Sandy Wright's Blog, page 13

Fan Girl at Left Coast Crime

​I’m heading to Reno this week.

In addition to learning about the Donner Party tragedy, hosting a panel, and speed-dating with readers, I’ve also picked out ten authors I’m not familiar with, to meet and get to know. I’ve looked through their books and picked one from each to order and read.

I thought you might like to take a look also, so here are my choices: ​19 Souls by J.D. Allen 
Private investigator Jim Bean takes on a new case to find a woman’s missing brother. Instead, he leads a killer right to her prey.
Why I’m reading – Sounds like a tension-filled plot. Also, Allen has a degree in forensic anthropology, which gives extra chops. Tainted Mountain by Shannon Baker
​A young ski owner is determined to use man-made snow, an energy tycoon has his own reasons from promoting it, enviros and tribes may use any means to stop it. But the spirits of the mountain just might have the last say.
​Why I’m reading – This is the first of Baker’s Nora Abbot environmental mystery series, and I always like to start a series with the first book. Plus, I live in AZ and this true-life-based conflict is in my back yard. ​Endangered by Pamela Beason
When 2-year-old Zack Fischer vanishes from a campground, the TV news instantly convicts the park’s cougars. Reporter Sam Westin is forced to battle a media blitz, the hysterical public, and a flash flood to expose the human kidnapper she believes is hiding in the Utah wilderness.

​ Why I’m reading – Beason writes wilderness-based suspense with strong female leads. This is the first book in the Sam Westin series, and they all look interesting. ​Tahoe Blowup by Todd Borg
When Tahoe detective Owen McKenna’s cabin narrowly escapes burning in an arson-set forest fire, the local fire department hires him to investigate. As more fires follow and people die, Owen can’t tell if the fires are an act of eco-terrorism or a method of murder.

​ Why I’m reading – The author and his large series (15 books to date. This one is #2) are based in Tahoe, so he is local to this year’s Left Coast Crime. Several of his plots interest me. Plus, the detective has a Great Dane for a sidekick. The Black List by Robin Burcell
The first death was ruled an accident. But when a second accountant from A.D.E.—a popular relief organization that resettles East African refugees—turns up dead, FBI Special Agent and forensic artist Sydney Fitzpatrick is asked in to lend her expertise in the case.
Not only is the charity backed by a powerful U.S. Senator, but the investigation reveals that its funds have been siphoned off to bankroll terrorist cells in black list countries.
Why I’m reading – Burcell is one of Clive Cussler’s cowriters, so she has learned at the side of the best. I’m breaking my rule here, btw, this is book #4 in her FBI Agent series. hree Graves Full by Jamie Mason
There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard. But it could always be worse…

More than a year ago, mild-mannered Jason Getty killed a man he wished he’d never met. Then he planted the problem a little too close to home. But just as he’s learning to live with the undeniable reality of what he’s done, police unearth two bodies on his property—neither of which is the one Jason buried.
Why I’m reading – the book is described as macabre and darkly humorous with a devious twist.  Burning Down the House by Trevor Scott 
During Burning Man, the annual event of debauchery and independent self-reliance, a woman is found dead in a high-end RV, suspected to have overdosed on drugs. Former sheriff Keenan Fitzpatrick is hired by the woman's boyfriend to discover the true nature of her death.But there are complicating factors. The actor was wasted the night his girlfriend died, the RV was his, and she was locked inside. But the actor is not the only suspect. The dead woman was a former prostitute who had recently left the business, leaving a lot of potential suspects unhappy with her decision​

Why I’m reading – Because I’m fascinated with Burning Man and plan to go someday. Plus, the author had an interesting career in Air Force, has traveled to 80 countries, and has a Masters in Creative Writing. Lost Luggage by Wendall Thomas 
Cyd Redondo, a Brooklyn travel agent who specializes in senior citizens, has never ventured farther than New Jersey. Until her Travel Agents' Convention fling, where Roger Claymore, leaves her weak in the knees-and everywhere else-then sneaks out of her Atlantic City hotel room at three a.m.

