Category: Magic

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Kitchen Witchery

KITCHEN WITCHERY

Today’s act of magic was some old-fashioned kitchen witchery. For some reason, I like hand-washing dishes while it is raining. Today I had that opportunity, and I opened the kitchen window and door as I worked. The rain and breeze brought waves of aroma from the roses out the window and aromas of oregano and sage from the herb garden out the back door combined with the comforting sound of the rain. I thanked the windows for doing their job. For being a portal to let in or keep out nature as we desire. For their protection and for being a bringer of light and vision.

I extended my gratitude to the rain and thanked it for its service. Rain gives us the water we wash with and so much more. With my hands in the water, this allowed me to connect to the element of water. Emotions are connected to water and what came was happy emotions and memories. As I washed the dishes, I reflected on memories of how each dish, fork, and other kitchen item had served in creating those memories. All the friends and family that had eaten from them, the amazing food they helped create. I let my gratitude and happy memory flow into each item as I thanked it. I even thanked the sink filter for keeping my plumbing clear of debris.

As I handled each item, I could feel how happy they were to be of service and to be shown love and gratitude, it filled me in return. I then let all of that flow back to the rain and let it all connect energetically.

As I cleaned the stove, I could feel the happy memories and good food and the hard work it has given in service to this home. I could feel how happy it was to be cleaned and given shiny new rings for the burners. It made me smile and I thanked the old crusty ones for their service too as I considered their hard work and memories. They were grateful to be done with their work and put to rest, they had given their all and more.

The floor was no different as I swept and mopped. I could feel it talking to me about its service. It showed me how it takes all our dirt and cast-offs and how it has held steady for every step each person who has been here had taken. I smiled again as I thanked it for holding up our home and how it keeps our home together for us. It too responded in kind for being recognized, cared for, and loved in return. Even every bit of dust dirt, or pet hair on the floor holds energy and memory, and I thanked it for being there too.

When I was done, I looked around and smiled, filled with all the good feelings emanating from the kitchen, the heart of the home was now recharged and so was I. As I looked out the door to the garden and took in the smell of the herbs the rain came to a stop, its job of magic done for the day, and I thanked it for its service and a job well done.

This act of magic is all about animism and energy. The magical idea that all things have a spirit, and energy and recognizing and honoring that. It is also an act of mindfulness, being fully mindful of each moment and being truly present with each thing you are encountering in the moment, and allowing yourself to have a fully engaged energy exchange with it. Some call this simple acts of magic and yet as you can see even simple acts of magic can have big results! Simple acts of love to small things can go a long way, and that is magical indeed.

Many Blessings to all!

 

 

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The Comfort Zone and Magic

The Comfort Zone and Magic

By Cat Gina Cole 5/25/23

Most of us have heard or been told not to do anything outside our comfort zone as though that threshold is a huge stop sign. While valid in many social circumstances and even in some magical ones, it can actually prevent you from gaining knowledge and experience. Witchcraft and Magic are transgressive by nature and should take us beyond our comfort zone.

This brings up questions like what is our comfort zone, what is its function, why should we move past it, and how do we move past it?

Our comfort zone is something that was socially conditioned into us for general safety, or something we created based on our experiences to keep us safe for many valid reasons. We put it up and leave it in place and never question it again and it becomes a taboo to ever cross, even for ourselves. If we ignore our comfort zone and make no changes, it will restrict further growth and can in some cases cause us and others harm. As we grow physically and mentally, we must also give ourselves permission to change the hard and fast “rules” and adjust those that no longer work for us.

For example, an individual who has been abused or traumatized in any way might continue seeing themselves as a victim/survivor and keep themselves away from social interaction. This is a valid reaction as one heals, but if you stay there, you never heal completely. Instead, it becomes how you identify and becomes all you are. When that happens all decisions and actions are based on past experiences only.

