Blog Of Shadows

Annie | 18 | Scorpio | Message me anytime

[honorthegods]

Ways to Empower your Samhain Amid the Pandemic

24 October 2020

Oh no! Covid-19 has put group rituals on hold, and what about the kids? There are plenty of good options to have a very sacred Samhain (and celebrate the rare Samhain Blue Moon!), while keeping yourself – and others- safe.  Here are some of them, for both Rituals and Trick-or-Treating.

Halloween is my favorite cultural holiday and this article offers some good suggestions for socially distanced candy-giving as well as a virtual concert,  and pagan and Wiccan rituals.

[spellbookbitch]

The Witch's Moving Checklist

Having just moved, I'd like to have had a list of things I needed to do spiritually, so here's my suggestions!

Before Moving Out

Take down your wards - this should be the last thing you do, but you don't want old unneeded wards draining you, and you don't want another witch that might move in to have to deal with your wards.

Pack respectfully - this depends on your beliefs, but try to pack your tarot decks, spell jars, etc, in a way that respects them. Sometimes you might have to ask!

Talk to the entities in your space - are you they coming with you? Are they staying? It's polite to let them know you're leaving.

Cleanse - especially with the stress of moving, it's good to get all the negative energy out before you leave, to make it nice for the next person. This is also a good time to cleanse some of your items, so they'll be ready when you arrive.

When You Move In

Cleanse/clean - this is both a spiritual and a mundane tip, but I like to clean and cleanse when I arrive at a new home, before moving anything in. Most people don't spiritually cleanse when they leave, and some people don't do a great job of cleaning.

Put up wards - this can also be good to do before bringing your stuff in, because it can block entities/energies that might have attached to your stuff on the way over. However, depending on your practice, it might be best done after you have brought your witchcraft supplies in.

Reassess - since everything is taken down anyway, this is a good time to reassess how your work space is set up, if you have one. Otherwise, it can be a good time to figure out better ways to store your witchcraft supplies.

Welcome - I like to light all my candles dedicated to deities and entities right after I move in, as a way of welcoming them into the new space. Again, this might or might not be necessary depending on your practice.

Miscellaneous

If you're moving far, research local folklore and metaphysical stores nearby.

[modelsof-color]

Ajok Madel by Danielle Neu for Document Journal - May 2020

[unreal-floristry]

The Bride’s Guide to Unreal Floristry, entry 20

Find the book in print in zine size and in coloring book size.

[heatherwitch]

Low energy cleaning + cleansing

I make a lot of posts for bedridden witches, but many of us aren’t bedridden all of the time or have varying energy levels. This post contains a range of ideas and suggestions for keeping your home both clean and cleansed with low or unpredictable energy. While I do refer to energy levels, it is also applicable to pain levels. 

Setting yourself up for success:

Quick note: these are things I do, you may not find the same things to be overwhelming or necessary, as discussed later in the post! 

Multiple waste baskets. I keep two under my bed, for garbage and recycling. This makes it easier to throw things away when done with them, rather than letting them become an overwhelming pile.

A box or tray for used dishes, cups and water bottles. This keeps the piles from feeling overwhelming, and makes them easier to move to the kitchen when that’s do-able. 

Extra blanket to protect the bedding.  It’s easier for to move/wash one blanket when food spills, rather than wrangling with a comforter. 

Fitted vs. flat sheets. Fitted sheets are exhausting to remove/put on. Flat sheets can be easier! (Also, I recommend having two sets of sheets, so you can switch them out right away and have clean bedding whether or not you have the energy to do laundry.)

Clean and dirty laundry hampers. A way to avoid piles and stay organized without needing to fold laundry or put it on hangers. Simply have a hamper for each (or lots of baskets if you want it more organized).

Cleaning supplies in each room/area. That way, when the motivation to clean arises, you don’t need to spend that energy walking across the house to get the supplies.

