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I have a number of other blogs, including "blackheartofinnocence," which I'm trying to make my main blog of sorts. Just putting that out there.

[occulteaism]

Bear Symbolism

“Bear lifted me up so I could see all the Earth. He said I may jump high among the cliffs, and live forever.”

~ Full Mouth (Crow)

The bear is a powerful animal symbol to many peoples, especially the tribes of the United States. A symbol of the warrior and of motherly protection, the bear’s power is to guard oneself from any threat and to help one protect all that which is precious to them.

However, when you start to unpack all the symbolism that the bear has to offer, you’ll quickly find that there are many complex dualities going on beneath the surface. Just as a mother symbol, the bear represents both the gently nurturing and fiercely protective aspects of motherhood. The bear is docile and almost serene when it and its cubs are safe, but when provoked, there’s nothing in the forest that can stop its rampage.

Bear duality also applies to the way the bear weathers Winter weather. The hibernating bear and the awakened bear both have their own sets of symbolism, with our ancestors assigning either one aspects of the new and full moon. Furthermore, you can apply the whole spectrum of duality to this aspect of the bear’s life cycles! The hibernating bear represents yin energy: passive, receptive, feminine, water, darkness, the moon. The awakened bear represents yang energy: active, projective, masculine, fire, light, the sun.

This both lunar and solar nature holds great weight in alchemy, where the bear is seen as a symbol of transformation. Seeing the bear as symbolic of the prima materia, alchemists took note of how the scent of the bear lingered long after it had left its Winter haven. These aspects combined formulate a powerful lesson for alchemists or anyone else: balance between the different sides of one’s identity is needed to achieve something that will last. The bear teaches us to pull together and accept all of our various qualities and contradictions, balancing them without judgment and building a stronger version of one’s self.

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I’ve been meaning to make it for a while, but struggled to find the time and the energy until today. I’ve got more posts planned for today and tomorrow, so hopefully they’ll materialize without any sort of hang-ups!

Thank you all for reading, and may the Tree of Life always shelter you!

[occulteaism]

Litha Celebration!

So, as I’m sure a lot of you are already aware, today is the Summer Solstice! Celebrated as Litha by Wiccans, today is the day when the God and Goddess are at their happiest and highest, just like the sun. 

We’re at the halfway point of Summer, so we all need to harness our energy and get down to business before the coming of Autumn and Winter! I’ve come across a few ways to celebrate, and wanted to share with you all!

The colors associated with Litha are green, white, blue, and yellow. Its crystals are malachite, lapis lazuli, sodalite, and citrine. If you’re a fan of making and burning your own incense, you can combine dried chamomile, gardenia, lavender, and rose petals together with gum arabic or myrrh resin; keep it in a jar with a label on it, then sprinkle it over charcoal discs!

Today is a great day to clean up the clutter so that Summer’s energies can flow more easily through your life! Clean out the closet, run the vacuum cleaner, do some dusting, and make your life sparkle! You can also cleanse your space through a smudging ritual, or with incense like sage or lavender.

Litha is also a good day to do running water rituals. Find a river, a pond, a lake, or the nearest bit of ocean near you, make a simple circle on the shore, and release flowers (preferably roses) for each wish you’d like to make, as well as one dedicated to the Goddess. You might also simply write your wishes on a piece of paper, but make sure it’s biodegradable! Give a hoot, don’t pollute!

You can also make sun tea today by infusing water with herbs by leaving them out in the sunshine for a few hours. Today is also a good day to take a mugwort bath before you go to bed tonight, and if you only have a shower, you can use the sun tea method to infuse the mugwort into some water before pouring it over your body while you’re showering!

Lastly, today is also a great day to do a waxing moon ritual to bring new possibilities into your life! Take a yellow candle and inscribe it with a symbol or symbols associated with what you want to attract (e.g., a dollar sign for money) while visualizing the changes taking place. Imagine how this increase in energy will benefit you and the world around you, then light the candle while visualizing your wish coming true. Allow the candle to burn out if you can, or if you have to snuff it out, make sure you relight it with intention.

Keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate a holiday like Litha, so long as it’s done with intention, love, and doesn’t bring harm to another. I’m personally planning on celebrating it through the weekend and into Monday! 

Happy Litha, everyone! May your day be warm and bright!

[occulteaism]

Alder

Known to the druids by the name of “Feam,” alder is also often called Scottish mahogany, Irish mahogany, King of the Forest, and Tree of the Fairies. Said to be a charm against malicious fairies that’s guarded by water sprites, it’s extremely ill-advised to cut one of these trees down! What’s more, the Celtic saga Battle of the Trees describes Bran as being identified by the branch of alder he carries. Alder is a powerful tree to involve in your witchcraft!

Energy ~ Masculine

Planets ~ Moon, Mars

Elements ~ Fire, Water

Deities ~ Odin, Bran, King Arthur, Apollo, Astarte, Aphrodite, Pan, Lugh, Orpheus, Branwen, Arianrhod

Zodiac ~ Pisces

Alder shoots can be easily made into whistles and panpipes, which hold great sway over the wind and Air elementals. Meanwhile, due to mingling the elements of Fire and Water, alder is also a great aid for balancing the yin and yang in your life! Medicinally, this tree can be used as an astringent, tonic, antiviral (especially for herpes), hemorrhagic, antibacterial, emetic, vulnerary, febrifuge, anti diarrhoeal, lymphatic, and possibly anti-inflammatory treatment.

With regards to the casting of spells, alder wood wands are recommended for rituals involving charisma, journeys, self confidence, bravery, supervision skills, and spiritual growth. They are also used in shielding the astral self from unwanted intrusion from other realms. Witches of the Stregha path have long known the secrets of the Alder wood. The Italian witches prized the sap of the alder wood to make red dyes for potent Nanta bags; freshly cut alder will turn crimson from the sap, associating it with that which is living and breathing. 

Alder wood should also be used for magicks that are intended to balance action with emotion. This tree can be used in magicks that are designed to protect the heart and chest area: talismans worn about the neck are excellent for this. Said to be the gateway to the faery realm, alder also makes a great aid for magick involving the fae. Some ancient texts suggest that alder also allows spirits from the Otherworld to enter our own.

If one intends to make an alder wood wand for wind magick, it must be taken exclusively from branches separated by the wind. The wand should be imbued with the energy of the full moon associated with alder in the Celtic Zodiac, that being the one in-between March 18th and April 14th. Imbued with the power of Air through ritual, such a wand is a potent aid for wind and weather magick, and should be covered when not in use.

In flower language, alder blossoms mean “Conquers Adversities” and “Strength from Within.”

[occulteaism]

Some Basic Thoughts on Alchemy’s Three Basic Concepts

I’ve been studying alchemy and its symbols a lot lately, and it’s really helped me to define what I believe about my own magickal practices! I wanted to share some basic ideas without really much planning, and see how it works out!

The three symbols in alchemy represent a trinity, a powerful thing in so many religious and magical practices. As alchemists used symbols and code-words to refer to so many concepts, it takes some creative interpretation to figure out what the philosophical side of their studies entailed.

Salt represents, in short, the body. It represents the physical matter of the world. However, one must remember the key words of the Emerald Tablet: “As above, so below.” This means that matter is not in any way separated from thought, as we’ll cover in time.

Mercury represents the spirit or mind. Mercury is the embodiment of thought and will, and all that this entails. I guess you could say it’s the personality, the will, and the conscious thought of a person or thing. I personally believe that all matter has some form of consciousness or another, but that’s not what we’re discussing right now.

Sulfur is the soul of the matter. Sulfur represents the primary reason to be and the origin of both mind and body. The soul is the origin of all things, and it is from the soul that consciousness, or Mercury flows and matter is arranged or rearranged into what we recognize as Salt, or the body.

So, what this all boils down to is what I believe is an incredibly important mental position to take on magic. “As above, so below” means “That which moves in  what is above will move in what is below.” What your soul desires and what your mind can visualize will manifest in the physical world, if allowed to do so.

