Mercury in Retrograde

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Holly & Jacques

Is it as bad as it’s made out to be?

Transitions in life are inevitable and bring about change whether we are ready or not.

How we go about approaching these transitions determines how gracefully and unscathed we move through them….do we fight, or do we give ourselves over to the experience, looking at it more as an adventure? Mercury in Retrograde is just one of those times where life will be affected and the only thing we can do is embrace and allow.

What is Mercury in Retrograde? It is when Mercury laps Earth, which is approximately every four months or three times a year. Planets closest to the sun move faster and those further away move slower. In this day and age, it is common knowledge that it is impossible for planets to move backward, it’s merely an illusion. Essentially, whenever you have two planets orbiting at different speeds there is the appearance of a planet moving backward when one laps the other. It stands to reason that there would be an effect on us earthlings when we are being lapped by Mercury, much like static on our phones or radios when we go whizzing by a county mounty. I can think of a most recent example when this last M/R began, Verizon phones were out all over for days and it was well over a week before we saw any consistency return.

Quick moving mercury~ the smallest planet in our solar system is ruler of Gemini and Virgo, has dominion over areas of communication and connection, intelligence and imagination, money and how we accumulate wealth. Organs of the human body governed by the Mercury are the abdomen, tongue, lungs, bowels, nerve centers, bile and muscular tissues. The anatomical structures governed by the Mercury are nerves breath, air cells, sense, perception, hair and mouth. Understanding the rulership of Mercury can help us understand the areas in our lives that will be impacted.

Mercury governs the 2^nd chakra, located in our abdomen. The 2^nd chakra is responsible for digestion, and creativity, it strengthens the mind-governing it’s capacity to think, complexity of thoughts and concepts as well as practical applications. This is interesting when we look at how the 2^nd Chakra Swadisthan, works to break up fat cells to be used by our brains while foods feed our bodies. Given that this area is also referred to as our second brain, we can make the leap that Mercury oversees the 2^nd chakra or second brain. In this matter, Mercury in this chakra concurrently synthesizes, converts and disseminates food, information and processes.

Historically Mercury has been known as ‘Messenger of the Gods’, associated with the winged footed Hermes who had one foot in the physical world and one foot in the unseen realms. Hermes was also responsible for guiding souls to the underworld or through transitional periods in our lives.

Where Mercury rests in our personal charts as well as the astrological sign M/R occurs affects our intellectual self-expression, what fascinates and enchants us, directs where our minds focus, things that we want to take apart and put back together from a sense of curiosity. Mercury is also associated with the Magician in the tarot, linking it to languages, communication, spells, mantras, travel and logic.

Mercury energy is cold, objective and unemotional. It is the child who feeds its curiosity and creativity by pulling apart of things so that it can analyze, sort, group like parts and figure things out. It’s one of the many ways in which we process and make sense of our experiences and the world. Quicksilver, as it’s also known, can be tossed across the surface where the beads of mercury will scatter, but it always somehow finds a way back to itself and all its other parts. This is very much akin to the gathering of all the different facets of our lives to process and redistribute to build something new. In this, we can see Mercury is also about the symbols-the detailed parts that create a whole. Languages, details, thoughts and technology are data bits of symbols with an endless number of combinations.

The facts are that all of the planets are in retrograde at some point in the year. However, Mercury rules not just internal processes, but our physical lives as well. Navigating Mercury in Retrograde is to remember that we are to slow down. In this day and age, everything seems to be traveling at the speed of light, with life coming at us faster than we can process. In understanding the rulership of Mercury, we can apply to areas in our lives where this will be the most impactful such as travel, crossed communication, sending messages to the wrong people, errors in texts, emails, contracts, the missing of details, our minds and bodies not moving in-sync and causing accidents. We have brain fog where it seems as if a veil has been pulled during the taking apart and resorting of our internal world. Sometimes we can experience lost communications or often have old texts, emails and letters pop up out of seemingly nowhere.

It feels somewhat akin to the Dark Time period that happens around our birthdays. As in all things in life, there are cycles that bring about transitions to propel us forward. For myself I have found that when Mercury is in Retrograde, I very much feel the need to slow down and be more mindful. I am a person who is racing 100 miles a minute, I make decisions quickly and act swiftly. I definitely find myself impacted by brain fog and details that elude me which can be a source of frustration. I have to be mindful to be patient with myself and others as we are all experiencing a bit of a challenge in clear communication. The wires in our brains get crossed and symbols are not always appropriately interpreted which directly impacts verbal and written communications. With the Venus influence, M/R cycles often spontaneously bring up old ideas, details from past relationships, interactions and experiences.

During these times I feel like a Crow… a new detail or thought has caught my attention like a shiny object bouncing with sun. I can’t quite make it out so I stop to pick it up and examine this detail from all sides and ask, is there something I missed or is there some important detail here that will change an outcome or my perception on a matter? What is the connection here? Though life doesn’t stop for us. As I stop to become completely absorbed by this seemingly stray thought, the momentum of life keeps moving and I am buffeted by the sea of people flying past all around me until someone invariably knocks into me. Being unable to take that time internally causes great anxiety.

However, when we do not listen to what our internal barometers are telling us we are unable to benefit from the cycle of M/R and instead find ourselves dealing with that the darker side of Mercury/the Magician which thievery, trickery, tall tales, lies, deception, manipulation and gambling at life. We open ourselves to these things because we are not paying attention.

