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Enchanted Forest Magazines

These are magazines we put together from articles posted on site by all members.
These magazines are Free!! We have done these since almost the beginning and have
over 70 in our Scribd Library.
On the right side of the Forest pages you will see current magazine covers shown..
Just click on those and they will take you to the magazine.. no sign up required and
Free download.
If you would like to submit an article please check out our magazine group tab on
site menu. There will have the instructions on how to send in your article and want
to Thank all those who have supported our magazine through the years.. great read
with allot of helpful information.
Thank you
Shadow and Breeze

We at the Enchanted Forest are honoured to support and host the live chats
given by Susun Weed on a monthly basis. Susun is an expert in her field of
Herbs and this is a great opportunity for all to increase their knowledge
and skills by learning from Susun FREE !!!
To come along to these chats join
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Times of classes below
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Central - 6 pm
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SUSUN WEED'S HERBAL

August 29th / Gensing discussion notes

Susun Weed - green blessings to you all

Diana Davidson - Hello
Susun Weed - how are you all tonight?
all great. just got home from the northeast women's herbal conference
tonight we are chatting about ginseng.
one of the most popular and well-known of all herbs.
what do you each know about it?
most people know that it is the root of ginseng that is used
Diana Davidson - I don't have any experience with the herb
Susun Weed - when i started studying herbal medicine, it was a "rule" that ginseng root
had to be 10-12 years old if it was to be effective
that was fifty years ago with increasing interest in ginseng, the age of the roots
gradually became less and less
nowadays it is considered just fine to sell ginseng that is 3 years old.
there are other reasons as well for selling such young ginseng
foremost, the increasing rarity of wild ginseng means that most of the ginseng root on
the market is cultivated
and cultivators don't want to wait for 12 years before turning a profit.
even three is a long wait for some.
second, young ginseng is less likely to be stimulating, an unwanted side effect for
many folks.
Have you ever heard of someone taking too much ginseng and going over the edge?
it was far more common when old ginseng roots were easily available.
there are three plants that may be known as ginseng/
there is American ginseng: Panax quinquifolium.
that means five leaved plant that cures all.
panax from panacea. quinqui is five. and folium is leaves
American ginseng is the only one that can still be found in the wild.
Organizations like United Plant Savers are helping people establish plantings of
ginseng.

they are not truly wild. but neither are they cultivated.
the parks service has chipped most wild ginseng in national parks to prevent people
from harvesting (stealing) it.
yes, it is in the appalachians that the ginseng is chipped.
but you have to have a really really old ginseng root to sell it for a thousand dollars a
pound.
American ginseng is prized though. It is considered the best ginseng.
because it grows in deciduous forests
that means it is cool in the summer due to the tree leaves
and warm in the winter because the leaves are gone
that makes it perfect to "balance" everything
herbalists call plants with this kind of action adaptogens meaning that they help us
adapt to differing circumstances
The second ginseng is the one that you are most likely to find if you just ask for
ginseng.
forestflower - I guess would the wise woman way of saying that be " have a better
relationship"
Susun Weed - It is Chinese or Oriental ginseng.
Panax chinensis. Literally , the plant from china that cures everything.
forestflower - sorry, instead of "balance"
Susun Weed - Oriental ginseng is often smoked to make it less stimulating.
the smoking makes it red and sweet
it is sometimes called Korean ginseng when it is smoked
not smoked as in inhaled but smoked as in smoked cheese
Oriental ginseng is known as the herb of virility and longevity
For hundreds of years only the emperors were allowed to use ginseng.
I still find people who believe that ginseng is a man's herb and it shouldn't be used by
women.
But ginseng is just fine for women Of course it may not increase their sexual stamina or
desire
Many scientific studies have been done with oriental ginseng they usually focus on
stamina
and ginseng always increases stamina
ginseng is especially helpful for those under stress and those who need to work long
hours
or rats to need to swim in cold water for longer times as one researcher joked

Shadow - its in those 3 hour energy drinks isn't it people buy like its candy around
here..
Susun Weed - yup!
but the ginseng in those drinks is very low quality.
someone once told me it was the "sweepings" from the floor
probably not
but likely it is the little rootlets that are clipped off the bigger roots before they are
smoked and sold
i was also told that the packets of instant ginseng are very low quality
but, interestingly , the little vials of ginseng -- sometimes with royal jelly -- are of fair
quality
and that is often the least expensive way to get some real ginseng goodness
and those vials and little straws are sooooo cute
the third kind of ginseng is not ginseng Siberian ginseng is not ginseng at all. that is, it
is not a panax
Siberian ginseng is Elutherococcus senticocus It is undergoing a name change to
separate it from the real ginsengs
So it is being called by its shortened scientific name: Eluthero
Eluthero is also an adaptagen. It is especially used by those with cancer.
I talk quite a bit about it in my book on Breast Health
and its wonderful effects on the immune system
Shadow - uh minute ago was mention helps with stress whats the effect for those with
anxiety..
Susun Weed - ginseng is not recommended for those who are anxious due to it
stimulating qualities.
oatstraw infusion is of great benefit in relieving anxiety
as is motherwort tincture.
oatstraw infusion several times a week to deal with chronic anxiety
and motherwort tincture as needed to deal with acute anxiety
and both herbs are just fine with any drugs
ginseng is not considered fine with drugs
I live in the Catskills, where ginseng does still grow wild.
The ginseng hunters here don't fight that i know of.
Not that they would share their knowledge of where to find 'seng with just anyone

