Crystal Clarity

 Crystal healing requires consciousness on the part of the end user. So, you must be aware of the potential of a given stone and wear it mindfully. Following is a veritable encyclopedia of crystals and the special qualities that they avail to anyone with crystal consciousness. I have also noticed in myself and in fellow gem fans that certain affinities between people and crystals will make themselves known and should be paid attention to. If you are attracted to a certain stone, by all means, investigate. Learn what that that gem or crystal is about and examine your present state to see if you are in need of its particular properties. I went through a two-year period of being very attracted to quartz striated with little streaks of gold. Gold can very much intensify the healing power of quartz, cleansing the aura and awakening all the chakras. I found out later that I had cancer, which, thankfully, is in the past—recent past, but nevertheless, my doctors tell me I am “clean.” Unbeknownst to me, I was gravitating toward a stone that offered me just that—cleansing.

My friend Nancy and I love to shop together. On the weekends we browse through bookshops, take in a movie and lunch, and then go to our favorite little shop, Planet Weavers, a sort of metaphysical five-and-dime. I noticed there was a time when Nancy kept buying citrine, a fine yellow or gold form of quartz. Nancy is much less New Age than I; her feet are firmly planted on the ground. But I was aware that she was going through a really hard time at work with a very critical supervisor. She always seemed to be getting into trouble and never saw that she might have been at fault in some way. After she wore her favorite citrine-chip necklace, her path at work got smoother, and she and her boss started getting along. Citrine can aid in being able to receive and hear criticism gainfully. It certainly worked for her. So, please do listen to sudden stone attractions. Your body or subconscious may be sending you a very important message!

Mint Money Bags (Moon in Taurus, Cancer or Capricorn)

Rather than chasing money or possessions, you can simply draw them toward you with wisdom from days gone by. A tiny green pouch filled with the herbs chamomile and mint, three cinnamon sticks, one silver dollar and a green stone—peridot or a smooth mossy-colored pebble of jade—would be perfect. The untrained eye might perceive this as a bag of weeds and rocks but any kitchen witch knows this is a powerful tool for creating powerful change into your life and attracting good fortune.

Prepare your attraction pouch during a waxing moon; the strongest power would be when the sun or moon is in Taurus, Cancer or Capricorn. Hold the pouch over frankincense incense and as the smoke blesses the bag, you speak:

The moon is a silver coin; this I know.
I carry lunar magic with me everywhere I go.
Blessings upon thee and me as my abundance grows.

Carry this power pouch with you as you go about your way—to work, to the store, on your daily walks, to social events. Soon, blessings will shower down upon you. You might even receive a gift or literally find money in your path.

Wands are Wonderful: Be a Crafty Conjurer

Gandalf, Glinda and Harry Potter shouldn’t have all the fun. It is a marvelous thing to make your own wand. Start with a tree branch that has fallen to the ground on its own. Sand and polish the rough edges, as it is a wand and not a weapon. Then give it a good smudging. Hot-glue on a large quartz crystal onto the wand near the handle, and hot-glue on any crystals featuring properties that will complement your magic.

Rock Your World: Talismanic Stones for Success

These stones pave the path to prosperity for everyone. Use them on your altar, piled up on an arrangement on your desk at work or keep them in your pocket. This earth-based energy acts like a battery to boost you along.

Azurite strengthens mental powers.

Chalcedony gives you get-up-and-go!

Emerald aids in problem solving.

Opal encourages faithful service.

Pearl engenders material wealth.

Quartz helps overcome fear of rejection.

Sapphire helps with goal setting.

Tourmaline promotes an attitude of accomplishment.

The World’s Easiest Love Potion

Elixirs are very simple potions made by placing a crystal or gemstone in a glass of water for at least seven hours. Remove the stone and drink the crystallized water. The water will now carry the vibrational energy of the stone, the very essence of the crystal.

Place into a glass of water:

• Carnelian
• garnet
• rough ruby
• red coral
• red jade
• jasper
• red sardonyx
• cuprite
• aventurine
• red calcite

Mix and match and remember, if you only have access to a rough ruby and a tiny chunk of jasper, so be it—that is still a lot of love in a jar!

