EclecticWitch/Pagan Jean

I am an eclectic pagan witch, a devotee of a handful of deities with Bastet, Hekate, and Hestia as my patrons. I am a fun loving and honest person that enjoys meeting new like minded witches/pagans.

[khonsu-temple]

Hymn to Khonsu the Healer

Hail to You, Khonsu, Healer Divine,

Whose silver rays in mercy shine.

Son of Amun, beloved of Mut,

You mend the path where pain is put.

Khonsu Neferhotep, gentle and strong,

You make the weak to rise along.

Great God who drives disease away,

Your healing grows with every day.

You calm the heart, you soothe the breath,

You turn aside the hand of death.

Your moonlight falls on flesh and bone,

Restoring strength once thought gone.

Expeller of demons, mighty in name,

No evil stands before your flame.

You bind the sickness, break its chain,

And fill the weary with life again.

Traveler who crosses the star-filled sea,

Bring wholeness where it’s used to be.

O Khonsu, merciful, bright, and true,

May health return through the grace of You.

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Eeeeee !!!!

I’m so excited to share the growth of my little rosemary babies!!

I got them at Walmart early this spring and wanted to get them quickly as my town was experiencing some extreme weather. Well, I just happened to find these three calling to me so I’m going to share some before photos, and after.

Here is the before, let me introduce you to Fidelity, Honesty, and Beauty. I named them after the correspondences of Rosemary. If I got a fourth I’d name her Memory. I mostly named them cause it helps you grow a bond with your plants.

Now for the after!!!!:

My little babies haven’t grown too much but it’s still quite a bit and I’m just so proud and excited cause I have a notorious brown thumb.

Fun fact: you can tell when rosemary needs water when the leaves shrivel a little and the dirt around them is really dry.

Care tips: Don’t over water, they’re a desert plant and apparently work best in succulents and cactus soil. They also require 6+ hours of sunlight, so the south window is preferred.

But that’s my big news on my post!!! I’m so excited to grow with my babies and utilize them in my cooking and my craft.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and a Blessed Be,

-Jean

P.S. Please ignore the washcloth on my windowsill; it leaks when it rains. Also, I got my rosemary plants on the 8th of April, and as you can see, it's June 30th.

P.S.P.S. Not much time has passed since I got them but I am still excited to notice the growth.

[bewitched-moonlight]

🍑 Summer fruits and their associations

As a cottage witch, I just love using food in my spell-casting, either by baking something sweet or biting in the flesh of a ripe fruit right before a ritual...

---

🍑 Strawberries: love, beauty, destiny

🍑 Watermelon: energy, masculinity, ocean, growth

🍑 Peaches: friendship, lightness, assurance, confidence

🍑 Cherries: pleasure, creativity, goddess, warmth

🍑 Raspberries: sensuality, femininity, sexuality

🍑 Blueberries: healing, calm, concentration

🍑 Apricots: happiness, friendship, joy, family

🍑 Plums: wealth, luck, change, movement

🍑 Figs: attraction, connection, luck, invocation

🍑 Blackberries: boldness, courage, emotions

🍑 Grapes: invocation, grace, transmutation

🍑 Passion fruit: fertility, strength, creation

[crowdoespaganism]

I'm a pagan

I kill every plant I try to grow

I forget about equinoxes and solstices

I forget to pray to my deities

I end my spells with "because I fucking said so"

I forget to charge my rocks and crystals

my altars end up covered in shit that doesn't belong there

I have to look up what cards mean, six years into my practice

I forget I practice paganism

I'm a "bad pagan"

but I'm still a pagan

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Never found a more relatable poem

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Something Witchy I'm Excited About

I know this isn't post-related, but it is me-related, and I am just ecstatic about an achievement I have just accomplished.

So my main goal is to be a fiction novelist, and though writing books of witchcraft has come to mind as a possible future vocation, currently I am working on a story called Coven of Outcasts. I am currently so proud of it because it follows the themes that anyone can be a witch, regardless of personal background. It's also a found family trope, and it's a historical fiction novel as well. But that's all I will say for now since it's supposed to be a surprise and I'm not giving out spoilers.

Regardless, I am ecstatic because I have just finished writing Chapter 1, and I am so excited for Chapter 2. It's a whole 26 pages, front and back, and I am so proud of myself for it. It's really come along, and I hope it is a great tribute to Hermes as the Greek God of Written Language and Storytelling and Hekate as the Greek Titaness of Witchcraft.

P.S. I'm not intending to post it online. Mainly to avoid people stealing my work, but I will promise to announce its publishing date once I finish it. I'll also post updates about it periodically.

P.S.P.S. It's most likely the main reason I have been neglecting my blog, due to my novel being my main vocation and thus my main priority when it comes to writing. That, and I am a CNA at a residential caregiving facility and thus have been pouring the majority of my time into work so I can officially move out of my parents' place for good this time. So best of blessings to that goal as well.

