• Interviews

    Interview – Cat Gina Cole, Author of “Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft”

    Relearning Her Psychic Abilities Leads to a Book Teaching Others To Do the Same From a very young age, Cat Gina Cole knew she was different. She saw and heard things others did not. She would converse with the fae and experience remote viewing. She was fortunate to have family that understood those things and helped teach her about them. “Psychism has always been something that I’ve had. It’s just a part of me,” she said in a recent interview from her home in Oregon. “It made it difficult to fit in as a kid. When you have claircognizance and you know something is going to happen and you’re in…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – Psychic Skills for Magic & Witchcraft: Developing Your Spirit, Intuition, & Clairvoyance by Cat Gina Cole

    Book Review Psychic Skills for Magic & Witchcraft: Developing Your Spirit, Intuition, & Clairvoyance By Cat Gina Cole Publisher: Llewellyn Publications 232 pages Publication Date: February 8, 2022         “Psychic Skills for Magic & Witchcraft” guides readers to develop intuitive abilities, something many may not realize is possible. The book begins with an introduction to beliefs, a glossary of terms, and exercises to master the fundamental tools required at all levels of psychism. Meditation, imagination, and the effects of social conditioning are explained. Pathworking, remote viewing, psychometry, manifesting, and letting go are among the skills covered. In Chapter 5, readers are given exercises to advance such skills…

  • Monthly Columns

    GoodGod!

    Meet the Gods: Shakok   Shakok is the god of winter of the Northern Mountain, according to Native American mythology. The story goes that Acoma’s chief’s daughter, Co-chin-ne-na-ko, married the winter spirit. After he came to live with them, the winters became colder, snow fell harder, the world stayed frozen longer, crops no longer matured, and food became scarce. One miserable winter day as Co-chin-ne-na-ko was searching for food, she met Miochin, the spirit of summer. He was wearing a yellow shirt woven of corn silk; leggings made of green moss; a tall pointed hat, and moccasins decorated with butterflies and flowers. Upon learning her people were eating cactus leaves,…

  • Monthly Columns

    SpellCrafting

    Spells for the Craft: Peace Water Merry meet! Many of you are probably familiar with war water – typically made from iron nails or spikes left to rust in pond water along with another ingredient or two such as Spanish moss or wormwood. It’s used to drive away disruptive energy, and I have sprinkled it around the perimeter of my abode as a preemptive protective measure. Recently I learned of peace water. A hoodoo product, it brings peace, harmony, and gentleness to places, people or situations. It can create an energetic barrier, warding off negative entities and energies that would bring discord to your environment. It’s thought peace water draws…

  • Monthly Columns

    GoodGod!

    Meet the Gods: Coyote Brother One of the gods associated with Samhain is Coyote Brother, a well-known figure in the myths and legends of many indigenous peoples in North America. Many tribes credit Coyote with gifting fire to humans and teaching them useful skills. Coyote Brother is most often considered “the trickster god.” He can be fearsome or funny, foolish or cunning. Many believe he brings winter, death, and all things evil. In northern California, he is portrayed as greedy, reckless, and deceitful. While that causes problems for those around him, his impulsive, often foolish behavior creates suffering for him, too, and sometimes even death, although afterwards he always manages…

  • Reviews

    Deck Review – The Women of Myth Oracle Deck: Guidance and Insight from the Divine and Diverse Feminine cards by Maria Sofia Marmanides

    Deck Review The Women of Myth Oracle Deck: Guidance and Insight from the Divine and Diverse Feminine Cards By Maria Sofia Marmanides Publisher: Adams Media 50 cards and 120-page booklet Publication Date: July 4, 2023         “The Women of Myth Oracle Deck” allows users to consult the wisdom of 50 mythic women from mythologies around the world, each with their stories. The artwork, printed on quality stock, portray these women as powerful goddesses, heroines, and monsters. Each has a full-page illustration and paragraphs with what these women are known for, the card’s meaning, and the advice she offers. Preceding the explanation of individual cards, Maria Sofia Marmanides…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – 2024 Astrology Diary – Northern Hemisphere: Plan Your Year with the Stars

    Book Review 2024 Astrology Diary – Northern Hemisphere: Plan Your Year with the Stars By Patsy Bennett Publisher: Rockpool Publishing 160 pages Publication Date: June 12, 2023         This diary lists major solar, lunar, and planetary positions for every day of the year, making it possible to navigate life with the help of astrological influences. Astrology studies the movement of celestial objects. Each planet has its own characteristics that, depending on where it is located, will influence the tone and opportunities of the day. The planner is organized by sun signs, each leading off with a two-page forecast summarizing the zodiac sign. Positions of planets and other…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – Spell Jars for the Modern Witch by Minerva Siegel

    Book Review Spell Jars for the Modern Witch: A Practical Guide to Crafting Spell Jars for Abundance, Luck, Protection, and More By Minerva Siegel Publisher: Ulysses Press 160 pages Publication Date: June 6, 2023         Minerva Siegel gives readers 50 recipes for spell jars, and the magickal fundamentals to know before you begin. While the title is “Spell Jars for the Modern Witch,” you don’t have to be a witch to protect, manifest, or heal. Also known as witch bottles, they contain the elements of a spell, and can easily be recharged and refreshed to offer long-lasting effects. The first part of the book describes six psychic…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – The Witch’s Yearbook: Spells, Stones, Tools, and Rituals for a Year of Modern Magic by Clare Gogerty

    Book Review The Witch’s Yearbook: Spells, Stones, Tools, and Rituals for a Year of Modern Magic By Clare Gogerty Publisher: David & Charles 128 pages Publication Date: August 10, 2021         Clare Gogerty, a seasoned practitioner of the craft, gives a year’s worth of ideas and wisdom for celebrating the sabbats that makes for a helpful resource for beginners. Chapters begin with an introduction to the festival, a topic of interest (trees for Mabon, the moon at Yule, magical creatures for Ostara), botanical and crystal correspondences, holiday traditions and customs, rituals and spells, and a witchy craft (apple wand, incense, Brigid’s cross). On the Samhain pages, for…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – Wiccan Teas & Brews: Recipes for Magical Drinks, Essences, and Tinctures by Cerridwen Greenleaf

    Book Review Wiccan Teas & Brews: Recipes for Magical Drinks, Essences, and Tinctures By Cerridwen Greenleaf Publisher: Cico Books 144 pages Publication Date: May 14, 2023         Cerridwen Greenleaf was a toddler when she learned the importance of herbs from her Auntie Edie, but it took curing a cough that lingered after a bout of flu and did not respond to pharmaceuticals for her to begin evangelizing the drinking of herbal brews. “Tea conjures a very powerful alchemy because, when you drink it, you take the magic inside of you,” she wrote in Wiccan Teas & Brews. “They have the power to heal when nothing else will,”…