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The Benefits of Forest Bathing & 8 Simple Tips
Forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku) has been practiced in Japan for over 800 years to help improve physical and mental health. The country now has several designated shinrin-yoku forests and doctors even prescribe it to their patients. Simply put, forest bathing is a blend of exercise and meditation where you intentionally set out to immerse yourself in a forest environment. It will come as no surprise to readers of this magazine that communing with nature has physical and mental health benefits. What is, perhaps, surprising is that science has finally got round to studying the practice and describing the benefits. What several studies have found is that being in nature has…
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Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light
This month concludes our focus on Devotion and the Great Work.… Nuances of The Great Work-Part Two “When a human reaches up to his/her Higher Mind and learns to access the vibrational gifts from that realm (of his/her own higher consciousness), she or he will be filled with inspiration and courage. And this type of inspiration and courage could change the world through actions that are then taken by that individual.”… anonymous … The Essential Elements of Devotion If we take a look at devotion through the lens of the Alchemical Elements, we can see the cycle that occurs in the process. These three (3) Alchemical Elements form…
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Worth the Witch Second Edition
Under the Willows Design – Monthly Altar Kit Ostara was the theme for the March 2021 Monthly Altar Kit from Under the Willows Design. Among its contents were a collection of herb and flower seeds to plant to honor the new growth that comes with spring. Little labeled plastic bags held lavender, sweet pea and verbena seeds. The herbs in this kit – wormwood, chamomile, and calendula – are for offerings, Ostara rituals, or adding to your altar or apothecary for your own needs. They can also be used for a cleansing washes, using the Ostara energies for prosperity spells, or to charge and cleanse crystals…
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ZOOM IN!
Tips and Techniques for Effective Zoom Events COVID-19 and new protocols for safety has resulted in canceled festivals, rituals and workshops leaving many within our community feeling isolated and yearning for interactions with others. Fortunately, we live in a technologically booming age and since creativity is a staple of pagans, these two together can form a winning partnership….. Specific Events: Virtual Ritual Part One This month we’ll explore some of the considerations when planning for a virtual ritual. As we know, the virtual experience provides a level of barrier to being in the presence of others, sensing the energy up close and being able to coordinate the…
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Divine Introspections: Meditation Journeys through Healing and Spirituality
Your Personal Perpetual Flame Feeding Your Fire Through Spiritual Design (Brigid handmade art by Helen Mask of MaskIllustration on Etsy.) As Brigid moves across the lands, thawing our fields, awakening nature, and guiding the sun back to its highest point in the sky, through her Eternal Flame we find a continuance of renewal, rebirthing, and a wealth of new beginnings and opportunities moving into the Spring. Another great Spiritual Connectivity that we find at this time is a heightened ability to see clearly, not just physically but Spiritually on a much larger scale. Your goals are forming, you’re surrounding yourself with new people that bring you to a…
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The Sacred Spoon
Chakra Balancing Meals Solar Plexus Chakra Chamomile Lemon Loaf with Lavender Glaze The solar plexus Chakra is located in the gut and thus aids in who we are as a person, spiritual & mundane. It’s where we receive guidance that helps us make decisions, and is the core of one’s power. Much like with the heart Chakra, when our solar plexus is imbalanced we find it difficult to connect, accept on a more spiritual or personal sense instead of emotional. The stones associated with the solar plexus chakra are yellow calcite, tiger’s eye, pyrite, citrine and rutilated quartz. Kyanite can also be used as it helps align all of the…
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Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times
Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for March 2021 Bright Blessings! It’s below freezing outside, and we may get up to eight inches of snow in the next three days. I have been shoveling my backside off this month, because we’ve already gotten PLENTY of snow already, as The Cailleach reminds us it’s still her domain. Not for long! (Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash) In just over a month, it will be Spring Equinox, and, according to weather reports, it will have warmed up significantly by then. Already, the days are longer, and seeds are out in stores…YES we got some seeds. Those who have read…
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Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light
This month our focus is on Devotion and the Great Work…. Nuances of The Great Work-Part One “When a human reaches up to his/her Higher Mind and learns to access the vibrational gifts from that realm (of his/her own higher consciousness), she or he will be filled with inspiration and courage. And this type of inspiration and courage could change the world through actions that are then taken by that individual.”… anonymous … As we begin our exploration of the Great Work, I’d like you to keep in mind that there are many roads that lead to this work. There is no one-size-fits all and the most direct path…
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The Healing Embrace: Four Wonderful Reasons to Hug
Little feels more natural than embracing a partner or friend to show affection, offer reassurance, and simply enjoy the close presence of their spirit. Likewise, closeness with our children, who rely on our physical touch to thrive and be comforted, is second nature. This is because these embraces are healing to our bodies and minds. They feel so good not only because we deeply love and care for those we hold close, but because our bodies have a positive physiological and psychological response to this gentle physical affection. Here are four ways embraces benefit everyone involved: An embrace with your partner gets positive brain chemicals flowing: At the end of…
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MagickalArts Video Edition
A New (Witch’s) Year! A New Mantle of Power! Spring’s Promise of Balance: The Vernal Equinox Welcome to March’s video version of MagickalArts. This month we call to the energy of the Spring Equinox and the gift of rebirth and renewal. The time of seeding our wishes and hopes is at hand. How will you honor this growth within yourself? *** About the author: Robin Fennelly is an Elder within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven…