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by Christopher Penczak, edited by Tina Whittle

I’ve been giving some thought to the different tracks or stages in our spiritual exploration and development. We often think of this process as searching for and finding “it”—whatever “it” is—but after reading two different and completely unrelated posts, my mind in spinning in new directions.

One Twitter post by @LiminalEarth was on cryptids as spiritual entities, which led me to ponder how differences in such phenomena are perhaps simply different stages in certain creature evolutions. Who would guess the butterfly would come from the caterpillar unless you saw it or knew it? The other inspiration came from observing a post from a passing acquaintance vehemently doing what folks are calling “spiritual gatekeeping” these days.

While I don’t think it’s a linear spiritual evolution with one universal end goal in mind that fits everyone—as we each start in different places and end, due to the shortness of life, in different places—there do seem to be common themes many people go through. Some seem to go in the reverse order of others, but the themes persist.

We go through periods of philosophizing about things, and then actually putting them into action with some sort of practice. We go through various stages of optimism, pessimism, and even nihilism, as we explore concepts of dualism, holism, and multiplicity.

Experiences can form the hard rules of Dogma or the soft rules of custom and tradition, and for many, the non-rules of the mystical experience and a level of spiritual anarchism.

Our educational mode can move through stages of learning and reading everything, to regurgitating everything we have read and heard, often with little understanding and great authority. We can know nothing and not know it, or no nothing and know we know nothing. Or we can think we know everything, and all evidence to the contrary does not penetrate. Our teacup is too full. Nothing new can go into it.

Some put books down, for a while or for good, and pursue direct experiences. Eventually we must synthesize all this knowledge into our own path, regardless of the groups and traditions we already belong to.

We go through various phases of spiritual control, at times seeking to control others and control situations, at others learning to control ourselves and our reactions. We work alone. We work in groups. We lead groups. We leave groups and work alone again.

The stages of control teach us about power, exerting power, and inherent power, and how those who exert the most strongly are often the least in touch with inner power. We learn when to surrender and went to act. Some only learn to express power against, in rebellion, a flip side to the “power over” dynamic. Some learn power with, and others only learn power alone.

We explore wounding, and we often unconsciously, though sometimes consciously, end up wounding others in trying to understand our own wounds. We recognize our wounds and hopefully go through stages of healing those wounds and healing again.

We do all this doing, and end up in a place of being, where we are still doing, but with a better recognition of the being doing the doing.

by Christopher Penczak, edited by Tina Whittle

As part of my journey, I got deeply involved with the lightworker paradigm as found in the modern New Age movement. While a crossroads for many esoteric paths—including holistic health, flower essences, yoga, crystals, channeling, and angels—its deeper underpinnings are rooted in Theosophy.

One of the hallmarks of the work is the emphasis on light and love as not just virtues but tangible energies sent by the practitioner. They were ultimately the solution to all problems. Sick—send light and love. World crisis—send light and love. Dangerous conflict—surround yourself in light and love. Send them light and love, and all will be well. And it will. Eventually. Depending on your definition of “well.”

One teacher emphasized a shift in our wards and protection shields. I was taught never to return malicious harm for harm (something I still agree with) and to instead send love back to the sender of the harm, with the idea that true unconditional love would ultimately change the bad behavior. I found it effective, felt good about it, and taught others.

Then, as I grew more well known, I encountered some truly toxic personalities. You don’t have to be famous to have this happen, but since I had been blessed with a relatively healthy family and circle of friends, I had been mostly unexposed to such noxious people. What I noticed was that my pre-programmed and then conscious efforts of sending love and light seemed to only encourage them:

• Do something horribly wrong.
• Receive a blast of love.
• This must be my reward.
• I feel good about what I’ve done.
• I’m justified by feeling so good.
• It’s affirming.

I was reinforcing their bad behavior with loving energy while trying to maintain what I thought were compassionate boundaries. I was exhausted and ineffective.

Occultists have the four primal “L-words” for the elements. Light and Love are half. They stand for fire and water. There are also Life for air and Law for Earth, though the teachings of Aleister Crowley often replace Law with Liberty. I use Liberty for spirit, having five L-words. Light and love alone can be imbalanced.

In the Temple of Witchcraft, we pay the virtue of love with will and wisdom. Wisdom balances the sentiment of love and the action of will, which is more than simple willful desire; it is also true soul purpose. Love is not sentimental love alone, but also unconditional love. Wisdom is not just knowledge, but the understanding of how to apply knowledge in true will and unconditional love. They are fundamental forces to us.

Now when I charge my shield, I reflect love, will, and wisdom to the source of the harm. Rather than offering a feel-good move, I send out awareness of the soul’s purpose and the harm they are doing. May the recipient grow and choose wiser actions in the future.

