Kitchen Witch's Wicked Ways

My Poor Herbs...

2011-05-14T22:13:00.001-03:00

It seems I have been a bad bad green witch. Upon moving into my new home, I had hoped that I would be able to overwinter my potted herbs in the (fairly sheltered) space under the front steps. Unfortunately, I am seeing very few signs of life... I am thinking that I will have to start over.

The only plant that seems to be doing ok is the chives:

Here is the new plan: have fiance build a raised bed garden for the backyard. I am going to start small, with a box that is 3 feet by 6 feet. I plan to remove the sod from that area and dig down a few more inches (the soil underneath seems like a fairly equal mix of clay and sand). This will allow me to fill it with good, healthy soil for my herbs and (hopefully) will allow my herbs to actually survive next winter.

An Explained Absence and a Big Announcement

2011-04-25T14:23:00.000-03:00

For those of you who have been wondering where on Earth I have been hiding these last few months I would like to apologize and explain. The reason I have been neglecting my blogging duties is because I am finding myself sick and tired a great deal of the time. The reason that I am finding myself sick and tired is.........

I'm Pregnant!

It was a big shock, and I spent some time worried and scared to death but now things have settled down and I am happily awaiting the birth of my first child. Though, I am very nervous about all the things I need to buy and the huge learning curve I am about to embark upon.

Phobias

2011-01-23T20:22:00.000-04:00

I have a crippling and debilitating fear of needles. This fear has not had a great impact on my life because I have avoided shots and blood tests for a very long time. However, as I get older, I am experiencing increased anxiety about the "what ifs" in life. What if I get sick and have to deal with this on a regular basis, what if I avoid important testing because I am afraid of my reaction?

I recently had a doctor ordered blood test. I sucked it up, took a day off work and had fiance take me to the clinic. Prior to this, my last blood test was 5 years ago. I thought I would be ok. I thought I might have gotten over the fear. I thought "hey, I'm more grown up now, I can handle this". I was dead wrong. In the past, I have gotten worked up about the needle before entering the office. This time, I was fine, chatting in the waiting area, following the nurse into the cubicle, sitting down in the chair. And then I started crying, and feeling sick, and dizzy. And then, for the first time in my entire life, I passed out. Completely unconscious. It. Was. Scary. To make matters worse, because I passed out, the nurse was unable to finish and had to start over, on the other arm. It was, easily, one of the worst medical experiences I have had in my life. In fact, I am starting to feel a little ill while writing this.

Nobody seems to understand how difficult this is to overcome. I have tried rationalizing: I know it doesn't hurt, I know the tests are necessary to my health and I know that nothing bad is going to happen to me while undergoing the test - telling myself those things doesn't make the anxiety stop. I have tried deep breathing, I have tried visualization - nothing works.

Has anyone else out there experienced a debilitating fear? Have you had to deal with the "helpful" people who give advice like "just look away" (to which I think - OH MY GOD! I never thought about turning away! You have just solved ALL my problems!). Have you found a way to conquer your fear? I have gotten so desperate that I have considered seeing a therapist or hypnotist but don't know if anyone has found either of those options helpful. Is there anyone out there who understands what I am going through?

SUCCESS!

2010-11-21T19:05:00.000-04:00

Have you ever lost something and, despite wracking your brain for every possible location, you still can't find it. I did this when I moved. You see, every year I buy both Llewellyn's Datebook and Spell-A-Day Almanac. I have a collection of them from quite a few years. In fact, right now, 2011's versions are sitting on my "special" bookshelf just waiting for the turning of the calender page. When I moved, way back in September, I lost both books. I thought they would show up while unpacking, no such luck, I thought I might have left them at work and, with a newly organized desk - still no books. It was driving me absolutely bonkers to see my collection marred by two missing volumes!
Tonight, I was determined to search everywhere and, if unsuccessful, finally give them up as lost. I checked boxes and bins in the garage, under the stairs, the computer desk, my bedroom and finally sat down in my new "special" room and pulled what may very well be the first spell I ever memorized

Wolves and Faeries
Dragons and Ghosts
I've lost the thing I need the most
My planners are gone, they must be found
Whether lost above or below the ground
Bring them back as quick as can be
As I will, so mote it be*

Now, I had tried this spell before to no avail, but I think the extra oomph of the full moon pushed it over the edge because within minutes I was clutching the books in my hands. They had been stored in a plastic bin with a ton of magazines, under the bed in the guestroom. Does anyone else out there have any experience finding lost objects? Or any helpful little spells that they have memorized for the mundane annoyances of life?

*I would love to give credit to the source for this spell but I memorized it so long ago that I have no idea where it came from.

Great New Song - Library Girl

2010-11-08T06:34:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love this song.

Happy Samhain

2010-10-31T18:45:00.000-03:00

Well, here I am. All alone. Fiance is on his ship for the next 5 weeks and I am spending my very first night alone in our new home. At the moment I am listening to the Witches Brew Ha Ha podcast (a friend has been recommending it for weeks), reading Magical Housekeeping by Tess Whitehurst (review to come) and laughing at my two dogs as they desperately try to remove their Halloween costumes (Callie is a Witch and Poseidon is a Pirate). I have had a grand total of 5 trick or treaters so far and am seriously hoping that more kids come by or I am going to be handing out some serious candy in my classroom on Monday. My plan, is to do some magickal working (smudging and the like) tonight after I am sure that no more kids are going to show up.

Here is hoping that everyone is having a safe and happy Samhain!

Just Not Feeling It This Year

2010-10-21T22:37:00.000-03:00

Normally, I am thrilled for this time of year. Normally, I would break out the Halloween music weeks in advance. Normally, I would relish in the Halloween blogs and read scary stories until well past the witching hour. This year however, I'm just not feeling it. I haven't bought a pumpkin, I've barely glanced at most of my favorite blogs and I haven't even given a thought to plans for Samhain. I'm not sure what exactly is causing this disconnect. Perhaps it is the fact that I have just moved and am pre-occupied with getting everything just-so. Perhaps I am unable to look forward to the 31st as it is also the day that Fiance leaves for a 5 week stint at sea. Or, perhaps, my busy schedule leaves time for little more than sleeping, working, eating and bathing (occasionally at least hehe).

Have you ever felt that you just couldn't get into the spirit? Did you do anything to break the funk? Or just let it ride out and hope for next year?

FCK H8 - WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE

2010-10-16T12:47:00.000-03:00

A Fantastic Video. Really wish I could find a way to incorporate this in my jr high English Classes.....

Almost a Milestone!

2010-10-05T17:59:00.002-03:00

Just noticed that I am at 99 followers. Come on #100!!!

A Great New Blog!

2010-10-05T06:45:00.001-03:00

A couple of friends of mine have started a great new blog: Remedial Witchcraft. The plan is for Rhi and her partner, Son of Hermes, to go back to the basics of witchcraft and spend two months on each topic. Here is how she explains it:

"I've broken it down into 6 core skillsets - visualization, stones, tarot, herbs, mythology, and tools. My intention is to spend 2 months on each topic, posting 3 times weekly (or more, should I be able to manage it). At the end, my goal is to have the good beginnings of a book of shadows, as well as a better understand of myself. I also want to offer it as something anyone can follow, should they feel the need to brush up on their own skills."

I encourage everyone to take a look and become a follower, I guarantee great things to come!

Jumping Back In

2010-10-03T08:20:00.000-03:00

Have you ever found yourself in a period of time where your spirituality (and hobbies and personal time) take a backseat to the business of real life? Since we made the offer on the house, I have been swept along in a sea of "got to do's". First, I was busy packing, organizing and re-routing my life in preparation of the move. Then, it was unpacking, organizing and getting used to a new area. Now, I'm playing catch-up at work, STILL organizing and trying to find a balance between the "got to do's" and the "want to do's".
I took a step back from my spiritual work (blogging, studying, practicing) in order to gain some extra time for move preparation and, as more time went on, I found it more and more difficult to return to my old schedules. I still am not where I want to be at work (tons of correcting to do), I still don't have EVERY box unpacked or everything that is unpacked organized the way I want it and I still don't have all my pictures up and I definitely haven't bought all the things that I need BUT, nevertheless, here I am, jumping back in. Here's hoping I don't drown!

TeacherWitch Buys A Home

2010-08-19T15:51:00.000-03:00

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind adventure. We returned from visiting the future in-laws to a notice that our rent would be increasing AGAIN. It was set to go up from $915 to $950 plus an extra $15/month for the second parking space. When speaking to my parents about this, and lamenting that this is close to what we would pay for a mortgage, my incredible, wonderful, loving parents offered to lend us the deposit money for a house. So we started shopping. On the first day I saw a beautiful home with cathedral ceilings and an open concept living room/dining room/kitchen. It was perfect. BUT, it was the first day out. So we saw more homes. Three trips later and it was Friday, we were set to look at more homes and take a second look at the one I already loved. Lo and behold, the sellers had agreed to drop the price. They were motivated because they had already purchased another home. At the end of the day, I didn't want to wait any longer and just five days after we started looking, we made an offer and it was accepted. This last week has been full of phone calls and contract signing and all the ins and outs of making sure the deal doesn't fall through (there was another couple waiting in the wings if we backed out, EEP!). So far, all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. Financing is done, Home inspection went great and we have arranged for a lawyer and for home insurance. NOW, it is down to packing, selling some items that are no longer needed, donating whatever I can't sell and shopping for new furniture for my beautiful new home.

I apologize in advance for any further absence but my to-do list has tripled in size and school is just over a week away!

The NEW Halifax Market

2010-08-07T20:24:00.000-03:00

Today Fiance and I went to check out the new market. It is a beautiful airy space (albeit very crowded on opening day). There was some controversy surrounding the new digs but I say progress (especially progress that allows for more room and better maneuverability for the less-able patrons) is fine by me! I am assuming that a great deal of the foot traffic consisted of people who were there for a gander at the new building and that, in the coming weeks, things will calm down to the point where the market will be a more relaxing place to be.

My first glimpse:

Some of the Vendors' wares:

The Wall of Green:

The View from Above:

My Haul: (Fiance couldn't wait to steal a few blueberries)

A Return and a Prize Winner!

