Simple Magick: 9 Pink Correspondences for Relationship Magick

A little bit of relationship magic to bolster us as we head into the darker months.

Pink is the colour of love, it carries a gentler energy than the passion of red, and it is perfect for relationship nurturing, healing, and trust.

Magickal Correspondences for Pink:

Self-love

Friendships

Forgiveness

Relaxation

Compassion 

Sensitivity

Honour

Devotion

Tenderness

Pink candles are associated with the emotional and spiritual aspects of Venus, the goddess of love. They can be used for all family matters and the healing of wounded emotions.

NEXT - Simple Magick: Using Snow in Magick

Recipe: Faery Berry Jam

Tread quietly,

O people, hush!

For don’t you see,

A spotted thrush,

One thrush or two,

Or even three,

In every laden elder-tree?

They pull and lug,

They flap and push,

They peck and tug,

To strip the bush;

They forsaken

Snail and slug;

Unseen I watch them, safe and snug!

The Elderberry Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker

As there are so many connections between faeries, and elderberries and blackberries; I call this my Faery Berry Jam.

FAERY BERRY JAM

Ingredients:

800kg Blackberries

200g Elderberries

1kg Jam Sugar (added pectin)

2 Lemons, juiced

Butter, small nob (optional)

Method:

1. Put a saucer in the freezer.

2. Combine the sugar, lemon juice, and berries.

3. Heat on a low heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved.

4. Turn the heat up and cook on a rolling boil for ten minutes, being sure to stir, so that no fruit burns or sticks to the pan. Skim off any scum.

5. Put a small blob of the mixture on the saucer, and leave aside for a minute. 

6. Push the mixture with your finger - if it wrinkles the mixture is ready.

7. If it doesn’t wrinkle, cook for another 5 minutes and then try again. Keep trying until it’s ready.

8. When the mixture is ready, stir in the butter to dissolve any scum. (I personally don’t bother).

9. Pour into sterilised jars, top with a waxed disc, and add the lid. Do this when hot.

10. Store in a cool, dark place. 

NEXT - Recipe: Elderberry Vinegar
NEXT - Autumn Equinox Blessings!
NEXT - Magickal Places: The Goddess Temple - Glastonbury

Fabulous Folklore: All Hail the Blackberry!

One of the best things about the arrival of autumn is blackberries! I’m always overtaken with an urge to create from the hedgerows at this time of year, it must be survival instinct to prepare for winter.

The Bramble (Muin) rules over the 10th lunar month in the Celtic Ogham - 2nd-29th September. (Some sources replace Muin with Vine.)

I love Blackberry, she is very direct, and firm in her demand for respect. And it’s not just her brambles! I got stung by intertwining nettles when picking these.

Bramble is used in healing, money, and divination magic - use leaf, thorn, and twig in mojo bags and charms. Bramble is also very good for prosperity magic in relation to wellbeing - for food, shelter, and creative endeavours related to financial success.

There is an abundance of Bramble stories and lore. Some say that as Blackberries ripen, their colour represents aspects of the Triple Goddess: first green (Maiden), then red (Mother), and then black (Crone).

Some say Brambles offer protection against vampires. Planted near the home the vampire will be distracted, obsessively counting the berries and forgetting what he is about!

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Blackberry

NEXT - Recipe; Faery Berry Jam

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yew

Fabulous Folklore: Blackberry

Blackberry ~ Rubus fruticosus

Also known as Bramble, Bumble-Kite, Bly, Brambleberry, Scaldhead, Dewberry. It’s not a berry as such - it’s an aggregate fruit made up of tiny "drupelets."

There is an abundance of Bramble folklore. British stories say that Michaelmas (29th September) is the last day that Blackberries can be picked. This is the day that St Michael cast the Devil from Heaven. He fell out of the sky, landed in a Blackberry bush, and cursed the berries. He scorched them with his fire (it’s notable that leaf miner appears on the leaves around this time), and urinated and spat on them, making them unpalatable (it’s true that Blackberries aren’t that nice after this date). Consequently, Blackberries are known as the “Devil’s Fruit” by some people in the U.K.

