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!

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!

Understanding Pisces New Moon 2020

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

t red

he year of 2020 has seen a transition from Pisces to Aquarius and with it a shift in our personal alignment to higher spiritual wisdom coupled with our relationship to social systems. In February the powerful Leo Full Moon illuminated the dark hallows shielding blockages that contributed to our suffering as well as stood in our way of stepping into our personal power. This last esbat NM in Pisces allowed us to unpack emotions regarding our path and aspirations.

Keywords for Pisces are:

*Dreams *Creativity *Psychic *Divination *Intuition

In the body, Pisces rules the feet, toes and lymphatic system. (The lymphatic system works primarily to carry infection-fighting white blood cells while also working to rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials).

Feet are vitally important in carrying us on our path and foot ailments can manifest when we are not walking our truth. Our ability to navigate the terrain becomes compromised and we often ‘lose ground’.

The magical and spiritual workings for the year will focus on balance and our place in the world. January and February had us honing our inspirations, adjusting our ambitions and assessing our material resources. Thusly, seeds sown these last two months will help us navigate our relationship to monetary restrictions while meeting our fiduciary responsibilities Additionally, we have begun the process of digging deep to discover what drives us, what closely held values do we believe at our core and how does this contribute to the creation of our most authentic self as the month of March brings forth a shake-up of society structures. (This can already be seen as a vying for power and position in politics commences with the impending elections).

Themes around the questions of ‘who am I and who do I want to be”? continue to be explored as we work in the challenge of adapting and adopting a way that is integrous and balanced. The seeds we are growing will empower and nourish our authentic selves without giving into the consensus trance of what is right or useful according to society?

This Pisces NM offers us the opportunity to look at our internal landscapes. We are assessing where we currently stand and as with any new moon, where do we go from here?

In order to arrive at an answer, one must assess where we spend the most time physically, emotionally and mentally. All three are driven by wants and needs. Everyone has basic needs requirements, however, it is important to travel beyond survival mode to develop and grow. In order to understand deeply held motives and desires driving our behaviors and actions, we need to look at our needs and wants objectively without judgement. This by no means gives cart blanche to act upon all wants but simply illustrates in a quantifiable way what is truly driving our powers of manifestation in both the concrete realms and the craft working realms.

In an effort to counteract greed, our culture has attempted to differentiate between a want and need, with wants having had a lot of negativity attached to them. Needs are generally focused on survival where wants are frequently seen as wasteful or unnecessary. With these ideas in mind, the next step is to evaluate our relationship to wants; in a lifetime it is next to impossible to single out every defining moment that has shaped how we value ourselves and our relationship to what we want. Many of us have been taught that what we want for ourselves is bad or selfish, wants are all about ego or not being grateful for what one has or, my personal favorite, if you want more for yourself you are ungrateful and therefore it will all be taken away. In reality, how can one ever really know who they are in life without unpacking wants, needs and dreams for good or ill?

We can spend so much time judging the rights and wrongs of needs and wants that we quit dreaming. Evaluating and picking apart every aspect kills it all. Ultimately this Pisces New Moon was about dreaming and creating without judgement, allowing our intuition to be our guide.

Our New Moon Vows were centered around this motif. Between this Pisces New Moon and the Virgo Full Moon, take time to unpack your wants and dream in the healing light of the goddess as we ready ourselves for attracting good vibes in March.

Merry Meet and Blessed Be!

For the Love of Valentine

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. ~Rumi

heartcrystalfangrid copy

alentine’s Day is one associated with lovers, couples and many may argue….commercialism. As with any other public opinion, it requires examination so that one may evaluate and respond in a way that honors our path and our relationships in a way that feels authentic and productive.

There are as many types of love as there are people with the most remarked on and notable being: Eros (sexual, passionate, romantic), Agape (universal love/heart chakra centered), Philia (friendship and goodwill), Storge (familial/parental), Ludus (playful activity, flirting, seduction), Philautia (self-love: both the healthy and unhealthy kind), and Pragma (practical and compatible). Despite Valentine’s Day being associated with lovers, through the ages it has been a day to celebrate love and friendship of all kinds.

