Energy Magick - November 2019

Wild Goddess Magick

Witchology Magazine mirror magick 101

A Witch’s Guide to

Astral Travel

Improving your Spells with

Visualization

Energy Magick The Art of Magickal

Centering

DEFENSE

MAGICK TECHNIQUES

The leaves may fall, the grass may die,

but the Land Spirits live, and to them I pray.

Though some may sleep,

others awake to face the cold, to bless the Earth

with the gifts only they can give.

Spirits of rock and tree,

Spirits of running and still water, Spirits of Earth and sky:

to the ones who now go to sleep, farewell until the warm time.

To those who now awake, once again I greet you,

as the Earth once again enters winter.

-Serith, Ceisiwr

A Book of Pagan Prayer

EDITORIAL Ambrosia Hawthorn, Editor & Art Director Sarah Justice, Co-Editor WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Miss Wondersmith, Louisa Dean, Mozinah, Mike Sexton, Jennie Sharples, Karla Freeling.

ART & PHOTOS Cover: Ambrosia Hawthorn Illustrations: Tiffany Sosa Mia Stendel - stock.adobe.com All other photos are from free stock sources or from contributors.

SALES ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com SUBMISSIONS ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com www.witchologymagazine.com/ submissions-ads/ SOCIAL www.witchologymagazine.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag Copyright © 2019 by Wild Goddess Magick.

All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Magazine is intended for ages 18 and up.

We are a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All our content is reviewed and vetted in the process.

The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Witchology Magazine or Wild Goddess Magick.

Witchology Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

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elcome!

“These words herein are from me to you, each picture, thought, and quote we imbue.

This issue reflects the knowledge I have to share, use each spell, ritual, and work with care.”

November marks the new year for some traditions.

It’s a time of renewal and working with energy and your connection with the divine. This month we have some great articles on mirror magick, scrying, defense magick techniques, astral travel, magickal centering, enhancing your spells with visualization, energy magick basics, and enhancing your craft.

We also have an exclusive interview with Julia from Hedgecraft House, a Tarot spread for warmth and security, and delicious recipes of Wila Witch Bread and a Berry Galette!

Please also note, we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the content of this magazine, but please don't give up on the magick within you!

Blessed be witches,

Ambrosia Hawthorn

Wild Goddess Magick

Witchology Magazine

Cover by Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick

Our Witchy Team

Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick Witchologymagazine.com Editor, writer, illustrator, and eclectic witch.

Mike Sexton @artistmikes Mikesextonstudio.com Writer, eclectic Wiccan, artist, published author.

Karla Freeling @wiccanology Wiccanology.etsy.com Writer, mother in the military, Pagan, and shop owner.

Sarah Justice @tinycauldron Tinycauldron.com Co-Editor, writer, and shop owner.

Mozinah the Seer @mozinahtheseer Mozinahtheseer.co.uk Writer, mystic, Celtic seer, and published author.

Jennie Sharples @jenniferksharples AutumnEnchantments.etsy.com Writer, healer, psychic, and shop owner.

Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith Thewondersmith.com Writer, wondersmith, recipe creator, forager, event hostess.

Louisa Dean @thewitchesstone thewitchesstone.com Writer and student of witchraft.

NOVEMBER 7 What’s New in the Witchy Community 8 November Magickal Workings 9 November Must-haves 16 Interview with Julia, Owner of Hedgecraft House 51 Witchology Directory

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ARTICLES & LORE

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21 A Witch’s Guide to Astral Travel 26 Brigid’s Mantle Tarot Spread 28 The Mourning Moon 35 Nudges, Dreams, and Premonitions 41 Witchcraft: Effectively Learning your Craft

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CORRESPONDENCES 16

36 Herb: Valerian 38 Crystal: Fluorite 39 Goddess: Selene

MAGICK LEARNING

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10 Defense Magick Techniques 11 Mirror Magick 101 12 How to Scry with a Mirror 22 The Art of Magickal Centering 23 Improving your Spells with Visualization 32 Energy Magick Basics

FEASTING 44 Wila Witch Bread 49 Berry Gallette

What’s New in the

Witchy Community Want to know what’s happening in the community? Well, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the latest products, books, and more.

True Magic: Unleashing Your Inner Witch

The Book of Spells

By Cyndi Brannen True Magic: Unleashing Your Inner Witch goes beyond everything you've ever tried before.

Combining traditional magic and modern strategies, you will transform your life through spells, practices, rituals, and journeys, unlocking the power of your true self. True Magic takes the best parts of witchcraft, shamanism, occult and mystical paths from the ancient to the contemporary so that you can wield their wisdom. You will learn how to use plant magick, animal spirits, words of power, alchemy, ancient philosophy, the chakras and more to unleash your Inner Witch.

Now available on Amazon

By Sunshine Holly Press The 2020 Witches’ Magical Moon Planner is focused on organization and productivity because these are critical elements to self-care. If you’re not actively pursuing your big, crazy (and sometimes scary) dreams, you’re not creating the life you deserve. And you deserve to live an amazing, magic-filled life! At 8.5 x 11 inches (US letter), it provides plenty of space to plan and track your daily tasks, rituals, and your body’s natural rhythms. There’s also room to write your own notes and record your craft practice for the sacred holidays and solstices as the Wheel of the Year turns.

Now available on Amazon

Wicca Moon Magic: The Ultimate Guide to Lunar Spells, Wiccan Moon Magic and Rituals.

By Esther Arin Spells This book contains all kinds of knowledge about how to get started with Moon Magic. It is a great in-depth book that would be good for any spell worker. The Moon has influenced human behavior for centuries.

Whether we realize it or not, Moon is one of the greatest powers of Nature and can help both Wiccans and normal people to practice magic with the correct use of lunar energies. For thousands of years, the Moon has been associated with many central concerns of human existence: love, passion, fertility, mystery, death and rebirth, and the afterlife, just to name a few. Now available on Amazon 7

NOVEMBER MAGICKAL WORKINGS

November’s original name was Novem, Latin for ‘nine,” indicating its place in the Roman calendar. In many Celtic traditions, this is the beginning of the Witch’s New Year.

This month is perfect for reflection, healing, renewal, and to celebrate and share with others.

Practice magick relating to energy work, mirrors, astral travel, and spirit.

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NOVEMBER MUST-HAVES

Citrine Protection Amulet $67.00 OfelWay

Our favorites for this month!

