Author: Emily Guenther

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Metaphysical Connection: Candle Magic

Photo: Petar Milošević | creative commons | Wikimedia Commons

Candles are used by multiple religious traditions in their regular services and as part of their holy days. The use of candles as magical devices is more common than many people may believe. 

The light of a candle has always been considered a sign of spiritual illumination, compared to the darkness that symbolizes ignorance. The candle can also be used as a metaphor for the brief time we spend in this lifetime, and how easily life can be extinguished. In religious paintings, a candle often symbolizes the soul. 

The hypnotic fascination that the candle flame produces gives a clue as to why people began burning candles for magical purposes. The flickering flame appears to ignite something deep inside us that connects us with the infinite, and with all humanity. Life, death, and rebirth are all revealed by a candle. The relationship between the human soul and a solitary candle burning in the dark reminds people of the power of the human spirit, and how it can turn darkness into light.

According to Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, magic is defined as the art of achieving a desired result by the use of certain mysterious techniques, such as incantations or ceremonies. Aleister Crowley, the infamous 20th-century magician, defined magic as “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity of will.” We use our will to make things happen, and candle magic is where we use candles to help achieve that end result we desire. 

Candle magic is one of my favorite forms of magic, and I believe it has advantages over other types of manifestation because it is relatively uncomplicated. Manifesting your desires with candle magic is simple but effective. The costs are minimal. You can usually find items that you need on hand or buy them at an affordable price. You can perform candle magic anywhere that it is safe and acceptable to burn candles. And there is no need for training to do it. All you need to know is what you want, and the correspondences for your work — which you can find online or at any metaphysical store. And you can use candle magic for any need. 

Like any type of manifestation work, candle magic requires you to have a purpose or goal that you are trying to achieve. The more specific you can be, the better the results. To get the most out of your candle work, it is advised that you keep your desire in mind while performing all the steps. Use the correct color candle. What color candle should you use? Do a quick internet search for it and you should be able to get your answers easily, or come ask us at The Broom Closet and we will help you. You can add herbs or oils to your candle to amplify your intention, but they are not necessary. The most important thing to remember when doing candle magic or manifestation work is to believe in your own power and energy. Although magic helps us achieve desired goals, you still have to do the legwork here in the mundane world to achieve your desires. 

If you find yourself wanting to do candle work on the spur of the moment, take a rummage through your cabinets, closets and drawers. Any kind of candle will work, even birthday candles. The only difference in candle size is that the longer the candle burns, the more energy and focus is being sent out into the universe to manifest your goal. But you could burn multiple small candles over a period of time instead of one big one. 

Part of magic is using what you have. You can use a white candle for any desire, you will just need to make sure you set your intention clearly. You can also use a red candle for any goal that you want to manifest quickly. Some of the best practitioners I know keep their work simple and use whatever they can find on hand. Candles are a beautiful and mesmerizing vehicle for our intentions, but the magic truly comes from within. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: Heart Chakra

A quick dip into the heart chakra can be a way to balance your emotions. (Photo: Atarax42, CC0 | Wikimedia Commons)

Love is a hot topic right now. The concepts of compassion, empathy, and mercy are being talked about in the political and social arenas. And in the microcosm of our lives, it’s February, which means Valentine’s Day is on its way. Maybe love is in the air for you, or perhaps you’re sick of hearing about people’s feelings. Either way, a quick dip into the heart chakra can be a way to balance your emotions.

The heart chakra is one of the seven primary energy centers (or chakras) that are believed to exist in the human body. In Western culture, we mainly focus on those seven primary chakras that are aligned on the spine, although in Eastern medicine they acknowledge and work with many more. 

The heart chakra is located in the center of our chests and is known as the fourth chakra. It sits in the middle of our seven chakras and helps connect the lower and higher chakras. Each chakra has a Sanskrit name, and the name of the heart chakra is “anahata,” which means unhurt, unstruck, and/or unbeaten. It serves as our center of love for oneself and others, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness. The anahata is associated with unconditional love, compassion, and joy. It is the source of deep and profound truths that cannot be expressed in words. 