Bedridden witch: The setup

Focus on the main areas:

My bedroom is my number one focus, as this is the room I spend the most time in. The others are my bathroom, living room and kitchen. There’s no point in having a spotless spare room if you’re overwhelmed by the rest of the house. Prioritize the places you spend your time in.

Do what you can, when you can:

The excellent thing about having a good setup is it means when you do have more energy, you don’t need to do as much to catch up (which often involves paying for it later by overdoing it). You know your limits, do what you can. 

Have no energy? Do your best to do the things I listed above. With this setup its okay if you can’t do it right away, when you feel able to, its there. Maybe today you can get the tissues in the waste basket and tomorrow you put the dishes in the box.  

Have a bit of energy? Empty your waste baskets, bring the dishes to the kitchen, move your dirty laundry into the washroom, etc. One step closer to helping your future self.

Have a lot of energy? Now is an excellent time to do some dishes or get some laundry started. Hopefully this is now manageable because of the steps your past self took. 

Along these lines, you don’t have to do everything at once. Because I have cleaning supplies in each area, I can clean whenever I feel like it. 

Perhaps I feel really motivated to scrub the toilet. That doesn’t mean that I also have to wipe down the counter and the tub, shake out the mats and sweep the floor. Each of those things can be separate. Cleaning something partially is better than not cleaning at all (or overdoing it) in my opinion.

Take breaks! It’s okay if things take you longer than that rude inner voice says it should, or if you need to take multiple breaks. 

Create a routine:

Here’s a glimpse at my daily routine (which is the ideal; when my health doesn’t allow for all of these, I do what I can):

Bedroom: Open the curtains and the window to let light and fresh air in. This also lets my bedding air out. After a few minutes I do a quick sweep of the floor and make my bed (which I can do while sitting on it).

Bathroom: Every few days I’ll sweep it and empty the trash + laundry hamper.

Kitchen: Sweep the floors each morning. Empty the dishwasher or load any new dirty dishes into it. Also feed the cats and check their water.

Living room: Whenever I get up to go to the kitchen, I bring any dishes or garbage. Each evening I tidy up and put things back.

I almost seem obsessive over cleanliness because I constantly do little things. Done using the kitchen counter? Wipe it down. Dirty plate? Rinse it and load in the dishwasher. My energy is very unpredictable so I do little things whenever I can so that when I crash, everything is taken care of.

Prioritize:

Sometimes the ideal and the practical aren’t compatible. 

What MUST happen? For example, my cats come first. They have no control over their food, water or litter boxes. I ensure all of their needs are met early in my day. 

What will have negative long term effects? Shit happens, and it doesn’t always line up with our ability to handle it. Sometimes you must clean up a water leak or remove the gross thing, even if you pay for it with a flareup later or it results in other things not getting taken care of for a while.

Ask for help. I understand that not everyone is lucky enough to have a support system, but if you can, ask a friend or family member for help when you need it. Sometimes things get to overwhelming, and a little help can go a long way. 

Make a list:

Figure out what key things make the space feel clean or dirty to you. What would you like to maintain? What feels more manageable when you do it each day? What are you going to prioritize? 

Figure out the ideal frequency of each task. I’ve given examples of my daily routine, but what about the bigger tasks such as changing your bedding, or vacuuming the carpet? What about dusting and getting the cobwebs in those hard-to-reach corners? How often would you like to do those? Having a list can be helpful for your higher energy days so you know what to focus on. 

Cleansing:

For me, a lot of my cleansing ties into physically cleaning + having a clean space. This can be a bit tricky when you don’t have the energy to keep an entirely clean home, which is why I focused so much on that side of things! Do the best you can and prioritize the places you spend time in. 

A few basic methods:

Bedridden witch: Stale energy edition (lots of small tips for cleansing and changing the energy in a space). 

Smoke cleansing. Can be done with a variety of plants.

Steam cleansing. An excellent alternative if smoke isn’t your thing, boil the plants instead and allow the steam to act the same way smoke would.

