Hello, Monday! ~ It’s Promote a Book Day (and time to set the record straight, again)

Today, it’s all about… The Spiritual Feminist

This book is available @ Amazon
in Print or Kindle
The Spiritual Feminist helps today’s woman reconnect to The Mother Goddess, through a wide variety of pantheons and cultures from around the world, from the author’s personal experiences, and from the magick inherent in our ancient connection to the Wise-Woman ~ Women…you will be touched, you will be inspired, you will be re-empowered, you will find healing and a sense of spirituality like nothing you’ve ever experienced. You will reconnect with the Goddess in so many magickal ways, and you will connect with the Goddess in YOU!

“So many people throughout my life have told me who I am, what I must do, what I can’t do, what I have to complete, and what I will never be able to accomplish, and then I met the Goddess.” (From The Spiritual Feminist)… The Spiritual Feminist empowers today’s modern woman through the Goddess, connecting her to ancient matriarchal divinity and spiritual practices which invoke this energy. It embraces the essence of womanhood in its entirety, through mental, physical, and spiritual affirmations, connecting personal energy and lives through the four elements–Earth, Air, Water, & Fire, with affirmations and invocations.

And now, let’s address a couple of the reviews for anyone who doesn’t get it…

  • I love the maiden mother and crone and it works well for me however it leaves out a huge group of people (unable to bear children, lesbians and transgender communities) I with there were an alternate group for them sets of people so they didn’t feel left out as they are also people…

The aspect of the goddess as mother (or maiden & crone for that matter) is not a literal interpretation, and I’m always stunned that people view it so literally and in such a human physical way.  When we refer to the goddess as mother, we are talking about Divine Energy here, not a physical female form.

So, when you refer to the goddess as “mother”, you are not referring to human females who have given birth, or the idea of birth at all.  You are referring to a loving, nurturing energy and our ability to harness this energy and gift it to others.

It’s that simple.

  • I thought this was going to be a book about spiritual feminism.

It is. If honoring and acknowledging the Feminine Divine in a world of mostly patriarchal spiritual practices is not a form of spiritual feminism, I don’t know what is. If it’s something more dramatic, more attune with mundane and worldly feminism, like bra-burning, marching to protest for equal and fair wages, or donning a corporate suit while balancing home and family, you’re not going to find that here. That’s not what this book is about. Those things may embrace a form of feminism, but they are not spiritual feminism.

With that said, I don’t think that everyone who’s read, or reviewed, this book truly understands just what spiritual feminism really is…

Case in point:

Feminist spirituality is a grassroots religious movement inside and outside established religions that reclaims the power, value, and dignity of women. It is a commitment to bringing about in oneself and in the world an alternative vision of justice and equality for all. It focuses on women’s heritages, women’s body as the locus of the divine, and women’s work of replacing patriarchal, hierarchal societies with equality for all. This empowering spiritual quest starts with women’s search for meaning rooted in women’s experiences. It is Earth-centered and embodied and oriented toward global justice. Feminist spirituality stands at the heart of human transformation, challenging accepted ways of knowing and being. It includes feminist knowledge, rites, religious practices, prayers, and beliefs.

The term “feminist spirituality” emerged during the second wave of the modern feminist movement in the United States in the 1970s. Feminists charged that Judaism and Christianity were sexist religions with a male God and male leadership that legitimized the superiority of men in family, religion, and society. They began to examine traditional arguments for female subordination, deploring the exclusion of women from the ministry, and rejecting teachings that denied women’s selfhood. Some gathered in consciousness raising groups to voice their own experience, critique patriarchal culture, and work to transform it. Some recovered a Goddess-centered religion that grounded women in a sacred, embodied self….

Although feminists hold a variety of beliefs about feminist spirituality, there is agreement about empowerment (healing) for women as the goal and reward, ritual as a tool of empowerment and a means of communication with the sacred, and nature as sacred.

Source:
Encyclopedia.com

Book Trailer

A Book Review
of The Spiritual Feminist

at The Bad Witch’s Blog



To see this complete blog post, including all of the photos included in this original post, click HERE



The back cover blurb [excerpt]:
Cover Art:  The Apple Heart,inspired by the Adam & Eve myth, was created by Nebraska artist Anne Turrell Thome. It’s part of her “Broken Hearts” collection…

The Spiritual Feminist @Amazon

Back cover photo:
Amythyst Raine ~ Spiritual Feminist

Spiritual Feminism ~ What’s it all about?

