Current News

I am currently in the process of migrating the content shared here to a series of new websites hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com.

As you explore this site, you may find links to a "page not found" instead of something cool and magickal. For this I apologize. I am very working hard behind the scenes to restore those pages along with a link to their homes on my new website where they can be viewed in full.

Search the Spells

Monday, September 30, 2013

About Ivy People


  • Birth dates: September 30 thru October 27
  • Gemstone: Opal
  • Spirits: Faery people
  • Animal: Butterfly
  • Flower: The Woody Nightshade
  • Tree/Plant: Ivy
  • Planet: Moon veiling Persephone

Characteristics:

Representing the mysterious and mythical, Ivy’s ability to cling and bind make it a powerful symbol of strength and determination. Ivy can take over and kill larger trees which lend it a rather sinister quality....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Sigils Symbols and Signs, and can be found in its entirety here: Sign of the Ivy

Sunday, September 29, 2013

September Magick

Lakshmi, white as the inside of a lotus flower,
you smile at us with tender care.
We sing your praises, hour upon hour,
and twine white blossoms
in your midnight hair.


September gets its name from the Latin word septum, meaning "seven," because it was originally the seventh month in the old calendar system. While the early portion of this month has many summery-feeling festivals, slowly we see a change in focus toward the fall and harvest celebrations....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar and can be found in its entirety here: September Magick and Lore

More Michaelmas Customs

Blackberries:
The one Michaelmas custom that survives to this day is that you should not eat blackberries after the 29th of September. There is a very good reason for this custom, namely that by this time of year blackberries are tasteless and watery.

Other fruits, particularly nuts and rose-hips also have customs associated with Michaelmas. For example, 'Hipping Day' in Yorkshire, or Michaelmas pie in Ireland (Made of apples)...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to The Pagan Calendar, it can be found here: Michaelmas - The Christianized Mabon

Pomegranate Binding Spell

How do I love thee?
Let me count the seeds...


Here is a binding spell to do with your partner, lover, or spouse. The doing of this spell will bind the two of you together, and bring prosperity, protection, and fertility.

To effect the binding:
  1. Break open two pomegranates.
  2. One partner eats 220 seeds, the other eats 284 seeds .
  3. Count them and eat them together
Found in: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

More love spells can be found at my new website, Book of Shadows.

Pomegranate Protection Spell


If you fear that the child in your womb has been exposed to illness, obtain a pomegranate.
  1. Cut the pomegranate in half.
  2. Rub one half over yourself, especially your belly.
  3. Envision any ills or pain or damage being drawn into the pomegranate.
  4. When you are finished, bury this half in earth.
  5. Eat every seed in the other half.
Found in: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

Plant Magic

If you are pursuing a spiritual or magical alliance with a specific plant, this is best accomplished with a living plant, redolent with power and consciousness, rather than processed, dried plants that retain power but lack conscious intelligence.

You can grow plants necessary for magic spells and/or physical healing. As you nurture the plant - communicate with it: share your fears and desires, let the plant know what you want from it...

... I am so sorry but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Some Thoughts on Plant Magick

Harvesting Botanicals


In order to maximize botanicals' magic potential, magic rituals and spells are incorporated into their harvesting.

Because plants are alive, removing them from Earth is a risky operation. One has the option of increasing and enhancing their inherent power, or of offending Earth and the presiding Plant Spirits.

Once upon a time, all harvesting, for magical or other purposes, was accompanied by spells, rituals and propitiation of various Earthly and Spirit forces. Unless you purchase your botanicals from magically oriented vendors, one can safely assume that modern harvesting is accompanied by no such rituals or spells.

If you practice extensive botanical spell-casting you may wish to incorporate similar gestures in other ways, to enhance your spells and to provide spiritual protection for oneself. If however, one grows and harvests one's own botanicals, ancient spells, and rituals may be borrowed or adapted.

Because they're alive, have power, and must be treated with respect, it's not appropriate to just go out and grab a handful of plant. Botanical materials are safely harvested through magic ritual. Essentially you cast a spell in order to gain materials to cast more spells.

The plant (or its presiding spirit or Earth herself, however you best understand this) must be addressed. The purpose for gathering should be explained. Because of the principle of reciprocity, gifts are exchanged. Libations of water are always appropriate, howver different traditions favor different gifts. native Americans offered pinches of tobaccop; Anglo-Saxons once offered oatmeal. The ancient Romans offered bread and wine. Honey, wine, and menstrual blood are popular offerings. Fragrant incense may be burned in the vicinity as a gift.

