Homemade magical potpourri is a wonderful way to spice up your love
life. Potpourri is one of the easiest and most effective ways to infuse
your bedroom (and every other room in your home, as well) with
passionate loving energy. This energy builds over time and the magic
becomes stronger and stronger with each passing day. Here's how you can
make your own.
You will need to assemble:- A small ceramic, glass, or wooden bowl. Plastic will not work as well because it disrupts the magical energy.
2. Equal parts of any two herbs or flowers from the list below.
3. Twice as many rose petals ( either fresh or dry will work just fine)
4. One red candle
Put your flowers and/or herbs in a paper bag and shake gently to mix them. Place a double handful of the mixture into your bowl and place it close to your bed. Put your red candle next to the bowl. Light the candle and repeat the following:
"I embrace love and passion and welcome them into my life and my home. May the embers of mutual desire burst into flame at the approach of my chosen lover."
Let the candle burn down and immediately dispose of any leftover wax, either by burying it in your yard or wrapping it up and putting it outside in the garbage. That's all there is to it! You can repeat this as many times as you like, but there is no need to renew the magic until the scent from your potpourri has faded.
Flowers and herbs to attract love:Frangipani
Ylang-ylang
Acacia
Apple Blossoms
Cardamon
Coriander
Crocus
Damiana
Gardenia
Ginger root
Ginger blossoms
Hyacinth
Magnolia
Vanilla beans
Cinnamon bark
Lavender
Whatever you do, be sure not to add lilies to your mixture, as they work to counteract love spells!!Bright Blessings,
Robyn
I found this recipe and thought you might like to try it. It's Shakespeare's own recipe for herbal tea, as it appeared in Act 4 of "The Winter's Tale". I have everything in my garden except the calendula flowers, so I'll be calling around to my friends to see if they have any to share.
1 cup dried lavender flowers
2 cups roughly cut dried peppermint
1 cup dried summer savory
1 cup dried sweet marjoram
1 cup dried whole calendula flowers
Several recent callers have asked me to explain the difference between the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. An in-depth answer to this question would take more space than today's blog allows, so here's a very short and sweet answer - along with a list of reference books to check out.
The standard tarot deck consists of 78 cards. These cards are divided into 2 basic subsets. The first division is the Minor Arcana, which consists of four suits that loosely correspond to the four suits of modern day playing cards. In the deck I use, these four suits are called Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. Each suit is made of up 10 number cards (Ace through Ten) and four royalty cards (Page, Knight, Queen & King), for a combined total of 56 cards.
The cards of the Minor Arcana generally concern themselves with the day to day business of life. This is not to say that they aren't important, just that they represent the people and events that fill our everyday experiences. These are the smaller details that help to make the big picture of our lives.
Now, we come to the Major Arcana. This is a smaller subset, consisting of 22 picture cards that don't belong to any of the four suits of the Minor Arcana. Each of these 22 cards stands alone, but if you lay them out in order from 0 to 22, they tell the story of the Fool's journey through life. Each of the cards of the Major Arcana represents an important archetype, such as love, hope, deity, tradition, life, etc.
This group of cards represents the pivotal events of our lives, and as such, they carry more individual weight in a reading than the Minor Arcana. At least in my readings, they do. Other readers may assign them a different degree of significance.
Another way to express this concept is that the Major Arcana represent that which we all have in common, while the Minor Arcana represent that which makes each of us unique. If you imagine life to be the same song covered by many many different artists, then the Major Arcana would be the basic structure of the melody, while the Minor Arcana would be the endless possible variations on that melody.
Here's the list of resource books I promised:
"Jung And The Tarot: An Archtypal Journey" by Sallie Nichols
(If you can only read one book on the Major Arcana, I suggest this one!)
