The moon, ever shifting through phases of silvery light, holds unique, potent energies that can guide and support us through the sacred rhythms of life. Living in sync with the moon is especially helpful when it comes to pursuing our passion projects, as the progression of moon phases naturally supports creation, growth, culmination, and release. Each phase of the moon holds its own magic, which we can draw upon to assist us in these endeavors as well as to celebrate our achievements along the way. I’ve crafted a full moon herbal bath salt to help you do just that.

UNIQUE ENERGIES OF THE EIGHT PHASES OF THE MOON

Dark/New Moon
This lunar phase’s energy invites us to a place of darkness and stillness, a watery womb of rebirth where we can begin again if we choose. It’s an ideal phase for inner reflection and sowing seeds of intention for long-term growth.

Waxing Crescent
The sliver of light of the waxing crescent stirs new energy that can help us set our intentions in motion through goal setting and action. Nurture the seeds you planted by taking practical steps toward your desires.

First Quarter
The moon is half light and half dark during this phase, with energy expanding outward. Continue with actions toward your goals, making decisions and dealing with any obstacles along the way. Refine and reshape your plan as needed and continue moving forward with perseverance and steadfastness.

Waxing Gibbous
Energy is rapidly building. This is a good time to evaluate your progress, continue to refine your intentions, and prepare for culmination.

Full Moon
This is the culminating phase of full illumination and lunar power at its peak. It’s a time to celebrate your achievements while also taking some time for self-care, for cleansing and recharging in this phase’s abundant energy.

Waning Gibbous
After the peak, the process of release begins. It’s a time to feel grateful for your growth and all that you’ve learned, while at the same time letting go of any excess that doesn’t serve your desires.

Last Quarter
As the moon is once again half lit, the energy of the last quarter turns inward. Resolve any unfinished business, tie up loose ends, and continue to clear what no longer serves your goals.

Waning Crescent
Also known as the Crone’s Moon, this final sliver of light before the darkness invites us to enter into rest and let go so we can begin anew, whether that be with a new passion project or a new phase of an existing project.

Full Moon Celebration Bath Salt

It’s important to pause and celebrate our achievements in life—both the small steps along the way as well as larger, culminating events. The peak phase of the moon is an ideal time for celebrating these milestones.

I’ve created a full moon herbal bath salt to help you celebrate and honor yourself and your work in the form of self-care and self-reverence. Bathe in the full luminosity of this moon phase and fully indulge in the experience of this luxurious botanical preparation, which will relax and uplift you, cleanse your aura, recharge your spirit, and ready you to fully soak up the potent lunar energy of the full moon.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Epsom salts

• ½ cup Himalayan pink salt

• 1 tablespoon each of dried rose petals or buds (unsprayed), lavender buds, and chamomile blossoms

• 10 to 20 drops total of essential oil (I like to add 8 drops each of frankincense and copaiba essential oils)

How-to:

Blend the salts together in a glass bowl.

Add the dried herbs and gently stir them into the mixture. Add the essential oils drop by drop, continuing to stir as you do, incorporating the oil evenly into the mixture. If you’d like, put your bath salts on a windowsill beneath the light of the full moon, to be charged by its potent energy.

Add ½ to 1 cup of the salts to your bathwater. Enjoy your full moon bath and celebrate you!

In the autumn dusk, as she moves through the garden of sensory delights, a distinctively familiar pleasure stirs. The newly crisp air is whispering of treasures to be found, spells to be cast. With the velvet green beneath her feet gone, there is a soft yet firm earth revealed in the coolness that rises to touch her skin. Should she don her cloak? Her boots? No, not yet. She greets the coming darkness with her limbs free, her flesh bared, to revel in this most delicious invitation that nature has extended. With night-blooming flowers encircling her path and the sounds of twilight creatures rustling, she is enchanted by the sheer sorcery of it all—the fleetingly fantastic magic of right now.

Fall arrives exactly when she means to. She appears resplendent in the lush abundance that summer so graciously offered, with a sparkle in her eye and a divine plan for the new season. She readies us, really, for manifesting wishes and dreams, creating riches in all areas of life, and embracing the turning of the wheel as we replenish and fortify our beauty. Carrying the Virgo thirst for wellness with her, she dances easily into Libra, anointed with the perfumed air of Venus herself. Here she really works her magic—and insists we join her! As such, I have conjured a few absolutely stunning potions for you to lavish upon yourself from head to toe and, as always, from inside out. Embrace this potent energy, mes chères, and turn up your starlight! You do want to slink into Scorpio at your most alluring, yes? Not to mention our glorious Samhain!

Our superstars for autumn are just beyond gorgeous: Venusian apple takes center stage because of her beloved place in fall faves and her immense beauty benefits. Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate both mature and acne-prone skin brilliantly, apple helps shed dull dead skin to reveal a fresh new layer. It is also high in nutrients and antioxidants, crucial to maintaining youthful skin and a dewy glow both topically and internally. Lusty vanilla appears in many of my conjurings for her unique gifts: Rich in copper, the fruits of this sacred vine help promote collagen and elastin production. It soothes, protects from environmental stresses, and carries an enchanted scent with a warm sweetness. Nutmeg is here for more autumnal bliss and some major additions to your allure; I always feel this potent little spice gets overlooked. Fiery and ruled by lucky Jupiter, nutmeg prevents hair loss and encourages new growth while keeping tresses shiny. Antibacterial and antimicrobial, it also works wonders on oily skin, imparts a healthy glow, and even fights wrinkles. It is also highly valued for its ability to open up our psychic awareness—an extra boost now as the veil thins!

Joining our Triple Goddess of Beauty this season are a few more ultra- glam guests: Earthly, divinely sexy oak moss brings faerie chic bathed in forest magic, with a depth of richness and solar gifts of vitality, protection, luck, healing, and money. My beloved sunflower bestows exuberant

life force and creation energy as he grants wisdom, joy, and good health. Rich in linoleic acid, it helps build and maintain a healthy skin barrier, since ours thins as we age. This light, non-clogging oil contains vitamin E, which prevents damage to skin cells and protects from UV rays, preventing wrinkles while nourishing further with vitamins A, C, and D. Cedarwood stimulates hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp and has a natural thickening ability. A tree of purification, it also holds healing and money magic. I find it even has a grounding effect, locked inside the wisdom of the forest. Comely jasmine is another fave! The queen of the night is an intoxicating aphrodisiac that knows a thing or two about beauty. A brilliant oil for reducing fine lines and strengthening skin’s elasticity, jasmine also helps fade scars and hyperpigmentation. It strengthens the scalp and roots for healthy new growth, while imparting a gloriously protective shine to the length of your tresses. And abundant almond makes a guest appearance here in his creamy form as a dairy alternative with a high nutrient content. Rich in calcium and vitamin E, almond milk is beautifying and strengthening, with added magic of money, luck, and healing.

Be sure to clearly hold a visual in your mind and a feeling in your being as you conjure and use these nectars—one of riches, luck, and love, with the stamina to create them all on the earthly plane.

To prepare for making the potions, chop one or two organic apples depending on their size (a cidery-sweet variety works best, like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) and pop it all in a high-speed blender with one tablespoon of pure water. Pulse until completely smooth.

You may just want to make extra of our elixir—so fabulous for soirées!

Please note: Organic apple and vanilla powder are used in these recipes and can be purchased online. They are both budget-friendly, easy, and very effective in harnessing the power of these gifts in beauty potions and elixirs. And they are fabulous to bake with!

THE NIGHT FAERIE

Anointing Oil
Conjures about 2.5 ounces

2 ounces sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
6 drops cedarwood essential oil
4 drops oak moss extract
3 drops jasmine essential oil
2 drops nutmeg essential oil
1 vanilla bean, sliced lengthwise and opened

The first new moon of autumn would be the time to conjure this one. It occurs on October 2 (2:49 p.m. EST) during a solar eclipse.

In a stunning glass bottle, combine

all ingredients. You can scrape the tiny seeds from the vanilla bean, but I quite like the aesthetic beauty of it through the glass—hence opening the pod and allowing the seeds to mingle with the air while leaving it relatively intact. Give it all a good clockwise swirl and set it out in the new moonlight. If you are using a dark-colored glass vessel, you can leave it to absorb both solar and lunar rays. If your glass is clear or lightly colored, bring it in each morning and set it out again at nighttime. Keep this ritual going until the full moon for the greatest potency. Anoint your body, altar, mirror, personal objects … whatever you wish. Always shake well before using to activate both the ingredients and the magic.

Beauty Witch Secret: Adding a few citrine crystals to your potion wildly amps up the power of this potion, adding solar vibes galore!

THE MUSE

Hair Masque
Conjures 1 to 3 treatments

1 cup apple puree
¼ cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon apple powder
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
6 drops jasmine essential oil
3 drops nutmeg essential oil

Once more, so simple! Combine all the ingredients in a gorgeous bowl, stir clockwise until fully blended, then apply to dry hair, from scalp to ends. This one is thick (and can indeed include a few appley clumps) so carefully massage well, paying particular attention to the ends of hair.

Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then wash well with a light, nutritive shampoo. Apply a daily conditioner just on the outer layer and ends for a minute, then rinse well.

Your hair will emerge newly soft, shiny, and fluffy! The scent is heavenly, and this masque is a needed treat you are giving your sun-parched tresses. Use this weekly if you like.

Beauty Witch Secret: Did I mention you can save a little and use it as a face masque while your hair is sitting? It’s an amazing potion for delicate, dehydrated skin. You will glow.

