May 17th, 2017

I don't believe I ever shared a photo of it, but one of my birthday gifts this year was a piece of Polychrome Jasper from Rebekka's store carved in the shape of a heart. Now that I've had a little free time over my summer vacation, I finally got around to researching its properties.

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Polychrome Jasper 

(aka Desert Jasper)

Physical Characteristics: Polychrome Jasper is so named for the myriad colors it can contain, the list of which includes red, brown, purple, yellow, grey, and teal. These colors are the product of mineral admixtures, usually iron oxides.

In Nature: Jaspers are micro-crystalline, fine-grained, and opaque stones. They are comprised of massive (i.e. formed in a mass) formations of Chalcedony Quartz.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Mohs Scale Hardness: 7 (medium-high)

Can be Found: Madagascar

Healing Properties*: Use Polychrome Jasper to boost your energy; it may be helpful for managing chronic fatigue, exhaustion as a result of a mental illness, or similar conditions.

Magickal Properties: Polychrome or Desert Jasper is a figure stone, which is to say that certain specimens may appear to show images of people, animals, landscapes, or symbols, and one's associations with that image can impact the properties of the stone. The properties can also vary based on what colors are present (see below). 

Generally, Polychrome Jasper is a stone with fiery energy, associated with action, passion, and liveliness. It can be a powerful tool for transforming one's life trajectory into something more desirable; it can be used similarly for new relationships. Additionally, use Polychrome Jasper for grounding, and for finding peace and self-worth during difficult times.

Color properties:

• Red/Red-orange: Enthusiasm, physical and spiritual vitality
• Rose: New love, romance, and/or relationships
• Purple: Awe, mystery, dream interpretation, renewal
• Teal: Temperance, restoring calm, relieving stress, overcoming conflict, protection in the face of cruelty
• Yellow: Happiness, cheerfulness, contentment

Chakra Association: Root (First), Solar Plexus (Third) chakras

Element: Fire

Energy: Projective

Planetary Association: Earth, Mars

*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!

April 23rd, 2017

Orthoceras

Physical Characteristics: Orthoceras fossils are the remains of slender, elongate shelled animals, which look similar to related nautiloid cephalopods, making identification difficult.

In Nature: With a name meaning "straight horn", Orthoceras is an extinct genus of nautiloid cephalopod, specifically of the variety native to the Baltic States and Sweden. It lived during the Paleozoic and Triassic periods, and is typically found in a limestone matrix.

Chemical Composition: CaCO3 matrix, with a fossil of varying mineral composition

Mohs Scale Hardness: 7.5-8 (high)

Can be Found: Baltic States and Sweden

Healing Properties*: Orthoceras fossils have been used to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and to heal conditions related to the spine and to aging.

Magickal Properties: Like with many fossils, Orthoceras is rooted in energies pertaining to time; it can assist in past life discovery and meditation, moving past old traumas, and in working through transition periods. It is likewise a stone of business success, promoting prosperity and financial stability. In energy work, Orthoceras can assist with the development of psychic abilities and in Reiki healing.

Chakra Association: Root (First) chakra

Element: Earth

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Earth

*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!

October 30th, 2016

Yesterday was a wonderful, busy day. After volunteering at Habitat for Humanity in the morning, I got changed and ready to go to SIPA's Samhain ritual. Tara met me outside my dorm around 2:45, and we drove over to Crab Orchard Campground for the event.

The ritual had originally been going to be at Devil's Kitchen Lake like Mabon, but apparently that area is now undergoing construction, so the parks department gave us the Crab Orchard spot instead. Quite honestly, it was probably a better site, anyway - for one thing, the peninsula was huge, and we had the whole thing to ourselves. There was no designated shelter, which, granted, would have been less fun had it been raining like last year, but fortunately, the weather was perfect. The sky was clear, and it was 80 degrees in the afternoon.

I explored the site a bit, and found this strawberry plant growing a baby strawberry! It seemed a little late in the season, but as warm as it was, I suppose the plants didn't mind.

Because the area was so large, we had a lot of options for where we held ritual. Tara originally wanted to use this spot, right on the lake, which had a cool, star-shaped tree stump in the ground. However, it was quite windy, and there was some concern about whether or not things would blow over, so she decided instead to use an area further back in the trees, but which still had a view of the lake.

