Mischievous Messengers: Am I Batshit Crazy?

Those moments in life when we question what we've seen or experienced.

“When you see a shadow of something you don’t understand, it is most likely a being who sneaked over from Faerie.” This month we look at the impossible, or improbable, experiences and ask a simple question: What am I supposed to do with this? Our columnists share their experiences, from Ireland to backyards, and offer a few ways to answer that questions.

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Fairy, Faerie, Sidhe, what on Earth did I just see?

“Not everyone gets to go through the portal,” Pat Noone told us. “If they don’t think you’re a believer, you’re out of luck.”

The Purple Pixe’s Pearls of Perception with Ruth Souther

“Not everyone gets to go through the portal,” Pat Noone told us. “If they don’t think you’re a believer, you’re out of luck.”

Pat has been the guardian of his Neolithic land in County Galway, Ireland, for many years. “I will die before selling, and before I leave earth, I’ll find another who will keep this space sacred.”

Magical is the first word that comes up as we stepped onto the rolling hills. The scent of rich soil, freshly cut hay, and oak trees brought visions of the ancient ones dancing.

Our group rode in an open wagon on a rough road into the back fields, energy spiked. We all felt it, becoming silent in the wake of enchanted beauty.

First, we went to the ancient fertility rock, dating to Neolithic times. Each of us sat on it, and if it wasn’t for a child, it was for a flow of creativity.

The zing up my spine from the rock was unmistakable: I knew I was open to the faery realms.

The wee ones heard me calling as I stood beneath the loving branches of the Fairy Tree on Pat’s land.

I learned long ago that to call upon those who lived in the unseen realms, one must bring a gift. For the tree, I left a butterfly clip I always wore in my hair.

For the fairies, I scattered Skittles, their favorite candy (taste the rainbow, don’t ya know). I heard excited giggles and joyful laughter. I knew I would be granted entry to their sacred realm.

And so it was that I sat for over thirty minutes with my palms down on the earth. When Tiffany called that it was time to leave, I could barely force myself to stand, let alone walk back to the cart. I felt…odd. Everything was in slow motion and not quite in focus.

I didn’t remember any messages. Just that I was now part of Faerie: the realm that holds all the unexplained beings, gnomes, elves, elementals, and even dragons. Too many more to list. When you see a shadow of something you don’t understand, it is most likely a being who sneaked over from Faerie.

Then there are Fairies—the wee ones—who are as you imagine them to be: winged, sunny, colorful, mischievous, and curious. They love to tweak hair and buzz in your ears, then flit away. They are important to our ecosystem as they help pollinate flowers and plants. Nectar (or sugar) is their favorite food.

If a Fairy is upset, they will hide things and refuse to give them back. If they adore you, they will make themselves at home and ride merrily along tucked behind your ear.

Everyone noticed my weird behavior. I couldn’t hear, and my speech was slow and ponderous, but my body felt like it was floating. I couldn’t remember anything. I couldn’t find anything. I didn’t feel like eating.

Michelle watched me with narrowed eyes and then said, “Come with me, Ruthie. We need to sort this.”

Obediently, I followed her into a private room and sat while she went within, pulling up her energetic third eye.

“Oh, my!” She waved her hands in front of me. “You have a Fairy named Poppy who is sipping your essence. Oh, and there are more, many more.”

“What? Why would they do that?”

“You invited them, darlin’, when you scattered all those Skittles. They think you’re magical and belong to them.”

Well, that explained a lot.

With little fanfare and a lot of hoodoo, Michelle shooed the Fairies away and closed my crown chakra from which they were slurping my essence. They all fled except for Poppy, who stayed with me throughout the rest of the Ireland journey. She continually whispered her wisdom and joy in my ear.

We ended our tour of this rich, beautiful country at the Hill of Tara. There, in the midst of the rolling hills, was a single, standing stone, approximately 4 feet high. It is called Lia Fail and is traditionally used at the inauguration of kings. Legend says the stone would roar when the rightful king touched it.

