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Book Review – Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Black
Book Review Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life Written by Sharon Black Illustrated by Natalie Eslick Publisher: New World Library 320 Pages Release Date: November 29, 2022 In our society, old is more likely equated to deterioration and illness than to gifted and wise. By design, elderhood ends in death, making both unpleasant topics for many people. Thankfully, Sharon Blackie is not one of them. Sharing her own life journey in “Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life,” www.hagitude.org, she explores women’s transformation beginning with perimenopause, through the “hot-flashed fury” of menopause, and crossing the threshold to crone. “Our old women are the dark heart…
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Book Review – Spells for Living Well: A Witch’s Guide for Manifesting Change, Well-Being, and Wonder by Phyllis Curott
Book Review Spells for Living Well: A Witch’s Guide for Manifesting Change, Well-Being, and Wonder Written by Phyllis Curott Publisher: Hay House 286 Pages Release Date: October 25, 2022 Phyllis Curott is among my favorite witch authors, and I was happy to add “Spells for Living Well” to my collection. The spells, charms, and conjurations in the book are curated from her personal Grimoires, teachings, and “wisdom gathered over a divinely magical lifetime.” Some are old, some are new; some are very involved, others are simple; some will manifest over time, others will bring results swiftly – sometimes in unexpected ways. Spells include candle magic, mojo…
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Book Review – The Nature of Astrology: History, Philosophy, and the Science of Self-Organizing Systems by Bruce Scofield
Book Review The Nature of Astrology: History, Philosophy, and the Science of Self-Organizing Systems by Bruce Scofield Publisher: Inner Traditions 544 Pages Release Date: January 3, 2023 This is not a casual read. This is not the kind of astrology book that tells you what your sun sign is, what your moon sign is, your rising sign, and so on – you’re not going to find out how to learn how to find the love of your live or the best career for your personality by casting a perfect horoscope and following the planets each month, day, year – this is not that book. This is…
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MagickalArts
What Are the Magickal Arts? … As magickal practitioners we are all “artists” in our own ways, honing our skills of creating magick, weaving patterns of energy that affect change and calling to the most Divine of our natures as we align with cosmos, greater earth and all of the many Beings that inhabit those realms. And, I like where this trend is taking us in exploring the craft in all of forms…. Beltane reminds us of our ability to co-create and stand in the power of what is birthed. This issue we honor The Magickal Art of Standing In Your Power-The Magickal Name! What’s in a name?…
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Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary: Columbine The columbine, or Aquilegia, is a striking flower, with hooked spurs that resemble either eagle’s talons or the heads of doves gathered together. It’s in the same family as buttercups (Ranunculaceae), which while isn’t obvious in the shape of the flowers, becomes more apparent when you look at the hairy stems and the lobed leaf shapes. There are up to 70 species of columbines that we know about, with colours ranging from bright blue to deep red. Also known as Granny’s Bonnet, these fantastic flowers carry a wealth of folklore and magical associations. The Kitchen Garden Columbine are one of those plants that…
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Book Review – Trees Are Our Letters: A Creative Appointment with Nature’s Communicators by Carol Day
Book Review Trees Are Our Letters: A Creative Appointment with Nature’s Communicators by Carol Day Publisher: Moon Books / John Hunt Publishing Ltd. 136 Pages Release Date: March 1, 2023 Trees are our Letters. The book title tells us that there is a story to be told by trees. There are many testimonials at the beginning of the book that speak to the magical connection we have with trees. These testimonials speak to how this book can help to enhance our inner sight, spirituality, and healing. By connecting with nature and trees we can create within ourselves a sense of steady grounding and become more centered.…
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Stellar Applications
Current Astrology Using Hermetic Applications Welcome to Stellar Applications…. ….a new column for PaganPagesOrg e-zine that will explore the current astrology and how you can access the fullest measure of its potency through application of other Hermetic disciplines. Last issue I offered you some basics of astrology as foundations for what is coming ahead. This issue I am going to share the astrological assignments to the Major Arcana of the Tarot and some astrological highlights of Beltane. There is a lot that can be gleaned from the astrology/tarot connections and when you apply these to your natal birth chart an additional layer of understanding is revealed. Let’s…
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Witch & Popcorn
Review of The Woman King Bright Blessings Film Lovers! I had the opportunity to watch the film that is ranked number one on Netflix right now, and I’m glad I did. It’s the story of some brave women who united to overthrow their oppressors and convince their king to stop participating in human trafficking. It earned over $94 million and won multiple awards including an African-American Film Critics Association Award and is nominated for many more. It starred veteran actors and some rising stars and won the love and respect of viewers internationally. It is called the Woman King and you can watch a trailer here: Before…
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WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: Fire Starters Merry meet. Beltane is one of the fire festivals. The word Beltane translates roughly to “bright fire” and in Celtic tradition, the most important ritual was the sacred community bonfire lit at sunset the evening before. (Celtic days went from sundown to sundown.) Festivities focused on casting off winter’s darkness and celebrating the start of summer. It’s also a time of celebrating fertility You can start your fire with items you likely already have on hand. Perhaps the easiest and least expensive fire starters are made by filling cardboard toilet paper tubes with loosely packed dryer lint. Use two or three to start a fire.…
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Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
As we journey through the wheel of the year, we are going to connect that journey to our mindfulness practice. Our goal will be to explore ways that mindfulness and meditation can be woven into both our daily and magickal practices. This turn of the wheel brings us to Beltaine and the astrological sign of Taurus. Beltaine represent the warmth as Summer Returns and fertility rites; as well as a fae connection. As Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus it represents love, beauty and money. Together this is an excellent time to explore love, beauty, passion, prosperity and the fires of creativity and rebirth. Our mindfulness practice makes us…
