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Spell by Stacy Rapp, Edited by Amber C. Snider Here, the head witch of Enchantments shares a special simmer pot recipe to invoke more prosperity and abundance in your life this winter.  Photo by Melody Zimmerman on Unsplash We love a good simmer pot here at Enchantments for a few reasons. They're an easy way to boost the energy in your home, welcome in good spirits and banish negativity, as well as add a delicious aroma to the air. Plus, the leftovers of the ingredients (both the herbs and water) can be used for a ritual bath afterwards, so you can literally soak in all your magic. For all you aspiring (and seasoned, pun intended) kitchen witches out there, this one's for you.
What You'll Need: Spring water (4-5 cups) A large pot Allspice Berries, 4 tablespoons or about 1/4 cup Bay Leaves, 4-5 leaves Cinnamon Stick, 3-4 Cloves, 4 tablespoons Orange Peel, 2 oranges' worth Peppermint Leaves, 1 teaspoon Black or Green tea leaves, 2-3 tablespoons Optional: A strainer, a large mason jar, disposable/reusable tea bags How To Make a Prosperity Simmer Bowl Gather all your ingredients together and pour several cups (4-6) of spring water into a large pot. Heat the water on the stove and as it begins to boil, add each ingredient one by one, focusing on the intention and magical property within each plant, herb, and fruit. Allspice represents balance, protection, and motivation, so focus on those qualities as you add it to your pot. It's what "holds" all the other ingredients together in this spell. Next, add in bay leaves, which are great for bringing in money and abundance. Next, add cinnamon sticks, which are good for protection and motivation, so if you've been feeling like you need a little fiery push in your life, this might do the trick. It also awakens the senses, which is a great ingredient when you're looking to add more awareness and concentration to your money-motivation connections. Next, sprinkle in your cloves, which help banish negativity, add protection, and help usher in prosperity. Orange peel is the "brightness" you need for this spell, so you're welcoming in sweet, beautiful, delicious abundance. Orange is also connected to solar energies, which center around growth, fertility, and overall prosperity. Peppermint is good for invigoration and that extra boost you might need to actually do the work of manifesting prosperity in practical ways, while green and black tea are connected to welcoming wealth, health, and balance. Now here's the thing: As you add each ingredient to the pot, you can chant over your herb/spice/fruit to let your intentions be known. If it helps to rhyme or sing something, so be it! But something as simple as "Let this orange peel, like rays of sunlight, bring brightness and abundance to my home. May this peppermint give me the pep to overcome money obstacles, and may the aroma of bay leaves invite money to my doorstep." Let it simmer on the stove for several hours, letting the aroma fill your kitchen and home, but be sure to refill it with cold water as needed so it doesn't boil completely down. As you do so, you might want to spend a little time making a new list of goals, desires, and streams of income (or a plan for welcoming in wealth and blessings). Remember that magic is also about following up with practical actions, too. You can't win the lottery for instance unless you buy the ticket, etc. How To Do A Ritual Prosperity Bath Let the elixir cool off and strain the liquid through a cheesecloth or colander. Keep BOTH the liquid and herb mixture: Add the mixture to a tea bag (or tie off the cheesecloth with some string) and keep the elixir in a jar or put it back in the pot. In the evening, draw a hot bath, conjuring the memory of the individual herbs and their magical properties. Focus on how these individual and collective energies of the herbs will now permeate your life and envelope your life, marking a clear path for abundance, like the forward rush of a river. Pour the cooled simmer pot water into your bath water and soak for 30 minutes. As you settle in the tub, focus on various paths being cleared in your life to welcome in new abundance, whether that be through money, removed obstacles, new work opportunities, new blessings, and unexpected (positive!) windfalls. Soak up the magic you've created in the bath and be sure to keep track over the course of the month for new changes in your life in regards to prosperity and new sources of abundance. You can also return the herbs back to the earth by scattering them under a tree or your lawn. Have you tried one of your spells and it worked? Leave us a comment with your experience below!
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By Amber C. Snider The return of the sun may seem a long way off, but there are a few spiritual exercises, rituals, and magical tips to harness and awaken the healing energies of the sun.  Photo by Eugene Golovesov on Unsplash While the winter brings along its promise of cozying up at home, self-reflection, and snow days, sometimes it can leave us feeling sluggish and uninspired. The Solar Plexus, or the Third Chakra — the energetic center connected to the sun, our emotional balance, and energy levels — is a vital part of our overall wellbeing. It’s the center of our personal power, as well as our sense of self and identity. When this energetic center is out of balance or needs a bit of healing, we may feel a little “out of control” emotionally or maybe our bodies feel a little inflamed. Or perhaps we feel stagnant, unmotivated, and fatigued. Tuning into this energetic center and working towards unblocking any stagnant energy can help, along with holistic and magical rituals. So where exactly is the Solar Plexus located in the body? Given that it’s your “center,” it’s located in your abdomen, right between your belly button and breastbone. When it’s blocked or needs balancing, you might experience digestive issues, anxiety, or inflammation. The Third Chakra, or Manipura as it’s known in Sanskrit, is associated with the color yellow and the element of fire, and so candle rituals (accompanied with other spiritual wellness practices) are a great way to help rebalance and restore this sacred center. Here are 8 ways to work with and balance the Solar Plexus for healing and awakening this winter season.  Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash Candle Magic Rituals for the Third Chakra Try a hand-carved, custom Third Chakra candle for cleansing, healing, balancing, and strengthening your solar plexus. Associated with energy, power, will, assertiveness, self-esteem, confidence, and courage, this candle is carved with your astrological sign and name, and will burn for 7 days. We recommend taking a ritual sea salt bath before performing any candle magic ritual, meditating on the color yellow as you light the wick, and saying words of affirmation, chanting, dancing, singing, etc to raise your vibrations to align with your intentions. Alternatively, the 7-day Solar Blast candle is also great for growth, expansion, empowerment, and invokes the energies of the sun. Change up your signature scent Wearing intention-specific scents can do a lot to change our awareness on a subconscious level. Enchantments’ hand-blended Sun oil is great for invoking the fiery, expansive energy of the sun. You can wear it as you would a perfume or burn it in a small stone oil diffuser at home. Motivation oil is also a great choice if you’re feeling a bit sluggish or unmotivated, as well as Concentration oil. Outside of wearable, hand-blended oils, you can also try diffusing essential oils like sandalwood and cinnamon in the home. Work with crystals Amber, citrine, tiger’s eye, and pyrite are all great for helping to balance the solar plexus. Find a gemstone that works for you, charge it with your intention of healing (hold in your hand, preferably in the sunlight, and chant a mantra over it) and keep it in your purse/pocket or wear it as a pendant. If you’re buying a new crystal/gemstone, it’s ideal to cleanse it from outside energies before wearing it. You can do this by placing it in a bowl of salt for 1-2 days, wafting it over sacred smoke (smoke cleansing), or bathing it in sunlight or moonlight.  Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash Color meditations In my book Wonderment, I have an entire chapter about color magic, including ways to work with the solar plexus through color meditations. Color magic is a super powerful way to connect your intentions with energy. For the solar plexus, visualize a small, bright ball of light in your belly area. As you breathe into that center, imagine that golden, radiant light expanding outwards, following through all your limbs, and eventually extending beyond your body and setting around your auric field. Alternatively, you can pick a natural yellow object to meditate on, such as a sunflower, daffodil, or marigold. Imagine the flower starting out as a seed at your center, growing and blooming inside you, and filling your body with a luminous yellow hue and light. Sit with this visualization for at least 5-10 minutes per day while working on your solar plexus. Burn sacred incense for the solar plexus The best incense for the solar plexus is Sun incense, Motivation incense, and Crucible of Courage incense. These hand-blended, wood-based incenses do not require charcoal. Simply add a tablespoon or more of the incense to a fire-proof dish, touch fire to it, and smudge your aura and house 2x per day (and before rituals) while balancing your solar plexus. Exercise Since our solar plexus is located in our physical center, it’s a good idea to add some physical movements and exercises to your routine. Exercises focused on the core are ideal, as well as yoga, deep breathing exercises, and light walking in the sun.  Photo by Mads Eneqvist on Unsplash Consume more yellow foods Consider adding squash, sunflower seeds, bananas, oats, cinnamon, and marigold tea to your meal plan for the week. As you consume yellow foods with intention, ask the food to cleanse, heal, and open your energetic center. Visualize how the sun encourages plants and vegetables to grow and flourish; as you eat, you’re also taking in that powerful sun energy as it fills and nourishes your body. Harness your creative spark with color magic We are creative beings by nature and magic isn’t all about rituals and formalities. Add some play and creativity to your daily routine by painting a vibrant yellow wall in your room, creating an acrylic painting with various yellow tones, or wear a bright shade of yellow to uplift your mood. I wrote about more ways to incorporate color magic into your routine in this Architectural Digest story, as well as in my book Wonderment (available for purchase at Enchantments), under the chapter entitled “The Healing Power of Color.” By Amber C. Snider With the approaching Winter Solstice and Yule celebrations, you might still have some last minute gifts to snag before the holidays. Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite Goddess-inspired gifts for the season, starting at just under $15.  Whether you're looking to gift a new oracle deck, a self-love spell kit, or goddess statues, here are a bestselling favorites to help invoke more goddess energy throughout the holiday season and new year. Self-Love and Empowerment Ouanga, $13 We love a ouanga bag at Enchantments! Hand-crafted with herbs from our apothecary, this Self-Love and Empowerment ouanga helps boost inner strength and faciliates emotional healing. Wear it in your pocket, purse, backpack, or keep it near you while you sleep. You can also psychically "charge" the bag with intention before you use it.  Inner Goddess Salt Scrub, $25 A new product in the shop and a quick bestseller, our Inner Goddess Sea Salt Scrub is perfect for ritual baths and self-care rituals involving self-love, empowerment, and emotional healing. It's a handmade, magical mix of herbs and oils to re-enchant your life and the organic coconut oil helps sooth dry winter skin.  Custom Hand-Carved Empress Candle, $55 One of the bestselling spell candles in the shop, the Empress candle helps magnify self-love and confidence, and can be used to invoke goddess energies. It's normally carved on a pink candle (for Venus/Aphrodite), but can also be carved on a yellow candle. It's a great gift for someone looking to invoke more love, empowerment, and divine feminine energies in their life, as well as used to attract romantic attention.  