"The Tarot Court Cards" by Kate Warwick-Smith
Tarot And The Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana" by Isabel Radow Kliegman
"The Renaissance Tarot: Legends Of The Past Now Reveal The Future" by Jane Lyle
"Dictionary of Symbols" by J.C. Cirlot
"The Tarot Handbook" by Angeles Arrien
Who doesn't love LOVE? Nobody, that's who. And here, just in time for Valentine's Day, is a delightful tarot spread designed to shed insight into the past, present, and future of your love life.
This one is very easy. The cards are shuffled, cut twice and then laid out in a heart shape (if you squint your eyes and look really hard.) Deal six cards off the top of the deck and lay them out as shown in the diagram below:
Card 1: Represents pivotal experiences in your past love life. These are the experiences that continue to impact you (either positively or negatively) in the current time and can therefore give insight into the way you relate to others.
Card 2: Represents important elements of your current love life.
Card 3: Offers insight into what you want/need from a love relationship.
Card 4: Offers insight into what you have to offer in a love relationship.
Card 5: Offers a suggested course of action to help you achieve your dream relationship. If one card is not enough, as is often the case, keep pulling clarification cards until you feel you have enough information.
Card 6: What the future holds for your love life, provided you choose to follow the advice offered by card #5.
At this point, you can draw a 7th card to show what the future holds if you choose not to follow the advice offered by card #5.
Enjoy! And may you have a blessed and happy Valentine's Day.
"Step outside and look around. The whole world is full of magic if you know where to look. This book will open your eyes to the magical reality hiding in plain sight, in the forests and fields, and in the world's hidden recesses."
This wonderful resource book by John Michael Greer delivers 100% on it's promise to open modern day eyes to the ancient magic that has always been an integral part of our world. My husband brought this book with him when he moved here from England and it's since become a major source of inspiration and insight for me.
Natural Magic is a good read whether you're an experienced practitioner of the magical arts, or completely new to the process. The book is divided into three sections which cover the philosophy and practice of natural magic, a magical encyclopedia detailing the properties and uses of 176 magical substances (herbs, trees, stones, oils, resins, and more), and a workbook brimming with fascinating projects, recipes, and spells.
In addition to all this, the author does a fine job of explaining the four basic steps to working natural magic; Choosing the purpose for the working, Choosing the correspondences for the working, Selecting the specific materials to be used, and Combining purpose, correspondences and materials in the most effective manner possible. He addresses safety issues and is very careful to explain which plants and herbs should never be ingested.
Here's a small excerpt for you to enjoy:
"The universe of magic, as we've just seen, is a realm of many different powers, levels, and beings--a world where the visible is simply the outermost expression of a deeper reality, and where currents of magical power surge through even those things seem most insignificant. Much of this seems strange to those raised in a materialistic society such as ours. Still, this magical universe is the one we inhabit here and now. The potentials for magical power are always all around us, like doors we have forgotten--but those doors can still be unlocked by the right keys.
Learning how to use those keys takes practice, time, and effort. Magicians of every kind are made, not born, and talent--while it does play a role in certain magical disciplines--counts for very little compared to the lessons of steady practice and the ordinary gifts of patience, perseverance, and common sense."
Bright Blessings,
Robyn
Isn't this a beautiful card? I was recently introduced to this lovely new deck by it's creator, John Grey. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of oracle decks, preferring to use traditional tarot cards, instead. But this deck is so rich in imagery and so full of positive, helpful insights that I couldn't resist. I've been meditating on one card a day and have learned an incredible amount about the art of relating to one another. I highly recommend the Soulmate Oracle deck to anyone who wants to create the best possible relationship for themselves! And I'd be happy to use this deck in your next reading. :)
The card shown above is called Blind Spots, and here's a short excerpt from what Dr. Grey has to say about it:
"In relationships, as in driving a car, you navigate better if you keep both eyes open and beware of your blind spots. Blind spots can keep you from sharing the happiness you want. They also are a source of problems. Each of us tends to focus on a small part of the whole picture. And we're each blind to different things. The big picture includes what each partner says and does; what each wants, needs, and feels; how each thinks differently; and the unique sensitivities each of us has. Few of us see all of these factors at work. In being blind to any part of the picture, you leave yourself open to frequent "collisions" as you travel on the path of relating. Open your eyes!"
