It's what we feed them!

I was watching “Driving mum and dad mad” on TV re badly behaved children and how to change the situation. The parents are at the end of their tether but every time they’re eating, not only do they all eat separate whilst watching TV or playing computer, but I have yet to see a healthy meal with greens. It is all pizza, chips and fizzy juice.

Have people not got it yet? If you feed kids crap, they will behave accordingly and having been the mother of three children, one with intolerance to lactose and sucrose, another who reacted to certain E numbers and food colours, and the third, without anything that upset the first two in his diet, became high as a kite on aspartame and other colours, so don’t tell me diet doesn’t affect them, because it does.

Do you remember, as kids we just got half portions of whatever our parents were eating… so why do kids today have a special menu of cheap crap food…is it me??? Nowadays, kids expect to have nothing but this convenient cheap crap at school, when they are out and when they are at home and their body just can’t function properly, and what is more, for peace, they get it! It’s our fault and it's up to us to put it right, otherwise there is no hope, as they’ll ultimately be in charge of this country one day and then we’ll be really screwed!!

Rant over….for now!

Candles

How many of you had candles burning during the depths of winter and over festive season? As these lights glowed away in your home, making it feel that much more homely, did any of you contemplate how dangerous they could be?

I don’t mean if they catch fire but more what you are actually inhaling? I am also referring to things like tea lights as well as pillar, votive and dinner candles. Worried? Well, some of you should be!!

Now, those of you who use my own candles and tea lights, are perfectly safe, and are using the best quality products. My candles contain natural Aberdour beeswax, natural colours, pure cotton wick and pure essential oils and that is it!! As for my tea lights, they are good quality ones from Belgium, which are fine.  Now, as you use them, you can congratulate yourselves on your quality of choice and know you are using the safest of candles, but some of you aren’t quite so choosy! Those of you who scoff at the price and buy them much cheaper at a fraction of the price may be getting more than you bargain for. Tea lights and candles are like essential oils and herbs – you get exactly what you pay for.

So, what is the problem? Well, it seems that some of the candle makers from the East such as China or from the USA aren’t quite so choosy as to what goes into the candles.  Remember, things banned in Britain and Europe are perfectly acceptable in China and the likes and they don’t worry about this when selling items containing them as they sell them so cheap!!  I only sell you what I am prepared to use myself. Bad quality paraffin wax causes more soot – bad for asthmatics etc and the synthetic oils they are scented with can cause even more problems.

Did you know some synthetic fragrances include industrial solvents such as benzene derivatives and aldehydes? Some inclusions are even regarded as hazardous waste yet we are burning them in our homes. Even more of a worry is what they use as a wick!! Not pure cotton but such things as lead and cadmium. Yes, I know! I was horrified as well, as both these are toxic to the body and you are burning them in your home and breathing them in!!! Aahhgghh!! So, look at the labels on any candles you buy. Avoid those from the USA (no wonder I have people who only burn my candles in the States) and the East,  and enquire what the wicks are made from. If they cannot tell you, DON’T BUY THEM!! You have been warned!!!

The Moon

Phases of the Moon

It takes the Sun a year to complete it’s journey, hence why Stonehenge is attended every Midsummer. The Sun will rise in the same place every year, with the one-day adjustment every 4 years. However, it takes the Moon 18.6 years to complete it’s great Lunar cycle. I adore the Moon and spend many an hour speaking to her from my front door step, never knowing where exactly she will appear, as it is always different.

The New Moon only appears briefly at Sunset, and then sets again shortly after the Sun. When it is the actual new moon, the crescent it so thin, it isn’t visible to the naked eye. It maybe 2-3 days before you can actually see it. Never look at a new moon, when it does finally appear, through glass or a run of bad luck will follow (in other words, don’t look through the window to check if it is out). Also, when you first see the new moon, turn over some silver in your pocket and money will be sure to follow.

The waxing (growing) moon is from the New moon to the Full, and the waning (fading) is from Full to New. Now this bit is difficult for people as they don’t know if it is waxing or waning. So, in the Northern Hemisphere, this is how it goes: imagine the Moon as a clock – if the crescent goes from 12 till 6, then, like the hour, it is growing (waxing), but if it is from 6 till 12, then it is on the way out (waning). Follow???

