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 “Innovations in Paranormal Tech”     Put away your proton packs and your PKE Valiance devices. While the theories behind Egon’s famous PKE meter are based on actual parapsychological research, the toys of Hollywood’s Ghostbusters are just that. Out in the real world, however, their influence has been ingeniously innovative, often practical, and sometimes just silly. Investigative technologies in the field of paranormal research have been adapted, tweaked, modified, and reimagined over the past 100 years to further the quest for that paradigm-shifting piece of evidence that will duct tape the mouths of the skeptics shut. These tools of the trade have evolved from the days of bulky cassette recorders…

The mysteries of Eleusis were devoted to the ‘Two Goddesses,’ Demeter the grain goddess and her daughter Persephone, locally called Pherephatta or just ‘the Maiden,’ Kore.  These mysteries were organized by the polis of Athens and supervised by the archon basileus, the ‘king.’  For the Athenians these were the Mysteries tout court,  and  the literary prestige of Athens that ensured their lasting fame.  Inscriptions and excavations in addition to literature and iconography provide abundant documentation. The well-known myth depicts Demeter searching for Kore, who has been carried off by Hades, the god of the netherworld.  Kore finally comes back, if only for a limited period, to Eleusis itself; there the…

The mechanics of Magick comes win a matter of many different formulas for the continuous conclusion; remember the results are not a one and done, but are carried throughout the universe in the infinite. So some major parts of the magical equation consist of faith, belief, will, focus, practice, experience, knowledge, and the level of conscious awareness attained. These are a few parts of the equation, however, the most primal half that dictates all of these options are last listed, level of conscious awareness. When this is trained through every trial it sets your moral, views, opinions, perceptions on life, and helps you find the Inner Light of the Crystal…

Patchouli   Since I first walked into a pagan shop, one scent has always brought me back to loving the Great Mother’s embrace. Still to this day I seek out this scent, thrive on its use.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized there are so much more uses for Patchouli than to send me to eternal peace. Patchouli is a natural insect repellant. It is said that traders from Orient would put it in the folds of their silk so that moths would not lay eggs there. Some say that it even keeps female moths from adhering to male moths. It is also used to repel Leeches, though admittedly…

  A Happy Samhain to All Two Herbs Associated with Samhain are Ginger and Licorice. Both are great for the season. Ginger:  The parts used are the Rhizomes.  An old Indian proverb says, “every good quality is contained in Ginger.”  Ginger has been used since the dawn of time for healing.  Modern science has supported some of it’s traditional medicinal uses.  Among other things ginger is is used to treat motion and morning sickness, digestive problems, heart disease and stroke, ulcers, arthritis, women’s health concerns, and cold and flu. Ginger is a tropical perennial that grows from a tuberous underground stem or rhizome. Just in time for Samhain, here’s a…

Responsibility   One of the important things that religions do is regulate behavior.  You may not like it, but that’s the way it is.  One of the reasons that others in society are skeptical of modern Paganism is that we don’t regulate much behavior outside of obvious harm and ill action.  This is part of the reason that modern Paganism appeals to many whose spirits are freer, or just unwilling to behave the way society expects them.  Since religion is one way the culture regulates behavior outside of the legal system, a religion that does not provide such regulation could be seen as suspicious (or not a religion).  I think…

Hawthorne Hawthorne-Crataegus spp –is a well-respected heart tonic, both for physical as well as emotional conditions of the heart.  A member of the rose family, Hawthorne can be found throughout North America and the northern hemisphere in Europe and Asia. These small thorny trees (shrubs), which can vary in size from 10 feet to 50 feet tall depending on the variety, produce lovely small white blossoms in the spring and small red fruits or ‘haws’ in the fall.  Used as both food and medicine for centuries, Hawthorne also has a long, rich folk history as well. Both ancient Greeks and Romans included Hawthorne in wedding arrangements, associating it with happiness…

Rosemary essential oil [Rosmarinus officinalis]   Rosemary was one of the first herbs to be used for medicine, food, magic and healing. It was sacred in some civilisations. Used as tussie mussies in medieval England; to protect against evil and to heal from the plague. Sprigs of Rosemary were burnt in ancient Greece, at shrines. Used in soaps, cookery, detergents, cosmetics, cleaning sprays, perfumes and cologne, as well as soft and alcoholic drinks. When burnt, Rosemary is said to have strong purification properties and once seen as a good way of exorcism. It is one of the oldest Incenses. It is carried for health, and placed above a property to…

Hel, Goddess of the Underworld The Norse goddess Hel is one of the most misunderstood goddesses of all time, largely due to the incorrect association with her name and the Judeo-Christian mythology’s realm known as “hell.”  Through this misconstrued association, Hel is often represented as an evil entity looming in the darkness to steal lost souls. This is far from truth. The youngest of three children born to the god Loki and the giantess Angrboda, she and her brothers, Fenrir the wolf, and Jormundgand, the Midgard Serpent, lived with their mother in Jotunheimr, home of the giants. Having received prophecies that these unique siblings would cause great mischief and disaster…

JEWELED CAVE ~ Gift of Inner Beauty ~   Beauty is looking deep into your soul and knowing who you are inside.  ~ Renita Williams, Inspirational Writer: Quotes that Celebrate Inner Beauty, Beliefnet.com   Sheltered within the subterranean heart of Mountain Majesty lie hidden treasures to behold. Deep within the caverns, in a luminous grotto, exquisite stones of great wealth and beauty take shape. This is the Jeweled Cave, a silent revelation of sublime, infinitely sparkling gems. Throughout time, these beloved gifts of Mother Earth have been highly sought after. Since the discovery of these riches, mankind has explored every corner of the world through treacherous trails, scaling massive mountains…