just your friendly neighborhood witch

he/him (if you look close enough at thar funky lil snail in my pfp, you'll see he actually has TWO cowboy hats)(also my header is snatched from the official gushers insta page)

[the-witch-queen]

Yule Spider Legend

On Yule eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year… Yule day, the day on which the little God child came to bless the house.Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling. They had fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

The Yule tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little God child’s visit. Then the oldest and wisestspider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.

When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. When they neared the Yule tree, they were delighted with the beauty of it. The spiders crept all over the tree, up and down, over the branches and twigs and saw every one of the pretty things.

The spiders loved the Yule tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little God child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were Goddess’s creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.

With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little God child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold.

According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hungtinsel on their Yule trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Yule tree.

Celtic Women’s Spirituality by Edain McCoy

[thatwitchneb]

Yule is almost here! Winter Solstice takes place on December 21st, to be exact. Are you ready? What are your plans for Yule this season? Happy Witch New Year lovlies 🎄

Some Yule activities

Make a Witch Ball

Find a log to create a Yule Log

Sing carols with family

Wear red, green, gold, silver, and white

Manifest peace, hope, and cheer for the New Year

Use incense to spruce up your home

Start a fire in the fireplace and decorate your Yule Tree

Celebrate by having a feast with friends and family

So much more!

[ivoryhour]

How to make a Yule Log!🎄❄️🍓

Yule Logs are a great addition to your Yule altar :) You can also burn them on the winter solstice in a magical bonfire!

You can customize your log anyway you want, so long as you use materials safe to burn (no plastic or synthetics). Try going on a scavenger hunt in nature to find more inspiration. If available, you can go as far as to choose the log based on the magical properties of the wood, such as oak for wisdom and pine for prosperity🔔

Here’s some ideas to add to your log 🎄

❄️Mistletoe

❄️Cinnamon

❄️Pine cone

❄️Dried fruits (cranberries, orange peels)

❄️Feathers

❄️Cloth Ribbon

Happy Winter Solstice my loves <3

[brigidthedawngoddess]

My Yule Ritual

A blog that describes my morning on yule. 

I woke up at 5:55 am, before my 6:00 am alarm. I was so excited, I woke up several times in the night to look at the clock and make sure I didn’t wake up late. 

I layered on four skirts, black leggings, two sweaters and my winter coat. When I finally made it outside, it was still dark. I gathered all my magical items on my altar table and set up the candles by the light of my flashlight. Next, the fire was built so that I could light it as soon as the sun rose.

I cast a protective circle, called the elements and sat down to watch the sunrise. My coffee warmed my hands and the steam brushed my face. A plate of cookies sat nearby. Blankets were piled around my shoulders. 

The sun touched the tree tops around me. They blazed like a torch. A signal that it was time to light the fire. I lit my yule log that had my hopes and wishes drawn in chalk.

I chanted a passage from my book of shadows. It spoke of the lengthening days and the end of the longest night. 

Watching the sunrise was one of the most special moments of my life. I watched the sky turn from light blue, to pink, to orange, to blazing yellow. I felt the power of the rising sun run through my body. It left me feeling tingly and warm.

I cast a future happiness spell and filed my cauldron with pine branches and clear quartz.

I sat, covered in blankets, and watched the world brighten little by little. The fire continued to burn happily. All was beautiful and peaceful. The birds sang. I heard a roosters call in the distance. The cold wind bit at my nose. My outstretched fingers warmed by the fire. The sweet taste of jam cookies lingered in my mouth.

I felt happy and alive. The wheel of the year continued to turn. 

Blessed Solstice. 

[witchpony]

I love this artwork, it belongs to @paperwitchco 🎃

[prairiewitchy]

Hot tip: if you’re not working your jars it ain’t magic, it’s just a cup of (probably molding) nonsense. 

[clovenpriest]

@ “spell jar” posts: unless you’re using it to conjure mold, it’s not gonna do anything if YOU don’t do anything.

[midnight-forest-deactivated2020]

For anyone understandably thinking “how would you know if you’ve never tried it”, well I actually gave tumblr magic a fair shot when I got here.

Tumblr magic is so completely different to anything in my path or studies that after a few double takes I thought, you know what? Let’s try it. Who the fuck am I to judge a praxis I haven’t even dabbled in?

The results? Honestly the same as if I try to manifest something into being by sheer force of will. Yes you can make this stuff work with some experience and power behind you but it’s nothing you couldn’t achieve by “wishing really hard”.

The spell jars? If you follow tumblr methodology what you’ll have there is some pot pourri with really good vibes. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’d make a lovely housewarming gift and if you’re powerful enough you could even manifest some shit…

Just know that the jar of whatever didn’t really help you do that, you did that all yourself. Imagine what you could do with some real, juicy magic.

