✨ How to Use Sage for Energy Cleansing

Many people have heard about saging (or smudging) & getting rid of evil spirits or bad energy in their homes. The Lehigh Valley is home to many areas where things go bump in the night, such as Sayre Mansion, the 3rd Floor at the UC at Lehigh University, or the Witch of Hexenkopf Hill. So with spooky season upon us, now is a wonderful time to learn how to clear negative energy from your home.

1. Set Your Intention
   Before lighting your sage, take a beat & pause. Decide what you’re clearing: “I release this space of all stagnant or negative energy.” Intention is the fuel behind the ritual.

2. Light the Sage
   Use a match or lighter to ignite the tip of a sage bundle or better yet, light a candle (see our blog on Candle Color Magic before deciding). Let the bundle catch for a moment until it gets a good smolder of smoke, then gently blow out the flame so it smolders and produces a lot of smoke. Use an abalone shell to catch the ashes to avoid leaving any burns or embers on your floor.

3. Cleansing an Object
   Hold the object in the smoke or pass the bundle around it. Turn it slowly so the smoke envelops all sides. This can be incredibly meditative as I’ve experienced when saging my tarot cards. Visualize the negativity dissolving into the smoke and drifting away into the ether.

4. Cleansing a Person
   Have the person stand comfortably. Starting at their feet, waft the smoke upward in gentle circles using your hand or a turkey feather (you can also use any feathers that the Universe has gifted to you when in Nature). Move slowly up the body to the head (make sure you shield the hair from the embers and use the shell to catch them), always keeping your intention in mind. Have the person stand with both arms parallel to the ground and let the smoke go over each arm from shoulder to fingertips.

5. Cleansing a Place or Space
   Begin by opening a window or door slightly to give the negativity an exit. Then, begin at your main entrance & to the left of the door. Start by going around the door frame to your right and then move clockwise around the perimeter of your room, guiding smoke into corners, closets & behind doors or anywhere energy might stagnate or collect like energetic dust bunnies. Pay attention to how the smoke wafts up – if it goes in a straight line, the energy is clear, but if it wavers, waffles & dances, that is an area where there may be quite a bit of energy that needs removed (or you have a draft somewhere nearby).

🌌 Natural Law: Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Once sage clears away the negative, dense or heavy energy in your home, you’re left with an energetic vacuum. If left unfilled, any energy can drift back in. This is where the principle “nature abhors a vacuum” comes into play: emptiness is always replaced by something (think of a hole in your front or back yard and how things like rainwater, leaves, even frogs can fill in that hole).

🌸 Fill the Space with Positive Energy

After smudging, invite blessings & vibrant energy into your space by using one of the following uplifting herbs:

• Sweetgrass: Burn sweetgrass to draw in loving, harmonious energy. Its sweet scent acts as a magnet for positivity.

• Jasmine: Light jasmine incense or use jasmine herbs to invite peace, joy & spiritual connection.

• Palo Santo: The “Holy Wood” from the Amazon rainforest has a unique scent & is uplifting & invigorating, perfect for positivity.

• Other Touches: Play uplifting music, display a favorite crystal like rose quartz or citrine, or speak affirmations aloud:

“This space is filled with light, love, and prosperity.”

🕯 Closing Your Ritual

When you feel complete, gently press the sage into a fireproof dish or abalone shell to extinguish. Make sure the bundle is completely unlit before leaving it unattended. Thank the elements and your higher power (or the Universe) for cleansing & protection. Breathe deeply & notice the lighter, brighter feeling in the space.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Smudging with sage isn’t just about removing negativity – it’s also about creating a conscious, energetic shift. By clearing the negativity and then intentionally filling that space with other positive energies, you set the stage in your home for harmony, abundance & joy to flourish.

Mabon - The Witch's Thanksgiving

🍂 Mabon: The Witch’s Thanksgiving

As the wheel of the year turns once more, we arrive at Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, a sacred moment of balance, when day & night stand as equals. Falling around September 21st–23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, Mabon is often called the Witches’ Thanksgivingbecause it’s a time to honor the harvest, give thanks for abundance & prepare for the inward journey of the dark half of the year, just as Persephone did into the underworld.

Rooted in ancient harvest festivals of the Celts and other European peoples, Mabon invites us to pause, reflect & express gratitude before winter’s descent. Just as the earth exhales her final bounty, we too are encouraged to harvest the fruits of our labor, both physical & spiritual.

🌞 The Significance of the Sabbat

Mabon sits at the midpoint between Lughnasadh & Samhain. It reminds us of life’s cycles of light & dark, growth & rest, joy & release. Spiritually, it is a time to:

• Honor balance within ourselves—light & shadow, giving & receiving.

• Express gratitude for all that has grown in our lives.

• Release what no longer serves, making space for new blessings to come.

Think of Mabon as an invitation to sit in sacred stillness, acknowledging both the sweetness of the harvest & the inevitability of change.