Anahata is associated with the element air. Air disperses and integrates a spiritual understanding of love, compassion, and connection to everything you encounter. Air, like love, is within and all around us. We can embody this element by keeping our heart center open and our love free-flowing.

The heart chakra is associated with the color green, which represents transformation and love energy. It is believed that the colors and symbols associated with each chakra are reflective of their vibrations. The specific colors and symbols arose when the ancient Hindu masters meditated on the energy of the chakras.

When this chakra is in healthy alignment, you will feel surrounded by love, compassion, and joy, and connected to the world around you. You will feel open to all experiences in life, and it will feel like challenges, especially in relationships, flow through you and are resolved with ease. An open heart chakra allows us to see all of the beauty and love around us, and truly connect to ourselves, our loved ones, and the natural world. This chakra also helps direct love back to ourselves to truly be able to love and accept ourselves and our bodies.

When I do aura and chakra readings at The Broom Closet, I find myself talking a lot about the heart chakra. In my experience, it can be one of the more difficult to keep balanced. It is easily influenced by our lives and our interactions with our loved ones, which can lead to imbalance or stagnant energy. 

Blocked chakras can affect the entirety of our being. Blocked energy can have a profound effect on the nature of our mind and mental state. Mentally, an imbalanced heart chakra can result in problematic issues, such as co-dependency, manipulative behaviors, feeling of unworthiness, and an inability to trust yourself or others. 

Some signs your heart chakra may be blocked can include isolating yourself excessively, feeling lonely, holding grudges, or feeling jealous or defensive. Someone with a blocked heart chakra may have a fear of intimacy and have difficulty trusting others. 

If you are concerned that your heart chakra may be out of balance, there are some easy things you can do to help open it. Cultivating gratitude can help your heart chakra, as well as doing yoga, using heart-opening crystals, wearing the color green, or intentionally eating green foods. Saying heart-opening affirmations can also be a good way of balancing your heart chakra. You could even attend a sacred cacao ceremony, where the sacred cacao is believed to help open the heart center and connect you with the energies of the earth. 

If you don’t feel like you are full of love right now, that’s okay. Just take each moment one step at a time. We’re all in this together. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: Year of the Wood Snake

Expect a slow but steady rebirth in the Year of the Wood Snake. (Photo: Anna Brothankova | Dreamstime.com)

The lunar, or Chinese, new year is January 29th, and 2025 is the year of the wood snake in Chinese astrology. This is a traditional classification system based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal and its attributes to each year. The 12-part cycle corresponds to lunar years, rather than months. The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals and their elements. Their mythology states that the Jade Emperor set up a running race for all animals to take part in. The first 12 to reach the finish line were rewarded with a position in the lunar calendar.

In Chinese astrology, the 12 zodiac animals are each affiliated with an element — metal, wood, water, fire, earth — as they move around the zodiac cycle. When an animal reappears after 12 years its elemental affiliation will shift to a new element. 

In 2024, the energy was wood dragon, which lived up to its reputation with big announcements and high-flying promises competing for our attention. Optimism ran high, often to the point of being unrealistic. In 2025, energy shifts to the wood snake. While the dragon and snake may look similar, the snake does not fly. Its entire body lies on the ground, feeling every vibration, every footstep, every pin drop. The snake’s energy is grounded, practical, and cautious.

In this zodiac system, wood as an element represents vitality and creativity, as well as steadiness, honesty, generosity, and calmness. The snake represents wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, intuition, and creativity. Snakes are also associated with good luck, prosperity, fertility, and longevity. In some legends, snakes are considered divine messengers and guardians of sacred places. They are also revered for their ability to shed their skin and renew themselves, symbolizing transformation and rebirth.

Each year holds different elements, which gives it a different essence and meaning. The wood snake is a charming, intelligent, and creative sign, but also secretive, cunning, and sometimes ruthless. The wood element adds a layer of creativity, flexibility, and growth to the snake’s traits, making it an ideal year to focus on planning and transformation.

