Why Magick Is Medicine

Last updated on: June 5, 2015 at 9:01 am By Lilith Dorsey

Caduceus photo by takomabibelot. Licensed under CC 2.0

Magick has rules. Everything has rules. Life has rules. Death has rules. Magick most certainly has rules. In my spiritual practice I do a lot of psychic readings and consultations for people. People come to me for help finding love, money, joy, connection, peace and lots more. One of my clients asked me recently if her relationship would be successful… the short answer was yes, if she took her spiritual medicine. By that I mean her reading had given her an extensive list of instructions she needed to carry out for her spiritual health and the spiritual health of the situation. She could choose to follow these or not, the same way you can choose to follow a doctors orders or not. Will some people miraculously heal on their own from physical or spiritual crisis ? Yes, but in my experience these are the minority. Will most people get worse if they don’t take positive steps to improve in all areas of their life? Again the answer is a resounding yes.

This past holiday weekend I participated in a discussion about Race in the Pagan Community on the Green Egg Radio show on Blogtalk Radio. The conversation drifted into a discussion about how racism is a boil and without further degenerating into a pus filled analogy… some medicine must be applied. But what kind of medicine? What truly is appropriate ? Some of us have been scarred by racism and these wounds are not easily healed. To again invoke the medicine metaphor, some peoples lives are saved by antibiotics, others are deathly allergic. In my post about Azalea Banks: Outrageous Racist or Magickal Vigilante I wrote about this pop artists call to use magick and witchcraft against racism and unfair oppression. She has made a few other extreme claims over the years and most of what she said went unnoticed. The real question is however, where and when is it appropriate to use magick as a defense ? Ultimately this is something we have to answer individually for ourselves.

In South Africa the Shamans refer to their system as Mutti, which literally translates as medicine. All problems and solutions are thought to be healing ones. Healing is an analogy I also use when talking about animal sacrifice, many would feel justified in using a medicine made or tested on animals but not using them as part of a spiritual prescription. Just something to consider. Where are your own limits and for what reasons ? There are faulty spiritual doctors just as there are faulty medical doctors. In my experience however, if your approach a difficult situation with proper care and appropriate solutions, about almost anything is possible. Even modern medicine has been known to turn to folk magick and proven the benefits of things like bee stings and leeches.

Veve Drawing for Damballa and Aida Wedo, image by Lilith Dorsey, all rights reserved.

I’ve been writing a lot lately about snakes and their role in spirituality. I find it interesting and highly apprpriate that in the Haitian Vodou pantheon the Lwa Damballa Wedo and Aida Wedo are responsible for healing. Their symbol is one of intertwined serpents, just like modern medicine’s caduceus.

I don’t very often write opinion pieces on this blog, my opinions are loud and large so I don’t let them out all the time. Why magick operates as medicine is a concept I find myself explaining over and over, my teachers taught me there was no difference between the two and if something was amiss you need to be healed. Sometimes that takes traditional methods and sometimes not.

This post obviously raises many more questions than it answers, but as always I would love to hear your thoughts on this difficult and important subject. And don’t foget to share the medicine.

10 Must Haves For Your Tarot Altar- Spiritual House of Cards

Last updated on: July 7, 2022 at 4:56 pm By Lilith Dorsey

10 Must Haves for your Tarot Card Altar photo by Lilith Dorsey.

Tarot Cards have a life and an energy all their own. Some people think I am insane for creating rituals that feed, bless, and protect them. They can think whatever they want, it has been with the benefit of over 30 years experience reading cards that I wholeheartedly believe that your tarot cards, as well as all your other divination tools, need to be honored and respected in order to deliver the best results. For optimum performance intelligent people keep their car in a garage and give it regular tune ups and care, your cards are also a useful tool to get you somewhere, a spiritual vehicle so to speak, so you better take care of them too.

Still life with esoteric objects by Michaela Stejskalova. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock, all rights reserved.

Personally my tarot altar, or more correctly shrine ( a repository for sacred energy and power,) is located in a place of prominence and is an ever changing creation. There are items to cleans the cards, items to amplify their energy, personal items, items from ancestors, mentors, friends, and lovers. Sometimes I will add things such as a pendulum or dowsing rods to help all the divination tools attune to each other. It doesn’t matter what spiritual tradition you follow, or even if you choose not to follow any at all, the powerful forces of the universe surround all things and are available to help you gain access to spiritual knowledge. Pagans from every walk of life value the power of the earth, air, fire, water, and spirit just as our ancestors did. The following list draws on those energies and more to help you set up your tarot altar.

