By Oak Ash and Thorn – Celtic Modern Shamanism – A Book Review

-article by melaniekaren

I really like this book, and therefore, I am sharing it with you.  It is both interesting and useful -at least it is for me -hope so for you too.

image credit – courtesy of Amazon

On Celtic Shamanism – By Oak Ash and Thorn: Celtic Modern Shamanism by D.J. Conway

By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism
by noted author D. J. Conway is a book I often find myself re-reading in its entirety or browsing through again and again at least once per year.

For me, it is a sort of comfort to immerse myself in once the earth begins to warm herself in spring or cool herself in fall. It marks a transitional period for me between the long, cold winter to the pleasant warmth of the summer sun. The book is filled with Nature, and the reading material makes me want to get out of the house and take part in Nature.

By Oak, Ash, and Thorn is a book about Celtic Shamanism. When I first saw this book, I was intrigued, as I thought the Celts had their own sect of teachers, philosophers and religious heads, the Druids. D. J. Conway provides a history showing that the common Celts practiced shamanism.

This is a very positive book by a well-loved author that focuses on alternative methods of self-healing and healing others. It is really about spiritual growth and development and helps us re-connect with Nature. It is fabulous reading material for anyone seeking or curious about spiritual enlightenment.

A Note on the Cover Before we Get Started – The cover of the book is a marvelous work of art by Anna-Marie Ferguson depicting the Celtic God Cernunnos, the God of Nature, also called The Horned God of fertility. Ms. Ferguson’s expression of Cernunnos is very well done, as he is often depicted with antlers of the stag and a horned serpent. All of the details of this cover image are in line with Celtic mythology and Celtic shamanism.

photo I took of one of the beautiful
illustrations by Anna-Marie Ferguson
found on page 49 showing Rhiannon,
the Celtic Goddess of Birds and Horses,
who may be associated with the Roman
Goddess Epona. Additional
illustrations throughout the book
are by Tom Grewe and the author
herself, D.J. Conway.

A Thorough examination of Celtic Shamanism

One of the things I like most about this book is that it is a very thorough examination of Celtic Shamanism and shamanism in general.

The author first introduces the reader to shamanism in general. Shamanism is defined and reasons for why shamanism of the Celts versus other shaman practices found in other cultures may be appealing for the reader. For me, I find Celtic shamanism is appealing simply because my ancestors were once Celts, as I have an English, Irish, and French ancestral heritage.

Ms. Conway also explains to us why shamanism must be modernized and not stay stagnant through time. Most of all, the reader is taught that shamanism is about healing oneself first and then healing others. The ethics that go with the role of a shaman are deeply discussed.

The beginning of the book is rich in Celtic history explained through legends and stories of old. The Celts mostly did not write things down. They partook in an oral tradition of passing down their culture to the younger generations. Most stories and histories that were written by the Celts were destroyed. So, any written history saved in books, such as this one, is welcomed.

Along with all the wonderful legends and history, the book is also filled with practical teachings of how to become a shaman. The one theme that stands out throughout the book is the importance of healing oneself and the role of healing others. It really is a beautifully well put together kind of self-help book. For example, there are meditative traveling teachings and guides on how to retrieve shattered parts of a soul, and another about how to re-align your energy light centers (chakras). There are many more. I use these two examples because they personally appealed and were helpful for me.

The book is divided into three main sections: Oak, Ash and Thorn

The book is divided into three primary sections of which are Part One: Oak, Part Two: Ash, and Part Three: Thorn. Trees were very sacred to the Celts. One could not discuss or practice Celtic Shamanism without talking about trees. Each tree had its special meaning.

• The oak symbolizes healing and protection along with prosperity and luck. The ash tree represents prophecy, prosperity, and protection and is also recognized as The World Tree for the Celts.
• The Thorn tree, which is the Hawthorn tree, symbolizes fertility and growth. It is associated with happiness and thought to be sacred to fairies.
• The hawthorn tree is thought to help us experience spirituality and encounters with elemental beings. I think it’s clever that the book was organized in this way. Below, we will take a closer look at each section of the book.

Part One: by Oak

Very little has been unified into one solid resource about the Celts and their shamanic practices. If one is interested in Celtic history, she will often become acquainted with topics about the Druids and Bards, but not of the common Celts. D.J. Conway begins her book with this notion.

She shows through legends and the remaining written history that the common people also experienced spiritual enlightenment and practiced shamanism. Because very little of this is written and published today, she set out to write her book feeling that those of us with a Celtic ancestral background may be more inclined to connect with our ancestors’ spiritual growth and practices. This works for me!