What’s it all about?… It’s about embracing the feminine divine.  It’s about matriarchal divinity and the mysteries revealed.  It’s about connecting with the feminine aspect of Spirit.  It’s about connecting with 45 goddesses from around the world!  — Cultural Appropriation… Bring it on!  I’m an American; I’m a blend of numerous cultures and peoples with every generational step back I take… from parents, to grandparents, to great-grandparents, great-great grandparents, and beyond.  It’s all about learning how to incorporate Spirit into our lives; it’s about learning to love ourselves and feed our egos with healthy affirmations.  It’s about self-empowerment; it’s about learning to empower and support each other!

Listen to the following radio interview for an in-depth discussion on these topics and more!

//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=313501&episodeId=8010665

You’ll find all of this and more in my book,

The Spiritual Feminist

CLICK  HERE

 

Amazon Ranking!

My book The Spiritual Feminist is ranked #170 in the Goddess category at Amazon right now… Not too shabby! Woot!

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Feminist-Amythyst-Raine-Hatayama/dp/1782799699/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

I stumbled upon this information by accident today when I was updating my FB pages.  The numbers at Amazon are in a constant state of flux and change, so I don’t really keep track of this information intentionally, but I might pay closer attention now.  This book has its own Facebook page (as all of my books do):  https://www.facebook.com/thespiritualfeminist?ref=hl

“So many people throughout my life have told me who I am, what I must do, what I can’t do, what I have to complete, and what I will never be able to accomplish, and then I met the Goddess.” (From The Spiritual Feminist) …The Spiritual Feminist empowers today’s modern woman through the Goddess, connecting her to ancient matriarchal divinity and spiritual practices which invoke this energy.

 

A Woman’s Path to The Goddess

“So many people throughout my life have told me who I am, what I must do, what I can’t do, what I have to complete, and what I will never be able to accomplish…and then I met the Goddess.”

~ Amythyst Raine

This book can be found @ MOON BOOKS ~ http://www.moon-books.net/books/spiritual-feminist ;

AMAZON ~ https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Feminist-Amythyst-Raine-Hatayama/dp/1782799699/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472387298&sr=1-4&keywords=amythyst+raine ;

BARNES & NOBLE ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spiritual-feminist-amythyst-raine-hatayama/1121063544 ; or any fine bookstore near you.

Psychic Oil ~ What is it? How do I use it? How do I make it?

Hello, from Hedgewytch Hollow! I’m tucked in bed this morning with my computer and a fresh cup of morning coffee (my first one, actually).  My ipod is singing to me in the background (an Indian/Yoga/Relaxation chant), and if I remember, I’ll tuck it at the bottom of this blog post so you can listen to it, too.  I have tons of stuff to do on this holiday weekend.  Where, in earlier years, I would spend weeks preparing for this end-of-the-year holiday, I’m going to do it all in ONE day this time– today!  But my kids are thrilled that we are ALL off work and home at the same time, so I’m going to chill, and we’re going to “wing it”.  This is going to be a warm and fuzzy huggy weekend; I can see it coming. 🙂

Anyway, on to the business at hand– Psychic Oil!

First, all about oils…the following opening paragraphs are an introduction to the section on oils in my book, The Spiritual Feminist.  (There’s lots more in this book, very goddess-centered, but the back of the book is actually a grimoire, and this was the source for info on Psychic Oil…You might want to purchase your very own copy.  Just click on the title and you will be magickally transported to my Amazon Author Page.  Know that you can also purchase my books at Barnes & Noble, or any fine bookstore near you.)

Book Cover-- The Spiritual Feminist

Magickal Oils

I’m going to include in this section my own personal recipes for the following magickal oils right out of my very own Book of Shadows, or “De’ Big Black Book”, as I like to call it.  The ingredients are mostly mundane plants, herbs, spices and such that you probably already have on hand in your kitchen cupboards; but don’t be thrown by a more exotic ingredient.  You can usually pick up an unusual herb or item at any local new-age pagan shop.  And if you aren’t lucky enough to live near a magickal shop, you can try finding such items online.

