First let's get into what a poppet actually is. "In folk magic and witchcraft, a poppet (also known as poppit, moppet, mommet or pippy) is a doll made to represent a person, for casting spells on that person or to aid that person through magic. They are occasionally found lodged in chimneys. These dolls may be fashioned from such materials as a carved root, grain or corn shafts, a fruit, paper, wax, a potato, clay, branches, rope, or cloth stuffed with herbs with the intent that any actions performed upon the effigy will be transferred to the subject based on sympathetic magic. Poppets are also used as kitchen witch figures." - Wikipedia So how do you make a poppet? My favorite way of making a poppet is with cloth, stuffing, herbs and crystals so that's what I can help you  make.  First decide what you would like your poppet to do - is it for you or someone else? Is it for love/friendship, healing, energy working, protection? Determine what the poppet is for. L...

Being a Eclectic witch means you don't follow just one certain path. You choose to learn magical things from various cultures. Let's explore this idea. I'm as white as it gets - Scandinavian, blond (now grey) with blue eyes should I even attempt Hoodoo? Some would admittedly say NO, I don't have the right to do an African based magical system. Okay, I see your point, but what if their way of handling herbs and roots is of great interest to me as I work with the spirits of herbs/roots regularly in my practice? I start by respecting every aspect of their culture, deities and spirits and learn all I can before I attempt to use any herbs. I'm limited because there's no way for me to connect with their ancestors, but I want to learn all I can from the ones who can. The way Voodoo and Hoodoo practitioners use the spirits of the herbs is far different then how, say, Cunningham would use them. Cunnigham is a bit "fluffy bunny", not all my magic is "fluffy...

Well, there's many a belief and idea on this matter. Some would say your born a witch and there's no other way. (They're wrong). Some would tell you you have to be chosen by a coven - also wrong. Some would say you have to walk backwards around a church 13 times denouncing god to become a witch. Sure, if it works for you. Simply - Being a Witch is a CHOICE and a lot of PRACTICE! Being a Witch simply boils down to practicing witchcraft - the art of manipulating energy into a desired result. The most wonderful thing about being a witch is there are no set rules (MANY would argue) only yours and natures. If you choose to join a Wicca church or coven there is a ton of rules. Wicca and Witchcraft can be two entirely different things. But you can see my first blog post for the explanation as to why this is.  Back to becoming a witch... First of all you have to have the desire, the longing and this weird feeling in your gut. You know what I mean. Once you feel drawn to witchcraft ...

The cooler days really make me want to get in the kitchen to cook and bake. There's just something about the warmth that kitchen magic brings to the home. The scents, flavors and good times. Here are two of my favorite Samhain Recipes that I make every year: Samhain Stew and Samhain Pumpkin Bread. Please feel free to save and print them out. If you make them let me know. For this quick bread you can adjust the spices as you see fit. I add freshly grated ginger and candied ginger pieces. Sometimes I put in chocolate chips. Because - chocolate! Invite friends and family over. Enjoy the eats and the Season!  Have a very magical Samhain! Audra

Have you even been drawn to gathering or harvesting herbs, flowers, roots, etc and had NO IDEA why?  Yeah, that just happened to me. I was outside with Asher, my tiny Hell hound, and had the irresistible urge to pluck acorns off our neighbors tree. Now, in the 16 years we've lived here I've never been "inspired" to pluck acorns from their tree. Strange? Then I couldn't help myself, I had to harvest all the seed pods off our Iris Oriental bush. So I got a bowl and scissors and gathered a bunch. Then took all the seeds out, keeping the pods in tact so they still made a 3 pointed star. Good grief. Why?  I looked up the magical meaning for Iris, here's what I found:  "Iris species. A Moon plant, orris root is good for digging deep into the Moon-ruled subconscious and uprooting what is hidden. Like any Moon herb, it can also be used in divination and dream work. The iris is also called the fleur-de-lis, so this Moon plant has often been associated with dom...

 Ravens Once upon a time and long ago, Odin was walking under the branches of Yggdrasil when two ravens swooped down and settled upon his shoulders. The raven on his left was white as the mists of Niflheim (for back then, all ravens were white), and his eyes mirrored the clouds. The raven on his right glistened in the sun like the snows of Jotunheim, and looked at him with bright clear eyes. And Odin called the raven to his right Hugin, which is Thought, and the other one he named Munin, which means Memory. As the days passed, Hugin and Munin matched the Allfather’s curiosity for everything in the Nine Worlds, flying around and watching and listening to whatever they could, and in the evenings, they returned to him to tell him all they had seen and heard in the long hours of the day. They told him about the slow thoughts of the mountains, the colorful and ever-changing memories of men, and the sound of the song in the heart of everything that lives. And though Odin ...

