Fire Magick Safety Measures Part 1

Fire Magick Safety Measures Part 1

When I teach my “Candle Magick Class,” we go over the first two rules.

  1. Fire Safety
  2. This is where I look around, make sure the room is 18+, and get REAL QUIET and say: “I’m f*cking serious. Do NOT burn down your house.”

This is usually met with titters of laughter and grins. It takes a few to get the class back under some semblance of control. Then they realize I’m serious.

REALLY F*CKIN SERIOUS

Just like I told them? I’m telling you, dear reader. There is NO spell work outcome that is worth losing life, limb, loved ones, people, pets, and all the things in your home. Please be advised that the only thing on this world that is fire safe is FIRE. ANYTHING will melt, crack, warp, or burn with improper handling – INCLUDING YOU.  Now I know the InterWebs is a wild place. You can find spells for free just about everywhere. I’m looking at you Witchcraft Tumblr. Doesn’t mean that they will work for you! So? Let’s look at some safety measures for Fire magic:

 

The Basics

If you are doing anything regular, or even one off, please keep your candles in proper fire safe containers. These are candle holders MADE for that particular type of candle. I mean, sure you can burn a candle on anything. However, you want to explain to your housemates why there is candle wax on the good linens? That’s on you!

Please be advised that the only thing on this world that is fire safe is FIRE. ANYTHING will melt, crack, warp, or burn with improper handling or poorly made candles! If anything catches on fire, do not reach for water! That may spread the flame. You want to grab baking soda, sand, or cat litter.

You heard me. KITTY LITTER.

 

Always keep your candle and holder on a clay or metal plate. This will stop a small flame from getting out of control or slow down a big one so you can get a handle on it. Again; experience. If you are worried about the flames in larger ceremonies, you can get yourself a small extinguisher from your hardware store.  They are handy small, can be tucked away, or be in easy reach.

 

Keep your hair, clothing, and skin away from flame. I’m looking at ya’ll with long sleeves, long hair, and the “I know what I’m doing” attitude. Keep all the OTHER flammable items away from the flames. (Trust. I’m looking at myself and my crowded altar. And? I supposedly know what I’m doing.) And ya’ll? If you find a spell that says you need to wear the candle on your head or anywhere on your body? Please ask a PRO first! And? Ask me about the time I nearly set myself on fire. TWICE.

Here’s what to look for in a candle: Even or flat surface on top and bottom.  A centered wick on top and bottom.  Check the wick! Zinc Core or tin wicks are ones with flammable material on the outside and metal on the inside.  They are in MANY candles and sometimes can be your only option. These particular once are troublesome for me for these reasons: The metal can heat the core of the candle and cause a faster burn; with a faster burn, if your surface is uneven, the wick can move. If that flame gets too close to the edge of a glass container, KABOOM; and lastly, I’m not keen on breathing metal*.

If you can’t get away from them, burn them in a well ventilated area!   No matter the type of candle you are burning, make sure you have a proper holder.   No holder? You can place the candle in a container of sand or kitty litter. (IMMA KEEP SAYING IT)

If you have to leave it burning? Don’t. Ok ok Fine. The seven day candles are a thing. WHEW. While not advisable, take the previous instructions into consideration. Put the candle in a tray or bucket of sand or kitty litter. Put the whole show into a metal sink. Sink not an option? Try a larger metal tub. Then THAT goes into the shower stall or bathtub. Turn on the bathroom fan if you have one. THEN light em up!

 

First AID

If you are burned by the flame, please follow ALL FIRST AID PROCEDURES. (LINK : https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649)

If need be? Call a responsible adult , that is not yourself, to care for the wound.  SERIOUSLY! A burn of any type or severity is a show stopper. YOUR MAGIC CAN WAIT. SEE RULE TWO!!

*Remember when we talked about breathing metal? Yeah. Not good right? Let’s talk about candle smells by themselves.

 

Wax and Scents

Not all candle wax, wicks, or scents are made equal. Yeah, we know. Here’s the thing: When a coloured candle burns? You’re breathing the dye. SURPRISE! Yeah. Just use white candles. Ok ok. So let’s say you NEED a gold candle. Check them wicks and the wax. Not all candles are coloured all the way through. Some are what we call “candy coated.” It’s just dipped in a coating that gives it colour. Yummy right? (barf). SO you still want a gold candle? Then follow the rules: burn safely in WELL ventilated area to ensure you aren’t padding your lungs with the gunk.

