the sea occult

some kind of collection

[hybernatingwizard]

random hoards of stuff i've accumulated over the years and hobbies that i can use for spells instead of letting them gather dust, a list:

color pencils, pens, markers, water colors etc

stacks of paper, empty notebooks

long candles

buttons

beads

yarn, string, laces

[cursecuelebre]

Italian Amulets/Talismans and Hand Gestures

I think this can be a great info posts about amulets and hand gestures within Italian folk magic. But some of the gestures or amulets aren’t strictly just for Italians but also Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Greek people surely other groups I haven’t mention. These amulets and gestures are historically being part of the culture and identity for centuries pre Christian and modern day. Just a little mention Sicilian/Sicily isn’t considered to be Italian yes they are part of the peninsula and speak a variation of Italian or their own dialect Sicilian they see themselves sovereign from Italy, they have their own unique culture and folk traditions and Italians here in America Sicilians kind of blended in with Italians of America. So when I mention Sicily and Sicilian that is why they rather seem themselves separate from Italy so I am going to respect that.

Some Amulets/Talismans and Hand gestures are used interchangeably so for instance the fig hand is used as a amulet and gesture so I’ll obviously mention when it comes up these few. These gestures and amulets are common to protect from the evil eye or Malocchio a curse that is cast whether intentionally or unintentionally from someone by simply looking. I’ll leave some good book recommendations on it at the end, also I am part Italian American so it’s going to be slightly more around that specific tradition.

The Mano Corna or Horned Hands

This is a hand gesture and a amulet that is very prevalent among Italians, you may see it commonly as known as “Metal horns” or “The Devil Horns” which isn’t a coincidence; the famous metal singer (one of my favorites) Ronnie James Dio popularize it among the metal community as he did it on stage, he learned it from his Italian grandmother. But they’re not originally known as “The Devil horns” or even symbolizing evil. Rather it is a defensive, challenging, and protective gesture and amulet.

Rather than the devil it depicts a charging bull ready to strike but stands it’s ground as a warning, if you point your fingers downward or straightforward you’re making a stand, but also plucking out the eye of evil. Whether it be someone staring at you or a deflective gesture to avoid misfortunes. When you cast this gesture you would say several key phrases, “Corno!”, “Tieni!”, “Facchio le corna!” Translates as “I make the horns!” Offensive and defensive gesture as well, Corna or Tieni (tee-yah) is for the eye that is present and “I make the horns” as a warning.

But not just when someone giving you an odd and suspicious look and stare for long periods of time. Mano Corna works as a “knock on wood” gesture, say for instance someone says to you “Your Honda has dull tires and not great in snow, make sure you don’t get in a crash!” You would hold up your hand and say the phrase “I make the horns!” Deflecting the unwelcome fate that may befallen on you. But also when someone might be envious towards you, for example, “I love your look today, wow I wish I could be pretty as you.” This may seem as an innocent statement but whether person knowing it or not it can be lace with jealousy and envy towards the person they directed to. Think of those mean girls who pretend to be nice, the fake compliments, their condescending and they will compliment you but they will talk behind your back in the next. Another common gesture as well is to spit (doesn’t have to be actual spittle but mimicking the action) after a compliment to avoid getting the eye of envy I don’t recommend it doing it in front of people but when they walk away or do it none suspiciously same with casting the horns, do it behind your back, beneath the table, when the person isn’t looking.

The Mano Fico/Figa or The Fig Hand

This gesture and amulet is representation of the female genitalia, it protects and wards away the evil when female fertility, children, female reproductive health, relationships, etc. are threatened. It is quite offensive in Italy almost to that of the middle finger so be careful of casting it towards someone who may know what it entails. Using reproductive parts as symbols or gestures of protection isn’t uncommon in folk magic, it’s said the eye hates the sight of the genitals of either gender it gets offended when it is shown, men will grab their groin to ward it away or they just don’t like a person.

The fig hand was used by the Romans since fica is a woman’s genitalia they believe that her prowess and essence and all things feminine comes from there. The fig tree was scared to Bacchus but it was also sacred to Juno/Iuno, whom deals with all things womanhood, children, marriage, relationships, etc. it is said in ancient Roman custom all girls has a Iuno a spirit that like of a guardian spirit but it’s the girl’s likeness, consciousness, personality, yet is a companion to the child as she grows up and throughout her life. With boys they have one called Genius.

Cornciello or Corno “Little Horn”

The one of the oldest known symbol of pre Christian Italy, the cornicello dates back to the Neolithic period of Italy, many Wiccans use this symbol as “the horned god” which isn’t true but rather probably relating to the moon goddess most likely Diana who is traditionally was associated with bull horns and the crescent moon which if turn upwards looks like horns if not Luna or Lala the Sabine moon goddess. Diana and her moon aspects came later on but identified with Luna/Selene when she was Hellenized. So certainly not linked with the horned god but Cornicello is linked with the phallus, phallic symbols are also common to ward away from the eye but to be less obvious Cornciello is often seen as the phallus and if the Fig Hand is more attune with femininity than the Cornciello is more masculine and protects against infertility and male impotency.

