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Focus Pocus
Finding Inspiration When You’re Overwhelmed (Litha 2023) Everyone has probably felt overwhelmed from time to time, but those who are neurodivergent might experience overwhelming feelings differently, more frequently, or both. It’s easy for us to feel overwhelmed in overstimulating environments, our brains are always scanning the world around us, thinking at what feels like five times the speed of light, making connections upon connections, and our neurodivergent brains don’t help us filter a lot of the noise out. This can leave us anxious, paralyzed, and feeling like we’re stuck or out of control and can act like a huge barrier when we are trying to get ourselves together, especially…
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Book Review – Backyard Witchcraft: The Complete Guide for the Green Witch, the Kitchen Witch, and the Hedge Witch by Cecilia Lattari and Betti Greco
Book Review Backyard Witchcraft: The Complete Guide for The Green Witch, The Kitchen Witch, and the Hedge Witch Written by Cecilia Lattari Illustrated by Betti Greco Publisher: Ixia Press 160 Pages Release Date: September 14, 2022 Backyard Witchcraft is a lavishly illustrated book that focuses on modern homespun witchcraft with an emphasis on herbal cunning tradition. In the Introduction, we learn all about the author’s approach to magic as an expression of plant relationship, and the three types of witchcraft that she will be discussing: green witchcraft, kitchen witchcraft, and hedge witchcraft. A bit like a witchy internet meme in book form, the book includes a…
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Book Review – Spirit Speaker: A Medium’s Guide to Death and Dying by Salicrow
Book Review Spirit Speaker: A Medium’s Guide to Death and Dying Written by Salicrow Publisher: Destiny Books 128 Pages Release Date: April 4, 2023 Spirit Speaker: A Medium’s Guide To Death & Dying is more than a manual, it’s a confidant and Soul companion. As I read this book I felt confirmation of my psychic and paranormal experiences as well as validation for my sensitivities. So often in the world of the living, we rely way too heavily on what we can see and prove which can make us dismiss, invalidate, or even criticize the world of the dead and unseen. We cannot see oxygen or gravity…
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Book Review – Flower Magic of the Druids by Jon G. Hughes
Book Review Flower Magic of the Druids: How to Craft Potions, Spells, & Enchantments Written by Jon G. Hughes Publisher: Destiny Books 200 Pages Release Date: May 2, 2023 Reading Flower Magic of the Druids; How to Craft Potions, Spells, & Enchantments by Jon G. Hughes reminded me of both the traditions of our Druidic Ancestors and the more modern flower traditions of my western life growing up here in the United States. Although Jon Hughes is mostly speaking to the flower landscapes of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, I was able to relate and extract much wisdom from his thorough teachings and guidelines as well…
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Poem – Spinning The Sun
Spinning The Sun Height of the sun So high, so high Ground wavering and melting In the heat haze Call me to your soul Deep love, deep light Yet burning danger Consuming fire Nothing in part-measures Aching, desperate Passion so bright Call me to your home The heart of the desert The source of the hot spring The centre of the mountain Ready to burst Ash and fire Over the land Call me to your music Dancing the round Spinning the sun Clattering bells that Glisten and sparkle As boots hit the ground Over and over Beating the drum Beating the heart The thrum of blood Bursting through Summer’s…
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A Spiritual Alternative to Baby Showers, “Mother Blessings”
Mother Blessings are special and sacred ceremonies for mothers-to-be. The ceremony originated with indigenous traditions of “blessing way” ceremonies, which were traditionally held for women about to embark on a birthing journey. On their passage, one was blessed with song and dance during the ceremony. Keeping this in mind, we strive to respect other cultures and not appropriate their traditions. Thus, we hold our own modified version of this event within our community, not using the exact same title, but always acknowledging the roots of this ceremony. The concept of a Mother Blessing is similar to that of a Baby Shower, but there are major di?erences between the two events.…
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Book Review – Wyldwood: A Novel for the Scottish Borders (The Spiral Pathways) by Tava Baird
Book Review Wyldwood: A Novel for the Scottish Borders (The Spiral Pathways) by Tava Baird Publisher: Self-Published 190 Pages Release Date: May 5, 2022 “September 1746, the Scottish Borders. In a country still reeling from the Jacobite uprising, Saorsa Stuart, a practicing Celtic Witch and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s niece, has escaped imprisonment and must find her way west in search of her father and safety. Escorting her on the journey is Alexander Scott, a veteran of the Battle of Culloden who struggles with a dark supernatural secret. Part Faerie Tale, part romance, part adventure novel, and at its core the story of a young woman finding…
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Good God!
Meet: Mercury Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, protected travelers and transporters of goods, as well as shopkeepers and merchants, especially those dealing in grains, who would pray to him for large profits. He is chosen for this issue because Lughnasadh is the grain harvest. Mercury was the son of Jupiter, king of the gods, and Maia, goddess of the plains. He is one of the twelve major gods of the Roman pantheon. The World History website explains, “He is frequently depicted holding the caduceus, a wand used to reconcile conflicts, and winged sandals for quickly carrying messages for the gods. The wand had been given to him by…
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Book Review – Year of the Witch: A Planner and Spellbook for the Novice Witch
Book Review Year of the Witch: A Planner and Spellbook for the Novice Witch by Francesca Black Publisher: Microcosm Publishing 190 Pages Release Date: June 27, 2023 “Magic is the ever-present energy around us – it’s in the sky, our companion animal, what we eat, where we live, and ourselves – and it can be used to create and manifest the things we want in our lives. By living with our intentions and the moon’s guiding energy, we can align ourselves with this energy and live our best lives, creating our narratives and movement along the way. And with each step we take, we are closer…
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Road to Runes
A Single Rune Reading Can a single rune reading be an effective form of divination? Yes, I believe so, as do many others. It may not provide as comprehensive an answer as a multi-rune reading, especially when those readings are completed in layouts that examine the past, present and future, or specific events relating to the questions, such as obstacles or goals. But for a quick spot of guidance, a single rune can certainly give a fast answer or prompt you to think about a situation from a different perspective. Ways to Do a Single Rune Reading If you have a physical set of runes, the simplest way…