For this reason, we need to make the time to take that time. The timing of Mercury in Retrograde is felt more than ever since we started the transition into the Age of Aquarius where the whole of society and its systems are in upheaval. Just as Helios brought information from the Gods/the Sun to us, M/R slows things down so that we can pause long enough to align with that information. This knowledge informs our spiritual practice and the types of magic we weave.

In order to make the most of a M/R cycle double check your correspondences, perceptions, social engagement and travel plans. Limit the number of activities and commitments you put on your plate so you can actively carve out the time you need for processing, reflection and ritual. M/R has the talent for muting the majority of thoughts and guiding our attention to those unresolved pieces that have come loose for whatever reason. You will find there is a pattern that emerges.

When I start a ritual for M/R I tune into what pattern has emerged with the ideas or thoughts that have caught my attention and made me curious. If I don’t have the space to process, I will write it in my journal for later. I then set my intentions to be open to what rises to the surface guiding me in what I need to reassess and integrate in this new internal order. For instance, this last M/R has seen patterns emerge around little bits of stuff I no longer want to pack around because they are no longer important as well as doing away with making comparisons. I have also been more willing to take the time with having things be less perfect and feed my science-minded curiosity through experimenting whether that be with my clothing, my art or the way I plant items in the garden.

In the most general terms, I will set an altar with those items I am guided to use-mercury being reflective in nature guides me to use mirrors or silver gazing balls. Mercury reflects aspects needing further examination, bringing them to the forefront so that our awareness can focus. I will use an altar cloth of black, violet or sunset colors. I will bring in stones and depending on the time of year decorate the altar with herbs and flowers as well as create an incense. The moon phase will determine the type of rite and spell worked, with the final aim to recalibrate the new internal order accordingly.

We are curious to learn how you experience Mercury in Retrograde. Please share!

Blessed be my Witchy Brothers and Sisters

Mercury Correspondences

Herbal Helpers-Almond • Alyssum • Anise • Crocus • Fennel • Hazel • Heather • Honeysuckle • Lavender • Magnolia • Marjoram • Mulberry • Mullein • Parsley • Pelargonium • Peppermint • Rosemary • Southernwood •Vervain

Stone/Mineral Helpers- •Moss Agate • Aventurine • Carnelian • Citrine • Mercury • Mica • Muscovite • Opal • Sodalite

Colors-Orange, yellow, violet

Symbols-wings, feathers

Tarot Cards-Magician, VIII Wands, III Cups, V Pentacles, X Pentacles, VI Swords

Hex’n R.E.S.P.E.C.T. & the High Road

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Holly & Jacques

There is a lot of controversial discussion and argument about this topic of hexes. I frequently get asked whether it is okay to hex and how is the rule of three applied? Many pagans and witches argue that We are wild beings who stand outside boundaries and constraints of society. Others claim that the rule of three does not apply to them. And many others claim that they don’t care what anyone else thinks and they’re going to do what they want. Standing outside of social norms means we put our spiritual health first and foremost, we live by the sun and the moon and the cycles of nature, we are not bogged down by a sheeple mentality nor do we allow ourselves to be repressed or have social norms dictated to us that require us to undermine our natural connections or conform to norms that oppress our wildness and require us to compromise our soul. It doesn’t mean that we take our spiritual gifts and connections and cause harm and wreak havoc just because we have the ability to.

My response to the question of whether or not it’s okay to put a hex or curse on someone always comes back to the subject of respect. What respect do you have for yourself and others? It may sound counterintuitive, because many witches claim that they want to hex someone because they need protection or someone has been disrespectful to them in some way. In working magic intent is paramount and the most important aspect of magic-which is an extension of our own spiritual practice. To think otherwise is fallacy.

In reality as witches our spiritual practice, our beliefs, our experiences in relation to the realms around us as well as our connection and understanding to the natural world do set us apart and require that we stand outside of the boundaries of society. This knowledge and connection is rooted in the past but changes and grows as we are recycled and reborn. Though just like any other human the level of experience, connection, recall, finesse, capability, spiritual, emotional and intellectual intelligence varies from individual witch to individual witch. We are on a plane of existence that creates more for us based on our output. This is where the law of three and karma is based and is not so simple as to say that when you put something out you will receive it three times back. It’s not retaliatory or tit for tat. However nobody escapes that basic universal law.

In my own life RESPECT for myself and the natural world around me are one of the pillars of my foundation and a particular element that informs all aspects of my spiritual practice and intent with which I live my life. It also provides a very strong guide for myself. Respect for myself is an aspect of personal power. Respect I show to others is not dependent upon the situation or how others treat me, but an extension of my own personal power. Through the element of respect you also inform others how they are going to treat you and it aids in setting up your own personal boundaries. This means you stand in your own personal power and don’t succumb to a victim mindset or become reactionary and fearful. It is never an intelligent move to work magic from from that place. Unfortunately that is the place from which the majority of hexes are worked.

That being said we are all works in progress and I can’t claim to have gotten this 100% correct in my youth. My Scotch-Irish ancestry lends itself to a fiery trigger temper. To believe hexes or banishing someone can safely be done and with no consequences because a person doesn’t believe in the law of three or because they don’t care what others think is juvenile and immature. The sacred laws governing the universe apply to everyone, whether a witch believes in them or not. The axiom that in order to cure one must know how to curse is true; as curing frequently requires dismantling the cause. However cursing and hexing with the intent to harm another has consequences. Hexes are generally an emergency stop-gap measure and not one to be worked lightly. I think many of us have been in a position where we would have felt much better to react in a frustrating or fearful moment. This is where intelligence comes in….being able to take a pause, take a step back and look at a situation objectively and from all sides allows one to work magic from a different perspective. That is not to say that should a dire need for protecting my family or my home arise that I would not take action. I can truthfully say I’ve never placed a curse on anyone. (Not like I haven’t felt like it). I’ve only ever a handful of times felt the call to perform a hex/jinx and I chose to send that to situations for the most part, not people.

