Prior to reading for people, I like to cleanse my energy field so that it's bright and shiny. If I've been out and about, or have already done a lot of readings, it's sometimes necessary to clear myself of other people's energy because that can influence future readings, and even keep me from sleeping well at night. Up until 8 years ago, I had a wonderful and huge porcelain bathtub. Since then, I've often had to make do with showers. No more long, deep, soaking, cleansing salt baths for me. So I developed a system that works in the shower, as well.
Any kind of salt works for cleansing your energy, but sea salt is my favorite. If you're lucky enough to have a great tub, all you have to do is add a handful of sea salt or some bath salts to the water as your tub is filling. Immerse yourself completely in the water and then lay back and relax. You'll feel the difference as your energy field is cleared and cleansed. When you're done bathing you can stand under the shower and wash the salt residue off, but it's not necessary.
For those without a proper tub, or for those who prefer a shower to a bath, here's what I do. I bring a wooden bowl into the bathroom, drop in a little sea salt and fill it with very warm water. Then, I turn the shower on to the hottest possible setting. When the steam starts to rise, I throw a handful of bath salts under the spray and wait until the salts have melted. Then I turn the water to a comfortable temp and step into the fragrant steam. (My favorite bath salt at this time is eucalyptus and ginger.) As soon as I'm in the shower, I pour the bowl of salt water over me, and then wash my hair and scrub myself as usual. Once, I'm done, I love to visualize everything that has been removed from my energy field swirling down the drain.
If you've never tried this, I highly recommend it as a way to relax and clear away the worries of the day, or as a preparation for the day ahead of you.
Blessings, Robyn
Have you read "
Money Is My Friend", by Phil Laut? If not, I highly recommend it. This tiny little book is amazing, and it's been of tremendous help to me over the past few years. It completely changed my attitudes, not only about money, but about myself. It was kind of shocking to realize I had such deep-seated issues about money and prosperity. Fear of success, guilt, fear of failure, feelings of helplessness and pressure - all of these were holding me back and keeping me from reaching my earning potential.
What I like best about this book is that it packs a whole lot of valuable information into a small, easy to understand package. The techniques are simple and they really do work! Mr. Laut offers such tools as a six-step method for developing a unique purpose in life, an easy seven-stage plan for finding your perfect career, twelve techniques for creating a new self image, and fifteen affirmations that will change the way you think about money.
In fact, I think it's high time I get my own copy of this book out and read it again.
Blessings,
Robyn
"All over the world and throughout history amulets have offered protection against negative forces. The power of amulets is based on the underlying, widespread belief that all things in the natural world have a spirit and a power that links them together. Intricately beautiful or starkly simple, amulets come in an astonishing variety of guises: from stones, shells, and seeds, through animal tails, teeth, and claws, to beads, mirrors, needles, and bells. Used alone or combined in intricate patterns, they are all part of a system of natural and magical forces that can be used to redress evil influences." ~ Sheila Paine
I bought this fascinating book on amulets and talismans several years ago, but it was only a few months ago that I finally took it off the bookshelf and sat down to read it. Much to my surprise, I realized that I already owned a good many amulets. Such as the first present my husband ever gave me (a tiny silver coin charged with a protection spell,) a rose quartz worry stone, my "lucky" earrings, and a black velvet backpack covered with tiny mirrors.
The realization that amulets were already a part of my life inspired me to try my own hand at making more of them. And I love it! They're so easy and fun to make. All you need to do is assemble materials that mean something to you and put them together for a specific purpose. If you are a seamstress, you might try your hand at sewing a bag or purse and then decorating it with symbolic embroidery. If you love words, you could make a tiny scroll and place it in a velvet bag. The possibilities are endless.
One of my favorite hobbies is collecting old jewelry, so I decided to take some pieces apart and recombine them to make amulets. All it required was some glue and a few findings from the craft shop. Pictured below is one of my favorites...it features a vintage cherub pin, an old unicorn pendant, two fat vintage tin hearts, garnets from a broken necklace, and some glass beads. The name of this amulet is Angel Kisses, and it's purpose is to provide divine protection and love. I hope you decide to try your own hand at making amulets, and I hope you love it as much as I do!
Now that we've left the time of Capricorn and are just beginning Aquarius, it seemed like a good time to post this healing tarot spread. I love this spread because it allows you to examine and explore the healing needs of the your own spirit, or that of someone else.
