Geodes

 

Geode jewelry can also bring you success at work. At my favorite metaphysical five-and-dimes, I have been seeing baby geodes that can easily be glued to a fabric choker band or are already in pre-made pendants. If you are feeling like you are in a slump at work or want to impress the boss, begin wearing a pretty and professional geode necklace, and things will be looking up soon! If this style is not for you, just buy a geode, set it on your desk, and look at it while picturing yourself climbing the ladder of success.

Crystalline Calm For Your Happy Home

To begin enjoying the powers of crystals in your home, you must first set the stage: the perfect environment where you experience comfort and joy. You’ll do this by building a stone shrine, which will become your touchstone for daily conjuring and contemplation. By preparing your home and sparking your inner flame, you can clear away anything blocking positive energy. It is of the utmost importance to have in your home a shrine or altar, a power center, where you can keep your stones and can ponder both their power and their beauty. This is your energy source where you can renew yourself and your spirits every day.

On a low table, place a white scarf and candles from each of the colors of the spectrum: white, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, red, and black. Place them in the miraculous arching shape of a rainbow. Take your favorite incense and place it in a quartz crystal bowl at the center of the rainbow. Amber is good for creativity and healing and contains crystalline grains of rock resin from Mother Nature. Keep a wand of sage or a smudging stick in a fireproof bowl or seashell on your altar, and use it to clear the energy and sanctify the space every day.

Next, place symbols on your shrine space that reflect your personal power and spiritual aspirations. I was born on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces, so I keep fresh wildflowers in a vase beside a statue of a young goddess pouring the water of wisdom, symbolizing Aquarius. I also have abalone shells, which represent my Piscean nature, aligned with a magnetite obelisk and a rock-crystal ball. Let your imagination run wild! Use religious icons and images or photos that have special meaning—whatever expresses your innermost spirit. If you have an obelisk or pyramid on your altar, you can use it for manifestation by placing your desires and wishes on paper beneath the crystal.

Keep the basic principles of feng shui in mind, and put prosperity stones in your far-left money corner and romance rocks in your far-right love corner.

The crystals you select should be a completely personal choice. Browse your favorite lapidary or new age shop and see what you’re drawn to and resonate most with. Here are some crystals you can choose for specific spell work and energy you want in your life and environment:

• For creativity: amazonite, aventurine, carnelian, chrysolite, chrysoprase, citrine, green tourmaline, malachite, yellow fluorite

• For intuition: amethyst, azurite, celestite, lapis lazuli, moonstone, selenite, smoky quartz, sodalite, star sapphire, yellow calcite

• For love: amethyst, aventurine, magnetite, rhodochrosite, rose quartz, twinned rock crystal

• For prosperity: bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, dendritic agate, diamond, garnet, hawk’s-eye, moss agate, peridot, ruby, tiger’s-eye, topaz, yellow sapphire

• For self-assurance: azurite, chalcedony, chrysocolla, green tourmaline, hematite, rutilated quartz, tiger’s-eye

• For serenity: amber, aventurine, blue jade, dioptase, Herkimer diamond, jasper, kunzite, moonstone, onyx, peridot, quartz, rhodonite

• For success: carnelian, obsidian, quartz, selenite, sodalite, topaz

• For vigor: agate, aventurine, bloodstone, calcite, chalcedony, citrine, dioptase, emerald, garnet, orange calcite, ruby, topaz

• For wisdom: emerald, fluorite, Herkimer diamond, moldavite, serpentine, yellow calcite

Dragons’ Lair Safety Spell

After an illness or any event wherein you feel the need to rid your home of unhealthy energy, head to your metaphysical five and dime and gather these essences. Anoint your home in order to return grace to your space and protect you from harm. Simply rub any one of the following essential oils, undiluted, on your doorjamb: cinnamon, clover, cypress, dragons blood, frankincense.

Walk through the door and close it securely. Take the remaining essential oil and anoint every other door and window. At the witching hour, midnight, light anointed white candles and place them in every doorway and windowsill. Sing:

My home is my temple,
Here I will live and love and be healed. 
And so it is by magic sealed.

Kitchen Witch Alchemy

Marigold blossoms gathered at high noon will raise your energy level.

Lettuce juice (made in a juicer or food processor) rubbed on your temples and forehead will dispel sleeplessness.

