.

masterlist: https://druidpriestess.tumblr.com/post/636619187162382336/masterlist

[arvo]

So for pride, my mom made a rainbow challah, thought you guys might wanna see it. Here it is before it went in the oven:

After:

And when you cut it open:

[flowerais-deactivated20211031]

You’re healing every time you

get out of bed because there’s something you’re excited about.

don’t think about people who left.

clean the clutter in the room and dishes in your sink.

smile at yourself and random people.

do something kind and out of the blue to make someone happy.

work out or meet with friends even though you have no energy to.

calm yourself down when your thoughts race.

remember to drink water.

don’t dwell on things you can’t control.

do things good for yourself, even though you have no motivation.

tell yourself that you’re growing from this, and you won’t feel like this forever.

[thewinedarksea]

myth moodboard: ly erg

a fairy from scottish folklore. it is dressed as a soldier, distinguishable from a real soldier only by its red right hand, which is said to be stained with the blood of its victims. while out walking it will stop near water, and by raising its right hand challenge passersby to fight. anyone who engages in combat with the ly erg will be dead within a fortnight, win or lose.

requested by @mintyxtea

[ofbloodandfaith]

“Dôn (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈdoːn]) is an ancestor figure in Welsh legend and literature. She is typically given as the mother of a group known as the “Children of Dôn”, including Gwydion, Arianrhod, and Gilfaethwy, among many others. However, antiquarians of the early modern era generally considered Dôn a male figure.[1]”

—

Dôn - Wikipedia

interesting, this actually makes sense.

[druidpriestess]

Arawn, god of the dead

lord Arawn (pronounced ah-ra-oon) appears in the first branch of Y Mabinogi (you can read His story here) - a book of welsh mythos.

He is king of Annwn, the Underworld and Otherworld, though He is king only of the dead. in the myths He appears as a hunter with considerable control over glamour (an Otherworldly power) and through His story you can see His great sense of justice.

in some beliefs He leads the Wild Hunt with his Cwn Annwn (Otherworldly dogs), entirely white with red tipped ears, to collect the souls of the dead and hunting down those who have broken oaths.

He has a great relationship with Pwyll and His son, Pryderi; in my beliefs (considering the events of the Fourth Branch where Gwydion steals Arawn's gift to their family) He is less inclined to like Gwydion, Math, or Gilfaethwy.

in my experience with Him, He is kind and gentle and incredibly regal. my shrine for Him includes a brown candle with his name inscribed in Ogham, a bird skull, fossils, prayer beeds, carnelian, and a painted stone of His hounds. seek Him out as a hunter, a seeker of justice, a king of the dead.

correspondences

brown, grey, black, red

earth

doorways, hounds, stags, Cwn Annwn

obsidian, onyx, tiger's eye, smoky quartz

woodland

carrot seed, sage, patchouli, sandalwood

[druidpriestess]

baby witch tips (3)

daily practice is integral to improval. this in NO way means daily spells or extensive ritual - this will only drain you completely and will not be enjoyable.

how you practice should be tailored to you and what you like. a small tarot pull, using herbs in cooking for their correspondences, stirring sunwise to bring in positive energy, veiling, drawing sigils in makeup, prayer, meditation, grounding, etc etc. are all things you can incorporate into your lifestyle.

this is not to shame those who don't or can't practice everyday. i myself am disabled, and feel great compassion towards those who struggle with feeling validated (like a "real" witch) in their practice.

whether you cast a spell once every two months, or not at all, if you are a witch you are a witch. you don't stop being a witch, a pagan, an occultist in the days when you aren't actively practicing.

you practice passively every day through your mindset, approach to life, and just existing. you are real and valid. but adding in small things like the aforementioned above will aid in confidence and skill.

