Basics of Botanicals: BLUE LOTUS LILY

December 29, 2022•Basics of Botanicals, Hedgewitch, Herbalism

~Blue Lotus Lily~
(Nymphaea caerulea)

OCCULT/METAPHYSICAL/CURIO:

■ASTRAL
■MEDITATION
■3rd EYE CLARITY
■LUCID DREAMING
■SEX (CEREMONIES)

HISTORIC ALTERNATIVE MEDICINAL USES :
Active compounds: apomorphine and nuciferine

■Sleep Aide
■Nervine
■Antispasmodic
■Euphoric
■Aphrodisiac

more info:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5638439/

INTERACTIONS:

■MODERATE interaction with most if not all ANTIDIABETIC DRUGS & also with PEntobarbital (Nembutal)

SOME POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:

■INCREASED HEART RATE
■HOT FLASHES

more info:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blue-lotus-flower#health-claims

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-124/lotus

Other info on “Moderate to Severe” cases related to issues with BLUE LOTUS LILY concentrate / high doses beyond single servings:
https://academic.oup.com/milmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/milmed/usab328/6338457

DISCLAIMER:

I AM NOT A DOCTOR

I AM NOT A PHARMACIST

Please seek the appropriate healthcare professionals to answer medical/drug-related questions. This information is for knowledge purposes only and not meant to replace any advice or care provided to you by your Health Care Team Providers. ANY INFORMATION WITHIN ‘BASICS OF BOTANICALS’ LITERARY WORKS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS MEDICAL ADVICE NOR SHOULD IT REPLACE ANY MEDICAL SERVICES. ‘BASICS OF BOTANICALS’ IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE COMPILATION; It is meant to be a spring-board type guide to getting individuals into searching in-depth further on their own. If any information is incorrect/missing, please email hwsbotanicalsemporium@gmail.com with the following:

Citations missing or incomplete
Inaccurate information
The specific post/article in question

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK link to H.W.’s Botanicals & Emporium

Basics of Botanicals: OAT STRAW

December 29, 2022•Basics of Botanicals, Hedgewitch, Herbalism

Oat Straw
(Avena sativa)
Leaves and stem

OCCULT/METAPHYSICAL/CURIO:

■Money
■Prosperity

TYPICAL USES IN HISTORIC ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES, per PUBMED:

(Considered to be a nervine and nutritive; offers support over time)

■STIMULANT
■ANTISPASMODIC
■DIURETIC
■NEUROTONIC

more info:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23072529/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-814/oats

INTERACTIONS:

■Medications for DIABETES

more info: https://www.rxlist.com/oats/supplements.htm#SpecialPrecautionsWarnings

DISCLAIMER:

I AM NOT A DOCTOR

I AM NOT A PHARMACIST

Citations missing or incomplete
Inaccurate information
The specific post/article in question

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK link to H.W.’s Botanicals & Emporium

Basics of Botanicals: PASSION FLOWER

December 29, 2022•Basics of Botanicals, Hedgewitch, Herbalism

PASSION FLOWER
(Passiflora)

OCCULT/METAPHYSICAL/CURIO:

■Love
■Peace
■Sleep
■Friendship
■dream pillows, sachets

TYPICAL USES IN HISTORIC ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES:

■ANXIETY
■SLEEP AID
■ADHD
■MENOPAUSAL

more info:
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/passionflower#:~:text=Today%2C%20passionflower%20is%20promoted%20as,burns%20and%20to%20treat%20hemorrhoids.

INTERACTIONS:

■■CNS depressants, MODERATE; including but not limited to:

■Sedative medications:
■PENtobarbital (Nembutal)
■PHEnobarbital (Luminal)
■SECobarbital (Seconal)
■CLOnazepam (Klonopin)
■LORazempam (Ativan)
■ZOLpidem (Ambien)

more info:
https://www.rxlist.com/passion_flower/supplements.htm#Interactions

DISCLAIMER:

I AM NOT A DOCTOR

I AM NOT A PHARMACIST

Citations missing or incomplete
Inaccurate information
The specific post/article in question

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK link to H.W.’s Botanicals & Emporium

Godparents: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

December 22, 2022•Lessons in Magick, Mental Health

I have several friends who are in La Regla De Ocha, but not crowned. We are Aborishas, devotees and practitioners with our own gifts and specialties. We’ve worked hard to get to where we are, regardless of why we got into this religion, we all got here the same way. Ceremonies, dedication, faith, and the desire to help others.