Earth item– This could be a small bowl or pinch of dirt, herbs, or something similar.
Air item– Traditionally the element of Air is represented by things like incense, and feathers … some people I know simply use their breath to charge an item and give the element of air from deep within themselves. This is a time to think creatively, or breathe outside the box so to speak.
Fire item– Fire is warmth, fire is light, fire is transformation. This element can be present on your Tarot Card Altar in the form of a candle or oil lamp.
Water item – Water can be represented on your altar with a chalice of spring water, a bottle of Florida water, or a sprinkling of holy water. I even know one Pagan person who uses tap water to signify the spirit of place, use your best judgment.
Spirit item – The spirit item for your altar can be a symbol, an image, or other offering.
Money Altar photo by Darla Hallmark, courtesy of Shutterstock. All rights reserved.
Personal item – Part of the key to understanding the sacred language of the Tarot Cards lies in the reader’s connection with their deck. This can be done by using a lock of hair or a favorite piece of jewelry on your Tarot Altar.
Opening item– Many religions and spiritual traditions use some kind of ceremony or item to help open the way to spiritual experience. Here on your Tarot Card Altar this could be a key, a doorknob, or a bell.
Cleansing item – Cleansing is very important when dealing with Tarot Cards in particular because they are frequently touched by others. A cleansing item for your altar could be a quartz crystal or bowl of black salt.
Communication item – This component is going to be a bit of a wildcard. It can be an oil, incense, or traditional symbol to help with communication.
The Tarot Cards themselves – The deck you use most often can go on your Tarot altar, or all your decks can rest there, it is up to you.

For more information on Tarot Card Blessings please see my post 5 Creative Ways to Recharge Your Tarot Cards, and if you would like to schedule a reading with me please give me a shout at [email protected]

Love of Babalon – Diane Narraway

Last updated on: February 24, 2015 at 9:42 am By Guest Contributor

Women of Babalon- A Howling of Women's Voices published by Black Moon. — Women of Babalon- A Howling of Women’s Voices published by Black Moon.

Welcome again to our ongoing series highlighting the writers and artists of Women of Babalon: A Howling of Women’s Voices. The work is a compilation composed of the text and art of sixteen practicing female magicians through which the vital character of a Babalon is explored. I sent out the clarion call to my fellow women this month to join me here on Voodoo Universe and highlight what life, love, and Babalon mean to them. My offering about flaming passion was posted earlier this month, as was an amazing piece by Lou Hotchkiss Knives. This wonderfully divine offering is from Diane Narraway.

Lucifers Child

It is not so much that I am a magickal woman through any conscious decision, there is no moment of clarity or epiphany,it is more that I grew into the magick that was already within me.

Very flippantly I have always said “My natural father was an alcoholic and my mother, the most intelligent person I know, a science teacher… I am therefore both scientific and hedonistic …What else could I be except a Witch!”
But there is far more to it than that, something much deeper… Blood by nature and fire by desire!

As I watch my granddaughter swirling petals and berries around in an old black bird-bath, I feel compelled to ask her what she is doing…she gives the answer I expect, the same answer I gave my Mother 40+ years ago….very emphatically she replies ‘I’m doing a spell !’

I cannot remember a time when I didn’t practice magick…I only remember walking with totem animals, throwing flowers into the river to predict events (my first scrying).
I grew up opposite a medieval churchyard and I recall often sitting upon the ancient altar stone among the graveyard and talking to souls long gone.

Occasionally I still return to the tranquillity of the churchyard, sit upon the ancient altar stone and enjoy the beauty and the peace that is ever present in this land of the dead and it was on one such occasion that this was written through the inner visions that came to me on a summers’ day. Simply titled –

The Ancient Altar Stone.

Let me paint a picture,
Of an ancient altar stone,
And a long forgotten shaman
Dressed in hide and bone.
Whose piercing eyes see everything
Behind his painted skin,
And the darkest fire burning
Is the soul that lies within.

Lord of his own dance
In the misty morning light,
Surrounded by his clansmen
On that most sacred site.

Whilst lying naked on the altar
Lies the chosen one,
Whose blood will be the offering
At the rising of the sun.

Oh! How great would be the honour
To be that sacrificial lamb,
And give yourself so freely
For the benefit of the clan.