In our modern lives (and indeed, likely for most people throughout history, if what alchemical texts, Taoist texts, and various other ancient texts try to teach is anything to go by), we’re so convinced that we have to force things to happen through physical effort that we stifle our mind’s ability to work through the problem and materialize a solution just by focusing on how much we need it, and how good it will feel to have it.

Divination, talismans, spells of any kind… It all comes back to the soul, the natural origin point that resides in all things. Magic isn’t a power you need to borrow or use to coerce the universe into giving you something. It’s your way of communicating your desire to the universe, and giving your thoughts a way to most easily manifest in the world.

Nothing in the universe is ever truly created or destroyed; matter, energy, and information are merely transformed from one state to another. When you draw, you merely leave graphite from your pencil in a trail on the page; when you erase it, you pull that graphite off with the rubber filings left behind. When you type something up or delete it on your computer, your taps of the keys communicate to the device how to display its internal processes on screen.

When you cast a spell, you transform the energy in crystals, candles, herbs, what-have-you into a change in the physical world, no matter how subtle or drastic. When you make a divination, you are sending a request into the cosmos to reveal its internal processes and help you figure out your next course of action.

Magic is just as natural as drawing, typing, eating, and breathing, and it’s a power that we have all been gifted with in order that we may craft the life we desire most for ourselves. Why is this the case? Well, I have some beliefs on that that I’d like to share sometime.

For now, I hope this rambling mess of a post made some kind of sense to you all! I’m trying to develop my own working theory on magic and what I believe about it, so I hope this helps you all out as much as it did me!

[occulteaism]

Yoqi Sun and Earth Purification

I’ve been trying to bring more Fire and Earth elements into my life, and this qigong really helps with that! It’s not very long or difficult, but it really makes me feel uplifted and at peace. Make sure that when the instructor tells you to put the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, you put it on the ridge behind your front teeth!

[occulteaism]

White Magick for Renewal of Innocence

Sometimes, life kind of wears us down and causes us our inner light to grow dim. We lose touch with our inspiration and our triumphant side, and every day can feel like a struggle. It’s times like this that a little white magick can go a long way, so I’m going to start sharing some spells I’ve found!

The first that I’ll share for this post will require your altar, some kind of container, and a yellow candle. Take the container outside and fill it with dirt; just pull some fresh soil up with your bare hands! Collect some power items while you’re out there, too: flowers, rocks, feathers, etc., etc. 

Then, take the container inside, set it on your altar, and arrange the power items in the dirt. Light a yellow candle, and feel its glow warming you and renewing you from within. Recite for as many times as you like, “All that I touch results in new growth.” Once the candle has burned down, dispose of the items however you see fit, preferably by returning them to nature!

I hope this helps!

[occulteaism]

Apple

Arguably the most magical and symbolism-laden of fruits, the apple is a common ingredient in both culinary recipes and herbal magick! Believed by many cultures to be the food of the dead or to convey some kind of attribute forbidden to humans (such as immortality or hidden knowledge), apples generally grow on small- to medium-sized trees, and usually develop from pale blossoms with five pink-tipped petals.

Energy ~ Feminine

Planet ~ Venus

Element ~ Water

Deities ~ Venus/Aphrodite, Dionysus, Athena, Diana, Apollo, Zeus, Hera, Olwen, Iduna

In terms of growing apple trees, most varieties will require you to acquire at least two specimens in order to pollinate each other. Most trees won’t produce fruit in their first year, and for some, it may take as many as three or four! Dwarf varieties tend to produce fruit much sooner, and excessive pruning will delay the process. 

Apples should be picked by hand when ripe (don’t shake the tree), but windfall apples on the ground can be picked up, have the bad parts cut off, and be cooked on the same day! Apples can be stored in just about any cool place, so long as they’re clean and dry. You can cut them up and boil them with some sugar to make fried apples (unintuitive name, I know), and you can also cook them with 1.5 cups dark brown sugar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon each ground nutmeg and allspice, and a pinch of salt to make apple butter! Store that one in a jar for later.