Cleansing spray. Similar to steam. Be aware that some plants may stain surfaces, and avoid using undiluted essential oils. You can also buy natural room sprays if making one feels unmanageable. 

Sound cleansing. This is often done with instruments, but can also be done with song.

Visualization.

Elements. Open your curtains and windows, let the wind, the rain, the sunshine, the full moon, etc. do its work.

Absorbing. Sometimes we can’t open a window or actively cleanse, this is when having things that absorb negative energy can help, such as a Himalayan salt lamp, a bowl of salt, etc. 

Negativity absorbing buddy

Salt bowls to absorb negative energy

You may also like:

Home cleansing tips

Energy cleansing through cleaning

Bedridden witch series

Spoonie witch masterpost

Witchcraft for the chronically fatigued

Housewarming magic

[lonestarboyfriend]

my blog has really been picking up lately and i just wanted to raise awareness around an issue in our community! cottagecore/naturecore/farmcore etc may seem fun and harmless, but there are a few things to remember.

for non-indigenous people in north america, we must remember that the land we are living on does not belong to us - it’s stolen. before settlers came to the americas the lands were thriving, and now farm industries are helping to destroy the environment that indigenous people are fighting to protect. instead of idolizing mass-production and farming practices that are harmful for the environment, you should research how the indigenous peoples in your area cared for their home and how colonizers have impacted the way we cultivate/care for farmland. 

[two-spirits-deactivated20201207]

Hi! Indiginous cottagecore blogger here! You worded this perfectly!

Most tribes have websites with information on their history and culture on them, you can look up tribes/nations in your area and find their official pages and some of them will have information like this straight from the tribal members mouths ^w^

Some state websites will list endangered plant and animal species, this is a good thing to become educated on if you’re looking to turn your aesthetic into reality.

I advise focusing on the foraging and sustainable hunting/fishing aspects of the aesthetic and not mentioning commercial farming.

Sustainable foraging, small chicken coops, and kitchen gardens are all some fantastic examples of showing respect for the land.

Logging and large scale woodcutting beyond just enough to build a home and keep warm is something I would also discourage.

A good rule of thumb is to just ask yourself: “Am I taking more from the earth than I need to keep myself and my family alive?” And if so, just work on changing what might be too much.

As long as you stay away from idolizing large scale farming, keeping a lot of livestock, hunting things that you are not going to use in some form, hunting/fishing endangered species, or taking more than the limit for fish/wildlife, you should be okay.

This should be an unspoken rule, but please stay off native land and do not forage there unless you are invited, we have a really big problem with non natives stealing endangered and sacred white sage off of our reservations :(

If you are gifted white sage, other sacred items by a native, or invited to come on our reservations by a native friend, that’s definately okay though ^w^!

Stay away from romanticization of pioneer/colonizer days as a whole too.

The last thing I’d mention for cottagecore/naturecore bloggers is to please keep our sacred folklore or spiritual items out of your aesthetics.

[aura-astrology-deactivated20200]

my masterpost ref for astrology

[mybookofbitchcraft]

sun: about the basic self, who you are when you’re not surrounded by other people. your general traits

moon: the unconscious side of your personality. it explains why you do what you do. represents your instinctual self

rising: the face you put on in public, the sign that is the general first impression on others. it is expressed in your image and features, your style and your mannerisms

medium coeli: (mc/midheaven) gives insight to what you need to do to realise your place in life. can be used to help understand your personal and spiritual goals

imum coeli: (ic) base of your personality, influences your attitude towards your home and family life (your ic is the opposite sign to your mc)

venus: how you act in love and relationships. feminine energies

mars: sexual attraction, passion and anger. masculine energies

mercury: planning and reasoning skills, connected to communication, interacting and awareness

saturn: restrictions, limitations and delays. influences achievements, helps you mature

jupiter: luck, its an optimistic planet that gives inspiration and improves your life

neptune: reaches spirituality within you, there is mysticism and compassion, about divine love

uranus: change, associated with technology and discovery. about enlightenment and creativity

