Carnelian

Carnelians name heralds from the Latin word "carnis", translating to "flesh". It most likely received this name due to it's colour. Carnelian also used to be known as Cornelian, deriving from the Latin word "cornum", translating to "cherry".

In Ancient Egypt, Carnelians were used in protection magic for both the living and the dead. They used to be carved into the symbol of Isis, and placed on the neck of a mummy for protection and safe passage. The living would carry Carnelian in the shape of 'The Eye Of Horus', which would protect them from the evil eye.

During the Roman times, Carnelian was typically found engraved with the head of a lion. It was worn or carried into battle, to give it's bearer courage.

Courage is one of Carnelians strongest magical attributes. Whilst it enhances physical energy, and increases courage, it does so by making you tap into your personal power.
Carnelian has strong links with your second Chakra, 'The Sacral Chakra' - which relates to your sense of self. It works in harmony with your five senses, aswell as increasing sexual desire. I keep 2 small pieces of Carnelian under my bed, to keep passion ignited. It is wonderful to work with in any sex rite, or self-gratification magic.

Carnelians element is Earth and Fire (probably why it's so powerful in sex magic) Circling your candle with Carnelian will increase any fire magic you are performing.

Carnelian stirs up action inside it's wearer, which makes it one of my favourite crystals.

Do you have any experiences with Carnelian?

Feel free to share them here.

Merry Meet and Merry Part

xoxo

Yule

Second to Samhain, Yule is my favourite Sabbat.
The Winter Solstice is nearly upon us, falling on the 21st of December, this Sabbat is here as a time of celebration to remind us that there is life returning after the darkness of winter.
Yule marks the shortest day of the year, and the longest night; the opposite side of the wheel to the Summer Solstice.

The word Yule, and the general festivities, relate back to Germanic paganism, with the first recorded use of the name Yuletide being found in 1475. In it's earliest form the term yule, or yuletide, was significant to a 12 day festival in the month of December, or sometimes just a referral term for the month itself.

As with most of Witch tradition, the true origins and rites are rather jumbled - but the general belief is that the days of Yule, are a celebratory festival during the Winter festival, rejoicing in the rebirth of the SUN, and/or the Great Horned God.

In simple terms, you are thanking the gods/goddess that you have survived a long hard winter, and are joyful that the sun is being reborn. The longest night is behind you, and their is hope.

The Oak King rules from midwinter to midsummer - the period of increasing light.
At this time of year, the Oak King defeats his brother, the Holly King, and regains control of the seasons.

For December Witches and pagans take evergreen trees indoors, to encourage woodland spirits to reside within, and stay warm and safe.

The evergreen tree was sacred to the Celts, because it did not die! Its boughs became a symbol of the eternal divine. Your gods and nature have not abandoned you, when all the greenery around you cannot penetrate the hard earth. Bringing full trees into your house is a more recent tradition, but it held the same basic priniciple. This tree would live the winter, and so would you, and when the sun returned to the earth, you would replant the tree back to nature. 

This is one example of many where Christianity twisted and distorted the pagan holidays to suit themselves - thus was born the Christmas tree. When Christianity was coming into power, they tried to place their own holidays at the time of pagan rites, that people already knew and recognised. This made the transition easier for people at this time of change.

Mistletoe is another ancient tradition. - Druids revered the oak tree, and the mistletoe that grew from it. During the winter when all other signs of nature had vanished, the green twigs of mistletoe and their white berries, were seen as a sign of eternal fertility.
They travelled far, and climbed high for this mistletoe to clear couples of infertility.
Often hung over their doorways, over the years we have developed the tradition of kissing beneath it.
So...don't kiss too passionately, now you know the supposed effects ;)

 Yule Logs - Originally not a scrummy, chocolate cake at all!
Can you believe?!
The Yule log was just that, a log. Harvested with your own hands, and placed in the fireplace. The log would be decorated, for the season, and then put in the fire as the main kindling, at winters end. The fire here, representing the newborn sun.
Nowadays, what with fireplaces being hard to come by. Many witches, use their yule log as a base for three candles. The candles still represent the coming sun, it's a lot safer. and you can reuse the same log year and year again.

Holly And Ivy -  A sprig of holly near the door is said to invite nature sprites. It is a deterant for evil beings, and a welcome to positive entities.
It is also a symbol of remembrance for the historic battle of the Holly and the Ivy; the one mentioned above, where the Oak King regains power over the seasons.