It is laid out in the form of a five pointed star, with the focus card in the center. The second card forms the upper right point of the star, the third card is the lower right point. The fourth card is the lower left point of the star and the fifth card is set at the upper left point. The final card, number six, is set at the apex of the star.
1) FOCUS: What causes me the most emotional/spiritual pain? What is my priority in healing? Where should I begin?
2) STRENGTHS: What are my inner strengths? What resources, gifts, talents are available? What do I need to nurture?
3) SELF-UNDERSTANDING: What are my beliefs? How can my current insights start the healing process?
4) OBSTACLES: What obstacles to healing do I face? What situations in my past block my growth?
5) ADVICE OF THE CARDS FOR NOW: What concrete, creative action can I take to support healing?
6) OVERVIEW: How does my healing relate to a larger picture? What does the pain tell about the story of my life? What will I gain as a result of healing?
It's cold and rainy here today, so I decided to cook something hot, delicious, and hearty. This recipe is awesomely delicious, inexpensive, and amazingly
simple to make. Your friends and loved ones will be impressed with your
gourmet skills and there's no reason in the world you should admit how
easy it is. You can use almost any type of pasta, but I prefer
bucatini, which is basically a larger, hollow spaghetti-like noodle.
Pesto Pasta with Harricots Verts and Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 lb package bucatini
1 cup pesto
6 to 8 smallish new potatoes (with the peel on)
1 lb harricots verts (baby green beans)
Salt and pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesian cheese
Steam the harricots verts until they are tender enough to eat but still slightly crisp.
Pierce the potatoes with a fork and then microwave them
until they're cooked, but still firm. Allow the potatoes to cool and
then cut them into thin slices.
Cook the bucatini to the desired amount of doneness, then plunge it into cold water and drain.
Add the vegetables to the pasta, coat this mixture with pesto sauce,
add salt and pepper to taste. Heat and serve with freshly grated
parmesian cheese. This dish goes great with a salad and garlic bread.
Candle magic (also known as candle meditation) has been a strong interest of mine for quite some time. I've read many books on the subject, scoured the internet for information, talked to other practitioners, and conducted my own experiments. If you search my blog, you will find many spells which incorporate candles of various colors, sizes, and scents; as well as articles on herbs and oils, etc. And I haven't even touched on the subjects of candle shape, quality of wax, homemade vs store bought, etc. etc.
All of this can seem overwhelming to someone who is new to candle work. However, it's really very simple once you understand the secret.
Are you ready? The secret is that it's the intention of the person lighting the candle that matters most. All of the rest is merely a tool to help you focus your intention. The shape of the candle doesn't matter - neither does the color or the scent or whatever you might choose to rub on it - just as long as you, yourself, are focused and clear on what it is you wish to achieve!
Some people will tell you that it's necessary to purchase an expensive candle, but it's not. It's fun to have special shapes, which is why I sometimes buy them. And it's fun to have a lot of different colors, which is why I often buy colored candles. I love growing herbs and buying special oils with which to anoint candles, but, again, that's not necessary. My basic working candle is nothing more than a small white votive that I buy in bags of 50 from the discount store. For a really big project or spell, I might go all out and purchase a 7-day candle from the Mexican foods section of the grocery store at the cost of $2 per candle.
People may offer to light a candle for you for a high price - up to $500 or more - but this isn't necessary, either. You can take them up on this if you like, but the chances are that you're quite capable of lighting your own candles and performing your own meditation. After all, who understands the desires of your heart better than you do? And who is more capable of accurately visualizing those desires than you are? No one!
Here is how you go about candle magic in the most basic and effective manner:
- Decide on the candle(s) you wish to use.
- Take a few moments to spell out in your own mind exactly what it is you are trying to achieve.
- Write this down on a piece of paper. Fold the paper and place it next to, or underneath, the candle(s).
- Light your candle(s) and sit or stand where you can clearly see the flame.
- Meditate on your goal while focusing on the flame.
- When you feel you have made your wishes and intentions clear, go listen to some music, take a nap, go for a walk, etc.
- Wait for the candle to burn down.
- Burn the piece of paper on which you wrote your heart's desire and dispose of any remaining candle wax.