The scents are a thing too. Most commercial scented candles are artificially scented. That’s not always a bad thing. Perfumes come in many grades. Some are awful. (I’m looking at you Big Box Pink Stores.) Some are amazing. And yet, each of us people have different reactions to scents, even essential oils. It is IMPERATIVE that you know yourself and your body. I can handle most candles – unless it’s lavender. Why? I’m allergic to lavender. Some will say “oh you’re just over exposed! The fake lavender is fine!”

People? Know why we have fire drills? So in the event of a REAL fire? You smell smoke and start moving to safety. Me? Lavender means throat closing not fun time. Fake or not? I’m out! Know your body and self.

 

Not all wax is the same either. Soy Wax? Palm Wax? Beeswax? Paraffin? So many! And yes, I hear you! You, you loving individuals who know that every all those waxes save for beeswax are not good for the planet! Here’s the thing: as long as we have machines that run on gas and diesel? As long as the planet is using oil?  We’re gonna have “bad waxes.”  SO use what you got and do your best!  Ascertain if the candle and its ingredient s will work for you. And of course, if the candles smell weird, don’t use it.

Until Next Time!

Rev. Terrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Hoodoo History ~ Paschal Beverly Randolph

Paschal Beverly Randolph

 (October 8, 1825 – July 29, 1875)

You may not know his name. You may not know what he did, but if you’re a black occultist? If you enjoy esoteric wisdom? You should. Paschal Beverly Randolph, was a spiritualist, occultist, sex magician and the founder of the first (accepted history) Rosicrucian order in North America.

Folks? That is a BIG DEAL. So let’s go over the history.

Randolph, born in New York City as a free man of colour, did not have it easy despite his infamous ancestry. You see, two of his ancestors are William Randolph I (1650-1711), the colonist and politician that helped shape the now state of Virginia and Mary Isham (1659-1735), a wealthy widow at the time. Those two are know as the “Adam and Eve” of Virginia. Through their combined progeny, nine children who survived to adulthood, they helped shape the future of a young America. Know Thomas Jefferson? Robert E. Lee? Yeah, that’s the family.

But a young Paschal didn’t get any of the fame, fortune or privilege from his family. His mother, Flora Beverly, died young. On her deathbed, she claimed she was the “granddaughter of a Madagascar queen.” His father, William Beverly Randolph, wasn’t around (as expected). Raised by his half sister, Harriet, for a while, Paschal bounced around, getting religion, losing it, and generally learning that life wasn’t fair. After a while, he ran away to become a sailor and support himself.

Paschal, travelled everywhere he could, through Europe and all the way to Persia. Yet, that interest in religion stuck with him. Now interested in mysticism and the occult, Paschal studied folk magic with indigenous peoples and looked into other religions as much as he could. In these travels, especially in England and Paris, he met and befriended several occultists. After several years of  living and learning from indigenous peoples in the Middle East and on the continent of Africa, Paschal returned to the States in 1855. This is when he found his voice and began to shake the occult world.

Paschal travelled the states, lectured on abolition of slavery, and wrote many books (some under the names “Griffin Lee” or “Count de Leon”) on spiritualism, health, the occult, magic and medicine and more. He also established an independent publishing company.

“Some men are daily dying, some die ere they have learned how to live; and some find their truest account in revealing the mysteries of both life and death….” ~ Dealings with the dead : the human soul, its migrations and its transmigrations  by Randolph, Paschal Beverly

Paschal, now trained as a doctor of medicine, was an avid promoter of birth control. He also worked as a trance medium. He advertised his services as a spiritual practitioner in magazines and appeared on stages. All of this changed by 1858.

After having met several students of what we now call Rosicrucianism, (including Eliphas Levi) Paschal denounced spiritualism and mediumship (as it was at the time) and announced his conversion to Christianity. (Relax ya’ll. He just became a Christian mystic.) In this time, Paschal sought to put together his ideas of Will, Magic and Psychism into something cohesive. Often called a propagandist, Paschal continued to spread his beliefs and called it Rosicrucianism, though he stated that his ideas were his own.  For those who are still with me, Psychism should be pretty familiar. It’s what we call psychic powers today! Seeing auras, telepathy, and the rest.  Now, here’s where it gets interesting and fuzzy.