Energy Healing Bath $13.00 GoddessBeautyESS

Amethyst Crystal Bath Bombs $8.75 TheBohemiaBoutique

Palmistry Tarot Bag $18.00 MsCraftBee

Flying Ointment $7.50 TinyCauldron

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Defense Magick Techniques S

ometimes in life, it is necessary to perform protection or defense magick to keep yourself safe from forces that may seem outside of your control. However, these spells have the potential to be dangerous if not performed correctly or with the right mentality. Today, we’ll talk about basic protection and defense techniques and how to perform them in a safe way.

One of the best ways to protect yourself that doesn’t involve any actual materials is psychic shielding, also known simply as shielding. Essentially, you’ll be using your own energy to form an invisible protective shield or force field around yourself. This is best done first thing in the morning, but it is a technique that can be employed at any time you feel it's necessary.

Each person’s energy shield looks and feels different. Some people describe it as a white light, while others see it as a physical shield. Take some time to visualize what yours would look like. To make sure it is in place, simply picture that shield extending all the way around yourself. This employs the same technique as grounding and centering, and a psychic shielding is even more powerful when done after you’ve successfully grounded and centered yourself. Once it is in place, “charge” it by picturing any negativity and bad energy bouncing off of it and away from you.

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For people who want a more physical way to protect themselves, crystals are a great and easy way to keep yourself and your home safe. Some of the crystals that are well known for their protective properties are amber, carnelian, hematite, and onyx. Simply place a piece of your preferred crystal at each of the outside corners of your home. They can also be added to a protective sachet that includes a combination of protective herbs like fennel, honeysuckle, thistle, and/or violet.

This can be made even more powerful when combined with another psychic shielding technique called warding.

Warding is much like the psychic shielding described above. Warding is performed by employing visualization techniques. However, instead of using your own psychic energy, you’ll draw on the energy and power of the earth itself to protect a physical place instead of a person. Pull the energy up from the ground and use it to surround your home, locking it into place with visualization.

Refresh daily to maintain its power.

If you employ these few, simple magickal techniques, you’ll keep both yourself and your home safe from any negative energy that may be directed your way (either purposeful or not). The best part about shielding, warding, and simple protection and defense magick is that it simply deflects the energy instead of sending it back to its source, so it doesn’t defy the belief that many pagans have to “do no harm.”

Mirror Magick 101 Mirror magick has been used for millennia for magic of all purposes, including scrying, protection, love, and seeing the truth of a situation.

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agick mirrors have been present as a divination tool as far back as ancient Greek mythology when Narcissus became so in love with his own reflection in a pool of water that he ultimately died by his own hand when his love was unrequited.

Nowadays, there are nearly an unlimited amount of reflective surfaces that can be considered mirrors. But what makes a good magick mirror, and how can you best use it?

Mirrors can also be used in a variety of different spells types, although it is extremely important to approach all spells that involve mirrors with caution. Due to the obvious reflective nature of the mirror, it is easy for a spell to “bounce” back on the practitioner.

While water was the original magick mirror, today, we tend to prefer mirrors that can be a little more easily transported. The ultimate decision is whether to use a traditional mirror or a “black” mirror, and there are benefits and drawbacks to both.

One of the most popular spell types involving mirrors are spells for protection.

However, these are also controversial, as many people believe it has the potential to do harm, which is not advised in many Pagan practices.

Traditional mirrors are much easier to find.

However, any traditional mirror can also be made into a black mirror. With an ordinary mirror, it is important to be careful to clean and consecrate it appropriately before using it to scry. Mirrors, in particular, tend to hang on to energy, which can affect more than just attempted divination. They also are generally better for more experienced scryers, as it can be easier to get distracted while using them.

Start by casting your circle, then performing a grounding and centering exercise. If there are real concerns about protection, it is also recommended to sage or smudge yourself. Using a small mirror, smudge and consecrate it before placing it on a windowsill in your bedroom. Light a single black candle in front of it, while asking the mirror to reflect any negative energy that may be directed your way.

Finish the spell by performing another grounding and centering, but direct that energy instead into the mirror to charge it.

Black mirrors are popular among beginner scryers because it is less likely to see your own reflection and become distracted from the task at hand. A normal mirror can be turned into a black mirror with just a few coats of matte black paint. The black mirror is also a good choice for traditional scrying because it forces the seer to really evaluate

and interpret the images and symbols instead of just simply seeing them in the reflection of a more traditional mirror.

When working with mirrors, make sure to be safe and do your research before attempting any scrying or spells. They are a very powerful tool, which means the potential is there for them to backfire as well. Be careful and good luck!

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How to Scry with a mirror Using a mirror can be a very powerful tool for any Pagan to have in their toolbox.

But learning how to successfully and safely use them to scry can come with a steep learning curve.

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he first thing to know about scrying is that there is a large part of it that involves simple, natural talent. That’s not to say that it can’t be developed, as everyone possesses at least a small amount of that natural instinct, but it may be harder for some people to learn. As frustrating as the process might be, don’t give up.

helps open your mind up to being able to scry better.

When you feel ready to scry, find a quiet, undisturbed place. If required, cast and open a circle. Sit with your magick mirror and a pen and paper and begin to

Practice makes perfect. A simple exercise that can help people learn to focus the mind and increase the success of a scrying practice is done by just lying in bed at night. Try to imagine a single object in your mind, what the object actually is doesn’t matter. Take that object and picture it from every single angle, turning it around in your mind. Try to take it apart and put it back together again. This

There is no right or wrong with scrying, simply being able to pick up on what the universe is trying to tell you.

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ground and center with your eyes closed. Once you feel ready, open your eyes. Look into the mirror

with an open heart and no expectations, paying attention to what seems like it may even just be a tiny detail. Some people see pictures, others see words, or symbols.

There is no right or wrong with scrying, simply being able to pick up on what the universe is trying to tell you.

Write down everything that you notice, and stop when you feel like the time is right. Close your circle, and take the time to reflect on what you’ve seen. In some cases, the messages will be obvious.

In others, it may take some interpretation.

Start by considering the color of the cloudiness you saw when first looking into the mirror.

