January 3 ● Full Moon in Cancer (Wolf Moon)
January 18 ● New Moon in Capricorn
February 1 ● Imbolc
February 1 ● Full Moon in Leo (Snow Moon)
February 17 ● New Moon in Aquarius
February 26 - March 20 ● Mercury Retrograde
March 3 ● Full Moon in Virgo (Worm Moon)
March 19 ● New Moon in Pisces
March 20 ● Ostara
April 2 ● Full Moon in Libra (Pink Moon)
April 17 ● New Moon in Aries
May 1 ● Beltane
May 1 ● Full Moon in Scorpio (Flower Moon)
May 16 ● New Moon in Taurus
May 31 ● Full Moon in Sagittarius (Blue Moon)
June 20-21 ● Litha
June 15 ● New Moon in Gemini
June 29 ● Full Moon in Capricorn (Strawberry Moon)
June 29 - July 23 ● Mercury Retrograde
July 14 ● New Moon in Cancer
July 29 ● Full Moon in Aquarius (Buck Moon)
August 1 ● Lammas
August 12 ● New Moon in Leo
August 28 ● Full Moon (Sturgeon Moon)
September 11 ● New Moon in Virgo
September 23 ● Mabon
September 26 ● Full Moon in Aries(Harvest Moon)
October 10 ● New Moon in Libra
October 24 - November 13 ● Mercury in Retrograde
October 26 ● Full Moon in Taurus (Hunter's Moon)
October 31 ● Samhain
November 9 ● New Moon in Scorpio
November 24 ● Full Moon in Gemini (Beaver Moon)
December 9 ● New Moon in Sagittarius
December 21 ● Yule
December 24 ● Full Moon in Cancer (Cold Moon)
Okay witches, this one's for all our friends and neighbors who are trying to get away from Big Box Monopoly sites or want better / more specialized / more affordable ways to get their components.
Please assume that following things are true:
Reader has visited local thrift shops
Reader has explored local spaces for foraging and wildcrafting
Reader has looked for resources at their local library
Reader has the desire and ability to order things online
Reader has the ability to receive packages
Reader has a small to modest budget
Reader has a non-specific witchcraft path
Reader has a desire for ethically-sourced components
SO. All that being said - what are your favorite places (websites, chain stores, specialty suppliers, etc) to find components for your witchcraft?
Getting some good suggestions in the notes! My turn to add a few. I do most of my ordering online and I make things and run a small business, so I do tend to buy certain supplies in bulk.
Penn Herb Co - Bulk dried plants and spices at very reasonable prices. Products are sold by the ounce and come in 1oz/4oz/16oz packages. Many are available in whole, cut/sifted, and powdered form.
Starwest Botanicals - Bulk herbs, spices, and teas. The prices for some items are a little high, but the company is up-front about Fair Trade pricing for teas and offers wholesale accounts for businesses.
Mountain Rose Herbs - Bulk herbs, spices, and botanicals, plus essential oils, books, containers, and supplies for cooks and makers.
Bulk Apothecary - Raw materials and supplies for the production of candles, soap, fragrances, and more. Excellent for makers, kitchen witches, and small businesses.
Candlewic - Small-town business selling candlemaking supplies. Everything from equipment to wax to dyes to scents and more. I bought from them for several years when I was making my own.
SaveOnScents - Wholesale fragrance oils, incense bundles, supplies for making candles and perfumes. VERY wide selection, sample packs available for scent testing. Great for anyone who wants to make their own scented candles, soaps, perfumes, etc.
100 Candles - All kinds of candles at bulk prices. Scented and unscented options, plus LED candles, lights, and accessories.
Specialty Bottle - Bulk-priced glass bottles and jars in many shapes and sizes. They also sell tins and some plastic items. Been buying bottles and vials from them for years, always good quality. (I've also been recommended Container and Packaging, but I haven't tried them.)
Factory Direct Craft - Pretty much anything you could want in your neighborhood chain hobby shop, in wholesale form. Lots of miniatures, dolls and doll parts, jewelry making supplies, silk flowers, wooden pieces, paints, home decor, and so on.
I've been recommended WEBS/Yarn.com, Knit Picks, Hobbii, Embroidery.com, and Yarn Paradise for fibre arts supplies, though I've only started to explore them.
