Magical Shop ~ Rev. Vanessa: Author, Pagan Spiritualist Teacher, Psychopomp ("Rescue Medium"), Intuitive Healer, Spirit Oracle
Have you ever heard of Urglaawe? Urglaawe is a Heathen tradition in America that has developed from Pennsylvania Dutch folklore, mythology, folk healing and magical practices (“Braucherei” – folk magic for healing & protection & “Hexerie” – witchcraft). I recently discovered this homegrown form of Heathenry stemming from Germanic PA Dutch descendants. Their ancestors came…
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner on February 14th. Some theorize that this holiday is connected to the ancient Roman holiday of Lupercalia (Feb. 15th), and of course to St. Valentine, a Christian martyr. But this post isn’t about Lupercalia or St. Valentine. It is about the sweet, chubby baby cupids we often see…
Happy Cailleach Day (Feb. 2nd)! Above is a drawing I did of Cailleach a couple years ago. Cailleach is the Irish and Scottish goddess of winter and weather who sometimes ventures out on Imbolc to gather wood. If the day is sunny and pleasant, Cailleach will collect firewood and extend winter in order to use…
A long time ago when I was only 12, I had a beautiful dream of being in an ancient forest where there was a small cottage. I was invited inside and discovered that the cottage was connected to my ancestors. A female ancestor dressed in Victorian era clothes asked me to sit down. She opened…
I have a positive view of snakes. Snake energy is often thought of as “life force” energy, and in certain cultures, the spirit of the land. Medusa, the snake haired Goddess, has been a long-time spirit ally of mine. Over the years, she has taught me how to incorporate “snake” energy into my clearing and…
“Psychopompery” (rescue mediumship) helps to heal earthbound spirits by guiding them into the Light that leads to a beautiful afterlife in the Land of the Ancestors, Summerlands or the Heavens. Through this healing practice, restless spirits – also called ghosts – can finally find peace. I wanted to share a few psychopomp practices you can…
As we approach the next turning of the wheel on May 1st, I wanted to write an article about Beltane’s thin veil. When spring arrived, I had a conversation with a few magical practitioners who told me that they could already feel the veil getting thinner. I was surprised because for me it was growing…
The witch and her familiar are iconic. Just think of the witch’s black cat or a raven on a witch’s shoulder that is so ingrained in our popular image of the witch. This image is so deeply instilled in our collective understanding of witches because it goes straight to the heart of what makes a…
Halloween, or Samhain, is a time of year when the veil between our world and the spirit world is very thin. It is the perfect time to reach out to our loved ones in spirit and honor our ancestors. After all, but for them, we would not be here – at least in our present…
I am part of a wonderful circle of seasoned mediums, healers and shamanic practitioners. Each member of the group has at least 7 years of experience and some 30 years plus! Each time the group meets, a different member leads the circle so that we all benefit from the unique experience of each member. This…
Spirit Spindle & Root 