2010-08-06T11:09:00.000-03:00

I have returned to the land of The Grid. Fiance and I were planning a trip to see his family sometime in August. On Friday night we found out that his father was leaving within the week for a job in Alberta (oh the woes of the East Coast family). SOOOO, we decided to head out Sunday morning. Which, was much sooner than I anticipated and left me scrambling to get things shored up here. As a result, a few things were left unfinished. One of which, is the blog giveaway. And so, without further ado, the winner of Out of The Broom Closet is Debbie! Please email me (zabet17@gmail.com) with your address, so I can send out your prize.

To all of those who did not win, thanks for playing and rest assured, a new prize draw is coming in a few weeks!

Banished

2010-07-29T11:11:00.000-03:00

I have been banished to the living room. You see, my guestroom is my little sanctuary. I keep all my books in there, my herbs and crystals and my big computer (I am currently using my netbook). I normally do all my blogging in there, especially the stone and herb of the week posts because I refer to a number of books for them.

However, the cat has thwarted my comfort. A couple of nights ago he brought a live mouse into the house and chased it into my guest room. I despise rodents. Every time I see one I get the shivers and an overwhelming urge to jump on furniture. So, the first night, we locked the cat in the room, hoping that he would kill the mouse. Next morning - no body that we can find. The next night, sticky traps went down with a blob of peanut butter in the middle. This morning - no mouse. I am thoroughly freaked out and refusing to go in the room. Is is possible that the cat ate the whole mouse and left no remnants behind? Should I leave the traps out for another few days or should I start clearing out the guestroom and its over-stuffed closet just to be sure...

P.S yes, that is a picture of a cat eating a computer mouse. It is not my cat, but I couldn't even bear to put up a picture of a cat with a real mouse - that's how freaked out I am!

PEI Pagan Gathering

2010-07-27T10:28:00.000-03:00

AHHHH home safe and sound. I had a wonderful weekend at the PEI Pagan Gathering and would like to encourage anyone who lives in the maritimes to make plans to attend next year. We had beautiful weather right up until the last morning and were just minutes from the beach. The hosting group led a ritual for each element including a moonlit beach water ritual (including a moonlight swim!) and a fantastically exciting fire ritual that kept us asking "how did they do that?". The weekend also included a number of workshops on topics like tarot, journeying, and creating rituals as well as a message circle. Our campfire was blessed with the sound of drums and the taste of smores (and grilled pineapple, YUM!). I want to thank the organizers and all those who attended for a wonderful atmosphere and a fantastic weekend. Can't wait till next year!

Time to Escape

2010-07-22T16:49:00.000-03:00

I will be away for the next few days. My friends and I are off to the PEI Pagan Gathering. It is held at a campground that is just minutes away from the beach. Time for some relaxation and rejuvenation. See you next week!

ABC Book of Shadows

2010-07-17T09:00:00.001-03:00

On a recent trip to my favorite pagan store Little Mysteries. I came across the cutest little board book and decided to buy it for my friend's daughter. It is called ABC Book of Shadows and is by Katie Lydon Olivares. Here are some pics:

I love the God and Goddess pages and Samhain is one of my favorites. I think I'm going to have to start buying this book in bulk for all my little witchlets!

P.S Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the book Out of the Broom Closet!

Book Giveaway: Out of the Broom Closet

2010-07-16T12:45:00.000-03:00

Out of the Broom Closet: 50 True Stories of Witches Who Found and Embraced the Craft is a wonderful book that describes, through narratives, the fear, excitement and nervousness that abounds when one steps out of the proverbial Broom Closet. The stories are funny, inspiring and sometimes a little sad. They deal with parents, friends, children, co-workers and show how those who stand by you can sometimes be surprising. This is a great book for anyone who has ever stepped out of the Broom Closet or even for those still buried deep inside.

I will keep the giveaway up for a week or two and then draw a winner. Remember, the more times you enter, the more chances you get!

How to Enter

1 entry will be given for each of the following:
-Following my Blog (or already being a follower)
-Adding me on Facebook
-Adding me on Twitter
-Tweeting about the Giveaway
-Blogging about the Giveaway

2 entries will be given for each Friend you refer. They should comment here or email zabet17@gmail.com and mention your username.

Make sure you comment on this post and tell me which of the above you have done.

Calming Anger with Blue Lace Agate

2010-07-15T09:00:00.003-03:00

Blue Lace Agate is an excellent stone for those who struggle with anger issues or, who simply need help in specific situations. Anger can have many detrimental effects. It can cause us to say things we don't mean to loved ones, it can cause poor relations with co-workers and it can even affect our driving and cause us to make poor decisions. It is wise to examine our own anger triggers and to utilize the calming influence of Blue Lace Agate in those situations. For example:

- If you find driving to be a stressful time and you feel that your anger with other drivers affects the safety of yourself and your loved ones, why not place a Blue Lace Agate stone in the car. On you dashboard, in your glove compartment or hanging from your rear view mirror - the calming stone will ensure that you get home safely.

- Try holding a piece of Blue Lace Agate when starting a difficult conversation. Whether you are speaking with a significant other, a child or a co-worker, the stone will help you keep your cool and speak calmly and rationally.

- Keep a piece of Blue Lace Agate in your desk or office for those particularly stressful days.

- Keep a piece by the phone to help stay calm in the face of angry voices on the other end.

Phoenix's Simplified Bruschetta

2010-07-14T18:00:00.001-03:00

I love serving Bruschetta to guests but I find starting from scratch means I am in the kitchen all night instead of enjoying the party. So, I started taking some shortcuts including pre-diced tomatoes and pre-shredded cheese.

Ingredients
Baguette
1 Can Aylmer Accents Diced Tomatoes: Garlic and Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Fresh Basil
Kraft Italiano Shredded Cheese

Cut baguette. In the past I have simply cut "rounds" by slicing all the way down the baguette. But, when in a hurry, I will cut the baguette in half (or thirds) and then slice each piece lengthwise to expose the white part. This cuts down on how much time you spend turning, seasoning and topping

Brush Baguette pieces with olive oil and place in hot oven on Broil. Turn once or twice until just toasted.

Meanwhile, remove any stems and chop basil. Drain tomatoes in a colander and add the basil.

When bread is toasted, add a spoonful or two of the tomato mixture to each piece. Season with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and put back into the oven until cheese has melted.

Herb Garden Update

2010-07-14T14:21:00.001-03:00

I thought I would update on how my herbs have been growing so far.

You can see my Cascading Rosemary and Sage are slowly creeping along:

My Lavender has started to bloom and the Chives have gotten a haircut:

I picked up a couple of hanging baskets. Not quite sure what kind of flowers they are. I may have to take a better picture if we ever get a sunny day again:

My Apple Mint, Rue and Anise are all doing well, and my Tequila Sunrise Columbine flowers have started to peek through, not sure if they will bloom this summer at all:

Chocolate Mint is still growing quite well:

And my Wooly Thyme, Lemon Balm and Catnip are doing well. Again, Columbine are growing but I am not sure if they will bloom this year:

It seems I forgot to take a picture of my Basil and new Rosemary plant. Those will have to come later as it is pouring down rain right now.

Herb of the Week - Basil

2010-07-14T12:05:00.000-03:00

I both love and despise Basil all at the same time. I love it because it is wonderfully fragrant and delicious in almost any dishes. I despise it because I have yet to find a way to grow Basil without killing it. The first year, I planted too early for my region and it died. The second year I waited an additional month and I think I overwatered (I thought wilting meant needed more water - oops). This year,I planted Genovese and Purple Bail and I have been babying them to no end. I waited until July to put them outdoors, I am very careful about how much I am watering them, I move them indoors in heavy rain or wind or if I feel that it is just too hot in the afternoon (I have noticed them wilting if they get too hot). In short, I am dead and determined to have healthy Basil plants this year!

Basil is a wonderful herb that can be found in most herb gardens or growing on kitchen windowsills. Basil likes full sun but should be fairly sheltered from high winds. Be sure to wait until well after the last frost before sowing your basil as cold temperatures are its worst enemy. Basil does not like to soak in water and should receive proper drainage.
Basil comes in a number of varieties. My favorite are genovese basil and purple basil. Others include cinnamon basil, lemon basil and Thai basil. Basil is delicious in soups, salads, dips and sauces. I add basil to nearly all of my Italian dishes. It also makes a beautiful garnish.
Magickally, Basil is associated with protection, courage, wealth, love, divination and creativity. For a financial boost, plant Basil near the front door. Cook with fresh basil to enhance feelings of passion and love. Carry in your pocket or place in your wallet or purse to bring continued wealth. If you are a business owner - Place Basil leaves in a cash register or above the doorsill to attract customers. Bathe with basil to increase attractiveness.

Stone of the Week - Blue Lace Agate

2010-07-12T17:01:00.000-03:00

Blue Lace Agate is a beautiful pale blue stone. Its bands often reminds one of the gentle waves of the ocean or ripples in a bond. It is a wonderful calming stone and promotes a serene environment. It has a cooling energy that can work to lower a temperature or calm a hot temper. Blue Lace Agate brings peace of mind and increases spiritual inspiration. It is associated with the throat chakra and clears the way for expression of thoughts and feelings. It is an excellent stone for those dealing with issues of judgment, particularly when they feel they are being judged by others. Therefore, it is wise to carry a piece if entering a situation where you feel you are going to be judged (ie, parent-child interactions, neighbors, that cliquey woman's group!).
Physically, Blue Lace Agate's cooling properties can be utilized to calm an infection, inflammation or fever. It can aid with any throat problems but is also useful for the neck and shoulders. It works to help heal bone issues such as arthritis, bone deformity or fractures. Blue Lace Agate can also aid with blockages in the nervous system, capillaries or pancreas.

Herb of the Week - Recipes

2010-07-11T10:55:00.001-03:00

To finish off the first Herb of the Week, I thought I would post a few incense recipes. These are from Scott Cunningham's The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews

Rosemary Healing Incense:
1 Part Dried Rosemary
1 Part Dried Juniper Berries

Crush herbs and burn on charcoal disc

Study Incense:
2 parts Gum Mastic
1 part Rosemary

Crush herbs and burn on charcoal disc

Crystal Purification Incense
2 Parts Frankincense
2 parts Copal
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Rosemary
1 pinch finely powdered salt
1 small, purified Quartz Crystal Point

Crush herbs and place in a jar. Add the quartz crystal. Pour herbs onto charcoal disc (be sure to LEAVE the crystal in the jar). Pass crystals to be purified through the smoke.

