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[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Saint Patrick's Day vs. All Snakes Day

Happy All Snakes Day everyone! Sorry it's been a while since I've been active here, research to make sure everything is clear, concise, and accurate is a bit of a bitch sometimes! Plus the all consuming adult world that is work, healthcare, etc.

Saint Patrick's Day celebrates not getting righteously hammed like it does today, but Saint Patrick driving all the 'snakes' from Ireland. All the druids, pagan worshippers, people who basically weren't Christian. According to legend, the patron saint of Ireland 'chased the slithering reptiles into the sea after they began attacking him during a 40-day fast he undertook on top of a hill.' but that's rather contrarian to the evidence. Research suggests snakes never occupied the Emerald Isle in the first place. There are no signs of snakes in the country’s fossil record. And water has surrounded Ireland since the last glacial period. Before that, the region was covered in ice and would have been too cold for the reptiles.

So why celebrate a day about stomping out our practices, even if you only celebrate it to get hammered? All Snakes Day sounds cooler, and better honors the history of paganism by remembering what we've been through, raising a glass to those who lost their lives in the Christianization of the UK and Ireland. So with that in mind, go honor those who came before and get smashed in THEIR honor instead, so long as you can legally drink.

Blessed Ostara (March 19th in the Northern Hemisphere), and good health to you all!

- Blackbird

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Clair-what now?

Clairvoyance, defined as "the faculty of perceiving things or events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact" is a skill a lot of practitioners have on some level, whether they're aware of it or not. However, there's more to Clairvoyance than just seeing something that others can't. Humans have 5 senses after all.

Clairvoyance - Sight, aka seeing things others can't, whether it be a vision of the future, or a spirit/entity/deity that's in your space. Usually this goes hand in hand with the next sense.

Clairaudience - Hearing, whether it be general sounds from the background of a vision or the sound of a spirit/entity/deity trying to speak with you.

Clairtactus/sensus - Touch/feeling, this can mean feeling things touching you when they're in your presence, or potentially being able to physically interact with a spirit/entity/deity.

Clairolfactum - Smell, not very common, but definitely an interesting one. This usually goes with visions being given, as with the final one.

Clairgustus - Taste, I've only heard of this one being experienced with visions, those who have very intense ones anyways.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Lunar Dates of 2023

This includes the new and full moon of each month and the date, as well as the day of the week, and any special events such as an eclipse. New moons will come first, regardless of if they’re actually after the full moon. These are currently based on my local time here in the PNW, so you may want to check your calendars as well.   - Black Magpie

January

New moon is Saturday the 21st, full moon is Friday the 6th.

February

New moon is Sunday the 19th, full moon is Sunday the 5th.

March

New moon is Tuesday the 21st, full moon is Tuesday the 7th.

April

New moon is Wednesday 19th, full moon is Wednesday the 5th.

May

New moon is Friday 19th, full moon is Friday the 5th and is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.

June

New moon is Saturday the 17th, full moon is Saturday the 3rd.

July

New moon is Monday the 17th, full moon is Monday the 3rd.

August

New moon is Wednesday the 16th, Tuesday the 1st, and August 30th.

September

New moon is Thursday the 14th, full moon is Friday the 29th

October

New moon is Saturday the 14th, full moon is Saturday the 28th and is a partial Lunar Eclipse.

November

New moon is Monday the 13th, full moon is Monday the 27th.

December

New moon is Tuesday the 12th, full moon is Tuesday the 26th. Solar Eclipses

The local Solar Eclipses (watch your eyes!) are April 20th, a total Solar Eclipse, and October 14th, an Annular Solar Eclipse.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Lunar Dates of 2022

This includes the new and full moon of each month and the date, as well as the day of the week, and any special events such as an eclipse.

January

New moon is Sunday the 2nd, full moon is Monday the 17th.

February

New moon is Tuesday the 1st, full moon is Wednesday the 16th.

March

New moon is Wednesday the 2nd, full moon is Friday the 18th.

April

New moon is Friday the 1st and Saturday the 30th, full moon is Saturday the 16th.

May

New moon is Monday 30th, full moon is Monday the 16th.

