November 7th, 2016

I'm really excited! A week or two ago, I put down a bid on a crystal auction that Rebekka, who I've ordered crystals and jewelry from before, was having on Tumblr. Her pieces usually sell very high, and I was expecting to get out-bid. Somehow, however, I didn't, and I ended up winning the auction for five beautiful pieces of Spirit Quartz for only $41!. If you've ever bought Spirit Quartz before, then you know it can be quite pricey; the one little piece I had already was $15 or $20 by itself when I bought it. Five pieces for $41 is definitely a deal!

These are my new babies - on the top left is a Clear Spirit Quartz, while the top right is an Amethyst Spirit Quartz. The other three are Citrine Spirit Quartz, and they're all uniquely beautiful. I immediately set them up around the election spell I did the other night to amp up the power (remember, Americans - go vote tomorrow!).

This Amethyst Spirit Quartz I bought at Fairy Fest last year. Now it has friends!

And finally, Rebekka was also doing a little "Trick or Treat" special in October - anyone who ordered something before Halloween got either a bit of Green Jasper or some plastic spiders. I would have loved the Jasper, but the spiders are cute (they'll be good for next Samhain), and I can always use little sachets, so that was a nice bonus, too.

For my post on the specific properties of Spirit Quartz, click here. If you would like to check out Rebekka's shop - and I highly recommend you do - you can find her new website here.

Election 2016

I don't usually get political on this blog. When I do, it's generally embarrassing. Here I go, anyway.

I'll try to keep my thoughts on this brief - I have a lot of them, but much of what I would say has already been said by others. A lot of Americans, myself included (and, I think, a lot of folks from other countries included, as well), have been following this United States election cycle very closely. The choice, as it stands, is clear - a choice between backwards white supremacy and fascism, or the most progressive platform run by any candidate ever in the history of this country.

I am #withHer, plain and simple. I have already cast my vote, having voted by absentee ballot last month. Hillary Clinton is pro-LGBTQA+, supports a reformed and nuanced approach to mental health, supports autistic people and those with other neurodivergences, supports women's rights to health care and to make their own reproductive choices, and has spent decades working across party lines to create compromise and make change.

Tonight, I felt called to action. I don't usually share my spells when they're in progress, but tonight, I would like to.

If you, like me, know how critical it is that Hillary Clinton be the next POTUS, then please, take a second to lend your thoughts to this little spell.

And if you want to do something similar for yourself, I just traced a map of the US (in blue!), and inside it, wrote "Madame President Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, 2016-2020". I then surrounded it with several stones - Copper in the center, to conduct energy and charge the spell, Spirit Quartz to draw people together in harmony towards a cause, and then Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite, Turquoise, and Emerald to activate all those powers of communication that get people to lend their voice and say, "Today, I am going to vote".

August 10th, 2015

What a fun afternoon! After I got off work, both Raincloud and Destiny were able to come over for a nice little luncheon. We were hoping Hazelnut would also be able to make it, but regrettably, she didn't have transportation.

Photo by Raincloud
From the left: Destiny, Raincloud, Hummingbird

Raincloud was kind enough to give us both little baggies of Hyssop, an herb which she recently acquired. It's useful both for purification and for protection, so I'm sure it'll get plenty of use. I'm not allowed to burn things at home, but perhaps I can make some sort of infusion and put it in a spray bottle.

We ate, and then we sat on my bed and just talked for several hours. It was so nice to get all caught up and relax with my fellow Pagan friends. While we were talking, I set up a little crystal grid on the blanket, like so:

I set my seven Amethyst points all facing outwards towards us with my Spirit Quartz in the middle. We'd been discussing some pretty heavy stuff, so I felt like we could all use Amethyst's calming, soothing influence, and the Spirit Quartz is great for encouraging harmony between members of a group, which also seemed appropriate. It was my first time working with these stones, and I felt like it was a very powerful grid. I know I could definitely feel the energy radiating off of them. 

It's been so long since I've had a big group of Pagan friends I could sit and just talk with, and it was great to be able to do that again. I know I'm really going to miss them when I leave for school next week, but there's always Facebook and Skype. Maybe we can try to do a group ritual over the internet - that would be interesting. Does anyone have any experience with that sort of thing?

