Magic Charm Bags for Protection, Love, Luck & Health

Need a sprinkle of magic in your summer? Known in Voodoo as “gris-gris,” or to Native American’s as “medicine bags,” these good ol’ fashioned spells in a bag are sure to bring some magic into your life! For me, charm bags have some nostalgia surrounding them.

Growing up with my Grandma referencing her astrological charts and talking to spirits with her pendulum, I became very open-minded to all things woo woo. Though charm bags weren’t Grandma’s thing, I stumbled upon some magic books at a young age and was hooked. I created my first charm bag during middle school, in hopes to improve my relationship with my Mom. Like any good teen, I argued with her a lot. I’m not sure if it was the intention or true magic but our relationship did improve from that point forward!

This summer season, entertain your inner child by creating a custom charm bag (or two)!! I’ve got everything covered for you, from the container to its contents, a prayer to empower your charms, and even some printable “recipe” cards to have as reminders!

When choosing a bag it’s important to pick an appropriate color that reflects the purpose of your spell, lucky for you I’ve done all of the work on these details! Don’t have all of the herbs or all of the crystals for each one? Don’t fret, using one or two from each category is fine. Remember, the intention behind your charm bag is the most important part.

Protection

Bag Color: Red, black, or gold

Herbs: Betony (protects against malicious fairies), cedar, cinnamon, mint

Gemstones: Black tourmaline, amber, malachite

Charm: Shell (to symbolize a hard protective surface) or a piece of a broom (to brush away negativity)

Prayer: “Minions of the dark now quit this place, for only light will I embrace.”Imagine protective energy pouring into the bag and creating a force field of light around you as you place each item in the bag.

Luck

Bag Color: Silver, gold, or green

Herbs: Nutmeg, clover, ginger, fenugreek

Gemstones: Sunstone, moss agate, tiger’s eye

Charm: Moss; both Spanish and Irish moss are known to bring luck. Also, a horseshoe figurine.

Prayer: “Fortune smile on me this day, may all I need come my way.”

Imagine your hopes and dreams coming to you easily and effortlessly as you place each item in the bag.

Love

Bag Color: Red, PinkHerbs: Lavender, rose petals, a stick of cinnamon for passionate love

Gemstones: Rose quartz, copper, pink kunzite

Charm: Maple leaf; the sap of the maple tree makes sweet, rich syrup. So, the maple leaf symbolizes rich and full love. Or a triangle object to represent the love in the union of a mother, father, and child.

Prayer: “By air, earth, fire, and sea. Bring love to me.”

Concentrate deeply on the kind of love you want to bring into your life as you place each item in the bag.

Health

Bag Color: Yellow, blue

Herbs: Peppermint, St. Johns Wort, Thyme

Gemstones: Amethyst, sunstone

Charm: Toadstone or something to symbolize the sun. The sun is the heart of the solar system and provides life to all living things on Earth, so it is a preferred talisman for health.

Prayer: “Keep my mind and body strong and fit. Strengthen both my heart and wit.”

Visualize yourself at your perfect physical and mental health as you place each item in the bag.

Carry your charm bag in your pocket, display them on an altar or prominent place to remind you of its intention, or gift it to a friend. Just like your crystals, you can set your charm bags out in the light of the full moon to give them a good cleaning. Whether it be for protection, luck, love, or health, have fun in the childlike wonder and playfulness of creating your charm bag!

Healing Sounds: Tibetan Singing Bowls

Can you really receive healing energy from singing bowls?

I’m sure you’ve seen them in your yoga class, or maybe you’ve even got your own singing bowl. They’re becoming more and more mainstream in Western culture, but what’s all the fuss? Can these pleasant sounds really help heal us from the inside out?I’ve done the research for you and have learned that singing bowls can in fact help you heal. (More on this and where to start your collection later.) I also learned about an unexpected communication link between singing bowls and the Buddha, but here’s a little history first.

Where Do They Come From?

Tibetan Singing Bowls date back to 560-480 B.C. and knowledge of the singing bowls were only passed on by high-ranking lamas or spiritual masters. To complicate the passing down of this study, the teachings were traditionally spoken between teacher and student. There’s virtually no written text on the topic! I, however, came across an interview with a lama (spiritual leader) regarding the mystical singing bowls!

