New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
People are decorating eggs around this time. In Hoodoo and Santeria, two paths with West African roots, ground eggshells called cascarilla ("cas-ka-Ree-yah") are used for different purposes, including banishing spirits, clearing, and protection. To create cascarilla, set your oven to 225 degrees F. Grind a dozen clean, dry eggshells, preferably from a black hen. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake until brittle and crumbly. Remove from the oven, let cool, then grind with a mortar and pestle to ...
Today is the first number 13 day of the year! Superstitions abound regarding this number. There’s no 13th floor in buildings, and we’re told to look out for bad tidings when this day appears on the calendar. Yet the number 13 is also the number of a baker’s dozen (you get an extra baked good for free), it’s the number of full moons in a year, and the dollar bill is loaded with number 13 symbolism! For this spell you will need thirteen small stones, a small clear quartz ...
October 7 is known as National Bathtub Day. Immersing yourself in water has many health benefits, in addition to helping you relax. The hot water stimulates blood flow, eases pain in muscles and joints, and helps to increase your oxygen intake. Pamper yourself by taking a hot, soothing herbal tea bath. Gather dried herbs and place them in a muslin or organza bag. Depending on the desired result, you can add Epsom salts for pain, dried lavender for cleansing properties and skin health, dried ...
If there’s something from the past that you’re struggling to release, using magic to achieve that goal can be helpful. You’ll need a piece of paper, a pen, a cauldron or heatproof bowl, a black candle, and some powdered slippery elm. To begin, write a letter to yourself explaining exactly what you wish to let go of, as if you were your own wise elder or guide. Allow yourself to gain a new perspective on your past, showing yourself the compassion that you may normally reserve ...
