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August 22 through August 28, 2022

Brace yourself! This week is so packed with astrological shifts that we'll have to pay close attention to the daily changes it will bring. The Sun moves into Virgo on Monday, setting up a month of inspired thoughts and a drive to create more order and organization in our lives. We'll get a short breather on Tuesday as the Moon moves through Cancer, but on Wednesday, Uranus will turn retrograde and have us questioning everything and everyone! Sudden changes and reversals are a hallmark of this aspect, so be prepared to change direction at a moment's notice. On Thursday Mercury will move into Libra and, thank goodness, restore some balance to our thinking. What we thought was a great idea on Wednesday may prove faulty on Thursday, so the trick is not to take action on things too quickly, but to let the dust settle before moving forward. Take advantage of Friday's Leo Moon to stop and attend to personal needs, making sure you aren't letting anything fall through the cracks as you continue through the maze of astrological events. Saturday we will have a new Moon in Virgo and yes, you guessed it, even more brilliant ideas rising to the surface! The fun continues on Sunday as we sort through all we've learned this week, as well as what we are imagining for the future!

Add the Passion of Crafting to Your Craft with Fiber Magick, by Opal Luna

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Long before the birth of the Bedazzler, the crafting world has been drawing folx in with the allure of making things with their own hands. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making it yourself. Pride of workmanship and seeing your project come to life brings a true satisfaction. The joy that a handmade gift brings to the recipient is well worth the many hours invested. To be honest, we would be doing it anyway for the sheer joy of the act. Crafters talk about their craft of choice with a passion that is often missed in this world. My husband tells me that when I talk about crocheting a light comes on in my eyes and you can hear the love in my voice. Relating the steps I'm planning and the materials I'll be using for my next project raises my energy up to the next level. One might even venture to say that the whole process is magickal. If you feel the same way about your handiwork, then you will understand the concept of Fiber Magick. This passion was the basis for the book I wrote for Llewellyn, Fiber Magick: A Witch's Guide to Spellcasting Using Crochet, Knotwork, and Weaving.

The crocheting came into my life long before the magick. My Granny taught me the basics when I was eight years old. We would spend hours up in her attic bedroom perfecting our stitches; it was my escape from the world below. She showed me how to make the granny square, so naturally I thought it was her design—because she was the granny. (I found out about a decade later that that was not the case, however.) When the hippie vest came into style, I was truly grateful to have an outlet for all those squares. I was hooked.

Fast forward a bit further, and I discovered the Pagan community and began learning all the aspects of witchcraft. The kitchen witch in me came out first because I have always loved to cook. Learning the correspondences connected to the herbs and spices made it even more exciting. My imagination ran wild with the thought of making my favorite recipes into spells. So, when I added onions to the soup, I was adding magickal protection as well as the health benefits? That's fantastic. Cinnamon brings health, wealth, and happiness? We should be sprinkling that stuff everywhere! The magick just enhanced my joy of cooking. I was a happy kitchen witch for quite a while.

It wasn't too long, though, before my spirituality circled back to my true passion: crochet. Sometimes I will save the onion skins and cook them down and soak cotton yarn over night to add a nice burnt orangey brownish tint to the yarn. Is that a type of kitchen witch magick, too? The color correspondences that I learned in candle dressing and other forms of sympathetic magick began to factor into the mix. Now I was getting orange for creativity and brown to ground myself while I add the protection of the onion straight into the yarn. That is some powerful stuff right there. How does it affect me to wear a vest made of this yarn? How does it affect those who see me wearing it?

I began to see that what a kitchen witch does with food I could do with yarn. Embellishing my spells with buttons, charms, and beads. Using colors and textures to connote my intentions. Utilizing the phases of the moon and the power of the sun to add even more magickal emphasis. There is literally no end to the layers of intention that you can add to your projects. Keep adding until you can clearly see what you mean. Manifest it as a tangible expression of your intention. Then send it out into the world to make changes in attitudes. Isn't that what good magick does after all?

There you have it. I enhanced my magickal practice using my love of crochet. The passion I felt for my hobby now comes out in my magick increasing the efficacy of spells and magickal tools. What handiwork would you use to add this passion?

All needlework and fiber art lends itself well to Fiber Magick. Fiber Magick is built on the concept of knot magick. Knot magick is the practice of using knots to trap and hold energy. This energy can then be contained within the cord to be used as a talisman or used later by releasing it as the knot is untied. When we knit, crochet, macramé, embroider, sew, quilt, etc. we are tying hundreds of knots. This causes the possibilities for magick to be amplified. But what if you don't use thread or yarn or cord in your crafting? Can you still add some Fiber Magick to your Craft? Yes, you can.

When I coined the phrase "Fiber Magick" I was thinking about getting down to the very essence of what our craft supplies are made of to bring out the correspondences of the materials. One non-stitching skill that lends itself well to Fiber Magick is pottery. A potter will work with clay and glaze. Is the clay porcelain, earthenware, or stoneware? Will you turn it on a wheel? If so then the element of water will be added. Does the glaze contain tin, salt, lead? What colors will this add to the piece? What properties will it add to the magick? Will you be adding gold, copper, or silver? Now you are skirting the realm of alchemy. And then fire will be added. How will you fire the piece? There are methods that add plant materials during firing. Along with those plant colors and textures you will also bring out their magick. The correspondences go on and on and on. Most importantly, pottery (just like any other artistry) uses the most important component to any magickal endeavor: your hands. Your own hands are the most magickal tools you have, and the energy transference as you knead and work the clay is inevitable.

