Hold Please...

So, my computer died a sad death.  I have a new one en-route.  I will catch up in early February.

*sigh*

Friday Favorites - "Random things in my house"

Do you have a pretty mug?  I have two, and a pitcher and am looking for an excuse to get a bowl.  Hughes Pottery in Pennsylvania is my sister's favorite potter and I can't say I blame her.  And did I mention they're having a 15% off sale at their etsy shop?

I have this Dragon Scale Mug, which apparently is now out of production so you should be jealous.

And this Oak and Acorn Mug, which was a Kickstarter reward and stunning.

While I may not be a knitter, my fiance is and I'm just looking for an excuse to buy him one of these.

And my little one loves her Renn Faire mug.

 
Here's where you can find more of these beautiful things:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Etsy Store

#WordlessWednesday - Magical Knots

$7 - Celtic knot variation on reclaimed fabric by Free Dragon

 

2015 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Oh yes, I have decided that I need another challenge in this year.  Because I'm crazy.

Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf is hosting a 2015 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.  To play you just have to pick a level, sign up and read.  If you want to be included in a possible prize you can also post reviews and link to them each month.

I'm in!  I plan to get to the Maiden Level and read 6-10 Witchy Books!

Want to play? Click the picture or button on my sidebar to sign up!

New Year, New Resolutions - The Pagan Experience WK 1

 First, many thanks to the lovely Robin Fennelly at The Magickal Pen for beginning a weekly blog event called The Pagan Experience.  As mentioned previously I have been informed by the PTB (Powers That Be) that I need to deepen my understanding of my Faith which I intend to do by making myself write down parts of it.  To that end, here goes.

Resolutions - What are your intentions for this new year? How will you find the resolve to bring them into your manifest life?


Let's ease into things with a list:

1. 13 Full Moon Spells
2. 13 God Spells
3. All 52 Pagan Experience Posts
4. Maintain seasonally or magically appropriate Altar Space
5. Open and Honest communication

And now for a bit of 'how':

1. Posts are already scheduled, just have to be re-scheduled (due to the Pagan Experience being Monday's instead of Fridays) and written
2. Already have a list of pantheons and about half of the deities picked with corresponding intentions
3. 1 done, 51 to go :)
4. Get the decor of the house involved and also my 8yr old
5. Working on this... always working on this

January: The Wolf Moon

Welcome to the  first installment of my 13 Moons Spell series.  I've pulled the moon names out of the Farmer's Almanac (which draws on Native American stories and traditions) for this year and my intention is to create a spell for each moon and eventually gather them together to sell as a set.  As a person who reads my blog, you get first crack at these spells!  I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments as well.

January 5th: The Wolf Moon
"In January snow gathers deep in the woods and the howling of wolves can be heard echoing in the cold still air."  Perhaps it's just because I live in modern times however when I hear the phrase Wolf Moon it makes me think of the strength and determination of these powerful apex predators.  As a spirit guide the Wolf is a strong presence that typically calls on a person to increase or trust their "wild sense" or intuition.  In January it's cold outside and more cold is coming but with the help of the wolf we can be strong and keep moving towards the lighter times.

Spell:

Light a grey candle, focus on the strength of the Wolf, sit in the light of the Moon and say:
Wolf, we/I hear your call.  Wolf, we/I face your strength
By the light of the Moon, let us/me hunt with you.
In the shadows of the Wood, let us/me breath with you.
Through the trail let our/my intuition be as full as yours.
Wolf we/I share your strength.  Wolf we/I sound your call.

"Moonstruck" original watercolor by MistiqueStudio

A is for Avalon - Pagan Blog Project 2015 WK 1

EDIT: This was intended to be the first of the 2015 Pagan Blog Project posts however I have found out that the lovely project has come to an end.  As of now the archives are still up so you can click through some really inspiring blogs.

However, I have stumbled upon The Pagan Experience blogging project for 2015 and will be trying them on for size as I still am feeling called to improve my understanding of my own beliefs by writing and sharing them with others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greeting Card by SilkAndArt

A is for Avalon

When I hear the word Avalon my heart reaches out to a place shielded in mist and just outside of this world.  In meditation I can remember the stunning blue worn by the Priestesses and the burn of muscles from the first walk up the hill.  I remember the scrying pool of deep black water reflecting the flare of candles or the glow of the night sky.  I remember the bitter cold of the solstice vigil and the blasting heat of the mid-summer fires.  I remember blood and politics, fearlessness and intimidation, peace and manipulation, love and loss.  But most of all my heart is called to the circles within circles centered at the heart of the hill and the rings of mist and water that keeps Avalon apart.

