BUGS!!!!!  The Natural Way   Mosquito Repellents For those looking for nonchemical alternatives, plant-based mosquito repellents are now available. Most are made with plant oils that repel mosquitoes, including basil, citronella, castor,cedar, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, onion, garlic, feverfew, clove and geranium. But these products are more susceptible to elements like perspiration and wind, so they must be reapplied more frequently. Add Catnip to this list Catnip is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents.   Flea Collars Apply a few drops of Cedarwood to your dogs collar. Will help to repel fleas.   Insect Bites Moisten a cotton swab in Fresh Lemon Juice, Apple…

                                                Welcome   ________________________________________________________________________________   In This Issue…   We have tons of great features this month for you to enjoy…including two great interviews one features author of Nature Mystic, Rebecca Beattie.   The other features “Bad Witch” Blogger and author of Candle Magic, Lucya Starza.   MagickArts has a little Candle Magick 101 for you to either learn a little about candle magick or to simply brush up on some color coordination!     Aromatic Life has some helpful hints on Spring Cleaning the Natural way.   And….What is…

Also known as: May Day, Bealtaine, Beltane, Bhealtainn, Bealtinne, Festival of Tana (Strega), Giamonios, Rudemass, and Walburga (Teutonic), Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain),Fairy Day ,Sacred Thorn Day, Rood Day, Roodmas (the Christian term for Rood Day, Old Beltane, Beltain, Baltane, Walpurgis Night, Floriala (Roman feast of flowers from April 29 to May 1), Walpurgisnacht (Germanic-feast of St. Walpurga), Thrimilce (Anglo-saxon), Bloumaand (Old Dutch) Date: May 1 Animals: Swallow, dove, swan, Cats, lynx, leopard Deities: Flower Goddesses, Divine Couples, Deities of the Hunt, Aphrodite, artemis, Bast, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Maia, Pan, the Horned God, Venus, and all Gods and Goddesses who preside over fertility. Tools: broom, May Pole, cauldron Stones/Gems: emerald, malachite, amber,…

Lucya Starza: The Bad Witch   Lucya is the author of the very popular Pagan Portals: Candle Magic, which has now spawned a series of workshops. Lucya also has a ‘bad witch’s blog’ which I hoped she would be able to tell me more about… What inspired the name of your popular blog, badwitch.co.uk? The name A Bad Witch’s Blog was inspired by the book How to be a Bad Birdwatcher, about birdwatching for people who only know how to identify normal garden birds. I wanted to get better at being a witch. I had been a witch for some time, but wanted an incentive to do more witchy things and…

Stone Color Symbolism Stones have many uses.  They  can be used for divination, meditation, healing and magic. You can keep your stones in a cloth bag large enough to fit your hand into. If you have an affinity for a certain stone or its color you can wear a ring or a necklace setting of that color or type of stone. You can also place stones in medicine bags to carry in your pocket or to place around your neck. If you know someone who does jewelry or lapidary work, you can have the specific stone of your choice mounted in a ring or necklace setting. This is a brief list of what each color symbolizes: White:   Spiritual guidance, being…

Spring Cleaning! First a quick chant to get you in the groove…..Thanks to Mid-Stride Moxie!   What better way to start a new season then with aromatic, healthy, safe ways to clean and fragrance your homes. Here are a few recipes to help you get started:   Mold Buster 2 teaspoons Tea Tree essential oil 2 Cups Water Add to a spray bottle, shake before using. Apply to mold and mildew, do not rinse off. Nothing works as well for mold and mildew as Tea Tree.   Scented Sheets to Help Sleep Sheets scented with Essential Oil of Lavender help to induce sleep. There are a few ways to accomplish this.…

                               WELCOME   ________________________________________________________________________________   In This Issue…     An Interview with Ellen Evert Hopman. Ellen is a druid, an herbalist, and a prolific author. She runs the Willow’s Grove shop through her website. She also runs a course in herbalism for those wanting to learn the marvellous powers of plants.     SpellCrafting: Spells & Rituals has information on  labyrinths they offer a sacred space for introspection. In the shape of a circle, it also holds magic.     Aromatic Life features Lemons. Lemons might seem an unlikely addition to the Witch’s armoury but they have a good…

Lemons Lemons might seem an unlikely addition to the Witch’s armoury but they have a good many uses both medicinally and magically. Lemons have long been prized for their high vitamin content, and lemon juice is still carried at sea to prevent scurvy. The juice makes an excellent gargle for sore throats and, when diluted, can be applied to reduce itching. It is recommended for rheumatic pain and can even be used to counteract some poisons. A teaspoon undiluted will cure even the most stubborn hiccoughs. If you make your own lemonade you won’t want to touch the fizzy stuff again. Mix the juice of one lemon and a tablespoonful…

artemis (Dedicated to Sunshine) (Photo Credit: symbolreader.net) he Greek Goddess, artemis, is very complex. She personifies opposites. She is seen as a virginal moon goddess, however, She is a goddess of fertility and childbirth. She was a fierce hunter, who could kill with one shot of her arrow; yet, She fiercely protected the animals of the forest and woods. She is said to be born of Zeus and Leto. At the time of her birth, Leto was very weak, and so, it is told that She helped birth her twin brother, Apollo. Due to this, she is a Goddess of Fertility and Childbirth, a force of creation. Women in childbirth…

Crystals for Headaches Place either Crystal on your forehead or Third Eye.   Amethyst   A Stone of spiritual upliftment.  Mind quieting, wear it to reduce anger and impatience.  It aides in sleep and helps with nightmares.  Stress reliever.  Headache reducer.  Aids with sobriety in addictions of any kind.  Famous ancient detoxifier, especially helped with poisons and alcohol.  Worn by ancient Romans to prevent intoxication and restore courage.  It helps to prevent over indulgences and with the breaking of bad habits.   Sugilite   It is considered one of the most important love stones. It represents spiritual love and wisdom – opening and aligning all the chakras to love with…