With my Celtic heritage, my interest was surely sparked. After the reader is introduced to legend and history and what it means to be a shaman, the reader is then introduced to practical exercises in meditation, working with our light centers (chakras) and the beginnings of Otherworld journeys. D.J. Conway teaches us through meditation and then with literal journeys to the Celtic Otherworlds. It’s actually quite fascinating and vivid. By Oak gives us a glimpse of the Upperworld, the Middleworld and the Underworld.

Part Two: by Ash

Part two gets into the real heart of shamanic training. The Celtic shamanic worlds are examined further. The author shows us through meditation exercises and real journeys within to travel to the Celtic Otherworlds, the Upperworld, Middleworld and Underworld.

The meditation exercises and journeys are very relaxing and filled with positive energy. Personally, I believe these exercises take you to the most beautiful places one could ever find.

D.J. Conway then gives a thorough portrayal of shamanic tools that are both needed and helpful to the shaman during Otherworld journeys. Each tool is taken from Celtic history, and the importance of each tool is explained. As tools usually are, the shamanic tools all have a practical, helpful use. For example, a rug to lay or sit on while in meditation offers a tangible connection between the physical realm and an Otherworld. Also, a crane bag worn around the waist provides storage for tangible items that are used or found in the Otherworld. One more example is a natural hide drum or a CD of pleasant drumming music, a tool to help the shaman journey into meditation or the Otherworld.

In Part Two we also learn about the labyrinth. I have completely walked a labyrinth once. It was a simple labyrinth created using white spray-paint on grass. I was at a peace fair. I had never been to one. So, I was curious and wanted to check the fair out. I noticed a person or two here and there walking the labyrinth. I decided to try it. I was amazed at how long it actually took to spiral all the way in and then spiral all the way out. It was a neat experience, and I recommend trying it for yourself. One really does go into a meditative mode while walking the labyrinth.

Lastly, in part two, the reader learns about Otherworld beings and is taken on a vision quest. By Oak ends with learning about the Shadow Self and the shattered soul. These two aspects are wonderful for self-help spiritual growth and healing.

Part Three: by Thorn

By Thorn delves into many practical training topics. A lot of useful information is brought forth in section 3. Now, that we understand what it is to be a shaman and have taken our first journeys into the Otherworlds, the reader is now ready to be introduced to the details of Celtic magick and what it all means.

In this part of the book, we learn about Celtic divination through stones and the Celtic Ogam alphabet. We learn about the elements, their meanings, and how to incorporate them into our work. We also learn about the importance of trees and animals and how to connect with them.

Just as with the other two sections of this book, section three is again filled with meditation exercises. This is one of the reasons why I like this book so much. First we are given the education and then immediately, we are asked to participate and use the material right away. It’s really sort of a workbook without the blank lined pages where you write as one does in a workbook.

click on image to view
on AMAZON

About the Author D.J. Conway

Author D.J. Conway is from Oregon and has an Irish-North, Germanic-Native American ancestral heritage. She has been studying paganism and the occult for well over 30 years. She is also the author of several other books dealing with spiritual development through pagan traditions.

The Rose of Jericho Resurrection Plant

Selaginella lepidophylla

-article by melaniekaren

I Discovered this Wildly Exotic Plant, The Rose of Jericho

image credit - photo by melaniekaren
This is how the Rose of Jericho looks closed.

I cannot express enough how excited I am to discover this plant.

It is commonly called the Rose of Jericho, and its scientific name is Selaginella lepidophylla. It also goes by other names, such as The Resurrection Plant, Mary’s Plant and The Dinosaur Plant.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it? I had not, and I am excited to share my experience of this plant with you. It is amazing and extremely unusual. With all of my past botany classes and general interest in plants, I am surprised I had not come across it until now.

I was visiting Salem, Massachusetts about a week ago. It was a quiet Sunday early afternoon, and I was enjoying browsing around several of the shops. In one of the shops, an employee kindly approached me and asked if I would like to see a really neat, cool item that they had just received. I could tell he was excited. So, of course I said yes. I’m thrilled he showed me this plant. For me, it is wildly unique. It’s ancient, but one could almost believe it to be an evolutionary, advanced organism.

Pictured above is exactly how I purchased my Jericho rose. It’s all dried and appears to have died. I had taken this photo immediately upon returning home from Salem. This plant is amazing because that plant pictured is alive.

click pic to see on AMAZON
-six of them for under $25 makes
these a great gift!

Why is the Rose of Jericho So Wildly Exciting and Exotic?
-because it seems to come back from the dead! That’s why!

After I got home from Salem and took the photo of the plant closed, I followed the instructions per the employee of what to do with my Jericho plant. I was already excited about knowing what was to come next and that it can happen over and over as many times as you like for decades and decades. However, as I started following the instructions, my excitement grew.

