Pewter History

We are starting to carry more pewter jewelry instead of silver due to the rising cost of pure silver making much of the beautiful pendants we would normally carry to be very expensive. While doing translations we learned that the French word for pewter is étain which actually means tin. So here is some research for all who may be curious about the relation of tin to pewter.

What Two Metals Make Pewter?

By James Holloway, eHow Contributor
Pewter was first developed during the Bronze Age, and has been used ever since to make objects such as dishes, jugs, cups and decorative objects. Pewter is an alloy of tin, which consists of 85-99 percent tin, but it is actually mixed with several other metals, including copper, lead, antimony, and bismuth, not just one metal. The percentages of other metals mixed with tin vary depending on the grade of pewter desired.

Regulating Grades

• In the Middle Ages, quality control of manufactured goods was carried out by craft guilds or companies. One such group was the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, responsible for controlling the manufacture of pewter. This regulatory body was the first to establish several grades of pewter, each defined by its metal content. The proportions of these metals in the alloy determine the grade of the pewter.

Grades of Pewter

• Grades of pewter established in the Middle Ages continued to be used until the 19th century. The highest grade of pewter is Fine Metal, which has a copper content of around 1 percent. The second type of pewter, Trifling Ware, consists of tin with around 4 percent lead. This gives it a darker gray color and makes it oxidize more quickly. The third grade of pewter, Ley Metal, contains a very high percentage of lead, around 15 percent. This type of pewter was only used for items that would not come into contact with food or drink since lead is detrimental to health.

Modern Pewter

• Because of health concerns relating to the quantity of lead in some types of pewter, modern pewter does not contain any. A typical modern pewter alloy contains about 94 percent tin, 1 percent copper, and 5 percent antimony. The exact proportion of these metals varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and on the intended use of the object being created. Increasing the amount of tin and decreasing the amount of antimony, for instance, produces a softer alloy.

Read more:
What Two Metals Make Pewter? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8114510_two-metals-make-pewter.html#ixzz255GImkeD

September 2012 Workshops & Events

BLUE MOON

Friday, August 31st
FREE MOONFLOWER BATH SALT WITH EACH PURCHASE! Available online and in-store!

Crescent Moon School of Magic & Paganism

Crescent Moon School is Montreal's longest running school of magic and paganism, having started in 1995. Its goal is to help you find your path. Come to the Open House to meet some of the teachers and students and to see what students of all levels have done the past year. Registration is open throughout August and will end September 2nd.

OPEN HOUSE & REGISTRATION
Friday, August 31st, 7:00pm
Level 1: Saturdays 1:00pm - 4:00pm, starting September 8th for 20 weeks (John WinterWolf & Marc)
$300 (or 3 x $100 every 6 weeks) Reading pack & workbooks included.

Level 2: Wednesdays 6:00pm - 9:00pm, starting September 5th for 24-27 weeks (Scarlet & Eri)
$375 (or 3x $125 every 8 weeks) Supplies not included.

Level 3: Thursday 6:00pm - 9:00pm, starting September 6th for 24-27 weeks (Scarlet)
$375 (or 3x $125 every 8 weeks) Supplies not included.

Tarot Series (Scarlet)

Welcome to this 4-part comprehensive series on the tarot. Learn about how to bless & prepare your deck & how to protect your deck. The first class will explore the archetypes of the major arcana. The second and third classes explore the archetypes of the minor arcana. The last class in the series teaches you how to do readings for yourself and others, as well as introduce you to spreads and creating your own spreads.

Must have your own tarot deck

Fridays, September 7, 14, 21, & 28, 6-8pm, $120 (or $40 per class, prepay series to get one class free)

OUR BIRTHDAY

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH Come celebrate with us as we turn 21 years old! Book discount cards will be once again available! We will give you your first stamp for FREE with any purchase, just for visiting us on our birthday!

CO-HOSTED EVENT with ARGO BOOKS
AUTHOR: CHRIS PHILPOTT (“Green Spirituality”)

http://www.greenspirituality.org
Chris Philpott will be traveling in from England to speak about Paganism and the spiritual tradition of caring for the environment. He will also do a book-launch and reading from his book “Green Spirituality” which will be on sale across the street at Argo Books.
Saturday, September 15th, 2:00 pm (Lecture @ Melange Magique) FREE
Saturday, September 15th, 4:00 pm (Book Signing @ Melange Magique)
Tuesday, September 18th, 7:00 pm (Book Launch & Reading & Book signing @ Argo Books)

SUNDAY SABBAT SALE

SEPTEMBER 16TH FOR MABON
10% off everything in store all day!

