It's Litha - the Summer Solstice - a time of life at its ripeness!

And what would a kitchen/hedge witch do on Litha?

If you guessed spending it in the kitchen surrounded by a bountiful crop of summer fruits - you'd be right!

Today I canned strawberry jam, strawberry preserves, spiced blueberry preserves, summer jam (a combo of strawberries and blueberries) and my favorite - Summer Solstice Preserves.

Summer Solstice Preserves is a rich blend of tart cherries and blueberries in a thick syrup with a dash of Krisch (cherry brandy).  If you don't have Kirsch or another brandy, the preserves are just as fabulous without it.

This recipe came from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.

3 cups (750 ml) pitted red tart cherries, halved

1 cup (250 ml) blueberries

4- 1/2 cups (1125 ml) granulated sugar

2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice

1 pouch (85 ml) BERNARDIN® Liquid Pectin

2 tbsp kirsch, optional

• Place 5 clean half-pint mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F/82°C). Set screw bands aside. Heat lids in hot water, not boiling (180°F/82°C). Keep jars and lids hot until ready to use.

• Combine cherries, blueberries, lemon juice and all of the sugar in a large, deep stainless steel saucepan. Stir to mix well. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. If desired, add 1/2 tsp (2 ml) butter or margarine to reduce foaming.

• Over high heat, bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Stir in liquid pectin. Stirring constantly, boil hard 1 minute. Stir in Kirsch, if using. Remove from heat and skim off foam.

• Quickly ladle hot preserve into a hot jar to within 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) of top of jar (headspace). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if required, by adding more preserve. Wipe jar rim removing any food residue. Centre hot sealing disc on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner. Repeat for remaining preserve.

• When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner and bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process –boil filled jars – 10 minutes.*

• When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands.

• After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place. For best quality, use home canned foods within one year.

A Witch of Few Words

Some days, I feel like the most un-magickal witch on the planet.

It occurred to me when looking back through my sabbat pages that I rarely write a full sabbat ritual or spell.  I'm kind of . . . silent when I work.

I hate all the wordiness.

You know - the cheesey "Oh! Come hither O Mighty Ones! Light the candles to show me the glorious way through the rose-scented valley of this glorious night! I call upon every gnome, squirrel and platypus known to the universe to aid me this night in my stupendous undertaking of Strengthening Myself to Clean Out My Closets by Belatne!"

Okay, so - no one's ever written quite a thing such as that. (Dear Goddess, I hope not.)

But calling out long, wordy pleas are just . . . no. I can't. I won't. I never have. I can't even write them.

The real irony here is that I do write a lot of things - just not the witchcraft variety.

Maybe the problem is I've been solitary for over two decades - I'm used to a quiet ritual; one in which I can focus, direct and feel things. And, for the record, I have fabulous results from my non-wordy spells. Maybe I'm so busy directing energy without talking? Who knows. I just know I don't need to detail my purpose verbally. Or shriek out the four quarters. Or trill love sonnets to the deities. I kind of figure they'll hear my thoughts louder than my words.

I know. I know. Most witches love to *create imagery* with their words. They love to expound on the beautiful things out there.

Great. I'm happy for them.
Me? I'm a Witch of Few Words. (except when writing blog posts, apparently)
Heh. I think I like that.

Clearly, I'm an aberration in the wordy-witch-world.

BOS Page - Moon Phases for 2015

While readying things for yule, I realized I would need to update my Moon Phases page in my BOS.

Have you updated yours, yet?  If not, here are a few that you can print out and put in your BOS.

I'm not a graphics artist - I'm just some middle-aged witch with Microsoft Publisher on her computer, too much coffee, and too much time on her hands - so, these aren't *professional*, but I hope you enjoy them.

I shouldn't *have* to say it, but . . . please don't upload these elsewhere, and for Hecate's Sake - do NOT sell these as print outs on Etsy or Ebay. 

The frames are, as far as I know, free game - use them as you wish. Just - use them for something of your own, okay? Thanks!

Okay - enough disclaimers. Here they are - I've saved them as gifs - I haven't figured out the linking/downloading thing for Blogger yet. (yeah, yeah - be nice to the technologically challenged middle-aged witch, or you'll find yourself a toad the next time you look in the mirror!)

Right-click on each page - open in a new window or tab to get the full size.

A Spell to Combat the Winter Blues

The weekend that ends Daylight Savings time is always a difficult weekend for me.

This evening the sun was well on its way to sinking below the horizon when the clock read 5:05pm.

I felt like the day had escaped me completely. It was time to get into pajamas and go to bed. That's dramatic, I know, but nightfall triggers the idea that the day is over for me.

By 6pm, there was no sun, and the inky darkness was closing in fast. My mood sank with the sun, as it always does with the time change.

To combat the winter blues, I went to my trusted friend for advice; My BOS, and turned up this little gem of a spell that I've used many times. Maybe it will help some of you as well.

Needed:

• Anointing Oil
• Sunflower oil is choice, but olive oil or vegetable will work just as well.
• Candle
• Choose a color that symbolizes sun or brightness. I use yellow, orange or gold - but white has worked wonderfully for me in the past.
• A piece of citrus 
• Orange, tangerine, clementine - or another fruit if those are not available to you. Pick a fruit that you can envision growing under sunny skies.
• Awl, needle, screwdriver - something sharp.

Use your sharp object and inscribe words like "sun", "light", and "happy" on the candle. One word is enough, but infuse the candle with thoughts of happy, sunny days as your inscribe it.

