Red Opal

I don't know about all of you, but when I was first starting to get into magick I obviously wasn't that knowledgeable in all of the different stones and their meanings. There are so many out there and so much information, that you can't memorize every one. But, you can get an idea of it's general properties. For instance, opal itself is full of light and inspiration, but there are many different kinds of opal and they each have their own properties.

Today I wanted to share Red Opal with you.

I had picked these up at Crimson Moon for both my son and I. My plan is to wire wrap them and turn them into pendants. Red Opal is said to stimulate positive energy, reduce hostility, increase positive thoughts, and create balance. With my son getting down on himself at school, I thought this would be the perfect stone. 

Red Opal is also known as Cherry Opal or the Utah Lace Opal. It is NOT Fire Opal, but they do share similar metaphysical properties.

Red Opal can be used at the 1st Chakra (Root/Base Chakra), 2nd Chakra (Sacral/Spleenic Chakra), 6th Chakra (Third Eye/Brow Chakra), or the 7th Chakra (Crown Chakra) to stimulate vitality and passion for life, to instil creative inspiration, to stimulate one's psychic abilities, to enhance connection to the fire element, for treating depression or apathy, and to promote spiritual ascension. 

I do hope that this has inspired you!

Love and Light )O(

~Luminessa

Blessings for Electronics

Anyone who has read American Gods knows the importance of our modern Gods, Media, the Internet, the Stock Market, and of course our Personal Computer altar. You are reading this on a device right now, desktop, laptop, phone, table, these have become a major part of our lives. So why not give them the Magick they deserve and cleanse them up a bit. 

The funny thing about this being today's spell is Himself's desktop is in the shop right now...

Pumped up motherboard and ram!!!

Electronic Blessing

~Supplies~

Non-Scratch Cleaning Cloth

(Mircofiber)

Protection Incense

(Sage, Dragon's Blood)

First, thoroughly clean the device with the cloth. Wipe away any smudges on the screen, dust from vents, etc. As you do so, envision any negative energy clinging to the device being wiped away with the grime. Then waft the incense smoke over the device and say:

Blessed Be this [name of device].

May it be protected from bugs, viruses, and hackers;

From Water and Power Surges;

From slips and spills;

And from any ill intent.

So mote it be.

If your device doesn't have a name it totes needs one! 

My desk top is the MOM-Machine, Himself's is The WOW-Machine.

If you need some computer work in the Carson Valley area the guys at Bulldog PC Repair are rockin' it!!

They are across the hall from Crimson Moon in the Carson Mall.

(775) 790-5943

My dream computer -__-

)O(

AnnaStacia

Spell from

Llewllyn's spell-a-day

Spruced up a bit by me ;)

Abundance Garden Spell

Being Spring and most of us are going to be planting new for the year anyway, why not use this opportunity to do a little magic.

Color of the day : Black (oh good, it's my color for everyday :)
Incense of the day : Ginger

Also at 9:55pm the moon will be void of course so if there is any correlating Magick you would like to do for that, tonight's the night.

For a good void of course explanation  

http://www.lunasgrimoire.com/using-the-void-of-course-moon/

Abundance Garden Spell

Supplies...

Paper

Green ink pen

A rock

Twine

 Flowerpot or Flowerbed

Your favorite seeds
Potting soil

Write your wish for abundance on the paper, then place the rock on top of your written charm. Wrap the paper around the rock, and secure it with twine. Place this bundle in the bottom of your flowerpot or flowerbed. Cover with potting soil. Visualize your wish coming true. Now plant your seeds on top of your wish like you normally would. As your garden grows your abundance grows. Always thank Mother Earth for her gifts. 

As I will it, make it so!

)O(

AnnaStacia

Info from

Llewellyn's spell-a-day

Spell modified by me :) 

Help in Making a Decision

Sometimes in life it can be difficult when we have big decisions to make. This is a constant, inevitable process. A few years back my husband and I had to make the big decision of weather to stay where we were at, or move to Utah in the hopes that it would mean a better life for our family. At the time we were at a crossroads. What were we gonna do? 