The base for these oils:  There are a lot of people who insist on using the most expensive oils they can find, but the truth is that this doesn’t matter, not really; and if pinching pennies is a must, then go with a cheap bottle of all vegetable oil from the grocery store.  If you choose, you may use olive oil, or mineral oil, or almond oil, or grape seed oil, or even some other oil that you feel a special affinity towards.  In my world, pinching pennies is a necessity, so I opt for the cheap stuff, and it works with absolute gusto, I can assure you.

The herbs:  I’d like to say that when I create my magickal oils, I include the very special power of “3”.  I use at least three types of herbs in each of my oils.  You don’t need anymore than that, really.  Of course, if you want to include herbs not only for your magickal intention, but also an herb for the planets, I would add three more herbs to the oil for a total of six.  If you choose to include corresponding herbs to the Element you’re working with, then add three more for a total of nine…the ultimate magickal number (By the awful awesome Power of 3X3, so the incantation goes).  But remember, this oil is your creation, go with the flow, follow your instincts, don’t be afraid to create your own unique magickal oil…Let the Spirit move you.

Some people follow the practice of heating their oils and ingredients just until you catch the scent in order to raise the vibrational energy of the magickal potion, right before adding it to a glass bottle, sort of like giving it a “jump start”.  Other people simply add the oil and ingredients to a bottle and cap it off.  I’ve done both.  To tell you the truth, I’ve noticed no magickal difference; however, if you believe that this extra step will also imbue your magickal oil with extra strength or direction, then by all means go for it. Experiment with the process and see if you notice any difference for yourself.  One last thought…some practitioners will sit their oils out to bathe in the moonlight, or the sunlight, depending upon the energies they’re trying to catch.  Keep this in mind.

Can you simply go out and buy these magickal oils already made?  Yes, you can actually, but I suggest that you learn to make them for yourself.  There is no doubt that the personal energy you put into crafting such items adds to their potency, their power, and their effectiveness.  All the experience and expertise in the world can’t give a love potion as much “oomph” as the creator’s own steaming hot lust.  Remember, witchcraft is all about energy and the successful manipulation of energy to achieve your desires.  The more personal energy you add to your own spells, the more powerful you will be, and the more successful are your magickal endeavors.

Psychic Oil

Most people think that psychic abilities come naturally and just kick in with no warning, much like they see in the movies and on tv.  And this might be true for a few super gifted individuals in the world, but for the rest of us, who may have spent a lifetime ignoring that little voice in our head, we have to give ourselves a little extra magickal oomph to pick up this information. The average individual does not get two to three minute flashes (in Full Technicolor, no less) of intuitive information.  In actuality, it can be extremely subtle and extremely easy to overlook with all the “brain chatter” that we have going on.   Psychic Oil is simply meant to help us focus much needed energy on this aspect of ourselves, on our efforts to see what most people never will, on our ability to hear that barely perceptible murmur.  Once you’ve used and strengthened your psychic muscle, you’ll find that you’ll need this tool less and less.

Anoint your third eye chakra with this oil before doing divination of any kind.  Anoint your pendulum, rune stones, divining rod, or any other divination tool that you’re using.  If it happens to be tarot cards, or some other card deck, don’t damage your cards with the oil, but add a touch of the oil to the bag or box where you keep your cards.  Anoint and burn a lavender candle dressed with psychic oil to call up and strengthen your psychic powers.