Blessings,
Robyn
Incense has long been used to help establish a particular magical atmosphere. I use it on a daily basis to help myself prepare for readings & meditation, for protection, or to promote certain energies within my home. The top of my dresser serves as my altar and this has the added benefit of making my clothes smell wonderful.
Below is a list of scents long associated with certain magical energies or qualities.
BALANCE: Jasmine, orange, rose.
BANISHING: Cedar, clove, patchouli, rose, rue, vervain.
BINDING: Apple, cypress, dragon's blood, pine, wormwood.
BLESSING & CONSECRATION: Carnation, cypress, frankincense, lotus, rosemary.
CHANGES: Dragon's blood, peppermint.
COURAGE: Allspice, dragon's blood, musk, rosemary.
CREATIVITY: Honeysuckle, lilac, lotus, rose, vervain.
DIVINATION: Acacia, cinnamon, honeysuckle, lilac, nutmeg, rose, thyme, yarrow.
ENERGY: Allspice, bay, carnation, cinnamon, dragon's blood, frankincense, ginger, lotus, musk, pine, thyme, rosemary, verbena.
GOOD LUCK: Bayberry, cedar, cinnamon, honeysuckle, jasmine, lotus, mint, nutmeg, strawberry, vervain, violet.
HAPPINESS: Apple blossom, basil, cedar, clove, cypress, fir, gardenia.
HARMONY: Jasmine, juniper, lavender, lilac, lily of the valley, lotus, myrrh, orange, patchouli, rose, rosemary, vetiver, vervain, ylang-ylang.
HEALING: Carnation, cedar, cinnamon, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, gardenia, lavender, lotus, myrrh, orange, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sandalwood.
INSPIRATION: Acacia, clove, cypress, fir, laurel, lily of the valley, rosemary, sage.
LOVE: Amber, apple blossom, frangipani, gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine, juniper, lavender, vetiver, violet, ylang-ylang.
MEDITATION: Acacia, bay, cinnamon, frankincense, jasmine, myrrh, wisteria.
MONEY: Bayberry, bergamot, cinnamon, honeysuckle, jasmine, musk, vetiver.
PROTECTION: Basil, bay, bayberry, carnation, cinnamon, citronella, cypress, dragon's blood, fir, frankincense, jasmine, juniper, lilac, lily of the valley, marjoram, pine, sandalwood, violet.
PSYCHIC ABILITIES: Ambergris, honeysuckle, lemon, lotus, mimosa, nutmeg, wisteria.
PURIFICATION: Basil, bay laurel, cedar, cinnamon, citronella, dragon's blood, eucalyptus, frankincense, myrrh, peppermint, pine, rosemary, sage, thyme, vervain.
REMOVING HEXES: Cedar, myrrh, vetiver.
SPIRITUALITY: Frankincense, lotus, myrrh, sandalwood.
SUCCESS: Ginger.
VISIONS, Acacia, bay laurel, frankincense, lotus.
WILL POWER: Rosemary.
by Rev. Dr. Hypocrates Magoun, P.P.
"When Hypoc was through meditating with St. Gulik, he went there into the kitchen where he busied himself with preparing the feast and in his endeavor, he found that there was some old tea in a pan left standing from the night before, when he had in his weakness forgot about its making and had let it sit steeping for 24 hours. It was dark and murky and it was Hypoc's intention to use this old tea by diluting it with water. And again in his weakness, chose without further consideration and plunged into the physical labor of the preparations. It was then when deeply immersed in the pleasure of that trip, he had a sudden loud clear voice in his head saying "it is bitter tea that involves you so." Hypoc heard the voice, but the struggle inside intensified, and the pattern, previously established with the physical laboring and the muscle messages coordinated and unified or perhaps coded, continued to exert their influence and Hypoc succummed to the pressure and he denied the voice.