With regards to magic, apples are incredibly useful for love and health spells! An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and these fiber-rich fruits lend themselves well to spells for keeping people hale and hardy. You can cut an apple into three pieces and rub each one on an affected area to perform a healing spell, and you can also eat an apple to prevent a fever. Apple cider can be poured on the ground to bring life into a garden, or onto roots as a libation for tree rituals. If you grow apples, bury 13 leaves of an apple tree after harvest to ensure the next year is plentiful! Apple can also be used to make incenses for healing or attracting love.

I know this post is getting a bit long, but I feel like special mention should be made to the different love spells you can cast with apples. To list just a few: cutting an apple in half and sharing it with your beloved; holding it and warming it in your hands before giving it to the person you love; and plucking an apple before carving the words Aleo + Deleo + Delato on it before reciting an incantation I won’t list and giving it to someone. The reason I won’t list the incantation is that I find certain love spells manipulative, and believe that love spells should only be used to deepen an existing love or try to help you find a new one, not persuade a person to fall in love with you.

In flower language, an apple blossom signifies “Preference,” while a whole apple signifies “Temptation.”

[occulteaism]

Shielding

I recently discovered a concept in magic that’s apparently one of the most important of the basics, but I’d never heard of it before: Shielding!

Shielding is a method that witches or other mystical types can use to protect themselves from malignant influences. To manifest your shield, practice visualizing some kind of barrier around you, but one that will allow your energy to flow out for spells while keeping you safe from external energies!

What I tried doing is practicing some qigong, then meditating for about twenty minutes. I visualized white energy issuing from my chakras and vital points and gathering on the surface of my body, trying to keep it from dissipating into the environment around me.

My theory is that all human beings have an aura, but it’s usually very weak, with the energy drifting away uselessly. Qi, mana, Od, prana, whatever you want to call it, I believe that all human beings have it, but never use it.

it’s what’s used for magic (or at least, that’s my theory), and things like qigong help to harness it!

What do you guys, gals, and others think?

[occulteaism]

A Guide to Spellcasting

Since I’m getting close to 550 subscribers and didn’t do anything special for 500, I decided to do something that’s been on my mind for a while: a guide to spellcasting in general!

Now, you should know that spellcasting begins before you light a single candle. It’s best to have a process you go through before every spell: you should wash yourself, preferably in a purifying herbal bath (though it doesn’t have to be); turn off the artificial lights, if you have to cast indoors; and meditate a bit to prepare yourself. I personally also like to do qigong before my spells, and I plan on linking videos to help you all get started on that!

You can also have some herbal tea, or play some music to get you focused on your task. Do whatever works for you, so long as it gets you in the Zone for casting your spell! Some like to fast before casting a spell, but I’ve read conflicting information on that. If you feel, personally, like it helps or hinders your spellcasting, then go with what feels right to you, and not what someone else decrees.

Additionally, it would behoove you to purify and safeguard a space before casting. If you worry that there may be unwanted energies in the space you’ll be casting, you can try smudging or burning incense, and erecting a circle to keep any spirits or other undesirable influences out. I’d also recommend having a dedicated space for spellcasting, like a spot in the garden or a room no one else goes to, and populating it with items that will enhance your spell (and hopefully bring some good feng shui).

You should also take some time to familiarize yourself with your spell items and attune them to the task that lies ahead. Whether it’s a crystal, an herb, or a candle, you should hold the object in your hand (after it’s been cleared of unwanted energy), then focus your energies and your intentions into it. Visualize what it is you’ll need, and visualize it as having already happened.

Next, while casting the spell, there are certain things you can do to improve its effect. Maintain privacy while you’re spellcasting: no children, pets, family members, or anyone else should intrude on your space. Incantations are also useful, as are magical formulae, mantras, and gestures that help you to concentrate your energies on the spell.

After spellcasting, you might need some time to recharge. I personally recommend listening or playing to music, looking at or making art, drinking tea, eating some nutritious food, and things like that. I’ve found that making or consuming art especially helps me to recharge!

Additionally, depending on the type of spell, you may want to purify your space and your house in general. Some spells will require you to dispose of candle remains outside of your house, or do some smudging or other tasks intended to purify the space. Make sure you practice safe spellcasting!