Typically you’ll see it as red resembling a red hot chili pepper but the red means victory against enemies relating to St Michael or Mars, usually made twisted and tough but it’s also made with different interpretations like natural curve horn and the Corno is made from numerous different materials to cheap to expensive but common is silver, gold, and coral. Traditionally you be given one by a family member or in some Italian customs someone who isn’t blood related, to be honest with you some Italians are relaxed about it but in my case I didn’t know nor did I have anyone to give me one. But when I got mine I put it on my ancestral altar and have my Italian ancestors bless it as a gift to me even though I did buy it for myself I wanted to make a connection and the purchase as a reminder and bond between me and my ancestors rather it’s just a symbol to put around my neck because “I need to” it’s more of a I want to because what it represents more than just a symbol of protection but a cultural identity and remembrance and connection to my family and community and heritage. I do recommend people by from actual Italian handmade jewelry craftsmanship it can be from Italy but also other subcultures and diasporic cultures of Italian communities like Italian American, Canada, Argentina, etc where a lot of Italian people reside not just from Italy or Sicily or Sardinia. Also I have heard that Cornicello does last longer when it follows the traditional custom of someone giving one to you than buying it yourself but I have mine for awhile now it seems doing okay, a notion of when something breaks it has done its purpose so if a amulet breaks it’s good to get a new one. Plus another superstition is that if one does buy for themself the must not pay for the whole thing unless they get bad luck, again do whatever suits you best just giving you the information that was provided to me :)

Other relations to the Corno, It has a connection between the Cornucopia or “Horn of Plenty” which represents abundance and wealth and fortune, you may see this with the goddess Fortune as well but also Ceres/Demeter who is the goddess of fertility which harkens back to the Corno protecting fertility for man and even woman. Another example is when Zeus/Jupiter broke off a horn from a goat filling it with fruit and flowers and offering it to humanity.

I’ve mention materials like red color but with specific materials can have meanings what the Cornciello can be used for

Coral: Often represents Venus, sexuality and love and relationships and ensured fidelity

Gold: Wealth, abundance, Prosperity and luck

Red with the gold crown:

Silver: Associated with Luna and Diana

Any material: is said to be blessed by Priapus the Roman God of Fertility and gives many blessings to the wearer.

This amulet was also placed on domestic animals and livestock protection from the evil eye as well and hanging in a doorway which is evident of a pre Christian custom as it was seen in Pompeii from the eye to get in or evil spirits which is linked with the eye as well. The Cornciello is also seen in other cultures like Hispanic and Portuguese.

The Cimaruta “top of rue”

A sprig of the plant which is Rue which is a extremely powerful plant in Italian folk magic to cleanse and banish negative energies the Rue plant is associated with Diana. The amulet like the cornicello can be strongly associated with Diana, origins is unclear but most certainly pre Christian whether it originated in Etruria or Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy). But like it’s also called portafortuna (luck-bringer) so it’s used as a good luck charm. The little symbols are amulets into amulet to ward away Malocchio, also connected to several goddesses like Hekate and Proserpina with the key and serpent commonly to hanging it over a baby’s crib typically newborns. It’s common to see it with association with Catholic saints and sacred heart of Christ due to the heart symbol but the heart charm is pre Christian as well.

There is different variations of the charms on the sprig there is wands, dolphins, roses, an owl etc. usually the charm is made of silver.

Mati/Malocchio amulets:

This symbol is depicting the evil eye itself, a common symbol within Mediterranean mostly associated with Greeks and Turkish culture who refer it to as “Nazar”. It’s blue because of an ancient superstition that people with blues being not so common in the Mediterranean region can cast the eye easier the amulet itself is mirroring the eye to deflect it, like how Medusa saw herself in Perseus shield which she turn herself frozen in fear of her own terror gaze, gorgons especially their faces can deflect the evil eye as well. The Mati is not just a random and simple symbol it represents a identity of a people like Greeks who sell them at gift shops and vendors in many different places and interpretations. Though commonly among the Greeks Italians also wear the Mati if the Mati amulet breaks it means it’s done it’s purpose and it’s time to get rid of it. Different colors and ways you can use them like bracelets, necklace, sun catcher, you can paint them or draw them, etc.

Red: Enchances strength and courage but also love and fertility

Dark Blue: Tranquility, comfort, and protection

White: New Beginnings and Wealth

Yellow: Health and cognitive abilities

Green: Abundance and Fertility

Black: Against jealousy, wrath, and baneful magic.

Sacrilegious amulets and gestures

of course as Italy became Christianized their culture adapt around the these new beliefs and traditions they kept their pre Christian beliefs and evolved and adapt it into this new religion. Rosaries, Saint cards and medals, prayers, etc so much engrain it be wrong to not mention these important beliefs.

The Rosary/Crucifix

Many of the charms stated above you’ll find on a necklace with a crucifix to prevent affliction of Malocchio but also in banishing and healing. Using the Crucifix as a talisman and rosary as both an amulet and talisman.

Saint cards or Saint Medals

Commonly when you go to a Catholic store or someone’s car you’ll see a Saint card like on the right these are common in Roman Catholicism not just strictly Italian Hispanic communities and traditions also very popular among their own traditions. It’s the picture of the Saint and a prayer on the back. The medals are similar both instances the saints are petitioned to protect the person of evil not just the evil eye but it includes it, medals can be used in Santucci “saint charm bags” where you sew a piece of fabric as a small bag with Saint medal inside for blessings and protection and never to be open and made by hand. There is different Saint cards and medals certainly you can buy them just is or get the Saint relics which is basically the card or medal touched the human saint’s remains.