“… I am not in a position to affirm that Paschal Beverly Randolph produced the first putative Order of the Rosy Cross in America, but I have failed to trace anything anterior to his date, and he will answer as the first witness in a line of occult adventurers who are typically characteristic of their place and circumstance.”
– A.E. Waite (yes, the Tarot guy)

Paschal sought to spread his beliefs in America through initiation lodges.  By 1861, Paschal had several deep visions in trances that would lead him to make several bold choices in his life. He formed a “Grand Lodge of Eulis” in California. He called them “Rosicrucian Rooms” and published pamphlets on magic, will, sex magic and his ideas on Pre-Adamism. This work (books, rooms, and lodges) went on to greatly influence the Theosophical Society and to an extent, the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor.

Paschal went on to do great and sometimes not so great things. He founded schools in New Orleans for freed slaves, got himself “unfriended” by his influential contacts in the occult world at the time for his views on sacred sex and women’s rights (in the Victorian era, I mean really!). His use of hashish in magic was all but buried until the last 50 years or so.  By 1871, all of the lodges he founded were dissolved by “reason of treason.” (That’s more fall out from the Civil War, by the way.) Yet by 1874, the Rosicrucian order would rise again, with Paschal on board.

While Paschal led the way for occultism with his beliefs and actions, history has tried very hard to forget him. If you look up Rosicrucianism, you *might* find Paschal’s photo. More often than not? You will find merely footnotes.

Magic, esotericism, psychism and the occult are blacker than you think in North America.

Originally posted February 2, 2020 at TerrieBrookins.com

 

Starting Over

Yooo! It’s the priestess you need coming from the new lab in our new digs in Huntsville. For those just joining the show in progress, let’s catch you up!

Who is The Priestess You Need? I’m The Fire Queen, The Crone of Soul, The Hidden Valley Witch, Rev Terrie Brookins. I’m a Second Degree Priestess in the Correllian Tradition, I’m a Wedding Officiant the Province of Ontario… and a whole lot more!

SO here’s the thing. We moved, right? Right! We left our old digs in the ‘Shwa (Oshawa). We made the trek North! (No, NOT that far north! LOL!) We settled down in Magical Muskoka, as I said, right in Huntsville.

IT’S SO PRETTY!

Wellll in our excitement for the new place? The Lab got significantly smaller. Even right now? We’re still trying to unpack and rework the area. What does that mean?

Ummmm ooops? Yup, that means we gotta do the homework, and start over.

(insert exactly what you think I would say because you are 1000000% right. WHEW)

The lab and The Altar (aka The Danger Zone or “This is a threat!” Area), have to be separate. There is indeed a smaller separate room (not far away!) for the altar area. The other oopsie? All the old altar stuff? It. Don’t. Fit.

GRRRRR. So, say it with me I have to…. “DO THE HOMEWORK!”

So we’re starting over. We’re starting from scratch. Why is this a big deal?

I thought about how BIG the old altar was… and how much magick I use on a daily basis… and then how I charge up the Beaux Magique Products… Then? There is the magic I do for ya’ll! So many success candles! And Other candles… (wink wink nudge nudge) You do know the world is a little bit… well… more candles… YEP!

(This was just the top!)

Then? I though about that smaller room with way too many candles and the smoke alarm that’s RIGHT there by the door. And I thought about how long it took me to get it just right last time…

(insert exactly what you think I would say because you are 1000000% right.).
Yeah the old set up? It won’t work. (deep heavy sigh) So here we are.

I reached out to a carpenter and designer.
They reached back.

(One, touching one……. Reaching out, touching me, touching yooooouuuuu!!!)

So Creations by Rae and us came up on with ideas. Then there were discussions. There was laughter. There were tears. There were several words said about the state of the current world. Yup. We said those words. (See I need that Altar). Then there was the plan!

 

Then there were discussions. There was laughter. There were tears. The tears this time? Ummmm For what I need? It’s gonna cost. Beaux Magique is still ramping up. (Indigo Aroma? Umm. Put that down. Don’t look at that.)

This fundraiser is to design, purchase and install a new altar in my sacred space. To rework the space will cost $5000. The space it will go in.

Can I skip it? Ahaha… short answer no.
There are a host of personalities with VERY specific wants and needs and, I am working the whole team… it’s what I need to bring the work to you. I need to DO the work not just prep the work so…

SO against my stubborn “I can do it” self I am letting the miracles flow in and giving my community the chance to support the altar that I use for them.