DÉLICE À LA CRÈME

Elixir
Per serving

½ cup apple
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

This one simply shouts “full moon!” though it can be conjured and enjoyed whenever, really. It has a distinctively autumnal feel, with a heady scent and kick of spice. Blend it all in at high speed, pour it into a lovely glass, sprinkle with nutmeg, and garnish with a few apple slices. This one is so creamy and delish! On its own, it wows as a beauty elixir; however, there are a few secrets to its use …

Beauty Witch Secret: This saucerful of seduction can easily become a smoothie by adding a clean, skin-loving protein—my choices would always be chia-seed gel or cooked quinoa. You may want to add a touch of low or nonglycemic sweetening to the mix by way of pure stevia or monk fruit. Just be sure to check the package, as often those products are cut with chemicals. A few dates or a drizzle of coconut nectar would be a lovely alternative. Oh, and warmed! This is stellar as a heated brew on a chilly eve beneath the moonlit sky. Last, but not least … would I add a shot of cognac? Oh yes, I would. You know me too well, darlings.

As the last of the sultry summer lovers melt into the sea, the wind stirs a new desire: for the spiced effervescence of autumn. Everywhere, leaves turn to rubies and layers of jeweled velvets appear to dazzle the senses and warm the soul. The thrill of the witch’s season tingles up the spine of all creatures, even those who don’t quite believe in us—but the magic is inescapable. And whoever would want to? It’s an enchanted time, alive with possibilities, in an all too fleeting spell of the year.

And speaking of spells, beauty sorcery is rather needed right now. Our lovely sun-kissed flesh, perhaps overworked by the voluptuousness of summer, requires tending from head to toe. Layers of adventure, now a fading memory, may be kept alive in spirit, but never on the skin. As in spring, the liberating (not to mention beautifying) striptease of exfoliation must be taken quite seriously at this time, alongside the fortifying nutrients that are just waiting to bestow their power. After all, this is the season of potent witchery, and we need all the reinforcements nature is willing to give us. Fall into the spiced and vibrant leaves of autumn, and allow her special brand of beauty magic to wrap you lovingly in her branches, holding you close as you rest, dream, and create.

What’s in the cauldron, you ask? A spellbinding blend of fragrant autumnal favorites and classic witchcraft, casting a circle to renew, fortify, and protect your precious skin in a beauty ritual of immense pleasure.

Firing up the potions are the rock-star couple that may surprise you: The colorful, energizing lusciousness of persimmon and cranberry are no strangers to the autumnal table, yet might not immediately come to mind in terms of beauty. Yes, this sexy Venus-Mars pairing is incredibly effective! Together, they increase collagen and elastin production, ease fine lines, tighten, brighten, and give a spellbinding glow. They are both ruled by water and carry enhanced protection magic, alongside an energy of happiness. What better treat for your sorceress skin?

The base of all three potions this season is as simple as it is fabulous:

1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1 large or 2 small persimmons, chopped
Spring water as needed

Combine the cranberries and persimmon in a high-speed, bullet-style vortex blender. Pulse on high until completely smooth and silky, adding water if needed. You’re going for a thick, creamy consistency, but one that still mixes with other ingredients easily. Joining them are bewitching favorites mugwort and hawthorn, so delightfully attuned to the season! Venusian mugwort is traditionally associated with protection and heightening psychic ability, but I always find her to be a dear friend when I need strength, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. And as it happens, she’s a gift to your skin also. Our darling herb is highly soothing—a dream for sensitive skin—and can help with eruptive conditions like eczema. Anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamin E, mugwort repairs damaged cells (including wrinkles!) and delivers deep moisture. You can use dried mugwort in these recipes, though an alcohol-free extract works even better and will deliver her magic into your skin with more efficacy. Fiery hawthorn brings virile fertility magic, which doesn’t need to
be literal. It’s the energy of creation. The bright berries are ripe with antioxidants and vitamin C, which protect against collagen breakdown and increase cellular regeneration. This not only helps lessen existing fine lines but also helps prevent new ones—how cool is that? As with the mugwort, you can use a dried extract (usually a powder) but you will find a liquid to be more noticeably effective.

As you conjure your potions, remember to take the time to breathe and enjoy the sensuality of the ritual itself. Be in the present with your visions and feelings; they form the sculpture of your desires. Autumn is the season for drawing inward like a tree, yet there is much magic in the air for creation, fire, and celebration, so revel in it! What would you like to put out in the world before the winter sets in to rest? Get that going. Now.

As you concoct, visualize and feel the energies of the ingredients, connecting to nature and the vibrations of autumn, while letting your mind paint onto the canvas of your desires.

THE WITCH’S WILES

Facial Exfoliant and Masque
Conjures two treatments

⅓ cup walnut flour
1 tablespoon cranberry/persimmon blend
1 teaspoon dried mugwort, or ½ teaspoon extract ½ teaspoon powdered hawthorn berry extract, or ½ teaspoon liquid
Pinch cinnamon (optional)

This is such a bright, lovely masque! You can purchase walnut flour at most natural foods shops or sections in your local market, but if not, it is found readily online. You can also finely grind whole raw walnuts in a food processor or spice grinder. In a pretty bowl, combine the walnut flour with the fruit blend. Add the mugwort, then the hawthorn berry, and mix well.

If you’re using all dried herbs, you may want to add a small amount of liquid to get an easily spreadable masque—you can use pure water, floral water, or even plant milk. Add the pinch of cinnamon, and give it one more good, clockwise stir. Apply to a clean face, neck, and décolleté, massaging in circular motions to activate the gentle but potent exfoliation, then apply a second layer and leave on as a masque treatment. While it sits, multitask if you must, but really, the beauty ritual resides in the concept of truly reveling in the moment! Lie back, read, sip … listen to music. Relax like a cat. When the masque has worked her magic (10 to 20 minutes) remove gently with a damp facecloth, then rinse well with cool water. Pat dry. Follow with your favorite floral mist, serum, and crème.

Walnut These solar-powered autumn darlings are filled with protection magic and a wealth of beauty benefits, including minerals, iron, folate, and calcium. In their ground-flour form they make an excellent gentle exfoliant that removes old skin cells and deposits nutrients for a beautiful, smooth glow.

Cinnamon This sweetly spiced fall favorite brings forth love and money magic and potent healing, along with a heightened sense of psychic awareness. A pinch in the potion will add antibacterial cleansing prowess along with circulation boosting for gorgeous cellular renewal and a healthy glow. If you are extremely sensitive, you can omit, but if you can deal with a slight pinkness for a few minutes afterward without any major irritation, do try it.

Beauty Witch’s Secret: For an even deeper exfoliation, add a teaspoon of corn flour to the potion. It will give more polish while remaining kind to your skin, with added autumnal vibes and fiery solar protection magic.

THE SWEET SPICE

Body Exfoliant and Bath Soak
Conjures two full-body treatments

1 cup coconut sugar
1 tablespoon cranberry/persimmon blend
2 tablespoons mugwort extract, or dried
2 tablespoons hawthorn berry extract,
or powderedA pinch each cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg

In a similar fashion, combine all ingredients, one at a time and with consciousness, in a beautiful bowl and stir clockwise. Apply to damp, clean skin in the shower or bath, and massage into skin. Really get a good sloughing! As you breathe in the luscious scent, enjoy the sensuality of the ritual experience … this is your time. If you are bathing, soak in it after you massage—get even more of a bewitching bath. And your skin will be heavenly! Rinse, and pat dry. You can follow with a body oil or crème, but you won’t even need much. This leaves your skin silky soft and touchable.

Coconut Ruled by the moon and water, coconut heightens your intuition and psychic abilities as it provides beauty fats for supple skin. Coconut sugar is a non-glycemic natural sweetener that provides vital minerals and makes a fabulous body exfoliant.

Clove Decadently spicy, Jupiter-ruled clove oil kills bacteria and clarifies skin while conjuring love, money, and protection magic.

Nutmeg Jupiter-ruled nutmeg is an excellent anti-inflammatory for skin that can have a reaction to the changing seasons. It is also highly valued for its ability to open up our psychic awareness.

Beauty Witch’s Secret: Create an even witchier bath by adding fresh cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon essential oils to your candles, enhancing the vibrations and the sensual atmosphere.

FALL FÊTE

Beauty Cocktail
Conjures two cocktails

½ cup cranberry/persimmon blend
1 cup sparkling water
⅛ teaspoon each: cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg 1 teaspoon pure Bourbon vanilla extract Juice of ½ orange
Orange slice, for garnish

Here’s a lovely one! Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and give it a good, sexy shake. (While you’re shaking it, put some fire energy in there—and have fun!) Strain into a stunning glass, garnish, and sip with pure, unleashed pleasure. Celebrate fall, and you!

Orange Fiery, protective orange supports collagen production and cellular renewal while bringing forth love and prosperity.

Vanilla Heavenly scented Venusian vanilla is rich in copper to promote collagen and elastin production and has noted aphrodisiac powers.

Beauty Witch’s Secret: Add a generous splash of vodka to make a night of it! Double, quadruple the recipe for friends, and know that this popular spirit can actually help with arthritic conditions and hypertension, acting both as an anti-inflammatory and a boost to blood circulation. And you know there are beauty benefits to that!

