A Pinch of This & A Dash of That BOS

Start your own thread named "[Name's] Book of Shadows" and add spells, rituals, correspondences, music, videos, etc. that you would like to keep for future use or share with others. Use as many posts as you'd like. It's not private, but at least your family won't see it. You can also get ideas from other people's Books of Shadows.
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Alura Noel
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Re: Alura's Book of Shadows

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Index of Beneficial Food for Beauty 2

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Re: Alura's Book of Shadows

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Continued...
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Milk Baths

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http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my ... baths.html

Making Powdered Milk Baths and Milk Bath Recipes
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The notion of bathing a beauty queen in buttermilk the night before her big pageant may seem a little wacky, maybe even extreme. But folks in early Americana may have been on to something with that particular tradition. Buttermilk, and other dairy products, contain a gentle exfoliator called lactic acid. This mild acid can gently loosen, and even dissolve hardened sebum, and dead skin, allowing it to be gently buffed away with the help of a washcloth or body brush. It can also help to soothe irritation, and moisturize dry skin. This leaves skin with a fresh, healthy glow, so radiant that it just might win you that pink satin sash after all.

Milk Bath recipes are generally made up of two parts Milk Powder, one part Grain Powder, and a variety of optional Additives. They can also be scented with the help of Essential Oils, Fragrance Oil, Absolutes, or CO2 Extracts.

Milk Powders
the heart of any Milk Bath recipe is, of course, the Milk Powder. Milk Powder comes in many varieties. Here is a little background info on each:

Whole Milk Powder
The classic, Whole Milk Powder provides a skin nourishing bounty of vitamins and minerals, with minimal dairy aroma. It pairs wonderfully with almost any aroma or fragrance. Whole Milk Powder now comes in an Organic Variety as well.
Buttermilk Powder
Buttermilk contains a higher portion of acids than Whole Milk Powder, boosting its exfoliative powers. It also has a slightly sour scent that can be covered up my most aromas and fragrances.
Goat's Milk Powder
The most pungent of Milk Powders, Goat's Milk Powder must be fragranced with its natural aroma in mind. Luckily, it pairs nicely with strong aromas, such as Lavender. It is very high in vitamins A, B, and E, boasting a beta carotene content that is three times higher than Whole Milk. Due to a complex blend of helpful acids, Goat's Milk Powder is by far the most superior of the Milk Powders when it comes to hydration, exfoliation, and nutrition.
Coconut Milk Powder
Coconut Milk Powder makes a delightful alternative for conventional Milk Powders in Milk Bath recipes. It's yummy Coconut Scent, and creamy consistency is a pleasure to use. Keep in mind, however, that this ingredient is not suitable as a vegan alternative, due to the presence of milk proteins in its ingredients.
Yogurt Powder
Yogurt Powder possesses very similar properties to Whole Milk Powder, and can help to cleanse, moisturize and exfoliate the skin. Try pairing Yogurt Powder with fruity scents or ingredients to create Bath Smoothies!
Grain Powders
Powdered Grains add soothing properties to Milk Baths, amping up their beauty boosting abilities, and making the bath more pleasant. While the classic ingredient is Oat Flour (or fine Oatmeal) there are a number of possible ingredients that could be used to create a unique Milk Bath recipe.
Oat Flour, Fine
A classic ingredient for skin care, Oat Flour lends soothing properties to Milk Baths. It has little to no aroma or color, making it perfect for inclusion in specialty recipes. Oat Flour is also available in an Organic variety.
Rice Powder, Fine
Finely milled White Rice Powder possesses natural starches that will help turn the bath into a milky white wonderland. In Milk Bath Recipes, it should be used in smaller proportions than Oat Flour, since its fine grain will not disperse as readily at Oat Flour, and can leave a grainy feeling on the bottom of the tub.
Nut Flours & Meals
Chickpea Flour or Almond Flour can add nutritive benefits to Milk Bath formulations, but should not be added directly to the tub. Since these Nut Ingredients will not disperse into the bath water well, they can leave the bottom of the tub scratchy, and unpleasant. To include these ingredients, pack them into a Tea Ball or a Tea Bag, allowing the properties, but not the texture of the Nut Ingredients into the bath water.

Additives

Many nutritive ingredients can be added to Milk Baths to enhance them. Other ingredients are added to help increase the slip or flow of the finished product.

Honey Powder
Honey is an excellent natural cleanser, and a classic addition to Milk Bath recipes. Honey Powder makes it easy to include honey in your recipe. This spray dried powder is blended to make it free flowing, and easy to use. Honey Powder is also available in an Organic variety.
Herbs
Finely powdered Herbs can be added to Milk Baths to enhance their properties, increase their beauty, or add scent. Since Herb Powders don't disperse fully into bath water, it may be a good idea to include them inside a Tea Ball or a Tea Bag to keep them from making the tub bottom scratchy or uncomfortable. If you are using a Tea Ball or Tea Bag, you can use whole herbs as well as powders.
Salts
Generally, Milk Baths are not Salt based, but sometimes Salts are included in the recipe. Some salts, such as Bolivian Pink, or Himalayan Pink, can add beauty and color. Others, such as Dead Sea Salt, can add rich mineral content. The most highly used in Milk Baths is Dendritic Salt, which is often used as a carrier for aromatics. We'll discuss that more when we talk about scenting Milk Baths.
Aloe Vera Spray Dried Powder
Spray Dried Aloe Vera Powder is dehydrated juice from the aloe plant. This soothing ingredient can be easily included in Milk Baths, as it dissolves readily in water.
Corn Starch
Corn Starch is sometimes added to Milk Bath recipes to help thicken and soften the bath water, as well as ensure the free flowing nature of the finished powder.
Kaolin Clays
Gentle Kaolin Clays are perfect for adding detoxifying properties to a Milk Bath. Due to their mild nature, Kaolin Clays don't tend to over dry most skin types. They come in a lovely variety of colors, which can add beauty to your Milk Bath as well.
Coral Calcium
Our responsibly harvested Coral Calcium contains a dizzying array of nutritive minerals. Add this powder to your Milk Bath to amp up its nutritive value.

Scenting Your Milk Bath

The best way to add a scent to your Milk Bath is with the help of a carrier ingredient. Dendritic Salt and Baking Soda both work quite well. Simply mix your aromatic with a few tablespoons of either Dendritic Salt or Baking Soda until it has been fully absorbed. Then, add the mixture to the rest of your Milk Bath. You can use any type of skin safe aromatic you like in your Milk Bath, but be sure to go easy on the dosage when it comes to Essential Oils. The user will be soaking in a hot tub, both inhaling the fumes, and coming into contact with the Oils topically. A little will go a long, long way. For this purpose, we recommend adding no more than 2% Fragrance or Essential Oil to a Milk Bath's total weight or volume.

Base Recipe
Use this simple base formula to create your own amazing Milk Bath recipes from scratch!
• 2 cups Milk Powder
• 1 cup Oat Flour or 1/4 cup Rice Powder, Fine
• Up to 1/2 cup Honey Powder, Kaolin Clay, Salt, or Corn Starch
• Up to 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera Spray Dried Powder, Coral Calcium, or Herbs
• 1/4 cup Dendritic Salt or Baking Soda with up to 2 teaspoons Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil mixed in
This recipe should be used at a rate of 2 to 4 tablespoons per bath.




Chamomile Bath Powder

Enrich your tub with a soothing floral aroma, and the soft texture of buttermilk. This delightfully simple bath powder recipe combines the sweet, apple-like scent of Chamomile Essential Oil with cleansing Kaolin Clay and Dendritic Salt, natural Buttermilk Powder, and water softening Baking Soda. The result is a rich, floral milk tea that your skin will love you for. Just drop a few tablespoons into warm bath water, lay back, and let the calming scents and smooth water envelop your senses. You'll leave the tub feeling mild and butter soft. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Chamomile Bath Powder
Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup Buttermilk Powder
• 1/2 cup White Kaolin Clay
• 1/4 cup Chamomile Flower Powder
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Dendritic Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the Buttermilk Powder, Kaolin Clay, and Chamomile Flower Powder. Mix well, and set aside. In a smaller bowl, combine the Dendritic Salt and Baking Soda. Stir well, making sure to break up any clumps. Add the Chamomile Essential Oil to the Salt and Soda mixture, and stir well. Sift the Salt & Soda mixture through a fine mesh strainer, and into the Milk and Clay mixture. Stir the powders together. Take your time, making sure to thoroughly mix the powders.



Spicy Milk Bath Recipe


(Makes enough for 2 baths)
1 cup ground oatmeal
1 cup powdered milk
3/4 cup baking soda
12-15 drops cinnamon essential oil
2 - 4 oz jars (optional)

Grind oatmeal and mix all ingredients in a bowl, except the essential oil. Layer the mixture in the jar adding a few drops of essential oil between the layers. Put the lid on and shake to mix.
Run a warm bath and add 4 oz. of the milk bath mixture to the running water. Enjoy a good soak



Chocolate Milk Bath Soak

1 cup of Either Dried milk powder OR Coconut milk powder
9 Tbsp. of 100% Pure Organic Cocoa Powder
9 Tbsp. of Bicarbonate of Soda
6.5 Tbsp. of Cornstarch
5 drops of Essential oil(s) of choice (Optional)
An old glass milk bottle or glass jar.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

pour all the ingredients in a bottle or jar & cover
shake the dry ingredients.
Add the Essential Oils and shake again
Cover and let sit for 30 mins.
Add ½ to ¾ cup of your Chocolate Milk to your hot bath water & enjoy.
As your skin just drinks in the moisture leaving you feeling soft and smooth.
Why we love Chocolate (other than it tasting great!)
Chocolate is a powerful anti-oxidant Chocolate softens the skin
It is used to smooth out wrinkles due to the anti-oxidants
Chocolate has a nourishing effect on the skin
Chocolate exfoliates the dead skin cells and regenerates new ones, it also
Hydrates the skin
Chocolate is a good moisturizer. It rejuvenates the skin

Chocolate, Cinnamon, & Star Anise may be combined for an incredible milk bath indulgence!



Cappuccino Milk Bath Recipe

This recipe makes (1) 20 oz. (by volume) container:

•1/4 cup Baking Soda
•1/4 cup Dendritic Salt
•1 cup Oat Flour, Fine
•1 cup Whole Milk Powder
•2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
•1/2 ounce Vanilla Frappuccino Fragrance Oil*


In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the Baking Soda and Dendritic Salt, and stir well. Measure and pour 1/2 ounce of Vanilla Frappuccino Fragrance Oil into the bowl and mix it well to disperse the oil. Next, add 1 cup of Oat Flour and 1 cup of Whole Milk Powder and stir again, making sure to break up any clumps. Measure 1/2 cup of the mixture and set it aside in a smaller bowl. Add two tablespoons of Cocoa Powder to the large portion of mixture and stir it well to disperse its color. You can add more Cocoa Powder if you want the color of the powder to be more dramatic. Spoon the brown mixture into the container first, followed by the white portion of mixture. Make sure to tap the powder down as you are filling the container so that you can fill it completely.

Usage & Packaging

This recipe was created for use with our 3x6 Acetate Rounds, but it would look lovely in almost any tall, clear jar. Make your batch look extra scrumptious by adding a Wooden Scoop, a Brown Ribbon, and Natural Beauty Printable Tags

*To create an all-natural version of this recipe, substitute our Roasted Coffee Oil and a few drops of Vanilla Absolute for the Fragrance Oil. Maybe use instant coffee?



Milk and Honey Bath

Your skin will feel luxurious when you use this recipe. Milk baths are very skin softening & nourishing, something that is wonderful at this time of year! Once you make this recipe, use it right away.
*4 tablespoons honey
*1 quart boiling water
*6 tablespoons dried milk powder
1. Place the honey in a bowl and add the boiling water. Stir until the honey has dissolved. Leave to cool.
2. Place the milk powder in a bowl and gradually mix in the honey water.
3. Add the milk mixture to a warm bath, swishing it about so the milk powder dissolves completely.
4. Lock the bathroom, light some candles. Relax!



Lavender or Rose and Honey Milk Bath

*1-1/2 cups whole milk, dairy, goat, or soy milk
*1/3 cup honey Or use powdered honey
*10 drops of lavender OR 5 drops rose essential oil
Dried rose petals in a sachet to add to bath


Rose petals floating in scented milk create an exquisite bath experience.



