May’s Taurus New Moon is perfect for bringing luxury and wealth, so I purchased a Luxurious Wealth Spell kit from Madame Pamita. What's cool about these, is that with her New Moon Spell Kits, she offers workshops so that you can follow along with her and learn how to do the spell on your own. 

This spell can be used to:
-influence others to be generous to you
-build a strong and growing foundation of wealth
-attract a lavish lover or sponsor
-build a successful business or empire
-win at games of chance or in risky investments
-attract windfalls, bonuses, cash gifts, or investors
-bring in new sources of income
-receive luxurious gifts and generous tips

This is what I received:
Green Beeswax Goddess of Willendorf Candle, 4 Thick Beeswax Tapers, 3 Packets of Herbs, 5 Oils (1 spell kit-sized, 4 sample-sized), Buckeye Talisman, Two Dollar Bill Petition Paper, Green Glass Glitter, Green Hemp Twine, Complete instructions for creating the Taurus New Moon Luxurious Wealth Spell (not shown here). I also received a couple of extra goodies! A fortune from Madame Pamita as well as some Hibiscus Flower Love Tea.

 

The master candle of this spell is a green Goddess of Willendorf candle meant to open up an abundance that allows you to indulge in a most luxurious lifestyle.


I looked further into this and found that the Goddess of Willendorf candle is based on the Venus of Willendorf figure which is estimated to have been made around 25,000 years ago.

  

Her tiny arms are folded over her breasts, and she has no visible face. Her head is covered with what might be coils of braids or a kind of headdress. The lack of a face has prompted some archaeologists and philosophers to view the Venus as a "universal mother." 

The figurine of this Great Mother symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and womanhood. She is the symbol of Mother Earth, the divine creator of all beings.

I can't wait for the workshop to put all of this goodness into a juicy spell!

The Happy Tarot certainly lives up to its name - it is a warm-hearted and optimistic deck situated in a whimsical candy-land. The suits themselves are denoted by sugary goodies: Cups are ice cream sundaes, Pentacles are cookies and macaroons, Wands are depicted by popsicle sticks, lollipops, chocolate curls, and marshmallows on sticks; and Swords are shown as children's wooden toy swords. The inhabitants of Happy Tarot world are a cheery lot, although an occasional sad face creeps into the appropriate cards. You can still do a serious reading with this deck as it follows the RWS system. I find it easy to read but those images are in no way serious. However, it's a bit like the Fool being able to tell the King the truth when no one else would risk it. The Happy Tarot can still give direct and clear messages, just with a few lollies and a marshmallow cloud or two to cushion the blow.  If you are looking for a deck that eschews negativity in favor of a consistently positive outlook – this is it!

The TAROT DEL TORO is a remarkable gift for fans of the Tarot, art lovers, del Toro film fans, enthusiasts of fantasy and folklore, and anyone with a passion for creativity and storytelling. 

This drop-dead gorgeous deck designed and illustrated by Tomás Hijo, is truly stunning. The set includes a fully illustrated 78-card deck and guidebook, which includes a heartfelt forward by del Toro himself. In it, he talks about his very personal relationship to the Tarot, a passion passed down to him by his mother. He explains how learning to read and connect with the Tarot has made him a better storyteller.

I love how the meaning behind each of the cards is explored, reflecting the magic and wonder of del Toro’s cinematic universe, as well as del Toro’s own inspiring vision of the world.

The Deck features original artwork inspired by the themes, imagery, and characters of some of del Toro’s most popular films, including Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water. It’s brilliant to make Guillermo del Toro the first card as The Magician, since he’s responsible for everything that inspired this deck of cards. 

Not only is the artwork inspired by del toro’s films, but the interpretation of the cards is as well. For example, The Fool in this Deck is represented by the faun from Pan’s Labyrinth, a character who is both a jester and a mystical pilgrim. In this way, fans of the visionary filmmaker are able to infuse deeper meaning into their readings and more intuitively respond to the Deck. 

As an exercise draw a composition of fear or sadness, or great sorrow, quite simply, do not bother about details now, but in a few lines tell your story. Then show it to any one of your friends, or family, or fellow students, and ask them if they can tell you what it is you meant to portray. You will soon get to know how to make it tell its tale.
– Pamela Colman-Smith, “Should the Art Student Think?” July, 1908

A year after Arts and Crafts movement magazine The Craftsman published illustrator Pamela Colman-Smith’s essay excerpted above, she spent six months creating what would become the world’s most popular tarot deck. Her graphic interpretations of such cards as The Magician, The Tower, and The Hanged Man helped readers to get a handle on the story of every newly dealt spread.

Colman-Smith—known to friends as “Pixie”—was commissioned by occult scholar and author Arthur E. Waite, a fellow member of the British occult society the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, to illustrate a pack of tarot cards.

