How to Determine Your Life Path Number

Here you’ll learn how to determine your numerology life path number, what it means, and some numerology basics. Traditional numerology is similar to astrology in some ways. Like astrology, numerologists believe that your birthdate can give you clues about possible challenges you may face and what your purpose is during this Earthly visit.

Also, similar to astrology, numerology is a very complex system. No worries, I will break down the basics for you so you can quickly understand what numerology is and how to start applying it to your life.

I have an easy printable guide to help you find your life path number and understand its meaning. Get it here along with my other magical printables.

What is numerology?

Numbers are the language of the universe. Numbers cannot lie. No matter your background or faith, 2+2 will always equal 4. Numbers connect all of us, not only with each other but with nature and the entire universe.

Every number carries a vibration of energy. In numerology, this energy is used to gain insights into your personality and your purpose here.

The numbers used in numerology are 1-9 because all other numbers can be made from these. There are also a couple of “master numbers,” 11 and 22, and some numerologists use 33 as well. More on master numbers below.

What is your life path number?

Your life path number is the most important number to learn when it comes to numerology. It’s the number that was assigned, or, predetermined by you, at the moment of your birth. Your life path number will give you an idea of what challenges you may face while you’re here, your personality traits, and your purpose for being here.

How to determine your life path number

Your birthdate determines your life path number. Each number is added until you end with a single digit between 1-9. I break this down into steps below or get your printable version here.

Birth month added until you reach a single digit + birth date until you reach a single digit + birth year added until you reach a single digit = life path number.

I’ll use mine as an example. My birthdate is February 14, 1984.

• My birth month (no adding necessary) = 2

• My birth date of 14 will get added up as follows: 1+4=5

• My birth year of 1984 will be added up like so: 1+9+8+4= 22, 2+2=4 and then each of these numbers is added up until I reach a single digit: 2+5+4=11, 1+1=2

• Which makes my life path number 11 or 2.

If your life path number adds up to an 11, like mine, or a 22, you may choose to learn more about master numbers. Many numerologists use master numbers, but not all. Some have even added a third master number of 33. I suggest doing research on both your master number (11 or 22) and what that number is added together (2 or 4). If you do fall into this category, you can decide for yourself which number seems to be a better fit for you.

What does your life path number mean?

Now that you know your life path number, let’s dig into what it means! Read below to learn more about your life path number or click here to receive your free printable download of life path number meanings.

Does something seem off about the information provided for your life path number? Here are two things to consider. One reason could be, six numbers make up your complete numerology birth chart, if something seems amiss, it may be worth your time to dive a little deeper into your full numerology birth chart. The second reason that your life path number could seem a little off is if you haven’t yet reached the point in your life where you’ve fully dedicated yourself to your life path. Listen to those inner callings! Perhaps you are more destined than you think to follow your numerology life path.

Independent 1s love to go it alone. Careers that will allow you to make your own decisions and be in charge are ideal for you. Accomplishing your goals will come easily to you because you’re very driven and focused. Be sure to pencil in some alone time regularly as this will help you maintain a healthy balance.

Cooperative 2s feel most at ease in a pair. You thrive in happy and healthy relationships with friends and having a solid partner is very important to your well-being. Two’s work well in fields that involve working with others, mediating, and peacemaking. You tend to be emotionally sensitive, be sure to make your feelings and needs known in your relationships to maintain emotional stability.

Creative 3s feel most alive putting on a show for others. You most likely have a creative gift of some kind, whether it be in the visual arts, performance, or written, and you love to share your gifts. Your purpose is to entertain and share your many talents with others. Make sure you allow yourself time to organize and plan as these traits can often be overlooked by 3s.

Dedicated 4s are committed to accomplishing their goals. You’re a hard worker and never give up on a challenge. Your ability to think through problems with logic and innovation makes you ideal for working in fields that involve finding solutions to unusual predicaments. Because you’re such a proficient problem solver it’s important for you to remain flexible, even when it’s a challenge.

Active 5s are charismatic busybodies. Change doesn’t frighten you at all, in fact, you thrive off of it! You probably find yourself the life of the party in many situations because you have such an alluring personality. Though you’ll likely have a variety of careers, you’ll do well in ones that involve using your wonderful personality like sales and PR. Your constant need for change can lead to a more addictive personality, make sure you’re finding healthy ways to get your thrills.

