- Weekly Astrological Forecast for August 26 through September 1, 2024Continue reading →
August 26 through September 1, 2024
Mercury will finally turn direct on Wednesday, followed by Venus entering Libra and Uranus turning retrograde. With all the musical chairs the planets are playing this week, we'll need to pay closer attention and practice some flexibility to get through our days. A Gemini Moon hangs overhead Monday and Tuesday, highlighting communication, social interactions, and a tendency to surf the information highway in search of new ideas and answers. Mercury will turn direct on Wednesday after a three-week run, and though it could still cause a few glitches for the next week or so, we'll also be entering the “aha” cycle of the retrograde when answers to problems or questions will finally come to light. Venus will dance into Libra, a sign it rules, on Thursday, and spend the next three weeks turning our thoughts to relationships, love, and a tendency to daydream about the future. With the Leo Moon in charge Friday through Sunday, our generous natures will prevail, encouraging us to uplift and attend to the needs of others. Uranus will turn retrograde on Sunday, which makes any plans somewhat futile. Just plan on going with the flow as this planet changes things up on an hourly basis for the next few days.
- Dirt Magic & Spirituality: 6 Spells Using Dirt from 3 Different LocationsContinue reading →
Dirt Magic & Spirituality: 6 Spells Using Dirt from 3 Different Locations, by Charity L. Bedell
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
Witchcraft is often referred to as a nature-based religion. One way that the connection between nature spirituality and natural magic can be seen is by working with dirt in a magical and spiritual fashion. Natural locations have magic often tied to folklore, legends, and fairytales. In urban locations, the magical properties of dirt often come from the actions done at those locations (such as working money magic with dirt from banks and malls, dating and relationship magic with dirt from restaurants and pubs, etc.).
Dirt is everywhere, which means that there is a lot of dirt in the world—which also means I was unable to include all of the locations I would have liked to in my book Divine Dirt. Below are three locations, not included in the book, and two spells using dirt from those locations.
Working with Farm & Garden Dirt
Farm or garden dirt is one of the easiest forms of magical dirt with which to work and obtain. Growth, fertility, and prosperity are all things that are associated with farm or garden dirt. Use dirt from a farm or from your garden to bring growth, fertility, and prosperity into your magic.Prosperity to Me Spell
Use this spell to attract prosperity to your life. Materials:- Ground Alfalfa (Prosperity)
- Farm Dirt (Prosperity, Success, Money)
- Sugar (Attraction, Money)
- Nutmeg (Prosperity, Money)
- Honey (Stick to you, Money)
- Water
- Small bowl
- Spoon or wand
- Large, flat magnet
- Paintbrush
Working:
- Mix all of the ingredients, except the magnet, in the small bowl. As you stir the mixture together, repeat the following chant 7-9x: "Money and prosperity flow to me. I am wealthy."
- Setting the magnet near the bowl, state: "Magnet that attracts today, bring prosperity here to stay."
- Use the paintbrush to paint or draw a symbol of money, cash, wealth and or prosperity on the magnet of your choice. I use the $, but use what works for you.
- Set the magnet somewhere near your front door. Every time the door is opened, the magnet is activated and attracts money and prosperity to your home. To keep the magnet charged, create a new batch of the paint mixture and repaint the symbol on the magnet every two weeks.
- When you no longer feel the need for the prosperity boost, paint the magnet one last time and give the magnet to someone you care about to give them that boost. The spreading of the wealth will also increase your own wealth and prosperity.
Fertile Growth Spell
Use this spell to enhance the growth of your plants. This spell will work on flowers and herbs as well as fruits and vegetables.Materials:
- Planting Pots
- Farm Dirt
- Seedling (your choice)
- Crushed Acorn tops
- Potting Soil
Working:
- Take the planting pots and set them out so you can easily work with them.
- Place a small layer of the farm dirt on the bottom of each pot you are using. As you place the dirt in each pot state: "Dirt from a fertile farm land, to my plants lend a hand."
- Carefully transfer the seedlings to the pots.
- When the seedling has been transferred, sprinkle a layer of crushed acorn tops and state: "May the oak help you grow strong and true."
- Top off the pots with the potting soil and move the pots to where you are going to leave them to grow.
- Feed and water your plants as normal. Sit back and enjoy the plants growing.
