Practical Magic – 102 Soup for the Soul

Written by Vanessa Anderson

The usual conjuring and imagery of Witches, witchcraft and spell work often centre around a cauldron bubbling on a hot fire – hubble and bubble – while a cackling crone stirs the pot, muttering softly to herself as she dollops and sprinkles her tinctures and herbs. Each component is selected for cause and effect, a concoction of sorts meant for suture and salve, whether corporeal, ethereal or spiritual. An act of intent, for which ailment affects.

I previously appealed to you, to remember your magic yet I was not quite sure yet which element of practical magic should follow my last instalment for I truly believe that everything we do, with intent, is magic. One practice, in particular, keeps circling my mind – cooking, brewing, concocting, creating with love and intent, spelling.

In my piece titled – When the world tries to break someone you love – I wrote about my nephew, he is sick, very sick. Amid the chaos of disrupted routine and emotional upheaval, one simple, wholesome act pulls together the red thread that binds us all – cooking. It is this element because it is so raw in our existence that I want to reflect on it in this piece.

The ill, like the stone thrown across a pond, cause a ripple and those within the concentric circles ebbing outward – hold the space of the one within. We take care of them, holding them together so that they can hold those within.

Through all the ages of man, in every culture across the spiritual realm, we have sustained each other, held these circles together and gathered others towards us, with food. When we celebrate, we gather and share food, when we mourn, we gather and share food, when others are ill, we do what comes naturally – we cook, we gather and we share food.

We do this to hold the line when others are raging against a battle and, if we are lucky, we may have others to hold the line should we find ourselves in a battle that threatens to consume us.

When we were little, and we felt sick, we rested and our mothers made us soup to eat. When family and friends are sick, we offer to make their food, and we sustain them when they do have not the strength to do so themselves. It is a practice (in magic) done naturally, with intent. We give of our time and our energy towards others, the ingredients may be wholesome and nourishing, but that is not all on offer.

We infuse love, a knowing and understanding of the space others are in. It is an act of kindness where energy, like magic flows naturally. It is not odd or strange that the foods we prepare are often, exactly what the body needs to support it. It is knowledge within, sometimes we forget, sometimes the universe reminds us.

Food, good food, is energy. When it is prepared with love and intent – whether twirling round a cauldron or a pot on the stove – it is magic.

All magic is, is practice with intent.

We give our thought to the idea that someone else is in need. We give thought to the knowing that they have other things on their mind. No matter whether they are the one who is ill, or the one taking care of the ill, or those holding the space between the lines and the circles – our thoughts, through simple practices, like making food, become the tincture that offers suture and salve to the wounds of the embattled.

Remember that you are magic.

Test the theory, remember the last meal you made now remember the way you approached preparing it, what you infused within, how you and others felt eating it? Was it merely sustenance for an empty stomach, or did it nourish and nurture more than just body?

Last thought: if you are what you eat, then should you not take back the power over how it is prepared?

Body, Soul and Mind

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Good day beautiful beings, as usual, I hope to find you well and blessed with abundance. Today I am writing about the human being as a whole and what we do to keep it healthy.

Nutrition is vital for body health so it is our choice how we take care of it.

Body health creates the human we are and what we become. Eating junk food and consuming alcohol and drugs is by no means good for the body. It does not make a human better than another by our abuse of our bodies compared to someone that has healthy habits, it just gives the healthy person better opportunities because of their moral values toward themselves and how they treat their bodies.

As children, our parents feed us to the best of their ability but as we get to an age where we take responsibility for our lives, it is hoped for the good of our health.

When the body is healthy we feed the mind healthily.

The mind’s health depends on the lifestyle we lead and the moral choices we make. If we lead a good life and live honestly and are as good a human as we can be, our minds will be stimulated and fed intellectually.

A healthy mind then leads us to make proper choices and helps us grow as good humans.

I am not saying by making bad choices we are not good humans. Sometimes our mind is psychologically sick which leads us to make bad decisions and at these times we are weak and lost in a place where only we can leave if we choose to be that. Substance abuse damages the mind and makes us think illogically.

The mind should be stimulated from the day a human is born. It is the responsibility of the guardians of the little human to create a good human from baby till when the person is able to think for themselves.

