Beginner Jewitchery

Billie or Shoshana (They/Them) Ashkenazi Jew trying to learn about witchcraft through a queer Jewish lense This is just me cataloguing resources

[strawberrycauldrons]

How to Organize Your Book of Shadows/Grimoire

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A great recommendation on how to do so! Remember, though, this is only an opinion: always follow your intuition and include what feels right! There may be topics on this list that are not applicable to your practice and/or don't interest you, and that is okay. Each book of shadows/grimoire is unique item that should be personal to you and you alone.

How to Organize Your Grimoire

Have you ever bought a journal with plans to turn it into a beautiful grimoire? Something directly out of the 90s show “Charmed”? But you ha

[samwisethewitch]

Add Some Oomph to Your Spells with Magical Timing

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

Qabalah Made Easy by David Wells [Note: Qabalah is based on an appropriation of Jewish mysticism, and I am NOT endorsing its practice. However, much of the magical timing associations used in modern witchcraft is shared with Qabalah and other forms of ceremonial magic, which is why it’s referenced here.]

[themanicnami]

Unconventional & Affordable Ingredients for Spells

Here is a list of unconventional and affordable ingredients that can be used in spells and witchcraft along with their correspondences; good for witches “in the woods” and witches on a budget. Many of these can be easily found for inexpensive prices or at home.

Acorns/Acorn Caps: security, abundance, longevity, good luck, youth and brings good health

Animal toys/stickers: relates to correspondences of that animal

Artist’s Charcoal: banishing negativity, protection; cursing

Baby Powder: cleansing, beauty, youth

Baking Soda: cleansing, purification, protection

Birthday Candles: wishes, joy; color magic and number magic depending on their color and/or what number they display

Black Tea Bags (used): earth magic, grounding, strength, stability, banishing negativity; ending, death 

Bottle Caps: prosperity, luck, material gain

Bubble Bath: self-love, relaxation, emotional healing, serenity; plus whatever scent the bubble bath is affects correspondences

Bubbles/Bubble Liquid: wishes, joy, whimsy, imagination, fantasy

Buckeye Nuts: luck, sexual energies, warding

Butter: femininity, flattery, friendship, warmth, happiness; good for fae work

Candy Bars: love, romance, happiness, lust, fertility, emotional healing, healing of the heart, forgiveness, friendship

Candy Corn: courage, imagination, endurance, energy, motivation, happiness, celebration

Candy Foil: sweetness, secrets, protecting one’s emotions; color magic

Chocolate Syrup/Milk: happiness, love, lust, romance, sweetening relationships

Cocktail Swords: strength, assertiveness, competition; cursing, revenge; ending rumors

Cotton Balls: beauty, gentleness, warmth, sleep

Cotton Swabs: cleansing, purification

Dice: chance, opportunity, luck; number magic

Dirt: grounding, earth magic, growth, prosperity, patience, home and family; cursing

Dish Soap: cleansing

Duct Tape: binding, storing energy, cursing

Egg Shells: cleansing, protection, warding

Energy Drinks: energy, motivation

Envelopes: messages, communication, protection during travel

Epsom Salts: purification, cleansing, protection, pain relief, serenity, comfort, stress relief

Fake/Play Money: wealth, prosperity

Fish Sauce: prosperity, water magic, curses

Foil: glamour, protection, storing energy, binding

Glue: sealing, immobility, binding, curses

Googley Eyes: vision, divination, scrying, creativity, protection, imagination; curses, paranoia, nightmares

Grass: growth, nature, learning, healing, new beginnings, recovery from loss

Hand Soap: cleansing, curse removal

Hole Punches: good for cursing

Hot Sauce: motivation, lust, confidence; cursing, anger, revenge, emotional pain

Koolaid: youth, sweetness, happiness; color magic, corresponds with flavors as well

Lip Balm: glamour, confidence in speaking, honesty, beauty

Lollipops: sweetness, innocence, ending rumors and lies, lust and sexual energies, love

Lotion: protection, beauty

Laundry Soap: cleansing, purification

Marshmallows: friendliness, comfort, gentleness, fidelity, sleep and dreams

Metal Crafting Wire: binding

Modeling Clay: poppets, earth magic, grounding, balance, stability, creation, change

Mud: grounding, earth magic; curses

Muslin: poppets, change, creativity

Noodles: Longevity, good health

Pompoms (craft): gentleness, comfort, love, sleep, dreams

Paper Clips: balance, focus, organization; curses, binding

Pennies: luck, wealth

Pickle Juice: curses to sour things

Plastic Bags: protection; binding

Plastic Ribbon (wrapping): happiness, glamour, delight; binding; color magic

Plastic Wrap: binding

Popsicle sticks: poppets

Scissors: offensive magic, curses

Seltzer Water: purification, removing negativity; curses

Sewing Needles: curses, pain

Shaving Cream: cleansing, softness, patience, calmness

Stamps: travel, communication

Sour Cream: cursing

Soy Sauce: protection, banishment; cursing

Sticky Notes: communication, memory

Strawberry Milk: love, self-love, beauty, sweetness, friendship

Syrup: joy, sweetening one’s emotions

Taco Sauce: Focus, Energy, motivation

Taffy: joy, flexibility

Thumbtacks: curses

Tissue Paper: softness, serenity; color magic

Toothpaste: cleansing

Toothpicks: curse

Walnut Shells: protection, warding

Wasabi: Energy; curses, anger, envy

Whipped Cream: beauty, light-heartedness

Whistles: communication, attention grabbing, warding

Other Tips:

Recycle bottles, jars and medicine bottles for jar/bottle magic

Reuse tea bags (though not too long after use) in bath magic

If you do wish to use herbs, it is cheaper to order them online in bulk rather than the supermarket. Trust me, supermarkets and grocery stores really over price most herbs. You can get triple the amount for 2 dollars less online

Make up and toiletries are great for glamours

Its fine to use kitchen knives if you can’t afford am athame

Look at the ingredients in food you eat to see what is in it and determine that food’s correspondences, quick and easy kitchen magic

Crayons, colored pencils, markers and pens are good for easy sigil and color magic

Binders are cheaper than blank books and make great grimoires

[the-traveling-witch]

The Magical Home

Integrating your craft into your living space can be a daunting task. Unless you’re just a stellar housekeeper your home is likely at least a little messy all of the time. Unopened mail might still be sitting on the counter, that pile of laundry that you just didn’t get to this week is still on the floor or maybe you’ve just got a little extra clutter from too many missed spring cleanings. Despite how much these things can make your space feel distinctly un-magical, making your home into a sacred place for yourself can be quite simple.

Turning your home into a witchy haven isn’t for everyone, there are a lot of reasons to give it a go and everyone is going to have different motivations (or no motivation, which is ok too). Your home is where you base yourself. You sleep, eat and come together with loved ones there. Using witchcraft to ensure that space is always positive and energetic can improve the quality of the time you spend there, help you unwind more easily and give you a place of stillness in the midst of the chaos of life. Personally, I turned my home into a magic space to bring more focus on my craft, I take more time writing in my spiritual journal, traveling the realms and just generally maintaining my craft when my home looks and feels like a witchy home.

Start off just working on one room. It can be your kitchen, bedroom, living room, any room that you spend a decent amount of time in. It isn’t necessary to do a huge cleaning and wear yourself out, doing a little bit here and there can make a substantial  improvement over time and you’ll be a lot more likely to continue maintaining your home instead of getting worn out and giving up.

Now, I’m certainly not your expert on cleaning, for those of you who really need help with this step I suggest checking out Unfuck Your Habitat. Personally, I like to do a deep cleaning using as few chemical cleaners as I can manage, I make all of my own cleaning agents with the purpose of magical as well as physical cleansing.  

Cleaning Recipes

All Purpose Disinfectant Spray/Wash:

I use this for almost everything. I mix up 10 parts warm water with one part white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil OR I let the vinegar water sit with fresh or dried herbs in it for about a week before using it to clean. The herbs you use here can change depending on what your space needs. For example I use lavender for protection, purification and peacefulness. Basil draws wealth and soothes tempers between lovers. Orange is good for luck and wealth (though NOT good for cats so if you have kitties stay away from orange oil!). And mint is good for healing. This is great for wiping down counters, cleaning windows and mopping.

