Our Oakland store manager Andi is an amazing astrologer! We asked him to give us a look at tomorrow's Full Moon so we can be ready for the energy shift. Here is what he has to say:
Leo season comes to a close the same way it started, with an Aquarius full moon!
Around 5am PST on Sunday, just after meeting up with Jupiter in Aquarius, the moon will oppose the Sun at 29 degrees. At the same time, Venus and Saturn make a positive aspect to each other in their home signs of Libra and Aquarius.
The word that keeps coming to mind for this full moon is: DIGNITY. What has Leo season taught you about self-love and respect? What areas of your life do you feel sovereignty? All of this will come to light and get magnified by Jupiter's presence. Where do you need to take up more space and are there places where you actually need to step back? Jupiter can lend itself to self-aggrandizing gestures, so watch out for any tendencies to get up on the soapbox and proclaim your opinions as Truth.
If you would like to get a more in-depth astrological reading for yourself, book a reading with Andi. He offers several types to choose from: Natal, Transit, Solar Return, and Vocational readings to help you really know what is going on in your life.
Resources from the August Death Cafe
Here are the links from tonight's Death Cafe.
*Reminder that we're just pulling these links without knowing much about them. Death Cafes do not promote any services or products.
Books
Finding Meaning, the Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler
Green Burial Handbook
Articles
https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/articles/
Videos
The Life of Death
https://youtu.be/ofnCdC8P70g
The Egg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI&t=1s
@dying2livepod - podcast
@kelly.m.guyon - for general death talk
New Moon in Leo - August 2021
Andi, our store manager in the Oakland location, is an amazing astrologer! We have a New Moon coming up tomorrow morning, so we asked about what energy shift can we look forward to. Here is what he has to say:
RAWWWR!! Can you hear the Lion's roar?
This Sunday 8/8 at 6:45am PST we have a new moon at 16 degrees Leo. This new moon is an excellent time to call in more bravery, creativity, generosity and self-confidence. However, we can't ignore that this new moon is creating a T-square with Saturn in Aquarius and Uranus in Taurus, which are in a tense aspect for the rest of 2021 and into 2022. We have been living with this tension between freedom and restriction, revolution and tradition, all year long.
The regal Leo new moon invites us to respond to the external uncertainty by taking action where we do have control: our selves.
Here's a new moon ritual you can do:
Write a letter to your future self about everything you love about yourself in the present and everything you imagine you will love about this future self too. You can burn a gold or orange candle on top of the letter and dance in celebration of the you that you are becoming! Read this letter in 6 months on 2/16 on the Leo Full moon and see how much you have grown.
Full Moon in Aquarius
Did you know that Andi, our store manager in the Oakland location, is an amazing astrologer? With the Full Moon coming up today, it felt like the right time to see what information he could share with us, and what energies we might be dealing with - here is what he wants us to know:
This Friday at 7:37pm PST there will be a full moon at 1 degree Aquarius. Yesterday the Sun moved into its home sign, leaving behind the salty, sentimental waters of Cancer for the radiant, joyous glow of Leo. True to form, Leo season is super Extra right from the start with this first of two Aquarius full moons (the next one will be 8/22). What was lurking beneath the surface is now in the spotlight and it may feel vulnerable to have your feelings on display. But there is a freedom that comes from airing it all out.
The Sabian Symbols for this full moon are: Sun 1 degree Leo - "An epidemic of mumps" and Moon 1 degree Aquarius - "An unexpected thunderstorm" Wow, I swear you can't make this stuff up! This pair of images reveals a lesson that we all have learned in the last year - change can be sudden, widespread and unpredictable. The Leo-Aquarius polarity highlights the pull and balance between being an individual and part of a group. We are not insignificant and our choices do impact others. We also need each other to get through this! Watch for sudden insights about what role you play in your communities and get curious about the mutual impact of your actions on others.
Ask a Witch: How To Dress a Candle
Dressing a candle is a popular method of adding extra intention to any spell.
Here at the Raven's Wing, you'll find our witches spicing up spell candles and devotional deity candles with a dash of this and a few drops of that, pretty much everyday. The process of dressing a candle can be such a beautiful experience that gives the person dressing it the opportunity to fully engage and participate in building the most specific and most effective spells for the dresser's intention. Additionally, it gives you the opportunity to work with and develop experience as well as knowledge of the vast variety of herbs, oils, crystals and many other possible additions you may decide to employ in your magical workings.
When finding the candle best suited to your needs, there are so many to choose from, from 14 or 7 day jar candles to smaller chime candles that are great to work with when you're witching things up on the fly.
So, now that we've discussed the benefits and fun of candle dressing, let's discuss the how.
To dress a candle:
With a crystal, toothpick, nail, or other pointed object, write your intentions into the wax. This can be an affirmation, a prayer, or a statement of gratitude. One word or many. If it feels right, include your name, magical name, or other identifying info. Don't worry about your handwriting.
Apply a magical oil with your fingers (it's okay to use a paper towel or cloth to protect your skin, if you like). If you are calling energy and blessings toward you, start at the ends of the candle and work your way to the middle. If you are banishing negativity, start in the middle and work your way out. In a jar candle, pour or drop a few drops of oil on the top.
Add a small amount of herbs. Since they are flammable, add only a pinch at a time. Sprinkle across the oiled wax, and distribute across the surface to add the power of the earth to your spell.
Focus your energies:
You may choose to sing, chant, or pray, aloud or to yourself. You may choose to array crystals or charms around the candle, to address your spirits or deities or ancestors, to give offerings.
Light your candle and allow your intentions to come to life by the light of your enchanted flame. Blessed Be.
Want some guidance for your magic?
This article is written by both Iris and Willow. If you are looking for some guidance on your path, Willow is available for Tarot readings. Click the button to learn more about Willow and book a reading!
Check out some of our most popular spell candles!
Decolonizing Spirituality
(Image Credit: Pixabay)
Many within the Pagan movement are having discussions on how we can decolonize spirituality. We recoiled in horror when faced with the “Qanon Shaman”; a young man part of the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol, dressed in attire that could easily be spotted at any number of Pagan festivals.
“You don’t represent us!” we cried indignantly. “This is not who we are!” And yet, this strange amalgamation of mockeries is entirely too close for comfort, or we would not have had such a strong reaction. If we would like to ensure this is not who we are, and instead build traditions that promote well-being for the planet and all its inhabitants, we need to evaluate ways in which we cause harm, and how we can do better. Participating in decolonization efforts is one way we can do this.