Holly was once believed to repel lightening.

Hazel branches make excellent wands and divining rods. Used like pendulums, they help you answer questions.

Garlic guards against evil spirits, disease and bad weather.

Cyclamen eases the pain of grief.

Cucumber peel placed on your temple and forehead cures headaches.

Morning Spell for New Beginnings

This spell can be used to meet someone new or to bring on a new phase in existing relationship. On any morning before dawn, light one pink and one blue candle. Touch each candle with lily, freesia, or jasmine oil. Lay a lily on your altar with some catnip. Place a lapis lazuli stone in front of the lily, and a glass of water atop a mirror. Chant:

 

Healing starts with new beginnings.

My heart is open, I’m ready now.

Today, a new Love I will meet.

Goddess, you will show me how.

So mote it be.

Drink a cup of hot honeyed cinnamon tea that you stirred counterclockwise with a cinnamon stick. Sprinkle the powdered version of this CHARASMATIC SPICE on the threshold of your front door and along your entry path. When the cinnamon powder is crushed underfoot, its regenerative powers will help you start a fresh chapter in your love life.

The Ties That Bind: Your Friendship Altar

Friends are some of the great loves of our lives.

 

To prepare the way for letting new friends enter your life or to focus your attention on existing friendships, set up an altar where you can concentrate your energy and clarify your intentions. If you already have an altar in place, incorporate some if the following elements to enhance your relationships with others as well with yourself. The more you use your altar, the more powerful your spells will be.

Your altar can be a low table, the top of a shelf, or even a shelf. First, purify the space with the smoke of a lit sage bundle. This is called “smudging” and is an essential part of witchcraft. You can use wild sage or purchase it in any herb store. Once you have smudged the space, cover your friendship altar with a  pink-colored scarf or cloth, and place pink and white candles in each of the four corners. (Pink is the color of affection and White represents purity.) Place rose quartz and calming fluorite stones around a vase of fresh flowers often with poppies, daisies, whatever connotes fun and friendship to you.

As a centerpiece, place on the altar a photograph of your friends or an image that represents companionship in your life.

Light the candles, kneel before your newly created altar, and say:

I light the fire of loyalty

The heat of heart and the flame of friendship.

Brightest blessing, Great Goddess bring,

The spirit of friendship will surely sing.

As the fates do dance, I welcome the chance

To share my love and my life.

So mote it be.

Your Love Grows Daily: Magical Garden

A great relationship can be cultivated, literally. 


By planting and carefully tending flowers that have special properties-like night-blooming jasmine for heightened sensuality, or lilies for lasting commitment – you can nurture your relationship along. During a new moon in the Venus-ruled signs of Taurus or Libra, plant an assortment of flowers that will surround you with the beauty and energy of sweet devotion. A few of my proven favorites are listed in the garden of Indra that follows.

Before you place your hothouse posies or seeds into pots or flowerbeds, bless the ground with a prayer of health for your plants, yourself, and your relationships.

Light a black candle to absorb and dispel bad energy, and place it in the middle of a circle you have drawn with a stick. Dip your hand into a clay bowl of water and sprinkle drops behind you and before you. Sing out:

Great spirit, I offer you this petition.

Please cleanse this land-you are the greatest magician.

With my hands, I will plant and sow.

Here, a healing garden will now grown.

Blessings to you and to the Guardians of the Earth.

One Easy Secret for a True Magical Home: Color!

Use color magic on your walls for real house mag

If you are going to paint your walls, fences, furniture and she-sheds, you should be very considered in your choice of color.  Every aspect of your spell craft can be enhances using colors that amplify your intention. Here is a simple guide to color magic for your explorations:

Red is for action, passion, vitality, strength, survival, fertility, courage, sexuality, conflict, independence, assertiveness, competition and standing out.

Orange brings joy, creativity, expressiveness, intellect, releasing addiction, business success and ambition, vitality, fun, new ideas, and sharing good times with others.

Yellow is used for enjoyment, inspiration, success, happiness, learning, memory and concentration, persuasion, imagination, charm, confidence and travel.

Green is great for prosperity, abundance, money, physical and emotional healing, growth, luck, marriage, plant magic, acceptance and counteracting envy and possessiveness.

Light Blue represents spirituality, tranquility, peace, protection and growth.

