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Oud: The Magickal Benefits of the Middle Eastern Incense
Known as the “wood of the Gods” and the “black gold”, Oud is one of the most mysterious and precious raw substance used in the majority of Middle-Eastern Homes. From having its incense placed in every corner of our houses, to using its oil on our bodies and its fragrance on our bed sheets, this powerful and magickal scent is part of our culture and of our daily lives. The history of Oud goes back to ancient times, where it was known in civilizations such as the Chinese, Pharaonic and Assyrian before it reached the Arab civilization through the silk road. The earliest recorded information was found in 1400 B.C.E.…
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Book Review – The Big Book of Magical Incense by Sara L. Mastros
Book Review The Big Book of Magical Incense by Sara L. Mastros Published by Weiser Books 281 pages Publication date: December 1, 2021 If you haven’t made your own incense before, you might not be aware that the art of making and using incense can be as complex and expressive as any other magical art. Part herbalism, part ritual, and part intuition, incense-making is an art that I didn’t know I needed to engage with until I read this book. “The Big Book of Magical Incense” is a well-researched and thorough book that takes a deep dive into incense mixing and making. The first part of the…
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Review & Interview With Professor McGillicuddy’s Flammable Notions & Sundries
Matthew Breslin first made incense for himself and his pagan friends to use at a Beltane ritual a few years ago. It was so well received, he began formulating a blend of it for every sabbat. It became a side hobby. Until Covid hit. “I got a whole lot of downtime,” the IT systems programmer said of multi-tasking while working from home. He was able to test blends, incorporate, and get the name trademarked. Speaking of the name, Matthew said he was looking for one that would make it easier to eventually market to a not just pagans, but a wider market. After trying to come up…
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‘Bad Words, Good Smells’ An Interview with Desiree Horton of Co-op of Creation
‘Bad Words, Good Smells’ An Interview with Desiree Horton of Co-op of Creation Desiree Horton is currently on call 24/7, providing terminal decontamination for hospitals and other places, some of which have tested positive for COVID-19. She works as needed, so her schedule “can get a bit crazy.” A few years ago, she started making candles in her kitchen before moving her workspace to the garage. Before the pandemic, friends and family would come and create with her. “I was doing my candle shop full-time, but I stepped back into this to help train people and to handle these places since it’s hard to find people willing to…
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Worth the Witch
Spiral Rain Zodiac Box This is the first of two boxes we are reviewing this month from Spiral Rain. Living two hours from Montreal and almost that far from Quebec City, Rani Guillemette began purchasing monthly subscription boxes to acquire tools to practice her Craft, only to realize she could make them and, in the process, grow as a person. “I love doing research, I love helping others and I love witchcraft,” she said. Spiral Rain was born November 1, 2018; two months later it was officially online. Since then she has put together two sets of themed boxes, each with 12 categories. This review…
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Worth the Witch
Blessed Be Box / New Moon in Aquarius The enchanting box for the new moon in Aquarius January 24 was carefully packed with products to honor the moon cycle, empower individuals to manifest their desires, and provide support for the coming four weeks. Refreshing angelic white – representing air and the feeling of elevation – served as a sub-theme for this box. Slipping the box out of the bag, the frankincense incense, even in its package, offered a calming, uplifting scent and hinted at the magic inside. Opening the box reveals a card showing its contents, a copy of a Temperance tarot card that can be…
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Worth the Witch
The Magickal Earth “Gratitude and Transformation” was the theme of The Magickal Earth’s box sent to customers for November 22 to December 21. “The company is undergoing its own transformation,” said Janet Barto, who travels the country “in search of all things Magickal such as stones, rocks, minerals, and handcrafted items.” It just opened its first shop called the Magickal Earth Boutique in Enumclaw, Washington. In addition to work by local artists are items from around the world. “We are offering many amazing classes such as Chakra Healing with Crystals, yoga every Wednesday night, tarot readers every weekend … plus more.” Another recent change was introducing…