A Witch’s Journal

just a blog to use as a journal and to learn even more things <33

[earthinthem]

hi i’m meg, i’m a 16yr old witch who has quite literally been practicing since i could read. i follow my own religious beliefs that link with my practice and i have no specific focus, i am a solitary witch at the minute but hope to find or build a coven with some friends who are also witches <3

[earthinthem]

going to an artsy shop that’s in a giant warehouse today for schooly stuff and witchy stuff!! my aim is to find tiny jars

[heathen-faggot-deactivated20241]

need more trans witch blogs to follow

Trans and queer witches please reblog so I can follow! especially if your blog is witchcraft centric

[candles-crystals-cauldrons]

Tasseomancy symbols and meanings

[school-of-roses]

✶*✧Introduction to Spell Sealing✧*✶

Everything must come to an end.

This is an area of spellcraft that doesn’t get a lot of publicity because for most people it just becomes a natural part of the process.  However, if you want to mix up how you do it, try something new, or otherwise let go of the way you were originally taught, this might be a good resource for performing rituals!

What are Sealed Spells?

In the context of magic you usually hear about sealing and binding like binding a person or something from being able to do something.  Here we're talking more like a binding contract.  This is a binding or seal locks in an action or intent.  It is binding in the way an agreement is binding.  You have given it firm parameters that it must follow and you have endeavored to finalize the action.  You have provided certainty, locked in your answer, sealed the deal.  

The benefits of this are inherent in the finality.  You have a set thing that now is much harder to alter and is much harder to waver in its purpose.  This is no longer some multi-purpose object.  It has varitably been christened for this and this alone.  The work to undo it will be just as rigorous as the work to do it in the first place.  A light cleansing of your materials afterwards might not be enough.  You're gonna need the spiritual bleach.

To some extent you might just feel that something needs to be finalized.  If you feel it in your gut like you need something to formally end the working, these are what you might be looking for.

More Common Than You Think

This might be more familiar to you than you would initially think.  Signing your name on something at the end is a common one, but even in a ritual sphere there are many examples.  This is going to be your “so mote it be”, your “Amen”, and your other declarations of finality.  Even purely secular situations often have rituals of finality.  I think you’ll find that when these things are left out, there is sometimes a feeling of the energy hanging in the air.  In a lot of ways it does not feel right.  Whether this is the social convention of signaling to everything and everyone present that the ritual has come to a conclusion, or just to announce you’re finished, there is some power to it.

Types of Seals

There are several different ways to express finality in your workings.  Here are just a few examples.

Shutting the Door and Sealing the Envelope

If your work involves some kind of lid or package, you can physically seal it.  Whether this is corking a jar, sealing with wax, tying a string around something etc.  If this is a possibility it is a good way to finalize a spell.

Written and Spoken Seals

Whether this is through signing something like you might finalize a formal contract or expressing that it is finalized verbally.  A few examples of this are listed above that you may have heard before, but there is really nothing stopping you from making your own.

Kiss Seals

Sealing with a kiss.  Kissing something to finalize has historical precedent and takes no extra tools to complete besides your lips.  Whether this is physically using your lips or the other means, this is one option for a quick seal.  Just don’t kiss poison.

Burning, Burying, and Bestrewing

Few things are more final than destruction.  Once you’ve set the flame, you’ve pretty much confined what you’ve set on fire to that purpose forever.  Burying something in the ground would be another example of this.  Whether you feel the finality is from returning it to the earth, or because you are sealing it in a tomb of soul, this will certainly signal that it is done.  Some feel like things are not complete until they’ve scattered the ashes, in which case throwing something to the wind could be your version of finality.

Whether this is through signing something like you might finalize a formal contract or expressing that it is finalized verbally.  A few examples of this are listed above that you may have heard before, but there is really nothing stopping you from making your own.

Sigil Seals

An extension of the written or spoken seals are sigil seals.  It accomplishes much the same thing, but can be a little more formal.  Some might think this is kind of a stretch, but wax seals, like what might go on a letter, could fall into this category, technically.