Our group was asked to touch the stone and claim our sovereignty. It was a heartfelt moment for individuals, a powerful stance to step into their power.

I felt grief when I touched it.

Tears.

Overwhelming rage.

Kings.

The masculine overtaking the feminine. Wiping out the original owners, the Tuatha de Danann. The Sidhe who lived here for thousands of years before being forced underground to protect their people.

Fae are not immortal. They can die, and many were lost in battle to these invaders. They chose to disappear rather than lose their lives.

I felt their presence. I felt the goddesses who went with them: The Morrigan, Brigid, Danu, Epona, Boan, and all those unnamed. The Gods, too, went with them: Lugh, Donn, Cernunnos, Aengus, Mananna mac Lir, and those unnamed.

Their legacy was stolen from them, but the Irish people hold fast to their faith and dedication to the old ways. They honor all the energies that comprise Irish history.

In that moment, I had no need to claim my sovereignty.

I placed my hands on the stone and reclaimed the land for those it rightfully belonged to. Energy zinged up from the land, and it felt as if the stone came alive. Everything around me was silent.

And then I saw the Tuatha de Danann emerge from their underground home. The goddesses led the way, the gods behind them, the Sidhe folk following. They proudly rode their horses up and over the vast green hills of Tara. The moment I saw them, I knew.

I knew I once was one of them.

Tears slid down my face as I greeted my ancestors.

You don’t have to go searching far and wide to find these magical beings—they are right in your backyard!

The Fae folk are everywhere. Each land, every culture, has its indigenous Fae, including Pixies, Gnomes, Faires, Leprechans, Elemental beings and more not named here. You don’t have to go searching far and wide to find these magical beings—they are right in your backyard!

They’re around any body of water, forests, fields, gardens—you don’t have to travel to Ireland as I did to meet and greet these idyllic beings.

The question is always, “How do I find them?”

You don’t, really. They find you.

You won’t see them if you’re loud and stomping about.

The classic gift is honey and cream but our unseen friends have evolved and also love colorful candy, small bites of cookies, and as a side note, they do love beer.

They also love anything that glitters, kind of like crows—beads, broken bits of jewlery, tiny gemstones, and pennies are a few suggestions. I often leave things out for them at night, not attempting to lure them out of hiding.

If you want to create a ritual to draw them to you, it must be done with positive intention, respect love and good energy. They Fae folk can spot an imposter from a mile away, one who doesn’t have a genuine interest in their well being.

Make your offering and then find a spot and sit quietly. Patience is necessary as these folks are shy and don’t trust humans. You may have to do this ritual multiple times before you earn their trust.

The reward is hearing their laughter. You may even get an occasional glimpse or feel a tweak of your hair as they let you know they’re close by.

Good luck!

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What Does The Hawk Say?

Does A Message Matter?

The Pondering Priestess, with Amanda Cornett

Sometimes I wonder if the ache to leave a mark on the world is just another form of homesickness—not for a place, but for meaning. It’s that quiet yearning to be remembered not for the noise we made, but for the resonance we left behind. For the invisible ripples. For the way our lives might hum softly in the memories of others long after we’re gone.

I used to think “legacy” meant permanence—a book, a painting, a poem carved in stone. But lately I’ve begun to see it differently. Maybe legacy isn’t something we build, but something we inherit. Maybe it’s the breath of our ancestors moving through us—their laughter, their survival, their stubborn hope. The world as it exists for me now is part of what they left behind. Every tree I pass, every person I look up to, carries the residue of someone else’s prayer that life would go on.

Maybe that’s why the hawks keep showing up.

It started like a cosmic prank — subtle at first. One swooped across my windshield, wings flashing like a blade of sunlight, snapping me out of my half-awake autopilot. Another perched on a powerline, perfectly still, as if waiting for me to notice. I thought, okay, message received… but what’s the message?

Hawks are known for their keen eyesight and higher perspective. But what higher perspective did they want me to see?