[bigfatwitchbitch]

This is why I always add a sigil and/or ask a deity to imbue my jar spell with energy. (I would give it more of my energy but I’m a spoonie, so you know, this just works better)

[prairiewitchy]

Sigils and imbuing energy (yours or anyone else’s) are pretty much exactly the opposite of what I’m talking about and are very much of the “passive” type spell jars I made this post about.

Bottle/jar spells should be shaken daily, or prayed/chanted over daily, or have candles burned over them at set hours or daily until they burn out, or buried somewhere significant, or thrown into running water, or a whole host of other things depending on your goals. If it’s sitting on your desk collecting dust you’re not working it, no matter how many gods you asked to whisper forbidden names into it. 

[daveykimy]

honestly folks, throwing stuff into jars and calling it a day accompanied with wishful thinking is NOT gonna do it. That’s why in folk magic spells are often called “a work” or “workings”, because it’s WORK. The old term for jar spells, at least in America, is called “working the jar”. which means you’re supposed to compose the jar, pray specific prayers over it for a certain amount of days/time, burn a dressed or “fixed” candle over the lid, and shake the jar daily as well (although this depends on the type of working). 

Yes, adding sigils and invoking deities you worship for aid in the work will definitely add to the potency, but it doesn’t relieve you of your efforts you got to put in. 

in conclusion: DON’T. BE. LAZY. Do your work. A jar / bottle spell is not / and should not be a a witchy decoration for you to look at and be aesthetically pleasing. That’s not it’s purpose. and frankly it’s this kind of thinking that’s responsible for the watering down of folk magic and Traditional Witchcraft, and why so many now thinks magic and witchcraft is tossing potpourri into a mason jar. 

[freyavvitch]

My friend tied the knot recently and I made them a unique sigil for virtues that I think are important for a successful marriage. Commitment, loyalty, patience, and trust. Strawberry, mistletoe, heather, and sunflower details

[thesorcerersdiary]

I don’t know who needs to hear this but

Do NOT cast spells for positive effects that involve:

Burning a picture of yourself*

Burning a piece of paper that anywhere contains your name*

Burning a piece of hair or other taglock*

*Unless you really know what you’re doing

I don’t know how sigil culture got people to think that burning anything = sending it off for spirits, but NO. Across pretty much every magical practice, burning involving a person = destruction. Burning as a means of generically sending things off is mainly used for offerings.

On a similar vein, do not cast spells for positive effects that involve taking a human figure and ripping up, burning, submerging in soil or water, or doing anything else to that figure that would maim or kill a real human. (unless you really know what you’re doing)

Remember the Law of Similarity. Destruction of an image = destruction of the thing itself.

Edit: I’ve seen a lot of comments of “fire isn’t just destructive!” and “burning can have other effects!” and yes, I completely agree. Hell, I can hardly do magic without a lit candle in the room. I’m talking specifically about harming images or pieces of yourself/your clients who you want to produce positive effects for.

I also made the caveat that if you know what you’re doing then there isn’t an issue. imo, “real magic” is any magic that works. If you have a technique that works for you and doesn’t cause unwanted side effects, great! My intention behind this post was to speak to those who are trying spells from online, modern spellbooks, their friends, etc. My goal is to encourage a critical eye, especially when techniques that have historically been used one way are being applied in another very different one. 

Regardless, I’m glad this post is generating a lot of good conversation.

[orriculum]

Methods for Spells

TO BIND- wrap in black thread, drip wax over, or seal in a jar and hide it in the dark.

TO BANISH- burn an effect to ash and sweep off the back door step, cast it out a window, or bury in the ground and spit on it

TO ENCOURAGE-  plant it by the front door/steps, bury by a window, or place it on a windowsill

TO HIDE- place in a jar painted black, cover with cloth and bury, or wrap with a ribbon

TO CLEANSE- bury it in a bowl of  salt, burn herbs and pass through the smoke, or lay it in a moonwater bath

TO GLAMOUR- leave under the full moon, hold its reflection over a mirror with herbs, or 

TO WISH- place before a candle and blow it out, drown a coin in water, or let seeds blow into the wind

TO COMMUNICATE- (with a spirit or deity) - anoint a candle, leave out offerings, or open the front doors and windows

TO WARD- leave part of the spell in four corners, draw lines around the protected area, or plant an object of projection in the north, east, south, and west edges

TO CURSE- spit on it, drag your nails down it, or stick sharp things in it

TO DISCOURAGE - plant or bury by the back door, or burn to ash

TO JINX- say it three times out loud, or say a word the same time as someone else

TO MANIPULATE - use wax, use poppets, or tie several strings to pieces of an effect

TO BENEFIT - light a candle, charge a crystal, or create a talisman

[koffinrott]

Hot take: There is no room for sexism in witchcraft.

Men can define themselves with the word witch. A man can be a witch. There are male witches.

This is not Harry Potter. This is not some high fantasy bullshit in a book.