Since then I have noticed a shift, at least in me. I feel I can more effectively hold compassionate boundaries for myself and others, energetically, verbally, and physically.

by Christopher Penczak

The Temple of Witchcraft is not a coven-based tradition, yet we identify as Witches, a concept that mystifies many people. We teach through an academic model, but encourage personal exploration of magickal partnerships, working groups, and covens, but not for teaching, where the social and spiritual roles can get messy and boundaries blurred.

A wonderful friend and mentor, Deborah Bourbon, taught me that magick is like music and you start in your bedroom alone jamming to the classics. You might join a band, a coven, and think it’s for life. You might do it several times and then you gain enough experience to be akin to a session musician, skilled enough for jamming with other peers on their projects and inviting others to help you with yours. Experience and peer-ship gives you freedom and latitude.

Today it’s both easier and harder to find and form circles, covens, and magickal working groups. Since a lot of folks form them with no previous experience it can be hard to pass on methods that work, but sometime those who do pass on methods calcify in thinking their methods are the only ones that work.

One of the methods of group dynamic education we offer is a class embodying a working group for the turn of a year. People commit to specific roles in the group for the year and the magic is of a visionary and interpersonal nature, for the good of the community or greater world, not spells for individual needs and desires. The work evolves the individual and the group and reverberates in the community.

Dawn speaks of these changes: “The most profound thing for me is that it changes your magick and your energy. When you are holding a role for the Pilgrimage it permeates your life in ways that you are not expecting…it helps you to love more deeply, it helps you to hone your magickal focus more clearly, it tests the truth of your will. When you are working the group magick it helps you to see beyond your own life and into a big picture and the big picture comes into your life in a myriad of ways. For example, I have a tendency to be very fast and sometimes loose with my words. When I was the Keeper of Air, I realized how much power is in words. I learned to control my spoken words and I had deeper thoughts than I did before. I have learned so much from the experience and I hope I will be able to work group magick like it again soon.”

Scott found, “The path of this magick was an opportunity to take what I do as a witch to another level. I found myself challenged to be vulnerable and open in new ways, in a new online format. I was transformed as I was guided by the Spirit of the office that was divined for me. The Pilgrim’s path was a work challenge, and I sometimes struggled, but always revealed at the result as each participant created with me, a ritual of the season. “

Named The Pilgrimage of the Sun and Stars, giving a nod to the visionary Pilgrim’s Progress and the idea of pilgrimage as traveling to some sacred place difficult to reach, we use the astrological models of the Wheel of the Year, the movements of the Sun and Stars in relationship with the Earth, to guide us.

The team of the working group is traditionally twelve members with one or two more taking the role of Magister as teacher, guide, and master of ceremonies. Roles include:

• Bearer of Earth
• Bearer of Fire
• Bearer of Air
• Bearer of Water
• Priest of the Lord of Animals
• Priest of the Lord of the Land
• Priestess of the Lady of White
• Priestess of the Lady of Red
• Priestess of the Lady of Black
• Sovereign
• Seer
• Sorcerer

Some roles are gendered and some are neutral and sometimes the priests and priestesses roles are reversed, with Priestesses of the Lords and Priests of the Ladies.

“I served as the Lord of Animals,” Scott says. “I watched the shift of dark to light. I embodied the Horned God on the Wheel. I stood in the shadow of changes. After I got over my initial hesitation and worked deeper with that Spirits, the creativity opened. Seeing how I can contribute to the Wheel, to the Soul of the work, was heart-opening, and humbling. With our collective vision, through my intention and the operating office, we each wove a thread into the tapestry of the year-long magickal vision.”

Steve shares his experience in the practice of the group: “There are certain practices in life where you, like me, may experience resistance. Take exercise, for example. I often approach the notion of exercising by having to coddle the child-like “Ugh…I don’t wanna!” of my lower-self but, almost invariably, I feel better after the experience, know I’ve done something positive for myself, and am glad I overcame my own resistance. I find this even easier to do when I have a workout buddy to help encourage me. That’s also often my experience with the practice of ritual: I sigh, I procrastinate, but when called upon to step up and be responsible to a circle of fellow Witches, I do what needs doing … and then magick happens, and I always find myself grateful for the path, the practice, and those sharing the journey with me. Being a Pilgrim of the Sun and Stars has allowed me to give the gift of this practice to myself, and to my fellow Witches, and to receive it from them in return.”