In my recovery from being an abused/traumatized person, staying in my comfort zone was only one PART of the healing process, not the end place, and not my whole identity forever. The comfort zone from trauma is not meant to be a comfort zone forever. We are not meant to live in fear. Danger is real, fear is a mechanism to teach us and to be learned from. Fear provides us the opportunity to grow beyond fear’s limitations. And fear shows us our current limits and asks us if want to stay there or go beyond it. This fact about fear has a lot to do with the phrase, “There is no light without the dark”

Staying in a fixed comfort zone promotes the mindset that anything we need or want in our lives must come from outside ourselves. Holding this belief means we believe we have no personal power; no control or choice and it keeps us perpetually at the mercy of others and helpless.

Nothing could be further from the truth. All of us have personal power and choice, all of us have the right and power to claim ourselves, and to create our own lives. We do not “have to” wait on others. To do so only leads to a repetitive cycle of disappointment. This is because no one can satisfy your needs and desires like you can.

Everyone needs a little help now and then, sometimes you are not sure what you are looking for, but others might. These people should only be guides to help you find your personal empowerment, not people who keep you dependent or helpless, so watch for that when you seek the like-minded, friends, teachers, and counselors. And when you find one, examine your comfort zone, and ask yourself, are they one the healthy side, challenging you to grow or are they on the side of it that says, they are not healthy for me?

Now that we know much more about the Comfort Zone, what it really is and what it does let’s apply all that to Witchcraft and Magic. If for example you are looking for a magical social group and only stay in your comfort zone, you may never find one. Especially if you approach a group and you allow your comfort zone to make the decision. This can result in you not joining in and having a good experience. Instead, you will feel like a spectator and not connect with anyone. Like all things Magical and Witchcraft this will take repeated effort to accomplish for some. If you feel like a spectator rather than a participant, you are also blocking the energy flow. This is true if it is a social group, a group ritual or even a solitary magical working. This then prevents any working or group from being that much more effective and powerful. Letting go of our comfort zone for the moment is the only way to feel fully engaged and share the energy flow of the experience.

Particularly in Magic and Witchcraft, the comfort zone will lie to you and tell you, you cannot do magical practices until you are taught. This is because in your comfort zone as it currently is, has you believing you have no personal power or ability; you have only doubt. Which is a lie, you do have personal power and all of you have magic within you.

But you will not find it until you push past your comfort zone and step out to the other side and into the magical energy all around you. Once this is done, and you continue to play around with Magic and Witchcraft for a while, it will lead you to ask more questions, read more books, meet more people, and this will begin your path.

Even those who have been practicing for some time can still struggle with their comfort zone. Feeling Magical energy can be quite intense and “uncomfortable” and sometimes scary. Some might even believe that a simple mirror spell or freezer spell is black magic or worry about harm none, or a person’s free will. Only to a point are these things valid.

They are designed to keep the beginner cautious, which is ok in the beginning, but staying with this thinking prevents you from exploring the full depths of Witchcraft and Magic.

There is such a thing as Magical Defense, and Magical Defense is not black magic. Magical Defense is protection from an action you know someone else took first. Now if out of the blue you decide for no real reason to harm someone or put a curse on them just for sport or fun, or just to see if you can, that is what most call black magic.

Any spell or working can be used either for good or harm. There is no list of this one is good this one is harmful; it is all in why and how it is being used. Thinking of black magic in this way is typically out of someone’s comfort zone and is an example of someone who has not gone beyond their zone to discover this is true for themselves, they just stopped at the perceived boundary.

I think of the comfort zone as a signal that I have been triggered about something in my past. When I feel it, I remember I am not in the past. I am in the now, and I am doing a working that needs my focus and full power and energy.  This allows me to push it aside until I am finished, I will come back to it later and address whatever it was separately.

It would not do while leading a ritual or spell to break down in the middle of it and give in to the emotional self. As in the example above, it only robs the working of all power and effectiveness. Stepping past the comfort zone in Witchcraft and Magic allows you to step into the full power and energy of the working making your magic much more effective. So, the next time your comfort zone bumps against you, tell it “Not now, I am busy growing, learning, being magical, manipulating energy and gaining personal power.”             Many Blessings to All!

 

 

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The Witch Compass by Ian Chambers

Review by Cat Gina Cole, Author of Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft.

