Inner Peace Rose Ritual

Of late, I am working on spells with a beauty and simplicity: 3 ingredients and quick results.

Three simple ingredients―a pink candle, a red rose, and water―can bestow a powerful calming influence. The rose signifies beauty, love for yourself and others, blossoming, budding, the earth, your heart  and peace. The candle stands for the yellow flame of the East, unity, harmony, focus, higher intention, and the light of the soul. Water represents cleansing, flowing free, emotions and the element of the west. This spell can be done alone or in a group where you pass the bowl around.

Float  the red rose bud in a clear bowl of fresh water. Now light the  pink candle beside the rose bowl. With the fingers of your left hand, gently stir the water and speak aloud this blessing:

I give myself life and health, refreshing water for my spirit.

I give myself time to rest, and space to grow.

I am love. My heart is as big as the world.

I am peace of mind. So be it, now and always

How to Keep Your Local Fairies Happy

Do you want ot keep the wee ones in your garden happy? Try Fairy Flint!

Flint is favored by the fairy folk. If you want to be on the good side of the wee ones, keep flint around, and they will go about their own business and not meddle in yours. No more lost car keys or misplaced wallets after that.

Dirt Spell: Black Forest Earth Magic

I learned this blessing from Holocaust survivor, poet, priestess and all-around goddess, ruth weiss, who lives up north in what is truly an enchanted cottage in the forest. 

She brought this wisdom from Europe where it has been passed down to her from a lineage of wise women.  It is the simplest of spells which might be the secret to its extraordinary effectiveness. Go into your yard or garden and put both your hands into the earth and scoop up a handful of dirt. Hold the soil in both hands in front of you and repeat three times aloud:

Mother, I need your help. Please send this _______. (Fill in the blank.) Thank you. Blessings all.

Stand in front of your garden or where the soil will be useful and helpful and throw it over your left shoulder. This is an all-purpose spell, it can be to help an ailing loves one, for needed money, legal problems, job issues, romantic woes and any help you need that is for the good of all. It is excellent for earth magic and gardening magic so try that before you plant your crop.

Crystal Feng Shui for Peace of Mind

If you were to come into my home, you would see a lot of gorgeous geodes, crystals, fossils and a few plain old rocks I found on my walks and loved the look of them. 

Recently, I asked my boyfriend, “Is it normal that all I want to buy are rocks and crystals?” He assured me I was fine and he likes the beauty of nature. Stones placed in considered spots around your home can help bring about the change you wish to see in your home.  Using what I call “crystal feng shui,” you can place a stone or a geode in the appropriate position of your home to facilitate specific results. For example, rose quarts will promote healing and release any negative energy that is clinging. I have many chunks of amethyst which brings me a sense of peace, Clusters of chrysolite or citrine will set in motion both prosperity, calm and creativity.

If you want to bring more money into your home or office, place a big chunk of pyrite, the very gold and sparkly stone commonly known as “Fool’s gold”  on the left side of your desk, and the abundance will begin to flow in.  If you have a bad energy spot that feels spooky or an area in your home or office in which the vibrations feels very static or low, place turquoise stones there for grounding or an obsidian ball to soak up this negative energy. Be sure to take the obsidian outside and cleanse it in salt every so often to rid the negativity from your home. If you want to have your bedroom be a place of sheer happiness, twin pink jades or rose quartz will create this sweetly loving ambiance. Select stones you are attracted to using your own intuition; you will often find that you have picked the exact crystal you need. Crystal feng shui will doubtless bring you much comfort and serenity you can enjoy for years to come.

Crystal Power:

-Amazonite makes you hopeful.

-Amber boosts your spirits—you will feel good!

-Aventurine creates good opportunities.

-Banded agate attracts a lover of strength and courage.

-Brown jasper makes you confident and emotionally secure.

-Opal enhances beauty and makes you more psychic.

-Pearl augments femininity.

Creativity Crystal: Chrysolite

This stone, also known as olivine or as peridot, its popular name, is commonly found among the crystal meteorites.

 It is beloved for its glassy luster and a great degree of hardness coming from the mountainous regions of Russia, North America, and Italy. A common mistake people make with the green or yellow versions of this stone is to confuse them with topaz. Chrysolite has long-held associations with the sun and solar energies as well as the month of August. For centuries it has been used to drive away evil spirits and madness. It is a stone of hope, having the capacity to free the self from sorrow and despair. If you are going through an especially difficult time, wear chrysolite until you have gotten past the pain.