SHUT IT YOU!

I will be running this campaign through February and March to get the work done in March so at the end of April, I can Beltane the crap out of everyone!

If you want to help?  Thank you.  You can order from the website (ignore the “backordered tags lol). You can also Bless my Ko-fi account here or even donate straight to PayPal. But mostly thanks for going on this crazy ride with me.

TLDR: I moved to somewhere soul healing and the space where I do amazing work for all y’all (the seat of my Magick, my Altar) needs some carpentry to also be amazing. Help me out so I can continue to get shit done.

Thanks again!

The Night Circus: A Night of Mystery and Magic

The Night Circus” is based on the book of the same name by Erin Morgenstern. Similar to the book, our event will take on a darker theme to a traditional circus. On November 20th, from 6:00-8:00, join us for a night of amazement and wonder. With magic and mystery, we plan to create a memorable night for all. With Tarot Card readings and a brief history of the art of tarot card reading,  Rev. Terrie Brookins will take our event to the next level and add a sense of question and wonder to the night and for our guests. With performances by North Fire Circus, our guests will be left speechless and in awe by the great fire and light show performances. We will also feature an excellent demonstration of cooking our menu by Pehtonn Edwards and Alma Popaj. We also have a performance from an award-winning magician and mentalist, Mike D’Urzo, who worked with our event team to provide you with a magical display that will delight the senses and boggle the mind. And finally, with a drink demonstration from our very own Phoenix Parisella and Michelle Weidman, they will take us through three specially made drinks for our event, each named after a chapter in the book.

We can’t wait to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/srm-night-at-the-circus-tickets-188587288657

 

Thank you for reading! Please allow SEVEN TO TEN business days to prepare your order. We are open for business! Remember, all shipping is delayed as we are STILL unpacking! (and will still include a little lagniappe)!

Be sure to find us on Facebook,Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter!

Grinding Frankincense

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled… Uhhhhh

BACK IN BUSINESS

(Sort of?)

 
Grinding Frankincense
Grinding Frankincense
 
Greeting Friends and Frenemies! It’s been quite the ride since our last update! Pandemic? Yeah that’s a thing. However, I’m talking about the lab! What? You didn’t hear? We moved house!  That’s right! We are now located in BEAUTIFUL Huntsville, Ontario!
 
Toad on a  Brick
Toad on a Brick
 
I’ll be real with ya’ll. We closed shop last November to prepare for the move. In true naïve fashion, I thought for sure that we’d be up an running in a few months.   INSERT LAUGHTER HERE . Yeah that didn’t work out too well. After seven months? We’re still struggling to get things put away, restock, and generally not burn out.. AGAIN. 
 
That being said? My deepest thanks to everyone who has ordered and continues to order from us.  Here’s to a brand new adventure!
 

Thank you for reading! Please allow SEVEN business days to prepare your order. We are open for business! Remember, all shipping is delayed and includes a little lagniappe!

Be sure to find us on FacebookPinterestTumblr, or follow us on Twitter!

SOLD OUT

Summer 2020 Update

Summer 2020 Update

 

Good Morning Friends! We have pressing news!

Due to the insane and incredible outpouring of support for Beaux Magique and the stunning amount of orders that came in, BMQ will have out of stock notices on most sprays on the website. This is a FIRST in our history!

Y’all! For the first time in about 4 years? We’re out of bottles. We’re still searching for alternatives. So! If you buy a spray? It might be in a different coloured bottle… That’s if you can get it at all.

SOLD OUT

We are grateful, humbled, and EXHAUSTED! Thank you everyone! This concludes the Summer 2020 Update! We’ll let you know if anything changes. Thanks!

Beaux Magique LIVE Replay!

Beaux Magique LIVE Replay!

Missed our Juneteenth Live Stream? Rejoice in the Replay!

 

Black Lives Matter Shop Hop

Black Lives Matter Shop Hop

Join us and a THOUSAND more shops of the Black Lives Matter Shop Hop put on by The Mad Mommy! While we are a stand alone shop, we can’t forget our Etsy roots! Thank you To The Mad Mommy for donating a portion of blog proceeds for the month of June to BLM!

 

Rebeca Spirit and Rev Terrie

Rebeca Spirit and Rev Terrie!

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/P3as3peZ-24″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

We chat about the world, spiritual resilience and more!

 https://www.facebook.com/rebecaspirit

https://www.facebook.com/revterriebrookins