New Books of Interest and More...

The Everything Series has come out with yet more fun and amazing books! here are the three new ones we have in store.

The Everything KIDS Fairies Puzzle and Activity Book
By Charles & Calla Timmerman ISBN: 1598693948 $8.99
This wonderful book hosts games and puzzles to inspire and challenge children between the ages of 8 and 10. Although I know many adults who will also find it fun, especially if they have children in elementary school.

The Everything Spells & Charms Book 2nd edition
By Skye Alexander ISBN: 1598693867 $16.50
One of the best books I have seen on spellcrafting! The first chapter provides concise information about elements, directions, and Sabbats. The subsequent early chapters cover symbols, general methods, and things to keep in mind as you strive for successful magic. There is even a chapter on great magical practitioners! The latter part of the book explores spellcrafting for different purposes in your life.

The Everything Palmistry Book
By Katine Z. Jones ISBN: 1580628761 $16.50
Everything you need to know to start learning and practicing palmistry! This book will explore shapes, lines, mounts and so much more! it is thorough. It is comprehensive. It is worth the buy!

The following are some other new things of interest that showed up like Yule gifts in our mail!

The Green Wiccan Year
By Silja ISBN: 9781906094973 $24.95
This is a beautiful spiral bound agenda book. It can be used for any year as it is not a year specific agenda. Each monthly divider has a pocket for notes, and an article or spell/ritual idea. There are kitchen witchery ideas, too, for the Green Wiccan! At the end of the agenda (which goes from December through to November), you will find a ritual section. There is a section for coven notes and place to keep record of your spells.

The Golden Tarot
By Liz Dean ISBN: 9781906094867 $18.95
This stunning deck was inspired by the Visconti-Sforza and Rider-Waite tarot decks. The artwork is lavish and full if imagery. This set comes with a 64-page illustrated companion book to assist you and compliment your study of the tarot. Below are some examples of the cards!



The Healing Power of Faery
By Edain McCoy ISBN: 1598698095 $16.50
Edain McCoy practices a corm of Celtic Wicca called Witta, on which she was written a couple informative books. This is her newest book on working with elementals and nature spirits for healing and soothing the home, body and soul.
**STAFF RECOMMENDED**


For those who walk a different path and who have been waiting a long while for a new book, here it is! Finally in print!

The Satanic Scriptures
By Peter H. Gilmore ISBN: 0976403595 $21.50
"The Satanis Scriptures hands down the wit, wisdom and diabolical perspectives of the Church of Satan's High Priest, Magus Peter H. Gilmore." It is a series of articles and diatribes on various current issues and ideas as he guides people along the Left Hand Path. Explore such topics as: Why is Satanism feared? What do Satanists think and do, really? The answers may surprise you!

Finally, remember that there are several calendars and agendas for the new year, including the Llewellyn's Magical Almanac. They are going fast and may not be available for much longer after January. Get them while you can!

Christmas Store Hours are in effect!

For the holidays we have extended our business hours to give everyone a chance to get in for that special unique gift:

All through this week (December 15th to December 19th) we will be open until 9pm each night. Over the weekend we will hold regular business hours (10am-6pm on Dec. 20, and 12pm-5pm on Dec. 21).

Next week, we will be open until 9pm on both Monday December 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd, but our hours will be shortened on Wednesday December 24th from 10am- 3pm (because we love celebrating with our families too!). We will be closed on December 25th, but will re-open for Boxing Day on December 26th, from 1pm-9pm.

Regular hours will resume thereafter, with the exceptions of: December 31st when we will hold the hours of 10am to 3pm (New Year's Eve! Yay!), we will be closed on January first, and will re-open at 1pm on January 2nd.

Have a great holiday, whatever you celebrate!

Yule Baskets

Wiccan Sacred Circle (Avalon Centre) is collecting non-perishables for Yule Baskets. There are two boxes for collection here at the store and the MPRC. Please take some time to drop off some cans or whatnot. As a suggestion, leave grocery store food cards or buy pet food or cat litter. Everyone thinks to feed the people and forget the littler members of the family in food baskets. Try leaving a variety of foods for all ages. Baby food and kids' lunchbox snackables are also helpful.

