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The Road to Runes: The Right Headspace     Reading runes is a form of divination. All forms of divination require an open mind ready to receive messages and interpret symbols. A stressed and worried mindset will lead to false interpretations, or prevent messages coming through at all. Even the strongest connection between diviner and tools can be blocked by a worried mind or troubled soul. Of course, we often look for answers from the runes because we are troubled and worried. So how can we stop these worries affecting our divination? Relax As an anxious person, believe me, I know this is easier said than done. Relaxation becomes even…

Excerpted from: 19-Days of Illuminated Darkness Day Three The Light Within the Shadow of the Winter Solstice For most of us the turning of the Greater Wheel to the Winter Solstice (Yule) is one of welcoming the return of the Light of renewal and strength, the promise of increasingly longer hours of daylight and anticipation of warmer weather and a more outer world focused time. This change is subtle in physical form as this is also when the cold of the Winter (Northern Hemisphere) will remain for a few months more prompting us to retreat indoors as the early arrival of evening’s darkness envelopes and calls us into the warmth…

Solstice is…   (Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)   Holly sharp sting, Red blood like Berries, red, white Mistletoe hang Deadly dart and Baldur’s curse Druids’ king seeking potion Now a kissing spot Love instead Shown through gifts Wrapped mysteries Ribbons hiding Hearts’ desires Wrap the day in a bow But presents wait Wait for me:   The mother and priestess Down in the woods At the sacred crossroads Of birch and oak The mysteries of Male and Female And everything in between And beyond.   Here I find the altar That no one knows of But I I lay the offerings Salt Offal Nothing to scar or litter…

Book Review Enchantments: A Modern Witch’s Guide to Self-Possession by Mya Spalter     Inspired by a New York Occult shop of the same name, Enchantments: A Modern Witch’s Guide to Self-Possession, takes the reader on a virtual tour of the shop, its wares and the accompanying advice and conversation that might be had when looking to craft a beautiful and meaningful altar space, or create sacred space. The author, Mya Spalter, uses a very warm approach, telling how she came to work at Enchantments store and then taking you on a journey through the highlights of her learning and experiences in working in a busy occult venue. Even the…

Review of HokumWares     This past Samhain I went on a day outing with my Family Coven to an annual Witches Market in Philly called “Witches Night Out.” We had an excellent time, however we did not get much. We found a lot of the prices to be exorbitant. Also, most of the items were not necessary for us. Jewelry made from bones (human & animal), regular jewelry out of our price range, patches, clothing, candles & some kits of sorts with funny names. However, there was one booth that really caught our attention and kept it. It was a nice sized table, whose smell lifted you by the…

Book Review Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft by Storm Faerywolf     Author, Storm Faerywolf’s book provides the reader with an inside look at the workings and traditions that evolved from Victor and Cora Anderson’s Feri Tradition and are known as Faery Witchcraft. I am always skeptical of books that infer that the teachings within are those which are not freely shared. It gives a certain layer of mystery and feeling that the reader is privy to practices that are only shared with the most trusted. I am not saying this as judgment as to whether that word “forbidden” or “hidden” should be in the title of any book, just…

Breaking Sugar’s Grip One Day At A Time   (Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash)   I decided this year not to make any huge platters of Yule cookies. I might make a small batch of Heirloom Cut-Outs – just before the holiday – but I am not going to make very many – and they are going to be for bringing out for guests who stop by – along with tea or coffee or some all-natural eggnog. The reason I don’t want to make a bunch of cookies is because along with trying to stay off alcohol and drugs, I am trying to stay off sugar as well. Totally ending…

Four of Wands (The Four of Wands card is from the artist Ciro Marchetti http://www.ciromarchetti.com/)** This month we will complete our exploration of the Fours of the Minor Arcana. Last but certainly not least, we will talk about the Four of Wands, and we will think about how a combination of force (Wands/Fire) and form (the number 4) can interact within the Tarot Minors. Yes, the Four of Wands is a Minor Arcana card, so as we know, the message offered by this card will most likely be more immediate in nature, or will most likely be connected to more day-to-day issues. As we have discovered during this journey through…

Review of Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s The House Witch     I received a “review copy” of The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space With Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home by Arin Murphy-Hiscock just before the Thanksgiving holiday. This handsome book is published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and is the twelfth book by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. On Simon and Schuster’s author website for Arin Murphy-Hiscock, you can find all the titles of her other published books. Some were known to me and some were not. Some, like Birds: A Spiritual Field Guide, I had borrowed from my local public library and had…

Book Review: The Witch’s Altar The Craft, Lore and Magick of Sacred Space By Laura Tempest Zackroff and Jason Mankey As someone with many altars strewn about my home, I was happy to have the opportunity to read this book. Whether for a beginner or someone with many year’s experience with Wicca/Witchcraft/Paganism, this book will help you in setting up, designing and maintaining your altars. Just perusing the Table of Contents makes you aware that the two authors know exactly what they are talking about, as they have many years of wisdom and knowledge both individually and collectively. It is a very reader-friendly book, conversational and easy-to-read with much information…