Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine Working With
Mosses, Wells, and Water Scrying
Using Celestite for Intention Setting
Exclusive Interview With Fairy and Witch Fashion Designer,
Sumi Mizuno
Water Witch Excerpt of The
Complete Book of Moon Spells
Getting Started With Sea Glass and Water
Magick
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July Gregorian Calendar: July’s moon is often called the
blessing, wort, hay, thunder, or buck moon. During this full moon, work on magic relating to divination, dreamwork, and psychic abilities. Celtic Tree Calendar: The Oak moon is celebrated until July 7th and the Holly Moon is celebrated from July 8th until August 4th. The Celtic name for Holly is Tinne, pronounced chihnn-uh. The Oak moon is associated with cleansing, strength, self-confidence, and optimism while the Holly Moon is associated with beauty, protection, luck, and dreams. -Seasons of Wicca
Lukas Gojda
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EDITORIAL Ambrosia Hawthorn, Owner & Editor Sarah Justice, Co-Editor WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Miss Wondersmith, Karla Freeling, Meg Jones Wall, Severina Sosa, Monica Crosson, Sarah Robinson, Willow, Katiee McKinstry, Vivacia Ahwen.
Welcome!
ART & PHOTOS Cover: Sumi Mizuno taken by Michal Kurowski All other photos are from stock.adobe.com, free stock sources, or from contributors.
“These words herein are from me to you,
SALES ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com
use each spell, ritual, and work with care.”
SUBMISSIONS ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com sarah@witcologymagazine.com www.witchologymagazine.com/ submissions-ads/ SOCIAL www.witchologymagazine.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag Copyright © 2019 by Wild Goddess Magick. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Magazine is intended for ages 18 and up.
each picture, thought, and quote we imbue.
This issue reflects the knowledge I have to share,
Welcome to our 26th issue of Witchology Magazine! A small independent digital publication created just over two years ago. Within these pages, you’ll find what’s new in the witchy community, must-haves for a dreamy and magical month. We have a featured interview of Sumi Mizuno, our cover model and fashion designer, and also goddess, moon, and water themed articles for you to enjoy. Stop by our Astrology column for the aspects and transits happening for the month ahead! No matter what your path is, there’s always something that can enrich and elevate your practice!
We are a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All our content is reviewed and vetted in the process.
Please also note, we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the content of this magazine, but please don't give up on the magick within you!
The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Witchology Magazine or Wild Goddess Magick. Witchology Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Blessed be witches,
Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick
Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine
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Cover of Sumi Mizuno @sumi_mizuno By Michal Kurowski @Lurkers.photo.corner
Our Witchy Team 1
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1. Sarah Justice @tinycauldron Tinycauldron.com Co-Editor, writer, shop owner
5. Gillian Pegg @gillianmoragivy @pegggillian Witch, writer
9. Sarah Robinson @Yoga_for_witches Sentiayoga.com Yoga and meditation teacher.
2. Karla Freeling @wiccanology Wiccanology.etsy.com Mother in the military, Pagan, shop owner
6. Lauren Over @the_star_17 laurenover.com Artist, herb columnist
10. Monica Crosson @monicacrosson Monicacrosson.com Writer, gardener, published author.
3. Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith Thewondersmith.com Wondersmith, recipe creator, forager, event hostess 4. Willow @flyingthehedge flyingthehedge.com Hedgewitch, writer
7. Vivacia Ahwen @sheraprincess Msvivacia.wordpress.com Witch, astrologer, romance author, artist 8. Katiee McKinstry @rosecafletic lifestartswithcoffee.com Writer, Witch 5
11. Severina Sosa @severinathewitch medium.com/@severinathewitch Hedgewitch, herbalist, writer 12. Meg Jones Wall @3am.tarot 3amtarot.com Writer, photographer, tarot readerÂ
JULY 7 8 9 24 32
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What’s New in the Witchy Community Witches Supporting Witches July Magickal Workings July Astrology Forecast: Fierce Love Interview with Fairy and Witch Fashion Designer, Sumi Mizuno Quinn K Dyer Shop & Giveaway Witchology Directory
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FEATURES 10 The Magick of Seaglass 18 Sparkling Water Witchery: Dram Apothecary Review 30 Honoring the Ancient: Paying Homage to Tiamat, Primordial Goddess of the Salt and Sea 38 Excerpt From The Complete Book of Moon Spells 46 Elevating your Elemental Practice: A Review of Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon 48 Sacred Sacral Flow
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MAGICKAL LEARNING 14 Reading Difficult Tarot Cards 20 Tiny Spellbook: Working With Mosses 22 Using Wells to HedgeRide 28 Scrying With Water 36 How to use Celestite in Water Intention Setting 44 Bath Magick 101 50 Monthly Herb: Honeysuckle
MAGICKAL RECIPES 51 Honeysuckle Cordial 53 Violet and Licorice Fern Sugar
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What’s New in the
Witchy Community
Want to know what’s happening in the Pagan community? Well, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the latest releases.
Wicca Book of Spells By Lisa Chamberlain
Reclaiming Witchcraft By Irisanya Moon Reclaiming Witchcraft is designed to help the reader better understand the basic structure of the Reclaiming tradition, as well as discover how it has changed since its initial formation in San Francisco and subsequent journey out to the reaches of Canada, Australia, and Europe. From the basic tenets of what makes a Reclaiming Witch, to how rituals are performed, how lessons are passed on, and how magick is made around the world, Reclaiming Witchcraft seeks to welcome those who might be interested in learning more, while also directing them to resources and paths that can help facilitate their journey. Available at Amazon.
The world of magic is full of immeasurable potential. There are literally thousands of spells in existence, for every purpose you could possibly imagine. In this book from best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, you will find spells and other magical workings that, when applied with focused intention, can bring positive experiences into your life. Divided into four general categories, they are suitable for Witches of all experience levels, without calling for extravagant or hard-tofind ingredients. Each spell contains explicit instructions, but there are also opportunities to personalize the work as you see fit, using your own intuition and style. With the variety of magical opportunities for enhancing the most important areas of life, there’s something for everyone in this book! Available at Amazon.
The Complete Book of Moon Spells: Rituals, Practices, and Potions for Abundance By Michael Herkes Harness the power of the moon―spells to invite abundance and achieve balance. Luminescent and ever-watchful, the moon is a powerful source of energy and a conduit for magical abundance, bestowing blessings from the universe to help you achieve your goals and desires. The Complete Book of Moon Spells provides down-to-earth guidance on the phases, folklore, and science of the moon, as well as contemporary life-changing moon spells you can perform to cultivate love, money, health, success, and happiness in your everyday life. Discover a primer on the orbit cycles and phases of the moon, as well as how moon magic manifests in abundance. Create your lunar atmosphere with advice on various techniques for casting moon spells in alignment with the moon’s phases, including ceremonies to perform and the ingredients you’ll need. Available on July 14, 2020 at Amazon. 7
Witches Supporting Witches Moon Goddess Ring Charging Quartz Crystal Holder $75.00 BumbleBeeBotanica
Check out the latest creators, shops, collections, and more for this month!
Earthstar: An Astro-Botanical Tarot Deck $44.49 Lauren Over
Intention-Setting Bath Salt Soaks $11.00 Tiny Cauldron
Earthstar: An Astro-Botanical Tarot Book $22.99 Lauren Over 8
JULY MAGICKAL WORKINGS July’s summer heat, makes us feel a bit slower than usual making it an excellent time to slow down and focus on states of the mind as well as to enjoy the enchantment and fluidity of the element of water. This is an excellent time to focus on liquid and tarot divination, kitchen magick, water magick, healing, and deity. Connect with the July Full Moon’s energy in an Esbat or work with the Astrology of the month.
