Ash

[heatherwitch]

Witchcraft for the Chronically Fatigued

Fatigue looks at things such as tiredness, drowsiness, exhaustion, weakness, lethargy and memory issues and says “I can do all that and more!”. It leaves you feeling utterly trapped in your own body; unable to move, or even think at times. It fluctuates, but is always looming. 

While this post is open for all, it is written for those who truly relate to this all-consuming feeling (due to ME/CFS, other chronic illnesses, mental illness, or undiagnosed causes). Not all of these may work for you, but hopefully they inspire something that will. For general low energy witchcraft, check out my Bedridden Witch Series!

As always: witchcraft is to be used in addition to proper medical care, treatment and medication; not as a sole alternative.

To draw energy:

If you cannot produce your own, magically created will be just fine!

Crystals. 

I tend to use clear quartz for an energy boost, but trust your intuition; if something calls to you, it’s for a reason. 

Keep it near your bedside table, under your pillow, hold it in your hand or place it on your body where you feel the fatigue most strongly centered. 

When on the go, carry it in your pocket or wear as jewelry. If it is larger, carry in a bag and hold it when you need it. 

Charge using a charging board or the elements. 

Crystals for fatigue

Waters.

Physically touching water brings me energy. I keep jars of snow, rain, storm, river, stream (etc, etc.) water and will dip my fingers in it and mark that parts of my body where the fatigue feels strongest. Be aware of pollutants and do not ingest!

The same method can be done with tap water (or water charged under the sun or moon)

Drink sun water or sun tea (start with drinking safe water and let it absorb the energies of the sun).

Some people find moon water to be energizing (same process as above, just with the moon). 

See also: Bedridden witch: Bath edition.

Other elements.

Note what is energizing to you and what is draining to you. Consider: the sun, moon (and it’s phases), weather (rain, overcast, snow, storm, wind), cold vs. hot, the earth, fire, air, etc.

Once you find which elements are energizing to you, find ways to incorporate them into your life. Examples: jars of different waters or soils, rocks collected from places, candles, and more.

I usually draw energy up from the earth by placing my palms flat towards the earth by the sides of my body. So if I was lying down, my arms would be at my sides with my palms facing down.

Expose yourself or protect yourself. I’ll use my personal experiences as an example here… Rain often energizes me. When it rains, I’ll open my windows, and if I’m able I’ll step outside or collect some water. On the flipside, full moons often drain me. I’ll close my windows and curtains, hang an extra blanket over my bedroom window, use water to paint protective sigils on the window and increase my wards.

See also: Bedridden witch: Elements edition and Bedridden witch: Weather edition

To manage symptoms:

Brain fog:

Brainfog lifting

“Brainfog begone” sigil

Fatigue: 

Spoonie spell for energy

Energy gain spell

Energy boost spell

Energy bath

Fatigue recovery spell jar

Headaches (and migraines):

Headache healing

To banish a headache

Anti-migraine spell

Anti-migraine spell bottle

Migraine relief bath

Joint pain:

Arthritis pain relief oil

Joint pain spell

Healing spell for joints

Memory:

Memory masterpost

Memory and concentration spell

Mental reboost tea spell

Muscle pain:

Muscle pain sachet

Warming salve for sore muscles

Crystals for muscle pain (external site)

For more categories of symptoms please see my posts for symptoms relating to chronic illness and mental illness!

Practicing the craft with energy limitations:

Tips and tricks:

I highly recommend preparing things when your energy allows, so it’s always ready to go when you need it (and isn’t dependent on current energy levels). 

Cleansing: Let other things do your work for you. Open your windows/get fresh air, steam or smoke, sound, etc. Bedridden energy cleansing.

Divination: Use apps when physical movement is hard. One card spreads, shorten your pendulum so you don’t need to lift your arm, divine using the elements, etc. Bedridden divination.

Spells: Make your own spell kits. Spell jars and sachets are also an excellent way to already have the spell prepared, set it up so you can simply shake it to re/activate the spell.

Warding: Create physical ties for your wards that aren’t reliant on consistent upkeep (as a failsafe), and reinforce your other ward layers when you have the energy. I create far more layers than I need so when I am unable to reinforce them, they still protect me. 

Worship: Compile prayers and devotions somewhere you can easily find and read them, have a wall altar for easy maintenance, keep offerings simple (a glass of water, for example). Bedridden worship.

Many more tips and tricks in these posts:

Bedridden witch series (masterpost of all my current bedridden witch posts, including some that weren’t linked here!)

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft (divination, spells, working with flames, recording information and more)

Nonverbal witchcraft

You may also like:

Magic to replenish energy

Spoonie witch masterpost

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Witchcraft & Meds

Low energy cleaning + cleansing

Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.) 

Drink magic masterpost

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Do none of these posts fit your needs? Let me know, I’m always looking for more ways to make witchcraft accessible!

**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**

Last updated May of 2020. Please check for updates and inform me of broken links via askbox!

[ashkynlillith124]

Not random, but do people have good folk song or folk music recommendations? Or good songs for witchcraft? Or good songs that are related like at all to paganism or witchcraft? Not random, just curious and want recommendations lol. Thank you! I appreciate it. Happy Yule <333

[ashkynlillith124]

Hey, Happy Yule! This is the first Yule I have celebrated so far, and it’s been really amazing and fun. I’m curious, what have you all done or what are you going to do this Yule? I hope you all are well. Happy Yule, Blessed Solstice, and Happy Holidays!!! <333 Thanks

[arcane-trail]

What is Paganism?

