My Personal Practice - Healing for a Friend

Just a quick little post…

The wonder-witch who is Joey Morris has been suffering with migraines lately and as a friend this just doesn’t stand with me so… “to the altar!”

This was a wordless spell as the intention in my mind was perfectly strong enough and as much as I love my wordy spells, time seemed of the essence, instead of focusing on rhymes and chants.

 The photograph is a focal point, the candle is for the speed of fire magick, sprinkled with himalayan rock salt for deep cleansing and lavender for peace of mind. The crystals on the right are bloodstone, to draw the power of women; an amethyst/quartz point because I put amethyst with everything and it is an energiser; finally a rough piece of carnelian for strength. On the left side is a black stone (not a precious stone or something crystalline) to drawn anything negative from the recipient.

To cast this spell, I spent time raising my energy and imbued that through my hands while I was setting the spell up. I may say a few words when the spell ends but for now, the candle burns on my altar… sending strength and healing to my friend.

Post Script

Looking at the image… there is an orb on the image of Joey. Love it when that happens and I get footage of spirits/guides carrying out my spell. :D

Blessed be x

Deck Creation - The Joey Morris Oracle (Daughter of the Morrigan)

It is with great satisfaction and a little pride that I can bring news (and pictures) of another oracle deck reaching fruition. The bulk of this deck was created in late Spring but as I descended into the last few cards I felt a need to step back for a while… Morrigan is an intense and great energy to work with and I was overwhelmed by her presence and contribution to this deck. As Autumn rolled in, arguably a very prominent time of year for this Celtic Goddess, I felt the ‘call to arms’ once more and so armed with great inspiration by one of the most awing deities I’ve ever experienced, off I went and in 3 days the deck was done. So here we are and I present you with…

The Cosmic Calling of a Shadow Wolf

Whilst all animals sacred to Morrigan and foxes are also sacred to Joey… I feel she connects most profoundly to wolves and as I scouted around Google for images I knew what I was looking for… the wolf had to be a silhouette because this is an astral wolf and to the everyday world, the astral is in shadow and I felt the need to mirror that. The second thing I knew was a must is that this silhouetted wold must be howling; whilst most would assume that as in popularised supernatural fictions the wolf would be howling at the moon, I disagreed; Joey is connected to the whole cosmos and the moon just didn’t feel enough for her wolf. This background I chose to set the wolf against was edited in photoshop to give a slightly orangy hue because orange is a colour which automatically brings Samhain to mind and Samhain is a thinning of veils… bringing what lays beyond the veils closer as does a wolf call. This brought to mind an eternal cycle of the wolf calling to the cosmos and the cosmos answering.

The Triads

I incorporated three sets of triadic cards into the deck:

«     Maidenhood, Motherhood, Cronehood

The Morrigan is well known as a Triple Goddess but using cards just stating Maiden, Mother and Crone didn’t seem to incorporate that Morrigan owns these states of being and shifts between them to exist and experience divinity in each aspect. For example, ‘Maidenhood’ is the sphere of youth… all the desires that will forge ones future. Creating a card for each stage of divine life brings forth the drives of each sphere and opens each to interpretation.

«     Anu, Macha, Badb

This triad is based on the names given to the most well-known aspects of Morrigan in her Triple Goddess form as Maiden, Mother & Crone. These aspects were given individual cards because Joey specifically relates to their essences and each has attributes which can be applied to a given situation that is being questioned in a reading.

«     Of Blood and Bone, Mistress of Death, Warrior

These cards relate whole-heartedly to the most common image of Morrigan – She is a Goddess of Death, She is a Warrior and She is often associated with blood and bone. While I know that limiting Morrigan to these stereotypes is narrow-minded, a deck devoted to Her which doesn’t include them would seem incomplete.

On further examination of the completed cards, I found other triad sets:

«     Starry Night, Orion Dreams, Cosmic Alliance

It may seem obvious but all three of these cards are related to universal/cosmic energy… Starry Night relates to Joey’s store, or at least the inspiration behind it; Orion Dreams is an interpretation on a connection to Orion that I’ve heard Joey talk about in some of her videos and in private chats.

