"I'm not a wicked witch. I'm an irritable witch. People tend to confuse the two when terrified."
Personal and Witchy Blog of the witch known as Bree NicGarran, Author, Podcaster, Witchstorian, Small Business Owner, Wrestle Nerd, Junior Apple Scientist. Affectionately known to my witchlings as Mama Bree.
Author of Grovedaughter Witchery,
The Sisters Grimmoire, and Pestlework
Host of Hex Positive - available on all major podcast platforms. (Proud member of the Nerd and Tie Podcast Network)
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Books, spell kits, and homemade charms and accoutrements for your witchcraft practice. Owned and operated by Bree NicGarran, author of Grove
Now Open!
Welcome, witches! I'm pleased to announce that the newly-remodeled Willow Wings Witch Shop is now open for business!
There's lots to see, so make sure you have a look through the catalog:
Books - All three of my published titles: Grovedaughter Witchery, The Sisters Grimmoire, and Pestlework. (Books ship worldwide!)
Magical Powders - A selection of homemade homebrews from my own practice, from the tried-and-true Bree's Banishing Powder to brand new recipes like Inspiration Salt.
Enchanted Items - Delightful bottle charms and spell jars, prepared with care and just a little touch of magic, ready to aid you in all your witchy workings.
Spell Kits - Small, simple kits containing those hard-to-find ingredients for certain spells and the instructions to go with them. The first round includes two entries from The Sisters Grimmoire, with more to come. Witch Web Kits are also back in vibrant new colors, including specialty options like glow-in-the-dark!
Podcast Merch - Vinyl stickers and pinback buttons for showing your witchy flair or your support of my show, Hex Positive.
There's lots more waiting in the wings, so make sure you sign up for the email list to get the monthly newsletter with announcements, merch drops, and seasonal discount codes!
Thank you all for your support during the building and development process and your never-ending encouragement on the socials. I hope you all enjoy the shop and I look forward to bringing you lots of new and exciting items in the coming months.
(Reposting again bc tumblr turned off the reblogs on the original wtf. From an answer to an inquiry in the witchcraft tags. Decided to repost for anyone else who might need it.)
Hereâs the post I made with recommendations for green witchcraft and plant magic. The list includes magical resources and accompanying practical texts on botany, herbology, and medicinal plants.
Hereâs the post I made with recommendations for general witchcraft study, including practical sources on the history of modern witchcraft. (In particular, I recommend Margot Adlerâs âDrawing Down The Moonâ and Ronald Huttonâs âThe Triumph of the Moonâ for information about the modern movement.)
Hereâs a recent photo of my personal library, if youâre looking for a general list of titles to check out.
Hereâs the post I made with a list of JSTOR articles Iâve found that relate to witchcraft, witch trials, folk magic, occult beliefs, superstition, and the history surrounding all of them. Itâs not exhaustive, but itâs pretty comprehensive.
And here are a couple of masterlists of podcast episodes that deal with witchcraft, witch trials, the history of witchcraft-related beliefs, and resources for fact-checking and debunking misconceptions and misinformation commonly found in witchcraft spaces.
(Also I have published a few books on practical secular witchcraft, if youâre interestedâŠ.)
You can also find additional recommendations in the "book recs" and "witchy books" tags on my blog.
Hope this helps!
(If youâre enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. đ)
For all my witches out there, hereâs a handy list of the 2026 dates for the solstices, some commonly-referenced holidays, full and new moons, planetary retrogrades, and special celestial events. Iâve listed my sources at the bottom. This year's listings have also been updated to include full moon and seasonal observance dates for the Southern Hemisphere.
Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -5). Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area.
Please Note: This is not meant to be a universal or infallible system of marking seasonal or lunar days of import for witches and pagans. Readers should take their own paths and beliefs into account, and are also encouraged to create their own seasonal calendars, holidays, and observances based on your local biome and personal preferences. Enjoy!
