the local sun enthusiast

you can call me K | 23 | he/him | secular witch

[hands0fgold]

Hello everyone, I'm K (he/him) and this is a new blog I made specifically for things related to witchcraft. I'm interested especially in anything regarding divination, sun, and ancient history. I'm not exactly new to witchcraft but it's been a while since I last did anything and I'm taking this as a fresh start.

I would really appreciate if people with blogs on witchcraft would like/reblog this so I can find some people to follow so thank you to anyone who does that!

[bpd-hex]

“I have the job that I want.” My roommate is having a difficult time finding a job that he’s happy at. Luckily I like making sigils. 

[hands0fgold]

i'm not taking credit for it but the way how me creating a talisman to protect myself from bullshit at work coincided with the rancid transphobe getting fired sure makes me feel a certain way

[rose-and-poppy]

Slavic paganism 101: gods, spirits and demons

Welcome to my new series, where I explain Slavic paganism! I will be focusing on lands that today belong to Poland, as that's where I live. Enjoy ☀️

Before anything else, we should look into Slavic gods/deities - because that is more complicated than most people think, and will help you understand how this religion is fundamentally different than what you're used to.

Let's look at the Polish word that is mostly translated as God or deity:

Bóg (pronounced like "boog")

This word is similar across all Slavic languages, as it is very old. As Christianity colonized Poland and other Slavic regions, they appropriated that term to mean "The God", their Christian god, the creator of everything etc etc. and that's how it is used today. However, before that, the word had a slightly different meaning.

The Slavic word "bóg" simply meant "good fortune", or an entity / a spirit that brings such. "Bożki" (deities/"small gods") refered to all good spirits that you could find. It also meant statues and sculptures representing said spirits.

While some of them were more known or powerful than others (and mind you, this varies WIDELY depending on region, sometimes even from village to village), they were all considered the same kind of being. You might have heard of Perun or Weles or Swarożyc named as Slavic pagan deities, and they certainly were. They were worshipped in many regions in similar ways. But they weren't really more important than any kind of house spirit that was being bribed with milk and cheese to keep the family safe.

You also have to keep in mind that we have very few written sources explaining pagan religion before christianization, because at that time Slavic people didn't write. What written sources we have were written by Christian scholars; this might explain why the view of gods is skewed by a Christian lens.

As for demons, that word wasn't used in Poland until the 19th century (!). There were a bunch of malicious spirits. Scholars today refer to "Slavic demons" defining them as creatures with partially human characteristics and mostly bad intentions. There was certainly a group of entities that was more connected to humans - like utopiec, which was born from the soul of a drowned person and pulled travelers into lakes and rivers to drown them. However, not all human-adjacent entities are evil, and not all evil spirits are connected to humans. It seems like the modern idea of "Slavic demons" is just that - modern, and it doesn't really translate well to the reality of Slavic beliefs.

To sum it up: Slavic pagans believed in a variety of spirits - some of them bringing luck (bożki, bóg), others - malicious, and then some that just chilled and ruled their domain. Christian scholars seeked to push those beliefs into monotheistic framework. Some bożki were actually appropriated and renamed as saints. But it seems like the lines between good and evil weren't as pronounced, and hierarchy among them much more loose.

What I'm trying to say is, there were no actual Slavic pagan gods, in the way we understand the word "god" now. There were spirits. Some powerful, some watching over you, some trying to screw you, some making the world go round. They were worshipped, respected, appeased, there were rituals dedicated to them and they had their sacred places and spots of worship. But they weren't really gods like the Greek gods, or like the Christian god, or even like the Nordic gods. Slavic pantheon is much more chaotic and less pronounced.

God is the good fortune and bliss that comes to you from the spiritual world around you protecting you. Keep that in mind whenever you read about Slavic pagan gods and beliefs.

[space-queen]

energetic shields ✨️

[long post]

what's the purpose of a shield?

a shield typically acts as a barrier between you and the outside world - they can be stationary or mobile.

shields are commonly used as personal protective wards, but can be used for so much more - let's get into it.

what can shields be used for?

protection from energy, people, or situations

creating illusions or casting glamours

absorption, destruction, deflection, or transmutation of energy

some examples:

a shield to ward off negative or malicious energy

a shield to alter your appearance and other's perceptions of you

a shield to deflect negative energy and return to sender

a shield that absorbs negative energy and transmutes it into positive energy

a shield that absorbs energy and tethers it to you or an object

a shield that destroys the energy it absorbs from a target

a shield over a location or place you frequent - your vehicle, your home, your workplace, etc.

a shield over a particular object

a shield to make you "invisible" - known as "cloaking" in some circles

when would you use a shield for something other than warding?

just as a shield can be used to protect or deflect, it can also be used like a solar panel to absorb.

to passively sap energy from a target.

to create an illusion of yourself or an object in order to distract and deter unwanted attention or energy - the illusion you create is up to you but the versatility of such makes for a very useful glamour. in the baneful sense, illusions can be used to disorient others.

how do you craft a shield?

typically through visualization and energy manipulation, although you could incorporate physical objects to "tie down" the shield (tie down shields that cover spaces, like your house or your car).

the easiest way to visualize a shield is to think of a bubble or ring that surrounds you, emitting from your person somehow - the best thing about this barrier is that it can look and feel however you want.

layering shields on top of each other is totally a thing.