The boxes will be empties Friday evening December 12th.

Thank on behalf of all the families who will benfit from your support.

The Yule Fair in Review

In my opinion, the fair was a good success for not just the store or even the MPRC, but for the Montreal Pagan community in general. Over the course of the weekend, people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds came together to share in a spirit of community that we don't see nearly often enough. We supported local pagan artisans. We attended lectures by people we'd never met and of traditions not our own. We gathered to simply be together. Many came for the Yule ritual as well.

I am proud that we could do this for our community, and look forward to doing it again and again.

We have already begun to discuss an early summer fair, happening sometime near the end of May, with more vendors and speakers...just don't ask us about it until the snow is off the ground, okay? ;)

2008 Community Yule Fair

WELCOME to the Montreal Pagan Community
YULE FAIR 2008

Saturday & Sunday December 6th & 7th, 10am - 5 pm
~ Free Admission ~

Original Holiday Gifts! Artisans! Workshops! Storytelling!

Public Yule Ritual hosted by
ADF Island Willow Protogrove!
6:30pm Sunday December 7th

SATURDAY

10:00 - doors officially open to the public
10:15 - 10:45 - SCARLET - Chinese Tea Meditation
11:00 - 12:00 - MELANIE - Intro to BodyTalk
12:00 - 12:45 - Lunch
12:45 - 1:45 - COMMUNITY HOUR
2:00 - 3:00 - TBA
3:00 - 4:00 - TBA
4:00 - 5:00 - TARAS - Politics & Paganism
5:00 - doors officially close to the public
6:00 - Store closes for the night

Le Melange Magique 10% off all weekend !!

SUNDAY

10:00 - doors officially open to the public
10:15 - 10:45 - SCARLET - Japanese Tea Meditation
11:00 - 12:00 - STEVEN - Tai Chi
12:00 - 12:45 - Lunch
12:45 - 1:45 - HOBBES - Winter Tales Storytelling
2:00 - 3:00 - LIZETTE - Shamanism
3:00 - 5:00 - TERRYANN - Breakthrough Healing
5:00 - doors officially close to the public
6:30 - Public Yule Ritual

Please bring feast and feast gear to ritual!

Its all about Community

This time of year its so easy to forget the important things. The weather is cold, it feels constantly gray and dreary outside, and people are already stressing over getting 'the perfect Yule gift' and the bills that may follow in the wake of what said gift may be.

Take a moment to pause and consider: What is this season all about? We are nearing Yule, the Winter Solstice. On that shortest day of the year, we focus on the light that shines, perhaps not in the skies, but in our hearts. We hold vigils for the return of the light with friends and families, finding comfort and love in one another.

This season, we invite you to take some time to share your light, and to connect with others around you. Here are a few ways you can connect and share:

Pagan Public Discussion (MPRC)
This is an open public discussion hosted by the MPRC (Montreal Pagan Resource Centre). Come share your views and opinions on various challenging topics. This month's topic: "Living everyday with the Gods and Nature Spirits: How we keep the daily magic alive in our current times."
Thursday December 4th 6:30-9 pm FREE
*Public pagan Discussion nights are held on the first Thursday of every month*

Montreal Pagan Community Yule Fair
FREE ADMISSION
Saturday & Sunday December 6th & 7th, 10am—5 pm
Original Holiday Gifts! Artisans! Workshops! Storytelling! Public Yule Ritual!
Special Guest: Helmut’s Forge (Workshop on December 6th: ‘Metal Magic’)

Yule Food Drive
Come and donate any canned and non-perishable foods to help support a family in need this holiday season. There are donation boxes both in the store and the MPRC.

Guest Reader: Dr. Lisa Bufton will be joining us NEXT WEEK!