This cheerful crystal gives inspiration. Chrysolite is a creativity crystal. It frees the imagination and counteracts negativity. For people who feel hampered by the rules of society and unable to truly express themselves and their inner beings, this stone is a great boost to personal freedom. Depressives can also find solace here. Chrysolite provides ease to those who feel careworn and overburdened. This uplifting stone also lends better psychic insight and receptivity, a great aid to meditation.

Chrysolite is a cleanser believed to assist the appendix and help with detoxifying the intestinal tract. Detox your body and mind with uplifting chrysolite.

Calcite for Clarity and Healing

Calcite, or limestone, is one of the more plentiful stones, coming in a range of colors from black to white, with every shade in between. 

Approximately 4 percent of Earth’s surface is made up of calcite. Calcite gets its name from chalix, the Greek word for lime. Marble is limestone formed from heat and pressure, and calcite is the cement in many sandstones and shales. Calcite is the basis for many formations found in caves, such as cave veils, cave pearls, stalactites , and stalagmites. Environmentalists are heartened by this because this oceanic biological activity can act as a carbon-dioxide filter and help stem the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.

The crystals in calcite can take on a thousand different shapes by combining the forms of rhombohedrons, scalahedrons, prisms, and pinacoids, to name but a few. More than 300 forms have been noted in calcite, and the symmetry is nearly unmatched, with many twins.

Calcite is all over the world, but certain conditions have made for very special specimens. In Cornwall, England; Pugh Quarry, Ohio; and Elmwood, Tennessee, are beautifully clear, amber-orange pyramid shapes called dogtooth spar. Mexican onyx, banded with orange, red, tan, brown, yellow, and white and having an appealing marble-like smoothness, is a very common type of calcite used in carvings sold in gift shops around the globe.

Calcite is helpful to bones and joints and is a memory booster. In addition to aiding in retaining information, calcite is a calming agent that can bring clarity to decision-making processes. Green calcite is a terrific support to people in transition, bringing about positive energy in place of the negative. The yellow and gold calcites are quite useful for meditation due to their association with the sun and with light, the sign of the spiritual path and higher knowledge. It is said that these sunny calcites can even help with astral projection. Calcite is a healing stone and is highly recommended for physicians, nurses, and healers to keep at their offices.

Rosemary Infusion: Herbal Magic

Infusions have regained popularity as a way of getting as much of the herb into oil as possible.

It is a  method that brings the flavors of one food, in this case, fresh herbs, to another, such as oil. Basic Oil is unbelievably easy to make. You’ll need:

• 2 ounces fresh  rosemary
• 3/4 cups virgin olive oil (you can use safflower oil or canola)

Ideally, you gather your fresh herbs in your own kitchen garden but any farmers marketing or organic grocery will have green herbs. For the best and purest flavor, use fresh herbs at their peak. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Gently pat dry with paper towels and give the rosemary a coarse chop. Place into a metal colander and dip into boiling water for 10 seconds. Rinse in an ice water bath and drain well. Gently pat dry and add the rosemray to the oil. After three to five days in a cool dark places, the flavor will have infused into the oil, adding the fresh bright green note of the herbs. Use liberally on roasts, salads, drizzling on top of cooked vegetable and soups. Rosemary not only confers much palatability but it also brings back memories and abets prosperity. Enjoy!

These herbs also make fantastic infused oils: basil taggagon, parsley, chives and cilantro.

Teas, Tonics and Tinctures: Herbal Magic

Herbal tea nourishes the soul, heals the body and calms the mind.

Blackberry leaf tea reduces mood swings, evens glucose levels aiding in weight management. This miraculous herbal even helps circulation and such issues as inflammation and varicose veins. It is helpful to cancer patients and is believed to be a preventative. Here is a guide to the magic of herbal teas:

Cardamom is a favorite of expectant mothers everywhere as it calms nausea and morning sickness; this East India fragrant is excellent for digestion, clears and cleans your mouth and throat. Anyone who likes cinnamon will love cardamom.

Nettle raises your energy level, boosts the immune systems and is packed with iron and vitamins.

Fennel is excellent for awakening and uplifting and is excellent for digestion and cleansing. Fennel also is a natural breath freshener.