«     Path, Disillusionment, Wisdom

This triad has more subtle connections – there are many things in this universe which will lead someone into the Craft and these cards are some of the most common – the search for wisdom of the unknown and unseen; feeling you are on a path which must be followed; recognising how when illusions are shattered, what remains must be truth.

I am overjoyed that in creating these cards there were patterns that were unintentional because that is the essence of divination and the beauty of synchronicity. Finding interpretations that were not expected but never the less are undeniably a part of something more magickal and divine than what can be perceived in the human experience is a large part of why I’m making these cards. It is now, when I am armed with this synchronicity, which I accredit fully to Morrigan for providing, I can look deeper.

Totem Cards

The animals sacred to Morrigan, at least those found via legend and mythology, are Raven, Wolf, Eel, Horse and Heifer… these kindred spirits of Morrigan have been singled out in cards because of what they bring to her presence and though each bring a myriad of messages and resources, so does their energy as a collective… these animals are all powerful and highly symbolic; that is, from what I can gather, a dedication to the Morrigan and her own power.

My Favourites

I think I love this card so much because it is so very open to interpretation; ‘Path’ is a word so commonly used in Pagan circles, communities and dialogues that I feel it gets overlooked and certainly taken for granted. I put this card in the deck to help refocus on the journey being taken… in magick, in life, in spirituality. A twilight forest scene seemed appropriate for Joey because trees are home for her; the pathway through the trees is a little ‘on the nose’ in terms of symbolism but I hope it will be an enjoyable card to be pulled in Joey’s personal readings.

I've put the Path card above these choices because it was showcased in the triads but here are some of my other favourites and a little about how each came about:

i)      Shape Shifting is the second card I am choosing and as a matter of insight it is the first card I created and I instantly knew it was the card I should begin the deck with. Having been a subscriber of Joey’s channel for some time I am familiar with and understand her annoyance that Morrigan gets categorised as only a Goddess of Death and War; Her other aspects get overlooked in many accounts of her associations and powers. Shape shifting is one of Morrigan’s most fascinating aspects and whether the card is interpreted as a power of the Goddess or something more personal, it is a reminder that just one label is never enough to successfully describe the sum of a person or deity.

ii)   This is possibly a controversial card and I did consider not including it but Joey posted this photograph of herself before I had even started to make oracle cards and in the photograph I saw Morrigan looking at me through Joey’s eyes. That was it for me… I had to play on photoshop and create Morrigan within the image. I made several versions and this was my favourite before I’d even thought of the deck. So, when the deck was conceived and I had focused the ideas down to aspects of Morrigan, I knew exactly the image to use to see Morrigan in her daughters.

iii) Ah, the yumminess that is foxes. It was so difficult to make a choice for the wording on the fox card; I toyed with Trickster, Eyes in the Aether, Twilight Temptation, etc but nothing seemed to capture the energy of fox I was trying to portray and when I chose Awareness, it felt to fit like the last piece of the jigsaw. Anyone who watches Joey’s channel knows how she cherishes the presence of foxy energies and so this felt like a very important card but the reason it makes one of my personal favourites is the combination of the outline silhouette and the orange/white energy background which gives the impression of a shifting awareness.

Well, there we have it… the whole deck is 44 cards and I have featured about half of those here. Joey, herself has showcased the cards in a video on her YouTube channel, link below…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_cP3UYPrDw

There is another deck in the works – watch this space!!!

Starry Haul 3 - Here Come the Boys (of Avalon) and Smudglings and Hawthorn Salts, Oh My!

Oh the many talents of Joey Morris; this is the review of my third order from Starry Eyed Supplies and it is a very good one. Let’s get started:

«     Merlin Beeswax Taper

There is nothing I like more than a green candle; no energy I welcome more openly than an Avalonian legend and this taper has both; Merlin is known worldwide as a magician, wizard, sorcerer, practitioner of the old ways, whether you have studied the myths or watched portrayals on tv and in movies and boy does his energy come through like a comet when holding this beeswax. His magick, his wisdom, his integrity… even his beard; they all come through with a flair of greeny ‘shimmy-shimmy’. The seven obsidian chips that run down one side of the candle also hold significance for me.

Number 7

I have only recently starting a practical study and application of numerology (late to the number party) but growing up the number 7 was considered lucky. Since starting my numerology study, I have discovered that 7 is the number of seeking, thinking and searching for the truth; the number of understanding very few things are only as they appear on the surface and that is very much aligned with Merlin… he was when he lived and remains in the astral in search of more knowledge because as we all know, knowledge is power.