🔥 Rituals for Mabon

Whether you celebrate with a quiet candle ritual or a gathering of loved ones, here are a few ways to honor this Sabbat:

• Gratitude Ritual: Write down blessings, large & small, that you’ve received this year. Read them aloud under the evening sky, then place them on your altar.

• Balance Meditation: Sit between two candles—one gold (for light) and one black (for shadow). As you breathe, envision the two merging in harmony within you.

• Harvest Offering: Prepare seasonal foods (apples, squash, nuts, bread, wine) and leave a portion outside to give back to the earth & her spirits.

• Cleansing & Release: Burn dried herbs like sage or rosemary while stating what you wish to let go of before the dark season ahead.

🕯️ Candles, Herbs, Oils, and Crystals

Candles

• Gold or Yellow (honoring the sun and abundance)

• Green (prosperity, growth)

• Burgundy or Red (harvest fruits, vitality)

• Brown (earth’s grounding energy)

Herbs & Oils

• Rosemary for remembrance

• Sage for cleansing and clarity

• Cinnamon for warmth and prosperity

• Frankincense & Myrrh for sacred balance

• Apple & Clove oils for autumn’s sweetness

Crystals

• Citrine: abundance & gratitude

• Smoky Quartz: release & grounding

• Amethyst: balance & spiritual wisdom

• Carnelian: harvest vitality & courage

• Green Moss Agate: connection to the earth and nature’s cycles

Keep these on your altar, wear them, or carry them as talismans during the season.

🍎 A Kindred Spirits Blessing

At Kindred Spirits, we believe Mabon is not only about celebrating the abundance around us but also about creating space for peace, harmony & inner wisdom. Light your candles, adorn your altar with crystals, and breathe deeply into the magic of balance, both inner & outer.. May this Mabon bless your home with gratitude, your spirit with harmony, and your journey with the courage to release & renew.

✨ Blessed Mabon from all of us at Kindred Spirits! 🍂

Crystal Shapes ~ How They Vary

💎🔮 Understanding Crystal Shapes: How Energy Flows from Towers, Spheres, Clusters, and Double-Terminated Points

My Kindred Spirits, we all know that crystals are more than just beautiful treasures from Mother Earth - they’re also tools for energy work, meditation & healing. While their mineral composition & color can contribute to influencing their vibration, the shape of a crystal also determines how its energy flows. From towers to spheres, clusters to double-terminated points, each form offers unique energetic benefits.

💎 Crystal Towers (Points & Generators)

Energy Flow:
Crystal towers, with their pointed tips, act like energetic beacons. They draw energy through their base and channel it out through the top, projecting focused vibrations upward & outward.

Benefits:

• Perfect for manifestation & intention-setting—place a tower over a written affirmation to amplify your goal.

• Directs energy to a specific person, place, or chakra in healing sessions.

• Helpful in crystal grids, sending energy in the direction of the point to align and activate your layout.

• Can also be used to inscribe words when performing candle magic

🔮 Crystal Spheres

Energy Flow:
Crystal spheres radiate energy evenly in all directions. Their round, infinite shape symbolizes wholeness and unity, allowing them to harmonize an environment.

Benefits:

• Creates a blanket of peace, balance & calm throughout a room.

• Encourages introspection & intuitive clarity, making them wonderful for meditation.

• Acts as a soothing stress reliever when held, helping you feel centered & present.

• In a grid, a sphere becomes a radiating hub of energy, spreading harmony evenly.

💥 Crystal Clusters

Energy Flow:
Clusters, with multiple crystal points growing together, broadcast energy in many directions at once. They are like little energy communities, buzzing with light & vitality.

Benefits:

• Cleanses & uplifts both spaces & the aura, since their many points continuously radiate positive vibrations.

• Provides comfort by filling the environment with a sense of support & belonging.

• Wonderful for group settings—clusters strengthen unity & nurture emotional healing within communities or families.

• Can act as an energetic recharge station for smaller crystals, restoring their vitality.

• Their collective energy can be deeply soothing & reassuring, making them ideal companions during grief, emotional overwhelm, or times of transition.

↔️ Double-Terminated Crystals

Energy Flow:
Unlike towers, which have a single termination, double-terminated crystals have points on both ends. This allows energy to flow in both directions at once—absorbing energy at one point, transmitting it through the body of the crystal, then releasing it from the other.

Benefits:

• Acts as a bridge or connector, channeling energy between two people, chakras, or areas.

• Useful for balancing energy flow within the body, especially during meditation or healing.

• A powerful tool for sending & receiving energy simultaneously, making it excellent for distance healing or energy exchanges.

• Can be carried as a personal energy harmonizer, keeping your aura clear & balanced throughout the day.

🌀 Choosing the Shape That Supports You

• For focus & manifestation, work with a tower.

• For balance & harmony, choose a sphere.

• For comfort, healing & community support, bring in a cluster.

