Upcoming Samhain Related Events at Wonderworks
Best Witches Exhibition Opening (in the Fleishman Gallery)
Artist: Monica Bordirksy
October 11th to November 9th; Opening Reception - Thursday, October 11th, 7 – 9pm
Cost: FreeThis exhibit consists of seven oil portraits of witches: contemporary, historical, real and imagined. The artist has taken a close look at the lives and expressions of archetypes and individuals who were labeled, portrayed, or identified as a ‘witch’. More information
Juicy Fridays!! Presents Celebrating Samhain with Candice Craig
Friday, October, 7pm
Cost: FreeSamhain, (pronounced SAOW-in) literally means Summer’s end, and is the third and final Harvest.
Many gifts and sacrifices were given in thanks for the harvest. Samhain is considered by some, as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died. More information
Samhain Personal Readings: Tarot and Palmistry with Deirdre Norman and Melanie Ollenberg
Saturday, October 27, 12 pm - 5 pm
Cost: 20 minute readings for $20As we approach Samhain and the veil between worlds grows thinner, divination is an even more powerful tool of insight. We invite you to explore what insights the mystical can provide, with Tarot and Palmistry readings by Deirdre Norman and Melanie Ollenberg. More information
Upcoming events at Wonderworks for the most wonderful, witchy time of year! So very excited!
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Sodalite
This week’s featured stone, Sodalite was a request! Thanks to the Anon. who suggested it.
Sodalite is a stone of journeys and insight. It helps us journey inside ourselves and understand what we find there, & gives us insights into ourselves: our motivations, strengths, weaknesses, & desires, and shows us where our paths lie. It acts as a facilitator & guide for deep meditation & shamanic journeys, removing the concerns of everyday life & helping us understand the layers of revelations from these journeys. It is useful for divination, helping interpret the patterns and archetypes revealed through tarot and other divinatory methods. It is a strong stone for mental faculties, enhancing self-discipline, analysis, efficiency, efficiency, and organization. Place it on computers and other electronics to help block electro-magnetic pollution.
See previous Wonderworks Gemstones of the Week
-Wonderworks
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Chrysocolla
This weeks’ stone, Chrysocolla is an empowering stone with a feminine and Goddess energy, but it is beneficial for all genders. Those drawn to this stone may feel strong, but Goddess energy rising within themselves. Chrysocolla stimulates creativity and aids in verbalizing difficult to articulate concepts. Physically, it helps with ulcers and arthritis. It is so a good stone for alleviating cramps, and for adrenal support.
Chrysocolla is a communication and wisdom stone. It activates the throat chakra and helps us formulate and speak our ideas, stimulating our abilities to communicate our own personal wisdom to the world. It is a gentle, water element stone, and is helpful if you speak for a living. It also governs all forms of sacred sound and sound healing, and can be used to link the throat and heart chakras.
See previous gemstones of the week
-Wonderworks
The Magic of Mugwort (Part 1)
Artemisia vulgaris
Mugwort: It’s not exactly the nicest sounding herb. It brings to mind the image of a warty old woman in a black hat, cackling and brewing up mysterious potions.
So what is it, exactly?
Also called Wild Wormwood, Old Uncle Henry, Sailor’s Tabacco, and Felon Herb, it’s a tall, bushy, very inconspicuous plant of the Artemisia family (related to wormwood). It’s perennial, and can grow quite large, and tends to live in weedy, untended areas, especially along roadsides. It’s originally from Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and Alaska, but it grows now in most parts of the world, and has become naturalized in North America, where it’s sometimes considered a weed.
Mugwort has a long history of magical use, from ancient times to the present. The plant was sprinkled into the sandals of Roman soldiers to prevent fatigue; it is recorded as one of the herbs in the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs charm (written down in the 10th century); in European Medieval history, it was used by travelers to repel spirits and wild animals, and was carried about for general protection.
Read more @ The Wonderworks blog »
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Wonderworks Deck of the Week: Thoth Tarot
By Aleister Crowley and Lady Freida Harris
The Thoth Tarot is consistently one of our most popular decks. The striking, fascinating artwork in this deck was created by the famous occultist and Golden Dawn member, Aleister Crowley. Though Crowley’s work may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to dispute the beauty of these cards, which are rich with multiple layers of signs and symbols to interpret. Many of the meanings Crowley attributed to the cards remain popular today and have been proliferated through much of the available literature on Tarot, sometimes without the author necessarily being aware of Crowley’s impact on this form of divination.
Crowley worked on the deck from 1938 to 1943. This deck was created to illustrate Crowley’s The Book of Thoth. The artist is Lady Frieda Harris. She worked with Crowley’s rough sketches to produce images that would be faithful to his interpretations and her own vision. The Thoth Tarot deck is generally regarded as another classic Tarot deck, but some previous knowledge of tarot would help when using this deck.
This deck comes in two sizes - 5 ½”x 4”, as well as 4 ½”x 3”.
