Water

Bathing in the white springs of Glastonbury

Being a Scorpio, my element is WATER. But long before I investigated my star sign, I was drawn to all things water; the open ocean, lakes, rivers, swimming pools, baths, boats. Any excuse off come the clothes in the water I'd go.

Without water nothing can live.

Our bodies are 50 - 60 % water, we simply would not exist without it.

It holds power over both conception and death.

Water is a cleansing element, and linked to psychic intuition, the subconcious and the emotional. For this reason it is considered a feminine element. Water gives life, as does the woman.

Water also holds sway over our creative personality, because it is so intrinsically linked to our emotions. The birth of an idea.

Water evokes clarity, purity, and calmness.

It's natures way of allowing us to clean our mind, body and soul.

So, when you can't shake the icky sense of someones bad energy from your skin, go bathe in natural water.

When your crystal has been used for some intense magic, hold it in a river.

When your mind is full of toxic thoughts, have a relaxing bath, let the water drain away around you and take those thoughts with it.

That second hand athame that you need for magical working...you guessed it water!

It is the element of constant movement, but not rapid and destructive movement; slow and steady.

This movement is powered by the moon as we all know, so those with a star sign linked to Water, may have an affinity with moon magic.

An easy way to show Water  on your altar is with either a small vial of water, or the presence of Shells, as the elements correspondence is to the West, they should be placed in the West position.

Blue and White are to representative colours of water.

The magical item of water on your altar is the cauldron or cup (Can't hold water without a womb or vessel.)

You can use water in magical working around;

• Purification
• Scrying
• Love
• Peace
• Friendship
• Dreams
• Psychic Awareness

my secret stream I often escape to

Being a Scorpio with my moon sign in Aries, whose element is FIRE, means I can either balance these out amazingly or not at all. Crazy mood swings anyone?!
I see traits of both signs in me, but unlike some, I am more representative of my Scorpion side. Meaning my love of water makes sense. 

A really lovely thing is that my partner and I are both water signs.
He is a Pisces.
According to all the resources our combination is ultimate compatibility.
Soulmate stuff.
"The destiny of a Pisces is to bring people together, and when this energy meets Scorpio’s intensity and tenacity, there is no stronger bond."

The attraction of Scorpio to Pisces, becomes an addiction QUICKLY.
Being water signs, they are both highly sensitive and perceptive.

I never put a lot of energy into star signs until recently. Being born on the cusp, I spent most of my life believing myself to be a Libra star sign. It was only when I made a recent delve into an astrological book, that I realised how much more my personality fit with a Scorpio...and something that had previously made no sense to me, started to form shape and substance.
Then looking into my relationships with other star signs, seeing what could be predicted, and how accurate friendships and partnerships were portrayed to communicate and interact... well now I'm certainly a lot more believing. 

Even witches can be sceptical! 

Blessed Be!

Ostara

March 21st/22nd

A point of perfect balance on the journey through the wheel of the year.
The natural world is coming alive, thanks to the growing days, and warming sun.
Ostara's energy is expansive and exuberant, the first real day of Spring.

Ostaras name comes from the Germanic Goddess, Eostre or Ostara - a goddess traditionally honoured in April with festivals to celebrate the cycle of rebirth and fertility. (Fun Fact it's where the name for the female hormone oestrogen comes from.)

Ostaras symbols are all revolving around the idea of fertility; both the hare and the egg.
Flowers are used a lot on Ostara altars, and are wonderful to have throughout the house to mark this sabbat - daffodils, pussy willow, crocuses, primroses, violets to name a few.

Ostaras colours are; bright green, yellow, and purple.

This is the festival of new life.

It is also the Spring Equinox - a time of harmony, a time of balance between light and dark, day and night.
As we move into this time of new life, and beginnings, a wonderful way to bring things into being involved planting in your garden.

Find a type of flower or plant that really calls to you.
Buy a packet of seeds for this type of plant.

Getting a new pot, which you can paint sigils or runes on to aid your magic, fill it with soil.

On a piece of paper write down a wish.
A dream for yourself.
Something you want to manifest into your life with spring.

Using your bare hands, hold the paper after folding it, and dig deep into the soil you've just potted. Place your paper about a third of the way up from the base of the pot.
Cover it back up, before planting your seeds above it, as instructed by the packet.

Take some time in nature with your pot, and meditate on the thing you want to bring forth.
You could say something like; 

"Lord and Lady, with the turning of the wheel new beginnings come.
Sewn with the seed, I ask my wish be done.
As it grows, green and true;
May my dream grow too."

Water, love and tend to your growing seeds.
As your plant grows, it will manifest your desire into being. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Good Old Lavender

Lavender is probably one of the most common herbs/plants that everyday people know about and use. They'll have a lavender bubble bath to help them sleep, a lavender mist spray for their pillows.

Lavender is definitely not one of my favourite scents, but I cant deny it's properties.
I bathe in the stuff, literally.
In summer I put lavender in my lemonade.
And when I'm stressed nothing is more soothing than cooking up a batch of Lavender biscuits. (Look below for the recipe.)

Part of this trust in Lavender has to come from my nan. Any ailment, and illness; "Put Lavender on it!"

Lavender is the most recognized smells in the world. And is known mostly for it's aids in sleep and reducing stress.

 It's even good on a biological level, as it attracts lots of bees, due to it's excess pollen. And the worlds bees are in serious crisis right now.

It has amazing skills in reducing migraines and headaches.
It soothes and calms the nerves.
It aids in all types of skin problems; burns, insect bites, sunburn, acne, abscesses...
It's an antisceptic.
It's great for depression, and anxiety.

The flowers are the part of the Lavender plant that we used, the dried buds and flowers. These flowers should be collected between early summer and early fall, just before they open. It's then very easy to dry them at room temperature, so they're ready for you to make into an oil, make a tea with, or pop into these delicious biscuits below.

Recipe for Vegan Lavender Biscuits

Ingredients;

2 tbsps homegrown Lavender buds

100g Plant Based Butter

50g Caster Sugar
100g Plain Flour

Directions;

Mix your butter and sugar together, like a normal cake batter.
Pour in your flour a little at a time, and getting your hands in there, mix it in.
Now add your lavender, and give it a thorough mix. 

Get 2 spoons and dollop the mixture onto grease proof paper.

This size recipe will make about 6 - 8 biscuits.

Chuck the biscuits into the oven, on a medium heat, on the center shelf.
Cook until slightly browning.
Roughly 15 minutes.

And it's that simple!
Aromatherapy in a biscuit. And a quick healing fix, for those tough days.