As Always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Spell Crafting Tip: Ingredient Dynamics

So I have been going through a rut lately. Or at least was in a rut. I was casting the spells, doing the work, and wondering why nothing was occurring. Well, that's when I discovered a video on Instagram from a Witch that posts her teachings online, and she had a very compelling statement. (The minute I find her profile on Instagram, I'll add her username so others may look into her).

Now this post might not appeal to everyone who reads this, and it doesn't have to; but I would like to post this just in case some have been getting into spellwork, and their spells aren't always working. For a while, it can be like how I was and cause a bit of self-doubt in one's own capabilities.

Although my self-doubt still occasionally occurs, that also comes from how there are still a lot of those out there that say cisgender men can't be witches too, but that's a can of worms that doesn't need to be opened at the moment. This isn't my shadowwork journal lol.

"Sometimes when you're casting your spells, and you're doing the work, it doesn't always get the spell to push through. Most herbs have multiple uses, and all have a different dynamic. Many witches don't think to look at the personalities or dynamics of the herbs they are using and just throw them together, thus causing a magical blockage that isn't pushing through to fruition." (I couldn't recall the exact quote off the top of my head and had to go from memory because my information saving skills sucks and I couldn't find the video she said it on.)

She did also mention that, yes, intention is key too; however, she also described it, and this is my interpretation of her statements: the dynamic was also important.

For example, she used Rosemary in her example. "Rosemary is used for a myriad of purposes, but the main one that always seems to be downplayed is that it harmonizes what is already there". She mentions that "it can be used within a love spell, as it typically is, and how people try to use it with the herbs like Rose and Lavender; however, if there isn't already a connection between the target and the caster of the love spell, then the rosemary is just going to utilize what is already there."

I really think all she had talked about in the video was a lot of food for thought, and honestly, it's made me rethink my magic and utilize this thinking towards my spellwork. From that, I realized that the message she had delivered had a lot of good points, and from there, my spellwork has blossomed even more. My first spell/potion I used this with was with my Royal Glamour Bath on the alterations of the ingredients.

How does this play into my spellcrafting and spellwork exactly? Well, let's start at the beginning of my practice for that question to be answered.

When I started my craft, I was just following the intention stuff. As long as I threw in the ingredients with intention and meanings behind them, then it would all work out, right? Wrong. I figured all would work in the end, but it never truly did. Truth be told, that worked for a short while, as some spells weren't pushing through. That's when the self-doubt began to hit. It ate at me for a bit, and I kept finding myself questioning if I even was a real witch to begin with.

But honestly, it felt as though Hekate herself heard my doubts in myself, my questioning of myself, and even my frustration because one day, I just felt her presence as I was doomscrolling Instagram, and I finally came across the content creator I was aforementioning. Now this epiphany felt as grand as a fireworks show because it rekindled my love of the craft, inspiration, and drive to do more.

Now, to finish off this post with the 'how to put this into play', I think I will discuss some ideas with the original three of the plants I listed earlier: Rosemary, Lavender, and Rose. Now the thing is that the aforementioned witch mentioned that "the best witches give their herbs a maximum of five uses to prevent energy confusion," and honestly, it helps a little.

When one mixes the dynamics of plants, one could think of it as interpersonal dynamics. Some people have things in common but not everything in common. Therefore, a group of people with a love of hockey isn't exactly going to be a good fit for a mix of people who have a great love of something else, like opera. However, you can occasionally find someone within those groups who could possibly be interested in the other subject of interest.

Honestly, hearing me read this out loud makes me snicker cause I am just imagining a person watching a hockey game with their opera glasses poised to their face so they can see from the upper back seats. Now that would be a good romance story I'd read.

The same can be used for your ingredients. How I use this technique is that I think of the herbs' abilities, scents, energy, etc as their personality. Roses are usually used for passion, beauty, lust, sex drive, etc. It gives a large amount of energy to that category and is often the go-to herb for love or passion magic. It's got a high sensation and a powerful drive, thus it would need herbs that have such a high energy and drive to correspond with it; just like Cinnamon and Vanilla can.

On the other hand, Lavender is a calm, low-sensation herb. It's got a tiny beauty to it, but that's not its entire personality. It's got a strong but low smell and is often, thus feeds its attraction abilities, but more so of a lucky, health, money, or protection kind of way. It's not just one thing; there, its perfect counterparts in a glamour or love spell would be like Catnip and Lotus flowers.

You see what I am saying with this? I hope so. They might not work in the best way together, but you can still use them for the same thing with other ingredients.

Since I've discovered this, I've been meticulous in my spellwork, and honestly, it's proven true to me. It's been helpful to say the least, and I could go on and on about it, but I wouldn't want you to read an entire essay on it.

And as I close this blog post, I would like to say that this isn't going to solve all of your spellcrafting problems, but it could very well help. Also, the witch that I gathered my source material from is called averyhartofficial on Instagram. She's a really good content creator who has a lot of food for thought when it comes to spell work, and she even teaches classes in the link in her bio.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and a Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Potion Recipe: Royal Glamour Bath

So today, I found this recipe within a book titled 'Glamour Magic: Enchantments To Build Confidence and Beauty.' Pretty much, I decided to write this on my blog before it managed to get to my grimoire, so enjoy!