The mind needs visual stimulation to create a distraction from the mundane. People play games, go gambling and watch television and movies. We read and do crafts to broaden our minds.

Unfortunately, the mind absorbs the negative things in the visual things we see, so we should be logical enough to distinguish reality from fiction. Unfortunately, some people live in fairyland so as not to face the lives they are living.

The soul enjoys quietness, sunsets, sunrises and running water. The soul seeks tranquillity.

To feed the soul people go fishing, meditate and take time out from everyday life. A person’s spirituality can add value to the soul’s health. Smelling incense, a fragrant candle and smelling the sweet smells of nature can be tranquil and also having a safe space in your house can also create soul health.

A healthy body and mind can be achieved if the soul is rested and tranquil.

So our bodies work in unison with each part and function. It is like a machine, if one part is broken the other parts cannot function properly.

Nothing is perfect but if you look at Buddha, Allah or any spiritual people you will realise that they found nirvana and that created soul health.

So follow your body signs and be your own mechanic, only you can fix yourself.

Be blessed and safe till we meet again.

When the World Tries to Break Someone You Love

Written by Vanessa Anderson

I promised someone a while ago that I would pen this article. It’s telling delayed because I truly did not know where to start. For I, could not possibly give you, the reader – an accurate account of the experience being that I was not an active participant in the story.

Then it occurred to me that reason and accuracy have no part in its telling. For reason you see is neither fair nor factual – not in this account, and accuracy, well, being accurate is neither here nor there when it comes to watching someone you love suffer.

And you, you may be a combatant observer of suffering in your own world, unsure of when, where or how to shine your light so that those who suffer can find a way back to themselves. It may well be that this is for you, as much as for me, is a tale worth knowing.

When you can neither see, touch nor hear the cause of someone’s distress – but rather you sense it like an oozing web that threatens to engulf, cover, hold them down and smother them. You see it hiding in the shadows, fearful of the light, you sense it is sneaky and deceitful, it changes moods and appetites, it changes personality and sleep is a constant arms-length away. Yet you cant name it, you cant calm it and it feels so unfair, so unjust and misplaced.

When a diagnosis is a prying, meddling, scab-picking torment, like a gnawing woodworm carving holes into their being and after all of that it offers little relief or lasting solution. When all you want to do is rage against it, cast it back and banish it from their world and all you can do is wish for them a quiet calm so they can come back to themselves, even for a moment.

Around 7 months ago, you turned 21 years old – I was there the day you were born and named as the ‘first born son’ derived from the Siouan (Sioux) language, Chaska – brave and strong. Names are words, words spelled – spelling is a casting of spells – the name is certainly fitting.

You have shown us a world we may never have known had you not been born brave enough to bare the seizures that take you from us at times.

The malfeasance of time and practice aside, you question ‘why you’?

No answer came, it likely never will.

You turned 21 years old last October and for the longest of days and the endless nights to follow – you got lost in darkness, cloaked in chaos and anger, locked behind a shroud most could not see past, let alone unveil in the hope to set you free.

You became opaque and we became obtuse. We could only flutter around like moths to a flame, trying to catch the light as it tried to escape from within you, like flour through a sieve, inane, useless.

You ask, ‘why you’ – I can’t fathom a reason or rhyme, I couldn’t come close.

Yet through it all, what resonates sounds something like ‘Thank God’ – whatever that means for you. You are because we are – your family, by soul or by blood.

You are recognised, you are loved, you are a light the dark tried to blow out – it didn’t know how many WE were, that fluttered and floundered around your flame, catching your light and sending it back to you. It didn’t know that we, in soul and blood – would hold the space for your family to work their magic around you.

It didn’t know how strong your Mother was or how fiercely she would fight.

It didn’t know the army of light she had seeded or the determination of their intent. You are because we are – here for you.

The world tried to break you, now show it what you have become.

The world tried to break you, now we know what we are capable of.

We are all here because others were here for us. Others before us, others after us, others because of us.

Where the Wanderer Seeks Wonder

Written by Vanessa Anderson

“Not all who wander are lost” these are the words lapping the shores of my mind as I write, the message that I must convey, so I am going to borrow these words, these spells from Tolkien’s poem. Written for the Fellowship of the Ring – it talks of a return to power, however it relates to so much more.