One other thing we have in common is that we’ve come across godparents who we thought would love us and guide us until our crowning ceremony only to betray us for the most common thing in this world: money.

Godparents who love-bomb their godchildren, filling their heads and hearts with false love and respect. Giving gifts of low monetary value demanding more expensive ones in return. Things like a $600 bottle of cologne. Or a $500 air purifier.

Godparents who charge fees for various reasons such as:
being late to a ceremony or Misa (attending) penalty for disrespecting the godparents (by asking questions)
penalty for “disappearing” or being “secretive” or what we recognize as working various hours, overtime, and not calling everyday and pouring ourselves out to them doubling the cost of a ceremony as a penalty for not paying everything in full, months in advance penalty for not understanding the difference between “giving” and “loaning” money to their godchildren

Money is an obvious necessity in this religion; some call it the “rich man’s religion.” The prices for each ceremony vary from $150 to as high as $20,000 for a crowning. It’s understood that godchildren don’t get to be crowned quickly, unless they’re rich, because in between ceremonies we are supposed to learn. We read books, we learn the language, we practice our craft, we practice what we are good at – reading cards, candle work, etc. We work for what we have received and what we will receive.

Back in my mom’s day (she was not crowned) she earned everything. Godparents had godchildren who would run errands, picking up animals, cleaning and preparing the space for ceremony, welcoming visitors, serving light food and drinks after ceremony or Misa’s. Basically, serving their godparent and most importantly the Orisha’s. They would see this as being a dedicated godchild; one who wanted to earn every ceremony or every blessed moment among the Orisha’s.

Unfortunately, we don’t have that in big cities like NY, it’s all about money now.

Not to mention the inevitable mental illness that appears after years of hearing the Orisha’s in one ear, and the Muerto in the other. The voices are 24/7 and we must learn how to balance them out over the course of our day. Some of us have jobs, children, spouses / partners, but with all that we still must listen to them. They guide us, they help discern who’s being honest or not, or who is trying to take advantage of us. Just imagine you’re at an event, standing on one side of a closed door and inside the room there’s a large cocktail party going on. You can’t make out full conversations, it sounds like a bunch of flamingos cawing with intermittent clanging of glassware. It can drive you crazy.

My paternal grandmother’s erratic and abusive behavior started when my mother was pregnant with my brother. She even tried to kill me when I was 5, but that’s a whole other story.

My former godfather was seeing a psychiatrist for over 20 years. I’m older than him by two years. One of the many red flags was that he had initiated his psychiatrist. So, she is his godchild, he’s in a position of power over her. She prescribes drugs for his anxiety, sleep issues, among other issues. This isn’t right, ethically. But our falling out came over $100 that he claimed I owed him. It was ten months from when he “gave” me the money to help me get something out of pawn. Never saying it was a loan, just saying over and over how he was here to help. How I was his godchild and it’s a godparents responsibility to help in any way they can. I didn’t realize that meant he lent me the money. I’m one who specifies verbiage so that there’s no misunderstanding. He didn’t care. He just wanted his money.

He accused me of giving this money to another reader. He accused me of abusing him and his wife.

The final straw came when his wife called me at work asking for the $100. I spoke to her briefly, after asking permission to actually speak. The entire time he was in the background spiraling out of control, yelling and screaming.

He called me a bitch, a liar, a secretive person, and he didn’t like the way I “moved.” Slang for how I live my life. Which really meant, he didn’t like that I hadn’t become dependent on him for my everyday life like another godchild had. She had money and constantly bought him things, got Botox from him (he is certified), took them out to eat anywhere they wanted.

