New Directions

Hi all,
My Willow's Crystal Cauldron business is taking a new direction.  I'm planning on doing more tarot events like the Wine and Tarot Salon I held a few months back at my home.  I am looking for hosts to invite their friends, have them bring a bottle of wine or beverage of choice, a small appetizer to share and $20 for a 15 minute reading.  As the host, your reading is FREE.  Contact me here or on Facebook today to book a Wine and Tarot Salon.  And if you are a tea to-tallier, then consider a Tea and Tarot Salon..have people bring yummy teas-hot or cold variety, Afternoon tea yummies and the same applies, $20 for a 15 minute reading.  Please note for readings, cash is preferred but I can accept credit cards. $1 fee for CC added to reading fee.

Also, I started a new business venture with my business partner, Daphne.  We've started D-lish Catering Company.  I am wanting to hone my culinary skills just a bit more with some helpful techniques training and I need your help.  Please click on the link below to see my GoFundMe page.  I have 2-1/2 months to raise the $2,500 for this venture.  Book a tarot party with me and that will go to the fund as well.  Or just donate and see some of the perks I've offered to you for your generous donation.



Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

OT-MS Walk Long Beach

Brightest Blessings all,
I think this is my first 2013 blog post.  It's been too long.  But I wanted to share that Zoe and I are going to be doing the MS Walk in Long Beach on Saturday, April 13.  We want to raise at least $500 for the cause. Will you help us?  Even if you can only donate $5 and forgo that Starbucks latte for today, we and the MS Society will be grateful.  Here is the link to our fundraising page.  We would also like to maybe get a team together!!  Anyone interested?  Let me know.

Deana and Zoe's MS Walk Fundraising Page

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Vending and Tarot Readings this Sunday Dec 2

Blessing to one and all,
Sunday December 2 I will vending at a local IE event to support a great cause

Divers 4 A Cause invite you to join us for a 2 part party fundraiser.

http://www.facebook.com/events/365641573528219/

Raffle Prizes! Each attendee gets a raffle ticket, and for each friend you bring, you get additional tickets! Great prizes from our generous vendors. 

ALSO! For every $25 you spend with each vendor, they will give you additional raffle tickets!

Part 1: Multi-Vendor Party 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Gifts for everyone: Not only will you get great gifts for those near and dear to you, you will directly benefit the worthwhile efforts of our cycling team, Divers4aCause!

Update: New Vendors Added! Fancy Aprons, Jewelry and Decor item tables will be on site!

You'll help us make a difference in the lives of others - one ride at a time.

CASH 4 GOLD, 10% to the team!
Turn in your old, tangled gold and jewelry for COLD HARD CASH!! Then spend it on the other vendors or give a percent to D4AC. 10% goes to our team! Book a party and 5% goes to our team!
Can't make it? Drop off your bag of jewelry with Becky or Niki, or anyone attending the party. The Cash 4 Gold representative will call you with a quotation and if you accept, the gold will be exchanged for cash and returned to you!

GIGI HILL, 20% to the team!
Fantastic purses, luggage, sandals, and accessories! On trend and affordable, these designer styles are must-haves! Delivered to your home and some cash and carry on hand.
Can't make it? Shop online at www.gigihillbags.com/brande
The host name is First Name: Divers 4 A, Last Name: Cause

MARY KAY, 75% to the team!
A full table on hand of these phenomenal beauty and skin care products. Discounted prices on ALL in-stock items!

MASSAGE THERAPY, 80% to the team!
Sit and enjoy the magic of pure relaxation at the hands of our massage therapist, Amada! $1 a minute in a private room with the massage table. Prepare for bliss!

PAMPERED CHEF, 20% to the team!
The tried-and-true gourmet cooking and kitchen line! Maker of the *Original* Cooking Stoneware! Come see these classic products and the latest developments for all your food prep, cooking, and kitchen needs!
Can't make it? Shop online at http://www.pamperedchef.biz/nutrition?page=host-search-results&showId=3915039
or www.pamperedchef.biz/nutrition Search Host name: (first) Becky (last) Stone

SCENTSY, 25% to the team!
Fill your home, car, office, or anywhere with the great scents of Scentsy! We'll have a full table of perfect scents for the holidays or anytime!
Can't make it? Shop online at https://jodyzplace.scentsy.us/ and look for the Divers4ACause Party

SEE'S CANDY, 100% of the profits go to D4AC!
Chocolate - what every woman wants to accompany the diamonds you will buy her for Christmas!

