Hello Auntie Moss

Auntie Moss has come to stay with us here at Gypsy Magic. How cool is that?

Who is she and where did she come from? She is a wonderful little old village witch who got a really bad rap from Ursula LeGuin in her Earthsea book "Tehanu." The description in the book reads like this:

"Aunty Moss was a dour creature, unmarried, like most witches, and unwashed, with greying hair tied in curious charm-knots, and eyes red-rimmed from herb smoke." She was further described as, "unpredictable, unreliable, incomprehensible, passionate, ignorant, sly, and dirty."

The one thing said about her that was true is "she was following her heart, it was a dark, wild, queer heart, like a crow, going its own ways and on its own errands." What the book neglected to say was that she is a wise and wonderful witchy woman who has never steered me wrong.

Lucky for us, I was able to find an actual picture of her, and she did graciously agree to be of help to those of you who ask for advice and insight. You'll find her at the bottom of the page (here at Gypsy Magic). Go ahead, scroll down, ask her something, you know you want to!

New Beginnings

For this spell, you need:

• 1 amethyst cluster
• 2 crystal points
• 1 bag of sea salt
• Black Bag
• Black votive candle in candle holder and matches
• Candy or something sweet to eat

You can make a new start any time, but some times are better than others. When the moon is new, she lends her energy to new beginnings.

The first month of the New Year is also a wonderful time to have a new beginning....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: New Beginnings

Colors And Their Meanings

• Black: The meaning of the color black is mystery and protection. It is the color of the clergy, and witches use it to cloak themselves and safeguard their mysteries.
• White: White is a holy color, and it symbolizes purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.
• Gray: The color gray is an unemotional color. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive - the fence-sitter. Gray is reserved, quiet and conservative. It has a steadying effect on other colors around it.
• Gold: Gold is the color of kings, gold symbolizes wealth, success, achievement and triumph and status. It is related to the sun....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: The Magickal Meanings of Colors

Animal Symbols in Magic

Animal magic is use of an animal for its symbolism and energies. Animals can also be animal spirit guides. Similar to spirit guides, they are used for their strengths, skills, and guidance. Using animal symbols in your spell work can be very effective. They can be used to represent persons or situations, and/or to add strength and ability to what it is you are working to achieve. Here is a listing of many common animals and the general properties associated with them. You can also use this list as an aid when decifering dreams, omens, shapes in tea leaves, etc.

• Alligator-aggression, survival, adaptability
• Ant-team player, worker
• Armadillo-active, nocturnal, protection
• Bat-guardian of the night, cleaner
• Bear-power, adaptability
• Bear Paw-strength, mobility
• Beaver-builder, gatherer
• Bobcat-fierce, loner, intensity
• Buffalo-sacredness, life builder...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Animal Symbols In Magick

Apple Energy Banishment Spell

• Cut an apple in half horizontally, so that the star in the center is exposed.
• Rub one half of the apple with a mint leaf while visualizing what needs to be banished.
• Write your problem on a slip of paper....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Apple Mint Banishment Spell

An Easter Monday Bìcáben

In the old days (back in the 1800's), this is how the Hungarian Gypsies celebrated Easter Monday. They made a wooden box or receptacle called the bìcáben, pronounced like the English gypsy word bitchapen and meaning the same, that is ~ a sending, a thing sent or gift.

In this, at the bottom, two sticks were placed across, "as in a cradle," and on these were laid herbs and other fetish, or meaningful stuffs which every one touched with the finger...

,,, I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, and can be found in its entirety here: An Easter Monday Bìcáben

Simple Luck Charms

• Spread candies and coins around your house, especially in the corners of rooms.
• Wear coral, wash it with Holy Water and/or Coconut water (the liquid from a coconut) to replenish it's powers.
• Bathe in Laurel leaves...

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Simple Luck Charms

Spell for Luck and Granting Wishes

Here is a great spell for good luck and for having your wishes come true:

Gather together:

• 4 red candles
• 4 green candles
• Cinnamon
• glass of wine
• edible seeds or nuts
• round pebble

The red candles are for luck and the green for prosperity, but you may wish to substitute other colors more suitable to your specific wish. The seeds hold the promise of regrowth...

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found here: Spell for Luck and Granting Wishes

An Old Story About A Gypsy

Here is an old story about a gypsy. It's kind of long, and a little odd, but I think it gives an interesting view of gypsies way back in the 1800's.

KIRK YETHOLM

There are two Yetholms - Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from each other, and between them is a valley, down which runs a small stream, called the Beaumont River, crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there is not much to be said. It is a long, straggling place, on the road between Morbuttle and Kelso, from which latter place it is distant about seven miles. It is comparatively modern, and sprang up when the Kirk town began to fall into decay.

Kirk Yetholm derives the first part of its name from the church, which serves for a place of worship not only for the inhabitants of the place, but for those of the town also. The present church is modern, having been built on the site of the old kirk, which was pulled down in the early part of the present century, and which had been witness of many a strange event connected with the wars between England and Scotland. It stands at the entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn to the village after ascending the steep road which leads from the bridge....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, and can be found in its entirety here: An Old Gypsy Story

Top 5 Houseplants to Purify Your Living Space

Witches know that ultimate Magic comes from the heart of nature. Forging a strong bond with nature by nurturing house plants is very empowering and can sort out your health too!

The top five plants all remove chemical vapors that build up in the home from paints, cleaners, solvents and other unhealthy things - and they have magickal abilities too as listed below:

• GERBERA DAISY Great to encourage happiness.
• PEACE LILY Encourages harmonious energies and good communication.
• BOSTON FERN Encourages psychic ability and intuition.
• ENGLISH IVY For protection and luck - especially good for newly weds.
• ARECA PALM (or Butterfly or Yellow Palm) For peace and creativity.

More information on magickal plants can be found at my new website, Magickal Ingredients.