Northern Hemisphere Solstices, Equinoxes, & Cross Quarter Days
February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas / High Winter
March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara
April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day / Walpurgisnacht
June 20-21 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha
August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest
September 22-23 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest
October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest
December 21 - Winter Solstice / Midwinter / Yule
Northern Hemisphere Full Moons
January 3 - Wolf Moon â (Supermoon)
February 1 - Snow Moon â
March 3 - Worm Moon â (Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moon/Micromoon)
April 1 - Pink Moon â
May 1 - Flower Moon â
May 31 - Blue Moon â
June 29 - Strawberry Moon â (Micromoon)
July 29 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) â
August 28 - Sturgeon Moon â (Lunar Eclipse)
September 26 - Harvest Moon â
October 26 - Hunterâs Moon â
November 24 - Frost Moon (aka Beaver Moon) â
December 23 - Cold Moon â (Supermoon)
Southern Hemisphere Solstices, Equinoxes, & Cross Quarter Days
February 1-2 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest
March 20 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest
April 30-May 1 - Samhain / Final Harvest
June 20-21 - Winter Solstice / Midwinter / Yule
August 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas / High Winter
September 22-23 - Spring Equinox / Ostara
October 31 - Beltane / Halloween
December 21 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha
Southern Hemisphere Full Moons
January 3 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) â
February 1 - Sturgeon Moon â
March 3 - Harvest Moon â
April 1 - Hunter's Moon â
May 1 - Frost Moon (aka Beaver Moon) â
May 31 - Blue Moon â
June 29 - Cold Moon â (Micromoon)
July 29 - Wolf Moon â
August 28 - Snow Moon â (Lunar Eclipse)
September 26 - Worm Moon â
October 26 - Pink Moon â
November 24 - Flower Moon â
December 23 - Strawberry Moon â (Supermoon)
*The astrological signs should remain the same for the Southern Hemisphere, it's just the names that are flipped around due to the difference in seasonal cycles.
New Moons
January 18 â
February 17 â
March 18 â
April 17 â
May 16 â
June 14 â
July 14 â
August 12 â
September 10 â
October 10 â
November 9 â
December 8 â
Special Celestial Events
January 3 - Supermoon
March 3 - Lunar Eclipse, Micromoon
June 29 - Micromoon
August 12 - Total Solar Eclipse
August 12-13 - Perseid Meteor Show (coinciding with new moon)
August 28 - Partial Lunar Eclipse
October 21-22 - Orionid Meteor Shower
December 13-14 - Geminid Meteor Shower
December 23 - Supermoon
(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)
Planetary Retrogrades
November 11 2025-March 10 2026 - Jupiter â
February 26-March 20 - Mercury â
May 6-October 15 - Pluto â
June 29-July 23 - Mercury â
July 7-December 12 - Neptune â
July 26-December 10 - Saturn â
October 3-25 - Venus â
October 25-November 13 - Venus â
October 24-November 13 - Mercury â
December 12 2026-April 12 2027 - Jupiter â
Happy Witching!
SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
Breeâs Lunar Calendar Series
Breeâs Secular Celebrations Series
Witchcraft Exercises for Building Your Craft
Full Moon Calendar 2026, Space.com.
Moon Phases Calendar 2026, MoonInfo.org.
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2026, SeaSky.org.
The Year in the Sky: 2026âs Most Noteworthy Celestial Events, Scientific American.
Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing, DarkSky International.
2026 Wheel of the Year, Patheos.
Astrology Calendar 2026, YourZodiacSign.com.
2026 Retrograde Planets Calendar and Astrology, Astrostyle.
Image Source -Â How Stuff Works
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If youâre enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, join my Patreon, check out my published works, or shop for handmade witchy wares in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. đ
Fairy tales have always been with us. Apart from teaching moral lessons and practical cautions, they remain a source of wonder and inspiration that persists even in a modern age dominated by technology.
There is magic in these tales as well - spells and charms that aid the worthy and conquer obstacles, heal the ailing and bring wealth to the poor, thwart the wicked and exact terrible revenge, or grant someone their hearts' desire and make their dearest wishes come true.
I have created over a hundred such spells, inspired by the tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm and the folklore collected by Andrew Lang. One volume was published back in 2017 and another is forthcoming. If you're curious (and maybe a little bit daring), here are some previews of the spells to be found in the pages of The Sisters Grimmoire.
After all, who couldnât use a bit of Happily Ever After?
The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. I
A Bellyful of Stones - A curse to punish the greedy.
Eyes Like Coals - To summon a spirit guardian.
Roughskin - To protect and disguise oneself from those who mean to harm you.
Straw Into Gold - A spell to bring wealth.
Table of Plenty - To obtain needed money or provisions.
The Fox's Gift - To conceal your magics until their work is done.
The Red Flower - For removing enchantment.