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FEATURE
The Magick of Seaglass By Monica Crosson
I
am a forest dweller, a child of dark, shadowy trees, dripping in moss. I’m at home along the creekside, where elves mingle with the deer amongst the sword fern. It is within this protective bower of forest, in Pacific Northwest Washington, that my husband and I raised our three children. As small children, they rambled and played among spidery vine maples, romped about in stony river beds, and read books under dappled skies. And though none of us would trade our home in its enchanted forest setting, there are times when spring clouds boil and churn around the mountains that guard our tight valley, and we feel the tug of ocean’s tide, a siren’s cry mingled with mountain song that leads us on a one-and-a-half-hour journey to the Salish Sea. As we drive out of the forest and into the wide-open farmlands of the Skagit Valley, I always look back. The branches of the maples and large conifers sway as if waving goodby. “We understand,” they seem to say, “and we’ll be here when you return.”
was an adventure. Only in such a place could they sift the sand for lost treasure and scout the surf for sea serpents. My reasons to walk the stony beaches amongst the driftwood and bull kelp are far more romantic; I go to collect mermaid tears, more commonly known as “sea glass.”
My husband, more than any of us, is drawn to the Salish Sea because he was raised near its rocky shores by fishermen who worked with and against the sea’s fickle moods to scratch out a living. When my children were small, they liked the change of scenery. For them, it
Here is a list of sea glass types along with their color correspondences for spell work:
I find it amazing and truly beautiful that the Sea Mother has taken into her womb the trash of humankind and tumbled it into enchanting treasures. Some ways you may want to use sea glass in your Craft include color magick, in charm bags, engraved as rune stones, in mermaid magick, as decoration for your magickal tools or jewelry, and dream catchers. I have found a couple of pieces that have had a hole through them, and I used them as I would a hag stone. Sea glass can be used in spells for transformation and (especially with the rarer colors) luck. Also used in magick for strength, inner beauty, environmental issues, color magick, mermaid magick, and sorrow.
White (from clear glass): Most sea glass found today will come from broken or discarded clear glass, anything from a soda
I find it amazing and truly beautiful that the Sea Mother has taken into her womb the trash of humankind and tumbled it into enchanting treasures. 10
FEATURE
bottle tossed over-board a ship, to the old, warbled glass windows of a lighthouse-keepers cottage, long taken by the sea. An all-purpose magickal piece that can also be used in magick for divine feminine, mysticism, higher self, and invoking the Sea Mother.
Lime Green: Lime green pieces may have started out as beer or lemon-lime soda bottles, or perhaps as decorative glass pieces that ended up on a garbage barge. Use in spells for new endeavors or opportunities, vitality, clarity, and enthusiasm.
Brown: If you find a piece of brown sea glass, it may have been the remnants of a beer bottle left behind from a beach party, or maybe an early 20th century Lysol bottle or Clorox bleach jug. Use in spells for grounding, earth, introspection, health, strength, focus, and security.
Lavender: Lavender glass is easy to date because it was produced with manganese used to neutralize the natural green tint of raw glass in America until just after WWI. The lovely color is the result of sun exposure. Most common lavender glass began life as a preWWI canning jar. Use in spells for tranquility, mermaid magick, clairvoyance, calm, psychic powers, spirituality, lunar and inner beauty.
Kelly Green: This is a common color for wine bottles and some beer bottles. If you’re lucky, though, you may find a piece with bubbles or an embossed texture that could indicate it came from pharmacy bottles dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Use in magick for prosperity, luck, creativity, courage, success, hope, fertility, earth, harmony, and rebirth.
Pink: These pretty finds were most likely a part of depression era glass collection. This affordable glassware was often used as gifts with purchases at gas stations and movie theaters or as incentive pieces by cereal and laundry companies in the 1930s. Use in magick for harmony, peace, friendship, romance and femininity, loving vibes, sexuality, and compassion.
Seafoam Green: If you find a piece that is this beautiful shade of light green, it more than likely started out as a mid-20th century CocaCola bottle. But it may have also started out as a wine bottle set adrift accidentally by lovers on a romantic midnight sail, or if bubbles are present, something much older. Use in magick for ancestors, calming, ocean magick, lunar magick, divination, and psychic awareness.
Yellow: Another rare and lovely find that may have originated from depression area glass or old glass insulators made with selenium. Use in spells for vitality, healing, friendship, clarity, happiness, creativity, and wisdom. Gray: If you find a piece of gray sea glass, you most likely have found a treasure whose previous life was as a television screen or leaded glass tableware or depression glass. Use in magick for neutrality, invisibility, lunar, psychic awareness.
Cobalt Blue: Approximately one in every 250 pieces are this rich shade of blue. Common as a pharmaceutical container, this jewel-like colored stone may have started as a holder for medicine, poison, Vicks Vapor Rub, Milk of Magnesia, or even perfume. Use in magick for leadership, growth, intellect, peace, truth, happiness, travel, environmental (ocean), and calming.
Black: At first glance, you might mistake a piece of black sea glass for just another beach pebble. But hold it up to the sun- see that deep green translucent glow?
The Magick of Seaglass
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FEATURE
@egiadone
Black sea glass originated as very dark olivegreen bottles or jugs widely used in the mid-19th century for housing ale or beer. Use in magick for banishing, protection, divination, karma, establishing boundaries, absorbing, creation, rebirth, and invisibility.
have come from a canning jar that once lined the pantry of a cottage near the shore, or it could have been an insulator from an early 20th-century electric pole or an old seltzer bottle. Use in spells for inner strength, healing, and protection.
Red: This lovely rarity (about 1 in every 10,000 pieces) could have started its life as a 1950s Schlitz Beer bottle or as decorative ruby glass collected lovingly by a lighthouse keeper. Use in magick for strength, lust, sex, health, ambition, and courage. Teal: These rare beauties are usually from older sources. If you’re lucky enough to find a teal (or turquoise) piece of sea glass, it may
Orange: If you find one of these elusive treasures, it could have originated from a modern automobile’s warning light or a vintage decorative glassware and art glass piece. Orange is believed to be one of the hardest and rarest to acquire because it wasn’t a very popular color for mass production. Use in spells for happiness, confidence, alertness, strength, breaking barriers, and enthusiasm.
The Magick of Seaglass
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FEATURE
Gathering Tears: A Spell for Healing By Monica Crosson Invoke the power of the sea for healing and strength using sea glass. It has been told that when a mermaid fell in love with a sailor, she would swim alongside his ship to protect them. They would become so attached to the men they love that it made Neptune very angry. Because he was a jealous god who insisted that he could be the only one to which the mermaids showed their affection, he banished the poor mermaids to the bottom of the sea where the heartbroken creatures would cry until their tears crystallized and washed ashore as sea glass. This is a very simple spell that uses symbolism and color to promote healing energy. As you do this spell, I suggest you play calming music or sounds of the sea and light a few candles. The water represents the sea, the cauldron where transformation begins. The sea glass represents our trauma, and the color represents healing energy. You will need: Several pieces of sea glass (I suggest lavender, seafoam green, or clear for healing, but any color that resonates with you will do). A clear glass bowl of salted water 1. Take each piece of sea glass and hold it. Rub it around in the palm of your hand and imagine its transformative power releasing itself into you. Look at the tear, and as you do this- do not think about what “could have been.” Do not ask, “why me?” This is about accepting what has occurred in one’s life, letting go of pain, and encouraging the healing process to begin. 2. Now drop the sea glass pieces, one at a time, into the water, and as you do so, focus on the release of emotion as you give your sorrows back to the sea to transform and reshape trauma into healing. Goddess, I release to you my sorrow (say as you drop the first piece) Take from me my despair (Say as you drop the second piece) My hurt (Say while dropping the third piece - continue adding emotions until you run out of pieces) My anger My pain 3. When you have finished dropping all of your pieces into the water, focus on the healing. Imagine the water washing away your anxiety. 4. When you are done, thank the Mother Goddess in your own way. 5. Leave the sea glass in the water for a full moon cycle, and then gently pour the water back in the earth. 13
READING DIFFICULT TAROT CARDS By Meg Jones Wall
Simple tips and tricks for crafting a reading that will address real issues, assist with working through more challenging cards with courage and authenticity, and help accept the tough love that tarot is so good at dishing out.
Begin by reminding yourself that there’s no time limit to interpreting a reading. Sometimes the wisdom of the cards is obvious, and we can immediately see where a reading is pointing us and what we need to do next. But other times, the cards may feel obtuse, requiring more energy and effort for us to untangle meanings or insights. There’s nothing wrong with leaving your reading out for a few days or even a few weeks, with taking a photo and writing about the reading each day, with working through the cards slowly and methodically. No matter how long you’ve been working with the tarot, there will always be readings that challenge us, that push us to expand our understanding of certain cards. Take your time and be patient with yourself.