Angel Therapy Practitioner Dr. Lisa Bufton, D.D.,
will be joining us on
Saturday November 22nd for
ANGEL READINGS
and counseling.

Dr. Lisa Bufton has a doctorate in Divinity, is a certified hypnotherapist and an
Angel Therapy Practitioner certified by Doreen Virtue.

Lisa Bufton teaches and counsels in the United States, Canada and Europe. She has had many life experiences, both in the physical and non-physical world, that have empowered her on her life journey and purpose. Lisa is committed and passionate about inspiring people to make the changes they need to live rich, joyous and fulfilling lives.

Sign up for your Angel Reading with Dr. Lisa Bufton now! Spaces are limited!
$35 for a 30 minute reading or $70 for a full hour.

In honor of those who fought and continue to fight so that we never have to.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Maynard's Celestial Guides are in!

For those of us who need to keep track of whats going on in the skies, no calendar is more useful then the Jim Maynard's Celestial Influences 2009 Calendar, nor is any agenda as useful as his Celestial Guide! We also have this year's Astrologer's Datebook and Pocket Astrologer too!

These guides feature explanations of planetary motions for the year, the meanings of the signs of the zodiac, what it means when the moon passes through the signs, the lunar cycle, planets, aspects, moon void of course notations, and more!

Yule Fair News... and so it begins...

Hey all!

I know I know ... it is early to think about Yule. However, if you are
an artisan, you need the time to prepare.

So... without much ado... I want to announce:

MONTREAL PAGAN COMMUNITY YULE FAIR
Hosted this year by MPRC & Le Melange Magique
Featured Guest: HELMUT'S FORGE
Artisan tables are $25 to reserve space, refundable upon arrival
Rental fee is 10% of your sales

The Yule Fair will he held upstairs of Le Melange Magique over a TWO
DAY period
First weekend of December (December 6 & 7) 10am-5pm both days
Yule Ritual Sunday December 7th at 6:30pm

Discussions, Storytelling, Presentations, Workshops (all TBA)
Helmut of Helmut's Forge will do a workshop on Metal Magic

WHAT WE NEED NOW: YOU!
If you are an artisan, email scarletcougar@gmail.com ASAP to arrange
reservation for table space (we provide the space, you provide your
own table).

If you would like to perform or present or host a panel discussion,
presentation or workshop,
contact scarletcougar@gmail.com to schedule you in!

All reservations and scheduled workshops need to be concluded no later
than November 20th.
Thank you for your cooperation! See you there!

Scarlet

Dumb Supper Place Setting

100_0582
Originally uploaded by scarletcougar

Behind the jack-o-lantern was a place setting for our ancestors at the Dumb Supper. The jack-o-lantern protected the candle lit within as the guide to this seat.

Our ancestors presence was felt by all Saturday night. We were truly blessed.

Dumb Supper Ancestral Shrine

100_0581
Originally uploaded by scarletcougar

At our very successful Dumb Supper there was a shrine set up and this is the picture. Safe journey back across the veil and the river of the dead to all our ancestors. You are ever in our hearts and thoughts.

Ancestral Altar for Samhain 2008

Ancestral Altar for Samhain 2008
Originally uploaded by The Magical Blend

Samhain is a time of remembering our ancestors and honoring them. This is the public altar here in the store with candles and incense. The tea lights represent one of the many ancestors honored at a recent Public Ritual. It is our pleasure to host the continued burning of the lights on behalf of BFC's Northern Cougars.

Mélange in the Media this Month

This fall Mélange's staff has been in the media a fair bit. From documentaries about Ouija boards, to coverage in Concordia's Link(issue forthcoming) and even the Montreal Gazette just this past weekend.

Don't forget to visit us on Hallowe'en day! The staff will be all dressed up, (more media coverage is bound to happen), and its also a nice chance to say a few words to your ancestors at our public altar.