Then came more. Always perfectly timed, always close enough to jolt something awake in me. I started wondering if I was being followed. Not by the NSA—by spirit guides with feathers and attitude. And then I’d laugh at myself, thinking, who am I that hawks would go out of their way to send me cosmic mail?

Still, just when I’d talk myself out of it, another one would glide so close I could almost feel the shadow of its wings brushing my skin. No thunderbolt of wisdom, no booming voice from beyond—just that quiet presence. Maybe, I thought, that’s all a message really is. A nudge. A whisper. A moment that feels like it’s looking back at you.

Science says that matter behaves differently when it’s observed—that awareness itself changes reality. So maybe that’s the secret: the hawk becomes a messenger only because I choose to see it that way. The meaning is in the noticing. Maybe the universe isn’t delivering signs at all; maybe it’s simply co-creating them with us.

If that’s true, then every glance, every coincidence, every winged interruption is part of the dialogue—not just between me and the cosmos, but between me and the long echo of those who came before me. Maybe the hawks carry their whispers too, disguised as instinct, flight, persistence.

With that in mind, lately, I’ve stopped needing to validate it. If the hawk is a messenger, wonderful. If it’s just a bird being a bird, even better. Either way, it’s still beautiful.

Because maybe the messages of nature—the hawk, the wind, the timing of a song—are the legacy we leave and the legacy we inherit. A living chain of awareness passing from ancestors to sky, through me, to whomever notices next.

When that thought finally settled, a hawk flew overhead again.

But this time, it didn’t cut across my path. It flew with me in the same direction.

I smile, because maybe that’s the message after all: I don’t have to be louder than the noise to leave my mark on history.

I just have to keep flying.

But this time, it didn’t cut across my path. It flew with me in the same direction.

Amanda shares more insights in a video HERE. Let us know what you think about such visitation.

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DNA Upgrade, Or Insane Delusion?

“I am officially insane and working with aliens.”

Lawrie In The Sky With Guidance with Lawrie Wallace

“She talks to who?… Aliens?” I stifled a laugh as I felt a shiver run up my spine.

A knowing smile crossed over my bestie Charlotte’s face as she replied in a calm and direct tone, “Pleadians, they are from the Pleadies constellation, and she channels them along with other aspects of the Galactic Federation.”

I let out a full belly laugh, “Okayyyyyy, Thank you for buying me a session with her, and I guess I’ll keep an open mind.” The sarcasm in my voice was apparent.

“You are the one who quit your job to become a psychic and channel high vibrational entities, I thought you would be into it.”

I felt the sting of her pointing out the hypocrisy of my judgment, and although she had a point, I felt the need to defend myself.

“First of all, I didn’t just decide to become psychic; I finally decided to treat it as an asset as opposed to an annoyance. I also didn’t just decide to quit; that job was sucking my will to live… I had to get out. AND I will admit, being a high vibrational channel is a little out there, but I’m not exactly talking to aliens.”

Charlotte sipped her green juice and said in her cool and calm way, “Not yet, anyway.”

After almost a year of study and apprenticeship, developing my intuitive skills and practicing safe, ethical mediumship, I had experienced many moments where I questioned my sanity. As I set up my office for my virtual session with the Pleadian communicator, I felt both intrigue and nervous anticipation.

I went through my regular grounding and protection process, as I would before any session: Setting my intention to be in the highest good of all, asking for support and discernment, creating a golden ball of light to insulate and protect my energetic field.

As I clicked the link to join the virtual session, that same tingling shiver shot up my spine again, just like it had on the day I was gifted it. As our screens came online, the tingling felt stronger, and it began pinging between the base of my spine and the top of my head.

“Whoa!” The woman on the screen said immediately, “Hey, nice to meet you, I see that you are familiar with ET energies! My name is Jenna!” A look of wonder and joy spread across her face. I instantly liked her vibe.

I was still distracted by the intense tingling in my spine. “Uh… I’m not sure I’m familiar, but hi, nice to meet you too!”

“So tell me why you booked this session?”

Of course, she asked that. Why am I not prepared for this question?