The Sorrow Pot - To relieve your sorrows and bring justice for a grievance.
The Wall of Thorns - To protect oneâs home and property.
The Flower in the Hedge - A spell of baneful protection.
The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. II (forthcoming)
Make Sure You Lock Up - To set your household wards when you lock your front door.
Gilded Locks - To braid wealth into the caster's hair.
Something In The Water - To discover whether a person is suffering from the effects of baneful magic.
The Ferryman's Curse - To curse another with the problems that plague your own life.
Wet Feet - To deliver a foe into your power while robbing them of their own.
The Shining Web - To repel trouble from the home.
Black Bird, Fly - To relieve trouble and sorrow.
You can find more spells from The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. I and potion and powder recipes from Pestlework by checking out the mid-month minisodes of Hex Positive, available on your favorite podcast platform.
All of my titles can be found on Amazon or ordered from the Willow Wings Witch Shop. (If you'd like to see them in your local witch shop, feel free to give the proprietor my contact information!)
If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar and tune in to my monthly show Hex Positive! đ
Here's a source for the analysis, but it probably is not the source.
Workersâ share of US economic output has fallen to its lowest level since the government began keeping records in 1947, according to data th
Some points of interest:
Corporate profits are soaring. After taxes, they now take 12.3 percent of national output, far above their postwar average of 7.3 percent.
Adjusted for inflation, hourly wages have risen 3 percent since the end of 2019, Ip noted. Corporate profits over the same period have risen 50 percent.
The Economic Policy Institute calculates that since 1979 the productivity of American workers has grown 90 percent while the pay of the typical worker has grown 33 percent. Had wages tracked output, the average worker would earn $16.40 more an hour today.
The profits are concentrated among the largest corporations. Earnings at the 500 biggest US firms rose 28 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the fastest pace since 2021, and their profit margins reached 14.8 percent. The seven technology giants known as the âMagnificent 7ââApple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Teslaâgrew their profits 63 percent.
In the United States, the richest 1 percent of households hold 31.7 percent of all wealth. The bottom half hold barely 2.5 percent.
For the witch whose town is devoid of occult shops and covens, learning the craft can be a daunting task indeed. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for a budding practitioner to make a start.
Stroll down the forest path with Bree NicGarran, author of The Sisters Grimmoire, and discover the surprising ways you can practice your craft with commonplace items from the supermarket and the craft store. Build a travel kit for on-the-go magic. Create your own spells from scratch with a step-by-step guide. Learn how to make your own witch webs and magical powders. Uncover the secrets of walnut charms and witchballs and much, much more. Every page carries tricks of the trade and homegrown charms from the files of the Grovedaughter herself.
From besoms to banishings to a bit of good advice, Grovedaughter Witchery is the ideal book for any witch with an inclination toward a practical, no-frills approach to witchcraft.
The Sisters Grimmoire: Spells & Charms For Your Happily Ever After
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,
Whoâs the cleverest witch of them all?
With the spells in this book, it just might be you!
Inspired by the well-known works of The Brothers Grimm, this volume boasts over sixty original spells lovingly crafted from favorite fairy tales, along with helpful spellcrafting instructions and several indices to aid you in your journey. All of this is wrapped up with useful chapter forewords discussing the various themes within the tales, some insight into the creative process, and a bit of discussion on ethics and the usage of magic.
Whether youâre ready to yell âAll Heads Off But Mine,â looking to turn your luck around with some Buried Coins, or just wanting to show the world What Big Teeth you have, there is sure to be a spell within these pages that is exactly what youâve been looking for.
After all, who couldnât use a bit of Happily Ever After?
Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils
From the author of Grovedaughter Witchery comes a volume of potions and powders for all occasions, suitable to enhance the craft of any practitioner.
Old standards like Banishing Powder and Blessing Oil meet new classics like Dream Dust and Stargazer Wishing Oil. Need to rid your house of a troublesome spirit? Try a sprinkle of Ghost-Be-Gone Powder. Looking for a way to get your zest back after spellwork? Brim With Vim Vitality Oil might be just the thing. Over 200 original formulae await you within these pages, along with helpful hints, safety tips, and detailed instructions for creating your own magical powders and oils.
Collected for the first time in a single volume, these recipes are the product of twelve years of experience and much experimentation. While magic is never a guarantor of success, the potions within these pages just might give your spells the edge you need.