Blue is used for communication, will power, focus, forgiveness, good fortune, truth, patience, harmony at home, orderliness, removing bad vibrations, sincerity and true blue loyalty.

Indigo is ideal for spiritual guidance, mindfulness, psychic ability, divination, meditation, ambitions, dignity and overcoming depression.

Violet is the color of spirituality, connection to higher self, insight, clarity, tension and the divine feminine.

Purple is  for wisdom, cronehood and elders, influence, driving away evil, changing one’s luck, independence, breaking habits, and spiritual power.

Lavender is the color to use aspirations, for knowledge and accessing intuition.

Pink is the color of love, compassion, nurturing, femininity, friendship, romance, partnership, spiritual and emotional healing, protection of children and personal inner work. 

Brown is good for house blessings, animal magic, material goods, stability, food and forests.

Grey is best for   contemplation, and removing negativity in your environment.

White connotes newness, cleansing, purity, peace, balance, healing, truth, and spirituality,

Black stands for grounding, wisdom, learning, protection and security, reversing hexes, removing negative energy, transforming, defense, scrying, and secrets.

Silver is used for feminine divinity, psychic awareness, intuition, dreams, victory, communication, luck and moon magic.

Gold represents masculine divinity, great fortune, abundance, prosperity, understanding, divination, fast luck, positive attitude, justice, health, attraction, luxury, and magic involving the sun.

Copper brings business success, passion, money, fertility, and career growth.

Warming Brew: Apple Brandy Spirits

With an arctic freeze coming, we need to stay warm. This drink will do it!

 

Here is a delightfully easy recipe that will produce a flavorful homemade liqueur that smells as good as it tastes.  If you are interested in making a hassle-free bottle of spirits apples are a wonderful way to start.  Start with these ingredients:

4 Apples, sweet ones, not sour

2 cups Brandy

2 cups Vodka

1 quart clean and sterilized Mason jar

 First, clean, core and slice your apples Place the slices in a Mason canning jar. Pour in the alcohol to cover, using equal parts brandy and vodka. Put the jar in a cool dark place in your pantry. Allow the infusion process to happen for month or until it is to your tastes. The combination of sweet apples and brandy gave a luscious fruit-forward flavor, with no need for sugar.  After infusing, strain the apple slices out using a strainer to filter the liqueur. Pour the spirits into a pretty and sealable bottle and enjoy at your next pagan party.

Bonus tip: apples can really be used with any spirit so let your imagination run wild!

Kitchen Cupboard Cures: Easy Herbal Healing

How often to you see a panicky pagan or stressed out herbalist?

Rarely, I assure you. We all have to keep pace with the modern world, but our connection to the earth and the cycles of nature help maintain balance and harmony, despite the hurly burly of these tech-driven times. This post is aimed at conjuring wellness so you can stay centered, grounded and healthy. When our grandmothers and elders who came before us tended cuts, bruises, colds, flu’s, fevers and other illnesses their family suffered, they didn't have a corner drugstore. Instead, these wise women relied on simple wisdom, common sense, and pantries well stocked with herbal remedies. These preparations were made from plants that grew in the kitchen garden or were wild weeds gathered in the fields and woods surrounding their homes. This stash of kitchen cupboard cures combines the wisdom of our elders with a modern  sensibility. Yes, you will save money, but more importantly, you will begin to learn what works for you and master the art of self-care as you bring much comfort to your loved ones.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) This revered candy classic is also a wonderful anti-inflammatory which relieves the discomfort of colds in the sinuses, It can sooth sore throats, coughs and also is a GI curative. Treat licorice root exactly as you would ginger with 1 minced teaspoon of fresh or dried steeped in one cup of tea twice day, 

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) While it may seem like this is another “candy as medicine,” marshmallow is a time-tested plant long employed in field medicine.  It is highly valued as it contains a lot of mucilate, the same substance which coats and our mouth and throat as well as the stomach and gut. Minced fresh or dried root or the leaves are equally healing in quarter cup quantities, steeped for 4 hours, Strain out the stems and drink hot, cool, and sweetened or however you like this gentle herb.

Milk Thistle (Silybum manianum) Healers love mile thistle for its ability to protect the liver from toxins, harsh medicines, alcohol and unseen environmental pollutants, It can be obtained as an extract at any health food store or upscale groceries or pharmacies. There is some evidence it can also help heal the kidneys.

Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) Here is an herbalist’s favorite for healing any respiratory ailment involving congestion coughs sore throats and calms the breathing. Mullein flowers infused in oil are also used to aid earaches. Take one heaping tablespoon of the leaves and steep in one cup of boiling water for no more than 10 minutes. Taken as a tea once, you’ll feel better soon

Harness the Healing Power of Herbal Essential Oil

The flu season is the biggest ever this year.  Try herbal healing!

 

Essential oils have been used medicinally for centuries.  They are extracted from flowers, grasses, shrubs, herbs, and trees.  If you are skeptical about the efficacy of essential oils, you’ll at least find it reassuring to know that the oils enter and exit the human body without leaving any toxins behind.  The best ways to use essential oils are externally, absorbed through the skin, or through steam inhalation.  There are hundreds of essential oils used by herbalists, but for general therapeutic use in the home, these are my recommendations you need to have at the ready. 

Lavender Oil

If I could only have one essential oil, I would choose lavender because it is so versatile.  It is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, sedative, antidepressant, topical treatment for scalds and burns, and a good detoxifier; it prevents scarring and promotes healing, and its lovely scent has a calming effect and is widely used in aromatherapy.

Tea Tree Oil

Used by aborigines in Australia for centuries, tea tree oil is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic.  It has a fresh camphor smell and is used to treat athlete’s foot, sunburn, candida, and other infections.

Peppermint Oil

A wonderful therapeutic for digestive, respiratory, and circulatory complaints, peppermint oil is used to treat indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, flatulence, halitosis, catarrh, varicose veins, headaches, skin irritations, and rheumatism.  It also works as a deterrent for infestations of mice, fleas, and ants.  It is not surprising that peppermint oil is regarded as the world’s oldest medicine.

Eucalyptus Oil

In eucalyptus oil, we have an all-purpose antiviral, antibiotic, diuretic analgesic, and antiseptic.  It can be therapeutic for coughs, colds, respiratory stimulation, and insect bites.  If you start to feel cold symptoms, use 5 drops of eucalyptus oil in a hot bath or in a bowl prepared with boiling water for a head steam.

Thyme Oil

Thyme is an “old-time” antiviral, antibiotic, antiseptic, and diuretic curative; it was highly valued and widely used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for fatigue, coughs, warts, rheumatism, neuralgia, and acne.  Thyme oil works very well mixed with base oil for massage.

Rosemary Oil

Sweet-smelling rosemary oil is a great antiseptic to use for flu, coughs, headaches, depression, muscular stress, arthritis, rheumatism, fatigue, and forgetfulness.  Rosemary oil is stimulating and will perk you up if you do a head steam with it or put a couple of drops in the bath.

Coziness by the Cup: Ambrosial Brews

I recently had a cough that wouldn't go away until I doubled my tea intake.

 

Herbal tea conjures a very powerful alchemy because when you drink it, you take the magic inside. For an ambrosial brew with the power to calm any storm, add a silver of ginger root and a pinch each of chamomile and peppermint to a cup of hot black tea. Before you drink, pray:

This day I pray for calm, for health,

And the wisdom to see the beauty of each waking moment.

Blessings abound.

Herbal teas can also nourish the soul and heal the body:

Blueberry Leaf Tea

Reduces mood swings, evens glucose levels, and helps varicose veins.

Nettle

Raises the energy level, boosts the immune system, and is packed with iron and vitamins.

Fennel

Awakens and uplifts, freshens the breath, and aids colon health.

Echinacea

Lens an increased and consistent sense of well-being, and prevents colds and flu.

Ginger Root

Calms and cheers while aiding digestion, nausea, and circulation.

Dandelion root

Grounds and centers, provides many minerals and nutrients, and cleanses the liver of toxins.

Crafting Calm: Sacred Self Care Recipe

What can you do in this new year to take better care of yourself? It matters more than ever now. 

Why does every day seem like it is weeklong nowadays? Unplugging from cable news and constant social media feeds will help as will this time-tested aromatherapy healing potion, 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.

Chakra Tonics: Gentle Healing

This healing practice is distilled from the study of chakras.

Here are just a few examples of how to apply stones directly upon your body or that of anyone else who needs healing. By working with your chakras, you can become much more in touch with your body and soul.