I had the distinct pleasure to review this book before its release in August 2022 and the pleasure is all mine!

The Witch Compass is an amazing and comprehensive book on Traditional Witchcraft written by Ian Chambers. In the last paragraph of the forward Ian Chambers says he is an old witch that works by sight and is in constant contact with spirit allies and gods. This statement shows me he is a serious practioner and it piqued my interest even more.

As he writes he demonstrates that the witch compass is a tool for positioning the witch within this world and is a means to travel many worlds much like a portal. The book begins by exploring the historical and cultural usage of the witch compass and introduces you to the 8 winds then gives step-by-step methods to use them via Traditional Witchcraft.

The Witches Compass even touches on the great debate of modern paganism. “Is Wicca and neo-paganism connected to ancient magic?” Ian Chambers gives a focused and historic discourse on magic and how Christianity colored witchcraft that answers that debate eloquently. I really enjoyed his clear history of Gardner and others as he establishes the founding of modern witchcraft. In which he points out the similarities and differences of the Solomaiac, Free Masons, Traditional Witchcraft, and Wiccan practices. That discourse includes an impressive list of resources and grimoires that is valuable information for any seeker. I applaud and admire the courage of the author for stating clearly and boldly his thoughts as he encourages us to decolonize our craft and describes the concept of the devil as being an advocate of the oppressed.

I find the step-by-step instructions for seekers to follow complete in a true transgressive style of witchcraft. I have seen many books on witchcraft but Ian Chambers has found the language that takes the reader to the depths needed for a serious connection to the compass and Traditional Witchcraft, his words just grab you and take you to that place.

The Witches Compass even explores man’s discovery of the cardinal directions and names of the winds. In this exploration, you will find a history of the magnetized compass and illustrations from the grimoires of Agrippa and others. In this section, he connects the witch compass to evoking the directions and casting a circle as they were done in the ancient mysteries.

I loved the section that tells of the arrival of the cunning folk in society, and how they created a compass. Their compass has an alphabet that correlates to numbers, the zodiac, and the cardinal directions. Yay cunning folk! This allowed them to traverse the compass in the most remarkable ways as they applied the ancient mythos.

Ian Chambers then leaves nothing out as he writes about the five senses, the pentacle, and the crossroads. He demonstrates how they are connected to the witch compass and current magical traditions. The section on knot work and working with the winds is very intriguing and has a step-by-step exercise to teach the reader how to do this type of work, which I cannot wait to practice!

As you read Ian Chambers’s work, you begin to understand what the witch compass is and its importance to Traditional Witchcraft. and, that this book, The Witch Compass contains real and serious magic. A trend that continues throughout the book. This is an exciting and skilled book and every word captured my attention. I find The Witch Compass to not only be a step-by-step guide to the witch compass and Traditional Witchcraft but also a grimoire of spells and rituals and a true resource for any seeker, this book does not disappoint!

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Climate Change and Weather Magic

It has been a while since I spoke about weather magic. In my previous posts on the subject, I discussed how I got so connected to the natural forces over the years. In my presentation for the LlewellynCon I spoke about how psychic skills enhanced magic and witchcraft, but it really was a lesson on weather magic. (The link is below.) Today I thought I would share more about what I personally have been doing to help our Mother Earth to heal and restore given the climate change issues we see daily.

I began my work in March after our February was a bit too warm for comfort. Fearing what that might mean for the fire season I sat for several days in a row in meditation and dream work communing with the Elements and Mother Earth. I came away from that work knowing the Elements and the Earth were out of balance in a way that scientists and meteorologists cannot know and the Earth was asking for help. Now I have done weather magic in many states over time and had developed something of a routine way of proceeding but my meditations and dream work in this matter showed me something more was needed.

So on March 15, 2022, The Ides of March, I began what would become my daily work for the next two months. I began in meditation connecting to the Elements. I then carried that connection outside with me and made a physical connection to the Earth by placing one hand on the ground.