pluto: secrets, personal power and powerlessness. about transformations and self empowerment

chiron: health and disease and how they affect your spiritual path

ceres: how you best provide love and comfort, shows how you best feel nurtured

pallas: creativity, arts and justice, father/daughter relationships, personal power

juno: qualities of your soul mate, deals with marriage, fashion and beauty

vesta: focus, metal clarity and self respect

first house: self image

second house: self worth, money

third house: communication

fourth house: family + home

fifth house: self expression, creativity and romance

sixth house: work and health

seventh house: partnership and marriage

eighth house: transformations and sexuality

ninth house: belief and higher learning

tenth house: career, responsibility, reputation

eleventh house: aspirations and personal goals

twelfth house: soul growth, privacy and secrets

basic earth qualities: practical, reliable, realistic

basic air qualities: unpredictable, intelligent, independent

basic fire qualities: passionate, intense, impulsive

basic water qualities: sensitive, empathetic, emotional

earth dominant: practical, productive, patient, reliable

earth lacking: disorganised, messy, impulsive, irresponsible

air dominant: sociable, independent, curious

air lacking: unsociable, dependent, distant

fire dominant: energetic, impulsive, confident, adventurous

fire lacking: unmotivated, pessimistic

water dominant: empathetic, sensitive, nurturing, creative

water lacking: insecure, reserved, unemotional

[crystalherbalist]

heart warming potato soup

- 🌿🍲🐌🍄✨

this soup.. is a cure all. break up? bad day? lazy day? rainy day? stormy day? repressed all your feelings for too long and now they’re coming to the surface far too rapidly to get a grasp on and this was all you could manage to pour yourself into as some form of healing spellwork.. day? try this soup! aha

originally when i made this i was slugging around the kitchen throwing sh*t in the pot but i think i retained enough to slap a recipe together so here goes!

[ potato soup ]

• 2 medium yukon golds (or 3 small)

• salt

• thyme

• pepper

• 1/4 sm onion

• 2-3 cloves of garlic

• butter

• flour

• 1 tbs sour cream

• handful of sharp cheddar

[ steps ]

cube up and boil your potatoes in some salted water, throw some thyme and pepper in the water too, do the toothpick/fork thing and when it’s time to strain save maybe a cup of the liquid for later, throw the potatoes back into the pot a sec to sautee up with your onion and garlic and some butter for a sec, just enough to infuse the flavour

chuck it into a food processor or blender to get it smooth with about 2 tbs of butter or substitute and however much of that reserved liquid it takes to get it just smooth enough to blend nice

now! get your butter and flour and make a little roux real quick, just adds a nice texture and flavour density to the soup but you could omit, from here stir in your potato sludge and more liquid as needed to reach your desired consistency

add a little more salt pepper and thyme, maybe some more garlic powder if it needs it, stir in a handful or so of sharp cheddar and about a tbs of sour cream; ofc you can omit or sub both of these if you’re vegan/lactose, let the soup simmer and serve up with a sprinkle of thyme and/or fresh cracked pepper :)

[astrohiraeth]

Tarot Tricks

1 - Nervous about a situation? Shuffle and look for The Fool. The two cards on either side will advise you on how to approach it.

2 - Are you looking for a new romance? Shuffle and look for The Lovers and the Ace of Cups. The cards in between will help guide you to finding love.

3 - Looking for a new beginning? Are you ready to start a new venture? Shuffle and find The Magician. The cards on either side will guide you in the right direction.

4 - Doing some soul searching? Find The Hermit. The cards around him will shed some light on your introspection.

5 - Going through some major life changes? Shuffle and find The World. The cards around it will give you the advice you need for this new chapter. 

6 - Had a confusing dream? Shuffle and look for The Moon. The cards on either side will help you interpret the meaning of it.

[psyopvibez-deactivated20210624]

ive always seen this post but never done it. im going to tonight.