June

New moon is Tuesday the 28th, full moon is Tuesday the 14th.

July

New moon is Thursday the 28th, full moon is Wednesday the 13th.

August

New moon is Saturday the 27th, Thursday the 11th.

September

New moon is Sunday the 25th, full moon is Saturday the 10th

October

New moon is Tuesday the 25th, full moon is Sunday the 9th.

November

New moon is Wednesday the 23rd, full moon is Tuesday the 8th.

December

New moon is Friday the 23rd, full moon is Wednesday the 7th.

- Black Magpie

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Hopefully you all remember my befriending crows post

Well, it's gotten the most love so I figured you all deserved to see an update on the fruits of my labor with the crows.

That was this morning, 10/17/21, on my way to work. I am still currently being followed by some of the braver ones.

Patience really is the key, outside of consistency, when it comes to befriending these beautiful birds. My local crows have known me going on 2 years now, but I've only been working with the majority of this murder for 3 months. Some birds are braver, other skittish. Some are perfectly healthy, while others have leg injuries and have to fight harder to even get a single peanut.

With winter on its way, seeing crows is going to be much more uncommon in my stretch of Washington, so I welcome the chance to make their cold season a little less rough.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Hello, I hope you don't mind if I give my two cents on the matter. In all my time working with the Fae I've seen a lot of misconceptions about them, and the idea that all Fae are out to hurt humans is a big one. The problem with this is that Fae is an umbrella term, there are so many different kinds of Fae, each with their own etiquette, morals, and personalities. Yes, there are extremely dangerous Fae, such as Kelpies, but there are also plenty of helpful and friendly Fae such as Brownies. There are always exceptions though, some Brownies get ticked off at humans and start messing with their stuff, but likewise there have also been some Kelpies that have been known to be harmless and friendly towards humans. My favorite metaphor to use is that working with the Fae is like diving with sharks. Sharks have a reputation from pop-culture to be ferocious and dangerous, when in reality most of them never attack humans unprovoked. Keeping with the metaphor, knowing proper Fairy etiquette is like knowing how not to look like a threat to a shark. Also knowing how to identify specific types of Fae, and knowing which ones tend to be more aggressive is like knowing what sharks tend to be more territorial. Another important thing to remember is that Fae are individuals, and even with specific species, personalities, interests, and care for ethics can vary widely. Can working with the Fae be dangerous? Absolutely, especially if you go in unprepared. Are all Fae inherently dangerous and out to get humans? Definitely not. I greatly admire what you all do on this blog, and how good of a resource it can be for new Witches, which is exactly why I wanted to give you this information, to prevent misconceptions and misinformation from being spread on a very educational blog. I do greatly apologize if any of this has come off as rude or mean-spirited as that wasn't my intention, I simply wanted to share what I know with my fellow witches. Regardless of if my ask is appreciated or not, I definitely want to encourage you all to keep up the good work.

I'm absolutely fine with you providing this kind of information! Hell, I encourage it! Personally, I'm well aware of the differences between things such as Brownies and Kelpies, but for a simple answer, saying most Fae are dangerous is generally the safe way to go. Had someone asked me further, I would've encouraged plenty of research and a ton of caution, as it's not something I can answer very well myself, but am aware others can.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Hi, love your blog! I was curious about something though. I definitely can understand why you guys don't work with people who work with Demons, but why don't y'all allow people who work with the Fae to work on your blog?

They're allowed to work on the blog, just not in our coven. Fae are often perceived as beings like Tinkerbell due to Disney watering down their true myths and stories. Most Fae want to harm humans, but people don't realize that.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Hi hi, another question about working with corvids. I know you guys said consistency is important, so I had a question about that. I'm getting surgery in December which will have a 3-month recovery period. Would it be fine to start feeding them before that time? Or would it be better to wait until after I've recovered so I can be more consistent from the get go?

You absolutely can start before hand. Letting them get to know your face is a safe one is very important, and they'll remember.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Hello, really new witch here. I'm interested and doing a lot of work as an animal witch, and in my research I came across your post about befriending Ravens and Crows. I was wondering about when approaching them at first and how they'd likely fly away if I got too close, so what's the best way of feeding them if they do fly away, since I don't just want to be throwing random food on the ground that they may not come back for since that would be littering?