Manx folklore states that the first berries of the season should be left for the Faery Folk. If you ignore this advice then any berries you eat thereafter will be full of grubs!

It was once believed that Bramble had healing powers; sick people passed through the loop of a branch were believed to be cured of rheumatism, whooping cough, rockets and hernias.

Blackberries make the perfect ritual food, and are often left as offerings to nature spirits and Faery Folk. They are said to offer protection from earthbound spirits. 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings  

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Bittersweet

Recipe: Elderberry Vinegar

Autumn Equinox blessings to you all! As we enter this liminal space of balance, may you gather abundance in preparation for the darkness ahead, and may the seeds you plant now bring you cheer next year.

Equinox blessings to our brothers and sisters in the Southern Hemisphere, also; have a blessed Ostara!

I’ll be celebrating today by bottling the Elderberry Vinegar that I started last month...

ELDERBERRY VINEGAR

Ingredients: 

200g Elderberries

500ml Red Wine Vinegar

50g Sugar (optional)

Method:

1. Wash the berries.

2. Remove from the stalks into a pan using a fork. Mash slightly. Add the Red Wine Vinegar.

3. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down a little, simmering on a high heat for 10 minutes.

4. Decant into a sterilised jar and leave to cool before closing the lid.

5. Store in a cool dark place for 1 month.

Method - One Month Later:

1. Strain. Use the berries in stews, soups, salads, or discard.

2. Decant the vinegar into a sterilised bottle

- or -

add back to the pan with the sugar, heat until the sugar has dissolved, and bottle.

What are you doing to celebrate the Equinox?! Do you have any special traditions for this time of year?

Wishing you an abundance of love and good wishes! 

NEXT - Recipe: Beltane Carrot Cake
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Fairy Rings
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: 65 Samhain Magickal Correspondences

Review: Witchology Magazine - Mabon 2020 Issue

As we’re talking Witchy Resources over at @witch.with.me this week, I’m giving a shout out to Witchology Magazine https://witchologymagazine.com/ (@witchologymag)

Witchology is a “digital magazine for the modern witch”, and features a host of witchy writers, including myself.

The September issue is available to buy and centres on Mabon. There is an abundance of fabulous articles including a wonderful Gratitude in Shadow Work Ritual by @hillcountrybruja, A Mabon Tale by @thewildmoongarden and a piece on The Magick of Animals by @chrisallaun.

Recipes, journalling, tarot, astrology, and so much more, feature in this beautifully inspiring edition, making it the best Mabon ever!

The Lughnasadh issue was beautiful, and I’m beyond excited for Samhain. 

NEXT - Autumn Equinox Blessings
NEXT - Review: Witchology Magazine - Spring 2022 Issue
NEXT - Recipe: Wren's Autumn Apple Cake

NEXT - Review: Garden of Chthonia Soaps by Lizzie 

Witchcraft Books: Witchy Resources

It’s #witchbookwednesday (@witch.with.books) and Week 3 “Witchy Resources” of #witchwithSeptember (@witch.with.me) so today I’m sharing one of my favourite resources - BOOKS!

First up is Magical Aromatherapy by Scott Cunningham with a foreword by Robert Tisserand. Basically a dream come true for a Clinical Aromatherapist Witch! This is a fab book charting the magickal properties of aromatic plants and herbs.

An ABC of Witchcraft Past & Present by Doreen Valiente is a book I’ve had for many years, but I love it so much I like to thumb through it whenever I can.

Jams & Preserves by Eve Parker is the perfect autumn friend when the hedgerows are bursting with gifts.

Agar to Zenry by Ron Freethy is a little gem I found hidden in the back of a magickal supplies shop in Glastonbury. It’s a beautiful book of plant uses, names, and folklore. My unusual maiden name features in the title, so this book always makes me smile.

I love all of these books because you can just dip in and out as necessary. What are you currently reading?