Each day, moonrise is fifty minutes after the previous day so it gets later as each day passes. (The tides are the same – well I never!!) During the first quarter, the Moon rises 6 hours after sunrise and sets 6 hours after sunset whilst the last quarter, it is the other way round (I think I have that right – even I get confused). This is why the Sun and Moon are often seen in the sky together, and sometimes we simply don’t see it as it doesn’t come up till most of us are in bed. I think that is one reason why midnight is so-called the “witching hour” – because, most of the time, it is around at midnight, whether coming up, going down or full. I don’t know why but, if it is a clear day and I can see both sun and moon, I know it is going to be a good day.

The Gibbous moon is when the moon looks pregnant, but not yet full.

Just before and at the Full Moon, she rises opposite the Sun at sunset and slowly sets again at sunrise, so she is prominent in the sky all through the hours of darkness. So there you have the movement of the Moon and why she isn’t always visible in the sky and why she is never in the same place or at the same height.

As we all know, the Moon affects the tides of the Sea and the cycles of the female body, so powerful is her energy. The highest and lowest tides are at the time of the New Moon, whilst there is the least movement at the Full. Timings of spells can be done with the rhythm of the Moon. The most powerful time is when the Moon is full because, emotionally, the Moon makes us more energetic (hence why those in tune find it harder to sleep at this time).

More crime is committed at the Full Moon than other times as people are generally more irritable and emotional (hence where the word “lunatic” comes from). More people go to the pub around the full moon than any other time. I have known our local to be heaving, even if it is a Wednesday night, if the moon is full. People just need to “get out”. You are also likely to sleep less on a full moon than on a new one. Don’t argue around the full moon or the argument will last for the remainder of the cycle. You generally find that tides are fuller and stronger at the full moon than other times too, though the tide rises and falls more at the new and full moon than the rest of the month. So, there you go.

But what is a blue moon??

The actual “Blue Moon” is a rare event, when the moon actually appears to be blue, caused by atmospheric conditions. It is this blue moon wishes should be made on, and the last one was seen in England in 1995.

The full moon can also predict the weather so watch for a halo as this tells of rain or snow to come. If the new moon holds the old moon in her arms, the rain will follow. It also means rain if the moon lies on her back in the first quarter, as she is holding onto the water. She will have released its torrents before the half moon when she will have straightened herself back up, when there are two full moons in one month.

These days, people regard the 2nd moon in a calendar month as the Blue Moon, but this just isn’t so.

Wishing on the New Moon…

A wishing spell can be performed at the new moon. It appears as a thin slither at sunset in the direction of the setting sun for just 30 minutes about the 3rd day of the new moon. If you catch a glimpse of her, firstly turn over silver in your pocket for a month of prosperity, then make a wish and bow to her 9 times. It is done

The Mysterious Night Sky & Polaris

Let’s begin our exploration of the night sky together. In days gone by, people would know where each star and constellation was and could know where they were by the direction of the stars. That is exactly where we shall start, as to know where the Pole star is located is to know where due north is…your so-called heavenly compass!!

Polaris (the Pole star) seems to stay stationary over the North Pole so, wherever you are in the northern hemisphere, find Polaris, you find north!!

To find Polaris, you first have to find the “Plough” – the constellation that looks like a giant ladle in the sky. Most people know the Plough (also called the Big Dipper and officially the constellation Ursa Major) which is always in a northerly direction. Orion, the other well known constellation is located in the south, so if you can find Orion, just turn round to the other direction to locate the Plough. When you have, find the last two stars on the right of the plough, called Merke and Dubhe, which form the outer part of the “square” away from the handle of the ladle. Now continue the line 5 times longer and this will draw you straight to the North Star – which is actually a couple of stars together within the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) et voila Polaris! So next time the sky is clear, go and have a look and you will always know what direction you are in in the dark!!

Find your “Happy Stone”

By my bed sits a beautiful bright green Chrysoprase tumble. Don’t ask me why it came about as I have no idea…I just put it by my bed when I first got it.

I call it my happy stone, and everynight when I go to bed, I hold the crystal and thank it for all the fab things that have happened that day.

