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Where to Source Your Crystals
I do a lot of in-person events, and inevitably, someone will come up and say something along the lines of I’d really like to buy X, where is the best place to find it? And the answer is, inevitably, It depends… When it comes to crystals, you’ve got a LOT of options. A simple online search is going to give you a floppity-million results, and it can be overwhelming – don’t panic, though. There are plenty of places you can source your crystals in ways that are both affordable and ethical. The key here is to do your homework ahead of time. Crystals vary widely in price depending on shape, weight, and…
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The Business-Focused Witch
Although a lot of my readers assume I spend all of my time blogging, writing books, and generally cavorting around doing fun magically-delicious things, the fact is I spent a good fifty hours a week in the corporate world. My early career was spent in retail management as well as medical office administration, but about eleven years ago I found an opportunity to move into the business-to-business sphere, and I’ve never looked back. Since I spend so much of my time immersed in general business practices, processes, and principles, as you can probably imagine, sometimes this spills over into my magical life. While we typically perceive witchcraft as this mysterious,…
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Join Me at the Buckland Museum!
Join me as I return to one of my favorite places, Cleveland’s Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick, for a workshop on how to develop a relationship with your ancestors for spiritual growth and development. Ancestor veneration is a key component of many spiritual/occult practices, but very few people know where to start. We’ll talk about how to figure out who your ancestors were, and then what to do once you’ve identified them. You’ll learn how to work with your ancestors for protection, abundance, and personal growth. This workshop is an introduction to genealogical research as well as to making your magic more powerful through working with your kinfolk. We’ll…
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Covens vs Solitary Practice
I get messages about this a lot, so I thought maybe it was time to address it – what are the advantages and disadvantages of practicing as a solitary, versus joining a coven or some other sort of group? It’s a discussion that comes up frequently in the magical community, because there’s one school of thought that says “only a witch can make a witch,” which means you must be initiated and part of a coven before you can truly practice. There’s another camp that says anyone can be a witch, and what matters more than initiation and coven connections is what’s in your heart and soul. Will everyone ever…
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The Pagan Origins of the Olympic Games
The Olympics are coming in just a couple of months – opening ceremonies are July 23! – and despite things still being weird, thanks to the ‘Rona, celebrations will still be happening. The Olympics have a long history, and I thought it might be fun to explore their origins in the polytheistic world of ancient Greece. The Total Pagan Entertainment Package The Olympic Games are one of the most highly anticipated events in the sports world today. The Games are a huge event, attracting athletes from nearly every country. Although it has turned into a marketing and merchandising behemoth, the original purpose of the Olympic Games was a far less…
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When the Evangelizers Come a-Knocking
One of the things I love about where I live is that I’m kind of in the middle of nowhere. My little village is out in the woods, about 25 minutes from the nearest Real Town, and we only have a population of 750 people. We also happen to have a village-wide No Soliciting ordinance, which means the only people who knock on my door are my neighbors stopping by to see if I’d like to swap some plant cuttings, some kid on an ATV who’s gotten lost on their way back to their parents’ campsite, or the UPS guy. This is great, because no one is on my front…
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Can I Join a Coven I Found Online?
Here we are, in 2024, and I’m still getting messages from people who want to know if it’s “safe” to join a coven they found online. The answer – like so many other things in the modern magical world – is “It depends.” Keep in mind that this is a completely separate discussion from “does that coven I found online actually know what the heck they’re talking about,” which we’ll cover in a later post. Many people have met new friends, coven mates, and even spouses online, and never had any problems at all. But the thing is, you need to remember at all times that people are not always…
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Who Gets Your Magical Stuff When You Die?
Since so many members of the Pagan community work as solitaries, and may never come into contact with other Pagans during their lifetime, one issue that comes up as our population ages is that of what to do with magical tools and other items after death. After all, if we have no one magical in our lives to leave these things to, what becomes of them? I’ve been practicing for over thirty years, and even though I’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff, there’s still going to be things left over once I shuffle off this mortal coil. The first thing to do is make sure you have a will – and this…
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10 Things to Take to a Pagan Festival
The warm weather is here, we’re all frolicking outside with reckless abandon as much as we can, and you know what that means… it’s festival season! If you’re attending any sort of Pagan festival – whether it’s an afternoon event with potluck dinner, or a week-long celebration out in the woods – there are certain things I’ve learned that are essentials for me. Having these items on hand, at a minimum, ensures I’ll have a good time and get the most possible benefit out of the celebration. Here are ten things you’ll want to remember next time you go to a Pagan festival. Your Magical Tools: If there’s a ritual…
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New Book Announcement – The Witch’s Home
Guys, I am SO excited! I’ve spent the past year working on a book I’ve wanted to write for ages, and it’s finally going to come out. I’m pleased to announce that The Witch’s Home: Practical Magic for Every Room will be released by Llewellyn Publications on February 8, 2025! This one has been a real labor of love for me, and it was inspired by one of my most popular workshops, Household Magic. When I present this workshop at festivals and events, the first part is spent discussing how to think outside the box – what can you do with non-magical stuff if you need to use it in a magical…