My last question which he wasn’t mature enough to answer was “do you still want me as a godchild?” Of course, he didn’t respond. He simply stated he couldn’t kick me out of the (spiritual) house. So, I asked his wife. She also hemmed and hawed responding. I did what I knew would get an answer, I cut her off and asked for a definitive answer. Yes or No, no ambiguity. She finally said no that I was out of the house. The call then ended quickly with him still yelling and screaming in the background.

That was three weeks ago. It cost me $100 to get rid of two narcissist grifters. He kept one of my elekes, but that’s easy enough to replace under these circumstances.

I walked into his house with gifts, he didn’t give me anything other than being the person who performed the ceremonies I needed. I paid in full even though I lost two jobs during this time and owed rent arrears after covid made its appearance.

Now I spend my time reading the books he and other practitioners suggested. Waiting for the next godparent who will appear. Will they do the same thing? Maybe. Will I end up with another set of godparents after that? Probably. One of my friends is on his 4th set of godparents.

So, for those of you interested, get into this knowing full well that the godparents who bring you into this won’t be the ones you end up being crowned by. Don’t let red flags slide by. I saw some red flags early on, but I needed my elekes and warriors to save my life. But again, a story for another day.

Maferefun Oshun

Lessons in Magick: Boundaries and Deities

December 10, 2022•Lessons in Magick, Mental Health, Musings of a Modern Mystic

I was recently forced to take a break from spiritual work because I caught the nasty cold that was going around. Take care of yourself before your body makes you rest. I felt as though I was lazy because I had no energy to do the spiritual work I had been doing. I think I can say that if you get anxiety from needing a break from spiritual work, it needs to be a wake-up call for sure. You need a break. You need to be gentle with yourself. And you need to be able to know when it’s time to step back. You can not pour from an empty cup.

It’s something I’ve told my friends, especially my wife, time and time again. You have to remember to fill your own cup. Sometimes, that means taking a break from spiritual work and remembering to live life. Spiritual work certainly helps with day-to-day living, but not if you’re forgetting what that means.

I’ve spent the last couple of years or so working with Hades and Santa Muerte, albeit casually. It’s only been within the last six months. I’ve really stepped it up to work more seriously with both of them. With wonderful results, mind you, but I was trapping myself without realizing it. I do a lot of work for the people I care about because I genuinely want their lives to be filled with joy, prosperity, and fulfillment. I only recently started concentrating on myself and my needs.

What I found was that I felt guilty if I ever skipped a day working with either of my deities. I felt like I was lazy, and if anything bad were to happen, it would be my fault because I wasn’t keeping the energy flowing. When a novel thought hit me while I was working with Santa Muerte. That gentle voice of, “You have poor boundaries. Work on that.”

That was a punch in the chest. It isn’t on me to save everyone. It isn’t on me to pour energy into things when I certainly don’t feel like doing it. Working with deities shouldn’t become a chore. You chose to work with them, and they understand you are human and fallible. The sky will not fall because you need to take a break and do self-care. I’m having to redefine my relationship with both of them. Hades has always been fatherly and forgiving. “About time.”

And they are both right. I have poor boundaries when it comes to this. Part of it is because I don’t find myself to be a good caretaker in other ways, so I try to make up for it through the spiritual work I do. Which is all fine and good, but if it’s costing me my peace and I’m feeling guilty for not doing more. It’s time to step back, and thankfully I’ve built a good enough relationship with both of them to be made aware of it.

But I think that is also an important thing to learn when working with deities. What your boundaries are and how to respectfully uphold them. It’s a lesson that can be applied across the board from spiritual work to dealing with *other* humans. It’s something that takes time.

Learning to apply it to all areas of your life is key for your mental and spiritual health.

The Forgotten Magic

December 7, 2022•Musings of a Modern Mystic

Part 4

Hunting Shadows

Staring into the gaps in-between,

We find the things that cannot be seen.

Hiding in the bushes in the garden

and the hedgerows in the fields.

The Shadows

am I watching them

or are they watching me.

Darker than the blackest night

With sparkling eyes

that twinkle with the light

of stars burning bright.