Susun Weed - and yes, poaching is against the law, thus the chips in the ginseng!
The old timers around me say the yearly dose of ginseng is a piece as big as the
terminal joint of your thumb
a sliver is cut off that and chewed for an entire day
this is repeated for six weeks.
then, no more ginseng is to be used until the next harvest season.
what a gentle way to protect ourselves and the plants
what a gentle way to protect ourselves and the plants
I love that kind of old wisdom about how to behave myself as a citizen of the natural
world.
perhaps that is why ginseng still grows in the Catskills
One of the first people who recognized and fostered my love of nature was an old man
of the forest by the name of Aaron van de Bogart.
He was a forest ranger during the days when rangers sat in fire towers to warn of
lightening strikes
those towers are all closed and Aaron is dead but i still remember where the hundredyear-old ginseng is growing.
And it would be 145 years old now!
Aaron told me that when the ginseng seed sprouts, it grows only a root, no leaf
so you cant find it until it is several years old He taught me how to count the leaf scars
of the neck to determine the age of the ginseng and how to be sure no one was
observing me when i went to visit with the old ginseng that is why i am sure it is still
there smiling from the mountainside down on all of us.
I will admit that i didn't really believe him
I mean, how can a plant grow without leaves? Seems like maybe he was pulling my leg.
which he did like to do.
then, i was gifted with some goldenseal plants.
baby plants, tiny roots. I planted them and thought they must have died, for I never
saw any goldenseal leaves until three years later when big leaves and flowers suddenly
appeared wow, maybe Aaron wasn't teasing me!
Reading up about Eluthero, I found that it supposedly grows without leaves for the
first several years of its life too.

I invite you to visit an herb shop in Chinatown and look at all the different kinds of
ginseng for sale.
I invite you to go to your health food store and ask for ginseng and see how many
different ways it is sold.
I invite you to explore and experiment with ginseng. Perhaps it will become an ally.
I have a tincture i made from a wild catskill root.
I take it in tiny doses when i am traveling after i used all the tincture, I re-tinctured it
same root, fresh 100 proof vodka
when that is all gone, i will re-tincture for a third time
i wouldn't do that with a cultivated root
I have a lovely cultivated root that someone gave to me.
I eat wee bits of it when I need something special to get through dense situations
ginseng is a good friend
but not one that I use very often
When we are next together, it will be autumn equinox
Green blessings

Now is the Time to be Rooted in Reality

Posted by Maya S'''

Why We Need to be Present in Our World Today

In this time of unprecedented global change, we need to be rooted in reality more than
ever. Yet it is quite clearby simply tracking all the ways people make an exodus from
the real on a daily basis that we are not doing this individually or as a collective
humanity.
Here in the United States, there are millions of people walking around with their smart
phones in search of digital creatures projected onto the screens in front of them.
Recently protests took place all across the country after the same smart phones were
used to make video recordings of police officers killing innocent black men.
We are living through the most rapid, large-scale changes in the history of our species.
Never before have humans changed the Earths climate, while producing nearly a
billion starving people as half the food we grow spoils in waste. There have never been
this many people being born and dying year to year. And the impacts we are making
on our communities and the planet are unlike anything we have ever seen before.
Is it any surprise that millions of Americans are looking to a demagogue as the frontrunning Republican candidate? What should really cause a stir is the fact that the two
political parties have managed to get their most disliked candidate to be the winner of
their political race. What this tells us is that there is a profound disconnect between
what is needed and the outcomes we are getting.
We are producing nearly a billion starving people as half the food we grow spoils in
waste.
Now is the Time to Reconnect Deeply with Reality.
It is essential that we learn how to discern what is really going on. This means
disconnecting from the endless streams of novelty on our social media feeds. It means
studying the cultural logics of our political and economic systems. Deeply and
thoroughly, it means understanding the history of what brought us to this period of
mass turbulence that is now changing the very chemistry of our planetand
redefining our place in the world.

