Madam Lavender @madamlavender - Tumblr Blog

𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐜

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What is Imbolc?

Imbolc is a festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, occurring around February 1-2. Known as Brigid’s Day or Candlemas, it celebrates the first stirrings of spring and the return of light. The name Imbolc translates to “in the belly,” symbolizing new life, growth, and the creative potential that is awakening within the earth. It is a time of purification and renewal, where the energy of the earth begins to rise, bringing warmth and vitality to the whole world.

Imbolc is often dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of fire, healing, poetry, and craftsmanship. Brigid is associated with both the hearth and the forge, embodying the transformative powers of fire and light. As the days grow longer and the sun strengthens, we honor her influence in bringing fertility and growth to the land. The first signs of spring, such as the lactation of ewes and the appearance of snowdrops, are seen as blessings from Brigid, signaling that life is returning.

Imbolc is also a festival of light, a time to celebrate the increasing daylight through the lighting of candles, bonfires, and lanterns. As the earth begins to thaw and the seeds of spring stir beneath the soil, Imbolc offers a space for spiritual growth and creative awakening. It is a perfect time to clear away the stagnant energies of winter, refresh the soul, and prepare for the vibrant months to come. The act of lighting candles not only honors the growing light but also serves as a reminder of the inner light within us all, waiting to shine brightly in the coming seasons.

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Goddess Brigid

Brigid, one of the most revered deities in the Celtic pantheon, is also known as Lady of the Sacred Flame. She is the goddess of healing, fire, smithcraft, creativity, animals, hearth and poetry, Imbolc is her Sabbat, a time dedicated to honoring her influence on creativity and new beginnings. Her symbols are fire, poetry, lambs and fertility. Brigid is often depicted with a flame emerging from her head or a serpent coiled around her, representing the powerful energy she brings. She is also a goddess of protection, childbirth, women, blacksmithing and life.

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The Return of Light and the First Signs of Spring

Imbolc marks the shift from winter to the first signs of spring. Days start to get longer, and you can feel the earth beginning to wake up, even though winter isn’t completely gone. It’s the time when the sun starts to grow stronger, and we begin to see early signs of new life. During Imbolc, many light candles or bonfires in Brigid's honor, celebrating the return of light and the growing strength of the sun as the days grow longer.

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Brigid's Cross

A traditional symbol of Imbolc, Brigid’s Cross is woven from reeds or straw and represents both protection and blessings. It’s believed to offer protection from fire and lightning, making it an essential symbol of Brigid’s influence. In Ireland, it was common to hang Brigid’s Cross on the rafters of homes to invoke her protective energy.

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Brigid's Flame

According to legend, Brigid lit a flame on the hill of Kildare, pledging to keep it burning in her honor. This flame was said to burn continuously, symbolizing her eternal presence and influence over the cycles of life. The fire became a sacred symbol, tended by the Brigidine Sisters for centuries, representing not just physical warmth, but the power of creativity and healing.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Moon, Venus

Season: Midpoint between Winter and Spring

Element: Earth, Fire

Time of Day: Dawn

Tarot: The Star, The Empress, The Ace of Wands

Colors: White, Light Yellow, Green, Gold, Silver, Lilac, Pale Pink, Purple

Herbs: Chamomile, Clover, Angelica, Heather, Basil, Bay Laurel, Willow, Rosemary, Milk Thistle, Coltsfut, Lavender,

Fruits: Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Blackberry (Brigid's favorite fruit)

Vegetables: Leek, Potato, Carrot, Turnips, Garlic

Runes: Sowilo, Berkano, Algiz, Kenaz

Crystals: Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Milk Quartz

Trees: Rowan, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, Minerva

Gods: Faunus, Eros, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Og

Dragon: Fafnir

Flowers: Snowdrops, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Chicory

Animals: Lamb, Sheep, Cow, Deer, Groundhog, Hedgehog, Snake, Swan, Wolf, Bear, Boar

Magical Powers: Purification, Renewal, Creativity, Fertility, Awakening, New Beginnings, Hearth and Home, Healing, Hope, Inspiration, Cleansing, Protection

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Activities To Do:

🐑 Light candles or a bonfire to honor the return of the sun.

🐑 Make an Imbolc altar.

🐑 Rest and enjoy the midwinter season doing cozy activities.

🐑 Wear the colors of the season.

🐑 Cook or bake seasonal dishes, especially fresh bread, cheese, or other dairy products.