NEXT: Witchcraft Books: Beautiful Books
NEXT: Review: Do I Have To Wear Black? by Mortellus

Moon Magick: 7 Words for The New Moon in Virgo

I’ve been feeling a bit frazzled and under the weather recently, and the approaching energy of yesterday’s New Moon in Virgo definitely brought with it a need to rest physically, mentally, and spiritually.

New Moon is a time to reset and reconnect; and I definitely needed to some time to reconnect with myself. The New Moon is also a brilliant time to declutter, tidy, and organise.

So yesterday I did a little self-care spell and took a much needed pause. Today feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and so I spent this morning sorting out some unwanted clothes for the charity shop, and writing some lists. The path ahead is now clear again!

REST

RESET

RELEASE

REPLENISH

RECHARGE

REFLECT

RECONNECT

What have you done to rest, reset, release, replenish, recharge, reflect, or reconnect this New Moon? 

NEXT - Moon Magick: Full Super Moon in Scorpio
NEXT - Review: Channel Your Goddess Energy by Kirsten Riddle

Natural Remedies: Women’s Blend Diffusion

Use this women's essential oil blend in your aromatherapy diffuser. 

Witchy Quotes: Scott Cunningham - Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Black: banishing negativity, absorbing negativity. Black is the absence of colour. In magic, it’s also representative of outer space. Despite what you may have heard, black candles are burned for positive purposes, such as casting out baneful energies or to absorb illnesses and nasty habits.

~ Scott Cunningham, Earth, Air, Fire, Water 

NEXT - Witchy Quotes: Mary Oliver - Wild Geese
NEXT - Building Community: The Witch Aesthetic Debate
NEXT - Simple Magick: 45 Colour Correspondences for Crystals

Review: Garden of Chthonia Soaps by Lizzie

Two of my favourite resources on Instagram are the pages run by the lovely Lizzie.

A huge amount of interesting, in-depth, and inspiring information can be found on Lizzie’s Folk Herbalism page ~ @the_wortcunning_wyfe ~ alongside lots of beautiful close ups of the herbs and plants she is talking about. I have learned so much, and her page is an absolute joy!

Over on Lizzie’s other account ~ @gardenofchthonia ~ you can find website details for her amazing lotions and potions. https://www.gardenofchthonia.com/

I have been a customer of Lizzie’s for a while now. In a bid to reduce our plastic waste we switched over to soap bars for washing our hands and showering some years ago, and after trying sooooo many soaps in that time, I can honestly say that Lizzie’s are the best.

I thoroughly recommend that you check out both pages, which are a wealth of information, and take a peek at Lizzie’s website, too.

NEXT - Review: Gaya Candles 

Simple Magick: Folklore, Traditional Witchcraft & The Lincoln Imp

As a traditional witch, folklore plays a major part of my tradition. We look at stories of folklore as a means of learning more about our ancestors, their lives, their beliefs, and the magic they used. Whilst this folklore may not represent complete (or historical) truth, it helps build a foundation for our practices, and brings meaning to our lives. These stories are a part of our heritage; and are woven into our modern methods, practices, and celebrations.

I live in an area that borders Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Leicestershire, so my research into local folklore is extended to within these areas. One of the characters I love is the Lincoln Imp, as seen on this caddy spoon. (For those who don’t know what caddy spoons are, they were used to measure tea at a time when tea was very expensive).

According to 14th-century legend, two imps were sent by Satan to do his bidding on Earth. After causing havoc in Northern England, the imps went to Lincoln Cathedral, whereby they smashed up the place, and tripped up the bishop. One of the imps threw rocks at an angel, the other cowered under the broken furniture. The angel turned the first imp to stone, immortalised forever in the Cathedral. Whilst this was happening, the other imp managed to escape. According to one legend, this imp made it to Grimsby, whereby it continued this raucous behaviour at St. James’ Church. The angel reappeared, gave the imp a good hiding, and turned it to stone. You can see the imp holding on to its sore bottom at this church, and is known as the Grimsby Imp.

I love these stories. I will be sharing more with you later.