I also make a habit of looking for potential supplies when I'm browsing the supermarket, dollar store, hardware store, garden center, farmer's market, or craft/hobby shop. (I'll go to Michaels when I need to, but you won't catch me dead in a Hobby Lobby.)
to start with, lets look at some common terms. i’d define them as follows:
wards = long-term protection on spaces (altar, room, etc) - they’re generally seen as permanent despite needing energetic top ups.
shields = temporary personal protection (veiling, amulets, visualization) - you can also shield someone else, either directly or remotely.
cleansing = an act that resets energy to neutral - can be a space, yourself, or an object.
banishing = essentially telling energy or an entity to fuck off (in varying degrees of hostility). i tend to be more nice than mean, especially if that entity is important or likes to hold a grudge.
these concepts get blurred sometimes, and that's fine. most people use them in overlapping ways - it’s just useful for this post (and this blog) to have a list of definitions.
2. why protection work was hard for me at first, and what i do now
i've always found protection work difficult to keep up long-term. i really struggle with doing big rituals consistently (probably the ADHD). i don't have the energy for it. for ages, my protection either just... didn't exist, or it happened in the moment - shielding when something felt off, visualising energy forming around me, stuff like that. the idea of putting wards up every full moon or doing protective cleansings every sunday made me feel exhausted just thinking about it. the energy it took, the way it felt like a chore didn’t feel right, and had me really questioning if witchcraft was for me. i believe that the more energy you give something, the more energy it has - but the more i complicate things, the harder it gets for me, and the less my magick feels like an extension of myself
so instead, i started doing it intuitively. i put my wards up once, and rather than topping them up on a schedule, i check in with them. if they feel off, i fix them. if they feel fine, i leave them! this is something that no one really talks about in protection work, which is: you have to get to know yourself. you have to build trust in your own senses. that comes from meditating, yes, but also from learning to set boundaries, making decisions about what you want your space to feel like, and letting yourself be messy and wrong and curious until you start to learn what "off" feels like. building your intuition will help you sense when you need to top up your wards, when things aren’t right. i visualise a pulse scanning out from me (think like a laser beam), to figure out how my wards are. when my wards are strong, i feel a kind of energetic solidity around me. when they're broken, it feels more like a wooden fence with slats in it, and the energy leaks. things come through that shouldn't. sometimes i feel it energetically. sometimes it's just vibes being off. sometimes my deities let me know. sometimes i don't notice at all until shit starts going sideways.
i also have a servitor who maintains my protective space (his name is alfred (like from batman)). i created him, i feed him energy, and he works like a bouncer: letting only kind-intentioned spirits and energies through. i’ve talked about my “swinging-door” policy here if you want to read more about it, and if you want a separate guide on how to set a servitor up let me know. ultimately, this means that sometimes, if i'm meditating and talking about something, a deity i wasn't expecting shows up. i might think i need aphrodite's help, and freyja turns up instead. or maybe dionysus just wants to hear some gossip. it also allows deities to decide what kind of relationship we have, and let them take the lead. i also send a regular pulse scan out, and if my wards are low I feed energy into them and servitor with visualisation, usually i'll set a five-minute timer and visualise a meter filling up, like i'm charging a battery. i can do this from my bed so it’s decently low effort. again, if you’re like me and find ceremonial magickk feels more performative than a natural extension of yourself, it’s fine to not overcomplicate it! find your own rhythm.
3. advanced protection
i mentioned before about using a shield on someone else, either directly or remotely. taglocks, which you’ll hear mostly used in baneful magickk, are helpful if you're protecting someone else - usually i enchant a crystal or an amulet for them. consent is important here - i don't like remote magick on people without them knowing. for example - my boyfriend (who's very much not a witch) wears a few protective bracelets, one of which is a hematite bracelet from me. it’s sentimental and serves a spiritual function (win-win). you can also shield someone else if you’re with them in person, just by visualising them the same way you’d visualise yourself! this only really works whilst their visible, but can be useful if you and a friend are walking through a busy place and you want to shield you both from the energy.
another thing worth mentioning, and this goes for all advanced practices, is that the most potent magick is that which is a natural extension of the self, and that doesn’t feel like a chore (more on that in another #moaw post). veiling is one of my favourite low-key protective acts. so is wearing enchanted jewellery. both of these work at the subconscious level, and have the added benefit for those in the broom closet of being pretty discrete (you can veil with anything over your head! doesn’t have to be a headscarf). i'm messy, so i don't clean my space often, but when i do, i notice the energetic shift - it’s one of the most underrated methods of cleansing, and again, very discrete. another method is setting up my digital boundaries! curating what i consume, who i let into my digital space, and noticing what drains me. this is energy work too. protection work doesn’t mean much if you’re then bringing negative energy into your space through your phone.
and here's a big one: know your land. get to know the spirits around you. build good relationships. that way, you're not doing protection alone - you have backup. if something breaches your wards, you have plant spirits, ancestors, deities, and the land itself helping you notice, and you can (with consent) draw from their energy or ask for their support. so even when i'm tired or distracted, i'm not unprotected.
