Sick & Undead

Jaxon R || Eclectic Witchcraft

[starrywisdomsect]

Book of Magical Charms (17th cent.)

This work, penned in England by an unknown author, is a distinctive collection of selected passages from works on magic and various occult arts that describe everything from speaking with spirits, to cheating at dice, to curing a toothache. The book also includes a section of Latin prayers, litanies, and other magical charms that seem to stick more closely to mainstream religious practices.

[ioqayin]

Hi what books would you say are the best concerning traditional witchcraft? What are a must read? I know that many people reference Scott's discoveries of witchcraft, what other books do people take spells from? Especially when it concerns low magic? Have you ever practiced or read the PGM (Greek magical papyri)? It contains many spells especially one for acquiring a magical assistant. I've heard from some traditional witches that familiars cannot be created, what are your thoughts on this?

Thank you for your questions. 

I have a list of resources on my blog that you may find of interest. If I had to have a “must read”, it would have to be Mastering Witchcraft. Though recently I discovered A Witch’s Workbook by Ann Grammery. My friend has a copy that he is going to loan me. Flipping through it, it was very reminiscent of Paul Huson’s book, very “of that era” of psychedelic witchcraft. This reminds me that I need to snatch it from him haha

Any of the old grimoires are good books to get spells from, especially in the traditional sense. I also use the Swedish black books, and Carmina Gadelica. 

I find the ideas of “high” and “low” magic to be steeped in racism and classism. I, personally, prefer to the terms “operative” and “ritual”, because magicians use both, and always have. Ceremony is not just the domain of the “elite”. Anyone can participate in a bit of ceremony, because the gods enjoy it just as much as we do. 

I have done some adapted ritual from the PGM, mostly the Rite of the Bornless One. But, I have other methods that I have picked up or have been taught that pursue a similar aim with more intimacy, in my opinion. 

Regarding familiars: There are various definitions of the familiar. If you read over this article series, I write about basically all of them. There are familiar spirits that one can create, either from roots, vessels, stones, et cetera. Or one can find them, such as…well, roots, stones, bones, et cetera. There are familiar spirits which are part of the witch, who have been with the witch always, who guide and teach. Some witches don’t call this latter spirit a familiar, and that’s fine. People have various definitions. 

It is clear from the historical narrative, especially in Swedish tradition, that a familiar can be created and sent to do the witch’s bidding. I guess “created” would not be a correct word, but it’s the best word I can use to describe it. “Pacted” perhaps? Since traditional witches tend to be animists, spirits already exist in those stones and roots and bones. We are simply giving them a home to stay in (such as a jar, or a special place on our working shrine) as well as some food so they will do chores for us. So, sure, let’s called it a pact or agreement rather than “creating” something. 

That being said, one can still send out their own vital energy to go “fetch” things, but technically one’s vital energy is a spirit all on its own……….

Either way! 

In the end, as long as they’re assisting us in our magic and the Work, it does not matter what they are called, because our human language does so little to contain really anything in one little word. That’s why we came up with the Arts. 

[scorpion-45]

what books do you recommend for starting traditional witchcraft?

Hello there! It honestly depends on which kind of tradition you’re referring to, as well as your level of knowledge/experience which you may or may not already have really, but I’ll give you some of the ones that helped me. 

I would first of all recommend reading up on magic theory as well as history. I’d recommend Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy as well as his other ones, and though they are not really “traditional witchcraft”, they do provide a good base for the theory(ies) about how magic works, which is also essential in trad craft. It also goes into planetary magick and different correspondences which are more than essential in spells. 

Some really amazing books that I wholeheartedly recommend for knowledge and background on witch history and traditions, witch trials, familiars and cunning folk are Emma Wilby’s Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits and The Visions of Isobel Gowdie (the latter which also focuses on witchcraft and shamanism in Scotland).

For some quick but brilliant background on traditional witchcraft, I recommend reading Lee Morgan’s A Deed Without A Name. It includes sourced historical information, the most common principles, concepts and occurrences in traditional witchcraft as well as a bestiary, modern accounts of familiars, and a few practical things at the end of it. It’s a pretty short book so be sure to read it! Amazing for beginners into trad craft (but you may need to have had some other information on witchcraft, I would say). 

A great one for beginners is Treading the Mill by Nigel G. Pearson. A great source of practical workings and information, though his approach to certain things may seem very Wicca-inspired. If you know about Wicca, you will know what I mean when you’ve read it. It is a great book nonetheless and covers wand-making, gods & the faery folk, incense making, spell crafting, spirit-flight, etc. 

Then I would recommend Gemma Gary’s works, especially The Black Toad, however, please be aware that wheresoever she talks about “A Cornish witch would do xyz…”, you should disregard it from your craft and instead find a local version or adapt it to your current place of living. Also, when you see her talking about the Bucca, that is your cue to call upon a different entity as the Bucca is tied to Cornwall itself and nowhere else. The book itself has a lot of practical works for you to adapt or perform. 

