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Book Review The Visions of the Pylons A Magical Record of Exploration in the Starry Abode By: J. Daniel Gunther Ibis Press The author, Mr. Gunther follows Aleister Crowley’s method of enlightenment as put forth by Mr. Crowley in his publication: “The Equinox.” Mr. Gunther used the method labeled “Scientific Illuminism” to explore the Egyptian funerary text called “The Book of Pylons” (or Gates). It is the nocturnal journey of the deceased on the Solar Bark in the Starry Abode. What Mr. Gunther has written is a book that is a record of the meditations the author went through and his exploration of the Starry Abode. These meditations happened between…

The Bad Witch’s Guide to Faeries I have stared at this empty page and title for about 30 minutes. It is not that I don’t know a lot about fae, the fair folk, the Good Neighbours; it’s just well where to start? First off I suppose is that they are more than just the twinkly winged Barbie dolls we push on little girls. Fae are amazingly varied dependent on habitat and what they eat. In fact almost every people have some version of fae folk. Humans don’t have a universal anything, but if they did, fae might be it. Faery are not “nice”. They are incredible, powerful, wise and witty.…

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…

Our Physical and Subtle Anatomy: Part Two Excerpted from Part One… …”Our physical bodies are a wonderful and grand vessel of complex and varied capabilities. Most of the functions that sustain our life are transparent in their process and automatic in their function. We breathe, our heart beats; we move in coordinated and purposeful mechanics, we feel, we think, we react. All of these physiological components are used as vehicles of anchoring in the refinement of our spiritual and subtle nature. We are humans in corporeal state and as such our level of response to spiritual and energetic action is through the vehicle of physical being. Even those experiences that…

Chapter 10 Seeking Our Inner Child In a world that has become very materialistic and stressful, many of us love to escape to childhood by watching one of the many fantasy films that are now so popular. For a little while, we can be transported back to a world of childish delight, as disbelief is suspended. That child still lives inside us and has much to offer. In that world of dragons and knights, of elves and faeries, lies a gateway to increased optimism and energy. We can learn to see the world in a fresh new light. Life is truly an adventure if we choose to see it as…

Book Review Hand Lettering A to Z Workbook by Abbey Sy 191 pp. Rockport “Hand Lettering A to Z Workbook” is a very accessible workbook aimed at beginners in hand-lettering who want to start with a good foundation and traditional letter form styles. The first few pages are spent on exploring the basics of typography, hand-lettering, and layout; there is not a lot of detail on any one topic here, but there’s no fat, either. The prose is very direct and to-the-point, and Abbey Sy includes recommendations for specific tools and methods.  Sy offers a good variety of styles for the beginner, from simple handwriting and serif letter forms to…

Notes from the Apothecary: Chilli Chili is a useful medicinal and magical plant. This spicy fruit is delicious in a variety of cuisines, from Mexican to Indian and many in between. Modern research has found many health benefits, and the modern witch can use chili for a range of spells and magics. Chili is a beautiful plant, with striking foliage and stunning, glossy fruits ranging from scarlet to shades so deep they’re nearly black- perfect for the inner goth! Read on to find out why chili is such a useful ingredient for mundane and magical use. The Kitchen Garden Not everyone likes spicy food, but chili pepper adds flavour as…

I Bought Crystals…Now How Do I Work With Them? This month instead of focusing on specific stones I thought it would be helpful to some to have a rundown of how to work with & maximize the properties of your crystals once you get them in your hands. There are many ways to use your crystal friends and I hope this will inspire you to try working with your stones in a new way! Read on to learn more! Wear Them: I have a particular fondness for this method of use. I mostly sell jewelry because I truly think it’s the easiest way to work with crystals. Having them on…

Two of Pentacles (The Two of Pentacles card is from the artist Ciro Marchetti http://www.ciromarchetti.com/)** Let’s return to the Pips this month and talk about the last of the Twos, the Two of Pentacles. As I’m sure you know by now, a Tarot deck consists of 22 Major Arcana cards with archetypal correspondences that deal with broad and far-reaching life experience issues, and 56 Minor Arcana cards that are customarily grouped into four categories or suits corresponding with the four elements (sometimes called “Pips” or “Pip Cards”) that usually deal with day-to-day issues. The Two of Pentacles is part of the Minor Arcana; as we have discovered, one effective way…

Book ReviewGoddess PowerAwakening the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine in Your Life by Isabella Price This is a beautifully written and well-researched book of Goddess history, or *herstory*, if you will. Ms. Price’s love for her subject shines through in every word. It is a culturally diverse chronology of Goddess myth, lore and magic, beginning with the prehistoric and neolithic Goddess figures that have been found in chapters on Inanna and Ishtar, Isis, Minoan Crete, Yoruba, Shaktism and both the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdelene. Ms. Price speaks of the different cultures and their Goddesses, including the myths about them. She tells of Goddess symbols and their meanings. This book is…