Please see my List of Tools and Services for information on readings! I am a practicing Roman Catholic with a flair for the mystical, an Aries, INTJ, History nerd, and Masters candidate with an affinity for Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, fire, the color blue, and hurricanes. I just want to clarify that this is not strictly a witchcraft blog -- in it, you will find posts ranging from witchcraft to my religion of Roman Catholicism to Tolkien (and Thranduil) to nature pictures and GIFs. Basically, whatever I think is beautiful, useful, or helpful in any way is going to be on my blog. If Laerwen is too much of a mouthful, feel free to call me Toot. It means Blueberry in Arabic. Or you can call me Fatoom, another Arabic nickname I was given by friends.
I just started reading Scott Cunningham a few weeks ago and I was really getting into it. Then I saw your "Yes, I Hate Wicca" post and now I gotta sit down and read it all because I'm hypercritical about the things I am allowed to enjoy. So thanks for ruining it (/s I am genuinely grateful. Ur post is so well cited.)
LMAOO it is a damn shame when all the easily accessible and most famous resources get ruined in one fell swoop when you learn about Wicca and its mechanisms. If you're looking for alternatives to Scott Cunningham that still contain the same principles and information bases, consider these:
Culpeper's Complete Herbal is an early modern herbal compendium in the same tradition that Cunningham borrowed all his information from. In fact, reading this you'll find that it's mostly the same information, just sans the Wiccan additions.
Culpeper's Herbal was influenced heavily by these instrumental works of European medicine:
Hildegard Von Bingen's Physica, trans. Priscilla Throop (this is a FASCINATING medieval work and also contains information on gems/crystals, if you're interested, since those also prominently feature in Wiccan and post-Wiccan neospirituality)
Theophrastus' Enquiry into Plants | I through V | VI onward
The Greek Herbal of Dioscorides
Referencing those will give you all the same information Cunningham uses in his herbal, but straight from the source, and thus will also teach you about the evolution of western medicine and esotericism as a bonus! Culpeper's Herbal and Hildegard von Bingen's Physica are fairly readable, like Cunningham, whereas the other works are extremely expansive and best used as reference works. You can use the search feature to search within them on Archive.org, and some of them may have an index thanks to modern translators.
If you're interested in herbal magic in a way that is easy to grasp, I have a source list (it's in need of updating; the links are all functional, it's just hideous, incomplete and poorly organized). Here's the link.
I saw in your other asks that you're hoping for Mexican-centric resources on the subject. I personally don't have many as I have no connection with that land at all, but I do have a few posts outlining how you can locate and apply resources that are relevant to you and your ancestry in an attempt to connect with your land:
On cultural sensitivity and connecting to the land you're on
Progressing Past Theory: Putting Regional Spirit Work into Practice
Local Flora, Folklore and Medicine
I'll respond to your other ask more in depth in terms of resources!
Scrying is moving through these tags again this week, a few people posting their first mirror and water readings. And the most common how-to you find stops at gaze into the surface and wait, which is exactly why people sit for twenty minutes, see nothing, and decide they cannot do it. The technique that matters is in the parts nobody mentions.
Start with the gaze, because this is where most of it goes wrong. You are not staring. A hard stare fights you, your eyes water, you blink, you reset, and you never settle. What you want is a soft, slightly unfocused gaze that looks through the surface rather than at it, the way your eyes drift past a window to the street beyond the glass. The surface should lose its hard edge and go a little vague.
Then the surface starts to change, and beginners almost always misread what happens next. Within a few minutes it tends to cloud, go smoky, darken, or seem to breathe. People take that as their eyes playing tricks, snap back to a sharp focus to check, and that ends it. The clouding is the doorway, not a glitch. Part of it is simply your vision softening on a featureless field, and that softening is the exact state you are trying to reach. Let it fog over and keep your attention loose inside the fog.