Hey Anon, so long as the food is in small amounts, most law enforcement won't consider it littering (at the least in the US). Crows and Ravens are skittish creatures by nature and so it can take a long time to gain and build their trust. Typically speaking, not looking at them when you leave to food for them helps a lot, because if you do look you seem more like a predator. Crows and Ravens can memorize people's faces, and have been shown to pass down information generation to generation as to which humans are safe or not.

Suffice to say, just showing you're safe to them will go a long way to them being willing to be near you. I have crows that are willing to get within a couple feet of me, and have even been known to chase me from perch to perch, demanding food if even I don't have any on me, but it took a year and a half to get to that point. Have faith, and eventually they'll start to trust you more and let you come closer. Usually once one crow starts exhibiting that behavior, the rest will usually shortly follow, as some crows have been hurt by people in the past, and may never fully trust people again.

If I can suggest any other thing, it's make yourself recognizable. I painted my daily bag with silver crow silhouettes, because crows can see on the majority of the same spectrum humans can.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Pendulum Displays

Those who use pendulums will know the struggle. You set one down for all of 2 seconds next to another one, or put it in your pocket, and the chain(s) end up tangled. So rather than spend a bunch of time untangling your pendulums, why not make a display? All you need is a wooden frame for photographs, a drill or small hand saw, a ruler, a pencil, and potentially; wooden blocks to make it a stand or hooks to hang it, and sandpaper.

The size of the frame you use will depend on how many pendulums you plan to display with it. The more pendulums, the bigger the frame you need - unless you plan on making multiple smaller displays. I personally like to put a centimeter or up to an inch of space between my pendulums on my displays, to further prevent any tangling.

Once you’ve decided how many pendulums are going to be displayed on your frame, mark where each is going to go using your ruler and pencil, trying to space them evenly. Once you have the spaces marked, you’re going to want to pick a drill bit smaller than the bead on the end of your pendulums so that the chain won’t slip through when displayed. If you don’t have a drill, you can use a small saw or whittle with a knife, but the groove has to be smaller than the bead.

Be sure to test the size of the groove with your pendulums often, especially if you’re using a saw. You run the risk of splintering the frame if you’re not careful, and this means you’re more likely to have a pendulum that won’t stay in its spot. It needs to be deep enough that the pendulum will stay put, but shallow enough that it won’t weaken the frame too much structurally.

After that, you can either turn it into a stand with two extra pieces of wood as shown in the picture above, or you can place hooks onto the upper corners of the frame. Once again, drilling a hole for the hooks is a good idea so you’re less likely to damage the frame, so go slowly.

After that, it’s up to you if you want to paint or decorate it further, or just put it right on display!

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Crystal - Amazonite

Welcome to our now bi-weekly crystal special. This week is is going to be Amazonite. Now, what is Amazonite and where can it be found?

Amazonite, or Amazon-stone is a beautiful green to green-blue crystal which occasionally has white inclusions or lines through it. Some stories say that it was originally gathered from the Amazon river, which is how it gets its name. This crystal is made of a type of potassium feldspar called microcline, and the stone is classified into the tectosilicate category. This crystal is mostly gathered from granite cliffs, and is known to be found in Russia, China, Libya, Mongolia, South Africa, and the United States. It seems to have been used for over 2,000 years, as it has been found in archeology sites for Egypt and Mesopotamia, but the best records we have of it distinctly being mentioned were in the 1800′s.

Originally it was believed that the color was caused by copper, as copper when is exposed to oxygen it takes on a green or blue-green color - this actually is the reason why the Statue of Liberty has its colorization. However, later tests seemed to say that it was high amounts of lead and water in the crystal that caused the color, which would be a concern. It does seem that these are only two of the minerals that could cause that beautiful color as other tests suggest iron, rubidium, and thallium as other minerals that give Amazonite its color. However, the one given the most credit currently is microcline.

Now onto the spiritual side of things.