This is something that comes up a lot. What do I do to protect myself from mischievous spirits? This one is easy, so easy in fact you probably already have it. Ready for this: Sodium Chloride. Yup, regular ole' salt. What's so special about salt you say? It's so mundane. It's also in everything: the Earth, the seas, our bodies, our food. Besides water - salt is a life force. Without it we would die, too much of it and we die.  Down through history in just about every culture around the world you will find stories about the history of it's use in magical rites of purification and protection. In the Jewish culture it is said you should put kosher salt in every corner of a new home or one that has been standing empty for a while to keep the spirits at bay. If your Catholic, salt is an essential ingredient in Holy Water and it's used in exorcisms. In Armenia, you put salt in all your doorways and windowsills to keep out the Evil Eye. In Buddhist tradition, salt repe...

Happy New Year, Witches! Now that the holidays are over I can get back to writing in this blog.  One question that comes up a lot is "Does my first tarot deck need to be given to me?", the simple answer is - No, of course not. If there's a certain tarot or oracle deck calls to you, buy it. So where did this idea of being gifted a tarot deck come from? I have seen many theories on the matter and the most common is this: tarot decks were once very hard to come by. Tarot decks weren't mass printed like they are now. If someone was lucky enough to own or make their own deck, it would be passed down like a valuable jewel. Therefore "gifting" it to another. This made them very special and some would say even more powerful and reliable. Many believed the "spirit" that helped their ancestor would come with the given deck and would help them as well. Rare decks would be handed down through many generations of careful readers. Over time this tradition morp...

Face it, it's hard enough giving people the right gift, but when it comes to the Witch in your life you want to give them something magical. I've had many a friend ask me "What do you give a Witch?". Simple answer (crystals) anything she/he would like, just like anyone else. I promised no more lists, but Tis' the Season for lists so here we go. May it inspire your magical gift giving. Yes, I do have many of these thing on the website! Gift ideas for the Magical People in your life: 1. Books on herbs, oils, brews and crystals. What ever their chosen path - Wicca, Hoodoo, Voodoo, Santeria, Natural, Green, Hedge . . . there's SO many, there is a book for it. 2. A beautiful journal. No matter what path, we all need to write down things. Most will turn it into a Book of Shadows. Don't forget a special pen - glass, quill, wooden. Something you wouldn't find at an office store. 3. Bottles. Okay, sounds funny, I know, but really - bottles. Cool ones. Anti...

I'm going to try to lay this out as nicely as I can, here it goes: I hear a version of this question at least 2-3 times a week. The answer is always the same, "No, I cannot do a spell for you. I have no vested interest in your issue, no one does but you. Only you have the correct energy. Only you have the power to perform a spell for yourself. I can help you gather the supplies or give you ideas where to start, but ultimately YOU are the magic." As I get up on my soap box - This is an issue that comes up a lot and to a real witch it's like nails on a chalkboard. This is what they are actually asking "Do it for me. I don't want to put in the effort. You do it." If you don't want to put in the effort, don't bother. Witchcraft and Spell casting is NOT a "do it for me" kind of ritual and the people that will charge you $200 to throw some herbs around a candle and call it a spell are a scam, pure and simple. Just, don't. Instead do som...

Mabon coincides with the Fall Equinox, the 23rd of September. It's one of my favorite holidays, besides Samhain. The trees put on cloaks of gold, red and orange. The air takes on a crispness that makes you rush for your comfy sweaters. Well, it did when I lived in Colorado. Here in Southern California the leaves don't change and there's balmy 100 degree days in September. Boy, do I miss Colorado autumn. So I do what I can to bring in the Fall. My altar and home get decorated with many significant things for the changing seasons. We start with wheat to represent the bountiful harvest and to remind us to be thankful for the things we have. Then comes the Fall leaves - each with their own color significance: Brown is for animals, home and health. Red fuels courage, independence, passion and survival. Orange for prosperity, creativity, releasing bad habits and ambition. Yellow for joy and happiness. Gold invokes spirituality, divination, fortune and communication with Spirit....

Many, many books on Witchcraft will have long, elaborate rituals spelled out to the letter of the "Universal Law" with lot's of rules, that if not followed to the letter will mean the destruction of your very soul!   -   Oh my, what to do? When I first started, all of that seemed so overwhelming and expensive! I didn't have a couple hundred dollars for a ceremonial robe or the means to make one, another hundred or so for an athame (ritual knife), a crown, twelve candles, the name of a spirit or daemon to summon blaa, blaa, blaa. Not to mention the times! On this exact night, at this specific hour, but only if the moon was waxing, and if you saw three ravens that day. Good grief. I pretty much shoved those books aside and did what I could. Guess what, soul is still intact. Magick is just as powerful when it is simplified to fit your life, schedule and budget, as long as the knowledge, intent and energy is there. Now, if you want to do the elaborate rituals, by all m...

Crystals absorb and store energy. Periodically they will need to be cleansed and re-charged. The more you use them for healing or protection the more often they will need to be cleaned of stagnate energy. Clearing your crystals is a very important step to do when you get a new one and don’t know how it’s been used previously or who has handled it. First of all - KNOW YOUR STONE! There is a wonderful series of books called "The Crystal Bible" by Judy Hall. I believe there is 3 of them. SO worth picking up. Not only does she explain the metaphysical properties of the stones and crystals and how to use them but also ideas on how to cleanse them safely. Some stones like Amethyst and Citrine will bleach in the sun, selenite can be damaged by water. Soft stones you don't want to put in salt, because it may scratch them. Be careful with your crystals and learn as much as you can. Here are some ideas on how to clean a working stone or crystal: Bury the stone in the ground ov...

