Magical Properties of Amazonite

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A Complete Guide to Berkana, the Birch Rune

Today, we continue our runic study journey by looking at Berkana (BER-kah-no), the Birch rune from the third ætt. Berkana (ᛒ) is associated with renewal, fertility, new beginnings, growth, and the divine feminine. Being part of the third ætt makes it part of Tyr's ætt, which is the final grouping associated with mature life and traditions, which makes sense when looking at the deeper meaning of Berkana.

As seen in my previous runic guides, today's post will include a deep dive into the runic poems, Berkano's cultural significance, its correspondences, how to work with it, its meaning in a spread, and its relationships with runes. Also included is a free printable for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire!

Berkana's Portrayal in the Rune Poems

Berkana (ᛒ) is the first rune in the second ætt, which belongs to Hel. This ætt is characterized by ordeal, disruption, and necessity. Where the first ætt establishes order and potential, the second ætt confronts the forces that break, constrain, and test that order. Hagalaz, being the first rune of the ætt, symbolizes the storm, the violent disruptor, that clears the path for the journey ahead. Like many of the runes I have discussed before, Hagalaz appears in all three runic poems, suggesting similar cultural meanings across the continent.

Icelandic Rune Poem                                  Translation:

Bjarkan er laufgat lim ok lítit tré                  Birch is a leafy twig and little tree

ok ungsamligr viðr.                                       and fresh young shrub.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem                            Translation:

Beorc bẏþ bleda leas,                                   Birch is fruitless;

bereþ efne sƿa ðeah tanas butan tudder,     yet it bears shoots without seeds,

biþ on telgum ƿlitig,                                      it is beautiful on its boughs,

heah on helme hrẏsted fægere,                    tall on its crown, fairly adorned,

geloden leafum, lẏfte getenge.                     laden with leaves, touching the sky.

Norwegian Rune Poem                               Translation:

Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma;                         Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;

Loki bar flærða tíma.                                    Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

As with the other runes, the runic poems about Berkana have similar underlying themes. The first being the mention of the birch. The birch is a pioneer species, meaning it is the first tree to repopulate a disturbed area. It is also among the first to leaf in the spring. These factors make it a natural symbol of renewal, strength, and new beginnings. This association is reinforced by their emphasis on youth and new growth: "little tree," "fresh young shrub," "laden with leaves." This growth is fast and sometimes even unpredictable, just like the transition from winter to spring is often rife with storms.

The Anglo-Saxon rune poem offers the most insight, however, into the meaning of Berkana, specifically in its opening lines: "Birch is fruitless; yet it bears shoots without seeds..." The birch does not produce fruit like oak or apple trees do, yet they still manage to flourish, even in harsh climates. This juxtaposition of apparent barrenness with visible vitality suggests that growth is not strictly reproductive. Instead, growth is a process rather than an outcome that is happening even if the final product of "fruit" is not visible. This is an excellent reminder that our own spiritual growth may not bear the fruit we wish or be visible to others.

Unlike the other poems, the Icelandic rune poem specifically mentions Loki. On the surface, this seems like an odd god to put beside the motherly nature of the birch, but looking into Loki's history, his association with the birch makes sense. According to the Eddas, Loki gave birth to Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse. Since Berkana is often associated with births and pregnancy, it makes sense that Loki would be included. Loki is also often the trigger that leads to significant change and ultimately renewal. This suggests that while Berkana's change is gentle, it can also be chaotic, disruptive, and unpredictable.

Outside of the poems, many suggest that Berkana's symbol, ᛒ, resembles breasts or breasts and a pregnant belly. I see how both could potentially be true, but there is no concrete evidence that the Norse viewed the symbol in this way (at least not to my knowledge). Needless to say, all of this suggests Berkana's association with new life, creativity, pregnancy, cultivation, renewal, and new beginnings, but may be invisible or beneath the surface.

Berkana's Cultural Significance

The most notable and easily provable cultural significance of Berkana is its use in writing systems. As with all the other runes, Berkana appears on stones and way posts, communicating important information to any passersby. This can be seen on the Järsberg Runestone pictured below:

Järsberg Runestone

Due to damage, we are not entirely sure what this runestone is trying to convey, but it is believed to be a name. Scholars believe this runestone was part of a larger stone circle, the use of which is unknown.

While the rune itself may or may not have been used for spiritual purposes as it is today, the birch tree most certainly was. Its waterproof bark was used in roofing, container creation, and food storage, and to create fishing equipment such as bobbins. According to legend, the Birkebeiner, a rebel group from the 12th-century, used birch bark to create gaiters or protective armor from their knees down. Trunks and limbs were used to build homes, boats, fences, farm and fishing tools, and furniture, as well as as a fuel source for smokehouses. The wood burns extremely well as its resin acts as a natural fire starter. 

One of the most famous uses of the birch, however, was its use in baby cradles. Birch is associated with protection and was believed to protect newborns from evil spirits. This further solidified its connection to fertility and new beginnings, as babies are representative of new life. As such, it wasn't uncommon for birch branches to be hung around homes for similar purposes or used in medicinal remedies to treat a variety of ailments. Needless to say, the birch was an integral part of Norse culture, earning its place among the runes.

Today, Berkana shows up in the symbol used by Bluetooth. The Bluetooth symbol is a bind rune that represents the initials of King Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, who united Scandinavian tribes, much like the technology unites devices today. The symbol combines Hagalaz (ᚼ) and Berkana together to create the symbol we are all so familiar with today.

Berkana's Correspondences

It should be noted that general correspondences are not mentioned in any Nordic text. Instead, these are a best guess based on experiences from both myself and others. In fact, most of these are of modern invention, pulling inspiration from Wicca. As with all correspondence lists, you can add and subtract based on your experiences.

