January 2012 Workshops

Pagan Discussion Night (MPRC) FREE

Every month on the first Thursday, the MPRC (Montreal Pagan Resource Center) hosta a free discussion on various current issues in the pagan community. All are welcome, though occasionally the content may not be appropriate for minors.

Thursday, January 5th, 6:30-8:30pm – FREE

Gypsy Magic 101: Beginnings of Magick (Ameara)
This introduction to gypsy magick will explore working with magickal energy, how to cast a spell, how to call upon the divine forces, herbal properties, and candle magick. We will walk through what magick is, how to call upon the elements for simple intention magick, what herbs and colors to use for a purpose, and what divine powers to call, associations etc.
You will walk away with a few simple spells to start their magickal practice:
Making Money : With simple cinnamon, green tea, and a green candle
Attracting or Choosing a Lover: Bottle caps or other objects in water as well as a simple attraction magick candle spell
Calm and Clear mind: Herbs to use in baths or aromatherapy to aid in meditation and clarity of mind spell
Friday, January 13th, 7-9pm - $30

How to do a Ceremonial Banishing- The LBRP (Eri)
In this workshop we will be learning the history, symbolism, visualizations and theories behind the famous Qabbalistic and Ceremonial Magic ritual of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Students will also go through a practical demonstration and learn how to do this powerful ritual on their own. The LBRP uses divine and angelic energies to remove influences from your sphere and is great for banishing, balance and protection.
Saturday, January 21st, 1-3pm, $25 

Tarot Series (Catharine)

This solid program introduces you to the major and minor arcana of the tarot, along with various techniques and skills for reading the cards. Please contact the teacher for more information (river.rain.catharine@gmail.com).

*Please bring your own deck.

Cost is $40 per class (or $300 if you register for the entire series starting January 21 through April 28 for a discount of 50%)

Major Arcana part 1: Saturday, January 21st, 12-2pm

Major Arcana part 2: Saturday, January 28th, 12-2pm

Major Arcana part 3: Saturday, February 4th, 12-2pm

Major Arcana part 4: Saturday, February 11th, 12 -2pm

Minor Arcana swords: February 18th 12 -2pm

Minor Arcana Wands: Saturday, February 25th 12 -2pm

Psychic Development Series (Catharine)
Introduction to the many abilities that fall under the term "psychic". Exploring your own intuitive gifts with like-minded people so you trust yourself more than ever before! Please contact the teacher for more information (river.rain.catharine@gmail.com).

Cost is $40 per class or $230 for the entire 9-part series (that is a discount of $130)

Clairvoyance: Saturday, January 28th 3 -5:30pm

Clairaudience: Saturday, February 4th  3 -5:30pm

Clairsentience: Saturday, February 11th 3-5:30

Predictive Dreams: Saturday, February 18th 3-5:30

Channeling: Saturday, February 25th 3-5:30

Cleansing and Smudging: Saturday, March 3rd 3 - 5:30

Spirit Contact - Guides, Angels, Entities: Saturday, March 10th  3-5:30

How to Give a Reading: Saturday, March 17th 3-5:30

Practice Practice Practice: Saturday, March 24th 3-5:30

CMS Open House

Welcome to Crescent Moon School, Canada’s longest running public training school for magic and Paganism since 1995.

This Open House is a unique opportunity to see what students of all levels have done, speak with teachers and students about what it is like to attend classes, and to register for the coming session.

Go to http://www.mtl-magicalcircle/cms for more information about the school.

Level 1 New Session: Wednesdays, 6-9pm, starting February 8th for 20 weeks

Cost: $300 (3 installments of $100 every 6 weeks), includes 3 workbooks & a reading pack

Come to our Annual Hourly Boxing Day Sale!

Hope you all had a great Christmas. Today is Boxing Day! and we have specials happening ALL DAY!

Store hours: 1-6pm

Specials Today:
1-2pm 10% off all Candles
2-3pm 10% off all Apothecary related stuff (incense, powders, oils, bath salts, etc.)
3-4pm 10% off all Jewelry
4-5pm 10% off all Books
5-6pm 10% off all Tarot

Have a great Boxing Day and take advantage of our in-store specials!

The Yule Sabbat

Tonight is the longest, darkest night of the year; it's also an important holiday if you celebrate the Wheel of the Year. The Sabbat known as Yule is celebrated on the Winter Solstice, which falls on December 22nd this year. By tradition, we consider Yule to begin at sundown, the night before the 'calendar date'. That means that many Pagans will be celebrating Yule tonight!

The God's Rebirth

If Samhain is the end of the year, then Yule represents the beginning. On Samhain, the Goddess mourns the passing of the God. On Yule, the God is reborn from the Goddess once again, and we celebrate his return to the world. Since the God is associated with warmth and sunlight, we consider dawn the moment of the God's arrival: the moment of his rebirth.

Symbolism

Yule is just as much about the symbolism of kinship, family, and rebirth as it is about the God's actual rebirth. The winter months can be cold and bleak, and that's why it's more important than ever to remember our better qualities and help the people around us.

In many ways, the dark cold winter is the perfect time to keep a fire going in our hearts, minds, and hearths. Yule is about sharing your warmth with others, and about being with your family-- both the family you grew up with, and your second family: the friends you've chosen yourself. All beings are the children of the God and the Goddess, and kindred in spirit and divinity, so remember during this season that even complete strangers on the street are a part of your larger family. Give what small kindnesses you can to those you can, and allow yourself to shrug off the everyday irritations and upsets of life. Take care of yourself, knowing that a new day is just around the corner.

