windvexer

Ok, so you want to practice every day?

You know what, valid. So do I. I'm going to make this as short as I can because we have a lot to get through.

You don't have to practice every day to be a "good," valid, powerful, or whatever-you-want witch.
Generic "ground and center every morning, then enchant your tea" practice routines aren't going to be helpful for 90% of us out here. (yes, I wrote similar in the past!)

"Practice" does not equal repeating exercises and casting spells.

When witches say "in my practice," IMO they are using this word interchangeably with "in my path," or "when I actively engage in my path."

Eschew the idea that your "daily practice" is supposed to be a workout routine that is training you for something better.

Embrace the idea that we're actually talking about "practicing daily," aka "engaging with my path on a daily basis." You aren't training for the next thing - you're at the thing already :)

Your daily practice needs to start with what you want out of your faith and practice.

Not everyone wants to be an energy worker.
Not everyone wants to venerate nature.
Not everyone wants to be a spirit-worker.
Not everyone wants to learn herbalism or kitchen witchery

Brainstorm your idealized path. I mean envision yourself in the cutest little cottagecore village, living your total fantasy witch life. What are you doing?

Do you want to...

Be a diviner?
Learn sorcery?
Be a licensed herbalist?
Talk to spirits and make friends with the forest and the flowers?
Help and heal the villagers?
Be a spiritual warrior who battles with evil spirits and aberrations?
Be a world-walker, who goes to unseen realms?
Learn to slip into new skins?

(The list goes on)

Also ask yourself what you don't want. Gods freak you out? Ok, don't interact with them. You want to do pure energy work with very little ritual ingredients? Beautiful. Stand your ground, flip off people who tell you "but witches worship pagan gods and burn candles to their familiars 🥺"

Find ways to start including what is the most important to you in your daily life.

It might be helpful to make a list of the 1-3 things you really want to focus on right now. If it helps, choose a time frame of weeks to try out these practices and see if you like them.

But before you get too far into that:

[Picture ID: A tweet from @rmccarthyjames which reads, "all of my plans for the future involve me waking up tomorrow with a sudden sense of discipline and adherence to routine that i have never displayed even once in my life"]

This, right here, is what we want to avoid.

Please, for the love of God, do not sit down and say, "okay, I'm going to wake up 30 minutes early and do a 15 minute meditation each morning, then 5-10 minutes of energy exercises. Then, I'm going to ground and center (energy work goals). Then during breakfast I'll enchant my food and read about herbalism while I eat (kitchen witch goals). Then, in the evening ---"

I can pretty much guarantee you that almost any activity you have access to right now will be actively draining.

Magical techniques, exercises, and spellwork take energy - just like working out at the gym.

You can work out at the gym and feel energized for the next couple of hours, but then become fatigued in the evening/next day.
You can work out at the gym every day for 5 days, but then suddenly you feel too weak or sore to even get out of bed the next day.

Meditation, grounding, and centering can restore metaphysical energy to your body, and increase your access to it. But it's like eating a protein bar after a workout - you still have to rest and recover.

So if you've tried to stick to "do X, Y, Z" activities every day and failed, ask yourself if you were actually engaging in a strenuous magical workout routine that wore you into the ground.

Instead of choosing "X activity for Y minutes at Z time every day, consider this:

One of the most available ways you can engage in your path is by dwelling within your magical and spiritual worldviews.

Are you an animist? Look for a plant. Think about how it's got a soul. You just engaged with your path :)
Are you interested in energy work? Look for a conversation between two people. Consider the energy flow between them. You just engaged with your path :)
Are you into Traditional Witchcraft? Watch a TV show. Ask yourself how you'd solve a problem on the screen (not necessarily using magic to solve it, just in general). Then, ask yourself how your hag, fetch-beast, or familiar (hypothetical or otherwise) would solve it. You just engaged with your path :)
Are you into religious magic? Look around you. Feel the vibes, feel your feelings, feel your mood. What would your god(s) have to say about it? You just engaged with your path :)
Do you play a lot of video games? Overlay your beliefs onto the game and use events, interactions, and developments as an opportunity to consider your own beliefs (or, with Minecraft, build your own astral temples).

The more you dwell within your magical and spiritual worldviews, the more you "phase in" to the reality that you're a witch and magic is within you and around you.

Over time, constantly engaging with your path in these small ways - through choosing to see the world through the lens of your practice - makes choosing and employing "techniques," exercises, and spells soooo much more relevant and practical.

With that tangent is out of the way, practical tips for how to interact with your path on a daily basis:

Avoid "daily" activities with a high barrier to entry. If you make all these rules and regulations for your own practice, like you have to make a journal entry for every spell and magical activity, and it has to include the moon phase and planetary hour, you're going to be engaging probably a lot less than you think you will.

Choose activities which directly help and support your day to day life.

Tough work environment? Try picking up energy shielding or amulet-making.
Art commissions down? Try learning prosperity or money magic.
Feeling confused or directionless? Experiment with forms of divination.
Lonely? Learn to talk to spirits.

You do not need to create barriers to these things. You DO NOT need to meditate, ground, or center before you make an energy shield. You can just make one right now, actually.

You don't need to learn protection and warding before you practice talking to the nature spirits around you, or bringing protective presences into your sphere.

You don't need to copy down a two-page spell and then write grimoire entries for each correspondence before you can do effective spells and charms.

One of the easiest ways to perform casual, daily magic is to extend regular daily actions into the spirit world.

(For me, the "spirit world" is where all magic happens. Maybe you might call it the etheric, or the energy-double of the world).

Shower to clean yourself - just expend energy to extend the cleaning to your spiritual bodies.
Eat food to gain energy - just expend energy to also feed your spiritual bodies.
Exhale to send old breath away - and at the same time, send away an unwanted thought, energy, or presence.

("Expend energy" can be done in many ways; most often we say "visualization" but you can also dedicate your power to the task through words of intent ["I apply my power to nourish myself thrice over"], mindfulness [staying present in the moment and maintaining focus on your spiritual goal], physical gestures [stirring food clockwise with the knowledge that you are stirring power into it], etc.)

So you've found some free time. What do you want to do with it?

Maybe you started energy shielding earlier this week, and now you're feeling worn out and just want to take a day off.

Hot take: "Hey, I'm too tired to do this magical thing, I'm going to choose something else instead" is engaging with your path :) You didn't forget or ignore your path. You checked in with your magical self, took stock of the situation, and choose the activity of rest.

Be flexible!

I personally say, give all techniques and methods a chance. I myself am not a person where I start out good at things. I'm one of the people where I start out bad at things and get a little better each time I practice.

But if a technique is not vibing with you, or if new concerns arise in your life, there's no need to dedicate yourself to doing something you don't like and don't need for the sake of reaching an arbitrary goal of completion.

Remember, it's not a daily workout until you're good enough to improve your life.

It's improving your life, right now, and each time you do it you get a lil better at it :)

Your path is not subject to object impermanence*.

(*The following is primarily poetic; take it or leave it as you please)

You are what you are and wherever you stand, there your path is around you. To try and curse your path into a quasi-existence where it only appears when you're making energy balls is a terrible fate for a path to be bound to.

