3 New Ways to Welcome Spring

This winter just doesn't want to abate; between massive snow and ice storms, rogue polar vortices, and the usual dearth of daylight, I think it is safe to say that most of us Northern Hemisphere folks are eager for spring.

Spring is a glorious season, one of rebirth, of renewal, of hope. As animals emerge from winter dens and we ourselves emerge from within houses and from underneath layers of coats and scarves, discover a few ways to bring the feelings of spring's vitality into our homes, our offices, and our spirits.

1. Make a Decorative Spring Broom.
   Deborah Blake's newest release, The Witch's Broom, includes the history and lore of broomsticks and the witches who use them. Along with original illustrations from Mickie
   
   Mueller and anecdotes from well-known witches (including Christopher Penczak, Tess Whitehurst, Linda Raedisch, and Melanie Marquis), the book includes instructions for making several brooms, from decorative to ceremonial to special occasion. Bring the essence of spring into your store or your home with a decorative spring broom, instructions courtesy of The Witch's Broom.

   Many witches like to decorate their homes or apartments with items that are related in some way to their practice of the Craft. Brooms can be a wonderful ornamental touch, and you can make them obviously witchy by covering them with pentacles, runes, and the like, or keep them subtle (lots of people have small cinnamon brooms hanging in their homes, for instance, and most of them aren’t witches) if you share your space with a non-witch, or live in an area where being openly Pagan can get you into trouble.

   As with most other brooms, you can buy one already adorned and ready to hang on your wall, or start from scratch and decorate it any way you want. The only limits are those of your imagination and crafting skill (and maybe your wallet, since some things cost more than others).

   How you decorate your broom is completely up to you, and will depend on your own personal style and desires. No two decorative brooms will be exactly alike, just like no two witches are exactly alike. And isn’t that grand!

   Decorative brooms can also have a theme and a purpose. Here are a few suggestions for a decorative Spring Broom, but the possibilities are truly endless. (For our Southern Hemisphere friends, this is a perfect craft to create and put away for a few months; or, conversely create a decorate Autumn broom to welcome that portion of the seasonal cycle.)

   • Pastel colors such as pink, lavender, light blue, pale yellow, and pale green (ribbons are nice in a rainbow of spring colors)
   • Spring herbs and/or dried flowers, such as daffodils, tulips, or anything else that grows in your area. You can even use fresh flowers to give it a spark of life
   • Representations of spring goddesses and gods, such as Persephone, Brigid, Eostre, Flora, Freya, Osiris, Pan, and Eros
   • Hang the broom up every Spring Equinox, and take it down at the Summer Solstice (when you would replace it with a similar summer-themed decorative broom)

   
   
2. Cast an Ostara Serpent Magic Tarot Spread.
   Coming in May is 365 Tarot Spreads, the newest release from Tarot Diva author Sasha Graham. Make the hallowed (and for many, daily) practice of tarot into daily journey for
   
   answers to any question with interesting and magical results. Featuring spreads for multi-cultural traditions, holidays, rituals, lore, and magic, this guide can be used year after year, with spreads falling on every possible calendar date. Each one is based on an important historical, magical, or fascinating occurrence on that particular date in history. This daily guide is concerned with the essential journey to find truth and answers, rooted in every spread with topics from love and money to career and life path. With an explanation of each spread and questions to focus on while reading, you’ll achieve your quest for answers every day.

   The Ostara Serpent Magic Spread
   On This Day (March 20)
   Ostara is the Anglo-Saxon spelling of the name for the Germanic deity of spring. Her attributes include eggs, babies and bunnies, coinciding with Easter but holding pagan rather than Christian resonance.

Summation of Spread
Spring, in addition to its fertility rites, marks the awakening of all slumbering creatures, ideas, and plans. In Scotland, highlanders traditionally pounded the ground with a stick until a serpent emerged. The reptile’s behavior gave an indication of how early spring would come. The Ostara Serpent Magic Spread seeks to discover what slumbers within in you.