Visit my Amazon Author Page for listings and book reviews! You can also visit my Wordpress shop to order books and other witchy goodies directly from me. (All orders billed through Paypal. Nominal shipping charges will apply.)
Make sure you check out my podcast, Hex Positive, on your favorite podcatcher app! (Part of the Nerd and Tie Podcast Network.)
If you own a shop and would like to carry my titles, please contact me at [email protected] for wholesale information.
I can now directly fulfill book orders in the US, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, and the UK! Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop to place your order. đ
JSTOR Articles on the History of Witchcraft, Witch Trials, and Folk Magic Beliefs
This is a partial of of articles on these subjects that can be found in the JSTOR archives. This is not exhaustive - this is just the portion I've saved for my own studies (I've read and referenced about a third of them so far) and I encourage readers and researchers to do their own digging. I recommend the articles by Ronald Hutton, Owen Davies, Mary Beth Norton, Malcolm Gaskill, Michael D. Bailey, and Willem de Blecourt as a place to start.
If you don't have personal access to JSTOR, you may be able to access the archive through your local library, university, museum, or historical society.
Full text list of titles below the cut:
'Hatcht up in Villanie and Witchcraft': Historical, Fiction, and Fantastical Recuperations of the Witch Child, by Chloe Buckley
'I Would Have Eaten You Too': Werewolf Legends in the Flemish, Dutch and German Area, by Willem de Blecourt
'The Divels Special Instruments': Women and Witchcraft before the Great Witch-hunt, by Karen Jones and Michael Zell
'The Root is Hidden and the Material Uncertain': The Challenges of Prosecuting Witchcraft in Early Modern Venice, by Jonathan Seitz
'Your Wife Will Be Your Biggest Accuser': Reinforcing Codes of Manhood at New England Witch Trials, by Richard Godbeer
A Family Matter: The CAse of a Witch Family in an 18th-Century Volhynian Town, by Kateryna Dysa
A Note on the Survival of Popular Christian Magic, by Peter Rushton
A Note on the Witch-Familiar in Seventeenth Century England, by F.H. Amphlett Micklewright
African Ideas of Witchcraft, by E.G. Parrinder
Aprodisiacs, Charms, and Philtres, by Eleanor Long
Charmers and Charming in England and Wales from the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Century, by Owen Davies
Charming Witches: The 'Old Religion' and the Pendle Trial, by Diane Purkiss
Demonology and Medicine in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, by Sona Rosa Burstein
Denver Tries A Witch, by Margaret M. Oyler
Devil's Stones and Midnight Rites: Megaliths, Folklore, and Contemporary Pagan Witchcraft, by Ethan Doyle White
Edmund Jones and the Pwcca'r Trwyn, by Adam N. Coward
Essex County Witchcraft, by Mary Beth Norton
From Sorcery to Witchcraft: Clerical Conceptions of Magic in the Later Middle Ages, by Michael D. Bailey
German Witchcraft, by C. Grant Loomis
Getting of Elves: Healing, Witchcraft and Fairies in the Scottish Witchcraft Trials, by Alaric Hall
Ghost and Witch in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, by Gillian Bennett
Ghosts in Mirrors: Reflections of the Self, by Elizabeth Tucker
Healing Charms in Use in England and Wales 1700-1950, by Owen Davies
How Pagan Were Medieval English Peasants?, by Ronald Hutton
Invisible Men: The Historian and the Male Witch, by Lara Apps and Andrew Gow
Johannes Junius: Bamberg's Famous Male Witch, by Lara Apps and Andrew Gow
Knots and Knot Lore, by Cyrus L. Day
Learned Credulity in Gianfrancesco Pico's Strix, by Walter Stephens
Literally Unthinkable: Demonological Descriptions of Male Witches, by Lara Apps and Andrew Gow
Magical Beliefs and Practices in Old Bulgaria, by Louis Petroff
Maleficent Witchcraft in Britian since 1900, by Thomas Waters
Masculinity and Male Witches in Old and New England, 1593-1680, by E.J. Kent
Methodism, the Clergy, and the Popular Belief in Witchcraft and Magic, by Owen Davies
Modern Pagan Festivals: A Study in the Nature of Tradition, by Ronald Hutton
Monstrous Theories: Werewolves and the Abuse of History, by Willem de Blecourt
Neapolitan Witchcraft, by J.B. Andrews and James G. Frazer