Ritual Celebrations

Most Pagans will light at least one candle when the sun descends in order to keep the light going and encourage its return tomorrow morning with the sun. Another common Pagan tradition on Yule involves a night-long vigil, held until the first rays of dawn; during this vigil, by candlelight or firelight, you are given a chance to review your past year and make resolutions for the new year ahead.

Though the release of old things is more of a Samhain tradition, I personally enjoy writing down my anger, upsets, regrets, and embarrassments from the past year and throwing them into the Yule fire in order to symbolically let them go and move on to new things. Alternatively, you might write down your dreams, wishes, and goals for the new year and tie them to your Yule tree to strengthen your resolution and keep them in your mind. When the Yule tree comes down, bury your resolutions somewhere and let them spur on new growth, or burn them in a cauldron and spread the ashes somewhere with verdant plant-life.

Holiday Schedule

Happy Holidays! Here is our Holiday schedule for the rest of the month:

For the next week we will be open until 9pm every day to help you get all your last minute shopping done:

Monday Dec. 19: 10am-9pm
Tuesday Dec. 20: 10am-9pm
Wednesday Dec. 21: 10am-9pm (Happy Hannukah!)
Thursday Dec. 22: 10am-9pm (Blessed Yule and Tohji-taisai!)
Friday Dec. 23: 10am-9pm
Saturday Dec. 24th: 10am-3pm

Sunday Dec. 25: Closed (Merry Christmas!)
Monday Dec. 26: 1pm-6pm (Happy Kwanza!)
Tuesday Dec. 27: 10am-6pm
Wednesday Dec. 28: 10am-6pm
Thursday Dec. 29: 10am-9pm
Friday Dec. 30: 10am-9pm
Saturday Dec. 31: 10am-3pm

Sunday Jan. 1: Closed (Happy New Year!)
Monday Jan. 2: Closed

Holiday Hours

Melange will be open until 9pm all week until Christmas Eve to help you get that last minute shopping done!

So, just to be clear, our schedule for the Holidays is:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we are open from 10am-9pm.
Saturday we are only open from 10am-3pm and we are closed on Sunday the 25th.
We will be open on Boxing Day from 1pm-6pm.
The 27th and 18th we will be open 10am-6pm, the 29th and 30th we will be open 10am-9pm.
New Year's Eve we will be open from 10am-3pm.
New Years and the day after (the 1st and 2nd) we will be closed.

Happy Holidays!

Yule Sale

Le Melange Magique / The Magical Blend

Online shoppers! Local shoppers! Yule is fast approaching...
This Sunday is our Yule Sunday Sabbat Sale where everything is 10% off all day.

If ordering online then you can enter the code YULE2011
(valid only this Sunday December 18th, 2011).

SUNDAY SABBAT SALE
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2011

FAQ: What is the LBRP and what is it for?

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is a banishing ritual that first made it's appearance in the famous Ceremonial and Hermetic order, the Order of the Golden Dawn. No one is quite sure where the LBRP ritual came from. The founders of the Golden Dawn claimed to have received the ritual from the same "Secret Chiefs" who had theoretically passed to them all the information for the order. Certainly the LBRP draws on many Judeo-Christian and even Hindu mystical sources an some of the prayers reflect ones of Christian or Jewish origin so the LBRP as a ritual may be quite old. However whether Mather's, Westcott and Woodman were given the LBRP by the Secret Chiefs or whether they made it up (for which there is quite a bit of debate)it remains that the LBRP is am intense, powerful and balanced ritual. Since its first recorded appearance in the Golden Dawn the LBRP has been published in many different books on Ceremonial Magic, rituals, psychic and magical protection and metaphysical books and magazines, often with slightly different variations. Unfortunately due to the fact that the Golden Dawn is a secret society it is very difficult to pin point which version is the correct one, even among practitioners of the Golden Dawn today. However all the versions agree on the basic outline and principal of the ritual, and it is mostly upon the proper visualizations that the versions disagree.

The LBRP uses divine Qabbalistic symbolism to center, balance, cleanse and protect the practitioner. First the magician will draw divine energies down through their body in the shape of a cross touching upon Sephirothic attributions (the translations of which interestingly are the same words as at the end of the "Our Father"). This is called the Qabbalistic Cross and it helps to balance the practitioner and infuse them with energy. After this the practitioner traces four banishing pentagrams in each quarter (i.e. east, south, west, north) and infuses these with divine names which helps to banish and shield the sphere of the magician. The final layer of protection is made by invoking the four archangels associated with the four quarters who are placed around the sphere, protecting the inside. Finally there is an affirmation and a final Qabbalistic Cross to recenter and balance.

The LBRP is a very complex, deep and layered ritual that is extremely efficacious. In the Golden Dawn it was the only ritual that was taught before a member reached adeptship and it is often said that if you are going to learn one ritual, the LBRP is it.

December 2011 Workshops

Sacred Moons Series: 1st Moon: Birch/Cold Moon (Scarlet)
Throughout the year we often hear that there are 13 moons. There are! But the cycle is not exact. Each month has a full moon and every few years we have two full moons in a single month or two dark moons. We can blend this cycle with the 13 sacred trees of the Celtic Ogham and deepen our understanding of ourselves and our spirituality. The first full moon after Samhain is the Birch Tree or December Cold moon. Learn about the basic cycle of trees and moons. Explore how you can connect to the first moon of the new Celtic year. Join us monthly to learn about the next moon’s energies.
Friday, December 9th, 7-9pm $40

Tarot: Major Arcana part 1 (Catharine)
This course covers the first half of the Major Arcana exploring the major themes and progression of the cards. We always look at your deck with the group so you come away with a deeper awareness of your own tarot.
Saturday, December 10th, 12-2pm $40