4. “i think something’s in my space - help!”
don’t worry! i’ve created a handy flow-chart below to help!
step one: diagnose it
is it just negative energy from an interaction you had? have you been behind on cleansing? is it something mundane?
→ if yes → cleanse and reset your space
→ if no or unsure → keep going
step two: what is the entity?
use some method of divination to figure out who the entity is! some good questions to get started:
what do they want?
are they trying to communicate?
did i do something wrong?
is this a known spirit? have we interacted before?
is it just some local energy passing through?
step three: response
if it’s just lingering energy → cleanse
if you accidentally offended something → apologise or offer something meaningful, and keep talking - depending on the level of upset, you might be able to salvage this and forge a new relationship
if they’re just cranky for no reason → be compassionate, but banish! sometimes entities (especially ghosts) take out their anger on random folks, and you might just be unlucky.
if they won’t leave/are actively making things worse → banish!
step four: check your wards
do the pulse technique i mentioned earlier (or whatever works for you), and figure out how the entity got in - are your wards fractured? did you forget to energise your servitor? whatever it is, diagnose it and work on it.
step five: reflect and learn
most strong negative energies don’t just wander into your space for fun. hopefully by now you’ve figured out the root cause - write that down and reflect on the experience!
5. final thoughts
banishing is, firstly, a boundary. it's no different than saying "hey, i don't want to talk about that right now” or “please leave my house.” it can be kind. it can be neutral. it can be mean. it's just a way of telling an entity to leave. i think there’s this misconception in the community that banishing is negative, and it can be, but it doesn’t have to be. and sometimes the kindest thing is to send stuck energy moving if you can’t help it and it’s causing a nuisance (or being actively damaging).
and honestly? you're probably fine. when i was starting out, i wasn't talking to spirits or doing anything risky. i could've skipped protection entirely and been fine. as i got more confident, i started staying in places where the vibe felt off, just out of curiosity, because now i know how to handle it if something weird happens.
you're probably not going to get haunted by a demon. you probably don't need ten layers of magickal protection. if you're not poking around the otherworld, antagonising spirits, or diving into deep trance work, you're probably okay. there’s so much fear-mongering out there, and i get why - better safe than sorry - but take a moment to remember that everything will be okay, and if you fuck around and find out and need a hand, there’s many resources and many people here on witchblr to ask.
and if you’re gonna keep fucking around and finding out? good on you - but you might need stronger wards than someone like myself, who stays pretty far away from the fucking around part of witchcraft now.
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thank you for reading this! i hope this was helpful, and if you have any questions or add-ons please reblog/reply or send an ask. just a reminder: everything i wrote here is my opinion, and i know people will have different methods, and i encourage y’all to share those! and if you have any suggestions for topics you’d like for this longer form series (tagged #moaw if you’d like to read the others), please also send me an ask.
Ultimate Grimoire or book of shadows checklist✨📓✒️🔮
Hey beautifuls,
I’ve compiled a checklist in booklet format of pretty much anything I could think of or find online that you could include in your Grimoire/book of shadows. Please note that this is a very very broad list and you do not need to include absolutely everything listed. Pick and choose what matches your craft!
also if you would like a non-watermarked PDF print version (digital file) I’m offering this for just $3 AUD. You can direct message me here on tumblr or on my Insta account “@beautifulvalleywitch”.
Otherwise enjoy this free version lovely’s 🥰🥰
*copyrighted, please do not share without credit or claim as your own*
Here is a masterpost of a ton of potions I have in my grimoire that are simple and easy to make with simple easy to get ingredients.
Tea Potions
Headache Relief Potion
Ginger Root
Peppermint
Lemon Wedge
Steps: Add herbs to hot water and let them steep for a few minutes. Squeeze in lemon then let the wedge and skin soak for another 1 or 2 before drinking.
Sour Tummy Be Gone Potion
Chamomile Tea
Spearmint
Ginger Root
Spoonful of Honey
Steps: Brew tea then add herbs to it, let them steep for 5 minutes before stirring in your honey counter-clockwise to banish the cramps and sourness in your stomach.
Deep Slumber Potion
Chamomile Tea
Lavender
Dried Rose Petals/Buds
Lemon Balm
Steps: Brew tea then add in herbs to steep for 5 to 6 minutes, add sugar or honey to taste. Drink slowly before bed in a quiet place.
“Bring Me My Own Love” Self Love Potion
Rose Water or Rose Tea
Sugar
Milk or Milk substitute
Steps: Brew your tea or warm your rose water. Pour in milk and sugar to taste and stir it clockwise to welcome in your own love. Drink while doing something you enjoy.
