Dark Moon Tarot

STOP POISONING YOUR FAMILY, PETS & SELF! DIY Household Cleaners that are safe & effective I recently had a conversation about a co-worker’s daughter having chronic breathing issues and allergies.  As she was talking, I kept visualizing Febreze bottles around her, so I asked what type of cleaning products she used in the home.  She replied, “my daughter is addicted to Febreze and squirts everything with it”.   I gasped. According to the EWG, Febreze contains 89 air contaminants, which are toxic to the brain and nervous system. These contaminants are linked to cancer, are toxic to the reproductive system and cause allergies. When we are accustomed to using everyday products, it’s hard to grasp that we could possibly be poisoning our pets, our families, and ourselves. However, a lot of what we use on a regular basis could be doing just that.  Here are some simple recipes to make your own household cleaners that are effective for disinfecting and are safe for your pets, family and self. KRIS’ TOP 5 ITEMS TO KEEP IN YOUR CLEANING CLOSET Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap - Made with water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E, and some are scented with essential oils. White Distilled Vinegar Borax Baking Soda Essential Oils  Multipurpose Cleaner – add 1 tsp of unscented or scented castile soap, 1 tbsp of baking soda for food areas or ½ tsp of Borax for a stronger cleaner (bathroom), and two cups of hot water to a spray bottle.  Use safely to clean many surfaces excluding wood.  If using unscented castile soap, use essential oils of choice.  Have fun with mixing your own delicious smelling cleaners! Scrubbing Cleanser – mix ¼ cup baking soda, 1 tbsp of castile soap, and add enough distilled vinegar until it reaches a thick, yet creamy texture. Window/Glass Cleaner – mix ½ tsp of unscented castile soap, 3 tbsp white vinegar, 15 drops of essential oil of choice and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.  I love mixing lavender and rosemary essential oils for this window cleaner.  It makes the entire room spell relaxing and fresh! Stain Remover – Mix castile soap with water on a cloth rag to remove stains on cloths, carpet, and other surfaces.  Watch stains disappear with ease. Hand Soap – fill a foaming dispenser with water, add 7-9 drops of unscented castile soap, and add desired essential oils.  Use in the bathroom, kitchen, office, or common areas to keep germs and bacteria minimized. Laundry Detergent – mix equal parts of lavender castile soap and Borax in a large container; add hot water until it reaches desired consistency.  Should be slightly thinner than a normal laundry detergent. Use just under a cup for a normal sized load to enjoy a non-toxic clean! Dishwashing Liquid – fill a squirt bottle a little less than ½ with castile soap, next fill water almost to the top, add 1 tsp of lemon juice, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. Floor Cleaner – add 1/3 cup of borax, 1 tsp castile soap, and 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to mop bucket for a fresh and safe shine! Air Deodorizing Spray – fill a 4oz spray bottle almost to the top with purified water; add 12 drops of rosemary essential oil, 8 drops of lemon essential oil, and 6 drops of thyme essential oil.  Have fun mixing your own fragrant combinations, but make sure to use high quality essential oils. If you have a favorite household cleaner you make, please reply with your recipe! Kris @Dark Moon Tarot

STOP POISONING YOUR FAMILY, PETS & SELF!

DIY Household Cleaners that are safe & effective

I recently had a conversation about a co-worker’s daughter having chronic breathing issues and allergies.  As she was talking, I kept visualizing Febreze bottles around her, so I asked what type of cleaning products she used in the home.  She replied, “my daughter is addicted to Febreze and squirts everything with it”.   I gasped.


According to the EWG, Febreze contains 89 air contaminants, which are toxic to the brain and nervous system. These contaminants are linked to cancer, are toxic to the reproductive system and cause allergies.


When we are accustomed to using everyday products, it’s hard to grasp that we could possibly be poisoning our pets, our families, and ourselves. However, a lot of what we use on a regular basis could be doing just that. 


Here are some simple recipes to make your own household cleaners that are effective for disinfecting and are safe for your pets, family and self.


KRIS’ TOP 5 ITEMS TO KEEP IN YOUR CLEANING CLOSET
  • Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap - Made with water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E, and some are scented with essential oils.
  • White Distilled Vinegar
  • Borax
  • Baking Soda
  • Essential Oils 
Multipurpose Cleaner – add 1 tsp of unscented or scented castile soap, 1 tbsp of baking soda for food areas or ½ tsp of Borax for a stronger cleaner (bathroom), and two cups of hot water to a spray bottle.  Use safely to clean many surfaces excluding wood.  If using unscented castile soap, use essential oils of choice.  Have fun with mixing your own delicious smelling cleaners!


