Raven & Ruby-Witch's Kitchen-Learn Witches-Free Magical Pagan Information-Grandpa's General Store

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The Letters!

A Question From Seth About Enchantment:

I am pretty new at all of this and have just gotten a pentagram amulet. I was wondering if you could please tell me which books will inform me as to how to enchant it. Thank you

Raven & Ruby Reply:

Blessed be, Seth,
and welcome to the Witch's Kitchen. Since it's the first 80+ degree day of the year here in Wisconsin, we're making home-made lemonade, so sit down and stick out your glass. You've asked a straightforward question that deserves a straighforward answer. I think what you're looking for is "charging and consecration" rather than "enchantment". The very first book I'd recommend to anyone just starting out it "Wicca - A Guide For the Solitary Practitioner" by the late Scott Cunningham. As far as I know it's in print and should be available from either Llewellyn Books or Erin when Grandpa's books are on line. This book has a lot of good basic information and has been a standard for a long time. There's a short section on consecration of tools and jewelry as well.

I have to say, though, that the best new book that's out right now is called (and please forgive the title) "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft" by Denise Zimmerman and Katherine A. Gleason. If we were teaching a class in beginning Wicca, this would be the first text we'd use. It's got a whole section on pentacles and pentagrams, and a section on consecrating tools as well. This book can be found just about anywhere, from Erin at Grandpa's to Barnes and Noble.

It's easy in the beginning stages of learning to be overwhelmed by the number of books out there for the beginning Wiccan/Pagan student. Take them one at a time, and always remember, if a book tells you it's got the one-and-only true, right, and only way of how to do things, it doesn't. A book is only as good as its author's intentions, as the recent spate of Teen Spell Kits and similar nonsense plainly shows. Books aren't meant to be taken word-for-word -- you must choose what makes sense to you from what they offer.

So, in returning to your question, there's no book out there that's going to give you a "recipe" for consecrating your amulet. Take the advice that fits you the best, and then improvise. Do what makes you feel right in your heart, and always remember to apply the Wiccan Rede, which tells us to Do As You Will, But Harm None.

Also, if you've got any other questions as you start along your path, don't hesitate to drop by again -- our Kitchen is always open and the coffeepot's always on. And if it's too hot for coffee, we'll see if we can't scare up some lemonade again.

Blessed Be, Seth, and Best Of Luck.

Your Friends,
Raven & Ruby Moonstone

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A Letter From Dewn Willow on Crystal Balls...

Greetings,
My name is DewnWillow and I am Pagan. I recently bought a glass crystal ball. I have a question for you. What would cause a plain ol' crystal ball to change colors? As soon as the shop owner put him in my hands, he turned purple. At night he turns clear blue. Like a clear glass of water. The shop I bought him from is a Wiccan store. The owner Kim said she has had it for about a year but becuase she had moved stores, he's been boxed away until about two months ago. I call him a he because he is giving off a very stronge male energy. When I take him out into the sun, he turned a very dark purple. I dont keep him out there very long maybe a few seconds,( fire hazard) Since purple seems to be his color of chose, I made him a velvet purple bag to carry him in. I carry him everywhere including to bed. He sleeps in the bed on my hip. The first night I had him on my pillow next to my head but during the night I rolled over and smacked my jaw into it. OUCH!!! So he is now at my hip. In the mornings, the first thing I do, is take him out of his bag and place him on his stand. Its cruel wood stand with three legs but made from one peice of wood. He sits in the room with me, where ever I may be. First, question, what would cause him to change color? And second, should I be feeling a male energy coming from him? I ask these questions becuase I am very new to scrying. I have not yet but am still learning to open my mind. If it helps, he is about 5 inches and weights about 7pounds, very heavy. He was dropped by the shop owner and has a ding in him that looks just like a belly button. I have been told by many that I am a true seeker. So, it is understandable that I have a need to know. I have written many people but have gotten anwsers like, it's the heat, or its the light. Ive tested these answers and they dont fly. It stays 74 degrees in my house day and night. never changes. Its not the light. I am a writer and work at my computer all day. All the cutrains are shut so there is no glare from the sun on the screen. Ive been told its the colors around him. He is picking up on purple. Heres the thing. His bag is the only purple in the house. And it stays in the bedroom. During the day, he is out in the office/dining room which is brown. The ceiling and walls are a beige, the carpet's dark brown and the desk and chair is brown. The light in here gives off a yellow glow. So, that's not it. I will be happy of any information you can throw my way.
    Recently, there seems to have been alot of misdirected energy flowing around. It has been strange to watch people reacting to it. Being the seeker I am, I set out to find out why. Well, here's what I found. In the past few weeks, there has been two comets that has passed or is passing fairly close to Earth, plus there was an eclipes in Europe PLUS spring fever everyone is feeling, plus Ostara. Thats alot of energy flowing. Could this be the cuase?Thank you for your time.
BB.....
DewnWillow
Ps, My grandfather is Huron Indian and has many many crystal balls of every shape and size. He said that he has never seen this before. Plus he said I have alot of energy and so does my ball. Could this also be the cause??

Raven & Ruby Reply:

Blessed Be, DewnWillow,
and thanks for waiting so patiently for our reply!

This is beginning to be a hectic spring and we got behind on our e-mails.   I'm just finishing washing the windows in the Kitchen and how the Sun is shining in!

Well, let's talk crystal balls. I have to tell you, personally we're
stumped on this one. We agreed totally with your Native American relative -- we've never seen one do that either. We did ask some extremely experienced magickal friends of ours this weekend what they thought, and their idea was along the lines of the one your friend pointed out -- since your third eye is extremely active right now, this is probably filling your aura with purple energy, and your ball is picking up on that. To find a ball, and a *glass* ball yet, that's so sensitive that it can actually change color for you is so amazing that you had to have been led to him. (Since it's got such intense "him" energy, we'll call it "him" too.) Since he wants to be purple, OK, let him be purple. Now watch him change colors again -- THAT'D blow our socks off! But it wouldn't surprise us-- powerful magickal objects really do have a sense of humor sometimes. Wait till it decides to hide from you sometime -- that's always interesting.

It also sounds to me like you're in a time of beginnings -- finding this amazing magickal tool, changing your magickal name -- and this is the best time of year for beginnings, of course. We don't know what else to tell you about your crystal ball, but about all these beginnings we have a little piece of advice. Miss nothing! Look around you and gather in every sight and sound you can. You'll start seeing magick everywhere. It's always been
everywhere -- most people just don't see it. And this is just the beginning!