So...Christmas is probably more witchy than you thought.

Here are some correspondences for magical workings over the sabbat;

Colours

Gold

Green

Red
White

Animals

Stag
Reindeer

Bears

Deers

Owls

Snow Geese

Food

Gingerbread
Cinnamon

Mulled Wine
Spiced Meats

Herbs & Plants

Holly
Ivy

Poinsettias
Pine
Mistlestoe

Magic Working

Yule Log

World Peace Spells

Healing Work

Love Spells

Wreath Making

Kitchen Magic

Merry Yuletide!
Blessed Be!

Apophyllite

Would you look at this beauty!?!

Apophyllite is native to India, and it occurs in ancient lava and basalt flows. It is most often found in glassy rectangular prisms in it's natural form. It was only discovered in the 1800s, but may have been given a different name before this date, which makes it's history hard to trace.

These crystals contain a high amount of water molecules in their structure, which is firstly what makes the appearance differ slightly to that of clear quartz, but secondly that which  makes them compatible with those with a connection to the water element.

(Like me as a Scorpio)

It is believed to be a very spiritual crystal, it bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual realm - it helps your spiritual connection, and there for should aid wonderfully in divination.

It can be used also in meditation, as a crystal it is known to aid in calm and tranquil feelings; so this combined with it's breaching of the spiritual world, makes it ideal for dreamscape work, journeying, scrying, astral travel, and meditation.

If you hadn't guessed by this crystals attributes it is connected to your third eye chakra.
Apophyllite is known as an "ascension stone", which means it helps bring light and clarity to emotional situations. It helps you be more honest with yourself about things, and brings the truth from others.

I got this gorgeous gem from http://www.crystalfaery.co.uk/ 

Visit the online store, for all your crystal needs - just follow the link for 'Crystal Cavern', or feel free to browse and enjoy the other wares they have to offer.

Lusty Jasmine

Jasmine is one of my favourite flowers. It has so much more to it than most people realise.

Jasmine flowers are white and delicate, part of a climbing tree; these flowers are best picked at night, as this is when their aroma is most intense.

Jasmine for this reason has strong connections to the night, and the moon. Whenever I work with the Moon, Jasmine is usually involved.

Properties;

Antidepressant
Antiseptic

Antispasmodic

Aphrodisiac

Sedative

We all will have heard that Jasmine is an aphrodisiac, but it is so much more than that. We call it an aphrodisiac because Jasmine increases the number of spermatozoa in men, which helps reduce infidelity. And because of it's deeply relaxing nature, most herbologists think that this may be responsible for it's effect over sexual problems like impotence, premature ejaculation, and frigidity.

Jasmine is a superb hormone balancer, it helps relieve spasms of the uterus, and eases menstrual pain. Mix with raspberry leaf, in a tea, and you have a super effective womb tonic.

This does mean that it is best avoided during pregnancy...unless you are ready to go into labour, in which case go nuts!

Jasmine is a valuable remedy when it comes to severe depression. It's calming to the nerves, whilst also being warming to the emotions. Such a power combo. Burning jasmine in the home will help aid your mind, as will carring essential oil mixed into a carrier oil to apply in the style of a perfume.

See!
How amazing is Jasmine.

If you'd like posts on a specific herb or flower, comment below, and I will do my best to oblige.

Britain's Young Witches

Over the Halloween period, here in the UK, BBC1 aired a one off show entitled 'Britain's Young Witches' - a huge breakthrough to have this on our TVs, trying to break the stigma around Witchcraft!
This video can be found on BBC Iplayer, I will post the link below, so if you're in the UK, you can give it a watch.
I enjoyed it, and I'm glad it was broadcast to so many people.

I will just tell you my niggly bits about the show; firstly, everyone bar the book keeper were young, yes, but they were also young to the craft. At most they had been practicing for 3-4 years...now I am in know way saying that that makes them any less of a witch, or that their voices count for less... but it did not help the stigma that witchcraft is a passing phase, a current trend. Having some more experienced Witches would have been beneficial, even if they didn't have as many insta-likes.
Secondly, the comments on appearance, and witch asthetic. This was just stupid. People who share similar beliefs, usually enjoy similar types of tv shows, or similar hobbies...why is it so unbelievable that they share similar fashion trends, that are unrelated to Witchcraft. Aswell as the fact if you simply look at Harmony Nice, compared to the two gentlemen witches in the show, their styles are so very different, the suggestion was laughable.

