Recently I’ve been offering some amazing magickal jewelry and handmade amulets on Ebay. I’ve had a few questions about what the difference is between a spell and spelled jewelry and I thought I would answer them here because this may be of interest to all.

Which is stronger a spell or a magickal item with spells cast upon it?

There is nothing better than a directly cast spell for any situation. That is because a spell is focused will and intention and has immediate powerful energy that is released in the casting. Spelled magickal items (such as jewelry or containers of some kind) may have a number of spells attached to them but the spells are of a long-term and long-acting nature. In other words, for fast results seek a spell - for results that you are willing to wait for over a period of time, consider a magickal item. The best of course is both - a spell in the short-term then a magickal item to act as support in the long-term. For instance if I have a spell like Magnetic Attraction cast , then I might want to consider a ring that has an attraction or love drawing spell on it to keep the energy of my spell working at a higher frequency and duration. This is just one consideration for magickal spelled items.

What items can hold a spell?

Just about anything can - obviously items like wands, chalices, athames, sacred religious objects, scrying bowls, crystals (though they have inherent magickal qualities too), talismans, jewelry, witch bottles -the items are consecrated in a ritual to hold the specific qualities of the spell. Certain items work better than others - natural items that have their own magickal correspondences (wood, crystals, semi-precious stones, precious metals, witch-crafted items) are the best. Also symbols are excellent as long as they are crafted with a spell.

How long does a spelled item last?

Once an item has been consecrated and spelled it will last until the spell is removed and the item cleansed of all previous energies. That doesn’t mean that it will be effective indefinitely - like everything, even spelled items have an ebb and flow in their power depending upon how often they are worn and used. It also depends upon what spells and energy have been put into an item. For instance I have specific jewelry that I have worn during thousands of castings and these are absolutely the most powerful items I own. They will continue to supply power long after I have passed from this earthly plane.

Can you add a spell to an item I already own?

I could, yes and have done this for clients before but it is not something I do often.  I’d rather find the right vessel for you myself.

If I want my ex-boyfriend to return to me should I get a spell for this or a ring that has certain properties to return a lover?

I recommend a spell since it will be more powerful because it uses the energy from the spellcaster (me) the inherent power from the spell itself and any correspondences involved in the casting plus the energy of the client to complete the spell. A magickal item just has the energy for the spell cast upon it from the witch who cast it. Even though you will wear the item your energy is not a part of the spell itself, so it is not as directed.

I hope this helps you to understand more about what I offer. If you have any further questions please just ask and email me at amita@magickrituals.com or amita@mysticspells.com.

Casting went well on New Year’s Eve. I was able to get a great, crackling fire going in the fire pit and it was cool but not freezing cold (like it is tonight). I brought Lucy out in her plush carrier (she is so spoiled) and enjoyed the celebration of casting on the Blue Moon and ringing in the New Year. All my spells benefited from the Blue Moon since this New Year’s Eve version will not occur again until 2028. I enjoyed my time outside and then came in to watch Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest on TV. Toasted the New Year with Mom and some Moet et Chandon.

There was something smooth about last night - it seemed almost effortless. It must have been all that great celebratory energy all over the planet! It even rained a little but that didn’t put a damper on things, though the fire eventually sputtered out; fortunately the spells were complete.

In contrast, tonight is cold and the fire was the only warm spot. Even the house seemed cold when I came back in. I usually cast at 10pm or so but tonight would be too cold so I cast earlier, right after sunset.

For the Chinese New Year’s Day Good Fortune Spell, I burn the previous year’s results in the bonfire, then prepare the new results. I keep them in my home until the next year. I was happy to see many clients take advantage of this wonderful good fortune spell but I was somewhat disappointed in seeing some of the names from last year’s spell were clients I haven’t heard from in a while. I really do appreciate it when clients keep in contact with me. I like to know how you are!

I’m practically chilled to the bone right now. I’m under a faux fur throw in my bedroom, cuddled with Lucy with fragrant bayberry candles blazing all around. They are soy candles, the first ones I’ve made like this and they smell great. I will be making them next year for the Yule Spell I think.

All results from Yule will be going out on Monday with the New Year’s Eve casting and tonights casting results. Thanks for your patience with me over the holidays. I was very busy this year. I hope this is a good sign for 2010!

