Urban Witch: 2014

As long as I can remember, I have always dreamed of the sea.

The smell, wind, everything. As soon as I was near it, I had to be in it. I would carry myself to the river, ocean, pool, or lagoon and let out a call under the water that always resulted in dolphins. In my dreams, these dolphins, my bottlenose friends, always shadowed what was to come. The Totem animal that has been with me my whole life, a massive Orca or the terror of my nightmares, a out-of-this-world-large Shark. Ultimately, it didn't matter how much time I blissfully had with Orca, for I knew Shark was always waiting. The water would get murky, grayish, and I would see shapes... until a mouth of hundreds of rows of teeth, framed in red gums, on a brilliant white mouth would open underneath me. This mouth was so large, It was pretty much the equivalent of the classic Jaws movie poster. The anxiety would shake me, and I would get to the beach... or be swallowed and awoken in a cold sweat with a fever. If I was lucky enough to make it to the shore, dead sharks would wash up. Hundreds of different breeds. I never understood until later in my young adult life the reason why.

I was never afraid of sharks. I would be the first to jump in the ocean, tank, whatever... with these ancient creatures.

I had always known Orca was a totem, and so is Red Fox. Many other power animals have came and left my life, but I never stopped to consider Shark. It was like a DUH moment when I was speaking to my husband about dreams I have that related to Orca a few years ago.

Shark is another one of my totems. A shadow totem.

What Is A Shadow Totem?

A shadow totem is a spirit that is a reflection of your shadow self. A part of you that is not easily accepted. Symbolizes of all of which you hide. A part of you that holds your darkest secrets. A part of you that you ignore. The dark side of your moon.

Shadow totems, on your personal totem pole would be represented at the very bottom, and if not integrated in a healthy way into your life, usually facing the other direction.

Ultimately, shadow totems are what you are doing but not being open about and/or what you are not doing because of fear.

The shadow totem does not walk along side us, as it is more inside us. You are always attached to your shadow.

The downside if you don't have a healthy relationship with the shadow aspects of your soul, say you are disconnected from your higher-self, and the shadow is driving full-time.. The person is normally VERY self serving. It's a "Me" Show.

But with balance. It always provides powerful medicine (lessons) for us. They challenge us. A force that often does not allow you rest until you succeeded its teachings.

It brings us closer to wholeness.

What Is My Shadow Totem?

How can you tell what your shadow totem is?

Shadow Totems are usually spirit animals that in their physical forms often instill deep fear, disgust, or dislike.

This is often the challenge that can sometimes be the hardest. If you have an irrational fear of an animal, it might definitely be worth looking into traits that animal has.

These brave spirits shake us so we can learn life's hardest lessons.

The traits of these spirits are usually something we are not utilizing to full potential, ignoring, or again.. Suppressing.

For example. If you happen to clarify that your shadow totem is Spider, you may not be manifesting things into your life as easily as it should be. Spiders are weavers of destiny, master networkers. Or you may be secretly manipulating, behind the scenes, not being honest or open about it. If you lack confidence of seeking what you want, this totem will surface to teach you.

If your shadow totem is Bull, you may not be standing strong for what you believe in, your loved ones, or even your territory.

Try to narrow down what is scary/gross/uncomfortable about the animal, and what qualities certain ones have to narrow it down. You might be even be able to tell what exact species is interacting with you. If you are only scared of snakes that spit, or those are the ones that really shake you soul, you need to take a look at Cobra totems and Cobra medicine. (Snakes are Healers and Destroyers. Destroyers meaning chaos to make new. Like a forest fire.)

Developing and forming a bond of acceptance with your shadow totem is all powerful. A companion to journey with, aid your spellcraft, and give you a deep connection with the Self.

My shark totem would constantly eat me. An animal or anything devouring you in dreamscape is something that wants to be apart of you. My Shark took 25 years to finally be fully accepted. He was desperately trying to gain my attention, the bigger and more aggressive the dream would portray him. I had to shake my dream and instead of letting it play out, become conscious and confront my shadow. My Shark shrank significantly, it was still massive. He allowed me to touch his snout, and finally the water cleared. I became warm. Blissful and I haven't had a bad shark dream since.

Shark showing gentle nature was a representation of a transformation within myself that I finally accepted.