Anyway that aside, it's definitely worth a watch.

Britains Young Witches

Blessed Be

xoxo

Happy Samhain

Merry meet, and a happy Samhain to all readers.

What a sabbat it was!

What did you guys get up to? Share in the comments, I'd love to read what you guys have been doing.

Matt and I waited in for trick or treaters, which is always fun.

Then I spent an evening with my witch sister, Suzie. She made me magical mulled cider, and I broke her 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Virginity. Then we made midnight margaritas, and watched 'Practical Magic'.

 When I came home, it was time for my favourite part of Samhain - ritual work, and my 12 card spread for the new year.

This is a shot of my altar, looking all mystical in the candle light.

Let me turn the lights on, so you can see what's going on!

Along with my Directional correspondence, my altar had Crow feathers, to call in and honour the Morrigan, My Pentagram, white flower petals, and parts of a roe deer skull, so I could harness the energy from ancestors and nature.

Directional Correspondance;

North - Earth

East - Air

South - Fire

West - Water

As I do every Samhain, I pulled 12 cards to tell my what the new year has in store for me.

It is always a perfect and magical way to end Samhain.

Never forget to give an offering to the Gods you've worked with; I cast a little of my blood in the fire in thanks to the Morrigan - she is a Goddess of war after all.

This work left me utterly drained for the day following Samhain.
Large ritual work definitely takes it's toll, so be wary that you don't plan much for the following day. My body was hurting, my emotions were all over the shop, and my physical and mental state were utterly drained. Especially around Samhain and Beltane, the veil between the worlds is so thin, it is easy to tap into a lot of magical energy.
After any ritual work, be sure to drink plenty of water, and have a comfortable place to sit down, for atleast a few minutes.

----------------
Blessed Be
xoxox

October

Samhain draws closer, and so does my birthday.

October is my favourite season for so many reasons.

It is the true start to fall, when you can really see the days shortening, and are forced to snuggle up by candlelight in blankets and warm jumpers. When warm baths filled with cinnamon and clove, are a weekly ritual. Pumpkin pie being made in the kitchen, and tea constantly boiling.

When a drive through the country is a feast for your eyes.

Hues of green, yellow, brown, orange, red.

Watching the flowers, and trees go into hibernation - seeing them wither and burrow deep beneath the earth, and finding life beautiful.

Spicy hot chocolate, and chai tea lattes.

Toffee apples.

Bats and pumpkins can be found all throughout the house.

We start to retreat inwards, into that hermit state of being.

Reminiscent of the tarot card - embracing the dark, and the power within ourselves...with the hope to come out shining in the spring.

Here is a little chant to recite at these times;

"Burrowing like the rabbit
Or the bear beneath the ground.
The winters hush upon me
I do not make a sound.
Let the world keep spinning,
Without me for a space,
I am turning inward
In search of peace and grace."

This is perfect for setting yourself up for meditation, or when the outside world just gets a bit too hectic for you.

Glastonbury Visit

Hello lovelies!

Today once again found me in the magical streets of Glastonbury. I went with my witch sister Suzie, and we went to do some shopping, visit the Wytches Market, and get matching tattoos...yep we're that cool.

  

The Wytches Markey was in the town hall of Glastonbury, and featured lots of lovely stalls of all magical persuasions. Such as 'Steel Stick .N. Stone', 'The Ivory Dolls', 'Tawny El' - The only thing I purchased from here was a beautiful art print by Vikki Yeates Illustrations, but there was so much creativity in that hall.

 Moving on from here, with plenty of time till our appointment at the tattooists, we hit all of our usual Glastonbury favourites; for some reason I feel like Suzie and I walk around more than most when at Glastonbury. We go up and down the street more times than necessary, letting our inner guide lead the way. We did discover a lot of new great stores, we've never seen before; Our favourite being 'ShieldMaiden' - A new store for all your Viking needs. Whilst the shop was a bit of a vegan minefield, there were plenty of interesting things to look at, and some beautiful ceramics, and clothes.  

StarChild is always a must on these trips.
This was actually the first time I needed to purchase from behind the till.

I needed a few herbs for upcoming ritual work I have planned, and a few ingredients for teas. They weigh all their herbs out on scales, and charge by weight. Literally like something from TV, you are watching the sales woman stand on a ladder, and reach for one jar, from a wall of multi-coloured herbs and plants, all with a hand written label.

After lunch, which was a delicious vegan tomato and bulgar wheat soup with ciabatta - we had to make our way to the tattooist.