you can program and store a shield in an object for later use - like a necklace or a sigil on paper that's enchanted with X energy that projects a shield when activated. you could store a shield in a pickle jar if you wanted to. go wild.

you can craft temporary shields to be used during spellwork or rituals (like casting a circle).

how do you craft and charge a shield?

that depends on the energy you're employing to craft the shield - the technique of crafting a shield usually involves visualizing the creation of the shield and then forming and emitting energy from within yourself to charge it, but! it doesn't mean that said energy has to be your own.

for example:

moonlight? harness and charge shields with lunar energy that you previously channeled and stored. alternately, you could channel lunar energy and then remain tethered to keep the shield up and running.

crystals? use that crystal as a talisman to activate a shield in its image.

fire? draw the elemental symbol in red ink on your wrist and press to activate.

home protection? set a protective talisman in your living room and let it do its thing.

i will say, though - having a tether that's connected to an external energy for an extended period of time is probably gonna be pretty hard to maintain. the tether will eventually break once your personal battery becomes so overcharged that it just stops charging altogether. i do not recommend it.

but, there are so many possibilities.

materials and textures

let's say your shield is made of glass - what happens when you break glass? it shatters.

what if it's permeable in some way? this could allow your own energy to seep out while attracting all kinds of nonspecific, outside energies in the process.

maybe it's so solid that it blocks out everything, even the stuff you want to attract (imagine an invisibility shield that accidentally makes you unperceivable to everyone).

what you choose to craft your shield from is entirely preferential, but it should be a reflection of your intent while protecting you, regardless of what you're using the shield for. speaking of, consider what you'd like the inside to look or feel like. i personally like the interior of my shields to be soft and relaxing. but! if that's not right for you, then you can literally do whatever you want. the possibilities are endless.

some ideas for shields

rose branches with thorns intact - visible but heavily guarded

moss, leaves, other greenery - earthy energy; good for keeping yourself grounded

metal - impenetrable but opaque; good for invisibility glamours

fire - destructive; could impact you negatively if it backfires; may take a lot of maintenance to keep it lit

water - illusionary but permeable and could potentially allow energy to flow freely; not super great for keeping energy in or out of the shield

crystals or diamonds - refractive; alters appearance or personality

holography - refractive and reflective; to distort the way others perceive you or done so in a way that makes you invisible to others; return to sender

rocks - impenetrable but weathers over time

glass - sure but why would you want to? idk

wood - could act as the foundation for a shield or be used to make a shield in its entirety; could potentially be destroyed by fire, water, or air energies

mirrors facing outside - reflective; return to sender

mirrors facing inside - illusionary; distorting imagery to disorient a target

aura - use corresponding colors that align with your intent

fog or haze - illusionary

sunlight - illuminating but also destructive

moonlight - illuminating; good for transmuting energy from negative to positive

black hole - the shield acts as the event horizon of a black hole to absorb and destroy energy

starfield - illuminate and highlight personal traits you want others to notice

cyberspace - neon and glitches, galore; disorient and distract a target when they look your direction

photo filter - to alter your appearance

what could go wrong?

it breaks or malfunctions

it doesn't work at all

it works too well

it won't stay charged

it drains your own energy

if your shield breaks, you can either repair it (like, if it's a solid object) or remake it (mundanely breakable materials that can't easily be put back together). how will you know if your shield breaks? simply enough, when you notice that it has stopped working OR when it starts to backfire because of the damage. the backfire part is self explanatory, and as for the rest - you might just know that it's falling apart, but if you have trouble sensing energy, you could maybe perform divination to confirm your suspicions. another possibility is that the talisman you used to form and charge the shield ends up damaged in some way. you may also be extremely fatigued once all that energy you gathered disappears or starts working against you. that's not to say that a shield is always gonna burst into flames spontaneously and immediately - it may break down and lose its integrity over time, but that also means it'll slowly stop working. look at the bright side, at least that would give you some time to repair it if you wanted to.

taking down a shield

do the thing you did to craft the shield but do it backwards. no seriously. visualize the energy slowly dissipating and departing back to whence it came. if you used physical objects to secure the shield, remove and cleanse them. if you asked for help with this one, don't forget to give thanks for the assistance.

do you have to keep using the same shield?

short answer: no!

longer answer: let's say you craft a shield that you want to keep around indefinitely, but only use in certain situations. you could totally store that shield somewhere for safekeeping and bring it out when you need it, recharging it as you see fit.

on the other hand, you can take down and destroy a shield after you use it and then make a new one when you need to.

totally up to you. :)

final thoughts

working with shields can be exhausting, so pls make sure you're eating, staying hydrated, grounding, and getting enough sleep.

© 2025 space-queen

[vampeatscrystals]

fucking spell jar to make shit stop fucking happening

hello. are you or your loved ones experiencing Shit? will Shit simply not Stop Fucking Coming? Is the universe putting you in a board-less game of Jumanji where every time you make half a move you land on some horrible awful twist of a punishment?