Greeting Card by MiaBradburyArt

Much like the island of Atlantic, in our time the island of Avalon is a myth with dubious historical record or significance; even the connection to Arthurian Legend and Glastonbury Tor can be argued (here's the Wikipedia link).  However the myth of an island run by magical women separated from the mundane world by the mists is a powerful one and a brief search on Amazon shows just how many people have been touched and called to share their Avalon experiences.  The Sisterhood of Avalon has also been reborn as a Celtic Women's Mystery tradition focused on internal work and connections to the growing sisterhood.

Avalon Votives by ArtisanWitchcrafts

For me Avalon, in my meditations and magical workings, is peace and separation.  I call the energies of the mists and the island when I want to be secluded from the mundane world and be able to really focus on what I am doing at the time.  I call when I need the strength of the female bond of sisterhood for guidance or healing.  Unlike calling on the God or Goddess, Avalon comes to me with human messy energy that is flush with emotion and the trials of life; it makes my heart sing with joy and weep with loss all at once which just makes me feel free.

#WordlessWednesday - A Magical Winter

Primitive Hand-painted Winter Witch Wood Sign by The Homespun Raven

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all!

I have Pagan Blog Project posts already scheduled and Wordless Wednesdays too!  I even have a couple My-Stuff Mondays in the works including a 13 Gods Spell series and 13 Full Moon Spells.

I miss writing and have been informed by the Power's That Be (PTB for short) that writing is an important part of raising my magical workings and understandings to the next level... so here goes.

2015, bring it on.

#Wordless Wednesday: Vedic Astrology Meet-Up Tomorrow

#Wordless Wednesday: Election day is next week

I'll have my "I Voted" sticker next Tuesday

Will you?

Here's where you can find these bumper-stickers.

Featured Favorites Friday: Exploring Samhain on Storenvy

I've re-opened my shop on Storenvy and am excited about selling again!  For this Featured Favorites Friday I decided to take a look around the Storenvy marketplace and see what Samhain goodies I could find!

"Curiosity"
Hand Crafted by Kimberly Abbott

Check out this amazing Pendulum Board titled "Curiosity" by Kimberly Abbot of The Alluring Path.  I love the six color choices she has and I love the owl, especially her face.  The whole shop is full of lovely things, especially the Celtic Knot Pendulum Board and some beautiful scrying pendants.  Be sure to check her out!

Handmade Samhain Pillar Candle
From Artemis Secret Place

 



This candle from Artiemis Secret Place looks so witchy!  I love that it's scented with Witches Brew and that the maker uses eco-friendly soy wax.  This or the two candle set would add flare to any Samhain gathering.

Cemetery Seer Necklace
From The Bone Slums

How stunning is this piece from The Bone Slums?!!!  It's called the Cemetery Seer and the oracular witch in me is drawn very strongly to the stunning opening in this piece which is perfectly accented with dark brown cord and carnelian.  Every piece in the store is cruelty-free and sunning with organic beauty!

Remember The Ancestors Spell Kit

Last but not least, here's my Samhain offering for this year, a Candle Spell Kit to Remember the Ancestors.  Blessings to all of you this witches new year!

Wordless Wednesday: Getting in the spirit

Our Pumpkins from a few years ago

Dusting off the Online Witchy-ness

Two years is a long time.  Apparently the world wanted to shake me up, and it worked for a bit.  I've found my footing again and I'm looking forward to being back here, writing and crafting and being witchy again.

I've woken up my ebay auctions and my Fiverr gigs.  This post is the first stirrings for a blog re-boot.  Next I'll resurrect my facebook and storenvy and prepare to be back in business.

In other, more personal news, the 2014 Maryland RennFest went very well.  I have a new man in my life, and I think I'll keep this one.  My meetup group is going super well and my daughter is turning into an amazing young lady.

Coming soon you can expect Tarot Tuesdays to re-appear.  I expect to participate in the Pagan Blog Project in 2015 so I might practice for the rest of the year on Friday's.  I do like My-Stuff Mondays so they may re-appear.  As things pick up I will do my best to re-start giveaways and reviews and event announcements and stuff.

Looking forward again... it feels nice.

ARRGHH! The MD Renn Fest is kickin my arse!

Map of the Maryland Renaissance Festival

You can find me on the weekends either at the White Hart tavern or across from the Joust.  You'll know me because I'll be the one yelling "Soap and Candles!" or telling you "The glass is much more beautiful from the inside!"

Regardless of my crazy schedule this harvest season there will be Tarot Wednesday tomorrow, a giveaway on Friday and a post about an AWESOME conference coming up on Sunday.  This I swear!