🐑 Make Brigid's cross.

🐑 Take a walk in nature and collect branches and stones to add to your altar.

🐑 Donate to animal shelters or send wishes for the animals born during this season, especially lambs.

🐑 Eat fresh bread or drink milk

🐑 Clean your house to invite new positive energy.

🐑 CREATE ANYTHING!! whether it’s art, crafts, edits or poetry.

🐑 Write the sigil of Imbolc somewhere visible to attract its energy( I usually do this on a piece of paper that I put on my altar or on my arm)

🐑 Take a bath with lavender or cinnamon essential oil

🐑 Read about the goddess Brigid

🐑 If it’s a sunny day, celebrate the festival of light by spending time outdoors and letting the sun purify you.

🐑 Do offerings for your deities

🐑 Dance to festive music, feel the joy of the season, and let your inner fire shine :D

🐑 Try spinning or crafting with wool to honor traditional Imbolc crafts.

🐑 Look for seasonal flowers like snowdrops or crocus and bring some into your home for decoration.

🐑 Plant seeds if the weather allows, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.

🐑 Do spells for fresh starts and set intentions

🐑 Worship Goddess Brigid or any deities you feel connected to during this time.

🐑 Read poetry to celebrate the creative energy of the season.

🐑 Make an Imbolc Magick Spell Jar

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Food and Drinks:

Dairy products (or vegetarian alternatives), like milk, cheese, and yogurt, freshly baked bread, muffins, waffles, blackberry jam, blackberry cakes (anything with blackberries), lemon cake, poppy seed cakes, biscuits coated in sesame seeds, dishes with bold spices, seeds such as sunflower, poppy, and sesame (for Imbolc seeds are very meaningdul), red cabbage, oats, butter, honey, garlic, scones, pancakes, crepes, pickles, cheese pie, oatcakes, bannock, mashed potatoes, colcannon, chili peppers, eggs, apple tarts, spiced nuts, roasted vegetables, hearty soups, grain-based salads, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or pomelo). Don’t forget to make a wish while flipping your pancakes on Imbolc! <3

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useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip Jar🌲

#winter crossquarter

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.😊

thesigilwitch

Do you have a sigil for helping a significant other find a job?

Okay, well these were originally posted at @thesigilworkshop, but one of them messed up in the digitalizing process, and it’s bugging me, and I don’t want you to see the error, and I forgot the password and can’t go fix the original post, so I’ll just repost them here.

(They were mine anyway, don’t anybody say a word xD)

01 “My job search is swift and successful”

02 “I got the job I was looking for”

Either “energetically” imprint these on his resume (ones he plans on giving out to find a job), or draw them on a picture of him attached to an additional copy of his resume (that you’ll keep / won’t get sent out).

herbalgrimoire

my luck/money drawing bowl 🤲🍀💸

breelandwalker

Secular Celebrations - Lughnasadh

From Midsummer, we move to Lughnasadh in early August. Also called Lammas, this is the first of the three harvest holidays. Much of what you’ll see associated with this holiday involves bread, bread, and for a change of pace, more bread and also corn. But there are also associations with field games, music, crafts, artistry, games of skill, self-expression, wishmaking, and the first fruits of the harvest. It’s another holiday for picnics and bonfires, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your festivities.

It’s probably easiest to talk about the food first, since that’s a big part of this holiday. Lots of witches bake bread of some sort for Lughnasadh, in observance of the grain harvest. This would be a great time to put that sourdough starter to use, if you made one. But don’t limit yourself to bread alone! Late summer fruits and vegetables are also coming into season and that gives you plenty of options for kitchen witchery. Check your local farmer’s market or produce stand for what’s available, or see what’s in season for your area, since this will vary from region to region.

You can make jams and preserves, try your hand at winemaking or brewing beer, make a vegetarian or fruit-based dish, or cook over an open fire, if you have the option. You should be able to harvest things from your garden as well, since it will be producing by this time, and this is another great holiday for visiting pick-your-own berry patches and orchards. If you can, share what you harvest or make with friends and neighbors. This is a time to remember your circle and your community as well. None of us stand alone, and we are stronger when we stand together and nurture those bonds.

Make decorations with wheat stalks and corn husks, and thank the fields and the sun for their bounty. Just like on Midsummer, you can hang ribbons and paper wishes from trees and shrubs if you like. I’m also partial to (very carefully) gathering brambles, rose thorns, and holly hedge cuttings for use later in the year around Lughnasadh. It’s a tricky, prickly business, but they come in very handy when you’re preparing magical protections for the home.