That's all there is to it. And if for any reason, you still feel you would like someone to help you with a candle meditation please ask when you call me. I would be happy to do it for you for free.
Bright Blessings,
Robyn
"When the time comes weigh the facts, not yourself." So says the Judgement card in The Housewives Tarot. This is the card that totally won me over on this particular deck, although I also love the Knight of Swords (he looks an awful lot like James Dean to me) and the Devil ( a giant devil's food cake on legs).
This deck not only has a sense of humor, but it's chock full of images that refer to everyday modern life. I think it would be particularly useful if you're wondering what someone else is doing, looking for a lost item, or curious about what type of gift you might be receiving in the near future.
Here's what the author had to say about the Major Arcana of this deck:
"Much like housework, the tarot represents the cycle of life; she cleans her home only to have her family mess it up, so she must clean it again. Similarly, the cards in the Major Arcana represent various stages of the life cycle: birth, growth, death, and rebirth."The Housewife's tarot also includes a few secret recipes, such as Divinated Eggs, Prophecy Punch, Psychic Psalad.
Hope you enjoy this deck as much as I do.
Isn't this a beautiful deck? It's the Aquarian Tarot by David Palladini, and it combines medieval imagery with both the art deco & art
nouveau styles of painting. The style reminds me of the old Oz books when I was a kid. This was the very first working deck I ever bought and I've used them so much that I'm on my third set of these cards.
The imagery Palladini uses is rich in texture and design, and the colors are soft and subtle. The cards are a good size, easy to shuffle, and they're very sturdy. Best of all, the artwork resonates for me - it makes sense to me when I'm reading with this deck. So if you're looking for a peaceful, serenely hued, high quality tarot deck, I highly recommend the Aquarian Tarot.
If someone passed a law mandating that each student of the tarot could own one (and only one) tarot book, this is the book I would choose. I love The Renaissance Tarot because the information it offers is presented in a positive, clear, and easy to understand manner.
Each card is assigned a few key words to help you get a quick grasp of it's essential meaning. When I was preparing to read professionally, I wrote these key words directly on my practice deck as a reminder to myself. That proved to be one of the best learning tools ever.
In addition to these key words, Ms Lyle provides two interpretations of each card - a shorter version and a remarkably in-depth version. She delves into the relationship of each card in the areas of career, romance, energy, etc., and she does it in such a positive and uplifting manner that it's a joy to read. Nothing is sugar-coated, instead, the information is presented in the most positive way possible without losing sight of the essence of the card.
The author provides a wheel that shows how each card in the major arcana is paired with another, and how they work together. There is a section on each suit that explains the overall energy of the cards in that suit and how they relate to one another. She also explains the numerology of the tarot, offers a system to use for timing. And so much more.
I generally refer to this book several times a week, and in the 12 years that reading the cards has been my full-time work, I've worn out three copies. I can't recommend it highly enough.
"Are you passionate about wanting to see the big picture of your life?"
"Are you committed to being surprised in the best possible ways?"
These were the questions posed by my favorite astrologer, Rob Brezsny one day when I checked my horoscope He was talking about the sacred art of the pilgrimage, which he describes as "A journey to some sacred place that excites your imagination and awakens buried fantasies of who you are and what you may become. An extended prayer of a journey, where you slip away from your regular life in order to concentrate your energy on a prolonged conversation with spirit." He assured me that I would receive cosmic assistance or invisible help to gently shock myself into the living the dreams that have gotten fuzzy.
Who could resist such a message? Not me. I took his advice and began making plans for a short pilgrimage to the coast. My husband and I stayed at an inn next to a bird sanctuary, where we saw huge flocks of wild geese, herons, ducks, seagulls, and many other birds. We strolled along streets that were new to both of us, ate new foods, visited the ocean, and checked out the local art scene, and came home refreshed and invigorated. And someday, I want to go on a very special pilgrimage to Spain to view the works of Antoni Gaudi. I want to visit the park and the cathedral he designed in Barcelona, to see for myself what it looks like when an astonishing internal vision becomes reality.