And when the darkness closes in,
The next breath will be the last
As to the sound of beating drums
The blood runs thick and fast.

To honour mother Earth
As the sun begins to rise,
The shaman’s staff is raised up high,
Amidst the tribal cries.

While the drums beat ever louder,
To the rhythm of the heart.
Then when he taps his staff three times,
The celebrations truly start.

But all that now remains
Of that divine rite,
Lies beyond the veils of time
Upon that ancient site.

Diane Narraway photo at Stonehenge, all rights reserved.

Growing up in rural surroundings on the south west coast of England where I spent a lot of time on the beach or with my paternal grandfather, himself an occultist, was itself magickal. Though my grand-parents physical surroundings were very different to mine, fast paced city life, ‘The Rat Race’, my grandfather spoke of water faeries, described the breaking waves as white horses and considering his urban lifestyle saw things in a very unique often ethereal way.

I recall he and my grandmother took me to Stonehenge when I was about 7yrs old. In those days there were no perimeter fences and English Heritage, open access, and visitor centres were still a thing of the future and I remember sitting on the stones and feeling a sense of something much bigger than I. A year later he bought me my first book on Cornish witchcraft which gave me a handful of simplistic spells to practice!
If there was ever a time when the frost covered moonlit world outside my bedroom window didn’t call to me …I don’t remember it. I have danced with the daemon as long as I can remember and have learned from occultists, spiritualists, friends’, family and of course lovers. There is very little I have not experienced in the highs and lows of life…I have danced with the daemon since childhood, to a rhythm which has led me through addiction, violence, birth and death. Chaos! And through these experiences I have learned acceptance, forgiveness, humility and above all love.

As I have grown and experienced different aspects of life, child, mother and now grandmother so I have learned to love on different levels…I have come to realize that Love is not an emotion bandied about by card companies and chick flicks. Love is the chaotic force of the daemon, it is fuelled by the passion that lives within me…my heart, my spirit and all that I am burns with the will to create… This is the same that Love calls to all of us because love is a creative force. It is the most powerful force in the universe. It is this creative force driven by desire that brought about creation itself … We exist through love, because it is within the few seconds of orgasm that true ‘love’ exists. It is then that creation is possible and along with it infinite potential and possibilities, good, bad and otherwise.
LOVE is indeed everything!

Communion
I have walked the serpent,
To see diamonds in the sky,
And feel the stillness of its breath,
As time goes slowly by.

And just how sweet the serpents’ kiss,
That makes my soul take flight,
And offers just a tiny glimpse,
From within the astral light

For that erotic daemon,
Lets me see through open eyes,
Beyond the constraints of this world,
Beyond the arrogance and lies.

So shadowed by the daemon,
I hear angels sing to Pan,
While I commune with aliens,
For man is God and God is man.
Women of Babalon is the first time I have written of my magical experiences, from the first time I encountered the soft flicker of light in the silent realms of the astral world and the journey that has come to shape my magick today.

Diane Narraway is the chairman of Dolmen Grove and editor of Dolmen Grove Chronicles, You can learn more about them on their FB page. Thanks for reading and please share the love !

Zora Neale Hurston … What You Probably Don’t Know

Last updated on: July 7, 2022 at 4:54 pm By Lilith Dorsey

Zora by yawper, text added, licensed under CC by 2.0

For the past twenty years Zora Neale Hurston has been honored as a pioneer of literary genius and folklore. Before this time very few people had any idea who she was. This powerful woman with “Spunk” was buried in an unmarked grave, with much of her work lost or locked away. Kudos to author Alice Walker for the work and the journey to find this treasure…. You can hear her speak about this at her lecture to the Barnard Center for Research on Women .

Hurtson’s work is on many reading lists for kids and adults alike. She has finally taken her rightful place as one of the foremothers of African-American literature. She was born the child of two former slaves in 1891, and despite many trials and tribulations she showed us all you can’t keep a good woman down. Zora is known for her books, her poems, her quotes, but there is a lot people don’t know.

Plagirism and Segregation

Hurston criticized the Brown vs. Board of Education decision to reverse segregation, and received serious criticism for that. In many ways when you look back at her life and work Hurston was on the fringes. One of the few women to grace the ranks of the elite in the Harlem renaissance, the self-proclaimed “Niggeratti,” she always stood out, even if that meant she stood alone.

“Thems my sentiments and I am sticking by them. Growth from within. Ethical and cultural desegregation. It is a contradiction in terms to scream race pride and equality while at the same time spurning Negro teachers and self association. That old white mare business can go racking on down the road for all I care.”

