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Using the Wind in Your Magical Practice   For most of us, calling upon the Elemental Spirits during our workings and rituals is as natural and normal as breathing. We do it routinely and after awhile, it becomes rote; something we do without even thinking. There is an aspect of crafting however, that is often ignored and to be honest, that most people don’t even know about; that missing link is working with the Wind and with the directions from which it comes for maximum magical effect.   Harnessing and using the power of the Wind is an ancient art. As any sailor knows, working with the Wind allows your…

When the economy isn’t the greatest, jobs are harder both to find and to hold on to, and we’re living in a culture of limitation and fear, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of hoarding.  Even if we are very frugal and careful about what we bring into our homes, we may have a difficult time of letting go of things that no longer serve us.  We may have a hard time spending our hard-earned money, which means that our money can’t serve us either.  Sometimes, because we’re stressed out, we revert to old patterns of behavior and old ways of thinking, which brings up old pains and fears…

Lungwort and the Doctrine of Signatures Several weekends ago our apprenticeship class from the Arctos School ofherbal and Botanical Studies went on an awesome hike to check out a young forest near the Clackamas River in Oregon. The area had been logged about fifty years earlier, and the Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were slowly making a comeback. What I found most exciting was that the trees were COVERED with an abundance of Lungwort-Lobaria pulmonaria.   There are many plants with which I enjoy a deep relationship; however, Lungwort is definitely one that joyfully and powerfully sings to my heart. There is just something about the vibrancy of its nearly iridescent…

Let’s look at some carriers you can massage with or add to holistic products. Do remember that allergic reactions can occur, even with base/carrier oils, so if you have allergies be aware of this before use. If a reaction occurs, remove the oil immediately~ a bath or quick scrub shower will help. If your worried about allergic reactions from oil use, try using a neutral oil that you shouldn’t have a reaction to-Sunflower, Evening primrose, or Grapeseed oil.  If you have an allergy to flowers, you should be o.k. to use flowered oils, however test a little on the skin if unsure. If it burns or itches, then remove the…

 “Hocus Pocus for Profit” Businesses featured on paranormal television shows are attempting to milk their 15 minutes of fame long after the cameras have left the building. I get that- to a degree. They’re in business to make money; but they do so by making a mockery out of the science of paranormal research with deceptive business practices. These businesses aren’t interested in the science behind the paranormal activity- whether it’s fact or fake; and they’re using shows like Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State to get advertising for their struggling business, then cashing in on that by playing up the results of those investigations by making it into a tourist…

Abundance Don’t you find that the more you want something the further away it can seem to be?  It’s our limited thinking patterns that create this, limited thinking teamed up with programming we took on from our parents and the use of our vocabulary. I know how insane that all sounds but each part is true, let me show you what I mean:- Limited Thinking Limited thinking is such an easy thing for us to create, and it comes in from things we hear from our parents when we were children, now, in no way am I saying your childhood was a negative time in your life, who am I…

The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses (Part Two of Five)     The East: Sweet & Bland   The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses begins in the East, place of the rising sun, place of dawning and beginnings, place of birth. The element of the East is air: it is the first breath, inspiration, laughter, singing, flight. The plants of the East taste sweet and bland. They are rich in sugars and starches, the two forms of carbohydrate.   The archetypal plants of the east are the cereal grasses. They were the first plants to be cultivated, and they continue to be the mainstay food of all the world’s peoples.…

Beautiful July As I look around me in my little corner of the world, summer’s bounty is evident! Such amazing beauty just waiting to be noticed. I am reminded of the different sayings I was raised hearing. Beauty is as beauty does. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. How does beauty apply to real life?  And how does beauty present itself on our spiritual path?  It is one thing to create a sacred space for a ritual that is magnificent and inspires the energy of the work to increase.  I love altars filled with flowers and candles and sparkling crystals!  It is a feast for the senses!  But…

Nuada and the Four Treasures of Tuatha de Dannan             Nuada is a Celtic god who goes by many names; some of those being, Nodons, Nuadu, Nuadha and Nuadha Airgetlamh. Nuadha Airgethlamh simply means ‘Nuadha of the Silver Hand/Arm’. Nuada is equivalent with the Gaulish and British god Nodens and the Welsh equivalent is Nudd or Llud Llaw Eraint. He is a god who is associated with water, oceans, fishing, the sun, sailing, childbirth, youth, beauty, healing, writing and divine justice. Nuada was the first king of Tuatha de Dannan, but lost his arm in combat with the Fir Bolg champion Bres. Once Nuada lost his arm, he was rendered…

Lono, Lord of the Makahiki In the Beginning According to Hawaiian mythology, in the beginning, there was Po.  Po was an empty abyss in which dwelled Keawe, the creator.  Keawe manifested himself as male and female, Kane, the son, and Na Wahine, the daughter.  Kane and Na Wahine coupled and produced three sons, principal deities of Hawaii.  Included in the royal family were Na Wahine, Kane Kanaloa, Ku, and Lono.[1] Responsibilities of Lono Keawe named Lono god of wisdom and the sun.[2]  Lono was given dominion over agriculture and fertility.[3]  In this aspect, He initiated growth of all green things on earth and presided over native, herbal medicines.  Lono revitalizes…