Now this isn't the exact recipe from the book I used, but I did some alterations and had a friend look at me before and after the bath to test if it works. The original recipe from the book stated to use either rose or lavender oil and to use dehydrated milk. However, I didn't have dehydrated milk and honestly thought both the lavender and rose oil would work pretty well since I'm going for beauty instead of love.

I think the results were pretty good, as it felt so luxurious when bathing in the solution.

Ingredients:

Two cups of warm water

Four tablespoons of honey

Lavender essential oil

Rose essential oil

carrier oil (I used Olive Oil)

Instructions

heat water

Add honey and stir until the honey is dissolved

Add carrier oil

Add the Lavender and Rose oils until the smells all blend together (you want the lavender and rose oils to be stronger than the carrier oil)

Stir

Add to your bath water

Enjoy your luxurious bath.

Side notes:

I didn't list the exact proportions of the carrier oil and the essential oils because I used Olive oil and was trying to dilute the scent.

Make sure to take a shower and rinse the oil out of your bathtub when finished so that you can rinse the oil off your skin and not feel so oily later.

I think this is a pretty neat recipe, and I hope you guys enjoy it too. Currently, as I am writing this, I am enjoying the fact that I am still smelling like roses and lavender even after I rinsed the oil off of me.

As Always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be.

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Beginner Witch Tip: Bubble Baths with BB&W

Okay, so some days, you really need a cleansing bath, but you don't really have the energy or supplies to make a good witchy cleansing bath. Well, I have the perfect alternative!

Bath and Body Works ( or BB&W) has a line called Lux Bath, which is like a bubble bath solution. What's even better is that they mostly have it in their aromatherapy line. I personally love the Eucalyptus and Spearmint for mental clarity and relaxation. especially when certain relatives visit, and it's just making you feel like, "Ugh, they're so vexing at the moment."

For context purposes, I am alluding to my brother visiting me. But I'm not about to get into some family tea at the moment.

As I was saying, the Lux Bath line at Bath and Bodyworks doesn't just have Lux Bath solutions for Eucalyptus and Spearmint, but also in other scents too. Like they have one that is Rose Water-scented Luxe Bath coupled with a Lavender and Vanilla-scented Body Wash. What do you get when you mix those three herbs together? A perfect glamour bath.

Although I do have a disclaimer that BB&W is not certified Cruelty Free by PETA and Leaping Bunny, and some products have ingredients derived from animal products such as Beeswax, Collagen, and Carmine. However, some products are labelled as such to declare that they are Vegan-Friendly and Cruelty-Free, and will say so on the back of the product.

How I start these baths is that I focus on my intentions before administering the solution into the bath. With my dominant hand, I'll guide the solution throughout the tub as it is filling up. Then my final step is to place whatever crystals I wish to have near for energy (of course, I am always careful to keep them away from the tub if they are toxic near/in water), and occasionally will have a nice glass of wine and music playing nearby.

There are other scents you can find too, like: Energy: made with Orange and Ginger, Inspire Love: made with Rose and Vanilla, Heirloom Rose: with just Rose oil, and Black Tea: scented with Black tea for stress relief.

I hope you guys find this as convenient as I do!

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Rage Oil Recipe

Just a heads up, this post is for my followers who are comfortable or alright with hexing. Though you don't have to use this as a hex ingredient, you can still use it as a stress/anger management tool. I view this as a morally gray formula.

This recipe is one of the perfect examples I show when Witchcraft often goes hand in hand with Psychology. I love this oil recipe because it helps those who deal with a lot of stress or anger, and it can kind of be a stress relief device that you can use and have a purpose for later. In its own way, it helped me work through some stresses I was experiencing when I worked in the fast food industry and continue to use it while working as a CNA.

When one is working as a CNA, one tends to deal with some stress from upper management, nurses, residents/patients, residents/patients' family, coworkers, etc. Even though I found this recipe when I was working in a kitchen at a college, you understand where I'm coming from, right? Sometimes you come home in a foul mood and drained from stress. It's worse when you work in an environment in which you can't wear gemstone rings or necklaces to use as talismans and wards. Of course, one doesn't want to accidentally transfer it to someone else when they get home by accident without meaning to, right? Well, as a matter of fact, this happens to be a recipe for you to transmute the negative energy that you receive from work or your daily life and store it somewhere else for later use.

By that, I mean you can use this oil in a hex/curse to add fuel to the fire after a while of transferring your stress/anger.

Ingredients: An easy-to-burn oil (I suggest a spicy scent)- to fuel intention Cloves - to symbolize anger, agitation, and anti-gossip Paprika - to amplify the energy of the ingredients Red pepper flakes - for speed and revenge Black Peppercorn - to break barriers and cause chaos Spicy pepper seeds (the spicier the better) - for rage and aggression

Instructions: Place the dry ingredients with intention Pour oil on top until half full Shake when angry/stressed with the intention of passing the emotion into the jar. Store in a dark place

Side notes: Keep away from the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Bedroom to prevent nightmares and lack of a love life. Bathroom to prevent from tarnishing wealth and beauty. Kitchen to prevent the oil from tarnishing your energy/vitality.