I decided to write this quick candle spell for help in making that decision. I honestly don't remember what color candle I used at the time, but feel free to use a color candle that speaks to you for whatever you need help with.

This spell works best right before bed.

Light your candle and say 3 times:

I burn this candle through the night

to reveal to me the path that's right.

Come to me in dreams this night

with clarity at morning light.

When you have finished, do some deep breathing and focus on your intent as you fall asleep.

I can honestly tell you that this spell worked for me! But just remember, that it's the intent that you put behind your magick that will make it work or not.

I had a dream that night about how our life would be if we were to move. So, ultimately it gave me my decision. We moved. In the end we moved back home, but if it weren't for the people I met there and the experiences we went through we would not be where we are today as a family. 

This is by far one of my favorite spells I have written. Could be because I'm kinda big on dreams. 

If you have any decisions that you might need help with, weather they are big or small, try this!

Love and Light to you )O(

~Luminessa

Eggshell Spell

A quick spell for today, maybe if you are doing breakfast for dinner, my kids love that!

Color of the Day - White
Incense- Hyssop

Eggshells have been used for ages to absorb and remove illness, curses, and negative energy of all kinds.

Break a small hole in the top and bottom of an egg,then insert a toothpick to break up the yolk. Hold the egg over a bowl, seal your mouth over one end, blow the egg out of the shell, then rinse the shell. Next, write all the things you want to release from your life on a small slip of paper, then roll it up and put it inside the hollow shell. Light a fire in your BBQ or fireplace. Hold the eggshell in your hands and think about what you wrote. Allow yourself to release everything that you want gone into the eggshell. Once you feel all has been released, toss the egg into the fire and watch as it burns up all the negativity trapped inside.

Llewellyn's Spell a Day

-Mickie Mueller

Attuning to Crystals

Before I start telling you all about how to attune to your crystals, I want to tell you what drew me towards doing this in the first place. 

I have children that just so happen to have SPD (sensory processing disorder). What this means is that they experience amplified senses. A noisy classroom could cause them to shut down, or a scratch could mean the end of the world. It has been a long process to be able to know what triggers them and how to either avoid it, or find ways to cope with it. So, we started doing this back when my son was in Kindergarten. He is now 9 and has hardly any issues.

Building up energy, doing some grounding, attuning to crystals, and meditating are just a few things that we do to keep life's little annoyances at bay.  My kids love to work with crystals, and they each have their own little collection from which they choose their crystal every night. 

So about a half hour before bed we all sit down together as a family and they choose just one crystal. These are the steps we take from there:

First, sit criss cross applesauce on the floor. Open your palm chakras and ask your crystal to work with you in love and trust. Focus with your eyes half closed. Does it say anything? Ask it to communicate with you. Continue to breathe deeply and be receptive to those responses. Notice how the crystal makes you feel. Move it around your body to check out sensations and intuitions. If it feels good, keep it in that place for awhile. Don't force anything! Simply go with what feels right. Let the crystal be your guide. Remember, crystals are creative beings. Ask yourself if your crystal is dropping thoughts in your mind? Trust the process. After about 5 minutes or so, thank the crystal for it's work, put it to one side, and consciously disconnect your attention from it, unless your intuition tells you to keep it in your pocket or close by. 

*Repeat with all other crystals

Once we put our crystals down, my kids and I like to build up some energy balls and release them into the universe to let go of all of the days built up energy, weather it be negative or not. Then we do some grounding to make sure that we have released all of that energy we just built up, and anything else that might still be lingering.

By following these simple steps every night I have noticed a decrease in built up frustrations in my kids, and myself. We, as a family, choose a different crystal every night. But when we go "treasure hunting" and find new crystals, we like to do it right away. This is a great way to get familiar with your crystals and how they work. 

Now we just keep stones in our pockets in case of a flair up, or even if we just need a little calming down. I find that worry stones work best as you can rub the smooth surface.

