City Magic: Painted Rock Wards

When Dwarfs Meet Giants, and Other True Cosmic Fairy Tales

It’s easy to get lost in fantasy worlds through science-fiction movies and novels, but did you know that some of your favorite fairy tale characters actually exist in cosmic form? From dwarfs and giants to shape-shifters and buried treasure, the universe is home to a multitude of mystical objects.

White Dwarf Stars

You’ve probably heard of dwarfs like Happy and Sneezy (or Gimli and Thorin), but it’s unlikely you’re familiar with the space-dwelling dwarfs with names like Sirius B and ASASSN-16oh. White dwarf stars like these are typically about the size of Earth, which is pretty small as far as stars go. They represent one of three final stages of stellar evolution, along with neutron stars and black holes. Each star’s mass determines which one it will ultimately become. Stars much more massive than the Sun typically become neutron stars or black holes, and lower-mass stars end up as white dwarfs.

Our Sun will eventually become a white dwarf after it exhausts its fuel, but don’t worry — we’ve got several billion years to go! Before it is reduced to a white dwarf it will actually expand into a red giant, swelling out to encompass Earth’s orbit. But we don’t have to wait billions of years to see stellar giants … some already peek out at us from the cosmic deep.

Giants and Supergiants

The red giant star Aldebaran, located about 65 light-years away, is about 5,000 times bigger than Earth. Our Cassini spacecraft imaged Aldebaran through Saturn’s rings in 2006, but you can see it for yourself during northern winter. Just look for the brightest star in the constellation Taurus.

Fairy tale giants may be taller than trees, but these supergiant stars can be over 100,000 times “taller” than our entire planet! Supergiant stars are likely becoming more rare as time goes on. While scientists believe they used to be more common, our whole galaxy now contains just a small smattering of supergiants.

These massive stars grace the galaxy for a relatively small amount of time. They burn through their fuel extremely quickly — in just a few million years, as opposed to hundreds of billions of years for the smallest stars! Supergiants often end their lives in dramatic explosions called supernovae.

Betelgeuse — the bright, reddish star marking the shoulder of Orion — is nearing the end of its life and has expanded to become a red supergiant star. It is destined to explode as a supernova, which might happen tonight … or within the next few hundred thousand years.

Ghostly Solar Neutrinos

Even an average star like our Sun has some seemingly magical qualities. Each second, it sends billions of phantom-like neutrino particles out into space. They travel almost as fast as light and don’t usually interact with normal matter. Billions of them are zipping harmlessly straight through your body while you read this. Even at night they go through the entire Earth before reaching you!

But that’s not all … these ghostly particles are shape-shifters, too! Neutrinos can change characteristics over time, morphing between different versions of themselves. Spooky!

Buried Treasure in the Heart of the Galaxy

Extensive clouds of dust enshroud the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, hiding it from our view — at least when it comes to visible light. The dust isn’t as big a problem for infrared light, however, which has allowed us to get a glimpse of our galaxy’s chaotic core thanks to our Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes.

Future missions may peer into the galactic core in search of buried treasure — thousands of planets orbiting distant stars!

Want to learn about more cosmic objects? Find them here!

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Blood Magick 101

One of the most common things I am asked besides how to begin in witchcraft is, “What is Blood Magick? Is it real?”

The short answer is…yes, but not in the way you think. Please keep in mind while you read this that a lot of closed religions use blood as an integral part of their practice and how it affects their practice is usually very different from how it affects the general open practices. This post does not apply to those closed packages as I do not practice them or possess any in-depth knowledge of how they work, but rather the general open practices with blood. If you are a member of one of those closed religions, however, please feel free to add onto this post with your experiences!

What is Blood Magick?