We are all wanderers, if not of the land and distance, then belonging and understanding, but we wander nonetheless, or we wonder – no less. But, “not all who wander are lost”.

Some have passed, their time gone
Some have left, to leave behind.
Some have set off to find
Some have wandered and found wonder!

What we seek is particularly unique and inherently personal and what resonates for one may not resonate for others, but when it does, we gather in numbers, we gather our tribe and “from the ashes a fire shall be woken”.

In this made up, mixed up and tossed out world, a sacred journey often requires a shedding of the superfluous. It is in such times we now find ourselves and in precisely such time, we must find ourselves. The journey is often a step backwards, “deep roots are not reached by the frost.

The more we advance, in technology and medicine the further away from source we become, separate and further from the wandered path, like a spiral on a trajectory from core to outer rim and infinity, but we must never sever our self from core, from our roots.

Our roots keep us grounded, feet on soil, spirit to Gaia (Mother Earth), mother to soul, soul in ashes, “From the ashes a fire shall be woken, “ the circle of life. In the whorl, recognise a return to self, “A light from the shadows shall spring” the unseen, seen.

The way of Wicca, in case you forgot, reminds you that YOU ARE A MAGICAL, MYSTICAL BEING OF LIGHT AND LOVE!

We sew and sow, we incant and we speak into being, we create and craft with intent because – energy flows where intent goes.

We learn lines, form and shape – words and symbols that create meaning. We use this collection of meanings to express ourselves, our will and desires, incantation. That is why crafting words is called spelling.

Our hands compose, they hold and nurture, feel and form, heal and craft, sew and sow, speak and flow, our hands remember – and the magic flows. Our thoughts feed purpose and for a brief moment, the world around us returns to calm.

Not all who wander are lost, but all who look in wonder will find it.

Among the faerie stones and mossy knoll, the pebbled path and forest fold, rap the door and mind the cat, the kettle’s on, our interest rapt, for love of truth our stories told – our sovereign gift is bright and bold. That whisper soft and gentle gust that brought you here because here you must. Curled at your feet, like purr and fluff, remember now, remember how – you must.

Your hands, your mind, your words – energy flows where intent goes.

We are all wanderers and wonder we must.
All that is gold does not glitter;
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be King.
JRR Tolkien

The Craziness of Fear by Elsabe Smit

Let me start off by reminding you that fear is an acronym for False Expectations Appearing Real.

Look around you. What is your current reality? Why do you allow this to be your current reality? We both know the answer: fear. Fear of the future – which doesn’t even exist yet, because we are here and now, and this is the only place where we can be. Fear of being arrested for living a normal life – and because so many people have this fear, everyone is convincing themselves and their neighbours that it is OK to have fear.

Judgment has gone out of the window. People are all too willing to believe that a mask – of any kind – can prevent a virus that is not even airborne from being spread. How can you spread a virus by breathing out what your body no longer needs? How can you breathe out a virus that can only spread by touch?

Or maybe you can spread this virus by breathing out what your body no longer needs. If that is the case, how far should you be from another person to prevent the spread? Is it 1.5 metres or 2 metres? Based on what research?

I can cite here so many examples of the most nonsensical behaviour that is accepted and practised based on fear.

What is behind all this? Nope – I will not write about politics and that unnamed threat and broken systems and what else.

Let me tell you about the immense power of what happens between your ears daily.

We are all energy, right? Of course. Energy is in the form of a wave until we add consciousness and then the energy becomes a particle – and many particles become a thing, and that thing materialises.

So what we have here is a few billion people who tuned into the same reality that is fear-based, because they don’t understand the power of their thoughts and how they are creators every day of their lives. And if you don’t create your future, there is always someone who is willing to do it on your behalf.

I see every day how people cross red robots or stop signs – because they are not afraid of the consequences. Show me one person that has never broken any law anywhere or at any time in their life, and I will show you a saint.

Show me one person who is not complaining about the laughable restrictions – not in one country, but across the world, and I will show you a person who understands the power of thought.