 We'd already picked our design, something I really loved after coming across it on Pinterest (I know not very original) Our tattooist was a guy named Tom, who was great. He put up with all our weird questions and behaviours, joked with us, gave me 2 lollies throughout my tattoo, and just overall did a beautiful job.

Before heading home, we stopped in the George and Pilgrim, 15th century inn, and had half a pint of Guinness. Purely because this is Jason Mamoas' beverage of choice...and he is a God, so.... There was logic there somewhere.

It was a lovely way to end our trip.

And finally once I got home, I took a shot of all my shopping.

Final Shopping List;

Hare Art Print - Vikki Yeates

StarChild Happy Tea

Samhain Card

Poisons, Potions, And Aphrodisiacs Book

2 Rat charms (to be made into earrings)

Catnip

MeadowSweet

Raspberry Leaves

1 epic tattoo

Witches Bottle

This bottle of protection for the home, and your loved ones inside it, is some essential magical working.
These bottles work in the reverse of voodoo dolls. So like a voodoo doll, you need bodily fluids, hair, nail clippings, from yourself, and those who live with you. This represents your beings, and attracts unwanted attention, negativity, and bad magic cast your way. But then the other things you place in the bottle ensnare that negativity or magic, and they stop it from reaching you and doing harm.

(image found on google)

To create your own bottle, first find a suitable container with a lid. It can be a jam jar, a pretty glass perfume bottle, a glass water bottle, whatever you have available.
Although be warned your final result, will not look pretty. This is not pretty magic. This is raw magic at it's core, and you are essentially creating a trap to contain bad things you do not want to come into your household.

So once you have this container gather parts of your family.
Nail clippings, hair, spit, blood.
The use of blood is the most potent way to protect your home. My witches protection bottle, has period blood in, directly from my womb and the core of my power - if this option is available to you whilst creating this bottle, do it!!
Also in my bottle are nail clippings from my partner and myself, and hair from us both, and our cat (don't forget your furry familiars, they need protection to)

Once you've got these stored in your bottle, you need to go and hunt for jagged nails, rusty barbed wire, broken glass, knotted twine - all visualisations of things that will trap and contain negative things, and protect you.
 As you place these things inside your bottle, visualise them trapping invisible thoughts that are coming to you, and spells cast in your direction.

Now, having everything in your bottle, put on the lid, and now using a black candle, seal the lid on with the wax. Black is for banishment, so as you are sealing your witches bottle, visualise a force field of light coming from the ground beneath your house and gardens, and stretching up and out to create a dome, over your dwellings.
 Thank the gods and goddesses for their protection, and to finalise the magic, the witches bottle needs to be buried near your front door.
If this is not possible, in the back of a fire place or hearth. And as a last resort buried in a pot near the front door. As long as it is near an entrance/way of entry to the home it should work.

This is mine, in it's hidey place, within our boarded up fire place.

Blessed be,

Jade xoxox

Mabon

Otherwise known as the Autumn Equinox; the sabbat Mabon looms closer. Falling on the 22nd of September, this sabbat is all about giving thanks for the harvest that has come, and thanks for the harvest yet to come. With the fields nearly empty, it is a time of abundance and a time for gratitude.
The word 'equinox' comes from latin, and translates to 'equal night' - on the equinox the earth receives the same hours of light, as it does dark; which is why they are times of balance.

There are certain types of magic, that are most prosperous at Mabon.

• Home and Hearth Magic - a perfect time to protect your home with a witches bottle; or give the house a thorough cleaning, now is the time to rid everything from your home that no longer serves you.
  A ritual such as this ~~ https://www.thoughtco.com/mabon-ritual-for-home-protection-2562297 ~~ is lovely around this time.

• Whip up some kitchen magic - Use foods of the season, and the harvest, like apples and bread, to get hot in the kitchen. As you bake or make, pour your intentions for a happy, healthy family into the ingredients. Feasting at the times of harvest is an age old tradition, so anything you bake, can be shared between to spread the magic you've put into it.

Foods of Mabon

• Bread
• Apples
• Squash
• Pumpkin
• Grains
• Root Veg
• Corn
• Cider

• Prosperity Magic - Use this time of balance to draw in money and abundance. You can refer back to my blog post on 'Money Magic' here ~~ http://jadeaddismagicmusings.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=money+magic ~~ on simple tips to bring prosperity in.

Blessed Be,

 Jade xoxo

The Choice Is Yours...