[earthinthem]

start of the bracelet!! one moon done 4 to go!!

[enchanting-jewel]

What's really in that witch's cauldron?

Folk names for herbs

Ass' Ear- Comfrey

Bat's Wing- Holly Leaves

Beard Of Monk- Chicory

Bear's Foot- Lady's Mantle

Bird's Eye- Germander or Speedwell

Blind Eyes- Poppy

Blood From a Head- Lupine

Blood Of Ares- Purslane

Blood Of Hestia- Chamomile

Bloody Fingers- Foxglove

Calf's Snout- Snapdragon

Cat's Foot- Ground Ivy

Crow's Foot- Wood Anemone

Devil's Ear- Jack In The Pulpit

Devil's Plaything- Yarrow

Dew Of the Sea- Rosemary

Dog's Mouth- Snapdragon

Dragon's Teeth- Vervain

Elf Leaf- Lavender

Englishman's Foot- Common Plantain

Fairy Eggs- Nutmeg

Flower Of Death- Vinca

Goose Tongue- Lemon Balm

Graveyard Dust- Mullein

Hawk's Heart- Wormwood

Juno's Tears- Vervain

Jupiter's Beard- Sempervivums

Lion's Foot- Lady's Mantle

Little Faces- Viola

Man's Bile- Turnip Sap

Mortification Root- Rose of Sharyn

Nose Of Turtle- Turtlehead, Chelone

Nosebleed- Yarrow

Our Lady's Tears- Lily Of The Valley

Old Man's Flannel- Mullein

Ram's Head- Valerian

Scale Of Dragon- Tarragon

Semen Of Ares- White Clover

Semen Of Hermes- Dill

Serpent's Tongue- Dog's Tooth Violet

Sparrow's Tongue- Knotweed

Tree Of Doom- Elder

Unicorn Root- Boneset

Weasel Snout- Yellow Archangel

Wool Of Bat- Moss

Body Parts as Plants:

Eye- Blossom or Seed

Heart- Bud or Seed

Beak, Bill or Nose- Seed, Bud or Bloom

Tongue or Teeth- Petal or Leaf

Head- Blossom

Tail- Stem

Hair- Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs

Privates, Genitals Or Semen- Seeds Or Sap

Blood- Sap

Guts- Roots or Stalk

Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe- Leaves

Animals as Plants:

Toad- Sage

Cat- Catmint

Dog- Grasses, Specifically Couchgrass

Frog- Cinquefoil

Eagle- Wild Garlic

Blue Jay- Laurel

Hawk- Hawkweed

Lamb-Wild Lettuce

Nightengale- Hops

Rat- Valerian

Weasel- Rue

Woodpecker- Peony

I borrowed this from:

Bird's Eye. Calf's Snout, Eye Of Newt and Hair Of Baboon sound more like byproducts of a bizarre slaughterhouse, than contents of a spice ra

[the-cobalt-athenaeum-deactivate]

EYE OF NEWT, WOOL OF BAT... HERB CODE NAMES IN WITCHCRAFT

"Filet of fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye Of Newt, and Toe Of Frog, Wool Of Bat, and Tongue Of Dog, Adder's Fork, and Blind Worm's Sting, Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing. For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble" - Second Witch, Act IV Scene I, William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Though, Shakespeare was a master of manipulating words, he doesn't get credit for the macabre sounding ingredients in Macbeth's witches' brew. In fact, as long as mankind has been using plants for food and medicine, we have given them interesting folk names. Throughout history, commonly used plants and herbs have been given different names based on certain attributes of the plant, it's growth habits or even specific reasons it was used for. Common dandelion has been called bitterwort, for it's strong and bitter taste, blowball and puffball because of it's seeding habits, lion's tooth for it's deeply serrated foliage and piss-in-the-bed because of it's diuretic properties. Depending on where you live, you may call Glechoma hederacea creeping charlie or ground ivy; it's also gone by gill over the ground, runaway robin, and lizzie run up the hedge because of it's aggressive runners, cat's foot for the shape of it's leaves, alehoof because it was commonly used in the making of beer and ale, and field balm because it has been used for as a general heal-all herb for balms, salves and teas for thousands of years.