And remember, this may not work for everyone. Do what feels right for you, and let the energy flow through you. There are no wrong answers. 

May your light shine so brightly upon others that they too want to be a beacon unto the world.

~Luminessa

The 13 Principles of Witchcraft

As many of you know, AnnaStacia and I do not follow just one set path. We are what you would call the "Ecclectic Witch". We take what works for us from all different paths and use it how we see fit. I have meant to put this up here since I added the Wiccan Rede awhile back, but had so many other things to do that it got pushed to the back burner.

There are so many that are either new to the craft, or that have just  not done their homework, and have never heard of these principles. So before you go around telling everyone that you are a "Witch" be sure that you indeed stand for the things that being a Witch entails. No, I'm not trying to get down on you. I would much rather give you the information and hope that you will put it to good use.

One thing I have been noticing of late is there are so many who claim to follow the path, but don't actually practice. It almost reminds me of what we used to call "Sunday Christians".  You go through your week, and pay no mind to anything but your mundane tasks, then when it comes time for church, ritual, or meeting you all of a sudden are into that way of life. Whatever path you do choose should be one that you would build your life around, otherwise it isn't the right path for you. Don't just do things because people expect you to, or because those around you are doing it. That would make you cattle. Do things because they bring out the passion in you!, Because you love the way it makes you feel!, Because it brings you a sense of oneness and closer to where you want to be in life.

That being said, I also realize that there are those of us who have decided to follow the Witchy path, but don't have the knowledge or others around us to help teach us of the ways, and that's okay too. That is the whole reason why we have started our blog in the first place. We want to share the knowledge which we have gained with, really anyone and everyone who will listen. I personally have seen so many of my friends who want to walk the path, but don't actually practice. Sometimes it just comes down to time management and having a good example.

I know that not everyone feels like they have enough time to practice magick, but in my experience, if it is something you are truly passionate about, you will find the time. In today's modern society people get so distracted with "entertainment" that they tend to neglect the important things in life. I urge you all to put down your phones, tablets, laptops, or whatever device you might be using for just 1 hour every day. 1 hour every day to put towards something that you want to improve upon. It may not even be magick related. Perhaps it's just something you want to do to better yourself or your situation. Whatever the case may be, you have to be the brave one and take that first step. Make the plans, take the time. Because if you don't, then it will never happen.

Sorry, kind of went on a rant there. If you truly want to follow the "Witches Path" then make sure that you adopt these principles into your daily life.

The Council of American Witches (now defunct) adopted the 13 Principles of Witchcraft in April of 1974. Although many modern-day Witches are unfamiliar with the C.A.W., the Council's principles are still widely adhered to just the same. These are those priciples:

1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the Seasonal Quarters and Cross-quarters.

2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called supernatural, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity-as masculine and feminine-and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconsciousness, Inner Planes, etc.-and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6.We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarcy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

7. We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it-a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft-The Pagan Way.

8. Calling oneself a Witch does not make a Witch-but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony in Nature.

9.We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that it's institutions have claimed to be 'the only way', and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.

 11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.

12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity know as Satan, or the Devil, as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the sufferings of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

[The above principles are now in the public domain.]

Here at The White Raven we know that not everyone follows the same path, and that is perfectly okay. Every person is unique and beautiful in their own way, and has their own unique talents and abilities to share with the world. Let yours shine!

Love and Light )O(

~Luminessa

Rosemary Hair Oil

For dry, brittle breaking Witch Hair. Just cuz I'm a Witch doesn't mean I wanna look like Brunhilde.

First, have a glass bottle cleaned and ready, pick your essential oils. I have Rosemary of course, Lavender, and Lemon, all are great for hair health.

The carrier oils I used are Coconut oil and Grapeseed oil. 

I had to bring out the double boiler and melt the coconut oil

Once all the coconut oil is melted I mixed the two carrier oils, stirring until it cooled before I added the essential oils.