On Listening to Good Advice

2010-07-10T17:01:00.001-03:00

I'm stubborn. A few months ago, I bought Scott Cunningham's The Complete Book if Incense, Oils and Brews. I have a rather large herb collection and decided to make an incense for Imbolc. I didn't follow one of his recipes - NOOOOOO that would be too easy. I made up my own. I picked some herbs appropriate for Imbolc (gleaned from my notes on the Sabbat) ground them, mixed them together, bottled them and then put them aside for a few weeks. I didn't even think about the incense until Imbolc when I lit a charcoal disc, opened the bottle and FELL IN LOVE! OMG I didn't remember it smelling that good when I made it! Slowly, a horrific realization took hold of me - I hadn't written down the recipe. Cunningham stressed the importance of writing recipes, in fact, I'm pretty sure he mentioned it at least 5 times. But I knew better! I would never want to re-create this particular recipe, I would simply explore a new avenue and try something else, right? WRONG! My lesson in all of this - when someone who has been working with herbs and writing about herbs for as long as Cunningham has - LISTEN TO HIS ADVICE!

After an hour or so of sniffing what little I had left and experimenting with the herbs I had on hand (luckily I could narrow it down by looking at the original Sabbat notes), I did manage to re-create it. So here is the recipe:

Ingredients
Purple Basil (I grow and dry my own - I have never seen it available in a store but I am sure regular basil would be fairly close)
Chamomile
Rosemary
Frankincense Resin

I didn't really follow any set measurements but I have added to my notes to go light on the Chamomile and heavier on the Basil. Also, try not to over-work the Frankincense - it got started to get gummy on me.

*I will probably re-post this recipe next Imbolc.

How NOT to clean your crystals

2010-07-10T14:30:00.001-03:00

There are several methods for cleansing stones. However, some of those methods are not recommended for certain crystals. I have been compiling a list. Here is what I have so far:

Water
-Halite
-Selenite
-Angelite
-Galena

Sunlight
-Amethyst
-Rose Quartz

Burying in Salt
-Malachite
-Fresh Water Pearls
-Opal

Do you have any to add?

*Note: There are a number of methods for cleansing stones that not mentioned such as under moonlight, by placing on a crystal cluster or burying in soil. But, as these are usually non-damaging methods (to my knowledge) I have not included them.

A Step Back Into The Broom Closet

2010-07-08T11:37:00.001-03:00

My parents came to visit this week and I did something I haven't done in a couple of years - I hid in the broom closet. I put away my books, dismantled my altar and hid my tools. You see, my father is not exactly open-minded. This was the first time that he has visited since I moved into this apartment a few years ago. I normally keep the guest room as my own personal sanctuary. I have two bookshelves full of Pagan books. I have a dresser that serves as an altar and which has drawers that organize all my tools (one for herbs, one for candles, one for stones - yes yes, I am THAT neurotic) and a large chest that holds everything that doesn't fit in those categories. In the last year or two, I have started leaving everything intact when company comes, even when that company includes friends of Fiance. I have even started leaving books around in the living room where they are much more visible and likely to attract attention. But my father is a different story. Don't get me wrong, I love him, I mean REALLY love him and I am very much like him. But the minute I see him, it is like I am a teenager again who is constantly looking for his approval. And so, even now, at 28, I hide the things that I think he will disapprove of and I feel incredibly sad while doing so.

Stone of the Week - Clear Quartz

2010-07-05T08:42:00.000-03:00

While helping a friend with the last of her moving, I found a piece of quartz that she had tucked away in a corner and it dawned on me that, when starting this blog feature, I hadn't written about, perhaps, the most commonly owned of all crystals.

Clear quartz can be found in most New Age shops and can be purchased fairly cheaply. Nearly every pagan that I know owns at least one piece of it (many own tons of it!). It can be found in a myriad of sizes and shapes as both stand alone stones and incorporated into jewelery, statues and various tools.

Clear Quartz is one of the best all purpose stones as its clear coloring, and the fact that it holds all the colors of the rainbow, lends itself to all types of magick. It also amplifies our intentions and the vibrations of other stones. Quartz is an excellent stone for purification. It brings harmony and balance. Quartz can be used for gazing and conjures up images of the ancient witch staring into a crystal ball.

Clear quartz is known as master healer and can aid with any affliction. It brings harmony within the body and works with all of the chakras.

Herb of the Week - Rosemary

2010-07-03T09:00:00.000-03:00

I thought I would start my Herb of the Week postings with Rosemary as it is very common within most Witches' gardens and can easily be found within nearly everyone's kitchen.

Rosemary is a beautifully fragrant herb that can be easily incorporated into both magick and cooking. Young plants are usually readily available at most nurseries. I have also seen Rosemary more and more often in ready-made herb pots (containing multiple herbs) at most grocery stores (Superstore and Sobeys here in Canada).

As a cooking herb, Rosemary is piney with a hint of lemon. It works very well with basil or thyme. It can be used with nearly all meats and is particularly good when paired with lamb or poultry. It is also a great partner with eggplant, potatoes and in many sauces and marinades. Rosemary is one herb that many people keep close to the barbecue in order to add flavor and fragrance to dishes.

As a magickal herb, Rosemary holds powers of Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep and Youth. It can be burned to purify a space or prepare for a ritual and works well in incenses. Rosemary may be burned in the bedroom or kept under the pillow to protect the sleeper and drive away nightmares. It may be hung throughout the house, particularly in doorways or on porches, to protect the inhabitants and drive away thieves. Rosemary can be used in baths or bathing products to ensure youthfulness (I have a rosemary mint shampoo and conditioner that smells DIVINE). It works well in nearly all magickal applications including dream pillows, poppets and tinctures.

A New Witch for my Collection!

2010-07-02T14:18:00.000-03:00

A few days ago I received my custom doll from The Zombie Farm. She is a Zombie Witch!

Clearly, Eeyore loves her already:

She came with a Toe Tag and special Charm Bag

Study Groups Now Available at The Witches' Path

2010-07-01T11:50:00.000-03:00

The Witches' Path forum is now offering informal study groups. The forum can be found here: The Witches' Path and a description of the study groups has been posted by the forum administrator:

As per requested, we now have Study Groups for people to learn together. There are no teachers, no set curriculum, just a place for people to learn and study together

Available Study Groups for July 2010:

Herbalism
Crystals
Tarot
Runes
Deities
Holiday Lore

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You can be a part of as many Study Groups as you like and for example if you are part of the July 2010 Herbalism Study Group, there's nothing to stop you from joining another Herbalism Study Group once the July one has finished, its completely up to you

AHHHHH! Finished

2010-07-01T10:54:00.000-03:00

Well, as of yesterday I am finished teaching and off for the summer. Now don't get me wrong, I love my job, but this was a particularly painful year and I am incredibly happy to be finished. I am looking forward to a long summer filled with relaxation. For the blog this summer, I intend to read and review a couple of books, and start chronicling a little more spell work (since I will actually have TIME to do more spellwork). I am also off to the PEI Pagan Gathering later this month. This year promises to be bigger than ever! To all the teacher's out there, I wish you health and happiness on the road to relaxation!

Coffeetable Terrariums

2010-06-20T15:29:00.000-03:00

As some of you will remember, I have changed the colors in my living room over to green. I thought a great addition to that would be a group of three terrariums for my coffee table. I am kicking myself now for not taking pictures along the way but I will try to describe the steps without pretty pictures.

First, I chose a set of three apothecary jars. I got these on sale at Home Outfitters. They are a little smaller than regular jars but they serve my purpose well.

I cleaned the jars with hot water and placed an inch or two of stones in the bottom. The stones are just ones that I found in the bottom of my magick storage trunk. I am sure most any pebbles will work.

Then I went searching for plants. These can be purchased, of course, but I decided to gather them in a wooded area near my apartment. I don't know a whole lot about the local plants but I picked out some moss, clover and grasses. I brought my trowel with me and dug the plants up by the roots, placing them in ziplock bags for transport.

Back at home, I place a couple inches of soil in the bottom of the jars then planted my new plants. I had to trim the moss and the grasses to make them fit. I decided to stick with just one plant per jar because mine are small but may attempt a larger terrarium in the future and use different types of plants.

Finally, when everything was planted, I water them with a small amount of water and placed on the lids. I have read that the terrariums will be fairly self contained and will only need water when condensation stops forming on the inside.

Here is the finished product:

And a few close ups:

Stone of the Week: Merlinite

2010-06-14T19:14:00.001-03:00

Merlinite is a black and white stone that is found in New Mexico and is becoming more and more readily available. It is said to hold the wisdom of all those who have worked magick before us, whether they be Alchemist, Magician or Shaman. It is an excellent stone for connecting with nature. The blending of two colors in each Merlinite stone lends itself to blending and connecting the different realms. This can be a particularly useful stone for those who are interested in exploring past lives or astral realms. It also useful to use Merlinite during meditation.
Merlinite's balancing properties can be used to bring harmony into one's life. It can also help heal old hurts and aid the user in getting over issues from their past.

Spell to Heal the Gulf

2010-06-14T18:00:00.000-03:00

Over at The Witches' Path (formerly The Wandering Witch) we have started The Circle, and will be doing at least one group spell per month. For the month of June, the members voted for a Spell to Heal the Gulf and I was asked to create the spell. I thought I would share it here for anyone who is interested.

Find a pond or stream where you will not be disturbed. You may wish to use a place that has particular meaning for you. Place your hands in the water and picture white light streaming from your fingertips. Watch as it grows to fill the water then imagine the light winding its way through steams and groundwater, eventually reaching the ocean. Picture it cleansing the water, soothing the plants and animals and destroying all traces of black sludge. When you are ready, recite the following:

I bless all creatures with water pure.
Cease the pollution,
so all may endure.

Bless the environment with your love and will,
So that Mother Earth may prove to be healthy still.

*words adapted from Llewellyn, Spell of the Day

NOTE: If you absolutely cannot reach a body of water, pour your energy into a bowl of water and then pour it outside and picture it flowing into the groundwater.

Merlinite and Amethyst and Celestite, Oh My!