Here are a few of the most common: White: purity, truth, new beginnings, birth Black: secrets, lies, endings, death Yellow: childishness, playfulness, prosperity Green: envy, vitality, nature Red: lust, action, masculine energy Then consider the symbols and images. It can be helpful to enlist the help of a more experienced scryer, or even a dream or symbol dictionary if the meaning isn’t immediately obvious. It is important to note that scrying with a magick mirror does have the potential to invite in spirits, not all of which mean well. Immediately end a scrying session, close the circle, ground and center, and consecrate the area if you notice or feel any other presences behind the mirror. Never invite them in.

Learning how to scry safely and accurately with a magick mirror can be a lengthy process but, ultimately, it can be a powerful way to get answers to questions that may not be easily solved on this plane of existence.

How to Scry with a mirror 13

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By MiaStendal 15

Interview with Julia from The Hedgecraft House Julia is the owner of a Pagan shop of magical supplies. She pulls from her Slavic roots and uses herbs, fabric, and embroidery to create her magical pieces.

Can you tell us a little about you and your background?

My name is Julia. I’m 39 years old, a Sagittarius, and from Poland. My parents weren’t Catholic, and I was never forced to any religion, but I’ve spent a few years in Evangelic Church, as I was trying to find my community. Right after I realized that it’s just not right to be a part of a religion that I cannot fully dedicate myself to, I came across a book about Wicca. And that was the beginning. I never became Wiccan, but thanks to this book, 15 years ago, I found my way into the Pagan world. Since then, I have transformed from a sensitive young girl into a grown-up witch with Slavic roots, a student of initiatory tradition, and I feel that I know less than I did at the beginning of this road! My whole life, I

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thought that I was the only witch in my family, but a few years ago, it turned out that I got it from the women in my family.

I am also very lucky to have some other talents inherited from my mom- she taught me the embroidery- and my love for fabrics and threads also comes directly from her.

What inspired you to create your shop?

Many years ago, the Universe gave me a great gift- a shaman and a teacher, all in one body of a girl, who became my best friend. It was our idea to have a shop for Pagans, where we could create and sell all those witchy things that were available only abroad. When she passed away, my friends and I took a long break from this dream, but it never truly left us. Last year, thanks to different circumstances

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and after so many years since the original idea was born, we finally decided to open our own magical store. My friends are no longer involved in Hedgecraft House, but it has evolved into an integral part of my craft. And I’m still blessed with beautiful people who support and help me whenever I need it.

What’s your favorite medium to create with?

Definitely herbs and fabrics! I absolutely love working with herbs, but I use only their magical properties- blends for dream pillows, magic dolls, or protective amulets. That is why I am drawn so much into Slavic traditional dolls- I can use magic, herbs, and fabrics to create a doll that has the power to heal, protect, or bring love.

I also love embroidery. I know that I still need to learn more, as I always wanted to know as many techniques as possible. But using embroidery as a magic tool is what gives me shivers! It’s so close to weaving and knot magic, which is one of my favorites. That, for me, is what makes embroidery not only beautiful but also exciting.

work, continually creating new ideas inspired by e.g., a shape of a tree, a particular scent, or a piece of a medieval dress.

Another way of finding inspiration is learning about folk magic and finding a way to use pieces. Till the last month, there were about twelve different models of witch’s bells in my shop, and it was truly exciting to take the traditional magic of this item and give it a fresh look.

But there is also another level of inspiration, that determines my work. I firmly believe that as a witch, I have a responsibility to help others and protect the planet that I have a privilege to live on. It’s my way and my path. Whenever I create a new product, I do everything I can to be as ecological as I can, from buying components from local manufacturers or supporting small workshops.

I place significant importance on the quality of materials that my products are made of because I want my customers to have items that can last many years to come. This is also because the zero-waste philosophy is very important to me.

Where can our readers connect with you?

What inspires you?

Everything! I can’t think of only one or two things; it’s the whole Universe that is full of inspiration. In my shop, you can see mostly embroidered items right now, because it takes up so much time that I hardly have time to live. But my notebook is full of ideas for new products I want to release next year. And it’s just fascinating to see how a human brain can

Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/Hedgecrafthouse Instagram www.instagram.com/ hedgecrafthouse I also want to say thank you to all my customers who have been with Hedgecraft House from the beginning! The amount of support I’ve received from them is beyond words, and it’s a real blessing to share my magic with them.

Interview with Julia from The Hedgecraft House 18

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Astral travel requires some practice, consistency, and open-mindedness.

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A Witch’s guide to

Astral Travel A

stral travel (also known as astral projection) is one of the most talked-about but often frequently misunderstood ways for witches to get a new perspective from outside the normal plane of consciousness. There are a few general ways to accomplish astral travel, but all of them take a large amount of focus, practice, and awareness. You may also hear astral travel referred to as having an "out-of-bodyexperience" (or OBE).

An important fact about astral travel to take into account, and one that causes a lot of fear and confusion about the practice is, that your soul leaves your body during the projection. This is not true. When astrally projecting, it is actually your spirit/consciousness that leaves the body and not your soul.

The practice of astral travel has been documented nearly as far back as can be found.

One of the most common stereotypes about witches, that of the black-clad witch riding on her broomstick, was actually born out of a literal interpretation of witches who were simply astrally projecting.

In this article, we’ll go over a simple technique to start honing your astral travel skills.

Most importantly, before attempting any sort of astral projection, make sure you are in good health. It takes a large amount of energy to be successful with astral travel, and the more energy you go into it with the longer you can project for.

Start by relaxing your body. One of the best ways to do that is to lay down in a comfortable position where you won’t be disturbed and, starting either at your head or at your toes, focus on each isolated muscle group. Try to will it to relax and soften before moving on to the next group. Take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out of your mouth, sinking into the floor.

Once you’re fully relaxed, there are a few different techniques you can employ to actually leave the body. Some people will envision themselves literally floating up out of their bodies; others need to employ a more physical tactic and envision themselves pulling themselves up and out. Go with what works for you. If you’re having trouble, try to center yourself more as your mental state is often the largest factor in an unsuccessful astral projection (specifically, anger and fear). Once you’re successfully out of your body, enjoy it! And once you feel like you’re ready to re-enter your body, simply follow the path back (it can help to envision this as a rope or string) and settle back into yourself. Some nausea or dizziness can be normal and goes away quickly.

A successful astral traveling experience may not happen the first time you try, or the second, or even the twenty-fifth! Be patient with yourself, learn from your unsuccessful attempts, and you’ll eventually get there. Don’t give up!