It's your friend. It wants to be with you. It doesn't want to be told it's invisible and un-present unless you're staring it in the eye.

A great deal of my early path was taking huge breaks from magical practice - I mean, for months and months at a time. It's called the Crooked Path, not the Straightforward Linear Path Where Expected Things Occur.

Sure, if you're done with witchcraft for a while (or forever), set it aside. Tell your path it's done, closed down, and you'll be back when you're back.

But while you're in, you're walking it. Is your path one where you accidentally forget witchcraft exists and take breaks for months at a time without meaning to? So that's your path. It matches you step for step, no matter where you go.

It doesn't go hungry - you eat and you sleep, and it eats and rests with you. It doesn't feel rejected - it's right there with you. When you touch the doorknob, your path reaches through and holds your hand. When you write a school exam, it traces the pencil lead from the other side. It doesn't matter if you know it or see it - it's there, patient and waiting, watching you with love. All you need to do is fail to believe that your path is gone when you stop paying attention to it.

badbuddhism

There is no end to desire, it just goes on and on and on. Is there any way to completely gratify a desire? If we satiate ourselves — if, for example we eat so much that we stuff ourselves full of food — then suddenly we have no more desire for food, we have an aversion to it. But before long the desire is there again and so we eat more, and then we do not want any more . . . And we keep going on like that — gratifying desire without understanding it.

Sometimes meditators think they should not have desires or should not have greed or lust, or they think they should not like beautiful things, or should not be this way or that way. But these are more concepts. Thinking we should not be, we should not have, we should not be the way we are — the moods, the faults, or whatever — this is wrong view. Things are just as they are.

-Ajahn Sumedho

scarletarosa

What to Know Before Training in Witchcraft (part 1)

Throughout history, humans all over the world have practiced magick; yet much information on how to perform these abilities were kept in secret from eyes of the unworthy. Due to this, the rise of monotheistic religions were easily able to wipe out much of the knowledge, making it difficult for new generations to discover how to perform this ancient spiritual art. As someone who has trained and devoted themselves to witchcraft for the past 15 years and has been initiated into the Hermetic Path, here are the main things you should know if you seek to become a witch as well:

The basics of performing magick: Every spell requires a foundation of things in order to work, these are Will-power, Intense Focus, Passion/Need for the Outcome, Visualization of Desire, and Understanding of the skills you are utilizing. Without these, the spell will not be kindled and will fall flat. Additionally, the stronger your focus, the stronger your spell will be; yet developing very strong focus requires long training in meditation. When using your focus, it is like having beams of light projected into what you are doing- if the focus is not strong enough, the light becomes scattered. Meditation also assists in visualization, as you will need to be able to hold a mental image in your mind for as long as you require and be able to manipulate its appearance or rotate it with ease.

Most magick requires astral ability, spirit work, and etheric connection. The sooner you learn to astral travel, the better (it can be done through both full-projection and mental projection, which is easier). Yet, you do not need to astral project in order to manipulate the astral, you only need to understand how to use your astral limbs on command (this is done for many areas of magick such as cursing people through summoning malevolent energies, or healing by removing toxic energies from inside one’s body). If you do not learn how to operate your astral body, you will not be able to perform most of magick since magick mostly takes place on the astral plane. Remember that witchcraft is not simple in the slightest and most books on it are either false in order to gain money or too basic to be strong enough spells. Witchcraft is for those who are willing to devote their lives to seeking and perfecting it, as well as those who are wise enough to use it properly. It is not about spell jars or emoji spells (both of which are ineffective), magick is weather summoning, dream manipulation, exorcisms, energetic healing, and the ability to see your enemy’s location through astral sight so you can directly curse them. The possibilities are nearly endless.

Witchcraft is not meant for everyone. I know that most people are wanting to be kind to eachother and be all-inclusive, but not only is this unrealistic for this advanced craft, but also a very dangerous mentality. If someone goes into magick without being prepared, it can cause severe damage or even death in some severe cases. There is a reason why ancient cultures have all had magick reserved for the shamans and priests; it is not meant to be handed out to just anyone, one must be worthy and actually capable of such power. Should you go into witchcraft or spirit work when you have a mental disability such as psychosis, major depression, etc, you are allowing your conditions to become far worse. This is due to many reasons since magick will shift your view of reality and you will also be tested by higher powers to prove your worth (neither of these are easy, but if you have a mental disability, it will hit you even harder and cause severe damage). So either get medicated and stable, or do not go into witchcraft or spirit work. As for physical health problems, do not go into spirit work if you have a condition such as heart disease, as some experiences can cause heart attacks.

The more advanced you become, the more enemies you gain. This goes for both spiritual enemies and humans, since your power will attract malevolent entities of all kinds as well as other advancing witches. While witches can curse (or even kill) you out of envy for your power or if you angered them, malevolent spirits can do just the same usually with more ease and with greater consequences. There are a vast many types of malignant spirits but most of them are tar spirits (entities made of pure malice and look like tar). These can truly ruin someone’s life and cause severe trauma, so you need to make sure you actually know what you’re doing when going into witchcraft or you will be unprepared for such attacks.

As a beginner (Novice-Intermediate Witch), you need to connect with a certain spiritual path (such as Kemeticism, Hermeticism, etc). This is because as beginners, we are still needing to train our minds to believe in otherworldly possibilities and begin thinking in ritually symbolic ways. Once you become more advanced, this connection is no longer necessary. It is best to study as many paths as possible in order to have a wide-range of knowledge, and especially make sure to learn about Animism, as it holds truth. Remember that there are spirits all around us- in plants, water, the winds, the planets. They also wander about and watch us; not all of them are human and in fact, most of them aren’t. There are a vast many different species of spirits, even ones that are unknown in myth or folklore.

Imposter Spirits. If you go into spirit work without proper skills in sensing, hearing, and seeing, you are putting yourself at great risk to be manipulated by imposters. These are usually tar spirits who come and pretend to be deities, demons, and many other things just to get you to trust them. Their two main reasons for doing this are to trick a person into breeding with them in the astral (which creates many more tar spirits, which is horrible) or to simply destroy someone’s life by worsening any present mental health problems. To avoid this, you either need an experienced mentor assisting you, or you need to learn to be extremely cautious, educated in spirits, and take things very slow in this path until your senses fully develop. Remember, just because you called upon a spirit and they seemed to arrive, it does not always mean it is actually them; you need to test it.

You need to be able to cleanse yourself properly. Each day, we gather up toxic energy from people around us due to envy, hate, and many other things. Most people can feel this but pass it off as random bodily pains. In order to heal yourself and others, you need to use your astral sight to see where the toxic energy is (if it’s in your body, just feel for it) then use your astral hand to reach in and pull it out (it helps if you move your physical hand along with it). Once out, burn it in the astral by summoning fire in your hand. Then move your hand across your body where the energy was and heal it with golden light, covering any injuries if you were attacked. However, if you are just beginning magick, it is likely that you will not be able to do at least one of the things mentioned, so you will need to improvise until you are skilled enough through constant practice.