[druidpriestess]

masterlist

tips and asks

tips 1, 2, 3

grief x

pages from my grimoire

samhain x

spirit guides x

history x

celtic views on death x

mythology

Pwyll prince of dyfed 1

welsh pantheon

god of the dead Arawn x

[druidpriestess]

a page from my grimoire - celtic views on death (4)

it's that time of year: calan gaeaf, or samhain, has passed, and we make our way towards the winter soltice - the festival of rebirth.

this is in no way all encompassing, but contains the information i have gathered through my four years of practice.

the Otherworld, in a celtic context, can mean either the world of the dead, the world of the Other People, or in most cases both. the worlds are the same yet different, inexplicably intertwined.

in irish lore, when one dies, they go to the house of Donn (Tech Duinn) which is located in Saol Eile (the Otherworld - literally meaning the "other life"). Donn is considered to be the god of the dead, the original ancestor. rather than being a permanent residence, Tech Duinn is a liminal place where the dead stay until they move on: this is why Donn is generally regarded as a psychopomp - a guide between worlds.

in wales, things aren't that much different. the land of the dead and the land of the Tylweth Teg (Fair Family) are both Annwn: they are and aren't the same place. Arawn and Gwyn ap Nudd are both kings of Annwn, yet the former rules over the dead, the latter over the Verry Volk. there isn't a clear distinction between these two worlds - the dead and the Folk are both the same and not.

there is a belief throughout the celtic lands that those who die in our world are reborn as one of the Good People, and vice versa, explaining why the Aos Sí (people of the hills) are often known to cry at births and laugh at funerals. however, this doesn't apply to all: think of it as a venn diagram - humans, the Folk, and those in between.

another widespread belief is that of reincarnation. the romans reported that the celts were so fierce in battle due to their unwavering belief in reincarnation making them not fear death. it went so far that they'd make IOU deals for the next life.

this is a hard time of year for us. may you all be blessed and content this holiday season.

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

so apparently you can turn lead into gold but you have to like, make it depressed

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

you have to remove 3 protons & make it radioactive, so yeah alchemy is real you just end up with negative cancer gold

[uraniaswrld]

lesser known deities of the celtic pantheon that are underappreciated

(i did one of these for the hellenic pantheon but there are A LOT more lesser known celtic deities since they’ve less influenced pop culture, so i may do a pt 2) (these are both welsh and irish)

1. Cordelia - goddess of summer and flowers

2. Domnu - goddess of the elements, ruler of the land of the dead

3. Gwydion - god of magick and illusion

4. Dagda - god of protection, warriors, and knowledge. also a fatherly deity. (he’s not super unknown, but i love him and think he’s lovely so he gets a mention)

5. Oghma - god of eloquence and writing

6. Rhiannon - goddess of horses, faeries, and the wind (again, not super obscure but i work with and honour her on my altar and she’s amazing and so she’s on this list)

7. Teutates - god of fertility, war, wealth

8. Scathach - goddess of healing magick and martial arts

[ohthewitchery-blog]

Samhain Renewal Spell 🎃✨🔮

Samhain is often remembered for its association with the thinning veil, ancestor work, and the movement of the world into the darker half of the year. However, it’s also been known as the Witch’s New Year! For this Samhain, I wanted to craft a simple New Year’s type spell to banish what I don’t wish to carry with me anymore in this next year.

Needed ✨ Writing implement of choice ✨ Paper ✨ Candle ✨ Fire ✨ Fireproof/fire safe bowl or container (to hold the burning paper)

Write all the things you don’t want to carry into the next year (or things you wish to banish!) on a piece of paper.

Light the candle and say (or think, or sing, or whatever you like) as it burns:

“Samhain is here and cold is the earth, As we celebrate death, life, and rebirth. As the Wheel keeps turning on, Some things we keep, others- gone. To move forward in life, I look to the past, And what no longer serves me, out I cast.”

After you’ve meditated on these things and you feel ready to part with them, burn the paper. Meditate on the knowledge that you now have set the intention to move away from whatever you’ve banished and that you have the freedom to move forward with your life! The intention is set and in motion for you. Blow out the candle when you’re ready and have yourself a happy Samhain! ✨

[druidpriestess]

do you have witchcraft tips / materials/ spells to help with grief and depression? i’ve been mourning my mother for over a year and i don’t feel like i’ve made any good progress

hi. i'd like to start off by saying i'm so sorry for your loss - losing someone so close and important takes a lot of strength to accept and move on. even though you feel you haven't made any progress, i'm proud of you for how far you've come.

grief is tricky. like all things in witchcraft and life, no spell or ritual will 'solve' it. they certainly will aid you, but unless you're putting in the mundane work you'll still be where you started.