And again he plunged into the physical orgy and completed the task, and Lo as the voice had predicted, the tea was bitter."
So many times I have found myself in this same sort of situation. Much like Hypoc, I forget to ask myself what the true nature of the situation, person, or object I'm dealing with might be before I choose to go ahead with my plans. Usually, this happens when I don't want to see the truth because it doesn't fit in with my personal agenda. I'm trying to do a better job of seeing things clearly these days, though.
In his book, "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" Harry Browne addresses this same sort of problem, and offers a solution.
"Each individual is acting on own knowledge in ways he believes will bring him happiness. He acts to produce the consequences he thinks will make him feel better.
You have to treat things and people in accordance with their own identities in order to get what you want from them. You don't expect a stone to be a fish. And it's just as unrealistic to expect one person to act as someone else does. You don't control the identities of people, but you can control how you deal with them."
When I read these paragraphs, it resonated as truth - just like the Parable of the Bitter Tea did. I can't control other people, but I can learn to judge situations and people according to their true nature. One of the best ways I've found to do this is make my judgements and plans based on the taste of the tea and the actions of the people involved in any given situation - rather than on my preconceived ideas. Or even on their own words and good intentions.
If the tea is bitter, I can throw it out, or use it for some other purpose than drinking. For instance, bitter tea is great for treating sunburn! Once I understood that there is more than one way to deal with other people and things, I no longer felt the need to control or change them.
Blessings,
Robyn
This spread is named for it’s shape, which resembles a horseshoe, crescent moon, or pyramid. It's one of my very favorites because it not only reveals that which is hidden, but it also suggests a course of action the you may wish to follow.
CARD ONE: This card represents past influences and conditions.
CARD TWO: Card two indicates the present conditions . It may be subjective and relate to thoughts or feelings, or it may be objective, and relate to tangible, known circumstances or people.
CARD THREE: What is hidden. This reveals unforeseen circumstances, secrets and situations that have not been taken into account - and which may influence the outcome of the reading.
CARD FOUR: This card represents obstacles and challenges. These may be major obstacles or just passing influences. Again, as with card two, it may denote either the inner world of thought and feelings, or the outer world of material events.
CARD FIVE: What surrounds you. This position describes the current background to your question, the environment, and the presence of others . Help and guidance, or the attitudes of others may be revealed here.
CARD SIX: Suggested course of action. Suggestions for action, biding your time, enlisting the aid of others, etc. will be signified here.
CARD SEVEN: Probable result. this card assumes that you will take the action suggested by card six, and overcome any of the challenges revealed by cards three and four. If you decide not to follow the advice of the sixth card, all bets are off and the outcome will be different.
Note: It's often helpful to draw a second card for the seventh position. This card would signify the outcome should you choose not to heed the advice of the sixth card.
Blessings, Robyn
""Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Abraham Lincoln
It took me a long time to realize that Mr. Lincoln was right, and we
can make up our minds to be happy - at least most of the time. But wait! Abe forgot to leave detailed instructions on how, exactly, to do that.
So how exactly does one make up one's mind to be happy? After much thought and experimentation, I came up with a formula that works for me. I decided to channel happiness in basically the same way so many talented people channel those who have passed over to the other side.
Here's my recipe for channeling happiness. Please feel free to use it if you like, and please feel free to change or rearrange it to suit your own needs. "Presto, chango, re-arrango", and it magically becomes all yours!
Materials needed: None
Although props never hurt! With that in mind, I suggest the following:
1 pretty pillow (or silk scarf, bedspread, field of flowers, beach towel, patch of green grass, sandy beach, comic section from the newspaper, hot bath, etc.)
