Featured Favorites Friday: Vintage Altar Pieces

I have a confession... It will surprise no one who knows me... I am a Stuff Witch.  I like magick, witchy and pagan stuff.  I like having options for any type of altar I could ever imagine using.  I like to be able to shift my space to maximize correspondences for any given working.  I like the shiny pretty things.  And I'm OK with this.  As a relatively green-minded earth-loving pagan, I really enjoy the opportunity to recycle or up-cycle beautiful objects instead of buying a new shiny something from my local pagan store.  Conveniently the etsy market-place is full of amazing vintage pieces, many of which are altar worthy.

 Vintage Brass Swirled Candle Snuffer by ThisLala $16.00

Vintage 1960s Linen Oval Runner by girlgal6  $18.00

Vintage Brass Moon Candle Holders by Creos $60.00

Vintage tiny wood chalice by genemachine $6.00

Vintage Knife by VintageMementos $17.00

Vintage Brass Censor by LadyMegg $10.00

Giveaway Tarot(ish) Wednesday - Pagan Publishing Edition

One of the first people I took a successful and thought provoking Tarot Workshop with was the amazing Debbie Chapnick.  Not only does she do an incredible job of explaining and exploring the Tarot, she is also the owner, editor, and everything else at Datura Press that was started in 1999 to publish her Tarot Tip Sheet.

Dolores and Merlin at Tintagel

A few years ago Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki asked a very honored Debbie to act as her archivist. Now most of Debbie's time is spent going though wonderful papers, organizing them, and creating books. These books contain lectures, workshops, rituals and meditations, most of which have not seen the light of day for 40 years. Amongst these papers are not only the work of Dolores, but of W.E. Butler, Gareth Knight, Dion Fortune and the Rev. Robert King.

The reason I am writing today is the company is at a crossroads. People, such as distributors and bookshops worldwide want these books but Datura Press needs enough in stock to fill the need.  They need books and advertising! Currently books are ordered as needed. It keeps things going, but doesn't make much in the way of profit to expand and keep these valuable resources available to the community. Books bought in bulk, however, are less expensive.  Right now books are announced on Facebook by Debbie and through an email mailing list. People hear about these impressive books by deeply respected authors only by word of mouth. Advertising money will help get the word out to a wider audience.

Here's the Breakdown :

• 120 copies of each title (Archives vol 1-6, Rituals Vol 1 & 2, Shadows & Light) comes to $8,504.79. This includes tax and shipping.
• $420 towards the creation of a website with a working store.
• A little over a $1000 towards listing the books at New Leaf Distributors, in all their catalogs and included in their email blasts. Considering they are the largest distributor of New Age/Occult books, it is well worth the expense!

  How You Can Help:

Debbie has set up a fundraising drive on Indie GoGo to raise the money needed to expand Datura Press and make these occult works available to a much wider audience. And there are perks:

• For a $25 donation you will receive a Tarot Tip Sheet:  An eight panel card that is a valuable resource for tarot beginners and experts alike and makes a great teaching tool.
• For a $50 donation you will receive a CD by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki :   The Mysterious Pleiades was a lecture given by Dolores in Delaware in 2011. Only a handful of people have heard this treasure!
• For a $125 donation you may pick any two books from Datura Press:   There are 6 volumes of Archives and two books of Rituals to choose from.
• For a $200 donation you will receive a one hour Tarot Reading over Skype or phone by Debbie herself.

 

 Other Ways You Can Help:

Tell everyone you think would be interested!  To add to the incentive to share I personally am offering one Tarot Tip Sheet as a giveaway and all you have to do is let people know about this campaign.  Easy entry through the RaffleCopter form below and you can win just by sharing.

Pagan Blog Project WK15: H is for Humor

Again I tip my hat in appreciation of google's auto fill feature as it has enabled me to pick a topic for this week, though I had to ignore the first option of holidays for this week at least.

