Category: Articles

Lotions and Washes

Lotions and Washes

Washes are teas or infusions meant only for external use. A mild form of a wash is 1/2 ounce of herb to one pint of boiling water, steeped until lukewarm, then applied to the area requiring treatment. Lotions are made by adding the herbs to an oil such as almond, sesame, or glycerin. Three teaspoon of herb to one cup of oil, steeped and heated several times makes a very effective lotion. Lotions should be kept cool and in air tight containers for best results.

 

Day In Court Wash

Best when used in conjunction with a ritual to destroy your enemy’s power to harm you.

How to use:

3 days before your court appearance, make wash. Put bottle in a blessd dark palce and chant over it. Chant each evening and morning. On the morning of your court date, pour the mixture out of your front door where you must walk to leave the house on your way to court. Also, carry a large piece of High John the Conqueror root in your pocket to the courtroom.

Wash:

To 1 pint of water add 1/4 oz. jalop powder, 3/4 oz. of snake head, and 1 tsp. of blessed salt.

 

 

Business Drawing Wash

Businesses with walk-in customers: wash down entrance floor, door handle and the aisle while using your chant

mail order business or if business gets checks through mail: wash down mailbox inside and out

How to use:

Once a week use wash in scrub water to wash down floors and walls of your business. Don’t use wash for longer than a week after you first use it. Make a fresh batch when neccessary.

Wash is also good for attracting tenants to an empty apartment or house.

Wash:

Mix 1 oz. of powdered squill root, 1 oz. of powdered yellow dock, 1/4 oz. of five-finger grass, 1 tsp. of cinnamon, and a tbsp. of blessed salt.

Mix well and add 2 tsps. of mixture to 1 pint of fresh water.

 

PEACEFUL HOME FLOOR WASH
This floor wash is used to bring peace and  tranquility to a home.
1 cup Gardenia Flowers
1 cup Violet Flowers
1 cup Lilac Flowers
1 cup Sea Salt
Florida Water (Spiritual water)

 

SPIRITUAL GUIDE FLOOR WASH
This floor wash is used to bring your guardian angel closer to you.

1 cup Geranium Flowers (White)
1 cup Violet flowers
1 cup Carnation Flowers
1 cup Campana Blanca Flowers
1 cup Cinnamon Sticks
Florida Water (Spiritual water)
Holy Water (Spiritual water)

 

Water-based Infusions

Water-based Infusions

The standard formula for a water infusion is one teaspoon of dried herb, or one-and-a-half teaspoons of fresh herb for every cup of boiling water. Unless otherwise advised, maintain those proportions even when using multiple herbs, adjusting the proportions of the individual ingredients rather than the whole.

1. Place the herbs into a non-reactive pot or container (glass rather than plastic for instance).

2. Pour the water over the herbal material.

3. Allow it to brew, usually for between five and fifteen minutes.

4. The plant material may be strained from the liquid or allowed to remain depending upon the purpose of the spell. For a floorwash, you’d want to remove the herb, for a particularly potent magickal bath, it may be more powerful to retain the herbs, even though this may leave a mess to clean up.

Sometimes a stronger, more concentrated infusion is desired for a bath or floorwash but not for drinking:

1. Place a more substantial quantity of herbal material into a non-reactive pot or container.

2. Pour only enough boiling water over the herbal materials to cover it.

3. Allow it to brew for as long as it takes the water to return to room temperature.

4. Strain the herbs from the liquid or retain, as desired.

 

Oil-based Infusions

Oil-based Infusions

The process of creating infused oils is slightly more complex, however it is still easily accomplished in the home kitchen. The standard proportion suggested is that for every cup of oil, one ounce of fresh herbs or one half-ounce of dried herb is required. Unless otherwise advised, do not exceed these proportions:

1. Place the herbal material in a stainless steel bowl.

2. Cover with the oil.

3. Gently heat over simmering water, either in a true double boiler or in an improvised water bath–a saucepan one-quarter filled with water. The bowl with the herbs must not sit on the bottom of the pan but float in the water. As it is very easy for oil to scorch and burn, this process needs constant supervision for safety. Keep the oil covered.

4. Stir once in a while. Simmer gently for thirty minutes. The oil should not be allowed to get too hot because if it smokes, bubbles or burns and acrid fragrance will develop, spoiling the infusion.

5. Allow the oil to cool. Then all the herbal material must be strained out through multiple layers of cheesecloth or a fine non-metal strainer. Strain twice, if necessary, or more. If the plant material is not removed, the oil may turn rancid.

6. If an infusion spell includes essential oils or flowers remedies for enhancement, add them now, once the oil is strained and cooled.