We are living with broken legal and governance systems. We complain about our broken world every day. We focus our thoughts on making things around us more broken.

What if we take those same thoughts and we allow ourselves to think about a future where we create what we need for the greater good, and we don’t spend any time, money or energy on fear?

Search on the internet for this book: The Science of Getting Rich.

It is over 100 years old, and it is easy to read. It will blow your mind, and it will help you understand that our future depends not on how many rules we follow, but on how we use our thoughts to create a future.

Awakening

Hello everyone. Thank you for allowing me to write about my on-going adventure called awakening.

I’ve recently been experiencing smells. No matter where I go I’m always smelling perfumes and men’s fragrances and it happens randomly in people’s houses.

So besides the fact that I feel the pain and struggles going on in people’s lives I’m now smelling the people that are roaming around in their spaces from another realm.

Its been a hectic few months. I’ve had friends becoming ill and obviously carrying their feelings and melancholy. I’m also going through some health issues but it gets me wondering if my friends’ illnesses haven’t just attached itself to me.

I’m having back pains- is it a spirit attached to me or just a health issue?

I’m going for a mammogram soon- is that just me feeling my friends pain and its causing me chest pain as its near my heart and I love them so much. They are like my sisters.

Family of mine is going through cancer and chemo so is it my imagination that my breasts are painful and I’m just feeling their pain or is my pain valid and it might be something bad I really can’t- say but my journey being an empath is teaching me so many things, that every day is a new experience.

That’s it for now. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my journey into the unknown world of the supernatural.

Deborah Jordaan

Shining Light on What is Dark

Everyone speaks about the light, giving little reference to darkness – or that which haunts you. It comes as a gift to us, beautifully packaged but unopened. What deters us is the fear of the contents, also known as TRAUMA.

To identify Trauma, you have to peel away layers and layers of addiction, fear, abuse, neglect, vanity, competition, inadequacy, lack of grieving/excessive grieving, violation of self and others, worry and not speaking your TRUTH.

Everyone develops ways to cope and accept a life that is half lived. We set a goal for ourselves and we give it time, multiplied by effort and then we expect an outcome. What we fail to admit to ourselves is what we’re trying to hide when – We know that the goal we set is not what we want and it’s not who we are OR the level of the goal is mediocre. A pattern of Trauma is then activated: shame, denial, deceit, neglect. These are the pillars of Trauma.

Remember the diet that you attempted every Monday morning? Or the intention of completing that which you’ve postponed over and over? Or what about the last cigarette that you’ve lit, 30 cigarettes ago? The list becomes endless. And so each time we berate ourselves for not being strong enough, bold enough, weak, powerless, cowardice and fearful. At the end of the last cigarette, of ‘the last time and this is final,’ we are so traumatised that of course we deserve one more for the road. How do we make it out alive? We don’t. We barely function. We pretend.

Facing what haunts you is gruelling stuff. But we cannot journey forward if we don’t get that monkey off our backs.

by Dominique Jones

World of Crystals

Crystals are very close to my heart, and I work with them regularly. Work? OK, Play, does that sound better? My friends often ask me if I am ‘crystaling’.

I see my crystals as friends. They help me with my garden, home, work and Fayre. They also keep me company when I sleep and bathe.

Each crystal has its own ‘personality’ and ‘character’. Each crystal is different as it is made from different minerals, thus portraying its own colours, plus each has its own unique inclusions. Just like human beings, no 2 crystals are the same.
Crystals are conscious that they are housed in a crystalline body, just as we are conscious that we are housed in a physical body. We are only guardian or keepers of crystals.
Crystals are not our slaves. So we have to ask them to do things for us or where they want to be placed in the home, car, work, garden etc.
If the crystal does not feel happy, it will either shut down and not work, or move. Yes, crystals do move!

Crystals gather, hold, amplify and release energy.

My crystal series is going to concentrate on a specific crystal, giving you ideas on how to clean and work with them. You will also get a good idea on what to do with the crystal once you have chosen it.

Beauty truly is a need. Even if you are only attracted to crystals for their beauty, allow their sparkling energy to get inside of you and uplift you.

You might even be pleasantly surprised as they stimulate some aspect of yourself, like your imagination, your ideas, or your sense of dreaming. Take it one step further and imagine going inside one of them.