I filled a shallow dish with water and placed the Jericho rose within. I knew that it would spring to life, as this was already explained to me. Patience is not something I’m always good with when I’m excited for something to happen. So, I decided to just try to forget about it and go on with my day. I had simply assumed that this re-opening and coming back to life of the plant would take several days. Well, not 20 minutes later, the plant caught my eye.

image credit - photo by melaniekaren
Now, look at this little monster opening up!

Now this picture is the plant at only 20 minutes of being placed in water. As you can see, it is uncurling and appearing to come alive. It’s like watching a plant move, and there is something eerie about it. I was in shock and called my son to come over quickly. (He’s just turned 12.) As my excitement grew, his excitement grew. We both stood there watching this plant open while having a nice drink of water. All I could think is that this little monster must have been really thirsty.

I was not expecting it to open this quickly at all, and don’t you think my photo looks like a little monster plant? I know it’s commonly called the Jericho of Rose Resurrection Plant, but to me, until I get used to this little plant readily opening and closing, it will be my zombie plant.

Within Only Hours, My Jericho Rose is Green and Flourishing:

image credit - photo by melaniekaren

Josh Simpson Art Glass Planets - A Tribute to an Artist

-article by melaniekaren

image credit - photo by melaniekaren
A photo of one of my "uninhabited planet"
made by glass artist Josh Simpson.
It was given to me as a gift, and I love it.

World-wide Renowned Glass Artist Josh Simpson and His Planets

I was introduced to a planet collection of Josh Simpson's over twenty years ago. I was immediately enthralled with these little balls of amazing artistry, creativity, and imagination. Each one is whimsical and unique. No two are alike, and they are all wonderful and magical to gaze into.

If you like and appreciate glass work and sculpture, you are surely to like Josh Simpsons work and personal story.

Josh Simpson is a self taught artist. He began in 1972, and at an early age, he developed a very strong passion for working with glass, molten glass specifically. He was very driven, working long hours every day of the week for years perfecting his craftsmanship, techniques, and overall artistry. He began with teaching himself how to blow matching pairs of wine goblets. Throughout his career, he has made many vases, glass bowls, large serving dishes, and other glass art pieces. He still makes these today, and they are exquisite. However, what he is most known for is his planets.

Today, he is probably the most respected and loved glass artist of our time. His story is one of inspiration, and I hope you like it as much as I.

There are Three Categories of Planets

This was one of the things that I really liked about the planets when learning about them for the first time. The concept was simple, yet brilliant, and it lent itself to the wonderful whimsical quality of the planets.

You really begin to use your imagination in identifying all of the objects within these worlds. Is there water? Is there an atmosphere? Look! I think that's a satellite!

Josh Simpson Glass Artist
Click image to see on AMAZON

The following definitions of the three types of planet categories are as follows.


Uninhabited Planets - The uninhabited planets are usually rather small, and they have no obvious atmosphere. Without an atmosphere, of course the planet is uninhabited. The photo of my planet above is an example of an uninhabited planet. To me, it seems to be primarily an uninhabited water world.

Possibly Inhabited Planets - These are not as easy to identify. You're looking for signs of life and a possible atmosphere. If you notice something that represents to you a satellite or something that may be in space toward the surface of the sphere above an apparent atmosphere, chances are the planet is definitely inhabited and not possibly inhabited. See! Isn't this fun.

Inhabited Planets - These are probably the most loved since there is so much going on in the inhabited planets. With the inhabited planets, you will definitely see what seems to be an atmosphere and even items within the atmosphere, such as clouds, other gases, or objects in a sky. It's up to you what you see. The world I have pictured here to the left is an inhabited planet, and for me, it is a water world filled with coral reefs. I see it as teeming with life with a very obvious atmosphere. In fact, I would say, it's a sunny day.

The planets came in three sizes when they were originally introduced. As their popularity increased, "Mega-planets" became readily available for purchase. These are large and very fun. You can surely become lost in these little "mega" worlds.

image credit - photo by Victorian_lady of one of Mr. Simpson's fully inhabited planets.

image credit - photo by Beth titled "Ruined Castle,
Kweskwam Complex, Gondar" that reads, "as part of the
Josh Simpson infinity project, a small marble planet was
left here in memory of Jonathan"

Josh Simpsons Infinity Project

hiding of the planets

In 2000, Josh Simpson began his Infinity Project. For some time prior to 2000 he has started hiding his planets in interesting places around the globe. He thought he would leave his little spheres in places for archeologists to find. How he came up with the idea is a fun, great story, and I highly recommend you to watch at least one of the two videos I have listed below.

