Find your true love!”

“Make him/her fall hopelessly in love with you!!”

 “Find your happily ever after with your heart’s desire!!”

Love spells are probably the second most requested form of Spell in Witchcraft. They are also the second most peddled Spells on the internet, with everyone and their sister setting up a website and claiming they can give you true love from a Spell. You see them all over the place, even on Facebook, people posting some Love Spell they found on Google. “A spell to make someone you desire fall in love with you.” And who would not want that?

The problem arises when you look at the fact Magic cannot create true love. True love is a connection of spirit between people who are actually meant to be together. Love Spells, even the best of them, cannot create that. The least damaging effect of a Love Spell on another individual would be a sort of binding effect, entangling their lives with yours in some way. Rarely, blind luck strikes and this proximity is enough to generate some fond feelings that may become love, but this is, again, very rare. More often, after a month or so, either the person casting the Spell becomes disillusioned with their target, or the target becomes annoyed and somehow breaks the Spell. Enchantments aren’t real love and generally fizzle out.

Love Spells can also potentially create an obsession, not an actual emotion connection, which can become dangerous. You are creating a desperate emotional need to be with you in an individual that does not understand why that need suddenly comes into existence. The irrational, randomness of these emotions in an individual can create a psychic break as the rational mind tries to shake off this unnatural feeling. If this person is already emotionally unbalanced or compromised in some way, have violent tendencies, or if the Spell was poorly constructed or performed, you can create a seriously dangerous situation. Obsession is not love and can lead to someone getting hurt, even killed.

Again, the reality is you cannot create True Love out of thin air with magic. It is such a complicated thing of chemistry, timing, circumstance and a million other components that really only Divine intervention can master. So, what do you do if you are alone and tired of being alone, and magical intervention is starting to look really good?

The best alternative to Love Spells cast on another person is to cast a Spell on yourself, opening yourself up to accepting love and asking the universe to bring someone into your life. This can easily be done by taking a deep breath, focusing on this intent, calling on whatever Gods you wish to work with, and lighting a red candle while stating your intent:

“I call upon the divine (or whomever) to bear witness that I am opening myself up to the universe. I have love for myself, I accept the love of the universe, and I am opening myself up with the request that a man/woman come into my life to share this love with me….”

Or something along those lines. You can make it as simple or fancy as you like. Instead of casting a spell on someone else that will not work, and possibly even end badly, you are opening up a pathway for the universe to send you a sure thing, a true love. If you leave your heart and mind open, and trust in your Gods and the universe, you will find that you will get what you desire.

After a hiatus, I am once again teaching Tarot…
From “Archetypes, Allegories and All That” to “Don’t Forget the Spread”, join me for a wild journey through the technical and intuitive aspects of Tarot. This 6 week comprehensive class will help you understand how to read Tarot if you are a beginner, and help you really hone your skills if you are not.
The class will be offered in Zoom. A FB group will be created for the class where Q&As will be posted and answered during the lecture. The class syllabus and deck list will be emailed to you once your ticket purchase is confirmed. Lecture materials will be emailed a few days before each lecture. While I am currently looking at Sundays for these lectures, there is potential to be flexible with our days if we all agree.
To purchase a ticket, please click the link below:
“Hardcore Technical And Intuitive Tarot 101” on Eventbrite!

Date: Sun, Feb 19, 6:00 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hardcore-technical-and-intuitive-tarot-101-tickets-460738891427

Laurie Sherman is an Intuitive Tarot/Oracle Life Counselor with over 35 years of experience in Divination, Urban/Multicultural Witchcraft and Eclectic Paganism. She is also a writer, teacher, multi-medium artist, Ritual Coordinator for Gaea Goddess Gathering and Co-Organizer of The Kansas City Witches Meetup.

The Essential 4 D’s of Magick

Magick is the gathering, programming, and releasing of energy for a specific purpose, usually to manifest change in some way. Spells are the structured methods used to create these magical changes. These changes, whether large or small, for good or ill, have an effect on the world around us, with far reaching consequences, some of which we may not be able to anticipate, or even see until much later down the road. This is why it is incredibly important to not just go off on a whim, and throw energy out there without serious forethought and preparation. It is far easier to take the extra time to do what is right than it is to undo a spell that has already been cast. But, what really should you do before casting a spell of any kind?

It has been my experience that there are 4 D’s that should be attended to for proper spellcasting, even, and especially, when one feels rushed for time. When we rush into things, mistakes are made. These 4 D’s are:

1.  Divination

2.  Deliberation

3.  Due Diligence

4.  Determination

    Divination is often the most over looked first step to spellcasting. We become so determined to do something, positive or negative, that we often fail to look and see if we should do it, and what some of the collateral effects may be. Taking a moment to use whatever divination tool you like, or even getting a reading from a trusted confidant, to ask the universe for your best course of action can save you a lot of time and make sure your energy is being directed properly. You may want a new position at work, but are unaware that they are cutting that position out in 2 months. You may have decided to hex person A for some wrong you are certain they committed, when what you are unaware of is that it was really person B. It never hurts to take a moment to get a little divine perspective before we go charging into something with lasting ramifications. 

