Witch/College Student/Artist

Hello! My name is Fox! I am a computer engineering student/beginner witch And this is my blog for reblogging witchy things ^u^

[windvexer]

Advice for if your practice is feeling stressful or unfulfilling (that isn't 'just stop practicing')

Before you expand: long text post!

I think it's interesting that the first line of advice stressed and unhappy practitioners often receive is 'stop practicing! take a break,' because besides a breather this doesn't actually do anything. When a person is done with that break they're still going to have the same stressful, unfulfilling practice they did before.

Stop practicing is useful advice for someone who is about to deep-fry their brain in uncontrolled Witch Fire. It's useful advice for someone who experiences unexplainable catastrophe every time they engage in magic.

I'm not sure it's useful advice for people who want to practice and are actively seeking help figuring out how.

So here are some ideas. Feel free to add your own.

If your practice has too much of a time load:

Scrape over-engineered ritual. Examine ritual formats. Are you spending a majority of your practice time engaging in elaborate ritual? Where can that be paired down?

Swap ritual for enchantments. If ritual performs an action (laying a compass), can you substitute for that ritual action by making enchanted objects that take less time to activate (enchanted compass altar cloth)?

Minimize ingredients. If you regularly perform spells that require lengthy enchantment of ingredients, can you use fewer ingredients to achieve the same results? If you're using more than 3 correspondences for any spell, is this because you are wise in your own ways, or because you just feel that more is merrier?

Mash rituals together. Do you have a string of rituals, even small ones, that you perform one after the other? Is it possible to reorganize these so they're all done at once, in the same ritual? For example, setting out an offering to the gods, a different offering for the ancestors, another for helper spirits, etc. Can you combine these all into one single offering?

Check for over-tending. Is it possible that you're repeating magical acts, like feeding wards and cleansing, more often than you need to? Did you arrive at this schedule through trial and error, or did you just guess this is how often you should do them?

Check for your own levelup: spell maintenance. If it's been a while since you re-evaluated your ritual/offering/maintenance schedule, your increase in skills may mean you need to do these tasks less often to achieve the same result.

Check for your own levelup: techniques and routines. Some techniques, like carefully entering trance, grounding, and centering, are like training wheels that wear ruts into our paths of magic. As we improve in skill, old rituals and techniques that have been carefully couched in these helpful devices may become ingrained in us so that we can perform them in almost any state of mind, much faster and easier than we could before. Experiment with any technique you've been doing for a while and see if you still need to perform time-consuming meditative or focusing techniques before you can perform the skill.

Be reasonable with your own goals. I find most 'laywitches' give themselves daily and weekly schedules that would put actual cloistered monks to shame. Did your spirits tell you they expect daily offerings, or did you decide on that an run with it? Where are you overcompensating and overexerting in your path when nobody, including yourself, asked you to?

If your practice has too much of a work load:

Much of the advice of the prior section applies. Also,

Just work less. Are you putting in 100% effort when 20% or 30% would do? Are you treating every act of magic like a performance review that will control the outcome of your magical career? I'm not being sarcastic; an actual solution to your path being too much work is to just put in less effort. If you've never tried this you may be shocked at how effective magic can be when you're only doing what needs to be done.

Find simpler, more reasonable stuff. Find new techniques, and spell and ritual formats that are paired down to fit the amount of effort that's reasonable to exert for any given magical act. If you can't work with correspondences without a lengthy act of activation, find a way to cast simple spells that doesn't rely on correspondences.

Limit research and prep. Ask yourself how much research you reasonably need to get started on any given project. Remember that a huge amount of a witch's education is experiential; you will probably never know enough until you've already done it three or four times.

Be goal-oriented; prioritize actions. Ask yourself if you've set arbitrary workloads before you can get started with anything, such as forcing yourself to write artistic grimoire pages before you're allowed to perform a ritual you're interested in.

Learn skills to help prioritize actions. If your practice is consumed by acts of upkeep such as cleansing and empowering objects, focus on learning energy sensing so you can reasonably determine whether or not an object actually needs to be cleansed or empowered.

Administrate your own practice - what can go on the back burner? Make a list of all your active ongoing projects and maintenance, including upkeep of energy batteries, spells that require maintenance, and situations you want to change and are casting spells on. Prioritize them; see which ones you can set aside.

Restructure your projects to minimize maintenance. Consolidate spells and projects where possible. For example, if you have multiple protection spells for many people that require upkeep, condense them all onto a protection altar so you can feed and tend to them all at once.

Work in batch and bulk. See where you can do batch work to lighten your load. You can bulk enchant candles and incense, instead of enchanting incense every time you do a ritual. You can enchant oils, waters, and incense to feed your spells, taking time out of upkeep.

Levelup your charging and maintenance skills. Learn energy work to attach energy tethers to batteries and other important projects so they're able to drink from the wellspring you attach them to, and stay charged.

Scrape routines that don't serve you. Examine any daily routines. Are you doing them because they're helping you, or because you feel like you're supposed to be doing something every day? See if you can replace more intensive daily routines with something less tiring, like a prayer to your path itself.

If your practice feels too silly:

You have a right to privacy. Cocooning is valid. It's fine to take steps to limit who can see and potentially judge your practice. You can keep things to yourself until you're ready.

Tend to your emotional wellness. Self-therapy, in any form you feel comfortable with, can help mitigate the inner eye of judgement.

Reduce your beliefs to palatable doses. Believing in magic for only the duration of your work is perfectly fine. You don't have to 'believe-believe' 24/7. If you're not ready to integrate the belief of magic and spirits into your baseline worldview, don't - you can agree to buy in to those beliefs only while you practice techniques and cast spells, and then put them away the rest of the time.

Scrape stuff you really can't get past. Ask yourself what about your practice feels silly. Are there trappings - like altars, ritual movements, and speaking aloud - that you don't like? Change them. Is the idea that religious faith itself is a bit cringe? Self-therapy (or you know, the regular kind) may be assistive.

Ask for help modifying your process.Is there something very specific about a ritual or technique that you just can't get past, but you don't know how to change it? Research and see what other substitute rituals are available. Ask others and see if they can help you brainstorm.

Embrace the silliness. It's not going anywhere. Believing in your practice and holding it dear and sacred is not the same as being ✨super serious gravitas✨ all the time. There are lots of things about witchcraft, and the acts of the witch, that are silly and make you realize you're doing something ridiculous. I came out here at 2 am after it's been raining to climb down a slippery riverbed to get a branch of a tree that I think is talking to me?? Because some medieval guy said Tuesday is the planet Mars and I think trees talk to me?! Ridiculous. Yet I still love it dearly in a sacred place in my heart. It can be silly and glorious at the same time.

Cast a wider net. See if you're barking up the wrong tree. Traditional Witchcraft, folk magic, lodge magic, chaos magic, eclectic neopaganism... these things are not interchangeable. If you've never explored different traditions, why not give it a go? You might find another path that feels a lot more natural to you. A lot of people fall into a certain path just because they don't know what else they could be doing!

If your practice feels unfulfilling:

What are you doing to bring yourself fulfillment? Why did you get into witchcraft? Make a list of your top 5 reasons (if you have that many). Which techniques, spells, and rituals are you regularly performing are designed to deliver these desires to you? If one of your goals of practicing witchcraft is to 'feel connected,' how often are you performing acts where the only goal is to make you feel connected?

Grow your path deliberately in the direction of your needs. What do you wish you had in your life right now? Is it the feeling of being loved? Inner peace? Feeling like nature is alive and watching you? Look for what techniques and rituals in your practice will bring these things to you. If there are none, find or develop them.

Ask for help and share your feelings. If you work with gods and spirits, do you regularly tell them how you feel about your practice and ask them for help finding fulfillment?

Find contentment in the process. It's vital to find joy in the process. If you have regular routines or upkeep you need to do, how can you modify it so that process in and of itself is satisfying to you? Try considering the visceral element of witchcraft: the words, scents, sounds, moods, and thoughts that you want to experience in your present moment. Witchcraft is experiential: a great deal of the experience you create in the tidepools of routine is under your control.

Contemplate the larger purpose. Some witches do have magical chores and responsibilities they can't or shouldn't shirk. If this is true of you, and you can't modify those routines, try refocusing on why you're doing them and the importance they hold in your path. See if you can find balance elsewhere in your practice that feels rejuvenating; sort of a 'work-play' balance of your own craft.

Set short-term goals you can celebrate. Are you undertaking a lot of 'workout routines' that are designed to basically make you magically buff, or get good at a particular skill, but you're doing them with no endgoal? Try creating short-term goals that excite your sense of wonder or accomplishment. Like, practicing tarot until you can read the Celtic Cross, or practicing energy work until you can make a four-element layered energy shield. Build goalposts for yourself, both in the short and long-term, and celebrate your successes.

Scrape routines you're not doing for any good reason. Are your regular practices things you're doing because they fill you with mystery and wonder, or because you're just pretty sure that's the kind of thing witches do? If you're bored or unfulfilled by a particular routine, consider stopping it altogether, especially if you can't think of any short-term goals that it's helping you work towards. Think about the reasons you got into witchcraft: what practices would help you fulfill those reasons, while also feeling good to practice?

Seek out a likeminded community. A good working group of friends can be invaluable. My close group of witch friends, whom I've been hanging out with for years, started as a Tumblr post asking if anyone wanted to make a small server to study witchcraft. Reach out and see who's out there to study with, talk to, and practice with. It can be loads of fun to do short-term study and practice challenges with friends, and a great way to get feedback and support.

Evaluate your spiritual relationships. Although it can be painful and challenging, sometimes we enter into our paths working with gods and spirits that after some time, we need to move on from. Is it possible your path has become stagnant because you don't want to keep working with a god or spirit that your path has been built around? It may be time to see how you can move on.

