Giveaway! Featured Favorites Friday: Hand-Crafted Pendulum

Today for you I have the honor to present a unique crafter of beautiful and personalized pendulums.  Brandy of Pendulums by Marlaina takes time and care in making magical tools designed with the witch in mind.

Pentacle Pendulum

Not only did I have a chance to ask Brandy some super fun questions, she has also been gracious enough to offer one of my lovely readers their choice of pendulum, including the 'Create Your Own' option.  Read through to the end and then use the Raffle-Copter form to enter.

Q: What is your favorite part of the Etsy selling experience?

A: My favorite part of the etsy selling experience for me is adding a new listing to my shop. Out of all the planning, the time it takes to create each piece etc. Its always exciting to see another item in my shop so that others can see and enjoy too.

Create Your Own Pendulum

Q: How does what you make support the Craft?

A: What I make and how it supports the craft: I make pendulums. I hand make them and try to make them unique and use natural, organic and handmade supplies. I feel that they heighten our spiritual growth. I'm a visual person and I need to be hit on the head with a brick to see that something isn't a coincidence. lol. So pendulums have helped me to communicate with my spirit guides, angels and have helped me through particular problems with clear and precise yes or no answers to my questions. Pendulums are a division of your subconsciousness and your likes/dislikes etc. That's why I was so excited to offer these unique pendulums. I offered the Design Your Own feature so you may pick and choose certain charms, fillers and pattern of the chain that your most drawn to, so that your pendulum can help you attune your spiritual and psychic ability. I also have the pre-made ones for everyday use.

Sodalite Pendulum

Q: What is your favorite Holiday?

A: My favorite holiday is Samhain. It always has been even since I was little. There is always a certain mystery and magic about it. The minute I wake up I know its Samhain because i can feel this certain energy and excitement going through me. Anything goes on this day. I feel closer to my ancestors. I always feel with Samhain I have time to enjoy this holiday and take time to decorate, participate in sabbats and rituals make traditional meals and take part in many of the festivities. I love the colors, sights and sound of the holiday.

Norse Rune Pendulum

Q: What's your favorite mythical animal?

A: I have a lot of favorite mythical animals and beings so I couldn't never choose just one. I love the mystery and magic of Dragons and will be putting out a dragon pendulum collection hopefully in the near future. I also love the beauty and playfulness of fairies and have a pendulum for a wish granting fairy and I'm excited to add more to that collection soon as well.

You can learn more about Brandy and her crafts through her facebook, twitter, pinterest, and etsy shop.  Oh, and enter the giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends in two weeks at midnight on 25th May 2012 .  Open WorldWide!  All winning entries will be verified.  If a winning entry cannot be verified a different winner will be chosen.
The Winner will be notified by email and has three days to reply or another winner will be chosen.

 ***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. Please note that I  am not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. **

Tarot Wednesday: The Tarot House Deck

As I continue indulging my tarot card habit collecting beautiful and meaningful decks, I find more and more I am fascinated and drawn to decks released by independent publishers. There's just something extra special about buying a deck from the creator and it feels like 'back in the day' when almost everyone had their own hand-made version of a deck of cards, due to lack of a printing press. I recently ran into a new deck that I just had to feature here, The Tarot House, which is a collaboration between a mother and daughter and employs a combination of Reiki and Tarot.

The Tarot House by Tricia and Jenny House

The passion to create this unique blend of Reiki and Tarot began with the younger member of the team, Jenny, who wanted to bring the intuition and guidance of the Tarot into her Reiki healing sessions to help expand the experience for the people she was helping. Once this decision was made she searched for a deck that fit her needs; something beautiful, positive and created with love and came to the conclusion that the artwork of her mother, Tricia, would make the best possible deck.

Each card has been induvidually painted by Tricia, the meanings described in detail by Jenny and, after four years of work, the finished deck is a beautiful tool.

You can find images and meanings of the Major Arcana, Swords, Wands, Cups and Pentacles on their website, The Tarot House. The deck can be purchased on etsy as well as through their website directly and has recently been reduced to a (more than fair) price of $24.99 (£14.99) that includes a lovely brocade bag (choose from six wonderful colours), a spread card with layouts of Celtic Cross, Past Present and Future and Chakra spreads, a leaflet with short divinitary meanings, and Reiki healing for harmony.

The beautiful artwork is also available as greeting cards from Etsy and ArtistPublishers.

I love a couple of things about this deck.  The images themselves feel so real, I think because they are not digital creations but instead digitized versions of paint and love on a canvas.  I love that the color pallet is bold but not distractingly so.  The texture and details in each of the pictures just add more possibility for a nuanced reading, and I am very jealous of the creative talent required to paint 78 individual images.

Tarot House Spread

In wandering about their website I also came across a spread that I may have to start using as it just looks like an interesting way to have the cards relate to each other, and after all... isn't that what reading cards is all about?

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PS: All these images are used with permission from the artist.  Please take a moment to click through and check out her other wares.

PPS: Enter to win a full set of printable BOS pages from a pagan-run small business here.  