Mano Pantea “two fingers”

This is a common gesture throughout Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity a sign of benediction but also used for warding the evil eye away. But it’s also pre Christian probably In ancient Egypt may have represented Isis and Osiris the thumb represents Horus the Child.

Other common amulets/talismans you might see

Key: protection from the evil eye seen in the Cimaruta

Iron horseshoe: Iron in general against bad luck

Nails: in amulets or just themselves, to curse or ward it away draw an eye and hammer the nail straight into the pupil

Coral: used in jewelry like the corno

Sea Shells: for Venus and luck of love and love amulets

Soil: common use in Saint charm bags against baneful magic

Peperoncini: Long red hot peppers strung up as a lucky charm and protection against evil eye and misfortune not to be mistaken with Cornicello red horn.

Garlic: in general this herb is extremely protective against evil spirits, braided garlic stung up can be used as a ward. Link with St Michael, in ancient times taken a bite from raw garlic expels any evil spirits nearby. Associated with Hekate as well.

Salt: Extremely potent weapon against malocchio used in basically any ritual of curing and warding away the evil eye used as a talisman like a jar of salt or with the amulet itself.

Recommendations

These are the books I used mainly for this post which I highly suggest reading them and following them on their respective platforms!

Italian folk magic by Mary Grace Fahurn

The Evil Eye by Antonio Pagliauro

Sources

Grand voyage Italy (website)

Italian American community center (website)

[thewitchywitch]

💫🕯🌱🍀🎍🍀🌱🕯💫

~I am successful in my endeavors~

⭐Likes charge, reblogs cast⭐

[breelandwalker]

Magical Oil Recipes - Buffs and Blessings Edition

For anyone looking to brew up a potion for the purposes of augmentation or blessing, here are some recipes I’ve created that you might find useful.

To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.

Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.

(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)

*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested. **- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.

All-Purpose Blessing Oil For blessing, purification, and consecration.

Lavender

Sweet Basil

Bay Leaf

Patchouli Note: Use Olive Oil for the base.

Brim With Vim Vitality Oil To restore flagging magical energy and clear post-spell haze.

Tangerine (Satsuma) Peel

Cinnamon Stick

Ginger Root

Vervain

Cauldronkeeper Wisdom Oil To enhance intuition and wisdom.

Hazel (leaves or bark)

Elder (berries or bark)

Sage (any color)

Peach Pit (in master bottle) Note: Peach pits contain a small amount of cyanide, which may be released if the pit is broken down. Exercise caution with the finished oil.

Clear the Way Obstacle Remover Oil For overcoming difficulty and attracting new opportunities.

Dried Sumac Berries

Ginger Root

Sweet Basil

Full Moon Lunar Affinity Oil For augmentation of spells attuned to the lunar cycle.

Willow Bark

Jasmine Flowers

Fennel

Mugwort** Note: Use With Caution.

High Noon Solar Affinity Oil For augmentation of spells attuned to the solar cycle.

Calendula Petals

Chamomile

Bay Leaf

Eyebright Note: Use With Caution.

Golden Fields Prosperity Oil For abundance, good fortune, and general well-being.

Sesame or Pumpkin Seeds

Wheat or Barley Kernels

Orange Peel

Honeysuckle

Get Me Through the Day Endurance Oil For a tiny extra boost on those low-energy days.

Lemon Verbena

White Oak Bark

Rosemary

Echinacea**

Hearthside Home Blessing Oil For a comfortable and harmonious home.

Sweet Basil

Vervain

Pine Needles

Willow Bark

Jack-of-all-Trades Work Enhancement Oil For augmentation of workplace abilities.

Sweet Basil

Meadowsweet**

Borage Flowers

Vanilla Bean

Magical Me Power Boost Oil For augmentation of spellcasting.

Ginger Root

Rosemary

Bergamot

Cedar Tips

Steel Backbone Fortitude Oil For bravery and endurance.

Blue Vervain

Pine Needles

Cedar Tips

Yarrow**

Truthteller Divination Oil For augmentation of divinatory practices.

Evening Primrose**

Hibiscus Flowers

Celery Seeds

Tea Leaves

Watchful Eye Viewing Oil To enhance powers of observation.

Grape Leaf

Lemon Balm

Rosemary

Celery Seed (or dried leaf from stalks) Note: Do not apply to skin around eyes. Do not apply directly to eyeballs either.

Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:

Penn Herb Company

Starwest Botanicals

Bulk Apothecary

Mountain Rose Herbs

Specialty Bottle

Image Credit - VeraPetruk

All recipes are © 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.

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]

Sneak Peek - Spoons In Spades

At a little distance he saw a fire, and beside it there sat three giants, busy with broth and beef. They were so huge that the spoons they used were as large as spades, and their forks as big as hay-forks: with these they lifted whole bucketfuls of broth and great joints of meat out of an enormous pot which was set on the ground between them.

- Niels and the Giants (The Crimson Fairy Book)

[img src]

-----

Intent: To give oneself additional “spoons.”

Ideal Timing: This charm can be made at any time.

Materials:

Spoons

Large Jar

Cotton Balls

Herbs: Hyssop, Rosemary, Thyme, Juniper Berries

When I asked my readers what sort of spells they'd like to see in this second volume of fairytale-inspired spells, one of the most strikingly popular responses was, "Is there a spell to give me more spoons?"