Amazonite is supposed to be good if your mind is polluted with toxic negativity. For some, if their beliefs include past lives, the pain from those and the past can cause blocks in our present. Amazonite can contain an abundant level of love and healing to help you break the cycles of negative thoughts you may experience in your life.

Amazonite can be good for:

Spell work

Jars, bags, and sachets

Deity Work

Note, due to the copper and lead attributed to the color of the stone this crystal: Never use it in anything water based, especially if you are consuming it.

That’s it for today and for Amazonite, if you have any questions feel free to reach out, and I hope you enjoyed this weeks crystal. Next time we’ll be covering the crystal known as Apache Tears. This is your friendly Tide Walker signing off. Have a good  night, or day, wherever you are!    

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Oracle Card of the Week - Moonology

This weeks oracle card is the Full Moon in Scorpio. This card says to stop any paranoid or abnormal behaviors, and that worrying about yourself is pointless; you need to release any negativity around the situation you’re worrying about. If someone has been unkind to you, perhaps it’s time to release them from your life.

This card heralds an emotionally intense time, as both the full moon and Scorpio themselves tend to be extremely intense. It’s ok to have emotions, and it’s time for you let yourself experience them. 

This card can have two additional meanings, and other interpretations

There could be some nastiness in the air when you draw this card, and if that’s the case, take it as sign to move away from anyone or anything you feel is toxic.

For some, this card means that their sex life is going to improve if they make an effort. Use your magic, you have all you need inside yourself to bring forth your desired results.

It’s time to move from living fearfully to living joyfully.

You’re right to have your suspicions.

Grudges are toxic - let something go.

The end of an argument.

The Full Moon in Scorpio has a sting in its tail: it can signal an unforgiving end to a relationship. It can also be a time when we want to be good but we\re naughty. If you pull this card, no matter when, your dark side and/or your shadow self may be showing.   The Full Moon in Scorpio is also a time of magic. If you were thinking of making/doing some magic, this is your sign to do it.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

How to Befriend Your Local Crows

Befriending crows is something that you may hear about online and want to do, but the actual process is both simpler and more complex than people usually think. Feeding the crows goes a long way towards making nice with them, but you still need to understand their social behaviors as well. Crows are naturally skittish birds and aren’t quick to trust, even if you’re constantly trying to bond with them. The group in the photo above I’ve been working with since the spring of 2019, and even then not all of them will come within 5 to 10 feet of me.

One of the things I learned while working with my local murder is that signaling them that you’re there, or giving them a way to identify you adds to them learning you’re safe. I personally use an auditory signal by singing out loud to them. You could also whistle, like my partner does, but the auditory signal -so long as it’s not something they may associate with danger- is completely up to you.

Now, what foods are good to feed to crows? There are several do’s and do not’s. For example, bread and birdseed aren’t good options because they’re high in fat and low in other nutrition. In winter it would be more reasonable to feed birdseed, but alongside something else that’s better for them nutritionally. So what is better for them and easy to access? The list is definitely varied.

Fruits: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apricots, non-seeded  apples, and other “wild” fruits from your local area.

Nuts: pine nuts, walnuts, acorns, and chestnuts. My local crows have a major sweet tooth for whole roasted unsalted peanuts. Avoid ones with salt as it’s not good for crows.

Invertebrates: This means snails, worms, and grubs. Check your local fish-bait or reptile supply stores for non-toxic snails and grubs.

Grains: Uncooked pasta, either normal or vegetable based, and raw grains. Whole wheat bread is preferred over normal bread, but I still try not to feed bread personally. Plain air-popped popcorn is also alright.

Eggs: Raw egg yolks, whole eggs, or hard-boiled eggs.

These are generally the best foods to feed to any crows you’re trying to befriend. Things to keep in mind, though, is crows are wicked smart. They recognize people with or without masks, and teach other crows (including their offspring) who is safe and who to avoid. So if you’ve been rude to the crows in the past, they’ll likely remember and it will be a lot harder to gain their trust. In the past, I’ve shown them that I’m trustworthy by sharing low-salt goldfish with them, making sure I’d give them a little and then eat some myself before giving them more. But I soon switched to giving them peanuts as cheese isn’t good for crows, or any bird, in the long run. 