Wear gloves when you are harvesting the seeds from the spicy peppers; the capsin will burn your hands and eyes. (Trust me, I learned this the hard way when I used jalapenos).

Again, this doesn't need to necessarily be used as a hex ingredient. That's just a side bonus of this recipe for those who do hex. This is still a safe and good tool for stress/anger management without accidentally harming your relationships with others. I hope you find it as useful as I do.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean.

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Mineral Info: Blue Lace Agate (Spell Sachet Included)

By far one of my favorite gemstones. It's just so pretty. I even have a blue lace agate tower. I would show it, but it is currently in a box because I have been moving houses lately.

Fun fact: Blue Lace Agate is occasionally deemed "The Diplomat Stone."

This gemstone has a plethora of uses, such as promoting and opening the flow of communication, calming anxiety, protecting your energy and aura, dream recollection, easing sleep, promoting the expression of thoughts and feelings, helping overcome the fear of rejection and oppression, relieving stress and tension, and spirit communication. All of which seem pretty useful.

This gemstone is known to protect from negative energies and nightmares.

Its magickal correspondences are:

Chakra: Throat

Element: Water Zodiac: Pisces, Gemini, and sometimes Virgo. Gender Energy: Feminine. Celestial Connection: Associated with the Moon and its cycles

On the bright side, it doesn't really have any negative effects on other Zodiacs.

Pairing notes: try to keep it away from high-energy crystals like Red Jasper or Citrine

It is safe to use in tonics and water, although prolonged exposure to water can tarnish its luster.

Though this post may feel a little lacking in knowledge of this crystal, I have decided to make up for it with a free spell sachet for Confidence for Public Speaking. I know a few people would probably find this one useful.

Ingredients:

Dandelion Flower or Cedar Leaf/Bark for Confidence

Blue Lace Agate for Calm Nerves

Lapis Lazuli for Clear Communication

Rosemary for Mental Clarity

Thyme for Courage

I honestly really love this crystal. Definitely part of my top five favorites, as it occasionally has some inclusions in its bands with colors of brown and tan. I just adore it, and I hope you will too.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Deity Info: Hermes

Hermes is the Greek God of Travel, Merchants, Commerce, Written Language (or all Language for that matter), Animal Husbandry, Messengers, Thieves, Tricksters, Wit, Boundaries, and Luck. He is known as the Patron of Thieves, Emissaries, Merchants, Messengers, Travellers, Gamblers, Orators, Heralds, Athletes, Writers, and Heroes. He is also one of the Greek Psychopomps, as he guided souls to the Underworld. He also serves as the Messenger God of Olympus and the Herald of Zeus.

Hermes is the son of Zeus, the Greek God of Thunder, Royalty, Husbandry, Hospitality, and the King of Olympus and the Heavens. Hermes' mother is Maia: a Plaiad daughter of Atlas and a Mountain Nymph.

Fun Fact: We get the name for May from Maia, as her Latin name is Maius, and used to have a festival on May 1st to honor her role as a spring goddess.

Anywhom, Hermes is often depicted with his popular attire, the Talaria (his winged sandals), his Caduceus (his serpent-bound winged staff of Commerce), and his Petasos or Petasus: his winged hat. Oftentimes, modern media depicts him without his hat and shoes and gives him wings in those places regardless. Many could argue about these depictions; although, each to their own.

Hermes is the Father of a few Godly children and Demigod children.

Godly includes:

Hermaphroditus: Son of Hermes and Aphrodite, later combined with a nymph to be androgynous.

Pan: Goat-footed god of shepherds and nature, son of Hermes and Penelopeia.

Tyche: Goddess of Luck and Money

Priapus: A rustic god of fertility, sometimes identified as a son of Hermes

Angelia: Goddess of messages. Palaestra: Goddess of wrestling.

Demigod children include:

Autolycus: Prince of thieves, known as the grandfather of Odysseus. Myrtilus: A charioteer, son of Hermes and Phaethusa. Abderus: A mortal friend of Heracles. Eudorus: A Greek officer in the Trojan War.

It was often said that his demigod children inherited wit, cunningness, and speed.

A common example of one of Hermes' myths was when he was in the Odyssey and arrived on Calypso's island as the emissary of Zeus to command her to release Odysseus.

Sacred Plants: Crocus, Strawberries, Strawberry Tree, Palm Trees, Clovers, Ferns, Hay, Grass, Lavender, Figs, and, honestly, in my opinion, I also associate Dandelions with Hermes, for they both have Chthonic aspects & both are travellers.

Sacred Minerals: quicksilver (mercury), blue lace agate, citrine, pyrite, aventurine, carnelian, malachite, goldstone, angelite, lapis lazuli, alexandrite. He also has a stone named after him, Herma, which was used in pillars and columns.