Communication from The Buddha

In the interview, the lama told all about how the singing bowls are a means of communication for Buddha, how cool! So, if you are listening to singing bowls, here are a few things you might learn directly from Buddha.

Emptiness: The sound of the singing bowl gives the teaching of broadness and emptiness. This is the essence of Buddha’s teaching. In emptiness, all things are possible. Having a bad day? Emptiness allows feelings and emotions to not linger for too long. It allows us to not take everything so seriously, which I really need a lesson in on a daily basis!

Healing with Singing Bowls

Ok, now here’s some awesomeness for ya! The medical director at the Deepak Chopra Center in California found that both chanting AND Tibetan Singing Bowls are chemically metabolized into internal healing agents and painkillers! Here’s the lowdown on how the singing bowls promote healing in our bodies:

Vibrations: All matter vibrates. When we have an ailment, it is a part of us that is vibrating out of tune. Singing bowls can literally change the matter within you by sending vibrations to your body that bring everything back into harmony. This can be done by having singing bowls played around your body, or even having them played while they rest on top of your body!

Emotional Response: Singing bowls heal us physically because they touch us on deep emotional planes. The sound creates a spiritual awakening that quiets negative self-talk and synchronizes our brainwaves to bring awareness of a mind/body connection.

Mind-blowing right?! Well, if you got as excited as I did about these you might want to start your collection now. I found an amazing shop on Etsy that sells small, very affordable, singing bowls that you can even coordinate with your chakras, check them out here.I’d love to hear any singing bowl experiences you have had, or if you have a favorite singing bowl, let me know! Send us an email.

Essential Oils on the Go // 4 Rollerball Blends for Daily Use

With all this talk of essential oils, I bet you’ll be wanting to take them with you wherever you go! For good reason, too! Essential oils aren’t just something you spritz on your pillow at night. They have so many uses that you’ll wish you had one on hand for every occasion.I’m always on the go, and there are countless moments throughout the day where I’m tired, I’m feeling down….and good god, a pimple!! Where are my essential oils when I need them?? Rollerballs are here to save the day! A perfect little fun-sized container for our precious EO blends.

What You’ll Need

• Tinted glass roller bottles

• An eyedropper (many rollerball sets will come with these)

• Essential oils

• A carrier oil. Any of the following will work wonderfully:

  • Fractionated coconut oil

  • Sweet almond oil

  • Olive oil

  • Sunflower oil

The Recipes

ZIT ZAPPER

Let’s start with a blend that treats the arch-nemesis that we are plagued by from time to time, if not chronically. Whether a pimple is predictable on a daily basis or pops up at the most inconvenient moment, you need a remedy! So here it is.

• 20 Drops Lavender Oil

• 20 Drops Tea Tree Oil

• 20 Drops Frankincense

• Fill with the desired amount of carrier oil and shake to mix

MIDDAY PICK-ME-UP (JET LAG BLEND)

This past month has kept me super busy. I’ve entertained house guests, taken road trips and long plane rides, and “sleep” has become a word from a foreign language. Here's a blend that will wake you up and invigorate your senses. Use this blend to pull you through a study session or to bring clarity to a mental fog while you’re in the office.

• 8 Drops Eucalyptus Oil

• 6 Drops Peppermint Oil

• 30 Drops Lemon Oil

• 2 Drops Cinnamon Oil

• Fill with the desired amount of carrier oil and shake to mix

MOOD SUPPORT

No one likes feeling down, but it happens. It’s part of being human. Maybe someone said something that made you feel less than, or not a part of. Perhaps you are mourning a loss, or you are disappointed about expectations that weren’t met. Try this rollerball blend for some comfort and to improve your attitude. This blend works well when inhaled. Apply it to your hands, cup your hands over your mouth and nose, and breathe deep.

• 20 Drops Bergamot Oil

• 20 Drops Frankincense

• 20 Drops Lavender Oil

• Fill with the desired amount of carrier oil and shake to mix

A BLEND FOR YOUR GUY - TURN YOUR MAN ON TO EO’S

I saw this “Lumber Jack Blend” and couldn’t leave it out! I’m a sucker for all things sandalwood. Have your favorite counterpart use this as his cologne or even as an oil for that beard he’s been sporting. Can’t wait to try this out on my main squeeze!