At the beginning of 2025, the world is still under the rulership of the outgoing wood dragon, and so a high-action period with plenty of activity is expected. Snake years are times when the world stops to think. Mythology recognizes the snake as a creature of healing, which influences the physical body to shift to a more spiritual outlook. A great deal of quiet progress can be made in 2025 with the help of this energy.

In a snake year, the energy is quieter and more thoughtful. Businesses may become more cautious about hiring or expanding. People may spend less, preferring to stay home. Snake years often coincide with a down stock market, though there have been exceptions, like 1989 and 2013, when the market rose considerably.

The ouroboros symbol of the snake eating its tail represents a closed loop, signifying endings and new beginnings. This theme is echoed in Western astrology, where Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all move into new signs, suggesting that seemingly insignificant changes that happen in 2025 may have great repercussions in a few years.

This is a year of reflection, recalibration, and renewal, offering a mix of calm energy and intellectual challenges. The snake’s intuitive wisdom, paired with the nurturing wood element, creates a time to refine your long-term goals and strengthen personal and professional relationships.

If we combine the Chinese astrology prediction with the tarot card for 2025, The Hermit, we can see a united message. This is likely going to be a year where we, and the world, hold our breath. It could be a period of playing things close to the vest, being mindful of our actions, and being introspective, as well as a time of growth and study. Key themes for this wood snake year are transformation, strategic growth, and deepening connections. By aligning with its energy, you can make 2025 a transformative and prosperous year. Whether you’re seeking success, stability, or self-discovery, the wisdom of the wood snake is here to guide you. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: The 2025 Tarot Card

Photo: Pamela Colman Smith | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

At the beginning of 2024, I wrote about how to find your personal tarot card for the year. To kick off this new year, I want to discuss the tarot card for 2025. This card is for all of us and is often a summary of what to expect from the year ahead. 

If you’d like to find out what your personal tarot card for 2025 is, all you need is your phone. For this exercise, we are only going to focus on the major arcana portion of the tarot deck. Although there are 22 cards, they are numbered 0 to 21. When you do the math to get the number correspondence for your card, you will want a number between 1 and 22. It is impossible to get a 0 when you are adding numerical values higher than 0 together. To compensate for not being able to have 0 as a number, if your final number is 22, then that means The Fool card, card number 0, is your card for the year. 

The first thing you will do is add your birth month and day to the current year, 2025. Let’s look at an example. For our example, we’ll use a birthdate of February 10th. You can add 2 (for the month of February) plus 10 (for the day) plus 2025. If you add 2+10+2025, you get 2037. 2037 is much bigger than numbers 1 to 22, so we will need to reduce this number. Next, we will add 2+0+3+7, which gives us 12. Using this method, card number 12 — the Hanged Man card — will be your card for the year.

To find the tarot card that represents 2025, we will do a similar exercise of adding each number for 2025 together. 2+0+2+5=9. When finding your personal tarot card for the year and when finding the tarot card for the collective for the year, we are going to focus on the cards in the major arcana portion of the tarot deck. Card number 9 of the major arcana is The Hermit card. However, if you’d like to get more in-depth, you can also look at the cards of the minor arcana that share the number 9 as well.

2025 marches to a different tarot beat than 2024 did. The card for 2024 was Strength. But 2025 will be ruled by The Hermit, which invites introspection. Instead of pushing forward, this card advocates for a strategic withdrawal, a pause for self-reflection and understanding. This is a fantastic year for study. Deepen your knowledge with books, classes, and lectures. Get a library card. Work closely with a trusted teacher or mentor. It’s also possible you could play that role with others. Share what you know and be open to other ways of looking at the world. 

The Hermit card is also a card of taking a step back from the world. This can allow us to gain clarity. Many worked hard in the past year, only to see their goals fall short. Rest is needed. Wise elders will emerge, and the heroes may wear cloaks instead of capes. Many world leaders may retire or step out of the spotlight for other reasons. The fight to preserve wisdom could be intense as institutions such as libraries, schools, and universities come under attack. We must not let history repeat itself, or we could return to a new dark age. The wisest among us have learned from the past and will shine a light on what we need to do to keep moving toward an enlightened future.