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The Art of Magickal

Centering

For practitioners of all forms of magick, learning how to center successfully is an incredibly important skill to develop.

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n many of the different Pagan traditions, magickal centering is imperative to do both before and after attempting any spells, rituals, etc., as it is the ground in which the entire working is based on. Without a solid foundation, magick could not be as successful or even backfire entirely, which leaves the practitioner vulnerable to energy-draining and other health effects. And, without grounding after a spell or ritual, excess energy built up as part of the work is able to run amok and cause problems in the body. Magickal centering is essential to a healthy practice.

Magickal centering is actually a simple practice, in theory, but a more difficult one in practice. It helps to think of centering as a form of meditation, as it employs many of the same tricks and techniques that simple mindfulness does.

The first key of a successful magickal centering is making sure that you will be undisturbed while you do it.

Focus is one of the most important parts of being able to perform this important pre 22

ritual successfully, and anything that removes your focus should be minimized (ringing phones, television, loud family members, etc.).

Once you have a quiet space, sit in whatever position is most comfortable. Sitting in a chair is acceptable as well, especially for those who would be more distracted by any discomfort associated with sitting on the floor.

Once comfortable, take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Really feel the air enter in through your nose as you count slowly to five, feeling it filling your lungs and your entire body.

Hold the breath for a few seconds while envisioning yourself rooting into the floor, then slowly blow it out through pursed lips to another five count. Some people like to make a noise during the process, like a hum or a simple “Om,” but it isn’t necessary.

Just go with what feels right.

Repeat this process at least three additional times, preferably five. This should ground you enough to move on with the centering process.

When just starting out, one of the most straightforward techniques to use to get a feel

for your own personal energy is to start by just rubbing your hands together. Apply gentle pressure, but make sure there is friction. After doing that for as much time as it takes for your palms to start feeling warm, hold them apart from each other by about an inch.

That tingling, magnetic sensation you feel between them? That’s your energy.

Once you really get the hang of identifying your own personal energy, you can learn how to scan your body for areas of build-up and be able to even yourself out before starting a spell. Pull all of that energy into one space inside your body (where is up to you and what feels right), which will keep you in charge of your energy so that you can direct it appropriately.

Repeat the grounding process after the spell, and finish by placing both your palms on the ground to discharge any excess energy before closing the circle.

Remember, practice makes perfect, and this does not come naturally for everyone, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t feel like you have it right away!

Improving your spells with

Visualization

By Louisa Dean

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hen it comes to casting spells, every witch is different. Whether using herbs, candles, moon phases or a little bit of everything, there is one super powerful ingredient that all spells need in order to work.

Visualization.

Visualization is the mental practice of imagining a desirable outcome.

The theory goes that the more focused you are at imagining the outcome, the more likely it is to occur. This is what makes it such a potent ingredient for spellwork.

How does it work?

It turns out that visualization has a scientific basis according to Psychology Today; something that elite athletes have known for quite some time. When we imagine carrying out a task or achieving a goal, our brains use the same neural networks that are activated when we physically do those things.

By visualizing the experience in every detail – from the emotions we feel to the way our senses react to it, the brain is tricked into thinking that the imagined experience is a real one. For example, if you are too ill to work out, simply going through the motions in your head can be just as effective.

Arnold Schwarzenegger used to imagine his life as a successful bodybuilder and movie star when he was serving in the military. He didn’t give up on his vision until it became a reality. Athletes such as Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are also known for visualizing themselves winning before they play a match.

How can you use it with magick?

The key to successful visualization is practice. You want your spells to work? Visualizing them working once or twice isn’t enough. It’s all in the practice. Practice, practice, practice. And then practice some more.

With practice comes the ability to focus spiritual energy and intent into powerful visualizations. Hold a mental image of the outcome and concentrate on every single detail without getting distracted. Get superspecific. Taste, touch, sound, smell, every detail counts. Surround the image with a warm glow of positive thoughts and feelings. Imagine reacting to the outcome. Feel the emotions. Make it so.

While visualization is all in the mind, some witches prefer to use tools to help them to nail down the imagery.

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Crystals Certain crystals are known for their ability to enhance visualization, such as moss agate, amethyst, quartz, and green tourmaline. Have these crystals nearby or hold them to help enhance visualization practice.

Concentrating on a quartz crystal ball is a good way to use the eyes to bring the vision into focus.

Music Using the power of association can help to strengthen visualization abilities. Find a song or piece of music that promotes relaxation and play it during visualization practice.

Feel how the music connects you to your vision and imagine that it is strengthening the ability to manifest the outcome. After a few rounds of practicing with music, whenever you hear this particular song your brain should automatically start the visualization process.

Drawing Drawing the vision can help the mind to get inside the detail of it.

Spend at least 30 minutes focusing on the pen as it moves across the paper, drawing everything you see and feel as being a part of the end

result. Don’t worry about making a perfect piece of artwork, just try to concentrate on creating the image of your desired outcome.

Writing Writing is another great way to visualize a spell working. Either use a grimoire or have a dedicated visualization journal (as if witches need an excuse to get more journals) to jot down every tiny detail of the vision. Try not to be too rigid with expression, allow the words to tumble onto the page in a stream of consciousness. If you find a combination of words that work for you, make them into affirmations which you can repeat each morning to strengthen your vision.

There are plenty of ways to get creative with the visualization process and there is no right or wrong way of doing it. Every witch is different. But provided that it is regularly practiced, visualization is a super powerful tool that can help take spellwork and magick to the next level. Enjoy!

Improving your spells with Visualization 24

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Visualization is the mental practice of imagining a desirable outcome.

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Brigid’s Mantle Tarot Spread

By Jennie Sharples

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1. What you need to protect.

2. Where you can look for inspiration.

3. What needs healing.

4. What needs nurturing.

5. Internal influences.

6. External influences.

7. How the Brigid can help you.

8. Something to release.

9. Another thing to release.

10. A blessing coming in.

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Brigid’s Mantle Tarot Spread

By Jennie Sharples

In the northern hemisphere, the colder months are starting to settle in. Now is the time to look towards the fire, the hearth, and anything that represents warmth and security. Invoking the energy of Brigid would be beneficial right now. Brigid is often called the Triple Goddess– the one who rules over the forge, the hearth, and the flame of inspiration.