Witches were specifically careful to guard their herbal secrets. They came up with odd and grisly sounding folk names for the plants they regularly used, like eye of newt for mustard seed or wool of bat for moss. Many historians believe that witches used these gruesome sounding names so that their spells and herbal remedies could not be easily copied. Back in Shakespearean times, those who were labeled as witches were usually herbalist, midwives and healers; their livelihood often depended on their knowledge of herbs and their uses. Therefore they created secret code names for the plants they used.

In some cases certain body parts were used as code for the part of the plant used in a spell or herbal remedy. For example, "eye of…" would usually refer to a round shaped blossom or seed of a specific plant; as in eye of newt, which is simply mustard seed. In some cases, an animal name was used in place of a plant name, just like the "newt" would represent mustard plant in eye of newt. Below I've listed some of the common body parts in witchy plant names and their meaning, as well as commonly used animal code names.

BODY PARTS AS PLANT PARTS Eye- Blossom or Seed Heart- Bud or Seed Beak, Bill or Nose- Seed, Bud or Bloom Tongue or Teeth- Petal or Leaf Head- Blossom Tail- Stem Hair- Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs Privates, Genitals Or Semen- Seeds Or Sap Blood-Sap Guts- Roots or Stalk Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe- Leaves

PLANT NAMES AS ANIMALS Toad- Sage Cat- Catmint Dog- Grasses, Specifically Couchgrass Frog- Cinquefoil Eagle- Wild Garlic Blue Jay- Laurel Hawk- Hawkweed Lamb-Wild Lettuce Nightingale- Hops Rat- Valerian Weasel- Rue Woodpecker- Peony

Secret codes among witches and herbalists There are many other animal/plant associations, and even associations to gods and mythological beings, that were used as plant code names. Like folk names, witchy plant names would have changed by region and era. By combining a body part and an animal from simple lists like these as a code, a witch or herbalist could keep the ingredients of their spell or remedy secret. For example a witch who wanted to sell her herbs might list the ingredients of a tea for insomnia as rat guts and blood of lamb, instead of just valerian root and wild lettuce sap. This would not only prevent the customer from just growing their own valerian (which is actually heliotrope) and wild lettuce, but it also had a much more official witchy sound. Even though these names were crude and sometimes vile, they made the healer sound more legit and gave the tired consumer confidence that they finally found the one magical cure.

Some of these names are still in use today! These days, there are many almanacs of magical herbs and herbal grimmoires available online or at bookstores, that list out Witch Herb/Plant names and even details their uses. Just for fun, I will leave you with a list of some of my favorite witchy plant names.

Ass' Ear- Comfrey Bat's Wing- Holly Leaves Beard Of Monk- Chicory Bear's Foot- Lady's Mantle Bird's Eye- Germander or Speedwell Blind Eyes- Poppy Blood From A Head- Lupine Blood Of Ares- Purslane Blood Of Hestia- Chamomile Bloody Fingers- Foxglove Calf's Snout- Snapdragon Cat's Foot- Ground Ivy Crow's Foot- Wood Anemone Devil's Ear- Jack In The Pulpit Devil's Plaything- Yarrow Dew Of The Sea- Rosemary Dog's Mouth- Snapdragon Dragon's Teeth- Vervain Elf Leaf- Lavender Englishman's Foot- Common Plaintain Fairy Eggs- Nutmeg Flower Of Death- Vinca Goose Tongue- Lemon Balm Graveyard Dust- Mullein Hawk's Heart- Wormwood Juno's Tears- Vervain Jupiter's Beard- Sempervivums Lion's Foot- Lady's Mantle Little Faces- Viola Man's Bile- Turnip Sap Mortification Root- Rose Of Sharon Nose Of Turtle- Turtlehead, Chelone Nosebleed- Yarrow Our Lady's Tears- Lily Of The Valley Old Man's Flannel- Mullein Ram's Head- Valerian Scale Of Dragon- Tarragon Semen Of Ares- White Clover Semen Of Hermes- Dill Serpent's Tongue- Dog's Tooth Violet Sparrow's Tongue- Knotweed Tree Of Doom- Elder Unicorn Root- Boneset Weasel Snout- Yellow Archangel Wool Of Bat- Moss