I stuttered out, “My friend Charlotte gifted it to me. I am an Intuitive Healer, maybe that’s why?”

We discussed my intention to help people and work in integrity with my gifts, and explained her channeling of specific Pleadians to support the evolution of humanity and love on the planet.

“Okay, it’s time for me to connect. This may take a moment.” She closed her eyes, a few jiggles of the head, and her bright smile went slack.

My spine is on fire.

Jenna’s smile returned, and she spoke a bit slower and with a calm that felt different than before.

“You possess gifts in alignment with Pleadian Starseeds on Earth who were once gridworkers in the 5th dimension. Your gift was and is one of balancing and transmuting big emotions for the collective. This gift is a heavy burden at times on your planet when not properly grounded and resourced.”

I let out an audible sigh of relief at the recognition that what I had been doing all my life to support others and myself through life’s trying events had a name and backstory… gridworker.

”Yeah, I actually know exactly what you are saying, it is like a grid, although I would have never described it that way before now.”

I had a vision of myself as an old-school switchboard operator choosing how to connect emotions to the complementary frequency to balance and discharge them so as not to disrupt the balance of the planet. It was actually less of a vision and more of a memory.

The fire in my spine was back to a consistent tingle. The Pleadians went on to explain that in the 5th dimension, there are a handful of emotions all resonating at the frequency of love, joy, compassion, and kindness.

“On Earth, there are limitless emotions that vary in frequency and can include extremes that can feel overwhelming to the human body attempting to process it all for the collective. We would like to assist you in activating the dormant DNA that will support your intention to help others in integrity with your gifts. We require consent to proceed.” The words flowed from Jenna’s mouth, but they were so clearly not hers.

Almost immediately, my heart felt full, and my body was deeply attuned to the process that was unfolding.

“Okay, sure.” I somehow knew that this was exactly what I needed.

At that moment, I felt like I was pulled into a tunnel, and I could sense two ‘beings’ behind each of my shoulder blades. I didn’t physically turn around to see them, because I didn’t have to. I could somehow see them from exactly where I sat. They were working on me, energetically.

The tingling in my spine became a flood of color, memories, and sensations flashing through my awareness. My body felt light, and I could not get over the overwhelming experience of pure love that was pulsing so strongly from the center of my chest that tears of relief welled up in the corners of my eyes.

I am officially insane and working with aliens.

I breathed in deeply and exhaled completely, trying to integrate what was happening. The tunnel began to melt away, and I was suddenly sitting in my office in front of my laptop once again.

Jenna mumbled something about there being much love and support for me, and then closed her eyes for five to seven beats before reemerging as her bubbly self from our earlier introduction.

“Wow!” She exclaimed. “That was beautiful and amazing. How are you feeling?”

“That was… A lot. Thank you, I feel like that was good for me,” I replied, still unable to put into human words what I had experienced.

I felt fuzzy and tired, but also had loads of clarity, emboldened by this interaction. Beyond everything, I was grateful.

After that session with Jenna and the Pleadians, my business evolved and I continued to fine-tune my gifts. I created more defined energetic boundaries for the work I was here to do. The clarity and heart alignment I carried forward from that session have served me and my clients in immeasurable ways over the years.

Although I do occasionally receive messages and guidance from vibrations I would define as Pleadian, I wouldn’t say that I talk to aliens per se.

And I wouldn’t exactly say that I don’t either.

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Psychic Attacks?

How do you discern friend or foe in the other realms?

The Shaman’s Lens with Dwight Harriman

One of my favorite lessons on discernment comes from long before I was a practicing shaman. Many years ago, a friend of mine was under psychic attack, and I was investigating ways to help her. Living in Denver at the time, I went to the Denver County library to find out more info about the entity attacking her. The books on this are in the 100s section of the old Dewey Decimal system.

I’m in the library, rooting around in the occult section when the books about ten feet away from me began to fall off the shelf, one after the other. This spooked me, but there’s a particular frisson I get when something is truly eerie and that wasn’t happening.