New England's Other Witch-Hunt: The Hartford Witch-Hunt of the 1660s and Changing Patterns in Witchcraft Prosecution, by Walter Woodward
Newspapers and the Popular Belief in Witchcraft and Magic in the Modern Period, by Owen Davies
Occult Influence, Free Will, and Medical Authority in the Old Bailey, circa 1860-1910, by Karl Bell
Paganism and Polemic: The Debate over the Origins of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, by Ronald Hutton
Plants, Livestock Losses and Witchcraft Accusations in Tudor and Stuart England, by Sally Hickey
Polychronican: Witchcraft History and Children, interpreting England's Biggest Witch Trial, 1612, by Robert Poole
Publishing for the Masses: Early Modern English Witchcraft Pamphlets, by Carla Suhr
Rethinking with Demons: The Campaign against Superstition in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe from a Cognitive Perspective, by Andrew Keitt
Seasonal Festivity in Late Medieval England, Some Further Reflections, by Ronald Hutton
Secondary Targets: Male Witches on Trial, by Lara Apps and Andrew Gow
Some Notes on Modern Somerset Witch-Lore, by R.L. Tongue
Some Notes on the History and Practice of Witchcraft in the Eastern Counties, by L.F. Newman
Some Seventeenth-Century Books of Magic, by K.M. Briggs
Stones and Spirits, by Jane P. Davidson and Christopher John Duffin
Superstitions, Magic, and Witchcraft, by Jeffrey R. Watt
The 1850s Prosecution of Gerasim Fedotov for Witchcraft, by Christine D. Worobec
The Catholic Salem: How the Devil Destroyed a Saint's Parish (Mattaincourt, 1627-31), by William Monter
The Celtic Tarot and the Secret Tradition: A Study in Modern Legend Making, by Juliette Wood
The Cult of Seely Wights in Scotland, by Julian Goodare
The Decline of Magic: Challenge and Response in Early Enlightenment England, by Michael Hunter
The Devil-Worshippers at the Prom: Rumor-Panic as Therapeutic Magic, by Bill Ellis
The Devil's Pact: Diabolic Writing and Oral Tradition, by Kimberly Ball
The Discovery of Witches: Matthew Hopkins' Defense of his Witch-hunting Methods, by Sheilagh Ilona O'Brien
The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature, by Michael D. Bailey
The Epistemology of Sexual Trauma in Witches' Sabbaths, Satanic Ritual Abuse, and Alien Abduction Narratives, by Joseph Laycock
The European Witchcraft Debate and the Dutch Variant, by Marijke Gijswijt-Hofstra
The Flying Phallus and the Laughing Inquisitor: Penis Theft in the Malleus Maleficarum, by Moira Smith
The Framework for Scottish Witch-Hunting for the 1590s, by Julian Goodare
The Imposture of Witchcraft, by Rossell Hope Robbins
The Last Witch of England, by J.B. Kingsbury
The Late Lancashire Witches: The Girls Next Door, by Meg Pearson
The Malefic Unconscious: Gender, Genre, and History in Early Antebellum Witchcraft Narratives, by Lisa M. Vetere
The Mingling of Fairy and Witch Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Scotland, by J.A. MacCulloch
The Nightmare Experience, Sleep Paralysis, and Witchcraft Accusations, by Owen Davies
The Pursuit of Reality: Recent Research into the History of Witchcraft, by Malcolm Gaskill
The Reception of Reginald Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft: Witchcraft, Magic, and Radical Religions, by S.F. Davies
The Role of Gender in Accusations of Witchcraft: The Case of Eastern Slovenia, by Mirjam Mencej
The Scottish Witchcraft Act, by Julian Goodare
The Werewolves of Livonia: Lycanthropy and Shape-Changing in Scholarly Texts, 1550-1720, by Stefan Donecker
The Wild Hunter and the Witches' Sabbath, by Ronald Hutton
The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures, by Lotta Motz
The Witch's Familiar and the Fairy in Early Modern England and Scotland, by Emma Wilby
The Witches of Canewdon, by Eric Maple
The Witches of Dengie, by Eric Maple
The Witches' Flying and the Spanish Inquisitors, or How to Explain Away the Impossible, by Gustav Henningsen
To Accommodate the Earthly Kingdom to Divine Will: Official and Nonconformist Definitions of Witchcraft in England, by Agustin Mendez
Unwitching: The Social and Magical Practice in Traditional European Communities, by Mirjam Mencej
Urbanization and the Decline of Witchcraft: An Examination of London, by Owen Davies
Weather, Prayer, and Magical Jugs, by Ralph Merrifield