NEXT - Simple Magick: 12 Tips For New Witches 

Simple Magick: 12 Tips For New Witches

Further to my post a couple of days ago about finding the right path or tradition, I share my advice for those who are new to witchcraft.

Advice for New Witches: 

Follow your heart and intuition. Remember this is YOUR path you are exploring and creating.

Read, study, research, experiment, explore. Then do it all over again. And again. And again.

Remember to engage in practical work, experimentation, and exploration.

Keep notes.

Don’t be rigid. It’s ok to explore interests that don’t fall within any tradition you follow, or feel drawn to.

Don’t be rigid. Study other paths and traditions, changing tradition if necessary. You will find your way.

Don’t allow anyone to gate-keep your path. Remember that no-one else - no matter how experienced or knowledgeable they might be - can possibly know what’s best for you.

Have a good attitude.

Get out in nature, often.

Accept that learning takes time.

Understand that the learning never stops.

Be dedicated.

What do you think? Have I missed anything? What’s your advice for new witches?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Finding Your Witchcraft Path 

Simple Magick: Finding Your Witchcraft Path

Last week I spoke about the moment I was called to witchcraft. What came next? How did I find the right path or tradition?

After that pivotal moment, witchcraft became a way of life for me. When I turned 18 I joined two organisations; the Children of Artemis and the Pagan Federation, which meant I could interact with likeminded people. I joined a local moot, became part of a magickal group which met at my cottage once a month, and joined another group of witches that did handfastings and charity work. I became a reference model for pagan artists, and travelled the country, celebrating the sabbats at sacred sites with my friends, most of which are pagan or spiritual in some way. I’ve had a wealth of pagan or witchy experiences, but it is only in recent years (I’m now 27 years on from that initial calling) that I realised where I was travelling to, and found my true path.

I will cover my tradition in more detail later, but I wanted to tell new witches something on the basis of the story I’ve just told: it takes time.

It takes time to learn and develop, and to find out who you really are. It takes time to become experienced, and to find the things you are good at. The beauty of it is, this path always feels like new! Because there is always something new to learn. So grab it with both hands, and enjoy it.

NEXT - Simple Magick: The Witch's Stang

Review: Gaya Candles

I was really lucky to be gifted some candles to try from @gaya.candles. They are a company based in Glasgow who create “hand made candles infused with specific herbs, flowers, scents, and spices, selected for their magical properties for wealth, love, and health.” Look how beautiful they are!

Gaya explained to me that she burns the green Patchouli & Bergamot “Prosperity” candle in dedication to the Goddess Abundia; this candle has been created to bring financial wealth into the home or business. I have to say that this has THE MOST beautiful fragrance, and I’m super impressed that the scent continues to linger, unlike other scented candles I have tried. As an Aromatherapist, I can truly appreciate the craftswoman ship and expertise that has gone into creating this, and I’ll definitely be buying another once this one has burned.

Next up is the Rose Gold “Nirvana” Soy Tin Candle, which is a premium soy wax candle housed in a beautiful metal tin. It carries the gentle scent of Sandalwood, Rose, & Geranium.

The beautiful and simple labels on these candles really appeals to me, and the tissue paper wrapped and wax sealed wrappings of the pillar candles was such a beautiful touch.

The largest candle, a “Goddess Morrigan Candle” is so beautiful. As a colour lover this really impressed me - it is a dreamy metallic and glittery gold which fades and blends down into a dark berry red. Gaya also offers a Goddess Hecate candle and a Goddess Isis candle. I have placed this candle in my Goddess-themed bathroom, where I hope the feel-good energies I’m getting from it will be impressed upon my daughters, two of which are about to enter those awkward teenage years.

These are seriously beautiful candles and I would encourage you to check out Gaya’s page and website. You can tell that her creations have been created from the heart; each piece has been so lovingly thought out. Even just handling these candles and looking at the website has filled me with inspiration, which has given me a push to get my own shop (not candles!) sorted and finished.

If you’re a candle lover (who isn’t a candle lover?!) take a look at this beautiful range.

