Back on February 27th 2021 the full moon was in Virgo. At that time this reminded us that we must learn to organise our lives, accept that not everyone is perfect and to compromise.
Photo taken by me on February 27th 2021
Suitable activities that could have been undertaken during that full moon included:
• Editing, completing or finalising a project; • Organising your kitchen, workplace, home or bedroom; • Cleaning up the loose ends of a relationship matter; • Making a plan for long term success; or • Delivering an important message.
With regards to long term career success, I have big plans for my job this year. I have submitted my application to become a Chartered Environmentalist and am awaiting an interview. If successful, my work will hopefully promote me to Associate Director. I also did the same ritual for my husband at the same time, to help with his long term career goals.
Therefore, I decided to do a ritual on the might of that full moon, to ask the Universe to assist me with obtaining my career goals.
Here are the items I used (I needed two of everything, apart from the pen, as the spell was for two people).
• Two pieces of green paper;
• A gold pen;
• Six fresh mint leaves;
• Two teaspoons of dried sage;
• Two gold candles;
• Jasmine incense – for success, luck in general and good fortune. Jasmine also opens up the natural force of attraction and consequently helps us attract prosperity and success, in addition to helping live a life of beauty, through which our life circumstances naturally follow suit;
• Citrine – This crystal is commonly referred to as the abundance stone and it has powerful properties that attract career benefits, financial success and prosperity. Citrine is also useful for encouraging new opportunities and possibilities for the improvement of your career. The stone also helps promote joy and inner peace, blocking out negative energy and keeps you confident and positive. Citrine can also provide an extra boost of confidence to take with you on promotional reviews or job interviews. It also keeps you emotionally balanced in order to overcome any work challenges, whilst bringing good luck to any task or project you’re working on;
• Sodalite – This crystal enables you to harness your self-esteem, in order for you to take your career to the next level and also helps you to follow your instincts and have self-confidence. It is also known for its capability to inspire the confidence to make your dreams come true. It is also associated with the throat chakra, so provides great benefits for giving important presentations or speaking in public; and
• Selenite – This is one of the best crystals for career success, as it can penetrate any stagnant, stale or negative energy and completely remove it. Selenite can also help with connecting with your intuitions, to listen to your inner voice and push you to follow its guidance towards career success. Also, the crystal works wonders if you are sensitive, providing you with balance for your professional life and workspace.
Here are the steps for the spell. I will be doing this process twice, once for each of us.
• Light the jasmine incense.
• Draw a large pentacle in the centre of the green piece of paper with the gold pen. In the centre of the pentacle write the word JOB, making sure the star is pointing upwards not downwards.
• Around the word JOB, write the specific job each of us is pursuing.
• Tear up the three mint leaves and put these, along with the dried sage, onto the pentacle (keeping the herbs within the outer circle).
• Draw (or carve, if you’re using a pillar candle) with a Sharpie the bindrune ‘Provide energy for success’ onto the side of the candle. I actually couldn’t find gold candles, so I used yellow jasmine scented ones and scattered some gold heart shaped glitter on the top of the wax.
• Place the candle on top of the herbs and light it.
• Place the citrine, sodalite and selenite on the paper around the candle.
• Chant the following words three times (for each spell). I will do mine and my husband will do his:
Universe wide, hear my plea, Send me the job, that’s just for me, Grant me the job, that I will love, I send this message, to you above.
• Allow the candle to burn down completely, then carefully take the paper with the herbs on it to the nearest window, open the window and blow the contents from the paper into the air.
• Then we just patiently wait to hear that we’ve been successful.
A few weeks ago I was feeling really exhausted, unable to concentrate properly and just felt really off. There were a mixture of things causing this, such as being really busy at work and an extra long mercury in retrograde, but mostly it was due to one of my health conditions, which I knew required my medication to be increased.
I have something Hashimotos Disease, which causes an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). This disease tricks my body into thinking that my thyroid gland is a foreign body and is therefore producing antibodies to slowly destroy it. Your thyroid’s function is to basically control everything in your body, from your heart rate and metabolism, to temperature regulation and stimulating digestion, so you can understand that if that is out of whack, everything goes potty!
