Vague witch, vague world.

mal, they/them, 21. pagan witch with a mix of beliefs. primary practices: kitchen and divination.

[dollmace-deactivated20171023]

[sorceryacademy-deactivated20200]

MAGICK 101: The Principles of Magick

I see very few blogs out here teaching the basic principles of magic, so I wanted to provide a guide to what I’ve found are the important principles. (with gifs!) I divided things that I think will be helpful when creating or altering spells and things that are helpful when figuring out if a spell will succeed or why it failed.

SPELL CREATING PRINCIPLES

Law of Similarity

These first two principles are from James Frazer’s The Golden Bough and are fundamental to all of magic. Frazer describes this law as “like produces like.” This law says that manipulation of an image or likeness yields manipulation of the thing itself. Here’s some examples of the Law of Similarity in Graeco-Egyptian magic:

Stabbing a human figure with nails to cause pain to the person

Drawing the caster holding their love interest on a leash in a “love leash” spell

Writing a spell in a circle around someone’s name to encircle them and restrain them

Putting a love spell that aims to have the target “burn with love” into a lit oil lamp

Walking on a written spell to have the target “underfoot” and under your control

Similarity isn’t restricted by literal similarity, it extends to metaphorical similarity as well. Idioms and puns were widely used in Egyptian myth and magic

Law of Contagion

Frazer puts this one quite well: things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other. I will extend this law to say that magical energy can be transferred or shared between objects by contact and that transferal is strongest if they are in contact or very close. Examples in Graeco-Egyptian magic include:

Using the hair of the target of a love spell in an oil lamp

Writing a spell to Seth on a donkey hide (an animal of Seth)

Burying a separation spell at the home of the couple to affect them

Hair is super useful (and sometimes required) for any spell targeted at someone. I know people who keep or trade hair as collateral.

MAGIC TIP: If you need to perform substitutions in a spell, use the Law of Similarity and Law of Contagion for selecting the substitution (ex: use red wine mixed with an animal’s hair instead of blood from that animal)

Law of Durability

This law basically is covered by the Law of Similarity, but, because it’s so important for picking items, I’m including it separately. Magic done with more durable items will yield a longer lasting effect. For example, a spoken spell will be weaker than a spell written on paper. A written spell will be weaker than a spell carved into stone. This law applies to enchanting as well: more durable items will stay enchanted for long.

Law of Layering

The law of layering must be applied carefully because it is about complementary layers, not throwing as many things at a wall as possible. 

The principle is the more layers that are used in magic, the stronger the magic will be. More layers build more power. Some ways to add layers are:

Have a pre-spell ritual, like bathing and meditating

Cast spells in a designated space for casting with items designated for magic

Make motions that mirror the words you’re saying

Add objects to a spell via the Law of Similarity, the Law of Contagion, or objects along your correspondence

Perform a spell in a group instead of solo

Reinforce a spell by doing it for multiple days in a row or once every week, month, etc.

These are examples to give you an idea of what I mean by “layers”. All of these actions work to build or reinforce the energy of a spell.

SPELL SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Law of Likeliness

My mentor compares magic to stacking a deck: you’re manipulating chance to get circumstances in your favor. This means two things. The first is magic cannot make the impossible happen. Magic will not cause things to levitate, or conjure fire from nowhere, or anything else that is not possible in our universe. The second is if an outcome is less likely, stronger magic will be required to achieve it. Some decks are easier to stack. Take a money-drawing spell used on someone who makes commission versus a salary worker. The same spell will be far more effective for the salesperson, whose income is highly dependent on chance, than the salary worker.

Law of Agency

No magic short of possession can rob a human of their free will. For example, if you do a love spell on someone whose sexuality doesn’t align with yours, it will have no effect. If a person is resistant to a certain energy in their day-to-day life, they will similarly be resistant to that energy when sent via magic.

I hope these principles are informative and help you with your magic!

[faeryqueenwitch]

💧Spell to Help You Remember Information💧

You’ll need: 

A piece of fluorite,clear quartz, or citrine

We’re bombarded with information almost constantly, so when we need to remember something really important, it’s sometimes hard to separate it from all the trivia in our brains. Many people believe that certain crystals can help store information , so if you have something specific you want to remember, do this simple spell to give your brain a boost.