Obsidian

Any black crystal holds a special place in my heart but because obsidian is often utilised for scrying, it is again an indicator of searching for hidden depths or meanings of a person, situation, place, etc. I think the placement of these crystals indicates Merlin’s seer qualities, as well as linking this taper with those of the Sorceresses of Avalon range, which also have obsidian chips in their aesthetic.

«     King Arthur Beeswax Taper

I will admit, I wasn’t sure about the colour choice at first… the inky reddish-purple possibly wouldn’t have been where my mind went immediately if it had been me at the crafting table for this but I trust Joey’s knowledge, skill and energy so I went with it. When it arrived it was perfect… the colour reminds me of deep, luxurious royal robes, it is a colour that would suit velvet well and certainly the colour of a Sovereign. The golden shimmy-shimmy which I assume is applied by rolling the wax through glitter is perfectly proportioned, it’s not over done to the point of a child's craft table and yet it’s not so little that it seems accidental. I love this taper; the traits which are attributed to Arthur as a King come through beautifully – the justice of his reign, the generosity of his spirit and the love of his Camelot.

Number 4

I will start with the numerology of the obsidian pieces on this taper. Number 4 is an indicator masculinity, strength and stability; he is dependable and productive, organised, trustworthy and patient – these are wonderful qualities of a King and very indicative of Arthur as a King; I hope our future King reigns with such qualities.

Obsidian & Royalty

I have not delved deep enough yet into the histories of obsidian to know whether it is something that may have been used by Arthur, whether it was even in the area at the time Arthur is said to have ruled but for the energy of this candle, I can imagine His tunic to have obsidian buttons, I see arrow heads of obsidian and perhaps tinctures were kept in obsidian bottles.

  

«     Seasons of Trees Smudgling Set

Before I begin my review of these tiny pots of gorgeousness, I will mention I have deemed all smudglings ‘sniff-pots’; I brought them with the intention of using them as smudges but they are too delicious to do that so I am using them to induce a specific energy base prior to meditation. Just as a sidebar, I will not go into the ingredients I recognise in these smudglings because I respect Jo’s secret blends and recipes and also her desire to keep her crafting tricks and techniques private.

Dawn of Trees is the Spring smudgling; freshness, new life, growth and regenerated energy are the emanating goodies that come from this smudge. When I stick my nose in there, I imagine myself to be a very hungry bee who catches this scent of the breeze and heads straight to the bee-equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet. It is sweet and delicate, beautifully balanced and has a very charming note of dancing fae. Stunningly golden light of new sunbeams is what I am reminded of by looking into this smudge; I think of those dancing fae and the sunlight through their wings. Gorgeous!!!

Warrior of Trees is like a bubbling cauldron of strength. I don’t find the scent overwhelming which is refreshing and puts me in mind of simply laying in a meadow, but the energy is magnificent… there is a gorgeous element of stealth in the smudgling, the energy creeps up on me, much like the sun creeps up on us, growing stronger until suddenly, it’s Summer and we are amid the blinding light and sweltering heat. This energy has that power, the stealth of the sun as it ripens the tree to it’s peak level of radiance. The colours are most striking in this mini smudge… the burning orange against the softer yellow like the flaming sun through the leafy canopy.

Last Dance of Trees has the most mellow, calming, relaxed scent which transports me to a wilting forest with mulch beneath my feet and a fading sun setting amongst the reds and golds of the autumnal leaves. You may notice from how I describe this that Autumn is my favourite season in the cycle and the smudglings. I am in awe of this beautiful aroma which is both cooling to the mind and warming to the heart. The aesthetic is strands of golden yellow on dark brown and looking at it, I am watching the limbs of a mighty oak sway in the cool breeze as the last of it’s leaves, silhouetted against the sun, dance to the ground.

Winter Crown of Trees has an unexpected scent. The first time I opened it, I expected, something sharp and cold to enter my sense but that is not the case. Based on trees, I feel this scent follows the hibernation cycle of the tree through Winter. Though titled ‘Crown of Trees’, the scent takes me to the roots of trees, warm in the earth, hidden from the cold surface frosts. I therefore feel that warmth spreading out to the tips of each branch and twig, to keep it just ticking over while the world spins frozen beneath it. An inky black-blue against the golden yellows certainly mirror barren branches against a blinding winter sun but the scent is all that rest and renewal energy which happens away from prying eyes.