Release from a Bad Day Potion
Green Tea
Catnip
Lemon Wedge
Steps: Brew and steep your tea and catnip, squeeze in your lemon and stir it counter clockwise to banish the negativity that the day has given you. Add sugar or honey to taste
Give My Heart Strength Potion
Black Tea
Orange Peel
Honey
Steps: Brew tea and let orange peel steep for 5 minutes, stir in your honey clockwise to bring yourself emotional strength.
Open My Mind Awareness Potion
Black Tea
Cinnamon
Milk or Milk substitute
(Optional) pinch of Mugwort (use with caution)
Steps: Brew tea and add ingredients. Sit in a quiet place and drink the tea slowly while centering yourself and if you can meditate.
Cleansing Potion
Moon Water
Rosemary
Thyme
Steps: Heat your moon water and let herbs steep for a minute or two before drinking. You may add sugar if you desire
Protect Me From Parasites Potion
(protects from psychic and energy parasites)
Moon Water
Rosemary
Mint
Steps: Heat moon water and steep your herbs for 5 minutes. Drink at the start of your day.
Coffee Potions
Strength For a Big Day
Coffee
Cinnamon
Sugar to Taste
Like a Storm Confidence Potion
Coffee
Hazelnut creamer
Cinnamon
Fresh Orange peel
Spark of Creativity Potion
Coffee
2 Drops Vanilla extract
Fresh Orange Peel
Spoonful of Caramel
Romancing Myself Potion for Self Acceptance
Coffee
Hot chocolate mix
Milk
Red rose petal
To Good Friends Friendship Potion
Coffee
Caramel
Sugar
A cherry
A good friend to share it with
Hot Chocolate Potions
Warm My Bones Happiness Potion
Hot chocolate
Marshmallow/Marshmallow fluff
1 drop vanilla extract
Cherry
To Get Through Hard Days Potion
Hot Chocolate
Cinnamon
Milk
Fresh Mint Leaf
For Enhanced Energy Potion
Hot Chocolate
Orange Peel
Gem Elixir Potions
Note! Unlike the others, these ones are NOT edible nor should they be ingested! These potions are for anointing or bath magic.
None of these potions are made with the crystals in the water! I ALWAYS put my crystals around a jar or cup of water to charge over night. SOME OF THESE CRYSTALS SHOULD NEVER GO IN WATER!!! So please just place them around your jar of water over night, not in it.
ok but what if like. werewolves transform under the full moon but theres just this one and by day hes a big tough guy and then when he transforms hes a tiny dog. just fucking. just fucking turns into the tiniest, fluffiest dog
A hedge witch is a witch who utilizes the practice of hedge riding. This is a magickal practice that involves spirit work and, most notably, spirit flight (astral travel/projection). The history of spirit flight is a long one and one that is found in many cultures throughout the world. The idea of spirit flight is most notably found in folk magick practices from Europe as well as Ireland and Scotland.
The reason this particular practice is called hedge riding, hedgecraft, or hedge witchcraft is due to the symbolic nature of a hedge. A hedge, if you are unware, is generally a border between two different lands. The word hedge comes from the Old English word heċġ meaning fence. The hedge in hedge witchcraft is the border between this world and the spirit world.
The word hedge in hedge witch or hedgecraft indicates a symbolic barrier between this world and the spirit world. The hedge divides the current world from the otherworld, the mundane world from the spiritual one. The hedge is the border between the material and intangible existence.
To put it in simple words, a hedge witch is one who can cross the hedges present in the world through their practices. They are able to move through the veil and interact with the spirit world and then come back to the material world. In fact, this ability of crossing is their most important one. This is often why you will hear the phrase “riding the hedge” or “flying the hedge” which is often shown in images of witches with brooms crossing over the sky.
By riding the hedge, these witches move through the veil between the two worlds. In some practices this is done to attend a great feast with other spirits, deities, familiars, and witches. These journeys to the spirit world involve the use of gateways or doors, trance, and journeying. The reasons a witch might ride the hedge vary greatly. Some employ familiars to act as guards as they cross. Some witches ride the hedge to gain knowledge that is only accessible from the spirit world and the spirits that reside there.
What Sets the Hedge Witch Apart?
People often mistake hedge witches for green witches or kitchen witches. A green or kitchen witch is often known for working with nature, their home, and their surroundings. However, an important distinction is that for a hedge witch, spirit work and work done across the hedge is the main focus of their practice.
Consequently, the hedge witch travels to the other world for their journey and practices. In hedgecraft, the witch leaves the physical world on a spirit flight through a gateway or door into the spirit world. It is highly recommended to travel with a familiar spirit during this process to guide and protect you. By moving to the spirit world, one can seek healing, answers from spirits, protection, knowledge, and even space to rest away from the stresses of the material world. They hold the power to become healers and seers as they work with the astral world to perform their magic.