The term Paganism has been evolving for almost two millennia, so there is understandable confusion about what Paganism means. It has always been an umbrella term that includes within it many different faiths and practices. In this post, we are going to talk about what Paganism is (and isn’t) and explore some of the most important branches of modern Paganism (also known as Neopaganism).

Origins of the Term Paganism

The term Paganism was coined in the fourth century by Christians living in the Roman Empire for anyone who did not follow Christianity or Judaism. It comes from the Latin word paganus, which means country dweller. The implication was that these were “country bumpkins” stuck in old ways and not yet “wise” to the modern religion of Christianity. The Roman Empire officially converted to Christianity in 313 CE.

In the Middle Ages, while Islam was also viewed as a non-Pagan religion, the term Paganism continued to be used to refer to anyone who did not follow a religion based on a biblical god. It carried the derogatory connotation that Pagans worship false gods and are barbarians.

But in the 20th century, the term Paganism was reclaimed by various groups that follow religious beliefs or practices associated with pre-Christian religions. The group includes polytheists that continue to worship non-biblical pantheons, animists, magical practitioners, nature worshippers, and more.

The term Neopaganism is often used to distinguish these modern Pagans from our ancestors, who would have never referred to themselves as Pagans. Christians created the term Pagan to create “us” (biblical religions) and “them” (non-biblical religions) categories. This would not have been meaningful to our pre-Christian ancestors or to Norse warriors and Egyptian priests for whom Christianity was just one more religion.

It is worth noting that while Medieval Christians would have referred to religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism as Pagan, they aren’t included in the modern definition. These organized religions, which are dominant in many countries, fall into a class of their own.

Definition of Neopaganism

It is difficult to define Neopaganism because so many different people today identify with the term Paganism. It is possible to identify some characteristics that are common to most Neopagans, but don’t necessarily apply universally.

Pagan religions tend to be non-organized in that they are followed by an individual practitioner or small community rather than being a hierarchical institution like the Catholic church. But there are exceptions; for example, Hermetic orders tend to be small but very hierarchical organizations.

Pagan religions are often polytheistic, either drawing on ancient divine pantheons or following an animistic approach, which recognizes divinity in action within the world without necessarily naming it. Pagans can believe in these gods in a literal sense or as a metaphorical tool for relating to powers that are beyond our comprehension.

Pagans tend to believe that everything is sacred, especially nature, and that we can tap into the spiritual energy of the universe through meditation, invocation, rituals, witchcraft, and various other practices.

In most cases, it is an individualistic path. You choose which deities and beliefs speak to you personally, and you are responsible for creating and following your spiritual path. This very often links to a strong moral code, as you are responsible for your actions and their consequences. Pagans often identify with the idea that you can feed the universe with positive energy or diminish it with negative energy. You attract the kind of energy that you project, and what you receive mirrors what you give.

As we have already said, these characteristics do not hold true for all Pagans, but they are ideas that most Neopagans will identify with.

Branches of Neopaganism

So, if there are various branches of Neopaganism, what are they?

It is impossible to provide a complete and comprehensive list, first because we would be here forever, and second, since it is a personal and individualistic belief system, there is no limit to the number of variations that can exist.

But below, we will look at some of the most popular forms of Paganism that are most widely recognized in the Neopagan community today.

Reconstructionist Religions

Reconstructionist religions attempt to reconstruct ancient religions in the modern world. Pagans of this brand might choose to worship the Greek gods, follow the ritual practices of Egyptian priests, or walk in the footsteps of Druids.

Probably the most well-known reconstruction religion is Norse paganism, also known as Heathenry, which is the belief in the old Norse gods, including Odin, Thor, and Freyja. While exactly how this is done is individualistic, enough people identified with this type of Paganism that Asatru was created in Iceland in the 1970s to provide a common banner under which they could identify as an interest group. It is now recognized around the world.

Magic working is not a necessary part of modern Norse paganism, just as it was not in ancient times when only a few people were Volva (Seidr witches) or runemasters (workers of rune magic). But runic divination is a popular practice in modern Heathenry.

Wicca

Wicca is probably the type of Paganism most represented in pop culture (think The Craft and Charmed). It is a modern witchcraft practice, often but not always associated with the veneration of a great mother goddess and her consort, often but not always portrayed as a horned god. It can be followed by sole practitioners or coven groups led by a high priest or priestess.

Modern Wicca is credited as being founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1930s, and followers of his teachings are known as Gardnerian Wiccans. But today there are many different branches, both formal and informal.

Modern Wicca draws on what is known from historic witchcraft and magic rituals. But it is a thriving and evolving practice in which invention and following your intuition are encouraged.

Non-Wiccan Witchcraft

Not all Pagans who identify themselves as practitioners of witchcraft consider themselves Wiccan. Many follow a more shamanistic or nature-based approach to witchcraft without reference to organized elements such as covens or priests. These, usually sole practitioners, are often referred to as hedge witches.

These practitioners have a lot in common with Wiccans in their use of certain symbols and elements and closely following the cycle of the year and the phases of the moon. Grimoires and Books and Shadows are often used to record knowledge.

Hermeticism

The term Hermeticism originally referred to a religio-philosophical system based on a small number of writings known as Hermetica which gave birth to scientific approaches to magic in the form of practices such as alchemy. But Hermeticism has since become a term for those who engage in “high magic” or ritual magic, usually within a body or organization with specific teaching and hierarchies.

Probably the most famous example of these is the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an organization dedicated to the study of the occult, metaphysical, and paranormal. It is a spin-off of Freemasonry and incorporates the hierarchies and secrecy of that order. There are tests to enter new parts of the order and learn new secrets. For a number of years, the famous occultist Aleister Crowley was associated with the order.

