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Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary Special: Flowers for Bealtaine Bealtaine is an Irish festival traditionally celebrated on May Eve (April 30th), with many modern celebrations taking place on May 1st. The word is pronounced Bee-ell-tun-uh approximately – at least that’s my best attempt with my very basic Irish! I think it’s important to embrace the correct pronunciation (or as close as you can get) because Irish is a living language and thriving culture, so anglicising Irish words is needless. I pronounced it Bell-tane for many years – now I know better, I try to do better. I’m an English person whose Pagan path is heavily influenced by Irish Paganism, history,…
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MagickalArts
Time To See With A Fresh Perspective This time of the year always feels ripe with possibilities, so I decided to offer an excerpt from one of my books as inspiration to begin a new astrological year (with the heralding of Aries) as a study in the changing energies and potential held as the Sun stations from one astrological sign into the next. In the February Issue we explored The Magick of Pisces and I would like to continue that exploration as the astrological wheel begins anew with Aries…. *Excerpted from: The Temple of the Sun-An Astrological Solar Year. R. Fennelly. Feb2022 MAGICKAL ARIES: ALL…
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Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times
Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for April/May 2022 Bright Blessings This is our first Spring in our apartment, and as I was deciding what to plant for this year, I pined for the ground and built-in planters I had at our old place. I used to buy so many seeds, and there were years I planted tons of cucumbers and tomatoes as well as pumpkins, roses, herbs, and a whole lot of annual flowers. This year, I am relegated to a limited number of pots, and the truth is, it may be this way for a while, if not permanently. We made it out of the condo successfully…
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Witch & Popcorn
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Bright Blessings, film lovers! This month I am reviewing a cult television series that was famous in the 1990’s and early 2000’s and was one of the most popular supernatural horror TV series. It ran for seven seasons, and had a successful spin off show. It spawned what the writer called “a rabid, almost insane fan base,” and earned a spot in TV Guide’s Greatest TV Shows of All Time and Rolling Stone included it in their 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time as well. It’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here is a clip so you can see what to expect from…
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Imbolc Correspondences
(Brigid Goddess Imbolc figurine/ St Brigid needle felt Stand Alone created by Rachel Mack of WonderfulWaldorfFelt on Etsy.) February 1, 2 Other Names: Imbolg (im-molc)(em-bowl’g) (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian), Brigantia (Caledonii), Oimelc, Festival of Light, Brigid’s (Brid, Bride) Day, La Fheill, An Fheille Bride, Candelaria (Mexico), Chinese New Year, Disting-tid (Feb 14th, Teutonic), DisaBlot, Anagantios, Lupercalia/Lupercus (Strega), Groundhog Day, Valentines Day. Animals & Mythical Beings: Firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation. Gemstones: Amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise. Incense/Oil: Jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil, myrrh, and wisteria, apricot, carnation. Colors/Candles: Brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale…
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MagickalArts
The Magick of Pisces February 18 – March 20 I have a great many interests and astrology is one of the top runners on my list. I thought it would be fun to explore a little bit about the little section of the Zodiac that carries the energy of a vision of humanity’s highest self (Aquarius) through the transition of Pisces gifts that flow into the boundless energy of a new turn of the Astrological Wheel (Aries). The star of this triune powerhouse is Pisces! To begin, let’s look at the timing of this post, February 1st. We are mid-point in the solar station of Aquarius and the…
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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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SpellCrafting: Spells & Rituals
Easy Imbolc Merry Meet! I celebrate sabbats on the astrological dates. This year, astrological Imbolc falls on Thursday, February 3. Below is a list of easy ideas I’ve collected to help you do something simple yet meaningful for the sabbat. Light a candle at dawn to greet the sun, or at some point during the day, light every candle in the house and offer a short blessing. Gather up all your candles and bless them. Prepare for the coming spring with some house cleaning. Rather than doing the whole house, which is overwhelming, pick one thing: organize a bookcase, clean a cupboard, or strip the bed and wash the linens,…
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WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches – Knitting with Intention Merry meet. Knitting, crocheting, weaving, sewing – and any other craft or action – can be made magickal with intention. Additions are nice, but optional. My soul sister, Debby Bailey, modified this $3 gnome pattern (This site has some neat crochet gnomes) to knit witches for friends on the path. She also makes them to sell and takes special orders. Each one is made with joy because of her desire to spread it. “I’ve always enjoyed using my hands and my mind/spirit in conjunction: classical piano, massage therapy, knitting. The energy just flows.” These four…
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Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary: Heather Heather or ling, Calluna vulgaris, is a short, evergreen, bushy shrub with stalks of tiny purple, pink or white flowers, prolific on moorland or heathland. It’s native to Europe but has been introduced to many countries across the world. It often indicates areas of deforestation, where trees have not been allowed to grow back, so the heather and other shorter plants take over. I asked my three-year-old which plant I should explore for this month, and she said, “A pink one!”. After some pondering, I showed her some pictures of pink, purple, and white heather stretching across the moors, and she was delighted. So,…