Shower Cleaner:

Cleaning showers is one of my least favorite tasks and trying to do it with safe cleaning products can be a nightmare but I’ve got a solution that does the trick. This isn’t so much a magical cleaning product (though I’m sure you could turn it into one) but it’s certainly a handy one to have around. Mix one part warm white vinegar with one part liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. It does require a bit of scrubbing if your shower is bad but compared to every other DIY shower cleaner I’ve tried it’s a miracle.

Floors

Sweeping has long been used by witches as a method of cleansing our homes magically and while a lot of sources will tell you to reserve a broom for the task and to sweep just above the floor to properly cleanse the area I just do it all at once. Who has time to sweep twice? I can do the same magical task with a little intent and focus while I’m also cleaning up pesky crumbs and cat hair.

Vacuuming is perhaps a less common way to tidy up the energy of a room but I find it works just as well as sweeping does! I make sure that when I empty a vacuum bag or dustpan I do it in the can outside to make sure I’m not just shuffling energy around in my house.

Mopping is another excellent mundane cleaning task for witches, especially when it comes to entryways and exits to the house. In addition to picking grime up off of your floor your mop water can be charged and used to lay down spells. I like using herbs for my mop water usually but once a year in the spring I mop with sun charged water to bring the vibrant spring/summer energy into my house and once a year in the fall I mop with moon charged water to welcome the introspective fall/winter energy in.

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are important, they both protect our homes from the unwanted and welcome us in every day. When I make a magical wash for my doors and windows I like to use cinnamon, for protection, healing and enhancing my craft or, if I feel like I need a serious boost on my home protection or I need to break a curse I use chili pepper, which has the added bonus of strengthening love ties. In addition both of these are bug repellant.

One suggestion I would make is when you are cleaning your house you should try to have windows open. This allows fresh air to circulate into your home and it allows an outlet for all of the stagnant energy that you’ll be stirring up. Doors can be left ajar as well if you aren’t worried about pets taking themselves outdoors. Obviously this isn’t something you can do all the time, very hot or very cold weather would put a lot of strain on you heating/AC bill and it’s always best not to let the rain in. 

Immediately post cleaning is a good time to place sigils on doors and windows as well. I like to use my Binding Chalk to make a line just in front of doors and windows, it acts very similar to having a line of salt in the same place.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms can be an excellent place to do magic. If you share a bedroom with a lover spells to enhance your relationship are favored. Tucking away herbal pillows or lighting candles can draw honesty and good communication for you and your partner or you could try something a little spicier and use spells intended to ignite a little passion. 

If your bedroom is a solitary place it can be an excellent place to do dreaming magic, to meditate and to do spells for gentle self improvement.

In a child’s bedroom protective magic or sweet dream spells would be a good idea. A lot of small children have a fear of monsters and when I was little my parents would use “monster spray” every night to help me sleep. I know now that it was just water but infuse the water with lavender and it could easily double as a sleep aiding and protective spell.

A Few More Magical Home Ideas

Enchant the mirrors in your house to give everyone who looks into them a boost in their self esteem/body image.

Place a candle on the stove to symbolize the hearth fire tradition

Make a magic welcome mat that draws in good company and keeps away the bad

Pay close attention to the sort of energy your decor creates and adjust it to help create the energy you want in your home.

Is the TV the center of your home? Electronics can drastically change the feel of a space, try moving it to a less central spot and focus your rooms on something else

Playing music and changing the scent in a room can suffice for a quick energetic shift. Try setting a small pot of water with cranberries, orange peel, cinnamon or mint on the stove to simmer.

Get rid of stuff! I say this for people like myself who have trouble letting go of anything. Your stuff hangs onto energy. Gifts from people you don’t like? Stop being polite and letting their energy invade your house. Chuck it. Anything that reminds you of past relationships can go. In fact, cleaning house post breakup is super important! Get rid of any lingering reminders, wash their smell out of everything and clean your mattress thoroughly.

If it’s broken do away with it. I know, I know, you’re planning to get around to fixing it eventually. How often do you actually do that though? If you aren’t willing to sit down right now to fix it you probably won’t ever get to it. Throw it away or give it to someone who will have a use for it.

If you haven’t used it in the last year, chances are you won’t use it in the next year either. Get rid of it. 

Make a habit of de-cluttering in small ways every day. Don’t let the mail pile up, clean up dishes left in odd rooms, pick up laundry, and just generally put things back where they belong. This goes a long way toward keeping the energy flow moving through your home smoothly.

 Put bells on your doors. Bells help to clear energy, every time you open a door that room gets a little cleansing boost.

Cleaning your house can be turned into more than just house magic. You can visualize yourself sweeping away worries or scrubbing old habits that aren’t serving you away as well.

Bake bread. This really falls more under the heading of kitchen witchcraft but the smell of baking bread (or cookies!) wafting through your home can alter the energy in lovely ways and it’s also great for bringing prosperity to the house.

Hopefully this gives you guys some ideas and motivation to start making your home a little more magical :) Remember not to overdo it, making a home is a constant, gradual process, not a marathon. My ask box is always open if anyone has questions!

[olisaltar]

Moon water 101:

What is Moon water? 

Moon water is water charged under the moonlight, often the full moon, to have specific energy infused. 

How do you make Moon water? 

Fill your vessel with water (add stones if you wanted to make the energy more specific). Put the vessel under the moonlight, after the sun has full set. Take your vessel from it’s spot before the sun raises again. Store it somewhere away from the sun. 

Tips:

You only need to make enough water for a month. Remember, the moon will wane, and wax again, and you will get more water. 

Store your water in a closed drawer/cabinet, or under a cloth to keep the sun’s energy out. 

Uses:

Cleanse, anoint, or bind your tools.

Add to spells, potions, drinks, or meals to give them a more powerful affect. 

Use in place of any oils in a pinch! 

The left over moon water at the end of the cycle can water plants, nourish you and your pets, or can be used to clean (recipe below)

Use in offerings to almost any deity

Recipes: 

Cleansing Spray: Put moon water and sprigs of fresh rosemary in a spray bottle. Sprinkle some salt in. This can be used to cleanse your Altar, your bedroom, or kitchen, or anywhere that might beed protection 

Cleaning Spray: Add Moon water and vinegar to a spray bottle at a 1:1 ratio. Add Rosemary and salt. Let set for one week, after that you have an all purpose cleaner, that also gives protection! 

Moon phases in correspondence to Spells: 

New Moon: Setting Intentions and New Beginnings- Water charged under the full moon is great to help you set goals, helping you with getting rid of vices, and starting to hobbies/ventures in life. 

Waxing Moon(First Quarter): Taking action, Inspiration- Need to make a big change in your life? Use Waxing moon water. Good luck spells is a great example. If you are into dark magick there are a lot of things to do with Waxing moon water 

Full Moon: Harvesting, letting go- Has something been bothering you? Hanging over your head? Now’s the time to let it go. But as well, this is the time to reap what you so. Give full moon water as an offering to your deities, in thanks for your harvest. 

Waning Moon(Last Quarter): Gratitude and re-evaluation. This is a time to be thankful of the harvest that the full moon brought, as well as re-evaluating how you would change your path in the future, in preparations for the new beginnings the new moons brings. 

[justanotherwitchygirl]

Another Sigil Tutorial

Hello everyone! So I had a lot of questions about my other sigil posts and decided to post another method to making sigils. This is another one of my favorites to use! I just really like the way these turn out. I call this the constellation method!

Step 1: Get your Phrase

For this tutorial I'm using the phrase "Protect this place"

Step 2: Take Out Repeating Letters

So any repeating letters you have take them out! *Side note: this step doesn't matter too much because of the method which you will see in a minute but it helps confusion*

"Protect this place" becomes "protechisla"

Step 3: Making Dots

Remember this chart?

So grab this chart and just ignore your numbers. Take what is left of your phrase for us "protechisla" and make dots on all of the letters you see. It should come out looking something like this:

So now we've got our "stars" for our "constelation". Take out the chart and you should be left with an assortment of dots like this:

Step 4: Connecting the Dots

So we have this random assortment of dots and now you get to be creative and connect them however you see fit. Play around until you have something you like. This is what mine looked like after some playing around with different arrangements:

Step 5: Make it a "Constellation"

This is what mine looked like when I was finished.

This is a wonderful method for those who are still in the "broom closet" because they just look like super cute little doodles or constellations. It's a super easy method. Just remember DON'T OVERTHINK ANYTHING!!!!! Make this your own sigil. Follow the method but also do whatever feels right! And most important! Stay safe and have fun with it!!!!!