Lightly anoint the candle with the oil, infusing the candle and oil with thoughts of the sunny skies the sunflowers, the olives or the corn, safflower or soybeans grew under. (depending on the oil you're using)

Place the candle in a holder on your altar. Place your fruit before the candle. Light the candle and say:

Dark winter's night

Soon to be overtaken by the light

Under fair skies with sun

My mind does run.

Take a bite of the fruit and visualize the days with long sunlight that helped the fruit grow. Imagine the warmth, the breeze - anything associated with how the fruit might have grown. 

Swallow the bite and repeat.

Focus on the flame, visualize it growing as bright as the sun.

When the fruit is half gone, visualize positive scenes, the bounty of things growing in your yard; acknowledge that their time of rest in the winter will provide them with strength for the long days of growing to come.

By the time you finish the fruit, you should feel uplifted and positive. 

Let the candle burn down naturally if you have the time, stopping periodically to focus on the flame and its symbolism of growing light to come.

Repeat as often as necessary. I've performed this as often as three times a week in the darkest parts of the winter, and it does help me to focus on the necessity of the winter, and to remind myself that after every dark winter comes the bright green of spring.

I hope it helps you, too. 

How To Make a Double-Sided Book of Shadows

***I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THESE INSTRUCTIONS***

Have you longingly eyed the double-sided, flip and turn BOS seen a certain movie?

Books of all sort are my weakness. The last time we moved almost nine years ago, the moving company gave me two estimates: one estimate if they packed and  moved my books, and one if they didn't - and the price difference was staggering, if that gives you a clue to my life-long love affair with books.

But - my love for books doesn't stop at reading, acquiring and admiring - it also covers creating and binding them. Bookbinding was first taught to me by . . . (you guessed it) a book. Yes - a book taught me to bind my first book. From there, I've taken classes and attended workshops, bought more instructional books and made several dozen over the last ten years or so. I've had to scale back because of my hands, but I AM going to try this one!

The original source for this photo is from HERE.

To Print - or NOT to Print?

Some people insist that your BOS must be handwritten, or it somehow isn't a valid.

Ridiculous. Just . . . ridiculous. This is on par with saying that no cookbook is worthy unless it has been hand-written and handed down through the generations.

If someone has been lucky enough to have been handed down a generations-old BOS or grimoire, that is something worthy of high esteem; but most don't have that opportunity.

I say print from the computer as you like. You will hand write things in, on and around those printed objects as you use the BOS. It's inevitable. Those pages will begin to vibe with your essence soon enough.

I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis, and while I have a BOS that is primarily hand-written, it has taken YEARS - and it is interspersed with lots of snippets that I've printed from the internet. I dare anyone to tell me that my BOS is somehow less because I've decorated it with printed things - and if they try, they had better come to the table with proof.

I say this over and over and OVER - but it's true: The power is in the witch, not her tools.

So - with that preamble out of the way, I give you this beauty to begin preparing for Yule.

This comes from Lapulia Book of Shadows, where you can download the full size page for printing.

As far as I can discern, they allow and encourage people to use their pre-made pages for their personal use. Please - don't put these in anything you are intending to sell. They have been very generous and have created a very beautiful set of pages for our use.

**** I take ZERO credit for the artwork or the recipe. This page is presented as I found it at La Pulia Studio.****

The After-Samhain planning . . .

It has been a long while since I've made it back to this blog. I never meant to leave it so long, but life can be quite . . . playful, we'll say.

Today, the sun is blindingly bright here in Southwest Ohio, giving a false sense of warmth outside. But, it's still very chilly, whatever the sun might try to make us believe.

If you haven't already, be sure to make notes in your BOS of your Samhain ritual and any spellworking. Be sure to note your feelings, what worked, and what didn't. You will need them for next year.

Now that Samhain is behind us, we have the prospect of an entire year to plan for - and many new joys to welcome with it.

It's time to get started!

If you haven't done so already, this is the time to scout about for things to fill up your cabinets from things you'll find outside:

• Oak leaves
• Acorns
• Ivy
• Pine Cones (if there are any left lying around by this time)
• Fallen bark (useful for altars and many other things)
• Fallen tree limbs (handle replacements, primarily, and smaller pieces are useful for wands, if they feel right to you, or are from a desired tree)

In addition to the gifts from the earth, now is a good time to scout the after-Halloween sales and the beginnings of the winter baking sales;

• Black candles (candles of all sorts, actually)
• Cookie cutters (moon, star, cauldron, etc. Unusual shapes you won't easily find the rest of the year)
• Apples (I dry the slices)
• Seeds - apple and pumpkin (very potent symbols for the altar and in spells)
• Cinnamon - powdered and in stick form. Stick is best for me, as I just grate what I want when I want it.
• Cloves, Nutmeg - Once again, I prefer whole, but I also stay stocked on powdered for the days I find myself short on time or arm-muscle to use the zester to powder them.
• Sage, Sometimes you can find huge bags of sage leaves near Thanksgiving - these are invaluable for smudging and incense making.
• Craft Stores, before and after Halloween can be a boon to your cupboard stocking. Look for unusual items that may be incorporated in future rituals or Altar decorations such as feathers, representational faux gemstones (for color magic) jars, bottles and corks to name just a few things.

While some might find it odd to get many of your ritual and altar supplies from a local grocery or craft store, I say that it is sometimes necessary, and it is quite useful. Yes, you could buy your cinnamon sticks from an online witch retailer for $9.99 for a bundle of four sticks, or you can buy the same bundle at the grocery store for $5.99, and save the $4.00 difference to throw back into the Witch Kitty to buy something else. 