Animism

Animism differs from other types of polytheistic paganism in that it does not necessarily feel the need to name or identify deities. Animism accepts that there is a divine or spiritual force at work in the world and it can be seen in aspects of life. But they can appreciate and be thankful for these forces without anthropomorphizing them into deities.

Animists often believe that the gods of polytheistic religions are cultural constructions designed to help humans better understand and engage with these forces. They may choose to engage with certain traditional polytheistic gods as a way of engaging with the elements of the world they consider most important.

Secular Paganism

Secular paganism could also be called a nature-based religion. Secular pagans do not necessarily believe in certain deities and could be Polytheists, Christians, Atheists, or anything in between. The core belief is that we are part of nature, rather than masters of it, and that we should live our lives with an abiding love and respect for nature.

Secular Paganism often mixes meditative and ritual practices designed to better understand and control the self with a world view based on science.

Eclectic Paganism

Eclectic Paganism is kind of a “catch-all” term for those who don’t fit into other types of Paganism. This is for people who identify with the general principles of Paganism but haven’t tied themselves to a single belief system or set or practices.

For example, they might believe in the mother goddess, but not practice witchcraft. They may feel a deep spiritual connection with the universe, witch manifests in practices such as reading Tarot cards, and cleansing spaces with incense and herbs, but may not necessarily consider these practices linked with any kind of divinity.

Eclectic Pagans often have broad interests in terms of researching different new age practices and approaches. They may also identify with Paganism aesthetically through gothic-style fashion.

Meso-Paganism

Meso-Paganism is a term used for practices that are a result of mixing non-Christian religions with Christianity imposed by conquerors, missionaries, or both. Haitian Voodoo and Candomblé in Brazil are probably the best examples, in which African deities are syncretized with Christian Saints and elements of Christian religion are incorporated into traditional rituals.

While many of the characteristics of Neopaganism apply to Meso-Paganism, followers and practitioners are less likely to identify with the broader Pagan community. These are traditional religions passed down through communities, rather than sought out by individuals. So, while they may not be the dominant religion in a certain place, they have this in common with religions such as Hinduism.

What kind of Pagan are You?

While this whole post has been dedicated to trying to define and categorize Paganism, what it really equates to is following your own spiritual path outside of the biblical context. There are no rules about what you have to believe and practices that you have to engage in. It is all about finding your own spirituality and expressing it in a way that works for you.

But we would still love to know what Paganism means to you! Let us know in the comments section below.

[Full blog post here]

[windvexer]

windvexer's spellcrafting and spellcasting checklist

These are the sorts of things I think about when I work the style of magic that I work. This stuff is based off of my beliefs which might include UPG and is therefore definitely not applicable to everyone. Take what you want and discard the rest.

I do not rigidly follow this checklist. These are just the kinds of things I think about and consider when planning and executing spells. For small, simple spells, I ignore almost all of these factors. For serious and large spells I may consider many more of them.

Spellcrafting

Intent

Do I know exactly what I want to occur?

Have I thought through a few obvious logical consequences of my intended goal?

Have I performed divination on the outcome of this intent?

Am I sure that what I'm asking for is the same thing as what I want? (e.g. do I really want more people talk to me or is my true desire make more friends?)

Do I need to crystalize my intent into one specific phrase, or is it okay for me to leave it casual or even improvise?

Expectations

How soon is it rationally possible for my spell to manifest?

Do I expect the spell to manifest very rapidly? If so, what components or spellcasting style am I going to use to encourage rapid manifestation?

Do I expect the spell to work "just okay," or to be very powerful? If I want it to be very powerful, what extra steps am I going to take to fill the spell with power?

If the spell does exactly as my intent dictates, what is the most likely outcome?

Responsibilities

Am I bound to any gods or spirits that would frown upon what I want to undertake with this spell?

Have I taken any vows or oaths that would conflict with my goals?

Does casting this spell intent conflict with personal goals I've set for myself?

If casting for others, is this truly a situation I want to involve myself in?

If casting for myself, is this spell in my own best interest?

Is there any chance I am casting this spell to side-step self care, responsibilities, or personal healing? (I don't mean don't cast a self-love spell if you actually need therapy! Cast that spell every gosh darn day if you please. I literally mean, are you using magic as an avoidance tactic, when the reality is you really really just need to eat a sandwich and do your homework?)

Design

Have I chosen a style of spellcasting which matches my intent? (e.g., if I want to banish, have I chosen a spellcasting style that includes sending away actions such as burning a paper or throwing away a rock?)

Can I be creative with what I have to avoid delaying this spell? (e.g. I usually use candles as a beacon to draw things in, but when I think about it, a candle burning down would also be a good sending away action for a banishment).

If I have already heavily cast in the past, do I have any ongoing spells (such as wards) which would interfere with the work I want to do now?

Do I want to include a physical indicator that the spell manifested or stopped working? (Such as tying a thread around your wrist that breaks when the spell stops working)

Physical Components

What physical object will be used to anchor this spell? I believe that manifesting in physical reality is much easier if you tie magic to a physical object.

Do I know how the physical objects I'm using are linked to the design of the spell? (e.g., I want to banish, so I choose to use a candle for a dwindling away effect.)

Do I have a safe and practical plan for storing or disposing leftover physical objects from the spellcasting?

How can I make storage or disposal of leftover objects a part of the spell? (e.g. I take the leftover melted wax from the banishment candle and walk to the dumpster down the street, completing the spell as I throw away the last bits of their presence in my life in the garbage).

Am I intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell? If so, do I need physical components to represent them within the casting space, or within the spell itself?