And so we come to perhaps the most essential of all: learn about your local environment and traditions. If you lived in the British countryside, for example, you would not attempt to practice the witchcraft of, say, southern Florida. You would contact local spirits and gods, use local plants (learn how to substitute and adapt spell ingredients), and you would pull from local traditions, perhaps as well as your own if you are of another/mixed ethnicity or nationality or are an immigrant. 

So find herbal books and books on plant & tree lore and spirits. I personally recommend Schulke’s work as well as Corinne Boyer’s Under the Witching Tree. However, I also suggest you pick up some more ‘non-witchcrafty’ herbal books as well. Also folkloric stories and books (yes, even fairy tale books). 

You could then choose to branch off and pull from Chumbley’s or Cochrane’s works, or do your own thing. You could even mix in some ceremonial magick with your witchcraft. It is totally possible and I know of many who do it. I find that a mix of both is the perfect combination for success. 

I’ll also list some other important things you should read, but I suggest reading about every topic to do with witchcraft as that knowledge may one day help you. 

- Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson (a classic!)

- Michael Howard’s works

- Call of the Horned Piper and Masks of Misrule by Nigel Jackson are both classics as well when it comes to trad craft. However, do be aware that the author no longer stands by what he wrote and is now a reformed Christian of sorts. His work still stands mostly true. 

- The Devil’s Plantation by Nigel G. Pearson

- Veneficium by Daniel Schulke

- Doreen Valiente’s works 

Hope this helped!

[occulticghost-blog]

thank you so much! ill start researching now

[neighbourhood-eclectic-blog]

Historical Witchcraft 101: The Compilation

My historical witchcraft series is (for now) finally over! Thanks everyone to all the support I got, I’m really glad you seemed to enjoy those posts as much as I enjoyed making them. Feel free to message me about things you’d like to see from me in the future!

For ease of reference, I thought I’d compile all the posts here:

Witch Bottles

Witch Ladders

The Toad Bone

Poppets

Hag Riding

Familiar Spirits

The Witches’ Sabbat

Flying Ointment

Shapeshifting

[constantly-disheveled]

hello! i've been trying to research magic, but unfortunately most books i find are specific wicca, which i'm not interested in. do you have any book reccomendations that arent wicca centric? thank you! i love your blog :^)

Oh heckin yes I do My amazon wishlist is literally like six pages long… ALL BOOKS

WARNING: This Is Going To Be Extremely Long!

First though I want to note that while I 100% understand your feelings about the Wicca stuff (being a very NOT Wiccan Witch), not all books that are Wicca leaning are bad! I’ve gotten loads of useful information from books that tended to be a little new agey. That’s where being objective comes in! With ANY book, you should take it with a grain of salt, and some with a whole shaker. But it’s up to you to pay attention to misinformation and conflation, and to know how to do research to prove or disprove that something in a book you read is true or not. Does that make sense?? 

Anywho, a couple of books that are still kind of “Wicca-y” but great:

Grimoire of the Green Witch

The Goodly Spellbook (This one is an INCREDIBLY AWESOME REFERENCE)

The Modern Guide To Witchcraft (Written By Skye Alexander who seems to mass produce books, so need some good fact checking here)

The Modern Witchcraft SpellBook (Written By Skye Alexander who seems to mass produce books, so need some good fact checking here)

The Witches Broom (LOTS OF SALT but good basic history)

The Witches Athame (LOTS OF SALT but good basic history)

The Witches Mirror (LOTS OF SALT but good basic history)

Cottage Witchery (This author is pretty good about keeping away but there’s still some slips)

Practical Protection Magick (This author is pretty good about keeping away but there’s still some slips)

The Big Book of Practical Spells (Written by Judika Illes, who did the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells; it’s a good book, but there’s too much Cultural appropriation for my taste. Tread Lightly, and bring that shaker I was talking about)

Those are all books from my personal collection that I would recommend! Now as for the Non-Wicca Books, Let’s dive in! Not all of these have I read or owned, and they are in no particular order. You’ll notice most of them relate to “Traditional Witchcraft” or West Country, because that is where my practice is focused. 

The Tradition of Household Spirits: Ancestral Lore and Practices 

The High Magic of Talismans and Amulets: Tradition and Craft

Cornish Charms and Cures

To Fly by Night: An anthology of Hedgewitchery

Treading the Mill: Practical Craft Working in Modern Traditional Witchcraft

Popular Magic: Cunning-folk in English History

The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages

Grimorium Verum

The Devil’s Dozen: Thirteen Craft Rites of the Old One

The Witching Herbs: 13 Essential Plants and Herbs for Your Magical Garden

Defences Against the Witches’ Craft - Anti-cursing Charms from English Folk Magick, Traditional Witchcraft and the Grimoire Traditions

Nummits and Crummits: Devonshire Customs, Characteristics, and Folk-lore

Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions

The Art of Black Mirror Scrying

Enchantment: The Witches’ Art of Manipulation by Gesture, Gaze and Glamour

CHILDREN OF CAIN: A Study of Modern Traditional Witchcraft.