Dangers
Being a hedge witch can be intense and unpredictable. It is advised for one to be confident in their skills before attempting to practice such witchcraft. It is also heavily advised to contact a familiar spirit that can travel with you. This familiar is then responsible for keeping you safe and guiding you. Just because it is the spirit world doesn’t mean it is free of dangers. One has to have patience as they move through different parts of their learning through trial and error.
On the other hand, being open to experimenting has allowed hedge witches over decades to have their own unique practices to cross realms while staying rooted in the material world. Even more so, with time, one may come to have new favorite spirits, ancestors, or guides that they would want to work with in terms of healing and foresight. There will always be realms that will yet have to be explored!
The journey to becoming a hedge witch is to trust your abilities, your instincts, and to often push your own boundaries to see beyond the veil. The practice of seeing beyond the veil holds the knowledge between the apparent and the unseen, but also all the things in life that are more below the surface. It is embarking on the journey of understanding the layers to the world around us and accessing the knowledge present in our ancestral guides.
HEDGE WITCH PRACTICES
Psychic ability attunement
Spirit communication
Spirit work (deities, ancestors, other spirits or entities)
Astral Travel
Meditation
Herbal work (using herbs and substances for dream/astral work)
Entheogens (mind altering substances to enhance or assist hedge riding - totally optional)
Familiar work
To begin, I recommend working in your home. Invite in a house spirit, cleanse your home, and reinforce your wards weekly. You need to create a safe haven before beginning any type of spirit practice.
Spend time working with the spirits of plants and crystals in your house. If you don’t have any plants, this may be the time to pick out an easy plant to care for in your home as well as some crystals. Speak to the spirit, ask it where it would like to be placed, how much care it wants, etc.
Green witchcraft is a good foundation if you want to be a hedge witch. Do some theoretical study on the properties of different herbs and work practically with the spirits of these plants. Kitchen witchery is also fun and safe to experiment with at home.
It’s also good to infuse a bit of magic into your daily routines. Make cleansing, bathing, warding, and grounding regular activities.
Hedge witches are in-tune with the seasons. Do some research into seasonal holidays and festivals of different traditions and try various activities that correlate to nature.
For example, in the spring, I tend to clean, cleanse, prune my plants, etc. As the natural world wakes up and becomes more active, so do I. In the fall, I do a lot of introspective spirit work that can be a bit darker; I also work with the shadow self and perform rituals.
Many hedge witches like to focus on healing. If you’re interested, you may want to learn about the medicinal properties of herbs as well as the spiritual properties. Start with simple concoctions such as tea or herbs to help you sleep, relax, or ground yourself.
Once you have the basics down pat and are skilled at defensive spells, you can begin attempting to cross into the spirit world. After all, being a hedge witch is all about traveling to other realms!
However, hedge jumping can be dangerous. You intrinsically open yourself up to beings that don’t behave in the same ways as those in our physical world.
Therefore, it’s essential that you know how to protect yourself before beginning your journey as a hedge witch. You should learn how to cleanse, ward, and banish. You should also learn how to cast a circle before you start any spell work or spirit work.
Astral travel, dancing, drumming, trance meditation, sigils, and the use of entheogens are all popular methods of hedge jumping.
Once you feel properly protected, experiment with astral travel. You can find great drumming beats on YouTube to help you travel astrally. The goal is to get into a deep enough trance that you can travel to spiritual realms.
Crystals for psychic development can help you on your journey, especially if you work with the spirits of the crystals. You can also use sigils to both ground you and enhance your psychic sight.
When you’re working with spirits, I recommend that you begin with your ancestors. Most ancestral spirits are very safe and will help protect you from beings who could mean you harm.
Once you have been working with your ancestors for some time, you can branch out and begin to contact other types of ghosts or spirits such as deities, angels, demons, etc.
Work with the spirits in your area. The spirits of the trees, flowers, and water right outside your door are available and are great to contact when you’re just beginning your work as a hedge witch.
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Don’t worry about the “rules” of hedge witchcraft. Try all things and experience, but always protect yourself before beginning something new.
Remember that no two hedge witches are alike. What works for others may not work for you, and that’s totally okay.
Do some experimentation and find your own path. After all, hedge witchcraft is about being authentic and connecting with both the physical and spiritual world around you.
For more information about Hedge witchery or about any other types of witchcraft, come check out the Cobalt Athenaeum discord server!