If I am intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell, and I need physical components to represent them, is it a good idea to save and re-use these components? Do I need to make disposable representations, or can I use permanent devotional objects?

What physical components have I gathered which are unnecessary?

Does each component that I've chosen have a specific job in this spell?

Does each component and their jobs fully align with my chosen intent and spell style?

If not every component and their jobs align with my intent or method of casting, do I need to re-examine my intent and rework the foundations of this spell?

Do I need to modify or prepare any physical components? If so, do I need to do any of this ahead of time?

Energy and Power

How much power do I believe it will take to successfully perform this spell? If the energy requirement is large, do I need to break this operation up into smaller parts and cast multiple small spells?

Will it be necessary for me to craft a physical spell vessel ahead of time so I can slowly charge it until it has enough power?

How do I intend to power this spell? (for me, I power it with my own energy, or call on external forces)

If I will use my own energy, do I have enough personal power reserves to successfully cast this spell? Or, will it burn me out, even on a day when I'm well-rested?

If I will use an external energy, how do I plan to raise or call this energy into my casting space?

How do I plan to combine power with my spell components? (sometimes this is inherent in spell style; if doing knot magic, the power is held within the knots. At other times, it must be thought through - if I draw a symbol on a rock, maybe my power will be consumed by the spell at the singular point where I draw the symbol on the rock. Or, maybe I'd like to charge the symbol ahead of time.)

If I'm using many physical components, do I need to individually charge each one?

Do my chosen energy sources align with my spell needs? (e.g. if I require very rapid manifestation, have I ensured that I am using airy, fiery, mercurial, swift, or rapid energies? Or, have I accidentally used lots of heavy, slow, earthen, saturnine, creeping energies?)

Spirits, Gods, and Entities

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, how is my relationship with that power? Do I need to visit them ahead of time and make sure we're on good terms before I call on them?

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to plan a formal invitation or petition?

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to repay them? If so, what do I need to collect or prepare for this purpose?

Aftermath and Upkeep

Is this a one-shot or continuous spell? Will I be maintaining and watching over the spell after it is cast, or will I let it go do its thing?

If it's an ongoing spell that will require upkeep, have I chosen a physical vessel that's practical to be worked with over a long period of time?

Will I need to make notes about this spell so I can remember what the vessel is in a few weeks or months?

How often will I need to recharge or maintain this spell?

If something went wrong, how would I undo this spell?

Spellcasting

Preparation

Have I gathered everything I need into one place?

If I forget something, is it okay for me to walk away from the spell to go get it, or is it really important I don't leave casting space until the spell is complete?

Is there anything special I need to do to prepare my casting space?

Do I need to take notes or write anything down so I don't forget it once the spell starts?

If I'm going to do a fancy ritual, do I need to write or print the ritual steps ahead of time?

If I've chosen to perform my spell at a special time, how much earlier do I need to prepare my casting space so that I can begin working within the correct time?

Pre-Casting Self Check

Do I feel safe and comfortable casting this spell?

Do I have enough personal energy to cast a spell right now? (even when conjuring external energies, you always use some of your own energy to cast spells)

If there is a risk that I will be drained, do I have anything important to do today or tomorrow that would be bad to miss or under-perform on?

Do I have enough free time today to have extra rest after spellcasting?

Do I have enough extra food to help restore me after spellcasting? (especially carbs, by the way)

Are there any tasks or activities I should do before I cast this spell, in case it is more draining than I expected?

Will I have enough energy to clean up my spellcasting space once I'm done? This includes properly disposing of or storing any spellcasting remnants or vessels.

Do I want to pray and ask for aid before I begin the spellcasting process?

Do I have any last-minute gut feelings about casting this spell? Is there a negative or worrying emotion that has been with me through this entire process that I've tried to ignore?

Do I want to exert my will upon the world?

After Care

How do I feel? (Including the physical, emotional, and mental)

Did I properly pay any spirits, gods, or entities involved in my spellwork?

Did I properly close down the spellcasting space (if applicable)?

If the working took place in my resting area, does my resting area feel comfortable? Is there anything I need to do, such as opening the window or playing music, to help my space return to normal?

Do I need a snack?

Do I need to perform a restful, low-energy activity for a little while?

Would it feel nice if I went and talked to people, or would I prefer to be alone?

Did I have any special insights during spellcasting that I want to write down before I forget?

Reflection

Did the spell go how I imagined it would?

Was I able to feel power being raised?

Did I end up feeling drained or buzzed after spellcasting? (note that you're not always bound to feel either, but it's worth noting as they're decent indicators that "something happened")

Did I ever feel a moment where I was still working over my physical components, but realized that they felt complete and the magic was ready?

If I called on spirits, gods, or entities, did I feel their presence? Did it seem like they had thoughts or feelings about the spell?

If I cast a spell like this again, what would I change? What would I keep the same?

Did I feel good about my disposal or storage methods for physical components?

Do I want to perform divination on how the spellcasting went?

Did I over or under-estimate how much energy the spell would require?

Did I like the style of spellcasting? Do I want to explore more spells of this style, or try a different type?

[ashkynlillith124]

Ok so people say that intention is the different between a routine and manifestation. They say that if your intention while making stuff is for it to be magick then it is and when you eat or drink it then it’s happening bc you intended it to. What if you don’t make it, you just intend while you’re eating or drinking smtg that someone else made? You’re clear about what it is you intend, does it still work? While ofc it would be like a lot less hardcore manifesting then doing a big fancy spell, for just a little bit would it still work if you are only just eating it? I just want to be clear about this, as someone who is still very new to actually practicing.