[shadowwitch96]

As my personal grimoire here has grown, I finally felt it was time to begin compiling posts from amazing witches into lists for people to use as references in their own learning (None of this information is my own, I just feel that it needs to be shared).

So here is my current list of posts relating to the magickal properties and uses of herbs, this is an ever growing list so check back to see if there have been any additions or send me a message if you find a post that you think should be on the list and don’t forget to follow the people who originally posted these amazing information sheet, they really deserve your support.

General Information ☽  Herblore ☽  List of Herbs and their Uses ☽  How to use Herbs ☽  Witch’s Garden ☽  The Magick of Rosemary ☽  The Magick of Cloves ☽  Herbalist Symbols ☽  Sabbat Herbs + Incense ☽  Herbal Incense

Storage ☽  Mini herb storage ☽  How to Store Magickal Herbs ☽  How to Dry Magickal Herbs

Magickal Associations ☽  Herbs Associated with the Dead ☽  Herbs in Rituals ☽  Banishing Herbs

Kitchen Witchery ☽  Kitchen Herbs ☽  Elder Flower Syrup ☽  DIY Salves

Pouches ☽  Sleep Tight Sachet Baths ☽  Herbal Tea Baths ☽  Herbal Bath ☽  Purification Bath

Teas ☽  Herbal Teas ☽  Calm Anxiety Tea ☽  Good Day Tea ☽  Witch’s Brew - Tea Recipes ☽  Herbal Tea Remedies ☽  Evening Tea

I will be gradually expanding this list as I find more useful information, I hope this helps someone, I am certainly using all of this information.

Don’t forget to follow the original posters, they post some great information.

[itmovesmemorelol]

Herbs and Their Uses Aconite Also known as Wolfsbane, it can be used to make a wash for ritual tools & space. Note: Poisonous, do not ingest. *Caution – Poisonous, do not consume* Acorn Can be used in charms or spells for good luck, protection, wisdom, and personal power. Sacred to Druids and can be used at the tip of wands. Adder’s Tongue This herb can be used in spells and charms to stop gossip and slander or to promote healing. It has also been referred to as Serpent’s Tongue and is often considered sacred to those gods associated with snakes. Agrimony It is used in protection spells. It can also be used to reverse spells sent against you. It can also be used in “sleep” sachets that you place under your pillow to allow you a restful sleep. Alder Used for protection spells and divination. Associated with music and weather magic and sacred to Druids. A whistle made from the branch of an Alder tree is associate with the old superstition of whistling up the wind. Alfalfa Used in spells involving prosperity, money and to ward off hunger. All Spice This herb promotes determination and energy. It is also used in spells and charms that involve money, luck and healing. Can be used to create a healing herbal bath. Almond Associated with wisdom, money, fruitfulness, and prosperity. It can be used in spells and charms or burned as incense to attract abundance. Be careful to specify what type of abundance you are seeking. Aloe Used for protection and luck. It can be hung in the home as a charm to attract luck and protection for those who live there. It can also be grown in pots and placed around the home to provide protection from accidents within the home. Amber Used for protection from harm and success. Helps to clear the mind and bring prosperity. Burn as an incense to transform the ambient negative energy to positive energy. Anemone Protection and healing. Angelica This herb is an excellent one to use for protection against negative energy. It can also be used in healing & exorcism incenses. It can be used in purification and uncrossing spells. It can be used in herbal baths for the purpose of removing curses, hexes, or spells. Sprinkle around the outside of your home for protection of the home. Anise Use in a sleep pillow to prevent disturbing dreams. A good herb to add to purification baths. Can be used in protection and meditation incenses. It can be used as an incense during the invocation of Mercury or Apollo. Apple Sometimes considered the food of the gods. Apples play an important role in many mythologies and are tied to fertility gods. It is also considered the food of the dead and is burned at Samhain in honor of those who will be reborn in the spring. It is traditional to leave two apples in the woods when you are finished hunting as an offering to the Horned God. Apple wood is also used in the making of wands to be used when doing rituals dealing with the underworld. It is also considered a sacred tree by the Druids. Apple cider can be substituted for spells/rituals that require blood or wine. Arnica An excellent herb that is used in salves for the healing of bruises and sprains. It can be applied to where there is pain and/or inflammation of the skin. Bachelor Buttons Use in Love charms/spells. Basil It is used for exorcism, protection and love potions. Sprinkled around the house to ward off evil/negative spirits. There is an old saying, “Where Basil grows, no evil goes!” and “Where Basil is, no evil lives.” A gift of Basil given to someone moving into a new home will bring them good luck. Bay Leaf Sacred to the god Apollo. This herb is used for protection, good fortune, success, purification, strength, healing and divination. It is traditional to write wishes on the leaves and then burn them to make them come true. Can be used in charms that when placed under the pillow will induce prophetic dreams. Place a leaf in the corner of each room in the house to protect all that dwell there. Carry bay leaf or use in a protection charm to protect yourself against magical attack. Bayberry Brings good fortune, luck, healing, and relief from stress. Beeswax Used for making candles, natural polish, protective finish for things such as wooden wands, and used in herbal salves to thicken. Belladonna This herb is deadly poisonous. Handle with care - DO NOT INGEST. Caution should be taken when handling because it can be absorbed through the skin. Its uses include astral projection and protection spells. It can be used in flying ointment to achieve altered states of mind. It is not recommended though because people have died using this herb. Even some who were quite familiar with its use. (get a consult with a crone) Benzoin A resin used for purifying, for success, meditation, and stress reduction. It can be used alone as an incense or as a binder in making incense. It works well as a fixative in the blending of other resins together. It enhances the scent of other resins when mixed in. A must when making incenses that use resins.

Bergamot Used in spells and charms involving money, prosperity, protection, stopping outside interference, and promoting restful sleep. Black Pepper Used in spells and charms that banish negativity and protection from evil. Also used in exorcism. Brimstone Another name for powdered sulfur. Used in spells and charms that dispels or prevents a curse/hex. Can be used to remove an enemy’s power over you. Buckeye A good herb for divination. It can be used in spells and charms to bring good luck and attracting money and wealth. Used in Hoodoo as a charm for gamblers. Cactus Used for protection and banishing. It can be mixed with other banishing symbols for protection. Grow in the home or garden for protection of the home. Best to place in all directions of the home (north, south, east, and west) to ensure full protection. It’s needles, instead of whole plant, can be used in spells/charms for protection. Carnation Can be used in healing and protection. Cashew Used for money spells and charms. Catnip An herb sacred to Bast. Effective when used in rituals involving cats or cat deities. It can be used with other herbs in love spells and charms. If grown near the home it will attract positive spirits. It can be used in charms to bring good luck. Cedar Use in spells and charms to promote strength, money, protection, healing and purification. Chamomile Use on spells and charms to bring love, healing, and reduction of stress. Sprinkle around the house for protection and to dispel curses. Burn as incense for de-stressing and meditation. Make into a tea and drink for a restful sleep. Used for luck in gambling and to attract wealth. Cherry Bark/Wood Used in lust spells. Can also be burned as an incense to aid in divination. Chili Pepper Use in spells and charms to promote fidelity and love. Use to “spice” or “heat up” a relationship. It can also be used in spells to break curses/hexes. Place them around the house to break negative spells placed on you or those in the home. Chives Used for protection and weight loss. Mix in food with magical intent to promote weight loss or protect those who eat the food. Chrysanthemum Protection. Grow in the garden for protection of the home. White is the best color of flower for this, but any color will do. Cinnamon Use in spells and charms to draw money & prosperity. Also used to raise spirituality and promote healing, success, protection and luck. Can be burned and an incense to promote protection, wealth and raise spirituality. Citronella Burn or use in charm to protect and cleanses the aura. Use in charms and spells to encourages creativity and clear the mind. Also used to repel insects. Clove Used in spells and charms for protection, love, money, and exorcism. Clover Use in spells and charms to promote fidelity, money, love, and success. Also used for protection. Used in the consecration of ritual tools. Place around the home to drive away negative spirits. Cloves Used to cleanses the aura. Use in spells/charms/incense for protection, banishing negative spirits/energy and to stop gossip. Burn as an incense to purify an area. Also used in exorcisms. Coltsfoot Sacred to Brighid. Use in spells and charms for wealth, prosperity, visions and love. Comfrey Use in charms for safety and protection while traveling. Use the root of the herb for money spells and incenses. Copal Used in incense for purification, consecration, contact with other planes, exorcism. Can be used in charms and spells for the same as listed for incense. Cypress Sacred to Apollo. Hang in the home for protection. Burn cypress wood to lessen the grief of death or to aid in divination. Carry as a charm at funerals to ease the mind and lessen grief. Daffodil Love, fertility and luck. Keep in the home or altar to keep negative energy away. Daisy Use in spells and charms for lust, love and luck. This flower is associated with babies and newborns. Use in baby blessings and during Wiccanings. Place in babies room for protection. Wear or carry to draw romance. Dandelion Leaf Not just a weed. Used in summoning spirits, healing, purification and defeating curses or negativity. Dandelion Root Used for divination and calling spirits. Use in dream pillows for sleep protection. Dragon’s Blood Used for protection, increasing potency in magical works and purification. Burn as an incense to increase the potency of spellwork. It is excellent in banishing and exorcism. Echinacea Used to add power to charms, spells and incenses. Can be used as an offering to spirits. Epsom Salt Typically it is the salt used in ritual baths and bath salt recipes. Add a small amount to cauldron water to keep smoke down. Eucalyptus Great for protection and healing. Can also be used to purify any space. Can be used to fill healing poppets or charms Fennel Seed Use in spells and charms for protection, healing, and purification. Fern Leaf Dispels negativity and promotes mental clarity. Can be used to cleanse and purify a space. Put in a room where you need a clear mind to think, such as an office. Foxglove Plant near house or in the garden for home protection. Used in spellwork/ritual to contact the underworld. Frankincense A resin. Can be used to represent the Divine Masculine. Often combined with myrrh to make a temple incense. Used for protection, cleansing and purification. Burn as an incense for protective work, consecration, and meditation. Gardenia Promotes peace and healing. Use it’s dried flowers with other healing herbs to bring comfort to one who is ill. Place potted flowers in room to promote a peaceful energy.