Embodying the shift from the personal to the interpersonal, Chris describes this process for himself. “I’ve had the pleasure of holding multiple roles in the Pilgrimage, and there’s plenty which could be said about how they have developed me as a witch and participant of the Wheel. The greater value of each, though, has been both simpler and harder to describe: what happens when magick stops being about your self and the focus instead turns to what you’re bringing out for others, and ultimately the world. And understanding that that is the true heart of what we do.”

Jason, who has also held multiple roles, shared with us: “This is a very profound experience to be a part of. When you take on the roles, you begin to see and feel them in your everyday life. Having been involved in this group for three years and seeing the world through the eyes of the roles, each year, my experience and daily life revolved differently around each of the roles.”

We have sought to expand the work of the Pilgrims from the first year experiment in-person to an online group that gathers via the astral and guided journey together, preparing the “script” recording together. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both the in-person and online groups have been gathering online to continue this work.

Speaking on the alchemy of a group of relative strangers getting together for such intense work, online no less, Marian shares her experience. “My first thoughts after the initial online meeting was ‘how the hell are we going to pull this off?’ It seemed an impossible task and I have to admit I was anxious about being a part of it. As the fire keeper, my job was to inspire this group of people I barely knew. I had so many questions, like how do I convey inspiration online?  The idea was so foreign to me. But as the year progressed it became crystal clear what our mission was as a group, and how imperative our job was for the future of witches crossing this earthly plane. Soon my thoughts steered away from my own fears and focused on my community. I am forever grateful for being a part of  this pilgrimage.”

These Witches gather first impressions in the meeting and then deepen the experiences on their own. Together they create an intricate web of relationship between each other and the entities and powers they are mediating for the group.

My hope is that as more of our teachers experience this dynamic, eventually, more in-person groups will be offered once it is safe to do so, to show new ways of groups working together in magick and community. Alfred sums it up well for us all, “The Pilgrimage made the mysteries of the Goddess and God come alive, again, for me. Turning the Wheel and being intimately connected with their dance through the seasons rekindled magick I thought dormant or disconnected. If one does the work, one knows and is blessed for it.”

Interested Temple initiates and graduates of Witchcraft II or higher should visit the Pilgrims of the Sun and Stars page for additional information and the application for the currently-forming new working group.

During the month of Leo, we would like to thank Nikki Valliere for her service in the New England Temple of Witchcraft community. In 2016, Nikki joined our wonderful group of musicians and has provided drumming, percussion, and vocals for our sabbats and workshops ever since.

Shortly thereafter, she began volunteering for the Cancer Ministry. What began with the creation of crafting projects for the children’s sabbats evolved into the longer term work of guiding the next generation of witches through ritual, lessons, and seasonally-based crafting. Over the years, our little witchlings have created talismans, beaded window crystals, simple percussive instruments, and herb-infused oils. Nikki also supports the Shawl Ministry, weaving shawls for community members in times of celebration, grief, and healing.

For the past three years, Nikki has coordinated children’s activities for TempleFest. She develops crafting projects for Family Day based on the ages of children in attendance, ensuring that everyone has fun, engaging, and age-appropriate projects. She also assists in the arduous work of pre-event set up and post-event take down. With TempleFest being held virtually this year, Nikki has come up with projects that can be done with basic supplies at home. She’s also providing printable templates for these virtual projects.

We’re so grateful for all of Nikki’s creative work, as she inspires both children and adults to embrace the art and craft of witchcraft.

by Christopher Penczak, edited by Tina Whittle

Do you think more magick is being done now than in any other time in history? While our modern society can be considered secular, the growth of the population as a whole and the availability of resources—including popular books and now the internet combined with many magickal techniques being reframed as self-help and personal transformation—could result in an increase in magick. Or perhaps I’m low-balling ancient populations steeped in daily folk magick or even the ubiquitousness of magick in more recent Christian times. I don’t honestly know. But I think about it a lot.

My family had divination and Italian Catholic folk magick, but their usage wasn’t an everyday thing. It was either for “fun” or in emergencies. My relatives had a divinely inspired worldview, one of God and saints being directly involved in life, but it wasn’t a particularly magickal one. Nothing was rooted in the land, or even the ancestors.

Perhaps there is an illusion on social media of more people doing magick when really there are simply more people talking about magick and posting pretty photos. Perhaps it’s all flash and very little bang.

But I do think there has been a huge upswing in magick from, say, the 1940s to now, at least in the US. I would normally think that is great—a sign of the Aquarian Age with each individual stepping into their power and creating their life, making magick accessible to all—but last night’s 3 a.m. deep thoughts had me wondering about that assessment. What is our collective psychic landscape looking like with all that magick flying around? What is it doing to the collective consciousness?