Introducing: Spell Jar To Make Shit Stop! It’ll make shit FUCKING STOP

this is the perfect gift to yourself or your friends and family when the world is crumbling beneath your feet and you desperately need some semblance of calm and normalcy. you can’t make a little bubble where time stops for as long as you need it, but you can make this!

materials:

choose between any you have on hand.

household herbs/spices:

💕rosemary for protection

💕basil, lavender, and chamomile for stress relief and calm in the face of Shit

💕catnip, dill, nettle and cumin for protection, banishment, and luck

💕rose for blessings and abundance

💕peppermint and garden sage for banishment, protection, and foresight

💕black pepper for banishment and warding

fancy rocks:

💕bloodstone: physical protection and luck

💕amber: protection

💕citrine: banishment and foresight

💕fluorite: anti stress

💕hematite: extra defense

💕malachite: protection and healing

💕snowflake obsidian: protection and intuition

💕onyx: grounding and banishment

💕tourmaline/black tourmaline: balance and banishment

extra little add ins:

💕oak leaves for luck and success

💕iron stakes, screws, or nails for warding

💕eggshells for cleansing

💕black salt or ash for cleansing, warding, and purification

Once all of these are in a jar, you will need:

💕a piece of paper and something to write with

💕a lighter and a candle, preferably black, white, or another color you associate with protection

On the paper, write:

“I hearby declare that all negativity surrounding me is to be vanquished and put to rest. No repeated stressors will interfere with daily life. No Bullshit shall be Shitted upon me nor the following people:

[Insert your bullet list of names]

Begone, foul fuckery, as we have no time for your foolishness. Let only prosperity, peace, and calm live on in our lives. Because I Fucking Say So.”

Seal your jar with your candle wax of choice.

[will-o-the-witch]

Honing Your Tarot Questions

Tarot is a fantastic tool for reflection and insight, but it's not meant to answer every type of question with equal clarity. Some questions are just more helpful than others once you really get into the medium. Here are some simple suggestions on how to get the most out of your more basic questions in a way that's more helpful.

How will X go for me? -> What do I need to get the most success out of X?

What does X think of me? -> What is the energy like between us currently? What can I do to improve it, should I want to?

Should I choose X or Y? -> What will X and Y each ask of me? What rewards and challenges will I face in either direction?

Past/Present/Future -> What aspect of my past is most relevant to my present? What energy am I currently exuding? Where is that leading me?

Basically, you want questions that put the power back in the querent's hands to act upon the reading. Things that help you make a more informed decision rather than just being told the answer.

I also like adding at least one card in every spread I do which answers the question, "What do I need to focus on right now? What is the very next step?" Just to add some practical advice.

[breelandwalker]

Sturgeon Moon - August 8-9 2025

Buckle up, witches - the harvest season has begun and it's time for the Sturgeon Moon!

Sturgeon Moon 🦈

The Sturgeon Moon is the name given to the first full moon in August. The name comes from the plentiful numbers of sturgeon which appear around this time of year.

Sturgeons are living prehistoric relics, examples of which appear in the fossil record as far back as 200 million years ago. Today, they are endangered due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss, but giant sturgeons growing up to 12ft (3.65m) long were once a common sight in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain in North America.

Other North American Indigenous names for this moon include Flying Up Moon (Cree), Corn Moon (Algonquin and Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), Dry Moon (Catawba), Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit), and Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine). European names for this moon include Haymaking Moon (Norse), Lightning Moon (English), and Grain Moon (Anglo-Saxon).

It’s also interesting to note that in China, the seventh full moon of the lunar year is called the Hungry Ghost Moon, during which spirits of departed ancestors visit their relatives and homes, and the restless dead may cause mayhem among the living if not properly appeased. Food offerings and incense are put out for ancestor spirits, families visit gravesites to offer prayers and site maintenance, and festival dances and floating lanterns celebrate the honored dead.

Peak lunar illumination will occur at 3:55am EDT in the wee hours of August 9th, so for working purposes, the moon could be considered full on both August 8th and/or August 9th, depending on where you live.

What Does It Mean For Witches? 🦈

August 2025 marks the first time in several years that there is NOT a special lunar event happening for the full moon. (Previously, we had a blue moon and then the first in a series of supermoons.) It still marks the beginning of the harvest season for the Northern Hemisphere and thus is a time to watch for the results of previous work to make themselves known.

In August, we harvest one set of crops and sow another, reaping the rewards of our previous efforts and planting the seeds of future success. Look back on the magical workings you’ve done so far this year - how are they working out? Have any of your spells produced especially notable results? Go back and add to your notes, making sure to record anything that worked particularly well. (And also anything that DIDN’T work well. Remember that failure is a learning experience too.)

Evaluate your progress and reflect on what you want to carry forward and what you might need to put on hold or just let go for the time being. If you’re partial to divination, a reading may help to provide some additional clarity on your current status, as well as some perspective on the possibilities for the near future.

What Witchy Things Can We Do? 🦈

Celebrate the harvest of grain and corn with your favorite recipes or a summer picnic. But don’t just limit yourself to corn and wheat! Late summer fruits are also ripe and make a tasty addition to any table.

Set your intentions and your goals for the latter part of the year and start preparing for the autumn and winter. It may seem silly to prepare for the cold when the weather is still blazing hot, but it will be here before you know it. Take time for one more summer beach trip or camping excursion or summer festival before the hustle and bustle of the fall sets in.

If you feel like doing something creative, reflect on the year so far through artwork or journaling. What growth have you seen and what lessons have you learned? What makes you thankful and what makes you think? What is driving you and what has inspired you?