I’m personally still learning a lot about crows, and I’ve even gotten a book called In The Company of Crows and Ravens by John M. Marzluff and Tony Angell to learn more. It’s a longish book at 384 pages including the index, but totally worth the read if you’re keen on befriending your local crows. The book not only teaches about crow’s behavior, but also the impact society has had on the species and vice versa.

Crows are an amazing bird to work with if you’re an animal or hedge witch, and if you’re lucky, they might even give you gifts one day in thanks for your place in their lives. To me, crows are a very important animal in my craft as they’re one of the favored animals of one of my deities. 

So go forth with this information and be kind to your crows. They’re a beautiful bird that deserves respect and fair treatment.

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Crystal - Garnet

Welcome to our weekly crystal special. This week, in honor of Fox Tail’s birthday, we are going over garnet. Garnet is both the traditional and modern birthstone for January.

Now what is garnet, and where can it be found?

Garnet is actually the name of a group of Silicate based crystals/minerals. There are six “species” of garnet, with one of which being split into a couple different varieties. Now typically, we think of Garnet as that deep rich red -and it is a beautiful stone- however, they can be found naturally in a range of colors, the rarest of which being blue. The mineral, and thus the crystal, garnet is commonly found in metamorphic rock and rarely in igneous rocks. Most natural garnets are contained inclusions in the stones that they form in.

Because of the unique properties of garnet, it can even be used as geobarometers and geothermometers,  as the stone itself uniquely records pressure and temperatures in the history of metamorphic and igneous rocks. They can even form with different textures that can help with the interpretation of structural histories.

Garnet has a long historical use as a decoration, and that has continued into current times as a birthstone for both January and Aquarius.

Now on to the spiritual side of things. 

Garnet (using the life force within the body) is supposed to help encourage you to go out and smell the roses. Its supposed to help clear the energy blockages that prevent you from living to your fullest, and help you to seize the day and your potential while enhancing health, passion and pleasure.

Garnet is typically used in;

Love, passion and sexuality spells, baths and jars

Protection and purification rituals and warding

Strength, endurance, grounding and manifestation rituals and sachets

Prosperity candles and spells

It is also associated with the deities Isis, Sekhmet and Persephone, along with the planet Mars, Fire and pomegranates.

That’s it for today and for garnet, if you have any questions feel free to reach out, and I hope you enjoyed this weeks crystal. Next week we will be covering Amazonite. This is your friendly Tide Walker signing off. Have a good night, or day, wherever you are!

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Herb - Rosemary

Okay, here is our Herb intended for the week. Again, so sorry about missing last week.

In  paganism and in Wicca, many herbs have magical connotations along with their everyday uses in the kitchen. As with the crystal of the week, safety is rather important so if its not something that would be used in everyday cooking, such as thyme, mint or other things, don’t use it without talking with a doctor - end of story.

This week its going to be rosemary, lets get into the scientific side of things:

Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Salvia Species: S. rosmarinus

Rosemary or Salvia rosmarinus has also been known as Anthos which means flower in Greek. The name rosemary comes from the Latin ros marinus, which means dew of the sea. It can also be known as Compass Weed, Elf leaf and Polar plant.

So rosemary is an evergreen shrub that was originally found in the  Mediterranean and Asian regions. and often thrives near the sea. It is considered invasive in some places. It can survive in cooler climates, and even withstand droughts. In warm climates they can flower throughout the year, however they typically flower in the later spring through summer in cooler climates. These plants can be difficult to propagate with seeds, but once started will often last upwards 30 years.

As with any plant this can cause allergic reactions so be careful with it. These plants are pest resistant, and once grown can be shaped into low hedges and even small topiaries. This makes it a really pretty plant, and a good addition to an herb garden due to its uses in cooking.

On to the more mythical and spiritual uses. Rosemary was a sacred plant to the Roman, Greek and Egyptian people. To this day it is also used for war commemorations and funerals, mostly in Europe and Australia, as a symbol of remembrance. It was also mentioned in Hamlet and Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare in reference to remembrance as well.

