Of all the cards of the Tarot deck, I find that it’s hardest for me to understand the court cards: King, Queen, Knight and Page. That’s why I’ve decided to write a series of articles about them. We can learn about them together! We will start with the Queen, as I find myself drawn to the Queens of Tarot. There’s something about Her countenance, Her imagery, that just pulls at me, partly recognition, partly longing.
There are four Queens in the Tarot deck:
The Queen of Cups/Cauldrons
The Queen of Wands
The Queen of Pentacles/Shields
The Queen of Swords
The Queen of the Tarot represents a person with a number of attributes, many of which are associated with the Crone, or an older, matured woman. I personally don’t think of the Queens as women- they could be any gender, or no gender – which means people of any gender (or lack thereof) could identify with and seek help from the Queen archetype. This is why I refer to the Queen(s) as they/them. The Queen is a person who has been through a lot in their life – a lot of pain, heartache, tragedy, and has learned their lessons well. The Queen is strong, and tough- they may come across as cold or distant, but really, they love hard. Their whole heart and soul goes into loving. That doesn’t mean they’ll go easy on the people they love, though. The Queen is firm, and fair, and never one to coddle. The Queen teaches the hard lessons, tells the hard truths. They will be blunt, if need be. Their wisdom and intelligence is astounding, as is their creativity. Even more admirable, in my opinion, is that the Queen has what it takes to pursue the ideas they come up with. There’s no procrastination, and no excuses, with the Queen. Each Queen has their own unique style, of course. The Queen of Wands is discernibly different from the Queen of Cups/Cauldrons, as the Queen of Swords is from the Queen of Pentacles/Shields. Let’s take a look at each Queen.
Queen of Wands
The suit of Wands is the fiery, passionate suit of the South. The Queen of Wands is energetic and motivating- they’re the kind of person who somehow manages to complete everything on their to-do list and more. Their courage and confidence is admirable, so it’s no wonder they’re a social butterfly.
The Queen of Wands reminds you that you are upbeat, courageous, and determined. You are here to see through your creative visions and life purpose, even in the face of adversity.
The Cups, or Cauldrons, suit is that of Water, the West, and associated with emotions. Thus, the Queen of Cups/Cauldrons is one who is led by love and compassion. They are honest and trustworthy – you never have to worry about this Queen letting you down. This Queen is artistic, and appreciates the beauty in all things. They are intuitive, following their heart and their ‘gut’, which are usually spot on. Kristoffer Hughes states that the Queen of Cauldrons “emulates the true quality of love” and is the “epitome of love and compassion”. (The Branches of the Celtic Tarot, p. 185)
Turn to this Queen if you are lacking in integrity, if you’re weak-willed, if you find it difficult to allow yourself to love others or yourself. If you need help intuitively detecting truth, honesty, or authenticity, this Queen can help with that as well.
Queen of Pentacles/Shields
The Queen of Pentacles/Shields is that of the North and represents the Earth. The Pentacles/Shields suit represents the material side of life. The Queen of this suit is someone who is deeply connected to the earth and an embodiment of the Mother goddess. There is a slight difference, I found, between the Queen of Pentacles and Queen of Shields. The Pentacles Queen represents someone who is affluent and successful, while the Shields Queen is a more spiritual archetype. Hughes writes in The Branches of the Celtic Tarot:
What can be more magnificent than the very earth itself? The queen represents this, the sovereignty within the land. And in the true nature of a mother, she selflessly gives of herself in order to sustain, support, and feed her children.
Kristoffer Hughes, The Branches of the Celtic Tarot p. 232
While the Queen of Pentacles would be an excellent advisor for that which concerns finances, such as career goals, catching up on your bills, financing a house, or saving for a vacation, the Queen of Shields would make for a powerful magical ally, as she is keenly aware of and in tune with the magic of nature.
Queen of Swords
The Queen of Swords is, well, a bad ass bitch. This is one queen I do associate with those who identify as women, simply because of her strength. I’m sorry fella’s, but only a woman could possess the strength of the Queen of Swords. She’s lived through horrible shit and come out wiser, more powerful, and hell of a lot stronger. She may seem distant or cold, but she loves hard. Maybe even harder than the Queen of Cauldrons.
This is the Queen to go to when you’re struggling to find yourself. When you feel like the world has turned against you. When your heart is broken, your mind is tired, your soul is bleeding…this Queen will see you through. She won’t coddle you, nor will she do anything for you. She’ll give you the tools you need to do it yourself, because this Queen values independence and sovereignty. This Queen will give you hope when you have none, and that, my friends, is the most blessed of all magics.
Who is the Queen to me?
The Queen’s qualities may be found in Dark Goddesses, such as The Morrigan, Hecate, Cerridwen, and the Cailleach. I admire the Queen, and seek to gain Her help with many of my challenging attributes. For example, I’m horrible with procrastinating. I avoid finishing tasks, put off starting projects, inadvertently forget to make important phone calls or write important emails. I don’t know why this is, but I know it’s a problem that I need help with. Help the Queens of the Tarot could provide.
If I channeled the Queen’s energy into myself every day, and became half the person (because who said the Queen had to be a woman?), the Queen represents, my life would be so different. I’d be more successful, my house would be cleaner, my children would be more polite. My life is great, don’t get be wrong, but I’m far from perfect. I love my life, which is why I am willing to put in the work to improve it. My magic is strong, but a little help from the Queens of the Tarot would magnify my magic four fold.