                                                              

Choosing Paths

A little pull I did a few days ago...
It's a super easy pull, but one which can be devastating to the heart strings.

You pull two cards to start with. One focused on one option in your life, and you pick another card based on your second option.
 This can be a choice between jobs, houses, life choices, two people.

Once you've picked these two cards, take time to contemplate over them, and try and discern their meanings. Sometimes they'll be obvious; The Tower card appears for one choice - change is needed, you need to knock everything down to rebuild. Other times, they'll be less obvious.

Next you pick two more cards, one related to each first card, and original choice. This card is to show you an outcome or needed action.

I won't tell you what I was thinking about ;) but I will discern the cards for you none the less, so you can see how this spread would work.

Choice 1

 First card is the Six of Wands.

This path has led me to a darker path, one I am just now blossoming away from. I am the butterfly in this card, flying away from that path, and situation.

Second Card is The Chariot.

This card is a reminder that we are in charge of our own lives. We hold the reins!! It indicates movement, and re-taking charge.

These two cards tell me that Choice One, is best left alone. Essentially run for the hills from this option, it will not bring positivity.

Choice 2

First Card is The Four Of Pentacles.

This card promises stability, especially regarding material matters. The four pentacles, are harmoniously tied together, showing balance and security.

Second Card is The Nine Of Cups.

Cup cards relate to our emotional side. The Nine of Cups is all about bliss and harmony. It's tagline is wishes fulfilled.

So, on the opposite side of the spectrum, this choice seems much more positive, and will lead me to a place of positive completion.

The choice is simple.

Dream Catchers

One of the most therapeutic things I've ever done is make a dream catcher. It's an amazing magical experience, that is amazingly healing.
There is something ritualistic about weaving string and ribbon around wood, making patterns, losing yourself in the loops you're making. Working with your hands, and rough tools, it's a very organic process.

The History of Dream Catchers;
           Dream Catchers are believed to have originated with the Ojibwa people. They believed that the night air is full of both good and bad dreams. When a dream catcher is hung above the place you sleep it moves freely in the night air filtering your dreams. The dream catcher slowly spread throughout various tribes; it wasn't until the 1960s or 70s that it became known throughout all the Native American cultures.
    Dream Catchers used to be weaved by the woman of a tribe or household.
The mothers and grandmothers would weave magical webs from flexible woods like willow, as an honouring/offering to a goddess like force called 'Spider Woman' who legend said protected their tribal lands. They would hang these dream catchers over the cots of their babies, as well as their own beds. Aiding in peaceful sleep, as well as pleasant dreams.
   For me this is very similar to the witches "With Every Stitch A Wish" method.
 The web like layering of a dream catcher, meant good dreams who knew the way to go, would flow easily through the centre of the catcher, or in other cultures, it was said, they filtered down through the dangling feathers and into the sleeping persons head. Bad dreams however did not know the way, and couldn't navigate the trap, therefore they would get stuck, until the morning sun rose, and burned them into nothingness.

 I try to use as natural materials as possible to make my dream catchers. Wood from the forest, or twisted climbing wood from my garden. Twine that can be hand dyed using fruits and such.
Feathers and lace to decorate, crystals and symbols dangling.
Once you've got the basics down, you can get really creative.
As long as you stay rustic, there is no point of perfection, except what's in your minds eye.

It is said that Native Americans often find our modern day dream catchers "an undesirable form of cultural appropriation" - and whilst I do not mean to belittle their opinions, when you are making your own handmade dream catchers, and no one is profiting from them, I fail to see a downside.
Whether you are making one to look pretty on the wall, or you believe in the power they hold over dreams, it doesn't really matter.
 These histories can be altered and changed by the people who come and go from this earth, and therefore it makes true origin stories very hard to come by. We are often mis-informed that wearing feathers in our hair is a native American tradition, whilst we know from ancient oral tales and manuscripts, that Vikings and Druids also donned feathers long before Native Americans did.
 Both have claim to it, but that doesn't mean they own it, and can stop the other from doing so.
 Just because you are not from a culture, doesn't mean that some of it's motifs, gods, elements, will not resonate inside you. Go with what your gut tells you... don't buy into it for the 'cool' factor, feel a pull towards it, and run with it.

Apologises for the political note, but I felt it was important to talk about. I'm fully aware how many people will disagree with me, either because they actually think I am wrong, or because they love being PC.

