Henna blossoms are mentioned several times in the Song of Songs- when I finally saw them, I realized they were the star; Ishtar, Inanna, Hathor, Astarte.

You  are stardust and starlight

thick mud and lilac honey

twirling and tumbling, a rock polished in ocean waves

You are a prayer the earth sings to itself

You are a prayer

The curve of a wing turning in flight

The curl of a fern unborn

The spilled seeds, half buried

The turning strand of web holding drops

You are crystal waters moving over granite and tiny points of sunlight reflected in it

the glint in mountain air and the flashing eye of a mountain lion

You are a leaf rubbing bark

a spark swaying from burning cedar

a bubble rising in a turquoise pool

a yellow flower centered in a red cliff wall

Prayers of the earth singing your prayer

You are a prayer, I, the Earth, sing to myself

And this is how I will bless you

As the crescent moon holds the morning star

            Your laughter blesses me

As river caresses rock

            You are my prayer

As trees sing to the sun

            I will sing for you always

When wind dances with clouds

I will draw your name on the dark underside of stone

And drum rhythms of peace in the bark of tree

So that you may put your

Your feet on the ground and your back against a tree

And listen to the chant of my heart

May the sun bless you with protection

May the moon bless you with understanding

May stars bless you with music

May rocks bless you with songs

May trees bless you with strength

May flowers bless you with sweetness

May rivers bless you with beauty

May the ocean bless you with abundance

May your ancestors bless you with skill

May the birds give flight to your dreams

May the butterflies bless you with kind words, right action and deep peace

Deep peace to you

(1)

Whisk together:

1 cup olive oil

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Sift together:

3 cups barley flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon coriander

Mix wet and dry ingredients together. 

Add 3 teaspoons lemon zest and chopped figs.

Bake 35-40 min @ 350°.

(2)

Mix together:

2 cups barley flour

1 tablespoon coriander

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together:

2 eggs

½ cup honey

¼ cup date sugar

¼ cup olive oil

Alternate mixing wet and dry ingredients in 3 parts with

1 cup sheep’s milk yogurt.

Add raisins and figs.

Bake 45-50 min @ 350°.

L’shem yichud n’tzurot, l’shem tikkun olam

L’shem kallah, l’shem shlema, l’shem shalom

In the name of wholeness and of peace

L’shem yichud kol p’nei elohut

In the name of the unification of all aspects of diety

L’shem yichud kol p’nei atz’mi’yut

In the name of the unification of all aspects of self

Shema koli, Elohut revavayah anachnu Sh’khinatah rav tzuratit

 Elah Sh’khinah achat

We are the abundant multiplicity of the Goddess’ indwelling,

the inner Goddess is one

אלה החת רבות שמותיה קדושות שמותיה

Elah Achat Rabot Sh’moteha K’doshot Sh’moteha

One is the Goddess, many are her names, holy are her names.

ברוכה את אל-יון עין-סוף שגינתה אתרה

שהי מסבבת מציאות נאסת ניגודות

משחתת קפילית מאחדת חיים

Berucha at El-yon Ein-sof, Sh’khinatah Atarah, she’hi mi-sovevet m’tziyut, ne-eh-sefet nigudot, mash’che’tet k’filut, m’achedet chayyim

Blessed are you, who encircles all things, gathers in opposites, destroys duality, unifies all beings.

בראשית אחת התה ועתא אחת

Beresheit achat haytah v’ata achat

In the beginning, She was One, still She is One.

L’shem yichud ha-d’vora v’ha-kelilah

To unify the bee with the flower

D’voraKelilah © 2007

Ishtar za-mi*  Hallelu-hi

אשתר זמי  הללוהי

Berucha at, Elah D’vash,

ברכה את אלה דבש

In lips you are sweet, all life is in your mouth

Hallelu Isha S’tar, Elat nora’ah ba’elot

praise woman of mystery, most awesome of the goddesses

הללו אשה סתר אלת ירת קבוד

Kavdu malkat nashim, kabirah mikol elot

revere the queen of women, greatest of goddesses

קבדו מלכת נשים כבירה מכל אלות

You are laden with vitality

Life drips from your mouth

Diburim d’vash, min d’viriech korei kol haneshama

mouth(words) of honey, from your holy of holies all beings cry out

דבורימ דבש מן דביריך קרה כל הנשמה

Your lips are sweet, for all life is born through them

All life is in your mouth, and it is sweet

Toledot chai tiftafu m’pich

all life drips from your mouth

תולדת חי תפתפו מפך

Honey drops onto my lips, tzufit tiftuf

and I sing Your praises

*Sumerian: Praise Ishtar

קו תומרו לנתטלה ענת ותגידו לואמת לומם

Ko tomru la-B’tula Anat, v’tagido l’v’emet l’umim

Say to the Maiden Anat, tell the Mother of Nations

נום עלין באל דבר אדיר גבורים

Ne’um Al’in Ba’al, d’var Adir Giburim

Thus says Aliyan Ba’al, the word of the Mighty Hero

אספי מלכנה מין הארץ שיתי אל-אפר אהבה

Isfi mil-khamah min ha-Aretz, shiti al-afar ahava

Withdraw war from the Earth, lay down love on the land.

נסכי שלום בכרב הארץ הרבי אהבא בכרב סדות

Nis’khi shalom b’kerev ha-Aretz, harbi ahava b’kerev sadot,

Pour out peace upon the Earth, multiply love in the fields,

כסכי אצך כרבך תשיבי

Kheskhi etzekh, kharbekh tashivi,

kheskhi etekh, khaebekh tashivi

put up your club, lay down your sword

שלו שלום ארץ קנען

Shalu shalom K’na’an

Shalu shalom K’na’an

(Arabic Translation: Lana Nasser)

قل للعذراء عنات، قل لأم الشعوب

Qoul lil-‘Athraa ’Anat, Qoul Li-Oum al-shou’oub 

Say to the Maiden Anat, tell the Mother of Nations

 هكذا يقول عليان بعل، كلمات البطل الجبار

Hakatha yaqoul ‘Aliyan Ba’al, kalimat al-Batal al-Jabbar

Thus says Aliyan Ba’al, the word of the Mighty Hero

إسحب الحروب من الأرض، وأرسل الحب على اليابسة

Isshab al-Horoub min-al-ard, wa Arsil al-Hub ‘ala al-yabisa 

Withdraw war from the Earth, lay down love on the land. 

إسكب السلام على الأرض، وضاعف الحب  في الحقول  

Iskob al-Salam ‘ala al-ard, wa da’if al-Hub fil-huqoul

Pour out peace upon the Earth, multiply love in the fields,

إرفع عصاك، وألقي سيفك

Irfa’ ‘Asaka, wa alqi sayfaka.

Irfa’ ‘Asaka, wa alqi sayfaka.

put up your club, lay down your sword

صلي لسلام كنعان

Salli li-Salam Canaan

Salli li-Salam Canaan

                             Etz Chayyim

          “V’achalta, v’sheva’ta uv’rach’ta…”  Deut 8:10