Nurturing 6s are natural caregivers. You probably find that you’re the person friends come to in a time of need. That’s because your life path is to care for others and give. Any field in the caregiving arena will play to your strengths. There’s a tricky balance to being such a dedicated giver. Be sure to pencil in lots of self-care to ensure you’re striking a healthy balance of giving and receiving.

Contemplative 7s are on a mission to uncover the truth. You’re intrigued by universal unknowns and likely feel a strong pull to find solutions to big life quandaries. Careers that allow you to uncover truths will keep you engaged and content. Time alone is important for your well-being, especially activities that help you calm your mind and allow you to get in touch with your intuition.

Master manifesting 8s have powerful minds and an even stronger will. Be careful what you wish for, your ability to create your own reality is stronger than most. If you have a positive outlook, you’ll likely meet your goals with ease, which is why many 8s are very successful. Be sure to make time for more pleasurable activities otherwise you may find yourself consumed by your work.

Empathic 9s are generous humanitarians. You feel the pain of others and the world and desperately want to fix it. Making money for your own material gains is not a top priority for you. Your friends and family likely find you very trustworthy and honest. Your selfless path of giving can be challenging at times, and you may find yourself angry because others do not share your passion for helping the less fortunate. Be gentle with yourself and patient with others that may not share your passion for giving.

Inspiring 11s are natural-born teachers. You are here on this Earth to carry inspiring messages to your fellow humans. Though this may seem like a daunting task, it is your purpose for being here. Start small and believe in yourself. 11s are intuitive and extremely sensitive. Learning how to cope with your sensitivities will make sharing your gifts more feasible.

Master builder 22s can turn their visions into reality with ease. You are a perfect combination of spiritual and grounded. You’re able to offer solutions that are sound logically and metaphysically because you can easily see the bigger picture. Manifesting comes almost effortless to you and you likely put this skill to good use. Balancing your perfectionism and sometimes controlling ways with relaxing activities will help you find balance.

If your interest is piqued by this blog post there are many resources available to dig much deeper into this topic! The next number you may want to research is your destiny number, but I’ll save that for another blog post. If you've been seeing a number again and again, click here to learn what it means.

The Meanings & Origins of the Triple Goddess Symbol

With the current rise in popularity of the moon phases, it can be easy to overlook the meaning and history of these symbols. The Triple Goddess symbol, comprised of a waxing crescent, full moon, and a waning crescent, is often thrown into the mix of trending moon imagery but has deeper roots and more profound meaning than you may have expected.

The Triple Goddess symbol has been adopted by most witches, Pagans, Wiccans, and Neopagans as a sacred symbol. Perhaps you’re already quite familiar with the Triple Goddess symbol, and it already holds deep meaning to you, or maybe you’ve always felt pulled to it but don’t know why. Here is a past post where I talk about the Triple Goddess and also give you a free printable wall hanging, check it out!

Triple Goddess Symbol Meaning

If you’ve been curious about its purpose, that’s just where I’m going to start. I’ll be sharing the meaning behind this symbol and will also touch on its rich, and somewhat controversial, origins as well.

The most common meaning assigned to the Triple Goddess symbol is the maiden, mother, and crone. Each phase of the moon correlates with a phase of a woman's life. Here’s a breakdown of each phase.

The Maiden: Represented by the new moon. The maiden embodies purity, youth, creation, pleasure, naivety, and new beginnings. The maiden invites you to explore your spirituality, sensuality, and creativity.

The Mother: Represented by the full moon. The mother embodies love, fertility nourishment responsibility, patience, gratitude, power, and self-care. The mother invites you to master giving and receiving love.

The Crone: Represented by the fading waning moon. The crone embodies endings, wisdom, death, acceptance, and culmination. The crone invites you to accept that without death there is no birth.

The mother, maiden, and crone is not the only way to honor and connect with this symbol. Here are some other meanings of the Triple Goddess symbol.

• Planes and realms: Earth, the underworld, and heaven

• Cycles: Life, Birth, Death, and ultimately rebirth as the moon phases continue

• Goddesses: Demeter, Persephone/Kore, Hecate

• A connection to all women and womanhood

• A connection to the divine feminine

What are the origins of the Triple Goddess?

Many support the theory that author Robert Graves spurred the origins of the Triple Goddess with his book, The White Goddess, published in 1948. It was after this that some believe the Triple Goddess, as we know it today, was born. Though there’s evidence that supports this theory, many think documentation of the Triple Goddess can be found much earlier in our history.