I did seek proper medical advice from my General Practitioner and Endocrinologist though, including a full panel of blood’s to check all of my hormone levels. However, due to the current pandemic, and the understandable knock-on effects it’s having on our National Health Service, I couldn’t get a blood test done until a few days ago and I’m still waiting for the results.
Therefore, I thought if there was anything I can do to help myself in the meantime, with natural remedies and a bit of kitchen and green witchcraft, then I would try it!
I’ve did some research on Healthline.com, mindbodygreen.com and mycrystalaura.com.au for information on essential oils, herbs and crystals that can help to energise and uplift me, whilst also supporting my thyroid health.
I decided that making a pulse point roll-on oil, with essential oils and crystals would be the best thing to create, to help boost my mood, enhance my mental clarity and improve my focus, whilst also supporting my thyroid.
Here’s a list of the ingredients I used, along with their properties, health benefits and magickal correspondences.
‼‼REMINDER: Make sure you only use a maximum of two drops of essential oil per 5ml of carrier oil. Also, always check the safety information for allergy advice and any contraindications with prescribed or over the counter medication you may be taking. Many essential oils are also not safe to use when you’re pregnant or breast feeding. It is also highly advisable to do patch test first too!‼‼
• 8ml Coconut Oil (carrier) – As all essential oils are dangerous when used on the skin neat or undiluted, so you MUST use a carrier oil to dilute them, so they can safely be used.
• 1ml Vitamin E Oil – Vitamin E is used as a stabilising agent, which means the pulse point roll-on oil will have a longer shelf life (around 4-6 months).
• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Lemongrass Essential Oil – Lemongrass Oil helps to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. It is also good for purification, protection, health and cleansing. With regards to cleansing, it has a dual quality of being able to assist you with clearing obstacles standing in your way and is also known for ‘Road Opening’ (something that open paths and roads in magick, so that what you want can be achieved). It is also known to help with changing bad luck to good luck, especially for those who have been affected by negative energies. It can also help to detox your thyroid while maintaining it’s natural lymphatic function.
• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Essential Oil – Peppermint Oil can be used to encourage better mental and physical health. It can also be used for increasing your energy and concentration, bring mental clarity and assists with regeneration and vibrancy. Peppermint oil is known to aid digestion and, if your metabolism is sluggish from an underactive thyroid, you can use it to stimulate your metabolism.
• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Eucalyptus Essential Oil – Eucalyptus Oil can be used to bring fresh energy to a situation, reduce worries and relieve mental exhaustion. It is also great for improving concentration, balancing and grounding you and for purification.
• 1 drop Therapeutic Grade Frankincense Essential Oil – Frankincense oil is packed with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and pain-relieving properties. It is also beneficial in improving skin disorders, which are caused by thyroid imbalances. This essential oil also protects the thyroid gland, by destroying free radicals in the body. Additionally, it also promotes good cellular health.
• Aquamarine crystal chip – This crystal works as an effective regulator and balancer for the thyroid.
• Citrine crystal chip – This crystal is excellent for energising and recharging, in addition to balancing the thyroid and fortifying the nerves.
• Lapis Lazuli crystal chip – This crystal harmonises the thyroid and has been popular with healers for centuries. It also overcomes depression and helps to alleviate insomnia.
I placed the crystals into the blue glass roller-ball bottle first, reminding myself of each of their properties. I then added the coconut carrier oil and the Vitamin E stabilising oil. Lastly, I put one drop of each of the essential oils, again reminding myself of each ones properties and purpose as I added them. I lastly put in the roller-ball and popped on the lid and gave it a good shake to mix everything up, whilst imbuing it with my intention for it to help energise me and help to support my thyroid gland.
**WARNING – Please do not use essential oils if pregnant or breast feeding, as they can be very harmful. Also, please ensure any ingredients do not have any contraindications with medication you are using, or that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Thank you!**
A few months back, I was struggling to sleep, due to some of my medical conditions flaring up and causing me pain. Despite the herbal tea (Sleepy Tea Blog) and bath salts (Bath Salts Blog) I make and use, I needed something a bit more powerful to add to my bedtime arsenal. Therefore, I decided to make a herbal sleep sachet for inside my pillow.
I do a lot of crafts and have drawers full of bits and bobs, including some cute Disney fat quarters (I found these in Aldi a few years ago). I chose a nice pattern and cut it to the size I needed and hand sewed it, inside out, along two sides, with one side left open and a flap to tuck in. Once sewn, I then turned it inside out again, so that it was the right way round and the two sewn sides were now on the inside.