His Infinity Project quickly caught on, and now, there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of his small planets hidden around the globe. They have been tossed into volcanoes, taken to the North Pole, thrown into motes around castles, and even taken into space. If you visit his website at www.joshsimpson.com, you may read more about the Infinity Project and even request a planet to hide in a special place. If your idea resonates with him, he will send you two planets, one to keep and one to hide. He is awesome like that!

Meet Mr. Simpson. He's an Incredibly Great Speaker. Enjoy!

An Ancient Widow Mite Coin May be a Perfect Unique Gift for Easter or Other Holiday

-article by melaniekaren

One Easter I Gave Everyone an Authentic Widow's Mite Coin

image credit - Widow's Mite
Ancient Roman Bronze Coins by Royce Bair

Years ago on one Easter I gave everyone in my close, immediate family an authentic widow's might coin. We were all gathered around my Aunt Rosemary's dining room table getting ready to sit down for Easter dinner. I had placed a tiny Easter basket at each place setting with a unique gift nestled inside.

Once everyone opened the tiny package and learned what they were holding, It absolutely blew their minds. This unique Easter gift idea was a truly magnificent hit. I had given each person his or her very own widow's mite coin.

Everyone one kept looking at the tiny coin in the palm of their hands. They could hardly believe that they were holding one, and not one person realized these existed to this day. Each person's widow's mite immediately held a sentimental value for that person. Each person became kinda smiley and excited once he or she realized what he or she was holding was an ancient, real coin that Christ himself could have actually held also. I was thrilled to have thought of such a gift and was happy everyone liked their little coin so much.

A Biblical Coin from the Time of Christ

A Prutah Coin, A Lepton

image sources - Wikimedia cc

The two mites in the biblical story of the poor widow refers to two coins. A mite was one of the prutah coins minted under King Alexander Jannaeus, a king of Judea from 103BC to 76BC. The word prutah means "a coin of smaller value."

A lepton, meaning "small" or "thin" was the name of the actual prutah coin denomination. A lepton was the smallest denomination of currency. Therefore, think of it as today's penny or cent.

The common lepton minted under King Alexander Jannaeus is the lepton most offered to collectors today. It has the anchor on one side and a star (or sun) wheel with 8 spokes.

The lepton coin was still in circulation at the time of Christ and is, therefore, one of the "bible coins." In the story of the poor widow, the woman gave her last two leptons to the church.

Painting Titled "The Widow's Mite" by João Zeferino da Costa from 1876

image source - The Widow's Mite - In this beautiful painting we see the widow giving her last two mites to the right. In the center of the painting, we see Christ acknowledging the widow.

image credit - Opfer der armen Witwe depicting the
widow placing her 2 mites in the collection box

Widow and the Two Mites

Lesson of the Widow's Mite

Do you know the story, " The Widow and the Two Mites?" I remember learning about it more than once in Sunday school a long time ago. It was always told to us in a way so that we understood it as a lesson to always carry with us.

The story of the poor widow is found in the New Testament of the Bible. It is found in Mark 12 versus 41 - 44 and also in Luke 21 versus 21 - 24.

The story goes something like this. Jesus and his disciples are at a temple in Jerusalem. Jesus notices an older woman casting her last two coins into the collection box. Jesus calls his disciples over and tells them his observation, the story. Jesus explains that others have also donated to the temple, of whom many were rich. Those with wealth and abundance gave more monetary value to the temple, but the widow gave more, because she gave all she had.

The lesson of the widow's mite teaches that the sacrifices of the poor, which may seem minuscule or insignificant, are most meaningful to God.

click pic to see on AMAZON

Widow's Mites For Sale

Much like our coins today, there were different styles of lepton coins during their circulation. This kind, featuring the sun and anchor is one of the more common varieties.

On one side King Alexander is written in Hebrew, and on the reverse side, there is the sun wheel design with 8 spokes.

Believe it or not, widow mite coins for sale are not difficult to find.  You can easily find authentic coins alone or nestled in jewelry pieces.  In my opinion, the best place to find just the coins is eBay.  Every time I've searched eBay for any coin, I always had a great deal to see and choose from.

The pendant pictured right is currently available on Amazon by TBJE Ancient Coins. It's my top pick I'm sharing with you: Sterling Silver & Bronze Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Pendant

Please note that there are reproductions for sale.  It is not necessary to buy the reproductions!  The authentic real coins can be found for a great price (currently on eBay though and not Amazon.  What Amazon does have are a few really nice jewelry pieces with mites. - I check regularly.)