Catnip is one of the witchiest of teas and is not only grown as fun for your feline familiar. At the first inkling of a sore throat or impending cold, drink a warm cup of catnip tea, and head off to bed and you will awaken feeling much better. Catnip soothes the nervous system and can safely help get a restless child off to sleep. Catnip is a gentle but potent sleep-inducer

Echinacea lends an increased and consistent sense of well-being and prevents colds and flu. It is a very powerful immune booster.

Ginger Root calms and cheers while aiding digestion, nausea and can also fend off coughs and sore throats.

Dandelion root grounds and centers, provides many minerals and nutrients. This wonderful weed is also a cleanser and a wholly natural detoxifier.

Mindfulness Massage Bars: Healing Relaxation Rub

Nothing is more relaxing than a massage and it is so good for you- healng and energizing, to be sure.

Massage bars should be look, smell and feel lush and soothing to the skin. Cocoa butter is beloved for the delicious chocolate sweet scent. I also recommend shea butter, grapeseed oil or mango butter  as other options for they are also delightfully sumptuous.

·        3 ounces cocoa butter

·        3 ounces beeswax

·        3 ounces  almond  carrier oil

·        1 teaspoon of essential oils such as lavender, clary sage, neroli, bergamot, amber

·        soap bar molds (available at all craft stores)

Slowly heat the  beeswax, almond oil and cocoa butter in a double boiler over low heat until just melted. Remove from heat. Add the essential oil when mixture has cooled slightly. Pour into soap molds and cool until hardened, approximately 2 hours. Place in freezer for a few minutes before popping bars out of molds. To use, rub massage bar onto the skin — the warmth of the skin immediately melts the bar. Package your handmade massage oil in a pretty box or basket and give it as a thoughtful gift.

These Essential Oils Are Also Excellent for Mindfulness Mojo:

Cinnamon is energetic oil, spicy and warm. It stimulates the mind as well as the body.

Ginger oil is vitalizing vigor and is known to boost vitality, and heightens desire and comfort.

Jasmine oil sparks sensuality and inspires a feeling of positivity, confidence, and pure bliss

Lavender oil very soothing, calming and nurturing; it can provide a sense of relaxation.

Orange is light, citrusy oil that offers balance and lifts moods, enhancing playful emotions.

Rose brings youthfulness and enhances self-esteems, It aids circulation and relieves tension

Sandalwood is a woody aroma that relieves tension relief and relaxes tense muscles.

Ylang Ylang’s sweet, floral aroma is used as aphrodisiac relaxes and reduces worry and anxiety.

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Witchy Wellness Tonic: Kombucha Tea

Some people love the taste of kombucha tea and also value this healing tonic. It has been credited with miraculous properties and is a probiotic, making it very curative for digestive issues.

Kombucha also comes recommended for acne, constipation, arthritis, depression, and fatigue, and is hailed as a protection against cancer.  I regard it as a tasty tonic, and my family drinks it daily.  My nephews were the first to taste kombucha, and they loved its fizziness and flavor.  This healthful drink is easy to make so long as you have a “ferment” (some people call it a “mushroom” because of the way it looks).  To procure your ferment, try to find somebody who brews kombucha already.  They should have plenty of ferments to share, as every batch of tea grows an extra ferment on top of the original.

1 large wide-necked glass jar, cloth or paper towel to cover the jar, rubber band to secure the cover

7 tea bags, black or green (preferably organic)

1 cup sugar

2 quarts sugar

kombucha ferment

Boil the water and add it to the tea bags in the jar.  Let it steep for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the sugar, stirring to dissolve. When the tea has cooled, add the kombucha ferment with some of the liquor that it came in, roughly 10 percent of the total tea in your jar.

 Cover the jar with the cloth or paper towel and secure with the rubber band.  The lid will serve to keep dust and flies out while allowing the tea to breathe.  Let the jar sit in one place (moving can disturb the fermentation process), out of the direct sunlight and at room temperature.

The fermentation process will take 7 to 12 days, depending on the room temperature.  Your batch of kombucha will ferment more quickly if the room is warm.  You have to check to see when it is ready, and you’ll be able to tell by the taste.  When fermented, the tea can be decanted into glass bottles with screw lids and kept in the fridge.  Remember to keep a little of the kombucha tea to add with your ferment for the next batch.

Energy Boosting Crystals: On the Rise with Rose

We all need an extra boost now and again and these stones supply that when you need it.