Once you have done some divination, give yourself a little time for some Deliberation. Allow yourself the time to really process what you have learned. This is also the time when you use that information to sort out what type of spell to use, as well as what best to focus your energy on. Deliberating on the issue at hand allows us to sift down to the core of the issue, giving us a clear path to follow to our goal, as well as maneuvering us clear of some pitfalls, such as collateral damage. Again, it is far easier to take some time to deliberate than it is to undo energies we have already set in motion.

This is often the point where the decision is made not to act, or an easy, mundane solution is found. There is this misconception that a Witch must cast a spell for every need, or fling a hex at every slight. This is definitely not the case. While it doesn’t hurt to stay in practice, remember that Magick is not the solution to every situation.  The Gods do expect us to be able to sort out our own problem on a mundane level whenever possible. I am not saying that Magick should be a last resort, but rather it should not be your only solution. And where hexes and curses are involved, you should always be very certain before undertaking these forms of Magick. Again, some things cannot be undone.

If you have chosen, after careful consideration, to use Magick, your next step is to give your preparations proper Due Diligence. This refers to the work that goes into actually creating your spell. You need to sit and write it out. What candles are you going to use? Does the Moon need to be in a certain phase? Do you need to research a God or Goddess? Have you set aside enough time, or found a good space? Magick should not be done half-heartedly. It deserves a proper amount of due diligence. Putting in the work will generally yield a more favorable outcome.

Once you have your spell written out, all of your items gathered, and you are ready to go, it is time to utilize that final D, Determination. The prep work is really only half the battle. For the final push, you need to have a laser-focused intent on your goal, a determination that borders on an obsession. It is this determination that helps you build the energy you need to fuel your Magick and achieve the desired outcome. Going through the motions of a spell or ritual without really being determined to see your goal manifest is completely pointless. You can light all the candles in the world and not see a thing manifest, or even end up with a contrary result, if your head isn’t in the work. Just as it is incredibly important to not just go off on a whim, and throw energy out there without serious forethought and preparation, it is also vital to be sure that you are 100% focused on what you are doing.

Magick is not something to be toyed with, not taken seriously, or approached with a half-hearted attitude. The 4 D’s – Divination, Deliberation, Due Diligence and Determination- ensure that you are really giving whatever form of Magick you choose to use the respect and awareness that it deserves. Anything less could not only lead to failed spellwork, but can also have negative effects. When you utilize these energies, you are not only using your own personal energy, but tapping into the energies of the Universe itself. And, these energies are not to be taken lightly. Following this process can yield your desired outcome.

L. Sherman

With the Veil between our world and those who have shed this mortal coil thinning, and Samhain fast approaching, our minds turn to thoughts of those we have lost. Our Mighty Dead are always with us in some way. While creating an Ancestral Altar can be a beautiful and cathartic experience, having kids, pets and other constraints can make having one in our space a challenge.

A few years back, I began researching ways to honor a lost partner that would be portable and easily integrated into my every day working Altar, a way to keep him as part of my spiritual practice. I came across an interesting way of honoring past loved ones in the creation of an Ancestor Altar Jar.

An Ancestar Altar Jar is a contained, protected and easily moveable jar created to honor the memory of a single loved one. Place their picture and a few momentos in a jar. Then, it can be placed on your family altar, wherever you may choose. This creative idea allows you to create a tamper proof contained memorial piece for a lost loved one, even beloved pet.

You will need/can use:

• A large clean jar with a tight fitting lid.
• picture of the loved one you are honoring.
• momentos that you have from the person.
• items that remind you of the person.

You can arrange everything and then seal the jar, or change out the items to reflect the seasons, or different aspects of the person’s life. This would be a good project for kids and individuals that may be having a problem finding a way to honor a recently passed relative or pet, or as a way to come together as a family to honor a passed member collectively, with each person contributing something. You could even do it for a beloved departed pet. Would also provide a weatherproof option for your outside Samhain and ancestor altars.

The Urban Crone…

I have an old folk spell that I absolutely love to use to remove negative energy from a space. I have actually had it for decades, copied from something I saw somewhere. I know it almost ny heart because it is really my go to spell for removing negative energy from pretty much anywhere.

One of the items the original spell calls for is an egg stolen from a neighbor’s farm from a black hen during the dark phase of the Moon. Now, I am an Urban Witch, with not only no farming neighbors, but an almost irrational fear of chickens (those beady eyes, stabby face and crazy murder toes). And my thoughts are that driving out through the country on the night of the dark Moon, going from farm to farm, rummaging through random chicken coops, is probably a really good way to get an ass full of buckshot or chomped on by a territorial farm dog.