2010-06-13T18:00:00.005-03:00

Last week I picked up my layaway from Little Mysteries. It was a big one, and means that I probably won't be able to do any shopping there for a while, but it was WAY worth it.

First, a nice piece of Merlinite. Pretty sure this one will end up as Stone of the Week pretty soon

Then two gorgeous amethyst bookends. The colors on these are just STUNNING!

And, Drum Roll Please......

The Most Beautiful Hunk of Celenite I have ever seen!

It is big and beautiful with gorgeous crystals. Here is one with a Pepsi can for size comparison

A Bracelet Job Spell

2010-06-12T18:52:00.000-03:00

Recently, I asked your help to get a good job at Job Fair. I am now ready to tell you about the working I was doing for myself.

I used to make friendship bracelets as a kid. Even though I haven't attempted to make one in close to ten years, I have always kept the craft box with multitudes of embroidery floss arranged by color. I felt pulled to do something with them and to put some real effort into getting a job this year.

I lit some incense and a green candle (from the batch I made this winter). Then, I chose the following colors:

Blue - for opportunity
Green - for the job that is right for me
Purple - for intuition
Yellow - for happiness and learning

Each time I picked up a strand I concentrated on it's meaning and recited a line:

Blue for opportunity, for lots of jobs that I can choose from
Green for the job that is right for me, that will make me happy and further my career
Purple for inspiration, so that I will know the job when I see it
Yellow for happiness and learning, for both myself and my students

I know it isn't exactly poetry, but it was effective for me. Here is the finished product:

I tied the bracelet and placed in around the candle as it burned out, then wore the bracelet to the job fair.

Waging War on Ants

2010-06-11T07:04:00.000-03:00

My apartment has ants. In the last few days, hundreds of the little buggers are making the trek from my patio into my kitchen. I called my building manager and he is going to spray the outside, but I am trying to get rid of them without poison inside. I have two dogs and a cat, and am very wary about using any type of bug repellant in the house. So far, I have dusted their trail with baking soda, then ran out of that so I tried Pepper (it was recommended). The pepper didn't seem to be working so well so I then tried baby powder. I THINK I found a small crack in the doorframe of the patio doors and that this was where they were getting in, so I doused it with baby powder. Here's hoping they are gone for good. Anyone else having bug issues?

Stone of the Week - Pyrite

2010-06-06T09:33:00.000-03:00

Pyrite is associated with the element of Fire and with Mars. Also known as fool's gold, pyrite is often found near deposits of real gold. As such, it is a particularly good stone for drawing money and luck to it's owner. Pyrite is also an excellent addition to a money drawing altar or corner in the home. Polished pyrite may have been used in the past as a divining or scrying stone. In any form, it can help aid intuition and connect the left and right side of the brain to increase creativity as well as logical thinking.
Pyrite is used to protect against infections and viruses. It can increase physical stamina, remove negativity from the aura and was used to guard against crocodile attacks - though if you wish to avoid crocodile attacks I would recommend simply avoiding crocodiles. Try working with a piece of pyrite this week!

Success!!

2010-06-06T09:11:00.000-03:00

I want to thank everyone who sent energy or lit a candle to help me get a job. It was a long and harrowing experience but I managed to get my old job back for another year. This SHOULD set me up to get a contract next spring so I either won't have to go through job fair again, or I will have a much earlier appt time and, as such, less to stress about. Thank you again for all of your help, I truly feel that it has made a difference.

Energy Request: For a Great Job

2010-06-03T07:00:00.000-03:00

I don't normally ask others for assistance in my own life but this is a particularly stressful time of year. I have to go through Job Fair again (Fair, sounds fun doesn't it? It isn't). My appointment time pretty much sucks (there are appx 270 people ahead of me and very few jobs). So, I need some help here. I am putting out energy for "The job that is best for me, that will make me happy and will further my career"

I need as much help as I can get before Saturday afternoon. So light a candle, some incense, meditate or just plain pray, I'll take anything!!!

P.S: I am definitely working the mojo for myself, I just feel like I could use an extra boost this year...

Sweet Valley High Drinking Game

2010-06-01T18:00:00.000-03:00

I just stumbled across a (fairly) old blog post involving the Sweet Vally High Series. It struck my fancy because I have seen some of my grade 7 students reading this series and was transported back in time to my own obsession with these books (I think I was 7 or 8). This, however, is where the nostalgia ends and the AWESOME begins. The blog author has created the single-most fantastic drinking game EVER. I give to you:

The Sweet Valley High Drinking Game

1 drink anytime the words “blonde,” “sun-streaked,” “blue-green eyes” or “perfect figure” are mentioned in relation to the Wakefield twins’ looks
1 drink anytime anyone goes to the beach, or talks about going to the beach
1 drink anytime Liz and Jess get to drive the Fiat
1 drink anytime Jess mentions the number “37″ (you guys, seriously, she does this a lot)
1 drink anytime they mention Steve, the eldest Wakefield child
1 drink anytime Bruce Patman shows up
1 drink anytime Jessica flakes on chores, Elizabeth talks to herself, or Todd or Enid are lame
1 drink anytime “Eyes and Ears,” the gossip column that Elizabeth writes for The Oracle, the student newspaper, is mentioned
1 drink anytime the fucking matching lavaliers are mentioned

The full post can be found at foreveryoungadult.com Anyone want to play???

Hilarity: The best weapon in the fight against proselytizing!

2010-05-31T18:00:00.000-03:00

One hilarious response to campus preachers:

This student stood alongside preacher, Jed Smock, and encouraged students to follow "the way of The Boot". Eventually, Jed just gave up. Beaten down by humor!

The full story (and a few more hilarious pictures) can be found at: friendlyatheist.com

Time for a new name??

2010-05-30T16:55:00.000-03:00

I am considering a name change, I'm trying out Wicked Ways. Any opinions? I also considered The Copper Cauldron or something with Phoenix in it....

Stone of the Week - Labradorite

2010-05-30T10:09:00.000-03:00

I have been rather lax with my Stone of The Week postings and am going to attempt to remedy this. In honor of my recent purchase of two BEAUTIFUL Labradorite bookends. I have chosen it as the stone of the week.

Labradorite is a beautiful blue-green, iridescent stone. It remains very popular among pagans from many paths and can be found in countries such as Canada, Finland, Greenland and Russia, just to name a few. Labradorite strengthens and protects the aura, removing or deflecting unwanted energy and preventing positive energy from "leaking". It can strengthen psychic powers and help connect oneself to all that is mystical and mysterious in the world. Labradorite acts as a bridge between the user and their higher self or higher knowledge, as such, it can strengthen intuition and inspire imagination. This makes it an excellent stone for anyone working in creative fields. It is also an excellent stone to accompany therapy, especially past-life therapy as it can awaken suppressed or forgotten memories.
Labradorite can be used to balance hormones and regulate metabolism. It can aid with problems involving the eyes and the brain. It also works with the immune system and can be used in dealing with the common cold. Labradorite is also very effective in dealing with bone and joint problems such as arthritis.

New Facebook Account

2010-05-24T17:40:00.001-03:00

I finally created a facebook account just for the Pagan side of my life. You can now find me at

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1176091775

Or search Phoenix TeacherWitch

Herb Garden Beginnings - the 2010 Edition

2010-05-24T11:41:00.001-03:00

I finally got some time to plant my patio herb garden this morning. I also got permission from my building manager to put pots on the ground next to my patio, so I am expanding this year.

Here are my Chives and Lavender from last year:

Doing quite well I think... Look at those buds! Can't wait for it to bloom!

Now for the Newbies:

Lemon Balm

Woolly Thyme

Anise

Rue

Apple Mint

Sage and Cascading Rosemary

And Dill and Angelica awaiting a new pot

Clearly Poseidon likes the smell of the Angelica...

I also have purple basil and Genovese basil. I will be keeping these inside the house until July as they die when I put them out early (every year!)

This is my first time with the rue, angelica, anise and woolly thyme so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

The Shadowscapes Tarot

2010-05-22T23:52:00.000-03:00

I have recently fallen in love with the Shadowscapes tarot. For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, check out this link

The images are positively STUNNING and it is, by far, the most beautiful tarot deck that I have ever seen. My favorite card is that of the Hermit:

The colors and the imagery in this deck are phenomenal and the artist has connected with the meaning behind the cards in a very special and unique way. For example, the death card (which usually features a dark and sometimes fearsome scene) portrays a phoenix, showing that this card can be about a new beginning, or rejuvenation.

The artist also sells prints from her website. I am considering ordering a few but am having the worst time trying to decide which ones!!

The Wandering Witch Forum

2010-05-21T17:24:00.000-03:00

Cottage Witchery has a new name! It is now called The Wandering Witch (no making fun of the name, I chose it! :p)

Come on in and sit a spell, we are still growing and love to welcome each and every member

The Wandering Witch

Book Review: The Accidental Santera by Irete Lazo

2010-05-16T08:23:00.001-03:00

I spotted this book at a local new age shop but weeded it from my purchases (too many expensive stones to buy!) Low and Behold, a week or two later, my friend bought it for me for my birthday. It is the story of one woman's journey to become a Santera. Here is the Amazon blurb

A one-of-a-kind novel that plunges readers into the secrets of Afro-Cuban Santeria—a world of fascinating beauty, pulsating rhythms, and great mystery.
Gabrielle Segovia, Ph.D., is struggling to build a career as a Latina scientist, cope with her third miscarriage, and resuscitate her marriage to fellow biology professor Benito Cruz. Becoming a santera is not in her plans.
But everything changes when her best friend, the feisty Patricia Muñoz, drags her into a French Quarter voodoo shop during a conference in New Orleans. When Gabrielle gets home to the San Francisco Bay Area, the predictions from her on-a-whim reading begin to come true. That’s when she learns she hails from a long line of practitioners of Santeria, the religion created when Yoruba slaves combined their ancient rituals with Catholicism.
Out of desperation to become a mother and save both her job and her marriage, Gabrielle turns to Puerto Rican relatives living in Miami she hasn’t seen since she was a child. She finds herself warmly embraced by three generations of Segovia santeras and drawn into their world of séances, sacred drums, and ritual animal sacrifice.
Unexpectedly marked for initiation by the gods and goddesses of the Yoruba pantheon, Gabrielle must decide whether she can bring herself to answer the call. And, if she chooses, commit to the seemingly contradictory life of a scientist who is also a santera.
In this powerful debut novel, Irete Lazo captures a vibrant world still unknown to many and relates a journey that is at once funny, heart-wrenching, and, ultimately, triumphant.