I’ll try not to nerd out on you too much in this post, but if you want to dig deep into some of the current literature and theories, I highly suggest reading John Halstead’s three-part series on the history of the Triple Goddess. Here’s part one, it’s long but well worth the read!

A variety of other scholars, practicing Pagans, and practicing Wiccans have also found clues that point to a Triple Goddess well before Graves’ time. Here’s a quick synopsis of my current understanding of the links from the past to our present Triple Goddess:

1. In the 5th century BCE, the Goddess Hecate was depicted in sculpture as three Goddesses in one.

2. From this time through the 2nd century CE a variety of texts can be found that reference triads of Goddesses and different phases of life, though none explicitly link them to the moon. Demeter, Persephone, and Hecate are all mentioned. See Halstead’s article for writings from some of these texts.

3. The 3rd century CE Demeter is associated with the moon, and two different phases (new and full).

4. 4th century CE a full connection is made between the moon and the Triple Goddess in a text by Servius. You can check out the translated excerpt in part 3 of Halstead’s writings.

As I said, this is my basic understanding of some of the theories that branch off from Graves’ hypothesis. I recommend you read up on it further if the topic has piqued your interest!

Why wear or use this symbol?

You don’t have to subscribe to Paganism or Wicca to enjoy this symbol. But if you’ve been sporting it, it’s sure nice to know the meaning behind it.

Wearing the Triple Goddess symbol can be a powerful reminder throughout the day of your connection to the divine feminine and all it represents. Personally, I enjoy wearing the symbol for its remainder of the constant flow of life, birth, death, rebirth. Using the symbol on your altar or in a sacred space can help call in this same energy.

What are the 4 Elements and How to Use Them

What are the 4 elements?

The four elements are present all around and within you. They are essential to all life. You and the universe are formed by these four elements: earth, air, water, fire. These elements go beyond the physical and manifest as personality traits and energetic forces too.

The elements are here to bring balance. Fire needs water to be quenched and the earth needs wind to move it. Your personality might contain more fire and less water, contributing to specific distinctions in your outlook on life and how you express yourself. The elements of your personality can be balanced just like nature.

Each element carries its own set of qualities. No element is inherently bad or good. They each carry an equal amount of positive and negative traits.

You can apply the four elements to your life in endless ways. Let’s start with why you’d want to use them!

Why represent the 4 elements?

Balancing your own energy

Did you know that your zodiac sign corresponds with one of the four elements? Check out the chart below to see what element you lean towards based on your sign.

One great way to employ the power of the four elements is to balance your own energy. If you lean towards the earth element you may find that bringing some fire energy into your life may energize you. Try wearing a symbol or object that represents the element you’re needing more of.

Bringing Elemental Energy into your space

Do you live or work in a space that’s really tense or competitive? The energy of the space might be overloaded with fire energy that could really benefit from some balancing water energy. By adding some simple symbols or objects that represent water you may find that the vibe of the space really mellows out.

Magical and ritual practices

Because the four elements are the building blocks of all things, inside and outside of you, they are essential for most rituals and magical practices. Think of them as energetic forces to employ for magical manifesting and ritual. Simply having all four of them represented on your altar or in a sacred space is a powerful balancing force.

How to represent the 4 elements

The four elements can be represented in physical form or non-physical form (a symbol) for different purposes. The symbols and representations of them can be placed in a variety of areas. You can wear them, put them on your altar, on your desk, in your car, or in a room. Here are a few ways that you can represent each of the elements.

Earth

• The symbol for Earth element

• Root chakra

• Earthy stones like jasper, agate, amber, petrified wood, and malachite

• Metal and wood objects

• Green or brown candle

• Plants and flowers

• Pentacle

Water

• The symbol for the Water element

• Sacral chakra

• Vessel of water

• Blue candle

• Moonstone

• Shells, coral, sand dollars, etc.

• Moon symbolism

• Cauldron or chalice

Fire

• The symbol for the Fire element

• Solar plexus chakra

• Candles

• Burning herbs or incense

• Matches or lighter

• Fire opal and carnelian

• Athame

Air

• The symbol for the Air element

• Third eye chakra

• Smoke from resin, herbs, or incense

• Wand

• Yellow candle

• Citrine and smoky quartz

• Feather

• Fan

• Butterfly, birds, fairies, or dragonflies

You may have already noticed that many of these overlap. For example, burning herbs can serve for earth (the plant material), air (the smoke), and fire (as it burns). Add in an abalone shell (water) to the mix and you’ve got all four elements represented very easily!