And of course, here is part of the story taken directly from the Bible:

" ...Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

~ taken from Mark12, 43 and 44

Again, eBay is probably the best place to find individual, authentic, widow's mite coins (or leptons). Here are Widow's Mites on eBay

A Few Excellent Amazon Picks:

Jewelry Best Seller Sterling Silver & Bronze Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Pendant	Sterling Silver Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Cross Pendant	Widows Mite Gold-Tone (Brown/Bronze) Pendant with 24" Chain Engraved with Bible Scripture Luke 21:1-4, "I tell you the truth the poor widow gave more than all those rich people. She gave all she had to live on,..." Minted of Hand-Cast Bronze 100-60 BC

Tarot Spells by Author Janina Renee - A Beautifully Positive Book for All Faiths

-article my melaniekaren

image credit - photo by melaniekaren -part of the cover taken from my copy

Yes! For All Faiths, and what a beautiful notion that is.

If you're looking to bring positive, uplifting change into your life through beautiful pictorial imagery and positive affirmations, this book is for you.

A few weeks ago I traveled to Salem, Massachusetts. As many of you know the area is steeped in history. After all, it is the place within the United States where "The Burning Times" took place. Today, the town has so much to offer for everyone. It's very diverse and openly friendly to all walks of life. I enjoy the town immensely, and I love all of the unique shops.

While I was visiting one of the shops, this book jumped out at me. It's titled, "Tarot Spells." The title was intriguing. I'm familiar with the tarot, and I'm also familiar with spell-crafting. However, I had never thought to put the two together. I was completely drawn to the beauty of the cover image. Isn't it gorgeous? The delicate beauty, symbolism, and imagery of just the cover and title were enough for me to purchase this book.  I know.  "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover," went down the drain with this book.  The whole book is so beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, I couldn't help it.

click on pic to see on AMAZON

After observing the visual beauty of the book, I saw that the book was by the respected and well-known author, Janine Renee and that it was published by Llewellyn Publications, a favorite publisher of mine, I knew I was in for a treat and had found my next book.

It's a highly liked book with over 140,000 copies sold. It's been a big hit for Llewellyn because it appeals to and is for those of all religions and faiths. Tarot is mostly associated with pagan religions, modern day Wiccan religion, and new age spirituality. Many don't know that the first tarot decks were actually designed by those of the Christian faith in 14th century, Rome. At least, that is as far back as we can trace the first deck with certainty. For me, this has always been obvious, as there is much Christian symbolism throughout tarot decks. More and more tarot decks today are filled with all kinds of symbols relating to many religious and spiritual paths.

The book is a very easy, comfortable read. There is no feeling of "Oh goodness! I need to study tarot before I can even begin to use this book" feeling. Janina Renee takes you step by step through easy instruction of how to perform each tarot spell, and there are a lot of them. The book has over 70 tarot spells meant to help you live a happy, more productive love-filled life.

I'm eager for others to read this book. It's beautiful. I can't emphasize that enough. The pages are filled from front to back with beautiful visualization exercises and positive affirmations. Janina Renee has really captured the essence of life and understands what we all need to be happy. Her book is wonderfully positive, and I believe can it be life-changing for many.

Now, I will take you on a journey of one of the Tarot Spells:

I'll give you the imagery and explain how I set the tarot spell up for myself. Then I'll give you a sampling of the spell and the affirmation associated with it. If you are curious about the whole spell and all that Ms. Renee has to explain and offer, you'll have to get a hold of a copy of the book for yourself, as I cannot give it fully here for obvious copyright infringement.

image credit - photo by melaniekaren

A Tarot Spell for Self-improvement and Self-transformation

Tarot Spells utilize the symbolism and imagery of tarot cards along with positive affirmations for specific things we all need help with from time to time. For example, in the photo I have here, I have taken my own Robin Wood tarot deck and laid out the cards for the "Self-Improvement" spell found on page 255. The imagery shows a wheel with 7 of the major arcana cards. Starting with the top and then clockwise and finishing in the middle, we have Judgement, The World, Temperance, The Chariot, Strength, The High Priestess, and finally, The Magician. You don't even have had to study tarot to begin to understand how these words, or rather the title and the meaning of each card, are connected to self-improvement and self-transformation.

So, in the photo I've laid the cards as illustrated within the book. Notice also that I have placed some things around the cards. These items are meant to strengthen my imagery and my spell. You may do the same, or you may choose not to. It's up to you, and this is also the beauty of the book. You do what's right for you. For me, I've added a small chalice of water with a yellow flower. Flowers are pretty, and the color yellow is associated with cheerfulness. It simply makes me feel better. I've also added a cloth with lots of butterflies. Butterflies are associated with transformation, and the color blue is calming. I've spread out a handful of quartz crystals, 5 based on sacred geometry and one crystal skull that symbolizes death and rebirth. I have one larger white candle for purity and several small candles in a variety of colors to symbolize a rainbow as close to it as I could get with the colors of candles I have. Again, you may do whatever you wish. I'm simply sharing what I've done as an example. As you can see, the lay-out is very visually pleasing. It's all positive and already gets one in a self-improvement mode.

