Imbolc

Imbolc is the Celtic celebration of courtship as well and the honoring of the Goddess Brighid.

Brighid is an Irish and Celtic goddess from pre-Christian times. Her domain is the hearth, poetry (and creativity), and smithery (metalcrafting). She was absorbed into the Roman Catholic church when Ireland was converted to Christianity and became St. Brigid.

This holiday is also called Candlemas as one of the traditions is to surround an image of the goddess with a wreath of candles to warm her and coax her to awaken with the spring.

It is a time for courtship, too, as we draw near Valentine's Day where many of the traditions of love tokens and love letters start with the God courting the sleeping Goddess.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• write a love letter to someone special
• host a candlelit dinner
• cuddle together with Imbolc Tea

SUNDAY SABBAT SALE
Sunday January 30th all day is Sunday Sabbat Sale.
10% off everything in store!

CMS Open House & Registration

Come one and come all to the CMS Open house evening.

See what the students from three levels of study have been working on all Autumn & Winter!
Meet the teachers and discover what is expected for the coming session.
This is the best opportunity to register for the February Level 1 class.

Friday January 28th, 7-9pm FREE

Please note that the CMS Level 1 class take no more than 5-8 students so as to provide each student with personalized attention and guidance.

LEVEL 1 begins February 9th 6-9pm for 20 weeks ($300 divided into 3 x $100)

Passion & Comfort

This week's featured tea is:

VANILLA & CINNAMON FLAVOURED BLACK TEA

The properties of Cinnamon are: Energy, vitality, lust, love, protection, determination

The properties of Vanilla are: Vitality, love, lust, tranquility, attraction

This is a great tea for when you want to cuddle with your beloved on the sofa.

Featured Tea & Meditation

This week's featured tea is Monks' Blend. This is a smooth earthy tea laced with floral and fruty notes that are perfect for a soothing moment of relaxation or meditation.

How to use tea for meditation
Start by making a fresh pot or cup of your favorite tea or using one specially blended for meditation

• Monks' Blend: (link)
  
• Magical Blend for Relaxation: (link)
• Lavender Rooibos (specialty blend, ask our Apothecary)
  
• Floral White (specialty blend, ask our Apothecary)

Find a cozy place to sit and sip your tea
drink your tea in silence and simply enjoy the moment

Other wonderful meditation aids

Books on meditation:

• Best Guide to Meditation
• Creative Visualization
• Learn to Relax
• Little Altars for Spirituality
• Meditation Bible
• Meditation for Beginners
• Simply Meditation

Singing Bowls or Meditative Music

Japanese Shoyeido Incense

• Stickless incense sticks hand rolled by a special Japanese technique using pure herbs and resins. See our selection of Specialty Incense: Magnifiscents Series

Permit yourself time to just be! Sip tea!

This just in!

New in stock!

Sulfur: Commonly used in spells and rituals for banishing purposes.

Diatomaceous Earth Powder: Used to sprinkle to remove negativity and evil eye.

Dragon's Bone: Used for meditation, death, sleep, relief from fear and anger.

Bat's Head Root: A natural root used for helping make your wishes come true.


Back in stock!

Mojo Wish Beans: Used to attract luck, protection, and for wishing.

Cascarilla: For drawing a circle on the ground or for marking magical symbols on the walls or the floor.

Black Salt: Commonly used for purification, creating protective barriers. Use by scattering on the floor to absorb negativity then sweep it away.

Rose of Jericho: Used by placing the rose in water and making a wish. As the rose grows so will your wish and good fortune.

Dealing with Winter Colds & Flu

'Tis the season for the aches and pains and shivers and sniffles. Here are some suggestions on how to cope and even beat the Winter Blues.

Basic reminders from Mom:

• Dress warm even if it is warmish outside, dress warm. Your body still thinks it is winter and has not adjusted from cold to warmer weather.
  
• Hot baths will help you warm up after being outside for a while. Or at least soak your hands and feet in hot water. There are so many nerves in your hands and feet (ask any reflexologist) that they absorb the heat of hot water best and quickly spread it through your body.
• Chicken soup will nourish any poor sick soul. The warm liquid is easy to digest and the chicken gives the body needed protein to help it have the energy it needs.
• Garlic in Stir Fry and everything will boost the blood and immune system.
• Oranges & Vitamin C will help you fight off any cold! Eat lots of oranges and remember to take your vitamins.
• Drink lots of water to flush out toxins and infection from your system.
  

