February 25th, 2017

I cannot believe I am only just now finishing my research on the stones I acquired at Fairy Fest over six months ago, but to be fair to myself, I've been busy with school and we had a bunch of family crises, so finding the time and energy to do my research has been a challenge.

Anyhow, the last Fairy Fest stone I have to share information on is Andara Crystal Glass; I was gifted a chunk of it by an energy worker at the festival, and it's a variety of crystal with a rather contentious, questionable story behind it. The long and short of it is, Andara Crystal Glass is synthetic, not natural (more on that below), and as such, many unscrupulous vendors will hype up the crystal while providing little factual information on it, and then charge an outrageous price for the stuff.

My stance on synthetic crystals is firmly positive - I enjoy Opalite, Goldstone, and etc. both aesthetically and magickally - but it is important to know before you buy that this is not some incredibly rare and hard-to-come-by mineral. Make sure the price tag reflects that.

~~~~~

Andara Crystal Glass

Physical Characteristics: This variety of glass can be found in virtually any color, and in varying opacities.

In Nature: Andara Crystal Glass is not found in nature. It is cullet glass leftover from other glass-making processes, and often found in the slag variety. Slag glass is its own subsection of streaky, opaque glass, often used decoratively in light fixtures, but the main takeaway is that this is not a naturally-occurring crystal. 

According to one story, a California earthquake in the 1960's uncovered a buried deposit of some of this glass, and that is what brought it to the attention of the metaphysical community. This makes sense in passing, as California is highly earthquake-prone, but I was unable to find confirmation of this from a reliable source, so take the story with a grain of salt.

Chemical Composition: Silica-based, varies by method of production

Mohs Scale Hardness: 5.5 - 6.5 (middle)

Can be Found: Theoretically, wherever glass (especially slag glass) is made

Healing Properties*: None noted besides the benefits listed below

Magickal Properties: The information available on Andara Crystal Glass is mixed, some of it being believable, and some of it going straight off the metaphysical deep end. That being said, Andara Crystals are generally associated with energy work. They can be imbued with Reiki energy, and likewise are used for clearing the chakras and raising one's personal vibration.

Other uses include raising one's conscious awareness, and channeling information. They are stones of positive thought, and for connecting to the energy of the universe and/or deity. Andara Crystal Glass is best charged with light, sunlight being the most effective.

Individual colors have their own meanings which can be investigated further, though keep a critical eye when reading through information provided by vendors trying to sell their product.

Chakra Association: Crown (Seventh) Chakra

Element: Akasha

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Uranus, Moon

*Magickal healing should never take the place of seeing a doctor and following any recommended prescriptions, actions, or other advice. Magick works best in tandem with physical efforts, anyway, so don't skimp on those check-ups!

February 24th, 2017

Today, we are having witch weather.

The sky is dark, but a brilliant beam of sunlight poking through the clouds makes everything glow. The air is warm, but there is a stiff breeze blowing, the kind that whips your hair in your face and makes your coat stream out behind you.

Now it is thunder-storming, and the rain is pelting the windows. Intermittent cracks of thunder echo over campus.

Tonight is the waning moon. Perhaps the storm will continue. One way or the other, there is the feeling of electricity in the air. It's time to bind some neo-nazis.

February 23rd, 2017

My handmade paper came out very nicely. I got to pick it up this morning, and now it's ready to go the next time I work on my Book of Shadows.

February 21st, 2017

For any and all interested parties, an anonymous magickal group has developed a spell, to be performed monthly, with the intent of binding Donald Trump and those who abet him and his policies. It is available here, but I will also transcribe it below in the event that the link does not work.

~~~~~

A Spell to Bind Donald Trump and All Those Who Abet Him

To be performed at midnight on every waning crescent moon until he is removed from office. This binding spell is open source, and may be modified to fit your preferred spiritual practice or magical system — the critical elements are the simultaneity of the working (midnight, EST—DC, Mar-a-Lago, and Trump Tower NYC time) and the mass energy of participants.

Components:

• Unflattering photo of Trump (small)
• Tower tarot card (from any deck)
• Tiny stub of an orange candle or baby carrot
• Pin or small nail (to inscribe the candle/carrot)
• White candle (any size), representing the element of Fire
• Small bowl of water, representing elemental Water
• Small bowl of salt, representing elemental Earth
• Feather (any), representing the element of Air
• Matches or lighter
• Ashtray or dish of sand

Optional Components:

• Piece of pyrite (fool’s gold)
• Sulfur
• Black thread (for traditional binding variant)

Preparation:

• Write “Donald J. Trump” on the orange candle stub with a pin or nail
• Arrange other items in a pleasing circle in front of you
• Lean the Tower card against something so that it’s standing up (vertically)
• Say a prayer for protection and invoke blessing from your preferred spirit or deity. Reading the 23rd Psalm aloud is common in Hoodoo/Conjure/Rootwork traditions. Experienced magicians may perform an appropriate banishing ritual.

