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Whether you're looking to for a new erotic adventure or surround yourself with an air of mystery this summer, here are some of our bestselling candles for the season.  Photos by Victor Castro Sea Priestess Candle A favorite amongst staff and customers, the Sea Priestess candle invokes the powerful energy of the Ocean Mother. It can help you manifest calming, tranquil vibes, deep emotional healing, and rebirth. Pairs well with our hand-blended Ocean Mother Oil and Yemaya incense. Before lighting the candle, take a sea salt bath (about 1/2 to one cups' worth of sea salt) to cleanse your aura and focus on your intention for the spell. You can also add shells, pearls, or a bowl of salt water around the candle as it's burning to invoke the Ocean Mother. Empress Candle with Bad Ass Oil/Incense This summer it's all about embodying confidence and being comfortable in our bodies. The Empress candle, a Goddess-based candle (either Oshun or Venus), helps magnify self-love and give you that extra boost you want to feel your best. Pairs wonderfully with Bad Ass Oil (for confidence boost), our hand-blended Bad Ass Bath, Venus Oil, Oshun Golden Luck Bath (if you work with the Orishas), or Goddess of Love oil (which is also a powerful aphrodisiac). This sultry, luscious candle can also be used to attract romantic attention if you're looking for a new summer fling. Lastly, for a ritual bath to bring out your inner Goddess, try our *new* Inner Goddess Sea Salt Scrub, which is a magical mix of herbs and oils (as well as organic coconut oil) for empowerment and emotional healing. Fortuna Candle Perhaps you’ve had a little bad luck lately and want to turn the Wheel Of Fortune back in your favor. The Fortuna Candle invokes Lady Luck to bring a whirlwind of luck your way. As the giver of abundance, invoke the Goddess energy of Fortuna in your daily spellwork until the candle burns down completely. Pairs well with our hand-blended Horn of Plenty Incense (to bring about wealth), Double Fast Luck Oil, our Lady Luck Fortuna Oil (which also happens to be good for gambling), or our hand-blended Prosperity Bath. Boys Night Out Made for gay men only, the Boys Night Out Candle can help attract new lovers or spice things up in a current relationship. It’s perfect to manifest a wild night (or several) out on the town during those warm and steamy summer nights. As the candle burns, wear one of our hand-blended oils, including Eros Oil (a devotional blend for the God of Love and helps attract erotic love), Oscar Wilde Oil, or Satyr Oil (a powerful sexual attraction blend that’s particularly good for gay men). You can simply add a few drops of the oil to your pulse points and add it to a spray bottle (which is available for purchase too but only in the store). Mystere Candle This powerful, seductive candle works as an attraction spell to surround you with glamour and excitement. Adding a cloak of mystery and intrigue around you, the Mystere Candle can help attract potential suitors, drawing them to you like moths to a flame. As with all candle magic, be careful what you wish for – you may end up with too many suitors to choose from. Pairs well with Aphrodite Love Draw Bath, hand-blended Mystere Oil, AC/DC Oil (a bisexual/queer love and attraction formula), or Astarte Oil (a love formula that increases awareness, especially in sexual areas). Solar Blast Candle Another shop and customer favorite, the Solar Blast Candle helps invoke the power of the sun’s energy to cleanse and rejuvenate your entire being. It’s a positivity candle that invites abundance and joy in your life, and it’s perfect for the summer months when the sun it also at its fullest glory. It’s also a great “wishing” candle, so if there’s something specific you’d like to manifest this summer season, this candle is a great choice. Pairs well with our hand-blended Sun Oil, Sun Bath, Happiness Bath, or our Sun Incense. And new for this year, we also have a Solar Blast Sea Salt Scrub to complement any spell or ritual invoking the powers of the sun. Yemaya Devotional Candle A devotional candle to the Mother Goddess of the Ocean, our Yemaya Candle can be used for fertility spells, emotional healing, self-love, moon/lunar magic, and cleansing. Great in combination with water magic (read more about that here), and pairs well with our hand-blended Yemaya Oil, Ocean Mother Oil or our Yemaya Mermaid Bath. For more stories on candle spellwork, check out our candle magic section here, including Frequently Asked Questions.
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By Amber C. Snider When Venus, the planet who rules matters of the heart, home, and finances, goes retrograde, it can be especially intense — especially for those ruled by the planet, like Libras. Here’s what to reflect on while it comes to an end and what to expect in the coming weeks.  Photo by SIMON LEE on Unsplash For those of us ruled by the planet Venus (shoutout to Libras, I’m here with you), Venus Retrograde can be a particularly perplexing time. It’s a time when old loves come sweeping back into your life, a time when exes reach out, when romantic connections from the past resurface, and along with it, a range of emotions. It seems like a flurry, a clusterfuck, or even a reawakened dream that you may be tempted to stay in. Just remember it’s all for something higher. Most of the time, Venus Retrograde is meant for closure, not necessarily new beginnings, but it all depends on what you do with the lessons of the past. Unlike other retrogrades, Venus Retrograde only occurs roughly every year or so, and this most recent trip, from March 1 to April 12th, 2025, has felt especially intense. In the mix of political turmoil and social upheaval, it may seem futile to focus on romantic love, but the truth is, love is really all we have. But many of us have been willingly or unwillingly carrying around leftover baggage from our past and those lessons, those brilliant teachings, tend to get buried over time. When Venus goes retrograde, it gives us a chance to reflect on them in new ways, to view each moment and time period from a different, albeit higher perspective. It’s a profoundly spiritual time too, when you may see things through the eyes of Divine Love, rather than just earthly love. With that said, you may have found yourself thinking about your past love connections, what they meant to you, and how to either somehow move on or reintegrate the experience in your present. The latter, for some of us, can seem impossible, but the planets are calling out for us to look back in order to begin anew. While you’re still in your “feelings,” here’s how you can harness and channel some of the lessons of Venus Retrograde for a higher purpose, plus what you can look forward to towards the end of the week and beyond. Get to journaling. While Venus also rules creativity and you may find yourself a little creatively “stuck” right now, take some time to do brief journaling exercises and free writes. Let yourself explore your thoughts and feelings, especially those of the past, in an uncensor, free way, giving it all to the page. You don’t have to overanalyze right now, just put it down on paper. You can also light “Divine Muse” or “Inspiration” incense from Enchantments to assist you in your free write sessions. Refrain from texting that ex — any more. If that planet of Love has done her job, you’ve most likely already had an encounter with a romantic or platonic love of the past in the last couple weeks and either hashed things out or reset a new stage together. Closure is an illusion (in my humble experience), but that doesn’t mean we need to keep digging for gold in the same spaces that we’ve already unearthed. Practice self-restraint and after April 12th, no more texts/calls/emails, especially if you’ve found what you’re looking for – whether that’s clarity, insight, or a new perspective. Physically clean your space. Since Venus rules matters of the home, now that she’s been in retrograde, you may be looking around your home and thinking “What have I been doing??” Take one room/space at a time and after you physically scrub it, cleanse the space with either Orange, Rose, or Florida water, too. You can use it (water it down first, especially on certain surfaces) to wipe down your home or floor for a reset. Don’t do anything drastic to your physical appearance until after retrograde ends. Thinking of bangs? Cosmetic treatments? A new buzz cut? Don’t do it. Just wait until after this week to make any changes to your physical appearance while the Ruler of Beauty is in retrograde. Think about it and if you’re still feeling it after April 12th, wait an extra week, and then go for it.  Photo by Victor Castro Practice self-love. As humans, we all want validation from others, and while that’s a totally normal feeling, don’t rely on it or need it. It’s one this to want it, but another to base your decisions and feelings of self-worth around the opinions (good or bad) of others. Practice self-compassion and self-love at this time, whether that means giving yourself positive affirmations in the mirror, taking care of your physical and spiritual self, taking ritual baths, or performing empowerment rituals. Perform a Love Spell after Venus Retrograde ends. If you're feeling that it's time to welcome in new love with a fresh perspective, after this week, now is the time baby. Rather than focus on one individual person, focus on an individual partner who meets your needs and will be for your highest good. Try Enchantments' custom, hand-carved candles for a ritual: Either the "Catch a New Love" candle, "Mystere" candle (a very powerful spell for attraction), a "Venus" candle which can also be used as a devotional candle to the Goddess, or a "Love and Happiness" to welcome in new love and abundance. An interview by Amber C. Snider In her latest book Shamanism and Your Shadow, Navajo shaman and author Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy) helps readers work with their shadow self through a series of guided meditations, spirit animals, somatic exercises, and much more. Read our exclusive interview here with a deep dive into this magical practice and book.  Enchantments’ editor and author Amber C. Snider discusses the profound lessons of spirit and shadow found within Crow’s beautiful new book from Llewellyn Worldwide (February 2025), including the role of the shaman, trauma work, and ways we can consciously work with this energy. As Crow says, the shadow self is a “powerful energy that you can tap into, but only if you wish,” adding that it’s not something to be afraid of, but rather one of the “most powerful aspects” of the self. Amber C. Snider: I’m fascinated by the idea you present in chapter two “Biology of the Shadow,” where you posit that some of our shadow may come from our DNA, as inherited from our ancestors. I’ve often wondered if that’s also true with trauma — as in, whether that is also somehow “passed down” and inherited across generations. What do you think we can do to heal or incorporate the shadow self back into our lives in healthy ways? Granddaughter Crow: Yes, there are a lot of credible studies that examine “historical trauma,” as well as other names that this phenomenon expresses. The more we delve into this concept, the more we are able to understand that we are a part of something larger than ourselves. Not only from a position of “trauma”, but also from a position of “gifts” – inherited gifts. Which leads me to your question about healing and incorporating the shadow self back into our lives in healthy ways. It is to understand that the shadow not only may hold trauma, but it can also be a storehouse of hidden gifts. For example, let’s say that one of your readers remembers seeing ghosts or spirits when they are young, but that gift is now lost to them due to their incorporation into the household or social group that they were born into. The gifts still remain, they are simply hidden in the shadow. Recognizing that your shadow holds gifts, as well as a deeper understanding of self; makes the journey of shadow work more balanced, beneficial, and also an exciting journey. This is why I wrote the book from a Shamanistic perspective – because Shamanism looks to the natural world for wisdom. Everything that touches light in the natural world, has a shadow. The shadow is natural and organic – not something to be feared and discarded. Simply understanding this can make the journey with the shadow so rewarding. ACS: You also mentioned that the shadow self may stem from repressing the authentic parts of ourselves and the importance of reassessing our individual and collective moral codes (which is a Nietzschean thought). What are the dangers of not readdressing and examining our moral codes? Tangentially, what is your advice in regards to breaking through repression of any kind and why is that important? GC: Great question. The answer actually flows from the example that I shared above about a child who has “intuition” or “psychic gifts” but they are repressed or hidden within their shadow. Note: when I say “shadow”, I am not referring to the negative dark side of ourselves explicitly. Moreover, I am referring to the “hidden” aspects of ourselves. In the shadow, we may also hide our gifts that might not be accepted by the social groups that we were raised into. Hence, aspects of our authentic self may also be hidden. Yes, Nietzsche examines the idea of morality. Our moral code adjusts between different groups, around the globe, and throughout time. It differs and is not stagnant due to evolution within each culture. However, if we do not question or examine our moral code to see if it is aligned with our current life, we limit our understanding of new thoughts, new ideas, new ways of looking at the world. Inevitably, without questioning, reexamining, and adapting… we close our minds, and slowly our minds will become emaciated without new stimulation and eventually bring harm to ourselves and others. I would highly recommend that we keep an open mind. Even if we do not necessarily agree, we at least consider other thoughts in order to stimulate our ideals. Here is an example. There was a time in U.S. history that the moral code was to take Indigenous people and place them into a boarding/residential school. Thankfully, we reexamined that “moral code.” Keeping an open mind, and asking questions can lead us away from repression, and lead us individually and collectively into liberation.  Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash ACS: How can somatic experiences help with trauma? Can you give us some concrete examples of this, as well as your definition of somatic experiences, as you describe in the book? GC: Absolutely, the term “somatic” or phrase “somatic experiences” simply means to feel it within the physical body – to be body centered when looking at emotional or mental experiences. As a Navajo, and as a Shaman, I view the world from the position of the four bodies of existence. In short, I define the four bodies as having an awareness of the physical body, emotional body, mental body, and spiritual body. Within this school of thought, I recognize that all experiences will be held within the physical body. Meaning that emotional, mental, and spiritual experiences will eventually express themselves within our physical body. Hence, if we are working on an unresolved deep emotion that we have experienced from our past, it is expressed within our physical body and how we carry ourselves or how much we will engage within new situations. For example, my physical body might experience a nervousness or shyness around certain situations due to unresolved past experiences. All is energy. Energy seeks its freedom. Freedom comes through movement. If all experiences are housed within the body, if we move the body through somatic experiences…we can also heal emotional, mental, and spiritual situations that are also seeking freedom and liberty. ACS: What is the role of the shaman? GC: The shaman is the intermediary between the natural world and assisting others to gain the wisdom of the natural world in order to live a healthy and well-balanced life – in short. The reason that I chose to approach the topic of shadow work from the position of the shaman is because it brings to the subject of shadow work a natural organic perspective vs. a taboo shadow perspective. Meaning that everything that is touched by the light is also touched by the shadow. It is not taboo – it is natural. This is a dynamic book. At times, the reader might assume that I am the shaman as I wrote this book. At times, the reader might look to the spirit of the animals to be the shaman. At times, the reader might catch the sense that they or their shadow is the shaman that has led them to this book – to this shadow work. The truth is, all of these perspectives are true. I am a shaman and I wrote this book. The spirit animals are shaman. And if this book led you to a place within yourself that you become the intermediary between the natural world and bring that wisdom into your life – to you… you are shaman. Be your greatness! ACS: In chapter three, you describe your personal journey finding your “power spot.” Can you describe what a power spot is for readers? And how can it benefit their spiritual journey? GC: Have you ever been on a walk in the park, in the mountains, or on the beach and you are looking for that one spot that you can rest and relax in. The perfect spot that you simply are drawn to, and you simply know it when you find it? Yes, this is your “power spot”. It is a spot that is within the natural world that feels just right. Do this with intention, locate a place within the natural world that is just right for you to feel comfortable so that you can be you. This is a great spot to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. It is also a great spot to meditate, journal, and connect with the divine as it reveals itself to you. This is a very basic way of explaining an over complicated idea. A power spot can be in your own garden, or wherever you feel “just right”. When you find your power spot, you are able to connect more deeply – because you feel safe and can relax. Note that we don’t only get one power spot, there are power spots everywhere that we go. However, if you are unable to make the physical trip to the power spot that you visited in your past, you are able to envision it while you are meditating or journaling for your spiritual growth. A power spot is a place within the natural world that can only be recognized by you. It is yours. ACS: You also discuss “spiritual ethics,” which I also think is very important. In your book, you describe how it’s not okay to “peer into” someone’s energetic field without their permission. How can we, as spiritual practitioners, help others using our innate and learned gifts, while maintaining this standard of ethics? Why is it important? GC: This is a great question, as one cannot necessarily “turn off” their spiritual insights about others simply because “they were not invited.” Once again, I will break this down into a concept that makes ethical sense. Just because I can see, it doesn’t give me the permission to share with everyone what I see. Just because I can hear, it doesn’t give me permission to listen and interject my opinion. Just because I can sense something, it doesn’t mean that I have the right to impose my impressions. It simply means that I can see, hear, and sense. And so, it is with our spiritual gifts. I respect that I have gifts, and I also respect the other. Yes, I do “peer into” – I cannot help it. However, that doesn't mean that it is any of my business. I respectfully wait to be invited – otherwise, it is something that I simply saw, heard, or sensed. Allow people to be who they are, where they are, and express themselves as they do without imposing on their free will. This is my personal stance in my spiritual ethics. Understanding that there are many different situations; however, this is my rule of thumb. For me it is about honoring free will and treating others with the respect that I would like to be treated with.  Photo by Sonny Mauricio on Unsplash ACS: In the latter half of the book, when you discuss practices and techniques to work with the shadow self, you include spirit animals, one of which is the raven. Within that section, you describe a fascinating experience of cord cutting using a feather. I also briefly described cord cutting in my own book, Wonderment, however, I wanted to know your thoughts about cutting cords at the soul level with others and how/why that may or may not be a good idea. GC: I love the spirit of the Raven section, as Granddaughter Crow the Raven spirit is kindred to me - as are all animals. Cord cutting is a very sacred act. When a person considers this, I would advise them to consider a tree or a plant. Here are the considerations: Are you pruning the plant for future growth or are you cutting something that will ultimately prevent future growth? There are limbs and roots that can be cut in order to promote growth. There are limbs and roots that should be considered as it may stunt the growth – heal a tap root, don’t cut it. This is going to be decided on a case-by-case basis. Consider a plant, and you will know when and where to cut it. ACS: You also mentioned a fascinating story about helping your friend cut energetic cords from her ex-partner. Can you describe that experience? GC: Yes, I am happy to share the experience. When I was first starting out in my practice. I did a cord cutting for a friend of mine and her ex-lover because she asked me to. I didn’t realize how powerful it was, nor did I recognize the repercussions. After I cut the cord between my friend and her ex… her ex called her and said, “Where are you! You left me – you didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye and it hurt.” Her ex felt the separation of the cord cutting between them almost immediately. It showed me that it was real and powerful. It also showed me to consider the others point of view. Be a good gardener, cut when it is necessary for growth while keeping in mind what you are cutting. ACS: The Ingress and Portal sections of your book are such beautiful guided meditations. How should one practice them? By reading aloud or perhaps recording their own voice reading it back? GC: Thank you so much for asking this question! It is something that me and my husband have been considering as he was the one to write the Ingress and Portal sections within the book – the guided meditation sections. I have a treasure for you. You do not need to read nor record these sections as we did it for you in our newly released “Journey into Shadows” on my YouTube Channel @GranddaughterCrow, and wherever someone gets their podcasts under my podcast Belief, Being, & BEYOND. Here is the link to the meditations. We have compiled an audio version with chapters so that a listener is able to jump straight to the audio version of the Ingress and Portal meditations within the book.
For many witches, January is not a time for renewal, rebirth, new beginnings, or resolutions. It’s the heart of winter, a time for rest, reprieve, inner sight, and reflection.  Winter is the season of the Crone, whose wisdom is not found in what she outwardly does or performs — or new creations — but found deep within, as a slow kindling, a stillness, a turning back to the wild and ancient wisdom. The Crone figure is not busy trying to change herself or worried about “doing better” in the year to come, but she’s present in the stillness, knowing it too has a powerful purpose. Many neopagans, Wiccans, and witches think of October 31st, or Samhain, as the “Witch’s New Year” and the spring equinox as the time for rebirth and renewal. Consider how nature herself turns inwards during the winter season. Mother Earth, at least in the northern hemisphere, does not force out new creations, but keeps her gifts inside — until the spring. Animals hibernate, rest, and slow down, unbothered by the strum of time outside their den walls. So, too, should we not feel the societal pressure to completely start over come January. And if you think about it, there’s a real reason why many so-called New Year’s resolutions don’t really work out in the end, because it’s just not the time. Instead, we can use this precious time to slow down, reflect on the last year, and begin planting new seeds for spring. Instead of being hard on yourself for already giving up your New Year’s resolution before the end of the month, try these five winter tips to round out the season. Do a Root Chakra candle spell The first chakra, the root chakra, is associated with security, grounding, stability, and overall health. Enchantments’ Root Chakra candle is hand-carved with hand-blended magical oils from our apothecary and can help with cleansing, healing, strengthening, and balancing the root chakra. Take a sea salt bath before lighting the candle and burn it over the course of a week until it’s fully out. Embrace the Crone figure One such Crone figure is the Baga Yaga, a fierce, humorous, wild, and wise woman. We love Madame Pamita’s Baga Yaga book, which unveils the secrets of the Crone while helping readers absorb her sacred lessons, as well as history. Catch up on your magical reading Holiday parties are over and the festivities of the season have largely come to an end, making it a great time to hunker down to read, learn, and study the subjects we love the most. Books from publishers such as Llewellyn and Weiser have had an immense impact in the mind, body, spirit realm and we encourage you to pursue our shelves in-person at the shop. Do a house cleansing For a winter house cleansing ritual, try Winter Woods ($15 for a half ounce of oil or $10 for a full ounce of incense). It’s good to use as a house blessing to bring in the good vibes, welcome in good spirits, and also works as a celebratory incense for the winter season. Practice divination using pendulums Pendulums are a great tools for divination and helping to answer questions about your future, whether it’s which next steps to take, love matters, or help with job searches. Get a pendulum that speaks to you and before beginning your divination, call upon your ancestors and Spirit Guides for protection and assistance in only providing answers that are aligned with your highest purpose. Did you know that decorating a tree during the month of December is actually a Pagan ritual? Here are several ways to celebrate Yule with nature-based materials, handmade incense, and more.  