In today's day and age, it's rare to find hand made crafts in our society of industry and mass production. While such mechanized methods have their uses in modern times, it is nevertheless refreshing and noteworthy to come across custom made products. The quality and ascetics of something that has been been lovingly created with time and forethought is something to be treasured.

Meet Cedar Stevens. Most of you have likely never heard of her or of her hand made magical creations. She owns the Natural Magick Shop, an online only store. As an Austin local, Cedar provides a rare service for the metaphysical community: genuine custom made magic tools that are each made under very strict and precise metaphysical and astrological stipulations.

Ceder grew up on Galveston Island, where she spent most of her childhood getting burned about three times a year. The trauma her skin suffered as a youth motivated her to eventually create her popular Beauty Oil.

“I love it. I use it after every shower and gents love it as aftershave.”

Cedar, like many  witches, didn't enter the metaphysical lifestyle until much later in her life. Up until 1981, she admits that she was a “staunch scientist.” But over time, the ideas and ideology of magic began to make sense to her. Eventually she grew to realize that her own sense of purpose was intimately tied to helping others through the creation of magic and energy tools.

But it is likely her early scientific values that makes her creations truly unique and potent. After years of study, she became dissatisfied with simply imitating the techniques she found in old grimoires or voodoo cookbooks. She was determined to make tools that would surpass anything you are likely to find anywhere else.

Take her wands for instance. When asked what makes her method of wand making so unique and effective, she gladly reveals her techniques and the reasoning behind her painstaking methods.

“I love wands, and all magical tools, but there is something, a certain special feeling to using a wand. I saw too many poor quality ones out there. Most were made with glue, which stops the flow of energy. But the whole idea of a wand is to let the energy flow. So I sought a method that utilizes the tension of the wood and crystal and wires so the energy flows.”

Cedar also believes that the timing of creation is equally as important as the the method . For example:

“[All] wands are made only on Wednesday on the waxing [growing] moon.”

Cedar utilizes the energy of the moon as it is becoming full with power to enhance the natural energies of the wand's materials.

She continues, “Wednesday is the day of Mercury, who rules over the production of all magic tools, but wands specifically.”

But what if the moon is waning and diminishing in power, this week on Wednesday?

“Then I won't have any wands to sell until next month.”

When choosing the ingredients that are to be combined to make a product, Cedar selects each for its specific potency and attunement towards the tool's eventual purpose.

She admits her methods take a lot of planning since, before she creates a new tool, she researches the day, season, astrological cycles, ingredients, elements, and even takes into consideration the hours of the actual creation. Therefore, by tying several layers of metaphysical components into each creation, her products become steeped with power, making them ideal magical tools.

As you may imagine, this level of dedication requires extensive esoteric knowledge and a lot of time.

“It's a challenge, but it's what I have to offer the market. A lot of people don't have the time to stay up until 2A.M. for the exact perfect moment. I can do that.”

To really appreciate the amount of love and dedication Cedar instills into her work, consider this short list of magic products she offers:

• Magic/Deity/Spirit Guide Oils
• Dream Pillows
• Incense/Resins
• Spell Kits
• Bath Kits
• Room Sprays
• Teas/Smoking Herbs

All of these are hand made according to her exacting methods.

Within these categories are several creations that match a multitude of needs. She is quick to point out that the list available on her website is only a small portion of what she can create. Many of her products are creations that customers have requested. She is always willing to put forth the time and effort into designing and creating other tools if a customer has a special request.

In our modern age, it sometimes seems as though we have gotten as far from the wondrous as can be imagined. But as the Age of Aquarius washes over us, we begin to remember that there is a simple magic that comes from pouring your heart and soul into something unique and tangible. The Natural Magick Shop offers us a chance to reconnect with a lost time and a dying art.

If you seek magic tools both beautiful and powerful, look no further than our own Austin entrepreneur, Cedar Stevens. Discover the perfect tool that was made just for you, or perhaps a unique gift for your magically inclined loved ones. She also would like to invite you to "become a fan" of Natural Magick Shop on Facebook. Finally, if you would like to receive direct emails of more Austin new age secret locales and advice on creating your own magical life, feel free to subscribe at the top of this page.