It also helps to know what a vision is actually like, because the expectation is the thing that blinds you. It is almost never a clear picture floating in the glass. It is shifting shapes, a color that was not there a second ago, a shadow moving against the grain, a face that assembles for a moment and dissolves. Sometimes it is not visual at all, just a feeling, a word in the mind, or a flat knowing. If you are holding out for a sharp image, you will look straight past the real signal, which tends to be quiet and partial.
A lot of what people call a block is really the setup. Work in low light with a single candle placed behind you or off to the side, never throwing a bright reflection straight into the surface. Use a black mirror or a dark bowl of water set on a dark cloth. Sit so you cannot see your own face clearly in the surface, because a sharp reflection of yourself locks your eyes at the glass instead of through it. Fix the light and the angle and half the I cannot scry problem tends to disappear.
On patience, the honest number is that most people need somewhere between five and twenty sessions before a first real impression. The early sittings where nothing happened are not failures. They are you teaching your eyes and your attention to hold the soft state without bailing out the moment it gets strange. Ten quiet minutes a few times a week will take you further than one heroic hour.
There is a discernment line worth holding too. Not everything you see is a message. Floaters, the afterimage of the candle, the surface graying out, that is ordinary eye behavior and it is the doorway, not the content. The scried material is what comes through that state, the shape that carries meaning, the word, the pull toward something. You learn the difference by keeping a log and only trusting what recurs or genuinely lands.
When you break the gaze, write it down immediately, before your mind tidies it into a tidy story. Do not interpret in the chair. Scrying hands you raw, half-formed material, and the meaning comes later, on the page, with a little distance. The skill was never seeing harder. It is letting the surface go soft and staying in the room while it does.
Slavic goddess of dawn, midnight, and dusk, magic, beauty and love, sickness and healing, and wisdom. Depicted as one, two, or three sisters, one of which is sometimes associated with harm. In some incantations their name is interchangeable with that of Mother Mary.
"A self-bored stone is a stone that has a hole through it, worn out by water, from one part of its composition being of a softer nature than the general mass. These stones are much esteemed by the vulgar and the valued on account of their having the supposed virtue of curing those persons who are subject to the disease of the night-mare or incubus. They are taken and hung up by a small cord, in the bed curtain, or top (if it is a wooden bed) above, or as near to the person as possible. They are of use also in the cure of sprains or bruises, in the same manner as the adder-stone, namely by rubbing the joint, etc. affected. It is a popular belief that the fairies always had one of these stones of a large size laid upon the entrance of their subterranean abodes. This, they said kept them at an equal distance from christened men and the Devil and deterred the witches from taking their possessions. This kind of middle region the fairies always seem to have taken notice of, and if they had an person whom they had stolen in their company, who had been christened, if they were riding, he had a right to ride nearest the town or village."
-Old Rites, Ceremonies, And Customs of the Southern Counties of Scotland, Thomas Wilkie.
I've been feeling very drawn to Freyr lately, with all the local animals and nature so awake and alive now. I haven't had the energy to write many new prayers, but this is one I wrote to him a while ago.
--
Exalted father of harvests’ bounty,
Generous bringer of feast and flower,
We see you this day in the beaming sun.
Revered guardian of fledgling seeds,
Nourishing lover of all that grows,
We hear you this day in the gentle breeze.
Beloved tender of soil and field,
Devoted grantor of plenty and bloom,
We feel you this day in the budding summer.
Praise the son of sparkling waves!
Praise the uncle of treasured splendor!
BETTER SHIT TO PUT IN YOUR GRIMOIRES THAN THE BASIC SHIT EVERYONE SAYS:
Maps! Maps! MAPS! If you're a death witch, get one for the cemeteries you visit and mark gravestones/areas you've practiced in! Garden witches! Map out your gardens! Green witches! Map where you find specific herbs in your area! Lunar witches! Mark the best spots to go look at the sky! Make a key! Take notes!
Recipes for COMPONENTS! Write down how to make the mixtures you use in spells often- A special salt mixed with herbs and put under the moon, a mixture of oils for protection, the herb mixes sachets you keep making to add to sachets, whatever!
