Spells: New and Selected Poems by Annie Finch © 2013 Annie Finch ISBN: 978-0-8195-7269-1 232 pages Hardcover $30.00 (U.S.)   Although this is not Annie Finch first book of poetry it is my first experience with her work. From the first few poems in this book I was captivated. This book is a collection of poems both new and ones collected over forty years. The poems have a cadence that reads as speech but with a musical cadence that are experienced with both body and mind. This is not a book to be read quickly. With each poem I read I found myself stopping to absorb the full effect…

SIMPLE STONE ~ Gift of Conscious Living ~ The unexamined life is not worth living. ~ Socrates This is a journey into the Gift of Conscious Living, a state of natural harmony with all life…and yourself…deep within the Universal Soul, of which you are a cherished and intimate part. Allow yourself to go on this inner journey…into the Spirit of your Beautiful Infinite Self. For here is where you shall find your Truth. Begin by getting comfortable. Find a space that feels at ease with your body, and allow yourself to get into a soft state of relaxation. Take some deep, healing, cleansing breaths…inhaling and exhaling…slowly and deeply…in and out…until…

Labradorite   Brings forth each person’s strengths to share with the world.  Originality.  Easier, more restful sleep.  Helps us relate to others.  Opens energy flow to solar plexus and brow and any other centers that are in need.  Fragile.  Avoid Salt Cleansing.

The art of Dance (Part 2) – Universal Choreography In the last post, I related to you my first experience with energy and movement and the places it took me. We also discussed that when we dance, we are embracing the flow of energy as a kinesthetic quality. We engage the breath inhaling the prana of life and exhale out offering up our consciousness to ecstasy and joy. As workers of magick we are continually moving energy around and redefining the space in which we are working. Mundanely, we also are continually moving and displacing energy as we go about our daily activities. This is the universal choreography that we all…

Laura Perry: Exploring Ancient Magic Laura is the author of the recently published Ariadne’s Thread which explores the Minoans and their spirituality, and how to utilise this in the modern world. She has written three other books, and has been involved in a wide range of healing and magical activities. She let me quiz her on her book and other aspects of her magical life. Mabh: You’re described in your bio as a Naturopath. Can you tell us what this means? Laura: Naturopathy is a variety of natural/complementary healthcare that encompasses many of the well-known modalities such as herbalism and homeopathy. I find that it dovetails well with my spiritual…

      “All Good Things…”   I sit outside with our dog, feeling the inviting rays of the Sun upon my back, enjoying the crisp air as I type this; and the feeling turns bittersweet. Gone are the long, dark nights of winter as the stirrings of spring harken warmer and sunnier days and the flora and fauna are returning in a triumphant display of color and vibrancy of life’s ever-turning wheel. I suppose that it is fitting that our lives, too, change with the seasons. What I have accomplished has led me to a wonderful opportunity and I have reached a point where my personal and creative endeavors…

(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,…

Corn dolls and smudge sticks   This month I hope to inspire you to plan a craft for Lughnasadh. It’s still a month away, which gives you plenty of time to decide what you want to do and to collect up supplies. Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas) is the first of the three harvest festivals. Where I live in central Connecticut, corn is in season, making cornhusk dolls an easy choice. There are many directions available online, some of which I tried to follow before getting confident enough to just wing it. So think about following along for a bit, then just doing your own thing. I can generally make…

Hag Stones Hag stones go by many different names. Some of them are Witch stones, snake’s eggs, adder stones, Holy stones and Obin stones. These stones are unique and easy to spot as they have a natural hole through the rock. In order for it to be a true Hag stone, the hole must go all the way through and must also be made by nature, so it is not a true hag stone if you drill a hole through the rock. It is considered to be very lucky to come across a Hag stone when you are going for a walk and just happen to stumble across one. Although…