Greetings, Magical Souls!

Spring is stirring!! As the days and nights stand in perfect harmony, we are reminded to embrace both light and shadow, release what no longer serves us, and plant the seeds of new beginnings.

Sage Advice

Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, is a magical time of year when nature awakens from its winter slumber, and the balance between day and night is restored. It's a celebration of fertility, growth, and the promise of new beginnings.

Ostara Activities

• Bake hot cross buns

• Decorate wooden eggs

• Get colorful fresh cut flowers

• Spring cleaning

• Go for a nature walk

• Cast a spell for prosperity

• Plant seeds

Hot Cross Buns (vegan)

• 4 cups all purpose flour, plus more as needed

• 1 tablespoon instant yeast*

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk, warmed

• 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened

• 1 cup raisins or currants

• zest of 1 orange, optional but good

Sugar Glaze

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Orange Glaze for Crosses

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 2 tablespoons vegan butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice*

Instructions 

Prepare the dough

• To the bowl of a stand mixer or other large bowl, add 4 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Mix to combine.

• Now add the warmed soy milk, softened vegan butter, currants or raisins and orange zest, if using. If using a stand mixer, mix with a dough hook on low speed for about 5 minutes, until a dough forms. Add additional flour as needed, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

• Alternatively if you don't have a stand mixer, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed.

• The dough should be slightly sticky, smooth and stretchy. Be careful not to add too much flour, or the buns will be dense and not rise as well.

First rise

• Place the dough in a large bowl sprayed with oil, cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise for 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size.

Shape the rolls

• Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or two 8-9 inch round pans.

• Punch the dough down gently to release the air and divide into 15 pieces. To make them as smooth as possible, pull the seams downward and shape each roll so the top is smooth. Place the less smooth side down onto the prepared pan or pans, right next to each other.

Second rise

• Cover with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes (they won't quite double in size this time.)

• While they are rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake

• Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown on top.

Sugar glaze

• While the buns are baking, place the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved, then set aside off the heat.

Orange glaze

• Whisk the icing ingredients together in a bowl until combined, then add to a piping bag and refrigerate until ready to use.

The rest

• When the buns are done, brush them with the sugar syrup. Let them cool for 20 minutes or so before piping the icing over the buns to form crosses. Serve and enjoy!

• Cover leftover rolls tightly and store at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate for 4-5 days. They can also be frozen.

from Nora Cooks

Adopt Your Next Familiar

This fine feline is currently a resident at PetSmart under MAARC supervision. Tilde is ready for her happy ending. Affectionate and calm, she adores quiet moments, sunny windows, and soft pets.

Seasons of the Witch – Ostara Oracle is here to guide you through your journey of rebirth, for no ending is truly the end but rather a portal, initiating you into the next cycle of your spiritual evolution.

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This Weeks Happenings!

Read It & Steep Book Club - The Kraken’s Cup - 11am-1pm. Learn More

Ecstatic Dance - Inner Perfect -7pm-9pm. Learn More

Tarot w/Frank - Inner Perfect -11am-5pm. Learn More

Emotional Sobriety - The Kraken’s Cup - 5pm-6pm. Learn More

Paint and Sip Tea Party - The Kraken’s Cup - 6pm-830pm. Learn More

Sapphics of Knoxville Book Club - The Boocherie - 6pm -8pm.

Burlesque - The Boocherie - 830pm -11pm.

Divination Study Group - Hey Bear Cafe - Elder Futhark Runes 6pm. Learn More

Animal Communication w/Afton - New Moon Rising Gifts and Goods - 2pm-5pm. Learn More

Tarot w/Frank - Inner Perfect - 11am-5pm. Learn More

Sober Yoga Happy Hour - Renegade Yoga - 7pm-8pm. Register

Nature Nerd Hike - Ijams - 7pm-9pm. Learn More

Poetry Open Mic - Fable Hollow Coffee and Bookshoppe - 6pm-7pm. Learn More

Spring Satsang with Ajeet - Renegade Yoga - 2pm. Register

Spring Fling Sidewalk Sale, Tarot & Desserts - New Moon Rising Gifts and Goods - 12pm-6pm.

Intuitive Energetic Readings w/Stanli - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 10am-2pm. RSVP

Spring Fungi ID - Ijams - 1pm-3pm. Learn More

Shop for a Spell: Whimsigoth Market - Hey Bear Cafe - 12pm-6pm.

Wildflower Walk - Ijams - 10am-12pm. Learn More

Reiki Sound Healing Journey w/Ivy & Malia - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 12:15pm-1pm . RSVP

Reiki Healing w/Malia - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 130pm-330pm . RSVP

Sound Healing Journey in the Salt Room - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 4pm-5pm . RSVP

Heal Your Inner Child, Heal Yourself - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 1pm-230pm . RSVP

Akashic Records Readings & Healing w/Leilani - The Sacred Owl & Salt Room - 12pm-4pm . RSVP

Yoga Workshop & Sauna - Ijams - 1:00pm - 3:30pm. Learn More

Emotional Sobriety Meeting - The Boocherie - 1pm - 2pm. Learn More

Candlelight Yin Yoga - Inner Perfect - 7pm. Learn More

Mini Tarot Readings w/East S.M. - New Moon Rising Gifts and Goods - 1pm-5pm. Learn More

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