Psychic Development: Clairvoyance (Catharine)
Introduction to the many abilities that fall under the term "psychic". Exploring your own intuitive gifts with like-minded people so you trust yourself more than ever before!
Clairvoyance or "clear seeing" is an ability that many of us can have or develop. We are a visual culture and we can learn to differentiate what is a psychic vision that is reliable vs our own projection or imagination.
Saturday, December 10th, 3 -5:30pm $40

How to Give a Reading (Catharine)
This course will show you how to do various tarot spreads, and give you good ways of approaching how to read for yourself and for others. We will be doing readings for each other to practice!
Thursday, December 15th, 6:30 -9pm $40

Major Arcana part 2 (Catharine)
This course covers the second part of the Major Arcana, once again considering your deck as well as others, and going into the themes and progression of the tarot as a whole life cycle
Saturday, December 17th, 12-2pm $40

LBRP Workshop (Eri)
In this workshop we will be learning how to perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram as well as some of it's visualizations and symbolism. The LBRP is a powerful Qabbalistic and Ceremonial banishing and protection ritual that uses divine and angelic energies to remove influences from your sphere.
Saturday December 17th 1-3pm $25

Psychic Development: Clairaudience (Catharine)
Introduction to the many abilities that fall under the term "psychic". Exploring your own intuitive gifts with like-minded people so you trust yourself more than ever before!
Clairaudience means "clear hearing" and is remarkably more common than you may realize. Many of us channel words and phrases without understanding it. Once you learn to detect this and know which messages to trust it can change your life for the better!
Saturday, December 17th, 3 -5:30pm $40

Annual Yule Fair 2011 Schedule

Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4

The Yule Fair is coming up this WEEKEND, and we've got a packed schedule! We're looking forward to celebrating the holidays with you and your family! Bring a friend or a child-- our speakers and events are family-friendly, with exceptions clearly marked! All workshops and panels are absolutely free-of-charge!

Enjoy in-store specials and find something unique from the vending room full of local artisans.

SATURDAY: DECEMBER 3rd

Tea & Chat
Time: Saturday, 10:00am - 11:00am
Location: Upstairs and Downstairs
Settle in, have some tea, and be social!

Community Organizations (Lena)
Time: Saturday, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Upstairs
Lena moderates a round table introducing community services and groups.

Spiritual Counseling (Catharine)
Time: Saturday, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Downstairs
Spiritual counselling is a progressive form of counselling which treats the whole person. It is more open to the fact that many matters concerning the resolution of issues are based in energetic patterns that can have many origins, including spiritual beliefs. It includes the person's will to manifest and create their own lives.

Alternative Healing Panel (Valerie, Monika, et al)
Time: Saturday, 12:45pm - 2:45pm
Location: Upstairs
As times change and people become less certain of the Western healing system, we are seeing more and more people searching for other solutions for their health and wellness. There are many modes of of alternative healing out there to choose from and finding which one is right for us can sometimes prove to be confusing. Come join us in this panel to explore and discuss several different methods of healing. Styles to be discussed: Reiki, Osteopathy, stone healing, energy work, Thai Yoga Massage, Therapeutic Touch.

Virtues (Brendan Myers)
Time: Saturday, 12:45pm - 1:45pm
Location: Downstairs
Brendan Myers discusses topics related to his book, The Other Side of Virtue: Where Our Virtues Come From, What They Really Mean, and Where They Might Be Taking Us.

Bardcraft: How to Tell Your Story (Hobbes)
Time: Saturday, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Downstairs
Our local bard and storyteller Hobbes will show you how you can become a bard yourself. He will teach you how to find the story that moves you, how to prepare it, and how to deliver it to an audience. Bring out your inner bard!

Energy Work: Creating Sacred Space (Scarlet)
Time: Saturday, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: Upstairs
Discussion & presentation of various ways to set up both temporary and permanent sacred space, as well as the energy work behind the methods.

Celebrating the Yule Holidays (Courtney)
Time: Saturday, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Downstairs
Celebrating your own spiritual path without compromising family and friends who follow different religious practices.

Dinner
Time: Saturday, 6:15pm Onward
Location: Cafe Theatre (1832 rue St. Catherine O.)
Impromptu dinner at the location of our brunch.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 4th

Pagan Sunday Brunch (MPRC)
Time: Sunday, 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Cafe Theatre (1832 rue St. Catherine O.)
Join the MPRC for brunch.

On Being a Christian Witch (Adelina)
Time: Sunday, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Upstairs
Based on her book, Path of the Christian Witch, this talk will be about the trials and discoveries along the path to being a Christian Witch.

Les questionnements spirituels et religieux (Jean-Phillipe Theobald)
Time: Sunday, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Downstairs
La spiritualité est quelque chose de très personnel et de très délicat. Parfois, il est difficile d'aider quelqu'un ou de donner des conseils religieux ou spirituels sans brusquer. S'appuyant sur des principes de la psychologie développementale, l'exposé explore des outils possibles pour discuter de la manière de vivre l'expérience religieuse, en contexte de relation d'aide.

TBD (Mark Hughes)
Time: Sunday, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Downstairs

Tales of the First Lovers (Brendan Myers) 18+
Time: Sunday, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Upstairs
What a sex-positive theology looks like (18+ age or 14+ with accompanying parent).

L’Astrologie, qu’est-ce que ça dit? (Carol & Denise)
Time: Sunday, 2:15pm - 4:30pm
Location: Upstairs
Carol parlera des principes fonctionnels de cette géométrie céleste, des planètes, des signes zodiacaux, des maisons. Denise parlera de notre futur prochain après avoir passé en revue des techniques de prévision, notant au passage la capacité d’analyse psychologique préludant à la capacité d’aider à prendre des décisions éclairées, de gérer ses relations aux autres, en somme d’établir sa biographie.