This is when “the something more” happened. Because I am clairvoyant I began to see and hear all the green and living, not only paying attention but saying, “Hey us too! We are all water seekers.” I saw all the creepy crawlies, insects, and flying things and could see and hear all the plants join in a chorus of “We the water seekers are here.”It was almost overwhelming as it all flowed through me.

Because of my skill, I relaxed and breathed in their energy through my whole body to become a conduit for them. I let their energy join with the connection to the Elements I already had within me.

I became the place the water seekers were able to connect to and speak with the Elements and make their requests. The images that flowed through my mind were amazing and it was in that manner I was “moved or instructed” on what to do next. With one hand on the ground and my head down and eyes closed, my other hand rose toward the sky as the words spontaneously spilled from my lips voicing the request of the Water Seekers.

Then as I stood up, I further drew all that combined energy through me. I channeled it and cast it toward the atmosphere, I could feel the power of it all vibrating me. All that energy made my impassioned plea grow louder and the energy continued to rise. Suddenly the mountains began to add their voices, saying “We hear you, we can help, we are water seekers too.” I began to tremble at the energy I was channeling and casting.

When I felt something of a peak or break, I then put a hand back on the Earth. Taking a breath for my own body and with one hand in the air, I projected this connection and invited Mother Earth herself to join us in this healing, in that moment I felt her sorrow and I cried with her.

When the stillness came, I knew the Elements were now listening. So quietly and near spent still channeling as a conduit, I asked the Elements to give we, the water seekers, and the green and living, balanced, and average seasons as they saw fit in their infinite wisdom, so that they the all-powerful may heal our Mother and all the green and living water seekers. That was day one, as was by far the most intense of them. Each day after did not require such intense work as the connection had been made and was easier to tap.

Each day until May 1st I lifted my voice to the Elements repeating my request using the energy and the voices of the water seekers, the green and living. Each day I also asked the mountains to lend their assistance in drawing the weather needed.

I paused my work on May 1st to give room for the elements to work in their own way and show me what their infit wisdom was. May and June 2022 were the first “normal” spring we have had here in five years, possibly more. Our rivers and lakes are full and the water seekers and the green and living are flourishing, for now. Since mid-May when the rains began I have given daily gratitude to the Elements for their infinite wisdom and nourishing ways.

In the past, I typically would ask for rain. It is the most obvious thing we need I thought. Often though I would see a backlash of sorts, where rain would come then the heat would scorch after. Then it hit me, we need the balance of all the elements. When also thinking of climate change it made even more sense.

So now when I do weather working I include the water seekers, the mountains, and the green and living. I ask not just for rain, but for the Elements to work equally well together in their infinite wisdom to provide “normal/average” seasons to be provided to the Earth to assist in healing her. Then I let go and let them work and express my gratitude to them for listening.

 

 

 

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A Call To Action, Witches Rise!

 

Witches, Mages, Magicians, Healers, Energy Workers, and Practitioners, we have an opportunity upon us. There is a planetary alignment that will last 10 days, beginning today. This particular alignment will not be seen again until 2040. I usually do not make a big deal over planetary alignments but I find this one a special opportunity for magic. Why is this one special to me? Because the planets it involves gives us an extra opportunity to help our current world situation, and the conjuncture reaches its peak on the Solctice lending more power to the working.

In this conjuncture, we have, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, Venus, and Mars. As you look at the attributes as I know them, think of the issues that are current in our world today.

Jupiter-Luck, growth, optimism, Abundance, and understanding.

Mercury- Trade, wages, merchants, speed, communication, financial gain, and water.

Venus- love, relationships, balance, harmony, and positive feminine energy.

Mars- Desire, Action, Energy, Survival, Change, Transformation, and Positive male energy.

Saturn- maturity, Responsibility, Stewardship, Motivation, Work, and Rules over Authority.

I am sure you can see where we need amplification of all of them to come into balance in our current world situation. I think if we use this opportunity to tap the energetic and spiritual properties of each of these planets, we can give our world an extra boost of healing and balance. It is my hope many will join me in this work for the next ten days. Many Blessings to all!

