The air was still this morning.  It was hot already and the morning dew was steaming into the air.  I sat outside for a while and watched people walk their dogs while I sipped my Earl Grey tea.  I love the leisurely pace of Sunday mornings.  It's such a respite from the rest of my busy week.  I thought for a while on what I should write about today and thought it might be enjoyable to post a spell I've used a few times.  I do prosperity spells fairly often and I found that this one tends to bring good results.  If you end up trying it, let me know how it works for you in the comments. 

Ingredients: 

• A dollar bill (any denomination is fine, though I found that using larger bills tend to bring more money)

• A pencil

• A green candle

• A dash of cinnamon in a small bowl with water

• A bay leaf

• Incense (I would recommend using an incense associated with prosperity, though any kind will work.)

• Optional - A stone or necklace made out of a stone associated with prosperity. For this one I used an old Jade necklace that was passed down to me by my grandmother.

Timing: 

• The best time to do this spell is on Sunday during a Waxing moon as money will flow towards you as the moon becomes full.

Directions:

• First find yourself a calm and quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You may begin your spell by casting a circle. I personally don't feel the need to cast a circle for smaller spells though many witches do feel better casting a circle before any kind of magical work.

• Take the dollar bill and write this sigil $$$¢¢¢$$$ on all four corners of the bill. Also sign your name on top of the Secretary of Treasury signature.

• Take the bay leaf and place the tip in the cinnamon water and swirl it three times clockwise. Then touch the wet tip of the bay leaf on each of the sigils on the four corners of the dollar bill.

• Wave the dollar bill three times clockwise above the incense and chant the following three times:

Money, money, come to me

In abundance, three times three

For each dollar I spend, may three return to me

Money, money, three times three

• Do the same above the green candle. Wave the dollar bill clockwise three times above the flame and chant the words three times.

• The last part of the spell is to go out and spend that dollar bill and watch as money starts coming to you in unpredicted ways.

I finally took the plunge and purchased The Wild Unknown Tarot deck.  I have been seeing this deck everywhere on Pinterest, Instagram, and various blogs.  I’ve even seen photos of people that have gotten tattoos of the deck’s artwork. 

The artwork in this deck is in a few words rustic, minimalist, and profoundly beautiful.  The images seem to avoid many of the new-agey clichés that can often be found in tarot decks.  I find that this more minimalist and flat aesthetic has allowed this deck to appeal to a much wider audience.  It feels as if the creator of this deck, Kim Krans, designed it not for the Witchy or tarot community, but for a much wider audience. 

As a side note, recently I’ve been seeing more and more Pagan and Wiccan things being produced specifically designed for a more general audience.  Just the other day I saw the book “Wiccapedia” available at my local Urban Outfitters.  One must wonder if Paganism becoming more mainstream and acceptable, or goddess-forbid, if is it venturing into the dreaded “hipster” zone?  Regardless, the mainstream fascination and love for this deck is certainly justified. 

The artwork consists of mostly back and white ink illustrations punctuated by carefully thought-out splashes of color.  The quality of this desk is also superior as the cards are printed on thick durable cardstock.

In general, the artwork consists mostly of animals and geometric shapes.  One of my favorite aspects of this deck is that the court cards of the four suits also have specific animal correspondence (Snakes for wands, swans for Cups, owls for Swords, and deer for Pentacles).  Some of the animal symbolism showcased can be found in other decks, while other symbolism is unique to its creator.  This desk also does not shy away from darkness and several of the cards are certainly a bit spooky and morbid.  After all, the deck is called The Wild Unknown, and the idea of a wild unknown can certainly draw certain scary connotations.  For me personally, the artwork really resonated with me and made me excited about learning tarot and exploring this field further.  I would definitely recommend this deck for both tarot beginners and experts.

As I walk toward the lake I pass endless buildings of brick until I reach the greenery of the Lakeshore path.  My mind calms and settles with each step away from the concrete chaos and towards the serene shades of sky and green.

Upon reaching the edge of the shore, the city skyscrapers become visible in the distance as they blur dark against the monochromatic horizon. They stand as charcoal sentinels balanced at the edge of the endless water.  Even in winter, Lake Michigan offers a respite from the harsh masculinity of Chicago's architecture.  A feminine note pushing against the industrial.  I savoir my walks as I listen to the soft sound of waves as they calm the roar of the nearby trains.  I watch with serenity as the grey winter waves froth and foam as they pirouette towards the stone walkway.

Walking in nature and feeling the breeze against your face has a beautiful meditative quality.  And with each step I am reminded of our connection to the Earth.  

My satchel of tools weighs heavy, pressing upon my spine as we make our way towards the clearing. We float, a serpentine weave of hip, thigh, and toe as we march on together through the woods.