Please feel free to drop by again, and keep us updated, especially if the crystal ball decides to turn green or something! Blessed be to you and your crystal friend, and have a blessed Beltaine!

Your friends,
Raven & Ruby Moonstone

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A Letter From Susanne:

Hello!    I am very much interested in learning more
about magic:) Also, do you know where I can go to look up herbs and their uses for not so much spells, but guides to make things happen; for instance: giving someone a basil plant to bring them back into your life.
Thank you and blessings,
Susanne

Raven & Ruby Reply:

Merry Meet Susanne!

Thanks for stopping by the Witch's Kitchen! Grab a cookie and have a seat!

I have to say that Erin already gave you the very book recommendation I would have: "The Magic of Incense, Brews, and Oils" by the late Scott Cunningham. This book has so much excellent information for people that are starting to study magic, it's the first one I would recommend to a student who's interested in herbs and incenses and their magical uses. Another Cunningham book, "Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs" is also excellent and may be just what you're looking for in terms of herb information.

I myself had not heard of giving someone a basil plant to bring them back into your life -- of course you must ask the question, should this person be in your life? If he or she has left your life, are they supposed to come back?

What Erin said about empowering incense was also very true. If you are using incense for something, what's important is how you feel about what you're using and what you're doing. For instance, pine-scented incense is popular for money attracting work, but if you want to do a spell of empowerment and pine evokes those feelings for you, then use pine, by all means. You are the conduit through which the power flows, not the incense. Remember that all tools, incense, etc, are focusing agents for the power which must come from inside you. There are no cookbooks for spells -- the power and the intent must be there.

Erin also has a lot of excellent information on Grandpa's General, and the internet is full of excellent web sites dealing with herbs and magick -- try searching on "magical herbalism" and you'll get some excellent hits. Other than that I'm not sure what to tell you based on the information I have. If you'd like to ask some specific questions about the uses of a particular herb or incense, feel free to ask, and if we or Erin can't tell you, we can surely find the answers from our circle of magickal friends.

So till then, Susanne, Blessed Be, and we hope to hear from you again!

Raven & Ruby Moonstone

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An Anonymous Letter-
PLEASE NOTE! Grandpa's will no longer accept letters without a name to reply to, so make one up, if you have to.. :-)

what do you do with man who keeps coming around leading you on then he leaves you forget about him then he leaves you again and the process starts all over again
I really care about this person but I want to make sure hes mine this time what is a good spell for this? I've studied witchcraft for about 10 years and nothing seems to stop him from doing this to me i've tried everything from candles to putting spells on flowers to make our love have some kind of roots so he will stay with me. what can I do to make him come back to me?

Ruby Replies:

Blessed be --
Welcome to the Witch's Kitchen. Forget coffee -- let me get you a glass of Wisconsin cranberry wine -- you may need it shortly. Raven has gone discreetly outside to shovel snow and leave us women alone.

You asked the eternal question, "What can I do to make him come back to me?" which I will answer with another question -- why on earth would you want to? This man is not worth your time. If he loved you or had any respect at all for you or anyone else, he would not treat you this way. You're a convenience for him, nothing more. The only way he can lead you on is if you let him. As my mother used to say, there are a million fish in the sea. Get rid of him once and for all. It will be the best thing you ever did for yourself -- trust me, I've been there, more than once.

Now, since this is not an advice-to-the-lovelorn column, let's talk about spells. There is a reason that the spells you're doing aren't working. They are not meant to. In the first place, doing magick to try and manipulate or control another person is not ethical, no matter why a person does it. In the second place, your spells are actually rebounding on you, making you easier for this man to manipulate. They're not working on him. They're working on you. You say you've been studying magick for 10 years, and it's not my place to disbelieve you, but if you've been a student in the Craft for that long, you must know in your heart what's happening. And just as an aside, if I was casting spells to create roots somewhere, flowers would be the last thing I'd use. What is more ephemeral than a flower, bright and beautiful one moment, withered and gone the next?

Now, if you've read the disclaimer material that's shown at the beginning of the Witch's Kitchen, you know that we do not disseminate spells of any kind for any reason. Create a spell of your own, but to empower yourself and fill yourself with confidence and pride, and ask the Goddess, who knows all about what women go through, to help you find the strength to get rid of this man who's using you, as you know he is. Move your life from today onward. To paraphrase a saying you may have heard, the Goddess helps those who help themselves.

All blessings, sister in the Goddess, and nothing but the best of luck to you from this day forward.

Ruby Moonstone

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Another Letter From Kimberly:

MM,
     Raven & Ruby. I wanted to email you with an update. The job that I knew I would get..well the first day on the job I met a woman there and she and I bonded very quickly. We worked all day together and we talked about normal every day stuff but there was somethng about her that drew me to her, I felt like I had to get to know her. The next day for whatever reason I had this need to bring up religion, spirituality, etc. She informed me she was psychic and that she had a wiccan friend who was a solitary Priestess. I was floored.
I swear I wanted to jump up and down like a little baby. I told her how I was also a wiccan and it went from there. She told me that the first day she met me she had this need to know me, she said she felt that she could not let this pass by her.. I told her that I felt the same way also the very first day but I didnt say it out loud until she said the same thing. This whole experience is amazing to me. I feel very comfortable with her, she has this amazing aura about her that ozzes love and kindness. I swear even when we were not speaking I felt like I was learning from her. Does that make sense?!
I have never in my life ever bonded with any woman like I do with her. I feel like we have a strong bond, a sisterly bond. There were 2 young girls at the store and one woman manager and all of them treated me so badly, and with so much disrespect. Everything that came out of their mouths was hatred for me. One even told me I sucked! I have never been treated so badly in public in all of my life , esp by women. I quit after 3 days. I felt that there was no
flow there. I felt too that being around such negative nasty women would only bring me down. The only wonderful thing that came out of that job was meeting my new friend Loiuse. I really feel that i was meant to go there just to meet her but not to stay there. Louise told her wiccan friend about me and we shall meet soon. I am looking forward to being with very loving pos women, ones who have the same beliefs as I do and ones where we can both learn from each other. I am so ready for this new experience. :) I feel that the Gods are helping me along and as I say this I feel a very warm feeling inside. such a feeling that I have tears in my eyes. I thank the God/dess for what they have givin me and have yet to show me. It is truely a blessing!!! I shall keep in touch with you both as I take my journey!
Many Blessings!!~Kim

Raven & Ruby Reply:

Blessed Be, Kimberly!