If you're not familiar with the term, "spoons" or spoon theory is a metaphor which describes the reduction in mental and physical energy experienced by people who are disabled or chronically ill, with spoons used as a unit of measurement to represent how energy and motivation must be rationed throughout the day to accomplish necessary tasks. Spoons are only replenished through rest or sleep, so once a person runs out of spoons, that's it for their day. 

The term was coined by Christine Miserandino in her 2003 article "The Spoon Theory," in which she uses dinnerware to demonstrate to a friend how living with invisible chronic illness required careful daily planning and prioritization, and how even with the best intentions and efforts, tasks are often left undone due to a lack of energy or an increase in pain. The term has since been adopted by wide sections of the online community in relation to struggles with disability, chronic illness, or mental health, as a descriptor for daily energy and motivation levels, i.e. "I don't have the spoons for this," or "After a full day at work, I have exactly one spoon left, and I need it for laundry, so going out is off the table."

As someone who regularly battles ADHD, anxiety, executive dysfunction, migraines, and depression, I'm a big fan of spoon theory, largely because it makes those invisible daily struggles, which so many of us have, much easier to visualize and explain. So in honor of all my fellow spoonies, here is a spell to help you gain those critical extra spoons.

For this spell, you'll need a fair-sized jar, some healing herbs, and a bunch of spoons. You can use plastic spoons or metal ones, if you happen to have spare silverware lying around. Use as many or as few spoons as you feel you need. If you need more spoons than can readily be acquired, you might draw or print out pictures or spoons and use those instead.

Place the spoons in the jar with a big handful of cotton balls. Apart from their mundane medical and cosmetic uses, cotton has healing magical properties and also represents the comfort that may feel lacking on low energy or high pain days. If desired, add several pinches of Hyssop, Rosemary, Thyme, and Juniper Berries, or a sachet containing the herbs if you'd rather keep things neat.

Close the jar, give it a big hug, and say:

I bless this jar and spoons And ask for the strength to function; And when I need a helping hand, These extra spoons I'll summon,

Set the jar aside somewhere safe. If desired, you might want to label it. You don't want anyone borrowing your magical spoons for their cereal, after all. When you need an extra boost to help you get through the day, simply open the jar and take out a spoon. You can carry the spoon with you, place it on your altar, or discard it to activate the charm.

Please keep in mind that performing this sort of magic should always be accompanied by appropriate medical and self-care measures. Magic isn't going to cure a chronic illness or permanently alter your brain chemistry. But it can help you cope with the symptoms and give you that all-important push to get yourself through the day. Stay strong, witches!

-from the forthcoming book, The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. II; © 2021 Bree NicGarran

Want more fairy tale spells? Check out the masterpost here.

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 or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

[breelandwalker]

The Web of Light - A Community Ritual

In late January of 2025, I joined a group of witches online to conduct a ritual for the protection and healing of our communities and for hope to sustain us though the weeks and months to come. Many wonderfully talented people contributed to this working, and I was honored to present an invocation of Brighid and to lead the portion of the ritual where we created the Web of Light.

With the permission of the rest of the circle from that evening, I want to share my portion of the ritual with all of you. (I'm not looking for notes or feedback - this was purpose-built and it exists as it was written.) The more strands in the web, the more lights in the dark, the more love and energy we can give this spell and others like it, the better.

If you feel comfortable doing so, I'd like to invite anyone who is willing to help to join in this working, either by yourself or with your circle. You can do the full blessing, invocation, and casting if you feel comfortable doing so, or just the casting alone. Feel free to invite any helpful spirits, ancestors, deities (especially fire-related), and so forth that you work with to lend their aid.

All you need for this spell is a quiet place to sit and a candle. (Live flame or LED, either is fine, and if you can't find either one, a flashlight will do.)

Perform whatever opening steps you usually do to begin a ritual (preparing the space, casting a circle, grounding and centering, etc) and when you're ready, begin.

WEB OF LIGHT

Suggested Music for the warmup:

"Brighid's Flame" and/or "Brighid" by Kellianna "Imbolc" by Lisa Thiel

[BLESSING]

Into this sacred space, I call the light of creation, the light of inspiration, the light of healing, the light of the forge, the light of the hearthfire, the light of hope, which neither wanes nor falters, but burns bright and perpetual within and around us all. Bless those who are gathered here and may the spirits, deities, ancestors, and powers almighty that we invoke here strengthen our resolve, shield us from harm, and guide us in our workings, as we gather to do what is RIGHT, not what is easy.

[INVOCATION]

With the consent of those assembled, I invoke the name of Brighid and invite her presence in this place. Holy Lady of Cill Dara (pron. Kill Dahrah), protector of hearth and home, teacher, poet, healer, forgemaiden, flamekeeper, living link between the old ways and the new, be with us and lend us your aid.

Brigid of brightness, I bid thee welcome, Brigid of blessing, come thou in. Brigid of strength, I bid thee welcome, This night and every night, this day and every day.

Brigid of the threshold, come thou in, Brigid of the hearthfire, take your ease, Brigid of the cook-pot, sup with us, Brigid of all comforts, live in our hearts.

Ancestors all, I embody your legacy, Ancestors all, I ask for your blessing, Ancestors all, I offer Brigid’s flame To light the needfires of deep memory.

Brigid of the timeless flame, bless your [children]: Those who keep the circle bright, Those whose faith has never failed, Those who keep your name ablaze.

Brigid, lend your righteous sword To those who work for justice, To those who speak the truth, To those who seek a better world.

