Magickal Gardening

Let's talk about how plants, both inside and out, can affect the energy of a space. Some people like to incorporate Feng Shui principles and practices into their living/working space environment. Not to mention the importance of plants in spellcraft and spiritual practice. For those not familiar with this ancient philosophy, Feng Shui is the art of arranging your physical environment around for the natural harmony of the space and to insure the free flow of positive qi, or energy.


Many people use Feng Shui in their spiritual practices as it can make you feel better, relaxed, peaceful, more spiritual, at ease or even inspired. There are many books out about this subject. You can start at your local library and browse through before you decide to buy any books on the subject and this will help you get and idea and feel for what Feng Shui is all about. Scott Cunningham discusses it in The Magical Household, and Raymond Buckland in Wicca for Life.
Principles of Feng Shui seem to go hand in hand with witchcraft/Wicca. Magick is all about using energy to manifest dreams and desires, break bad habits, heal from situations that have hurt us. Feng Shui is about creating the environment for that same energy to flow freely and positively in the proper direction to manifest desires more quickly and easily. An example is like driving on an open country road, cruising at a certain speed with no obstacles and driving on your work commute with traffic-slow, stop, brake, brake, brake, move an inch and stop again......ug, all the obstacles to overcome just to make it to work can be exhausting and frustrating. Feng Shui principles work the same way by creating a free flow of energy. When you move and arrange objects a certain way, it keeps that positive energy from being blocked or slowed down which helps in reaching the positive goal sooner. Thus, giving good positive results.
Gardening isn't just for outdoor plants. It does include indoor plants and their placement is an important part of Feng Shui. Immobile objects like buildings, walls and large furniture can be in the way which blocks the flow of qi. Items or objects are referred to as 'cures' and are used to redirect the energy around the object. Plants, along with mirrors, crystals, statues, and other objects are often used as cures.

Take a look around your neighborhood. Houses, garages and buildings are set at certain angles to each other, thus it creates what is called a 'poison arrow' in Feng Shui. This is very common in coves and cul-de-sac neighborhoods. For example, you may have a nasty neighbor-someone who is mean or rude, lets the property go and ruin the look of the neighborhood, have temperment issues or kids who are troublesome. Depending on the angle that their home is positioned, it could be due to the 'poison arrow' and that it is directing all of that residual negative energy directly at them. Or if you feel grouchy and uneasy, perhaps it's that the 'poison arrow' is pointing in your direction. To help allieviate this problem, plant a tree or shrub between the arrow flow and your home. This is very effecient in blocking the arrow, which alleviates the negative energy being directed your way. Alternately, if there is any sort of large foliage, such as shrubs or trees blocking the exterior doors or walkways of your home (even if it is one you do not use), then trim them back or relocate them to a different spot in the yard. Positive qi must have open access to the entrances of your home or business to insure good luck and prosperity. The same is true for front and back porches......if they are covered in broken furniture, clutter and dead plants, what sort of energy do you think they attract? Remove the clutter and replace broken pots and dead plants with live ones that represent the sort of energy you want to attract. Try a bright colored pot or flowering plant to attract joy, creativity and positive energy. There is no better place for this cure than on your front porch. A low maintenance easy care plant I recommend for porches is the pansy or snap dragon. They have beautiful coloring, coming in white, pink or red, purple, yellow and all grow well in shady area's and require almost no maintenance. Even types of begonia and marigolds are easily grown. Certain types of flowering plants can shed olds flowers as new ones are produced, which eliminates the need for pruning or dead-heading, however depending on how much you enjoy hands on gardening and getting your hands in Mother Earth, you may have to dead head or remove the wilted blooms by hand which is not hard to do. Plants can be inexpensive, very lively and helps to alleviate stress and add beauty. They are perfect for apartment balconies, window boxes, and any size pot in front of your home or business. In cold climates, they can be brought indoors to a sunny window during the winter and may continue to bloom.
From a magical perspective, plants can be and are used to attract luck. There is a Good Luck Plant, Money Plant and Leprechaun Plant and many other to choose from. Many varieties of plants grow well inside in a window or sun room in pots or placed on a counter or any other area that receives several hours of sun.
Suggestions for outdoor plants used in Feng Shui include but aren't limited to the following:

Aloe Vera - well known for amazing healing qualities plus an added benefit is that it has long spiky leaves to help provide protection from evil and negativity. It is perfect for people who live in dry desert environments and in areas that have freezing temperatures, it should only be grown indoors.