Use your intuition and your judgment to discern what is proper when collecting in the wild. If botanicals are purchased, consider a blessing spell and/or some kind of offering and acknowledgement of the disrepect the plant may have suffered before it came to you.

source: Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

Work Some Coffee Magic


  • Sprinkling ground coffee in the four corners of a room, or brewing coffee in the room will make the occupants work harder.
  • Add a brewed pot of coffee to the bathwater for energy. It will give you extra stamina and push you to forge ahead and work longer hours. The coffee bath is more beneficial than drinking it because it will not cause undue stress and there is no risk of overdosing.
  • Carry whole coffee beans in the pocket for success in love....
... more coffee magick can be found at Magickal Ingredients.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hyssop Magick and Lore


Hyssop, (Hyssopus officinalis) is the herb that purifies your life.

Hyssop will:
  • Protect you and your home
  • Purify your altar or sacred space
  • Dispel depression

How to harness Hyssop's magical properties:

To remove negativity, tie a bunch of hyssop branches together to create a symbolic broom. Then use it to sweep your home, removing any negative energy or spirits....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Hyssop Magick and Lore

Aura of Venus Bath Salts

  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 drops rose oil
  • 4 drops synthetic musk oil
  • 8 drops jasmine oil
  • 4 drops lavender oil...
... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Aura of Venus Bath Salts

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Peaceful Home Oil Spell

This condition oil allegedly ends familial quarrels and encourages reconciliation. An excellent spell to coincide with a family reunion!
  • Create Peaceful Home Oil by grinding brown sugar, bee pollen, orrisroot, and peppermint leaves together.
  • Place this in a bottle together with pink rose petals.
  • Cover with sweet almond and jojoba oils...
... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Peaceful Home Oil Spell

Five Pebbles Protection Spell


Go to a moving brook or stream. While standing in the water and facing downstream, remove five small pebbles from the stream bed. As you do this, visualize your need for protection....

... I am so sorry but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Five Pebbles Protection Spell

Lampblack Ink


Choose a candle color to coordinate with the purpose of your spell. (Green for money, for instance.)

Carve and dress as desired. (This means carve symbols or words into the candle, and annoint with essential oils that are appropriate to your purpose.)

Hold a spoon over the candle flame until black soot forms. (This takes a while; it's a time-consuming process requiring patience.) This soot is lampblack.

When sufficient lampblack has been produced, carefully tap it off the spoon and into a bowl.

Add spring water or wine, drop by drop, to dissolve the soot and then add gum arabica to thicken the ink.

Source: Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

How to Make Egyptian Kyphi

Here we have a rather vague recipe for Kyphi. I have not actually made it, so I have no idea as to how it would turn out. It does look interesting and adventurous. If anyone tries this, I'd love to hear how it worked out. 



 Begin by blending equal parts dried ground acacia, henna, and juniper. Soak the resulting powder in wine. In a separate container soak golden raisins in wine. Allow this soaking process to continue for seven days. Take equal parts cardamom, sweet flag/calamus, cinnamon, peppermint, bay leaves, galangal, and orris root....... 

I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: How To Make Egyptian Kyphi

The Four Ingredients For Successful Magick


The Gypsies say that the power of magick lies in four simple ingredients. The first of these is the desire/need of the practitioner. The stronger your desire for something to happen and the stronger your need for a thing, then the stronger is the power that you generate towards that goal. We can say, then, that the first ingredient (indeed the first necessity) for successful magick is will....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, and can be found in its entirety here: For Successful Magick

Attracting Romance

If you wish to attract romance to your life, choose a night when the moon is new or full. Stand outside next to water - a stream, a well, a river, or even a garden pond....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website Gypsy Magick and Lore (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Attracting Romance


Image by Francene Hart

Urgent Money Spell


Urgent Money Spell

The Romanies say that when money is urgently needed by a certain date, this spell works wonders. One thing to remember: it must be performed at the witching hour of midnight.

Take one white votive (or tea light) candle to represent each $100 or $1,000 that you critically need. Stand them on a plate you often eat from.

At a quarter to midnight, sit in a room with no electric lights. Light a gold or silver, green or white candle (not one of those representing money). This is the candle that will give power to the "money" votive candles and will enable you to see what you are doing....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Urgent Money Spell

Increase Money - Decrease Money Problems

A Charm to Increase Money and Decrease Money Problems

On the night of the crescent moon,
place a coin on a windowsill with the head facing up.
This encourages money to increase.

