Aura

AURa magazine

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photos by. words by

, 1 o N e Issu y Ma

well-being

mystic

curiosities

wanderlust aura

hen I was younger, the world seemed like such an enchanting place. Full of fairies flying around the garden in the shape of fluffy dandelion seed heads, magic potions made out of whatever ingredients from the kitchen that I could get my hands on and spending endless time outdoors loving every sparkling ray of sun and every glistening drop of rain. Yet as I got older, the worlds mystic charm seemed to fade away. Recently however, I’ve been trying to re-inject some magic back into my life, whether that be through crystal healing or just taking some time out to myself every day to appreciate my surroundings. As poet W.B Yeats once said, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” and that’s what Aura is all about.

Helping its readers who miss that magic spark from their childhood to feel it once again. From a self-diagnosed social media addicts first experience of mindfulness, a list of festivals which will make you feel like you’re living in a real-life fairytale, a peep into the spellbinding world of witchcraft and an interview with a tarot card reader to the stars. Whether you’re a mysticism rookie or a fully-fledged Mystic Meg, with a little bit of magic injected across every page, Aura will be sure to quench your curiosity, enchant your mind and enhance your life. I hope you love reading the first issue of Aura as much as I loved creating it.

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Editors Letter

Embrace the magic.

Annabelle Wells Founder and Editor @annabellewells

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The MINDFUL ROOKIE

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BLISSFUL LIVING PLAYLIST

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COLOUR ME IN

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CONSCIOUS COSMETICS

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curiouser and curiouser

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articulated paper doll

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the crystal guide

the good life

the bookshelf

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a little treat or two

BEHIND THE CARDs

psychedelic

tents 37

mystic crush monday

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badass witches

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a concoction to get the day going

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affirmation list

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once upon a time

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wanderlust

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witches of instagram

dream interpretation 101

festivals

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Open me...

which witch?

camille chew

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The Mindfulness Rookie I’m putting mindfulness to the test to see if it can help even the most unruly of minds.

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indfulness. It’s a word I’ve been coming across a lot lately, and whilst I’ve been intrigued to find out more, my erratic mind has ironically not allowed me a minute to sit down and get myself up to speed on this growing trend, until now.

Defined as ‘a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations’, being mindful pretty much just involves slowing down, clearing your mind and acquainting yourself with the here and now rather than getting lost in the endless whirlwind of your thoughts. Although thinking is a rather predominant part of life, allowing ourselves to be taken away by our thoughts can lead to us just letting life pass by without even realising. As author Robert L. Moore once stated, ‘this is a man who thinks too much, who stands back from his life and never lives it’. Therefore, mindfulness teaches us to always

be present no matter what we’re doing, whether we’re taking a walk, having a shower or eating breakfast.

Marisa Garau, an expert on all things mindfulness, describes it as ‘turning the radio off; suddenly you can hear the birds singing.

It’s like a wall of sound has been torn down, and you have opened a door to reality and see things the way they really are.’ The concept of being connected to my surroundings and living in the moment rather than stressing about my ever-growing mountain of work, wondering what Kanye’s latest cryptic tweet means or thinking about how much I wish I didn’t say that cringe-worthy thing 3 years 7 months and 82 days ago aroused my curiosity (which I admit isn’t hard to do) and lured me in to the idyllic world of mindfulness.

Although it appears a simple feat, it isn’t necessarily easy to suddenly give up your seemingly irrepressible bad habits and transform into a Buddha-like

person, and so I decided to focus on the one thing that seemed to plague my mind constantly – the inescapable black hole that is social media. Given that my phone is constantly in my hand and when it’s not it’s most likely because I’m scrolling through Twitter on my laptop instead, quitting social media for a week seemed like the perfect starting point on my journey to becoming a mindful being as I was sick of dog memes fillings my thoughts.

DAY 1 I’ve already failed. Just as many of you would wake up and check the news or make a coffee, my morning ritual is to wake up and check Instagram or Twitter for some early morning humour in the shape of a cat dressed as sushi or Chrissy Teigens unapologetically frank tweets and that is exactly what I subconsciously did this morning.

I’m like a vampire who feeds on social media. It’s slightly worrying how it’s constantly at the forefront of my mind, but least I can’t go downhill from here.

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Day 2 All my social media apps have been deleted. Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram are now non-existent on my phone and I feel much better not having my notifications coming through taunting me and willing me to open them. My introvert side also secretly loves not being able to check up on what everyone’s up to and being able to enjoy my own company without having the fear of missing out. The BBC recently stated that adults spend around 3 hours a day on social media, whilst Global Web Index found we spend roughly one third of our waking lives on the internet so I’m sure having a few days off won’t go amiss.

DAY 4 Today I realised social media has a much bigger influence on my life than I let myself believe. Not only is it a brilliant device for procrastination and filling my mind with superfluous information, but it also made me far more competitive and not in a constructive ‘I want to work hard and achieve my goals’ kind of way. Having a constant stream of beautiful girls popping up on my timeline, whilst inspiring, also takes quite a toll on my confidence and makes me extremely conscious about the amount of likes and followers I have which isn’t a healthy obsession. Consequently, not having to worry about my follower count has taken a weight off my shoulders. A misconception of mindfulness however, is that these thoughts should never pop into our heads, but that’s wrong. Unless you’re a rock, thoughts are always going to crop up whether we like it or not and mindfulness is about having the power to acknowledge

those thoughts without judgement and then letting them pass by without dwelling on them. It’s when we give these worrying thoughts our attention that we allow them to grow.

Day 5 Whilst I’ll admit it’s slightly frustrating not being able to fill the time in my day with constant social media checks, my head is already feeling much clearer for it. My Mount Everest of a work pile has also decreased rapidly, and I made a change and did my work outside for once, allowing myself to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the outdoors and appreciate the moment as I worked. I think it’s fair to say that this

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DAY 3 Today was a struggle. Even doing things which seemed unrelated to social media such as watching The Great British Bake Off made me yearn for typing #GBBO into Twitter to read everyone’s opinions on the latest episode and join in with the conversation.

This however did make me realise that whilst too much social media isn’t great for the mind, body and soul, it’s a brilliant way for people from all over the world to interact, whether you’re talking to Becky from Ohio about how cute her dog is or debating with Pierre from France about the meaning of life, it’s a great platform to

bring people together. I decided to spend my newly found spare time reading the book I got for Christmas but hadn’t got around to reading yet (due to prior engagements such as regular dates with my best pals Instagram and Facebook) and my mind felt happier and fuller because of it.

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illustrations by freepik

‘THIS IS A MAN WHO THINKS TOO MUCH, WHO STANDS BACK FROM HIS LIFE AND NEVER LIVES IT’.

well being

social media detox is slowly but surely working.

Day 7 I won’t lie, I’m a little thrilled that today is my last detox day.

Nonetheless, it was exactly what I needed, and I’d highly recommend to all the Instagramloving, Facebook-addicted crowd

whose heads are constantly full of thoughts both momentous and trivial (i.e. the former me).

Although I’m not going to totally eradicate social media out of my life, I will be largely cutting down on how often I use it and how much I let it affect me and my daily life so the impact it has will be only positive. Whilst I write this I’m even practicing my breathing – the world of mindfulness is making me wild I know. In all seriousness, this week truly has helped me realise what’s a priority in my life and what I value the most and I’m going to attempt to take mindfulness on board in everyday life – just one step at a time though.

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Day 6 The weekend = the biggest challenge yet. The willpower it took not to upload pictures of last night’s outfit and give my Snapchat friends a minute by minute preview of my evening was through the roof. Yet I’m incredibly proud to say that I succeeded against all odds.