I found the book very enjoyable. The character of Gabrielle was likable and believable. I was very happy to find that she was a grown woman, with a real job, who is called into a religion that doesn't fit with mainstream views. It is a far cry from the typical "teen explores wicca, parents get mad, teen convinces them it is ok" Pagan fiction that one normally comes across. While much of the plot was fairly predictable, the book provides a special view into a very mysterious religion that many of us would never get to see. The only challenge I faced while reading this novel was that many of the characters would comment in Spanish. Sometimes the translation was provided, but sometimes it wasn't. I do NOT do well with languages and so I was confused by some of the phrases and it impacted my understanding of some of the rituals. I was also struck by how involved the entire religion is. In asking for any favors, Gabrielle would have to perform many tasks, present offerings and sometimes make sacrifices (both of herself - ex: stop drinking - and of animals). Once on the track toward becoming a Santera, Gabrielle would have to change many aspects of her life. It got me wondering how much we would be willing to sacrifice or change for our own religious calling. But, that is a discussion for another post...
All in All, The Accidental Santera was a very good read and I would recommend it for anyone who has even a passing curiosity with Santeria and would like a glimpse inside interesting and intricate religion. It is a wonderful addition to the world of Pagan Fiction.

P.S I am a huge fan of Pagan Fiction, if there is anything else I MUST read, or any other books you would like to see reviewed, please let me know.

Musical Week!

2010-05-15T08:33:00.000-03:00

I am gearing up for Musical Week. As some of you know, I direct my school's musical each year. We perform on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. I have been quite busy in the past week and will continue to be busy this next week and so, will probably not be posting much during that time. I promise I will be back next weekend (probably with pictures of my new patio garden if the weather holds out!).

Nine Questions for the Kitchen Witch

2010-05-08T17:03:00.000-03:00

This list of questions is borrowed from Witchin in the Kitchen, the answers are my own.

1. Does your magical name have anything to do with the kitchen, foods or herbs?

Nope

2. What do you think are the three most important tools for a kitchen witch?

An excellent (usually expensive) chef's knife, a cutting board and a well stocked spice collection.

3. What do you do to make the kitchen the center of the home? Is it decorated in any special way? Do you have a kitchen altar?

My apartment kitchen is rather small and so it is difficult to have a kitchen altar. I do, however, have an aerogarden and thus a source of light, greenery and fresh herbs all year round.

4. Which kitchen deity/deities, if any, do you feel closest to? How do you honor him/her/them?

I work mainly with the Greek pantheon and am becoming closer and closer to Hestia as I get older and enter the more homemaking stage of my life.

5. What is your signature dish? Does it have a magical purpose? You can share the recipe unless it’s a secret.

I usually serve guests pot roast or spaghetti. Homemade spaghetti sauce has been a staple in my home since I was a little girl and always makes me feel warm and loved. In fact, I am making it on Monday when Fiance returns from a few days at sea.

6. What are your favorite cookbooks? They can be magical or non-magical.

I love anything by Taste of Home, cookbooks, magazines, I tend to collect them all. I also enjoy the emails and magazines from Kraft. They have easy recipes with well-known ingredients that are great for someone who works long hours and much doesn't have time for food prep during the week.

7. What is your favorite food?

Spaghetti. I have the strongest cravings for pasta and any type of tomato based sauce.

8. What is your least favorite?

I despise canned peas. My mother always served them growing up and I was under then impression that I hated peas until I was served frozen peas and then *gasp!* Fresh peas! Now I love them, especially with mashed potatoes and gravy ...... mmmmmm.

9. Do you like to listen to the television or listen to music while you are in the kitchen? If so, what?

I listen to showtunes. Fiance and I have completely opposite taste in music (he loves heavy metal - the heavier the better) so I take advantage of the time when I'm cooking and he isn't around to indulge in some show tunes. I was using AOL radio, but that is no longer available in Canada so I would LOVE LOVE LOVE IT if someone could recommend another option.

Science and Magic - Closer than you think?

2010-05-08T09:51:00.001-03:00

In this clip, Gregg Braden, author of The Isaiah Effect, The God Code, The Divine Matrix, Spontaneous Healing of Belief and Fractal Time: The Secret Of 2012 and a New World Age, explains how Science is starting to recognize effects and patterns that may finally prove the existence of magick.

I am not sure about the validity of these claims and think it will require much more research. I am considering ordering one or more of his books (more likely to happen if I can get the ebook). If I do, I will review at a later date.

TV: Bones' Portrayal of Witches ***SPOILER ALERT

2010-05-06T20:23:00.000-03:00

All in all, I think the episode was mediocre. While not outright insulting of witches, the show did not portray a realistic view of Witchcraft today. Bones and Sweets made a habit of correcting Booth on his misinformation about witches but they also made it seem that there are two types: bad witches and Wiccans. The Wiccan characters themselves were extremely flaky and laughable. They insisted on being called by their craft names (Rowan and Ember) and refused to give "The names society assigned to us, not while in the sacred grove". I found myself rolling my eyes at their dialogue and cringing at their strange way of speaking. And, OF COURSE, they danced naked under the moon - URG! Sidenote: what was with Booth's crack about that only happening with the ones you don't want to see naked? Those witches were HAWT!
The episode also features remains that had been robbed from a grave and (since they had been pressed to death) were OBVIOUSLY the bones of a witch in Salem and there JUST HAPPENED to be a direct descendant who was a practicing Wiccan in a local coven. They even made mention of the Ergot poisoning theory and recycled it as the cause for the new murder.
In the end, I was not highly offended by the episode but I was not impressed with the ridiculousness of the plot and the characters. Seems I am still awaiting some tv show to finally get it right.

The Witch in the Wardrobe - Tonight's Episode of Bones

2010-05-05T07:06:00.000-03:00

Just a reminder that tonight's episode of Bones features Witches and is called The Witch in the Wardrobe. From what I can glean from the teaser it is a coven of witches that - at one point - dance naked under the moon (this already gives me misgivings - naked witches in the media is a pet peeve of mine). I do hope they do right by their subject matter as I really do love this show. Here is the teaser:

P.S: The teaser says Thursday, but the episode is airing tonight - at least according to the tv guide for my area.

True Blood Minisode 2: Jessica

2010-05-04T16:39:00.002-03:00

True Blood Minisode 1: Pam and Eric

2010-05-03T19:22:00.001-03:00

HBO has released the first of the TrueBlood minisodes. This one features Eric and Pam auditioning dancers for the club. Enjoy!

New Pagan Forum

2010-05-02T10:44:00.001-03:00

I have taken on a Head Moderator position at a new Pagan Forum. It is called Cottage Witchery (but will be undergoing a name change soon) and is designed with all Pagans in mind. Here is your chance to get in on the ground floor! Ever wanted the name Athena but ended up with Athena682? For a limited time, you can reserve your name by signing up today!

LOL, ok, I sound like a bad infomercial. Seriously, I think it is going to be a fun forum and, while I love some of the big forums, they have fabulous people and lots of information, sometimes it is nice to be part of something that is a little smaller and more intimate.

P.S the forum in brand new and, of course, new buttons, graphics and perhaps new forum software is on the way!

Happy Beltaine

2010-05-01T09:23:00.000-03:00

A quick post to say Happy Beltaine! I have an all day musical rehearsal and then an evening Beltaine celebration put on by a local group. Hoping the weather holds out, Mother Nature has been playing tricks on us as of late. Yesterday featured the strangest sun showers. Usually, we might get that type of weather for an hour or so, but it kept happening all day. Twitter and Facebook were filled with rants of "sunny at work, pouring rain while walking to the bus, sunny on the drive home arrrrggghhh!" Today's heavy clouds lead me to believe we might be in for more of the same. Sending out positive vibes for the weather to hold out for the festivities!

Musical Monday

2010-04-26T19:21:00.000-03:00

One of those songs that just makes a bad day better, especially if sung while making Midnight Margaritas!!

Re-decorating Therapy

2010-04-26T16:59:00.000-03:00

It seems that, this spring, my life plan has hit a snag. I had been expecting to get my permanent contract this year - no luck and I had hoped to be shopping for a house by now. Due to the lack of contract and because Fiance and I are committed to paying off his sizable amount of debt - we have decided to put off buying a house for 6 months to a year. This has led me to being more than a little snarky and depressed. I realize that I am being this way and that I am taking it out on Fiance because, since a large reason behind the delay is his debt, I am blaming him and starting to feel resentful. As I said, I realize that I am being unfair even while making yet another biting comment but I can't seem to stop. Has anyone else ever found themselves acting one way, despite knowing exactly why you are behaving this way and that it is wrong?

In order to combat this tendency, and to make myself a little happier around my apartment, I have decided to re-decorate. There have been a number of things that I have been putting off with thoughts of "I will do that when we get a house". So I have decided to take care of all of those things, such as, replacing the scratched kitchen table and the "beat to a snot" bedroom set (I'm talking missing drawers resulting in gaping holes!), buying a painting for the rather large and rather empty living room wall and moving the constantly messy (and cheaply built) computer desk into the guest room. I realize that most of this will take some of the money that I had tucked away for a downpayment but I really feel that it will allow me to be happier in the space that we have now, instead of constantly thinking about where I would rather be. Any ideas on cheap ways to improve apartment living?

What's In A Name?