I hope this has been helpful to all of you. I’m sorry for not posting much lately, I’ve kind of been in a dither these past few weeks! There’s a spell I’ve been working on that’s occupied a lot of my time and energy. I’m going to start posting more again soon, though!

[occulteaism]

Celtic Cross!

This was the first Celtic cross spread I’ve ever done, and I feel like it really answered a lot of questions that I had! My question concerned my goals for the future, and the reading’s overall theme seems to be staying the course, working hard, and being ready too make difficult decisions. Yet it also seems to stress that all of my hard work will lead to bountiful rewards, if it hasn’t already!

[occulteaism]

Solomon’s Seal (herb)

Solomon’s Seal is a lovely woodland perennial with native varieties in North America, Europe, and Asia. The plant can grow up to two feet tall, and while Greater Solomon’s Seal is much larger than True Solomon’s Seal, their properties are identical for our purposes. The plant consists of a single stem with many broad, ovate leaves that display parallel venation arranged alternately along its length, as well as clasping the base. The stem tends to arc slightly, bending under its own weight, and hangs with small bell-shaped flowers from the leaf axils along the bottom.

Solomon’s Seal is named for King Solomon of Hebrew lore, a wise and powerful ruler who was blessed by God and granted a ring that would allow him to control demons without any harm coming to him. King Solomon was said to be so impressed by this plant that he put his seal upon it, and with some imagination, you can see the seal on the root stock in the circular scars left by the stem after it dies back.

When growing Solomon’s Seal, the plant prefers light soil, a good mulch, and shady locations in zones 4 through 9. A lovely plant, it will return year after year and spread itself; some consider it to be an invasive weed, however, so take care with how you allow it to propagate. Although this plant is not currently listed as endangered, the usual warnings about responsible wildcrafting apply. Because this plant is so easy to grow in a shady garden bed, however, wildcrafting is not necessary. Gather the rhizomes in the fall and lay them on a screen to dry in a warm location with good circulation. free from humidity and sunlight. Once fully dried, store in a cool location away from light.

True Solomon’s Seal is used in herbal medicine throughout Asia, Europe and North America. It is often classified as a sweet, neutral yin tonic and a moistening, nourishing general tonic. Its lubricating and tonifying effects are beneficial for inflammation associated with dryness in the tendons, joints and ligaments. It has also traditionally been used as a demulcent nutritive that may soothe irritation of the mucosa lining in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and both female and male reproductive systems. Its anti-inflammatory properties have lent themselves to the treatment of arthritis, and experienced herbalists hold it to be useful as an aid for bone-knitting, among other kinds of treatments. Some say that this plant is also useful for “sealing” wounds.

Solomon’s Seal is associated with the planet Saturn and the element Water. The plant aids one in making difficult decisions and accepting and seeking change. It helps in spellwork to aid changing/breaking habits and in making smooth transitions for changes beyond our control. It is also used in love potions to amplify commitment between partners and to “seal” a spell or a sacred oath or promise. An infusion of Solomon’s Seal, or incense made of Solomon’s Seal root can both be used to drive away negative vibrations and malicious spirits. It can also be used to summon helpful spirits and elementals.

In flower language, Solomon’s Seal blossoms mean “Secret and Discretion.”

[occulteaism]

New Moon, New Crystals

My darling got me a number of reiki crystals for Valentine’s Day, so I’ve decided to get right into clearing them and charging them up! I’d advise all of my fellow spellcasters out there take an opportunity today to clear your crystals and other ritual items. Tonight is a new moon, so right now is the best time to un-clutter the energy in your items and domain in general! I’m planning on doing some cleaning and tidying up, and maybe trying to purify my atelier a bit.