Next, I light the candles and begin a meditation and visualization as outlined by Ms. Renee. After I have performed the meditation and visualization, I say aloud the written affirmation with book in hand. Know that it is not necessary to memorize anything. You may have your book with you as a reference at all times. After the affirmation is said aloud, I take the time to think about all I've just completed and quietly extinguish the candles.

Here is part of the affirmation: It begins with, " I am the best person that I can be! I take control of the circumstances that affect me." It ends with, "I live in balance with the world around me And my world reflects my inner harmony."

You see, it's not difficult and the words are easy.

Lastly, I leave you with another part of the book I find helpful, the Appendices. Within the appendices you are taught on how to choose a Significator for the spells. This is immensely helpful because the significator is a card that represents either the situation or you personally. It is not as easy as one might think. Janina Renee shows you how over 50 individual cards of a standard 78 deck can be Significators. This is more than helpful since most books on tarot only have you choose from the 16 court cards.

The appendices also have descriptions and charts for colors and their meaning in color therapy, how to prepare for spells and the rituals associated with spells, a thorough look at spell accessories. These are things like candles, cloths, flowers, crystals, herbs, incense among others. There's an appendix for crystal and gemstone meanings as well as one for responses to commonly asked questions. It's a very well organized, thorough book.

click on pic to see on AMAZON

The Robin Wood Tarot

* Janina Renee uses this Robin Wood Tarot deck throughout her Tarot Spell book.

* It's an excellent choice. The artwork by Robin Wood is gorgeous. You can see examples of some of the cards in the photo gallery below.

* It's not necessary to use Robin Woods deck in order to work with this book. You may use one of your favorite decks if you'd like. I started to do this, but the beauty of the cards got to me after reading through the book. So, I therefore ended up purchasing this deck. I'm glad I did. It surely makes a nice addition to my collection.

I know many of you don't see how a Tarot Spell book may fit into all Faiths.  It may seem as a complete conflict with what various Faiths and religions teach.  However, if you open your mind and browse through this book, you will see immediately that it is all positive with only beauty within. Again, this is the author's intention, and she accomplishes it wonderfully. 

What is the Protective Evil Eye? What is the Evil Eye of Envy?

-article by melaniekaren

Protection Against the Evil Eye - The Evil Eye of Envy

image credit - a photo of an evil eye tree in Turkey by "Curious Expeditions" -
A evil eye tree is said to protect one's home and land. In Asia, particularly with Feng Shui, an evil eye tree
is an evil eye "money" tree, bringing protection from harm, good luck, and good fortune.

The Evil Eye for many is misunderstood, particularly here in the United States. Many believe an evil eye represented in a piece of jewelry, charm, amulet or other representation in itself is negative - or evil. However, this is untrue, and in fact, it is quite the opposite.

When you see someone with an evil eye ring, for example, that evil eye is meant as protection against the "evil eye look" of another person, that is the evil eye of envy. The eye, when envious, has a particularly unique evil look to it. You've seen it. We all have. Someone may be spying on something of yours that he or she wants or is envious of. The evil eye in one's ring, necklace or other ornamental expression is meant to ward off that envious eye.

Today, those who wear or have an evil eye protective item may not necessarily believe in the literal beliefs surrounding the origin of the evil eye. Heck, many aren't even aware of its origin but still like to wear an evil eye. Some just simply like the positive aspects of protecting themselves and loved ones. It's a nice gesture and feeling. Others, may simply just really like symbolic jewelry based on ancient symbolism. Whatever brought you to this article, I hope you are enjoying learning about the Evil Eye and its meaning and origin.

Click pic to see on AMAZON

A Beautiful Evil Eye Pendant

An Example of a Traditional Evil Eye 

Pictured right is my first top pick in jewelry, a gorgeous Greek Key Theme Double Sided Evil Eye Pendant In Sterling Silver -18 Karat Gold Overlay protective evil eye.  It looks expensive, but it is not!  If you prefer the look of silver, it's available in that too.

With a continuous rise and interest in bringing the esoteric into light, ancient jewelry with meaning is becoming more common to find.

Many of the jewelry pieces are very well designed. In fact, it was in the late 90's when I discovered that the evil eye was getting a lot of attention by several higher-end jewelry designers. Evil eye fine jewelry was becoming available, and there was a market for it. The pieces were unique and symbolic.

image credit - photo by Gary Jungling titled, "Evil Eye"

What is the Evil Eye? -an evil eye of envy

The evil eye is not the amulet or charm itself. The evil eye is a look of envy from someone who admires something you have that they want even to the point of causing harm to get it. People believed (and some to this day) that the person who caste an envious eye had the magical powers to covet their source of envy. Thus, the evil eye of protection protected the victim even if the victim wasn't aware. The protective evil eye was aware.