In a humorous letter to her eventual champion, photographer Alfred Stieglitz, Colman-Smith (1878 – 1951) described her 80 tarot paintings as “a big job for very little cash,” though she betrayed a touch of genuine excitement that they would be “printed in color by lithography… probably very badly.”
Although Waite had some specific visual ideas with regard to the “astrological significance” of various cards, Colman-Smith enjoyed a lot of creative leeway, particularly when it came to the Minor Arcana or pip cards.

 
These 56 numbered cards are divided into suits—wands, cups, swords and pentacles. Prior to Colman-Smith’s contribution, the only example of a fully illustrated Minor Arcana was to be found in the earliest surviving deck, the Sola Busca which dates to the early 1490s. A few of her Minor Arcana cards, notably 3 of Swords and 10 of Wands, make overt reference to that deck, which she likely encountered on a research expedition to the British Museum.

Mostly the images were of Colman-Smith’s own invention, informed by her sound-color synesthesia and the classical music she listened to while working. Her early experience in a touring theater company helped her to convey meaning through costume and physical attitude.

Here are Pacific Northwest witch and tarot practitioner Moe Bowstern‘s thoughts on Smith’s Three of Pentacles:
Pentacles are the suit of Earth, representative of structure and foundation. Colman-Smith’s theater-influenced designs here identify the occupations of three figures standing in an apse of what appears to be a cathedral: a carpenter with tools in hand; an architect showing plans to the group; a tonsured monk, clearly the steward of the building project.

 
The overall impression is one of building something together that is much bigger than any individual and which may outlast any individual life. The collaboration is rooted in the hands-on material work of foundation building, requiring many viewpoints.

A special Pixie Smith touch is the physical elevation of the carpenter, who would have been placed on the lowest rung of medieval society hierarchies. Smith has him on a bench, showing the importance of getting hands on with the project.

 
For years, Colman-Smith’s cards were referred to as the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck. This gave a nod to publisher William Rider & Son, while neglecting to credit the artist responsible for the distinctive gouache illustrations. It continues to be sold under that banner, but, tarot enthusiasts have taken to personally amending the name to the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) or Waite Smith (WS) deck out of respect for its previously unheralded co-creator.

While Colman-Smith is best remembered for her tarot imagery, she was also a celebrated storyteller, illustrator of children’s books and a collection of Jamaican folk tales, creator of elaborate toy theater pieces, and maker of images on behalf of women’s suffrage and the war effort during WWII.

Outside of some early adventures in a traveling theater, and friendships with Stieglitz, author Bram Stoker, actress Ellen Terry, and poet William Butler Yeats, certain details of her personal life—namely her race and sexual orientation—are difficult to divine. It’s not for lack of interest. She is the focus of several biographies and an increasing number of blog posts.

It’s sad, but not a total shocker, to learn that this interesting, multi-talented woman died in poverty in 1951. Her paintings and drawings were auctioned off, with the proceeds going toward her debts. Her death certificate listed her occupation not as artist but as “Spinster of Independent Means.” Lacking funds for a headstone, she was buried in an unmarked grave.

Since the pressed herbs are more for decoration rather than scent, I added in my favorite essential oil, Lavandin (a cross between true lavender and spike lavender). I can’t get over how beautiful these candles turned out and I love filling my home with the sweet scent of lavender even after summer has ended.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
• Glass jars
• 1 block of beeswax (I used 1 1/2 blocks to make two candles)
• Wick
• Pressed flowers or herbs (100% dry)
• Clean empty tin can and a saucepan
• 1 old paintbrush (you can throw away afterwards)
• An old knife
• Cutting board


TIP: Make sure you use the correct size wick for your jar! If you don’t your candle won’t burn properly (I learned this the hard way). Be sure to ask someone when you are buying the wick to advise you on the correct size.


On the cutting board, use the knife to chop the wax into smaller chunks.
Place a few chunks of wax into the can (or double boiler), place the can into the pot, and add 2″ of water. Heat on medium until the wax is melted, then lower the temperature until the water calms to a simmer.

Dip the brush into the melted wax and apply the pressed flowers to the inside of the jar. Bear in mind that the flowers won’t stay completely put when you pour in the wax, but this will help them stay towards the outer edges. To anchor the wick, dip the metal end of the wick into the melted wax and lower it to the bottom of the jar. The melted wax will adhere the wick to the bottom.


As the wax melts, add more chunks until the can is nearly full. Once the wax is completely melted, use an oven mitt to very carefully remove the can from the water, and slowly pour the wax into the jar. Depending on the size of your can, you will likely have to melt more wax, repeat these steps until the jar is full.

To keep the wick from sinking, gently tie it around a pencil or chopstick. Allow the wax to cool completely. Trim the wick to 1/4″ before burning and always remember to keep the candle within sight while it’s lit.