I credit self-respect for slowing my broom ride and getting out ahead of situations, for caring about the health of my spirit and the respect for the connection I have to the greater spirit at large for not letting people and situations get the best of me.

To all my classy witch and pagan brethren…..I raise a chalice to you! Blessed be!

Nature’s Aromatherapy~ Healing for the Soul

Posted on June 26, 2021 by Holly & Jacques

It’s already June and the Season of Beltane has been unusually hot and dry. Our spring project of extending a perennial bed in the unusual heat has seen us already having to water. Though it is worth it to have the extra fragrance in the garden.

We’ve just been blessed by a welcome rain storm that soaked our lands with much-needed rains. There is something magical in the interplay of dark storm clouds and sun. A temporary reprieve brings out brilliant sun to light up the glistening drops in the forest around our home beckoning us outside. As I step outside the cool wind blows a cascade of water from the trees and carries with it the healing scent of spring green foliage, new roses, honeysuckle, peonies and iris. Nature’s aromatherapy. There is something about the scents of the seasons that go beyond associated memories. The scents of nature are their own language to our souls. Spring brings forth sensuality, peace and healing to the heart and while lifting the mind to generate a sense of well-being.

As I inhale all of the beautiful fragrances on the breeze, I open myself up to all of the healing the Goddess has made available to us. I feel such gratitude for this soul connection to nature that heals, nurtures and guides me. Natures aromatherapy signals a shift in the rhythm of life and informs the activities we pursue and the types of magic we engage whether it be the sowing, growing and reaping of medicinal herbs, flowers and crops, to engagement with the fey, the God/dess force we connect with or the magic we weave-the observation and guidance of the seasons are as important now as they’ve ever been, especially in this fast paced socially synthetic world and I feel this witch would be lost without them.

May the Season of Bel continue to bless you and yours!

A Souls Release

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

s the wheel turns, October once again gives way to November and the killing frosts of the Crone have visited themselves upon the garden, bringing a halt to new growth while melting vines and flowers. The end of wild growth and external labors signal a time of transition as our outer awareness turns itself inward, heightening our otherworld senses. For many of us the enchanting Season of Samhain means working even more intensely and intimately with our Ancestors and disembodied spirits. We decorate our altars in welcome honor of our dead and the long ago ancestors rooted in our past that have given us life. We keep the old ways enlivened through ritually opening the gates, ensuring the presence of the old ones in the here and now, while drawing on the ancient knowledge and wisdom of those from whence we came. Through the acknowledgement of the dead we simultaneously celebrate the living and gather energies to help the visiting and newly departed to reach the ‘other side’.

For many witches and pagans who choose to work in close-knit groups there is an agreed upon purpose or goal. Our Coven had a particular anchor for the sending of our energy and light, however many years ago, during our yearly review, our coven made a collective decision to direct the sending of our energy towards aiding lost and disembodied souls in crossing over.

Many will recall the trauma felt around the country at the terrorist actions on 911. While we might be unable to agree whether it was a Muslim attack or an inside job, I think we can all agree that it was devastating on some level for all who witnesses the event, be it in person or via television.

As an empath I guard myself carefully from the onslaught of emotional vibration and am rarely overwhelmed and given to emotions I am unable to handle. On that particular day, however, the devastation and reverberating emotions overcame me. I felt sick in my solar plexus, faint and fractured. In all honestly, if I pause too long on that moment, it can still bring me to tears. In that moment I did the only thing I could do-I walked my shell-shocked disbelieving self outside to lay in the arms of mother earth and cry until I could no longer form tears.

By the end of it I felt hollowed out, raw and helpless. It was a sentiment echoed by our coven members and we all rallied in our own ways to provide relief to families in whatever way we could. The feelings were compounded as we were exposed to personal stories of the victims and families, repeated footage from all angles of destruction and more information/misinformation was fed to the news channels regarding ‘the facts’ and subsequent emergency response.

It became apparent that we needed to do something more as we begin to feel the overwhelming numbers of the lost and disembodies pressing up against us as we worked our rites. As with spirits who are left wondering after trauma, there is much in the way of confusion and suffering.

This led us to more intensely work towards the common goal of alleviating suffering through the gathering and welcoming of lost souls while providing the energy and momentum to cross over. While we work on this all through the year, it is much easier at Beltane and Samhain especially, to work these rites. We incorporated the powerful words of the ‘Soul-Leading’ and ‘Blessing for a Souls Release’ by the amazing Caitlin Matthews (If you are unfamiliar with her works, do yourself a favor and get the Celtic Devotional, you won’t regret it).

As witches, pagans, shamans and light workers, we once again find ourselves at a crossroads in regards to all of the souls that have been lost world wide to covid and covid related illness during this tumultuous year. Our Coven, along with Euphoric Naturals & Apothecary have chosen to host an event in the hopes that we can reach more people to collectively come together with the common goal of creating momentum around the globe that will alleviate suffering and confusion felt by so many at this time. If you visit the Souls Release event page, the discussion section will have the words being used to connect us all in our goal that can be easily incorporated to whatever personal rite you are performing.