[the-witchyforest]

STORMS MAGICK

Rain storm

Growth

Rebirth

Shedding old skin

Lightening storm

Potent magical power

Good for curses and hexes

Snow storm

Purification

Endings

Changing

Home and healt work

Tornado storm

Erratic but powerful energy

Good for any ritual

Unpredictable energy

[poisonnxkki]

Protection Magic & Baneful Protections⚡️

What are Baneful Protections?

Baneful protections can be considered both a form of baneful magic and a form of protection magic. When beginning baneful work, this is usually what I recommend starting with. Baneful protections are protection spells that produce some sort of consequence when energy hits it. This can be done without the use of physical taglocks (like names or dates of birth) because energy is able to act like a taglock. For example, some of the baneful protections I have set up will reflect any energy that hits it back to its source while others trap that energy instead (so it can used later on).

It is very important that even though you are protecting yourself, you aren't accidentally tethering the energy to you. In my first baneful protection, I used my saliva to tether the protection to me but instead I tethered all the negative energy the spell had trapped to me and had a horrible case of bad luck for weeks before I realized what I had done. As a rule of thumb i personally don’t include any personal taglocks in baneful protections and always make sure to include a petition that details my exact intent for the spell.

When to use Baneful Protections:

Baneful protections can be used instead of or in conjunction with other forms of protection (see my blog posts for more information on alternative forms of protection magic). I personally didn't have any baneful protections before I was hexed (for the first time) and now I have some just as a precautionary measure. Baneful protections are most beneficial (in my opinion) if you are surrounded by a lot of negative energy or work in an environment that is mentally draining. These protections can help combat the toll that it takes and prevent much of that energy from staying with you for an extended period of time.

It is really up to you whether or not you choose to incorporate baneful protections into your practice. It is worth it to note that this spell work is considered baneful magic, so those who believe in "doing no harm" may choose to forgo this and stick to regular protections instead. Whatever you choose, be sure to do your own research before attempting any new forms of spell work.

Return-to-Sender Spells:

Mirrors- mirrors have the ability to reflect an image so they are also able to reflect energy. Putting up a mirror on your altar or incorporating a piece of a mirror into a spell is very effective at returning energy to its source.

Burning the bottom of a candle- this is a common one and it is also my preferred method at returning energy. The way I do it is by burning the top of the candle like normal and visualizing the energy that you wish to return. Once the candle is flat, I will flip it upside down and light the other end of the wick, symbolizing the return of that energy to its source. This can be done many different ways so check out what other practitioners do to come up with your own method.

Petitions- petitioning is a really great tool that I utilize in most of my spell work because it is an effective way at manifesting a specific intent. It helps if you know the name of the person who sent you the energy for this method but it is not necessary. As long as you have a clear intention and some return-to-sender oil you can make an effective spell.

Running water or rivers- running water has been viewed as being able to carry energy from place to place so it is possible to use it to return energy to its source. In the shower, you can imagine the energy running off of you, down the drain and back to the person who sent it. Another method is throwing your petition into a river and having the river carry it back to its source. (This method also works with a toilet if you are feeling especially feisty!)

*All images are from Pinterest*

[the-witchyforest]

Water Energies

Moon Water

It could energize crystals

Perfect for a magical bath

For bless yourself, your home or magical tools

Spring Water

Good for Fae work

Excellent for abundance

Used in love or fertility spell

Used in subtle magick

Snow Water

Recommended for spells that focus on purity endings and change

For slow working spells

Rain Water

Multi-purpose

Excellent for growth and rebirth spells

Good for spells that you want to keep gaining power over time

River Water

Recommended for rituals and spells that has to do with moving on.