Correspondences & Ingredients
Day: Monday (the Moon)
Candle Color: lavender (preferred color), blue (the Moon)
Moon Phase:  waxing, or the dark Moon (connected to divination)
The Base: olive oil, vegetable oil, or grape seed oil
The Herbs: for divination– strawberry, thyme, valerian, vanilla, yarrow (arrow root); for prophetic dreams– jasmine, marigold, mugwort, onion, rose; to strengthen psychic powers– bay, celery, cinnamon, eyebright, grass, lemongrass, lavender, marigold, mugwort, rose, anise, thyme, yarrow (arrow root); to increase psychic awareness– anise, bay, cinnamon, cloves, gardenia, lemon grass, lilac, marigold, nutmeg, rose, anise, thyme, yarrow (arrow root); for astral projection– dittany of Crete, cinnamon, jasmine, sandalwood

My Recipe
3 pinches of lavender,
3 pinches of rosemary,
3 marigold blossoms

c96c1-6
Did you know…I sell magickal oils at my website, The Witch’s Corner, just click on the link and you will be magickally transported to my world, where you’ll find a list of oils available, as well as some videos on the subject.  Be sure to explore this website, there’s lots to see and read…The Witch’s Corner is a project always in progress.  There’s a very large purple menu right under the banner at the top of every page.  Have fun.

Amythyst 20
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And I remembered!  Here’s the background music I was working to during the preparation of this blog post…enjoy!

The Witch’s Corner ~ A Woman’s Life in Decades (video podcast)

Be sure to Like, Subscribe, & Share…this is greatly appreciated and makes me very happy.

Book Review for The Spiritual Feminist coming up in SAGE WOMAN

A new review for my book, “The Spiritual Feminist”, will be coming up in the next edition of SAGE WOMAN.

Order your copy today:

click  Here

SageWoman #89 Roots and Wings (pre-order) - Click Image to Close

“The Spiritual Feminist”
click  Here

Book Cover-- The Spiritual Feminist

A Woman’s Magickal Milestones ~ Birthdays

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Birthdays

Another year passes.  With the first birthdays, in the Maiden stage, each one becomes a celebratory milestone, but after a woman reaches 30 in our culture, we begin to associate a feeling of trepidation with the passing of another year. Why?  What’s not to celebrate?  Forget that our society foolishly worships youth and suffers from a chronic case of Peter Pan Syndrome; instead, celebrate, be joyful, embrace each year, embrace each change within yourself.  You are not aging, you are growing.  This is the difference, this is what our culture, our society, doesn’t see, or tries to deny.  With time women grow wiser, more assertive, more complete within themselves.  They Bloom!

Grow, Sweet Woman, grow in time, grow in wisdom, grow in laughter, grow in strength, grow in love, grow in power, grow in creativity, grow in magick.

Excel
Succeed
Experience
Enjoy

The 10th Year
The Threshold:  Childhood…Maidenhood
I still have one foot in the world of my childhood, but I can see through the open threshold before me.  The view is hazy yet.  It’s still so early, and I am still so young.  I see a shadow of the woman I will become.

The 20th Year
The Threshold:  Adolcescence…Adulthood
I’m taking baby steps, trying out my adult legs, finding my center.  Which direction will I go?  Where will I establish my roots?…roots of career and relationships.  The foundation I build now will determine the stability of my future.  Is it really all just a roll of the dice, or does destiny lay in my young and inexperienced hands?

The 30th Year
The Threshold:  Maidenhood…Motherhood
I step through a doorway to find myself standing in the mad rush of Life.  I am careening along at full speed, swerving to avoid potholes, watching the clock, knowing that I have a destination and a dead line to meet, knowing I have an appointment with Responsibility.

The 40th Year
The Threshold:  Motherhood…Middleage
I’m at a crossroads, no longer young, but not yet old.  The world around me appears to lose focus as boundaries and expectations are blurred.  What once was perfectly clear is now laced with questions.  The Universe is giving me a choice.  I watch in alarmed fascination as new paths open before me, each yellow brick road beckoning me,  “Come this way!”

The 50th Year
The Threshold:  Middleage…The Crone
I suddenly realize who I am, I mean the “me” that I must have lost along the way.  I suddenly realize that the only opinion that counts is my own.  I suddenly realize who my friends are and who they aren’t.  I suddenly realize that I am not afraid to face the world alone.  I suddenly realize that I have reached a plateau enabling me to scrutinize my past and glimpse my future.  I suddenly realize…I have arrived.

The 60th Year
The Threshold:  The Crone…The Golden Age
I’m at a crossroads, no longer middle-aged, but not yet old, not really, I say with defiance.  My body speaks to me now, still proud of its strength, its endurance.  My body speaks to me with relish, embracing the last blazing autumn of life.