I am no authority, but I'm pretty sure the Goddess isn't going to mind that you procured your cinnamon sticks from Kroger rather than the Mystical and Magical Brass Badger's online witch shop. 

(I really hope there is no online store called the Mystical and Magical Brass Badger . . . I mean no harm if there is!)

It is also time to begin preparing for Yule.

I know - you're thinking you just made it through Samhain - whew! You need a breather, right?

Nope.

Start looking for these things in the stores, and especially when they're on sale:

• Oils - peppermint, bayberry, juniper, neroli, cedar fir and pine.
• You'll probably only find the peppermint in higher grade, and the others will likely be for scent only, but they can still be quite useful to you. Much of my heightened sense comes from the scents I use around me. You decide for yourself.
• Candles 
• At Christmastime, I can find gold and silver candles that are harder to find the rest of the year.
• Red, Green, Blue and and White candles - this is the time to stock up!
• Bags of pine cones (for those with no access to find them naturally)
• Real Mistletoe (Hard to find in stores, but I can usually find it where they sell live trees)
• Unusual Altar items
• Looking for the perfect chalice? You'll find stunningly beautiful, single stemware this time of year - and usually on sale!
• Candle holders - same as the stemware - unusual, beautiful, and on sale!
• Nuts - useful year round for the altar and in spells. Walnut shells are particularly useful if you boil them to make the dark, sepia tinted type of ink.

There are hundreds of items to be on the lookout for - these lists will hopefully whet your imagination. The upcoming Christmas season provides a bonanza of things - typically on sale - that you can use all year long. 

One last word: Don't buy these things that I've mentioned unless - A) You know you need them and will be using them, B) You find them at a good price, and C) You have the funds for them. 

Never buy things off of lists unless you have a plan for it. In my early years, I DID buy things that were on lists I saw - these people knew what they were talking about, right? I'd need these things, right? 

Nope. Maybe 50% of it covered things I'd actually need through the year. Some things are pretty universal - the candles, the nature items from outdoors . . . but juniper berries or cedar oil? You might never need or want those. Get them if you will use them. If you aren't sure, let your checkbook make the choice for you. Some things I've bought without knowing if I'd use them - but I made sure I used them - because I had them. 

You also need to remember you don't have to buy much of anything - ever. Any candle will do if you need it to. Most of the "herbs" I used in the early years were what I had in my kitchen cabinet - and I had good results. Never buy the froo-froo if you don't have the money - and don't let anyone tell you that you *NEED* this or that, or something won't work. 

The real power is always in the witch - not the things she uses.

Now . . . to prepare the Yule ritual, incense and oils, if you haven't already. That will be in the next post! 

...Witches Are At Play Under Haunted Moonlight...

'Tis Samhain... and witches are at play under Haunted Moonlight...

We've been gearing up for this all through October: blending incense, making oils, baking bread, setting up The Ancestor Altar - Are you ready? 

This witch feels like a kid on Christmas Eve. I'm just waiting for the festivities to begin!

Yes, this witch will soon be at play.

I hope you are, too...

Rosemary Herb Soap

Tomorrow night, I will be sharing little *Treats* with some of the fellow witches I will see in passing. One treat that is often requested every year is the Rosemary Herb Soap that I make. It is most often used for ritual cleansing, as well as infusing a little witchiness into my every day life after tackling a very messy job.

The soap pictured here is made from a basic lye soap recipe, but for simplicity's sake I'll give instructions for pour and melt soap. (Which turns out very nicely!)

 

To Make Pour and Melt Soap: 

• 1lb. pour and melt base. (I use goat's milk base, but any white base will work) 
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. EACH: finely ground dried rosemary and mint 
• 4-6 Tbsp. Oatmeal (pulse in a blender once or twice to slightly reduce size, but don't powder it!)
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Mint Essential Oil (Peppermint, spearmint, or combination)
• Optional: Soap coloring - green 
• Soap Mold

Depending on the size of your mold, 1lb. should make 4 - 4oz bars.  

Cut the pour and melt into small chunks, or grate with a grater.
Gently melt in the microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring frequently. (Or use a double boiler)
When soap is thoroughly melted, remove from heat and stir in herbs, oatmeal and coloring.
Add fragrances/essential oils LAST. I start with 4-6 drops EACH, but it is dependent upon your preference.
Stir one last time - pour into mold quickly.

Accept that the oatmeal may or may not float to the top of the bar (as it did in this batch, but I kind of liked it - the photo above shows one right-side up, and one upside down.). Much of it will depend upon the temperature at which the soap is poured into the mold. As the soap base cools it becomes more difficult for any additives to float upward.

A word about rosemary essential oil and this soap: 
Rosemary Oil is a very stringent oil - a very desirable property for fighting infections and for cleansing in general.

The combination of mints, rosemary and oatmeal in this soap lends itself to be a very *drying* soap - perfect for cleaning hands after gardening and other dirty jobs. I do not, however, recommend this for use as a face soap!

That Wheat and Chaff Sorting Thing...

** disclaimer** -  If you see yourself as one of the 'types' I profile in this posting, don't take it personally - unless you've met me personally. I had a specific person/group in mind with each of the types below that personifies who/what actually happened to me. Got it? 
Ok. Carry on, Mr./Ms. Prissypants.

It is natural for many Solitaries to try to reach out to others within the 'community' during their Year and A Day. Support, friendship, and help getting answers are all things we need and crave from time to time.

Who you meet can be tricky, however.  Instead of support, friendship and someone to answer your questions, you can easily get this guy:

 I'm not knocking Goth minded people or witches. So STOP RIGHT THERE - look at my disclaimer above. Now read it again. And again. Keep reading it until you get my point. NOW you can read the rest of this post. Ahem.