Working with Dirt from Municipal and City Buildings or Public City Land
Government and city offices can be great places to gather dirt to influence your community. From prosperity and success to rebuilding parks, city or municipal building dirt can be used for any work that benefits that city, town, or community.Renew and Rebuild Parks
Public or city parks are wonderful places to spend afternoons and hang out. This spell makes sure that there is always some money to keep the parks looking good.Materials:
- 3 shedded snake skins, 1-3" in length (Renewal)
- Pen
- 3 slips of paper
- Dirt from your local park
- 3 pins
- Scissors
- Cotton or hemp twine
Working:
- Lay out the three snake skins so that they lay length-wise in your working area.
- In the three slips of paper write the words "renew," "refresh," and "city park."
- Read each slip of paper as you place each slip on one of the snake skins.
- Sprinkle the dirt from the park over each of the slips of paper. Make sure each skin and slip of paper has some of the dirt. As you sprinkle the dirt over the slips, state: "(Name of the park) to make you new and fresh again. With new life and a playground that families can hang around."
- Carefully roll the snakeskin and slip of paper up in to a small bundle.
- Take the pins and pin the rolls together, so they can stay rolled up.
- Use the scissors to cut three sections of twine to tie around the center of the rolls you have made.
- Take the cut twine and tie it around each of the rolls, keeping the skin, slip of paper, and dirt all rolled into one little bundle.
- Remove the pins from the bundles. Set the pins somewhere to clean them for use in other projects (both mundane and magical).
- The next time you go out to the park, find a tree at two different entrances to the park. At the base of the trees, find a spot to place and hide the little bundle you have made. Place the third bundle at the base of a tree in the center of the park.
- Thank the trees for holding and dispersing the magic.
- Go about your day as normal, not thinking about the spell work any longer.
Protect the Community Spell (Town, City, Village, Etc.)
Sometimes walking in the city at night can feel creepy and dangerous. Use this spell to protect yourself or your loved ones whenever they are out and about during the evening hours.Materials:
- Pen
- Paper
- Nettle leaf
- 28 pins
- Small bowl
- Dirt from city hall (Spirit of the city)
- Dirt from a police station (Protection of the city)
- Ground black pepper (Protection, reversal)
- Ground cayenne pepper (Protection, heat, reversal)
- Ground Galangal Root (Reversal, protection, breaking baneful magic)
- Ground Stinging Nettle (Reversal, protection, breaking baneful magic)
- Ground Juniper Berries (Protection)
- Spoon or wand
- 4 mirror pieces (you can buy bags of these at craft stores)
- Black or silver votive candle
- Candle holder
- Matches/lighter
Working:
- On the paper, write out the name of your city.
- Around the name of your city, create a circle with 20 of your pins. These pins create a protective barrier that destroys magical attacks and problematic energy sent to your city. As you place each pin state: "I stab away excess crime today."
- In the bowl mix the dirt from city hall and the police station together. As you mix those two dirt forms together, state: "I call upon you to protect this city for all time, against those who would bring tons of crime."
- Add the ground peppers, berries, and stinging nettle to the bowl. Use the spoon to mix the herbs into the dirt. As you mix the herbs into the dirt, state: "Those who would bring crime into this city, are sent away without any pity. The harm they would have done, shall be sent back for them to enjoy the fun."
- Take the remaining 8 pins and place two together at the 4 corners of the circle. There should be a finger's width between the original circle (inside) and the cross circles out side of the circle.
- Sprinkle the dirt across the 4 corner pins, making a cross with the powder. Repeat until all of the mixture is on the paper over the name of your city.
- Set the pieces of mirror resting between the pins that make the cross and the outside barrier pins. As you place each mirror state: "Mirror today, protect and reflect back all magical and criminal attack."
- Set the tealight candle holder and candle in the center of the circle you created.
- Light the candle.
- As the candle burns, state: "Light from this candle's fire to protect this city is my desire."
- Let the candle burn completely. As the candle burns, let the wax drip and cover the paper. If you are unable to burn the entire candle in one sitting, burn the candle for 5 minutes a day until the candle has completely burned. Each time you light the candle, recite the previous statement ("Light from this candle's fire, to protect the city is my desire").
- When the candle has fully burned and the wax covers the paper, the spell has been cast. The wax is symbolic of a shield or forcefield surrounding the city you live in, protecting it from unwanted forces.
- Dispose of the materials in a trash can somewhere in the city outside of your home.