The Pillars of Tubal Cain

Witch’s Workbook

The Left Hand: The Cabal Grimoire of Walking in Darkness

Profane Seals: A Compendium of Vile Sigil Magick - Volume I

Eye of the Oracle: The Cabal Grimoire of Psychic Magick

The Book of Smokeless Fire

Azoetia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft

Between the Living & the Dead: A Perspective on Witches & Seers in the Early Modern Age

The Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

The Horn of Evenwood: A Grimoire of Sorcerous Operations, Charms, and Devices of Witchery

The Cunning Man’s Handbook: The Practice of English Folk Magic, 1550-1900

Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches’ Sabbath

The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook of Elizabethan Magic

The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet (PB)

Witchcraft: A Handbook of Magic Spells and Potions

Cecil Williamsons Book of Witchcraft: A Grimoire of the Museum of Witchcraft

Under the Witching Tree: A Folk Grimoire of Tree Lore and Practicum

Veneficium: Magic, Witchcraft and the Poison Path

Witchcraft For Tomorrow

Pharmako Gnosis: Plant Teachers and the Poison Path

The Witches’ Ointment: The Secret History of Psychedelic Magic

The Visions of Isobel Gowdie

The Taper That Lights The Way: Robert Cochrane’s Letters Revealed) 

The Call of The Horned Piper

A Deed Without a Name

Heritage Witchcraft (This one is kind of useless unless you’re taking his Classes)

Letters from the Devil’s Forest: An Anthology of Writings on Traditional Witchcraft, Spiritual Ecology and Provenance Traditionalism

The Devil’s Plantation: East Anglian Lore, Witchcraft & Folk-Magic

Liber Nox: A Traditional Witch’s Gramarye

Thirteen Pathways of Occult Herbalism

Traditional Witches’ Formulary and Potion-making Guide: Recipes for Magical Oils, Powders and Other Potions

The Black Toad

Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways

PHEW!

That was a lot! Okay anon I hope this gives you a good starting place! 

constantly-disheveled.tumblr.com/ask

[acturianacademy]

Acturian Academy Masterpost: Semester Two Update

Finding your path as a witch is never easy. With so much information, it can often feel overwhelming and as though there is a barrier between you and becoming a better practitioner of witchcraft. Welcome, Acturian Academy! Acturian Academy is an online free school offering classes over all types of witchcraft. No matter your chosen path, Acturian Academy offers classes across the spectrum. With 49 current classes and counting, there is sure to be something interesting for you to take!

Deities & How to Work with Them

Green Witchcraft

Herbalism

Death Witchcraft

Kitchen Witchcraft 

Glamour Magic

Thriftcraft

Elemental Magic

Art Magic

Technology Witchcraft

Dream Magic 

Grimoire/Bos Design

History of Witchcraft 

Self-Love & Witchcraft

Sea Magic

Spoonie Witchcraft

Divination

Fae Magick

Spirit Work

Chaos Magick 

Extrasensory Perception 

Art of Correspondences

Charms

Magickal Alphabets

Protections: Shields & Wards

Sigils and Symbols

Weather Magick

Astrology

Basics of Witchcraft

Crystals

Lunar Magic

Auras

Chakras

Essential Oils 

Tarot 101

Shapes of Magick

Runic Witchcraft

Energy Work

Curses and Hexes

Demonology

Spirit Companions

Blood Magic (18+)

Sex Magic (18+)

Potions and Teas

Vision Statement of the Academy

Acturian Academy was created to fulfil a growing need in the witchcraft community for an online community for individual witches to develop their craft. Witchcraft can be difficult for people to become involved in as a beginner at any age. Our vision, as a community of witches, is to remove those obstacles and provide a safe platform for the free exchange of magical knowledge. 

We are not a religion-based school but aim to encourage spiritual growth in whatever form that takes for the individual. We hope that those who join the Academy walk away with the knowledge and resources to practice and personalize their own craft. Acturian Academy is so much more than a name- it is a badge of honour upon its students, witches young and old. 

Belief Statement 

We, the students and staff of Acturian Academy wish to create a growing, healthy, and dynamic educational space for those interested in or actively practising modern witchcraft. We believe a diverse community enriches spiritual development and encourages appreciation of all people, regardless of ability, age, culture, religious background, colour, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 

 Interested in becoming a student? (click on the link)

Students must be 13+ years of age and have parental permission. This academy operates under the jurisdiction of United States law, which states that in order for a child to be taught anything regarding the concept of religion they must have parental consent. By checking the box on the application which states that you qualify under both of those conditions, you are stating that you take full responsibility that these are true statements.

We are currently in the middle of semester one! Semester two begins October 15th, with acceptances going out every Friday!  

Interested in Mentoring for the Academy? (click on the link)

Qualifications: Prospective Mentors preferably have two or more years experience in their field of study, be 16 years of age or older, and must undergo training and pass with 80% or higher. Once a mentor has signed on with Acturian Academy, the contract being signed holds them to a standard of teaching which states that they must have a semester or more of their class ready before their class will be listed as available to take.