Scrubbing Cleanser – mix ¼ cup baking soda, 1 tbsp of castile soap, and add enough distilled vinegar until it reaches a thick, yet creamy texture.


Window/Glass Cleaner – mix ½ tsp of unscented castile soap, 3 tbsp white vinegar, 15 drops of essential oil of choice and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.  I love mixing lavender and rosemary essential oils for this window cleaner.  It makes the entire room spell relaxing and fresh!


Stain Remover – Mix castile soap with water on a cloth rag to remove stains on cloths, carpet, and other surfaces.  Watch stains disappear with ease.


Hand Soap – fill a foaming dispenser with water, add 7-9 drops of unscented castile soap, and add desired essential oils.  Use in the bathroom, kitchen, office, or common areas to keep germs and bacteria minimized.


Laundry Detergent – mix equal parts of lavender castile soap and Borax in a large container; add hot water until it reaches desired consistency.  Should be slightly thinner than a normal laundry detergent. Use just under a cup for a normal sized load to enjoy a non-toxic clean!


Dishwashing Liquid – fill a squirt bottle a little less than ½ with castile soap, next fill water almost to the top, add 1 tsp of lemon juice, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil.


Floor Cleaner – add 1/3 cup of borax, 1 tsp castile soap, and 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to mop bucket for a fresh and safe shine!


Air Deodorizing Spray – fill a 4oz spray bottle almost to the top with purified water; add 12 drops of rosemary essential oil, 8 drops of lemon essential oil, and 6 drops of thyme essential oil.  Have fun mixing your own fragrant combinations, but make sure to use high quality essential oils.


If you have a favorite household cleaner you make, please reply with your recipe!


Kris @Dark Moon Tarot

Source facebook.com

Magickal Uses of Bittersweet Nightshade Bittersweet nightshade is a variety of nightshade that’s less poisonous than deadly nightshade. You can find bittersweet nightshade growing on the side of the road, near trees and along fences. Caution should be used when handling or harvesting this variety because it is poisonous. There are herbal remedies that use bittersweet nightshade but unless you are a trained herbalist, you should NOT consume this plant, burn this plant or apply it to your skin in any way. Make sure to store bittersweet nightshade far away from children and your beloved familiars. Magickal uses for bittersweet nightshade are similar to those of deadly nightshade and any plant in the nightshade family can be used interchangeably for most magickal workings. Bittersweet nightshade adds power to any magick done on the Dark Moon. It is great for spells involving beauty or faerie glamour and it is very protective. You can hang bittersweet nightshade upside down by the entrances of your home to protect your home & yourself from harmful energies, magick, spirits & people. Any variety of nightshade can be used to honor the dead or in rituals involving death and the spirit realm. Traditionally this plant should be gathered/harvested on Samhain when the berries have all turned red. Peace, Love & Magick Kelly

Magickal Uses of Bittersweet Nightshade

Bittersweet nightshade is a variety of nightshade that’s less poisonous than deadly nightshade. You can find bittersweet nightshade growing on the side of the road, near trees and along fences. Caution should be used when handling or harvesting this variety because it is poisonous. There are herbal remedies that use bittersweet nightshade but unless you are a trained herbalist, you should NOT consume this plant, burn this plant or apply it to your skin in any way. Make sure to store bittersweet nightshade far away from children and your beloved familiars.

Magickal uses for bittersweet nightshade are similar to those of deadly nightshade and any plant in the nightshade family can be used interchangeably for most magickal workings.

Bittersweet nightshade adds power to any magick done on the Dark Moon. It is great for spells involving beauty or faerie glamour and it is very protective. You can hang bittersweet nightshade upside down by the entrances of your home to protect your home & yourself from harmful energies, magick, spirits & people. Any variety of nightshade can be used to honor the dead or in rituals involving death and the spirit realm. Traditionally this plant should be gathered/harvested on Samhain when the berries have all turned red.

Peace, Love & Magick

Kelly

Source darkmoontarot.com

MAGICKAL USES OF PINE SAP Pine sap has been used in natural remedies and it’s been burned to fuel fires for thousands of years. Pine sap has many practical and magickal uses which makes it an excellent collection to your magickal supply closet! Harvesting Pine Sap Pine sap oozes out of pine trees when the tree is injured. The sap is the way the pine tree heals itself. When harvesting the sap, make sure not to harvest too much. Only harvest from pine trees where there is a lot of sap build-up and leave enough so that the tree’s wound is left well covered by sap. Always thank the tree after harvesting your sap. I’ll usually leave an offering behind as well. Magickal Uses Pine sap is excellent to use in purification, protection and healing spells & rituals. When burned as an incense, pine will remove any negative/incorrect energy from a space. The aroma of pine sap incense also helps to relieve stress and to put a worried mind at ease. Carry some pine sap in a mojo bag to psychically protect yourself. You can use pine sap as a natural glue to hold together magickal crafts for offerings or ritual. If your candles won’t stop tilting in their holder, placing pine sap under them will hold the candle in it’s place! Pine sap is waterproof so it can also be used to mend small cracks in terra-cotta planters or offering bowls. Next time you are out on your nature walk, harvest some pine sap! The pine sap in the photo above is some that I’ve recently harvested. Peace, Love & Magick Kelly