Make sure you charge your spell jars and moon water to capture the first blush of that abundant harvest energy, and if it happens to be raining on the day, put out a bucket for storm water. And remember - the end of summer doesn't mean the end of the growing season! If you have a green thumb or just feel like experimenting, look into fall and winter crops that could grow in your yard or in containers, or consider starting something indoors to keep your surroundings green through the cold months.

Prepare for a bountiful fall season with lots of opportunities to make things happen. Set yourself up for success by making your wants and needs clear in your spellwork. Attend to practical matters to remove whatever obstacles you can and clear the way for your hard work and magical endeavors to pay off.

Happy Sturgeon Moon, witches! 🌕🦈

Further Reading:

2025 Witches Calendar

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Witchcraft Exercises - The Book of Lessons and Witchy Inspo Journal, Bree NicGarran.

Full Moon in August 2025: The Full Sturgeon Moon, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Hooked on the Magic of August’s Full Sturgeon Moon, The Peculiar Brunette.

Hungry Ghost Festival, China Travel, June 20 2023.

Sturgeon, Wikipedia Article.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Credit: “Leaping Gulf Sturgeon,” by Dawn Witherington

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, subscribe to my monthly show Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon and in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[breelandwalker]

Simple Spell - Full Moon Wish Jar

Intent: To harness the power of the lunar cycle for the manifestation and fulfillment of wishes.

Materials:

Small Jar with tight-fitting lid

Chime candle & fire source

Oil for sealing

Herbs and Items representing your wish

Ideal Timing: Waxing or Full Moon

Find a clear space to work. Make sure it’s free of fire hazards. If possible, try to work near a window through which you can see the moon. (If you don’t have one, that’s all right too, since you’ll be setting the jar out for the moonlight when finished.) Light your candle, focus your intentions, and get to work.

Select herbs and trinkets which fit inside the jar to represent your wish. For example, if your wish is for money or prosperity, you might include coins or small craft gems. If your wish is for health, you might include vitamin pills or a charm representing medicine. Check your books for herbs or crystals that correspond to your wish as well. This is your wish - make the spell your own. The contents of the jar can be whatever you want.

Use the materials that resonate best with you, but remember that your focused intention is the most important component of all. If desired, you can write your wish on a dried leaf or a piece of paper to give the spell a clear direction to work in.

Some common plants associated with wish-making include:

Bamboo

Bay Leaf

Blue Violet

Dandelion Seeds

Dogwood Petals

Nutmeg

Peppermint

Sage Leaf (any color)

Sunflower Petals or Seeds

Once your jar is complete, drip three drops of wax from the candle into the jar and circle the mouth of the jar three times with the oil to seal the charm. Then cap the jar and seal it with wax. Leave your thumbprint in wax on top of the lid. Place the jar somewhere that it will be touched by the light of the full moon and leave it overnight.

The jar should work for about a month, or slightly longer if you’re working with a supermoon. When the next full moon rolls around, you can recharge the jar by leaving it out overnight again, or make a new jar with a new wish.

Recipe suggestions under the cut. (And if you like this spell, you'll love my books!)

Happy Witching! 🌕💜

Health, Wealth, & Happiness

Lavender

Rosemary

Rice

Bay Leaf

Juniper Berries

Apple Wood Chip or Apple Seeds

Seal with Breath

Protection

Rosemary

Basil

Sea Salt or Table Salt

Holly Leaf

Juniper Berries

Seal with Sage or Dragon's Blood Oil

Healing

Basil

Echinacea

Horehound

Lavender

Hyssop

Seal with Basil Oil

Luck & Success

Clover Blossom

Galangal Root

Rosemary

Sassafras

Allspice Berries

Seal with Amber Oil

Money-Draw

Rice

Allspice

Orange Peel

Juniper Berries

Rosemary

Seal with Orange Oil

Love

Rose Petals

Apple Wood Chip

Lavender

Basil

Cherry Blossoms or Cherry Stones

Seal with Rose Oil

Jinx Remover

Sea Salt or Table Salt

Coffee Grounds

Rosemary

Sage (any type)

Black Peppercorns

Seal with Vinegar

[breelandwalker]

You can also get my handmade Moon Spell Jars in the shop!

Willow Wings Witch Shop

Books, spell kits, and homemade charms and accoutrements for your witchcraft practice. Owned and operated by Bree NicGarran, author of Grove

[ad-caelestia]

grimoire organization ideas 🔮

what is a grimoire?

a grimoire can be defined as a book of magical spells and invocations; sometimes used interchangeably with "book of shadows" but you can call it whatever you want.

what should i write my grimoire in / on?

a grimoire can be handwritten or typed, there is no wrong way to construct your grimoire. (for example, my grimoire is typed in a one note document but also stretched across many, many different notebooks and composition books)

what can i put in my grimoire?

about the author

favorites: color, magical tools, herbs, crystals

tarot birth card, astrology birth chart, personal beliefs, relationship with deities or other spiritual beings

basics 

intent

visualization

meditation

terminology

protection, cleansing, & banishing using various energies: shields & wards, circle casting / take down, protective amulets

enchanting items 

clockwise vs. counterclockwise 

other how-to’s, such as anointing items and dressing a candle

general correspondences

days of the week, lunar phases, colors, incense, essential oils, elements

correspondences based on intent 

protection, healing, cleansing, banishing, luck, wealth, love, emotions, mental clarity, psychic awareness, cursing, etc.

