, let it dry, then fold it and pack it with

loving care along

with the family's tresured possessions. Upon arrival in

the new house,

the dried yogurt culture is scraped from the cloth and

into warm milk.

In this way, the new home, as well as its attendant

guardian " house

spirit " has its first batch of yogurt.

 

To people interested in magick, the home preparation of

yogurt is

rewarding because in some ways it parallels magickal

rituals -- you

start with a goal, follow the ritual, and the result of

changing milk

into yogurt gives you the same satisfaction spell-casting

does when it

is physically manifests your desire into life. Since

yogurt has been

made in the same way for centuries, it also links us with

our Pagan

Roots.

 

Darcie's Yogurt Recipe:

To make yogurt you need only a few ingredients. A large

pot, anywhere

from one pint to one gallon of milk [light, skim, or

regular], a pint to

a gallon of [Dannon] plain yogurt, and a dash of salt.

Bring milk to

low boil, then add in your plain yogurt and salt. Let

yogurt dissolve

and remove from heat. Cover with tight lid, and place in

a dark corner

covered with a heavy blanket over night. Depending on

how sour you like

it will determine the level you will boil the milk too.

 

Add in garlic, cucumber, dill or whatever herb you

desire, and serve

with flat bread and rice. Goes well with dishes such as

flaffal, rice,

and any Mediterrian dishes.

 

During my younger years I learned of this tradition from

my Middle

Eastern family it is a great way to create your own

flavours for foods

and keep the weight off.

 

 

Below is a link to a site that is full of different

recipes for you

enjoyment.

 

http://www.thegutsygourmet.net/yogurt.html

<http://www.thegutsygourmet.net/yogurt.html>

 

 

“Fortunately

art is a community effort - a small but select community living in a

spiritualized world endeavoring to interpret the wars and the solitudes of the

flesh.”

-Allen Ginsberg

 

 

Everything Natural

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The Pagan Housewife

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Tales of

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The Frugal New Yorker

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