Often the tarot readings that scare us the most are the ones that demand the most from us. Tarot is in a unique position to show us authentic and powerful truths, to reveal challenging insights and new perspectives in a way that pushes us to grow and understand. And while some days it may feel like the cards are being overly harsh, the reality is that tarot is not afraid to give us sincere and necessary answers; but it’s up to us to be brave enough to take them in and apply them. Tarot doesn’t include difficult cards simply to scare us or throw us off our game. Those more challenging cards are present because they are an important element of the human experience, part of moving through the world with authenticity and awareness. Every single day is not love and light, bursting with sparkles and rainbows and sunshine. And these days, with a global pandemic, national uprising, climate change, poverty, and so much violence that many have become numb to it, we cannot ignore the darker, more complex parts of tarot. If you do a reading and find yourself struggling to take everything in, feel yourself shutting down, or retreating from the hard truths that you see before you, there are a few steps that you can take to get the most out of these readings. And by making a point of listening to the wisdom in the cards, you can read from a place of clarity and humility, deepening your practice and finding the answers you need to grow.
Remember and reflect on your question. If you were using a specific spread, look carefully at each card’s placement, at the positioning, at the precise angle that this reading is coming from. If you were working without a spread, reflect on what you requested from the cards, on what you were seeking. Write your question down if you need to, and consider it carefully. How honest were you with your desire? Were you trying to ask for one thing but really hoping for something else? What emotion or intention did you bring to the cards? Were you pushing for a specific outcome? Is the answer that you received completely unexpected, or is there a part of you that recognizes truth in this reading? 14
8th House Tarot deck
that it may have introduced. What wisdom does this card generally provide? How is it answering your specific needs in this reading? What about your situation is it addressing or expanding? Then, dig a little deeper. What is your personal relationship with this card? Is it one you work with often, or is it one that you avoid, one that makes you nervous or angry or upset? What is it about this card that makes you uncomfortable, and how does that discomfort offer lessons for your current situation or challenge?
Look at your reading as a whole. Consider all of the cards you pulled, and the ways that they intersect. What themes emerge? Are there commonalities in suit, number, energy, wisdom? Are there multiple cards with similar advice or messages, or are the cards highlighting different aspects of your question? What overall sensation do you feel within yourself when you look at all of these cards together? What stands out? Start with the card that’s causing you the most stress. While I typically suggest reading spreads in the order that the cards were drawn, when a particular card is causing a strong reaction, it can be helpful to start there. Tackle your most difficult card first, giving yourself space to explore the card’s different meanings, the ways that it may have answered your question, or the new insights
Go through each individual card and position. Now that you’ve worked with the hardest card, go through your reading in order, spending time with each card and honoring its position in the spread. Don’t rush this process! It may be helpful to do this as a written exercise, recording each card and
Reading Difficult Tarot Cards 15
hard questions. Consider if the themes that came up in this reading are ones that you’ve seen before recently, are repeating ideas or are brand new insights. What patterns have you had in your readings lately? How does this reading align with them? Where are the cards trying to lead you, and what exactly are you resisting?
its position along with specific responses and emotional reactions. Let your intuition speak, honoring whatever feelings, thoughts, desires, or physical sensations come forward. What answers have you received from your reading? What are the cards encouraging? Pay attention to practical advice. Even the darkest, most difficult cards in the tarot offer suggestions for how to deal with the challenges they highlight. The nine of swords may feel overwhelming in its terror and pain and loneliness, but its message is clear: Ask for help. Don’t go it alone. The five of cups is powerful in its grief, and gives us space to feel what we need to feel, to not rush our own healing — but it also reminds us that all is not lost, that there are others that care for us, opportunities for connection that we may be overlooking. Even the hardest major arcana archetypes like the Tower or Death or the Devil see us where we are, and offer practical wisdom on how we can move through difficult times. What solutions are the cards offering? What are your next steps?
Above all, remember that fear does not mean that we are weak. If a reading is scaring you, it’s likely that the cards have hit on something that is profoundly true, something that you desperately need to reckon with. It’s not always comfortable, this work — it can challenge us in impossible ways, force us to see truths or facts or insights that we’ve been working overtime to hide from. But in listening to the cards in an authentic way, in being willing to take the time to process the practical wisdom and advice that tarot can offer, we can make space for real evolution, for necessary change. If your cards are hitting a nerve, don’t rush the process of understanding why.
Take space to breathe and process. You may find it useful to take time after a difficult reading to do a free write or record yourself speaking freely, giving yourself room to explore your own reactions and takeaways. Do you know why you responded the way that you did, or is it still a mystery? Did the cards provide answers that feel unfair or impossible, or are you simply frustrated about the truths they exposed? Sit with that for a time, and consider if you’re disappointed, confused, sad, or relieved, as well as what you can learn from those reactions. What answers were you expecting? Why did you bring this question to the cards in the first place? What were you hoping to discover, and how did this reading push you in another direction? The cards may be trying to shake you up intentionally, urging you to ask yourself the
For more resources on difficult or scary tarot cards, check out Cassandra Snow’s Hard Cards: A Mini Tarot Workbook, Theresa Reed and Shaheen Miro’s Tarot for Troubled Times, and Siobhan Rene’s Light and Shadow series for Little Red Tarot.
Above all, remember that fear does not mean that we are weak. If a reading is scaring you, it’s likely that the cards have hit on something that is profoundly true, something that you desperately need to reckon with.
”
Reading Difficult Tarot Cards 16
Meg Jones Wall (she/her) is a queer photographer, writer, and tarot reader based in NYC. She is a columnist and contributor at Autostraddle, shares daily card studies and original tarot spreads as 3am.tarot on Instagram, and recently launched a tarot newsletter, devils & fools. She is currently working on her first book, and is available for personal readings and writing opportunities through her website. 17
8th House Tarot deck
REVIEW
Sparkling Water Witchery: Dram Apothecary Review By Sarah Justice
I
don’t cook as much as some kitchen goddesses do, but I do enjoy working with herbs and plants in a culinary yet magickal sense. Kitchen witchery is a practical, busy witch’s best friend; we can eat and drink our spells!
So when I stumbled upon Dram Apothecary’s sparkling waters, the kitchen witch (and sparkling water addict) in me squealed. I am all about incorporating water magick and kitchen witchery together, and there’s no simpler way than ingesting water for cleansing, calming, and purification. I tried out the Lemongrass, Gingergrass, and Beauty Bubbles sparkling waters, each of which are fitting for a person with a palate for more bitter flavorings, but I imagine their other drinks, like citrus and blossom, lavender and lemon balm, might lend to a different palate preference. The tastes in each are authentic and present; there is no “flavoring” taste, which speaks to Dram’s authenticity--their blends are mindfully crafted by the company themselves, not outsourced. The flavor is an interesting dance of both sparkle and flavor; it’s slight, yet the flavor is detectable, not “essenced.” This isn’t your run-of-the-mill ginger ale or lemon sparkles; they’re earthy, authentic flavors boosted by the sparkle. What may lure most to Dram is their CBD inclusion in some of their sparkling waters (mine included CBD). Many CBD oils and
pills have an unpleasant aftertaste; even the best “mocha”-flavored oil can’t mask the flavor (I tried). While I can’t speak for Dram’s other CBD products, like their drops, these sparkling waters mask a decent amount of CBD, a not-unusual dose of 25 mg in each can, effectively. This impressed me. What’s also great is the insert slip that shares how to use the sparkling waters in cocktails, including possible alcoholic pairings and drink recipes. These are ideal for a pre-ritual or post-ritual drink to add correspondences. Or, if you enjoy feasting or drinking at sabbat, these drinks are ready for an herbal cocktail. However, the benefit of the sparkling waters in themselves is that the kitchen witch can get an edible, quick ritual in, complete with herbal correspondences. For instance, you could pour a glass of sparkling Gingergrass or Lemongrass water, stir three times, provide a quick incantation and, instantly, a pure money spell (a spell through which financial gain isn’t coming from a negative source; the purity or “cleansed” aspect is coming from the water) is performed. The CBD sparkling waters contain additional herbs as part of their adaptogenic blend (blends that help your body handle stress), and so these herbs can also contribute to your herbal correspondence list.