Let me know if you make your own dream catchers, and post photos or links in the comments, so I can check them out!!

Merry Part,
Jade,
xx

Ferocious Vegan

I'm experiencing some serious 'world hate' right now... If you don't understand what this is, you probably have blinders on to what goes on around you; to what is on your plate, to what you're wearing, to the atrocities that go on all over the world around you.

I'm physically sick to my stomach - crying - mad - raging - distraught - beyond hope?

It's been an on-going debate on whether you can truly follow a path of nature worship, and eat meat and dairy in todays world.
Personally I think no.
You cannot claim to love mother earth, and protect her, if you defile and torture the animals upon this earth. We are a far cry from our ancestors killing for survival, and using every part of the animal for ritual, clothing, and food - in this world of mass production, you cannot pop to the supermarket, and buy a chocolate bar, or a chicken fillet with a clear conscience.
   Unless you rear your own animals, and honour them; killing only as a means for feeding your family, milking your own cows during their natural, non-hormone induced milk cycle. Collecting whatever eggs are left unfertalised at your feet - consuming without greed, and pain...in all honesty you have no argument I'm willing to listen to.

Today, I'm going to share a blog entry with you, that has come straight from my personal journal.
A trail of thoughts....of hopes...of dreams...of prayers.

I really hope with all my heart, that years from now, people will look back at how past generations ruined the world. I hope they will look and they will say 'Why?'
 I pray that future schools will teach the war on animals alongside Nazi Germany - that 'Eco' will be an important lesson taught. I pray for shops crammed with cruelty-free products. A world where our oceans aren't in threat - where 'Sustainable Environment' is more than just a marketing tool.
 I dream of children who run through forests, and can name the types of trees. Of children who can run home listing the wildlife they've seen that day, and running out of fingers to count them all on.
 A world where the common question is,
 "What do you mean you eat animals?"
A time when 'Cull' is no longer an except-able excuse, and the word is treated like the word, 'murderer'
A world where animals have won their fight for rights...and life!
A world of reading and intellect - where 'book worm' is a compliment. When ignorance is no longer bliss, and knowledge, not money, holds power.
 That love will conquer all in the end - and that romance and fairytales aren't taken for granted.
We have very nearly destroyed this planet, and I see no change coming in my lifetime. But I hold firm to my belief that one day, even though I will never see it - the revolution will come!
We are putting the base of the foundations in place for future generations to fix our devastating mistakes!!

Tonight I light a candle for the 150 BILLION animals murdered this year.
Some of us are trying...

Tonight especially has been rough. My faith is broken.
We experience periods like this. Times when it all seems so untouchable. And then their are highs. There are feelings of elation at progress, even the smallest kind. Like an ever turning wheel, are emotions flow and ebb...

Here are some potentially handy links;

• http://www.adaptt.org/killcounter.html
• https://www.vegansociety.com/
• http://therapytwins.com/documentaries-that-inspire-veganism/
• http://isitvegan.net/
• http://www.seashepherd.org.uk/
• https://www.animalsasia.org/uk/
• https://www.lush.co.uk/article/fighting-animal-testing-0

And there are plenty of facebook groups to nosey around;

• https://www.facebook.com/veganoutreach?fref=ts
• https://www.facebook.com/thevegankind?fref=ts
• https://www.facebook.com/AnimalEquality?fref=photo

Sorry for getting heavy with you guys...but not sorry really.

Witchy Reads

Here's a video I made back in 2014, where I showcased some of my favourite books on the Craft.
These are still top of my list, but they've been joined by a few other notable reads.

•  WITCH - Lisa Lister

                                   Life changing, breath-taking, Unleash your wild Witch. Cannot tell you to read
                                          it enough.

• Mermaid Wisdom; Enrich Your Life With Insights From The Deep - Brenda Rosen

                          This might not be everyones cup of tea, if you're not into faery magic or mythology,
                              but as a woman, this book was a great resource for life skills. By using mermaid
                              mythology, and exercises, Brenda teaches you how to embrace that siren in you.

• Garden Witches Herbal; Green Magic, Herbalism, and Spirituality - Ellen Dugan

                                          One of my newest author discoveries (suggested to me by my fellow witch
                                               sister) if it's by Ellen Dugan, I'm going to read it. With an affinity for
                                               nature worship, and herblore, Ellen has plenty of books for you to
                                                choose from.

                                                         She also has a few fictional series, which are amazing.
                                                   The Legacy of Magic series, is delightful and witty. You can tell it's

                                                     written by an actual practitioner, and that seems to give these books
                                                       more sustenance.

