Category: Resident GE Blog Columnists

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Life is Like a Rose

By Lady Saoirse

Bright Blessings,

My little patio garden is thriving in the July heat. I have two lavender plants and two roses, one regular sized, complete with bristling thorns, and one dainty, thornless miniature rose. The thorned rose has been nibbled on by June bugs and the mini rose was munched on by rabbits. So far at this new location we moved to a couple of months ago, there have been no spider mites or aphids which were plentifully at our other apartment. Before that, we lived by the woods and while no rabbits or deer got my roses, the June bugs were mad about them. Continue reading Life is Like a Rose

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Tarot Talk: The Emperor

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

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Herbalism For Your Day: Chamomile

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

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Stone Magic: Obsidian

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

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Tarot Talk: New Column/Weekly Reading

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

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Ask a Witch: Do Witches Worship the Devil?

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?

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Stone Magic: Alexandrite

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

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Witch At The Crossroads: The Power of Words

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

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Herbalism For Your Day: Hibiscus

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

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The Essynian Mysteries – Part Five

Conveyed by Brahn th Blessed

Part Five:  The Mind is a Universe Unto Itself, Boundless and Filled With Wonders

Look inside.  How do you do that?  What is this ‘inside’ into which we must look?  The ‘inside’ is a misnomer, for it is not inside at all; it is otherwhere.  It is instead that part of us that exists in time, but not in space.  More clearly, it is that aspect of our being that exists only in time, only in the astral plane where there is no space, and having no space, it has no size or shape, no location or motion, no multiplicity.  The hidden Realm of the Mind is real, but it is so different from our physical existence in the material plane that we can’t begin easily to conceive it.  When you remove space, you remove outside and inside (as they apply to space); you remove direction and location (as they apply to space), you remove size and shape (as they apply to space), you remove location and motion (as they apply to space).  But the absence of purely physical qualities makes the mind not less real, but only more primitive, older than its physical counterpart, the brain. Continue reading The Essynian Mysteries – Part Five

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Protect Your Peace – Banish Them!

By Lady Saoirse

Bright Blessings,

Quite often, we talk about banishing negativity and bringing in positive energy to our lives but we don’t always talk about banishing negative people. Sometimes, your family, your best friend, or even your significant other is just being downright negative. The thought of being without these people temporarily, let alone permanently, might be unbearable. However, sometimes if you want to live a peaceful existence, people give you no choice. Continue reading Protect Your Peace – Banish Them!

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Herbalism For Your Day: Anise, Star & Otherwise

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

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Witch At The Crossroads: Container Magic

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

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Summer Solstice Splendor

By Tatiara

Happy Midsummer!! Litha is a time to revel in the fullness of life, honor the natural world, and prepare for the season of harvest. Embrace the magic of the Summer Solstice and let its vibrant energy illuminate your heart and spirit. Continue reading Summer Solstice Splendor

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Witch At The Crossroads: Purge, Protect, & Burn Stuff at Midsummer

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

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Herbalism For Your Day: Lemon Balm

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

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Ask a Witch: Do Witches Have to Adhere to Doing No Harm?

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?