I go around to the other side of the stacks, and a small kid is pushing on the books on the opposite side, knocking the books out on my side. Made me laugh. Also made me realize that skeptics always assume there’s a small kid on the other side of the stacks but never check. And that believers always assume that something supernatural is happening but never check either.

There is a middle way. I trusted my gut on this one and was correct. It wasn’t the entity trying to scare me; it was a bored little kid. I was able to help my friend, although today, I am much better at psychic protections.

How do you discern friend or foe in the other realms? It’s a good question, and fortunately, the same intuition you use in this world works in the next. If you’ve ever met someone you immediately liked, that same knowing works on the other side.

The opposite feeling is valid too. If you go into a house in this realm, and feel uncomfortable, trust that knowing as well. That works on the other side too.

If bad experiences have skewed your perceptions (mine were), your reactions may not be valid and may need to be recalibrated. Meditation and time out in nature will help reset your natural intuitive abilities.

It is trickier in the non-material realms where everyone can be a shapeshifter. A common way negative entities try to get close to you is by mimicking a trusted guide. Happens to me mainly in my dreams. They really can’t maintain the illusion, though.

They will do something completely out of character for your guide, and you realize this is something only pretending to be a friend. I then flood them with white light, and they simply vanish.

Hitting an object or an entity with white light helps me determine if something is meant for me.

It’s one of the best tools in my Spiritual Self-Defense toolkit. One other best weapon is laughter. If you are not afraid of them, you take away their power.

Things on the other side can present as large, scary things —whatever they think can scare you. It is, however, like the cartoons where someone sees a huge shadow in the room, turns the corner in fear, and discovers a mouse in front of a candle projecting that large shadow.

99.999% of the scary things on the other side are mice pretending to be monsters. Scoffing at them and laughing at them is the best way to deal with them. The other 0.001% are so rare and so difficult to get to their realms that you can ignore the possibility of running into them. If you have managed to run into something truly nasty, contact me. I can help.

If you are just starting to investigate the other realms, I strongly recommend an experienced guide to lead you for the first few times. Again, I can help with that. One of the keys to successful exploration of the other side is to be respectful of the beings on the other side.

Most are friendly, or at least neutral. Just as being kind and respectful goes a long way in this world, the beings of the other realms appreciate it as well. And will frequently reciprocate. Opposite is true as well, if you’re rude and nasty on the other side, they will reciprocate that as well.

If you manage to accidentally offend someone on the other side, a simple apology will usually calm things down. Although, not always, there are places on the other side where I’m not welcome.

If you are exploring these realms or planning to work in them. Say with Tarot readings or intuitive healings, for example, you’ll want to develop allies on the other side. I’m convinced that everyone has Spirit Guides, Guardian Angels, Power Animals, or some form of protector on the other side. When I work with people, I connect them with their Guides.

Disclaimer:
This covers most situations you encounter in the other realm. If you run into something that baffles and/or terrifies you, leave the realm immediately, come back to this reality, surround yourself with white light, or any color that works for you. You can ask your guides for protection you can light a candle, you can burn some sage or palo santo, you can take a series of deep slow breaths, or all of that.

Exercise:

This exercise is to help you jump-start your intuition, or to deepen your abilities.
In my bio for my book, I say that I sharpened my intuition through Tarot.

If you are afraid of Tarot because of the religion you grew up in, realize that these are tools for accessing non-local information and try the exercise. If you are experienced with Tarot, then use this to go deeper into the cards.

These cards are from the hundredth anniversary Pamela-Coleman-Smith edition of the Tarot.

I have done hundreds of readings, and the knowledge revealed by the cards never ceases to amaze me. I have pulled three cards for myself.

My interpretation is below. You can also go to biddy Tarot for a good online basic interpretation of the cards.

Before you do that though, sit with each card for at least a minute. If you are new to Tarot, start by describing what you see, then what your interpretation is. If you’re a reader yourself, what is something new you can discern?