When 'take a break' might be helpful advice to heal your practice:

Of course, YMMV :)

'Taking a break' doesn't mean stop being a witch, stop believing in magic, or stop 100% of your practice. It can also mean putting a lot of projects on the back burner, switching to bare-minimum (or below minimum) maintenance, and squashing regular routines.

I'm talking specifically about taking a break in the interest of your own practice - not the conditions under which someone is ""allowed"" to stop practicing witchcraft.

Take a break to rest and let your seeds germinate. 'Fallow periods,' when you have no desire or motivation to practice witchcraft, and when it seems like there's nothing for you to do, are normal. Some witches experience this cyclically, perhaps during certain seasons or when predictable life conditions are met. There's no need to force yourself to practice when it's just not flowing. The snow on your mountaintops needs to melt to replenish your waterways, bestie. There's nothing wrong with you, the sun just isn't out yet.

When you're hitting yourself with a hammer. When something in your practice is triggering or harming you, and stopping will have no consequences, then stopping your practice for a while is probably a good idea. Use the downtime to seek healing or reformat your practice.

To open your life up for necessary work. Not every witch can out-path every problem. Consider taking a break when the problem is something you will have time and energy to work on if not for your regular magical practice.

When you're about to deep-fry your brain with Witch Fire. Consider taking a break when the problem with your practice is that you are practicing too often - such as fatigue due to excessive spellwork, divinatory obsession, trouble staying out of the spirit world (compulsive astral travel), or focus on spirits/magic/the spirit worlds are starting to erode your home, school, or work life.

To let the ripples settle. When you've done so much magic or ritual work that your life is a boat on a stormy sea, and you just need to batten down the hatches for a while and let things settle.

[windvexer]

This has been bugging me this entire time. The following section should say,

Limit research and prep. Ask yourself how much research you reasonably need to get started on any given project. Remember that a huge amount of a witch's education is experiential; you will probably never know enough *to get started until you've already done it three or four times.

[windvexer]

hello!! if you don’t mind me asking, how do you undo a spell?

If you were the caster and you have spell remnants (the thread that was knotted, the wax of the candle that was burned, etc.):

Bring the spell remnant back into Magical Space (whatever space, mindset, or rituals you require in order for your mundane actions to become magical).

Perform Undoing actions on the spell remnants. Cut or untie a knot, melt or pulverize wax, mix ashes with magically nullifying substances such as salt and iron, etc.

While performing Undoing actions, also give clear linguistic Instructions on what you expect to happen. These instructions may be spoken, thought, signed, written, read, or be imposed upon your Magical Space in any way you prefer.

Tie your instructions to your physical actions, such as:

This spell is undone as this cord is cut, the magic binds no longer

This spell is melted and reduced as I melt and reduce this wax; the magic dwindles into nothing

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust; my spell is consumed by this iron rust - the magic no longer functions

I highly recommend using clear and direct sentences to the effect of "I am undoing this spell and I don't want the magic to work any more" (for those who only use present-tense intents: "this spell is undone, the magic has stopped working."

Dispose of the remnants in a permanent way.

If you were the caster and you do not have spell remnants:

Consecrate a new object (new thread to be knotted, new candle, new piece of paper) to represent the old spell. Ideally, this object will be chosen or modified to resemble the vibes of the old spell as closely as possible.

Any consecration ritual will do. The goal is to give a new physical body to your old spell; you are making an "poppet" of the spell.

Once the new physical object has become synonymous with the old spell, perform the Undoing and Instruction method that was described above.

(New candles should probably be snapped in half or burned upside down; burning them normally is more likely to empower the old spell).

If you were not the caster:

The "poppet" method above will tend to work if you know what you're doing with things. However, one of these might be more reliable:

Method One: Bless a thread with binding, limiting energies (Saturn is ideal) and trap the unwanted spell by tying it in a knot. Then burn the thread, ideally while Instructing what is supposed to happen.

Method Two: Carve the end of a taper candle so that the wick is visible on the bottom. Treat this bottom as your new "active" end, and draw correspondences from the new active end, downwards.

Coat the candle with a pepper-infused oil, score the surface lengthwise with iron nails, or otherwise mark the candle with destructive and banishing correspondences.

While doing this, Instruct the candle that its job is to banish, burn away, and destroy the unwanted spell. Light the candle. (A temporary holder may be obtained for the awkward shape by filling a deep dish with sand, soil, or salt).

Notes and Bits (Beyond 101):

It is generally wise to construct all spells with "kill codes" in case you need to undo them. This is essentially a special sort of intent that you build into the spell which undoes the spell on your command.

To avoid intrusive thought anxiety, it is almost always best to have this "code" require a specific set of physical actions, such as writing "Spell Cast on [date], be undone and begone" seven times over on a piece of paper.

Undoing a spell does not teleport you back in time to before it was ever cast. Imagine a valley with a river. A spell is cast that dams up the river. The entire ecosystem of the valley changes because the river was stopped.

Later on we can dismantle the dam and let the water flow again. But the valley will not "magically" go back to what it used to be. The spell may be undone but there will also still be significant changes already affected on this valley.

Record keeping is one of your best allies in knowing how to undo your own spells. The more you know about your spell (or anyone else's), the easier it is for you to undo or counter.

Once a spell is undone, you may still have more work to do. Suppose someone hexes me. Even if I undo the hex, my house may still be filled with nasty energy and I can still have anxiety. I will have to do a good self-cleansing and home-clearing before the effects are fully erased. Undoing a spell is not the same thing as cleaning up after it.

In sticky situations, you may also want to cast additional spells to protect against the effects of the unwanted spell.

[windvexer]

banishing (how to do it)

yeah this is like all UPG but it works good for me, take what you will and leave the rest behind.

if your response to this is "but most people never ever have to deal with unwanted spirit problems so you're probably wrong if you think it's a spirit! do shadow work and touch grass!" please let me invite you to just not interact with this post at all.

Don't cleanse. Like please don't, why do people do this??

"I am confident an unwanted spirit is in my home and I cleansed but nothing happened."

Okay, an unwanted guest is in your home and you did a bit of vacuuming and washing the dishes, so why are they still there??

Why WOULDN'T they be there?! It's nicer now??? It's better for them to stay?!?!?!

"I want to break up with my boyfriend so I did his laundry but he's still texting me :/"

Cleansing =/= banishing and cleansing should be saved for cleaning up after an unwanted spirit after they are banished, which again, is not accomplished by cleansing.

Stop raising wards that trap the spirit inside.

"I cleansed and put up a protection but that only made the problem worse!"

Yes you did a wash up and locked the spirit inside with you, of course it's pissed off. It's trapped.

If you feel the need for immediate protection when dealing with a spirit problem, craft an amulet that serves as a personal protection for you. NOT one that seals off the entrances to your home.

Once the spirit problem is taken care of and you are confident its presence has been removed, feel free to raise up those wards sky high.

Also, if you are heavy-handed with the warding, spirits can sometimes just get trapped inside regardless. Learn how to temporarily "switch off" wards when you need to so things can leave.

Put your fucking foot down and tell the spirit to leave.

This will solve a surprising number of unwanted spirit problems. Not all of them, and come on, please stop telling people they never need to learn actual banishing skills just because telling spirits to leave works most of the time.

But you gotta do it. And I mean you don't have to be an asshole about it. You don't have to jump right into screaming in the spirit's general direction and threatening all such harm on it.

And there's plenty of good reasons to start with this step, especially if you want to be a spirit worker, but that's neither here nor there. Just tell them to leave.

Go to an area where you think the spirit is, or go where its private and speak with the intent that the spirit will hear you.

(You may also sign or write; would generally not recommend doing this operation entirely mentally)

"Hey, Dude. I know you're here, and I want you to know that you must leave. It is no longer an option for you to stay. I request that you leave immediately, and I request that you do not come back to this place. Leave now and we part ways in peace."

Do not go belly up and beg the spirit. It benefits you to behave with authority and dignity.

DO NOT try to "soften the blow" by twisting your words into something that is no longer a demand that the spirit depart. "Hey, if it's okay with you, I'm hoping you'll leave soon, or as soon as you're able... I don't feel comfortable with you here, and I'd prefer if you went." Great, now the spirit knows how you feel. So what?

Banish the spirit (or human, or whatever).

Presumably we're at this step because the prior step ("bro, seriously just leave and never come back") did not work.

Obtain correspondences heavily associated with banishing, use them to enchant a candle, burn the candle.

Can't use a candle? Try a simmer pot.

No fire at all, including incense? Try a floor wash (test carpets to ensure there will not be staining).

Can't burn things or clean the house? Try a sigil you visualize being imprinted on all the walls of your home.

Can't visualize? Consecrate something to represent the spirit, drop it in a jar of water along with banishing correspondences, swirl it around like a whirlpool, chant about the spirit being washed away.

No waterproof containers? Consecrate something to represent the spirit, stand on the edge of your property, throw it off the edge of the property.

You get my drift -- do magic. Do magic. Do magic that banishes. Use magic specifically to banish. Not to cleanse the vibrations or whatever. Specifically magic intended to yeet a spirit.

At this point, do not try to ignore the problem or keep talking it out. Do not just try to meditate or whatever. Do magic. Do magic that banishes.

Here's a banishing spell if you need it:

Basil, cloves, red pepper

Candle (ideally, red)

Paper and ink

Small offering

Draw the planetary seal of mars and the planetary square on a piece of paper, ideally in red. Dress a candle in oil (*burning your house down is an effective way to banish a spirit but perhaps too heavy-handed; dress with care) and include either one or three dried, powdered herbal correspondences to it.