You might receive messages or symbols. Whilst ‘crystaling’ you might even feel healing.
The energy of the crystal has the essence and the beauty if you will tune into them.
Enjoy ‘crystaling’

The Holistic Fayre, Bothasig is turning 8, on 12 July 2014

The shortest distance between two people is a smile

Swap out your battered and beaten day at the Shopping Centre with an indulging day of warm hospitality and effortless chatting amidst interesting and exciting stalls. Perhaps you’d like to visit a Reader for a peep into what the future might say….

We have a great selection of Psychic, Tarot, Angel, Astrology, Rune Stones, Medium and Numerology Readers, or maybe sooth those tired muscles with a relaxing Massage, Reflexology or even some Shiatsu.

Meander through the hall with its great selection of books, CD’s, DVD’s, Incense Sticks, Aromatherapy Home and Personal Care, Crystals, Jewels, Plants, Orgonite, Water Fountains, Healing Oils, Hats, Gifts, Clothing,  and much more.  You never know where you might find your next treasure.

Don’t forget to grab a cup of gourmet Coffee and a slice of delicious Cake while browsing…. And for lunch…. Choose from delicious Vegetarian & Non-vegetarian Meals, pastries, and Asian or even Greek dish….. you’ll be spoiled for choice… Not so hungry… how about a Samoosa or Cupcake? For this special celebration we have a very invigorating and exciting day planned just for you.

Various Belly Dancing Studios are shimmering through the hall with veils and scarves,  following the beat of the Drummer as they fill the hall with delight. Later, you’re welcome to try your hand at some free drumming…

Listen carefully during the course of the day for the announcement of the 8 Magic Word Competition.  Be enchanted with over 20 prizes for this Competition. Exhibitors have donated over 200 prizes to be given away to Lucky Visitors.  Prizes vary from gifts to gift vouchers, treatments and sessions.  Two little Angels will be roaming through the hall giving away mini Tea Cups sets and Lucky Birthday Pegs .

For an entrance fee of only R5-, you will be entertained, no doubt receive Free Gifts, and attend Free Lessons as you mingle indoors in a positive and energizing environment.  Spend the day with us and leave feeling excited, fun-filled and re-vitalized. Situated near the N7 Freeway, The Bothasig Community Hall is easily located with ample secure parking, often under trees.  Festivities start at 10am ending at 4pm with a Closing Ceremony of Gratitude.

Arrive a Stranger, leave as a Friend.

Visit our Website www.aboutholistic.co.za for full program of monthly Fayre

 

7th Birthday Photos

A birthday is not a Birthday without a Cake

Our 7th Birthday was a roaring Success!  Thanks to You that made this possible.  Here are a few selected photos, for a full view of all photos, please view our Facebook Group

Opening Ceremony
This takes place before every Holistic Fayre. This helps bring the positive vibe you always feel upon entering the hall

Candle of love, harmony and friendship has been burning for 7 years.

Mariechen blowing bubbles

3 of our Best Psychic
Alison, Phyl and Mariechen

Please leave messages for our Beloved Madiba

Jewels to add sparkle to your life

Healing Oils all the way from Hermanus

All jewels hand crafted by Sally

Maria offers Awesome Orgonite to protect your home and lifestyle

Johan offers a wide range of organic herbs, plants and accessories

Free 20 minute Informative Talks available at the Fayre, every hour on the hour

Theresa welcomes everyone at the door. She often has Free Gifts on offer

M.E.R.C.Y. Animal Rescue is our Charity of choice. Please support

Pieter offers Herbal Remedies

Join in a Free Drumming Lesson at the Fayre

Zarina offers yummy scrumptious home made Indian Cuisine

Michelle offers mini-hand manicures and a Whisper of Fragrance

You will find the widest selection of Esoteric Books and Angel Cards at our Fayre

Be thrilled by Belly Dancers – watch out – they dance through the hall

Attend another very popular Speaker, Maeve, in one of her Free 20 minute Talks at our Fayre

Colourful Belly Dancers, who all offer Belly Dancing lessons

The widest selection in Cape Town of incense sticks and accessories is at our Fayre