Incidentally I always cast the Chinese New Year’s Day Good Fortune Spell for myself every year!

Not the kind from excessive alcohol consumption (though I did have an eggnog with brandy last night) but from the rush leading up to the holidays and the aftermath.

In all it was a great holiday; I really threw myself into the planning for Yule and Christmas and that helped me through the difficulty of a sad anniversary (two years since my husband passed away on December 22nd ). It was wonderful to have my family here (my brother rarely gets Christmas off), so this was very special for all of us.

We celebrated on Christmas Eve with a dinner at my house with my family. My neice gave me a lovely Aunt card which was incredibly special to me. I’ve always wanted to be an aunt since I never planned on having children and I was a bit disappointed that my brother never had kids. Enter my dear sister-in-law Lisa with her daughter and PRESTO! I am an Aunt! I really love it - I get to spoil Krystina and the bonus is she isn’t a kid so I also get a groovy friend too.

I had a wonderful dessert called Killarney cake which is my new favorite thing - ever! It was made by my sister-in-laws mother and it was delicious!

We exchanged gifts and I got wonderful things - I hope everyone enjoyed their gifts from me too.

I’ve updated the site with my After Christmas Sale event which includes some slashed prices on great spells, a couple that I’ve never put on sale before. There is something for everyone and the sale will run through January 7, 2010. Click here to see what’s on sale.

I’ll be sending out spells from the last casting before the holidays and casting again on the Blue Moon which is on New Year’s Eve. Anyone purchasing spells between now and then will get the benefit of that wonderful rare power day - so please take advantage!

Yule (the Winter Solstice) occurs on December 21st and I am eager to have a slow paced holiday at home with family. We will be celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve this year so Yule will be a special holiday that is the low-key cousin to Christmas. I’ve got the Yule log ready to burn in the fire-pit (I hope it is cool weather as it has been a bit warm lately and even poured rain yesterday which is a rarity in Florida in the winter) and a delightful tapas type menu for the feast. Of course there will be spiced cider and delicious Christmas cookies (made by my sister-in-law who has been baking around the clock!).

This time of year isn’t the best for me personally since my husband passed away two years ago on December 22nd. Yule therefore has a dual meaning to me. At midnight I will commune with the Goddess and send a message to my love.

I’ve thrown myself into decorating and housekeeping this season which has been a peaceful distraction from what is an emotional time. I love to keep busy and the holidays are wonderful for that. I’m excited too of the upcoming Yule Prosperity Spell and the Chinese New Year’s Day Good Fortune Spell. Every Yule I create the candles I will use in the next year’s casting, so I will be doing that this Yule as well as completing the spells for this year. It is a powerful day for prosperity.

I will post pictures on Facebook and on mysticspells.com if you’d like to see my Amy Brown Faerie tree for this year and my other holiday decorations too. Hope your holidays are merry!

Yule Traditions

Yule, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.

Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift, it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sits upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Symbolism of Yule - Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule - Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule - Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule - Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule - Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule - Red, green, gold, white, silver.

Stones of Yule - Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule - Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule.

At mysticspells.com I am having a huge Black Friday deal through Cyber Monday. From today through Monday you can get $50 - $150 off various spells (some really super ones too - I am pulling out all the stops!). Here is what I am offering:

MAKE THEM LOVE ME - this was already on sale through the end of the year but I’ve taken an EXTRA $50 OFF! This is a black magick spell and very effective especially for stubborn issues and situations. If you’ve not had success with other love spells you might want to consider this spell especially as it is at its lowest price ever only $200! The regular price is $350. This is one of my most popular and effective spells. Highly regarded and immensely successful, you owe it to yourself to try this spell.

DARK PASSION SPELL - this is a new spell that I offered at Halloween and decided to keep available for the rest of the year. This is the first time I have offered it at a sale price too. It is $100 OFF, so it is only $250. If you want to kickstart your passion in a relationship that has gotten lackluster this is the spell for you!

ANGEL LOVER RETURNING SPELL - this is a powerful lover returning spell that is PURE WHITE MAGICK. USe this spell to return the one you love now at $150 OFF the regular price! Only $250! This special is only through Monday and will not be repeated!

ANGEL LOVE DRAWING SPELL - my most powerful whit emagick love drawing spell is now $50 OFF! You can feelassured with this lovely spell that love will come your way for only $200!