Shadow work is an introspective psychological concept coined by Carl Jung. His belief was that in order to acknowledge our full self, we must fully integrate our shadows as well. The shadow personifies everything that the individual refuses to acknowledge about themselves: the negative habits we have, the things we don't like about ourselves, the things that we don't like to expose to others. Things of that nature.
Shadow work is not a requirement to be spiritual or practice magic.
Shadow work is not inherently a spiritual or magical concept, so it isn't required to be spiritual or to practice magic. I want to give that disclaimer now, because shadow work isn't for everybody. If you are a person with severe trauma or struggle with mental health, please avoid doing shadow work by yourself. Shadow work should always be done in a safe environment, and for some it should only be done in the presence of a therapist. Don't put your mental health at risk because somebody on the internet says you need to do shadow work to be spiritual or practice magic. You can reflect on recent events and make a conscious decision to do better without doing shadow work.
What should you consider before starting shadow work?
Now, when it comes to shadow work there are two questions you should ask yourself before starting. Why do you want to do shadow work? What results do you aim to achieve from doing shadow work? I want you to think about these questions before trying to do shadow work. I see people jump into doing shadow work without thinking about it first, and many people end up struggling as a result.
Determining how your shadow expresses itself.
The shadow is a complex thing for everybody and can express itself in many ways. There will always be multiple aspects to an individual's shadow, so try to address each aspect one at a time.
For example, my own shadow expresses itself in a few ways. Rage and insecurity are two ways. They have different origins and are triggered by different things, so I address them differently.
Find a cheap journal or open a document on your device. Think about the things you hide from people, the negative habits you have, things you struggle with... Write them down. See which ones are related and which aren't. If you aren't totally sure about any of these things, ask your friends and loved ones what negative habits they notice about you. Doing these things will help you get a better idea on what needs to be addressed.
If you use divination, or know somebody who does, you can use divination to help you pinpoint which aspect of your shadow needs to be addressed the most. Asking the simple question "How does my shadow express itself?" can help you, if you are unsure.
Journal prompts, therapy and actively changing.
Journal prompts are the most common ways to do shadow work. By doing journal prompts regularly, you are taking the time to sit with yourself and reflect based on the prompts. Some prompts may have you dig into your past and traumas more than others, so be aware of this before trying any journal prompts. Personally, I suggest doing one journal prompt a week. Dedicate one day of the week to doing shadow work, if possible. It's okay if it has to be every two weeks or longer to start. Just don't overdo it and pressure yourself into doing daily shadow work. That's just unnecessary.
Therapy is where shadow work can be done in a safe environment with a professional to help you. If you can afford it, please consider looking for a therapist you can trust. Coming from a person who has attended therapy, you may not vibe with the first therapist you go to and that's okay. Keep trying and find one you do vibe with. You'll find one out there. By going to therapy you can talk about difficult topics with a professional that can reassure you and talk to you about what's going on.
You shouldn't sit down to do a bunch of journal prompts or go to therapy only to make zero changes. Actively seek to change your habits and behavior. Try to be more self-aware. Avoid repeating the things that you know have been toxic to yourself and others. Allow yourself to feel and process emotions such as anger, sadness, hurt and guilt; but don't let them control your words and actions. Once you actively start making changes, others will notice it too. It will take time, yes, so don't expect results immediately. Baby steps.
Allow yourself to process your emotions.
Shadow work tends to bring heavy emotions to the surface. Don't try to bury them. Let yourself feel the anger, sadness, hurt and guilt. Process those emotions. Cry them out, write about them, talk about them to your therapist... Just don't bury them. Allowing yourself to feel and process these emotions is important.
Practice some self-care.
Sometimes shadow work is hard, so please don't neglect yourself. Take a nice bubble bath or a warm shower. Drink your favorite tea or coffee. Eat a tasty snack. Watch a movie that makes you feel soft and fuzzy. Do your skincare routine. Find something to do that makes you feel good.
Here are some journal prompts for you to start with.
How does your shadow express itself?
When did your childhood really end? When did you lose that childlike innocence?
What event from the past still have an effect on you today?
Have you ever done something bad to another person? Do you regret it? Why did you do it?
What emotions do you avoid? Why?
When was the last time you felt happy? Describe what happened.
Do you compare yourself to others? In what way? Why?
What do you wish you could change about yourself? Why?
If you ever are in a negative mood and know how to manipulate kna and move that negative kna into some other object, you will be able to store it and save it to be used in curses or more malevolent practices. This will allow you to call on some more negativity when you are in the process of needing it. This is a way of saving negative kna for the future so that it is not simply wasted when you feel bad and can be channeled into something to be used for later. It also helps to banish it from the individual to make them feel better by releasing their negative kna.