Back in Brooklyn, when she reads about smugglers stopped at JFK with skinks in their socks or monkeys down their pants, she never imagines she will join their ranks. But days after the pet store owner next door to Redondo Travel is poisoned, Cyd wins a free safari. Her boss, Uncle Ray, wants to cash it in for computers, but Cyd is determined to go. When Roger turns up at the Redondo clan's door, Cyd invites him along as her "plus one." And just like that she is thrown heels-first into the bizarre and sinister world of international animal smuggling.
​ Why I’m reading : This screen-writer turned author’s debut novel sounds like a hoot. Readers have described it as the travel agency business’ equivalent to bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.
The One That Got Away   by Simon Wood  
Graduate students Zoë and Holli only mean to blow off some steam on their road trip to Las Vegas. But something goes terribly wrong on their way home, and the last time Zoë sees her, Holli is in the clutches of a sadistic killer. Zoë flees with her life, changed forever.

A year later and still tortured with guilt, Zoë latches on to a police investigation where the crime eerily resembles her abduction. Along with a zealous detective, she retraces the steps of that fateful night in the desert, hoping that her memory will return and help them find justice for Holli. Her abductor—labeled the “Tally Man” by a fascinated media—lies in wait for Zoë. For him, she is not a survivor but simply the one that got away.
Why I’m reading – I’ve been a fan of Simon Wood for a couple of years, after listening to him on panels at previous LCC conferences. I’m embarrassed to say I have yet to read one of his dozens of books. That changes now. I’ve had this book sitting on my “wish list” for too long.
Stix and Stones by James Ziskin 
"If you were a man, you'd make a good detective."

Ellie is sure that Sgt. McKeever meant that as a compliment, but that identity-a girl wanting to do a man's job-has throttled her for too long. It's 1960, and Ellie doesn't want to blaze any trails for women; she just wants to be a reporter, one who doesn't need to swat hands off her behind at every turn.

Adrift in her career, Ellie is back in New York City after receiving news that her estranged father, a renowned Dante scholar and distinguished professor, is near death after a savage bludgeoning in his home. The police suspect a routine burglary, but Ellie has her doubts. When a second attempt is made on her father's life, in the form of an "accident" in the hospital's ICU, Ellie's suspicions are confirmed.
 
Then another professor turns up dead, and Ellie's investigation turns to her father's university colleagues. She embarks on a thorny journey of discovery and reconciliation, as she pursues an investigation that offers her both a chance at redemption in her father's eyes, and the risk of losing him forever.

Why I’m reading – First, every book of Ziskin’s has an intriguing premise. Second, the man has won almost every suspense award out there. If you love suspense or crime fiction, try one of the above authors with me. We can compare notes and recommend follow-up reads when we’re done.
 
Happy reading! 

That Old Black Magic at Left Coast Crime

I’m excited to announce that I will be moderating a panel at the Left Coast Crime conference in Reno, NV this month. It’s titled “That Old Black Magic: Paranormal Suspense.

My panelists are:
Alice Henderson
(Voracious, Shattered Roads)

Alice has an interesting background in science and paleo-climatology, and she has traveled to wild places around the globe, so I’m sure she will have much to say about the accurate portrayal of “place” in fiction.

I’d also like to find out how she landed her sweet gig of writing books for Star Wars, Buffy and Supernatural!
​Eileen Magill
​(House of Homicide)

Eileen actually lived in a house that was haunted by the serial killer who created the specters, so ghost questions will be directed to her first. 

Interestingly, when the house was put up for sale, it sparked a bidding war and the house sold for $111,000 over the asking price!
Margaret C. Morse
​(Murder Casts a Spell, Murder Lifts the Spirits)

Margaret was a lawyer in her previous life, so we’ll delve into writing witchcraft as a lawyer. That should be interesting!

She calls her books cozy crime novels.
​and Danna Wilberg ​
(The Red Chair, the Grey Door and the Black Dress, and more than a dozen short films).