The root chakra is at the base of your spine and is associated with passion, survival and security and the color red. Above it is the sacral chakra in the abdominal region, which corresponds to such physical urges as hunger and sexuality; the color is orange. The solar plexus chakra is yellow and is associated with personal power. The heart chakra is green and  symbolizes harmony, creativity, health, abundance and nature. It is the combining of  soul color of yellow  and spiritual color of blue.   The throat chakra is blue and is considered the center of communication. The third eye chakra is located in the center of your forehead and is associated with intuition and the color indigo. The crown chakra at the very top of your head is your connection to the universe and is violet in color

The first step for anyone undertaking crystal healing is to lie down, relax, and get very comfortable. Empty everything else from your mind.

Lapis lazuli and its fellow blue aquamarine can be laid upon the throat chakras to release any blockage therein. This greatly aids in self-expression and is wonderful for professional speakers as well as performers such as actors and singers. Turquoise laid on the face—cheeks, forehead, and chin—is a calming agent, significantly reducing tension. Azurite on the brow opens the third eye and deepens wisdom; this can balance the energy of the head and allow more light into the third eye.

Malachite, a heart stone, placed near the heart and along the center of the abdomen will create a sense of harmony and facilitate letting go of pain, suffering, and old childhood wounds.

The Rainbow is a simple and effective method for total-body wellness. Choose from this list of stones, making sure you have one of each color of the rainbow—violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red—plus one white stone and one black stone for completion. Then, simply lay the stones on their corresponding chakra centers. I’ve included a list of crystal and body affinities in case there is any specific area you want to focus on:

Root Chakra:

bloodstone for the kidneys

carnelian for the liver

garnet for the spine

hematite for the blood and circulatory system

rose quartz for the heart

fire agate for the stomach

Sacral Chakra:

amber for the thyroid

fire agate for the stomach

coral calms and soothes nerves

orange calcite for the bladder

chalcedony for the spleen,

Solar Plexus Chakra:

calcite for the skeletal system

jasper for the shins and for the skin

danburite for the muscles

fluorite for the teeth

citrine protects the aura

Heart Chakra:

chrysocolla for the pancreas,

chrysolite for the appendix,

chrysoprase for the prostate,

beryl for the eyes,

moldavite for the hands,

moss agate for circulation, immune boosting

Throat Chakra:

blue tourmaline for the thymus

benitoite for the pituitary

lapis lazuli for the throat

dioptase for the lungs

celestite for the intestines

Third Eye Chakra:

lapis lazuli for the throat

celestite for the intestines

calcite for the skeletal system

fluorite for coordination and balance

Crown Chakra:

jadeite for the knees,

dendrite agate for the nervous system

moonstone for the womb area

purple fluorite for the bone marrow

amethyst for sobriety

Lavender Mint Energy Cleanser: Clearing Vibrational Clutter

The very best way to prepare for the coming new year is an energetic decluttering        

                                               

In order to do any ritual work, you must clear the clutter that can create blocks. Banish the old, bad energy from your house by following this spell. Make a tea from one part dried lavender and one part dried mint. Draw fresh water and boil, and then steep a teaspoon of each herb for five minutes. Once it cools, dip your finger in the tea and sprinkle it throughout your home. If you feel the need to clear out any remaining cloud of psychic clutter, add diluted lavender mint tea water to your cleanser when you wash floors or surfaces. Make your energy-clearing tea by bringing 4 cups of water to a full rolling boil; remove from heat and add in 4 sprigs of fresh lavender and 4 sprigs of fresh mint. If it is winter and there is no access to the fresh herbs, one tablespoon each of dried lavender and dried mint will do nicely. Steep the herbal tea for at least 4 minutes and as long as ten minutes if there is a lot of energetic clutter. The scent of calm and clarity will lift the spirits of all who enter your space. The purpose of incense is to release energy into the ritual space, not to create billows of smoke that can cause respiratory problems in the circle. If you or someone else finds incense smoke irritating or worrisome, consider using another symbol of air instead, such as potpourri, fresh flowers, feathers, or a fan.

There exist an abundance of incense burners nowadays, so use your discretion and choose one that pleases you—perhaps a smoking dragon or a goddess to hold the fiery embers of your incense would add to the energy of your altar.