Azaleas - a very popular flowering shrub and comes in an array of different colors. It will thrive in a variety of growing conditions. They attract energy for beauty and sexual potency. There are too many varieties to mention - check with your local nursery to see what grows best in your area.

Chrysanthemum - Mums are great for fall gardens. Mums symbolize a life of pleasure leading to a happy retirement.

Ivy - is used to camouflage ugly walls and stop erosion, is easy to care for andcomes in many varieties. Ivy has a mind of its own, and if it's left to its own devices, it will climb up pillars, walls, will spread out over the ground quickly. There are dozens of varieties, and it will grow in a variety of climates. Ivy encourages fidelity in relationships and is a guardian plant. Try ivy in with perennial flowers in hanging baskets on a porch. The ivy is just stunning when it starts to cascade over the sides of the baskets.

Jasmine - If you are familar with Goddesses and Deity's, you would know that this plant was sacred to Diana (Artemis), Rhiannon (Epona), Shiva, Vishnu, and countless others. It blooms at night and is representative of our relationship with the moon and its magical qualities. Jasmine attracts love energy (sexual and emotional). Jasmine will tolerate a variety of soil conditions and it requires a great deal of sun. Jasmine can get quite large depending on the area. You can use the flowers for making oils, dry them for making tea...sensational plant. If you have it outdoors and a gentle breeze blows, it can waif through your window and take you to a mystical, magical, whimsical place.

Lavender - Used in magic for peace, tranquility, restful sleep and is great to calm a household especially with children and pets who are highly energetic. Lavender has a wonderful aroma and can be an outdoor plant as well as an indoor plant. It is a natural insect repellent, and grows in a wide variety of conditions. Left alone it will cover a hillside in no time, helping to prevent erosion. Dry the flowers for use in potpourri, charm bags, and oils.

Mint - Many varieties of mint, including catnip, are beautifully suited for growing outdoors in beds, planters, or pots. Mint attracts money and prosperity. Dry the leaves for use in charm bags, teas or tonics, or use fresh in beverages or food. Mint tends to grow and flourish quickly so be careful when growing as it will take off like wild fire.

Roses - love, love, love them! Roses are by far my favorite thing to grow -  roses equals work and can be finicky and need care and tending to (depending on the variety) and are not for the faint of heart by any means. They REQUIRE pruning, dead-heading, fertilization, and watering to thrive. They are subject to a number of pests and diseases-black spot especially and beetles. If you are interested in trying your hand at growing, check out some horticultural societies that provide education on which grow best in your area and visit local nurseries to find out what they recommend for your area and soil type. Roses attract love and friendship, but should not be placed next to the entrance of the home, as the thorny bushes create disharmony for those who enter. Dry the petals for use in oils, charm bags, tea and potpourri.

Trees - Oh how I love trees. Trees are our connection to Mother Earth and along with plants, helps to provide the oxygen we breathe, and always adds beauty and balance wherever they are planted. All cultures have some type of tree lore.....like the ancient Celts named their months after trees.

Here is a small list of trees that come to mind for certain purposes:
•Apple - peace
•Beech - learning and wisdom
•Cherry - beauty, abundance and joy
•Elm - attracts positive energy
•Holly - protects from evil spirits
•Oak - strength and masculine energy, personal power
•Peach - long life, and symbolic of the divine
•Pine - longevity, protection from evil spirits
•Willow - protection from evil and gentle, peaceful energy

I hope this will plant a seed within you to try out Feng Shui or at least add some liveliness to your environment and surroundings.

Blessed Be to all.

An interesting story for those who love folklore.

Welsh Goddess - Cerridwen

Cerridwen embodies all three lunar aspects of the Goddess, Maiden, Mother and Crone although she is primarily worshipped in her Crone aspect, by and through her Cauldron of Wisdom, Inspiration, Rebirth and Transformation. The cauldron in her story has an intimate association with femininity, together with the cave, the cup and the chalice, and the association of femininity with justice, wisdom and intelligence goes back to very ancient times. Her cauldron is the primary female symbol of the pre-Christian world, and represents the womb of the Great Goddess from which all things are born and reborn again.

