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Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary: Jack by the Hedge I don’t get a huge amount of time to spend keeping my garden super tidy, but that’s ok, because I like it to run a little wild. Because of that, we get plants that come in from outside the garden, often spread by birds and small animals, or simply by seeds blown in on the wind. Once such plant which is a star of British verges and hedgerows is this lovely plant, pictured. It has many names, but my favourite one is Jack by the Hedge, Latin name Alliaria Petiolata. Jack by the Hedge is also called Garlic Mustard, or even Poor…
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Pandemic: A Ceremony from the Universe
(art by Aman Dalal) What if the universe is trying to get us to slow down? To stop producing. To stay home and let the earth breathe a little without all the extra pollution we cause daily. To take a step back and realize how we really impact earth and one another. That we aren’t as significant or in control as we think we are. A virus can come through and wipe us all out but earth will still be here. We are all connected. Just like we can spread a disease, we can also spread love, kindness and positivity. Use this time for reflection of your contribution and…
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Gael Song Second Edition
The Hidden Gem of Solitude With most folks staying at home during this pandemic, I thought an article about solitude might be helpful. I’ve lived a contemplative life for twenty years now, mostly by myself, writing, meditating, in complete silence 90% of every day. Besides three mornings of volunteer work a week, my life is very, very quiet. When my last daughter went off to college twenty years ago, I chafed against the isolation but within a very few months, I began to cherish it and still do. What I discovered fairly quickly is that silence opens the doorway to the Otherworld. In general, beings on the other side…
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Tarot Talk 2
Comparing The 5 & 7 of Swords (image: The Rider-Waite tarot deck) Many Tarot cards have such strong and unique meanings that we can easily tell them apart. However, there are cards that are similar enough to each other that interpreting them when they both show up in a spread can be challenging. One method for coming to know cards in-depth is to break them down to their components; we have been using this method to study each of the 78 cards of a traditional Tarot deck. Now that we have completed our study of the individual cards, it’s time to use another method: comparison. This month, we…
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Earth Protection Spell an Excerpt from the Book ‘Modern Wicca: Beliefs and Traditions for Contemporary Life’ by Rowan Morgana
Earth Protection Spell Excerpt from the Book ‘Modern Wicca: Beliefs and Traditions for Contemporary Life by Rowan Morgana Intention: To invite the elemental Earth spirits to live in your garden to protect and nurture it. Protecting a small part of your own garden counts toward the greater good of protecting and healing Earth. If every- one takes care of their little corner of land, a wave of Earth-healing may begin. This spell is best done under the light of the full moon. What You’ll Need: 1 very large stone Dried lavender and thyme Gold, red, blue and green ribbons each about 12 inches…
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Book Review – The Hidden Goddess: The Quest for the Divine Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition-from Asherah to Mary Magdalene by Laurie Martin-Gardener
Book Review The Hidden Goddess The Quest for the Divine Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition-from Asherah to Mary Magdalene by Laurie Martin-Gardener 104 Pages Evidence of Goddess worship goes back 25,000 years. In this book, Laurie Martin-Gardner presents well-researched evidence of the goddess’ wide worship among early Hebrew people citing archaeological and Biblical evidence. In the 1970s, evidence came to light that began to show that the mother Asherah was honoured alongside the father Yahweh. Although this evidence remains highly contested among traditional Hebrew scholars that view Yahweh as the one and true god, this makes sense when linked with what we know about ancient Hebrews who saw life…
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Book Review – Pathworking the Tarot: Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards by Leeza Robertson
Book Review Pathworking the Tarot Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards by Leeza Robertson 216 Pages Pathworking the Tarot: Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards is created by Leeza Robertson, creator of two Tarot decks and author of two Tarot books, and published by Llewellyn Publications, a Division of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. Pathworking the Tarot is a 5¼” by 8” book with a color soft cover with Tarot images on the front and a book description and brief author bio on the back. The interior of the book consists of 200 pages, black easy-to-read type of a nice…
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Book Review – Pagan Portals: Persephone-Practicing the Art of Personal Power by Robin Corak
Book Review Pagan Portals: Persephone Practicing the Art of Personal Power by Robin Corak 112 Pages …We live in a society where the basic rights of some sectors of the community are threatened… What better time to invoke the lessons and attributes of a goddess who not only fought successfully for control over her own fate but who – as Queen of both the Underworld and Spring – also has the ability to cut ties with that which no longer serves her and manifest that which does?… I have reviewed several titles in the Pagan Portals series and am impressed at the quality of writings and the in…
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Book Review – The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual by Lisa Marie Basile
Book Review The Magical Writing Grimoire Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual by Lisa Marie Basile 176 Pages …. In The Magical Writing Grimoire I wanted to be able to make space for others to write their truth, to invest in their stories, to write for others’…and to turn a writing practice (one that you have or not) into a sacred, healing, magical act where writing is elevated into transformative ritual. Because when we tap into that power, we find, in many ways, freedom, beauty, light. The only way out is through…Lisa Basile I am an author, ritualist and Witch and love to write and…
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Celebrating The Old Ways In New Times
Celebrating The Old Ways In New Times for April 2020 Bright Blessings! Before we know it, Beltane will be upon us, and many will be going to gatherings where Maypole is danced, and emphasis on sexuality, and the union of the Mother Goddess and Father God are celebrated. Talk about fertility, union, and all things about growth will abound! I’ve gone to multiple celebrations, all of which often have a focus on the union of things to reproduce. But the older I get, and the more people I meet, the more I realize, THIS, in particular does not apply to all people… Now, sure, we all celebrate the…