Alternate methods of removing toxic energy are wearing jewelry of alexandrite or by placing black tourmaline on your stomach and slowly rotating it until you feel your energy become lighter. Although these crystals don’t heal everything, so it is best to learn how to use your astral abilities. For healers, you must cleanse yourself whenever possible, even by just summoning fire to move up and through your body in the astral. If you do not, you have a high chance of getting leukemia from the blocked toxins over time. As an advanced healer, you will be able to simply see inside a person’s body with your astral sight and be able to see what physical and spiritual conditions they have so you can heal them.

The Spirit Death: One of the most important things a witch will undergo is the Spirit Death- the shedding of your Ego and current self in order to allow your rebirth. In order to properly perform magick, one needs to destroy their current limited mentality and become “less human” so that they can better absorb higher knowledge and surpass the ordinary person. This will not make you like the gods in complexity, as they are far beyond us. But it will make you vastly different as a person and far stronger. However, this Death requires you to undergo great suffering and perseverance, as pain is the only way we can change and develop true wisdom. This is not something ordinary people are capable of going through, but powerful magick requires great sacrifice.

Even afterwards, you will have to live your life in loneliness when you realize in your higher awareness that you can no longer fit in among others. In order to undergo the Spirit Death, you only need to open yourself up to it and confess it to your gods, the Source, or your higher self. You do not have to destroy your entire ego, only the parts that limit you, or make you arrogant or jealous. Throughout the path as a witch, especially during the beginning, you will fail. You have to learn to fail so you can see what works and what does not, then keep trying until you finally figure things out through trial and error. There is no easy way through the path of a witch.

Part 2 | Part 3

sephthewitch

Herb Correspondence Masterpost

cannalily

Angelica (Angelica archanegelica): Sun, Fire. The root carried in a blue cloth bag is a protective talisman. Was considered to be under the guard of angels and therefore a good preventative charm against the plague. Put the whole root in a blue or white cloth bag and hang in the window as a protection against evil.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum): Jupiter, Air. Used for protection. A pillow stuffed with anise seeds is reputed to keep away nightmares.

Apple (Pyrus malus): Venus, Water. Used in love spells for hundreds of years. Cider can be used in place of blood or wine where called for in ancient spells and rites. The wood is made into wands used for love spells and rituals. In Cornwall, a large apple was given to each member of the household to be eaten at Samhain (Halloween) for good luck.

Asafetida (Ferula foetida): Saturn, Fire. Due to its disgusting odor it used to be known as devil’s dung. Is used in exorcism rites and incenses. During the Middle Ages a small piece was worn around the neck to guard against plague.

Ash (Fraxinus excelsior): Sun, Water. A protective tree used to make brooms and healing wands. Ash leaves beneath the pillow are reputed to induce psychic dreams. In England, is believed to be a dangerous tree to shelter under during storms, as it draws lightning. The winged seeds of the ash, ash-keys, can be carried to prevent overlooking or ill-wishing. Ash leaves are considered lucky, but an even ash leaf (one with an equal number of divisions on either side) is especially lucky. An even ash leaf should be gathered with the following rhyme: ’Even ash, I do thee pluck/ Hoping thus to meet good luck/ If no good luck I get from thee/ I shall wish thee on the tree’. Carried in a buttonhole or in the pocket, the leaf is supposed to bring good fortune.

Balm of Gilead (Populous candicans): Saturn. The buds can be carried to mend a broken heart. Can be added to love and protection charms.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Mars, Fire. Used in wealth and prosperity rituals. Carrying basil in your pockets is supposed to attract money into them. A wife can supposedly stop her husband being unfaithful by dusting her upper body with powdered basil.

Bay Laurel (Lauris noblis): Sun, Fire. The leaves can be burned or chewed to induce visions. Worn as an amulet to ward off negativity and evil. Leaves under the pillow are supposed to induce prophetic dreams. Can be used in protection and purification rituals. Growing near a house, it was supposed to protect those within from infection and storms.

Benzoin (Styrax benzoin): Sun, Air. Used in purification incenses. A few drops of tincture of benzoin helps to preserve oils and preparations.

Betony (Stachys officinalis): Jupiter, Fire. Add to incenses of protection and purification. Sleep on a pillow stuffed with Betony to prevent nightmares.

Chamomile (Anthemis noblis): Sun, Water. Use in prosperity charms and rituals. Induces sleep. The tea brings peace and tranquillity for those times when you need to do a ritual but are seething with anger or hurt. If you wash your face and hair with chamomile, it will attract a lover.

Caraway (Carum carvi): Mercury, Air. Used in love charms to attract a lover.

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus): Sun, Fire. Once worn by witches to prevent capture and hanging. Produces added energy in ritual when used in incense.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria): Venus, Water. Creates a psychic bond between cat and ‘owner’. Used in love charms and incenses.

Celandine (Chelidonium majus): Sun, Fire. Helps the wearer escape unfair imprisonment and entrapment. If worn, cures depression.

Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum): Sun, Fire. Use in incenses for healing, clairvoyance, high spiritual vibrations. Reputed to be a male aphrodisiac. Use in prosperity charms.

Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis): Jupiter, Earth. Hang on house entrances as protection. Use in spells and charms for prosperity, purification and protection.

Clover (Trifolium spp.): Mercury. Associated with the Triple Goddess. Used in rituals for beauty and youth. Four-leafed clovers are carried to see fairies, heal illness, avoid military service, avoid madness, and as a general good-luck charm. To dream of clover is considered very fortunate, especially for young people.

Clove (Caryopyllus aromaticus): Sun, Fire. Worn to drive away negativity and stop gossip. Cloves strung on a red thread can be worn as a protective charm.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): Saturn, Earth. A herb of Hecate, used in rituals to honour the Goddess in her Crone aspect.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): Mars, Fire. Used in love spells and charms. An old coriander spell is to take seven grains of coriander and grind them in a mortar, saying ‘Warm seed, warm heart, let them never be apart’ three times. Drop the seeds into wine and share with your lover.

Cowslip (Primula veris): Venus. Cattle were once hung with cowslips to encourage healthy milk production. Cowslip flowers were believed to bring luck in love to the wearer. In Suffolk, milkmaids would wash their faces in milk in which cowslip petals had been infused on Beltane, believing that it would make their faces glow and attract their beloved during the Beltane celebrations. Were traditionally woven into funeral wreaths to be laid on the deceased one’s grave at the full moon, for thirteen moons after his or her death. Posies of cowslips, placed under the pillow, were said to allow contact with the dead in dreams.

Cypress (Cupressus spp.): Saturn, Earth. Connected with death in all its aspects. Cypress smoke can be used to consecrate ritual objects.

Daisy (Bellis perennis): Decorate the house with daisies on Midsummer’s Eve to bring happiness to the home and to win the favor of the faeries. Daisies should also be worn on the person at Midsummer for luck and blessings.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Jupiter. A herb of Hecate, used in Samhain rituals. It is said that if you rub yourself all over with dandelion you will be welcome everywhere and all your wishes will be granted.

Dill (Anethum graveolens): Mercury, Fire. Used in love charms. Hang in children’s’ rooms to protect them.

Dragon’s Blood (Daemonorops draco or Dracaena draco): Mars, Fire. Used in love and protection spells. A piece under the bed is reputed to cure impotency. Place in drawers and cupboards you don’t want people looking in, with the incantation: ‘Dragon’s blood, watch and ward, as the dragon guards its horde’. Carry a piece with you for good luck. Dissolve a little in the bath for a strong purification bath.