If you can have a small bonfire or have the opportunity to light up a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can throw incense or paper wishes into the fire. If you like, you can also throw paper packets containing your regrets into the fire, symbolically ridding them from your life and freeing you to move forward.

If the weather allows, have a field day! Play games, have a cookout or a barbecue, play music, and enjoy yourself. Celebrate the abundance that the first harvest brings into your life and all the hard work you’ve done so far in the year. Provided that your circle can gather, maybe have an informal tournament with games of skill and chance. For those of you who just went, “-gasp- Trivia contest!” you’re right on the mark. That carnival atmosphere comes into play again for Lughnasadh, so have a little fun with your near and dear.

Handicrafts and the arts are also celebrated at Lughnasadh. It’s a good time to start that new project you’ve been meaning to do, or to try your hand at a new skill.

This is also a time to begin reaping what you’ve sown and to examine your own progress since the beginning of the growing season. Meditate on how your personal projects are going. What progress have you made toward your goals? What have you learned so far this year? What promises have you kept, which ones could use more dedication, and which ones fell by the wayside?

How have your actions, for good or for ill, affected the direction of your path? What have you sown that is now coming to fruition? What is still budding? What has yet to manifest? What might require more of your attention?

Meditate also on self-expression. How well do you communicate with others? What would you like to improve? Are there boundaries that you need to clarify or reinforce? How much are you allowed or able to be your truest self? What do you long to be able to do or say or express differently?

Keep in mind that progress, education, and recovery do not happen in straight lines or have constant upward trajectories. Be patient with yourself. You may not be exactly where you thought you’d be, but you’re still further along than you were. Even a single step forward counts, and it’s okay to stop and rest if you need to.

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 01, 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.😊

#summer crossquarter

breelandwalker

General Advice for Beginner Witches

A brief masterpost of some of my advice posts for beginner witches and the episodes of my podcast dealing with the same. (There is UPG here, particularly where marked, as I base a good deal of my advice on my own experience and observations of other witches.)

Hex Positive Podcast Episodes

Hex Positive, Ep. 04 - Advice for Beginner Witches (July 2020)

Hex Positive, Eps. 6-7 - Come In For A Spell 1 & 2 (Sept 2020)

Hex Positive, Ep. 12 - Witching From The Broom Closet (Jan 2021)

Hex Positive, Ep. 24 - Warding A Witchy Home (Dec 2021)

Hex Positive, Ep. 27 - When Inspo Takes A Holiday (March 2022)

General Tips & Advice

I Feel Like I Might Be A Witch...But I Don't Know

I Have Mental Health Issues - Can I Still Be A Witch?

Can I Still Be A Witch And Use Magic If I Take Medication?

How Do I Teach Myself To Believe In Magic?

How Does Magic Work? (upg ahoy)

Will I Be Possessed Or Haunted If I Try Witchcraft?

What Are Some Things I Can Do To Get Started?

How Can I Start My Practice If I Don't Have Tools Or Books?

How Do I Organize My Study Materials?

How Do I Contact A Deity?

How Do I Worship My Deity If I Can't Have An Altar?

Tips On Working With Deities And Spirits (here be upg)

My Intuitive Spark Feels Low - How Do I Get It Back?

I'm In A Slump - How Do I Get Out Of It?

I've Reached A Stopping Point - What Do I Do Next?

My Candle Is Flickering - Does It Mean Something Bad?

How Do I Make A Magic Circle For Spellcasting?

What Happens If I Get Interrupted While Casting A Spell?

Do I Need To Maintain Positive Vibes For My Spells To Work?

What Should I Do If I REALLY Want To Hex Someone?

How Do I Know / What Do I Do If I've Been Hexed?

How Do I Become More Skilled And More Powerful?

How Do I Know When I'm Ready For The Next Step In My Practice?

Additional Tips For Developing Your Practice

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews

Tips on How to Visualize and Construct Basic Wards

Practicing Your Warding Technique

Cleansing Before Warding / Warding A Shared Space

Refreshing / Patching Existing Wards

Non-Appropriative Herbs for Smoke-Cleansing

Smokeless Cleansing / Other Methods

Recommended Reading & Book Suggestions

breelandwalker

UPDATES:

"Witch" Is A Gender Neutral Term (Yes, It Is. Shut Up.)