I put the following dried herbs into a bowl:
• 2 chamomile teabags (opened and emptied, but you could use loose, dried chamomile flowers) – for it’s mild tranquillising effect and sleep inducing properties; • 1 piece of star anise – to repel nightmares (use sparingly); • 2 teaspoons of catnip – for increasing restful sleep; • 2 teaspoons of lemon balm – for it’s ability to reduce anxiety and insomnia, in addition to relieving stress; • 2 teaspoons of jasmine flowers – to reduce stress and anxiety, help with symptoms of depression and to help get a good night’s sleep; • 2 teaspoons of mugwort – for pleasant dreams and to help fall back to sleep if awoken (I do this a lot, so need something to help me fall back to sleep again); • 2 teaspoons of rose petals (mine were pinky red, but you could use any colour) – for loving and peaceful thoughts and dreams; and • 2 teaspoons of Lavender – for it’s anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) properties and as a sedative, to increase relaxation and calm, and help for bringing about sleep.
I then put 8-10 drops of each of the following essential oils into the dried herbs and stirred deosil (clockwise), imbuing the mixture with my intent for peaceful, relaxing and restorative sleep.
• Frankincense – for it’s aromatherapeutic benefits, which help relieve stress and promote relaxation; • Clary sage – for it’s natural sedative properties, which can provide a calming effect to help fall and stay asleep. It is also known to reduce the levels of hormones associated with stress, such as cortisol, which helps your body prepare for a good night’s rest; and • Bergamot – for it’s calming effect and ability to induce physiological changes that precede sleep, such as lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
I also wanted to include some crystals in my sachet that are associated with sleep, so I looked into the properties and correspondences of various crystals and chose the following.
• Amethyst – this crystal helps with sleep by blocking stress and negative energies. It is especially helpful when insomnia is caused by stress and over thinking. It also protects against nightmares; • Rose quartz – this crystal is helpful as it is the stone of unconditional love and peace. It can remove negative energy and replace it with positive vibes and can provide restorative healing and self love; • Moonstone – this crystal has been used for centuries as a sleep stone and can also increase sleep quality. It is also fantastic for calming and stabilising the emotions and promoting a restful sleep; and • Clear quartz – this is the most powerful healing crystal, in addition to being a great energy amplifier and can be used to enhance the energies of other crystals. Therefore, I added it to my sleep sachet to increase and amplify the energies of the amethyst, rose quartz and moonstone.
Once everything is thoroughly mixed, I carefully spooned the mixture into the open end of the sachet, until all the mixture was inside. I then folded in the edges, along with the flap, and sewed it shut.
It’s been in my pillow ever since and if it needs refreshing, I just sprinkle a few drops of each of the essential oils I used onto the material of the sachet. I’ve honestly been sleeping so much better!
Following on from my post yesterday about my Altar, I wanted to show you a way you can still have an Altar, but for it to be a bit more discreet. So this will be perfect if you’re in the Broom Closet, don’t have the room, travel frequently, not allowed by your parents or, like me, enjoy taking your practice out into nature.
I found this cute oblong metal tin (I think it’s supposed to be a pencil case) in IKEA a while back, which is decorated to look like a little snake!!
On the inside, I personalised it with some stickers on the bottom part of the tin (from the top down):
• Triple Moon Fertility Goddess to represent my lifelong struggle with infertility;
• A beautiful and colourfull beetle to represent my love for nature; and
• A Mandala to represent my spiritual journey.
Inside the lid, I have three metal flower of life Metatron’s cube stickers, to represent the journey of energy throughout the universe, and of balance within the universe, to aid with meditation. (I am a bit annoyed I put them on a bit wonky, as they’re so thin, I can’t get them off again without ruining them). The contents of my travel altar are as follows:
• Mini besom to symbolically cleanse and purify wherever I decide to do any work;
• A lighter for my candles and incense;
• Mini green, yellow, white, orange, red and black rolled beeswax candles, for any spells, rituals or to signify the fire element when casting my circle;
• A metal disc incense holder;
• The tiniest bottle of Himalayan pink salt to represent the earth element when setting up a protective working space;
• Small glass jar of Samhain Blue Moon water to signify the water element when circle casting;
• ‘Meditation’ scent incense cones to represent the element of air;
• Clear quartz teardrop, to use as a substitute for any other crystal I may need;
• Rosemary essential oil, as Rosemary can be a substitute for any other herb/essential oil I may need;
• Pine cone to signify health and prosperity, healing and protection; and
• Chamomile tea bags, because they’re just lovely.