New Moon Milk and Salt Bath

*2 cups dry whole powdered milk
*1/2 cup Epsom salts
*1/2 cup baking soda
*6 drops sandalwood essential oil
*5 drops vanilla absolute oil
*4 drops gardenia absolute oil
*4 drops orange oil

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a container. To Use: Pour 1 cup into the bath as you fill the tub and stir well.



Soothing Oatmeal Milk Bath

*1/4 c. coarsely ground oatmeal
*1/2 c. powdered milk
*1 T. hazelnut oil
*6 drops lavender essential oil

Grind oatmeal
.Add the rest of the ingredients directly to bath.



Tropical Oasis Milk Bath

*2 cups of powdered coconut milk
*3 drops each of tangerine & ylang ylang essential oils
OR
*6 drops vanilla extract or absolute
Freshly picked flowers of your choice

Combine oils with milk and add to bath water. Add flowers, hop in and indulge your senses.
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Alura Noel
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Body Powder

Post by Alura Noel »

http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-be ... ing-powder

Luxurious Body Dusting Powder
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The beginnings of a luxurious dusting powder.
Now it means softer skin, a light and alluring scent, beautiful hair, and even new life to old shoes.
I usually use dusting powder after a shower that involved a salt or sugar scrub. Or, I’ll use it after I apply body oil (which we’re going to do tomorrow, because it’s the most heavenly companion gift to give WITH the dusting powder). The oils and powders do double duty at softening your skin, working together like Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder in the Ebony and Ivory video.

There are really only two or three components to body powder: The base powder(s), the herbs you choose (if you choose to include herbs) and an essential oil or two.

Homemade Dusting Powder Basics: Base Powders

Arrowroot
This is my favorite base ingredient for dusting powders, though it’s definitely not a must. It’s easily substituted with cornstarch. Arrowroot powder, though, is more silky and fine than cornstarch. It just feels like luxury.
Cornstarch
Probably the most economical and hardest working ingredient you could put in your dusting powder. Cornstarch, for me, hearkens back memories of my dad coating his stinky shoes. That’s my own personal issue, though. It doesn’t have to be yours.
Cosmetic Clay
This offers extra drying powder, and is an excellent addition in small doses to any dusting powder combination you choose. It’s going to help the powder adhere even more to the skin (though in a VERY light layer).
Baking Soda
Again, you’ll want to use this in smaller proportions in your body powder, but it gives extra efficient deodorizing power and it even helps soften the skin a bit.

The main four body powder ingredients.
Other Base Powders for Dusting Powder
• Rice flour
• Corn flour
• Oat flour
• Garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour



Dusting Powder Basics: Ground Herbs and Flowers

You want to use fragrant and/or soothing herbs for your dusting powder – and you want to grind them into as fine of a powder as humanly possible. This will most likely involve a coffee grinder, spice grinder, or superbly efficient food processor.

Great herbs and flowers to consider:
• Rose petals/buds
• Jasmine buds
• Lavender buds
• Chamomile
• Calendula
• Yarrow
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Cinnamon (or nutmeg) in small amounts
• Cocoa powder (in small amounts)
• Neem powder (extra deodorizing)
• Vanilla beans (insides scraped out, or beans cut into larger pieces to “steep” in the powder)

After you’ve ground the herbs/flowers that need to be ground, you’ll want to sift out the bigger parts. First, I use a fine mesh sieve, and then I’ll do another pass with a cheesecloth.

Dusting Powder Basics: Essential Oils

Essentially, you can choose any oils your little heart desires. I LOVE giving dusting powder/body oil gifts to people who’ve made it very clear what kind of scent they’re drawn to. My friend Turu, she loves jasmine and vanilla. Easy. My mother? Last year, I made her a spicy cinnamon/nutmeg/vanilla dusting powder/oil combination.
So plan your scents ahead of time, and then choose your essential oils and herbs based on what you – or your gift recipient – likes.
Great essential oils to choose from:
• Vanilla
• Lavender
• Sweet orange (which happens to be on sale at Mountain Rose Herbs in the month of November)
• Ylang-ylang
• Jasmine
• Rose otto or absolute
• Rose geranium
• Frankincense
• Sweet basil
• Cardamom

Quick Dusting Powder Tutorial
Now, I’ve given you all the tools you need already to make your own body powder, and you have three sample recipes below, but if you want to take matters into your own hands in terms of scent combinations, here’s a quick guide.
1. For one recipe (which will last months and months) use 1 to 2 c. base powder like any of the flours, arrowroot, or cornstarch.
2. Use 1/4 to 1/2 c. baking soda and/or clay.
3. Use no more than 3-4 Tbsp very finely ground herb/flower.
4. Use no more than 50-75 drops essential oil (single or in combination) – depending on how fragrant you want the powder to be.
5. Add all dry ingredients together and stir with a whisk to combine.
6. As you’re adding the essential oils, continue stirring with the whisk. You don’t want the oils to clump.
7. If you do end up with clumps, just break them up with your fingers. (This part is fun, and might make you look forward to the clumps. Like popping bubble wrap.)
Put the powder in a decorative jar, martini shaker, or homemade crafty container with very small holes poked in the lid (I’m working on one right now using a metal cylindrical container that used to house cookies).
Apply after showering to slightly damp skin, or right after applying body oil.
Or, use it as a dry shampoo.
Or, pop a little into some shoes that have started to smell a little off – totally refreshed. It’s awesome.



Simply Lavender Dusting Powder
• 1 c. arrowroot powder
• 1/2 c. cornstarch
• 1/4 c. baking soda
• 3 Tbsp very finely ground lavender buds
• 70 drops lavender essential oil
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk. Add essential oil one drop at a time, whisking as you go. Break up any clumps that may form with your fingers. Transfer powder into a small container and use after bathing (or give to a friend)!

Cinnamon Spice Dusting Powder
• 1-1/2 c. arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• 1/4 c. cosmetic clay
• 1/8 c. baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 20 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil
• 30 drops vanilla essential oil (optional)
Combine all dry ingredients a large bowl with a whisk. Add essential oil one drop at a time, whisking as you go. Break up any clumps that may form with your fingers. Transfer powder into a small container and use after bathing (or give to a friend)!

Refreshing Peppermint Dusting Powder
• 1-1/2 c. arrowroot powder or cornstarch (or a combination of the two)
• 1/2 c. baking soda
• 3 Tbsp very finely ground dried peppermint leaves
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Combine all dry ingredients a large bowl with a whisk. Add essential oil one drop at a time, whisking as you go. Break up any clumps that may form with your fingers. Transfer powder into a small container and use after bathing (or give to a friend)!

Quick Buying Guide
One of the most common questions I get is where I buy my supplies. Well, I have several sources.
My favorite place to purchase supplies is at a local natural foods store. They almost always have everything I need, though they don’t always have the best prices. However, I LOVE supporting local businesses, so most of the time I suck it up.
I also love the selection that Mountain Rose Herbs has, though the shipping there can be a little much sometimes.
But I just recently found this awesomely inexpensive store called iHerb.com (use code OZE706 at checkout for $5 off your first order!) where I’m going to start buying my essential oils, carrier oils, and clays (they had the best price I could find on European clay anywhere.) They also have arrowroot powder at a decent price, though you should be able to find it in just about any supermarket (where all the Bob’s Red Mill flours reside).
I’ve checked Amazon for most of the things I use, and it just seems like a jumbled mess – you have to buy from several suppliers if you’re ordering different products, and it just doesn’t feel consistent.



ROSE PETAL BATH POWDER


1 1/2 cups Talcum Powder -- unscented
2 cups Dried Rose Petals
3 to 6 drops Rose Essential Oil


Blend the rose petals in a blender or coffee grinder until they are tiny pieces or powdery. Add the rose oil into the

Talcum powder and blend until well mixed together. Add the rose petals. Mix well. Allow the mixture to sit for about a week.
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Body Oils

Post by Alura Noel »

http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-be ... -body-oils

Nourishing and Fragrant Body Oils
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Cinnamon spice body oil.
So I’m encouraging you to make this for yourself, but I wanted to post it hot on the heels of the body powder recipes because of all the homemade beauty gifts I’ve given, matching body powder and oils have been the biggest hit EVER.
Let me reiterate: Give matching body powder and body oil for Christmas, and you’ll be a hero.

Carrier Oils for Homemade Body Oil

Grapeseed Oil
This is one of the least expensive oils you can use, and it also happens to be one of my favorites. When I make a body oil, I’ll typically use grapeseed oil as at least half of the “base” oil.
Sweet Almond Oil
Another giant favorite of mine, sweet almond oil is more inexpensive than most carrier oils, as well. It’s super light and soaks into your skin rapidly, leaving behind a really silky smooth finish.
Olive Oil
Absolutely THE least expensive oil you can include in your homemade body oil recipes, olive oil is beautifying, detoxifying, and fantastic for your skin health. If I’m running low on other oils (or if I’m running low in the bank account), I’ll beef up my oils with olive oil. Feel free to use it as your main body oil, though – just make sure it’s cold pressed or expeller pressed (this is true for any oil you buy) and extra virgin.
Apricot Kernel Oil
I’ll be honest, apricot kernel oil is kind of on my list of “eh” for body oil. It’s better used in facial oils, because it’s a little costly and very delicate. But if you see some at the store – and if it’s on sale – it’s still a good addition to whatever oil mixture you make. It sinks into your skin very quickly and is nicely softening.
Avocado Oil
Again, a little more costly here, but I do love me some avocado oil. Talk about nourishing! This stuff leaves behind the most silky skin you’ve ever seen. I don’t use much avocado oil in my body oil recipes (maybe a few tablespoons at most), but I do use it constantly to remove eye makeup.
Jojoba Oil
The holy grail of body oils, jojoba’s properties are extremely similar to the oils already present on your skin. This makes it an incredible base for body oil, because it just feels like your skin is ultra hydrated – not at all oily or slick. However, this comes at a price. Jojoba is one of the more expensive carrier oils on the market. However, if cost is no object, make a body oil using only jojoba, a little vitamin E, and some essential oils, and you’ve got yourself some otherworldly skin.



Essential Oils

The important thing to remember in making your body oils is that you don’t want it to be overpowering. In fact, too much essential oil (depending on type), and you could irritate the skin. In a 1-cup carrier oil recipe, I’ll use somewhere in the range of 50 drops of essential oil. It sounds like a lot, but it’s really not. In fact, I just measured it out, and 50 drops of essential oil equals 1/2 tsp almost exactly.

The best part about using essential oils is you’re also offering the oil-user (whether it’s you or the gift recipient) a hearty dose of aromatherapy. Here are some essential oils and what they can do for your mood.
• Vanilla: Aphrodisiac, balances mood, reduces stress, relaxes
• Ylang-ylang: Antidepressant, relaxant, aphrodisiac, reduces anger
• Lavender: Reduces stress, invigorates, relaxes, eases tension
• Rose: Elevates mood, aphrodisiac, calms, purifies
• Sweet orange: Sedative, relaxant, relieves anxiety
• Peppermint: Invigorates, energizes, stimulates, awakens the mind, eases nausea
• Lemongrass: Stimulates, antidepressant, deodorant
• Grapefruit: Calms the psyche, relaxes, energizes
• Frankincense: Reduces anxiety and tension, encourages a meditative mind and inner peace
• Bergamot: Eases depression, stimulates, encourages mental clarity
• Cinnamon: Alertness, mental clarity, mood lifting (should be used sparingly, as it can irritate the skin in high doses)

You can mix and match fragrances to your liking, but my particular favorite combination at the moment is sweet orange and ylang-ylang. It’s heady, rich, and VERY sexy.


Body Oil Recipes
Now remember, these are great jumping off points, and you can substitute the essential oils for any others (avoid using high concentrations of cinnamon or eucalyptus essential oils, as they can be irritating to the skin). I’m posting recipes that are complementary to the body powder recipes, as well, to help with your gift giving!
Each of these recipes will make 1 c. body oil – and that’s actually a whole lot. The oil bottle in the top picture of this post? It holds 1/2 c., which I think is the perfect size for gift-giving.

Simply Lavender Body Oil
• 1 c. sweet almond oil
• 1/8 c. jojoba oil (optional)
• 40 drops lavender essential oil
• 20 drops vanilla essential oil (optional)
• Sprig of lavender (optional)
Combine all oils in a small glass bottle. Shake well. Add the sprig, if you’d like, for decoration. In lieu of the vanilla essential oil, add a vanilla bean to the bottle instead. It’s a beautiful touch, and it will infuse the vanilla into the oil over time!

