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It’s All About the Lavender   Here are some beauty recipes whose main ingredient is lavender.   Lavender and Rosemary Soap   Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) each have a mild yet stimulating effect on skin. Both are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and beneficial for treating wounds, blemishes, boils, dermatitis, fever blisters, and more. Begin this soap by making and infusion of fresh lavender flowers and rosemary leaves. To make an infusion, pour one cup of steaming hot water over three tablespoons of dried or fresh lavender flowers and rosemary leaves (proportioned as you like) and steep for ten minutes. 3 cups glycerin soap base 1/4 cup lavender flowers/rosemary leaves infusion 1 1/2 tsp. lavender oil…

Peace Practice Merry meet! This year, I find myself wanting to create peace more strongly than I have in a long time. It seems to be a theme in my life, or perhaps the title of this chapter of the journey. As the whole world seemingly gears up for a frenzy of holiday shopping, decorating and partying – all during a time of uncertainty and unrest – I long to snuggle under a blanket of still snow and listen to music that lulls me into calm, feeling safe and staying grounded until Imbolc brings its energy shift and the stirring of new life. Without knowing it, I was searching for…

Dream Magick and Healing at Yule   My thoughts on Yule are comforting, family together and sharing what we have, eating together and exchanging gifts. The Winter Solstice is a powerful doorway into magick and we can connect to this energy through dreams. Here’s an idea for a gift of dream healing. Make a home-made card for your dearest friend and offer her a dream healing as a gift for Yule. In the days leading up to the Solstice dress a green candle in Yuletide scents such cinnamon, cloves, orange and pine. You can also put a few drops on the card so when she opens it the smell of…

Tending the Flame   Brigit—Lady of Light Your Fire burns bright in the hearts of many. Brighid—Exalted One Most High do I sing Your Name. Brigantia—Sovereign One Through You, I honor the Sacredness of the Land. Brigandu—Bright Faery Queen The Realms of Enchantment are Yours, my Queen. Breedia—She Who Heals I embrace Your Powers of Healing, may I become One with You. Brigit—Brighid—Brigantia—Brigandu—Breedia I give thanks for the Blessings You bestow upon my Life… ~Vivienne Moss~ I have written of Brighed, or as I call Her, Brigandu, before. She is both Goddess and Saint, and is worshipped by both Pagans and Christians. Brigandu is a wonderful Goddess for the Cottage…

To Know: A Guide to Women’s Magic and Spirituality, by Jade I know this is a column about divination but sometimes I feel the need to write about books. Like many of us, I learned about paganism, wicca, witchcraft and many other occult subjects through books. Most of the books I read were from the public library and I took copious notes, which became my Book of Shadows. But when I had the money, I bought the books I longed to own or ones that were recommended to me. One that was recommended to me by the owner of the shop in which I bought it, was To Know: A…

Stars Merry meet. My Yule tree is decorated largely with natural objects such as shells and pinecones, and replicas of such things as moons, suns and stars. Some of my favorite stars are rustic – made from twigs or, in this case, cinnamon sticks. Find five cinnamon sticks that are approximately the same length and thickness. Twigs or wooden chopsticks would also work. While I used threads separated from burlap twine to bind them, yarn, ribbon, wire and hot glue will also work. Place the pieces in the shape of a star so you can see the angle formed by each point. Begin tying the sticks together until you’ve worked…

To Join (or Not to Join) A Magickal Group This is an article I wrote many years ago and I’ve decided to share it in this month’s column. As the community and spiritual paths of pagan practice become increasingly more available, so too are the opportunities to become intimately a part of that expanding community. What that participation looks like and how in depth are multi-faceted. It is particularly timely for me since I have been in process of Hiving and forming a new coven within our Tradition, The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel. And, so in this spirit I pose the question that should be explored before committing to…

This month’s Bardic Song is called “Triple Moon Song”. It is a simple tune that has 4 lines for easier repetition and the melody line is rather easy. When I initially created this song, I wanted a song the represented all three of the common Moon phases, but you only need to sing the one line during its phase. Thus, during a New Moon, you only need to sing that one line repeatedly – likewise with the other lines. As much as possible, all songs are created as a single page in pdf format for easier printing and reading. If you play the piano, these songs are simple enough to…

Notes from the Apothecary: Cloves As we move into the darkest part of the year I want to focus on a spice that brings joy and warmth into the home. Though they are just little brown spikes, the heady scent and flavour of cloves instantly conjures up images of winter festivity. Combine this with citrusy flavours like lemon and orange and you have a veritable indoor winter wonderland. Cloves are actually flower buds, and it seems fitting that they are often used in winter as the tree they spring from is evergreen. The Kitchen Garden Cloves are a vital component in many different cuisines. In the west, we tend to…

The tale-finder had traced the story as far as a small tavern in a remote village. Quaffing his ale, he greeted the other guests and, after a customary exchange of pleasantries, asked if anyone present had heard the story Hob told of a midnight gathering of sorcerers. There was some chuckling, and then a giant of a man sitting in the corner replied that he knew the tale, or knew of it. “It isn’t much of a story,” he began. “This farmhand Hob, in some stead over the river, was about to head home for the evening when the Mistress of the farm stopped by and asked him if he…