But it doesn't stop there - there's more. Oh, my sacred bats are there more! 

Another type that can fool you very well over emails and the phone is this group:

 

You also can't smell them over the phone. They also usually forget to mention how they are all polyamorous, and kinda/sorta hope/expect you and your whole family to be as well. 

But they didn't want to put you off early on. 

And, by the way - any chance you'd sell your car, house, and all your possessions, donate all the money to the group, and come live on that bus with them Manson-Family-style? 

No? Then you're not a real witch, according to them. You haven't learned to let go of your Christian upbringing and notions of right and wrong, and you're too tied to material possessions -  blah blah blah blahhhh.

Maybe, instead, you decide a Pagan drum gathering, or other community type event would be easier for you to make connections with people.  Sounds great, doesn't it? There will be tents in a natural, wooded setting, circles of people with like minds and merchants available to sell everything you've been desiring. 

You pack up and head out for the weekend. 

And this is what you find: 

 

You see that teepee? That's the only tent, and the lone merchant there is selling stuff that would have a Police K-9 signaling his handler like an epileptic during a seizure.

Once again - I'm NOT knocking community events - I'm merely pointing out that not all of them are great events, and careful research and review of events will tell you a great deal.

Most of the people you meet within the community will be wonderful people - but many will not be, and many have very distinct ulterior motives in getting you to talk to them. Your job is to sort through them. Some want power, some are just on ego trips, and some are just clueless and want numbers to validate them. Many more will use witchcraft as a pretext or reasoning for bad behavior, criminal activity, psychological abuse and worse. Some are innocent people who feel the need to pose as things they are not. Being new to witchcraft, it can be harder to spot those you are better off staying away from.

(And, no - I'm not going to tell you who or what types to stay away from - not even the types I've poked fun at today - not ALL of those within those types are bad, or necessarily weird.)

A Last Word About The 'Community'

I'm not trying to malign the community, or individual groups within the community, but there is indeed a lure about witchcraft that seems to have a neon sign out for the fringe element of society. I am not knocking them. I am simply calling a black cauldron a VERY BLACK CAULDRON. I understand they come to our community because they are looking for acceptance and identity. Many stay and become amazing witches. Many more, however, move on rather quickly - often leaving a trail of destruction and negativity in their wake.

You cannot judge a book by its cover - this is true.

 

I am only going to point out to anyone new to witchcraft that not everything is all peaches and roses, and that you must quickly learn to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. There are wonderful witches out there - you just have to find the ones that you feel comfortable with!

You Know What They Say: It Ain't The Size of the BOS...

Nothing says a witch lives here like a massive, hand-tooled, ancient leather book with beautifully illuminated parchment pages lying nonchalantly on the coffee table or propped up on the carved oak book stand, right?

Well - maybe in Hollywood. 

In the 22 years I've been practicing, I have indeed seen a couple books that could have been taken straight off the set of Practical Magic, or swiped from a recent visit to a Medieval studies traveling exhibit. But they aren't common, and the ones I've seen are truly labors of love, and expensive projects spanning multiple years.

They are beautiful to behold. Truly, they are. I can't lie - my fingers were itching to be allowed just to touch the first one I saw. I waited patiently, hoping that my hostess would offer me a peek the entire day. But, being well-mannered I did not ask. Strangely, I wasn't interested in the contents, but rather the object itself. 

I had to have a book like that. I made up my mind when I saw it. I was going to proclaim to the world that a real witch lived here with a book like that on my altar. (Cue a vision of me rubbing my hands together in a gleeful, dastardly-villain sort of way as I thought about it)

What I envisioned was something like this:

 

I'd like to tell you I reached my goal. But I'm a pretty bad liar.

In the end what I had was a very expensive leather bound book bought at a renaissance fair, a carpet with ink stains from curious kitties tipping ink bottles, a ruined table from spilled metallic gold paint for embellishing the pages illuminated style, crippled hands from trying to teach myself calligraphy, and a book with half the pages either ripped out, pasted over, or blotchy ink patches from sudden kitty nudges to my hand while writing. Oh! And I can't forget: pathetic attempts to create delicately penned borders of ivy and botanical drawings that more resembled something a proud parent sticks on the fridge than any recognizable herb plant.

My BOS looked nothing like the one above.

It was a little more like this:

It was the Cabbage Patch Doll of BOS's. Without any cute factor. Trust me. Even my husband who normally cheers on any project I undertake was uncharacteristically lukewarm in his praise.

But, like a mother with the ugliest baby in the daycare, I refused to acknowledge it.

The fever to work on that book for the first three or four months was all-consuming. Eventually, other things were more pressing, and I had to lay the book aside for a few months. When I decided to return to working on it - I saw it with fresh eyes. Yep. There was no denying it: I had the ugliest baby in the daycare.

It was disturbingly garish.
Loud, actually.
Tacky, anyone?

It was - Just. A. Mess.
(I now refer to this BOS as my Honey Boo Boo BOS)

Sadly, I put the maimed and tortured book away and returned to using my mish-mash collection of notes on college ruled notebook paper crammed in a plain, black binder with strapping tape holding on one cover that tried to split away from the spine. (This down and out black beauty is known as Franken-book)

I used Franken-book for a couple more years. Eventually, I did get and make something a bit more presentable, but nothing as ambitious as Honey Boo Boo.