NEXT - Review: Queering The Tarot by Cassandra Snow 

Word Magick: Defining The Words Witch & Witchcraft

Continuing on the subject of “Am I a witch?” I thought I would attempt to define what ‘witch’ and ‘witchcraft’ are. They can be quite difficult terms to define with any real precision, so my apologies if your particular tradition or practise doesn’t quite fit with my descriptions.

What is a Witch?

A person who practises witchcraft or folk magic using herbs, crystals, candles, and other materials, to manifest goals and bring about change.

What is Witchcraft?

This is a very broad term which is difficult to define! It often involves an affinity with nature, and the practise of magic, usually within a Pagan tradition (eg. Wicca), though not always. Freedom, self-expression, and personal development are key themes. The sacred feminine is often revered in some way.

What Do Witches Believe In?

There are as many different answers to this as there are witches! Wicca centres around nature as seen in a Goddess and God, other witches (like myself) are more concerned with land-based practises and ancestor veneration, and some just focus on the practical aspect of their craft. We believe in magic, personal responsibility, and freedom of spiritual choice.

What is Magick?

The use of will and personal power with cosmic laws to bring about change. The projection of natural energies to provide needed effects.

What Do Witches Do?

Amongst other things, we observe and celebrate the seasons, lunar cycles, and solar events (solstices and equinoxes). We practise magic, we usually heal in some way, and we continuously learn and develop ourselves.

NEXT - Word Magick: Courage - What Does It Mean?
NEXT - Review: The Witch-Crafting Handbook by Helena Garcia 

Rhodonite Magick: A Calming Stone

Officially named Rhodonite in 1819 by Christoph Friedrich Jasche, the name comes from rhodon, which is Greek for "rose."

The sister stone of Rhodochrosite, it is also known as Peach Blossom Jade, Pink Marble, and Vermilion Jade.

An excellent stone of the heart chakra, Rhodonite lays bare emotional scars for healing, and brings one back to centre in stressful times.

A powerful healing stone for relationships, Rhodonite soothes heartache, and helps release your fears; it encourages clear communication and nurtures the inner self.

Meditate with Rhodonite to go deep within and clear old patterns, ask Rhodonite to guide you by surrounding issues and problems in unconditional love to help heal them, and help you move forwards. Ask Rhodonite for guidance when things don’t feel quite as they seem.

Hold Rhodonite to ease anxiety and to increase self-esteem. Wear after a break up to soothe the heart, and to love yourself.

Deck: The Crystal Deck

Personal Magick: My Story on Finding Witchcraft

Am I a Witch?

Back in June we had a bit of fun creating a list of common signs or characteristics that many witches seem to have:

• Curious • Intuitive • Creative • Empathic • Feeling different • Nature lover • Energy worker • Old Soul (but young at heart) • Love for the Moon • Interest in plants/natural remedies • Devoted to a magical life •

This, and @witch.with.me’s topic “Am I a Witch?” got me thinking about the actual moment I was called to witchcraft.

I was 12 or 13, poking around in my parents’ loft, and found a box of interesting looking books that were meant for sale. The book that really caught my eye was Cult & Occult, a guide to occult practices.

I rescued it from its Car-boot fate, and immersed myself in dowsing, secrets of the Zodiac, psychical research, astrology, numerology, geomancy - but it was the section on witchcraft that really caught my eye.

What further piqued my interest was a school trip shortly after to Avebury Stone Circle and West Kennet Long Barrow; whereby I was gripped by a strong and beautiful energy that whipped this otherwise well-behaved school girl into a whirling dervish of excitement. Between these two experiences I realised there was a whole other world out there full of magic, mystery, and tradition.

Whilst I can’t remember the exact moment I called myself a Witch, I am lucky to remember the defining moment I stumbled across witchcraft, and my parents let me keep the book, which I still treasure 27 yeas later. No other item has had such an impact on my life.

Do you embody many of the traits I’ve listed? Do you remember the moment you discovered your path?