Light your candle on a chilly fall night and remember those farmer’s market flowers that brightened so many summer days.

Imbolc, the Sabbat marking the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Solstice, is a quiet celebration for cleansing and nurturing the soul. Prepare this bath on Imbolc after sunset for a restorative bit of magic (and coincidentally softer skin).

Items needed:

• 1 cup whole powdered milk
• ½ cup honey 
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• large pieces of lemon peel 
• lavender essential oil
• clary sage essential oil 

Light several white candles while drawing a warm bath. Slowly add the powdered milk, and swirl the water until dissolved. Then add the honey, coconut oil, and lemon peels. Drop in the essential oils in equal amounts.

Upon entering the bath, take a few minutes to center yourself in the water. Think about what issues from the previous calendar year are lingering around in your life that you would like to expel in the months going forward. Visualize the purifying energy of the white, restorative water flowing through your body and preparing you for the year ahead. If you wish for a simple protection measure after leaving the bath, rub a little extra coconut oil onto your skin.

Stovetop Incense, sometimes called stovetop potpourri outside of magic circles, is a mixture of ingredients with a liquid base, simmered on the stove in a pan to fill the air with a lovely aroma. This recipe is intended to be simmered all day during Yule to invite warmth and comfort into the home.

Ingredients:
1 to 2 inches of water
5 cinnamon sticks
1 cup of cranberries
2 slices oranges 
2 teaspoons of whole cloves
optional: dash of vanilla extract

Add water to pan and turn burner to medium-high. Add each ingredient while thinking of the winter season. Stir the mixture clockwise, inhaling deeply and letting its warmth raise your spirits. Wait until the water simmers, then turn down heat to medium. Stir periodically throughout the day, adding more water when necessary.

What’s a more inconspicuous way to add witchcraft to the holiday season than by combining the well-known concept of Witch Balls with widely used ornaments? Add the following ingredients to either clear, glass ornaments (so they can be charged by compliments) or to solid ornaments (to be even more unnoticeable) for the desired effects.

Family Peace:
lavender buds
two sprigs of thyme
dried cilantro
rosebuds

Festivity:
three vanilla bean pods
whole allspice
dried tangerine or orange peels
sprig of pine

Love Drawing:
crushed rose petals
dried jasmine
dried lime peels
granulated sugar
glitter

New Year Prosperity:
whole chamomile flowers
one cinnamon stick
pine needles
juniper berries

2 teaspoons whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
a handful of pine needles
1 -2 pieces of orange or lemon rind
2 cups water

Put all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer all day if you wish. Add water as needed. Refrigerate to reuse.

Our Christian friends are often quite surprised at how enthusiastically we Pagans celebrate the 'Christmas' season. Even though we prefer to use the word 'Yule,' and our celebrations may peak a few days before the 25th, we nonetheless follow many of the traditional customs of the season: decorated trees, caroling, presents, Yule logs, and mistletoe. None of this will come as a surprise to anyone who knows the true history of the holiday, of course.

In fact, if truth be known, the holiday of Christmas has always been more Pagan than Christian, with its associations of Nordic divination, Celtic fertility rites and Roman Mithraism. That is why both Martin Luther and John Calvin abhorred it, why the Puritans refused to acknowledge it, much less celebrate it (to them, no day of the year could be more holy than the Sabbath), and why it was even made illegal in Boston! The holiday was already too closely associated with the birth of older Pagan gods and heroes. And many of them (like Oedipus, Theseus, Hercules, Perseus, Jason, Dionysus, Apollo, Mithra, Horus and even Arthur) possessed a narrative of birth, death and resurrection that was uncomfortably close to that of Jesus. And to make matters worse, many of them predated the Christian Savior. Ultimately, of course, the holiday is rooted deeply in the cycle of the year. It is the Winter Solstice that is being celebrated, seed-time of the year, the longest night and shortest day. It is the birthday of the new Sun King, the Son of God -- by whatever name you choose to call him. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth. And it makes perfect poetic sense that on the longest night of the winter, 'the dark night of our souls', there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World, the Coel Coeth. That is why Pagans have as much right to claim this holiday as Christians. Perhaps even more so, as the Christians were rather late in laying claim to it, and tried more than once to reject it. There had been a tradition in the West that Mary bore the child Jesus on the twenty-fifth day, but no one could seem to decide on the month. Finally, in 320 C.E., the Catholic Fathers in Rome decided to make it December, to co-opt the Mithraic celebration of the Romans and the Yule celebrations of the Celts and Saxons.