Find Us Elsewhere:

Tumblr

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

[everything-wiccan]

A Little Witchy Guide of Candle Magick

I’ve gotten a few questions about candles and candle magick here and there, so I figured I’d make another Little Witchy Guide! If I have left anything out, please let me know! :) I really hope this helps you and please feel free to ask me any questions of any kind! :D

Candle magic is an ancient art and it is the most widely used magic practiced today. The candle itself is a very powerful magical tool it contains all the basic elements earth, wind, fire and water, earth is represented in the wax, water the melted wax, the flame fire and the air is the smoke. The colour of the candles is very important as the different colours will bring with it its own energy and power, green for healing, red for empowerment etc. Each of the elements has with it its own single coloured candle, green for earth, yellow for air, blue is for water and red is for fire. The different colours also represent either a yin female or yang male energy, yellow is yin, green is yang, blue is yin and red is yang.

A candle is believed to have its own vibration and can be used in meditation and divination, pink or violet is a calm and soft light where as red is strong and powerful, when a candle is lit its colour is released into the surrounding area which will bring a nice energy into the room. If during your ritual you need a lot of power, light multiple candles. By rubbing oil over a candle before your ritual this will charge the candle with your own personal energy.

Magical tips on candles:

It’s always a good idea to clean candles, this will strengthen their power.

Candles prefer not to be blown out, but to be put out using a toll or wet fingertips, blowing out the candle may insult the element.

It is best to use a different candle for each magical purpose, if you are using a red candle for love and a white one for healing, keep them separate.

A white candle is symbolic of purity and can be used in place of any other colour.

Any candle can be used in your magic, but beeswax candles are more powerful.

Engraving a candle is a good way to bring about your wish and by adding a letter of the magical alphabet you will bring mystery and connection to the ancient art of Wicca. A simple example could be to engrave a heart for love and a dollar sign for wealth in your ritual.

If a candle goes out whilst you are practicing doing magic, this is a sign, a message.

On your birthday when blowing out the candles you perform an act of candle magic. No one really knows where the idea of placing candles on a birthday cake came from, the main possibility is from the ancient Greeks who would bake round cakes in honour of their Moon goddess Artemis, it is said that the Greeks placed candles around the cake to resemble a glowing Moon.

Using your own homemade candles will greatly increase their power, candles are very easy to make, you only need to heat wax, add the wick and leave it to cool down then place it into a fire-safe bowl to burn the rest of the way down.

Looking into the flame of a candle is the perfect way to regain or strengthen focus .

A simple candle ritual is to sit in a darkened room facing a mirror, place the candle in front of you and look at your reflection, let your eyes relax and after a few moments your face will begin to change. Your reflection will reveal what you looked like in your past lives. This magic ritual can also be done with a friend. Both of you sit in a darkened room with a candle between you, and as you look at each other letting your eyes relax, you will see what your friend looked like in their past lives.

Some simple yet powerful candle magic is to write your wish on a piece of paper and fold it in half, light one corner with the candle flame and hold the paper as long as you can before the flame reaches your fingers.

To charge your candle you can rub essential oil into it, this will add power to your magic, any oil can be used it’s a personal preference.

Each of the twelve astrological star signs has a specific colour, you may wish to burn the candle for your star sign to empower yourself and enhance your strengths, or you may like to burn a coloured candle associated with another zodiac sign to empower yourself with the strengths of that sign. You may decide to use the strength, determination and wisdom of Scorpio the scorpion  before an important business meeting.

Zodiac Colours

Below is a table of the Zodiac and the corresponding colours:

Gemini the Twins, ruled by Mercury, colour yellow, air sign, best for spells with connections, intelligence and movement.

Cancer the Crab, ruled by the Moon, colour silver, water sign,  spells for love and friendship.

Aries the Ram, ruled by planet Mars, colour red or poppy, fire sign , spells for re-energising or lifting the spirit.

Aquarius the Water Bearer, ruled by Uranus, colour blue, air sign, for rituals to do with detachment, organisation or independence.

Taurus the Bull, ruled by Venus, colour green, earth sign, spells for wealth and fortune.

Leo the Lion, ruled by the Sun, colour orange, fire sign , spells for passion and sexual pleasures.

Libra, the Scales, ruled by Venus, air sign, colour violet or pink, spells for balance, romance and peace.

Capricorn, the Goat, ruled by Saturn, colour black or brown, earth sign, spells for ambition, loyalty  and determination.

Scorpio the Scorpion, ruled by Pluto, colour red or cherry, water sign, spells for intuition, sex, self empowerment and passion.

Pieces the Fish, ruled by Neptune, colour white, water sign, spells for inspiration, divination, intuition or dream magic.

Sagittarius, the archer, ruled by planet Jupiter, colour purple, fire sign, spells for creativity, confidence, happiness, trust and travel.

Virgo the Maiden, ruled by Mercury, colour pale blue, earth sign, spells for healing, communication, peace, and advancement.

Scented Candles and their magical strengths:

Blueberry – burn to keep unwanted negative energies away from your home.

Blue Rose – this is used to honour the goddesses.

Carnations – are traditionally used for healing.

Cherry – perfect to attract and inspire love.

Cinnamon – burn for wealth and fortune.