Featured Image: Three Women and Three Wolves (1900), by Eugène Grasset

They ride through the air with ease, stirring magic wherever they go

It was once said that you should look to the sky when the blood moon rises high above the tree line, for you may spy the shadows of witches on broomsticks driven to revolt against their wifely duties. In one such village where generations of women took to the sky, a grandmother ceremoniously bestowed a broom on her granddaughter at the time of her womanhood. Of course, the men of the village were not allowed to attend the blessing and were expected to busy themselves with mundane chores as the women gathered in sacred solidarity.

During one such ritual, a curious young girl who had watched her sisters, one after the other, receive their own brooms bedecked in yarrow, mugwort, and branches of the black cottonwood that graced the riverside, finally asked her mother, “Why do we gift brooms? It seems such an unextraordinary token.”

Her mother squeezed her hand and whispered, “Soon, very soon, you too shall know the secret of the broom.”

The girl pondered that bit of knowledge on chilly March mornings, as she followed the women of her village to the riverside to gather resinous cottonwood buds. She thought about it on sunny May afternoons as they gathered yarrow in the meadow and when they climbed the steep hillside for the pungent mugwort used in brews for dreaming. And while gathering the pot marigold from her garden in September’s slanted light, she contemplated the significance of the brooms lined up against the fence. More questions arose as she helped fill the cauldron with the herbs they had gathered over the year, along with oils and beeswax that created a thick ointment. But every time she was about to speak, her mother gently hushed her. Instead, she was encouraged to repeat the charm the women spoke over the bubbling cauldron.

Year after year, the girl followed the traditions of the women of her village without knowing why. But then one morning, when the flame of October’s bloom shone bright and the air was filled with the scent of woodsmoke and apple, she found the red stains of her burgeoning womanhood upon her bedsheets, and she smiled.

The women of the village insisted that her ritual should take place immediately, as it was about the time of the full blood moon. So before the girl had time to process what was happening, she stood in a cloak of red, surrounded by the women of her village, all holding their beloved brooms.

As her grandmother bent down and handed her a broom lovingly decorated with the herbs of their craft, she whispered to the girl, “It was the men who handed us the first brooms, stating that we knew of their use.” She smiled and winked. “And use them we do.”

When the night of the full blood moon arrived, the women showed the girl how to anoint her broom with the ointment they had made. And as the scent of the herbs and oils filled the air, the girl’s soul was at ease, for the secret of the broom had finally been revealed. You see, the broom was not just an implement of female repression but a symbol of strength, solidarity, and freedom for all that believed they could fly. And fly they did.

Witches’ Flying Ointment

The iconic image of a female witch straddling her broom has been a part
of history since the Inquisition. To power a witch’s transport, it was said a salve was made up of the fat of a child steeped in such herbs as poplar buds, belladonna, hemlock, wolfsbane, and soot. Sadly these claims (as well as others) were based on fear and the patriarchal attitudes of the day, resulting in what we know as the witch hunts that spanned 300 years and may have claimed the lives of up 50,000 people.

Today you’ll find many sources for modern witches’ flying ointments that can be used for meditation and connecting to the spirit world, complete with lists
of psychoactive and potentially lethal plants. Medicinal salves have been used for thousands of years, and psychoactive herbs also have a long history of ritual use. But there is no clear evidence of a witches’ flying ointment ever being used in such a way—and these classic herbs can be deadly.

The much more benign poplar tree buds have also long been used in medicine, with poplar salve (unguentum populeum), known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, being one of the oldest formulations. Recipes appear in many herbals and pharmacopoeias. Gart der Gesundheit (1485), for example, included henbane, poppy leaves, and mandrake among other herbs to mix with the poplar. Such salves were used much like we use aspirin today. Perhaps salves such as unguentum populeum are the basis for the folklore of witches’ flying ointment?

If you’d like to create your own witches’ flying ointment, a safer alternative can be made from these herbs, whose histories are just as rich as any of the baneful herbs referred to above. Infused oil from the buds of balsam poplar trees (known as cottonwoods) along with mugwort, yarrow, and calendula can be used for their medicinal properties and, in combination with your meditative practice of choice, can help induce a state of “soul flight.” (See detailed instructions at right.)

Cottonwood (Populus sect. Aigeiros)

Known for its its resinous buds, which have been extracted for centuries for use in medicine (sometimes called Balm of Gilead), it is antibacterial, antifungal, and mildly analgesic. It is used in spells to attract money, hope, healing, encouragement, and transformation, and as a base for ointments to induce soul flight.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

Magical mugwort may be used to amplify psychic sight and induce astral travel. Known as the witch’s herb, it is also used in spells for protection, healing, and dreamwork. More recently it’s been used as a sedative and as a digestive aid, and in ointments to relieve dry, itchy skin.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

This hard-to-tame herb may aid in astral travel and induce psychic visions. It is also used in spells for courage and love. Long used in medicine for its cooling properties, it may help to break a fever and stimulate sweating. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, combined with its ability to slow bleeding, made yarrow useful on the battlefield for treating wounds.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

The petals of this bright and fiery herb, also known as pot marigold, can be used in a salve to trigger prophetic dreaming. It is also used in protection spells, for psychic powers, and for strength and courage. With high amounts of flavonoids, pot marigold is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, and is popular in ointments to treat cuts, bruises, and burns.

(Safe) Witches’ Flying Ointment

Black cottonwood, or western balsam poplar (Populus trichocarpa), grows along the river near my home in the Pacific Northwest, and in February, when the buds swell and the scent of their sweet resin fills the air, I collect them from saplings along the winding riverbank. I loosely fill quart jars with the buds and then with olive oil and let the mixture steep in my pantry until spring is in full bloom. The oil can be used in soap and salve recipes, but my favorite magical use for it is making soul-flight or witches’ flying ointment. When dabbed on the pulse points and on the third eye, this salve can open the practitioner to soul flight. Use also for its calming effects before meditation, or before sleep to enhance your dreams.

You will need:
4 parts cottonwood buds
1 part dried mugwort
1 part dried yarrow or calendula

Place herbs and buds in a quart jar and cover with your choice of oil (olive, grapeseed, sweet almond, etc.). Let steep in a warm, dark place for several weeks. Shake daily.

When ready, use a double boiler to melt one ounce of beeswax. When melted, add one cup of your infused oil, and stir until blended. Remove from heat and add optional essential oil of your choice. Pour into two-ounce tins and allow to cool fully. (Makes four.)

When the solar rays embrace us in their abundant war mth, a spell has been cast on our bare flesh, so alive with sensations and endlessly caressed by nature. Naked limbs, deliriously lazy with delight, receive every sultry breeze with pure pleasure. It is a time of basking in the vibrancy—the pure, unleashed freedom—of summer, in all her voluptuous beauty. Our vernal seeds have been sewn, spells cast, and actions taken. And now we heave a luxuriant sigh in this leisurely pace of reveling in our good fortune. The ripened fruits and coy flowers will take their leave before long, seducing us with their immense opulence before they depart. Can we possibly take it all in? Bask in it, bottle it, and be thankful, mes amis, because this season of seduction is as lush as she is fleeting. We must store all this life force within us, this potent virility, to carry in our hearts when the wheel of the year once again turns.

In a joyous fête of midsummer allure, the triple goddess of beauty arrives to sprinkle golden stardust on your heavenly body, taking the form of exotic flowers for your sybaritic pleasure—think oceanside bathing, glistening skin and hair, sipping a high-vibration libation! All three are feminine energies ruled by water, to heighten your feminine powers of intuition, creativity, and sensuality. Orchid graces us with her Venusian delights and potent love magic, while feeding our skin and hair with vital minerals and compounds that hydrate, reduce fine lines, and boost the skin’s immunity to signs of premature aging. She also adds significant moisture to heat-stressed hair and protects it from UV/UVB damage. Camellia casts her lunar gaze with money magic and a particular knack for restoring damaged skin and hair (including wrinkles, breakage, and chemical damage). She is noted for promoting new collagen production and forming a protective barrier against environmental damage. Wild pansy is another major love flower, who joins us for her powers of quelling eruptions on the skin, such as seasonal breakouts, acne, psoriasis, and eczema. When added to a hair potion, she alleviates dandruff and calms an itchy, dry scalp.

Conjure and enjoy these potions at Litha, the summer solstice, to bring forth the vibration of abundance, love, and prosperity for the seasons to come—but don’t let that distract you from the reverie of now. It’s just all too decadent, too sublimely hedonistic to miss out on!

VOYAGE EXOTIQUE

Facial Masque
Conjures 2 treatments

¼ cup fresh cucumbers, chopped
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon orchid extract
1 teaspoon camellia seed oil
1 teaspoon sunflower seed oil
1 teaspoon wild pansy extract

Chop the fresh produce and place it in a food processor to purée. About three pulses should do it. Then, in a pitcher or measuring cup, combine the oils (and aloe for the facial) together and slowly pour them into the top opening of the food processor while blending, allowing the mixture to become a bit thicker and take on a creamy consistency.

Apply the masque to clean skin, including neck and décolleté. If you can, apply some to the back of your hands too—they get overlooked all too often! Allow it to remain on your skin for at least 10 minutes, but really you can leave it on as long as you like. Rinse well with cool water, pat dry, and apply crème and sunscreen as needed. Your skin will dazzle with vibrant health, looking smoothed, firmed, and positively glowing!

