What is Retrograde? Retrograde motion is when a planet appears, when observed from Earth, to reverse direction. This happens due to an optical illusion caused by differences in orbit. In the realm of astrology, retrograde motion has negative connotations. For example, some claim that during a period of retrograde movement, it is easier for us to become more irritable, unfocused, prone to misunderstandings and conflicts, and even experience mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.How does Mercury Retrograde affect us?Because Mercury is the planet said to rule communication, you can expect frequent misunderstandings, scheduling problems and disagreements with friends during this period. Since Mercury is the fastest planet in our solar system, it enters apparent retrograde motion between three and four times a year, for about three weeks at a time. When is Mercury in Retrograde?This year we have already been in Mercury Retrograde in April and can expect to be in this turbulent period from:August 23rd - September 14thDecember 13th - January 1st How can we survive it?It is an important time for self care. Become aware of your feelings and how you react to situations. Retrograde is temporary but implications of your behaviour may not be. Practice breathing techniques, take time out, put things on hold, take things slowly.It is important not to make any rash decisions or start any new projects at this time. If you need to sign a contract of some sort, if you can, delay until this period is over.If someone or something has upset you, be mindful of your reaction, remember they are in the throes of this power too. If you can, wait it out and try to resolve situations when you have a clearer head, take notes and reassess how you feel after the retrograde period has ended.Most importantly, look after yourself. Try some deep meditation, grounding yourself to the earth, spend time journaling or dream boarding. Bathe in the healing lig...

Lammas Gathering Yesterday afternoon myself, Derry and a group of lovely people all got together and learnt how to prepare for the Wiccan sabbat Lammas (sometimes knows as Lughnasad)As always we start any spiritual or magickal working by opening a circle. These are cast to create a safe and protected space in which we can do our magickal workings. It offers protection from negative energies and entities that may want to cause mischief within our energy field. The circle also acts as a core of power and once the circle is cast it creates a boundary of energy around it, leaving us able to perform rituals, meditate, spell work, or even singing and dancing! All of which will will raise the energy.There are various ways to cast a circle. Before everyone arrived I cleansed and blessed the space with incense and placed Clear Quartz (healer and amplifier) & Black Tourmaline (protection) crystals in all four corners of the room. You can also use your mind to push out negative energies or a besom or broom to sweep them away. After we cast the circle, we went into a guided meditation that Derry had written specifically for Lammas. This helps us to channel the energy of what we will be working on and help us to relax for the afternoon ahead. We moved on then to the information part of the evening:After a brief moment to stretch our legs, but being mindful not to break the circle (look out for a blog coming soon on opening/closing circles), I took a moment to read through some information on what Lammas was and which crystals were particularly beneficial for this sabbat.Lammas, also known as Lughnassadh, is a pagan holiday and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats during the year. Each sabbat marks a seasonal turning point. This sabbat occurs on August 1, which is about halfway between the summer solstice (Litha) and the autumn equinox (Mabon). This holiday celebrates the grain harvest.In early Ireland, it was not good to harvest grain before Lammas. If you did...

New Moon in Cancer Gathering We had a lovely evening last night, getting together and learning about the New Moon and what it means when in the zodiac sign of Cancer.We always start any spiritual or magickal working by opening a circle. These are cast to create a safe and protected space in which we can do our magickal workings. It offers protection from negative energies and entities that may want to cause mischief within our energy field. The circle also acts as a core of power and once the circle is cast it creates a boundary of energy around it, leaving us able to perform rituals, meditate, spell work, or even singing and dancing! All of which will will raise the energy.There are various ways to cast a circle. Before everyone arrived I cleansed and blessed the space with incense and placed Clear Quartz (healer and amplifier) & Black Tourmaline (protection) crystals in all four corners of the room. You can also use your mind to push out negative energies or a besom or broom to sweep them away. After we cast the circle, we went into a guided meditation that I had written specifically for the New Moon in Cancer. This helps us to channel the energy and help us relax for the evening aheadWe moved on then to the information part of the evening:The New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon, the shadowed side facing us.New Moons are a time when the slate is wiped clean, they are the best time to start something new, get clear on the future and bring fresh energy into our lives. You can set your intentions and journal them down. Manifestation rituals are a great thing to do during this phase of the lunar calendar. The perfect time for detoxing and releasing toxins. You could do this by fasting drinking lots of fluids, drinking, herbal teas and water (if you’re wanting to do a week fast try doing this 3 days before the new Moon and 3 days after)This phase is a good time to ask yourself the questi...