altar ideas

crystals

crystal grid designs, crystal correspondences & folklore, gem water / crystal elixir recipes, crystal care 

herbs, spices, plants, flowers, & trees

correspondences, edible vs. non-edible, botanicals with medicinal value, folklore, gardening 

divination

tarot, runes, pendulum, scrying, etc.

spreads

interpretations 

astrology

birth chart + traits, planetary correspondences, planetary hours, zodiac correspondences, moon / star / sun water

sigils & symbols

how to create, personal sigils, other symbols & talismans 

psychic abilities 

identification of personal abilities (clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairambience, etc.)

meditation techniques to strengthen abilities 

personal experiences

important dates

sabbats, wheel of the year, magical anniversaries, astronomical & astrological phenomena (meteor showers, planetary alignments, etc.)

recipes

food

potions (potions are edible and consumable liquids!!!)

beauty products: salt scrubs, sugar scrubs, lotions, lip balm

natural remedies: salves, ointments, balms, poultices 

cleaning products: floor washes, window cleaner, wood cleaner, etc.

powders

witchy crafts

glitter jars, witch ladders, wand-making, crystal jewelry, etc. 

spells & enchantments

sachets, spell jars / bottles, knot magic, candle spells, powder spells, curses, protective magic, etc.

magical goals

∘₊✧─────────────────────✧₊∘

good luck! ✨

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[artwitchpath]

Intro to Art Witchcraft

🎨A brief introduction🎨 The lovely @naomi121406 posted THIS intro to Sea witchcraft and I thought it might be helpful to do a similar post introducing Art Witchcraft! 

Art Witchcraft is a path of witchcraft focused around the use of color and the creation of physical forms of art imbued with magic.

This path can be catered towards whichever artistic medium you prefer: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Digital, Traditional, Written etc. but typically involves an increased interest in sigil making, visual spellwork, Divination and utilizing the psychological effects of color for magical purposes.

🖌The Craft🖌

✍ The practice by itself is open to everyone with an interest in the arts.

✍ If you want to practice Art Witchcraft as a religion you can incorporate deities associated with artists and makers!    *Here is a list of art related deities to research if you’re interested.

✍ An Art Witch’s tools can be anything that you use within your current artistic works. You can dedicate a particular paintbrush to function as a wand, directing energy and intent into your visual spells. You can create sculptures of your guardians to place within your sacred space. Maybe you want to craft your own divination tools (i.e. runes, dice, tarot, oracle, pendulums etc) or wear specific clothes when working your magic or charge your papers, pencils, waters, clays etc. 

🖌How do you start?🖌

The first thing you’ll need is a strong love for creation, from there its just a matter of developing what works for you. Here’s some ideas to get you started:

✍ As in any other type of witchcraft, you’ll want to read as much as you can: study anatomy, do studies from life/nature, study art history, read about the psychology of color. The path of a witch is one of constant learning!

✍ You can also start gathering your tools. A sketchbook and pencil is a great place to begin. I highly recommend keeping a journal to track your development. Record your tarot readings, what you learned from each piece of art you create, and any interesting bits of information you run across. Ideas are the beginnings of art magic so find a way to develop and record your ideas!

✍ In your Grimoire/sketchbook you can write down your personal color correspondences, the artists you admire/emulate and what you like about their work, herbs or plant life that you find inspiring, crystals (there are tons of ways to incorporate them into your craft) and much more! 

✍ When you’re ready, you can start spellcrafting! Your first spells may involve protection spells, dedications for your tools, creativity or inspiration spells, easy things so you can get protected and start getting some practice. My personal recommendation for art witches is a self-dedication ritual where you, after creating a sacred space, make a commitment to yourself (or a deity) to devote yourself to the study and practice of art magic. *This is completely optional*

✍ As an Art Witch, you may want to do some more witchy things daily. Some ideas can be: Sketch or study everyday, incorporate color correspondences into your life, practice sigil making, watch art tutorials, write affirmations, or meditate/visualize to flex those creative muscles. Create a studio space (even a small or temporary one) to work magic in.

✍ Many Art Witches also work with Candle Magic, Nature/Weather Magic and Divination, so learn about those or any other areas of interest to you. Everything you experience will inform your artwork!

✍ Remember that Art Witchcraft is about loving the process of creation and your expression through it. So don’t be afraid to experiment, take risks, and always be in the process of improvement. Learning to take critique, or give it to yourself, is critical!

✍ If you want to know more about this practice, I have a whole series of posts about color and I am always posting resources, inspiration, and my personal journey! I’m always happy to answer questions and offer advice! 🖌

Love and Light, Lumi

[breelandwalker]

2025 Witches' Calendar

For all my witches out there, here’s a handy list of the 2025 dates for the solstices, some commonly-referenced holidays, full and new moons, and special astronomical events. I’ve listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area.