Elecampane (Inula helenium): Mercury, Earth. Was said to have sprung from the tears of Helen which fell to the ground when Paris abducted her. Called elf dock in Denmark. Once used to raise and sustain the spirits. As an incense, can be burned as an aid to meditation.

Elder (Sambucus canadensis): Venus, Air. Branches can be used for wands and staves. Stand beneath the elder to be protected from lightning; sleeping under the elder tree will bring drugged and dangerous dreams of Faeryland, from which one might awaken either mad, or not at all. In the Middle Ages it was considered unlucky to burn elder, or to bring it into the house. It was only considered safe to cut an elder tree if one had first asked permission; the tree dryad would grant consent by keeping silence. Elder leaves gathered at Beltane Eve and attached to the door are said to keep away evil.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus): Moon, Air. Used in healing rituals and charms of all kinds. Surround blue candles with the leaves and burn for healing vibrations. Hang green pods around the neck to cure colds and sore throats.

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis): Sun, Air. Anoint eyelids with the infusion daily to induce clairvoyant visions.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Mercury, Earth. Connected with mother’s milk and breastfeeding; traditionally brought for new mothers and hung near the cradle to keep away flies.

Fern: Saturn, Earth. Extremely powerful protectants; grow in the house and include in vases of cut flowers. Are supposed to protect any house that contains them from damage by storms.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): Sun, Fire. A very powerful scent which aids meditation and induces a spiritual frame of mind. Burn as a general protective incense.

Gardenia (Gardenia spp.): Moon, Water. Wear the flower to attract love.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Mars, Fire. Extremely protective herb. Carry the bulb with you on trips over water to prevent drowning. Hang in the home to protect. Also used in exorcisms.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha): Mars, Fire. Used in protection sachets. In ancient Greece and Rome, was associated with happiness in marriage and carried by brides; the Romans put hawthorn leaves into babies’ cradles to protect them against evil. Sitting under a hawthorn tree on Beltane, Midsummer’s Day or Samhain supposedly puts one in danger of being abducted by fairies. It is considered ill-omened to fell a hawthorn. Burn hawthorn berries as an incense when you feel the need for energy and dynamism in your life, and meditate on the areas of life that need changing.

Hazel (Corylus spp.): Sun, Air. Good wood for all-purpose wands. Forked branches can be used as divining wands. Tie two hazel twigs together with red or gold thread to make a solar cross as a good-luck charm.

Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger): Saturn, Water. Poisonous! Carried to attract the love of a woman.

High John the Conqueror root (Impomoea purga): Saturn, Earth. Add to candle anointing oils, charms and sachets to increase their potency.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium): Mars, Fire. If planted around the house acts as good protection. Leaves and berries can be carried to heighten masculinity.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium): Jupiter, Earth. Use in prosperity spells and charms.

Hops (Humulus lupulus): Mars, Water. Used in healing incenses and charms. Hops in a pillow will induce sleep. It is unwise to use hops if depressed, since they are believed to engender melancholy.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis): Jupiter, Fire. Use in purification baths and protection spells. Was a common strewing herb during the Middle Ages, and used in the consecration of Westminster Abbey. Associated with serpents and dragons, and can be burnt as incense or thrown on the fire to tap into dragon energy.

Ivy (Hedera spp.): Saturn, Water. Guards and protects the houses it grows over. Often given to newlyweds, in conjunction with holly, as good-luck charm.

Jasmine (Jasminum officinaleor Jasminum odoratissimum): Jupiter, Earth. Used in love spells and charms.

Juniper (Juniperus communis): Sun, Fire. If a sprig of juniper is worn it will protect the wearer from accidents. The berries can be dried and strung as a charm to attract lovers. Can be used in anti-theft spells, and grown at the doorstep as protection from thieves.

Lavender (Lavendula vera or Lavendula officinale): Mercury, Air. Used in purification baths and incenses. Thrown onto fires and Midsummer as tribute to the Gods and to bring visions and inspiration. Add to healing baths and sachets, carry to attract men. The scent will induce sleep. Excellent for bringing clarity and coherence to magickal workings and for focusing visualization.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Drink as an infusion to soothe away the emotional pains after a relationship break-up; considered useful in recovery from trauma and sexual assault. Has long been considered to drive away melancholy and low spirits. Is said to increase fertility, and has been used in love potions and aphrodisiacs.

Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora): Venus, Air. Wear as a love charm, and to increase one’s attractiveness. Add to charms to increase their power. Hang a sprig around your neck to stop you from dreaming.

Linden (Tilia europaea): Jupiter. Associated with conjugal love and longevity.

Lovage (Levisticum officinale): Sun, Water. Add the root to cleansing baths. Carry to attract love.

Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum): Mercury, Earth. A powerful protective charm for the home. The root can be carried by women who want to conceive, and men who want to cure impotency. In the Middle Ages it was thought to give off a shriek when it was pulled up that was so unearthly all who heard it went mad or died. To charge a mandrake root with your personal power, sleep with it in the bed for three nights during the full moon. Carry it for courage.

Marigold (Calendula officinalis): Sun, Fire. In a vase, renews energy of everyone in the room where the vase is placed. Symbolizes constancy and endurance in love. To dream of marigold flowers is supposed to presage coming wealth. It was said that if you wore marigold flowers, you would be able to tell who had stolen from you.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana): Mercury, Air. Add to love charms. Place a bit of the herb in every room in the house for protection.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria): Jupiter, Water. A sacred herb of the Druids. Arrange fresh Meadowsweet on the altar when mixing love charms or performing love spells. Strew around the house for love and peace; a garland of Meadowsweet will protect the house from evil influences. Wear garlands of Meadowsweet at Lammas to join with the essence of the Goddess.

Mistletoe (Viscum album): Worn as a protective amulet, or to help conceive. An anti-lightning charm.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): Venus, Air. Put into the shoe for protection and to prevent fatigue on long journeys. Mugwort tea will induce clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on magick mirrors and crystal balls to strengthen divinitory powers. Add to scrying, clairvoyance and divination incenses. In the Middle Ages it was considered one of the strongest protective plants. Hanging it in the is reputed to protect against lightning, while putting it under the doorstep is supposed to ensure that no unwelcome person will enter. A pillow filled with mugwort will induce vivid dreams. The name, Artemisia, refers to the goddess Artemis, who was a protector of herbal practitioners.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Saturn, Fire. Has been called hag’s tapers, Jupiter’s staff, our lady’s candle. Wear to develop courage and as protection from wild animals. Was believed to have power to drive away evil spirits. Mullein can be used to clear a psychic space after work, by washing tools, floor and altar with mullein infusion. Used on crystal balls for scrying.

Myrrh (Commiphoria myrrha): Sun, Water. Purifying and protective incense. Can be used to consecrate tools.

Myrtle (Myrica cerifera): Venus, Water. Sacred to Venus and used in love charms and spells of all kinds. If grown indoors it brings good luck. Carry myrtle leaves to attract love, or the wood to preserve youth. Make magic charms from the wood. Wear fresh leaves whilst making love charms.