• For connection, energy exchange & flow, carry or meditate with a double-terminated crystal.

By understanding how crystal shapes influence the way energy moves, you can choose the forms that align best with your intentions, environment & spiritual journey.

✨ Remember, My Kindred Spirits, a crystal’s shape is just as important as its type—it guides how the energy meets you, supports you & flows into your life.

🌑 Black New Moon Magic: Scrying with Obsidian, Crystals, Candles & Herbs

🌑 Tonight we enter the mystical embrace of the Black New Moon—a lunar phase when the sky goes completely dark & the unseen becomes fertile ground for intention, divination & shadow work. This is a powerful time to go within, access hidden wisdom & set intentions that will grow quietly beneath the surface until they’re ready to bloom.

🌑 Tonight’s Black New Moon invites you to enter the mystery without fear, trusting that in the silence and shadows, the seeds of your next chapter are already being planted.

✨ Why the Black New Moon is Special

Unlike the waxing or full moon, the Black New Moon symbolizes renewal, mystery & rebirth. It’s an energetic pause between cycles, inviting us to release what no longer serves us & to plant seeds for new beginnings. Because it hides in darkness, it’s the perfect time to work with scrying (an ancient form of divination) & shadow exploration, trusting your intuition to reveal guidance beyond the veil.

🔮 Scrying with Black Obsidian

Black Obsidian is a natural mirror for the soul. Its reflective surface has been used for centuries as a scrying tool, allowing the seer to gaze into the unknown. To work with it tonight:

1. Cleanse your obsidian mirror, sphere, or polished slab by passing it through incense smoke or resting it on a bed of herbs like sage or mugwort.

2. Place the obsidian in front of you, ideally lit only by candlelight, so shadows and flickers play on the surface.

3. Soften your gaze, breathe deeply & let images, impressions, or feelings arise. The obsidian doesn’t always show literal pictures—it often speaks in symbols, sensations, or sudden clarity.

4. Journal what comes through immediately afterward—sometimes the meaning unfolds over days.

🔥 Candles for Illumination

Candles help anchor your ritual and provide both light and energy for the work. For tonight:

• Black candles: absorb negativity and aid in banishing.

• White candles: invite clarity, purity, and spirit guidance.

• Silver candles: connect with lunar wisdom.

Arrange them in a triangle around your scrying stone to create a protective and empowering circle of light.

🌿 Herbs & Aromatics

Herbs deepen your connection to intuition and the unseen. For the Black New Moon, consider:

• Mugwort – visionary herb, enhances dreams and psychic sight.

• Rosemary – for protection and clearing.

• Lavender – calming the mind, opening spiritual channels.

• Bay leaf – write your intention or question on a bay leaf, then burn it in your ritual.

Use these herbs as incense, teas, or simply placed on your altar to call in their energy.

💎 Supporting Crystals

While obsidian is your scrying anchor, you can amplify the work with complementary stones:

• Amethyst – for spiritual clarity & protection.

• Labradorite – enhances psychic insight & intuition.

• Clear Quartz – magnifies intentions & clears mental fog.

• Moonstone – deepens connection with lunar cycles & feminine wisdom.

Place them in a circle around your scrying space to create a crystal grid.

🌌 A Simple Black New Moon Ritual for Tonight

1. Cleanse your space with smoke, sound, or salt water.

2. Light your chosen candles & arrange your crystals and herbs.

3. Hold your obsidian & state your intention (e.g., “Reveal what I most need to see tonight”).

4. Begin your scrying session, keeping your breath steady & your mind receptive.

5. Close by giving thanks to the moon, extinguishing your candles & grounding yourself with food or touch of earth.

🌕 Full Flower Micro Moon in Scorpio — May 12, 2025 🌸

A Mystical Bloom Under a Subtle Moon

May’s Full Moon is always special—known as the Flower Moon, it celebrates the lush, blossoming energy of late spring. But this year, on May 12, 2025, it brings a rare twist: it’s a Micro Moon in the deeply intuitive sign of Scorpio. That means it’s the farthest Full Moon of the year—appearing slightly smaller in the sky, but packed with deep emotional and spiritual significance. 🌕

🌸 Why Is This Moon So Unique?

While Supermoons dazzle us with size and brightness, a Micro Moon offers something more subtle—it draws us inward. This particular Flower Moon is in mystery-loving Scorpio, a water sign tied to transformation, shadow work, and emotional depth. Scorpio asks us to go beneath the surface and bloom from the inside out.

With spring in full swing, this micro moon invites a slower, more sacred kind of growth—the kind we feel in our intuition, our healing, and our spiritual practices. ✨

🔮 Wiccan & Magical Correspondences

Whether you're casting spells, setting intentions, or simply moon-gazing, here are the recommended correspondences for working with this Full Flower Moon:

💎 Crystals

• Ruby – Courage, passion, heart-centered leadership

• Amber – Protection, solar energy, ancestral wisdom

• Garnet – Grounding, strength, and deep emotional healing

These stones are perfect for Scorpio’s transformative energy and for honoring the blooming beauty of spring.