The Queens of Tarot are…
Strong & Resilient
Wise & Intuitive
Firm & Fair
Love hard but do not coddle
Experienced pain, heartbreak, humiliation, and tragedy; have come through stronger, wiser, and more determined
Honest; Not afraid to tell it like it is
Possess the ability to not only come up with endless ideas, but has the gumption to make those ideas a reality
The New Moon on March 24th is going to have the perfect energies that we can use to work magic that will contribute towards the protection of our communities from the new virus, COVID19. By working in unison, we will generate enough energy that will not only offer protection, but will contribute towards the creation and implementation of treatments, maybe even vaccines, against this illness. I have created a sigil with intentions designed to work specifically with this new moon. Use this sigil in creating charms, satchels, or spells on the New Moon, and join the fight against this virus.
Witches can do amazing things. We have our limits, of course. We can’t cure cancer, we can’t raise the dead, we can’t stop world hunger. Well, we might be able to, but it’s not likely. We can do something about this virus, if we work together.
The energy raised by each witch will rise and spread, joining with the energy of witches in other states, other countries, and across continents. I’m not being neive nor am I being overly optimistic. This is possible, you guys, and as practitioners of magic it’s our responsibility to use it towards the health and wellness of our fellow humans.
With this dark moon, we can “tap into the wisdom, a magic that is beyond our years”…We cannot let this opportunity pass! If we each use the sigil, each work towards making things better in regards to this illness, then we will prevail.
Alert, Not Anxious
By watching videos like Dr. Mike’s, and SHARING these videos, (here’s a link to a playlist of his COVID videos.)
We will do our mundane duties in helping to alleviate fear and anxiety surrounding this virus. Other mundane duties include social distancing, washing our hands, abstaining from traveling – being smart, in other words. But, like I said, we’re witches and therefore we can do more. Easing the fears and anxieties is going to be a much needed side-effect of the work we will do on the New Moon. By keeping our intention focused on keeping our communities protected, promoting energy in the creation and implementation of treatments, vaccines, etc, then people will relax when the virus starts to slow. Our work will also help promote videos and social media posts that are sharing information that is helpful rather than hurtful, as it falls under the scope of our intention.
2020-03-24T20:00:00
days
hours minutes seconds
until
New Moon
I’ve been thinking about this all weekend, and I know we can do this, witches. If you’re with me, then save the sigil. You can draw it in your grimoire and make it your own – tweak it if you need to, so long as the intention is the same. That’s what’s important – that we are united in our fight and that the energy we raise is all for the same goal. That’s the only way we will make a difference.
If you’re going to join me, use the #WitchesAgainstCOVID19. There’s about a week until the new moon – let’s make this trending across towns, cities, states and countries!
So, this isn’t a typical review for a witchcraft blog, but I just loved this book too much not to review it. I love Laura Clery, I’m a huge fan of her videos. I wasn’t going to get her book, because I’m not into self-help books. But this is like a self-help-memoir-letter that sucks you in and spits you out feeling like your soul has been to the dry cleaners, you’re all clean and fresh and crisp.
She certainly used to be! But, who isn’t when they’re spending everyday on drugs? And before you get all mad at me for being insensitive: I am an addict, so I know how idiotic people can be when they’re high. I’ve been clean for about five years now. I did not go through AA or anything, because the program didn’t work for me. But it worked for Laura, and works for many, many people everyday. So before I move any further, if you are an addict and need help, I encourage you to seek out your local AA. You can’t know if it will work unless you try it.
So, is Laura Clery an idiot? No. Not anymore. She was, and this was an amazing retelling of her life. I have to say that you can tell Laura isn’t a writer. The chapters are too long, and she tends to hop around a bit. She’s not a bad writer, but as a writer, I can tell she isn’t one. That’s okay though. Her authenticity and raw voice makes up for it. The content makes up for the poor construction. So, bandaid has been ripped off, and I can move onto the good stuff. I’m a huge fan of Laura Clery, so it pains me to criticize her like that, but I must remain authentic and be honest with you guys.
id·i·ot /ˈidēət/ a stupid person. a person of low intelligence.
Google Search
Laura Clery has proven that she was not stupid, she just made poor choices. Wit is a sign of intelligence- I don’t know who said that, but my father once told me that and since he’s really intelligent, I stick to it. Ipso facto, Laura Clery is not a stupid person. She was a troubled person. She was a lost soul. This story takes you through her life, from her happy, albeit weird, childhood, to her first experiences with drugs, and to her rock bottom. I thought my rock bottom was low, living in a tent in the woods, but that was nothing compared to being chased out of a house by your boyfriend’s girlfriend leaving you in the middle of LA with no friends, no family, and no place to go. So, yea, she’s had it hard. But equally drastic a difference between us, she is now living in Beverly Hills making a shit load of money. It balances out, right?
Why Idiot?
This book is not for idiots, because I fear they will misinterpret the message Laura is trying to communicate. I think this book is for the following:
addicts
anyone who is troubled spiritually, emotionally, etc.
victims of abuse, as well as survivors/thrivors of abuse
anyone who doesn’t know what to do with their life
anyone who knows what they want, but doesn’t know how to get there
anyone who wants to know Laura Clery’s life story
This book is for us Witches, too!
I found so many parallels in Laura’s story, so I can’t help but feel a connection to this book (hence why I’m reviewing a non-occult book on my blog). The thing is, the answer to her incredible life is mystical, and therefore it does fit on my blog! So this book is also for witches, pagans, and every other person that ascribes to the Law of Attraction, and lives by the power of Gratitude.
Laura Clery’s Magical Life
She spent a huge part of her life partying, drinking, drugging. She struggled to stay sober. She almost lost her husband because he relapsed and tried to detox off of benzo’s cold turkey (>>>btw that’s lethal. If you are addicted to valium, Xanax, or any other benzodiazepines, please don’t quit cold turkey. Get yourself to a rehab facility to chemically detox so you don’t die<<<). All in all, she has been through the ringer. So what got her to her house in the Hills? The Law of Attraction. Yes! score one for witches baby! She specifically states in her book “I don’t think this is magic”. Well, Laura, hate to break it to you, but if you’re visualizing what you want and expressing gratitude as if you’ve already achieved it, that’s magic. That’s the law of Attraction, a law upon which magic works. So yea, her life is literally magical.