Evergreen trees and branches are typically used during the Winter Solstice/Yule as symbols of life, triumph over death, healing, health, and fertility — especially during the coldest days and longest nights. Over the years, the tree tradition, as well as hanging wreaths and mistletoe, were adopted by modern-day Christians as a way to celebrate Christmas, but its roots still remain, well, distinctly Pagan. Yule, celebrated on December 21st (as well as the days before and after too), marks the shortest day of the year, as well as the sun’s return to bring more light in the coming days. It’s a time for celebration, introspection, and feasting with friends and family. It’s a time to get cozy and reflect on the prior year, as well make wishes for the new year to come. Here are a few tips, blends, and tools to help you celebrate Yule this year and add a little warmth and magic to your days. Create handmade, nature-based decorations Oranges, which symbolize the energy of the sun and health, are especially beautiful when used as Yule decorations. Simply slice a few oranges very thinly and press with a cloth to remove excess juice. Sprinkle the oranges with some salt and pop them in the oven for several hours until they dry out. Once they cool and harden, you can then string them up on thread or twine and hang around your house as Yule decorations.  Photo by Tanja Tepavac on Unsplash Try Enchantments’ Yule Blend Formulated specifically for Yule, Enchantments’ hand-blend Yule incense and oil is designed for use during the Winter Solstice. It’s a warm, mystical blend with an enchanting scent to bring a little joy to your days and nights. Simply add a teaspoon or tablespoon full of the incense to a fire-safe dish or small cauldron and touch fire to it. You can use it while you decorate the house, meditate, or anytime during the festivities. If you opt for the oil, you can add some of it to a clean, glass spray bottle, fill the rest with water and a touch of alcohol or witch hazel, and use it as a magickal spray. Or wear the oil as you would a perfume during the Winter Solstice. Enchantments’ Yule Blend is $15 for a half ounce of oil or $10 for a full ounce of incense, available both in-store and online. Cauldrons can be purchased in two sizes: $30 for a small size or $50 for a medium size (and they should last you a lifetime). Take a ritual bath with dried herbs Add a few drops of cedar oil and pine oil to a small bowl of sea salt (not epson or table salt). Add in a sprig of rosemary and some dried hibiscus flowers (for color). Alternatively, you can steep some elderberries in hot water on the stove and add the liquid to your bath. Draw a hot bath and add in your sea salt blend and add in some coconut milk (if you have it around). You can purchase hibiscus flowers for $3.50 per half ounce, as well as elderberries, rosemary ($2 per half ounce), and sea salt at Enchantments, either in-person or online. Note that Enchantments’ herbs are not for ingestion and are for magickal purposes/use only.  Photo by Joyce Adams on Unsplash Decorate a Yule wreath Go on a nature walk and bring a small satchel with you. Find evergreen branches (but “ask” the tree before you take it), colorful leaves, pine cones, and berries (or anything that catches your eye for your wreath) and place them in your satchel. When you get home, take some floral wire and wrap them into bunches. Then, wrap the bunches onto a metal wire base or create a grapevine made with flexible twigs and intwine them to hold the circular shape. You can also use eucalyptus branches to make the vine base. Next, use hot glue to add flower embellishments, pine cones, and berries. Burn frankincense and myrrh resin For a cleansing, protective, and purifying blend, mix frankincense and myrrh resin and place into a fire-safe bowl or cauldron. Frankincense invokes solar energy, which is good for the Yule season when welcoming back the light, while myrrh has a lunar energy. When added together, they represent balance between the dark and light, as well as harmony and healing. You can add an instant light charcoal underneath to burn the resin and waft through your house, sprinkling in more resins as the fire burns. Myrrh and frankincense tears can both be purchased online or in the store for $4 per half ounce. Add a little magick to your feasts Infuse your Yule dinners with a little intention magick! Every herb, spice, and vegetable has a magical association and when coupled with intention while cooking, you can create a beautiful feast that benefits you both physically and spiritually. Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a great book to learn more about magickal herbal and food associations, as well as Enchanted Kitchen and Kitchen Witchery. Enchantments also offers a range of books in the brick-and-mortar store, which make for great gifts, too. By Amber C. Snider And no, none of them involve candy or tricks, just practical magic and tips.  Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash It is said that the veil between worlds is the thinnest the night of October 31st, a time when you can more readily communicate with the spirits and the Other Side. It's a time when the dead are supposed to walk the earth, when our ancestors are to be remembered and honored, and it's also referred to as the "Witches New Year." Whether you plan on doing a New Moon ritual on November 1st (All Saint's Day), honoring your ancestors with a ritual, or doing spell work to communicate with the spirit world, here are a few tips and tools to help you. Note that anything highlighted in purple is available for purchase either online or in-person at the NYC shop. Try Enchantments' Samhain oil in candle spells "Anoint white candles with Samhain oil ($15 for a half ounce) to leave as an offering to the spirits of the dearly departed at any ceremony," recommends Marisabel Santiago, a resident witch at Enchantments. For spirit visions Anoint purple candles with Samhain oil and focus on the flame as you meditate and connect to the other side. You can also burn Samhain incense ($10 for a full ounce) alongside the candle, especially if you'd like to connect with your ancestors/deceased loved ones.  Photo by Marisabel Santiago for Enchantments To honor the death-rebirth cycle Get a Rose of Jericho plant (we sell them at Enchantments here) and place it in a shallow bowl of water. Watch as this incredible plant (that once looked withered up, brown, and dead) comes "back to life" and turns green again, expanding its leaves and roots in the water. Leave it out on your altar or sacred space for several days, renewing the bowl with fresh water each day. For protection "For from the ghouls that may go bump in the night, sprinkle Samhain incense on top of a 'black cat' candle," recommends Santiago.  Image by Luis Miranda from Pixabay To honor the dead In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st through November 2nd, a time when ancestors are honored and welcomed into the home with gifts, mementos, flowers, and favorite foods on the ofrenda, or altar. Create a sacred altar for your loved ones who've passed on by cleaning a table or shelf with Florida or orange water, lighting incense like All Saint's blend or Blessed in a fire-safe dish or cast-iron cauldron ($30 online or at the shop), and placing an altar cloth (or any clean cloth) down. Light white candles and fill the space with photos of your loved ones who've passed on, including pets, and include any personal items or trinkets they once had. You can also leave out their favorite foods. By Amber C. Snider Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the United States, but its roots go back to an ancient Celtic Harvest festival known as Samhain.  Samhain, also referred to as the Witches’ New Year and pronounced “sow-win,” was a major festival in the Celtic tradition that took place on the night of October 31st through November 1st. The holiday marks the end of the harvest season and the approaching winter. It was believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, which meant spirits were not only free to roam the earth, but also communicate with the living. Humans could call upon their ancestors for guidance and used this midpoint between the seasons to honor the spirits through a series of rituals and festivities (including bonfires, feasts, sacrifices) that often lasted for three days and three nights. The Celts often set out offerings in the form of food, drinks, and beloved tokens to honor their dead. But with all those ghostly souls freely roaming around the earth, some may have been unwanted or even malevolent – and that’s where the tradition of dressing up came in. “According to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, Celts began the Halloween tradition of wearing costumes, often animal skin to hide themselves from spirits, and masks to impersonate ancestors who had preceded them to the spirit world,” reports National Geographic editor Debra Adams Simmons. It’s this practice that led to our current tradition of dressing up in scary costumes to ward away any malicious spooks.  Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash Early evidence shows us that not only was this an important holiday for the Celts, it was also mandatory for the community. While the other seasonal holidays celebrated rebirth and the renewal of life, Samhain was a festival for the dead. Despite the desecration of many ancient pagan practices over the centuries, Samhain has survived as “Halloween” in our secular, modern culture. In another region of the world, in what is now modern day Mexico, the ancient peoples’ also conducted rituals and held festivals to honor their dead. Dia de los Muertos (also known as the Day of the Dead) is a syncretization of Indigenous American beliefs with those of the Roman Catholic Church, culminating in All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd) on the Catholic calendar – just as Samhain coincides with Halloween. So while you’re carving pumpkins, rewatching Practical Magic, or dressing up for the festivities over the next two weeks, remember to take some time out to also honor those who have passed on and all those ancestors who’ve shaped you into the person you are today. The honoring of the dead is at the heart of Samhain, as well as paying homage to our long lineage of human life. Blessings to all this Samhain! By Amber C. Snider As part of our plant series, our new Magical Farmer’s Market Guides bring you plant-based ritual tips from authors, folklore, and spells using local, seasonal ingredients.  Image by tookapic from Pixabay From love spells to prosperity magic, these vegetables and herbs help you tune into the energies of the earth and enhance your mind, body, and spirit with edible magic. Food is power and when consumed with intention it can be a healing force. We’ve also paired each ingredient with a custom-carved spell candle from Enchantments for additional ritual work and positive manifestation. Squash Super easy to find at your local farmer’s market, especially during the fall months, squash associated with the Sun (as are most yellow vegetables), the element of fire, and the festival of Samhain on October 31st/November 1st, as well as Mabon on September 21st. According to Laurel Woodward’s Backyard Garden Witchery, butternut squash is “loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene to support eye health and fight muscular degeneration” and can be added to meals to support healthy relationships. Woodward also cites its magical properties to help with “beauty, deepening relationships, health, influence, and prosperity.” In his seminal work Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen, Scott Cunningham says that eating squash in dishes can “increase awareness of the nonphysical reality around us," adding that it is a "fine spirituality-inducing food.” Squash is great when roasted in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt, sautéed or fried in the pan for breakfast, as well as pureed for hearty fall soups. Custom-carved candle: Solar Blast. Helps the Sun come through to cleanse, purge and rejuvenate your entire being. Provides positive energy for all your endeavors. Invites joy into your life. A great 'wishing' candle. Traditionally used to celebrate your solar return/birthday! Lavender Lavender is one of the most popular herbs around and can be used for so many things, including teas, in baking, aromatic oils, baths, and more. I personally love to combine lavender with Himalayan sea salt to sprinkle on foods or add dried lavender to sea salt for a relaxing ritual bath. You can normally find it fresh or dried at the farmer’s market and easily create your own infusions and oils with the herb. Associated with the element of air, according to Laurel Woodward’s “Kitchen Witchery,” it’s excellent for spellwork involving “calm, clarity, communication, healing, love, protection, and sleep.” For sweet dreams, add a couple teaspoons into a sachet bag and place under your pillow at night, carry a few sprigs in your pocket for luck and protection, or combine with dried rose for a blissful beauty tea. Custom-carved candle option: Peace & Protection. This candle helps to keep out people who are invading your life through astral vibrations, visitations, psychic attack, verbal abuse, bickering, and paranoia and to quiet people who incite violence, slander and harm to others. It replaces their negative energies with ones of peace and tranquility.  