There was never much pretense that the date they finally chose was historically accurate. Shepherds just don't 'tend their flocks by night' in the high pastures in the dead of winter! But if one wishes to use the New Testament as historical evidence, this reference may point to sometime in the spring as the time of Jesus's birth. This is because the lambing season occurs in the spring and that is the only time when shepherds are likely to 'watch their flocks by night' -- to make sure the lambing goes well. Knowing this, the Eastern half of the Church continued to reject December 25, preferring a 'movable date' fixed by their astrologers according to the moon. Thus, despite its shaky start (for over three centuries, no-one knew when Jesus was supposed to have been born!), December 25 finally began to catch on. By 529, it was a civic holiday, and all work or public business (except that of cooks, bakers or any that contributed to the delight of the holiday) was prohibited by the Emperor Justinian. In 563, the Council of Braga forbade fasting on Christmas Day, and four years later the Council of Tours proclaimed the twelve days from December 25 to Epiphany as a sacred, festive season. This last point is perhaps the hardest to impress upon the modern reader, who is lucky to get a single day off work. Christmas, in the Middle Ages, was not a single day, but rather a period of twelve days, from December 25 to January 6. The Twelve Days of Christmas, in fact. It is indeed lamentable that the modern world has abandoned this approach, along with the popular Twelfth Night celebrations.

Of course, the Christian version of the holiday spread to many countries no faster than Christianity itself, which means that 'Christmas' wasn't celebrated in Ireland until the late fifth century; in England, Switzerland and Austria until the seventh; in Germany until the eighth; and in the Slavic lands until the ninth and tenth. Not that these countries lacked their own mid-winter celebrations of Yuletide. Long before the world had heard of Jesus, Pagans had been observing the season by bringing in the Yule log, wishing on it, and lighting it from the remains of last year's log. Riddles were posed and answered, magic and rituals were practiced, wild boars were sacrificed and consumed along with large quantities of liquor, corn dollies were carried from house to house while caroling, fertility rites were practiced (girls standing under a sprig of mistletoe were subject to a bit more than a kiss), and divinations were cast for the coming Spring. Many of these Pagan customs, in an appropriately watered-down form, have entered the mainstream of Christian celebration, though most celebrants do not realize (or do not mention it, if they do) their origins.

For modern Witches, Yule (from the Anglo-Saxon 'Yula', meaning 'wheel' of the year) is usually celebrated on the actual Winter Solstice, which may vary by a few days, though it often occurs on or around December 21st. It is a Lesser Sabbat or Lower Holiday in the modern Pagan calendar, one of the four quarter-days of the year, but a significant one. This year (1988) it occurs on December 21st at 9:28 am CST.

Pagan customs are still enthusiastically followed. Once, the Yule log had been the center of the celebration.

It was lighted on the eve of the solstice (it should light on the first try) and must be kept burning for twelve hours, for good luck. It should be made of ash. Later, the Yule log was replaced by the Yule tree but, instead of burning it, burning candles were placed on it. In Christianity, Protestants might claim that Martin Luther invented the custom, and Catholics might grant St. Boniface the honor, but the tradition can demonstrably be traced back through the Roman Saturnalia all the way to ancient Egypt. Needless to say, such a tree should be cut down rather than purchased and should be disposed of by burning, the proper way to dispatch any sacred object.

Along with the evergreen, the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe were important plants of the season, all symbolizing fertility and everlasting life. Mistletoe was especially venerated by the Celtic Druids, who cut it with a golden sickle on the sixth night of the moon, and believed it to be an aphrodisiac. (Magically -- not medicinally! It's highly toxic!) But aphrodisiacs must have been the smallest part of the Yuletide menu in ancient times, as contemporary reports indicate that the tables fairly creaked under the strain of every type of good food. And drink! The most popular of which was the 'wassail cup' deriving its name from the Anglo-Saxon term 'waes hael' (be whole or hale). Medieval Christmas folklore seems endless: that animals will all kneel down as the Holy Night arrives, that bees hum the '100th psalm' on Christmas Eve, that a windy Christmas will bring good luck, that a person born on Christmas Day can see the Little People, that a cricket on the hearth brings good luck, that if one opens all the doors of the house at midnight all the evil spirits will depart, that you will have one lucky month for each Christmas pudding you sample, that the tree must be taken down by Twelfth Night, or bad luck is sure to follow, that 'if Christmas on a Sunday be, a windy winter we shall see', that 'hours of sun on Christmas Day, so many frosts in the month of May', that one can use the Twelve Days of Christmas to predict the weather for each of the twelve months of the coming year, and so on.

Remembering that most Christmas customs are ultimately based upon older Pagan customs, it only remains for modern Pagans to reclaim their lost traditions. In doing so, we can share many common customs with our Christian friends, albeit with a slightly different interpretation. And thus we all share in the beauty of this most magical of seasons when the Mother Goddess once again gives birth to the baby Sun God and sets the wheel in motion again. To conclude with a long-overdue paraphrase: 'Goddess bless us, every one!'