Thanks for writing back! We're so delighted that you've found someone that you feel is right for you in your pathworking. Take it slowly and carefully, and remember, wait to share until you feel this person out. That doesn't mean you should be secretive -- just respect your own privacy for a little while.

I have no doubt that this nasty experience at this shop was what you needed to go through in order to meet your friend. What nasty people! It's amazing that so-called adults really can believe that such horrible behavior is acceptable conduct in the workplace or anywhere else. But oh well, you're out of there, and you happened to find a gem on the ground that they missed when you were leaving, didn't you? :)

Sometimes when people are meant to meet in a magickal sense it can happen in the most amazing, seemingly coincidental ways. All we can do is smile and attribute it to being one of those strange happenings I told you about in an earlier visit. Hey, they just happen. If I had the space here, I could regale you with a dozen weird stories about meeting and occurances -- those things that Arsenio Hall used to call "Thing That Make You Go . . . Hmmmm".

So for now, take care, Kimberly, and keep us updated on how things go! You're always welcome here in the Kitchen! Blessed Be again!

Raven & Ruby

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A New Letter From Kimberly:

MM,
    Raven and Ruby. Thank you so much for answering my questions, both of you have helped me a great deal. I am so happy that both of you really understand where im comming from. Any time I have posed some questions, no matter how outragous they may seem to others you both understand.
    The so called Spiritualist cult I was in really effected my life. The not so funny thing is I met them at a pagan store, they were having a class on psychic ability and I went. I was taken advantage of by a person who knew I was in need of quidence, and me being so inexperienced in that dept was sucked in. She wasnt pagan, which i guess should have been a red flag. But the owners of the store are pagan and I dont feel they knew what she was
doing. I learned a huge lesson but it also made me go backwards so to speak,
It took me over a yr to get over what they did to me, I wanted nothing to do with any religion or anything to do with my own abilities, I focred them down but you cant stop something thats inside, it forced its way to the surface. I started to trust others and after that I have a hard time trusting. I havent been back to the pagan store and I want to go back, but considering i met this whacko there im unsure of who ill meet there again. The owners are wonderful and in no way had anything to do with what happened. on the other topic of the woman who wants to build temples all over the world, im glad I listened to my instincts and stopped all contact. I am also happy to hear that you also believe that what she is doing is wrong. That gave me comfort.
speaking of intuition and the like. I would like to pose this question. I seem to receive alot from whatever it is I ask..here is one example...I wanted a job, m-f, 9-5. A few nights b4 I went on my quest I asked for a specific kind of job and I wrote it down. The night b4 I went on my quest I thought, boy it would be nice if such and such a store were in this plaza I was going to..the next day I went and lo and behold there was the exact store going up in this plaza with a huge hiring sign. I knew right then and there it was for me and that I was going to be hired. one week later I was hired on
the spot. I have had so many wonderful things happen in my life by just asking for what it is I truely want at that time. Why do these things happen to me in my life when it doesnt in others lives? When I have shared my experiences with others they are amazed and then they get a bit jealous and want to know why these things do not happen to them, I have lost friends because they are jealous of whatever it is that I have an ability to accomplish or do. will this whatever it is im doing have a huge effect when I do build an alter and cast spells? I had a friend who would cast spell after spell with no results while all I did was simply ask. why is that? I do feel
blessed but at the same time some people want nothing to do with me at all because of this and also because of other abilities and experiences I have had in my life. I am a normal person who really wants friends who understand me, who also are wicca but have yet to find any. I had a really good long distance friend who became involved with wicca, I was so happy, I thought how wonderful it was that I would be able to talk to someone who was wicca. That was short lived, she was always tring to out do me in some way or another and she told me how jealous she was of me and of my own abilities and that was it, no more friendship. I was totally disapointed. I am deeply saddened that I have yet to meet a female wiccan that I can trust, that I can share experiences with, one that I can call a sister. It seems that when I have thought I found this I get caught up in some darn cult or they leave. Being a solitary, which is what I feel I am forced to be right now is very lonely in
deed. Am I to travel this lonely road always? Thank you both for your time..
Blessings!!!!!
Kimberly

Ruby and Raven Reply:

Merry Meet, Kimberly,
and welcome back to the Witch's Kitchen! There's an Irish Whiskey Cake coming out of the oven -- look out! -- and later we'll have some Irish Coffee to go with it, just as a nod to St. Paddy and his day on Sunday. Anyway --

The fact that you met the group that affected you so negatively in a pagan shop just tells you that, well, there's all kinds out there. If you like the owners and enjoy their shop, you shouldn't have to feel afraid to go back. Just be cautious of who you talk to, especially if they strike up a conversation with you first. That could mean they're just friendly too, or it could mean they're trolling. That doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to anyone -- it's not a crime to be friendly. And of course, always be cautious of people who try to talk you into things.

It's hard to feel lonely and not be able to find anyone of a like mind out there -- and it can be really hard to meet the right people. A good place to check, if you haven't, and I'm sorry that I don't recall right now if you've mentioned it before, is www.witchvox.com. They have listings for all over the country and the world, by state and country, and you might find someone from your area there. Then it's possible to begin a cautious relationship via e-mail before actually meeting. Raven and I did that with a couple that happened to live close to us, and we've made some great pagan friends. Through them we'll be in contact with a couple other folks from nearby, and we're thinking of beginning a study group. Great oaks can grow from little acorns!

You have been given a great gift in your ability to channel what you want and receive it so clearly. As you related in the incident with your boyfriend's race car, you've also seen that this ability has a flip side. The most important thing to remember with a gift like this is, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. It's natural that some people will be envious -- there are all kinds of people in the Craft just as in any other aspect of life, and some of course are more mature than others. Some people, regardless of beliefs, are jealous by nature, and some are not. The best cure for that would be to play it close to the vest until you know what someone is like. If you don't know them all that well, don't share your gift with them until you know if they would be amazed and delighted, or jealous and resentful. Remember the old words: "To know, to dare, to will, and to keep silent " .