Dedicate the candle to Mars. ("Planet Mars, someone on the internet told me you'd help me if I asked - I'm asking now. I give this candle to you. It belongs to you now.")

Put the candle near the paper.

Evoke Mars. ("Planet Mars, where your symbol exists so you exist. Where your planetary square exists, so do you exist. The space has been made welcoming to you through the presence of these Martian correspondences.") The martian correspondences are the basil/cloves/peppers, btw ("I ask you to bring your attention now to me. I ask you to dwell fully in this space.")

Read the Orphic hymn to Ares if you'd like a little extra elbow grease behind your evocation.

Petition Mars. ("So please get rid of this spirit, it seriously sucks so bad.")

Offer payment. ("In exchange for this help I know you will provide, I give you this candle and also this [small offering].")

Seal the deal. No, you do not need to be able to receive psychic confirmation from a planet or whatever, but do not proceed if you feel any gut-level bad feelings or suddenly get a ton of anxiety. If that happens, be like, "Mars, buddy, never mind - I get a bad feeling about this, so I'm noping out. Thanks for listening while you did. Leave in peace."

But if you feel fine about moving ahead, just be like, "now I give you Mars this offering, and I light your candle, with full and total assuredness that this spirit will be permanently banished from my space, my life, and my home."

[Light the candle, give the offering]

Cleanse

The spirit should be gone before you put up wards

Residual ickyness can make you feel the spirit is still nearby even if its been banished

Cleanse your space and see if the symptoms of the spirit return.

If symptoms return, the spirit has not been banished.

If they don't return,

Put up wards.

Ya got haunted because ya didn't have a fence up to stop random cows from wandering into the garden of your life and trampling all your hard work. Put up the wards.

Oh, but maybe the banishment didn't work, in which case:

Mitigate symptoms.

I mean yeah, maybe try at least a few more types of magical banishing, call in a priest even. But!

Not every spirit can be banished. That's just the long and short of it.

As humans we have the capacity to intertwine our lives, intentionally or otherwise, with forces that cannot be immediately removed from our presence.

Like if the grand spirit of a forest hates all humans and you build a house in the forest, you're not going to be able to banish the forest from the forest, you feel me?

Sometimes, banishing isn't the solution.

As rare as it is, it happens. Make personal protections, use mirror or other illusory wards to hide from its attention, make reparations if possible, avoid attracting attention, and get on with your life.

[friend-crow]

[windvexer]

[windvexer]

This is a VERY basic and potentially silly question, but when you use the phrase "cast a spell", what actions are you referring to? I don't know how to word this well; I'm sorry. I want to cast spells but I just end up gathering rocks and herbs and doing nothing with them. Do you light a candle and say words?

Not a silly question.

Here are two posts which outline how I tend to cast spells these days.

fast cash money spell

Red Pepper Spellbreaker

working within my specific way of practice, casting a spell tends to have several vital base components:

choosing a goal or desired outcome

accessing, raising, or gathering metaphysical power

combining metaphysical power with the desired outcome (often called programming, patterning, charging, etc)

sealing the spell

and sometimes, delivering or activating the spell at a later time

for me, gathering rocks and herbs would be somewhere around the accessing, raising, or gathering metaphysical power stage.

in my belief system extra actions have to be taken to access power that may be within these things (see the fast cash money spell for examples of how I would access power within Basil, Chamomile, and a candle).

however, there are ways to raise metaphysical power that do not rely on using physical objects (consider energy work or sigil magic).

I light a candle if I need a candle. candles are not necessary for most magic.

I say words, but only because to me, magic and communication are deeply intertwined. I usually communicate by speaking or typing (hello!) and since I do not use an electronic device for most of my spells, I talk out loud.

[bennygesserit]

WASH YOUR WATER BOTTLE IF YOU HAVEN’T IN A WHILE

[thevirginwitch]

My Notion Grimoire Template is Now Available in Light Mode!

I’m so happy to finally announce that my Notion Grimoire Template is now available in light mode! You can get it from my Gumroad, and I plan to have it up on my Etsy later this week.

Thank you all so much for all the support this year! And keep your eyes peeled for future projects/templates~

[deactivated-blog]

Oooohhhh…

[windvexer]

windvexer's spellcrafting and spellcasting checklist

These are the sorts of things I think about when I work the style of magic that I work. This stuff is based off of my beliefs which might include UPG and is therefore definitely not applicable to everyone. Take what you want and discard the rest.

I do not rigidly follow this checklist. These are just the kinds of things I think about and consider when planning and executing spells. For small, simple spells, I ignore almost all of these factors. For serious and large spells I may consider many more of them.

Spellcrafting

Intent

Do I know exactly what I want to occur?

Have I thought through a few obvious logical consequences of my intended goal?

Have I performed divination on the outcome of this intent?

Am I sure that what I'm asking for is the same thing as what I want? (e.g. do I really want more people talk to me or is my true desire make more friends?)

Do I need to crystalize my intent into one specific phrase, or is it okay for me to leave it casual or even improvise?

Expectations

How soon is it rationally possible for my spell to manifest?

Do I expect the spell to manifest very rapidly? If so, what components or spellcasting style am I going to use to encourage rapid manifestation?

Do I expect the spell to work "just okay," or to be very powerful? If I want it to be very powerful, what extra steps am I going to take to fill the spell with power?

If the spell does exactly as my intent dictates, what is the most likely outcome?

Responsibilities

Am I bound to any gods or spirits that would frown upon what I want to undertake with this spell?

Have I taken any vows or oaths that would conflict with my goals?

Does casting this spell intent conflict with personal goals I've set for myself?

If casting for others, is this truly a situation I want to involve myself in?

If casting for myself, is this spell in my own best interest?

Is there any chance I am casting this spell to side-step self care, responsibilities, or personal healing? (I don't mean don't cast a self-love spell if you actually need therapy! Cast that spell every gosh darn day if you please. I literally mean, are you using magic as an avoidance tactic, when the reality is you really really just need to eat a sandwich and do your homework?)

Design

Have I chosen a style of spellcasting which matches my intent? (e.g., if I want to banish, have I chosen a spellcasting style that includes sending away actions such as burning a paper or throwing away a rock?)

Can I be creative with what I have to avoid delaying this spell? (e.g. I usually use candles as a beacon to draw things in, but when I think about it, a candle burning down would also be a good sending away action for a banishment).

If I have already heavily cast in the past, do I have any ongoing spells (such as wards) which would interfere with the work I want to do now?

Do I want to include a physical indicator that the spell manifested or stopped working? (Such as tying a thread around your wrist that breaks when the spell stops working)

Physical Components

What physical object will be used to anchor this spell? I believe that manifesting in physical reality is much easier if you tie magic to a physical object.

Do I know how the physical objects I'm using are linked to the design of the spell? (e.g., I want to banish, so I choose to use a candle for a dwindling away effect.)

Do I have a safe and practical plan for storing or disposing leftover physical objects from the spellcasting?

How can I make storage or disposal of leftover objects a part of the spell? (e.g. I take the leftover melted wax from the banishment candle and walk to the dumpster down the street, completing the spell as I throw away the last bits of their presence in my life in the garbage).

Am I intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell? If so, do I need physical components to represent them within the casting space, or within the spell itself?

If I am intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell, and I need physical components to represent them, is it a good idea to save and re-use these components? Do I need to make disposable representations, or can I use permanent devotional objects?

What physical components have I gathered which are unnecessary?

Does each component that I've chosen have a specific job in this spell?

Does each component and their jobs fully align with my chosen intent and spell style?

If not every component and their jobs align with my intent or method of casting, do I need to re-examine my intent and rework the foundations of this spell?

Do I need to modify or prepare any physical components? If so, do I need to do any of this ahead of time?

Energy and Power

How much power do I believe it will take to successfully perform this spell? If the energy requirement is large, do I need to break this operation up into smaller parts and cast multiple small spells?

Will it be necessary for me to craft a physical spell vessel ahead of time so I can slowly charge it until it has enough power?

How do I intend to power this spell? (for me, I power it with my own energy, or call on external forces)

If I will use my own energy, do I have enough personal power reserves to successfully cast this spell? Or, will it burn me out, even on a day when I'm well-rested?

If I will use an external energy, how do I plan to raise or call this energy into my casting space?

How do I plan to combine power with my spell components? (sometimes this is inherent in spell style; if doing knot magic, the power is held within the knots. At other times, it must be thought through - if I draw a symbol on a rock, maybe my power will be consumed by the spell at the singular point where I draw the symbol on the rock. Or, maybe I'd like to charge the symbol ahead of time.)

If I'm using many physical components, do I need to individually charge each one?

Do my chosen energy sources align with my spell needs? (e.g. if I require very rapid manifestation, have I ensured that I am using airy, fiery, mercurial, swift, or rapid energies? Or, have I accidentally used lots of heavy, slow, earthen, saturnine, creeping energies?)

Spirits, Gods, and Entities

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, how is my relationship with that power? Do I need to visit them ahead of time and make sure we're on good terms before I call on them?

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to plan a formal invitation or petition?

If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to repay them? If so, what do I need to collect or prepare for this purpose?

Aftermath and Upkeep

Is this a one-shot or continuous spell? Will I be maintaining and watching over the spell after it is cast, or will I let it go do its thing?

If it's an ongoing spell that will require upkeep, have I chosen a physical vessel that's practical to be worked with over a long period of time?

Will I need to make notes about this spell so I can remember what the vessel is in a few weeks or months?

How often will I need to recharge or maintain this spell?

If something went wrong, how would I undo this spell?

Spellcasting

Preparation

Have I gathered everything I need into one place?

If I forget something, is it okay for me to walk away from the spell to go get it, or is it really important I don't leave casting space until the spell is complete?

Is there anything special I need to do to prepare my casting space?

