Incense Alchemy

 

Long ago, shamans and witches discovered that perfumed resins from herbs and tree branches could be thrown into the fire to release their properties. Ever since then, incense has been an essential tool in magical rites, recognized for its ability to restore universal equilibrium.

Making incense requires a mortar and pestle and a collection of 4-ounce (115ml) lidded jars. The incense is burned on small charcoal cakes, available at all metaphysical stores. Safe burning requires either a censor or use of a fireproof glass or clay dish.

Simple Incense Recipes

    * For peace of mind: Crush sandalwood, bay leaves, and amber resin together. Burn a small amount on     a charcoal cake in your fireproof glass or clay dish on your altar and meditate. The plant damania can be     added to increase concentration.

    * For mastery of mind: Crush together equal parts cinnamon and resinous benzoin. You will achieve         your goals by burning this combination.

    * To enhance meditation: Mix equal parts white sandalwood and frankincense, and add one-fourth part     white orrisroot. Add a drop of oil from one of the following plants: angelica, agrimony, or aloe. Use this     during the day of a full moon or during any lunar ceremony.

Make Your Own Manifestation Tool

A wand is used for directing energy. It is best to make your own wand from found wood and instill it with your personal energy. You could go out into a nearby park or the woods and find a suitable branch that has fallen. Never cut a wand straight from a tree as the energy from harm to the tree will be retained by the wand. Allow Mother Nature to choose one for you; she is always right. You might find the perfect weathered wand on a beach as driftwood.

Gather together

• a found piece of wood
• sand paper
• bolline
• 12 inches (30cm) copper wire
• a crystal of your preference to use as the pointer
• beads, sequins, seashells, tiny crystals, or other decorations of your choice

When you have found the perfect piece of wood, sand it to smoothness so it feels good in your hand, which is very important. If your found wood branch is too long, use your magical bolline knife to cut it down to 12 inches (30cm), or your preferred length. Wrap copper wire around the top and affix your crystal to the end. Your wand should look beautiful to your eye so embellish it with ornaments you love, such as beads, sequins, seashells, tiny crystals, or whatever pleases you and adds to the power of this sacred implement.

Crystal Wish Box

Keep a magic wishing box on your desk. Every so often, look at it and make a wish for your heart’s desire. It’s easy to make: Take a bowl or small box and fill it halfway with sand. Place these suggested wish stones in any arrangement you find pleasing.

• Agate for a new home
  
• Amethyst for spirituality
  
• Carnelian or lapis lazuli for a job 
  
• Coral for wanting children
  
• Fool’s gold for money
  
• Rose quartz for love

The Magic of Massage

Set the stage for hands-on pleasure before you knead your lover’s body into rapturous bliss. Start with your favorite music. I prefer Indian ragas because they seem to have a naturally sexy rhythm. Whether it is the sound of classical guitar, angelic harps, or an ambient electronic band from Iceland, it should relax and bring pleasure. Light pink, red, and brown candles to create a loving, sexual atmosphere that is strongly grounded. Kindle incense your lover has previously complimented, and lay out towels you have warmed and oils and lubricants you have also warmed. Turn up the heat a bit and turn down the lights to simply create a “spa” feeling for complete unwinding. I have some honey, goose feathers, and an edible raspberry-and-mint rub I like to share as well.

First undress your partner, very slowly and gently. If your partner is open-minded to pagan ways, you should speak this incantation in his or her presence. If not, it is your silent prayer:

    I call on you, Pan,

    god of the woods, goat, man, and boy.

    I ask your blessing on this day of joy.

    I call on you, Venus, Goddess of this night,

    may we find new seasons of delight.

    What I want is here and now.

    And so it shall be.

Start with warmed oil and give a classic massage while your partner relaxes face down on the bed or massage table. The basic principles of magical massage are rhythmic yet sensitive gliding strokes, gradually shifting to deeper strokes. Use your body weight for firmer pressure.

After relaxing your partner’s back, legs, and feet, have him or her turn over. Massage the chest, arms, and hands. Then glide down to the legs, occasionally brushing the genitals with a light touch. After you finish the legs and feet, slide back up the body and very delicately brush the genitals in a teasing way. Draw the tease out as long as you can so the energy builds and grows. Now is the time to start shifting the focus to more explicitly erotic activities.