ZORA NEALE HURSTON – from her letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel, August 1955

Zora Neale Hurston stamp photo courtesy of Neftali, via Shutterstock.

These strong sentiments resonate particularly well today, when racial and political unrest continues to define what it means to be a person of color. Zora Neale Hurston also pushed the definition of what it means to be a scholar.

Hurston was the first African-American women to be trained as an anthropologist, under the famed “Father” of the discipline Franz Boas. Her work while studying at Barnard revolved around African-American themes and subjects. Robert E. Hemenway, in his Zora Neale Hurston-A Literary Biography, talks about Hurston’s infamous essay about Cudjo Lewis. Cudjo Lewis, was born Oluale Kossola, in the kingdom of Dahomey. He was thought to be the last survivor of the final ship of slaves to come to the United States. He says Hurston’s essay about Kossola “is 25 percent original research and the rest shameless plagiarism.” At the time of this realization Hurston’s questionable lack of sources, or attribution of material, caused a bit of a stir. History however has settled, for lack of a better word, on a more loose definition of proper scholarship in this case. This is similar to the plagiarism accusations leveled at Martin Luther King jr, which have also been downplayed over the years. Another interesting thing that gets downplayed about Hurston was her religion.

Voodoo, She Do

Zora Neale Hurston wrote two anthropological works about Voodoo, Vodou and Hoodoo. Her book Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica is a must read for anyone interested in learning more about this ancient and powerful religion. In it she writes of her own journeys and initiations into Haitian Vodou and other rites. Hurston helps us to separate the real from the facade, and uncovers a world still yet unknown to most. Icon and iconoclast, foremother, literary genius, and inspiration, I challenge you all to explore your own edges and boundaries as we move forward in these challenging times. If you wish to learn more about Zora Neale Hurston each year her hometown of Eatonville, Florida hosts the Zora! Neale Hurston Festival, and you can find some of her inspiration in my post Foremama Said- Wit and Wisdom of Zora Neale Hurston. Many Blessings to you on your journeys and if you like what you have read please remember to like, comment and share !

Who Owns the Dead?

Last updated on: July 7, 2022 at 4:48 pm By Lilith Dorsey

Cemetery 2014 photo by MJS all rights reserved.

There is a lot of controversy brewing lately over the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. Last week I wrote about the announcement to restrict access to the cemetery to licensed tours only, and the issues that arise. For tens of thousands of people- including Voodoo/Vodou practitioners, Pagans, and spiritual practitioners alike, Marie Laveau is a magickal icon. In the 1800’s she opened her rituals and her divine spirit to the community, and she soon became the legend she is today.

Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau's Tomb photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved. — Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau’s Tomb photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

Everyone seems to want a piece of this woman, literally. Many claim ancestral lineage to her, and in actuality St. Louis Cemetery Number One, where her body is believed to rest, is owned and managed by the archdiocese of New Orleans. So who gets to decide ? The short answer, for now, is the Archdiocese. They own the land, they can do what they want with it. When I brought up this issue many of my Celtic pagan friends suggested the Church should set up something similar to what is in place at the sacred site of Stonehenge. where ritualists can be given access under certain guidelines.

While most religions carry a reverence and respect for the dead, in traditions such as New Orleans Voodoo and Vodou, La Regla Lucumi (also known as Santeria,) Candomble, and Palo Mayombe contact and communication with our ancestors and the spirit world is a central aspect. This is obviously an issue for those who love and worship the spirit of Marie Laveau. Here on Voodoo Universe, the post Would you go to a Voodoo Funeral Home ? Brings up questions about physical ownership of the dead as well. It saddens me that these ancient religions are not afforded the same protections their more traditional counterparts.

Both of these instances bring up important questions- who and when are we allowed to claim rights over the dead? In many ways this is the macro-cosm of the issue that arises when anyone passes. The Pagan community has lost many leaders in recent years: Margot Adler, Morning Glory Zell, Isaac Bonewits, and others. For those of us who knew them personally, our loss is great… and to be honest the behavior of some in the wake of tragedy is downright insulting. In the case of my dear friend Isaac the amount of people who came out in support for his funeral was almost double what had shown up for his healthcare fundraiser a few months before. What is wrong with people? My children both biological and spiritual have explicit orders to assault anyone I hate if they show up at my memorial feigning sympathy and kindness. Am I wrong in thinking we should give these things wholeheartedly while a person is alive, the connection only deepening and changing after someone has passed? I did a teary eyed tarot reading last week for someone who had lost a close relative. I tried hard to explain that while their loved one was gone, in a way that persons’ ability to be close had changed and while it may be a less familiar connection it can be just as helpful.

