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Finding Gratitude When Things Suck
I know, I know, the world is a fucking dumpster fire right now. Everyone is in panic mode, there’s a very real pandemic sweeping the globe, and heaven forbid you run out of toilet paper—you’re pretty much screwed and will be out of food too and have to eat your shoes. via GIPHY We’re all fine. Just fucking fine. It’s a time when it’s so important to stay focused and grounded, and I’ve discovered over the past few days that I’m finding joy in small acts of compassion and kindness that I’m seeing on social media. For every 100 people hoarding Charmin like they’re some sort of toilet paper troll,…
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Herb Magic: Did You Miss It?
Are you living under a rock? Are you ignoring me on social media? In case you haven’t been paying attention — and it’s ok, I know The Masked Singer is keeping a lot of y’all occupied — I wrote a new book! Herb Magic: An Introduction to Magical Herbs and Spells, will be coming out on April 21! I had an awesome time writing this one for you, and it includes 75 brand-new, all original spells for you to try out, whether your magic is focused on prosperity, healing, divination, love, or protection! Magical herbs are living, breathing entities, and I can’t wait to share with you some of the…
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Book Review: The Magick of Food
One of the best things about being an author is that a lot of my friends are also authors, and so when they write new stuff, I’ve got an advantage that many readers don’t have — I know that the person writing them is actually someone who knows their stuff. Such is the case with Gwion Raven’s book, The Magick of Food, which I pre-ordered as soon as I heard about it. Holy cow, y’all. First and foremost, this ain’t just a cookbook. Yes, there are recipes in it, but there’s so much more. It’s chock-full of rituals, spells, and history, all relating to the magic of the relationship that…
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Self-Care Sundays: Self-Care Ain’t Selfish
It’s recently occurred to me how much I enjoy the topic of self-care, which seems to somehow be viewed as a radical act of rebellious social anarchy. In some way, we’ve been conditioned to the idea that it’s just greedy to be focusing inward rather than outward, and so when we stop to do crazy bonkers shit like set boundaries, say no, or eliminate asshole people from our lives, we’re seen as selfish. I got a plot twist for you, my little sugar plums. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s self-transformative, it’s self-empowering, and it’s self-sustaining. And the more you learn to accept the radical notion that it’s not only okay but…
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Blend a Batch of War Water
In some magical traditions, war water can come in very handy in spellwork. It’s one of those magical ingredients that I don’t have call to use very often, but when I do, I like to have it already prepared and ready to go. Sometimes called iron water, water of Mars, or rust water, war water is designed to impart the attributes of Mars, the Roman god of war… who is associated with (wait for it) iron. It’s found in many types of folk magic, primarily those with European roots, but it also appears in Conjure and Hoodoo, and can be used to do some hostile foot track magic. It also…
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Seasonal Affective Disorder and Your Spiritual Well-Being
Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, and find that it can have a negative impact on many aspects of their lives. In particular, it can be disruptive to your spiritual life. Where you previously may have found your beliefs to be rewarding and satisfying, once seasonal affective disorder (also known as SAD) kicks in, you might find yourself just feeling apathetic towards any kind of spiritual celebration at all. Unlike the phenomenon known as the dark night of the soul, which can happen any time, SAD typically takes place in the winter time, and isn’t so much a feeling of spiritual loss and emptiness as it is a feeling…
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Loose Ends, New Beginnings, and Big Changes
Wow, where to begin? Lots of stuff going on in Patti-landia, and most of it is pretty great, so I wanted to share with you all some changes that you’ll see going forward. First, LearnReligions (formerly AboutDotCom and ThoughtCo) has made the decision that they no longer need their freelance contractors on most of their sites, so as of February 29, I will cease creating new content for LearnReligions. I’ve been with them nearly thirteen years, starting the Paganism & Wicca pages from scratch in June 2007, and it’s been one heck of a ride, opening up some really amazing opportunities for me through the course of my career. What…
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Herb Magic Now Available for Pre-Order!
Guys, I’m so excited! This year is shaping up smashingly, because I have not one but TWO books you can order — and the first one to release will be Herb Magic: An Introduction to Magical Herbalism and Spells, coming from Rockridge Press in April! Herbal magic is a powerful method of inviting protection, love, health, and wealth into your life―it can even aid you in finding guidance through divination. Perfect for fresh and seasoned herbalists alike, Herb Magic is your easy-to-digest guide to magical herbalism, introducing you to the spiritual side of herbs and how to use them in folkloric spells and rituals. Dive into magical herbalism with a reader-friendly…
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Witch Trials: Beyond Salem
I first became interested in the Salem witch trials long before I was interested in witchcraft itself. I remember reading about them as a child, and being fascinated by the tales of these girls my own age who had been possessed, taken by spirits in the night in league with the Devil himself. Accusations flew about like gray specters in the dark nights of colonial Massachusetts, fingers pointing, and no one was safe. As I got older, and became more interested in history itself — not just of Salem and its trials, but of the entire country and in particular, the pre-Revolutionary American world — I read more and learned…
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When You Hit Bottom: The Dark Night of the Soul
A reader asks, “I don’t know what to do. I was really active and excited about my spiritual practice, but lately I’m just feeling lost. I feel like nothing I do is working, I don’t have any motivation, nothing matters to me, I’m doubting my gods, and it’s hard for me to even care anymore. I don’t want to just give up, because my beliefs are important to me, but I feel like I’ve hit a wall. What do I do?” The first thing you do is relax a little bit, because I’m going to let you in on a secret. Ready? This happens a lot. Honest, it does. While…