Sacred Animals: Turtles, Hawks, Ram, Sheep, Dogs, Hare, Goats, Serpents

Sacred Symbols: Caduceus, Talaria, Petasos,

Sacred Colors: Orange, Gold, Green,

Tarot Cards: The Traveler,

Common Offerings: Coins, Honey, Write a Letter/Poem/Story for him, Milk,

Ways To Honor: go for a walk, gamble, I don't recommend shoplifting, wear a chlamys (traveller's cloak), learn the panflute or lyre, write, travel, tell stories, collect coins, pray at crossroads, study rhetoric, astronomy, agriculture, or music, donating to charities (particularly those helping travelers, the homeless, or youth, as Hermes is a patron of travelers and the marginalized), journaling,

How Hermes and I came so close was actually a funny story. I was in between jobs at the time and was a little desperate for cash because I had just spent the last of it being scammed out of a new Xbox. I was seeing a lot of hawks at the time and was sensing this presence near me that had the feelings of like the rush one gets from winning a gambling game, mixed with the feeling of recoil that lungs get after running around a track. eventually, I realized I was getting signs from Hermes and then Googled if Hermes was a god of money because, you know, having a deity of luck and money on your side can often be beneficial. Google said he was and that he was also a god of Thieves. What was almost comical after that was when I asked the heavens, "Should I have the god of thieves on my side?" Before I could look down, my phone's online bank gave me a notification for $47 being deposited into my account. Within a second, I looked back at the heavens and exclaimed, "Sold!" Ever since then, I have been a student and worshipper of Hermes.

To be honest, this post is actually going to be an online offering to Lord Hermes, as I have been a little lacking in my offerings to him. I hope this appeases him.

Regardless, I hope you found this post informative as always.

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

Photo Gallery:

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Mineral Info: Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli has always played a role in my life. Whether it was the fact that it's my favorite gemstone, one of the birthstones of December, the name of one of my favorite characters from when I adored Steven Universe as a child, or just a staple inside my craft.

In Spirituality, Lapis Lazuli has had deep roots in the Mediterranean region. It was often a symbol of royalty and connection to the Egyptian Divinity in Ancient Egypt.

Nowadays, Lapis Lazuli represents : Truth, Protection, Self-Expression, Open Communication, Loyalty, Spiritual Enlightenment, Healing, Friendship, Wisdom, and often associated with Shadow Work as its properties assists with exploring ones Inner Self.

A little fun fact for the science nerds inside of spirituality, Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock composed of a mix of minerals rather than a single mineral, requiring at least 25% blue lazurite to be classified as such. Its primary components are lazurite (blue), calcite (white), and pyrite (metallic gold). It often includes smaller amounts of sodalite, hauyne, diopside, or mica.

It's name translates from a mixture of Latin and Arabic to "Stone of Heaven" or "Sky Stone".

Inside my craft, I mostly focus of the aspects of Lapis Lazuli that include: Connection to Egyptian Deities, Protection, Open Communication, Truth, and Healing. I haven't exactly used it for healing yet; however, I have devised an experimental spell that uses it in a truth spell. I also associated Lapis Lazuli with the Egyptian Deities and thus often gift it to the Egyptian Goddess: Bastet, as an offering. I also often use it in protection to ward off evil and negative energies.

It is connected to the third eye and throat chakras. It is recommended for Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Libra to wear. It's element is Air and occasionally Water. Its ruled by the planet Jupiter. Aries and Cancer should exercise caution or avoid wearing lapis lazuli due to its intense, high-energy nature which can cause restlessness, increased impulsivity, or emotional overwhelm. It may also be unsuitable for those with low blood pressure, thyroid issues, or a very strong Mars influence.

Recommended cleansing methods are Sound cleanse, Smoke cleanse, Sea Salt bath, Moon Cleanse. Not recommended to submerge in water.

Lapis lazuli is generally considered non-toxic to handle, but it is not recommended to submerge it in water for extended periods or make elixirs with it. The stone contains pyrite and other minerals that can release sulfur or other substances, causing the stone to fade, get damaged, or potentially leach impurities.

In conclusion, Lapis Lazuli is a very versatile stone that has always been in my heart. It's so useful in my craft I felt that it should be the perfect addition to my blog. Also, so sorry I have been slacking on posting. Been caught up with work. I'm a CNA in the Healthcare field, which of course I use to honor Bastet and care for my work, but I can get tuckered out at times.

As Always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be!

-Jean

[khonsu-temple]

Hymn to Bastet for the Protection of a Beloved Pet

Hail to You, Bastet, Lady of Grace,

Soft-pawed Goddess who guards every place.

Mistress of Hearths where love is kept,

Protector of creatures who walk and have slept.

O She Who Purrs in the Sun’s bright flame,

Whose gentle eyes know every name—

Watch over this little one night and day,

Keep harm and sickness far away.

Drive off all shadows that linger near,

Let comfort reign, and calm, not fear.