It's interesting that you mention trying to keep your abilities in check for a while but they forced their way through. That could have been one reason for the exploding electronics. When a force, water or anything else, is dammed up and then suddenly escapes, the explosion can be enormous.

The person you knew who was casting spell after spell with no results evidently did not have confidence in her own abilties, or was using the Harry Potter Cookbook approach to magick. One cannot simply mix up some herbs and light a candle, and read words out of a book, and make something happen. There has to be intent, and there has to be power from within. Her problem and yours are the opposite. She had structure and no power, like a snazzy car body with no motor -- you have a ton of power but no structure as yet. Since things just pop for you left and right, including things you don't care to have happen, studying spell crafting itself might help you to bring this under control. An excellent and down-to-earth book is called "Spells and How They Work" by Janet and the late Stewart Farrar. It's out of print, but if you go to Barnes and Noble's website and go to their Out-Of-Print books section, you've got a good chance of finding it. I can't think of one I'd recommend more than that one.

We don't think you're always destined to be alone. You simply have yet to meet the right people. The fact that you have this enormous ability may have something to do with it. You may need to work on channeling this gift and keeping it under control, and letting it be calm while reaching its full potential, before the right people will cross your path. Whatever Deity or Spirit is watching out for you may want this to happen. Check out www.witchvox.com. Go with the flow and work on channeling and controlling your energies, play it close to the vest, and don't be afraid. It'll happen, I know it.

Take care, Kimberly, and Blessed Be, and remember, you're always welcome here in the Kitchen!

Your friends,

Raven and Ruby )0(

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A Question From Kimberly:

MM Raven&Ruby,
Thank you for helping me in the past I really appreciate it, you both have helped me a great deal. I would like to share a few of my experiences as I have some questions regarding these issues. I am hoping that you can help.
About 4 yrs ago I was in search of a teacher. I thought i had found one. later I found out it was some kind of spiritualist cult. At that time I did not know what to believe in ( proud to say wicca now~finally~ I am a good witch~harm none!~no black magick here~!) anyways I had met a woman and after brainwashing me for almost a yr. I finally decided to go to their church. when I was there I had a very unusual experience and as I stated this may sound off the wall but this is very true. while I was there they did a guided
meditation. I chose to watch. I do not do drugs nor was I drugged at all. I was fully aware of what was going on. I am of sound mind here, I am completely sane. while they were meditating the people on the stage looked very ugly to me, they looked like monsters, I got this horrible feeling come over me that they were not good and they wanted me for some reason. They were the ugliest things I had ever seen in my life. I know this sounds completely nutty but I swear this to be true. I will never forget it. I have had some wiccans tell me that what I saw was there true faces..can this be so?>or could I have been under the meditation and in some sort of trance and just imagined the whole thing? I am really stumped... after that i stopped all contact with them and I felt psychially bruised. I want to find a teacher but at the same time I am afraid. I want to develope the magikal skills I have but yet I am afraid.
      I would also like to add that I recently met a woman who wants to build Isis temples all over the world and she really wanted me to be apart of it but my instincts told me otherwise. She has had no other experiences like I have had and really felt that all she wants to do is control people. How do you feel about a person doing this? she claims to be pagan but I can not see how a pagan would want to build some organized temple and have people follow her and believe in the only Goddess she believes in. doesnt this sound a bit
odd to you? I really would love to find a true teacher, one of good. I keep finding these people who are not what they seem to be. How can I find the right teacher without getting burned yet again? I know that not everyone has the same experiences as I have had but i would like to find one who understands me and knows what I am talking about.

Blessings to you both!!!!!
Kimberly

Raven & Ruby Answer:

Greetings Kimberly!
Welcome back! Grab a cup of coffee and a brownie (I only bake magick into mine, nothing suspicious) and have a seat. We've supposedly got an ice storm coming and a nice, safe warm kitchen is the best place to be at a time like that.

So! You've had quite a time, haven't you? First of all, this person you've encountered who wants to build temples all over the world and create a Isian monotheism of her own is not a Pagan. This person's plan sounds not only odd but dangerous. She has serious control issues at best . At the very least she's read "Queen of the Damned" one too many times. If she's trying to start a cult or a scam, and if she bases it on a deity like Isis, you can be sure that Isis will take care of it Herself eventually. One of our closest friends has been dedicated to Isis since young childhood, nearly 40 years, and I can tell you that as a Priestess of Isis, she would be horrified by this kind of a plan. Our most urgent advice would be to make yourself scarce from the sphere of this person and forget you ever met her. It's not up to us to tell you how to live your life, of course, but she's on her way to big trouble that you don't want to be a part of.
Whew! That was kind of intense. You also sound like you had quite a scary experience with the meditation group, and again, removing yourself from them sounds like a good idea. I think that the meditation probably guided you into a state which enhanced your natural psychic ability to the point where you were able to see the "inner faces" of these people. One of the Numero Uno pieces of magickal advice I (Ruby) ever received, is, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. When you've got that nagging feeling that something is wrong, and that you need to get out, LISTEN to that inner voice. We're taught from childhood on that the inner voice is just our imagination, that we must always think with our left brain and squash our natural instincts at all costs. "Women's intuition" is laughed away as a joke or turned on with hostility when it turns out to be right. Is it any wonder that so many people in the world crash and stagger blindly through their lives? They have no inner guidance -- they've crushed their own internal guidance systems. When your instincts told you that this strange group of people were way off kilter, you most likely were right. Getting away was a good move for you.

It may be that you need to wait for a bit before finding a teacher. You might want to try solitary practice for a while before searching for a teacher. It could be that Someone Out There who's keeping an eye on you feels that you need to create a solid foundation on your own at first, so as to avoid being drawn to someone who will try to impress themselves upon you rather than letting you develop naturally. Believe me, there are a lot of power-trippers out there, as you've already discovered. You will eventually find the right teacher when you're meant to. In the meantime, an excellent book that's been always been a favorite of mine is "Wicca : A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by the late Scott Cunningham. This book provides very clear, down-to-earth advice about practicing on your own. It can get you going with a routine and a plan of your own, to build a foundation of confidence in yourself and your beliefs. When your feet are solid there, you might be surprised to find someone that comes into your life in the way of being a teacher in the most unlikely of ways.

