The Art of Gratitude Gratitude is something I have always been brought up to show, my grandma was very adamant that her grandchildren would a) always show respect and b) would always have impeccable manners, two things in which she most certainly succeeded.  A trait which I have instilled in my little ones, another trait I adopted was gratitude, these days it comes in the form of a gratitude book, It’s a simple process in where on one page you give thanks for all the things you are thankful to already have in your life and on another page you are thankful for all the things you wish to manifest…

“Love Potion No. 10” This recipe is strictly for fun.  You will be using the “tea” you create to make a simple syrup, designed to put you, or, anyone who happens to swallow a teaspoon or 2, “in the mood.” You will need 2 tablespoons for each of the following herbs: rose (preferably the petals), honeysuckle flowers, spearmint leaves, jasmine flowers, and lavender. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and remove it from the water.  Add herbs and steep for approximately 10 minutes, to allow the aphrodisiac qualities to be completely released in the water.  Strain the tea back into the pot and add 2 cups of sugar. …

Space – Not the Final Frontier Being a Military family, we are often sent to places we might not necessarily want to go, sometimes with not a lot of notice, our worldly belongings are packed up into boxes by men who sweep through the house like a whirlwind, they are then shunted into containers and shipped thousands of kilometres, to be unloaded by yet another set of removalists often into a house we may not even like.  A home, so recently vacated by another family doing the very same thing, it can feel like crawling into a stranger’s empty bed, while it is still warm from their bodies. No matter…

(Loo-nas-ah) Major Sabbat (High Holiday) – Fire Festival August 1, 2 Other Names: Lunasa (meaning August), Lughnasaad, Lughnasa Celtic),First Harvest, August Eve, Feast of Cardenas, Feast of Bread, Tailltean Games(Irish), Teltain Cornucopia (Strega), Ceresalia (Ancient Roman) Harvest Home, Thingtide (Teutonic), Lammas (Christian). Laa Luanys, Elembious, Festival of Green Corn (Native American) Animals and Mythical beings: Griffins, Basilisks, Roosters, Calves, Centaurs, Phoenix Gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamonds, citrine Incense and Oils: wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood Colors: red, orange, golden yellow, green, light brown, gold, bronze, gray Tools, Symbols, and Decorations: corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley,…

Domhnach Chrom Dubh (Chrom Dubh Sunday) Domhnach Chrom Dubh, which translates to “Chrom Dubh Sunday”, is the festival of the sacrificial Celtic or pre-Celtic god Crom Dubh, the Irish Underworld Corn God, even though this festival has been Christianized.  Because Crom Dubh, who was also known as Crom Cruach, was referred to as the Dark Croucher or the Old Bent One, he was easily demonized and transformed into the ‘Devil’ once Christianity took hold of the land. Every year, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Ireland’s holy mountain where Saint Patrick supposedly fasted for forty days and nights before defeating a host of demons (but this mountain was considered…

Chalcedony Rose (Whetstone) These minerals are good to lace in dishes of water to cleanse the environment as well as provide in indefinable pleasant aroma.  The water should be replaced weekly.  If placed in a sickroom, the water can be changed as frequently as twice a day (serious illnesses) to every two days (eg. minor surgery).  This mineral is especially attuned to the female physical body and for healing disturbances regarding one’s sexuality, if it is cre4ating conflict in the individual.  A pleasant meditation stone which will activate a variety of subtle forces.  Acts on the 4th Chakra. Chlorite When programmed, this form of quartz is an exceptional healing tool…

Merry Meet and welcome once again to my hearth. I was torn this month about what to write.  I try to create a magickal page that will make you think and challenge you to think outside the box; but this month and for a few months before I have been troubled by something. Something we all have been being hassled and troubled by… the economy. But this is a little different. Many of us, Pagans, Wiccans, Witches are having trouble with the economy because we sell our wares or talents and in these times of trouble less people seem to be buying then ever before. But I must say that…

Superstitions Remember when we discussed urban legends and getting caught up in one? The things to look for, the phrases to listen for and the ideas to be wary of? Good. Let’s go one step behind urban legends. Let’s go to what could possibly be considered the mother of urban legends. Let’s skip GO and head directly to superstitions. A superstition isn’t necessarily a myth, or a legend..but in examining them, they are often a journey through time. What is a superstition exactly? When you pare it down to the bare bones, a superstition is pretty much nothing more then a belief. A bizarre belief maybe, but a belief nonetheless.…

You speak to me without a sound My arms are tied, my hands are bound Emerald light that draws me in My soul breaks free of mortal skin. I’m lost within your soft green space I open my eyes to your souls sweet face I fall into your welcome escape and watch two forms become one shape.

Merry Meet and welcome to my hearth. Grab a chair and a cuppa tea and sit with me a spell. I would like to share this is a poem I wrote a few years ago when I was trying to define myself and my life after a series of tragic event. I have taken it out to look at and realized this could be YOU. So I share this with you. Know that I share my heart and my pain. But also know that I love the me I am today.. and could add at least 5 more paragraphs to this as I have grown by leaps and bounds since…