There is a darkness that lurks in the shadows. I actually don’t know what it is but in my childhood, like some earlier explorer discovering a new species of creature for the first time, I was fascinated with observing the Shadow entities. Looking back at this as an adult, I have no idea what this was about, I actually have more questions than answers. Strange how as a child you don’t question what you do, instinctively you just do it, maybe that’s something as adults we should remember how to cultivate.

The natural world captivated my young mind and I would spend hours reading about and drawing my favourite animals. To me the Shadows are just another part of that, another creature to be studied, only it wasn’t in any book I knew, maybe I could be the first person to document it and become the David Attenborough of the unseen world.

As my curiosity grew I became bolder and rather than watching things in the garden through the window, I decided one day it would be fun to go on an expedition into the fields. The fields are literally across the road from my family home, you can see them from the living room window.
I roped my friend in and briefed her on the plan of action, to hunt down and observe the Shadow creatures.

We set off in full stealth mode across the field, treading softly as possible through the tall grass, towards a large over grown boundary hedge. The fields had long been abandoned and everything had gone feral. Once neat hawthorn hedges had become gnarled trees over long dried out ditches, where imaginations roamed free with trolls and fairies, but today we hunt Shadows.
I’m not sure I was prepared for what we encountered that day, in all honesty.

We stopped half way across the field as I could sense something moving just beyond the hedge. Don’t move or it will see us. Adrenaline kicked in as this Shadow was immense, watching Shadows in the garden through the safety of the window was one thing and they had been small no bigger than a man but this creature before was as big as an elephant and growing larger as it came towards us. It didn’t see us at first and I was telling my friend where it was and describing what it looked like. I don’t know if she saw what I could see that day (maybe I should ask her, we are still friends after 45 years) anyway she either did or she was playing along. The feelings of awe and panic got the better of us as the creature sensed we were watching seemed to grow denser and blacker and larger and started to move a bit quicker in our direction. We both bolted back across the field as fast as our legs would carry us.

Writing this down, it would be easy to dismiss it as my wild imagination but I know it was not. Then as now, although I have a vivid imagination I know the difference between what I project in my imagination and what is out in the world. At least, I think I do, we can all be fooled.

I wonder where I could walk to hunt Shadows close to where I live today, the fields near my parents house are still there but that’s 300 miles away from where I now live. There is a piece of common land not far from my house so I set off on a new expedition, along the rows of little terraced houses, through the grave yard, across the meadow that’s filled with blue flowers in spring. Till I reach the edge of the where the wilder places begin.

Ivy plays sentinel to the gateway of paths, tangled tree roots make steps down through the trees where Jackdaws chastise and Crows answer in low melodious caws. Out into the open space of common land, at least what is left of it.
I find myself on the edge of construction site, what happens to the Shadows when the wild spaces are gone.
Enticed by a circle of bright green ferns under the dark leafless branches of sleeping trees, a fallen tree lay, I sat and looked down over the view of our small sprawling town, how much bigger will it get.

There are tracks up behind where I sit, I decide to follow them.
Something caught my eye, shiny white and sparkling in the light breaking through the trees. Three little jewels attached to a dead tree stem. My instinct said that’s where to find what your looking for, my brain said its just some plastic caught or put by someone. It looked like the stem had been decorated for Christmas in the winter light. As I got closer it was three ivy leaves still wet with the morning rain glittering in the sunlight. I smiled to myself but beyond this illuminated signpost was the kind of gnarled old hedgerow I would expect to find Shadows dwelling. In the darkness between the leaves my mind saw the face of the Green Man sleeping but it was just an impression and although I waited and watched a while I neither felt nor saw any entities.

I did not find any Shadows that day, only hedges where they might dwell.

On my way back I followed a badger track clambering over and under the trees and came across a swing tied in the branches of a tall tree and sat again, deciding to head into town.
I found the route I would normally take blocked by the construction of new houses, another path lost. I had to follow the line of the high security fence back, and lost my bearings. Heading back onto another badger track and not knowing which way to go, sudden movement caught my eye, as a dear jumped along another path ahead of me. I followed and found my way back to the path I came in on.