Sunflower joins both topical potions for a balance of masculine fire energy, bearing gifts of good health, creative potency, wisdom, and wishes granted. He also is a gorgeous oil rich in healing vitamin E, which moisturizes deeply. Moon-ruled cucumber brings more healing energy as she cools summer skin. Rich in vitamin C, she stimulates new cell growth while firming and hydrating. Soothing, lunar aloe firms and hydrates as she offers protection magic and a bit of luck!

Beauty Witch’s Secret: Add a few drops of jasmine or ylang ylang for even more love and beauty magic, as well as the scent of earthly delights.

LUMINOUS LOCKS

Hair Masque

Conjures 1 to 2 treatments
⅓ cup ripe papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 tablespoon orchid extract
1 tablespoon camellia seed oil
1 teaspoon sunflower seed oil
1 teaspoon wild pansy extract

Note: The papaya works best if it is very ripe and soft. If the papaya flesh is still slightly too firm, add a small amount of water as you blend it to soften and create the creamy consistency you’re after.

In the same style as you concocted the facial, pulse the chopped papaya, then add the oils.

Apply to dry hair, from roots to ends, massaging in the magic and thoroughly savoring the sweetness of gently rubbing your scalp. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes or even longer. Rinse well, then wash with a light botanical shampoo. If your hair is fine or you’ve left on the masque for too long, you may wish to give it a second shampoo. Finish with a light coating of your favorite daily conditioner, then rinse well. Dry and style as you like. Your hair will be beautifully shiny, smooth, defrizzed, and teeming with radiance!

Papaya makes a guest-star appearance here for her tropical charms and her lunar love magic. She strengthens the hair shaft, repairs damage, and feeds your mane with nutrients.

Beauty Witch’s Secret: Lusty papaya has aphrodisiac sorcery, so be sure to nibble the rest of the fruit with sensual pleasure, and offer some to a potential lover. The sweet flavor, succulent flesh, and rich nutrients will spark some interest and give you the energy for … anything.

COCKTAIL À LA MER

Beauty Cocktail
Conjures 2 cocktails

2 tablespoons cut licorice root or three wands of whole root
1 tablespoon whole star anise
1 to 2 teaspoons raw coconut nectar
1 cup spring water
Sparkling water

A magical take on the classic pastis transports you to a balmy Mediterranean café, quenching your formidable thirst with more of Venus’s youthful charms, lusty passion, and a dose of protective energy.

Prepare a tea base by steeping the licorice root and the star anise in hot water. Lightly crush the anise pods first to release the oils in the seeds—this adds to the flavor and aroma. Add the coconut nectar, stir, and allow the tea to steep for 20 minutes.

Let it cool completely. Fill a half cordial or cocktail glass with the tea blend, then top with sparkling water. Santé!

Coconut nectar is a non-glycemic syrup used as a sweetener. It has the texture of honey and pairs well with fruit or herbal flavors. The best part? The magic of coconut that heightens spirituality and intuition.

Beauty Witch’s Secret: Fancy an even more decadent delight? Try swapping the coconut nectar for a teaspoon of pure fig jam—oui! It will add a richer, albeit slightly different, taste. Then savor the Jupiter-ruled abundance (not to mention the sex drive) of fiery fig!

Feature Image: ©Columbia Pictures / Diltz / Bridgeman Images

_____

Amid a swathe of tribal fertility idols, leopard-lined cloaks, and a cabaret singer imported from Montmartre, she holds court, lounging in wait like a great feline in the stillness before the hunt.

An incandescent, natural beauty glowing like a rare gem against a backdrop of decaying beatnik bohemia, she is at once a restless force of nature and a creature somehow entirely, alluringly detached. This bewitching combination captured my attention as a young girl, speaking to me as even my most beloved sorceresses had not, for Gillian Holroyd—the ultra glam main character of the 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle, played by Kim Novak—was different.

This was no wise crone of the wood, nor a fickle fairy maiden, but a satin-heeled, soigné bombshell whose lean figure was elegantly, expertly draped in the couture of the day as interpreted by the iconic Jean Louis, the French designer who set Hollywood alight with his singularly glamorous gowns. She was enigmatic: modern, with a free-spirited independence and the need to answer to no one, with the carriage of an ancient, regal goddess who was simply too cool to feel the need to beg admiration.

A powerful witch, she cast her spell, yes … but really, she never had to. Stretching like a panther in a backless velvet column gown, a ruby serpent coiled around her wrist, a nudge from the tip of a satin pump was all that was needed to stir the curiosity (not to mention the fervent passion) in a certain “regular” guy she simply had to have.

Her cognac kiss sealed his fate and, ultimately, her own. I used to loathe the way the story ended, but over the years I’ve come to see its lesser noticed point: Gillian didn’t give up anything, really, for true love. It may have seemed that way on the surface, but what she discarded no longer meant what it once had to her. So she moved on. She didn’t allow anyone’s perception of her to keep her caged where she no longer desired to be.

And so, to honor Gillian’s decisions that freed her spirit and changed her life in the way she wished, I’ve conjured this first potion as a love spell—to yourself. Anoint every inch of your heavenly body with its sensual sorcery and revel in the confidence it brings, to remind yourself of your own power, your own choices, and a life of beauty and love that you fully deserve. It is heavily infused with Venusian charms, age-defying beauty powers, and an intoxicating scent. Oh, and it includes a little bit of cat magic for darling Pyewacket. After all, a witch needs her familiar.

Gillian’s Potion

Body Oil | Conjures approximately 3 ounces 

2.5 ounces cold pressed avocado oil
2 sticks cinnamon
Seeds of one vanilla bean
½ teaspoon organic catnip, dried
6 drops jasmine absolute
6 drops myrrh essential oil
2 drops cinnamon essential oil (optional)

Fill a gorgeous bottle three-quarters of the way with avocado oil. Gently arrange the cinnamon sticks inside, then carefully scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the potion. If you don’t have fresh vanilla bean, do not substitute extract intended for baking. Instead, source a good quality essential oil online or in your local shop. Sprinkle or place the catnip into the bottle, depending on its source—I love to take a whole piece, stem and all, and add it to potions. Add the jasmine and myrrh. Give it all a good, sexy swirl in a clockwise direction. If you are adding the cinnamon oil, do it now. (If you’re uncertain, test a small diluted patch on your skin to see if you’re sensitive—if so, the cinnamon sticks will suffice.) This potion marinates well during a waxing moon cycle, though it is powerful at any time. If possible, create it on the new moon and allow it to grow in potency until the full moon, then use it with wild abandon! As with all potions, be sure to connect with each ingredient, honoring it as you visualize and feel the energy working.

Avocado
Rich and sensual, avocado oil has long been associated with beauty and love magic. Ripe with good fats, this Venusian gem is an excellent moisturizer high in vitamin E, fighting the signs of aging and feeding your skin while soothing inflammation and breakouts. It is also a noted aphrodisiac.

Cinnamon
Amorous cinnamon ignites the fires of both love and money, while cleansing and increasing circulation to your skin. The increased blood flow brings life to the cells for a glowing radiance.

Vanilla
This delightful vine wafts in sensually by way of Venus, heavy on the love and sexual magic. Its heady aroma and flavor intoxicates, and its aphrodisiac powers are legendary. Vanilla is also rich in copper, which helps promote collagen and elastic production. It soothes, protects from environmental stresses, and carries an enchanted scent.

Catnip
What could be nicer than an herb that makes cats happy? Ruled by Venus and sacred to Bast, this one, naturally, brings love, beauty, and joy to felines and humans alike with its magic and its delightful scent. Used for calming nerves, catnip also has a mild sedative effect and acts as an anti-inflammatory for skin.

Jasmine
Known as the queen of the night, sensual jasmine is an intoxicating aphrodisiac that knows a thing about beauty. A brilliant oil for reducing fine lines and strengthening skin’s elasticity, jasmine also helps fade scars and hyperpigmentation.

Myrrh
The female consort of frankincense is surely lovely, lunar myrrh. It has a similar high spiritual vibration to its solar partner, also bringing potent healing and protective energy. Revered in ancient Egypt, myrrh possesses potent age-defying beauty properties.

Now, of course, Gillian’s detractors helped her along the way, as often they do. Some meant well, some did not, and others still fervently held on to their own identities by way of someone else’s existence. There’s the adorably daft Aunt Queenie, forgetful as she is sweet, cat-clever as she is confused, and charming to no end. And then the envious Madame de Passe, a force of nature in her own right, but one who relishes the chance to outdo the younger, feather-ruffling Gillian. Both ladies had indisputable strengths but also a few flawed notions. I’ve harnessed each of their powers here and added a little bit of balance to help when things feel unsteady.

Queenie’s Potion aids in sharpening memory, mental clarity, and focus, while Madame’s provides healing and protection in among all the hex-breaking. May they all assist you in following your heart, finding your true powers, and calling your desires forth with protection and wisdom wrapped around you like an exquisite cloak—velvet, of course.

Queenie’s Potion

Bath Blend | Per treatment

3 sprigs fresh rosemary, or ¼ cup dried
3 large bay leaves
¼ cup dried lavender
6 drops cedarwood essential oil
3 drops vetiver essential oil
2 drops bay essential oil (optional)

You could approach this one of two ways: The first would be to use all the ingredients to create a sachet; the second, to use all essential oils instead. I prefer a bit of both. I like to form a sachet with the dried herbs and flowers, then douse with the oils before tying up. You can use a cotton or hemp tea bag, a bit of cheesecloth, or—my fave—a small piece of lace fabric, then tie it all up with a ribbon or cord. You can then either attach it to the faucet so the water runs through it, or pop it in the water once the bath is filled. I like to put it in the water, then add more essential oils straight into the bath. Then I like to use the sachet as a bath sponge, if you will. Actually, what I really love is lying back with all the herbs and flowers floating loosely, swirling around me. It feels like I’m bathing outdoors in pure magic and truly connecting with nature. But I know not everyone will love damp flora on their skin, nor the necessary cleanup. Either way, hold your visuals and feelings strongly as you relax in warm, fragrant waters. Allow your intuition and psychic space to open up, your mental prowess to strengthen and focus, and feel the protective, healing vibrations of the water.