We wish you all a Blessed Samhain!

Beltane Traditions-How we celebrate

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

Lovers Beltane Bouquet @ Rosethorn Manor

s the stark harshness of winter gives way to the gentle unfurling of spring our minds and activities turn toward spending time out of doors. Spring and Fall are two seasons I love in equal measure due to all of the changes big and small that can be both seen and felt. It is a time when the explosion of green buds, grasses and plant life in every direction hails the quickening of the earths energy towards growth, attraction and communion.

The energy of Beltane is abundant in activity, with birds singing, bees drunkenly overwhelmed in pollen and bunnies mad with the chase, while shyer plants and animals take their time. The sun and warm moisture have returned along with a bit of food~browse and nectar aplenty for the animals, whilst we are busy harvesting fall sown carrots, kale and salad greens. During this season we’ve been busy planting seed flats full of herbs, vegetables and flowers. There is nothing more rewarding than heading out to the greenhouse to take in the smell of damp soil and checking out all the little emerging seedlings-there is something new to appreciate every single day.

The returning light at Candlemas started slowly bringing our awareness from within, whereas the verdant lushness of Beltane slowly awakens our bodies and seduces our senses with the softness of new leaves and the intense sweetness of spring blossoms. There is nothing like the fresh life-giving breath of spring to fill our lungs with the fragrant air and bathe our bodies in the brilliant greens surrounding us to heal and engage our heart chakras on a whole new level. It is truly a season of growth and renewal as the burgeoning energy tangibly builds to a climactic burst of life. beltanewoods

During the Rites of Spring, we celebrate fecundity while also giving offerings to our ancestors, land spirits, fey and kin. We decorate our altars to welcome the energy of the season and prepare for the coming celebration by creating our Beltane Bundles of sacred woods, baking bread, infusing May wine with Sweet Woodruff and preparing a feast of seasonal foods.

It is also traditional to collect the first dew of the Bel morning, considered sacred, it is believed to bring healing and physical beauty.
dewcollected I collect the dew in two different ways. The night before I like to lay out a clean tea towel in a bowl on the grass. When I collect the towel the next morning I will run my hands over the cool dew-soaked grass and pat my neck and face. The towel will be rung out into a small vial so that I can add it to the sacred waters for our rite. I also like to collect dew into a little egg cup off of the lady’s mantle leaves. I will use this on my skin or add to a spell working.

Two favorite feast recipes are the May Wine and Beehive Bread with rosehip honey butter. Traditionally May Wine was used to celebrate the sabbat and call in the old gods being symbolic of the union of the God and Goddess.

It is best to plan ahead as this recipe takes about 24 hours to steep so that the herb imparts the essence of the woodruff. My favorite wine to use for this recipe is a homemade apple wine we make in the fall. If you do not have that tasty brew available then my next favorites would be a light Riesling or a Gewurztraminer. You can use dried woodruff for a more vanilla-like flavor, however, I try to use the freshest and newest grown of all I can on my Bel altar. While sweet woodruff is safe to use in small quantities such as in wine or altar cakes, this is not something you are going to want to add to everything as it has been known to cause dizziness and vomiting in large quantities. It also contains small amounts of coumarin and was used to thin the blood.

May Wine
Sweetwoodruff 1 bottle of apple or white wine (representative of the maiden goddess and everlasting life)
20 or so springs of Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) leaves and blossoms (is said to bring about protection and enliven male sexuality)
1 Tb local honey (amazing immune booster and sacred to the Goddess, powerful spellbinding ingredient)
10 Strawberries (adds a maiden’s blush)

Add clean organic blossoms and leaves of Sweet Woodruff to a bottle of wine. Let steep 24 hours. Strain and decant in a bowl, add a few fresh Woodruff flowers and some sliced strawberries.

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Bee Hive Bread
6 c flour
4 1/2 tsp or 2 pkts yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 c warm water
1/2 c honey
1/2 c cold butter grated
2 large eggs

Mix warm water a bit of the honey and yeast, letting stand for 15 minutes or so. Add beaten eggs, remaining honey and salt to water mixture. Add flour and mix then cut in butter. Knead until elastic and let rest until doubled in bulk.
Preheat oven. Push down and turn over a couple times in the bowl until a ball forms. Cover large ovenproof glass bowl with a sheet of foil. Make ropes and coil starting at the bottom and work your way to the top in the shape of a beehive. Brush with egg white for a glossy crust.
Bake @ 375 for 30 minutes.
While bread is baking mix 1 c softened butter, 1/3 c honey and a few drops of vanilla together. Butter is best when whipped with immersion or hand blender.
When bread is done remove from oven and let cool before peeling away foil. Serve with honey butter.

This Beltane season gives us much to be thankful for. Regardless of what is taking place in the world at large-we have our faith, our beautiful practice, each other and another turn on the wheel. From our Homestead Coven at Rosethornmanor to our pagan brethren wherever you are lighting your Balefires-we wish for you an abundance of opportunity and prosperity in these trying times.

Happy Bel and Blessed Be!

Full Moon in Libra

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

FM Grid Libra

e find ourselves in a place of perfect opportunity with the upcoming April FullMoon. A large portion of the world is housebound and facing the foretold challenge of social turbulence and material scarcity. Little did we know it would take the form of a virus and toilet paper shortages. Since March’s Full Moon we experienced the joyous celebration of the Spring Equinox Ostara Sabbat where sowed blessed seed for the coming season.