In the name of Brigid, who empowers the oppressed, In the name of Brigid, who released the enslaved, In the name of Brigid, who lifts up the downtrodden, May all our people be honored and free.

[Casting]

Tonight, we come together with courage. Tonight, we come together with hope. Tonight, we come together in common purpose, to turn our combined strength to save what can be saved, to shield what can be shielded, to heal what can be healed, to burn away what must be cleansed, and to keep the darkness of despair and hatred at bay.

Tonight, each of us is a point of light. We are the tenders of the hearth. We are the bearers of the flame which lights the way. We are the workers at the forge. We are the spark before the fire, the dancing light upon the snow, the seekers of snowdrops, the keepers of the healer’s tent, the knowers of the promise of spring.

For even as summer fades into fall, and fall into winter, so the cold and dark must one day yield to warmth and renewal. Even the longest night must end and we will see the sun rise again.

(Light your candle.)

Hold the light within you. Warm, bright, everlasting, a fire which burns bright but does not consume or diminish. This is a fire which shields the helpless, which offers illumination to the lost, which gives hope to those in sorrow. Each of us alone is but a candle, but together, we are a conflagration. 

Picture the array of us, spread out across the sleeping world, a scattering of earthbound stars twinkling in the night. Physically, we are apart, but in our hearts and in our magic, we are all a part of each other and of this world. We are the weavers and keepers of this spell, a web that spans mighty distances and connects us all. We are the beacons which will hold the darkness at bay.

Let the light of your magic spread out from you like the lines of a spider’s web, like the roots of a tree, like the paths of a river, like the crackle of lightning. Picture it spreading across the distances between us, each strand connecting one working to another, and another, and another, strengthening with each bond, growing until the space is covered. Each of us holds a line and weaves a portion of the web, and we are blessed to know that none of us walks alone. 

Like the roots of the trees, like the mycelium of the mushrooms, this web of light is not visible to all. Those that seek to harm, to disrupt, to oppress, and diminish, let them be blind, let them be powerless, let them find nothing. We give them NOTHING. But those who have need of us, those who need healing or shelter or knowledge or hope, we give them eyes to see. And those that see, let them light beacons of their own, until the night is bright as day and the sun comes up again.

(Extinguish your candle. If you ever feel that you need strength or hope or the time feels right to further empower the spell, light it up again.)

Suggested Music for the cooldown:

“Star Maps” by S.J. Tucker

(If you choose to share this ritual elsewhere, please credit me. Thanks!)

[jbirdoftheriverlands-deactivate]

i have scraped culpepers compleat physician and made a database of the plants mentioned and their planetary associations as given in the text.

it is available as a single html page for offline reference in a browser:

and JSON (more formats soon) on github:

GitHub - NullImprint/Culpeper-PlantsPlanetsDB: db of plants - planetary rulers scraped from culpepers compleat physitian

db of plants - planetary rulers scraped from culpepers compleat physitian - NullImprint/Culpeper-PlantsPlanetsDB

[windvexer]

yo, thanks a ton

[carbon-heart]

Stone Hex

To give a person horrid luck for a given amount of time.

Find a smooth stone and spit on it. Whisper their name over it. Turn it thrice counterclockwise.

"With this stone, I turn your fate,

misfortune shall be your mate,

until again I turn the one

on blessed path of setting sun."

The person shall suffer misfortune on top of misfortune until you take the stone in the same hand and turn it thrice clockwise.

[hybernatingwizard]

today we are thinking about laying tarot (or oracle or playing cards etc) on a grid to act as a casting board.

[servantofthefates]

How to Ask Tarot If Your Relationship is Hopeless

More often than not, you already know the answer. But if you need official confirmation, see tarot’s declaration.

STEP 1: Shuffle your deck.

Invoke your gods, your ancestors or your higher self, and ask if you should keep hoping or forget everything.

STEP 2: Draw three rows of cards.

First Row

Dealing from the top of the deck, get as many cards as the number of letters in your first name. (If it is Samantha, your first row will have 8 cards.)

Second Row

Continuing to deal from the top, get as many cards as the number of letters in your lover’s first name. (If it is Bradley, your second row will have 7 cards.)

Third Row

As before, deal from the top. Get as many cards as the single-digit number of the day you met. (If that is August 7, 2019, your third row will have 9 cards. Because August = 8; 7 = 7; 2019 = 2 + 0 + 1 + 9 = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3. Add them all up: 8 + 7 + 3 = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9.)

STEP 3: See the answer.

If, in each of the three rows, you get at least one of the 13 cards below, then your relationship is doomed. Otherwise, hope is still alive.

The Magician

They see you as competition, not as a companion.

The High Priestess

You will thrive better alone than with this person.

The Chariot

Your lover will leave you behind sooner or later.

The Hermit

They would rather grow old and die alone than be with you.

Justice

This person only entered your life to teach you a lesson.

The Hanged Man

You will be waiting forever for this person to love you back.

Death

What the two of you share will never evolve for the better.

The Devil

This person’s passion will always be less than yours.

The Tower

The damage to this relationship can never be undone.

The Star

A happy ending with this person is nothing but a fantasy.

The Moon

Honesty will forever be an issue between the two of you.

Judgement

There is no space for this relationship in your destiny.

The World

The world will end before this person truly commits to you.

STEP 4: Express your gratitude.

Thank the ones you invoked for their advice, as well as your cards for speaking with their voice.

