Abracadabra Merry meet! Abracadabra has become known as a word used by stage magicians when performing a trick. In that context it has no real meaning. But long, long ago, it was a mystical word with great healing power. Some say it comes from Aramaic phrase avra kadavra, meaning“it will be created with my words” or “I will create as I speak.” Another theory is it comes from the Hebrew words Av Ben and Ruach meaning Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “The oldest mention of the word abracadabra is found in the work De Medicina Praecepta Saluberrima written by Quintus Serenus in the second century,” according to grammarist.com. In it,…

Book Review The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book Your Complete Guide to Crafting and Casting Spells by Skye Alexander Published by Adams Media Pages: 301 This first part of this book covers the basics needed to prepare a novice for working the spells in the second part. Skye Alexander starts out by explaining that a spell “is something you do with clarity, intent, and awareness to generate a result. A spell consists of a set of thoughts and symbolic actions performed in the physical world to initiate change on a higher level. Once a change takes place at that higher level, it filters down and materializes here on earth.” “Spellcasting,” she…

Book Review The Witch’s Guide to Wands A Complete Botanical, Magical, and Elemental Guide to Making, Choosing, and Using the Right Wand by Gypsey Elaine Teague Published by Weiser Books Pages: 243 “The Witch’s Guide to Wands” is the reference book Gypsey Elaine Teague had been trying to find – one that explained the properties of the woods and metals from which wands are made. “You would not use a holly wand for a new moon ritual any more than you would use an ebony one for a full moon. If you want strength, then you would use oak and reserve the willow for resilience and survival spells,” Teague writes,…

Meet the Gods: Neptune Merry meet. Neptune, the god of the sea and earthquakes, was one of the 12 major deities of the Roman pantheon. Poseidon was his Greek counterpart. Neptune was the son of Saturn. When Saturn was defeated, the world was divided among Neptune and his two brothers, Jupiter (Zeus) and Pluto (Hades). Jupiter got the sky, Pluto took the underworld and Neptune was given the sea. Neptune is known for his violent nature and volatile temperament. There are many stories portraying him as unpredictable and somewhat vindictive – and this is associated with the nature of the sea. Those characteristics also associated him with earthquakes, because the…

There’s nothing spooky or eerie about the group reading, but then, I’ve gone to these before, and, full disclosure, I’m a witch – I scare people, I don’t scare easily. The room has a sense of softness to it, with cotton-ball clouds hanging from the ceiling, tulle covering overhead fluorescent fixtures, fairy lights and sheer curtains hanging in the windows, and angels – sometimes just their wings – everywhere. A cross hangs on one wall, a colorful picture titled “Chakra” on another. In one corner is an ancestor altar. Although Kate Howe had arranged two rows of chairs at the far end of the room for a two-hour Heavenly Connections…

Meet the Gods: Lord Shiva Merry meet. Lord Shiva is one of the most important deities in the Hindu religion. He is known by many names including Mahadeva, Rudra, Shambhu and Nataraja. Shiva’s form of Nataraja symbolizes the cosmic dance of creation and destruction, according to an article by Aayush on detacher.com. Lord Shiva is one of three primary deities of the Hindu trinity and is worshiped as both the destroyer and the transformer of the world. He is the source of art, religion and science. “In God’s endless dance of creation, preservation, destruction, and paired graces is hidden a deep understanding of our universe. Nataraja’s dance is not just…

Book Review Midlife Is Not a Crisis Using Astrology to Thrive in the Second Half of Life by Virginia Bell Published by Weiser Books Pages: 242 What others call a midlife crisis, Virginia Bell calls a Mid-course correction, saying, “Whatever we’ve left out of the equation, whatever we’ve ignored, begins to rise up and can no longer be disregarded. This cycle involves four planets and is spread over a decade.” With that, she welcomes readers to understand life’s most important cycle. As she began to study astrology in her early-50s, Bell came to realize it wasn’t about something happening in the sky, but something happening within each of us, “and…

Dream Candles Merry meet! This year for the new moon in Pisces I made dream candles. I was inspired by a ritual in the book I reviewed, “Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with Your Inner Goddess” by Simone Butler. I later modified her ritual for Ostara where some participants changed it to meet their own visions, so do revise it so it works for you. Pisces is dreamy, making it a wonderful influence for letting your subconscious choose images and words to glue to a seven-day glass pillar candle. Candles can also be made for a particular intention. You can find them at the dollar store. Any color you…

Review The Good Witch’s Guide A Modern-Day Wiccapedia of Magical Ingredients and Spells by Shawn Robbins and Charity Befell Published by Sterling Ethos Pages: 305 Rituals, History, aromatherapy, crystals, candle magic, spiritual alchemy, potions, tinctures, herbs and recipes are just some of the topics covered in this hardcover book that’s approximately six inches by six and a half inches. It’s an inch thick and just feels good to hold. As a “wiccapedia,” it covers all the topics you need to know, and then offers lists for additional reading and reference materials. The herbal folklore includes information about botanicals for health and healing, and passes along an old but potent charm.…

Meet the Gods: Jarilo (https://www.slavorum.org/) Merry meet. While Ostara (also called Eostre and Eastre) is the Germanic goddess of spring and dawn, there appears to be no equivalent Germanic god of spring. There is, however, a handsome, young Slavic god of spring and fertility – Jarilo. He was born on the night of the Slavic new year and was the tenth son of Perun, the god of thunder. Veles, the Slavic god of the Underworld, kidnapped Jarilo from his cradle. As a result, winter overtook the land. Vegetation died and fertility was suspended. Jarilo escaped, arriving home in spring at which time flowers bloomed, birds sang and fertility festivals (some…