Magic Happens Every Day

Introducing our latest house reader: Iyanifa Fakayode

2010-11-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

Recently The Sacred Well invited Iyanifa Fakayode of the Ile Orunmila Oshun to be our newest house reader. She is adept in several forms of Ifa Divination including Four Cowry divination, Sixteen Cowry divination (Merindinlogun), and Obi Obata.But for those of us not in the know, what exactly is Ifa Divination? To find out, we sat down with Fakayode and asked her the questions that we thought you

The First Annual Sacred Well Holiday Artisans Faire!

2010-11-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that locally produced, handmade goods are the best gifts? Those special items that your family and friends keep talking about for years? Join us as we welcome some of our favorite artisans for our first annual Sacred Well Holiday Artisans Faire! Three Saturdays in November from Noon until 6pm, you’ll have the chance to meet local artists and vendors as well as pick up some

Election Day is November 2nd

2010-10-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, Rabbit and I brought you an Election Day spell, in hopes that we could affect real change in this country. Now, at the Midterms, it seems to me that the job isn't quite done. I could wax on about my disappointments in this national administration, but I believe we don't have time to complain, we have to keep moving forward.Just like last time, I'm not going to tell you how to

What's happing at The Sacred Well this weekend? (October 16 & 17)

2010-10-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Come in on Saturday with your singing voice ready.Not Your Momma’s Rounds - with DJ HamourisSaturday October 1611:00 am - 1:00 pm$20.00If you love to sing harmony, come join us for this exciting workshop exploring contemporary and traditional round songs that are jazzy, funny, seasonal and inspirational. Learn challenging but accessible rounds that will stick with you, rounds you’ll share with

Introduction to the F(a)eri(e) Tradition with Storm Faerywolf

2010-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Introduction to the F(a)eri(e) Traditionwith Storm FaerywolfThursday Sept 97:00 pm - 9:00 pm$25The F(a)eri(e) tradition is a mystical path of spiritual development unlike any other.An initiatory mystery tradition of modern witchcraft passed down by Victor and Cora Anderson and those who have been initiated in a lineage tracing back to them, hallmarks of Feri include shamanic practices, as

Magickal Herbs Talk and Booksigning with Jamie Martinez Wood

2010-08-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Herbs are our plant allies, come learn of the multitude of ways they can bring health and harmony to your life.Join us in welcoming Jamie Martinez Wood, author of the The Wicca Cookbook, The Wicca Herbal and the recently published The Faerie’s Guide to Green Magick From the Garden on Sunday, August 15 from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm.We’ll have snacks featured in her latest book and a short talk about

Special Guest Reader Weekend!

2010-06-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

We at The Sacred Well are so pleased to announce the addition of not one, but two new readers to our team. It is a Divine Blessing to offer so much variety and diversity in our divination services and we could not be more excited about it.So, without further ado, allow us to introduce Iyanifa Fakayode, who will be offering Ife Divination and Laura Kennedy, who is skilled in the art of Hand

Mark your calendars!

2010-04-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Sacred Well's Annual Oshun Party Friday, May 7th, 5pm-9pm Put on your fanciest finery and join us for a celebration of love and gratitude at The Sacred Well. We are gathering in honor of our beloved patroness, the Orisha Oshun, Goddess of love and pleasure, healing and midwifery, wealth and abundance, divination and magic. And also in honor of our beloved Proprietress and Tarot reader

Love is in the Air at The Sacred Well!

2010-04-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! Today, at least, is sunny and flowers are blooming. It's the perfect time to open ourselves up to beauty and love. Women - if you haven't joined us for Goddess Awakening Services yet, this is the month to start! Rabbit and Iris collaborate each month to create a Sunday service that cleanses and renews our spirits and gets us ready to move forward as our best selves! This month

Bradford Tilden in concert/reading 2/21

2010-02-18T19:56:00.001-08:00

Book Signing and Concert with Bradford TildenSunday, February 21, 4:00-7:00PMThe Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 510-444-9355$10 suggested donationhttp://www.sacredwell.com/calendar/index.htmlhttp://www.crystalmusichealing.com"Local poet and musician Bradford Tilden will be having a booksigning, and reading from his book of poetry Different Shades ofDesire and Suffering, followed by a

Very Pleased to Announce this Special Event...