And remember, a real teacher is always willing to learn, and to be surpassed by the student. A teacher who tells you he or she is the Witch King or Queen of the Universe, knows everything, and has learned everything there is to learn, isn't, doesn't, hasn't, and isn't likely to.

We're glad that we've been able to help, Kimberly. That's why we wanted to do The Witch's Kitchen. Keep in touch and let us know how things are going.

Blessed Be, and wishing you a Bright and Beautiful Spring Equinox!

Raven and Ruby

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A Question From Smygon, About Bells:

Hello Ruby, Raven, Grandpa, et al,...........

tho i have searched my whole life for spiritual connection....i have only recently begun to study The Old Religion of Wicca (and i already Know that this is what i have been looking for....).....what took me so long???!

anyway.....i just purchased a Bell for my Altar.....and am curious about it....there is the Bell in the usual sense....outer shell, hammer inside....all very beautiful.....but also....it came with two other parts to it....a two-ended sceptre sorta looking thing and a wooden mallet. I do not know what these other two pieces are or how i can use them. But the three came as a "package".

Can u explainthis grouping of bell stuff???   It is all so very beautiful and i would like to show respect with the proper knowledge.

Thank you very much, Smygon

Raven & Ruby Answer:

Blessed be, Smygon --

Welcome to the Witch's Kitchen! We're battening down the hatches getting ready for this big snowstorm we're supposed to get in Wisconsin this weekend. A good time to fill up the birdfeeders, bring in the wind chimes, and put on a pot of coffee!

Welcome to the path of the Craft. It seems that when someone finds the path and sets foot on it, it was meant to be all along. Time and again we've heard people say that -- this was where they were meant to be.

You bell set sounds beautiful. What is sounds like to us and Erin is that perhaps what you've got there is an Indian bell set that's made for Buddhist practice. The two-ended scepter is called a "dorje" or "dorji" and from what I've gathered means "thunderbolt". In all honesty, not being Buddhist, I couldn't tell you exactly what they're used for, but we suspect that's what it is. As far as the mallet, I have seen film of Buddhists striking a bell or a little gong with a wooden mallet before they begin prayers and/or chanting.

Having the bell set on your altar and using it in your practice after proper consecration is in itself a way of showing respect. Some Wiccans and Pagans avoid Eastern objects and thought in their practice -- I myself believe in being more inclusive. Two beautiful Kuan Yin figures and two Ho Tai (the laughing Buddhas whose tummies are rubbed for luck) live around our house.

I'm sorry we couldn't tell you more. A search on the Internet for the terms "dorje" or "dorji" might give you some pictures and more information. I know it's not much, but perhaps it's a starting point.

I hope things continue to go well for you! If you have any other questions, always feel free to stop by the Witch's Kitchen again -- we always love to have friends stop on. Here's wishing you a bright and beautiful Vernal Equinox -- Spring's almost here!

Take care and Blessed Be,
Raven and Ruby Moonstone

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A Question From Lupus, About Wands:

Raven&Ruby
      I first would like to say that I think what you're doing is absolutely wonderful. My given name is Eytan, but I would like to be referred to as either Lupus (I take Latin), or Metatron. I have been searching everywhere for two nice people like yourselves, and I am truly gratelful. So, the first thing I'd like to ask you two about is wands. I made my wand. I spent much time and effort in making it, and I am very proud of it. I have a thin leather-type material running down the bottom half as a handle. I made it out of a gardening stake. I wanted to know, now that I'm done with it, how I will make the magick run through it. I assure you that I intend to stay along the light patch for all time. No black magick and no dark forces are to be included. So, I wanted to know how to consecrate the wand, and since I'm not sure what the difference is, what Druid magick, Wiccan Magick, and "Normal" magick. I don't know any spells, how to cast them, or anything like that (I'm not asking for spells). Also, how should I attach my quartz? Finally, everyone says that they used essential, mineral, vegetable, etc. oils to put on their wands, but I like mine the way it is. What should I do? And (don't feel obligated to answer this) have you actually been able to do magick that you can either see a beam of light, or see immediate results from? Thanks again. You are a true friend to witches and wizards alike.

Blessings,
Lupus

Raven & Ruby:

Greetings Lupus, and welcome to the Witch's Kitchen! There's a big pot of goulash on the stove and the coffeepot's ready to go, so sit down and let's talk wands and magick.

You should be proud of creating a wand for yourself. No matter how many wands you possess in your magickal life, the first one you make is always the most special. Raven and I have many wands between us, and my favorite is still my beloved applewood wand that I made nearly 20 years ago. My second favorite is a piece of driftwood I picked up on the shore of Lake Superior
that was already a perfect wand -- I've never done a thing to it. You don't need to put oil on your wand if you don't want to. Many people like to do that because it both imparts a smoothness to unfinished wood, and because it's possible to lend the magickal power of whatever oil you're using to the wand.

As far as affixing crystals, that's also a matter of personal preference. There's an excellent book out there, "Creating and Using Magickal Tools" -- you can find the author's name in a earlier post in the Witch's Kitchen (I'm not at home so I can check right now) which has good instructions for fastening a crystal to a wand with materials found at any hardware store or Wal-Mart. Raven used their method to create a beautiful wand that he's very
attached to.

As far as consecration goes, this does not have to be an elaborate ceremony. You could simply bring your wand to your altar or other place of worship that's meaningful to you. Create a circle, light some incense, hold your wand in the smoke, and speak to your personal deity, or to the Goddess, or whomever has the most meaning to you. Introduce your wand to your deity, and ask for their blessing on your new power object. Hold the wand in your hands and feel power rise up from the earth, up your spine, down your arms, and through your hands into the wand. Feel the wand become aware in its own way, and allow yourself to bond with it. Cleanse the wand well in the smoke of the incense. (If you're in a space where incense is not an option, sprinkle it with drops of clear water as an alternative.)

As far as "types" of magick are concerned, there's only one kind of magick. Magick is like electricity -- a neutral force. It's what you do with it that makes the difference. The Druids, the Egyptians, Wiccans, Pagans, all create and use magick in slightly different ways. There are really as many kinds of magick as there are people -- each person will work magick a little differently. There are no stereo instructions for magick -- it's all individual. In time, you will create your own "style" of magick. Creating magick is like any other skill -- it takes practice.