Nettle (Urtica dioica): Mars, Fire. Stuff a poppet with nettles to send bad vibrations and curses back to the sender. Sprinkle around the room as protection, or add to protection charms. Considered to instill courage if carried. Was once considered an antidote to many poisons. Builds up the fire element in an individual, used to thaw frozen emotions and connect with the fiery warrior aspect.

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): Jupiter, Air. Carry a nutmeg to strengthen clairvoyant powers and to prevent rheumatism. To dream of nutmegs foretells changes in the dreamer’s life.

Oak (Quercus alba): Sun, Fire. Sacred tree in many, many cultures, long associated with royalty; rites were often performed in groves of oak trees, and mistletoe that grew on oak was considered the most powerful. It has long been considered unlucky to fell an oak. Burn oak leaves as purification. The wood is used for all-purpose wands. Acorns are carried as fertility charms, to preserve youthfulness, and to ward off illness. Hang in windows to protect the house. Men can carry acorns to increase their sexual attractiveness and prowess.

Olive (Olea europaea): Sacred to Athena. Regarded as a symbol of peace and wealth, and a sign of safe travel.

Onion (Allium cepa): Mars, Fire. Used in protection and healing. Place cut onions in a room to absorb illness, leave overnight and throw away in the morning.

Orange (Citrus sinesis): Sun, Water. The dried peel is added to love and fertility charms and used in Solar incenses. A traditional Chinese symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Orris root (Iris florentina or Iris germanica): Venus, Water. Add to love charms, baths and incenses.

Parsley: In ancient Greek and Roman times, parsley was considered symbolic of death.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin or Pogostemon patchouli): Sun, Earth. Both sexes can carry as an aphrodisiac and to attract lovers.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium): Venus, Earth. Put in shoe to prevent weariness; once it was carried by seafarers to prevent sea-sickness. Used in protection rituals. Under no circumstances use Pennyroyal while pregnant.

Pepper (Capsicum spp.): Mars, Fire. Use in protective charms.

Peppermint (Mentha piperata): Venus, Air. Use in healing incenses and charms; good in a healing bath. Burn as a winter incense. Any mint infusion can be sprinkled around the house as a cooling-off influence after arguments.

Periwinkle (Vinca major): Venus, Water. Hang on house entrances as protection.

Pimpernel (Pimpinella magna): Mercury, Air. Wear to detect falsehood and prevent others lying to you.

Pine (Pinus spp.): Mars, Earth. Burn as a purifying winter incense. Pine nuts are eaten and carried as fertility charms. Pine needles can be added to healing or cleansing baths.

Poppy (Papaver spp.): Moon, Water. Eat poppy seeds as a fertility charm. Carry the seeds or dried seed-pod as a prosperity charm.

Rose (Rosa spp.): Venus, Water. Carry roses to attract true love. Drink a tea of rose petals for divinatory dreams. Add to charms and incenses for sleep, love and healing. To dream of roses is fortunate, foretelling success in love, unless the roses are white. Drink the tea to promote beauty without and within, and mix the petals with regular tea to attract love.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Sun, Fire. Use in protection charms, incenses and baths. Used to be thought of as preventative against the plague. Wear to aid memory and learning. Is used in sea rituals and sea magick. Wash hands with rosemary infusion before performing magick, as a substitute for a ritual bath. Drink the tea before exams or interviews to make the mind alert. Can be made into a protection wreath. In mediaeval times was worn at weddings, as it was linked with fidelity, love and happy memories. Brides often wore a chaplet of rosemary. sometimes gilded. Placed under the pillow, was supposed to ward off bad dreams. Smelling rosemary is supposed to keep a person merry, young and in good spirits.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia): Sun, Fire. Tie two twigs together with red thread as a general protection and luck charm. Use as divining stick. The berries are used as a good luck amulet. A necklace of the berries can be used as a healing charm.

Rue (Ruta graveolens): Sun, Fire. Was once worn to guard against plague. Added to charms designed to keep illness away. The smell of the fresh herb clears the mind of emotional clutter. In mediaeval times rue was considered an antidote against all kinds of poisons; judges carried it as a precaution against jail fever. A sprig of rue can be dipped into water and used to sprinkle an area for magickal purification.

Saffron (Crocus sativus): Sun, Fire. Used in prosperity and healing rituals, charms and incenses.

Sage (Salvia officinalis): Jupiter, Earth. Used in healing and prosperity charms. Regarded as a great safeguard of health, and has a reputation for promoting longevity. Is supposed to grow best in the gardens of the wise.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): Sun, Fire. Used in protective charms of all kinds. Wear to ward off fever and illness. Burn as a banishing or exorcism incense. Gather on Midsummer’s Eve, pass through the smoke of bonfires to purify, and hang in the house as protection. Wear to instill courage and strengthen the will, and drink a tea of the herb to cure melancholy. Hang bunches of the herb over the bed or by the bedroom door to drive away nightmares. *please always research as it may effect birth control medication.

Sandalwood (Santalum album): Moon, Air. Used in purifying, protective and healing incenses.

Sunflower (Helianthus annus): Sun, Fire. Brings the blessings of the Sun into any garden in which it is grown. The seeds can be eaten by women who wish to conceive.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Venus, Air. Burn as a purifying incense. Use in magickal cleansing baths. Inhale the scent for refreshment and renewed energy. Wear to protect oneself from negativity and grief at funerals. Is thought to inspire courage when worn.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Mercury, Water. Use the herb in love charms and spells, and in purification baths.

Vanilla (Vanilla aromatica or Vanilla planifolia): Jupiter, Fire. The bean can be carried in a love charm, and the oil worn as an aphrodisiac.

Vervain (Verbena officinalis): Venus, Water. A herb sacred to the Druids and used by the Romans as a ritual cleansing plant. Used in magical cleansing baths, purification incenses, safety amulets. Hang above the bed to keep away nightmares. Used in love and protection charms. Burn for a good purification incense. Use in prosperity charms. In incenses it brings good luck and inspiration.

Violet (Viola tricolour): Venus, Water. Mix with lavender for a powerful love charm. A violet compress can aid headaches. Carry the flowers as a good-luck charm. To dream of violets foretells a change for the better in the dreamer’s circumstances. Violets are supposed to absorb ill-will and evil spells. The scent is said to soothe and clear the mind.

Walnut (Juglans regia): Sun, Fire. Carry the nut as a charm to promote fertility and strengthen the heart.