Alfs, Wights, and Trolls (Matthew Risk)

In this workshop we will be learning about the different types of small gods of the Northern European Peoples. The local gods of the home, the park near your house, the mountains and the rivers, how they act, how to interact with them, how to make them happy allies, and what to look out for in terms of dangers.

Saturday, September 22nd, 2:00pm - 5:00pm, $35

JOURNÉES DE LA CULTURE

As a part of Journees de la Culture, from September 28th, 29th & 30th, 2012 at Melange Magique, presenting "EarthSong".

Inspired by the Flora & Fauna of Quebec with a fantastical & imaginative twist. Some environmentalist topics will be explored. Includes a three-day Art Exhibition of the art works of April-Anna & Elissa Baltzer.

Schedule of Events:

• Free Children's Face Painting from 2:00pm - 4:00pm on Friday, September 28th.
• Vernissage: 5:00pm - 8:30pm, on Friday, September 28th.
• Live & Liberté: 3pm-5pm, on Saturday, September 29th.
• Demonstration of body-painting & fine art painting on canvas.
• Live music by singer/songwriter Cora Flora.
• Stop-Motion Animation & Body Painting: 12:00pm - 5:00pm, Sunday, September 30th.
• Live Demonstration of how to make a stop-motion animation.

Reiki 1 (Robyn)

Join us in this intensive 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, September 29th, 10:00am – 5:00pm, $150

Walking on Water (Matthew Risk)

Are you plagued by emotions that are out of control? In this workshop we will learn about what it is that triggers our emotional states, why we get carried away by feelings outside of our control, and how to reprogram those triggers so that things that used to bother us lead to feelings we'd prefer to have. By employing creative use of the post-hypnotic state, we can easily learn to master our emotions, make our lives more effective, and more satisfying.

Saturday, September 29th, 2:00 - 5:00pm, $35

Reiki Mastery Program (Robyn)

Contact the teacher directly: http://www.montrealreiki.com

Starts Sunday, September 30th.

Self-directed Magic for Beginners (Courtney)

Most spells focus on changing the environment around the caster such that good things can occur; more efficient spells focus on changing the caster such that she is the sort of person to whom good things happen regularly. Learn to harness your energy better by making a permanent difference in your personal magical pattern!

Sunday, September 30th, 3-5pm, $25

Limited Edition Witchcraft: A Beginner's Guide DVDs!

We now have in stock two rare DVDs from "Willow" (Jacqui Winn),  a member of a coven at Glastonbury in England . The pair of DVDs create a "Beginner's Guide" to Witchcraft to give the viewer some basic knowledge and training in the Craft.

Jacqui is a Witch and High Priestess with over 20 years experience. She teaches all aspects of Witchcraft both here in the UK and abroad. She is also involved with One Eyed Witch Productions which specialise in DVDs that teach the basics of all aspects of Witchcraft.

How to Be a Teenage Witch, Teenage Witchcraft: A Beginners Guide

 "Witchcraft is one of the fastest growing spiritual tradition in the Western world today. It has a following of many different types of people, both young and old alike and from all walks of life. This DVD is aimed largely at the many teen agers that are drawn to Witchcraft and sets out the very basics, simplifying an often complex and confusing structure. This DVD is aims to explain many of the most common practices of Witchcraft in simple terms, taking the "glamour" out of it and leaving beginners with a solid starting point. Within this DVD I will explore all that Witchcraft has to offer. Within you will learn how to choose and consecrate your magical tools, how to cast a simple Magical Circle, how to perform a Rite of Dedication and much more. I hope that one thing the student takes from this DVD is that it is your intent that drives your magic and that the simpler you keep something the better it is. Most of all have fun on your Path and remember that the Gods love laughter!"

Witchcraft: A Beginner's Guide: Full Moon Magic

 "This DVD is the second in a series of DVDs that aims to teach the fundamentals of Witchcraft, one of the fastest growing spiritualities in the West today... This second film aims to take the student further along their Spiritual Path by looking at working the energy of The Full Moon. This particular Moon phase is a traditional time for Witches to meet and work their rites. and this film explores explores how this ritual can be performed and why. The film shows both a group at work , and a solitary male practitioner performing a ritual that allows a man to partake of the feminine energy of this powerful moon phase. Both rituals are designed in an easy fashion that will allow the viewer to adapt them as will suit them.

The film also looks at the raising of magical energy, both from within ourselves and from the space around us, with which we can empower our rituals and magical work. We also touch on skills of healing and divination, both traditional skills to work the Full Moon.