however, you asked me from a witchcraft perspective, so that's how i'll answer.

if spirit guides are a part of your practice, i'd highly recommend talking to them and asking for aid of some kind. similarly if you work with deities, you can ask them for guidance.

all forms of meditation, but especially grounding (even better if you're outside!) may help. guided ones on youtube generally promote great relaxation. even if it's only one minute a day, if you can feel every sensation in your body, it's enough. the key is to not rush.

regular cleansing is also important. if making a big effort feels like too much, ringing a bell, or even just flinging some salt water around the room while saying a prayer if you can is enough. it will be much harder to live normally if you're being held down by all the feelings you've experienced since the last time you cleansed.

crystals like selenite and rose quartz promote healing, as do lavender, chamomile, rose, and rosemary. rosemary also signifies remembrance. carnelian motivates and energises. with these you could make a charm bag, drink teas, or carry the crystals around with you.

the day i write this post is also calan gaeaf, or samhain - the day to honour the dead. it's also a blue moon. if you have nothing else planned, take a few minutes for remembrance. i know it must feel like she's always on your mind, but try it. honour her with thought. maybe speak aloud to her, or write a letter. after, cleanse if you can and bury the letter if you wrote one. if you feel up to it, this can be made into a ritual.

if you haven't already, please try shadow work. in my opinion everyone should be doing it, and i can't think of anything else that helped more with my mental health. it's best if you have a specific journal dedicated to this.

i'd also recommend having a look at these posts. i wish the best to you on your journey, and dearly hope i've helped, even just in the slightest.

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

Trick-or-Treating Facts!

Trick-or-treating is a derived from the much older practices of guising, souling, and mumming

guising was a Scottish tradition of children wearing “disguises” to protect themselves from evil spirits, and going door-to-door to receive food or money. it dates back to at least the 16th century!

souling was a British/Irish practice of soulers (mainly children & the poor) going door-to-door and receiving soul cakes (’souls’) in exchange for song & prayer. this practices dates from the 15th century.

mumming was a similar British practice, though more commonly performed on Christmas and Easter. Amateur actors (mummers) would visit houses & pubs to perform folk plays in exchange for money. These often involved sword fights, and occasionally sword dances! 

Immigrants brought these practices to North America, where trick-or-treating itself developed in the 1920s. It’s gained popularity in a number of other countries since them, with different countries developing their own variations, but is still most commonplace in the U.S. and Canada.

Guising, souling, and mumming are still practiced today in certain parts of Britain (and elsewhere), though not on the scale that trick-or-treating has reached. Soul cakes look like this:

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

and here’s a post about the history of halloween and jack-o-lanterns

if you enjoy my posts, i have a ko-fi!

[thehazeldruid]

Genius Loci (The Spirit of Place)

GENIUS LOCI

What is it? What does it mean? It can be translated as “spirit of place” and throughout history different cultures have perceived and connected to it in differing ways.

Every place, be it a park,a forest, a busy city street or your home has it’s own Genius Loci. But what really is it? It is the depth of that place, it’s personality, it’s history, the feel, smell, look, taste, and sound of the place. All of these things together create it’s spirit. It is the sense of calm you feel when you look over a lake at sunrise, the sense of mystery in the foggy woods you wander through, the sense of connection, sadness and respect you feel walking through a graveyard, the feeling of peace within your home. There are many ways to view it, to feel it, to connect to it, to let it fill you and so on.

How to connect to it?

There are many different ways to connect to the spirit of a place. But first you have to be aware of your own spirit and how it fits into the spirit of the place. When you look at a sunset and feel your soul stir, you are passively connecting to the spirit of it. The way I most often use to connect with the spirit of a place is to meditate.

Like any meditation, sit, get comfortable, and start by focusing on your breathing. Then, use your other senses to get a better ‘feel’ for the spirit of place.

Listen to the place, breathe in rhythm with how the place sounds. With the breeze, with the animals, with the sound of the water moving (if there is any near). Let your own sounds, your heartbeat, your breathing, your own soul sync up with those sounds. (this can be difficult with people around, though a busy street or park has as much spirit and personality as an ant hill!)

