By Katrina Rasbold
People have used yarrow for healing and magic since before recorded history. Legend says the most precious yarrow grows on the burial site of Confucious. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Yarrow
By Katrina Rasbold
Turquoise is a copper aluminum sulfate that presents in blue, deep green, or green blue. The level of copper present in the amalgam determines how much blue shows up in the stone. Throughout multiple cultures, turquoise is honored as a strong protection stone that also brings good fortune and happiness. The protective energies are amplified if the stone is given to the owner by a loving friend. We often find turquoise guarding burial sites in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Continue reading Stone Magic: Turquoise
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Emperor
By Katrina Rasbold
Chamomile is just a precious little plant. I have grown it and even for a black thumb person like me, it’s fairly easy to cultivate and you can feel the gentleness of it radiating from its little blossoms. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Chamomile
By Katrina Rasbold
Poppets and effigies take the place of a person in spellwork, but how do you use them?
Continue reading Ask a Witch: How Do You Use Poppets and Effigies In Spellwork?
By Katrina Rasbold
Where I live in California, Obsidian is extremely common and is a staple in the stone arsenal of serious magical workers. It is brittle due to its volcanic origins and as a glass, can easily cut you if you are not careful with it. This and its dark color give it profound protection powers. It may appear as gray, black, or brown banded with white. Snowflake obsidian gets its name for the white intrusions in the black surface. The sharp edges of obsidian, as well as its brittleness, makes it a common choice for spearheads and arrowheads. Continue reading Stone Magic: Obsidian
By Katrina Rasbold
Happy July! Let’s start off July 2024 with a new blog column! “Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: New Column/Weekly Reading
By Katrina Rasbold
All through the media and even history, we keep bumping up against this idea that Witches are in league with Satan (Santa maybe, but Satan??), so where does that idea come from and is it true at all? Continue reading Ask a Witch: Do Witches Worship the Devil?
By Katrina Rasbold
Alexandrite is a beautiful stone that can be a pricey due to all the factors that influence the cost of stones: quality, color, size, scarcity, etc. I could mention “TikTok” in that price gounging factor list, but instead, I will just press on with the powerful attributes of this powerhouse rock. Alexandrite is semi-tranparent and the colors tend to change depending on the angle or type of light one views it in, but it generally ranges from green to blue to a sort of mauve color. Its beauty and hardness makes it a favorite of jewelers, so often it is easier to find alexandrite jewelry than to find alexandrite itself. Continue reading Stone Magic: Alexandrite
By Katrina Rasbold
Humans often consider the power of speech and written word to be the defining quality that sets us apart from the rest of the animal world. With the exception of some animals specially trained to communicate, Koko the Gorilla, for instance, humans alone possess the demonstrated ability for the ongoing use of language. There is little denying the power of words. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: The Power of Words
By Katrina Rasbold
The next several Herbalism For Your Day posts look like a walk through my tea cabinet and that is purely by coincidence, but here we go.
Hibiscus looks like it should be a poisonous plant with its brightly colored flowers and extremely proud and vital stamen and it is poisonous to cats.
Its power as an aphrodesiac is so intense that in some countries, women are forbidden from drinking the tea because certainly, we would not want a bunch of horned up women roaming the streets all hepped up on hibiscus tea. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Hibiscus
by Katrina Rasbold
Anise and star anises are two different herbs from two different plants, but they share the same scent profile because of anethole, an essential oil produced by both plants. The flavor is slightly different with star anise being more bitter. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Anise, Star & Otherwise
By Katrina Rasbold
What is the difference in Witches, Wiccans, & Pagans? Katrina breaks it all down for you.
Continue reading Ask a Witch: Witches, Wiccans, & Pagans, Oh My!
By Katrina Rasbold
When we think of magical stones, lava might be the last thing on your mind. This refers not to the flowing lava from a volcano but the extrusive igneous rock that forms after magma cools and solidifies. Continue reading Stone Magic: Lava
By Katrina Rasbold
There are two things that almost universally Pagans, and especially those who also identify as Witches, love to do: Burn stuff and put smaller things into bigger things. All seventh-grade tittering aside, you can summon a Witch by leaving a box of various sized jars on the side of the road with a “free” sign on them. Oh yes. We will stop. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: Container Magic
By Katrina Rasbold
Of all of the holidays, it can be argued that most cultures at some time or another celebrated Midsummer. The Sun reigns at its full power and dominates the sky for the longest day of the year on Litha. It is commonly believed that the Faeries are most active during this time; an idea perpetuated by William Shakespeare’s famous play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The power of herbs and plants is said to be strongest at this time, so many of the summer herbs are harvested on this day. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: Purge, Protect, & Burn Stuff at Midsummer
By Katrina Rasbold
Lemon balm is one of the most common herbs we have covered so far, known for its aromatic citrus smell. It is related to the mint family and the leaves are very similar, even if the scent is not. Its fancy name is “Melissa” and it flourishes in any warm or temperate area worldwide. Continue reading Herbalism For Your Day: Lemon Balm
By Katrina Rasbold
Do all Witches follow the rule of “As it harms none, do what you will?” Is there any code of ethics? Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… MASS HYSTERIA! Continue reading Ask a Witch: Do Witches Have to Adhere to Doing No Harm?
By Katrina Rasbold
Is there anything more witchy than a moonstone? Its ethereal, mysterious presentation aptly represents the watery, lunar energy it radiates. Continue reading Stone Magic: Moonstone
By Lady Saoirse
Bright Blessings,
I don’t know about you, but I have moved around a lot. I do mean a lot. It seems like every year, Mom had us somewhere new and some years, she had us live more than one place. People ask, “Were you a military brat?” I tell them, ‘No, Mama had the wanderlust.” So is it any wonder why I always heard people’s stories about their love for their hometowns and I wished for what they had? At almost age 50, I am still wishing for that. I could lament my fate, but I’d rather explain how you can feel at home when no PLACE is really home. Because if you practice magic, it can be done. Continue reading Practical Magic With Saoirse: Making Yourself At Home