Critical Thinking Should Play A Role Building In Your Craft

Learn About Baneful Magic...Even If You Never Intend To Use It

Tips for Fact-Checking Your Witchcraft Sources

PSA - Will It Summon Demons?

The Toad Talk on Curse-Shaming

Friendly Reminder - Your Tools Don't Hate You

How Do I Know If I've Been Cursed And What Can I Do About It?

I'm Not Sure Where To Start. Is It Okay To Dabble?

I Feel Tired After Spellwork. Is This Normal? How Do I Deal With It?

How Can I Use Local Plants In My Practice If I Can't Find Magical Correspondences For Them?

Additional Resources

2024 Witches' Calendar

Full Moon Info Post Series

How To Write Your Own Spells

Witchcraft Exercises for Building Your Craft

Additional Book Recommendations

JSTOR Articles on the History of Witchcraft, Witch Trials, and Folk Magic Beliefs

Podcast Recs - Witches and Witchcraft in History

Podcast Recs - Debunking and Fact-Checking for Witchcraft Spaces

Creature-Wizard's Guide To Recognizing and Avoiding Conspiracy Theories and New Age Cult Scams In Witchcraft and Pagan Spaces

Additional Episodes of Hex Positive

Ep. 034 - Building Your Witchcraft Library (May 2023)

Ep. 035 - Money Magic (or Why I'm Not A Rich Witch) (June 2023)

Ep. 037 - Cleaning, Cleansing, and Magical Germophobia (August 2023)

Ep. 038 - Creating Your Personal Grimoire (September 2023)

breelandwalker

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

While we may not all be able to go for a woodsy hike to connect with our local land spirits and find wild herbs, there is always some sort of ecosystem around us. Making that connection and identifying useful plants can be done just about anywhere.

First, identify your region and find a field guide to the local flora. You’ll want something small enough to carry that has color photographs and detailed descriptions. Peterson’s Field Guides makes very good ones for the U.S. Publishers and availability will vary according to location.

Next, take a stroll! Visit your local community park or green space, or just check out the roadside weeds growing nearest your home. There’s always something. If you don’t feel comfortable lingering in one place long enough to analyze the plants on-site, take some pictures on your phone. That way, you can identify and read about them later.

Take notes about the plants you find. What are their magical uses? Is there any folklore connected to them? Were they ever used in medicine? Where where they growing? What sort of feeling did the plant give you (if any)? How do they fit into the local biome? Is it a native species, an introduced one, or an invasive one?

If you happen to find something that might be useful in your craft, you can go back and collect a small sample, provided the plant is not endangered or likely to harm you and is growing in a public space. (State and national parks do not count as public spaces. They’re great for pictures and study, but please refrain from collecting plants there.) When in doubt, leave it be.

I wouldn’t advise using roadside plants for anything you plan to ingest, but they’re still great for spells, offerings, and the burning bowl. A good rinse-and-hang-dry is highly recommended to make sure your specimens are as clean as they can be.

Make sure you label your specimen bundles and any jars you use for storage to make later identification easier. You can press leaves and flowers and tape them into your witchbook, or include illustrations or photos with your notes.

All of this will help you learn about and connect with the land around you, even if you live in an urban or highly developed area. The energy is always around us. We just might need to be still a while and look a little harder to find it.

Happy Witching! 🌿

ADDENDUM:

There are also plant identification apps like PlantNet, Plantifier, LeafSnap, iNaturalist, and SmartPlant that you can install on your phone.

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.

For more tips and exercise for growing your practice, check out the masterlist here. 😊

breelandwalker

If you like this exercise, check out the companion piece for creating correspondences for plants in your local biome!

There are dozens of plant species in the arsenal of the green witch. Commonly-used varieties and usage varies somewhat between traditions, b

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, inspiration for activities, or as methods for pulling yourself out of a slump and recharging your witchy inspiration.

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews

Witchcraft Exercise - Witchy Inspo Journal

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Correspondences

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Your Own Runes

Witchcraft Exercise - Shakespearean Witchcraft

Witchcraft Exercise - Music To Witch By

Related Prompt - Music to Witch By

Witchcraft Exercise - Annual Review

Most of these are also available in the May 2021 bonus episode of Hex Positive (check your favorite podcatcher).

Happy Witching!

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

breelandwalker

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft is a complicated business. There are lots of moving parts, dozens of things to study, and so much information to try and keep straight in your head. It’s easy to become overwhelmed. Sometimes we forget things. Not just when the full moon is (although plenty of us do) but what it is we want to do with our craft.