[ofwoodandbone]

Charm to Call a Desired Lover

For each trait you look for in a lover, eat a cherry. Place the pits in a separate bowl.

For each cherry pit, name the trait you wish for them to have.  String them together with red thread. It can be difficult to thread them with a needle, so you can tie the thread around and fasten it with glue. Once all of the pits are on the thread, you’ll connect the two ends.

For the first three nights of its creation, before bed, name off each trait by each pit, much like saying a rosary, and when you finish, command them to come to you. Carry the beads with you.

After the three nights, keep them in a nightstand or under your pillow. Once the spell completes itself, the charm may be disposed of or kept to manipulate the lover further. 

[windvexer]

recently, when asking about a specific situation, I got a very clear message both from the pendulum and the runes that I shouldn't ask about this. is there a way I could get something similar from a deck (a clear "don't ask about this") and do you think it'd be a good idea to have such a stopper in place?

Interesting question!

I have some ideas but you've also got to think about how to reserve some signs to mean "you just can't figure this out yet" or "your skill level is too low to read this" or other cancellations; typically this is what I reserve null spreads for.

Null or nonsense spreads: Consider a spread to mean "do not read on this question; not for you" if the cards make zero sense and are not applicable to the situation. (I do not believe that every tarot spread drawn can be read, but others believe the inverse; see what works for you)

Baleful cards: An excess of exceedingly negative cards, which would not seem reasonable to appear for the situation at hand.

Signifiers: Select two or three signifiers from the deck that could mean "do not read on this question." (Perhaps including reasons why... "do not read on this questions, it's out of your skill level." "Do not read on this question, it's not for you to know." Etc.) Wait to see if any of these cards appear in a spread and consider if they might indicate to not read further, especially in conjunction with other available infos.

Bottom card: After the spread is drawn, take a look at the bottom card of the deck. Perhaps it can be interpreted to know if this spread is a good idea, or not.

Signifier search: Select one major arcana card to lead this question (perhaps Hierophant). Shuffle the deck and think of your question. Then search through the deck face-up to find your major card. The cards on either side will tell you if this question is good to read on or not. You may gain further detail: the card on top will be the utility of this reading (the type of info it will actually give you, etc), while the bottom card may be the wisdom in pursuing the reading at all.

Overall I think that custom symbol sets like this have got to be handled with kid gloves. Sometimes the situation really is Devil, 5/Swords, Star Reversed. Sometimes the spread isn't null at all, you just need to sit there for a while and think on it.

But I do think it's wise to have kind of these "meta" markers for your divination that give you extra clues as to the nature of the reading. For example I generally read an omen by drawing the top card of the deck after the spread is laid; if the top card corresponds to the nature of the question, it's more likely the reading is true.

You just have to be able to integrate an additional level of information into your readings, lest it just all become mud.

[dvoeverie-stitches]

Czech Calendar Customs Master Post

I’m an American who has always been fascinated with family history.  The most recent arrivals in my family from the old world were my Great-Grandparents who emigrated from Běhařovice, a small village in Southern Moravia,  Perhaps it is because they are my most recent connection to Europe that I’m pulled so strongly toward their traditions.  In this post I’ll provide links to my posts documenting my attempts to integrate Czech calendar customs into my practice, as well as other resources.  In 2023 I plan on doing more detailed articles and will add them to this article.  I am in no way an expert on the customs of Czechia, just a descendant attempting to connect with my ancestors.

From Groundhog Day to the Three Kings: Customs and Traditions of Villages in Znojmo (Southern Moravian district in Czechia that my great-grandparents were from) Machine translated by google

Hromnice

Hromnice is the holiday that takes place at Candlemas/Groundhog Day/Brigid’s Day (February 2nd)

Background

My 2022 Hromnice candle

Blessing my Hromnice candle

Waking Up Perun

Drowning Morana/Smrtka (Around Vernal Equinox)

Background

Drowning Morana 2022

Drowning Morana 2021

Drowning Morana 2020

Drowning Smrtka in my Great-Grandparent’s Village

Morana embroidery

Masopust (Carnival)

Background

Fat Thursday Dinner 2022

Kupala Night (Midsummer)

Midsummer 2022

Dozinky (Autumn Equinox)

Background

2022 Dozinky wreathe 1

2022 Dozinky wreath 2

Dušičky (All Soul’s Day)

Dusicky 2022

Koleda (Winter Solstice)

Background

St. Thomas’ Day

Koleda dinner 2022

Christmas and Advent

My St. Andrew’s Eve 2022 (November 30)

St. Andrew’s Eve (November 30)

My St. Barbara’s Day (December 4)

St. Barbara’s Day (December 4)

St. Nicholas’ Eve (December 5)

St. Ambrose Day (December 7)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)

St. Lucy’s Day (December 13)

Christmas Eve Dinner Plans for 2022

St. Stephen’s Day (December 26)

Vanilla crescents/ Vanilkové rohlíčky recipe

Walnut boat fortune telling 2022

Apple fortune telling 2022

Free paper cut out ethnographic nativity scene by painter Maria Fischerová-Kvěchová

My version of the cut out ethnographic nativity scene

[dvoeverie-stitches]

Thank goodness people have reblogged this post because I just got on the PC for the first time in a long time to update it and I’m so used to doing things on my phone that I deleted the whole freaking post.

Sigh.