And who better to learn from than the original, indigenous people of this land?
We are fortunate to have two Indigenous voices here in this writing. Both live in the St. Louis, MO area. One, a Two-Spirit biracial Cherokee (Tsalagi) with Pagan leanings, has chosen to speak with us under the pseudonym Marsha, in keeping with her commitment to anonymity in her activist work. The other, a Black Cherokee woman going by Kamama, comes highly recommended by Marsha for an Indigenous perspective without Neopagan influence. We are grateful for their generosity in sharing their views here!
We have explored three topics to focus the conversation. This is what they have to share with us.
1) How do Indigenous people think about the practice of decolonization in general? What are the most important elements that should be embraced first? How can non-Native people contribute to this work in meaningful ways?
Kamama: Know who’s land you’re on! Land acknowledgements feel wonderful, because Indigenous people have felt invisible for so long. We are not past tense! We have been here all along, so to be seen and acknowledged is crucial.
In the prayer group I am a part of, one of our members does the land acknowledgement ceremonies. This is her ancestral territory. We don’t want to take her voice. But what if she isn’t available? So the next choice would be a Native person. Ideally someone who speaks the language of the place. After that, then we’d ask a white person. Our prayer group is inclusive. You can still acknowledge even if you are European.
Marsha: Land acknowledgements can sometimes feel performative when done by a non-Native person. If you are a non-Native, consider your motivations for doing them. Is it possible to invite an Indigenous person native to that area to do one as part of your event?
(Note: It is respectful to gift an honorarium for their community).
Kamama: Most people think of Dee Brown’s best-selling book Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee when they think of Native American History. But that book leads up to the massacre at Wounded Knee and then just stops. “Oh, they all went west of the Mississippi and died”.
We’re still here!
David Treuer, an anthropologist and Anishinaabe Ojibwe man, picks up where Dee Brown left off, in a book called The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, where he presents a counter-narrative of unprecedented resourcefulness and reinvention.
Land acknowledgments are a start. But then that leads to “What are the reparations? What are you going to do about it?”
Kamama continues: How to help? Support the Landback Movement, a movement to get Indigenous lands back into Indigenous hands. It is a reclamation of everything that was stolen from the original peoples. Farmers are gifting back land to tribes through this movement! There is a Pawnee Seed Preservation group I know of. The Pawnees had been moved to Oklahoma from their original land in Nebraska, and these older seed strains wouldn’t grow in Oklahoma. But when the Pawnee were given land in Nebraska, these older seed strains grew, they remembered! So now there are Pawnee beans again, and older strains of corn.
Interviewer: We have the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust here in the Ohlone territories (East San Francisco Bay Area) doing a similar thing. Sogorea Te’ is an urban Indigenous women-led land trust that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. You can help by paying a voluntary land tax (called “ paying Shuumi”) if you live in the area, calculated based on your mortgage or rent. (Resources are listed at the bottom of this article).
Marsha: Let me tell you about the herb Broad-Leaf Plantain, also called “White Man’s Footprint”. It is not native to this continent, but it is also not invasive. It tries to be useful, it works with its surroundings. It knows it is part of an interconnected whole. As a transplant, we can look for ways to be part of the network, rather than be the center of attention.
You ask “How can non-Native people contribute to the work of decolonization in meaningful ways”. Well, how do we end white supremacy?
2) Obviously non-Native people (and particularly Europeans) adopting a romanticized practice of what they think of as “Native American spirituality” has been hurtful to Indigenous people. Those of us wanting to contribute to the conversation on decolonizing spirituality hope to steer folks away from these behaviors, and suggest replacement practices for them to do instead. Are there ways for non-Natives to participate in land-based spiritual practices, that honor the connection to the land on which they live, which are also honoring and respectful to Indigenous people? That lifts you up, instead of takes from you? (Or at the very least, do not actively cause harm?)
What things are most important to avoid? What things are most important to include?
Marsha and Kamama: Don’t take!
Marsha: We need to understand that colonialism is not something that happened ‘a long time ago’. This is still a very fresh wound. Do not take anything from Indigenous land without asking. And learn to Respect the ‘No’.
Kamama: You cannot take our teachings, our songs, just because you are around when they are used. You need to know the proper way to do that. Under whose authority are you sharing this teaching, this song? And even if it’s under Native authority, are you being a help?
There was that man in Sedona several years back, who was in the news because he piled 70 people into a sweat lodge made out of plastic cloth, and gave folks very little time to get in and out; he wasn’t allowing people to leave, and 8 people died, their organs shut down. And he was charging money for this experience! If it had been a Native person who did that? The ramifications would have been much greater.
The man running the sweat lodge used as his defense, “But I have this certificate from a Native American!” He supposedly had “permission” from some Native person, who probably needed to feed his family. But…he didn’t have permission. Not really. Buying a certificate from someone in a desperate situation is not getting permission.
Are you really learning to be respectful of Indigenous ways, and investing yourself in that community? Is it someone you know well and have a relationship with who is giving you the authority to pour water or use a song or wear regalia?
Don’t think you can pour water because you’ve been to a sweat lodge. Who has said you can do that? Under what conditions have they granted that authority?
A lot of Europeans see what we have and they want that. They want that peace. They want that tie with the Earth and the Moon. So they are taking pieces of our things, but they are not asking and they are not reciprocating.
Take herbalists - herbalists are so wonderful! But they aren’t sitting for a decade with a pine tree, learning what the medicines are from that pine tree. Our herbalists have a different view. We don’t go to a local herb shop. We are out collecting the herbs, and putting down tobacco and prayer with those plants. Some people say those medicines don’t always work well for settlers because you didn’t ask the plants! You are appropriating those too, like you are appropriating our practices and our songs.
Native folks do not like it when settlers learn their traditions and then sell them in $800 weekend workshops. That is not how they do things.
Marsha adds: There is a saying, “The illness of white people is that they’ve forsaken their ancestors for money”.
Interviewer: how can we improve upon this?
Reciprocity is a key concept that both Marsha and Kamama spoke of, and which is mentioned frequently in a book Kamama highly recommends, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Potowatomi woman and botanist. In the book, she shares the wisdom of plants from both an Indigenous and a scientific perspective, with a central message that reciprocity with the living world is essential in entering into the ecological awakening we say we want. We can learn much about reciprocity from the natural world and Indigenous people alike.
Marsha: Introduce yourself to the land. Make friends with the guardian or guardians of the land. This is often a specific tree or stand of trees. If you aren’t sure who the guardian is, you can say, "Hello Guardian/s of this land, my name is (first/last name) from (wherever your people come from, including local and travelled far-flung).