Image by Michael Strobel from Pixabay Apples Fall is definitely the season for apple picking and if you’re on the east coast, you can find an abundance of varieties at the farmer’s market, from granny to honeycrisp and pink ladies. Associated with the water element and the planet Venus, apples are also used in many magical spells, particularly love and sex magic. Whether it’s apple bobbing for Samhain, sipping mulled apple cider on chilly autumn evenings, or baking them into pies for the fall equinox, there are many ways to use the sweet fruit. In Laurel Woodward’s Kitchen Witchery, apples are also a symbol of fertility and sexuality, and associated with “beauty, garden magick, healing, love, and youth.” They're also associated with love, health, and peace and were “valued foods in ancient Egypt...and intimately linked with spirituality in the British Isles," as well as for the Norse and Yoruba peoples, writes Scott Cunningham in his Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen. Cunningham recommends carving a heart into the apple’s skin before eating it to reign in love (remember self-love is a thing, too!) or baking an apple pie with ginger and cinnamon to share with your lover. Custom-carved candle option: Empress in Venus. Goddess based candle to help magnify self-love and confidence. Also can be used to attract romantic attention. Beets This hearty, resilient vegetable is great all year round, but you can find it in abundance during the fall months. Try making your own Ukrainian borscht for a delicious, warming meal or adding to fall salads with walnuts and goat cheese. Associated with the earth element and the planet Saturn, in magic, beets are used for love and beauty spells. According to Cunningham, “beets have been eaten for centuries by persons wishing to lengthen their life spans” and are also associated with the fall festival of Samhain on November 1st. They can also be added to love-attracting diets! “Cook and eat beets while visualizing yourself enjoying increased beauty,” he writes. Or make a love spell ink using the liquid from boiled beets and a dash of vinegar (recipe can be found in Backyard Garden Witchery by Laurel Woodward). Custom-carved candle: Catch a New Love. For use in attracting a suitable new romantic partner.  Image by Couleur from Pixabay Carrots Associated with the element of fire and the planet Mars, carrots hold strong sexual energy and traditionally associated with the masculine. According to Laurel Woodward’s Backyard Garden Witchery, carrots are associated with “beauty, clear sight, fertility, protection, strength, and youth” and can help boost women’s energy for courage or strengthen male virility. When “prepared and eaten with the correct visualization, carrots may play a part in overcoming psychological impotency,” writes Cunningham in his beloved Encyclopedia. I especially love roasting different carrot varieties, including white, deep purple, and yellow shades (aka kaleidoscope) in the oven with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, thyme, and rosemary, finished off with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. Custom-carved candle: Mars Candle. Invokes the God of war for strength, perseverance, passion, virility, victory, protection, courage and willpower. Sage Sage has been around for thousands of years and is particularly sacred to the Native Americans. When burned in a ritualistic manner, aka smoke cleansing, it’s used for purifying a space, banishing unwanted energies, and enhancing psychic ability. “Its energies include longevity and health,” writes Scott Cunningham, and has been “used in cooking, medicine, and magic for at least 2,000 years.” Associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of air, according to Scott Cunningham, sage is also useful for “promoting money, employment, and overall prosperity.” Laurel Woodward cites its magical uses as an aphrodisiac, as well as a great plant to promote cheer, creativity, and mental power. At the farmer’s market, you can normally find it fresh and add it to soups, stews, or roasted vegetables. If you’d like to use it for smoke cleansing, simply hang the herb in a dry area in your kitchen and when completely dry, bundle it with thread. When used for cooking, store the dried herb in a mason jar. Custom-carved candle: House Blessing candle. Cleanses and blesses your living space - whether you've been living there for years or just moved in. It will help put the house in order and keep it blessed with good energy and peace.  Image by Kasia from Pixabay Cinnamon Cinnamon actually comes from the inner bark of an evergreen tree and is widely used in magical practices and spells. Its warming scent can also be found in scented candles, body oils, perfumes, soaps and more. It’s also used in many love spells, either to attract new lover, entice passion, and enhance sexual desire, as well as spells involving productivity and success. Associated with the Sun and element of fire, cinnamon can be used to raise vibrations and increase mental clarity, so it’s great to use while working or studying, too. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your coffee for an extra magickal boost. Cinnamon “holds energy to draw money, stimulate psychic abilities, kindle love, boost attraction, and increase magickal energy in general,” writes Woodward in Kitchen Witchery and can be used in spellwork involving luck, love, protection, raising vibrations, and overall success. According to Scott Cunningham, “the ancient Egyptians used cinnamon in medicine and religion as early as 1450 BCE, while “in Greece, it played a part in processions to Dionysus.” When working with magical food, oils, or perfumes, it’s said to double a spell’s power. Also, if you’re trying to quit smoking, I’ve found organic cinnamon sticks to be an effective deterrent. Custom-carved candle: Fast Luck candle. It speaks for itself! This candle helps to bring luck in a safe and correct way so that you can succeed in your endeavors. Good for money magic spells. Pumpkin Associated with the earth element, lunar energies, and Samhain celebrations on November 1st, pumpkins can be found at your local farmer’s market throughout the months of September - November. In magic, according to Laurel Woodward, they can be used for banishing unwanted spirits, people, and energies, as well as divination and prosperity spells. They hold “stable, positive energy,” as well as “energy to fortify health, cheer spirit, and attract prosperity,” she writes. Cunningham cites pumpkins in healing and money spells, as well: “Pumpkin is also a nutritious money-attractant. Make a pumpkin pie and add cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg to flavor it with money-drawing energies.” In addition to making pumpkin pies, pumpkin spiced beverages, and roasting in the oven with sea salt and herbs, you can also roast the seeds for a delicious snack. Of course, pumpkin spice lattes are all the rage in the fall months too, but make sure the syrup is made from real pumpkin and not just artificial flavoring. Pumpkin-scented candles add a coziness and warmth to the home, offering a welcoming energy for guests, too. Custom-carved candle: Uncrossing Candle. A purification. Removes negativity, blocks, curses and hexes from all elements of one's life. Can be used to cleanse your home, office, self or those around you. It clears the way for positive vibrations to come into your life. To purchase Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen click here. To purchase Laurel Woodward's Backyard Garden Witchery click here or Kitchen Witchery click here. For more on plant magic, check out our new series here. Our most popular, hand-blended magickal oils for use with candle spells and much more.  At Enchantments, all of our custom-carved candles are dressed in hand-blended, magickal oils aligned with your individual candle spell. And those same oils can be used for a variety of magic, including anointing your tools, adding to sea salt for baths, herbal blends for smoke cleansing, and more. You can also simply wear the oils for a little extra ‘umph’ throughout the day, just as you would a perfume. Here, we’ve rounded up some of our customer favorites, whether it’s to repel negative energy or draw a little extra luck into your life. Most oils are $15 for a half ounce and also come in sea salt baths or incense blends, too. Van Van “This classic New Orleans formula is a favorite and a MUST have in any apothecary,” says Marisabel Santiago, a staff member of Enchantments. “It’s alleged to clear away negative energy while simultaneously bringing in fresh opportunities and good luck. We have seen Van Van used in countless spells, including health, love, and gambling. Truly multipurpose!” Keep a dram or half ounce of the oil in your bag and anoint your wrists with intention whenever you’d like. It’s also great to add to an oil burning when your home needs a cleansing. Plus there’s another reason why people tend to love it: “Its scent is absolutely amazing,” she adds. Van Van is also available as a sea salt bath for $5. Double Fast Luck “Some of our customers (and staff) swear by this oil. It’s alleged to bring good luck in all areas of life. You never know when you need fortune to shine upon you and make your life a little easier,” Santiago says. “As an incense, we sometimes sprinkle it on candles to give any spell A LOT of luck.” Double Fast Luck can also be purchased as an incense: Simply add a half a teaspoon to a fire-safe dish (like a cast iron cauldron) and touch fire to it. It’ll go out on its own. Crown of Success Having trouble with gossip, especially at work? Do you need a little help blocking out the haters? Crown of Success helps to block other people’s negativity from interfering with your success, making it a great oil to wear at work. It helps your best self shine through and rise above all the chatter. Add a few drops to items around your work desk or wear it as you would a perfume. Lucky Job “A must-have for the working folkx in the Big Apple, it’s perfect for attracting job opportunities,” says Marisabel Santiago. “This oil pairs well with High Conquering, Money Draw, Nine Mysteries, Jupiter, Van Van, and many more. It’s also great for freelancers, those making career changes, or those seeking their dream job.” You can also wear the oil if you’re trying to get a promotion. Venus Oil Since it’s Libra Season (and Libra is ruled by Venus), Venus oil is a great oil to reign welcome in beauty, love, and goddess energies. It has a gorgeous scent and can also be used in devotional spell work for the Goddess of Love. This oil pairs well with the pink Empress candle, which can be used as an empowerment spell for self-love, abundance, and to attract new love, or the Venus candle, a devotional candle for the Goddess. Shi Shi “Another New Orleans classic, Shi Shi oil is a powerhouse oil to use if you’re in dire need of overcoming financial obstacles and attracting money,” Santiago says. “It’s a great oil to wear to get you out of a financial pinch and to work with spells to uncross your money.” Blessed Formula Another staff and customer favorite, Blessed oil can be used to attract good spirits, protection, and overall blessings. It has a calming scent and also helps with purification and cleansing. For candle spells, focus on your intention (to call in your spirit guides, for instance or purify your space), anoint a white candle with a few drops of it, and let the candle burn until the flame goes out. While it burns, you can channel spirit messages or work a ritual for added blessings in your life. For a general home cleansing, add a few drops to an oil burner. By Enchantments' Editor & Staff With all the heat waves going on (we know you're feeling it), it's time to take advantage of what's right in your home for some magical restoration: the bath tub.  Now that we're in the thick of summer with Lammas approaching (aka the midway point between summer and fall), you may find yourself having serious FOMO lately watching others in tropical, water lush places, especially if you're stuck behind a desk or indoors all day. If you can't indulge in a cool dip within a natural spring or the ocean, consider working a calming bath ritual into your routine over the next few weeks. Here are some ritual tips from experts and supplies to help you on your water ritual journey.  Image by omameIS from Pixabay Start by picking out a few days per week for your bath ritual, which can be either in the morning or evening. Some prefer an evening bath ritual, since it helps relax them after a long day, but a meditative morning spent in the tub with fresh flowers, oils, and sea salt can be just the reset we need to prep for and begin the day. Plus, you're still in a semi-dream state upon waking, so insights can come a bit easier at this time. Use warm water, not extra hot, so you can really settle in. Add in sea salt to the bath and a few drops of essential oils. Before you begin the week, pick up a bouquet of flowers at your local shop or farmer's market. Even better, spend an afternoon picking wildflowers from a field on your own. Try to get them on a Sunday, so you can begin the week with your ritual and also use the flowers to both enliven your home space and your bath experience. When selecting the flowers, use your intuition to pick out the ones for you --- noticing the colors, scents, and visual experience of the bouquet. To welcome in more love and self-love into your life, sprinkle in a few rose petals to your bath. Calendula or marigold is great for the solar plexus and emotional healing/resets, while lavender is good for intuition and cleansing. Do a little research into the spiritual properties of each flower you use and create affirmations around it: "I invite more love into my life" or "I'm manifesting prosperity and abundance this week," etc. Next, consider the following recommendations from Enchantments' staff member Marisabel: *Note: Everything highlighted in purple is linked to the Enchantments' shop website for direct online ordering** How to make your own Uncrossing Bath: "I love to add holy water and Florida water into the bath. If you want to add your own uncrossing herbs and make a 'bath tea' that you would boil, strain and let cool, try hyssop, mugwort and rue." Tip for Fast Luck: "I like to make our Fast Luck bath into a daily scrub by adding honey to it so the magic sticks." To harness Solar energies: "For celebrations, I like to add a splash of champagne to the bath or orange blossom water to attract all sweet things." To help with Love Uncrossing and Love Healing: "I love to add rose water to our Love Uncrossing bath or use Balm of Gilead and hibiscus flower." For more peace of mind: "I like to boil lavender and cornflowers and add that to the bath." Blessed be, witches x