Leave it there until the moon is full,
then flip the coin so the tails side is facing up...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Increase Money - Decrease Money Problems

Meet With Success

This is a "commanding" spell and will place you on the threshold of success.
(It may also be used to increase your personal power before an important meeting.)


Have in your mind a clear idea of what it is that you want to succeed with. Light a blue candle in front of a mirror. Sit at the mirror and stare into your own eyes in search of your soul....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Meet With Success

Bringing Money Home

Here is a spell for bringing money right through your front door:

When the moon is new, sprinkle a $1, $10, $20 or $50 bill with cinnamon and then secretly place it underneath the front doormat inside your home.

It will be charged with positive energy...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Bringing Money Home

The Gypsy Way

The Gypsy tradition goes back to the darkest reaches of time. It uses simple spells and rituals to harness the power of nature and of the elemental spirits that are all around us.

Magic

The Gypsy people are as independent in thought as they are in other areas of life, and they don't believe that a clergyman is really necessary to intercede between a person and the 'powers that be'. Although most Romanies would profess a belief in  ....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: The Gypsy Way

Festival of Kore

Themes: Luck, Cycles, Youthful Energy

Symbols: Coins, Corn, the number 7, Flower Buds, Pomegranate

About Kore: An aspect of Persephone before her marriage to Hades, this youthful goddess motivates good fortune, zeal, and a closer affinity to earth's cycles during the coming months.

Kore, whose name means "maiden," is the youngest aspect of the triune goddess....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Kore

Saturday, September 21, 2013

The Feast of the Divine Life


The feast of the Divine Life honors the great goddess in her three-fold aspect as mother (creator), daughter (renewer), and dark mother (the absolute).

More info can be found on my new website, The Pagan Calendar.

The Autumn Equinox


Autumn Equinox refers to a time of the year when day and night are equally balanced. The sun is in the process of crossing the equator and in astrological terms is entering the sign of Libra. The sun is the focal point of energy (along with the moon) and such; its life force pushes us to discover more about ourselves. This movement into the Libra puts a congenial, cooperative outlook on that time of year, just what was needed by the communities, as they all worked together to complete the harvest.

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: The Autumn Equinox

Mabon History



Mabon (May-bawn) is also known as the Feast of Avalon and the festival of the Wine Harvest. To the Celts, Avalon is the mysterious place for the land of the dead. and literally means the “land of apples”. Thus this is a holiday for celebrating the bounty of the harvest and the desire for the living to be reunited with their deceased loved ones.

But the holiday is also named for the Welsh God Mabon. Mabon means the “great son”. He was the son of Modred, kidnapped at the age of 3 and later rescued by King Arthur. His life represents the innocence of youth, the strength of survival and the growing wisdom of the elderly....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found here: Mabon - The Second Harvest

Balance in Magick- Left and Right

Consider the herbalist's scales: things are carefully weighed out to achieve a desired balance. Magic plays with balance too. Sometimes the desire is for all forces to be equal and harmonious. At other times goals are accomplished by deliberately, consciously tipping the scales to provide the required effect.


Left and Right:

Once upon a time, not too long ago, the concept of Dualism associated the direction right with God, high, male, and all those good things. Thus children were forced to use their right hands, the dexterous hand, whether that was their dominant hand or not. Children who were naturally left-handed (the sinister hand) literally had it beaten out of them until they were dexterous too....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Balance in Magick - Left and Right

Libra Begins

Themes: Balance; Justice; Peace
Symbols: Scales; Balanced Items
Presiding Goddess: Tula

To Do Today:

People born under the sign of Libra seem to integrate Tula's characteristics of harmony and balance, especially in aesthetic sense. They cultivate relationships carefully and enjoy fighting for just causes....

... I am so sorry to do this, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Libra Begins

Libra Oil

Add the following essential oils to 1/8 cup of a base oil. Visualize as you mix and smell.  For best results, don't use synthetics.
  • 4 drops Rose Geranium ...
I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website The Magickal Apothecary (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in its entirety here: Libra Oil

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Moon Wishing

To wish on the moon in order to see a specific person soon, say while looking at the moon:

I see the Moon, The Moon sees me
The Moon sees (name of person)
Who I want to see.