Do I need to take notes or write anything down so I don't forget it once the spell starts?

If I'm going to do a fancy ritual, do I need to write or print the ritual steps ahead of time?

If I've chosen to perform my spell at a special time, how much earlier do I need to prepare my casting space so that I can begin working within the correct time?

Pre-Casting Self Check

Do I feel safe and comfortable casting this spell?

Do I have enough personal energy to cast a spell right now? (even when conjuring external energies, you always use some of your own energy to cast spells)

If there is a risk that I will be drained, do I have anything important to do today or tomorrow that would be bad to miss or under-perform on?

Do I have enough free time today to have extra rest after spellcasting?

Do I have enough extra food to help restore me after spellcasting? (especially carbs, by the way)

Are there any tasks or activities I should do before I cast this spell, in case it is more draining than I expected?

Will I have enough energy to clean up my spellcasting space once I'm done? This includes properly disposing of or storing any spellcasting remnants or vessels.

Do I want to pray and ask for aid before I begin the spellcasting process?

Do I have any last-minute gut feelings about casting this spell? Is there a negative or worrying emotion that has been with me through this entire process that I've tried to ignore?

Do I want to exert my will upon the world?

After Care

How do I feel? (Including the physical, emotional, and mental)

Did I properly pay any spirits, gods, or entities involved in my spellwork?

Did I properly close down the spellcasting space (if applicable)?

If the working took place in my resting area, does my resting area feel comfortable? Is there anything I need to do, such as opening the window or playing music, to help my space return to normal?

Do I need a snack?

Do I need to perform a restful, low-energy activity for a little while?

Would it feel nice if I went and talked to people, or would I prefer to be alone?

Did I have any special insights during spellcasting that I want to write down before I forget?

Reflection

Did the spell go how I imagined it would?

Was I able to feel power being raised?

Did I end up feeling drained or buzzed after spellcasting? (note that you're not always bound to feel either, but it's worth noting as they're decent indicators that "something happened")

Did I ever feel a moment where I was still working over my physical components, but realized that they felt complete and the magic was ready?

If I called on spirits, gods, or entities, did I feel their presence? Did it seem like they had thoughts or feelings about the spell?

If I cast a spell like this again, what would I change? What would I keep the same?

Did I feel good about my disposal or storage methods for physical components?

Do I want to perform divination on how the spellcasting went?

Did I over or under-estimate how much energy the spell would require?

Did I like the style of spellcasting? Do I want to explore more spells of this style, or try a different type?

[windvexer]

Masterpost Post

More posts are on their way. Check with the original, updated masterpost to see if there's anything new since this was reblogged.

(Some of the links are under more than one category :))

Tarot

Give Better Readings (aka, Get Ready to Go Pro) Masterpost

Divination and Spellcasting: An Exercise, and Tarot DLC

Ways to Read Reversals

Tarot Superstitions You Can Totally Ignore

Did you know you don't have to use the entire tarot deck for every reading?

Super Easy Tarot Tips

Ask: Tarot exercise for when you're feeling stuck

Ask: What do you do when all your divining seems to be out of whack?

Tarot Spread: This, But Not That

Tarot Methodology: Elemental Landscape Masterpost

Energy Reading & Psychism

How I Sense And Perceive Spirits: The Browser Analogy

Ask: Tips for practicing discernment

Ask: Tips for practicing intuition

Discernment: Let’s Chat About It

Craft & Cast Practical Magic Series

Link to tag - will put in individual posts later

Intent

Sometimes your intent doesn’t even matter.

What’s intent good for then?

How to be a transmission (vroooom)

Ask: Personal correspondences and intent

Defense, Protection, & Banishment

Just an FYI - you can totally over-ward and it sucks

Witchcraft 101: Protection Explained (Part 1: Aggressive. Part 2: Defensive. Part 3: Illusory. Part 4: Neighborly.)

So You've Got a Spirit Problem: An Adept's Guide to Taking Care of Business

Cross Protection Amulet

Guardian Animal Shielding

Red Pepper Spellbreaker

Ask: Spirit traps

Energy Work 101: Basic Shielding

Giant Guardian Magic

Spirit Work

Offerings: Why, and How?

How to talk to the spirits within the things around you

Discernment: Let’s Chat About It

Ask: Performing magic without spiritual allies

Ask: Getting started with spirit work when you can't discern

lowest spoons candle dedications

Ask: Spirit traps

So You’ve Got a Spirit Problem: An Adept’s Guide to Taking Care of Business

Spellcrafting and General Magical Theory

Splitting spell intent isn't your friend

Developing Incantations and Word-Based Charms

Power shared is power lost

Low-Spoons Record-Keeping: Practicing Spells & Techniques

Crystal Knot Magic

Ask: OBFUK: An alternative to visualization

One of the most powerful and liberating things you can do

Ask: My opinions on manifestation journals

Power shared is power lost

Energy Work

Energy Work 101: Employing Power Therein

Energy Work 101: Basic Shielding

Spells

Red Pepper Spellbreaker

Cross Protection Amulet

List of low-spoons spells and magic activities

Shadow Work

Ask: My opinion on shadow work

Planetary Magic

In defense of astrological timing

Ask: Performing magic without spiritual allies

Astral Travel, Hedge Crossing, & Journeying

Ask: What happens if you die on the astral?

Cursing and Baneful Work

Ask: Did casting a curse attract the attention of bad spirits?

Discourse & Meta

Y'all ever get the vibes that we’re out here seriously over-complicating witch shit

Get started w/ witchcraft

Advice for people who want to ask for witchy advice

Witchcraft does not have to be a lifestyle

Lil concept for intermediate or beginner+ witches

[if you like my posts, consider buying me a coffee :)]

[exception-witch-proves-the-rule]

Spirit Communication Spell Jar

So I remade my old spell jar since it broke and was unusable. This jar used to be my “go-to” way to aid my spirit work, but after the old one broke I’ve learned I don’t need to focus on tools as much to practice spirit work.

For newer spirit workers or companions, or anyone who is having trouble feeling confident in their discernment, this jar is an amazing and easy way to get started! I’ve changed around some of the ingredients and intents, so here’s the updated recipe.

~Basil (protection)

~Sea salt (protection)

~Clove (psychic powers, protection)

~Amethyst (psychic powers)

~Tigers Eye (confidence in abilities/discernment)

~Carnelian (energy, clear communication)

~Magnesite (psychic powers, clarity, visualization)

~Clear quartz (energy, amplifies other ingredients)

~Sigil ashes

A lot of the ingredients on here revolve around protection, and that’s mainly because I rely on intuition and telepathy to communicate with my spirit companions. The extra protection helps make sure that this jar aids only those who I want to speak with. You can never be too safe with spirit work!

As for the crystals, all of them can be found in those packs of assorted gemstone bottles like this one. They’re quite common online and in craft stores for a decent price (I barely made a dent in each for this jar).

If you don’t have access to some of these ingredients, or want to add/substitute your own, go ahead! There’s no restrictions, this is just what I’ve found works best for me.

Finally, the sigil. I made my own sigil with the intent “I communicate with my spirit companions clearly and easily”. I then burnt the scrap of paper it was drawn on and put the leftover pieces and ash into the spell jar. Feel free to use another sigil that works for you, or use mine:

I made it the final design look kind of like a key to symbolize “unlocking” communications and psychic abilities.

As for charging, I gave the jar an initial boost by letting it charge in both the sun and moon. For future charging, I will shake the jar while focusing on its intent. You can charge your jar in either of those ways, or any method that works for you!

I hope this spell jar works as well for you as it did for me, and best of luck in your practice!

[windvexer]

Practical Magic Tech: Spellcasting Altars (101)

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

This is a 101 theory post. Go to the masterpost to find actionable steps for altar building and consecration.

Loosely defined (remember, we aren't trying to label everyone, we just want to clear the weeds in our corner of the magical universe), an altar is a sacred space used to facilitate two-way communication and movement with the unseen worlds.

Altars are often built to house and honor gods and spirits. There is a fairly significant difference between someone building an altar or shrine to honor their god(s), and a spellcasting altar for witchcraft.

Our goal with a spellcasting altar is not really to honor anything. We can build a separate altar or shrine to honor a god if we would like to do so.

Instead, for the purposes of this series, a spellcasting altar is:

A hardwired connection to the otherworld,

Which makes gathering metaphysical energy easier, and

Drawing power out of the ethereal and grounding it into physical objects is easier, which means

Successful manifestation is easier.

Delivering targeted spells is easier.

Also, it's beacon that naturally accumulates and collects spiritual power (this is why people can put things on their altars to automatically charge them).

And it's powerful method of classical conditioning.

Classical Conditioning: It's Hella Useful

If you use a spellcasting altar for most of your spellwork, after a little while just being in its presence is going to click you into a magical headspace.

Yes, spellcasting altars are imbued with actual magical power and have very useful metaphysical properties. But their utility extends beyond the metaphysical.

Also they're a great place to store all your spellcasting stuff.

(By the way: try using a specific stimulus, such as an earthy grounding scent or wearing a headband, every time you practice grounding, centering, and exiting a magical headspace. It's a really really helpful tool)

Does it need to be a physical altar?

No. A physical altar is only one piece of spellcasting "tech". If that tech is not viable for you, you have many other techs to draw upon.

Digital altars can also hold metaphysical energy. True magic can be done through web pages. Ask anyone who's been in an occult server on the rough side of the web.

All that being said, you don't necessarily need any altar. They're a handy tool but no one tool is everything.

Let your path serve you, not the other way around.

What about size? What about shoebox or mint tin altars?

Oh boy, get ready for my favorite hill to die on!:

Spellcasting altars are nothing more than container spells.

