Mel's Weekly Challenge
Every week Mel gives us food for thought, inspires us with her words of wisdom, and challenges us to acknowledge our strengths, weeknesses, or simply think about our old ingrained habits.
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So today I had a lovely surprise!
Whilst scouring the kitchen this morning (Oh the joys!) I’d heard the post arrive and there was a lovely gift there fromI know I have written about this in the past, but I feel so compelled to do
Soraya! Absolutely made my day and completely unexpected!soagain, because there’s so much awful stuff on TV and in the news! All we seem to hear is doom and gloom and if that’s all we’re hearing, it can grind you down a bit, but my wee surprise was lovely – and just so out of the blue!
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Soraya’s spidey senses must have been working as she couldn’t know that I needed a wee boost, but that’s exactly what it gave me. A random act of kindness!
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And this is something that we can all do. It doesn’t have to be sending someone a gift – although it could be! What about that book that you just know will help your friend, or that lunch you’ve been promising to treat someone to. (I’m free by the way! Haha!). Or that reading you’ve been going to do for someone but just never got round to! And it doesn’t have to cost anything at all – a kind word to the Barista when you get your coffee in a morning can change the day around. Letting someone out in traffic ahead of you can be the tiny little thing that makes someone’s day less stressful.
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A coffee and a sandwich for a homeless person or a wee Greggs coffee card – can change that day!
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Although I’m no longer employed, when I was working for the past 35 years, the type of job I had meant that very rarely did anyone call to say Thank You – rather the opposite. Being screamed and shouted at was commonplace and although I completely understood people’s frustration, it didn’t make my day any easier, but the odd one or two who actually bothered to say Thank You changed a horrible day into a productive one.
So this week – my challenge is simple. Just take any opportunity to do some random acts of kindness to another person. The smallest gesture can make a day and change a life! With love and blessings Mel xx
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Taylor Made Holistics
If you’d like more information on how to use essential oils safely at home, book a treatment or have a particular ailment you would like a blend for please drop Claire an email taylormadeholistics@gmail.com.
*Remember essential oils are highly concentrated & recommended dosage should never be exceeded. Always follow the safety information & never take internally. Treat as medicines and keep out of reach of children*.
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Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus Globulus – Myrtaceae
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Eucalyptus
Australia introduced Eucalyptus to Europe and the rest of the world in 1857. The leaves were crushed and used by the Aborigines to heal wounds, relieve muscular pain and help fight infection.
It blends well with Lavender, Lemon, Pine, Rosemary, Cedarwood & Thyme.
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Properties:
A stimulating & decongesting oil – it is good for clearing the head. Its antiseptic properties are also good for killing airborne germs and it is cooling to the skin (always dilute before skin application).
Get your Witches Web 100% Pure Essential Oils here
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Mental Health/Nervous System Benefits
Clears the head in cases of mental exhaustion & the inability to concentrate. It’s also useful for easing headaches (massage, bath or vaporisation – see how to use below).
For headaches – add to a carrier oil and massage the temples (combine with lavender or peppermint oil for greater effect). Or use in a cold compress – put 4 drops Eucalyptus into a bowl of very cold water, take a flannel/facecloth and soak up the oil floating on the surface without fully immersing the cloth. Wring out the excess water and apply to the forehead/back of neck.
Physical Health Benefits
It has a particular affinity with the respiratory & immune system and can relieve the symptoms of coughs, colds, sinusitis, catarrh, hayfever etc. (vaporisation, massage or steam inhalation – see how to use below).
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Relieves muscular aches & pains, poor circulation & rheumatoid arthritis
(massage or bath – see how to use below).
Use on burns, blisters, herpes, insect bites & wounds (always dilute well).
How to use:
Massage - Mix with a carrier oil such as grapeseed for massage (as a general rule use 1 drop of essential oil to 2 mls carrier oil based on a healthy adult.
Bath - Add 5-10 drops to a full bath and agitate well, the oil can be dissolved first in a teaspoon of bubble bath, carrier oil or full fat milk.