One of the most important tips for an amazing connection: Look your partner in the eye as you pleasure him or her. Locking the eyes and keeping them open during sex will open up new dimensions of gratification.

Amulets: Protective Adornment

Amulets are protective adornments that date back to the beginning of human civilization. Evil eye amulets are perhaps the most globally popular, believed in most cultures to be capable of warding off a hex by reflecting it back to its origins. In some cultures, amulets were devoted to a god or goddess, and the wearer was protected by that divinity. Horns, hands, and the phallus have all been popular amulet shapes throughout history. We know from archaeological discoveries that the inhabitants of the ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia wore amulets. People in that time wore cylindrical seals covered in precious stones, as well as animal talismans to inherit the qualities associated with different animals.

Ancient Egyptian amulets are on display at museums everywhere. They used their amulets in elaborate burial practices. To make the charms, they used faience, which is glazed ground quartz that is usually colored blue-green. The Egyptian royals and priests also wore precious and semi- precious gems and crystals as amulets. The eye of Horus was the most significant, and usually this was made of lapis lazuli.

Other creations included the lapis lazuli scarab, symbolizing rebirth; the frog, symbolizing fertility; and the ankh, representing eternal life.

In the classical age, Romans wore amulets that were metal cylinders containing parchment inscribed with protective words.

The popularity of amulets extended beyond pagan people when organized religions embraced the idea. In medieval times, religious people would wear verses from the Torah, Bible, or Koran in amulets around their necks. Even today, many Catholics wear medals honoring saints. Celtic symbols and imagery pervade trendy shops as Wiccans and modern pagans have updated and re-popularized the wearing of amulets.

You can make your own amulets for yourself or friends. It is important that you believe your friends will truly benefit from amulets, and that they are aware of the special qualities and powers associated with these special charms. First, you must select a crystal associated with the desired energy. Hold the crystal in your hand until it gets warm, then visualize the specific power the stone is offering. If the amulet is for you, wear it as a pendant or tuck it in your pocket.

Stone: Amethyst
Powers: Prevents inebriation; helps with sobriety

Stone: Aquamarine
Powers: Guards against malevolent spirits; attracts wisdom; helps overcome fear of water/drowning

Stone: Bloodstone
Powers: Brings luck; wear while traveling

Stone: Carnelian
Powers: Keeps away evil sprits

Stone: Diamond
Powers: Brings good fortune; lends force to valor; should be worn touching the skin and works best as a gift 

Stone: Emerald
Powers: Cancels out magician’s power 

Stone: Jade
Powers: Guards health of and protects, especially children; creates prosperity

Stone: Jasper
Powers: Aids in defense against venom of poisonous insects and snakes

Stone: Jet
Powers: Helps expel negativity, especially when set in silver 

Stone: Moonstone
Powers: Brings fame and good fortune; wear while traveling

Stone: Turquoise
Powers: Good for a horse’s gait when affixed to a bridle

Autumn Equinox

Here is a wonderfully creative variation on this seasonal rite designed by Robin Heerens Lysne, the author of Living a Sacred Life. It is based on the Native American Muskogee Creek tribal story about the spider who weaves her web sack to catch the sun and bring it back to earth. Lysne suggests holding a potluck dinner followed by a story-telling session as the light begins to wane. While people tell their equinox or fall season stories and feelings, they should hold the end of a ball of yarn or string and toss the ball to the next person to signal that it is their turn. As people hold the yarn, they should wrap it once around their wrists. When the talking is done, you will have a web of people woven together. Make the web of life with the yarn, symbolizing the weaving of night, day, relationships, and the time of autumn. When you are finished, let yourselves be in the web and contemplate the meaning of your connections.

June Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations

June 1, Roman festival of Carna, goddess of doors and locks

June 2, US Congress granted citizenship and voter’s rights to all Native Americans, 1927

June 3, Festival of Bellona, a Roman goddess of battle 

June 4, First recorded Chinese solar eclipse (780 BCE) 

June 5, Feast of St. Boniface

June 6, St. Fermin’s Day in Spain, Running of the Bulls 

June 7, Weaver’s Festival in Japan

June 8, Founding of Islam circa 622 CE

June 9, Vestalia, Festival honoring the Roman goddess Vesta 

June 10, Day of Anahita (Persian)

June 11, Feast of Saint Barnabus

June 12, Dia dos Namorados, Lovers’ Day (Brazil)

June 13, Birth of the Muses

June 14, Otaue Shinji, Rice-Planting Festival in Japan

June 15, St. Vitus’s Day

June 16, Bloomsday festival in honor of Irish author James Joyce with readings, breakfast, and a pilgrimage retracing the steps of Leopold Bloom

June 17, Iceland’s Independence Day, 1944

June 18, High holy day for women’s rights—Susan B. Anthony defies the law in 1872 by voting

June 19, Juneteenth

June 20, Day of Ix Chel (Mayan)

June 21, Midsummer

June 22, Rose Festival in England, Feast of Saint Alban 

June 23, Jani, the major festival in Latvia

June 24, Feast of the Sun (Aztec)

June 25, Croatian Independence Day

June 26, Pied Piper Day, circa 1284

June 27, Stonewall, 1969, the day gays fought back

June 28, Constitution Day in Ukraine

June 29, Saint Peter’s Day

June 30, Burial of Yarilo in Russia, a traditional rite of song, games, and dance 

Baby Naming Ceremony

Often, there is a name given at birth based on an ancestor or family member. Later, when a child has come of age, another name is given to acknowledge maturation. This tradition needs to be revived, and I believe it is a wonderful rite of passage to institute in the lives of young people today who are so desperately in need of community support and inclusion. Of all the wonderful customs of the world, my favorite baby naming custom comes from joining the names of the parents. For example, if the father’s name is Robert and the mother is named Carolyn, you could name the baby Roblyn. Christina and Toby’s child could be Christoby, or if you needed a more conventional version, Cristobel. Anna and Justin’s child could be named Justina. The possibilities are endless, as you can see. They don’t always work well, however, so Filipino families sometimes end up using the names of grandparents, godparents, and the revered “aunties,” women who are not actually related but are very special friends of the family. Sometimes they choose to overlook the custom entirely and opt for outside names, but naming is alive and well in this modern age.

Here is a ceremony for a baby naming as performed by the wonderful Viray family, a joyous and generous “tribe” of Filipinos that stretches from Indiana to California to many of the Philippine Islands. 

Tripods: Mobile Altars

Outdoor altars are usually of a temporary nature—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. 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.

At Delphi, the revered oracular center, the Pythoness and her sisters prophesied from the sacred seat of power, a tripod. 

Garnet—Noah’s Lantern

Garnets have much lore around them. The ancients believed them to have protective powers that prevented travelers from accidents and mishaps and also kept the sleeping from nightmares and bad dreams. It is said that the fiery glow of a garnet kept Noah and his ark afloat. A popular biblical gem, garnet was one of the stones used by King Solomon in his breastplate. In Asia, garnets were used as bullets, most notably in the rebellion in India in 1892. Garnet’s name comes from the Greek word for pomegranate, and the gem is associated with a Greek myth surrounding this fruit. Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, tasted three seeds from the pomegranate, dooming herself to spend half of the year in the underworld, married to Hades, god of the underworld.

Emeralds—Popular Protectors

Emeralds are believed to have been brought to Earth from the planet Venus. This precious stone is one of the only ones that retains its value, according to gemologists and jewelers, even if it is deeply flawed. Emeralds have a richly varied mythology attached to their glowing green history. For thousands of years, Hindu physicians in India regarded this stone as a benefit to many stomach-related illnesses—it was an appetite stimulant, a curative for dysentery, a laxative, and a treatment for too much stomach-irritating bile. In India of old, they also believed emeralds could drive away demons or rid a body of ill spirits.

Another antiquated belief about emeralds is that they portended events from the future, rather like scrying, or seeing things in a mirror or the glassy surface of the gem. Emeralds were thought to be foes to sorcerers, a belief stemming from a legend that emeralds vanquished all wizardry in their wake. The ancients loved emeralds and connected them with the eyes. Theophrastus, a student of Plato’s, taught that emeralds protected the eyesight. He was taken so seriously that engravers kept emeralds on their tables to look at to refresh their eyes.