Empowerment Kit, $35 This special Empowerment Kit comes with two hand-carved spell candles, a dram of Venus/Goddess of Love oil, incense, Bad Ass Bath (for a ritual bath), and the incredible book Women Who Run With the Wolves, all packaged together in a fabric bag. The bestselling book is all about myths and stories of the wild woman archetype, and has been one of the most influential books of the last few decades. According to the publisher, the author "Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés unfolds rich intercultural myths, fairy tales, folk tales, and stories, many from her own traditions, in order to help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy, visionary attributes of this instinctual nature." It's a must-read for those on the goddess path or who want to tap into their own divine wild woman energies to lead a more creative, passionate, intuition-driven life. Premium Amethyst Pyramid Pendulum, $27 Pendulums are great tools for divination, dowsing, and answering questions relating to love, work, health, money, and much more. This one is crafted with amethyst (a stone often connected with the Crown chakra and divine wisdom) and comes with both a bag and an instruction booklet.  Afro Goddess Tarot Arcanas, $50 Artist and storyteller Andrea Furtick created the Afro Goddess Tarot Arcanas to realign traditional esoteric structures for a more inclusive tarot experience, blending modern and ancient symbolism, and a diverse range of melanated skin tones across 80 gilt-edged cards. It also comes with a full-color, 108-page guidebook that helps illuminate the card's messages.  Small Abalone Shell, $20 We love a good abalone shell and have found they make for great gifts! We also love getting them as gifts too since they're so versatile for spell work. You can simply use it as decoration around you home, add it to your sacred home altar, or use it for ritual work involving burning herbs such as sage.  Custom Hand-Carved Lady Silk Candle, $55 If you have a friend in your life that's looking for love and needs a little confidence boost in the realm of dating (and the art of flirting), this Lady Silk candle is very powerful. It's more of a playful, fun candle rather than "I'm looking for my life partner," so cast your spell wisely, especially if you're trying to amp up those sexy vibes for the new year.  Lilith Handmade Incense or Oil, $24-30 Lilith has gotten a bad rep for centuries, but all that has thankfully changed in recent times. A powerful feminine force, Lilith helps us recognize our autonomy, strength, and intuitive wisdom. This hand-crafted oil or incense blend calls forth the Goddess Lilith in her enticing aspect and can be used in a variety of rituals and spellwork. Purple Wisdom Formula, $24-30 Another bestseller in the shop, our Purple Wisdom incense or hand-crafted oil blend is created for invoking wisdom & insight in all intellectual or magical endeavors. It also helps open the third eye for psychic workings and gaining knowledge.  Feminine Myths Oracle, $29 This gorgeous oracle deck invokes the song of the goddess since the beginning of time. It's boldly illustrated and features feminine, cross-cultural deities with a surrealist twist. From ancient Greece, Ireland, Haiti, and beyond, each card is accompanied by animal, elemental, and botanical allies. There are also traditional "maidens, mothers, and crones as well as enigmatic heroines and gender-fluid spirits" that dance through this deck.  Custom Hand-Carved Great Mother Candle, $55 A soothing, powerful, devotional candle to the Great Goddess, this hand-carved spell candle makes for a perfect gift for someone wanting to connect more deeply with the energies of the Great Mother Goddess.  Aphrodite Statue (Mini), $20 We have an array of God/Goddess statues at Enchantments and they all make for excellent gifts for the pagan or witch in your life. This mini Aphrodite Statue represents the goddess of love, desire, and beauty in a Veronese design. Here's a little history of the goddess: Aphrodite was the goddess of love, desire, and beauty. The most well known myth about her birth was when Cronus castrated his father Uranus and tossed his severed genitals into the sea, Aphrodite arose from the sea foam on a giant shell and walked to shore. Aphrodite was the patron of love and lovers. She enjoyed trapping other gods in love affairs, and she herself was not left out of the game. Being the lame god Hephaestus' wife, she embarked on an affair with Ares.  Whether you're looking for a Yule gift for your witchy friend, partner, or co-worker, Enchantments has you covered.  As the oldest witchcraft shop in New York City, Enchantments specializes in tools to help a variety of spiritual paths, from tarot decks and incense to pagan books and pendulums. If you're looking to gift a curious, unique gift to the resident witch in your life or simply fill a few stockings without going over budget, we've rounded up some of our bestselling products for $25 and under. You can either order online or pop into the shop in Manhattan. Blessed Yule and Winter Solstice, witches, and we hope to see you in the store soon! Pine Smudge Kit, $25 One of the best "deals" in the shop, this complete smudging kit comes with a pine smudge stick to cleanse your home and space, a mini sweetgrass braid (which you can also burn to promote happiness and joy), a palo santo stick (which welcomes in good spirits and energies), a small abalone shell, and a small green candle. We love this pine scent of this bundle, and how the kit comes with other smoke cleansing options to lift your spirits and raise the vibrations of your home. Fun fact: Christmas trees are actually a Pagan tradition. Evergreen trees are decorated as a celebration during the Winter Solstice to represent everlasting life and welcome in new blessings. This tradition has shown up cross-culturally for thousands of years, including for the Druids, ancient Romans and Germans, Norse, and Celts.  Dreamscape Oracle Deck, $25 Perfect for your tarot-loving friend, this Art Nouveau-style Dreamscape Oracle has 32 gold-foil stamped cards depicting animal messengers and mythological archetypes to help explore the liminal spaces in our lives. It's a great gift for both beginners and seasoned practioners, especially since it comes with an 80-page guidebook to help interpret the messages. The deck can be used as a stand-alone divination tool or as a companion to the Ethereal Visions Tarot.  