🌿 Herbs

• Cinnamon – Boosts spell power, passion, and abundance

• Mint – Refreshes the spirit, clears negative energy, attracts prosperity

Use these in teas, incense, or spellwork to align with the moon’s vibrations.

🌕 Ritual Ideas for the Flower Micro Moon

• Create a mini altar with your chosen crystals and herbs.

• Write down something you’re ready to release and burn it safely in a fire-safe vessel.

• Meditate with garnet or amber under the moonlight and journal what comes through.

• Brew a mint + cinnamon tea to sip while reflecting on what you’re ready to grow into. 🌱

💫 Embrace the Magic — Here's How:

✨ Shop our Full Moon Crystal Collection — handpicked pieces for Scorpio energy and spring transformation.
🌿 Stock up on ritual herbs for your moon work — cinnamon, mint, and more available in-store

🎁 Celebrate Mom or Yourself with our 25% Off Full Flower Moon Sale — now through May 11!

The Full Flower Micro Moon is your invitation to bloom from within — gently, slowly, but powerfully. 🌕 Take this sacred moment to realign with your purpose, deepen your rituals, and honor the powerful feminine energy that both this moon and this season embody.

Blessed Full Moon 🌕 ~ so mote it be 🌸🔮

🌕 ♎

🌕 Full Pink Moon in Libra ♎ April 2025 Energy: & Herb, Oil & Crystal Rituals

April's Full Pink Moon in Libra rises on April 13, 2025, bringing a wave of harmony, balance, and beautiful new beginnings. Although called the "Pink Moon," this full moon isn’t literally pink. Instead, it gets its name from the blooming pink phlox flowers that signal the true start of spring.

In Libra’s airy embrace, this full moon energy highlights relationships, beauty, self-care, and justice. It’s a perfect time to restore inner peace, manifest love, and realign your life with your highest ideals.

Ready to tap into the Full Pink Moon's magic? Let’s explore the best crystals, herb oils, and rituals for this enchanting lunar event!

Crystals for the Full Pink Moon in Libra

1. Rose Quartz
The ultimate stone of unconditional love and emotional healing, Rose Quartz amplifies Libra's romantic and compassionate vibes. Place Rose Quartz on your altar or heart chakra during full moon rituals to open yourself to love and forgiveness.

2. Lepidolite
Known for its calming properties, Lepidolite carries lithium-rich energy that dissolves anxiety — ideal for Libra’s sometimes overwhelming desire for perfection and balance.

3. Clear Quartz
Libra thrives on clarity. Clear Quartz acts as a magnifier for your intentions, helping you sharpen your manifestations under the Pink Moon.

✨ Crystal Tip: Charge your crystals by placing them outside under the moonlight overnight for maximum energetic cleansing and reprogramming!

Herb Oils for the Full Pink Moon Rituals

1. Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium aligns with Venus, Libra’s ruling planet. This floral oil invites emotional equilibrium, joy, and deep heart healing.

2. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile calms mental clutter and nervous tension — perfect for Libra moons when decision-making can feel heavy.

3. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender promotes relaxation and a return to self-love, balancing Libra’s external focus with a reminder to nurture within.

🌿 Herbal Tip: Diffuse these oils during your meditation or anoint your pulse points before journaling under the full moon for extra potency.

How to Work With the Full Pink Moon in Libra Energy

🌕 1. Create a Moon Altar:
Gather your crystals, a pink or white candle, and your chosen herb oils. Set intentions focused on balance, love, and harmony.

🌕 2. Journal for Inner Harmony:
Reflect on where your life needs more balance. What relationships need nurturing? What inner truths need honoring?

🌕 3. Perform a Release Ritual:
Write down what you’re ready to let go of (perfectionism, indecision, unhealthy dynamics) and safely burn the paper under the moonlight to release it.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Full Pink Moon’s Beauty

This Full Pink Moon in Libra is a powerful portal for setting intentions around love, fairness, and authentic connection. By working with aligned crystals and herb oils, you can magnify your manifestations and experience true energetic alignment.

Stay in the flow, My Kindred Spirits 🌸✨ Happy Full Pink Moon!

🌕 Full Moon in Virgo ~ March 13

🌕 Full Moon in Virgo – March 13, 2025: A Time for Healing & Clarity ✨

As the Full Moon rises in practical and detail-oriented Virgo on March 13, we are gifted with an opportunity to cleanse, organize, and heal. Virgo, ruled by Mercury, is the sign of precision, self-improvement, and service, making this lunation perfect for decluttering our minds, bodies, and spirits. If you’ve been feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or in need of grounding, this Full Moon will help bring clarity and balance. 🌿💫

🌕 Themes of the Virgo Full Moon

💡 Organization & Productivity – Time to declutter your space, thoughts, and habits!
🌿 Healing & Wellness – Focus on self-care, holistic health, and nurturing routines.
🧘‍♀️ Balance & Mindfulness – Slow down, be present, and release what no longer serves you.
🔍 Attention to Detail – Perfect time for refining plans and setting practical goals.
🌱 Connecting to Nature – Virgo’s earthy energy encourages grounding and simplicity.