I was not confident in my primal instincts. I had boundaries I never dared to cross. I had no authority on my life. I would often regress. I was so resistant.

Then I let go, followed the current and embraced myself for the Shark that I am.

To check out traits of animal spirit guides, Check out Whats-your-sign.com here.

I love this website. It is rich with a lot of gathered information. A good tool for any spirit work.

Do you know your shadow totem? Share your story in the comments below! I would love to read them.

Good luck!

Stay witchy,

Buy it here.

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Transylvania on Fair Skin.

I went out of my way to have a dark plum lipstick that looks good on fair skin. With hundreds of formulas to choose from, I have to say Nyx delivered that with Transylvania.

There is a trick to putting this on. The formula can be built to being completely opaque (Which I love) just be sure to color your lips before application if you're very fair like I am. I don't have my makeup collection moved into my new apartment yet, so I quickly swept a plummy purple eyeshadow on my lips that were slightly moistened with a lip balm. This was the outcome after letting the formula dry, blot, then one more thin layer. (Not as much work as it seems)

I've seen countless reviews of this, but not on someone as fair as I.

I could kiss my husband, and nothing would get on him. (But it was fun to trick him that I did.)

This found have stayed all day if I didn't have a huge weakness to warm drinks ;)

Do you like makeup reviews? Let me know in the comments below.

Stay Witchy,

Loralei x

"Fear no evil. So doth the spell. Vanquish the feeling. Confidence will swell."

Were you Taught Fear?

Every have a word that is consistently brought up over a span of days or even hours? Well today that is fear.

Having a young baby girl, Has me thinking about my upbringing. The tactics I was taught as a child.

It is a proven fact of nature, that humans are not born with 'fear.' We are not naturally scared creatures. Unless our lives are threatened, and our flight or fight activates. We are TAUGHT what is scary.

Slenderman, Jason, Freddie, Vampires, dark alleys, your brother's bedroom, abandon houses, snakes, centipedes, spiders, sharks, bats, pitbulls, Different races, locations, food, failure, rejection, The woods, the ocean, etc.etc etc.

And I must say, I unmistakeably but maybe unintentionally was taught fear. My Mom wanted to protect me, but the behavior I was shown then, I have to reverse. It is a good intention, but is it the best way?

Then the synchronicity of it all, when my husband returned home to find his coworker and he were discussing the same topic.

Being taught fear:

If you ever heard a story of what happened to an other kid when they.. etc etc.
Told something would happen to you.
Told directly to be afraid or intimidated or a place, time, person, or thing.
Given an excuse to dismiss you in chance that some threatening deity or creature would come get/or punish you.
To keep your hair tied up because you'll be afraid of being labeled as the community harlot or ahem.. witch and be stoned, punished publicly, or killed. (Yes, this still happens in India, Tibet, and other places in the world. Wear your hair proudly, my witches. Article here. )
Examples can go on foreverz. lol ;)

One great example: I have a family member that has a large in ground pool, and if anyone knows me well I'm a half step to having gills. I loved the water, and I was VERY good at swimming. I was rewarded lifeguard status at a very young age via my high school. Yet when I was very young, I was told a story of a boy that got sucked into the drainage hole in the deep end and that it decapitated him.

Whoa.

Do you know what happened? Well.. No one had to worry about me.. because up until I was about.. 9ish. (This will come to a surprise to even my husband when he reads this..) I wouldn't go where I couldn't quickly stand. I would envy my brother doing cannon balls. The one time I did, I had an anxiety attack seeing the 'hole.'

A friend of the family, whom passed many years ago (Thank you girl!), coached me out of the fear when teaching me to properly dive.. and I lived up to my full potential as a swimmer.

If you'd like to share, what were some odd ball things people told you as a kid.