You've asked an interesting question about magickal results. I myself have not seen my wand emanating light with the physical eye. However, last year our magickal family conducted a ritual in some isolated woodland, and afterwards our host amazed Raven by asking him if he had installed some kind of a small green bulb or fiber optic light source in the crystal of his wand. Raven's first response was, "Huh?" Our host's reply was, "Well, during the ritual, I saw the crystal glowing with green light, so I just wondered if you had installed a light source." Well, of course, Raven
doesn't have a fiber optic wand. Our host was seeing something else shining from that crystal. So it's certainly possible to have that happen. I thought it was pretty cool, actually!

As far as the results of magick, a person usually need time and patience to recognize how it's manifesting in your life. Sometimes, though, on occasion over the years, both Raven and I have had jaw-dropping results with magick. When you do magick and it manifests almost immediately, your first reaction will probably be "Holy Smoke!" or maybe language a little stronger. :) It can scare you a little too. But always remember that it's coming from inside
yourself. The magick is there, and you provide the conduit and the means for it to work.

We hope we've been clear, although sometimes magick, by its very nature, can be mysterious and difficult to explain. If you've got more question and would like to drop by again, you're most welcome -- the coffeepot is always on!

Hope your Imbolg was magickal and bright!

Blessed be,
Ruby and Raven

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A New letter from Kimberly:

MM Raven & Ruby,
      I am sorry to bother you yet again, I do not want to take away from other peoples questions. Both of you have helped me so much, I really appreciate it and thank you both. Here is a few questions, comments and the like.
      I have been studying wicca for about 6 months so far, I have not yet built and alter I feel there is so much I need to learn b4 I do so. esp with the grounding..B4 wicca found me I found that I had already been practicing wicca and didnt even know it. If that makes any sense. I have read the letters posted here and it truely amazes me that people who really do not understand wicca seem to want to cast spells they know nothng about or the fact that they do not understand the three fold law. or they want to cast spells that will keep others away from them or cast love spells, etc....For as long as I can remember whatever I have asked for out loud, I usually ( not always) but have received it. I feel that even though I did not brew up a potion or cast a spell in the way some people view a casting as. I feel I had intent and feeling behind what it was i was asking for and in return I received it. I feel that the beware what you say to be 100% true. This is to warn others of what can happen. over 1 yr ago, I had been having a fight with my husband about his race car he was obsessed with it, spent over $6,000 rebuilding a perfectly good motor, I felt like that car meant more than I did to him, I do not like to admit it but yes I was jealous over this situation. he spent every waking moment racing that car, spending time with it, etc..anyways we had a fight and in a rage I had said to him...I wish that car would just burn to the ground...as soon as I said it I wanted to take it back but it was already said , I couldnt take it back. one week later, we went to the track, he raced his car and as soon as he passed the finish line his car caught on fire and burned to the ground. He was in the car when it was on
fire and thankfully he got out alive and unharmed. As I stood and watched his car burn I felt horrible and I thought of what I had said one week prior. I blamed myself for what happened. I began to question alot about life, and wondered if i actually did cause it to happen or if it was just a coincidence. I will never know the answer to that question. I honestly never wanted his car to burn up but at the time I said it I meant it and was in a rage. I do not ever want to harn anyone at all but that experience taught me a huge lesson.. BEWARE of what you say and do because it can come back and bite you in the rear. I have never cast a spell in my life, I do not know if i ever will, I feel that asking and intent has always been a huge part of my life. I have had so many wonderful things happen in my life by just asking for it. I just want to let others know...b4 you cast a spell learn as much as you can, know yourself, know why your doing it and what you hope to achieve from it. This is not a game. Most important Harm no-one..esp yourself!!!!!...
Blessed Be!!!!
Kimberly

Raven & Ruby:

Welcome Back Kimberly!

Don't apologize for stopping by -- we're always glad to see our friends! You're not taking time away from anyone -- your questions are just as important as any others.

First of all, Ruby had a brain spasm and gave you the wrong title for a book. The chakra book by Anodea Judith is "Wheels of Life", not "Light". I don't know why, but I have a mental block about the title of that book -- I ALWAYS call it that, even though I know better. Sorry about that!

Anyway, we're very glad to hear that we've helped you -- sometimes when a person starts out on the path you're on, you don't know who to talk to or trust. So we're happy to know that this new venture, the Witch's Kitchen, has made a difference to someone already. That makes it very worthwhile.

It's true, there seems to be quite a problem these days with extremely inexperienced people, in some cases kids who are concealing their age, going out unarmed into Cyberland looking for spells. Spell-begging is quite a problem on the Internet these days. People watch "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", or read one of the more shallow and exploitative books or "teen spell kits" or other such rubbish to be found in mass quantities at the neighborhood Giganto-Books, and assume that casting spells works like it does in a Harry Potter book. Don't get us wrong --we love Harry Potter. But sadly, we don't live in a Harry Potter world, and some people don't seem to understand that. We can only hope that they don't get hurt too badly when they find this out through bitter experience.

From your experiences, you seem to have learned well the proverb about "Have a care what you pray for, because you just might get it". I don't know where that one came from, but it's a real truism.
It's interesting that from what you've said, your psychic happenings seem to be connected many times with anger. Now this doesn't mean that you have to be angry to do magic. But a flash of real anger brings a lot of energy with it, blasting up through your being, and that can act like a powerful fuel, just like throwing gasoline on a fire. And just like a gas fire, the fumes can flash back and burn you, too. I can sympathize with you about anger --
I struggled with a terrible temper when I was younger. It's not easy, but it's important to keep that snarling temper-dragon under control -- life will be a lot easier in the long run.

The good thing is that you've already recognized this and know that your best bet is a lot of practice in grounding. You've got a start on that -- just keep going and it will work for you.

As far as putting up an altar, if you've got a place to do it, sure you can have one. You don't have to wait. There are a zillion books out there with all kinds of instructions on how to construct an altar. The most important thing to remember about books is that if a book is telling you it has the only true, right, and correct way to construct an altar, it doesn't. There are a few basic elements you should have, but they can be arranged however it pleases you to do. Most people represent the Goddess and the God on their altar, and the four elements, and have some important personal items on there. Apart from these few things, whatever makes you happy and makes you feel empowered is the right thing. There's no "right or wrong" way to do it.
Experiment and find what you like.

You're making a great start. Write whenever you want to -- the coffeepot's always on! Right now I've got to get a pie out of the oven before it shrivels, so I'll close. Take care, Kimberly, and let us know how things go!