When we hear the phrase, “Blood Magick”, we might think of sacrifices, cutting our hands open with sacrificial blades, or, if you’re like me, you think of the big “no-no” practice that universally brands you as evil in the video game series, Dragon Age. This is all a result of popular media displaying this magick as such. In reality, blood magick is not as exciting as it is portrayed in media and can, in fact, be totally painless! General Blood Magick is when you use blood as a source of energy for your spell, ritual, charm, etc. It can reap benefits, but it very unstable and your results might not be what you expect. While the blood used is usually your own, it doesn’t need to be. I have known witches who have used game animal blood! Wherever you get your blood, it is important to receive it ethically!* 

How can I be safe when using Blood?

It is important for you to use certain protocols when dealing with blood, before any magick is in involved. Here are some general ones I’ve learned from a phlebotomist:

Never reuse needles

Never share needles

Do not attempt if you are anemic or you have any blood clotting disorder/ are on any blood-thinning medication such as Plavix

Always dispose of needles properly so that there is no chance for children, animals, garbage men, or even yourself can get poked. They actually make containers for you to dispose needles in. 

If you use a sharp object to acquire blood, ensure that the area you are using it on is clean and the needle is always sterile beforehand

Always know the source of the blood you are using, but also be sure to never get blood in any open wounds, cuts, or in your eyes. If this happens with blood you are not familiar with, immediately go to an emergency room to get preventative care. 

DO NOT INGEST BLOOD. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF DISEASES PLUS POISONING

It’s actually preferable if you use sanitary disposable gloves when handling blood, but at the very least, thoroughly clean any skin that got blood on it immediately.

If, at any time, you can not control the bleeding, go to the emergency room. You might need stitches. 

Do not try to acquire blood from any vein or vessel nor should you use any sharp object near one.

DO NOT HANDLE A SHARP OBJECT WHILE INTOXICATED IN ANY WAY. Look, I drink and don’t judge others who do so or like to get high. I know a lot of witches incorporate drugs into their craft. However, never use a sharp object when intoxicated. Your control and judgement will be compromised and you could seriously injure yourself without knowing. If it is absolutely necessary, collect the blood beforehand. 

Why would I use Blood Magick?

Blood magick is used when you need to infuse your very essence or a small part of your life energy into a spell, if using your blood, or the essence of a particular animal or their life energy. It is one of the most powerful ways you can charge give energy to a spell. If you are not very experienced in this, you should only use it in very desperate circumstances when all other options have been exhausted. I have seen witches use deer blood in a spell calling upon Artemis, the Greek God of the Hunt (among other things) and I have a friend who used blood magick when trying to save her house from foreclosure when she was told there was almost no chance she could save it, even with the proper budgeting and payments. 

Wait, you said I should only use it regularly if I was very experienced in it… what are the Magickal dangers of it?

Think of using Blood Magick as if using rocket fuel in a normal car. If you are an engineer, you might be able to build a car that can use rocket fuel reliably, but, if not, you most likely would build a non-functional or unreliable car, or worse, a car that just explodes. 

When you use blood, I mentioned that you are putting your very essence and energy into the spell. This very much ups the chance that you will be directly affected by the outcome of the spell, even if it was done for or on someone else. This goes double with any curses or hexes. It is also possible that you might get too much of the result you wanted or your result way too soon. If you are using animal blood, it is possible that it’s correspondence won’t agree with the purpose of the spell or the animal’s essence is just plain unwilling to cooperate. 

If you use unethically-sourced blood, you also open yourself up to the negative energies of the source including unsavory paranormal activity. It might take several rounds of cleansing to get rid of that energy. 

How much blood would I need for most spells?

Usually the tiniest drop of blood is necessary, if even needed. It would be equivalent of a finger prick when checking blood sugar levels. 

How would I use the blood?

It depends on the spell and the caster! I’ve seen it dripped on paper where the incantation is written out and I’ve also seen it mixed in a bowl of herbs (not for consumption). Generally, if you ask me, I will tell you that you most likely don’t need it for the spell you are doing. 

Please be safe, everyone!! 

*Ethically sourced is a very broad phrase, but I am referring to blood that is retrieved either from yourself, a willing participant who know what you are using it for and has given consent, animals that have respectfully and lawfully been hunted and consumed, or animals that have been respectfully and lawfully hunted and honored. You should never poach animals or steal blood from any scientific/medical institution, deceased persons, or receive the blood from a living human who is misguided or unknowing of your intentions with the blood.