Garlic Used to invoke Hecate. Uses include healing, protection, exorcism and purification. Can be used to guard against negative energy, harmful magic, spirits and jealousy of others. Ginger Adds to the strength and speed of any mixture of which it is a part. Use in charms to promote protection and good health. Ginseng Used in magic workings of love, beauty, protection, healing and lust. Goldenseal Used in healing rituals, money spells, and spells to bring success. Use in other spells and charms to increase the power. Gum Arabic Use for protection, psychic and spiritual enhancement. Use as part of incense mixture burned during meditation. Use to consecrate boxes that hold ritual tools. Heather Used in spells and charms for protection and luck. Hibiscus Used in spells and charms to attract love and lust. Used for divination and to promote dreams. Hickory Used in spells and charms for protection, love, lust and legal matters. High John Often called the “all purpose” herb. It is used for strength, obtaining success, victory in any situation, gambling, luck, money, health, love and protection. Great for use in ritual work focused on prosperity. Holly Used as decoration during Yule. Used to promote a stable marriage, love, luck and dreams. Plant outside the home for protection. Hollyhock Used in spells and charms to increase the flow of money and wealth. Grow near the home to promote success of those who live there. Honeysuckle Used in spells and charms to draw money, success and wealth of material objects. Hyacinth Sacred to Apollo and gay men. Named after Hyacinthus; Apollo’s fallen male lover. It symbolizes homosexual love. Used to attack love, luck and good fortune. Hydrangea Used in spells and rituals for hex-breaking, attracting love, promotion of fidelity and to bind. Hyssop Used for purifications. Used to consecrate ritual tools and items made of tin. Steep in water to use for the physical cleaning of altar, ritual tools, temple room and ritual bath. Can be made into charms to clear negativity and evil spirits from a home. Ivy Used in protection, healing, love and fertility. Hang an ivy plant by the front door to protect from negative influence and to discourage unwanted guests. Jasmine Use in charms or burn the flowers to draw wealth and money. Use in dream pillows for restful sleep or burn as an incense in the bedroom to bring prophetic dreams. Helps to bring inspiration and create new ideas. Juniper Burn as an incense for protection from harmful magic. Can be used to banish all things detrimental to good health. Attracts positive energy. Can be carried as a charm to promote potency in men and/or attract love. Laurel Used for protection and love. If worn by a bride it is said to guarantee a long and happy marriage. Lavender Used for protection, healing, love, sleep, purification, and peace. Great addition to sleep pillows and bath spells. Lemon Used for cleansing. Squeeze a lemon in water to make a washing mixture to remove negative energy from ritual tools and altar. Lemon Balm Use in spells and charms for love, healing and success. Lilac Used for wisdom and good luck. Lily Used in spells/charms/rituals for fertility, renewal, marriage, happiness, and prosperity. Lily of the Valley Repels negative energy. Can be used in rituals/spells to stop harassment. Can be used to promote longevity in marriage. *Use with caution - Poisonous* Lime Used for protection. Used in magic for purification and to promote peace of mind. Lotus Used in magic for love and protection. Mandrake Used for protection and exorcising evil. Use in charms and spells to promote prosperity and fertility. *Use with caution - Poisonous* Maple Used in magic to bring love and good luck. Use in spells and charms to bring money and/or wealth. Marigold Can be used to aid in prophesy, legal matters, love, dreams and business or legal affairs. Fresh marigolds will cleanse and disperse negative energy in a room they are placed in. A yellow dye has also been extracted from the flower of the plant by boiling. Marjoram Used for cleansing, purification, and the dispelling of negative energy. Can be used in charms or sleep satchels placed under pillow to bring pleasant dreams. Marshmallow Root Used for protection and to enhance psychic powers. It can be burned as incense for protection and to enhance and stimulate psychic abilities. Place some on your altar during ritual to draw in positive spirits. Mint This herb promotes energy, communication and vitality. It draws in positive spirits when placed on your altar. Place in the home for protection. Do not plant directly into ground. It will overtake your garden/yard. Keep in a pot. Mistletoe Used in fertility spells and charms. Can be used as a protection charm from negative energy or curses. Use as a charm for luck while hunting. *Use with caution - Poisonous* Monkshood Used in charms to protect from evil. 6nly the flowers are used because the roots give off fumes during the drying process. Good for misdirecting enemies. *Caution – Very Poisonous, do not consume* Morning Glory Used for binding and/or banishing spells and rituals. Can be used to bring people or objects towards you. Use the vine to wrap around a poppet to bind someone. *Caution – Poisonous, do not consume* Mugwort Use in charms that are carried to increase lust & fertility. Can be used in healing charms to cure illness. *Caution - Use in well ventilated room* Mullein Used in charms that protect from nightmares and negative magic. Can be used in the invoking of spirits. Use in dream pillows to prevent nightmares. Use in charms to help attract love from the opposite sex. Can be used in place of graveyard dirt in spells. Myrrh Feminine herb used to represent the Goddess. Promotes spirituality, meditation, and healing. Will enhance any magical working. Increases the effectiveness of any incense blend it is added to. Often burned with frankincense as a temple incense. Myrtle Use in charms to attract love and true friendship. Nettle Stuff in a poppet used to turn back a spell on the one who cast it. Used in dispelling of fear and negativity. Sprinkle around the home to drive away negative energy or negative spirits. Nutmeg Used in magical workings to attract money/prosperity, luck. Also used in spells and charms for protection and breaking hexes. Can also be used in a good luck charm. Oregano Used to bring happiness, strength, vitality, and additional energy. Orris Root (cut) Used to aid in communication and helps to open dialogs with others. Can be used in herbal baths for personal protection. Orris Root (powder) Referred to as ‘Love Drawing Powder’ in voodoo/hoodoo. Used in spells and charms to bring love, romance and mates. Can be used as an herbal bath to attract love. Osha Root Used in charms and spells to protect against negative and/or evil spirits Pansy Can be used in love charms or love magic. Parsnip Used in male sex magic. Patchouli Used in spells, sachets, baths and mixtures to bring money or love. Can be used in charms or incense to promote fertility. Burn as an incense at your place of business to promote growth of the business. Peony Used to protect from hexes. Brings good luck, good fortune, and prosperity. Hang in the home or plant near home for protection. Known as a flower that will attract faeries. The flowers & petals have the positive qualities listed, however, the seed is called a 'Jumby Bean’ and is used in spells for promoting dissension and strife. Peppermint Used in spells and incense for healing and purification. Place in a sleep pillow to ensure restful sleep. Burn as an incense when moving into a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy from previous owners. Pomegranate Sacred to Aphrodite. Use in rituals to aid in fertility. Poppy Used in charms and spells to promote fertility, prosperity, love and abundance. Poppy Seeds Used to bring love and luck. A popular ingredient used in food magic. Use in a sleep satchel to bring relief from insomnia. Primrose Used in spells to promotes the disclosure of secrets and to reveal the truth. Discourages dishonesty and secrecy. Rose Buds Used in magic that bring divine love, close friendships, domestic peace/happiness, and lasting relationships. Rose Geranium Turns away negativity that comes in the form of gossip or false accusations. Rose Hips Used in healing spells/charms and mixtures. Use in charms to bring good luck. Use in ritual to calls in good spirits. Rosemary Associated with the Faye. Can be used in healing poppets for good health. Used in love/lust spells. Can be used in herbal baths for purification. Burn as an incense to remove negative energy and purification. Rue Used in magic for healing, health, removal and protection against the evil eye. Use as an aspergillium to dispense salt water for purification of the circle or removing negativity from a place. Burn as an incense or use in poppets to prevent illness or speed recovery. Add to herbal baths to break hexes and curses that have been placed on you. Saffron Used as an aphrodisiac and for magic involving love, healing, happiness, lust and strength. Often used in love magic, healing spells, and weather control. Can hang sachets of saffron in your home to bring good luck. Sage Burn for self purification and the purification of an area or ritual space. Bundle dry leaves or loose leaves to banish negativity and negative spirits from an area or home. Used in healing charms and incense. Removes negative energy. Salt Peter Highly combustible. It is used in charcoal tablets to help ignite them. It is what sparks when they are lit. Used to keep male lovers from straying. Also used for exorcisms and other purification rites. Sandalwood Used to clear negativity from a home by sprinkling it around the property. Use as an incense during protection, healing, and exorcism spells. The wood can be used to make healing wands. Used to help align the chakras for better energy flow. It is a good incense to burn during meditation. Sea Salt Most kosher salt is sea salt. Represents earth on the altar. Used for cleansing, purification, grounding, protection magic and ritual. Used with water for asperging, consecration and casting circles. Skullcap Used in sleep pillows for relaxation and peaceful sleep. Used in rituals as incense to bind oaths and consecrate vows. Used in baths to cleanse yourself of tensions and stress. Burned to diffuse disharmony and disruptive situations. *WARNING* Pregnant women should not use this herb because it can induce a miscarriage. Snapdragon Flower Used for protection, exorcism, and purification Solomon’s Seal Root Used for protection, exorcism and cleansing. Used to drive away evil/negative spirits. Spearmint Used in magic for healing, love and protection while sleeping. St. John’s Wort Use in charms to prevent colds & fevers. Used to protect against all forms of negative magic used against you. Use in charms to protect against evil spirits. Burn to drive away evil/negative spirits. *Caution – Poisonous, do not consume* Sulfur (powder) Used to dispel or prevent a curse on you. It destroys an enemy’s power over you. Thyme Used in spells and charms to attract loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others. Burn as an incense or use in charms and hang in the home for banishing and purification of the home. Bring into the home to attract good health for all occupants. Use in dream pillows to prevent nightmares and facilitate a night of restful sleep. Valerian Used in spells and charms for love and protection. It can be used to purify sacred space. Used as a substitution for graveyard dirt in spells. Add to herbal baths for protection. Venus Flytrap Used for love and protection magic. Having a Venus Flytrap in the home aids in protection of the home. Vervain Used in spells and charms for protection, purification, money, healing, and restful sleep. Can be used in prosperity spells. Add to herbal baths for cleansing. All purpose protection herb for places and people. White Sage Use for smudging or for purification. White Willow Bark Used to guard against negativity and negative spirits. Can be used in healing spells. Willow It is associated with the element of water. Used in magic for protection, divination, inspiration, healing, fertility, love, grief and death. In fact, anything that has to do with the element of water. Can be made into wands that are used for intuition, dreams, visions and inspired writing or images.

