Monday, February 13, 2017

Oldest Love Letter in History

The oldest official love letter was written about 1568 by a pregnant wife of a man who died. It was buried with him and looks like this:



Arguably, letters exchanged between lovers through St-Valentine in the 1400's would be the older of the love letters.

Happy Valentine's Day
Write your own love letters... to:
YOURSELF
People you love
Your gods/guides/totems

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

January 2017 Full Moon

1- Full Moons are times of high energy, not just any kind of high energy, but high and creative energy

2- The January Full Moon is associated in Celtic lore with the sacred Alder Tree and the ogham symbol for it (Fearn). Thrive in tough environments, protection and prophesy, strength and endurance, shielding, counsel and guidance are all themes of this sign.

3- In North American Native lore, this is called the Wolf Moon (sometimes the Hunger Moon or Cold Moon). During this month the wolves once roamed the countryside, thus suggesting the name wolf moon. In cold and temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere, it was difficult to find food during January, thus the name hunger moon. This is a good time for planning your year from a spiritual perspective. What do you want to accomplish this year? What do you "hunger" for? Set some goals and plan how to achieve them.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Respect and Polite Courtesy

Bushido Virtues carry lessons that perhaps all people can learn from and apply. This month, my coven works on the Bushido Virtue of REI (Respect & Polite Courtesy.

There is no reason to be cruel, no need to prove strength. Be courteous to even your enemies. Without the outward show of respect, we are nothing more than animals. Be respected not for your strength in battle, but in how you deal respectfully with all people in all situations. True strength becomes apparent during difficult times.

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REI – Politeness or Morality
The kanji for rei is a modern abbreviated form, which does not reveal very much of the ancient character. The ancient symbol shows a sacrificing vessel that evokes the rites and ceremonies conducted for worshipping and offerings. The character actually means rite or ceremony but in a broader sense it means respect. Rei too is essential to Confucianism: In society rei governs your actions towards others, a fundamental politeness, very much related to jin. It is often translated with morality, but as morality has other connotations I suggest politeness.

Rei is politeness, respect shown in social behavior.

http://www.theartofcalligraphy.com/seven-virtues-of-bushido

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Discerning the difference between obsequiousness and politeness can be difficult for casual visitors to Japan, but for a true man, courtesy is rooted in benevolence: Courtesy and good manners have been noticed by every foreign tourist as distinctive Japanese traits. But Politeness should be the expression of a benevolent regard for the feelings of others; it’s a poor virtue if it’s motivated only by a fear of offending good taste. In its highest form Politeness approaches love.

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/14/the-bushido-code-the-eight-virtues-of-the-samurai/


Monday, August 22, 2016

Sun Water & Moon Water


Among many magical components are the ever versatile Perfume Waters. These can be bought through The Magical Blend. Here is a list of the common ones and what they are used for:

  • Angel Water: sprinkle around a bedroom, or anoint a person to call a guardian angel or protective spirit to watch over them
  • Florida Water: used in rituals for purification and in spells to remove negativity and suppress gossip, also to encourage calm and positive emotions
  • Glory Water: anoint yourself to have success and power
  • Holy Water: used to bless people, places and things, also used to drive away evil
  • Passion Water: anoint yourself for attractive energy or sprinkle on the bed for passionate energy
  • Peace Water: used to encourage peace and calm
  • War Water: sprinkle about if there is a threat and to remove hexes
  • Water of Notre Dame: used to encourage health, soak in a soft cloth and wipe the person down from head to toe
While the above are useful in your magical practice and for various spells, Sun Water and Moon Water are used in rituals.


Sun Water: anoint yourself for power/vitality/solar energy, used to strengthen the power of the Sun or the God in a ritual, also used to anoint people and ritual space for Sabbat rituals.

A sunstone has been added to each bottle for greater potency.

http://www.themagicalblend.com/spellworking-supplies/perfume-waters/sun-water




 Moon Water: anoint yourself for cleansing/intuition/lunar energy, used to strengthen the power of the Moon or the Goddess in a ritual, also used tp anoint people and ritual space for esbats.

A moonstone has been added to each bottle for greater potency.

http://www.themagicalblend.com/spellworking-supplies/perfume-waters/moon-water

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Magic of Incense Powder


How to Use Incense & Why

Incense has been used throughout history for its ability to attract certain energies. The columns of smoke arising from burning incense was associated with wishes and prayers being carried skyward to the Gods.

Besides the aromatherapeutic value of incense, and the ability of scents to affect the individual and the energy of a place, the proper use of incense will help charge an area with the magickal vibrations of a desired intention or goal. It is used to attract positive spiritual aid for the fulfillment of the Practitioner’s spiritual requests, to drive away negative forces and banish negative energies from a person, place, or thing.

When used in combination with candles and sacred oils, incense acts as a powerful aid to the magickal worker’s prayers and meditations, helping bring about the positive fulfillment of the working. 

Incense Powder

Incense powder is a self-igniting scented powder base. You can form it into a cone shape and light it directly (on a heat safe dish of course), or you can burn it a pinch at a time on hot charcoal as you would resin incense. Incense powders are excellent as a base for herbal/resin blends that you make yourself for your rituals. A great way to personalize what you do!


(The above was taken from Magical Blend Book of Secrets V1

Making your own incense powder is an incredibly way to heighten and empower the work you are about to do and achieve greater success in your spells. We especially like to use one of the pre-blended incense powders from The Magical Blend and then add something special to it to focus it more for our purposes. A must for any witch's magical supplies!!

The Magical Blend carries home-made blended incense powders for all your magical needs. They can even make a specialized individual or personalized blend just for you! Here is a list of what they have to offer:

  • 7 African Powers: general well-being & prosperity
  • Attraction
  • Black Cat: gambling luck, also protection of the home
  • Come to Me
  • Concentration
  • Court Case: success in legal matters
  • Crown of Success: success, especially in gambling and situations of chance
  • Dragon's Blood: purification, protection, overcoming obstacles, magical catalyst
  • Drive Away Evil
  • Exorcism
  • Fast Luck
  • Fire of Love
  • Gambler's Luck
  • Healing
  • High John: attract money, break through barriers, overcome obstacles
  • Jinx Removing
  • King Solomon: wisdom, personal power, prosperity
  • Lucky Nine: success in financial matters
  • Lucky Prophet: activate your psychic powers
  • Money Drawing
  • Peace
  • Peaceful Home
  • Prosperity
  • Protection
  • Psychic Powers: increase divinatory abilities
  • Purification
  • Queen of Sheba: obtain favors from others
  • Reversing
  • Sandalwood: spirituality, purification, healing, meditation, clairvoyance, spiritual blessing
  • Success
  • Uncrossing: removes curses and negative energies
  • VanVan: wishes and attraction
  • Wealthy Way