Whether you're drawn to rituals, journaling, or quiet reflection, this Full Moon is a powerful time to release, reset, and realign.

🌿 Crystals for Virgo Full Moon

🔹 Amazonite – Balances emotions and promotes clear communication.
🖤 Black Obsidian – Aids in deep healing and removing negativity.
💚 Moss Agate – Connects you to nature and encourages inner peace.
🟡 Citrine – Supports abundance and positive energy shifts.
🤍 Selenite – Cleanses energy and enhances intuition.

🍃 Herbs & Oils

🌾 Lavender – Calming, promotes rest and relaxation.
🍋 Lemon Balm – Supports mental clarity and emotional balance.
🫖 Peppermint – Refreshes and energizes the mind.
🌹 Rosemary – Boosts focus and spiritual protection.
🧴 Frankincense Oil – Enhances meditation and spiritual awareness.

🔥 Incense & Scents

🌿 Sandalwood – Grounding and purifying.
🍋 Lemongrass – Clears stagnant energy.
🌺 Jasmine – Enhances intuition and relaxation.
🌲 Cedar – Offers protection and stability.

🌕 5 Ways to Harness the Power of the Virgo Full Moon

📝 1. Do a Full Moon Journaling Ritual
Reflect on where you need clarity, healing, or organization in your life. Ask yourself:

• What habits or thought patterns need to be released?

• How can I create a healthier routine for my body and mind?

• What small, practical steps can I take toward my goals?

💧 2. Take a Cleansing Ritual Bath
Infuse your bath with Epsom salts, lavender, rosemary, and a few drops of frankincense oil to detoxify your body and refresh your spirit. Light a candle and set intentions for healing.

🏡 3. Declutter & Organize Your Space
Virgo loves clean, organized energy! Take time to declutter your home, reorganize your altar, and cleanse your space with sage, palo santo, or sound healing.

🧘‍♀️ 4. Meditate for Grounding & Clarity
Use a moss agate or amazonite crystal while meditating. Focus on releasing stress, gaining clarity, and grounding yourself in the present moment.

🔥 5. Perform a Release & Gratitude Ritual
Write down what you’re ready to let go of (negative thoughts, bad habits, self-doubt) and burn the paper safely. Then, write a gratitude list to shift your energy into abundance and positivity.

🌿 Final Thoughts: Embrace Virgo’s Healing Light

The Virgo Full Moon invites us to slow down, focus on what truly matters, and release anything no longer serving us. Take this time to nurture yourself, clear your mind, and step into a new cycle of balance, healing, and empowerment. 🌕💚

Ostara ~ The Spring Equinox

🌸🌞 Embracing Ostara: The Magic of the Spring Equinox 🌞🌸

As the chill of winter melts away (taking all that ice with it!) and the world awakens with fresh blooms and more sunlight, we welcome Ostara, the sacred celebration of the Spring Equinox! 🌿✨ This sabbat, honored in many pagan and Wiccan traditions, marks the perfect balance between light and dark—when day and night are equal in length. From this point forward, the sun’s warmth grows stronger, bringing renewed life, fertility, and abundance to the earth. 🌷🌞 And I cannot wait!!!

🌱 What is Ostara?

Ostara, typically celebrated around March 19-23, is named after Eostre, the Germanic goddess of dawn, fertility, and renewal. 🐇🥚 Many of today’s Easter traditions—like eggs, bunnies, and flowers—trace back to this ancient festival! At its core, Ostara is a time to embrace new beginnings, plant seeds (both literally and figuratively), and honor the balance of light and dark within ourselves and the world around us.

✨ Why Celebrate Ostara?

Honoring Ostara helps us align with nature’s rhythm, reminding us to shed the heaviness of winter and step into growth, creativity, and abundance. 🌿💫 Here’s why celebrating this sabbat is so powerful:

🌞 Embracing Balance – Just as light and dark are in harmony, Ostara encourages us to seek balance in our lives—whether it’s between work and rest, action and reflection, or mind and spirit.

🌷 Welcoming Renewal – This is the perfect time to clear out stagnant energy (hello, spring cleaning! 🧹✨) and set intentions for the season ahead. What do you want to grow in your life?

🐣 Honoring Fertility & New Life – Whether it’s planting a garden, starting a new project, or simply embracing fresh inspiration, Ostara invites us to nurture new possibilities.