By Marisabel Here are four ways to use the energies of Cancer season to restore, replenish, and dig deep.  Cancer season is in full swing, so before we hit Leo season, there are many ways we can use this cosmic energy to manifest our highest intentions. Remember: Cancer season rules over inner nurturing, sensitivity, the home, and our most tender emotions. It is a wonderful time to check-in with oneself before the energy changes, when we will be embracing Lughnasadh, or the beginning of the Harvest season on August 1st. Here are some Enchantments' products and ritual tips to help you connect to the energy of the season.  House Blessing Candle This candle cleanses and blesses your living space, whether you've been living there for years or just moved in. It will help put the house in order and keep it blessed with good energy and peace. On RED, it is our Mabon (Fall Equinox) house blessings, PINK is to help create a love nest typically for new couples, while YELLOW works for happiness in home. BLUE is for all the blessings and protection, while WHITE is for cleansing the home in all ways. Also, you can use Enchantments' House Blessing Oil or Incense in your rituals to help purify and sanctify your home at this time. Moon Oil This hand-crafted Enchantments' blend is used for all Lunar workings, including but not limited to Full Moon and New Moon spells and rituals, intutive and psychic workings, dreams and fertility. Half ounce is available for $15 or one ounce for $27. Love Healing This sweet incense is used to help heal a relationship, get over a break up, and heal old woulds and emotion issues. Wear it as you would a perfume daily, add it to ritual baths, or anoint spell candles with it. Our hand-crafted Love Healing oil blend is available here, or you also get the Love Healing Kit, which includes a small oil dram, two candles, and a sample incense for $17.50. Yemaya Bath This bath, dedicated to the Ocean Mother, can be used for peace, fertility, creativity, and protection. For a ritual bath, add white rose petals to the water and experience luxury on a dime. Our hand-blended Yemaya bath can be used for 2-3 bath rituals and is available for purchase for $4.95 here. Blessed be, witches. Happy Cancer Season! x Litha, the shortest day of the year, also known as Midsummer and the Summer Solstice, is a time for celebrating all the abundance in your life and all that is yet to come.  Stonehenge. Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay The Summer Solstice is the perfect time for fire rituals, cleansing rituals, finding new balance, expansion, and looking back on all you’ve accomplished so far in this year — and celebrating it. All the big/little wins have added up, so bask in the growth of all the metaphorical seeds you planted in previous seasons, and embrace seeing them come to light. It’s also a time to honor the Goddess and the Sun God, and depending on your magical practice and tradition, they may have different names. Whether it’s Freya or Danu, the Oak King in Celtic traditions, Sol or Pan, each God/Goddess also represents a spiritual archetype that dwells within and manifests in the physical world. In preparation for Midsummer — which can be celebrated even a few days before or after the actual Summer Solstice that occurs every year on June 20th — gather your supplies and get ready for expansion and embracing your inner fire with the following rituals and magical tips. Fire rituals If you can’t make a bonfire, a good ole classic candle spell may be just the thing. We love the Solar Blast candle for this time of year, which is all about invoking abundance, prosperity, and the energies of the sun for growth and expansion. Take a sea salt bath before you begin your ritual, set an intention for the coming months, and let the candle burn for 7-10 days until it goes out fully. You can also write down some goals for the rest of the year and what you’d like to see come to fruition at this time and burn the paper afterwards with the candle flame, concentrating your energy and sending your intention into the universe. You can also incorporate Enchantments' Midsummer Oil ($15 for 1/2 ounce) into your rituals at this time of year. Smoke cleansing Enchantments’ Midsummer Incense blend is great for not only a house blessing during the Summer Solstice, but also for any rituals you may do to celebrate this time of year. It’s a unique, handmade blend that helps welcomes in new abundance, growth, and focuses on solar energies. Simply add a teaspoon full to a small, cast-iron cauldron and touch fire to it. Use the smoke to cleanse your tools, invoke your deities, or waft it around your house for a cleansing.  Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Get creative with flowers As the earth is bursting with fresh vegetables and flowers, indulge in a little ritual of ‘beauty for beauty’ sake. It could be a creativity ritual using fresh flowers and linen to make flower designs, dying fabrics with flowers and herbs, making herbal tinctures, drawing or painting with watercolors, or making a flower crown from gathered flowers on a summer walk or day at the park. Or simply refreshing your home with a bouquet of fresh flowers goes a long way to mark the seasonal shift and welcome in new energy in your home. You can also refresh your herb collection at this time with new herbal blends from Enchantments, but please note that our herbs are not for ingestion of any kind and only to be used for magickal purposes. Salt cleansing Sea salt is one of the most purifying, magickal ingredients in many witches’ pouches, and since it’s summer, there may be an abundance of it close by -- that is, if you’re close to the ocean. This is a great time perform a cleansing ritual using the pure powers of the ocean: Simply immersing yourself in the fecund waters and letting the salt water dry on your skin is not only rejuvenating, but can be transformative if done with the intention of gratitude and release. As you enter the water and dunk your head in, send out gratitude for your life and everything still yet to come. Bask in that feeling of fullness at the prime pinnacle of summer and soak in the feeling of wonder and expansion. Gather your favorite people, along with some fresh herbs, fruits, and veggies for a summer feast. Head to the farmer’s market and gather up the freshest vegetables and fruits to have a small summer feast with your loved ones. If you have a garden, it’s the perfect time to utilize those herbs and vegetables and share the bounty with others. Organize a potluck in the park, a summer evening dinner, or a long, lingering breakfast with friends using fresh ingredients straight from the earth. Maybe you’ve wanted to finally work out that rhubarb pie recipe lingering somewhere? Now’s the time to try, baby. Embrace your inner fire Ask yourself: What is it I truly yearn for? What is it that I need to feel fulfilled and my best self? What does success truly look like for me? This is a time for expansion, but also self-acceptance and self-love for everything you already are and all you’ve already done. Get playful about your desires and soak in the power of possibility — it’s okay to dream, get serious about joy (an oxymoron, but you know), and allow yourself to get excited about what’s to come; that is, if you go after what you truly want. Blessed be, witches x We’ve all probably got down on our spring cleaning already, but what about a spiritual cleansing for the home?  Photo by Victor Castro Smoke cleansing, when done with intention, is a powerful way to remove negative energy from the home, invoke good spirits and positivity, and welcome new energy into your space. And the good news, is you can get all your ritual supplies (and then some) right at your favorite witchcraft shop, Enchantments. If you’re looking to create your own custom incense blend to cleanse your space and aura, here’s what you’ll need: --Powdered wood base --Essential or fragrance oils, of your choice —Or a hand-blended oil from Enchantments formulary. Half ounce bottles are $15. --Cleansing herbs, of your choice --A fire-safe dish or small cast-iron cauldron  Photo by Victor Castro There are many ways to cleanse your space and aura, including using smoke cleansing with intention. Enchantments specializes in creating hand-blends of incense, which you can find here or in the shop, but maybe you want to create your own magical blend. If so, all you need is powdered wood base, essential oils, and some herbs. Enchantments sells wood base in a variety of colors, so you can simply add it to a fire-safe dish or cauldron and touch fire to it. Here’s how: —First, choose a color that aligns with your intention. Blue is great for cleansing, while red can also work for this purpose. —Next, add a bit of the wood base to a small or medium-sized cauldron. If you want to do a small, one-time cleansing ritual, two tablespoons should be plenty. —Then, add a few drops of essential oils to the wood base. Consider which oils align with your intention. Lavender oil, lemon, frankincense, rosemary, and rue are all good for this. You can purchase them in either half ounce sizes or full ounces online or in the shop. —If you’re not sure what oils to use, there are plenty of books on the subject available at Enchantments, including Complete Formulary of Magical Oils by Celeste Rayne Heldstab, which is available online here. —Next, sprinkle in a few herbs that align with your intention and practice. If you’re not sure, consider picking up a copy of Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, which is a fairly comprehension guide, or choose from countless others available in the shop, including the latest new reads. In general, rue, hyssop, sage, mugwort, and lavender can work, or any dried herbs you have in the kitchen. Be sure to do your research before burning certain herbs in the house, in case they are poisonous. —Now, mix it all together using a small wooden spoon. Touch fire to it using a lighter and snuff out the flame. A stream of smoke should start to pour from the cauldron and waft the smoke around your house, in the corners, near the doors, and “sweep” any negative energy out an open window. —Say a prayer, an affirmation, state an intention or mantra that aligns with your individual practice, as you walk around your house. Sweep the smoke over your body and various chakra points. The incense blend will go out on its own, but you can also stamp it out when you’re finished. Happy spring cleaning and cleansing, witches. x Coinciding with the New Moon, this Solar Eclipse is all about empowering yourself to clear out loose ends, letting go of whatever is holding you back, and reconfiguring your life for the better.  Photo by Abed Ismail on Unsplash Let’s be honest: things have been more than a little hectic lately. It’s a lot of “noise” out there, some of which just keeps us feeling trapped in a cycle of feeling powerless and psychically drained. This is a good time to re-examine your individual life and place in the world from an empowered standpoint—not letting the world dictate how/what you should feel or who you should be. It’s a time to focus on new beginnings and shedding what’s not working in our life. Plus, New moons are all about new beginnings, turning inward, and reflecting. Couple that with the intense energy of the Solar Eclipse and things are bound to come to the surface, giving you an opportunity to let go of shit once and for all. And since the lingering eclipse energy can last for up to an entire week, here are some tips to harness that energy for empowerment.  Photo by Jongsun Lee on Unsplash Grounding: Don’t let your emotions get the better of you over the course of the week. It’s an intense, energetic time, so rather than react to things, respond to them instead—again, from a place of grounded empowerment. Before reacting to any situation, take a pause, a few breaths, and come back to your center. Excuse yourself, go into a room to meditate for a few minutes, before tackling whatever comes your way. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at this time, but getting grounded in nature can help, as can eating nourishing foods, simple self-care rituals, and meditating or breath work. Cleansing: Take a sea salt bath the night or morning of the eclipse. Add in calming herbs like lavender or lavender oil, cleansing herbs like hyssop, and cedar wood oil for grounding. You may also feel inspired to clean your physical home at this time– go with it! As we prepare the way for new abundance in our lives and redirect our course, sometimes a good house cleaning goes a long way to psychically and physically prepare for that. You can also use House Blessing incense for a smoke cleansing ritual at-home. Candle Magic: What is it you want to let go of? What is no longer working in your life? What changes, big or small, would you like to make? Now is a good time to focus on these aspects of your life and then take action (or at least plant the seeds for action). Write down a list of things you’d like to clear away and/or change. Now create a second list with potential actions you can take to make it a reality. Light a white candle or try a custom-carved candle that works with your intention: For instance, you’d like to get better with your finances and focus on building security and wealth (Money Pyramid Candle), or perhaps you want to focus on emotional healing (Crystal Healing Candle), or start a new business (Successful Business Candle) or clear the path for new beginnings (Uncrossing Candle). Get specific with your intention and after the candle burns out (the hand-carved candles will burn for 7 to 10 days), take action towards these goals with renewed insights. Blessed be, witches x For expansion in Spirit, as well as balancing, expanding, and fortifying your Crown Chakra.  