It is also OK to say, "My name is (first/last) and I don't know where my people come from. I live in that house over there right now.”
You can leave food offerings for the Guardians. Just be sure that it is not toxic for the plant/animal life around (ie: don’t leave chocolate).
If you are near Tribal Trust land, see if their Tribal headquarters has a visitors center. If they do, you can introduce yourself, and bring a gift, or ask what would be helpful to them.
Find out ahead of time if they welcome visitors by looking them up online and emailing them through their public facing contact-us page and say “Hey I'm here on stolen land and I'd like to offer a gift, and was wondering if you had any direction you could point me?”
Going up to a tribal headquarter that does not have a clearly marked visitor's center is NOT recommended.
Kamama affirms: including your lineage in your introductions to Indigenous people is a helpful approach. You could say “I’m from (my people, Scottish clan or whatnot) and I’d like to spend some time on your land”. Indigenous people relate to tribal people so if you understand yourself as a tribal person, even from a European tribe, Native people feel a little more comfortable with you.
Marsha: bringing housewarming gifts is appreciated, when visiting Indigenous people’s homes, such as an offering of food, or something handmade, like a potholder. Something from the heart, not just some store bought thing. Tobacco is also a good gift. Clean tobacco without chemicals, like American Spirit or Tip Top. Sweet flavored tobacco is enjoyed.
Interviewer: Consider what we have to give, rather than what we want. What value are we bringing to the relationship?
Marsha continues: If you are feeling scolded, getting caught up in “the rules”, you aren’t getting it. The connection isn’t there yet. You aren’t thinking about it the right way. If you get frustrated because finding a path to do the work is hard, dedicate your efforts to the land. Let the land know ‘Hey I'm trying, it's just not worked out yet, and here's some more food’. Relationship is key as you can see from my POV!”
Marsha adds: If you want to be respected by Indigenous people as someone who practices land-based spirituality, don’t just do ceremony. Pick up litter! Actually help take care of the land!
3) It’s been said that even the Environmentalist/conservation movement, which tries in great earnestness to take better care of the earth, has sometimes been as damaging to Indigenous communities as extractive industries! Could you speak to this a bit, and how we might be able to do better here?
(From this article, written by a Potawatomi environmental justice advocate:
Kamama: It’s because we are not at the table. And when you are not at the table you are on the table.
If Indigenous folks aren’t at the table, how can our perspectives be taken into account?
A lot of European settler environmentalists don’t realize, we have figured things out years before. Trees talk to each other? Yeah, we know. How to prevent forest fires? Yeah, we know! The stars have shifted, yeah we know!
We know this land. Include us in discussions on how to take care of it.
Long before people were marching for climate change, Inuit Elders and people in the bayou and down at the delta have been saying “Something is wrong, the water levels are rising” and then science catches up with what we already know.
Indigenous women are caretakers of the water in many tribes. Grandmother Josephine Mandamin (an Anishanaabe elder and founding member of the water protectors movement) and many of the other grandmothers have been walking around the Great Lakes saying “Something’s wrong, this water is alive, it has memory, it has spirit”.
Then all of a sudden this Japanese doctor, Dr. Masaru Emoto is saying “Water has memory”. Yeah.
Dr. Emoto visited some of our water walkers, and what he found was that the songs our women sing, Indigenous songs, are pleasing to the water. Its added tone is healing to the water. Yeah. We know, that’s why we’ve done it for thousands of years.
On Sundays mornings we Native people and others gather along the rivers. We sing songs, we pray, we sing to thank and heal the water. We use a vessel to collect the water, and we return it into the rivers like the Mississippi, and it meets that dead zone a few weeks later. But if you look at metaphysics, which you all are just catching up on, those prayers are instantly put in, because time is not linear, it is circular.
Lake Atasca at the beginning of the Mississippi, Grand Rapids and Hidden Falls in MN, St. Louis area in MO. There are Native people there every single week, whether ten below zero, frozen, no matter what, they are out there praying for the water. “Water we love you, water we thank you, water we respect you” “Water is life”. If people screw up the water we all die. Doesn’t matter who is in office! Native people have always been the stewards of this land, and we’ve never stopped being the stewards of this land.
Some of these environmental groups come in and they think they know what they’re doing and then they realize “Oops, that wasn’t it, it’s this” and we go, “Yeah. We know”. You’ve been burning down these forest and you wonder why these trees won’t grow. Or there are these fires. Hmm. You haven’t been taking care of it the right way. We know how, and you haven’t been listening.
Native folks have been boots on the ground at Line 3 in Minnesota. People have been up in the trees, blocking roads, and slowing the progress, or these pipelines would already be in. These pipelines were being run through treatied Ojibwe lands, and they do not have permission from the tribe to be there!
Tuscarora singer-songwriter Pura Fe sings, “We didn’t cross the borders. The borders crossed us”. Those children at the borders are native children. Not Mexican. They are indigenous people. The genocide continues. In Canada last year, they were taking babies from their mothers. In one case, a Native woman had just had a C section. They took her baby and used the excuse, “She isn’t doing well”. And then said she’s irrational because she’s upset about it! Of course she’s upset about it! They also “fixed” some of the women. As horrible as the boarding school era was, it is still going on, in the US and in Canada.
A quote, from the article which prompted the question:
“No-one can claim to be an ally if their agenda is to prevent their own future dystopias through actions that also preserve today’s Indigenous dystopias”.
As Kamama has said: When we are not at the table, we are on the table.
As Marsha has said: How do we solve these problems? Well, how do we end white supremacy?
Marsha reminds us that we can learn from the Broad Leaf Plantain (and it’s somewhat ironic nickname, “White Man’s Footprint”). We can learn to become part of an interconnected whole, rather than an invasive species. As transplants, we can look for ways to be part of the network.
Marsha adds: You did not choose to come here. Neither did the Broad Leaf Plantain. Both are here now because of what their ancestors did. However, you do have choices about how you exist here. That is the task of decolonizing right here and now.
Our deepest gratitude to Marsha and Kamama for speaking with us! Here are some resources for becoming part of the network:
Return of the Light Tea
We’ve tipped over that point of maximum darkness and now, though the days are still short and the night still comes awfully early, I can feel the light returning. I feel it like a tingle in my fingertips and a warm feeling in my solar plexus. I feel hope returning and I see positive signs, both mundane and magical.