She has helped many- the poets, the healers, the seers, the poor, and even the livestock. Over the years, she has been depicted with hair of fire, a sacred cow, and, most notably, her mantle.

For this spread, the word "mantle" is used interchangeably with "cloak." Though cloak is distinctly classified as an outdoor over-garment, typically sleeveless, that hangs loosely from the shoulders; the mantle is known as a loose sleeveless cloak or shawl, worn especially by women, as well as, an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another. And it is that last definition of mantle, gives the great goddess, Brigid such power. Her mantle gives power to those who prophesize and those who need protection.

And it is during these colder months that many people wonder what lies ahead. Some wonder if they will have a roof over their head or enough food in their stomachs, while others seek absolution and healing for any hardships they have recently encountered. This time of year represents going inward and looking to your own flames of inspiration and passion to keep you moving forward. And if you need assistance with any of that, Brigid will be there to support and guide you. This tarot spread will help you connect to her. Please note that while her energy is strong, she is quite compassionate and warm. Allow her mantle to guide you in the right direction.

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November’s Moon is

The Mourning Moon

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The Mourning Moon November’s Full Moon is also called the Snow Moon, Frost Moon, Fog Moon, and Beaver Moon. It will appear on the 12th of November in the zodiac sign of Taurus.

It’s a great time to work on letting go of the past, cleansing, shedding bad habits, and getting a fresh start. It’s also ideal for helping you turn your dreams into reality.

In some Celtic traditions, November marks the beginning of the new year.

This is also a great time to focus on deepening your path and maintaining your connection with the divine or spirit. During this Full Moon, perform a healing ritual, cast spells related to new beginnings, or perform divination for reflecting on the year you’ve had thus far.

November has associations with water, so using water to wash away negativity from your life is an excellent way to harness the water energy.

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The more in tune you can become with everything around you the better you can gravitate towards that which will help you in your workings as well as in your everyday life.

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Energy Magick Basics When we first pick up a book on Wicca or when we speak to someone who's Wiccan, and we are just beginning on our path, the word "energy work" comes up a lot.

You may think that it means using energy around us to perform magick in spell work and ritual work, but that's just the beginning.

You might think that it pertains to raising energy to help heal someone from an illness, and that's also just the beginning. Energy magick encompasses pretty much every aspect of magick as well as our everyday lives, even when we're unaware of it.

Wiccans and also healers who aren't Wiccan, use energy in everything they do.

Even those who belong to the Abrahamic faiths are using energy magick in their lives every time they pray or light a candle for a loved one's memory.

Energy magick is used when we perform candle or sigil magick, as well as just going about our

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everyday activities such as cooking, showering, doing laundry. We're raising energy for a particular purpose. For example, in cooking, we can bless each ingredient for a specific job, and then as we cook, we can impart positive energy into the cooking process as we stir, as we bake, etc.

“

The more in tune you can become with everything around you, the better you can gravitate towards that which will help you in your workings as well as in your everyday life.

For showering, we can use that time to remove negative energy from ourselves and also to infuse ourselves with the healing properties of water. We can add protective energy into laundry work so that our loved ones are safe and happy throughout their day.

How else can we use energy magick? How about when we feel a strong pull from a particular crystal or maybe from a plant or tree? How about when we are drawn to a specific animal or are picking up on the energy our companion animals are giving off?

If you haven't experienced this yet, it's ok. It doesn't make you any less of a witch or a Wiccan. It also doesn't mean you won't gain such experiences with time.

One great way to begin gaining some of this experience is to place a few objects out in front of you on a table. Maybe choose a few different crystals, or mix it up with multiple types of items. Sit or stand before these items and then close your eyes.

Hold your dominant hand over the items and slowly, very slowly, run your hand from right to left over all the items.

See if you can pick up anything. Are you sensing a strong energy source?

Are you sensing something's not quite right about one of the items or that they're giving off a substantial amount of energy? If you do, hold your hand over that item and do this for several minutes.

See if you can pick up more information from this item what it may be feeling if it wishes to help you and so on. Once you receive no more information, open your eyes and see which item this was and ask yourself how this item can help you or what it's trying to teach you.

Maybe write this down so you can look at it later again. Now, close your eyes once more and continue slowly running your hand over the other items and see if you pick up anything else on any of the others.

If so, go through the same process as you just did. If you don't pick up anything else, it's ok. Walk away from the exercise and return to it another time or

even choose other items to exercise with.

When you're out in public, try to open yourself up to picking up feelings of inanimate objects around you. See if you can sense anything about them.

while. Frustration won't help the process and will only help to close certain avenues off to you. Come back to it when you have calmed down and are ready to try again.

Do the same for any trees or flowers you might pass by. If you have some time and you pick up on something, stay there a while and see if you can figure out what you are sensing, what this item might be trying to get to you. This is all a part of the energy magick working.

With time, practice, and patience, you'll begin to sense energy all around you, and you'll be able to know what can help you, what you can't and what may need further work.

The more in tune you can become with everything around you, the better you can gravitate towards that which will help you in your workings as well as in your everyday life. If you're not picking up on any energies right away, don't get discouraged.

Give it time.

Just as with anything else, it requires practice, patience, and time to get good at it. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, walk away from it for a

Energy Magick Basics 33

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Nudges, Dreams, and Premonitions

By Mozinah the Seer

“Your intuition is amongst your most revered skills and is not something to be ignored.”

Another month is fast approaching, and it seems as though 2019 has come and gone in the blink of an eye. November is a lovely month; it has all of the pre Yule magick and the Samhain aftermath built into one.

There is a certain “feeling” of productivity and planning to bring all of the family and friends together to create everlasting memories before another year is gone.

This month I want to talk about dreaming and intuition. Does your life sometimes feel like a deja vu? Do you dream about everyday happenings and ever wonder why? I know I do. I dream about the most ordinary situations and often find myself wondering why this is occurring.

It’s not unusual for the universe to send us these little nudges and reminders.

Sometimes we need them to confirm to us that our faith in what we do is there for a reason and that the connection we have is stronger than we thought.

This usually occurs at times in our lives when we need to feel the connection is present. Life can be tough sometimes, and our beliefs can feel tested by the harsh experience we face.

The universe often throws obstacles our way, causing bad karma, awful luck, and feelings of despair.

This is life, and we are here for our souls to learn a lesson, to grow, and to prosper from these experiences. It tests our patience with our beliefs, but ultimately what we get from it in return is something valuable and enriching.