Hold your crystal in your cupped hands, and whisper the information you wish to remember into the stone nine times. After the last time, hold the crystal to your forehead, close your eyes, and say: “ Information, memory mine, come back as needed and I’ll be fine.”

Keep the crystal with you, and when you need to recall the information, close your eyes and hold it to your forehead to jog your memory.

[death-witch-envy]

Some Uncommon Tools in Death Witchcraft

I feel like some materials that are commonly used in other paths are often overlooked by death witches. For example:

Bloodstone is not often mentioned, but has incredible potential for death work. It represents blood flow in the human body, and therefore can be used in spells in the same vein as actual blood is used. I mainly use it to connect to ancestors, but you may also use it for grounding, protection, and energy work.

Cascarillla (ground eggshells) have potential in the craft; they represent death of a conceived chick, and the protection of new life. It can be used in place of salt if you’re scattering it around plants, as it won’t harm the surrounding nature. You can even make a black salt out of it by grinding it with ash or charcoal, or dying the egg before the grinding it.

Banana bread can technically be a good offering, since it uses brown bananas oftentimes. Bread is also a common offering for the dead.

Many witches recommend harvesting plants when they’re still alive. For death witchcraft, there may be more power in harvesting dead plants. For example, fallen eucalyptus leaves would make a fine addition to any protection powder against malevolent spirits, due to its association with both protection and death.

Sea shells and snail shells are traditionally common in bone throwing for representing the bones of the sea and the bones of the earth, respectively. If you don’t have actual bones on you, these would make a nice substitute.

Although blood is often recommended for linking yourself to a spell, you may also use nail clippings, hair, saliva, or even tears.

Paper clips are an accessible, cheap source of steel, which is mainly iron. A great ingredient in protection spells.

Dawn is a great time to work with beginnings and afterlife, while dusk has potential for spells about endings.

Dirt from crossroads or the gate of a cemetery helps one connect to spirits, and cross over into the afterlife.

Don’t want to use bones? Use nail clippings, talons, teeth, or even snakeskin or furs.

[stygiantarot]

💀Unusual Death Witchcraft💀

Visiting natural history and art museum. Not only for the spirit work (museums are surprisingly rife with spirits) but also the reflection on the objects themselves that are imbued with death energy due to their age.

Kitchen witchcraft with fermentation. I’m talking both home starters/yeasts and drink based fermenting! The process of encouraging fermentation is literally a controlled necromancy if you think about it! Also your own fermented product will be excellent to use in spellwork!

Upcycle crafting! The process of reusing items in a new way that you already had or seeking out items to use instead of letting them become trash is also working with death energy!

Playing death related games or watching movies with friends and family. Death witchcraft tasks and energy work doesn’t have to look witchy! If you have a weekly or monthly hangout where you play tabletops like Betrayal at House on the Hill or even online games. Or watch documentaries or movies with loved ones that related that totally counts! Especially as a lower spoon option.

Drawing or photographing abandoned buildings/architecture. So often people forgot that the decay of manmade objects and places do hold death energy and weight. Tapping into this side of death witchcraft can be an interesting experience.

Visiting a 24 hour store or restaurant in the middle of the night. This is a personal experience of mine but that quiet low level liminal space energy is such a similar transitional energy as to help you grow your experience and sensing of death energy. Also walking through a store at 3am is a good time to practice a walking meditation or some simple spirit communication without too much trouble. Just have your headphones in for an excuse!

Learning to maintain your own compost! I’m hopeless with the green thumb side of things myself but I still have composting I do for my yard in general. My wildflowers and natural growth is lovely because of it! The cycle of your kitchen supplies life and decay is such a simple and deep way to access that death energy and maybe even work your way up to having that green thumb! Also using this compost in spellwork will pack a punch!

What are some unusual ways you experience death witchcraft and energy?

[death-witch-envy]

Offerings for the Dead

Most people are reblogging an ask I answered long ago about offerings to give to the dead. It’s long overdue, but I’ve finally typed it up into an actual cohesive post.