Love Attraction Kit, $22 For those gift seekers looking to attract romantic attention over the holidays or into the New Year, or just amp up love in an existing relationship, try Enchantments' Love Attraction Kit. It comes with a small dram of oil, mini incense and sea salt packet, as well as two hand-carved spell candles.  Wonderment, (autographed copy): $23 Written for both the spiritually-curious and seasoned practitioner, Amber C. Snider's book Wonderment: An Eclectic Guide to Awakening Your Divine Gifts and Inherent Potential is filled with techniques and spells to help uncover the elusive spark that permeates all things and awaken your psychic senses. The author uses her personal journey as a travel journalist as a framework to explore larger, esoteric concepts and spiritual experiences. It's an especially handy gift for artists, psychics, creatives, or those looking to tap into a deeper understanding of nature and the spirit world.  Tarot for Beginners by Barbara Moore: $16 Some say you must be "given" your first tarot deck, but we don't necessarily agree with that over here at Enchantments. But for those looking for a good entry point into the art of Tarot, this popular book by Barbara Moore helps readers tap into the meanings of all seventy-eight cards. It also includes sample readings and spreads to help you practice as you develop the essential skills and create your own style. Since it follows the classic Rider-Waite structure, it's fairly universal in its approach, regardless of the deck you own.  Sacred Waters: Rose, Holy, and Florida, $19 While you can purchase each sacred water separately, we love the idea of gifting all three at once! Great for cleansing your altar, sacred spaces, and even used as a general wash around the house, these sacred waters are all multi-purpose in spell work. The Rose Water Cologne comes in an eight ounce bottle for $6, the Holy Water comes in a four ounce bottle for $5, and the Florida Water comes in a 7.5 ounce bottle for $8. Solar Blast Salt Scrub, $25 A new product in the shop (but with the same classic formula you're used to from the Solar Blast Sea Salt Bath) this scrub is made with solar herbs and oils to promote happiness, confidence, and positive energy. The organic coconut oil helps soothe dry skin and keep it moisturized. Great for ritual baths, intention setting, and pre-spell cleansing rituals.  Rue Scented Pictured Candle, $12 Rue is a powerful cleansing herb that promotes positive energy, good luck, happiness, and welcomes in good spirits. We love it as an herb (which can be used in a variety of spells), but also this scented picture candle. It makes for a great stocking stuffer and every witch in your life will appreciate a little rue.  Smudge Kit, Cedar: $25 Another great all-around gift is this new Smudge Kit with Cedar. Rather than opt for white sage as a cleansing tool, we love cedar, which is grounding, nurturing, and connected to the root chakra. This kit comes with the Cedar Smudge stick, a mini Sweetgrass braid (good for promoting happiness, luck, and joy), a palo santo stick (a sweet-scented wood used for cleansing and setting intention in your space), as well as a small abalone shell and green candle.  Looking for more witchy gifts? Stay tuned for new, curated gift guides throughout the 2025 Yule Season. In the meantime, you can read more about candle magic here or visit our main store website here to check out more gifts. By Amber C. Snider And no, none of them involve candy or tricks, just practical magic and tips.  Image by ozaytseva from Pixabay Halloween originally stems from the Celtic holiday Samhain, a night that involved feasting, honoring the dead, bonfires, divination, and building altars for the ancestors. On the night of October 31st, it's believed that the spirits walk the earth and it's easier to communicate with the other side, hence why you may hear witches say "the veil between worlds" is the thinnest on this night. It's believed the spirits can more easily hear your petitions and prayers, and that they can commune with you, which is why we also leave out food and gifts of remembrance for our deceased loved ones at this time. Samhain, or Halloween, is also called the "Witches New Year," as it marks a significant time of death/rebirth cycle, and signifies the end of the harvest period and the beginning of winter. While there are many ways to celebrate this holiday, here are a few spell tips from the witches at Enchantments to assist in your magic. Also, with a Full Moon coming up on November 5, it's also a good time to begin lunar manifestation work.  Photo by Marisabel Santiago for Enchantments For divination and spirit communication Anoint purple candles (or you can use white 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. To honor the death-rebirth cycle One of my favorite plants to work with on Samhain and the days following is the Rose of Jericho plant (we sell them at Enchantments here). Take the plant and place it in a shallow bowl of spring water. Watch in wonder 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. Black Cat candles are very popular at Enchantments and can be used for a variety of magic. If you'd like to learn more about working with the healing power of Black Cat candles, check out this other story, "The Power of the Cat: Luck, Attraction, and Healing." To Honor the Dead "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. Create a Sacred Altar Similar to Samhain, in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1st through November 2nd. It is a time when the 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. Blessed Samhain, witches xx By Amber C. Snider A personal journey into the power of uncrossing and why you should always remember to do one thing after casting your spell.  Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy | Unsplash Many, many moons ago at Enchantments, I remember discussing the concept of Uncrossing spells with the owner/head witch, Stacy. She remarked on how an Uncrossing spell helps remove blocks and anything that is no longer serving us and our higher purpose. It clears away the cobwebs and paves the way for new beginnings. Essentially, an uncrossing is about removal, stripping away, releasing, cleansing. Just as we clean our physical bodies with soap and water, we must also take time to cleanse our spiritual bodies, as well. But just like how any good scrub down session in the bathtub (or what some folks call the “everything shower”) can leave your skin dry and sometimes irritated, it's wise to follow-up all that washing with a balm, a lotion of sorts, to replenish what was lost. The same goes for magic, especially when it comes to uncrossing: afterwards, you should follow it up with a new manifestation, something you’d like to bring into your life next to fill the space you cleared away. I’ve known this to be true for quite some time, but over the years, even these seemingly basic lessons can get lost in the chaos. A few months ago, I found myself in a whirlwind romance, like a lightning bolt out of nowhere, and it was intoxicatingly fun for a while. But soon, the burgeoning of love turned chaotic, causing more hurt than pleasure, lacking a foundation for any real growth for a mature love. Soon, the yellow flags turned crimson red and I could no longer turn away from the glaring fact that this was not the person for me. One particularly confusing night, I did an Uncrossing spell for clarity, to help clear away that which no longer served me, and since one’s Spirit Guides and Higher Power tend to know what’s best, I accepted that whatever comes will come, and that it will be for the best. Soon after the spell had been cast, the person in question was gone from my life, leaving behind a messy trail in his wake, like a glittering road after a parade, filled with metaphoric shards, trash, empty words, and discarded (red) flags. I was free again. But in the aftermath, I had forgotten an important lesson I had learned so many years before: that one must follow-up this kind of necessary release with a new manifestation, something positive like healing, abundance, self-love, or peace. Shortly after the Universe had swiftly answered my call, over the next few weeks I found myself depleted, exhausted, and zapped of, well, joy. And this is why after an uncrossing, one must work towards filling an empty space/release with something positive, lest it be filled up by whatever’s floating around. Vestiges of the former lover’s “drama” kept popping up in my life, trying to reel me back into his cycle of messiness. Perhaps, the spell wasn’t complete after all. I decided to tap my friend and fellow witch Marisabel for insight into how she deals with uncrossing spells and the aftermath of getting exactly what you want.  “Uncrossing is a healing process for both the spirit and the mind, but not all uncrossings arrive in the same way. Sometimes they’re defensive, meant to shield you from further harm and tackle slander, envy, or the evil eye,” says long-time Enchantments witch Marisabel Santiago and founder of Sorcely. “Other times they’re cleansing, helping to dissolve the places where my spirit feels stuck or blocked. What I’ve learned is that the work of uncrossing can be just as tiring as scrubbing down an apartment or sitting through therapy. It’s necessary, but a lot. You cleanse, you heal and then you redirect.” That was the problem: I didn’t redirect my energies — my sacred, powerful, magical energies — and channel them into something higher. No wonder I was feeling fatigued and a bit lost. I had to reclaim my magic. And the redirecting aspect is just as important as the uncrossing itself: “I believe we only truly overcome a crossed condition when we can find our way back to our purpose, back to what restores our alignment with faith,” says Santiago. So what can one do after an Uncrossing spell to restore joy, redirect energies, and renew a sense of awe and wonder? “Sweetening spells are great because they welcome back the love, clarity, and happiness that crossed conditions can strip from us,” Santiago recommends. Burning yellow candles and happiness kits, sun baths, washing your floors with orange water.” Simply getting out into nature more and reconnecting with the earth can also do the trick, but in terms of candle spells, here are a few that are great for invoking abundance, love, and healing (and also my personal favorites): Crystal Healing, Empress, Venus, Love Healing, and the Sea Priestess candles. Also, if you’re serious about a new self-love empowerment journey, there’s also the Empowerment Kit, which contains a sacred Goddess oil blend, hand-carved candles, and one of my favorite books on the planet, Women Who Run With the Wolves. So which follow-up spell will I be doing? That, my friends, is only for me and my spirit guides to know. A witch never reveals her spells before they’re worked. It’s my hope, however, that my "mistake" will help you in your own magical journey, in your spell work, in your healing, towards a more transcendent, joyous, and fruitful life. As it is said, so it shall be. Blessings.  You can read more of Amber C. Snider’s work in her new book Wonderment: An Eclectic Guide To Awakening Your Divine Gifts and Inherent Potential (Llewellyn, Feb 2025), which helps you uncover the elusive spark that permeates all things, awaken your psychic senses, and tap into your creativity with the help of nature, magic, and the spirit world. Signed copies are also available here at Enchantments.  Amber C. Snider is an author, journalist, and senior lecturer with bylines in the NYT, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Fodor’s, Harper’s Bazaar, Atmos, and many more at her website here. She’s also the editor-in-chief of Enchantments, a digital publication she created and designed with the head witch of the namesake shop located in New York City. By Amber C. Snider Whether you're headed back to school as a student, teacher, professor, or administrative worker, there's so much magic in this new season. Here are some spell candles to help with focus, academic success, creativity, and more.  