Cast Your Cards
An excellent spread to perform on a warm spring day, be sure not to rush through it. Arrive at specific answers to each question before moving ahead. Cast the cards as a snake uncoiling itself:
1. What is reborn this year?
2. How do I activate my passion?
3. How can I stimulate my intellect?
4. What must become conscious?
5. How do I become an active participant in my life?
6. What does metamorphosis mean to me?
7. What can I uncoil and become free?
8. What message does the serpent whisper in my ear?




3. Clean That Neglected Closet (or Drawer, or Garage....)
   Spring is the time of year that everyone associates with cleaning: the opening of windows to circulate fresh air; ridding the home of what was gathered over the long winter and is no longer needed; and the removal of many months' of accumulated salt, mud, and grime. Llewellyn has several books on feng shui, including more recent releases Mind, Body, Home by Tisha Morris and Magical Housekeeping by Tess Whitehurst. Tisha's book presents your home as an integral component for holistic living, correlating every room with its physical, mental, or emotional counterpart in you. Your home is a reflection of you, from foundation to roof, and being in tune with its energy allows you to create positive changes—from enhancing wealth to improving relationships—in your life. Tess's book reveals how your home can be a powerful catalyst for personal transformation and manifestation, and she offers a variety of simple, whimsical ways (like a Magical Stress Eraser Mist) to create a harmonious home while enhancing your own happiness, intuition, and magical power.
   
   One of the first mandates put forth in each book: clear that clutter! As Tess Whitehurst put it in her article, "Make Your Home a Magical Tool:"
   

   "Remember 'As above, so below?' One thing that means is that physical clutter is never just clutter. It always reflects and holds in place unwanted conditions in our thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. And, when we look around our homes and everything we see is something that lifts our spirits and makes us feel good, our lives are characterized by harmony, joy, and success.
   
   So, let go of the extras. If there's clutter in your home, there’s nothing better you could be doing than clearing it. Take your time, knowing that every time you let go of a piece of clutter, your energy field is lightened and clarified, which immediately nourishes and benefits every area of your life."

   Tisha Morris recently contributed a guest blog post to our Body & Soul blog, titled, "Home is Where the Heart is…And Where Our Shadow Sides Lurk." In it she describes the correlation to
   
   
   that one drawer, closet, room, garage, etc. where we keep things hidden behind closed doors and our "shadow side," that part of ourselves we want to keep from the world at large. The aspects of our shadow sides—as varied as a hot temper or a hidden talent—can actually be useful in our daily lives, if only we address them. Until we clean those hidden compartments, we cannot reclaim aspects and parts of ourselves that we need in order to become whole and step into our authentic selves.

So tackle that clutter, cast your cards, and brighten your home or office with a spring broom! Bring the essence of the season into your heart and home.

Spring Rejuvenation Using Flowers

This has been a particularly long winter, especially here in Minnesota. We are almost a month behind our natural weather patterns, and are just nearing the possibility of our first 60-degree day. Talk about cabin fever! Many of us are anxiously awaiting that first day that we can open our windows, let in the breeze, and clean the layers of dust that winter left behind. Spring cleaning is an annual ritual for most of us, and it can be a very cathartic, rejuvenating experience. Spring is a season of re-birth, and we can begin the season anew and rejuvenate our spirits and selves using flowers. Tess Whitehurst, author of Magical Housekeeping, The Art of Bliss, and The Good Energy Book has a new book, The Magic of Flowers, and it is a veritable treasure trove of flowers, their uses, and their metaphysical properties. We dug through it and provided some particular flowers and how they can be used in rejuvenating ways this spring.

The Magical Uses of Flowers for Spring Rejuvenation:
Picking the correct flower or essence with which to communicate, plant, or infuse into your rituals can be confusing. Begin by identifying those flowers that are good for new beginnings, rebirth, and cleansing. Below are some examples.

