Articles — 2015

Magickal books often assign herbs and plants to one or more of the four classical elements. But have you ever wondered why herbs are attributed to one element or another? Water herbs revolve around healing, sensuality, and psychism. They tend to be useful for many types of workings. In case your herbal almanac is not close by, here are some common attributes of Watery plants.  Not all herbs of Water will have all of these traits, of course--but the more boxes you can check, the more likely the plant corresponds to Water.  (This article is the second in a four-part...

Magickal partnerships are as diverse and complicated as any other human relationship.  Just for fun, here's a list of five ways that Witches and occultists can pair up.  If you work magick with another person, try seeing which category (or categories) your partnership fits into! The Teacher and Student (Merlin and Nimue) In this type of partnership, the experienced practitioner passes on knowledge to the eager neophyte.  They may be conveying a specific skill, like reading the runes, or an actual initiatory current.  It is generally expected for the student to offer something in exchange--dutiful attention, at least. Since initiation...

Invisibility is one of the classic folkloric powers of the Witch. Along with riding on broomsticks and eating little children, the Witches of legend are able to become invisible at will. They can travel unseen and make all kinds of mischief under the cloak of magick. In the Middle Ages, invisibility potions and powders began to be recorded in magickal grimoires. Many of these concoctions involved complicated rituals and toxic ingredients.  Other recipes, like soaking poppy seeds in wine, probably didn't have much effect besides making the magician feel really good! Because spirits were believed to move about unseen, many...

What types of plants are attributed to Air? Once you read this article, you won't need an almanac to find the Airy herbs in your garden or spice cabinet. Elemental correspondences are a factor in a lot of herbal magick. The assignment of plants and herbs to Earth, Air, Water, Fire (or a combination of these elements) can be traced back to medieval medicine. In pre-modern times, diseases were thought to be due to an imbalance in the four humours, ruled by the four elements. By ingesting or applying plants related to the proper element, herbal healers could attempt to...

Collecting crystals can truly enrich your life, but it shouldn't put you in the poorhouse.  Here's some helpful tips for building a mineral collection on a limited budget:  1. Start small.  Consider getting an assortment of tumbled stones, then buying larger specimens of the ones that are the most useful or appealing to you. (That Amethyst cathedral can wait!) If you don't have a crystal shop nearby, you can often find gemstone assortments and build-your-own bins in museum gift shops and other attractions. As you acquire larger pieces, you can pass your smaller stones on to friends, or use them...