 |
|
Reply
| |
Natural Egg Dyes | COLOR | HERB | TYPE OF MAGICK | RUNE | | Green | Colts-foot, bracken,
for a pale green: spinach leaves | growth, prosperity | Fehu | | Yellow green | Carrot tops,
for a green-gold: yellow delicious apple peels | fertility, new beginning | Berkana | | Yellow | Tumeric,
for a light yellow: orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seeds or ground cumin | sun, energy, vitality | Sowulo | | Orange | Yellow onion skins | sun, energy, vitality | Sowulo | | Rust | Onion skin | strength | Uruz | | Red | Madder root
for a pale red: fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries | sacred eggs | Sowulo | | Pink | Madder root | love, affection | Gebo | | Blue | Blueberries | protection | Thurisaz, Algiz | | Bright blue | Red cabbage leaves | Spirit, Sky Father | Tyr, Mannaz, Ansuz | | Beige to brown | strong brewed coffee, for a reddish brown: limes, deep brown: pecan or walnut shells | Earth, Mother Goddess | Berkana, Laguz | To dye the perfect eggs the natural way, here's what to do: 1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered. 2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar. 3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.) 4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator. Decorations: Use small leaves from fresh or dried herbs like flat parsley, rue, thyme or fern. Press the leaves against the egg and wrap securely with a section of old nylon stocking. Do this before putting in the dyebath. After dyeing, rinse these eggs in clear water before unwrapping.The area under the leaves will have little or no dye if done properly. Glue dried, pressed flowers, sequins, crepe paper, or similar flat decorations to the eggs. Use your imagination. Create designs with markers, stickers, paints. NOTE: Drawing designs with crayons won't work here as the waxy crayons will melt off in the boiling process.
References: Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions by Pauline Campanelli, The Rune Mysteries by Nigel Jackson and Silver RavenWolf
|
|
 First
Previous
2 of 2
Next
Last
|
|
Reply
| |
A little history on the use of colored eggs:
Persians first began using colored eggs to celebrate Spring in 3000 BC. On the first day of Spring, they would give each other and egg that was dyed red. Colored eggs were also used to celebrate Spring by the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans. Among the Chinese parents of newborn children still present gifts of colored eggs, to their friends, as a sign of new life.
Crusaders returning from the Middle East spread the custom of coloring eggs, and Europeans began to use them to celebrate spring and other warm weather holidays. Germans decorated fir trees with tinted eggs as part of their Summer Solstice festival, and Swedes used gilt covered eggs to embellish Maypoles.
During my Ostara rituals I use eggs that I have dyed representing my desires (love, money, joy, ect) with my desire written on them as focus points for manifestation since this is a fertility festival.
Just as many people scatter the ashes of anything burned during ritual, scattering the eggshells can be done to help send your desire out into the universe. You can eat the egg to manifest the desire within yourself or bury it in the ground as an offering after your ritual. It is completely up to you.
I would like to suggest that you use natural dyes for your eggs rather than the kits that are available in stores. Below are some suggestions for herb and plants you can use as dyes: - Red: Boil with the skins of red onions for 30 minutes. The more skins added, the more color they will absorb.
- Pink: Fresh or frozen cranberries or raspberries.
- Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves.
- Yellow: Ground Turmeric, hickory bark, or saffron (tends to be expensive).
- Light Yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops (the green part) or celery seed.
- Orange: Yellow onion skins.
- Greenish-Gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels.
- Green: Grass, canned/fresh/frozen spinach.
- Purple: Fresh beets, beet juice from canned beets or grape juice.
- Beige to Brown: Strong coffee, tea, or the outer layer of an onion skin.
Here are the steps to natural dying
- 1. Place raw eggs in the bottom of a large pan
- 2. Cover with tepid water
- 3. Add about a teaspoon of white vinegar
- 4. Add the natural dye ingredients
- 5. Bring the contents in the pan to a boil
- 6. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes depending on the shade you wish to achieve. The longer it boils, the darker the shade. Of course, the longer the boil, the more inedible the egg will be.
- 7. Remove any solid dye substance and pour water and eggs carefully into a bowl. If you wish them to be a darker color, leave them in the bowl and refrigerate over night. Never leave eggs out of refrigeration for more than one hour. If you do, don't eat them. You could get food poisoning from them.
- 8. Remove the eggs from the water and let them dry in egg cartons.
Another variation on this is the confetti egg. Although they originated in Renaissance Italy, confetti-filled eggs have long been a popular part of Mexican Easter celebrations. There, the eggs are traditionally broken over the head of a friend, who makes a wish upon their impact. To make a confetti egg, follow these steps:
First you will need to blow everything out of the egg. Then you will fill it with confetti (or herbs that correspond to your desires if you choose). Some choose to decorate the eggs and keep them in their homes, while another custom is the break the eggs. Blowing Out an Egg
You will need: - Raw eggs
- Darning needle
- Small bowl
- Paper towels
- White glue
1. Holding the egg firmly but gently, with the darning needle pierce a hole in each end of the egg. Make one hole larger than the other.
2. Pass the needle through the larger hole and, breaking the yolk inside, stir the contents.
3. Blow into the small hole and force the contents out of the large hole into the bowl.
4. Clean out the egg by running a little water through the large hole. Gently shake the egg as you rinse until the egg in completely clean. If you don't do this the eggs will begin to smell after a while. Let dry on a paper towel.
5. After the egg has dried, you can put a few drops of glue over the holes to protect the egg from further cracking. Now it is ready to decorate.
To Make the Confetti Egg
1. Make sure you blow out the eggs.
2. Gently place the shells in bowls of vinegar mixed with food coloring. I would use about 1/2 cup of vinegar with your favorite color combination.
3. Soak the shells until they are dyed. Use a large spoon to remove the eggs from the bowls. Place the eggs in an empty egg carton and allow them to dry completely.
4. Slightly enlarge the hole at the end of each egg. Fill the eggs about 1/2 full of confetti. Use tape to close the hole in each egg. You can also place a small amount of white glue to cover the whole. Allow ample time to dry |
|
|
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