I mean, if getting paid to sing about your VAGANA isn’t magical, I don’t know what is.
Another reason I think Laura Clery’s book review is fitting for my blog is because she empowers the witch’s idea of a woman. She’s all about female empowerment, without being feminist, she’s a vegan, and she knows and acknowledges the power of the mind. So, yea, ’nuff said.
Peeing in Public, Shitting in a Hot Tub.
This section is actually going to be an assortment of my favorite quotes, but I wanted to make this a headline and couldn’t figure out a better place for it. I do want to say that I have the audiobook, and while I’m certain of the words, because I listened to the clips multiple times to make sure I noted them down right, I might get punctuation wrong. It’s setting off my OCD anxiety not knowing if it’s exact, so the least I can do is let you guys know I did my best lol. And, yes, she claims she pissed in public. She didn’t actually shit in the hot tub- her friend did, then handed her the turd. So Laura held a turd, and threw a turd, in a hot tub. Like I said, she was a fucking weird kid. Makes me love her all the more lol. #nocontextforyou #buythebook #justdidthat
…we are constantly in a state of either love or fear, and these states control the choices we make and the way we live…
…you’re an artist. You make art. Stay in the action and out of the results.
It sounds really cheesy, but those affirmations are what lifted me over the edge. I swear by them. I had such a rigid self image before, and the only things that could break the cycle of self hate were intentional, affirming, statements. I have been depressed, anxious, and suicidal for much of my life, and this is what has turned it around for me.
The only thing I can recommend is to visualize. For the record, I’m not saying this is magic, I’m saying that a shift in your focus from what you don’t want to what you do want is more powerful than we can ever imagine, and it works in mysterious ways.
Being a single mother isn’t easy – it’s rewarding, and wonderful, but expensive. That’s why I’ve added this page- to let you guys know about some ways I’m trying to cover the rising cost of kids clothes and gas. (Not to mention Legos, my kids favorite toy, cost $10 for a little tiny box!)
So, below are some of my witchy creations and services! If you’d like some writing services, check out my other website: http://www.Magicalmusingswritingsvcs.com
Squeaky clean, magically magnificent!
Soap is a necessity – it’s found in almost every home. There are many options for soap magick, and that magick is much stronger when the soap is handcrafted, tailored to your witchy needs. Below are soaps I crafted myself at my kitchen counter. The prices all include shipping and handling.
The soaps with the Celtic knot designs are 7cm x 4.5 cm x 1cm . The block soaps are 8cm x 5 cm x 2 cm. (roughly)
At this time, I cannot sell to countries outside the United States. I hope to be able to in the near future, but at the time I cannot. there are many restrictions, legal fine print, and requirements to sell to folks across the pond. I will work on remedying this as soon as possible.
My quaint kitchen counter, with everything I need to start making soap!
The Goods
More to come! I just ordered more goats milk soap base, and have a bunch of herbs I’ve been setting out to dry in the sun. I love the sun’s energy – the rising sun is great for rejuvenation, energy boost, and clarity. The setting sun has a soothing feeling, with a sense of stability that works well with Earthly energy.
The Door to Witchcraft opens the door to reviews for Magical Musings!
Book reviews are really fun to write so I don’t know why it took me so long to start doing it on my blog/ website. I’ve written them for work a few times and had a blast with it! I decided The Door to Witchcraft was the perfect book to start with! A part of my mission is to help new witches figure out what they want to do and how to do it, so recommending resources is a major part of that. Instead of just making a list off to the side of the website, where hardly anyone will notice it, I should write reviews for the books I feel are most helpful.
Walking through the Door
I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book when I ordered it on Kindle. I’ve actively avoided ‘witchcraft 101’ books for awhile, simply because they all say the same damn thing, in the same boring ways. After being blown away by Weave the Liminal, (which will be the next review!), I thought: “Well, I know Tonya, and know she’s a great writer with a unique and creative voice, so I’m sure her book will be an interesting read, even if it reiterates everything all witchy 101 books do.”
My thoughts
Interesting read doesn’t even come close. Tonya’s enthusiastic, creative, knowledgable voice was but one part of this book, turning plain words into a song of wit and wisdom. She has the book divided into two major parts: Part I: Witchcraft & Practical Magic {includes history, values, definitions, ethics, and ‘the basics’. Part II: Spells {exactly how it sounds – an assortment of spells for categories from love to business}.
Top 6 Best Quotes
To understand how to create change, you must understand the sequence of events it entails. The cycle is as follows: Knowing – Witchcraft – Magic.
Witchcraft is about taking the raw, beautiful, and powerful forces of our world and using them to create change.
Whether you are a badass woman who oozes solar energy or a gorgeous man who drips lunar, or a nonbinary person with an energy all your own, you are a powerful, strong witch.
The truth is that trying to classify something as purely good or purely bad lacks empathy and complex thought. In witchcraft there are no absolutes—nothing is inherently good or bad.
Intuition. Follow your gut and your moral compass about what is right and what is not. Just because you’ve made mistakes doesn’t mean you’re “evil,” and just because you’ve done something for someone else doesn’t mean you’re “good.” Try to throw those labels out. It all comes down to trusting yourself and thinking through actions and consequences.
Let the universe move you, surprise you, challenge you, and support you—as a witch, your connection to it is mystical and beautiful.
Make sure to get your copy now!
This book, an ice cold margarita, and a pair of comfy pants will make for the perfect day!