The point I am trying to make is there are spells out there, whether they are actually old or trying to sound old, that ask for things that, for one reason or another, are probably almost impossible to get. I am sure that back in days of yore, there were farms and chicken coops all over the place, with easy access to black hens ripe for the pilfering. But, today in many parts of the country, chicken coops have been replaced by backyard pools and sheds, and you are more likely to be surrounded by homes than farmsteads. Just like, not every herb that is called for in a spell will be growing within a mile radius of your home, or every item will be able to be procured. So, what is a Witch to do?

The first thing is you have to let go of the notion that every spell is to be done exactly as written. What may work for me, may not work for you. What may have worked in the 17th century, may not actually even be possible today. Logistics change from Witch to Witch, area to area and time period to time period. The world continues to turn. You are going to have to accept that and move on. It does not mean that you cannot perform the spell, just that you are going to actually have to think for yourself.

This brings me to my next point. As a competent Witch, you should be able to dissect a spell, look at its components and be able to figure out what the purpose of each item and aspect is. Understanding correspondences (the tangible items in a spell or ritual) and circumstances (the timing of a spell or ritual) should be part of your studies when learning Witchcraft. You are should understand what you are doing and what you are working with. If you do not understand the items you are working with and their purpose, you really should not be using that spell as it will probably not work out the way you would like it to. Understanding the purpose of each item that is asked for in a spell will allow you to find a suitable substitution.

While, like cooking or baking, using the ingredient the recipe calls for is ideal, the reality is that there are many instances where using a suitable substitution is perfectly functional and acceptable. If you understand the purpose of the item you are missing as well as its magical properties, you should be able to find something that has the same magical properties and will be a suitable substitute. For example, if your spell calls for you to smudge with sage, and you either have none, or can’t stand the smell of it (like me), a cedar bundle works just as well with the same properties. If the spell calls for a gold coin, you do not have to drop a mint at a coin shop or go diving for pirate gold to get it when a standard gold dollar coin will do. Both are tangible representations of money, symbolic of prosperity and wealth.

The idea is that every item a spell calls for brings with it a specific magical energy, a specific purpose. By finding something else that has the same magical energy and serves the same purpose will yield the same results. The notion that a spell cannot work unless you have the exact items listed is just completely preposterous, especially when you take into consideration the most important element of spell casting.

The most important thing, the key to every single spell in existence is your own faith in yourself. It is your energy, your will, that brings everything together and makes it work. As long as you believe in yourself, and have a solid understanding of what you are doing, your spell will work, whether you bought an organic egg from the farmer’s market, or hopped 10 fences and tossed through a dozen chicken coops to find just the right egg.

The Urban Crone

This was an article I wrote in June of 2012 that still feels relevant today….