Libra’s motto is “I balance & weigh” with the purpose to take the Measure of our Souls. The archetype is the Judge. Keywords are conscience, cooperation, equality, diplomacy, intelligence, balance, perfectionist and adaptable.

Libra teaches us arriving at mindful, deliberate and well-thought-out decisions taking into account all angles will bring about a successful future. It is a strange time and feels a bit surreal, sort of like the dust settling after a long storm. Our planet has been bombarded with the actions of humans and as humans, we are bombarded by the energies of others. In this we must take care to not let other’s feelings, emotions, anxieties and panic affect ourselves and our actions. It is also the perfect time to tune into ourselves with crystal clarity whilst a large majority of people are at home and the world grows quiet. We can see the effects in the climate with animals around the world returning to old spawning/mating grounds, seismologists have noted fewer rumblings almost immediately, less air pollution=improved air quality, less noise pollution above ground and in the oceans. This list goes on, proving that the world would do well from a break from human activity bombardment for a month each year.

The combination of Sun in Aries and Moon in Libra sends our inner flame outward in the pursuit of understanding spiritual truths impacting our thoughts and behaviors. Albert Einstein correctly surmised, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” It is the walk of the Spiritual Warrior that is called upon now to change our world through changing our thinking, which in turn changes our actions. Adapting to thrive beyond survival in challenging times and directing our inner flame with honed precision requires honesty, integrity, reflection and intentional purpose that gives power to our walk.

During this Libran Full Moon the influence of aspected Mars in conjunction with Saturn, Uranian impulsivity and Mercury in close sextile to the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction will push us to look closely at our deepest soul and heart level intentions currently manifesting itself in our lives, spell workings and spiritual practices. It is time to scry by Aries fire and recognize these truths. The Libran thoughts connected with Venus heart centered understanding will feel different from others as thoughts that arise from our soul, heart and mind being aligned will be accompanied with a solid knowing. These thought feelings will be known by the warmth felt throughout your body from top to bottom, your senses will be heightened and you will have a sense of its rightness and purity as in the ringing of a struck piece of crystal.
The areas where we have resistance, fear or avoidance will also point to future areas that need to be addressed during the dark of the moon, so make note of these as well.

This Full Moon will require the oftentimes difficult aspect of putting oneself first and forefront. There is often a lot of resistance to this within ourselves as we are frequently led to believe putting ourselves first is a selfish act. Self-care is not a selfish act, but one of required maintenance to grow as a person and be healthy for ourselves and others. We are part of a larger whole, which is only as healthy as its parts. The most healthy act a person can do is the caretaking of self and meeting your own needs in order to manifest a healthy unit. This Libra esbat will give us the energy needed to take back the power that flows through our veins handed down through our ancestral roots and lifetimes past. Let the truth of your inner self, your magic and your life’s purpose rise to the top and forefront of your awareness so that you can walk in your power.

During this time we are in a unique position to affect lasting change and weave magic into the world unlike ever before. We are calling on the power of witches, pagans, shamans, healers and spiritualists to join forces and weave magic in the fabric of our everyday reality while bringing forth balance and harmony.

Starting on April 8th at sundown, each person will enact their own rite and light a candle (preferably a 7 day if you have it). The wave of energy will be sent around our planet for a full 24 hours and continue as long as our candles burn. Please join in the power ritual by going to Euphoric Naturals & Apothecary Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/819088128585761/

For those joining us, please post a picture of your candle lighting on our https://www.facebook.com/EuphoricNaturals/ page as well as on Instagram #Homesteadcoven.

As you cast your circles and create sacred space, remember…….we are all in this together. May you be thricely blessed in the coming times. Blessed Be!

Season of Ostara

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

Ostaracollage

stara, also known as Alban Eiler, Eostre, Summer Finding and Vernal Equinox, is a fertility festival celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls sometime between March 20th and March 22nd. On the spring and fall equinoxes, day and night are of equal lengths. Ostara begins with sunrise to celebrate the light overcoming the darkness and the heralding of spring, burgeoning growth and potent prosperity.

The feminine aspect of the Spring Maiden and the masculine aspect of the Horned God are called upon so that we may align with the necessary balance required for gentle growth getting ready to burst forth at Beltane. The external focus of the Ostara season is coaxing new life forth. We recognize that the length of our days have been growing ever so slightly since Yule (even though it does not feel like it at times) and this light is sending signals to the animals, our brains and plants around us to start mating and growing. The balancing act comes in reading the signs correctly. In the witch’s garden hellebore, witch hazel, snowdrops, early crocus and daphne are all blooming, however, if temporary warmth is coupled with too many full sunny days, some plants unable to withstand freeze start popping up and then buds are killed by the frost. If we misread the signs and become too eager to start our gardens, the plants in the end become listless and weak. Just as God and Goddess are learning what it is to grow the masculine and feminine energies necessary for the hieros gamos at Bel; spiritually cycles of woman and man play out similarly as we too learn to be priests and priestess in our own lives and embody the sacred energies.