[schrawbry-juice]

Tips for baby witches, lazy witches, tired witches, or any witch really:

Enchant your morning cup of tea/coffee*

Match the colours of your makeup to your intentions for the day

Visualise the water washing away all the negativity when you shower

Enchant your nail polish (bonus: match the colour to the intention, black for protection, red for love, green for prosperity, etc)

Say your affirmations (for clear skin, fading scars, reducing dullness, etc) when doing your skincare

Charge your perfume with the energy you wish to attract

When tying your shoes, visualise them symbolically protecting you from tripping and “falling” into places and situations that disturb your peace

Use music to your advantage, listen to songs that match your intentions, or alternatively, use music as a tool for divination

Some witches veil to keep their energy from draining and to protect them from others’ emotions, but a beanie works too

If you wear glasses, use them as a tool so that they help you “see clearly”

Put your moisturiser on in the shape of a sigil before massaging it in

Child’s pose is always there for you, use it when you need it (alleviates stress and anxiety, helps clear the mind, releases tension in the back, helps to steady breathing, is overall great for grounding, etc)

Visualise the A+ (on your report card/on the paper after it’s been graded/etc) right before beginning to solve your test/exam, it also helps if you can draw a sigil somewhere on the paper, or trace it on the paper with your finger

When shaving, visualise any energy buildup being shaved off as well

If you play the guitar, draw a sigil on your plectrum/pick for an added boost (this works with other instruments too)

Do not litter out of respect for nature and its spirits

Feel free to add more things onto the list

When you’re just starting out, or even when you’re just too drained to practice your craft like you used to, it can feel like there isn’t enough magic in your life. This is your daily reminder that a lot of the time, the only difference between routine and magick is intent.

*I have been informed that the first link is now private. I will not be changing it, but here is my go-to method for enchanting tea. Stir clockwise to manifest/invite, and counterclockwise to banish/repel. Tap the spoon (or whatever it is that you’re using) thrice against the rim of the cup to seal in the intention.

[blacksapphrodite]

Witchcraft Basics: Glamours

What is a Glamour?

A glamour is a kind of spell you cast on yourself to change how people perceive you. Glamours aren’t like the kind of magic you see in the movies--the same goes for all the witchcraft we talk about here. It’s not flashy. You can’t use a glamour to change your eye or hair color. You can, however, use them to be perceived as more beautiful, more confident, tougher, smarter, more delicate, the list goes on. I’ve written a couple of glamour spells before--mostly beauty spells like my spritzer or beauty oil. But there are other kinds of glamours and other ways to achieve them.

Oftentimes, glamours are performed along with your getting ready ritual. It’s a kind of magic that lends itself well to the mundane things we do everyday, and to the science of our world as well. You’ve probably heard of the placebo effect. The simple version of it is: if you believe something is happening to you, you’ll begin to feel the effects--it becomes real. The intersection of witchcraft and science is fascinating to me, and glamours in particular are where I see it overlapping the most! You’ve got magic and science working on your side with these, and the end result is often that you feel more secure in yourself, which is something we should all strive for.

How to Cast a Glamour

So you’ve crawled out of bed, or off of the couch, and you’re about to get ready to go out. You want to look a certain way--be perceived a certain way, and you want some magical help with that. This is where casting a glamour comes in, and there are a ton of ways to do it. The simplest way, with no outside preparation or ingredients, is to manifest your intent while getting ready for the day, however it is you do that. Wash away the worries and debris of the day before when you shower and wash your hair. Focus on whatever quality you desire sinking into your skin as your wash your face, moisturize, shave, etc.

Choose your outfit according to what you’re trying to manifest--color associations work well for this, as does jewelry, especially if you’ve enchanted it. If you wear makeup, it’s tailor made for casting glamours. Use color associations on your eyeshadow and lipstick--pink for beauty, red for confidence, a nude if you’re trying to go unnoticed. Think of your foundation as well, the foundation of your spell. Whatever perception you’re going for, infuse the foundation with it and put it on. If you use concealer, use it to “conceal” any faults, or whatever it is about yourself you’d like to downplay today. Weave magic and intention into your hair as your pick, comb or brush it out for the day. Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne? Use it to cover yourself in your intention. And the best part is, after the day is over, you can end the spell by washing it all away!

Of course, you can do a glamour via more hands-on means as well. Potions, salves, baths, charms, enchanted meals, the list goes on. Tea, coffee and smoothies lend themselves well to glamours, as you can take them on the go and let the magic flow through you on your way to your destination. You can create a spray for your skin or hair, an oil to anoint yourself with, or even create a satchel to carry on your person in order to exude whatever quality you’re seeking. As you may have noticed, a lot of these glamours are reusable, as opposed to the cosmetic type glamours listed above. Both have their uses, and you can layer these methods as well to achieve what you desire!

Types of Glamours

What kind of glamour might you want to cast, though? Well, here are a few examples!

-beauty/attractiveness

Probably the most common type of glamour, these are used to make you appear more attractive to people you may interact with.

-confidence

To look more confident, even when you’re not particularly feeling that way. These are good for job interviews, meetings, presentations, etc.!

-toughness

If you’re trying to look stronger or more intimidating than you are, for safety or otherwise, this might be the kind of glamour you’re looking for.

-intelligence

Need to come off as more eloquent and intelligent? Well I’m sure you’re plenty smart, but if people have been doubting you, a magical boost might give them a nudge in the right direction.

There are plenty more, and these can overlap and combine to achieve what you’re looking for! Magic is malleable like that. Just be clear about what you need, or you might get mixed results. This goes for any spell, however. ;)

Tools/Ingredients for Glamours

Not sure what to gather beforehand? Here are a couple of ideas!