The Base Camp…

    I recently moved into a new place, like a big blank canvas for me to expand in. I didn’t particularly like where I was living, for the most part, as it was cramped and felt rather cave-like. There was not enough room for my stuff, nor space enough for me to really work or create in. As such, the energy always felt a bit on the stagnant and opressive side, not allowing for growth, expansion or progress, things I actually saw reflected in my every day life. Why was this?
    Well, we spend a lot of time in our homes. Eating, sleeping, showering and doing whatever it is you do at home. It is your space, your domain, where you go to regroup, recoup and recharge your internal battery. It is also your tiny little “base camp” in this vast universe, where you lay out your life plans and decide what you want to bring into your universe. This is the crucial key, because if you are surrounded by negativity, you are going to unintentionally bring in negativity. I call this the Negative Life Flow.
    Negative Life Flow is when the energy of your Life pattern keeps you away from or even moves away from your desires and goals. This can occur because of road blocks, things pushing you another way, or even negative energy holding you stuck in place, dooming you to a repeated negative cycle that is nothing but toxic to your dreams and goals. Having your base camp in a place that is negative in some way can create this Negative Life Flow, keeping things from manifesting in a way you are wanting or even needing, keeping your Life from moving in a positive direction. What you need is a base camp that instills positive feelings, attracts the energy you need to create a Positive Life Flow in your life. To understand how to do this, you first have to understand the three key components of Positive Life Flow.  
    The first component of Positive Life Flow is attracting positive energy into your life. I once had a friend who was continuously bombarded with crap. What I noticed about them was that it almost seemed like when there was a lull in the action, they would basically stand there acting like they were waiting to recieve the next big pile of crap in the face, like they were inviting it, ordering it with a side of more crap. Crap attracts crap. Stop looking for crap. Your base camp should be a positive space, full of motivating, positive visual, audio and other sensory cues. You should be able to just step into this space and instantly feel the awesomeness coming towards you. Think of Positive Energy as the cool people everyone wants to hang out with. Your base camp has to be a space where the cool positive energy wants to come, hang out and do awesome things for you, like attract prosperity and love.
    Your base camp also needs to be an exclusive club, meaning absolutely no negative energy allowed. This is the second component of Positive Life Flow, keeping the negative out. Negative energy is like that really annoying friend that nobody really likes to hang out with, always bitching and complaining about how much their life sucks, the party sucks and they pretty much suck the life out of everything. How do you get away from them? You don’t invite them in. You don’t give them a house key. They are persona non grata in your base camp. If they show up at your door like a creepy pizza guy, you deal with them at your door, figuring out exactly what you need to do to deal with them as quickly as possible, all the while not letting them in. That is the key to dealing with negative energy.
    I am not saying you have to be happy and positive every moment of every day because that is not even remotely possible without some serious pharmacology. What I am saying is that when you are smacked in the face with a crap pie, you don’t stand there and wear it for a while like a facial treatment. You figure out where the negative energy is coming from, why it is there, and how to disperse, rechannel and just drop kick it out of your space. If you can’t figure it out, ask for help. If you don’t have time to deal with it, set it aside with the clear and strict intent that you will not deal with it until you have time, and will not dwell on it or wear it around like a freaking crap hat. You will also give a specific time frame because you do not want this stuff just sitting there like roaches, festering, having babies, setting up housekeeping, creating a big fat pile of crap that keeps you from moving forward. The amount of negative crap you will have to shovel out of your path is directly proportionate to the amount of time you let it sit there and grow. Shovel it quick and be done with it so it is not blocking your forward progress.
    This is the third component to Positive Life Flow, keeping this positive life energy moving in a forward direction. This can actually be a tough one, especially if our base camp is full of what if’s, if only’s, and momentos of loss and regret. They act like pause buttons on your DVD player, holding you hovering in that one spot in time and not allowing you to move forward. There is nothing wrong with tokens and momento of the past in your base camp, but they should inspire you fly, give you comfort and strength to move forward, not act as anchors to hold you fixed to a moment in time. These are the things that should be in your base camp.
   Now, your base camp does not have to be your whole home. I am fortunate enough to where I could probably do that here as the only thing my boyfriend cares about is where he can put his tools and his underwear. Whether you are doing a big space, like a whole house, or a small room, the first thing is to pack away what triggers anything negative. You don’t have to throw it away, just put it in a box for now until you can deal with the emotions it brings to the table. When you are finished doing that, look at what is left. How does it make you feel? Move stuff around; add stuff; subtract stuff. At each interval, stop and see how it feels. Leave the room for a while and come back, seeing if you still feel that positive life flow going on.
    Also, look at the space in your base camp and imagine how energy would move through it. Would it be able to flow freely or would it get bogged down? Would it even make it through the door? Positive Life Flow is about moving your life forward towards your goals, so the energy has to be able to move forward. Clutter equals chaos which equals negative movement, so stop it. Weird stuff lingering in your space distracts the energy, makes it stop and say “wtf?”, ditch it. Be brutal, be honest. be real.
   And you realisitically cannot just tackle your entire house all at once, so don’t beat yourself up or drive yourself insane. Start small. One room, one space. I, luckily, had that blank slate of a new place to work with. We brought just the furniture in and set that up. I had them place the boxes in the garage and started adding pieces in. I also utilized a number of the methods I talked in the blog I wrote back in January called “Magical Living Spaces”. It is full of fantatic ideas about how to place things in a way to keep that Positive Life Flow on track.
    The bottom line is that a good base camp will keep that Positive Life Flow energy moving in the right direction. Added benefits are that your base camp is a place of healing, of finding your center when the rest of the world is just crazy, and a place where you honor the Divine within yourself. It doesn’t have to be huge. Start by creating a small safe, nurturing and positive base camp in your corner of the universe, and see what happens to your universe.
Blessings
Urban…

Here are my notes from an event I did about creating Magical Living Space. I felt as though this was timely as people are going through and getting rid of the old to make way for the new, vowing to make this new year one full of positive energy and it has been freakishly nice enough to do some deep house cleansing.

This process is how I go about setting up my own personal space where I live. It makes a huge difference because it really works to create a positive environment and invites positive things into your life. I can also really tell when things are not set up right as things tend to shift within my life. Another benefit is that when I have it in place, I do not have to cleanse my space as much, it keeps me in the habit of keeping things picked up and in order, and makes it a lot easier to pull up a circle whenever I choose.

This is not something that can be done overnight or even just in one whole day. It is a process that is more emotionally complicated than it is anything else, as you will see. I hope this is helpful to all of those who have requested this.