I learned a great deal from that whole sad, expensive episode:

• Function (readability, ability to access information, etc) is imminently more important than a showpiece.
• I have a constant need to re-work the pages I'm using - a fully bound book will only work for me for certain things I use - never the entire book.
• Even if I could put everything in one book, it isn't practical for me - smaller and lighter is better. 
• I was forced to face my motives for wanting such a book: If I was content to use more simple ingredients and items for my altar, spells and incense, and had had great results, Why was I so concerned about how a book looked? 
• I learned It ain't the size of the BOS, but the skill of the witch that matters.

I mentioned in another post that I was breaking my BOS into smaller books, and, true to my character, I've already revised how I'm doing that, which is what set me to thinking about how advised or ill-advised my current taking was in light of my past experiences, and hence, the spark that ignited this long, rambling post. 

In short - I'm going lean and mean this time around. At least, for the actual book I'll use at the altar. More on that in the next post... Whew. I've worn my keyboard out with this post!

Tarot Decks - Choosing the Right One (LONG post!)

Choosing a tarot deck is important to someone new to divination.

There are those that tell you *Let the Deck Choose You* - meaning, to simply go with the one that appeals to you the most visually. While there is some truth to that, there should be a bit more to consider.

Here are samples of The Magician from eight different decks of Tarot cards. I chose these from my collection, because I think they are all representative of how heavily styled each deck can be - and how easy or difficult it can be to have a visual association of meaning for interpreting a Tarot deck if you are new to reading cards.

I couldn't fit all the cards on the scanner at once, so there are two pictures.
For the first picture -
Top Left - Legend The Arthurian Tarot (Anna-Marie Ferguson / Llewellyn)
Top Middle - Renaissance Tarot (Brian Williams / U.S. Games)
Top Right: - Faery Wicca Tarot (Kisma K. Stepanich / Llewellyn)

Bottom Left - The Robin Wood Tarot (Robin Wood / Llewellyn)
Bottom Middle - The Halloween Tarot (Kipling West / U.S. Games)
Bottom Right -  The Witches Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed / Llewellyn)     

 Second Set of Magicians:
Left: The Ancient Egyptian Tarot - 1st Edition (Clive Barret / Aquarian)
Right: The Morgan Greer Tarot (U.S. Games)

 

If you look closely at the different decks, you'll see that many carry the same theme, yet each are distinctly different. In terms of a new reader, it is important to choose a deck that kindles an intuitive understanding of the meaning for each card. 

Common elements: 

- Male subject

- Infinity symbol

- Most have a table or altar with the symbols of all suits in the tarot deck: Cup, pentacle, wand and sword.

- Cloak or ceremonial garb denoting their status as Magician.

While it is understood that the interpretation of any Tarot card is very dependent upon where it is in the spread and which cards come before and after it, most cards carry a general meaning. 

The common meanings for The Magician include: Wisdom, Revelation, New Ideas. It can also meany trickery and deception. 

The key is to choose a deck that manifests a visual interpretation for you. 

This can be tricky if you can't look at a whole deck of cards - sometimes, there are surprises. 

For example, in the Legend - The Arthurian Tarot, interpretation of the cards is much easier if you are well versed in the Arthurian Legend, as all of the Major Arcana is represented by a person, event or idea from the Arthurian Legend. If you know the legend well, interpretation can come easier. 

The reverse can also be true. Let's look at a card deck that confuses me still yet today - despite owning it for several years: The Faery Wicca Tarot Deck. 

To those interested or immersed in Faery Wicca, or the Tuatha De Danann shamanic skills, this deck is a no-brainer. I am not, so this deck is a challenge for me. This is abundantly clear when I realized only after I began to write this blog that I had inadvertently pulled the Ridire of Tine - not the Ard Ri of Tine.

What's that, you ask? One is the knight - one is the king. Of Wands.

Yeah. You see my confusion.

It doesn't help there is an *extra* card in this deck - 00 - The Tree of Life. It is before 0 - The Fool. 

I'm not knocking this deck. I'm only illustrating how helpful it is to have an understanding of the symbols and traditions associated with any given deck. And you can't know sometimes until you buy the deck. 

Of course - you can always learn anything, and once you are proficient with Tarot cards, delving into new decks with new ideas and symbolism can actually help you to become a better card reader. But... that's down the road a bit if you're new to reading.

Let's move on to another card. Let's highlight my Ard Ri and Ridire of Tine faux pas, shall we? 

(The decks are set up as above, so I won't rename them all)

Common elements:

- Male subjects

- All wield a staff of some sort

- All are in their 'natural element' for that deck. 

- The Sun or Fire is pictured in many of the cards, though not all, or they rely heavily on the colors of the sun/fire. The element traditionally associated with this card is Fire.

Some of the cards are more visual than others. For me, The Ancient Egyptian Tarot most clearly speaks to me of the meaning of The King of Wands: Power - Unstoppable Action, Unswerving Intent, Raw Energy. The Morgan Greer Tarot, on the other hand, seems very sedentary to me. Very muted. Others I know that use this deck see it very differently: They see this card representing ideas and action that are steadfast and solid - very masculine. Their visual cue is also derived from the oak leaves on the staff - is there anything sturdier than an oak? 

This is where you must assess (once again) what helps you in visual associations. 

And, lastly - I'll profile the Five of Cups.  I didn't realize until I was done that the cards had been put on the scanner in reverse order. So.. the middle cards are the same as listed above - just reverse the right and left deck names for the first photo. The second photo lineup is correct.