As a pre-requisite to this section of the review, I am purchasing all Ogham Pristess Blessing Salts as the Celtic Calendar progresses. I am on a mission to work Joey into a crafting frenzy because she’s amusing when frenzied – lol! Anyway, on with the salts…

«     Hawthorn Priestess Blessing Salts

This product encompasses perfectly the wheel turning from Spring to Summer; Celtic traditions when adapted into an organised calendar placed the named the month of Huath/Uath for the Hawthorn tree; this month is the transition between what we know as May and June. This is a time of growing heat, lengthening days, flowers everywhere and an abundance of beautiful nature. The salts Joey has produced brings all of that together into a product which can be utilised through bathing/cleansing, through magick & ritual, while maintaining a more understated energy which is more easily used for meditation. While my research of Hawthorn brings me to traditions of it being considered masculine, having the salts bring out a Priestess energy creates a balance which I find aids meditation seamlessly. This is one of the strongest scented salts I have ordered so far but as it contains lots of botanicals worked through the salts and energising them with Huath goodness, I am not surprised. This is a very strongly magickal salt and I shall use it with reverence to deeply connect to the magicks that surround me.

Find all these products and more at:
Starry Eyed Supplies

Or, for products with energies you personally feel aligned to, contact Joey at the 

Starry Eyed Facebook Page

Wittering on… 25/05/16 – New Directions, Oracle Decks and Back to Posting

 I’ll start with getting back to posting on my blog. I had a colossal downtime which was not just a break from posting but also a break from practising… I have barely been witchy for 18 months with the exception of a few bright spots when I’ve felt a passing inspiration flirting with me, I haven’t been able to hold onto to it for a long time. It has kept me disappointed in myself that I was unable to manifest the energy, inspiration or self-esteem to keep putting my practice out there. Nothing particularly brought me down into that funk but it was one of those situations that with the level of enthusiasm I started with and which I maintained for over a year… attacking study of Runes and Ogham ferociously and reinterpreting them for myself, I burned myself out, mentally and spiritually. There have been several times when I thought I was ready to come back but it was that mirage effect – one or two posts and I was once again plunged into that place of lacking. I did finally get the message and stopped trying to get back, trusting that it would happen in its own time and when I felt a desire to practice and write again, it would just happen because I felt a spiritual urge to do it. The desire to write was a hard thing to let go of and I mourned the loss of it; the level of trust in finding my path again was also very difficult to maintain given that I was doing nothing to guide myself back to it. However, the clouds have parted and I am invigorated with a new sense of magick and spirituality which will become apparent as I once again take up my studies of all things witchy (hopefully with a little more self control). So, to what I will be posting:

«     Rune Interpretations/Rune Magicks. These are the posts that did me in last time I was posting; I love runes as a method of divination and of magick but because of that I get engrossed so they will be coming back but in a less involved form – she said with fingers crossed. I am almost completed with Raido, the rune that knocked me on my spiritual ass for over a year but it has been a difficult energy to wrangle and work with so is currently on the back burner. My next rune will be Kenaz which I hope to work on through June… there will still be two categories to my rune posts, both interpretations and magicks so please watch this space for those posts.

«     Magick of the Day. I loved having this idea and it started last year with the concept of looking at the magick of days; it began with looking at Sunday magicks and though I was very happy with that post, it was one of those bright spots in the darkness of my magickal slump which was born of a brief awakening from my spiritual slumber. So in case you didn’t see the original post, this idea evolved from posting about magicks to perform on certain days of the week into posting everyday on a magickal energy – a colour, a crystal, a herb, an oil, a day, an hour, a moon phase, etc. I might make it Magick of the Week so it’s not so difficult to keep up with but it will be regular posting on something witchy.

«     Spell Spin. I’m not sure about this idea anymore; I loved it originally, the concept being to put my spin on different spells published in popular spell books. The problem with continuing with this is that I don’t really use published spells anymore… for the last 10 years I have written my own spells and rituals for a higher energy, deeper connection and more dedicated intention. I was writing my own spells when I started the section and so posted spells that I had changed/evolved to my taste in the past. Unfortunately, I ran out of those but will leave them posted for anyone who would like to see how to adapt a published spell.