PPPS: Enter to win a Tarot Tips Sheet just for spreading the word about a Pagan Publisher here. 

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13 Goddess WK10: Sumerian Goddess Inanna

Today I bring you a spell to Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of sexual love and war.  Remember we are all part of the divine and we all carry the power and beauty of the Earth within us.  This spell was inspired by a fantastic witchy friend who helps to remind me "I AM the Beauty of the Earth!"

Inanna Hand-painted Drum by AncientPowersLive

Inanna - Beauty of the Earth Candle Spell

ReadingsByKat.etsy.com

This spell is best performed during the waxing or full Moon.  The waxing energy of this moon phase helps bring things in to your life.

Use a pin to carve the eight pointed star of Inanna and your name or personal symbol into the candle; keeping your intention in your mind.  Hold the candle between the palms of your hands and direct all of your energy into it.  Using blue ink, write out a petition paper. Include things like motivation to grow, confidence, increase of positive thoughts, courage within the self, and faith.  You can add runes or your own symbols to increase the power of your intention.  Light the candle saying:

Inanna, Star Goddess, Lady of power and beauty

As the light of this flame grows let confidence grow within me.

Inanna, walk with me, keep my will and magic strong

As I hold the divine within my self, I AM the Beauty of the Earth

Burn the piece of paper with your written words on it and place the ashes into a bowl.  If possible, focus and meditate on your desires until the candle is almost burned out.  Combine the ashes and left over wax together and bury it in the earth near your home.

Beauty of the Earth spell kit

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PS: This goddess drum is from an amazing etsy.com artist who has been notified.  If you are so inclined, please click through and check out her other wares.

PPS: Enter to win a full set of printable BOS pages from a pagan-run small business here.  

PPPS: Enter to win a Tarot Tips Sheet just for spreading the word about a Pagan Publisher here. 

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Pagan Blog Project WK17 and 18: I is for Ireland and Italy

Apologies for the late postings, sometimes life gets in the way.  Please stop by here and give a shout out to help an independent pagan publisher keep the works of the elders of this time in print.  And now to the letter I.

Ireland and Italy are the lands of (most of my) ancestors.  While my personal praxis does not typically include work with ancestors, I do feel a deep pull to both of these lands.  When people talk of them or when I see pictures I feel a call, deep in my spirit, to go to these places, walk the earth and touch the waters.  It's like they call to my memory.

The cliffs of Ireland call my name every time I see them, every time I hear them sung of and every time I see the white of water crashing along her edges.  I remember the way the air tastes and the smell of the old ocean along her shores.  I've never been there in this lifetime, but I remember the sound as the sea hits the land, and the smell of fire on the wind.  Does Erin call to you too?

Near Glencolmcille fine art print by Darcilina of Depictions by Dolge

Can you taste the excitement in the air mingled with the dust?  Can you hear the roar of the crowd above the ringing of metal?  Can you see the knowledge of death or glory in the eyes of those called or driven to fight?  I remember it all and every time I see the Colosseum it comes back.  The gods of Rome are familiar to me but they are not what calls, it's the city itself.  Do ancient walls speak to you as well.

Colosseum Fine Art Photograph by Julie Smith of Julie S. Photography

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PS: All product images are from amazing etsy.com sellers who have been notified.  If you are so inclined, please click through and check out their wares.

PPS: Please remember there are two giveaways going on right this second!
Enter here to win a full printable Book of Shadows set from Faeriegill's Needfull Things and Wishes.
Enter here to win a Tarot Tip Sheet just for spreading the word about an Independent Pagan Publisher.

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Featured Favorites Friday: Mail Alert #2

I enjoy participating in giveaways.  It's so exciting to get mail and I have won some beautiful items by amazing crafts people, just take a look.

This beautiful 5x5 moon art photo traveled across the Atlantic and now resides on my living-room wall.  Suzi of MoonDreamin was amazing and so generous to send some extras along too!  Please check out her shop, she has some amazing prints and items available!

5x5 Moon Photograph by moondreamin won from Kalstek Photography

Here is some more artwork that I won from Andralynn.  I love her style and color choices!  My munchkin and I actually sat down together to pick out what she wanted in her room and I think my munchkin made perfect decisions.

Whimsical Mouse, Felt Kitty, Hello Sunshine (original) by Andralynn

Speaking of my munchkin, this is my absolute favoritest ever prize won to date.  Franchesca of SmallBirdStudios did an amazing job taking one of my most loves pictures of me and the munchkin and transferring it on to distressed canvas.  Now I will have this moment forever and I think $22 is so worth it.

me and the munchkin from SmallBirdStudios

These vinyl wall decals from CherryWalls are so super cute and they came carefully packaged with detailed instructuions, an applicator and super cute extras!  You even have lots of colors to choose from!  These silver butterflies are going to a special set of twins for their birthday!

Butterfly Wall Decals from CherryWalls

See, told you the munchkin had a blast picking our my her winnings :)

Please click through the links and check out all the other amazing things these shops have to offer!