And sometimes we feel like we’ve lost our drive. Like whatever moved us to become witches in the first place has somehow slipped away, leaving us with just the dregs. Sometimes we feel stuck, unable to make progress. It’s easy to become frustrated too, but it’s important to push on.

To that end, I offer this exercise.

Choose a journal or open a word document and begin quantifying your craft.

Start by outlining the broad concepts. Do you follow a particular path or tradition? How would you classify your craft, i.e. green witchcraft, cottagecraft, sea witch, lunar witch, and so on? Do you work with any deities, and if so, which ones? Do you work alone or with others? How long have you been practicing? What, to you, is the most important aspect of your craft?

Then get into your working space. Do you have an altar? If so, what’s on it and why? Do you have a dedicated workspace, or a place you go to work magic outside of your home? If you could describe your ideal workspace, what would it look like?

Next, describe your tools. Do you have cards or runes or a wand or other specialized tools that you work with? What do you use most frequently? Do you have favorites? Do you make or grow any of your components? Where do you acquire the things you use in your magic, if you can’t make them at home? Do you have a personal library? What are your favorite sources of information? Do you have ritual garb or jewelry that connects you with your craft?

Sketch out your year as a witch. What holidays do you observe and how do you celebrate them? What seasonal festivals or special occasions do you mark? Which ones do you enjoy the most? Is there a time of year when you feel more energized?

Once you have all of this recorded, think back to what first interested you in magic and witchcraft and describe that. Was it a movie? A favorite book? A personal experience? Were you raised in the craft or did you come to it on your own? What made you decide to become a witch?

Then think about how you’ve progressed since you started. Have you achieved a particular goal you set when you began, or are you closer to achieving it then you were? What have you gotten really good at? Where are you still struggling? Where would you like to be a year from now? Are there things you’d like to try but haven’t yet?

And of course, if anything else occurs to you, record that too.

There is no need to share these thoughts with anyone if you don’t want to. This is purely a personal exercise, to help you understand where you are, where you’ve come from, and where you want to go. Quantifying this information might provide some much-needed inspiration, in addition to helping you solidify any nebulous thoughts that might be floating around. It’s much easier to progress in your craft if you have an outline for what you’re already doing.

Happy Witching!

===

Want more witchcraft exercises? Check out the masterpost here.

criticalthinkingwitches

Critical Thinking Witch Collective Presents:

CritWitchCon2024 Sept 27th - 29th A Virtual Convention

This year's theme: Perception (Perspective) Check: Life through a Seekers Lens. Join us while you discover and discuss some of the different ways we see the witchy world. Connect, learn, and get involved with community of science-minded witches and seekers!

All-Access Pass - $35 Saver Pass - $25 Early Bird Pricing ends 8/30 Scholarships available! Tickets on sale now! We can't wait to see you there!

CriticalThinkingWitches.Com/Events

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breelandwalker

Lucky Day Powder

Intent: To cause good luck and high probability of success to follow one for a single day.

Ingredients:

Orange Peel

Cinnamon

Fenugreek

Ginger

Irish Moss

Lemon Peel

Materials:

Mortar & Pestle (or spice grinder)

Funnel

Mesh Strainer

Collection Dish

Container

Note: Powdered versions of most herbs are available online. I recommend Wellcat Herbs and Starwest Botanicals for the best quality products. Also, if you can get your hands on a good spice grinder, you can make your own powder from dried herb products.

Grind each ingredient separately to produce fine powder. Sieve the material through the mesh strainer into the collection dish; this removes the larger unground pieces and gives you cleaner powdered herb. (Pro-Tip: Putting a funnel under the mesh strainer reduces lost material and makes collection much easier.)

Combine the component powders in the collection dish, mix well, and bottle immediately. For volume, go heavier on the less expensive or more easily available materials like Cinnamon, Ginger, and powdered fruit peels. Otherwise, use more or less even amounts.

Put a pinch in your shoes before going out on any day that you need a boost of good fortune, or chance to sway in your favor. Also useful for spellwork related to finding or keeping employment and obtaining wealth. Add to incenses and charms designed to bring luck. Combine in a jar with sesame seeds for long-term household use.

For more recipes to fill out your potion kit, you can check out Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. (Available on Amazon and in my shop!)