I just love how cute and organised it is (and that it all fits!) and I can’t wait for the warmer months to use it outside!
I’ve not been feeling 100% today and with that comes feelings of not being good enough, guilt and just generally being down in the dumps.
I decided to do a self love and acceptance crystal grid and dressed candle.
CRYSTAL GRID
I’ve used a Metatron’s Cube crystal grid, which is a mystical three dimensional cube which is thought to have been used by the Archangel Metatron to watch over the flow of energy connecting earth and the divine. Metatron’s cube also contains all 5 Platonic solids hidden inside it’s structure, symbolising the underlying patterns of the universe.
The Metatron’s Cube spins with energy to help you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, so it’s a perfect basis for my crystal grid.
I used tumbled and chips of rose quartz crystals, as rose quartz is the best stone for self-love, as it’s the emotional crystal known for unconditional love. It also helps you to practice self compassion and love yourself, regardless of any perceived flaws or imperfections! I also used a sweet rose quartz carved angel to remind myself I’m watched over and protected.
I also used a number of different types of amethyst too (tumbled, raw, druzy, double terminated point and elestial crystal point), as amethyst is a great crystal for spiritual self love. It helps you to connect to your higher self and develop the self awareness needed to grow into the best version of yourself. Amethyst also helps to work through shame, fears and dispels all negative energy from your life, including negative thoughts towards yourself!
The last type of crystals I used were a couple of clear quartz tumble stones too, as amplifiers. Clear quartz is also known as the “master healer” and I’ve used it in this grid to amplify the energy and effect of all of other crystals, by absorbing, storing, releasing and regulating their energy. I’ve also used it to draw off any negative energy and to balance and cleanse the energy of the grid.
I cleansed each crystal with Dragons Blood incense, as it is know for increasing the potency of spells for love and said to enhance health. It is also associated with strength, courage and fortitude. I also gently blew the smoke over the whole grid, once complete.
To activate the grid, I set my intention to link the energy of all of the crystals within the grid, so that they work cohesively towards my intention for self love and acceptance. I moved from the outside, towards the centre, to “draw” a visualised line of energy from crystal to crystal, moving clockwise. I continued in this fashion until I connected all of the crystals and until I reached the center of the grid.
I also placed two jasmine tea lights on either side of the grid for love and peace.
DRESSED CANDLE
For the dressed candle, I used a pink candle as pink is a color of love, but it’s softer and gentler colour than red, so therefore great for self-care. Pink is incredibly healing, especially in matters of love.
I dressed the candle with rose essential oil, as this is fantastic for balancing you, strengthen your inner being, supporting the Heart Chakra and encouraging patience and love.
Onto the dressed candle I sprinkled dried dark-pink rose petals for love and happiness.
Before I lit the candle, I meditated for a short while and visualised myself feeling better, but also reminding myself that it’s OK to have bad days and I shouldn’t be too hard on myself when I have them. I am still the same person, just as worthy of love from myself and others and that those days always pass, with better ones coming along.
For the Wolf (or Howling) Moon (on 28th January), I created a crystal grid in our sitting room, which I left until the Snow Moon on the 27th of February. I wanted to leave it intact for a long as possible, in order to manifest my intent, which is written down and folded up, underneath the clear quartz crystal point.
☾ ⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚:⠀ *⋆.*:・゚ .: ⋆*・゚: .⋆
For the Wolf Moon, it was time to set intentions, adapt, release commitments that no longer suit our souls and nourish our hearts with new energies.
☾ ⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚:⠀ *⋆.*:・゚ .: ⋆*・゚: .⋆
The crystals I used within the grid, and their specific correspondences, are as follows:
• Amethyst tumble stones – Amethyst is a natural tranquiliser, can relieve stress, sooth irritability, balance moods, dispel fear and anxiety, alleviate sadness and dissolve negativity.