The long arc of history for life on Earth has been one of mothers and daughters for
billions of years. (The first males came on the scene 2.6 billion years into the game of
life with the emergence of sexual reproduction 1.2 billion years ago.) The earliest signs
of life were a type of bacteria capable of living in harsh environments. So harsh that
scientists call them extremophiles because they can withstand such high temperatures
and pressures. A key advance was made by the earliest cooperators whoby figuring
out how to share life-giving rolesformed the first Eukaryotic cells with one organism
living inside another one.
Fast forward to the days of multicellular organisms and you see how cooperation has
won out as the pathway to an increasing sophistication of solutions in the long
history of struggle for survival and reproduction. This is elegantly seen in the way ant
colonies have worked for millions of years. For many ant species, all members of the
colony are genetic twins hailing from the sperm of a single father and birthed from the
same queen. They work with such extreme efficiency that a single colony can have
thousands of members and take over the bulk of the biomass for the environment they
are living in.

work together with extreme efficiency.

Sound Familiar? This is Pretty Much What Humans are Doing to the Planet Today.
We have become such excellent cooperatorssuper-charged by our unique ability to
live out cultural patterns that build on what came beforethat we have overwhelmed
the capacity of the Earth to support us.

According to the best estimates available, we have crossed four of the nine critical
thresholds, any of which would mean collapse of our global civilisation.
This is what is REALLY going on. We are now in overshoot and collapse mode for
our civilization. And we need to address this situation with increasing urgency each
passing day.
Being rooted in reality means taking observational evidence seriously. It means finding
the interpretive frameworks that adequately explain what is going on. And it means
finding workable solutions based on the legitimate intelligence this inquiry produces.
Or said succinctly, being rooted in reality means knowing what is actually going on
and acting accordingly.
Being rooted in reality means knowing what is actually going on and acting
accordingly.
I have dedicated my life to the study of patterns in the Earth System. What I write here
are a few pieces of what the global research community has puzzled together so far.
More pieces are falling into place on a regular basis. So many pieces, in fact, that the
whole picture is coming into view.
For example, it is now the case that 90% of all scientists who have ever lived are alive
today. They produce as much new knowledge in a twelve month period as was created
in the first three hundred years of science. It is simply impossible for any one person to
adequately wrap their head around this amount of knowledge.
What we arent doing is putting all the pieces together and acting on what we would
see if we did so. As a knowledge synthesizer myself, I see where many of the patterns
converge. But more watchful eyes are sorely needed. And better ways of coordinating
ourselves toward collective action must follow from what we see together. This means
we need a LOT more people connecting with reality.
It is going to require intentional planning and effort. We will need to run a series of,
what my colleagues and I have been calling, Culture Design Labs that bring together
the tools of culture design to establish a science of intentional social change. Time is of
the essence and there is much to be done.
Will You Join Us? We are in the process of birthing the field of cultural evolution
with more than 1500 cultural researchers already signed up to guide the synthesis of
knowledge across biology, the social sciences, and the humanities.

I am serving in the role of coordinator to help this effort get off the ground. It is one
part of a larger process to meld the best scientific knowledge available with the
panoply of tools and practices of guided social change.
There is already a great deal of expertise in community organizing, media storytelling,
education, policy formulation, organizational management, etc. The list of available
tools for putting the science to use is huge in its own right. What has been missing is
the articulation of how the pieces fit together in a narrative of change. So Ill offer an
early draft of what this might look like.
are in the process of birthing the field of cultural evolution.
It Goes Something Like This
In the early 21st Century, humanity gained the ability to guide its own cultural
evolution. We did this by marrying the best sciences available with the tools of social
change. Combined with a massive explosion in big data and visual storytelling
capabilities to make sense of it, we began to co-create culture as wise managers of the
evolutionary process.
By revealing what causes some ideas and behaviors to spread while others are actively
resisted or weak in their adoption, we began to see what was fit to thrive and how it
came to be selected. This knowledge enabled us to iteratively guide changes in the
criteria for selection such that we began to achieve shared goals like widespread
prosperity, community resilience, and social well-being.

In the process, we learned what it really means to be human. We are cultural animals
who are wired for making meaning of the world around us. Sometimes the stories we
live out are catastrophic in their consequences. Other stories are better aligned with
planetary thriving. As we collectively learn the difference, we become capable of
choosing which future we aspire towardand begin to learn how to go about making
it real.
This is our time to step back, unplug from our machines, and awaken to the truth of
what is happening around us. We need to do this before its too late.

And if enough of us reconnect with the basic truths of what is going on, we will begin
to see that all the pieces are ready for us to cobble together. We can guide ourselves
through the planetary-scale transition we are now in. It may not be easyand much
remains uncertain (as the future is always partially shrouded from view)but we
have to try. Theres simply no other acceptable option.

By Joe Brewer on Sunday August 21st, 2016

Originally posted on Medium

Atkins
Posted by hippiechic

Meats: Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, bacon and others.