There’s more magick, yes, but less training. Combine that with a tendency to take off the ethical training wheels before learning the consequences of our actions and you get more magick, yes, but also more curses. And while some are for justice, many are for petty reasons cast in anger or jealousy. And while our collective landscape has always had anger, jealousy, malice, and injustice, magick ritual carries more voltage than the average person’s daily thoughts.

Perhaps there are also more collective prayer requests focused on specific actions and times; these are most often Christian, due to “prayer warriors” being coordinated online, but also include group healing via Reiki and the like, which operate on a similar framework. Are they not also a form of magick as they cause change? Are they of the same voltage as a small prayer circle gathered in a church with a prayer list? I don’t know. But they do contribute to the churning energies.

While I think magick comes from your enchanted worldview and how you live your life, and I believe in magick permeating the everyday, bigger acts of magick have a true voltage. It’s hard to carry. In times past, our insulation was temple living, oriented to the sacred technologies and supported by community, protected by the solitude of the forest hedge or mountain cave. When we don’t take breaks from big magick, we burn out, imbalance our endocrine system, and short-circuit our energy networks. We can literally go mad as our magickal wires fry and our vessel cracks.

I look to our collective world and wonder if the level of bigger and more globally connected magick—often created in haphazard and selfish ways unrooted in egregore, tradition, or the ancestors—is doing good or causing harm?

Collectively there is a lot of talk about self-care (for many reasons in our modern society), but self-care is also a key to healing from magickal overload and burnout. On a personal level, I wonder about the intense attention and energy directed at individuals via social media. I think a point of success and failure with many modern film, TV, and musical stars (as well as politicians) is the intense energy, both good and bad, directed at them. Love, adoration, obsession, jealousy, and anger have a real voltage, even from ordinary people. That mechanic is now repeated on multiple small scales via social media, both for influencers and ordinary people who unwittingly go “viral.”

Now we have a generation of magickal social media stars, the next crop of what was once referred to as the Big Name Pagans, or BNP. The difference today with all of us is the continual stream of daily and weekly status updates instead of the occasional event, interview, or new book release from the relatively small group of BNP. Couple that with a magickal community with access to more technique, often less training and ethics, and a greater willingness to curse for smaller reasons, and you have a dangerous mix. When I see many social-media-savvy influencers and big names post some accomplishments or a controversial opinion and then post how they are repeatedly sick, it’s easy to think there is some malefica going on against them, be it a conscious curse or unconscious lashing out. Previous generations of Witches would never announce they were sick or traveling publicly until they were better or had arrived. Keeping such information close was a commonsense magickal precaution. No wonder experienced magickal practitioners are often aghast to see the new generation announce everything and then seem bewildered by their obstacles. Their past “fights” were in the slow-print pagan publications, the letter columns, and the community responses. The constant personal content whips up people, including the magickally inclined audience, filling the ethers more than ever before. Newer public figures deal with more of a public energetic response, good and bad, than ever before. Some may make you stronger, but not always.

While my future hopeful vision is a secular Aquarian world with freedom and support for all spiritual paths, I see magick being a huge part of that, at least for me. I think whatever our collective path, for survival and/or self-development, we will be using magick. Perhaps a time of more chaotic and random magick being thrown around now is part of that future’s growing pains.

…and How to Survive Them

Relationships, they complicate our lives, and still we don’t want to be without them. We all go through periods in life when we have a good flow in the relationship department, and then there are other times when just about every relationship you have feels tense and complicated. First of all, I believe it is important not to take yourself out of the equation. The thing all of your relationships have in common, no matter how far away from each other socially they may be, is you.

Does meeting others make you feel itchy on the inside?

Are you constantly being irritated?

Is everyone else being stupid?

Are you not fun to be around?

If yes, then you probably need to take a good look at and figure out what’s going on? What are you processing at the moment? And are you doing it in a responsible and healthy way?

On the other hand, we also have collective influences and energies that hit everyone more or less. So if you have a lot on your plate, feel a constant pressure or fatigue, then chances are other people are feeling it as well. Then you are not alone in this and that can be comforting, but at the same time you may need to take in that others are having a tough time, too.

Juno, Manipulations, and Covens

In the astrological chart the asteroid Juno describes the ways we face issues of compatibility, trust, sharing, and how receptive we are. She also shows how we deal with things like possessiveness, jealousy, and power struggles.

Right now Juno is making some challenging aspects in the heavens. Juno herself is in the sign of Libra at 14 degrees. There she heightens our need for equality and balance in our relationships. At the moment we are now more sensitive than usual if we feel our partners—in love, friendship or other social communities—are treating us unfairly. (Juno is in the sign of Libra until Mabon and the Fall Equinox.)