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Calcite Fairy Stone
This week’s stone is one that we just got in last week, and which I’m very excited about. It is a rare form of Calcite with is found in Canada (and in select pockets of some northern States). It may not be as sparkly as some of the other gemstones we post, but don’t let its grey exterior fool you, these unique formations are quite special.
Calcite Fairy Stone is a deeply feminine stone and connected to Earth energy, it is also a very grounding stone. These unique stone are referred to “little helpers” that must first adopt you, and then they will help you take care of important details in your life. They also build a nurturing and calming space for energetic work and Shamanic journeying. Physically, these stones can help ease joint and arthritic pain and dissolve calcifications. On an emotional level these stones help break down walls around old trauma & teach us to react positively to new situations. Each piece of has a unique vibration based on its shape - meditate with it to learn its special gifts and qualities.
A little something I wrote up for work. Two pieces of Calcite Fairy Stone just adopted me and I couldn’t be happier about it! ;)
Also on the subject of work - are you following Wonderworks yet? Because you should be, and I have been spending a lot more time updating that account than my own poor, somewhat neglected one of late.
Burning Love incense- a new custom blend of loose incense made by Wonderworks to draw love, promote joy, and enhance existing romance.
Ingredients: amber, juniper, thyme, chamomile, patchouli, cinnamon, lavender, coriander, ylang ylang, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, mandarin orange and geranium
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Fluorite
This week’s featured stone is Fluorite, is sometimes referred to as a “psychic vacuum cleaner”, as it helps clear its surrounding area of cluttered thoughts, negativity and anxiety. It absorbs and neutralises negative energy and stress. It is excellent for improving decision making, and dispelling any confusion. Physically, Fluroite supports brain chemistry, immune function, teeth and bones, and the nervous system.
Fluorite is a wind element stone of thought, mental capacities, and structure. It is a force of order that helps us navigates our lives, assisting with clear thought and understanding what actions will help us. It gives order and form to chaotic ideas, energies, and concepts, so that they are harmonious and can be manifested. It clears mental fog and helps both sides of the brain work together, and is an excellent stone for studying, learning, and memorizing. Fluroite comes in many different colours, including green, purple, yellow, pink, blue, and combinations of the aforementioned colours. Purple Fluorite is ideal for connecting the mind with spirit and activating the third eye chakra, while Green Fluorite connects the mind with the heart chakra, ensuring that our thoughts are in synch with our hearts.
See previous Wonderworks Gemstones of the Week
-Wonderworks
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Ocean Jasper
This week’s featured gemstone is Ocean Jasper, which despite its name is a powerful Earth energy stone. A member of the quartz family, its colours vary widely, including shades and patterns of white, green, pink, red and black. Ocean Jasper is extremely uplifting in nature, and can help brighten a person’s mood significantly. Physically, ocean Jasper supports the body’s regenerative processes and helps stabilize the adrenal glands and endocrine system.
Ocean Jasper was discovered in 1997 on a remote coast of Madacascar, and is sometimes called the “Atlantis Stone”, because of its discovery at the beginning of a new millennium and because it could only be recovered at low tide. It is a stone that soothes and opens us to joy. It has a gentle, nurturing energy that lifts the veil of negativity we often wear over our eyes, allowing us to see and appreciate the blessings in our lives. It can help us discover what we really love, and increases our expressions of love and joy. It fosters relaxation and cooperation at work and in the home. It is connected to the solar plexus chakra, and is an aid for circular breathing in healing and meditation.
See previous Wonderworks Gemstones of the Week
-Wonderworks
Wayward Wandering Pagan Explorers Meet Up Group, March “Tool Swap” Meeting
Friday, March 9, 2012, 7-9pm, at Wonderworks, 79a Harbord St, Toronto, ON
This is our second meeting, and we will be doing a “Tool Swap” and cleansing ritual. Please bring along any old sacred tools or items that you no longer are using and would like to give away, we will put them together for a simple and brief group cleansing, then you can swap your tools for new things!
Wayward Pagans is a new social space for anyone looking to connect with others around creating ritual, celebrating the seasons, goddess spirituality, shamanism, divination, paganism, wicca, magic, healing, or whatever strikes your fancy.
You don’t have to identify with any particular practice to attend. This group is designed for those who are either A) new to Toronto and looking for an alternative spiritual community and friends or B) for those new to alternative spiritual practices and wish to connect with like-minded individuals, or C) solitary practitioners in search of community.
This is an informal, un-affiliated and non-denominational safe space created to nurture diverse earth-based and spiritual communities. Our intention is to facilitate you in networking with new friends and to potentially start your own groups or sacred circles. If you’ve found yourself curious and wandering in the wilderness, looking to connect with like-minded wanderers, explorers, and practitioners, please join us!
Please RSVP through Wonderworks: info@gowonderworks.com
I’ll be at this event, come on out, meet other pagans, trade some tools (if you have them) and socialize. Hope to see you there!