Cerridwen was originally worshipped by the people of Wales. It is told that she lived on an island, in the middle of Lake Tegid, named after her husband, with her two children, a beautiful daughter, Creidwy, and a very ugly son, Afagdu. To compensate her son for his unfortunate appearance, Cerridwen brewed a magickal formula, known as "greal", which would make Afagdu the most brilliant and inspired of men. For a year and a day, she kept six herbs simmering in her magickal cauldron, known as "Amen", under the constant care of a boy named Gwion.

One day, while Gwion was stirring the cauldron, a few drops of the bubbling liquid spattered on his hand. Unthinkingly, and in pain, Gwion, sucked his burned hand, and, suddenly, he could hear everything in the world, and understood all the secrets of the past and future. With his newly enchanted foresight, Gwion knew how angry Cerridwen would be when she found he had acquired the inspiration meant for her son.

He ran away, but Cerridwen pursued him. Gwion changed into a hare, and Cerridwen chased him as a greyhound; he changed into a fish, and Cerridwen pursued him as an otter; he became a bird, and she flew after him as a hawk; finally, he changed into a grain of corn, and Cerridwen, triumphant, changed into a hen, and ate him.

When Cerridwen resumed her human form, she conceived Gwion in her womb, and, nine months later, gave birth to an infant son, whom she, in disgust, threw into the water of a rushing stream. He was rescued by a Prince, and grew into the great Celtic bard, Taliesin.

The image of her cauldron, holding the magickal potion of wisdom, is the mythical origin of the Halloween image of a cauldron-stirring hag, making up her witch's brew. The brew had to simmer for a year and a day, a common passage of time in Celtic lore. A festival in her honour is celebrated on July 3rd, and the pink sow, a symbol of fertility, good fortune and enrichment, is said to be her matron animal.

Created by Kerritwyn and taken from The White Moon Gallery.
Image from Something Wiccan This way Comes

Romance spell

This is great for any time or occasion. I know people who use this as their Valentine Day spell. This is used more to keep the openess, love and communication between two people alive. This is not to bring a new love to you or to find a lover.

You will need:

rose incense or an oil warmer with rose oil and a tealight
Red candle
Pink candle
Strawberries and/or pink marshmallows
Melting Chocolate-milk, white or dark-your choice

Set up an area in your kitchen and light the incense/oil and the candles.

Melt the chocolate in the usual way and once its melted, dip the strawberries and marshmallows in to coat them - as you do so say these words:

Lover,, come eat with me
Come easily here but also stay free
Come with love, joy and desire to share
Free to leave again should you care
Enjoy time together
No matter Mother Nature's weather

Blessed Be, So Mote It Be!!

Share the chocolate coated items with your lover, knowing they remain free to do as they choose. You can also substitute any fruit or nuts that have aphrodisiac qualities as well as the strawberries. Feel free to use your own words and verses to personalize the desired affect you want to have. As always, visualize your intent with harm to none and no bending of will.

Some fascinating reads about cultures and folklore

I have stumbled across some really interesting reads. There is a new show that comes on the History channel called the Vikings. I wanted to delve a bit into that time period. As I was doing so, I come across the below articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology_in_the_Low_Countries

 http://www.wizardrealm.com/norse/gods.html

Enjoy and brightest blessings to you!

What is the Ankh?

Signs and Symbols: The Ankh (Also worn as a talisman)


The Ankh is one of the most famous and widely used symbols of Ancient Egypt. It appeared in hieroglyphic text and iconographic art all over ancient Egypt. Yet, there is much debate over the origin of the symbol. Gardiner (who composed the standard sign list) suggested that it was a sandal strap. This part of the sandal was called 'nkh but it is not clear whether this name was applied retrospectively because of the similarity in shape. Others have suggested that it was a totem representing male and female reproductive parts, a sun on the horizon with the path of the sun before it, and a ceremonial girdle. It may also have been associated with the "Sa" (the hieroglyphic symbol which represented magical protection) and has also been linked to the Tjet (also known as the "knot of Isis") which has also been described as a ceremonial girdle.