Working with Dirt from Fields, Plains, and Prairies
Large, open spaces provide a lot of opportunity for magical work. One of the many magical properties that can be associated with open fields is freedom. There are few boundaries and restraints with open fields, which translates magically to freedom.Courage to Be Me Spell
There are times in our life when it can feel and be difficult to be our self and live the way that we really want to. You may feel stifled or otherwise trapped and caged. This spell will help you find the strength within to be true to yourself while living within your limitations.Materials:
- 2 3"x3" pieces of white fabric
- Scissors
- White thread
- Needle
- Acorn or oak leaves (Strength)
- Plantain leaf (Strength)
- Bay leaf (Strength)
- Optional: Torn old clothes or any cotton/fiber filling
- 2 12-15" Jewelry chain
- Dirt from a field or plain (Freedom)
- Wire cutters
Working:
- Place the two pieces of white fabric on top of each other. Use the scissors to cut out a human shape.
- Thread the needle with the white thread and tie a knot at the end of the thread.
- Using a simple over and under stitch, sew the two figures together. Leave an opening at either the left arm/heart or at the top of the head.
- If not stuffing the poppet fully, skip to step 5. If you are going to have the poppet be filled with your clothes or cotton stuffing, this is where you begin to stuff the poppet with your chosen filling. You will add a little more filling after each herbal ingredient has been added.
- Begin to add in the oak leaves or acorns to the poppet. As you add the leaf or acorns, state: "Like the strength of the tree, I will bend and change, yet remain me."
- Add the plantain to the poppet. As you add the plantain, state: "Plantain, who can anywhere and survive, give me the strength so I may thrive."
- Add the bay leaf to the poppet. As you add the bay leaf, state: "Bay leaf that is strong and true, let me be me anew."
- Finish stitching the poppet closed.
- Set the poppet down on a table. Take the two chains and wrap them around the doll. These chains represent your feelings of being trapped.
- Exhale over the poppet and state: "Poppet, I name you for myself. I give you life today. What ever happens to thee, shall also happen to me."
- Pick up the dirt and rub it over the chains. As you rub the dirt over the chains, state: "Dirt of the plains where animals roam free, break these chains away from me."
- Take the wire cutters and cut the chains. As you snip the chains, state: "Free to be truly me."
- Remove the chains from the doll. The doll is now as free, as are you.
- Rub the dirt that was on the chains into the doll. State: "Free to be truly me."
- For the next week, hold the doll once a day and repeat the statement "Free to be truly me."
- At the end of the week use the scissors to cut the seams on the doll. Toss the stuffing materials into the trash. The fabric can be washed and used as a poppet for someone else in any other magical work.
Invite Free Thought Charm
Sometimes it can be hard to let our minds just be free. Often we have stress and anxieties over a situation that prevent us from thinking freely about the situation. Use this spell when you need to just relax and let your mind be able to think about your situation freely.Materials:
- 2 bay leaves (open doors, open thoughts)
- Small skeleton key (can substitute any small key without a lock)
- 2 teaspoons dirt from a field or plain
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon ginkgo leaf
- String
Working:
- Place the skeleton key on top of one of the bay leaves.
- Take the dirt and sprinkle it over the key. State: "Dirt from a plain as far as I can see, help me to clear my mind. Set my thoughts free."
- Sprinkle the rosemary over the keychain. As you sprinkle the rosemary, state: "Rosemary, herb of the mind, release my thoughts from that which keeps it in binds."
- Sprinkle the ginkgo leaf over the key. State: "Herb that focuses the mind, open the way that new thoughts I may find."
- Place the second bay leaf over the key that was covered with the dirt and herbs.
- Take the string and wrap the string around the bay leaf and key. Wrap the bundle 3-5 times with the string, and then tie a knot to secure the materials together. While you are wrapping the string around the bundle recite the following chant 3-5 times: "Thoughts flowing free, a solution to my problem will I see."
- If the bundle is not secure, get more string and continue to wrap the bundle and recite the same chant util the bundle is completely covered with string or thread. If the bundle is secure, and you are confident that it won't fall apart, hold and play with the bundle while you try to figure out a solution to your situation.
- When the solution is found, dispose of the materials in the trash, thanking them for helping you figure things out.
For more information on the magic of dirt, check out my book Divine Dirt: The Art of Using Dirt in Magic, Ritual, and Spellcraft.
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2024. All rights reserved.