This GIF pretty much sums up how I feel about gardening. It’s funny, two years ago I couldn’t keep a Hen and Chicks succulent alive, but last year I managed to grow a pretty little garden! This year I’m taking on more challenging plants, and even plan to transplant a rose bush! I know roses are fairly hardy plants, and as long as I time it right the bush should take root well, but I’m still proud of myself. Confidence is key to success in all endeavors! (That, and a little help from Good Neighbors.)
My bright and sunny darling
June, 2018 My quaint little garden, before I got help from my Good Neighbors…
Before I purchased any supplies, I did my homework. Growing a garden is a science, just as it is an art. You need to know which plants get along, which plants like light, and which like shade, and you need to know if the plant will be happy in regular soil, or if you need sand or a fancier soil. I’m still a novice, as you can tell from my impressive vocabulary (fancy soil – face palm).
August 2018 After leaving offerings to my Good Neighbors, and calling on Aine to bless the soil
Connect to Earth on a deeper level…
Growing a garden is more than just planting and harvesting supplies for your herbal collection. It’s about connecting with the Earth on a deeper level…it’s about establishing a relationship with the spirits of Nature, the Fair Folk, and the Genius Loci, and it’s about using magick to create life. When I see a seed I planted turn into a cute little sprout, reaching for the sun out of the dark soil, I am overcome with pride, in the plant and myself. It’s akin to the pride I feel when my son does something new, so it wouldn’t be far off to say it’s a motherly love you feel for your plants. Those little plants have spirits of their own, and they respond to your love and affection.
I think it was a documentary, perhaps a video on Youtube or Facebook, but it revealed that plants suffer when they’re bullied. They had two plants – same plants, same soil, same age – everything was identical. They were kept in environment controlled boxes, to ensure that the only variable was what the plant was told. They had recorded people saying mean things, and saying nice things, and played the mean things to one plant and the nice to the other. The plant who heard the compliments grew strong and tall, while the abused plant was weak and sickly. If that isn’t proof that plants have feelings, I don’t know what is!
How do I start a magickal garden?
Intention
The first step in creating your magickal garden is the first step in any magickal activity: devise your intent. Do you want the garden to carry out an assortment of intentions, or do you want to stick to one theme? Do you want to grow a garden as an offering? Or, how about creating an elemental garden, with a separate garden or section for each element. For ideas, I have created a Pinterest board with all sorts of pins about gardening for witches.
Research and Record-Keeping
All of my garden plans are in my grimoire. Some people use spreadsheets, recording their planting time, when and how they are to be pruned, watering schedules, feeding schedules- everything needed to keep the garden tasks sorted. I will create a diagram of the garden, to scale, so I can plan where to plant each seedling.
I live in an apartment, so I only have a small space to work with. (I have had to put in a formal request to plant a small rose bush, and it is yet to be approved…) The flower and herb garden is going to be in the back yard, so as long as it doesn’t extend past my little porch and steps, it’s allowed by property management. That gives me a bit of land about five feet across and four feet deep. Not a lot in garden terms. This means I have to choose plants that do not need a lot of space around them, but growing outside means my plants can grow nice and tall. By planning wisely, I can manifest a magickal garden just as glorious as any other. You feel such pride when you carefully devise and plant a healthy garden, no matter the purpose. When it doesn’t do well it is heartbreaking. That is why research and record keeping is so important.
Research:
what plants do well in your location;
what plants get along and which need to be in their own container;
how much light and water the plants require; if the plant needs special soil, or will need particular food. Do you need to mulch? Do you need sand?
Will the plant attract bugs, and if so, what kinds? Butterflies and bees are great, but if you or a family member is allergic, then you may want to avoid a bee-attracting plant.
Record-keeping:
To make sure your garden thrives, you will have to design it carefully. That means drawing out a scale sketch, and then sectioning off what will go where. If you can do this in your head and remember, that’s great! But, if not, you will have to draw it out. If you don’t want to keep that then use scrap paper.
It helps to have one location to keep your design sketch, research notes, a chart of what can be planted when, and even record when you planted something, if it’s going to come back next year, how often it needs watering, when and how to prune, and proper harvesting methods.
By planning wisely, I can manifest a magickal garden just as glorious as any other.
Elemental Garden
One design I am considering is an elemental garden. I’ve done my homework, and kept extensive notes, so once I know what can go where, I can work in an elemental theme.
Earth/Land
Soil is the body of the garden. It is the body, and water is the blood. When you lay down the garden, take a bit of soil in your hand. Bring it to your nose, and inhale deeply. There is nothing like the scent of fertile soil. Bring it apart, and watch it fall. There is a thing of beauty, as soil slips through your fingers. And don’t wear gloves when you do this! I know, your nails will be grubby and gross. But when you first lay out your garden, it’s important to connect to the soil.
Your Earth garden may be a garden on its own, or it may be a section of your garden as a whole. In addition to soil, you can bring the element of Earth into your garden with rocks, crystals, and statues of dwarves and fairies. Growing lush greens, like having a pot of mint, or a nearby bush, will work as well. Earth and Land, in any elemental system, is associated with the quality of strength and stability. What better to represent that than a tree? If you can’t plant a tree, then plant your garden near a tree. Hanging some chimes in the tree (incorporating air), will tie the tree to the garden.
Earth Spell: Garden protection
Using a pot or cauldron, mix a handful of soil from your garden, a healthy dose of pepper, and a few pinches of dried basil. (Use your intuition for exact amounts). Use a rusty nail to stir the mixture. Set the nail aside, and, using your hand, sprinkle the mixture around the perimeter of the garden saying:
Basil cleanse, Pepper sting, This garden is sealed with a protective ring.
Bury the nail at any corner of the garden. (Make sure it’s deep, and to be safe, put a stone or board over the spot. I know I love to garden barefoot, and would hate to step on the nail if it manages to climb up to the surface. This would be a good spot to put your garden altar!)