[squirreltidings]

Yesterday I had a friend tell me how one of her close friends has a whole bunch of succulents, and she has given each one the name of her close friends. She nurses them, takes care of them, talks to them, and if one ever starts to get sick or not grow well, she talks to the friend in question and something is almost always bothering them.

And if that isn’t one of the cutest examples of subtle green witchcraft I don’t know what is.

[motherfucker-unlimited]

Opening a tarot booster pack i got 4 common Towers and one holographic Death

[geminiwave]

[witchtips]

Friendly Reminder That Sending Positive Energy and Intentions is Not a Substitute for Action

❣️ Protest

Attend your local rallies, marches, and demonstrations. Although these events aren’t for everyone, showing up is important when you can.

❣️ Donate

Reclaim The Block: Reclaim The Block organizes the Minneapolis community to move money from the police department to other areas of the city.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.: The Legal Defense and Education Fund is a nationwide organization that fights for racial justify and investigates police-involved murders.

Black Lives Matter: Black Lives Matter is an organization that builds power to provide justice, freedom, and healing to Black people all across the world. 

Black Visions Collective: Black Visions Collective is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence.

Color of Change: Color Of Change helps people respond effectively and take action to injustice in the world. 

The American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. 

Dignity and Power Now: DPN fights for the dignity and power of all incarcerated people, their families, and communities. 

The Okra Project: The Okra Project pays Black Trans chefs to cook for Black Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) people, at no charge for them.

The Loveland Foundation: The Loveland Foundation commits to supporting communities of color, and specifically aims to help Black women and girls.

The National Bail Funds Network: The National Bail Fund Network is made up of over sixty community bail and bond funds across the country.

We The Protesters: We The Protesters is a national organization focused on ending racism and police violence in the United States.

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute: The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of black transgender people.

Even More Organizations to Support

❣️ Support Businesses/Creators of Color

6 Fashion Brands Donating 100% Of Sales To The Black Community Right Now

10 black-owned fashion brands to support instead of Dolls Kill

9 Black Owned Body & Skincare Alternatives to Lush

50+ Black-Owned Fashion Brands and Stores to Support Now and Always

39 Black-Owned Businesses You Can Support Today and Everyday

125 Black-Owned Businesses to Support Right Now

49 Black-Owned Fashion Businesses To Support

62 Black-Owned Brands to Support Today and Every Day

99+ Black-Owned Fashion Brands to Know

36 Black-Owned Brands to Support Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

10 black-owned food businesses to support — now and always

16 Black-Owned Food And Kitchen Brands You Can Support Right Now And Always

41 Black-Owned Beauty Brands to Support Now and Always

8 Black Artists To Support — And Give Your Home An Upgrade While You’re At It

10 More Dope Black Women Visual Artists You Should Support

❣️ Advocate

Write your representatives, you can even use this handy linktree from @defundemail

Take the time to welcome new perspectives into your life by reading more books about race, power and the black experience

Listen to stories from people of color through podcasts, documentaries, and interviews

Read and take in these suggestions

11 Things You Can Do To Help Black Lives Matter End Police Violence

75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice

For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies

[silkirose]

I am making animal crossing tarot cards and no one can stop me

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[silkirose]

[wiisagi-maiingan]

On w*ndigoag:

W*ndigoag/w*ndigo are sacred Algonquian spirits that have spread to other Anishinaabe cultures. They aren’t worshiped or whatever, they are feared.

They’re the physical embodiments of evil, the result of a person falling into the trap of greed and cruelty, usually in the form of cannibalism. Our fear not only stems from the spirits and the danger they pose to others, but also their implications and the constant reminder that anyone can become a monster if they allow themselves to.

They are not bipedal deer and I have no idea where that concept came from. Most traditional depictions show them as humanoid giants made of ice, usually with the body of the person they came from encased inside.

In some stories, they’re killed by people, usually via fire. In others, they can only be killed by luring them to a body of water and getting the attention of a water spirit to fight it.