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REVIEW Herbs like moringa, rose, and hibiscus, for instance, are included in the Beauty Bubbles sparkling water, which adds appropriate herbal correspondences to any beauty or self-love spell. Other sparkling waters they offer aren’t adaptogenic or contain CBD, but they are herbal, still lending the ability for herbal correspondence. One concern may be the company’s price tag. Considering your typical sparkling water, some may have trouble justifying the price (ranging from $22 for a 12pack to $49 per 12-pack depending on CBD and adaptogenic inclusions). It is a hefty tag; however, when considering how much CBD oil costs on its own for that daily milligram count, the amount of CBD included can help justify the price to a kitchen witch or water witch who has the money in the budget. Overall, the Dram experience is a good experience; the taste is spot-on for herbal drink lovers, the benefits are spot-on for those dealing with stress, and the possibilities are abundant for the kitchen witch or water witch wanting quickness or a change in their rituals. For those who can or want to splurge, I completely recommend the waters.
Dram Summer Cocktail: Sparkling Water Witchery This spell is to promote positivity, perfect for the upcoming harvests. As it’s based in water magick and kitchen witchery, the spell lends itself to promoting positive emotion. Please note: Our version may use Dram’s sparkling water, but this recipe is not one of Dram’s cocktail recipe suggestions. This drink is rooted in water witchcraft and was crafted for the Witchology reader. You’ll Need: 1 12 oz. can Dram Lemongrass Sparkling Water (substitute a lemon sparkling water if desired) 1 shot Plume and Petal Peach Wave (infused vodka) 1 tsp. hyssop or lemon balm (a few drops of an herbal tincture of either could replace the tsp). 1. Combine the two into a preferred glass. 2. Infuse into the mixture the hyssop or lemon balm. Stir in deosil, stating, “I remove the ink from my feeling’s flow; with the ebb of tide, the blot ceases to grow. In its place, pure and clean, are positive feelings, water pristine.” 3. Strain the drink if necessary and enjoy. Sparkling Water Witchery: Dram Apothecary Review 19
The Tiny Spellbook:
Working With Mosses By Sarah Justice
When emotional energy is strong, I go to the water. Here, we have the springs in Glen Helen, complete with beautiful rust-toned water paths, bumbling little streams, and small waterfalls. Glen Helen is shut down due to COVID, so accessing the water for its healing properties isn’t possible anymore. Because Glen Helen is the epicenter of the very spiritual town of Yellow Springs, many would place their feet in the cold water as it tumbles past, offering the cleanse that only a shiver from icey running water can do. A simple water magick ritual. When we can’t access our favorite water source for elemental magick, we can incorporate plants that are intimately acquainted with the water element, like mosses. Mosses also serve as a connection to the soil, combining the element of emotion-water-- with the stability element of earth. This makes it perfect for spellwork aiming to ease or ground emotions in reality or objectivity, or to find some stability and strength when feeling negative emotions.Â
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What’s wonderful about moss is also its primal nature; it's existed for millions of years, essentially unchanged or altered in composition, which connects us to antiquity, the elements and evolutionary power in a very true, biological sense. There are a variety of mosses to work with. However, many, like club, Irish or Spanish mosses, are used mostly for protection. The moss can add protection during water magic rituals when the doorway is open for spiritual or deity communication, or it can symbolize protection of emotion from outside influence. Indeed, mosses help maintain the moisture needed for many plants to thrive; in essence, they are the soil’s protector from outside influence. Moss balls, or Morimo balls, which are completely submerged in water, are great for purification of negative emotion or finding pure, true emotion amid turmoil and fogginess, as they help purify the water around them. We can also think symbolically when plucking moss; some reach into the air, like polytrichales, which can symbolize courage, strength, or positivity. Lichens are likened (pun intended) to mosses, but when wild harvesting moss and mosslike plants, like lichen, be careful; lichen, unlike moss, is part fungus and part algae or bacteria. Some are poisonous, namely the yellow varieties, and some can cause skin irritation. However, the safer versions of lichen are known for antibiotic and detoxifying properties, and they’re a symbol of the collaborative, “working together” nature of organisms, so they can be used symbolically for this purpose. For lichen, it may be best to let the craft stores do the picking; reindeer lichen (often called reindeer moss) is a popular choice of “water”-themed decor and element connection right beside Spanish moss; craft stores are replete with both so that you don’t have to worry. Wild-harvesting, some witches would argue, is ideal, since much can go into the processing of moss and lichen, like dying. While dying can help you with color correspondences, the hand-cultivated nature of gathering organic material allows you to connect to the elements that you wish to communicate with for spellwork. When possible, keep the moss alive as a symbol of the spell’s continual work; mosses like humid climates and can dry out very easily. Keep them in terraria and spritz with water, keeping the environment moist. They do enjoy bright indirect light, contrary to what many think, so a north or south window sill is perfect. Transplanting mosses is tricky, and not a task that should be completed without offerings or thanks to the earth. After all, it’s quite literally the earth’s blanket. But snagging a little for some emotional grounding magick isn’t so bad; I think Mother Earth would want us to feel better.
@sonicbox
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@Unholy Vault Designs
Using Wells to Hedge-Ride By Willow of The Flying Hedge
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cross Europe, especially in the UK, there are several sacred wells and natural springs riddled with folklore. While different in location and water type, it was generally believed that these sources of water were imbued with healing properties that could cure just about any ailment. Many of these wells were first revered by the Celts and later by the Romans, who enhanced many well practices across the continent by encouraging the practices and adding their own twist. The Roman philosopher Seneca declared, "Where a spring rises or a water flows there ought we to build altars and offer sacrifices." The Romans took this very seriously, building a series of shrines across the continent. When the Christians arrived, they adopted these same practices, turning the sacred wells into holy places with holy water named after saints. As a hedgewitch, however, I find that I am most drawn to the folklore surrounding wells as being portals to the Otherworld.
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Water has often been viewed as a liminal space, a place between our realm and that of the spirits. Wells, in particular, have been revered for their connection with the Otherworld as a portal. One of my favorite stories that hint to this is The Horned Women. In this Celtic folktale, a wealthy woman's home is overrun by 12 horned witches who set to the task of spinning wool in her home. The woman, upon seeing the witches, tries to wake her family but finds she cannot move or speak because of the witches’ spell. The horned witches then asked the woman to make them a cake. When the woman couldn’t find a vessel to use to gather water, the witches instruct her to use a sieve, a fool’s errand because of a sieve’s mesh bottom. She walks to the well and, try as she might, she cannot fill the sieve with water; she falls to the ground weeping. A voice from the well tells her not to despair, that she should fill the sieve with yellow clay and moss so she can gather the water, and when she returns home, to tell the witches that "The mountain of the Fenian women and the sky over it is all on fire." She thanks the well and does as she was told. Upon hearing the news, the witches cry out in anguish and flee. The well again speaks to the woman and explains how she can safeguard her house from the witches. One of the well’s spells used water; the well instructed the woman to sprinkle the front door’s threshold with the water she bathed her children’s feet in. Not long after, the witches return, demanding entry, but the spells hold and they are not allowed to enter the woman’s home. In a fit of rage, having lost what they believed to be an easy meal, they flee into the night, cursing the well for cursing them. The voice in the well, and the story itself, suggests that spirits and humans can communicate through water, that they can cross between realms at such locations and that it may be possible for humans to do so as well. In modern hedgecraft, wells can be used to help you travel to the Otherworld by acting as your beginning location when you hedge-ride. Hedge-riding is the act of crossing the veil into the Otherworld by reaching an altered state of consciousness, similar to Shamanic journeying or spiritworking. The first step in hedge-riding is to visualize a physical starting point. I personally start on the last garden step of the house I grew up in using Earth as my method of travel, but many witches may find it easier to travel via water to the Otherworld, especially through the use of a well. This well acts as a gate through which you can travel to and from the Otherworld with ease. To begin, find a comfortable place to lay or sit. Close your eyes and visualize yourself standing next to a well. Slowly climb over the well wall and submerge yourself in its cool waters. Swim deep into the darkness, continuing until you reach a light at the end of the tunnel. You may find yourself about to give up or run out of air before you finally break the surface on the other side. If you struggle to connect with the well image, try laying in a bath while you do so. The warm waters will relax your body and sweating is a known method for reaching an altered state of consciousness. Once you have reached the other side, you can ask for assistance from spirits or deities or simply walk the hedge and note what you see. But bee sure to travel back the same way you came so you can return safely to your body. Safety first! This travel is not for entertainment; contact with spirits and deities means other entities can follow you back or interrupt your journey. Journeys like this are also intermediate work; witches should be well equipped with the basics of grounding and guarding before venturing into hedge-riding. Using Wells to Hedge-Ride
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ASTROLOGY
July 2020: A Fierce Love
By Vivacia Ahwen
Sweet July, warm July! Month when mosses near the stream, Soft green mosses thick and shy, Are a rapture and a dream. Summer Queen! whose foot the fern Fades beneath while chestnuts burn; I welcome thee with thy fierce love, Gloom below and gleam above. ~~ George Meredith’s “July” from Poems, Written In Early Youth (1851)
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July 1: Sun (Cancer) sextile Uranus (Taurus) and Saturn retrograde in Capricorn. It’s time to slow way, way down. The past few weeks you’ve been catching up with work, whether it’s been streamlining your responsibilities so you can work from home, “rebranding” yourself, trying to stay on top of childcare or homeschooling, and keeping your chin above water to stay strong —and sane during— these turbulent times. Time to take a deep breath, and move into the new phase as the country reopens. While you can relax into the new changes regarding professional and personal performance, remain vigilant about family health. Saturn is the taskmaster of keeping your nose to the grindstone, but since he’s going retrograde into Capricorn it’s time to cut yourself a little slack. Capricorn’s the “worker bee” of the Zodiac, so trust that your own instincts will keep you focused and heading in the right direction. Success comes easily if you let go of hypervigilance, learning to think outside the box.
