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August 18 through August 24, 2025

The Cancer Moon opens the week as it travels through this empathetic and emotional sign Monday through Wednesday, bringing a close to the Sun’s travels through Leo. Thursday and Friday’s Leo Moon will surround us with an air of joy and generosity, and we will brighten the mood of anyone we come in contact with. On Friday the Sun will move into thought-provoking Virgo and shift our focus to the world around us for the next four weeks. Whether it means dealing with clutter or reorganizing our personal spaces or taking up a global case that’s dear to our heart, we’ll be on the move to make changes. Saturday’s Virgo new Moon adds to our convictions as we prepare to spend the next two weeks implementing the activities and disciplines that will bring more order and peace to our worlds. The fun continues on Sunday as the Virgo Moon has us socializing or catching up on our social media pages, so whether we’re out in the world or internet surfing, we’re sure to connect with some very interesting people and information!

Weeds: 10 Magical Resources You Can Find in Your Own Backyard, by JD Walker

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

There is a saying in the gardening community: Grow where you're planted. It means to do your best to develop, grow, and yes, even bloom, regardless of your situation or circumstance.

I like to use this same philosophy when it comes to my spiritual and magickal work. I use store-bought things, and am very happy to have access to them. However, I want my religious tradition to be more than something I buy online or do on one of the eight Sabbats.

I want to see magick in the world around me. So, I often look for supplies right outside my door.

"But," you say, "I don’t have a yard or a garden. Where am I supposed to look for herbs?"

Right under foot, dearie.

I wrote A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft to help folks understand that they can fill a lot of their needs simply by looking at the world around them with new eyes.

Practically every residence, whether apartment complex, rental property, or house, has a yard. Take a look at that grassy expanse. You'll quickly see that it's not all grass. In the case of most dwelling spaces with an accompanying yard, it's not even mostly grass. It is, however, a wonderful shopping space for magickal supplies. For example:

1. Chickweed: This low-growing, fresh green, matting plant is called Stellaria media because of the tiny little star-like flowers it produces. It is a moon herb, good for lunar magick as well as for spells to attract or keep a lover. It can also be used in beauty spells.
2. Clover: Everyone knows clover (Trifolium repens) is a good luck herb. It is also used in magick for prosperity.
3. Onions: Wild onions (Allium canadense) are the bane of any homeowner who takes pride in his or her lawn. But witches use them for exorcism and protection.
4. Dandelion: You know you've wished on a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) puff ball before! Children everywhere do. Blowing on the puff ball is also said to divine everything from how long you will live to the direction from which your true love will come. It is a good resource for any ritual work done to honor solar deities.
5. Violets: Violas or violets, on the other hand, can be used in workings with Venus, Aphrodite, Inanna, or any deity associated with love. I find it invaluable in mending a broken heart.
6. Grass: Even the grass that is growing in the lawn or the ornamental grasses gracing the landscape border or perennial flower beds have magickal uses. Gather what you need for protection and prosperity or use a handful to make a natural, temporary asperging wand.

Broaden your view and take in the plants that border the yard or that live in the landscape.

7. Hollies: Don't throw away those clippings from the hollies in the shrub border, even the ornamental Japanese hollies (Illex cornuta, I. crenata, etc.). They can be used for protection spells.
8. Honeysuckle: Look into that shrub border for the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) that has probably snuck in there. It can be used in prosperity and binding spells. With a long enough piece of vine, you can make a wreath to hang on the door or above the altar to attract that prosperity.
9. Ivy: Another common vine is ivy (Hedera). This is a witchy herb if there ever was one. It is a Saturn herb but is also considered feminine in energy. Like all vines, it can be used in binding magick. Ivy has the added benefit of being used for protection and healing.
10. Moss: Even the moss (Bryophyta) that grows along the foundation of a residence or in the shade of a tree has magickal uses. Properly dried, it is a filling for a poppet. Fairies are said to love it, so use it to dress your fairy garden.

Without leaving your immediate area, you've found supplies for everything from spell work to ritual tools. When you respectfully gather your own herbs for your workings, you are connecting with the Divine, however you perceive the Divine. You are one with the Universe. You are a self-sufficient, enterprising Pagan who can stand on your own, regardless of where you are planted.

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

I lost my beautiful son, a couple of years ago in an accident. Several people have said to me that he will be coming back soon. One said to look for births in my family. My question is how will I know? What should I look for? I feel the world will never be right without him in it in some way. Blessings and many thanks to you.

Holly

Susyn:

I am so sorry for your loss. While the pain of losing a child never goes away, you can take solace in the fact that he will return to you. Though it may still be a few years away, there are a number of telltale signs that will alert you to his return.

When souls cross over, they are given a choice as to whether they would like to return to the earth plane. The timing of this depends on many factors. Most spend some time in the spirit world, processing their last life on earth and learning more about their higher purpose. Most spirits who plan on coming back insist on being reborn into their family of origin so they can be close to those they love. This can play a big role in the timing of their return, for they must wait for a member of their family or a close friend to become pregnant.

Spirits can choose to reincarnate as either gender, but I feel that your son will return as a male, so this is one sign to watch for when a baby is born within your family in the near future.

When the baby is first born, you will notice physical similarities in his eyes and his smile. Also note his temperament in general, as this can be yet another sign of a soul's identity. As the child grows, it will become more evident that he is your son. The way he learns to walk, crawl and process life will be familiar, for you will see similarities between this child and your son when he was a baby.

Once he begins to talk, watch for expressions or words that remind you of your son. For example, if your son's first word was Mama, this child may also make that his first word. Your son will gravitate to you and do his best to let you know that he has returned, so it won't take long for you to realize that this is him.

If you still have some of your son's favorite toys from infancy, you can also use these to affirm that his spirit dwells within the new baby. When he is old enough to crawl, you can set out some of these toys among others he possesses. He will naturally gravitate to the toys from his previous childhood.

Of course, the relationship with him will be different this time around, for he will have new parents who occupy most of his time. Even so, when you are near him, he will give you an unusual level of love and attention. Though your time together as mother and son was cut short, the love and life experiences you shared will carry over into his next incarnation.

*****

Oceania:

I'm sorry for your tragic loss.

I like to imagine that those closest to me leave an energy imprint on my soul and become part of my DNA. I'm sure you've seen the double helix DNA molecule: two entwined and spiraling strands, connected by a series of rungs, that looks like a long twisted ladder. That image inspires me to envision the people who have impacted my life as spiraling around me and through me. They have altered and enhanced me; I'm not sure where I end and they begin anymore! Your son is forever a part of you in this way.

You wrote, The world will never be right without him in it in some way. I would argue that he IS in the world, even now. He remains in every life he touched and his influence carries on.

It feels as if you're putting your life on hold to some degree and looking to the distant future is a way of avoiding the present moment. Instead of scrutinizing the newborns in your family tree, searching for an energy clone of your departed son, I'm hoping you will see those new lives as unique individuals. Just as your son uniquely added to the world, so will any new family members!

Life is in session and you have a lot of living to do right now. Can you enjoy the people you're with today as well as the challenges and invitations right in front of you? Waiting and watching for your son's return may be a way of avoiding the pain of grief. If you need support in your grieving, please seek some counseling or join me here in chat.

Regarding your son's return, you asked, How will I know? I suspect you'll just KNOW, but I do recommend accepting you may never know, and maybe you're not supposed to. Why not let the issue go, focus on the NOW, and be pleasantly surprised if and when he shows up? I know you miss your son, but there are other family members, friends and fellows who yearn for your full presence today.

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.