As always, there was a potluck. I brought soda, since there hadn't been enough drinks at the last ritual, and enjoyed pizza, vegetables, pasta, cupcakes, and cookies. There was also a home-grown watermelon which I had some of later - very tasty - and apple cider.

Look at these cool Samhain cupcakes! They were filled with raspberry sauce, too, mmmm....

I hadn't been expecting to get to use my construction skills at all at the ritual, but as it would turn out, there were some pieces to construct for the Circle setup. Sean designed these elemental doorways, built out of 2x2s and fabric, which we put together using his battery-powered staple gun. This was Air, in the East.

A close-up of the elemental altar beyond the Air doorway; people had the opportunity to banish from their lives anything relating to the element Air by writing it down and then tying the paper to the wreath like a dreamcatcher.

The Fire doorway; problems relating to the element Fire were written down and the papers burned in the cauldron.

The Water doorway; problems relating to the element Water were written down and drowned in the water inside the vase.

The Earth doorway; problems relating to the element Earth were buried in the tray of potting soil.

There was also a central bonfire for burning any problems related to Spirit, or to issues not clearly covered by one of the other elements.

These were the items I brought for the ancestor altar; we've had some deaths in the family this year, so I had quite a bit more to bring than I did last Samhain.

We held the ritual after the sun went down. It was windy enough that it was impossible to keep the candles lit, but I saw a shooting star right after everyone had finished honoring their ancestors, and it was a really good, contemplative ceremony. There were also some reporters from a local newspaper who came to talk and photograph, so I may be in the newspaper sometime this week!

July 13th, 2016

I've spent some time the last few days researching the stones I acquired on our June vacation, and I am pleased now to share my research. I'll probably spread posts out over the next few days, but to get things started, let's consider Snowflake Obsidian. For other posts related to this crystal, check out Obsidian and Apache Tears.

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Snowflake Obsidian

Physical Characteristics: Obsidian is a naturally-occurring volcanic glass. It is most commonly black, although other colors can also be found.

In Nature: A chemical instability in Obsidian causes the stone to crystallize gradually. It does this unevenly throughout the stone, with these areas becoming radial clusters of grey-white Cristobalite crystals. The Cristobalite resembles snowflakes, especially when tumbled.

Chemical Composition: SiO2 + MgO, Fe3O4

Mohs Scale Hardness: 5 - 5.5 (middle)

Can be Found: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Italy, Japan, United States (e.g. Yellowstone), etc.

Healing Properties*: In the body, Snowflake Obsidian is most commonly used to manage problems with the skeleton, symptoms of mental illness, and blood circulation.

Magickal Properties: My mother's cousin gifted me my piece of rough Snowflake Obsidian, and she told me when she did that it is a stone of centering, which it is. This makes it a good anchor in chaotic situations. The stone is useful for removing negative energy from a space, and could be beneficial during shadow work or at other times when harmful thoughts and emotions need to be dealt with. Likewise, it is useful when cleansing a space because of its ability to absorb negativity. It helps to foster inner peace in the face of turmoil, and is generally protective in nature. A stone of balance, the black and white of Snowflake Obsidian represents the union of opposites.

Chakra Association: First (Root) chakra

Element: Earth

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Saturn

*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!

August 9th, 2015

My piece of Aragonite I was able to identify from flipping through some crystal books, but this stone I had to take with me to Fairy Fest and ask around at some of the vendors to learn the name of. It turned out to be synthetic, which I had already guessed at, but here's what information the internet had on it.

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Carborundum

Physical Characteristics: A black crystal that sparkles like a rainbow in the light. Carborundum is water insoluble and does not fade in sunlight, so the more popular modes of cleansing are appropriate for this crystal. As it is synthetic, cleansing it of other people's energy is vital. Do exercise some caution, as pieces may be brittle and break with rough handling.

In Nature: Carborundum only occurs very rarely on Earth; when it does, it is called Moissanite and is generally found in meteorites. The crystal was first developed for mass production in 1890 when Edward Acheson attempted to create artificial diamonds with clay and powdered Carbon. It quickly became popular as an industrial abrasive.

Chemical Composition: SiC

Mohs Scale Hardness: 9.5 (very high)

Can be Found: Rarely in meteorite or Corundum deposits, but is commonly produced in laboratories 

Healing Properties*: The stone can help to clear the mind of chaotic thoughts and stress, while clearing stress' physical symptoms from the body. It can also assist in the treatment of depression or more general melancholy. Carborundum heals eye strain, headaches, and computer-related injuries. Back and neck pain may also be lessened with the stone, as can the severity of problems with the skeletal system.

