By Katrina Rasbold
When stones are blue, they are marvelously blue such as lapis lazuli, peacock, sodalite, and celestite. Azurite lives up to its name with deep and beautiful blue facets. Continue reading Stone Magic: Azurite
Stone Magic: Azurite
Category: Katrina Rasbold
Witch At The Crossroads: Ceremonial Interruptus
By Katrina Rasbold
It can happen to all of us, although thankfully, not usually to the degree we see in the graphic above. Rituals fail. It is easy to raise one knowing eyebrow and say that it failed because it was intended to fail and all things are exactly as they should be and blah, blah, blah, but there is a huge difference in knowing that rituals sometimes do not go as planned versus understanding why rituals sometimes go in the ditch and how to manage that inevitability. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: Ceremonial Interruptus
Stone Power: Opals
By Katrina Rasbold
Opal is a popular semi-precious stone and fire opals are especially known for their magical strength. A legend says that after emerging victorious from war, the god Zeus wept tears which turned to beautiful opals when they hit the ground. Continue reading Stone Power: Opals
Herbalism For Your Day: Witch Hazel
By Katrina Rasbold
Those of us who are of a particular age remember using witch hazel as a facial astringent back in “the day.” I am sure few of us realized the intense magical influence we were dabbing all over our pretty faces. Intention is everything, but the inherent powers of this plant shine through on their own. I’m sure our parents were pleased with the results it gave to us. (wink) Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Witch Hazel
Ask a Witch: Is a Male Witch a Warlock?
By Katrina Rasbold
You may have heard the word tossed around, but is the word “warlock” really a male witch? It’s more complicated than some folks would imagine. Continue reading Ask a Witch: Is a Male Witch a Warlock?
Stone Magic: Malachite
By Katrina Rasbold
Shall we talk about my favorite stone? Let’s talk about my favorite stone. I am a huge fan of malachite, both for its beauty and its magical bang. Continue reading Stone Magic: Malachite
Ask a Witch: What’s With the Flying Ointment & Unbaptized Babies?
By Katrina Rasbold
In this line of work, you do get asked some fascinating questions, like “Do Witches use flying ointment? Did they ever? Is the rendered fat of an unbaptized baby one of the ingredients in flying ointment? Time to break these questions down. Continue reading Ask a Witch: What’s With the Flying Ointment & Unbaptized Babies?
Witch At The Crossroads: The Lesson of the Grateful Child
By Katrina Rasbold
What are you like in your relationship with the Deities you honor? How do you engage them? What role do they perform in your life? Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: The Lesson of the Grateful Child
Herbalism For Your Day: Slippery Elm
By Katrina Rasbold
What we loosely call “herbs” when we talk about magical herbalism is an inclusive label that also includes flowers, roots, barks, and in this case, trees. Where most people think of small green things growing in pretty pots when they talk about herbs, Witches and other magical folks basically mean, “botany” and we are voracious about studying the energy of all parts of pretty much any plant. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Slippery Elm
Witch At The Crossroads: Third Eye Sight
By Katrina Rasbold
The “third eye” is a concept embraced by many cultures. This uniquely empowered area of the physical body is associated with the brow chakra and with the color indigo. Friar Richard Rohr speculates that “First Eye” is what we perceive with the five physical senses. The “Second Eye” is our reasoning and reflection. The “Third Eye” goes further still and is, as Rohr puts it, “Having the mind of Christ.” It is a coming together of sacredness that puts one in a very holy and receptive state of mind. Many paths of yogic study use the third eye for inner focus. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: Third Eye Sight
Stone Magic: Precious vs Semi-precious Stones
By Katrina Rasbold
As magical people, we love our stones and crystals and there are a lot of terms that surround that fun and energetic topic. What is a gemstone? What makes one precious or semi-precious? Continue reading Stone Magic: Precious vs Semi-precious Stones
Herbalism For Your Day: Buckthorn
By Katrina Rasbold
Buckthorn was one of the first magical herbs I learned about back in the 1980s. I was in Scorpio Herbs (no longer in operation) in Texas and one of the folks working in the shop told me that buckthorn “brings the magic together.” She went on to explain that if you include herbs in your spell work, you should also throw in some buckthorn because it encourages the other herbs to work together more cohesively toward your goal.
Ask a Witch: Tarot Cards vs Oracle Cards
By Katrina Rasbold
We know there are Tarot cards and we know there are Oracle cards, but what is the difference? Continue reading Ask a Witch: Tarot Cards vs Oracle Cards
A Celtic Woman’s Beltane Lament
By Katrina Rasbold
A Celtic Woman’s Beltane Lament
I met a man from Glaston Town
He said, “They call me Bill.
I really dasn’t likes it ‘cause
Me name is really Will.” Continue reading A Celtic Woman’s Beltane Lament
Stone Magic: Bloodstone
By Katrina Rasbold
Christian legend says that bloodstone (heliotrope) got its name because it formed as the blood of Christ dripped onto the green earth during the crucifixion. There is, however, documented use of bloodstone for magical purposes going back over seven thousand years to 5000 BC. Continue reading Stone Magic: Bloodstone
Herbalism For Your Day: Elecampane
By Katrina Rasbold
Legend says Elecampane (Inula helenium) as named for Helen of Troy and grew in the places where her tears fell. Related to the sunflower, this plant is quite tall, up to sixty inches or so. It has a rigid stem with leaves that are green on the top and white on the bottom. It has vibrant yellow blooms that smell a bit like sweet camphor. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Elecampane
Ask a Witch: Baneful vs Coercive Magic
By Katrina Rasbold
What is the difference between “baneful” and “coercive” magic? Continue reading Ask a Witch: Baneful vs Coercive Magic
Witch At The Crossroads: All Hail The Mayhole
By Katrina Rasbold
In our circle, we work a strong duality between male and female energies and although we love the traditional celebrations, we always like to put our own spin on things. Beltane is a delicious High Holiday, ribald with innuendo and fun, celebrating the union between the masculine and feminine archetypes. In this blessed time of coming together, we honor the fertilization of the land and revel in the pleasures brought to us by earthly existence. That being the case, we always thought it as a little one-sided to ritualize this sacred day with only a maypole, the representation of male virility, thrusting its mighty prominence up out of the ripened land. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: All Hail The Mayhole
Witch At The Crossroads: River Meditation
By Katrina Rasbold
The beginning of self-mastery comes from identifying where your energy goes and the impact it has when it gets there, balanced out with the necessity of maintaining a baseline of personal energy for your own needs. When someone has a total disregard for the needs of others or any concern about their impact on the people around them, we identify that behavior as a mental health disorder. When the reverse is true and a person gives to others beyond what their energetic reserves can support, we do not (usually) attach this behavior to mental illness, and yet, the effects can be personally devastating. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: River Meditation
Stone Magic: Tourmaline
By Katrina Rasbold
Tourmaline is one of the stones, like peacock ore, that seems like it should not exist in nature. Its luminous beauty is one of Earth’s beautiful miracles and to make it even more amazing, its magical attributes are off the charts. Continue reading Stone Magic: Tourmaline