Witchcraft and Evidence in Early Modern England, by Malcolm Gaskill
Witchcraft and Magic in the Elizabethan Drama by H.W. Herrington
Witchcraft and Magic in the Rochford Hundred, by Eric Maple
Witchcraft and Old Women in Early Modern Germany, by Alison Rowlands
Witchcraft and Sexual Knowledge in Early Modern England, by Julia M. Garrett
Witchcraft and Silence in Guillaume Cazaux's 'The Mass of Saint Secaire', by William G. Pooley
Witchcraft and the Early Modern Imagination, by Robin Briggs
Witchcraft and the Western Imagination by Lyndal Roper
Witchcraft Belief and Trals in Early Modern Ireland, by Andrew Sneddon
Witchcraft Deaths, by Mimi Clar
Witchcraft Fears and Psychosocial Factors in Disease, by Edward Bever
Witchcraft for Sale, by T.M. Pearce
Witchcraft in Denmark, by Gustav Henningsen
Witchcraft in Germany, by Taras Lukach
Witchcraft in Kilkenny, by T. Crofton Croker
Witchcraft in Anglo-American Colonies, by Mary Beth Norton
Witchcraft in the Central Balkans I: Characteristics of Witches, by T.P. Vukanovic
Witchcraft in the Central Balkans II: Protection Against Witches, by T.P. Vukanovic
Witchcraft Justice and Human Rights in Africa, Cases from Malawi, by Adam Ashforth
Witchcraft Magic and Spirits on the Border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, by S.P. Bayard
Witchcraft Persecutions in the Post-Craze Era: The Case of Ann Izzard of Great Paxton, 1808, by Stephen A. Mitchell
Witchcraft Prosecutions and the Decline of Magic, by Edward Bever
Witchcraft, by Ray B. Browne
Witchcraft, Poison, Law, and Atlantic Slavery, by Diana Paton
Witchcraft, Politics, and Memory in Seventeeth-Century England, by Malcolm Gaskill
Witchcraft, Spirit Possession and Heresy, by Lucy Mair
Witchcraft, Women's Honour and Customary Law in Early Modern Wales, by Sally Parkin
Witches and Witchbusters, by Jacqueline Simpson
Witches, Cunning Folk, and Competition in Denmark, by Timothy R. Tangherlini
Bringing this back around for people who want free research material.
Also, since the time of the original post, JSTOR added a free membership option that allows users to access something like 100 articles a month. (Thanks @jstor!)
From Midsummer, we move to Lughnasadh in early August. Also called Lammas, this is the first of the three harvest holidays. Much of what youâll see associated with this holiday involves bread, bread, and for a change of pace, more bread and also corn. But there are also associations with field games, music, crafts, artistry, games of skill, self-expression, wishmaking, and the first fruits of the harvest. Itâs another holiday for picnics and bonfires, so keep that in mind when youâre planning your festivities.
Itâs probably easiest to talk about the food first, since thatâs a big part of this holiday. Lots of witches bake bread of some sort for Lughnasadh, in observance of the grain harvest. This would be a great time to put that sourdough starter to use, if you made one. But donât limit yourself to bread alone! Late summer fruits and vegetables are also coming into season and that gives you plenty of options for kitchen witchery. Check your local farmerâs market or produce stand for whatâs available, or see whatâs in season for your area, since this will vary from region to region.
You can make jams and preserves, try your hand at winemaking or brewing beer, make a vegetarian or fruit-based dish, or cook over an open fire, if you have the option. You should be able to harvest things from your garden as well, since it will be producing by this time, and this is another great holiday for visiting pick-your-own berry patches and orchards. If you can, share what you harvest or make with friends and neighbors. This is a time to remember your circle and your community as well. None of us stand alone, and we are stronger when we stand together and nurture those bonds.
Make decorations with wheat stalks and corn husks, and thank the fields and the sun for their bounty. Just like on Midsummer, you can hang ribbons and paper wishes from trees and shrubs if you like. Iâm also partial to (very carefully) gathering brambles, rose thorns, and holly hedge cuttings for use later in the year around Lughnasadh. Itâs a tricky, prickly business, but they come in very handy when youâre preparing magical protections for the home.