Nothing says spring like a melodious song of birds in the morning. One of the most depressing things about winter is waking to silence – or worse, to the sound of a snow plow. While I’m grateful that snow removal is included with my apartment, it’s not a pleasant way to wake. The gentle breeze brings the unmistakeable scent of spring – the soil, the moss, the subtle smell of trees as they awaken from their icy slumber.
To incorporate air into your elemental garden, plant flowers with gentle yellow hues. Angelica, “Ruby Giant” echinacea and Russian Sage are all ‘air’ plants. Wind chimes are always a great way to invite the powers of air. My favorite way to extend offerings to the powers of air is to hang bird feeders. Whether it be a humble hummingbird feeder, or half a dozen large feeders and houses, Nature appreciates when you feed her feathered children.
Fire
Spring is a little cool for us Northerners to go camping, but it’s the perfect time for bonfires and fire pits. The spring showers keeps the grass moist, minimizing the chances for a wandering spark to cause a tragic disaster. If you are like me, and live in an apartment, then a fire pit or chimnea may not be possible. you could make do, with carefully placed candles and lights. Planting sunflowers will bring the element of Fire into your garden as well (or any flower with vibrant orange, red, or yellow hues). There is a neat DIY Mason-jar candle holder I found on Pinterest, which is in the board I created for Magick Gardens. Where I live, mosquitos can get quite thick by the height of summer, so citronella torches and candles give mood lighting and keep the pests away.
Water
Water is the life blood of the garden. Something simple as a way to collect rain water for your plants can be efficient in incorporating the powers of water into your garden. A rain collection container doesn’t have to be an unsightly bucket either. Paint a watering can, or repurpose coffee cans, so as one overflows it will pour into another can just below. Rain water is much better for our gardens than tap, so if you don’t get a lot of rain, try to save what you can when it does.
A birdbath, or even a small pond are equally efficient, and much prettier to look at. While I can’t have a bird bath, much less a pond, I can have a small fountain. There is something about the gentle trickle of a fountain – it’s reminiscent of a gentle spring rain. I’ve included a few pins on how to make your own fountain. I’m not comfortable working with sheet metal, so I will hunt for clearance fountains to add to my garden.
Water is rejuvenating, and refreshing. Make a ritual out of watering your plants (or any other form of tending); take the time to talk to your plants and connect with their spirits. Each plant spirit has its own personality, its own vibration. Get to know each one. This especially comes in handy if one gets sick. If you are in tune with the plant’s spirit, you can ask it what is wrong. You would be surprised how well this works.
Connect to your Plants
As I said, take the opportunity to get to know each plant in your garden when you can. Even if it’s just a few minutes when you’re watering them. Not only does this prove helpful when a plant gets sick, but it helps when it comes time to deadhead, prune or harvest. It’s not respectful to go around cutting someone’s hair, so it’s equally rude to just start snipping away before asking the plant for permission. Last year some of my flowers grew as tall as 6 feet, and the flowers would get so heavy the poor stalk would be leaning from the weight. I would water the garden, and talk to all of my plants. Then I would get shears, ones I used only for my garden, and before I snipped anything I would talk with the plant. I would ask if I could cut it here or there, and would tell it why. “Your bloom will soon die, may I cut it here to relieve your back from leaning and make a bouquet in my home?” or, “this part of your plant has become sick, may I remove it so you can thrive?” Same goes for deadheading, when you pull dead blossoms off so the flower can replace it with a new one. “I’m sorry I have to hurt you, but it’s so you can keep growing strong”. And after I’m done, I take a moment to feel gratitude for my plants, and for their sacrifice. Even if it’s just a damaged leaf, it’s part of their body. The garden is much healthier when it knows it’s loved.
Each plant spirit has its own personality, its own vibration. Get to know each one.
Garden Magick
You may use your garden to grow herbs and flowers for magickal workings, or the act of growing the garden itself could be magick. While I have included some pins about what a Witch’s Garden includes on the Pinterest board, don’t feel compelled to include any of the suggestions. With witchcraft, you want to make it your own. That means listening to your body, your intuition, and trusting that the messages you receive from nature are real. Yes, my garden will have some herbs. But that’s because I was drawn to them, NOT because some ‘expert’ wrote that I have to have them in order for my garden to be ‘witchy’. As witches, we are naturally drawn to the outdoors. We are nurturers, mothers, caregivers, healers, and have honed our abilities to walk between the worlds. All of these qualities are exercised in gardening – whether it’s a rock garden, a pond, a succulent or zen garden, flower garden, vegetable garden – I could go on and on.
I think that altars make the magick garden complete, but again, go with your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable having an altar outside, then don’t have one! Like I said before, I need a little help when it comes to gardening, so I adorn my garden with things that Good Neighbors like. I will have an altar in my garden this year, whereas last year my ‘witchy’ stuff was at a bare minimum. The altar will be for Earth gods, ancestors, dragons and Fae, so I’ll have all sorts of odds and ends out there so there is something for everyone. But that’s me.
When one hears magick, it’s natural to think spells. There are countless spells that use the growth of a plant to bring prosperity, or the soil of the bed to bring protection, luck, health, happiness. I included only two spells, but I found dozens more in researching this post. (Most of the content I knew, but still like to do research to see if there’s anything I can add to the piece). Growing an elemental garden connects you not only to nature but to the elements as well, which makes spells utilizing the elements all the stronger. You could design your garden in a way that it works with the planets, or deities. There is no limit to the possibilities. James Kambos, in his article “Spring Garden Magic”, said “The spring garden should be a place to celebrate magic.” (p. 19, Llewellyn’s 2013 Magical Almanac). I couldn’t agree more, Kambos! The very act of growing and nurturing a garden is magick.