• 10 Drops Patchouli

• 10 Drops Sandalwood

• 10 Drops Clary Sage

• 10 Drops Frankincense

• Fill with the desired amount of carrier oil and shake to mix

Hope these recipes remedy some of the things that afflict you! We would also love to hear any of your tried and true EO rollerball concoctions!

Breathe Deep with These 3 DIY Lavender Recipes

Aside from smelling heavenly, lavender comes with a slew of amazing benefits. Lavender can help with anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, PMS, antiseptic and a recent study reported in the Journal of Medical Microbiology shows that lavender oil is a potent anti-fungal as well. Take a look around your home. Hand soap, body lotion, countertop cleaner, linen spray, candles…you probably keep some sort of lavender-scented item in your home.

I wondered, what else this amazing herb could be used for? It turns out lavender is a gold mine for DIY home products! I’ve chosen three that I think you’ll find come in super handy.

Lush Lavender Bath Scrub

Lavender oil is a choice pick for a bath time scrub! This oil works as an antiseptic to promote healing of the skin. It’s also popular for assisting with sleep. Insomnia may have met its match with this one! So, get ready to settle your senses after a long day.

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up a batch of this delectable and healing scrub:

• Mason or apothecary jar

• 1 1/2 cups of organic sugar

• 1/4 cup of olive oil

• Mix the ingredients together to coat the sugar. Add dried lavender flowers for some extra pizzaz!

Chilled Lavender Towels

Lavender oil’s sedating qualities work well for sleeplessness AND pain relief. Whether you have a headache, fever or you’re white-knuckling it through childbirth--its ability to curb pain really is astonishing! Here is one of my most cherished methods for diminishing discomfort.

How To:

• Fill your sink with water and add 6-10 drops of lavender oil

• Soak several hand towels in the lavender water (let excess water run off of the towels)

• Roll up the towels and put them on a tray in the freezer

• Grab a towel from the freezer whenever you are in need. These little bits of magic are nothing short of amazing. Place one across your forehead or unroll it to cover your nose and mouth. Now relax and breathe in the crisp, cool, heavenly aroma for some obligatory tranquility.

Lavender Insect Repellent

My personal favorite! If you’re worried about all of those harsh chemicals in regular bug sprays like I am, you’ll love this one. Plus, it’s super easy! What’s better than an au naturel bug spray smelling of sweet, sweet lavender? Gliding through the woods, free of bug bites and smelling like an angel…Ha! I’m in!

Ingredients & How To:

• Fill an 8oz spray bottle halfway with distilled water

• Add 30-50 drop of lavender oil

• Add witch hazel to fill the remainder of the bottle

• Venture to the great outdoors with a new-found freedom from deet…and mosquitos!

Bonus Lavender Quick Tips

Make lavender oil a staple in your stash. You can find it at a health food store, specialty grocery store, or maybe you even have a friend that sells EO’s. It can be used alone, or with a carrier oil. Choose a food-grade oil for lavender lemonade, or pick a lavender oil to keep in your first aid kit for its topical anesthetic properties. Sometimes I’ll even rub a little lavender oil on my hands to give my easily irritated chi, Ren, a belly rub, this miraculously always helps him calm down.

Lavender is a great reminder to stop and take a deep breath on a busy day. Send me a DM with your lavender oil tips and tricks! Bonus points if you can let me in on your favorite lavender oil rollerball blend and its uses. I’d love to feature it in an upcoming post and share it with all of our community!

3 Ways to Honor & Connect with Gaia for Earth Day

Every year Earth Day rolls around and I get this sinking feeling in my stomach that I’m not doing enough. I’m quick to jump on the shame wagon and ask myself, “What more can I do to heal Mother Earth?” Sometimes, it seems like the small things I do, like taking reusable bags to the grocery, using reusable water bottles, and walking more just aren’t enough. There’s too much healing that needs to take place, how can my small acts make a difference?There is always more we could be doing, but it is also important to start where you are and slowly build in more habits and rituals to help the earth. Like any habit, taking on too many or too much at one time will inevitably lead to feeling overwhelmed and result in abandoning the habit altogether. Rituals are important for me, they make me feel more connected to the universe and help solidify the actions I want to take. To celebrate Earth Day and honor our natural home, I found several rituals for the goddess Gaia and think they’re a perfect way to feel more connected and spiritually in tune with Earth Day.