Tonight is the full Sturgeon Moon. Full moons have always been a mystical, magic time to get in touch with the power of the Universe. When the moon is full it represents the joining of energy, celebration and completion. It's a time to recharge and renew, not only ourselves but our magical tools and crystals as well. The moon is known to increase intuitive sensitivity and psychic powers making it an optimal time for divination, tarot readings and connecting with ancestors. Burning Incense. The one thing we always do in our home is do an easy incense ritual to clear ourselves and our space and prepare them to release anything that no longer serves us. Depending on the month we've had we use Sage, Palo Santo and/or Dragon's Blood to clear out the heaviness. This gives you a clean slate as the moon turns to waning. Time to clear and charge those crystals. Crystals will absorb and store energy, periodically it is necessary to clean and re-charge their energy. The light of ...

Being a proper witch for over 28 years has given me a lot of time to practice the Craft. It's been a fun, sometimes exhausting journey, but one happily taken. Here are a few of my favorite things about witchcraft: 1. No set rules, only your own and natures. Now, don't get confused with the Wicca religion, it has a ton of rules! - Witchcraft does not, only the ones you appose upon yourself and what nature sets. Common sense things like, "Harm none, but take no shit!", be civil, "with great power comes great responsibility". Just remember for every action there's a reaction. 2. The freedom and power to be yourself. You are allowed to follow what ever branch of the Witchcraft tree suits you the best. There is no right and wrong way. It's your path. 3. There's SO much to learn you'll never get bored or hear the same things over and over again. I think that's why I enjoy being an Eclectic Witch so much because of all the new things ...

You found just the right spell, got all the ingredients, did it at the right time of the moon cycle and  nothing happened.... or it wasn't what you thought it would be. What went wrong? Here's an example: I had just moved to California with my Handsome Devil. Money was tight, so I did a quick money spell. Used all the right herbs, the right candle, did it while the moon was waxing, said what I thought was all the right things - something like "...Bring the money needed - may no one be hurt - may no one die...". Couple of days later - the Handsome Devil is in a car accident. Sure we got a check for $5,000 because his car was totaled but we had to spend it on a new car. Bummer! We got money quick. He wasn't hurt. No one died. What happened: The spell technically worked with the information it was given, it just wasn't what I expected. The problem - I didn't get specific enough! When doing any spell make sure the words you use are all encompassing and foc...

That is probably one of the most asked questions I get. Truth is, I was always different so it started for me as far back as I can remember. When I was in my 20's I really started delving into the craft and picked up some essential books that really sent me on my way. Here's a short list of books I suggest for those of you just starting in the Craft: 1.) "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs" by Scott Cunningham. One of my personal favorites and the first book I purchased. It explains the herb along with hand drawn images of the herb for identification. It gives you ideas of what you can use for different spells and explains in simple English the magical preparation for an herbal spell. A must for beginner witches interested in herbal magick or Hedge witchery. 2.) "The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews" by Scott Cunningham. Again one of my favorites. So many useful recipes and how to use the energy from the different elements. A true gem...

Whaaaaat? You don't need to spend your whole paycheck on one spell? Absolutely not! In today's main stream it has become a rather disturbing idea that what you spend is what you get out of it. Maybe true for some things. This is not true for magick. You can dress your own candles, decorate your own box and create your own wand. The most powerful thing in magick is - YOU! So you want to do some casting? You've got the spell but none of the ingredients. Say you need, candles, various herbs, feather, crystals, etc., and it's the end of the month. 😕 First, set a budget, then go see what treasures you can find. Here's what you can do. 1) Hit the dollar store . They have candles, herbs and craft supplies. Even birthday candles work. Don't have a certain herb - use Rosemary! It's the universal magical substitution for any herb. 2) Craft stores . Yarn, candles, feathers, charms, stones, beads, so many things. 3) Your local grocery store or warehouse store. Y...

Why do I call myself a "Witch"? So many love to dance around the word and ask if I prefer to be called a Wiccan as they think it's a more socially acceptable term. I delight in explaining that they may call me a Witch that Wicca is a neopagan religion originally started in the early 20'th century and brought into the mainstream by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. No, I'm not affiliated with their covens, churches or rules.   I'm proud of the term WITCH and plan to bring the power of that name back. Just call me a Witch, that's what I am. That's what I do - I practice witchcraft. For 28 years, I've practiced the Craft. I'm a Solitary Eclectic Witch and use energy and spells from many different lines of magick - Viking, Druid, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Crowley, Egyptian, Sumerian, Hedge - the list goes on. Why stop at one - right? It suits me. I've also been called an Ethereal Witch by some recently and I kind'a dig the name so you may see it p...