If you can have a small bonfire or have the opportunity to light up a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can throw incense or paper wishes into the fire. If you like, you can also throw paper packets containing your regrets into the fire, symbolically ridding them from your life and freeing you to move forward.
If the weather allows, have a field day! Play games, have a cookout or a barbecue, play music, and enjoy yourself. Celebrate the abundance that the first harvest brings into your life and all the hard work youâve done so far in the year. Provided that your circle can gather, maybe have an informal tournament with games of skill and chance. For those of you who just went, â-gasp- Trivia contest!â youâre right on the mark. That carnival atmosphere comes into play again for Lughnasadh, so have a little fun with your near and dear.
Handicrafts and the arts are also celebrated at Lughnasadh. Itâs a good time to start that new project youâve been meaning to do, or to try your hand at a new skill.
This is also a time to begin reaping what youâve sown and to examine your own progress since the beginning of the growing season. Meditate on how your personal projects are going. What progress have you made toward your goals? What have you learned so far this year? What promises have you kept, which ones could use more dedication, and which ones fell by the wayside?
How have your actions, for good or for ill, affected the direction of your path? What have you sown that is now coming to fruition? What is still budding? What has yet to manifest? What might require more of your attention?
Meditate also on self-expression. How well do you communicate with others? What would you like to improve? Are there boundaries that you need to clarify or reinforce? How much are you allowed or able to be your truest self? What do you long to be able to do or say or express differently?
Keep in mind that progress, education, and recovery do not happen in straight lines or have constant upward trajectories. Be patient with yourself. You may not be exactly where you thought youâd be, but youâre still further along than you were. Even a single step forward counts, and itâs okay to stop and rest if you need to.
If youâre enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.
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Something something indistinguishable from choresâŠ.
Itâs almost like a very wise woman has been talking about how much upkeep and maintenance goes into having a stable long term practiceâŠ.
Today I was thinking about making an offering and thought about how I have A LOT of issues regarding food waste, so I thought about offering seeds from fruits I have eaten instead of the fruits themselves. Would that be okay or could it be taken as disrespectful?
I'm not sure who it is, yet. I feel something close and wish to make contact, so that's why ill be meditating with a spell candle and also the offering.
Thank you so much for your time and knowledge đ
Oo, this is a great idea! Seeds are symbols of growth, fertility, renewal, potential, all kinds of good things. And seeing as grain and nuts and edible seeds are commonly used as offerings elsewhere, this seems like a good option as well, especially if you're looking to grow a relationship.
For future reference, with vanishingly few exceptions, an offering given with sincerity and respect is a good offering, no matter what it is.
Put on your flower crowns and your walking shoes - itâs time for the Buck Moon!
Buck Moon đŠ
The Buck Moon is the name given to the full moon in the month of July and is called this because at this time of year, the rack of antlers previously shed by male deer are beginning to regrow and harden in preparation for the fall rutting season.Â
Other North American Indigenous names for this moon include Salmon Moon (Tlingit), Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe). The West Abenaki also call this the Thunder Moon in reference to the often-stormy summer weather. (This one is my personal favorite and the name appears in lunar calendars just as often as the Buck Moon.)
European names for the July moon include Hay Moon and Wort Moon, and it should be noted that the name Stag Moon does appear in some European sources as well.
This yearâs Buck Moon will be at peak illumination at 10:36am EDT on July 29th, so the moon may appear to be full on both the 28th and 29th. Also, some of you may have summer harvest celebrations coming up this weekend, so plan your festivities accordingly!
What Does It Mean For Witches? đŠ
The July full moon continues Juneâs template of planning for the future, this time with a focus on your passions and ambitions. Reflect on what youâve accomplished so far this year and plan your next step.
Dream big and plan big, but donât give in to reckless urgency. Summer (and capitalist grind culture) gives us the urge to Go Go Go. Despite all this, itâs important to take time to rest and recharge, lest we find ourselves burning out and losing our motivation.
Additionally, we've just come out of one stinker of a Mercury retrograde, so take a moment to breathe and recover before moving forward with your plans! (The next one is October 24-November 13.)
What Witchy Things Can We Do? đŠ
Celebrate your victories and revel in the abundance of the summer season. If youâre inclined to do so, take a page from the deer and do a bit of prancing around a bonfire or your favorite flower arbor with some festive flowery headgear.