Not only has this proven to me that maybe I have more control over my social media use than I previously realised, but it’s also fabulous being able to wake up without having to go through my drunken Snapchat story and cringe, delete and repeat whilst letting my mind go into overdrive

wondering who’d seen them.

I also had fun enlightening my friends on the wonderful world of mindfulness as despite their preconceptions, I ensured them that it’s not just for the zen, yogi types but that anyone can do it no matter what their lifestyle or beliefs. Better yet, it’s evidence based so even the biggest of skeptics can’t argue against science which has proven its endless positive benefits on our happiness, health, relationships and work – what more could a girl want?!

Little ways To Stay Mindful In Everyday Life

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Focus on trying new things.

Read a different paper, try a new food, ask more questions or go somewhere you’ve never been before.

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Meditating is one of the best ways to practice mindfulness. Find a local class, watch a video online or read a book on it.

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The ‘Forest’ app allows you to grow a tree in half an hour as long as you don’t go off the app and also tracks your phone usage.

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‘I Am Here Now’ is a mindfulness self-help book of sorts which will fill your days with all the tools you need to be more mindful.

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Get rid of your to-do list and compile a done list to remind yourself of all the things that you’ve achieved.

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When you’re next in a queue, focus on your feelings whilst you’re waiting, your posture and your surroundings.

Blissful Living 1

SOmeone New Hozier

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Honey JoHnny Balik

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What Do I KNow ed sHeeran

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after the storm kali uCHis

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paradise GeorGe ezra

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Rise Up andra day

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As You Are raG’n’Bone Man

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Put Your Records On Corinne Bailey rae

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Your Song ellie GouldinG

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Green Light lorde

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Navy Blue Hasani

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images by stampomania

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You give me something JaMes Morisson

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Playlist one

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White Tiger izzi Bizu

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I’m yours Jason Mraz

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Malibu Miley Cyrus

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Feel It Still PortuGal. tHe Man aura

available online at goo.gl/nRLBgU

well being

THE

CRYSTAL GUIDE

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Since the beginning of time, ancient civilisations from the Egyptians to the Mayans used crystals in their day to day lives, understanding their uses from harnessing energy to healing powers and adorning themselves and their buildings in these remarkable stones. Despite this, over time these techniques were forgotten. However, with celebrities such as Miranda Kerr and Cara Delevingne announcing their passion for crystals and their wondrous properties, they’re finally having their moment again.

Simply put, crystals are minerals which have a highly structured pattern of atoms and are formed underground. This structure is said to be what gives the crystal the ability to ‘memorise’ things therefore enabling them to hold and release energies.

With some crystals developing over thousands sometimes even millions, of years, this means they spend all that time gathering the earth’s history within them just waiting for you to harness it.

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Today, crystals energies are utilised in modern technology from using quartz in watches to keep the time to using them in mobile phones – if your phone screen is LCD that stands for ‘Liquid Crystal Display’.

The pharmaceutical industry also makes use of crystals, grinding the minerals that form inside of them to use in medicines and the beauty industry are always finding new ways to incorporate crystals into their products to keep us looking transcendent.

Crystal healing consists of placing gems on your body, in your house or carrying them with you to repel negative energy and attract positive energy.

You’re able to programme crystals to store certain types of energy, for example if you hold one with the intention of filling it with love, it will store that energy and infuse the room or area it is placed with it - the larger the crystal, the more energy it is able to wield. However, crystals are also able to store negative energies such as anger, and so they have to be cleansed to rid it of this energy.

The most popular and easiest way to cleanse a crystal is by leaving it in salt water for a day or two and then rinsing it in clean water. It’s also advised to leave them out in the sun or moonlight for a few hours every few weeks to charge their natural energy. Cleansing newly purchased crystals is also recommended to rid them of all the energy of the previous hands that have held it.

When picking a healing crystal, using your intuition is the top priority. Forget about the crystals properties, just look around and see which one you’re naturally drawn to whether that be because of its vibrant colour, abstract shape or unearthly pattern. Different crystals have different properties and energies and each one can be used depending on your intended outcome for your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. The way in which you can use the crystals is endless, from placing them around you during yoga, creating a crystal grid, holding them during meditation, placing them in your bath or just carrying them with you – there’s a way to use crystals to fit everyone’s needs.

ILLUSTRATIONS bY LINA CHERVENKOVA

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f, like us, you’re intrigued by the mystic allure of crystals but you’re not too sure what they actually do then you’ve come to the right place because we’re giving you the lowdown.

Smoky Quartz-

Ruby - Promotes creativity and enhances lucid dreaming.

Encourages sensuality and sexual energy and creates a sense of power. Strengthens courage and joy.

Hematite - Reduces stress and helps to focus and organize the mind, enhancing mental capabilities. It can also be used to cleanse and clear other gemstones.

Garnet - Helps to overcome a lack of inspiration and enhances the imagination.

Brings success in business ventures and enhances self-confidence.

Amethyst

Carnelian - Helps with motivation and concentration.

Stimulates inquisitiveness and aids memory. Boosts your energy and relieves you of any impure energies.

Alexandrite

Amber

- Considered a good luck charm and brings success, vitality and joy.

Helps with healing, calmness and your metabolism and heightens clarity of thought.

Blue Lace Agate- A soothing and nurturing stone.

Brings tranquillity and peace of mind and relieves nervous tension, fears of public speaking and confrontation.

Citrine

- Enhances selfesteem, energy and focus.

Full of joyous, warm and optimistic energy, it can attract opportunities and helps with weight loss.

Emerald - Promotes

Peridot - Reduces stress and negative emotions such as anger and jealousy. Brings vitality and happiness and increases patience.

Labradorite- Relieves

Dispels negative energies and brings serenity, security and relaxation. Releases emotional blocks and increases channelling powers.

- Ideal for meditation, enhancing psychic abilities and connecting to your spirituality. Relieves anxiety and insomnia and alleviates hangovers.

- Sparks good fortune and pleasant surprises. Helps to create emotional balance and brings joy when there is too much self-discipline.

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-A soothing stone, heals tempers and guilt and encourages forgiveness. Emits love, harmony and peace and helps with relationship troubles.

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Rose Quartz

loyalty and sensitivity and brings love and romance.

Strengthens memory, faith and clairvoyance and increases intuition and truthfulness.

anxiety and depression and enhances confidence and enthusiasm. Provokes a sense of excitement and adventure.

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well being

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A Little Treat or Two

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Time for our favourite type of therapy, the retail kind. Here’s a collection of our best buys to help you along the way.