The symbol is also an Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph which represents the hieroglyph ´nh (ankh) meaning "life" or "breath of life". The glyph appears in an incredible number of inscriptions and was often used as a decorative device. Many of the gods of Egypt are depicted bearing an Ankh to represent their vivacity and immortality. Occasionally the god (or goddess) extends the Ankh to the Pharaoh, indicating both the gift of life and the purification of the subject.

The Ankh was also associated with life after death. The dead were sometimes referred to as "ankhu" and sarcophagi were also known as "neb-ankh" (possessor of life).

Taken from Ancient Egypt Online   (I hope this helps) Brightest blessings.

New Year, new you, new career?

Here we are again saying good bye and departing from one year and welcoming in the new hopeful year. For some, 2012 was harsh with people losing their homes, jobs as well as many other circumstances. Here is a little spell to help with employment that I have in my BOS.

It is an oldie but a goodie. As with any spell, be sure to do in the correct moon phase. I would emphasize that once work comes your way, bury the silk in mother earth and allow it to rot, this is returning it to the earth. You should use green silk as that has the color corresponding to wealth. The nine knots represent the power of 3x3. You do this spell in the New Moon and continue for the next 14 nights until the Full Moon. ***Remember to send always, always send thanks and blessings once the spell has worked to keep the balance even and show appreciation.

You will need a 13 inch long green silk cord or cotton yarn (some type of natural fiber). Be sure to cleanse and purify the cord/yarn before using. Spend at least one day/night holding the cord and visualizing your intent. Put your intent and energy into it. Be sure that you are looking for a job at the time of doing this. You will have to do your part so the magick can do it's part.

Feeling jinxed?

In my line of work, it is quite common for someone to bring up the subject of feeling jinxed. People will write in, call or ask me in person about this subject. They are just hit with such bad and poor luck that they feel they have a hex or the evil eye upon them.

There are many reasons why this can occur. People can be jealous or envious of something that someone has or has going for them.

There are many spells that can be done to 'undue' this situation but it is always good to know where the problem lies or who has cast the 'negative' spell upon you.

If you should know who is casting the negativity upon you, you can do the Mirror Spell. I would highly recommend this spell, but YOU MUST KNOW WHO is wishing the harm upon you. As with all spells and all intentions, Lady Karma and Ms. Divine Justice is watching. Remember the law/rule/creed of Karma and threefold.

As I stated above, the Mirror Spell can be used when you KNOW someone is directing bad or negative energies/words/deeds your way. It is a very strong way to work the 'return to sender' magic. You can use any mirror to do this, but you must make sure that it is facing in the direction of the persons house or their place of work while you recite the spell (it doesn't need to be compass point or latitude/longitude perfect).  First, you must ensure the mirror has been cleansed and blessed. **Do not use the mirror of your choosing for the spell for any other purpose afterwards until you thoroughly cleanse and bless it again.**


You can always strengthen this spell by adding other devices to it-like a black candle for protection, dragon's blood incense or oil for protection and help amplify against negativity, use crystals such as amythest, black obsidian, tigers eye (blue or red), jasper, citrine -  many to choose from. Wear the color black to cast the 'return to' spell since this is the color of protection and hold or wear your pentagram and decorate your altar, if you can.

Here is how the spell SHOULD read: (Start with a plain mirror-no writing upon it)

This mirror I place before my name,
Returning negativity from whence it came,

This mirror protects me from words and deeds
Returning the hate to where it breeds.

(Name of person) take heed in the words I speak
Lest you get harmed by what you wreak.
As is my will, I ask you now
Bestow the charm that I have sown.
So Mote It Be!!

You can adjust this spell to suit your own purpose and needs to make it more personal, but remember you need to know from which direction the harm is coming from.

**As with any spell, do not dabble unless you know what you are doing. It's not a game, its a way of life. Repurcussions can and may happen. Be sure to do your spell in the correct moon phase. Always protect yourself. Once spell is over, let it go. Mother Universe will do her work at her will. ***