 

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The House of Twigs -6

I am excited to tell you about my weekly column at The House of Twigs! (THoT)

I receive questions from all kinds of practitioners and seekers via an encrypted email that is private and secure through the THoT website, and I can tell you there is such a variety of topics you never know what you will discover, and it is completely free! So enjoy and don’t be shy about sending in your questions and we will see you all again next week!

https://thehouseoftwigs.com/cats-eye-q-a/?fbclid=IwAR0SJsxnMNvv5wy5uvW4Ok_B_DlhlZ8PFg8X6v49iMZxLhrMCjOCYlvcc0E

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My interview with Elhoim Leafar

I thought I would share my only live video interview to date. This interview occurred before I even received my first copy of my book. Elhoim is amazing and it was such a pleasure to visit with him. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

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The Quiet Ones

With so much out on the internet in the world of paganism, how do you know who is legit and who is not? Who is knowledgeable about what you seek and who is not?

Well from what I have seen there are teachers, practitioners, and authors who are all over social media and using it to its fullest. Some push too hard and like a used car salesman you can hardly open a platform without seeing them and their wares. Those are what I call the commercial public pagans. Now there is nothing wrong with making money from what one does, we all want to make a living, myself included. It is a difference of quality VS quantity. From what I see from some of the commercial public pagans is that they are mostly online rather than out in their local community, other than large events.

Dare I suggest it is the ones you do not see so much of that should be sought out? You know who they are. The ones who quietly answer a question or two in your groups and stay out of the main conversation. They are the ones that stick to their lane, meaning: they do not try to be everything to everyone or portray themselves as having all the answers. Many of them have websites, stores, blogs, or classes that focus on the local area but are not overblown and slick. They are typically the ones you see presenting at the local pagan faire whose names you are not familiar with that also vend at said faire. That tarot reading you got from some cool old lady you are not familiar with, just may have been a very prominent priestess in her time who wrote several very good books. So it pays to look up someone’s name now and then.

A good friend of mine says one way to tell quality over quantity is to see what they are trying to sell to you. And how they go about it. Ask yourself are they flashy or pushing their wares? Does what they offer sound too good to be true? or are they quietly willing to be real with you? Are they charging a large fee? or just a basic fee? Does what they offer match their credentials?

Then one has to ask how do you see or find the quiet ones? In social media, you have to look past the flash. If someone left a practical comment and you have seen their name a few times, check out their profile, and any sites or other things they may have listed, it might surprise you!

It also depends on what you are looking for. If you only want information, cool. If you are looking for someone who lives what they teach and write and has credentials to match then you might want to take a closer look into that person’s profile and background to see if they are active in their community and available.

To help find some of the quiet ones I thought I would list those I find have quality over quantity.

Phaedra Bonewits has been a practicing psychic, witch, ritualist, and ceremonial magician for thirty years and is an early co-conspirator and a former national officer of CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) Phaedra is also a master of the Tarot, a reading from her is quite something.

Phaedra is currently active in her local community through The Coven of The Rising Phoenix and making presentations at local Pagan events as well as the Sacramento and Eugene Pagan Prides.

Books:Real Energy: Systems, Spirits, and Substances to Heal, Change, and Grow. Phaedra also recently co-edited Goodbye Jesus I have gone Home to Mother, with Oberon Zell, a book about seekers who have left the Abrahamic faiths and turned to Paganism, and wrote the forward to Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft by Cat Gina Cole. Phaedra also has a Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/isaac.phaedra.bonewits Her books  can be found on Amazon

Oberon Zell he and others laid the groundwork for the paganism we know today. Oberon Zell is the Dumbledore of our time and a modern Renaissance man. A transpersonal psychologist, metaphysician, naturalist, theologian, shaman, author, artist, sculptor, lecturer, teacher, and ordained Priest of the Earth-Mother, Gaia. Among the many projects he has undertaken in his lifetime, Oberon is one of the founders of the Church of All Worlds, is the first publisher of Green Egg Magazine, the Headmaster of the Grey School of Wizardry, the founder and curator of the Academy of Arcana. Those who know him well consider him to be a true Wizard in the traditional sense.