Egyptians valued emeralds almost beyond any other stone and claimed their goddess, Isis, wore a great emerald. Anyone who looked upon Isis’s green jewel was assured of a safe trip to the underworld, the land of the dead. Egypt was the main source for emeralds until the sixteenth century. The Cleopatra mines, south of Cairo, were the mother lode, and emerald traders from as far away as India sought the stones, obtained at great human cost under wretched conditions of extreme heat and dangerous underground shafts. I hope the common belief that these stones also protected people from any poison and all venomous serpents was true here. Emeralds were anathemas to snakes, which would supposedly be struck blind by merely looking upon the stones.

In ancient Rome, emeralds were quite sought after by the wealthy class. Nero watched the games in the Coliseum through a set of priceless spectacles made from emeralds. However, with the capture of South America by Pizarro and Cortés, the Spanish in the 1500s made emeralds more available to the Europeans, who had an insatiable appetite for jewels and gold. The discovery in 1558 of the Muzo mine in Colombia uncovered emeralds of incredible beauty and size, prompting the Spanish conquistadors to take over the mine and declare the natives slaves. Perhaps part of Montezuma’s revenge involved the seizure of the emerald mines. Emeralds were a popular cure for dysentery in the sixteenth century when worn touching the torso or held in the mouth. As with all very valuable stones, the people who actually mine them have no access to them unless they are smuggled out of the mines. According to a recent article in National Geographic, however, this is done more frequently than one might think, especially with larger stones. “Almost every high-quality emerald was smuggled at some point in its history,” according to National Geographic.

Chrysoprase—Love of Truth

Emanuel Swedenborg, a seventeenth-century Swedish theologian, scientist, philosopher, and metaphysician, credited this apple-green chalcedony with giving people a love of the truth. Other lore regarding chrysoprase is that the stone offers a most rare capability to give a man set to be hanged a sure escape from his executioner. All he has to do, supposedly, is place this crystal in his mouth.

Candled Crystals

 I made candles as a young girl, and that hobby has now grown into a full-blown obsession. A few years ago, it occurred to me that I could have “stained-glass” candles by mixing big crystal chunks into the wax inside the mold. An even easier way to do this is to take a soft beeswax pillar candle and stud the sides and top with crystal pieces that cost just pennies per pound. I save mine from the melted candles and reuse them again and again.

Color Craft

Candle magic is a mainstay of crystal magic. I burn candles every night and take them with me when I am traveling. For this exercise to work, simply apply the basic precepts of color magic: Have a clear intention of your desires outcome and choose the appropriate color candle from the following list. On the corresponding day, begin burning the candle on your altar or any special place in your home. Repeat this ritual for seven consecutive days with the same color candle.

* Sunday: the Sun rules this day; use gold or red to affect a boss, a promotion, health, fame, or success.

* Monday: the Moon rules this day; use silver or orange to affect the home, subordinates, or emotions.

* Tuesday: Mars rules; use yellow to affect aggression, sex, conflict, or confidence.

* Wednesday: Mercury rules; use green to affect communication, study, or intelligence.

* Thursday: Jupiter rules; use blue to affect medical and legal issues, money, spirit, integrity, safety, or security.

* Friday: Venus rules; use indigo to affect aesthetics and beauty, marriage, relationships, theater, art, music, or family.

* Saturday: Saturn rules; use black to affect judgment, obstacles, or property.

The Power of Crystals and Gems

Where do gemstones get their power? They all have a crystalline structure that can collect, store, and release electromagnetic energy, similar to the way today’s commonplace battery does.

Scientists and engineers have discovered through experimentation that a crystal will accumulate and concentrate the energy of any given energy field in close proximity. Further, they’ve discovered that if a crystal is squeezed, energy from within the crystal is released. Light can also be released during the compression of a crystal. While the expansion is infinitesimal, electrons are emitted and are then reabsorbed by the crystal, thus producing energy. Schoolchildren discover this by rubbing or heating crystals and feeling a marked static change. This is known as the piezoelectric effect. Anyone who doubts the power of this effect need only be told that it is one of the causes of earthquakes.

