Herbs and Oils of the Winter Solstice

Hola and welcome back to the latest installment of my Sabbat Herbal series. This is part 7 of this series of Sabbat Herbs & Oils. You can check out part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6 at these links. Now we shall focus on the Winter Solstice, also called Yule or even Midwinter among many in the pagan community. The Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year and therefore the shortest day. And similar to the Summer Solstice, which is its opposite on the wheel of the year, the celebrations around this time of year are centered around the sun and light. However its from a different perspective. From here on out the days will start to get longer and the nights shorter. There are many ways you can use these herbs and oils for warmth, earth, cleansing, love, physical and mental health.

Intro to Essential Oils

I've talked about aromatherapy before but what about essential oils? Essential oils are the backbone if aromatherapy. And the foundation of Scarlet Moon Creations.

But what are essential oils? How are they made? What are the different types? How can they be used? What are some warnings or things to look out for when you use them? And how can you use them in your magic or rituals?

I answer all of those questions in detail in the video below because there's a lot to talk about. Enjoy!!

~Lashette
  Scarlet Moon Creations

Salt of the Earth

Last time I talked about salt and its practical uses. Now let's talk about its spiritual and magical associations and uses. Salt is literally from the earth. All kinds. The one we are most used to is sifted directly from water; the world's oceans and seas are full of salt. There are also tons of salt deposits from dried up seas. Basically the water evaporated long ago and left the salt behind.

Saltiness is one of the fundamental taste sensations every human being has. Rock salt is mined from underground. Salt is also naturally occurring in most meats and even in the human body. So as you can sea salt is a natural element to life on the planet earth. Naturally occurring salt crystals (sea salt, table salt, rock salt) come from the earth. Hence its association with the element of earth.

Many witches and other types of pagans use salt to represent the element of earth in their rites and rituals. Earth is seen as grounding, strength and stability. So you can use salt for rituals or magical intent you need one of the above. Such as for meditations, spirit walking, visions or divination. It is also good to help you focus on increasing your own strength and stability.

Baking soda is a chemically altered salt. It is often used to put out fires or kill bugs,  as well as a leavening agent. You can use it in rituals or magic where you want protection or to grow something. Some examples are a protection circle or protection against the negativity of others. Or if you would like to magically assist your business in growing.

Lastly, Epsom salt, aka magnesium sulfate, is another salt often used. Particularly in baths. This salt is said to release aches and pains. Epsom salt is used for skin inflammations and small infections. It also is often used on the soil of plants that really like magnesium such as roses, tomatoes and peppers. Therefore this salt would be good to use in rites where your intent is to feed or grow something in your life like a good habit. And of course it makes a good addition to any ritual bath letting you detox and relax before focusing on your ritual or baths intent.

That's why I add it to all Scarlet Moon Creations bath soaks. So try some out and see what you think. All of these salts are fairly inexpensive and easy to get so why not use them in a ritual one day soon and tell me how it went.

~Lashette
  Scarlet Moon Creations

D for Dandelions

Dandelions have many uses both therapeutically and spiritually. To keep a quick reference of its uses I made a journal page for myself.  You can see that process and what's on the page here in this video.

After some requests and a little trial and error I have made a digital journal page for you all as well. This page includes therapeutic, culinary, medical, ritual and magical uses or attributes. The page is available in both Letter and A5 sizes. 

If you'd like this free download, click the preview image below for access to the free SMC Resource Library, which has other free downloads. You'll also get exclusive updates for when new journal pages are ready for downloading. Plus so much more.

I hope you enjoy it all,

~Lashette
  Scarlet Moon Creations

Coven life

What is a coven and why am I talking about this? 

A coven is a group of witches, usually bound by oaths of secrecy, that practice the same type of witchcraft together. I mention it because I am a member of one. As a practicing witch, I have my own personal rituals and magic. But as a member of the coven, I also have rituals, magic and shared beliefs as well.

Together we are more powerful than we are as individuals.

What's so great about being in a coven? Watch this video to find out.

So, what do you think? Is coven life for you?

~Lashette

  Scarlet Moon Creations

Bath Magic

You've heard me talk about facets of bath magic in videos and know the Etsy shop Scarlet Moon Creations is mostly focused on that. But what is Bath Magic?

Affirmations

I mentioned them briefly in my Miracle Morning post but this is to give you a bit more detail in how they can be used. Or you can watch the video I did on this topic below.

Herbs and Oils for Samhain

Hola and welcome back to the latest installment of my Sabbat herbal series. This is part 6 of this series of Sabbat Herbs & Oils. You can check out part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and part 5 at these links. Samhain, marks the last harvest and the end of the year for me. Because my birthday is on November 1st. It has many names such as Halloween, Calan Gaev, All Hallows Eve, Day of the Dead, etc. Its a time of reflection, preparation, divination, protection and spirit work. The veil between worlds is thin again. The last time was during Beltane. During the darker half of the year you can get more easily in touch with the Fae again. But also with the spirits of the dead. Divination is more powerful during this time of year as is journeying. Many do rituals out of respect for their ancestors who have passed. Others take stock of the past year and begin to plan for the winter and the rest of the new year beyond.