• Upright Meaning: growth, creativity, development, nurturing, new beginnings, birth, regeneration, healing, seed, receiving, patience, gestation, motherhood
• Reversed Meaning: anxiety, misunderstanding, argument, clutter, miscommunication, trickery, family troubles
• Letter: B
• Element: Earth
• Zodiac: Virgo
• Planet: Venus
• Animal: hare, rabbit, snow owl,
• Colors: green, gold, white, silver
• Deities: Frigg, Holda, The Mother, Loki
• Plants: birch, poplar, daisy, ladies' mantle
• Crystals: moonstone
  
  

How to Work with the Berkana Rune

Incorporating runes into your magical practice can be incredibly rewarding and bring new energies to spells and rituals. But how exactly can you use Berkana in your workings?

1. Use in spells or rituals to support fertility, creative beginnings, or the nurturing of new ideas and projects.
2. Chant Berkana to raise energy for growth magic, especially when cultivating something that needs patience and care.
3. Meditate on Berkana to understand cycles of birth, renewal, and the quiet processes through which life grows.
4. Carry or wear the Berkana rune to encourage personal growth, emotional healing, and gentle transformation.
5. Draw Berkana on paper and write what you wish to nurture beneath it, then place it under a plant, candle, or altar object to symbolically feed the intention.
6. Use Berkana in healing magic focused on recovery, regeneration, or restoring vitality after exhaustion or illness.
7. Sleep with Berkana under your pillow to invite dreams about personal growth, healing, or new paths emerging in your life.
8. Include Berkana in rituals during spring, planting season, or times when you are beginning something new.
9. Draw the Berkana rune in soil, water, or plant pots to bless gardens, houseplants, or herbal workings with healthy growth.
10. Journal with Berkana to explore where in your life something is beginning, growing quietly, or asking for more care and attention.
11. Incorporate Berkana into shadow work that focuses on inner child healing, self-nurturing, and rebuilding after hardship.
12. Place Berkana on charms, wards, or household protections meant to foster harmony, safety, and well-being in the home.
13. Use in spells and rituals focused on family bonds, caretaking, or strengthening supportive relationships.
14. Sit with the rune during times of transition to cultivate patience with processes that unfold slowly.
15. Offer water, fresh leaves, seeds, or time spent tending plants as devotional acts to deepen your relationship with Berkana and the energies of renewal.

Berkana's Meaning in Rune Spread

What does it mean if Berkana appears in a rune spread? Berkana holds various meanings depending on its position and relation to other runes in the spread.

Below are some examples of how to interpret Berkana when it's next to or near other runes:

• Next to Nauthiz suggests growth born from necessity, where hardship forces emotional healing, adaptation, or the creation of new foundations.
• Near Isa indicates stalled development, delayed growth, or a need for patience before renewal can begin.
• In proximity to Jera suggests natural cycles of growth and harvest, where steady nurturing will eventually bring visible results. 
• Paired with Perthro points to hidden potential, unexpected beginnings, or new life emerging through chance or fate. 
• Near Eihwaz indicates deep inner transformation, emphasizing endurance and the slow rebuilding of strength after hardship. 
• Combined with Algiz suggests protective nurturing or growth that flourishes within safe boundaries or spiritual protection. 
• In proximity to Sowilo suggests vitality, flourishing health, and growth empowered by clarity, confidence, and life force. 
• Near Raido indicates growth through movement, journeys that lead to personal development, or life changes that nurture transformation. 
• Paired with Kenaz indicates creative awakening, insight that nurtures new ideas, or illumination that helps something grow and develop.

Berkana's Relationships with Other Runes

Berkana tends to interact with other runes in a nurturing and developmental way, as seen in the previous section. Where some runes introduce conflict or disruption, such as Hagalz, Berkana softens the surrounding influences, emphasizing growth, perseverance, and new beginnings. When Berkana appears alongside other runes, it often suggests that their effects are in early stages, being cultivated, or requiring patience and care to mature.

When found with runes associated with prosperity or cycles, such as Fehu or Jera, Berkana can point to resources or rewards that are still developing. Wealth, success, or stability may be emerging, but they require more nurturing before they fully manifest. Near runes of movement, such as Raido or partnership like Ehwaz, Berkana often highlights growth through relationships, journeys, or shared efforts, indicating that progress comes through cooperation and steady development.

Despite its association with fertility and gentleness, Berkana is not limited to pleasant or easy meanings. Sometimes Berkana can indicate sudden or chaotic change, as seen in the Norwegian Rune Poem and its mention of Loki. It can also point to vulnerability and fragility. When paired with more challenging runes such as Nauthiz or Isa, Berkana may suggest growth that is restricted, delayed, or struggling to emerge.

Ultimately, Berkana teaches us to accept change and growth, even when it is not outwardly visible. Its presence among other runes reminds us that meaningful change often begins in small, unseen ways.

***

Berkana is the perfect rune to begin working with during Spring, as it represents that new life that is emerging from their long winter slumber. Whether you decide to meditate on the rune or incorporate it into your spell work or goal setting, Berkana is sure to have some gentle, or even strong, lessons to teach. Below you will find a printable, cheat sheet that includes a summary of all important information that you can incorporate into your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

Click the image below to download your free cheat sheet for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

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Witchcraft Myths I Had to Unlearn

The older I get, the more time I have spent disconstructing the beliefs and systems I was raised in. Part of breaking ancestral and societal cycles is spending time learning and reflecting on your beliefs. I cannot, in good faith, call myself a lifelong learner and scientist if I refuse to continue learning, growing, and questioning.

I started my witchcraft journey when I was 15 years old. Now 37, much of my practice has changed, and things I thought and believed have changed as well. For a long time, I trusted the "experts", believing the information they had put forth into the world. I trusted authors and the publishing industry to fact-check historical information, correspondence, and practices. I was naive to think the publishing industry followed the same sort of protocol as scientific journals. After all, that was my only previous experience with the publishing industry, and it took a lot of time, effort, and defense to get my scientific research published. Surely if I had to jump through such great hoops defending my research, authors writing about history would have to do the same. Unfortunately, that just isn't the case.