I am so happy to offer these special deals to you.  I really want to make magick more affordable and available to everyone during this jouyous season of the year. THat is why I have added talismans and cheap spells to the site too. Please make sure you check out everything I have to offer.

I am a real witch, a real person who takes her craft seriously. I will alwys do my best for you and do everything within my power to make sure you are happy with the work I do with you.

Every day I give thanks in my journal. I write about the people I love and the spells I have cast for friends and family and give thanks to the Goddess for helping me through the good times and the not so good times. I honor the Buddhist Goddess Tara (She is my patron Goddess) with Her mantra OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA!

The connection I have with Green Tara (Her Tibetan Buddhist name) is immensely powerful. I know that when I honor Her with offerings and prayers that She helps guide me to the best life I can possibly live. The Goddess for me is an aspect of the interconnectedness of all things. She is the Great Mother (like Isis), the most powerful form of creation. She exists in every religion on Earth.

Day by day though, She and I have a communication of gratitude. I thank Her for helping me to sort out my issues and for giving my spells power and focus. It may seem silly to ask the Goddess to listen to my concerns yet I know She listens, I know that She gives me Her special attention because I keep Her in my heart always. She is me and I am Her.

Thinking about what I am thankful for as Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded of how I start every day praying to the Goddess and chanting Her mantra. It is said that to invoke Green Tara one only needs speak Her mantra and She will bestow Her blessings upon you. I cannot tell you how often I have found this to be true.

Today I am grateful for a sweet black and white tomcat who visits me lately in the evening on my back porch. His presence doesn’t thrill my Lucy too much (she hisses at him through the window on the back door) but she indulges me by letting me sit outside with him. He doesn’t seem to be a stray but a neighborhood cat as his fur is quite clean and he is well-fed. Still he should have a collar on with tags of pertinent information if his owners allow him outside.

Of course I don’t believe in letting cats outside since they are small creatures and need to be taken care of. They live twice as long as cats who go outside and they don’t bring home fleas and feline diseases. I believe my new friend is neutered though which is good. I call him Raphael because he is like an angel. He is personable and I so enjoy spending some time in the cool night air with him curling about my legs and raising his big head up to meet my hand to get scritches.

He has bonded with me and I am honored to have his attention. He is an angel (to me as a Buddhist this would be a Bodhisattva) and we all must take time to sit with the angels and show them our gratitude.

For a witch this is simply a grand day! For a Knights Templar - oh, bad, very bad day. Here’s a little more on that cribbed from Wikipedia:

According to folklorists, there is no written evidence for a “Friday the 13th” superstition before the 19th century. The earliest known documented reference in English occurs in an 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini:

This decision in going to battle before the English troops were rested (the English lost and King Harold was killed), further established Friday the 13th as an unlucky day.

My plans for today include casting (this is an excellent power day), going out to dinner with my Mom to continue her several days of celebrating her birthday (yes my mother needs at least three days to celebrate properly and she deserves them!), more work, grocery shopping and likely a nice bonfire tonight since the temps are getting much cooler. I’ll light a candle too for the Knights Templar as I do every year.

I hope your day is filled with luck and good fortune. The number 13 is a sacred number to witches and I bless you with its power!

These Samhain Secrets will not be so secret since I am publishing them here! I thought you might like a rundown of how my holiday went.

It began at midnight on Saturday, which is when I cast the spells that I had for the Full Moon (which was yesterday) using Halloween as the ultimate power night for witchcraft. Even my regular spells were cast at this time. I made a big bonfire in the fire pit (even though it was kind of warm out) and cast everything, then came back in to re-charge and supposedly to take a nap before I started making the feast for Samhain later that night.

I was too keyed up to sleep so I did some reading (that is why I love my Kindle so much - anything I want to read is right at my fingertips) andso I chose a pretty scary book and stayed up late reading it. Perfectly Halloween oriented.

I finally did get some sleep and then awoke to make the feast. I baked a Scottish Pub Pie with potato and leek (delicious!), green bean casserole, yeast rolls and honey glazed baby carrots. What a meal! My sister-in-law brought her family favorite Spinach Veggie Dip and we had a delicious Cherry-Orange Punch and later with dessert, some mead.