Feel the grass or the dirt, the trees or the water, the sand or the couch, the sidewalk… wherever you are. What does the place physically feel like? Is it rough or smooth? Soft or jagged? What do you feel like compared to the place? Do you leave footprints? Indentations? How does your physically being there change it, if at all?

Smell the world around you, what scents do you smell? Is there a fresh garden nearby? Do you smell food? Trash? Salty air? Fresh water? Damp earth? Does your own scent stick out or does it match/ belong in the place as a part of it.

Look around you! This might seem obvious, but it is probably the easiest way to get a general feel for the spirit of a place. Is it busy and bustling? Is it calm and serene? Are there old buildings or new? What is the history of the place that you can see outright? Is it run down or well kept? What do the things you see about the place make you feel?

Taste (perhaps not literally, and definitely only if safe) this is not to say stick dirt or grass in your mouth and eat it…. that’s just silly. But smell and taste are linked, so simply opening your mouth wide and taking a deep breath can allow you to ‘taste’ the air. Is the breath you took clean? Or is it dirty? Was it refreshing, or not? This is the sense that can be most difficult if not impossible to use to get a sense of spirit of place.

Those senses simply give an idea of what the spirit of place is. For simply going out for a quick meditation and finding your place within that space, it can be a great exercise to do all of these and then journal about them. Continuously doing so in the same place can help you get a real sense of the spirit of the place.

Another way to get to know the spirit of a place is to research its history. What has happened in that place? Who lived there? Who died there? If it is a forest, was it always? Was it always a swamp or lake? Were battles fought there? Was it once farmland? Knowing these things about a place before you go out and explore or meditate there can help you protect yourself from lingering negative energies and emotions that still persist in a place.

On top of that even, would be learning weather patterns in the area. What seasons does it experience? What direction does the water flow (and what could that represent?)

Genius Loci In History

The Romans viewed genius loci as a protective spirit of a place, often giving the spirit of a place a physical embodiment. Spirits that walked the world in physical form to protect forests, rivers, mountains, swamps and so on. Faeries, elves, dryads, satyrs, unicorns and all manner of mythical creatures are representations of the spirit of a place. Other times, the spirit of a place (on a larger scale than a single spot next to a river) can be seen in the art style, furniture style, food and home style of an area and the people who live there. Animals, too, are often symbols of the spirit of a place.

Different native cultures around the world have all been highly concerned with the spirit of place. They held sacred rituals in the same locations, and gave offerings to spirits, ancestors and the land itself to bring about manifestations of good harvest, good fortune and the like.

Through myth and tale, the stories of the spirits of these sacred places have been preserved and passed down. Even though times have changed and humanity as a whole continues to change the physical face of the world we live in, the spirit of the place persists and often changes with us. Those old spirits still feel, and their pain at the changes we have made can be strongly felt at times. Other times, in gardens or wild places, we can feel their happiness and joy or even rage that we are trespassing in sacred places.

Spirit of Place in the home

In your own home and at work there is a spirit of place. And at home it is especially prudent to keep the spirit of that place ‘appeased’ and protective. It does your spirit no good to be at home and not feel safe or at peace. The general feel of your home is the spirit of place. Do you enjoy a cozy and cluttered atmosphere? Or a minimalist and clean or organized space? Is your home warm and welcoming to others? Or do you more prefer to keep to yourself?

Within your home, the spirit of place (at least I believe) is a very good reflection of your own personal spirit. It is the place your spirit should feel as if it belongs and where it should be able to go to recharge. If your spirit feels out of place there, like a puzzle piece in the wrong spot, then you should try and arrange that space to better reflect you.

For me, my home is warm, welcoming, and my door is always open to friends and family. I’ve always got a teapot on the stove, ready to make a cup for anyone who comes over, candles lit to give light and warmth, a puppy who fills my home and my own spirit with joy and boundless energy, a bookshelf, organized and never covered in dust, my altar where i go to do my spiritual recharging, and a general sense of peace and calm (I feel) permeates my apartment. My table is always set for more than myself, though I most often eat alone, and my spare bed is always open to any friend who needs a place to sleep.

I’d like to think that what I feel in the spirit of place of my home is the same welcoming and warm feeling others get when they arrive. It all boils down to you, here, and what kind of spirit of place you bring to your home.