What you will discover with this exercise is that your intuition will kick in and you have gleaned a substantial amount of information from the cards. The same intuitive pathways that you access for Tarot are the ones you use to discern who to trust in the other realms.

Interpretation:

The Moon card is a major arcana. This is a card about meditation and going deeper into yourself.

Water and moon in a Tarot card are always about intuition. (I drew these cards at random. I shuffled the cards, then split the deck into three piles and used the top card of each pile.)

The lobster/crawfish at the bottom and the dog and wolf represent stages of growth for the human psyche. The moonlit path is for your continued development.

For me, today, it is saying that I need to add an evening meditation to go with my morning meditation.

Interpretation:

Nine of Pentacles:

Pentacles are about abundance, the nine shows a person comfortable with who they are. The hooded bird represents one’s mind and being in control of one’s mental state. This person owns the estate behind them and wants for nothing.

For me today, this card is saying that I have all the material things I need to thrive and to be grateful for the abundance.

There’s always more depths to plumb in Tarot. There is a snail in the bottom left-hand corner of the card. I hadn’t noticed it for years, until someone pointed it out while I was doing a reading for them. That started me down an internet rabbit hole.

Turns out, snails are hermaphroditic, and that, plus the flowers on this person’s gown being combinations of the male and female symbols, are hints that this is a trans person. This person is also taller than the average woman in Tarot. I’m not sure if this is a modern interpretation of the card, or the original intent, either is valid.

Interpretation:

The Hermit, a major arcana.

The hermit has done his own deep work so that he can help others do theirs. The light he shines allows others to find the path to more profound meanings of their own lives. It is not so much that he lives in isolation as that he needs time to himself for his own work.

This card for me today is saying that I need to keep doing my own work so that I can help others.

I would note that, during the Covid lockdown, I would ask about the possibility of a relationship and would keep getting the hermit card. The cards have personality, including humor.

The cards are an entity to themselves, not the cardboard so much as what they represent. When I give a reading, I am dealing with a system of divination that is hundreds of years old and has taken on a life of its own. That is why practicing with Tarot is such excellent practice for learning to deal with things you meet on the other side. It IS one of those things.

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The Return of the Flying Bay Leaf

The Spice of Life with Loralyn Elizabeth

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There are moments in life when the veil between “reasonable adult” and “spell-casting kitchen witch” gets very thin. And sometimes, a bay leaf flies right through that veil and smacks you in the face.

I can explain.

Once upon a not-so-distant time, I had a business called The Flying Bay Leaf. I wrote letters, with watercolor embellishments, and mailed them off to lovely people who wanted a bit of magic in their mailbox. It wasn’t a financial success, and frankly, all that copying and mailing was a pain in the ass. However, the composition and artwork were enjoyable; full of my heart. I never really understood why I chose that name, Flying Bay Leaf.

Fast forward to a recent dream. I was in my kitchen, which had morphed into a forest-like apothecary. (I had just watched the book-to-television show, Outlander, so I’m sure that had something to do with it.)

A bay leaf floated in the air, well, two bay leaves forming butterfly wings, circling like dust in a sunbeam. Then it spoke (as butterfly bay leaves do, apparently). “Write the spell,” it whispered. “But be sure.” When I woke up, the scent of something was in the air. I got up and went along with my day, but unusually for me, I didn’t forget the dream.

Later that day, I was having a conversation with my friend, Rhonda. I had not told my friend about the dream, and we were not discussing anything woo-woo or magic-y, and she says, “Oh yeah, you never write something on a bay leaf and burn it unless you’re absolutely sure. That’s the most powerful spellcasting I know.”

Whaaattt? I had chills. I can’t stress this enough; her comment came from out of nowhere. It is not something she usually says, and it didn’t even sound like her voice when she said it. So, let’s talk about bay leaves for a moment.

Bay leaves are more than soup stock extras. In magical traditions, they are used for clarity, manifestation, protection, and delivering messages, whether you’re ready or not.

Handy things you can do with a bay leaf:

· Write a wish or intention on a dried bay leaf and burn it carefully to release the energy.