Juno makes a challenging aspect to Mercury at 15 degrees (communication, friends, siblings, neighbors) in the sign of Cancer (family, home, close to the heart). This can create tension and irritation in relationships, families, and even covens. Perhaps you are thinking “Did she really say that?” or “What does he really mean by that!?” If you are in a magickal group-setting you may feel “No way that I’m going to be in the same coven with them!”

It could be your friend is just having a bad day of communication and Mercury is expressed in an unbalanced or unconscious way. But, it can also be that you are seeing and hearing very well and now have the opportunity to say no to a repeated pattern. Mercury/Juno can activate verbal abuse and make it seen. Same thing with power struggles and domination.

But until you are sure about what’s going on… take a breath and wait. I will tell you why in just one moment. (Juno’s aspect to Mercury has been going on for a while and will end around the 2nd of August.)

Juno and Power Struggles

Juno can easily get into power struggles and they can be subtle but also very strong. It can be the partner standing silently beside the husband or wife in the spotlight, pulling the threads and balancing the power in a way they see fit. Right now Juno is in opposition (challenging aspect) to Mars (will, power). Mars is also in his own sign of Aries at 16 degrees.

So when we get into the crossfire we can be pulled between Mars in Aires saying “You are bad and you are stupid, I want you away from here or I will kill you!” and the more apparently civilized Juno in Libra saying “That’s not civilised so I will drag you to court, tell everyone about who you really are and you will never, ever have a social life again!”

One of them (Mars) is openly aggressive and the other (Juno) is passive-aggressive. Astrologically the solution lies between them. Setting boundaries, but with no underlying or manipulating agenda. Easier said than done, but this is not an easy aspect right now.

Lilith Black Moon and Feeling Impotent

We also have another important player to consider. We have Lilith Black Moon at 20 degrees in Aries. There she can create some tricky illusions right now. I would not say that Lilith Black Moon in herself is manipulating. She creates a dark spot, a void where we cannot see with our usual senses. Wherever Lilith Black Moon is present, we are blind and can make the wrong assumptions.

Lilith Black Moon is starting to get close to Mars and there she makes it hard to see what we want, and don’t want. We may also feel impotent, in terms of not being able to manifest, make a difference or get things done. We are putting in the hours but the results doesn’t show. This can create a lot of frustration and if not handled in a good way could lead to aggression, violence, or depression. So what can we do?

Redirecting Energy

Pallas Athena is a helpful ally right now. Even if she is making a challenging aspect at 17 degrees in Capricorn to all of Juno, Mercury, Mars, and Lilith Black Moon, she has the power to redirect energy using strategy. Juno is many times stronger in the astrological charts of energy healers, perhaps due to her connection to Medusa and the snake.

If you usually get things done late in the evening but it has not worked well recently, try earlier in the day, or vice versa. If you usually work nonstop during the day, try and divide the day in two parts and have a siesta in between. Change the position of things. Try new setups, rearrange. If your tarot cards doesn’t speak anymore, try another time for your readings. Try another deck, change your altar. You may be surprised what happens. Another thing that could be helpful is to make lists of what you and your family have already done, so you don’t go around falsely (Lilith Black Moon) believing you are doing nothing (Mars).

Moving Energy Channels

As the powerlines are changing around us and up in the heavens, they have a big chance of changing in our bodies as well, especially if you are an Energy Healer or Spiritual Healer. You may have energy outbursts in your body manifesting as feeling hot or cold. You could also have lumbago or back-pain. It will probably not last for long but can still create some problems. (Mars in Aries square Pallas Athena and Jupiter in Capricorn.)

Back to the Coven and Your Partner

The reason to not be too fast to leave the Coven, or end a relationship is because there is so much going on right now, and it is hard to see what is what. Another way of describing it is that we are not at the finale yet, we are more like in the second act of three at the opera. Juno/Mars is saying. “I’ve had enough!” And Lilith Black Moon is saying, “But what if I’m wrong and there is something else going on?” The answer is, that we don’t know yet.

What we do know is that it is not a good idea to dance with your partner, when they are dancing in the shadows. If your friend, partner, or lover is clearly not “sober” in the sense of acting, behaving, or relating to others. Be the brave one, be the sober, adult one and tell your side of it, as I’m sure you would like your loved ones to do for you. But—and there is a big but in here—do it in a good and balanced way, making sure it is not your own unbalanced Mars or Juno dancing on the tables. This theme will intensify at the end of August and the beginning of September.