[occulteaism]

Essential Oil Correspondences

Amyris (Amyris balsamifera) ~ anointing, astral projection, attraction, blessing, consecration, exorcism, healing, love, meditation, protection, purification, sacral chakra, spirituality

Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica) ~ exorcism, protection, healing, visions

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) ~ business success, conscious mind (stimulates), happiness, lust, money, peace, prosperity, protection

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) ~ banishing, exorcism, luck, psychic ability

Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) ~ purification, prosperity, attracts customers

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) ~ business success, happiness, money, peace, physical energy, prosperity, protection, sleep

Birch Sweet (Betula lenta) ~ protection, purification, exorcism

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) ~ courage, physical energy, and protection

Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) ~ water, Venus, immortality, youth, longevity

Cajeput (Melaleuca cajeputi) ~ purification, protection, dispel negative thoughts and energies, break habits

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) ~ celibacy, crown chakra, physical energy, psychic energy, purification

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) ~ love, lust

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota) ~ grounding, fertility

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) ~ cat magic, love, beauty, happiness

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) ~ blessing, health (maintain), heart chakra, meditation, money, protection, psychic energy, purification, self-control, spirituality, unhexing

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita & Anthemis nobilis) ~ meditation, peace, sleep

Chili Seed (Capsicum annum) ~ protection, exorcism, fidelity, hex-breaking, love

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanii / cassia / zeylancium) ~ astral projection, base chakra, business success, health (maintain), luck, lust, magical energy, meditation, money, physical energy, prosperity, protection, psychic awareness, purification, spirituality

Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus / winterianus) ~ exorcism (exterior use), health (maintain), purification, unhexing

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) ~ vivid dreams

Clove Bud (Eugenia or syzgium aromaticum) ~ balances chakras, business success, courage, divination, exorcism, healing, heart chakra, love, money, prosperity, protection, psychic awareness

Coffee Bean (Coffea arabica) ~ grounding, Earth magic, Mars, ritual stimulant

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) ~ longevity, healing, comfort, protection

Elemi (Canarium luzonicum) ~ mental and psychic ability, spiritual balance, solar plexus chakra

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) ~ healing, health (maintain), protection, psychic energy, purification

Fir Needle (Abies sibirica) ~ mind clearing, memory, communication, purification before ritual, , protection, hex removal

Frankincense (Boswellia serrata / carterii) ~ blessing, consecration, courage, exorcism, meditation, protection, purification, solar plexus chakra, spirituality

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens / x asperum) ~ happiness, protection

Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale) ~ attraction, business success, courage, love, lust, magical energy, money, peace, physical energy, prosperity, purification, sex

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) ~ purification

Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) ~ creativity, intuition, invoke spirits, scrying, channeling, awareness, calm, patience

Ho Wood (Cinnamomum camphora) ~ cleaning, banishing, subdue sexual desire, celibacy, chastity, psychic power, dream work

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) ~ purification, protection

Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis) ~ protection, anti-theft, love, exorcism, health

Lavender (Lavandula stoechas / angustifolia / latifolia / hybrida) ~ balances chakras, business success, celibacy, conscious mind (stimulates), happiness, health (maintain), love, peace, protection, purification, sleep, third-eye chakra

Lemon (Citrus limonum / limon) ~ balances chakras, health (maintain), love, physical energy, purification

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus / flexuosus / schoenanthus) ~ psychic awareness, psychic energy, purification, spirituality

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) ~ physical energy, protection, purification

Litsea (Litsea cubeba) ~ energy, rejuvenation, letting go

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) ~ celibacy, happiness, peace, sleep

Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) ~ moon, divination, lucid dreaming, prophetic dreams, protection

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) ~ astral projection, attraction, balances chakras, blessing, consecration, crown chakra, exorcism, healing, meditation, protection, psychic energy, spirituality, unhexing

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) ~ love, good luck, fertility, and Venus, feminine and water aspects

Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia) ~ purification, healing, protection, clearing negative energies, aura cleansing

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) ~ luck, magical energy, meditation, money, physical energy, psychic awareness

Opoponax (Commiphora guidotti) ~ death/resurrection, divination, Pluto, Scorpio, change

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) ~ happiness, tranquility

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) ~ healing, love

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) ~ luck, air element.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) ~ attraction, banishes negativity, growth, love, luck, mastery, money, peace, physical energy, prosperity, sex

Peppermint (Mentha arvensis / piperita) ~ conscious mind (stimulates), exorcism, health (maintain), protection, purification

Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium) ~ conscious mind (stimulates), protection