Oberon Zell currently resides in Redmond Washington where he continues to write and participates in the local community and travels to events at the age of 79. He is a real treat to get to meet in person. His recent books can be found at: https://oberonzell.com/books/ His sculptures and jewelry are available at https://oberonzell.com/

 

Aidan Kelly is an influential figure in the religion of Wicca. Having developed his own branch of the faith, the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn, during the 1960s, he was also initiated into other traditions, including Gardnerian and Feri n subsequent decades. He has also been an important figure in the creation of the Covenant of the Goddess, an organization designed to protect the civil rights of members of the Wiccan community in the United States. He has also published academic work studying the early development of Gardnerian Wiccan liturgy, primarily through his controversial 1991 book Crafting the Art of Magic.

Later a friend asked him to write a ritual for a Witch sabbat as part of an art seminar. This ritual led to the founding in October 1967 of the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn (NROOGD), which evolved into a Wiccan coven in 1969. Although humorously named after the famous Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Kelly’s coven was otherwise unrelated to that group.

The NROOGD tradition co-founded by Kelly in 1969 continues to operate in California and has covens in other states, Canada and the UK. Aidan Kelly currently lives in the Tacoma Washington area and offers classes through his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/aidan.kelly.37  His books can be found on Amazon

Hexaba Theaux  Is very active in her local community offering classes and running her store, Cajun Conjure Hoodoo Emporium, and teacher at http://www.cajunconjure.com/ Her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/hexeba.theaux-

Karen Walters and spouse Navar Knight have created an amazing Pagan community center at their shop at https://www.facebook.com/candlelightandconjure/ in Salem Oregon where they offer many classes, events, and witchy supplies. Their shop even features life-size Anubis and Bast statues that are quite impressive.

Katrina Rasbold and spouse Eric Rasbold own the Crossroads and Conjure shop in Northern California and it is quite a sight to see. They offer many classes and events and Katrina and her crew make many of the products sold there. Katrina holds live tarot readings from the crossroads page on Facebook and has a YouTube channel and participates in many of the events in her area and much more. Katrina has written quite a few books on Witchcraft and Conjure as well as The Seven Sisters of Avalon series, she can be found at: http://katrinarasbold.com/

Their shop can be found at  https://www.facebook.com/crossroadsoccult  Her youtube is at https://www.youtube.com/c/KatrinaRasbold    Her books also be found on Amazon

Erika Fortner, owner of the Queen Meb store in Portland Oregon a very nice space that is well stocked. Many of her products are made by her and this witchy gal is the real deal. There is not much she cannot help you with. Erika offers classes in person and online at https://learn.thehouseoftwigs.com/ and her website is https://queenmeb.com/

Manora Fawn- She has a YouTube channel, Talking with Siofra where she discusses topics suggested by her followers in a very practical and down-to-earth way. She and her husband are active in their local community and often hold meet-ups and rituals on the Oregon Coast. They have been active in the Pagan community for many years and their wisdom shows.

Lupa Greenwolf, this is one busy Pagan! Her website shows how diverse her natural works are and that she has been at this for a while. Her talents include the reading of bones and bone artwork, The  Tarot of Bones, she has written quite a few books and does online classes! She can be found at: https://thegreenwolf.com/

Janice Patterson Seidel Owner of the Dancing Gypsy in Klamath Falls Oregon. https://thedancinggypsy.net/ Her shop services a wide region of rural Oregon and features handmade items, an apothecary, and any other witchy item you might need. Janice is a master of pendulum work and often holds classes on many topics at the store as well as doing rituals in her local area. She can be found on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Dancing-Gypsy-a-space-for-spiritual-growth-259065377835065

Rachael Patterson, this is one amazing witch! I have watched her YouTube channel and love how she can make magic from common items, even eyeglasses. Rachael lives in the UK; she has written many books on witchcraft and runs a semi-private coven in her local community. She and her blog can be found at: https://www.rachelpatterson.co.uk/    Her books can be found on Amazon and Llewellyn Worldwide. Com

Catt Foy, talk about down-to-earth real folk, this gal is that and much more. Catt Foy is a writer, artist, photographer, author, organizer of the Meraki! Spirit & Arts Fair, and spiritual consultant living in Eugene Oregon.