Blessed Be!
Your friend,
Ruby (with Raven close by.) :)

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Another letter from Kimberly:

Raven&Ruby,
     I wanted to email you and thank you for your answers regarding my grounding question. I was so happy that finally someone out there believed in whats been going on around here. I will def look for the books you suggested. I will def keep you up to date as well.
    I am writing about a very strange experience I had the other day. In fact ,to me it's so strange that I still have a hard time believing it myself.

About 5 months ago I bought a silver God/dess pendant from an online aution. ( I did cleanse it b4 I wore it) I wore it everyday, and at night I got into the ritual of placing it on my bed post at night..I became attatched to it. I really did like it and throughout the day I would reach up and hold it in my hand. I also have a scorpio pewter pendant that is also on the same black cord necklace. The other day I went to take a shower and I noticed I had the necklace on so i took it off so it wouldnt get wet. I layed my necklace on a towel, took my shower, grabbed my necklace, wrapped the towel around me with necklace in hand,,went upstairs and proceeded to put the necklace back on. I noticed that my God/dess pendant was gone. now I know it was on my necklace when i took it off, I also know it didnt fall off, the jump ring that was attatched to the pendant was thick and in order to remove it from the blk cord you would have had to force it off over the clasp end. I am literally stumped. I looked all around where I had been standing at the time i took it
off and there was nothing on the floor. This is a new experience for me and believe me I have had many. It seemed to have vanished into thin air..I can't explain it otherwise. Have you ever heard of such a thing? and if so can you please explain to me how something can just dissapear like that?...

When my husband came home I explained to him what happened and he had nothing to say, just a very puzzled look on his face. I imagine my husband is so used to things happening around here and with me that hes become used to it and is usually speechless.. I ..on the other hand have to investigate they why, how and what...Least to say its never ever boring around here..LOL...I thank you very much for your time. Blessings!!!!~Kimberly

Raven & Ruby:

Good Morning, Kimberly! Merry Meet on this weirdly spring-like Wisconsin morning!

Welcome to the kitchen -- there's fresh coffee, our little calico cat Zoe is sleeping in a patch of sunshine by the table, and I've just tried my friend Kestrel's magnificent scone recipe with golden raisins -- have one! Have two!

And while you're doing that, just let me say you're welcome, and we're glad to help. Constantly having to replace things can be expensive not only monetarily but emotionally.

As far as your disappearing Goddess pendant, oh sure, we can identify. I've had the exact same thing happen. Several years ago, my beloved applewood wand disappeared for a number of months, only to reappear in a place I'd searched numerous times before. And the energy it had was interesting, to say the least -- it felt like it had been on an astral journey of epic proportions. Sometimes I still look at it, lying there innocently in its place on my altar, and wonder where it was, who had it, and what it got up to.

I also had a rose quartz heart pendant about the size of a quarter. I bought it shortly before Raven and I became a couple. One weekend, which we had spent learning that we were a couple and thinking about what that meant, I reached for the pendant around my neck and found that it was gone. I have a habit of twiddling with necklaces if I have one on, and knew I had had my hand on it shortly before it went missing. Raven and I looked everywhere, in
chair and couch cushions, under furniture, combed through the carpet with our fingers, looking all over the house. And I kept looking periodically for about a year, until Raven and I got engaged and I started packing to move in with him. Even after we moved furniture, it was still on my mind and I kept an eye out for it, to no avail. That rose quartz heart was just plain gone. We suspect Someone found it a fair symbolic exchange -- I "gave my heart" in more ways than one, that weekend the pendant disappeared.

So yes, things just disappear sometimes. Sometimes they return, or are returned, like my wand, and sometimes they leave forever, like that rose quartz heart. Keep looking for your pendant -- it might turn up again in some unlikely place, like behind the refrigerator or lying outdoors somewhere. You might find it in the bathroom and never really be sure of what happened to it. Or it might never come back. If it doesn't, it either wasn't meant for you in the first place, or it finished its duty to you and someone else needs it more. Of course, there's the aggravation of losing an
expensive piece of jewelry that you're particularly fond of, but if it
decides to be gone, it'll stay gone.

Above all, you're not nuts. Things like this happen. You might sit there for a minute and go, "oooo-kay, that was weird" when they happen, but don't let strange things get you agitated or weirded out. They happen to everyone, but most people don't or won't notice them. Being more open to strange occurrances is just a part of being Pagan. Tell your husband not to worry -- after all, he's living with a Witch, and these things happen. :)

So, keep going with your grounding work. Breathe deeply and stay calm. See if you can find those books, especially "Spiral Dance" by Starhawk with those meditative and grounding exercises. They'll help you a lot. Let us know how things go, and especially if your pendant decides to come back! If it does, listen to what it's telling you. It might have quite a story!

Blessed be,
Your friends,
Ruby and Raven

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Letter From Lupus:

Greetings Ruby and Raven,

Although I do not practice the Craft I do have a couple of True friends who do. I know and respect the potential of this belief. I believe that dreams can hold more truth than what we experiance on a daly basis. Many of the dreams that I have involve an appearance of a Raven and/or a Wolf. I believe them to be my spiritual guides but I wonder can Paganism explain (confirm or clarify) this guess?

Also I wonder if there is an explanation as to why some physical areas can give you a feeling like your insides are being twisted and others (like deep in a forest or meadow) can give you a feeling of peace and gentle warmness inside?

                        Blessed be, Through wisdom may you find truth,

                                                  Lupus Corax

Raven & Ruby:

Blessed Be and Welcome, Lupus Corax --

Come on in the Kitchen and have a seat -- we hope it's one of those places of peace and gentle warmth you mentioned.

Yes, it sounds to me as if you are being found by spirits that have an interest in you. When we dream of something with great frequency, someone out there is usually looking for us. Dreaming of wolves may mean that you are looking for the kind of warm and nurturing "pack-family" that wolves live in. And ravens are the problem-solvers, the intelligent game-players.
Ravens and wolves in the wild also have a symbiotic relationship in which they guide each other to food. In some cultures ravens have been known as "wolf-birds". Having visits from them together in your dreaming time must mean that they even maintain this relationship on the astral! Not that they're looking at you as food, of course -- they're seeking you as a kindred spirit.