On a related note, readers are encouraged to create their own seasonal calendars, holidays, and observances based on your local biome and personal preferences. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, Quarter Days, Some Common Dates

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas / High Winter

March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day / Walpurgisnacht

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 13 - Wolf Moon ♋

February 12 - Snow Moon ♌

March 14 - Worm Moon ♍ (Lunar Eclipse)

April 12 - Pink Moon ♎

May 12 - Flower Moon ♏

June 11 - Strawberry Moon ♐

July 10 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 9 - Sturgeon Moon (aka Corn Moon) ♒

September 7 - Harvest Moon ♓ (Lunar Eclipse)

October 6 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon) ♈

November 5 - Frost Moon (aka Beaver Moon) ♉ (Supermoon)

December 4 - Cold Moon ♊ (Supermoon)

* The full moons in September and October are almost EXACTLY equidistant from the Autumn Equinox this year, so whether you'll have a Harvest Moon in September or October depends on where you live!

New Moons

January 29 ♒

February 27 ♓

March 29 ♈

April 27 ♉

May 26 ♊

June 25 ♋

July 24 ♌

August 23 ♍

September 21 ♍ (Seasonal black moon, second new moon in Virgo)

October 21 ♎

November 20 ♏

December 19 ♐

Special Celestial Events

March 14 - Worm Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

March 29 - Solar Eclipse

September 7 - Harvest Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

September 21 - Seasonal Black Moon / Solar Eclipse

November 5 - Frost Moon Supermoon

December 4 - Cold Moon Supermoon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

March 14 to April 6

July 17 to August 10

November 9 to November 29

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2025

Calendar-12 - 2025 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2025 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2025 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2025

Old Farmer’s Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2024-2025

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2025

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Patheos - 2025 Wheel of the Year Astrological Calendar

Image Source - How Stuff Works

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If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

[breelandwalker]

Secular Celebrations - Yule

At the very end of the Gregorian calendar comes the winter solstice and Yule. Technically, this is the FIRST holiday on the Wheel, since Samhain is the boundary between the old year and the new. But since most of us have to follow the January to December schedule in our day-to-day lives, we’ll end with Yule.

The winter solstice is a time when we focus on hunkering down and staying warm. We look to the homestead, we take care of our families, and we make sure our communities are surviving the winter as comfortably as possible. This is one of the times that the Wild Hunt was said to ride, their presence indicated by howling winds and stormy nights when it wasn’t safe to venture out. All manner of entities personifying hunger and cold and death stalk the landscapes of winter mythology, so we fortify our homes however we can and indulge in a little midwinter revelry to keep ourselves going until the spring.

Decorate with pine bunting, pine cones, holly, mistletoe, snow symbols, fairy lights, electric candles, ribbons, streamers, local fauna active during winter, whatever you like. There are plenty of Christmas wreaths out there, so don’t be afraid to make a witchy one with a big old star in the middle. Make sure that any ACTUAL foliage is kept away from the pets, and of course, observe fire safety for any lights you put up. Way too many house fires are caused by electrical shorts in holiday lights, so be extra careful. Do NOT plug an extension cord into a power strip. And go easy on the plastic glitter. Anathema to some, I know, but the more of that we can keep out of the waste cycle and the water system, the less will end up in the oceans.

If you have a fireplace, you can burn a symbolic log “to drive the cold winter away.” Or, if you only have a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can find an outdoor space to burn some twigs and incense for the same purpose. Or you can light some candles with appropriately wintry scents. Or, if you can’t burn anything at all, an LED candle left alight overnight on the altar should do the trick. The whole idea is to symbolize keeping warmth in the home, keeping the dark and the cold at bay, and keeping the home fires literally burning for those who must be elsewhere. However you manage this is fine.

Spend time with your near-and-dear, if you can. Eat good food, drink good wine, and do cozy things. Share treasured memories, and tell stories. Fun fact: Yule and Christmas are another traditional time of year for ghost stories, so feel free to pull those out again. If there’s a family tradition of feasting and gift-giving, lean into it. There are a lot of Christian traditions from Christmas that have made their way into the secular sphere. Sure, they still have some religious associations, but I know plenty of atheists who still exchange presents because it’s FUN. You can also give gifts to others by contributing to charitable organizations, donating to clothing drives and food pantries, or through random acts of kindness to those who need it.

Charity and compassion should be emphasized during this time of year. I mean, you should be charitable and compassionate ALL year when you can manage it, that’s just common decency. But especially when it’s cold and people are feeling that lack of money or resources and we’re surrounded by all these super-capitalistic ad campaigns telling us that our love for others is worth only as much as the kitchen appliances and diamond jewelry we put under the tree….yeah, maybe bring something a little more altruistic to the table. It doesn’t have to be huge, it doesn’t have to be performative. Just look for those opportunities to help someone out or make their life a little easier. You’ll know them when you see them.

If you’re crafty, pull out those projects you’ve been saving for a rainy day. We often spend a lot of time cooped up in the house during cold weather, the more so in 2020 with the various lockdowns, so why not turn it into something productive? Fix something, create something new, work on that scarf you’ve been meaning to finish since last winter. Make a pinecone feeder for the local birds, or scatter some nuts and dried berries for any critters that happen to be out and about. Do winter crafts with your kids to keep them occupied, if they happen to get bored of watching Frozen 2 for the hundredth time this week. (Hey, I only have nieces and a nephew, but I’ve still heard the horror stories.)