Coconut – burn this scent for purification and protection.

Copal – is perfect for honouring the Gods.

Frangipani – can be used to stimulate positive energy in a sacred space.

Honeysuckle – is used to bring good luck, health and strengthen psychic abilities

Jasmine – Burn to be lucky in love.

Lotus – burn for a harmonious life, inner peace and for meditation.

Musk – Used to gain courage, strength and to heighten sexual passion.

Myrrh – this is an ancient scent used for protection and purification.

Passion flower – use to ensure peaceful sleep, soothes troubles and calms the mind.

Patchouli – scent to attract money.

Pine – use to gain strength, and repel negative energies.

Rose – perfect for love magic, and a peaceful home.

Sandalwood – is an all purpose scent for healing and protection.

Spice – is a passionate scent for all your magic workings.

Spirit – used to attract guidance from spirits.

Strawberry – burn for love, friendship and luck.

Tangerine – burn to attract prosperity.

Temple – perfect to use on an altar during rituals.

Vanilla – burn to enhance memory and stimulate sexual appetite.

Coloured Candles And Their Magical Strengths:

Purple: power, business progress, ambition.

Red: love, health, sex, strength, energy, fire element.

Green: money, luck, fertility, prosperity, earth element.

Orange: attraction, ambition, stimulation, creativity.

Black: to heal discord, repel evil and repelling negativity and remove confusion.

White: truth, purity, peace, spirituality.

Brown:  fosters neutrality, overcomes uncertainty and hesitation, grounding.

Pink: love, morality, honour, romance, friendship.

Orange: attraction, ambition, stimulation, creativity.

Gray: calms, repels negativity.

Light Blue: tranquility, patience, health.

Dark Blue: aids depression and changeability.

Greenish Yellow: mellows jealousy, anger, discord.

[witchescollection]

Witches’ Collection Masterpost

 Introduction to Witches’ Collection

Blog Introduction

Sage’s Witchblr Intro

Witchcraft Guides

Where to Start

Beginner Witch Tips

Types of Witchcraft (and how to know which one you are)

Simple Exercises for Baby Witches

Advice for Beginner Witches, Spirit Workers, Magickal people, etc.

Covens

Keeping Yourself Protected

Book of Shadows Series

Research Ideas

Research Ideas #2

Textbook Links (PDF)

Elements

Know Your Elements!

Charging Sigils with the Elements

Correspondences

Animal Associations 

Beginner Crystals

Candle Scent Correspondences

Incense correspondences

Moon Phases Correspondences

Fruit and Vegetable Associations In Witchcraft

Types of water

The Magick of Rosemary

Colour Correspondences

Candle Magick

Divination

Tarot

Tips for Interpreting Tarot

Moon Phrase Tarot Spread

Cartomancy

Cartomancy: The Suits

Lithomancy

Preparing a Lithomancy Set

Tasseography

Tasseography Guide

Types of Magick

Glamour Magick

Warding Guide

Knot Magick

Auras

Spirit Guides

How to find your Spirit Guides/Guardian Angels

Ways to Use Sigils Masterpost

Tools

Ideas for Cheap Witchcraft Tools

Crystals for Beginners

Altars

Making an Altar Masterpost

Mabon Altar Tips

Centering yourself and connecting to your divination tools

Altar Ideas

Tips, Tricks and Hacks

Broke Witch Hacks

Witch Apps

Deities

Guides, Gods, and Guardians

The Morrigan

How to find your Gods/Goddesses

Spirits

Signs That You Might be Haunted by a Bad Spirit

Spells/Potions

Healing Incantation Potion

Spell to Help you Remember Information

Snorlax’s Rest - An incantation spell to help the Caster fall asleep and stay asleep.

A Ritual to Thoroughly Cleanse your Living Space

Heart Healing Bath Spell

Rose Quartz Calming Spell

Single Word Spells

Grounding and Meditation

Thunderstorm Grounding Technique 

Astral Projection

Misc

Things you can add to your tea

Gratitude

The Wiccans Glossary: Alchemy Symbols and Signs

British Folklore: Oranges and Lemons

Drying Herbs and Flowers

Witchy Self Care 

Witchy Knowledge with Waya: Chakras

Energy Work: Energy Types and Sources

Uses for Moon Water

Discipline in Witchcraft

How to Bond with a Spirit Companion

Liminal Spaces in Witchcraft

The Witches Alphabet

Other Masterlists

Doppelganger’s Masterlist

Astral Travel Masterlist

[digitalsigils]

[digitalsigils]

patreon | ko-fi | store | commission

[shroud-of-roses]

Death Witch Rituals - My Basic List

Death witchcraft can be used and interpreted in many different ways. But what one does with it is often very personal, different, and unique. Here are some rituals, spells, etc. that I have done or am planning on doing that fit into my definition of Death Witchcraft.