reetings and Salutations, fellow Earthlings. What a time to be alive! I’d be remiss not to address the chaotic state of the planet as a whole, and the States in particular. Here’s an excerpt from the April astrology column, and the same planetary influences hold us under their cosmic spell. April 25: Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. We’ve had more than enough of the status quo. Authority figures are called to the carpet and hidden agendas are exposed. The cosmos calls upon the downtrodden to rise and lead, while those who exploited them are held to task. Uprising happens on both local and national levels. Don’t give in to paranoia or fear, trust in the process. Release what holds you back. It’s time to re-choreograph the dance of life. Mercury square Pluto intensifies interaction and mental exploration. Be direct when expressing your needs, yet diplomatic. Dictatorship has had its day in the sun. Since late April, the people have been fighting for health, justice, and equality at an unprecedented scale. Pluto will go direct on October 4th, but between now and then our explosive social and political environment will continue to intensify. Change is happening fast. Protests work. Keep fighting the good fight.
July 5: Full Moon in Capricorn, lunar eclipse. Big projects are coming to a close. All that you have undertaken over the past few months is bearing fruit, or you are feeling more clear about how the next phases will go in order to achieve a satisfying conclusion. As with last month’s lunar eclipse, change is in the air, all for the better. Though any major change brings struggle, with the planets helping do the work, you approach change in a clear-headed manner. In romance, expect a question to be answered, secrets revealed, and positive restructuring. Let go of past grudges in order to allow your love connection to intensify.
If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If an egg is broken by an inside force, life begins. Things always begin from inside. Be strong. Be brave. Be bold. 24
ASTROLOGY
July 8: Mercury (Cancer) sextile Uranus (Taurus). The synastry of Cancer and Taurus is all about harmony of mind and creativity with your love interest, closest friends, or work partner. The openmindedness you’ve been fine-tuning over the past week pays off. You’re intellectually inspired, and creative flow –your new comfort zone-- motivates you. The status quo continues to be challenged with original approaches. Expect a respite from a puzzling conundrum you’ve struggled with, as the planetary aspects are not only harmonious, but bring on unexpected opportunities.
July 14: Sun (Cancer) opposite Jupiter (Capricorn). You continue to pursue self-improvement under this planetary aspect and have to fight the tendency to be “Little Mr., Ms., or Mx. Fix-It” for your loved ones. Remember that you are a resource, not a the source. While this configuration lends itself to nudging someone in the right direction, try not to push them. Bring the focus back to yourself so that you may best be of service to others. Make Jupiter work for you: While acknowledging that luck is on your side, beware of the tendency toward blind optimism. People do what they do. You do you.
July 12: Mercury direct in Cancer. Mercury goes direct today, so you can let go of that breath you were holding. Communication returns to some semblance of normal, particularly in the domestic front with family-friendly Cancer in the picture. Though fewer mechanical and technological fails are on the menu, continue to keep your eye on the “CHECK ENGINE” light on your car, the cell phone charged, and going over those outgoing DMs with a fine-toothed comb while we’re still in the Mercury Retro shadow for the next couple days. Enjoy a picnic in the park with loved ones, or, if that’s not a possibility, why not spread out a tablecloth on the living room floor and serve up summery snacks with icy cold beverages? Time to reconnect with loved ones, and make one another feel extra-special.
July 15: Sun (Cancer) opposite Pluto (Capricorn). The Sun/Pluto aspect could cause an internal struggle with how to express your needs and desires in a safe manner. Be selective in whom you choose to confide. Try to cut yourself some slack, as the high standards of Pluto opposite Capricorn are nearly impossible to reach. If you find yourself frustrated with your progress, avoid self-destructive behaviors; think in terms of reward rather than punishment. Remember, “Po-body’s nerfect!” Lean into the transformative process. Revel in your uniqueness, celebrate your individuality, and don’t give in to any over-apologetic tendencies. Embrace change. July 20: New Moon in Cancer AND July 20: Sun (Cancer) opposite Saturn (Capricorn). Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Turn and face the strange new changes which have surprised you over the past several weeks in general, the last few in particular. Is your role changing? Do you find yourself accepting new responsibilities and roles at which you never saw yourself succeeding? Trust that you have the wear-with-all to take on new challenges, and view each surprise as an adventure or an opportunity. You find your heart is opening in a way you’d never expected. Be brave. You are up for this, and will not only surprise yourself with your new capabilities, but family and friends wonder “Who is this brave new person? Something is different.” Let them wonder.
July 12: Sun (Cancer) trine Neptune (Pisces). Cancer continues to work its domestic magic, and now with Pisces in the mix, you find yourself ready to dream. If you could be anywhere a year from now, where would you be? With whom would you surround yourself ? What new skills, habits, or hobbies would you like to incorporate into your life? This is an ideal time to change around the furniture, give your home a fresh protection ritual, and get rid of items that no longer serve you. Sage is always the best for safety smudging, and opium incense will awaken your subconscious intuition. Write down your dreams.
July 2020: A Fierce Love 25
ASTROLOGY July 31 Lughnasadh (Lammas) Eve. Prepare yourself for tomorrow’s witchy holiday. While not a sabbat, Lammas is its own kind of special, once known to the Anglo-Saxons as “LoafMass.” Get ready to celebrate by incorporating a little kitchen magick into the evening. Did you join the “bread-making movement” during lockdown? No? How about baking up some tasty quickbread? Easy Quick Bread Recipes Makes for a mighty tasty breakfast, perhaps with a steaming mug of strawberry tea.
July 22: Mercury (Cancer) sextile Uranus (Taurus). Whether you’re single or coupled up, it’s a day for romance. Expect to click with interesting and open-minded folks you encounter, whether online or IRL. Wear something that expresses your uniqueness and creativity. July 23: Sun enters Leo. Today is going to be a blast. Have fun in the sun or feel no pain in the rain. You’re all about play today, so it may be difficult to focus on the tasks at hand, but you’ll make up for it in spades in the evening. Express yourself. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables, and buy locally if you can. Healthy reminder: While you’re out and about, wear your mask, wash your hands, and don’t touch your face!
Tonight’s the night to prepare a couple of fresh loaves, one for your home and one to share, whether it be to surprise a shut-in neighbor, break with friends and family, or just feed the fairies! Tomorrow you can break off a small piece to leave at the root of a tree, preferably nearby a “fairy ring” of toadstools, don’t touch them, or at the root of a special tree.