Power of the Owl and the Medicine of Laughter

The Owl is a close ally and symbol for both Lilith Black Moon and Pallas Athena, both asteroids very active right now. As a travel companion to Lilith Black Moon she helps us to travel and see in the dark, uncover hidden truths, and find lost treasures. As an ally to Pallas Athena she assists us in being wise, fair, and just. If it feels right for you to do so, you can work with the animal totem of Owl, asking for wisdom and discernment.

Another side of working with the energy of Owl is their good sense of humor. When things get messy in our lives and we fall off our broomsticks and land unexpectedly on our rumps (or “rumpa” as we say in Swedish), we must not forget to laugh! Laughing, singing, and not being afraid to make fools out of ourselves from time to time is a good remedy to keep sane in these crazy times.

Blessings!
Karin Spirit Talker Turtle Red

Recommended Reading

Asteroid Goddesses, The Mythology, Psychology and Astrology of the Re-emerging Feminine. Demetra George and Douglas Bloch. Ibis Press.

Karin Ugander (Spirit Talker Turtle Red) is a spiritual channeler living in the south of Sweden. In Scandinavia she is known for the AstroNumerology and psychic readings she’s been doing for over 20 years. Together with her husband Niklas, she runs KaniSkolan, a school of astrology, numerology, tarot, StarCode Healing, and natural medicine. They are also the founders of Alven Inner Ring tradition, a Scandinavian mystery school with roots in shamanism and magick. Karin loves to create magickal oils, flower essences and sigils she combines in her “Karin Victoria” sigil candles and flower sprays. In her spare time she likes to travel, walk in the forest with her dog, and spend time by the ocean. Karin is a high priestess and graduate of the Temple of Witchcraft’s seminary program.

You can find Karin Ugander at Instagram @flowerpowerwitch and @karinuganderofficial

by Christopher Penczak, edited by Tina Whittle

I’m all about the occult wisdom of memes these days. Well, not really. I’m all about an inner fire when I see well-meaning people perpetuate supposedly helpful ideas that are ultimately harmful, at least in the magickal community in which we both operate. The recent meme in question said:

“You disrespect yourself every time you say yes when you want to say no. You call it loyalty/love/friendship. Really you are just hoping someone will see how amazing you are and choose you. It shouldn’t work that way. Choose yourself. That’s how you teach them. By choosing you.”

It speaks to the evolving self-care culture which in itself isn’t inherently wrong. We must take care of ourselves, fill our cup before we can help others. And we shouldn’t be motivated by how we are perceived by others. The dominance of self-care and me-first messages is a symptom of a sick society, and while it might address an individual need in the moment, it does little to address the problem at hand and can encourage an isolated and egocentric experience, one which is already fueled by the dominance of the dark side of social media. As we approach the societal shifts that will come from potential environmental and economic collapse, we need to learn survival skills, which include not only wilderness crafts, home medicine, and growing our own food, but how to survive in small communities with empathy, reciprocity, and a sense of communal responsibility.

As a magician, witch, or magick worker of some stripe, we must ask which part of ourselves is saying yes and which part is saying no. We over-identify with the ego, the Middle Self, our personal identity. My personal self says no all the time. My personal self often wants to stay in bed, eat Doritos, and tell people who want me to do things to fuck off. My personal self wanted to say no to studying Witchcraft. I thought it was silly. My personal self certainly said no to being an author and teacher. And many days my personal self wants to say no to my day-to-day responsibilities that other people rely on me to do.

Likewise I’m sure there are people I rely on in community who want to say no to me sometimes. But we all say yes. Am I disrespecting myself? No, I don’t think so. Does the motivation of loyalty, love, or friendship motivate me? Sometimes. Do I know there are necessary mechanics to support the rest of the good stuff that is not always pleasant? Yes, and I think anyone in an adult life realizes that at some point. Does this spark joy? No. But to live in my home, I need to pay the rent, and while I like my home, I don’t get any joy from writing that check.

The current self-care paradigm requires that we cut out all toxic people. If they can’t support us, we should drop them. But what if they’re just going through a bad patch? What if I’m going through a bad patch? If we only want good-vibe people in our lives, then who will give us honest advice or tell us when they think we are making a mistake? All of this advice looks great in a tweet, but lacks the necessary nuance. It is easily embraced by those drowning in responsibilities and worries, who then alienate the people who could support them. Unfortunately, building stronger and more authentic relationships is hard to sum up in a pithy post or advertising slogan.

There are definitely times when both our Higher Soul and our personality are saying “no” and telling us to slow down, when that primal Lower Self is urging us to rest and replenish. And we should heed these messages. But they happen far more frequently today because of our lack of purposefulness around our true work, lack of appropriate boundaries, and lack of authentic support systems. A scented bath is nice, but true self care includes establishing these deeper supports in your life, not quick fixes.

