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Quartz Crystal   (Image courtesy: Shijewels https://www.etsy.com/shop/shijewels)   Sometimes known in ancient times as “frozen water from heaven”, clear quartz is one of the most versatile stones in the mineral realm. It’s often used for amplifying, balancing, clearing and cleansing but this crystal will also energize, activate and transmit. Quartz crystals are not always clear, some are opaque, some have hints of color because of an additional mineral, no matter the clarity it does not minimize or maximize this stones abilities. Quartz crystals can be used for any healing or spiritual purpose and can be programmed for any specific task you wish to use it for. It will take your energy…

(Nightmare Bag) To Stop Nightmares Merry meet. Several people I encountered were experiencing nightmares and looking for relief. I began making charm bags (that I also call spell bags or mojo bags) and was told they worked, so I am sharing it with you. Choose a piece of fabric or a purchased bag – of a natural material if possible – in deep purple, dark blue or black, but any one you’re drawn to will be good. Based on my research, I came up with the list of ingredients below that have magical properties to alleviate nightmares. Read it over and select those you’d like to use. You can combine…

Notes from the Apothecary: Plantain     No, not the banana type fruit; I’m talking about the weed that we all walk past every day, that has a surprising wealth of health benefits. My friend calls it a ‘Magic Bandage’, and indeed, a cut or a graze can be safely wrapped in a clean, bruised leaf which soothes and heals at no expense. There are several types of plantain, and for the most part I’m referring to the broadleaf plantain, but I will also mention the ribwort, which has long, slender leaves. There are other variants too, so do look up which are native to your own area. The Kitchen…

(The Tower Tarot Card from the artist Ciro Marchetti http://www.ciromarchetti.com/)** This month, we will stay with the Major Arcana, and talk about The Hierophant, one of the three Major Arcana cards that refer to traits of the Sacred Masculine. Before we begin breaking down The Hierophant, let’s remind ourselves of some terms. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of a…

Splendid Poison: The Power of Words Celtic Triad: Three occasions for one to speak falsehood without excuse: to save the life of one who is innocent, to keep the peace among neighbours, and to preserve the Wise and their crafts.   (A stone near Killala, County Mayo, with Ogham writing upon it. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)   Celtic tales only come to us courtesy of the scholar of the middle ages, who were proud of their manuscripts and the ability to write and illuminate these beautiful, treasured documents. Writing, in the middle ages, was a coveted skill; not something to be taken for granted, as many of us do…

DISMEMBERMENT This painting was inspired by a passage in the Bible. In Judges 14, Samson kills a lion and leaves the body there. When he returns a swarm of bees has taken over and he now finds honey there: A key concept in shamanism is Dismemberment. It means being taken apart. Our spirit allies will often do this during a dream or shamanic journey and it is a great form of spiritual cleansing because it reaches all ‘forgotten dark corners’ so to speak. Tribal shamans are put through severe ordeals and initiations by their shaman elders in the community. This completely changes their energy signature. If they survive, they become…

The Good Witch’s Guide by Shawn Robbins & Charity Bedell *Credit:  Excerpted with permission from The Good Witch’s Guide  © 2017 by Shawn Robbins and Charity Bedell, Sterling Ethos, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.       Spells for Money One of the most common sources of stress in modern life is money. We need money to pay the bills, obtain food, and have shelter. We have all had financial worries at some point or another. Some people struggle with earning enough money or are out of work. Other people may have unexpected expenses come up in their lives, like medical or repair bills. All of these issues…

Super Fast! Super Easy! Super Good! After last month’s total screw-up, I decided to make one of my favorite quick meals. I have this at least once a week. It’s super fast and super easy, and super yummy good. First you boil a pan of water. I always salt the water, because that makes it boil faster – salt changes the chemical composition of water, making it more susceptible to the effects of heat. Once it comes to a full boil, I add angel-hair pasta. For two servings, I add about an inch and a half diameter of pasta – I use my thumb and index finger as a measure,…

Meet the Gods: Green Man As pagans celebrate Beltane, the world is turning green, so it’s easy to understand why pagans turn to Green Man. He is the head or face seen in many forms, always made from or surrounded by leaves – sometimes with vines or branches coming from his mouth or ears. His is found on pagan altars in the woods; on the walls of Christian churches in England, France and Germany; and in secular buildings. Beltane celebrates life as spring reaches its peak. Earth energies are strong and bursting with potential. Fertility is abundant. The Green Man, as the young Oak King also known as Jack-in-the-Green, falls…

Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times: Beltaine 2017 Bright Blessings! I write this on April 21. It’s in the sixties here in Central Ohio, and my radishes and peas are coming up nicely. Big plans are in place to add manure to soil for our tomatoes, summer zucchini, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Aside from that, people who have literally been hibernating save for the mandatory work, and errands, are slowly reappearing into creation. Outdoor gatherings and festival season is nearly here, and invitations are being sent left and right. Every year here, this time of year is the same. And every year, it is about Samhain time the hibernation begins.…