Who is Gaia?

The Greek goddess Gaia was born out of chaos. Gaia is the personification of Earth, the primal mother. She bore the sky and the sea, the sun and the heavens, and all of life. Gaia is the being that nurtures and heals us. She supplies our medicine, food, clothes, and shelter.

3 Ways to Honor Gaia for Earth Day

1. Get outside!

One of the best ways to honor the earth is to engage with the earth. In our homes, it can be easy to forget that we are earth. The land you live on has wisdom to share and the only way you can learn it is by engaging with it. Getting outside also comes with a slew of health benefitsNature doesn't move on our timeline, things move slower. Take your time forming relationships with your local plants and trees. After a time, you'll begin to connect with them and may start to receive intuitive insights from them too.If you're unable to get outside consider bringing in some earthy scents into your home, altar, or sacred space, like honeysuckle, spruce, or cypress. Visualizing a connection with the earth can be just as powerful and adding scents can enrich your experience.

2. Get involved locally

Find ways to support the earth in your community that are doable for you. It can be easy to focus solely on the big problems while forgetting that there are solutions needed for our local environments. Finding ways to support locally can have just as much of an impact long-term as global issues.

3. Gratitude Offerings

Bring some life to your altar or sacred space by making a fruit and flower offering to Gaia. Spend some quiet moments and deep breaths with this offering, asking Gaia for guidance this Earth day.

Rune Symbols: A Beginner’s Guide to Divination

Sometimes we just need a message from the Universe to pull us through. Does this ring true for you? My grandmother relied on answers from her pendulum for big and small life questions, her open-mindedness to divination tools caught my attention at a young age and I was instantly hooked. Oracle cards, tarot, palmistry, astrology, pendulums, tea leaf readings, name a divination tool and you’ll be sure I’ve dabbled in it. Runes are new for me though, I’ve always been intrigued by their symbolism but never knew how to use them.

You could be wondering how to proceed in a relationship, or just looking for some guidance as you start your day. Rune symbols can remedy many of the nagging questions you might have racing through your head. Here are some basic history and tips I’ve learned for getting started.

A Brief History of Rune Symbols

Before the Latin Alphabet, rune letters were used to write German languages. Their roots can be found in Old Norse, and they make up an ancient runic alphabet containing 24 symbols. Rune symbols have been found to date back as far as 150 AD. They have been discovered on spearheads, charms, and even on headstones in the form of spells! It is said that the word “rune” has come to mean “secret, something hidden,” and many people believe the symbols were used as a form of divination. Some people continue this practice today.

3 Ways to Use Runes as a Divination Tool

There are several ancient tales that explain how to cast the symbols.

THE 3 RUNE SPREAD

Around 98 AD a book was written (The Germania) detailing Germanic tribes. In this book, a story is told of symbols being chosen from “a nut-bearing tree” in groups of three. In this version, you will draw three rune symbols to answer your question.

YNGLINGA SAGA

In an Old Norse saga (Ynglinga Saga) dating between 1869-1872 a king learns his fate when all of the “chips” are cast. This refers to a full reading casting all 24 symbols

VITA ANSGARI

A biography of Saint Ansgar written around 875 CE, recalls the lives of some of the common people during the Viking Age. In the accounts of the everyday people, Ansgari describes several situations where runes are used for divination. He refers to these instances as “drawing lots.” This describes the method where you will draw only one rune symbol at random.

• The symbols should be cast East to West or facing the sun

• Symbols should be cast on a white cloth

• Facedown symbols shouldn’t be read

• Reversed symbols take on a different meaning

Meanings of the Rune symbols vary slightly from source to source, but here’s an image that shows the simplest meanings I’ve found. In general, the reversed symbols will mean the opposite.I purchased my new set of runes at a local crystal shop, but quite a few Etsy sellers offer handmade sets, here’s one of my favorite finds. Whether you’ve had experience with using Rune’s as a divination tool or you’re just starting out I’d love to hear about your experience!