2010-01-22T19:18:00.000-08:00

Join us for a special presentation and book signing withAuthor and Women's Spirituality ScholarMarguerite Rigoglioso.Friday, January 29th, 7pm-9pmWere specialized priestesses of antiquity dedicated toDIVINE BIRTH as the highest form of spiritual practice? “Bold, creative, and courageous.” –– Marvin Meyer, The Gospel of Judas In this presentation, Marguerite Rigoglioso, Ph.D., will discuss

Refreshed for the New Year!

2010-01-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Haven't been in to The Sacred Well in a few weeks? Well, I strongly encourage a visit!In addition to adding to our candle selection (including scented Goddess, Moon and HooDoo candles), we have expanded our choices in incense and recently started working with a new jewelry maker! Plus, we've restocked our Tarot card collection!New styles and new smells are all great, but what may be the most

Empty Barrels and Full Hearts

2009-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

Today, James from the Alameda County food bank came and took away an over-flowing barrel of non perishable foods from the Sacred Well. He marveled at the high quality, healthy foods that had been donated, praising our community for thinking about nutrition when it came to our donations. I was so proud we all found good food to give.He left a new, empty barrel behind. I found myself musing about

Free TCM event Tomorrow night!

2009-10-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

Traditional Chinese Medical Secrets of Health and Longevity With Prajna Paramita Choudry, L.Ac., Dipl.O.MFriday, October 236:00-7:00pmFREE (Please RSVP at (510)444-WELL)This 1-hour class will address how the traditional Chinese/ Taoist Understanding of the body differs formt eh modern scientific and mechanistic view of the body.Basic TCM theories about the body and health will be covered,

Our barrel runneth over!

2009-10-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!We have been overwhelmed with joy to see our donation barrel for the Alameda County Food Bank filling up this season. So many great donations have come in. Thank you so very much for your support. These are troubling times for many people, and hunger is a real threat to many seniors, families and children here in Alameda County. In a land of plenty, so many go without. Your

Fertile Darkness

2009-10-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

It's fall! It's getting colder, it's going to rain (I hope!) and the days are shorter and shorter! I must confess, I love the fall, the snuggly sweaters and the hot tea.It's not uncommon for folks to get depressed as the days shorten and gray begins to dominate the skies. It's easy to feel down and blue without warmth and sunshine. But, this is also a great time to begin to turn inward.

2009-09-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Just to Clarify: Ile Orunmila Oshun Temple Service will be this SUNDAY, September 27th from 11am to 12pm. (We are so excited, we got confused about dates) :)

Ile Orunmila Oshun Services, Sun. 9/27

2009-09-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Members of Ile Orunmila Oshun (Temple of Luisah Teish in the Yoruba tradition of Orisha worship) will be gathering at TSW this Saturday, 9/27 at 11 AM to conduct their monthly Temple Service. This month's service is in honor of Aganju, Father of the Volcanos.Temple service provides a space for friends and members of Ile Orunmila Oshun and our wider community to learn about the Orisha and worship

Mercury Retrograde Re-flections

2009-09-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

Mercury retrograde happens multiple times a year, and every time I hear about someone's car issues, computer issues, travel missteps and lots and lots of arguments.But does it have to be that way? Whether or not you buy the basic premise of astrology, you still can see that the idea of confusion can do a lot to actually confuse things. Someone asked me today what I was doing to hold it together

Day of the Doves

2009-08-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Two doves flew INTO The Sacred Well last Sunday.No joke.They were Mourning Doves, which make one of the most beautiful cooing sounds I have ever heard. "Oooo-eee-ooo-ooo-ooo." I grew up hearing that sound outside my bedroom window in the mornings. It followed me to college, where a pair of doves roosted in the eaves outside my 3rd story apartment roof. But rarely do I hear the soft sound of

New Magick Festival!

