Siren Shoutouts and Shell-collecting Sages

Artwork provided by www.kelleeart.com

Because I am going to Vancouver Island at the end of July, I wanted to make a shout out to the Siren Clan.   I am hoping to visit an old friend who lives in Tofino.  A mermaid named Odessa who has lived there for 20-odd years.  She loves it there and makes a decent enough living.  She sells seashells by the sea shore.  I mean seriously!  What better job for a mermaid right?

Anyway, merpeople are one of many who belong to the Siren Clan.  This clan includes the selkies, kelpies, the sirens themselves and many more.  They are a group of sea mystics who not only provide us with beautiful music but ensure our safety in the water.  Everything about this particular clan revolves around water in one way or another. They are forever drawn to it and will never be far from it. 

These beings are very talented in whatever they choose to do with their lives.  Any chance encounter you have with them will make your life richer.  I know what you are thinking.  Don't they cause ships to sink and drown sailors?  The answer to that is not exactly.  What happened was these sailors sailed into a mermaid cove.  When they launched their harpoons at the mermaids, they caused alot of damage to the mermaid's homes and to the mermaids themselves.  I was told that these men thought that they were ordinary fish (big mistake).

So what do the mermaids do?  They attack these sailors to defend themselves and their homes.  Does this sound unreasonable?  After this incident, the mermaids had to leave and find an new place to call home.  Luckily, it is not hard for the merpeople to migrate.  They found many nice places where sailors, pirates, and pretty much anything involving a ship doesn't bother them.

Most of the siren clan are very gentle creatures and this includes mermaids.  They have very beautiful voices.  They all sing different kinds of songs depending on their own taste in music.  I have a feeling that our biggest singing sensation, Euterpe (Yes, the muse of music), has a hand in it.  She is an excellent teacher.  So are the sirens.  I will never forget the advice Odessa gave me.

1. Get your butt down to the beach
2. You don't need to be 100% shore of yourself when it comes to your heart.  Take a risk
3. Never get tide down to someone or something that is not right for you
4. Don't just make small waves, make tidal waves.
5. Pier pressure should be avoided.  Learn to be comfortable in your own shell
6. Sea life's beauty in everything that you encounter.
7. Keep the damn beach clean!  I live here!

 With this wise advice, I have a new perspective when it comes to all things to do with the sea.  Thanks Odessa!  I hope to see you soon.  As for the rest of you.  Is there a siren out there that you want to say hello to? 

Voodoo Rice and Beans Recipe

That's right.  Voodoo rice.  I had the pleasure to visit New Orleans earlier this year.  As most of us know, New Orleans is famous for it's history, spiritualism, parties and, of course, food.  I remember that everything I had to eat there was so good that I was sad to leave. I was lucky enough to have this spicy, exotic dish on my visit there.  The locals are very open and friendly and they like to share some of their culinary secrets.   Here is what they shared with me.

Voodoo Rice and Beans 


Ingredients
1/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 cup rice
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup of vegetable stock
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of corn
Hot pepper sauce to taste

Saute' onions & seasonings until onions are soft.  Add remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer about 20 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Eat!

Some of you will want meat with this.  That's perfectly reasonable and very easy to do.  You can replace the vegetable stock with chicken stock and add some meat pieces of your choice.  For the siren clan, the best thing to put in is shrimp.  The locals at New Orleans swear that shrimp is the best meat to have with this meal.  However, for all you shape-shifters out there (especially werewolves), get yourselves a fresh cut steak and cook it rare.  The last time I checked, that is how you prefer it. 

This dish is great for a casual night at home when you feel the need for a little adventure.  I recommend having this dish with a lovely chilled rose' wine and a fresh garden salad.  The cold wine and the crisp salad are nice counterpoints to the heat of this dish.  Every mystic knows that a great meal is all about balance.  That is the secret to a magical meal. 

For more on my New Orleans experience, See:

http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/02/new-orleans-post-1-food.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/02/new-orleans-post-2-shopping.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-3-museums-and-culture.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-4-tours.html
http://earthrealmguide.blogspot.ca/2015/03/new-orleans-post-5-mardi-gras.html

Picnic in the Plaza - Out of this World

Can anyone imagine a better way to spend a beautiful Sunday than being out and about?  Especially when that out and about happens to be in the East Village of Calgary where a lively event, Picnic in the Plaza, is taking place.  What happens there is that many food trucks are spread out by the River Plaza.  These trucks are looking to sell some food and make their presence known. They are similar to the food carts in our world that you see  most in the market town of Merkiva.  There is also a small stage with the "Bass Bus."  Live musicians and deejays played some hot beats and chill melodies.  Sounds like heaven right?  And it's just by the river, so it was paradise.
 

 I came to this event with an old Naga friend that I made in college.   We haven't seen each other for a year and she happened to be in my neck of the realms.  She asked me not to write her name for privacy reasons and I have to respect that.  Many of us know Nagas are half human, half snake creatures from the Hindi/Buddhist regions and are a part of the Siren Clan.  They are similar to mermaids, as they can change their tails into legs. The difference is that they can reside on land and not be affected when water touches their legs.  They still have to be careful because their transformation can happen when they are the most relaxed.  Now being water creatures, they are often the most relaxed when close to water.  We decided that we would go check this thing out and I am really glad that we did.  
 
Our adventure began when we paid our $5.00 at the door and went inside.  The first thing we saw was a small caravan that sold clothing and jewelry. Their clothing was of the more vintage, bohemian, casual type but the jewelry, I lost my heart to it.  It is made locally from recycled material and made to look as if it came from another time.  My friend could not leave without a blue stone necklace that reminded her of home. I don't blame her.  And you know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say these items came straight from the Nether Realm. 

After we had finished admiring the clothing caravan, my friend and I explored and sampled a little of this and a little of that.  I think my favorite was either the mango bruschetta or the triple chocolate cupcake.   Both were so delicious that I could not decide which was better.  I must warn everyone though.  Do not buy the "Love Potion".  My friend and I both agreed that all it would stir up is divorce.  One taste of this would ward off all kinds of human contact.  So naturally, we kept it for protection.  No offense to those who made it but you can't win them all.  



  

But we felt like we won.  The ebb of the river and the eclectic music made the whole event more joyous.  We decided to eat our unusual tacos out by the river since there is an opening at the fence right by it.  My friend, being a Naga and so drawn to water, was very pleased that we did this.  As we ate, we dipped our feet in the river. To me the water was ice cold and damn frigid.  Not so much fun for me but for my friend, she loved it.  To a Naga any water, especially if water is hard to come by, is sacred no matter how cold.  
 
We were listening to the music.  It had some good pulsing beats but it was mellow enough to just enjoy.  The sound of the music seemed to match the look and flow of the water.  I wonder if these musicians and deejays knew this. To be serenaded that way while we chilled out by the water was like we were back in the Nether Realm.  Because she was a little to relaxed, my friend's snake trail showed a bit causing a little concern.  But I covered it with my jacket until her legs came back and luckily no one noticed.  So all is well.

If there is another food truck event like Picnic in the Plaza, I recommend you check it out.  If you have a good friend, good food, good music, water and a warm spring day, you will have a splendid time.