1 part Coconut

1 part Grapeseed 

10 drops Rosemary

10 drops Lavender

5 drops Lemon

Then I prepared my bottle, adding Rosemary and Lavender flowers

Then I used a funnel to pour my potion into my bottle. 

Shake gently before use and a tiny bit goes a long way. My last bottle lasted me over a year. I work in my hair potion before bed, wrap my hair up in a scarf and wash my hair in the morning. Lately I have also been added some to my tips just after blow drying.Use mostly on the ends and sparingly on roots, and a little bit goes a long ways so start off small. For an easier hair treatment put a few drops of rosemary in your normal shampoo.

Enjoy

)O(

AnnaStacia

Coffee Scrub

Thanks to my MIL Gale for this recipe. It comes from The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House in New York.

Did you know that coffee is an all-natural exfoliate?


Mix together one cup cooled used coffee grounds.

For me 3 pots of coffee yielded 1 cup of grounds. I just set them aside until I had enough

1/2 cup sugar (also a dry skin reliever)


And 1 tablespoon jojoba oil (Which hydrates skin without leaving it greasy)

Mix together until oil has softened enough to equally distribute.

Gently rub mixture all over your body in a circular motion, then rinse and pat dry!




A few notes...
* I recommend this for the avid coffee lover only. Himself says I don't smell like a walking coffee shop but I can definitely smell it on myself. But I don't mind.
* I used this as soon as I mixed it and it makes about 2 uses. I'm not sure how long it will keep but I do recommend sealing any that is left over and refrigerating it.
* The visual effect of coffee being spread over skin is... well Extraordinarily Exotic :) I wasn't expecting that lol

Enjoy~

AnnaStacia

Daily Prayer to the Goddess

For some people, myself included, it can be very difficult to find the time to connect to Goddess. We all have busy lives that keep us going non stop with mundane tasks. It can be difficult to try and incorporate any type of magickal workings into your daily lives, especially when the things you want to do take up that precious time you have. 

First and foremost, it's about priorities! If you, yourself don't put the time aside to grow and connect, then you have no one to blame but yourself. That being said, I've been blaming myself since the new year! Yes, I've done magickal workings, but I've neglected the daily things I used to do to connect with Goddess. I used to do daily prayer with just a quick incense burn, or candle if I felt the need to. So, in the premise of Spring, and new beginnings, I'm starting again! Plus, by making it a part of my morning routine, I am able to stay consistent. 

Let's walk through it step by step.

1. Wake up and greet the day.

2. Use the restroom, brush your teeth and do whatever else you need to to become a "person". 

3.Head to your altar

4.Light an incense, one that speaks to you for the day.

5. Say this Daily Prayer while meditating about your upcoming day:

Bless me Goddess on this day

Help me as I work and play

To reflect your beauty now

Lend your strength and please allow

This day to be all it should be

In love I ask this, Blessed Be!

6. Rinse and Repeat. Do this on a daily basis, and you will definitely see your days improving. 

This prayer not only brings boundless blessing from Goddess, but seems to keep life's little annoyances at bay as well.

On a side note, I started putting intent into this daily prayer to help me get through my days without having to deal with all of my health issues that I have been dealing with. I used to go days with barely being able to function or even move (which is not good when you have 4 kids-it's nearly impossible) Anna can vouch for me, that there had been days that I was an absolute wreck, and in tears. I got to the point where I just didn't want my condition to control my life anymore. I said to myself, "I'm taking back my life, and my time!" I started saying this daily prayer, grounded myself, and am more aware and attuned to those little triggers that tell you that you need balance. 

I do have another prayer to the Goddess that I will share with you all in the future that I LOVE! But this is the one I use on a daily. 

Incorporating magick into your daily life can sometimes be difficult, but they say if you do something at least 7 times it becomes habit. So I challenge you all...Use this for a week straight and notice the difference in your life.

If you happen you use it, and it works for you, please let us know! 

*Also, this is what works for me, and not everything works for everyone the same way. Feel free to change things up so that this will work for you in the way you need it to!