2009-08-10T17:41:00.001-07:00

If you know me, you may have heard me talk about all the fun I've had at outdoor pagan festivals back home in the Midwest. It may seem counter-intuitive, but since magicians and witches are so spread out in the middle of the country, we have even more reason to gather together as often as we can. I've attended Pagan Spirit Gathering in Ohio (now held in Missouri) and Heartland Festival (in

Science of Tarot: Minor Arcana in August

2009-07-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Rabbit's "Science of Tarot: Minor Arcana" classMonday Aug. 3, Tuesday Aug. 11, Monday Aug. 17, Tuesday Aug. 257-9:30 PMThe Sacred Well536 Grand Ave.Oakland, CA$150 for 4-week classEach week we will cover an entire suit of the Minor Arcana, aka "The Pips." Watch the stories unfold as you learn the powerfully specific messages of the Pip cards. While the Major Arcana are large-scale life choices/

Aquae Vitae Workshop 7/26

2009-07-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

July 26Rabbit's Roundtable: "Aquae Vitae"The Sacred Well536 Grand AveOakland, CA3-5 PM$35Rabbit's Roundtable is a monthly workshop for the beginning to advancedstudent of herbalism, magic, and myth. Each month, Rabbit presents lore andinformation about a different topic, followed by an opportunity to make apotion or spell based on the days' discussion. This month, we will bemaking healing waters,

Clear your calendars!

2009-07-16T14:04:00.001-07:00

Because this weekend will be a lot of fun at The Sacred Well. Friday night, local author and shamanic healer Mikaya Heart will be discussing her book, With the Sun in My Eyes, from 6 to 8 pm. Copies will be available for purchase (and signing!)Saturday night, our very own Rhatura Bowden will be celebrating the opening of his art show, The Elements of Rha, with poetry, music and wine (three of

My Stones are My Friends

2009-07-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

My stones are my friends.I take one or two along with me in my pocket, depending on what type of stone energy - whose - I want to share my day with.They live all over my house in little dishes, just like at the store, adding their imprint to each room like each colorful character brings a certain flavor of conversation to the party. Everyone’s presence is known and appreciated.I have so many

Magic Helps with the Paperwork

2009-06-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with plowing through the paperwork.Being the person in charge of handling all the ‘back-end’ bookkeeping, tax-filing and paperwork-processing duties at The Sacred Well, I haven’t always kept up with my end of the bargain in the timeliest of fashions.But I decided to finally tackle the huge piles of to-dos last week... and I used the energy of the new

What's a "Cornucopia Hat"?

2009-05-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

It's an amazingly creative birthday gift!Today at The Sacred Well, creative co-conspirators Arielle and Aaron put together a super magical gift for a "Earth Mama" friend of theirs (Taurus, Year of the Rat...of course!). They grabbed up a hand-made witch's hat and filled it to the brim with wonderful things!A carnelian for power, a rhodocrosite for heart healing, a pyrite to draw money and an

Oshun Party 5/15/09

2009-05-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Oshun Party at The Sacred WellFriday, May 15, 20095:00-9:00PM (drumming at the Lake at 7:00PM)536 Grand Avenue, Oaklandhttp://www.sacredwell.comNo RSVP necessary- just show up!"Join Rabbit as she celebrates the Goddess Oshun in honor of herbirthday and the month of May.Drop in as you wish between 5 and 9. Gifts are not necessary, butplease bring an offering of 5 pennies.Also, it would be great if

Getting Container-ized at TSW

2009-04-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

We recently began the project of making the back of the store look as good as the front of the store. It's important to be organized in our minds and personal space as well as organized in our public space.So, we began working with Barbara Duncan, the professional organizer who helped Ninette and I with our home. She came in, made some great suggestions about how we could elevate stuff off the

TSW seeking outside sales reps for our products

2009-04-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

CREATE MAGIC! Outside SalesPagan company seeks spiritually open-minded sales representative to sell our new line of original artwork spell candles, magical gem and herb elixirs, and intention oils.The perfect candidate:- Has a belief in magical practices- Feels no disconnect between spiritual practices and making money- Is kind, compassionate, and works well with a wide variety of people with