For many of us, our introduction to Valentine’s Day and love outside of the home began in grade school. It is a holiday full of creativity and social/emotional growth, but at times could be a bit painful as well. For me, Valentine’s Day was exciting because I loved art and V Day meant access to new art supplies of red and pink paper, hearts, sequins and delicate lace paper doilies. As a class, we worked diligently creating homemade collages loosely representing a Valentine’s card, most often to our parents. We would then practice our spelling and fine motor skills to write out our classmate’s names on flimsy store-bought cards sporting cheesy pictures to later take to school and hurriedly place in construction paper mailboxes taped to our desks. If we are lucky some generous parent would include a little chocolate, a box of candy hearts or a sticker. After the cards were passed out, everyone would excitedly open the cards. I was psychoanalytical even as a small child and so would evaluate each person’s message by their choice of card. Did I get cards from all my friends, was there a special crush card from someone I didn’t know that liked me? Potential hurt would be present when someone didn’t give me a card as I couldn’t understand why.

In later grades, our minds are stretched in figuring out how to express words of caring to our friends without sounding stupid or giving someone the wrong idea, while in turn telling someone we like them…..without actually admitting it in the event we are rejected. Our social and emotional skills are tested as we are told by our parents that we must write a card to every student on the list, even when we don’t want to. As we get older our personalities begin to develop as do conflicts and we don’t necessarily want to include everyone in our circle of love. We begin weighing our like and dislike of each other based on how we’ve been treated, hurts experienced (imagined and unimagined) to withholding a piece of ourselves in not sharing a card with the feelings of what it felt like when we didn’t receive a card. At this time (hopefully) conversations begin around what is love, kindness, generosity and compassion? How do we deal with people who don’t treat us well or return affection? How do we deal with emotional related hurts and disappointments? It all can become complicated very quickly and have lasting benefits or consequences depending on what tools we are taught.

Eventually ‘Will you be Mine’ hearts and paper doily cards give way to roses, chocolates and more adult overtures or expressions of love. Depending on our past experiences we can choose this to be a time of joy and celebration or a time of jaded pessimism. Valentine’s Day has no shortage of celebrants and is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Despite its popularity, many detractors denounce V Day as simply a commercial holiday designed to make people just spend more money. To that, I would say that nobody can make you feel or do things you don’t want to.

In reality, Valentine’s Day occurs during the Season of Imbolg, a time where the weak light starts quickening the seeds of life within. We start waking up from the hibernation and slowly stretch our delicate tendrils to the light in an effort to leave winter behind. It is interesting to note how V Day occurs during this time of the year.

There is much in the way of controversy surrounding the origination of Valentine’s Day. One theory postulates St. Valentine was a 3^rd-century Roman saint who started out as a priest, ministering to persecuted Christians. He was imprisoned, whereby he fell in love with a young girl to whom he allegedly penned a letter and signed “From your Valentine”. Valentine was martyred and then commemorated in death on February 14^th.

Another theory stems from the actions of Emperor Claudius II, who decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives, therefore outlawing marriage for young men. Valentine felt this was unjust and married young lovers in secret. When Claudius learned of this deception, he ordered the death of Valentine.

The romanticism of either myth has not been forgotten all these years later. It does, however, beg the question of whether or not it was initiated by the Christians in an effort to usurp the fertility festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to Faunus, the god of agriculture? This fertility ritual occurred in the middle of February in conjunction with the beginning of birds’ mating season. There is the soft fragrance of early lily of the valley, witch hazel, redbud and forsythia as well as the returning sounds of birds. There is a flurry of activity in the pairing up and nest building of these birds as well. Those in rural areas see this quickening result in new beginnings: the birth of lambs and early calves as well as chickens starting to lay eggs (another seed of life) after a long dark winter.

As pagans in tune with the cycles of the earth, we understand the need for her balance and upkeep. Our voice and power to effect change are expressed through what we spend on consumables. While there are a lot of consumables to be indulged in during Valentine’s Day, one does not have to sell the farm and buy up the store to show love. Many argue that loving-kindness and the generous nurturing of a relationship needs to be shown to our partners all year long, not just on one day a year. I do not believe any person truly engaged in a relationship would argue that statement. A relationship is a living co-creation that requires daily mindful attention of all people involved, as a whole year of maintenance and attention cannot be crammed into one day.

I liken the group mind energy of Lupercalia/Valentine’s Day to that of Winter Solstice/Yule/Christmas, in that the magic felt during the Solstice season is big and heartfelt with energy for spell working much easier to raise because people have open hearts and are largely of the same group mind.

Valentine’s Day is all about choices. The value is in the micro choices taking place each day in how you choose to show up in your relationship. How one approaches Valentine’s Day is a personal choice and like anything else in life-you get out of it, what you put in. Valentines Day can be as unique as the couple celebrating and one can choose to view V Day as another commercial holiday or one can take the opportunity of the curated Valentine’s venues to tap into the love vibes and cast a spell on each other for deeper connection and another memorable year. At this time of year, I build an altar for the love of my family and friends. I make special treats and pen cards to hand out as a personal expression of how I feel and want to make others feel. Valentine’s Day does not need to be fancy, just genuine.