Fill their life with health and light,

Your blessing guarding through every night.

O Bastet, Kind-Heart, Mother of Peace,

Let joy in their body never cease.

By your grace may their path be clear,

Held in your arms, forever dear.

[wolvesmaw]

Bastet 🐈

Featuring a dear friends beloved kitty, who sadly passed last year 💖

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Herb Info: Rosemary.

Focus Tea Recipe included in the Post as well.

Another staple within my craft is Rosemary. It has an abundance of uses just like Lavender, and I feel it should get just as much justice.

Uses: cleansing, loyalty, memory, love, protection, luck, clarity, focus, money, prosperity, healing, and success.

Element: fire

Deities: Apollo, Aphrodite, Mnemosyne, Amun-ra

Planet: Sun

My favorite way to use Rosemary would probably be that I occasionally add a pinch of rosemary to my coffee when I am in the need of clarity or focus during the day.

I did come up with a Focus Potion, which is just Rosemary, Chamomile, and Amethyst brewed into tea. Rosemary for Focus, Chamomile for Grounding Emotions, and Amethyst for Mental Clarity.

Another common spell I use Rosemary in is my Focus Test Candle Spell. However, that is a spell for another day.

One of my new experiments is going to include making a healing smoke with Rosemary and possibly some Willow. I will add my findings on it on a later date.

I know this post seems short-lived, but I would like to add that I do not really personally know quite a bit of this herb, and this was just information I could remember from my grimoire. I'm reworking on it due to an accidental deletion and needing to rewrite all that I originally had.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Crystal Info: Golden Tiger's Eye

Welcome back to my Blog. I am terribly sorry for my unexpected hiatus. I have been busy with my studies of not just witchcraft but also studying to become a CNA, so I can truly help others in not just a metaphysical aspect but in a physical aspect. When I mentioned this to my local Metaphysical store, one of the shopkeepers actually thought that was a fitting idea for a devotee of Bastet.

Regardless, I think my first crystal should be one sacred to Bastet, as a perfect way to thank her for all she has helped me with lately.

Tiger's eye is a common gemstone many spiritualists use in their practices. For chakra work, it is associated with the Sacral, Solar Plexus, and Root chakras. I personally use it on my root chakra the most as it feels more fitting to me; however, I would like to subtly remind you that to each their own, and you do not have to do anything the way I do.

Don't worry, at the bottom of this page, I shall list a summary of all it can be used for and care it can be done so that you don't have to reread my entire post; just in case you are taking notes.

Tiger's eye can mostly be harvested in South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Thailand. It comes in Gold, Brown, Red, Yellow, and its close relative Hawk's Eye, which is gray or blue.

It is safe to use in water in case you are seeking to water cleanse it or use it in potions/elixirs/tonics.

Now I would like to warn you that yes, Tiger's eye is a variety of quartz; however, it contains inclusions of non-harmful asbestos fibers. Though I have read that due to the asbestos being encapsulated within the quartz, you don't have to worry about breathing it in. Just be careful when cutting it, as goes for when cutting any quartz crystal.

Tiger's eye has quite a bit of utility. It can be used for social change, activating energy, giving courage, promoting self-confidence, prosperity, balance, vitality, insight, perception, will-power, determination, clarity, truth, focus, decision-making, grounding emotions, and for protection. The grounding aspect is why I specifically associate it with the root chakra. It can be used to protect against the evil eye, bad luck, and curses, as it has been used as a protective talisman for centuries.

It often works well in rooms and places such as: Near the front door: Place it by your entrance to act as a protective charm against negative energy. In your home office or workspace: Use it to boost productivity, concentration, and decision-making skills. It is especially good for those in creative or entrepreneurial fields. In a child's room, some believe it provides a sense of safety and protection for children. South-facing area: According to Feng Shui principles, placing it in the south area of a room or home can attract the fire energy associated with fame, reputation, and enthusiasm. Meditation or spiritual area: Hold it during meditation to enhance your practice and grounding energy. Near electronics: Place it near computers to help ground you and protect against negative energy.

One place where it is not recommended to place it is in bedrooms or places of rest, as it can disrupt sleep.

It is not recommended for Zodiac signs ruled by Saturn and Mercury: specifically, Aquarius and Capricorn. It can cause agitation in Aquarius and issues with sleep in Capricorns.

Zodiacs that benefit would be: Leo: Associated with confidence and personal power, making it a good fit for the sign ruled by the Sun. Aries: Benefits from the stone's energetic and motivational properties. Gemini: Benefits from the stone's ability to promote clarity and focus, though some sources suggest caution. Scorpio: Benefits from the stone's ability to enhance personal power and grounding, though some sources suggest caution. Virgo: Benefits from the stone's ability to improve focus and organization. Pisces: Benefits from the stone's grounding and clarifying properties, though some sources suggest caution. Sagittarius: Benefits can be that it offers courage, confidence, and grounded action, which can complement their adventurous nature and aid them in pursuing goals.