I embrace the idea of life and death for I am not the one in charge of my fate. The gods have already written my story. Victory or Valhalla.

Celebrating Mabon 🍂

🍂 Bake! Apple pie, pumpkin pie, caramel tart, cinnamon rolls, caramel cookies.

🍂 Eat: corn, apples, plums, grapes, BBQ chicken, pies/tarts, cinnamon donuts.

🍂 Indulge in the fruits of the season.

🍂 Buy fruit & vegetables from a local farmers market.

🍂 Acknowledge & burn or release any bad habits.

🍂 Visit the cemetery or graves of loved ones lost.

🍂 Take care of plants & gardens: weed, sow, repot, fertilise, mulch, prepare frost protection etc.

🍂 Harvest any home grown fruit or veggies.

🍂 Bask in nature!

🍂 Star gaze, have a bonfire & fire gaze as well.

🍂 Watch: Brave, Pocahontas, Open Season, Spirit, Brother Bear, Fly Away Home.

🍂 Research the history & folklore of Mabon.

🍂 Express gratitude! Reflect on successes/ failures & celebrate blessings!

🍂 Declutter & deep clean the house in preparation for Winter.

🍂 Wear gold, red, brown or yellow.

🍂 Do a Mabon rune cast or tarot spread.

🍂 Donate time, money or items to a charity.

🍂 Meditate, write in journal, do yoga & raise vibration with music.

🍂 Review what is in & out of balance/harmony.

🍂 Have quality family time; no screens, outdoors & include pets.

🍂 Create a Mabon mood board on Pinterest.

I’m not a classicist, but I suspect one of the reasons so many of the Greek gods are portrayed so unflatteringly was less because they were seen as villains than because they represented their domains.  Of course Zeus sometimes misuses his power, that’s what a king does.  Of course Artemis’s wrath is wild and painful, that’s what nature can be.  Of course Hades snatched away a young girl from her mother’s arms, that’s what death does.  This is one of the reasons callout posts for some gods comparing them negatively to ‘nicer’ gods are kind of missing the point.

Protection spell /spell jar

Minor ways to save bees.

• Plant bee safe plants in your gardens. Make sure not to use chemicals, they can negatively affect bees.

• Some good bee plants are: lilacs, penstemon, lavender, sage, verbena, and wisteria. You can also check out sites online that have information about pollinator safe plants.

• Clover and dandelions are havens for your little bee friends. let your lawn, garden, yard live a little.

• Bees can actually become thirsty too! Leave out bird bath sized containers for them to drink out of. A nice touch is put little stones that they can crawl onto, it’ll save them from drowning. The bees will most likely appreciate this.

Please protects your bee friends!

In regard to the relationship..

1. What I want out of this relationship

2. Expectations that aren’t being met

3. Underlying fears

4. Where you don’t see eye to eye

5. What’s not being confronted

6. What you need to let go of

7. What your heart says

8. Part of me that needs time to heal

🌊natural witch salts

💧white salt (sea salt) + purification, dispels negative energy

💧black salt (hawaiian lava salt) + warding areas from trouble and unwanted contact + absorbs negative energies, useful in purification baths + charged negative salts make for potent curses

💧pink salt (himalayan crystal salt) + promotes self-love and personal empowerment + heals emotional wounds, dissolves self-doubt and confusion + useful for wish magic, romance, and compassion

💧red salt (hawaiian alaea salt) + love, attraction, romance, passion for life + amplifies magical intent when burned with herbs + enhances energy, enthusiasm, and assertiveness

💧epsom salt (epsomite) + used in ritual baths for purification and physical healing

Edited to add original source, with additional photos: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/first-female-bodybuilders-1900s/

Rare Historical Photos

The first female bodybuilders and strongwomen showing off their gains, 1900s

The first “strongwomen” appeared in the 19th century, but were almost unheard of until much later. The appearance of strong women became mor