The Importance of Sacred Space & How to Create One

I think of sacred space as being very root chakra related. A sacred space feels like home. It feels safe to do your most vulnerable work and have your deepest breakthroughs there. It feels safe to put your worries, your fears, your joys, your disappointments, everything that you have and are on the altar there.

The best part is that you don’t need anyone to hold this sacred space for you. You can hold it for yourself.

What is it, exactly? It’s any space that you set aside as sacred or holy. It’s a place where you can meditate, do magic and ritual, and connect to your highest self. This might look like an altar, or it might not. If you are interested in creating your own sacred altar, check out this blog post.

Your space is personal and unique to you. This blog post is all about creating sacred space in your home, but remember that you are sacred, too, and any space you hold for yourself can be a sacred space. Divinity doesn’t have to be experienced just at your altar.

With that being said, here are a few ideas for things you might like to include in your sacred space:

A Window

Having your sacred space by a window can be a beautiful way to connect with nature even from the inside. See the sun, the stars, and feel the breeze right in your space.

A Moon Calendar

Connecting with the phases of the moon can help anchor you and connect you with nature. Having moon ritual cards in your sacred space where you do rituals and other healing practices that you might base around moon cycles is ideal.

Crystals

Crystals can raise the frequency of your space and bring in specific energies you want to work with. The options are endless, but some crystals you might like to have in your sacred space are:

• Amethyst to help you connect with your intuition and boost your mood

• Clear quartz (the ultimate crystal!), the ultimate healer, balancer, manifestor, and energy amplifier

• Rose quartz for heart opening

• Labradorite for self-discovery

• Citrine to bring in energizing and creative energy

• Fluorite to cleanse your aura and draw off negative energy

• Obsidian or black tourmaline for grounding

• Selenite to access higher guidance and open your crown chakra

Candles

Candles and their colors have all different types of uses. You can use them in spell work, rituals, burning ceremonies, or just to bring some soft light into your space. Here are some different candle color meanings (source):

• Blue for harmony, peace, and tranquility

• Red for passion and action

• White for purifying, cleansing, and clarity

• Purple for psychic abilities and spiritual awakening

• Yellow for inspiration and creativity

• Orange for energizing, joy, and success

• Pink for love, compassion, and forgiveness

• Green for nature, growth, and fertility

• Brown for grounding, Earthy energy

Learn more about candle magick here.

A Feather

You can use your feather to direct the flow of smoke when cleansing with a smoke wand or herb. For example, when cleansing yourself you might want to circle the smoke around the top of your head or other parts of your body. A feather will help you do that!

Plants & Herbs

Plants and herbs have so many practical and magickal uses. You can use herbs in your sacred space for burning or tea-drinking, and you might like to also have dried or fresh flowers, or other plants that you feel connected to.Learn more about herbal magick here.

Essential Oils

Like plants and herbs, essential oils also have many practical and magickal uses. Use them in your sacred space for ritual, to anoint your candles, to assist in meditation, or to massage your body. Some go-tos you might like to have are:

• Geranium oil for self-love

• Juniper for protection and purification

• Cilantro oil for releasing negative energy

• Lavender oil for peace and healing

• Frankincense and myrrh oil for meditation

• Yarrow oil to connect with your psychic abilities

Tarot or Oracle Decks

Your sacred space is the perfect place to keep any divination tools you use such as tarot cards, oracle cards, or runes. Display the card or rune you’re working with at the moment on your altar as a visual reminder of the energy you’re working to create, or the intentions you’re working to manifest.

Visual Representations of Goddesses You’re Working With

This could be a printed photo, a statue, an oracle card, a painting, or another creative representation that resonates with you. Everyone’s needs are different, so choose a goddess that you feel drawn to work with. That likely means that she has a message for you.

Salt Lamp

Salt has been touted for its magical properties for a long time. Practically, having a salt lamp in your space releases negative ions (which actually make you feel good, despite the name!) and detoxifies the air. But magically, salt also purifies and protects against psychic attacks. If you don’t want to go for a lamp, you can also opt for a small bowl of sea salt.

Additional Representations of the Four Elements

You don’t actually need additional representations of the four elements (fire, earth, water, and air), since you likely already have them on your altar. But feel free to add any other elements to your space that you’d like, such as a bowl of water.

Learn more about the four elements here.

Any Sacred Possessions

Anything that feels sacred and holds special meaning to you, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else, can also go in your sacred space. Maybe it’s photographs, special objects, or mementos. Whatever it is, feel free to add it.