Hope you find something here that interests you!
If you're looking for a book, on a specific subject within the craft, or about herbs, oils, drop me a message, and we can chat about the ones I've read.

Blessed Be,

Jade

xoxo

Maybe we've met before...

Sharing these musings from an older blog I had, that have been playing on my mind recently.

-------------------------------------

In last weeks Parlour class with Veronica Varlow, we were talking about past lives, and connecting to the otherside.It's not something I've thought of often...honestly hardly at all.
Mainly because to think about things like reincarnation - creates questions about the death of this lifetime...and I'm a bit of a wimp really.

I do like the idea of reincarnation...the idea that we've all wandered this land for centuries, as French courtesans, maybe an inmate in bedlam, an Egyptian queen, a farmer, a healer in Salem.
 It brings new guidance to the meaning of fate. True love, those friendships that you're unexplainably drawn to.
How romantic is the notion that you have walked this earth a number of times, and each time you are drawn towards this person/these people. You unknowingly travel in their direction, a connection of old souls that will last for eternity.Maybe there was a life where you couldn't find each other?
Maybe it's this one.
And your ancient soul is wandering lost - seeking each other out. 

Does it not explain some of our irrational fears? Odd things that bring a shiver down our spine...those moments your heart beats a little faster in unknown fear.
Perhaps your fear of things wrapped around your neck, is because in a past life you were hung from the gallows.
Or by chance your fear of deep water, that thing inside you that you can't push passed to swim just a little bit further, maybe that is because you drowned in a past life...maybe not even you, maybe someone you were close to.

But you see, thinking about the concept of past lives opens up even more questions. Do our family lines stay the same? Is my mum in this life, also my mum when I was basking in the sweaty heat of ancient Egypt? Did I have siblings in a past life? Where are they now? Do our familiars return to us, life and life again? Or even family members on a different level of reincarnation in the form of the family cat?
It's a bit sad to imagine that we only get this family in this lifetime. 
Once. The connection a temporary and frail thing to be cherished.

Does the cycle end? Is there a time when we are done on this earth, and move to the Summerlands? Are ghosts those who are done with the transitions, preparing to move on?
Questions we can only fathom a guess at.

I have a strong call to vintage clothing, Marie-Antionette ball gowns, medieval gowns. Certain eras of fashion really draw me in.

I have always been drawn to Egypt, an odd infatuation since childhood. Somewhere I was lucky enough to visit recently. I was not struck with typical de ja vu, but when I was in certain areas, and I saw the atrocity of pollution in the Nile, or the demolition of dessert landscapes - an unexplainable sadness came over me. A sadness I had no right to feel, and all I kept thinking was 'this isn't right'.

At the tombs and the pyramids, as I discreetly trailed my fingertips along the stone, and the paintwork. Those thousand year old paintings of sacrifice and pharaohs - they spoke to me. My knowledge of heiroglyphs is fairly limited, and whilst I can manage basic sentences, I knew I shouldn't have been able to understand the depth and emotion on these walls...but I could. I felt it deep in my stomach.When I stood under The Notre-Dame in France, in the cloak of midnight darkness, with a fire-breather lighting the night-sky, causing odd shadows to skitter across the church. The flames lapping at my skin, cutting off the bite of the wind. A simple thought and emotion came over me;
Home.
I'd never been there before, but I walked the cobbled streets with some mysterious knowledge for my guide. I never got lost, meandering down side-streets, a sense of contentment filling my heart.

We all have moments like this.
Don't we?
Unexplained.
That feeling that we've met before...

Well maybe we have.


----------------------------------------

These thoughts have been rekindled in my mind after reading the book 'WITCH' by Lisa Lister. This book has been a life changing experience for me, and is something I'd love to fully dive into in a future blog post. 

 But I mention it here, for Lisa's connection to her witch ancestors, something, she claims, lies inside every woman. She talks in depth about how when performing an initiation ritual in a cleansing well, fully immersed in the water, she could hear the screams of the witches that were drowned before her, could feel their panic, and sense the onlookers around her, despite being locked inside alone.
She talks about this being an ancient connection, birthed in our womb, and passed down to every witch (there's a little witch in every woman)

Thoughts??

Merry Part,
Jade
xoxo

Serpent

With the Full Moon rising in Scorpio, this moon calls for soul searching. Every once in a while there comes a time of deep reflection, when we have to realign our self identity with our core values. This moon pushes us to cut through the nonsense and pretences.