- Double Vision: Seeing Numbers in ThreesContinue reading →
I have a tendency to see numbers in groups of three, for example on license plates, digital clocks, calendars. I especially see triple two's, such as when a clock reads 2:22 p.m. Is there a meaning to this? It feels like I'm supposed to be paying attention to something. I've been wondering about this since 1999, when my best friend died. I started seeing numbers in threes before her death, and it's continued ever since then. Thank you very much. I love your column! My birth date: 6/16/68.
Dreamchaser:
Debbie, I am so glad that you asked this question, because it is SO common and people do not really think it is anything but a coincidence. I am sure so many of our readers will say, "Wow, I thought it was just me!" Numbers that repeat are part of a very sacred geometry system. I personally have always, and I do mean my whole life always, seen 11:11. Some people see 12:12 or like you, 222.
When our souls chose to come to this Earth, some chose to come as Lightworkers, or people who would bring "Light" to other humans and the planet. I am a Lightworker because I work as a psychic/ spiritual counselor. That is how I bring "Light" to people around me. Lightworkers do not necessarily have to be psychics, healers or mediums. We can be teachers or doctors or homeworkers or ditch diggers. It is not what we do; it is how we do it. We teach either while speaking or via our actions. Sometimes we even teach people how NOT to do something.
When we see the numbers 11:11, 12:12 or 2:22, we are being handed down a "wake-up call" by a higher power. We are being reminded, on a soul level, of our purpose on this Earth. Our conscious minds do not in any way know any of this going on, but our souls sure do. When we see our personal sacred numbers, we "re-member" who we really are.
I suggest that you just stop when you see 2:22 and get quiet and breathe and allow your guides, Angels and other workers to "speak" to you. Just feel the energy of the moment and allow yourself to be one with all that is, if only for that brief second. It is your reminder to "re-member," remember? (Note the difference in the two spellings.) We can realign our energies, thoughts and emotions, or re-member in one brief second so easily at those times of day. It is when our energies are most closely aligned with all that is, and we should be taking advantage of those moments to balance and readjust.
When your best friend was dying, your soul was laid open and you were seeking answers. You could NOT understand her death. You had an awakening and you re-membered who you were. I do not know very many people who are born consciously enlightened; most of us have had to seek it. Frequently, enlightenment comes during or after extreme hardship. So many of the truly enlightened people on Earth have tried with drugs, alcohol or other numbing agents to just turn off heavy thoughts, or to just fit in with the rest of the world. We never will fit in "regular" society. We just have to go find like-minded people where we DO fit.
I wish you continued enlightenment.
*****
Astrea:
Triple numbers do seem to occur a LOT with you! You have three sixes in your birth date, and your friend died in a year with three nines. As I explore the reasons why this keeps popping up, I get an overwhelming feeling that you DO need to be paying more attention to what is going on when this happens.
Your Angels tell me that They show you these numbers after you've been shown something two or more times in order to get your attention. One large male Angel says that you have a very hard head, and that He tries to show you day after day what you should be doing. He says when you see these triple numbers, you should go over what has occurred during the last 24 hours and pick out any and all things that have been said or done by someone else TWICE in that day. This is how you will begin to discover what this pattern means to you.
The OTHER Angel, the female who is with you, says that She often tries to speak directly to you in dreams, but that you don't remember what you dream very much. Write down what you DO remember when you wake up while it's fresh in your mind, before go on about your day and forget. SHE has things that She wants to show you that are separate from Donovan (the guy Angel). He is more in charge of Protection and Safety Issues, while her job leans more towards the Emotional aspects of your life.
Your friend is also trying to come through to you, but doesn't want to frighten you. Try to welcome that Spirit into your life. Don't be afraid. This is a great opportunity and a lot of work for your deceased friend, so be as open to this as you possibly can be.
As far as the MEANING of the numbers you're seeing in triplicate, three "ones" mean that you are right on top of discovering the answer to a problem you've had for a long time. Three "twos" mean that you'll get some money from an unexpected source. Three "threes" mean you should be extra careful while driving that day. Three "fours" mean not to be forgetful. Three "fives" mean you should look under the surface of a problem for the answer. Three "sixes" mean that you should do more for a friend that day. Three "sevens" mean that time is up on some project that you've put off finishing. Three "eights" mean you've forgotten someone's birthday, and three "nines" mean that it's time to have a visit with a Spiritual Advisor, Psychic or Counselor.
It's great that you can get some kind of warning and word in this way, because numbers are everywhere in our lives. Use this information to help you along your way, and always thank those Angels who are with you every step of the way!
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.