You can customize your sacred space or altar depending on where you are in life and what you’re trying to manifest. For example, you might create an abundance altar centered around money, photos of abundance goddesses like Lakshmi, tarot cards like the 10 of pentacles, and herbs or spices that promote abundance when you want to manifest material wealth.

The most important thing to remember is that this space is for you. All of the above are just options and suggestions. Create a space that feels sacred to you, and you will have created a sacred space.

Manifesting with Runes // With Free Rune Printable

Being a master manifestor is a skill that many seek. There are endless techniques and tools available when it comes to manifesting like a pro and I’m sure you’ve tried some of them. Dream boards, visualization, mantras, and crystals are a few popular manifesting tools.

While there’s nothing wrong with these techniques, there’s one powerful manifesting tool that’s often overlooked, Runes.

Runes are symbols that each carry unique universal energy. These special symbols were used by Nordic and Germanic cultures in Northern Europe as forms of language, for religious purposes, and as tools of magick and divination.

Author Lisa Peschel explains this in her book, A Practical Guide to The Runes.

Before this time [being used as a form of language] runes were primarily a magickal system of pictographs representing the forces and objects in Nature. It was believed that by calling upon the appropriate rune one could thereby make contact with the force in Nature the symbol represented.

Each Runic symbol creates a specific type of energy and some lend themselves to manifesting more than others. Here’s a list of the most powerful manifesting Runes and what they’re most aligned with manifesting.

Search this list to identify the perfect Rune(s) to aid your current manifesting project!

The Best Runes for Manifesting

Fehu for abundance:This fast-acting Rune is perfect for helping you manifest wealth. It is great for initiating new monetary ventures and circulating abundance.

Uruz to keep you going: Employ the use of Uruz to bolster your strength and remove self-doubt during manifesting. This Rune will also help you with stamina while manifesting goals that take more time

Thurisaz for change: The original meaning of this Rune is “thorn” so it’s not surprising that the meaning of it is all about breaking through. Use this Rune when you’re working on manifesting big changes in your life and you need a powerful and directive catalyst. This Rune can also help you overcome blocks while manifesting.

Gebo for partnerships:This Rune is all about manifesting partnerships. That could be friendships, business relationships, relationships, or marriage. Gebo helps create a balance of energy and is all about equal exchanges. Use this Rune anytime you’re manifesting goals include working with others.

Wunju for happiness: Looking to manifest some more peace and harmony in your life? Wunjo is your Rune! Wunjo is a beautifully powerful Rune that’s great at helping you fulfill wishes, peace, joy, and happiness.

Jara for material objects: If you have your manifesting eye on a material object that requires specific steps to acquire Jera is your Rune. Jera is a great aid for turning dreams into tangible results.

Teiwaz to win: This Rune is all about being victorious. If you’re in the process of manifesting a specific outcome this Rune will be helpful, especially when it comes to competitions. This Rune seeks justice.

Berkana for creation: My personal favorite! Berkano is here to help you birth your big ideas into reality. Recruit Berkano to help lay the fertile ground needed while manifesting new ideas.Now that you know which Runes are your manifesting besties, here are some key ways to work them into your manifesting toolbox. These methods pair perfectly with other manifesting tools mentioned above, so don’t be afraid to mix them up. Already have a vision board for a manifesting project? Put a bird on it! Just kidding, we’ll be using Runes today ;)

Need some Runes to get going? Click here to get your free printable Rune sheet.

5 Ways to Use Runes for Manifesting

1. Put your manifesting Rune in a visible area like your altar, meditation space, bathroom mirror, or on a vision board.

2. Carve your manifesting Rune into a candle that you light regularly as a reminder of what you’re working on manifesting.

3. Wear a Rune talisman. Having a daily wearable reminder is a powerful way to not only be reminded of your manifesting goals but carry the potent power of the Runes with you.

4. Create a Runescript. Linking Runes together in a specific order can have a positive effect on your end results. Learn more about creating a Runescript here.

5. Visualize or meditate on the rune(s) that you’re working with. Hold the image of the Rune you’re using in your mind's eye and try to embody its energy as you meditate or visualize.

If you’ve been unsure about how to use Runes in the past I hope you’re feeling excited to jump in now! Put these powerful symbols to use and start manifesting.

Tap Into the Wisdom of Your Ancestors with Meditation and Breathwork

Samhain, the sacred festival of the dead, occurs on October 31st and the 1st of November. It marks the beginning of winter and the season of the crone. This holiday reconnects us to the cycle of death and rebirth.