The runic alphabets are called “futharks” after the first six runes (Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, Kaunan), in much the same way that the word “alphabet” comes from the names of the first two Semitic letters (Aleph, Beth). There are three principal futharks: the 24-character Elder Futhark, the first fully-formed runic alphabet, whose development had begun by the first century CE and had been completed before the year 400; the 16-character Younger Futhark, which began to diverge from the Elder Futhark around the beginning of the Viking Age (c. 750 CE) and eventually replaced that older alphabet in Scandinavia; and the 33-character Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, which gradually altered and added to the Elder Futhark in England. On some inscriptions, the twenty-four runes of the Elder Futhark were divided into three ættir (Old Norse, “families”) of eight runes each, but the significance of this division is unfortunately unknown.



Runes were traditionally carved onto stone, wood, bone, metal, or some similarly hard surface rather than drawn with ink and pen on parchment. This explains their sharp, angular form, which was well-suited to the medium.

It is said that the runes came from no source as mundane as an Old Italic alphabet. The runes were never “invented,” but are instead eternal, pre-existent forces that Odin himself discovered by undergoing a tremendous ordeal. This tale has come down to us in the Old Norse poem Hávamál (“The Sayings of the High One”):

I know that I hung
On the wind-blasted tree
All of nights nine,
Pierced by my spear
And given to Odin,
Myself sacrificed to myself
On that pole
Of which none know
Where its roots run.
No aid I received,
Not even a sip from the horn.
Peering down,
I took up the runes –
Screaming I grasped them –
Then I fell back from there.

The tree from which Odin hangs himself is surely none other than Yggdrasil, the world-tree at the center of the Germanic cosmos whose branches and roots hold the Nine Worlds. Directly below the world-tree is the Well of Urd, a source of incredible wisdom. The runes themselves seem to have their native dwelling-place in its waters. This is also suggested by another Old Norse poem, the Völuspá (“Insight of the Seeress”):

There stands an ash called Yggdrasil,
A mighty tree showered in white hail.
From there come the dews that fall in the valleys.
It stands evergreen above Urd’s Well.
From there come maidens, very wise,
Three from the lake that stands beneath the pole.
One is called Urd, another Verdandi,
Skuld the third; they carve into the tree
The lives and fates of children.

These “three maidens” are the Norns, and their carvings surely consist of runes. We, therefore, have a clear association between the Well of Urd, the runes, and magic – in this case, the ability of the Norns to carve the fates of all beings.

Presumably, then, after Odin discovered the runes by ritually sacrificing himself to himself and fasting for nine days while staring into the waters of the Well of Urd, it was he who imparted the runes to the first human runemasters. His paradigmatic sacrifice was likely symbolically imitated in initiation ceremonies during which the candidate learned the lore of the runes, but, unfortunately, no concrete evidence of such a practice has survived into our times.

What’s The Difference And How To Choose
Aside from being beautiful works of art in and of themselves, Oracle and Tarot cards can be powerful divination tools. But, if you’re not familiar with these tools, deciding which deck to choose may have you stumped before you even start.

The Basics
Let’s talk about the basics of Tarot and Oracle cards to help you find the best way to connect with the greater knowledge of the universe when life’s big moments pop up!


Tarot Cards
-78 cards
-Organized into different suits
-Measure outcomes and influence
-Can be lengthy and detailed
-Offers insight into situations
-Only images on the card, takes some studying

A tarot deck is a classic set of 78 cards that fall under the category of major or minor arcana. From there, the cards are divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). Tarot cards are studied and interpreted by expert readers, primarily to speak to a person's life story.


Oracle Cards
-Any number of card per deck
-Designed around a theme or deity
-Use your intuition to guide you rather than the structure of the deck
-Meant to give advice
-Quick and more open to individual interpretation
-Easy for beginners. Includes thoughtful phrases

Oracle cards, on the other hand, are more free-wheeling from the set structure of tarot. An oracle deck can essentially be whatever the creator of the deck wants it to be — they pick how many cards are in it, what sorts of imagery it'll use, and what purpose it's supposed to serve. There are many different types of oracle decks that come in all shapes, sizes, and functions. The basic set up is that they have images and words, along with a book that explains ways in which a reader should interpret them.


How to Choose
Trust your intuition. You might lean towards either method on a given day, or you might use one method over another for a certain question you have.

Try them out. Which deck feels right? Is Tarot too grave, or are Oracle cards not enough for you? If you are seriously in the sticks with some relationship drama, the Tarot deck might offer the ins and outs you are searching for. If you’re less phased by this relationship woe, then a simple “You’re free to do what you choose,” might be all you need from an Oracle deck.

Structure. Do you need it or do you run from it? When I’m in a place where my internal compass is all out of whack, I know I need to use my Tarot deck as my guide. If my gut has been pretty spot on, I’ll use my Oracle cards as my quick spot checking guide.