As such, I grew up believing a lot of myths and downright lies, even perpetuating some of those on my blog! I will not be going back and rewriting those articles. Maybe one day I will add a note to them about potentially spreading misinformation. But for now, I am content to clear the air by discussing some of these myths, misconceptions, and lies I have believed, and I bet you may believe in some of these, too.

Witchcraft is ancient and based on a continuous ancient goddess cult.

This is one of the most insidious myths witches and modern pagans believe, and I fell for it, too. The idea that modern witchcraft is a revival of an ancient goddess cult was perpetuated by Robert Graves in his pseudoscientific book, The White Goddess. Graves asserts that the ancient Celts believed in and worshipped a "Triple Muse" or "White Goddess," which is not at all supported by primary Irish or Welsh texts nor archeological evidence. Instead, Graves presents a personal interpretation of mythological evidence, filled with pseudoscience and fabrications that sound logical. Ronald Hutton has called Graves' work a "major source of confusion," while Hilda Ellis Davidson says he "misled many innocent readers with his eloquent but deceptive statements about a nebulous goddess in early Celtic literature." 

However, many traditions in modern paganism, witchcraft, and Wicca are built upon his work: the triple goddess, oak and holly kings, and the 'Celtic' tree calendar, which was partially used to create the modern Wheel of the Year. Again, all of this seems logical. I have read The White Goddess and highly recommend others read his work as well, so that you understand the foundation upon which many customs and beliefs are built. However, it is important to read critically and widely, understanding that Graves's work is entirely unfounded.

Morgan Daimler does an excellent job breaking down why Graves is wrong, but I also recommend reading Stalking the Goddess by Mark Carter to learn more.

The Wheel of the Year is ancient.

While many of the sabbats featured in the Wheel of the Year were celebrated by our ancestors in some way, shape, or form, they were not all celebrated together as suggested. The Wheel is an amalgamation of several traditions inspired by Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic cultures. This largely reconstructed framework was popularized by Gerald Gardner and Ross Nichols in the 50s and 60s, where it was presented as fact. Unfortunately, this just isn't the case and is largely why I have chosen to no longer celebrate or revolve my seasonal practices around the modern calendar.

On top of this, the Wheel of the Year feels arbitrary and incohesive. This is most likely due to the fact that not all of these traditions are real or even get along with each other. The Anglo-Saxons invaded the Celts during the 5th-century, stealing their lands and murdering their people. As such, the two were not on friendly terms, and forcing their cultural practices together is...wrong. The Wheel completely ignores the conflicts and colonization that occurred throughout much of Europe, and this is reflected in the poorly constructed holidays that were forced to exist together.

The Eco-Pagan wrote a great article about this in 2023, if you wish to read more, titled Wheel of the Year criticisms peak at Autumn Equinox.

Christmas trees are a pagan tradition.

This one hurts and goes right along with the Wheel of the Year myth. Many of the sabbats presented by Gardner and other occult leaders over the years merged many cultural traditions into single holidays. They begged, borrowed, and stole from multiple cultures to create something that seemed plausible. And that is where they get you. If it seems logically true, more people are likely to believe it.

We do know that ancient pagans across many cultures, from the Romans to the Norse, decorated their homes around the Winter Solstice with boughs of evergreen. We know they believed the evergreen was associated with everlasting life and was thought to bring health, luck, and protection to those within. It is not a crazy leap, then, to assume that bringing in boughs eventually turned into bringing in trees. Unfortunately, there is no historical or archeological evidence to suggest that pagans brought in and decorated evergreen trees during their winter celebrations.

Late last year, Jewitches wrote a lengthy article on this topic, Christmas Trees Are Not Pagan, that I highly encourage you to read.

Easter comes from the goddess Eostre or Ishtar.

Again, the Wheel of the Year and its bullshit. There is a growing trend to de-Christianize holidays and traditions, and while I understand the urge, we cannot, in good faith, claim they are something they are not. Easter is one of those holidays that is largely Christian in nature. Are there some pagan aspects? Yes. Are they from a single tradition? No. Is it secretly based on a pagan goddess? No.

While Easter and Eostre and even Ishtar may sound similar, they are not related in the slightest. In fact, there is very, very, very little evidence that Eostre even existed. The only mention of her appears in Bede's De Temporum Ratione from the 8th century, where he suggests that April, formally known as Eosturmonath, was named after the goddess Eostre. Most historians doubt her existence and believe Bede invented her as a convenient explanation.

This didn't matter. People ran with it and even added to her myth. Jacob Grimm is one such person who popularized Eostre in story, claiming she transformed a bird into a bunny and that she was a fertility goddess. This is a fabrication, one that has infiltrated all of the pagan/occult community.

You can read more in The Pagan Myth of Easter by Theos.

Cursing and hexing are unethical and should never be used.

When I started getting into witchcraft at 15, the first book I read was Teen Witch by Silver Ravenwolf. In this work, Ravenwolf describes the Three-Fold Rule and how any negative work you do will return to you three times. It's a bastardization of Karma and a very Christianized take. I understand why such a rule may be more palpable for new witches, especially those coming from Christianity, but that does not make it true or even ethical to say and promote.

In fact, the idea that curses and hexes are unethical and should never be used is a sign of white supremacy. Many marginalized groups have relied heavily on baneful magic to fight their oppressors. To demonize such behavior is to support and uphold oppressive systems. I wrote pretty extensively on this topic in my Guide to Curses, Hexes, Jines, and Ethics in Spellcrafting if you wish to learn more.