· Tuck one in your wallet for prosperity.

· Place it under your pillow to receive dream messages.

It’s a quiet power. Not flashy or pungent like some spices. However, my Spidey sense tells me that bay leaf is just a little, how can I say this? Mischievous? You don’t know why something is better when you add bay leaf, and you certainly don’t know how, I mean, it stays the spice equivalent of a piece of cardboard. (the good kind, from the expensive deliveries!)

Bay leaf is also a symbol of victory, honor, and divine inspiration. Laurel wreaths crowned the heads of poets, philosophers, athletes, and military leaders, signifying not just earthly success but also a connection to the divine.

The laurel used at the Oracle of Delphi may have had more than symbolic meaning; it could have held psychoactive properties (Harissis, 2014). In mythology, the oracle at Delphi chewed bay leaves before giving prophetic messages. The bay tree was sacred to Apollo, god of prophecy and poetry. Some say that sleeping with a bay leaf under your pillow will reveal hidden truths. Others claim that bay leaves ward off evil, spiritual or otherwise.

It’s no surprise, then, that bay leaves have become a staple in magical traditions. They are burned in rituals to release intentions into the universe. They are tucked into charm bags for protection. They are even used to inscribe wishes and then floated on water, sending your desire gently outward. I think when you hold a bay leaf, you’re holding a tiny shield and a celestial messenger.

Fast forward again, knowing I needed a story for the magazine this month, I said to no one, “Well, let me try the bay leaf trick; if I get my wish, I will have a great article!” Because listening to talking bay leaf butterflies fits that particular bill of wondering if I am, in fact, “Batshit Crazy?”

I’m sure many of you know what we are dealing with in this employment market. Last May, I decided I needed a second job, and I had a great lead. I had a connection with the person who could hire me. There were kind words, follow-up emails, the whole enchilada, and then, well, nothing.

Bay leaf magic to the rescue! I am happy to report, post-bay leaf spell, I got an offer! Just this week. A great offer, better than I expected. I’m so excited!

Enjoy my signature recipe using my new favorite mischievous messenger, the bay leaf, and all details on the spellbinding job-getting spell. In the meantime, stock up on your bay leaf and practice your most dramatic “shocked!” face. You’ll want it ready when the magic kicks in. For the heck of it, tuck a bay leaf into your wallet. Let’s see if it works to attract abundance.

Harissis, H. V. (2014). A bittersweet story: The true nature of the laurel of the Oracle of Delphi. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 57(3), 351–360. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2014.0032

Dream-Calling Bay Leaf Spell

Try this on a night when you’re open to receiving guidance from the mischievous messengers:

Gather together the following:

1. 1 bay leaf
2. Chamomile tea
3. A small piece of paper and a thin marker

Instructions:

• Sip your tea and quiet your mind. (Why tea? No clue. But that’s what came to me.)

• On the paper, write the details of your wish. (Do all the wish things here, you know the drill. Feel the feelings, picture yourself in a world where your wish is granted. Details matter.)

• On the bay leaf, do the best you can. All you need is a few words or even a symbol of the wish.

• Whisper your wish into the bay leaf. (Yes, out loud, it’s magic, it’s not supposed to make sense.)

• Tuck the paper under your pillow and place the bay leaf on your nightstand.

• In the morning, write down anything you remember, even if it’s weird. (Especially if it’s weird.)

• Keep your wish in mind throughout the day and the following night, safely* burn the paper and the bay leaf.

I don’t think you need a particular incantation for this one. However, here are some ideas for your burning ceremony if you’re interested.

Bay leaf flying here and there
Please show me to the thing I care
Allow my dream to come to me
And show the way for all to see

Thank the fates and furies for considering your wish. Yeah, call me bat shit crazy, but that’s how it worked for me. One leaf, one wish, and a job offer that finally landed after months of frustration. I’ll be keeping bay leaves on my nightstand from now on.

Let’s take a moment to review our safety practices.