Rosemary
This favorite arrives bearing love, healing, intellect, and youth. It offers these palpable gifts but also the ability to increase cellular metabolism to boost circulation, stimulating mystical prowess and firm skin.

Bay
Nibbled by ancient Greek priestesses to read prophecy, bay has long been a magical herb of clairvoyance and wisdom. Also used for protection, healing, and strength, it is antiseptic and astringent when used in topical potions. Plus it’s a great muscle soother, with a spicy, uplifting scent that promotes feelings of well-being, enhanced creativity, and confidence.

Cedarwood
Solar-powered cedarwood provides healing and grounding, locked inside the wisdom of the forest. A tree of purification, it also holds money magic.

Vetiver
A time-tested witches’ herb, vetiver brings luck and abundance, and protects that considerable wealth (in all its forms) you are amassing. Its earthy, lushly wooded aroma calls in the green spirits.

Lavender
Lunar-ruled lavender soothes, calms anxious nerves, and brings peace. It also makes a fantastic yet gentle skin treatment thanks to its antibacterial powers. Known as elf leaf, it holds powers of love, peacefulness, protection, and longevity—not surprising given its namesake!

Madame De Passe’s Potion

Brew | Per serving

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
¼ cup blackberries
¼ cup apple
Pinch of cloves, ground
Grind of black pepper
Maple syrup or stevia, as desired

Mmm … you will love this deliciously spiced, creamy brew as it heats up gently in the cauldron and its scented magic fills the air. Place the coconut milk, berries, and apple in a bullet-style blender, and pulse until completely smooth. Pour it into a small saucepan and gently warm it until it reaches a pleasurable, soothing temperature. Stir in the cloves, pepper, and sweetener to taste. Maple syrup makes a decadent, delightful addition brimming with minerals. If you avoid sugars altogether, stevia makes a good, plant-powered alternative. Prepare and sip this with intention, of course, bringing forth healing, protection, cleansing, and a dose of love and beauty magic—because, why ever not?

Blackberry
Ruled by Venus, this sexy berry carries not only her beauty magic but that of abundance, creation, healing, and protection. Voluptuous with antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and vitamins—most notably vitamin C—blackberries refine and feed the skin while revving the all-important cell-renewal process. Their deep hue ensures vibrant Jing energy, so vital to our inner and outer radiance.

Apple
Said to give perpetual youth to the gods, apples were revered throughout the ancient world as offerings to beauty, love, and lust. Ruled by Venus and sacred to Freya, they also are potent bringers of peace, healing, and vibrant health. Not to mention rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

Black Pepper
This oft-overlooked spice soothes pain and stiffness, and eases anxiety and stress, while the warming quality improves circulation, boosting cell regeneration and collagen production, which helps decrease the appearance of fine lines. It also allows your skin to heal blemishes and bruises more quickly and has the benefit of protection, healing, and purification by way of fire magic.

Clove
Decadently spicy, Jupiter-ruled clove oil kills bacteria and clarifies skin while conjuring love, money, and protection magic. It is even used in exorcism.

Coconut
Sweet, buttery coconut oil is known for its beautifying fats but is also a bacteria-fighting warrior that prevents viruses and other harmful pathogens from attacking. This lunar-ruled gem also purifies and heightens both spirituality and psychic awareness.

Alise Marie is the author of The Beauty Witch’s Secrets: Recipes and Rituals for the Modern Goddess available wherever books are sold. Find her at thebeautywitch.com and on Instagram @thebeautywitchofficial.

Let’s talk mermaid hair! Melissa Lynn Herold has a few tips for us….

Caring for Mermaid Hair

There are few images more iconic than a mermaid combing her hair by the sea. But glamorous swimming makes for unseemly tangles and hair is most fragile when wet. In our quest to learn how to care for mermaid tresses we turned to Melissa Lynn Herold—both the fantasy author behind The Iyarri Chronicles and the herbal alchemist behind NightBlooming.

We’ve talked to Melissa in the past about how she creates plant based dyes to get these enchanting Victorian reds without chemicals or damage. Melissa has feet upon feet of hair stunningly reminiscent of a Waterhouse mermaid, and we had a seaside chat about mermaid hair and just how they (and you!) can keep those tresses so lovely despite the searing sun and crashing sea.

What’s the first rule of mermaid hair?
Be gentle and remember that your hair is most fragile when it’s wet. Water temporarily breaks the bonds that give hair its natural shape and texture, and this, combined with the additional weight of water, causes each strand of hair to become straighter and elongate. Your hair can only stretch so far before it breaks, and wet hair is already weakened and stretched nearer to its breaking point. Don’t worry, though, these bonds reform as your hair dries; you just need a gentler hand until it does.

How can we protect our hair when it’s wet?
Protecting your hair starts before you even get in the water. You’ll want to use an oil-based pre-treatment because anything else will rinse right out as soon as you hit the water. My favorite blends for this have a coconut oil base, because it’s one of the few oils that actually penetrates the hair shaft. Here’s an easy DIY recipe for a pre-swim treatment:

Siren’s Song Swim Oil
–        .5 oz Fractionated Coconut Oil
–        1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil
–        3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
–        3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
–        3 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

Blend together and give a good shake before use. If you don’t have the materials handy, Melissa will blend it up for you! She also has a huge array of oils, including ones inspired by her characters in The Iyarri Chronicles. No matter what your fancy, Melissa has an oil for you and will even make you a custom blend.

To oil your hair, place 3 drops between your palms, rub them together, and then smooth them over your hair, starting at the ends and working your way upwards. You’ll need to do this until your hair is softy and shiny, but not oily and clumped together.

Then put it into a protective style. While long tresses floating about the sea is picturesque, the best way to prevent damaging tangles is to not give them the chance to start. My favorite for this is probably a fishtail braid. It’s simple to do, easy to find tutorials for, and it’s thematically on point.

What happens when you’re done swimming?
Once you get out of the water, it’s important to get any minerals or chemicals (if you were swimming in a pool) off of your hair. First, gently wash your hair with your favorite shampoo, and then follow it up with a chelating rinse. You can make a very simple one of these with apple cider vinegar and your favorite herbal tea. Simply brew up a quarter cup of herbs with 6 cups water and let cool. To this add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and stir (or shake!) well. Then pour it through your hair from root to tip. Another great option is Alluvial, which is a natural treatment that pulls minerals off the hair, and can be scented with your choice of essential oils. I’ll admit I prefer it over apple cider vinegar because the lingering vinegar tends to refresh the next time I get my hair wet.

No matter if you do an ACV rinse or Alluvial you’re doing two important things: you’re closing down the cuticle of the hair and you’re restoring the acid mantle of your scalp. This will help you both keep scalp itches away, and help make your hair easier to detangle, which is our next step!

What do we need to detangle after a dip in the sea?
The main thing you need is patience, but some Selkie Herbal Detangler and a wide tooth comb certainly help. Because hair is so fragile when wet, you never want to pull or rip through tangles. You’ll start with just your fingers, and at the ends of your hair. Separate your hair into small sections and gently work through the tangles. If you have Selkie, or another detangler, apply that to either your hair or your fingertips as you work.

What makes Selkie Herbal Detangler so special?
I suppose the first thing is the smell, it’s entrancing: Crisp sea-spray over alluring sun-basked vanilla and herbs. The second thing is that it’s all natural. Many commercial detanglers are loaded with mineral oil, parabens, glycerin, and silicones that can leave hair looking greasy or build up over time. By contrast, every ingredient in Selkie Herbal Detangler is vegan, hand-blended, and certified organic. Selkie is lightweight and effective while still washing out with even the most gentle of natural cleansing methods. Selkie works for all hair types, and is a great leave in for extra hydration.

I even use it in other recipes because it’s such a great way to pack in a ton of pH balanced ingredients. My two favorites are DIY Nymphéas Toning Mist,  and in a DIY Mermaid Face Mask with Selkie, green clay, and Kelp. I have really fussy and sun-sensitive skin, and these are both an extra treat for my face after a day swimming.

One last benefit of Selkie Herbal Detangler is that you refill the glass bottle it comes in, reducing waste and keeping unnecessary packaging out of our seas.

When do we finally get to be the mermaid combing our hair by the ocean?
Now, when your hair is starting to dry and you’ve gotten the worst of the tangles out with your fingers, you can finally reach for that comb. Just like with finger-detangling, you’ll want to work in small sections, starting from the ends and working your way upwards. The ideal comb for this should have wide teeth, without seams. Many plastic combs have a seam that runs around its midline where the two halves of the mold come together, so if your comb has those, you’ll want to gently file those off with a nail file. Otherwise, those sharp, upraised seams will damage your hair, causing it to weaken—just the same way the edge of a pair of scissors curls a ribbon.

My favorite comb (pictured above) is made of Verawood. Wood combs are perfectly fine so long as you dry them off when your done so the water doesn’t damage the wood. Other great materials for combs are bone and horn.