The purpose of this short and sweet article? Listen to the signs; the random dream, inkling, or nudges. These moments are sharpened intuition. It's your link with the divine, and your intuition is amongst your most revered skills and is not something to be ignored.

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V

alerian Other names: All-heal, Cat’s Valerian, Phu, Vandal Root.

Plant family: Valerianaceae.

The Latin valere from whence the common name of this plant originated means "to be strong or healthy" and it may refer to the healing applications of the plant or it may refer to its strong odor.

Magickal properties: Love, sleep, peace,

Valeriana officinalis

purification, and protection.

Magickal workings: Valerian can be used for exorcism and countering spells. Valerian is an herb of peace and can stop arguments. Valerian can be used as an offering to the Goddess Bast, and may be the perfect gift to delight your feline familiar or ally.

Scent profile: Sour and tart.

Actions: Nervous system relaxant, hypnotic, hypotensive, anxiolytic, analgesic, antibiotic, expectorant, bitter, carminative, sedative (paradoxical stimulant), antispasmodic, emmenagogue.

Correspondences: Venus, Water.

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F

luorite Fluorite is a very popular stone that comes in a variety of colors. This balancing and grounding stone anchors your ideas by giving structure to your thought process during challenging times.

When you're put to the test, ask the Fluorite

crystal to clear your head of toxic psychic debris and transform those thoughts into new ideas and innovations.

Magickal properties: Calming, inspiration, focus, peace, and protection.

Magickal workings: Fluorite gives order to chaos. Sit quietly with Fluorite and call on its gentle healing powers to help you coordinate your physical and mental abilities. Because it affects the conscious mind, fluorite quells strong emotions and smooths thought over the angry sea of desperation, depression or anger.

Correspondences: Capricorn and Pisces.

S

elene

Selene is known as the Greek goddess of the Moon, and more specifically, the Full Moon. Her

Roman counterpart is Luna. Selene is usually represented as a woman with the Moon, often in a crescent form on her head and driving a chariot pulled by two white horses.

Selene is one of the Greek triple goddesses of the Moon. In the maiden, mother, crone aspects of the goddess, Selene is the mother, Artemis the maiden, and Hecate the Crone.

The mother aspect of the triple Goddess

represents womanhood, where she is at the height of her reproductive potential.

To work with Selene, light a white candle to discover what you are passionate about in life. On the shadow side, you need to ask

whether the amount of energy and time you are putting into relationships or enthusiasm for projects is excessive.

Symbols: Moon, a white horse.

Witchcraft: Effectively Learning your Craft

By Karla Freeling

“I have been studying witchcraft and the Occult for 18 years, and it feels like every day I learn something new about myself and what I believe in.”

T

he most common questions I often receive are, “how do I become a witch?” or “what do I need to know to be a witch?” Whether you consider yourself a new witch or an experienced one, it can become challenging to understand how to learn new information properly and how to process all the information that is out there.

In my experience, this is especially challenging because some of us haven’t taken the time to teach ourselves how to improve our learning techniques.

You can’t just tell someone to do research and expect them to be automatically successful. As an experienced witch/Pagan, I feel a moral obligation to be specific about how a beginner can start down the path towards witch-hood or Paganism.

However, oftentimes, I run into several questions myself.

Where should they go? What should they read? What

should they do with the information they are learning? Also, this process is often time-consuming, and having to address each person who reaches out can become cumbersome.

So here I am! This is me addressing everyone who has ever written and asked me how to become a witch. To those individuals, I simply ask that you grab a notebook and a pen and start taking notes.

Start by asking yourself the following question: “What are your core beliefs?” Give yourself details! You need to understand how you are going to use the concept of witchcraft. It doesn’t matter what anyone else does. What are you trying to do? Now think about how you learn best.

What types of resources do you prefer using, i.e. websites or books? How can you use your preferred method of learning to get you to where you need to be? I intend to

cover all of this below, and I promise to be as detailed as possible.

Have you ever heard of the domain levels of learning?

For this article, we will be specifically talking about the affective domain. The affective domain is how we deal with things emotionally, and it consists of three levels (you can relate this type of learning to your heart chakra). It is the impact of one’s attitude or ability to value, appreciate, and motivate.

The first level is receivinghow much are you willing to hear about the subject?

Maybe instead of reading a book, you prefer listening to an audiobook or podcast.

There are plenty of podcasts available for your witchy needs– all you need to do is search.

The second and third levels are responding and valuing.

This calls for active participation on your part and 41

is usually based on a set of specified values. How do you respond to what you just learned? And here’s where we begin relating to the heart chakra.

Ask yourself, how does what you hear make you feel? Are you connected to the message? If you are, then great! If you are not connected, then that probably means that the learning path you are on isn’t for you. For example, when I read about Greek mythology or Norse mythology, my heart smiles on the inside. I get excited and can even recite almost all the stories by heart.

However, this is different when I read about other practices like Hoodoo. I can appreciate and value it, but I can’t tell you that my heart is in it as much as it is with eclectic Paganism. This by no means signifies that one practice is better than the other. I truly believe that as witches, we must rely on each other’s strengths, and I personally value and respect all paths. Some of us know how we need to walk a path

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that’s different from others, and that is perfectly okay!

Let’s break this down a little more. Instead of witchcraft, think of something as simple as driving. During my recent time at a military academy, my instructor told our class this driving analogy related to the concept of cognitive analysis that made me realize I wanted to write this article.

this. You understand these basic concepts step by step.

You know this because you have spent years learning to drive, and it is now second nature to you. The same concept applies to the study of witchcraft. You need to get a thorough understanding of all the concepts before you can truly decide a path that has been designed for you.

His analogy was about completely and wholly understanding the subject; he began by asking, “are you driving a four-door automatic or a tractor-trailer?” There is a huge difference between driving both types of vehicles. Now add braking, steering, and air conditioning, etc. – all these are considered subcomponents or topics. For you to understand how to use a four-door automatic, you also need to understand how all the subcomponents or even driving principals (rules of the road) work together.

Deciding to learn a new theology is a changing action in your life! Make sure you truly understand it. Reading in detail is key. While some books on history are fact, there are plenty of books out there that are mostly made up of people’s opinions. This is a very important concept to understand. Reading more than one book will give you different points of view. Your chosen reading should be specific to your desired concept. Beginner books and generalized books are good; however, the more specific you get with your beliefs, the more intrigued and interested you will be. Do not worry because this will all come with time.

