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Magical Molasses Crinkles If you want a cookie that stays moist and chewy for days – even a week! – this is the cookie for you. Rich and spicy, they are perfect for cold rainy days or cool summer nights and they pair perfectly with grapes and cheeses and an orange-spice herbal tea or that favorite dry white wine you only pull out for special occasions. This cookie is known as Molasses Crinkles and it is indeed magical. This is a cookie my mother used to make all the time and still does. It is from the original (first edition, published in 1950) Betty Crocker Cookbook – I do not…

  Ellen is a druid, an herbalist, and a prolific author. She runs the Willow’s Grove shop through her website. She also runs a course in herbalism for those wanting to learn the marvellous powers of plants. I was fascinated to find out more about this incredibly busy and talented woman. Ellen was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. Mabh Savage: Tell us a bit about your upcoming book A Legacy of Druids. How did it come about? What drove you to write this book? Ellen Evert Hopman: I have been a Druid officially since 1984, which was the year I joined ADF which is an Indo-European…

Poppets Merry meet. This month’s witchcraft is about making poppets. A poppet is a figure representing a person or animal and is used in spells. Poppets date back to Babylonia and Mesopotamia, and can be made from clay, cloth, wax, fruit, sticks, dolls or other materials. The magic works on the principles of similarity and associated contact – a witch will effect change through use of the icon. Like other ritual tools, once made, the poppet needs to be consecrated, named and dedicated to the work in hand. It can be infused with your personal energy and intentions by breathing life into the figure. Once created and magically charged, whatever…

(Oh-star-ah) – Lesser Sabbat – Spring/Vernal Equinox, March 20-21st – when the Sun enters Ares Other Names: Ostre, Oestre, Eostre, Rites of Spring, Eostra’s Day, Lady Day, First Day of Spring, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Alban Eiler, Bacchanalia, Mean Earraigh, Pasch, Caisg, Pess Date: Spring Equinox (March 20-22 in Northern Hemisphere) or when the Sun is 1 degree Aries. Symbolism: The beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, the God and Goddess in Their youth, balance, fertility Goddesses: all love, virgin, and fertility Goddesses; Anna Perenna (Roman), Aphrodite (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite, Persia, GrecoRoman), Athena (Greek), Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd, Eostre (Saxon Goddess of Fertility), Flidais (Irish), Gaia (Greek), Hera, Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian),…

Today we are going to talk about the Ace of Swords, the last of the four Aces to be considered. Aces are different from the other Minors, as they are seen as being the seeds of their suit and element, rather than the manifestation of their suit and element. Aces are not material, and there is no evidence that they exist or affect us, because they don’t. Aces are tendencies that are the foundation of the manifestations of their suit; the Ace of Swords, our card for this month, is not Air, but a tendency to become Air! How do we “become Air”? Let’s begin our process of breaking down…

                           Welcome   _______________________________________________________________   In This Issue… Mabh Savage features two great interviews this month.     The first is with Paul Davies, aka Oddie, is an independent Druid, a Norwich Quaker, a photographer and a pacifist. He’s also the editor of This Ancient Heart, a book that ‘reveals the connective pathways where beliefs, actions and metaphors lead to dynamic, practical and spiritual lives’.   The second is with The Bard of Ely; Steve Andrews. Dubbed as both a wizard and a bard, Steve Andrews is hardly your everyday herb expert, if there is indeed such a thing. Mabh, caught…

Spoon-fed Witchcraft I have always been interested in witchcraft, spirituality and related stuff. Since my teens I read lots of books, magazines and later on websites. When I wanted to actively start experiencing it, it was quite a struggle. It was hard to find good info and even, how could I know which info was good? There weren’t many books available in my local library about these kinds of subjects. One of the first books I read was ‘Book of Shadows’ by Phyllis Curott. It was a personal account of how the author discovered her path, but could also be used to try out things for yourself. Both sides of…

Magick for the Elemental Witch by Deanna Anderson   Magick for the Elemental Witch, as a whole, was a very excellent and educational book. She covered such a vast array of topics and religions. I was very impressed. Honestly, the main downfall was there were some very obvious grammatical errors, especially once you hit the middle of the book. I would easily suggest this book to anyone wanting to expand their knowledge or if you are just starting out. Anderson talks about a great variety of things and I think anyone would be able to find something useful. She gives great personal examples and also talks about different spells. All-in-all,…

February 1, 2 Other Names: Imbolg (im-molc)(em-bowl’g) (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian), Brigantia (Caledonii), Oimelc, Festival of Light, Brigid’s (Brid, Bride) Day, La Fheill, An Fheille Bride, Candelaria (Mexico), Chinese New Year, Disting-tid (Feb 14th, Teutonic), DisaBlot, Anagantios, Lupercalia/Lupercus (Strega), Groundhog Day, Valentines Day. Animals & Mythical Beings: Firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation. Gemstones: Amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise. Incense/Oil: Jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil, myrrh, and wisteria, apricot, carnation. Colors/Candles: Brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale yellow, silver. Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: White flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid’s cross, candles, grain/seed for blessing, red…

The art of Seeding Magick moves strongly through the month of February as Brighid weaves her magick of healing, creativity and preparation for the new life of Spring in just a few more weeks. Each year at this time, I spend some time thinking about what I wish to plant as the seeds of new beginnings and endeavors in the coming year that will become my beautiful garden of creative effort. And, so towards those ends I offer a 2-part magickal pathworking to stimulate the senses and flow of crafting a sanctuary and growing place for your intention. Enjoy… The Secret Garden Part One This meditation can be used to…