Cinnamon Spice Body Oil
• 1/2 c. sweet almond oil
• 1/4 c. jojoba oil
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 15 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 20 drops vanilla essential oil
• 5 drops clove essential oil
• Cinnamon stick (for decoration) (optional)
Combine all oils in a small glass bottle and shake well. Insert the cinnamon stick into the bottle, cap, and you’re done!


Refreshingly Minty Body Oil
• 1 c. grapeseed oil
• 35 drops peppermint essential oil
• 15 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 2 capsules vitamin E (or 1/4 tsp liquid vitamin E)
• Fresh peppermint sprig (for decorative purposes) (optional)
Combine all oils in a small glass bottle. Poke a hole in the vitamin E capsules (or measure out the vitamin E) and pour it into the bottle. Shake well. Add the peppermint sprig, if desired. Alternatively, you could peel a small strip of rind off of a lemon and curl it decoratively, placing it in the bottle instead.




Romantic, Warming Ginger-Rose Massage Oil
Well, Valentine’s Day IS coming up. And if you start a batch of this now, you should be good to go by the big day. I can’t think of a better gift for your significant other … that you can BOTH enjoy (regardless of who’s doing the massaging).
The only thing you should note with this: If you’re making it the old-fashioned way, by infusing the oil over time, you might want to use a few drops of rosemary essential oil in the mixture – just to keep it well preserved. Ginger isn’t a very watery ingredient, but fresh ginger does contain moisture, so be careful that it doesn’t go rancid or start to mold a little.
I’ve been infusing mine for three days, and it looks great. Ginger’s also highly antibacterial and antifungal, so you should be okay. BUT, when in doubt, add extra preservatives (or use the less-intense dried ginger).
Alternatively, you could infuse the oil over low heat with the ginger and rosebuds, and then use it immediately.

Rose Ginger Romantic Massage Oil
• 1 inch peeled, completely clean piece of ginger root, cut into thin slices or powder
• 10-12 small dried rosebuds
• 1 c. carrier oil (sweet almond, olive, jojoba, hazelnut, etc.)
In a small glass container, combine all ingredients and shake to combine, knocking on the side of the glass until all the ginger falls to the bottom. Either let this concoction sit for 5-7 days, shaking daily, or heat over very low heat for 30 minutes to an hour. Use as a warming, romantic massage oil. But keep out of delicate places, because ginger is pretty intense.
Of note, ginger is also an exceptional muscle ache reliever. So you don’t just have to use this for sexytimes. Use it whenever there’s a tired, sore muscle in the house.
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Facial Oil

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Simple Homemade 3-Ingredient Facial Oil Moisturizer – Customize It For Your Own Gorgeous Skin
Two-beautiful-women-pose-with-feminine-deorations-in-this-watercolor-painting-by-Svenja-Jodicke-643x462.jpg

Never, ever use facial oil or moisturizer on a dirty face. Always cleanse in some way first – whether it’s with cleansing grains, honey, the oil cleansing method (though you may not even need moisturizer if you do that), or your favorite prepared facial cleanser. If you put oil or moisturizer on top of a dirty face, you’ll just help seal in all that dirt and grime and old, nasty oil, which will make your face decidedly UNHAPPY.

If you want to buy a bottle like the one I have pictured, you can find them at Mountain Rose Herbs or Sunburst Bottle (they have TONS of bottling supplies), or probably even your local natural foods store. Just look for the “1 oz with glass dropper lid.”
Ingredient Number One – Your “Base” or “Carrier” Oil
In all actuality, you might want to just buy a base oil to begin with and test it with your face. See if your skin loves the base oil you choose, and then you can build on that. And, in even further actuality, just one ingredient may be all you ever want.

Your base oil is going to be the main ingredient in your facial oil blend, so choose well, young jedi.

My two favorite base oils are argan oil and/or jojoba oil, because they’re both verrrrrrrry healing and nourishing, they’re both very light and they sink into your skin without any feeling of greasiness, and they’re great for all skin types.
Here are the base oils you could choose from (this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s most of ‘em):
• Argan oil (great for dry, aging, oily, normal, or acne-prone skin)
• Jojoba oil (great for dry, aging, oily, normal, or acne-prone skin)
• Apricot kernel oil (great for any skin type, but especially good for normal, dry, and aging skin)
• Sweet almond oil (just an all-around great facial oil, but it takes a bit longer to “sink in” than the first two)
• Grapeseed oil (great for normal, oily, or acne-prone skin)
• Avocado oil (great for dry and aging skin)
• Hemp seed oil (great for any skin type, also very light)

Plan on your base oil being at least 2/3 of your facial oil mixture (we’ll talk about mixing at the end).


Ingredient Number Two – Extra Nourishing Bonus Oils
These are the oils that are a little more pricey, but with that price tag comes a beautiful kick in the pants to your troubled skin. Your skin wears pants, right?

If you want to skip the nourishing oils, that’s just fine. Maybe some day in the future you’ll want to add one. In fact, I’m sure you will. Because once you start rolling around in crunchiness, you never want to stop.
So here are some ideas for the more nourishing “bonus” oils:
• Tamanu oil (wooooooooooonderful for acneic or oily skin, or skin with scars)
• Sea buckthorn oil (powerfully nourishing, this is a great oil for all skin types, but especially aging or dry skin)
• Rosehip seed oil (incredibly regenerating, this oil is known for it’s firming and anti-aging abilities – it’s good for dry, aging, and normal skin)
• Carrot seed oil (you only need a small amount of this oil, but it’s superb for any skin type – is there anything it won’t heal?)
• Borage oil (crazy high in oleic acids, this oil is great for most skin types, but especially oily and acneic skin)
• Evening primrose oil (acne, aging, normal skin, you name it – and evening primrose oil can even be taken internally to help with acne)
• Neem oil (very antimicrobial and healing, neem oil is a stellar choice for acne and oily skin)
• Emu oil (emollient like you wouldn’t believe, emu oil is protective and nourishing for dry or aging skin)

Now, you might want to add a little bit of “flava” with an essential oil!

Ingredient Number Three – Add Your Skin’s Favorite Essential Oil
Remember! You only need a couple of tiny drops of essential oil to get an amazing benefit for your skin. Essential oils are potent (and they last forever when you use them this way)!

There are FAR too many essential oils with skin benefits to list them all here, so I’m just picking and choosing a few of the more widely available or commonly known essential oils.
• Lavender (acne, oily, or even dry skin – lavender is healing, but a little, tiny bit goes a long way)
• Peppermint (like lavender, peppermint is great for oily and acneic skin, and like lavender don’t use much! It’s very astringent, but it might also tingle your skin right off its bones)
• Chamomile (my favorite chamomile is Roman – and roman chamomile is wonderfully healing and soothing, so it’s great for ALL skin types. Really. Very, very great, but also very expensive)
• Rose (wonderful for aging, dry and normal skin, it’s also pretty expensive, unless you find the “mixed with jojoba” kind, which just means it’s diluted and you can use more in your blend than if it were “neat”)
• Rose geranium (another great, all-around healing essential oil – this is especially good for dry, sensitive, aging, and normal skin)
• Palmarosa (my skin loooves this oil, and it’s great for any skin type, but it does seem to work well for breakouts, in addition to being softening and soothing for aging skin, which, yes, I have)
• Lemongrass (brightening and toning, this is a great oil for normal, oily, or acneic skin)
• Rosemary (got acne and oily skin? You might just want this)


Okay, quickly, here’s how you mix ‘em.


Creating Your Custom Homemade Facial Oil
This is where the fun starts. You get to experiment with what type of blend works best for your skin, but here’s the BEST place to start.

We’re going to assume you’re using a 1-oz bottle (for essential oil purposes), but if you use a smaller bottle, be sure to adjust your essential oil additions downward as necessary.

1. Fill your small bottle just under 2/3 of the way with your base oil
2. Add your “bonus nourishing” oil until the bottle is just about full (unless you’re using carrot seed oil, in which case just put in a few drops)
3. Add ONLY 4-7 drops of essential oil. Less if you’re using peppermint, especially. Cap and shake well after each drop, and you can gauge, very roughly, just how much essential oil you’ll need. You should be able to smell it, but it should not be overpowering. Just faintly identifiable.
And that’s it!

Keep your facial oil out of the sunlight, and it should be good for 8-12 months.


Where Can I Buy These Oils?
I know, you regular readers are probably sick of my “buying guide” sentences at the end of some of these posts. But, without fail, whenever I write a post with an ingredient that might be difficult to find, if I don’t mention WHERE you can get them, someone always comes along and asks in the comments.
So.
You can find almost all of these ingredients at the two places I recommend most: Mountain Rose Herbsand Vitacost (and here’s the $10 off coupon, etc.). And those are affiliate links, by the way, so if you click ‘em and then order, you’ll be supporting Crunchy Betty (yay!).
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Honey Skincare

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Easy Herbal Infused Honey – Tantalizing for Your Tongue and Beautifying for Your Face
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So washing your face with honey is pretty perfect already? But what about those of you who are still having little breakouts? Still feeling a bit dry?

Answer: Herbal infused honey.

As you know, honey is nutritious. Honey is also superb for your skin. But if you infuse your honey with some herbs, it will do double duty for you, in new and fascinating ways. (Think I’m over exaggerating? Try it, sister.)
We’ll talk about skincare last here, but here are other reasons you might want to infuse your honey with herbs.

Sage Honey Is an Effective Cough Syrup
Did you know, studies have shown that honey is more effective than over-the-counter cough syrupat reducing coughing? If you add the mighty lung-strengthening power and antibacterial properties of sage, you get a homemade cough syrup that’s nearly unrivaled.
In fact, I make it a habit to infuse a cup of honey with sage every fall, just so I have some ready. (It keeps forever.)
You can take it just like you would cough syrup, or add it to hot teas for an extra immune-system boost.

Infused Honey Is Delicious In So Many Ways
How does vanilla ice cream topped with mint-vanilla infused honey sound? Or a vanilla-lavender infused honey over cream puffs? Or rosemary honey on toast with eggs? Rose honey in green tea? (Or evenchili-infused honey … yowza.)
Your possibilities are literally endless. Be creative. Be daring.
Convinced yet?

Herbal Infused Honey for Skincare
Herbs and flowers. Your skin loves them. Add them to your honey to kick the whole honey wash thing up a beautiful notch.
With this basic list, you’ll be able to pick and choose, customizing an infused honey that is perfect for your honey face wash and just for you.
Oily Skin Dry Skin
Rosemary Calendula
Lavender Rose
Sage Lavender
Thyme Comfrey (don't take internally)
Fennel Yarrow
Lemongrass Anise
Strawberry Leaves Parsley
Parsley Dandelion
Peppermint Chamomile

Normal Skin:
Any desired combination of the above. And, frankly, that’s just a small sampling of different herbs and flowers you can use in skincare, so if you have one you’d love to use, do some research. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

How to Make Herbal Infused Honey
The instructions I followed (this time) come from the Mountain Rose Blog. Before, I would infuse my honey with sage over low, low heat (which, in retrospect, still might have damaged some of the honey’s properties). From now on, I’m doing it this way!

Here’s What You Need

Honey, herbs, and a jar - that's it!

Herb Infused Honey – Step 1 – Add Herbs to the Jar
First, you need to find a jar that holds about twice the amount of honey you’d like to infuse.
Thoroughly clean (and sterilize via boiling water) the glass jar or container and allow it to dry completely.
Then, fill it up about halfway with dried herbs.

Halfway full, all the way fragrant.

Herb Infused Honey – Step 2 – Cover the Herbs with Honey
Now you simply cover the herbs with the honey.
About a half-and-half mixture. (Unless you’re using vanilla beans, in which case I’d recommend using 2 slit beans per 1/2 c. honey.)
Really, how many herbs you use in relation to how much honey you want is up to you – more herbs = stronger infusion.
So you pour, and pour, and pour your honey:
And then, once you have enough honey in your jar to fully submerse your herbs, you stir it up.
Herb Infused Honey – Step 3 – Put the Lid On and Let it Steep
And you put a lid on it.
Then, you turn it over every day for a week or two. (I found myself turning mine over several times a day.)
But mostly you leave it alone. Or stare at it longingly. Or sing it sweet, sweet songs that go, “Kiss me, honey, honey kiss me …”
Eventually, this will be a strained herbal honey.

Herb Infused Honey – Step 4
After a week or two of letting your herbs/flowers steep in the honey, you’re going to want to strain all of it out. I only let mine steep for 5 days, so I could write this post. But 5 days was PLENTY of time to make a really fragrant herbal honey.