In a jar spell you take, idk, some rosemary for sleep protection, some iron nails against nightmares, and some lavender for sweet dreams. You put them all together in a jar and consecrate them to your intent and those independent components come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts in order to effect magical change.

In a spellcasting altar, maybe you take a candle for connection to the otherworld, a crystal to accumulate energies, and little colorful stones to represent the Western buildingblock elements (fire, earth, air, water). You put them all together on a specially marked flat surface and consecrate them to your intent and those independent components come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts in order to effect magical change.

When you cast a container spell, you are linking up a variety of powers to work together in the long term. And nobody is out there telling you to get a gallon-sized glass jar. In fact it's popular to use the teeniest little jars possible.

Get yourself a mint tin if that's what you prefer. Hell, a matchbook with a sigil drawn inside. Make your altar into a notebook or a tumblr blog. All that is necessary is that you find it to be useful; that it gives you more back than what it takes to use it.

But I do have one thing to say in support of the classic on a shelf/flat surface altar: They're kind of like hypersigils, and that's really handy

What if you made a container spell for general prosperity, and then put that container spell inside a bigger container spell for general empowerment of everything placed inside of it?

That's what a spellcasting altar is!

It's a big cauldron of power designed to help you manifest your desires and link power to objects in the way that you choose. Start adding other finished spells back into it, and it's like a magical combo move that multiplies power and makes it easier for you to manage everything there.

Too much volatility and movement in your financial life? Take some of the prosperity stuff off of your altar - and just like that, the magic in your life has shifted.

All your spells are lagging and there's not much motion? Light a spicy, fiery candle on your altar to give everything there a tangy boost.

Feeling irritated by someone? Print out a picture of them and place it on your altar, facing away from you. No spellcasting, chanting, or ritual required - an act of magic was done because an action was taken in a magical place designed to manifest every intent you put within it.

The real benefit of spellcasting altars is that they do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

You're probably not interested in practical magic because your life is great and you already have enough time, energy, interest, or ability to manage everything in a mundane way agreed upon by Society.

I actually think there's a pretty good chance that you're interested in practical magic because there's not enough of you to go around to deal with things in a mundane way.

Magic is real, and real things tend to take real work.

So how is it helpful to turn to a new methodology of managing your life, when it takes just as much time and energy as you were spending before?

Spellcasting altars, even small ones, even digital ones, help us out. They automatically collect power for us to use later on, so we don't have to drink our precious Get Stuff Done juice. They house doors to the otherworld you can just open and close, instead of having to create the door every time you need it. They help us automatically get into the spellcasting mindset through a hardwire connection to the otherworld and the magic of classical conditioning.

Spellcasting altars do specific things and fill specific needs. Therefore, they're not going to be necessary or even useful for everybody. Try them out and see if they're useful for you. If so; a tool has been added to your toolbox. If not; you have considered and discounted something unhelpful, and now you can move on to better things.

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

[windvexer]

Learn How To Craft & Cast Practical Magic

I support and promote practical witchcraft. I like deity worship and self work and cute journal spreads (@arcanas-grimoire taught me what journal spreads are the other day!), but you know what I like the most?

GETTING SHIT DONE

Hot, spicy, fiery, volcano take: Deities of witchcraft want us to do practical magic. They have set a banquet resplendent with dishes of personal agency, power, and stewardship of our own lives. They want us to feast, fingers dripping with nectar and butter. Spirits of the land miss us. They want to know us. They reach for us, yearning: what a wonderful world it would be if more humans would see them and learn from them.

Imagine, before you is a golden palace filled with tables creaking under the weight of treasures. The Goat-Footed Man has flung the doors open for you and beckons you. The indwellers of nature reach out for you.

The system & methodology of magic I am going to present to you is a lot of UPG, a lot of warbly British & American reconstruction stuff, and a heaping dose of "this is what I do and it works."

Please do not make a terrible mistake: this stuff I'm writing is NOT UNIVERSAL WITCHCRAFT BELIEFS (which don't exist). Many, many witches, with amazing and experienced practices, will probably totally disagree with me! If the stuff I'm writing makes you feel weird or uncomfortable, that is a great sign that the way I do things isn't the way you do things. Witchcraft is a galaxy and I present to you how to navigate one single island of one single planet. If the atmosphere curdles your blood, I encourage you to not dwell in this farm plot of the arcane; there is so much more out there, and something will be right for you.

The system I intend to present is inherently animistic, involves working with spirits, involves working with gods, and is suitable for beginners. Yeah, I said it. Get those spirits on the phone, let's party.

Sections

Methods of Understanding and Perceiving Magic

One-Shot vs Continuous Magic

Addition vs Subtraction

Divination Before Spellwork

Practical Magic Tech Theory

Spellcasting Altars 101

Spellcasting Altars Are a Powerful Tool For Sticky Situations

Microcosm Method of Altar Building

Cleansing Before Spellwork

An Intro into Powering Your Spells

Let's Talk Aboot Circles

DIY Charms and Spells

Saltwater Cleansing Charms

Introductory method of Circle Casting

Raising Power in Ritual and Tying It To Your Spells

Learn How To Craft & Cast Practical Magic Series

[theoldcottage-deactivated202208]

Tools Used in Magick

An apple - to create or inspire love, to break love or love spells, divination, communion with the dead, obtaining beauty and fairness.

A lemon - to break spells, to create hexes that affect physical life, to promote strong healing by way of a detox or purgation, to bind people frm doing magick towards you. Can be made into a lamp for protection against curses and evil.

An orange - amazing offering to spirits, especially those of the dead, to break misfortune, summoning good fortune, bringing good health, inspiring joy and positivity, can be used as a lamp for any of the above purposes.

Ginger - giving fire to any spell, ginger tea or root can be consumed before rituals to lend power ot the witch, due to its potent nature, it can be used as a poppet to inspire passion, sexuality, or to dominate someobody, a potent money charm. I do feel like it does have some very strong purification qualities.

Mirrors - to amplify magick, protect and bind people, for reflecting hexes and evil, for scrying magick.

Rice - for spells of growth, abundance and benediction, mixed with other herbs and can be made into a talisman for household wealth. Also good as offerings to certain spirits, could also be used as a protection spell due to the idea that the reason rice is thrown at a wedding is to confuse evil spirits, useful in rain spells.

Coffee - empowerment of all spells, stimulating psychic gifts, amazing for enhancing spirit communication and amazing for spirit offerings (black coffee), useful in breaking curses and road openings and strong cleansings. Has a good ability in money magick and in empowering love in a relationship, like most food, it can be enchanted to make someone caring and loving towards you.

Black Pepper - a martial incense, good for works of exorcism, domination, subjugation, potent cleansings, curse breaking, afflicting curses, creating war and conflict, good for break up works.

Matches - there is a small belief that due to matches containing sulphur, they have the tendency towards darker magick (sulphur and brimstone), but this can or cannot be applied in one's practice.

Flour - can be used to mark out circles and as a base for powders. Mixed with salt and black pepper it creates a protection powder, with sugar, a powder to promote love, peace, sweetening etc. with sugar and cinnamon, useful for money magick and to induce love and lust. It can be mixed with the ashes of a petition, sigil or prayer and used to dust things like doorknobs. It can alternatively be mixed with a small amount of water which can then make a paste to anoint doors and windows as a temporary mark.

Salt/White Vinegar - mixed together and placed in a room creates a potent cleansing agent.

Sewing supplies - used in creating bags and poppets but also useful in things such as love magick, binding magick and so on. For example, sew two photographs together to make a small packet and add sugar, basil and red rose petals to create a love pouch, orange peels can be added for martial bliss.

Tin Foil - good for reflection spells, can be used in heating spells. So taking a fish heart (for example) and working it to inspire love, wrapping it in tin foil and putting it in a fire or in the oven is a good way of heating up a spell, useful when you want to warm someone's heart to you, fire up their loins, their temper etc. Alternatively, due to its reflective surface, it can be used in binding spells.

Clay - it can be u sed in poppet magick but also to seal people. For example, green is associated with Venus, so a green heart can be used in magick relating to love.

[windvexer]

follow-up to this post

I'm calling it, "how to do magic as if you are magical and the whole of nature is listening"

say = think, sign, write, or any vehicle of communication

presence of energy = candle, incense, sunlight, moonlight, breeze/wind, running water, yourself while you're already feeling those emotions/thoughts/beliefs, etc.

Cleansing object: blow on object, wipe it off

Cleansing object: wash it in the sink

Cleansing self: take shower

Cleansing self: change clothes

Cleansing self: listen to music

Cleansing space: light a candle in the room

Cleansing space: open a window, let air flow through

Cleansing space: sweep/clean floors

Blessing object: look at the object. say, "you are special." also mean this in your heart. give it a lil kiss or a lil pat with your thumb

Blessing space: pat door frame. say, "you are a special room." feel how the room is special and good. tell the room you love it

Charging object: bring object into presence of energy and ask it to fill itself up. tell energy you would like it to fill up the object. leave the two to their privacy

Charging space: exactly as "Charging object" but you cant move the space so you gotta find a way to get the energy to it

Dedicating object: tell object to prepare itself for its new life. tell it that its fate and destiny are about to be forever changed. speak to whomever object will be dedicated to. say, "this is for you. i give it to you. you own it now"

Enchant food or beverage: tell food or beverage what you want it to do. realize you will spend some of your energy to enchant it. say, "I spend my energy to craft my reality." stir food or beverage for a few moments until you suddenly feel more tired. say, "this is magical now, and whoever consumes it will absorb that magic"

Enchant object: tell object exactly what you need it to do. tell it you will feed it energy so it can be born to its new purpose. bring object into presence of energy and ask it to fill itself up. tell energy you would like it to fill up the object, specifically to fulfill the objects new purpose. leave the two to their privacy. when you return, tell object, "i have captured power in you, you are magical now, and you will be forever." (optional: repeat daily for 3 days)

Cast spell 1: exactly as "Enchant object," but object is a candle, incense, or sigil. Once enchanted, burn into ashes. dispose of remnants in a strange way

Cast spell 2: put together a lot of little objects into a container, instructing each one to its purpose. then tell the entire container its master purpose. then enchant the entire container exactly as "Enchant object"

Cast spell 3: take some string into the presence of energy. tell the string it will hold some magic in knots. tell the energy you will capture it in knots. tell yourself what you will capture in the knot. tie the knot. say, "I have captured power." repeat until there are enough knots

Curse others: exactly as any "Cast spell," but your purpose is always to harm another

Curse self: much easier than "Curse others." all you need to do is speak bad words about yourself to others

Undo spell: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but its purpose is to be the exact opposite of the unwanted spell, so they equalize each other

Undo spell: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but its purpose is to be a little knight who rides across the land to slay the first spell-dragon

Undo enchantment: say to object, "yesterday was the last day of forever. it is time for you to go back to your old life. let go of the magic within you, and return to your long sleep." bury in salt or earth for 3 days.