August 5th, 2015

Spirit Quartz (aka Cactus Quartz)

Physical Characteristics: Most Spirit Quartz is a variety of Amethyst, and so this post will focus on this type. However, some varieties may appear as Citrine, Smoky Quartz, or White Quartz, and these will have additional properties.

In Nature: Spirit Quartz occurs when hundreds of tiny points grow off the sides of a central, larger Quartz point. As stated above, most specimens are a subtype of Amethyst, and as such appear as a gentle purple or pink. Any specimen which appears to be iridescent in some ways is likely Aura Quartz, which has been artificially treated. See my post about Ruby Aura Quartz for more information.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Mohs Scale Hardness: 7 (high)

Can be Found: The Magaliesberg Mountain region of South Africa is the only area known to produce Spirit Quartz.

Healing Properties*: Bringing emotional healing on all levels, this crystal may be used by the passing and the bereaved alike to come to peace. It likewise heals skin disorders or blistering and etcetera as a result of an allergic reaction. The stone can also help to manage Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or abuse-related stress disorders. 

Magickal Properties: In the words of the vendor who sold me my piece, this is an incredible social stone which promotes harmony in any group, be it family, friends, or peers. In the home, it welcomes guests, newborns, adopted or foster children, and even pets. Merging step-families might want to bring in a piece of Spirit Quartz to ease any initial tensions; the crystal may also help to reconcile quarreling siblings. 
As it promotes group consciousness and cooperation, a coven or study group could find it beneficial in building team unity. Use it to heighten psychic perception and dreaming, or to facilitate out of body experiences. It is also useful for cleansing the aura or a room, dispelling negative entities or energies.
This crystal is specifically one of non-duality and balance on a spectrum. Amethyst Spirit Quartz is about beginnings and endings; through this one sees its balancing properties, as well as its capacity to seek karmic justice in traumatic situations.
Especially useful in artistic endeavors, it stimulates creativity and imagination. Regardless of how it is used, the numerous small points amplify energy and send it out in all directions.

Chakra Association: Seventh (Crown) chakra, but may be used to heal any of them

Element: Spirit/Akasha

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Any

*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 3rd, 2015

It's probably a good thing I took today off work. I was so exhausted from walking around all weekend that I could barely sit up this morning. A shower seemed to take the edge off, though, so that was good. And after taking today for just me, I feel almost completely re-energized.

This morning, I worked more on a weighted blanket project while watching CharmingPixieFlora's YouTube videos. I would recommend them to anyone, but especially to those practicing Wicca or eclectic Paganism. Some of her videos contain more 101-type information, and others delve into greater detail, but even as someone who now considers herself to be pretty experienced in the Craft, I still find it helpful to refresh myself on basic information every now and then, or to listen to a different viewpoint. Besides, she's so bubbly that you can't help but feel happier listening to her talk.

After I got to a solid stopping point, I moved on to researching the crystals I bought this weekend. Expect posts on their properties over the course of the next week or so.

I also finally took some time to reorganize my closet. I consolidated boxes and got everything straightened out, which had the ultimate effect of freeing up a lot of stagnant energy and giving me an extra crate to contain my books when I return to school so that I don't have to disturb the one currently holding up my shrine.

While I was at it, I went ahead and sorted through the things I bought at Fairy Fest.

From left to right, I purchased a piece of Kyanite, a piece of Amethyst Spirit Quartz, a tiny chest with a brass pentacle on top, a little turtle dragon, a Ruby, and a drawstring bag embroidered with the image of Athena and an owl. I also got two little pouches for the Kyanite and the Ruby.

The straw mat the things are sitting on top of is actually a miniature tatami mat that I made in a class while in Japan last summer. I've been trying to figure out what to do with it for ages, and it finally just occurred to me - I can take it with me to school and use it as a tiny altar! I feel like that will be much energetically neater than setting things on the old dressers or desks that the university provides. 

The turtle dragon's name is Frederick. I adopted him from the Dragon Lady at Fest (see more of her work here), and when I told a little girl he didn't have a name yet, she suggested Freddie. He seemed to really like that idea, so I ran with it.

I got the Athena bag not only because it is lovely but also because I think I'd like to start working with her, and it seemed like it could make for a great introductory offering.

I also got this wonderful headdress that my bunny is modelling for me. I love the little horns on it!