We did the ritual after the feast (sometimes I do it before but felt like eating first this year - I was starving!) and then hung out a bit by the fire. It was a little cooler but still unseasonably warm but that was ok since to be outside when the moon was that glorious on Samhain was utter perfection.

The worst part of course is always clean-up after a feast and this I left till the next day. I was exhausted but felt so good and happy and haven’t felt this good in a long-time so it was very meaningful for me.

Fortunately we have a slight lag before the major holidays kick in - but two birthdays (my Mom and brother) then Thanksgiving, Yule and Christmas! Where did the year go?

Here are some other Samhain Secrets:
1. Dumb Supper

A dumb supper is a wonderful way to celebrate Samhain, especially if you are honoring someone in particular. There are many ways to do this. If you like, you can have dinner as usual, and simply leave an extra plate and dinner out for your “guests”. You can have dinner as usual, or perhaps talk to the person you are honoring. Laugh and joke with them, or ask them how they are doing. Another way is to have dinner completely in silence. This is a good opportunity to reflect on who you want to be having dinner with, and why. If you are honoring someone in particular, remember to make something that you know or think they might like.

The Dumb Supper:

In some Pagan and Wiccan traditions, it has become popular to hold a Dumb Supper in honor of the dead. In this case, the word “dumb” refers to being silent. The origins of this tradition have been fairly well debated — some claim it goes back to ancient cultures, others believe it’s a relatively new idea. Regardless, it’s one that’s observed by many people around the world.

When holding a Dumb Supper, there are a few simple guidelines to follow. First of all, make your dining area sacred, either by casting a circle, smudging, or some other method. Turn off phones and televisions, eliminating outside distractions.

Secondly, remember that this is a solemn and silent occasion, not a carnival. It’s a time of silence, as the name reminds us. You may wish to leave younger children out of this ceremony. Ask each adult guest to bring a note to the dinner. The note’s contents will be kept private, and should contain what they wish to say to their deceased friends or relatives.

Set a place at the table for each guest, and reserve the head of the table for the place of the Spirits. Although it’s nice to have a place setting for each individual you wish to honor, sometimes it’s just not feasible. Instead, use a tealight candle at the Spirit setting to represent each of the deceased. Shroud the Spirit chair in black or white cloth.

No one may speak from the time they enter the dining room. As each guest enters the room, they should take a moment to stop at the Spirit chair and offer a silent prayer to the dead. Once everyone is seated, join hands and take a moment to silently bless the meal. The host or hostess, who should be seated directly across from the Spirit chair, serves the meal to guests in order of age, from the oldest to youngest. No one should eat until all guests — including Spirit — are served.

When everyone has finished eating, each guest should get out the note to the dead that they brought. Go to the head of the table where Spirit sits, and find the candle for your deceased loved one. Focus on the note, and then burn it in the candle’s flame (you may wish to have a plate or small cauldron on hand to catch burning bits of paper) and then return to their seat. When everyone has had their turn, join hands once again and offer a silent prayer to the dead.

Everyone leaves the room in silence. Stop at the Spirit chair on your way out the door, and say goodbye one more time.

By Patti Wigington, About.com

2. Honoring the dead

How exactly do you honor the dead? Simple- remember them. Don’t let their memories fade. What do you know about them, what were they like, what did they do, what did they feel? Do you miss them? Tell them. Tell them you still love them. Talk about them and remember the person they were.

3. Bobbing for apples

Bobbing for apples?This wonderfully pagan activity is great for kids and adults alike. The tub of water (read: Cauldron of Renewal), and apples (read: Magickal Fruit) are perfect for the season. How long will it take you to catch your apple?

4. Carving a pumpkin/turnip

Okay, while carving ugly faces into pumpkins isn’t actually a pagan activity, it does have some roots there. The vegetable of choice used to be the turnip, however. But this is one tradition I’m glad has been adapted. (Have you ever tried to carve a turnip)? Anyway, the theory is that if you carve a scary face in to a lantern  then you will frighten away any spirits of the dead that mean harm. Friendly spirits, however, will recognize it as a lamp and will be welcome.

5. Divination

This is one of the times of year that the veil between the two worlds is thinnest. If you are planning on doing any divination work, this is probably the best time you will have until Beltane. Tarot, Runes, Scrying, pendulum, and any of the hundreds of other methods of divination are easier to read at this time.

