Hi Kate!
Well, all is not lost! You might want to look into getting diabetic socks, even if you aren’t diabetic. They are much softer and absorb moisture well. There is always the old stand by of putting a dab of baking soda in your shoes to also absorb any odor. After showering, you may want to take a few minutes to rub a cotton ball soaked in – you guessed it – witch hazel, which is readily available at most pharmacies and supermarkets.     

Hi Shawn!  
Well, if your family is in peril, might not the police be a better way to go? If you are referring to spiritual peril, relax. Nasty spirits are usually after bigger fish, like presidents and world leaders.

At any rate, get your hands on some hyssop. You can buy small, pre-packaged, loose bulk herbs on the net in just about any herbal supply shop or occult supply shop. Take the hyssop and boil it in a small pot of water, about one cup. Let it cool and then strain it, keeping the liquid for later use.  

Mix this liquid with about a tablespoon of salt and rotate the water in a counter clockwise fashion, focusing that any negative energy is being absorbed into the liquid. Go to the four corners of your home and sprinkle a few drops in the corners starting at the East, South, West, North and East again. This way you are inviting positive energy in the home while leaving an opening for the negative energy to flow out of, via the liquid which will evaporate along with the negative stuff floating about.     

Whenever you are ready to use your spirit board, just be sure to have a white candle lit nearby.

This really depends on whom you ask. Some would argue that divination comes about via our sixth sense while “fortune-telling” usually refers to the folks out to make a quick buck off of the gullible.

Hi Tom!  
Well, first we must clarify terminology here. A Witch, per se does not believe in Satan as that is primarily a Judeo-Christian concept. A Witch is one who recognizes the duality of the Universal Spirit in the form of a God and Goddess. So to say that someone is a Satanic Witch is as ludicrous as referring to one as a Satanic Christian. (Though these days, televangelists really have me reconsidering that notion, but I digress.)    

A Crucifix, as well as a Star of David, a Pentacle, and many other assorted symbols only hold the “power” that we attribute to them. It has power because we charge it with that energy. Thus, a Crucifix would be useless for someone Jewish who was not brought up with that as a symbol of their religion.   

As far as the “giving up of the soul”, well, that is good as far as Hollywood is concerned. If it were possible to sell or give up the soul that easily there would be a lot more rich folks living large than actually do in today’s day and age who would worry about eternal damnation later.   

If someone is walking around claiming to be a Satanic Witch with the ability to spiritually harm someone, then that is simply someone who isn’t dealing with a full deck. I have known many Satanists in my day and while that isn’t my particular path, I can safely vouch that none were ever seeking to take anyone’s soul. People who walk around with that type of power trip are as ridiculous as an adult walking around claiming to be Superman or Spiderman.    

Here is the big “however” though. If someone has enough energy to send negative thoughts towards someone, that is the reverse of a “blessing.” This same person sending this stuff out into the universe is in some deep shit though as that will come back three times as great at a minimum. I have been around long enough to have seen that little bit of evidence come to haunt a lot of people who thought they could get away with the Universal karmic retribution. Sooner or later, we all have to pay the piper his due whether we send out the positive or the negative.   

Oh, and the folks that these little negative trolls have “cursed”, well, if they have clean karma, usually they don’t have to worry because it usually evaporates from their lives without doing any harm.             

Hello Lady Anairda!  
You actually answered your own question when you said “hello”. 

Witch Hazel is the liquefied herbal solute sold in just about every pharmacy, supermarket, 99-cent store and what have you. It is very inexpensive and it is wonderful for bringing the pH levels back to your skin while giving it a good clean.  

As far as products though, if you like all natural without animal testing and animal ingredients, then I can’t recommend highly enough that you look into www.kissmyface.com They have remarkable products including a nice one for acne.  

Even at my age I have an episodic hormonal outbreak that requires some assistance. So, I cleanse and then tone with Witch Hazel and usually start to get results in a couple of days time.  

Hi Sally!
Mint and peppermint are somewhat of a stimulant and if skin break outs are a problem, you may want to limit their use. Chemically, both herbs have a compound that opens the muscle in the lower esophagus, which can also cause reflux and heartburn.

The best thing to consider is the continuance of the green tea for all of its wonderful antioxidant properties. Burdock root has also been used for acne as well.

As stated in previously, I can not advocate enough the use of witch hazel on a cotton swab to rub on your face after you have washed it.

The most important thing is to get an exfoliant to help clear away any remaining dead skin cells inside the pores. By cleaning that you tend to limit the clogging and outbreak from occurring as frequently.

Thank you writing in with your questions. Have something you’d like to ask? Please write to me at witchhazel@morbidoutlook.com. Due to the sheer volume of email I receive, I can’t promise a personal reply, but do check Morbid Outlook for the latest column.