For green witches- press samples of stuff and glue them in! Go to an arboretum and ask for permission to take leaves to press, they'll usually let you take some- add them in with your notes about trees
Cool ways to make spells! I make spells in envelopes and on empty spools, what are some ways you do?
The local plants in your area and what they do. You're not going to be likely to find chrysanthemums to forage in Missouri, but you will find creeping charlie and prairie plants. What can you do with a thistle?
When you celebrate a sabbat, write down what you did and include samples! Ribbons from your Beltane altar, a pressed sample of your lemmas harvest, a scrap of your Yule decorations. Maybe do a spell and tape the remnants into your grimoire in a plastic baggie
Learn how to make an envelope out of paper just by folding it, how to string seeds, how to dry plants, how to macrame rocks and hang them from your window. Find those little witchy skills and write them down.
How to incorporate your hobby into your magic. Sigiling origami paper, weaving knot magick into your crochet, making blessed bookmarks, etc
Substitutes! Rosemary, rose and clear quartz are good for most things, but there are more substitutes to be used that are more powerful. Roanoke bells are good substitutes for bluebells, apparently.
Correspondences of odd things. Turns out different kinds of cats have different correspondences, huh.
Superstitions and such from where you're from.
For kitchen witches: easy to alter recipes. An egg noodle recipe that takes herbs really well, a simple bread recipe that can be dressed up for spells or rituals, how to make a good pie crust that you can sprinkle nutmeg in or whatever you desire.
Or: What foods go good with what herbs. You'll make a better apple pie (and get the benefits of apples, nutmeg, and cinnamon together!) If you know how your herbs taste together with your cooking. (Most kitchen witches know this stuff, but for a green witch who likes to make teas or a sea witch that likes to make soup, etc, this is important)
With one word she could inspire an entire world. Petty arguments over trivial matters held no significance. She only spoke a language of truth. Her eyes shone with the light of a thousand suns. Through her, secrets that normally stayed hidden were at long last revealed. With open arms, she welcomes you in. She makes it clear that we are all connected. One voice, one song. Forever singing in unison, in harmony. Forever as one.
"As the Basket comes, greet it, ye women, saying “Demeter, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.” As the Basket comes, from the ground shall ye behold it, ye uninitiated, and gaze not from the roof or from aloft, child nor wife nor maid hath shed her hair, neither then nor when we spit from parched mouths fasting. Hesperus from the clouds marks the time of its coming: Hesperus, who alone persuaded Demeter to drink, what time she pursued the unknown tracks of her stolen daughter.
Lady, how were thy feet able to carry thee unto the West, unto the black men and where the golden apples are? Thou didst not drink nor didst thou eat during that time nor didst thou wash. Thrice didst thou cross Achelous with his silver eddies, and as often didst thou pass over each of the ever-flowing rivers, and thrice didst thou seat thee on the ground beside the fountain Callichorus, parched and without drinking, and didst not eat nor wash.
Nay, nay, let us not speak of that which brought the tear to Deo! Better to tell how she gave cities pleasing ordinances; better to tell how she was the first to cut straw and holy sheaves of corn-ears and put in oxen to tread them, what time Triptolemus was taught the good craft ---
O Demeter, never may that man be my friend who is hateful to thee, nor ever may he share party-wall with me; ill neighbours I abhor
Sing, ye maidens, and ye mothers, say with them: “Demeter, greatly hail! Lady of much bounty, of many measures of corn.” And as the four white-haired horses convey the Basket, so unto us will the great goddess of wide dominion come bringing white spring and white harvest and winter and autumn, and keep us to another year. And as unsandalled and with hair unbound we walk the city, so shall we have foot and head unharmed for ever. And as the van-bearers bear vans full of gold, so may we get gold unstinted. As far as the prytaneia let the uninitiated follow, but the initiated even unto the very shrine of the goddess, as many as are under sixty years. But those that are heavy and she that stretches her hand to Eileithyia and she that is in pain, sufficient it is that they go so far as their knees are able. And to them Deo shall give all things to overflowing, even as if they came unto her temple.