***

Needless to say, I have fallen victim to misinformation. It's hard to know what is true and what isn't when you trust the "experts" to be truthful, but they do the exact opposite, continuing to spread myths on their platforms. Does this mean that you can't celebrate the Wheel of the Year, believe in the Three-Fold Rule, or celebrate Yule with a decorated tree? Absolutely not. Modern spiritual practices are valid, but you cannot continue to claim they are something they are not.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I would love for you to share what myths you may have believed in the comments below. This is meant to open discussion, not just me yelling into the void. Haha!

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Book Review: The Spiritual Magic of Dolls by Najah Lightfoot

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say, when Weiser reached out asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing The Spiritual Magic of Dolls by Najah Lightfoot, I was intrigued. As the introduction by Judika Illes states, there isn't anything else quite like this book on the market, but hopefully that changes as more people discover different ways to practice witchcraft and magic.

Lightfoot does a wonderful job introducing readers to the world of dolls and the ways they can be used in one's magical practice. I will say, I was disappointed that she didn't offer more concrete ways to use dolls in spells and rituals, but the foundation is certainly there. She covers everything from finding and connecting with dolls, understanding their energy, introducing them to your home, and initiating them into your practice if they desire to be a part of your work.

Apart from the basics of incorporating dolls into your practice, Lightfoot also explores dolls in popular culture, from the movies they have been portrayed in to places that have strong "doll magic." She discusses, at length, how the media has shaped our views and understanding of dolls, especially as they relate to the occult. This reminded me of the same influence the media has had on spirit or Ouiji boards. Unfortunately, the media is not always kind, and this skews viewers' perceptions in the wrong direction. I personally loved that on more than one occasion, she discussed how powerful energy is not necessarily bad, evil, or haunted energy. So many people have fallen into the trap that every weird or awkward doll is possessed or haunted, and that simply isn't the case. Like all objects, they can absorb the energies around them and often develop personalities of their own. Not all personalities jive, and just because you don't get along with a doll or because its energy is strong, does not mean the doll is bad. Lightfoot is sick of it. I am sick of it. I think many expert practitioners of magic are sick of it, too.

Woven throughout this guide to using dolls are numerous personal stories. I always enjoy reading about the living practices of others, including the unique stories that shaped an author's practice. There is no shortage of stories in The Spiritual Magic of Dolls. We are even introduced to some of Lightfoot's dolls, all accompanied by beautiful photographs. While I really enjoyed her stories, this does make it a little hard to find the information you may be looking for, especially if you are trying to come back to this book later. As such, I recommend taking notes or annotating the text (with sticky notes!). This will make it a lot easier to actually use the information later.

While I read, I couldn't help but think about my own dolls and the dolls I have met over the years. During one story, Lightfoot mentions finding a discarded baby doll in a construction zone, and I couldn't help but remember one of the little girls I used to nanny losing her favorite baby doll (named Baby Grandpa), which happened to look exactly like the doll Lightfoot found (there is a photo). While there is zero chance Lightfoot found Baby Grandpa, it did bring back those memories of searching high and low for a beloved doll and hoping that whoever found it would love it as much as my little girl did. I also cannot help but think about my very small porcelain doll collection, which I obsessed over as a child. I still have them, stored away lovingly in storage, but now I am wondering if I should pull them out once again and see if they would like to participate in some magic. Every year when I do a great purge, I unbox these dolls and wonder if I should let them go, but I have never been able to bring myself to part with them. I am not particularly fond of dolls, but I certainly love the 5-6 ones I have packed away.

My biggest complaint, however, was Lightfoot's stance on using dolls and poppets for harming others. Everyone is allowed to have their own moral/ethical code. I fully support others choosing to "harm none" or find other means of changing events that do not directly harm another. I also fully support doing what is necessary to protect and defend yourself, and cursing and hexing are two such weapons in my arsenal. I see nothing wrong with using dolls in self-defense and would have been interested to read more about their use for such purposes.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Spiritual Magic of Dolls and recommend it to those looking to add something new to their practice.

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Magical and Medicinal Uses of Sandalwood

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Exorcism, Healing, Knowledge, Money, Protection

Magical Uses and History: Sandalwood is a broad term used to describe the wood from trees found in the Santalum genus. Like many woods used in witchcraft and occult practices, sandalwood has a high concentration of volatile oils, which gives it a warm, woody aroma. And, as with most plants used in occult practices, sandalwood has a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years.

The earliest known mention of sandalwood appeared during the 5th-century in Nirukta of Yāska, where it is mentioned in reference to the acquisition of knowledge. Yāska compares a person who has studied, yet does not understand the Vedas, to a "post or a beast of burden carrying a load of sandalwood, unaware of its fragrance." This metaphor not only reiterates sandalwood's well-known fragrance but also connects it to wisdom or knowledge. Current research suggests sandalwood may help calm the nerves and improve mental clarity, further supporting this connection. In Buddhism, sandalwood is used to help maintain one's alertness during meditation as well as to transform one's desires. As such, sandalwood can be burned during divination rituals to open the mind and connect with the spirit world, or in similar spells and rituals.

In 300 BCE, the Arthashastra comments on sandalwood being a valuable and taxable commodity, prized for its fragrance and spiritual connection. Trade of sandalwood remained strong, peaking in the 18th century after the discovery of Hawaiian sandalwood. Trade exploded with China, but intense, unregulated harvesting severely depleted the forests, learning to an eventual market crash by 1840. This, coupled with disease and desire, drove prices up. Today, sandalwood remains one of the most valuable woods, with Indian sandalwood costing around $200 per kilogram and oil around $8,000 per kilogram. Some reports state that a hectare of mature sandalwood trees is worth about $400,000. Due to its immense cost, burning sandalwood during funeral rites was a hallmark of wealth. Over three tons were used in Gandhi's cremation alone. Most individuals choose to use a sandalwood paste applied to the forehead, which costs significantly less but is still believed to help guide the soul to the next life. Some sources say sandalwood was also used in embalming formulas in ancient Egypt, likely due to its ability to mask odors and purify the body, but research is scarce on the topic. As such, sandalwood is both a status symbol and connected to the afterlife. It can be used in spells and rituals to attract wealth and prosperity as well as to connect with your ancestors, the divine, or the Otherworld. Its strong scent, coupled with its soothing abilities, makes it perfect to burn during hedge riding or other such rituals. 