🌕 Tapping into Cosmic Energy – The equinox is a powerful energetic gateway, making it an ideal time for manifestation, setting goals, and working with crystals like green aventurine, citrine, and amethyst. 🔮

🌿 Ways to Celebrate Ostara

Ready to welcome the magic of spring? Here are some simple yet meaningful ways to honor Ostara:

🌸 Create an Ostara Altar – Decorate with fresh flowers, pastel colors, eggs, and crystals to represent renewal and fertility.
🐣 Dye Eggs Naturally – Use herbs and plant-based dyes to color eggs as a symbol of new beginnings.
🌱 Plant Seeds – Whether it’s herbs, flowers, or a new idea, nurture something that will grow alongside the season.
🕯️ Light a Candle – A simple way to honor the return of the sun and invite warmth into your space.
🍓 Feast on Seasonal Foods – Fresh greens, eggs, honey, and berries make for a perfect Ostara-inspired meal!

Ostara is a time of hope, renewal, and joy, inviting us to embrace the energy of new life and endless possibilities. 🌞 So take a deep breath, feel the earth awakening beneath your feet, and step forward into this season with an open heart! 💛

My Gratitude List for 2024

Where do I begin to express the immense amount of gratitude I feel for the year that has brought me so much and blessed me in untold ways that I never expected?

Let’s start in January 2024, when we turned over a New Year, and I lit my bayberry candle to welcome prosperity & abundance into my heart & home. Celebrating with my little one (who lovvveesss staying up until midnight) and wearing the paper hats, blowing the plastic horns, and watching the ball drop. It was also the month we started our Magickal Market of Witchy Wares, and pulled off that event despite that big snowstorm we had the night before!

February brought in lots of love during the cold Winter month as I snuggled our new puppy Raven, whom we had rescued the previous September. Watching her run & romp in the snow filled my heart with joy and it grew 3 times that one snowy day.

March heralded my birthday, which I celebrated quietly with close friends & family ~ I’ll wait for the Zero Hero birthdays to go all out, which is still a few years away. It also brought in lots of luck as I found a 4-leaf clover in my front yard and put it on my altar (which my puppy promptly ate!) Oh, was she ever one lucky dog that day!

April was a month for Spring Renewal, and although it continued to be cold, hearing the birds chirp early in the morning brought that season into my ears and heart. Not to mention, we sprang the clock ahead and the later light gave me a productivity that only Father Sun can charge this Aries with! It was also the month that we all felt and survived a 4.8 earthquake on the East Coast - that was a trip!

In May, I was nostalgic about my Mom…a lot. I get wistful to hear her voice again but I also still communicate with her spirit - wherever she may be - especially when I am connecting with my own daughter and think aloud, “Mom, you were right!” How she must be smiling hearing me say that on the regular!

In June, I was visited by April - a friend of mine for the past 15 years whom I hadn’t seen in some time. She’s one of those people that no matter how much time has gone by, we just pick right up again as if no time had passed. It was also the month where I almost died. We had a tornadic storm on Wednesday, June 26 and I thought I could drive home and beat the storm, but what ended up happening was I drove right into it. I was terrified and incredibly grateful that I survived that traumatic ordeal. The trees in the front of my house…not so much. I lost several large trees, but thankfully, none of them landed on the house.

July brought me some much-needed down time, and as usual, we closed for the first week so I could get down to the beach to visit some family members and celebrate the 4th of July with my daughter at the beach…during a heat wave! It was so stinkin’ hot, and we were glad to come home to…a broken air conditioning system. Thankfully, the heatwave didn’t last long (9 days, but who’s counting?) and I have a few portable AC units that kept the house at a tolerable temperature.

Fast forward to August when guess what? It’s already back-to-school for the Lehigh Valley and there were some beautiful rainstorms, especially the one on August 14th, when it was fully sunny out while it rained. Lots of rainbows were seen that day. August is also a time of remembrance for me, as it is the month when my Mother passed away, so I invited my siblings to come join me for a Celebration of Life for my Mom.

September holds one of my favorite days of gratitude - Labor Day - and while it may seem like a minor holiday, it was the day that I finally made the decision to do some major re-arranging in my home, and open up my bedroom in a way that allowed both the light and the wind through my bedroom windows. I’m still adjusting to the change, but I was never so grateful as I was on that day as I engaged in a labor of love to create a sanctuary for my spirit.

Now October - don’t even get me started! Bats & Ghosts & Spiders bedecked the walls of the shop along with purple & orange lights to herald in my all-time favorite holiday: Halloween! I loved decorating and we had some of the nicest weather for Trick or Treat in Hellertown. My daughter was thrilled! And she’s STILL eating on all the candy she received from Trick or Treat.

Finally, November, which we’re only halfway through, but I can still find so much gratitude, even in only 15 days of November. I finally, FINALLY went to my hairdresser and got rid of my two-tone hair and decided to add blue & purple in my hair for the upcoming 9-Year Anniversary Celebration for Kindred Spirits Crystals, Books & Gifts. I’m so excited to celebrate this milestone and regularly call driving into the shop my “Dream Job.” It was a dream of mine for so long, then it was a thought, then it was a plan, and then…it was my business.