Sacred space is not just reserved for the Circle. It is possible to turn your home into a sort of sacred space as a whole, not only for the purpose of protection but actually turn your home into a Magical Energy Machine, pulling positive energy in while filtering and processing negative energy out. This is about creating a positive, consistent flow of energy as well as making it so negative vibrations have no place to take root.

Unblock the Flow:

The first step in creating your magical sacred space is to clear the air. This is done by:

1. Go room by room, moving counter-clockwise, and smudge, imagining the dark, negative energy dissipating and positive light filling the space.

2. You may use whatever you like to smudge, be it sage, or any other purifying or cleansing incense blend.

3. Make sure you are stopping at every corner and allow the smoke to rise up all the way to the ceiling.

4. Once you have finished, you can light a white candle in each room as you go and ask for light, love and guidance in cleansing and clearing your space, or you can move clockwise through each room with more sage or incense that creates a positive vibe, inviting light and love into the space. Move from bottom floor to top in a clockwise fashion.

** If you cannot burn any incense or use any type of scented oil or anything of the like:

Go from room to room, moving counter-clockwise, with a broom or feather duster. Imagine you are gathering all the dark, negative energy with your broom/duster as you move. You can either open the window and “push” the energy out the window, or move the energy with you and “push” it out the door. This is sort of a very simplified form of Swifting, the purposeful moving of energy as a means of cleansing, and takes quite a bit of focus to do. I suggest moving floor by floor, starting on the top most floors and moving counterclockwise downwards, opening a window or door in each room or on each floor to push the energy out. You will need to be complete focused so do it alone and turn off your phone.

When you have finished this, set your tools outside (they will need to be cleansed by sunlight or moonlight afterwards). Then, you can light an unscented white candle in each room and invite light, love and guidance back in, or move from room to room in a clockwise motion to “pull” light and love through the space, from the bottom floor upward.

Declutter!!

The next step in creating your magical sacred space is to declutter. Part of creating a magical living space is creating a space in which energy flows freely and in a positive manner. Magical energy is like electricity. A current must run from its source to its destination in an uninterrupted flow. If the flow is interrupted, there will be no power where it needs to be. The exact same thing holds true for positive magical energy. What is worse, a cluttered environment is a breeding ground for negative vibrations to gather and “nest”. In order to create your magical space, you are going to need to:

Go through Papers:

Papers create an amazing amount of clutter in our lives. We have tons of it coming into our house every single day.

1. Mail

a) Should be dealt with as soon as it comes inside.

b) Throw out junk mail,

c) File any important information (bank statements, tax forms, insurance information etc…) in files specifically created for them.

d) Throw out bills that have already been paid.

2. School papers:

a) Newsletters should be read immediately, important dates noted on a Family Calendar and then thrown out.

b) Save a few key pieces for each child in a large tote with their name on it and throw out the rest. You really do not have to save everything. This way, you will have one tote full of things that are special and meaningful, like an amazing test or essay and a wonderful piece of artwork, instead of a huge pile of junk.

3. Read the Newspaper and then recycle it. Do not let them stack up!! Better still, cancel your subscription and read online newspapers. They save trees and don’t stack up.

4. Magazines:

a) Read it.

b) Cut out or copy any recipes into a cookbook (loose leaf binders are great for this).

c) Cut out any articles that inspire you, or you find useful (another binder as well)

d) There really is no longer a need to save magazines (with the internet) unless they depict monumental occasions, like the death of an icon or like the election of President Obama. In this case, have one tote devoted to all of these very special magazines (not separated by subject but all in one) and be done with it.

e) then, either pass it on or recycle it. Some magazines have on line websites now that are just as good as the magazine. Local libraries also have copies of some magazines as well. Both of these options can save you clutter and money!

5. Books:

a) Look for duplicates and donate those you have extra copies of to a local lending library or goodwill.

b) Look for books that share similar ideas and information. Some authors write books repeating the same information in different ways over and over again. Figure out the best version and pass on the other copies.

c) Get rid of books that you will never read, or you read and thought they were crap. Pass them on.

d) Recycle books with missing pages.

e) Make sure you have shelf space for the books you have. You can use more than one bookshelf but make sure you have someplace to put all of them.

f) While they do not have to be in alphabetical order or anything like that, bookshelves should at least be neat. I try and section my books out by what they are (Fiction, Wicca, Herbs, Crystals, Tarot, etc). It makes it easier to find what I need when I need it.

Go Through Clothes and Shoes:

We have a strange habit of holding on to things we can no longer wear. Letting go of these things can allow us to let go of the negative energy we may attach to them as well as inviting the possibility of new positive things into our lives. This process applies to all members of the household, not just you, and goes for shoes, coats, clothes and anything else that is worn.

1. If it does not fit, get rid of it. Do not torture yourself by saving tiny clothes you may never get back into. It only serves as a reminder that you are not what you think you should be. Get rid of it and get something that reflects liking who you are.