=======================
OH BUT THAT IS JUST PART 1!
=======================

Part 2: PARTY TIME!

WINE TASTING
CHOCOLATE
ADULT TOYS (for sale, not play)

4:00pm - 9:00pm
$10 donation at the door for this naughty and nice event!

Can't make it, but want to shop for Intimate Expressions Toys?!
www.intimate-expressions.com/NikiBerry


Questions?
909.489.2335 - Becky
909.772.1843 - Niki

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Brightest Fall Blessings,
It's been a while since I've posted a blog entry.  Sorry I missed you all at Pagan Pride LA this year, I double booked and was in San Luis Obispo for the weekend.  Thank you to all who stopped by the Coven booth and shopped with all of us.  We always appreciate your business.  Since we have some cooler weather, I'm thinking of digging deeper in the garage for some more WCC goodies I still have yet to sell, so I think another Backyard Sale is in order.  I'm checking my calendar for a good date.  Looking at another Saturday.    In the meantime, I'm posting some items to the Etsy eStorefront in time for some early Yuletide shopping.

On a personal note, I've been just devastated by the damage Hurricane Sandy has done to my home state of New Jersey and the rest of the area of the eastern seaboard.  I saw pics today of the Seaside Heights boardwalk that I practically grew up on.  So much damage there and to all the homes.  My thoughts, prayers and energies go out to all those affected.

Well, I'm off to get some more presents for my wee one who turns 2 this week.  And get goodies for her party and for Halloween tomorrow.  Just a reminder, I am available for phone readings as well as web readings via Skype.  Hit me up of a New Year's reading, see what the new year holds for you.  $25 for 30 minutes, $50 for an hour.  Paypal and Square payment accepted.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com
Follow me on Pinterest-http://pinterest.com/willow972/
Check out our Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/willow972?ref=pr_shop_more
Updated website coming soon www.willowscrystalcauldron.net

Post-BackYard Sale Update

Brightest Blessings all,
Hope everyone had a great 4th of July.  I enjoyed the day off by just relaxing at home.  Wanted to give a great big shout out to all that attended the BackYard Sale this past weekend.  What a turnout...I was truly overwhelmed.  It got me thinking about possibly doing an event like that once a quarter and reinvesting into the items and having some new things to sell as well.
Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

What's Brewing

I used to write a What's Brewing post every month on my website when I had the shop and I just realized thanks to an old customer e-mailing me that I needed to get back to my blog and get to updating it on a regular basis.  So, I'm putting an appointment on my calendar to make sure I keep up with it, because if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't happen.
So What's Brewing with Willow's Crystal Cauldron???  Well for the past few years, it's been pretty quiet.  I honestly have to say I've had mixed feelings about being Willow-private citizen.  I miss having the shop so much sometimes, it always felt so good to help people with magick every day.  And I still get to do that just in a different way.  But I have to say life has been good for the most part over the years.  I have a wonderful daughter named Zoe who keeps me busy when she's with me.
But I've been getting this feeling over the past few months about getting things rolling again.  I have some things in the works for this summer at a local shop in Claremont, details will be coming soon.  But for a sneak peek, I will be hanging the sign out for tarot readings as well as some tarot classes and workshops.  Just need to get thru finals at school over the next 2 weeks and I will be scheduling all of that.  And I've scheduled the much needed BackYard Sale this month...see previous post from today for all the details.  And more details are to come as we develop things. 
So I send my plea to all of you, help me keep this blog active...write in your questions for help, situations that need magickal attention, etc.  I have a question on my phone from an initiate about some energy issues with an entity in her friends apartment.  I need to get a few more details but I will be posting my advice on the situation and hope you will all chime in with your comments and advice too.

Thanks for continuing to listen to the whispers of the Tree....

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Willow's Crystal Cauldron along with our friends at In The Eyes of March from
Etsy.com, will be hosting a two day BackYard Sale at the HarvestMoon Covenstead
in Ontario, CA. Dates are Saturday, June 30 to Sunday, July 1 from 10am to 5pm.
Magickal supplies, used books, jewelry, custom hair falls, handmade yarns and
lots of fun stuff. We maybe adding a few more artisans and maybe some readers
to the mix, so more posts will be going out about the event as details develop.