Go exploring! Find a local park or garden and take a stroll among the greenery, or use TV and the internet to explore and learn about faraway places. This is another opportune time to go and check out pick-your-own farms and farmers markets as well. Sharpen your foraging and plant identification skills while youâre out and about!
If youâre tending a garden, harvest some herbs and investigate what you can make with them. Whether itâs seasoning for meals, homemade botanical products, or just helpful spell ingredients, many herbs and flowers have a plethora of uses. As an exercise, select three plants growing in your yard or garden, research their magical correspondences and botanical properties, and try to think of as many ways as possible to use each one for witchcraft and for practical purposes. For extra credit, pick something native to your area that doesnât appear in the western magical canon and use itsâ physical, folkloric, and historical associations to create something new!
(Safety Note: Always clean and prepare home-harvested herbs properly before using them for kitchen, bath, or medical preparations. Always be sure to properly identify any wildcrafted or foraged plants. Always consult a doctor before trying an herbal treatment and take all allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions into account. Please also note that while herbal treatments can be helpful, it can have negative interactions and side effects just like any other medication, and it is not meant to be a replacement for modern medical care.)
Apart from the usual full-moon festivities, Iâve always found this is an excellent time for weather-witching. Summer weather is notoriously fickle, but it is also highly malleable - one recalls that old American Southern epithet of, âIf you donât like the weather, wait five minutes.â
If youâre hoping to bring some rain to water your garden or break the back of a heat wave, this may be the time to do it. My personal favorite folk magic ritual for rain-calling involves going outside with a broom and a bucket of water, using the broom to scatter drops of water over your yard, and shouting up to the clouds, âSEE? ITâS NOT HARD!â
Make sure you take local weather patterns into account and try to draw on existing fronts and nearby precipitation to get the desired result. And keep in mind that with weather magic, less is more and one casting is enough. Asking for too much or asking too often can produce undesirable results. And if you manage to make it rain, be sure to collect some for moon water!
If youâre interested in weather-witching, I highly recommend checking out this masterpost by @stormbornwitch for a number of excellent articles and suggestions.
Happy Buck Moon, witches! đđŠ
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
2026 Witchesâ Calendar
Breeâs Lunar Calendar Series
Breeâs Secular Celebrations Series
July 2026 Full Buck Moon, The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Buck Moon 2026: Spiritual Meaning for the July Full Moon, The Peculiar Brunette.
(If youâre enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. đ)
Not gonna lie, Bree, watching you and Trae fight with people who seem to think pirating indie authors is a victimless crime is very discouraging. It's always been my dream to make my living off my art, and that includes someday writing a book. The way people talk in the notes, it makes me feel like maybe it might not be worth the effort to try if people are just going to steal it, anyway.
I'm not gonna lie either - there have been days when I felt the same way. It can be really discouraging to see random strangers on the internet devalue and dismiss your hard work because it doesn't "matter" or isn't "good enough" to be worth paying for. Or, yanno, simply because they have their heads so far up their asses that they don't think people's labor is worth paying for.
The nice thing is, for every one of those irritants, there are half a dozen people commenting, "What in the hell is wrong with these dumbasses, do they hear themselves!?"
Making a living as a writer is very difficult. I haven't managed to make it my fulltime career yet, and I've tried. Still got the day job, but book sales literally do pay for household groceries or the electric bill just about every month. It's small potatoes and every sale counts. But it's something. It's gotten us through some very lean times when other income dried up. And I'm deeply grateful for everyone who DOES buy a book or visits my booth or signal-boosts my work.
The main thing to remember is that you write for yourself first, because it's what you love. Don't let other people's ignorance or entitlement or lack of reading comprehension keep you from creating. The rest will come in time.
So like. are any of the folks arguing with you that book piracy is good actually. Like are they actually reading any of the words you're saying?
Maybe the fact that they can't actually read is the reason they get no value from your books? is that it? Skill issue on their part though, you still deserve to be paid.
Anyway end rant. Anybody who ends up reading this go support small indie authors (maybe even a library if you're feeling spicy or broke!) and Bree specifically she does a ton for our community.
Maybe the problem isn't lack of access to books, it's shitty reading comprehension. Wouldn't be the first time I saw someone leave a poor review that made absolutely no sense because they didn't understand the text.