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ILLUSTRATION BY FREEPIK

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Zodiac

1. Constellation Ring by Lisa Angel, £12, notonthehighstreet.com 2. Star Hoop, £22, oliverbonas.com 3. Animal Constellation Wrapping Paper by Newton and the Apple, £4.75, notonthehighstreet.com 4. Zodiac Mug, £8, marksandspencer.com 5. Zodiac Candle by Flamingo Candles, £14, notonthehighstreet.com 6. Zodiac Necklace by Posh Totty, £34.99 gettingpersonal.co.uk 7. Star Pillow

by Loflov, £25.80, etsy.com 8. Fire Brushes and Make Up Bag, £49.99, spectrumcollections.co.uk 9. Zodiac Print by Papier Beau, £12, etsy.com aura

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Flora aura

1. Botanical Print by Artwork by Angie £12, etsy.co.uk 2. Trapped Flower Earrings, £5, uk.accessorize.com 3. Leather Cross Body Bag, £39, topshop.com 4. Floral Keychain, £13.78, victoriassecret.com 5. Winky Lux Flower Balm, £13, feelunique.com 6. Forest Life Notes by Nathalie Lete, £12.99, amazon.co.uk 7. The Wildflower Workbook, £12.21, katiedaisy.com 8. Atlas Silks Bathing Flowers, £10, heathcote-ivory.com 9. Floral Temporary Tattoo by Tattoorary, £5.97, etsy.com

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Gems

1. Birthstone Ring by Little Homebird Studio, £24, etsy.com 2. Quartz Infused Bath Salts, £8, childofwild.com 3. The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing, £5, amazon.com 4. Pink Quartz Necklace by Spot the Trend, £12.75, etsy.com 5. Rose Quartz Elephant, £9.77, hollisticshop.co.uk 6. Adorn EDP Fragrance, £20, urbanoutfitters.com 7. Tourmaline Infused Breathe Nail Polish, £15, nailsinc.com 8. Crystal Pendants by Mobs and Monsters, £9.99, etsy.com 9. Crystal Chart by Dreamy Moons, £23.51, etsy.com

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ILLUSTRATION BY FREEPIK

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COLOUR ME IN

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CONSCIOUS cosmetics

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The best vegan, natural, cruelty free and organic cosmetics on the market.

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1. Laverna Volume Mascara, £11.90 2. Elf Mad for Matte Eyeshadow Palette, £10 3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer, £25 4. Lush Dirty Perfume, £39 5. Alchemy Peppermint Hair Remedy, £25 6. Lavera Natural Lipstick, £12.90 7. Burt’s Bees Moisturiser, £10.99 8. Clean Beauty Co. Detox Dust Powder Face Mask, £22.00 9. Lush Lovely Blush, £15.95 10. Function of Beauty Shampoo £26.84 11. Elf Flawless Finish Foundation, £7.50 12. Birchrose & Co. Cleansing Oil, £17.89 13. Sukin Natural Deodorant, £7.56 14. Skin and Tonic Naked Lip Balm, £4

well being

The Good Life #18

illustration by freepik

Forget hubble, bubble, toil and trouble, if you’re looking to inject a little bit of magic into your life then look no further than the transformative element that is food.

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eople often talk about the miraculous abilities their mother’s homemade soup has to rid them of their ailments, or how little else fills them with a feeling of happiness more than walking into a house and being engulfed by the delicious smell of freshly cooked food. Without realising it, every day we are touched by a little bit of magic through the powers of the foods we cook, eat and share.

to your food to rid yourself of a snotty nose and warm you from the inside out, using aloe vera to reduce those dark under eye circles after a wild night out, baking a cake to raise a friends spirits when they’re feeling low or giving your best attempt at seductively slurping down oysters for their natural aphrodisiac elements – the enchanting alchemy of food never fails to enhance our lives.

The properties of food are used to effect both emotional and physical aspects of your mind, body and spirit. From gobbling down your emergency bar of chocolate to momentarily heal a broken heart, adding a pinch of ginger

When it comes to medicinal properties, herbs are often everyone’s go-to for a little pick-meup. Of all the herbal remedies we know of, perhaps the most remarkable would be the peculiarly creature-like root named ginseng.

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illustration by felecita sala

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Discovered around 5000 years ago in the mountains of Manchurian China and once treasured more than gold

by Chinese emperors, ginseng is the root of the plant panax, which means ‘all healing’ in Greek and is considered by some as an answer to all afflictions. With the capacity to stimulate the mind, improve the health of your hair and skin, reduce stress, protect against heart failure, manage diabetes and reduce menstrual pain amongst many other feats, ginseng is a godsend for your mind, body and spirit. To add to its bewitching allure, in the Orient people believe ginseng is magic and they carry it to attract love and money. Ginseng isn’t the only herb which has little glints of magic residing in it however, everything from mint and rosemary to sage and clove are full of endless medicinal and spiritual powers.

It’s not just herbs that seem to be otherworldly.

Delve into any recipe book as if they were a book of spells and use your cooking pot as if it were a cauldron and you will find an abundance of magical abilities in the ingredients you use. Whilst an apple a day really is considered to keep the doctor away due to their capability to help reduce the risk or some cancers and decrease the effect of Alzheimer’s, it’s not just modern science which has discovered their remarkable qualities.

Considered by many throughout history as a

powerful energy source that incites balance and harmony and known as the Fruit of Gods, apples were treasured by Egyptians who offered them to their most powerful priests, the Feast of Apples is celebrated by Wiccans on Halloween and in the Middle Ages they were used to foretell the future. The delightfully sticky condiment named honey that we are so kindly gifted by bees is also renowned for its wondrous properties. Used to treat colds, heal wounds and strengthen the immune system, honey has endless health benefits. One of the oldest foods known to man, described as one of the five sacred elixirs of immortality in Hindu texts and used in African American Hoodoo and folk magic to bring about happiness, prosperity and fertility, honey is a truly magical ingredient.

If you want to explore the world of natural foods and their magnificent properties, don’t be overwhelmed by the infinite amount of alchemical foods on offer. Start off with a selection of seasonal essentials and build your compendium of mystical ingredients over time and when you’re next conjuring up a spellbindingly delicious meal, ensure you put your heart and soul into cooking it and treat each component like it’s a charm just waiting to cast its spell.

Too Good To Eat

aura

Chef and foodie @talinegabriel injects a little bit of whimsical rainbow magic into her delectable wholefood cooking creations and we can’t get enough.

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photos by. words by

‘editorial food’ by felicita sala @felicita.sala felicitasala.com

curiosities

behind the cards Tell me a bit about yourself and how you began on your journey as a tarot reader? I was working in entertainment marketing when a friend of mine gave me tarot cards. I never really believed in tarot before. Or didn’t give it much thought. I started using the cards for fun with friends and then I kept calling things much to the amazement of everyone and mostly myself. For a few years, the cards were my new party trick and how I would make new friends at dinners and conferences. I started losing all interest in my consulting marketing work and people kept asking to pay me to read their cards.

In your opinion, how can people benefit from readings?

For everyone in different ways, a lot of people tell me it’s less about what I tell them about the future and more about the advice of how to handle where they are right now. For others, they feel my assessments help them make decisions in business and personal life that are guided by how the cards see the future playing out. Some tell me they feel like I’ve connected them to their higher self so as to remember the best possible outcomes and how they can create and live their best life!

If people don’t have a natural talent in tarot reading, are they able to learn it? If so, how would they go about this?

YES. Just start. Pull a card a day.

Practice. Connect with the cards and work on connecting more to yourself! When we are clear and at our best, we can be most open to receive guidance.

What’s the typical day in the life like for you? I wake up, have breakfast with my baby and family, dive into readings – usually 2, 3 or 4 a day. I write – I do horoscopes, a column and a weekly for Goop and Icbrker. I schedule, invoice, and sometimes work events. I try to leave LA at least once a month for a few days or a week since my office can be anywhere. Today I am filming a segment for Well and Good.

Nothing is typical. But usually a mix of things like the above!

Who or what inspires you in life? I am constantly inspired by clients I read and so many relationships I’ve been so lucky to make in my life. I really love to be surrounded by people smarter than me. I seek to learn and be curious of others.

With clients all over the world, you have to do many readings over Skype. How are you able to connect with them and give them a personal, accurate reading when you’re not face to face? Yes. It just works. It’s an energy. It’s a feeling. I would

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Can you explain how tarot cards work? I don’t think anyone can give you a specific answer to that question. They are a channel.

It’s like when a trader looks at the spreadsheets and numbers and stocks and can quickly almost instinctually know where and how to artfully manipulate the money and trades. I pull the cards and see a story and tell and pull it apart and help see what the

person is supposed to hear. I am the channel for them to help understand their story.