May your light shine so brightly upon others that they too want to be a beacon unto the world!

~Luminessa

Goddess Bath Ritual

Lately I have been very disconnected and faltering, and I knew that not only did I need a serious grounding I needed to reconnect with my Goddess. I realized then that I had let this most wonderful gift of Goddess connection slip through the minutes and hours and days of life. At that moment of realization I was seriously mournful for the time that I had neglected my most sacred of spiritual kindred.

I am a water sign so I can most relax and open my mind and body up in water, my chakras can spin a whirlpool in the proper body of water. So of course I thought of this Goddess bath ritual that I used to do all the time.


I set it up proper (I wasn't going to cut any corners now)

I set a delicious blend of oils bubbling in my diffuser in my bedroom with a low lamp on so when I came out of the bath the energy would still be soothing. I lit three 3 white 7 day glass candles and placed them on the edge of the bath. (3 for Maiden Mother Crone) If for some reason a candle would be dislodge from it's spot it should only be able to fall into the bath so no fire hazards!

I have a bath salt blend made for me by a dear friend, the salt in the water consecrated my ritual space just fine. My salts have lavender flowers in them which helps me to relax but you can add what ever herbs or oils that will help you connect.

I had music playing but this is mot necessary.

Once I was in the piping hot water I submerged myself, with my ears under the water, eyes closed. I focused on my heartbeat, for quite a few minutes. Once your mind stops racing and all of your focus is on your own body and your own heartbeat, call to your Goddess, out loud even. I hummed, humming can raise your energy level and under the water it complete fills your senses. Then when you stop it's quiet, like really quiet. You can hear anything that anyone is trying to tell you. To help keep out and other voices if you are so inclined to talk to spirits keep your focus on your Goddess, call her by name, ask her a question let your mind wonder onto what she looks like without giving her a fixed image. Sometimes she can look very different then what we think she looks like.

If you don't hear a loud voice saying 'Hey, what do you want?' don't be disheartened. Take notice of where you mind starts to wander, are these more questions or revelations? Are these answers or a beginning of a journey? Do you have any sensations of comfort or discomfort? Is she happy to hear from you or does she have a harsh lesson planned for you? These are all valid forms of communication. Open yourself completely to her, let her energy fill your senses.

If you hear nothing, feel nothing, sense nothing, don't fret. Maybe water isn't your ideal medium to conduct your energy. But if you did... if you did, remember that feeling. That is a beautiful priceless gift.

Always thank Her, once you feel any and all messages have been relayed.

After my mediation I sit up in the water and wake up a bit and focus on mundane life again. I usually wash my face. Then when I'm ready to get out I pull the water stopper and sit in the bath until it is completely empty. I visualize all of the disconnection and faltering going straight down the drain. With the lowering of the water you can feel all of the baggage that you don't want to take out of the bath being pulled from you and going down the drain.

I felt completely rejuvenated and completely peaceful afterwards.



If you try this remember to be careful not to fall asleep in the bath! If that is a possibility maybe have a bath spotter watching out for you. Safety first!

Let us know how you connect with your Goddess best, and if you do try this let us know if it worked for you.

)O(

AnnaStacia

How to Make Egg Planters

Alright, I am so pleased to finally be posting this, you have no idea! Between Quick Time, Media Maker, and finally, whatever program my husband had on his laptop, I was able to edit our actual "first blog video". Tomorrow I will be actually downloading the new software to my computer. When you are NOT tech savvy, this stuff can get frustrating. But enough about my lack of computer knowledge...

One of the most awesome craft projects Anna and I did to celebrate Ostara were these cute, amazing egg planters!

What you will need:

A bucket, pot, or whatever else you would like to stick your eggs in

Clean empty egg shells

Potting Soil

Seeds of your choice

Popsicle sticks

Moss, shells, stones, figurines, etc to decorate

Between the two of us we spent a total of about $5.