The 70th Year
The Threshold:  The Golden Age…Old Age
I will reap what I have sown, whether this be children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or the golden glow of accomplishments.  I will stop to smell the roses.  I will stop to watch the sunset.  I will stop to pet a dog, or hold a cat.  I will stop to speak to an old friend.  I will stop to say, “I love you.”; “Hello”; “Good-by”; and “I’m sorry.”

The 80th Year
The Threshold:  The Crone Glorified
I am elevated.  From this vantage point I stand in the stillness of dawn.  I stand in the midst of gentle rain on black earth.  I stand in the warmth of a loved one’s hand on my arm.  I stand, not in the shadow of The Crone, but shoulder to shoulder with her.  I am one with the goddess.

The 90th Year
The Threshold:  Rebirth
I look at the world and see it as hazy images in a crystal ball.  The images are people I’ve loved, places I’ve been, things I’ve done.  And as I stare at the images within this universal sphere, I can see that they are fading, getting dimmer, and soon they will disappear.  I know that as these images and this world are fading.  I know there is another beautiful glorious crystal ball, and within it I can see the sunrise bursting over the horizon, lighting the way for a new journey…in the next Life.

inspirational 3

This blog post is an excerpt from my book,

The Spiritual Feminist

To order your copy, follow this link:
click  Here

1e14c-book2bcover-2bthe2bspiritual2bfeminist

For more Goddess energy and information, visit my website at:

http://www.ladyamythyst.com/thegoddess.htm

_________________________

the photos are courtesy of Pinterest

A Woman’s Life Transitions

Maiden

I suddenly come alive within my body in wonder and acknowledgment of it’s miracle.  I feel it as I am, it is, I am…I am…I am, I keep telling myself in amazement.  I’m here, on the inside, looking out, listening, learning, watching, absorbing.  No one knows this, the people around me seem unaware of it, the world seems unaware of it, but it’s true.  I wave my hands wildly, my spirit trying desperately to be acknowledged, to be recognized.  I’m like a sponge ready to absorb all that life has to offer me, all that I can grasp with eager hands, an eager soul, an eager body, an eager mind.  What will I feel?  What will I learn?  How will I grow?  How do I begin this journey in earnest, really, how do I push off and begin to move forward?   And how will I know when I’ve reached my destination?
____________________

Color for the Maiden:  white
Moon Phase:  waxing
Her Influence:  new beginnings

6

Mother

They all turn to me– the children, the husband, the community, the world.  I am the center of the wheel.  The universe is spinning around me as I create, build, grow, come alive with new ideas, and immerse myself in new projects.  The spokes of the wheel come to me, racing through space and time from all directions, and me solitary and still at the center, taking the blows of life full-force.  I am in the middle of life, going at a hundred miles an hour, watching the world around me race by in a blur of color and shapes.  This is my time, my time to succeed, my time to taste the glory of life, my time to fill all the empty spaces.  I feel that all the world, all the wild things in it, all the green things in it, are growing from something within the center of me.  I was, I am, I will be.  How can I keep from being absorbed by all the frenetic scattered energy and activity around me?  How can I maintain my own identity without losing it amongst the myriad roles that I play in this life?
____________________

Color for the Mother:  red
Moon Phase:  full
Her Influence:  ongoing projects, birth

6

Crone

Sometimes I’m tired, tired of the physical struggles of life.  I’m tired of cleaning this house, I’m tired of trying to pull everything together for everyone around me.  I’m tired of carrying life’s responsibilities on my shoulders for so long, through so much, through good times and through crises.  I’m tired; I’m old and I’m tired.  I would just like to sit in a chair, beneath a tree, with my hand on a cat and listen…listen to the wind in the leaves, listen to the earth beneath my feet, listen to the cat beneath my hand, listen to the birds and voice of nature.  I want to be still, if even for a moment, and listen to the whisper in my ear, the voice of the goddess.  She’s calling to me now, her voice laced with a sense of urgency.  She’s waiting for my answer.  Have I learned enough?  Have I done enough?  Have I finished my tasks?  What is left to do?
____________________

Color for the Crone:  black
Moon Phase:  waning
Her Influence:  death and rebirth

6

This blog post is an excerpt from my book,

The Spiritual Feminist

To order your copy, follow this link:
click  Here

1e14c-book2bcover-2bthe2bspiritual2bfeminist

For more Goddess energy and information, visit my website at:

http://www.ladyamythyst.com/thegoddess.htm

Drunk with the Virgin Mary

This is the PREFACE to my book, “The Spiritual Feminist”.   Do you have your copy?  What!? No?…Click on the link in this paragraph and order your copy today.  (You’re welcome.)