2010-04-24T13:00:00.001-03:00

I've been thinking for a while about the name I use here and on Twitter. I worry sometimes that PhoenixWitch is slightly odd and may conjure images of a teenage girl, reading Ravenwolf and scrawling different craft names all over her math notebook, each one consisting of some inane combination or magical sounding words. I despise the fact that the word Phoenix has become so entrenched in Pagan (and not so pagan) culture as to have lost all meaning. You will, in fact, find me on Mysticwicks, a community of 22,535, under the name Phoenix - that's right, the original Phoenix, not Phoenix165 or PhoenixInsertRandomAdditiveHere. I chose the name because of an experience I had while very young. On my 5th birthday my house caught fire. I had been playing with a neighbor across the street but came home early and went to my room. My mother was decorating downstairs and did not know that I was even home. She came upstairs, saw the fire (which had originated from something on the stove) grabbed my little brother and got out. Once she was outside she looked up and saw the image of my grandfather, recently deceased, standing in the window, beckoning her to come back. It was at this moment that she realized I was inside. Firefighters came and got me, and I have this intense memory of not wanting to leave. When we were finally allowed back inside, the majority of the house was gutted. Strangely, my room was the only one in the house that looked pristine, despite the fact that the rooms surrounding it were ruined. There was no indication that there had even been a fire, not even so much as smoke marks on the door. This was my first encounter with the supernatural world and my first indication that there are actually forces working within our lives that we are unable to comprehend. And so, having literally risen from the flames with the aid of something stronger than myself, I chose the name Phoenix to represent this part of my life. I've considered many times about changing it, even spent hours contemplating new names, but nothing else seems to fit. I guess I am stuck with Phoenix and it is stuck with me.

Recent Stone Purchases

2010-04-23T17:35:00.000-03:00

I am determined that these stones are the last ones purchased .... at least until April is over! A friend tempted me with talk of reasonably priced spirit quartz and, once in the store, I couldn't leave without a few more treasures.

First the Spirit Quartz

Then a stunning piece of Zincite caught my eye ...

And finally, I spied a piece of Kunzite. Which I convinced myself was reasonable because the only piece of kunzite that I have is about the size of my pinky fingernail and I'm afraid to take it out of the house because I might lose it.

So now I am really on a budget for the rest of the month .... but holding each new stone makes it feel worth it!

Stone of the Week: Zincite

2010-04-19T18:57:00.000-03:00

On a recent trip to my favorite shop Little Mysteries (yes, again - I was tempted by tales of spirit quartz) I picked up a stunning piece of yellow zincite and, of course, am now motivated to learn more about it.

Zincite comes in a variety of colors including red, yellow and green. Zincite removes blockages and promotes creative thinking. The overwhelming feeling that I get from my stone is one of joy. It also brings fun and new ideas, something I'm sure we all can use from time to time. The yellow variety is particularly good at overcoming inadequacy and instills courage and confidence while boosting personal power. Zincite is also said to be useful in overcoming phobias and in coming to terms with changes such as menopause or empty-nest syndrome. It promotes friendships and brings together like-minded people.

Physically, Zincite is well known for re-energizing both body and spirit. It has been used to treat blockages within the body such as mucus conditions. Because it boosts the immune system, Zincite is effective in the treatment of auto-immune diseases and AIDS. It may also help prevent epileptic seizures and aid in fertility.

Shopping Trip Goodies

2010-04-11T19:33:00.000-03:00

Every year, on their anniversary, my favorite local pagan store, Little Mysteries, has a fantastic sale. This year, they offered 20% off everything in the store. I thought I would share some of my new found goodies.

First, I needed to replenish my herb cabinet with some supplies that I have used in various magickal endeavors over the past few months.

I usually end up coming home with at least a handful of stones but this time only two caught my eye. A lapis lazuli and a beautiful blue goldstone. The goldstone looks almost purple and has an unbelievable sparkle when you turn it in the light.

I weeded out a few purchases in order to be able to afford the following two pieces. First, a Tiger's Eye Pendant. I have been searching for just the right Tiger's Eye for years now and I really felt that if I left the store without this piece, I would regret it later.

And finally, this absolutely STUNNING Labradorite Bookends. They were actually a recommendation from a good friend who works at the store. The first day of the sale was Saturday, which just happened to be the day I had scheduled an all-day rehearsal for the school musical (I direct). SO, my wonderful fiance offered brave the crowds and go for me and came back with these hunks of gorgeousness.

I spent about twice what I had intended this year. But scrimping and saving over the next month to make up for it will be well worth it every time I look at these stones.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2010-04-05T11:26:00.000-03:00

With the coming of the Easter weekend I am, quite literally, leaving the cold of winter behind and entering the beauty of spring. In teaching, January thru March is an incredibly difficult time of year. As with everyone, we have to deal with getting up in the dark, being stuck inside a poorly lit, concrete building all day and then emerging in the dark. The kids are cranky and more disruptive and we have less patience to deal with it. There are no holidays here after the Christmas break and before the March break. This time of year often feels like a marathon where we are just striving to reach the finish line without falling flat on our faces. I did get to have a lovely March break, my mother came to visit and then my fiance returned from Haiti amid much fanfare. However, once I returned to school I had to settle in for the two week ordeal that is report card season. I finished those on Thursday but, because of the system that this school uses, I expect I will spend the next week and a half changing things until I am ready to vomit at the thought of opening that program one more time!

Now comes the home stretch for the year. This is also theatre season and, since I direct the school's musical, things will not be any less busy between now and June. But, it is my intention to make more of an effort to reconnect with the spiritual side of life as well as with the friends that I have neglected during these dark and dreary months. It is time to open the door and let in the light.

Making Spell Candles

2010-02-14T01:04:00.000-04:00

I have had a candle kit for a while now and haven't tried it up until now. I decided to try my hand at making some money/success candles.

I melted down about half a block of wax

Then ground up my herbs and mixed them together

When the wax was melted I added the color and the herbs. Once everything was mixed together I did the first pour

After 5 minutes I inserted the wicks, then waited until a well formed and did the second pour. Once they were all cool they popped right out and I trimmed the wicks. Here is the final result

I was quite surprised at how many candles I got out of so little wax. I may never buy candles again! I also have a kit with a larger mold that I'm thinking about trying next. Has anyone else tried their hand at making their own spell candles? How were your results?

My Beautiful New Print!

2010-02-10T21:45:00.000-04:00

My Newest Acquisition: Hecate Goddess of the Crossroads

I love Etsy! This beautiful print is from Emily Balivet who has some truly gorgeous artwork. Check out her work at Her Etsy Shop

Aerogarden Diary - Day 1

2010-02-08T17:57:00.000-04:00

Last year for my birthday I received an Aerogarden. For anyone who hasn't seen these machines check out the website: http://www.aerogrow.com/ This is a fantastic machine that allows you to grow just about anything all year long. It sits on your counter, only uses water and turns the lights on and off automatically. No muss, no fuss! I have started a new herb kit containing Basil, Chives, Thyme, Mint, Oregano and Dill. It will take just a few days for my plants to start sprouting and within a month I should be able to start harvesting. For those who are not herb-minded, there are also veggie and flower kits available. I am so excited to finally see something green and growing again!! I will update as soon as everything starts sprouting!

Stone of the Week: Chrysocolla

2010-02-06T14:06:00.000-04:00

I was shopping at my favorite New Age store last week and a new stone caught my eye. Chrysocolla is a very gentle stone that promotes peace, tranquility and harmony. It removes negativity from a person or place and is an excellent stone for easing fear, anxiety and guilt. Crysocolla is associated with the throat chakra and, ask such, helps with communication. It also increases intuition and creativity.

As a healing stone, Crysocolla can aid with many stress related issues such as ulcers, headaches and digestive problems. It also clears breathing pathways and is helpful for those who suffer from asthma, emphysema and pneumonia. This soothing stone is also excellent at reducing PMS and muscle cramps during a woman's menstruation.

Fighting the Urge to Hibernate

2010-01-30T10:26:00.000-04:00

I would like to link to a friends blog post entitled "Are Modern Pagans Outdoor-Phobic?"

Just Another Pagan Blog

I am finding myself fighting this very tendency but I think it is more the time of year than anything. I leave my school at around 4pm, by this point it is getting dark out (most days are overcast so it is plenty dark out). I drive home to my empty apartment, take the dogs outside in the shivering cold, fix some supper for one and then spend the rest of the evening cuddled up on the couch surfing online and/or watching tv. Every week I start off with the good intentions of going for a walk each evening but, each week, I allow myself to be sucked back into the comfort of my couch, a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. I find it difficult to get excited about doing anything that forces be out into the cold, be it friends, shopping or ritual. And frankly, despite Imbolc fast approaching, I don't see winter as ending anytime soon.

Heroes in Haiti

2010-01-17T10:30:00.000-04:00

On Thursday my Fiance was on one of the two Canadian ships shipped off to provide aid in Haiti. We had 18 hours notice before he had to be on board and ready to go. I know that he is going to be vital in that region but I am very worried about what he will have to deal with over there. I am asking all my readers to send some strength and courage to all those assisting with this disaster.

Stone of the Week: Aqua Aura Quartz

2010-01-10T16:52:00.000-04:00

Aqua Aura Quartz is a man made quartz that is created when gold is artificially bonded with the quartz to produce a brilliant blue color. Aqua Aura Quartz is an excellent stone for increasing psychic abilities and for guarding against psychic attack. It can be used to help promote peace during meditation and to increase intuition. Aqua Aura Quartz activates the throat chakra and aids with communication, especially speaking from one's heart. It is a useful tool for strengthening the effect of any stones with which it is kept.
Physically, Aqua Aura Quartz works to heal and strengthen the throat and thymus gland. It can aid in reducing stress related issues and boost the immune system. An excellent stone to carry on a stressful work day, especially during flu season!

Winter Travel Blues

2010-01-04T20:20:00.002-04:00

I created a little mojo bag to take with me on my trip to Newfoundland in order to keep travel woes to a minimum. It worked great on the way over but seems to have worn out before my return flight when bad luck took over with a vengence! Halifax was being battered by its first big storm of the winter and my flight was diverted to Toronto. After a 45 min wait on baggage, a 30 min wait to get a new flight for the next morning and a 1 1/2 hour wait (in the freezing cold!) for a shuttle, I finally made it to the hotel. A short time later I met some of the people from my flight at the resteraunt for dinner and an hour and 15 mins later we STILL hadn't gotten any food! A 4:30 rise saw me to the airport for 5:15, then check in, security and on to the plane. Where we sat, next to the terminal for an hour to wait for catering. Catering, for a 2 hour flight! When I finally made it back to Halifax I discovered that Fiance had taken his car to pick me up instead of his own and, just when I thought my bad luck was over, we break down.

I really hope the rest of 2010 is nothing like its beginning!

Blood, Guts and Gore = Merry Christmas?