Contemplating my little adventure I mused.

As the wild things are chased away by the ongoing urbanisation, the Forgotten Magic of our childhood is chased away by the trappings of our society. There are little pockets of wildlife left hemmed in, the badgers and foxes and dear surviving in an ever decreasing spaces. Our Magic is there part of us always, it just get hemmed in by life but we can make new pathways, opened up and rewild ourselves.

BOOK REVIEW: Spirit Work Primer

November 16, 2022•Book Reviews, Musings of a Modern Mystic

I receive a lot of messages, comments and the like asking all kinds of questions, but mostly they’re from folks seeking advice.

By far, the number one question I receive is: Where do I start on my journey to Spirit Working?

I find that people are confused about how to find a Deity.

Let’s pause and address THIS.

-You do not need a Deity

-In my humble opinion, They find and choose you

-Your journey will lead you to them (Examples: S*xual A*sault, death and pain led me to Hekate; Asanas and practicing the 6 Branches of Yoga fully committed as a Hindu led Kali to me who paved the way for Shiva through Her dance of destruction)

Carrying on..

Folks don’t know how to Evoke or Invoke and when to do which; I personally do not engage in the latter because of a pact I made with another Spirit.

We each have our own paths to walk and Practices to well, practice.

Spirit Work itself is a broad term, but it means working with Spirits.

This could be anything from a God, Goddess, to a Daemon, or an Angel.

There are many classes of Spirits and different definitions depending on Tradition, individual opinion and personal, lived experiences.

So where do you begin? How do you start?

It’s really overwhelming and not something that can be summed up in a blog or fb post.

Jason Miller recently put out an excellent book called, Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies. I will be reviewing it in the future.

The thing I must say about Miller’s book (he’s one of my favorites and most influential Authors) is that he wrote it for people that already have a Magickal foundation established and honestly?

I really appreciate that.

I think it’s incredible to have books that appeal to novices and adepts alike; I like that there are books for novices only; I like that there are books for adepts only.

They can all exist, and they are all (mostly) worthy.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with writing to experienced Practitioners. I started reading it and was like, “Oh, oh, thank f*ck”.

That said, there is a book that has kind of slipped through the cracks and I believe it’s noteworthy.

I had not heard of it before, and when I did and I started reading, even though it is specifically for NEW PRACTITIONERS, I found it exceedingly interesting, and it helped refresh some things for me. Not in a redundant way, either.

I never felt like I was being spoken to like a child, and I found the entire thing educational and that, my friends, is why I am here.

The Spirit Work Primer: A Beginner’s Guide to Streamlined Spirit Work by Naag Loki Shivanath, published by Crossed Crow Books. This is a revamped, second edition from the original 2017 publication.

Image Source: Crossed Crow Books/fb

I highly recommend it if you are interested in working with Spirits but have no clue where to begin.

Covered topics are:

The Basics of Spirit Work, The Nature of Offerings, Spirit Senses, Magickal Invocation, Magickal Evocation, The Nature of Spiritual Pacts, Spirit Possession, Familiar Spirits, Spirit Keeping, Isolated Spirits, Created Spirits, Spirit Houses, Spiritual Self-Defense and Cleanup, Grimoire of the Thorn.

Publisher describes it as follows:

“Invocation, Evocation, Possession

These words conjure forth feelings of unease and confusion for many magical practitioners, even today. This book, however, is a fantastic guide intended to shed some much needed light on these often misunderstood subjects. Within these pages, spirit worker and necromancer Naag Loki Shivanath serves as guide and teacher, taking all readers through a sophisticated yet highly practical system of spirit conjuration. If you’ve been interested in learning how to sharpen your spirit senses, safely practice spirit possession, work through spirit invocation and evocation, then this tome is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Whether you are a follower of the more ritualized manifestations of the magical arts or a Witch looking to deepen your practice with the spirit world, A Spirit Work Primer will prove to be a valuable resource that is referenced time and time again.”