Wormwood Used in magic and charms to remove anger, inhibit violent acts, and for protection from curses. Use as incense for clairvoyance, enhance divinatory abilities or to summon spirits. Can be used in spells to bring them strife and misfortune. *Caution – Poisonous, do not consume* Xanthan Gum Used as an incense bonding agent. Yarrow Flower Used in magic and ritual for healing, hand-fasting and divination. Used in spells and charms to draws love. Used to banish negativity and promote peaceful relations especially between married couples. Yew Used in breaking curses, raising the dead and protection against evil spirits. Yucca Used in spells and charms for protection and purification. Used to curses, hexes or illness.

source: Spellbound

I would suggest consulting a crown, and/or consult credible text to further further your personal understanding

☽✪☾ Youth/Father/Geezer ☽✪☾

[hearthandhomewitchery]

Sensing and Visualizing Energy

How do we know if an object has the right sort of energy for our work? Today, there are many books that list different magickal correspondences. These can be a great starting place. However, these are generalizations and we want to be very specific with our energies.  This is where the tools of meditation and visualization come into play.

We can further use these tools to learn to sense the energies of object.  A good way to practices is the following visualization. To begin, pick a random object from your abode.  Record your initial knowledge of the object.  It can be a simple description, anything you know about its history.  Pick it up, describe how it feels physically, how it smells.  Do you have any strong emotional reaction to it? (It’s ok if you don’t).  

Now place the object in front of you.  Go into your meditative state.  Visualize the object.  Spend some time examining the object.  Now visualize the objects energy field, or aura.  Let it flow out naturally from the object. What color(s) is it? What shape? Is it dense or sparse? How brightly does it glow? Any patterns within it? How does it make you feel?

Spend as much time as you need, then come out of your meditative state. Record your impressions.  Most important are any feelings: if an object gives off a feeling than it is actively giving off that type of energy. Otherwise, look at your other impressions.  Color is a good indicator of the type of energy, use whatver color correspondences you normally use to determine which type. Shape and patterns may also indicate type. Density and brightness will indicate strength.

Practice this visualization enough and you will be able to look at objects and quickly size up the aura.  This skill will be useful as you start to accumulate the objects to fulfill your aesthetic.

[crystal-w1tch]

MY GRIMOIRE MASTERPOST

CRYSTALS

- Crystal care

- Ways to use crystals

- Crystals grouped by use

- Crystal Correspondences

OTHER CORRESPONDENCES

- Colour correspondences

- Colour correspondences II

- Week days / deities correspondences

- Days of the Week for Spells and Rituals

HERBS

- REALLY BIG POST: Herbalism correspondences

- Herbs masterpost

- Common Kitchen Herbs

- General Tree Associations

- How to Keep Plants Alive

- Green Witch Tips

SPELLS

- Cleansing Masterpost

- Simple Luck Spell

- Masterpost of Luck Spells

- Seven Deadly Sins Spells

- Creating Spell Jars

- Inspir-ACE-ion Spell

- How to Enchant an Object

- A Simple Spell for Enchanting Objects

- Anti-Anxiety Jar

- Your Negativity Does Not Affect Me Spell

- Simple Honey Spells

POTIONS, WATERS AND ELIXIRS

- Masterpost of simple potions

- Floral tea magick

- Fruit tea magick

- Rose Water

- Waters

CANDLE MAGICK

- Candle Colour Meanings

ASTROLOGY

- Moon Phases

- Moon Phases II

- Moon Signs Descriptions

- Houses of the Birthchart

- Signs, planets and houses

- Birth Chart Guide

TAROT

- Tarot Spreads Masterpost

- Cleansing the Cards

- Tarot in Spells

- Tarot Tricks

- Tarot Cheat Sheet

- Tarot Cheat Sheet II

DIVINATION

- Pendulum: How To

- Name Numerology

SABBATS

- Beltane Resource Masterpost

DIY PROJECTS

- DIY Sustainable Spell Box

MISC

- Other witchy masterpost

- Beginner Witchcraft Resources Masterpost

- Familiars

- How to Return to the Craft

- Witch Safety Tips

- Recommended books

- Classic Substitutions

[orriculum]

Unpacking Witchcraft - Spell Types

A spell is a manifestation of intents, ingredients, and influences combined to bring about an intangible effect. However, there are a number of different of types of spells, intents, and methods. 

CURSE— A spell designed to cause a person or place harm or misfortune of a grand scale. Occasionally used to protect when it used against a concept, “cursing out” infections and medical problems.