I often use it when I am testing for bad luck and hexes, when I am trying to focus and keep myself grounded when working, and keeping myself calm in anxious situations. It is why I carry a tiger's eye worry stone in my bag with me everywhere I go to help me calm down in case there is something stressful occurring.

How I feel it is associated with Bastet so well is because both she and this gemstone have aspects of confidence, courage, grounding/stabilizing emotions, and protecting from curses.

Another word of caution, though, sometimes the tumbled version can be confused with wood dipped in epoxy resin. Therefore, sometimes it can be confusing if you are sensing it through energy, as tree wood is often used for grounding energy as well.

Ways to tell if Tiger's eye is real are if you see Catoyancy: a bright, silky band of light that moves as you tilt the stone. It also tests a 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale of Hardness. If it is easily scratched by class, then it is fake.

To finish this post, I would like to give a summary of what it can be used for:

uses: social change, activating energy, giving courage, promoting self-confidence, prosperity, balance, vitality, insight, perception, will-power, determination, clarity, truth, focus, decision-making, grounding emotions, and for protection

safe in water

chakras: solar plexus, root, and sacral

zodiacs benefited: Leo, Aries, Gemini, Scorpio, Virgo, Pisces, and Sagittarius.

zodiacs not benefited: Aquarius, Capricorn

Rooms/places benefited: Workplace, front door, child's playroom, south-facing areas

Rooms/places not benefited: bedrooms, places of rest

Now that you have a base understanding of Golden Tiger's eye, I would like to thank all of my followers for waiting for my posts and liking my posts. It means a lot.

As always,

Have a Blessed Day, Blessed Morrow, and Blessed Be,

-Jean

[eclecticwitchandpaganjean]

Deity Info: Hestia

I feel as though this photo does this lovely goddess quite well. This is, if you hadn't read the title of this post, the Greek Goddess Hestia. To the Romans, she is known as Vesta, but I worship the Greek Goddess Hestia.

Hestia is the Greek Goddess of Home, Hearth, Hospitality, and Community. She is one of the three Virgin Olympians and the eldest daughter of Cronus: Titan of Time, and Rhea: Titaness of Motherhood.

Now, there is a lot of controversy if Hestia is deemed an Olympian or not due to there being 12 Olympians. There is a myth declaring that when Dionysus ascended to godhood, she noticed conflict arising between the current Olympians (Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena, Hephaestus, Artemis, Apollo, Poseidon, Demeter, Aphrodite, Hermes) and gladly gave up her seat for him; hence why many view her as a very compassionate and kind goddess.

Even though she wasn't considered an Olympian, she was often still a very important goddess. Alongside her sister, Hera: Goddess of Motherhood and Marriage, presides over the boundaries of marital love, maternal love, and married women's lives. Hestia also presides over family love, such as the relationships between family members.

She also presided over the family hearth, thus often giving her an association with food. This, doing so alongside her association with family relationships, traditionally gave the order of offerings to Hestia first before any offerings were made to Zeus at any meal.

While she presided over every family's individual hearths, she also primarily resides over all community hearths and the hearth on Mount Olympus. This, and I presume her compassionate image, granted her the honor of being known as the Goddess of Community for which she was also seen to preside over city offerings to the gods.

One common Myth with Hestia is in Ovid's poem Fasti, which would be the myth where Hestia was taking a nap in the garden on Mount Olympus. I can't really remember if there was a party going on or not, but regardless, the god Priapus, the God of fertility, specifically of male genitalia, gardens, and livestock, drunkenly stumbled into the garden and attempted to SA (I don't know if guidelines will let me post the full word) Hestia. Before Priapus could get too far within his actions, a donkey saw the situation and began to bray at him loudly. Thus alerting Hestia and the other gods to Priapus's actions and saving Hestia's honor. Some recount this story to be the reason why donkeys became sacred to Hestia, even though donkeys were a sacrificial offering to Priapus in the city of Lampsacus, where his cult resided. However, I would like to gently remind you that this is a myth and that they are not to be taken literally and thus do not throw slander at Priapus for this story.

My Personal Practices with Hestia: One of my biggest personal practices with Hestia is, when I can, I thank her for every meal, as she is known to be a goddess of food and cooking When I worked in the food industry, I often used to pray and ask that she bless me with a warm and welcoming smile, to allow the day to go smoothly, to give me patience, and to give me her strength to be nice even when others are making absurd amounts of messes or absurd amounts of stress. I often channel her energy at work as I use her strength to help me be productive and keep a smile upon my face when I just wanna throttle someone for being disrespectful.

As an Eclectic witch with ties to Kitchen Witchcraft, I often call to her for help or guidance when doing a spell within my food or when I am cleaning my home.