There’s very, very few stories where the person can be saved. The transformation into a w*ndigo is not a reversible one, and the only real way to save someone from that existence is to free them with death.

We censor their names because, traditionally, we’re taught not to say them out loud in case we get the attention of one or summon one. This is especially important during winter or at night.

They are not benign spirits. They are not kind. They are not rational. They are evil and cruel, and their only desires center around killing and eating. They’re as rational and logical as a wild raccoon in the late stages of rabies.

You cannot work with them. They can’t be bound, and they definitely can’t be bought or sold. Do not trust any spirit who claims to be a w*ndigo and do not trust any spirit worker who tries to sell you one.

W*ndigoag are Algonquian and Anishinaabe spirits. Algonquian people are the authorities on them, other Anishinaabe people less so. Non-Anishinaabe Natives cannot say that appropriation of w*ndigoag is okay because that isn’t their culture and it’s definitely not their decision to make. You cannot give someone permission to use something that isn’t yours.

The use of w*ndigoag in non-Native media is appropriation. The only exception to this is in when the creators work with Algonquian people to make respectful and accurate depictions. You’ll be very hard pressed to find cases of this.

W*ndigoag are not cryptids because they are sacred spirits. Abrahamic angels are not cryptids. Japanese yokai are not cryptids. Vodou loa are not cryptids. Respect indigenous beliefs as legitimate spirituality instead of reducing our cultures down to bastardized stories.

If you aren’t Anishinaabe, you cannot be “wendigokin”. Appropriation of indigenous spirituality isn’t suddenly okay because your ~soul~ is an indigenous spirit. You are not entitled to our cultures or spiritual beliefs. Jfc.

“Wendigocore” is also bullshit, what the fuck is wrong with you all? Our sacred spirituality is not your ugly ass aesthetic.

(Left those uncensored because it’s a summer afternoon and I want people in those tags to see this. Fuck off.)

Anishinaabe people are not obligated to share our SACRED STORIES with outsiders in order for them to be respected. We don’t want you to make your depictions of w*ndigoag in your stories more accurate. We just want you to leave our cultures alone for once.

Now please stop sending me messages about w*ndigoag. I understand you all just want to learn but I am so fucking tired. I’ve answered these questions dozens of times and I need a break.

Don’t start discourse on this post. I am not in the mood for it.

If any Algonquian or other Anishinaabe people have corrections, hmu. 

[stormwaterwitch]

Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits

Reblog this on the first of the month for good luck all month long!

[dumbbbunnnyy-deactivated2021021]

[ribbonandthyme]

Witchcraft for the Home: New Home Edition

So I just moved into my apartment, and I thought I’d share some of the things I did when I moved in to cleanse and ready my house for my new life!

Before moving! Packing your witchy things carefully into a box with packing paper. Put sigils for protection and cleansing either on the outside of the box, or on the paper on the inside. I used This one for cleansing.

When moving in cleanse the house! I choose to use sage, but palo santo works really well too (I know sage does not smell so hot). You can either burn a bundle or use incense or Oil. I find that all three work when it comes to spreading the essence through the house. If burning a bundle I trace the doors and windows of the house. if using incense or oil I put the defuser in the center most room of the house.

protect the entrance of your new home by sprinkling a line of salt outside your front door.

Craft and hang a witches ladder in the living room.

Set up your altar/s. I have my Wiccan one and my shrine for Aphrodite in my bedroom and a small alter in my kitchen. Altar’s do not have to be big and showy if you want to put one in another room! My kitchen altar just consists of a candle and a small bundle of crystals and an incense burner. It helps bring energy into different parts of your home.

House plants! If you’ve never had any before get some house plants to create a vibrant and alive energy. Here are some Herb’s that will grow indoors and here are some easy to grow plants

Use crystals as decor. Place some or your crystals decoratively on shelves or tables to both give your home some pizazz and bring some witchiness everywhere.

If you worship gods/goddesses end by doing a small offering and welcome the god or goddess into your new home and to thank them for their help.