Love is the Law of the Land and Love is the most powerful force on earth. Even more amazing is this year it falls on Friday-that day ruled by Venus, the Goddess of Love. Any reason to celebrate love in all of its forms is worthy of time and attention in my book!

However you choose to celebrate-may the Goddess bless your love thricely now and in the coming year!

Cheers and Blessed Be

The Magic of 2o2o-Age of Aquarius

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Holly & Jacques

2020moon

t red he beginning of a new year can be a time inspiring change in our lives. We don’t know what the year holds for us, but we hold in our hearts the hope for new opportunities to move us forward. It is said that it is darkest before the dawn and 2o2o is just such a moment. We all have the amazing fortune to be not only witnessing but experiencing a historically pivotal time of spiritual and social transition.

For the World-2020 is the year where the Age of Pisces ends and the Age of Aquarius begins. We all know in life, beginnings and endings are never black and white. Ingrained world views and systems of belief cannot be changed overnight and thusly been quite apparent in the political, racial, social, environmental, civil, religious and spiritual upheavals taking place worldwide, especially in the last 50 years. Never has the world been so divided on every level.

The Age of Pisces values money, power, technology, and control; hence the destruction of our planet in the name of greed and the almighty dollar, oppressive social structures, over consumerism and demonization of anything or anyone directly connected to the Gods, the Old Ways, the Divine Source. As Sandra Weaver said, ” Throughout most of Pisces though this spiritual side is for the most part seen as the truth hidden behind the five senses. Spirituality was seen in relation to the world, not through an innate knowing of divinity“.

The Age of Aquarius values love, compassion and integrity of self which kicks off a time of healing our planet, our society and ourselves through humanitarian efforts. It is a time that brings us back to our ancestral roots and strengthens the need to participate in our local communities. Just as Pisces started out with the strengths of the sign, growth peaked and then became consumed in cycles perpetuated by its weaknesses; something that needs to be safeguarded against with the Aquarian traits if we are to be successful in healing our planet, society and ourselves.

While It can be very difficult to be a spiritual person in society with its currently held beliefs, the Age of Aquarius has the potential of ushering in a more spirit-centered/connected existence. This is now the time of embracing daily spiritual practices revering a higher power/intelligence and using our pagan understanding of our interconnectedness to the cosmos and natural systems that impact and inform our spiritual and earthly realities (which science is finally recognizing to be a truth). The question for the year and even possibly the decade is “Who am I going to be?” “How am I going to show up?” during this time of great change and transition.

It appears as if 2o2o is going to be a year of opportunity in reforming ourselves and aligning ourselves with more profound spiritual wisdom. For us, at Rosethorn Manor we have opted to focus our magical workings on maintaining the balance necessary in times of tumultuous change while weaving in the unique requirements of each individual.

How do you plan to ‘bring it’ for 2o2o?

‘Familiar’ Loss

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Holly & Jacques

“We never get over great losses; we absorb them, and they carve us into different, often kinder, creatures.”

― Gail Caldwell

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Witch’s Familiar is something of tall tales as told in history books and still a very integral part of spiritual practice for many of us. In April, we lost our beloved Familiar, Ms. Lyra, and it’s taken me this long to be able to share. Lyra was a huge part of our every day in every-way life and the loss is a particularly deep and painful one. I have sustained the loss of dogs, cats, horses, grandparents and both of my parents; the list goes on. As pagan peoples bearing close ties to the energies and frequencies we live and work with, the loss is deeply felt and a familiar is extremely hard. Every place I turn in my bedroom, in the garden, in the barn, on the front porch is ghosted with her presence and constant reminders at every turn. Our lives were enriched by her presence, by her nurturing nature, by the flash of her golden eyes and her sassy chatter. Ms. Lyra would watch over me wherever I went: while I slept, she patrolled the land; when I was up in the morning, she raced through the dog door to have a morning meditation; when I went running, she frequently insisted on running 2 miles or more with me through the woods (which is highly usually for just a regular cat and indicated I needed to be on the watch for something); when sick she would give her healing energy to whomever needed it.

Our spiritual practice was enriched through her awareness of that which could not be seen and her supportive presence during circle. Her energy and frequency added another layer of power and connection to our workings that is much different now that she is gone.

