Fear the copper pennies!

I may be delusional, but I think Autumn may have more than a two week shelf life out here this year. The evening is chilled enough for me to think that a long sleeve is a good idea and that strange 'cold clarity' that comes with that chill is slowly rising out of a mirage stricken pavement.

My ancestor working beads came in and I quickly went to work making ancestor connection talismans. The first one goes to my witchling who is actively learning to walk in a 'crooked' manner. The rest go out from Odd soon to seek others ready to do the work. Samhain feels thick this year. I know that sounds like a paradox, but I think I have pin pointed the feeling upon review of the situation. It's plain old 'I'm addicted to fear and if I can't have real fear I'll make some.' Really there are loads of people who make their weather and cry about the rain. That's all this is. It's like grow up class got skipped or something.

I have been at least observant of the pagan online community for quite some time *shudder* and every single year as the equinox rolls through there is this crazy voice decrying how evil we are for praying over candy in spite of the fact that they pray over candy as well. Quite frankly, I am nauseated to boredom on this subject but I dare not take my eyes off of fanatics lest they do the standard desperate we are right and if we are not we will crash the plane in spite thing. True story. . . it happens.

So my solution to all this insanity is to pray over the candy. EVERY BLASTED SINGLE BAG OF IT I COME ACROSS!  Yesssssssss! Even and ESPECIALLY the candy corn because I'm a bitchy faced witch right now. If the fanatics are going to bang the fear mongering drum as loud as they possibly can with out-right bullshit and lies, then I will pray for the safety and preservation of common sense within the innocents they attack. We have seen this behavior in other aspects as well. Remember the Texas Gov's The Response??? Or how about the renaming of the States (my favorite was Throw Jezebel From a Wall State: New Jersey) and reclaiming the District of Columbia as the District of Christ because if it isn't properly Christian  ( in their fanatic eyes) it must be of absolute profane evil. . . like the rest of the world doesn't exist or something like that. . . really children??? . . stop throwing sand in the sand box or you'll get sand in your eyes too.

So here goes:

Holy Mother, 
Divine hand of Providence, I pray that you bless those who receive these sweets be endowed with your grace, protection from the profane, an open eye of wisdom so true discernment may happen, a will to call the hypocrites out on the harmful bullshit as bullshit, and stand firm in their assessment with resolve to move forward toward love. 

Ho O'pono pono Amene


Yes I know. . . it's not the Maleficent I originally intended ( lucky everyone). I actually talked myself out of the Victor style praying tree. . . but there's always next year. Pray I do not alter the magic. Yes go ahead, fear the copper pennies you find in the candy display bins if you want, but if you are smart, you'll pick it up and make a wish.

Yes, please include the cigar.

I remember hearing something from an old school crafter that during the Civil War some of the men were given pierced coins to protect them from harm and grant them luck. This seems to be consistent with all the other information that I dig up about hole coin talismans as they were a large part of Hoodoo practices and that would have been one of the traditions well and alive in the American magical current along side of Pow Wow at the time. Holed coins were worn on strings around the ankle or neck not just for luck and protection but for the curing of maladies.

So how is this something we can use today in our modern industrial age?  I found one of the reasons the West Memphis 3 spent so much of their lives in a cell is because of the lack of resources. They simply did not have the funds at the time they were originally charged to hire good lawyers who were willing and able to go to bat for them. I have been giving thought to how I would handle a legal magic case. There is a wealth of resources out there in varying books and old manuscripts on the "proper" tools, incantations and herbs, However, I think one thing is lacking.

I think that part of the magic being put out should include prosperity so that not only will the resources be available for a good legal team, but this event will not put the whole family into financial ruin. I decided to go digging back into my collection of copper pennies ( those that predate 1981) as they are created of 95 percent copper and are perfect for prosperity spells. I also kept going back to the old Hoodoo practice of piercing coins and wearing them. So I scrounged around found a good stout nail and a board, went out back to see how difficult it would be to pierce a coin. Turns out, it's pretty easy to accomplish, which is perfect because I know someone who is in need of said kind of magic right now.

My mind has been turning over on this subject mostly because I got one of those calls. It usually comes out of the blue and starts with We need your sort of help. While I have been digging through my own book of shadows and through other resources to come up with an action plan, I keep not finding exactly what I need. I am at the point where I am putting together my own action plan. Yes there are fragments of old lore in there but because this is important and must work, the whole thing must make sense to me. My way of working with the lore that has been passed to me is the only way to ensure a good flow toward success ( for me). This is not something where close but no cigar flies.

Learning the craft is a bit of a paradox. In the beginning you are guided through the basic precepts, given the book of golden rules then sent off to go do things the traditional way. Later when you have hiked down the crooked path for a good distance, you are finding that there are things that don't really work for you with the formula you were handed so you tweek it until it's right for you. Then you go back to your mentor and ask, what am I doing wrong that this won't work for me??? The answer is invariably: you are expected to make it your own. If it isn't your own and it makes no sense to your filters, it is useless to you.

Of course, there are basic concepts that are tried and true, but each witch takes those things and applies them differently. Which is why the craft, even in the same tradition, varies so wildly from witch to witch. The craft's power comes from within, not a book or a mentor, not even solely from the current you reside within. So if you find something that is close but no cigar, feel free to do what you need to do to include the cigar.

You've just been recruited!

Earlier I talked a little about penny magic. Here is a fun one we are all familiar with from a different perspective.

"Find a penny pick it  up and all day long you'll have good luck."

What if some witchy is running around leaving lucky pennies head side up on sidewalks and shopping mall floors? Well there is! And now with you reading this: there will hopefully be more. Let the penny games begin!

 I like to indulge in magical pay it forward. I like to use nine pennies that are 95 percent copper, pre 1982. Sometimes I include some of those hoarded leap year pennies in the mix. Really, any penny will do if you haven't had time to sort them out yet. I just like to add as much pow in a working as possible. Copper is a metal that attracts abundances. With this magic, I am calling forth abundances of good luck and joy for who ever picks up these pennies.

I set them on my altar, play some happy music and place energy in the penny pile. An added bonus would be to choose a lucky rune such as one for prosperity or joy to shape your pennies into. As I go about my daily routine while out and about I pull one out, place it head side up while no one is looking and whisper : " Find this penny, pick up and all day long you'll have good luck!" It is best to put these pennies in a place where it would be safe for a person to stop and pick it up; after all, we may be indulging children in their game.


This is a great way to leave happy magic where ever you go. It is especially helpful when things are in such a somber tone around you. A little light goes along way and it only takes one candle to light another. Before you know it the darkness is lifted! Happiness is just as contagious as depression. Happy spelling! You've just been recruited into the Witches' Penny Brigade!

Note: A variation to this casting can include magic pennies you have picked up along the way. After your day is up, put it in a special bag or jar to use in this working. Remember, this is supposed to be fun for you as well. Oh and remember: Silence is golden!