Magickal Properties: Carborundum is a meditative crystal, inspiring serenity and peacefulness. It strengthens the bond with one's "inner child", or perhaps more accurately with the part of one which is playful and curious before such behaviors are socialized out of our personality. 
It is a purifying stone, and encourages intuition. As a conductor of electricity, Carborundum will amplify energy in any sort of working, but especially in healing efforts.

Chakra Association: All

Element: Air/fire

Energy: Projective/receptive

Planetary Association: Earth

*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!

Aragonite

I've finished posts about the crystals I bought at Fairy Fest, but that doesn't mean my blog is totally up-to-date yet. As it so happens, I was recently able to identify two of the crystals that came in an assorted box way back at the beginning of last school year. I'm extremely excited about this, and eager to share my new knowledge with the internet.

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Aragonite

Physical Characteristics: Repeated twinning of the crystals can result in pseudo-hexagonal forms. It may also appear fibrous, branching, or columnar. It comes in clear, brown, yellow, pink, or green varieties.

In Nature: Aragonite is a carbonate mineral, but with a different crystal structure from Calcite. It forms in many marine creatures' exoskeletons, including mollusks and corals.

Chemical Composition: CaCO3

Mohs Scale Hardness: 3.5 (low)

Can be Found: Spain, USA, UK, the oceans

Healing Properties*: Use this crystal to heal broken bones or damage to the nerves. It relieves stress and related symptoms, such as restlessness or twitching. Additionally, it can improve circulation in the body's extremities. 

Magickal Properties: Named for its place of discovery in Aragon, Spain, Aragonite is a healer of the earth and a good choice for conservationists or people who regularly work with the land. If one lives in an area greatly disturbed by industrialization, this crystal can help return balance and ease sources of geopatbic stress (e.g. electrical boxes or wires). 
It strengthens all of the lower chakras, boosting self-confidence. It also has a grounding effect, particularly for those who find themselves struggling with self-care and necessary tasks.
Clusters of the crystal send out energy in all directions, and are therefore ideal for auric cleansings. Meditating with it can be intense, as it brings back repressed memories and memories from past lives. 

Chakra Association: First (Root), Second (Sacral), and Third (Solar Plexus)

Element: Earth

Energy: Projective/receptive

Planetary Association: Mercury, Saturn

*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!

July 9th, 2015

I have been unusually productive today! Got some reading done, reorganized a few things, vacuumed, worked another spell... I also made the effort to stay on top of my crystal research. We visited the zoo on Sunday, and I picked up a new treasure from the gift shop. Here's what I found on it.

Turritella Agate

Physical Characteristics: Fossiliferous brown Agate, which contains white or tan snail shells. The shells appear conic with multiple chambers, while the Agate matrix may appear translucent. 

In Nature: Circa 50 million years ago, rains falling on the young Rocky Mountains carried sand, silt, and mud into the nearby lakes. As the layers piled up, Elimia tenera - the snail originally misidentified as belonging to the Turritella genus - died and sank to the bottom, where they were preserved within the sediment deposits. Over time, groundwater precipitated silica into the mass, which slowly fossilized the material into Agate (Chalcedony). Often, the shells' surrounding matrix is only partly silicified, and may remain as Sandstone or Shale.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Mohs Scale Hardness: 6 - 7 (medium - medium-high)

Can be Found: The Green River Formation, in Wyoming, USA

Healing Properties*: A Root chakra stone, Turritella can assist with most medical problems of the diaphragm, lower back, and feet, including gastro-intestinal disorders, gallstones, swelling, physical balance, and so on. Worn in the center of the chest, this Agate promotes a healthy heart and veins. For a mild fever, place a cold Agate against the forehead. 

Magickal Properties: Like many fossils, Turritella Agate has a strong connection to the past, and can be used in work pertaining to one's ancestry, homeland, and heritage. They are record keeper crystals, and offer access to the Akashic Records, past life recall, and etcetera. The stone stimulates inner composure and maturity. It is also handy for travelers, warding off danger, maintaining a connection with home, and alleviating fear. They could be similarly employed by nervous drivers, as they ward off traffic accidents. 