Today I wore my snake vertebra necklace, (which was created from the remains of a snake that died of natural causes) to help me keep myself in check.
 We may have all been feeling a little out of sorts recently, our emotions a bit high strung, and too many thoughts flying through our head.
I for one have been having the vivid-est of dreams - it is natural to happen around the Full Moon.

Why a snake?
In ancient religion, and the path of witchcraft and paganism, snakes represent the primordial life force. A snake is duality and balance, a sign of rebirth. If a snake bites it's own tail, it creates a sacred circle.
Norse mythology believes that it is a serpent god,  Jǫrmungandr  , who holds the sea in place, by doing just that. Holding onto his own tail, in order to keep the sea contained. Knowing that the element of Water is most strongly linked to our emotions, could we see this as the containment of emotion?

To tie in with the meanings behind this Full Moon, think about the way a snake sheds its skin, this physical transformation, that enables it to grow and develop. That is what you need to do. Shed that which is old and does not serve you, and you fill find more space and happiness for that which you hope to gain.

When we think about transformation, lets also think upon the Snakes representation of cycles; birth, death and rebirth. Snakes hide away during the winter months, and come 'alive' again in the Spring. The heat dragging them back above ground. This time is the perfect time to use the snake in meditation, or to honour in ceremony.

Morrigan Morrigan

"Morrigan Morrigan, Three times three,
Hear the words I ask of thee.
Grant me vision, Grant me power,
Cheer me in my darkest hour.

As the night overtakes the day,
Morrigan Morrigan, Light my way.

Morrigan Morrigan, Raven Queen
Round and round the Hawthorn Green.

Queen of Beauty, Queen of Art,

Yours my body, Yours my heart.

All my trust I place in thee.

Morrigan
Morrigan
Be with me. "

Witch

A deep rumble in the womb,

Reverberations of memories ages old.

Blood coursing with the tide,
Women running side by side;

Coaxed onwards by the moon.
An ancient connection,
Feral and Wild.

Walpurgisnacht

Beltane Blessings
&
Happy May Day

"Witches Night"  is the last night of the dark half of the year, in which the moon rules the sky. The Moon embodies the mystery, the subconscious, and the unknown. Beltane Eve begins at Midnight on the 30th of April, and ends when the sun rises on the 1st, carrying us into May Day. All things in life and nature are in a delicate balance of dark and light. This duality brings a wholeness to the cycles of the year.

At Beltane we thank the Green Man for his protection throughout the Winter, and celebrate the joining of The Maiden and The Young God, as they come into power. Due to it being a pivotal point in the wheel of the year, Beltane is one of the more widely celebrated, and powerful sabbats - second only to Samhain.
Similar to Samhian this period of festivities, is known for having a thin veil between our world and others. Magical workings performed around Beltane, are likely to be more powerful.

For Beltane this year, I visited Glastonbury. The company Glastonbury Dragons have began holding rites for Samhain and Beltane for the last few years. I adore the precession through town, with the giant red and white dragons.

Accompanied by the 'Pentacle Drummers', whose drumming put fire in my belly and music in my heart.

I stopped again in the healing springs at the very very base of the Tor, and across from the Chalice Wells.
Gods the energy in this place is always electric and grounding all at once.
I left an offering on the shrine/altar for Pan/The Green Man, which you can see photographed below.

I hope everyone had a brilliant night, and are welcoming in the new season well on this blessed May Day.

xx

The Fortune Teller

"Go ahead and read my fortune,
Cast your dice, Devine my fate.
I just want to know I have one,
Tell me that it's not too late."

Second Hand Faith - Emilie Autumn

Communicating with the Fae

This beautiful deck from Brian Froud, is one of my favourite oracle decks.

Every card is a beautiful illustration by Froud himself, of the faeries he encounters.

This deck has a real air of mythology, and features images that are strongly laced with pagan totems, alongside Welsh, Scottish, and Irish versions of fae.

This little guy is called Indi. Isn't he adorable.
Froud has covered both the unseelie court and the seelie court in this deck. Cards full of colour and vibrant light, contrast beautifully against dark shadows, and troublesome eyes.

I use this deck when my mood is more playful. This is a beautiful deck for autumn pulls, and to take on spring adventures. The air is less serious, and more fun that the tarot. Their messages are still true, and just as often feature warnings, but working with the fae is always more light-hearted.