«     ‘Reflecting on…’ My reflections will be back, I am currently reflecting on the Sun, given the time of year and it will be a sister post to my Sunday Magick from Magick of the Day. I do however have some very big topics coming up, including: Death, Love, and Curses. As those are big posts, they will be spread out through the year and likely to come in a few parts. I will also have the more light hearted ones, based on philosophies or spiritual memes.

«     Other Stuff. Well, there’s a few other things that I’ve posted in the past… Animal Adoption links, Witchy Hauls, etc and all those little in between posts which I publish when I’m working on more substantial things will be back too so look forward to the recommendations, silliness and craziness… like Fledgewatch from 2014 and exerts from my Book of Shadows, like my Inspiration Page.

Oracle Decks

This is a new direction for me; inspired by the one and only Mandi See, I created an Oracle Deck specifically for her based on the Aspects of Self video she posted. I have already published on this recently so I won’t witter on about it again but I am so pleased that she was happy with them and practically giddy with excitement.

The second deck I am creating is called ‘Daughter of the Morrigan’ for the incomparable Joey Morris. These cards are currently still in the design phase of creation but I am showcasing a few of my favourites:

Oracle Orders

If anyone would be interested in one of my personalised decks, please contact me privately via facebook or email. They take 4-6 weeks to make dependant on whether it is a Self Deck like Mandi’s or a Deity & Self Deck like Joey’s. Price is variable based on size of cards and size of deck but will generally be between £15 and £25. They will have a matching personalised box which I make from scratch. I do not employ a professional printing outlet, this is a hand made product.

Starry Haul 2 (Part 3)

So here we are at Part 3 with the items I chose as part of my Beltane celebrations. Joey is my go-to now for so many things… if I get an errant energy pass me by, my first thought is ‘Oooo, I need a set…. Straight on Facebook…. “Joooooey… I need….”’ I’m sure it’ll start to bug her one day – lol! Well, onto the items:-

May Your Sprites Rise Beltane Votive (pair)

Regular Store Product

This choice was based purely on the title. I had seen the posted video and thought ‘awww, so pretty’, which led to thinking ‘I must, must have this’. As Beltane is one of my favourite Sabbats, I would never have slept again if I didn’t order this and because I like things in twos (possibly because I’m Gemini), I had 2. These votives are beautiful… they make me want to lay in meadows in the raise of a Beltane sunrise, listen to the dawn chorus and just melt gently into the aether. The wax is a warm leafy green which makes me imagine the noon rays of sunlight through a glowing forest canopy of blossom and adolescent leaves. And, oh, the herbals… tiny little bits of sprinkly goodness on top and slightly sunk into that wax – oh, Joey, Joey, Joey!!! There is, of course, also, a shimmery halo of goodness encircling the wick which sparkles as if that sunlight is kissing a tranquil lake. This energy is sublime and peaceful and inextricably bang on!!!

Beltane By Night Votive (pair)

Regular Store Product

Once again my need for duality is apparent… the presence of Sprites rising on my altar meant that Beltane by Night was a completely essential part of my festivities for this Sabbat… into the cart they went. Now, I’d seen the video and so I knew the votives were black, as a candle with a nightime energy it made sense to me they would be black and so I was completely with Joey’s choice for black – understandable. When they arrived and I saw that coppery/golden shimmer on top, I saw the Universe; stars exploding with light, planetary bodies that circle each other, a billion energies shifting and transforming, dancing and swaying in the cosmos. That is just from looking at these votives; when I lit them… WOW!!! All those billion energies became an incredible power concentration burning in that one flame (technically two flames with both votives), this was my Belfire… This took place in my garden; I danced and chanted around these votives, I used them to light by God and Goddess candles because through the energy of Beltane I witness the Great Rite.