…gardens reflect alchemy in action, bringing the above of spirit to the below of color, scent, and natural beauty, and the soul to the without of evocative expression.
Tiffany lazic, “Urban Elemental gardens: Crafting magic in small outdoor spaces”, Llewellyn’s 2019 magical almanac, pg. 45
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Mythological beings all have their origin stories, so let’s find out what it is for the Banshee.. It should be a scream.
Henry Meynell Rheam / Public domain
The scream…does it bring death? or does it warn you of an impending death? Does the scream itself kill you or your loved ones? or is it a warning of screams yet to reach your lips?
I recently saw an episode of the old-school Charmed where the sisters battle a banshee. The television show depicted the banshee as a demon who hunts down people in great pain. The Banshee was depicted as a woman with long white hair, sharp pointy teeth, catlike eyes and a scream that could break glass. The scream can kill mortals and turned heart-broken witches into banshees.
Aside from the ear-splitting scream, I wasn’t sure I had ever heard any myths resembling that of the Charmed Banshee, so I decided to do some digging. And with Halloween on our heels, thought I’d share my findings with you!
What is a Banshee?
According to The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews (2005), a Banshee is defined as follows:
Banshee/Beansidhe: It is the duty of the banshee or ‘woman of the fairies’ to foretell the death of an individual. Banshees are attached to particular families and their cry is only heard when a family member is about to die…With eyes red from weeping, she continually combs her hair with a gold or silver comb. The cries of the banshee are echoed by professional mourners or keepers, bhean chaointe,who were engaged to maintain high piercing cries and moans or ochone at a funeral wake. (Matthews, 2005, pg. 57)
Okay so the ‘real’ banshee is not a murderous demon, but a death omen. People have the right to fear her, because seeing her means someone you love will soon die — according to this. Apparently this version of the banshee also travels with a posse of, i don’t know, ghouls, who go to the wake and scream in agony. That…sounds…well, it sounds dreadful if you ask me. Wakes are supposed to be a time to remember the deceased. If we’re getting technical here, wakes started to make sure that the person didn’t wake up — after finding scratch marks on the inside of coffins one too many times they started holding wakes — someone would stand vigil for three days with the dead body to make sure it was really dead. Back in the day they couldn’t tell the difference between comatose and dead, so it was a way to make sure they didn’t kill someone because they mistook them for dead and buried them. But whether you’re commemorating a loved one or standing guard to make sure the person wasn’t just in a deep sleep -a bunch of banshees screaming at the wake sounds horrible.
Badb the Banshee
Babd is the original Banshee, if i’ve got my Irish lore correct. Badb is one of the sisters of the Morrigan, an Irish goddess of war, sovereignty, mother of the Tuatha de Danann, and a sleu of other titles because, well, Celtic deities are never cut and dry. They have reign over all sorts of things, and the triple deities are all the more complicated.
Badb (BAH-v) calls to us from the misty battlefields of legend. Disguised as a hooded crow, her shrill cries heralded doom for warriors. She is the banshee, a battle fury, and a prophetess. As the gentle Crone, she guides souls to the Otherworlds, to rest and rebirth. With one foot in the mortal realm and the other firmly in the realm of spirits, she holds the gift of prophecy and prophetic speech.
~Stephanie Woodfield, Celtic Lore and Spellcraft (p. 68)
Badb became the Banshee because of roles she played in Irish mythological history. She continues to embody these aspects as a deity many work with today, but her myths are thought to be the origins of the dreaded Banshee. She is a Prophetess, most often the aspect of the Morrigan who delivers prophesy and premonitions in myths. Second, She is the Washer at the Ford, the spectre who appeared to men on their way to battle, warning them of their impending death. Let’s take a look at each of these roles.
The Prophetess
Badb appears many times throughout Celtic Myths, often appearing to kings, queens, and heroes to tell them that if they choose a certain path, they would encounter a particular challenge or triumph.
In the Tochmarc Ferbe, a collection of Irish tales dating back to the 10th century, Badb appeared to Queen Maeve and the Ulster King Conchobar, telling them that disaster was imminent, and death was sure to follow.
Badb warned Queen Maeve that King Conchobar would kill her sons, and that she should rally her armies right away so she might avenge them as swiftly as possible. She warns King Conchobar of a cattle raid that lead to a devastating war, giving him years to avoid that path. Both the King and Queen described Badb as a “white lady, fair with brilliancy.” (Woodfield, 2011, pg. 70) This certainly has stuck with the current depiction of the Banshee.
The Prophetess Today
Badb can be an invaluable ally when you are developing your psychic abilities, as well as your mediumship skills. Work with Badb to learn the ways in which your subconscious speaks to you, as most prophecy comes to us in symbols or riddles to be figured out.
Washer at the Ford
It’s said that when armies set off to battle, those doomed to die would see a vision as they came to a river ford. The woman would be dressed in white, keening, as she washed blood from armor. The waters around her are blood red, and only those destined to die would see her. Recognizing their armor they had two choices: they could turn around and leave, confident in the fact that they would live to a ripe old age; or they could ignore her desperate tears and continue forward, willing to welcome Death as an old friend once they have done their part to support their people on the battlefield. Despite the terrifying depiction of the Banshee today, the Washer did not relish in this task. She was not wailing to scare people, much less kill them. She was wailing because she felt the heartache of a death – a violent death at that. She could feel the pain of those men and women’s mothers, friends, fathers, siblings, people who counted on them and found companionship in them. She wanted to give these people the chance to live. But the Celts didn’t fear death, and so there are no tales of anyone seeing the Washer at the Ford and turning back.
Washer at the Ford Today
Today, the Washer at the Ford has more to offer than warnings of death. She was seen cleansing the blood from the slain warriors armor. Work with the Washer to cleanse yourself – your soul- of all that you’ve lost in your journey of life. She will hold you and mourn with you, helping you to move past that which you’ve left behind so you may grow, learn, and glean wisdom from.