Straining the honey - easier than I thought.

Make it easy on yourself: Warm your honey up for a minute by setting the jar in a bowl of warm water. This’ll help it drip through faster.
As I’m using mine on my face, I didn’t worry about straining out the smaller pieces, so I just used my mesh strainer. (Tiny lavender and rosemary pieces add extra scrubby power!)
If I were doing this for honey that I wanted to eat, I’d use a cheesecloth. Absolutely. Without a doubt.Cheesecloth for more clarified honey.
So all you do is strain it into another jar, pop the lid on, and keep it handy for whenever you need it.
And then you have … ta da … Herbal infused honey, ladies and gents.


The bits and pieces add a little extra infusing AND scrubby power.

Store it in a tightly lidded jar, and your herb infused honey will keep indefinitely, but my guess is you’ll use it all up before you know it.
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Moisturizers

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http://thenerdyfarmwife.com/blue-chamom ... d-version/
http://thenerdyfarmwife.com/rose-face-b ... am-recipe/
http://thenerdyfarmwife.com/lavender-cr ... cs-violet/
http://www.liveinart.org/2013/02/homema ... ecipe.html

Moisturizers




Blue Chamomile Face Cream

First you’ll want to gather some of the following herbs to create an infusion, remembering you can substitute ingredients or change the amounts or use dry/fresh depending on what you have on hand. I like growing as many of these as I can, but for ones I don’t/can’t, I like to buy from Mountain Rose Herbs. You’ll want a teaspoon or so of each (dried) or a generous pinch of each (fresh). Some herbs that work well in this cream:

lavender buds
plantain
calendula flowers
comfrey leaves
lemon balm leaves
chamomile
rose petals
violet leaves
Place these items in a mason jar and pour simmering hot distilled water over them. Immediately cover with a saucer to retain the vapors. Let this steep while you gather and prepare the rest of the ingredients. I find that about 45 minutes to an hour is a sufficient time to get the benefits, without too strong of a scent, but you can steep this overnight if you wish.


Place the following in a heat-proof measuring cup with ounce markings:

1 TBSP Jojoba Oil
1 TBSP Meadowfoam Seed Oil
1/2 TBSP Tamanu Oil
Then add enough sweet almond oil or infused olive oil (I used half sweet almond, half violet leaf infused olive oil for this batch) until it measures 3 ounces.

Add 1 1/2 ounces of shea butter. (You can add chunks of it into the liquid oil until it is pushed up to the 4 1/2 ounce mark if you don’t have a scale.

Next add 1/2 ounce beeswax pastilles (again, add until liquid oil is pushed up to 5 ounce mark on measuring cup if you don’t have a scale) and 2 Tablespoons of stearic acid.

Set the heat-proof measuring cup with all of these in it into a pan of almost simmering water until melted. Remove from the pan and let cool to body temperature. (Test with clean finger.) While the oil is cooling, strain the herbal infusion into a heat proof glass and set it down in the pot of water that has been removed from heat. This helps it warm up to body temperature.



Pour 4 ounces of the slightly warmed herbal infused water slowly into the oil while beating with an electric mixer. Mix on highest speed for about 15 minutes, adding the following essential oils during the last 30 seconds or so:

2 to 6 drops of Bergamot (optional – for scent only; also avoid this oil if you will be using as a day cream since bergamot can make your skin more sensitive to the sun)
15 drops Balsam Peru
15 drops Lavender (add a bit more for stronger scent if desired)
4 to 8 drops Ylang Ylang (optional – for scent only, add more or less as desired)
5 drops Carrot Seed
20 drops Blue Chamomile
1/4 teaspoon Rosemary Antioxidant (Extract) (NOT essential oil)
The cream will start to emulsify after about five minutes, but will still be runny – keep beating! By ten minutes, it will look nice and thick, but still drop off of a spoon. You will need to beat another five minutes and by then you should have a nice, thick cream that stays on the spoon even when you turn it upside down. NOW, it’s ready!

Spoon into jars leaving as little air space as possible and cap tightly. Remember how perishable this is, so make small batches that can be used up fairly quickly. Sterilize everything your ingredients will touch, use clean fingers or a small sterile spoon for scooping out of the jar, and keep the finished product refrigerated if you’re afraid it will spoil too fast.

When you first put this cream on, it seems a little thick – just rub it in and give it a few minutes. It will soak it and leave your skin so smooth and soft.




Rose Cream

handful of dried rose petals (or even better, fresh ones!)
at least 5 ounces of distilled water
2 1/2 ounces sweet almond oil
1/2 ounce rosehip seed oil (a bit over a tablespoon)
1 1/2 ounces mango butter
1/2 ounce beeswax pastilles
2 tablespoons stearic acid (palm-derived emulsifying agent)
rosemary antioxidants (a natural preservative)
rose essential oil (or this less expensive version from Amazon.com)
alkanet root powder (for pink coloring)
To begin, place a handful of dried rose petals (or fresh, if available) into a small heat proof jar. Pour simmering hot water over them, cover with a saucer and let this steep while you gather your ingredients together.

Measure out 2 1/2 ounces of sweet almond oil into a heat proof measuring cup. I infused mine with dried rose petals several weeks ago in anticipation of this recipe, but you can skip that part if you’re crunched on time. Add the mango butter, beeswax pastilles and stearic acid. Set the cup into a saucepan filled with a few inches of water and heat on medium-low heat until everything is melted. Remove from the pan and let cool to body temperature then add the 1/2 ounce of rosehip seed oil and a few drops of rosemary antioxidants.

Strain the rose petals from the water and measure out four ounces of liquid. (Any leftover rosewater makes a nice hair or face rinse or addition to your bathwater.) Make sure it’s about body temperature then pour into a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, turn the beaters on low and slowly drizzle in the sweet almond oil mixture. As the oils start to thicken, increase the speed to high.



Beat on high for a full fifteen minutes. Don’t skimp on this part or you may end up with a runny cream. I used alkanet-infused olive oil that I keep on hand for making lip balm to add a pale pink tint to the cream. If you don’t have the time to make this up, just thoroughly mix a pinch of alkanet root powder with a bit of olive or sweet almond oil and use the resulting paste to color the cream, a few drops at a time. You can add color at any point during the mixing, so it’s better to start out with less then add more if needed.

During the last minute of mixing, add your essential oil. Rose essential oil is expensive and is sometimes found diluted with carrier oil in order to make it more affordable (like this under $15 version available at Amazon.com.) For this reason, I suggest that instead of putting in a certain amount, just add a few drops at a time until you reach the level of rose scent that you desire. You can also add a few drops of a complimentary scent such as lavender, bergamot, jasmine, patchouli or ylang ylang, if you wish.

Also, thanks to a comment by Elizabeth below, I learned that you can use Geranium (Rose) essential oil to lend a rosy scent at a fraction of the cost. I tried this and it was a wonderful addition to the rose absolute that I will continue to use. Thank you Elizabeth!

Rose Absolute Oil is solvent extracted and strictly used for fragrance rather than therapeutic uses (and should also be avoided by pregnant women) while Bulgarian and Chinese (rosa rugosa) rose essential oils are steam distilled and have quite a few purported health benefits (along with being safe for pregnant women to use.)

Once your fifteen minutes of mixing is done, scoop the cream into clean jars (don’t use metal tins for recipes that contain water), leaving as little air space as possible and cap right away. Keeping your cream in your bathroom, with its fluctuating heat and humidity is not a good idea. Aim for somewhere dry, cool and dark, if you can.



Lavender Cream with Lilacs and Violets


dried or fresh lavender and/or other assorted flowers such as violets, lilacs, rose petals, chamomile, etc.
at least 5 ounces of distilled water
2 1/2 ounces sweet almond oil
1/2 ounce jojoba oil (a bit over a tablespoon)
1 1/2 ounces mango butter (or shea butter)
1/2 ounce beeswax pastilles
2 tablespoons stearic acid (natural emulsifying agent)
rosemary antioxidants (a natural preservative)
lavender essential oil
Place the flowers into a small heat proof jar. Pour simmering hot water over them, cover with a saucer and let this steep while you gather the other ingredients you’ll need.

Measure out 2.5 ounces of sweet almond oil into a heat proof measuring cup. Add the mango butter, beeswax pastilles, jojoba oil and stearic acid. Set the cup down into a pan filled with a few inches of water and heat on medium-low heat until everything is melted. Remove from the pan and let cool to body temperature then add a few drops of rosemary antioxidants.

Strain the water and measure out four ounces of liquid. (Any leftover flower water makes a lovely addition to your bathwater.) Make sure it’s about body temperature then pour into a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, turn the beaters on low and slowly drizzle in the sweet almond oil mixture. As the oils start to thicken, increase the speed to high.

Beat on high for 15 minutes, until your mixture is thick and creamy. Stir in your desired essential oils (I used lavender and one drop of ylang ylang for my cream.)

Spoon your lavender cream into clean, sterilized jars. (Don’t use tins for creams, they can rust due to the water content.) Cap and store in a cool, dry place away from heat and humidity (i.e. your bathroom is not a good place for homemade creams.)

Because there are no preservatives, it’s recommended to use this cream up within two to three months. Be sure to scoop out of the jar with a scrupulously clean finger or spoon to keep from introducing bacteria that could shorten its shelf life.



Homemade Apricot Carrot Eye Cream: Recipe


Ingredients:
3 tsp jojoba oil
3 tsp apricot-kernel oil
1 tsp beeswax
5 tsp rose water
1/4 tsp borax
5 drops carrot-seed essential oil

Directions:
Place the jojoba oil, apricot-kernel oil and beeswax in a small saucepan and heat it over low heat until the beeswax has melted.
Remove the mixture from heat and quickly blend all the ingredients with a whisk.
In a second saucepan, warm the rose water over low heat. A add the borax. Stir until the borax has completely dissolved. Set aside.
Gently the saucepan containing the oils and wax in a shallow ice bath. Be sure not to splash water into the pan. Slowly drizzle the rose water and borax into the mixture, rapidly whisking as you do so. The cream should set quickly.
When the cream is cool, mix in the carrot-seed essential oil.
Transfer the cream to a small glass jar and store in your refrigerator for 2 months.
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Alura's Book of Shadows:Facial Spritzers

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Facial Spritzers
marion-bolognesi.jpg
Keep Your Cool Spray

Here’s the original recipe, and then I’ll give you a couple of alternatives. This can be used on your face and on the soles of your feet, whenever you’re feeling uncomfortably toasty.

Keep Your Cool Original Recipe
• 3 Tbsp aloe vera gel
• 3 Tbsp witch hazel
• 4-5 drops peppermint essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a mist sprayer bottle and shake well. Spray on your face or on the soles of your feet whenever you’re feeling hot and bothered (not in that way). Allow the breeze to blow over your skin for maximum effect. Store in a cool, dark location for 2-3 months.

Note this, though: Both aloe vera gel and witch hazel can have a drying effect on your skin, so if you have issues with dry skin already, you may want to go a little easy on this for your face. However! If you have issues with oily skin, especially after exertion, this could be a fantastic oil tamer option for you. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t spray it on my face more than three times a day.

Note this, too: Peppermint essential oil is pretty potent stuff, so do NOT add more than the ratio suggested above. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an uncomfortable burn-cold sensation all over your face. In fact, you might want to add 1 drop at at time, shake it up, and test it on your cheek with each drop addition, just to make sure you’re not going overboard.

Keep Your Cool Spray Variations on a Theme
So, depending on how you want to cool yourself with this handy little recipe, you can change it up to be more effective for you. Here are some variation ideas:
• If you just want to use it on your feet … skip the witch hazel and add 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil to about 3 Tbsp aloe vera gel (you can up your peppermint essential oil ratio here, because the soles of your feet are much less sensitive than your face). Added bonus, by the way: Peppermint EO can give you a boost of relaxed energy, and the soles of your feet are a great place to apply it for this reason.
• If you have dry skin … and you don’t want to use witch hazel, try picking up some aloe vera juice instead and adding 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to about 1/4 c. aloe vera juice. Put that in a spray bottle and use it instead! However, you’ll need to store this in your refrigerator and keep it no more than 2 weeks.
• If you need to get rid of red face fast … spritz the original recipe on your face and then immediately place a cold to very cool washcloth on your face and lay down for 5-10 minutes (or until the washcloth heats up).