Scrying with spirits - you may have seen my post about this a while ago, which I recommend reading if you’re interested. I touch lightly on human spirits their, but I do enjoy a session with human spirits, or even animals. I definitely ritualize scrying, though I am not sure why. It feels special to me, and always has…

Divining the future with the dead - similar to the last ritual, I divine with the dead to try and get answers, predictions, etc from them. I have a post on that too, which I wrote more recently. I really like to do this, as it gives both the spirit involved and me a hand in helping others, or even ourselves.

Grief spells and rituals - grief can be heart wrenching, lead to depression, and extreme bouts of loneliness. With consent, I sometimes do these rituals and spells to help loved ones feel more at peace. I wrote a funeral bouquet post about what I would send if asked to, and why each flower was a potent piece of healing. This is a minor form of these types of rituals.

Passing spells and rituals - helping spirits pass on, or get “unstuck” when reliving their past is a very rewarding thing. I like these because it prevents pain and suffering from life crossing over into death. Another aspect of the funeral bouquet post is for this, too.

Curses - death does not always mean bringing mortality to a living, breathing thing. I use it to smother success, disenchant happiness, etc. It seems cold, but I rarely use this in curses anymore. I have no need, at least not recently. My past curses have served me well, and my emotional response to evil people has matured.

Rebirth spells and rituals - I know the power of death, and of the rebirthing process that follows it. I am going to conduct a formal ritual regarding this and my recent recovery from depression. I want a moment of reflection where I can release the past entirely.

Communing with the dead - meditation can lead to eye opening encounters with the spirits of those who died before you. They have voices, and they will speak, even if you will not listen.

Cleaning up, respecting the dead - burying bones or carcasses of animals is one way to respect and honour the dead (if they want you to, that is). So is picking up litter near a cemetery, or helping the grief stricken friends and family of someone you know who has passed. Learn what to say, and what not to, and read up on death, and its overwhelming history.

[death-witch-envy]

Books, Articles and Resources for Death Witches

There are no books specifically about death witchcraft. That is why I wrote one. However, you can find many texts on death work, necromancy, ancestor work and folklore that can aid your craft. Here are many of the resources that helped me learn.

Books:

Daniel Ogden, Ancient Greek Orakles of the Dead (free PDF)

Daniel Ogden, Greek and Roman Necromancy

Konstantinos, Gothic Grimoire (focus on nocturnal and underworld magic)

Dina Katz, The Image of the Netherworld in the Sumerian Sources (free PDF)

Ebenezer Sibly, A New and Complete Illustration of Occult Sciences (Book 4)

Richard Kiekhefer, Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer’s Manual of the Fifteenth Century 

Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead Textbook (for beginners; free PDF)

Egyptian Book of the Dead (complete; free)

The Complete Simon Necronomicon (free PDF)

Hilda Roderick Ellis, The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of Death in Old Norse Literature (free PDF)

Articles:

Patrick J. Kiger, “Ancient Egyptian Tombs and Death Rituals”

Joshua Mark, “Ancient Egyptian Burial”

Lewis Spence, An Encyclopedia of Occultism, “Necromancy”

Oz Caliburn, “Funeral Rites”

Nicole Evelina, “Celtic Burial and Funeral Rites”

The Druid Network, “Funeral Rites and the Afterlife”

“Ascent to the Stars in a Mesopotamian Ritual: Social Metaphor and Religious Experience,” in Death, Ecstasy, and Other Worldly Journeys 

Book of Ceremonial Magic, Chapter X

Alexandra Wheatcroft, “On the Topography of the Greek Underworld and the ‘Orphic’ Gold Tablets”

Blogs:

Sarah Anne Lawless has many resources on bone magic, ancestors and necromancy.

Burial Practices of the Ancient World

The Funeral Source

Masterpost of death witches, death workers and necromancers on Tumblr

Miscellaneous:

Sageous H;, Compiled Lectures (google drive)

Bronwyn’s Grimoire (google drive)

The MAQLU Tablets (free PDF)

The Order of the Good Death

My Resources:

Death Witchcraft, Volume 1 

Death Witchcraft FAQ + Masterpost

death witchcraft tag (including asks)

necromancy tag (including asks)

If you have any more sources, please, please add them. Or you can message me, and I’ll add them. Sources for death witchcraft are elusive, and I would appreciate any extra insight or resource.

[jasper-pagan-witch]

Al Selden Leif Too little information to say if he's a reliable sourceAleister Crowley BigotFaked his deathMisinformationRacistSexistTo quote, "Crowley described women as "moral inferiors" who had ...

I’ve made a huge compilation of authors you should avoid during your journey into witchcraft! This list will probably be updated regularly. There are SO MANY TERRIBLE PEOPLE in this list, so all of the standard trigger warnings apply.

[moonlightacademy]

Witchy Youtubers

Here’s a list of some of my favorite witchy/spiritual youtubers that I can’t get enough of. This is by no means a complete list, feel free to add onto it!