Additionally, the Agate can be used to heighten concentration or stimulate analytical thought. Turritella is beneficial for self-analysis, as well as for dealing with deep-seated trauma and any accompanying phobias or physical symptoms of suffering. It is likewise a balancer of energy(ies); as such, it could help those who find themselves struggling with hyperactivity or manic emotional swings. It may also help to ease symptoms of dysphoria in transgender individuals, or others outside the gender binary.

Chakra Association: First (Root) chakra

Element: Earth

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Mercury

*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!

June 4th, 2015

It's been a quiet day of crafting for me. I made a birthday gift for my mom, and then decided I could finish up an older project (by "older", I mean "abandoned for two or three years"). I made three of these little knitted bunnies ages ago and started on the green one, but then lost motivation halfway through. Later it occurred to me that the colors I had picked at random were actually elemental colors. 

I went ahead and finished the green one today, and now I have them situated around my room according to their corresponding direction.

Green, of course, is earth and North, yellow is air and East, red is fire and South, and blue is water and West. 

If anyone else is interested in making their own elemental bunnies (they also make great herb satchets, cat toys, etc.), the pattern is available for free download here.

April 6th, 2015

I ended up going back over to the spiral garden yesterday to add some paintings to the stakes around the outside. I also stopped by the labyrinth out back on my way to grab the hose and water the plants.

Some of the architecture students built a geodesic dome around the labyrinth, which was kind of interesting, and then it was surrounded by lots of spring flowers.

I chose a sort of elemental color scheme for my paintings, and also tried to note the cardinal directions. Not only does it have elemental connotations that way, but it will also help planters figure out which side of the garden will be getting sun at which time of day.

North:

East:

South:

West:

It really seemed to brighten things up - I hope other people like them as much as I do!

If you have a garden of your own, you can of course add painted stakes like I've done here, but other decorating options include adding lengths of colored ribbon to stakes or fences, hanging bells or wind chimes nearby, and adding rocks or paving stones decorated with meaningful words or symbols. Just try to make sure that the supplies you use are environmentally friendly!

Spiral Herb Garden

Two posts in one day? What is this madness?! I guess you can tell I'm having a light-homework-load weekend, huh?

Well, I celebrated Esbat today with something pretty special. My university's sustainable gardening team got together to build a spiral herb garden outside of the Gaia House Interfaith Center, and I got to go and help put it together.

Spiral gardens are really interesting for several reasons. There's the perhaps obvious metaphysical symbolism of the spiral, often associated with the goddess and ideas of eternity and continuity. Then there's the actual, physical construction of them. These gardens are actually a sort of terrace, spiraling not just toward the center, but upward in height as well.

What this does is create a unique sort of microecosystem. Soil at the top will have a lot of drainage and full sun, while areas down the slope get progressively less drainage and different amounts of sunlight. As a result, plants requiring different amounts of water and sun can all be in the same garden together. Here are some further examples from the internet:

For the one we built, we started off with a stake in the ground to mark the center point. Then, we laid cardboard across the whole area we wanted the garden to cover. For the walls, we dry-stacked coal ash bricks, donated to the group from another vendor. Those were in turn made of coal ash (surprise), thus recycling the waste material instead of just disposing of it. 

In order to get the placement correct, we worked off the idea of the Fibonacci Sequence, which goes 1 1 2 3 5 8 13, etc. Basically, you add each number to the one before it to get the next in the sequence (1+1=2, 2+1=3, 3+2=5, etc.). We laid one brick with the short end against the stake, and one at a right angle to that, and then two at a right angle to that, and so on and so forth; we were making a smaller garden, so we only went through eight bricks max, and even then we ended up adjusting the pattern slightly to get the look we wanted. Here's a diagram of the Fibonacci Sequence for reference:

Once we had a single brick layer set out in a spiral, we then started building up the walls. The goal was to create a gradual slope upwards, with the highest point being the very center. We then went back and added a few stakes around the perimeter. Since we were dry-stacking, we wanted to make sure nothing shifted when we added the dirt.

Speaking of dirt... We actually started with leaves! Lots and lots of leaves all packed in for drainage and also gradual decomposition. Then we layered that with topsoil, mushroom compost, and more topsoil mixed in with some of the clay-rich soil native to our area. Periodically, we threw in another layer of leaves for the heck of it.