Almost everyone has experienced a serious loss of some sort in their lives, whether it be a family member, friend, home, job, beloved pet or familiar. Loss is always hard unless it’s the last five pounds of winter weight. It is a feeling I have become far too familiar with and therefore know what to expect, though I do not believe that it is an experience one ever truly gets used to. “They” say that time heals all wounds, however, one would need to define ‘heal’. Loss is an oxymoron, in that one has less of something, yet somehow feels heavier in our grief.

RIP

The process of healing is different for everyone and there is no right or wrong way to grieve, other than ignoring it. In the face of grief remember to be gentle with yourself, give yourself time and honor life and loss in your own way.

All these months later and our loss still feels heavy and fresh. We have honored her presence in our Samhain Season rites and will continue to remember Ms. Lyra equally as we acknowledge any family member.

Ms. Lyra-the lives of those at Rosethorn Manor and been blessed by your presence and will never be the same again. May your soul ride gently and safely on the joyful breath of Bastet until we meet once again my beloved. RIP

If you have lost a beloved Familiar, we would love to hear your story.

Women’s Spirituality Trilogy

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Holly & Jacques

celticT hroughout history, much of what has been written on paganism, witchcraft and alternative spiritual practices has led to much in the way of misunderstanding. Witches and Heathens, as portrayed in movies sends one down the road of a bumbling idiot, maniacal evil sorcerer or vampy succubus and everything in-between. While at times amusing and entertaining, most are based on unflattering stereotypes that hold little value in their representations. We previously listed out some of our favorites on the Pagans and Media post, however, wanted to touch on a really great set of videos with a more authentic and respectable historical approach.

There are a series of videos called the Women’s Spirituality Trilogy. The three videos… The Burning Times, God Has Remembered, and Full Circle. The Burning Times provided an in-depth look at the diverse history of 15 to 17 centuries considering the worship of the goddess, manipulations of the clergy, and witchcraft of yesterday and today. Terrific numbers of witches and non-witches burned my other types of torture reminding.

God Has Remembered, examine varieties of goddess worship in different places around the world. There was footage of caves, deserts, temples, carvings and statues. The writers also touched on the resurgence of forgotten values and worship currently being practiced by both men and women.

Full Circle dealt with the manifestation of the many forms of women’s spirituality. It showed women coming together out of the shadows of men, clergy, fear and uniting in trust once again. The many points of equality and respect between the two genders were shown.

Watching these videos is time well spent. It was wonderful to recognize many rituals and songs that we do in our own circles. These videos had great people such as Starhawk and Margot Adler. The dances and music were beautiful and all of the videos were represented in an informative and intelligent manner without divulging too much. The resurgence in forgotten values and practice of the old ways are alive and through this path our futures hold hope. For people newly answering the call it is a great entry resource and for those already familiar it is wonderful to see it happening in somebody fantastic ways and in living color.

Pagans and Media

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Holly & Jacques

ecently, a newbie to paganism asked my husband and I for some of our favorite pagan media titles. For pagans and people of alternative spiritualities, it used to be quite a challenge to find anything of quality that wasn’t steeping solely in stereotype. This day and age, however, there are quite a few movies and series that are enjoyable to watch-some with historical significance, some with kernels of truth as seen in one’s peripheral vision and of course stereotypes as well and some are just purely entertaining! There are others that may not be pagan or craft related but serve to inspire or help one think outside of the box regarding faith/spirituality/religion and subsequent moral or philosophical connotations.

Here are a list of just a few of our favorites:

Practical Magic Ladyhawk The 13th Warrior
The Princess Bride The Deceivers Pan’s Labyrinth
Mists of Avalon Legend of the Witches The Watcher in the Woods
The Witches of Eastwick-Movie and Series The Mistress of Spices
GRIMM The DaVinci Code I Married a Witch
Like Water for Chocolate Book, Bell & Candle Avatar
The Cloud Atlas Wish Upon A Spell Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Stardust The Good Witch Series and Movies
The Witches The Gift Mulan
Witchcraft: Rebirth of the Old Religion Sorceress
Eve’s Bayou The Spirit of Albion My Neighbor Totoro
Thor Lord of the Rings The Pagan Queen
Hocus Pocus The White Queen Harry Potter
The Seeker The Littlest Witch The Craft
Arranged Chocolat Agora
The Celestine Prophecy Anchoress
Spellbinder The Magicians The Shannara Chronicles Dresden Files
The Wicker Man-Old and New version. (If you watch them back to back you will notice the differences between representations of God/Goddess as well as how female sexuality is portrayed. It struck me as quite curious).