We got the buckets at the Dollar Tree

Seeds were .25 cents a packet at the Dollar Tree

The popsicle sticks were also purchased at the Dollar Tree

Everything else we had on hand already.

The herbs we used were:

Cilantro

Basil

Thyme

Sage

Lavender

and Dill

You can plan to do this at your home or maybe start a community garden. I found it looked quite adorable as a centerpiece on my dinning room table. 

Eggs are a symbol of fertility and Spring. But what exactly do eggshells consist of? According to botanical-online.com they consist of these properties:

Water

Protein

Ashes

Calcium

Potassium

Sodium

Phosphorus

Iron

Magnesium

With all of these properties, how could it not be a great way to plant your herbs? Eggs themselves act as a great addition to compost as well. So even if you don't use them as planters, you can grind it up and add it to your soil. 

I LOVE EGGS!

Here is our first ever together blog video! I hope you like it!

Please like us on facebook, comment below and let us know what you think, and share! Share Share Share! Our biggest goal is to try and get the information from our heads to your ears!

With Love and Light

~Luminessa

Singing Bowls

Greeting!!! AnnaStacia here, I work in a Metaphysical shop in Carson City Nevada called Crimson Moon and we have a ton of Tibetan singing bowls. So I thought I'd try a video demonstration. For me the bowls can be temperamental on my energy on any given day. Sometimes I can make them sing beautifully and some days can't get a peep. Luckily this Throat Chakra bowl was jiving with me.

About Tibetan Singing Bowls

According to Tibetan oral tradition, the existence of singing bowls dates back to the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni (560 - 480 B.C.). The tradition was brought from India to Tibet, along with the teachings of the Buddha, by the great tantric master Padmasambhava in the 8th century A.D.

Singing bowls produce sounds which invoke a deep state of relaxation which naturally assists one in entering into meditation, the ultimate goal being enlightenment. They are a quintessential aid to meditation, and can be found on private Buddhist altars, and in temples, monasteries and meditation halls throughout the world.

Metallurgical analysis have varied. The original analysis we know of from Concordia University, Quebec is an eight metal alloy of copper and tin with traces of iron, lead, zinc, gold, silver and mercury.

In addition to their traditional usage for meditation, Tibetan singing bowls are used for deep relaxation, stress reduction, holistic healing, Reiki, chakra balancing, and World music. Many people find that the rich blend of harmonic overtones which the bells produce have a direct affect upon their chakras.

Playing the bells usually causes an immediate centering effect. The tones set up a "frequency following response" that creates a balancing left/right brain synchronization. Meditating on the subtle sounds of the Tibetan singing bowl tunes one in to the universal sound within and without.

From; http://www.bodhisattva.com/about.htm

These are a few of the beautiful bowls we have at Crimson Moon.

This is Luminessa's bowl

These are mine.

Singing bowls have a very different effect for everyone. Some people are very soothed by the deep humming and some people are very disturbed by it. It may be from unaligned or blocked chakras or sensitive ears, I'm not sure. But I fully recommend trying them at least once. 

)O(

Orange Oil

It's been a few years now since I first started making my own oils. It's so easy and there are a million and one uses for them! Today my kids and I finally finished off the bag of mandarin oranges that we purchased so we made oil out of the peels. Just be sure to save your peels and put them in the fridge until you are ready to make it! You can do this with almost any herb, flower or fruit.

Items you will need:

Peels, herbs, or petals you would like to use.

Base oil. (coconut oil, olive oil, etc.) I used coconut oil this time around.

A glass or ceramic bowl or container.

Wooden spoon

First, let me start by saying that you should not use any metal of any kind while making your oils. It disrupts the "natural" aspects of your oils. Also, if you put your herbs, peels, or petals into a plastic ziploc bag first and use your rolling pin over them it will release the oils and you will have a much stronger oil in the end. 

