Articles

Magickal properties of Hyssop

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Magickal properties of Hyssop

As lovely a garden plant as you’re ever likely to find, Hyssop is a small shrub related to Mint. It is sweet-smelling and easy to grow, with beautiful flowering tops. The flowers may be blue, purple, pink or white. Gardeners plant it in flowerbeds to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Hyssop is used in herbal medicine as an antiseptic and a cough reliever. Its medicinal properties have been written about since ancient times. The Romans drank Hyssop-infused wine as a digestive aid. French country cooking makes occasional use of Hyssop as a roasting herb or salad topping. The aromatic leaves...

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What will happen? Evil spirits, angry gods, and the wrong candle

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

What will happen? Evil spirits, angry gods, and the wrong candle

  Welcome to “What Will Happen?”, a special blog post about breaking the rules of magick. We all know the conventions: Use a pink candle for romance. Do banishing magick during the waning moon. Never cast a curse, lest it return to you threefold. But sometimes, when thumbing through yet another Witchcraft 101 book, you hear that devilish little voice: Oh yeah? Says who? Does “should not” mean “must not”? And, most importantly, what will happen? Every action has consequences. You just need to know how bad the consequences might be. So let’s consider the best and worst possible outcomes...

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Magickal symbols of protection

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Magickal symbols of protection

Protective magick is probably the most basic of all types of spellwork. If you don't feel safe and secure, it's difficult to enjoy any of the pleasures of life. Since the beginning of time, humans have been creating protective signs and symbols to ward off evil and bad luck. Would you like to learn some protective glyphs to use in your spells and amulets? Today, we'll be taking a look at nine powerful protective symbols from the Western magickal tradition. These symbols come from diverse spiritual paths including Wiccan, Norse, Judaeo-Christian, Egyptian, and others. Just as no two words have...

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Tarot beginner? Straight answers to 9 newbie questions about the cards

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Tarot beginner? Straight answers to 9 newbie questions about the cards

Interested in getting started with Tarot? You’re in for a remarkable journey. When used intentionally, Tarot has the power to teach you about yourself, reveal hidden knowledge, and totally change the way you look at the world. As an avowed Tarot nerd, I sometimes forget what it’s like to be brand new to the cards. I’m often at a loss for words when I try to talk about Tarot to absolute beginners. This article is all about getting back to the basics of Tarot. The following questions come from customers (and strangers) who have asked me about Tarot. If you’re...

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A Witch's glossary of herbs

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

A Witch's glossary of herbs

A handy key to the herbs of witchcraft. Each of the herbs listed has its own character and magickal properties. They are revealed to the Witch through study, meditation, and practice. For this glossary, we’ve limited the description of each herb to a few words. Many herbs have their own articles with more in-depth information, in case you wish to learn more. Here are the suggested meanings and uses of some popular ritual herbs: Agrimony – ancient herb of healing, restoration, and benevolent protection (full article) Alfalfa – good fortune, money magick, healing and cleansing infusions (full article) Angelica –...

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