Fast Luck Candle and Emperor Candle | Photos by Victor Castro For students, parents, and educators, “Back to School” jitters are a mix of excitement, nerves, and anticipation about the year ahead. I personally love this time of year, when the air gets crisper and is filled with a sense of renewal and intellectual excitement. In fact, it's my favorite time of year, especially as a writer, witch, and professor, and I love the opportunity it brings to combine all my passions (writing, magic, and helping others). Still, this time of year can be a bit nerve-wracking since everything is so new and unknown. A new classroom, students/teachers, subjects to learn, etc. Here, I've put together some tools from Enchantments to help you navigate this school year or semester with confidence, curiosity, focus, concentration, and a little luck. Whether you're a young student, college student, parent, or simply embarking on a new intellectual journey, here are a few spell candles to assist in your magical practice. For Academic Success (At Any Age) We recommend using the Emperor Candle or Academic Success Kit. The Emperor candle is all about expansion, divine guidance, luck, and growing confident in your work. It's great for when you really need to 'hunker down' and get a project completed, or when you'd like to manifest higher wisdom. The 7-day Emperor candle is especially good for those preparing for a big exam, long research project, and/or bringing recognition for a job well done. Similarly, the Academic Success Kit is a smaller version of the Emperor and includes two candles that burn between 7-12 hours to help promote intellectual pursuits. Alternatively, you can also try the "Fast Luck" Candle (pictured above), which can help during deadlines and inspiration over the course of one week. For Art Students & Artists Enchantments' Success in the Arts kit is a great tool for those in the performing arts or creative industries. For those working on a specific creative project and in need of a little “inspirational boost” try the Song of the Elder Gods 7-day candle, which is especially great for artists, musicians and performers. It also provides inspiration, focus and creativity and helps to achieve success or try the Song of the Elder Goddess (a Goddess-based candle for creativity, inspiration and success in the arts. To invoke the creative muse while you’re working on a project, you can also try the Divine Muse oil (or Divine Muse Bath) or Inspiration oil. Simply add a few drops to your wrist or neck (wear it as you would a perfume) or anoint your tools, such as pens, notebook covers, or creative objects with the oil.  Enchantments candle carving | Photo by Victor Castro For Elementary School Students or Parents If you’re a parent who practices magic with your wee witch, try doing a 7-day Solar Blast Candle together (or kit), which promotes happiness, friendship, growth, and positivity all around by invoking the energies of the sun. It's a candle that helps add a spark of joy in your everyday life. You can also use the Sun Oil in a diffuser during the day to encourage these qualities and keep the energy up in the home. When bath time rolls around, try using the Sun Bath Scrub (a solar blend for energy, positivity, vitality, inner strength, and self-confidence). For Pagan families looking for age-appropriate magical reading material for younger minds, check out the book Wee Witches, by Ted Enik and Beth Roth, which not only has a great little story, but is beautifully illustrated. For Junior High Students Honestly, if you could do it all over again, would you go back to middle school? (I can hear you cackling through the screen right now shaking your head NO). Middle school is a tough time because kids are figuring out who they are, where they fit into the world, and trying to develop a stronger sense of their identity. And with all that pressure, sometimes their self-esteem can take a hefty hit, especially if they’re trying to make a good impression. Try the Self-Esteem Kit, which comes with two smaller candles, a dram of self-esteem oil, and a sample hand-blended incense. It’s great for clearing negative emotions, as well as promoting self-love and self confidence. Similarly, Star oil also helps attract new friends and gain recognition. For High School/College Students The Academic Success Kit (or the 7-day Emperor Candle) is great for high schoolers and college students, as well as the Solar Blast Candle and Self-Esteem Kit. For stressful times (especially when SAT prep, college apps, and exams come along), try incorporating ritual baths into your practice. Some great baths for academic success include Crucible of Courage Bath (which helps in facing and overcoming fears, building courage and inner strength), Fast Luck Bath (which increases luck in all areas), and/or using the High Conquering Oil or Incense (also known as High John the Conqueror) which attracts luck in all areas and strength to overcome obstacles. For Parents/Teachers/Educators Try a 7-day Success Candle (or the kit here) or the Peace & Protection 7-day candle (or kit here). The Success candle promotes success in all areas, but as with any magick, you have to add/focus on your specific intention (such as focusing your intention on having a successful school year in general, success with navigating a new subject, or success in overcoming a specific difficulty or new challenge). Try to get as specific as possible when you use the Success Candle. The Peace & Protection 7-day candle (or kit or bath) is great for reigning in a sense of calm during challenging times, as well as preventing physical or psychic attack. But remember folks, magick does not and cannot create some invisible shield to make you invincible from harm, so practice common sense, as well. For Anyone in Academia Stress Relief & Relaxation Kit can help bring serenity and peace of mind. All Enchantments kits come with two 120 candles (which burn for about 7-12 hours), a dram of hand-blended oil, and a sample of hand-blended incense. You can use the contents of this kit for short ritual and also keep the dram of oil to use (as you would perfume) throughout the month when you need a dose of calm. You can also add magickal oils to your daily routine by diffusing them in your work/study space, anointing yourself with them (as you would perfume), or adding a few drops to your bath. Some great ones to try are Concentration oil, High Conquering oil, Crown of Success oil, Jupiter Oil, Motivation Oil, and Star oil. Here's to wishing you all a blessed new school year! Recipe by Stacy Rapp; Edited by Amber C. Snider A new Lughnasadh simmer pot recipe to invoke prosperity, blessings, love, and happiness, all while refreshing your home with a serene scent.  