That being said, lets get started! For the orange oil, you will want to make sure that you tear up the peels into small pieces, squishing them as you go. (This also helps release the oils)

Put them into your glass or ceramic bowl or container. I have this amazing glass tupperware set that works perfect, as you will want to securely cover your concoction while it sits. (You could also use a crock pot if you want to do a larger batch of anything) Just be sure you don't have a roast you need to make for awhile. 

Decide what carrier oil you would like to use. I've use Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the past, but wanted to try the Coconut Oil this time around. You will want to fill your bowl up, completely covering your peels, so that you have about an inch and a half to two inches of oil above the top of your peels.

Be sure to stir with your wooden spoon and press the orange down into the bowl to let out more of the oils. (unfortunately for me, half of my kitchen is still in California and I forgot to make sure I had a wooden spoon before starting) But, being the resourceful witch that I am, I just used my honey dipper, as it is wooden, and almost did a better job than my spoon in smashing up the peels.

Once everything is mixed well put the lid on your oil and place in a dark cool place for 7-10 days. 

Check on your oil every couple days, stirring with your wooden spoon. 

When the time is up you will want to strain your oil. Cheese cloth works best, but a wire strainer or sifter will work as well.  

Finally, put your oil in glass jars, bottles, or however you want to store it and Enjoy! You can use it later on so many holistic recipes, in your diffuser to make the house smell great, and in your magickal workings. 

Truth be told, I was more excited to make this today because I started getting little scout ants trying to squeeze through my back slider door. I will be mixing it with chili powder and using it as an insecticide. I've done this in the past and its worked really well. 

Here is a quick list I found at Organicfacts.net  about the benefits of orange oil:

With Love and Light

~Luminessa

St. Patrick

Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17 Th, marking the death of Saint Patrick on March 17 in AD 461. He was born in 385, he was the son of a Roman official living in Wales. He is accredited with 'Driving the Snakes out of Ireland' At the age of sixteen he was kidnapped and sold into slavery and sent to Ireland, herding sheep on Slemish Mountain for six years. After six years he had a vision of a boat waiting for him so he escaped and found the boat in Gaul and traveled back to England.


He became a Christian missionary and had another vision that it was his duty to Christianize Ireland and to save the entire island. Pretty noble sort of guy I mean he wants to go back and help all of the heathens that enslaved him for all those years. No joke though, it is always barbaric to kidnap and turn Innocent people into slaves! In 432 he traveled back to Ireland to begin the process of 'Saving the island', with many people from Britain in tow (just for moral support I'm sure). On the Eve of Easter he lit a fire in Tara, which was interfering in Pagan practices of that time and place, they believed all fire needed to be extinguished before the sacred fire of Tara was lit. Knowing this he lit it to help with his converting. That made Tara his headquarters.


Druids at this time in Ireland were of huge influence over everyone. Their symbol was the Snake of Wisdom. They were the keepers of The Old Religion.

A Bard is a storyteller, songwriter, history keeper. They wrote songs to sing to the people telling of stories past. The Celts did not rely on written language, so the Bards were the key to their history as well as their future. They believed for you can't have a future without a history.

The Brehons were keepers of the laws in Ireland. They delegated punishments for crimes and were the peacemakers.

Then there were the Druid Priests, they were the keepers of the knowledge of Earth and Spirits. They were the elders, the healers. It was their responsibility to commune with the Spirit world and keep people in harmony with the Earth.


So the Druids were real happy with the way things were going in Ireland and weren't so keen on Patrick changing everything and they didn't co-operate so well. Patrick realizing this knew that he had to convert the Druids for the rest of the island to follow. Well that didn't work so Patrick with the help of the British began destroying Druid influence by destroying Pagan sites, places of ritual and Druids homes and began building monasteries and churches in their place.


Now Druids aren't dumb. Do you think that they just sat back while their entire history was torn down and destroyed for ideals? I don't. I believe they converted... to keep and salvage their own heritage. Which is why so many churches built back then are riddled with Pagan symbols and directions. Who built all of the Christian Churches? All of the reformed and converted Druids to ensure that their people, even though no longer their followers, could still worship what they wanted and not what they were made to.


in 444 or 445 most of Ireland was converted. Patrick also changed laws to weed out Pagan influences or to "Harmonize with Christian Practices" In 457 he retired in Saul, where he later died. He was buried in DownPatrick. Also enshrined to him is Croaghpatrick. He was said to have an usually winning personality. There are huge Parades on this day in Dublin and Chicago.