Catt’s art includes paintings, fiber arts, wearable art, upcycled and original jewelry, and photography. Her recent publications include Rune Stones and Their Interpretations, a new guide to Psycards: An Oracle of Archetypes, a fun new Psycards Archetypes Coloring Book in black and white, and with color illustrations, and the historical novel, Bartleby: A Scrivener’s Tale. She can be found at, http://www.cattfoy.com/

Beverly Kennedy is truly one of the quiet ones on social media she does not employ any hype but check out her impressive pagan resume:

“I am an Honored Member of the non-profit, Temple of Witchcraft, Salem, New Hampshire, and attended the Mystery School of the Temple of Witchcraft, with Wiccan High Priest and author, Christopher Penczak. I have been a solitary practitioner of earth-based spirituality for the last 21 years. )O( Honored Literary Membership~Le Musee de Vampires et Monstres de l’Imaginaire, Paris Honored Membership~Temple of Witchcraft, Salem New Hampshire USA Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids~ *Bard* East Essex, England, UK Honored Member Tidewater Druids Norfolk, Virginia, USA Honored Member Ar nDraiocht Fein Certified Massage Therapist, 2001 Certified Master Facilitator Intuitive and Energetic Healing, 2002 Certified Reiki Master/Teacher 2002 Ordained Non~Denominational Minister 2005 Certified Angel Card Reader; Doreen Virtue, 2015 Certified Realm Reader; Doreen Virtue, 2016. She can be found at https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyKennedyEvanstar/about

Ruth Overholser is a gentle and wise soul. She studied natural medicine and makes all her own herbal products and she is the one I turn to when I need to know anything about herbs and medicine. Her small shop is tucked in the quaint town of Cave Junction Oregon. She can be found at: https://m.facebook.com/LadyThymeHerbs/

Karen Campbell, talk about quiet grace! When you meet Karen Campbell you feel an instant calming influence, light and gentleness just emanates from her. Karen is an amazing tarot reader, teacher, reiki healer, and much more. She vends at many local events and is a treat. She can be found at https://www.facebook.com/karen.campbell.509 and her website is: http://brokenwingcounseling.com/Home/index.php

Christopher Penczak, tho well known is a quiet soul. He is a Witch, teacher, writer and healing practitioner. His practice draws upon the foundation of both modern and traditional Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe as a practitioner and teacher of shamanism, tarot, Reiki healing, herbalism, astrology and Qabalah.

He is the founder of the Temple of Witchcraft tradition and system of magickal training based upon the material of his books and classes. He is an ordained minister primarily serving the New Hampshire and Massachusetts pagan and metaphysical communities through public rituals, private counsel and teaching, though he travels extensively teaching throughout the United States. He can be found at:

https://christopherpenczak.com/

Those are a few of the quiet ones that can be found if you look. They have a wealth of knowledge and skill to be enjoyed. I hope you enjoy and admire them as much as I have. Many Blessings to all!

 

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Being of Service and Promotion

Being of Service

In my family tradition I was taught from a young age about being of service. Not just being of service to the spirits of the other side as a witch, but helping people in whatever way possible. Those closest to me know I live this daily.

I often wondered why I experienced some of the things I have in my life. I could not understand why these things were put on me. Often, they were heavy, confusing, and very hard and made no sense.

On a day when I was struggling and feeling like I was at the bottom of life, my mom said, “You experience these things so you can give your knowledge and strength of how you got through them to others.” In that perspective it suddenly all made sense and I was able to carry on.

This does not make me an expert in anything. Nor does it elevate me above anyone else. That is not who I am. I am a simple country witch, a real person that has led a colorful life and had some experiences that when shared, might help others through their journey. And that is the sole reason I wrote my book Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft.

I have had the opportunity to elevate myself in this world and walked away each time because being a real and approachable person available to others was more important. Which makes self-promotion against my character. But how does one be of service to others unless they know you are there?