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From high-profile entertainment publicist to tarot card reader to the stars, Angie Banicki opens up on what it’s like living life in the mystic lane.

curiosities

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“I started using the cards for fun with friends and then I kept calling things much to the amazement of everyone and mostly myself�

Can you let us in on some of the big names that you’ve read cards for? Some people I have read for the in past include Usher, Alison Janney, Sophia Bush, Kat Graham, Nikki Reed and Brittany Snow.

How does a reading session usually go? It’s one hour and a combination of reading cards, numerology, discussion and deep dives on the person’s life. It’s fun breaking apart all these pieces to see how they fit for what’s to come.

I noticed that you give your clients the playlist that was playing during their reading, are the songs that play an important part of the readings? YES - they give messages. Sometimes, the person even knows what the song means before I do, i.e. once when I was talking about someone’s ex-boyfriend and the song changed to one that HE WAS SINGING!

energies but I had some truly magical moments in Spain on the Camino, in Ireland and in Mexico.

What would you say your most memorable experience and biggest challenge have been in regard to your abilities/since becoming a tarot card reader? Recently I had someone’s son-inlaw die the day we did her reading. And I had referenced the year before it would be an extremely hard year for her daughter, but I didn’t see that the son in law would pass. I was devastated feeling I wasn’t helpful in warning my client, but she said so much of what I said was so helpful in understanding the situation. The man then came to me in my dreams that night and I woke up hysterically crying.

He was trying to explain the pain, through me, to his wife – why he had committed suicide. It was pretty intense. I learned a lot about my practice, abilities and some big lessons that week.

How do you react to cynics who don’t believe in your abilities? I laugh or read them. Or both. My brother was my biggest cynic - until I kept calling all these things in his life. And yet he still would barely give me credit, except to my mom!

Do you have a mantra that you follow in day to day life? I would say my mantra changes but a lot of times it’s really trying to be present and allow what’s meant to be.

Which places that you visit do you personally find the most spiritual? Everywhere has different

Find out more about Angie’s services at angiebanicki.com or follow her instagram @angiebanicki

Tarot deck hotlist

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Do you ever read your own cards? YES, more for little things or when I need a reminder. A lot of times I use them to book flights. What dates we should travel. Where we should go. It’s so fun!

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NEVER be able to do it if it didn’t work. I remember at first when people asked me, I would freak out questioning it but then I would say things and they’d be amazed at what the cards already saw happening.

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fountain tarot

marigold tarot

serpentfire tarot

starchild tarot

£21.98, wordery.com

£27.12, kickstarter.com

£35.55, serpentfire.ca

£45.94, starchildtarot.com aura

curiosities

Curiouser and Curiouser A compelling compilation of curiosities.

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If you’re a fiend for the occult, then the spellbinding collection of witchy objects at one of Cornwall’s most popular, and by far the most mystifying, museums is the place for you. The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is home to over 3000 curiosities ranging from a waxen cursed doll to a black mirror used to foresee the future. Opened in 1961 by Cecil Williamson, the small Cornish village of Boscastle is the perfect place for this mystic attraction. Williamson himself even states ‘all around us in this quiet corner of England there is a strange feeling that we are not alone and that the shadows of persons passed on and over into the world of spirit are very close’ making this bewitching experience all the more authentic.

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highgate cemetery Vampire hunting, grave robbing and the paranormal are just some of the few scandals that linger over Highgate Cemetery. Opened in 1839, the infamous cemetery gained its sinister status over the years due to it being the location for horror films, at the centre of a vampire hunting scandal involving two magicians, and the unfortunate hunting ground for grave robbers who would leave corpses staked and beheaded – once even leaving a headless corpse in an unsuspecting man’s car. Whether you’re a scare junkie or want to appreciate some eerily beautiful architecture, then Highgate is the place to visit.

2 tina yu

Tina Yu is a Chinese artist living in New York who creates sculptures which she describes as “whimsical, creepy, fairytale figurines.” Made out of polymer clay, painted with sickly-sweet coloured acrylic and often adorned with glitter and crystals, her sculptures make you question whether you should be enchanted by their beauty and delicacy or slightly terrified by their seductively dark details.

At first glance, her sculptures look sweet and innocent, but have a closer look and you’ll notice the menacingly blacked out eyes or the tiny ants unsuspectingly crawling all over them. A sculpture of an intricately detailed mermaid named Kainalu even depicts her eating a slice of her own exquisitely embellished tail garnished with a slice of lemon – if I looked that good I’d want to eat myself too. Yu also sculpts tiny decorative custom hands which double up as pendants. Despite all being incredibly dainty, the hand designs range from being inspired by fauna and flora, to bleak blackened fingers with blood red nails clearly inspired by something much more sinister. Follow her on Instagram at @ tina.yu.artist to enjoy daily doses of her ethereal work and join her army of 237,000 followers who she often turns to for advice and suggestions throughout her creative process.

(from left to right) photos by john hooper and highgate cemetery

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Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

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PHOTOS BY TINA YU

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aura

curiosities

The Phantom Atlas brings you maps of the world, yet not as it is, but as it was once thought to be. This book presents to you a world full of fantastical civilisations and islands which were all believed to be real at one point in time with remarkable stories of monsters, heroes, tricksters, myths and more that go along with them. From stories of the famed lost city of Atlantis and the giants of Patagonia which some travellers claimed to be 9ft tall, to the Garden of Eden plotted on an 18th century map and the Mountains of Kong which spanned across Africa and were drawn on many maps – until they were proven to in fact not be real at all. Some of these mythical places were even included on maps which were published in the 21st century. This atlas of mythical geography includes maps dating back to the 1400’s along with illustrations to accompany the captivating stories told by author Edward Brooke-Hitching and is the perfect read for all of the travellers, book worms and cartophiles amongst you.

house of dreams

Eccentric, eclectic and undeniably enchanting, the House of Dreams is a rainbow feast for your eyes. Created by artist and former textile designer Stephen Wright, who once sold his designs to the likes of Liberty and Harrods, the House of Dreams in East Dulwich is a culmination of Wrights thoughts, dreams, loves and life. Inspired by outsider art, before you’ve even stepped over the threshold you’re hit with a sea of multi-coloured mosaic tiles adorning the pathway and walls accompanied by a slightly unsettling number of dolls and their limbs and an endless array of bottle tops stuck on the front door creating a kaleidoscope of colours. A tongue in cheek sign on the door states ‘Please note, I decided to go for the minimal look’.

Upon entering, you’re met with a psychedelic explosion of found and donated objects ranging from wholesomely childlike plastic gems stuck on the walls, to majestic Madonna statues arranged in a shrine like way. Along with the handwritten boards of diary style notes stating things such as ‘I’m sad (and frightened)’ and ‘I’m 45 years of age now.

I wonder where this journey is taking me’, the House of Dreams is not only a jovial collection of random items, but is also a gateway into Wrights mind and the raw emotions that it harbours.

aura

GODS OWN JUNKYARD

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Hidden away in a warehouse in Walthamstow is a neon paradise which goes by the name of Gods Own Junkyard. A showcase of owner Chris Bracey’s own neon light designs as well as the hundreds that he’s collected and restored over the years, Gods Own Junkyard is rainbowhued haven. With signs from Soho sex clubs, giant religious statues, a disco ball so big you could ride it Miley Cyrus style and neon props Bracey created for movies from Captain America to Eyes Wide Shut, this otherworldly psychedelic display is a fluorescent experience like no other. If this feast for your eyes gets you feeling a bit peckish, there’s even a cafe there called the Rolling Scones where you can grab a cuppa and a slice of cake. Sadly, Bracey passed away in 2014 but his luminous Aladdin’s cave is still being run by his family and is open to the public Friday-Sunday.