Focusing energy

Breaking through rough times

Warding

Good for activating tools

Ocean Water

Good for cleansing

Healing

Banishing

Used for protection rituals and spells

Cleansing crystals

Thunderstorm Water

Add a magical boost to any work

Good for spells and rituals that has to do with emotional strengthening, confidence and motivation

Virtuous for hexes and curses

[earthinthem]

weaving a new bracelet!! this time i found a really pretty moon phase pattern and i can’t wait to finish it so i can wear it!! still haven’t decided what enchantment i’ll put on it but i have time to think <33

Learn to make your own colorful bracelets of threads or yarn. As fun for beginners as it is to intermedates. Learn. Get inspiration. Share i

[dragoncastings]

Witchcraft: Intentions

Abundance:

In a spiritual perspective, the concept of abundance is less about material conditions, revolving instead around an enjoyment of life in its richness, delight and depth of your mind, body and soul.

Attracting:

Attracting (also called Manifesting) is the process of trying to metaphysically invite or bring in a certain spirit, human, energy, or opportunity to align alongside you. Attracting is very intention based and can range from inviting luck inside your home and around you, to summoning a spirit to communicate with.

Banishing:

Banishing is the process of casting out an energy, presence, or entity from yourself, another, or a place. This is more stern, amplified, and stronger than cleansing. This is essentially a spiritual form of an Exorcism, but can include objects and spaces as well.

Binding:

Binding is a method to restrict or restrain an individual entity on a metaphysical level, often to prevent them from hurting themselves, you, or others.

Charging:

Charging is the action of imbuing an object, person, or space with an energy. This can be to give it energetic power in general, or the energy of a particular intention as well. Some practitioners prefer Charming or Enchanting, both of are somewhat similar to Charging.

Cleansing:

Cleansing is like a form of spiritual hygiene for you, another, an item, or area. Some practitioners believe Banishment is an extreme form of Cleansing, such purifying something rather than merely sanitizing it.

Divining:

Divination is the metaphysical pursuit of introspection into potential upcoming or occurring events, challenges, relationships, and opportunism. This is not only for the purpose of looking into the future, for Divination can also be used to look deeper within yourself as well.

Fertility:

Spiritually, fertility can range from the procedure of developing wisdom within, having immense potential, pregnancy, or overall abundance around you. You are becoming one with the fertile soil.

Fortune:

The definition of fortune is wealth, good luck or what is going to come about. Fortune is universally believed to be a conclusion of an external power and can correlate to luck or money.

Glamours:

Glamour Magic are often beauty based illusions that alter or transform what one’s eyes perceive. This can range from appearing more ethereal to using glamours to attract confidence or somebody. Glamours can range from energy imbued charms, to sigils on your mirrors or camera.

Grounding:

Grounding or “Earthing” is the exercise of adjusting your energy and body to the Earth’s frequency. The Earth continually is willing to give beautiful energy whilst transforming your negative energies, and Grounding is found to be incredibly calming whilst also empowering.

Luck:

Luck is considered to be a result of chance. Luck can be defined as success or failure evidently caused by chance rather than through one’s own behaviors. Therefore, luck is the unintentional way things take place without being scheduled. Luck is chance itself.

Prosperity:

Prosperity can be defined as an large quantity of material possessions, wealth, as well as other influences like physical condition and contentment. It can be equivalent to having a great fortune.

Warding:

Warding is the method of casting a shield or barrier to defend and protect a space, person, portal, or item or to deflect potential negative energies and dangers. This is a remarkably important intention to consider and practice.

[pure-arcane]

Laws of Magick (Grimoire Excerpt)

The Laws of Magick are concepts that describe patterns in the effects of witchcraft. Here are some simple definitions.

The Law of Attraction

What you put out to the world will be returned to you. This is manifestation through intention: "I want kindness so I will give kindness"

The Law of Knowledge

Knowledge is power. The more you know about something, the more you understand it and can use it or have power over it.

The Law of Self-Knowledge

Know thyself. The more you know yourself, the more you are capable of becoming the master of your own destiny and the facilitator of change in your own life.