How to Reverse being Taught Fear:

Thank you to my fiance's coworker for this beautifully put way of teaching yourself, a baby, or child not to be afraid. Instead of insisting harm, pain, or fear.. insist of just being safe. Example: Showing a child a rose, and telling them to not touch or be careful with the stem to be safe, not that it will make them bleed and hurt. (From my Paul Mitchell Business Days: Also Don't is a magic word that means it will happen... If you tell a kid don't spill the cup 8/10 that is what will happen. But allowing the child, person, baby a choice by saying 'try not to spill the cup" 9/10 it will not. Because the person was gently place conscious of the object and the outcome.)
Really sit and think about anything that triggers fear, or anxiety. Is it sabotaging your potential? Your power? Your experience? I am willing to bet you it is. You really have to cut the fat, and be raw with yourself.
Picture yourself triumphing over this fear. If you live your life unafraid, there is a sense of freedom that is amazing. Adopt an unafraid attitude of "it" and you are one step closer to being unafraid of it.
Confront it. You're afraid of spiders? Well, save its life instead of stomping it. Catch it in a cup and save it from your fear so it can live to see another day. You're afraid of rejection? Realize your self worth as best as you can, its okay to have an ego about stuff, it is healing. If you are rejected, realize it is them not you, and move on. You afraid of zombies? Watch something that plays fun at them. Shaun of the Dead. You can get clever. I'm afraid of being on a sinking ship. I watch videos of it happening to 3d models to cease my anxiety.)
Baby steps if it is something deep rooted. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Laugh.
Be an example. If you feel it is wrong to kill pitbulls for just being a scary looking animal with a bad rep, then stand up for them. If it is dark, show confidence so the little ones will feel safe. Take a hike off the beaten path, you might find something majestic. (Like that scene in Airbud when they find the friggin hidden BEACH.)

Loralei, what the HELL does this have to do with Magick?

Be a Wild & Confident Witch

Alright, so this is a topic that really needs to be brought up. If you want to become a better caster, if you want to be powerful, it all starts with you. You don't get a luscious garden planting just one seed in a pile of trash. You have to have a clean foundation, enriched with nutrients, elements to strengthen and grow, and multiple seeds. There are always ways of improving ourselves.

It will certainly reflect in your magick, since you are the source.

+1, share, and Subscribe. this is knowledge that can benefit anyone.You have a human right to not be afraid, and to feel safe.

What fear's ass are you kicking TODAY?

Any questions, or chatting. Hit me up on Kik: theurbanwitch. I will reply to you promptly.

Stay Witchy,

Loralei x

P.S. OMGERSH HALLOWEEN IS COMING! Anyone have their costume picked out?

Oh October, how I always anticipate your brilliant moon.

On October 8th, 2014 at 6:30ish AM EST The Blood Moon will have risen to full power. In my experience, since the veil is very thin, I personally find this moon energy the most potent and easiest to harness. There is also another treat, at 5:15am.. The moon will Eclipse. (Lunar.)

Want to learn how to make a powerful charging agent that you can reuse for the year? I'm going to show you how.

Moon water is clean water that sits in a dish (Preferably silver) underneath the light of a full moon, and then removed before the sun breaks the night into dawn.

Moon water is used to anoint magickal items, crystals, people, to charge items or crystals, or to invoke a powerful meditation.

How to Make Moon Water

Items you will need:

A sealable bottle of dark glass or a bottle that will be covered by a dark cloth.
Naturally sourced water (Rain, Lake, Ocean, etc.) or Filtered Water
Moon herbs and oils (Jasmine, Sandalwood, Cucumber, Lavender, etc.)
Moon, psychic enhancing, or receptive crystals. (Moonstone, Quartz, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli, Holy Stone, Sodalite, etc. Make sure they will not dissolve)
A bowl big enough to fit water, herb, oil, and crystal.

1.) If you have to use filtered water, treat it with kindness. Water is an element that remembers, therefore needs to be purged of its rough handling of pipes, bottles, or shipment. If you have a Brita, filter the water three times... Or boil and cool the water for three minutes.

2.) Herbs and/or a few drops of oils. (If using herbs, I suggest placing them in a tea ball or tea bag. )

3.) Place your crystal companions in the water gently, and escort them to the Moon.

4.) Placing in direct moonlight, the water will absorb and charge, along with the crystals. You may proceed with your Moonlit rituals, or cast the chant listed below.. but Warning, if daybreak lights the sky regardless of the presence of the sun.. the magick will be gone.