Herbal Love Magic with Rabbit, 4/19

2009-04-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Herbal Love Magica workshop with Rabbit4/19/093-5 PM$35, includes all class suppliesThe Sacred Well536 Grand Ave.Oakland, CA 94610510-444-9355Please call and have your credit card handy to register for the class, or stop by the store and sign up.“LOOOOOVE is a many-splendored thing…..”Like it or not, we witches are quite often sought after regarding affairs of love. “What?” you ask, “Can you

The Sacred Well Classes & Events

2009-04-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne BradstreetThe Sacred Well Classes & Events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spellwork Classes with Rabbit Rabbit is offering once a month spell working classes! These are one-day classes, on Sunday afternoons, and are $35

Lucid Dreaming with black kyanite

2009-04-07T23:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight, this friendly lady came into the store. Let's call her "Lucid Dreamer." Maybe "Lucid" for short.So, Lucid comes up to the counter and opens with, "I'm not a weird person. In fact, I am a very practical person. BUT..." Now, let me just say how much we love stories that open like that. We are, in fact, a bunch of very weird people and so whatever comes after that phrase is almost

Earth Hour Spell By Steph and Iris

2009-03-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

This Saturday evening (March 28th) is Earth Hour, when people all over the world will be turning off their lights and electric devices for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm, local time. My friend Steph came up with a great idea that while we're all lighting candles, we could be making magic to spread the concept of less consumption and ecological mindfulness! (For more info on Earth Hour, see http

Herbs for Prosperity 6/15/09

2009-03-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Herbs for Prosperitya workshop with Rabbit$35 class and materials feeSunday, Mar. 153-5 PMWhen I was 13 years old, I bought a copy of Culpepper's Complete Herbal, and it was love. For over 20 years I have grown, harvested, wildcrafted, brewed, healed, changed, and potioned with my herbal allies. In this workshop, I will share recipes, magical tactics, and strategies for bringing more wealth

Classes and Events Starting in March!

2009-02-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

"I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." ~ Mark Twain The Sacred Well is offering many new classes starting soon! Call or stop by for more details, and to sign up... Healing Share led by Dragonfly & IrisThursday, March 5, 8:00-9:30pm (Our first healing share was wonderful! Please note the later time.)$5-10 suggested donationThis

Even my parents call me Mulder...

2009-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

Recently, Ninette and I have been Netflix-ing episodes of The X-Files, and indulging our inner Conspiracy Theorists. We love stuff like that, as I am sure many of you do, too.So, the thing about watching the X-Files is that it sort of seeps into your system. We call one another "Scully" and "Mulder" and such. (You guess who is who!) Last week, Ninette's boss called her, and she accidentally

It's a new day, America!

2009-01-20T11:50:00.001-08:00

This morning, with tears streaming down our cheeks, sipping tea, Ninette and I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama. So happy about this.Someone once told me that for a Buddhist, a perfect day is the balance of 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. I thought about how Pres. Obama must have felt this morning, knowing that he is currently at the height of his dream, and simultaneously has never

Happy new year!

2009-01-16T05:26:00.001-08:00

OK, it's a little late. I should probably be saying "Happy Inauguration!" (and we ARE SO happy about it!)But, here is a question: did you make new year's resolutions this year? What were they?Mine were manifold. I build a lot of bulk into my resolutions. I usually align them along themes. Two years ago, it was the Charge of the Star Goddess- I aligned my resolutions under the categories of

Merry Christma-Hanu-Rama-Solsti-Kwanzakkah! Um, Happy Festivous?

2008-12-25T01:36:00.000-08:00

Today is an American Sabbat. Whether you celebrate the religious Christian aspect of it or not, today is definitely a holiday. Banks are closed, doesn't that automatically make it a holiday?So, as an American Sabbat, here is what I perceive Christmas is all about: family, multicultural foods, and commerce.Family: Everywhere you go, you are offered wishes for "you and yours." At the holidays,

His name is Theron - a true story experienced by Rha

2008-11-18T19:43:00.000-08:00