I really hope you’ve enjoyed these long hair mermaid tips and can find a way to work them into your beauty rituals!

I don’t suppose you have any enchanted gifts for our lovely readers?
Of course I do! I know you’ll be so enamored with Selkie Herbal Detangler and the other things I brew up at NightBlooming that I want you to take $5 off your first order with the code 5Welcome. Just plug it in when you check out!

Inside woven baskets brimming with the abundance of autumn, so ample with lusciousness that you can barely carry them, ancient beauty secrets live and love. Lusty apples, exuberant sunflowers, succulent grapes, flirtatious pomegranates, and woodsy hazelnuts gather in an intimate soirée to whisper their magic. Can you hear them? Get closer. Stories of love and beauty, bestowed upon those favored by the goddesses they hold dear, are being retold as glasses clink and celebration flows. And have a peek: There is a most glamorous scene unfolding. With the harvest festivals upon us, a few tips from those in the know will be helpful when planning beauty rituals this season, yes?

Ah! There’s apple, bedecked in a bold, shiny red cloak, regaling everyone with memories of when her kin were considered so lust-inducing that Norse priests were forbidden to indulge! She, of course, is sacred to both Aphrodite and Freya and holds the distinction of bestowing the gift of eternal life upon the ancient Egyptian gods. Buxom and blessed with abundant vitamins
A, B, and C and UV protection, she is a high priestess of rebuilding cells, reducing wrinkles, and giving serious glow. Beside her, sunflower laughs, shaking his golden yellow headdress like a great bird showing off feathers. He says that he has always been considered the height of masculine virility, with the ability to make everyone around him smile with his bright solar finery.
(That he also feeds the skin with essential vitamins and minerals does not go unmentioned, mind you.) Voluptuous grape shimmies over, to chime in with her wild tales of Dionysian romps—possibly exaggerated—and her legendary powers of bestowing ageless beauty. Pomegranate overhears, turns, and winks, coyly flashing a glimpse of the rubies beneath his burgundy coat. Oh, he has a few witticisms about being used as currency in ancient Egypt and that time his likeness ended up inside a pharaoh’s tomb. Did he mention that he strengthens the proteins that form collagen and elastin? Of course he did. Not to be outdone, hazelnut chimes in, noting that in addition to his renowned wisdom, he is also highly regarded as a protector. Oh, and yes, he provides much vitamin E to give the recipient firm, plumped, hydrated skin.

Are they boasting? Not really. These gifts of nature are indeed born of the divine and have every right to want to shine brightly and be revered for their talents. As do you. Take their not so subtle cues and align yourself with the great goddesses of beauty and love. Take supreme care of yourselves, mes chers amis, elevate your beauty routine to that of ritual and reclaim your power every single time.

Now, because I adore you, I have a few spellbinding secrets to divulge by way of autumnal beauty potions. I think you will find them most pleasurable. Conjure and enjoy them in full fall fabulousness, bébés, and revel in this season of opulence!

Esprit de la Lune
Beauty Cocktail

Serves two

¼ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup red seedless grapes
Sliver of ginger root, peeled and chopped Dash of ground cardamom
Champagne or red wine, to taste

Ah, this is such a delight! Simply place all the ingredients except the spirits into a bullet-style blender and blend until smooth. Now, there are two things to know: If you use a different type of blender, you will end up with some bits of fruit purée (and possibly a spicy bite of ginger) in your drink. Personally, I like that. But if you prefer it silky smooth, then use a vortex blender that will break everything down completely. I find they are an excellent investment for all sorts of beauty potions—though I do have a tendency to exhaust mine.

Once you have your concoction blended, pour a champagne coupe or a small wine glass half full, then top with your libation of choice. I love this for a full moon celebration, particularly the ones where you really see the culmination of your efforts over time. Fall is such a bewitching window of opportunity that if you need to give a spell you cast back in spring an extra kick to make it real, now is the moment. As always, I ask that you think back to what you were manifesting six months ago when the new moon was in the same sign and either celebrate its appearance on the physical plane or give it an extra charge. Either way (or even a bit of both) will find you raising your glass to the stars, the gods, and to your own power. Bask in it, knowing you are feeding your beauty from the inside out. Now that’s sexy.

Ginger
This magic root calls upon the fire of Mars for his force of will, circulating the blood for fresh skin
cells and a fresh energy.

Cardamom
Consuming cardamom helps with weight loss and maintenance, quells anxiety, fights disease, treats skin allergies, and improves complexion with antioxidant super powers. It is a gift of Venus, infused with the magic of love, lust, beauty, and protection.

Red Wine
Solar-ruled red wine is known as an offering to both the gods and goddesses. Rich in beautifying antioxidants, its deep ruby tones bring fire magic to any celebration.

Champagne
The delights of this lunar sparkling wine are endless! Oh, and it shares numerous health, beauty, and celebratory benefits with its jewel-toned counterpart.

Beauty Witch Secret:

Don’t partake in spirits? Add a luscious splash of pomegranate juice, kombucha, or even sparkling water to top your cocktail. The magic remains.

Bountiful Body
Body Exfoliant

Per treatment

¼ cup hazelnut flour
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
¼ to ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon,
or three drops essential oil
Seeds of one vanilla bean

Begin by combining the hazelnut flour with the sunflower oil, mixing well to create a thick paste. Add in the cinnamon and blend. Finally, slice the vanilla bean lengthwise—carefully—then gently scrape the tiny black seeds from their pod with the knife (or your finger) into the potion. Mix once more, inhaling the scent.

Depending on what moon phase you are in, either visualize what you would like to shed or what you would like to draw in after you “clear the path,” so to speak, by exfoliating. This is a very gentle sloughing, but don’t mistake its gentle nature for passivity—your skin will be so soft and glowing, and you will feel heavenly!

To use:
Apply to damp skin in the shower or bath, then massage in circular motions all over. Next, rake your fingers along your limbs in an upward stroke toward the heart. Rinse well, pat dry. Depending on your skin type or preference, you can now apply oil or body crème, though you may not need it.

Cinnamon
Love, money magic, and potent healing are gifts of this sexy spice, alongside a heightened sense of psychic awareness.

Vanilla
Rich in copper, which helps promote collagen and elastic production, this soothing Venusian aphrodisiac protects from environmental stresses and carries an enchanted scent.

Beauty Witch Secret:

For sensitive sorceresses (and sorcerers!), opt for the ground cinnamon instead of the essential oil. The effect, and the magic, will be the same, sans irritation.

Abundant Sorcery
Facial Exfoliant and Masque

Conjures 6 to 8 treatments

¼ cup organic apple
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
1 tablespoon hazelnut flour
Seeds of one vanilla bean, scraped

This beauty, mignonettes, is a many-faceted gem: it acts as a gommage cleanser, exfoliant, and treatment masque all in one delicious potion! First, chop the apple very finely, add the pomegranate juice, and pulse in a food processor until smooth. You may need to scrape the sides and pulse again several times to get the right consistency. Pour the mixture into a bowl. At this point, it will still be a little chunky. You can break it down further by mashing with a potato masher or a pestle.

Add the hazelnut flour and vanilla bean, and stir until well blended. Conjuring and then using this during a waning to new moon would be a stellar way to gently keep getting the old energy off you, whatever that may be. Clearing, letting go, releasing, and then inviting in the new, vibrant vibes. It is gentle enough for such a week-long ritual—your skin will absolutely be revived, refreshed, and ready for new and exciting things. In the crisp, fragrant air of autumn, adventures await!

To use:
Apply to damp skin, massaging in a circular motion upward from the neck to the forehead. The gommage texture works to gently but effectively cleanse and lift away dead skin cells. Then leave the potion on for 10 to 15 minutes as a masque. You can leave it on during the shower or bath too. This allows the steam to open your pores for even deeper beautifying! Rinse well, then pat dry. Depending on your skin type and preference, you can either apply toning mist and serums or leave skin as is.

Cover tightly and keep refrigerated for up to six days.

Beauty Witch Secret:

If madly pulsing a fresh apple isn’t your thing (!) you can use unsweetened, organic applesauce instead. Just add in a teeny bit at a time, and adjust the texture as you desire.

This is a love story. Perhaps you’re familiar with it: It is one that has inspired for centuries and continues to thrive despite obstacles, with nary a care for the opinions of those who would seek to dispute its legitimacy. Herbalism and beauty, you see, are storybook lovers, twin souls entwined by fate and enchanted by time—in a modern world, the power couple. Formed of the fervent love between plants and witches that began so many moons ago, a great healing art was unleashed into the world. Plant medicine is indeed highly potent and cannot be taken lightly nor for granted. Within this timeless bond also lies the ingredients for that of any fertile, undying union: respect, honor, and an endless ability to see things as if for the first time.

Wise women have always possessed sacrosanct knowledge of herbs and flowers for healing and, of course, have aligned with their magic for some very effective spell crafting throughout the ages. Naturally, such gifts of the earth would also invite the sorceress to employ plant magic for beauty, both in the literal and energetic sense, conjuring head-to-toe “remedies” for every possible need. They are empowering and effective, and they release us from the dubious world of advertising and hype, thus allowing us to take our beauty, quite literally, into our own hands. To connect with verdant spirits for enhancing our own bewitching beauty is both an honor and a privilege—and, oh, how lovely they are! Wild herbs and flowers native to each soil bring their unique abilities to your potions and carry a vibration that intoxicates.