2. Kids clothes that are in good shape should be passed on to a younger sibling, cousin, friend, or to a local charity. NEVER pass on shoes as it can affect a child’s foot growth and walking pattern.

3. Only save baby clothes if you plan on having a baby with the next year or so. Otherwise, save a few cute things and pass it on! This goes for other baby items as well except for cribs, which are a huge expense.

4. Shoes should not become so numerous that they get out of hand. I know people like shoes but they don’t need them by the hundreds. Be reasonable and practical about what you keep and what you can pass on.

5. All winter/summer apparel should be examined prior to packing it away for the season, and only pack it away if it is going to be useable next year. Create large totes with lids for each family member and store all of it neatly in bottom closet or in the basement/attic of your place. Hats, scarves and gloves should be stored neatly in totes as well. Winter coats can be stored hanging in coat bags or large trash bags.

6. Dress clothing should only be kept if it will be worn again. This includes bridesmaid and dresses for dances like prom or homecoming. There are plenty of consignment shops that will resell your items for you if you would like to recoup some of your investment, as well as Craig’s List. Otherwise, donate it and let someone else enjoy it.

The Dreaded Toys

Whether you are a child or an adult, there are things in your life that you accumulate that give you happiness and pleasure only without serving some really practical purpose. These things are called Toys, and they need to be dealt with.

1. Children’s Toys:

a) Make sure each child has one large bin and one small bookshelf to put their stuff away in/on.

b) Sort toys at least twice a year, throwing out all broken toys. I liked doing this like in May and just before Christmas.

c) Create a “goodbye” bin in a secret place. Slip toys into this bin that you notice your child no longer plays with or has left lying around a lot, without telling the child. If the child doesn’t ask for it within a few weeks, it would be safe to pass it on to charity.

d) Game systems (Game cubes, Nintendo’s, Play stations, etc) should be stored neatly and the games kept in their cases or in a cd case to prevent damage. Games, controllers and systems that no longer work should be discarded.

2. Grown-up toys:

Grown-up toys are things we buy for ourselves that we do not need and offer no practical value to our universes.

a) Electronic that do not work, including TV’s, MP3 players, Stereos, DVD players, etc should be discarded.

b) Look through your DVD’s and see if you have duplicates. Get rid of any damaged discs or duplicates. They should also be neatly stored. You can get a large CD case and store them this way as well. Takes up less space this way.

c) If you have an MP3 player, download you favorite CD’s and pack away the rest. The only reason I say not to get rid of them completely (unless they are damaged) is that older ones can be hard to replace.

d) If you never use your workout equipment and it is just too large for your space, sell it. You can always join a gym so you can work out with friends. Large workout equipment is only practical if you have a room you can dedicate it to. Otherwise, it is clutter.

e) Sports equipment that you never use needs to be donated to someone who will use it or sold.

The Miscellaneous Stuff:

Look around your space and see what is there, sitting on tables, bookcases, shelves, etc. what do these things say about who you are? Is this the message you want to put out to the universe? Do these things invite the things into your life that you want? Why do you have these things?

The things around you should create positive emotions and vibrations, therefore inviting positive energy into your life and keeping that flowing. Too many things, too much clutter can cause not only blockages of energy, as discussed earlier, but can also breed negative energy and vibrations. Think carefully through it. If you get stuck, light a candle and ask the Divine Spirit for guidance in sorting through all of it.

1. Anything that is broken should be repaired or discarded, including furniture and home décor. Broken things represent broken and negative energy.

2. If the item is small and holds sentimental value to you, create a tote that you can pack it away in. You should really not have more than one tote of sentimental things per member of the household (school stuff is separate). These totes can hold photos, items, baby clothes, etc that have special meaning.

3. Dead plants and dried flowers have to go because they drain energy. If you have a sentimental item, like a dried flower or wedding bouquet, put it in a glass jar and place it in your sentimental tote or someplace that would be appropriate with the meaning behind the item (more on that later).

4. Pictures of people who carry or give off negative emotion or energy need to be put up or discarded. Items associated with negative emotions need to be discarded or put up as well.

5. Seasonal stuff is actually seasonal stuff. As Pagans, we sometimes like to think that gives us an excuse to have Halloween stuff out year round. It really doesn’t. Christmas lights can be kinds cool on rare occasions but those really don’t happen too often. Pack this stuff in totes labeled for the season (spring, summer, winter, fall) then pick a day each season (like solstices and equinoxes) where you pack up the stuff from the last season and bring out the stuff for the new one. This does not just apply to holiday items but even knick knacks. Some pieces may be more spring like than winter, etc. It will be like redecorating every couple of months. And, rather than going just hog wild, make each piece something meaningful.