7. Store the infused oil is an airtight container.

You can substitute a crock-pot for the water bath. Maintain the same proportions. Leave the pot on a low heat for approximately two hours, then strain as above.

 

Making Healing Infusions

Making Healing Infusions

 
The most common way to take herbal medicine is in an herb tea infusion. Drinking a medicinal tea is different however from drinking an herbal tea as a beverage. Medicinal teas are stronger. They usually require 1 ounce of the herb per pint (2 cups) of water. The container you use to prepare the medicinal herbal beverage is important also. Heatproof glassware and earthenware are best, as they do not impart any of there own qualities into the preparation. Avoid containers made of aluminum or cast iron, these can taint the herbal preparation. Heavily chlorinated tap water or water with a high mineral content should also be avoided. Pure spring water, or distilled water is best to use.

 

Thirteen Goals Of A Witch


Witchy Comments

Thirteen Goals Of A Witch

I. Know yourself
II. Know your craft
III. Learn
IV. Apply knowledge with wisdom
V. Achieve balance
VI. Keep your words in good order
VII. Keep your thoughts in good order
VIII. Celebrate life
IX. Attune with the cycles of the Earth
X. Breathe and eat correctly
XI. Exercise the body
XII. Meditate
XIII. Honor the Goddess and God

Author unknown.

Astronomy Picture of the Day – New Horizons Passes Pluto and Charon

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2015 July 14


New Horizons Passes Pluto and Charon
Image Credit & Copyright: NASA, Johns Hopkins Univ./APL, Southwest Research Inst.

 

Explanation: Will the New Horizons spacecraft survive its closest approach to Pluto and return useful images and data? Humanity will know in a few hours. Regardless of how well it functions, New Horizon’s rapid speed will take it whizzing past Pluto and its moons today, with the time of closest approach being at 11:50 UT (7:50 am EDT). To better take images and data, though, the robotic spacecraft was preprogrammed and taken intentionally out of contact with the Earth until about 1:00 am UT July 15, which corresponds to about 9:00 pm EDT on July 14. Therefore, much of mankind will be holding its breath through this day, hoping that the piano-sized spacecraft communicates again with ground stations on Earth. Hopefully, at that time, New Horizons will begin beaming back new and enlightening data about a world that has remained remote and mysterious since its discovery 85 years ago. Featured above is a New Horizons composite image of the moon Charon (left) and Pluto (right) taken 3 days ago, already showing both worlds in unprecedented detail.

Really Tracking Planets Today: Pluto in Capricorn, Now Until Mar 23, 2023

 

 

 

 

Planet Tracker

Pluto in Capricorn

Now Until Mar 23, 2023

 

The planet of transformation ends its 13-year stay in religious Sagittarius, a period when fundamentalist beliefs have radically changed the world. The next phase, Pluto’s entry into organizational Capricorn, will alter the nature of corporations, nations and international groups of all kinds. The planet Pluto and sign Capricorn share a strong sense of intention and focus that are likely to increase efficiency in many domains. However, their mutual hunger for results can repress compassion and contrary views that might slow down the inexorable march forward. The power of corporations will probably reach a tipping point during Pluto’s 15-year stay in Capricorn. It is possible that multi-nationals will grow so strong that they will supplant governments as primary sources of authority. While some believe that this has already occurred, we can expect a further erosion of state control or a strong reaction against corporations that eventually reduces their dominance. This reflects the Pluto paradox as this planet both intensifies and purifies, concentrating force and yet, eventually, breaking down structures to eliminate excess.

Pluto and Capricorn are more about collective structures than personal ones, yet we will still experience this transit as individuals. Stripping away unwieldy and outmoded ambition can challenge us to reconsider our goals, even our most treasured ones. Pluto raises the stakes in whatever game you’re playing, challenging you to increase your commitment or to leave the table. Again, there is a risk of becoming so focused on achieving results that flexibility is lost. It’s hard to keep an open mind in a tunnel, so burrowing through the boundaries of certainty is a healthy counterpoint for balancing Pluto in Capricorn’s excessive determination.

Pluto is associated with the psychological shadow, making it more common place to project negative images on authority figures. While we can hope that its transit through Capricorn may purge destructive elements from the culture, an even more productive application of this force is to question the certainty of your own beliefs. A willingness to re-examine them cuts away lazy thinking and outmoded concepts that inhibit growth and the full realization of our potential.