Crystals have been used for centuries for their healing properties and are still popular today. They can be used for meditation, healing, decoration, and much more. This guide will cover everything you need to know about crystals, including how to choose them, how to use them, and the properties of some of the most popular crystals.Choosing Your CrystalsWhen it comes to choosing crystals, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it's important to choose crystals that you feel drawn to. This can be based on their color, shape, or even just a feeling you get when you hold them. Trust your intuition and choose the crystals that resonate with you.Another thing to consider is the purpose you want the crystal for. Different crystals have different properties, so if you're looking for a crystal to help with a specific issue, you'll want to choose one that is known for that particular property. For example, if you're looking for a crystal to help with anxiety, you might choose amethyst, which is known for its calming properties.You can also choose crystals based on their chakra associations. Each chakra in the body is associated with a different color and type of crystal.When choosing crystals to balance and align the chakras, it's important to choose ones that resonate with the energy of the specific chakra you're working with. Here are some popular chakra-related crystals:1. Root Chakra (Red): Red jasper, garnet, black tourmaline2. Sacral Chakra (Orange): Carnelian, orange calcite, sunstone3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Yellow): Citrine, pyrite, yellow jasper4. Heart Chakra (Green): Rose quartz, green aventurine, jade5. Throat Chakra (Blue): Blue lace agate, lapis lazuli, sodalite Using Your CrystalsOnce you've chosen your crystals, there are many ways to use them in your day-to-day life. Here are a few ideas:Meditation: Holding a crystal during meditation can help you focus your energy and intentions.Carrying them: You can carry your crystals with you in your pocket,...

On my 21st birthday my father took me to a Spiritual Development workshop hosted by a wonderful and renowned psychic medium named Bill Harrison, who sadly passed away many years ago now.We started the day sitting in a circle, sharing our names and a little bit about ourselves. At the time, (nearly 17 years ago) spiritualism wasn’t as understood and practiced amongst people my age like it is now or at least I certainly didn’t know anyone. I was the youngest by far at this event!Whilst introducing myself, I told everyone how I was celebrating my 21st birthday that very day, when suddenly this elderly gentleman came up to me and placed a clear quartz pendulum in my hand. He told me he used it for contacting his wife (otherwise known as pendulum dowsing) but he wanted to pass it on to me for safekeeping. It was a beautiful gift and one I have kept with me all these years.After introductions, we split off into two different groups and my dad and I were separated for the rest of the day. In our groups we participated in different workshops, starting with one learning about healing, something I was gifted with as a child (my mum used to call me her little Jesus). It was the first time though, that I had given healing to a stranger and it felt like I had unlocked a path, one that I have had the fortune to follow via the medium of reiki, and one I am excited to expand on in the near future.Following on from this, our group met a lovely clairvoyant, (sadly I have forgotten his name now) who used the medium of drawings for his readings. I had never met anyone at this time who did this, and when he told us we would be doing the same, I panicked inside because in my head, I draw like a five year old! We were swiftly paired off with another member of the group and sat opposite each other, then we were handed a clipboard with paper and a pencil. We were asked to study the person in front of us and find a spirit around them and to draw what we saw.Now, as mentioned above, I had the...

I often find that a lot of people come into the shop looking for answers. Hoping we can recommend them a crystal to help with their mental health, or they'll ask us what we recommend for anxiety, stress, depression or a specific disorder. They'll even apologise and say "you must think I am being silly".My response is usually the same. I absolutely do NOT think you're silly in any way. And the reason for this is because our shop is a Safe Space.Myself and my colleagues have become almost like (unqualified) therapists, listening to peoples stories and understanding their feelings, fears and anxieties. Whilst I would never claim to offer any advice in a professional capacity, I do always try to understand and lend a caring ear. As someone who has suffered many years of mental health issues, I am very open and honest about this. Many years I had spent suffering in silence and letting myself be bothered about what other people thought of my brain and how it attacks me. Many times I pushed away those who loved me and alienated myself because I didn't think anyone would care about a condition you can't see or that can sometimes make you out be unreasonable or act in a way that is not "normal". And that is half the problem isn't it? So many of us are afraid to talk about through fear of ridicule, rejection, misunderstanding or feeling like a burden. And that is why mental health is still discriminated now. Don't get me wrong it has come on leaps and bounds, from centuries ago, to even the last 20+ years I have personally battled with. I learnt the hard way that I needed to speak up. And if you ask me why that was, I'll happily tell you because I need you to know, how you are feeling is valid, and if my story helps just one person then I would feel I have done the right thing by sharing. And in the past others have told me that hearing my story has helped them to speak up. It's an amazing feeling to be able to help someone, I highly recommend it.Here at The Hidden ...