If you want to jump-start your life and bring about positive change, tap into the power of the rose and red stones. Stones of this side of the color spectrum contain life’s energy and can help you become more motivated, more energetic, and more vibrant, and also give you and appealing aura. Wear this list of rosy and red stones or place them on your desk and throughout your home for an instant boost: 

alexandrite, carnelian, garnet, red coral, red jasper, rhyolite, rose jasper, and ruby.

Comfort and Calm Balm: Send Your Worries Away

If you, like most of us, find yourself worrying more than usual, try this comfort creating blend:

Sandalwood, lavender and vanilla create a deeply relaxing blend with a warm and soothing scent.  Here is what you need to conjure up a deeply relaxing blend that will bring great serenity. 

6 tablespoons almond oil
2 tablespoons jojoba oil
10 drops sandalwood essential oil
1 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops vamilla essential oil 

Mix the oils together in a tightly capped blue or brown bottle. Shake well  and pour a bit into the palm of your hand to warm before using. Rub it lightly onto your shoulder and neck as well as your temples and wrists. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply with your eyes closed. Chant aloud:

Remove from me all worry.

Remove all stress in a hurry.

No more will I lack sleep.

No more will I weep.

Tranquility and calm, come to me now.

With harm to none, so mote it be.

Heal Your Anxiety Balm: Chamomile Calm

No doubt about it, we live in anxious times. Here's something you can do about it:

Pour 4 ounces of  almond, sesame or any unscented base oil into a blue bottle. Now add 4 drops of chamomile, and 2 drops of rose, preferably Turkish rose. Shake together. gently.   Take a candle, preferably in asoothing lavendar scent, and anoint it with the potion. Light the candle and chant aloud:

By my own hand, I made this balm.

This divine essence contains my calm.

By my own will, I made this charm;

This precious potion protects from all harm.

With harm to none and health to all.

Blessed be.

Anoint your pulse points –your wrists, throat, and heart, behind the ear lobes and behind the knees – with the unguent and bask in a sea of calm.

For reducing anxiety, or if you need a quick pick-me-up, these essential oils are also excellent:

Frankincense-marjoram-hyssop

Neroli (Orange Blosson) – Jasmine- nutmeg

Lemon-rose-lime—valerian

Mandarin-ylang-ylang

Stones That Soothe and Heal

If you suffer from stress-induced symptoms, try calming crystals:

 

Lapis Lazuli has been used to treat headaches for millennia. My dear friend Abby suffers from migraines and cluster headaches. I gave Abby some earrings with lovely blue lapis settings to help her with this chronic condition, and she has reported great success. These headaches can have many causes and triggers; my beloved amber essence oil was one until we figured that out! The main causes are stress, anxiety, and various food triggers. Oddly enough, amber in crystal form alleviated Abby’s heinous headaches, seemingly absorbing the negative energy. Amethyst and turquoise are also good for this. Several stones are good for stomach illness; citrine and moonstone create calm, in this case, that stops the stomach unrest from signaling the brain to have a headache.

The Right Ring Can Change Your Life: Crystal Magic

Did you know the right combination of crystal and how you wear it can change your life?

Your index fingers are indicators of achievement, and wearing the proper gem on that finger can really aid you in striving for your dreams. For wisdom, wear lapis lazuli. For greater love of yourself and others, try pearl, moonstone, or garnet. For success, wear carnelian. For a quiet mind and greater calm, wear sodalite chrysocolla, or turquoise.

Your middle fingers are about ideas and insight as well as intuition; the left hand represents the receiving of ideas, and the right hand represents action and achievement in your life. Wear stones on the middle finger only when you want to get a lot of psychic input from the world around you. For greater sensitivity and creativity, wear amethyst. To awaken your inner and outer beauty, wear ruby. To access your higher good and know your life purpose, wear sapphire or quartz crystal.

The ring finger is about creativity, and, of course, the ring finger on the left hand is your love center and a direct connection to your heart. For deep and loyal ties of love, wear diamond. To express your love, wear moonstone. To inspire creativity, wear emerald. To meet creativity goals, wear tiger’s-eye or cat’s-eye. For practicality in your work and art, wear turquoise. For service to your community and the world, wear opal. For serenity both within and without, wear ruby.

Pinkie fingers represent change. The right gem on your little finger can help you find and pursue new opportunities and change the direction of your whole life. This is a lot of power in one little ring! For better organizational habits, wear pearl. For unwinding and simplifying, wear turquoise. To bring new energy and new prospects, wear aventurine.

Seeking Serenity Spell:

We live in the age of anxiety. 