It is believed that the veil between the spirit world and our world is thin during Samhain, making it easier to communicate with spirits. That’s why it is the best time to honor the wisdom of your ancestors during this time.

This meditation and breathwork will take you within, to honor the wisdom you possess inside and the wisdom from those whom you come from. 

1. Set the stage for your meditation with crystals and EO’s (optional)

There are many different crystals you can use to help you connect with your ancestors. Your energy is unique, so choose the crystals that have worked for you in the past or that you feel drawn to.

Here are 8 crystals that can help you connect to your inner wisdom and wisdom from your ancestors. Choose one or several of these stones to wear or place next to you for your meditation.

Lepidolite will help you get into a calm state and connect you to your third eye chakra, the center of intuition.

Celestite opens your energy to connect with the spiritual realm by helping you relax and transition into a dream state. Rose quartz a crystal of love, creates a safe and welcoming space for both you and the spirits. Amethyst helps to open your third eye chakra and can help you connect to your intuition.

Charoite will help you connect with your ancestors. It is another powerful stone for communicating with and channeling spirits. It helps you receive information from them using your intuition.

Blue Lace Agate raises your vibration to make a connection with the spirit world easier. It helps you connect with the spirits as it keeps you balanced, allowing you to receive messages without getting overwhelmed.

Selenite increases telepathy and opens the crown chakra, making it a great stone for spirit communication.

When using any of these crystals, make sure you also have obsidian, hematite, black kyanite, or black tourmaline for grounding and protection. These crystals will keep you safe and rooted to the Earth, leaving your mind and spirit free to wander.

You can also use essential oils in your meditation. Mix them with water for a mist to spritz around the area, dilute with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil, and massage into the skin, or even burn these scents as candles.

Here are a few essential oils to recruit for this meditation. Use one or all of them during your meditation.

Clary Sage for connection to the divine.

Rosemary for remembrance and love.

Cedarwood for purifying, grounding, and calming.

2. Start with the breath

Start with Nadi Sodhana, also called alternate nostril breathing, to balance the nadis, or energy channels, in the body. This breath brings you into the present moment, calms and centers the mind, and helps you release fear.

Sit in a comfortable seated position and place the left hand on the knee with the palm facing upward. This hand position creates an energy of receptivity. Place the index finger and middle finger of the right hand on the third eye center between the eyebrows, with the ring finger and pinky finger on the left nostril and thumb on the right nostril.

Throughout this breath, use the thumb to open and close the right nostril, and the ring finger and pinky finger for the left nostril. As you exhale, close the right nostril and breathe out of the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril, and then close the left nostril to exhale through the right. Alternate breathing in this way for ten cycles of breath, holding your inhales and exhales steady and even.

3. Sink into Meditation.

Once you’re centered in a place of presence and balance, begin the meditation by taking a few deep, cleansing breaths. Follow these steps to tap into the wisdom of your ancestors for this meditation.

1. Visualize the support of the Earth underneath you, connecting you to the vast wisdom of Mother Nature. Feel her energy enter your body as you inhale, and run down the spine as you exhale.

2. Think about who you are and where you are in this moment. Remember that every part of you has been woven together by the fabric of your ancestors, the good and the bad. Their blood, their experiences, their pains, their joys all run through you and shape you.

3. Begin to visualize your family line, starting with a parent. Traditionally this is the father, but allow either parent to come to mind. Visualize them in front of you. As you inhale, they breathe the white-hot light of their wisdom within you. As you exhale, you breathe the white-hot light of your gratitude into them.

4. Ask if this spirit has anything they need to share with you.

5. Continue moving up your family line with this conversation, receiving knowledge, and offering gratitude by exchanging breath, taking as many breaths as you need with each spirit.  

6. When you reach the end of your family line as you know it, sit in silence as long as you like and allow the messages to come to you. These can come in the form of images or sounds in your head, a feeling, or even a smell.

7. End with this simple phrase: “I thank all those who have helped shape and create me. I honor your divine wisdom.” Take a few moments after your meditation to let out your thoughts and emotions in a journal. Release anything that came up for you onto the page, and continue to sit with your crystals for as long as you need.

You can find meditations for the Wheel of the Year here.

The Divine Feminine & Cauldrons // 5 Uses & Meanings

What do you think of when you imagine a cauldron? Witches, Halloween, and deathly potions perhaps? Along with witches, cauldrons have been given a bad rap, but their mystical meanings and uses go way back and might have a more spiritual meaning than you originally thought!