Hair Care as Self Care

Another form of self care that I employ regularly is my natural hair care.

Herbs and Oils of Autumn Equinox

Hail and welcome back to the latest installment of my Sabbat herbal series. This is part 5 of this series of Sabbat Herbs & Oils. You can check out part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 at these links. Now it is the Autumn Equinox, so we are smack dab in the middle of the harvest season. Various holidays have been celebrated for centuries during this time of year when the days and nights are equal. Mabon, Alban Elfed, and more. From hear on out the nights will be longer than the days and the cold more than the warmth. Plant life slowly begins to die or go into hibernation while the mammal wildlife also harvests. We harvest in preparation of winter. So that we can get those things that would not be available otherwise. In this first world country survival during winter is not as much of a worry so the focus is more on harvesting things other than food. We are looking fr balance, prosperity, joy and protection in the coming fall and winter.

Herbs and Oils for Lughnasadh

Hail and welcome back to the latest installment of my Sabbat herbal series. This is part 4 of this series of Sabbat Herbs & Oils. You can check out part 1, part 2 and part 3 at those links. It is now the beginning of the harvest season. The traditional first harvest happens during the time of year in the northern hemisphere. Lughnasadh, as I call it, is one of the four Celtic Fire festivals. It corresponds with Lammas, Calan Awst and many other holidays or festivals celebrated during this time of year. This time of year, this season is all about love, abundance, luck, strength, protection and kitchen magic.

Herbs and Oils for the Summer Solstice

Welcome back to the latest installment of my Sabbat herbal series. This is part 3 of this series of Sabbat Herbs & Oils. You can check out part 1 and part 2 at these links. This time we are focusing on the Summer Solstice. Also called Litha, or even Midsummer by some, this time of year is all about celebrating the Sun, empowerment, healing and revitalizing, growing, sweetness, marriage, and faeires.

15 Types of Journaling

As promised in my blog post regarding Journaling for Self Care, here is a list of various types of journaling that you can do.

Herbs and Oils for Beltane

Beltane is all about life. Creating life; fertility among plants, animals and people; preserving life with fire that purifies, and prosperity; attraction from flowers attracting bees to women washing their faces with the morning dew to attract a mate; connection with the handfastings and weddings that resemble the greenwood marriage; and the veil between worlds being thin so you can connect with spirits such as fairies.

What is Sacred Self Care

Hola,

I knew I wanted to write about this topic for awhile. I considered making a video but I think the written word fits better as I organize my thoughts. This is something very important to me. A personal practice that I am building but also want to share with others.

At first glance, Scarlet Moon Creations, my shop in particular, may seem shallow or only about the indulgent types of self care. Skimming the surface of a very important topic and activity. And it is in a way. I think of my etsy shop as just the beginning. A gateway, if you will, to Sacred Self Care.

Herbs and Oils for the Spring Equinox

Spring has sprung. It is now a time of new beginnings, of finding your balance, planting seeds, youthful energy, rebirth and the fertility of nature. With that all in mind I thought I'd share some of the many plants and oils associated with this season.

Financial Self Care

This month is National Credit Education Month. Here in the U.S. March is also when business taxes are due. April being when personal income taxes are due as well. So I thought this was the perfect time to talk about financial health and education. They say there are only two things guaranteed in life, death and taxes. How depressing. But it doesn't have to be.

5 Ways to do Card Readings for Self Care

Hi, I'm back with an idea I've been working with and on the past year or so. If you have favorited my Etsy shop you may have noticed that I added Card Readings as a new category. I've been reading tarot and oracle cards for about 11 years now. Its actually a little crazy to think about how much time I've been doing this. I learned back in 2006 and never looked back. In 2016, I decided to start reading cards professional to get experience enough in that area to offer card reading to clients and here we are today.

Monthly Bullet Journal Review Process

Hey all,

Its the end of the month and I thought instead of doing a Plan With Me post I would share something more helpful, my monthly review process. Reviewing the past is part of what helps us prepare for a better future. How did we get to where we are today and how can we change, replicate and improve yesterday for a better tomorrow? It helps to look back especially when I am feeling like a loser. Essentially, I feel like I accomplished nothing and all the negativity of my thoughts and feelings overwhelm me. I also review weekly and daily but those routines and rituals are not as lengthy as this one. If anyone is interested in seeing how I do those, comment and let me know. You can see the video down below.

31 Days of Tarot

Hey guys.

Wow, so I did this. This past January I participated in Ethony Dawn's 31 Days of Tarot challenge on Youtube and Instagram. Mainly on Youtube though. 

The 31 Days of Tarot consisted of 31 prompt questions for us to follow. As a tarot and oracle reader I was excited to participate. It was a lot of hard work including the technical aspect of putting out 31 videos daily. But I persevered and it resulted in new reading clients, new friends and followers on YouTube and IG, a newfound confidence and of course new video editing skills.