Anais Alexandre

Annie Tarasova

Ashera Star Goddess

Avalon Cameron

Azura DragonFeather

Broom Closet Artistry

Creosote Coyote

Dewdrop Dwelling

Ember HoneyRaven

Ethony

Harmony Nice

Hibiscus Moon

Jessi Huntenburg

Joanna DeVoe

Joey Morris

Kelly-Ann Maddox

Laura Daligan

Molly Roberts - HerSpeak

new age hipster

Oolong Witch

Orriculum

Owlvine Green

Samantha Valens

Scarlet Ravenswood

Snow Orchid

Sunshine MorningRae

The Sea Priestess 

The White Witch Parlour

The Ladygravedancer

WitchandMoon

WyllowWynd The Thrifty Witch

May the moon light your path.

[moonlightacademy]

Moonlight Academy’s Witchcraft Book PDF Links

Note: I have not been able to read through all of these yet, I am slowly making my way down the list. If there is a book that is offensive or incorrect please send me a message and I will review it and remove it from the list if necessary. 

Modern Magick Second Edition; Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts by Donald Michael Kraig 

The Witch’s Magical Handbook by Gavin Frost and Yvonne Frost

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft, and Wicca by Rosemary Ellen Guiley 

Nocturnal Witchcraft; Witchcraft After Dark By Konstantinos 

Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel Aldcroft Jackson 

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Encyclopedia of Spells by Michael Johnstone 

The Mystical World of Ancient Witchcraft; An easy Insider Guide To the life changing Power of your Magick Energy by Rose Ariadne 

Old World Witchcraft; Ancient Ways for Modern Days by Raven Grimassi  

The Study of Witchcraft; A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca by Deborah Lipp

Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland 

The Witch’s Master Grimoire; An Encyclopedia of Charms, Spells, Formulas, and Magical Rites by Lady Sabrina

Witchcraft in Tudor and Stuart England; A regional and comparative study guide by Alan Macfarlane 

The Pagan Federation; Witchcraft Information Package

Herbal Magick; A Witch’s Guide to Herbal Enchantments, Folklore, and Divination by Gerina Dunwich

The basics of Magick by K.Amber

The Book of Night Magick by Phillip D. Williams

The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore By Patricia Monaghan 

Celtic Mythology A-Z By Gienna Matson & Jeremy Roberts

Storytelling; An Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore 

Norse Mythology; Legends of Gods and Heroes by Peter Andreas Munch

Constellation Legends By Norm McCarter

Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology By Luke Roman and Monica Roman

Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena; Mythical Creatures By Linda S. Godfrey

A Guide to Astrology By Fredrick White

How to Use Astrology; How and Why it Works By Michael Erlewine 

A Manual of Astrology

Astrology for Dummies by Rae Orion

The Astrology Book; The Encyclopedia of Heavenly Influences By James R. Lewis

Astrology Course

The Cyber Spellbook; Magick in the Virtual World By Sirona Knight and Patricia Telesco 

Herbs in Magick and Alchemy; Techniques from  Ancient Herbal Lore By C.L. Zalewski

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs By Scott Cunningham 

The Magical Household; Spells & Rituals for the Home By Scott Cunningham & David Harrington 

Herbs Magickal and Otherwise 

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, & Brews By Scott Cunningham 

Plant Powers, Poisons, and Herb Craft By Dale Pendell **

**This book contains information on Poisons and is for informational purposes only, read at your own risk. 

The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs By Richard Alan Miller

Cunnigham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic By Scott Cunningham

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs; Their Medicinal and Culinary Uses

Spiritual Alchemy; The Inner Path

Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy By Manfred M.Junius 

Real Alchemy; A Primer of Practical Alchemy By Robert Allen Bartlett

An Illustrated History of Alchemy and Early Chemistry 

Alchemy Unveiled By Johannes Helmond 

Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition; An Ethnobotany of Britain & Ireland By David E. Allen & Gabrielle Hatfield

Slavic Pagan World

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen By Scott Cunningham

Cunningham’s Book of Shadows By Scott Cunningham

Learning Tarot

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot By A.E Waite

Tarot Symbolism & Divination 

Tarot; Mirror of the Soul By Gerd Ziegler 

Tarot Keys By Andrea Green 

The Symbolism of the Tarot by P. D. Ouspensky

Healing Crystals; The A-Z Guide to 430 gemstones By Michael Geinger 

Dooney’s Crystal Database

An Introduction Guide to Crystals and Healing Stones By Ron & Sue Windred

The Healing Crystal First Aid Manuel By Michael Geinger

Practical Crystal Healing By Nicole Lanning 

Divination Systems by Nicole Yalsovac

How Divination Systems Work

The Path of the witch

The Weiser Field Guide to Witches

Practicing the Witch’s Craft By Douglas Ezzy

Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart

Hope you enjoy! Please feel free to add to the list!

Moonlight Academy

[windvexer-deactivated20160501]

A few recommended witchcraft books

The Basics

Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson

This book is super popular. It is ceremonial in nature - don’t worry about needing to make Huson’s many ‘required’ items - but it has some really good stuff, especially the introduction and the Witch’s Pyramid. 

Pure Magic by Judika Illes

This is the lady who wrote the Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Her book is good, leaning more towards New Age than Mr. Huson. I found the book to be generally well-rounded. It does cover a lot of basics, including plenty of rituals and spells.