Fatty Fish and Seafood: Salmon, trout, sardines, etc.
Eggs: The healthiest eggs are Omega-3 enriched or pastured.
Low-Carb Vegetables: Kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus and others.
Full-Fat Dairy: Butter, cheese, cream, full-fat yoghurt.
Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados and avocado oil.
The Atkins diet is split into 4 different phases:
1.Phase 1 (Induction): Under 20 grams of carbs per day for 2 weeks. Eat high-fat, highprotein, with low-carb vegetables like leafy greens. This kick-starts the weight loss.
2.Phase 2 (Balancing): Slowly add more nuts, low-carb vegetables and small amounts of
fruit back to your diet.
3.Phase 3 (Fine-Tuning): When you are very close to your goal weight, add more carbs to
your diet until weight loss slows down.
4.Phase 4 (Maintenance): Here you can eat as many healthy carbs as your body can
tolerate without regaining weight

Foods to Avoid
Young Woman Saying no to Junk Food
You should avoid these foods on the Atkins diet:
Sugar: Soft drinks, fruit juices, cakes, candy, ice cream, etc.
Grains: Wheat, spelt, rye, barley, rice.
Vegetable Oils: Soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil and a few others.
Trans Fats: Usually found in processed foods with the word hydrogenated on the
ingredients list.
Diet and Low-Fat Foods: These are usually very high in sugar.
High-Carb Vegetables: Carrots, turnips, etc (induction only).
High-Carb Fruits: Bananas, apples, oranges, pears, grapes (induction only).
Starches: Potatoes, sweet potatoes (induction only).
Legumes: Lentils, beans, chickpeas, etc (induction only).
Foods to Eat
Meats: Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, bacon and others.
Fatty Fish and Seafood: Salmon, trout, sardines, etc.
Eggs: The healthiest eggs are Omega-3 enriched or pastured.
Low-Carb Vegetables: Kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus and others.
Full-Fat Dairy: Butter, cheese, cream, full-fat yoghurt.
Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados and avocado oil.

Distant Healing
and the Human Energy Field
Posted by Joyce Thomas
Distant Healing and the Human Energy Field
by: Kathie Lipinski
One of the basic teachings of healing with Reiki is that we are more than our physical
bodies. We also have an energy body made up of our aura (energy fields), the chakras
(energy centers) and the meridians (energy pathways.) Like our physical body that
takes in food to nourish it and give it energy, our energy body does the same. The
energy fields take energy in, the chakras break it down, and the meridians distribute it
throughout the body.
Our body is comprised of energy vibrating at different speeds. Our physical body, our
thoughts, emotions, and our spiritual center, all vibrate at a particular frequency or
speed. These varying vibrations or pulsations create a field around them which are
often referred to as our aura or energy field. The aura is an information center and a
highly perceptual system that transmits and receives messages from the external and
internal environment.
Each energy layer appears different and has its own individual function. Yet, they
continuously interpenetrate each other as well as the physical body. These fields can
be felt through touch. It is what we perceive or sense when we scan with our hands.
The Etheric Field is the first layer of our energy body and is to 2 inches from the
body. It is the energy duplicate of the physical body.
The Emotional Field is where we experience feelings. It extends about 1 to 3 inches
beyond the physical body. The Mental Field is associated with thoughts and mental
processes. It can be sensed 3 to 8 inches from the body. The Spiritual Field is made up
of four or more layers, which help us relate to our higher self and spiritual dimensions.
It is activated when we meditate, pray or channel. It extends 6" to 2' beyond our
physical body. These energy fields are also referred to as our four levels of being; or
our physical, mental, emotional spiritual selves.

Here are some ways to enhance a distant Reiki session using the energy fields or four
levels of being.
First, empower your hands and chakras with the Usui power symbol. Then give
yourself Reiki for 10-15 minutes.
Then invoke or visualize the distant healing symbol and say its name three times.
Visualize the person you will be sending Reiki to. Intend to send Reiki to each level of
being for 10-20 minutes.
To send Reiki to their physical level of being, imagine that the Reiki enters their crown
chakra. Then it goes inside their body and slowly and gently fills them up. As they
become filled with Reiki energy, all of their body organs and parts are bathed in Reiki.
Then the energy begins to radiate out from their physical body. Imagine that they are
glowing with healing energy. See them expanded and their first energy layer filled.
Then send Reiki to their emotional being. Imagine that they are filled with peace, joy,
love, contentment and overall well being. Imagine that the glow from their physical
body now extends out into their emotional level.
Next, send Reiki to their mental being. Intend that their thoughts are clear and calm.
Imagine that their brain is working so that thoughts flow easily, and are well thought
out, Imagine that solutions to perplexing problems come easily. Imagine that worry
gently flows out of their body. As all these troubling thoughts leave their body, Reiki
fills up and extends out into their mental level.
Then send Reiki to their spiritual being. Imagine that Reiki comes in and fills up and
restores their spirit.their essencetheir soul. Imagine it as a beautiful golden flow of
energy that is a direct link to the higher realms. Imagine that guidance flows in and that
they are directly connected to the source, whatever they believe that to be. Intend that
the Reiki energy reconnects them to the divine within them and reignites their flame.
See them filled with spiritual energy that extends out beyond all the other levels of
their being.
You can also do this by having a conversation with the person before you send Reiki.
You can address each level of being by asking questions before the session.