Makeup (especially eyeshadow and lipstick)

Perfume

Cologne

Lotions

Jewelry

Pins

Moisturizers/Skin care products

Roses (beauty)

Garlic

Hot Sauce/Hot Peppers

Dill

Banana (Success)

Avocado (Beauty, love)

Apple (Beauty, love)

Strawberries (Love, happiness)

Peaches (youth, happiness)

Cherries, pitted (beauty)

Vanilla

Bay leaf (love, passion, harmony)

Basil (wealth,love, faithfulness)

Oregano (ward against negative energy, happiness, peaceful energy)

Thyme (positivity, prosperity)

Parsley (happiness, passion, protection)

Sage (prosperity, mental clarity)

Rosemary (beauty, love, general magical boost)

Marjoram (happiness, love, money)

Sea Salt (purity, protection)

Pepper (passion)

Crushed red pepper (passion, a spell booster)

This is just a list to start with! You can use the edible ingredients to make teas, baths, smoothies, soups, etc., and infuse other ingredients with your intent. Glamours are versatile, and the way you cast them can be, too! The only real limit is your imagination!

(I'm cleaning up my blog and reposting some of my spells/etc that were once hosted on my website.💕)

[windvexer]

growth in witchcraft as shedding of snake-skin

Sort of obvious, but I had to learn it (like everything else) the hard way. And as spooky season approaches and people may be revitalizing their practices after breaks, I want to say something that might end up saving a couple folks from a lot of frustration and heartbreak:

Just because it worked that way for you in the past, doesn't mean that's how it works for you now.

I mean this in a literal, making-stuff-happen with magic and sorcery way.

You guys have heard the adage that some spirit guides are with you for life, some for short periods, some for just one lesson, etc., right?

Well, the same can be said for sorcerous techniques.

I don't know if I just shed techniques like hermit crabs shed shells or what, but this happens to me a lot. Here's the kind of thing I mean:

You used to do readings with a specific little ritual involving a prayer and incense, but now that technique seems to produce incorrect readings. It feels flat and you can tell you're not connecting.

You used to be able to tie intent into knots and carry the thread around with you all day to conjure specific little occurrences, but now it barely seems to work and manifestation is spotty.

You used to be able to converse with spirits by going into a deep meditation, but now when you try you can hardly connect and it's like their messages are getting blotted out.

And I think sometimes when these things happen, people tend to process this with:

self-blame (I'm not a devoted enough witch, I brought this on myself!),

scapegoating spiritual allies (I used to pray to Hekate before divination but now my divination doesn't work, so Hekate must be mad at me), or

developing personal doubt (I used to think magic worked but now I can't replicate my own results).

When the reality is, if you're a magical snickity-snek and you've shed your skin, you might be slithering about in the soil trying to do the little old things that no longer fit the bigger, better you.

Sometimes this "shedding" is very obvious and we can feel and taste it. "Shedding" may come before, during, or after a period of intense personal transformation. It may come in a numinous moment when you hear a single phrase, or view a single image, that makes you become the Hanged Man and see reality in a whole new way.

But it can also happen without us really noticing it. I might put down my tarot cards for a couple months, pick them up again, and suddenly the ways I used to read don't work for me any more.

It's not because I'm a bad reader, or that the spirits have abandoned me, or that magic isn't real.

It's because what used to work for me doesn't any more, and now I just need to find new techniques.

So if you're trying to pick up what used to work and it just doesn't seem to be helping any more, consider that it's just like outgrowing an old set of clothes. Nothing is wrong with you, or the clothes. It just doesn't fit any more.

Since I think it'd be frustrating as hell to read a post like this without some actionable steps, below the cut are some ideas that might help you develop new techniques if your old ones seem to be failing you.

Start with your beliefs

Examine your own rituals and see if what you're doing still matches what you believe. Let's say you used to pray to Hekate and light incense before divination, but now you do that and your divination doesn't work.

Do you believe Hekate is allowing your divination to be possible? Do you believe she's the best goddess to seek aide from at this time?

What role does the incense play? Is it an offering to Hekate? Is it to feed the ancestors who supply you with interpretations? Is it just to set the correct tone and atmosphere?

Maybe you've grown in your relationship with divinity, and you now believe it's more proper to call on gods with formal prayers - but your divination ritual still uses a simple, improvised prayer.

Maybe your understanding of Hekate has changed and it feels more suitable to call on different powers.

Maybe you feel strangely about constantly "paying" gods to help you, when they say they don't need it - and lighting the incense makes you feel awkward.

Change what you're doing to match what you believe. That's always a solid first step.

Examine your own emotions and reactions

Try performing rituals (from the smallest ritual of stirring intent into coffee, to full-blown compass-casting affairs under the full moon) mindfully.

Be aware of what you're doing as you do it, but also try to examine your own reactionary thoughts and feelings.

Suppose my ritual of stirring my coffee seven times clockwise to manifest a desired emotion doesn't work any more. It used to work great, for years, so I do it quickly. But now it doesn't work, so I do it mindfully.

And while I'm stirring, I watch a few thoughts pop up to the surface: why am I doing this seven times? I'm stirring my coffee for too long and staring into it like an idiot, and it's embarrassing. What if someone thinks I'm weird?

If any individual step of a ritual makes you feel embarrassed, stressed, or avoidant, or if you feel relief from not having to do that any more - that technique is probably not serving you very well.

Seek out methods that make you feel excited, hopeful, empowered, or interested. Or, at the very least, ones that don't make you feel bad.

Be open to shifting your paradigm entirely

Going back to the stirring coffee thing, maybe I think stirring seven times is too much. So I try to stir my coffee three times. But that still feels clunky.