People are calling for all kinds of action in the matter of Marie Laveau from calls to petitions to protests. Time will tell how best to proceed. After discussing the matter with one friend we quickly came to the conclusion that while the current situation was indeed difficult, these religions of Voodoo, Vodou, and Lucumi (Santeria,) have always been made to take a backseat to more mainstream practices. When I began writing about these religions in my newsletter Oshun over two decades ago it was so people would begin to understand and hopefully eventually accept practices that are different than what they were used to seeing. My work here on Voodoo Universe is a continuation of that dream, please check out the words you can find on these pages, push the buttons and share them, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

21 Wonderful Ways to Use Florida Water Cologne

Last updated on: March 7, 2022 at 10:28 am By Lilith Dorsey

Florida water by Boston Public Library. Licensed under CC 2.0

Florida Water Cologne is an all purpose blessing in a bottle. It has been in use for over 200 years and it is still just as vital today. It is a staple in many different spiritual traditions. In my post Bless your soul with Florida Water I talk about how ” it is used everywhere from Peru to Italy to Surinam for sacred blessings. People wear it as a cologne like the name implies, or in any multitude of other ways. It seems to have undercurrents of lemon, lavender and bergamot. It’s a sweet citrus blend that is truly delightful.”

Murray & Lanman's Florida Water photo by Boston Public Library. Licensed under CC 2.0 — Murray & Lanman’s Florida Water photo by Boston Public Library. Licensed under CC 2.0

21 Ways to Use Florida Water Cologne

Recommended for dozens of uses and here are a few to get you started.

Florida Water Cologne photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

Blessing Floorwash– Add Florida Water to your normal cleaning mix to add extra blessings of protection.
Direction Foot Bath– Take a small basin or bucket, add warm water and a splash of the water and dip your feet to give you a blessing of guidance and direction.
Dancing Feet Bath– Take a small basin or bucket, fill it with Florida Water, Rose Water, and 5 drops Ylang Ylang oil for a special blessing for your feet when you need to dance.
Remove Negativity Bath – Draw yourself a bath, add a dash Florida Water, a handful of sea salt, and 3 drops of Frankincense oil. Use whenever negativity has got a hold of you.
Happiness Bath – Draw yourself a bath, add a dash of Florida Water, a dash of Rose water and 3 drops of Lavendar oil to bring happiness and blessings.
Laundry Rinse – Add a dash of this magickal Water to your fabric softener or final laundry rinse to bless and protect your clothes.
Do a Pre-Ritual Cleanse by applying Florida Water to the back of your neck.
Use it as Offering Water in the cemetery to honor the ancestors.
Use it as Offering Water at the Crossroads to open your path.
Bathe your crystals and magickal jewelry in diluted Florida Water to cleanse and protect them.
Make a Good Luck Spray from Florida Water, Spring Water and 3 drops of Patchouly oil. Use before playing the lottery or gambling.
Place Florida Water and Sea Water in a bowl under the bed to invite good dreams.
Make a Protection Spray from Florida Water, Sea Water, and 3 drops Myrrh oil. Use generously.
Sprinkle on windowsills and thresholds to protect your home and welcome good energy.
Place a cap full of it in with your hair conditioner to bless your head.
Make a Divination Blessing Spray from Florida Water, Tap Water and a small piece of Amethyst crystal in a spray bottle. Use before reading tarot cards on your hands, and on the space where you are doing the reading.
A large Sacred Circle Blessing can be performed by sprinkling Florida water counterclockwise around your Home or ritual space.
A small Sacred Circle Blessing can be performed on your ritual tools by laying them out on a cloth and sprinkling Florida water counterclockwise around that in a circle.
Place a bowl of Florida Water under your sink with a quartz crystal in it for an easy Kitchen Blessing.
Create a wash for 7 day candles in glass from tap water, holy water, and a dash of Florida Water.
To do a Wallet Money Blessing bathe a cowrie shell in Florida Water, then carry it in your wallet or pocket for financial success.

This list is just a beginning, please leave your own special uses for this magickal water below, and if you like what you have read please share, share, share the blessings !