HEX— Commonly thought as similar to a curse, though it comes from a German word for witch. Commonly interpreted as a weaker curse, or a midpoint between a jinx and a curse on a scale of annoying to devastating.

JINX— A spell to cause momentary bad luck or annoyance, but can occasionally come back to bite someone later. Usually paired with irony, or used to bring about the opposite effect of what someone says out loud or hopes for.

BANISHING— A type of spell, designed to get rid of something specific, whether it be a concept, a person, spirit, or otherwise, and to keep it away.

WARDING— A type of protective spell in which you create and put up magical walls, usually against a specific thing, such as spirits or negative people, but could be used for evangelicals and teenagers that theoretically loiter on your lawn.

BINDING— Similar to banishing. Instead of removing a person, object, or situation from your vicinity, you prevent a person or creature from performing a particular action.

GLAMOUR— Often used for beauty spells, are a type of spell used for creating an illusion over a person or object. They can be used for a number of purposes, to make someone more attract, or to make an object harder to find, or a person be more or less likely to be noticed.

CONSECRATION— The ritual blessing of an object or place by cleansing it and instilling with a specific energy. Cannot be done to living creatures.

POTION— Any drink made to have a magical effect.

JAR SPELL— A spell made and contained within a jar, often herb sealed with wax.

these are just a few types, feel free to add your own!

[witchofapollo]

Magickal and Non-Magickal Tips for Writing

Fun fact! I do freelance writing as well as hobby writing, as most of my loyal followers can tell. I thought it was time that I share some tips about one of the things that I am passionate about.

Magickal

Charm your pens, using the ink as inspiration to help the words flow better

Ex. Burn a purple candle and chant, “As the ink flows, so do my words” confidently as if you are a monarch commanding their army

Practice regular meditation and visualization (if you have the ability to) to help with focus and determining your goals.

Below is a sigil to protect from writer’s block. Use it by drawing it at the top of your page or by drawing it on a sticky note and placing it on your monitor.

Incorprate color correspondences into your writing, whether it be via ink, your clothes, or even nail color. Here are some to help you out:

Yellow - Creativity

Red - Passion

Blue - Clear thoughts

Purple - Progress 

Green - Success

Keep rose quartz on your desk/working area to help with your confidence in your writing.

Appeal to various writing/creativity/art deities. Here are some listed below. I tried my best to avoid deities of closed religions, but I apologize if I didn’t realize one was closed (I got these from Wikapedia). In the end, it is up to you to determine which deities are appropriate for you to appeal to. Feel free to add some more.

Apollo (Greek and also my patron god)

Tir (Armenian)

Bao Zheng (Chinese)

Benzaiten (Japanese)

Nabu (Babylonian)

Enki (Sumerian)

Nidaba (Sumerian)

Minerva (Roman)

Ahura Mazda (Zoroastrian)

Burn incense nearby to invoke the attributes of the element of air, which is associated with creativity and freedom!

Sigil:

Non-Magickal

Read! The more you read, the more styles of writing, vocabulary, and sentence structure you are introduced to. Try to read more than one type of genre as well. Everything you read has a direct impact on your writing.

Regularly re-read your old work to see how you’ve progressed. This is especially helpful if you feel as if you are hitting a wall in your progression as a writer in general.

Practice! Writing isn’t easy. The words sometimes just don’t hit you and it can get really frustrating. Sometimes, no matter how many times you re-write the same passage, it doesn’t feel right. Practicing regularly, even if it is just to write in your journal every night, makes perservering easier. 

Re-read your work at least once! I am especially bad about this. You’d be surprised at the amount of typos you’d make. If you’re work is especially long, re-read each paragraph as you write them instead of all at once.

Take regulated breaks.

On that note, schedule times for you to sit down and write. People who schedule when they need to write have a better chance of actually sitting down and writing. This also means you won’t feel bad for not writing later. It doesn’t need to be for hours or even every day. For some, it’s in the mornings before work. For others, it’s just on the weekends. Determine what works best for you.

Writing with a quill pen just for the aesthetic is okay and no one should judge you for that. 

I really hopes this helps anybody who is interested in writing of any kind!

[scenewitch-bos]

Grimoire Masterpost

Here’s my masterpost of things I’ve found and even written down in my own grimoire from around tumblr! I will update this often. If you have any suggestions for good posts, please DM me!

Basics

Elements and their correspondences

Moon Phases 1

Moon Phases 2

Sabbats

Sabbats Masterpost

How to Celebrate Sabbats

Colour Correspondences

Shape Correspondences

Magical Tools

Auras and Their Meanings

List Of Grounding Methods

Grounding Method

Elemental Grounding

Numerology 0-9

Number Correspondences

Days of The Week

Spellwork

Ways to Cast a Circle

Undoing Spells

Cleansing

Types of Spells

Divination

Types of Divination

Scrying

Pendulum Tips/Suggestions

Another Pendulum Tip

Inexpensive Tarot Decks

Tarot Cheat Sheet

Tarot Cheat Sheet 2

In-Depth Tarot Cheat Sheet - Major Arcana

In-Depth Tarot Cheat Sheet - Wands

In-Depth Tarot Cheat Sheet - Cups

In-Depth Tarot Cheat Sheet - Swords

In-Depth Tarot Cheat Sheet - Pentacles

Things To Consider During Tarot Readings

Reading Reversed Tarot Cards

Art Divination

Astrology

Signs and Correspondences

Planets

Houses

Meteors

Ingredients

Waters

Salts

Milk

Crystals

Metals

Herbs

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Spells

Spells

Sigils

Rituals

Miscellaneous

Tarot Spreads

Hello Old Friend - A Deity Spread

Grimoire Templates

Spell Record Worksheet

Miscellaneous

Witchy Checkup

10 Daily Witchy Things

Things To Do With Empty Notebooks

Earthly Activities

Free PDF Books Masterpost

Daily Witchiness

100 Ways to Incorporate Magic Into Your Daily Life

[samwisethewitch]

Magical Journaling

When we think of a witch’s tools, we usually think of cauldrons, brooms, and jars filled with herbs. But for modern witches, one of the most powerful tools available is a blank journal. The journal can be an altar, a workspace, a diary, and a grimoire all in one.

Creating a Magical Journaling Practice

One of the benefits of this type of magic is that it doesn’t require a lot of tools and materials. However, there are a few things you may choose to include:

A journal, notebook, or binder. Having a physical journal for your magical practice can help to ground your magic into the physical world. Find a journal or notebook that speaks to you — this could be a composition book from the dollar store, or an elaborate leather bound journal. I highly recommend using a physical book, but if you are unable to keep a physical journal dedicated to your witchcraft, you can absolutely keep one in a Google Doc, a Microsoft Word document, or the Notes app on your phone.

Colored pens, pencils, or markers. These are a great way to include the magic of color in your journal. (See this post for info on magical color correspondences.) Writing your spells in a color that matches your intention can add an extra layer of power.

Stickers, photos, and drawings. This adds a visual component to your written spells. Just like you add things to a physical ritual based on their magical correspondences, you can use images of those things to add energy to journal spells.

A Daily Intention-Setting Ritual

This method of magical journaling is based on an exercise from Lisa Marie Basile’s book, The Magical Writing Grimoire.

In the morning, before you start your day, write your intention for the day ahead. This should be written in the present tense, and phrased in the positive — it’s about what you are doing, not what you’re stopping or trying to quit. Your intention can be anything, mental, emotional, or physical. (For example: “I am opening myself to love in all its many forms.”)

In the evening, before you go to bed, write down what you worked on that day. This can be anything you did that you feel nourished you, and it may or may not be related to your intention from the morning. (For example: “I used mindfulness meditation to become aware of my own vastness.”)

Living with intention makes you more aware of your actions and can be a form of magic in itself. You daily intentions can become positive affirmations that you can repeat throughout your day, drawing strength from the words.

Using a Journal to Cast Spells

You can cast spells on the page of your journal, with nothing more than a pen and paper.

There are four basic parts to every spell: your will, your intention, focused energy, and a ritual action. All of these components can be brought into a journaling session. Your will is your personal magical and spiritual authority — you use your will simply by being aware of it. Your intention is a clear statement of what you want to get out of your spell — in journal magic, this is typically written on the page. By directing your attention to what you are writing, you are focusing your energy. And finally, a ritual action is any act performed in a ritualistic manner — in this case, that act is writing.