Pagan Humor, otherwise known as the jokes only a little over 0.2% of those in the US get.

First I would like to direct you all over to the Pagan Humor Library.  Which has many pages like the two shared below.

The Safe Witch Kit (which actually has some great ideas, lol)

Want to be a Witch, yet don't want dangerous items in your home? We've assembled this comprehensive kit to meet the beginning Witch's needs, without compromising safety.

logo © 2000 Faerie K.

Includes: 1 Rubber Athame. Painted black handle, silver blade. Very flexible. You can swing this about in Circle with no fears about hurting anyone!
Exclusive! The incredible Collapse-a-Wand! Hand-wrought of authentic wood-grained expanded foam, with a special adhesive patch for attaching the Power Stone of your choice (see below).
2 Battery-operated Candles (1 black, 1 white). No more concerns about flowing gowns catching fire.
1 package Glade Stick-ems. Fresh, floral scent, without the concerns of burning incense. No messy ash to clean up!
1 shaker Mrs. Dash. Get all the flavor and zip of salt, without the sodium!
1 Quality Fold-a-Cauldron. Easy-to-assemble, genuine simulated cast iron corrugated material. Complete instructions.
1 Fabric Rainbow Disk. No sharp corners to be concerned about. The perfect centerpiece for your own Altar. No worries of offending anyone, as could happen with those misunderstood pentagrams.
3 Assorted colors soft vinyl "Power Stones." Focus the energy of crystals. Perfect for attaching to your Collapse-a-Wand!(Choking hazard. Not recommended for children under 3 years of age)
1 Booklet, "How to Be One with the White Light, Because There Is No Dark Side, Luke" subtitled: "The Absolutely, Completely Comprehensive Guide to Everything Possible that a Witch Needs to Know to cast Any Spell at All"
BONUS! Order now, and we'll send you our exclusive Fill In The Blanks Book of Light! All the spells you'll ever need, and YOU fill in the names and dates! Quality softcover binding.
All packaged attractively in a lovely carry-case, which unfolds to become your altar cloth.
Rush out and get yours today!

-- by René Friberg, aka RaeVynn Sands

And the ever popular Light Bulb Jokes

How many Chaos magicians does it take?
They don't need to--they are used to working in the dark.
How many Solitaries does it take to change a light bulb?
Who cares!
How many Witches does it take to change a light bulb?
Depends on what you want to change it into.

And now I direct you to some damn funny products!

CernunnosT-Shirt by Vermorlian

Zen Drud Button by PaganChick

Taste Religion T-Shirt by Youniquepagan

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: Enter to win one handmade item up to $15 in value from a pagan-run small business here.

Tarot Wednesday - The Wishlist edition

I have a tarot card problem, it's like my shoe problem... I have lots.  When one has lots (like over 30) of tarot decks storage becomes interesting.  I have a couple collectible decks that just stay in their box on the shelf barring a very very special occasion, but most decks are not as special.  The main deck I use for readings lives in a velvet box with a tarot cloth and a big red tigerseye sphere and my Atlantis Deck demanded a golden silk wrap and it's own box.  My other decks have to share trunk space in a big wooden box and it sometimes makes me sad.  I would like each of my decks to have their own special home... like these:

My Crow Deck would LOVE this bag.  It's awesome and bold, just like the cards.  The craftsmanship looks outstanding and the feedback for the shop looks great.  This is totally on my wish list!

Red Suede Leather Tarot Bag
at My Grandmother's Hands
by Kim Soares 

 

My Tarot of the Dream Enchantress is the perfect deck for this beautiful pouch.  The brocade is a fantastic choice and the pouch is fully lined in popping teal taffeta satin.  The best part of all is the zipper closure!  I dislike the floppy and drawstring closures of most tarot bags and think a zip close is a great solution!

Brocade Trarot Bag - Gold and Teal Blue

at Gypsy Red

Can also be found at her Blog and Twitter

I think my Romani Tarot would revel in the bright, bold color of this tarot cloth.  The silk would also probably help contain the sparkly energy of these talkative cards.