If you’re always on the hunt for meaningful additions to your altar, search no more, the cauldron is a staple and I’m going to share 5 reasons why. First I want to share some history behind its use so you have a complete understanding of what it represents.

History of Cauldrons

Cauldrons of varying types can be traced back to a variety of cultures. In fact, one found in Denmark has been traced back to between 200 BC and 300 AD. So basically, they’ve been around for a long ass time.

No surprise, cauldrons started out as a cooking tool. Warm soups and stews were concocted in them to give nourishment to families. They were the heart of the home and life-giving in cold seasons. As cauldrons became more commonplace and important to families, mothers and grandmothers started using them for healing herbal blends and eventually potions.

Cauldrons & The Divine Feminine

After being used for centuries as a cooking and healing tool, cauldrons started to take on more sacred and magical meanings. The cauldron began to represent the Goddess, the Sacred Divine, and a vessel for transformation, healing, and abundance.

The timing of when cauldrons started to be viewed as magical tools is unknown but the reasons why are obvious. The cauldron symbolizes life and abundance through nourishment, transformation by turning herbs into healing concoctions, and the shape of the cauldron itself mimics that of an expectant mother. These reasons combined make the cauldron one of the most sacred tools you can add to your arsenal.

What Kind of Cauldron Should You Get?

Before you jump into the meanings and uses of a cauldron, let’s cover what kinds of cauldrons are best to purchase because there’s no shortage of options.

Hands down, the best cauldron to purchase (if you plan on using it for anything other than sitting on a shelf) is a cast-iron cauldron. Pass by anything that says it’s made out of anything other than cast iron or is plated because it won’t last. You can also purchase earth and wear pottery cauldrons that will work well too. If you go with a ceramic cauldron, ensure that it’s food safe before using it for anything you’ll be ingesting.

5 Cauldron Uses & Meanings

At a loss for what to use your life-giving, transformative, and holy cauldron for? Here are 5 ways to put your cauldron to work:

Looking for a way to represent the four elements on your altar? The cauldron has you covered. Placing a cauldron on your altar is an easy way to represent all four elements with one item.

Represent the Four Elements on Your Altar

• Earth: The iron the cauldron is made out of represents earth

• Water: The water used while cooking in a cauldron represents the water

• Fire: A cauldron would traditionally be heated from a fire underneath it which represents fire

• Air: The air around and blow on the soup or potion inside represents the air

The elements are purely symbolic for this use, no need to always have a fire burning underneath your cauldron! You can read more about the four elements here.

Incense, Herbs & Burning Rituals

There are several rituals that call for fire and burning. Whether it’s incense, candles, or burning a piece of paper, a cauldron will not only serve as a sacred tool but will also give you a safe tool for ritual fires. Here are a few ways to use your cauldron for any fire-related rituals.

• A safe and meaningful receptacle to burn incense, herbs, or a candle for rituals.

• Write a letter to your ancestors or lost loved ones and burn it in the altar for them to receive it.

• During the waning moon, write down a habit you’re trying to break or something you’re trying to release on a small piece of paper, then burn it in your cauldron.

• Create a small fire in your cauldron to represent light or a God or Goddess of light for a ritual.

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Transform with the Triple Goddess Cerridwen

Cerridwen is the Welsh Goddess that represents the triple Goddess or the mother, maiden, and crone. She reminds us that life is all about transitions and transformations. Cerridwen is often shown with a cauldron because she brews a magical potion that grants knowledge and inspiration using a cauldron.

Anytime you’re going through a difficult transition place a cauldron on your altar or in your sacred space as a reminder of Cerridwen. As you navigate through your transition take a few minutes daily in front of your cauldron to imagine Cerridwen taking your fears about your transition, putting them in her cauldron, and taking them out transformed into what you need most.

This excerpt from writer Judith Shaw outlines perfectly the magic Cerridwen wants to bring into your life: "When Cerridwen calls your name, know that the need for change is upon you; transformation is at hand. It is time to examine what circumstances in your life no longer serve you. Something must die so that something new and better can be born. Forging these fires of transformation will bring true inspiration into your life."

Divination

Cauldrons can also be used for a variety of divination purposes. The most common being scrying. To use your cauldron for scrying fill your cauldron with water, wait for the surface to become very still, and begin looking for symbolism. To learn more about scrying you can read this post all about scrying, it’s based on using a crystal ball but the techniques are the same as those used for water scrying.