Notes:

Do not drink Moon Water.
You can continue each moon to use this to charge your crystals each full moon (Granted you use only oils or the tea bag method, or the herbs will rot.) The more moons, the more potent. Your receptive, psychic, water, moon crystals will certainly appreciate the bath, trust me.
You can use this in your rituals or crafts as an extra charge to your magickal workings during the night.
This water CANNOT see the light of day, so deep wrapped in cloth or kept in a dark cool place to keep the enchanting intact.

Enchanting:

Everyone has there own way of invoking power and placing it on an item. This is how I personally do this, and it works for me. Maybe it can work for you.

Standing in the presence of the moon, calm your mind. Try and remove all distractions. Feel the buzz and warm, yet cool energy of the world around you.

If you are right handed, hold up left palm to the moon. Really feel her. (Reverse if you are left handed.)

In right hand point, use wand, or athame at the moon once you feel you have a good connection. (This is subjective, Don't think. If you feel a sensation... You have it, trust yourself. Everyone feels her differently.)

This is where I personally visualize. I picture a white, fire, windy, shimmery, tornado (I know, what? Lol.) drawing from moon, being drawn by your palm, pulled if you would. The funnel of this tornado being directed into the water of your bowl of herb, oil, crystal, and water. Here, you can visual the empowering, enchanting the water and other items saturating the liquid.

You can also repeat silently, or out loud this chant. Go softly, then louder, then soft when you feel you are finished.

"Of moon, to water, Of water to moon. Invoke the power, Magic attune."

Happy Full Moon, and happy enchanting.

Stay witchy!

Loralei x

Eye of Newt Witchery Review is Finally here!

(My many pardons for the late delivery of this well anticipated post. End of the month crunch.)

Autumn Blessings! As September comes to a close, I was fortunate to come across a new friend. The wonderful Raven Shadowhawk of the Eye of Newt Witchery. After long chats, with a lot in common, We did a trade. So thank you Raven for allowing me the opportunity to bring this review to my subscribers. You all can like his page here and follow his pagan music channel where he sings beautiful hymns here.

I was not knowing what to expect when I received a white box at my door this past Saturday. But the energy was enough to completely wake me from my fatigue.

I opened the box to the goodies I show you above.

With witchy glee I shared my loot with my husband, daughter, and our lovely little kitty. (Who loves the box, btw. ;) )

So lets get to the review!

The first item I grabbed was this majestic little beauty. The limited edition Autumn Blessing Spell Bottle. Unwrapping left me in a sense of bliss. The smell of pumpkin spices, vanillas, woods, perfumed the air as I found this adorable charmed spell bottle.

The oak leaf charm is super sturdy. And can be worn as a necklace, or fastened to a medicine bag. But for now, in the power spot of my apartment it is enchanting the air as autumn is coming into full effect.

This item was crafted and enchanted by Raven Shadowhawk himself, with a blend of herbs for prosperity, luck, and I sensing .. coziness. Holding it makes you absolutely warm. Like sitting in kitchen with a hot cup of cider as your Nana is baking pie kind of cozy. I won't get into details with what I can see in the bottle floating about... but it is in fact VERY lucky. You'll have to find out yourself. The scroll is the handwritten spell, that Raven spoke into the bottle before he sealed. it.

Oh boy. I was almost on my feet when I unwrapped this High John Root Oil.

This smells very good. High John Root is said to be pungent in the energy of High John the conqueror. And yes, that floating at the bottom of the vial is an actually chunk of the root. High John had a willpower that was legendary. He was definitely used his wit to get things to work for him, so I will probably use this oil to anoint crystals to help motivate me to get along with my day productively. I will have to catch my husband when he isn't reading to ask him what he felt, as he volunteered himself immediately to anoint himself with the oil. Might have to check my twitter for that update, as well as my own.

HOW CUTE ARE THESE?! I'm totally obsessed. Mini spell bottles. I received a vial of Love and the vial of Prosperity. This as tiny. But PACKED with herbs. I've been utilizing the Prosperity one for the last few days, and the earthy energy that grounds my jitters is very much needed. I totally miss herbwork, and these are a perfect way to incorporate them into your life. Probably the favorite thing I received.

Yep. Moon Goddess. This wasn't out the box before my husband jumped the opportunity to burn one of these babies. This isn't available in shop, but I feel blessed to have experience this. This was burning for the rest of the package I opened. Oh man, the energy totally shifted. These aren't $1.00 incense you get from Walmart, kids. Totally potent magically. Burning this CERTAINLY vibrated the room. I felt a buzzing. If you have ever "Drawn Down the Moon." before. It's like a mild version of that. The smell is powdery, floral, and mildly sweet.