At this time in the PNW, most of the snow is gone and we welcome yellow forsythia brightening the hedge as well as early daffodils and little purple-blue lungwort. These early risers along with fragrant purple hyacinth, daphne and witch hazel are placed around our homes and spring altars along with pastel-colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, rose quartz, jasper, birch, potted shamrocks, early pussy willow and seeds for blessing. While there are many stories about bunnies once being a bird and transformed to lay an egg on Ostara, there are more practical reasons for the symbology. Bunnies are associated with the goddess due to their gentle nature and nocturnal habits. They tend to be prolific in numbers and make more of an appearance during the day, chasing each other before breeding. Egg laying picks up around February, we tend to see a huge upswing in production around this time, which is welcome after so few eggs in the winter. The allegorical theme arises from the Goddess bringing forth the birthed World Tree egg of life and mystery to be laid bare before the Sun God so the fiery spark of heat and light quickens the seed within.

At this time, we come together to pay homage to the Spring Goddess and Horned God. We align ourselves with the vulnerable tendrils of equinox season, seeking balance before taking our next steps. Additionally, we give an offering of gratitude for the returning light seen in the joyous bright colors and intensely scented blooms. We call for the blessing of our seeds, so that they may be strong, healthy and abundant. New beginnings are cast through the seeds of our Grain Goddesses with plenty of water to nurture us until Beltane.

We dye eggs a brilliant red to represent the life-giving blood of the goddess. Each egg contains a message to guide the potential we have within. The shells are then used to plant wheat and nasturtiums or cast into the garden.

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;

Sow an act, and you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, and you reap a character;

Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

– Charles Reade

What have you planted for the coming year?

Calling all Pagans, Witches, Elders, Healers, Shamans & Spiritualists…..

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

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Let us come together and combine our sparks, weave our magic in light and dark!

Euphoric Naturals & Apothecary and the Conveners of Ivy Moon are sending out a call to all Peoples, no matter your path, to join us on the next full moon in sending a wave of love and light around the world.

As was predicted, the year of 2020 would see revolutionary change in social systems and our personal relationships with society and the world at large. Little did we know how these changes would be brought about or what it would look like.

As we speak, many are on the frontlines attending to the sick or working jobs where there is no choice but to do so, while everyone else does their part in staying home to avoid spreading the contagion. The fear, panic, anxiety and overwhelm is palpable.

What most people do not know about pagans, witches and spiritualists is how tirelessly many of us work behind the scenes for the health, protection, healing and benefit of our families, friend, communities, planet and the world at large. In WWI the witches of England banded together and protected their country by turning the tides on the enemy. Many of you may remember in 2000 the late Abby Willowroot founded and launched The Goddess 2000 Project, where we covens and individuals alike created Goddess statues, lit candles and performed rituals that incrementally took place around the world for 24 hours. We ‘Danced the Goddess Home’ and back into the forefront of the earth plane consciousness. It was powerful and effective, to say the least.

With this Call to Action, we hope to follow in the footsteps of the visionary Abby Willowroot and work magic similarly through the combined efforts of all. With this working we strive to bring about change and balance by calling on the goodness and humanity in people to reorient humanistic values to kindness, compassion and respect for all living creatures. It is our intent, through this act, that the ripple effect will impact on a heart level so that each individual from the house wife to the policy maker and people in positions of power will behave in a wholistic heart-centered way. May awareness be awoken in the heart of each living being and felt through all the lands.

We are in a unique position to affect lasting change and weave magic into the world unlike ever before. The April 2020 Full Moon in Libra, ruled by the planet of Venus and Love, provides us with skills of intelligence, diplomacy, intuition that aid us in bringing back balance and harmony.

Starting on April 8th at sundown, each person will enact their own rite and light a candle (preferably a 7 day if you have it). The wave of energy will be sent around our planet for a full 24 hours and continue as long as our candles burn. The first place to kick this project off will be in Fiji and Samoa, followed by New Zealand and continue on down the list. We have placed countries in order according to the ripple of sunsets. If we could get people from each country to commit to a sunset lighting we will be able to collectively combine our energies and align our planet with a healing heartfelt frequency.

For our part we will be setting up an altar specific to our goal, preloading with a meditation, raising energy and then lighting a 7-day candle at the specified time. Please look at the list to see where your country falls in order and sign up for a slot. If you would like please share what you will be doing. Get the word out to everyone in your groups, covens and circles, everyone is included.

Fiji, Samoa and Christmas Island/Kiribati
New Zealand
Most of Australia
Japan, South Korea and North Korea
China, Philippines, Singapore
Thailand, Cambodia and large parts of Indonesia
Bangladesh
Nepal

India and Sri Lanka

Pakistan
Azerbaijan
Iran
Turkey, Iraq, Kenya and most of Russia
Greece, Romania, South Africa, Hungary and other central and eastern European cities
Germany, France, Italy, Algeria, Belgium, Spain
UK, Ireland, Ghana, Iceland, Portugal
Regions of Brazil
Argentina, regions of Brazil, Chile, Paraguay
Some regions of Canada, Bolivia, Puerto Rico
Eastern Standard Time in the US – New York, Washington, Detroit and Cuba
Central Standard Time in the US – Chicago
Mountain Standard Time in the US – Colorado, Arizona
Pacific Standard Time in the US – LA, Nevada
Alaska
Hawaii
American Samoa
Baker Island, Howland Island

Dark Days & Keeping it Real ~orienting ourselves in trying times…

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.”

― John F. Kennedy

erry Meet Pagan Peoples! I think one thing as a country we can all agree upon (for once) is the trying nature of our current health crisis. What will define us as humans and the character of our country will be how we move through these seriously trying times.

Let us grab a cup of our favorite nerve-calming tea (mine is honey ginger crystals as we speak) and have a chat witch-to-witch in an attempt to orient ourselves appropriately. As previously mentioned in The Magic of 2020 and the Cancer Full Moon blog posts, this year would bring many challenges both in issues of material scarcity and our relation to social systems. The writing was on the wall for some sort of swift change to take place, however, I don’t believe any of us could know how it would play out.

