Hello and Welcome,

As we enter the season of the witch and classes, workshops and gatherings have begun, I realize I haven't written in a little while and wanted to send out an update before Samhain is upon us.  After many years of touring during the fall season, I'm ecstatic with my decision to stay in New England for October. I had just a quick two day jaunt to New Orleans to support the Witches of NOLA and I was taken care of splendidly, but now I'm back. I had fun drinking too much rum with fellow author Kristen Madden. Try walking a labyrinth then! But being home to explore the New England forests, despite the unusual snow showers, is wonderful. 

We recently had our first fundraiser for The Temple of Witchcraft organization. It was a small, experimental workshop on the Mysteries of Merlin hosted by LIchenwood Herbals of N.H. Owner Christine Tolf was extremely generous with her time, energy and resources to host this event at Lichenwood. We had an excellent turn out and I got to unveil some new information and techniques based on my own personal work and research with the consciousness of Merlin. I'm sure it will end up in a book at some point, though don't hold your breath yet. I like to research, experiment and teach something for a few years before I commit it to a book. If you would like more information on the Temple of Witchcraft and its evolving mission as a Mystery School, Seminary and Ministerial Church, please visit our new website, www.templeofwitchcr..aft.org. We are fundraising to eventually obtain property for a physical site for a community center, teaching space and temple for ritual. We plan on doing more classes, fundraiser workshops and even some auctions to rally funds. I'm sure more information will be forthcoming a things progress. 

While a Merlin book won't be out quite yet, I do, however, have a new offering for everyone. Late last month, my newest book, The Witch's Coin, was released through Llewellyn Publications. It's available at fine booksellers everywhere, as well as my own website, www.christopherpenc..zak.com. In these tough economic times, it's a manual for transforming our relationship with money. It includes training in casting money and success spells with a materia magicka of herbs, stones, oils and other ingredients, but I'm particularly proud of the rituals, meditations and pagan philosophies to transform your understanding of prosperity, what it truly means to prosper from a witch's perspective. The feedback I've gotten so far has been great and I'm excited to spread the word. 

I have a few upcoming special holiday events for the Holiday Season that I'd like to tell you about: 

Celebrate Samhain - I'll be giving a lecture on the Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self Defense at this amazingly great NH Event. It's on Saturday, October 24th and joining me will be the Gypsy Nomads, Karagan, Jimahl di Fiosa, Kevin Ross Emery, Lyrion Ap Tower, Dawn Hunt and many more. There will be lectures, vendors and performances. It's at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main Street, Peterborough, NH. Visit www.CelebrateSamhai..n.com for more info. 

Samhain Ritual for the Temple of Witchcraft in association with The Lap of the Goddess - After some confusion about the date (I do apologize) we'll be celebrating FRIDAY, October 30, at the Masonic Hall in Cambridge, MA at 7 PM. Be prepared for a wonderful, intense and unusual ritual, where we shall use ecastatic dance to descend to the underworld and commune with the ancestors of blood and spirit. Dancing is not mandatory for the ritual. Come in your ritual best and decorated for the holiday, and please, no gory Halloween costumes, but attire appropriate for ritual. 

I'm also just about to close registration for the online year long Witchcraft I apprenticeship. If you are interested in joining us, please email me for an application ASAP.  I still don't have exact details on my Australia trip, but as soon as I do they will be posted. I do know I'll be at the Pagan Summer Gathering, among others. So please check back if you are living in Australia. I'd love to see you. More info on all of my events can be found below or on my schedule for my website. 

Lastly, as the Pokeberries turn almost black where I am living and I spent part of my Saturday making Pokeberry Ink, also known as Witch's Ink, I wanted to leave you with a recipe. 

Ripe Poke Berries

Alcohol(80 PRoof or higher)

Gum Arabic

Small Quartz Crystal

Pick enough ripe poke berries to get a small bottle of juice. If you use a blender or food processor to liquify, make sure you quickly rinse out the materials. Poke is consider poisonous by many and it stains things quite easily. Strain through a strainer or coffee filter to separate the seeds and pulp from the dark magenta juice. You can tell ripe poke because the green berries have turned a deep purple, almost black, and the stems leading to them are a bright magenta. While sea salt or ammonia can be used as a fixative and preservative for the ink, but I prefer a simple 80 proof or higher alcohol. I mix equal parts berry juice to alcohol. Gum Arabic powder is mixed to thicken the ink, which should be shaken up every time you use it. I've heard of adding the ashes of a sacred fire to it instead, though I haven't tried it. The quartz crystal can be charged with energy of manifestation, further charging the ink. I like to do this near the New or Full Moon, as those are powerful times for me. You can even divide your ink into a Pokeberry Ink for Waxing Moon magick and another made during the Waning Moon for Waning spells. Poke ink will fade with time, so it's best to use it for spells, rather than journals or letters, though some documents from both the Revolution and Civil Wars appear to have used a fermeted Pokeberry ink recipe. One of its nicknames is Inkberry. I've found a metal nib pen used for an inkwell is best, though some cut feathers, particularly turkey feathers, at a sharp angle to make a pen nib. 

I hope you enjoy and get time to get outside into the autumn colors. 

Blessed be,

Christopher