Place the elixir in the love corner of your room or on your altar. Light amber incense and a red candle and speak aloud:
This jade is my joy, the garnet of my grace.

Leave the water on your altar for seven hours or overnight and drink it upon awakening. Your life energy will quicken and you should feel very upbeat and good to go. Share the love!

Plant Your Own Sacred Grove

My mother’s best friend passed away over the weekend and they had one of those incredible relationships you rarely hear about. 

They talked every day, mostly on the phone, but also saw each other often. I realized it would be a lovely tribute to my dear mother’s beloved friend to plant a flowering tree she can see to remind her of the gifts of that special bond. I have planted trees for people who passed and confess I even planted one for Michael Jackson which I can see right now out of the window by my writing desk. Michael’s tree is showy and is exploding in bountiful, beautiful purple flowers.

In much the same way that animals, stones, and stars were totemic to early peoples, so were trees. Greco-Roman spirituality had sacred groves, as did the Aborigines in Australia, Hindus in India, Germanic tribes, and the Celts of Europe. To the Celtic Druids, the oak was the major sacred totem tree. Pliny the Elder pointed out that groves of trees were the first temples.

A wonderful way to celebrate our planet, our tribe and engender the ideals of preservation and ecological sanctity of our precious resources is to return to the sacred grove. Essential elements necessary for the ritual are Tibetan Prayer Flags or colored ribbons and colored markers.

Gather your friends and go to a mutually agreed-upon home, park, farm, or forest. Find the largest oak or largest tree with low-hanging branches and circle around it, holding hands while chanting:

We are the wisdom of the stars.

The beauty of this green Gaia.

To the planet that gives us life, we return the gift.

We are one

We are the stars and the stones and the sea.

We are one.

By casting the circle with voice and action, you create a boundary within which magic can take place. One by one, each member of the circle should speak a wish for universal healing, write the wish on a ribbon, and tie the ribbon on the tree. Each flutter of the breeze will speak of your hope and good wishes for our planet. If you are lucky enough to be on the property of a member of your circle, ask if you can leave the ribbons there as the mark of the sacred grove. If you are lucky enough to have gathered at someone’s home or farm and can plant a tree, do plant one and name it and care for it. I am excited to surprise my mother with her tree dedicated to the life and memory of her devoted friend, Marylyn,

 Blessed be.

Witch Crafts: Light My Fire DIY Massage Candles

Making massage candles is very similar to making any other type of potted candle  I recommend using soy wax as it is soooo gentle on the skin . Soy wax is also nice and soft; it melts easily and stays together in a puddle after melting and can be reused for us thrifty crafters. If you have an allergy to soy (and it won't irritate your skin unless you have a soy allergy,) you can use beeswax instead which is very widely used. (For example, it is in nearly every single Burt’s Bees product.)  It is the addition of the oils that prevents it from hardening again and also enables your skin to absorb it. Essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils are also added to create a soothing atmosphere. All soap-making fragrances that are also soy candle safe are perfect choices for scenting your massage candles. Try the basic directions below to make your first candle. For every three ounces of wax, you'll add one ounce of liquid oil, and one-quarter ounce of fragrance. I suggest making two candles in 4-ounce metal tins while you master this craft.

You will need these elements:

·        2 ounces sweet almond oil or vitamin E oil

·        6 ounces high quality soy wax

·        Half an ounce scentful essential oil

·        2 4 ounce metal tins

·        2  6-inch candle wicks

Directions

1.     Melt the soy wax and oil in a double boiler over simmering water.

2.     Add the essential oils and stir gently to avoid bubbling or spilling

3.     Once the wax has cooled somewhat but is still melted enough to pour, place the wicks in your containers and pour the wax.

4.     Allow several hours for the candles to set and harden

5.     Trim the wicks to one quarter of an inch above the top of the candle, and they're ready to use.

Sensual Scents for Massage Candles:

These essential oils are beloved for their aphrodisiac properties and simply smell wonderful on your skin and in your home. Just burning the candles will be magical! Once you are a pro with making massage candles, try combining oils. Vanilla and amber, "Vamber" is divine. 