For the physical body you can ask them how they are feeling? Are they having any
discomfort or pain?
For the emotional body, you can ask how they are feeling emotionally. Is there
something that is making them feel happy or something that is making them feel sad?
Then ask if they have too much on their mind or are worried about something? Does
their head feel like it is ready to explode?
To address the spiritual level, ask how their spirit feels? Do they experience the
sacredness of everyday life or is everyday just another day? Do they feel alone and
unprotected in the world?
Before you are ready to begin sending Reiki, ask them to allow the Reiki energy to heal
and address all of their levels of being. Ask them to allow themselves to receive this
healing energy.
Then send Reiki for 10-20 minutes to each level of being and intend that the Reiki go to
the issues, thoughts, or feelings that you discussed.
After the session is finished, let them rest. Visualize a power symbol over them and
seal the session with light and love. Do dry bathing (Kenyoku) to disconnect from their
energy field. Give yourself Reiki for a few minutes. You can call them afterwards to see
what they experienced and share what you sensed.
Then end with gratitude for the gift of Reiki.

ARE YOU A PHYSICAL EMPATH?

Posted by Charlene 'White Deer' Heathwood
Are You a Physical Empath?
by Judith Orloff MD)

Empathic illnesses are those in which you manifest symptoms that are not your own.
Many patients have come to me labeled agoraphobic with panic disorders, chronic
depression, fatigue, pain, or mysterious ailments that respond only partially to
medications or psychotherapy. Some were nearly housebound or ill for years. Theyd all
say, I dread being in crowds. Other peoples anger, stress, and pain drain me, and I
need a lot of alone time to refuel my energy. When I took a close history of all these
patients I found that they were what I call physical empaths: people whose bodies are
so porous they absorb the symptoms of others. I relate because I am one. Physical
empaths do not have the defenses that others have to screen things out. As a
psychiatrist, knowing this significantly changed how I treated these patients. My job
became teaching them to center and protect themselves, set healthy boundaries, and let
go of energy they picked up from others.
To determine if you are a physical empath take the following quiz.

Quiz: Am I a Physical Empath?

Ask yourself:
Have I been labeled as overly sensitive or a hypochondriac?
Have I ever sat next to someone who seemed nice but suddenly my eyelids got
heavy and I felt like taking a nap?
Do I feel uneasy, tired, or sick in crowds and avoid them?
Do I feel someone elses anxiety or physical pain in my body?
Do I feel exhausted by angry or hostile people?
Do I run from doctor to doctor for medical tests, but Im told Youre fine.
Am I chronically tired or have many unexplained symptoms
Do I frequently feel overwhelmed by the world and want to stay home?

If you answered yes to 1-3 questions you are at least part empath. Responding yes to 4
to 5 questions indicates you have moderate degree of physical empathy. 6 to 7 yeses
indicate you have a high degree of empathy. Eight yeses indicate you are a full blown
empath.
Discovering that you are a physical empath can be a revelation. Rest assured: You are not
crazy. You are not a malingerer or hypochondriac. You are not imagining things, though
your doctor might treat you like a nuisance. You are a sensitive person with a gift that
you must develop and successfully manage.
Strategies to Surrender Toxic Energy
Physical empathy doesnt have to overwhelm you. Now that I can center myself and
refrain from taking on other peoples pain, empathy has made my life more
compassionate, insightful, and richer. Here are some secrets to thriving as a physical
empath that Ive learned so that it doesnt take a toll on my health.
A Survival Guide for Empaths: 9 Strategies To Stop Absorbing Other Peoples Illness
and Pain (from The Ecstasy of Surrender)
Evaluate. First, ask yourself: Is this symptom or emotion mine or someone else's? It
could be both. If the emotion such as fear or anger is yours, gently confront what's
causing it on your own or with professional help. If its not yours, try to pinpoint
the obvious generator.
Move away. When possible, distance yourself by at least twenty feet from the
suspected source. See if you feel relief. Don't err on the side of not wanting to
offend strangers. In a public place, don't hesitate to change seats if you feel a sense
of dis-ease imposing on you.
Know your vulnerable points. Each of us has a body part that is more vulnerable to
absorbing others stress. Mine is my gut. Scan your body to determine yours. Is it
you neck? Do you get sore throats? Headaches? Bladder infections? At the onset of
symptoms in these areas, place your palm there and keep sending loving-kindness
to that area to soothe discomfort. For longstanding depression or pain, use this
method daily to strengthen yourself. It's comforting and builds a sense of safety
and optimism.
Surrender to your breath. If you suspect you are picking up someone elses
symptoms, concentrate on your breath for a few minutes. This is centering and
connects you to your power.
Practice Guerilla Meditation. To counter emotional or physical distress, act fast and
meditate for a few minutes. Do this at home, at work, at parties, or conferences. Or,
take refuge in the bathroom. If its public, close the stall. Meditate there. Calm
yourself. Focus on positivity and love.