I was working in the shop on the evening of this most recent full moon in Cancer, and I stepped outside into the cool night to take a break. As I was standing in the backyard, a small bird suddenly flew onto the fence. I was surprised because the timing was unusual, it being night and all. As I peered into the shadows to confirm what I thought I saw, the little bird peered back at me and for some reason I wondered, “Is this bird going to fly over to me?” It’s not something birds generally do, but I wondered it all the same. And then it DID fly over to me and landed on my shoulder! I could hardly believe it! It spent several minutes walking around on my shoulders, seemingly uninterested in leaving.
I was dying to tell my colleagues in the store but I didn’t want to shout or call out because I thought it would probably break the spell and scare the bird away, so I carefully went back inside with the bird on my shoulder and called softly to my coworkers to witness this delightful magic. It flew off my shoulder at that point (of course) and settled on top of the kitchen cabinets for a few minutes until I could retrieve it and put it back outside. We couldn’t get a decent picture of it, but I got a good look while it was on my shoulder and then I figured out what it was afterward: a kind of finch called a Pine Siskin.
The whole experience was enchanting and felt like a beacon of hope!
In honor of the returning light and the hope that rises with every dawn, I offer you this sunshiny tea.
~ Jenny
(Photo: Myriams-Fotos on Pixabay)
½ c. Lemon Balm
¼ c. Calendula
¼ c. Sweet, or “True” Cinnamon (if using cassia cinnamon, reduce to ⅛ c.)
⅛ c. Chamomile
⅛ c. Angelica Root
*optional: 1 slice fresh or candied ginger in your cup when brewing
Use 1 Tbs of tea per cup; steep covered for at least 10 minutes.
Sweeten to taste.
Here are some details about each of the herbs used:
Angelica (Angelica archangelica):
Valued for its spicy, aromatic flavor, Angelica has been used as a flavoring agent for candy and alcohol for hundreds of years. Medicinally it is strengthening to the body overall; good for the lungs, digestion, immune system, and to reduce inflammation. According to M. Grieve, “Gerard*, among its many virtues that he extols, says 'it cureth the bitings of mad dogs and all other venomous beasts.'
*John Gerard, c. 1545–1612, English Botanist
Calendula (Calendula officinalis):
Used for centuries internally and externally for wound healing, immune and digestive support, and to lift the spirits. High in carotenoids, like flavoxanthin and auroxanthin. Nicholas Culpepper wrote, “The flowers, either green or dried, are much used in possets, broths, and drink, as a comforter of the heart and spirits, and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality which might annoy them.”
NOTE - Do not use while pregnant. Rarely people with a daisy allergy may have a cross-reaction.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum):
Native to Ceylon, used in Egypt for embalming. Stimulant, can raise energy to a high spiritual vibration as well as . Magically it is said to increase good fortune and is used for love spells. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, warming. Can lower blood sugar, balance cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure.
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita):
Also known as Wild Chamomile, Corn Feverfew, and Scented Mayweed (archaic). A classic remedy for anxiety, insomnia, and nervous disorders of all kinds. Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, it’s soothing to the entire body. Eases tense muscles, and menstrual and gastrointestinal cramps, as well as skin inflammation.
NOTE - People with a daisy allergy may have a cross-reaction.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale):
Antiemetic, improves circulation and digestion, eases congestion, antimicrobial, antitussive, analgesic, warming to the extremities, expectorant, antihistaminic. May also protect nerve cells in the brain and provide protection against Alzheimer’s disease; may lower cholesterol and prevent platelet aggregation and arterial plaque build-up. One of the world’s most popular culinary flavorings.
NOTE - Avoid large doses during pregnancy.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):
Also known as Sweet Melissa. Has been considered something of a cure-all for centuries: used to treat wounds, prevent cold sores, soothe nerves, promote sleep, ease depression, stimulate appetite and digestion, and strengthen memory. Sedative and antispasmodic. Culpeper said it should “be kept in every gentlewomans house...It causeth the Mind and Heart to become merry...and driveth away troublesome cares.”
May this tea bring a golden glow to your heart!
by Jenny
Three of Cups Tea
(Image Credit: Falcon P4 on Pixabay)
Another lovely tea recipe from Jenny!
“We’re all going through a lot. Our hearts are heavy and worn, we are overwhelmed and depleted, and joy is far too thin on the ground.
So my friends, it’s time to refill your cup to overflowing and remind your weary spirit of the beauty that is always present in the world, even when it’s hard to see.
3 of Cups Tea is balm for body and spirit, soothing our lungs from the smoke and winter air, and uplifting our hearts to a softer resting place.
Enjoy! May you be held in the gentle, loving embrace of the earth!
With love, Jenny”
3 of Cups Tea
¼ c. roses
¼ c. damiana
½ c. hawthorn berries
⅛ c marshmallow root
⅛ c. holy basil/tulsi
Use 1 Tbs of tea per cup; steep covered for at least 10 minutes. Sweeten to taste.
Here are some details about the properties of each of these herbs:
Damiana (Turnera diffusa):
Related to mint. Relaxing, aphrodisiac, visionary. Reduces anxiety and dilates blood vessels, increasing circulation; has an ability to enhance pleasure.
Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus monogyna):
Lowers blood pressure, strengthens the heart, eases nervous tension. Has been shown to improve circulation by helping to reduce resistance in peripheral blood vessels. In the rose family, hawthorn "gladdens" the heart. One of Rosemary Gladstar's favorite remedies for sadness, grief and loss, or times when the heart needs a bit of extra protection.
NOTE - May interact with heart medicines.
Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis):
Removes phlegm from lungs and bronchial passages and soothes the digestive system.
Rose (Rosa centifolia):
Gentle nervine and anxiolytic. Helps ease depression, anxiety, irritability, and even grief and broken heartedness. The scent of roses has been shown to lift depressive moods and create a feeling of well being and mild euphoria.
Tulsi (Krishna/red: Ocimum tenuiflorum):
Counters metabolic and psychological stress, calming and soothing. Adaptogen. Sanctum, holy basil's primary species name, reflects the sacred nature of this plant as a great protector in Indian culture. Calms and energizes the heart and nervous system, relieves anxiety and grief, and balances stress hormones.
Enjoy the quiet moments of tea!
Witchy Wisdom
Got questions? Ask a witch!
Iris from the Portland store answers questions from our readers, and tells you what you need to know!
Querent: I’ve always been interested in Wicca and recently I’ve started reading up on the practice. I don’t know how to start fully practicing witchcraft though and I was wondering what tips or advice you may give me?