Amber            Cedarwood

Clary sage      Jasmine

Neroli             Patchouli

Rose                Sandalwood

Vanilla            Vetiver

Ylang ylang    Cinnamon

Stone in Love: Crystal Magic for Romantic Bliss

As is well known, the ring finger on the left hand symbolizes a direct connection to your heart and serves as the love center. The ring finger also symbolizes creativity, and wearing an emerald will inspire ingenuity. Wearing tiger’s-eye or cat’s-eye will also help you meet creative goals. Wearing turquoise on this finger helps with practicality in your work and art. Traditionally, diamonds are worn on the left ring finger for deep and loyal love ties. A moonstone will also express your love. An opal shows service to your community and to the world. A ruby helps with serenity—both within and without.

Crystals and Gems for Love:

Chrysocolla increases the capacity for love, one of the sweetest and most beneficial qualities any stone can offer. But my favorite feature of chrysocolla is that it tells you when to be silent and when to speak. It doesn’t get better than that!

Emerald is also a heart stone, offering benefits on physical and emotional planes. I prefer emeralds above all other stones for engagement rings. This is your ultimate gem for happiness in a relationship. In fact, emerald has been called the stone of successful love and can engender utter felicity, total loyalty, and domestic bliss in a willing couple. The emerald is at its most powerful if worn as a pinkie—or ring—finger ornament or in a bracelet on the right wrist. But wearers, be warned! Do not wear emerald at all times or its super-positive force starts to reverse. A little emerald luck goes a long way.

Red garnets are love stones. These sexy stones can help those with a lethargic libido tune into their passion.

Herkimer diamonds are power tones, bringing great vitality and exuberance into your life. They can redirect stress away from you with their absorptive abilities. Placing these rocks in your bedroom will cause the stress to melt away and help you relax and feel safe.

Kunzite is indeed a spirit-lifting, soothing stone and helps neutralize stress and prevent worry and fear. This pink stone can help you control your thoughts and have the ability to detach yourself from what burdens you. Kunzite is a heart opener and creates the condition for love. It is also beneficial to the blood and circulatory system. Kunzite can help anyone with problems. Kunzite is another of the environmental stones that can absorb back harmful radio waves. It will also help you feel and express your love for your significant other without feeling possessive and jealous.

Calm Emotion Potion: Spell for Serenity and Strength

This remedy is an excellent way to recharge  and refresh  after a hectic week. This tincture is most potent right after the sun sets, by the light of the moon.

In a small ceramic or glass bowl, gently mix together the following essential oils with a small amount of base carrier oil:

2 drops bergamot

4 drops carrier oil (apricot or sesame, ideally) 

2 drops  vanilla

1 drop amber

2 drops lavender

Take off your shoes so you can be more grounded. Walk outside, stand on your deck or by an open window. Now, close your eyes, lift your head to the moon, and recite aloud:

Bright moon goddess,  eternal and wise, give your strength to me now.

As I breathe, you are alive in me for this night.

Health to all, calm  to me.

So mote it be. 

Gently rub one drop of Calm Emotion Potion on each pulse point: on both wrists, behind your ear lobes, on the base of your neck, and behind your knees. As the oil surround you with its warm scent, you will be filled with a quiet strength.

Plenty of Thyme: Your Herb for Physical and Spiritual Strength

You could say that thyme is a classic herb, so much so that the venerables Virgil and Pliny sang the praises of this medicinal mint relative over 2000 years ago. While thyme loves Mediterranean weather, it can grow elsewhere from seeds and cuttings. Good for the stomach and especially effective as respiratory relief, thyme induces sweats to remove toxins and reduce fever.  Thyme honey tea is truly a sweet way to make the medicine go down so much so you will drink it even when hale and hearty. Thyme is also a culinary plant, making a delightful additive to savory dishes. When I lived in a warmer clime about ten years ago, I planted wooly thyme in among the flagstones of my front yard and let it spread as much as possible. When I came home from work, the sunny 80-plus degree sunny weather had warmed the thyme, creating a perfumed walkway; coming home was a heavenly experience.

It has been believed for centuries that thyme brings courage and both inner and physical strength. Even when your are facing seeming insurmountable odds, spells and smudging featuring thyme can get you on track and bring you to your goal. I think the greatest of all aspects of thyme is to rid your home and family of melancholy and overcome despair after extreme difficulty and loss.  If your loved ones have experienced a catastrophe, try thyme for rituals of magic and restitution. I have no doubt that practitioners of green witchery will be singing the praises of thyme for at least two thousand more years.