And perhaps most poignantly, the number 9 represents the end of a cycle. Certain situations may be ready to wrap up in your life. This will allow space for new things to come into your life. Let go and trust that the universe will sort it out.

The Hermit is associated with Virgo, a sign that knows how to clean, declutter, heal, and serve. 2025 brings an opportunity to clean up after ourselves and others. No matter how big the mess may be, a concentrated effort will clear the slate and lay the groundwork for a fresh start. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: A Holiday of Lights

Our ancestors used the symbolism of light to ease their winter anxieties. (Photo: Theo Crazzolara | Creative Commons | Wikimedia Commons)

Winter was a difficult time for our ancestors. Except for those living in the equatorial part of the world, winters were cold and harsh. Food was scarce, and your food supply depended on your harvests and abilities to put food away for a later time. Even now with modern conveniences and technology, most of us are not looking forward to winter. It is no surprise that our distant ancestors created many holidays during these cold months to help them get through the darkest part of the year. 

Late fall and winter are full of various holidays from around the world. The ancients tracked the turning of the seasons and often celebrated the most obvious shifts in the natural world. Many ancient cultures celebrated the end of fall (or summer for those parts of the world that don’t have a lot of seasonal changes) and the beginning of winter. You can see this in ancient Norse, ancient Celtic and British, and even modern traditions. The Norse called this Vetrnætr, or Winter Nights. The Celtics, British, and modern Pagans call this Samhain (or Halloween). 

As the year winds down to December, we’re nearing the coldest, darkest months of the year. Our ancestors had comparatively little to help them through the season, and they used the symbolism of light to ease their anxiety. If you look at holidays happening in December, and in the later part of winter, many of them focus on candles, light, and the return of the sun. 

Advent, Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are some of the more popularly celebrated holidays in America in December. Each of these has a strong connection to candles and lights.

Advent is a period of preparation and anticipation for some Christians, leading up to Christmas and marking the four Sundays before December 25th. Each week of Advent emphasizes themes such as hope, peace, joy, and love. The use of the wreath and candles during Advent are a long-standing Catholic tradition that was originally adopted by Christians in the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. An Advent wreath is typically made of evergreen branches and holds four candles, each representing one of the four weeks, and intentions, of Advent.

Yule is the ancient practice of celebrating the winter solstice. Yule was practiced by our ancient ancestors and has been revived by modern Pagans. Yule represents the end of the dark half of the year on December 21st and the returning strength of the sun. Over time, different myths and stories have been attached to Yule, such as the Oak King and the Holly King story, as well as the birth of the God who is honored by Wiccans and Pagans. 

Christmas is a holiday we are all familiar with and is the source of our modern gift-giving season. Christmas is the Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of their God, as well as hope and peace for the world. 

Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration in the Jewish faith that is the “festival of lights,” during which gifts are given, and each day a candle of the menorah is ritualistically lit. 

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. It is a time to learn, celebrate, and honor the ancestors. It’s based on African principles and ideals, and is rooted in first-fruit celebrations from across Africa. Kwanzaa celebrations include lighting a candle each night in a kinara, a candleholder with seven candles. 

This is by no means a complete list of December holidays. Many more are celebrated in America and around the world. Every winter holiday may not include lights or candles, but it is easy to see how the need for hope and reassurance permeates many of them. Even in the 21st century, we cling to the hope of spring and warmer, easier days ahead. 

No matter which holidays you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), keep the faith. Winter may be here, but it is not forever. The light will return, spring will come. In the meantime, all we have to do is take care of each other. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: Holiday Temperance

Photo: Vvictori | Dreamstime.com

The ancients certainly seemed to know what they were doing when constructing the zodiac wheel. They placed the mutable, fiery sign of Sagittarius in the middle of the holiday season. Those born under the astrological sign of Sagittarius are thought to be optimistic, adventurous, curious, and independent. And these traits translate well into how many Americans spend their holidays.