Hail, goddess, and save this people in harmony and in prosperity, and in the fields bring us all pleasant things! Feed our kine, bring us flocks, bring us the corn-ear, bring us harvest! And bring peace, that he who sows may also reap. Be gracious, O thrice-prayed for, great Queen of goddesses!"
Fluorite is a lovely crystal that comes in a variety of colors. In this inaugural post of Crystal Crumbs, a series on the many crystals we meet in witchcraft, let's meet fluorite and her many faces.
Chemical Makeup
Fluorite is a halide mineral, meaning it is composed primarily of an anion of a halogen gas. Other examples include halite, which you may know as rock salt or NaCl! Cl- is an anion of chlorine. In fluorite's case, its chemical makeup is CaF2, with fluoride (F2) being the dominant anion.
Fluorite forms primarily in cubic shapes, but it can also form in octahedrons, or other complex isometric shapes. Fluorite ranks at 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, and is in fact the reference mineral for that level. This means it is harder than calcite, but is easily scratched by quartz and other harder minerals.
Pure fluorite is colorless like quartz, but chemical impurities give it a wide spectrum of possible colors, which fluorite is prized for in lapidary and jewelry-making. These impurities can include:
iron
manganese
rare earth elements like yttrium, cerium, samarium, thulium, etc
uranium
radioactive interference and heat during formation
hydrocarbons
Natural Companions/Lookalikes
Because fluorite comes in many colors, including colorless, it can often be mistaken for other minerals. Additionally, because it primarily grows in voids in hydrothermal vents and hot springs, it is often a companion to other minerals. These companions include:
quartz
calcite
baryte
sphalerite
galena
pyrite
dolomite
chalcopyrite
muscovite
rhodochrosite
Lookalikes include:
quartz (especially amethyst)
halide (similar shapes and composition)
calcite
tourmaline
History
Fluorite has been known to many civilizations for centuries, primarily for its use in decoration. Pliny the Elder described it in Naturalis Historia as a purple-and-white mottled stone, and it is believed that a mineral described in Sanskrit alchemical texts called vaikrānta may refer to fluorite. However, it truly rose to prominence in 16th century Germany, when scientist Georgius Agricola described it in his works on mineralogy and metallurgy. In iron smelting, fluorite is used to reduce the viscosity of slag, giving rise to its name, coming from Latin fluere, to flow. In his work, Agricola originally named it "fluorspar", a name still used today in industrial contexts. In 1852, fluorescence was discovered through the use of UV light on fluorite, and the element fluorine was also named after it.
Other Names
fluorspar (original name, industrial context)
murrina/myrrhina (classical studies, archaeology)
flourite
several other synonyms, available on mindat.org
Traditional Uses
Fluorite has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, labeled as a spirit-calming stone. It has also been used as a decorative stone for thousands of years across ancient Rome and Egypt. Fluorite has seen uses symbolically to improve blood flow (owing to its name), dental health (fluoride is a known element necessary for teeth), as well as generally calming and balancing several systems.
Modern Uses
In mundane life, it is used in optics to create lenses, and high-purity fluorite is often used as a source of hydrofluoric acid and pure fluorine gas. Magically, fluorite is a popular choice for focus, clarity, and purification, owing to its associations with intellect and "flow". It is used by many holistic practitioners for purposes relating to the joints, muscles, bones, and teeth.
Don't have access to fluorite, or not interested in buying new crystals but using what you have? Try some of these crystals that carry some of the same properties:
Fluorite functions well on its own, but it can also be paired with other crystals and various herbs/botanicals for specific properties.
quartz: amplification of fluorite's focus and clarity
amethyst: amplification of psychic and spiritual development/protection
black tourmaline: grounding and shielding
selenite: purification of environment and energy
labradorite: intuition and communication
calcite: emotional and mental harmony
lepidolite: anxiety relief
moldavite: spiritual transformation
rose quartz: adds compassion and love to mental focus
pyrite: adds willpower to mental focus
lavender: adds calming and peaceful energy
cinnamon: accelerates workings and brings willpower and manifestation to your focus
thyme: cleansing and balancing
rosemary: amplifies mental clarity and purification, protection
bay leaf: set intentions for your newfound focus, protection
sage: wisdom and mental clarity, purification
You can also choose crystals and herbs that align elementally or zodiacally with your purposes.