De formation scientifique, à l’école Polytechnique de Paris puis à l’université McGill (Ph.D. Mathématiques), Carol Meyer, d’abord sceptique, s’intéresse à l’astrologie en 1980 et l’étudie pour en découvrir la logique interne. Depuis ce temps, il participe à diverses recherches en astrologie. Il développe et distribue des logiciels astrologiques et publie chaque année un Agenda Planétaire.

Linguiste et professeur de français, Denise Chrzanowska devient consultante en astrologie en 1980 de façon régulière; également elle devient formatrice en astrologie sur 4 ans et aussi conférencière à Paris, aux États-Unis et au Québec. Elle a écrit « Astrologie stellaire et mythologique », « Les étoiles soufflent » et enfin « La signature de l’analogie ». Depuis 1998, elle publie une revue trimestrielle d’astrologie mondiale : « Cosmoscope ».

Crafting the Craft (Adelina)
Time: Sunday, 2:15pm - 3:15pm
Location: Downstairs
Yule is a time when our creativity soars. Arts and crafts is a fun way to explore the magical realms and to improve our magical abilities. This lecture will look at different forms of arts and crafts and will teach how to use them to improve focus, induce trance, manifest an intent and receive messages from our allies. It will explore different theories from occupational therapy and psychodynamics and will let each participant experience first-hand the effects of arts and crafting in a magical way. No arts and craft experience required.

Discussion: Pagan Hindsight -- What We Thought We Knew (Karyn Torrie)
Time: Saturday, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Downstairs
A talk about the preconceptions many of us had before we came fully into our religion, and how our perceptions have since changed. (Tentative)

VENDING ROOM CLOSES AT 5PM

Public Yule Ritual (Hobbes)
Time: Sunday, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Upstairs

Mindfulness –Using Meditation as a Tool to Find and Connect to Your True Self

We often hear about meditation and the importance of being mindful but what does that really mean? What is meditation? How does it work? What is mindfulness? How can meditating bring about mindfulness thus helping you connect to your true self?

Meditation is a natural ancient practice that has been used over five thousand years to calm the body, mind and spirit. Meditation’s main purpose is to quiet the mind. Making the mind still leads to calm and centeredness. With calm awareness we tap into and connect with our heart center. Without the interference of troubled thoughts we can release negativity and begin to see our true nature, our true self and unfold into mindfulness.

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness means more than simply being aware.

Although, mindfulness requires being aware of our actions and thoughts, it is deeper and more deliberate. Being mindful means being purposely aware of thoughts and actions, not vaguely or habitually but being aware with conscious deliberation. Take for example, the simple act of eating, eating with mindfulness means that one would be conscious of the act of eating; paying attention to the sensations, taste and textures and the body’s response to these stimuli. If the mind beings to wander we would then refocus our attention back to the present. Being in the present and mindful of our selves leaves allows the storm of our thoughts to die down and what is left is the silence of our heart. We can then pay attention to and attune ourselves to the language of our body, mind and spirit. We become more aware of our needs. The shift slowly starts to take place and the benefits of meditation, awareness and mindfulness are felt in every area of our daily lives.

Although meditation is relaxing and calming it should not be mistaken as a method of relaxation. Meditation is a method used to de-clutter and calm the mind. Doing so, we gain clarity, a clearer view of who we really are. Seeing the real you clearly, without blinders, without negative mind chatter, without belief systems, without stigma, we start to develop awareness and mindfulness. You will start to see the true potential that is you.

In life we normally place a lot of energy into thinking; thinking of doing something or accomplishing goals, but as we begin to practice meditation we begin to free ourselves from constant conversation. By freeing ourselves from negative thoughts, and the never ending internal dialogue the focus of energy shifts from doing to being, we get back to balance, to the heart, to your true self.

Below I have added a couple simple meditations. Practicing, sitting as often as you can, for as long as you can, will help bring your attention back to your true path. Be patient with yourself.
Breathe. Simply be aware of your breathe. Focus on your nose, the nostrils in particular. Feel the cool air on in the in breath, then the warm air on the out breath.

• Take a deep breath, counting until four: 1,2,3,4
• Hold for 1,2,3,4
• Exhale counting until four:1,2,3,4
• Repeat

Be aware of your body and mind. If thoughts of the day seem to stay or creep in, it’s ok, don’t judge them, they are just thoughts. As quietly as they appeared, allow them to leave with the out breath. Try to sit for 5-10 minutes for the first session. Then as you begin to feel more comfortable and at ease, extend the duration of your sit.

Grounding Meditation is good for bringing you fully and consciously into the present moment, the here and now. It is especially helpful if you are undergoing lots of stress in your life, have undergone an especially difficult situation and are having a hard time clearing your mind and thoughts.

• Find a comfortable, undisturbed space and time for this sit
• Take a few deep breaths, as mentioned above.
• Now focus in on the soles of your feet, bringing all your attention to that body part
• Visualize two roots growing out of the soles for your feet working their way down into the earth.
• Allow the roots to grow and expand, branching off the deeper down into the earth they go.
• Feel yourself becoming more centered, calmer
• Keep visualizing the roots spreading and growing deeper down, passing through different layers of the Earth.
• Keep your attention at your feet and the roots growing from your feet downward into the Earth. Continue to do so until your feet feel heavy and firmly secure to the ground.
• Bring your attention back to the feet.
• When feel ready, bring your attention back to yourself and open your eyes, ending the sit.