Purchasing Aloe vera Gel
In short, these are ingredients you may want to avoid when you’re buying aloe vera gel:
• Carrageenan – technically natural and it often comes from seaweed or irish moss, but it has been shown to be a carcinogen, and controversy swirls around its “organic” classification. I haven’t run across any studies that show its danger on skin cells, but it has been shown to kill epithelial cells in studies. If you want to learn more about carrageenan (which is in MANY products, beauty and food), start at page 11 on this enlightening white paper by the Cornucopia Institute.
• Parabens
• Retinyl Palmitate – this is basically vitamin A, but studies have confirmed that vitamin A, when combined with sun exposure, greatly increases the risk of skin cancer. Just an FYI – make sure, if you do use a sunscreen, that it doesn’t include this ingredient.
• Fragrance oils
• Polysorbate 20 – this ingredient isn’t scary terrible, but it’s technically a “natural” ingredient that’s derived in synthetic ways; in addition, it can easily be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane.
Those are just a few ingredients I found in some of the more widely sold aloe vera gel brands.
However, there are alternatives. Yay! I spent several hours trying to find the best brands that keep it natural. Here’s what I came up with (maybe you know of more?).
Happy Aloe Vera Gel Brands
• Aubrey Organics Aloe Vera Gel – it contains only aloe vera gel, grapefruit seed extract, guar gum, and vitamin E. The best price I could find was at Vitacost, where a 4 oz bottle is $5.10 (and the obligatory $10 off Vitacost coupon link). Aubrey also sells it on Amazon, and you can find Aubrey Organics in just about any natural foods store.
• Mountain Rose Herbs – (no surprise here, right?) Their brand contains only aloe vera gel, potassium sorbate, citric acid, and xanthan gum. As of this writing, you can get 16 oz of aloe vera gel (so much!) for only $5.75.
• Aloe Farms – I just found them today while searching for truly natural aloe vera gel, and I LOVE what they’re about. All the aloe is organically grown in Texas and it’s cold pressed. It seems to truly be a shining example of a small business with a friendly, conscious demeanor. You can order 32 oz for $9.75 and it contains 99.75% aloe vera, citric and ascorbic acid, and potassium sorbate.
Enough about aloe vera gel. On to the recipe!
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Brief Guide of Different Ways, Magi

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, 3rd Edition
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-G ... witchcraft


A Brief Guide of Different Ways to do Magick

cheshire_cat_by_ylorish-d3d4c77.jpg

Binding

o Purpose of binding spells is to bind up and stop a negative behavior
o An advantage of a binding spell is that they are easy to undo. Just unbind the paper.

Note: Binding magic on some one else can be considered frowned down upon because it messes with free will

You'll need ribbon, paper and pen.

Write whatever behavior on the paper and roll it up tight. Wrap the ribbon around it while visualizing the behavior being bound while saying your spell. Bury it or hide it in a safe place.



Candle Magick

o Candle magick can be used for almost any magickal purpose
o You can carve runes and symbols that match your intent
o Write spells on it
o Dress it with oil that matches your intent to amplify it
o Load it with herbs and flowers that match your intent to amplify it


How to dress a candle:

~ To bring things towards you:
Rub the oil up the candle towards you

~To send things away from you:
Rub the oil down the candle

How to load a candle:

Hollow out the bottom of the candle with a knife and spoon
Mix herbs and oil, fill the hole with the mixture
Seal hole with wax that was cut out from the candle and seal it with fire

Burn your loaded candle in a safe place, preferably outside.

Always have water close by in case of accidental fires


Crystal magic

o Crystals and stones have their own energy
o You can use crystals on their own and to enhance your magick
o Crystals can aid in realigning your chakras
o Pick stones with energies that match what you want
o Can put them in medicine bags, sachets, potions, poppets, etc


Fairy magick


o faires are supposedly skilled in the healing arts, metalworking, and all artisitc pursits
o They are mishevious and things can go missing with them around. ( Hang up a cast iron pot to get them to leave)
o Best time to contact them are at dawn, dusk, noon, and midnight and on the equinoxes and solstices

It's good to have honey-sweetened milk or herbal infused honey as an offering for them



Flower Magick


o Good for gradual spells if you put your magickal intent into a seed and grow it. As it grows your magick will be released little by little until it blooms. maybe pick a plant that corresponds with your magickal intentions.
o use flowers in your magick
o You can mix them with herbs or essential oils
o Use them in dream pillows, ritual baths, poppets or potpourri, meals, etc



Glamour Magick


o Glamour magick can help you deal with difficult physical issues or help to improve the way you percieve yourself
o Used to help you see how beautiful you are
o Pick safe ingredients that correspond with what you want- love, beauty, sex-appeal, poise, social courage, etc...
o Can use water, fruits, flowers, herbs, crystals...



Herbal Magick


o Herbs, like crystals and everything else, have their own energies.
o Herbs can be used for any magickal purpose
o Can enhance other magickal spells, potions, etc
o Store herbs in dark jars in cool, dry places. Label them and handle toxic herbs with gloves.

You can also enchant and empower herbs before using them if you think it is nesscary



Incense Magick


o All purpose way to do magick
o Incense is burned for its vibration alone as a kind of spell while visualizing
o Use herbs and oils that match your intent
o Keep it simple, no more than nine herbs in a mixture


Essential Oils

o Uses: healing, cleansing, blessing, banishing, empowering, anointing and consecrating, dressing candles and other items, cooking, potions, etc
o Before making a blend pick your oils based on your magickal intent and sense of smell
o Use a carrier oil if it will be applied to the skin
o You can also mix plants and tones that match your intent into the oil



Kitchen Magick

o Can practice kitchen magick with ordinary kitchen items. A wooden spoon as a wand, a pot as a cauldron, your favorite chopping knife as an athame, etc...
o You can pick herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables based on their magickal properties
o Stir clockwise to bring things to you
o Stir counter clockwise to brings things away from you
o you can enchant the food
o As you cook, concentrate on putting your magickal intent into the food
o You can develop recipes with certain properties to influence someones behavior.



Paper Magick


o Great way to work with the element Fire
o Gets your magick out quickly
o Budget Friendly
o Can purchase flash paper to get your energies out even faster
o If you want you can use an magickal alphabet



Poppet magick


o Great for binding, healing and weight loss spells
o Poppet magick is strong
o A poppet is an empowerd doll that represents a person or animal
o Can make poppets to protect animals

You'll need:
Fabric color that matches intent
needle and thread
paper
stuffing

~Can add:
Herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables
Essential oils
Crystals or stones
Piece of cloth, hair, fingernail clippings, or blood
Amulets or talismans
magickal messages or symbols

~ To incorporate the elements:
Earth = sand
Air = feathers
Air/Fire = incense
Water/ Earth = salt water
Water/ Spirit = holy water
Water = Magickal potion ( spritz it on the poppet)

How to STOP poppet magick:
Take it apart and say a spell of your making or " With this spell I've begun, I now wish the magick to be undone."



Potion Magick



o They are infusions of herbs that you use as a tea or to anoint an object
o Never make a potion out of poisonous plant if it will be consumed
o Can use potions for a lot of things like to banish negative energies, put in baths, spritz on poppets or things
o Make potions with a water base or wine
o You can add crystals and stones to amplify them

Ways to make potions:
~ Boil herbs for ten minutes
~ Let herbs steep in a jar, out in the sun for a day so it naturally steeps
~ Let herbs steep in a jar and let it sit out during the full moon and for the rest of the night
~Empower the solution and place it in a dark place for a month and shake it twice a day every other day



Powder Magick


o A great way to work with the element of Air
o Magickal powders are finely ground dried herbs and a binder
o you can add glitter, powdered silver or gold to the mixture
o Can use colored talc that matches your intent
o Uses: Can dust them on your body, foot of bed, in poppets, blow it into the wind and visualize your magick being sent out, sprinkle it onto the ground or around room, mix it into clay for a talisman or amulet



Knot Magick


o Great for bringing items to you or sending items away from you
o Knot magick is easy to undo
o Can use this type of magick for almost anything

When doing knot magick it is important to remember which knots you tied first so if you need to undo it, it can be undone. Undo it by undoing the last knot that was tied.



Talismans and Amulets


Talisman: An object that has been empowered to draw something to you.

Amulet: An object that has been magickally empowered to protect you from a specific type of negative energy.

o You can shape them into different shapes and forms
o Carve or stamp them with symbols
o Draw on it with ink etc



Elements and How They Relate To Spells
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Alura Noel
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Earth's Seasons

Post by Alura Noel »

http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomi ... th-seasons


Earth's Seasons
il_fullxfull.325135316.jpg
Equinoxes, Solstices, Perihelion, and Aphelion, 2000-2020
NOTE: In the tables, d, h, m indicate day, hour, and minute, respectively, of Universal Time.



Universal Time

----------------d--h-------------------d--h--m---------d--h--m
2000 2000
Perihelion Jan 3 05 Equinoxes Mar 20 07 35 Sept 22 17 28
Aphelion July 4 00 Solstices June 21 01 48 Dec 21 13 37

2001 2001
Perihelion Jan 4 09 Equinoxes Mar 20 13 31 Sept 22 23 04
Aphelion July 4 14 Solstices June 21 07 38 Dec 21 19 21

2002 2002
Perihelion Jan 2 14 Equinoxes Mar 20 19 16 Sept 23 04 55
Aphelion July 6 04 Solstices June 21 13 24 Dec 22 01 14

2003 2003
Perihelion Jan 4 05 Equinoxes Mar 21 01 00 Sept 23 10 47
Aphelion July 4 06 Solstices June 21 19 10 Dec 22 07 04

2004 2004
Perihelion Jan 4 18 Equinoxes Mar 20 06 49 Sept 22 16 30
Aphelion July 5 11 Solstices June 21 00 57 Dec 21 12 42

2005 2005
Perihelion Jan 2 01 Equinoxes Mar 20 12 33 Sept 22 22 23
Aphelion July 5 05 Solstices June 21 06 46 Dec 21 18 35

2006 2006
Perihelion Jan 4 16 Equinoxes Mar 20 18 26 Sept 23 04 03
Aphelion July 3 23 Solstices June 21 12 26 Dec 22 00 22

2007 2007
Perihelion Jan 3 20 Equinoxes Mar 21 00 07 Sept 23 09 51
Aphelion July 7 00 Solstices June 21 18 06 Dec 22 06 08

2008 2008
Perihelion Jan 3 00 Equinoxes Mar 20 05 48 Sept 22 15 44
Aphelion July 4 08 Solstices June 20 23 59 Dec 21 12 04

2009 2009
Perihelion Jan 4 15 Equinoxes Mar 20 11 44 Sept 22 21 19
Aphelion July 4 02 Solstices June 21 05 46 Dec 21 17 47

2010 2010
Perihelion Jan 3 00 Equinoxes Mar 20 17 32 Sept 23 03 09
Aphelion July 6 12 Solstices June 21 11 28 Dec 21 23 38

2011 2011
Perihelion Jan 3 19 Equinoxes Mar 20 23 21 Sept 23 09 05
Aphelion July 4 15 Solstices June 21 17 16 Dec 22 05 30

2012 2012
Perihelion Jan 5 01 Equinoxes Mar 20 05 14 Sept 22 14 49
Aphelion July 5 04 Solstices June 20 23 09 Dec 21 11 12

2013 2013
Perihelion Jan 2 05 Equinoxes Mar 20 11 02 Sept 22 20 44
Aphelion July 5 15 Solstices June 21 05 04 Dec 21 17 11

2014 2014
Perihelion Jan 4 12 Equinoxes Mar 20 16 57 Sept 23 02 29
Aphelion July 4 00 Solstices June 21 10 51 Dec 21 23 03

2015 2015
Perihelion Jan 4 07 Equinoxes Mar 20 22 45 Sept 23 08 21
Aphelion July 6 20 Solstices June 21 16 38 Dec 22 04 48

2016 2016
Perihelion Jan 2 23 Equinoxes Mar 20 04 30 Sept 22 14 21
Aphelion July 4 16 Solstices June 20 22 34 Dec 21 10 44

2017 2017
Perihelion Jan 4 14 Equinoxes Mar 20 10 29 Sept 22 20 02
Aphelion July 3 20 Solstices June 21 04 24 Dec 21 16 28

2018 2018
Perihelion Jan 3 06 Equinoxes Mar 20 16 15 Sept 23 01 54
Aphelion July 6 17 Solstices June 21 10 07 Dec 21 22 23

2019 2019
Perihelion Jan 3 05 Equinoxes Mar 20 21 58 Sept 23 07 50
Aphelion July 4 22 Solstices June 21 15 54 Dec 22 04 19

2020 2020
Perihelion Jan 5 08 Equinoxes Mar 20 03 50 Sept 22 13 31
Aphelion July 4 12 Solstices June 20 21 44 Dec 21 10 02



Dates of Primary Phases of the Moon:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.php


Sun or Moon Rise/Set Table:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.php
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Alura Noel
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Magickal Timing- For Spell Casting

Post by Alura Noel »

http://www.angelfire.com/empire/serpent ... iming.html
http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/pla ... ticle.html
http://www.astrotheme.com/astrology_planets.php

:fairy:
Magickal Timing- For Spell Casting



Timing your Magick with the Moon

Timing your magick with the phases of the Moon is essential for success. A rule of thumb is to remember for white magick, this is best done while the moon is waxing (increasing in light; new to full). The best time is as close to the full moon as possible. Love spells, acquiring a new job, wealth success, and so forth.