Let me pause a moment to address the proverbial elephant in the room. And this MIGHT be dipping a toe into the religion pool, but it’s an issue that a lot of us face. Late December can be a tough time for witches who were raised Christian but are, for one reason or another, disconnected from the faith or the Church at present. There’s the constant symbolism in music and decorations all around, pressure from our friends and families, people gnashing their teeth about red coffee cups, and so on. And we’re not even going to talk about the annual arguments over who stole whose holidays. If you know me, you know exactly how salty I can get on the topic, and we don’t have time for that today. This is about finding ways to celebrate, not my personal rage over people who don’t understand the difference between conflation and syncretism, and can’t be arsed to read history that doesn’t come from-...

Ooooo deep cleansing breath. Come on, Bree, you promised. (-hiss- I LIED.)

ANYWAY. Yule is a time when it might be worth remembering literally anything positive that came out of your experience with Christianity. Some of us have it, some of us don’t, that’s purely a personal matter. Some of us miss the carols, okay? There can be a lot of nostalgia involved in the season that’s disconnected from whatever trauma or differences in belief led to that split. And if you want to pause and remember that fondly, that’s okay. I will fully confess to singing along to Christmas hymns on the radio in my car at top volume because that’s a big part of the season for me and always has been. Heck, I might even attend a service at the local Unitarian church. They’re nice and non-denominational and they focus much more on the meaning behind the season than any particular holiday. So if you feel the need for that fellowship, see if there’s a UU church near you, or a virtual service online. There’s nothing wrong with revisiting your roots.

Moving back into witchcraft territory, you can collect clean snow and icicles to melt for winter moon water. This isn’t really much different from moon water you’d make at any other time of year, but it’s another method of gathering the base material. Also, icicles are great for any water you’re setting aside for more aggressive or protective purposes. The fact that they look like hanging spears isn’t lost on me.

Check your household protections and see if anything needs shoring up. Like I said, I cast my wards every year at Samhain, but they always seem to need a bit of detail work by the time Yule rolls around. Or heck, you might find Yule a more appropriate time to perform that casting, or maybe you refresh your wards at every holiday, who knows. Whatever works for you, as long as you remember to do it at some point. Cleanse your thresholds and the corners of your home, at the very least, just for good measure. But don’t go sweeping anything out the door. That’s sweeping away your good luck for next year.

And speaking of New Year’s, if the year you’ve had has been particularly….well, like the year we’ve had, you can also burn the year in effigy and cleanse with incense for a fresh start. Just write it on a piece of paper and burn that S.O.B. in the cauldron. While you’re at it, you can symbolically burn lingering worries, bad habits, bad memories, and regrets with either candle flame or a burning bowl. And yes, that includes all those negative things you think about yourself that you wish would go away.

And finally, reflect on the year as a whole, with all the joys and lessons it’s brought you. What memories have you made? What has brought you joy? What do you regret? What have you learned? What skills have you developed and how will you use them? What improvements do you still wish to make? And what do you want to do with the coming year?

And around and around it goes….

Like I said at the beginning, this is by no means exhaustive. These are just some basic ideas to get you started. You can make your own celebrations and your own traditions as you, either by building off of existing ones or by creating something new. As long as it has meaning to you and marks the occasions you deem important in ways that are fun and festive, it’s all good. This is something I’d love to see more often as a discussion - personal traditions, things that are unique to families or particular regions or individual witches, all the places they intersect, and all the various ways that we celebrate ourselves and each other and our craft.

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 1, 2020)

Other Posts In This Series:

Imbolc

Spring Equinox

Beltane

Midsummer

Lughnasadh

Autumn Equinox

Samhain

Yule

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.

The Hex Positive podcast is a proud member of the Nerd and Tie Podcast Network.😊

[diana-thyme]

How Do I Disassemble A Spell Jar?

I’ve seen way too many posts about how to make one, but never any about how to take one apart.

If you buried your spell jar (or otherwise placed it somewhere not in your general vicinity), retrieve it first.

There are a few ways to go about disassembling a spell jar.

Throwing Everything Away

Returning It to Nature

Burning It

Putting It Into Another Container for Safekeeping

Retrieving the Reusable Ingredients (crystals, shells, etc.) and Getting Rid of the Rest

Throwing Everything Away

As simple as it sounds. I would recommend breaking the seal (melting it or even just stabbing it) before getting rid of it, to break the spell itself. Keep the jar and wash it or throw it away with the rest of it. Throw the contents into the trash (or a dumpster, if you don’t want it near you).

Returning It to Nature

Also very simple. Can only be used with natural ingredients. Do not dump in rivers. Retrieve any non-organic materials (crystals, shells, poppets, etc.) to either reuse or get rid of separately. Be sure it doesn’t include things that can harm the local wildlife.

Burning It

Empty the contents of the jar into a different, fire-safe bowl or plate. Then, burn it. Simple as that. Lighters or matches, it doesn’t matter. Be sure that you and any pets or family can’t inhale the fumes from it. This is usually used with spells that have little amounts of ingredients. Be sure to research fire safety and safety when it comes to burning herbs and other ingredients.

Putting It Into Another Container for Safekeeping

Transferring the contents into a different container. Usually done when you want to reuse the jar or size down the original jar. Break the seal, pour it into your other container, seal that, and you’re done. Super easy. Can also be used when putting a spell into a ‘dormant’ state.

Retrieving the Reusable Ingredients and Getting Rid of the Rest

What I see the most in the witch community. Reusable ingredients include crystals, shells, rocks, bones, and anything else that can be used again. Doing this is a bit harder when the jar has liquid. Break the seal and place the contents of the jar into another container. Then, pick out all of the reusable items, the ones that you want to keep. Wash them and dispose of the contents of the jar through one of the methods above.