Herbs associated with her are: Basil, Oregano, Marjoram, Mint, Sage, Spearmint, Bay Laurel, Cinnamon, Vervain, Chamomile, Rosemary, Thyme, Savory, Fennel, Coriander, Parsley, Dill, Chaste Tree, Lavender, Iris, Peony, Anjelica, Angel’s trumpet, Poppy, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Yarrow, and Anise

Stones and Metals associated with her are: Wairakite, Grossular, Burmese Ruby, Almandine Spinel, African Jade, Adelaide ruby, Pumpellyite, Almandine Garnet, Pyrope Garnet, Diaspore, Mahogany Obsidian, Ruby, Gold, Silver, Brass, Hematite, Red Jasper, Quartz, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Agate, Amber, Yellow/Honey/Orange Calcite, Carnelian, Citrine, Sunstone, Selenite, Black Tourmaline, Moonstone, Lepidolite, mookaite 

Symbols associated with her are: donkeys, cows, pigs, fire, chaste tree, kettle, vase, fireplaces, tea, coffee

Colors associated with her are: Gold, light purple, black, silver, dark red, yellow, and orange

Tarot Cards associated with her are: Strength, Queen of Pentacles, Page of Pentacles.

Animals associated with her are: donkeys: for this I refer to the story of Hestia and Priapus), cows: cows were also common livestock that were sometimes alternately sacrificed in Hestia's name when pigs weren’t people sacrificed, pigs: pigs were often used as sacrifices in her animal to the point they were considered her sacrificial animal, pig fat was also used to keep the great fire at Olympus burning, 

Holidays associated with her: Vestalia (July 9th), Hestia Day (June 8th), December 26th to January 22nd (Days Sacred to Hestia)

Days of the week sacred to her: Saturday

Offerings to her include: first and last food offerings, baked goods, olive oil, incense of her herbs, fresh water, cooking/baking in her honor, warm drinks, teas, candles or lamps, handmade crafts, her sacred herbs, prayers, songs, Sweet wine, Fruits, Pure water, Hot tea, Tea kettles, Gold, light purple, black, silver, and dark red candles, Scented candles that are comforting to you or remind you of home, Scented incense such as Angelica, iris, lavender, and peony, Pottery, Art or statues of donkeys and pigs, Pictures of family, friends that are like your family, or your pets, Pictures of homes you want to live in one day or homes you have lived in, Pictures of architecture that you like, Teacups, Small kitchen antiques like teaspoons, tea towels, etc., Childhood memories like stuffed toys, baby clothes, old photos, etc., Keys, Homegrown herbs, Toys or art of donkeys and pigs,Tea light candles (real or fake), Your favorite poetry or poetry you have written for Her, Your favorite books, Stories you have written, Art of flames, fire, candles, etc., Crafts that you’ve made, Garments that you have made such as clothing, blankets, beanies, etc., Homemade lotions, bath bombs, shower gel, bubble bath, etc. (You can ask Her to bless them then use them, She would be happy about doing so)

Ways to honor Hestia: Donate to those who have lost their homes, or help them rebuild, Donate to food drives, Give to the homeless, Do little (or big) acts of kindness, thank her for your meals, If you have a fireplace, light it for Her or build Her altar around it (or in/near your kitchen), Meditate next to a fire or candle, If you can’t make a fire, listen to the sound of fire on YouTube or elsewhere, Read poetry or a book, Make a playlist for Her and play it while you clean or cook, Clean your house/room and keep it nice and tidy, Take a cooking or baking class, Try making your own bread, Learn how to sew, knit, crochet, etc., Collect recipes and keep a recipe book, Host celebrations at your home, Remember your ancestors and learn more about them, Spend time with your family, friends, and/or pets, Try incorporating a veil with your outfits or just wear one when you give Her offerings, Take care of yourself, your mental and physical health. Your body's a home for you after all, Treat ‘yo self! Seriously, she enjoys her followers loving and treating themselves well. Take a hot bath, eat some ice cream, chill at home for a day, etc, Praying to her for protection, for inspiration, for happiness, for guidance, for helping get rid of negative entities in the home, for bringing peace in the home, for good food, for an abundance of food, for independence, for help to start/tending to the hearth, and for strong family bonds

Signs Hestia is calling to you: Warmth and Comfortable energy, Drawn to Domestic Activities (baking, decorating, cooking, crafts), Dreams of Fire, A Desire for Stability, Finding and Appreciating Family Recipes, A Pull Towards Minimalism, Increased Sensitivity to Home Energies, Encounters of her Symbols, Feeling Protective of Home, Guidance in Meditation, Recurring Themes in Reading or Media, Sense of Belonging.

Epithets: basileia, chloomorphos, aidios, Virgin Goddess of Home and Hearth, Keeper of The Eternal Flame of Olympus, The Keeper, Oldest Olympian, Maiden of Compassion and Hospitality, and She of The Hearth and Home.

Hestia is a Goddess that I recommend for every to worship at least once within their practices, as she is often a good deity to help with starting out in life on your own. I also recommend her as a good deity for those who are Kitchen Witches or Cottage Witches who would like to find a good deity to start worshipping.

Although truth be told, I have been a little negligent in my worship of her, and I am hoping this post would be a good offering to make up for my absence of worship. As always:

Have a Blessed Day, a Blessed Morrow, and a Blessed Be.

-Jean