The concept of animal totems is usually found within Native American spirituality, but Pagans, having a similar earth-based spirituality, also find a lot of merit in searching for an animal spirit or totem to relate to as a friend and guide. I think you are correct in your belief that these particular beings are making themselves known to you as your spiritual guides.

Your question about certain places making your insides feel twisted as opposed to other places that produce warm feelings tells us that you're discovering some psychic sensitivity within yourself. Certain places that have collected negative energy over time will affect different people in different ways. If your insides are feeling twisted, you may be picking up energy in your 3rd and 4th chakras. If you're not familiar with chakras, a book I recommended to another visitor earlier, "Wheels of Light" by Anodea Judith, is excellent to show you the basics. And of course, some places,
especially natural places, are receptacles of pleasant or warm energy, and someone who is sensitive will feel this as nice energy that makes them relaxed and peaceful.

It sounds to us as if you perhaps may be wandering closer to the trailhead of your own pagan path, since you have gravitated towards pagan friends and are having spiritual questions like these. But these things must happen in their own time. If you are meant to take the Pagan path, it will happen naturally.

We're here in the Kitchen any time you want to stop back again -- Raven is always interested in hearing from another raven-person! Take care and Blessed Be, Lupus -- we hope to hear from you again.

Your friends,

Ruby and Raven Moonstone

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Letter from Kim:

MM Raven & Ruby,
My name is Kimberly. I am 34 yrs of age. I just started to study wicca, its been maybe 6 months now. All of my life I have had abilities, it has taken me a very long time to accept it and also get rid of the fear that kept me away from it.

I seem to have a problem with grounding my energy. For the past 7 yrs tv's,vcr's, etc blow up..we have gone through so many I have stopped counting..I thought it was an electrical problem but we got that checked out and it checked out fine. I have started to notice that it seems to revolve around me. If I am really mad and near an appliance it will spark, or stop, or literally blow up. Is this really possible that these occurances are happening due to my energy levels? I have talked to people about this and no-one seems to have any answers for me. My husband is also stumped about this, he has no explaination either. Can you recommend one really good grounding teqnique for me? I really need some help in this area.

Also, have either of you ever heard of such a thing b4>? Since the eletric is ok, what the heck do you think is going on around here? This is getting to be expensive. I also wanted to note that my husband has owned this house for over 11 yrs now, I moved in 7 yrs ago and as soon as I moved in is when things began to blow up....Please Help!!
BB
Kim

Raven & Ruby:

Merry Meet, Kimberly,

And thanks for stopping by the Witch's Kitchen. Yes, we'd say that you've got an interesting problem. You've got a tremendous amount of free energy that needs grounding.

The first thing you need to do, as you rightly pointed out, is do some serious grounding. I can't give you an exercise any better than the ones on pages 58 and 59 of the new edition of Starhawk's "Spiral Dance" . Exercises 5 and 7, the Tree of Life, and Earthing Power, respectively, are a start on what you need. I use these grounding exercises myself and have for years.
This wild energy that you're either producing yourself or channeling from somewhere else is, like all energy, seeking earth and ground, just like lightning does. Sit on the ground or the floor, place your palms flat, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Visulize the energy crackling its way into channels in your arms, flowing down, through your hands, into the earth, which can hold infinite power.

A physical aid that might help is to find yourself some hematite. If you're not familiar with it, hematite is a beautiful dark silver-black mineral, very heavy, which is very grounding. It feels very smooth and cool in your hand, and its physical weight is very comforting. Many New Age or Pagan shops carry something of hematite, such as a necklace of polished chips, or a polished stone to hold in your hand. I've also found hematite hearts that just fit the palm of your hand and are wonderfully grounding and soothing.
I'm a Gemini myself and have always have had trouble grounding properly, and wearing a necklace of hematite chips or beads has always been helpful to me.

You might also try some chakra work. The chakras are the seven main energy centers of the body that run up its center, starting with the first or root chakra in the private area, ending with the seventh or crown chakra in the crown of the head. An excellent book is "Wheels of Light" by Anodea Judith, which is a definative book on working with the chakras. When the chakras are aligned properly, energy flows much more smoothly through the body and is much less likely to slam off in other directions.

We were very interested in your comment that these things happen especially when you're angry. You seem to have some psychic talent as well that needs to be channeled and controlled, since it's making you miserable and costing you a fortune in fried electronics. Yet another book, "The Development of Psychic Powers" by M. Denning and O. Phillips is a very good basic book that can start you on learning to control your psychic gifts.

One other suggestion-- if you have room, create a "safe space" for yourself to go into, sort of like a storm cellar, if you are able to feel a "storm" coming on. Make this place very pleasant and peaceful in whatever way you like, remove any electronics from its vicinity, and do your grounding exercise there. Stay there till you feel peaceful. And also, use the space for your every day meditations. Eventually it will become your sanctuary.

I know these are basic suggestions and you may or may not already have the books in your personal collection. If not, I can't recommend them highly enough, especially the exercises in "Spiral Dance".

Take care, and stop by the Kitchen any time to let us know how you're doing -- the coffeepot's always on.

Blessed be, Kimberly, and hope to hear good news from you soon!

Ruby & Raven

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Letter From Kenny:

Hey Guys,
     I was hoping you had some information on the different planes and bodies of existence. I know the basics, but I'm looking for details. My interest in Astral Travel has taken me to other forms of magic involving the astral planes. I would appreciate any information you could give me.

Blessed Be,
       Kenny

Raven & Ruby:

Blessed Be, Kenny --

And thanks for stopping in at the Kitchen. First of all, let me apologize for taking so long to answer you -- computer problems and a family health crisis got in the way of a prompt answer.

Working with other dimensions of existence is a difficult task involving much study and practice and we commend your willingness to take on these studies. I can give you basic information you probably already have in regard to the construction of the dimensions around our own. But what would
help is knowing exactly what kind of details you're looking for. Rather than waste your time giving you things you already know or generalities you don't need, we'd rather be able to comment on specific questions.

One very basic book you probably are already familiar with is "Astral Projection" by Denning and Phillips, which shows a basic chart of the organization of the astral planes and farther.

If you don't mind writing again, let us know a bit more specifically what you're looking for, and we'll be happy to fine-tune. Aso, we can invite another friend we know to the Kitchen who is steeped in esoteric knowledge and will be glad to fill in any gaps we leave.

Until then, Kenny, Blessed Be, and hope to hear again from you soon.

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