In the mean time, take a look at some of the DELICIOUS food you're missing in the White Stag Grove.

Never Forget

That day still burns brightly in my mind.  I remember being in school in New York and staring at the TV in disbelief.  What was happening in New York was bad enough but you should have heard what the announcers were saying about DC, where my family lives and works.  Just like everyone who survived that day there are stories of near misses and frantic phone calls.  None of my family died, but everyone knew someone.  Even now it hurts my heart.

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened." ~ Obi-Wan, Star Wars Episode VI: A New Hope

Never again will a commercial plane be used to attack us; the heroes of Flight 93 have seen to that.  And once again the world remembers what it is to have a united United States of America bring the brunt of their force to one target.  Power shifted and the world changed. 

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”~ Yoda, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

We are not forgetful people and we are not afraid.

Giveaway! Featured Favorites Friday: Pillow Runes

Deity Diva Imbolg Goddess

I know I don't typically talk much about my daughter, mostly because I don't want her to hate me when she grows up and reads my blog, but I do have one.  She's amazingly cute, a tad precocious and claims Thor and the Goddess as hers.  Don't ask her to name her Goddess, though, because she'll tell you a different one every time.   Quite a while ago I was searching for something to be just as loved by her as the Thor Super Hero Squad figurine but that represented the Goddess.  Of course I searched around etsy and I found a lovely woman willing to trade for a beautiful purple stuffed Goddess doll, and it was a HUGE hit!

Elder Futhark Pillow Rune Set - Samhain

Today I'd like to introduce you all to this lovely crafter, Dana of By Land Sky and Sea.  Read a bit more about her below and then enter to win your very own set of Elder Futhark Pillow Runes by using the Rafflecopter form below.  You can also find her on facebook and her blog.

Q: What got you into your work here on etsy?

A: After the birth of my daughter in 2010 I was a stay at home mother until she turned 18 months. I was looking for a way to earn some extra income and came across Etsy through a mutual friend of my husband and I from high school. I haven't sold a whole lot since opening up last year, but the sales I have made mean a lot. It really is an incredible feeling to make something by hand that someone else feels is worth enough to buy.

Custom Handfasting Cord

Q: Which piece in your shop has the most meaning for you and/or is your favorite to make?

A: The answer to both of these is the same. It would definitely have to be any handfasting cord that I make, whether premade or custom. My husband and I were married in handfasting ceremony in 2010 and it's a tradition I fell in love with while researching ideas for ours. I love the meaning and symbolism behind it and whenever someone requests a custom order each one is always unique in their own way, from the color combination to beads and/or charms they wish to add.

Trick or Treat Halloween Bag

Q: Which is your favorite holiday and why?

A: This one is hard because it's a tie between Halloween and Christmas. I love the buildup to each, the decorations, the lights... Deciding on a costume every year for Halloween was fun and then running around the neighborhood collecting candy from everyone. With Christmas there is just this feeling of warmth and happiness that I wish we could all feel every day of the rest of the year. Because of this I am definitely one of those people who gets depressed after the holidays are over - though the sales on all the decorations for the next year help. lol

Deity Diva Yule/Christmas Goddess

Q: Where does your inspiration come from?

A: My mom was a huge crafter growing up so I got the crafty streak from her. I'm also inspired by other people and things I see around me. I'm always looking for things to make, but in my own way, with my own mark on it. And from paganism - finding useful, inexpensive ways to make things people need or want to celebrate their faith with.

Q: What inspired you to make the leap into children's items?

A: I was making some ornaments one afternoon and my daughter who is almost two kept picking them up to play with them and I realized, I have made nothing for her to play with. I can sew and crochet and craft but I have nothing for her yet. That's when I decided to not only make stuff for her but stuff to sell as well for children. Especially for those who are pagan and have children that they are raising pagan and want to include them more in rituals, etc. or just want them to have a symbol of their own.

My Stuff Mondays and Tarot Wednesdays: catch-up

So opening weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival went well, if wet.  But playing catchup from the weekend has lead to me needing to catchup on this weeks posts.

My Stuff Mondays: As I'm sure everyone has heard by now, tomorrow is the second Full Moon in August, making it a Blue Harvest Moon.  Personally I feel like having an extra harvest moon is great because the strength will help to power through the harvest season reaping as much as possible.

I like to keep most of my everyday magic simple and sweet so I will share with you the following spell/blessing that can be used tomorrow night:

Hold a candle between the palms of your hands and direct all of your energy into the candle.  As you light your candle, concentrate on your desired outcome and say (either aloud, or to yourself):

                Lady of the Moon, I ask that you grant me your blessing.