Sneak Peak! Upcoming November Workshops

Pagan Public Discussion (MPRC)
This is an open public discussion hosted by the MPRC (Montreal Pagan Resource Centre). Come share your views and opinions on various challenging topics. This month's topic: "Paganism; Religion or Movement? The word religion has been getting some bad press in our recent times. Many people I've encountered wish to dissociate themselves from being seen as religious. Movies such as Religulous show that fundamentalists take the meaning of religion to a whole new level. Paganism holding such diversity in what and how we worship or connect to our spirituality, do we consider it a religion or a movement?"
Thursday November 6th 6:30-9 pm FREE
*Public pagan Discussion nights are held on the first Thursday of every month*

Psychic Development I (Catharine)
Discover the many ways we receive our psychic gifts. Intuition, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Channelling etc. Practical exercises to help identify your particular gift. Discussion and questions answered. There will be a guided meditation and message circle where everyone will get psychic messages from Catharine ! Thursday November 6th 7-9 pm $30

Late Harvest Magical Canning/Freezing/Jamming (Scatlet)
In tune with the seasons, Scarlet will be guiding people through her annual harvest day. A must for any Kitchen Witch or aspiring Kitchen Witch! Come learn how to prepare and preserve various seasonal fruits and vegetables for the winter. Everyone will work together like a true harvesting community and take home some of the harvest for their own kitchens! Dress to be chopping and having a ton of fun in our ritual space.
Saturday November 8th, 2-5pm $40

An Introduction to Crystal Healing (Robyn)
There are many ways one can explore alternative healing these days, but one of the more popular and easily accessible ways is the laying on of stones on the body to re-align energies, combat maladies and increase the body's natural harmony. Join us in this introductory workshop to learn more about this peaceful mode of healing. Sunday, November 9th 1-3pm $30

Psychic Development II (Catharine)
Take the next step in your development by exploring multiple ways of receiving messages and visions. We will do more in depth work with meditation, energy work and practice readings on each other. Guided meditation and message circle follows, where everyone will get psychic messages from Catharine!
Thursday, November 13th 7-9pm ($30)

Introduction to Energy Work (Scarlet)
Centering and grounding are the foundations of any energy or magical work. In this course, you will learn how to center and ground, how to manipulate your own field of energy, how to sense energy, how to charge and drain the energy in objects, and the basics of circle casting. Please dress comfortably and bring a cushion to sit on if possible. Thursday, November 13th 7-9pm ($30)

Protection Magic (Scarlet)
Often in our lives we feel 'attacked' by someone else's presence, that they are stealing away our energy just by being around, or that perhaps our run of ill-luck has been caused by someone giving us the evil eye. In this workshop you will learn several methods of psychic self-defense, as well as how to protect yourself from hexes, curses and jinxes.
Thursday, November 20th 7-9pm $30

Reiki Introduction Lecture (Robyn)
The word 'Reiki' comes from the Japanese Rei meaning 'universal' and Ki meaning 'life energy'. This energy can also easily be recognized as Prana, Mana, Chi or Ruach. Come to this free introductory lecture to learn more about this beautiful method of healing and relaxation, and to ask any questions that you may have about Reiki and how it works.
Friday November 21st 7-8 pm FREE

Reiki I (Robyn)
Join us in this two day long course to learn all you need to know to become a First Degree Reiki Practitioner. Topics covered will include: the history and origins of Reiki, the ethics of being a Reiki practitioner, what the hand positions are in a full Reiki session, how to treat others as well as yourself, and formal initiation to the Usui Shiki Ryoho style of Reiki. Time will be given for practice as well.
Saturday November 22nd & Sunday November 23rd 10-5 pm $150

Aura & Chakra Cleansing (Scarlet)
This course will teach you several techniques of aura cleansing, as well as how to cleanse your chakras. It involves alternative healing, energy work, and guided meditation. These are skills you will be able to use on yourself and others. Please dress comfortably and bring a cushion to sit on if possible.
Thursday, November 27th, 7-9pm ($30)