Ideally, Pluto brings us to the essence of issues and, in Capricorn, will lead to a transformation of the social order, one in which the extreme inequities of power and resources are overcome by a burgeoning awareness of our shared humanity. Extreme danger from environmental issues is one less than desirable way in which our priorities can become redirected. Yet as more and more individuals take responsibility for themselves, the power of transformation can come from within and be a consciously creative force for change. When each of us faces our fears and turns darkness into light we can reshape the world with love and hope rather than reacting to pain and fear.

 

@Tarot.com is a Daily Insight Group Site

Your Daily Influences for July 14th

Your Daily Influences
 July 14th, 2015

 

 

Eight of Cups Reversed
Interest in the material world and success emerges or returns. Happiness and love are possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingwaz
Ingwaz signifies completion, success and fertility. Your present ambitions are about to be met. You are fecund in both mind and body.

 

 

 

 

Capricornus the Goat
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved. They could be someone you know in the medical field–a nurse or doctor perhaps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Your Animal Spirit for July 14th is The Owl

Your Animal Spirit for Today
July 14th, 2015

 

Owl

Many cultures associate Owl with death, while others see Owl as the “night eagle”—the bird that embodies shamanism. Owl has exceptional hearing, and his medicine is one of clairaudience—the ability to hear spirit. If Owl has silently glided into your life today, he is asking you to face your own fears, and listen to the messages spirit is sending you.

 

Your Charm for July 14th is the Amulet Box

Your Charm for Today

The Amulet Box

Today’s Meaning:
There are papers in your near future. This aspect is affect by legal papers of some kind–a contract, a deed or a license of some kind. These papers will bring improvement to your life.

General Description:
The people of Tibet are most superstitious. It is the custom for almost everyone to wear charms. The Amulet-box illustrated contains small inscribed scrolls covered with magical characters. These magical formulae are written and blessed by their Lamas. The scrolls are believed to be all powerful spells for appeasing evil spirits, keeping the wearers from all physical harm, safeguarding them from every kind of danger, and protecting them from the blighting effects of the evil eye. Many of these charm boxes are of gold elaborately chased, and encrusted with turquoise.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for July 14th is The Ancestors

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today


Ancestors

Ancestors represents the ongoing influence and remarkable contributions those who came before us have made to our state of being. Ancestors also reminds us that sometimes old wisdom is the best wisdom–especially when events are moving in ways we do not understand. Ancestors can bring comfort to a shaken spirit. It is a card of warmth in the sense that it reminds us that the spirit of past generations remains with us and can be called upon for guidance at any time.

As a daily card, Ancestors suggests that you may be well served to by exploring your family tree to find solutions to current dilemmas. When searching for solutions to conflicts in your life, you might do well by asking yourself what a grandparent or great grandparent would do in your current situation.

Your Daily Witches Rune for July 14th is The Blank Rune

Witches Rune for the Day

The Blank Rune

Meaning: This is a rune of difficulty and negative influences will rule your life for a time, but as all difficulties are a learning experience it will lead to improved personal perspective and progress on your life’s path. Always consult the surrounding runes with this stone. If it lies with a positive stone, it indicates that the pain of this experience will lead to a beneficial change in circumstances.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for July 14th is Lust

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

Lust



While similar to classic Tarot’s Strength card, Lust goes a step further by suggesting we should enjoy the pleasures of exercising our strengths, sating our passions, and embracing that which allows one to express the majesty of their unique self. The lust this card indicates is not purely sexual, but at its most basic this lust is a primal desire to experience life to the fullest degree possible while taming our more beastly side. Lust implies that we not fight with our base instincts, but rather that we accept and manage and nourish them as an essential aspect of maintaining a balanced, complete self.

Your Daily I Ching Hexagram for July 14th is 23: Stripping

Your Daily I Ching Hexagram

July 14th, 2015

_______________________
23: Stripping

hexagram09

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:
Accept change. Focus on correcting problems that hamper your development. Get your relationships back on track.

Line One of Your Hexagram is a 6:
Care for your subordinates.

Line Two of Your Hexagram is a 6:
Strengthen your foundations before all is lost.

Line Three of Your Hexagram is a 6:
Separate yourself from failing ventures. Seek new opportunities.

Line Four of Your Hexagram is a 6:
Your situation may be dangerous. Let loose of failing ventures.

Line Five of Your Hexagram is a 6:
Remove yourself from those who would harm you.

Line Six of Your Hexagram is a 9:
Maintain your integrity throughout difficult times. Be steadfast in your path and good things will come to you.

Casting the Stones, Your Thor Cross Reading for July 14th

Thor’s Cross

This is a five Rune cast used to shed light on your life in general.

bw-naudhizThe Situation
Naudhiz

Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.