Sleepy Thyme

This herb abets your quality of sleep gather and dry thyme it to use in sachets so the divine fragrance freshens linens and laundry. A little bag of this dried thyme tucked in your pillowcase makes for sweeter sleep. As if all that is not enough, it also repels bugs and pests but attracts honeybees! As we all know, deep sleep is a great healer.

Feng Shui Secrets for Peace of Mind

Stones placed in strategic places around your home can help accelerate the change you are desiring in your home.  Using what I call “crystal feng shui,” you can place a crystal or a geode in the appropriate position of your home to facilitate specific results. For example, amethyst will promote healing and release any negative energy that is clinging. Clusters of jade or yellow “lemon quartz” will activate vibrations of abundance and creativity.

If you want to bring more money into your home or office, place a big chunk of citrine on the left side of your desk, and the money will begin to flow! If you have a dark hallway that feels spooky or an area in your home or office in which the energy feels very static or low, place an obsidian ball there, perhaps in a pedestal, to absorb this negative energy. If you want to have your bedroom be a place of bliss and unconditional love, rose quartz will create this all-important atmosphere.  Not only will these tips add to the buoyancy and joy of your home, it will also make it more striking and serene.

Crystal Power:

Citrine for a better ability to communicate

Lace agate for happiness with your job

Lapis lazuli for mental brilliance

Moonstone for self-love and self-expression

Red coral for good health and physical strength

Rose quartz or opal to make you appealing to others

Turquoise for calmness and protection from the earth

Ask a Question and Find Your Fate: DIY Divinations

Give your tarot cards a rest and create a one-of-a-kind divination tool: a bag of crystals you can use to do readings.  It is very easy to do.  Collect stones you have picked up on travels, and keep your eye out for crystals as you go about your daily business.  You can gather up relatively inexpensive stones such as garnets, agates, amethysts, and tiny citrines at your favorite metaphysical five and dime.  Select a favorite velvet bag, and when the need arises, turn to crystal visions for your enlightenment.  Most of us cannot afford diamonds in our bag of crystals, so substitute clear quartz here; for emeralds, switch to peridots, and garnets can substitute nicely for rubies.  A wonderful crystal and gem web site at www.thenewagesource.com/category/Crystals-gemstone.html has “rough rubies” and “rough emerald” pieces for just a few dollars each, so it is possible to find spiritual stones reasonably priced.

Casting the stones is as easy as one, two, three:

1. Shake the bag well.

2. Ask a question.

3. Remove the first three stones you touch, and then interpret them from the following guide.

How to read the stones:

Agate: business success and notoriety

Amethyst: change is coming

Black Agate: monetary gain

Red Agate: long life and health

Aventurine: new horizons and positive growth

Blue Lace Agate: the need for spiritual and physical healing

Citrine: the universe offers enlightenment

Diamond: stability

Emerald: lushness

Hematite: new prospects

Jade: everlasting life

Red Jasper: the need for grounding

Lapis Lazuli: heavenly fortune

Quartz: clarity where there was none

Rose Quartz: love is in your life

Ruby: deep passion and personal power

Sapphire: truth

Snowflake Obsidian: your troubles are at an end

Tiger’s Eye: the situation is not as it appears

Snow Quartz: major changes

Heal Yourself by Letting Go: A Releasing Ritual

Taking the Waters—a Releasing Ritual

Sarasvati is a Hindu goddess of the arts, and originally a river goddess. She is invoked by individuals seeking to improve the flow of their creativity and self-transformation.

A bath blessing that will both relax and purify you is a rare and wonderful thing. To prepare yourself, place 1 quart of rough sea salt or Epson salts in a large bowl. Add the juice from 6 freshly squeezed lemons, 1/2 cup of sesame oil, and a few drops of rose and jasmine oils. Stir until the mixture is completely moistened. You can add more sesame oil if necessary, but do not add more lemon because it will make the mixture overly astringent and potentially irritating to your skin.