Event details
Saturday, June 30 to Sunday, July 1 from 10am to 5pm
Event location
HarvestMoon Covenstead 1509 West Rosewood Court Ontario, CA 91762
(please note-this is a residential area as I am hosting this at my home)

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

3 Card Monty-Your Daily Tarot

Your Daily Tarot-3 Card Monty-(R) means reversed
King of Swords
Queen of Wands
Eight of Wands (R)

With Mercury in retrograde, communications are in flux to say the least. But today's reading comes with a warning regarding those communications. With the reversed 8 of Swords, things can get blown way out of proportion in a hurry and so make sure to take a step back and think before you blow up or say something you will regret. Your point of view is held very strongly by the King and Queen energies in this reading. But the head and the heart, even though they are in the same body, can be disconnected in many ways when it comes to going with how you feel and thinking what the right course of action is to follow. 

We offer Tarot and Psychic Readings as well as Magickal and Energy Healing Services. Willow's Crystal Cauldron's staff has over 30 years of experience and we are here to serve all your Magickal needs. Please contact us at 909-456-4541 or via e-mail at willow@willowscrystalcauldron.net to schedule a reading or consultation.

Blessed Be from the Tree,

Willow

willow@willowscrystalcauldron.net

Hey Folks...it's Mercury Retrograde until Sept 12

Another Happy Sunday to all,
I was just checking my calendar and noticed we went retrograde in Mercury on August 20. And low and behold, it is retrograde in Virgo. Mercury rules Virgo as well as Gemini and I find that when the retrograde is in one of the ruling signs, it tends to be a bit harsher on those Sun sign people. But remember, it doesn't have to be 3 weeks of putting your head in the sand and hiding away. Embrace the retrograde, it's a perfect opportunity to deal with the past in an examining manner especially in Virgo. Being a Virgo myself, we are all about the organizing and getting things in order. I have lots planned for this retrograde already. Getting my storage unit cleared out which has been costing me way too much money, so I'll be saving $170 per month. That helps with a new baby on the way this Fall. I am also doing a few events to releave myself of some old store stuff-jewerly and what-nots. So clearing the clutter of the past to make way for the future. The clutter of the past is all over my temple room and I need my temple room back.
The book...well both of them. I started a book several years ago and when my computer took a dump, so did the book. Unrecoverable and devistating but no time like the Mercury Retrograde to get things back in motion. The other book is a cookbook I've been working on as well. Going to use this time to keep the fire going on that and get some recipes tested.
So get those orange or red candles carved with the symbols of Mercury, retrograde and Virgo....dress them with either Virgo oil or your own Sun sign and get the fire lit under your butt.
Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Temple of Fortuna Online Radio show

Happy Sunday morning everyone,
I am going to be Mamafortuna's Internet Radio show today at 11am. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mama-fortuna/2010/08/22/the-celtic-hazel-moon-ancient-deities-oceanus-titu

Click on the link and check it out. I will be on between 11:15am and 11:30am doing an adapted meditation from my favorite book, Goddess Meditations by Dr Barbara Ardinger about the Hazel tree for the Celtic Hazel Moon month show.
I hope you listen and enjoy...so remember to find a comfy spot and sit back and relax.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Aphrodite's Grotto

Ode to Aphrodite I

Sappho

translated by John Luo

Leave ancient Crete and come to our temple,

To our grove of fragrant trees,

Where the swirling mist of frankincense

Intoxicates the senses,

And shadows dapple the fruitful earth;

Where the cooling waters bubble

And dance on down through the sylvan meadows,

To where the horses graze.

See, in the meadows our horses graze

Among the distant trees,

Where blossom hangs on all the branches,

The ornament of Spring.

The scent of dill is in the air,

And roses shade the bower,

The cool and fragrant resting place,

Where we lie half asleep.

Queen! Cyprian! Aphrodite!

Bring nectar in golden goblets,

And stir into the heady draught

Your powerful magic potion

So we may drink and taste and prove

The sweet Delights of Love.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Saturday Magick-Saturn