2009-12-13T20:11:00.000-04:00

Since we will be traveling to my parents for Christmas I decided to give Fiance his gift early. I got him a PS3 and the new Modern Warfare game. I know there is a warning on the game but, until he started playing, I had no idea how violent this game truly is. The most disturbing thing is that when I asked several of my students in grades 7-9 which game I should get him they all answered with Modern Warfare II. Clearly, this game is highly inappropriate for kids that age and stores are not allowed to sell to anyone under 17, so who exactly is purchasing it for them? Do parents not consider these ratings or do any research into the types of games that their children are playing? I have witnessed students become increasingly violent and apathetic when it comes to others' suffering. That is not to say that games like this are solely to blame, but they are certainly not helping! It makes one wonder what kind of society we are creating where kids and adults alike play games of this violent nature to the point where they are no longer shocked and appalled by horribly violent imagery.

Stone of the Week: Emerald

2009-12-10T21:00:00.001-04:00

Emerald is known as the "stone of successful love". It increases loving vibrations and helps bring about a happy home. It enhances joy, faith and loyalty. Emerald can strengthen both friendships and romantic relationships. It also promotes truthfulness and calms the emotions while bringing inspiration and patience. I am hoping that carrying a piece of emerald will be particularly helpful in dealing with the last week of school before the holiday break and in communicating with a demanding parent as it can bring mutual understanding and promote cooperation.
Emerald is known to help with memory and to enhance mental clarity. It is known as a detoxifyer and can aid with diabetes and problems with the liver and pancreas. Emerald is also associated with the eyes and can aid vision problems while it promotes clarity.

Hurt and Confused

2009-11-28T18:25:00.000-04:00

I was dealt a harsh blow today. I have been friends with this person for a couple of years and a month ago we were making wedding plans and discussing her being my maid of honor. In just the last few weeks have felt that things have been cooling off. She has canceled plans at the last minute, doesn't call and doesn't want to talk when I call. Finally this morning I left her a phone message asking if I had done something wrong and if we could talk. A few hours later I received a facebook message that basically said "I don't want to be friends anymore". I am thoroughly hurt and confused by this whole course of events. Despite claiming a desire to spare my feelings the message contained several comments like "you have been very needy and dramatic, to the extent that I don't want to answer the phone when you call because I know what I am in for" and "At times you can be a know-it-all" and when referring to my recent engagement "Just remember, the shine on the diamond fades and you only wear the dress for one day, so you better be sure of what you want". I realize that I have my faults, but this friend has never brought up any of these issues before. I am so devastated by the things she has said that it has left me wondering which parts are true, am I this horrible person that she paints me to be? How could a friend of several years just up and walk away rather than try to work things out?

Struck down with the Swine

2009-11-20T18:18:00.000-04:00

Despite my best efforts to prevent getting sick it seems I have been struck down with H1N1. I began feeling sick Monday morning and it all went downhill from there. On Wednesday I went to the flu clinic set up to deal with the large number of flu cases and was prescribed tamiflu. It seems to be helping but I am still dealing with a very bad cough as well as an upset stomach (which may be a side effect of the tamiflu). This is, by far, the sickest that I have ever been in my life and I urge anyone who has not yet done so to go out and get the vaccine. I am a young woman, without any medical issues and I have been struck down hard. I can hardly imagine the effect that this would have on someone with health issues. I hope that by Sunday I will be back to normal and able to get back to my life and to this blog. Hope all my followers are feeling much better than I am.

Car Protection Mojo Bag

2009-11-14T13:34:00.000-04:00

Supplies:

Red cloth bag
Comfrey
Mint
Rosemary Oil
Piece of Turquoise
Piece of Moonstone
Piece of Snowflake Obsidian (I chose a piece with just a few specks in order to avoid heavy snow)

Cleanse and prepare all ingredients. Add them to the bag one at a time. Ask the goddess to bless the bag and keep both the car and any passengers safe from harm. Keep the mojo bag in your glove compartment or hang it from your rear view mirror.

Christmas Fever!

2009-11-12T20:37:00.001-04:00

Hello, my name is PhoenixWitch and I am a Christmas-aholic. I officially broke out the Christmas music today (I only waited this long in order to properly respect Remembrance Day). As always, I started with the Kenny & Dolly Christmas album and spent my morning commute singing at the top of my lungs and marveling at how the cheery songs are able to instantly lift my mood. I spent the rest of the day in an amazingly good mood and was even tempted into visiting Wal-Mart after work. I am still holding off on putting up the Christmas tree, though I am not sure if I will be able to wait until the month is over. I think part of my early celebration of the season stems from the fact that I live away from home and Christmas means going home for a couple of weeks. So not only am I looking forward to the joy of the season and the extended break from teaching but I am also excited about seeing my family again for the first time since last year.

Am I alone in this? Has anyone else caught the Holiday Spirit already?

P.S Looks like I finally got my new background to work. Look! Its snowing!!

A failed attempt at re-decorating

2009-11-11T22:37:00.000-04:00

ARRRGGGG! As you may have noticed I attempted to change the look of this blog with a new template. I spent the last week fighting with it to re-install all of my gadgets and buttons. I have finally given up the fight. It seems I simply cannot get everything I need (especially statcounter) to work with the new template, so here we are, back where we started, yet again.

Stone of the Week: Turquoise

2009-11-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

Turquoise is a beautiful stone that has been prized throughout history by many different cultures and used for everything from adorning tombs and making jewellery to healing magick and ensuring an arrow hits it's target. Due to it's vibrant color, this stone is associated with the sky and may be help one connect with sky deities. It is a strong stone for protection and legend has it that a turquoise stone will shatter if the carrier is about to find themselves in immediate danger. It also absorbs negativity and clears away pollution and electromagnetic smog. It brings with it wisdom and truth and is said to change color when one is faced with infidelity. Turquoise is associated with the throat chakra and allows the user to release inhibitions and express themselves more freely. In this way, it also strengthens creative expression.
Turquoise is known as a "master healer" stone. It enhances the immune system and alleviates infection. It can also aid with throat and lung issues such as asthama. Turquoise is a stone that enhances positive thinking and, as such, can aid in any number of health and mental well being issues.
Due to the popularity of turquoise there are many people selling imitation pieces. Usually these are howlite that has been dyed to resemble turquoise. If you are looking to purchase turquoise be sure that you trust the seller as reputable and ask questions about whether or not the stone has undergone any treatment. For side by side examples of real vs fake check out TheTurquoiseChick

Dispelling Negativity with Hematite

2009-11-07T15:46:00.001-04:00

Hematite has the unique quality of acting as a mirror. Because it reflects what it sees it can also be used to dispel negativity. This makes it an excellent stone to keep in an area that you feel negativity building up. I am making a personal effort to leave my work issues at work and maintain a (relatively) tranquil and peaceful home. In order to aid me in this I installed a key rack with a mirror and placed three small hematite stones on top. Before stepping through the door at the end of each day I take a moment to cleanse myself of the negativity gathered throughout the day.
You may also wish to take advantage of these qualities to rid yourself of the emotions and anxiety that can trouble your sleep. Simply hold the stone and allow your troubles to slip away. You may also wish to light a candle and/or play some relaxing music.

A Return and A Rant

2009-11-07T15:04:00.000-04:00

I aplogize for my absence this last week. I do most of my blogging on the weekend but with my surprise engagement last week I was swept into a whirlwind of dinners, visits and congratulations that left me with little time to keep up with the online world. But now I am back and better than ever!

I am very excited to have purchased a HP Mini Netbook and am now able to blog from the couch! Oh the marvels of technology!!

In all seriousness, the real purpose for buying a netbook was to eliminate my frustration with the computers at my school. Having used my home computer, the one at my old school and the one at my new school to create documents meant that the dinosaur I am forced to use at work would not open 3/4 of my files!!! It is incredibly frustrating to get inspired to work on a project only to discover your processor refuses to acknowledge anything created after the invention of the internet! So now, I have a machine that can travel with me and actually open all of my files. I also purchased a printer so that I won't have to deal with the antiquated piece of crap that the school board seems to think qualifies as a printer.

Times like these always make me think about the parents who write into the paper or call the radio stations complaining about teachers being lazy and unconcerned with their child's education (these are particularly prevalent after a snow day - which, I must note, is simply for the safety of your child and is not a decision made by any teacher, but the board in the area). I would love to provide those same parents with charts displaying the time I spend after my allotted hours, prepping for my classes, correcting student work, discussing issues with parents and staff, creating the school yearbook and directing the school musical (a task that takes at least 5 months). I would also love to show them the receipts for each teacher in my school and calculate how much each person spends (out of our own pocket!) on supplies to try and better our teaching. Perhaps I have lofty ideas about the respect that teachers deserve but I come from a small town where teachers were not seen as the enemy, and were appreciated for the extra time that they provide in order to give their students wonderful opportunities and life experiences. What has happened in our world that we no longer acknowledge the valuable role of educators in the lives of our children?

My Halloween Surprise

2009-11-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

It starts with these:

Wait for it........ It gets better........

Heres another

How well does my man know me to propose on October 31st??!!

More Halloweeny Goodies

2009-10-27T18:19:00.000-03:00

Some more Halloweeny goodies. The two cute little witches are new, the door hangers are from last year.

Stone of the Week: Hematite

2009-10-25T21:27:00.000-03:00

Hematite is an excellent grounding stone and is a staple of any witch's collection. It is a protective stone not only for the physical realm but the astral one as well. Hematite cleans the aura of negative energies and is particularly useful in stressful and negative environments, especially those involving the legal field. Those who use this stone find themselves strengthened as it enhances their self esteem, willpower and confidence levels. Hematite can aid those seeking to overcome addictions or over-indulgences such as smoking or over-eating. Hematite helps organize the mind and stimulates concentration and focus. As such, it is a useful stone for any workplace.
As a healing stone, Hematite is associated with the blood and can be beneficial to those suffering from blood-related conditions such as anemia. It also aids the kidneys and tissues. Hematite can be used to treat cramps, anxiety and insomnia. An elixer can also be used for fevers.

A Tiger's Eye Abundance Spell

2009-10-24T14:04:00.000-03:00

Hold at least 4 tiger's eye stones in your hand and charge them to bring abundance. Place the stones around a green candle (either in a ring or one stone in each direction - North, South, East and West). You may chose to anoint the candle with a money drawing or success oil, such as cedarwood. You may also wish to burn money drawing herbs such as basil or mint (since mint grows and multiplies very fast I find it particularly effective when you need the spell to work quickly).