When your tub is one-third full, add one-quarter of the salt mixture under the faucet. Breathe in deeply ten times, inhaling and exhaling fully before you do this recitation. You may start to feel a tingling at the crown of your head. The water should still be running when you proclaim:

Sarasvati, O Harmonious One,

Goddess and mistress, I ask your guidance.

Remove from me any impurities

Of heart, spirit, and mind. I open myself to you.

My wish is to once again become whole,

Free of pain, sadness, and all that is better in me.

When the tub is full, it is time to step inside and breathe deeply ten more times. Repeat the prayer to Sarasvati, and use the rest of the salt to gently massage your body. Rest and rejuvenate as long as you like, allowing yourself to feel refreshed and renewed by the ministrations of this Hindu goddess of harmony and artistry from whom eloquence, inspiration, and blessings flow.

Blowing in the Wind – A Charm for Releasing

We just had a full moon and what a moon it was! Now that the moon is on the wane, this is an excellent time for this rite of releasing. Now, positive new energy can enter your life:

                         

When the moon is waning, this is your opportunity to release anything that no longer serves in your life. We all need to embrace the winds of change in our life, clearing away the old and making room for the new. This charm helps overcome upset and can help release anger and grudges. And isn't this and important first step to happiness? What you’ll need: A blustery day, access to the outdoors, basil and sage.

Well, it's not mandatory that you have a hill for this, but you do need an open area outside for happiness spells like this. It does need to be windy.

Take your herbs to your spot of choice with your back to the wind. Take the basil and sage and throw them up in the air as you visualize your problems blowing far, far away. 

Repeat this charm aloud:

No more fear and doubt and pain

Nothing to lose and only joy to gain.

Now, turn around and face into the wind. Speak aloud:

May the winds of change be kind to me

And bring about happiness and glee.
Stress-free and happy I will be!

Close your eyes and feel the breeze on your skin and blowing through your hair. Stand still for a few more moments, focussed on the release of your problems and the acceptance of peace and the calm that lies ahead in your future.

Count Your Blessings: Morning Moon Meditation

Plan this for an early morning when you can still see a sliver of the moon as the sun rises. Sit in a comfortable position in front of your altar and meditate. Think about your blessings. What are you grateful for at this moment? There is a powerful magic in recognizing all that you possess. Breathe steadily and deeply, inhaling and exhaling slowly for twenty minutes. Then chant:

            Great Goddess, giver of all the fruits of this earth,

            Of all bounty, beauty, and well-being,

            Bless all who give and receive these gifts.

            I am made of sacred earth, purest water,

            Sacred fire, and wildest wind.

            Blessings upon me. Blessings upon thee,

            Mother Earth and Sister Sky.

            So mote it be.

A wonderful practice is to record your gratitudes in your Book of Shadows or a thankfulness journal. At the end of the lunar year, you’ll have your own Book of Blessings you can reflect upon and share with others.

Lunar Eclipse Magic

The Dark Side of the Moon –Eclipse Enchantments

When the moon passes into the Earth's shadow, this is a lunar eclipse. These are rare occasions that make for a truly enchanted evening, I recommend you think ahead to what you want to accomplish in this phase since an eclipse only lasts several hours. Think about what you want brought out of the shadow and into the light –do you need to dust off old dreams and reactivate them? Do you have old hurts and wounds you need to let go of and purge from your life? Do you feel there is a secret being kept from you? This one night is perfect the purposes of saying goodbye to the old and ushering in the new.  Simply plan your magical workings to coordinate with the passing shadow. When the moon is in full eclipse, treat those few moments as if the moon was in its Dark phase. It is also an excellent time to honor the goddess of the moon in a group or solo ritual. Think through carefully your heart’s desire and what you serve you for many months to come. 

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If you are lucky enough to live nearby an untended meadow, you have a garden at your beck and call. Rocket, sorrel, nettles, dandelions and purslane are there for the taking along with the beautiful tall flowering weed, Queen Ann’s Lace, which are tiny wild carrots at the root. Foraging is good exercise and an exercise in economy as these tasty weeds are free for the picking. All these greens are good for you and purslane is a genuine superfood, very high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Foraging these wild wonderful weeds is a part of the centuries-old hedge witch tradition.