• Aster: Beginnings, Cleansing & Detoxifying. Plant aster in your yard to help neutralize and clear negativity and emotional toxins from the home, or add aster essence to your water to support physical detoxification and weight loss.
• Black-Eyed Susan: Cleansing and releasing, Grounding. Try employing the essence or misting yourself with spring water containing ten to twenty drops lavender or geranium essential oil and two to four drops black-eyed Susan essence.
• Bougainvillea: Cleansing. Bougainvillea can help purify and evaporate lingering toxins in our mind, body, and spirit so that our personal energy field and lifestyle begin to be characterized by a simple, clean aesthetic. Similarly, she helps us strip away the extras (clutter, limiting beliefs, undesired commitments, old hurts and emotional stuff) so that we can feel energized, efficient, and streamlined. For this purpose, cultivate or care for bougainvilleas, spend time in quiet contemplation with a blossoming bougainvillea, or imbibe the essence regularly, starting at the full moon and continuing throughout an entire moon cycle.
• Carnation: Rebirth, New Beginnings. Carnation (as a symbol of modern-day funerary rites) is a symbol not only of death and life, but also of rebirth and new beginnings. He is a reminder—like new blossoms in the spring taking different forms but retaining the same essence—that our soul naturally seeks to be reborn again and again into this physical world. Similarly, when we seek rebirth in any area of our present life, carnation will gladly lend his magical support. Consider incorporating carnation into rituals or charms designed for this purpose, employing him as your intuition dictates.
• Citrus Blossom: Happy home. Citrus blossoms and neroli oil are wonderful ingredients for any sort of magical endeavor related to happiness in the home. The fragrance and energy aligns the home with the soft, relaxing, regenerative qualities that make home home. Additionally, the tranquilizing effects of the scent and vibration can help soothe tension and heal relationships.
• Forget-Me-Not: Organization and Efficiency. When organization and efficiency are crucial, forget-me-not can help. For example, taking the flower essence can be a wonderful companion when clearing clutter or streamlining your workday.
• Honeysuckle: Endings and Beginnings. Taking honeysuckle essence or having a plant close to the home can help us during clutter clearing or releasing old keepsakes and memorabilia.
• Peony: Cleansing. Energetically, peony is an excellent cleanser, bringing freshness and healing to the emotions and physical body by removing blocks, old patterns, and challenging attachments. For this purpose, try misting yourself or your space with rose water into which you’ve added six to ten drops peony essence, bringing peony blossoms into your space, using a
  peony blossom to flick blessed spring water around yourself or your home, or bathing in water into which you’ve added fresh peony blossoms or twenty to thirty drops peony essence.
• Sage Blossom: Emotional Detoxification. You know those times when you feel emotionally toxic, perhaps from a newly ended or currently problematic relationship, or because you recently traversed a particularly challenging or frightening time, place, or situation? Maybe it’s not so much that you’re wounded or broken-hearted but rather that you’re emotionally out of whack in other ways, such as feeling drained, spooked, unbalanced, shell-shocked, or generally not right? Sage blossom can help with this, too, not just by removing the negative energy and programming but also by helping to ground us and to reestablish new, healthier, and more
  positive patterns and conditions. Similarly, red or scarlet sage blossoms can help us heal the patterns associated with emotional wounds and broken hearts.
• Water Lily: Purification. Water lily purifies the spirit by healing the heart and breaking down our defenses so that a clear stream of life-force energy flows through our being as a matter of course. Over time, this energy helps us let go of old hurts, limiting beliefs, harsh emotions, and
  anything else that may be holding us back from possessing a clear and positive self-image and sparkly-fresh state of mind.

Bonus: Bath Ritual for Joyful Productivity
Try this bath ritual from The Magic of Flowers to help you in both work and home as you clean and start anew.

On a Thursday when the moon is between new and full, add three fresh echinacea blossoms or ten to twenty drops echinacea essence to your bath water, along with one half cup organic clover blossom honey. Light a yellow candle near the bathtub and hold your hands over the water as you mentally direct golden-white light into the water. Say:

All doors are open for prosperous and joyful work.
I love what I do, and I irresistibly attract sweet success.

Relax as you soak for twenty to forty minutes.

Flowers are a sure sign of spring, of Earth renewing herself. Flowers have myriad more uses than simply for spring rejuvenation, but what better way to start the season off right?
 

The Art of Blissful Storekeeping

Dear Booksellers,

Does a business have an emotional center, a heart? Do you find that customers are drawn to energy that’s fueled by joy?

Tess Whitehurst, the author of Magical Housekeeping and The Good Energy Book, is an expert in creating and maintaining positive energy. We're excited about her fabulous new book, The Art of Bliss, that focuses on how to activate your innate life force energy for success and happiness. Here, Tess talks about how these principles also apply to a business. Check out how easy it is to activate key areas in your store to encourage creativity, productivity, and genuine bliss.