When casting a journal spell, it’s best to do your work in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. You might choose to light a candle or burn incense to help set a spiritual/magical mood, or you might not. I recommend meditating on your intention for a few moments before you begin, in order to help focus your energy.

What you actually write is up to you. It could be a simple, straightforward statement of intention, a detailed description of what you want, or even a poem. Feel free to experiment with different methods to see what feels right for you.

Journaling with Sigils and Runes

You can incorporate sigils, runes, and other sacred symbols into your journal, or use them as spells by themselves.

I’ve talked a little bit about runes in a previous post, but here’s a quick refresher: “runes” typically refer to the symbols used in Germanic alphabets before they were replaced by the Latin alphabet. The oldest Germanic rune system, and the one most widely used in magic, is the Elder Futhark. Other Germanic runic alphabets include the Younger Futhark and the Anglo-Saxon runes, which are both descended from the Elder Futhark. There are other alphabets that are used for similar purposes in magic, like the Irish Ogham. The use of these symbols in magic comes from the ancient idea that writing is inherently magical. Both the Germanic runes and the Ogham alphabet were believed to be sacred by the people who originally used them. Because of this, the runes aren’t merely letters — each symbol has a set of spiritual meanings associated with it as well.

The nice thing about runes is that, for the most part, we have a good idea of what they meant — so learning the runes can be as simple as purchasing a book and memorizing meanings. They’re also tied to ancient belief systems, which makes them a potent source of magical power.

You can use the runes in your magical journal in a couple of different ways. You can draw the appropriate runes in the borders around your spell, or write them over your spell in a different colored ink to add their power to your words. You can also use the runes alone as a form of magic. For this, speak or chant the name of the rune as you write it, and then spend a few moment focusing on it, visualizing your goal, and charging the rune with your intent.

Sigils are a little bit different. Unlike runes, sigils are created on the spot, so the meaning of a sigil is usually only known to the person who designed it. This means that, rather than learning established meanings, you’re creating a new magical symbol with a unique meaning every time you draw a new sigil. Because of this, sigils are directly linked to your will, which makes them powerful conductors of magic.

Here’s a common method for designing a sigil: Write a word or phrase that represents your goal or desire. Cross out all the vowels and/or all repeating letters. Now, use the remaining letters (the ones that haven’t been marked out) to create a design, adding artistic flourishes as you see fit. It’s okay to get creative with this, and it’s okay if the shape of the letters isn’t obvious in the final sigil. For example: if I wanted to create a sigil to manifest wealth, I might start with the phrase “I have more money than I know what to do with.” I then cross out all vowels and repeating letters, leaving me with, “v r y k w d.” Using the shape of these letters as a starting point, I create an artistic design that carries the intention of the original statement.

Sigils are usually used on their own to conduct magic. Draw the sigil in a color that matches your intention (for my wealth sigil, I would use green). As you draw, focus on your intent and feel your energy moving through the pen, charging the sigil. You can leave the finished sigil in your journal, tear the page out and place it on your altar, or display it somewhere you’ll see it often.

Sigils are especially useful for witches who need to keep their practice a secret, because they can be disguised as simple doodles.

Resources:

The Magical Writing Grimoire by Lisa Marie Basile

The Way of Fire and Ice by Ryan Smith

Runes by Kylie Holmes

[grimoirebabylon]

Developing Your Own Correspondences

There’s a lot said, in witchcraft circles, about correspondences. Not just what the correspondence of anything is but where that particular correspondence comes from. Some people rely on pre-written lists, such as the type I organize and post here, but many people believe that any correspondence used should be your own.  In order to figure out what your own correspondences are, it is important to understand what a correspondence even is - it’s merely something that is used to represent something else. And the reason why spells often consist of things meant to represent or correspond to something else is because it is a form of sympathetic magic. Like produces like, the effect resembles the cause. Spells are a metaphorical representation of what you want to happen.

Some correspondences are near-universal, and baked firmly into culture. There is mass recognition by everyone, witch or not, that roses are linked with love. Giving someone a red rose is a clear representation of love even with no other context. 

There are plenty of herbs and plants and other things that have no particular widespread association to draw on. And some things that were widespread associations have since been lost, and they aren’t anymore. While these meanings are preserved in lists of correspondences, they may not actually “correspond” as much for the modern user. So how can you identify your own correspondences?  1. Spend time with your ingredients. Herbal correspondences, for instance, are more obvious and have more of a chance to form for people who actually spend time growing herbs, gathering plants, identifying plants, and using herbs in non-magical ways. I have studied a lot about foraging, and through the experience of identifying, preparing, consuming, and studying plants I can form my own ideas about what they represent.  2. Pillage your memories. Are there any memories that stand out to you when you think of certain ingredients? Do you associate certain flowers, stones, drinks, scents, colours, or foods with certain people? Certain emotions? Certain times of your life? These are correspondences. By invoking that ingredient, you may invoke the association from your memory.  3. What does it look like? This was a common feature of ancient magic-based medicine – that if something resembled a part of the body, it was a reasonable treatment for that part of the body. This is still a reasonable basis for determining the correspondence of something. The obvious one that comes to mind is the association one might have between walnuts and brains. Kawa kawa leaves always look like hearts to me, and they have a numbing effect when chewed. Putting those things together might mean that for me it would make sense to use kawa kawa in a spell to numb heartbreak.  4. Read. A lot of common correspondences are based on historical uses for things, myths, and stories that feature different items. You may not recognize those correspondences because you may not have read the source material. But even beyond traditional sources, you may form your own correspondences based on the media you take in. For instance, I personally associated ivy leaves very strongly with the O. Henry story The Last Leaf. I might be inclined to use an ivy leaf in a spell to give strength and tenacity to a sick person because it represents that to me after reading that story. Correspondences may also come from movies, tv shows, or songs.  5. Try things out. All of the perfectionism in witchcraft these days amazes me. People are often terrified to try anything - but trying things, making mistakes, or having spells fail is how you learn, gather data, reformat your spells, and develop your expectations. You’re not going to die or accidentally summon demons or create a spell that backfires in some truly terrible way. I’ve made the comparison to cooking before - you are unlikely to burn your house down by trying to learn to make scrambled eggs. So try things out! Do a spell for happiness, and if you don’t feel cheered up consider which ingredients may have lacked the appropriate punch. Do a spell for self-love and if you aren’t feeling yourself, adjust.  Gathering strong representations of things is something that may take a long time. Having ingredients represent specific things to you is a result of having experiences with those ingredients. It is a result of living and being exposed to new things. 

[zaniahs-witching-hour]

⭐️Color Correspondences⭐️

In witchcraft, certain colors have correspondences that you’ll notice throughout your craft. It’s important to remember these for things such as Candle Magick and reading auras. 

Red: love, passion, sexuality, initiation, aggression, strength, control, health, and vitality. 

Planets: Sun, Mars

Orange: luck, kindness, celebration, abundance, optimism, and comfort

Planets: Mars, Mercury, Uranus

Yellow: positivity, courage, vitality, progress, communication, mental clarity, and focus

Planets: Sun, Mercury, Uranus

Green: finance, luck, charity, health, prosperity, vitality, nature, fertility, and balance. 

Planets: Earth, Jupiter, Venus

Turquoise: change, travel, intellect, invention, creativity, and humanity 

Planets: Mercury, Venus, Neptune

Blue: understanding, patience, honor, fidelity, health, healing, wisdom, justice, and tranquility 

Planets: Moon, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto 

Purple: wisdom, psychic ability and power, divination, inspiration, spirituality, empowerment and enchantment. 

Planets: Moon, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto 

Pink: love, healing, family, friendship, selflessness, and socializing

Planets: Venus

White: purification, truth, inspiration, clarity, spiritual strength, and enlightenment

Planet: Moon

Black: protection, honor and respect, deep meditation, banishment, and unlocking

Planet: Saturn, Pluto

Grey: neutralization and stasis

Planet: Earth, Pluto 

Silver: femininity, emotional stability, intuition, dreams, and psychic ability

Planet: Moon, Neptune 

Gold: masculinity, luxury, power, success, confidence, and creativity

Planets: Sun, Mercury, Uranus

Bronze: positivity, friendship, and unity 

Planets: Mercury, Mars, Uranus 

Brown: grounding, concentration, searching, and protection

Planets: Earth, Saturn, Uranus

[samwisethewitch]

Building a Magical Home

One of my favorite quotes about the magic of homemaking comes from Cory Hutcheson, host of the New World Witchery podcast. He says, “Home is a transformational act. It is the thing you do to turn a space into a space… that is full of ritual and significance and meaning. So there is sort of this ongoing relationship you have with the space that makes it a home.”