1 stick of incense (or fragrant flower, freshly brewed coffee, homemade cookies baking in the oven, bath salts, etc.)
1 fluffy kitten (or tank of fish, a dog, a baby, a flock of birds flying overhead, etc. If you don't have one on hand, a photo will do.)
1 memory of a time when you were truly happy.
Procedure:Seat yourself comfortably on whatever gives you pleasure at the moment.
Inhale the scent of something that reminds you of a happy time.
Focus on a beloved pet, favorite kind of animal, or baby. Notice they way they live in the moment, and how happy the simplest things make them.
Focus on a time a favorite moment of happiness from your own past. Revel in the memory and open your heart and mind. Let that moment of happiness fill you up and overflow to fill the space around you. Tell yourself that you can re-experience this feeling any time you like, no matter what is going on in your current life. And soon enough, this will be true.
Share the happiness you feel by doing something nice for someone else.
I woke up feeling distinctly out of sorts today. There were many pressing matters on my mind; things that had to be done, lists that had to be made, errands to be run, problems to be solved, and so on and so on, ad infinitum. All of it seemed quite serious and almost oppressive to me. There was no doubt in my mind that the world (my version of it, anyway) would cease to function properly if I didn't get all of this done immediately.
Naturally, I decided to stall as long as possible, and in my wanderings across the internet I came across several things that made me laugh out loud. Instantly, the sense of oppression was lifted. The many pressing matters on my mind became less of a burden, and in fact, it was clear that my priorities were a bit out of whack. At least half of the things on my list could easily wait a day or two, maybe even a week. Or a month. And some really didn't have to be done at all. Ever.
Once again, I was taking myself and the mundane routines of my life much too seriously. I was out of balance again - all work and no play. Too much serious and no silly. I had forgotten to cut myself a big slice of SLACK. This is a common problem for me, and when it happens, it takes something like a dress made of sock monkeys,
or a grouping of shovels cut into lattice work by a man named Cal Lane,
or a giant, wind-walking skeleton beast made of plastic pipes by Theo Jansen
to bring me back to my sense(s) - sense of nonsense, that is.
I'm always grateful for those special people who bring this kind of magic into my world, and I'm reminded of the words of Mal-2, also known as Malcalypse the Younger who wrote:
"The human race will begin solving it's problems on the day that it ceases taking itself so seriously."
and also:
"If you can master nonsense as well as you have already learned to master sense, then each will expose the other for what it is: absurdity. From that moment of illumination, a man begins to be free regardless of his surroundings. He becomes free to play order games and change them at will. He becomes free to play disorder games just for the hell of it. He becomes free to play neither or both. And as the master of his own games, he plays without fear, and therefore without frustration, and therefore with good will in his soul and love in his being."
May the Goddess put twinkles in your eyes.
May you have the knowledge of a sage,
and the wisdom of a child.
Blessings,
Robyn
Here's one of my favorite spells for attracting money. It's simple, it's quick, and it costs under $1! In fact, I'm going to do it again myself. :)
All you will need for this spell is:
1. A crisp new one dollar bill
2. Four drops of your favorite perfume or essential oil
3. A self-addressed, stamped envelope
Once you have these three items in hand, apply one drop of perfume or oil to each of the four corners of the dollar bill. Now put the dollar in the envelope, drive at least three or four miles from your house and mail it to yourself.
As it makes it's way home to you, this dollar will attract other dollars, and they will flow into your home from unexpected sources. This doesn't mean you can sit back and let the dollar do all the work for you, but it will definitely help you find solutions to money worries.
Bright Blessings,
Robyn
My daughter suggested to me the other day that I come up with a spell to help her beat the post-holiday/wintertime blues. Here's what I came up with - she said it worked beautifully, so I wanted to share it with you.
For this spell you will need:
1 soft yellow or cream colored candle.
Cinnamon - freshly ground is best, but the kind in the jar also works.