                In the fullness of your light let my intention become reality.

You can find the entire spell and a New Moon Cleansing spell in my etsy shop.  Use the coupon code KAT10 for 10% off anything, just for being an awesome person.

Full Moon Blessing and New Moon Cleansing Spell Kit

Tarot Wednesdays: I feel like if I were to pull some cards for some of the regional pagan community I would be pulling the Moon and it would read as "you're too emotionally invested to see the problem clearly, consider taking a step back... way back".  The situation is beyond frustrating and I hope that the coming season of darkness will allow everyone involved the time for reflection and re-birth.  But right now, it's The Moon: There are mysteries here that have not been explored and if one can be open to hearing them, they will be rewarded.  However, if one can't step back then they will be fighting the tides and what could be inspiration will instead be madness.  Like the waning and waxing, the moon is a two edged card.

"The Moon" from The Stolen Child Tarot, a Major Arcana Deck by Monica Knighton

Featured Favorites Friday: The MD Promotion Team is having a SALE!!!

In case you missed it, the MD Promotions Team is holding a Fall Into Autumn Sale!
From August 15th to the 31st, you can save 5%-30% on spectacular handmade items by using the coupon code "MDFIAS" at checkout!  Over 40 Maryland Etsy shops are participating in a huge sales event!  Check out our captain's blog for the full list.

Did I mention we are having a huge GIVEAWAY too?  You can enter here.


For this weeks Featured Favorites, I would like to share a Treasury Collection of artisans participating in this sale.  Check them out, click through their awesome stuff, and don't forget my own giveaway here.

'Harvest Blue Moon' by ReadingsByKat

Over 50 Maryland artists and crafters are participating in the Fall into Autumn Sale with gorgeous handcrafted designs.Coupon code MDFIAS gets discounts in all these fabulous shops!

Stained Glass Trinket B... katescauldron $29.00	Pinwheel Star Pin Cushi... Springwaterdes... $8.00	Bracelet with Blue & Gr... PurpleDotBouti... $28.00	Pastel Powder Blue Croc... bettesbags $23.00
Beard for a Beanie Hat,... TimeWasJustADr... $12.00	Quilted Coffee Cup Hot ... DebLeeCreation... $10.00	PRICE SLASHED---Sodalit... joyaslindas3 $39.00	Vintage Johnson Brother... MontageDecor $19.95
Toddler Hat and Infinit... CraftMeCrazy $20.00	Turquoise and Jade Crys... RockefellerCry... $21.95	The Blue Lagoon Bag SeasideSiren $70.00	Vintage Glass Mason Jar... rustbelttreasu... $25.00
Nautical Table Topper isewmuchtime $23.00	10 Blue Flower Petits Purplecorner $2.00	Necklace Guitar Pick Bl... TheCraftyPanda... $12.50	Yellow Rose Lavender Ir... RealisticFlora... $40.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

My Stuff Mondays: How to personalize a spell

Samhain Remembrance and Celebration Spells and mini-Altar

 Well... it's Tuesday, but I'm close to on schedule :)

Oh yea, and don't forget the giveaway here!

I'm sure by now you all know I provide spell crafting services.  I always enjoy my custom work more than anything else because I have the chance to work with a client and really delve into the deeper intents of the spell work.  I enjoy adding the details and finishing touches that take a spell from being general to very directed for the individual an their intent.  There are some really easy ways to accomplish this for any candle spell you're crafting or casting, even if you just bought the candle off the shelf in the grocery store.


First things first, make sure you like the color of the candle.  Yes, the spell says green but make sure it's a green that represents something to you.  Make sure the scent is not distracting from your spell as well.  Pine might be really positive for a money spell but do you actually like the scent of key lime?

Psychic Power Knot and Sachet Spell

Second, make the candle yours.  Warm a butter-knife or other edged object under some hot water and carve your personal symbol, your name, your initials, the initials of someone else or something that only have meaning in your head into the wax.  This works for any size of candle, even tea-lights.  Altering the candle helps to imprint your energy and intention into the physical object which may increase the effectiveness of your spell.  You're adding energy and intention.

Third, be specific.  When you write an intention, for instance one your are going to burn, make it specific and personal to you.  Bad Example: Abundance.  Good Examples: More opportunities for work, A new job in my field, A positive review next week, To meet a new client.  Being specific and concise in your wording helps to focus your intention and your energy.

This is just the beginning of the list of tips for spell work.  I would love to hear your tips in the comments!

Home Protection Spell Bottle Kit