Word cannot convey the amount of gratitude I have for all of you, my kindred spirits, for allowing me to serve you in some way for your spiritual connection to your spiritual journey; for making acquaintances and friends along the way; for the kindred conversations I get to have each day I’m there; and for the incredible amount of love, energy & support that is exchanged through that space.

Thank you to each and every one of my customers for being the reason I keep showing up for these past 9 years. The connections that have been created never cease to amaze me, whether it is me connecting with customers, or customers connecting to one another.

I couldn not have imagined the untold benefits of running my own new age shop. Sure, I want to pay my bills - isn’t that why any of us goes to work every day? - but to be able to help other people day in and day out is the real benefit. To be able to offer a listening ear, a warm hug, or shared experiences - that’s where my gratitude comes from - from being with all of you, My Kindred Spirits.

🍂 Autumn ~ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 🍁

Here’s why I love Autumn…

It’s not just the Fall colors of autumn leaves changing and brightening up the landscape with what I call “fireworks stuck into trees,” nor is it just the cooler days & nights. It’s not even the back-to-school routine that puts the day into little airtight compartments.

It’s all of those, but it’s just the Spirit of Autumn ~ The way we all draw together to celebrate the light in the darkness.

The way a single tree can make us ooohhh and ahhhh as if we were watching a fireworks display.

The way everyone starts making PSL memes on-line and joking with each other about that one flavor.

The way we start baking and sharing recipes and meals with one another.

The way we connect to our collective communities after a summer of running all over the place to vacation.

Autumn is a homecoming, to ourselves and to each other. It’s a season of connecting with our kindred spirits, our families, our communities.

Fall Festivals, pumpkin patches, Halloween parades ~ In a word: Community.

I don’t know what it is about Autumn that seems to bring all of us together. It could be the many ways I listed above, but one thing is for certain: It’s a time of restoration & reflection, of simpler times and activities that delight us, like jumping into a pile of colorful leaves, or handing out pieces of candy to neighborhood children.

This is why I love Autumn.

Mercury in Retrograde ~ What Does It Really Mean?

It’s become a regular part of our everyday language now ~ Mercury is in retrograde.

Phone’s not working? Mercury’s in retrograde.

Computer’s on the fritz? Mercury. Retrograde.

Can’t get your voicemails, even though someone said they called & left you a message? Mercury.

So what is the phenomenon that IS Mercury in Retrograde.

Every few months, the planets revolve around the Sun (and each other) at a certain rate. (Feel free to Google if you want to get into the weeds on this one.) But at some point, Mercury appears to be going backwards…”retrograde.”

Prime Example: As a passenger, you see the cars wheels next to you appearing to go backwards, when in reality, you are seeing the wheel turn ever-so-slightly slower, so it gives the impression to your brain that it is in effect going backwards. It’s also called the Wagon Wheel Effect.

Planets in rotation are doing the same thing. However, Mercury is the planet responsible for communication, therefore, all electronic forms of communication (which, I mean, come on…) get looped into this phenomenon and you may notice an uptick in just weird or inexplicable electronic problems during a retrograde.

So what can be done during a Mercury in Retrograde phase? A few things…

First, Slow Down…way down. Easy does it, but do it at a snail’s pace. Now, this can’t be applied to every single situation, but for the most part, don’t rush during a retrograde. If you’re signing a contract or any agreements, be sure to read, re-read, and re-re-read it before signing anything. Make sure you’re clear on anything you are agreeing to during this time period.

Next, Easy Does It. Retrogrades are a fantastic time for reflection, rest, and recharging. Retrogrades aside, it’s always a great idea to give yourself a break from time to time, and Mercury usually goes into retrograde about 3 times each year.

Finally, Rest and Re-emerge. It’s always a great idea to give ourselves some down time, but isolation can feel very alluring to stay in for a while. Set some post-retrograde intentions of how you would like to emerge from your break.

Hitting Rock Bottom

What’s the saying about hitting rock bottom? The only way to go is up!

After hitting rock bottom in my life, the only way for me to go was in the direction of my dream ~ the dream of owning my own new age shop.

I had seen the “For Rent” sign outside of 66 W. Water Street one day while I was sitting in traffic. A few days later, I pulled into the parking lot, wrote down the number, and called. The man who answered told me that someone else was at the borough filling out paperwork for the space, but if that fell through, then I was next on the list. I accepted that if I was supposed to have it, then I would. If not, I’d look somewhere else.

On October 27, 2015, we buried my Mom’s ashes - on her birthday - and as I was leaving the cemetery, he called. “The deal with the other people fell through - it’s yours if you want it.” I wanted it. It was mine!