Promotion

In today’s world of social media, I cannot reach folks that might have a need without some self-promotion. I, like many, despise the slick used car salesperson tactics or flooding of social media I have seen others use. So, I quietly sit in many Pagan groups on social media. I carefully select those I respond to and share my blog once in a while. To date that has been my form of self-promotion. On the flipside of promotion, one must enjoy and share their joys with their community to fully live that joy. That is my goal here today.

In writing psychic Skills For Magic And Witchcraft, the main goal was to write about psychism in a common-sense, and practical, step by step easy to understand way. To tear off the band-aid of the common mystical language that only serves to further confuse or cloud psychism for many.

My second goal was to de-mystify many of the preconceived ideas our society has taught us about psychics and let all psychics know they no longer have to feel odd or confused. There is a name for what they experience, there are tools to use, it is real, and they are not alone.

My book, Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft takes the seeker on the complete journey. In the later chapters, I use real-life experiences to demonstrate how psychic occurrences can appear in daily life. I couple those experiences with additional advanced tools and skills the seeker can use to deal with their own experiences in their own way.

My book is my way of being there for the many psychics that have no one to talk to or feel lost in their experiences. The book is not only what I live daily and what I teach, but it is the book I wish I had growing up as a psychic. It is my greatest desire that it brings all psychics, confidence, guidance, and peace of mind, no matter where they are in the journey.

Today I celebrate my work and let myself feel the joy I wish to share with you the seeker. Psychic Skills For Magic And Witchcraft, published by Llewellyn Worldwide will be coming out in February 2022.

I am excited to see this work come full circle. I can hardly believe it is available for pre-order at Llewellyn Worldwide, on Amazon, and Barnes and noble.

I am also honored to have written an article for the Llewellyn Journal, to be published in January. I even get to be a guest on Spirit Talk, a show in Australia! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would be so. It is almost surreal like I am walking in a dream or in someone else’s life. the joy of it is almost overwhelming. So, witches, follow your dreams and fly!

Below you will see some of the endorsements for my book. I am so honored that these folks thought so highly of my work. I am humbled by their praise. I hope you enjoy the book as much as they have. Many Blessings to all!

Advance praise for Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft: Developing Your Spirit, Intuition, and Clairvoyance, published by Llewellyn Worldwide in February 2022:

“If you want to develop your intuition and related mental acuities, this is a fabulous resource! Each chapter provides a variety of tools, both material and otherwise, that allow you to open your mind and increase your focus. Even if you’ve never done any sort of psychic practice, this book will offer you the framework you need to get started and get better, without being overly dogmatic or prescriptive.” —Lupa, creator of The Tarot of Bones deck and book 

“I’ve read a lot of books on psychism, but this one is unique; not merely theoretical, but actual tried-and-true practical exercises, definitions, explanations, and most enlightening—personal excerpts from Cat’s own journals from a lifetime of both learning and teaching the psychic arts. Cat’s descriptions of her childhood lessons and exercises remind me so much of my own lonely journey as a ‘magikid.’ Fortunately, while I had to invent my own experiments in telepathy, hypnosis, psychokinesis, etc., Cat had her witchy mother and grandmother to teach her. And in this book she organizes the solid lessons she learned and teaches into an easy-to-understand three-level course of study for beginning students to intermediate practitioners. This course presents a foundational curriculum of psychic skills for daily living and all forms of spiritual practices. I recommend it highly!” — Oberon Zell, Headmaster of the Grey School of Wizardry, author of Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.

“Crone wisdom resonates throughout the pages of this vital book that is certain to become a modern classic. Bringing together a lifetime of clinical and priestess training, Cat Gina Cole has written the consummate book for developing and growing psychic awareness and sensitivity.” — Katrina Rasbold, Author of Uncrossing: Identify, Cleanse, and Heal from Hexes, Curses, and Psychic Attack and Crossroads of Conjure: The Roots and Practices of Granny Magic, Hoodoo, Brujería, and Curanderismo.