Willow (Salis alba): Moon, Water. Willow wands can be used for healing. The Willow will bring the blessings of the Moon upon those who plant it or have it on their property. Willows can be used to bind together witch’s brooms.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum): Mars, Air. Was once burned to raise spirits. Used in divinatory and clairvoyance incenses. Burn on fires at Samhain to gain protection from roaming spirits. Used in initiation rites and for tests of courage and endurance. Should not be used by those suffering from grief or shock, as it has affinity with the world of the dead; give to the dying to enable them to let go and find peace.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Venus, Water. Used in love and marriage charms, and reputed to keep a couple together for seven years. Was once given to newlyweds as a charm. Wards off negativity when worn. Drink yarrow tea prior to divination to enhance the powers of perception. In ancient China yarrow had a reputation as a very spiritual plant.

baroquehedgewitch

✨2022 Celestial Events✨

✦✧ Lunar Events ✧✦

🌑Jan 2nd New Moon in Capricorn at 18:35 UTC

🌕Jan 17th Full Moon in Cancer at 23:51 UTC ~ Old Moon;

🌑Feb 1st New Moon in Aquarius at 5:48am UTC

🌕Feb 16th Full Moon in Leo at 16:59 UTC ~ Snow Moon

🌑March 2nd New Moon in Pisces at 17:38 UTC

🌕March 18th Full Moon in Libra at 7:20am UTC ~ Worm Moon

🌑April 1st New Moon in Aries at 6:27am UTC

🌕April 16th Full Moon in Libra at 18:57 UTC ~ Pink Moon

🌑April 30 New Moon in Taurus at 20:30 UTC

⚪ May 16th Full Moon in Scorpio at 4:15am UTC (Sagittarius from 11:51 UTC) ~ Flower Moon ~ Total Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio visible in North America, Atlantic Ocean, western Europe and western Africa

🌑May 30th New Moon in Gemini at 11:32 UTC

🌕June 14th Supermoon in Sagittarius at 11:52 UTC ~Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon

🌑June 29th New Moon in Cancer at 2:53am UTC

🌕July 13th Supermoon in Capricorn at 18:38 UTC

🌑July 28th New Moon in Leo at 17:55 UTC

🌕 Aug 12th Supermoon in Aquarius at 1:36am ~ Sturgeon Moon; final Supermoon for the year

🌑Aug 27th New Moon in Virgo at 8:17am UTC

🌕Sep 10th Full Moon in Pisces at 9:58am UTC ~ Corn Moon, Harvest Moon

🌑Sep 25th New Moon in Virgo at 21:55 UTC

🌕Oct 9th Full Moon in Aries at 20:55 UTC ~ Hunters Moon

🌑Oct 25th New Moon in Scorpio at 10:49am UTC & Partial Solar Eclipse in Scorpio

⚪ Nov 8th Full Moon in Taurus at 11:03 UTC ~ Total Lunar Eclipse in Taurus visible in eastern Russia, Japan, Oceania, western North America

🌑Nov 23rd New Moon in Scorpio at 22:58 UTC

🌕Dec 8th Full Moon in Gemini at 4:09am UTC

🌑Dec 23rd New Moon in Capricorn at 10:17 UTC

✦✧ Solar Events / Wheel of the Year Dates ✧✦

✨ Feb 1st-5th Northern Hemisphere Imbolc; Southern Hemisphere Lammas

✨ Mar 21st Equinox at 15:24 UTC ~ Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox/Ostara; Southern Hemisphere Autumnal Equinox/Mabon

✨ April 30th Partial Solar Eclipse in Taurus visible from southeast Pacific Ocean; southern South America

✨ May 1st-5th Northern Hemisphere Beltane; Southern Hemisphere Samhain

✨ June 21st Solstice at 9:05am UTC ~ Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice/Litha; Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice/Yule

✨ Aug 1st-7th Northern Hemisphere Lammas; Southern Hemisphere Imbolc

✨ Sep 23rd Equinox at 12:55am UTC ~ Northern Hemisphere Autumnal Equinox/Mabon; Southern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox/Ostara

✨ Oct 25th Partial Solar Eclipse visible over western & central Russia, Kazakhstan

✨ Nov 1st-7th Southern Hemisphere Beltane; Northern Hemisphere Samhain

✨ Dec 21st Solstice at 21:40 UTC ~ Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice/Yule; Southern Hemisphere Summer Solstice/Litha

✦✧ Astrological Events (Mostly Retrogrades) ✧✦

💫 Dec 28th 2021 Jupiter Moves into Pisces ➛ May 10th (positive for mutable signs)

💫 Jan 14th Mercury Retrograde ➛ 3rd February

💫Jan 19th Uranus Ends Retrograde

💫Jan 29th Venus Ends Retrograde

April 3rd Mercury at superior Solar Conjunction

💫 May 10th Mercury Retrograde ➛ 2nd June & Jupiter moves into Aries ➛ Oct 28th (positive for cardinal signs)

💫 June 5th Saturn Retrograde ➛ Oct 23rd

💫 June 28th Neptune Retrograde ➛ Dec 4th

💫 July 29th Jupiter Retrograde ➛ Nov 24th

💫August 24th Uranus Retrograde

💫 Sep 9th Mercury Retrograde ➛ 2nd October

💫Oct 31st Mars Retrograde

💫 Dec 29th Mercury Retrograde ➛ 18th January 2023

✦✧ Dates for Viewing Planets/Meteors ✧✦

⋆⁺｡ Jan 3rd & 4th Quadrantids Meteor Shower (Above average shower; runs from Jan 1st-5th; peaking on the 3rd) Near Constellation Bootes

🔭Jan 7th - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation (19.2 degrees from the Sun) Visible in Western Sky after sunset

🔭Feb 10th Venus at greatest brightness

🔭Feb 16th Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation (26.3 degrees from the Sun) Visible in Eastern Sky before sunrise

⋆⁺｡ April 22nd & 23rd Lyrids Meteor Shower (Average Shower; runs from April 16th-25th) Near Constellation Lyra

⋆⁺｡ May 6th & 7th Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower (Produces more meteors over Southern Hemisphere; runs from April 19th -May 28th) Near Constellation Aquarius

🔭June 16th Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation (23.2 degrees from the Sun) Visible in Eastern Sky before sunrise

⋆⁺｡ Jul 28th & 29th Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower (Average shower; runs from July 12 - August 23rd) Near Constellation Aquarius

⋆⁺｡ Aug 12th & 13th Perseids Meteor Shower (Runs July 17th to August 24th) Near Constellation Perseus

🔭Aug 14th Saturn at Opposition (at its brightest)

🔭Aug 27th Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation (27.3 degrees from the Sun) Visible low in Western Sky after sunset

🔭Sep 16th Neptune at Opposition (most likely still invisible without telescope)

🔭Sep 26th Jupiter at Opposition

⋆⁺｡ Oct 7th Draconids Meteor Shower (Minor meteor shower; runs October 6th-10th) Best viewed early evening, near constellation Draco

🔭Oct 8th Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation (18 degrees from the Sun) Visible in Eastern Sky before sunrise

⋆⁺｡ Oct 21st & 22nd Orionids Meteor Shower (Runs October 2nd to November 7th) Near Constellation Orion

⋆⁺｡ Nov 4th and 5th Taurids Meteor Shower (minor meteor shower runs from September 7th - December 10th) Near Constellation Taurus

🔭Nov 9th Uranus at Opposition

⋆⁺｡ Nov 17th, 18th Leonids Meteor Shower; (1st since 2001; runs November 6th-30th) Near Constellation Leo

🔭Dec 8th Mars at Opposition

⋆⁺｡ Dec 13th & 14th Geminids Meteor Shower (Biggest Meteor Shower, runs December 7th-17th) Near Constellation Gemini

🔭Dec 21st Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation; visible in Western Sky after sunset

⋆⁺｡ Dec 21st & 22nd Ursids Meteor Shower (Minor shower, runs December 17th-25th) Near Ursa Minor

Watch “It Works (1926) by RHJ” on YouTube

Its very short but a powerful idea is contained within

Youtube

ivycrownedwitch

“I have observed that magic works through the practitioner, not around him. This means that anything I call forth tends to pass through me on its way out into the world. Sending a curse, in my experience, is a little like spitting poison from your own mouth. It can be rinsed out, and it isn’t a complete return of what you have sent forth, but it changes your spirit ever so slightly. This can mean an amplification of the dark or sinister parts of your personality or the attraction of dark entities, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

— Folk Witchcraft by Roger J Horne

grimoirebabylon

Magic circles were originally cast with flour. From Wikipedia: Zisurrû, meaning “magic circle drawn with flour was an ancient Mesopotamian means of delineating, purifying and protecting from evil by the enclosing of a ritual space in a circle of flour.