Pine (Pinus sylvestris) ~ exorcism, grounding, healing, health (maintain), magical energy, money, physical energy, protection, purification

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) ~ conscious mind (stimulates), exorcism, health (maintain), heart chakra, longevity, love, protective, remembrance, third-eye chakra, vitality

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) ~ Mars, Moon, Venus, spirit element, fire element, intuitive health, beauty, divination, scrying, healing rituals, maturity, wisdom, femininity

Sage Dalmatian (Salvia officinalis) ~ conscious mind (stimulates), exorcism, money, purification, wisdom

Sage White (Salvia apiana) ~ cleansing spaces and magical objects, banish negative energy

Sandalwood (Santalum album) ~ anointing, astral projection, attraction, blessing, consecration, exorcism, healing, love, meditation, protection, purification, sacral chakra, spirituality

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) ~ comfort, healing, sleep (for protection)

Spikenard “Jatamansi” (Nardostachys jatamansi) ~ good luck, fidelity, and health

Star Anise (Illicium verum) ~ psychic power, luck

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) ~ balances chakras, divination, happiness, joy, love, luck, magical energy, money, physical energy, psychic energy, purification, sacral chakra

Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) ~ magical energy, purification

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) ~ purification

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) ~ conscious mind (stimulates), courage, health (maintain), purification

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) ~ purification, protection

Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) ~ love, sleep, purification, protection

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) ~ love, lust, mental power

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) ~ divination, exorcism, love, money, peace, protection, unhexing

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) ~ protection, healing, hex-breaking

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) ~ love, lust, peace, sex, throat chakra

[occulteaism]

Super Blue Blood Moon!

If any of my fellow spellcasters haven’t heard yet, there’s going to be a huge stellar event tonight! There’s going to be a super moon, a blue moon, and a blood moon at the same time! Make sure you all go out to observe it and make the best of this big night!

[occulteaism]

Power of Three Healing Spell

This spell harnesses the power of the number three for healing, but is better for illness than for injury. You’re going to need three candles: one white, one blue, and one purple. You’ll also need mint oil, myrrh oil, sandalwood oil, three quartz crystals, three small pieces of paper, and something to write with!

First, anoint all three candles with all three oils, then arrange them in a triangle on your altar. Anoint the quartz crystals as well, and set one in front of each candle. Then, you’ll need to write the name of the person you want to be healed on each piece of paper, and set them in the center.

Light each candle and focus your energies on the intention for the person to be well again. Visualize their recovery, and chant the following incantation thrice:

Magic mend and candle burn,

Illness leave and health return.

Leave the candles to burn for three hours before snuffing them out.

Credit for the spell to the creator of this site:

http://www.free-witchcraft-spells.com

[occulteaism]

Yin and Yang

I feel as though my posts on the Five Elements of Wu Xing thus far have embodied a sort of “cart-before-the-horse” faux pas on my part. Before I proceed on to Metal and Water, I feel like it is of the utmost importance that I actually discuss the root of it all: Yin and Yang.

The most effective metaphor for Yin and Yang seems also to potentially be the origin of its famous symbol! Envision a hill, positioned in such a way that the sun catches one side whilst the other remains in shadow. One side is not entirely without its opposite, due to the way the sun shines. As the day goes on, the positions are reversed, with light becoming shadow and shadow becoming light. That which was hidden is revealed, and that which was known becomes obscured. This is Yin and Yang.

As a component to Chinese philosophy, Yinyangism lies at the heart of many political doctrines, schools of thought, martial arts, forms of medicine, and occult traditions. The fundamental concept of the Yin and Yang is that the universe is built on dualism: on contradictory forces that, rather than being in opposition, complement and complete each other. One can extrapolate all sorts of dualities from this beyond just light and darkness! Masculine and feminine, north and south, fire and water, altruism and self-interest, acidic and basic… all things in this world pursue a natural harmony with their counterparts.

This likely won’t be the last time I discuss Yin and Yang in one form or another. I just thought I should lay out the fundamentals here and now, before I wrap up my overviews on the Five Elements!

[the-otaku-club]

Ikebana - Japanese Flower Arrangement

JAPANESE FLOWER ART