 Set healthy limits and boundaries. Control how much time you spend listening to
stressful people, and learn to say no. Remember, no is a complete sentence.
Visualize protection around you. Visualize an envelope of white light around your
entire body. Or with extremely toxic people, visualize a fierce black jaguar
patrolling and protecting your energy field against intruders.
Develop X ray vision. The spaces between the vertebrae in your lower back
(lumbar spine) are conducive to eliminating pain from the body. Its helpful to
learn to mindfully direct pain out of these spaces by visualizing it leaving your
body. Say goodbye to pain as it blends with the giant energy matrix of life!
Take a bath or shower. A quick way to dissolve stress is to immerse yourself in
water. My bath is my sanctuary after a busy day. It washes away everything from
bus exhaust to long hours of air travel to pesky symptoms I have taken on from
others. Soaking in natural mineral springs divinely purifies all that ails.
Keep practicing these strategies. By protecting yourself and your space, you can create a
magical safe bubble around you that nurtures you, while simultaneously driving
negative people away. Dont panic if you occasionally pick up pain or some other nasty
symptom. It happens. With strategies I discuss in my book to surrender other peoples
symptoms you can have quicker responses to stressful situations. This will make you
feel safer, healthier, and your sensitivities can blossom.

Elemental Incense Blends

Posted by SunKat

Air Elemental Incense Blend

3 Parts Lavender
2 Parts Sage
2 Parts Lemongrass
1 Parts Benzoin
1 Part Dragons Blood
Part Star Anise
a few drops of Jasmine Oil
Fire Elemental Incense Blend
2 Parts Allspice
2 Parts Cinnamon
1 Part Peppermint
1 Part Basil
1 Part Sandalwood
Part Clove
Part Ginger

Water Elemental Incense Blend

3 Parts Rose
3 Parts Hyacinth
2 Parts Lemon Peel
2 Parts Thyme
1 Part Frankincense
1 Part Lavender
Earth Elemental Incense Blend
2 Parts Patchouli
2 Parts Cedar
1 Part Pine
1 Part Orris Root
1 Part Myrrh
Part Valerian

Candle Therapy and Crystals

Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

Using candles as therapy has been around for thousands of years, and has been
practiced by nearly every religion.
Candle therapy can be used to unite the powers of mind, body, and Spirit. From ancient
times to the present, Candles have lit our way through every transition! From
celebrations and ceremonies to proclamations and processions! The candle's' flame has
always been a metaphor for the soul!
It possesses a tranquil and almost hypnotic atmosphere to those who allow its power to
take them to a very special place.
A candle acts as a "self object". A self object is an object that is a reflection of our self, a
reflection upon which we can act. The candle reflects the Spiritual and ethical changes
we would like to bring about in ourselves. It burns as a reminder and symbol of our
desires. Sometimes we have to hand our dreams over to a force more powerful than we
are.
The techniques of allowing candles to help in Crystal work involve holding a selected
crystal in your hand or hands or placing the stone on the floor or table near you and
your mat and allow yourself to focus on the mineral as you meditate.
In a meditative or yoga group circle, you may place the candles and Crystals in the
center of the group. Make sure that the intention of the entire group is that of the same
intent.
Crystals can allow one to reach higher Spiritual levels during Meditation. The crystal
magnifies one's personal energy by aligning and connecting with universal power. The
candle can center and align by concentrating on it's flame.
If you decide to make your own candles, you can incorporate crystals into the candles as
an energetic component.
Andrew Pacholyk, MS. L.Ac

Cleansing Mist Recipes

Posted by SunKat

This cleansing spray is great for either cleansing your altar or sacred space, especially
when you are not able to burn sage or incense.
What youll need:
A 4-ounce bottle with a fine-mist setting. I personally use glass bottles, because
essential oils can eat through plastic.
Optional 1-ounce alcohol; Vodka works fine. (dont use isopropyl or rubbing
alcohol) the alcohol gives the spray a longer shelf life.
2 ounces of distilled water.
Essential oils, preferably organic see recipes below
Keep in mind that if you dont have one of the oils called for you could substitute it
with something different, or leave it out all together. Feel free to play around and get
creative. If you find a mixture isnt strong enough you can always add more oil.