Our circle is finally found, an quiet plane of grass among the trees.  As we form into place, yellow eyes of stag and hare glance towards our coven from behind the trees, imploring our motive for disturbing their realm.  The animals venture outwards, rustling leaves and knocking upon roots as they depart.

We proceed and set our altar atop a gnarled tree stump, drawing out a pentacle upon it's surface. Chalk dust flying upwards, reflecting the moonlit glow.

Me and my fellows light sixteen bright candles and place them along the perimeter of our circle.  We press them deep into the black earth so that they stand firm.  Upon lighting, they warm our space against the midnight chill.

The spinning arrow of my compass helps me find North as I begin to prepare for our directional devotions.  I place our incense cones upon a wooden platform towards the east.  My coven-mate places salvaged wood inside our cauldron and carries it towards the Southern edge.  The bowl of moonwater glows brightly inside its vase to the West and our bowl of salt gleams white towards the North.

Preparations complete, the high priest and priestess take steady steps towards the altar.  She reaches for the athame and I catch the reflection of moonlight as the priestess takes it in hand to cast our circle.  The hem of her long white dress sticks and cleaves to her ankle with midnight dew as she walks barefoot along our perimeter, casting our circle.

Circle cast and space constructed, she begins to call the elements, imploring them to enter our circle.

Looking towards the east she lights the incense. I watch as the smoke billows and twirls, pirouetting towards the sky.  The breeze carries it upwards, higher and higher, into the infinite.  The wind careens my blond locks, separating the strands and flowing them to frame my face.  I breathe in and let the cool air fill my lungs, expanding them with openness, intellect, and intuitive confidence.  The flowing breeze carries a bitter taste of juniper and pine that tickle my tongue as I breathe steadily in and out. Wings of wind swirl among our circle, rippling our clothes and lifting our spirits as we smile in anticipation. 

Reaching the Southern border, the priestess lights the wood inside the cauldron with a solitary match and the darkness springs into flame. Bright orange and red forms undulate, swirl, dance, and crackle through the air.  The shadows maneuver between us, slyly filling the spaces between the trees. Memorized by the flames, I stare into the cauldron and feel a sensation of warmth, bringing an explosion of need and desire.  The feeling urges me to open my arms as a kinetic energy spins around my thoughts.  The high priestess glances towards me, her beauty fearsome and magnificent.  Our eyes are wide, pupils dilated, as the power ripples and burns though our blood calling upon invincibility and strength.

As the priestess calls upon the watchtower of the west, the rush of a sudden cool tempers the internal flame raging though my veins.  The sensation is soft at first, it tingles my feet as the gentle foam of a swell.  But the roar of the tempest grows and builds as it travels though my body, waves crescendo and crash behind my heart as an emotional feeling of transcendent compassion transpires and a serendipitous solitary drop of the rush pools against my eyelashes.

Finally upon reaching the North, the owls hoot in welcome and the birds take flight, forming dark silhouettes between the branches as they take off.  I feel the earth root and crawl between my naked toes.  The boughs of the branches creek and crack against the wind.  The pines bend and bow in salute.  Off in the distance a canine howls, and we glance towards the orb above, mimicking their movement.

Hearing the steady drum to my left, I feel the rhythm pound into my bones.  The time has come.

I take my neighbors' tender hand in mine and entwine our fingers, our necks pale and exposed as we gaze upwards.  Looking towards the high moon and the infinite stars. The moment is temporary as the sound of a crow breaks our silence, and circle round we begin to go.  Step by step, your hand in mine, joined as one, we circle.  I am weightless without cares for I have come bearing spirit under the full moon sky.  The moon is our remedy, it's color casts a shadow of glow upon our faces, filling our eyes with starlight as we dance round.

We stamp and stomp in motion, pale feet crossing ankles, a rolling thunder, a tide of movement. Around the circle we go.  Step by step, from wrist to toe, we dance and fly round and round.  Ecstatic energy circulates and spins as the beat pulls and tugs.  Moving quicker now, leaping and bounding, round and round as the beat carries faster and faster.  Building and building, our energy radiates outward and upward to the stars.  Ecstatic tempo roars and erupts as it reaches climax.

At once our arms fly outward, spirit soaring, released towards the sky.  Our hands let go and we gently fall down to soft green. Cradled and comforted by the tender Earth, it calms our palpitated hearts as our excess radiance begins to root back into the earth.  We lay there, amongst the grass and dew for several moments, relishing our feeling of connection.  Hazy clouds pass, wind twirls, and we lay relaxed atop the earth.  As it becomes time to leave we stand and slowly begin to collect our things.

Before starting our journey back home, I venture one last look upon the full moon.  Just as I turn my face upward, a cloud begins to pass, concealing the light as if saddened by our departure.

Don't worry, I speak softly to the Goddess, we'll be back soon.