So -

Top Left - Faery Wicca Tarot (Kisma K. Stepanich / Llewellyn)
Top Middle - Renaissance Tarot (Brian Williams / U.S. Games)
Top Right: - Legend The Arthurian Tarot (Anna-Marie Ferguson / Llewellyn)

Bottom Left - The Witches Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed / Llewellyn) 
Bottom Middle - The Halloween Tarot (Kipling West / U.S. Games)
Bottom Right - The Robin Wood Tarot (Robin Wood / Llewellyn)

Common elements: 

- Pictoral representation of five cups somewhere (or ghosts in The Halloween Tarot)

- Many show the cups overturned, spilling, or laying on their side.

The traditional meaning for the Five of Cups is a time of loss, lethargy and desolation. Things didn't go as planned, or things turned out badly. 

Many of the cards pictured above easily convey the sense of loss, abandonment and loneliness. Others you have to already know the meaning of the card to interpret it - there are no visual clues, such as in The Renaissance Tarot and the Faery Wicca Tarot. 

Many decks do not utilize symbology in the minor arcana cards beyond the Court cards, (Page, Knight, Queen and King) and will simply show a numerical representation of the suit. (9 discs, 3 cups, etc.)This can be difficult starting out, but not insurmountable.

In conclusion: 

Things to consider before purchasing a Tarot Deck

- Absolutely pick a deck that appeals to your eye, but consider other things such as a natural ease of understanding any cards you can preview before purchasing the deck, particular traditions you identify with, or legends and traditions you have a working knowledge of. 

- The theme/legend/tradition for the deck can greatly alter your speed at picking up reading cards fluently. If you truly want that Arthurian Legend Deck (or whatever) but aren't that familiar with the legend, get it. Become proficient with the legend as you learn the cards. In this case, do not worry about speed but accuracy in understanding.

- Search around online for as many images of as many cards from that deck as you possibly can find: Evaluate the symbolism used and how the minor Arcana are portrayed. This may take a lot of searching, as reviewers and the publisher tends to only show photos of the most interesting cards. If all you can find are photos of Major Arcana cards online, it's a sure bet that the Minor Arcana cards are not utilizing symbolism, and they probably are not as visually interesting.

- Read reviews online extensively. I could give a complete review of every deck I own, but we'd be here all day. (Not because I own hundreds of decks, but because I can spend 5,000 words breaking down what I like and don't like about every deck of cards) Independent reviews are your best bet - ignore reviews on Amazon or any site that sells the deck. Too many people I personally know have been paid to do false reviews for numerous things - including things on Amazon. (Usually through freelancer.com or something similar) Many are good and honest reviews - but just as many are likely NOT to be. Find blogs, forums, etc - places no one generally gets compensation for reviews.

I hope that I have been able to give anyone new to divination, or new to buying Tarot decks some visual and intellectual points about choosing a deck. In the end - There is no right or wrong.

Lastly - I apologize for the images not being perfectly aligned. I have a cat who views the copier/printer/fax as his mortal enemy, and was very diligent today about trying to 'protect me' from the villainous electronic device. I was reduced to placing the cards (pull the cat off the scanner) adjust the cards on the scanner (pull the cat off the scanner) then quickly close the scanner lid (And allow the cat to stand on top of the scanner, whacking it mercilessly with his paw as it scanned) 

So, um... yeah... the cards are a little crooked and some of the scans are backward/etc.

And here is WHY:

Meet Noodle the Cat - Arch Enemy of Electronic Devices, Destroyer of Small Insects, and Master of Mayhem and Discord.

Final Disclaimer: In no way do I promote or discourage any of the decks I have profiled for you today. I am in no way associated with Llewellyn, Aquarian, U.S. Games, any of the creators, illustrators, or sites that sell any of these decks, unless you count Google Adsense - and I haven't seen them put up any Tarot decks on my ads!

These images were presented today only for illustrative purposes.

Those Pesky Dram Vials

How do you label dram vials?

Too small for practical labels - unless you have a micro-labeler. (Is there such a thing???)

Here's my solution: Metallic pen.

When you need to reuse the vial, simply use alcohol or acetone based nail polish to remove the marker.

Ancestor Remembrance at Samhain

Somewhere between the second and third week of October, I set a small Ancestor altar up. Many do this only on the night of Samhain, but I think being in tune with The Wheel means that the season leading up to Samhain is a time of reflection, as well as a time of preparation.

An Ancestor altar does not have to be a full-fledged altar if it would be too conspicuous in your home for visitors or anyone else. A simple Ancestor altar can be a picture and a small personal memento set where you can see them. Creating an Ancestor Altar is an important step to feeling Samhain approach, and I would highly recommend creating one to help start your inner reflection for the Sabbat. 

Seeing an Ancestor Altar set up at certain times of the year will help to create associated recognition - in the same way smelling turkey and stuffing immediately makes most people think of Thanksgiving. It's all about associations and being in tune with the seasons, all of which will become a familiar pattern after a while.

We make the Rosemary Remembrance bread often in our house - not only because we enjoy the flavor, but it is an associated trigger for remembering people. Because we have made it so. 

Today, I made the Rosemary Remembrance bread as we will be having a roast with a thick, rich gravy for dinner this evening and the Rosemary bread is the perfect accompaniment to the beefy taste.

While the ancestor altar was not fully set up, I did pull a few things together this afternoon to honor someone that I still revere and talk with the most, despite they left this world; my father.

Though it has been many years since he has passed, I always put out some rosemary bread and pour him his favorite beer in a good, German stein. (as our family hails from Emmendingen, Germany) On Samhain, I will set him a proper feast near the fireplace, invite him in, and hope to hear some new tales from him. 

Working on the Ol' Grimoire (BOS)

I've been busy lately re-arranging and separating my one-time monstrously unwieldy BOS into smaller, more manageable books.

