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Jazz’s Gems
Apache Tears Apache tears I find to be an underrated stone. Personally, I have relied on it to get me through some tough times, and it is certainly one of my favourite and most useful in my collection. I suffer from trauma issues, and if you do too- get yourself some Apache tears! If you suffer from depression, anxiety or are going through grief or loss, this is also very helpful as it brings supportive energies that can provide relief. Apache tears are a form of Obsidian but are more lightweight and porous. They are volcanic glass and are classed as a mineraloid. It consists mainly of silicon dioxide, and…
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Book Review – Empty Cauldrons: Navigating Depression Through Magic and Ritual by Terence P. Ward
Book Review Empty Cauldrons: Navigating Depression Through Magic and Ritual by Terence P. Ward Publisher: Llewellyn Publications 288 Pages Publication Date: January 8, 2022 It is very difficult for many people who suffer from depression to talk about it. Some can discuss it with friends and family, some reach out to professionals, and the rare few share their journey on social media and other public forums. There is still a lot of stigma attached to depression and many choose to keep their depression a secret out of fear of being stigmatized or to prevent feelings of being further ostracized. Empty Cauldrons is a pagan perspective that takes a…
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As Above So Below (How the Stars Became Our Hearts)
Confessions of a Dark Witch 2 Dark Instinct Everyone inherently understands how important the play between the light and dark is. Your shadow is longer when the light is at its highest. If you’ve been to a rave, or have ever experienced Christmas lights, you’ll note that the lights are prettiest in the dark. When the sun is out, you can’t see the stars. And as a witch, we love the moon. If there was no darkness, her splendor would constantly be washed out by the radiance of the sun. The universe doesn’t value light or dark. It values balance. In a cake recipe, each ingredient is…
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As Above So Below (How the Stars Became Our Hearts)
Confessions of a Dark Witch The Bourne I decided to write this in response to many different people suggesting to me that I have a hard life because I call myself a “dark” witch, and many of those same individuals also added that, if they did not fully understand, I should clarify to people what I mean exactly. Also, as is obvious, I’ve returned to narrative format, as when talking about deep personal things like your own inner experiences in relationship to you own spiritual beliefs and practices, it should always be made clear that these are opinions and beliefs, not scientific truths. The realm of spirituality…
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Jazzs’ Gems
Citrine (Image by Dieter Staab from Pixabay) Citrine is a very useful crystal with a multitude of properties. It is a yellow variety of quartz and can be orange, brown or yellow. It is a birthstone for November, and also is connected to Aries, Gemini, Leo and Libra. Its element is Air and its planet is Jupiter. Citrine is also known as the Merchant’s Stone and is also sensitive to heat so it is best not to put it where there is too much light or heat. One tip to know if your Citrine is real vs something like heat treated Amethyst is looking at it in the…
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Helping Depression from a Shamanic Perspective
While we are all dealing with the Covid pandemic what is getting little attention is the other pandemic, depression. Those who already suffer from depression are at risk for worsening of their illness due to isolation, stress and degrading of their support systems. While medication and therapy can be helpful we can also find great support and coping methods within spiritual practices such as Wicca and Shamanism. My son, one of my brothers and many friends have suffered from depression which has inspired me to find ways to help them with my spiritual/magickal work. I am a Wiccan priestess, have many years training in Shamanic practice and other energy healing…
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The Benefits of Forest Bathing & 8 Simple Tips
Forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku) has been practiced in Japan for over 800 years to help improve physical and mental health. The country now has several designated shinrin-yoku forests and doctors even prescribe it to their patients. Simply put, forest bathing is a blend of exercise and meditation where you intentionally set out to immerse yourself in a forest environment. It will come as no surprise to readers of this magazine that communing with nature has physical and mental health benefits. What is, perhaps, surprising is that science has finally got round to studying the practice and describing the benefits. What several studies have found is that being in nature has…
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Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary: Relaxation Special There’s no getting away from it: things are pretty stressful right now. The pandemic situation is something we’re potentially stuck with until there’s a vaccine, plus on top of that, there’s a whole lot of unrest in the world. Finding time to relax and unwind has never been more important. That’s why I decided to dedicate this issue of Notes from the Apothecary to plants and herbs that help alleviate daily stresses. Remember, herbal remedies are a form of complementary therapy and should NEVER replace existing medication or treatments. You should always take advice from a medical professional, especially if you are already taking…