Monika Marczuk : www.holisticenergy.ca

Classy pens, incense burners, and leather oil!

We have 3 kits of "classy pens". Colored glass pens with their assorted inks come in either black, green, red, yellow or blue. Wooden pen kits come with inks of 3 different colors: black, blue or violet. We also have musical pens with 2 interchangeable points: one to draw the 5 musical lines, and the other to draw the notes. Perfect for composers who are nostalgic of the old times, or for pagans who like to create their own chants for rituals.







The incense burners we recently received are rectangular wooden boxes, rectangular soapstone boxes, cubic soapstone burners (require a tealight candle) and brass cone burners (small and big).














The leather fragrance oil is now available! It can be rubbed on a journal or any other object to make it smell like genuine leather! Perfect for vegans! You can come at the store to get a bottle, or you can order it through the website in 5 ml and 15 ml volumes.

FAQ: What are the elements and what are their attributions?

In Wicca, most Pagan paths, spell-craft and Ceremonial Magic we place a high importance on the five elements which are, as the term would suggest, the magical and natural components which form in each thing. Some traditions see these elements in slightly different ways or have slightly different attributions but here is a basic guide:

Earth
Association:Earth is the element of stability and the physical. Earth is often associated with material well-being such as money, home and prosperity, stubbornness and healing on the physical level.
Color:Black or Green or Brown
Tool/Tarot Suit:The Shield and the Pentacle.
Symbols: Salt, Soil, Bread, Horns, Stone, Leaves, Bark.
Sense: Touch
Scents: Pine, Cedar, Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood.
Direction: North
Time: Night

Air
Association: Air is the element of the mind, communication, language, writing and imagination. Air is often associated with anything having to do with the mind or mental processes and is often invoked for study, philosophical thought or automatic writing and healing of mental illness.
Color: Yellow
Tool/Tarot Suit: The Dagger and the Sword
Symbols: Feather, Rose, Quill or Pen, Parchment, Book of Shadows, Fan.
Sense: Smell
Scents: Hyssop, Mint, Violet, Moonflower, Lavander.
Direction: East
Time: Sunrise

Water
Association: Water is the element of emotions. It is associated with peace and calm but also sadness and every other emotion. Water is also associated with empathy, mystery and healing on an emotional level.
Color: Blue
Tool/Tarot: The Cauldron and the Cup (or Chalice).
Symbols: Water, Wine, Shells.
Sense: Taste
Scents: Lotus, Vetiver, Cucumber, Rosemary, Orris, Jasmine.
Direction: West
Time: Sunset

Fire
Association: Fire represents the will, creativity and passion as well as renewal but also destruction. Fire is also associated with strength and power.
Color: Red
Tool/Tarot: The Wizard's Staff and the Wand
Symbols: Flame, Candles, Lamps, Censer, Incense.
Sense: Sight
Scents: Neroli, Nag Champa, Cinnamon, Allspice, Ginger, Clove.
Direction: South
Time: Midday

Spirit
Associations: Spirit is the element of the soul, the divine and the supernatural.
Color: White or Purple
Tool/Tarot: Spirit does not have a tool but is associated with the Major Arcana in the Tarot deck.
Symbols: White Light, Quartz, Crystal, Crystal Balls, Crosses, Doves, Smoke.
Sense: Hearing
Scents: Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood
Direction: Up
Time: All Time.

Come check out our Elemental display at the store for more ideas of tools and associations for your altar or elemental workings!

Turning forgotten New Years Resolutions into Remembered Change

The New Year is long gone, and so are good intended New Year’s resolutions. During the turning of the year we become introspective and start mulling over the past year’s events. We see what improvements need to be made and hopefully keep our big promises long enough to see change manifest. We think back on our short comings, should have, would have, could have’s show their ugly faces; when the realization that our big plans for major self-renovations did not all go according to plan we look to the future. Not to worry, we have the birth of yet another year to make more resolutions in hope that this New Year will heed better results.

The cycle continues. We set unrealistically high expectations on ourselves that are unfortunately a set up for disappointments. “I resolve to lose 30 pounds in 6 months!’ “I resolve to exercise daily!” “I resolve to …” Although, these mentioned examples are fantastic in nature, it is unrealistic to stock pile one resolution on top of another with such high expectations and have lasting fruitful outcomes. It is impossible to eat an elephant in its entirety in one sitting, just as it is to conquer all of our phobias, balance our imbalances, exercise daily, renovate the kitchen, volunteer at the local shelter, give up coffee and all sugars in one night! Then if stock piling does not work, and expecting the world from us only leads to disappointment, then what is the answer?

I say baby steps. It would be considered unfair and unrealistic to expect an infant to crawl before they sit upright, so why do we place such high self- expectations on ourselves when it comes to our own self growth? Try a new approach, treat yourself as gently and with as much acceptance as you would an infant. Stay true to yourself, meaning, practice the art of self- love and acceptance. Have compassion and loving kindness for the areas in you that are struggling and imbalanced as much as the strengths and more pleasing attributes of yourself. Love is what love does. Being more mindful, a day at a time, one step at a time, your thoughts and actions will naturally reflect and flow in a healthier, more balanced direction.

In the end, you will keep the best resolution of all, the promise to be true to yourself.

Monika Marczuk, Founder and Owner of Balanced Steps
www.holisticenergy.ca

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You can make an appointment to see her for a healing session on Mondays between 11am and 5pm. 30-minute sessions are $35 and 1-hr sessions are $70.
514-938-1458

The store was unable to get unscented colored taper candles for a long time, because the suppliers were actually lacking them in the last few years. Some specialized candle stores even went out of business! Well, good news! We have a very large selection of candles made in Germany! They are roughly 8 inches (20cm) long and they're perfect for 7-day spells!