Then I get into left-handed vs right-handed stirring, because someone might have said that doing stuff with your right hand is for blessings.

Then I try out a new little inner mantra while I stir X times with Y hand.

But it's just not working. No matter what I try, it feels like walking barefoot on a gravel road.

So maybe I just need to do something entirely different.

Maybe numerology isn't my thing any more. Maybe now, I just need to embrace my inner divine creator.

Maybe I should think about the ultimately powerful creative energy within rich, black soil - and as I pour my coffee, I can imagine that I'm pouring pure creative energy into my divine cauldron. When I sprinkle in a little sugar, I'm seasoning that creative power to my personal tastes - and no matter how many times I stir it, when I drink that creative power, a new reality blossoms from within me.

No numbers. No memorized chants. No left hand/right hand stuff. Just me, imagining myself as a planet, drinking pure creative energy that will bloom out of my aura as wildflowers bloom in the spring.

Ask for help

I'm not called fool for no reason, and after a couple years of being unable to astral travel - after having successfully done so for years - I finally sat down and asked my spirits for help.

The answer was immediate and simple. So simple, in fact, that I was confident it wouldn't work at all.

Well, of course it worked. I spent years trying to figure out the problem on my own, trying time and time again to use an old technique that I was confident would work. It took a goddess like four seconds to tell me the new way it worked for me.

Even if you're not in communication with spiritual allies, you can still perform divination to help troubleshoot your own magical skills. Try asking a series of questions: what doesn't work for you any more, what you should try, and what you should avoid trying.

When divining, consider the different "levels" of application. A reading that means "don't use excessive force" might refer to high-level life stuff, like, you're working too hard on all your responsibilities right now, learn to relax and the magic will come. But, it might also be referring to something very specific, like, you're trying to raise huge amounts of energy in individual rituals, break them up into smaller spells where much less force is required for each one.

[whats-a-human]

wish fulfillment spell for the full moon

the Hunter's Moon is coming on October 9th, and I just found a cool spell online to do on that night! As always, you can tweak things around according to your circumstances.

Take a glass of any juice you like

Go outside in a moonlit spot

Gaze at the moon while you tell her all your wishes, detailing them as much as you can. When you're done, raise your glass for her and say the following words:

"Mother Goddess, look and see

this chalice I'm offering you.

It's yours for everything you've done,

graceful silver Goddess."

4. Spill the drink on the ground and be sure that your wishes will be fulfilled.

[whats-a-human]

wish fulfillment spell for the full moon

the Hunter's Moon is coming on October 9th, and I just found a cool spell online to do on that night! As always, you can tweak things around according to your circumstances.

Take a glass of any juice you like

Go outside in a moonlit spot

Gaze at the moon while you tell her all your wishes, detailing them as much as you can. When you're done, raise your glass for her and say the following words:

"Mother Goddess, look and see

this chalice I'm offering you.

It's yours for everything you've done,

graceful silver Goddess."

4. Spill the drink on the ground and be sure that your wishes will be fulfilled.

[gr33n-w1tch]

The best crystals for... Part 1 🤍

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

@lovebyluna on instagram

[magic-frogs-wearing-hats-deacti]

Tips for the Broom Closeted

1. ✨ Aesthetic. ✨ Right now the witchy aesthetic is popular, and you can use that to your advantage! If people are curious as to why you have crystals everywhere, just say it's for aesthetic purposes.

2. 🔮Divination🔮 doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to get things done. You can replace pendulums with a lot of things, as long as the bob, which is the crystal on pendulums, is even! I like to use needle and thread to replace a crystal pendulum. As for tarot cards, you can use playing cards! That won't include the major arcana, butcha gotta do whatcha gotta do. 🤷‍♂️

3. ⚡Energy work⚡ will be your bestest friend, especially for things like warding/protection and cleansing. Study up on it!

4. 🎀Glamour magick🎀 Huge lifesaver. To learn more about it, I recommend The Witch of Wonderlust's most recent video on glamour magick on YouTube.

5. 💧Cleansing💧 is something a lot of people do quite frequently, and there are many different ways to do it! Music, sounds, incense, visualization (throw back to energy work 😎), or even just cleaning a space can work. I like to get a wet rag and wipe down surfaces of my room while incorporating some visualization. Like I'm wiping away negative energy along with the physical dust and grime.

6. 🌿Kitchen witchery🌿 Anyone can do it. You can incorporate herbs into your baking and cooking, as well as make different tea blends for different things. Remember to stir clockwise to attract, and counterclockwise to banish!

7. 🕯️🌈Candle and Color Magick🌈🕯️ Different colors have different uses, and different scents do as well! If you're not allowed to burn candles, try wax burners or incense!

8. 🌺Sigils🌺 are basically tiny little doodles with meanings. It's recommended that you make your own sigils, as getting them from a random source can be dangerous. It may sound difficult, but making sigils is super easy! There are endless ways and methods to make sigils. Do your research!

9. 💎Altars💎 The good things about altars is they can be as big or as small as you want them to be! You can hide altars in Altoids tins, shoeboxes, under your bed, in a desk, in your closet, and so many more places! I have a shelf that I decorate with different things associated with the current season or Pagan holiday. I also leave offerings that can be seen as decor to the deities I worship! Altars don't have to look super witchy. Work with what you have!

10. ❓Why❓This is more of a general tip, but remember to always ask why. A self love spell calls for pink rose petals? Why do you think it does that? Why pink rose petals and not red rose petals? Why do you need to use a rose? Asking why and doing your own research will get you so far in your practice.