Iris: Thanks for reaching out! Your first steps on a new path are very exciting! Practicing witchcraft varies a lot from person to person or from group to group. The first steps are usually building an altar, and setting yourself up with a regular practice (daily, weekly, at full and dark moons) of candle lighting or meditation or divination. To be a witch, a person needs to notice nature around them, and to try and connect to the energies of nature. I'd suggest finding safe places to go for walks where you can touch the dirt, smell the air and feel the sun on your skin. Some folks find that journaling can bring stronger connections with nature and Deity.
And of course there are tons of books. My personal recommendations to start are "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, "How to Become a Witch" by Amber K, and "Wheel of the Year" by Pauline and Dan Campanelli.
I hope that's helpful! Best wishes, and Blessed Be!
Querent: Do you have any products or books you would recommend to keep negative spirits out of a home while welcoming benevolent spirits?
We never cleansed our apartment when we moved in a year ago. When I was younger, I was very sensitive to the spirit world around me, but decided to consciously close myself to it. Two days ago I made a decision to return to being open to them. That night the wind broke my childrens’ window, but miraculously, only one large piece fell inside. The rest fell onto a little used walkway.
I cannot decide if this was a negative spirit trying to take advantage of my renewed openness or just nature and a benevolent spirit who protected my children. Either way, I am out of my depth. I would love your advice on any products you have at the shop which could help me moving forward.
Thank you!
Iris: Sounds like a harrowing experience! I'm glad everyone is alright. It sounds to me like the choice to open up again definitely resonated with the spirit world. I do have some suggestions for you. Please, don't feel pressured to buy any or all of these products, but use the following links as examples of what you might choose.
I would start by cleansing your home, either with smoke from cedar or juniper bundles, or with a cleansing spray, like Sacred Woods. Do the whole apartment, starting at the front door and moving through each room counterclockwise. Open closets and cabinets and fumigate the whole space. In the childrens' room, I would place a protective stone, for example jet or black tourmaline or our protective stone bundle, near the window, where it won't be disturbed. (Maybe hang it from a curtain rod in a little pouch). I would refresh this warding once a month, by redoing the smoke (maybe less thoroughly just to re-up the protection) and taking the stone down and rubbing it with salt to cleanse it.
Then, I would make a little welcoming altar outside, or near the front door. Start with a plate or a bowl, and add offerings or gifts for the types of spirits that you want to invite, along with an actual written welcome note. "Kind spirits are welcome to share and teach in this home" or something similar. Quartz, amethysts, blessing herbs, all make good starter offerings. From there, be willing to keep this space clean and well-tended, visiting this altar everyday, maybe lighting a small candle when there's time to meditate and commune with the spirits. Food offerings are nice, but have to be cleaned regularly. Take note of what the spirits like, and consider your work with them like getting to know new friends.
I hope this is helpful! Feel free to write back, or call the shop with questions. We are all happy to help if we can!
PRODUCTS FEATURED:
Cleansing Herb Bundle.
Sacred Woods Cleansing Spray.
Blessing Powder.
Magic of the Morrigan
Interview with Morpheus Ravenna
“One of the really big messages from this year is that solidarity is what’s going to save us”.
-Morpheus Ravenna
As Dark Moon approaches, we thought we’d explore a Celtic approach. While many folks work with Hekate at Dark Moon, we reached out to Oakland-based local artist, author, and priest of the Morrigan Morpheus Ravenna, to get her take on Dark Moon practice.
Here, Sharon Knight interviews Morpheus for our readers.
Sharon: Does the Morrigan have any Dark Moon practices or associations that you know if?
Morpheus: A lot of people do associate the Morrigan with the Dark Moon. It’s not so much a reflection of her being specifically associated with the Dark Moon as it is that the kind of energy and “spiritual weather” that occurs at the Dark Moon is compatible with where she sits, and what her functions and roles are; because it’s a good time for cleansing and releasing, and even destroying, sometimes.
Sharon: Do you yourself do any Dark Moon practices?
Morpheus: I don’t work with the Morrigan specifically in relation to the Dark Moon, but it is often a time when I do cleansing and purification practices, and I will often also do divination at that time. It is the start and end of a cycle, which is a good time for those types of practices.
Sharon: Do you think of the Morrigan as a Dark Goddess?
Morpheus: That is something you hear a lot. In terms of the lore she arises from, like the medieval Irish texts, it’s a mixed picture; she’s associated with battle and victory and some of the forces that surround her could be characterized as dark in the sense that they’re associated with violence, but not necessarily darkness as in the absence of light.
One thing we have to ask is, are we talking about dark in the sense of morally or spiritually?
Sharon: what about the aspect of her that deals with the Dead, like the queen of the phantoms, and ferrying Dead souls to the underworld? That’s what I think of when I think of dark.
Morpheus: There is one particular medieval poem that speaks of her haunting the battlefield in the aftermath. She comes and washes the entrails of the Dead, and she is described as being accompanied by specters, and the “Terrors of the Night”.
Sharon: Like the Washer at the Ford?
Morpheus: The Washer at the Ford is more of a role than a specific being. The Morrigan can step into this role in delivering an omen, but she is not the only one who does so. Sometimes it is the Morrigan, sometimes it is Badb (pronounced Bive), and sometimes it’s not exactly clear who the Washer is, but she appears as an omen that you will die in the upcoming battle.
Sharon: I have seen somewhere that the Washer is washing the soul from the body.
Morpheus: That would be a more modern take on it. The descriptions in the lore depict her as washing blood from armor, clothing, or sometimes a body. That said, I wouldn’t call The Morrigan a “Dark Goddess” per se; she does have an association with specters that appear in the night but she also has associations of brightness, such as victory, and the Hero’s Light.
Sharon: Could you talk about the Hero’s Light a little bit?
Morpheus: Sure! I should probably add as a caveat that the Morrigan is part of a complex of Goddesses, and some of these associations cross over. So the Hero’s Light is more associated with Badb, who is sometimes described as the Morrigan’s sister, and sometimes they are treated as interchangeable.
The Hero’s Light is a translation of an Irish phrase that refers to an emergent spiritual phenomenon that occurs when warriors are in a state of elevated rage and passion, a battle fury that they enter in order to access their courage, and become unstoppable. These spiritual phenomena are described as lights or torches over a warrior’s head, or a bird that flutters from their head or emerges from their breath, or sparks or clouds, even pillars of light. Some of these phenomena are monstrous, such as fountains of blood.
Sharon: Is this perceived as an outside spiritual force or as coming from within the warrior?
