As a teenager, I was in love with the Quija Board (also known as Spirit Boards). I had some really interesting experiences, one of which, much later in my life, I was able to prove by going to the Salem library and Historical Society and combing through hundreds of newspaper articles, documents and family records. However, while I had one or two nice experiences, I also had about four or five bad ones. One was such experience is so bad that I put the board away and have never used it again.
As I my education into the occult grew, so did my understanding of the spirit world. I soon began to be able to communicate with them using other means- including opening myself up psychically. Today, not only am I able to hear and see spirits, but when I am open, I become a beacon for those souls still wandering. Sometimes, I do need to tell them to leave me alone as I do not always want to deal with them. I am living, they are not.
Quija boards, when they were first created, were meant to  be a "toy" and were marketed as such. The issue here, is they are not a toy. They are means of spirit communication--and sometimes what gets brought in is not always what you want.
I absolutely hate  when I hear someone say "We did a seance last night with the Quija board." DONT DO THAT. "Well we cast a circle."
Ahhhh. So here is the issue. Casting a circle, whether using an athame or a circle of salt means shit. You may think you are "safe" but here is the problem with Quija boards.
Typically, low level entities or energies communicate using low level means- aka the Quija. You may *think* what is entering your circle is some spirit from the 1800's looking for guidance--when in fact, its a low level energy form ready to lie and cheat you and then eventually, attach itself to you. I am not saying, especially since I do not believe in the Devil, that this is Satan-but, the movie "The Excorcist" made a good point to make that "Captain Howdy" who was contacting little Linda Blair, made her think he was a good spirit.
The other issue, is that typically the user of the Quija has no idea what they are doing and the very first question they ask is, "Is someone there?" or "Is anyone there?"
BAD BAD BAD.
Why?
Would you walk outside in a busy area and say "does anyone want to come in?" No you wouldnt. Why? Because you have no idea WHO is going to take you up on that offer.
Unless you have a specific spirit that you want to communicate with-dont use the Quija. Do not open up yourself upto energies that are taking advantage of a low level tool-whether you are in a circle or not.

I LOVE making my own room sprays. Not only are they easy to make, but they also have more uses than just making your room smell pretty! Sprays are a smoke free way of cleansing and clearing your sacred space or ritual items. 

I recently was hired at an event to do Tarot card readings for two hours. I easily read for a 15 people in that time frame. The issue for me then became--ALL THESE PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR JUNK ON MY CARDS. My cards are a ritual item. I use them often enough and rely on them when I need clarification or just some guidance. When peope start touching my cards during readings, they are leaving their energy on them--big or small.

One way I cleanse my cards between each reading is to mist them with some cleansing spray. Cleansing spray is easy to make. Basically what you need is a good solid dark colored bottle (clear bottles can bring stuff INTO the spray-so stick with a dark bottle!), an essential oil that is used for cleansings such as frankincence, myrrh, patchouli, some purified water, a few pieces of sage (you  can always break some off of a bundle) and something alchol based like witch hazel or Florida Water.

For my cleansing spray, I used birch tar. Birch Tar is one of those magickal oils that most people dont know to much about. It used in home remedies as an antiseptic and diruetic--which means its a great oil to get rid of unwanted things.

Below is my mini tutorial on how to make a cleansing spray bottle!
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What are your favorite ways of cleansing? Let me know!

My love of reptiles started as a child. Little did I know when I turned 18, my relationship and love of snakes would go beyond the regular "pet" relationship. Snakes have been a integral part of my life; and over the last 12 years they have come to be family and artistic dance partners. But this post isn't about that. Rather, its about a rescuing of sorts. 
     In 2006 I was given a beautiful adult ball python by a friend who I had met through the New England Herpetological Society in Weymouth, MA. The snakes name was Kaala. She was about 6 when I was given her. My friend did not have time to focus on her, and Kaala had been used to teach educational programs to children on snakes. Kaala's demeanor was the most sweet, loving and kind. She just had this energy about her that sometimes took my breath away. Her and I began a friendship that was inspiring. Not only did she become my dance partner, but she also became an ambassador for ball pythons. We taught classes and workshops together. The most memorable was a Serpentine Mythology workshop that I had taught at Circles of Wisdom in Andover, MA. It ended up being a healing workshop of sorts. A woman who was in attendance at the workshop had some deep emotional and physical trauma caused by abuse in her childhood. Unfortunately, this abuse also involved snakes. She was horrified of them. One of the reasons that she signed up for my workshop was to try and overcome her fear and let go of the trauma she had endured as a child. Towards the end of the workshop, I asked the woman if she wanted to just touch Kaala. What happened next was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever witnessed. The woman, her eyes streaked with tears, not only  touch Kaala, but held her! And Kaala, who was so sweet, just laid still on the woman's lap. It was such a beautiful moment. Kaala had a presence! She ended up in a music video, in magazine articles and even performed with me for a famous Hindi actress who was in the movie "Nagin."
      In 2013, my beautiful Kaala passed away. I was beyond devastated. And while I had other snakes (six to be exact), I never felt the connection that I had with Kaala with any of the others. It was a heartbreaking. Four years later she stills is a major part of my life. And while I could blog all day about her, its about Kira.....not Kaala.
          In the summer of 2016 I came across a Craigslist ad from a man selling off his snake collection. He was "breeder" and wasn't having any luck and decided that it was to costly to keep his collection. I emailed him about one of the snakes and he got back to me. I met him in a parking lot and he handed me this beautiful adult ball python. I could tell something was "off" about her, but nevertheless I had my heart set on getting a python again. He told me adamantly that she would only eat live rats and said that he never had luck getting her pregnant. 
           Well, not only was she pregnant- but she was in the most horrible shape I had ever seen a snake in. For years, when I was living in Boston, I rescued snakes from bad owners--rehabilitated them, and then found them good decent forever homes. I was used to dealing with all kinds of issues- from mites to burns. I treated my snakes until they were healthy enough to be adopted out. But this poor girl......Not only was she pregnant, but she had a horrible case of mouth rot and a huge hole on her head from where a live rat had gnawed on her. Yet, this girl had some vibe about her that reminded me of Kaala. So I named her Kira--which means "beam of light" (ironically Zehara Nachash means "bright serpent!). After she laid her clutch that ended up being non fertilized, I took her to the vet to get a good grasp on an infection that was in her body. She was put on three treatments of antibiotics. The infection was so bad that it destroyed the bottom part of her jaw to wear it now looks like she has horrible overbite. Yet, despite all that--her energy was strong. She was a fighter! When I first performed with her, I felt that connection I had once with Kaala. We moved together as if we were one.
         My relationship with her has grown immensely since I have to constantly stay on top of her care. The whole on her head healed leaving only a small scar, but her mouth has to be cleaned and disinfected weekly as its exposed from losing her scales from the mouth rot. She is a happy healthy sweetie now. And while I believe great animals were once humans who had reached enlightenment--and I like to think of Kaala as my spirit guide now--a part of me still believes that Kaala somehow reincarnated into my beautiful Kira.  After all, Kira was born the same time and year that Kaala passed! 
          On a side note, I also rescued a male lesser ball python from the same man who I named Kyphi and who takes a liking to my sweet Kira.