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. You may also enjoy my show, Hex Positive - available wherever fine podcasts are heard. 😊

#luck

breelandwalker

Secular Celebrations - Beltane

Beltane comes next, that little threshold holiday between late April and early May, the “spring fling” of our year. Mayday festivals have been around for centuries. Mentions of similar celebrations date back to the Roman Floralia and the Greek Maiouma, which is recorded as far back as the 2nd century BCE in the reign of Emperor Commodus. We also see similar festivals with things like bonfires, dancing, sweetheart rituals, and Maypoles all over Europe, and particularly in the British Isles. In some places, it’s connected with the Feast of St. Walpurgis (most notably the German Walpurgisnacht), and in others, it’s evolved into a kind of warm-weather romp that celebrates the month of May and the full flower of springtime. So there’s a lot of room for interpretation and a lot of activities to choose from if you’re celebrating this holiday as a secular witch.

The overarching theme of the day is definitely love. Love magic, sex magic, love divinations, marriage predictions, renewing of vows...it’s all there. There’s a reason besides the weather that May is the most popular month for weddings, and this might be part of it. So if you’re of a mind to work with any of that, DO IT. Cast spells to find love, attract a sweetheart, reconnect with your current partner, or if you’re single, maybe have a fling. Bring a little extra romance into your life. Just make sure you observe consent and common sense, and practice safe SEX as well as safe hex.

If you’re not interested in any of that, you can also work magic for self-love. Often in our conversations on love magic, we leave out that all-important relation with ourselves. Beltane is a great time to rediscover this. It can be a celebration of yourself and your own power and your own journey. Pamper yourself a bit. Have a home spa day, take a ritual bath, do whatever it is that makes you feel strong and gorgeous. Because spoiler alert - you ARE strong and gorgeous. A-bip-bip-bip...yes you are. Yes. You ARE. Even when you don’t feel like it, you’re an amazing person and the world is a better and more interesting place because you’re in it. So celebrate all the things you love about yourself - your mind, your creativity, your skills, and particularly your body, even if it’s uncooperative or a work in progress. Celebrate your strength and your ongoing metamorphosis into the person you want to be. Whether that journey is mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical, you are not the same person you were last year, and your progress deserves recognition.

Celebrate your communal and familial bonds as well. Connect with the people who make you feel loved and cherished and uplifted. If you can’t attend a party, maybe have a virtual game night or a socially-distanced movie marathon. If you’re working on coming out of your shell, this is a good time to maybe take a step in that direction, even if it’s just a small one.

This is a festival of flowers and fire, fertility and fun, so anything you want to do that involves any of those things would be appropriate. Have a bonfire, if you can do so safely, or light up some candles. Make flower crowns or garlands. Add greenery to your home decor. If you haven’t already planted your garden, or if your starter sprouts are ready and the final frost has passed, get them in the ground. Do some growth magic to help them along. Dress in something that makes you happy and comfortable. Put on your favorite music, dance around the house, and sing like you’re on your very own Broadway stage. Make your favorite foods, maybe experiment with making wine or beer or short mead if you’ve ever wanted to give that a shot. Make candied flowers or candied fruit peel.

Go on a picnic, if the weather allows it. If you’re partial to wildcrafting, gather wild herbs and flowers for your magic, always observing permission to harvest and best practices for your local ecosystem. That means whatever you want to pick, make sure you’re allowed to do so, whether on a spiritual level or on a practical one. Don’t go raiding state parks or your neighbor’s flower garden; you probably don’t have permission to take plants from these places. Take only what you need and don’t pick anything you can’t properly identify or anything that’s endangered. Make sure you label everything too; it saves time later and helps you remember what you’ve picked. I suggest bringing a pocket field guide to local flora to help you out. And while you’re out there, hug your favorite tree. If you have trees or shrubs on your property, decorate them with ribbons and streamers, give them a good drink of water, and thank them for all the oxygen. (Just make sure you take these decorations down and dispose of them properly before they become litter.)

Meditate on your passions. Think about your causes, all the things that put a fire in your belly. Think of what makes you feel happy and fierce and free. Rededicate yourself to the things that matter to you, whether in your witchy practices or your personal life, or the social and political causes that you feel most passionate about.

-from Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (Nov 01, 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.😊

esoteric-chaos

Autumn Equinox Masterpost - Spoonie witch friendly

The Autumn Equinox. This holiday typically falls on September 21st. This welcomes the transition from summer to fall by celebrating the season and honoring crops.

The Autumn Equinox marks the end of the summer harvest season, the second harvest.