Most importantly this film shows us how we can work magically  both simply and effectively. Through this film, we aim to simplify many of the complex ideas within witchcraft and make it accessible to all who are drawn to its teachings and ideas. The most important thing to remember is to walk your Path with joy and love, and to take an element of fun with you on your own personal magical journey."

Don't Let the Muggles Get You Down!

Feeling tired, stressed, restless? Do you feel like you are surrounded by psychic vampires sucking the energy out of you or like the heat is leaching your vitality?

There are many reasons we leak energy. Being ungrounded, stress, anxiety, taking too much care of others without having time to ourselves, and most notably at work or other social situations: by absorbing other peoples negativity.

But in the wise words of Ronald Weasley:

Here are some ways to prevent the less magically inclined (or the more negative, or the energy sucking) people in your life from influencing you:

1- Ground and center. Energy that is floating around is more likely to siphon or be siphoned off than energy that is following it's proper course to the ground. To avoid energy leakage or psychic vampires it's best to make sure you are grounded and centered. Here is a quick meditation: imagine you are a tree. As you breath out, all your negativity comes out of your roots into the earth. As you breath in, draw clean energy up from your roots imagining them drinking from a subterranean pool and filling your whole being. Breathe out and imagine negativity being expelled through your leaves. Breathe in and imagine the sun on your leaves being transferred into energy, bringing vitality to your whole being. Repeat.

2- Shield. It is actually simpler to shield your energy from outside influences than you think: Just imagine yourself with a stone or brick wall around your aura. As long as this visualization is kept in the back of your mind, you will be less susceptible to outside influences and you will also protect others from your own energy.

3- Remember that most people aren't doing this on purpose. My father always told me that most people are too self-absorbed to actually be negative towards you on purpose. If someone is sending off negativity, it is more likely that they are just having a bad day then that they are feeling malicious towards you specifically. If someone is draining you of your energy, it probably has more to do with them being drained and tired then that they enjoy it. Remember the Threefold Law: send out forgiveness, positivity, and love and you will get it right back. Don't resent those around you who are getting you down: that just feeds the negativity and makes it stronger.

4- Take care of your self. Ever heard the expression "healthy body- healthy mind, healthy mind- healthy body"? Well the same holds true with your energy and spirit. If you are eating right, exercising, sleeping well and generally being good to yourself you will be more solid and down-to -earth which in turn will help you be less effected by the energies around you.

5- Get your energy flow back to normal. When we are stressed or influenced by outside negativity the energy flow in our bodies gets redirected, blocked or misplaced. Doing chakra meditations or Qigong exercises can help but you can also get your energy re-aligned by an alternative healer. Reiki, Osteopathy, and Shiatsu all help to promote natural energy flows in the body and to rid you of negativity. Take advantage of Melange's Healers Monika, Valerie and Matt to help get your energy flowing back to it's best! Check them out on our website at http://www.themagicalblend.com/consultations

Happy (belated) Lughnasadh!

Yesterday was Lughnasadh, otherwise known as Lammas. The term "Lammas" is said to come from the Old English for "Loaf Mass" indicating that this was the time of year to celebrate the harvest of the first grains by baking bread. "Lughnasadh" is Gaelic for the celebration of the Celtic god Lugh. Lugh was not only a warrior who possessed two magical weapons (the Sword of Light and the Spear of Lugh) but he was also the original "Jack of All Trades," winning his place among the Tuatha De Dannan by being the only master of all professions. Lugh was a sorceror, a carpenter, a blacksmith, a doctor and many other things including a warrior so daunting he could never be defeated and his charge into battle was like the sun rising on the horizon. Because of this Lugh is associated with the sun, which is perhaps why his holiday falls during the hottest days of the year.
Here is a picture of Lugh by an artist on Deviant Art to get you in the mood for the holiday.

 Happy Lughnasadh and Blessed Be!
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Hier nous avons célébrons le sabbat de Lughnasadh, aussi appelé Lammas. Le terme de Lammas vient du vieil anglais "Loaf Mass" (messe du pain), indiquant la période de la première grande récolte de l'année consistant de grains. Le terme Lughnasadh est un mot gaélique ayant rapport avec la célébration du dieu Lugh. Lugh est un guerrier possédant 2 armes (l'Épée de Lumière et la Lance de Lugh) et il est considéré comme le dieu des "Tuatha De Dannan" ayant maîtrisé le plus de professions. Lugh est un sorcier, un menuisier, un forgeron, un médecin, en plus d'autres professions comme un guerrier si féroce que personne n'a pu le battre et que son énergie sur le champ de bataille est comme un soleil se levant sur les plaines. Il est donc associé avec le soleil, et c'est peut-être pour cela que sa célébration se fait dans les journées les plus chaudes de l'année.