Danna began writing after a car accident left her faced with the challenge of relearning basic skills due to cognitive impairment. That interests me since I have resumed writing after suffering a stroke two years ago. Danna says she began her TV show to improve her speaking skills, and now she has two popular segments airing in Sacramento and has won awards for a dozen short films, as well as publishing a three-novel series.   ​Since the audience will consist of writers and readers of suspense and crime fiction, I think I’ll begin by asking what distinguishes paranormal suspense writing apart from other suspense genres,?

And what do readers demand from paranormal suspense books? Please help me prepare for the panel by telling me: what questions would YOU like to ask a paranormal suspense panel?  

The conference is next weekend, so I’ll report back here shortly and let you know how it went.

Thank you in advance for your comments!
Good reading. 

Back Yard Facelift

Our once lush back yard is getting a facelift this spring.
We live in Phoenix, so of course anything green needs a supplemental water source, so the whole back yard is on a drip system. 

That was, until it broke. While we were out of town at our cabin for two months. By the time we came home, all but the established trees were dead.

Above: 
Altar area. There was a pretty honeysuckle vine on the arbor previously. I think pink honeysuckle would be pretty. Maybe a bed of strawberries at her feet. Says abundance to me!  It's full sun, so the vine must be hardy, but the fruit will be shaded somewhat by the arbor vines. 
​
The hubby is in the process of repairing the drip system this winter.

Good luck with that, honey. The existing system has been in the ground for nearly 25 years. So we’ll have to come back to the Valley more often and make sure it survives this summer. BUT—if you’ve ever replaced an in-use, in-ground watering system, you’ll understand why he wants to attempt the “limp-along” approach.

Replacing it basically requires digging up the entire front and back yards. I think he’s hoping we will sell the house and downsize before he has to attempt full replacement.

While he’s repairing, I’ve cleared out the dead flower and herb beds, and now I have the delightful task of deciding what to plant in each area. 
Above: Bed is full shade. I'm going to try a gardenia and a mock orange for focal plants, purple lobelia for ground cover. No idea what to put in the statue heads or what to do with the metal chimes in the ground. Ideas?  ​
​I’ve included a few photos of the beds, and my scant ideas of what to do. I’d LOVE to hear your suggestions!! Please leave me a message with your ideas. Later this spring, I’ll post “after” photos so you can see how they turned out. 

My lonely old wizard. That's a tangelo tree above him. I may try a pretty ground cover and lay in a fairy garden.

​What would you do?
This beautiful candelabra needs a home. But I can't keep candles in in during  the summer. They'd melt I saw the bare spots on the trunk of this ficus tree on our patio and immediately thought, "Fairy doors!"

Hygeia's Day Celebrates Health

​I’m still working on last blog’s Money and Prosperity spell for four friends who asked for assistance. I’ve enjoyed having it on my altar and I can’t wait to see what manifests in their lives.  ​The month of February received its name from februare, a word the Latins borrowed from the Sabines, meaning to purify. It’s the month that many covens start the “year and a day” of training for new initiates.
​
In ancient Rome, February was traditionally a time to repent of previous misgivings, and to offer sacrifices to the gods to purify oneself.

​The moon this month was the quickening moon, also known as the ice moon or the hunger moon. The universal activity of this month is purification, growth and healing.

​Yes, it’s cold, and the ground is still frozen, but we innately sense hidden activity taking place below that blanket of snow. The sap is running through the trees, the sunrise arrives earlier each morning, and the animals are going into heat, howling, mewing, and scratching the night with desire. Have you felt the stirrings of power? The quickening of land and beast?

​February 26 celebrates Hygeia Day, the North African and Roman goddess of healing and disease prevention. Her symbol is the serpent of Hermes, twining around a staff and bowl, a symbol that is to this day used to represent the science of pharmacy. She is often shown dressed in the long robes of the physicians, with her python snake entwining her torso. You can see how early on the snake was associated with healing. It earned this distinction by being able to renew itself—just was a snake after she has shed her skin! 

On this festival, honor vitality and physical well-being. Have you seen a doctor for your annual physical? Made your appointment for a mammogram and PAP? Had your eyes checked? Improved your diet or sleep habits?