Apart from the aforementioned uses, sandalwood is most often used as a paste in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sufism during religious ceremonies. The paste is applied to one's forehead as a mark of devotion and is believed to purify and sanctify oneself and one's tools, helping to make a connection with the divine. This paste is also often applied to statues, effigies, and ritual tools for such purposes. During Māhāmastakābhiṣeka, the statue of Sommateshwara is bathed in a mixture of spices, including sandalwood, as an offering. If one could afford it, sandalwood was also used to carve religious statues. Needless to say, sandalwood is deeply connected with the divine, purification, and protection. It can be used in virtually any religious ceremony, especially those connected to the divine, the Otherworld, or ancestors.

Medicinal Uses: Sandalwood is most often used as an oil to treat a variety of ailments, especially those of the skin when properly diluted. Some research shows sandalwood oil aids in wound healing and can be used to treat acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis when used topically due to its anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic properties. It is also due to these anti-inflammatory properties that sandalwood oil may help alleviate respiratory symptoms related to colds and bronchitis. Finally, sandalwood oil contains high concentrations of santalol, which acts as a nervous system sedative, thus reducing stress, anxiety, and tension while improving mental clarity.

Preparation and Dosage: To dilute, combine 6-18 drops per 30mL of carrier oil to make a 1-3% solution. Sandalwood oil mixes well with almond, coconut, or jojoba oil. If you would like to diffuse the oil, add 3-10 drops to your diffuser or humidifier.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

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The Reawakening of Seasons: How to Embrace Change as a Magical Act Through Tea, Meditation, and Journaling

As winter loosens its grip, the days begin to grow longer. It feels as if the earth has finally exhaled after holding its breath. The weather warms, snow begins to melt, and the first shoots press triumphantly through the soil. What once stood still now stirs with life again. 

This is a reawakening, marking the threshold where the long silence of winter gives way to change. Yet change can be just as difficult to embrace as stillness, especially if you have anxiety like I do. Current societal expectations often frame new beginnings as an opportunity to rush forward or bring about some monumental change in your life. As such, these moments of change, like spring, become another demand to start fresh, reinvent yourself, move faster, and do more. But the natural world tells a different story.

Awakening does not happen all at once, although sometimes it feels like it here in the South, where just a couple of days ago it was in the 20s and today was in the 80s! Still, this reawakening of the earth unfolds slowly, guided by rhythms older than any calendar or deadline. In witchcraft, the reawakening of the land reminds us that change is not something to force, but something to be patient with. Just as the earth warms gradually and seeds split open in their own time, we too must allow ourselves the time and space to emerge slowly from the quiet of winter. When we resist the pressure to transform overnight, we begin to notice the subtle ways life begins again. Embracing change in this way becomes its own form of magic, one rooted in awareness rather than urgency or productivity.

There are many ways we can connect with this reawakening and change in our magical practices, from meditation to teas to spell work. Today, I offer a tea recipe, guided meditation, and journal prompts to invite the magic of change into your own practice and engage in shadow work. I find combining these methods, particularly the tea with the meditation, works best. These can also be added to your daily practice during the spring months to better connect with the magic of the season.

Ritual Tea for Change

The tea recipe below is formulated to invite or prompt a change in your life. It can also set the stage for shadow work, allowing you to open yourself to your intuition and messages from the Otherworld.  I have included a series of shadow work journal prompts at the end of the post to help guide your reflection and intuition. Peppermint is well known for its ability to awaken the mind and body, helping to shock the system gently. Ginger is a naturally warming root, and, as such, brings warmth to peppermint's cooling nature. It helps to wake up and warm the muscles and get the juices flowing, both metaphorically and literally...it stimulates digestion! Lemon, which is traditionally associated with joy and happiness, helps to open you to the idea of embracing change, allowing for a more positive experience.

Ingredients:

1-2 teaspoons dried peppermint or 1/2 cup packed fresh peppermint leaves

1 inch of fresh ginger, cut into thin coins

1/2 lemon, juiced

Sweetener of choice

Instructions:

Over a stovetop, bring 1.5-2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add the ginger slices, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add peppermint, allowing the mixture to infuse for 5-10 minutes. While the tea infuses, stir in your lemon juice and sweetener, stirring clockwise while saying, "In the light's new dawn, I accept and embrace change. In this new awakening, I shall listen." Breathe in the aroma of the tea before enjoying. As you sip, visualize tension leaving your body and energy filling your body, radiating throughout your body with each warm sip.

This tea pairs incredibly well with the following guided meditation or a relaxing ritual bath.

Guided Meditation

Find a comfortable position to sit or lie. Close your eyes and take several slow breaths, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Feel your body settle, your heartbeat steady, and your mind begin to slow. Continue breathing until you feel relaxed and centered enough to begin the guided meditation.

When ready, imagine yourself standing at the edge of a threshold. Behind you are the bare trees, muffling snow, and cold wind you are leaving. Ahead of you is something unnamed, but bright, brimming with new life. You do not need to cross yet. Instead, feel the ground beneath your feet. This threshold is not a demand, but an open invitation.

You begin to walk forward, the world feeling suspended in time. There is no past, no future, only now. You reach a clearing where the snow begins to melt, and the temperature begins to warm. You stand or sit upon the earth. Beneath you, the land still sleeps, dreaming of warmer days. However, you feel it stirring, restless to reawaken and take shape.