Your task is to find your “happy stone”. You might already have a stone you really like – it might be a lump off the beach or a beautiful tumble from a shop…it must be a stone that makes you feel inspired, joyful or makes you smile, or is simply one you like to feel in your hand, or maybe you are yet to find it.

Either way, when you have your special crystal, hold it in incense and name it you happy stone. Every night, thank it for the good things of the day. Being thankful for what you have got will attract more good things to you, or so I have found with my beautiful apple-green stone. Try it yourself and watch your faith in your ‘Happy stone’ bring wonderful things to your day and to your life.

Wind directions in magick…

Mostly, people think wind is wind and just a nuisance, but we can utilise this fantastic energy in our magick.

Hang a strip of heavy fabric or a long sock in your garden or on the washing-line. This is to help you instantly work out the direction of the wind, or you can simply watch the treetops out of the window as your guide to which way the wind is blowing. Once you know your directions from your window, the sock will stream in the opposite direction to the wind; so if the sock is blowing to the south, it is a northerly wind that blows that day!

The cold wind from the North comes from the snow and is the bringer of change. This wind can be used to help us get rid of negative aspects; depression, anxiety, anger and jealousy can all be magickally helped by being blown away by the wind of the North and this wind will also help bring material things to us such as a new home.

The fresh, warm East wind blows from the direction of the Sun and this wind is used for new beginnings and changes such as a new job, a new study course or similar wishes to help bring about major life changes.

The hot fiery wind of the South gives excitement, energy and power to any spells cast in this direction. Use this wind for increasing energy or passion, for healing or purification, or for destroying disease or bad habits.

The cool, moist wind from the West usually brings the water to moisten our land, whether as mist or rain. It is a gentle but fertile wind and this is the direction we use for the area of love and fertility.

Use these winds to help bring about change or even use my “Wishing on the Winds” powders to help you

Your Emergency kit for that bad day

Some days, we all get pushed to breaking point, even me! No matter how positive we are, we all need a back-up plan for that really rotten day. Here are some ideas that I use at the end of just one of those days:

1. We all have our favourite songs that just make you feel good if they come on the radio – those that make you stop and smile or sing or dance, because they transport you to another time and place.
Prepare a CD or playlist of your special, happy, uplifting songs that simply make you smile. Then, when you have had a bad day, put those tracks on and twirl and dance around like no-one is watching.

2. Go for a walk in your garden, down the beach or wherever is calming for you, and use the elements to cleanse and calm you and get rid of the day. Come back and have a quiet drink of coffee, tea or your favourite tipple…whatever will give you that breather for a few minutes to get your head together.

3. Have a bath with geranium oil, my Euphoria blend or juniper berry to purify the day away.

4. Keep a special rose quartz or similar pink stone cleansed ready for such a day & carry for calmness.

5. Inhale from a tissue your favourite essential oil – something indulgent (rose, neroli, jasmine or melissa), uplifting (bergamot or Sunshine blend) or calming (geranium or Euphoria blend)

I hope some or all of these ideas help when that trying day has pushed you to your limi. Learn to fit 10 mins “You-time” into every day to relax and breathe and just take time out of your busy day just for you.

Dealing with death the Celtic way…

I thought it was time I covered it briefly. I have lost several people who played an important part in my life and a witches view of death isn’t the same as the Christian belief and it helps people deal with the death of a loved one much easier.

Witches believe in reincarnation; this is the birth and rebirth of the soul over many lifetimes. So, when we die, we don’t just die and that is it. We “shed the physical coat” of that particular lifetime and move back to the ‘Summerland’ in the world of spirit, a happy and beautiful place, where we re-evaluate the life just lived and begin our life in the next world whilst we await re-birth back onto the physical plane once again.

The Karmic records are carried with the soul; in other words, you will have to put right things in the next life that you may not have completed or done correctly in this. And, because a loved one is gone, it doesn’t mean you won’t see them again. If you are meant to, you will, whether they stay around you in this life for a while or you meet their souls again in the next. In nature, everything must die; it is part of the circle of life, and it always leads the circle back to rebirth and new life, so although it is always a sad time for those left behind, it is a joyous time for those leaving this plane as they begin a new and exciting life but on a different level.