~If you’re still reading at this point, I thank you, and if you’d like me to ever add to this post, please feel free to message me with info, links, or ideas~

/l\

M.G.

TheBasilDruid

[heatherwitch]

Witchcraft for the Chronically Fatigued

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

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

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

To draw energy:

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

Crystals. 

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

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

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

Charge using a charging board or the elements. 

Crystals for fatigue

Waters.

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

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

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

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

See also: Bedridden witch: Bath edition.

Other elements.

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

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

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

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

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

To manage symptoms:

Brain fog:

Brainfog lifting

“Brainfog begone” sigil

Fatigue: 

Spoonie spell for energy

Energy gain spell

Energy boost spell

Energy bath

Fatigue recovery spell jar

Headaches (and migraines):

Headache healing

To banish a headache

Anti-migraine spell

Anti-migraine spell bottle

Migraine relief bath

Joint pain:

Arthritis pain relief oil

Joint pain spell

Healing spell for joints

Memory:

Memory masterpost

Memory and concentration spell

Mental reboost tea spell

Muscle pain:

Muscle pain sachet

Warming salve for sore muscles

Crystals for muscle pain (external site)

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

Practicing the craft with energy limitations:

Tips and tricks:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many more tips and tricks in these posts:

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

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

Nonverbal witchcraft

You may also like:

Magic to replenish energy

Spoonie witch masterpost

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Witchcraft & Meds

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

Drink magic masterpost

Rejuvenating witchcraft

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

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

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

[druidpriestess]

baby witch tips (2)

you are going to make mistakes. it's a given, as a human being it's bound to happen. i've certainly had my fair share!

the first spell i ever did involved blood. blood. four years later i shiver at the thought of it!! i've knocked over candles and spilt offerings. i've fumbled my words in spells. i've thanked the fae.

i guess what i'm trying to say is this - accept the fact that you're going to make mistakes, and move on. is there anything you can do to make up for it? do you need any protectionin case of ramifications? if both no - then move on.

you're not a bad witch. you're not terrible at your craft. i guarantee you that every single one of us has made these same mistakes. i still make mistakes because i'm still human.

it's okay.

[yourwitchmama]

Witchcraft for when depression hits 🥀

Sometimes, we may think that our magick is invalid, or that our deities don’t want to work with us anymore when we have depression. Altars get dusty, the air gets stale, and maybe you have quit working with magick all together, but still identify as a practicing witch.

Depression is an illness. If a professional runner fractured a leg, how could they continue to run while going through recovery?  Can a witch continue to do mental work if their mental health is suffering? Think about it: witches are constantly using their brain to get themselves in a highly spiritual and magickal state. You cannot expect yourself to want to work with magick if getting out of bed is difficult on its own.

Understand that your deities are forgiving and understanding beings. Your magick will not dwindle. In fact, when you are sick, your deities and spirit guides will protect you and make sure nothing bad happens to you while you are sick. Don’t feel guilty for your depression. Depression is an illness, not a lack of dedication or general carelessness. I am going to give you advice on what kinds of spiritual work you can do while in a depressive episode.

Candle magick 🕯

🔮 Light a candle of your choice that symbolizes whatever you want to manifest (i.e yellow = confidence)

Aromatherapy 🧼

🔮 Different essential oils promote all different kinds of things. Lemon is uplifting and happy, while lavender is calming and promotes sleep.

Healing crystals 💎

🔮 All you need to do is set the intention. You can keep crystals by your bed, or you can set them up in a specific way for a spell or intention.

Chanting 🗣

🔮 You don’t need to get up for this one! You can even chant in your head.

Sleep meditation 💤

🔮 Sleep meditations are wonderful because of all of the insight you can get from intense dreaming. YouTube has great sleep meditation music.

Guided meditation 🧘🏻‍♂️ 🌀 🧘🏼‍♀️

🔮 This can be done in the bed as well. There are meditations on akashic records, spirit guides, past lives, you name it.

Be safe and know that it is okay to feel depressed sometimes. Make sure to get professional help if possible to help if these depressive episodes are chronic or prolonged. Know that the world loves you. Your deities love you. I love you. We love you.