(from left to right) photos by phantom atlas and house of dreams

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5 4 the phantom atlas

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photos by tara costello

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curiosities

CUT ME OUT

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Cut this little mermaid out and put her together using split pins to create a curious little keep-sake.

the bookshelf Aura’s collection of spellbinding books for the curious cats amongst you.

photos by. words by

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Tangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan A darkly bewitching feminist retelling of classic fairytales, £11.34

The Signs

by Carolyne Faulkner A guide to contemporary astrology, £7.91

3 5

The Handmade Apothecary by Vicky Chown & Kim Walker Healing herbal remedies, £4.99

Modern Tarot by Michelle Tea Connecting with your higher self through the wisdom of the cards, £12.99

Wiccapedia

by Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway A modernday white witch’s guide, £7.91

4 6

Elemental Energy

by Kristin Petrovich Crystal and gemstone rituals for a beautiful life, £20.99

all books available to buy at amazon.co.uk

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PSYCHEDELIC A look into the doorway of psychedelic spirituality.

aura

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oday, the use of mind-altering drugs is stigmatized beyond belief, particularly in Western society. Imagining a world where societies use psychoactive substances incorporating them into their religious and social beliefs without tainting their reputation or being judged almost seems laughable. But what if I told you that that’s how it used to be, and in some cultures around the world, that’s exactly how it still is.

Despite what 15-year-old you might’ve thought, you and your mates weren’t the first ones to discover drugs. They weren’t even discovered by your parents during their long-haired, flower-power, hippie phase in the 70s. In fact, the use of hallucinogens can be traced all the way back to 500 B.C. with small ‘mushroom stone’ sculptures being found in Mexico suggesting that hallucinogenic ‘magic’ mushrooms were used in sacred cults.

Fossilised opium plants have been found in Italy dating back to 6000 B.C. whilst the natural psychedelic mescaline bean seeds were found in Peru dating around 9000 B.C. It’s even suggested by some scholars that ancient historical figures such as Pythagoras used drugs as it enhanced their genius abilities, whilst Viking beserkers were considered ‘shaman warriors’ and used herbal substances to induce fury and courage and instil fear into their enemies.

In ancient Egypt, blue lotus was a favourite amongst the Egyptians.

Comparative to a weaker version of ecstasy, the flower was used for over 3,000 years by Egyptian priests to arouse feelings of tranquillity and euphoria. The main method of consumption is brewing the flowers in tea which increases its potency and results in the consumer experiencing a dreamy trance-like state which is beneficial for meditation and magical rituals. Even today, some indigenous people still use blue lotus as it’s said to induce a blissful sleep.

The Egyptians weren’t the only ancient civilisation to reap the benefits of the natural psychoactive elements found around them. Found in the mountains of the Andes and amongst the strongest drugs in the world, the coca leaf was considered sacred by Mayans and was chewed and brewed by them for its powerful stimulating effects. Used whilst partaking in activities involving manual labour for its ability to enhance endurance as well as being used ritualistically, just 100 grams of the coca leaf contains the daily recommended intake of several vitamins, calcium, iron and phosphorus for a fully-grown man. Despite its seemingly magic powers, it’s to be used sparingly as a slight overdose can have lethal effects so no having a bowlful of it as one of your five a day.

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scholar, Terence Mckenna, stating “I am For those of you who have had the convinced that if there were no shamanic chance to visit Amsterdam, it’s very pipeline, there would be no higher life, likely that if you didn’t feel wild enough as we know it, on this planet.” to try what we know today as ‘magic mushrooms’ that you at least came Another psychedelic drug which is still across them in the heart of mushroom used by certain tribes today is one tourism. It was in the 1950s when two which comes from an aesthetically and Americans got their hands on and tested nutritionally rather unremarkable out the Mazatec custom of psilocybin shrub, but the hallucinogenic mushrooms and then shared their properties within it is what ‘profound’ experience that the worlds results in it being worshipped. turbulent affair with mushrooms began.

Known as iboga and grown in One of the most popular recreational Gabon in Central Africa, the psychedelics and used by Ancient people Babongo tribe discovered the in the Saharan Desert as well as by powerful properties within the iboga cultures throughout Central and South shrubs bark thousands of years ago and American today, mushrooms can be seen formed a religion around it called Bwiti. on Algerian murals Loosely translated to dating back to 7000 mean ‘otherworldly “if there was B.C. When foraging tree medicine’, the for the mushrooms, Bwiti worship the no shamanic it’s required that iboga and use it for pipeline, there spiritual growth, the ones picked are found in well-hidden believing that it would be no places where a opens your passage higher life as human would never to the afterlife and we know it” have seen them allows you to travel before that moment through time, reliving and they are then consumed in sacred the memories of your ancestors. rituals, not for spiritual awakening, but to bring about mental and physical healing.

So, whilst modern day scientists have To the Mazatec’s of Mexico, these fungi been stumbling around attempting are considered ‘tiny gods’ as they believe to find the meaning of life and gain a that God has been discovered within the higher intelligence through equations mushroom and it’s healing power is its and diagrams, across the world and gift. The hallucinations that come with throughout history, tribes and cultural consuming the mushrooms however, are groups have studied, experimented with embraced by its ancient users and the and consumed organic substances for higher state of consciousness it induces healing, spiritual and societal practices are said to bring profound insights which and in turn have found enlightenment are sometimes described as ‘mystical and comfort. Just as these substances experiences’. Even today, some drug were here thousands of years before history students believe that these us, they will most likely still be here hallucinations may have thousands of years after us and will carry been the beginning of on being an integral part in numerous humanity’s cultural and civilisations, occasionally allowing a lucky spiritual evolution with few to see through the fog and into the one hallucinogenics divine.

aura

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&

the moon, who could not be happy?

aura

Oscar Wilde

illustrations by freepik

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With freedom, books, flowers

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photos by. words by

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curiosities aura

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photos by. words by

‘gaia’ by Audra Auclair @audraauclair audraauclair.com

Our favourite girl crushes throughout mythological history.

Name: Aphrodite Occupation: Greek Goddess of Love, Beauty and Pleasure Symbols: Mirror, Roses, Dove, Sparrow, Swan, Scallop Shell About: Aphrodite is believed to have been born in the waters of Paphos, Cyprus when Cronus severed his father Uranus’s genitals and threw them into the sea and the resulting foam rose up creating Aphrodite (she was undeniably extra from birth). Although the exact meaning of her name is unknown, the Greeks connected it with the Greek word aphrós, meaning ‘sea-foam’. She is also known as Venus in Roman mythology.

Being a goddess, she was immortal and incredibly powerful with a girdle belt that had the powers to make people fall in love with the wearer. She even occasionally lent the belt to other goddesses such as Hera – we love a girl who looks out for her squad. It’s also said that she rode a flying chariot that was led by sparrows - you can’t get much more boujee than that.

Despite being married to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and metalwork, she wasn’t the type to put all her eggs in one basket and had many lovers. One of those lovers was Ares, the god of war, with whom she had Eros, the god of love also known as Cupid in Roman mythology. Today, the term ‘aphrodisiac’ describes something which arouses your sexual desire, such as oysters, chocolate, red wine and strawberries (which are said to originate from Aphrodite’s heart-shaped tears when she learned of her lover Adonis’s death).