Following the yes of the soul, the Higher Self, often requires a lot of little no’s from the personal self that requires transmutation. If you are consistently miserable, unhealthy, and out of alignment, then say no and make different choices. If you are saying yes out of low self-esteem, in a desire to be liked or to get someone to respond to you in a favorable way, start saying no and make some inner changes. But if you are doing some temporarily unpleasurable things in the name of friendship, love, and community, good job! Me too. Many of us are, and that creates the space held for people to enjoy life and feel supported.

As a Witch, I think about offerings, sacrifice, and reciprocity a lot. Few of us do old-style sacrifice, and most would object to it today, but I think of many of my actions that serve my higher will, my community, as offerings and sacrifices. In that light, it transforms them and makes them holy. They become something of love rather than a burden. They become a blessing, a realization that because I have such people and situations in my life, I can make these offerings and enjoy our lives together. So in the end, I try not to choose me, but we.

be Renee Bedard

As we practice Reiki, we understand that we are not healing the client that comes to see us. We are holding space to allow the Reiki to flow as it must. We are the vessel for the Reiki energy to flow through so it may enter the energy of the receiver. The client is open to receive the energy and in turn is choosing to walk through the doorway of healing. That is where their mysteries may be revealed. Reiki will show the receiver the beauty and love that they truly are. This of course, is the best-case scenario. What happens when we have a client enter into a healing crisis? What happens when we as practitioners enter our own healing crisis? Are we able to hold the sacred space for ourselves? A wise friend of mine recently talked about stories – the stories we hear, tell each other, and tell ourselves. This quickly opened a door in my mind and it flooded me with all of the memories and words I told myself in order to ‘get by’ so I could deal with ‘it’ at another time. That once hidden and locked door I had charged with guarding the painful shadows from sight is now open and brought into the light. Memories and stories can flood us all. So, what do we do with the bound and newly found darkened pieces of ourselves?

As witches and Reiki practitioners, we have the ability to walk along our Borderlands. We can open up the lines of healing and communication. We have the ability to breathe deeply, find our center, and walk the winding, spiraling staircase within ourselves. When we discover such places, we can acknowledge them, hold them, open ourselves up to these forgotten places that are ready to be held with compassion and love. That is how the healing process can begin. It is how we can begin to unbind ourselves from our painful experiences. By acknowledging what we have experienced, we are giving our wounds and trauma a voice and a space to be heard. Once we create the container, allow a space for love and compassion, we can continue our healing with Reiki. By offering the Divine Reiki Energy to ourselves, we can ease our pain. We can even open up the channel of time and ask the Reiki energy to embrace ourselves during a difficult time to help with our suffering. With continued work and healing, we can unravel the threads that held us back, freeing ourselves from what once was in order to create what can be.

Walking the path of a witch and Reiki practitioner, we have the ability to see things in a different light. We may also need to remember that healing can and will be messy at times. That is okay and part of the process. During times of great stress, try to reach out to someone. A trusted friend, family member or another Reiki practitioner that can offer support as you move through the cycle of healing. Just like all parts of nature, we are woven into the fabric of life. What you think and feel is important. Your growth, healing, and development is important. Holding space for ourselves and others is something that is necessary and vital in life. If we are not able to look within ourselves, we will have difficulty in doing so for others. Please, take the time for yourself and sit with your stories. Are they a collection of your own thoughts, experiences, and dreams or are they a shadowy amalgamation of you and others around you? You have the right to claim what is yours and unbind what is not. With the healing and graceful energy of Reiki, may you embrace yourself as you make your way along the winding road of the witch.

Renee Bedard is a Mystery School student and a Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner. She co-leads the monthly Reiki Shares at the Temple of Witchcraft in Salem, NH. If you would like to take part in the Reiki Share, please send an email to register at [email protected].

The Sun in Cancer is now traveling together with the asteroid Vesta. The Sun and Vesta together create a lot of passion, intensity, and devotion. Perhaps you feel more alive and passionate right now, even hunger for more love, sex, and intensive emotions? When this energy is used in a beneficial way, we have the possibility to dive deeper into our sexuality, passion, and what drives us in life. When not used in a good way, it can be turned towards our environment, accusing others for not giving us what we want. We become frustrated and easily irritated. The advice is simple: make love, not war. Keep the passion flowing, make time for your partner and romantic evenings and you will eliminate a lot of frustration and irritation. This is a good opportunity to make potions, incense, and oils for love, tantra, and passion. Because the union between the Sun and Vesta is in the sign of Cancer, there is also tenderness, caring, and romance in this hot and ecstatic energy. The Sun and Vesta are travelling together until around the 21st of July.

What Do You Want?