Happy Saturn Day,
Been a while since an update to the ol' blog. I felt inspired this morning to get to some writing. Saturdays are a tricky day magickally. Saturn energy is all about constriction and restriction and it's the day we usually hold our rituals due to accommodating everyone's schedules. Kind of a contradiction, we are celebrating on a day that is restrictive to energy flowing they way we want it to flow. But I like to flip it and make it a day where we bring in the positive energies to make the magick flow.
Before your rites or spellwork, focus on restricting the negatives. Put all your doubts and fears at bay, literally with magickal breathe and with your own body, move your arms and blow the obstacles away like you are swimming a breaststroke. Visualize the curtain of constrictive Saturn energy being opened and let the Sun shine in.
We are not negating Saturn's energy, but utilizing it to clear our path so Saturn's essence of responsibility can be present in our minds and magickal workings.
You can also benefit from Saturn's energy for Uncrossing rituals and spellwork. So let's talk about the basics. So you've got your jinxes and hexes and your thinking, what's the difference? A jinx is something you do to yourself-negative thoughts, destructive behavior, repeating the same mistakes over and over and never learning from them. A hex is something generated by someone else towards you, and in my opinion, intentionally or sometimes unintentionally.
So having said that, most of the time, the negative energy your feel reeking havoc on your life is your own energy. But what do most people reach for when they feel that energy? If you said a reversing spell, you guess right and what does that do? The reversing spell sends the energy back to its source, well, if you are the source, you've just sent yourself one heck of boomerang of vengeful energy.
Whether you are dealing with a Jinx or a Hex, it is always best to uncross the energy first. That way you do your best to eliminate you as your own suspect. If the bad juju persists even after an uncrossing spell, take a good look thru some divination or with a reading from a seasoned psychic reader and someone you trust to determine the source.

To Uncross-
Prepare a white candle with uncrossing oil and with a toothpick or pin, draw Xs in the candle. While preparing the candle, focus on removing the negative forces surrounding you. Visualize them being crossed out of your existence and realize that they no longer affect you. Light your dressed candle and sit with the energy awhile. Draw the energy from the flame around you and with the white color of the candle, blast the energy away from you, make it with an X and shield yourself. Meditation on the release of the chains that were binding you and feel yourself free of the obstacles and completely uncrossed.


Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Update on everything that's Brewing...again

Merry Meet all,
Well, the California winter season is in fill swing with all the rain we've had this past week and the cold temperatures for our area. And I've caught the fever, no...I'm not sick or anything, I've caught the fever to restart the Cauldron again. But this time it's just going to be on the web, with a great full time job with benefits, it's really hard to leave that right now with a wonderful new home. Plus with the economy, I don't really have the funds to do a full brick and mortar store at this time. But I've been working on new formulary in my downtime as well as still receiving requests and inquiries about the shop. So I figured, what the hell....I can do the webstore out of the house with a few local events as time permits. So Willow's Crystal Cauldron will live again...at least in cyberspace.

Today is our Annual meeting for Coven of the HarvestMoon, and I'm going to talk to the gang about their thoughts to holding a few public rituals in 2010. So keep tuned to my blog, facebook and my space pages as well as the The Crystal Cauldron yahoogroup e-mail list. More exciting news for 2010 is coming. To everyone, have a Blessed Yule and a Wonderful New Year.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Pennyroyal

I have a lovely plant of Pennyroyal growing in my herb garden, but what I do with it? What are the magickal properties of pennyroyal?~Chelsea

Pennyroyal, another staple for your magickal cabinet. Sacred to Demeter, it was used as an initiatory herb for new devotees during the Elusian Mysteries in Ancient Greece. It aids in understanding reincarnation and rebirth. It's energy helps to direct a positive path towards the rebirth cycle of life. Worn in the shoe, Pennyroyal aids in preventing weariness during travel and helps ease seasickness. Utilize in incenses and sachets for business dealings. Pennyroyal is a peaceful herb. Keep around to quell arguments between couples and friends.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Basil-not just for caprese salad

Hey Willow,

My herb garden is loving the summer heat, and my Basil is out of control! I'm familiar with it's culinary uses, and I know it's a "money" herb, but that's about it....what can I do with it magically?
-A.S.

First off, bring me some so I can make pesto. Basil is a great herb and should be a staple in any Witch's magickal cabinet. Basil's magickal properties include fertility, consecration, purification, love and protection as well as prosperity. The scent of basil will bring harmony to a relationship. I've also recommended to couples to keep the love in your life, sprinkle some basil under your bed or mattress. Basil can be added to water used for purifying your home before unpacking and moving in. It's a wonderful house-warming gift for home blessing and protection. Basil brings courage and strength to a person and keeps their outlook positive even when facing adversity. Basil steeped in a tea aids in astral travel. It's also great for use before ritual in your magickal bath, especially before an initiation ceremony. I always include basil in my prosperity bags.

