The first day of a new year is an excellent time to do a reading for the year ahead. Here is a simple process for doing a year ahead reading, even if you don't typically read. You can do this process with a traditional tarot deck or an oracle deck. It's best if you are unfamiliar with the deck to have access to the book.

Take a moment to breathe. Ground and center yourself. Let yourself be fully present. When you feel ready pick up the deck of cards and focus on the year ahead. Let yourself remain open, but hold the power of 2020 as your focus.

Again, when you feel ready, fan out the cards and pick twelve cards. Keeping them in the order you selected them.

Flip them over one at a time. Card number one is connected to January, card number two is connected to February, card three is March, and so on.

Write down any key words or points that you want to remember that you can refer to throughout the year ahead. You might also consider taking a picture of the layout so you can refer to the imagery throughout the year as well.

Phoenix recently wrote a blog post about some magickal tips and tricks that you can use to keep things peaceful while hosting or attending a family gatherings.

Check out that blog post here.

The concept of holy water is one found in religions from all over the world. In some faiths a specific river is holy, in others a priest must sanctify the water in order to make it holy, and in others holy water is created from an event, like a storm. 

As we move into the rainy season, you can make your own holy water to use for cleansing, blessings, and clarity.

For this working you will need a seal-able jar, a beautiful bowl, a quartz crystal, and two white candles.

Leave the jar outside until you collect enough water to fill at least half of the jar.

Wait until the next full moon and then set the bowl between the two white candles. Have your rain water handy. Do this working skyclad (or naked) if possible. Light the candles and then pour the water into the bowl while repeating this chant until you feel complete:
Holy, holy, holy
Water is life
Life is a blessing

Use your dominant hand to draw a pentacle in the water three times. Place the quartz crystal into the jar and pour the water back in. Close the lid and keep the jar in the refrigerator. Your own holy water!

Halloween is also known as Samhain (pronounced Sow-in). It is believed to be a time when the veil between our world and the Otherworlds is thin. It is a time where we can more easily connect and commune with those that have crossed over. This ancestor summoning spells should be used when you want to connect to an ancestor whose lineage you have at least some basic familiarity with.

Supplies Needed: alcohol from ancestral lands (or spring water), ancestral food, candle, image of ancestral lands (or map), photos of any ancestors you have, and a bell.

Set Up: Create a small altar for your ancestors. This can be on a small table, a book shelf, the edge of a desk. The size doesn't matter, just make some space. Place the image of ancestral lands or map on the flat surface. On top of it place the candle, photos, bell, candle, a small cup for the alcohol, and a small plate for the food.

Spell: As you set up this space speak out loud to your ancestors. Let them know you want to hear their divine wisdom. Invite in those ancestors that are filled with love and want to see you thrive in the world. Light the candle, ring the bell, pour the alcohol, and put out the food.

Take care of this space. Keep it clean. Keep the offerings of food and alcohol fresh. Make it a space that your ancestors would appreciate.

​And then......listen. 

If you notice a negative energy or presence in your home and you want to banish that, follow this simple bottle spell for banishing negative energy.

You will need the following items:
-a small or medium sized mason jar with lid
-13 rose thorns
-the petals of one whole rose (ideally a white rose, but any color will do)
-enough salted water or holy water to almost totally fill the jar

At sunset drop each of the rose thorns into the jar. Do this with focus and intention. As each thorn hits the bottom of the jar say "I banish all negative energy from this place". When all the thorns are in the jar cover them with the rose petals making sure that you can't see any of the thorns. Then almost fill the jar with the sacred water.

Leave the jar open overnight. Do not sit vigil or watch the jar. Just leave it in a place where it can be undisturbed.

Before the sunrises in the morning close the jar tight saying "all evil is trapped inside". Wrap the jar in dark fabric and bury it somewhere far away from your home.

If you have been struggling to clear sadness out of your life and space the following spell can help. This should not be used as a replacement for therapy or mental health support. However, this spell can aid any mental heath treatment you might be receiving.

You will need: small white candle, small piece of white paper, red ink pen, sewing needle, and honey.

Find a time and place where you can be alone and undisturbed. Write down all your fears, sorrows, and worry onto the sheet of white paper with the red pen. Then hold the candle and read back (out loud) what you have written. Allow your body to release all of the sadness in to the white candle.