Sources
Matthews, Caitlyn and John. (2005). The Element Encyclopedia of Mythological Creatures.Kindle Edition.
Woodfield, Stephanie. (2011) Celtic Lore and Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking the Morrigan. Kindle Edition.
I am currently working on a book that explores the concept of Motherhood, and while I could spend a year doing literary research, I don’t think I could come close to defining motherhood without consulting actual mothers. I’m a mother myself, but my opinion is just that- my opinion. So I’ve created a survey to ask other mothers. This survey is totally anonymous, and it will only take a few minutes of your time.
If you are a mother – whether by blood, law, or love, please take a few minutes to fill out my survey. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
How cool does this festival look!? four days, two weekends, of classes, conferences, concerts, and more. An all-access pass is $90- but you have the chance to get it for FREE! All you have to do is follow my blog!
You know you want it!
Follow for the chance to get the golden ticket? Yes please!
I’m so pleased you’re here! I love writing, so it seems fitting that, well, I write about it! Writing is a magic in and of itself. The word, whether it be spoken or written, signed or thought, is a powerful thing. It can create worlds! Think about that – something as seemingly simple as a word can create things as complex as whole worlds. They may not be tangible, or visible to the naked eye, but that doesn’t mean they are any less real than the reality we call ‘daily life’.
…language is at the heart of magic. Our words, full of intent and evolution, are our wands.
Lisa Marie Basile, The Magical Writing Grimoire
There isn’t anything we can’t do with the magic of words – if we write it, we conjure it. The use of magic through writing is referred to as ‘word witchery’ by Lisa Marie Basile in her book The Magical Writing Grimoire.
Working magic isn’t just spells- it’s not just crystals, herbs, wands and cauldrons. Working magic can look like anything we do in daily life- it can be gently kissing a boo-boo after carefully covering it with a band aid; it can be stirring pasta boiling in water, it can be holding your lover in a tender embrace. When I’m writing about a goddess, crafting a poem, or piecing together a novel, I’m working magic. Magic to help others in their spiritual journey, devotional practices, or to just escape into the world in which the characters live.
Through writing I learned to appreciate my life, and everything in it. Even bad days – I am grateful for days when everything goes wrong, because those days show me just how precious the days in which everything goes right truly are. I have a long way to go still – my Shadow self is still vast and so deep, not even the creatures at the bottom of the ocean would venture there. But I have made much progress, and that’s thanks to writing magic.
With all the stressors we are dealing with right now- illness, isolation, job insecurity, fear for loved ones- it’s hard to see a silver lining around the COVID-19 cloud. That’s why I’m going to take the time to point it out. I’m not writing this because I think being stressed or anxious is invalid – in fact, it’s the opposite. We have every reason to worry, every reason to feel anxious. But that doesn’t mean we have to let the stress dictate our lives. We can enjoy life and we can be grateful while still appreciating the severity and seriousness of what’s going on in the world. This is unprecedented, and it’s more important than ever for us to look to reasons for living – look to reasons for staying strong – because we still have a lot to look forward to. Life continues to move forward and we should too.
People have been around for about 200,000 years. We have survived epidemics before and we will survive this one, too. In the 6,000 some-odd years we’ve lived together in civilizations, we have wreaked havoc on the planet we call home.[i]Now that we aren’t going out and about, rolling through the daily grind, the Earth is showing us that She is surviving – dare I say thriving – in light of all this. People aren’t flocking to beaches, parks, zoos, and other public attractions, allowing the land and animals a much-needed break from us. Here are some of the ways in which the Earth is reviving herself:
Amorous Animals
An article in the NYTimes, two pandas in a Hong Kong zoo have finally mated! Panda’s are notorious for their low libido – whether they don’t really know how to mate, or don’t want to mate, experts aren’t sure. What they do know is that the lack of love-making is contributing to the low numbers of pandas in the world. This applies to pandas in captivity as well as in the wild, so zookeepers are reassured that their walls aren’t the reason for the lack of mating amongst pandas. Ying Ying and Le Le have lived together for 13 years at the Ocean Park Zoo, and Monday, April 6th they finally did the deed. They started showing signs that mating season was coming close, and so zoo workers gathered around the enclosure with phones on the ready. Below is a twitter post containing a video of the momentous mating. Michael Boos, the executive director in zoological operations and conservation at Ocean Park, said “The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination.” Let’s hope that this momentous occasion leads to a baby panda!
Giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le succeeded in a natural mating, @Ocean_Park has announced. “We hope to bear wonderful pregnancy news to Hong Kongers this year and make further contributions to the conservation of this vulnerable species,” the park’s Michael Boos said. pic.twitter.com/yJCpCdVHeK
Over in Spain, on March 3rd, a 100-year-old South American river turtle laid eggs at the Emperor Valley Zoo. The turtles normally don’t lay eggs, as they are constantly bombarded with people sticking their faces in on them. Since the zoo closed, however, the turtles felt comfortable enough to lay eggs and bury them in the sand.[ii]
On April 1st, Brazil had some turtle action as well. Rather than laying, they got to experience hatching. Thousands of turtles on the beach hatched and made their way to the ocean. A phenomenon like this would normally draw crowds, leading to litter on the beach, attempted theft of baby turtles, and cause a distraction for the little critters making their way to the ocean.
Pollution Solution, possibly?
It’s no surprise that the pollution levels in the air and on land has declined since people have been quarantined to their homes. They aren’t out and about, driving their cars, leaving their trash lying about, and factories that usually pump pollution into the air have shut down. It’s most noticeable in major cities around the world:
The famous canals in Venice, Italy are clear for once, thanks to the lack of boat traffic.[iii] Without boats zooming up and down the canals all day, the sediment has been able to settle giving Italians a clear view to the bottom.