Altar 1
4 parts Frankincense
3 parts Myrrh
2 parts Sage
2 parts Rosemary
1 part Lavender
Altar 2
5 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Cedar Wood
1 drop Dragons Blood
1 drop Lemon
Purification
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Myrrh
2 drops Sandalwood

Full Moon
3 drops Rose
1 drop Lavender
2 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Myrrh
Love
4 drops Ylang-ylang
1 drop Ginger
1 drops Rosemary
2 drops Rose
Peaceful Calm
3 drops Rose
3 drops Lavender
1 drop Mint

3 drops Bay
1 drops Cinnamon
2 drops Rose
1 drop Lavender
3 drops Rosemary
Citrus Cleansing
1 drops Lemongrass
2 drops Lemon
3 drops Orange
2 drops Bergamot
1 drop Frankincense

http://honeycoyote.tumblr.com/post/93136574720/clea
nsing-mist-recipes

Acquiring magic
Posted by Harobed

As a Hedge Witch I find myself being asked a lot for a spell to fix something as in
now.The majority of these requests come from beginners.Or I'm told oh you don't
really believe in that do you ,I've tried that once or twice and witchcraft doesn't
work.Well there's a problem with that mindset.
Magic isn't a quick fix that can be done in a day,if it was everyone would use it. What
it does do ,if you practice at it, is increase your odds of success and give you an edge. I
believe magic accumulates over time.Each spell leaving a bit of residual magic/energy
that builds up over your life time.The more you use it the more you have to use
.Basically you are growing your own magic so you need to tend your crop daily.
The best way Ive learned to do this is keep it simple.Not everything has to be pomp
and circumstance.None of us wear our robes and wave our wands 24/7 . Intent counts
,if you are doing something routinely then your intent is clear and focused.Always
think of your home as your realm ,where your will is worked.
Learn your garden and what properties your herbs/flowers have.' Gather
Sage,Lavender ,Bayberry and Mugwort for a protective bouquet for the house.By their
nature, thorns are associated with Mars, baneful works often call for thorns to invoke
protection.A bouquet of thorns by your door might not be as pretty as silk flowers but
you can jazz them up with a nice vase and they work wonders at keeping out
unwanted negative people or energy.They are also helpful at reminding us to be aware
and think first before acting.
If you don't have a herb garden I feel sure you have a spice rack .
Learn it ,love it and use it !A small dish of salt can be an offering to your Deity,an
adjunct used to purify the energy or a representation of the ocean .By adding a few
crystals to your salt it can be a ward of, protection,love ,prosperity or whatever you
need it to be depending on the crystals you use.A bowl of Cinnamon sticks and Bay
leaf is not just aromatic Cinnamon draws prosperity and protection as does the Bay so
its a double whammy :)

I like to buy Cinnamon sticks for my vases so I get them in the kitchen section at the
"Dollar Tree" ,since they are only a dollar a package I can afford to have lots of them
.When the sticks start to lose their scent soak them in water for a few minuets.After the
soaking pour the water in a jar toss a nail in it and you've started some awesome Iron
water to use .Or you can burn them.Burnt cinnamon as an incense is great for psychic
powers.Bay Leaves are also used for visions, clairvoyance and wisdom,it too has a
wonderful aroma when burnt.
An easy kitchen spell to work is Eggs hollowed out to fit a tea candle can be burnt for
fertility spells.Be sure to drink your Pomegranate juice along with burning the candles
.
Onto rocks and crystals .I am a hound for stones and crystal of any kind.Any of you
who have seen pictures of my house and gardens know this.They are beautiful
,powerful and their energies always astound me.If you're not familiar with their
properties get a copy of Judy Hall's "The Crystal Bible", this is a wonderful reference
for anyone with great pictures!Tigers Eye, Tourmaline ,Citrine and Desert Rose in a
dish will bring protection and more prosperity into your home.Fluorite will attract
fairies and promotes clearer focus.It organizes higher energies into a more productive
flow and is a great thing to have near your computer for this reason.Keep a Rose
Quartz by your door or in your front yard to invoke Love ,contentment and
protection.A Golden Tigers Eye in your Birdbath will help protect the birds from cats
,where as a Blue tigers eye in the same place facilitates communication with the birds.
All witches love candle magic and night or day ,the odds are I have one
burning.Mostly I use them for my crafting. While working on projects I always light a
few candles,pull out some Carnelian and wear my Muldavite.When I have energy
requests out comes my lighter and candles are my first order of business.
Since I make besoms I always have choices but a besom is just a dedicated broom .A
ordinary straw broom can be used as a besom .Yes you need to dedicate one for
cleaning your sacred space but for everyday use a straw broom is fine . Brooms are
used to guard a home and all that dwell in it. By laying the broom across the doorway,
under the bed, on windowsills, or on your door.Floor sweeps are an easy way to sweep
in or out different vibrations in your home. Each of the sweep herbs should correspond
with the intention you choose.You should really get into the floor sweep habit like
candles and salt its a quick simple bit of magic that can be put to regular use.
I know some of you are apartment dwellers and that brings challenges when it comes
to elemental work.