If you simply need a quick influx of cash try chanting:

Money, money plentiful
Make my wallet mighty full
Money, money overflowing
Keep my cashflow ever growing

If, however, you are looking for more long lasting prosperity I would choose:

My prosperity will grow and flower
Increasing my financial power
Bills are paid with funds to spare
Money both to save and share

One Holiday At A Time Please!

2009-10-24T08:31:00.000-03:00

I love October. I love the chill in the air, I love digging out my nice sweaters and scarves, I love watching the leaves change and, ultimately, I love Halloween. I have always loved Halloween. Even as a kid I would check the tv listings and write down when all my favorite specials were coming on. It seems to me like those lasted all month! Now it seems most people cannot wait for Halloween to be over! The shop have already started to put Halloween merchandise on sale in order to shift it out for their ever growing Christmas stock. I don't need to see tiny plastic reindeer next to my bloody severed hand, or red and green marring my orange and black! Don't get me wrong - I love the Christmas season too, but let me enjoy one holiday before forcing me to move on to the next!! Our consumerist culture simply pushes us to buy buy buy, moving quickly from one holiday to the next so that we do not lose our momentum and stop for even a minute to enjoy the time that we have.

Stone of the Week: Tiger's Eye

2009-10-18T14:21:00.000-03:00

Tiger's Eye is a beautiful stone and most Pagans tend to have at least one piece lying around. It is a wonderful stone for creating courage and helping maintain one's convictions. It brings out the inner integrity in a person and allows them to see true intentions (both their own and others), this, in turn, aids them in accomplishing goals. Tiger's eye is very potent when it comes to protection and many people wear a piece as a talisman against danger. It is an excellent stone for attracting money and luck. When placed on the third eye it can also enhance psychic abilities, particularly in those born under and earth sign. In terms of healing, Tiger's eye is associated (obviously enough) with the eye and can aid with vision problems. It is also helpful in repairing broken bones and dissolving constrictions.

Tiger's eye is most commonly known in the gold variety but also comes in Blue and Red. Blue Tiger's eye has a calming effect and can be particularly helpful with those who are over stressed and/or quick tempered. It can also slow one's metabolism and calm an overactive sex drive. Red Tiger's Eye has the opposite effect, speeding up one's metabolism and increasing a low sex drive. It is also a motivating stone that can help overcome lethargy and procrastination.

I'm a Winner - Mrs B says so!!

2009-10-18T10:11:00.001-03:00

I have been entering some of the contests over at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom with Mrs B and it turns out I actually won!!

This awesome wall hanging comes from Michele with a Single L Designs Check out her site for some more amazing finds!

A Cemetery Excursion

2009-10-17T14:29:00.002-03:00

Just last week my very non-pagan boyfriend made a very out of the blue suggestion. He mentioned that he had read about where Alexander Keith (Nova Scotian politician and brewmaster - the creator Keith's Beer) was buried and suggested that we visit a local graveyard to check it out. All I could think was SQUEEEE!!! I love visiting old graveyards, so off we went, camera in two to check out two in our fair city.

First the Downtown Cemetery (the official name escapes me but I will edit if I remember it)

A monument to the man who founded the first Freemason Lodge in Canada

Looks like someone else had an even better time than we did!

Then on to the Camp Hill Cemetary

Love the detail work on this one:

Here is our good buddy Alexander Keith:

And the grave of Joseph Howe, Nova Scotian journalist, politician and outspoken opponent to Confederation:

A perfect October excursion. I am hoping we will be able to continue our little trips and explore some of the lesser known cemeteries, who knows who we will find!

Attracting Abundance and Positive Energy with Citrine

2009-10-16T17:17:00.001-03:00

Citrine is a fairly plentiful and commonly used stone and so I am really hoping that some of you are playing along at home with our Stone of the Week game. Here are some of the ways in which you can participate with your Citrine stone.

- Place a piece of Citrine in the wealth corner of your home (furthest to the rear and left of your front door). You may also wish to strengthen this by adding rose quartz and aventurine in order to attract not only money but also success.

- Carry or display a piece of Citrine and a piece of amethyst in order to promote happy relationships. Citrine fills you with joy and confidence while amethyst helps calm strong emotions and allows you to get in touch with your feelings.

- Ever feel that your bathroom is has a heavy atmosphere? This can be especially strong for those in apartments like mine with no window. Try keeping a piece of Citrine where it will catch the light and lift those weighty vibrations.

- Feeling out of sorts and down on yourself? Take a few minutes to lie comfortably and place a citrine crystal on your solar plexus chakra. Concentrate on your ego issues and let them slip away. Repeat daily for a few weeks or until you are feeling yourself again.

- Help menopausal symptoms with a Citrine elixir. Clean your stone thoroughly with water and then place in a glass container. Cover the stone with mineral water and allow to sit on a sunny window sill for 1-2 hours. Remove the crystal and store the liquid. Drink a small amount whenever you feel symptoms

Sources: Crystal Energy by Mary Lambert

I'd Rather be Burned as a Witch - video montage

2009-10-14T19:42:00.000-03:00

I just discovered "I'd Rather be Burned as a Witch" by Eartha Kitt and I LOVE IT!!!! Give a Listen!

Stone of the Week: Citrine

2009-10-12T18:44:00.000-03:00

This week I am hoping for abundance. I am awaiting word from my lawyer about an injury settlement from a car accident a few years ago. If I am able to clear enough, I will have a healthy down-payment and be able to start looking for a house. So I decided to choose Citrine, the stone of abundance, to work with this week. Citrine not only helps to attract wealth and prosperity but also reminds us to share our fortune with others. It dispels worry and negativity and brings joy to all those nearby. It can help one overcome fear and dispel anger. Citrine also carries the power of the sun and I am hoping it is able to provide warmth because my classroom this year is FREEZING!!
In terms of healing, citrine balances the aura and is particularly useful for digestive problems. Perhaps something most of us Canadians could use today after gorging ourselves on thanksgiving turkey! It also increases blood circulation and can be used as an elixer to alleviate menstrual problems.

To begin with my Citrine practice this week, I have placed a citrine crystal in the wealth corner of my apartment (the corner furthest back and to the left of your front door) with the point facing into the house in order to bring prosperity to my home. I will also be carrying a piece of citrine and taking time each day to "feel" wealthy and to appreciate all that I have.

A Wonderful Week of Celestite

2009-10-12T18:43:00.000-03:00

A short update on my working with Celestite. I have been finding myself obsessed with this stone lately and, as such, have acquired a few large pieces. During the week I carried a piece of celestite every day and believe that it has helped me lower my stress levels and remain positive during a very trying week. I have also meditated with the large celestite globe pictured below but I did not see any noticeable difference except that I nearly feel asleep. This, however, could be due to a hectic work schedule and my poor meditating skills (I'm working on it but it is hard for me to keep up the practice). Speaking of sleep, whenever I had difficulty falling asleep, as I often do due to constant thoughts about work, I held a large piece of celestite and it definitely helped me to relax and eventually to drop off. I even had difficulty not falling asleep with the stone in my hand! All in all, celestite is a wonderful, relaxing stone and has definitely become my "go to" stone for stress relief.

Halloweeny Goodies.

2009-10-12T11:11:00.000-03:00

I finally broke out my camera so I could show you some of the more recent additions to my home.

First, My Altar by Daylight

My Altar by Candlelight

Some of my larger stones. First, Amethyst

Selenite

Labradorite

Pyrite

This is my newest acquisition. A large Celestite sphere.

And here are some Halloweeny goodies that caught my eye on a recent shopping trip. First,an adorable witch ornament. I really want to start collecting these so that I can put up a Halloween Tree.

And finally, the cutest little witch doll. This is Lucy, from Peanuts. Dressed as a Witch. If you press on her foot she says " A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality"

What Goodies have you gotten recently??

Connecting to Energies from the Other Side with Celestite.

2009-10-11T09:15:00.002-03:00

Celestite is known for allowing us access to the entities of the other side. In particular, it is noted for enhancing contact with angels. In order to strengthen your connection to your own angels, try combining an angel statue or picture with a piece of celestite. You Might:

- Place the celestite and the picture/statue on your altar and visit it each morning. Ask the stone to show you the love and protection that surrounds you throughout your day.

- Meditate with the celestite and the picture/statue. Choose music or incense (perhaps frankincense) that also helps connects you with the other side. During meditation you may also wish to place the celestite at your crown chakra as it is associated with spirituality.

- Carry the celestite and the picture/statue (if they are not too large) with your throughout your day. Watch for signs that angels are nearby.

**NOTE: The suggestions above can work with any entity that you like, simply substitute their image. I do NOT however, recommend calling on a particular friend or relative as they may not be among your personal protectors and you may be pulling them from important work elsewhere.

Stone of the Week: Celestite

2009-10-04T15:39:00.003-03:00

I am going to attempt to concentrate on one stone a week. I will begin by blogging a description of the stone, then work with the stone for the week and post any thoughts and impressions. I encourage any of my readers to try the same, that way we can compare notes! Since I recently purchased a large Celestite sphere, I thought I would start with this stone.

CELESTITE
Color: Blue and White
Appearance: Transparent, pyramidal crystals as medium to large cluster or geode, or platelike piece
Rarity: Easily obtained but quite expensive
Source: Britain, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Libya, Madagascar

Celestite is a beautiful stone that embodies peace and tranquility. It is an excellent stone for stress relief and can help create a harmonious environment, try placing a large piece in a stressful room (office, kitchen, laundry room etc) for an instant mood adjustment. These properties also make it a stone that can concur insomnia. Celestite can reduce anxiety and help heal relationship problems and promote peaceful negotiations. It provides a connection to the divine, be that god and goddess, spirits, fairies or angels and can be particularly helpful for meditation and astral travel. Celestite also promotes truth and can be helpful when a situation calls for honesty from all parties.
Physically, celestite can be used to relieve headaches and relax muscles. It is associated with the throat chakra and can be helpful with thyroid problems. It is believe to be helpful with women undergoing menstruation but, if used in this way, should be cleansed after each period.

Important note: Celestite will fade in direct sunlight so be cautious about where you are placing your pieces.

Sources:
The Crystal Bibe - Judy Hall
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic - Scott Cunningham