Even in braking, there are subcomponents – there is brake pressure, pedals, and even traffic lights. However, most if not all of you know

Witchcraft: Effectively Learning your Craft

I have been studying witchcraft and the Occult for 18 years, and it feels like every day I learn something new about myself and what I believe in. Just last week, was learning about the AdaptionInnovation (A-I) Theory, and I realized that when it comes to my craft, I am more of an innovator than an adaptor.

When it comes to the study of witchcraft, I see an innovator as someone who prefers less structure in a spell or ritual and is someone who likes to work outside the “norm” to bring new ideas to the table.

An adaptor is someone who prefers more structure and is someone who values themselves for being consistent with their craft.

Neither innovators nor adaptors are better than the other.

They are simply just different in their approach.

Being able to give your beliefs and study habits meaning and being able to articulate what you like, will make all the difference.

My academy instructor, Shane Gunter, told us a quote by Simon Sinek that I don’t think I will forget anytime soon. The quote reads, “When you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help us. But when you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.”

This whole process isn’t about being a better witch or a better Pagan than some random soul you follow on social media. This process is about being the best version of yourself that you can be.

connections between things.

The study of different cycles and your place in them. This is about learning to use the energy in yourself and the world to make changes. And most of all, it’s about trying to make the world a better place for yourself and other people.”

A huge thank you and virtual hug to my classmate Phillip Threlkeld for editing my words and bringing my article to life.

And big kisses to my military academy class - NCOA Class 20-1 - Pave Hawk Flight - and instructor, for sticking by me these last six weeks while we learned these concepts and then together applied them to this article.

As Isabel Bird once said, “It is about being someone who has dedicated their life to learning about the

Witchcraft: Effectively Learning your Craft

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WILA WITCH BREAD AND THE ARCHETYPE OF TRICKSTER

By Miss Wondersmith

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WILA WITCH BREAD AND THE ARCHETYPE OF THE TRICKSTER

By Miss Wondersmith

I

n mythology, the archetype of the ‘trickster’ is often the character that keeps the world from appearing black and white. These characters dance over boundaries and between peoples. They often carry secret knowledge, which they divulge at the times that serve them best. It’s hard to be entirely sure whose team they are playing for, or what they are playing in the first place. Rarely trustworthy but always interesting, trickers are often my favorite characters.

One of the reasons I’m so fascinated with tricksters is because they often break societal rules and expectations, playfully disrupting normal life in their antics. They are the ones that ask us to pay attention and to question the rigidity of the world we know. I sense a bit of that drive in myself. After all, throwing secret parties for strangers out in the woods is not exactly a societal norm! Gently encouraging my guests to cross the boundary away from the mundane world and join me in a magical feast is something I do with much pleasure. (That said, I’m less fond of many of the other ‘trickster’ activities, such as stealing cows, bribing gods, and causing plenty of other mischiefs.)

While archetypes of the trickster appear in cultures all over the world, the ones that are most fascinating to me are the tales from this continent.

Stories of tricksters - particularly Raven and Coyote - have been gathered from many Native American tribes, but some common threads are running through them. First, that the trickster is integral to growth. By shaking things up and questioning rigidity, the trickster often leads people to view something with a new perspective.

(After all, the most significant catalyst to growth is uncomfortable or curious change.) Secondly, tricksters often leave their physical mark upon the landscape. The famous Multnomah Falls outside of Portland was said to be a result of either Raven or Coyote’s efforts. Many of those other marks on the landscape are found throughout our region here in the Pacific Northwest.

“Wila” is a type of black lichen (Bryoria fremontii) that drapes itself from branches in dark woods.

Several different First Peoples tribes of the Northwest Region have legends about Wila being from the hair of Coyote. In various versions of the story, Coyote somehow gets his fur caught in a tree.

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After he safely returns to earth, he decrees that his fur should be revered as food and not wasted.

Nice save, Coyote.

So, when I wander through the darkened forests dripping with black lichen, I smile to myself and wonder just how Coyote came to be stuck in that first tree anyways. The lichen I gaze at is also known as Witch’s Hair Lichen, Old Man’s Beard, and Horsehair Lichen. It grows plentifully in the interior forests of the Pacific Northwest, giving them an eerie dark feeling.

These are the sort of woods that I would imagine a witch would build her cottage in, and naturally would probably be one of her favorite ingredients to cook with as well.

As Douglas Deur says in his book Pacific Northwest Foraging, “[Wila lichen] is blandly nutty and can be used raw or in porridge and bread. It was traditionally pit roasted or boiled into a somewhat nutty-tasting but bland porridge; usually it is sweetened or mixed with other ingredients for sweetness and textural diversity.

The lichen can also be used in bread and other baked goods, and when pulverized, it can be used as a leavening agent.”

My interest in this ingredient was piqued when I read that it could be used as a leavening agent in bread or cakes. As baking an airy gluten-free loaf is a bit of a challenge, I figured it was worth putting it to the test. I am happy to report that I saw a noticeable difference in the texture of my bread!

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Keep in mind when gathering, that lichen grows almost unbelievably slowly. Never harvest it from trees; instead, take a walk after a good windstorm and pick up the pieces that have fallen to the forest floor. Never take all of it, as other animals depend on its rich carbohydrates for sustenance, especially during winter!

Processing/Safety: Lichen contains vulpinic acid, which is what helps it dissolve the surfaces upon which it grows.

Wila is naturally lower in this acid than most other local lichens, making it easy to leach out safely. You should be sure of the identification, and gather the darkest pieces you can find, which will be lower in vulpinic acid.

To process, first, pick through your lichen to remove any unwanted debris such as pine needles or other kinds of lichen.

Then fill a big pot ¾ full and add 2 Tbsp baking soda. Fill with water and bring to a boil, then strain. Repeat the process.

Then, fill the pot with clean water and bring to a boil, then turn off and let sit overnight.

Strain out the lichen and dry it (you may need an oven on its lowest setting or a dehydrator for this), then grind into flour using a spice grinder or flour mill. At various points in this process, it may look like you are cooking tar or preparing an unappetizing and gloopy black slime.

I would encourage you to tap into that trickster energy and ask your family what they think

of your dinner preparations. (I certainly had fun with that!)

