Welcome to Hot Tea Month!

January is hot tea month! This month we will be featuring weekly teas as well as having workshops introducing tea and tea tasting on the 18th and 25th. To get the ball rolling here are some facts about tea:

All true teas come from the leaves of the same plant: camellia sinensis. What makes the difference between, say, black tea and green tea is the amount, and process in which they are fermented. The least processed and fermented tea is White tea, followed by Green, Oolong and finally Black tea which is the most processed. The amount of caffeine in the tea tends to follow this order as well, with white having the least amount of caffeine and black the most. Within each category of tea there are hundreds of different types and breeds like Darjeeling or Orange Pekoe for black teas, Sencha and Dragon-well for green etc. Here at the store, we try to use the best quality of each type for our base teas.

For those who want something that is naturally decaffeinated, there are two other categories of "teas." The first is an herbal tea or tisane, which is basically any blend of dried fruit, herbs or flowers that you would steep in hot water, like our Cranberry Apple herbal tisane. The other is made from Rooibos, sometimes called "red tea." Rooibos comes from an African bush and has many of the same health benefits as tea but is naturally non caffeinated (as opposed to decaffeinated teas which have the caffeine removed like decaf coffee). Rooibos has a tasty, woody flavor and makes an excellent base for herbal teas, especially for sleep aids.

One of the unique things about our tea selection here at Melange is that we also offer a variety of tea additives that you can use to make your very own blend of tea! Choose a base tea that you like and then add some herbs and spices blended to your liking; could be intended for specific magical or health purposes, or your simple enjoyment. Here at the store we have invented and collected quite a few recipes with our knowledge of herbalism. So here is a quick guide to some of the magical properties of our tea additives (according to the trusty Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs) to help you make your own unique tea for exactly the purpose you want!

• Anise Seeds: Anise is good for protection, purification, and youth. It is associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of Air. Anise has been traditionally been used to ward off nightmares, drive off and protect from evil, and as a purification herb. Anise has also been used to help summon useful spirits and to restore lost youth.
• Chamomile: Chamomile is used for money, sleep, love and purification. It is associated with the Sun, and the element of water. Chamomile is used for gambling luck, to help induce sleep, to attract love and to remove curses and spells.
• Chopped Chai: Chai is a mix of spices traditionally from India and boiled in milk. Because it is a mix of spices it has a lot of fiery aspects namely increasing energy, protection, and purification. 
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon  has many properties including spirituality, success, healing, power, psychic powers, lust, protection and love. This hot spice is unsurprisingly associated with the Sun and fire. Cinnamon has also traditionally been used by several cultures for offerings and anointing.
• Ginger: Ginger is used for love, money success and power. It is associated with Mars and the element of fire. Eating (or in this case drinking) ginger is supposed to help lend power to spell working, particularly to love spells. Ginger is also used  for healing, which has a scientific basis: ginger has bacteria fighting capabilities and is used around the world by medical professionals and herbalists alike to help with nausea and upset stomachs. 
• Honeybush: Honeybush is good for gentle cleaning, love and beauty, and protection.
• Jasmine Buds: Jasmine's powers include those of love, money and prophetic dreams. It is highly associated with the moon and also with the element of water. Jasmine flowers are used to attract spiritual love and is also traditionally used to attract money. Jasmine causes prophetic dreams and is also used to induce sleep.
• Lavender:  Lavender is traditionally used for many purposes: including for love, protection, sleep, chastity, longevity, purification and love. This cerebral herb is associated with Mercury and the element of air. The scent of lavender is said to attract men, and for this reason it is often used for love spells. Lavender is perhaps best known to induce sleep and peacefulness and is very effective aromatherapy for insomniacs. Lavender is also used to rid one of sorrow and also promotes long life, helps one see ghosts, is used for protection against the evil eye and for purification baths.
• Lemon Balm: Ancient Romans thought lemon balm promoted healthy life. It is said to improve mood and mental performance and is traditionally used to bring a lover into one's life.
• Orange Peel: Orange is used for love, divination, luck and money. It is associated with the sun and fire, probably largely due to its color. Dried orange peels are supposed to lead to wedded bliss as well as prosperity.
• Peppermint: Peppermints powers include those of purification, sleep, love, healing and psychic powers. It is associated with the planet Mercury, the element of fire and the god Pluto. The scent of peppermint raises the energy and purifies a space. It also helps induce sleep and give prophetic dreams. It has also been used since ancient times for purification and to incite love.
• Rose Buds and Petals: Rose is a favorite flower of magicians and is used for love, psychic powers, healing, love divination, luck and protection. It is associated with Venus, the planet of love, the element of water and host of gods and goddesses: Hathor, Hulda, Eros, Cupid, Demeter, Isis, Adonis, Harpocrates and Aurora. Rose is well known for its use in love potions. Rose is also used to relieve headaches, calm stress and relieve tension in the home. It can also be added to luck mixtures and is also used for protection.
• Rosehip:Rose hip is the berry at the bottom of the rose flower and so it has many of the same properties and associations as rose petals. However rosehips are particularly associated with healing. Rose hips contain iron, calcium, and vitamines A, B, and C. One of the richest plant sources of vitamine C and is a powerful antioxidant. Rose hips are used to help prevent colds and the flu.