As a fire sign, Sagittarius is passionate and drawn to new ideas, philosophies, and travel. Sagittarius is represented by the centaur — a half-human, half-horse creature — often carrying a bow. Also referred to as “The Archer,” Sagittarius uses a trusty bow and arrow to dream big and aim high. 

In tarot, each zodiac sign is associated with a major arcana card. Sagittarius is associated with the Temperance card in tarot, card number 14 of the major arcana. The Temperance card refers to the blending, moderation, and tempering of disparate elements to achieve a balanced whole that is greater and more harmonious than the sum of its parts. The Greek philosophers, beginning with Socrates, spoke of four natural virtues: prudence, or virtuous use of the intellect; temperance, or virtuous regulation of the emotions; fortitude, or virtuous effort of the human will; and justice, the result of the combined virtuous activity of the other three.

Both Sagittarius and the Temperance card are constantly striving for a more enlightened state of being. The angel in the tarot card here demonstrates this by slowly pouring the liquid from one golden cup into another, a culinary process called “tempering.” Similarly, Sagittarius accomplishes this by exploring the far reaches of both the physical and philosophical worlds to expand on or “temper” what is already known. The angel’s red wings represent blood or life, while the triangle on her dress means spirit, but it is also the elemental symbol for fire. 

The angel’s feet are also symbolic of the eternal pilgrimage or spiritual journey. By showing one foot in the water and the other on the shore, we are reminded that our greatest wisdom lies in the art of balancing. The iris flowers are indicative of the Greek goddess Iris who provides the link between the gods and humanity, acting as a messenger and using rainbows to travel. Like Sagittarius, she travels from one end of the world to another, building upon something that is bigger and brighter than herself.

Temperance is the card of acceptance, where the cycle of life and death, passion and division, and all other oppositions find unity for a shared cause. It unites the masculine with the feminine, keeping us in balance when situations require strength and endurance, or tenderness and compassion, depending on the moment. This card speaks of personal and spiritual growth, one that leads us toward the point of self where we understand how inner conflicts and troubles lead to certain reflections and problems in the outer world. Its symbolism is one of the alchemy of life, and it is significant in a reading, for it represents the point where we get answers needed to change the course of fate or influence our life to change what is needed.

As we glide through Sagittarius season, we are reminded of the Temperance card. Temperance is all about striving for balance — which can often mean taking the middle road. To a Sagittarius, the middle road is almost never enticing. Yet it is not always a compromise, but another solution that can combine both extremes. 

As a mutable fire sign, Sagittarius is bold and confident. Fire is not naturally a mutable element, so Sagittarius is already operating in oppositions. It’s through the alchemy of temperance that we can learn about balancing these oppositions. 

Our lesson for this season is to find balance in opposition. How can we learn to accept and mold the outcome into something more desirable? With Mercury in retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius, we may need to be more detailed in our projects and more understanding when things don’t go as planned. Embrace the optimistic energy of Sagittarius and pivot with the challenges. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: A Holiday Retrograde

Mercury retroshade has begun. Can you tell? (Photo: Pixabay)

n my last column about the Odin’s Eye asteroid, I listed all the planets and asteroids in retrograde. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Chiron, respectively. We can now add Mercury to that list. Mercury retroshade has begun. Can you tell?

Retroshade is what astrologers and astrology enthusiasts call the two-week period leading up to and following a Mercury retrograde, where the planet is slowly moving back into its “normal” position. Mercury is the fastest moving planet in our solar system and goes retrograde three to four times a year. The retroshade period can bring clarity and finality to circumstances, but it can also be harsh. Some say that during this time, people may be more irritable, unfocused, or prone to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Mercury went retrograde in August and took a backward spin through the astrological signs of Virgo and Leo. This time, it will happen in the sign of Sagittarius. And this Mercury retrograde will be the last one for this year. We’ll take all the reprieves we can get. Our upcoming retrograde officially begins on November 26th and lasts until December 15th. However, we still have the retroshade after it’s over, making the effects last until January 3rd. 