My purpose in creating Fiber Magick was not only to provide a spiritual path for the crafter but to encourage the magick practitioner to get a little bit more crafty. So what if you don't already have a hobby that you are passionate about? I will always suggest that you try crocheting, of course, even if it goes no further than the chain spell. But alas I have shared my passion with enough folx to know that it might not be for everyone. My second suggestion would be to look at your current spiritual modality for clues to a craftiness that might be more to your liking. Most, if not all, cultures and belief systems have at least one style of handicraft that is uniquely their own. This stands to reason for the simple fact that before the industrial revolution it was a matter of survival to be able to work with your hands. Do some research into the handmade items produced by the ancestors of your tradition. Spinning and weaving were common household tasks. Blacksmithing and woodworking were necessities. Variations of these skills are still practiced all over the world. Think about what your hobby/livelihood might have been once upon a time. Try your hand at some of these skills. This will offer a connection with those ancestors and a new appreciation of what life may have been like before big box stores. Simple examples of your tradition's crafting will be a powerful addition to an altar or ritual attire. Performing a little Fiber Magick can enhance any magickal practice and it's a great way to show your pagan pride.

Stay Crafty,
Opal Luna

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

I'm writing because I'm wondering about a very strong connection I have with my husband's brother. This connection has been really bothering me. Though the feelings are joyous and happy, their intensity is confusing to me. I'd like to know if this situation is due to a past life connection. If this is the case, I would also like to know how to go about disconnecting from him. He is a very good person and I admire him greatly, but my spirit is telling me that there is some letting go that needs to happen, and issues that desperately need to be taken care of. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Jodie

Astrea:

You'd be amazed at how many of us have strong karmic connections with an in-law or distant relative, for even mere acquaintances can have MAJOR past life Karma between them. The Universe does its best to help us coincide: sometimes we see those deep connections and sometimes we wait until next time.

When the person we have strong karma with is someone who is briefly passing through our lives, if we see the karma we have with that individual, we can usually resolve it pretty quickly. Sometimes one small act of kindness can do it.

One of the basic Christian principles is to love one another. Different spiritual paths have their own way of saying the same thing. The important thing is to try to follow this basic teaching, for then we won't miss any chances to improve our Karma for the future.

It's important to remain aware that though we have feelings of love for this other person, it's rarely romantic love. It can seem to be, however, so take that into consideration before you communicate your perception of your feelings to someone else.

In regards to these strong karmic bonds, the closer and more permanent the relationship, the longer it generally takes to get through whatever it is you're supposed to do. In extreme cases such as yours with your brother-in-law, it's a serious matter.

In order to get through the process, you may have to open up about it. Your husband accepts that you have strong intuition, so tell him about this. You might also tell your brother-in-law so you can agree on what's happening.

No one is going to get mad at you for exploring this territory as long as you're careful not to give anyone the wrong idea. Discuss this carefully to prevent misunderstandings. You may need some human support to put this behind you as quickly as possible, and your husband and his family are probably just the folks to help.

Once in a rare while, people end up in relationships to other people simply in order to meet a third party. While this doesn't happen very often, you need to find out if this is the case with the two of you. If it is, why you'd manifest this roadblock to happiness is anyone's guess. In the old days, we might have said there was a curse on your (or your husband's) family, or that you had done something awful in another life.

Now that we know so much more about Karma, it's clear that sometimes things happen on the Random rather than the Purpose. None of us is being punished due to our Karma from another life; we're just getting valuable opportunities to learn lessons we left behind in our Before Times.

*****

Susyn:

We often feel powerful emotions upon encountering someone with whom we have shared past lives. Given what you've described, we can only assume that this is what is happening.

Perhaps in a past life the two of you were lovers. As oftentimes happens, it could also be that you are repeating an identical karmic situation from the past and being given an opportunity to change the outcome this time around.

Either way, at this point the dilemma is how to detach from him so that this doesn't turn into something bigger. That he is your partnerís brother makes things a little tricky since it would be difficult to avoid him altogether.

In this situation, you will first need to create a new set of boundaries. If you feel comfortable discussing this matter with him, you can work together to ensure that nothing undesired comes of your strong feelings. Neither one of you wants to hurt his brother, so you should be able to work out an agreement.

If you are uneasy about the idea of discussing this subject with your partnerís brother on your own, you must work on lessening your own feelings by practicing new spiritual boundaries. For example, you should avoid entertaining any fantasies about what might happen, and simply live in the moment.

The less power and attention you give this situation, the more you will be able to direct the flow of this connection. Once you start to back up, he will likely do the same.

The best way to create boundaries is to first identify your feelings. Describing them on paper can lessen their power over you. When you finish, study them carefully. Once you face your feelings, you will be better able to master them in the future.

Be sure to meditate on your feelings and ask Spirit to take away the desire. Sometimes we are unable to alter thoughts or feelings on our own, for the more we focus on something, the stronger it becomes. Do not hesitate to ask for spiritual intervention and higher awareness to minimize your emotions when you are around him.

Even if you were in love in a past life, it's possible that moving forward with your feelings in this lifetime could ruin what you have. Most likely, this is either a karmic lesson you are trying to learn or a karmic pattern you are trying to break, so it's important to think before you act.

You may want to consult a psychic well-versed in past life exploration, for discovering more details about your past connection may make it easier to understand what's happening and let these feelings go. I recommend you schedule an appointment with a reputable reader to receive helpful insights and accurate information.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.