Binding: exactly as "Cast spell 3," but instead of [energy], take the string into the presence of what is to be bound, and tell the string to tie it up and hold it so it can never be let go

Glamour self: your aura is a constant projection of everything you currently are. breathe in how you want to be perceived and breathe out how you will be perceived. your breath coats your aura like steam on glass. it will also fade like steam on glass. repeat every day the glamour is desired

Close yourself off to spirits: say, "i do not want to be in contact with any spirits. no thank you." believe this in your heart also

Mega close yourself off to spirits: say, "i do not believe in spirits actually, even more than that, they are not real at all; so i have no concerns in coming into contact with them." believe this in your heart also

Open yourself to spirits: say, "i am actually quite fine with being in touch with helpful spirits, or at least neutral ones, but definitely ones that mean me no harm"

Banish spirits: say, "i am the only witch in this house, and i choose what energies are here and what spirits may stay. someone else may have invited you, but they do not have the right to invite you, and i am telling you now that you must go. leave now as a friend or be destroyed as an enemy" believe this in your heart also

Banish humans: exactly as "Cast spell 1," but instruct the consumable object to chase the human far away as its released

Pray: say things, but to someone who isnt in the room with you

Build a shrine: make a mood board dedicated to that being, but instead of digital pictures its physical objects, and all the objects are in one little area. then, perform "Dedicating object" over entire space

Build a spellcasting altar: exactly as "Build a shrine," but the vibe is things that remind you of power and your own power. then, perform "Dedicating object," but you dedicate it to yourself

[sylvaetria]

Energy Tethers 101

*this post is fueled by angst*

Okay, no, seriously though, it really does make me sad that so many people seemed to have no idea what I was talking about when it comes to connecting things for energy transfer.

So, what even is an energy tether?

I personally use the term “energy tether” to describe this type of energy work, but they could be called anything - energy cords, energy feeds, etc. Basically, it’s a metaphysical connection to allow a direct and continuous flow of energy from a source into a target. And I say target, because it doesn’t need to be an inanimate object - it’s possible to do this with yourself too.

That sounds a little convoluted, Richtor; can you break it down a bit more?

Yes, I know, I’m fancy with my words. You’re creating an energetic line between two things, one thing to be used as a battery, to allow energy to constantly flow from the battery into the second thing, keeping it charged / powered forever.

Are you serious?

Yes.

Why don’t we do this for everything in magic?

Honestly, I don’t know. If you’ve got an understanding of energy work and visualization, it really isn’t even that hard to create one. It can even be done with representational magic if you really wanna go that far, but it’s not that complex when you get down to it. 

I’m assuming it’s just a case of, people don’t think about it like that, or, it wasn’t as widespread a thing as I thought it was.

Can’t we just do this with passive charging, like how we charge things in moonlight?

Yes, but objects only hold a limited amount of energy before they become full; once you’ve used up the energy, you need to recharge it again. Creating an energy tether allows a constant flow of energy, so as it is being used up by your intent or goal, it just refills itself.

To me, passive charging is no guarantee that the energy will stick or be absorbed by the object, and that is also why I prefer things that require focusing on the energy yourself (direct channeling), or this method.

What *can* you use energy tethers for, anyway?

Basically anything you want to keep charged for extended periods of time. Optimal for sigils, any sort of charms - hell, you can even connect thoughtforms / servitors this way. But, seriously, anything you want to keep constantly charged with minimal effort, this is a way to do it.

What can you use for “batteries” or power sources?

Anything that produces an almost endless amount of energy. The sun is the first and most obvious one I think of. You can use anything else that produces a lot of energy, though. If you live near a dam, or those electricity windmills, those would work. Power lines and electric generators are awesome, and a great way to incorporate different feels of energy (and tech magic) into your practice. Space, even; like, the entire damn thing. If it produces energy, it can be tethered.

What do you mean about different feels of energy?

This isn’t specific to tethers - all things that have and produce energy have different “feels” to them. The sun is more hot and energetic than the moon, which is cool and calming. Rose quartz is a bit more gentle than, say, jasper, which is hot and firey. Tiger’s eye is more solid and stable than clear quartz, which is fluid and mold-able to almost any intent. 

We all experience feels of energy differently, however; these are just how I “energetically feel” those things.

(You also don’t need to “feel” anything to still do energy work, but that’s like a  whole ‘nother post.)

Can you tether to something that doesn’t have unlimited energy?

Sure, yeah, but you’ll drain it, and then it won’t be fulfilling its purpose anymore.

Can these energy lines be broken?

Yep, absolutely. You can do it yourself if you no longer want them, someone else could do it if they could sense them, or they can naturally fade over time if you don’t give them proper upkeep and care.

Wait, upkeep? What happened to endless energy?

Yes, upkeep. You’re creating something to funnel energy, with energy. Energy needs to constantly be molded and kept in shape, or else it tends to just drift away. It really isn’t that hard to upkeep, though.

How do you keep your energy tethers safe from other people? 

Just program that into them when you make them.

Any disadvantages to using an energy tether?

It depends on how you view the term disadvantage. 

I think the thing that energy tethers lack is that bit of personalization that we often talk about being important in witchcraft. For example, you can keep a thoughtform powered by the sun, but it won’t contain your energy, won’t be as personally tied to you as if you charged it with your own energies. That can lose a lot of impact, when you really think about it, especially considering the nature of thoughtforms and the like.

Not to mention, you can overwhelm yourself with energy if you use a tether to connect yourself to an external source that produces more than your body can handle. You know how you can be overwhelmed by external energies, just by walking around? Yeah, now imagine that pumping straight into your body without a natural exit channel. Not fun.

Are there any other applications for energy tethers?

Fuck yeah. Use them to draw energy out of a target, in the form of a curse - literally sap their energies away so they have none left for their daily lives.

You can even connect yourself and another person with energy tethers, if you want to be able to share energy more freely and with more ease. (This is basically what I did with @ashesforeverashes​, in a sense.) 

Some people don’t like their energies taken without consent, though, and certain witchy protections can even prevent these sorts of tethers from forming in the first place, so keep that in mind.

Okay, all this talk about tethers, are you gonna show us how to make them?

Only if you ask nicely.

Please?

Okay that’s better. 

It is essentially just a combination of energy work, intent, and visualization.

The first thing you need to do, is have an object you want charged.

Now, pick an energy source. You don’t need to be able to see it, but it can help.

Relax yourself, clear your mind if you can. Hold onto your object in your hands. 

If you can, look at your energy source; this is clearly not applicable with the sun, so close your eyes and have your face turned toward it. If you can’t see your energy source, picture it in your mind as clearly as you can. Try to get a feel for its energy as well as you can, too. 

Once you are confident with your source, imagine a cord connecting from it and to your object you want to keep charged. A nice visualization for this would be seeing the particles form together out of thin air to form your tether - literally materializing out of nothing and attaching to the source, creating a line that is slowly building down from the source and to your object. This can be done in whatever way you wish - just make it.

Take as long as you need to allow the cord to be build from your energy source to the target - it can take some time, depending on the distance and how experienced you are with energy work.

While you are creating it, focus on any attributes you want it to have - a thick cord that is hard to break, a shimmery appearance so no other magic users can see it, etc. Keep in mind the purpose of the cord, what you want it to do, how you want it to behave, and fuse that into it as it is being formed.

Once the cord is in place, you want to draw energy from your source and into the object, through the tether. Make it clear that energy only flows one way through this particular tether. Continue to draw from the energy source and down into the target, until you begin to feel the energy flowing through the tether naturally. Once energy is accumulating into the object on its own, you know the tether is complete.

For the upkeep; about once a week or so, focus on the tether and visualize it still being strong, without any gaps for energy to sift through. See a smooth, clean flow of energy from your energy source and into the target. If there are any obstructions, break them down and funnel them out.

What was this “representational magic” method you mentioned?

Oh yeah. 

As a boost, you can have a representation of your energy source physically attached to the object or target, if you can. So, for example, you could have a tiny model of the sun, connected to the physical vessel for a thoughtform, by a piece of string. This can help keep the energy tether strengthened in a “physical” aspect, especially if you bind the physical to the energetic. Not to mention, just looking at it, you are reaffirmed that the tether is there and the object is charged, and that can assist with the upkeep.

Are there any “modifications” for energy tethers?

Totally. You can change the “material” you make the tehter out of. Think of how people can put spikes onto personal shields, or make them have reflective surfaces - it’s sort of like that, but moreso changing the tether itself into something besides a beam of light. It can be a black cord like the ones electronics use; it can be made out of natural rope or hemp; it can be just a metal pipe that the energy slides through. Try to think about how each “material” might impact the flow and/or feel of energy.

