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The Kitchen Witch
Molasses Crinkles When we think of Valentine’s Day, it’s normal to think of big heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for our loved ones – “sweets for the sweets” – and who doesn’t love to get one of these beautiful boxes of chocolates – usually accompanied by a big bouquet of red roses? I mean – I know I do! But – there are other ways to show how much we care for our loved ones. I personally think a nice home baked spice cookie says a whole lot more – and who isn’t ready for a spicy night on Valentine’s Day? Molasses Crinkles is my favorite spice cookie. There are dozens…
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Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light
We begin a journey through the Witch’s Wheel of the Year for 2022! The Witch’s Wheel of the Year What is the Wheel of the Year? The Wheel of the Year marks the Sun’s journey across the sky, the solstices, equinoxes and the Earth’s changing seasons. Each spoke of the wheel marks an important moment of progression and change in the Earth and in accord with that progression a celebratory festival is aligned. These celebrations are called Sabbats. The Wheel of the Year is also a reflection of the recurring cycles of the Natural world. Traditionally, these celebrations were very closely tied to the cycles of…
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Book Review – Daily Magic: Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical by Judika Illes
Book Review Daily Magic Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical by Judika Illes Publisher: HarperOne 592 Pages Publication Date: August 31, 2021 “Daily Magic: Spells and Rituals for Making the Whole Year Magical” is the quintessential collection of days that pagans of all varieties celebrate around the world. It is a perpetual calendar of dates having spiritual, magical, and esoteric significance, helping readers make the most of the energies and influences that are associated with special power times. Some significant historical events, such as September 11, are also referenced. April 30, for example, is perfect for spellcasting – especially for love, romance, fertility, and prosperity.…
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Book Review – Pagan Portals: Temple of the Bones – Rituals to the Goddess Hekate by Jennifer Teixeira
Book Review Pagan Portals Temple of the Bones Rituals to the Goddess Hekate by Jennifer Teixeira Publisher: Moon Books 112 Pages Publication Date: June 1, 2021 Temple of the Bones is an inclusive and accessible introduction to working meaningfully with the Goddess and Titaness, Hekate. More than just a guide to Her many epithets and symbols, this book talks through how to work as a group to honour Hekate, and how to work magic for and with Hekate, to manifest change and healing within groups or communities. This work is done through knowledge of appropriate herbs, offerings, ritual, and honouring the dead. The book is introduced by a…
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Tarot Deck Review – The Entanglement Tarot by Sarah McMenomy
Tarot Deck Review The Entanglement Tarot by Sarah McMenomy Publisher: Laughing Cat Publishing 78 Card Deck & 56 Page PDF Guidebook Publication Date: August 2021 The Entanglement Tarot kit comes in a very sturdy 3 inch by 3 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch cardboard box with a gift-box style lid. The box has a black matte finish with card images on the lid, and a brief description of the deck and the link for the Entanglement Tarot Guidebook on the back. The cards are hexagram in shape, 1 1/2 inches per side, with a matte finish, black for the background and colors for the card name and…
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Jazz’s Gems
Bloodstone Bloodstone is a beautiful dark green gem with bright red specks in it. It shows up in your life when you need a boost of energy. It is a variety of chalcedony and is also known as Heliotrope. This mood stabilizer is associated with Aries, Libra and Pisces and it is the birthstone of March. If you are looking for something that will heighten your intuition- this one’s for you! It will also strengthen your heart, both physically and spiritually. If you are anemic, Bloodstone will help. It will also detoxify the liver, intestines, kidney, spleen and bladder. It heals all things related to…
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Oracle Deck Review – Rainbow Kipper By Toni Puhle & Artist Steven Bright
Oracle Deck Review Rainbow Kipper By Toni Puhle Artist Steven Bright Publisher: Red Feather 36 Cards, 112 Page Book Publication Date: April 28, 2021 The Rainbow Kipper is a Kipper deck created by author Toni Puhle and artist Steven Bright, and is published by Red Feather Mind, Body, Spirit, an imprint of Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310. Copyright 2021 by Toni Puhle and Steven Bright. A Kipper deck is a cousin to the Lenormand and Gypsy or Tzigane Oracles. Kipper is a German divination system dating back to the 19th Century, using 36 cards that are clearly focused on day-to day roles, relationships and…
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Book Review – Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change by Day Schildkret
Book Review Hello, Goodbye 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change by Day Schildkret Publisher: Simon & Schuster 208 Pages Publication Date: March 1, 2022 Events shape our lives, stirring up emotions, bringing transitions, and forcing changes. These moments — a birth, health crisis, marriage, job transfer, the loss of a pet, leaving for college — tend to get lost amid routinely busy days with their unending demands. Day Schildkret, artist and author behind the Morning Altars movement, believes we need ritual to observe, sanctify, and make sense of these transitions. Being mindful of them, being willing to honor these times with purpose and meaning, provides…
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Book Review – The Way of the Oracle and Odin: Ecstasy, Runes & Norse Magic by Diana L. Paxson
Book Review The Way of the Oracle: Recovering the Practices of the Past to Find Answers for Today and Odin: Ecstasy, Runes & Norse Magic by Diana L. Paxson Publisher: Weiser Books Around the time that Barack Obama was elected to be the forty-fourth president of the United States, I noticed a strange phenomenon in the Wiccan-Pagan world – a growing acceptance of the free expression of racism, white supremacy, white nationalism, and the call for ethnic purity. Because of this – and a few other issues – my Facebook friend list went from over 3000 members to under 200 in the last ten years. Some people might…
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WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Wreaths Merry meet. Wreaths have been around at least since Ancient Greece where those made of laurel, representing the circle of eternal life, were displayed at funerals. As their popularity rose, they were used as symbols of power, honor, and victory (which led to warning against “resting on your laurels”). The Ancient Etruscans – who predated Romans on the Italian peninsula – made crown-wreaths of ivy, laurel, oak, myrtle, and olive leaves, sometimes incorporating vines and wheat. Evergreen wreaths were included in Christmas celebrations by Germans in the 16th century, but were used in pagan solstice rituals centuries before that across Europe. Holly and mistletoe were also sometimes used.…