The choice of flour was crucial to the purpose of the ritual, with šemuš-flour reserved (níĝ-gig) for repelling ghosts, wheat-flour for rituals invoking personal gods and šenuḫa-barley to encircle beds, presumably to counter disease-carrying demons.

servantofthefates

Traditional Worship of the Old Gods

servantofthefates

Coming from an unbroken line of pagans, I can’t help but laugh whenever anyone claims that worshipping the old gods is as easy as offering them a flower or leftover candies when it’s convenient. Being a child of extremely prideful beings is not some lighthearted, rainbows-and-butterflies hobby. It is a demanding but fulfilling way of life that requires volumes of books to convey. Still, here is a humble primer for the sincerest of beginners.

Apollo, Lord of Light

Approach him for the first time after you have gained a significant victory in life. Offer it to him. Your medal, your trophy or simply your pride in your triumph. But do not greet him empty-handed, or he will leave you in the middle of your prayer.

He does not tolerate self-pity, so never come to him with yours. As his child, you were born with the potential to become a champion. Honor him by harnessing it, not by doubting its existence.

Offer him a music box… jewelry… honey… anything gold or that makes a beautiful symphony.

Diana, Lady of the Hunt

Approach her for the first time on a full moon at the witching hour. Do not dare come to her with a problem. She hurts anyone who introduces themselves already seeking a favor. She finds it opportunistic and disrespectful.

She demands that you honor your masculinity and femininity. Attain physical strength. Learn how to defend yourself. Wear your hair down. Keep it long. Have thin, light fabrics in your wardrobe.

Offer her weapons. A dagger, a knife, a gun. You want her protection. So arm her.

Mercury, Lord of the Mind

Approach him for the first time with your favorite book. Something thought-provoking you have owned and loved since childhood. Transfer the ownership to him. That is your first offering.

As his child, you were born with the ability to think critically. You may speak to him freely of your emotional pain. But never of anything caused by your idiocy. Avoid such mistakes, or fix them before you speak to him again.

Offer him handwritten quotes from literature. He prefers ancient writings. Write letters to people you cannot reach, and implore him to send them for you through dreams.

Venus, Lady of Beauty

Approach her for the first time at your most attractive. Bathe. Wear your most glamorous attire. Paint your face. Do your hair. Wear jewelry. Bring her a freshly picked red rose and place it in a glass dome.

As her child, you cannot disrespect your natural beauty. Wearing colored contacts would be you complaining that she could have made your eyes prettier. Same goes for dyeing and perming your hair. Style it for an occasion, but otherwise wear it the way she gave it. No surgeries that are merely for the sake of vanity.

Offer her chocolates… perfume… anything luxurious or beautiful. She will protect your beauty, and give you even more.

Mars, Lord of the Battlefield

Approach him for the first time at a turbulent moment in your life. When you are battling an illness, poverty or villains. Give him a handwritten list of your ambitions.

As his child, you are not allowed to back down from a fight. He gave you the gift of drive and ambition. Apollo’s children are your leading rivals. He expects you to beat them.

Offer him steak or ribs you cooked yourself. They do not have to be beautifully presented. But use the best cuts only, and flavor them richly.

Jupiter, Lord of Abundance

Approach him for the first time after you have received a windfall. Winnings… a bonus… anything material. How ever much it is worth, give him ten percent, never to be spent.

As his child, you were born lucky. Money and happiness should come to you easily. You are to always count your blessings. That will make them multiply. But if you count your woes instead, he will also multiply them.

Offer him souvenirs from your travel. For that is how he wants his children to spend his gifts – on exploration and vacation.

Saturn, Lord of Earth

Approach him for the first time after a day of hard work. Recount to him all you have done in life and all you are still planning to do. He despises flattery but admires dedication.

As his child, your honest efforts will always be rewarded. Laziness will be punished. You are to take great care of your health, your possessions, your property. You must honor the physical and the material, for they are his domain.

Of all the gods, Saturn is the one who watches his children all the time. Your deeds and words, when matching, are counted as your offering.

Uranus, Lord of Chaos

Approach him for the first time after you have had a vivid dream or a waking vision. That lets him know you are indeed his to nurture. Otherwise, he will not accept your invitation.

As his child, you are not allowed to be normal. You are required to disrupt your community and society. Not with devilry, but with inventions, acts or words that are revolutionary. Declare to the world that you are psychic. If you hide his supernatural gifts, he will take them back and forever turn his back.

Offer him tokens. Anything unique, bizarre or strange. As long as it is priceless to you. Never offer him anything of no intellectual, creative or occult value.

Neptune, Lord of Mysticism

Approach him for the first time at your weakest. He loves comforting his children. Offer him your tears, so he knows you really need him. Tell him of your pains, and he will heal them.

As his child, you are not allowed to shy away from his supernatural gifts. He gave you the Sight so you can embrace the otherworldly. If you run away from your visions and premonitions, he will take them away… likely along with your sanity.

Offer him your own prose and verse. Stories and poems birthed by your imagination. Tell him of your psychic experiences and your desire for mystical intelligence.

Pluto, Lord of Death

Approach him for the first time when you have been wronged by someone you could not possibly avenge yourself from. Beg him for retribution. Come to him shaking with rage. Anything less will be ignored.

As his child, you were born with power. Power to control this world, and the one beneath it. The dark arts are as natural to you as breathing. Fully embrace them. So long as he feels your hunger for the occult, he will help you master it.

Offer him a list of your enemies, old and new. Never forgive and forget. Show him you crave his vengeance and protection. Place a black mirror on his altar. So that when you pray to him, he can see you, and you can see him.

will-o-the-witch

Localizing Your Practice

will-o-the-witch

So much witchcraft emphasizes how important it is to honor and work with the Earth, but then teaches us spells with ingredients we basically have to import using locations we don’t have access to. It’s rare to find an existing grimoire or guide book that actually works with where we live. We can still use them, but it doesn’t enhance our connection to our local land, which to many can feel important. Here are some tips for localizing your practice and working with the land you actually live on.

See what nature exists around you. Explore your own backyard with a critical eye. What plants can you actually go and pick yourself? What are those plants associated with? Do you have access to a creek or river? What does your local land actually have on it? If magic correspondences for your local plants haven’t been written about, you may have to do your own research. Example: I grow several plants on my back porch which I can potentially use for magic.There are magnolia trees and rhodedendrons on the grounds of my apartment complex. My parent’s neighbors have chickens in the backyard, so I have access to some feathers when they shed.