From Keitha at www.glasstemple.com

At midnight tonight my Samhain began in earnest. I had decided to cast not just the special spells I was offering on this sabbat but all the spells I had for this time period. A little boost from the magickal power of Samhain can only enhance spell workings after all!

There are some witches who never do workings on sabbats but I have found that usually they add more power and focus to my workings. I will not spend all day or night casting however which is why I chose midnight to cast rather than later tonight when I will have my family Samhain party, feast and ritual. I like to kick back and relax with a glass of mead when all is said and done just like any other witch!

Needless to say it was a magickal casting!

I lit the fire in the fire pit even though we have been having some unseasonably warm temps right now. It was still cool enough to have a fire going and that plus the herbs I toss on the fire always gets me in the mood. I had some patchouli candles I made last year that I decided to burn set up on the perimeter of my sacred circle, so the smell was magnificent. Just the glow from the firelight and the moon above, with flickering candles against the black branches of the trees that shroud the yard was enough to evoke the true spirit of Samhain.

Once the casting was complete, I let the fire burn out a little before dousing it and took my candles and craft goods back inside. I usually have a piece of fruit and a beverage to help ground me after leaving the circle. I am always a bit peckish after such work.

Now I feel the energy drained from me and sleep curling at the edges of mind, like flame to a parchment. I’m still so excited about the holiday finally being here that it is difficult to consider sleep but I do have baking and preparations yet to do for tonights proper celebration.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Bright Samhain Blessings to you all!

It is no secret that in the witchy world Samhain is the mack-daddy, grand celebration to end all celebrations. This is the Witches New Year and we take it very seriously (and also like to have fun too!).

I actually started thinking about Samhain at the beginning of the year. I knew I wanted to offer some special spells on that night (two new ones this year! check out mysticspells.com) and also wanted to craft an exciting feast and ritual night as well.

I have all kinds of neat things for the house. I usually do the dining room table up and the snack bar in the kitchen (which I use as the buffet) with candles and vintage inspired decorations. (Check out the Victorian Trading Company to see some of the cool stuff that I use to decorate.)

I also decorate the altar and get all my spells supplies together for the bonfire. One of the great things about living in Central Florida is that the weather is perfect for casting outside at this time of the year and I can get a great fire going in the fire-pit. This is where I do the ritual to mark the holiday and cast the spells for the night. It’s funny because everywhere people are dressing as witches on this night and there I am with my family in the backyard - real witches casting spells!

I usually wear my purple gown, all my most sacred ritual jewelry and my High Priestess torque. I do have a lovely cloak I like to wear sometimes but it is usually too heavy once I get the fire going. Zaliha (my best friend) knows this cape well since she taught me how to wear it during a special festival that was as muddy as the original Woodstock! With her help I never got a spot of mud on my cloak, though my boots were history.

During the year (except at other important sabbats) I rarely dress in my witch finery. I usually have a scaled down version of sacred objects and a special robe I wear for casting but often during the summer months it’s too hot and I just wear regular clothes. Putting on my jewelry always puts me in the right mood though. I have some items I wear that have been with me since my initiation and I have worn them for over 25 years.

The feast is probably the most exciting part of Samhain for the whole family. We drink mead, punch, and go all out with dinner, desserts and tons of candy!

A traditional feast we often have is Pub Pie (we do ours with root vegetables and onions since we don’t eat meat) which is based on the original Scottish pasty, Colcannon (delicious Irish dish made with cabbage and mashed potatoes), Irish soda bread,  mushy peas and Scotch Eggs (done with vegetarian sausage). I usually bake an apple pie and my sister-in-law will bring her famous peanut butter cookies (the best ever) and sometimes I might do a pumpkin cheesecake if I get really inspired.

One year we decided to have the feast catered and had wonderful platter of fruit, vegetables and dip, spinach dip in a rye bowl (another of my sister-in-laws best) and a huge platter of cold shrimp for those in the family who eat seafood. That was a really nice event since I didn’t have to spend hours in the kitchen before I had to do the rituals.

This year it will be a combination of catered and home-cooking as I am dying to have Pub Pie and we will have a full family gathering (though without my brother who will be at sea).  We’ll start the party around nine in the evening, do the spells and ritual at ten and then have our feast until the wee hours.

I’m really looking forward to it!