This is a book that is not specific to any one Tradition or path, and the Author never shames the Practitioner for the path they walk.

This is an informational guide on Spirit Work.

I will say, and this may be my only critique, the Author brings up Gender in Practice, and the way it’s worded could’ve been better. I don’t know if I agree with associating give and take (in pact work) with the masculine and feminine manifesting.

I know a lot of folks will not align with or resonate with this excerpt and I owe it to those folks, those readers to add this disclaimer.

As a Queer person myself, I will say this should not deter you from the book, but for non-binary folks who completely reject this dichotomy in practice I feel it’s fair to mention. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.

“The Principle of Gender

At last, we reach the final law, stating: “Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles: gender manifests on all planes.” This law speaks to more than just your anatomy, however. This law speaks to the fact that nothing is without balance, and that everything that is generated or regenerated consists of both masculine and feminine energies: light and dark, fire and water, air and earth, and so on. To see how this principle applies to pact working, consider that for every desire you create a pact for, you have to give something up. You have to balance the scales, or else Spirit will not deliver on their end. This forms the circle of give and take, the manifestation of male and female.”

I agree the scales must be balanced. I agree that in pact working for it to be successful you must sacrifice something; as mentioned above, I don’t agree that it is masculine and feminine manifesting.

All in all, this is an excellent book and should be talked about more.

Most importantly, it should be read.

Lessons in Magick: The Dangers of Shadow Work

November 14, 2022•Lessons in Magick, Shadow Work

I have been wanting to write this as a blog or Facebook post for a long, long time; the urge has increased over the last few months, and finally I am sitting down to write after a long hiatus.

I feel like people don’t read blogs anymore. They want bite sized information, they want quick read memes with cute font, they want 30 second Reels and TikToks.

People don’t want to take the time to read anymore, or so it seems.

The thing is, that’s the only way you will learn anything, from me at least.

I am a writer. I bleed on the screen for the world to see and that will never change; I bleed on pages, too.

My pen is my sword, my words are my fire.

Back to the topic at hand, and I am just going to get right to it:

Shadow Work is dangerous, and I wish more people would talk about this.

Don’t take that statement and think I am suggesting avoiding it, no, no.

NO SPIRITUAL BYPASSING ON MY WATCH.

Shadow Work is 100% necessary. The integration of Shadow is 100% necessary.

Did you know that I consulted a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist when creating my Shadow Work Course for The House of Twigs? For reasons I learned from them I didn’t dive too deep when giving assignments because I do not know where someone is on their journey and real, irreparable damage can be done.

I had to be sure that I was not leading folks to danger, or worse to the or a space where they re-traumatize themselves.

I see the term Shadow Work thrown around like it means not a goddamn thing, and I am perplexed because it is NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

If you want me to be honest, like really honest: Shadow Work is more dangerous than Evoking Spirits.

Why is this conversation not being had more?!

First, let us define Shadow Work for folks who may not be familiar.

Shadow Work is a Jungian (Carl Jung) Psychological concept that our Persona is who we strive to be and show to the world, but our Shadow is who we are, or at least what makes up most of who we are.

Like the moon has a hidden side so do we.

That is the Shadow.

The hidden aspects of ourselves.

In Jungian Psychology it is our Persona first, our Ego is center, Anima/Animus and Shadow last.

The Spiritual World, not just the Witchcraft Community, have taken this concept and morphed it into their own thing.

Therein lies one of the main problems.

You can’t tweak the concept of Shadow Work.

Regardless of your opinions of Jung himself as a person, his work remains a masterpiece and masterpieces are not altered. They are especially not to be altered to fit some narrative the creator had no intention of it being used for.

Jung was a Psychoanalyst and he did nothing, NOTHING in the shallows; this is deep, deep, heavy work.

Then there is the whole issue that Shadow Work itself is an Egregore and taps into a Collective Unconscious that cannot be altered. There is also the Personal Unconscious.

Archetypes exist in the Shadow and they are: Sage, Innocent, Explorer, Ruler, Creator, Caregiver, Magician, Hero, Rebel, Lover, Jester and the Orphan.