Remember when working with any herb, energize it and ask for that particular energy you would like to draw from it before using it magickally.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Handfastings

What are the traditions of a handfasting? Faerylight

Handfastings are traditionally a year and day marriage or a trial marriage. Some people come together for just that year and a day, for a lifetime, for eternity or as long as love shall last. Timing is really up to your schedule and personal choice but I always like a handfasting in June, the HoneyMoon month. It's traditional, as a MayDay or around the Beltane Sabbat, many feel it is exclusively reserved for the Lord and Lady's Divine Union alone but as I said, it is your choice. I feel a full or waxing moon is the best energies to work with for a ceremony.
The traditions within a handfasting ceremony can include the blessings of rings. I do this by anointing the rings with orange blossom oil (very traditional scent), charging them with energy and placing them on my wand within my wand box until it's time to give them back to the couple. The lighting of a unity candle or creation of a sand jar are symbolic of the joining of the couple or a family. The very common aspects of the tying of the cords and the jumping of the broom and the sword are staples in any handfasting ritual I perform. The cords, sometimes made by the couples' own hand or supplied by me, is weaved during the new moon before the handfasting date. I choose the new moon energies to insure a fresh start to the couples' new and happy life together. The jumping of the broom and sword represent the home and hearth as well as protecting the spirit of the union.
I love, love, love performing handfastings. It is wonderful to have a front row and center part in the union and joining of two people who are full of love and joy for one another. I have been honored and blessed to have performed 3 handfastings already this year and it seems a few more a croping up on my calendar as well. Always a Priestess, never a Bridesmaid. LOL

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Fix on the commenting

Just a quick post..I seem to have had the wrong setting regarding comments on the blog, I fixed that. So comment away, but if you have a question you would like posted to the blog and answered, please e-mail it to me at willowharvestmoon@gmail.com or you can use willow972@yahoo.com as well. I want to give the questions their own attention as a blog entry.
Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow
willowharvestmoon@gmail.com

Lammas Weekend Wrap up

Good morning and Brightest Blessings,
Lammas is a weird time in Southern California. It's not the typical Indian Summer that you picture it to bring but more so it seems to get hotter and hotter and the height of Summer seems to last till Mabon and beyond sometimes. Last evenings ritual was enchanting, timely and reflective. Lillian Morgan is an enchantress when she does ritual. Her ritual voice transforms and takes you to that magickal place where you experience your connective web to all things. My favorite part was during the story of the Dragonfly. When the story came to the part about the warm winds and the Corn Maidens, I felt the breeze turn from cooler to warmer as the Corn Maidens blessed our circle with their presence and touched our shoulders with their warm and tender love. And for just a moment, I felt that familiar Indian Summer grace our sacred space.

The timeliness of this celebration brings us to the astrological aspects of this ritual, the second decan of Leo-Generosity. Krickett lead us in a reflective list that the Great Spirit provides us and we see the generosity of the Universe. We need to remember there are so many wonderful things in the world that we take for granted all too often. What are your generous blessings to be thankful for? Do you raise a toast to the Gods, the Great Spirit, Mother Earth, the Universal Force, to your family and your friends in honor of the gifts they bring to you life everyday?

So post it on your My Space, Facebook, send a text or tell them in person-I am thankful for you.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow

Lammas Blog

Blessed Lammas everyone. Our coven is celebrating the sabbat this evening at Lillian Morgan's abode. She's planned a wonderful Native American ritual for us. I'll write a post ritual wrap up tomorrow. So, I started this blog to be a Q & A but it seems there are some issues with posting to my blog. After I finish this blog, I will check that issue out. But I received my first blog question. from K Sage..so here it is.

What foods and decorations are standards for Lammas and why? K Sage

Lammas is the first of three of the harvest sabbats. It is the time to view the first fruits of your labors, your plantings and goals in your magickal garden and see how your goals are shaping up. There is still time to make adjustments before the height of the harvest at Mabon. It is the time of the sacrificial God, his blood is spilled so that we may reap our bounty and we offer up our first harvest as a sacrifice to him. Appropriate food and decorations associated with Lammas include
breads, grains, potatoes, summer squash, cider, blackberry pies and jellies, berries, apples, roasted lamb as well as corn dollies, sunflowers, grains, a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables.

Blessed Be from the Tree,
Willow

Happy Tuesday

Great class session last night with some of the advanced students. We did an hour long discussion about chakras and then a wonderful hour long meditation on each chakra with breaks in between to write down or draw a visualization from the meditation. Advanced is tightly scheduled for the next few months so that these students can get thru to their 1st degree initiation by Astrological Samhain on October 6th. But after a few more weeks of Monday classes, everyone will move to Saturday mornings to work as a group to finish out this advanced class.