​This is a good time take the steps necessary to take care of yourself. Hygeia is the preventer, the patroness of foresight to avoid illness, so put her birthday on your calendar every year! ​Next week, we will leave spellwork and chat about writing topics, including the Left Coast Crime conference in Reno, NV—and my first-ever writer’s panel with other paranormal suspense authors! Until then, think about what questions you would like to ask YOUR favorite paranormal suspense author.

Prosperity Spell

Last week we talked about our personal "money blueprint" and how to change our existing mindset to one that embraces prosperity. 

Now it's time to take that new mindset and manifest it into prosperity in the material world!

This spell is done during the waxing moon, so this weekend is the perfect time to start.
​
To begin, make a doll out of green cloth.  (The picture shows the doll in a neutral color so you can see the markings of how to sew). Mark its eyes, nose and mouth with red thread. Stuff it with rowan leaves, rose petals, eucalyptus or clover.  ​Then sew it up, moving clockwise around the figure. Try to identify with its image, as it will represent you in the spell.

Prepare your altar on a white cloth and decorate it with any kind of evergreens, preferably from your garden (or a friend’s).Have some pyrite or gold glitter powder.
​
Take a shower and go to your altar when the new crescent moon can be seen in the evening sky. 

Light 2 green candles, saying, “Blessed be thou, creature of fire.” 

​Light some incense on your altar (sage is wonderful, or any success blend, if you choose to make your own loose incense. 

Many of the prosperity/money herbs can be found in your kitchen and garden, such as basil, clover, honeysuckle, anise, nutmeg, spearmint, almond, bay, chamomile, cinnamon, garlic, lavender, marigold, orange, ginseng, sunflower, peppermint and thyme…so have a merry time with your combinations. I do recommend using the magickal numbers of 3, 4, 5 or 7 in your blends. More than that tends to “muddy” the scent. And always use a smaller amount of the strongest scents.

Pass the doll through your incense smoke, saying, “I name you (your name). You are success! You are powerful! You will always have more than enough. As it harms none, so mote it be!” You can improvise the words on this one if you wish, and bless your doll with anything from corporate mergers to raises to lotto winnings. Let your imagination sour, but don’t be frivolous—and never forget the ‘as it harms none’ part!

Powder your doll with glitter, then say”
“I conjure the spirits who guard the wealth of this earth to bless me with prosperity.” Anoint the doll with your own saliva, saying, “I call upon the waters to bless my spell with love.” Wrap your doll in white cloth and hide it in a dark, womblike place.

Repeat this spell nine nights in a row. On the tenth night, make a permanent hiding place for the doll.

Burn it after you receive the spell’s blessings. It is done.

I'd love to hear how this spell worked for you. Leave me a comment and let me know! 

Until next weekend, Bright Blessings!

Abundance Mojo

​We’ve all had those days when everything seems to just flow. Karma smiles at you and opens up a front-row parking space. You arrive at all your appointments on time—no, early. Some days are luckier than others, right?

​​But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? The answer is quite simple. We live in a vibrational reality governed by the law of attraction, which states: that which I like unto itself is drawn.

Or, in the words of Albert Einstein: everything is energy and that is all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy, this is physics.

Wow. Match the frequency of the reality you want. So, if I want to attract abundance, love, money and success, how do I find that frequency?

Last week, I told you about my Ritual Muses group, and that we’ve each committed to expanding our daily personal Goddess practice. I believe that is how we can also raise our own individual vibration.
Juliette Kristine, a personal manifestation coach, has written extensively on this topic. She has come up with some techniques to raise your vibration and attract more money and success. I’ve drawn from her ideas, as well as from our Ritual Muses discussions, to come up with a list of my own below.