The Kennedy quote starting this piece was chosen due to its simple and pared-
down truth…..our planet, our country and our communities
Crisis are in danger crisis and there is no escaping it. I cannot speak for everyone’s experience, but from my own, I have seen people on both ends of the spectrum. From seriously freaked out to casually not thinking it is that big and everything in-between. The panicked energy in the streets and in the stores is palpable, which for us empathic and intuitive types is toxic and immobilizing in of itself if one is not on-guard. Though one need not be psychic or intuitive to feel the fear. At one end we have people bogarting toilet paper and bleach to the other end where college kids are at the beach carrying on like it’s nothing.

Anyone with a modicum of sense realizes that we are truly in a place of danger and as a community, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep each other safe. As in any other situation, we can choose to respond or react. This choice will determine our success.

In these times it is normal for people to freak out, become fearful and overwhelmed or shut down and become depressed. People may feel alone and isolated, confused, lost, suicidal and unsure of what to do. I, personally, have experienced all of these emotions and situations in my life at one time or another and I am sure I am not alone in this. However, having gotten this far in my life, I also know that as in all else, those feelings and situations are temporary, I do possess the ability, intelligence and power to move beyond it. The downfall leading to most failures in such situations is feelings of depression, helplessness, powerlessness and overwhelm. The way to combat these emotions and be successful is always forward movement of some kind, even if it’s incremental. This is where magic and practical mundane living go hand in hand-both need a plan, idea or need and a jumping-off point or an initiator spark. We are witches for goddess sakes-we know how to make a spark!

The first order of business is to STAY CALM for ourselves and our family so that we can keep a level head about us and Find Our Bearings!

~FIND (ONE’S) BEARINGS-to recognize or determine one’s orientation, position or abilities relative to one’s surroundings or situation.~

In finding our bearings we must first identify the situation-which we all understand to be the ‘Virus that Shall not Be Named’ (in actuality we know its name but I don’t want to have this piece blocked, so just in case…) and arm ourselves with factual information. One of the most important acts we can do is to take care of our health. This means getting quality sleep, safeguarding our immune system against inflammation and bacteria (such as making Immune Booster Brew) and mindfully processing stress. I say mindfully process because there is no way around the fact that this health crisis will impact every person on some level. Stress causes an inflammation response in our bodies which leaves us susceptible to illness.

The second thing to do is to determine our position and abilities. This is where opportunities arise and will look different for everyone. We must take into account fiduciary responsibilities, family members, health, age, housing, personal strenghts and level of preparedness. This is not a time to judge yourself or others, it is simply a time to look at the facts and take stock. Inform yourself with quality information-the podcast with R ogen is pretty informative.

Armed with the facts about your situation will lead to the third step of creating an action plan asking ourselves: what do I need to do now, what can I do in the short term and what needs to be planned for in the long term?

For my family this has translated into ‘business as usual’. What does that look like in the real world? Knowing what was written in the stars coupled with the fact that we are so far from a store, my family did put up some supplies-though little did we know TP would be such a hot commodity, LOL. In addition to our business Euphoric Naturals & Apothecary, I also work as a teacher. This meant preparing kids at school on our last day and finishing up paperwork this last week, before being sent home to self-isolate. Now, this wasn’t part of our plan as I didn’t foresee being off work or my child being home for five weeks, which equates to the use of more food and TP. My husband is still commuting to work. As with many businesses, they want everyone working from home, but we are in a dead zone and lack the internet speed (insert heavy sigh and eye roll here). It means I still get up early and see my husband off, do my workout and have a cup of tea or coffee to enjoy the quiet before my handsome son blesses me with his presence. I am diligent about wearing amethyst and black tourmaline to protect my auric field and combat the vibes of rising panic (especially when I go out for supplies or converse with others.) I sit at my planner and review what tasks I need to accomplish for the day.

For the now- we spent the weekend getting grocery items and building supplies to fill in any gaps. I have a teenager which meant conversations around going to the school to getting learning packets from some of his teachers as well as expectations around the structure of his day which will include time out of doors, exercise, reading and working on educational things, not just video games all day. For us, it also meant a conversation around food-making sure he didn’t skip breakfast and would result in wanting to eat more lunch and dinner foods that might not be available due to long term meal planning.

In the short term, it meant reaching out first to my family members, friends and coven mates to check on them. Next, because we are all in this together, it meant reaching out to my community and school to assess needs and see where I could be of help. As a counselor and ordained minister, I am able to offer assistance to community members and since I have a car I am able to be a meal runner for our schools. This, of course, could change as needs arise on our social media forums. The opportunity for family time is wide open-game nights, puzzles, cooking lessons, dirt bike rides, etc. Setting a structured plan for my son’s time, much to his chagrin, that doesn’t include video games all day is a pretty high priority, because….business as usual. Next on the list is to attend to our sacred space and home with a deep spring cleaning with Florida Water to clear out all the winter bogies and allergins, followed by a thorough smudging. Black Obsidian is stationed under our beds, couches and both doors. It is important at this time to keep the energies in our home clear of stress and panic. At this time we start getting the garden ready and now have time to take seeds we blessed at the previous full moon and get them potted up in the greenhouse. It’s also a good time to practice some candle magic. I have a lavendar and cedarwood oiled orange candle for courage burning during the day and a blue peppermint candle burning for peace in the evening.