Though plant medicine should be practiced only by experienced herbalists, anyone can create magical beauty potions with the help of nature. There is an entire plant universe out there just waiting to assist you in being your most beautiful, confident, and strong. Organic, sustainable herbs and flowers can be obtained fairly easily, and they can certainly be grown on your own windowsill and made into potions that increase your charms—now that is practical magic!

While our beloved, traditional European witches’ herbs are undeniably effective, when it comes to beauty potions they often benefit from a little power boost by way of treasures from faraway lands, those of even older magical practices. I’ve been conjuring skin, hair, and body care (alongside healing and spell work potions) for more than thirty years, and I can tell you that adding a sprinkle of something you might not initially consider in the cauldron is most fruitful.

For glorious autumn, this spellbound season so fleeting and so incredibly powerful, I have whipped up three offerings to you, darling readers and magic makers: a simple, valuable facial treatment for each major skin type, infused with deliciously sensual ingredients. Now, of course, skin issues must be dealt with as a whole, with attention paid to diet and lifestyle, but these topical treatments are a lifesaver on the spot and invaluable for kick-starting a commitment to well-being. They can be used in rotation as our skin tends to fluctuate with the changing seasons, along with the inevitable stress and environmental factors that so annoyingly accompany them. Oh, and did I mention hormonal shifts? Fun. So you see, we need an arsenal of concoctions we can prepare at a moment’s notice to ease whatever might be ailing our fair faces. For this, I give you the magic three: the triple goddess of fall facial beauty. Wear them well, mes amours, in this season of the witch. May all her wisdom be with you, always.

Remember to always ask permission of the plant when seeking its magic. Whisper to it. Listen. Know the power it possesses. And give sincere thanks.

Maiden Masque

For oily skin, clogged pores, bouts of acne, hormonal breakouts, or anytime you desire a good strong cleansing. This is particularly potent during a waning moon.

1 capsule of activated charcoal
1 teaspoon Moroccan red clay
1 teaspoon aloe vera extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
8 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil
1 small piece of onyx

To begin, break open a capsule of activated charcoal into a small bowl. Add the red clay and mix together. Then add the aloe extract and lemon juice. You can also use aloe vera gel—it will create a slightly thicker masque—but make sure you find a pure one, as many commercial aloe gels contain additives. If you happen to have a plant, by all means use some of the fresh gel! Next, drop in the essential oils, one at a time, and stir clockwise while envisioning clear, beautiful skin, with all the impurities being purged from it. Feel how good it is to be rid of those toxic little beasts!

Drop a piece of onyx into the potion, and let it rest in a sacred space for a few moments. Apply to freshly cleansed skin, then allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes while you recharge, keeping that vision and feeling strong within you. Remove the masque carefully, by first pressing a warm, damp washcloth to your face to soften the clay. Then gently wipe the rest away, and finish with a final rinse.

This blend delivers clean, tightened pores and a polished glow that sparkles! The combination of Moroccan red clay and activated charcoal draws impurities from your skin, while adding a stabilizing earth energy. Lunar aloe vera gently cleanses and soothes as it brings protective magic along with a dash of good luck. Lemon adds to the clarifying benefits with a skin-brightening lift of love and happiness.

Lavender naturally banishes blemishes in its gentle manner, its magic upping the love and happiness even more.

Melaleuca is a strong antibacterial and antifungal oil that will help keep skin clear. Dark and mysterious onyx delivers the final touch for purifying the skin and absorbing negative energy while supporting you in times of stress.

Mother Masque

This potion is goddess-sent when your sensitive skin needs rescue from inflammation, redness, and other decidedly unsexy irritations. Be sure to brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea while concocting, and sip as your skin rests. Whatever it is, it shall pass.

1 teaspoon almond flour
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon aloe vera extract
1 teaspoon unsweetened almond milk
½ teaspoon vitamin E
8 drops geranium essential oil
8 drops calendula essential oil
1 small piece of sapphire

Mix the almond flour and turmeric in a small bowl. Next, add the aloe and almond milk until a creamy paste is formed. (You can always add more flour or milk to achieve a consistency you like). Add the vitamin E, and then each essential oil. Give it a good clockwise stir—it will be slightly sticky. Place the sapphire in the potion and let it rest a few moments in a sacred space. When you’re ready, apply a thin layer to a freshly washed face and follow it up with a second coat. Be sure to apply the masque gently, pressing the mixture onto your skin rather than rubbing. Then get quiet.

What is troubling you? What emotions are pent up? What needs to be released or channeled into something positive? Sip your brew and breathe. Allow the space for healing to occur—the answers may come later. When you’re feeling calm, remove the masque with a warm, damp washcloth. Give your skin a final cool rinse and gently pat dry. Mist with a spritz of lavender or chamomile water, and apply your favorite crème. If you aren’t going anywhere and desire extra healing, place three drops of lavender oil into a quarter-size dollop of vitamin E, mix together, and massage into your skin. If it is too thick to easily distribute, spray some floral water into it to thin the mixture. Massage and press lightly into your skin. Let it absorb fully into your skin, even resting there overnight.

Almond is a soothing, nutritive base for masques that softens and heals skin with natural vitamin E, which has the ability to regenerate cells and repair damaged skin. It also carries the magic of healing energy.

Turmeric is a revered ancient Ayurvedic anti-inflammatory that soothes irritated skin and contains purification magic.

Aloe vera appears again to soothe and relieve irritation, adding protection and luck magic along the way.

Geranium oil is fantastic for calming skin, including redness, and is well-loved for her Venusian gifts of love, protection, and creative magic.

Calendula is kind and soothing but carries strong protection magic. Regal sapphire is a water-ruled gem that restores and heals skin as it brings peace of mind.

Beauty Witch Secret: Gemstones and crystals are fabulous additions to your beauty potions. Their vibrations will enhance your concoctions both physically and energetically and are especially strong when they sit for a period of time in a blend, such as a body or facial oil. Small stones can be obtained inexpensively and can fit into bottles with ease—just be sure to check sourcing, as always. I find rough-hewn stones to be the most potent, though if you are laying them on your body, choose the smooth, polished variety.

Crone Masque

Whether you have perpetually dry skin or just need a moisture boost now and then, this potion delivers on a grand scale. It is heaven for mature skin and an excellent addition to your “aging well” beauty rituals at any point in your life. It’s never too early to care for your face.

1 teaspoon besan (chickpea flour)
1 teaspoon coconut flour
1 tablespoon meadowfoam seed oil
1 teaspoon rosehip oil
6 drops jasmine essential oil
3 drops sandalwood essential oil
1 small piece of emerald

In a small bowl, blend together the besan and the coconut flour until well mixed. Add in the meadowfoam and rosehip oils, then the essential oils one at a time. Stir well in a clockwise direction while holding the feeling of smooth, soft, hydrated skin close. Visualize and feel the confidence of sporting truly radiant, youthful skin—the kind that always looks well-nourished and glowing. Place the emerald into the potion and allow it to sit in a sacred space. When you are ready, massage the masque onto a clean face in circular motions to activate exfoliation.

This one really lifts those dead cells! Then apply a second layer of masque and allow it to sit for 10 to 20 minutes. As it works its magic, feel the nutrients infusing your body energetically as well as on the surface, and make a pact with yourself to always feed your beauty by feeding your body with clean plant food, your mind with things that stimulate the intellect, your spirit with nature and lightness of being. This will keep you vibrant with life force throughout your entire life. Remove the masque by first pressing a warm, damp washcloth on your face to soften the flour, then giving it a good rinse. Pat dry, then apply your favorite serum or crème.

Besan and coconut flour blend together to bring the best of both their superpowers, delivering supreme moisture and nutrition to the skin alongside protective and psychic magic.

Meadowfoam is made of 98 percent essential fatty acids for deeply hydrated skin that retains elasticity.

Rosehip is rich in antioxidants, minimizes fine lines, prevents new ones, and firms the skin while bringing forth love and beauty magic.

Sensual jasmine is a lunar love flower that tones skin while moisturizing and promoting new collagen production.

Sandalwood also helps reduce wrinkles and lighten age spots, with the added benefit of healing and love magic. The dynamic emerald is a power gem for skin smoothness and elasticity, but it is also a fabulous talisman for bringing harmony, love, and wisdom to every area of your life.

When October embraces us with her witchy wiles, can’t you just feel the excitement all around? Even when everything feels dour, and indeed dire, doesn’t that rush of sorcery in the air just rescue us, even for a moment? It does. And that brief moment, mes amis, becomes the catalyst for change. The season, the air and the Earth herself changes, and we are invited to join. I say that politely, but really, it is more of a demand than an invitation. You see, this stunningly beautiful month opens with our most dynamic Full Moon of the year: a call to action in Aries on October 1^st (5:05pm EST) Not only does this lunation bring to fruition the plans you set forth in March when we had a New Moon in the sign of the Ram, but it heralds a complete re-setting, if you will, on both a personal and collective level. It requires us to do something to change the status quo. Though it is entirely understandable to feel everything in a big way right now, with emotions flittering between anger and sadness, and mental states weaving in and out of anxiety and depression, what won’t fly is inertia. The energy of complaining, helplessness, and resignation is not supported by the cosmos. What will be supported is the action of problem-solving, even in small ways. With the world basically operating at half-capacity, and likely way behind its usual pace, it is very possible that you have been waiting for someone or something outside of you to give the signal for change. And it has been more than a little trying, to say the least. (Trust me, I’m with you here. The idea of “waiting” on someone else is not something I would count amongst my skills.) But instead of allowing that to chisel away at your insides, use this remarkable cosmic opportunity to take charge. I would strongly suggest finding another area of life to focus on while you wait (ugh!) for whatever slow-poking is going on outside of your control. Don’t allow yourself to stagnate and wallow, and fear not – The Ram is by your side, empowering you with his innate leadership and strength. If you’ve put forth effort to create something in the last six months, and it isn’t quite there yet, know that you’ve put that particular cake in the oven already. Don’t forget about it, but don’t keep obsessively checking it either. Find a different path to solutions, and focus on that. And be honest: is there another area of life that needs your attention? Have you been so focused on The Big Thing that something else isn’t being seen?