On a higher level Vesta also talks about our devotion, service, and higher purpose in life. Together with the Sun we can get really devoted and ready to serve. But what do you want to serve? In what way? To make things more complicated the Sun and Vesta are in a challenging aspect to Lilith Black Moon at 18 degrees in Aries. Lilith Black Moon creates a blind spot, something we cannot see or feel with our ordinary senses. So we have all of this intense energy we are ready to use in service, but right now we have no idea about how. We do not know what we want and the process to finding the answer cannot be intellectualised. It is something that you need to live through, finding the answers along the way.

First thing to realize is that you are not alone in this. No one knows this at the moment. Even the most successful artist, writer or business-person is living in uncertain times. Everything is changing everywhere. What is good with Lilith Black Moon is that she comes with unexpected gifts once the transit is over. She creates in darkness and we need to trust the process and be open to unusual turns of events.

Know Your Limitations and Boundaries

We can all get carried away by our passions and we can also be lured into things that are not good for us if we follow another’s passion without discernment. With the Sun and Vesta conjunction making a square to Lilith Black Moon, there is a danger of walking too far off into the less clear or more dangerous zones of life. Make sure to use your head and your heart before you wander off and get yourself into trouble! Mind and maintain your boundaries, including not stepping over them yourself.

This constellation can also trigger underlying issues and bring them to the surface. If you or someone close to you has recovered from depression or addiction it is important to take extra good care. Do the things that help you find balance and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Vesta and Lilith Black Moon are in a challenging square until the beginning of August.

The Blessing of Friendship

Venus is now in the sign of Gemini (friends, siblings, small talk). This is a good placement for friendships. She is also making a good aspect to Mars in Aries. This could bring a sparkle to a new or old romantic relationship or friendship. Venus is also making a big trine to the asteroid Juno in the sign of Libra. This is good for collaborations and joint projects. Sometimes we need someone else to bring a project into reality and sometimes it’s just more creative and fun to work together with someone else. Don’t underestimate the power of joined energies and the blessings of friendship right now. This is also a good aspect to work magick for cooperation and group settings.

Venus and Mars work together until around the 26th of July. Venus moves further and into the sign of Cancer around the 7th of August.

Water Magick and the Return of Hope

Sweden is a country with long coastlines. We also have many rivers and lakes. The presence of water and water magick is strong and very close to us as a people. Perhaps a part of this is the legacy from the Vikings, people of the sea who travelled long distances by water. I’ve always lived by the ocean and I can not imagine living far away from the coast. One of the things the Spirit of Water has taught me is to work where it is open. If water finds the slightest opening, it finds a way in.

Right now it’s almost like the sky is locked-in with many heavy, difficult, and long-lasting transits. The doors appear closed and it may feel like there is no way out and that all hope is lost. But if we look at the faster-moving planets and the Moon, we find that there are small windows opening up now and then. They may not be long-lasting, but long enough for us to breathe in, use the magic, and create a beautiful day, a beautiful week, and some happy moments to balance all the tension and heavy energy surrounding us. Magick and goodness, like water, only needs a crack, a small opening to get inside, get strong and create, hopefully something beautiful.

Right now we have Neptune (spirituality, dreams, creativity) and the asteroid goddess Ceres (nurturing) in the water sign of Pisces (healing, compassion, intuition). There they can help us to fill up with both nurturing energies and compassion, not just for others but also for ourselves, which is needed if we are to find strength to be able to help others. Next week around the 20th of July we have a new moon, with both the Sun and the Moon joined in the water sign of Cancer. In the same sign we will have the asteroid Vesta (devotion, passion, protection) and Mercury (communication).

Water is flowing in, and as Magickal People, Witches, and Healers we can direct that Sacred Water towards more compassion, happiness, and perhaps most important, Hope. All we need is the smallest opening….

Blessings!
Karin Spirit Talker Turtle Red

Karin Ugander (Spirit Talker Turtle Red) is a spiritual channeler living in the south of Sweden. In Scandinavia she is known for the AstroNumerology and psychic readings she’s been doing for over 20 years. Together with her husband Niklas, she runs KaniSkolan, a school of astrology, numerology, tarot, StarCode Healing, and natural medicine. They are also the founders of Alven Inner Ring tradition, a Scandinavian mystery school with roots in shamanism and magick. Karin loves to create magickal oils, flower essences and sigils she combines in her “Karin Victoria” sigil candles and flower sprays. In her spare time she likes to travel, walk in the forest with her dog, and spend time by the ocean. Karin is a high priestess and graduate of the Temple of Witchcraft’s seminary program.

You can find Karin Ugander at Instagram @flowerpowerwitch and @karinuganderofficial