Carve your name and birth date on to the candle using the sewing needle. Then anoint the candle and the piece of paper with the honey. Light the candle and burn the paper with the flame (being very careful with the fire! only use fire safe containers, and take care to be safe).

Say this: I release my sorrow to the flame. Gone are sadness, grief, and pain. My troubles are gone forever more. To grief and sorrow I close the door.

Let the paper burn to ash, repeating the lines above. Once the paper is gone focus on your body and the empty space you have created by releasing the sadness. Eat a teaspoon of honey and visualize the golden glow of it filling that empty space. Fill up your body with the warmth, glow, and sweetness of honey. (if you can't have honey use syrup).

Sit with the candle until it is done burning, holding the visualization of warmth and joy filling you up. Eat more honey if you feel called.

Looking to increase your psychic powers? There are many great way to open up that third eye an allow more of you intuition to come through. This spell is best on a Full Moon night.

Supplies: you will need many sprigs of mugwort, enough to make a garland and place the leave across your body. (Make sure that you have no allergies to this plant before you start using it!) Fresh mugwort is needed, if you decide to wild craft this plant make sure that you don't take too much and you ask the plant's permission before taking any of it. You will need be naked outside, so make sure you have privacy. If being nude outdoors isn't possible, make sure you can at least stand in front of a window where the light of the moon can shine on you.

Create sacred space in whatever way you prefer - light incense, burn candles, sing, play music, take a bath, etc. When you feel ready make a garland for your head out of some of the mugwort.

Stand in the light of the moon and place the mugwort garland on your head. Place the leaves on other parts of your body, in your hands, and on your face.

Say this:
I call upon the blessing of the full moon
I call upon the blessing of this sacred plant
I call upon my intuition, sight, and psychic vision

Bless me with the sight
Bless me with the vision
Bless me with the knowing

Stand in the light of the moon and feel that glow imbue you with a heightened psychic power. Let the power of the mugwort sink into your skin, offering you a blessing of intuition. 

When you feel ready remove the leaves, but keep the garland on. Do a reading with whatever method you prefer.

​Dry the garland and keep it on your altar.

The best way to work a protection spell is to incorporate protection magick into something you already wear on a daily basis. If there is a ring, charm, necklace, or bracelet that you regularly wear you can bless it for protection.

Make a protection oil with the following ingredients:
1 part lemongrass essential oil
1 part cedar essential oil
1 part rosemary essential oil

Put the essential oil mixture into a carrier oil; like almond or jojoba oil. (The carrier oil should be a 10 to 1 ratio to the essential oils.)

Add a pinch of dried hyssop and pinch of dragon's blood resin. Shake well.

When all the ingredients are combined speak your intention out loud. Call upon your guides and allies to imbue this oil with their protection. Ask that anytime you use this oil you are safe and protected. Take a moment to feel that oil as a barrier from strife, trouble, or harm.

Every morning anoint your piece of jewelry with this oil before you go about your day. Recite your intention and see yourself surrounded with protection.

Blessed Be!

This bath requires several drops of essential oils. Before adding anything to a bath make sure that you are not allergic to the ingredients. Do not use if you are uncertain.

Supplies: a cup of salt, three drops of frankincense essential oil, three drop of myrrh essential oil, three drop melissa essential oil, three drops patchouli oil.

Blend all of the oils into the salt. Draw a bath of water as hot as you can handle. Add in the salt mix as the bath fills.

Soak in the tub. Allow yourself to relax. Submerse your head to full cleanse your physical body. When you are finished unplug the drain and stay in the tub until all of the water as drained. As the water drains away it takes all of the negativity along with it.

The following charm can be made for luck with money, especially gambling. For this spell you will need:

1 green taper candle
3-6 lucky charms (not the cereal, but rather little clovers, horseshoes, dice, money bags, or dollar signs - the smaller the better)
1 pinch of cinnamon
1 pinch of alfalfa
1 pinch of peppermint
1 small square of green fabric

Write out your goal on a small piece of paper. Carve your name and birth date into the candle wax. Anoint the candle with a blessed oil. Light the candle and while it burns pour off the wax. Continue to do this until you have enough soft wax to make a ball the size of a quarter.

While the wax is still warm and malleable mix in the herbs and charms. Roll the wax into a tight ball and let it fully dry. Wrap the ball into the fabric and carry it with you for luck in money and games of chance.