Psychic Practice (Catharine)
This is a workshop for anyone who has taken level one Psychic Development and wants more practice in channelling. We will be doing meditation, energy work, and many practice readings with photos and of eachother. If there is enough interest we can set up a more regular group ! If you have not taken level one and feel you are ready to just practice, please speak to Catharine for permission to join the class.
Thursday November 27th 7-9pm $30

EARLY DECEMBER:
Pagan Public Discussion (MPRC)
This is an open public discussion hosted by the MPRC (Montreal Pagan Resource Centre). Come share your views and opinions on various challenging topics. This month's topic: "Living everyday with the Gods and Nature Spirits: How we keep the daily magic alive in our current times."
Thursday December 4th 6:30-9 pm FREE
*Public pagan Discussion nights are held on the first Thursday of every month*

Yule Fair
Saturday and Sunday, December 6th and 7th, 10-5,
FREE ADMISSION!

Sunday Sabbat Sale - Samhain!

This coming Sunday, October 26th is our special Sunday Sabbat Sale for Samhain!

Everything in store is -10%

See you there and Blessed Samhain to all!

New in Store

BOOKS:

CELTIC SYMBOLS by Sabine Heinz
ISBN: 1402746245 $14.95
Another beautiful book in this series for symbols. Discover the history and meaning behind knotwork designs, carvings, and other Celtic symbols.

THE COVEN LEADER'S HANDBOOK by Sean Belachta
ISBN: 1411635515 $28.95
Sometimes there are wonderful finds through private publications that arrive. They are rare treasures. This one is no different! It consists of 13 lessons in Gardnerian and Alexandrain Wicca. The first chapter reviews the history and philosophy of these two traditions. Chapter two discusses the role of clergy. The third chapter reviews craft working in circle with tools and activities. This is followed by a lesson on the eight Sabbats. Chapters five through seven explore the divine and mythology. Initiation is the next topic of discussion. Chapters nine and ten review divination and magic, followed closely by healing, meditation and visualization. The final chapter examines how to make contact with others. A good basic book for new coven leaders and those considering starting a coven in a related tradition. Please note that this is not a replacement for initiation into these traditions. That requires being initiated by someone who can pass on the links of lineage.

PRODUCTS:

AYURVEDIC ELEMENTAL INCENSE $4.95
Cone incense from Triloka
- Pitta-Fire
- Vatta - Air
- Kapha - Water

AYURVEDIC CHAKRA INCENSE $4.95
Packages of incense sticks specially blended for each of the 7 chakras.

MEDITAION ALTAR TRAY $8.95
Lovely white gypsum tray containing holders for 4 tea lights and a central section for stones to hold incense. A beautiful addition to the altar or meditation space.

Public Samhain Ritual

Hosted by Black Forest’s Northern Cougars

Date: Sunday October 26th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Upstairs of Le Melange Magique (1928 St-Catherine West, Montreal)
Information: 514-938-1458

This will be a traditional coven ritual in honor of our ancestors. Samhain marks the end of the summer and the end of the Celtic year. We let go of the past, say our goodbyes, ask for final assistance, and prepare to step into a new year. During this ritual you will send a message, sign, symbol, and prayer, whatever you wish, to others who have passed through the veil.

Please bring something to write with (a pen or pencil), as well as feast food to share (something seasonal if you can, even better if it is home made) and your own feast gear (we are stewards of the earth; please bring your own cup/plate/bowl/utensils to help keep the environment clean).

Dress up! Dress in your ritual best! Dress to honor your ancestors.

Lastly, there will be an ancestral shrine for those who wish a quiet moment or want to light a candle for their loved ones now gone. Northern Cougars will guard these candles and see that they are burned through before Samhain.

Blessed be!