1 Shiny new quarter
12 yellow toothpicks
A fuzzy warm sweater or shawl.
Instructions:
Sprinkle the cinnamon on a pretty plate or silver dish. Don't be sparing - use lots! Place the quarter in the center of the plate, and arrange the toothpicks around it to suggest a sun. Wrap yourself up in the sweater or shawl and meditate on sunshine and warm, happy feelings. Tell yourself how wonderful it is to be alive. Feel the blood coursing through you veins.
Now, place the candle on top of your little sun and say these words:
"As the sun brings light and life, so does this candle bring happiness and warmth to my heart. As the soft scents of spring bring new life and joy to the earth, so does this cinnamon bring hope and happiness to my soul. As the company of my friends and family brings cheer and love into my life, so does this sweater enfold me in comfort and warmth. With this flame, I re-light the fire of happiness in my heart." Light the candle and let if burn itself out. If you need to leave the house, it's okay to snuff the flame and then relight it.
Now, go do something to pamper yourself!
Bright Blessings,
Robyn
It's raining again today. The sun is peeking through the clouds and there's a rainbow in the East, but it's still raining - and very chilly. It's the perfect day to go back inside and cook something warm and delicious. Here's one of my favorite soup recipes to share with you! I hope you love it - I do. :)
Cheese and Broccoli ChowderIngredients2 C Water
1 C Celery, chopped
1 C Carrots, chopped
1/2 C Onion, chopped
1 lb Fresh Broccoli, washed and chopped
Cheese Sauce 1/2 C Butter or Margaine
1/2 C Flour
Salt and pepper to taste
4 C Milk
Hot sauce to taste, if desired
4 Cups Grated Cheddar Cheese, 2 Cups Ham, cut in 1/2-inch cube. The ham is optional.
You could also use bacon or simpley leave out the meat altogether.
Directions
In a large saucepan, combine water, celery, carrots and onion. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes or until tender/crisp. Add broccoli; cook about 4-5 minutes. (To keep broccoli bright green, leave the cover slightly ajar.) Do not drain vegetables.
To make sauce, melt butter in large saucepan; blend in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in milk; cook until mixture thickens. Add a few drops of hot sauce. Stir in the cheese and cook until melted; add the ham cubes. Combine cheese mixture with un-drained vegetables. Stir.
I'd use my treadmill more often, really I would.......if only the kitty didn't want to use it, too! As you can see, my cat (Triangle) uses the treadmill way more than I do. At the time this photo was taken, I was relaxing in the rocking chair, eating Whoppers and waiting for my turn to exercise. Before I knew it, we were both sound asleep, and the treadmill's only workout was as a kitty bed.
Obviously, Mr Triangle and I are both in need of some serious motivation! So we're going to set off a positive, motivating, energy spell tonight. If you'd like to try it, too, here's what to do:
Materials
3 small, brightly colored candles. (I plan to use red, orange, and yellow)
3 raisins
1 energy bar, cut into 3 pieces
1 golden apple, cut into 3 pieces
1 goblet (or glass) filled with wine or sparkling cider
Cinnamon (or some other spicy flavor) incense
Motivating music - anything with a strong, powerful beat will do.
Place each candle on a fireproof candle holder or plate and place them on your altar. If you don't have an altar, use a counter or a table. The darkest color candle goes in the center with the other two on either side of it. Turn on the music. In front of each candle, place a raisin, one slice of the energy bar and one piece of apple. Now, take a sip of the wine or cider and light the left candle while repeating this phrase:
"As this candle is lit, I draw energy and motivation from these gifts of the earth. My mind is clear, my body is ready, and my heart desires to achieve my goals."
Light the candle on the right and repeat the words above.
Now, light the middle candle while repeating the words above for the third time.
Drink the rest of the wine and let the candles burn down. It's okay to dance while you're waiting. When the candles are gone, wrap up the food and offer it to the earth by burying it in the garden or in a container on your patio.