In the long term, it means acknowledging this is something that could have long-lasting effects on product and food production. For my family this is asking how do we manage our dollars and what does our skinny budget look like? How can we slowly put aside a few staples here and there? If you have the ability to grow your own food, then do so. If you already grow food how can your ramp up food production to take your family further through the year as well as help your community? We are ramping up what we grow in our garden this year and preparing to save seeds. It’s time to dust off the to-do list of projects that take longer than a few hours and start chipping away at it, whether that be house and yard maintenance, cleaning out pantries and closets, completing some Book of Shadow pages, learn a new skill, revive an old skill, try out a new recipe, learn more about your favorite element, divination method, god or goddess, meditate, take time to slow dance, organize, read that stack of books that have piled up and reconnect with ourselves and the land. Make plans for different ways to celebrate family. It means at our new moons and full moons we are striving for protection of family, health, finances, and community while manifesting abundance and balance.

The time at home with family is unprecedented but has given all of us such an opportunity to pull together as a unit and a community. The choice is what we do with the time and situations as they arise. For us it is focusing on family, helping each other stay positive, being gentle with ourselves & others and most important of all-keeping our sense of humor.

From our family to yours, we wish everyone balance, safety, abundance & sanity!

“Every test successfully met is rewarded by some growth in intuitive knowledge, strengthening of character, or initiation into a higher consciousness.”

― Paul Brunton

How are you making the most of your time?…..we would love to hear from you!

What’s Brewing?

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

e currently are all a part of a larger health crisis facing our great nation. We all will be impacted by the current outbreak, whether it be through our children’s schools (our kids in WA state are out until April 24th), layoffs, minor illness, knowing someone who has fallen ill or falling ill ourselves.

While every factor cannot be known, one way we can combat anxiety and overwhelm is by taking action where our health is concerned. We pagans are known as brewmasters (among many other names)….we love our mead and other lovely concoctions, but right now I am speaking more to a medicinal brew.

One of my favorite brewings is a spicy concoction sure to bring my family through the cold and flu season. It tastes like a deliciously fragrant and tangy salad dressing with a kick.

It is full of ingredients that most kitchen witches will have in our pantries or gardens. A semblance of this recipe was originally obtained from a shop many years ago and thusly has changed somewhat as I have learned more about herbology and healing herbs. I started adding turmeric because it is so good for us A blood types and really every blood type as well as rosemary. Additionally, on a whim, I also added some very strongly aged blueberry kombucha that I had brewed. While the kombucha is by no means a requirement, it is so beneficial on so many levels, if you brew your own, why not give it a try.

How does it work? All of the herbs, roots and ingredients work to boost the immune system, fight free radicals and balance your Ph so that your body can do the job it was designed to do.

The recipe that follows is enough to fill a 1/2 gallon jar which is 128 tablespoon-sized servings. IMMUNUe booster

IMMUNE BOOSTER BREW

Fill a half-gallon jar with:

Rosemary 2-6″ branch
~beneficial in healing due to its rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, helping boost the immune system.

Thyme 6-5″ sprigs
~an antiseptic, expectorant, antispasmodic, digestant, anti-fungal and ant-microbial, rich in vitamins and minerals and an ally to the respiratory tract.

Turmeric 2-3 teaspoons
~contains curcuminoids with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps your body fight foreign invaders and repairs damage

Black Peppercorns 1 TB (slightly crushed)
~Packed with potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin K and vitamin C it is a natural anti-depressant, anti-bacterial and helps turmeric be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Onion 1 rough chopped
~anti-inflammatory, ease joint pain, indigestion, antibiotic, and an expectorant (loosen phlegm)

Cayenne powder 1 TB
~contains vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, choline, lutein, vitamin A. Works as an antioxidant and anti-bacterial as well as pain reliever.
Ginger 2 TB grated root with juice
~Well known for anti-nausea properties it also works to reduce inflammation, promote circulation and as an anti-bacterial.

Honey 1/2 c
~works as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and full of phytonutrients.

Grated horseradish root 1-2 TB heaping
~contains vitamin C, folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zine manganese and compounds of glucosinolate and sinigrin which works as an antioxidant to fight cell damage caused by free radicals

Juice of 2 Lemons
~amazing and lovely in that it smells amazing, promotes hydration, contains vitamin C, calcium, bioflavinoids that boost the immune system and help fight infection, helps prevent kidney stones, works as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-anxiety (all too important with the current hysteria). Lemon juice actually works to balance our Ph which inhibits bacteria from invading and taking hold which make us sick.

Fill about 1/3 of the way with Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother if you can find it, if not regular apple cider vinegar will suffice.
~apple cider works as an antimicrobial and antioxidant. The fermented elixir helps feed the healthy gut bacteria in an area known as our second brain.

You can fill the remainder of the jar with Water or if you brew kombucha– a mix of the two.

Shake jar really well and place in a dark spot on your counter or in a cupboard. Shake it a couple of times a day. It will be ready in 7-10 days, though I start using it the same day. It is usually recommended that brews such as this be kept in a dark jar, however we just keep ours in the cupboard.

We use 1 tablespoon in the morning and 1 tablespoon in the evening. When my son was younger I used a teaspoon full. We use this a lot in the cold season but it is good all throughout the year as it is beneficial for overall health.

Keeping your family healthy is never overrated and one way to keep the craziness of life at bay.

Happy BREWING and blessed Health!