But first, take some advice from one who is learning her lesson the hard way. In order to see results, you must start with baby steps, and then be consistent. I vowed to get up at sunrise to meditate and do my sun salutations. . I’ve been trying to do this for a week, and have only succeeded once. That’s because I had some other habits I had to modify first in order to be successful, specifically, getting into bed before 1:00am. As my baby step last week, I incrementally moved my bedtime schedule up two hours earlier. Now, hopefully I’ll be able to see those sunrises.
​
Here are some techniques and exercises to raise your vibration and attract prosperity:
Reprogram your subconscious Every repetitive thought or belief has a corresponding neural pathway that in turn affects our energy and vibration. Science has brought to light the ability to measure the different frequencies including the frequencies of different thoughts. Interestingly, negative thoughts like anger, worry, fear, feeling unworthy and guilt measure low on the scale, while positive thoughts like love, forgiveness, and abundance thinking higher measurements. 

Our money vibrations are influenced by what we have learned about money from our parents and family. T. Harv Ecker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, says this is our ‘money blueprint,’ the very foundation that guides our unconscious and conscious decisions. To change it, you must first be aware of what your blueprint is. If you have a poverty mindset/vibration, even if you win the lottery, that money will not stick with you.
 
The various poverty beliefs—the thoughts and actions that determine your vibration: feeling unworthy, undeserving, blind spending, feeling obligated to a lifestyle, irresponsibility, etc.—will all contribute to the loss of the money and prosperity that comes your way.
 
Ecker says the key to changing your money vibration is to investigate your life and beliefs. 

​Questions to ask yourself as you investigate:What are my automatic thoughts about rich people, money and wealth? Do I think money is the root of all evil? Do I think most rich people are crooked and that’s why they are rich? To become rich, do I think I must use people and take advantage of them? Is it morally unjust for me to be wealthy while others have nothing?What are my greatest fears regarding having money and wealth? If I become wealthy, will people be jealous of me, or hassle me for loans?Does the thought of having money make me guilty? Do I not deserve wealth? Does becoming wealthy depend on luck? Do I think I cannot become wealthy doing exactly what I love? Is it harder for a woman to become wealthy? Reset your personal Money Blueprint

There is scientific evidence of the neuroplasticity of the mind. It is physically changeable if you give it what it needs to change. Imagination, visualization, cognitive repetition, affirmations, meditation, and exposure to different thoughts, beliefs and life experiences in repetitive ways, all are methods to “plastify” your mind into a new way of looking at something.

So, once you have answered and analyzed the questions above, pick the top 10 statements/beliefs that you want to change. Write them on a piece of paper. Then create an opposing positive statement for each negative belief. For example: The original statement is “I am not good with money.” The new, positive statement might be, “I am a good money manager.”
​
Look deeply at your thoughts about rich people. Observe, and try not to let your mind engage in criticizing or judging. If you have a belief system that says, “I don’t want to be one of those greedy rich people,” you’re unconsciously blocking your ability to bring and manifest money toward you. Again, turn your negative thought into a positive affirmation.
Start and end your day with a positive affirmation

Create a list of all the positive statements around you and money, wealth and prosperity. The more personal the better. Write them all down, or record them and put them on your phone or ipod.

Play them or read them out loud as you go to bed at night, and again during your first routine of the day, as you have your cup of coffee perhaps. If you do this while doing another activity, you engage several parts of your brain at once. The more you meditate on the new thoughts, the stronger the neural imprint.

Here are some sample positive statements to give you ideas:
* I am a good money manager
* My ability to earn money is expanding
* I am a magnet for prosperity
* Money comes to me easily and effortlessly
* I deserve prosperity
* When I am wealthy, my true friends and family will like me just as I am today
 * I am a generous giver and a gracious receiver

Nourish yourself

​Skipping breakfast can give you sugar cravings and raise your cortisol levels, making you feel stressed and anxious.

Whether you consider yourself a breakfast person or not, eat a small, protein-based meal in the morning. Pay attention to how it makes you feel the rest of the day.
Meditate and Visualize

My favorite meditation is to work my way up my spine and through each chakra as I perform yoga stretches and positions.

If you have difficulty meditating on your own, www.Juliettekristine.com/mini-manifesting-ritual/ offers a free copy of a mini ritual to focus on your goals and bring your life into alignment with them.

Being clear and focused is incredibly important. To change your money blueprint, spend daily time visualizing yourself in a life where money is your friend as opposed to a source of difficulty. 

