Imbolc 2020

Back to front (on red and pink altar cloths): Goddess candle, jade Buddha statue, God candle; earth candle, air candle, fire candle, water candle; pink scrap paper, white sigil candle and amethyst on an old ashtray, Imbolc haiku on white paper.

Went to a Pagan ritual, spouse read the Imbolc meditation to me from Magical Meditations, set up an altar.

Pagan ritual included creating a sigil, setting an intention with a stone (I grabbed an amethyst at random), and writing a haiku.

Welcome, welcome Sun
Share your warmth with me today
Brighter days to come.

We also sang the same song from last year.

Fall Altar

My altar is a little bit of a mess right now.

Spring Altar

New Moon February 2019

From back to front: shell picture representing the Goddess, light therapy light, acorn picture representing the God; Living Earth Devotional, old ash tray holding little jade Buddha statue and a white tea light candle, A Book of Pagan Prayer; small brass bell, habit tracker, small brass candle snuffer. I kept my red altar cloth and switched out my green one for pink in honor of Imbolc. January I didn’t do so well with establishing habits but I’m off to a pretty good start this month and setting an intention to do better in February with the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual habits I’m keeping track of.

Belated Yule Celebration

I switched my altar cloths to red and green and added a little jade Buddha statue gifted to me by my spouse from a recent business trip. Spouse read another Magical Meditation to me in time for the New Year. Perhaps I’ll do a little more for Imbolc.

Full Moon August 2018

The full moon snuck up on me again. I recently downloaded a Moon Phase app to my tablet and saw that the full moon was coming this morning. This evening I made an offering of moon incense (that I picked up from Crystal Dove this afternoon) during meditation. Tonight I'm also listening to some witchy music (a Lisa Thiel playlist from Circle of the Seasons that I put together for Lammas). How do you like to celebrate the full moon?

New Moon July 2018

Deborah Blake Tarot Giveaway

As you may know, I'm a Deborah Blake fan. I follow her blog Writing the Witchy Way and I also follow her on Twitter @deborahblake. She writes both non-fiction and fiction.

Anyway, I'm writing to inform you she's doing an Everyday Witch Tarot Deck givaway! I want one. Right now I have a small Radiant Rider-Waite deck and I donated the old deck I had.

Here's what Deborah Blake tweeted this morning so you can enter too:
Look what I'm giving away! Writing the Witchy Way: Celebrating the Oracle with a Tarot Deck Giveaway http://deborahblake.blogspot.com/2018/05/celebrating-oracle-with-tarot-deck.html?spref=tw … #celebrating

Beltane 2018 Altar

Death & Underworld Altars

Sources for Tools and Supplies

One of the mistakes new Wiccans, Pagans, and Witches make is spending a lot of money on witchy tools and occult supplies. When you're just starting out, it may be difficult to know what you really need. I'm with Michaela at the Penniless Pagan, "worshiping nature shouldn't cost you a dime." That being said, if you want stuff to adorn your altar or use in spells and rituals, there are a variety of low and no cost options.

Nature
Gather sticks, stones, leaves, feathers, pine cones, shells... It's free, personal, and meaningful. If you are going to harvest something from a living tree or plant, it's a good idea to be responsible about it. Ask the tree or plant's permission, only take what you need, leave an appropriate offering of water or fertilizer, say thank you.

Farmers Markets
Ideally I'd like to start gardening, but a good source for local, fresh, and seasonal produce and other odds and ends is farmer's markets. Prices are usually pretty reasonable.

Thrift Stores
"Recycle, reduce, reuse" is a very Wiccan and Pagan motto. If you can't find what you need at home, consider thrift stores. Remember to cleanse and consecrate your thrift store finds, just in case they might be carrying any unwanted negative energy from a previous owner.

Local Businesses
My favorite metaphysical shops in Albuquerque include Blue Eagle Metaphysical Emporium (large selection of new and used books about Wicca and Witchcraft among other tools and supplies), Abitha's Apothecary (primarily incense and essential oil blends), and Crystal Dove (wide range of jewelry, crystals, and books; I even got a tarot reading there).

The Internet
I've had good experiences ordering from Grove and Grotto, a variety of Etsy sellers, and when I can't avoid it (such as when I'm looking for a rare and specific used book) Amazon.

Nature, farmers markets, thrift stores, local businesses, and the Internet are good places to search for inexpensive tools and supplies. Look around your house for stuff to use. Be creative and resourceful. You probably need less than you think. Blessed be.

Where do you go for altar tools? Do you make your own?