Articles — 2015

Tarot myths debunked! Nine "rules" of Tarot you can (mostly) ignore

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Tarot myths debunked! Nine "rules"  of Tarot you can (mostly) ignore

As soon as you delve into the world of Tarot, you encounter a bunch of do-this, don't-do-that warnings and prescriptions about how to use the cards. (Why, it's almost as if we were dealing with something magical, not just 78 pictures on cardstock!) Some of these superstitions undoubtedly have a grain of truth in them, while others are just baloney dipped in snake oil. Now, for your amusement and your edification, Madame Michelle will feed each “should” and “shouldn’t” into the Truth-O-Matic Machine (i.e., her brain!) and declare a verdict. You shouldn't read Tarot for yourself.  Mary Greer put a...

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How does herbal magick work, anyway? Four theories

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

How does herbal magick work, anyway? Four theories

A sachet of leaves tucked under a pillow, a handful of berries strewn across a doorway: Herbal charms and remedies are one of the most familiar forms of magick. Herbal (“green”) witches keep elaborate pantries of herbal ingredients, each with a different power to enlighten or heal, bother or protect. (To be clear, we’re talking about the ritual use of herbs here, rather than the medicinal and psychoactive effects they can have on the human body.) But how, exactly, does herbal magick work? How does an unassuming pinch of bark or leaf become a partner in a magickal charm or...

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Direct from China: Eight ways to help your small business compete

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Direct from China: Eight ways to help your small business compete

China has long been the source of many consumer goods purchased in the United States.  But in recent years, manufacturers in China and neighboring countries began selling directly to shoppers through sites like AliExpress and eBay.   At first limited to cheesy trinkets and fashion accessories, the overseas marketplace is always expanding.   Businesses are reaching out to increasingly specialized consumer groups--most recently, in my own cubbyhole of witchy and Pagan wares.  If you're a merchant in a subcultural niche--whether it's Wicca, Steampunk, Goth, Cosplay, et cetera--you've likely been affected by the Chinese invasion. As a small business owner, I have...

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Holy crap! On the proper disposal of magickal trash

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Holy crap! On the proper disposal of magickal trash

The candles have been extinguished, the circle opened, and the spell completed.  But what do with the leftover stuff?  You probably know how easy it is to get saddled with ritual debris: candle stubs, bits of fabric and string, bottles, bags, and written spells.  Though no longer useful, these items once held great meaning.  Just throwing them away seems inappropriate.   But keeping them around can stunt your magic and clutter up your house.  In this article, we'll consider ways of ethically, safely, and effectively disposing of the physical remnants of spellwork. Re-using ritual items Some ritual items are suitable...

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DFW Pagan Unity Festival 2015

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

DFW Pagan Unity Festival 2015

We were thrilled to take part in this year's Pagan Unity Festival.  (Dallas didn't have an "official" Pagan Pride Day in 2015.) 400+ Dallas area Pagans and friends attended the free outdoor festival.  Beautiful weather and tons of activities and vendors made it a day to remember.  See you in 2016! I was peddling lots of awesome wares, including my new lathe-turned wands, leather journals, painted signs, jewelry and pendulums.  It was my first time bringing the whole shebang.  We had a canopy, three tables, and enough merchandise to fill a 10x10 space and boy, was I exhausted.  But it...

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