Check out local folklore, legends, etc. This is one of my favorite parts, but can also be the hardest. What are the stories of your area, both on a local and cultural scale. Example: A West Virginian may incorporate legends of the Mothman. Everyone says that one building on my old college campus is haunted (and they’re right.) People talk about that liminal-space feeling when you drive down that one road at night.

Find the magic spots. Sometimes the urban legends will tip you off to these (usually in a bad way) but other times you can find them on your own. A place where the energy is just right for some reason. A place you can go to be closer to nature, or a place you could host a ritual if needed. Sometimes it’s just a place where you can feel your mind open a little bit. Example: The shady corner of a public park. The tunnel downtown. That weirdly-perfect circle of trees in the woods behind Wal-Mart.

Meet your land wights. Spirits of the local land. This could be the fair folk, but also house spirits, the spirits of the trees near you, the nature spirits of wherever you are. They’re there. Be good to them and they’ll be good to you! Note: Some spirits and wights will not be interested in working with you, and that’s okay. I generally think it’s good to at least leave a polite offering to just be on general decent terms even if you never work with them more directly beyond that.

Check in with your Seasons. Harvest holidays generally don’t have actual lifestyle importance to most people reading this. The seasonal shifts other people write about may be from a very different climate than yours! Figure out a calendar that works for you. It doesn’t have to be detailed, but something that ties you to the seasons as you actually experience them. I also love working in any fun annual festivals nearby, if any.

baduhennasraven

Witch tip:

Winter season is upon us, which means that these types of candle holders in the shape of a tiny house will be sold as Christmas decoration again. These are amazing as home wards, to bring warmth and joy to the home, and for protection spells!

- Paint protective symbols on them or in them
- charge the tealight you put in there with protection magic or magic for a happy home
- choose tealights (or make them) with scents that you associate with protection or cozyness/happiness
- lay a wreath around it as a symbol of your protective ward, for example a small wreath made of rosemary, or a plain metal (iron) one
- you could even lay a circle of salt around it
- charge the candle to become your hearth, the basis of all magics to be worked for the home
- also good for working with hearth deities such as Hestia
- also can be used as a house for a servitor created to protect the home
- paint it in happy colours to attract joy and happiness to your home
- instead of a candle, fill it with herbs, crystals, and other symbols to attract magic into your home (sort of like an open spelljar or an altar)
- use it as a focus when working with the "spirit" or "soul" of your home
- charge it specifically to eliminate strife and negativity within the home during the holidays

The possibilities are endless!

alive-out-of-spite

Samhain

Activities

Put up wards to keep out unwanted spirits
Put jars of salt by your door to protect your home
Sprinkle some salt in your mouth right before you go to bed to protect your dreams
Light candles to help guide spirits
Tell stories of dead relatives and friends
Write about the dead in your book of shadows
Give offerings to your ancestors
Pray at your altar
Cleanse your space with incense
Drink hot drinks
Bake bread or pies
Add fall recipes to your book of shadows
Paint and decorate pumpkins
Contact spirits through divination
Ask for advice from your ancestors
Be thankful for the food you have
Dust and tidy your altar
Look at pictures of deceased loved ones
Dress in fall colors
Go for a walk in nature, observe the leaves turning. Consider the cycles of life and death that govern our world.
Light a bonfire/small fire (safely!) and burn papers with things that no longer serve you, that you cannot afford to take into winter.
Make an offering to your deities or ancestors
Make food with seasonal ingredients symbolic of the final harvest: squashes, pumpkins, grains, apples, spices. Even wine, if you’re allowed to drink.
Prepare your home and yourself for the coldest part of the year. Redo protection spells, clean out clutter, develop sustaining spells for winter.
Reflect on the past year. What did you lose? What people left your life, what things no longer hold meaning for you? How did you change as a person?
Work with various forms of divination, like runes, pendulums, tea leaves, or tarot.
If you do work with ouija boards you better be SUPER DUPER careful. Do not neglect protections, and if you feel uncomfortable, stop, protection spells and cleanse, cleanse, cleanse.
Give some time or money to a cause you’re passionate about. If your harvest is abundant, give back to those who were not so fortunate.

Colors

Black
Orange
Brown
Gold
Scarlet

Animals

Bat
Boar
Cat
Cow
Dog
Crow

Crystals

Jet
Obsidian
Amber
Carnelian
Fossils
Onyx
Sandstone
Turquoise
Bloodstone

Herbs and Flowers

Acorn
Angelica
Broom
Catnip
Deadly Nightshade
Dittany
Hazel
Heather
Mandrake
Mugwort
Oak leaves
Sage
Straw
Wormwood

Trees

Apple
Beech
Blackthorn
Locust
Pomegranate
Willow
Witch Hazel
Yew

Foods

Soul bread (I recommend putting something on it, it can be bland)
Roast turkey or chicken
Venison
Rice
Cod
Sea Bass
Lamb
Duck
Scallops
Oysters
Mussels
Apples
Pears
Grapes
Citrus
Pomegranate
Eggplant
Tomato
Fig
Brussel Sprouts
Kale
Pumpkin
Squash
Mushroom
Broccoli
Plumbs
Cranberries
Ginger
Peaches
Cabbage
Key limes
Passion Fruit
Radishes
Chestnuts
Beets
Fruit Pies
Fruit Cobblers
Apple Cake
Spice Cakes
Apple Cider
Hard Cider
Pumpkin spice Latte
Hot Cocoa
Apple Juice
Adult Appel Juice (wine)
Mulled Wine
Mulled Cider
Grape Juice
Chai Tea or Latte
Herbal Teas

Deities

Arawn
Belenus
Dagda
Hades
Loki
Odin
Pluto
Badb
Banba
Cailleach
Durga
Hecate
Hel
Inanna
Ishtar
Kali
Morrigan
Rhiannon
Horned God

Spells

Write a list of things you want to release and burn it
Light candles to help guide and honor spirits
Practice Spirit work
Samhain Divination
Family Meals with a place for the dead
Meditate and Reflect

Other names

All Saints Day
All Hallows Eve
Halloween

Incense/EO

Sage
Pumpkin
Patchouli
Myrrh
Straw
Flax
Wheat
Corn
Rosemary
Nutmeg
Allspice

astral-chronicles

List of Things To Do In The Astral

It’s incredible to have all the realms of the universe at your fingertips but, let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do or where to begin! Here’s a small list of ideas to inspire you!

✨Explore different places and realms! Make friends with some of the friendlier residents

✨Cast spells

✨Practice energy work

✨Meet with your spirit guides, companions and deities

✨Ask your spirit guides or companions to take you some place new

✨Go to your personal realm/astral space if you haven’t already

✨Make a personal realm/astral space if you don’t have one

✨Practice shapeshifting

✨Practice shifting different parts of your astral body. Add wings or horns, change your hair and eye color, just have fun with it!

✨Glam things up and mess around with different outfits! Have a fashion show with your spirits or deities!

Above All Things a Witch Must Persevere!

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.