Our section of crystals and tumbled stones is very full! 

Come see what we have in stock!

Annual Yule Fair 2011

This year the Yule Fair will be held over the usual first weekend of December upstairs of Le Melange Magique/The Magical Blend (1928 St-Catherine West, Montreal). A selection of local artists and artisans will have their wares for sale.

Great place and time to find unique gifts for the holidays!

Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2011
10:00am to 5:00pm both days.
Saturday the store will be open till 7pm!

Throughout the weekend we also offer workshops, presentations, discussions, lectures, author talks and more!

If you wish to offer a talk, please contact us. If there is a subject that you think would be interesting, let us know!

On this year's list of talks:

■ Healers Panel Discussion
■ Authors Panel Discussion
■ Energy Work: Creating Sacred Space
■ Way of the Warrior
■ Astrology 2012 (en francais)
■ and more (ALL FREE)

Also on the plan is a Yule Ritual in the evening on Sunday December 4th at 6pm.

New products in store!

We have received the long-awaited Witch Balls! They are so wonderful and shiny! We have small (3 inch/7 cm diameter) and large (5 inch/13 cm diameter) balls in 2 distinct series: Trees of Enchantments and Birth Months. Each ball is blown by hand, so no two balls are exactly alike, even if there are similar patterns and colors. The best way to choose them is to come in the store and select them yourself.


Small balls are all $20.95.
Large Birth Month balls are $32.95.
Large Tree of Enchantments balls are $42.95.

We also have 2 super cute large glass pumpkins on display, which can be sold as Halloween is over now, at $42.95 each.

We also received a very diverse selection of soapstone incense burners and boats. There are rectangular boats, square and round plates with very nice patterns, either Asian or "witchy" style.

We are restocked in sage bundles, so if you feel like there are nasty energy pockets around your home, you can smudge the corners of each room with sage in a counter-clockwise fashion. This action is useful if you feel  there are spirits observing you, whether they are friendly or seem hostile.

The newest items in store as of today are crystal drops and hanging crystals, all with Chakra colored crystal pieces and clear pieces. Their prices vary depending on their style and size, from $11 to $35.

November Workshops & Events

Dia de los Muertos
On this day, all voodoo kits and Voodoo/Santeria books, and Day of the Dead gifts will be 10% off !!
November 2nd

Pagan Discussion Night (MPRC) FREE
Pagans, Conflict, and the Warrior Path
What is the Warrior Path? What is the difference between a Warrior and a Soldier? Are Warriors still relevant in modern society? What is the Pagan perspective on War? Dealing with Witch Wars. Ethics and Dark Magic. Balancing Respect for Life and Defending Yourself.
Thursday, November 3rd 6:30-8:30pm FREE

Major Arcana Part Two (Catharine)
Saturday November 5th 1 to 3:30pm $40

Id al-Adha: Festival of Sacrifice (Muslim) - offering of meat to the poor, making a sacrifice for the gods
Kathina: (Theravada Buddhist) – monks & nuns get new robes
November 6th

Discover Your Animal Totems Part 3 (Catharine)
Animal totems are medicines. The animals that cross our paths literally or in dreams have a deep meaning in our lives and can be used for healing and guidance. Come discover yours and how to connect to and benefit from them
Thursday November 10th 7 to 9pm $40

Remembrance Day
At 11h00am, please take a few minutes of silence to remember those who gave their lives for us in times of war.
November 11th

Minor Arcana - Cups and Pentacles (Catharine)
Saturday November 12th 1 to 3:30pm $40

Tarot Interpretation Part One (Catharine)
Tarot interpretation is a new class I am offering to help you read your tarot better. How do we know what cards mean when they are side by side? How do we reconcile meanings when they are seemingly contradictory? We will focus on the Major Arcana in combination. Come on out, see and practice!
Saturday November 19th 1 to 3:30pm $40

Universal Children’s Day
Children’s & Teen books are all 10% off today!
November 20th

US Thanks Giving
November 24th

Past Lives Exploration (Catharine)
How do past lives really work? Do they exist? If so how can I identify mine and why they have an effect on my life?
These are the questions we will explore in this workshop. We will also do guided meditations to help you remember your past lives (not all! but perhaps one).
Week 1 Introduction to Past Lives Theory
Week 2 Guided meditation to remember a past life
Week 3 How we use this information in daily life to heal
Thursdays, November 24th to December 8th, 7-9pm
$40 per class or $100 for series (deal available if registered officially before or on the start date).

Tarot Interpretation Part Two (Catharine)
Tarot interpretation part two will allow you to practice more combinations and more spreads to see how we assess the meanings. We will include both Major and Minor arcana in the analysis.
Saturday November 26th 1 to 3:30 pm $40

YULE FAIR 2011
Annually the 1st weekend of December
December 3rd & 4th, 10am - 5pm both days
Store specials, free workshops & discussions, local artisans.
Sunday morning brunch with the MPRC.
Sunday evening Yule Ritual.
More info to come later in November...

Interview with Matt Risk our Shiatsu Healer

Today we had in our Shiatsu healer Matt. Matt is a great Shiatsu practitioner with good intuitions, skill and learning. Having a Shiatsu massage from him feels like the knots in your body and the blocked up energies and tensions are melting away leaving your muscles and energy patterns free to flow naturally. He managed to get rid of some of my oldest knots in just one half-hour session!

Here is an interview with Matt to explain what Shiatsu is all about.