As the saying goes, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, so witches prefer cremation and their ashes scattered in a favourite place. To honour the spirit of the deceased, replace life with life to complete the circle. Hence why it is popular to plant a bush or tree in memory of the deceased or get a new pet when the old one dies.

It is also normal for a loved one to check on those left behind so remember, you can still talk to them, shout at them and send them messages on a letter that you then burn on a fire or in an ashtray…simple ways to stay in touch and help you through.

Apache tears are crystals found on apache land said to be the tears of the women as their men went to fight the cavalry and never returned. These are very supportive to those who have lost someone in their lives. The stone is black but, if you hold up to the sun/bright light, you will see a glimmer of light through the stone to say “No matter how dark it seems, you will eventually get through this dark time and out of the tunnel back into the brighter days”.

Weddings, Superstitions & Anniversaries

Local weddings all have a service at either the church or the castle and then go on to the reception at a local Hotel. To get from one to the other, the congregation carry out the traditional Scottish piped walk from one to the other followed by the bride and groom in their chosen mode of transport, though sometimes they do walk down with everyone else. It was at this point that I met them and performed a wee short hand fasting ceremony followed by the traditional jumping of the broom. Well, it was more a spell for their forthcoming life really but we resurrected an old tradition in Aberdour. So, any of you who live close enough and fancy popping by and jumping the broom, just let me know.

If you are doing a hand fasting, you may like to read a new book called “Handfasting – a practical guide by Mary Neasham” – full of interesting facts on marriage and lots of help as to how to carry out your own witchy wedding. Even if you are already married in the eyes of the law, you can still bless your union in the eyes of our Lady and Lord. Incorporate a little ceremony either just the two of you (with the little people as witnesses) or in front of your friends on Midsummer’s Eve. Nothing fancy required and it doesn’t need to be conducted by anyone – just a commitment to each other under the stars then jump over the midsummer bonfire to elementally bind the union. Then follow with your wine and food and it is done.

A wedding horseshoe…

If you are attending a forthcoming wedding, the tradition is to give a used horseshoe, painted with silver paint and threaded with ribbon for hanging to put above the front door of the house. You can decorate with lavender and yarrow sprigs, picked at Midsummer, and pink ribbon and give to the bride and groom. Maybe also pick 7 sprigs lavender, 7 sprigs of yarrow and a sprig of white heather if you can find it, tie with a pink bow and present to the bride…or even better, let the kids or grandkids do it to wish the couple a loving happy future.

Kissing Superstitions

Kissing has always been looked on as a sacred act as it represents two people mingling souls (how sweet!) and children should not be encouraged to kiss each other otherwise they will grow up to be foolish with their affections. However, if you kiss someone on the nose, there will be trouble between the two people, and the omen is misfortune to come should someone lean over from behind you and gives you a peck on the cheek – a stab in the back will follow! There is an old saying that kissing is out of favour when the broom is out of season – be aware that the broom flowers all year round!

Superstitions about the big day…

Marry in June when the roses bloom and life will be one long honeymoon. June is apparently the best month to be wed as it is named after Juno, the adored and faithful wife of Jupiter (my ruling planet), who is the protector of women and marriage and bestows special blessings on those who commit this month. May is the worst month to marry.

Another one is “Change your name and not the letter; you change for worse and not for better.” OK there then.

Tying the knot comes from the Babylonians who would take a thread from the bride’s and groom’s clothes and tie them symbolically together – Handfasting still ties the couple together so, so far so good!!

As for the bride’s superstitions, there are many. Apparently marrying in green is really unlucky, though it is Celtic and a symbol of the little people, whilst velvet leads to poverty. A bride shouldn’t try her full outfit on until the day and never view it in a full length mirror, not even on the day (though leaving the shoes off seems to cover this). The bouquet symbolises sex and fertility so the bride carries one for her own marital happiness, whilst the knots tied into the bouquet by friends, or florists these days, brings luck and good wishes to the marriage.

The wedding ring symbolises eternity and it is unlucky if it is dropped during the ceremony. If it is, only the officiate should pick it up, or the life of the couple will be unhappy. The sun shines on fortune hence “happy be the bride the sun shines on”.