Extra
Cleansing/charging notes:
Please be aware that fluorite is not safe to submerge in water for extended periods of time, as it contains toxic fluorine. You should also refrain from contact with salt, and do not drink water that has had fluorite in it. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which can fade the colors of the crystal. Otherwise, cleanse and charge your fluorite in any way that you prefer.
Please remember that these posts do not constitute medical advice and are purely for entertainment and spiritual purposes.
Sources:
mindat.org
Muse + Moonstone
Wikipedia
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
FossilEra
Natural Gemstones
space-queen on Tumblr
The Citrine Circle
CrystalanceMe & Qi
[Alt Title Text: A Slightly Deeper Ask Game for Practitioners of Folk Magic, Traditional Magic, and Spirit Work]
A @hagstoneandtoadsbone ask game for those who practice centers on folk magic, traditional magic/traditional witchcraft, folklore, cunning practice, and spirit work. Reblog to participate and invite your followers to send you a keyword to ask you questions. Don't forget to send and ask to the person you're reblogging from to keep it going.
Nettle: What are your plant allies, and how did you form your relationship with them?
Lantern: What was a spirit encounter that profoundly impacted your practice or worldview?
Fur: What forms/shapes do your familiars take, and how do they make themselves known to you?
Grove: Where is your favorite place to work with the land and why?
Formula: What would the “recipe” for your practice look like? (Tradition, intuition, land work, ancestor work, scholarship, etc.)
Fog: What relationship do you keep with the spirits of the dead and how do you maintain it?
Hearth: What folklore, regional practice, or historical tradition most shaped your craft?
Iron: What is a magical no-no you personally refuse to break?
Vessel: What physical object in your toolset feels truly inhabited by spirit?
Cobweb: What is something about witchcraft/magic that you had to unlearn the hard way?
Salt: What is your most-used ingredient, tool, or materia, and why?
Owl: What is an omen you received that turned out to be insanely accurate?
Ember: What is a spell, rite, or working you wish you could go back and relive?
Tallow: What offering has gotten the strongest response from spirits?
Heirloom: What part of your practice feels inherited, even if nobody taught it to you directly?
Black Cat: What are some boundaries that exist between you and your familiars or spirits?
Thread: What do you see as the thread that ties all the pieces of your your practice together philosophically or spiritually?
Offering: What aspect of your practice demands the most sacrifice from you?
Stone: What landscape feels the most spiritually charged to you? Forests, rivers, graveyards, crossroads, deserts, coastlines?
Ballad: What is a text, myth, ballad, or folktale feels spiritually “true” to you?
Ward: What protections do you maintain even when you aren’t actively practicing?
Foundation: What core foundations does your practice stand on? (Animism, reciprocity, devotion, rebellion, healing, sorcery, etc.)
Hearthkeeping: What mundane chore or act secretly feels magical to you?
Serpent: What spirit, deity, saint, or force do you approach with the most caution?
Storm: What natural phenomenon feels most spiritually significant to you? Fog, thunder, tides, drought, wildfire, etc.?
Petition: What role does prayer, petition, or devotion play in your work?
Crossroads: Does your practice belong to a specific place, or has it adapted wherever you go?
Transformation: What part of your practice has changed the most over time?
Mask: What misconceptions about traditional witchcraft or folk magic frustrate you the most?
Broom: What does your hearth mean to your practice?
Blood: What price do you believe magic demands, if any?
Hush: What is a ritual or practice you only do in secrecy?
Manuscript: What is one academic text or folklorist’s commentary that deeply influenced your worldview?
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