When the moon is waning (decreasing in light; full to new), this is the best time for success in black magick and works of destruction, the best time being as close to the new moon as possible. The waning moon is also a good time for ending things, banishing spells and ending personal bad habits, losing weight.



Moon in Aries
Projects begun when the moon is in Aries often begin with much enthusiasm, but tend not to last. This is a good time for inciting conflicts, high energy, me, mine, war, knives, weapons, guns, quick but not lasting results, fire, sharp things, metals, daring, sticking up for yourself, risk taking, independence and inciting accidents. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the head or face at this time. Magick ruled by Mars has the best outcome at this time.

Moon in Taurus
Projects begun when the moon is in Taurus are usually permanent or long lasting, especially when performed in when the moon is in the first ten degrees of the sign. Money, finances, possessions, material things, sensuality, earth, greed, permanence, wealth, things that increase in value, loans, bankers, slow but lasting results, time delays. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the neck or throat at this time. Magick ruled by the Earth and Venus are successful at this time.

Moon in Gemini
Communications, short distance travel, a Gemini Moon is dualistic in nature and rules over thievery, trickery, pulling a fast one, relatives, siblings and neighbors, and computers. Gemini lacks staying power and projects begun when moon is in this sign tend to change. Not a good sign for black magickal workings. More neutral in nature. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the shoulders, arms, hands, or nerves at this time. Magick ruled by Mercury has the best outcome at this time.

Moon in Cancer
Cancer rules over anything to do with the home, family, food, nurturing, the mother, women in general. Things tend to last, as Cancer is a clingy sign. Good for love spells, weather spells, altar consecration, blessing the home, mediumship, psychic endeavors, inciting over-emotionalism. Spells for the success in buying land, purchasing real estate, a decent place to live, and reconciling family members are best performed when the Moon is in this sign. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the stomach at this time. With love relationships or marriages begun when the moon is in Cancer, if the parties break up, they often tend to reunite. Magick corresponding to the Moon is successful at this time.

Moon in Leo
Good for anything having to do with children, creativity, good for casting love spells; romance, success in gambling, winning, attracting center stage, personal charisma, men in general, the father, hobbies, speculation, risk taking, investments, stocks and bonds, authority and spells for gaining positions of power and authority over others. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the heart, spine, or back at this time. Leo is a fixed sign and projects begun when the moon is in this sign tend to last. Magickal workings ruled by the Sun are successful at this time.

Moon in Virgo
Health, sickness, wellness, things that require precision and perfection, hygiene, nutrition, herbs, vitamins, the armed forces, clothing, the work place, co-workers, workings of white magick and healing for others, service to others. Things that involve details. Hospitals, healing, the medical profession, institutions, bureaucracy, red tape, attention to detail. Virgo tends towards change. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the intestines, anus, or digestive system at this time. Magickal workings ruled by Mercury are successful at this time.

Moon in Libra
Good time to form love relationships, marriages, partnerships of all kinds or cast spells to ensure the success of or to incite these. Peace, diplomacy, negotiation, legal matters, workings with two people, contracts, getting people to do what you want them to do easily and peacefully. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the kidneys or lower back at this time. Best for love spells.

Moon in Scorpio
This is one of the best signs for black magickal workings. Revenge, hatred, venting, exposing secrets, death spells, surgery, transformation, obsession, pure sex, the occult, the darker side of things, extremes, research, banishing spells, ending things permanently, death and dying. This is the most powerful and intense of all the moon signs. Secret, underhanded, and covert operations, willpower, drastic destruction. Like its opposite sign Taurus, Scorpio is usually permanent. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the pelvis, reproductive or sex organs at this time. Magickal workings ruled by Pluto are successful at this time.

Moon in Sagittarius
Religion, Universities, travel, higher education, gambling, good luck, good for ceremonial magick, best for white magick, publishing, sports, the outdoors, the law. Pulling off something big. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the hips or thighs at this time. Magickal workings ruled by Jupiter are successful at this time.

Moon in Capricorn
When the moon is in Capricorn, this is another excellent time for black magickal workings. Depression, ruthlessness, using people viciously, long-term results. Honors, social standing, responsibility, authority, structure, setting long-term goals and plans for the future. NOT a good time to seek favors from those in authority. Magickal workings and spells that feature a time delay or are lasting, wasting, manipulating people, business, banishing. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the bones/skeletal system, teeth, or knees at this time. This is a "ruthless" moon sign. Workings ruled by the malefic planet Saturn are favored at this time.

Moon in Aquarius
Friends, groups, platonic relationships, society, electricity, workings within a coven, computers, technology, individuality, originality, freedom, independence, humanity, anarchy, the unexpected, bolt out of the blue, genius, revelation, goals and ideals, shocking people. This is the best moon sign for spells of independence and breaking away from restrictive situations. Freedom and coming into your own. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the calves or ankles at this time. Workings ruled by Uranus are favored.

Moon in Pisces
Poison, drugs, self-undoing, deception, sorrow, depression, isolation, insanity, very deep psychic stuff. Good for success in meditation and all psychic pursuits. Spells to deceive people, secrets, swindles, vulnerability. Secret enemies, altered states. This is the one of best times for endings, especially when the moon is in 20-30 degrees of the sign (make sure it is not void). Psychic healing can be done. Do NOT have surgical procedures performed on the feet at this time.







Timing your Magick by the Week


Sunday (Sun)---Male---:
o Issues with fathers and other authority figures
o Questions of leadership, money, prosperity and power

Monday (Moon)---female---:
o Moon energy
o Divination
o Issues involving mothers, nurturing, fertility and growth
o Work for clarity, beauty, or help with women's issues

Tuesday (Mars)---male---:
o Energy of courage, success, and lust
o Issues of violence, competition, conflict, or survival
o Questions of money, endurance, and leadership

Wednesday (Mercury)---Male---:
o Working with communications, thought, self-expression, wisdom and the arts
o Issues of addiction, and psychology
o Divination

Thursday (Jupiter)---Male---:
o Big issues in life
o Growth and expansion, business, prosperity, abundance, success, and health

Friday (Venus)---Female---:
o Love, beauty, and romance
o Healing, protection, loyalty, fidelity, trustworthiness, and women's issues

Saturday (Saturn)---Female---:
o Divination and psychic ability
o Elderly, illness, death, and end-of-life issues
o Binding spells
o Constrictions, limitations, or infidelity




Planets and their Energies



The Sun

The Sun takes approximately 365 days to travel through the Zodiac, and spends 30 days in each sign. (There are 30 degrees in a sign). The Sun's daily motion is roughly of one degree. In astrology, as viewed from the Earth, neither the Sun nor the Moon retrogrades. The luminaries, i.e. the Sun and the Moon, are the only "planets" which never move backwards on the Zodiac as they perform their endless dance.

Distance from Earth: 150 millions km. Mass: 334 000 times the Earth's.

Fire is his element. His nature is hot and dry. He rules Leo and is in exaltation in Aries. He is in analogy with the heart.

He represents the father, the husband, and the leader. The age of the Sun covers the period from 20 to 40 years, approximately.

Temperament: choleric.

Characterology: emotive, secondary, active. He is passionate.

The Sun is the indivudual's ego, his aspirations, his inner self and his will, that which he tends to really be, unlike the Ascendant which is the image projected onto others.

The Sun is the masculine part of the personality, the Yang, and as such, he represents all male figures (father, husband, leader, etc.). He provides clues to the image of the father and men in general, as well as the type of relationship with them, regardless of the gender of the chart's owner. However, he seems to be more important in men's chart, since he stands for all masculine and positive values.

The Sun is a star of warmth, life, and light. Therefore, he emphasizes courage, loyalty, nobleness and generosity, but also pride, irascibility, and self-centredness.

In a woman's chart, the Sun usually symbolizes her father, and later on, her husband. The Sun is always active in the woman's personality and represents her ideal of man.

The Sun is associated with youth, the period in life when, brimming with ambitions and hopes, one completes one's studies.


The Moon

The Moon is the swiftest of all the celestial bodies. She travels through the Zodiac in approximately 28 days, and spends two and a half days in each sign. Her daily motion is an average of 12 degrees.

Distance from Earth: 384 000 km. Mass: slightly over one thousandth of the Earth's.

Water is her element. Her nature is cold and moist. She rules Cancer and she is in exaltation in Taurus. She is in analogy with the stomach.

She represents the mother, the wife and the crowd. Her age covers the period from birth to childhood before puberty, or even earlier, according to some authors.

Temperament: phlegmatic.

Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or non-emotive, non-active and primary. She is nervous, or amorphous.

She is complementary to the Sun in the sense that she represents the feminine part of the personality (the Yin), the unconscious, the emotions and the sensitivity of the chart's owner. She symbolizes all feminine figures such as the mother, the wife, etc.

She is a sign of fertility, femininity, imagination and memory, or lack of, depending on the aspects she receives. She is particularly important in a woman's chart because she is believed to express more or less easily her female status and her femininity.

In a man's chart, although the Moon represents his sensitivity, she may be of a lesser importance, since she is often repressed. In addition, she symbolizes the chart owner's mother, and later on, his wife as well as his representation of the ideal woman.

The Moon is the night star. Therefore, she is associated with dreams, the unconscious, subjectivity, moods, the past, nostalgia, but also with laziness, nonchalance and whims. Besides, she is of utmost importance for children, because they have not yet learnt to master their primary instincts, and remain very attached to their mother.


Mercury

Mercury's revolution takes about 88 days. The apparent daily motion of this very small planet is of one degree on average, similar to the Sun's. Mercury never moves further than 28 degrees away from the Sun, when viewed from the Earth.

Earth is his element. His nature is cold and dry. He rules Virgo and Gemini, and he is in exaltation in Virgo also. He is in analogy with the arms, the hands and the nervous system.

He represents traders, attorneys and messengers. His age covers the period from 12 to 18 years, approximately.

Temperament: nervous

Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or non-emotive, active, primary. He is nervous, or nervous and sanguine.

Mercury symbolizes intellectual capacity, thought process, comprehension and learning abilities, and all intellectual activities in general. He is the planet of communication and exchanges. Indeed, in mythology, he was the messenger of the gods.

When Mercury is a dominant planet, he bestows nervousness and wittiness. However, he can also turn the chart's owner into a dishonest, dissipate and insensitive person. He is good for the intellect and favours reasoning over feelings and emotions.

Unlike the Moon and the Sun, Mercury has neither masculine nor feminine gender. He is neutral and works at the service of the Sun, which means that the intellect is at the service of the self and of willpower. He may represent siblings, friendships based on intellectual ties, merchants, and also thieves.

Mercury's importance increases towards a peak at adolescence, when the individual's intellectual curiosity awakens, when studies are begun and friendly relationships are built.


Venus

Venus' cycle is variable. She takes approximately 225 days to travel through the Zodiac. She is bigger than Mercury, and viewed from the Earth, her average daily motion is also of one degree, similar to that of the Sun and Mercury. Venus never moves further than 48 degrees away from the Sun, slightly more than Mercury.

Air is her element. Her nature is moist. She rules Taurus and Libra, and she is in exaltation in Pisces. She is in analogy with the kidneys, the nervous system, the bladder and the neck.

She represents artists, traders, and all occupations related to beauty and seduction. Her age covers the period from 18 to 25 years, approximately.

Temperament: sanguine and phlegmatic

Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary, or emotive, non-active, secondary.

