The Power of Pink

When I was younger, I rejected the color pink. I loved the color, but I told people I didn’t like it, and I wouldn’t wear it. It wasn’t my favorite color (that’s always been blue), but it was a color with deep emotional connection for me. I was afraid of pink because it meant an open heart, and mine had to be fiercely guarded.

I was a very sensitive and forgiving person. I was extremely loyal—even to people who did not deserve my loyalty. People used my open heart against me, bullying me and ridiculing me when I protested or fought back. They saw my gentleness as weakness, and I did not want to be perceived as weak. So I pushed the soft, gentle, and extremely powerful vibration of the color pink to deep within myself, where it was not exposed outwardly and where I could keep it safe.

It wasn’t until college that I made peace with the color, and decided I was through hiding what I loved and who I was. I discovered I felt powerful and confident when I wore it, and thus began my journey to healing myself and opening my heart again. Pink stopped being a color I associated with weakness. My pink eyeshadow made people look me in the eye and not dismiss me, my hot pink sweater said, "I am here and I'm not sorry." My pink pointe shoes made me feel graceful and invincible. It became a color I identified with strength and power, and I embraced it.

Over the last several months, certain crystals have come to me, all of them corresponding to the heart chakra. Some have been green, like my green aventurine, but overwhelmingly, it’s been raining rose quartz. Rose quartz has been pushing itself on me! I’ve ordered a few pieces, and with each piece, an extra piece has been thrown in as a gift, because “it wanted to come home” to me. Recently, I discovered strawberry quartz, which is like the calming power of rose quartz and the focus and energy of clear quartz. I associate this stone with Radha, because I know she loves strawberries (I always feel like she requests them), and she is the key to understanding true bhakti love.

Rose quartz has the power to gently heal, but it is very powerful for all it’s gentleness. I’ve come through a period of deep and extended healing and introspection, and it’s been just as I’ve had some bigger breakthroughs that this stone has come to me, to remind me that strength and power can be soothing and soft as well as fierce. I’d somehow lost my connection to my deep inner strength, and I feel like I’ve finally found it again. Self-love is the beginning of meaningful change in your life, and the deep, spiritual love that we seek is always, always there. Sometimes you have to be calm and receptive to feel it.

Recently, tensions in the world and in my country have come to a boiling point. Women feel threatened by current events, and the need for love and acceptance is very high. Groups have taken the color pink as a representation of their strength, beauty, fierceness, intelligence, and power. Women have taken a color that has been used socially to represent stereotypically sexist and damaging beliefs about women, and have reclaimed it. As scary as things sometimes seem, I am hopeful in the pervasive love this color vibrates.

“On Wednesdays we wear pink.”
It’s taken a long time for me to feel safe enough to uncover my heart chakra. I wouldn’t say it’s been blocked, but definitely guarded. I’m no longer in that space where I have to guard myself in that way. Heart chakra crystals, especially rose quartz, have been very helpful in allowing me to open myself and remember that I’m a strong, badass, magickal, peaceful warrior woman. Today is Friday, not Wednesday, but who cares. I will wear pink whenever I want now. It is the strength of the Goddess, Sri Radharani, and it opens hearts. <3

Witchy Brews

I don’t know of many witches who don’t love their coffee or tea. It’s like finding a witch who doesn’t like candles—more rare than unicorns. Witches love brews, and I am no exception. The ritual of making a cup of coffee or tea is a little bit of my day where I take a few minutes to just focus on myself and take stock of what my state of being is, relax, get some perspective, or spend some time chatting with a loved one. 

Beverages are an easy way to make magick a part of your daily life. You don’t have to do a whole ritual if you don’t have time or that’s not your thing. You can add a bit of intention and magic to your drink. Done. Now you have and instantly magickal day.

Here, I’ve added some star anise to my Irish tea, and some cinnamon to my latte. I will put cinnamon on anything. I love cinnamon, and cinnamon goes very well in coffee and tea. If you want some added protection to your day, or some luck or prosperity, or you want to heighten your spiritual awareness and power, or you’re focused on love or health, then cinnamon is your spice. This is one of those wonderful things that is good for everything. And I put it in everything.

Star anise has the same benefits, but it has the added benefit of being helpful in fighting viruses. It tastes delicious, kind of like licorice but earthier. 

Of course you could use these spices in many other recipes, or burn them as incense, but if you’re going to make yourself some coffee or tea, why not enchant it? Just pick your spice, focus your intention, add it to your warm cup of awesome, and enjoy!

These are not the only herbs and spices to choose from either. And if you don’t like to mess with your brew, you can just put your intention directly into your black coffee, or tea, or even your water. Another way to do this is to enchant your mugs and glasses! Add whatever sigils to your favorite coffee mug and turn it into your Lucky mug for real!

I took these drinks and stepped it up even more by offering them to my deities with a little snack. That way, they become fully spiritualized, or prasadam. 

Sláinte! (That means "to your health" in Irish Gaelic, and is like saying "Cheers!" There ya go, free Irish lesson 😄 🍀 )

Happy New Year! 2017

I know 2016 was kind of a bitch for most people, and for the world in general. For me personally, it was actually an awesome year. Don't get me wrong— it was difficult. There was a lot of hard-core shadow work and emotional processing and trauma release. That's never fun. The cosmos had it's way with me with all the super moons and Mercury in retrograde. I did feel like an emotional rag-doll at times. But overall, it was a year of growth and discovering personal power for me.

It was also a the year I finally got to Ireland, which has been a LIFELONG endeavor. I don't mean that it was just something I wanted to do my whole life. It was something I actively pursued, fought for, tried everything to make happen for over 10 consecutive years before I finally decided, I'll get there when it's time. Well, 2016 was the time. :)

I've never felt "at home" anywhere. I've felt comfortable in places. Boston was a special place for me, but I had never felt like I actually belonged in any particular place on Earth. That is, until I stepped off the plane in Cork and inhaled that first lung-full of Irish air, and burst into tears of joy! Ireland is home. When I stepped on The Burren for the first time, I fell in love. The Aran Islands greeted me with my spirit animals, Dusty the dolphin and seals. Lots of seals!

My husband and I have decided that Ireland is home, and we are moving there. It will take a little time, but we're on our way. 2016 gave us that insight.

I also decided to get serious again about my health, specifically my weight. I put on a lot of it in 2016. I discovered intermittent fasting, and found that I really like what it does for me. Incorporating that with going back to being conscious about what I eat and how much has already resulted in several dropped pounds, which is very encouraging.

My magickal practice got stronger. Raven really spoke to me. And toward the end, so did Roadrunner and Coyote.

I ended the year swimming with dolphins! Which opened up a potential opportunity for me that I don't want to write about here—not yet.

So what are my goals for 2017? The tarot reading I did told me that this year will be lots of hard work, sometimes slogging it out, but that it will be so worth it. So, for my personal business, that's what I'm doing! I'm also pursuing other opportunities that may bring me prosperity and joy.

I'm continuing on my fitness/weight-loss journey, and when I mess up, I just get right back on it. So, I'll have a whole new wardrobe to look forward to!

Visiting Ireland might be a possibility again this summer, depending. Even if only for a week. I have a Faerie Queen to go back and visit!

I hope anyone who reads this has a beautiful year ahead of them!