The Art of Blissful Storekeeping
By Tess Whitehurst

With just a modest bit of alchemy, you can benefit your business—and beautify your relationship with your business—for years to come.

The Art of Bliss
Tess Whitehurst

You may already know that your business’s floor plan has nine life areas as designated by the bagua, or the I Ching-derived feng shui floor plan. And if you do, as a business-minded individual, you’re likely aware of what’s commonly referred to as the “prosperity corner.” (Hint: it’s the far left corner when standing at the front door, facing inwards, or the upper left corner in the diagram you’ll be drawing below.) You might also know that to help activate your finances, you can do things such as keep the prosperity area clutter-free, place a citrine quartz or chrysocolla in this area, and/or hang a large mirror to bring in extra energy and symbolic space.

What you may not know is that there are two other areas that are exceptionally important when it comes to maintaining a business in the most sustainable, profitable, enjoyable way possible.

Almost as Simple as Tic-Tac-Toe
Before I reveal where these areas are and how you can make them work for you, take a quick moment to make a super rough sketch of your floor plan. Honestly, no measuring or artistry necessary—rough is totally fine. Just an outline of the place that is expressly designated for your business is all you need (if there’s a larger main area and little asymmetrical offshoots such as bathrooms or offices, you might just want to include the main area for this exercise). Now, if the outline of what you just drew happens to be something other than a square or rectangle, use dotted lines to make it into one by filling in the missing corners. Once it’s a square or rectangle, draw a tic-tac-toe board over it, dividing it into nine (roughly) equal squares. OK—done! (See I told you! Not too terribly tricky.)

Locate the Spots
To locate the important areas I’m about to teach you about, first locate your front door. Draw an arrow pointing straight at it, in the direction you would be going if you were entering the business. Now, if necessary, turn the paper so that the arrow is pointing up. In the bottom center square, write, “Life Path.” In the top center square, write, “Radiance.”

Aha! Now we can move ahead to the fun stuff.

Life Path
The Life Path area—traditionally referred to as the Career area—is the place in your business that has to do with a natural sense of flow and an authentic, joy-fueled direction. For you, and for anyone else who works at this location, when this center is activated and flowing, there is a deep sense of fulfillment that fuels creativity, productivity, and enthusiasm. Because everyone can sense the genuine bliss at the heart of the business, additional benefits include loyal, longstanding customers and employees, which consequently support financial flow and word-of-mouth publicity.

There are a number of ways to activate this area, and to balance it energetically in the most ideal of ways, and all of them have to do with the water element. (Think depth, natural nourishment and flow, and a fluid wellspring of joy.) For example, you might place an actual water feature in this area, such as a fountain, or you might place something here that represents water, such as a painting or photo of the ocean, one or more items made out of glass, or a large mirror.

Of course, you might also have items for sale that fit with the water element, such as water globes, seashells, or books about mermaids. It might be fun to activate the Life Path area by placing these in this area of the store.

Radiance
The Radiance area—traditionally known as the Fame and Reputation area—is particularly important in businesses, as it has to do with how one is seen and known in the world. This area works synergistically with the Life Path area. You might say that each nourishes and balances the other: the Life Path area has to do with being in alignment with one’s own inner sense of purpose and joy, while the Radiance area has to do with generously sharing this joy with the outside world.

Again, there are a number of ways to activate this area. This time, most of them have to do with fire. (Think of how the sun and stars light up the sky from an incomprehensible distance, and how even fireworks can be seen for miles around.) And so, to activate and energize this area, you might want to add excellent or eye-catching lighting, candles, or artwork/items depicting red, pink, orange, stars, sun shapes, triangles, diamonds, or radial shapes (such as daisies).

Artwork depicting people or animals also brings in the fire element, and items that advertise or name your business—such as signs or complementary newspaper articles—are also excellent ways to visually affirm that your business is well-known and highly regarded.

And, of course, inventory relating to the fire element—such as candles, incense, lamps, brightly colored prayer flags—might be cool things to place here as well.