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(from left to right) artwork by Adolphe-william Bouguereau, lindsay rapp, Sandro Botticelli

mystic

#mystic CRUSH monday

aura

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Badass Witches

aura

photos by. words by

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A religion, an aesthetic, a movement.

aura

Similarly to its growth in the 70s, the resurgence of witchcraft today has come alongside that of feminism with many seeing witchcraft as a symbol for female empowerment. It was the oh so evil acts of indulging, being free-willed, laughing loudly (which led to the idea of a witch’s cackle), challenging patriarchal systems and having

photos by. words by

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Fast-forward to 2017 and the ‘crimes’ these women of the past had been committing are now all the rage. Trend forecasting groups such as J. Walter Thompson rightly predicted that mysticism such as witchcraft would be a defining trend this year, particularly among millennials who are looking for ‘a way to create change through processes that you can’t entirely understand.’

For most, the word ‘witch’ instantly conjures up ideas of ugly, green-faced hags who fly around on crooked looking broomsticks (which can’t be too comfortable for their lady parts) and aren’t the type of girl you’d want to invite to lady’s night. They might even have a wart or two and a black cat as a sidekick. In actual fact, the word ‘witch’ comes from the Old-English word ‘wit’ meaning ‘keenness and quickness of perception or discernment’, therefore ‘witchcraft’ is practicing the art of keen wisdom.

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R

ewind to 1563 and cloaked by the black of night, women gather in secret to practice the Craft and exchange knowledge. These women are committing a crime worthy of being burnt at the stake. It’s now 1951 and the laws on witchcraft have finally been changed making it no longer illegal to practice. However, it wasn’t till the late 60’s and early 70’s that witchcraft started to gain popularity alongside movements such as the women’s liberation as the cultural revolution and political turbulence of the time gave people a reason to latch onto movements which offered the idea of feminine power in a society that offered none.

sex which led to women being accused of being witches. 450 years later and women have suffered years of persecution and still are. They’re still having to fight to be put in positions of power, they have their bodily rights decided for them by men and are slut shamed for expressing their sexuality. This is why, in attempt to take their femininity back into their own hands, women are turning to witchcraft as the power it brings provides women with the feeling of comfort and control and helps them to harness their inner wisdom.

Woody Allen recently labelling the ongoing sexual assault allegations of Harvey Weinstein a ‘witch hunt’, compelled author and feminist Lindy West to respond ‘Yes, this is a witch hunt.

I’m a witch, and I’m hunting you.’ Proving that being a witch today is seen as a symbol of strength and empowerment.

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due to spell-work are considered as misguided. Similar to a prayer, a spell is a ritual formula, or series of steps taken to accomplish a positive goal.

For any of you considering conjuring up a spell to get revenge on a cheating ex or hexing the Starbucks barista who spelt your name wrong despite you being a Despite yet another misconception that regular then be prepared for your karma as witches are a cult of devilWitchcraft teaches that worshippers who you anything you send out “Anything you is returned threefold, wouldn’t want to come across in a dark alley, they whether that be positive send out is do not worship Satan at or negative energy. returned all and most don’t even believe in him. Witchcraft In the early days of threefold” is a nature-based religion witchcraft, rather than and is a dedication made to nature, the deities having a Bible-type book of the teachings, and yourself. Unlike Christians, whose God they were passed along by an Elder of the rules over the Universe, the divine power that Craft through spoken word therefore ensuring witches worship is known as the One or All that the knowledge was not passed into the and to them it is the Universe. The One and wrong hands. Unfortunately, this resulted All is often personified as God and Goddess in a lot of the knowledge being lost when as it makes it more relatable and easier to the medieval church began its attempts comprehend. to convert and abolish rival belief systems causing a lot of the Elders to be killed or to If you’re considering exploring witchcraft, don’t go underground. Nowadays, most modern worry you don’t have to delve into casting witches have a Grimoire or Book of Shadows spells at elaborate ceremonies and rituals which is a culmination of their individual rituals, straight away. Many witches just use simple spells, herb lore and discoveries etc. much meditation to practice the Craft so you could like a workbook or diary but most likely far easily fit it in between your standard everyday more interesting than the diaries most of us binging on Netflix and scrolling through the kept aged 13 which consisted of scrawling Mrs Gram. Casting spells also isn’t a necessity [insert your name] DiCaprio obsessively across with not all witches doing spell-work and every page and the odd antidote about what anyone who seeks to follow witchcraft solely we ate for dinner that day.

artwork by amrit brar

aura

Just to make your head spin a bit more, being a witch and being Wiccan aren’t synonymous.

Witchcraft is a skill or methodology which people practice but it has long been a debate about whether witchcraft itself is a religion or not, with some witches believing it is and others practicing it in addition to or instead of another religion. Whilst the practice of it can be traced back 40,000 years, it wasn’t till the 50s that Gerald Gardner developed the religion of Wicca, which is a spiritual philosophy based on the old traditions of witchcraft, with its own code of ethics, concepts, rituals and deities etc. So, whilst many witches choose to follow the Wiccan religion, many witches follow no religion at all and some even follow other religions and incorporate their faiths beliefs into their witchcraft practice.

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photo by marcus tondo

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photos bY marcus tondo, ALESSANDRO GAROFALO and yannis vlamos

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illustration by kasi turpin

wiccan festivals Yule - Also known as Winter Solstice is

a celebration of the return of light on the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Imbolc – This festival celebrates the coming of spring, the end of winter and the start to a new agricultural year.

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Eostar – Eostar marks the Spring

Equinox. The day and night are equal lengths and it’s a time of growth and renewal.

Beltane – Beltane is the time of union

and is often when Pagan marriages are performed.

Litha – Litha or Midsummer is the

longest day and shortest night of the year and marks the approach of autumn.

Lughnasad – This signifies the hope

for an ample harvest. Modern Wiccans focus on developing their abilities during this time.

Mabon – The day and night are in

perfect balance and it is a time to reap what has been sewn.

Samhain – Also called All Hallows

Eve, this marks the new year and is a time to celebrate all that has been accomplished. aura

Although the rise of witchcraft is undeniably largely down to woman being drawn to its alluringly empowering views and values, many are also latching on to it for the bewitchingly beautiful aesthetic. Forget Witches of Eastwick, the Witches of Instagram are coming out in full force with #witch having 5,103,797 captivating results whether they’re a fully-fledged Wiccan or are just curiously dabbling. With posts on crystal collections, shrines, the occult and even their girl squads which they wittily refer to as their ‘coven’, it’s easy to see why women around the world are falling head over heels

for witchcraft. They are a positive source of inspiration for women and girls worldwide unapologetically promoting feminism, learning to love yourself and all-round girl-power.

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Even the world of pop-culture is being influenced by this enchanting witchy zeitgeist.

All you have to do is look to the runway to see witchcraft making its mark. Christian Dior’s 2018 Resort collection included spellbinding clothes adorned with illustrations from the Motherpeace feminist tarot card deck created

by Vicki Noble and this was nothing new.

Their SS17 collection included clutch bags embroidered with lucky tarot cards (inspired by the fact that Monsieur Christian Dior himself would carry around lucky talismans) and tops with slogans such as ‘La Luna’ and ‘We should all be feminists’ on them showing that even Dior knows what’s up when it comes to the witchcraft and feminism. Dior’s artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri has even stated she wants to define Dior as a feminist brand and links magic with femininity and feminism. Witchcraft was also an unmistakable inspiration behind Sarah Burtons AW17 collection for Alexander McQueen. ‘It really started when we went to Cornwall and it was so beautiful’ Burton stated, with Cornwall being a prominent area in the emergence of witchcraft. The witchy influences were prevalent through the delicately crafted mystic and earthy symbols from hand amulets to mushrooms. ‘We were talking about paganism and how it’s all about the earth.