The original or traditional evil eyes are blue. This is simply due to the fact that most people from cultures centered around the Mediterranean and into the South and East commonly had brown eyes. Blues eyes (and green eyes) were uncommon. Blue eyes were feared. Thus, an evil blue eye charm fought back against an evil blue eye. An example of this you might already be aware of is with the notion of gargoyles. It's a kind of fighting evil with evil. Of course, today, we now know that blue and green eyes are just pretty to look at and can be quite lovely.

Origin of the Evil Eye - An Evil Eye History

The notion of warding off the evil eye of envy with a protective evil eye charm dates back to the ancient Greeks, and it continued into the Roman Empire and can be seen in various classical writings of the time. At a time when it was generally believed one could cause harm to another by way of spell casting or other meta-physical means, protecting oneself was important. It continued to be important through the centuries as beliefs in the magical negative powers of the evil eye stare continued to grow and branch-out across Europe, down into Africa, across into Asia, and eventually into the Americas.

To this day, the concept of the evil eye with its original beliefs is still strong within the Middle East and other parts centered around the Mediterranean.

Again, the evil eye symbolized "envy," and envy to this day, is a human emotion we all try to suppress. You've heard of the seven deadly sins. Envy is number 6.

Hopefully now, you have a better understanding of the Evil Eye.  Thank you for reading, and enjoy your day. :)

Celebrate Spring and the Return of Summer this May Day

-article by melaniekaren

Much of the World Celebrates May 1st as May Day Based Around Ancient Traditions

image credit - "Petal Girls" by Pete Ashton

May Day is a Spring holiday celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere around the world. It is a very ancient Spring time tradition celebrated by many cultures going all the way back to the ancient Romans, Celts. and Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe.

May 1st was the first day of Summer for these folk. It's date landed precisely half way through the year from their first day of Winter, November 1st, also their New Year. Some traditions began the holiday festivities on the eve of May 1st, particularly those who celebrated with the lighting of bonfires.

With the Summer warmth returning in full-swing, people had much to be happy about. The harshness of Winter was gone, and even the days of a potential cold March and April had passed. May 1st marked a joyous day, and it marked one of the rights of passage through the turning wheel of seasons through the year.

Today, May Day is still celebrated around the world. There are different ways in which it is celebrated, however, the theme is all alike. Celebrating with flowers, dancing with intertwining ribbons around a maypole, and the lighting of bonfires are common throughout. It's a big party!

Please note that May 1st is also the date of other May Day holidays of more current times revolving around work, labor, and bank holidays. These are nice holidays, but we will not be covering these holidays in this article, as they are completely different in origin and history.

The Origin of May Day Traditions

image credit - by Roberto Rizzato depicting
Bartolomeo Veneto's
"Flora, the Goddess of Spring"

The first people to celebrate May Day were the pre-Christian Romans, Celts and Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe. May Day festivities centered around Pagan rituals and beliefs.

Romans celebrated "Flora" as May Day after the Roman Goddess of Flowers. Flora was a goddess of fertility, flowers, fruit-bearing vines and trees, and grains. Her appearance is first seen in Ancient Greece, when she was known as "Chloris."

The Germanic people called their May Day "Walpurgis Night," a night celebration of bonfires similar to the nightly Beltane festivals of the Celts. Walpurgis Night was a celebration of Fertility and the upcoming Summer.

For the Celts, it was their festival of Beltane, and celebrated with the lighting of bonfires. Today, Neo-pagans, Wiccans, Christo-pagans continue to celebrate May Day as Beltane, incorporating bonfires, dance, maypoles, and flowers into their festivals.

Traditional Ways to Celebrate May Day Today

- from Europe to the British Isles to the Americas

image credit - "Maypole Dancer" by Michael Zupon

Today, many spring holidays and spring festivals are centered around May Day.

In the British Isles, May Day celebrations most commonly involve traditional May flowers, a Crowning of the May Queen, and dancing around the Maypole. The May Queen wears a long white dress symbolizing purity and a white tiara placed upon her head. Often she is also adorned in white flowers. As May Queen, she leads the May Day celebrations and festivities. Dancing around a maypole is performed by different age groups in the style of Morris Dancing and symbolizes fertility.

In Ireland, most old pagan traditions of lighting bonfires have long gone with the wide-spread increase of Christianity. Today, the Irish celebrate May Day as "Mary's Day." If you see a portrait of Mary with Spring and Summer flowers, this is a depiction of Mary's Day." It should be noted, however that, with the increase in understanding and appreciation of old ways and with a rise in neo-paganism, some folk do celebrate the traditions of Beltane on May Day or May Day's Eve with lighting of bonfires to symbolize the upcoming welcomed longer Summer days.