Morpheus: It is described as emerging from the warrior’s breath, but also, it is associated with visitations of the war goddesses. It is sometimes described in terms of a bird that is fluttering over their head, and that, to me, suggests that it’s a visitation from a spiritual entity. One of my theories about it is that we are talking about an in-dwelling presence which emerges when they enter the state of battle fury.
Sharon: How would you suggest approaching the Morrigan?
Morpheus: You can begin at whatever pace you are comfortable with. Many people find the Morrigan intense, and sometimes demanding or overwhelming, and it is okay to set boundaries, and take the relationship one step at a time.
With any devotional relationship, a good place to begin is to create a space from which to make offerings, and to honor them. Especially if you are trying to establish a new relationship, where it has not yet really been forged, it is helpful to be regular with devotional practice. Daily practice is good, but if not daily, at least on some really regularly recurring pattern, to give the relationship a chance to establish itself.
Sharon: How does your artwork interact with your spiritual practice?
Morpheus: The two are really closely intertwined. A lot of the subjects that I choose to make art about are driven by my spiritual practice. I’ve always had a big love of mythology and mythical beings, so I do a lot of art that’s inspired by those stories, and by my sense of devotion. I grew up surrounded by a lot of imagery and cultural features associated with Hinduism, which has this really rich tradition of devotional art, and very loving depictions of their deities. I suppose I adopted a love of that kind of devotional art. More than anything else, I really love to do mythical beings, and that sort of thing.
Sharon: Do you find that it helps to deepen your understanding of the beings, and your spiritual practice?
Morpheus: I do. For me, creating art of a deity or a spirit, or that is inspired by one of their stories, is like a doorway for me to enter into exploring that being. I will follow feelings that arise as I am doing the work, a certain look or effect that really moves me in the moment, that feels like something is coming to life. As I follow those instincts I find that it reveals something; a face, or a way of seeing that being that wouldn’t have occurred to me before.
Sharon: What have you learned in 2020 with all of its challenges? How has it changed your practice? Spiritual approach?
Morpheus: We are definitely doing more online rituals than I am used to. I have never been really into online rituals, because for me ritual is a very embodied experience, so trying to share that experience over a Zoom connection was never going to be my first choice. But at the same time I am finding that it is prompting me to share ritual space with people that I wouldn’t otherwise have been doing so with.
Sharon: Yeah folks aren’t geographically limited from attending now. You can reach more people.
Morpheus: Yeah. Also, I think one of the really big messages from this year is that solidarity is what’s going to save us, in so many ways, and so practicing a broader solidarity, where we are connecting with people from all over the place that are sharing these experiences and struggles that we’re in, feels really important. That’s powerful, and I feel that we should be leaning into that solidarity.
Would you like to learn more about the Morrigan? Morpheus wrote a book called “The Book of the Great Queen”, which is an excellent resource for both lore and practice!
Want to see this book at our Bookshop.org site?
Would you like to learn more about Morpheus’ art, and perhaps get a devotional tattoo? You can learn more about Morpheus’ work at https://bansheearts.com
Traditions of Samhain
(photo credit: Joanna Malinowska on freestocks.org)
Of all of the Pagan holidays, Samhain is probably the best known. Pronounced “Sowen”, this tradition originated as a Gaelic festival marking the passing of the light time of year into the dark. It was believed that the veils between our world and the Otherworld; the realm of spirits, Gods, and ancestors, grow thin during these liminal times, and therefore the denizens of the Otherworld could slip more easily into our own world.
In keeping with this tradition, modern witches set a plate for our Beloved Dead, that they might join us in feasting while the veils are thin. During this time, we honor our personal ancestors as well as the Mighty Dead; those heroic souls whose mighty deeds have left such an impact as to reverberate through our collective consciousness generation after generation.
Communing with our Dead allows us to ease the longing left in their wake. It gives us a chance to find closure by speaking the words we wish we had spoken in life. Some also practice keening; a style of mournful wailing that allows us to express grief while also creating a bridge that helps the recently deceased find their way to the Afterlife. We will always miss our Beloved Dead; yet feasting with them when the veils are thin allows us to share in the joy of their memory once again.
Many of the customs we know from Halloween originate from the traditions of Samhain. Dressing in costume and going “trick or treating” was intended to mimic the souls of the Dead, that we might receive offerings on their behalf. Not every spirit that slips through is benevolent after all! This practice, called mumming or guising, was believed to appease them and incur their blessing, rather than the mischief some denizens of the Otherworld like to stir up. Appease them with treats, and you avoid their tricks!
Bobbing for apples, another popular Halloween tradition, appears to have been a form of early divination. Whoever managed to catch an apple with just their teeth would be the next to marry.
Of course, Gaelic speaking peoples are not the only ones to honor their Dead at this time. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is also an ancestral celebration. Far more than “Mexican Halloween”, Dia de los Meurtos has its origins in pre-colonial Mezoamerica, through a blending of an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess, Mictecacihuatl, and the later Catholic influence imposed by Spanish colonialism. Mictecacihuatl is the Aztec Queen of the Underworld, and her festivities were once celebrated over a 20-day period. She lives on today as La Santa Muerte.
It is fascinating that two such geographically removed cultures - Gaelic and Mezoamerican - would have evolved such similar practices around honoring the Dead!
How might you celebrate your own Beloved Dead?
Here are a few ideas:
1) Build an Ancestor altar. Place photos, keepsakes, and the favorite foods and beverages of your beloved Dead on the altar, to give them an anchor to the physical realm.
2) Host a “Dumb Supper”, a feast shared in silence with our community and/or our Dead.
3) Read the names of the Dead aloud in sacred space, by candlelight, and recount their deeds.
4) Forge relationships with Deities/Powers who preside over the Underworld and the Dead; Hekate, Persephone, La Santa Muerte, the Morrigan, Anubis, Eshu. (NOTE: When exploring the Gods and traditions of colonized peoples, include in your research their policies on appropriate ways for outsiders to interact with their culture).
5) Sing mournful songs (keening) to open the Western Gate and help usher through any recently Deceased who may have lost their way.
As modern Pagan practitioners, we have found much value in reviving our pre-Christian ancestral traditions. Only two have been featured here, but with a bit of digging, you can find traditions that honor the Dead in any culture. Honoring those who have gone before is a fulfilling and needed aspect to all spiritual practice. May you find honor among your ancestors and your Mighty Dead this season!
Candle Magic!
Candle magic is a tried and true practice within many branches of witchcraft. Few things are as beautiful and evocative as a flame drawing our prayers up to the Heavens!