In the stillness, listen. What you once thought was nothingness is actually the slow pulse of life, hidden away beneath the snow. Roots, dormant seeds, and resting spirits breathe deep and exhale. The promise of new beginnings is thick in the air. Their current silence is not absence, but a potential waiting to be born anew.

Breathe with that rhythm. Let it seep into your bones. Open your heart and mind to any messages the earth, spirits, and land wish to convey to you. Sit in the stillness, soaking in the anticipation of new beginnings until you feel relaxed, allowing messages to flow freely to you.

When you are ready, whisper to yourself: “I am the reawakening of seasons. I am the space where magic blooms.” When you return, carry that initiative within you as you work through the journal prompts below.

Shadow Work Journal Prompts for the Silence Between Seasons

1. What part of me resists change, even when I want it? What does that resistance protect?
2. What am I afraid will be exposed if I begin again? Weakness, desire, hope, or something else?
3. How have I mistaken endurance for identity? Who am I without constant survival?
4. What version of myself am I grieving as I change? What did they give me that I still carry forward?
5. Where do I feel pressure to “be ready” before I actually am? Who benefits from that expectation?
6. What does awakening feel like in my body? Where does it feel uncomfortable?
7. What old patterns try to follow me into new beginnings? How can I acknowledge them without letting them lead?
8. If change didn’t require certainty, what would I allow myself to explore?
9. What am I learning to trust as I step into this new season? Intuition, pacing, rest, support?
10. What kind of change feels sustainable for me right now?

Brewing a second cup of tea while working on the shadow work journal prompt helps me recall my journey and opens myself up to being more honest and reflective in my answers. I end my ritual and reflection with the following mantra: "I honor what has carried me here. I release what no longer needs to follow. I welcome change without forcing its shape. I trust the rhythm of my becoming."

You can download your free copy of the journal prompts below.

While I much prefer the quiet stillness of winter, with its cold weather and dreary skies, there is something beautiful about spring. I love watching the Earth wake up and how slowly, yet tumultously She does. The Earth does not accept change easily either. She lashes out with erratic weather and storms, but eventually settles into a new normal, as we all must. It's okay to be anxious about change, to even buck at it. But eventually, change will come, and in time, you, just like our Earth, will learn to accept it. Seize this as a learning opportunity, not as a punishment. I wish everyone the best of luck as the pollinating begins, and hope you are not too inconvenienced by the yellow smog of spring.

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Ogham by Jane Matthews Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

You would think spending the last several weeks sick would have left me with plenty of time to read and write, but alas, my mind was so foggy I could do little more than sit up in my chair or lie in bed. I could barely watch TikTok in my stupor. I was hoping to use the time to read several of the books that publishers have recently sent me to review, but without the ability to focus on anything for more than 5 minutes at a time, I wasn't able to. I was, however, able to look through some of the tarot/divination decks they have sent me. Staring at pictures and letting your vision unfocus is easy when you are unwell, at least for me.

Needless to say, that is where today's review comes in. I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of Ogham: Diving in the Celtic Way by Jane Matthews from Weiser/Red Wheel, and while I am not a practitioner of Celtic magic or divination, I do find the deck rather inspiring. The symbols are similar to runes and even have some overlap in meaning.

The deck features 25 cards and a 192-page guidebook. The guidebook is thicker than the cards, but for a good reason. It fully details how to read Ogham, which is vastly different from tarot. In the guide, you will find a brief history of the Ogham and a detailed guide on how to read the cards. Just like runes, the Ogham is broken up into sets, which are known as aicme. Each aicme has a different theme or story it tells, just like each runic ætt. Matthews does an excellent job breaking down each card's meaning and its relationship with others in the deck. And, as with all deck guidebooks, Matthews includes a number of spread ideas and how to read each spread. This is honestly one of the longest guidebooks I have come upon and is perfect for those new to the practice of reading the Ogham.

As for the cards, they are simply designed to avoid distraction and printed on sturdy cardstock. They are medium-sized cards, making it relatively easy to shuffle. The edges are a beautiful green, but it was starting to rub off as I was playing with the cards. They aren't shiny or gilded as previous decks have been, but they are still beautiful nonetheless. Overall, I believe the cards will hold up well over time.

If you are interested in getting your hands on a set of Ogham in card form, I encourage you to check out Jane Matthews's Ogham: Diving in the Celtic Way, available now.

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Transitioning from Winter to Spring: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Youthful Thought

I'm back! I apologize for my absence, but I have been fighting what my mother believes to be the flu for the past 3 weeks. Yes, you read that correctly...three weeks! I have been unable to do much of anything, with most days feeling like I am living in a haze. I haven't been able to focus well enough to read, let alone research, test, and write any articles or spells. I am beginning to feel better, despite the persistent cough and mucus. As such, I am back today with herbal remedies for spring, continuing the series I started in 2024!

Keats famously coined spring "a triple morn" and a time for "youthful thought." In each of these sonnets/poems, Keats is referencing spring as a time for renewal, fresh starts, and intense awakenings. As we shed the cloak of winter, we awake refreshed and renewed, ready to take on whatever trials the world throws at us with renewed vigor. Like all in-between spaces, the transition between seasons is deeply liminal and can leave us feeling tired, drained, and out of sorts, even after a rather restful slumber. This makes it a great time to work with plant allies to bolster and fortify your body, mind, and spirit for the changes ahead, as well as get in touch with the magic of the season.

In today's post, I offer 3 herbal recipes to aid your transition from winter to spring. These recipes can be used to create a variety of remedies, including salves, oxymels, steams, baths, tisanes (teas), or tinctures. It's completely up to you how to use these recipes, but I encourage you to consult with the spirits of the plants, your intuition, and even your ancestors or spiritual guides to determine which preparation method is best for you. While taking it as a tisane may be best for me, you may need to use it as a steam.