We’ll be mixing up the story of Coyote and the hair he left behind into a loaf worthy of the best forest witch. It’s a glutenfree loaf, similar in texture to a good rye bread. It has a pleasantly earthy and nutty flavor rich in umami, thanks to both the lichen and the sesame seeds that coat it. This bread rose far more than any other gluten-free bread I’ve made and, while still denser than a typical gluten bread, had a pleasantly light and chewy texture. It also stayed fresh and moist for longer than is typical with gluten-free bread as well - just as tasty the second day as the first!

To make these loaves extra beautiful, I tried out some new bread-baking techniques. (These are described in the recipe.) I wanted to push the idea of boundaries, so I created a bread that looks like the night sky is cracking to reveal a sparkling beyond. If you're going to dive into that metaphor as I did, it makes for some excellent mealtime conversation.

If not, it’s just a wonderful bread! The outer crust is firm and can be broken off and used as a pita chip for scooping up dips or butter. The interior is soft, with a faint smoky and umami flavor. This bread is wholesome, a little bit nutty, and delicious after a day in the woods.

As always, if you like what I do and want to support it, please take a look at my patreon page.

WILA WITCH BREAD

By Miss Wondersmith

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1 c brown rice flour 1 c teff or sorghum flour 1 ¼ c oat flour 1 c tapioca starch 3 Tbsp black lichen flour) 1 Tbsp black cocoa powder, culinary charcoal, or regular cocoa powder 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp xanthan gum 2 tsp granulated yeast 2 tsp sea salt 2 (or 2 1/2 c) lukewarm water 2 Tbsp molasses 2 eggs 1/4 c white rice flour, for dusting A star stencil, optional Another 2 Tbsp culinary charcoal Extra brown rice flour About 3/4 c black sesame seeds Oil, to brush

- Whisk together the brown rice flour, teff or sorghum flour, oat flour, tapioca starch, black lichen flour, black cocoa powder, xanthan gum, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.

- Add in 2 cups water, the molasses, and eggs and until well combined. The dough should be fairly wet and sticky.

- Cover loosely with a piece of plastic wrap and allow to rest at room temperature for about 2 1/2 hours or until the dough rises slightly.

- Separate ¼ of the dough and knead 2 Tbsp culinary charcoal into it, plus enough rice flour that you can easily roll it out (about 4 Tbsp). Cover and set aside.

- On a piece of parchment paper gently shape the main dough into a round loaf.

Dampen your hands with water and use them to gently brush the outside to smooth it and make it sticky. Coat thoroughly with black sesame seeds.

- Roll out your black dough into a large circle. Brush the back with oil, leaving 2inches around the edges. Brush the edges with water. Gently set the black circle oil-side-down on top of the loaf. Tuck the ends underneath. Place a star stencil over the loaf and dab with water, then sift white rice flour over the surface to leave a starry design. Cut an X in the top of the loaf, going through the charcoal layer only. (Kitchen scissors work well for this!) Then cut four more 2-inch slashes on the side of the loaf in the middle of each quarter, again being careful to just cut through the charcoal layer. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rest at room temperature for half an hour.

- Meanwhile, preheat a baking stone in the middle of your oven to 450F for half an hour. Place an empty metal pot or pan in the oven that won’t interfere with the rising bread, and that is accessible to add water to.

- Carefully slide the loaf onto the hot stone. Pour a cup of hot water into the other pan and quickly close the oven door. The resulting steam will help the crust develop nicely. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until firm.

- When you remove the bread from the oven, brush the sesame-encrusted areas with a bit of vegetable oil to really make them sparkle!

- Allow to completely cool before slicing. Otherwise, the interior has an unbaked texture and will then dry out very quickly.

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SUMAC ROASTED RED ONIONS AND GRAPES

By Miss Wondersmith

Prepare these sumac-roasted red onions and grapes while you’re waiting for the gluten-free bread Wila Witch Bread to finish cooling.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

5 small red onions, intact 3 c red or purple grapes 7 Tbsp olive oil Sea salt Sumac, powdered and dried Thyme, dried

- Preheat oven to 350F. Peel the papery layers off of the red onions.

- Stand one onion upon its root end, and use a sharp knife to cut four vertical cuts that reach almost to the bottom of the onion but do not cut through. You should have eight wedges still attached to the root end. (Picture this as the flower blossom, as each layer will fall outwards in the heat, allowing it to bloom.)

- Drizzle a little olive oil into a baking dish, then arrange the onions cut-side-up on the pan. Fill in the spaces with grapes. Drizzle everything with the remaining olive oil, then season to taste with the salt, dried sumac, and thyme.

- Bake for 40 minutes, turning the pan and gently encouraging the petals to open after 30 minutes. After 40 minutes, drizzle some of the pan juices over the onions and cook until onions are tender and fully bloomed, about 20 minutes longer. Serve warm with fresh butter and Wila Witch Bread.

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Berry Galette

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Berry Galette A galette is a French pastry similar to a tart or a pie; it's essentially pastry dough wrapped over a filling made from fruit, sugar, and butter. Make this delicious treat anytime during the year.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

Cornmeal Crust 1 1/4 c all-purpose flour 1/4 c cornmeal 1/4 c granulated sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 c (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed 1/4 c cold buttermilk

- To make the crust: Whisk the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl.

- Using a pastry cutter or a couple forks, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse, pea-sized crumbs. Add the buttermilk and stir until the flour is moistened. Add one more Tbsp of buttermilk if the dough seems dry.

- Gently knead the dough a few times on a lightly floured work surface until it all comes together. Shape the dough into a ball and flatten it into a thick disk. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.

- As the dough chills, prepare the filling: Mix the berries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice together in a large bowl. Cover tightly and let sit until the dough is ready. I usually cover it and keep in the refrigerator during this time.

- Preheat oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

- On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle (or any shape, really!). Trim the rim of the circle to make a clean cut if desired. Transfer dough to the prepared baking sheet.

- Spoon the berries (not the juices) into the center of the dough, leaving a 2-3 inch border all around. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the fruit, overlapping the dough as necessary. Press gently to seal the edges.

Brush the edges with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

- Bake until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 25-28 minutes.

- Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

*Cold ingredients, as well as chilling, help the crust keep its shape.

Filling 4 c mixed berries 3 Tbsp granulated sugar 1 Tbsp cornstarch 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice Egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tbsp milk Coarse sugar for sprinkling

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