Seventh chakra candle. Photo by Victor Castro In the colder winter months, when nature retreats into itself, we’re called to reflect, recenter, and ground. Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for psychic expansion, opening and growing our awareness, just as nature does. The seventh chakra—the space just above the top of your head and above it—connects to divine wisdom and guidance, psychic insight, and spiritual expansion. If you work with candle magic, and the chakra system, here’s a ritual that you can try to balance, cleanse, strengthen, and expand your seventh chakra, allowing for higher wisdom to flow in. Hand-carved and customized with your personal astrological sign and name, Enchantments’ Seventh Chakra candle is dressed with corresponding hand-blended oils and incense. Here, we’ve crafted a short ritual to use with the candle and we as a link to order the candle online here: —Take a ritual bath with sea salt before you light the candle. Add a few drops of essential or fragrance oil to your bath (like frankincense, vetiver, cedar), or try Enchantments’ Purple Wisdom oil for psychic enhancement and wisdom. —Add herbs to the bath, if you like—sprinkle in loose leaves or add them to an empty tea bag. Cleansing herbs like hyssop, lavender, and even soothing rose can work for this purpose. —While in the water, focus on releasing and letting go of anything holding you back from your highest self, including fear and doubt, from your higher calling. If you don’t have a bath, you can add sea salt to warm water and use it in the shower for this cleansing ritual. —Next, sit in front of the candle and focus on your intention. Here are some specific intentions: “I’d like to channel guidance from my Spirit Guides,” or “I seek insight into my past lives,” or “I seek insight into the next steps of my life that aligns with me higher calling,” or “I seek balance in my psychic, emotional, physical, and intellectual planes.” Whichever your intention may be, focus in on it as you light the candle. You can also write down your intention to help you focus.  Image by ha11ok from Pixabay —While the candle burns, you can spend the time meditating and working through your chakra points, one by one. Start at the root chakra, working slowly up to the crown to tap into deeper insight and higher vibrations. When you get to your crown chakra, focus on expanding your psychic vision. –While in a meditative state, work your way back down each chakra point to get to the root again. Ground yourself and come “back to earth” before getting up. This step is very important. Afterwards, try to channel any insights you received by journaling, drawing, sketching, etc. Remember: your magic is your own. —You don’t have to keep the candle lit for the full 7-10 days. Blow out (or it snuff out, whichever is in your unique practice) the candle when you’re not monitoring it. —You don’t have to take another ritual bath each time you light it. Just refocus your intention each time, reflecting on your intention for expansion and opening up your crown chakra. —Stay open to what comes over the course of the week. Pay attention to any greater insights or signs that come, as you explore a deeper, nuanced view of your life. Blessed be. By Amber C. Snider Spellwork doesn’t always have to be elaborate ceremonies with extensive rituals. Sometimes a little kitchen magic can do the trick, especially if you don’t have the space, time, or money to go all out and can't get into the wild/nature. Here are a few ways you can add practical magic to your everyday life in simple, but powerful ways during the cold, winter months.  Photo © Victor Castro/ Enchantments Practicing intention-based magic helps raise your consciousness and energetic vibrations, while also welcoming in more self-love and respect for the earth. Plus, regular or even semi-regular rituals, especially around your home in the winter months or in nature, helps to heighten your intuition. The winter season is a time for inner reflection and hibernation (the natural world around you does the same), so as you prepare for big things to come throughout the rest of the year, give yourself permission to turn inwards, get cozy, and try a little kitchen magic to uplift your spirit. Here are 10 spells, recipes, and tips to help cure the winter blues and enchant your home. Simmer warming winter herbs on the stove for an uplifting aroma around the home. A simmer pot helps cleanse your home and reset your space. First, grab a big pot (any pot will do) and throw in several cups of water with a mix of the following herbs: Cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, all spice. If you'd like to let it simmer all day, add a couple cups of water back into the pot every hour. Use herbs with intention: cinnamon for concentration and productivity, rosemary for purification, lemongrass for energizing, lavender for peace and protection, etc. Afterwards, you can also add the herbs to a bath. For easier clean up, simply place the herbs in a piece of cheesecloth or cloth tea strainer and soak in your magic. Burn frankincense resin Frankincense resin has also been used in a variety of cleansing, purification, and holy rituals for centuries. The beautifully aromatic scent can help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, and offer a spiritual boost. Use your mortar and pestle to grind up a bit of the resin and place it on a bit of burning charcoal in a fire-safe dish. Carry the dish around the house to purify your space or keep it burning next to you during meditations, incantations, and other spellwork. ($3 per half ounce at Enchantments) Wear Sun Oil or burn Sun Incense with intention Hand-blended at Enchantments, Sun Oil ($15 for half ounce) invokes the energy of the sun and helps promote energy, growth, positivity, joy, self-confidence, and happiness. Wear with intention or add a few drops to an essential oil diffuser. You can also get Sun Incense ($10 for half ounce) and use it to cleanse your space and attract good fortune. Do a candle ritual with the intention of "shining light in the darkness." You can use either a white, yellow, or gold candle. Begin your ritual by taking a cleansing sea salt bath to remove negative energy and focus your intention before lighting your candle. You can carve a personal sigil (or simply a circle to represent the sun, heart for self-love, etc) and add your initials. Anoint your candle with any of the oils listed above and roll in magickal herbs. For more on candle magick, check out this story.  Photo © Victor Castro/ Enchantments Has No Hannah oil A custom recipe at Enchantments, Has No Hannah Oil brings good luck and fortune. You can wear the oil (as you would a perfume) with intention, anoint a candle with it, or add a few drops to your bath. Minimum ½ ounce for orders ($15 for half ounce, not for ingestion). Make a cup of St. John’s Wort tea St. John’s Wort is known to help treat depression and anxiety, as well promote healing and repair wounds. Add a bit of it to your regular tea blends or buy ready-made tea bags. The healing effects of St. John’s Wort are more apparent with regular use, so add it to your daily routine during the winter months. Note that Enchantments does not sell herbs for ingestion, but we do have St. John's Wort herb for use for magic (baths, incense blends, sachets, ouanga bags, etc.). Add a little hyssop (herb) to your bath and steep in its cleansing powers. Hyssop is used in many uncrossing formulas, so it’s a good herb to use in your magick bath rituals. It’s been used for centuries in purification rituals and to consecrate holy spaces. Add a tablespoon or more to a bath (or wrap the herb in cheesecloth for easier clean up) and envision the herb cleansing away any negativity or bad vibes. You can also chant, pray, or say an incantation spell during your bath. As the water drains from the tub, imagine the water taking away any icky energy with it. ($3.50 for half ounce here). Hyssop essential oil is also used in a variety of magical oil blends. You can also purchase Hyssop Essential oil for $25 per half ounce ($40 for a full ounce) online here or in-person at Enchantments. Photo © Victor Castro/ Enchantments Make yourself a cup of golden turmeric tea Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can aid in depression. It can also ease PMS symptoms, help fight viruses, ease joint stiffness, and help detoxify the body. Boil a cup or two of oat milk (if you are lactose intolerant) on the stove and stir in a tablespoon of turmeric. Add in honey to taste. When you make teas with intention, offer gratitude to the herb/spice for its healing powers. Burn or diffuse the following invigorating and uplifting essential oils to aid in happiness: ––Orange essential oil ($19 for a half ounce) ––Tangerine essential oil ($23 for half ounce) ––Lemongrass essential oil ($20 for half ounce) Try to incorporate a regular bath ritual using herbs with intention Add a cup of sea salt (not table salt) into your bath, along with essential oils of your choice. 7-10 drops should do. You can also add some herbs (rose petals, lavender, hyssop, marigold, etc), along with a cup fo milk of your choice. Shut off any technology while you're in the bath (no doom scrolling here) and turn your phone on do not disturb. Focus on releasing anything holding you back from your highest power (including anxiety, stress, the worries of the bath) into the water and as you let the tub drain, imagine it going into the pipes and letting it go. Try not to turn on the TV or get on your phone afterwards ––use the post-bath time to journal, doodle/draw, pray, or read instead. Still searching for last minute gifts for your favorite witches? Here are 11 of our bestselling favorites, from hand-blended incense blends to custom-carved spell candles, talismans and cauldrons. Aka a little something for everyone on your holiday list.  For your pagan friend who wants to manifest more work/life balance in the New Year Star of Inner Balance Talisman: $30 With a central 6-pointed star, this sacred mandala represents the union of both masculine and feminine energies. It also has an intertwining moon and sun, with twelve points of the sun extending outwards, representing the signs of the zodiac. A great gift for someone who wants to manifest new balance in all areas of their life for the new year. Note: although the talismans look gold in the photos, they are actually silver-colored and made of pewter. For your performer friend or anyone who deserves a little positive recognition Star Formula: $15 for half ounce of oil A beautiful scent, this hand-blended magical oil helps manifest new friends, positive recognition, and attract popularity. It’s kind of an “all eyes on me” oil, helping to amplify your talents and gifts, letting you shine bright like a star in the world. The giftee can either wear the oil just as they would a perfume or use it to anoint candles, add to baths, and more. For your favorite magical worker, healer, and witch –– or someone looking to boost their psychic gifts Intuition Formula: $15 for half ounce of oil We love the intuition formula! It can be used for a variety of intentions, but especially to help boost mental clarity, focus, and increase psychic powers. Add a bit to your wrist and temples as you work a spell, creative project, or anytime you need a little psychic enhancement.  For your friend who regularly calls upon the spirit world for assistance All Saints Formula: $15 for half ounce of oil Another favorite at Enchantments, the All Saints Formula is used to help attract good spirits and increase psychic power. It’s great for ritual work and can be purchased as an incense, as well. A hand-made kit that contains a little bit of everything for spell work Spell Kits: $17.50 One of our bestselling items at the shop are the spell kits. There’s Uncrossing, Money Draw, Success, Love Attraction, Healing, Peace & Protection, and more. So grab several for different friends and family, and simply use your intuition to choose the right one for each individual. Each kit contains two small, hand-carved candles, one sample hand-blended incense according to the intention, a dram of hand-blended magical oil, and a packet of sea salt for a ritual bath. Happy spell casting! A hand-carved candle spell to reign in love, happiness, and blessings Custom-Carved Spell Candles: $45 Support local shops and hand-crafted gifts with a full spell candle from Enchantments. There are many, many to choose from, but buying spell candles for others isn’t always an easy feat. We recommend trying the Love & Happiness Candle, Success Candle, or House Blessing Candle for a gift this season. Write them a note when you gift the candle and tell your beloved giftee to take a sea salt bath before beginning the spell (to cleanse their energy and aura) and focus on their specific intention before lighting the candle. It will burn for 7-10 days, but they can put out the flame when they’re not around and resume when they’re back again. They don’t have to take a sea salt bath before lighting it each time, but simply refocus on their intention again. For your writer friend or family member who’s working on a new creative project Talisman for Poets & Writers: $30 A six-pointed star rendered in the Celtic style, this talisman is an updated rendering of a magical symbol found in an ancient grimoire of sigils and alchemical symbols. The backside of the talisman includes the seal of Mercury (i.e. the God of communication and a patron for writers) and the seal of eloquence. Note: although the talismans look gold in the photos, they are actually silver-colored and made of pewter.  