Be patient. Give yourself the time to slowly make new choices in all aspects of your life that support prosperity. For example, if you enjoy good quality coffee, but Starbucks and Dutch Brothers is outside your budget, buy a bag of fabulous Kona roast and an inexpensive cream frothier and treat yourself to gourmet, luxury coffee at home. Tally the savings each month and put that amount into an account slated for investments.
 
And don’t forget to celebrate your wins! Whenever you have reached a milestone, whether it’s paying down a debt or saving $100, make sure to give yourself tons of applause, and add that feat to your list of affirmations.

We all deserve to have ease in life. You are worth it and your soul has value!

Next Friday, I’ll share a money and prosperity spell working with you, something you can add to your repertoire of positive actions for a higher vibration in your life.

​Until then, Blessed Be!
 

Daily Practice

I’m participating in a Ritual Muses group and our first assignment is to commit to expanding our daily personal practice. 
​I am committing to some big (for me) changes. The first is a change in my morning routine: Get up at sunrise and greet the morning outside with Sun Salutations and a meditation. That may not sound like much, but I’m a night owl and always have been. It will be interesting to see if changes what I get done during the day.  The second commitment is to write two novel pages every week day. I’m going to give myself permission to take weekends off. That will put me on track to have Crescent Moon Crossing finished in early April. I’ll keep you posted.
​The last two additions will be easy. I’m setting up a Hestia offering bowl by my front door, so I can thank the hearth Goddess for my life’s blessings every day as I leave. Lastly, I’m going to be more diligent about working on my Book of Shadows weekly.
The front artwork is Morrigan's Raven. I've had it for nearly a year and have only made two entries. It's time to give it the attention it deserves. 

Do you have a daily spiritual practice? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear about it. 

Wheel of the Year Tarot Spread

​ Year in Review Exercise
Here’s an annual mapping exercise I do every January. If you haven’t thrown away your 2017 calendar or diaries, they will come in helpful, although neither is absolutely necessary.
I draw a Wheel of the Year diagram with the Sabbats included. I add my birthday and significant anniversaries.

Then, I go back through the last year and pencil in events of the year, good and bad, that were significant. Deaths, births, new jobs, pets, large purchases, finished projects, goals met. Even direction or philosophical changes.

Next, add in important world events—global and pagan.

Finally, I consider my emotional health and well-being.

I have enjoyed keeping track of life this way as my son has grown up.  For the last decade I’ve kept track of events in a 10-year diary, which lists every day stacked on top of the previous year’s date. The layout makes it easier to see the patterns emerge as the years pass. Some of the trends are dramatic!

Wheel of the Year Tarot spread
I mentioned here earlier that I’m working on my annual Wheel of the Year tarot spread. It’s a BIG project--this year I used the full deck, rather than only one card per month. It’s more work, but it gives a more comprehensive view of what’s coming in the New Year.

​Here’s how to do yours:

​Put one card in each of the positions around the circle. I put January in the one o’clock spot. You can then place a card in the center of the circle, which sets the tone for the whole of the year.
Go around until you finish the deck. If you are using a standard 78-card deck, you can complete 6 cycles.This is a good spread if you want a general overview of your life for the next 12 months. You can then use other spread to add more detail in particular areas.
 
Version 2
 
This spread can also be used to represent the 12 houses of life in Astrology. If you decide to use the reading for astrology only, the 12 houses are as follows:Personality, environment, how others see you (Aries)Money, possessions, earning power and financial values (Taurus)Travel and Communications, day to day activities (Gemini)Home life, siblings, family, parents (Cancer)Pleasure, romance, love affairs, holidays, self-expression, creativity (Leo)Work and Health (emotional and physical) (Virgo)Partnerships (professional/personal) and Marriage, legal issues (Libra)Inheritance, death, other people’s money, endings/beginnings (Scorpio)Philosophy, education, dreams, travel/long distance journeys (Sagittarius)Career, profession, fame, reputation (Capricorn)Friends, organizations, hope and wishes (Aquarius)Burdens, restrictions, secret fears, enemies, dangers, subconscious (Pisces)  
If, as you are going around, you get Major Arcana or Court cards of the Minor Arcana, they may pertain to certain personalities or types of people who are having a significant impact on your life, either in that month (if you are doing a 12-month spread), or in that area of your life (if doing the Astrology Houses).
​
If the personalities of the people don’t mean anything to you, or you can’t relate to those type of people, the court cards can also represent aspects of your own personality that may be useful to you (if the cards are upright) and you need to develop more of and strengthen, or that may be hindering you (if the cards are reversed) and you need to be careful that those aspects don’t get in your way.
 