Vaporisation - Add to a diffuser or oil burner. Alternatively, add a few drops to a small bowl of water and place on a radiator or pop a few drops on a tissue and inhale.
Steam Inhalation - Add around 5 drops of oil to a bowl of hot water, cover the head and bowl with a towel and breathe deeply for a minute - then repeat. Always remember to close the eyes when using this method.
SPECIAL CAUTION: Always dilute well. NEVER take internally, even a little taken internally could be fatal.
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Recipe for Hay Fever Balm:
7g Beeswax
5g Cocoa Butter
12.5ml Sunflower Carrier Oil
4 drops Eucalyptus
4 drops Lavender
Add beeswax, cocoa butter & sunflower oil to a large bowl, immerse in a pan of hot water (double boiler method) and stir until fully melted. Remove bowl from the pan of hot water and add the essential oils. Fill a 10ml jar with the mixture & place in the fridge to harden before using (recipe from Base Formula website).
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A Word from Moma Witch
Incense Grains and Charcoal Tablets
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I have been using incense grains for 20 years or more and for spell casting there is noting better than a blend of specially made grains and you can find everything that you need in your kitchen cupboard among your herbs and spices or in your garden. Do remember that if you are using peppers and chillies powders to repel or banish, use them sparingly as the smoke or vapours will nip your eyes and catch in your throat.
Let your instincts be your guide if a herb or spice is sweet and pleasant use it to attract - if its sharp or bitter use it to repel. When all else fails check out my grains for Spell Crafting or for Sabbats and Esbats. Click here to purchase direct from Soraya
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Charcoal Tablets
For those of you who may not be familiar with charcoal tablets - this is what you are looking for and you can buy them online from Witches Web Member Adrain, "The Incense Man." http://www.incense-man.co.uk/holders13.html
Really good value at £1.49 for 10 tablets
Tip: You dont have to use a whole tablet,
I often half or quarter them.
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How to use.
Be mindful of how you use these tables as they burn at a really high temperature and the heat will burn right through a metal dish and scorch your altar surface. You can purchase terracotta dishes from Adrian, again good value at 99 pence each. He usually carries a nice stock of brass holders too. http://www.incense-man.co.uk/holders15.html
Before you begin, put a good thick layer of salt or sand at the bottom of your fireproof dish to absorb some of the heat.
Hold the tablet with small kitchen tongs or any other suitable tool and hold a match or a lighter to the tablet. After a few moments, the tablet will begin to spark and when that happens carefully blow on it to ignite and spread the heat (beware of, and be prepared for, sparks nipping your face).
Lay the tablet on the bed of salt or sand and wait for the charcoal to become white (just the same as barbeque charcoal). Once it's white you can add a pinch of your chosen magickal grains and enjoy the delicious scents created by them as they carry your desire into the ether. A list of magickal grains will be sent separately but if you can't wait you will find everything you need here http://www.soraya.co.uk/magickalIncensegranules.htm
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JOIN ME FOR A SPELL
The Power is in Your Hands
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Making a Wish for yourself
Take pen and paper and write down your wish as though it had already happened.
For Example: If your wish was for a new or better car you would write the following.
“I have a new car now, no harm came to me or mine in the process and I am happy that my car is safe and reliable”.
Written in this way empowers it as though it has actually happened and, more importantly, your car will come to you for a good reason and not because you have been involved in an accident.
You must always be careful of what you ask for as you may get your wish, but not in the manner that you expected.
Light your charcoal tablet and when it begins to turn white, sprinkle a pinch of appropriate grains on top of it. Hold your written wish above the smoke and scent of the grains and say a prayer to the Lord and Lady and then recite this verse.
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A wish I have tis just for me
And no one can I tell
Between Lord and Lady, it will be
No other knows my spell
I ask it of just good intent
No harm shall come to any
With good intentions, it is meant
Just one wish, no not many
And it harm none So Mote It Be
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Remember if you are asking for love, do not name a person because that interferes with their destiny and you may find that you end up in an unhappy relationship. Instead, ask for love, which can be returned to come to you.
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