All Blog Posts (281)

Hey, all!  I'm Sam, a.k.a. polyphanes, and I'm one of the readers at Sticks and Stones!  It's fantastic to actually meet you all in person, and I'm glad to have the chance to do so.

So, a bit about me.  I'm a ceremonial magician working in the Western Mystery Tradition, the collection of rituals, philosophies, and techniques that generally fall under the Hermetic label.  I'm not a strict by-the-book Solomonic magician, nor am I a chaote or freeform sorcerer, but I can be pretty…

I typed this up in May and kept telling myself to take pictures the next time I make it... and kept forgetting to take those darn pictures!

My mother served us pulled pork tacos one night.  She threw pork loin, salsa & chopped green chiles into her crock pot and let it simmer.  It was very tasty but I wanted to kick it up a bit so I added some seasoning to get that yummy flavor I love about well…

So, I've been thinking about these cookies for quite some time now and I finally got around to making them today.  To say they were a hit would be an understatement.  Even my kids loved them.  The recipe made 54 cookies and there are none left!  They are super easy. 

•          1 cup butter
•          1½ cup sugar
•          2 eggs
•          2¾ cup…

Glancing at the clock may cause us to look again sometimes, especially when we notice that we’ve caught it at the same time over and over again. Maybe we see the same number pattern echoed everywhere we look—whether on license plates or appliances—over a period of…

Being associated with the moon, this stone has always been the stone of love and lovers. It is offered as a "blessing" in Arab countries and encourages fertility. Moonstone is most potent when used in a full moon. Its rainbow properties offer a gentle, calming energy as it strengthen intuition and psychic perception. It enhance creativity and compassion and enlivens inner confidence as it brings balance and harmony into your life. The rainbow effect draws in a spectrum of light, and can help…

I'd like to share my recipe for Beef Stroganoff with you.

I have no idea where this recipe came from.  It is the recipe my mother used when we were growing up and every once in a while I crave it something terrible!  I use light sour cream and fat-free, low-sodium broth to attempt to make it better for the body.  I've also added mushrooms and rosemary to the original recipe for some depth and also, because I married an anti-onion person.  But I really miss the onions so…

Healing crystals and gemstones are one of the most beautiful, mystical and profound "energy medicine" tools, which have been used for centuries throughout all cultures, religions and empires.

Crystals bring amazing benefits to the healing arena!



Consider creating a Reiki grid or meditation space with these crystals. Use them on your private altar or healing space to attune to the earth's energy!



Here are some of my favorite minerals for Earth…

My 'Finding Inspiration' series was written out of a need that comes up in my practice, most often in Spring and Fall. I feel we all need a bit of encouragement and enlightenment now and then to help us move forward. Finding motivation through inspiration can be the spark which sets you on your way!



Crystaline Color



What can be more inspiring than the brilliant purple hue of amethyst, the rich orange of carnelian or the deep pink of rhodochrosite?…

This is a crystal for protection. It is believed to protect one from crime. Grid this stone in the four corners of your home, around doors and windows or any area you fear theft can occur. As a protection stone it is also recommended for explorers and those engaged in combat. Its protection qualities are ancient. Information about this stone can be found in the Book of Revelation, used in the breastplate of Aaron and one of the twelve foundation stones used in the wall of the new Jerusalem.…

When we schedule too much in our lives trying to meet our obligations, we only end up draining our energy.



We all encounter obligations in life, from spending time with family and friends to being present at important functions in the lives of the people who form our community. Many times, the obligations are actually fun and fulfilling, and we want to be there. At the same time, we all sometimes experience resistance to meeting these obligations, especially when they pile up all at…

I recently started a Kitchen Witchery cooking blog.  Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://suburbankitchenwitch.blogspot.com/

We Are Here to Serve

We are living in a time of great change. Many thinkers and seers agree that humanity and the planet Earth are evolving at a quickened pace, and that this evolution will…

Spring is here. The best time to take a seasonal check up of our health on all levels; mentally, physically and spiritually. One of the best ways to do this is with a simple detoxification of the "soul".



Detoxification is a process that occurs within our bodies on a continual basis. When we drink too much coffee, have cigarettes, drink too much alcohol or do recreational drugs these substances are transformed by the liver to a more harmless substance that can be excreted in the…

"The Ancient Art of Placement."



Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) is the ancient Chinese art of placement to enhance the flow of "vital life energy" known as Qi.

Practitioners believe that rooms, buildings and all environments can be arranged and decorated in a way that maximizes the flow of Qi and, resulting in improvements to health and happiness of those who live in that environment. Although the translation of Feng Shui basically means "Wind and Water",…

In a world of harshness, it is time to soften and expand how we go about our life.

In order to get what we want in life, we have to be willing to receive it when it appears, and in order to do that we have to be open. Often we go through life with defenses we developed early on in order to protect ourselves. These defenses act as barriers, walls we needed at one time to feel safe, but that now serve to shut out desired influences, like…

Good Morning!

Spring is the time of creativity! With the resurgence of warmer weather, more light and a breath of newness, creativity is stimulation.



Living is an act of creativity. Not just being an artist, writer, painter but the sheer act of living is a creative force that we often do not acknowledge. Living consciously and with awareness is an act of even deeper creativity. On many levels, creativity is an inner

process: what you dream, imagine,…

Ancient Talisman and symbols of good luck, crystals have been faceted into necklaces, bracelets, carried in pockets and used in every form for healing. They have adorned crowns on Emperors, robes on Queens and even the breastplate of Aaron. Stones and crystals can be used to help in maintaining balance, focus, centeredness, mental clarity as well as, physical and emotional stability. In honor of St. Patrick's day, I will be suggesting some of the best stone associated with good luck…

Ancient Talisman and symbols of good luck, crystals have been faceted into necklaces, bracelets, carried in pockets and used in every form for healing. They have adorned crowns on Emperors, robes on Queens and even the breastplate of Aaron. Stones and crystals can be used to help in maintaining balance, focus, centeredness, mental clarity as well as, physical and emotional stability. In honor of St. Patrick's day, I will be suggesting some of the best stone associated with good luck…