From Moon Magick

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Story behind Anant Chaturdashi


Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Ganeshotsav is a ten day festival which ends on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period). The dates of the festival vary from year to year, in 2013 Ganesh Chaturthi will fall on 9th September and Anant Chaturdashi will fall on 18th September. The story behind this festival goes like this...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another, and moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar. It can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Anant Chaturdashi

Festival of Anant Chaturdasi


The festival of Anant Chaturdasi is a festival of purification. Because this festival falls on the fourteenth day of the waxing moon period, the dates of the festival vary from year to year. In 2013, the Anant Chaturdashi will fall on 18th September....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Anant Chaturdashi

Friday, September 13, 2013

Friday The 13th Protection Spell

You'll need 1 small cup of your favorite beverage, 1 piece of your favorite fruit cut up into 7 slices, and 1 long red ribbon cut into 7 pieces.

1.  Create an offering table to call the attention of the Hathors.

2.  Spread out the cup filled with your beverage, the fruit slices, and the ribbons on the table.  One for each Hathor.  (The Hathors are ancient birthroom spirits, but they also provide protection on certain days... and can grant gifts and wishes as well) ...

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: Friday the 13th Protection Spell

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Correspondences and Symbols for Mabon



Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance. Day and night are equal and the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen.

Symbols of Mabon:
Acorns; Apples; Autumn flowers; Corn; Cornucopia; Dried seeds; Gourds; Grains; Harvested crops; Horns of plenty; Leaves; Marigolds; Nuts; Oak sprigs; Pine and cypress cones; Pomegranates; Red poppies; Wine, Wreaths....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Correspondences for Mabon

Michaelmas Lore


  • If you eat goose on Michaelmas Day, you will not be short of money all year round.
  • A Michaelmas rot comes ne’er in the pot.
  • If St Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow....
... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been combined with another and moved to The Pagan Calendar, it can be found here: Michaelmas - The Christianized Mabon

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Herbs for Luck

  • ACORN is a symbol of great luck and fortune.
  • ALLSPICE is burned as an incense to attract money or luck, and is also
    added to such mixtures.
  • ALOE is hung over houses and doors in Africa to bring good luck.
  • ANGELICA is considered lucky. Rub the root between your palms when you gamble or pick your lottery numbers....
... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Herbs for Luck

September Moon Names

What follows is a list (in alphabetical order) of the names given to the September moon. Also listed is the tradition and/or origin of that moon name:


Acorns Moon ~Wishram
Autumn Moon ~Passamaquoddy
Barley Moon ~Mediaeval English, Algonquin
Black Butterfly Moon ~Cherokee
Black Calf Moon ~Sioux
Blood Moon ~other
Calves Hair Growth Moon ~Dakota
Corn Moon, ~Algonquin, Pueblo...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar and can be found in its entirety here: September Moons

Monday, September 09, 2013

Festival of Ganesha


It is believed that Lord Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods, barring Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel. 

The festival, also known as Ganeshotsav ("festival of Ganesha") is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shuklachaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period)....

... I'm so sorry to do this, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Ganesha Chaturthi

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Erect A Cairn Of Power


Cairns or piles of stones are collectors and reservoirs of power. Creating a Cairn of Power in a specific power spot, such as a crossroads, graveyard, or hilltop can give added depth to magick performed with, on, or near them. Here's how:

Select 10 or 20 sones of approximately the same size. Larger is better - just be sure that you can safely handle them. When collecting the stones, always ask permission, and take the stone only if permission is granted. Be respectful of the place, and be sure to leave appropriate offerings, and blessings.

Before building the Cairn...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Erect A Cairn of Power

The Bloodletting Begins

We are currently doing some internal housekeeping and rewriting here on Gypsy Magic. And here's why:

Google sent us a notification of copyright infringement issues pertaining to what I assume was a recipe (the notice was noticeably vague), and disabled the adsense on our UK blog.

Initially, I had decided to research, rethink, and redo the recipes. Then I did more research about copyright laws, reread the blogger terms of service, and realized that there was going to have to be a massive bloodletting to pacify the Gods of the Internet, Google in particular.

This was very discouraging to me, as I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 2075 posts to research, rethink, rewrite, review before I can feel comfortable that they are either in the public domain, fall within the parameters of "fair use", or are otherwise available for me to post here on Gypsy Magic.

Interestingly, and somewhat annoyingly, I simultaneously discovered that when a post is published here on this blog, it will almost immediately be published on a number of websites elsewhere. When I was taking the lazy way out, and pretty much copying out of books and wikipedia, I didn't care too much about all the blatant copying. Now, however, I am going to expect credit and a link back if someone copies what I write.

It's going to take a while to get things back to normal around here and I am really sorry for the inconvenience this may cause my readers. I apologize for links to a "page not found" instead of an informative post. 
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