NEXT - Personal Magick: Talking To The Trees
NEXT - Magickal Traditions: My Witchy Path
NEXT - YouTube Viewing: My Witchcraft Journey 

Review: Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow

This absolutely beautiful book, which will not only deepen your tarot practice, but more importantly, will make tarot readings much more accessible for your LGBTQIAP+ friends and clients.

About the Author
Cassandra Snow is a professional tarot card reader and teaches classes on Queering the Tarot and Tarot for Beginners, and coaches new and intermediate readers. She runs Gadfly Theatre Productions, a queer and feminist theatre company. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit her at www.cassandra-snow.com.

About Queering the Tarot
I’ll be totally honest. Even as a keen tarot reader and falling under the LGBTQIAP+ banner, I felt both excited and intimidated by this book, and met it with some trepidation. That is, until I picked it up and discovered that I had nothing to fear - an encounter I shall liken to many peoples’ experience of getting to know those of us in the LGBTQIAP+ community.
Queering the Tarot tackles the unique challenges that people in the LGBTQIAP+ community face, and cleverly finds a home for those issues within each of the cards, so that guidance and deeper meanings may be found by LGBTQIAP+ seekers. For example, The Fool card looks at denial of the self and coming ‘out of the closet,’ and Justice demonstrates that, sadly, Justice may not be on the querent’s side at all, as is often the case for marginalised people.
Queering the Tarot is much like the guidebook you receive with a tarot deck, and after a brilliant foreword by Beth Maiden, followed by an introduction to what ‘queering’ the tarot actually means, Snow jumps straight into it. An in-depth, logical, considered, and thoughtful meaning is sensitively offered for each tarot card. Snow not only lays out explanations for those with elements of fluidity in their gender or sexual identity, for transgender querents, for those firm in their identity, and for those struggling to come out; she also explains when a card does not need to be ‘queered,’ and provides insight for ‘non-queer’ seekers. Each card description touches on the traditional Rider Waite Smith meaning, which I found to be extremely clever. Arguably, you could pick up this book as a complete beginner and learn not only the deeper, ‘queered’ versions of the cards, but the basic foundation of tarot, too.

The Book’s ‘Strong Suit’...
The most illuminating section in the book, which I absolutely adored, was the chapter on the Court Cards, which are inherently problematic for LGBTQIAP+ and feminist perspectives, and are generally quite difficult to learn. Snow encourages us to drop our binary way of thinking and approach the Courts as energies, as genderless personalities, and to feel our way through them. This approach is a particular strength of this book, and I believe this method encourages a better connection with the Court Cards, an area of the Tarot with which many people struggle. 
In fact, this book has many strengths. Snow has managed to tackle two complex and evocative subjects – the Tarot and the differing perspectives of, and plethora of challenges faced by, the LGBTQIAP+ community - and blend them beautifully, much like the alchemical blending of the androgynous character in the Temperance card. She pragmatically explains that Tarot is a highly personal thing, and should not be held as a ‘monolith,’ reassuring us that there are common enough points for us all to explore. She manages to ‘queer’ the cards whilst sensitively challenging binary thinking and heteronormativity in relation to the Tarot, and the wider world, without bashing anyone. After all, Snow recognises that Tarot is a tool for growth, healing, and empowerment, and should be inclusive, not exclusive.

What You Can Learn...
Snow takes us on a new Tarot journey, contributing yet another layer of depth and dimension and adding a freshness to it. You might anticipate this book to be tough going, but it isn’t. It was thought-provoking, educational, highly engaging, and a joy from start to finish. As someone with a fairly short attention span, I loved that I could start anywhere after the introduction. If you have an interest in Tarot and want to further your practice, or you’d like to make readings for your LGBTQIAP+ clients more accessible, I highly recommend this book. It’s a must-have for every Tarot reader’s bookshelf.

Head over to the Witch With Me blog (www.witchwithme.com) to read my review of Cassandra Snow’s Queering the Tarot and the other fabulous reviews on a selection of Witchcraft books.

NEXT - Review: Traditional Jams & Preserves by Eve Parker