~ Herbs ~ 

Lavender, for peace in passing on

Thyme, to give peace to those who have died from violence

Apple, a common Irish symbol for the dead, which I often give to my ancestors 

Pomegranates, myth of Persephone and all that

Rosemary, for remembrance

Myrrh, commonly used in necromancy, also used to give off good vibes

Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead

Mugwort, usually used to aid divination and communication with the dead. I also give it as an offering

Bay, same as mugwort (my mentality is that these herbs will help “send” the offerings to the dead)

Lemonbalm, for peace and healing

Wormwood, to strengthen the communication with the dead, as well as healing and revenge

Frankincense, a traditional herb (usually incense) to honor the dead

~ Flowers ~ 

Calendula, for blessings and eternal love

Rose petals (or the flower) for love and healing

Marigolds, perfect for ancestor worship (as well as spirit work salves and tea)

Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness; ideal for children

Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration; ideal for former lovers

Daisies, also ideal for former lovers and lost family members

Tulips, to spread happiness

Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits (especially when drunk as a tea)

~ Liquids ~

Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits

Wine or other alcohol

Juice, namely pomegranate or beet

Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut, almond, vinegar

~ Other ~

Stones or crystals

Coins

Tobacco (I also know some people who use cigarette smoke or ashes)

Grains, traditionally brown bread

Meat

Candles, namely dark colored or earth-toned

Cleaning up graveyards, placing offerings on graves and speaking to them also makes a great offering

Song and music

Anything personal to the person you’re sending the offering to

~ What to do with the Offerings ~

Burn herbs or flowers (safely) with a written message to “send” the offering to the soul

Leave coins, flowers or herbs on the grave

Pour liquid into the earth, or leave them out in a bowl

Leave offerings out as a “standing offering” for the dead who pass through (idea from @arachnospooky)

This is SO overdue I’m so sorry but I hope it helps!! 

[witchy-angelic-deactivated20191]

Prophetic Dreams Spell

For a month, a couple months ago I started having these dreams that seemed different than the rest. I always experienced lucid dreaming but that was not it. I’d dream of myself doing my daily activities but the places were different, places I’ve never known, and the lighting always resembled the lighting of when it’s dawn. I’d constantly dream of these never-seen-before places, and I even had a mental map of this mysterious place.

I developed a theory that this is actually a parallel life I’m currently living, but for some time there was some kind of glitch and I could see it through my dreams.

Sounds far fetched and it probably is, but nothing explains what those vivid dreams were, and why I remember them everyday (Heck, I’m even basing my whole EP around the concept of nostalgia from things we’ve never lived/parallel lives)

So the purpose of this spell is to have dreams that mean something, that could help you resolve problems you’re dealing with, dreams that bring you answers like these did with me. I don’t promise you’ll see parallel lives, but you’ll surely be able to see with your third eye in your dreams after you cast this spell.

You need:

clear quartz: induces dreams, dream recall, vivid dreams

amethyst: vivid dreams, dream divination, prevents nightmares

marigold: dream divination, protection in dream magick

bay: dream work and spells, dream divination

jasmine/rose incense: dream divination

indigo/yellow candle: dreaqm divination, vivid dreams

purple or blue sachet

Spellwork:

You’ll want to climb into bed with all your materials (use a bowl or board to prevent any accidents).

From the start, light up the candle and ask any deity or spirit guide to aid you in this spell. Really mean it, light it up and watch the flame as it answers with passion or calmly.

Light your incense and annoint the candle in circular motions, feel the energy from it transform into a big bubble that’ll sit on your pillow surrounding your head the whole night. This bubble will protect and immerse you in the land of dreams. You’ll be able to wake up but when it’s time. This will prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night or being interrupted by a sound in the middle of the dream.

Annoint the crystals with your incense, feeling how their energies flow from your hands through your arms, your body, your limbs, to the bottom of your feet. Add them to the sachet. You’ll want to annoint the herbs too, you can even burn the tip of the leave or flower to really feel them working and radiating dream energy.

When your sachet’s ready, annoint it with the incense and chant

“Night and day I see

Things I can’t explain

But when I dream it’s amplified

So this spell is not in vain”

Let the candle burn until the end, that’s when you know you’ll be ready to go sleep. To amplify the spell’s effect you can meditate for a while after doing it, with the sachet in your hand.

Keep your sachet under your pillow or hang it in your wall next to your bed.