What are you trying to achieve? Look up your goal, and then collect the herbs you need.


ATTRACTING MEN: Jasmine, Juniper (dried berries worn as a charm),Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Lovage, Orris Root, Patchouli

ATTRACTING WOMEN: Henbane, Holly, Juniper (dried berries worn as a charm), Lemon Verbena, Lovage, Orris Root, Patchouli

BANISHING: Hyssop, Lilac, St John’s Wort

CLEANSING: Cinnamon, Clove, Lovage (powdered root), Pine, Thyme (in baths), Vervain (of sacred spaces)

COURAGE: Basil, Garlic, Mullein, Nettle, St John’s Wort, Thyme, Wormwood, Yarrow

EXORCISM: Angelica, Basil, Birch, Frankincense, Juniper, Garlic, St John’s Wort

FERTILITY: Acorns, Geranium, Hawthorn, Mandrake, Orange (dried and powdered peel), Pine, Poppy, Sage, Sunflower (seeds)

FRIENDSHIP: Lemon, Rose, Passion Flower

GOOD FORTUNE: Ash (leaves), Heather, Nutmeg, Rose, Vetivert

HAPPINESS: Anise, Catnip, Lily of the Valley, Marjoram, Saffron

HARMONY: Hyacinth, Heliotrope, Lilac, Meadowsweet

HEALING: Aloe, Ash, Camomile, Cinnamon, Comfrey, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Garlic, Hops, Marjoram, Mint, Nettle, Pine, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Sandalwood, Thyme, Yarrow

HEX-BREAKING: Chilli Pepper, Galangal, Vertivert

LOVE: Apple, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Caraway, Catnip, Coriander, Cowslip,Dill, Gardenia, Ginger, Ginseng, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lavender, Linden,Marigold, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Myrtle, Rose, Rosemary,Valerian, Vervain, Violet (mixed with Lavender), Yarrow

LUCK: Apple, Ash (leaves), Hazel, Holly (for newly-weds), Ivy (for newly-weds), Mint, Rose, Rowan, Vervain, Violet (flowers)

LUST: Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Nettle, Rosemary, Violet

MEDITATION: Camomile, Elecampane, Frankincense, Vervain

MENTAL POWERS: Caraway, Lily of the Valley, Rosemary, Vanilla, Walnut

MONEY: Camomile, Cinnamon, Clove, Comfrey, Fennel, Ginger, Mint, Poppy Vervain

PEACE: Aloe, Camomile, Gardenia, Lavender, Myrtle, Violet

POWER: Carnation, Cinnamon, Ginger, Rosemary, Rowan

PROSPERITY: Acorn, Almond, Ash, Basil, Benzoin, Honeysuckle


Note: There are so many herbs suitable for the next three categories and the choice is such a personal one that we have included only a few suggestions. Your own further research will very much enhance your magical workings.

PROTECTION: Aloe, Angelica (Root), Anise, Balm of Gilead, Basil, Bay Laurel, Black Pepper, Caraway, Camomile, Dill (for children), Dragon’s Blood, Fennel, Garlic, Hawthorn, Holly, Hyssop, Lavender, Mandrake, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Nettle, Periwinkle, Rose, Rosemary, Rowan, Sage, St John’s Wort, Sandalwood, Vervain, Witch Hazel, Wormwood

PSYCHIC POWERS: Ash (leaves), Bay Laurel, Bay leaves, Cinnamon, Cowslip, Elecampane, Eyebright, Hyssop, Lavender, Marigold, Mugwort,Nutmeg, Rose, Thyme, Wormwood, Yarrow

PURIFICATION: Anise, Betony, Cinquefoil, Dragon’s Blood, Frankincense, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon, Oak Leaves, Pine, Rosemary, Rue, Sandalwood, Thyme, Valerian, Vervain

SUCCESS: Cinnamon, Ginger, Lemon Balm, Rowan

SLEEP: Catnip, Hops, Lavender, Thyme, Valerian, Vervain

SPIRITUALITY: Cinnamon, Clover, Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood

WISDOM: Peach (fruit), Sage, Sunflower

Oh All That Shimmerzz, how I love thee! I picked up 2 more beautiful high-quality rainbow fluorite towers from Jennie!

Here's my collection from her so far:


I am so in love with them!

*squee!*  more goodies from The White Witch Parlour!  I've got quite the collection going!


So what's new?--



-Lavender buds: For Relaxation, Divination, Meditation & Sleep.
Once tied to 16th Century Prostitutes, who use to bathe & wash their clothes in the perfumed water of Lavender, to attract lovers, this gentle herb has long been associated with Love. It 'calms the waters' of the spirit, reducing stress or anxiety, that may plaque the mind from underlying doubts or fears. It entices one to dig deeper within their subconscious mind, creating a portal for lucid or vivid dreams, which may help one along their path or answer questions that have been troubling the individual. Associated with the Third Eye, psychic practices & meditation, Lavender was ritualistically tossed into bonfires, to open the window to the spirit realm, while diverting evil spirits & offering protection against the Evil Eye.