2024 UPDATES

I really dropped the ball this year and didn’t get back into the groove until late. So here are a few posts form earlier in the year and then more from the Christmas season:

This year on a family facebook page an older relative scanned in pictures of my Great Grandmother and Father who came over from Moravia:

Josef Tesar in what I think is probably an Austro Hungarian uniform.

Augustina Tesar(ova) on the farm in Nebraska

Mare a carnival character #1

Mare a carnival character #2

fašank, masopust, končiny or ostatky

Drowning Morana during the total solar elipse

Spring Equinox/Easter altar

Czech Holy Week – Blue Monday

Ash Wednesday

Slavic Stork Symbolism

Some folklore about the month of June

The Ossuary — Jan Švankmajer a short film for Dušičky

Poppy Seed Horseshoe Rolls (MARTINSKÉ PODKOVY) for Martinmas

St. Nicholas Eve

St. Nicholas Eve Marionettes

St. Nicholas Eve cartoon

St. Ambrose Day Updated Pics #1

St. Ambrose Day Updated Pics #2

Christmas altar featuring cut out Czech enthographic nativity by Maria Fischerová-Kvěchová (Click on Maria’s name to print your own nativity scene)

Wax Divination (an alternative to lead divination on St. Andrew’s Eve)

An article on Ukrainian wise women using the wax (I have found hints that parts of Moravia also used this folk practice)

Koleda/Yule Altar #1 St. Nicholas Eve

Koleda/Yule Altar #2 Winter Solstice

Koleda/Yule Altar #3 Day after the Solstice–Rebirth of the Sun

Czech/Moravian Christmas Carols

Polaz – A beautiful Koleda decoration

Sladký ježek (Sweet Hedgehog)

Vanilla Crescents

Hubník – a traditional Czech Christmas dish

Museum recreations of a traditional Czech cottage at Christmas

This Year’s Apple Divination

St. Stephen’s Day Rhyme

The Caroling Tradition

svátku Mláďátek/Holy Innocent’s Day

The Feast Day of St. John the Evangelist

Czech Folklore upon the New Year

New Year’s Eve Sweepers

New Year’s Sour Lentils

[dvoeverie-stitches]

So here it is updated with posts from 2024. Happy New Year!!

[fieryduckling]

my witchy tip is to turn unsalvageable socks into spell sacs.

my method is as follows:

- collect old socks

- wash them (I usually remove old socks from laundry so they're already clean, but good to do again)

- optional: use a cleansing water or spray during/after washing

- allow to dry fully

- fill with spell components

- sew shut

- optional: stitch sigils into the side of the sac

- optional: add other decor (like ribbon or ornaments)

I usually leave spell sacs just in corners of the house, similar to where you might leave a scent bag. I find they work best for protective work or spells that I want to affect a particular location (ie. the living room or the desk) but you may find another use for them!

recycling is a big part of my own practice, so if anyone else is looking for a way to use up old socks, I hope this inspires you!

[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!

[witches-bottle-deactivated20241]

Occult Care:

There has been a small pattern in my asks where people were asking about spiritual and energetic burnout. As you can image, this is concerning because it means that occult self-care isn't really spoken of. We have the basics of cleansing, warding, banishing, what to do and what not to do, etiquette and more - but we don't have a lot talking about the nitty gritty of it. Why it's recommended to have a consistent energy work practice or grounding, or even why grounding is so important. Nor do we talk about the qualities of energy outside of a proposed 'negative' and 'positive'.

Safe to say, there isn't a lot. This isn't a comprehensive post by any means, but is largely just a mashing together of experiences.

Fire and Water Energy

Outside of the praxis of 'negative' (or low vibration, apparently,) energy and 'positive' (high vibration) is a new world of consideration. One of those areas is the quality of energy in relation to other energies around it.

If an energy is hot or has a heating effect, it can be considered fiery in nature. This energy is active, moving, dynamic and can also be the cause of burnout. Putting too much electricity through a cord not made for it will cause an issue.

On the flipside is the cool energy of water. Too much of this can cause stagnation, episodes of spiritual depression, fogginess and sluggishness.

Generally, Fiery Energy is invoked during rituals because we ant movement. What this also means is that we're exposed to this heat, and so need to take time to also cultivate a 'cold' practice. That is that we need to spend time creating something to balance the 'active' forms of our practice. This can be meditation, energy work without any real goal in mind, lunar based meditations or ,quite honestly, intermittent ritual work.

Outside of a Ritual Circle

If you're in a dominantly fiery space, you'll come down quickly when exposed to the varied energetic qualities outside of your ritual or circle. If we were to consider the ritual as producing a high through a stress response, then the sudden drop creates something akin to the whole BDSM Concept of a 'drop'.

Despite the stigma, treating a ritual like a scene is something worth considering because there's a few key notes we can take.

Preparation: This includes awareness of triggers, limitations, keywords, setting your intent, making sure everything's set and ordered both mentally and physically, self-awareness, grounding, mindfulness.

The Scene Itself: little check-ins throughout the ritual to see how the effects are. If you're going too high, insert a little reprieve. If you're going too low, do the same.

The After-Scene: Check with yourself, how do you feel? Do aftercare accordingly, slowly bring yourself back down to the earth. Manage symptoms accordingly (hunger, eat something small. Drink something, take a nap if you need to, mindfulness and grounding meditation to bring yourself from a neither-neither to 'here and now'. Go do something stupid, banish with laughter, basically treat yourself.