Here it is with all the soil added. I was a little worried about the dry-stack holding up, but it seemed to be really solid! Next up was plants.

Rosemary! One of my favorite herbs, both for its fragrance and for its usefulness in memory charms. Finals coming up? Grab some rosemary...

Then from the bottom up there is pictured chamomile, kale, dill, cilantro, and more dill. Uses for these can include what follows.

Chamomile: calming (great for bedtime teas), purification, prosperity, meditation

Kale: I couldn't find anything on kale (trust me, google "magical properties of kale" and you'll just get a million pages of pseudo-scientific health websites), but entries for lettuce include, protection, love, sleep, and divination, so use that as a starting point and experiment!

Cilantro: protection, peace

Dill: prosperity, protection, love

Not pictured are the sage and thyme we planted.
Sage: PURIFICATION! protection, wisdom, health
Thyme: warding negativity, protection, health

Here's the finished garden! I think I'll go back tomorrow and do some painting on the stakes to make them pretty. 

If you would like to build your own spiral herb garden, consider using earth-friendly, recycled materials if possible. Also, consider the magickal properties of the herbs you plant in it. One could plant flowers in a bed just like this, as well. Either way, they needn't take up a lot of space, and are extremely easy to construct. With about ten of us working together, this got built in under an hour. These make great places to grow herbs for your Craft, and to dedicate plants to your deities. 

April 4th, 2015

Last weekend, my family came down to visit, and we got to visit a couple of places I think you all might be interested in.

For starters: Castle Park! This memorial park is a bit D&D inspired, and is full of all kinds of statues of dragons, and wizards, and other mystical creatures. There's also a giant castle-playground. I'd love to go again in costume sometime, but for now, I'll just post a few pictures.

It'd be a really interesting place for a ritual, I would think, except that it is, ultimately, a Christian memorial for a teen who was killed in a car crash, and I wouldn't want to be disrespectful. In any case, a fun spot for magick workers and casual fantasy fans alike.

We also went to Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area in Shawnee. More than 300 million years ago, erosion exposed these huge sandstone bluffs, which had been left in turn from an ancient shallow sea. Check this place out:

These patterns in the rock are called liesegang bands - iron in the sandstone rusted, and so doesn't erode as quickly as the regular sandstone. This leaves the complex ridges and swirls in the rock visible here.

This formation is called the Devil's Smokestack; it occurred to me that these pillars of rock could act as focuses of energy, much like the natural version of a stone cairn. In a setting like this, there really was no way to get close to it, but even at a distance I was really struck by it.  

We also visited this place called Cave-in-Rock, but it had just rained and so the river had flooded the whole area out. 

It was a really nice day of hiking in the good weather, and a good way to reconnect to the earth element. I'm so glad it's finally getting warmer!

August 7th, 2014

Smoky Quartz

Physical Characteristics: Smoky Quartz ranges from almost complete clarity to almost black; typically, it is a translucent brown or grey.

In Nature: Natural irradiation creates free Silicon ions within the crystal, thus giving it its color. The same effect can be obtained artificially using radiation techniques. Artificial Smoky Quartz will be lesser in quality but may be more inexpensive.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Mohs Scale Hardness: 7 (middle-high)

Can be Found: Worldwide, but especially Brazil, the USA, and the Swiss Alps

Healing Properties*: Physically, this crystal treats ailments of the lower abdomen: cramps, back pain, kidney and liver problems, sexual dysfunction, etc. Moreover, it relieves mental disorders, ADD, and hyperactivity.

Magickal Properties: Smoky Quartz possesses many of the same properties as Clear Quartz, including energy amplification, but because of its chemical differences, it is rooted in the physical plane rather than the psychic. It is a grounding stone, but unlike its opaque relatives, Smoky Quartz's energy is joyful, connecting one to safety and security while lifting the spirit and transmuting negativity into positivity instead of just neutralizing it. It relieves depression, stress, and anger while keeping its bearer relaxed and centered. The stone strengthens one's survival instincts (Live in a dangerous neighborhood? Carry some Smoky Quartz.), and also eases the grieving process. Like many dark stones, this crystal is a good choice for a focus when scrying the future. Hung or placed near the bedside, it prevents nightmares and insomnia. Meditation with Smoky Quartz encourages creative solutions to problems.

Chakra Association: First (Root) chakra

Element: Earth

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Jupiter

*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!