Fire Safety Basics

• A heat-safe bowl (like a cast-iron cauldron, brass bowl, or ceramic dish) is best. Place it on a nonflammable surface (stone, metal tray, or tile).

• Burn only small amounts at a time (like a pinch of herbs or a slip of paper). Never overload the fire.

• Ensure you’re in a well-ventilated area. The outdoors is safest; indoors, open windows and a fan are ideal.

• Always keep water, sand, or a fire extinguisher nearby.

• Never use lighter fluid, alcohol, or oils to speed up the flame, as they can flare up dangerously.

• Only burn natural, safe items (dried herbs, untreated paper). Avoid plastics, glossy inks, or chemically treated wood.

• If fire feels risky, you can symbolically “burn” by tearing, burying, or dissolving paper in water instead.

• Use good judgment

OH, and please please, keep your pen by the bed, and keep me in the loop with what happens. I’d love to know if this works for others. And now, let’s revel in some fall-perfect food!

Bay Leaf Beef Stroganoff

Inspired by Julia Child’s homey elegance, this beef stroganoff is a heartwarming, soul-grounding meal that pairs beautifully with the subtle mystery of bay leaf.

According to one enthusiastic home cook, Julia Child’s beef-and-cream dish is like “beef Stroganoff on crack” (DelVecchio, 2012). I’m with Julia here! With a swirl of sour cream and a big fat red wine, you’ve got the perfect meal to prepare you for the spellcasting and dreaming. Here is my adaptation of her recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs chuck/short rib for that melt-in-your-mouth texture, thinly sliced or cubed

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (I use a mixture of both)

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (I like the white onions for this)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 3 cups mushrooms, sliced (portabella, don’t cheap out, they need to stand up to a long day of cooking)

• 2 cups dry red wine (from France)

• 2 cup beef stock (not broth, stock)

• 1 to 2 bay leaves

• 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste

• 3/4 cup sour cream (see below)

• Egg noodles or mashed potatoes for serving (If I use sour cream, then it is egg noodles; if you don’t use sour cream, then potatoes)

• Fresh parsley, chopped (some say this is optional, I say it is NOT optional)

Directions

Season the beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil/butter over medium-high heat. Sear the meat until browned, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. (Some say you should take the meat out before cooking the onion, but I don’t do this because I’m lazy, and it’s silly.)

In the same pan, add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and mushrooms and sauté until golden and fragrant. Deglaze with wine, scraping up all the delicious bits from the bottom.

Stir in the beef stock and add the bay leaves and tomato paste. Transfer to the oven and cook for at least 4 hours, checking every hour to stir and bask in the delightful aroma. I usually start this around 10 a.m., and eat it when I can’t wait any longer.

Just before serving, stir in the sour cream gently until smooth. They say to let it reach room temperature before doing this, but I never remember, and I have not had any issues.

Serve hot over noodles or mashed potatoes. Garnish. Remove the bay leaves before serving, so you can do another spell, of course!

A few ideas if you want to mix it up a bit

Flour (or cornstarch), used either to lightly dust the beef before browning or stirred in with the onions and mushrooms, helps give the sauce more body as it cooks. (I do this if the liquid won’t reduce and I want a thicker sauce.)

Worcestershire sauce or Dijon mustard is often included to add tang and extra depth of flavor.(I’m team Worcestershire. )

Paprika is traditional in many stroganoff recipes, bringing warmth and gentle spice.(Just know less is more with paprika.)

Fresh dill, while less common in Western versions, is authentic to Russian stroganoff and adds a bright, herbal note.

So…

Am I batshit crazy?

Maybe. I listened to the messages coming at me from many directions. I think that is a good way to live, especially if it leads to a delicious beef stroganoff and a new job.

My life lesson for today is; if your bay leaf whispers, don’t ignore it. Write the spell. Ask the question. Burn it, or don’t. But above all enjoy this beautiful life and be open to the magic.

DelVecchio, S. (2012, February 27). My favorite Julia recipe so far. Channeling Julia. http://channelingjulia.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-favorite-julia-recipe-so-far.html

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