Abundance Ritual

Because cauldrons have been used as life-giving and nourishing tools, they represent abundance and can be incorporated into any abundance rituals you do. The cauldron can represent abundance of all kinds: money, happiness, friends, etc.

If you’re trying to bring more abundance into your life, place your cauldron somewhere you’ll see it regularly. Let its presence serve as a reminder of your goal to bring more abundance into your life. You can incorporate stones, candle colors, or herbs by placing them in or around your cauldron to strengthen your desire for abundance.

Cauldrons are sacred tools that are often overlooked, but I hope the next time you see a kitschy cauldron decoration for Halloween you’ll smile because you have a greater appreciation for it.

Tea Leaf Reading // How to Do Your Own in 7 Steps

Looking for the perfect divination tool to get a glimpse of your future and entertain guests with for Samhain and Halloween? Tea leaf reading, or tasseography is the art of using tea leaves for divination purposes. Many cultures believe that around the end of October the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is thinned, so it’s the best time to perform divination of all kinds.

What is Tea Leaf Reading?

Doing a tea leaf reading involves you indulging in a delicious cup of tea and putting your sharp intuitive skills to work. After you enjoy your warm cup of loose leaf tea, you’ll leave the loose tea leaves at the bottom, where some of these leaves will form symbols, each having its own meaning. That’s where your keen intuitive abilities come in! Anyone can see a triangle at the bottom of a teacup, but your job is to intuit what it means for you or the person you’re reading for.

Where Did Tea Leaf Reading Come From?

You might be wondering where this unusual form of divination came from, so here’s a short history about tasseography. Shortly after tea was introduced to Europe, tea leaf reading, as it’s now recognized, was born. Similar divination tools had been used with an assortment of other materials, but tea leaves seemed to be the favorite! The art of tea leaf reading spread through Europe, especially in Gypsy cultures, and is now practiced throughout the world.

What You Need for a Tea Leaf Reading

• Tea cup with a wide brim that’s light enough to easily see your tea leaves. There are a variety of specialty tea leaf reading cups available, they are beautiful but unnecessary. I created mine at a local pottery painting studio. Keep it simple, buy your own, or get crafty with it, any option will work!

• Saucer

• Loose-leaf green or black tea, preferably organic.

• Napkins

• Pen and paper

• Water

• Enough time to savor a cup of tea and get lost in the maze of tea leaf symbols!

How to Perform a Tea Leaf Reading

1. Brew Your Tea

Gather all of your materials. Boil your water. Place about a teaspoon of loose tea in your cup. Pour your water in and steep tea to your preference.For the next 3 steps, if you’re doing a reading for someone else, have them do the following steps.

2. Sip & Swirl

Before you take your first sip, gently swirl the tea counterclockwise three times. Sip and enjoy your tea, but don’t drink it all! When there’s about 1 tablespoon of tea left in your cup, swirl it again 3 times counterclockwise and think about or speak your query aloud.

3. Create Your Tea Reading Canvas

Turn your cup upside down onto your saucer to remove the remaining water, allow it a minute or so to drain, then turn it back upright, and you’re ready for reading!

4. Look for Symbols

Look over your loose leaf tea pieces and see if any symbols or shapes jump out to you immediately. Don’t fret if you don’t see anything immediately, similar to scrying with a crystal ball, it can take some time for imagery to form for you. Try looking at the inside of the cup from different directions to see shapes. Keep in mind the images formed are formed from tea leaves, so you will really need to use your imagination!

5. Record & Decipher Your Findings

If you do start to see some shapes, begin writing them down on your piece of paper so you can decipher them later, note wherein the cup they are too. Now you’re ready to decipher your findings! Here’s a guide for the most common symbols found during tea leaf readings:

6. Understand the Timeline

Where your tea leaves are situated in your cup relate to when they will happen. This is why some of the tea leaf reading cups you find have circles inside of them. Timing is broken into thirds as follows:

• Bottom third: farthest away from happening, think 3-5 years out.

• Middle third: will happen in about a year from now.

• Top third: will be happening in the near future, think within the next few weeks.

7. Form Your Reading

Like most divination tools, a honed intuition is key for success, so be sure to lean on any gut instincts as you form the story for your reading. Once you understand the meaning behind the symbols it’s time to put all of the information into a story that makes sense for you or the person you’re doing a reading for.

This divination tool is so much fun to do with friends and family! Setting in on a fall evening with some loved ones and sip, laugh, enjoy, and maybe get a little glimpse at what’s to come.