Venus is associated with love, beauty, well-being and gentleness. She describes one's romantic life, affections, leisure, and the way one behaves with one's love partners. Venus softens, beautifies and creates pleasant situations at the place where she is posited.

When Venus is a dominant planet, the chart's owner is gentle, accommodating, seducing, charming, rather handsome, conscious of his external appearance. He is sometimes endowed with artistic talents (decoration, fashion, painting, music, dance etc.). Like the Moon, Venus is a feminine planet, but she is more sensual and more attracted to pleasures life has to offer. A negative Venus may turn the individual into a greedy, lazy, materialistic, overly sensual and hypocritical person.

In a man's chart, Venus symbolizes the mistress and the type of woman who physically attracts him, and with whom he wishes to have short-lived love affairs.

The age of Venus starts with the arousal of feelings, when one starts to get interested in the opposite sex, and to pay attention to one's physical appearance.


Mars

This quite small planet travels through the Zodiac in 1 year and 220 days. He usually spends about eight weeks in each sign, although at certain stages of his cycle, he remains in the same sign during five or six months. His average daily motion is of half a degree.

Fire is his element. His nature is hot and dry. He rules Aries, and he is in exaltation in Capricorn. He is in analogy with the muscles and the spleen.

Mars represents the military, sportsmen, warriors, surgeons, blacksmiths, etc. His age covers the period from 42 to 58 years, approximately.

Temperament: choleric

Characterology: emotive, active, primary. He is a choleric.

Mars is a combative energy and describes how one commands and takes action. He symbolizes virility, action, violence, courage and boldness. He bestows dynamism and enterprising spirit, but he can also turn the chart's owner into a despotic, irascible and primary person.

Mars gives information on the ability to come to grips with things and to overcome hurdles, as well as the types of sports practiced. It also describes sexual life and desires.

Because Venus is his opposite, in a woman's chart Mars represents her lovers and the type of man to whom she is attracted and with whom she is willing to have a love affair.

Like the Sun, Mars is a masculine planet. However, he is less idealistic than the Sun, and more active, more primary and more sexually driven.

He is associated with the forties and the fifties, the fully mature individual, the stage of life when one must fight to assert oneself, when professional activities are at their heights, and one is aware that nothing is achieved without effort.


Jupiter

Jupiter is the first slow-moving planet, the biggest of the solar system, and twelve times the size of the Earth. He takes nearly twelve years to travel through the Zodiac (11 years and 11 months), and spends approximately one year in each sign.

Air is his element. His nature is hot and moist. He rules Sagittarius and Pisces (along with Neptune), and he is in exaltation in Cancer. He is in analogy with the hips and the endocrine system. N.B.: the planet's element, Air in the case of Jupiter, must not be confused with the elements of the signs it rules (Fire for Sagittarius, and Water for Pisces).

Jupiter represents people in power, magistrates, great professors, and religious figures. The age of Jupiter covers the period from 55 or 58 years to approximately 70 years.

Temperament: sanguine.

Characterology: emotive, active, primary. He is an extroverted choleric, some sort of a moist version of Mars, and as the latter, he is action-oriented.

He symbolizes abundance, warmth, blossoming, good luck and self-confidence. He also describes the potential for good fortune and the way the individual expresses his enthusiasm, his benevolence, as well as the way he integrates into the mainstream.

Jupiter is the biggest of all planets. Therefore, he is associated with wealth, glory and honours, and he also is a success factor. Although he is often beneficial, he may show a tendency towards exaggeration and pretentiousness, and sometimes, he promises more than he can deliver.

When Jupiter is a dominant planet, the individual is generous, outgoing and enthusiastic. He has charisma and usually loves children.

Jupiter represents public persons who offer supports and protection, as well as lawyers and politicians.

Jupiter is associated with middle-age people, the beginning of retirement when the individual can enjoy all the wealth acquired throughout his professional life. It is the age for resting, blossoming, devoid of hard work, when he can devote himself to his leisure and his interest centres. Thanks to the experience he has gained, the chart's owner is full of self-confidence.


Saturn

Saturn takes about 29 years to travel through the Zodiac, and spends two and a half years in each sign.

Earth is his element. His nature is cold and dry. He rules Capricorn and Aquarius (along with Uranus), and he is in his exaltation in Libra. He is in analogy with the bone system (the skeleton) and the skin.

He represents grandparents, wise men, the elderly, scientists and knowledgeable persons. The age of Saturn is old age, from 70 years, and sometimes earlier, depending of the individual's health, until death.

Temperament: nervous.

Characterology: non-emotive, active, secondary, or sometimes, emotive, non-active, secondary. He is a phlegmatic, sentimental or apathetic.

As the opposite of Jupiter, who is synonymous with expansion, Saturn is synonymous with restriction. He symbolizes time and its implacable principle. He is associated with toughness, austerity, discipline and limitation.

He describes hurdles, lessons to be learnt and ordeals to be undergone. Everywhere Saturn is posited, he crushes, slows down things, and demands efforts and concentration. Since Saturn is considered a malefic planet, he does not seem sympathetic. However, he allows the individual to grow, to acquire a good thinking process, and to gain a strong sense of responsibilities. He is a sign of ambition, maturity, wisdom and asceticism.

When Saturn is a dominant planet, the individual is rather introverted, solitary, quiet, discreet, observant, ambitious and impassive. He may seem cold and emotionless, which is not true. He is passionate and proud, but he does not want to show that he may be weak and that his sensitivity or his feelings can be moved. Nevertheless, he may be stingy, cruel, curt and selfish.

Saturn is associated with the elderly, the wise, and all people who can help us overcome an ordeal such as priests, medical practitioners, etc.

Saturn symbolizes old age, when one starts to lose interest in material life. It is the age of solitude and retirement (old people's home).


Uranus

Uranus takes some 84 years to travel through the Zodiac, and spends about 7 years in each sign.

Fire is his element. His nature is dry. He rules Aquarius and he is in exaltation in Scorpio. He is in analogy with the brain and the nerves.

He represents inventors, eccentric or mentally ill people, and revolutionaries.

Temperament: extremely nervous?

Characterology: emotive, active, secondary. He is passionate.

Uranus is a dynamic and brutal energy. He brings about sudden and unforeseeable changes, new situations, revolutions, and disruptions. He is upsetting by nature because he symbolizes eccentricity, marginality, inventiveness, independence and dementia. He is also curt and terse, and sometimes, intolerant.

When Uranus is a dominant planet, the individual is therefore always eccentric, very independent, idealistic, inventive and quite extravagant. He may also show intolerance, insensitivity, a lack of human warmth, which is quite paradoxical because, although he is on the fringe of society, he needs to be at the service of humankind and to contribute to the betterment of the world.

Uranus is associated with everything modern, technology advances, and communication through new means (telephone, the Internet, the medias, etc.). As he is a collective planet, his energy is more particularly felt on the mundane plane, just like the other planets that are even slower.


Neptune

Neptune takes approximately 168 years to travel through the Zodiac, and spends roughly 14 years in each sign.

Water is his element. His nature is humid. He rules Pisces and he is in exaltation in Cancer. He is in analogy with the vegetative system.

He represents dreamers, psychics, magicians, purveyors of illusions, and drug addicts.

Temperament: rather lymphatic?

Characterology: emotive, non-active, primary or secondary. He is sentimental, sometimes amorphous.

With Neptune, everything is slowed down, blurred, nebulous and shrouded in mystery. He represents all things unreal and incomprehensible, as well as imagination, inspiration, faith, religion and mysticism.

Neptunian people are gentle, dreamy, mystical, some sort of cranks who demonstrate selflessness and generosity. They are most sensitive and grasp the subtleties of the surrounding atmosphere.

Their sense of psychology is highly developed, and they particularly appreciate music. However, they can also be wimpish, malleable, impressionable, gullible and easy to fool, and in some rare cases, they have no sense of realities.

Neptune gives a tendency to alcohol and drug addictions, "artificial paradises" and suicide. He causes depression, nervous breakdowns and psychological uneasiness.

On the mundane plane, he is associated with slow, strange and merely noticeable changes, most often, religious or spiritual ones.


Pluto

Pluto takes approximately 254 years to travel through the Zodiac, but he can remain in a sign for 12 or even 30 years.

His element is undefined. His nature is burning, probably similar to molten lava. He rules Scorpio and he is in exaltation in Pisces. He is in analogy with the sexual and excretory functions.

He represents dictators, sadists, violent, instinctive and powerful persons, as well as hidden and mysterious forces.

Temperament: rather choleric?

Characterology: emotive or non-emotive, active, primary. He is passionate and choleric.

Pluto is the most remote planet. His discovery is recent and the interpretation of his energy remains quite vague. He represents occultism and all hidden sciences, mystery, death, the hereafter, deep self-questionings, as well as power such as that of the atom.

Pluto brings about radical upheavals from which it is impossible to escape. After his transit, one feels totally transformed, whether positively or negatively. Pluto also rules our deepest instincts, our obsessions, our anxieties, and our sexual energy.

Plutonian people are enigmatic, deep, magnetic, sometimes worrying, endowed with an incredible amount of energy, and able to constantly carry out self-questionings. They can also, in some rare cases, be violent, sadistic, and perverse.

On the mundane plane, as already mentioned, Pluto brings about shattering changes and major crises, including financial crises, since he is also associated with wealth.




Planetary Ruler ship of the Hours


To determine when the first hour starts refer to the Rise/set link in the other post before this.
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Record Keeping

Post by Alura Noel »

Record Keeping


Magickal Record- For Rituals and Spells

Things I like to include in my record keeping:

Type of Ritual/Spell
Date & Time
Phase of Moon
Weather
Location of Ritual
Purpose of Ritual/spell
Physical health and mental state

Deities Invoked & Why
Other Entities Invited
Tools used
Chants & Music used
Food served & Recipes
Oils, herbs, crystals used & Why
Candles used
Any other items used

People taking part in a ritual
Magick performed/ spells, etc

Date of manifestation
Results


:flyingwitch:

Labels for Crafts


If giving for a gift- A recipe card

Personal use:
Date
Items used (and why if used for magickal/medicinal purposes on a recipe card for reference)
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Altars & Shrines

Post by Alura Noel »

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-G ... witchcraft
http://www.amazon.com/Grimoire-Green-Wi ... hs+grimore



Altars & Shrines


An altar is a special area for magickal workings and religious observance.

A shrine is a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity.


A few places to have an altar that are discrete:
Mantle of a fireplace
A hanging altar that is a small cabinet, You can paint the doors so it looks decorative.
A portable altar in a briefcase like box
In a kitchen cabinet
On a shelf, so it looks decorative



Altar decorations for the Sabbats:

CREATING THE IMBOLC ALTAR
With the promise of spring and rebirth in the air, you may want to include a statue of the Goddess on your altar. Red, pink and brown, or yellow and gold candles are appropriate. Use a small set of lights to brighten your altar and acknowledge the fire festival. You can include a small bowl of seeds and sprouts as a symbol of fertility and rebirth.


CREATING THE OSTARA ALTAR
You can decorate your altar in fresh spring flowers, adding a heavenly fragrance. Also a nest which you might have found, or any hand made nest would be nice to put your dyed eggs into. Pastel colors are nice, also green, yellow and gold, to honor the Goddess of fertility.

CREATING THE BELTANE ALTAR
This is a time for flowers, lots of them, picked by you or bought, any flowers will do. Beltane is a great fire festival, so a group of candles on your altar bunched together in warm colors such as red, green or pink would be nice to substitute for a small fire. You might also want to include images of the sex organs, this doesn't have to be graphic, it can be a phallic rock and a creviced stone, or flowers, or a yin-yang symbol.

CREATING THE LITHA ALTAR
Sun images made by your children or by yourself. Some sort of fire on your altar is important, use candles or votives. Use fresh fruits as a reminder of the earth's bounty. Use flowers of gold, orange and yellow, roses are traditional also. A symbol or picture of Earth on your altar is a gentle reminder to honor Her.


CREATING THE LUGHNASSADH ALTAR
To celebrate the harvest, a loaf of bread hand made by the entire family is a nice centerpiece on the altar, surrounded by harvest figures. Add a wooden bowl filled with fruits and vegetables to show a bountiful harvest.


CREATING THE SAMHAIN ALTAR
The Samhain altar becomes a shrine to our beloved who have passed on. You may want to drape your altar in black cloth. To honor those who've passed on, you may want to place their pictures or mementos on your altar. You also may want to place candy on your altar as offering to all of the children who have passed on. Symbols of the season such as pumpkins and autumn leaves, apples and nuts. You might also want to put a bowl of water on your altar for scrying.