• Adventurine tumble stones – Aventurine is a stone of prosperity, which can also promote compassion and empathy, encourage perseverance, stabilise your state of mind and aids in seeing alternatives and new possibilities. It can also help to calm anger and irritation, promoting a more harmonious life.
• Carnelian tumble stones – Carnelian is a stabilising stone, which can restore vitality and motivation, promote positive life choices, dispel apathy and also aids with success. In addition, it can also sharpen concentration, dispel mental lethargy, protect against resentment, calm anger and banishes emotional negativity, replacing it with a love of life.
• Blue calcite carved heart – Blue calcite invokes a calm and serene energy, assists to lessen anxiety and relaxes nerves. It also encourages peaceful communication.
• Selenite carved heart – Selenite assists with clarity of the mind and expanding awareness of yourself and your surroundings. It is also a calming stone that instils peace, is excellent for meditation and assists with judgement and insight. It can also help to clear confusion and aids in seeing the deeper picture.
• Clear quartz tumble stones – Clear Quartz is known as the “master healer” and I’ve used it in this grid to amplify the energy and effect of all of other crystals, by absorbing, storing, releasing and regulating their energy. I’ve also used it to draw off any negative energy and to balance and cleanse the energy of the grid.
• Clear quartz point – The clear quartz point at the centre of the crystal grid configuration provides a focus for all of the other crystals energy and directs the energy upwards into the Universe.
☾ ⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚:⠀ *⋆.*:・゚ .: ⋆*・゚: .⋆
☾ ⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚:⠀ *⋆.*:・゚ .: ⋆*・゚: .⋆
I cleansed each crystal with frankincense incense, for raising vibrations, calming, grounding and peacefulness, then gently blew the smoke over the whole grid, once complete.
☾ ⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚:⠀ *⋆.*:・゚ .: ⋆*・゚: .⋆
To activate the grid, I set my intention to link the energy of all of the crystals within the grid, so that they work cohesively towards my intention. I moved from the outside, towards the centre, to “draw” a visualised line of energy from crystal to crystal, moving clockwise. I continued in this fashion until I connected all of the crystals and until I reached the center of the grid.
**PLEASE NOTE: I am not medically trained and none of the advice given is meant to be used in place of proper medical advice given by your doctor, primary care physician or rheumatologist. They are suggestions to be potentially used alongside proper medical advice and treatment**.
I, like many other people in the world, suffer from arthritis. For those of you who don’t know, arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and swelling (inflammation) in the joints. Unfortunately, I developed it quite young, as it usually occurs in adults over the age of 65. I had it officially diagnosed in my early 40’s, but looking back I’ve had this since my early 30’s and have been trying to get diagnosed since then (which is difficult when doctors won’t believe you, as you’re ‘too young’).
Mine is focussed on my lower joints; hips, knees, ankles and feet. It’s also a weird one, as what I have is called psoriatic arthritis and is linked to my skin condition of psoriasis, which is conversely only on my arms.
I decided to research what crystals can be used for Arthritis and/or Osteoarthritis, in the hopes that I could find some relief, as sometimes my prescribed medication, TENS machine, oils, creams, exercises and painkillers just still don’t completely rid me of my stiffness and pain.
I wanted to share what I found with all of you, in the hopes it could help you or a loved one.
First of all, Calcite and Magnesite help with calcification, which can be a major contributing factor to some types of arthritis.
• Crystals recommended for pain relief can also assist with providing relief from the pain of arthritis, such as Amber, Amethyst, Dendritic Agate, Boji Stones, Aragonite, Celestite, Fluorite, Hematite, Lapis Lazuli, Larimar, Malachite, Magnetite/Lodestone, Clear Quartz, Sugilite, Mahogany Obsidian, Seraphinite, Smokey Quartz, Rose Quartz, Tourmaline and Green Aventurine. Also Kunzite is useful to deal with the pain associated with this complaint.
• Clear Quartz is reputed as the master and all-round healer, plus it is an energiser, so combining it with say Fluorite (or your chosen stone) should lead to better results.
• Obsidian (best used for short periods only) and Rhodonite can also contribute to repair and provide a degree of pain relief.
The stones/crystals I’ve mentioned can either be put straight on the skin (but not on any broken or damaged skin), or (if it is safe to do so with each specific stone), put into massage oil and used on the effected area.