May Your Sprites Rise Beltane Herbal Blend

Requested item of an energy already on store

Back to the Sprites… such a gorgeous energy. Now, this blend was big enough that I could save some for next year. I’ll still need to order more but I have saved the ash from this burn and mixed it with the remaining blend which I will then add to the next batch I order to connect this Beltane with the next one. The actual blend has such a sweet scent, I won’t go into too much detail because I respect Joey’s need to keep her recipes private but the chamomile is overwhelming and beautiful. If I hadn’t felt the urge to burn it, I’d have kept the whole thing just to keep sticking my nose in there. It is so stunning and it lifted my personal celebrations into the stratosphere.

Nine Ladies of the Wood Herbal Blend

Regular Store Product

This was the blend I burned for my evening activities at Beltane; it was reverent and awing and incredibly humbling to use this combination of barks and shavings. I felt so connected to the ancient forests with this blend. Again, I have kept enough for another purpose but with this blend that other purpose is meditation. I have meditated on the Nine Ladies of the Wood scent 11 times since Beltane; considering that was only two weeks ago, I’m obsessed. I get extraordinary visions with this energy… I have been taken back in time, I have been in the truly ancient astral forests with these meditations and I really can’t thank Joey enough because my inner calm has reached new levels of groundedness, serenity, tranquility… what this herbal blend has given me, is inner peace.

Starry Haul 2 (Part 2)

This is a set which Joey deemed Priestess of the Cosmos which is a title I have fell in love with and will be incorporating into an Orca tattoo I am treating myself to in the Summer. I am reviewing this set on its own because I was completely awed by its energy which, as I work with this totem all the time, surprised me.

Orca Totem Set

Requested set

*Spell Orb*

This is the only spell orb I have purchased from Starry Eyed Supplies; I’m considering more but because I find them to be such an adept product, adeptly balancing of energies, light and magick, choosing an orb that resonates with you profoundly is enough. Colour is an integral part of this orb…. the purple is the magickal element, prevailing strongly through the other botanicals…. next is the blue/yellow flourishes like the crest of waves as the mighty Orca splashes playfully on the surface of the astral oceans. There are other bits of botanical too which I am either failing to identify or choosing to aid Joey in keeping her recipes protected. I do see a small scroll in there though and a midnight blue ribbon which is reminiscent of an Orca tail and perfectly compliments the colours inside. The last thing I want to mention is the charm… .Joey, my lovely new friend whose talent for this level of crafting awes me, found me Orca charms and for that I love, love, love her!!!

*4 Votives*

I adore votives, they burn long enough for a decent length magickal activity and when I work with my Orca totem I can get so engrossed that I’m at it for hours… I had a 4 hour meditation once just swimming around the astral with Orca. One of the votives is ear-marked for a specific purpose - to be burned while I get my Orca tattoo; the others are waiting for inspiration to strike but as there are 3 remaining I may create a ritual for the Maiden, Mother and Crone aspects of my Cosmic Priestess. So, to the aesthetic – black and white obviously for the mirroring or colour for the actual Orca but this is also reflective of the the title Priestess of the Cosmos… she who is of the cosmic energy… the black of the night sky, the white of the starlight. Also, there is a sneaky slush of purple in the adornment of the surface which is that touch of magick which flows through the sub-consious and explodes in the mind. Joey’s ‘patented’ shimmy shimmy shimmer on the top of the votives is a stunning ocean blue which is possibly self-explanatory but that spray of water from a very large splash is what specifically comes to mind. I will lastly mention the sprinkle of tiny black somethings on the top, not sure what they are but set each votive beautifully.

*Spell Oil*

Oh, what can I say: honey, my cup runneth over… I consider oils the life blood of witchcraft, they ease the flow of magick, they create such a wonderful heady scent, and they make every working better. This spell oil is stunning… the botanicals are balanced perfectly and seem to swim through the oil like they’re Orcas in the ocean. I am in awe of your talent, Joey. I have already told you but I’ll mention it here too… the oil is half gone; I use it to anoint myself when I am journeying… this is whether I’m only working with my totem Orca, Opal, or whether I am doing another working because it makes me feel Opal close regardless of where I am in the astral. 

