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    The Dark Night of the Soul

          The concept of the Dark Night of the Soul is one that is experienced at specific times during the work of those on a spiritual Path.  It is described as a state of utter loneliness, despair and the sense that the Divine has forsaken you. It is a moment that stands the test of true “faith” for in that hour of disconnect the realization of separateness and the intense yearning for union with the Divine are brought to the forefront of the experience.  This descent into a type of abyss is what serves to strengthen the resolve and conviction of the human and releases the vestiges of…

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    5 Easy Tips to Help You Relax

    With all of the technology available to us today, you’d think life would be easier. Certainly, we don’t have to do many of our daily chores by hand if we choose, but still, stress remains one of the biggest threats to health (source). So what can be done to manage stress? The first important thing is to recognize that we might not even realize we are being affected by stress. So it’s important to work some practices into our daily routine that help us deal with the stress that we may not even be aware of. The biggest problem with this for most people is finding the time. So here…

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    The Bad Witch’s Guide

        Bad Witch’s Guide to Pinterest   I am a bad witch. There are a long list of reasons why I am a bad witch. Having been out of the broom closet for some considerable number of years I would on occasion get asked “but you’re a good witch though?” My response to that depending on the person asking but I found I started to say “yes, a very, very good witch” rather darkly as it usually got the point across. It might surprise you to find out I like Pinterest. However my major problem with it is the “magick” and spellcraft on there is often utter twaddle. I…

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    A Time to Talk to Dead People Meditation

      Samhain is famed to be the best day of the year to talk to those who have crossed over, and in this October’s meditation, we’re going to do just that.  Whether the dead talk back is up to you (and them.)   Before you begin this meditation, think about who you’d like to talk to and what you’d like to say.  What emotions do you need to express?  Are you hurting?  Angry?  Or are you peaceful and excited to take the opportunity to communicate with a lost loved one?   There is no wrong answer.  If you are hurting or angry, this meditation could help bring you peace.  If…

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    WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches

    Altars When you Have No Space   Merry meet.   Dorm rooms, studio apartments, extended-stay suites and RVs are some of the places where there is likely to be no space for an altar.   (This curio shelf, found posted on Pinterest by At Wayfaring Stranger Outfitters, can hold a collection of magickal objects.)   Since I am preparing to live in an old school bus converted into a tiny house, space for an altar will be scarce. Searching for ideas, I came across some that might work for those of you who think you have no space you can make sacred.           (This small wooden…

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    The Kitchen Witch

    Enchanting Apple Crisp   To me, it is not a proper Samhain celebration without a dish made of apples. Apples are sacred to several of my favorite goddesses and long ago, I took the name “AppleQueen” as a magical name. Apples, harvested in the fall, are a perfect offering for this Sabbat. Hecate is the goddess of Samhain but do not forget that Pomona, the goddess of Apples, has her own feast day November 1. Influenced by the Romans, the Celts easily integrated this feast day into their own Samhain festivities and later, when the Christians came, and Pagan rites went underground or were turned into some other acceptable form,…

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    Samhain Protection Spell

    (Book of Shadows, Magical Diary by Earth Works Journals on etsy.) In getting ready for your Ritual, you will need the following items: * Black Sand or Black Salt * Garlic *White Salt *Black Sequins *Bag of Glass Beads (with white, black and purple in them) *Bell (any size) *Candy (8 small pieces total) *Muslin Pouch * a quiet place, not to be disturbed * an incense that you really like that helps you calm down * a pre-ritual shower (if so desired) to get the days’ negativity off of you * a lighter * a tealight holder (for the tealight candle, or a piece of heavy duty foil underneath…

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    The Sober Pagan

    The Issue of Powerlessness It’s a beautiful fall day and I am on my way to an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting. It’s not easy for me to get to meetings, because I don’t have a car and public transportation in the Western New York area leaves a lot to be desired. To attend a one-hour meeting means traveling at least forty-five minutes to an hour each way on the bus. For years, this dead time on the bus kept me from attending meetings at all and of course, I invariably ended up drinking again. I had to get real with myself – what’s the difference between wasting time with public…

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    Crystal Connections

    Chakra Stones   What are chakras? They are wheels of energy within your subtle body. It is said that if they are blocked in any way it can trigger physical, mental and emotional imbalances that can manifest into symptoms of illness and disease. If your looking for crystals to align and clear your chakras there are many to choose from. In jewelry you will see that they are presented with a variety of different stones creating a rainbow of colors.     Root/Base (Security, Trust) – Garnet, Ruby, Red Jasper, Jet, Obsidian and Hematite, Fire Agate, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Aragonite, Smoky Quartz   Sacral (Creativity, Sexual Energy) – Tiger’s Eye,…

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    Book Review: Baldr’s Magic – The Power of Norse Shamanism and Ecstatic Trance by Nicholas Brink

    Baldr’s Magic – The Power of Norse Shamanism and Ecstatic Trance By Nicholas Brink       I agreed to review this book because Baldr (or Balder/Baldur) is a Norse god I have a strong personal connection to.   On the positive side I will say that anyone seeking a strong connection to their ancestors and ancestral faith and traditions needs encouragement – in whatever way they decide to do this. The author certainly describes a very personal quest and invites others to make a similar journey into the past (even the ancient undocumented past of Early Europe).   He works for the Cuyamunge Institute which promotes the original research…