Ritual:

(Light white candle)

Hear me, oh spirits
Of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air
Heavenly hosts
Demons of the infernal realms
And spirits of the ancestors

(Light inscribed orange candle stub)
I call upon you
To bind
Donald J. Trump
So that he may fail utterly
That he may do no harm
To any human soul
Nor any tree
Animal
Rock
Stream
or Sea

Bind him so that he shall not break our polity
Usurp our liberty
Or fill our minds with hate, confusion, fear, or despair
And bind, too,
All those who enable his wickedness
And those whose mouths speak his poisonous lies

I beseech thee, spirits, bind all of them
As with chains of iron
Bind their malicious tongues
Strike down their towers of vanity

(Invert Tower tarot card)

I beseech thee in my name
(Say your full name)
In the name of all who walk
Crawl, swim, or fly
Of all the trees, the forests,
Streams, deserts,
Rivers and seas
In the name of Justice
And Liberty
And Love
And Equality
And Peace

Bind them in chains
Bind their tongues
Bind their works
Bind their wickedness

(Light the small photo of Trump from the flame of the orange candle stub and hold carefully above the ashtray)

(Speak the following loudly and with increasing passion as the photo burns to ashes)

So mote it be!
So mote it be!
So mote it be!

(Blow out orange candle, visualizing Trump blowing apart into dust or ash*)

(Pinch or snuff out the white candle, ending the ritual)

Grounding and Disposal:

Afterward, ground yourself by having a good, hearty laugh, jumping up and down, clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and having a bite to eat. Grounding is very important—don’t neglect it. And remember—he hates people laughing at him.

Finally, bury the orange candle stub or discard it at a crossroads or in running water.

~~~~~

The website lists some ideas for variations; I will probably re-write the references to heavenly hosts and demons, as those are not entities I am currently working with. This is definitely a spell I will be employing, however. The next waning crescent moon is this Friday - a good night for a ritual! 

February 20th, 2017

I had a fun time tonight over at the campus craft shop hand-making paper; one of my friends is an RA, and she set it up as an event for her floor. We weren't using any particularly fine techniques, but it was cool to learn how to do, and I think my sheets will make a nice addition to my Book of Shadows.

The craft shop had a pulper to grind up fabric and paper scraps, which were submerged in water. Then we took forms with mesh across them (deckles) and dipped them into the slurry; pulling these up creates a thick, goopy mess of future-paper on the form. We had the option to add in bits of string, decorative fabric, or seeds, and there was also a little bit of spray-dye, so I spritzed mine with blue. Then you have to squeeze and press the water out of it, all while being careful not to tear the wet paper.

It has to dry overnight, which means I can't pick it up before tomorrow at the earliest, but I am excited to see how it came out! I've always wanted to try paper-making, so this was a good experience. I'm not sure if I'll reserve all of it for my Book of Shadows, but I definitely will set aside a sheet or two for that purpose.

Paper-making can be done in the home, but I've never done it myself, and therefore do not have much information on the subject. That being said, additives like pigment, essential oils, petals or seeds, and etc. can all be used to personalize paper for spiritual and magickal uses. I'd love to try it again sometime - perhaps that's a summer project!

February 19th, 2017

It occurred to me that, although I showed pictures of mine, I never explained in my post last night what a vision board is. Lots of people - including plenty of non-Pagans - make them, because they are a tool for goal setting, affirmations, etc. When made with intent, they are a powerful way to create change in your life.

Simply put, one collects images from photographs, magazines, newspapers, or other sources that reflect a goal or series of goals. One then collages these together, and displays the board where it is visually prominent. Seeing the board subconsciously reinforces one's commitment to those goals. If done in conjunction with a ritual, or even a more informal spiritual setting, once could charge it with power to further reinforce its energy.

The above example is from Google Images; searching the term "vision board" brings up many others. They can be made for the whole year, for a single goal, for many goals - it's really up to the individual. One of the women at SIPA last night says that she does mini, weekly vision boards in her planner - I know I don't have the time to do that regularly, but it sounds like a fun (and useful!) idea.

February 18th, 2017

SIPA hosted a fun little workshop tonight over at Gaia House - vision boards! I've made them before, but it's been awhile, and it was nice to get together with friends and tear up some magazines.

There was probably about eight or so of us who attended, and we made quite the mess. There were paper scraps and piles of glitter everywhere! Several people brought piles of magazines and cardstock, so we just tore into it finding words and images that stood out to us.

There were also snacks, and we got a Pagan playlist going on YouTube.

My in-progress vision board...

...and the finished version! I also wrote out my intentions and things on the back (and yes, that is Michelle Obama in the lower left corner - let's face it, her poise and grace are goals).

Last but not least, here's my vision board sitting on my altar where I can see it. I really like how it came together, and getting to be crafty was a great way to end my evening.

Sweater Update

My sweater is finished! I couldn't be happier with how it came out - it fits perfectly, and once I blocked it, the pattern showed up a lot better.

February 14th, 2017

Happy Valentine's Day, to those celebrating it!

I really should have made this post last week, but that's par for the course with my schedule. Rebekka, who I love to buy crystals from, was recently selling Gold Sheen Obsidian daggers in her store here, and I just had to buy one. I've been in the market for a good athame for a long time; I technically have one at home, but it's actually my dad's, and the blade likes to fall out of the hilt, so it's not very practical. I've looked at athames before, but just never really found one I connected with. Knowing my love for crystals, however, I thought I might get along a lot better with an Obsidian piece.

It's so beautiful, and the shimmer only sort of shows up in the photo, but it's absolutely stunning in the light. The blade is about 3" long, and as I predicted, I like it much better than any steel blade I've ever looked at.

There it is, sitting on my altar. As always, Rebekka shipped quickly, and her items are so high quality. I definitely recommend her products!