But What if it’s Missing from the Floor Plan?
The Radiance and Life Path are not commonly missing from most floor plans, but if one or both is missing from yours, never fear. You might symbolically bring in the energy of the area by hanging a large mirror or watery art with depth on one of the walls bordering the missing Life Path area, or a large piece of fiery art with depth on one of the walls bordering the missing Radiance area. This way, the chosen piece will be like a window looking into—and energetically holding the space of—precisely the type of energy you want to bring in.

For affirmations, rituals, and other fun stuff related to the nine life areas, check out The Art of Bliss: Finding Your Center, Getting in the Flow, and Creating the Life You Desire.

***

Tess Whitehurst is an intuitive counselor, energy worker, and feng shui consultant. She has appeared on the Bravo TV show Flipping Out, and her writing has been featured in Writers Digest, Whole Life Times Magazine, and online at The Huffington Post and Lemondrop.com In addition to The Art of Bliss, she is the author of Magical Housekeeping and The Good Energy Book. Visit her online.

Tess on her favorite bookstore:
Alexandria II in Pasadena, CA will always occupy a special place in my heart because it was the first metaphysical bookstore I ever had the pleasure of finding myself in. I’ll never forget how awestruck I felt as I explored it those first few times.

***

Do you have any feng shui tips to share? What are some of your favorite ways to create positive energy in your store?


 
 

Joy to the Store: 5 Keys to a Happy, Sane, and Prosperous Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner, a time of hustle and bustle mixed with joy and togetherness. It is too easy to let the stress of the holiday season overwhelm us and detract from the happiness and joy we are sharing with others. Here, author Tess Whitehurst offers 5 keys to a happy, sane, and prosperous holiday season.


For other ways to combat holiday stress, check out "Merry Blissmas: The key to a stress-free holiday" by Andy Baggott and "Enjoy A Ten-Minute Bliss Break This Holiday Season" by Kala Ambrose. 

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For retailers, the holiday rush can be bittersweet. In other words, there’s the overwhelming stress on one hand (bitter), and the increased cash flow on the other (sweet). But you’re not just any retailer, are you? You’re a retailer that sells books for the body, mind and spirit. As such, you can employ some subtle energetic tricks to enhance the cash flow, curb the stress, and generally keep the merriness and good cheer flowing in and around your place of business. For example…

Let There Be (Himalayan Salt) Light
Lighting a lamp or candleholder made from Himalayan crystal salt promotes calm and serenity by curbing the excess energy generated by stress. In addition to bringing these benefits to you and anyone else who may be working at the store, this will soothe your customers, consequently enticing them to stay longer and peruse more thoroughly. You might place one near the cash register and/or in strategic places throughout the store.

Walk in a (Clutter-Free) Winter Wonderland
Naturally, you’ll have more stuff (i.e. inventory, paperwork, etc.) in your store this time of year. This means that it will be especially important to clear and organize. For your customers, this will help create the optimum shopping experience. For your staff, this will help facilitate efficiency and a sustainably positive outlook. Your clearing and organizing efforts may include:

• Shredding extra documents in the office and organizing the filing cabinets
• Organizing inventory
• Removing extras from the sale floor in order to clear the space for the items you want to prominently feature
• Making sure that customers can easily and comfortably meander through all the areas of the store
• Removing excessive items from around the vicinity of the front door in order to entice customers in and make the transition from outside to inside more uplifting and inspiring

(Mist) the Halls with (Essence) of Holly
Holly essence, the Bach © flower remedy, is especially appropriate for the dark time of year, as it helps keep the heart open and the spirits high. It also lends itself to the types of expansive and liberal holiday shopping habits that will bring prosperity to you, joy to your customers, and, eventually, happiness to the objects of their generosity. I suggest putting four drops of it in a mister of spring water along with four drops of Bach Rescue Remedy © (for general stress) and 10-20 drops essential oil of pine (for clarity, energy, and abundance). Close the lid, shake, and mist the store before opening and at intervals throughout the day.

(Clear the Space with) Silver Bells
To keep the energy in your store fresh and clear, to welcome in abundance, and to set the stage for a harmonious and successful work day, you might like to simply ring a bell or a chime before opening the doors in the morning. As you do so, you might move throughout the store and envision your intentions for the day traveling outward with the sound, infusing the space with their vibrations.