I realize the horoscope was intended for Taureans, but I think it applies equally to all of us. How long has it been since you took yourself on a pilgrimage? Where would you go for your pilgrimage and for what purpose? To purify yourself? To think long and hard about where you're going and what you want to do next? To make atonement, or to shed grief that is weighing you down? To embrace the joy of living? There are a million reasons to go on a pilgrimage and I'm sure you'll recognize yours when you see it. :)
Okay, I admit it - I'm a worrier. It's not that I enjoy worrying. Quite the opposite. But lifetime habits are hard to break and I still fall into the worry trap on a regular basis. Someone gave me a book called "Simple Spells for Success", by Barry Dolnick a few years ago and it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. It finally caught my attention the other day, so I pulled it off the shelf and opened to a random page, where I read that worry is not only non-productive, but it can be as addictive as crisis. Wow, I had no idea.
The author suggested keeping a tally to track how many times a day you worry and how much you rely on worry to get yourself through your daily routine. This sounded like a good plan, so I tried it and my tally was uncomfortably high. Oh no! Another thing to fret about! ;)
Not to worry - Mr. Dolnick had the answer. He suggested asking these three questions about each and every worry
"Is what I'm worried about going to make me die?"
"Is what I'm worried about going to leave me penniless?"
"Is what I'm worried about going to leave me homeless?"
If not then you're probably in better shape than you thought you were. If the answer is "yes", then your worries are important ones and could best be solved by keeping a clear, calm head.
With this in mind, I've decided to treat myself to a candlelight bath as part of my daily routine. I place a white candle on a silver dish and sprinkle my favorite bath salt around it. Then I run a bath and add some of the same bath salts to the water. I lay back and bring out my worries, one by one, only to release them and watch them rise upwards with the candle smoke and the steam from the bath. I imagine my worries drifting up through the air, through the ceiling, through the clouds, until they finally disappear completely.
Invariably, one or two of the most stubborn worries drift back down and land in the bath water again - no problem! Those go down the drain when bath time is over.
So many of us have found (or currently find) ourselves in the position of feeling a very real attachment to someone else that doesn't necessarily serve our best interests at that time. For instance, if you love someone who has distanced themselves from you for whatever reason, and who yet continues to have a psychic/emotional link to you, it can be a serious drain on your energy, your emotional well-being, and your time. This kind of attachment can not only keep you from making the most of every new day, it can also make you feel downright crazy.
Not to worry, you're not crazy. Since everyone and everything in the universe is made of energy, and since energy transcends time and space, it's quite possible to keep in touch with someone on a psychic level, even when there is no physical communication. Possible, but not the least bit fair. So how do you protect yourself and your internal resources from this kind of unfairness?
I recommend cutting the ties that bind you to the other person. Yes, this sounds harsh and drastic, but the lovely truth of the matter is that nothing is written in stone and ties can always be reattached if the situation changes for the better. In the meantime, cutting the ties will give you strength, build your self-esteem, and help you keep all of your precious energy for yourself.
There are several ways to cut the ties. One method that works well for me is to light a white candle, which helps to repel unwanted energy, promotes wholeness & healing, and helps to balance one's aura. Then I settle myself in a comfortable position and do a visualization from a beautiful and extremely helpful book called Goddess Meditations by Barbara Ardinger.
In this visualization, I picture myself following a path that climbs slowly around, and up, a large green hill. At the top of the path stands the temple of the Three Fates, the three sisters who, according to ancient mythology, determine one's destiny. The first sister, Clotho, spins the thread at the beginning of one's life, Atropos weaves the thread into the fabric of one's actions, and Lachesis snips the thread at the conclusion of one's life.
In my meditation, the three sisters sit on the porch of their temple, hard at work upon the fabric of my life. I stand naked before them and can clearly see every cord that connects me to the person with whom I wish to cut the ties. Then I borrow Lachesis's golden scissors and carefully cut each and every cord that binds me to the other. I place each cord in a basket and present it to The Fates with my deepest thanks. Then I turn around and head back down the hill, unemcumbered by the ties that so recently bound me.
Inevitably, this has to be done more than once because the other person feels an immediate sense of loss and they hurry to reattach themselves to you. Sometimes, it has to be done every day for several weeks. But it's always worth it and I feel so fresh and clean when it's done.
Blessings,
Robyn
Bathing has always held an important place in the world of the kitchen witch. Not only is bathing soothing and relaxing, but it allows your entire body to soak in the magic you're creating for yourself. This particular bath magic is intended to help you attract love into your life.
