• 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

    Notes from the Apothecary

    Notes from the Apothecary: Wild Garlic     Wild garlic or Allium ursinum is a fragrant perennial plant with tiny clusters of white flowers atop long, lush green leaves that don’t grow any higher than most people’s ankles. It’s also known as ramsons in Europe and ramps in the United States. Other related plants such as Allium canadense and Allium tricoccum are also called ramps or wild garlic, and just to be more confusing, you might also hear them called wild leeks or wood leeks. Whatever you call them, there’s no escaping the fact that these plants are one of the most delicious smelling harbingers of spring. In the woods…

  • Crafting Articles

    The Sacred Spoon

    Gut Healing Kombucha     Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been used for centuries to help aid digestion and alleviate ailments associated with the gut biome. Our gut biome is a major player in our bodies overall function. It controls many functions from simple digestion to our mood and immune system. It is vital that we keep our gut biome happy and healthy with probiotics, prebiotic, and a healthy diet. Kombucha’s astrological correspondence is Venus, as this heavenly body rules over the digestive system and its element is earth because of its influence over healing and life, and remember your brew is a living thing. The stones associated with…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – Elemental Magic: Traditional Practices for Working With The Energies Of The Natural World, 3rd Edition by Nigel Pennick

    Book Review Elemental Magic Traditional Practices for Working With The Energies Of The Natural World 3rd Edition by Nigel Pennick 144 Pages     Elemental Magic: Traditional Practices for Working With The Energies Of The Natural World by Nigel Pennick is a classic text of introduction to and practical application of nature in magical practice. Mr. Pennick’s books can be found in the libraries of both the scholars and those who follow the ways of the pagan path and he is an expert in the details of European folk magic. This is the 3rd Edition of a timeless book that provides a comprehensive and thorough teaching of the expression of…

  • Crafting Articles

    WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches – Nature Weaving

    Nature Weaving Merry meet. Every season has its gifts. Exploring nature and responsibly collecting its offerings will provide materials both to decorate your altar and to make a Nature Weaving to adorn your sacred space, a door, the corner of a room, a garden, or a porch.     Options for a frame range from a Y-shaped branch to a large picture frame. Using hemp cord, twine, string or yarn, tie one and to a corner or end. Wrap the cord twice around the stick or frame; keeping it taut, bringing the cord to the opposite side, again wrapping it twice around before continuing from side to side, keeping it…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock

    Book Review The Green Witch’s Grimoire Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock 256 Pages   … A grimoire is essential for any witch wanting to capture and record spells, rituals, and secret ingredients. And for a green witch, a perfect place to reflect upon the power of nature, and document the stones, plants, flowers, oils, and herbs used in her practice…. The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock is a companion title to Arin’s previously published The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More.…

  • 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…