Wedding Anniversary traditions…something new

As you know, last year I eloped to Gretna with our kids and married my partner, so thought I would look into Anniversary traditions for something new to cover. Each anniversary has a gemstone, gift, colour and flower associated with it, so thought it would be fun to feature for those getting married in the future.

The 1stAnniversary traditionally is Paper, and represents the frailty of early marriage, the strength of the paper being in its threads. Beginning your new life together is symbolized by a blank sheet! How strong is your connection and your relationship?  Will it crumple easily or stand the test of time? The story is yet to be written. Clocks are often exchanged by couples on their 1stanniversary to represent the relationship and the test of time!

The colour associated is yellow or gold (dawn of marriage), the flower, some say Pansy, some say Carnation and the stone is Mother of Pearl. So how will you celebrate? Hold an anniversary dinner with people/family who witnessed your wedding, and maybe use the top layer of your wedding cake, if you had one (I didn’t) as your anniversary cake! You could have paper flowers decorating your table or fancy designed and named napkins.

Your first anniversary sets the trend for future anniversaries so this is when to begin a memories box or album (both will involve Paper inside) so you can reminisce on your marriage journey. Make sure you celebrate in style with a day or weekend trip, plan a city break somewhere you both would like or a luxury dinner somewhere special. If you exchange gifts, it can be a jigsaw puzzle, a book of things to do together, a sundial, magazine subscription, tickets to a show… the list is endless as to how you can celebrate your Paper anniversary. If money is tight, then spend the day having a picnic and make “Love tokens” for later, or make a paper trail with clues round the house. This is your first anniversary so make it special…I know we are…!!

2nd Anniversary

The 2nd Anniversary is Cotton, its interwoven threads representing how the couple have grown closer together in the 2nd year of marriage. Will the weave be strong enough to survive or weak when stretched? Gifts would have included white tablecloths & serviettes hand embroidered with flowers & initials. My mum was gifted one from her bridesmaid and was still using it on Sundays, as a precious present highly valued and always washed by hand. 

The crystal is Garnet, a stone that helps inspires love and devotion, promotes emotional harmony, balances sex drive and strengthens commitment in the marriage… a lovely red representative of a 2nd anniversary.

The flower is Lily-of-the-valley, one of my favourite flowers. It has 2 leaves from which the delicate white bell flowers appear on a single stem…maybe representing the children that may result from this marriage. The tiny flowers are sweetly scented and aphrodisiac!! Colours for this anniversary are red and linen white.

Elements, Colours & Crystals

This can be confusing, so I hope this explanation helps. I don’t worry about what days, planets etc are best – if you have to do something, do it as it is needed. Don’t wait until the moon is right or it is a Friday etc. If you really have an emergency, then get your spell done at the time – that will make the time right.

Which element??

Got a spell to do? When I do them, I use the correct element for the objective. That is why my magickal incense and oils all have sun, moon, earth, air, fire and water. These, as far as I am concerned, are the strongest and most powerful helpers you have and mainly use them for all my needs as these 6 variants contain most of the answers.

The sun lights up our day and the moon our night, whilst earth, air, fire and water are the elements we need simply to live.

The Sun comes up every day and heats our world. It is energy; it is protection (major fire), courage, study, business success and jobs, travel, getting rid of bad habits, negativity and illness and all the male areas.

The Moon, however, is the feminine aspect and rules, sleep, dreams, fertility, psychic stuff, love, dreams, friendships, sex, looks, money, healing wounds and ridding stress.

Earth is the feminine element beneath our feet and where we live and is where we find our help for abundance, prosperity and wealth. It is green in colour, the dark of winter for the season and North in your circle.

Air is the male element needed for life, for creation, so therefore it is the area for knowledge, for the creative process, for divination and the psychic realm and for travel. Yellow is the colour, the hope of spring for the season and East the direction.

Fire gives us warmth but can also destroy and the change is quick. This is a powerful male element and can be used for all types of magick including passion, ridding negative trends, energy, purification and much more. Fire is red, the heat of summer and the south of the circle.