If you have access to a river,stream,or the ocean you can incorporate this into your
magic by allowing the currents to carry away anything negative that you wish to be
rid of.Not everyone is graced with options like these. There are lots of things you can
use to invoke the element water ,a Shell , Pearl,Moonstone or Lapis Lazuli will do the
trick.In Tarot water is the element of Cups. A bit of Sea Salt and a pinch of powdered
Sage tossed into your sink with the water to run it down the drain while thinking of a
problem will help clear negativity! One of the quickest ways to banish someones
influence is to place a bit of Salt in your hand ,stand over your toilet ,rub your hands
together and say "without a blush your gone with a flush , My will be done,laugh if
you want it works!And since I use that one a lot it works really well for me .When
invoking the element of Air you can use music,a bell,a feather ,Rose Quartz or a
fan.Associated with communication, wisdom and the power of the mind, Tarot
Swords represents Air and can be used in spells to invoke it
The easiest way to represent fire is with a candle ,however if you live where rules
forbid them there are other ways.On your altar or within your circle ,Blood
Stone,Obsidian, Agate ,Sulfur or Lava rock can be used to invoke the element of
fire.Red and Orange are the colors associated with fire and in Tarot it is represented
by Wands.
Now I know your thinking that none of these things seem very magical.However
incorporate any or all of these small things into your daily routine .Each time your
gaze falls on them or they cross your mind focus your full intent on them for a
moment .If you do I promise you will reap the rewards of magical energies that spill
into your life ;)

Lavender Rose Foot Cream

Posted by SunKat

STEP 1. Gather all your ingredients together. You will need one teaspoon of beeswax.
If you do not know of a place that sells this locally, it is very easy to find online. I did
a quick internet search and I saw amazon, Walmart, and many other places carry it. I
like to get the little pearls because they melt really well. Coconut oil is available at
your local grocery store. I found this distilled water at the grocery store, too. You can
actually make the distilled water at home if you don't feel like buying it. It is just a
process of boiling out the impurities. I looked it up and found some tutorials that
involved trapping evaporated water in the inverted lid of a pot. I lucked out at the
grocery store and found this "WAT-AAH" in the flavored water section. The borax was
in the detergent section and sometimes you can even find the essential oils at the
market, too.
STEP 2. Measure out your beeswax and coconut oil into a saucepan and melt over low
heat.
STEP 3. At the same time, measure 3 Tablespoons distilled water and add one
teaspoon borax and cook over low heat until the borax has dissolved.
STEP 4: When the borax has dissolved and the beeswax is melted, remove both
mixtures from the heat to cool. Give it 5-10 minutes. While you are letting them cool,
get a bowl of ice. Now place the pan containing the oil mixture in the bowl of ice and
add the essential oils to your liking. I added 15-20 drops of each. Make sure to be
whisking this the whole time, as the ice begins to solidify the mix. Keep stirring to
keep your mixture a nice smooth consistency.
STEP 5: At this point, you want to slowly add the borax mixture to the oil mixture and
whisk, whisk, whisk! It starts to thicken immediately.
This recipe makes about 3/4 cup. I doubled it to make two (one for me, of course!) I
added some mica powder for the rose tint (this is a natural tint you can add to beauty
products.) I just used the small Ball jars to store it in. It is a nice creamy consistency
and has a pleasing (without being overpowering) smell.

I like to rub this on my feet, put an old pair of socks on, and let it absorb overnight.
When I wake up the next morning, my feet feel nice and soft! Now I just want to
mention that the coconut oil can feel a little greasy if you are not used the
consistency.
You could experiment with other oils (such as olive or jojoba) if you aren't a fan of
the coconut. I personally love the smell and it melts on contact with your skin. I got
plenty on my hands when I was making it and it is a heavy moisturizer (too heavy, in
my opinion, for the face but fantastic for feet and other rough spots, like elbows).
Well I do hope you are able to take a little time to pamper your tootsies! It's the little
treats that make life fun!
Warmly,
Pam
http://www.pamashdesigns.com/blog/2016/4/13/lavender-rose-foot-cream

Fairy Wishes
Posted by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

Fairy Wishes
Mix up some all natural, herbal fairy dust for yourself and the kids.
My original recipe uses:
1/2 cup lavender
1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup jasmine blossoms
2 tablespoons chamomile
1/4 cup star anise
It was ground in small batches in a coffee grinder and then combined together.
We made some the other night that substituted 1/2 cup oak moss and 1/4 cup cedar for
the jasmine and star anise.
The result was a woodsy smell that my daughters loved. I think I preferred it as well.
We made it in the food processor, which wont give you a powder, but does chop it up
nicely.
If you really need some glitz for it to be real fairy dust, toss in a couple teaspoons of
glitter. To use for wish magic, pour some in the palm of your hand, make your wish,
and then blow the dust out off your hand.

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