Quartz is the crystal most often used today in both scientific and spiritual realms. It is, perhaps, the most prevalent of all gemstones and can be found on every land mass on Earth. Common quartz was used in the world’s first radio broadcasts and enabled the chips that propelled the computer revolution. It stands to reason that quartz was the first crystal to be synthesized by manufacture. Today, man-made crystals are in vast usage in our watches, computers, and other electronic devices.

Quartz is composed of silicon and oxygen, the same basic minerals that make up this planet. Silicon dioxide (SO2), the building block responsible for the geologic makeup of the earth, is also inside us, which may explain why there is a natural attraction between our bodies and crystals.

Tranquility Touchstones: Crystal Cairns

I am sure you will come to find this to be true: certain crystals can be true touchstones in your life and bring multitudinous benefits, both emotional and spiritual. Find spots in your home or office where you can incorporate them each and every day. Whether it is a shrine, your nightstand, or stacked in a corner on your desk, a sort of crystal cairn. This can be your special corner of the world where you renew and connect with your spiritual center.

Picking up and holding your touchstones can be one of the most soul-nourishing small acts of self-care you can do.

The following is a table of different crystals and what their presence will bring you:

• Inspiration: Amazonite, aventurine, carnelian, chrysolite, chrysoprase, citrine, green tourmaline, malachite, yellow fluorite

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

• Love: amethyst, magnetite, rhodochrosite, rose quartz, twinned rock crystals

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

• Protection: amber, apache tear, chalcedony, citrine, green calcite, jade, jet, smoky quartz

• Self-belief: azurite, chalcedony, chrysocolla, green tourmaline, hematite, rutilated quartz, tiger’s-eye

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

• Confidence: carnelian, obsidian, quartz, selenite, sodalite, topaz

• Positive Energy: agate, aventurine, bloodstone, calcite, chalcedony, citrine, dioptase, emerald, garnet, orange calcite, ruby, topaz

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

Soul-Soothing Salt Lamps

Your entryway is where things cross the threshold into your realm. Energy management starts right at the front door. One way to keep a constant vigil on this is by having a Himalayan salt lamp in your front room. Salt is one of Mother Nature’s greatest protectors as it cleanses your environment of ill-omens and bad spirits. These lovely blocks of rosy-hued salt produce negative ions when warm; these ions are the very thing that makes a beach day by the ocean so cheering. A simple DIY way to have your negative ions and enjoy them too is to buy a batch of rock salt chunks at your nearby new age store or even a gourmet shop. Take a metal or wire bowl and center a small light bulb in the bottom of the bowl. Then stack the rock salt over it. You’ll immediately enjoy the soft pink glow of light, and, as the rocks warm up, your mood will begin to lift. As a double benefit, the salt will constantly cleanse the energy in your home and keep it light and bright.

Rose Quartz Is Love in Mineral Form

 

We all get worn down now and again, and, when that happens, we often feel blue or at least in the doldrums a bit. If you have no other crystal, make sure to have rose quartz on hand. It infuses you with self-love and brightens “the vibe” anywhere it is. I view self-love as a superpower and the real foundation of all true personal power. Widely known as the stone of unconditional love, the soft pink hunk of love known as rose quartz is said to attract and inspire love in all forms. It’s especially good for promoting self-love and emotional harmony. It can be a teeny tiny pebble of pink or a big ol‘ rock, but you should have it near you, especially when you are feeling low. I say have some around at all time, but, then again, I have crystals in every room. Keeping a piece of rose quartz out where you can see it, on your desk at work, on your bedside table, or next to the bathtub, can act as a powerful visual reminder to take a little bit of time for yourself.

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

Stone of Self-Belief: Hematite Vanquishes Anxiety

Hematite shores up self-image and self-belief. It also transforms negative energy into positive. Hematite is considered to be yang, a more male energy. My favorite aspect of this shiny wonder is that it assists with both legal problems and astral projection. Hematite is a creativity crystal and a marvelous mental enhancer, increasing the ability to focus, concentrate, think with logic, and remember more clearly and completely. Hematite draws anxiety out of the body and creates calm. In addition to all of these aspects that project outward, hematite contributes to inner work: self-knowledge, deeper consciousness, and wisdom. Like the iron in the earth from which it is formed, hematite grounds. If you feel spacey or disconnected, you should wear hematite.