The act of creating a home, of making a space your own, is inherently magical. But if you want to make your space feel a little more witchy, here are some ideas to get you started.

Charms and Talismans

Making your own magical objects can be a powerful way to bring magic into your space. The best thing about making your own charms is that you can make them look however you want, so it’s easy to disguise them as ordinary household objects. You can make a charm for any intention by combining objects based on their magical correspondences.

I’ve talked about protective charms in previous posts, so I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on it here. The simplest protective charm is keeping a large piece of iron under your bed to keep away nightmares, evil spirits, and negative energy. You could also make your own protection charm, like a witch bottle.

You can create a “happy home” charm to bring peace, harmony, and happiness into your home. This charm could include herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and/or bay leaves, as well as other items that you associate with peace and good fortune, like lucky coins, crystals, or black cat fur. Write your desires for a harmonious and happy home on a piece of paper, fold it up, and add it to the charm. You could store these items in a green bag, bury them in your backyard (in this case, make sure you’re only using biodegradable plant matter — leave out the coins and crystals), or place it inside a household object like a lamp or an end table.

If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues, try making a dream charm to help you sleep well and have sweet dreams. To make a simple dream charm, fill a blue or purple bag with lavender, chamomile, peppermint, and any other objects that you associate with peace, restfulness, and sleep. If you want to have lucid dreams or receive psychic messages in your dreams, include a bit of mugwort. Place the charm in your pillow or under your mattress. (I personally swear by this one, as it’s helped a lot with my insomnia.)

Charms are great for homemaking magic because you’re actually creating a magical object, which can then become a permanent fixture of the space.

Magical Decor

You can use magical items to decorate your home to bring certain qualities into that space.

Hanging or displaying a broom is said to bring good fortune, protection from evil, and good hospitality. Cauldrons are used to represent the Goddess, rebirth, and raw potential. Horseshoes hung above door frames bring safety and luck to all who cross under them, and keep unwanted guests away. If you can get them legally and ethically, animal bones, teeth, claws, and feathers can represent the spirit and energy of that animal. You can also put up images of spiritual and occult symbols — I have an image of the Sun tarot card hanging in my bedroom to promote positivity and growth.

If you need to be a little more subtle with your witchy decorations, working with the magic of color is a great way to do that. Gathering a lot of items of a single color in one room changes the energy of that room. Here’s a quick guide to give you some ideas:

Yellow is associated with divination, mental clarity, the element of air, success, communication, and inspiration.

Purple is associated with divine power, spiritual awareness, mystery, astral travel, magic, and authority.

Blue is associated with healing, psychic abilities, the element of water, peace, truth, and patience.

Red is associated with protection, the fire element, sex, power, vitality, and love.

Orange is associated with ambition, creativity, breaking through blockages, and career success.

Pink is associated with romantic love, friendship, self love, compassion, and emotional well-being.

Green is associated with nature, herbalism, the earth element, money, wealth, prosperity, and luck.

Brown is associated with grounding, animal magic, stability, and balance.

White is associated with purification, cleansing, the full moon, new beginnings, healing, and spiritual growth.

Black is associated with protection, truth, outer space, banishing, and transition.

Decorating your home with colors that are meaningful to you can create a powerful magical space. You may also have your own color associations (for example, yellow is a very “happy” color for me), so feel free to incorporate those into your decor as well!

Growing Magical Houseplants

Most witches feel a very deep connection to nature and draw power from the natural world, but we can’t all live in a cottage in the heart of the forest. Even if you live in a tiny apartment in the city, you can still bring nature into your space by keeping houseplants. Many popular houseplants have magical uses, and many popular magic herbs can be grown inside. Here are a few to get you started.

Aloe. This is one of my favorite plants. Aloe brings luck and protection, especially protection on an energetic/spiritual level. I like to keep aloe in my bedroom to protect me while I sleep, as well as to bring luck and inspiration while I’m working at my desk.

Basil. Basil is very popular in money spells, and will attract prosperity and luck to your home. However, it also has protective properties — both spiritual protection and protection from bugs, since basil is a natural insect repellent! Basil can also be used in love spells, and is just generally a good plant to have around for good vibes.

African Violet. This flowering plant attracts positive spiritual energy into your space. It has associations with the moon and the water element, and is very good for promoting spirituality and psychic power.

Rosemary. Rosemary is one of those herbs that every witch should have on hand. It’s so darn versatile, it can be used as a substitute for virtually any other herb, and can be used for almost any intention. Some of the most common magical associations for rosemary include: cleansing, purification, protection, healing, mental activity, and enhancing memory. According to author Deborah J. Martin, there’s an old English saying that, “Where rosemary grows, the woman rules the house.” Like basil, rosemary is a natural insect repellent.

Lavender. Lavender brings peace, love, and gentleness, which makes it a perfect addition to any home. It can be used in spells for cleansing and purification, enhancing psychic abilities, and stress relief. Lavender is also a powerful addition to love spells. Keeping lavender in the bedroom can aid in restful sleep, while lavender in the kitchen will bring harmony to the home.

Sage. Sage is the most talked about cleansing herb, and with good reason. Unfortunately, a lot of the sage bundles you can buy at metaphysical stores are made with white sage (Salvia apiana), which is sacred to Native American peoples and is endangered due to overharvesting. Instead of buying those, why not grow your own garden sage (Salvia officinalis), which has a lot of the same magical properties? Growing sage in your home will purify the space and protect those who live there. Sage also has an association with wisdom and mental prowess.

Hoya. Hoya is a common houseplant that you’ve probably seen even if you don’t know it by name. It has a distinctive appearance with waxy, dark green leaves and clusters of white, star-shaped flowers. Hoya aligns and balances the energy centers within your body, as well as in the surrounding space. It’s associated both with grounding and with spiritual openness, so it can be great for balancing the two.

Peppermint. Peppermint has a variety of magical uses, but my favorite way to use it is for gently opening up blockages and getting things moving. It’s great for cleansing, but is more gentle than rosemary or sage. Place it in any room where you tend to do a lot of healing work, or where you could use some peace and love. Peppermint is also used in dream magic, so growing it in the bedroom may bring on vivid or lucid dreams.

Orchid. Orchids are used in magic for love and lust. Historically, orchid has been used in folk medicine to promote male virility and “Jezebel root,” used in American folk magic to attract wealthy male lovers, is a type of orchid root. If you live with a significant other, try growing an orchid in the bedroom to promote passion in your sex life. Otherwise, grow orchids in your home to promote love or to attract romance.

Catnip. If you have cats, they’ll love this one. Catnip is actually a type of mint, and has strong lunar associations. It’s said to make one more charming and attractive, and is especially useful for attracting women. At the same time, catnip promotes courage and fierceness. It is also, of course, associated with cats and feline deities, so this is definitely a plant you’ll want to keep around if the cat is one of your animal guides.

If you have a yard space that you can turn into an outdoor garden, your magical plant options are limited only by your local ecosystem. Some outdoor plants that have magical uses include roses, sunflowers, rue, lemon balm, and strawberries.

Creating an Altar

Altars are focal points of magical and spiritual energy. Many people, both witches and non-witches, find that having a designated space for their spiritual practice creates a deeper sense of sacredness and purpose.

An altar can serve lots of different purposes. Many witches use their altar as a magical work space to prepare spells, meditate, and do divination. You may choose to dedicate your altar to a deity, your ancestors, or some other spirit(s) you work with. You can also build altars for specific intentions, such as a money altar or a love altar — performing rituals at this altar everyday is a powerful method for manifestation. You altar may be some or all of these things, or it may just be a place to sit and connect with the spiritual.

You can set up an altar on any flat surface, like a shelf or table, or inside a container like a jewelry box. Your setup can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. An altar can be huge and complex, with statues and candles and flowers, or it can be as simple as a tealight and an incense burner. It’s all about what appeals to you.

Resources:

New World Witchery pocast, “Episode 143 — The Magical Home”

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

“Candle colors and their meanings” by Michelle Gruben on the Grove and Grotto blog

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin

“The Magic of Orchids in Wiccan Love Spells & Rituals” on the Art of the Root blog