Starry Haul 2 (Part 1)

This was a bit of a splurge order as I get very carried away with Joey’s products, hence why it will be posted in 3 parts. There is a mix of personally requested items and products which are readily available at www.starryeyedsupplies.co.uk

Sorceresses of Avalon Beeswax Candle Set

Requested (previously on store)

*Morgan Le Fay*

The exquisite energy from this delicate beeswax candle is directly transported through the aether from Avalon… I can feel the druidic power desperately enriching this deep character, bright with magick. I get enveloped and engrossed in this energy but I will try to concentrate… the candle itself is a rich purple set with obsidian chips, approximately 9” tall and completely gorgeous with the signature of ‘shimmy shimmy’ of Joey’s Starry products. The energy of magick is the first thing I felt when I held it… she who languishes in magick, bathes in it, breathes it, she who leaves shadows of magick in her wake. This true Avalonian is a gift from the past.

*Morgause*

The sexual element of this candle is stunning and completely undeniable… a bright pink beeswax taper containing the explosive energy of the Avalonian bombshell. The pink speaks of a sorceress who though comsumed and driven by her sexuality, does not partake in sex because of obligation but because she adores it. The obsidian chips therefore lend to her as the diva, the siren, the wanton, the rampant… she is the eternal embodiment of female sexuality, of womanhood and desire. In the meditation I did with this candle – just holding it – I sensed a warrior element too but a warrior who uses sexuality as a weapon… she who seduces and bewitches by form and pheremone.

*Nimue*

I feel a deep connection to the duality within the mythos of Nimue which I don’t get from the other Sorceresses… she is often considered the Lady of the Lake and therefore the protector of ultimate power; I feel the bluey/lilac colour of this candle represents that stunningly; man, unless pure of heart, cannot wield the power of Excalibur without consumption but Nimue, as Lady of the Lake, can. I feel this is the way to see femininity as the more dominant energy than masculinity… this ability is the bright spot of Yin in the Yang. The other side of Nimue’s mythos is the student of Merlin… she who gains power and let’s that need for power consume her… I think the obsidian against the blue represents this dark greed for more and more… I love both energies of this Avalonian powerhouse.

Large Smudge – Breathe

Store regular

I finally have a full tub of this overwhelmingly yummy scented smudge. I fawned over it my last review so I’ll keep this one brief… I adore the overpowering lavender, the lilac hue and the simplicity of the energy – this smudge is aptly named because I can’t stop breathing it in.

Holly and Oak King Pillars

Personal request

This epic, twice annual battle between the Holly and Oak Kings is one of the few things I’ve carried with me from Wicca when I took my first few steps on this wonderful, wild path of nature and magick. These pillars will beautifully enhance my honouring of these arboreal archetypes –

*The Holly Pillar*

I am using this for Summer Solstice in conjunction with the re-awakening of my Holly wand from it’s hibernation. It’s rich red wax and golden shimmering top makes the perfect host for this magnificent energy and I can’t thank Joey enough for her talented crafting.

*The Oak Pillar*

Wow… from the golden crown through the depth of green that embodies the wax… this pillar is the true embodiment of Oak energy… the Oak King is my masculine archetype and I couldn’t be happier with this representation of Him for my altar. It will be the centre of my empowerment ritual at Winter Solstice when I charge my oak wand with the Oak King energy.

Starry Haul

It has been a long time since I blogged as I had a mahoosive energy block and took advantage of the downtime to indulge my other favourite things but I’m back and will be building up my posts slowly. I’m staring with this small order that I received last week from +Joey Morris (of Starry Eyed Supplies and YouTube).

I ordered:

The Amethyst Magickal Mixing Wand

Pretty much what is says on the label – lol! A slim and delicate tapered piece, with amethyst attached to the top end but I shall use it with pride to stir my botanicals.

The Oak Priestess Spell Duo

This comprises a votive of the richest green wax I have ever seen with a gorgeous glittery sheen (“shimmy, shimmy” to quote the creator) to the top and bottom; the second item in the duo is the oil which is infused with tiny pieces of bark chips and other bits of botanical goodness… gorgeous. This has been used to anoint my Oak wand and will now be saved until Summer Solstice as part of my hibernation ritual for the wand; as the Holly King takes sovereignty, this duo will send the Oak King to his rest with honour.

Willow Priestess Blessing Salts

Saille is one of my all time favourite Ogham energies and I often incorporate it into my practice so when I saw this product on Joey’s store, what came to mind was ‘I WANT, I WANT, I WANT’, out came the credit card… and I was not disappointed. The energy radiates from this blend like rays from the sun and it has already been and will continue to be used with reverence.