10 Pagan DIY Gifts For Yule

Last updated on: December 13, 2019 at 2:12 pm By Lilith Dorsey

10 Pagan DIY gifts for Yule photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

‘Tis the season not to drown under the rampant consumerism of Yule. Celebrating those you love shouldn’t have to involve spending loads of money. There are plenty of easy do it yourself gifts you can make this time of year. Most of these will take little to no investment and you might even have some of these ingredients and materials already on your pagan shelves.

Protection Mojo Bag is a great holiday gift for yourself and others. You can use it to provide protection for your home or yourself as you brave the season. Here’s a short video I made on how to put one together.
Love Nuts – Food is one of the best presents anyone can give. It nourishes and blesses at the same time. This easy love nuts recipe is designed to spice up the Holidays. The best gifts are given from the heart and this one has has the added benefit of bringing more love into the lives of those who eat it. For more tasty magickal recipes please check out my African-American Ritual Cookbook.

Holiday Love Nuts Recipe by Lilith Dorsey

DIY Runes with glass drops. The best way to create a new set of runes both spiritually and practically is to birth them from an existing set. Begin by setting up a sacred space for your working. Light a candle, perhaps charged with oils for psychic power and get ready to begin. Take your set of runes and transfer the symbols one at a time to the glass drops. Leave the two sets together overnight to help with the energy exchange between the old and new sets. Then the new ones are ready to place in a bag or box and give to someone as a gift.
Carved Candle requires you get a candle large enough to carve a sacred symbol in, some glitter, herbs and oils, and something to carve with (a porcupine quill or even a paper clip will work.) You will need to begin by choosing what symbol you are going to carve. There are astrological symbols, planetary symbols, veves, runes, a whole world of things to choose from. Try and personalize the candle for the people you are giving it to. If it’s for a family, maybe carve each of their sun sign astrological symbols and Wunjo, the rune for joy. If it’s for your favorite college student consider choosing a veve for money or wisdom. After your candle is carved rub it with the corresponding oil and roll it in powdered herbs and glitter. Wrap in plastic wrap and or tissue paper and it’s ready to gift.
Incense stick holder– This do-it-yourself gift is genius in it’s simplicity. Just drill or nail a hole in wood, and voila you have made a holder for an incense stick.

Sage smudge photo courtesy of Shutterstock. All rights reserved.

Yule Smudge Sticks are one of the simplest things you can make this holiday season. In order to do it yourself will need: Sage, Lavendar, Cedar, or Pine (Any or all of these can be used or add your own favorite herb for protection) and embroidery floss. Bundle the herbs together and tie tightly, if the herbs are very fresh you will need to wait awhile until they dry out and can be burned.

Tarot/crystal/rune pouch – A project like this requires some minimal sewing, but the entire project from
Tarot bag and Yule diy supplies photo by Lilith Dorsey. Copyright 2014.

start to finish should take less than twenty minutes even for a beginner. Pagan blogger Patti Wigington‘s detailed post shows simple instructions on how-to create your own.
Cinnamon Stick Pentacle Ornament – For this project you will need five cinnamon sticks( longer ones if possible) for each ornament and a glue gun, along with some ribbon for hanging. It may take a bit of searching and re-arranging to find five sticks that you can easily attach together as a star. Lay them out in front of you and try different combinations until you get a good fit. Glue the sticks together into a star shape. Attach a festive ribbon at the top and now it is ready to hang from the tree or mantle.

Cinnamon stick candle holder photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

Cinnamon/twig candle holder – This can be done with either cinnamon sticks or twigs. Take the sticks and tie with ribbon, making sure the sticks don’t interfere with the flame. This project would also be great used as decoration around your home, or as part of your yuletide altar.
Tin Traveling Altar – These portable altars or shrines have become very popular of late. They allow people a small and portable place to worship at home or on the road. I have seen them created for ancestors, deities, or even just to celebrate love or joy in your life. You will need a tin, a some mod podge or other strong fixing glue/sealer, and whatever photos and small items you want to attach. The only limits are your own imagination.

Your conscience is a mirror altered altoid tin by Constanza. Licensed under CC 2.0

This list is only a beginning, there are many more wonderful diy gifts you can make this holiday season. I’d love to hear your favorite in the comments below, and if you make any of these crafts I’d love to see that too. Please if you have enjoyed what you read here, consider sharing this post and spreading the holiday cheer. Have a lovely Yule season everyone !