Mercury is thought to rule over our communication, travel, and commerce. When it is in retrograde, we can often expect miscommunication, disagreements because of miscommunication, hiccups with travel plans, and inconveniences with technology. Retrogrades, especially Mercury retrogrades, often throw speed bumps in our way to make us slow down, reflect, and readjust for the next phase. 

Sagittarius, one of the zodiac’s fire signs, is thought to be a bit of a free spirit. This sign is known to be passionate and energetic while being open-minded, curious, loyal, honest, and enjoying travel. Those with prominent Sagittarius placements in their chart are likely to feel the effects of this Mercury retrograde more than others, but retrogrades affect us all. 

With Mercury retrograding in the sign of Sagittarius, you might find it difficult to move forward on your higher-minded goals due to mix-ups, slowdowns, or simply a lack of mental momentum. If you are doing any Thanksgiving traveling or planning trips for later in the season, you’ll want to triple-check your itineraries and leave wiggle room for delays, as Mercury retrograde is especially likely to interfere with transportation and timing while it’s in this worldly and wanderlusty sign.

These are not new concerns when it comes to Mercury retrograde. Anytime we have one, we need to be mindful of communication, plans, and technology. For the last Mercury retrograde of 2024, the biggest complication is the timing. The retrograde kicks off just before Thanksgiving and will butt up against the Yuletide holidays — the busiest time of year. 

Forewarned is forearmed, and that is always the best advice when it comes to a Mercury retrograde. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy your Thanksgiving food. The demand is already going to be higher than usual for certain grocery items, so don’t make things more complicated by waiting too late. Talk with your loved ones about a gift budget, and try to keep the spending to a reasonable level. Many of us love buying presents for our loved ones and seeing their joy when they get something nice or something they really wanted. We can still give meaningful gifts without breaking the bank or splurging on that one really expensive gift. 

With Mercury retrograding through Sagittarius, we might feel more generous this season with our gift giving. Sagittarius is all about loyalty, style, and being free, which can get us into enough trouble during the holidays without Mercury interfering. Just be mindful of your budget (you’re going to have to pay the credit card bills soon) and try to have a bit of restraint while shopping. Because we are dealing with this fiery Sagittarius energy, don’t overcommit to holiday plans. Sagittarius makes everything seem like fun, but we can’t reasonably do it all. 

As usual, Mercury retrograde is a time to slow down, be patient and understanding, and appreciate what you have. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: Odin’s Eye

Earth’s mini moon in orbit (Photo: urikyo33 | Pixabay)

In our modern world, life is always busy and there is always a lot happening. In the metaphysical community, many believe that what happens in our lives mirrors what is happening in the heavens — as above, so below. Just like our lives, there is always something happening in astrology. Right now, there are four planets and one asteroid in retrograde: Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Chiron, respectively. There is also an asteroid orbiting in the Earth right now, caught in our planet’s gravitational pull. 

Although it’s being called a “mini moon,” it’s actually an asteroid named 2024 PT5. The asteroid, which will remain in Earth’s orbit from now until November 25th, is rather small, about the size of a bus. Because it is so small, it can only be seen by the largest telescopes. Our planet’s gravitational pull attracts asteroids like this every so often, according to astronomers. 

This “mini moon” has been dubbed Odin’s Eye. In Norse mythology, Odin craved knowledge so much that he was willing to sacrifice one of his eyes to obtain it. Odin made a deal with the giant who protected the well of knowledge. The giant guarding the well was enviously protective of the knowledge that the well gave, and knew that letting someone drink from it could be dangerous since knowledge can be a dangerous thing to have. The giant finally made an offer that he thought Odin would refuse. He asked that Odin cut out one of his eyes and leave it in the well in exchange for one drink of water. Odin took him up on that offer. After his one drink, Odin became the wisest of the gods and the second wisest being alive. 

Although in Norse mythology Odin’s eye remains at the bottom of the well, having this “mini moon” has given us the chance to embrace the trending Norse culture and assign this asteroid a cool name. 

