[title]
[message]Top Articles by Michelle Gruben
Check out my new writer page at MichelleGruben.com! The following link list is out-of-date and won't be updated after 12/31/2018.
Howdy! You've landed on the hub page for Michelle Gruben, Pagan writer. In an effort to organize the chaos, I've set up links to the most popular written content at Grove and Grotto. We host dozens and dozens of articles on diverse magickal topics.
All of this Pagan and magickal writing is free and easily available. You don't need to download an e-book, sign up for a class, or give me your email address to access it.
If you enjoy my writing, the best way to keep it going is to shop at my store. The money I earn running the shop directly supports the blog. (Alternatively, if you hate my writing, the best way to stop it is to buy so much stuff that I'm too busy filling orders to write this dreck.)
These are some of the "greatest hits" from the Grove and Grotto blog:
General Magick/Reference
Wicca questions answered: Basic facts about Wicca and Paganism
20 common incenses and what to use them for
Magickal timing: Choosing the right day of the week for your spell
Defining "intention": What does it mean in magick?
Holy crap! On the proper disposal of magickal trash
Grounding in under a minute: Energetic "quick fixes"
White magick, black magick: What's the difference?
Candle colors and their meanings
The eight Sabbats: Witch's holidays
What's up with energy play? Six secrets of fun and consensual energy sharing
Tarot and Divination
Tarot myths debunked! Nine rules of Tarot you can (mostly) ignore
The six best Tarot decks for beginners
Which divination method is right for you? Five ways to explore psychic gifts
Tarot vs. oracle decks: What's the difference?
Tarot beginner? Straight answers to newbie questions about the cards
Pendulum basics: How to use a pendulum for dowsing
Magickal Herbalism
How does herbal magick work, anyway? Four theories
What plants and herbs are attributed to Air? (also, Earth, Fire, and Water)
Sage advice: An illustrated guide to smudging herbs
The Faery dozen: 12 herbs for Faery gardens, offerings, and magick
Spellcasting
Why didn’t my spell work? Five reasons that magick fails
Circle-casting basics: All you need to know about magick circles
Money magick that works: Four ingredients of successful prosperity spells
Spell detection 101: How to know if someone is doing witchcraft on you
The Fiery Wall of Protection (Quick and dirty version)
Tools and Toys
Free witchcraft supplies: Nine tools of the craft that are totally (or nearly) free
Let's talk athames! Choosing a ritual knife
How to make a chakra stone set
The eight (or nine, or 13) tools of Wicca
How to cleanse and charge a new amulet or talisman
Choosing a rune set: A beginners guide
Starting a crystal collection on a budget
The magick of seashells
Pagan Community
Pagan ritual etiquette (or, how to not piss off a room full of Witches)
Why do people become Pagan: The top ten reasons
No time for witch wars: How I learned to stop worrying and get on with the magick
A village of witches: Witchcraft's supply and demand problem
What to bring to a Pagan festival: Your other packing list
Personal Writings
Pagan adulthood: Expectations vs. reality
Making peace with plastic: Thoughts on (perhaps) the least magickal stuff on Earth
The wisdom of sloth: Embracing the lesser-known spirit animals
Back to Nature? Not likely. Thoughts on a sensible modern Paganism
Author's notes
I have set up the store's blog not just to be fodder for the search engines, but to be engaging and helpful to readers as well. The above list includes two classes of articles: The ones that pull in the most search traffic, and the ones that I think represent my best work.
Looking for more? A big old list of articles appears here, sorted by publication date. The newest stuff appears at the top, and stretches backwards to about 2014. I hereby absolve myself of any responsibility for anything written six or more months ago. What can I say? I'm always learning.
Speaking of which, you are invited to comment on any article, whether you agree or disagree. I do look at the blog comments periodically. But due to the limitations of my blogging platform and my own intermittent bouts of shyness, I'm not able to reply directly. If you have a question, customer service issue, or urgent correction, please email the shop at the address on our contact page.
I write occasionally for small Pagan publications. But I prefer to self-publish. The Grove and Grotto website is the best place to find my raw, uncensored Faery magick scribbling. (I have also written a book on Tarot and another on running a crafty business. You can download them for a few bucks on Amazon.)
I enjoy chatting with other Pagan writers. Drop me a note sometime for a guest blog swap!
Feel free to link to any page on the site or share them on social media. Please don't copy and paste the text or present my words as your own. That's illegal, annoying, and I will find out about it (eventually).
Go here to view everything in the archive. You can search articles using the store search function. You can also hop around by keyword—some suggested ones are pagan, beginner, materials, herbs, and of course, opinion.
Thank you for reading!
-Michelle Gruben