For your new witch friend who wants to explore more about candle magic The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita: $18.99 One of our favorite books on candle magic, Madame Pamita’s The Book of Candle Magic has everything you’ll need to begin exploring candle spells, and it’s a great gift for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. Accessible, wise, and complete, it’s become a classic that you’ll turn to again and again. For any seeker, spiritual worker, healer, or magical person in your life Frankincense and Myrrh: $6 each for one ounce Frankincense and myrrh has been used in various spiritual practices for thousands of years and the incenses and resins are great for purification, welcoming in good spirits, cleansing, protection, and more. Myrrh has a lunar energy, while the Frankincense Tears have a solar energy with a sharp fiery scent, great for any spiritual work. For the magical, Celtic goddess in your life Celtic Blend (Mystic Forest): $8 for one ounce A delicious blend (but obviously don’t ingest it, it’s meant to be burned!) of frankincense, cinnamon, cloves, and lavender, this blend is great for cleansing, protection, and invoking positive energy. Perfect for the winter months and reigning in the New Year. You may want to also purchase self-igniting charcoal to burn the resin in a cauldron. And lastly, because a witch can never have too many cauldrons… Cast-iron cauldron: $30 Another bestseller, these cast-iron cauldrons make for the perfect gift for the witch in your life. They can burn incense and herbs for spellwork, and the best part is they last forever and also come with a lid. A solid, sturdy witch staple (and $30), it’s the gift that will hopefully keep on giving. Choose from the Triple Moon design, Trifecta, Pentacle, or plain design. From hand-blended incenses to new children's books and bestselling spell kits, when it comes to gifting (at an affordable price point), Enchantments has a little bit of everything for your favorite witches.  For the friend who's in love with love (or wants to meet someone new): Love Attraction Kit, $17.50 We all have that one friend who's looking for the perfect partner but just never seems to meet them. Now you know they deserve the absolute best, so why not help them out with a little magical nudge? The Love Attraction Kit includes two hand-carved 120-candles (which burn for 5-7 hours), a dram of hand-blended spell oil, a packet of hand-blended incense, and sea salt to help attract romantic attention and draw in someone new. Tip: tell them not to make the spell about someone specific, but rather keep it open to the universe to bring the ideal person for them. *Available online or in-store. Link to purchase here. For your witchy winter wonderland bestie who loves a good scented incense blend: Winter Woods Formula, $15 for one half ounce Not only is this a celebratory blend for the winter season, it's also good for uncrossing and cleansing bad vibes. So it's kind of a two-in-one blend? If your friend regularly (or semi-regularly) smoke cleanses or just wants to invoke positive spiritual energy in the home, this hand-blended incense with a wood base will spark a little seasonal joy and help remove any negative energy around the home. Also goes great with our beautiful cast-iron cauldrons ($30) here, (a must-have item, too, even though they're not under $20). *Available online or in-store. Link to purchase here. For your eccentric, world-traveling auntie who has it all: Gold Rain Candle, $11 Help your aunt keep reigning in the good vibes with our bestselling, gold-painted picture candle. It's made to bring in success in all areas, money, and of course a little luck. This candle is very popular throughout the year and makes for a great gift since it has an appealing scent and can be used as a regular candle or a spell candle, depending on their intention. *Available online or in-store. Link to purchase here.  For the wee witch in your life who wants to learn more about Yule: Luke and the Longest Night, by Kathleen Converse and Hanna Sultanova (Moon Dust Press), $18 For so many years it was nearly impossible to find great nature-based, pagan books for kids, but those times are far behind us. This adorable new book (part of Kathleen Converse's Wheel of the Year series) is designed for children and a perfect winter solstice gift with beautiful illustrations. Accessible and uplifting, it's about a little boy who loves celebrating winter solstice with gifts and songs, but when a storm causes the lights to go out on the party, he has to remember what this special time is really all about: being with loved ones. *Available in-store only. For your friend who deserves a little relaxation and calming energy: Peace and Protection Bath, $5 Our richly scented, hand-blended bath blends are not only priced well, but they can last for up to two baths. Crafted with sea salt, herbs, and oils, the Peace and Protection Bath is designed to promote a feeling of security and peace, while also protecting against physical and psychic attacks. If your friend is feeling a little extra anxious lately, this gift will help them recenter and remember their inner strength. *Available in-store or online. Link to purchase here. For your witch friend who is always conjuring a new spell with herbs and oils: Balm of Gilead, $16 for one ounce A staple for many practicing witches, Balm of Gilead can be used to promote happiness, protection, invoke love, healing, and aid in magical workings. At $16 per ounce, it will last a while and can be added to incense blends, baths, used in candle spells, and tucked inside magical sachets (or ouanga bags). Note that Enchantments herbs are not for ingestion and should only be used for magical purposes. *Available in-store or online. Link to purchase here. For your friend who has a ton of essential oils: Stone Oil Burner, $15 Skip the fancy diffuser and go old school with this soap stone burner, which just requires simple tea lights to infuse the space with beautiful scents. A classic witchy gift, this oil burner will last for years with the right care. And at just $15, it's a great investment for anyone who uses a lot of essential oils in their homes. It comes in several designs, but we're partial to the Moon and Stars version or the Pentacle design. *Available in-store in online. Link to purchase here.  For the Victorian or Gothic queen in your life: Bronze Candle Holders, $12 each These elegant bronze candle holders come in two different styles and hold most standard tapered candles. One has a finger hook for easier carrying and a wax catcher at the bottom, while the other is more of an elongated, standard holder. Perfect for your friend hosts regular rituals or who's all about getting the right ambiance at dinner parties, these would make a great addition to their candle holder collection. *Available in-store or online. Link to purchase here. For your friend who can't get enough sparkle in their life: Glitter in every color of the rainbow, $5 per ounce Okay, who doesn't love glitter? Many people don't know this, but Enchantments also sells the glitter we use for our candles –– and the big difference is that it's not made with plastic (because burning plastic would be a no-no). This metal glitter is great for candle spells (or any fun purpose that requires, really) and we've noticed that many little witches who come into the shop also seem to love it. Add a little sparkle in your friend's life with a handful (or to be clear, an ounce) of glitter in a range of colors, including magenta, rainbow, lake blue, gold, silver, and light pink. *Available in-store or online. Link to purchase here. For the occult-curious friend who's just starting their journey in witchcraft: True Magick, by Amber K, $15.95 This beloved, bestselling book has guided countless new witches on their journey into spellwork and it's still a favorite at Enchantments. It's sold more than 200,000 copies and covers everything from elemental magick, ritual tools, spell casting, and more. *Available in-store or online. Link to purchase here. Be sure to regularly come back to this site for more Enchantments gift guides for the 2023 season and check our social media for store hours! Blessed be.
By Amber C. Snider Dia de Muertos is a time to remember, honor, and celebrate the dead. Here are some sacred lessons we can learn from the Latin American holiday, including why we shouldn't be afraid of death and ways to keep the memories of our loved ones alive.  Photo by Eduardo Dorantes on Unsplash In Mexico and throughout Latin America, Dia de Muertos (or Dia de Los Muertos) is typically celebrated over two days beginning on November 1 where altars, known as ofrendas, are set out to honor the ancestors, including setting out favorite foods, photographs, sugar skulls, flowers, and sacred or beloved objects. It originally began as an Aztec tradition, dedicated to the Lady of the Dead or Mictēcacihuātl, who ruled over the afterlife and underworld, but was later syncretized by Spanish colonizers to become All Saints Day and All Souls Day in the Catholic tradition, which honors saints and martyrs. We see this also in the holiday of Samhain, an ancient Celtic holiday dedicated to honoring the dead, which later became known as Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve. Today, La Catrina, the colorful, elegant skeleton woman known as La Catrina, is a modern interpretation of the Lady of the Dead. Originally created by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada in the early 20th century, La Catrina's image was later popularized by other Mexican artists, including Diego Rivera, and her face is now ubiquitous throughout the country. It’s believed that at this time of year, it’s easier for the spirit world to come visit us and travel between realms. During Dia de los Muertos, sugar skulls are also set out on ofrendas, or altars, to honor the dead: These colorfully painted and decorated skeletons remind us not to be afraid of death, but to celebrate the beauty and wonders of life itself. Traditions and rituals of remembrance can be found throughout the world, and it’s important to take the time to honor our loved ones and family who've passed over, especially at this time of year. Here are tips for reflecting on the lessons of the season, including building an altar to loved ones who are no longer with us, and celebrating the souls of the dead. Build an altar or sacred space in your home Clear out and clean a small section of your home, whether that’s a small table or a shelf, for your altar. Light some incense (or burn sacred wood like palo santo) to clear out the space and welcome in good spirits. Find a clean table cloth or textile that’s special to your family and place it on the table. Next, gather up the objects you’d like to place on your altar, selecting at least one object for each family member who has passed on. It could be an heirloom (like a locket), anything that reminds you of them, or one of their personal objects. You can also set out dishes of their favorite foods and drinks. Remember to keep the area clean while the altar is up. Set out photographs of loved ones who've passed on Gather any old photographs of your deceased loved ones and place them around the altar. There’s no one way to set up a personal altar, it’s all about your individual practice, but I recommend placing the objects in front of or near the corresponding photographs. Gather flowers and sacred plants Marigold flowers, or cempasúchil, are sacred for Dia de Los Muertos and are typically placed on ofrendas. Their bright, orange color attracts the spirits, but you can gather any flower that you’d like for your personal altar. For instance, if you had a grandmother who loved white roses, set that out in a vase, jar, or sprinkle the petals are your altar. Be sure to tend to the flowers while the altar is up. You can also get a Rose of Jericho: an incredibly strange, wonderful plant that resembles (at first) a dried up ball of twigs, but when placed in a bowl of water, opens up and blossoms, becoming "alive" once again. Light candles White candles can be used for so many things, but especially in honoring the spirits. Light small tea lights, 120 candles, or 7-10 day pullout candles and set them up around your altar. You can also hand-carve a special candle for your altar, and add sacred oils and herbs to the markings. The light of the flame draws in the spirits and if you incorporate candle magic, you can focus on the flame as representative of your good will and respect towards your ancestors.  