To do this, you will need some form of object in which you can store negative kna within, and you will need to be in a bad mood so that you have negative kna to transfer into the object. This object can be pretty much anything though it should not be made out of metal most of the time. This is because metal is not very good for placing kna upon it because of its metaphysical properties. Some other items have cleansing or transmuting properties that would not be the best to place negative kna within. Once you feel you are done, you can stop focusing and allow that kna to be within the object.
Once you have the item, place it within your hands, or place your hand upon it if it is too big, and begin to visualize your negative kna from your emotional state flowing into it. Take your time and focus on this for a long time, feeling your negative kna drain into the object and powering it with your negativity. You will want to sit in this process for quite a while, but once you feel you are done, you can stop focusing and remove your hand from the object.
Now you will want to keep this object in a place where you will not need to interact with it that much unless you are adding more negative kna to it. Good ideas of places to keep it would be within a box or wrapped up in black cloth. Both of these will keep the negative kna from interacting with the outside world and will not allow it to affect anything else in your space. Keep your object safe and other things safe from your object. Once you find a purpose for that negative kna, all you have to do is bring that object into your magickal working, allowing it to power it.
Im doing some summer warding and wanted to share some tips on how, when, and why to ward as a witch whos practiced for 7 years. (7 years now? damn.)
first:
What is a ward?
a ward is a magical barrier between yourself and any unknown entity. think of in the spiderwick chronicles when the old dude had his bed surrounded by a ring of salt- that's a ward, a common troupe for one too!
Wards come in different varieties, shapes and sizes. I wanted to highlight a couple of mine (which are admittedly a lil overkill) here today.
When should I use wards?
wards are a passive magic meant to be running constantly so things you do not want in your space dont find there way in. so basically: if you dont have any, you should proooooobably put some up after reading this.
Why should I ward?
so you can sleep safley at night? lol. in all seriousness, its like a magical moat for your space- nothing can come in unless you specifically let it. it's very helpful.
DIFFERENT WARD TYPES!
oh boy here we go let's talk about what kinds of wards there are!
1. PLANTS
Plants serve as a living, breathing barrier between you and the unknown. They are a very powerful ward when done properly. They can absorb negative energy for you! Be careful with this though- if someone hexes you, it might try to pass through your wards and hurt your plants :(
2. BELLS
In medieval times, bells and windchimes were used to deter evil spirits from entering homes. Sound familiar? Anyways, this principle can still be harnessed and used to this day. Along with the bell, I got copper wire, which is a self cleansing protective metal, a hunk of labradorite to invoke psychic tendencies, and an acorn for luck :)
3. ROCKS
a very common ward includes protective stones! Heres a hunk of obsidian to illustrate! it makes it harder for spirits to pass through generally.
4. BANNERS WITH SYMBOLS
Idk if i can refer to these as prayer flags sincr they dont actually have prayers attached to them, but similar concept! This set of banners has protective symbols to keep my space safe and sound :)
Well that about summarizes my wards! Wards can be made from just about anything that aligns with your craft, I hope this gave you some ideas! blessed be, have a good day!
Spiritual egg cleansing is an effective ritual that gets rid of negative energy from the body and the environment. Whenever you feel like there is bad energy surrounding you, just do an egg cleansing to know what is wrong. A special magic procedure to eliminate negative energies, clean your aura and open all doors quickly - it is really easy to do!
✨Why would I do one?✨
The use of an egg for spiritual cleansing has been rooted in many ancient cultures and cultures today. It is regarded as a symbol of growth and life. The egg is thought to absorb stuck and negative energy. It’s a special energetic tool and container that takes on life and energy when used like a spiritual vacuum. It removes whatever isn’t necessary or vital to you.
✨What you will need:✨
1 egg (room temperature)
1 white candle
1 glass of water (room temperature)
Salt
✨How to perform an egg cleanse✨
Light the candle
Run the egg all over your body from head to feet saying any prayer of your choice, Imagining all the negativity being absorbed into the egg
Break the egg into the water leave it for 5 minutes and get ready to read the results (DO NOT LOOK OVER THE TOP OF THE GLASS AS YOU CAN ABSORB WHAT WAS JUST REMOVED)
When finished add salt to neutralize any negative energy and flush it down toilet
✨🔮Tips🔮✨
DO NOT LOOK OVER THE TOP OF THE GLASS AS YOU CAN ABSORB WHAT WAS JUST REMOVED
The best time to do an egg cleansing is on a Sunday or a Monday. This will help you to start the week with lots of strength. You can also do it at the beginning of a month or a new year.
The cleansing can be performed at any time of the day.
You can do the cleansing at any lunar phase, but the best time to do it is when the moon is waning.
You can do the cleansing in any room you want but ensure that the room has a window to remove any negative energy.