In France, the Lily of the Valley flower is the symbol of May Day. It is small white bell-shaped flower that grows naturally and in abundance around late April into Early May. Christians say it is a symbol of the tears Mary cried during her son's crucifixion. For others, it is simple a gesture of Springtime and good luck. It is customary for people to give others a Lily of the Valley flower on this day.

In Germany, Finland, and Sweden, May Day is celebrated similarly, although in Germany, the traditions are more elaborate. In Finland and Sweden there are street festivals and bonfires of the old Walpurgis Night tradition. In Germany there are also the bonfires of Walpurgis Night, however, there is also dancing around the Maypole.

As I said, in Germany the festivities are a bit more elaborate. Anytime secret romantic love is involved, things tend to get more elaborate. Perhaps a better word is a sarcastic "complicated." In theory though, it sounds lovely, as it is a time for secret admirers to leave their secret anonymous message for their heart's desire. A man might carry a maypole to the home of the woman he secretly admires, and a women, conversely, might place roses or rice in the shape of a heart outside the home of her secret admirer. Whether or not they tell their secret love's it is a romantic gesture from themselves is completely up to each individual.

In the Americas, May Day is also celebrated.

In Canada, the day is celebrated further into the month and typically only within British Columbia. May 1st is a time that can still be pretty cold in Canada. They wait for more warmth and Spring-like days! The style of celebration is that of Great Britain.

In Hawaii, May Day is traditional known as Lei Day. Yes, this is when we see many beautiful Lei necklaces with all the interwoven flowers the season has to offer. In Hawaii, May Day celebrations focus primarily on the island's culture and history of it's peoples.

image credit - "Maypole" by Konrad Glogowski depicting the maypole
at the Music Garden in Toronto, Canada

The May Day Maypole - What is a Maypole?

The Maypole is a pole that is erected on May Day during many of the May Day Celebrations. The most common custom is to dance around the maypole with ribbons. The dance choreography allows the ribbons to be interwoven as they spiral down the pole. Many maypoles are also beautifully decorated with flowers, while others are painted with vibrant colors.

Maypole symbolism includes fertility, celebration of sacred trees, and they may have been symbols of the world's axis, a connection between two worlds (i.e. Heaven and Earth).

Spring and Summer are the months of mating. That's for sure. You can feel it in the air and animals get kind of wacky and bees pollinate. I know particularly well that "wolf call" are in high numbers during the first warm days of Spring. So yes, the maypole is often a symbol of fertility with young maidens dancing around the maypole. It is a symbol of fertility among people, but it is also one in that people are dancing and hoping that the growing season will be a bountiful harvest come Autumn.

Many maypole's represent sacred trees. The "World Tree" is one of these sacred trees. The maypole is a symbol of the World Tree's reaching upward into the universe, being here with humanity on Earth, and the roots reaching down into the Under World or our ancestor's resting place. Two other sacred trees represented by a maypole are "Thor's Tree," a sacred Ash, and "Yggdrasil," a tree that cradled the whole Universe.

The World's Axis, heard sometimes in Latin as "Axis Mundi," goes back to early Christianity and has "pagan roots." This axis connects all that is above with all that is below. It is the central focal point of the Universe connecting the Heavens and Earth.

I wrote another article that is dedicated to celebrating the World Tree, also known well as the "Tree of Life." titled "Celebrate Spring with the Tree of Life."

Children Performing the Maypole Dance

image credit - "Children Perform the Maypole Dance" by Anguskirk - Today, Maypole dancing is
often performed by lovely little girls dressed in their best whites. It's a celebration of children.

image credit - "May Flowers on the Door Knob" by Alyss

May Day Flower Baskets and Bouquets

It is also customary to make May Day flower baskets and bouquets in many May Day traditions. Of course the flowers making up the baskets and bouquets are all the beautiful indigenous flowers of April and May.

The flower arrangements are quite lovely. In many traditions, the flower baskets and bouquets are left in secret at neighbors' door steps. It's a community day of giving and receiving flowers.

image credit - photo by Susan Reimer of May Day flowers in Annapolis, Md

Learn More About May Day

Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey Through the English Ritual Year by author Sara Hannant is a loved, well-received book filled with photography, information and humor.

It's in hardcover with 256 pages.  It's surely a book for the coffee table.

Share Your May Day Stories

If your May Day tradition is not listed here, you can share it with us below in the comments. Feel free to share your May Day personal stories and traditions here below in the comments too. I would love to hear all about it, and I am sure others would as well. So, share. :)