Another incense that is not available online, but this was the last one! After getting to know me, and my relations to the entity of Persephone, this was my surprise. This is enchanting. This smells like magic. It smells like ancient, olde world, Salem magick shop. If you ever loved the smell of a lot of New Age shop, this perfumed my house with that smell and feel. It is envoking. It really engaged the elementals that live amongst the plants of my home. We all enjoyed this. Even my cat. I love this, so much.

We also received two velvet pouches of beautiful raw and tumbled stones. My husband, whom is an avid Earth Keeper, flipped bananas. We received more then pictured, but alas the stone bandit of Ken has hurried off with them. You don't often see raw Apache tear, but i have been carrying it, and it has really remarkable. That little guy has been helping me ground a lot of anxiety and grief I've been experiencing lately. Ken adores the bloodstone, being one the most unique tumbled bloodstones we've seen.

The last thing I opened was this soy candle he created. "Fall Harvest" This is awesome, and I haven't burnt it yet. I'm waiting for a special occasion. The wax is very creamy. It smells like fall in a jar, mixed with candy corn and bubble gum. Very sweet but that fall spicy fall scent.

Overall I am happy with the magic I received from Raven. The incense of fantastic quality. Everything has a lot of time of effort in them, and you can feel the difference. Some potent stuff here.

Eye of Newt Witchery's Etsy.

But if you've booked a flight onto Urban Witch this New Moon.. You might have already known that.

Tat Tvam Asi? .. (What the hell does that even mean? ) We'll get to that later.

So.

Loralei Taveras. A damn good person, but considered a harlot of community. Holds the record for most cheesecake eaten in a single hour, member of Green Peace, the woman whom controls the black market on spleens, and active member of the "What a minute bitch" foundation. Flies around the pine barrens on a broomstick, and stands on city block corners with rose scented candle lanterns.

HOLD UP, wut? ... I'm kidding. Only some of that is true. (You'll have to find out.)

Who am I? I am you.

Let's cut the fat.

I am a Witch. An enchanting, charming, eclectic, outspoken, loud, sometimes grumpy, spazzy Witch... But a witch no less.

I wanted to create this blog because I felt like I could be the lemon zest to the sugar water that is the Lemonade of Magic blogging. I'm unbound, and quite wild.. So I thought I could be a different flavor to choose from.

This is me stripped from the plastic and raw, I spend a lot of my time in analytical reverie and therefore my attention span is very short. So in hindsight, I take a deep interest in anything extreme.

I am one small person, but I am apart of a massive universe and it took me along time and a lot of lessons to find my place in it. To take my power back. I believe I posses some unique quirks, but this isn't an ego tripping blog. I actually dislike the common human trait of needing to feel different. I don't think a person's worth is measured by their weight in popularity, prettiness, how many things they know, how long they've been doing something, etc... and this all in the name of being "individual." People lose their power by being SO caught up in being "original" That they completely lose sight of who or what they really are.

The human ego can sometimes be astonishing. We feel the need to control and manipulate everything to make ourselves feel cozy because if one damn thing goes the way we didn't want to... we've been taught in society to feel like it has all gone to shit. That's absolutely damaging. And even I am coming to terms with those feelings. (You don't have to apologize for feeling them either, or any emotion for that matter.) When really, maybe we should just feel glad we get to experience this, learn the lesson.

Because when it comes down to it, though we can try and try to dominate every aspect of our lives... that takes the magic out of your experience. If a movie ran so perfectly, wouldn't you be bored without some plot device? A Climax? Intensity? Dare I say.. chaos? Be an arbiter of your own destiny.

Writing and committing to a blog of this taste is not always easy. I don't think just anyone can do it at anytime, but I really have felt a strong pull to do this in the last two weeks.

When I was a little girl, I was mesmerized by fairy tales. There was a freedom that I felt like was just beyond reach. I was very young when I realized some are born free, wild.. others have to fight for it.

So as I conjured up a vivid imagination in the shadow of expectation, I kept an open mind and a open heart to what the Universe was going to bring me. I kind of knew.. I would receive what I wanted.