What goes into a successful candle spell, you might wonder?
Here are 5 tips to get you started!
1) Know what magic can and can’t do.
Magic works in subtle ways, and is best used to gently nudge a situation in our favor. If we want to increase our prosperity, it is better to enchant for opportunities to find/earn/win money, rather than enchant for the winning lottery ticket. Magic amplifies probabilities, but the probability has to be within a reasonable ratio at the start. Plus, when we frame our desire in a way that allows for the money to come from a variety of directions, we increase our possibilities.
2) Keep to one focus.
It is good to be as clear with your focus as possible, and to stick with one focus per candle. You will be crafting each candle with a specific theme and energy pattern in mind, and if you infuse it with too many messages, they are likely to cancel each other out and be ineffective. It is best to create one candle for peaceful calm, and another for prosperity. Each candle should evoke a specific quality, and only that quality.
3) Consider color.
Choosing the color of your candle is always a good place to start. Color establishes an underlying emotional tone that sets the feel for the working overall. In general, green is associated with wealth, health, and fertility, red is associated with passion and energy, pink for a gentler love, blue with peace, serenity, and intuition, white for blessings, cleansing, and clarity, black for protection and banishing, and gold for luck. Check out our candle color guide for more details. While these color associations are common, and therefore a good place to start, your own emotional responses are always a better guide than the “recipes”. Remember, we are working with our own consciousness when we practice magic, so what a color evokes for you is going to be more powerful than the standard suggestion. If you have a different association with a color than what is suggested, go with that! It’s all about using your own senses to conjure your desire!
4) Engage as many of your senses as possible.
The more of your senses that can be drawn into the ambiance you are creating, the better! Carve one word or a simple phrase into your candle wax with a nail for tactile sensation, and to focus your mind on the topic. Pour in a little essential oil and crushed herbs or resins to awaken with scent, add flowers and crystal chips to evoke visual beauty. You can add glitter too, to make it feel special. (Please use biodegradable glitter! We are earth stewards after all!) You can also decorate the outside of your candle with sigils or art that brings focus to your working. The prettier and more delicious you can make your candle, the more evocative it becomes!
5) Be practical
Be sure to keep the requirements of the physical plane in mind when preparing your candle. Don’t drown your candle in oil, just add enough to coat the wax. Also, make sure any herbs or flowers you add are in very small pieces or powdered, rather than larger chunks that can catch fire and break your candle glass. (Our TRW powders are perfect for candle dressing!) When you first light your candle, let it burn for 1-2 hours, until the top layer of wax is evenly melted about a quarter inch down. This will prevent it from guttering in a pool and putting itself out. Also, be sure you keep it in a safe place, and never leave it burning when you leave the house! It is absolutely okay to put your candle out and relight it again later. Each lighting and extinguishing can be an opportunity to refocus your intention.
Now that you’ve got some guidelines, go forth and make beauty and magic, that you may ignite your desires and send your prayers up to the heavens!
Suggested products for dressing your candle:
Doc Grey Conjure Oils, for a variety of spells and situations!
Our house blended powders, perfectly ground for candle magic!
Herbs and Stones for Lung Support
Could you use to breathe a little easier? Whether it’s smoky air, or allergies getting you down, we could all use some additional lung support now and then.
Here is Jenny, form our Portland store, with some helpful tips.
Breathe Easier Tea
1 tsp thyme
1 Tbs rosehips
½ tsp cracked black pepper
1 Tbs mullein
1 Tbs marshmallow root
1 Tbs horehound
½ tsp fenugreek seed (optional)
1 piece candied ginger (optional)
Honey, to taste
Combine all ingredients except for ginger (omit fenugreek if you have low blood pressure); store in an air-tight container away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
To brew, add a piece of candied ginger to your cup if desired, and 1 Tbs tea (in strainer or reusable tea bag). Pour boiling water over contents, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey, if desired.
Drink 1-3 cups per day as needed to support breathing and lung health.
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum):
Warming, stimulating, good for chills and coughing, improves circulation and digestion, carminative, antibacterial.
Fenugreek Seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum):
Good for sore throats, analgesic, demulcent; used as a galactagogue and to lower blood sugar.
NOTE - Lowers blood pressure; may stimulate uterine contractions
Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale):
Antiemetic, improves circulation and digestion, eases congestion, antimicrobial, antitussive, analgesic, warming to the extremities, expectorant, antihistaminic.
Honey:
Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, immune stimulant, soothing to the throat.
NOTE - Honey should not be given to children under 1 year, due to possible contamination by botulism spores. People allergic to bee stings may rarely have an adverse reaction to honey.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare):
Expectorant, tonifying to the lungs, antispasmodic.
Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis):
Mucilaginous, demulcent, expectorant. Removes phlegm from lungs and bronchial passages.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus):
Improves respiratory and bronchial infections, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, tonifying to the lungs, antitussive, expectorant, reduces congestion.
Rosehips (Rosa canina):
High in vitamin C, astringent, immune boosting, slightly analgesic, soothing to the throat.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris):
Antimicrobial, stimulates the thymus gland improving energy, stimulates the immune system, antispasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antitussive.
**This recipe is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness. It is not a substitute for medical care.
“I put together this array of stones to support the throat and lungs: amazonite and lapis ease the throat chakra; rhodochrosite helps release trauma that lodges in the chest which can impair breathing; amber and amethyst are soothing, helping to open the airways; bloodstone and red jasper help revitalize the body, supporting healing; chrysocolla and moss agate aid the body's ability to heal itself; rutilated quartz and pyrite promote well being”.
- Jenny
Clockwise from bottom left: amazonite, bloodstone, rhodochrosite, rutilated quartz, chrysocolla, amber, lapis lazuli, moss agate, amethyst.
Center, top to bottom: pyrite, red jasper.
The Sacred Art of Bathing
Photo by Cravadventure on Pexels.com
Few things are as delicious as submerging ourselves in a deep pool of warm water. Our tensions melt away, and our spirit comes alive at the feel of soft, sensuous water.
Here are five of our favorite ways to enjoy a rejuvenative bath!
Natural Hot Springs
Geothermal pools are one of the great wonders of this beautiful jewel of a planet! These glorious natural pools can be found all over the world. In Japan, taking an Onsen can be as highly ritualized as a tea ceremony. First, bathers scrub their skin thoroughly to remove the cares of the world (and to get clean of course), then they pour water from the Onsenover their extremities, slowly working their way toward their hearts, to acclimate to the water temperature. Only then do they immerse themselves fully into the spring.