Photo by Anne Nygård on unsplash A great way to spiritually refresh your home is to try a summer simmer bowl. And one of the best things about it is you can use the herbal water for a bath ritual later in the evening. Lughnasadh, an ancient holiday to celebrate the first harvest of the year, is a great time for rituals involving abundance, growth, and gratitude. Historically, this time of year is a pivotal point in the calendar for harvesting the first grain and fruits of the season, which helps ensure survival over the coming winter months. It’s also the midway point between the summer solstice and the fall equinox, and part of the eight Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year in the Wiccan religion. Lughnasadh is a time to celebrate all the hard work you’ve put in up until this point, get excited about the upcoming fall season and give thanks for the blessings of summer. For modern witches, Wiccans, and pagans this can also involve doing spellwork and rituals around prosperity, abundance, growth, and gratitude. Here, head witch Stacy Rapp put together a simmer bowl and bath recipe for abundance, gratitude, and blessings for this sacred time of year. Lughnasadh/Lammas Simmer Bowl Recipe Ingredients: Apple peels, around 2-3 apples Chamomile Flowers, a handful Juniper Berries, around two tablespoons Meadowsweet, a couple small blossoms Rose Petals, one cup Rosemary Leaf, 1/4 cup Sunflower or Marigold Petals, a handful Woodruff, two tablespoons *Herbs and flowers can either be dried or fresh. Use what you have! *Do note that herbs and flowers purchased at Enchantments should not be ingested and are intended for magickal use only.  Instructions: Step One: Take out a large simmer pot and fill it with spring water. Set it on the stove while you gather the ingredients above. If you don't have a particular herb or flower, that's okay! Just improvise with what you have. As you place each ingredient in the bowl, focus on tapping into the energy of the plant and inviting abundance, prosperity, and happiness into your home. Say "thank you" to each ingredient as you place it into the pot. Step Two: Heat the water with the plants on the stove and once it reaches boiling temperature, turn the stove down to the lowest possible setting. Do not cover with a lid. Let it simmer for 3-4 hours, but keep a close eye on the water level and refresh the water as necessary every 20 minutes or so. Step Three: As the water boils, conduct other simple, soothing rituals around your house. Perhaps write down what you're grateful for, what you'd like to manifest in the coming season, and take note of what brings you pure, quiet joy. You can also meditate, do a stretching exercise, or light a Solar Blast candle to reign in the last energies of the summer sun. Step Four: Once you're done with the simmer bowl, don't discard the water! Your ritual isn't over yet. Strain the liquid into a mason jar and set it aside for the evening. Take the dried herbs and carry them outside, giving the plants back to Mother Earth. Say "thank you" as you return them to the earth. Step Five: Light a yellow or white candle in the evening and add the Lughnasadh herbal water to your bath. Focus on a white cleansing light around you in the bathtub as you soak in the magic you've created. Blessed Lughnasadh! By Amber C. Snider Lughnasadh, an ancient holiday to celebrate the first harvest of the year, is a great time for rituals involving abundance, growth, and gratitude.  Photo by Kura Tregenza on Unsplash Each year on August 1st, Lughnasadh is a Celtic/Gaelic festival that dates back to roughly the 1 A.D. and marks the time to the harvest, as well as giving thanks for the abundance of the earth. Historically, this time of year is a pivotal point in the calendar for harvesting the first grain and fruits of the season, which helps ensure survival over the coming winter months. It’s also the midway point between the summer solstice and the fall equinox, and part of the eight Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year in the Wiccan religion. In Celtic Ireland, Lughnasadh honors the Sun God Lugh, who is also known for his craftsmanship and is associated with grain, fertility, and abundance. The holiday was traditionally celebrated by cutting the grain, grinding it into flour, and baking the first bread of the season. In more modern times, Lughnasadh was syncretized with the Christian church and changed to Lammas or Loaf Mass Day (in Old English, lammas means “loaf mass") and involves blessing the first loaves of the season. Lughnasadh/Lammas is a time to celebrate all the hard work you’ve put in up until this point, get excited about the upcoming fall season and give thanks for the blessings of summer. For modern witches, Wiccans, and pagans this can also involve doing spellwork and rituals around prosperity, abundance, growth, and gratitude. Here, we’ve put together a few ways you can celebrate this sacred time using magical tools and rituals, regardless of the spiritual path you ascribe.  Photo by Polina Rytova on Unsplash Make corn husk dolls “Corn is abundant this time of year and in the olden days, people would make corn husk dolls from the harvest. They can be used as a form of sympathetic magic, too,” says Marisabel Santiago, a staff member at Enchantments. “These are old traditions representing the Goddess or Lugh’s mother, because [in some stories] she would die this time of year. As a result, some people would use the corn husk dolls for sympathetic magic to symbolize the pieces of themselves that no longer serve them. They would put [aspects of] themselves that no longer served them inside the corn husk dolls and burn them in a ritual, thus, letting go and also giving birth to their own harvest.” Here, we’ve found a great (free) step-by-step guide to creating your own corn husk doll from Pagan Song. A ritual using Rose of Jericho “Lammas is such a prosperous time. It’s good for money magick, prosperity, and [invoking] solar energy. I highly recommend working with the Rose of Jericho. It’s that miraculous plant that comes back to life. It’s typically left in water bowls and as it opens it brings prosperity. You can add dimes to the water to reign in more prosperity,” says Marisabel. Turn on the oven and bake some bread “I like to make simple, white bread for Lammas. Because it was the first harvest of the season, people would make the first cut of wheat, grind it up to make flour, and make bread from it. The first bread was offered to the God Lugh and people would take a trip up the mountain (because the mountains are closest