Asteroid 2024 PT5 has captured the hearts of the mainstream. For some, it is a unique event that might not happen again in their lifetimes. “What’s interesting about the mini moon is that it arrived smack-dab in our current eclipse cycle,” says astrologer Stevie Goldstein. “We had a whopper of a full moon eclipse in Pisces on September 17th and another one on October 2nd just days after the mini moon’s arrival.”

While Earth has had plenty of mini moons before — there are a lot of asteroids in space — this one is special because it’s sandwiched between several powerful celestial events. And according to Goldstein, that’s why it contains a hefty amount of starry symbolism. “It’s almost like a planetary nod from above to take this eclipse cycle and the themes that come up during it seriously,” she said in an interview with Bustle magazine.

Traditionally, new moons are a time for manifesting and goal setting, full moons are all about endings and letting things go, and chaotic eclipses are for lying low and letting the universe sort itself out. The fact that this second moon has arrived in the middle of it all could be a reminder to truly let go.

With two moons in our sphere, it could also mean that two complex feelings will ring true simultaneously, says Goldstein. “Having a pop-in from a moon-like planet feels like a ripe moment to consider that this time in your life might contain lots of complexities and multiple truths all at once.” 

When planets are in retrograde, the world around us continues to move forward, but we are invited to bring space into our days wherever possible. We are asked to clear away the unnecessary, the noise, the extra, and instead create space for inner journeys. Add in the “mini moon” and the rest of this year seems to be a time of releasing, clearing out, and listening to yourself. For the next two months, think about how things might not be as black and white as they seem, and how your life’s biggest questions might not have clear-cut yes or no answers. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Metaphysical Connection: The History of Halloween

Halloween is fun. Samhain is sacred. (Photo: Brenkee | Pixabay)

Halloween is a magical time of year for many people. It’s a time when we can let some of our inhibitions go temporarily. Halloween allows all of us to confront our fears in a controlled way via scary costumes and haunted attractions. Secular Halloween is fun, but there is a spiritual history behind the holiday. Many pagans and witches still observe the rituals and meanings behind it. 

For the Celts, who lived during the Iron Age in what is now Ireland, Scotland, the U.K., and other parts of Northern Europe, Samhain (pronounced saa-win) marked the end of summer and kicked off the Celtic new year. Ushering in a new year signaled a time of both death and rebirth, something that was doubly symbolic because it coincided with the end of a bountiful harvest season and the beginning of a cold and dark winter.

Samhain is one of the eight sabbats celebrated by Wiccans and other pagan religious groups. Pagans recognize a seasonal calendar known as the Wheel of the Year, based on the agricultural cycle of the U.K. The Wheel of the Year honors the blessings and changes of each season and acknowledges that the year has two halves — a light half (spring/summer) and a dark (half autumn/winter). 

We recognize Samhain as the third and final harvest festival. The first is Lughnasadh at the beginning of August. Lughnasadh celebrates the harvest of grains and the last of the summer fruits and vegetables. It is fondly called the bread holiday. The second is Mabon. Mabon is celebrated on the autumn equinox and is a time of balance, thanksgiving, and celebrating the harvest of the last of the fall fruits and vegetables. Some consider Mabon to be Witches’ Thanksgiving. 

Samhain is the final harvest of the fall season. This would have been a time when our ancestors brought in any remaining grains and vegetables from the fields and slaughtered animals to supply meat for the upcoming winter. Special bonfires were lit, which were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers. The animal harvest at Samhain may be one of the reasons that death is associated with it. However, nature grows dormant now, which is likely another reason we associate death with this time of year. 

According to Irish mythology, Samhain (like Beltane) was when the “doorways” to the Otherworld opened, allowing supernatural beings and souls of the dead to come into our world. While Beltane was a summer festival for the living, Samhain was often considered a festival for the dead. 

The origins of Halloween are so closely tied to Samhain, it would be easy to say that your Halloween celebrations are much like Samhain celebrations. There’s lots of overlap, but one of the biggest differences between them is intention and reverence. 