Notes

When disassembling a spell jar, it’s always good to declare the intentions of the jar done (or dormant). If the spell could have negative consequences on your or someone else’s life, be sure to neutralize the energy you have put into the spell. Cast a counter-spell or just neutralize the spell. Please tell me if I missed anything!

[breelandwalker]

For my fellow fibre arts witches, if you're starting to get the Annual Cold Weather Fidget, that driving urge to reach for hooks and needles and that big bin of spools and fabric lurking in your closet....

If you feel like Doing A Witchcraft, you can work some witchy into whatever you're making. Weaving, crocheting, knitting, nalbinding, stitching, embroidery, and knotwork can all carry magic and serve as a vehicle for creating spells, sigils, talismans, or enchanted wearables.

Am I saying you can put a spell into that pair of socks you're knitting? That scarf you've been working on? That pile of granny squares waiting to become a blanket? That cross-stitch piece you've been meaning to finish?

ABSOLUTELY.

There are even books on knot magic, witchy crochet and knitting patterns, and beautifully spooky cross-stitch and embroidery pieces. (And lots more downloadable patterns exist on etsy and fibre arts forums!) Perfect for chilling with your favorite hot beverage and current binge-watch while you keep your hands from getting bored.

Go forth and have fun with it!

[servantofthefates]

30 Tried & Tested Tips for Becoming a Great Tarot Reader

Stop bullshitting people.

Aim for truthful readings.

Be confident when giving a reading.

Avoid blanking when reading.

Avoid the most common mistakes.

Always trust your cards.

Don’t make your cards hate you.

Create a bond with your decks.

Learn proper tarot etiquette.

Don’t believe in superstitions.

Don’t mistake honesty for hate.

Master the Celtic Cross.

Predict timing accurately.

Read reversals the right way.

Treat rogue cards the right way.

Never pull clarifiers.

Never assign a yes or no value to cards.

Learn how to read feelings, thoughts & intentions.

Learn how to read physical appearance.

Learn tarot's astrological associations.

Know the cards’ literal meanings.

Know the meanings of tarot’s colors.

Know the meanings of tarot’s numbers.

Read one spread in many ways.

Deal cards the traditional way.

Have your own reading ritual.

Properly close every tarot reading.

Gauge yourself.

Master tarot.

Be the best reader you can be.

[breelandwalker]

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

There’s a marked tradition of cleaning and airing out the house in the springtime when the weather warms. As you’re dusting and tidying and getting rid of winter stagnation, take some time to do the same with your craft.

Clean and organize your workspace. If you have an altar space or a shelf where you keep bottles and jars and the like, remove everything from the surface and give it a good dusting. Take the opportunity to rearrange things or swap out pieces if it suits you. If you have ritual tools that don’t often get cleaned, check them for signs or rust or wear and give them a bit of love. Repair things that need fixing, if you can. If you have an iron cauldron that you use for fire magic, get a wire brush or some steel wool and gently remove any burnt residue left inside.

Sort through your supplies. If you have lots of candles and crystals and small items laying about, consider getting some small totes or craft organizers to keep things tidy. Divided storage boxes for beads or scrapbooking supplies are great for small items, and shoebox-sized caddies are perfect for taper, chime, and votive candles. Organizing things will make your space easier to navigate and also gives you a proper idea of what you have on hand. Which might help you resist impulse purchases the next time you’re out shopping for witchcraft supplies. While you’re tidying, be sure to discard any rubbish, candle stubs, wax blobs, herb scraps, bits of string, incense bases, and so forth that might be cluttering up the place. 

Discard things that are too old or worn to be useful. Dried plants and seasonings can usually be kept for 1-3 years if they remain in sealed containers. If they have no scent anymore or smell musty or mildewy, discard them and sanitize the container. If you’re using supermarket spices, you can use the expiration date on the container as a guide. Powdered material will likely last longer than whole herbs or cut-and-sifted material. One helpful tip is to put a purchase date on packets or bags of herbs when you buy them, or to put a little date sticker on your jars of herbs when you refill them. (Anyone who’s worked in food service will probably be familiar with the concept of container dating or day-dotting.)

If you make oils or tinctures or suchlike in your practice, check on these as well. Make sure nothing has gone off or lost its’ potency. Day-dotting your potion containers will help with this as well. A simple sticker with the name of the brew and the date it was bottled will help you keep track of your supplies and know when something needs to be tossed and replaced. (You can also print labels with the ingredients and purpose of the brew if you’re feeling super organized.)

Reorganize your books and resources. Review what's there and see if there are any materials that need to be weeded out, donated, or discarded. Remember that as you grow and progress, some things will become obsolete or may show themselves to be unhelpful or inaccurate. It's okay to remove things from your resource library that no longer serve you if you want to make some space on the shelves.

You can also cleanse your workspace and/or components while you’re tidying if you wish. It doesn’t have to be a full clean-slate-everything-must-go cleansing, but it can be helpful to just clear out stagnation or bring in some freshness and vitality.

Happy Witching!

[breelandwalker]

Witchcraft Exercises

Just a quick compilation of the posts I've made about exercises to help improve your craft. These can be used as journaling prompts, inspira