Version 3 (I used this version)
 
You can also combine the Monthly and Astrology spreads above.Lay the first round as an overall 12-month spread.On the 2nd and all subsequent times, use the houses. This is good for answering questions such as, “What will my finances be like over the next twelve months?” and look at the 2nd house. Or, “What will family relationships be like this year?” and look at the 4th house as well as monthly.
 
NOTE: However you decide to use this spread, it’s important to decide in advance what the positions are going to mean for you. When you have decided, make your intention clear to your cards and they will fall correctly for you.
 
Also, once you decide what the positions are going to mean for you, there’s no going back! Don’t change your mind part way through the reading.

Until next Friday, Blessed Be. And don't forget to rub the  bellies of my new gnome buddies for luck before  you leave! 

Keeping Spirits Bright After Holidays

​The joy that winter holidays bring to people all over the world is so strong it’s nearly tangible. But like a Christmas cookie high, the intensity of the holidays can bottom out and lead to depression when we hit mid-January.
The key is to capture that joy and attune with it instead of feeling bowled over. Here are some ideas:
Candle of JoyKeep out one large pillar candle from the holidays (or buy one on sale! You know you want to.)

Inscribe the image of the sun and any other symbols you desire. 

​The “joy” rune of Wyn/Wunjo would be a nice addition. Anoint the candle with any solar or wintery oils such as frankincense spearmint, cinnamon, orange, bay, clove or high john. (Bring positive thoughts to you by anointing the candle from the top, toward you to the bottom). 

Take the dressed candle outside or to a window at sunrise. Let the morning rays of the sun fall upon the candle as you simultaneously feel those rays heating your skin. Visualize this light to be permanently linked to the candle, now and forever. 

When you feel connected to the spirit of joy and sun, light the candle and keep it lit for part of your morning. You can then light it every morning to give you a boost of joy in the day, or whenever you could use a dash of happiness.
​
Joy comes in many forms if we pay attention. It comes from being present in the slowly turning tides of the Earth and her creatures, and holding space for whatever that turning brings.
Spell For Healthy SleepMake a tea from the following ingredients: Eyebright (herba euphrasia), Skullcap, and chamomile. Flavor with two drops of vanilla and a dollop of honey. Eyebright

Drink before bedtime.

When you go to bed, repeat to yourself three times:
“Goddess of mine, Queen of the night
Help me sleep in your healing light.
Restful sleep come over me,
Relax my body and set my mind free.
Grant me calm and peace tonight,
Let me awake in your golden light.”

Eyebright is a natural remedy for nasal congestion, puffy eyes and eye fatigue. Because natural herbs are not sterilized, don’t put eyebright directly in or on your eyes.
​
Skullcap is in the mint family, and is used to reduce inflammation and treat gout. It acts as a sedative for relaxation, to help with insomnia and anxiety, and to reduce fever from the flu.

House Purification IncenseBurn this in your home on the full moon, in a fire safe container. Walk the smoke clockwise throughout the house, beginning at the front door.
 
​3 parts Frankincense (sets a positive base)
2 parts Dragon’s Blood (positive strength)
1 part Myrrh (well-being, brighten disposition)
1 part Hyssop (cleanses both the physical and psychic planes)
2 parts Sandalwood (brings in positive spirits)
½ part dill seeds (protection & help achieve goals)
3 drops Rose Geranium Oil (cleanse and refocus)
 
Burn blue candles for additional calm.
 
I hope these ideas help you to fill your January with cleanliness, calm and even joy.
 