For Breaking the Dormancy

Winter has a way of settling into your bones, which in turn slows the bodyand dulls the senses. As spring approaches, you may feel caught between wanting to wake up and wanting to burrow back down. I know many mornings I am hard-pressed to remove myself from the comforts of the nest I have built in my bed. This combination of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), peppermint (Mentha spp.), and rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) creates a soothing, yet strong uplift that will help you shed the dormancy of winter.

1 part lemon balm

1 part peppermint

1/4 part rosemary

For the Deep Inhale

With spring comes the reawakening of the Earth in all Her majesty, and that means pollen...a lot of pollen. Thankfully, I do not have an allergy to pollen, but many of my closest friends and family suffer through the next several months, unable to take a satisfyingly deep breath. These plants are specifically used to treat allergies, acting as natural antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and relieving itchy, watery eyes and runny noses. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is well known for its ability to block histamine receptors, while mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) help relieve congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) adds an extra punch of spice, increasing the overall impact of the recipe.

2 parts stinging nettle

1 part mullein

1/2 part eyebright

1/4 part ginger

For Spring Cleansing

Winter has a habit of hanging around well past its time, even here in the South. We experience a number of false springs before the real spring even begins. As such, our bodies often carry the residue of long nights, heavy foods, and slower rhythms well past their time. Since spring is a time of renewal, it only makes sense to spring clean, and what better way to kick off that cleaning than with a cleansing of the body? Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) is a classic ally of spring, deeply connected to the liver and traditionally used to encourage detoxification, balance, and resilience after winter’s excesses. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) brings warming movement back into the system, stimulating digestion and circulation while helping the body process and release what it no longer needs. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), with its golden hue and long-standing association with purification and vitality, supports anti-inflammatory balance and renewal at a cellular level. Together, these roots form a steady, grounding cleanse, one that clears heaviness and invites the body and spirit to feel lighter, brighter, and ready for growth.

1 part dandelion root

1/4 part ginger

1/4 part turmeric

***

As the wheel turns toward spring, these recipes can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. I personally despise the coming of spring, knowing that in a few short weeks the sweltering heat of summer will be upon us, and I will be relegated to the confines of my air-conditioned home. I take solace in the fact that with spring comes the return of the Georgia Renaissance Festival, which I am excited to attend. I believe this year will mark my 23rd year of attendance, and if you are in the area, maybe you will see me there! Wishing you all the best!

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Mirror Ritual for Enduring Self-Love

This isn't the first time I have written a self-love spell on my blog, and it's doubtful this will be the last one I ever write. I find myself often struggling to love the body that I am in, and it becomes increasingly difficult to love myself wholly in times of stress and uncertainty. Lately, I have not felt much love for myself, and I thought it was about time I got around to changing that.

This spell is not about convincing yourself that you are perfect. Instead, it is about embracing yourself as you are and reminding yourself that you are worthy of love and care, even when you don't feel like it. Self-love takes time and commitment, but it is the first step in spiritual activism. As I state in my book The Green Witch's Guide to Self-Care, we cannot fill our cauldrons (community) until we fill our chalices (self). That means taking care of yourself is required to care for your community, whether that care be through protesting, advocacy, or volunteer work.

What You'll Need

• Bowl of warm water (large enough to fit your hands)
• Pinch of salt
• Towel
• Pink candle
• Carving tool
• Anointing oil (rose-scented is perfect for this)
• Crushed rose petals
• Match/lighter
• Mirror or reflective surface

What to Do

This spell is best performed on a Friday (or Valentine's Day) during the early morning or late evening when you can be alone in a quiet environment.

Begin by cleansing your space and objects using your preferred method. If you feel called to do so, cast a circle and invite any deities, spirits, or ancestors you wish to witness or assist in your self-love rite. When ready, ground and center yourself in this moment using your preferred method.

When you feel grounded and centered, add your salt to your warm water and wash your hands while saying, "I wash away my self-doubt and self-hatred. It holds no power over me. I return to myself in love and grace." Pat your hands dry.

Using your carving tool, carve the word "self-love" into the candle. Anoint it using your anointing oil of choice, then roll the candle in your crushed rose petals to coat. Place the candle in front of you and light it using your match or lighter.

With the candle lit, gaze into the mirror or reflective surface. Do not search for imperfections and faults. Instead, focus on simply recognizing your face and body, appreciating it for carrying you this far. Spend several minutes gazing at your reflection, relearning to love yourself as you go by saying outloud that you are thankful for each part of your body. I always like to begin with what I love most about myself before working toward saying I am grateful for the things I like the least. It is okay to cry during this ritual. In fact, I encourage it. Let out all of your emotions as you remind yourself that this body, in all its glory, is yours and worthy of love.

When you have finished thanking all parts of your body, place your hand over your heart and say, "This is the one who stayed. I am loved and worthy of love."

Next, dip your fingers into the water and touch your forehead lightly and say, "I am not my harshest critic. I am the keeper of myself."

Next, dip your fingers into your anointing oil and anoint your forehead or heart while saying, "I vow to speak to myself with care. I vow to rest when I am weary. I vow to return when I stray from myself."

Hold your hands near the candle flame (without burning them!), say, "I tend my own hearth. My worth does not waver. So I will it, so shall it be." Gently extinguish the candle or allow it to burn down.

Either flush the water or pour it outside as an offering. Before you come at me for the salt being in the water, it is a pinch. That is not enough to cause any ecological harm.

Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives:

• Do not leave a lit candle unattended, and always have water or another fire extinguisher nearby.
• I understand that mirrors can be triggering, especially for those with body dysmorphia. If a mirror feels too distressing or inaccessible, replace it with a heavy, warm, or otherwise comforting object. Close your eyes and instead of reflecting on how you perceive your body in a mirror, focus on how your body feels. When finished, place your hand over your heart and say, "I do not need to be seen to be worthy. I am loved and worthy of love."
• Because of the potentially distressing nature of this ritual, you may wish to have a grounding crystal on hand, such as black tourmaline, obsidian, onyx, or jet, or a crystal for emotional healing, such as rose quartz.
• If you cannot burn a candle, try replacing it with a tea made from rose petals, chamomile, and lemon balm. Hold it for warmth at the end of the ritual and drink it instead of extinguishing the candle.
  
  

Why You Did It

Understanding the whys of a spell (or ritual or recipe) is just as important as performing it. It helps you understand the process so you can modify the spell or ritual to suit your needs, and it helps guide you in writing your own. It's my intention to provide these explanations so that you can build a better understanding of how spells are written and executed, so you can modify and build your own spells (the goal of my Spellcrafting Series).

First and foremost, this ritual is best performed on a Friday or Valentine's Day, as these are days traditionally associated with love, whether it be self-love or otherwise. You'll want to do this at a time when you can be alone in the quiet hours of the day because there is a good possibility you are going to get emotional. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of an emotional ritual, and your partner or children come barging in to break your concentration and energy.

Next, a bowl of water with a pinch of salt was used to wash your hands and later anoint your forehead. Salt is naturally detoxifying and therefore cleansing. By washing your hands in warm salt water, you are helping to wash away any self-doubt, lingering blockages, and other energies that may get in the way of this spell. This same water was used to anoint your forehead to dispel your desire to continue to criticize yourself.

Pink is associated with self-love, making it the perfect color to use for the candle in this particular spell. "Self-love" was carved into the candle to represent the overall intention of the spell, then anointed with oil and rolled in crushed rose petals, which are also associated with love. Roses are also associated with protection and emotional healing, both of which are needed during this ritual to help you overcome any self-doubt or self-loathing you may be feeling while looking at yourself.

Looking at your body in a mirror and really studying yourself while thanking it for all it does for you is a great way to override your negative self-talk. This particular exercise is known as mirror gazing meditation, and is known to help foster self-compassion, increase self-awareness, and interrupt negative thought patterns. It also encourages emotional regulation by forcing you to confront your own reflection, allowing you to dismantle internalized criticism. Ultimately, this activity helps to rewire your brain, thus shifting your focus away from your perceived flaws to your strengths. This is followed by a positive affirmation in which you remind yourself, while holding your heart (the center of love), that you are worthy of love and affection.

This ritual is finished with the dispelling of negative thoughts through the anointing of your forehead with the salt water, as previously mentioned above, and the anointing of your forehead or heart with anointing oil while making a vow to be kind and loving to yourself. The heat from the candle's flame is used to close the ritual and bring warmth and comfort.

The water is flushed, thus flushing away unwanted negative energies, or returned to the earth for a similar purpose.

Want to break this spell? This really isn't a spell that is broken, but instead it will naturally wane over time if not reinforced often through this or other self-love rituals.

Remember to record this spell in your Book of Shadows or use my Spell/Ritual Worksheet for reference later.

***

I know with everything that has been going on in the world that thinking about and caring for yourself may seem selfish. It isn't. We have to remember that self-care is a necessary part of resistance. I am wishing all of you a safe and loving time as winter slowly begins to turn toward spring.

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Book Review: Charm Casting by Tina Hardt

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

Several years ago, I wrote a series on Bone Magic, and within that series, I discussed creating and using your own "bone tarot" or set of bones for casting. While I largely use bones when I cast lots, I have begun to incorporate more and more trinkets into my sets to help clarify and connect with my readings. In all honesty, I have fallen out of using my bone sets and have relied more heavily on runes as of late, but reading Charm Casting: Diving with Trinkets, Trifles, Baubles, and Bits by Tina Hardt has inspired me to pick the practice back up!

Of all the books I have read over the years about divination, Charm Casting ranks among the best. Hardt offers a complete and comprehensive guide to creating, casting, and reading your own charm casts. She answers every possible question a new or experienced caster could have, from selecting your charms and determining their meaning, to creating or finding casting surfaces, to cleansing and charging yourself and your trinkets before use and after use. All of this is given to us with hilarious asides, quips, and stories, which make reading Charm Casting feel like a conversation with a close friend. I will say that while I absolutely enjoyed Hardt's conversational writing style, it is very millennial-coded, which may give younger readers the ick. You all really need to leave us alone already! It's okay to be quirky or silly or cringe; it doesn't invalidate the information or experiences we have to share.

Apart from offering a tremendous amount of incredibly useful information in a compact space, Hardt also includes journaling prompts and Grimoire outlines to help the reader create and organize their own notes regarding the charms used. Her suggestions go far beyond what I have seen others suggest over the years, ensuring you are left with the best possible guide to your own trinkets so that reading them is easy. I am going to have to go back and add some details to my current notes to make up for the gaps in potential understanding. Hardt also offers craft ideas for creating your own reading space or charm circle, spell ideas, and prayers.

Finally, Hardt ends with real-world examples (with pictures!) to help guide the reader through reading and understanding charms once they have been cast. I have said it once, and I will continue to say it: I live for real examples. Since I cannot see her actually casting and walking through her process in person, the next best way to observe is through written and picture examples. I know many of you rely on such examples to build a strong foundation in your own practice, and you will not be disappointed here. Hardt also includes examples throughout the text, so don't be deterred that the two largest examples are featured at the end. Besides, you really have to learn everything before you can fully understand and appreciate fully-described examples.

If you are interested in getting into or expanding your charm casting practice, I highly recommend Charm Casting: Diving with Trinkets, Trifles, Baubles, and Bits by Tine Hardt. I know I will be consulting this book for years to come, and I am thankful for the opportunity to review it for all of you!

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