Hand Dyed Yellow Orange Silk tarot Cloth
at New Moon Tarot and Botanicals
by Puisun

 Many thanks to such marvelous crafters!

Sunday Intentional: Making the Traditionalists Scoff

I'm a solitary eclectic, that much bemoaned classification that makes practitioners of 'traditional witch craft' scoff and/or roll their eyes.  I do not affiliate with any specific tradition or coven, I tend to practice on my own, celebrating the seasons and lunar phases with spells and rituals based on my learning and experience but infused with deeply personal meanings.  I speak words from my own heart and invite the divine in ways unique to me.  May times I sit down to spell work with only a vague idea of how I will be accomplishing my goals; I just let the magick of intuition guide the magick of my intent.

Not being a 'traditional witch' I can only assume the reason for the typical dismissive reactions is that one could use the term 'solitary eclectic' to mean simply 'I do what I feel is right' and I have even shared this frustration when speaking to some people that self identify as I do... because to just 'do what feels right' takes away from the depth of my personal faith and personal praxis.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82323286

I take my faith very seriously and have studied it for over ten years now.  I have read multiple books about various types of nature based religions.  I have attended conferences and workshops presented by a multitude of traditions/faiths/paths.  I have participated and/or observed rituals and services of multiple faiths.  I engage people in conversation about their personal faith on a regular basis.  I have taken structured classes and less than structured classes but more than all of that I follow my Goddess and try to live as She bids me.  It's really all any of us can do.

Sunday Intentional: Practical Witch?!

One of the terms I introduced in a post (ages ago) is 'practical witch'; not a term one typically bandies about so let me enlighten you and give some background information at the same time.

I'm a solitary eclectic, that much bemoaned classification that makes practitioners of 'traditional witch craft' scoff and/or roll their eyes; a topic I have just decided to save for an upcoming post.  Creating my own faith and praxis means that I have more freedom to improvise in this modern world as I spell and ritual craft.

Example #1: Candle Magick

Money Drawing Spell Candle

So how many spells contain some version of the phrase "Using your athame/a pin carve xxxxxx onto the candle to imprint your intent"?  Well, let me tell you a secret, I don't like getting my athame all waxy and/or I don't have it on me and/or it's a letter opener that couldn't carve into a candle if you tried.  The point of the spell is to take an instrument of your will and set your intention on the candle so why not use a sharpie?  A sharpie can be an instrument of my will, it's even very permanent.  I can be more precise with it; they even come in colors, allowing me to add one more layer of correspondence to any given spell.

 I have watched this suggestion make witches literally twitch but I don't see why.  I am a witch of the 21st century with amazing technology of markers at my fingertips!  My Will will be permanent and pretty!

Example #2: Ritual Tool Storage

Many witches have a special box or shelf in/on which they keep their magical tools, spell components, altar decorations ect.  I also have a special box... a big, portable, many-layered yellow and black tool box.

I like to call it my 'portable altar'.  I have gotten many a skeptical look when I pull it out of my car, but those looks change to looks of grudging admiration when I can set up at least four different altars at the same time, all with materials that I safely transport wherever I want.  Forgot your chalice at home?  I gotcha covered.  Need a different color candle?  Votive, tea-light or chime?  Offering plate broke?  How many do you need?  I LOVE my toolbox!


Example #3: BOS in the Computer Age

Classic Seal of Rassilon Decal

Seriously.... see this previous post.  I want a ridiculously practical and modern Book of Shadows.  I want folders and spreadsheets and cross referenced tables and I don't want to have to hand-write it.  Again, we live in a time of fantastic technology and I do not see the issue with integrating this technology into my magical practice.

Does it really make one's knowledge more 'real' by writing it by hand?  Is the act of typing really less powerful than writing?  I don't believe so nor have I experienced a 'lessening' of power.  How about you?