 

bw-berkanoBarriers
Berkano

Berkano is the Rune of birth and rebirth. This may symbolize a time when you are capable of great personal growth. Love may be in the air as well.

 

bw-isaPositive Influences
Isa

The Ice Rune, represents stagnation and a passionless existence. Your life’s course may seem blurry at the moment, but if you persevere you will move onto better days.

 

bw-elhazWhat’s coming soon
Elhaz

Elhaz represents your power to protect yourself and those around you. It also connotes the thrill and joy of a successful hunt. You are in a very enviable position right now, because you are able to maintain what you have built and reach your current goals. Enjoy.

 

The Long Term Results
Raidho

There may be delays in reaching your goals. You may become disassociated from those around you. Try to keep your lines of communication open.

Your Daily Rune for Tuesday, July 14th is Kenaz

bw-kenaz

bw-kenazYour Rune For Today
Kenaz

Kenaz foretells the coming of clarity and knowledge. It is time for you to grow by exchanging knowledge with others. Opportunities are upon you.

Additional information about Today’s Rune, Kenaz

kenaz : torch

 

Phonetic equivalent: k (can also be used as a hard ‘c’)

 

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
wisdom, insight, solution to a problem, creativity, inspiration, enlightenment

 

MAGICAL USES:
for creative inspiration, aid in study, fertility, dispelling anxiety and fear

 

ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Mimir, the Dwarfs, Muspellheim

 

ANALYSIS:
In modern usage, the Scottish ‘ken’ means to know or understand, and this is the sense in which the rune should interpreted. Today, light, inspiration and knowledge are often associated, as in ‘gaining enlightenment’ and ‘shedding light on the problem’, and even in the image of a lightbulb going on over someone’s head when they get an idea. To bring light is to make the invisible visible.Unlike the wisdom gained at þurisaz, kenaz only allows us to take bits and pieces of this knowledge away with us as we need it, usually at the discretion of the Gods. This knowledge will generally come in the form of a sudden inspiration, and we will be able to see clearly the answer that was once hidden from us. This form of wisdom is more closely associated with the right half of the brain than the left, since it does not come through conscious effort but rather through passively opening one’s self to it. Thus, a more feminine element is added to our journeyer’s experience.
 

The act of bringing light into the darkness is also a creative one. Again consider the image of the person carrying a torch , representing the masculine elements of fire and air, entering the cave and penetrating the feminine realm of earth and water. This joining of masculine and feminine elements results in the creation of new ideas. In physical terms, this can be correlated to the application of fire to mold and shape matter – the art of the smith.

 

Your Tarot Power Cards for Tuesday, July 14th

Your Tarot Power Cards for Today

This drawing represent strengths you were born with.

Justice

Justice signifies the principle that although things sometimes seem askew the Universe is ultimately fair. We may not see or understand why things happen, but most of us sense there is in fact a reason and that balance exists even when we cannot see it. Justice denotes fairness regardless of who you are. At its purest the forces embodied by Justice give us the power to see without bias, and the courage to be accountable for our actions. These powers also test our faith at times. These powers also give us the tools and strength to fight injustice in our everyday life. All we have to do is use them.

When The Emperor is among your personal cards, the influence of Justice may be increased. Having The Devil in your personal cards may diminish the influence of Justice.

 

 

The High Priestess

Completely feminine and the counterpart to The Magician, the High Priestess is the Gatekeeper of the subconscious, the unknown. She travels in worlds which most of us only glimpse in our dreams. Her realm is that of unseen truths, untapped potentials, and hidden dangers. The Calling of The High Priestess is to go beyond the obvious and visible to tap those powers which are veiled from normal vision. While she is passive by nature, she has the power to uncover unknown potential and is very aware of the infinite potential all humans harbor within them. She is also very patient. She can wait for events to blossom in their own time.

When The Hermit or Hanged Man are among your personal cards, the influence of The High Priestess may be increased. Having the Magus in your personal cards may diminish the influence of The High Priestess

Your Personal Daily Tarot Card for July 14th is The Emperor

Your Personal Daily Tarot Card

The Emperor

 

The Emperor is blessed with the skills to successfully lead others. He can turn chaos into order and provide structure to that which is unbound. He is quick of mind and confident in his power and right to rule, and does so in a just manner. Although stern by nature, he truly is the ultimate father figure. He will provide as needed, teach those with unanswered questions, protect the vulnerable, set and maintain boundaries. His perfect world runs on schedule and is free of any disturbances. What the Emperor must be wary of is setting boundaries and rules where none are needed. If he isn’t careful not to over use his powers he may well become a tyrant.