[witchy-batsquatch]

So I need help, I’m in the broom closet and I need to learn more, but I can’t buy books because my family loves a good unboxing. I need subtle resources so recommendations for any websites or things like that would be great.

[daddysdem0n]

Tips for my closeted witches <3

-Pick up gardening or cooking so you have an excuse to buy/grow herbs/plants

-Do your big spells at night, so no one will intrude & the power of the moon will be the highest than too

-For making moon water just stick a glass of water on your window sill for a couple hours, it doesn’t need to be overnight

-Use symbolism & substitution, such as symbols that represent any deities your work with (if you work with them) this way you can represent them subtly

-Wear a black shirt for protection (use color magic for clothes or make up)

-Make paper book covers to cover your witchcraft books, put them behind other books, or place them with your school work

-Take advantage of windy days and use wind to cleanse

-Practice candle magick

-Research energy work

-Practice ring magick

-Work with essential oils

-Use pdf books and change the name of the file

-Start a crystal collection because they’re pretty

-Start a candle collection because they smell nice

-When making sigils, write them in moon water or in invisible ink so your parents won’t see them

-Store pressed dried herbs in books

-If you play an instrument you can turn spells into songs or melodies

-Use regular cards instead of a tarot deck for cartomancy (in the link down below is our discord server where you will be able to find how to use and play cartomancy), you can also make your own tarot!

-Use showers to cleanse yourself with water and visualization

-Create a cleansing spray and disguise it as an air freshener

-Make a travel alter in an altoids can or make an altar on a board/baking tray and store it under your bed

-Turn your room into an altar, a plant could represent earth in the north corner, a fan or incense burner in the east for air, a dragons statue south for fire and a fountain for water in the west (you can choose what represents each element, this is an example)

-You can also make your altar in a shoebox

-make a digital altar (a dedicated tumblr blog, pinterest board, moodboard, a crafted temple in a building game, etc)

-dedicate meals to them before you eat it, art, music, writing, etc

-Say your grimoire/bos is a book of story ideas or info for a game of dnd

-make digital grimoires/bos in notion or google drive

-Art magick!!

-Sigils as fancy doodles or a language for a fantasy setting

-Trace sigils in your food, in the shower, while applying skin care, in your notebooks, digitally on pictures in your phone, draw a sigil on your nails before painting them with nail polish

-Drinking tea and you’re bad at drawing sigils at the bottom with honey? Don’t like the taste of honey but want to incorporate sigils on your tea) use washable markers on your mugs, you can also use color intent

-enchant your jewelry, masks, clothes, etc

-Pass your pendulum as jewelry

-Make your own incense with kitchen spices/herbs

-If you need to get rid of the smell of incense or perfume or burnt herbs, you can make a solution of 50% water and 50% white vinegar in a spray bottle, also keeping a wet wipe or mini towel next to you can absorb some of the odor

-Hide stuff in plain sight and say they’re decorations (crystals, shells, feathers, etc)

-Spend time on nature so you can connect to the Earth

-If you want to have chalices, you can try to find a cup that you can pass off as drinking cup you keep in your room, if this isn’t possible, than even something as small as a thimble can work

-containers you can use, little pots of lip balm when it runs out, container ||sharpeners||, the containers of camera fills, use old makeup containers, sweet containers, lead containers (pencils, compasses, etc.), medicine containers, etc

-take advantage of being home alone!!!!

-candle wax can be replaced with glue (if you want it with color respondence you can put colorant in it) or melted crayons

Join our discord server: All Things Spiritual for more tips!!!!!!

[ts-witchy-archive]

Low Energy Witchcraft

I'm neurodivergent and i experience really intense burnout. I get to a point where I struggle to even get out of bed, take my meds, remember to drink water, let alone practice. But, when I want to practice i have a list of things i can usually do. Everyone's experiences with burn out/low energy are different so this list may not apply to you, and that's okay. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't and i hope you enjoy my silly little list :)

create a playlist and infuse it with an intention. eg, a money spell playlist filled with songs about wealth.

draw sigils with soap when in the shower. (you can also use a wet wipe if you can't shower)

found some juice? give it a little shake and use the ingredients as a spell.

have food that has grains as ingredients? wow! an abundance spell!

the classic add intention to your tea and coffee.

bind your hair. for me with is as simple as putting my hair in a ponytail.

watch a witchy video. while not technically practising witchcraft, sometimes all you need is to sit back and relax to connect with your practice.

when I have a decent amount of energy I'll grab a large pillar candle and carve sigils into it. I use it as a long-term spell; all I have to do to activate it is light the candle. I like to light one of these spell candles when I'm having a bad day.

if you're religious, pray. Even if you're lying in bed. Even if you haven't showered in a week. If it makes you happy and you can, do it

burn some insence! it smells good, you don't have to really worry about forgetting about it, it's good for cleansing. it's great!

take a nap with some crystals. any restorative crystals or calming crystals work great! just make sure that they aren't geodes or roughs. i'd hate for you to hurt yourself while sleeping.

if you don't have any crystals for your nap, set an intention instead. please let yourself rest.

It's important to remember that you're allowed to take breaks from your craft. If you're forcing yourself to practice when you have no energy because "that's what a good witch would do!" then you're probably going to make your situation worse. it's a great way to fall out of love with witchcraft. give yourself some grace. rest is infinitely more important than 1 full moon, 1 new moon, or missing your daily/weekly/monthly cleanse. You aren't a bad person if you don't pull your morning tarot card or check the astrology forecast for today. and you aren't a bad person if you miss your daily prayer. take care of yourself. your health is WAY more important than your craft. Go get a drink of water and take care of yourself <3

[greenwitchpeach]

remember that protection is the most important thing in witchcraft