Preface

The only appealing part of Catholicism for me was the Virgin Mary. I know now that this was a natural attraction to the Goddess, the Divine Feminine. It was also a protective mechanism, a flinching away from the hard and fast patriarchal control and power of the male priests around me and their insistence on keeping all things feminine in what they thought of as a proper perspective, i.e. in it’s place according to their doctrine. Looking back, I can see that the nuns were also inexplicably and totally transfixed by this iconic female figure, though I don’t think they totally understood their own fixation. They spent a great deal of time emphasizing and re-emphasizing the fact that the father, son, and holy ghost were “divine”, but Mary was not.

Poor Mary, a humble human, impregnated out of wedlock, married off to Joseph, a gallant man praised for his merciful attitude to take on this mess in order to help out a woman who would be stoned to death for her condition, were it to become public knowledge. Poor Mary… “Big wheels keep on turnin’; Proud Mary keep on burnin’…”1

The father of her unborn illegitimate child was revered to the world as the God of all creation, inspired and egged-on by his androgynous sidekick, the holy ghost; and together they conspire to keep Mary right where they want her, at the bottom of the spiritual totem pole, a useful vessel, a walking womb, an attractive and appealing incubator, and a publicist’s dream.

In the end, they underestimated the power and strength of feminine spirituality; they underestimated the ingrained ancestral instinct to embrace matriarchal divinity. At the end of the day, the spiritual icon left to walk the red carpet is a little Jewish woman with her own set of prayer beads and a kick ass attitude.

Baby, the Goddess is back.

17

_______________

1This quote is words from the song “Proud Mary”, by Tina Turner.

The Witch’s Desk: Celebrate October! ~ Full Moon & Samhain

Samhain

(October 31)

The goddess is old and wizened. She’s settling into this stage of her persona to reap the benefit of all that she has experienced, all that has transpired on her journey to this point. She’s preparing for the dark months, gathering her harvest about her, both for her physical survival and her emotional revival, using this time to rest, to gather energy for the future and the light that she knows will return. On this phase of her journey she can afford to sit back in quiet reflection, to shed those things in her life that have become a burden, and to look forward to the end of her journey, or rather, the beginning of the next.

Samhain (pronounced ‘Sou-wen’) is a celebration that has a more somber side than the revelry of modern Halloween. It is a day of remembrance of your ancestors and for those family members who have passed over. Pagan families may set an extra place at the supper table on this evening, to honor those loved ones who are no longer with them. The veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest on this eve, and this night is an excellent time to perform divination, or to try and connect with those spirits from the other side.

My Celebration:

Samhain is a big deal at our house. Some years ago we began the tradition of a bonfire in the front driveway, an open house for friends, childrens’ friends, and acquaintances. You’ll find a table set up by the fire pit for a weinie roast, with smore’s for dessert. In the kitchen, I’ve got a large kettle of chili on the stove, and a large kettle of hot apple cider. Costumes are optional, for those who are comfortable dressing up, I say go for it; for those who are not, don’t sweat it. And, of course, there will be a large bowl of candy for the children in our neighborhood who follow the age-old custom of trick or treating.

You always hear that the veil has thinned on this night and spirit contact is almost inevitable if one wishes to put forth some effort. Samhain is also reputed to be a superb night for divinantion of any kind, and with this in mind, I set up a table on the backporch full of divination tools: tarot cards, rune stones, pendulums, oriental divination sticks, and don’t forget the ouija board for those who wish to try their hand communing with the spirits. Guests seem to love this opportunity, and there will be people seated around this table off and on all evening. It gives many a chance to learn about, touch, and use divination tools that they may not be familiar with and might otherwise not have access to.