Did you know that tattoos were once extremely taboo in Japan, and to this day, you may not be allowed admittance into some bath houses if you have one?
Closer to home, you might try Breitensbush Hot Springs in Oregon, or Harbin Hot Springs in California for a glorious outdoor bathing experience.
Breitenbush Hot Springs
Harbin Hot Springs
Mud-Bathing
Bathing in...mud? Sounds messy! However, mud baths are actually wonderful! Mineral rich mud baths have been used for centuries, and help to draw impurities from the skin, soothing skin ailments and inflammation. Plus there is something about the weight of the hot mud pressing into your body that is sooo calming! Calistoga in California is famous for its mud baths. Plan a post-pandemic trip, and until then, you can also get mud bath kits to use at home.
Ginger Baths
Most people know about the healing benefits of drinking ginger tea. Did you know that ginger baths are also an invigorating way to get the benefits of ginger? Ginger aids digestion, reduces inflammation, and improves circulation. Sipping a cup of hot ginger tea while soaking in a ginger bath is an effective way to reap the benefits of sweating. Who needs a sauna when you can ginger it up in your tub?
(NOTE: Ginger is contraindicated for some conditions. Please do your research before diving in. This article is a good place to start.
Flower Baths
Flower baths do far more than dress up your Instagram page. Many flowers, like herbs, have medicinal and spiritual properties. Few things are more luxurious than bathing in a tea of flowers! When we steep blossoms in hot bath water they release their delicate scent and healing properties, and their benefits seep into us through our open pores. Heaven!
Gem Elixirs
Bathing isn't just for our outsides; we can bathe our insides in the the cooling essence of gem elixirs! The quartz family is most widely used for gem elixirs because they are quite safe. Rose quartz makes a lovely gentle support essence, while amethyst helps to open up intuition. Smoky quartz will filter out negativity, and clear quartz will amplify any intention you wish to focus on. Let your stone sit in water for a few hours, or overnight beneath the moon, and then sip while enjoying your favorite bath.
(Please note: not all stones are safe to infuse in water. Stones that contain copper, mercury, or aluminum should be avoided. A good rule of thumb is to avoid stones who's names end in "ite").
Left to right: Rose quartz, Tibetan Quartz, Amethyst
Have you tried our in-house spiritual bath blends?
5 sumptuous scents to awaken your magic!
Black Lives Matter
Image by Betty Martin from Pixabay
The Raven’s Wing Magical Co. believes and affirms that Black Lives Matter.
We would like to encourage our community to give what they can to organizations that support, defend and protect Black lives, as we cannot ignore the suffering and oppression of our Black siblings.
For the month of June, we matched every donation you made toward this righteous cause by making equal contributions to the following organizations: National Bail Out, East Oakland Collective, Don’t Shoot Portland. Together, we contributed over $14,000 to this effort. We have been truly amazed at your commitment and generosity, thank you.
Beginning in July, The Raven’s Wing committed to continue working on ongoing and sustainable methods that our company can contribute to advancing and uplifting Black people in the U.S.
The current fundraiser recipient of the proceeds from every sale of our BLM Spell kits, is the Herbal Equity Project, a community support and reparations effort founded and led by Brunem Warshaw of WellDeep Remedies, designed to provide herbal wellness and health support to members of the Black community at no cost. If you’d like to contribute directly to this project, you can become a patron here.
Additionally, a portion of every sale of our new Doc Grey Conjure Oils will be donated to Southerners on New Ground, a Black-led organization that builds community and works for access for LGBTQ+ people of color across the Southern United States.
For more resources and organizations who need your support and donations, take a look at this list of Resources for Accountability and Actions for Black Lives.
We are so grateful to be in community with all of you. Thank you for all that you do to make this world safer and more just. Together, we can make Magic Happen Everyday.
Podcast Recommendation: The Mortician’s Daughter
Hello magical friends.
Iris here with a diversion from your regularly scheduled doom-scrolling. My dear friend and unofficial Queen of the Desert, Carly Schorman of Tempe-based YabYum Music and Arts has created a podcast that is short, funny, and full of information. Specifically information about death.
What witch isn't interested in death? Ok, ok, some of us aren't. If you aren't, please go right back to whatever else you were doing. Consider this your content warning before you dive in.
Still here? Great! I'd like to introduce you to The Mortician's Daughter, a bite-sized (15-20 minutes or so) podcast focused on the what's, how's and sometimes the why's of death and dying. Previous episodes include topics hauntings and fairy killings and, personally appealing to my philosophically trained mind, the concept of eternal recurrence. There's an episode focused entirely on the Golden Gate Bridge. The most recent episode "Reincarnation" is especially of interest to pagans and magical folk, though be warned it is told from the creator's distinctly agnostic perspective. In this episode. Carly outlines many faiths and traditions that ascribe to reincarnation, while poking mountain sized holes in western celebrity new ageism.
The whole series is this way: glib and detached while remarkably engaged. This podcast is informative without being dull. It's witty without losing its darkness, and macabre without losing its humor. It's highly recommended to witches, magicians and all those who work with death, grief, and the life we anticipate beyond this life. Check it out at YabYum.
Protection Mojo!
An Apotropaic Charm
For deflecting unwanted attention.
Hello Everyone!
Omikemi here bringing you an Apotropaic Charm, a charm to ward off bad luck and the evil eye.
This spell was taken and then adapted by me, from Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by Cathrine Yronwode. Spell Components are as follows: 1 single small piece of licorice root(domination of situation; to empower the mojo hand), pinch of rue(purifying), pinch of hyssop(cleansing), 3 anise seeds, personal concern(I use my own saliva quite often in my workings), small square of black felt or any cloth(to mask the intentions of the work + negate energy), and hemp cord(to tie up the work).
I energetically place intentions and prescribe jobs to each of the herbs or curios for this workings and then I grab the corners of the felt and bring them together. Using the hemp cord, I bind the mojo hand together 8 times( for me this number presents justice through a Yoruba lens) and knot it 8 times as well. If you plan on keeping this hand charged, feed it either magnetic sand, money, song, breathe, tobacco smoke, special oils blends, or all of the above. I have also added a few other special things to the inside of this mojo such as tiny handcuffs, a golden star or badge, a small piece of paper with a name of job description listed on it (i.e. POLICE) and folded away from myself. These were added to give clear intention to the mojo which energies I would like to avoid coming into contact with. These objects can also be swapped out and arranged as you personally see fit.
Blessings everyone,
Omi the Waterbearer
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