Traditional Dumb Supper (Hosted by Le Melange Magique)

Every culture has its own rites and rituals to honor and worship their ancestors. In Celtic Tradition there is what we call the Dumb Supper. It is a meal shared by any family or group of people held in complete silence with a place setting for the dead. The managers of Le Malange Magique would like to host this powerfully moving event with the public. This will be a catered meal. All you need bring is a picture or object of an ancestor that you wish to remember, honor, and invite to dinner. A traditional ancestral shrine will be erected and a place set at the table for our guests from beyond the veil. At the beginning of the meal, Robyn will guide everyone to introduce their "guest" and say a sentence or two about why they bring this person or pet to dinner this night. Then Scarlet will lead a short prayer or chant. The meal will be served and we will eat in silence contemplating our affections and respect for our ancestors. At the end of the meal, offerings will be made, blessing given, and all will part with love.

Saturday November 1st 6:30pm
Tickets are $15 and must be prepaid by October 20th *space is limited*

For more information about the Dumb Supper,
see: http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=holidays&id=12151

Walking our Talk: Stepping Towards Thanks Giving - Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude

October has arrived. The sky turns grey and the wind is chill. The leaves on the tree turn shades of red and gold. School is in full swing and we move toward the stressful mid-term time of the season. In this changing and turning of the wheel, I remind people to WALK THEIR TALK. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Live by your own beliefs.

Walk your path every day, not just on the holidays. There are so many ways to incorporate spirituality into our everyday mundane lives from the simple lighting of a candle while we drink our morning coffee before work, to listening to inspiring music while we travel or do homework, to sitting and meditating on our break time.

You can also walk your talk by encouraging your co-workers to go green and be environmental in the workplace, to celebrate the cultural diversity by marking the sacred days of each of your co-workers with something so small as a tiny note on their desk, to honoring the people you respect with a sincere and heartfelt thank you. Random acts of kindness go along way to lifting the mood and helping everyone walk their spiritual talk.

Participate in new spiritual experiences and tend the garden of your soul. How about taking one of the following workshops? Or... foster an attitude of gratitude. More on that a little further down (after the suggested workshops).

Pagan Public Discussion (MPRC)
This is an open public discussion hosted by the MPRC (Montreal Pagan Resource Centre). Come share your views and opinions on various challenging topics.
Thursday October 9th 7-9 pm FREE
*will be held on the first Thursday of every month after this*

Psychic Development I (Catharine)
Discover the many ways we receive our psychic gifts. Intuition, Clairvoyance, Predictive Dreams, Mediumship, Channelling. Practical exercises to help identify your particular gift. Discussion and questions answered. There will be a guided meditation and message circle where everyone will get psychic messages from Catharine !
Thurs. Oct. 9th 7-9 pm $30

Reiki Introduction Lecture (Robyn)
The word 'Reiki' comes from the Japanese Rei meaning 'universal' and Ki meaning 'life energy'. This energy can also easily be recognized as Prana, Mana, Chi or Ruach. Come to this free introductory lecture to learn more about this beautiful method of healing and relaxation, and to ask any questions that you may have about Reiki and how it works.
Fri. October 10th 7-8 pm FREE

Reiki I (Robyn)
Join us in this two day long course to learn all you need to know to become a First Degree Reiki Practitioner. Topics covered will include: the history and origins of Reiki, the ethics of being a Reiki practitioner, what the hand positions are in a full Reiki session, how to treat others as well as yourself, and formal initiation to the Usui Shiki Ryoho style of Reiki. Time will be given for practice as well.
Sat. October 11th & Sunday October 12th 10-5 pm $150

Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude
This is so simple it is often overlooked. Be thankful for the people in your life, for the things you already have, for being YOU!

• Say "thank you" to someone every day.
• Appreciate the life you have. Take a moment to look around you and love what you see.
• Keep a journal of gratitude: every day, write 3 things in it that you are grateful for

Thank you for reading our BLOG of Shadows! I hope you have enjoyed it thus far. We of The magical Blend / Le Melange Magique have enjoyed offering it to you and giving you a peak into who we are and the great minds that make this all possible.

Thanks to the staff who contribute in both writing and their ideas over the shoulders of those of us writing:

Robyn
Yann
Erika
Debra
Sam
Catharine
Maery
Scarlet
Tequilla, the cat

Blessed Be!