Until next weekend…Blessed be.

New Year: No Resolutions, Plans

My blogs this year will be a mish mash of the Muggle and the Witch, the profound, the silly and the practical.
​
I’ll introduce (or re-introduce) you to some of the celebrations that have been lost through the millennia. Let’s start with a Roman deity, Anna Perenna, the goddess of the New Year. Never heard of her? Don’t worry, neither had I…until I stumbled across O.G.O.D. – The Obscure Goddess Online Dictionary. Isn’t that a great name?

Anna Perenna is the goddess of long life and renewal, health and plenty. Her two names both make reference to the year: anna means "to live through a year", while perenna means "last many years" (the root source of the English words annual and perennial).
 
This goddess is associated with cycles of renewal, and connecting the past to the present.  So it seems appropriate that Anna herself is described in some legends as old, and in others as young.
 
The Festival of Anna Perenna on the 15th of March (March being the start of the year in the old Roman calendar) was beloved by the common people. On the evening before, people would gather at the 1st milestone on the Via Flaminia in her scared grove of fruit trees by the bank of the Tiber. Revelers camped out, some bringing tents, others making shelters from leafy tree branches or by draping their cloaks over poles. There they picnicked through the night, feasting, dancing and singing, and celebrating with copious amounts of wine as they toasted to health and long life. They believed that one would live as many years as the cups of wine one could drink, so of course it was traditional to get quite drunk.
​
Who knows? Maybe the current tradition of clinking glasses together to toast the New Year began with old Anna Perenna.

Filling in the Blank Slate of a New Year. Oh, so many choices!

I love buying new calendars after the holidays, and filling them in. It’s probably the writer in me, but using an online planner just ain’t the same. I know many people swear by their Google calendar or Microsoft or Android planning tools, but I get such pleasure from actually putting pen to paper.

I have a “family” calendar on the kitchen wall. We joke, “If it’s not on the calendar, it likely won’t happen.” Seriously, it’s like our appointment bible.
​
In addition, I have my own specialized “writing” planner, where I lay out the whole year’s writing conferences and associated costs, track sales, and outline chapters of the book I’m working on currently, plus notes for the next one or two. Those chapter notes eventually end up in the manuscript on my laptop, but the ideas germinate in the longhand notes in my planner.
Tarot Wheel of the Year

Then, there’s the more esoteric part of my planning.

Every year I lay out a tarot spread in January, the Wheel of the Year, a card to represent my dominant theme, thought or challenge for each month of the year. This year, my January card is the Two of Cups.

In my deck, the Two of Cups depicts a man and a woman embracing while holding cups in what appears to be a wedding ceremony. The caduceus of Hermes spirals in the air above them.  The two-snake caduceus design has ancient and consistent associations with trade, negotiation, balance, duality (union of opposites), and cosmic energy. On the Two of Cups, the caduceus sends a positive message for new partnerships, and suggests that with honor, respect and balance, new relationships shall be rewarding. At the top of the caduceus is a lion’s head, a symbol of passion and fire energy.  The two snakes that wind up the caduceus represent dark and light and their coexistence within us.

A bond is forming between myself and someone else, be it a truce with a sworn enemy or an embrace with a new love. My initial feeling is it’s a budding love, and a platonic one with a large difference in ages.
​
But the two of cups is a weak card. The cards around it in the reading hold great sway in determining the outcome of this deepening relationship. I’ll be taking a close look at the February card (2 of Wands) on one side, and December (3 of Pentacles) to figure out how they will influence this new “romance.”  I’ll let you know how things shake out later on this month.

What activities do you conduct to look into the future and make plans for the New Year?
Do you buy a new planner and fill in important dates?Or, do you prefer electronic planning?Do you use any divination tools?Do you write a daily “To Do” list?Or maybe you let the fates determine your actions?
​I’d love to hear what you want to achieve in 2018, and how you plan to convert your dreams to reality. Remember, a goal is simply a dream with a deadline!

Next  week, I'll share a spell for healthy sleep, and a purification spell for your home, along with my favorite ways to add magic to your cleaning chores.
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!