-Cornflower: For Psychic Awareness, Self Knowledge, Ritual.
Cornflower's natural indigo coloring vibrates to heal the Third Eye Chakra, working to awaken one's psychic awareness, enhance self-knowledge, heal intuitive blocks & access inner wisdom. Cornflower is a powerful took for Indigo Children that seek their spiritual connection when carried as a talisman, consumed as an herbal tea or used in meditation rituals for spiritual abundance.
Add Cornflower to tea to help aid in divination practices & psychic development.



-Anise Stars: For Clarity, Awakening & Clairvoyance.
Tied to the familiar taste of black licorice, Anise is known to suddenly snap you out of the mundane mindset & shift your attention to something new. It 'awakens' your mind to bring clarity to a situation, as it helps you "see" past the current view & bring a better understanding from a new angle. Conjuring spirits or trying to contact other dimensions is enhanced with the powers of Anise, as its crisp aroma takes us to new vibrational levels, helping us to better tap into our subconscious mind & see things through the mind's eye. It elevates our spirit & protects the aura, so that we may find comfort in journeying into the unknown. In the shape of a star, it creates the image of a pentacle, bringing awareness to the associations of the mystery of the occult & the potential we hold when we are 'one' with all things around us.  Anise can intensify our dreams & strengthen our connection to spirit.

-White Sage: For Purification, Wishes & Ceremony.
White Sage can be used to spiritually cleanse spaces, houses, rooms or environments of any kinds of subtle, old energies and prepare the space with fresh intent. It can also be used to cleanse the aura of a person from stagnant old energies to prepare for ceremony or spiritual work. For centuries White Sage has been used in ceremony to encourage psychic detox, raising one's energy levels and enhancing manifestation & purification on many levels. It works to diminish any turmoil in one's life, as they prepare to embark on new ventures & positive vibrations.
Ward Off Evil, Repel Enemies & Negative Energy or Spirits, Spiritual Aura Healing, Physical Healing, Purification, Protection, Cleansing, Removes Negative Psychic Energy, Consecration, Longevity, Emotional Chakra Balance & Centering, Concentration, Clearing Spirits, Creating Sacred Space, Circle Casting, Money, Prosperity, Immortality, Wishes, Manifestation, General Healing & Wisdom.



-Witch Hazel: For Inspiration, Healing, Wisdom & Cleansing.
With it's branches long used for the art of dowsing, Witch Hazel is a powerful plant often used for remedies regarding healing.  In magick, this is also the case, as it's strong 'healing' nature works to mend a broken heart, reverse hexes & cleanse the aura, offering inspiration to matters of love, creativity & calm emotions. Witch Hazel works through powers of divination when needed, bringing forth wisdom & enchantment. It enhances beauty through the power of healing, encouraging empowerment.

-Mugwort: For Clairvoyance, Protection & Consecration.
Mugwort has been used by magickal practitioners for ages as a dream associative & enhancing psychic skills. It calms the energy of a person, especially when ingested as a tea & helps to awaken the Third Eye, aiding in deeper subconscious travel & spirit world communications. It enhances dreamwork, helping one to better recall dreams for journaling & deciphering messages.  When burned as an incense at Samhain, it works as an offering to call upon the Ancestors, Creating a stronger bond between the thin veil of the physical world & spirit world. Mugwort is an important herb to incorporate into practice when one is trying to awaken their psychic senses & evolve spiritually.

-Cinnamon chips: For Prosperity, Money Drawing & Strength.
For centuries, cinnamon has been used in all kinds of spiritually protective rituals, magic spells and potions amongst several cultures, as it is known for stimulating the Sacral, Solar Plexus & Crown Chakra, inspiring spiritual insight, psychic powers, healing and of course protection. However, one of its main intentions in magick is to propel success or bring in abundance, as it's spicy & warm scent can work to spice up your own energy, thus raising your vibrations, warming the spirit & projecting positive energy, which in return will find it's way back to you threefold.
Can be added to a food dish or hot drink to promote the element of Fire, bringing an abundant drive to your energy & attracting prosperity.

