New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
At number 16 in the Major Arcana of the Tarot, we find the Tower card. This can be a scary card to pull, as it often signifies that something is about to fall apart. But the Tower also reminds us to check our foundations—are we moving too fast for our own good? Keep an eye out for a small rock or stone that catches your attention. If you get a good feeling while holding it, take the rock home and clean it. With a permanent marker, draw a star and a square on opposite sides of the rock. ...
Spring cleaning was great six months ago, but now it’s time to get our house in order for the colder tides of autumn and winter. Approach the altar(s) or shrine(s) in your home. Meditate on the physical items on each, considering how each one serves as a focal point or catalyst for your magickal work, ancestor worship, or other esoteric work. One by one, remove each object from the altar or shrine and reset the space. Cleanse each item, tablecloth, and nearby sacred object with incense ...
The Akwambo festival, which is celebrated in Ghana in early September, is an occasion when paths to streams, shrines, and holy places are swept. I think it’s disrespectful when New Agers and Neopagans read about a ritual that sounds interesting and just pick it up and celebrate it however they want. Doing this is taking a ritual—and a belief system—entirely out of its proper context. But we’re all guilty of this, aren’t we? While the idea of path cleaning and ...
In many areas this is the time for harvesting autumn foods. Apples frequently appear in folklore, and for many reasons. In this spell, we’re going to use an apple to welcome deities into your life. You’ll need an apple, a knife, a bowl of water, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a nail or hook. Peel the apple, trying to keep the peel in one long strip. When the apple is peeled, plunge it in a bowl of water to which you’ve added the lemon juice. Set the peel to one side. ...