* If you don't have a bath tub, you can do the same thing in the shower by placing the cloth bag directly under the stream of hot water and then stepping into the steam. I don't recommend using a tea ball with this method because you could slip on it and hurt yourself.
What you will need:
1. Either a small muslin bag with drawstring, or a tea ball.
If you don't have either of these, a small square of cheesecloth or muslin and a piece
of string will work.
2. One ounce of your favorite flower petals. I like rose petals, but lavender and jasmine are
also lovely.
3. One ounce of lemon balm.
4. One ounce of lovage.
5. One rose red towel
Instructions:
Place the herbs into the muslin bag or tea ball, or put them in the center of the fabric square, bring the corners of the cloth together and tie it tightly with the string. As soon as there is a couple of inches of water in the tub, add the bag or tea ball containing your magical herbs to the bath and let it steep until the bath is full.
You can further set the stage by burning scented candles or incense if you wish. Now it's time to bathe with intent. Once you have immersed yourself in your magical bath, concentrate on the idea of love and what it means to you. Be as specific as possible without dwelling on any certain person. The idea is to attract a lover - not to compel one particular person to come to you.
Once you feel the spell of attraction is complete, dry yourself with the red towel, drain the tub, and bury the used herbs in your garden or in a flower pot. If you absolutely have no dirt handy, then wrap them in paper and put them in the trash.
Enjoy! And may you attract the love you so deserve.
Bright Blessings,
Robyn
It's almost Easter, and that means it's almost time for a very special cleansing ritual that takes place at my house every year. The lovely thing about this ritual is that it can be done almost anywhere, even if you happen to be staying in a hotel or living with someone else.
The first step is to make sure your sacred space is clean and neat. Next, you will need a bouquet of spring flowers, dandelions are always wonderful for this ritual, but any flowers you particularly enjoy will work. Lilacs and dandelions are my personal favorites. Arrange the flowers in your favorite bowl or vase and place them on your altar or table.
Place 4 yellow candles on the altar (one for each direction), and at the foot of each candle place 1 raw egg on which you have drawn the sun with marking pen, ink, or paint. Light the candles, and imagine the yellow light filling your entire being. Imagine this cleansing light spreading out from the center of your being to fill your entire home and your yard. As the light fills you, say:
"I welcome the cleansing light of spring into my heart and into my home.
I embrace the cleansing power of the sun and the flowers that bloom beneath it's warm rays.
As these eggs symbolize life, so in this season of renewal, I am reborn.
Fresh and clean, I stand in my own center of power."Allow the candles to burn down and bury any remaining wax, along with the eggs at each of the four corners of your home. If you are not at home when you do this ritual, then dispose of the wax and the eggs, and lay one flower petal in each corner of the room.
For some reason, I always have a hard time sleeping soundly this time of year. Maybe it's because the days are still so long, or maybe it's just that I can't wait for fall to hurry up and get here. In any case, I find that it helps to make, and use, a dream pillow.
Dream pillows are normally small cloth pillows filled with various herbs and oils. The intent can be to promote sound sleep, sweet dreams, psychic dreams, lucid dreams, or any number of other dream states. The herbs you use depend upon the goal you have in mind.
Most dream pillows range in size from 5x5 inches to 5x8 inches, but you can also make (or buy) a normal size cotton or silk pillowcase and fill it with batting and herbs. I don't like the feeling of a small pillow underneath my larger one, so I normally opt to make one of the large pillows.
If it's sweet dreams you're looking for...use the dried petals of your favorite flowers. We have lavender and roses in our garden, and I love this particular combination. Mint flowers are lovely, too. And jasmine or honeysuckle are always a good addition.
For psychic and/or lucid dreaming, the following herbs and flowers work very well: mint, thyme, rosemary, yarrow, bay leaves, hyacinth, jasmine, and tuberose.
When you can't sleep, try some of these sleepy time herbs: St John's wort, borage, saffron, yarrow, calendula petals, vervain, comfrey, mimosa, narcissus, lemon grass.
If you're feeling especially creative, you can paint or embroider your pillow case with dream symbols. And if you're not feeling that way at all, you can always make a small opening in an existing pillow, put a few flower leaves or herbs inside, and sew it back up again. Just remember that the flowers and herbs you use must be dry enough that they won't mold inside the pillow.
Sweet dreams to all of you!