What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a Japanese healing methods. Incorporating principles similar to massage, acupressure and a few other similar methods. Shi means finger and atsu means pressure. I use my thumbs hands and elbows to apply stationary pressure to the client's soft tissues which triggers a relaxation response and melts pain and tension from the body.

What is the difference between massage and Shiatsu.
Swedish massage uses oils and works on naked skin generally with rubbing. Shiatsu on the other hand uses stationary holding pressure so I work through the clothing without any nakedness. No muss, no fuss! I am also using a lot of acupuncture theory but treating with my thumbs instead of needles.

What is acupuncture theory and how does it work?
About ten thousand years ago Chinese doctors marked out a pattern of energy flow pathways called meridians. They discovered that certain points on these meridians effected the internal organs in certain ways in order to heal disease. By manipulating these points the energy flow in the body can be manipulated, regulated and brought into balance.

What made you want to become a Shiatsu therapist?
I was interested in learning a healing modality and in particularly was drawn to the Chinese method through the chi kung I was already doing.

What is the history of Shiatsu?
Although similar to a lot of traditional oriental massage techniques Shiatsu was invented in the 1940s by Tojiro Namakoshi. As a child he treated his mother's arthritis by pressing on her limbs. He later grew up to form the Tokyo Shiatsu School which now has students all over the world and many styles that have stemmed out of that. But from its inception Shiatsu has incorporated this concept of motherly love.

Why do you like the Shiatsu method more than others?
I find that the pressure is deeper and more relieving; that you can let go of pain without having to re-experience it.

Matt Risk: Our Shiatsu Healer at Melange
Matthew Risk has been practicing Zen Shiatsu since 2003 when he graduated from the Shiatsu School of Canada’s 2200 hour professional program. He is a Reiki master, a musician, and a writer. He has practiced Shiatsu in Toronto, Halifax, Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and now Montreal.

Matt does shiatsu at Melange on Tuesdays from 11am - 5pm
Call 514-938-1458 to book an appointment.

Note: Melange Magique does NOT recommend that you use Alternative Healing instead of seeing your doctor or health professional. Instead we maintain that Alternative Healing should best be used in conjunction with regular allopathic medicine.

Back to Basics

The Magical Blend/Le melange Magique is going back to some older more traditional recipes for its products. You will see the most notable difference right now in the vinegars (Seven Spirits & Four Thieves).

Vinegars are used to strike to the heart of a matter, cut through the sludge of interferences, and stamp a mark in the energy not to be ignored.

The Seven Spirits vinegar is a white vinegar steeped for a month in the Seven Holy African herbs. It is lighter in color and relatively clear with some sediment. Use this to cut through problems and achieve your goals. Wash away negative energies and entities from your home and business.

The Four Thieves vinegar is a red vinegar steeped in herbs and resins for a month. It tends to be cloudier and more earthy with considerably more sediment. This vinegar is used to protect from thieves, the evil eye and people with ill intentions toward you, your home, or your business.



Other items that are "getting back to basics" are the inks. Inks are prepared by color associated with their many purposes. Starting December, our inks will be not just color associated, but contain trace amounts of herb and charged stone energies for their varied purposes. The individual bottles will each have a tiny stone inside to not just lend to the energy of the purpose but to help you mix the ink as you shake the bottle. All inks should be shaken before use as pigments tend to separate from the liquid medium. There will be more about the inks preparations and their uses next month!

Alternative Healing at Melange: Reiki with Monika

Here at Melange we have three Alternative healers who come in every week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tomorrow we have Monika in doing Reiki, a type of energy healing. Here is some information about what Reiki is and who Monika is. And of course you can always come in and experience it first hand!

What is Reiki?
Reiki is a form of energy healing invented in Japan in the 19th century by Dr. Mikao Usui. Reiki means "Life Force Energy" and that is the basic concept behind what Reiki is. Dr. Usui felt he had developed a method that tapped into the original energy that created life. As such Reiki is fundamentally positive and cannot be harmful. A Reiki practitioner channels this Life Force Energy into the patient, converting any negative energies in the body into the positive life force energies they are supposed to be. Reiki has been passed down from master to student since the beginning and all Reiki students have to go through several levels of initiation to attune themselves to the Reiki energy and learn how to use it to heal others. Reiki is a powerful and relaxing healing process that works at the spiritual level to help balance the whole being.

Monika Marczuk: Our Reiki Healer at Melange.
(CRA, ECE, Reiki Certified). Monika is a certified Reiki practitioner, accredited and a member of the Canadian Reiki Association.She has been interested in energy work for over eleven years specializing in Reiki since 2007, also experienced with different modalities of energy work.

Monika founded Balanced Steps to incorporate her experience with energy healing and art to help people reach their true potential. Monika believes that the key to a healthy body, mind and spirit is the healing of the soul. She works cooperatively with traditional medicine to enhance and promote a healthier individual. Energy worker, teacher and artist, Monika has a deep understanding that each person is an unique individual and uses various techniques to meet your specific needs.

Monika does Reiki healing at Melange on Mondays from 11am to 5pm.
Call Melange at 514-938-1458 to make an appointment.

Note: Melange Magique does NOT recommend that you use Alternative Healing instead of seeing your doctor or health professional. Instead we maintain that Alternative Healing should best be used in conjunction with regular allopathic medicine.

FAQ: What is Black Magic and the Three Fold Law?

Around this time of year we tend to get a lot of people looking for "black magic" spells and books. Many of these people are just looking for a thrill, but also some of them are spiritual seekers who may or may not realize they are seeking. As such, the staff at Melange takes it as a duty to explain magic, black magic and the theory of karma and the three fold law to clients. We all have the highest respect for the laws of the universe and so we try to teach those laws to customers. Here is a bit of an online course!