Samhain Correspondences

Herbs: patchouli, sage, heather

Altar Flowers/Herbs: acorns, apples, pumpkins/gourds, dittany, autumn leaves

Feast Foods: pumpkin, squash, nut breads, sweet potatoes, milled drinks (cider, wine), roast meat, root vegetables

Animals: bats, cats, crows, ravens, owls

Incense: cinnamon, cloves, myrrh, patchouli, pine, mugwort, nutmeg

Rituals/Spells: making besoms, divination, spirit contact, crone magick, working with dark energy, spells for new beginnings

Samhain Recipes

My Pumpkin Pie:

1 16 oz. can pumpkin (about 2 cups)

1 13 oz. can evaporated milk

(but sometimes I use sweetened condensed milk– it makes it more “chiffony”…is that a word?)

2 eggs

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 sugar

the spices:

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and a dash of salt. Most recipes call for 1/2 teaspoon each, but I’m much more generous with my spices!

the crust:

I tried for years to learn to make a good pie crust, and I almost gave up out of frustration, then I found this recipe. It’s almost fool-proof, no kidding.

2 and 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup shortening

1 beaten egg

1 tablespoon vinegar

1/4 cup water

Mix the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening, as usual. Then combine the egg and vinegar, stirring it up a bit, and add this to your dry ingredients. Add the water a dash at a time as you work it in, you’ll be able to tell when you get a good texture.

Bake at 400 degrees the first fifteen minutes, and at 350 degrees for the next 30-40 minutes. When you can stick a butter knife in the center of the pie, and it comes out clean, your pie is done.

____________________

Hot Apple Cider

I have a *Huge*– did I say huge?– kettle that I use to mix up my cider. This sits and simmers all afternoon on the backburner of my stove, wafting a wonderful aroma throughout the house.

Ingredients:

5-7 large jugs of applejuice

8-10 bags of peach tea

a handful of cinnamon sticks

and a large metal tea ball filled

with whole cloves and allspice

You can leave a shaker of nutmeg sit on the counter & anyone who wants to add a dash of this spice to their mug of apple cider can do so.

If you don’t like this cider full force, you can dilute it some with water to suit your own taste.

October

Blood Moon

Herbs: ginger, myrrh, allspice, basil, clove

Stones: alexandrite, citrine, lilac kunzite

Scents: pine, patchouli

Colors: dark green, brown, gold

Trees: yew, cypress, maple, oak

Deities: Astarte, Horned God, Lakshmi, Ishtar

Astrological Signs: Libra, Scorpio

Elements: Air/Water

Crafting Your Magic:

Ancestral magic is cast with the Blood Moon. Do magic now to communicate with family members who have passed, to connect with your ancestors and your heritage. Magic surrounding divination is relevant, it’s the perfect time. Cast spells for justice and balance, and to overthrow anything oppressive which may be blocking your path to success. Ambition is highlighted, use magic to increase the potency of your own, or cast magic to contain ambition that may have run amok. This is also the perfect time to step into the dark shadows and take advantage of the vibrations found there. The gray witch revels in the magic of the Blood Moon and in this season.

Sources:

The information from this blog post was taken from my books ~

The Spiritual Feminist

The Gray Witch’s Grimoire

To order your copies, click  HERE

August ~ Special Offer!

During the month of August, “The Spiritual Feminist” e-book will be on sale for .99

Order now, while this opportunity is available!

click  Here

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Hope This Answers Your Questions

I’ve had an unusual amount of requests the past few weeks, since the beginning of June actually, from people who want to purchase my books and assume that I’m selling them myself.  I don’t sell my books, my publishing company does.  That’s one of the benefits of having a good contract with an exceptional company (they keep track of the Business Stuff); leaving freedom of mind for the writer to write.

Anyway, here’s the paragraph I’ve been sending out in emails when these requests come in.  I’ll post it here (and at my Other Blog), and I hope this makes it easier for the reader to connect with the book that they’re looking for.  Thank you so much for your interest!  I love hearing from my readers; you guys make it all worth while…Enjoy the Books, summer was made for reading:

You’ll find ordering information at John Hunt Publishing’s Website; or you can order at Amazon (you’ll find all of my books on this page); Barnes & Noble (you’ll find all of my books on this page); or a bookstore near you (if you don’t find the books on the shelf, the store can order them for you).

facebook.com/amythystraine

 

The Spellery ~ July Issue is Out!