CREATING THE MABON ALTAR
Most of us enjoy this time of year for the beauty of the fall colors and the energy felt in the cool air, which seems to put an added perk in our steps. It can be great fun hunting for just the right harvest symbols. Your altar is a great place for fruits such as squash and apples set in an old wooden bowl, you will also want to add pomegranate, in association with Persephone. Decorate your altar with orange, brown and yellow, using candles, fruits, corns, etc. Also you might want to add a bowl of water, since Autumn is associated with water, emotion and relationship. Keep in mind that this same bowl of water can be used for scrying on Samhain.


CREATING THE YULE ALTAR
Candles are crucial to this festival, since it is a celebration of light. Use red, green and white candles. Draping evergreens of all kinds can be used and you'll love the fragrances. Holly with its beautiful red berries is also a wonderful addition to your decoration. Use a Sun symbol as a reminder of the Sun's return. The Druids revered the white berries of the Mistletoe as the semen of the God, and this can also be placed on your altar, or hung in doorways for the traditional kissing beneath it. (chances are our ancestors did a bit more than kiss under this symbol of fertility) **remember that the berries of the mistletoe are highly poisonous, so be sure to keep them away from children and animals** Acorns, nuts, apples, cinnamon sticks and pomegranates are also appropriate for decorating your Yule altar.




A few things for a Kitchen Witch altar:

Wooden spoon = Wand
Tea kettle & Pot = Cauldron
Scissors or Favorite knife= Athame
Mortar & Pestle = Representations of Female and Male
Small herb besom or wire whisk = Broom
Wooden cutting board ( You can do wood burning or acrlyic paint for the pentegram/protective symbol) = Altar tile
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Alura's Book of Shadows: Symbols

Post by Alura Noel »

Wicca and Witchcraft, 3rd Edition
http://everymagicalday.wordpress.com/20 ... n-symbols/
http://www.squidoo.com/protection-symbols


The Pentacle/Pentagram and other Protective symbols


A pentagram is a five pointed star.
A pentacle is a pentagram with a circle drawn around it.

The pentacle and pentagram have always been associated with mystery, magick and protection against evil.

The many views of the Pentagram through times:

o Hildegard of Bingen saw the pentacle as representing the human form because we have five senses and fiver members. And because humankind was made in God's image, she also saw the pentagram as representing God.
o Christians saw the pentagram as representing the five wounds of Christ. It was considered a powerful protection against evil.
o Earlier Hebrew tradition associated the pentagram with the Pentateuch, the first five books of the bible. It was also seen to represent truth.
o During the Inquistion, the penatgram first became associated with evil and the devil in the form of Baphoment. The pentagram was thought to represent the head of a goat, the devil or a witches foot.
o Now, the Wiccan faith and neo-Paganism use this as a symbol of their faith. It is a symbol of protection and a way to show pride in their religion.


The five point of the pentagram represent the four elements and spirit.



Picking out pentacles:

Silver to represent the Goddess
Gold to represent the God
Copper for drawing energy
Multicolored to represent the elements and spirit
Inset with stones that represent the elements
Inset with one central stone. To emphasize a certain aspect. amethysts= healing/spirit, Onyx = Protection, Moonstone= goddess etc
Crafted with an image of a Goddess or God in the center
Crafted with an animal in the center

For a discrete Pentagram, Bastet (Bast) has a tiny pentagram drawn on her chest.



You can use pentagrams, tangible and or drawn in the air, for many things.
Consecrating objects you want to make holy
To Banish negativity
Invoking pentagrams to draw in positive energy

You can Invoke Elemental pentagrams to help aid you in your magick or every day life.

Pentagram1.jpg


Inverted Pentagrams


The single point on the top represents the idea that the Spirit rules over matter. An Inverted Pentagram has two points on top and one on the bottom. The inverted pentagram, suggests that Spirit is Subservient to matter. Satanists use the inverted pentagram, to express their belief that immediate, physical needs are most important than any spiritual or moral value.



Other Protection Symbols


Bell ~~ The ringing bell was used by many cultures long before bells topped church steeples. The sound of the bell was thought to scare of evil spirits as far as the echo traveled.

Circle ~~ An undeniably feminine shape the circle has been a symbol of safety since time immemorial. As a feminine symbol it was first used to represent the moon which was associated with woman’s mensus and therefore the womb.

Crosslet ~~ This and other four-way designs were used to represent the four corners of the world as well as the four seasons and all other groups of four in nature. The small intersecting lines on the arms of the equilateral cross are representative of blocking the path of evil. The term, ‘crossed out’ originated with this and similar motifs.
Dragon’s Eye ~~ The dragons eye was drawn to call the triple Goddess for protection. Each side of each triangle represents an aspect of the Goddess. Thus the dragon’s eye, as a whole, represents both the triple Goddess & her nine fold form.

Earth Square ~~ Similar to the early cross drawings this symbol was said to call on the protective powers of the earth’s four corners, the four guardians‘, four external elements, four seasons & so on.
Flower of Aphrodite ~~ This flower was drawn or carved on a stone then worn by pregnant women to invoke Aphrodite. She would then protect the wearer from miscarriage, through labor & childbirth.

Hands~~ In just about every Mediterranean country, charms in the shape of human hands have been powerful symbols of good luck. The ancient Etruscans and the Greeks wore lucky amulets representing a fist with the thumb tucked beneath the fingers. Similar charms with the index finger extended were believed to have power to ward off the evil eye.

Hex Signs ~~ The traditional Dutch hex sign was originally a witch’s sign. The witches advertised their ability to heal the sick or deliver babies or share knowledge by placing a hex sign on or near there front doors. As witchcraft was demonized the commoners took over the witches sign & used it’s supposed magic powers to protect themselves against witchcraft.

Horns ~~ Hollowed horns were used in much the same way as bells to dispel unseen evil forces with their sound. An example of this ancient practice is even referenced in the Bible when the walls of Jericho were brought down by the blowing of trumpets. The horns dispelled evil by invoking the Christian God.

Horseshoes ~~ Since the domestication of horses humans have been dependent on the graceful animals in both work & play. It’s no wonder the horseshoes were symbols of protection. Hung over doorways horseshoes were arcs no evil could pass. Christianity suppressed the meanings of many ancient symbols. This protection symbol was fortunate enough to survive, albeit in the form of a good luck charm.

Italian Horn or Unicorn's Horn and Leprechaun's Staff~~ Introduced by the Druids; the horn is associated with good luck and good fortune. It is also used to ward off "Maluka" or the Evil Eye.

Lucate Cross ~~ This four way, equilateral, cross was a protective emblem for Shamans long before the birth of the Latin cross. The crescent moons, or horns were said to protect the wearer from evil.

Lucky Numbers ~~ The most popular of all lucky numbers are three, four & seven. Initially the number three was representative of life. Everyone of us is born a child, helpless & dependent. Grows to a contributing adult & then to a wise elder. These three phases of life are represented over and over in Goddess iconography as Virgin, Mother & Crone. This theme was later repeated in Christianity’s triple God as the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Four was considered representative of the whole; a complete number in & of itself. It is represented in the four corners of the earth, the four winds & the four external elements. The number seven has long been considered sacred. As a combination of three, representing divinity, & four, representing the whole.

Mezuzah ~~ This is an ancient form of the prayer box. Typically made of metal this box was affixed to the wall or door on the outside of the house. In it people stored prayers & magic incantations written on small scraps of paper. This ancient tradition was & is still practiced by many of Jewish faith. The words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & 11: 13-21 are often recorded & kept in the box as magic words.

Penelope’s Web ~~ Not only was this a powerful symbol of protection but it was also symbolic of interconnectedness. When the majority of humanity lived in small village’s it was of utmost importance that all members of the micro-society got along & contributed to the whole. Penelope’s web is a visualization of that very idea. Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, was the powerful and shrewd wife of Ulysses (see, Ulysses and his Companions Avoid the Charms of the Sirens). Ulysses was gone for years, many believed him to be dead. So Penelope was approached by opportunistic suitors. She promised to take one of them as her new husband (king) as soon as she finished weaving a shroud for her father-in-law. Every night she unraveled the work she had done that day to avoid choosing. This was the ‘web of Penelope’.

Pentacle ~~ A protective amulet with anything drawn, etched or carved on it. A five pointed star drawn with one line has been equated with many pre-Christian ideologies. Any form drawn with one line was special to believers of reincarnation. Birth to death, repeatedly, on an unbroken path. The five points of the pentacle are representative of the entire cosmos broken down into five elements: water, wind, earth, fire & spirit.

Phylacteries ~~ A heart shaped lodestone with an image of Hecate was worn in the forehead held in place by a leather thong that tied at the back of the head. The image was said to invoke the Goddess Hecate & therefore protect the wearer. Alternately one would wrap a longer thong around the left arm seven times & hold the charm in the hand. The left arm was wrapped because of it’s closeness to the heart & being on the feminine side of the body. The strap was wrapped seven times because of the numbers significance. Combining three elements created a triple charm for added protection. This practice is still evident in the Jewish faith placing scripture into boxes worn the same way.

Protection Cross ~~ This equilateral cross is much like the Lucate Cross. The four arms protect the bearer from attack in any direction. Each arm is crossed three times, twice by horns & once by the crescent.

Scarlet Pimpernel ~~ This flower was planted around the doors & along the paths leading up to the house. The five petals, of this flower & others, were said to resemble the pentacle & so the flower was said to have the power to ward off evil.

Seal of Solomon or The Star of David~ Use for protection against enemies, the evil eye, and spirits. It will bring good luck in all aspects of your life. This symbol dates back to the bronze age. Before becoming a prominent symbol of Judaism, the six pointed star was used by alchemists and was said to have been used by Druid priests as protection against evil ghosts.

Seven Pointed Star ~~ The seven pointed star was a symbol of the seven holy sisters who would keep your secrets safe. It was drawn as a protection emblem during medieval times when a practitioner of the old religion conducted her prayer work. The star was said to protect her sacred place, secret knowledge, ancient faith & keep her safe.

Shamrock ~~ The three leaved clovers were held sacred as a protective force long before the advent of Saint Patrick. The people of Ireland associated the three leaved clover with the Goddess in her three forms: virgin, mother & crone. The symbol was so much a part of the cultural heritage the new Christian faith could not eradicate it & so adopted it as a representation of God in his three forms: father, son & spirit.

Sheila-na-gig ~~ These statuettes with a prominent genital display have been carbon dated as early as the stone age. They were representative of the mother Goddess & therefore offered her protective qualities wherever they were placed. Life flows from her yoni & her love protects her children. The Christian equivalents are statues of Mary. From her womb was received the savior & through him, redemption from sin.

Sistrum ~~ In ancient times, & even now in some Native American traditions, this rattle was used by Shaman to dispel negative energy before healing or magic working. The modern religions don’t believe in the power of a rattle but the practice remains. New mothers teach their babies, worldwide, to shake rattles. The joy expressed by the infant may be what drew humans to the belief of dispelling negativity in the first place.

The "Hamsa" or Hand of Fatima ~ Depicts an eye centered on an open five fingered hand and encourages good luck or helps defend against bad luck. In Muslim countries, the hand is made in honor of Fatima, the favorite daughter of the prophet Mohammad. Fatima was one of only three women worthy of entering heaven. The thumb represents the prophet himself; the first finger represents Fatima; the middle finger her husband; and the others her two sons.

The Eye of Horus or the "All Seeing Eye"~ An ancient symbol, once associated with the occult and now used in modern witchcraft to grant wisdom, prosperity, spiritual protection and good health, It can also increase clairvoyant powers, protect against thieves, and the evil eye.

Utchat ~~ This ancient Egyptian symbol was a version of the all seeing eye. Appearing in many cultures throughout the ancient world, the all seeing eye, was believed to repel negative energy and oppose the evil eye. From this ancient line of thought sayings like, “if looks could kill” emerged.

Weave ~~ Any woven image was given credit as a provider of protection. With no start or finish, no path or doorway the image was impenetrable and could block the passage of evil.

Wheel ~~ One of the most ancient of symbols the wheel was a major component in revolutionizing humanity. This technology made one man capable of the work of five. It led to civilization & the taming of nature. Based on the circle, a protective shape in it’s own right, the wheel was also used as a calendar. The days turned into months, months into years & years into lifetimes. The wheel doubled the protection any object offered. It was placed on shields, homes, crests & even sword hilts.
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