The Law of Cause and Effect

Consistency is key. If you do the exact same action in the exact conditions, you will get exactly the same results every time.

The Law of Synchronicity

There is no such thing as coincidence. Though possible, it's extremely rare that two things happen at the same time that are not interconnected in some way.

The Law of Association

If any two patterns have elements in common, the patterns interact through those common elements.

The Law of Similarity

Having an accurate physical or mental representation of something facilitates control over it.

The Law of Contagion

Objects or beings in physical contact with each other continue to interact after separation. More contact = more connection.

The Law of Names

Knowing the complete and TRUE name of an object, being, or process gives one complete control over it.

The Law of Words of Power

Certain words hold great power. Even if their meaning is lost, the power is still there. An example is names: though you may not know what your name means exactly, it still holds a lot of power.

The Law of Personification

Personifying (considering it alive or to have a personality) anything makes it an entity. This can be beneficial in many ways: one example is personifying an object to channel a deity through it

The Law of Invocation

It is possible to establish internal communication with entities from either inside or outside oneself, said entities seeming to be inside of oneself during the communication process.

The Law of Evocation

It is possible to establish external communication with entities from either inside or outside oneself, said entities seeming to be outside oneself during the communication process.

The Law of Identification

Prolonged connection or association with another (person, being, entity, etc) can result in becoming said person/thing, including holding their knowledge or power. In other words, possession is possible.

The Law of Personal Universes

Reality is only our perceived conscious understanding of the world around us (and within us). It's possible that "reality" means different things to different people.

The Law of Infinite Universes

The concepts that multiple realities can exist at once, whether that be your own (like "multiple/alternate reality theory") or yours vs another's (like your perception of reality being different than your friend's).

The Law of Pragmatism

If a belief system allows someone to cope, survive, or achieve their goals, it becomes "real," "true," and "sensible" to them.

The Law of True Falsehoods

It's possible for two belief systems to contradict but still exist at the same time. Basically, just because something doesn't make sense to you, it doesn't mean it won't make sense to someone else. This is like a TL;DR of the above 3 laws.

The Law of Synthesis

If two "opposing" patterns combine to produce a new pattern, that new pattern will be more true than the previous two alone. In other words, if two understandings of reality combine, the new understanding will be more "true" or reasonable/understandable because it applies to more realities and therefore can be believed by more people.

The Law of Polarity

Any pattern of data can be split into (at least) two "opposing" characteristics, and each will contain the essence of the other within itself.

The Law of Opposites

The "opposite" of something contains information about said thing, by providing information on what it is not. This creates control or power over it because you now have knowledge over it, even if through its opposite; once again showing how interconnected all existence is.

The Law of Dynamic Balance

Balance is key. To live life to its fullest, one must allow themselves to not fall into extremes so that they can experience all that life is and can offer.

The Law of Perversity

Murphy's Law. If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Emotional stability and self-awareness can help avoid things becoming utter disasters.

The Law of Unity

Every phenomena in existence is linked directly or indirectly to every other one, past, present, or future.

[veevzve]

I made this tarot cheat sheet after being inspired on tiktok <3 I hope this can help anyone who needs it!

[enchanting-jewel]

Single Word Spells

"Absum" - To conceal something from sight

"Advoco" - Summoning Spell

"Casso" - Destruction Spell

"Bellus" - Glamour Spell

"Cessabit" - Calming Spell

"Conturbo" - To Invoke Confusion

"Explico" - To Reveal Something

"Mutare" - Transmutation

"Taceo" - To Silence

"Uro" - Burning

Enchanting Jewel

[enchanting-jewel]

Egg shells in witchcraft

Save your eggshells and make them into a powder. You can use them for protection, peace and cleansing!

Also, can be used to make Black Salt. Just add some incense ashes!

Just rinse them, allow them to dry, crush in your mortar and pestle and store them in a labeled bottle.

Powdered Eggshells can be used in your magical workings to cast circles or for protection.

To add some extra oomph, add a pinch of salt and dragon's blood resin in your protection blend.