Water flows fast or slow, just like our emotions so this is the feminine element for relationships, friendships, happiness, sleep, dreams, pleasure and all those emotional areas. The colour is blue, like the sea, the autumn and the west of the circle.

Is that clearer. Now do you understand why I don’t complicate it more with planetary rulership?

The Element of Earth:

We walk on it every day, our food comes from it and, at this time of year, it is coming alive once again as spring advances. Walk barefoot and you feel grounded and stable. Smell the aroma of compost and you have Earth at its most basic. Earth is the source of our food and plants, our animals graze on it and without the support of the earth, there would be no trees, so no oxygen, so no us. When we have finished on this plane, we are even returned to earth for burial. We find our prize crystals and gems within the earth so it is a source of beauty and riches. Not only that, we find our minerals in the ground too, which are vital for the human body to survive and should be passed to us through our food. It is even the home of our herbal medicine, vital to healthy living. It is so important in our world and is the element we use for fertility, growth, employment, houses, prosperity and abundance.

If you come into my shop, look above the door and you will see my prosperity pouch, which has been there since I began the shop (and I am still here haha). To make your own prosperity pouch, simply take a 6” square of green cloth and a small aventurine crystal, go outside on a sunny day (that way to get the power of the sun too) and dig up a handful of soil. Place it in the centre of your cloth and add the aventurine to the centre. Tie up to incorporate the earth, saying something like:

“Cloth of green, scoop of earth, to new opportunities please give birth.

Bring success and prosperity to me; this is my will, so mote it be.”

Hang above the front door for a home or business full of success and prosperity – remember, this is more long term than a quick fix, so don’t expect to be millionaires in a week!! However, my business is still going…

The Element of Air in detail…

Without air, we would die, so imagine how important this element is in magick. Air is the breeze in our hair, the warm wind that tans on a sunny day and the tornado that destroys whole areas when nature gets mad. But what can we utilise it for in magick?  We can use it for divination, travel, study and communication. It is the realm of thought and the first steps to decisions, ideas, and intuition. It is the tool we use magickally to bring change. It is symbolized by incense, sound, aroma, feathers and anything else associated with air.

The element of air is invisible but during a stormy November, you can certainly feel it as it whips leaves off trees. Without Air we would die yet it can cause such havoc when its temper gets up and turns into a tornado or hurricane. Up here in Scotland, we can certainly feel the difference between a north wind and one from the south. One thing I love to do is to stand in the wind arms and legs outstretched, and let it blow right through me for a few minutes. If it is blowing from the north, it will magickally help ease depression, tension, stress and anger, and all those negative emotions that can tire you out and run you down. Do this and you will go home feeling exhilarated. With things such as they are at the moment, we could all do with a little less negativity don’t you think!!

Another great little spell to utilize the element of Air is to go to a high or open spot when the wind is blowing, taking along a pen in your pocket. Find a leaf with which to write on – not one that has been dead a while or it will just disintegrate, but one still with life in it but that has already fallen from the tree. On the leaf, draw a symbol of your need whilst visualising your requirements (£ sign if you need to pay the bills, sold sign if you need to sell the house – you get the drift). Once you have done that, as seen in the film Practical Magic, hold the leaf in the wind whilst visualising your need, then let the wind take the leaf. If it transports happily along on the air, it is done. If it falls to the ground and fails to take off, begin again with another leaf.

This is a great spell that I have used many times before and costs absolutely nothing to do and you get exercise walking to your chosen spot, so all win as far as I can see. So, the next time it’s blowing a gale…

The Magick of Fire:

Have you ever stared into the flames of a bonfire or coal fire and wondered what life would be like without it. It warms us in the cold, cooks our food and heats our water. It is the element of transformation, creation and destruction. Life without fire would be pretty miserable and I wonder if man would have survived had he not been intelligent enough to work out how to make fire by literally stealing it from the heavens.

The hearth was the magickal centre of the home as, unlike today, it was the family focal point and not the TV! So much magick surrounded the protection of the hearth and the fire. Even our most famous visitor would enter via the chimney at Christmas so imagine what else could come down the chimney!! I have a horseshoe sat on my fireplace to provide luck and if I feel there is negativity around, I will cross the tongs and poker in front of the fire to prevent evil entering. There is lots of divination around fire too. Staring at the embers is one way, making symbols from what you see. Sparks acting in certain ways were omens – golden sparks on the back of the fire would indicate money, blue flames indicated cold weather coming whilst a brightly sparkling fire would show rain.