July 27: Jupiter (Capricorn) sextile Neptune (Pisces), Mercury (Cancer) square Mars (Aries), and Venus (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces). So many choices, so little time. The planets are busy today, and so are you. Luckily, you’ve got the power of Mars, the diligence of Capricorn, the dreaminess of Neptune, the flexibility of Mercury, and the charm of Venus in your corner. Be selective in choosing confidants today; there’s some behind-the-scenes whispering you don’t want any part of. Go to bed early if you can. It’s been a long day.
Feed Mother Earth and her beloved creatures, and give thanks. Bright blessings to you, and cheers to an August full of sunshine, joy, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Be proud of your newfound strength.
July 30: Mercury (Cancer) opposite Jupiter (Capricorn) and Mercury (Cancer) trine Neptune (Pisces). Today you find yourself full of new ideas and perspectives, so much so that you’ll have a hard time remembering it all. Carry a small notebook to scribble down plans, plots, and theories which intrigue you. Your energy has been recharged, and you’re filled with ambition. Both intuitive and rational thinking are favored now; you’re channeling from a higher source. Be open to breaking routine today and seeing what beautiful secrets you stumble upon. Words of the day: Fantasy, dream, vision.
July 2020: A Fierce Love 26
July Astrology Correspondences Tarot: Judgment Elements: Fire Deities: Mars, Ceres, Sol, Dikaiosyne Stones: Ruby, garnet, amber Plant Magick: Cherries, dill, hyssop, sage, morning glory, lavender, mugwort Found Treasures: Piece of mirror, fossilized pebble, twine, a small bone Colors: Red, gold, mauve Affirmation: I think things out. I catch what I can. I take what comes.
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Scrying With Water By Gillian Pegg
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he ancient practice of scrying allows a seer to gaze into a reflection and glimpse future visions.
water and watch the ripples and ebbs, especially if you are before a body of water with a current or movement. Simply watch and try to see through the surface, to what lies hidden, swirling below in the deep depth.
For modern witches, scrying may be intimidating or seem like a practice only available for those with very advanced magick. But truly, all it takes is a bit of patience and a willingness to see. As a form of water divination, scrying has been around for centuries, from village wise women to Nostradamus.
If you are using a vessel of water, add drops of essential oils like peppermint and rosemary to clear and uplift the mind. Add fresh herbs like cloves to open awareness to the uncanny, and mugwort to help with visions.
Of course, an enchanted cave or forest pool is not necessarily required for modern scrying. Moonlight or flickering candles always add some ambiance and power, but even a simple bowl of water and a moment of quiet will do in a pinch. As with all magick, your intention is key.
This month, use the power of the full moon on the fourth to deepen your connection and enhance your magick. Pick your herbs under the full moon, use moon water, and do your scrying under the stars or by candlelight to make slipping into your visions that much easier.
To start, meditate, and set your intentions. Calm yourself down, breathe deep, and be at peace. Listen to music that relaxes you and get comfortable before your vessel of water. Remember, this may take some time. Scrying does not truly begin until you are feeling entirely zen and connected. Make sure your gaze is soft, and your eyes are not under any strain. Watch the
Though it takes patience, scrying is an enchanting magick well worth practicing.
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July’s Moon is the Wort,
Hay, Thunder, Blessing, Buck, or Oak Moon; perfect for spells relating to divination, dreamwork, and psychic abilities
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Honoring the Ancient:
Paying Homage to Tiamat, Primordial Goddess of the Salt and Sea By Karla Freeling
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he Dark Goddess Tiamat is the embodiment of the power of ocean waters; Tiamat is a Babylonian goddess of the salt and sea, and the feminine creator of the cosmos through her bond with Absu, the freshwater god. There are some accounts of Tiamat possessing the form of a great dragon. Priests of the old gods recorded her story using one of the earliest forms of the written word. The Babylonian creation story is recorded on the Enuma Elish, also known as “The Seven Tablets of Creation.” Written in ancient cuneiform script, these clay tablets are said to tell the story of Mesopotamian creation in their 1,000 cumulative lines of text, each tablet containing between 115 and 170 lines.
Tiamat’s story began long before the first tablet was ever shaped from the riverbed. As most of us know, nearly every culture and civilization has a story of creation, an explanation for the world’s presence. One version of the Babylonian epic of
creation tells us that at one point, the heavens and the earth separated, revealing only the primordial beings Absu and Tiamat. The other version depicts Tiamat as the all-powerful force of chaos, the void state where nothing is or isn’t. As the embodiment of chaos, she is the personification of creativity and fertility in Assyro-Babylonian traditions. Like Lilith, she is known to assist women in need. She helps women with resiliency and in freedom of expression. Her influence can take many forms: History, fluidity, spirituality, fertility, birth, and creativity. Her symbols are those of dragons and saltwater, as many consider her the Mother of Dragons. To call upon Tiamat’s creative powers and arrange an altar to honor her, I use the colors white, blue, and green. These colors represent the briny waters of creation and are associated with depth, stability, growth, balance, and new beginnings. I make flower arrangements
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out of preserved or dried flowers (blue roses are my favorite), and I use labradorite and quartz crystals for spirituality and programmability. Labradorite can awaken one’s mental and intuitive abilities such as clairvoyance, telepathy, astral travel, prophecy, psychic reading, past-life recall, and communication with higher guides and spirits. Dragon’s Blood incense is also a must because of the dragon symbolism associated with her. A personal preference of mine is to use teal druzzies and small charms to bring a little sparkle to my altar. I even sometimes create a small token to carry with me in order to channel my altar’s energy wherever I go. I use this altar as a meditation space, and during Summer months, I pray to her whenever I am going through mental or physical difficulties.
INTERVIEW
Interview with Fairy and Witch Fashion Designer,
Sumi Mizuno
Can you tell us about the beautiful cover photo? It was made on the bank of the Vistula river. We came across this beautiful piece of wood that was thrown out by the river. We decided that it was a great spot for our photoshoot. It was quite windy that day, so the dress fluttered a lot, which made it an awesome effect. The dress I wore is one of my creations--and it's now for sale. Photos were taken by Lurker's Photo Corner. What do you create and what inspires you? I am a fashion designer, makeup artist, and an alternative model. I also have been making dreadlocks. But mostly, I create fantasy and fairy-themed clothing and makeup to bring magick into the world.
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INTERVIEW How can our readers connect with you? Connect with me at my shop or on my Instagrams! Shop: Sumimizunocrafts.bigcartel.com Modeling IG: Instagram.com/stories/ sumi_mizuno Clothing IG: Instagram.com/sumi.mizuno.crafts Photographer IG: Instagram.com/ lurkers.photo.corner
How did you begin your journey down this path? I always was quite artistic and crafty, and I always wanted to have my own business. Since I love alternative and fantasy-inspired clothing, I started to create my own ones and, in a short time, began to sell it as well. There is still a lot ahead of me, and I still have a lot to learn. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know about you?
I create fantasy and fairy-themed clothing and makeup to bring magick into the world.
I love being connected to nature, and living in a city can be hard sometimes, so I am trying my best to show nature-inspired themes throughout my work. It gives me a lot of pleasure and helps magic blossom within my studio.
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How To Use Celestite In Water Intention Setting By Katiee McKinstry
Ah, sweet summer. We have entered the warmer, calmer, and happier days. However, with warmth comes HEAT and the need to cool ourselves down. Summer is a wonderful time of year to cast spells and meditate with cooling and cleansing water and truly connect with the Moon and her tides. Thus, celestite and its incredible blue aura is an excellent crystal to incorporate into your manifestations.
provide you with clarity. If you feel that you struggle to articulate what it is you want, celestite can give you the confidence to speak up and find your power. Celestite reminds us to be calm and release negative energy. You can place your celestite anywhere in your home. However, celestite’s energy will activate best when placed where you meditate or pray. The crystal’s calming energy will help you release negativity and bring yourself inward to find what you seek. With celestite, you can tune into serenity.
Blue celestite is a mineral formed from sulfate that brings the calming ocean and airy vibes. The name celestite is actually derived from the Latin word for heaven and brings about inner peace to those who use it. Celestite’s blue and gray tones often remind us of cooling water and provide cleansing energy to those who need it. Just like our water, celestite can flow with our Moon and the tides.
