Herb Satchel and Tarot Cleansing

Prepping the cards and satchel.

Simple Tarot cleansing that I like to use:

Herb:  Mugwort

Directions:  Rub the mugwort onto the cards, imagine the cards being cleansed and charged by the mugwort. You can say a prayer or saying, I will leave that in your capable hands.

My Tarot set.

The satchel I made was for me to sleep better at night. I have had it under my pillow for 2 nights, and sadly I think it back fired on me. ^_^

I was upset at first, but now I realize that everything is trial and error. So I will take note of the time and day, maybe they were conflicting. Or maybe I didn't charge it good enough. I shall ponders for a while and see what I can do.

Ta da! Tarot charged and not so wonderful herb satchel. ^_^



Getting my fingers dirty---

Today I was busy away crafting and starting the begining stages of tools.

I spent the most of the morning, de-barking and shaving down the stick for new wand. I spend a good few hours while I watched some tv, mainly reruns of Anthony Bordain's No Reservations and giggling at his sense of humor.

After about 2 hours and the largest pile of shaving I have ever created and mostly satisfied with my work, I began the grueling task of sanding my wand. After about 5 minutes I was covered in sawdust as well as my poor cat who, Tigger (lilac-point siamese, and don't let the blue eyes fool you!) was cleaning himself at my feet. I couldn't resist and spent a few minutes playing with him before going back to my work. In total I spent about 3 hours on my wand. And I didn't even put the adornments on, mainly since I know that will take even longer to do. I really want to take my time on this wand, and make it a work of art that I can keep and treasure of many years to come.

Finishing my goal for my wand, I knew I had to finish my ink before my family and I went on our annual roadtrip to Washington. I used some of the shaving from the wand I was making, as well as Calendula (marigold), Mugwort, and Jasmine. I used a clean jar I had gotten at Micheals for 0.49 cents (can you say bargin?) and crushed the herbs with my motar and pestle. I place the herbs inside of the little jar and then covered them in the black ink.

The purpose of this ink is to write the spell pages in Book. And after writing said pages, if there is any ink left, I would like to use for when I need to write in spell casting. I would have loved to make my own natural ink but one thing kept bugging me in my mind-- I wanted to create this book to hand down or atleast last a long time. So I wanted to use an ink that would stay well and last through the ages of time. I know it won't last forever but atleast be able to withstand me.

More Pages for Book--Inside Look

More pages for Book!--

I just finished staining and enchanting a few more pages for my book! This time I was able to get a few more pages done. I could have done more, but I don't want to mass produce these pages. I want to take my time, making sure that they turn out correctly and feel right.

It is sort of like making bread. Having the right pure ingredients. Then having to put them altogether to the best outcome. And don't forget to add in the extra little something-- Love. I feel like that adds a bit more to my book. It is a reflection of me and my love.

Not trying to get all 'Fluffy Bunny' on the subject but I do feel as if it something that many people forget to add into their daily lives. I suppose I can rant on that later, but here is glimpse into the process of these magickal pages:

The herb selection:  Lavendar, Mugwort and Hibiscus. Be careful with the Hibiscus, it adds a red tinge in to the stain. I like adding just a few small spoonfuls.

I just use Folger's coffee, I drink tea not coffee, so I used my parent's coffee that was available.

Next, I crushed the herb using my motar and pestle, and I loved how the herb just filled the room!

After crushing them I put them in an empty tea bag, I had a little extra so I placed it in a jar for my next batch of pages.
I let them bag soak into the coffee for a while, letting the herbs and coffee infuse. I could start seeing some of the red from the hibiscus I had placed in there and I knew it was time to start painting the pages.

I used a brush that was very fluffy at the end to help suck up all the soaking juices. I could also use a sponge but I feared that might have soaked the pages too much. I will coat one side and then flip and do the other side. I use a cream colored cardstock; the cardstock helps from keeping the paper ripping from being wet and will help the pages in Book last longer than normal thin paper.

My last batch I had made a total of 8 pages. This time I was able to make 14 pages. The reason to this was the garbage bag I used. I used a small white kitchen bag to protect the counter. This time I used an extra large black bag to protect the counter. So I had a larger working area. Once the pages dried, I wiped down the sack and set it outside to dry-- this way I could just reuse the bag. Currently I am redrying out the herbs so that I might use it them for an offering once Book is finished.

I let the paper dry for a few days, I find that after a few hours I can stack them together and place them uncovered in a dry, well vented area. During the drying process, the paper will look kinda funky, but after the paper is fully dried it will have a nice and even color.

So there you have it. An inside look to how the spell paper is made. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Now I am off for some typing to finish the heart of Book.

Blessed Be, my friends.

Book Update

Book Update--

I have done atleast 8 pages of 'enchanted parchement'. These pages I will be using to write actually spells in, since the rest of my book will be hand written. (I do plan on adding more, possibly tomorrow.)

Getting ready for the soak.

I used an already dark paper, a cream cardstock. I used cardstock because it is more durable and long lasting than regular printer paper. So these pages will last me awhile.

I put coffee grounds, mugwort, hibiscus, and lavendar in an empty tea pouch and let them soak in a boiling hot water. Letting the herbs infused into the water and coffee helped, along with a prayer, help set the tone for these pages.

I will be blessing an ink that I have to write each of the spells, but this portion I want to save and be the last part that I work in the book. Mainly because I want to take my time and edit any parts in it.

What's in a name--

I have yet to name this book. I know most Wiccans and/or Witches just call theirs 'Book of Shadows'. Although that is traditional, I don't really follow down that path. I feel as if I am still starting out and haven't found my true self yet to be set in ways. I have a lot of pathworking ahead of me...

I have fell in love with a blogger who calls their's 'Book of Cunning' which I love very much. 'Grimoire' is another one...

For now I lovingly call it 'Book', until a name is either drawn to me or I find one that suits it.

Blessed Be!--

Book of Shadows, Status: Ideas.

Ok, so last night I ended up staying up until 9 am.
For the record, I don't want to do that again unless a big game comes out like I did with diablo.


Anyways, moving on--
I am excited that I get a free day tomorrow, and hopefully I will have all the typed portion for my Book of Shadows completed. I am typing the main portion, that way if something happens to the book it won't be a loss or if I need to give someone a copy of something, it will be that much easier. I also have so much information, it would take years for me to hand write every single little detail I wish to put in there.

I plan on handwriting all of the spells for the book. I have a nice set of pens and archival inks and I want to make the book as personal as I can. I also have some left over herbs from a vacation in Washington that I wanted to infuse with the paper (doing a type of tea staining on the paper) and also infusing the ink with it as well, to make the page more personal and somewhat magickally charging the paper.

I have spent so long trying to figure out how I wanted to do this book, I just feel like completing will help me feel somewhat whole, and I could always change the book later in life where I see it needs fit, I have just put if off for far to long. I will take some pics and happily post them up on here to show progress.

*cracks knuckles* Busy day tomorrow!