These witches could feel the earth more, they feel more connected. They’re here and so are their spells. We’re so disconnected from the earth as it is, and witches were basically healers’ Burton said.

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Witches

of Instagram @_theopaque_

@katinka_melancholia

@radianthuman

@hauswitch

@prismofthreads

@inkajournal

@plantfolk

aura

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@flowermedicine_

photos by. words by

@thecraftofthewise

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Which Witch?

Augury Witches have the gift of prophecy. They interpret sacred signs and symbols that an individual has encountered on their spiritual journey to help direct them. They take their name from Roman ‘augurs’ whose task it was to discover whether or not the gods approved of someone’s course of action through signs and omens.

Ceremonial Ceremonial Witches hold rituals and ceremonies in high esteem. They often use their Book of Shadows as well as incorporating scientific approaches such as sacred mathematics and quantum mysticism to ensure the ceremonies are executed perfectly.

Hedge ‘Hedge’ represents the boundary between this world and the spirit world. Hedge Withes are able to communicate with spirits and travel to the Otherworld therefore making them powerful midwives and healers. They are frequently symbolised by birds, commonly a goose or raven and are relatively Shamanic in nature.

Hereditary To be a Hereditary Witch, you must be born into a family of witches that has passed the practice of ‘The Old Ways’ down throughout the generations.

However, you are not born a witch and can only become one by accepting the Craft.

Gardnerian

Kitchen

Gardnerian witchcraft was created in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern day Wicca.

They go against religious and societal conventions and to become a Gardnerian Witch you must go through initiation - you cannot initiate yourself. They have strong feelings for nature and the practice often involves colourful rituals.

Despite what it sounds like, a Kitchen Witch doesn’t spend her time making potions in a cauldron in her kitchen. It consists of making everyday tasks sacred and turning her home and surroundings into a sacred place similarly to the practice of mindfulness.

She uses practical, everyday tools to do spells and rituals.

Green

Solitary

A Green Witch senses the Divine Spirit in nature and communicates with Mother Earth through her energies. They practice in fields and forests and mainly uses natural materials for their rituals. Those who predominantly use flora and flowers in their practice are consider a Flora Witch and those who use herbs and plants are a Herbal Witch.

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illustration by nevhada

Augury

These witches don’t belong to a certain group and follow no particular tradition. Although they may attend gatherings and events, they practice alone and are often seen as natural witches. Legend has it that Solitary Witches are those who have practiced the Craft over many lifetimes and therefore upon reaching puberty their knowledge is reawakened. aura

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Ingredients − Turmeric Root: Anti-inflammatory powerhouse − Ginger Root: Warming and stimulating − Liquorice Root: Adrenal tonic for stress − Marshmallow Root: Mucilage rich and soothing for digestion − Burdock Root: Bitter tonic that strengthens and detoxifies the liver Instructions − Put it all into a bowl of boiling water for 20minutes and then drain into a cup − Add lemon juice to get the day going − Add black pepper for absorption of all those magical herbal constituents − To be sipped in the best spot possible

aura

Brew concocted by @susiewilliamss

illustrations by freepik

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A Concoction To Get The Day Going

mystic

FILL ME IN Writing down positive affirmations is a great way to start the process of manifesting the life that you want. They give you the power to rewire your brain and in turn make you feel more positive and have a stronger belief that your wishful words will come true making you more likely to act to make them become reality.

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illustrations by freepik

Write your affirmations here:

3 Simple Rules

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2

Write your affirmations as if they are already true, e.g. ‘I am happy’ not ‘I want to be happy’.

Keep your affirmations believable, don’t go OTT by saying ‘I am ecstatic all day every day’ for example.

3

Once you have written them down, say your affirmations out loud daily to help them manifest. aura

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dream interpretation 101

1

aura

Cant Speak or Scream Not being able to scream in your sleep can be quite terrifying. It can represent frustration or helplessness in a certain situation or your difficulty at communicating with people. It can also represent people supressing you in real life.

2 Teeth There’s nothing worse than grinning at yourself in the mirror and being smiled back at by a toothless face. These dreams represent feelings of insecurity or inadequacy as well as worries of growing old.

Rotting teeth may also suggest you’ve said something you shouldn’t have, whilst spitting out teeth means there’s something that you need to say or admit in waking life.

3 Cats

Dreaming of a cat can represent stealth and independence. Different cats can also represent different things, with alley cats representing promiscuity and black cats representing good or bad luck depending on how you see them. If the black cat is clawing at or biting you it can also represent you needing to acknowledge your intuition.

illustration by freepik

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A guide to help you make sense of those seemingly senseless dreams.

The dreaded and all too common dream in which you strut into school, the office or a party and you suddenly realise it’s a bit draughty, then you look down and discover that your boobs are wild and free, along with the rest of your body.

These dreams can symbolise a lot of things, from vulnerability, insecurity or fear of exposure.

Perhaps you have opened up to someone and fear being rejected or are putting on a false act and are scared of being exposed. However, they can also symbolise freedom of expression and that you are open, honest and carefree.

Birds

Flowers are a symbol of inner beauty and spiritual self. Different flowers symbolise different things. Forgetme-not’s may represent feeling neglected in a relationship or a forgotten friendship, whilst a pansy represents undying love.

Bluebells symbolise the bringing of news and a lo may suggest a spiritual transformation.

8 Art

If you’re not a naturally creative person yet you dream of writing a novel, painting a masterpiece or being artistic in any way this represents your creative nature and may suggest that you need to find a way to express yourself creatively or be more imaginative in waking life. aura

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Birds are seen as symbols for freedom, transformation, intuition and the ability to see the bigger picture i.e. a bird’s eye view. They are often considered good omens e.g. doves represent peace and hawks a bright future.

However, they can be interpreted negatively.

For example, magpies could represent a threat to a relationship, whilst a black crow represents misfortune.

Dreams of the ocean depict your emotions in walking life. Dreaming of a stormy sea represents passion, a shallow sea represents a lack of emotion whilst a calm sea represents peace and emotional stability. Swimming or falling into an ocean may represent being overwhelmed by a problem you face.

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photos by. words by

nudity

Flowers

Ocean

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Camille Chew #50

WE TALK TO NEW YORK ILLUSTRATOR OF ALL THINGS MYSTIC CAMILLE CHEW. What’s your favourite piece of artwork that you’ve created?

Currently my favourite artworks are the illustrations and cover I did for Basic Witches; a feminist, modern-day guide to witchcraft that matched perfectly how I view and portray witches in my personal work. It was the first book I illustrated, a really great experience working with the publisher, and I’m super proud of how the finished book turned out.

aura

Have you always illustrated?

Pretty much. I’ve made art since I was little and have always wanted to pursue it as a career.

After graduating from college where I got a BFA concentrating in Printmaking I still wasn’t sure what specific career in the arts I wanted. I started doing more digital illustration and posting my work online which led to me

getting a few clients. After those small successes I started pursuing illustration more seriously and over the past several years have been able to make it into a career.

Tell me about your illustration process. My illustrations start with some thumbnail sketches to figure out composition and writing out a list of various elements I want to include. Next, I go into Photoshop, choose a colour palette, draw a very scribbly sketch, and create the whole illustration digitally with a drawing tablet.

What inspires you? I’m inspired by so many things. Most notably the archetype of the witch, fantasy, mythology, the occult, street fashion, and of course the artwork of fellow illustrators.

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photos by. words by

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aura

‘witches familiar’ by camille chew @camillechew camillechew.com

wanderlust

Once Upon a Time From stories of devious fairies to formidable beasts, legends, fables and fairytales full of magic, mysticism and danger enrich our history across the globe.