Intense, right?

Shadow Work is alive, it’s constant motion.

Ever changing and evolving as we add more experiences and information to the Collective Unconscious.

It’s not just your Shadows, it’s not just your work.

You are tapping into immense power, and immense emotion.

Then there is the end goal which is the integration process and that is a whirlwind.

Do not diminish these dangers.

Working with Shadow is extremely beneficial, but it brings up a lot of shit that you have buried, things you might not even be aware of (there’s that Unconscious part); it can bring up and stir up Collective emotions that are not even yours to unpack.

There are so many variables, so many potential outcomes.

Be mindful when suggesting Shadow Work as if it’s a walk in the park.

It is not.

Be mindful when venturing down the path to Shadow Work.

It is full of perils.

Know your limitations, find a support system of some kind, and do not push yourself.

Your psyche is powerful and it’s strong, but it is not unbreakable.

Be gentle and fierce. Be aware and alive.

And don’t take yourself too seriously, or your Shadows.

You can laugh, you can love, you can ease your way into the Work and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Lux in Tenebris Lucet

The Forgotten Magic

October 17, 2022•Lessons in Magick, Musings of a Modern Mystic

Part 3 Touching the Field

Of all the heightened senses of childhood this probably got me in the most trouble. As it is one that even the most unintuitive can experience fairly easily.

As a small child I would play with feeling my energy field, especially while in the bath for some reason. Feeling the resistance of the air around me the tension on the surface of the water. How far can I sense things touching my field, can I push it out and feel other fields outside of the room or sense things that cannot be seen. Expanding to feel my surroundings then contracting to condense the energy. Taking my hands from pray position to opening the palms but keeping the fingers tips and thumbs together, forming a triangle.

If I squinted I could see the ball of energy between my hands and would play with the magnetic push pull sensation warming my palms.

I taught my little sister to play the magnetic push pull game and we would play together feeling the warmth between our palms, pushing against each others energy and I realised that I could show other children how to feel this energy to.

During the summer holidays one year, I can’t remember who, maybe it was some older girls or the mum of my neighbour, had taught us a little parlour game/trick. It’s a combination of suggestion and other stuff but also using energy manipulation. I can’t remember exactly how the rhyme went or all of the actions now. Anyone can do this if they go through the sequence but I was particularly good and found I could influence even the most sceptical.

The rhyme was a about a murderer and the participant would play the victim. Looking back it probably did seem quite dark and was about the same time the Yorkshire Ripper was at large. I grew up in Yorkshire. But children like a little of the macabre, that’s why fairytales are so appealing and to us it was just a fun game.

Returning to school after the summer holidays, the game obviously made its way onto the playground.

Here is what I can remember of our little game. The ‘victim’ stands in front of the the person conducting the game and starts by telling the story of the ‘murderer’. Who then comes up to the ‘victim’ and puts a bag over their head. You tell the person playing ‘victim’ to close their eyes and you go through the action of putting a bag over their head and tie it around their neck. You continue the story of the ‘murderer’ binding the ‘victim’ whilst performing the actions of winding your invisible rope around them. The binding is finished with a knot at the back of the ‘victim’ and you step back and stand a few feet away holding the remainder of the invisible rope. Ending the story by telling them how the ‘murderer’ dragged the ‘victim’ away to bury them in the woods, pulling on the invisible rope. The person playing the ‘victim’ falls backwards as you pull the rope.

Everyone thinks this is great fun and all want to have a go at playing both the victim and the murder.

Until the RE teacher sees what we are playing, declares it Witchcraft and me as the Witch! I’m only about 8 or 9 years old and as a child of the 70s my only references at this point for Witches are fairytales where Witches are green and ugly with pointy hats and warty noses and generally evil and to be feared. I spend the remainder of my junior school years taunted by the rest of kids as ‘Witch’. Hence I was never particularly fond of the word.

Understandably I hid my nature a little more and retreated into seclusion.