There is so much stress, bad news and soul-crushing chaos, it is hard to know how to get through each day. But here’s the thing; ancient wisdom is  the best way to approach to deal with modern troubles.

 Try the following tried and true rite. Take a piece of plain white paper, palo santo incense  blue candles, paper and a blue pen and have it at the ready. Palo santo literally means “holy wood” and it is a tree that grows in South America and is similar to cedar and copal. It is wonderfully grounding and also clears energy, including tension and disquiet.

Anytime you feel the need, light the candles and palo santo and  speak aloud the following affirmation spell:

             Begone  from me, worry and woe!

            I have the strength  to break free and the wisdom to know.

            As I breathe this sacred smoke, my calm will  grow.

            I call upon my inner guide to help me take it slow.

            My Serenity and tranquility will overflow.

With harm to none, blessings to all.

Repeat this three times while the candle burns. Inhale deeply ten times, Pass the pen and paper through sweet-smelling smoke of the palo santo. Now, Embrace your intuition and trust it with all your heart and write down what comes into your mind with the blue pen.  You may even feel tingling at the top of your head, which is a very good sign. Knowing the your inner truth from your soul guidance will  show you the way through stress-inducing times, Let go of anything that really doesn’t matter to you and your loved ones, Use the words of wisdom that came through as a guide for your life to sustain you through the stress and strain.

Summoning the Muses: Spell for Inspiration

Whenever you embark on a new life phase, a creative project, or personal ritual, you are further awakening to your destiny. 

The nine muses, daughters of Memory and rulers of creative endeavors, can help you find your true path. Here is a “field guide” to the muses to help you determine which one you should invoke for aid.

•   Calliope, “The Fair Voiced,” is the eldest of the muses and presides over epic poetry.

•   Clio, “The Proclaimer,” is the muse of history. She carries a scroll of knowledge.

•   Erato, “The Lovely,” has domain over the poetics of love and mimicry. She carries a lyre.

•   Euterpe, “The Giver of Pleasure,” plays a flute. Her sphere of influence is music.

•   Melpomene, “The Songstress,” wears the mask of tragedy, over which she presides.

•   Polyhymnia, “She of Many Hymns,” is the muse of sacred poetry. She wears a veil.

•   Terpsichore, “The Whirler,” had dominion over dance.

•   Thalia, “The Festive,” wears the mask of comedy.

•   Urania, “The Heavenly,” presides over both astronomy and astrology.

In truth, you can call upon any god or goddess with whom you feel a deep connection, but the muses can guide you to personal inventiveness. They will help you sing the song of you and express yourself through poetry, art, dance, theater, academia, music, communication—any way in which you need to reveal unseen and unknown sides of yourself.

Place an offering to your chosen muse on your altar or shrine—perhaps a verse of poetry or a drawing—that shows your gratitude and appreciation for all you have received and will continue to receive as inspiration from your muse.

The Goddess, in all her glorious incarnations, is the supreme creative force and brings all into being. Long before the birth of Christianity, people worshipped the Goddess who represents fertility, rebirth, wisdom, and life. Decide which muse you want to work with and chant aloud:

O [name of muse], wise and true,

I will walk with thee in the Elysian Fields and back.

Anoint me here and now.

Thanks to you, inspiration I will never lack.

Sacred Summertime: Mobile Altars

Outdoor altars are usually of a temporary nature and are all the more lovely for it—the beach is a wonderful place to set up a one-day altar on driftwood with seaweed and shells.

There, unless the beach is too crowded, you can commune with the water deities and seek your deepest reaches of spirit. Forest, farm, and meadow offer earth and sky and the sanctity of nature in which to build your altar.

In Athens during the classical period, the lane leading to the temple dedicated to the god Dionysus was called the Avenue of Tripods because it was lined with small tripod altars; this was a holy road indeed. Tripod originates in the Greek word meaning “three footed,” and these altars functioned as the sites of offerings. At Delphi, the revered oracular center, the Pythoness and her sisters prophesied from the sacred seat of power, a tripod.

 A three-footed altar is more practical for outdoor use than a regular four-legged table because it is stable on uneven ground. For your outdoor rituals, therefore, it’s best to acquire a tripod that will provide a steady surface for your ritual work performed out in the holy realm of Nature. During this season of sun and heat, the fullness of life and growth can be celebrated with colors of yellow, green, and red. As you travel on vacation, bring back shells and stones and create an altar devoted to this season of joy.