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Wendigo – Canada Wendigo’s are said to once have been humans whose insatiable greed and excessive consumption resulted in their transformation. When translated, the word ‘Wendigo’ means ‘evil spirit that devours mankind’. The Algonquians describe the Wendigo as so gaunt they look as if they have come from the grave with ominous glowing eyes, decaying sallow grey skin and with an unquenchable, ravenous desire for human flesh. Between the 1800s and 1920s in a town in Minnesota just bordering Canada, there were various claims of people seeing these creatures and every time there was a sighting, a death in the town followed.

Iara – Brazil Said to be the princess of an Amazonian tribe, Iara grew up to be a fearless warrior, even fiercer than all the men in her tribe. Envious of her skills, Iara’s brothers decided to kill her whilst she slept. As soon as they got near her however, Iara awoke and killed them both. When her tribe woke up to find her brothers dead and not believing her claims of self-defence, they hunted her down and eventually drowned her in a river. Underwater, the fish took pity on Iara and gifted her with a tail turning her into the first of many river-dwelling mermaids known as the Iara. From that day, Iara would lure unsuspecting men to the river with her enchanting voice and exotic green eyes and drown them. The natives of Brazil often blame the Iara for the deaths and disappearances of men on the Amazon River and to this day many avoid going by the river at night.

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Boton Doro – Japan The story of Boton Doro or Peony Lantern is set in 17th century Japan. A young man named Saburo and a beautiful woman named Saburo who was always accompanied by a girl with a peony lantern fell into the deepest and purest kind of love which blossomed like a peony. One day however, Saburo fell ill and when he recovered he was told Otsuyu had died. Overwhelmed by grief, when the festival of Obon came around which honours the spirits of one’s ancestors, Saburo prayed for Otsuyu’s soul to visit. As he was leaving, he was shocked to see Otsuyu followed by a girl with a peony lantern, and when she saw him she exclaimed that she too had been told that he had died. After that, they met every night in secret. One night, a curious slave decided to see who Saburo had been spending his nights with but when he peered into his room, he was horrified to discover Saburo in an embrace with a skeleton. The next day, a priest placed talismans around Saburo’s house to ward off Otsuyu’s spirit.

Fearing their son would die from a broken heart however, Saburo’s parents asked the priest to remove the talismans to allow him to see her one last time. The following morning, Saburo was found dead in his bed, entwined with a skeleton with a look of perfect bliss on his face.

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The Tylwyth Teg - Wales In Welsh tales, fairies are often depicted as slightly sinister creatures who frequently steal humans and babies. In this story, a midwife had a servant named Eilian who was regularly described as ‘away with the fairies’ and one day vanished. A while later, the midwife was summoned to assist a labour at to a mansion so exquisite it seemed otherworldly. When the baby was born, the mother asked the midwife to rub some ointment onto its eyes, and much by mistake, the midwife got it on her eyes too.

Suddenly, the magnificence of the room diminished, and what she saw before her was not a luxurious home but a dreary cave and when she turned to the mother, she saw none other than the missing Eilian.

Eilian begged the midwife to leave as there was no way to help, so the midwife obeyed, taking a bag of fairy gold with her as payment.

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Explore with us...

Northern Lights, Iceland, Photo by Naian Wan

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Mauritius Photo by John O’Nolan #55 aura

Iguaza Falls, Argentina Photo by Julia Caeser

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#56 aura

Tibidabo, Spain Photo by Biel Morro

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Liguria, Italy Photo by Geatano Cessati #57 aura

Vancouver, Canada Photo by Polychrome Creative

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#58 aura

Durdle Door, England Photo by Matt Cannon

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Piburger See, Austria, Photo by Paul Gilmore #59 aura

Dubrovnik, Croatia Photo by Jana Jedinak

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1 2 3 desert hearts

Secret Solstice

o.z.o.r.a

Where: California, America When: 27 - 30 Apr 2018 vibe: If house, techno and just some good old-fashioned love are important aspects of your life, then Desert Hearts is the festival for you. Starting in 2012 and focusing on art, music and community, the festival is now considered a world-class house and techno gathering. With opportunities to contribute to the festival through workshops and your art, Desert Hearts is all about bringing people together to vibe off each other and create the most amount of love and positive energy possible through music and creativity. Set in the mountains of Los Coyotes, the festival brings together the beauty of both the desert and forest and features activities from yoga to crystal healing.

Where: Reykjavik, Iceland When: 21-24 June 2018 Vibe: 4 days of partying just outside of Icelands capital of Reykjavik during the summer solstice when the sun never sets, Secret Solstice festival is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

With genres from psychedelic rock to R&B, this festival has a line-up of world famous acts performing against the backdrop of the breath-taking midnight sun. As if this wasn’t enough, there are side events in hidden lagoons and a cave created by a volcanic eruption adding to the beauty and wonder of the festival experience. For the explorers amongst you, sights such as the Blue Lagoon, spectacular waterfalls and Game of Thrones filming locations are all located nearby making Secret Solstice an event you won’t want to miss.

Where: Ozora, Hungary When: 30 July - 5 Aug 2018 vibe: In 1999, the village of Ozora was the perfect place to see the total eclipse of the sun in Hungary and more than 20,000 people took part in the daylong celebration. Fast forward to 2005 and O.Z.O.R.A Festival was created and by 2010 it was recognised as one of the most influential psychedelic tribal gatherings in the world.

Described as a psychedelic trance ‘psytrance’ festival, its focus is music and community stating, ‘Music is the only language the whole world understands’. Set in the vast green fields of Ozara, the festival is a whirlwind of neon colours and bright lights with a manmade lake being finished for this year’s festival to complete the picturesque experience.

Festival no.6

burning man

Where: Dorset, England When: 2 - 5 Aug 2018 vibe: This year, Bestival is celebrating 250 years of Circus so expect to spend your days being wowed by the Night Circus Parade and astounded by the fire eaters. You’ll be able to get lost in the hall of mirrors and delve into the circus workshops and with quirky features such as an 8ft ‘love-bot’ and the world’s largest confetti cannon as well as an inflatable church in which you can actually get married (would be a great story to tell the grandkids), Bestival is the place to be. Environmental causes are also at the heart of the festival with it actively reducing its carbon emissions and creating schemes such as Swim to Bestival – what more could you want from a festival?

Where:Portmeirion, Wales When: 16-19 Aug 2018 vibe: Set in the dream-like, picturesque coastal village of Portmeirion, Festival No.6 is like stepping onto the set of a fairytale. With a Mediterranean inspired main stage, a Chinese Lake and a Tangled Wood, each and every detail of Festival No.6 was been designed to make you feel as if you’re in a fantasy land.

With accommodation available in a castle, cottages and boutique tipis and entertainment in the shape of hidden raves, spoken word performances, comedy, cabaret, screenings, installations and much more, you’ll never have a dull moment. If you need some down times, there’s even a spa and yoga and mindfulness classes making Festival No.6 a truly unique festival experience.

Where: Nevada, America When: 26 Aug – 3 Sept 2018 vibe: Beginning in 1986 as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in which a group of friends burned a 9ft wooden man, Burning Man Festival has since transformed into a temporary metropolis named Black Rock City in which an annual gathering of ‘dreamers and doers’ takes place. Everything within the city is created by its citizens and acts and entertainment are not provided but are created by the festival goers. Influenced by its ten main principles of radical inclusion, community, cooperation, participation, self-reliance, self-expression, civic responsibility, gifting, decommodification, immediacy, and leaving no trace it is a festival dedicated to art and community.

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