What is "black magic?"
Black magic is the term often used to signify magic that is considered "bad" or at the least morally murky. Magic in itself is morally neutral: it is simply a tool and like any tool it can be used for good or for bad. Black magic, as we here at Melange usually define it to clients, is when you use magic to go against someone's personal will or for selfish reasons. So for example, if you are doing a love spell that is forcing someone to love you against their will then you are performing black magic. However if you were to do a clarity spell to give them the clarity of mind to realize that they already love you, then this isn't going against their will and can be considered white magic, or at the very least grey magic. Not everyone follows this definition, but we here at the store have found it to be the most clear and easily applicable. Part of this idea of black magic comes from an interpretation of the Wiccan Rede: "An you harm none, do what ye will," meaning you are free to follow the wishes of your heart and soul as long as it does not cause harm to others. Of course this is a pretty vague statement and can be viewed more or less strictly depending on your interpretation. In our definition of black magic we have interpreted "harm" in the Wiccan Rede to mean "go against someone else's will."

So what does this mean practically? Can you do any magic at all under this definition that isn't considered black magic? For sure! Any spell that is done to heal, purify, protect or give clarity is considered white magic, particularly if it is done with the subject's permission. As well, anything done on yourself, particularly for self betterment is also good since it does not go against anyone's will. In fact with just a little bit of imagination and creative tinkering you can probably spin any spell you want around so that it fits under the morality of white magic.

And why would you want to do white magic instead of black magic? Besides the moral implications, there is another Wiccan law (which is often held at least in a similar manner by other pagans and mystics) called the Three-Fold Law.

What is the Three-Fold Law?
"Whatever you do comes back to you three-fold." Those are the words of the three-fold law, but what does that mean? Simply put, the Three-Fold Law states that the quality of energy you put out into the universe will come back to you three times more intensely or in three ways. So if you put out a loving energy, you will receive three times as much love. If you put out negativity and selfishness you will encounter negativity and selfishness.

The best explanation I ever heard of the Three-Fold Law is that any energy you put out comes back to you on three levels: the physical, the mental and the spiritual. So if you put out an energy of negativity, not only will you receive some physical negative backlash (like being ill or tired or having people perceive you negatively) but you will also start having a negative mindset and have a buildup of negativity in your aura. Of course this is easy to understand on a rational level: If I'm horrid to people, then obviously that will effect myself and the others around me. Nobody wants to hang out with someone who is mean, so it's likely that on the physical plane I may lose friends and have trouble at work, this might also cause stress which will effect my health. On a mental level, obsessing over ways to manipulate people will effect my psyche and if I am gathering negative energy to send out to someone it makes sense it would stick around in my sphere, especially if I don't do a banishing after.

Here at Melange, we are not only sales clerks but guides and spiritual councilors. We are all trained extensively in not only the methods of spell-craft but the philosophies behind them. As such, we like to keep our customers informed and help them to lead a balanced spiritual life. The understanding of black magic and the Three-Fold Law is just one of the ways we do that, and now you are informed as well!

Public Samhain Altar

Here at the store we provide the public with a small altar space where you can light incense of a candle, do a small ritual or spell, and simply take some spiritual time in semi-privacy.

We decorate the altar for each sabbat as the Wheel of the Year Turns.

Samhain is almost upon us and our annual Ancestral Book is on the altar for you to add things you wish to say to those who have passed on. Write into the pages an anecdote or memory, words you wish you had a chance to say but didn't, or wishes for advice from those beyond the Veil.

Honor your ancestors: blood and spirit. They are any being or creature who has touched your life and helped develop the person you are. They might be a close pet that passed on. They might be a friend or relative. They might be someone far up your family lineage. Or maybe they are a Craft person (Gerald Gardner or Stewart Farrar).

Take some time to reflect and commune.

BRAAAAAAINS!

The zombie apocalypse is nigh!

Okay, it isn't, but if it were the Zombie Apocalypse Preparation workshop being held by Scarlet on the 13th and 20th would be just what you need. A lot of movies recently seem to have forgotten that zombies are traditionally a magickal phenomenon. This workshop teaches you how to protect yourself magically against zombies, prevent the zombification of a loved one and reduce self-zombification caused by lack of sleep, stress and a general lack of energy.

To help you out as well  we have two zombie kits, one to protect against zombies and one to protect against self-zombification. Our Zombie Protection and Banishing Kit is created to protect you from any black magic sent against you to turn you into a zombie or to banish a zombie coming after you. It includes a red dragon's blood candle traditionally used for exorcisms and empowerment to burn in your home if you need to banish a zombie or a zombification spell, protection oil to anoint yourself and your home to protect against zombies and any other negative energies and malicious intents, sea salt to put on your threshold as a spiritual barrier against zombies, demons and spirits, a specialty zombie banishing sprinkling powder to place on your walkway or throw at any oncoming zombies and a traditional Hoodoo/Voodoo XXX marker to place over your door or under your mat to thwart evil. Our Zombie Healing Kit is made to help you recover from days when you feel particularly zombie-like. It includes a cleansing bath salt to help rid your aura of the zombie energy slowing you down, peppermint essential oil to awaken your senses, vitali-tea tea blend to give you the energy and oomph you need to wake up your undead body, a charged clear quartz to energize and purify your aura and an XXX marker to ward off any evil that might come towards you in your weakened state.

So whether you want to stock up in preparation for an imminent zombie apocalypse or to help yourself feel human again on those days you just get out of bed moaning for brains we can help! Be the only person on your block truly prepared fort the most likely zombie apocalypse: an army of magical undead, or a cold rainy day that turns everyone's brains to mush!