Suggestions from a priestess:

• Take Time for YOU. It is important to take some personal time, whether it is an hour a day or a full day a week, to do the things that bring you joy. Lifting your spirits this way will boost your energy and carry you through the dark times of the year.
• Sleep is necessary. The human body needs 5-8 hours of sleep to recuperate. The mind needs it too! You need this in a solid slot of time as broken sleep does not allow for REM or dreaming which is the mind and spirit's way of sorting through the day to ready you for the next day.
• Meditation. Stress is a killer! Taking some time to rest, relax, and meditate is good for the soul. Permit yourself to have some peace of mind. You deserve it!
• Flowers. Treat yourself and your home with fresh cut flowers on a regular basis. Set up a little shrine to JOY! Save one flower from the bouquet to give away. Giving joy will bring you joy!
• Gratitude Journal. Keeping a journal with daily notes of gratitude instead of gripes.

Suggestions from the boss of The Magical Blend:

• Sunlight! You need to get some sun. It has vitamin D that is needed to work with the vitamin A and B-complex in your body to balance emotions and also lift your spirits. This SAD (Season Affective Disorder) effects many people and sunlight is what beats this. The boss did this in her home and her three-year-old likes to say, "Let's turn on the Sun now, Mommy!" Here is what she did: http://nightdemons.livejournal.com/273173.html
• Growing plants brings life to any environment and boosts the energy of any home. Plants will also clean and freshen up the air you breathe.
• Be forgiving of yourself. We all have less energy and focus in the winter, weighed down by the dark and the cold. Give yourself some time, understanding, forgiveness and love. Schedule more time to do things and don't overload yourself. If something doesn't work out, forgive yourself and keep going.
  

Suggestions from the store:

• Why not add a bath salt to your hot bath?
• Meditate to a soothing incense, like Tranquility Incense.
• Drink a tea to charged with healing and vitamin C: Immune Boosting Tea.

And here are some recipes just for you!

For a Sore Throat
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon to a cup of boiling water to disinfect the throat.
Be sure to add a spoon of honey to soothe and coat the throat.

For Nausea
Slice fresh ginger root and boil it for a tea with a sprig of fresh mint.
Ginger is excellent for stomach intent on rejecting everything.

For a Cold
Drink a tea with lots of orange and rosehip. Both are high in vitamin C.
OR
Make a SPICY tea with ginger, cinnamon, clove, and pepper. Drink it fast and sweat out your illness.

FUN THINGS TO DO COMING UP IN MONTREAL
BEAT THE WINTER BLUES !!

Free Workshops at the store

The Pagan Umbrella (Amanda) FREE
What is Paganism? Ask a dozen people and you’ll get at least a dozen answers. In reality, paganism is probably best considered to be an umbrella term for a variety of spiritual and religious traditions. In this brief introduction, we will discuss what we mean when we use the word Pagan in a religious or spiritual context, discover some of the more popular Pagan paths being followed today (such as Wicca, witchcraft, Druidism, Heathenism, or simply Pagan), and explore some of their commonalities and differences.
Thursday January 20, 2011 6:45-8:45 pm FREE

Intro to Paganism & Wicca (Scarlet)
What is magic, Paganism, Wicca & Witchcraft? Learn a little of the basics, beliefs, holidays and practices.
Thursday, January 27th, 7-9pm FREE

Beat the Winter Blues Party & Concert

The Gaia Gathering Planning Committee invites you to join us for a night of live music, fantastical tales, and witchy company!
http://gaiagathering.blogspot.com/2011/01/gaia-gathering-fundraiser-beat-winter.html

Have a Great start to 2011!!
Bright Blessings from the store and staff of the Magical Blend!

Featured Tea

NEW!

We are starting a weekly Featured Tea series.
Every Wednesday a new tea will be featured in our store.
So, come and try, come and buy!

This week till January 11th, we are featuring VANILLA CHAI.
Spicy, earthy, warm for this cold January start to 2011.
It is excellent with or without milk.

If you wish to order some, you may follow this link to our website:
http://www.themagicalblend.com/~magic/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/chaitea002.html

Bright warm blessings for the first week of January!