to the sun) and bury it there. Then they’d have their celebrations there on the mountain,” says Marisabel. “My favorite bread to make is herb pull-apart bread with mozzarella cheese (here’s a recipe). If you don’t want to use the corn husk for sympathetic magick, you can also make little breadmen and fill it with intentions. If you were trying to lose weight, mold yourself into that image. If you want to represent the Goddess, shape it into a nice Venus of Willendorf…it’s just a really fun way to celebrate,” she adds. Burn Lammas Incense as a ritual “Lammas incense is excellent when you’re trying to work with air elemental magick. All you have to do is light some incense and make your intentions heard. As the incense blows up to the heavens, so your prayers get brought up,” says Marisabel. “Lammas has this whole history of going up the mountain to get in contact with the solar deity, but the fact that the incense carries up to the heavens saves you the trip of going up that hill,” she adds. #RunningUpThatHill. Nine Fruits incense, which brings luck and blessings, is also great this time of year.  Solar Blast kit Photo by Victor Castro Making a really nice meal “I love to make a really nice meal as a ‘thank you’ for all the blessings in my life during Lammas. It’s another great way of celebrating the harvest: You put in the hard work throughout the entire year to get to this point and you can take a moment to enjoy it all,” says Marisabel. “People nowadays really do have to take a moment to reflect on all the good, especially with all the bad stuff going around. Lammas is a great way to stop and just be. It’s also in the middle of Leo season, which is one of the happiest seasons!” Try a Solar Blast Candle to invoke the energy of the sun “A Solar Blast candle is great for this time of year. We’re still in summer, but we’re heading into the darker half of the year, so I love a Solar Blast to try to get that last bit of the sun into our prosperity rituals,” says Marisabel. “I also love a Success Candle, because it’s Leo season, and it’s all about that 5th House of being the inner child, showing up, and having that strength and vitality. Adding that [Leo] energy to your Success Candles can be a really big blessing, especially this time of year,” she says. Frankincense & Myrrh “Frankincense and myrrh are solar resins, so they tend to bring a lot of prosperity,” says Marisabel. You can purchase Frankincense resin here, which is used for cleansing and protection, and often burned with Myrrh, which is good for cleansing and protection. Money related candles & spells “Money-related candles are great because it’s time to reap that harvest and get that money!” she says. You can opt for a custom Money Drawing Candle, Money Draw incense or oil, a Money Pyramid Candle (good for long-term financial growth and promotes responsibility and good choices regarding money), a Money Draw spell kit, (which comes with a small incense and dram of oil), or a picture candle like this Mr. Money Candle. An Intense New Moon in Cancer Is Coming. Here Are 8 Magickal Ways To Make the Most of This Energy6/24/2025 By Marisabel Santiago; Edited by Amber C. Snider With Cancer's sensitive, intense watery pull, you may find an increase in your intuition and psychic energies. Here's how to work with this powerful New Moon in Cancer for June 25 and beyond.  Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash Tomorrow night, June 25, will be a New Moon in Cancer. With the sun so close to Jupiter in Cancer (its highest dignity) and the moon sharing her energy with it, the night of this New Moon makes it a perfect time for divination. Specifically, Oracular divination. Oracular divination typically entails uncovering future details, and in some cases, very far into the future. Cancer is known for being a deeply sensitive, intuitive, and psychic sign --- and you may even notice your own psychic senses are heightened at this time. This alignment of such planets may allow you to access to new insights into months (or even years) in advance. Okay, so what tools do you need to help assist your magick work? What kind of spellwork can you do to utilize this intense, sacred lunar energy? Well, keep on readin' witches....  Photo by shri on Unsplash A great ally that we have on Enchantments' shelves for such an auspicious night is our Delphic Dreams formula. The Oracle of Delphi was the High Priestess of the cult of Apollo in ancient Greece. Our blend is formulated to help you tap into the power of the Oracle herself. Not only can this psychic empowerment formula help you safely navigate the astral realm, but also assist with lucid dreaming, prophecy, divination (for rites connected to the sun), scrying, and/or crystal gazing to see the path up ahead. Here's how you can use our handmade Delphic Dreams incense and oils for New Moon in Cancer rituals:
Happy New Moon in Cancer and blessed be x Midsummer or the Summer Solstice (the longest day/shortest night of the year) is a time for celebrating the abundance in your life and all that is yet to come.  Stonehenge. Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay The Summer Solstice, also known as Litha in the Wiccan Sabbat, is the perfect time for fire and cleansing rituals, finding new balance, expansion, looking back on all you’ve accomplished so far in this year and celebrating it. All the big/little wins have added up, so it's time to bask in the growth of all the metaphorical seeds you planted in previous seasons, and embrace them coming to light. It’s also a time to honor the Goddess and the Sun God, which, depending on your magical practice and tradition, 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 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 ($16 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. It's also a good time to refresh your home with a bouquet of fresh flowers, which 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. 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 look like for me? This is a time for expansion, but also for 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. 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. Blessed be, witches x 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.
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. |
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