What's in a Name?

People often ask why I named my Shoppe Pandora's Box...

...suggesting that perhaps, it's somewhat negative to choose a name like that, based on what they know. And I'm actually glad when they do ask me, because it gives me the opportunity to share some not so well known information and facts concerning Pandora.

The Goddess Pandora in quite ancient; in fact, She predates the very popular and well-known Hesiodic myths. But, unfortunately, very few people are aware of this. Most only know of the humiliating interpretation of Hesiod's, in which She is depicted as the first human female, created and brought to Earth by Zeus.

After She arrives, She is blamed for releasing all the woes and evils of humanity into the world. As Hesiod's story became more well-known, it influenced Jewish and Christian theologians, continuing on into the Renaissance and then later bleeding into the works of poets, artists, and dramatists. All of this helped to spread inaccurate myths about Her.

In Her earliest forms, Pandora is much like the Goddess Gaia. Both Gaia and Pandora are Earth Goddesses. Pandora's name means "all giving," signifying that She is the giver of all things in life. There is artistic evidence that shows her being a mother Goddess who is the Earth itself, and bestower of all things.

Some historians believe that the eventual domination of the Hesiod myth provides evidence of the original shift in Greek society from a matriarchal culture to a patriarchal one. By transforming Pandora from the beloved Mother Earth Goddess that She originally was, into the naive human female who was blamed for the woes of man, displays a clear and unfortunate change in the way the world was beginning to view the Divine Feminine.

When I learned of this truth, I was instantly struck by Her story and Her warm and powerful energy. Pandora became one of the first Goddesses that spoke to me internally, and on a profoundly deep level. So, when I decided to open my Shoppe, the name for it came to me immediately ~ Pandora's Box! After all, its a place of hope, and portal to all things Magical, where the Olde mysteries of the Goddess are taught and honored 🌛💜🌜

Crystal of the Week ~ Moonstone

Since we just had a full moon a few days ago, I want to share with you all about Moonstone!

Moonstone has long been near and dear to me 🥰 In fact, I probably own more moonstone jewelry than any other stone~ and that's saying something, since i sell gemstone jewelry in my Shoppe and am my own best customer 😆

Not only is Moonstone absolutely beautiful, it's also so beneficial with how it assist those who wear or work with it!

This crystal is excellent to connect with if you are feeling out of touch with your Divine self and feel like you need more spiritual guidance.

It is also a powerful crystal for getting in touch with your emotions and feminine energy.

Its uplifting vibe offers joy, hope, and bliss even at the most challenging times, while assisting in the connection with our truest emotions more effectively.

The loving and nurturing energy of Moonstone gives soothing comfort and guidance when times are tough. Because of its strong Divine Feminine and Goddess nature, it's like having a maternal figure there

lending support whenever needed.

On top of its emotional attributes, it is also known to be a very protective stone in relation to traveling. In Ancient Rome, it was known to protect travelers, particularly during the nighttime. And in modern times it is still effective for safe travel.

Perhaps one of the most popular uses of Moonstone is for attracting and increasing the vibrations of love, relationships, passion, and romance. It helps to dissolve anger from relationships, and opens us to more readily receive the love extended by others.

It is a powerful crystal for all Psychic and intuitive work as well as intuitive connection with the natural cycles and flow of one's physical body.

If you're seeking to deepen your connection to the Moon, the Goddess, and the Divine Feminine, Moonstone is my personal number one choice with all of its luminous qualities and its mystical, dreamy, and magical nature 🌕💖

Natural Talents ~ Trust and Feed Them!

A Witch knows we all have at least a couple natural talents in this life~ Could be anything really.. whatever they are, they come naturally to us and we tend to excel at them mostly with joy and ease. 

I discovered one of mine not long after I first opened my Shoppe. I taught myself to make loose incense. I had seen some once at a Witch store years before and was so intrigued by the fragrant powders. I just didn’t understand how they were made.. but that didn’t stop me!

I had a small, ceramic mortar and pestle at the time and I began combining a few herbs and grinding them down. There was something very rhythmic and meditative about the movement and process of turning the dried roots and herbs into a powder. As I twisted and turned, pounded and blended, the essence of the plants sang out to me and it was like they sang to me their purpose and desire through textures and scent. 

So I began to research their magical properties and uses and incorporated this knowledge into my own unique blends. I experimented, played, made mistakes that led me to grand results; and before I knew it, my art, and my personal talent- blending scent with intention- was born. 

Some of my recipes are more simple, with only several very specific yet purposeful ingredients, but most are rather intricate concoctions of more than a dozen or more components that come together to form a spell of lush, sacred smoke that fuels a magical purpose~ all draped in potent and mysterious fragrance that is unlike any other.

That was 24 years ago, when I first touched a mortar and pestle... I still make incense to this day, every week (and sometimes more) and yes, I still love it! I have mastered over 50 specialty spell blends and have no plans of stopping—I just created another new one last month, in fact! 

Trust in your passions. Let them teach you. Let them be your guide. Let yourself try and fail and try some more. Let yourself succeed and excel if for no other reason than because you love it. And because it makes you feel alive, because it spreads a smile through you that reminds you of being a carefree child. And if this gift somehow helps others or touches their hearts and enriches their lives, then even better! What a blessing that is!

Someone once called me "the mistress of Divine smoke" and shared with me how my blends had helped them greatly through some real difficulties. This is the best compliment of all. And this is why I’ll never stop. You can explore some of my spell incenses here!

May this inspire you to never stop nourishing your gifts ❤️