Ritual Aftercare for the Body

Extended sitting periods: go and walk around, or stretch your legs and arms. Do here what you'd do if you sat down in front of your laptop or computer for too long and needed to take a break.

Take a nap. Trust me, this works well. If you hate yourself, wash. If you hate the world, eat. If you feel like the world hates you, sleep.

A snack. Items to increase blood sugar, carbs, foods with electrolytes, yogurt. Alternatively, cold foods like peppermint tea, pear, apples, bananas and so on.

Bathing or showering.

Dry brushing to get blood and energy flowing again.

Savasana (Corpse Posture) - quite literally, lay down and let the energy do its own thing until it reaches equilibrium.

Ritual Aftercare for the Mind

Pranayama (often used to refer to mindful breathing before and after ritual) - sit for a few moments and just allow your mind to settle and follow your breath.

Emotional Regulation Techniques - One technique I like is to hug yourself and to rock back and forth, essentially be a parent to yourself and cradle yourself in that moment.

Five-Senses technique: look for five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.

Go for a walk.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping)

Ritual Aftercare for the Spiritual:

Anointing: Not really with Abramelin Oil but with other oils, especially those with earthy or grounding scents. The head, hands, feet and heart are preferred here.

Cold Water Bath: With too much fiery energy, washing the head with cold water is a good way to settle the fire energy lower to the body.

Sandalwood: A sandalwood tilak placed on the forehead soothes the mind and helps in establishing mental clarity.

Camphor Oil: A cooling oil is good to place on the head and the back of the ears to cool down the body.

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If you like what you see and want to support this type of work, please feel free to tip or commission:

[asksecularwitch]

Spell Project: Day 11 Breath (make up)

A Charm to Procure the Heart's Desire

In wet weather walk over the fields, and where the great white mushrooms rise up flat and wide, gather the greatest cap and carry it home. That night, by candlelight, take a large needle and with it scratch this, small upon the mushroom's upper skin:

Flesh of darkness Born of death Give my will Thy life and breath Wither dry and shrink to dust My hearth shall feed Upon thy crust

Breathe upon this inscription, and then lock the mushroom away safely for the rest of that night. The next morning, take a sharp knife and chop the whole into many little pieces. Spread them out in an iron pan and set them in the warm oven until they are quite dry. Then sew them up in a bag of red cloth, and each night thereafter wear this charm over the heart, until the desired effect is accomplished. When it has been fulfilled, the charm should be taken back and buried near the spot where the mushroom was gather.

(P. 74-75, Crone's Book of Charms & Spells, Valerie Worth)

Okay so for this spell we get a bit of wild crafting in this and we get a bit of that do this until this, final step this. In this spell, so I really enjoy how this spell is kind of laid out from top to bottom here. I think if you live in the city you can still find these kinds of mushrooms in parks and places with grass, just be aware that a lot of the smaller, smaller mushrooms are in fact probably from poop.

But here we are, I like this a lot because we're essentially making mushroom leather and then using it as a means to feed the spell that we're making. I think the inscription is okay - it's not the best, it's really not. But You get the gist right? My spell consumes you so that I can get what I want. So I feel that this can be done with other stuff - plants or other items which rot, decay, etc, the thing is that Mushrooms are know to feed on literally anything, right. So that means that it's a lot more resilient than other things, like plants. I don't know why but the orange peel is coming to mind right now. Maybe it's because I know it can be dried without too much fuss.

You could do something similar with a flower as long as you are careful as you are inscribing it.

I also like that cutting up this mushroom has no impact to the spell component, and that it's just a means to get it to dry quicker and with less fuss. That's important because that means it's not necessarily powering the spell - the destruction of that item. Unlike when we saw the 22 Pieces in the apple spell from a couple days ago, this is not a functional transformation of the spell. Instead it's just a mechanism for ease and also a mechanism to hide kind of what you inscribed into the mushroom.

So I talked about the alternatives to consume, what about alternative saying. I feel that this spell could be used for other things. Like for instance, if you have a very specific thing you're doing, you could essentially build out the spell onto the mushroom's flesh and then keep using it as part of the charm. So like for instance, if you wanted to protect your car you could store something like that in your car. Just make sure your mushroom is really, really, really dry.

Or if you wanted to enchant a specific place or get your business back up, it's also possible to do that as well. The mushroom is now a canvas for spellwork, which I really enjoy.

I also like that we bury the mushroom after the spell is accomplished. Returning it back to where it came from as a part of spell disposal. A lot of times, we talk about building spells especially putting spells anchored on a particular point and we don't talk about what to do with that spell after it's done. Or what to do with a spell we no longer want.

So I like how this is very much, harvest it from a place and fucking return it when it's done so it can be useful later for something else. I've stated this before in one of the previous day spells, but the earth is a great nullifier for magic. So even buried the mushroom would no longer contain the same level or the same magical energy over time. And that we love as a technique.

I think buyer beware on this is actually good about that red cloth bag. It's a container, and not a mojo bag. I want to make sure that difference is very clear for folks because people get a bit wild sometimes with understanding certain elements of magic. And maybe I'm jumping the gun here making sure that I express that this is not a mojo and this is not an example of mojo, but I want to say it now so there's no questions. Mojo bags and this are very different. So please keep that in mind that this technique may use similar items and materials but they are not equivalent in how they were made and what they are used for.