While celestite is a beautiful reminder of cleansing waters, never cleanse it with water. Water can be toxic to the crystal. Instead, take your own cup of water and hold celestite above it. Repeat your intentions and listen to your inner voice. Use celestite to cleanse your water, and take a refreshing sip, feeling the water rush through your entire being.
If you feel like your inner voice is always struggling with you, celestite will help
Enjoy the Water Celestite Intention Setting Spell on the next page.
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@FotoHelin
Water Celestite Intention Setting Spell By Katiee McKinstry By combining celestite and water you are blessing and empowering the intentions you set while also cleansing your mind and soul. You’ll need: Glass or bottle of water Blue celestite Instructions: 1. Hold the glass of water between your hands while the celestite sits close by. 2. Close your eyes, and think of your intentions. What do you want to manifest? What do you want your life to look like? Maybe you're thinking of a single word, such as "abundance." 3. Now look into your water and think deeply about your intention. 4. Set the water down and pick up the celestite. Hold the celestite over the water while focusing on your intentions. 5. Drink the water and allow yourself to place trust that the universe is helping you manifest your desires. Another version of this spell uses a pen, paper, and tape: 1. Write down your intentions or what you'd like to manifest on the paper. If you see financial abundance, write that down. Self-confidence? Write that too. 2. Place your celestite over the paper and close your eyes. Meditate on those intentions. 3. After your meditation, tape those intentions to your water bottle. 4. Throughout the day, as you drink your water, you will be honing into those intentions and casting the spell to manifest.
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Excerpt from The Complete Book of Moon Spells, by Michael Herkes, published by Rockridge Press. Copyright © 2020 by Callisto Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Wild Goddess Magick An Online Witchology Publication for Modern Witches and Pagans
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Bath bombs are a simple, yet powerful way to infuse your bath with potent magical energies.
Visit @witchologymag for a Bath Bomb Giveaway starting July 3rd!
Did you know: Bathing before a ritual cleanses the mind, body, and soul. It allows us to meditate and wash away the mundane. We can unburden our bodies, letting our muscles relax in hot water. Not to mention, the element of water is a strong tool to amplify spellcasting.
Giveaway
And each bath bomb can be tailored to your spell’s intentions or to the moon phase and Zodiac. Essential oils, salts, dyes for color correspondences, and even glitter can all be implemented for a magical soak. An entire ritual can be performed while in the bath, or even submerged.
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“These handmade bath bombs are made with Epsom salts, essential oils, coconut oil, natural dyes, and herbs right from my garden!” - Quinn K Dyer 43
BATH MAGICK 101 By Severina Sosa
Self-care is an important part of any Pagan taking care of themselves, both physically and spiritually. With bath magick, you can do both at the same time! Bath spells and rituals can be potent, making use of one of our most essential elements; water. For a simple bath spell, fill your bathtub up with warm water about a third of the way. Stand in front of the tub and look into the water, infusing it with whatever your intentions may be (love, success, money, etc.). Some people choose to add herbs that coincide with their intention as well, but this is up to you. Once you feel like the water is full of your intention, get into the tub and wash, feeling your body combining with the water's power.
Alternatively, baths can be used to cleanse instead of empower. To perform a bathtub cleansing, start by setting the mood. Light candles, make sure you have privacy, etc. It's best to create your own herbal sachet before performing this ritual as well, which you will hang on the faucet as the bath runs. Herbs appropriate for a cleansing ritual include rose, chamomile, sage, lavender, or sandalwood, but feel free to use any that feel appropriate to you. Run the water and fill the tub. If you plan on using small leaves and flowers, you might want to put them in a bag so they don’t clog the drain. Once the tub is full, get in, and clear your mind. Focus on the sensations happening in your body, and let all of
the thoughts go that try to enter. Let the warmth of the bath envelop you. Once you are calm and open, feel all of the negativity leaving your body and entering the bathwater. This may take some time. Picture it flowing out of you and, when you feel like it is all gone, stand up and drain the bathtub, watching all of your negativity literally flowing down the drain. Baths can be extremely powerful if used correctly, both for imbibing yourself with positive energy or removing negative energy. Most importantly, baths are good for you to remember to relax and go with the flow. In the stressful world that we live in, it's a great reminder to first take care of yourself.
Bath spells and rituals can be potent, making use of one of our most essential elements: water.
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@FotoHelin
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REVIEW
Elevating your Elemental Practice:
A Review of Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon By Sarah Justice
One of the top sources for water magic is Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon, which takes us on a journey through the legends and folk magick of different types of water witchcraft. I’d even say it’s part of the elemental magick canon; I notice that a lot of content on water witchcraft stems from Avalon’s writings. And this is for good reason; the book is an in-depth study on the subject. “In-depth” is a term often abused in book reviews, but I promise I don’t use it lightly. Water Witchcraft definitely earns the title; for those who love to have tales interweaved with history, how-to and terminology, this book combines a hefty amount of all four for witches of all water types, be they river, lake, sea, marsh, well witches and more. Indeed, any witch who enjoys even a tablespoon of water magick will relate to at least one type, given that water types and spirits vary just like human emotions do. Some days, we too, are aggressive storms or calm, tumbling brooks, and our witchcraft usually matches.
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REVIEW when we feel it’s not yet time to take from the water what we want.
This certainly happened for me. I found myself drawn to marsh witches and the darkness, though my heart is in the springs that connect us to the fae and cleanse us. Avalon predicts this with a kind heart, sharing that with the light, there is also darkness, and it is this fine balance that allows life to thrive. Why wouldn’t we find ourselves in the murky waters as well as the pristine? And why wouldn’t we focus on both in our practices?
Other perks are the additional sub-topics discussed that you didn’t think you needed. Sea witchery is a large discussion, but we can’t talk about it without discussing also the tide and thus the moon, the pollutants that inhabit the water, the shells and their own correspondences (and connection to another element: earth), more modern-day correspondences like fisher floats and their symbolism. Having these included was an “oh yeah” moment for me, realizing the topics were vital to understanding and working with seawater and its movements. This is just one example.
Avalon’s respect of humans and their inherent nature is palpable, which lends her to warn us before we even try; I refer to physical warnings, sure; Avalon’s terminology and discussion of votive offerings and water artifacts are ripe with science and critical discussion, and the suggestion of why performing what the Celts did back then (and believing it was magick) may not be such a good idea (spoiler: poison. Lots of it).
For those wanting spells, don’t fear. Avalon sprinkles countless charms throughout the pages, and ends the book with a chapter on water witchery. The spellwork doesn’t feel like an afterthought at all; they’re given the same respect and inclusion as the legends themselves, showing Avalon’s deep love and study of the topic.
However, Avalon’s catching of the human spirit-and our tendencies--comes more in ensuring we handle our spiritual practices with respect. She suggests that we understand our path is intuitive and we will begin to “feel” what is right and what the next enchanted step is. That while books and knowledge are great, there is more long-term reward in learning about our genius loci (local spirits and what they inhabit), growing our own intuition about the water and whether it accepts our offerings, and respecting the water by giving back to it and giving it time to get to know us. Unlike many authors, this isn’t a lazy bit of writing to replace actual study or instruction, or eat up the minimum word requirement; Avalon proves her knowledge time and time again, without so much as an eye-roll or side-eye thrown her way. Rather, these are reminders that our practices are as multifaceted and different as the waters we work with; sometimes we can flow with our own intuition and connection, or ebb
Avalon’s in-depth study is earned, yes, but it might come at a cost; those who aim for one of those topics may find themselves sifting through definition and tales to “get to the good stuff.” Though I always recommend learning, the tales start to morph and weave into each other, making it difficult to remember each for their own beauty and magick. There’s also a bit of overlap and repetition, and readers may notice this repetition of thought, adding to the “wading through” of information. Because of that, as a front-to-back read, this may make this book difficult. But as a reference book, Water Witchcraft a great resource. Come for the tales, stay for the charms, and revisit when you need a reminder. Just leave a figurative quartz stone or clootie when you do.
Elevating your Elemental Practice 47
Sacred Sacral Flow By Sarah Robinson
The foundation of chakra theory is that we are more than just our physical bodies. We have a body that is made up of three parts: physical, energy, and natural. Our physical body includes our limbs, organs, and bones. The energy body encompasses our emotional and spiritual personalities. And the natural body is our innate desires and nature of who we are. The chakras are located where we experience emotional and spiritual energy, making them ideal points for meditation points within the human body.