6. Pack it away. If you can’t figure out what it says or why you have it, pack it away. You can always rotate decorations in and out as the mood strikes you or seasons change (see above). If you haven’t missed it in a few months time, feel free to get rid of it. The key is that you should not have a ton of clutter, and the things you do have visible in your home should be things that truly invite into your life the energy you want.

A word about Spiritual Clutter:

Spiritual Clutter is the overwhelming presence of spiritual items. Spiritual devotion is in the heart and mind, not a giant crucifix on the wall that just freaks the bejesus out of people every time they walk in. There is nothing wrong with expressing your faith by displaying a few symbols of it around your home. Another idea is the use of a “house altar”, an altar that is as small or as large as you would like it to be or have room for, and that expresses the spiritual beliefs held in the house hold. In ancient times, people had altars in their house to honor their household gods. This is the same principle.

It can be a small table or shelf, divided in half with a divine masculine on the right and divine feminine on the left in whatever guise you feel comfortable displaying along with any other symbols of elements or faith you wish to put on it. You should include at least 2 candles on here so that you can light them as a form of devotion or in asking for blessings or guidance.

You can also do a simple set up with just one candle representing the divine spirit as a whole. It is really your choice and can be as elaborate as you wish to make it. I usually locate my house altar in the Northwestern area of my living room, for reasons I will explain in a bit. These can also be places in the northwestern corner of your bedroom or spare room if you wish to keep them private.

Cleaning and Cleansing through Reiving:

Going through and decluttering your space goes a long way to removing negative energy and unblocking the flow of positive energy. The next step in this process gets rid of the other things that create negative energy, dirt, dust and any residual negative energy.

Reiving utilizes mundane cleaning methods and a cleansing process similar to Swifting to cleanse your space. This includes vacuuming, dusting, mopping. You need to be cleaning windows, air vents, ceiling fans, lamp and light fixtures, and anything else that has collected dust and dirt. As you do this, imagine that you are removing not only the dirt and dust but the negative energy build up around your home.

You can also use a decoction (create a tea bag of these herbs using a coffee filter and steep in some water for like 15-20 minutes; let cool then use) of herbs in your cleaning solution to heighten your cleansing power. Any herbs that purify, break hexes and curses, and protect are ideal for this, such as Agrimony, Mugwort, Sage, Clove and Cinnamon. You can also add in herbs that bring positive energy and luck into your space as well.

Once you have Reived your space, you will now go through and smudge one more time, this time in a clockwise motion, inviting love and light into your space.

Now that we have cleaned, cleansed and decluttered your space, and the energy flow has been unblocked, let us look at a technique to keep that energy moving the right way and inviting an abundance of auspicious (lucky) and positive energy in.

Feng Shui the Easy Way

I am not a Feng Shui master at all nor can I afford to hire one to come in and work their magic. I am also one of those people who get confused when you start throwing a bunch of complicated stuff at me. I really liked the concept of Feng Shui though, so I did some research and found a less complex way of making it work.

Feng Shui means wind and water. It is a system of incorporating the laws of nature and our place in it. Creating and living within an environment that we are in harmony with attracts positive, auspicious energy, referred to as Chi. The key this system are the five elements of Feng Shui and where we place these things in our environment. The five elements of Feng Shui are:

Wood, the element of growth, nurturing and versatility. You can use wooden objects to promote motivation, inspiration and passion without overwhelming your space. Its colors are greens and browns.

Fire, the element of happiness, energy, passion, honor and aggression. Its colors are reds, bright yellows, orange, pink and purple.

Earth, the element of instinct, stability, permanence, home, and wisdom. It can add a grounding, stabilizing energy to an area that is too busy or full of chaos. Its colors are light yellow, sandy/earthy tones, and light browns.

Metal, the element of communication, justice and generating energy. Too much metal can attract too much energy to an area of your home and invite disaster. Its colors are white and grey.

Water, the element of creativity emotion, networking, communication, professional opportunities and wealth. Wasted water can actually symbolize a loss of money or poor health, so leaking faucets and what not should be dealt with. Its colors are blue and black.

Now that we understand the elements, let us look at the easiest way to utilize them and Feng Shui to maximize the Chi of your space.

The simplest way is to get a compass and use it to divide your house and each room up into nine sections. Here is a chart of these sections and what each section represents: North

Each square on the layout can be referred to as a “corner”. My advice is to start with one room or even just one corner and go from there as it can be a daunting task. Here is some information on each corner to help you along:

Wisdom and knowledge (front left)

Element: Earth

Colors: black, blues and greens

♀ Wisdom, learning, study, educational pursuits

♀ Bookcases are well placed here

♀ Pictures of people you have learned from or who inspire you

♀ Place for meditation or reading

Career (front middle)

Element: Water

Colors: blues, black and brown

♀ Affirmations of things you hope to accomplish under a pyramid

♀ Images or symbols of things that represent where you want your career to go

♀ Symbols of success

Helpful People/Mentors and Travel (front right)

Element: Metal

Colors: white, grays, and black

♀ Images and symbols of places you would like to visit

♀ People unrelated to you who can help you

♀ People who have touched your life and bring you knowledge

♀ Phone, phone books and business cards are well placed here

Health and Family (middle left)

Element: Wood

Colors: blues and greens

♀ Family, friends, coworkers and distant relatives you want to stay connected with

♀ Hang happy family pictures and memories on the wall in this corner

♀ Physical and emotional health

♀ Workout equipment, if you have room.