You can also have one tether break off and charge many items at once - you don’t need a separate tether for each thing. Just focus on your tether and how it can fork, and imagine another branch coming from it naturally. Or, if you’re adding a separate line after the original tether has been “installed,” imagine a separate line growing or being molded from the first and down to the new object.

And there you have it - my post on energy tethers. Obviously this isn’t complete or all encompassing. This is just my view on these energetic cords, what they are, and how they can be made and used. I wrote this off the seat of my pants, but I think I covered everything I intended to. (And it feels hardcore like the old windvexer posts to me, which I’m not bothererd by lol.)

I hope this helps you guys, or inspires you, or whatever. If you have any more questions, I… guess I can open my ask box, as long as y’all behave. Good luck, and have fun!

[windvexer]

Practical Magic: Let's Talk Aboot Circles

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

I can feel all of you veterans rolling your eyes into the back of your heads.

I know, I know.

But as this series is intended to lay out as many tools as possible on the Table Of Take What You Need, I'd be remiss to not talk about circles at least once.

Let's also maybe talk about why they're such a frikkin controversial AND ubiquitous issue!

Full disclosure: I use circles relatively often. The quick kind that takes 5 seconds to cast. I didn't do 'em when I was immobile though because yeah, standing up and turning in a circle whenever you want isn't a universal experience.

But let's get to it!

What the hell are magic circles, anyway?

Most discourse on Tumblr about magic circles is "do them!" or "you don't have to do them!" but it rarely actually gets, you know, discussed.

For the purposes of this series, a magic circle is a temporary circular energy barrier that can be "programmed" to do a variety of helpful ritual tasks.

This energy barrier is usually placed around the entire spellworking or ritual space, so that the practitioner and all the tools they use are inside of it.

Sometimes, this barrier is marked by a physical object, such as a rope or a line of flour. Often, especially in solitary practice, there is no physical boundary that corresponds to the circle.

When employed, the circle is usually raised as one of the very first ritual acts during a spell (sometimes, space clearing or prayers are done beforehand). Typically, the circle is lowered/removed as the very last step, or whenever the ritual space is no longer needed (sometimes the witch might then take spell remnants to be ritually released somewhere else, for example, and usually no circle is ever required for that part).

Magic circles are usually reserved for more lengthy, focused acts of magic. They are rarely employed by people who are like, visualizing a glamour in front of a mirror, or doing a charm to get out of traffic, or stuff like that.

(Actual steps for circle-casting will come in a later post in this series; check the masterpost)

Why are they problematic?

Because while Wicca did not invent the concept of magic circles, Wicca very much popularized a certain version of them in Western occultism.

And a lot (a lot) of Western practitioners, especially those very unaware that there are global magical practices that have nothing to do with Western Wicca or Western witchcraft, like to go around preaching that this particular aspect of their very specific cultural religious practice needs to be followed by everyone who does magic ever, seriously, even if your cultural tradition has been doing fine without them for the last four thousand years, because some British guys decided on the real rules eighty years ago.

And people very rightly push back against that, because circles are absolutely not 100% necessary for any working of magic.

In popular rhetoric, circles have also been largely reduced to being nothing more than temporary warding, used to keep evil spirits away from the shining diamond of your spell.

So when a lot of people believe that all a circle does is protect against "bad" energies and spirits, kind of a reverse justification happens: circles become necessary because bad energies and spirits are everywhere, and unless we use circles we're at risk of being preyed upon... and this promotes a feedback loop many of us have heard all our lives: that witchcraft is scary and dangerous, filled with evil things, and you need to be really really careful or else you're gunna get snatched up by a demon.

And then more people push back against this, because modern contemporary witchcraft has literally evolved to be some pretty safe shit, and no, you don't have to ward every iota of your heart out just to avoid bad stuff waiting to trip you at every turn.

What are magic circles good for?

Tons of stuff! And that's what makes them really useful tech!

Here's what we have to get on the table right away, though: an energy barrier is just an energy barrier until you ask it to do something different. You can construct circles that are purely protective and actively limit any magic or spirits from coming or leaving. You can construct circles that are basically a throne room for a sacred power to temporarily visit. You can construct them to create a liminal space that joins the physical world with the spirit worlds and makes it much easier for spirits and magics to flow back and forth.

No circle automatically does all the stuff I'm about to list, except the protection thing: you have to include what you want in the construction of the circle itself. (I'm pretty sure this is why people believe circles are only protective and even trap magic inside... yep, it does automatically, if you don't know what you're doing).

Depending on how you cast a circle, it can trance you out and help you reach a state of spiritual gnosis, and then stuff gets real wild in an awesome way.

If you've ever heard of people talking about "trancing" or entering a "magical headspace", this is one way to do it. Literally walking or dancing around in a big circle, focusing on higher powers, and chanting repetitive words can yeet you right out of normal modes of consciousness and into Big Spiritual Time. (Plus also, the more time and energy you spend on circles, the stronger and more powerful they become, so that's helpful).

Magic circles can connect the worlds.

"I don't want to connect to the spirit world!" Then get yee off my animistic, spirit-oriented spellcrafting series, where we're hella going to be talking to a buttload of spirits by the time all is said and done. In all seriousness though, if you're having trouble with spirit communication, casting a circle can help. It also just helps with gathering and accumulating various energies and powers, in general.

Magic circles raise power.

Raising power is an extremely vital component of spellcraft IMO, and it's so weird that people never talk about it? Like I'm either just missing a huge segment of magical discourse or y'all have found a sneaky new way to power your spells that I missed out on.

Anyway, circles are made of energy and casting them brings power into your immediate energetic space. Yeah, most of the power is bound into an energy barrier, but you're still probably going to have tapped into an energy source greater than what you use up (whether it be your own energy or that from an external source). By casting the circle, you get into the groove of calling and raising power.

I guess this is a pretty minor point, but it clicks nicely for me.

Magic circles are a cauldron that collects energies into some nice spell stew.

Depending on how much power you raise, there can be way too much of it for you to singularly hold in your focus. Like if the extent of the energy you raise can be held in the palm of your hand, you don't need a big magical bucket to hold it for you - you've got it on your own. But if you raise so much energy that you're swimming in it like a dolphin in the deep end of the ocean, like to the point where you feel you might literally pass out and ascend to the next plane of existence, a circle is really going to help keep all that power together in one place for you. Or else it's going to get all over your house like glitter and you'll be cleaning little spell crumbs out of corners for the next ten months.

Magic circles are an ideal way to host visiting spiritual powers.

This hearkens back to the "calling the quarters" thing in Wicca. But basically, as you cast a magic circle, you can pause during (or after) you make it, and open special doorways in the circle to allow significant spirits to arrive and oversee your working. This works out well in a ritual format because since the circle is usually cast at the very beginning of a ritual, important spirits that need to be there for the whole thing can be called at the same time - and dismissed at the very end when the circle is closed. It just slots together nicely. In my way of working, calling special spirits to oversee an act of magic significantly increases its power and effectiveness.

Magic circles actually are a fantastic method of protection.

There's something magical about circles. The damn things are just nigh impossible for spirits to get through. That's why we're always summoning spirits inside of circles. Now, don't get me wrong, you're not likely to need protection for your average spell (especially if you already have home wards or personal wards set up). But there are situations in which even an average, everyday practitioner might seriously benefit from taking a little extra care:

If you're doing a ritual in an outdoors/wilderness space, it's going to be fucking chock-full of spirits and no, just because they're not malevolent, does not mean you want any random spirit getting sucked into your spell.

If you're doing divination for others, they can have icky stuff around them that follows you back (and unfortunately, I find this to be more common for people who dwell within occult circles).

If you have any concern that malefica or an unwanted spirit are on you, casting a circle will let you perform divination without any concern that your readings are being affected.

If you're doing a spell in an unfamiliar space (like a spell with a friend at their home), and you don't like the energy there, a quick circle will provide a temporary safe space to perform the ritual.

When to employ magic circles:

Whenever you want to. If you're open to suggestions, though:

As a ritual component to help you delineate when your spells begin and end,

When you intend to raise a very significant amount of energy,

When you intend to "open the roads" and invite certain spiritual powers to attend,

When you're in a space heavily populated by spirits that might choose to become involved in your working without being invited,

When you're uncomfortable with the energies in your environment,

and if you're troubleshooting success with your manifestation, so you're willing to give it a try just to see what's up.

This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.

[starlit-chaos-witch]

[funky-astrologer]

The North Node and How it Affects Us : Part 1

In Astrology, the North Node tells us about how and where we are meant to grow. It tells us the lessons we are meant to learn. Astrologer Rachel Lang says the North Node is “…the point of destiny you continue to follow throughout your life.” The North Node shows us the energy we aren’t comfortable expressing yet, and some people spend their whole lives developing it. Since we aren’t born comfortable with the energy of our North Node, we can view it as an entry point to a more fulfilled existence. You’ve likely heard the saying, step outside of your comfort zone to grow, and the North Node will tell you just how to do that. Often, we struggle with the energy ruled by our North Node and it can take a lot of effort to feel comfortable with it. However, when we do begin to feel comfortable with it, we often feel that are lives are headed in a good direction.

*The North Node sits exactly opposite your South Node. The South Node tells you about where you feel most comfortable and can show you where you natural talents lie.