An old saying says “a chimney that smokes denotes a happy family life for those who live within…” yet “a new house will never be lucky until its chimney is blackened with smoke!!”

Fire plays such an important part in my life. Maybe it is because I am a fiery Sagittarian, but the centre of my home is the fireplace containing a real live fire, and those who have been in my shop know it is the centre of there too, with me perched in front of it most of the time (office, canteen & home extension). The fires are both lit most days as part of my daily magickal routine, made with 13 sticks each representing the moons in a magickal year. At home the fire heats my water as well as the home, so we cannot be without it and have to prepare for winter by chopping kindling and storing and drying logs to ensure fuel until spring – something most of you will not have to do in your centrally heated homes, but it is all part of living with the seasons, and of connection with the seasons that most of you have lost because of the modern day home!

As a child, my day began with the lighting of the fire that mum would set up the night before. Coming home from school to the coal fire in winter was a joy, with corned beef legs a daily occurrence (ask mum or gran!!) and steamy windows because the washing had been drying in front of it all day. Families spent a lot more time together, because the living room was the only heated room in the house, and was literally the heart of the home. Today, youngsters have heating, telly, computers, mobile phones etc all in their room and the sense of family being together during the evening has all but disappeared (we don’t have central heating so seldom an issue in my house). What happened to families toasting crumpets in front of the fire on a Saturday night, whilst fire gazing at those fantastic images – can’t be seen within a gas fire!! Then again, no more ice on the inside of your bedroom windows and having to get dressed under the bed covers because it was so cold…so not all bad eh??

The element of Water…

Our bodies are made up primarily of water and without it, we die. Our blood, cells, muscles and even bones are made mainly of water. We can go three weeks without food but only three days without water. It is an essential part of our lives and we certainly should drink a lot more plain water than we do. Magickally, water, is the element of the emotions which we can tap into for help – peace, beauty, pleasure, happiness, love, friendship, fertility, purification and psychic awareness – all are in the domain of water.

You don’t have to work hard to figure out what water brings as you listen to the rain on the window or the sea lapping on the shore, and drift off to those imaginary places or work out your problems, as I do, by the sea. Water is feminine and rules the West. Water brings peace and contentment, is romantic and your problems can simply drift away with the water.

A quick purification if you feel in danger or something needs to be driven out or away from within is to cross water, whether you drive over a bridge, jump a brook or step over a puddle. Evil and danger cannot cross water which then leaves you now “safe”. So, there you go, those poor commuters who have to cross bridges daily at least psychically are safe and well!!

Elemental crystals:

I was recently asked to supply a list of crystals for each element for a customer, so figured it would be extremely useful for anyone who needs to carry the elements around or have representatives of each element in crystals on the altar so here are a few suggestions for you:

Earth:      Coal, Jet, Malachite, Kunzite, Peridot, chrysoprase, salt

Air:          Aventurine, mica, pumice

Fire         Amber, Carnelian, Quartz, Sunstone, Ruby, Garnet, Diamond

Water:    Aquamarine, Beryl, Azurite, Lapis lazuli, Mother-of-pearl, Pearl, sapphire

Keep a note of these in your book of shadows just in case you ever need it!!! You never know…

Which colour???

When you are performing fire magick, or crystal magick, there is a colour for every area, and this can make magick very simple, providing you know which is for what. Here is my simple method.

RED                sexual love, passion, enthusiasm, courage, strength

ORANGE        magickal energy, physical energy, luck, justice

YELLOW        divination, clairvoyance, studying, the conscious mind, communication

GREEN            money, luck, prosperity, fertility, prosperity

PINK                love, friendships, relationships

BLUE               Peace, healing, tranquillity, meditation, happiness, harmony

PURPLE          power, major healing, psychism, connection with the spirit world

WHITE             peace, truth, purity

BLACK            ridding negative energies, grounding, destructive addictions and habits