The air pollution has dropped markedly, thanks to the reduction of motor vehicle traffic. The other day I participated in a Zoom session with my fellow Witch Way Magazine writers, and Michael Herkes, author of The GLAM Witch, told us that the few times he’s ventured into the city, Chicago, IL, the air is noticeably cleaner. NASA reported that the air in the Northeast has much less nitrogen dioxide (aka NO2), a toxic pollutant emitted from motor vehicles.[iv]
The NO2 levels over Asia and Europe have dropped 40% since last year
With many reports surfacing about a possible link between high air pollution and Coronavirus deaths, we can only hope that NO2 continues to drop.
I’m far from the only person to be pointing out the reasons to smile despite the pandemic. If you take a look at my Source list, you’ll find other articles outlining how the world is benefiting from social distancing orders.
Facebook is abuzz with ways to ease your anxieties, as well. As I mentioned earlier, I participated in a chat with my fellow Witch Way Magazine writers. We discussed ways in which we are taking care of ourselves, ways we are taking advantage of our time at home, and more. You can hop on over to Facebook, if you’re interested in watching.
Not a Typical Post
I know this is far from usual for me. I usually post about magick, goddess/god work, spirituality, and enlightenment. So, why am I talking about pollution and the corona virus? For a few reasons.
Witches are intimately connected to nature, and the state of the world is important to us.
Witches are HUMAN. That means we are just as susceptible to anxiety, fear, depression, and sadness as any other person. Witches need cheering up sometimes too, I know I do, and it has cheered me up a little putting this post together for you.
I care about you and your well-being. It matters to me how you are feeling. I can only imagine how you are all coping with the chaos and so I wanted to remind you that it’s not all horrible. I want to remind you that with destruction comes creation, and vice versa. We can’t even begin to guess why this is all happening, and we can’t predict when it will end or how. So in the meantime, we can try to stay focused on the positive. As witches we know that thoughts have weight, and that having positive thoughts are more likely to render a change.
Further In Summer than the Birds
by Emily Dickinson
Further in Summer than the Birds –
Pathetic from the Grass –
A minor Nation celebrates
It’s unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen –
So gradual the Grace
A gentle Custom it becomes –
Enlarging Loneliness –
Antiquest felt at Noon –
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify –
Remit as yet no Grace –
No furrow on the Glow,
But a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now –
[Posted in Poems by Emily Dickinson.]
Hello my loves! A week ago I posted an article,Witches, Unite in the Fight! , encouraging you guys to utilize the upcoming new moon energies in a way that will be beneficial to yourself as well a the community around you. I shared this article on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, using the hashtag #WitchesAgainstCOVID19 to spread the word.
It is my hope that I reached a large enough number of witches to make a difference. Even if you aren’t using this spell but choose to instead write your own, or use a spell by another witch, what matters is our intentions are in sync. (Cue N’sync song…) Whatever you choose is fine, all I ask is that we work together to protect our community and offer support to the scientists and medical health professionals who are spending countless hours working towards developing treatment or vaccines, or towards healing the sick. They’re putting their health- their lives- on the line, for the sake of ours.
Sigil for New Moon Spell fighting COVID19
New Moon Spell
What You Need:
candle (white or blue, for healing),
needle/nail, or something sharp to inscribe sigil on candle
lighter/matches,
sigil,
peace and quiet
Optional: a satellite image of your town/city, with your home clearly visible
It is an ancient belief that thoughts can become things, which means that your mind has the ability to manifest your desires. This requires your mental concentration, the ability to visualize your belief, and the raising of energy through your emotional investment. See your desire in your mind, believe in its manifestation, and direct energy toward realizing it in your life.
Charge your candle with the New Moon energies. You can either put it in a window sill or set it outside. In the meantime, make the sigil your own. You can either print it off and trace it a few times while concentrating on the intention, or make your own sigil using the intention associated with the sigil. (All living souls of my community are protected against threats to their health.)
When your candle is charged, inscribe the sigil on the candle (I find it’s easiest to draw the sigil on the bottom of the candle).
You can cast a circle and call the quarters if you wish. Ground and center, shifting your mind to a higher frequency. Find your powers- your ability to work magic, your ability to manifest intentions. My power center is in my belly. Some work from their heart, others their mind. Find it, and let that power grow filling your entire being. When you feel that you are ready, light the candle.
As you gaze at the candle, see the healing energies of the New moon glowing around the candle in a blue orb. Concentrate on that orb, and see it grow as you think about protecting yourself. When the orb has grown enough to enclose yourself within it, then think about protecting your family, and see the orb grow enough to enclose your home. The next step is going to be the most difficult – you may wish to get your photo of your town. See this orb continue to grow, enclosing your neighbors, then your neighborhood. Then it surrounds your entire town in protective energies. You can send down roots into the ground to pull energy from the Earth if you need to. Send out feelers to your fellow witches, supporting each other in this working. Imagine that you are creating an invisible shield against this virus. Even imagine little viruses flying around and bouncing off your shield. Start to bring your focus inward, gradually bringing it back to yourself when you’re ready. That shield is still there…know that with all your being. Get some water and something to eat and rest. This is a simple but powerful working, and you don’t want to over exert yourself.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me! I will be performing this spell tonight, March 24th, at 10 pm, EST.
By protecting our communities, we are making the fight against this pandemic that much more manageable. As the month goes on, use the fiery energies of Aries to send support to the people working towards creating vaccines, treatments..studying the virus in general. Send support to nurses, doctors and medical health professionals. Send support to teachers, who are doing their best to provide education to future doctors and scientists. We are witches, and we can make a difference.
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
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