-Myrrh Gum Resin: For Healing, Divination & Renewal.
Helping to gently expands upon our inner wisdom, Myrrh ties us to the subconscious, lifting a cloudy veil that blinds us from the 'unknown.' Feminine in nature, Myrrh, works with the energies of Goddess Isis & Mother Moon, aiding us in seeking deeper through the mysteries of the Universe. It raises the vibrations to illuminate our soul & reflects any negative energy that might create doubt or fear, so that one may better connect to their higher purpose, also making it a powerful source when working through tragedies. It is a great healer to the mind, body & spirit, which is why it was traditionally used in an amulet or herbal sachet to bring about a quick healing. Often mixed with Frankincense, not only within the Catholic church, but through various spiritual practices, Myrrh help's one to 'travel' deeper into a meditative state, building a rich connection with the divine, through prayer & magickal practices.



-Raven Cone Incense: Animal Totem for Insight, Magick, Protection & Creation.
The Raven, often viewed in cultures as a symbol of death & darkness, but we must remember that without darkness there is no light, and without death, there is no life. Making the Raven & the Crow a powerful symbol of the balance in the cycle of life. Much like the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, bringer of destruction, the Raven is a scavenger & will feast among the dead, carrying away the physical body & releasing the spirit back into the Void. Leaving this curious animal to be so closely tied to the spirit world & all the mysteries that dwell within it. These very intelligent animals have away about them, not much like any other animal on Earth, they are observers, overlooking the slightest movement below. They are great problem solvers in their solitary ways & powerful communicators. The Raven is vibrationally tied to the great Morrigan (aka) 'Phantom Queen', a respected prophetess & Celtic Goddess. In the Welsh culture, the Raven works as a messenger from our ancestors, bringing us warnings & guidance along our journey. It serves as a vessel of powerful magick & ancestral memories to aid our practices. The Raven has much to tell us.

Called upon the spirit of the Raven, blessed this special blend with the energies of Amethyst & Onyx, bringing a mysterious & intuitive energy to heighten the senses. Scented with Spiced Cinnamon this haunting Incense encourages one to look deeper within, seeking the mysteries & ancient wisdom of the Universe, aiding in a strengthening of psychic energy & stronger magick. Working with the Shadow self can become a very deep & very personal practice, calling upon the spirit of the Raven can help one to achieve this comfortably while offering true protection & release of fear. Because the Raven can also be viewed as a symbol of Death, it's spirit can help one to release & bury past trauma's from this life or past, so that with this 'death,' can spring new life; also making it an appropriate energy to work with at the time of Samhain.


-Red Ritual sand: For Incense Burners & Altar Decor.



-Protection elixir incense: Scent of Cinnamon & Spice. Blessed by Smoky Quartz & Obsidian.
This is my new favorite scent in the entire world! I am obsessed with this incense!!
The Protection elixir is a spicy blend of Cinnamon to welcome a mental shield from outside negative energies and any other harm that may be weakening your spiritual aura and energy. For centuries, cinnamon has been used in all kinds of spiritually protective rituals, magic spells and potions amongst several cultures, as it is known for stimulating the crown chakra, inspiring spiritual insight, psychic powers, healing and of course protection. Cinnamon oil was commonly used in the mummification process by the Egyptians and was applied as a holy anointing oil in ancient Hebrew rituals. When it is burned as incense or added to foods, cinnamon raises spiritual energy to a higher level, thus pushing away negative or lower vibrational forces. With the added powerful protective energies of Black Obsidian and Smokey Quartz this elixir clears an abundance of blockages and emotions that may have been absorbed by others, while releasing electromagnetic smog that may be clouding the body and mind so that you may find clear insight and balance within.

The prayer for this:

" I trust in the protection of my spirit, body, and mind as I now hold a shield unlike any other kind. My aura is strong with white light defined from my divine energy and spirit combined."

-Romance Incense: For Passion, Seduction & Kundalini.
In a sweet, dark & seductive blend of cherries & almonds, my Romance elixir raises the bar for erotic scents. Cherries, symbolic of much more than food, have long been associated with feminine energy as well as used in divination practices and spells throughout the world to attract suitors and discern the future. Almond, on the other hand, brings wisdom, fruitfulness & prosperity to all sections of life, including time in the bedroom. Considered a dark cherry scent & a favorite by many, 'Romance' holds the energies of Rose Quartz, Fluorite & Red Garnet crystals. Rose Quartz is the stone of universal love. It restores trust and harmony in relationships, encouraging unconditional love. It purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. Calming and reassuring, it helps to dispel negativity, replacing it with loving vibes. It encourages self-forgiveness and acceptance invoking self-trust and self-worth. Fluorite helps to open the way for the power of other stones to be effective. It can be used as a meditation stone to help energize the body and raise the power of concentration. While Garnet, the stone of romantic love and passion, enhances sensuality, sexuality, and intimacy. It is said that garnet will bring positive thoughts and boost energy and can assist mystically with building one's self-confidence, therefore offering a better performance.

The prayer for this:

" With passion heavy & fantasy so true, I find excitement just being alone with you. Soon to become a desire fulfilled, the sound of my lusting heart being thrilled."