Many Wiccans will perform a Samhain ritual close to October 31st — the date we have standardized as Samhain/Halloween. Samhain rituals typically honor deities associated with death and rebirth from various cultures, calling out to our ancestors and honoring them or leaving them offerings. Some people put up an ancestor altar at this time. 

Halloween is the commercialized version of a religious holiday, giving it a slightly different energy from the origins of Samhain. Many Wiccans and pagans enjoy Halloween as a part of Samhain. Some of us will decorate our homes or workspaces with seasonal decor. We carve pumpkins, go to corn mazes and haunted houses, and buy a ridiculous amount of candy. We may likely end up in a costume at a party, eating and drinking with our community — much like our ancestors. We can do all of these fun and exciting things for Halloween, so long as we understand that when we begin the religious portion of our seasonal rites, we must do that part with reverence and intention. Halloween is fun. Samhain is sacred. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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Fun Stuff Metaphysical Connection

Metaphysical Connection: Witchy Crafts

Labels can give your witch bottle some pizzazz. (Photos: Emily Guenther)

October is here and that means we’re all on the hunt for everything witchy. A relatively easy thing you can do this season is create a witch bottle. Typically witch bottles are spells or tools used in manifestation work. But if you are looking for a cute, decorative item to add to your Halloween décor, you can make a witch bottle for decoration. 

Making a decorative witch bottle can be a fun activity for the whole family and a great way to express your creativity. You’ll need jars. Any size will work so long as the mouth is big enough to add things into the bottle and it has a lid to seal it. You’ll also want glitter, mica powder, dyes, foil paper, or other pretty items to add to your jar. Once you have all your supplies, let your creativity flow. Add any glitter, mica powder, dye, or foil into your bottle. Fill with water and put the lid on the jar. If you’d like to make it extra witchy, you can melt wax over the top or add a label to the bottle. It can be easy to make your own labels to tie to the jar, but you can also purchase some witchy stickers while you’re collecting supplies to go in the bottle. I made a few of these up for a party I threw years ago and they stayed up in my house for years. 

Making an intentional witchy bottle is not much different, but it will depend on what you want to manifest. In order for your bottle to be effective, you have to begin with a very clear goal. The ingredients and tools you should use change based on what type of love you’re looking to invite into your life. Do you want to find long-lasting, romantic love? Are you hoping to strengthen familial bonds and connections? Visualize a very clear image of what this spell jar’s success looks like to guide and inform the whole creation process.

Once your intent is set, it’s time to select a jar and begin deciding which ingredients, tools, and other implements you may want to include. I encourage you to put a good amount of thought into this and be thorough. Make sure you have everything you need when beginning, to avoid breaking your concentration to fetch something in the middle of it. This would be disruptive and could affect the spell’s viability. Spend some time researching herbs, oils, and symbols associated with your desires. 

Most spell-crafters agree that it’s important to energetically and spiritually cleanse the immediate space where you’ll be working. This ensures that no unwanted energies will interfere with or muddle your spell. Try out different methods, or combinations of methods, to figure out which ones feel best to you. You don’t have to stick to any one method, either. Feel free to change it up depending on your mood or the intent of the witch bottle. Four different methods you can use to spiritually prepare your ritual space are sound cleansing, smoke cleansing, cleansing with visualization, and space cleansing with crystals. 

Now it’s time to build your jar. I often start by adding written intentions to witch bottles because that helps to set the intention for the rest of the bottle’s creation. There are no hard-and-fast rules to the assembly, so please feel free to assemble yours in the ways that feel most appropriate to you.

There are a few different ways to seal your finished witch bottle. Wax sealing, sealing with tape, cloth sealing, and using sigils to seal the spell jar spiritually are the most commonly used methods. After your spell jar has been assembled, it’s time to give it a concentrated boost of magickal energy to activate it and set its power into action. There are several ways of doing this: through visualization; by using athames, wands, or clear quartz points; or by shaking the jar. Shaking the jar is one of my favorite ways to activate a witch bottle, especially those that are water-based. 

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the witchiness of October — and happy manifesting! 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.