Aries North Node: Your life’s purpose is about being independent and discovering yourself and what you need. This path is often found in people who are trailblazers or fire starters. These guys need to explore their individuality and find ways to lead others. You may often feel more comfortable taking advice and direction from others or asking for validation before acting on an idea. In this life, you don’t need to ask for help—just do it. You are meant to be curious and follow your passions and not ask anyone for permission. Another lesson will be to stand up for yourself and if you end up in rather difficult or trying situations, hold your ground! Yet, remember your Libra SN and be as diplomatic about it as possible. Remain compassionate and aware of others and their feelings, but don’t put anyone’s needs or desires above your own.

Core ideas:

· Being independent and taking your own advice

· Leading the path for others to follow

· Actively pursue your goals

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Chariot (movement, confidence, determination)

Some Aries NN individuals: Sigmund Freud, Mariah Carey, Meryl Streep, Nikola Tesla, Carl Jung

Each of these individuals have found a way to lead in their field. They are all seen as leaders or idols in some way and have found a way to express their individuality in a way that encourages others to follow their example.

Taurus North Node: Finding a way to earn financial security and become self-reliant is important for these individuals. In a past life, you likely experienced many losses and this time around you want to enjoy the finer things. This North Node also comes with the lesson of, not relying on anyone else’s resources but your own. Learning that you are your best source of security is important. Finding a sense of spirituality is also important to keep a balance. These individuals have a way of seeing beauty everywhere and this can make them great artists. Something special about these types is that in the most difficult times of their life, they can find the inner strength to keep going. Often times, they don’t even know they have this inner strength, it can come seemingly out of nowhere and at times it can feel like it’s coming from something completely outside of them. These individuals are so resilient and can tap into an inner reservoir of incredible power that can transform the lives of many. All in all, these Taurus North Node natives are here to tap into that inner power and find what means the most to them, and then find security within whatever that may be. There is likely times in their life where they will find security and then come close to losing it. This is because their Scorpio SN is so used to having to protect their security or use obscure methods to stay in control. Letting go and not being afraid to lose what they have, and rather look within for that feeling of safety, will help these guys.

Core ideas:

· Finding value within yourself

· Relying on your own resources for security and safety

· Seeking out peace and harmony

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Empress (pleasure, abundance, creativity, Divine Feminine)

Some Taurus NN individuals: Martin Luther King, Prince Harry, Gordon Ramsey, Stephen King, Janet Jackson

For these individual it seems that they all have a legacy that needs protecting. Each of these individuals have created or been a part of something that has touched many lives. Furthermore, they all have been able to find their true values and have created something long-term from it. Martin L. King, the leader of the civil rights movement found his true purpose in his desire to create freedom and liberty for others. It took a lot of resilience and patience, but that dream of his did come true. Stephen King has made a name of himself through his horror novels. He found a way to connect with what’s most comfortable for him (Scorpio SN), and create something with long-term value.

Gemini North Node: This path is about speaking, learning and communicating your knowledge and opinions. Being quiet and not speaking your mind will never get you where you need to go. These types can be rather curious and always looking for the next adventure or thing that interests them. They don’t like to settle down because they know there is a lot to explore in the world. They have a desire to learn and experience all they can—being that their South Node is in Sagittarius. Learning to share your knowledge and insight is important in this life. You are meant to open people’s eyes and help expand their mind. Learning to gather information and not just take things at face value is also going to be an important lesson. Try not to jump to conclusions! Networking is key to expanding your connections with others. You have a natural ability to socialize, as you are charming, witty and knowledgeable. Truly you can rise to the top easily if you learn to network and use these gifts for everyone’s benefit.

Core ideas:

· share your opinions and knowledge with others

· be open to others’ opinions and learn from their experiences

· explore and be as curious as you can

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Magician (foresight, skill, originality)

Some Gemini NN individuals: Billie Eilish, Björk, J.K. Rowling, Steven Spielberg, Aubrey Plaza

Cancer North Node: Your destiny in this life is to take care of and nurture the private areas of your life. Family and home life are area you can develop more to aid your growth. Your personal relationships should be one of your top priorities as they are going to be your major support system. Cancer being a water sign, you will benefit from listening to your emotions more and practicing self-care on a regular basis. Make sure to not fall into the safe habit of using logic to go through life and avoiding the vulnerable areas. Your Capricorn South Node can fall into the habit of being a workaholic or trying to deal with everyone else’s problems and never your own. Don’t do this because it will only bring more trouble for you long-term.

Core ideas:

· Listen to your intuition

· Nurture your fulfilling relationships

· Put your own needs above the needs of the world

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Moon (intuition, emotions, fear/shadow work, acknowledging the lighter vs. darker facets of the self)

Some Cancer NN individuals: Michelle Obama, Johnny Depp, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston

Leo North Node: These individuals’ core lessons revolve around self-expression and owning their individuality. Similar to an Aries North Node, a Leo North Node individual needs to cultivate a sense of independence. Learning to do without the support of peers and believing in themselves is important. You will learn through disappointment that you don’t need everyone’s support—you can keep going on your own. This placement of the North Node will struggle from time to time with their sense of self and accepting who they truly are. Often, they will feel lost without social groups, friends or some external source of support. Finding strength in themselves and believing in their gifts is super important. After this, they often become super charismatic and entertaining individuals. They will also find their true gifts are expressed most easily when they are helping out in the community. As long as they feel truly happy with their lives, they can inspire others to follow them or be their own true selves.

Core ideas:

· Find creative and expressive outlets

· Trust in your power

· Be your own person—you aren’t meant to follow anyone

Major Arcana Tarot Card: Strength (perseverance, courage, self-mastery, healthy outlets, confidence)

Some Leo NN individuals: Beyoncé, Diana, Princess of Wales, Christina Aguilera, Jim Carrey, Alicia Keys

Virgo North Node: This placement indicates that in this life, individuals will be more focused on the practical aspects. There will be a need to plan more, organize and enforce boundaries with others. These individuals want to become more disciplined and achieve their goals in the best way possible. They will often find success when they are helping others or contributing in a way that makes them happy. As Pisces is the South Node, it is often someone who spent the past sacrificing their own needs for others, doing selfless service and engaging in fantasy to escape the world. Now, they must remain grounded to get things done. These types are used to being sympathetic and caring for others, but if they do it at the expense of themselves, they will likely end up disappointed in themselves. As long as they don’t overextend themselves, they will find that they can still help others in a way that benefits them as well. Enforcing boundaries is essential for a Virgo NN or else they will be walked all over.

Core ideas:

· Stick with a routine or habit that helps keep you balanced and organized

· Self-care should be done on a regular basis

· Focus on managing and planning out goals

Major Arcana Tarot Card: Temperance (renewal, balance, learning to cultivate a sense of purpose and joy, being patient and loving)

Some Virgo NN individuals: Kylie Jenner, Muhammad Ali, Bernie Sanders, Kevin Hart

Libra North Node: Creating harmony and learning compromise in relationships is essential to cultivating a sense of fulfillment in life. There is an emphasis on interpersonal relationships with this placement. Be open to cooperating, even if it seems easier to do it on your own. As the South Node is in Aries, these types are likely used to, and more comfortable being independent and alone. In this life, harmonious relationships will help you grow and feel more fulfilled. Furthermore, a Libra NN gets more done when they accept help from others. Being there for others and caring about their needs is also important. There can be an air of selfishness with these individuals, as they are more comfortable serving themselves. Being open and acting with integrity will allow these individuals to create beautiful, long-term relationships that will help further their goals.

Core ideas:

· Learn to be more emotionally intelligent and aware of others

· Create harmony always over discord

· Cooperate with and accept help from others

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Lovers (connection, balance, harmony, relationships, completion)

Some Libra NN individuals: Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Tim Burton, Doja Cat, Bruce Lee

Degree Placements

*The degree your North Node falls in will give you more insight about what is needed to fulfill your purpose. It can also give you more knowledge about how to fast track the growth of the sign your NN falls in.

Aries degrees (1, 13, 25)

Ø North Node in an Aries degree indicates more of a need to express your independence and do things your own way. For example: a Virgo North Node in an Aries degree indicates a need to cater to oneself more often and take more action rather than planning out your every move. Also trying to figure things out for yourself first before asking for help.

Taurus degrees (2, 14, 26)

Ø North Node in a Taurus degree can indicate that your North Node requires you to seek out greater harmony in your life through creative expression. For example: a Libra North Node in a Taurus degree can indicate that you can create more harmonious relationships by bonding over shared values or any creative projects. Furthermore, your relationships will thrive more in a stable environment.

Gemini degrees (3, 15, 27)

Ø North Node in a Gemini degree indicates that you will benefit from working on your communication. Also learning as much as you can and developing any skills you have.

Cancer degrees (4, 16, 28)

Ø North Node in a Cancer degree indicates that you can benefit from being open about your emotions and learning to become comfortable with them. Also being more sympathetic and caring throughout life.

Leo degrees (5, 17, 29)

Ø North Node in a Leo degree indicates that you should own your individuality whenever you can. For example: a Libra North Node in a Leo degree can indicate that even though you will seek out support from your personal relationships, it will benefit you to stay true to yourself. This is a placement for someone who relies on their loved ones and is constantly trying to keep the harmony, but this degree makes it so it’s more beneficial to find the inner power and confidence to do your own thing without validation from others.

Virgo degrees (6, 18)

Ø North Node in a Virgo degree indicates that being more organized and finding balance in your daily life will benefit your self-development. As well as actively doing things to improve yourself. This includes health regimes, physical activity, eating healthier, working to cut bad habits etc. For example: a Cancer North Node in a Virgo degree indicates that you may be able to find more emotional stability from seeking out help from others—such as going to therapy.

Libra degrees (7, 19)

Ø North Node in a Libra degree indicates there is a greater need to focus on balancing your relationships. For example: a Capricorn North Node is meant to secure their future and work at success. In a Libra degree, this means that an integral part in securing that success would be to form healthy, long-term relationships with others and to cooperate more.