The A.V. Club’s guide to Toronto’s occult shops
Check out this review of Occult shops in Toronto … featuring Wonderworks :)
Wonderworks, photograph by Anne T. Donahue February 16, 2012
Everyone loves a bright, beautifully scented space, so it’s no “wonder” (sorry) that the shop is a beacon of both the occult and arts communities. With a gallery located at the back, you can bask in the warm glow of artistry after perusing crystals, flower essences, and tarot decks.
Oddest item: You’re out of luck when it comes to “odd” items, but local artist and energy healer Leslie Peters supplies the store with the most unique. Creator of personal talismans, she makes love spoons in the tradition of Welsh sailors, who bestowed them upon their loved ones before departing indefinitely. Wrapped in crystals, beads, and shells, the love spoons are meant to be given as gifts.
Clientele: Like with most occult and alternative wellness shops, their clientele has broadened substantially. On some days, we’re told mostly Wiccans come in, but on others you’ll find a more eclectic customer base. Owner Rochelle Holt tells us it “depends on the ebb and flow of the season.”
Biggest seller: Despite the popularity of crystals, it’s Wonderworks’ flower remedies—the largest in Canada—that draw people in. Holt says that the user-friendly all-natural products are part of a non-cryptic proactive process to help battle physical and emotional issues. They run between $12 and $33 depending on the size, bottle and brand, and you can visit their website to see the full repertoire.
Lookie - Wonderworks got a mention in The A.V. Club yesterday! :D
Wonderworks Gemstone of the Week: Bloodstone
This week’s stone, as the name suggests, has strong associations with healing, especially blood cleansing. It is also good at keeping out undesirable influences from our lives.
Bloodstone is a stone that grounds us in our bodies and helps us deal with change and look unflinchingly at hard truths. It gives us courage to accept mortality and death and the hard changes in life. It is said to have gained its red spots after the blood of Christ on the cross dripped on it, and from this it brings to us a sense of altruism. It brings out our most noble and selfless qualities, while reducing negative emotions. Physically, it purifies blood and all the areas and systems related to blood.
See previous Gemstones of the Week
-Wonderworks
I’m sure it’s obvious by now, but I’ve been updating my place of work’s Tumblr a lot more frequently instead of my own lately, so cross-post-a-rama.
The Magic of Raw Incense
Burning incense in all natural raw resin and raw herb form is such a special treat for the soul and senses!! This ritual has been used for centuries to purify the home and places of worship, as well as bring forth a tranquil vibration. There are so many lovely choices, each with their own unique fragrance and power. This blog is to share with you a few of the classical ones, a few of Wonderworks’ special blends and also how to go about burning raw, all natural incense on charcoal! Enjoy the experience!
Raw Incense, resins, herbs and blends and their significance:
Frankincense (Olibanum)
Frankincense has been used throughout history to enhance spiritual perception and consciousness. It soothes the spirit by slowing and deepening breathing, making it useful in meditation and prayer. It has traditionally been burned in places of worship to repel negative energy. Frankincense has a heavy, balsamic scent. Fire element. Sun association.
If you’re ever wondered how to use charcoal to burn loose/raw incense, here’s a great primer by a co-worker of mine. Personally, I prefer this method as opposed to stick incense, because it’s efficient, you control how much smoke you a creating, and it’s easy to make your own custom blends!
zipping up / simple psychic self-protection
I had a great staff meeting tonight at Wonderworks (pssst - we’re on Tumblr now, check us out.) We got crafty, and decorated our Yule stockings with some major bling. If you’re in the neighbourhood, come leave us treats & love letters in them. :)
I’m really excited about working there leading up to the holiday season. I think the weather finally needs to clue in that it’s almost winter though - enough of this mild rainy business, bring on the snow and festive cheer!
After the meeting I came home in a decent mood (despite the cold rain), but then I checked my e-mail and saw that I had received a not so pleasant e-mail from my landlord, re: the broken mirror/closet door that fell on me the other day. I don’t want to get into it, but it was not the news I was hoping for.
I started feeling feeling really sour and frustrated, particularly by the negativity/passive aggression that I perceived to be coming out of that email.
Then I remember a simple, but effective exercise you can do when you’re feeling vulnerable, sad, and/or as if another person’s negativity is affecting you. It’s a very simple but effective form of psychic self-protection, and helps shield your central nervous system from negative energy.
It’s called zipping up: simply put, visualize a giant zipper running up your central meridian from your pelvic bone to your lips, or just below your nose. Take a deep breath in, and as you do so visualize zipping the zipper up. You can also use your fingers to help direct the energy.
I am extremely claustrophobic, so I often do this when I’m feeling overwhelmed by crowds on public transit, or any other time that I feel anxious or upset.
Zipping up helps restore meridian energy flow the way it should be, and will help to make you feel more grounded, secure and in control of your own power. Gala Darling also suggests zipping up for warding off creeps when going out in public - I can personally attest that it definitely works for that purpose too.
My co-worker Karpanee wrote up a great post about zipping up on the Wonderworks blog a few weeks back, definitely check it out for more info.
Brightest blessings,
~sparrowqueen ♥