The July Issue of The Spellery is out!
Pick up your copy today!

Yay!!…Author Interview.  I was delighted to be included, once again, in this innovative beautiful magazine.  You’ll find a 3 1/2 page interview with yours truly about books, writing, witchcraft, and personal life.  (It was my pleasure– I love the editor; and I love this magazine!)

The Spellery

Available in Digital or Print

The Spellery: FB Fan-page

The Spellery- July Issues 2015

A New Review for The Spiritual Feminist ~ by Maja Todorovic, PHD

From the first moment I read the title of the book, it intrigued me. The Spiritual Feminist -– two words that we are somehow forgetting in our hectic and overloaded lives.

Here, the author tries to reconnect us with our feminine side, through spirituality, through examination of Goddesses and all those archetypes that most of us, as women, live on a daily basis at some point in our livescontinue reading

[Source: Eternal Haunted Summer]

Another Book Review! ~ The Spiritual Feminist

Thank you to Vivienne Moss for a wonderful review!

“There is much wisdom and enchantment to be found in The Spiritual Feminist. The amount of information revealed will be welcomed by anyone wanting to travel along the Goddess Path. Amythyst Raine-Hatayama has poured her heart and soul into this charming book and I hope to read more from this wisdom-filled author. I sense this will make a remarkable companion book to Naming the Goddess and many other volumes on Goddess Spirituality…”

click  Here

Around Town with The Spiritual Feminist ~ Photo Blog!

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My daughter picked me up this morning for a round of shopping and lunch– and I took The Book with us (The Spiritual Feminist).  This was a Hoot!!  Following are photos of our jaunt, the places we went, and the people we saw…Welcome to Fremont, Nebraska (USA)!

First stop ~ THE BLUE BOTTLE ~ 529 N Main St #5 ~ Ask for Ginger!

Besides my favorite cappuccinos, what do you think you’ll find in The Blue Bottle?…Blue bottles– of course!

HARVEST HEALTH ~ 419 N Main St

Besides lots of Healthy Stuff, we found crystals and incense, and quite a few surprisingly Cool and New-Agey items. Yay!

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SECOND LOOK ~516 N Main St ~ very cool consignment shopped filled with all sorts of treasures and good deals!

On the Lower Level of Second Look with the Proprietor!

“Andy” has been selling hotdogs from this stand AT THE CORNER OF 6th & MAIN for 30+ years!!

This building is actually For Sale and is my Dream Location for a Tea & Tarot shop ~ it’s an ivy covered cottage of a building, like something right out of a magickal movie!!…Where’s my Financial Backers?

Fremont Police Station

To the Men & Women In Blue!…Support your local Law Enforcement. I know, there’s been lots of bad press lately, and there are a few bad apples in ANY occupation. But the majority of Law Enforcement officials work hard and risk their lives To Keep Us Safe! (Hey, MOM! This ones for you ~ My Mother is a Retired Police Officer)

This sign is Right Outside MICHAEL’S JEWELRY ~ 540 N Main St ~ omg, if this were only true!! 🙂

PRECIOUS TREASURES CO-OP SHOP ~ 405 N Main St ~ Make sure you’ve got plenty of time to browse in here at your leisure, it’s a treasure trove all right!

Okay– ‘nough running around.  Everyone was getting hungry and foot weary (yes, that’s a real thing).  We finished off our outing– where?  At McDonald’s…of course!

_________________________

The Official Release Date for The Spiritual Feminist
is April 24th!!

Hooza!!!

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 Thank you to my daughter, Laura Thome, for the photography!

This is such a monumental event in a writer’s life, the Release of a Book…it is akin to giving birth, and there’s almost as much chaos and hoopla leading up to it.

Enjoy the photos– and BUY THE BOOK (or the Kindle edition)
Women…you will be touched, you will be inspired, you will be re-empowered, you will find healing and a sense of spirituality like nothing you’ve ever experienced– Believe Me!
Blessings to you all,
Amythyst