Here's a peek at my current morphing. (in progress)

The goal with these pages is to create my go-to book for Sabbats. I'm color coding the pages according to the Sabbat, naturally. Beyond that, I'm creating a main page for each Sabbat with the symbols of the Sabbat, my favorite incense and oil recipe, and anything else I think is pertinent. Behind that I'll have my personal ritual and then listing out all my favorite food recipes.

I also have zero artistic ability on my own - hence, I rely on a few snippets of things printed out for decoration on these pages. 

This will seem like a sin to some, but it's what works for me. The pages are large (so is my writing, naturally!) and I've already tested them in candlelight - easy to see.

The second portion that will be in a book by itself will be the main compendium of unchangeable knowledge that I utilize. (Correspondences, etc) I'm leaving plenty of blank pages in it to write things as I go along since this will be bound by hand when it's done.

The third portion will be a book dedicated to herbs, incense and oil experiments. Incense making is a big thing for me.

As it progresses, I'll post more pics. 


 

Yule Incense - Prepping

I know what you're thinking: "It isn't even Samhain!"

You're right, it isn't. But it isn't too early to start on your Yule incense. In fact, anytime within three months before any Sabbat isn't too early to start its incense. Honest.


So, while harvesting out in the yard yesterday, I stopped to harvest some Spruce Needles. I use these interchangeably for Pine Needles in my recipes. I feel perfectly at ease doing this, as this Spruce was planted by me within weeks of moving into this house back in 2006. This tree and I are good friends, in a manner of speaking.

When I removed this little guy from the nursery pot, I could balance him, root ball and all in one hand. He was less than a foot tall. The tag said he was a Norway Spruce - but I'm not so sure about that. This little guy has none of the characteristics of the Norway Spruces I've seen through the years. Who knows?

He is now almost 8 feet tall. He has grown remarkably fast and healthy.

 

I traditionally replace my pine/spruce needles yearly, as they tend to age very fast. He was badly damaged when I bought him (hence, he is already misshapen) so I'm not a fan of pruning him at this time - I just take a few snips here and there from underneath, which is all I need. 

Now that I have a new stash of needles to work with, I've already started prepping for my Yule incense. 

I have this recipe listed as a Complex Incense for Yule under the Yule tab. I term this complex because of the number of ingredients, the availability or scarcity/cost of ingredients and the addition of multiple oils. 

Yule Fire Incense

2 parts Frankincense, crushed                2 parts pine needles               
1 part Cedar shavings                             1 part Juniper Berries
1 part Orris Root                                    1/2 part Myrrh
Evergreen Oil                                         Neroli Cedar Oil                    
A few crushed Ivy leaves

• Crush the resins first, separately. (Frankincense, Myrrh)
• Next - crush/chop any woody/herby elements, including your ivy. ***Crushing pine needles or cedar shavings with a pestle and mortar is about as successful as nailing Jell-O to the wall; It isn't worth your time.*** I actually have an old set of kitchen knives and an old coffee grinder that I use for lighter things that don't grind well by hand. I usually treat the pine needles like a woody herb and chop the needles with a knife on an old cutting board. My cedar shavings are freshly planed off a cedar board, and I can actually chop those pretty fine if they have been planed thinly. Ivy is easy to crush when dried.
• I leave the Juniper Berries whole - you can crush them or chop them if you wish. 
• Mix the resins, needles, cedar and juniper berries together. Toss in the Orris Root and Ivy leaves - mix all together well.
• Add oils - one drop at a time, alternating from Evergreen to Neroli Cedar. Mix and lightly toss your incense mixture after each addition of oil, letting all ingredients absorb the oil. One drop might not sound like much, but it's a great deal of moisture to the dry ingredients. 
• Add only as much oil as you want for consistency. 

---- If you can't find the oil specified, substitute with any good quality pine or wood type oil according to the scent you like, or go with a holiday appropriate scent such as Bayberry. This incense can also be used with just a few drops of wine or honey to help bind it. However, you may want to increase your resins to offset the lack of scent from the oils if you use wine or honey, or you may prefer it less heavily scented. Once again - it's all about personal preference. I've just given you the recipe as I use it.

If you try this recipe, or try it with substitutions or variations, please drop me a line and let me know how it went!

Rosemary Remembrance Bread

Always made on Samhain to share with the ancestors - but feel free to make anytime.

It's easier to make than it looks.

Rosemary Remembrance Bread

• 1 Tbsp. Sugar
• 1 pkg Yeast
• 1 Cup Warm Water
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 2 Tbsp. Butter (softened)
• 2 Tbsp. dried Rosemary
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 3 cups unbleached Bread Flour
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 Egg - lightly beaten

-- In medium bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water.
-- Add yeast - let proof until bubbly
-- Mix in salt, softened butter and Italian Seasoning, and half the rosemary
-- Add flour, one cup at a time, until dough is formed.
-- Knead for 10 mins or until smooth. (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with dough hook for this - takes about 6 minutes that way, sometimes less)
-- Coat bowl with olive oil.Place dough in bowl, turning the dough to coat with the oil. Cover loosely.
-- Set in draft-free area, and let rise 1 to 1-1/2 hours
-- Punch down dough and divide in half.
-- Lightly grease a baking sheet. Shape each dough half into rounds, placing each on the greased baking sheet.
-- Sprinkle dough with remaining rosemary.
-- Cover and allow to rise an additional hour.
-- Brush loaves with beaten egg
-- Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes until the rounds are golden brown.

Making Sense out of Incense - Recipes, that is!

Making your own incense can be a game-changer for anyone practicing witchcraft.