I was born in Ireland, and I was taken to New Jersey as a baby. I was fortunate that the isle stayed fresh in my Mom and Aunt's mind as they told me stories and tales. My Mom would randomly say she was psychic. And honestly, she is one of the most intuitive people I know. (Life made her that way.) So with these terms, I was so intrigued!

Hell, I admit... being a little kid in the 90s was fun. A lot of the movies and stuff I was interested in became an aspect of who I am today. I had The Wickerman, The Craft, Teen Witch, Sabrina... But the one that stood out to me was Practical Magic. Those two young ladies, especially the one that played a young Sandra Bullock... resonated with my soul. Everything she did, I was already doing. So much so that babysitter had a chuckle.

When I was preteen I finally started to get access to magick. I would hurry to book stores in the malls... and eventually save up and buy books. I was rushing way to hard, too soon. And I made many many mistakes. But I taught myself to call them 'discoveries,' now.

I took a back seat and kept diving with tarot cards. And randomly the Universe provided me knowledge and mentors.

I educated myself. Found myself more then once. Learned a ton, traveled a bit. But it didn't matter where my life bended... from when I was a tow-truck driver... to being an established makeup artist.. my life ALWAYS returned and had a way to remind me that my Home will forever be in the esoteric. (Oh hey spider. How about that. Confirmation. ^_~ )

Spells, charms, brews, potions, divining, channeling, casting, conjuring, astrology... A lot. Just... a lot.

How to cast a spell

How to use crystals

How to make Eggplant burgers ...lol I like to get into the kitchen and mess around.

And here I am to share! :D

I met my husband, Kenneth, on cold October night. He being a magician himself, enriched me. We were blessed with a baby last February. Her name is Kiandra Aerilyn (Magic Water/ Ancient One, Beautiful Air.) And live in a wonderful, cozy apartment in the city of Philadelphia.

My husband gave me a task to share.

Name three places I found the most.. 'magickal' and name the three people that are basically outside sources that kept this interest alive in me.

1.) Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ. Hands down the most potent place for my soul. Quartz pebble beach amplifies everything in this peak. The only stores on this is a crystal shop, a gift shop that will keep me busy for days, and a Mom and Pop restaurant. One of my Grand wishes is to buy one of the Victorian manors and have a witchy bed and breakfast. Oh yeah.

2.) Fort Mott's Walking Trail Marker #10, Pennsville, NJ.

Energy vortex. The power invoked there is nothing like I have ever experienced before, and local practitioners there will tell you. If you'd like to hear my weird encounter with like... 200 and some crows there.. Let me know in the comments. I'll even see if I can fish the video out my phone.

3.) This was a toughy, because the other two were no brainers. And I realized I had to travel more. But in New Hope.. Well all of New Hope is absolutely other worldly but..There is this shop: Mystikal Tymes, but this shop takes the cake when it comes to energy. Picture is from Witchs Cat Blog.

Now for people/entities that have been keeping the fire alive for me.

1.) Anubis. Hands down. Read a story about a woman and Bast and he was in the book. I was really young. I needed to know everything about him.

2.) Owens Woman. #PracticalMagic. I'm not going to lie to you. But in my teen years, when I didn't think anything made sense, this did.

3.) Persephone. And that's a blog for another day.

So Tat Tvam Asi. It means.. "You are that" in ancient text. I am you. You are me. If anything you read tonight during this blissful New Moon resonated or rose a feeling out of you... That's you. I'm just a mirror in your reality, right? You brought YOURSELF here.

Disclaimer: I claim the name Witch, proudly, as a magick practitioner. But I am not of any religion. I have never been apart of a coven or any clubs... but I haven't been solitary either. I am open-minded to all concepts across the board. When people ask me, I usually say I'm a Universalist. Because everything has truth somewhere in it. Everything. My views are my own, and not meant to sway your own beliefs.

So my question for you.

Give me three places I need to check out that you thought were the most magickal, and three entities. Hell it could be a god, goddess, Simpson, Batman, Lassie...(lol)... Anyone! Let me know in the comments. Let me know why.

Happy New Moon, this is a new beginning for both of us.

Thankyou.

Stay witchy,

Loralei x.