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Premiering this month on the Destination America channel is Project Afterlife, exploring Near Death Experiences and resurrection. It follows many of the conventions of the genre, like portraying the hosts as members of a team and the cinematic reenactments of the interviewee’s experiences. Project Afterlife does throw in some surprises though. For one thing, both the victims as well as the doctor or other witnesses are interviewed. They are given an almost equal amount of time in fact. It was also interesting to see a variety of NDEs: there is the classic white light experience, but also an encounter with a dead friend, a frightening experience, and a religious encounter.…

  The Enchantment of Candles     With a hushed prayer, I light the sacred candle of Hekate. The flame leaps to life, casting ghostly shadows upon the temple walls. In silence, I meditate upon the day, reflecting on the blessings that I have witnessed and contemplating the challenges I faced. I thank the Queen of Shadows for the light She has provided, awakening to the illumination of lessons learned. I softy blow out the candle—hallowed gratitude upon my breath… Simple yet effective, candle magic is a central focus of enchantment in my home. The creating of candle centered spells is both relaxing and invigorating. The choosing of the color,…

Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo was one of my favourites – favourite painter and favourite person. Not that I knew her or even met her, but everything I’ve read about her, every photo I’ve seen and every single one of her paintings makes me think she was a strong, fascinating woman. A woman you’d like to spend time with and get lost in hours-long conversations about life and death and sadness, hope and love. Frida Kahlo was a true free spirit, boxed in by life and circumstance. Her art became a conduit through which she was able to communicate her physical and emotional pain. She was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo…

  Cornhusk Wreath Merry meet… Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvests celebrating grain and beer. It’s a time of celebrating abundance and giving gratitude for prosperity. Many honor Lugh, the Irish sun god, with games and offerings. At the beginning of August, sunflowers and corn are both ripe in the garden. This thrifty craft combines both symbols of the sabbat in a wreath that will last for many harvests to come. Save all the husks from about a dozen ears of corn. If you decide to make this a group project, try asking for the contents of the barrels often set up next to the corn display at…

Cristina McAllister: Beautiful Connections There is something mesmerizing about the art of Cristina McAllister. Her amazing blend of symbolism and incredible detail combines with a flair for design and symmetry rarely found these days. It turns out that Cristina is just as interesting as her art! She was kind enough to have a chat with me about her many projects, her inspiration and her aspirations. Mabh Savage: When did you first know you wanted to be an artist? Cristina McAllister: I knew I was going to be an artist since I could hold a crayon. I’ve been compelled to create for as long as I can remember, and have always had a…

The House on Francis Avenue I was working in Chicago for a while, with my son, on some remodeling projects. He was in his early thirties and trying to find himself … so, I was helping him out. I enjoyed Chicago with all of its activities and especially with a different culture on every block. And now, I am on the road again heading back home, to Cleveland. Let me fill you in … even though we had a three family house that we lived in, we also rented out one apartment and it was creating a problem. We lived in one of the poorer areas of the city, with…

(Loo-nas-ah) Major Sabbat (High Holiday) – Fire Festival August 1, 2 Other Names: Lunasa (meaning August), Lughnasaad, Lughnasa Celtic),First Harvest, August Eve, Feast of Cardenas, Feast of Bread, Tailltean Games(Irish), Teltain Cornucopia (Strega), Ceresalia (Ancient Roman) Harvest Home, Thingtide (Teutonic), Lammas (Christian). Laa Luanys, Elembious, Festival of Green Corn (Native American) Animals and Mythical beings: Griffins, Basilisks, Roosters, Calves, Centaurs, Phoenix Gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamonds, citrine Incense and Oils: wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood Colors: red, orange, golden yellow, green, light brown, gold, bronze, gray Tools, Symbols, and Decorations: corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley,…

  Witches Soul Work: The Witch as a Shaman   “Shamanism is a world-wide practice in which the spiritual interrelationship of the earth with the Otherworlds forms an interwoven fabric of physical and psychic being, affecting all forms of life, both seen and unseen. Shamans are walkers between the worlds and interpreters of the spirit realms. They explore these unseen realms by means of the spirit journey (which occurs in shamanic trance) to interact with the beings they encounter there and to retrieve knowledge, healing and advice, which may benefit the people. Shamanism exists among peoples who have an animistic worldview; in many cultures it functions as spirituality, although it…

The 2nd Chakra After taking a break from the chakras last month to discuss healing meditations, I return to the chakras with the 2nd chakra. As I mentioned previously, when doing any chakra work, it is imperative to keep yourself grounded. While you can use any grounding exercise that you prefer, I have always used this one in my chakra classes: **Stand up, grip toes to the ground, long deep breathing, visualize your roots going deep into Mother Earth, keeping you grounded and centered. Inhale and bring the earth energy up to the base of your spine; exhale and let the energy return to the Earth. With each inhale, receive…

Notes from the Apothecary: Thyme   Thyme is a Mediterranean shrub with rich history that belies its small stature. From being used to in Ancient Egyptian embalming to being the main ingredient in your mouth rinse at the dentist, thyme is a powerful, beautiful herb with surprising and magical qualities. The Kitchen Garden Thyme is absolutely delicious. Despite its Mediterranean origins, the herb is widely used in many different cuisines today, adding its pungent flavour and aroma to roast meats, stews, pasta, pizza and even curry. Culpeper believed the herb was a remedy for flatulence which would certainly be one reason why it has been used as a food additive…