Image by Jose Sanchez Hernandez from Pixabay Write letters to your loved ones When your altar is complete, take time to write messages and letters to your loved ones who’ve passed on. I find this to be incredibly cathartic, meditative, and magical, and typically write a message for several family members (and family pets) at this time of year. This could include memories, favorite qualities about them, things you wished you could’ve said when they were alive, and/or spirit petitions. Visit their grave sites If you can, right now is a good time to go visit your family's graves and pay respects in-person. Bring along fresh flowers, letters, or any sacred object you wish to show your deceased loved ones. But don't bring gloomy sadness with you –– remember this time of year is to pay homage to the life they led and the joy they brought you. Share stories with family One way of honoring the dead is by remembering them and stories help us do that. Stories are how we keep the memories of each other alive: by sharing memories with loved ones, we’re “bringing them back.” It's believed that by including a loved one on your ofrenda, or altar, you're giving them space in your home and making sure they have a place in the after life, but stories also do the same thing –– by putting words to memories, we're keeping their memory alive and with us. Antoinnette Chirinos in conversation with Amber C. Snider This month, Enchantments sat down with Peruvian-born bruja, herbalist, and intuitive healer Antoinnette Chirinos to discuss curanderismo (folk healing), cleansing spellwork and rituals, and ways she’s helping to destigmatize brujería by helping a new generation of witches reclaim the power of their ancestors.  Goddess of Avalon, Courtesy of Chirinos/H2 PR As the owner of Goddess of Avalon, an apothecary and private practice in San Diego, Antoinnette Chirinos comes from a long line of Latin American medicine women and believes in the curative healing power of herbs and flowers to help restore our physical and psychic balance. Blending Indigenous shamanic rituals with energy work, including limpia de huevo, or egg cleanses, Chirinos helps others to reconnect with the power of their intuition using plant magic. Here, as we move deeper into the autumn season where the veil between worlds grows ever thinner, Chirinos shares her unique magical practices and spiritual insights with editor Amber C. Snider. *Interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Amber C. Snider: We've been talking about working with the elements, specifically the element of fire, and the power of intention. Can you talk a little bit more about how we can work with elements to manifest our intentions? Antoinnette Chirinos: Before you begin practicing magic make sure you're centered and grounded –– that is the element of earth. For that, I like to connect with my nourishing herbs like nettle and dandelion, and I meditate with them to help me ground and connect deep with the center of Mother Earth. Through the element of fire, you transform all that beautiful energy, like the snake when she sheds her skin because she's making space for the new. Your intention is the main ingredient in your potion, it's something that is going to spice it up and it's going to give power to what you're working with to bring it into manifestation. One thing I've learned through the years of practicing different rituals is not to hold on to the outcome. You’ve got to trust that sometimes things are not going to come out exactly how you wanted it or visualized. You’ve got to trust that the universe is taking your petition, is taking your spell work, on the right path. You bring your tools in, your powerful intention, and you surrender to the universe. That's how you work and flow with the universe –– you surrender. ACS: Yes, I agree. A lot of people who’ve come to Enchantments have asked ‘How can I guarantee that this spell is going to work?’ But magic, just like time, is not a linear process, right? And part of that process is surrendering, which is one of the hardest things for human beings to do ––giving it over to the universe, trusting that it will be taken care of. In your specific work, how are you helping young brujas reclaim the power of their ancestors through your Earth Magic Immersion Program? AC: It’s an eight month program and we start at the root chakra: I introduce plant allies that work on the chakra specifically and we work all the way up to our crown. Through this journey of plants, we connect with their spirit. Plants, just like everything surrounding us, have consciousness. And to me, it is very important for everyone to reconnect to our intuition. Sometimes we sit with a plant and we receive a message, and sometimes it's auditory, sometimes it's visual, sometimes it's an imprint on us. We gotta trust whatever whisper comes to us. That's the spirit of the plant. We can read about plants, we can learn through books, but the best way to learn is to experience it. The energy of a plant with me is going to be very different with you; the medicine I need is different from the medicine that you need. So through this journey, we not only learn about the spirit of the plant and the benefits in the physical body, we also learn how to read the tarot, how to work with crystals, do spell work and candle magic. I feel like all this wisdom was so well practiced back in the day, and through the years we just forgot about it, and we decided to put our power into somebody else's hands. Surrendering [to the universe] is really hard because it's trust and it's faith. You have the power within and we forget that we're so powerful. I show how to work with all these tools and at the end of the month, they’re ready –– They're creating their own potions, working with their crystals, creating crystal grids, doing spell works. They're trusting themselves again. And that's what it is about. ACS: Just as no two plants are alike and the energy we receive from the natural world is different for each person, the path of witchcraft is also so unique to the individual practitioner. I think that's where a lot of confusion comes in from the masses that don't do this kind of work. It’s essentially about reconnecting with the earth and our innate, intuitive power, as well as the wisdom of our ancestors. In terms of practical magic, can you share your favorite plant to work with in spells or potions for our readers? AC: One plant I really am connected with is rue. Rue is such a magical plant. My grandpa used to do barridas on me, or cleansing to clear energy. He’d put a little rue in my pockets for good luck, too. I feel his essence when I work with this plant –– I feel his energy surrounding me and guiding me. I have this beautiful rue plant at home and she blooms every summer with these beautiful yellow flowers and I always create a flower essence of rue. Flower essences of rue is protection for the light worker, it strengthens your aura. So in those months of fall, especially when the layers [between worlds] are so thin and both worlds are waving and swimming, I like to be very protected. Rue is very close to my heart, I use it all the time, but I do recommend it for fall.  Images courtesy of Antoinnette Chirinos, Goddess of Avalon ACS: Rue is also great for magical cleansing sprays for the house! Can you talk a little bit about egg cleansing, or limpia de huevo, specifically how it pertains to Latin American traditions and your ancestral work? AC: Egg cleansing is something that has been in my culture for many, many years, as well as many other cultures, but it's something very common. Even if I go to my aunt's house, they'll look at me and say, ‘Oh, you need an egg cleanse. You have a lot of energy around you.’ My entire family is like that. It's something very common and it's something really powerful because the egg will clear everything from your emotional body and release what doesn't serve you. To me, being born in Peru is being born surrounded by these traditions, and so I’m bringing it here with me. Most people don't know about it, but it's very normal to us. Because I've been doing this for a while, I'm able to sense energy or sometimes see energy. So I will know exactly where you need it the most, but I always start from the head, the crown chakra, and then go all the way down, and you can clean the back, too. Certain areas, like the back of the neck and back of the knee, are very important because energy gets stuck there. And then you're going to break the egg in a glass of water. Afterwards I pray. Let's say I see some disturbance in your sacral [chakra], I'm going to pray a little bit more in [that space]. I'm working like that, and connecting with that energy to clear all that. When I break [the egg], I let it sit and then I read it. Now everyone reads [the egg] differently and I believe that there are no rules for magic. There are no rules for how you practice –– your own rituals are your own. So I read it in a different way with other people, I read it as it comes to me. I can see figures and I know what it means. Sometimes each person has a different result from the egg, and even though the same thing is present, it can mean something different in every person. I know a lot of people are going to say ‘No, you have to read it like this, and this is exactly what it means,’ [but I don’t agree with that]. It’s my practice, and I teach that to my students: I always tell them, there are no rules in magic. Just because I'm teaching you the way I do it, doesn’t mean you always have to do it like that. It might work out better for you if you take a different route. [For example], if we’re making a love potion, maybe your love potion doesn't need vanilla, maybe it needs peach leaf. You have to go inwards and honor what comes to you. ACS: Do you think that others can train themselves, through their intuition, to be able to read eggs, as well? Or is it something that you feel that people have to go to a spiritual practitioner or healer for? AC: I think it's always good to get a little bit of knowledge to see how the practitioner does it so they have an idea. When you work with energy, you have to be very respectful and honor everything that you work with. So just a little bit of guidance at the beginning and then they can develop their own practice. ACS: At Enchantments, we make a lot of custom, hand-carved candle spells using magical oils and incenses. Is there a particular candle spell you’d recommend for the fall season, whether it’s for healing, cleansing, or honoring the dead? AC: Let's say you want to do a cleansing spell work with your candle –– some people like to dress a candle with herbs, but I don't do it that way. I sometimes put oil on my candle, but again, everyone has their own way to do it. [I recommend letting] a candle burn by itself when you're doing spell work and don't blow it out because when you blow it, you're spreading your intention, your wish, everywhere. You want to make sure you're sending it above you, to the universe, to support you in work. Get a small candle, center yourself in a sacred space, and call up your protection. You have to be in a good space and feeling good, even if you are doing spell work to get rid of something, because that interferes. For yesterday's spell work, [for instance] I had my rue, some white sage, and a little bit of rosemary. I got a little plate where my candle was gonna be lit, and I surrounded the plate with the herbs and I also put black salt. All these elements together are protection, and the salt is gonna get rid of everything that you don't want or need. Grab your candle with your intention and what I do is go from the bottom to the top because I'm sending my intention above. I request that when the candle finishes burning, everything that doesn't serve me is going to be cleared out of my body –– my physical body and spiritual body. You can't word it however you want and say it how many times you want. When the candle is done, I gather all the herbs that were protecting me and I put it on the soil for Mother Earth to transform this energy into something else. ACS: I love the incorporation of black salt and placing the herbs around the candle –– the idea of the circularity is there, too. AC: Yes, the candle kind of represents you. So you are casting a circle around it, a protection circle around you, and getting rid of everything that doesn't serve you. Do it with intention and power, because you are powerful. Let all those herbs support you with your journey. Just imprint your intention there, nothing bad is gonna happen. We gotta become creative. Sometimes we don't have all the tools. Look in your kitchen. You'll have the herbs. I come from Peru and didn't always have all the tools, we didn't grow up with a lot of things. But we can get creative and resourceful with it. I learned from my grandparents, if you don't have this herb, you can use this herb. That's where your power comes in. ***This interview is for educational, spiritual, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional health services. Please note that Enchantments’ herbs are not for ingestion and should only be used for magical (manifestation, intention) purposes only. If you’d like to learn more about plant magic, visit our Plant Magic page here. For more on Antoinnette Chirinos, including her apothecary and private practice, visit Goddess of Avalon. She leads an intensive annual training through her popular Earth Magick Immersion Program and hosts monthly new moon plant ceremonies — Oct 21’s witchy workshop will focus Plant Magick Potion Making to teaches the basics and educate on the ingredients’ healing powers. |
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