Rosemary can be used for:

Encouraging health and vitality

Stimulating the mind and memory

Enhancing or drawing out love and passion

Purification and protection

This can be done through baths, incense, sachets, poppets, spell bottles and in a good many other ways.

As you can see, it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is generally associated with Fire, the Sun and the Masculine. However, every path and practice may view it differently as no path is truly identical. Join us next week with Basil.

Your friendly Tide walker, signing off! Stay safe out there!

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Herb - Thyme

Now, this article was supposed to be out last week and so this week we are doing a double post for our herbs. My apologies for not getting this one out last week but here we are. 

So for our first post this week is thyme, so onto the scientific.

Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Thymus Species: T. vulgaris

Common Thyme or cooking thyme (T. vulgaris) is a woody evergreen shrub that is highly useful as a ground cover that is small, highly aromatic, has grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers that bloom in the early summer. This is a rather hardy plant, that ranges from southern Europe to the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. It has also been used in cooking and for medicinal use over the years. This plant is often described as being spicier than Oregano and sweeter than Sage.

Thymus itself is a large genus, with around 350 different plants with in it, so if you are planning on buying this plant to go in your garden for both cooking and spell work; make sure that it is the correct plant. Some of these herbs are still safe for cooking but some may not be.

This plant grows best in warm, and sunny spaces and is best planted in the spring. These plants are a perennial so may appear to die in the fall and winter, but should come back from the roots in the spring. These are rather drought resistant and do prefer well drained soil.

Now on to the spiritual side.

In Ancient Egypt, thyme was used in the process of embalming their dead. While in Ancient Greece, it was used in both baths and incense in belief that it was a source of courage. It was also used by the Romans to purify their rooms. In the middle ages of Europe, it was used both for granting courage usually in the form of a gift of the leaves from a lady to a knight, and in warding off nightmares by putting sprigs under a persons pillow while they slept.

These days thyme is often used for

Healing spells and baths

Purification spells and rituals

Aiding with courage, sleep and psychic abilities

Protection sachets and spells

Prosperity spells or candle work

Drawing inner love in and strengthening existing love

As you can see, it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is associated with the planet Venus and element of water. It is also associated with the Roman deity Mars, and the Greek deity Ares. Thyme is also associated with working with the Fey/Fae, and with the Feminine. However, every path and practice may view it differently as no path is  truly identical, such as the fact I personally find it more closely tied to air and the masculine.

Stay safe and have fun, See you in the second herb post for the week.

Tide Walker signing off

[acovenofcaffineandchaos]

Dragons, Magpies, and Gremlins: Come get your shinies!

It occurred to me that we have a weekly gemstone post, but not everyone may know where to get these crystals. There are quite a few options.

Of course, there are places like Etsy, or Amazon, but there’s always the chance that the gemstone you’re purchasing is fake - or was made in a lab. Not to mention the risk of being price-gouged for the item you’re buying.

Then there are metaphysical stores. Again, you often run the risk of making your wallet weep, but it’s more likely that the stone will be genuine - and you might even get the choice between polished cut stones, or raw gemstones.

However, if you’re really lucky, you might have a store near you that’s both a metaphysical store and on the cheaper side of things

Lastly, you can try crystal hunting out in the wild, but given your location you may not find certain stones, while having an abundance of others.

My current favorite store is The Wishing Stone in Edmonds, Washington. They have a great selection of raw stones towards the back of the store, and towards the front they have cut polished stones and even jewelry. They even have fossils and moldavite at this location.

There are other local stores in Western Washington I have heard great things about, and plan on visiting when work and funding allows, but for now I’ll list them below and update this post as I learn more about each location. Though there is one local store I will list on here to not go to: Earthlight Gems and Minerals in Downtown Kirkland, Washington. This store is lovely for the selection of stones, both polished and unpolished, but they are known to overcharge for items and also force metaphysical information on customers who haven’t asked for it; Or in my case, continue to try and tell me what i asked them not to because I knew what I was looking for and why I wanted it. They also don’t often take your personal opinion into the matter.

The other local stores in Western Washington I’m aware of are:

Stargazers in Bellevue

Moore Than Rocks in Kent

NW Rockhounds in Seattle

Agate Designs in Seattle

-Black Magpie