MAGICKAL USES OF PINE SAP

Pine sap has been used in natural remedies and it’s been burned to fuel fires for thousands of years. Pine sap has many practical and magickal uses which makes it an excellent collection to your magickal supply closet!

Harvesting Pine Sap

Pine sap oozes out of pine trees when the tree is injured. The sap is the way the pine tree heals itself. When harvesting the sap, make sure not to harvest too much. Only harvest from pine trees where there is a lot of sap build-up and leave enough so that the tree’s wound is left well covered by sap. Always thank the tree after harvesting your sap. I’ll usually leave an offering behind as well.

Magickal Uses

Pine sap is excellent to use in purification, protection and healing spells & rituals. When burned as an incense, pine will remove any negative/incorrect energy from a space. The aroma of pine sap incense also helps to relieve stress and to put a worried mind at ease. Carry some pine sap in a mojo bag to psychically protect yourself.

You can use pine sap as a natural glue to hold together magickal crafts for offerings or ritual. If your candles won’t stop tilting in their holder, placing pine sap under them will hold the candle in it’s place! Pine sap is waterproof so it can also be used to mend small cracks in terra-cotta planters or offering bowls.

Next time you are out on your nature walk, harvest some pine sap! The pine sap in the photo above is some that I’ve recently harvested.

Peace, Love & Magick

Kelly

Source darkmoontarot.com

Rudraksha Seeds This is my new rudraksha seed that I found at a Tibetan store in Boston. I’ve been searching high & low for a nine faced rudraksha seed, as it is representative of the Goddess that I work with most frequently, Durga. By wearing and using this rudraksha seed, it is said Durga will bring success and bless the wearer with fearlessness, power, dynamism, energy, motivation, pleasure & the understanding of one’s purpose in this life. This type of rudraksha is traditionally capped in silver and worn on a red string. “Om Hreem Hum Namah” is a traditional mantra that can be chanted while wearing this rudraksha seed. Seeds from the rudraksha tree are commonly used to make pendants, traditional Indian medicines & malas. Malas are sets of prayer beads that are used when reciting mantras, prayers & while chanting in Hinduism & Buddhism. Rudraksha seeds have different qualities, healing abilities and traditional uses/associations depending on how many “mukhis” or “faces” the seed has. Some rudraksha seeds are very rare and can be quite expensive! To learn more about the different deity associations and benefits of working with different rudraksha seeds: check out this helpful page: http://www.holyrudraksha.com/rudraksha/cat_3.html Since I’ve started using this rudraksha seed during my mediation, I have found that I feel more confident, energized & motivated. If you haven’t tried working with rudraksha seeds yet, I can’t recommend it enough! Peace, Love & Magick Kelly Photo by Kelly @Dark Moon Tarot (c)2012

Rudraksha Seeds

This is my new rudraksha seed that I found at a Tibetan store in Boston. I’ve been searching high & low for a nine faced rudraksha seed, as it is representative of the Goddess that I work with most frequently, Durga. By wearing and using this rudraksha seed, it is said Durga will bring success and bless the wearer with fearlessness, power, dynamism, energy, motivation, pleasure & the understanding of one’s purpose in this life. This type of rudraksha is traditionally capped in silver and worn on a red string. “Om Hreem Hum Namah” is a traditional mantra that can be chanted while wearing this rudraksha seed.

Seeds from the rudraksha tree are commonly used to make pendants, traditional Indian medicines & malas. Malas are sets of prayer beads that are used when reciting mantras, prayers & while chanting in Hinduism & Buddhism.

Rudraksha seeds have different qualities, healing abilities and traditional uses/associations depending on how many “mukhis” or “faces” the seed has. Some rudraksha seeds are very rare and can be quite expensive! To learn more about the different deity associations and benefits of working with different rudraksha seeds: check out this helpful page: http://www.holyrudraksha.com/rudraksha/cat_3.html

Since I’ve started using this rudraksha seed during my mediation, I have found that I feel more confident, energized & motivated. If you haven’t tried working with rudraksha seeds yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

Peace, Love & Magick

Kelly

Photo by Kelly @Dark Moon Tarot (c)2012

Source darkmoontarot.com