People gather and celebrate the harvest with feasts and gatherings of the folk.

Autumn Equinox Correspondences

Colours

Dark brown

Burnt orange

Deep green

Dark red

Golden yellow

Earth tones

Herbal

Bay Laurel

Sage

Yarrow

Cinnamon

Rose Hips

Sunflowers

Ash

Oak

Maple

Edibles

Pumpkin

Wheat / Bread

Apples

Corn

Zucchini

Squash

Acorns / Nuts

Root veggies

Stew or chili

Animals

Stag

Owl

Blackbird

Squirrels

Salmon

Crystals

Citrine

Amber

Quartz

Aventurine

Gold

Ruby

Tiger’s Eye

Symbols

Cornucopia

Hay

Scarecrows

Leaves

Pinecones

Spiritual meanings

Shadow Work

Gratitude

Home protection

Balance

The folk

Accomplishments

Goal setting

Abundance

Harvesting and agriculture

Transition

Scents

Apple

Clove

Cinnamon

Pumpkin

Gods / Goddesses / Spirits

Persepone – (Greek)

Demeter – (Greek)

Morrígan – (Irish)

Epona – (Gallo-Roman)

Pomona – (Roman)

Modron – (Welsh)

Bona Dea – (Roman)

Ceres – (Roman)

Mabon – (“The Great Son”) - (Welsh)

Thoth – (Ancient Egyptian)

Hermes – (Greek)

Thor – (Norse)

Dionysis – (Greek)

Need some suggestions to celebrate? I got you covered.

High energy celebrations

Baking

Hearth magic

Protection rituals

Spend time with the folk

Prosperity ritual

Crafting a money bowl (Add rice, trust me)

Make apple based products (apple cider, apple pie, etc)

Low energy celebrations

Healing bath ritual

Light a candle in honor

Prayer to Gods/Goddesses

Journal

Eat some fresh produce

No spoon celebrations

Chat with friends or family online

Drink apple juice, cider, spiced cider

Tell yourself kind words

Thank the harvest when you are able to fuel your body for taking care of you

Remember that it’s okay if you cant do much while you are unwell. That you come first and you simply existing is a blessing.

How you celebrate the holiday does not matter. You can choose to do any activity that feels right. These are only suggestions and remember that you’re enough no matter what.

breelandwalker

Secular Celebrations - Autumnal Equinox

From there, we move into the fall and come to the Autumnal Equinox and my favorite time of year. September brings the second harvest - more fruit, lots of gourds, and the rest of those autumn vegetables. Of course, there are some plants that will continue on well into the winter, but this is when most of the produce comes off the vine, and we begin storing them up for the colder months. The year begins to slide more noticeably toward winter, the leaves start to turn, and when the equinox comes, the day and night are equal once again.

This is a time for restoring balance. If things are feeling off in your home or in your life, take steps to restore that equilibrium and re-establish your routines. Cleanse your home of any lingering “summer grump” and make sure you air the place out once the weather isn’t so blazingly hot. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of fresh autumn air in the house, especially when it has that little tinge of burning leaves to it? Mm, chef kiss, perfection. I mean, in 2020, we’re all sick of that because of the wildfires, but STILL. Do that end-of-summer cleanout, get ready for back-to-school if you have little ones, and start changing out your wardrobe.

There’s still time for a bit of last-blast outdoor fun, if you’re so inclined. Provided that the weather cooperates, you might plan one more beach day or camping trip or afternoon at the lake. Visit a farmer’s market or a harvest festival and have some fun. Visit that pick-your-own-produce farm again and bring from some seasonal fruits and veggies. I love apple-picking at this time of year, and it’s probably the thing I miss most about living in Pennsylvania. (Also, Stayman Winesaps are the tastiest apples on earth, and nothing you can say will change my mind.)

Go on a walk or a drive to view the changing leaves. Oh, and mark the day you first see leaves starting to turn. That’s a fun thing I do every year, I call it Turning Day. If there are maple trees in your area, those will probably be the ones that change first, so look for those. You can use fall foliage, acorns, and gourds to start decorating your home - real or silk, whatever works best for you.

This is another big holiday for bonfires as well - honestly, bonfires are pretty much part of ALL the holidays, they’re just fun - so if you can attend one or have one safely, that’s something to consider. Or maybe just have one more picnic or cookout before the weather turns too chilly for it to be feasible. Have a fall feast for your near-and-dear with lots of lovely seasonal produce and pies, maybe a roast fowl or brisket or fish, whatever you like best.