The Beginning of Incense - this is from 2002

The obvious game changer is more control over scent - and cost. The downside is interpreting recipes, and understanding the method of blending different textured items into a loose incense.

Let me be clear - I am not referring to make stick or cone incense. That is an entirely different method, and, truthfully, not one I am versed enough int o discuss.

Making loose incense, however, has been a passion of mine since my earliest days of practicing witchcraft.


How much does 1 part mean?

This is the question I am usually asked first from anyone just entering the world of making their own incense.

Think of a part as a simple measurement. 1 part can be one tsp. or one cup. Just be consistent when working a recipe. If you use 1 part to mean 1 tsp of one ingredient, then 1/2 part of the next ingredient is 1/2 tsp.

Ok. I understand that - but what measurement should I use?
If it's your first time working the recipe -
If some or all of the ingredients are expensive or hard to get -
If the recipe is for a once a year event -

To all of those above, I would suggest starting with 1 tsp. per part.

It may be you are not fond of the recipe. You might not have funds that allow a larger batch even if you do like the end result, and/or there's no sense in making a larger batch if you only need it once a year.

For all those reasons - do not invest your money in ingredients until you know you love the recipe, have the money for the ingredients, and it is something you will use often.

Help! I ordered Frankincense, and I got these HUGE chunks of rock! What do I do?
Resins such as Frankincense, Myrrh, Copal, Benzoin, Dragon's Blood and the like will come in rock form.
You decide how you want to use it from there.
Do you prefer it just in tiny pebble-like chunks?
Do you want to powder it?

Many times your recipe will state *crush* or *powder* your resins. This is where your pestle and mortar come to play. If you don't have a pestle and mortar, put your resins in a thick, freezer bag and use the flat side a hammer to crush your resins. It's messy, and you'll probably waste some of your resin this way, but if it's all you have to work with - do it.

As a general rule of thumb, the more your resin is reduced the more even the distribution throughout your incense, which in turns mean a more balanced scent while burning. Some incense benefits from tiny flakes of resin, rather than powdered resin. The small flakes will give the burning incense different depths of aromas as it burns different things on the charcoal.

Once again - this will be up to you. Through experimentation you will find what works to heighten your senses as you burn the incense.

How do I make the incense stick together - it's all separating into layers by weight in the jar!
Much of this action will depend on how finely ground your items are. Heavier things, such as chunks of resin will drift to the bottom of the jar, while lighter things such as flower petals will drift to the top - that's basic gravity.

One way to keep an even distribution is the addition of binding agents such as Orris Root Powder, pine sawdust and oils, honey or wine. Any one of these items, or all of these items used together will have an impact on the texture, density, and distribution of your incense.

There is no hard and fast rule. If you don't like the texture or density of your incense - add something, or reduce something the next time around.

I tend to make very moist incense, as it takes very little on the charcoal to scent the whole house. It also tends to smoke longer than a dry incense that is consumed quickly. But, that is my preference. I once knew a witch who just used sawdust soaked with essential oil. It worked for her, though it wasn't my preference.

What's the way to actually blend the incense?
First - crush your resins. Separately.
From there, your herbs, flowers or woods can be powdered or left whole. (Personal choice or recipe direction)
Next, mix your resins with the herbs/flower/wood components. Mix well.
Add any filler necessary. (The bulk agents - Orris Root powder, sawdust, etc)
Lastly - add your oils, honey, wine - anything wet. Add one drop at a time
Store in glass or metal container with a lid.
Label your incense - make notes

I use Mason canning jars or jelly jars for my experimentation. I tape the incense recipe to the jar. When I check the incense after a few weeks I make any additions or thoughts to the paper on the jar, or tape a new paper on the backside.

Never put anything with scent oils or essential oils in a plastic container. Something chemical happens with some oils and plastic together. Just. Don't. Do. It. You will regret the awful smell. 

How much do you use for a Sabbat/Esbat?
I don't use much, really. I'll say at the most, 2-3 Tbsp through an entire day. I don't want a smoky house, but on the Sabbat day I will start incense early in the morning. I'll relight a charcoal throughout the day a few times and sprinkle a bit on every few hours, since incense is a trigger for me in many ways. It helps to set my mood, and focus my mind.

After a while, particular incense blends for me have become essentially what smelling those particular Christmas Cookies that Grandma bakes is for other people: You only smell it once a year, and when you smell it - you feel the season. It becomes an association. For this reason, I burn 'seasonal' incense frequently.

Which ones do you make in bulk? 
My Altar, Full Moon, and Witches Circle Incenses. An Altar and another Esbat type of incense is what you will use the most often. 

The Bottom Line

• Read your recipe carefully
• Check availability and price of ingredients
• Decide frequency of use
• Designate a measurement for *part*
• Be consistent

Most importantly - please, please, please - Write down every last thing you do. If you deviate one drop from the recipe - write it down.

I can't stress the importance of this. In the early years, I did not do this. I would tell myself I'd remember. Wrong.

I can still remember one of the most beautiful incenses I've ever made. It was for Imbolc. I remember most of what was in it - but despite over 17 years of trying, I have yet to recreate it exactly. It's always missing something. It was a beautiful, bright,  clear-scented incense that captured the depth of snow covered pines, crystal air, yet was imbued with a wonderful, sunny feeling. Every Imbolc I regret not writing that down.

It goes without saying that everything is written down now, even the first trial runs of an incense at 2 and 4 weeks into its maturity. I compare how the scent changes over time. If I add one more drop of jasmine oil at weeks in - I write it down.

Don't lose something wonderful - write it down!