• Monthly Columns

    Living the Oily Life

    Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is another main stay in my oil arsenal. Tea tree or melaleuca is known for its cleansing and purifying properties. The plant tea tree oil is derived from is found in Australia. Aboriginal people would apply the leaves of the plant directly to their skin to help cool it in the scorching sun. The oil is extracted from the leaves of the plant and for purposes of collection steam and pressure distillation are used to gather the oil. This oil is used world wide in everything from cleaning, to hair and skin care. Having issues finding a toner that works well on your skin?…

  • Monthly Columns

    Living the Oily Life

    Peppermint   Peppermint oil is another favorite of mine for many reasons. It is also recommended as another oil for those starting to dabble in essential oils. I have peppermint in my own garden, but be warned it will grow wherever unless the roots are somehow restricted. I planted mine in pots and put the pots in the ground. Granted it smells amazing when grass is being cut and a few stray tendrils are ran over. Mint plants in general are fairly hardy and are perennials so once rooted they will keep coming back. Peppermint has a very long history, like 1000 BC long history. It was noted to be…

  • Monthly Columns

    Living the Oily Life

    Lemon Oil     Lemon oil is another extremely versatile oil. It is suggested as one of the 1st oils for someone starting their foray into essential oils and it also happens to be another favorite of mine. It can be used topically (on the skin), aromatically (inhaled) and internally. Topical application is a great quick pick-me-up or can help brighten a person’s day. When using citrus oils topically caution needs to be practiced when the area is exposed to sunlight as it can cause sun sensitivity. Lemon oil is great in water to break up the boredom with just drinking plain water. It can also be mixed with peppermint…

  • Monthly Columns

    Living the Oily Life

    Oils: The Basics     Plants have been around since the beginning of time and their benefits have been harvested, but not to the extent they are known now. The essential oil industry over the past several years has boomed as people started to look more toward non-traditional and less Westernized medicine. If it has worked for millennia, why not now? Oils can be distilled in multiple ways. Typically there are 2: Steam and expression. Steam is the most common way. Heat is used with a combo of gentle pressure and this combo causes the essential oils to be released. The oil lays on top of a layer of water…

  • Crafting Articles

    WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches

    Magickal Eye Pillow   Merry meet. I have used eye pillows filled with rice, sand, microbeads, beans, or flaxseeds for decades. Its gentle pressure signals the brain to relax, while also blocking out sleep-disturbing light. They have been found to ease stress and anxiety, promote better sleep, and provide relief from tension headaches and migraines. It wasn’t until recently I thought to make it magickal. When a corner of my favorite eye pillow opened, I took it as a sign I didn’t have to start from scratch and use the fabric I had cut out and put somewhere months earlier. Pouring out the contents, I washed the cover. Then I…

  • Crafting Articles

    WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches

    Making Soap     Merry meet. We all need a bit more magic these days, and soap is one way to add magic to your life without it being noticed. I never liked messing with lye, so I found two easy options. Briefly, one is to grate bars of soap, melt, add ingredients and pour into molds. The second way is to buy the soap base from craft stores, melt, add ingredients, pour into molds. It’s that easy.   (image: soap with oatmeal)   Directions for the latter are on the package, so I’ll step through the first lazy method. [1] If you choose to use botanicals, sprinkle some in…

  • Reviews

    Worth the Witch

      Spiral Rain Zodiac Box     This is the first of two boxes we are reviewing this month from Spiral Rain. Living two hours from Montreal and almost that far from Quebec City, Rani Guillemette began purchasing monthly subscription boxes to acquire tools to practice her Craft, only to realize she could make them and, in the process, grow as a person. “I love doing research, I love helping others and I love witchcraft,” she said.     Spiral Rain was born November 1, 2018; two months later it was officially online. Since then she has put together two sets of themed boxes, each with 12 categories. This review…

  • Monthly Columns,  Reviews

    Worth the Witch

      Blessed Be Box / New Moon in Aquarius   The enchanting box for the new moon in Aquarius January 24 was carefully packed with products to honor the moon cycle, empower individuals to manifest their desires, and provide support for the coming four weeks. Refreshing angelic white – representing air and the feeling of elevation – served as a sub-theme for this box. Slipping the box out of the bag, the frankincense incense, even in its package, offered a calming, uplifting scent and hinted at the magic inside.     Opening the box reveals a card showing its contents, a copy of a Temperance tarot card that can be…