Ensure that you have all the ingredients necessary before doing a cleansing.
🔮Some basic interpretations🔮
If the water smells bad or you can see blood, this is a work of evil operating signal.
If there are small spots of blood in the water, this is a sign of bad luck and a damage caused by a strong witchcraft work, especially if the water is cloudy.
If the water becomes cloudy without odor and blood, this is a sign of loss of the soul or energy, provided there is no blood present.
If the egg yolk has the shape of a face, this is a sign of an enemy. A slender face indicates a male enemy, a round face indicates a female enemy.
If the yolk takes the form of an eye, this is a sign of the evil eye.
If there are small bubbles in the water, this is a sign that the negative energy was absorbed by guardian spirits.
🔮MORE IN DEPTH INTERPRETATIONS🔮
When you break the egg and the yolk comes out with bubbles surrounding it or shooting upwards, it is a sign that the negative energy around you is too much, meaning you are very tired. This could be the reason why you have not had the strength to do anything. There are people who even feel dizzy or get headaches.
When you see a figure that looks like an animal or a person in the yolk, you should be concerned. If it is a person, the interpretation of this image is that he or she is envious of you. If it is an animal or object, you must recall if you have dreamt of it or if it is a problem in your life at the moment.
When you break the egg and you see pointy images in the shape of needles or nails, this means that there are people who have cast black magic spells on you, meaning they do not want you to succeed.
If you break the egg and a coat covers the yolk, it means that someone is always disturbing you and provoking you to make you angry.
When you see red or black spots on the yolk after breaking the egg, you should be attentive to the warnings. It is a sign with the interpretation that you have a disease in your body.
When the yolk is cloudy, black, or grey, this is a bad sign meaning there is an evil eye sent your way through magic spells.
If you see spikes facing downwards in the egg yolk, it is a symbol with the interpretation that you have a lot of anger that you have not let go.
If you see figures curled in the egg yolk, this is a bad sign warning you that you could fall ill and you need to go for a checkup immediately.
When you break a normal egg, the yolk always goes down. However, if the yolk remains in the middle or goes up, it is a bad sign meaning that someone is sending evil your way by casting magic spells.
When you see eyes in the egg yolk, this means that someone is jealous of you and is watching you. That is why you have been feeling discomfort and your path has been blocked.
If you see geometric figures in the yolk, they have different meanings. Triangles are interpretations of the lies you have been telling and your guilt. Squares tell you that you need to move forward and forget the past.
White halos surrounding the yolk mean that you make decisions too quickly and you need to slow down to get back in line.
If the egg yolk is hot, looks cooked, and the white appears extremely white, this is a sign that there is negative energy surrounding you. It means black magic spells have been cast on you. You should do another egg cleansing ritual to remove them.
Clouds or swirling figures in the egg yolk mean you have emotional problems that are affecting your relationships with other people.
If the egg yolk has many threads going up, it means gossip is disturbing your life and there are people who want to see you sad. You should do another egg cleansing to clear your path
Silhouettes in the egg yolk are signs you need to watch out for. It means that the spirits surrounding you want to give you a message.
Cobweb shapes in the yolk mean that many people are jealous of you and want you to fail in something you want, like a business, a project, or a promotion
When you break an egg and see flowers in the yolk, this is a good sign. It means that negative energies are going away and good times are coming your way.
If the water in the egg yolk has blood or an odour, this is a sign that there are evil spirits around you and you need a cleansing ritual.
If you break the egg and see an eye in the yolk, it is a sign of the evil eye watching you. You should get rid of it through a spiritual cleansing.
When you find that the water is clear after breaking an egg, it means that nothing bad is happening and there are no evil spirits around you.
If you see the shape of a person in the egg yolk, this is a sign that you have an enemy. A slim face means that the enemy is male and a round face means it is a woman.
If the egg yolk has a symbol of a bird like a vulture, owl, or crow, this means that a magic spell has been cast on you and you need to do another cleansing to be free from it.
The color of the white part of the egg is also important when it comes to meanings and interpretations. If you break the egg and the white appears murky or dark, it means that you are scared and you need to have more confidence
When you break an egg and you find many bubbles surrounding the yolk, it means that there are good spirits watching out for you.
If you find big balloons in the water, it is a sign of a cage. It means that you are trapped in a situation and you will not get out of it quickly. It could be someone has trapped you in that situation or you are trapped because of wrong things you have done. You need to do many cleansings to get out of such a situation.
If you happen to break the egg during a cleansing, it is a sign that evil spirits are trying to stop you from cleansing yourself. You need to do the cleansing again to get rid of the evil spirits.
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns! My inbox and asks are ALWAYS open💕
