Coven

For two years I’ve had many explorers find Applegarth Apothecary. Each has come for their own personal discovery if nothing more to evaluate the “witchiness” of a new store in town. I love it as I watch the magic infused into every nick and corner settle their souls and inspire their imaginations.

Truly understanding that this new introduction to concepts can be intimidating, I have gently nurtured our explorers; never pushing or offering information but guiding to resources that could be explored.

A month or so ago I made a familiar trip to the larger city to acquire those goods that seem scarce here in Soda Springs (mainly heavy whipping cream).  My mother, in her 91st year accompanied me. Realizing I had an advantage to access her “ancient” wisdom, I asked she tell me what she thought about specific words. Some examples included “witchcraft,” “occult,” “esoteric,” “magic,” “mysteries,” and “meditation.”  In all instances she shared her impression that were passed down to her through generational interpretations. But she also said that she really didn’t know the real answers.

That generational knowledge is a powerful tradition that can bind minds to truth. Mostly it is information taken out of context and utilized in a vacuumed of misunderstanding. I love the folklore of the “Perfect Pot Roast.” I’ve bet you’ve heard this tale at some point. A young daughter, full of sense and sensibility questioned her mother while preparing a family pot roast why her mother needed to cut off the top and bottom of the roast before putting it in the pan. The mother, seeing she had a prime moment to pass down here wisdom, explained that it was great grandam’s recipe for the perfect pot roast. The young girl attempting to ask questions about this family heirloom of knowledge, was shrugged off as ungrateful for questioning the family secret. So, being any good and curious soul, sought out her great grandam to explore the mystery of this culinary secret. When questioning her great grandma about her curiosity, grandma began laughing out loud. “My Dear,” with mirth tearing her eyes, “there is no secret. I simply didn’t have a large enough pot for the roast to fit. Ever since then, this silly tradition has been passed down through the generations without any context to as why. I am so proud of you for asking questions that challenge everyone’s silly belief.”

So how does one go about trying to enlighten beliefs based on ill-informed and cultural traditions without creating tension or discord regarding the reevaluating of generational ideas?

I have been watching and building alliances with stalwarts of our community that are full of sense and sensibility. I have invited them to come together in a “Coven” to discuss this interesting evolution of beliefs. Together we will compose reasonable blogs that hopefully will dispel the “unknown” cultural biases that prevent knowledge of the origin of religious traditions which be explored. Its intent is to bind together all know paths of spirituality through understand their common threads. Then utilizing these time proven traditions to augment and expand individual self-exploration into spiritual practices we desire to call “PERSONAL MAGIC.”

To help us on the quest, please share this blog in any fashion you can dream up. If you’re interested in becoming a part of our “Coven, “please respond with comments and queries.