I had planned to open the store on December 1st, because I’d been given a month to get the empty space ready. Then it hit me - Black Friday was the biggest shopping day of the year, so the deadline was moved back by a week, which now gave me 3 weeks!

Conserve Your Internal Energy, Help The World

With Earth Day here, it’s helpful to think about how our daily actions affect the world around us. Our internal and external worlds are dynamically interconnected. Focusing on mental energy conservation leads us to conservation in the physical world. And that’s good for Mother Nature. 

Create a routine by setting up time blocks for work and personal time. During your personal time, a key to conserving mental energy is to limit the number of mental distractions. One of the best ways to do this is with a regular quiet ritual. There are many different ways that you can implement this sign in your home or office, but they all have the same goal: giving you time and space to clear your mind and conserve your internal power. Burn some Palo Santo incense and light a bayberry candle while you meditate. Use moon water to clean and energize your crystals. Or journal about what you’re manifesting in the next few days. 

Living simply is the best way to help the environment. It saves time and energy, and it reduces stress. Living simply could cut carbon emissions by up to 50% in the US. Use sunlight, moonlight, or candlelight when possible. Reuse your food jars for spell jars. Eat, shop, and travel with awareness and intention. 

Nature and lifestyle are linked. When we choose to make space for internal energy conservation, all of nature benefits. May you live every day like it’s Earth Day. 

Preparation Makes Its Own Luck

Although it’s a quote that has often been attributed to Oprah Winfrey, it was actually Roman philosopher Seneca who said that, “Luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation.”

How can we prepare to be lucky when those two ideas seem to contradict one another? Doesn’t luck just happen? And isn’t preparation planned?

We need to set our intention on what kind of luck it is we want to prepare ourselves to receive. Finance? Romance? A new home? A new car? A new pet? A new life? Any of these require some prep-work on our part while The Divine weaves our wishes together in the spiritual realm.

For example, a couple decides they want to have a baby.

First, the intention is set. “We want to have a baby.” Then begins trying to have the baby. Next, in Divine Timing, the pregnancy begins. During this time of the baby developing, the couple does preparations on the outside.

Getting the nursery ready. Reading parenting books. Having a baby shower. Going to pre-natal classes or birthing classes. Then finally, the baby is born. This is definitely a condensed version of this example, but the idea is that we need to prepare ourselves for that which we desire to manifest.

Some things that help me manifest my own good luck are using crystals, practicing meditation, journaling, self-care, and mindfulness.

Green aventurine and pyrite are great crystals for inviting luck and good fortune.

Regular meditation allows me to get in touch with Divine Will and to quiet the chatter in my head so Spirit can manifest its lucky love through me in the material. I love to burn Yuzu or Green Tea MorningStar incense. They’re short and last about 30 minutes. And as you’ve heard me say numerous times on the Sunday Live Sale, I love anything mini - like my mini celestial incense burner with stars and the moon.

Some wonderful journaling tools are the new Day and Night Reflection Journals we just received: Meditation; Mindfulness; Self-Care. These beautiful journals ask us to reflect on how we tap into these concepts to prepare to receive our own good “luck.”

As Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

Making a Vision Board on 111: Believing is Seeing

Every year for the past nearly 15 years, I’ve created a Vision Board for the next year. This practice began when I lived in the midwest and my friend Claudette had invited a group of us to her house, as she was often wont to do, to participate in a New Year’s Eve vision board making session.

I remember the fun — the good, clean fun that comes with having given up drugs and alcohol — that we were all able to have, especially the belly laughs but also the camaraderie we shared when one of us would find an image in a magazine that we thought another person would want to put on his or her board.

It became my annual ritual once I had moved back to the northeast and gave me something else to focus on rather than getting wasted and ringing in the new year with a raging hangover - it gave me a focus.

Yes, New Year, New You has gotten the proverbial and literal eyeroll from people these past few years since cliches elicit that kind of reaction on social media, but to me, there’s still something magical and meaningful from that first vision board gathering to the one I will do this year.

See this year, I haven’t done one yet and not because I didn’t want to - I just didn’t think I had to…yet. I wanted to let the New Year sink in a little bit, especially with ending last year on the heels of Betty White passing away on December 31st. Major bummer!

But this year, I wanted to ease off of the pressure of doing it THAT night, of letting a few days marinate so I could meditate on what it is I truly wish to affirm, intention, and manifest this year. What exactly do I want to take aim at on my Vision Board?

I’ve gathered my materials together: my posterboard, glue sticks, scissors, and magazines along with some markers, glitter sticks, and stickers. I’m even going to let my little one join in on the fun this year and hopefully pass the tradition onto her, though I’m sure she’ll enjoy some traditional New Year’s Eve festivities along the way.

So this Wednesday, on 1/11, an angel number having to do with manifestation, I am going to put on some background music, open up those magazines, and start the manifestation process for 2022. Hope you will all join along with me this Wednesday from your own sacred spaces.