I have started to peer out from behind the door and try to regain all I have hidden for so long. I’m not ready to step out fully yet and declare my presence and I’m not even sure I know what that will be. The revival of these forgotten memories and the rekindling of the practices I did as a child has already had a remarkable impact on my life. My energy is slowly returning, the Forgotten Magic is still there. That small ball of energy I toyed with as a child has grown and my aversion of the word Witch has subsided. After all even the ‘Wizard of Oz’ has good as well bad Witches.

NOW AVAILABLE: MAGICKAL PREPAREDNESS KIT

October 3, 2022•Herbalism, Lessons in Magick, Musings of a Modern Mystic

This Collection is a Collaboration of Devil’s Conjure & The Nephilim Rising.

Adam crafted the Mojo Hands and Protection Salve.

Jaclyn crafted the Four Thieves Ritual Spray and Spell Bottles.

Road Opener Spell Bottles:

These potent powerhouses are meant not just to open roads, unlock doors and paths in your way; they’re also meant to draw abundance and form a shield around your physical and etheric bodies as well as protecting your Riches!

I chose herbs that are traditionally used in Folk Magick allowing my intentions to come to life.

Enclosed within these bottles are Lemongrass, Lavender, Rose Petals, Boneset, Galangal Root, Black Salt, Osha Root and Patchouli. As a Crystal lover I added Pyrite and Lapis Lazuli Chips along with a Skeleton Key Charm.

Spell Bottles were Ritually consecrated on Tuesday thru Saturday to invoke the powers of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.

Comes with a 30 inch chain.

Four Thieves Ritual Spray:

This spray was created using traditional ingredients that are used in Four Thieves Vinegar; a concoction around since the 13th century and continued to be documented through the 17th and 19th centuries up until today. Originally it was thought to keep away the Black Death (Bubonic Plague).

Magically this mixture is used to break up negativity, Protection, banishing and heal sickness*. What I love most about this is that it’s used in both Southern Conjure and European Folk Magick.

*Disclaimer: Statements made are not backed by FDA.

I decided to use high quality, organic Essential Oils. As an Herbalist, I sparingly use EOs and understand it’s a personal preference for everyone.

Moon Water base was charged during the Harvest Moon on September 10th charged at peak illumination at 5:58am EST.

Ingredients: Certified Organic Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemon & Rosemary Essential Oils

30ml. atomizer spray bottle

On-The-Go Protection Salve:

The base is olive oil infused with Blessed Thistle, Nettle, Rue, Lemon Grass, and other materia to avert to evil eye and grant you an extra layer of protection. Simply rub a tiny bit lf the Protection Salve on your wrists or forehead lightly. The On-the-go Protection salve is also great for dry skin!

Mastery Mojo Hand:

Last not but not least, We offer the Mastery Mojo Hands, each adorned with a Devil charm. In conjure, through the creation of a mojo hand, We contain a spirit or spirits, to carry out a specific task or sweeten our fortunes. A mojo hand is essentially a contained “spell”, a battery of sorts, that can actually grow in potency over time and with use. Mojo hands are a low-maintenance style of charm that can be worked with over many years, if properly cared for. With minerals such as fool’s gold, roots such as High John, and specifically formulated herbs etc., we create very powerful, yet conceilable, mojo hands.

The Mastery Mojo Hand is a “trick of the trade” the Devil shared with me years back. A mojo hand bearing the potency of the Devil, of his own fortune and boon, of protection, and mastery on the road ahead. The Mastery Mojo Hand is a mighty, fast-working mojo hand consecrated with roots of fortune, road opening & haste including Five Finger, Alfalfa, Devil’s Shoestrings, Patchouli, Tobacco, and High John, created and designed to aid you to master yourself & life, surrounding you in formidable protection, aiding you to overcome every obstacle in your path!

Feed your mojo every wednesday with quality whiskey or rum to keep it working strong & steady for you!

Each wicked addition to the Magickal Preparedness Kit is more powerful than the last!

Purchase at:

The Nephilim Rising LLC

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1302365012/magickal-preparedness-kit-magick-on-the/

Or,

Devil’s Conjure https://devilsconjure.ecwid.com/Magickal-Preparedness-Kit-p496596770