For our theme of water magick, we will be connecting to the Sacral chakra, the chakra related to water and flow; you can use yoga to connect with your Sacral chakra and the flow of your energy. We can connect to water magick anytime, as we have everything you need inside of you. The Sacral Chakra In Sanskrit: Svadhishthana meaning ‘Home of Self ’. Location: Lower belly (below the navel). Colour: Orange. Flower symbol: Six-petaled lotus with a crescent moon at its center. The moon is a symbol of cycles in connection with the divine feminine. In connecting to and embracing cycles of flow, movement, and change, we can find joy in our journey. Element: Water. Physical: Associated with the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems, and adrenal glands. In women, this is the source of our ‘flow’ both physically in menstruation and creatively. Mental and Emotional: Drives creativity and joy. When under-active in this chakra, one may feel unenthusiastic and uninspired.
Chakras were first described by the yogic tradition of ancient India, as well as in ancient Chinese and Buddhist cultures. But you'll also find tales of the chakras in myth, legend, and in magic lore from around the world. Many Western magical traditions, including some witchcraft traditions, have adopted the chakra system into their practice, incorporating the idea of opening and closing of the chakras into a ritual to ground and center, and to protect against negative energy. Healing and strengthening energy can be found by combining chakra wisdom with beautiful witchy practices such as herbalism, candle magic, and crystal work.
We can connect to water magick anytime, as we have everything you need inside of you.
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3. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)
Yoga to connect to Sacral Flow
• Sit on the earth or on a cushion to lift the hips slightly if that is more comfortable. • Extend the legs long in front of you, keeping the feet gently flexed so the toes point skywards. • Hinge forwards from the hips, leading with the heart, keeping length and space in the spine. • Hands can rest on the earth or on your legs. • Stay here for 10 slow breaths or more. • Paschimottanasana means, among other things, “Pose of the West,” as in “the place of the setting sun.” We could also connect this to the direction of West on the Celtic or Pagan wheel of the year, which is connected to autumn and the element of water. Perhaps you may connect to an idea of flowing and melting into the pose, giving yourself time to release a little deeper without tension or pressure.
You may use these practices in ritual to reconnect to or balance your water energy. 1. Take a comfortable seat for this deep belly breathing exercise: Dirga Pranayama (Three-Part Breath) Dirga Pranayama, or three-part breath, is a calming, grounding breathing exercise that helps focus your attention on the present moment. I often teach this simple pranayama at the beginning of yoga classes as a way to transition students from the busyness and noise of their workday into the time they have set aside for their yoga. Let's have a go… • Bring your attention to the inhales and the exhales through your nose. • On each inhale, fill the belly up and allow the abdomen to expand with your breath. • Exhale, releasing all the air out from the belly through your nose. • Repeat this deep belly breathing for a few breaths. • Next, inhale, filling the belly up with air, and then draw in a little more breath, causing the ribs to expand. • Exhale, and let the air go first from the rib cage and then from the belly. • Inhale, filling the belly and rib cage up with air. Then bring in just a little more air and let it fill the upper chest, up to the collarbone, causing the heart center to rise and expand. • Exhale, and let the breath go first from the upper chest, allowing the heart center to fall, then from the rib cage, then from the belly. • This is our three-part breath. • Continue at your own pace. As you practice, it will feel more easeful.
4. Reclining Goddess Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) • Lie on the earth and bend your knees, bringing the soles of the feet together and let the knees fall out to the sides towards the floor. If you wish, you can place a cushion underneath each knee for support, or under your back. • Place your hands over head, elbows falling out to mirror the shape of your legs. Or, if you prefer, you can rest your hands on your belly to physically connect to your sacral energy center. • Breathe. Explore this sense of opening through the hip’s front body. This is a beautiful place to connect and channel goddess energy.
Sacred Sacral Flow 49
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Latin Name: Lonicera periclymenum Common Names: European honeysuckle, Woodbine, Goats' Leaf
Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae Parts Used: Flowers, seeds, leaves Honeysuckle’s flowers and nectar are safe, but the berries and leaves of certain varieties can range from non-poisonous to mildly toxic. Symptoms may be vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, pupil dilation and increased pulse. Very large quantities can even lead to respiratory failure, convulsions and coma. History/Folklore: Honeysuckle’s name, as you might guess, comes from the tradition of children drinking its nectar from the tip of its flowers! Its scientific label is derived from Adam Lonicer’s name, a Renaissance botanist. It’s native to North America and Eurasia. There are between 100-200 species of honeysuckle, about a dozen of which are used medicinally. It’s a great attractor of bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. Medicine: Honeysuckle is associated with Mercury, Venus and/or Jupiter. It’s connected to the sign of Cancer, midsummer and both the water and earth elements. Common honeysuckle Lonicera pericylmenum is warming, and stimulates movement and flow in the body. Most often it’s used as a diuretic, laxative and expectorant. A syrup made from the flowers can be very helpful for spleen health, asthma, coughs, nervous tension, headaches and muscle spasms. The scent is said to help clear the mind and uplift the mood.
Magick: A honeysuckle plant can protect your garden and home from from negativity. Its incense is often burned in the home to attract prosperity and luck. Known as the ‘love-bind,’ the vines of the plant can be used to bless and weave more tightly together an existing relationship. Rubbing a flower on the forehead is believed to enhance intuition, psychic ability and vivify dream life. It’s beloved by faeries. Honeysuckle is an ingredient in spells for sweetening and increasing the generosity of others, drawing romance and enhancing sensuality as well as money.
Uses: Honeysuckle’s woody stems are so sturdy that they’ve been used to make rope since the Bronze Age. In some parts of Britain, they’re still used to create harnesses and bridles for pack ponies. They’re a good base for a wreath. Tea can be made from the flowers in the summer, while in winter a bitter tea can be created from the dried twigs and leaves. The flower extracts are antibacterial.
Honeysuckle Cordial By Severina Sosa
Honeysuckle has many uses in both magick and medicine. Drink this cordial to enhance your psychic abilities and also provide protection and prosperity. You can also adapt this recipe with other summer florals. This is a long infusion, so allow 2-4 months of infusion. The extra time allows the herb to extract and the power of your intention to strengthen. This is a great way to bottle up a a bit of summer magick for the winter months. INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
2 16 oz glass jars with non-metal lids 1 oz dried honeysuckle 4 oz brandy or vodka 2 oz honey or syrup 1 lemon zest Strip of parchment paper (optional) Labeling materials
1. Fill a 16 oz jar with 1oz of dried honeysuckle. The jar should be about 1/3 to 1/2 full. 2. Cut the rind off of a unwaxed lemon to add to your jar. 3. Set your intentions as you pour your honey over the honeysuckle. For a sweeter cordial, add more honey to taste. 4. Add the alcohol your jar. If you only have a metal lid, use a strip of parchment paper to protect the lid from corrosion from the lemon and alcohol. 5. Turn the closed jar upside down in your hands and charge with your intentions. 6. Store the jar in a dark, cool place and shake every couple days. 7. Strain the mixture after about two to four months and store in a clean glass jar, labelled with the date and title for up to a year. For more herbalism and magick, follow me on Instagram @Severinathewitch and stay tuned for my upcoming book! 51
The key to a good cordial is the balance of honey, alcohol, and lemon!
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Violet and Licorice Fern Sugar By Miss Wondersmith
The ionone-sweet fragrance of violets is harmonized with the sweet, earthy taste of licorice fern rhizomes. The resulting sugar is a beautiful purple and can be used as a ritual tool of sacred alone time or just an interesting culinary treat! Try it sprinkled over dark chocolate ice cream or a lemon tart.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
1� of licorice fern rhizome 1 c fresh violet flowers 1 c granulated sugar
1. In a food processor or mortar and pestle, grind the cleaned licorice fern rhizome with â…“ c. of sugar until it is finely ground. 2. Add the violets and process again until smooth. 3. Add the remaining sugar and pulse to combine. 4. Spread the purple paste out on a non-stick surface to dry completely, then break up into small chunks. Use in drinks, baked goods, or other treats! If you'd like to support my goal to spread magic far and wide, consider contributing to my patreon program!
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