34838 US Highway 19 N Palm Harbor, FL 34684 (727) 772-9700magickalystics@isp.com     Volume 3, Issue 7 - July/August 2008 SPECIAL 20% off Summer Clothing! Save 20% on all summer clothing purchases with this coupon (includes cotton skirts, short sleeve t-shirts, kurtas, summer knit dress separates, and scarves).  Offer expires 8/15/08. To use this coupon online, enter the following code into the shopping cart during checkout:  s22p50j08g881  In order to qualify for the discount online, your shopping cart must contain only the items/categories specified in the promotion. Orders containing any other items will be voided. Sorry, but this is necessary due to the limitations of our shopping cart.   Beautiful hand carved mortar and pestle set by Shota Feng Shui Cats are back! A Wiccan welcome mat!                                                               BLESSED LUGHNASADH! The next Sabbat on the Celtic/Pagan Wheel of the Year here in the Northern Hemisphere is Lughnasadh (pronounced Lew-nah-sah) and Miss Amalthea has a few thoughts on the upcoming holiday.   We also have news on all the latest arrivals at the store.  So read on . . . . MORE BEAUTIFUL WORK FROM SHOTA! Local craftsman Shota recently brought in some new pieces for us from his workshop, including two wonderful wooden mortar and pestle sets (see picture, left).  OTHER NEW ARRIVALS Our latest shipment of Fung Shui Cat Ornaments has arrived!  We now have these precious round kittens available in all colors--White, Red, Green, Black, Yellow, and Pink.  Plus they brought some others with them.  These porcelain cats are the big brothers and sisters of our popular cats with a few differences.  Most obviously, they're much bigger!   They can also earn their keep by serving as "kitty banks," guarding your savings or "fun fund" in their round bellies.  We've just gotten in some new jute and seagrass welcome mats in "Blessed Be" and Yin/Yang designs.  These mats can be used either in or out of doors and are priced affordably; we're expecting them all to be snatched up quickly.   The same shipment included more of our lined pendulum and crystal bags, which never stick around long, either.  So stop by the store soon and get yours before they're all gone! We have also restocked out tarot "pantry" with lots of goodies, including plenty of the always-popular Rider-Waite and Gypsy Witch decks.  We also have the Universal Waite deck available in standard, pocket, and book/deck editions.  We are expecting several more deliveries of new and restock items within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned. . . . LUGHNASADH MUSINGS Here in Gulf Coast Florida, it's the height of summer, with water temperatures in the 80s.  People go out early to the beach for a swim in the Gulf or to work on their tans before the afternoon, when heavy, bruised clouds rumble overhead and burst open, dropping great loads of rainwater on the land.  Then just as suddenly, it stops.  The clouds are gone and the sun is shining just as brightly as before. The scene couldn't be further removed from the ancient Celtic harvest festival that's just weeks away.   Yet the Wheel turns as it always does and we move along with it.  We may no longer have to rush to the fields to bring in the wheat and barley, but we still respond to the shift in seasons, the shortening of the days that started after Midsummer Solstice.   We set aside time for the beach or the park, for the neglected yard work and home repairs as if there were a deadline fast approaching.  Some internal force urges us to make use of our time, to accomplish something. As Pagans today, we come together at this Sabbat to celebrate our own "harvests" and relax after our labors.  We relate through story, song, and symbol what we have "sown" through our efforts and what we have "reaped" from them.  We also acknowledge the sacrifices, by ourselves and others, that made our successes possible.  Sacrifice is at the core of Lughnasadh, just as it is the foundation of community.  If what we want is to connect with others--to "weave the web"--then our accomplishments can't be only for ourselves; we must share of ourselves with community, both the Pagan one and the larger community of the world. Don't wait for an invitation to ritual to celebrate; grab a strand of the web and run with it.  Go with your family, friends, and/or your covenmates to a local park for a cleanup day, followed by a big potluck feast.  Hold a combination bake sale, yard sale, and block party in your neighborhood.   Gather with other crafters, artists, and artisans at a local crafts fair, or organize your own. Get into the spirit of the holiday and it ceases to be just a date to keep on your calendar.  Live it and it becomes natural.  DAYS WE ARE CLOSED The store will be closed Thursday, August 14, 2008, through Monday, August 18, 2008.  We will reopen at our regular time on Thursday, August 21, 2008.   As always, our webstore is open 24/7 for your convenience.  * * * * * That's it for this issue of Magickalystics News, but fear not, another edition will be along next month--who knows, maybe sooner.  Till then, Brightest Blessings to You and Yours, Amalthea and Terry INFORMATION AND CREDITS You have either finished reading, or have just scrolled past Magickalystics News , a monthly e-publication of Magickalystics Metaphysical Store.  The manifestation of Magickalystics and this newsletter are made possible by the mysterious and arcane Webweaving Arts as cast by Amalthea, and through the perseverance and pestering of Terry, Editors.   Address your comments to magickalystics@isp.com.  Copyright © 2003-2008 Magickalystics LLC. All Rights Reserved.