Now some believe that all the Druids were dead and their influence destroyed... I don't believe that at all. I believe that they understood the workings of the world and that this is what needed to be done. Later there were Freemasons and societies that gave new breath to the Druids way of life... Dead? No, just waiting.


As a side note... There are no snakes in Ireland because after an icy period scientist call the Pleistocene a series of ice caps covered Ireland. Snakes also can't swim to Ireland because the water is too cold and the distance too great. So no there truly are no Snakes in Ireland. Animal and or otherwise. So this image never happened...

But it has inspired Irish Pagans to take Ireland back one gif at a time

And it has also inspired Pagans to celebrate Irish Heritage Day as opposed to St. Patrick's Day.

)O(

AnnaStacia

Turmeric

DRINK THIS DELICIOUS TURMERIC-COCONUT BEDTIME DRINK FOR SLEEP & DIGESTION

Here is how to make your own tasty healing beverage:
Ingredients:

2 cups coconut milk

1 teaspoon turmeric 

1/4 teaspoon black pepper (the absorption of turmeric is actually enhanced when combined with black pepper)

1″ piece of ginger sliced

raw honey to sweeten, if desired.

Directions:
In a saucepan add all ingredients (except honey, if using) and whisk to combine
Heat over medium heat until it starts to bubble
Then turn heat down to low and simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld
Strain out the ginger
Add honey and stir
Makes 2 servings, so you can share the love

Here’s how to keep it on hand for ease of use:

In a small jar combine:
3 Tbsp turmeric
2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp powdered ginger
Cover the jar and shake to mix
To use: Mix 1 teaspoon of the powdered mix with 1 cup of coconut milk

A Simple Wishing Spell With Incense

We find ourselves in a day and age where it seems we have to fight tooth and nail to get anything that we want. Weather it be love, a job, or just maybe being able to express our feelings. Whatever the desire is, hopefully this little wishing spell will help. I've used it in the past to not only help with the mundane things I desire, but to help increase the power of a healing spell as well. This is definitely one you want to keep in your arsenal. Today I thought I might use it to help me get a better understanding of what I've been going through medically. That, and I just want to feel "normal" again. Well, normal for me. Haha. 

I believe that everyone goes through tough times in life. It's what makes us so unique. And hopefully we are able to take a bit of knowledge with us after each trial. I, for one, am thankful for everything I have been through. Some times have been tougher than others, and it doesn't help that I am a very stubborn person and have difficulty asking for help. But all that being said; I wouldn't change it for the world! Everything I have gone through has made me who I am today. The choices I have made have given me life experience and if I was able to even help one other person who is going through something similar and having a difficult time, then it's worth it. Life is hard sometimes. When you get Lemons sometimes you just want to pick them up, throw them back, and say Fuck you! But in the end, you peel them, use the fruit and make oil out of the peels. You take everything you can from it, and turn it around so that it makes your life better. I guess that's what they mean by "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." 

So here is my recipe to help your lemonade be sweet and not bitter. ;-).

Perform this simple spell for attracting what you desire. This should be done during a waxing or full moon.

You will need:

Incense and censor

Put yourself in a meditative state and light the incense. Imagine your desire coming true with as much detail as you can while whispering this incantation over and over:

Magick herbs, burn in fire. Bring to me my hearts desire.

*Make sure that you let the incense burn out completely, as it will not work otherwise. 

That's it! So simple and yet, with intent behind it, can be the most powerful spell you have!

Lucky for me, today we are at the first quarter where the moon turns from Waxing Crescent to Waxing Gibbous, so this spell is perfect! Go out and make some magick!

Blessed Be! )O(

~Luminessa