Speaking of food, this is my baking season. It’s finally cool enough to have the oven going without suffocating myself in the heat or running up a four-figure energy bill trying to keep the indoor temperature manageable. So if you’re a fan of baking, why not give that a try? There are plenty of recipes to choose from, like soda bread, pumpkin bread, spice cake, maple cookies, and so on.

Keep that sense of community going by making a little bit extra and sharing it with friends and neighbors. Some people do their autumn feasting around the equinox instead of in November, when Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. There is a holiday in September called Harvest Home that directly corresponds to this, so if you’d rather skip Thanksgiving but you still want to feast, that’s something to look into.

Start stocking your shelves for the winter too. Put up pickles and preserves. Refresh your canned goods and non-perishables, maybe save a few bottles of whatever libations you made earlier in the year. If you have kids, celebrate the idea of this gathering-in with a scavenger hunt. Have them help you find signs of autumn or needful items for the pantry.

As the year turns and the harvest comes in, meditate upon your own personal harvest. This might be a journaling activity. You’ve sown, you’ve tended, you’ve reaped. Now what is your harvest? What have you learned from the year? What abundance has entered your life? What have you lost? What surprised you? What didn’t go quite as you planned? What are you thankful for? What do you regret?

Meditate also upon the balance in your life. Do things FEEL balanced? Or are they out of whack? If so, how can you address this? Do you feel you need to change things, or is it more prudent to let them reach equilibrium on their own? What outside factors are affecting that balance, and what can you reasonably affect on your own?

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 01, 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.😊

witchwhowanders

Simple Spell to Aid in Job Search

On a long and difficult job search? Tired of working so hard to put yourself out there, only to get rejected? Need a little help from the universe to at least get you that interview you crave? Boy have I got the spell for you:

Ingredients: 1 large Bay leaf, cauldron or other fire safe bowl, lighter, sharpie, (optional: other herbs related to jobs/money, basil is a good one)

Process:

Prepare bay leaf by writing your name and your intention on the leaf. Sprinkle with basil or other herb if you decide to use other herbs.

Ground and center; relax, set intention, inhale positive intention, exhale negativity (fear, uncertainty, etc.)

Light and burn the bay leaf (in your fire safe receptical! Always practice fire safety!) While it burns, say: “Give me luck and give me skill to find a job that pays the bills so I can end this uncertainty and find a job that fits my needs.”

And there you have it! It’s out there in the universe and your luck should improve... I know it definitely helped me out (I’m talking I secured two interviews in a matter of 45 minutes, luck I never had before!)

Simple. Easy. Ingredients easy to gather/close at hand.

I hope you enjoy using this spell! Modify as needed: go for it man, everyone is different so use it as a blueprint to fit your needs. I would love to hear how it works for you! Feel free to message me with stories and questions.

Happy job hunting!

breelandwalker

Momma Bree- do you have any spells at hand that attract a better job? The one I’m at is currently Awful and it’s mostly my fault but I want something less stressful and something that pays at least a little better. Spells, powders, jars, anything you can throw at me would be appreciated, I’ll happily try it all while scrolling Indeed and refining my resume!

I've got a few things in my pocket for employment. Let's see....

-Print out your updated resume or job application and fold it up with some pinches of Basil, Orange Peel, Hawthorn, Meadowsweet, and Thyme. Seal the packet with your favorite sigil for success and a dripping of green or gold wax. You can stamp it if you wish for a decorative flourish. Keep the packet on your altar or take it with you when you go to the interview.

-Carry a bag of clover, violets, and dried orange peel in your pocket when you go to an interview or store it with your resume.

-Putting an open bottle of sesame seeds in your home draws opportunity and money. (Change the seeds monthly.)

-Put a sachet of meadowsweet and bergamot (orange mint) in your wallet or briefcase to bring success in business and financial ventures.

-Allegedly, putting a pinch of basil in the heel of your shoe before an interview will help you make a good impression and increase your chances of being hired.

And on a more practical note, when making that first impression, give ‘em a firm handshake, look them in the eye, and smile. This inspires confidence.

Hope this helps!

themori-witch

83 Herbs and Their Magickal Properties

Okay, so this is going to be a long text post so sit your cute butt down and get comfortable. You may want to make some tea or grab some kind of nourishment before you get comfortable because you are going to be here for quite a long time.

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