Stop being sexist pieces of trash.

[apottovan]

The Sun, Apollo

The Sixth Guardian. 

This sigil boosts spellwork pertaining to the sun, new beginnings, happiness, celebration, music and the arts, as well as healing and growth spells. 

[theoryofmagick]

Let’s Talk Litha!: Celebrating the Summer Solstice

June 21st marks this year’s Summer Solstice - the Sabbat known as Litha (or Midsummer)! If you celebrate the Wheel of the Year, Litha is one of the key points in the calendar: The summer solstice marks the Sun’s peak of power, and also marks the longest day in the year!

Litha, or, The Summer Solstice

Litha marks the longest day of the calendar year - the Summer Solstice - and is positioned at the bottom, Southernmost quarter point in the Wheel of Year. Traditionally, this is a great time to commune and connect with the Sun, do solar magic, and use the Sun’s peak power to spellcast, charge, and cleanse.

Colors: Red, orange, and other fiery, bold tones

Incense & Scents: Dragon’s blood, orange, musks (personal correspondences here - use your own for max results!)

Altar Setup: Find stones and crystals that have washed up on the summer shore, local flowers, seasonal fruits, and plenty of candles. A bonfire is traditional (a red candle is practical!)

The Litha Feast: What would a Sabbat be without a feast? Litha is a perfect time to eat outdoors (if possible!). Traditional foods include herbed breads and pastries (baked!), desserts and dishes with summer fruits (try berries, stone fruits, or citrus, depending on what’s local to you!), cold cooked poultry for our omnivore witches, and flower or berry wines. More modern foods for Litha could include potato salads, dishes made with lavender or sorrel, peppery foods, or dandelion greens.

Litha Traditions:

Light a bonfire and jump over it (if it’s small enough!) to cleanse yourself of past ills.

Stay up on Midsummer Eve to wait for the rising sun.

Dispose of old amulets in the Litha fire.

Work magic with stone circles.

Make speeches to Fortuna, the lady of Fortune (is my Hellenic Revivalism showing?).

Phone past friends and invite them over.

Honor the Oak tree by paying one a visit in your local neighborhood.

Lead the way to your Litha celebration with a torchlit procession (or lantern or sparkler-lit, as it were!).

Magic for Litha: Healing, purification, cleansing, fire, protection, rebirth, power, sun magic, magic with stones and crystals, reaffirmations, and oaths.

Have at it, witches! (and link me to your Litha altars/plans/feasts! I’m a sucker for peeking on all your aesthetics & magics :>)

[samhain-spirit]

Shout out to my fellow witches/ wiccans/ pagans with eating disorders. It can be really difficult to enjoy the holidays when they’re so focussed around food. As someone who mainly does kitchen magic it’s hard not being able to do all the spells and eat all the seasonal food I want.

Blessed solstice, and take care of yourselves babes!

[sunbedo]

Time to celebrate litha by chugging an entire bottle of honey

[witchysabbaths]

HAPPY LITHA

HAPPY MIDSUMMER

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE

Picture is from-waywardinspiration.com

[stygiantarot]

Midsummer with Children

(Thanks to my daughter for creating the “still life” photo 😊)

Here are some ways to celebrate the summer solstice with youngins (or those young at heart!):

Collect dandelions to make a flower crown. Enchant for prosperity and luck for the coming year.

Collect seeded dandelions and make wishes.

Draw with chalk! Suns, flowers, clouds, stars, coins, ice cream, and sandals are all some common summer images to draw. But abstract symbols and marks are good too!

Use paintbrushes and water to “paint” on the ground. Add food coloring or (food safe) herbs to give it pizzazz and specific associations.

Eat something cool outside- ice cream, berries, watermelon, chips/veggies and dip, a charcuterie board, etc.

Make fresh lemonade with the youngins! Include extra things like cut strawberries, fresh mint, a cup of sparkling water.

Bake! Shortbread, honey cakes, lemon bars, and berry-frosted cookies are my favorite seasonal bakes.

Make handprint art with non-toxic paint outside!

Turn on a hose or sprinkler, enchant it for cleansing, and run through it!

Braid each other’s hair. Tuck flowers, ribbon, and leaves into the weave.

Identify cloud shapes- make a simple beginners divination game out of it!

Stack rocks and stones into towers near your door or porch for luck and blessings.

Point out wildlife like birds, bees, rabbits, etc. Discuss what they do for the ecosystem and ask about the youngins’ favorite summer critters.

Leave offerings for the Fae and nature spirits outside.

Feel free to reblog and add additional ideas!

[alisaknipst]

blessed summer solstice 🌞

my plans for today include:

making lemonade

baking a lemon loaf cake

donating old clothes

self-reflective journaling

poetry-writing

taking walks

watching the sunset near a river with my lover

i hope you have a good time celebrating and enjoying the sun!