Smudge: Phoenix

Well now, smudging is an integral part of my craft and when I opened this little jar… the power of spice that came from it nearly knocked me on my butt. It has a quality of Inidian spices which I love; so aromatic, so hot and it goes without saying… brimming with Phoenix energy. Haven’t used this one yet; after becoming familiar with the scent and meditating on a good time to use it, it will be saved for my Winter Solstice plans when I re-awaken my Oak Wand.

Smudge: Breathe

Wow. That’s pretty much all I can say is WOW!!! This little jar of herbals is POTENT. The scent is like riding the back of the wind (Got that line from Hook) and I can’t possibly burn it as a smudge until I have brought more because I’m addicted to sticking my nose in there for a whiff. The lavender comes through strongest for me but there’s a gorgeous mix of other goodies in there, I can tell. Not that I'd ever get the recipe, Joey guards that better than the Colonel guards his 11 herbs and spices.

Joey also takes requests… this is a service I have recently taken advantage of so there will be another post soon about those products and a link to her videos regarding them. I am so happy that I started purchasing from Starry Eyed Supplies and I intend to keep doing so for a long time. 

Ansuz Magick - Stave of Knowledge Talisman

Stave of Knowledge Talisman

There is a plethora of information which is received by the subconscious, it picks up on details that we do not even comprehend we are seeing. It creates your inner voice and intuition, it is the place where visualisations are formed and it is the catalyst of meditation. For those of us who believe in a higher power, Gods and Goddesses, deities of all sorts and other unseen realms, the sub conscious is where these beliefs are realised.

In studying the Ansuz rune, I have come to find its power a useful communicative tool to access the information held in the subconscious. The talisman detailed below harnesses that power, along with the Celtic Ogham power of Ash (or Nion, if you prefer) to retrieve the mysteries held in the depths of the subconscious.

My personal definition of a talisman is an item of power which incorporates blended energies to achieve a specific goal. This is why a talisman does not have to be a bag of mixed herbs or a type of pendant; it can be any object which you charge with a particular intention – a good luck charm for instance. This definition led me to the making of this particular talisman.

You will need:

·       A length of Ash (approx 1.5 cm diameter)

·       A carving tool

·       A pyrography tool (optional)

What to do:

1.  There are two things to be prepared before you begin to craft your talisman stave. The incense blend for circle and the anointing oil. Both sets of information are below.

2.    Ground, centre & cast your circle with the above incense – it will help to create the link between what you know consciously and what your sub conscious hasn’t told you yet.

3.       Use the carving tool to scrape away the bark of the Ash and several layers of the wood; create a long ‘patch’ in the piece of wood ready to inscribe it with your symbols.

  

4.   Inscribe the two symbols into the bark with a pyrography tool or draw them on with a pen:                

5.       Use the anointing oil (detailed above) to coat the stave and charge it with its purpose:

When plagued with questions and with doubt

Nuin of Ogham bring knowledge out

Subconscious wisdom needed then

Ansuz tell me… who, where, when

Oils blended for knowledge call

Bring answers for the good of all

Blessed be this sacred stave

To gain knowledge when it’s crave’d

With many thanks to…

I’d like to thank +Joey Morris for her advice on combining the Ansuz Rune with the Nuin/Nion energy of the Ogham. It has been invaluable and I could not have completed this talisman without her. I therefore wrote this mini-blessing for her, performed over a green spell candle (to honour her Celtic path) and sprinkled lavender and chamomile onto the flame as I incanted.

Blessings rain down on this witch

For abundance in a life that’s rich

A second thank you must go out to +Laura Daligan for agreeing to create the anointing oil. I have long wished to collaborate with her and so I was thrilled when she said yes. As a thank you, I am performing a mini=blessing for her too. Incanted over a red spell candle with a sprinkle of powdered dragon’s blood to honour her fiery nature:

Blessed be this witch of flame

May your wild heart never be tame

Using the Stave of Knowledge

Unusually for me, I have chosen for the stave to be used without incantation. It is already charged with its purpose to be the bringer of knowledge and wisdom and so to use it, hold it in your receptive hand and make it the focal point of a meditation. During the meditation visualise the stave drawing the information from your subconscious into your conscious mind. Keep a pen and paper handy to write down what you discover.