(Invite in the) Good Tidings
Then, once you do open the doors, I suggest standing at the threshold, facing out, and saying a quick invitation to abundance and blessings of all kinds. For example, you might like to hold your arms slightly away from your body, palms facing out, close your eyes, and say or think something like:

We are open to blessings and abundance.
We welcome in positivity,
We welcome in joy,
We welcome in a happy and prosperous day,
And we give thanks for our infinite good fortune.

Tess Whitehurst is the author of Magical Housekeeping: Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home and the very soon-to-be-released Good Energy Book: Creating Harmony and Balance for Yourself and Your Home. Visit her at www.tesswhitehurst.com.

Magical Storekeeping: 5 Simple Feng Shui Tips for Booksellers

Hi Booksellers,

At last, spring is here. For us Llewellynites living in the frozen north, Minnesota to be exact, winter is a harsh and incredibly long, bone-chilling journey, provoking doubt as to whether the snow will ever melt. So when spring finally hits, we rejoice in a big way. Considering this is the season for new beginnings, it seems like the perfect time to introduce MoonLit, Llewellyn’s first blog for booksellers.

In keeping with the spring theme, we’ve asked author Tess Whitehurst to share some simple feng shui tips and advice for the store environment.

Have some “magical storekeeping” ideas of your own? Please share! We would love to hear your comments on how spring inspires you to enhance the energy of your shop.

Position Yourself for Success

5 Simple Feng Shui Tips for Booksellers

By Tess Whitehurst

To the modern-day seeker, a bookstore is not just a store. It’s a temple, a repository of secrets, a mystery school, a gathering place, and an uplifting refuge from the everyday world. To those who are looking for new insights, it’s an open door and an initiation. To those who are in need of healing or guidance, it’s a bright new dawn of hope after a long, dark night of the soul.

To draw new customers into your mystical haven, to make your existing customers’ bookstore experience as enticing as possible, and to position your store for long-term success, there are a number of simple feng shui considerations you might like to employ.

Say it Loud and Say it Proud

Never underestimate the power of signage. A sign that succinctly defines and describes who you are and what you offer—and one that’s easily readable from the street—will get you noticed. (Or, if your store has an entry that’s not visible from the street, do your best to clearly mark the entrance with strategically positioned signs and arrows.) By removing all possible confusion and giving your potential customers an obvious mental picture of how to arrive and enter—and what to expect once they do—they will feel much more comfortable about the prospect.

Invite, Welcome, and Entice

The front door is the place where blessings and abundance enter your business—so it’s exceptionally important to make sure that it’s noticeable, welcoming, and open! For example, make sure that any plants placed nearby are healthy and vibrant, and perhaps bring in a big red doormat to “roll out the red carpet” and cheerily welcome in your clientele.

Allow Breathing Room

When we enter a new environment, we need a moment to come into the present and orient ourselves to our new surroundings. That’s why—as opposed to an explosion of displays and products just inside the door—it’s best to leave a bit of relatively open/clear space in this area for your customers to transition into the environment and serenely assess what surrounds them. (If you want to observe this dynamic first hand, observe what your customers gravitate to immediately upon entering the store. You’ll likely notice that products that are too close to the entryway often go unnoticed.)

Embellish the Bathroom

What turns a good shopping experience into a great one? You guessed it: a magical bathroom. Your customers will love you for it—so why skimp in this area? Have fun with it. For example, you might paint it a whimsical color, hang a sparkly crystal in the window, and/or display attractive and uplifting artwork.

Create Ambiance

Always remember the music! The right music can transport the listener to another realm, and is a key ingredient to bringing out the desirability of your products and enticing your customers to linger and return. Choose something entrancing and pleasant that seems to blend seamlessly with the mood of the store.

Tess Whitehurst is a Los Angeles-based feng shui consultant and the author of Magical Housekeeping: Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home. Visit her online at www.tesswhitehurst.com.

Tess on her favorite bookstore:

Alexandria II in Pasadena, CA will always occupy a special place in my heart because it was the first metaphysical bookstore I ever had the pleasure of finding myself in. I’ll never forget how awestruck I felt as I explored it those first few times.