Spiritual Health and Overall Well Being (center)

Element: Earth

Colors: yellows and earth tones

♀ This area is the culmination of all the other areas as those areas do effect your spiritual and overall well being.

♀ If you have the space for this, you can create a center space with symbols that represent where you want to be spiritually.

♀ If you do not have the space for this, a lead crystal hanging from the ceiling or a ceiling fan in the center of the room can work to activate the energy here.

Creativity and Children (middle right)

Element: Metal

Colors: white and pastels

♀ This area affects the development of current and future projects and creative endeavors

♀ Articles, photos relating to current projects

♀ Ideas for future projects

♀ Photos of children you are directly connect to will bring auspicious energy to this area

♀ Musical instruments, sewing machines, pianos or any creative medium is placed well here

♀ The place to display your own artwork

Wealth and Prosperity (far left/southeast)

Element: Wood

Colors: blues, purples, greens and gold

♀ Money, prosperity, abundance

♀ Keep clean and uncluttered!!

♀ Plants, lighting, crystals and aquariums help activate auspicious energy (no dead stuff!!)

♀ Citrine, aventurine and malachite crystals for correct energy

♀ Check all these corners in your home to make sure that any toilets in these corners are covered and fireplaces are dealt with (more on that in a bit)

Fame and Reputation (far middle)

Element: Fire

Colors: reds, oranges, and bright yellows

♀ Represents how the world sees you, the image you want to project

♀ Records of achievements like awards, trophies, new clippings can be places here

Love and Relationships (far right/southwest)

Element: Earth

Colors: reds, pinks, and white

♀ This corner in your house and every room of it represents your love life and intimate relationships

♀ They should all be clean and free of clutter

♀ Any heart shaped stone and rose quartz

♀ Faceted lead crystals work well here

♀ Counteract toilets and fireplaces in these corners

♀ Red or pink candle lit on the new moon will activate this energy

♀ Any symbols of love and marriage work in this corner

Dealing with fireplaces and toilets:

Fireplaces and toilets are two things that will drain positive, auspicious energy out of your space. You need to:

♀ Keep toilet lids down.

♀ Counteract fireplaces with citrine, quartz cluster and actual fireplace doors.

Bedroom tips:

♀ Should be uncluttered, comfortable and relaxing

♀ Rose quartz and small altar to your love relationship in your love corner

♀ Mirrors and TV’s should not face the bed (invites 3rd person into your relationship)

♀ No plants as they will pull energy away from you

♀ No aquariums as they will pull energy away from you

Other tips and tricks:

Plants can activate energy in any corner and should be well cared for.

Mirrors:

♀ Can attract or repel energy

♀ Should not be placed opposite doors, toilets, staircases, windows, beds or other mirrors

♀ Should be hung so that the tallest person in the house does not have head cut off.

♀ If you move or place a mirror and feel a negative change in the energy flow, rethink where you placed it.

Crystals and Gemstones:

♀ Research uses to activate desired energy

♀ Should be cleansed and programmed

Candles:

♀ Choose the appropriate color and scent to attract the desired type of energy

♀ Should be cleansed and charged

Incense and Oils should be chosen by the type of energy or desired effect.

Astrology:

♀ Figure out your sun sign to start with.

♀ Each sign has correspondences like crystals, incense, colors, and such that can help to activate the positive energies of each sign or off set the short comings.

♀ Once you become more comfortable working with astrology, you can look at what signs are in the houses of your chart that correspond to each Feng Shui corner and use that information to heighten your personal energy in each one of those corners.

I hope that this was helpful. As I said at the start of this, I had not intended on typing this up as a handout for a workshop. These are my notes and information from my own personal experience in creating my own magical living space. This really takes time and patience to make this work. Once you get it in place, though, it will be just a matter of maintaining it and smudging or Swifting on occasion to keep things in order.

The book that I recommend for creating your magical living space as an amazing reference guide is House Magic by Ariana (isbn# 0-7607-3321-x). When I first decided to Feng Shui my space, I looked at a number of books and internet sights that just confused the heck out of my. House Magic incorporates not just Feng Shui but other systems of magic to create a positive living environment. It is one of my all time favorite book and I really feel like it is a must have.

Blessings

Urban Crone