Articles

What plants and herbs are attributed to Air?

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

What plants and herbs are attributed to Air?

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...

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Starting a crystal collection on a budget

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Starting a crystal collection on a budget

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...

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Magic wand basics (Part One): Choosing a wand

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Magic wand basics (Part One): Choosing a wand

A wand is a basic tool that can make your magic more fun and effective.  Sure, it won't levitate your enemies like Harry Potter's, or illuminate the entire room like Gandalf's.  But it can help you to visualize and send energy more precisely--a strong advantage in spellwork, healing, and many other magickal pursuits. This article addresses some common beginner's questions about choosing a wand.  Your wand may be purchased, handmade by you, or adapted from some other, non-magickal item.  No matter where your wand comes from, here's some options to consider: Material The material of the wand is probably the...

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Making a deity altar

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Making a deity altar

Putting together a special, purpose-built altar is a great way to connect with an individual face of the Divine. You can make an altar for your patron God or Goddess, or another deity who you're interested in learning more about. Altars can be as grand or as humble as you want them to be. You can take them down after a few days, or keep them up indefinitely. All you need is a few supplies and a bit of inspiration. 1. Choose a space. The type of altar you construct is going to depend on the space available to you. ...

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Pagan and Earth-based magazines currently in print

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

It's easy to get Pagan news online these days, but some of us still love to curl up with a dead-tree copy of a favorite periodical.  Here's a short guide for readers (and writers) looking for the best magazines on Earth-based spirituality, Paganism, and witchcraft.  Much has been said about the death of traditional publishing, and indeed, many well-loved titles have folded in recent years.   However, there are still a number of excellent Pagan magazines in print.  All the titles on this list are currently published, (i.e., they produced an issue for the Spring or Summer of 2015). Some...

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