So now that you have some information, start dreaming up your own tea mixtures, write them down and bring in the recipe for us to make your tailor made tea!

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."

Ritual Tools: Limited Items

For a limited time Melange has in stock beautifully hand-tooled leather tomes: This stunning handcrafted Book of Shadows is an heirloom-quality tome which will serve you for years. Each book has a sword on its 3" binding. The front cover overflows with the ancient Celtic symbolism of Morrigan, who appeared as a crow to lead warriors into battle, and escort souls to the afterlife. The back cover celebrates the harvest, prosperity, and fertility. This book is 8.5" x 10", weighing in at a hefty three pounds. The covers are made out of high grade vegetable, tanned leather that softens with use and age. This spell book is coptic bound with 3" binding so that its pages always lay flat! Featuring: Handmade, Old World, tree-free, acid-free, archival quality linen parchment paper!

  Also back in stock are our ritual horns: A ceremonial horn, made from waterbuffalo horn-- approximately 6" in length. Excellent for representing the horned god on your altar or being used as a drinking horn. Magical properties include strength, stamina, masculinity, and virility. Elemental associations with fire. Bull horns are also associated with the astrological sign Taurus and therefore earth and stability.

Order them online or come to the store before the fly away!

New Crystals!

Melange just received a new shipment of stones including some new and interesting ones! Here they are with their properties:

Aragonite: is a stone that is strongly associated with the Earth Goddess. As such it exhibits many of the qualities one would associate with Earth; it is grounding, promotes a wish to be eco-friendly, clears blocked ley-lines, centers, grounds, and stabilizes root and sacral chakras. Aragonite promotes stability, concentration, tolerance and patience.

Iolite: is a very good stone for clairvoyance, visualization, insight, and is associated with the Third Eye. Iolite can also be used to help you contact and express your true self, freeing you from others' expectations. Emotionally Iolite releases discord within relationships.

Kyanite: is a very spiritual stone, helping you to stay true to your spiritual self. It is also related to the Throat Chakra and promotes self-expression and communication and helps one to see spiritual and psychological truths. Kyanite helps you to deal with karmic fallout and your past by helping with the realization of your role in causing your own fate and karma. This stone is also useful for increasing your capacity to be logical and linear and helps to remove stress, confusion, anger, frustration and other blockages.

Larimar: is a beautiful stone from the Caribbean and is used to protect oneself from oneself. On a spiritual level it harmonizes you with new vibrations, helps dissolve spiritual boundaries and aids in communication with the angelic realm. Larimar is good for finding one's soul mate and heals trauma from past (and past life) relationships.

Pink Tourmaline: is an aphrodisiac that attracts material and spiritual love. It inspires trust in love and self love. It cleanses the heart chakra and removes blockages and emotional pain and old destructive feelings. Pink tourmaline also promotes peace, relaxation and connects physical and spiritual love.

Shungite: This mysterious stone is only found in one region of northern Russia. Though no one is quite sure where this stone came from or how it was formed, Shungite's healing properties have been historically and scientifically documented thoroughly. Shungite contains a powerful anti-oxidant called a "fullerene" which, until it had been discovered in shungite, was only found in small doses around the world, supposedly where lightning had struck. Despite the presence of fullurenes however, scientists are still at a loss to explain all of shungite's healing properties such as: a vast improvements in those with chronic diseases such as liver disease, kidney diseases and gastrointestinal diseases,  aiding recovery from skin diseases and prevention hair loss and revitalization of hair.  Shungite is also said to help with wrinkles and restore skin elasticity. As well, Shungite has been said to block electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, radios and other modern appliances.

Super Seven: This stone, also known as Sacred Seven, contains amethyst, clear quartz, smokey quartz, cacoxenite, rutile, goethite, and lepidochrosite. It is a powerful stone for healing the mind, body, and spirit. Super Seven can cleanse negative attachments, assist in clearing emotional issues, and help contact spirit guides.

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.

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!

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!