The most remarkable aspect of this powerful Moon is one to remember: Aries rules the desire that actively seeks manifestation. So give your plans one last vital push now, then release it to the heavens.

Stirring the cauldron a bit more is messenger Mercury at odds with unpredictable Uranus – and Mercury goes retrograde this month, no less, from October 13-November 3. What does this mean for us? Taking into account the shadow period, expect the unexpected. Smart witches plan even more carefully now, with particular attention paid to clear communication. Mercury retrogrades in Scorpio, so emotions can be triggered, as well as areas of intimacy and precious privacy. If you feel your buttons being pushed, or simply need further explanation for something, keep your conveyance simple and direct. This way you take the emotions out of it – you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings, and you teach them how to explain their needs in the same fashion. What feels like a dirty little planetary trick being played on you can actually stimulate the brain, though! Use that energy while it is available.

The thing is, chéris, though you are being challenged, the cosmos actually do want to give you good things, that’s why they are guiding you, nudging, and even pushing when necessary. And throughout it all? We have the Sun in charming, harmonious Libra cloaking us in the delights of Venus. I say we lift the vibration to match, allowing goddess-blessed beauty to shine through even the muddiest of moments. I would never miss a chance to revel in Libra loveliness, and neither should you.

For this powerhouse Full Moon, I have concocted for you a double delight: a creamy potion whose sole purpose is to bring out your goddess glow! Aries rules the head and face, et voilà! – a vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant-loaded masque for the hair and scalp that also does wonders for the complexion. Lushly infused with abundant vitamin C, this potion softens fine lines, tones, brightens, and promotes shiny, healthy, thick hair. The star ingredient? Black currants, the delectable little berries that take their liquid form here, are phenomenal beautifiers both inside and out. Also rich in omega-3 and iron, they slow down signs of aging, fortify the hair and scalp, boost immunity, moisturize and repair skin, and improve brain function, with lusty, creative magick to spare.

Because of the timing here – the Full Moon occurring at just after 5pm, and her void-of -course the eve before until 10:47pm – I strongly suggest either holding your ritual late the night before, or get it in as close as possible to her fullness. This can be difficult if you are working standard hours, but, as with all recent Moons, it’s an important sacrifice to make if you can. Never forget, all spells must include sacrifice, and the most effective ones are indeed those where you push to do the thing that seems the hardest.

Cauldron of Charms

Hair/facial masque
Yields one treatment

½ ripe banana, mashed
1 -1/2 tablespoons pure black currant juice
1 teaspoon Abyssinian oil
3 drops cinnamon essential oil

This is a blissfully simple potion, but it does require a very ripe banana (lots of brown spots) because it needs to be so soft that it can be made into a smooth, creamy confection. In a bowl, mash the banana thoroughly with a mortar (you can use a potato masher or fork if you don’t have one) until it is completely smooth. Add in the black currant juice, and mix well clockwise with a spoon or small whisk. Next, stir in the Abyssinian oil, and lastly the cinnamon. As you concoct, feel and see your nearest and dearest Big Plans coming to fruition. Ask what you need to do to help it along. Ask to be shown how you can support that desire, even if you think you’ve done it all.

This recipe will conjure enough for one treatment for both areas, but do double the potion if you have very long, thick, or coarse hair. If you end up with extra, it will keep well refrigerated for three days.

For the hair:  Massage into your scalp, then, keeping your vision strong, work the potion through the ends of your hair, paying special attention to dry tips. Pile hair loosely on top of your head, and place beneath a shower cap or turban. Leave the cap on for 20 minutes. Remove, and give your head another slow, sensual massage. Step into the shower, and wash with a gentle botanical shampoo. Rinse well. You can add a drop of your favorite natural conditioner here as a sealant and give a final rinse with cool water.

For the face: Apply a thin layer to a freshly cleansed face using fingertips or a makeup brush. Follow with a second layer, then allow the potion to rest for 15-20 minutes, while you take a few moments for yourself. Hold your wishes close as the masque works it’s magick! Remove gently with a warm, damp cloth, then follow with a thorough water rinse. Pat dry gently, and follow with your favorite serum or crème.

Banana With its magick of love and abundance, sweet banana also imparts rich moisturizing prowess to skin and hair, while keeping oiliness at bay. They make a superb base for all kinds of masques, and leave behind supple softness.

Abyssinian Oil Although not a common beauty oil, Abyssinian is nonetheless impressive. It rejuvenates and repairs skin, prevents and treats fine lines, and can even help to regenerate cells. For hair, it is an excellent detangler, as well as providing light but potent moisture, imparting shine, and creating a protective shield against heat damage.

Cinnamon Amorous cinnamon ignites the fires of both love and money, while cleansing and increasing circulation to both your skin and scalp. The increased blood flow brings life to the skin, for a glowing radiance; for hair, it stimulates new growth. Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory properties which help keep skin clear.

Beauty Witch Secret: For an extra glow-boost, lightly exfoliate before using as a facial masque. A spoonful of besan (garbanzo) or rice flour will gently polish the skin, clearing away old cells to allow the masque to work even more magick!

Speaking of enchanted Libra, we have a charming New Moon in her sign on October 16^th (3:31pm EST.) This will be an auspicious time for laying plans that bring forth beautifully balanced partnerships, both in in your career and personal life. Sound fabulous? Do take some time to focus, because you will need to be sharp when those opportunities arise in the next six months. They may not look exactly like you have pictured, but see them through. You could have a precious gem right in front of you – don’t dismiss it as a common old rock. At least, not unless it proves itself as such. Take some time now, too, to beautify. It would be highly beneficial to begin a new commitment to pruning your feathers, regardless of how much time you’re actually spending out in the world. And let that extend to your surroundings – a petite overhaul around the lair isn’t really ever a bad idea.

As the Sun makes his way into mysterious Scorpio on October 22nd, the sorcery heightens and the veil thins to what will become a wisp of gossamer at month’s end. Dark sensuality rules the day, becoming even more provocative as the hours pass. This vibration is with us for the next four weeks, so enjoy it. You know exactly what I mean. As Samhain approaches, don’t waste one precious drop of autumnal bewitchment! Oh, you will love this one: I have crafted a cocktail worthy of our New Year festivities, and all the deep, dusky delights it brings, just for you! It tastes like an evening with Monsieur Alucard, with a perfume subtly beckoning until you cannot help but succumb to its allure, all the while enhancing your own beauty.

Dark Rapture

Beauty Cocktail
Per serving

1 cup black currant juice
1 shot of dry gin
Juice of ¼ orange
Pinch of cinnamon

All you must do to savor this delightful sip is to take all the ingredients and combine them in a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, a bullet-style blender cup or a large mason jar will do just fine. Visualize your plans solidifying. Feel it. Now give it a good shake. Pour into a sexy vessel, and raise your glass to YOU! Your New Year, your new adventures, and your newly-acquired abundance!

Aiding and abetting our beauty duo of Black currant and cinnamon is solar-powered orange. This vibrant fruit brings more love to the potion, and a heady dose of vitality and vitamin C. And lastly, there is gin. Booze, yes, but the vintage appeal of this classic actually has a few beauty secrets of its own: made from juniper berries, gin is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, banishes bloat, and can improve digestion. As it is an acquired taste, you can substitute vodka of you prefer, but I think you’ll be missing out on an exquisite flavor pairing.

Beauty Witch Secret:  Can you indulge in this luscious libation sans sprits? Of course! Try brewing a tea to suit your mood. A feisty chai? How about an enticingly scented lavender? Juniper, naturally, would also be a grand choice, and would also make the flavor close to the original.  Just make it ahead and allow it to cool. See what interesting magickal combinations you can conjure!

But wait – what’s that in the sky? Ah, what you’ve heard is true! A Full Blue Moon does occur on October 31^st (10:49am EST,) granting one of my favorite lunar gifts of any year – Taurus following Aries. I love the teaming of these two, because the strongest fire manifestations can then be solidified by unwavering stability. Now, of course, it does present one teeny catch: magick in the sign of the Bull is notoriously…unmovable. Only work with this energy if you are absolutely certain that what you want will be for the highest good, because it can be very difficult to change. And combined with Aries force of will, what you conjure can be out-of-this-world fantastic or a complete disaster. But I know you will make wise choices. And speaking of, take few extra measures to protect yourself energetically right now, particularly during ritual. It’s an easy time for uninvited guests to crash your party, so to speak. But for those already on your guest list, like ancestors and deities, be sure to make your offerings to them especially sumptuous on this hallowed eve.

I leave you here, my dearest readers, to dance beneath the moonlight! Clothing optional, love mandatory. And I give you mine. (Not the clothing, mignonettes. The wardrobe stays with me.)

Love and Stardust,

Xo Alise