The Sorcerer’s Secrets by Jason Miller

I have personally learned more from this book than any other. Instead of relying on spells, Mr. Miller teaches you the actual techniques of improving your magical skills. He also gives a reasonable explanation for how magic works and the ways you can practically apply skills to get what you want.

The Complete Guide to Psychic Development by Cassandra Eason

Mrs. Eason is the “if six candles are good, twelve is better!” type. I don’t agree with her that imagining a pink fluffy cloud (and I do not mock; this is literal) will remove all dangers. This book is perhaps best mixed with a more traditional one, such as Mastering Witchcraft. But if psychic stuff is for you, this book may be a great help.

Beyond the Basics

The Witch’s Familiar by Raven Grimassi

A surprisingly complete system of calling, working with, controlling, and dismissing familiars. If you have no idea where to start, and you prefer a slightly more ceremonial take on things, this is the book for you. It also holds value for those interested in spirit work.

Financial Sorcery by Jason Miller

You guys already know I have a thing for Mr. Miller, and I offer no apologies. He knows his stuff and he’s a good writer. Read this book if you want to make money with your magic in a way that actually works. 

Seven Spheres by Rufus Opus

Not witchcraft - Hermetics. But it is a fantastic book, good for those who are looking for ‘the next step’ and are ready for spirit work and conjuration. I really learned a lot by reading this book, even if his tone is somewhat bro-ish at times. 

Protection & Healing

Protection & Reversal Magick: Beyond 101 by Jason Miller

This was the first witchcraft book I ever bought! Gosh do I love it. Mr. Miller speaks in a straight-forward tone about certain dangers, and fills a book with different methods on how to fight, defend, and heal yourself after the battle. To those interested in Hekate, there are a couple original Hekatean rituals in this book. I highly recommend.

Psychic Self-Defense by Dion Fortune

An old, albeit still well-written handbook. Her accounts of psychic attack are fascinating and her solutions are practical and useful.

Spiritual Cleansing by Draja Mickaharic

This book is extremely practical and lays out several methods of cleansing for each problem addressed. Mr. Mickaharic loudly advocates against changing or substituting his spells, and basically says if you can’t do it the way he presents it in the book, don’t do it at all. So if you are the sort of practitioner who can’t get a hold of a pint of beer or seven walnuts to pop in the bathtub, this book is not for you. However, I was very pleased with the book and saw new content I had never seen before.

Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and References

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Yes, it’s getting on in years now. If it were a human it would have bought it’s first home and have two kids at this point. But it’s survived this long because it’s a solid reference for plants. When you get your hands on a new plant and don’t know what in the dickens you can use it for, Mr. Cunningham will give you a good overview. When planning a spell and you need to know what plants follow your correspondences, his tables in the back will list plants in accordance with your intent.

Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham

What can I say. It’s like the plant book, but for crystams, gems, and metals.

The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

This is the only book I’ll recommend that I haven’t *gasp* read personally. I’ve heard really good things about it. It is a big book of crystals. I just don’t care enough about crystals to get it, but if you care about crystals, then this is the book for you, I’ve heard.

(Elemental) Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

Correct me if I’m wrong on this one, but the ‘elemental’ encyclopedia is the same as the regular, non-elemental edition. What I find to be of real value in this book is not the spells themselves, but the extensive forward which has a lot of magical knowledge. You can also pick up great tidbits by browsing the book. The formulary in the back has recipes for all kinds of oils, powders, and potions. It’s a good book, I highly recommend.

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

I’ll tell you what, Mrs. Illes sure does love her elemental encyclopedias. This is a solid book, covering a vast range of topics such as animals, holy days, and tools. I find the ‘animals’ section to be particularly useful.

Fabulous Creatures, Mythical Monsters, and Animal Power Symbols by Cassandra Eason

The book is full of what the title says. A good resource for mythical and regular animals. 

Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes

The most sellable property of this book is that it lists many spirits by name. If you come across a certain name and want to know if it is connected to anybody, Mrs. Illes has the book for you. I find general entries such as “Ghost” or “mermaid” to be frustratingly sparse, but if you want to know who ‘Atargatis’ is, forget about it.

A Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson

Want to know about angels and fallen angels? This is the book for you. Detailed. Thorough. No complaints.

[colorofthyme-deactivated2014050]

witchcraftings 's spellbook

SPELLBOOK

SPELLS BY TOPIC:

Luck

Love

Lust

Curses

Beauty

Meditations

Protection

Health and Healing

Cleansing and Calming

Invisibility

Dreams

Sleep

Binding

Fertility

Misc.

Asks

Spells by Witchcraftings

Weekly Posts

SPELLS BY TYPE:

Sachets, Pouches, Bags and Charms

Amulets

Bottles and Jars

Powders

Formal Spells and Rituals

Meditations and Chants

Candles

Baths

Dolls and Poppets

Oils

Incenses

Consumables (Food and Drink)

Tips and Superstitious Practises

ORIGINAL SOURCE HERE

[shintowitch]

🔮 PREPARING A LITHOMANCY SET 🔮

Lithomancy – the practise of divination through casting stones and reading how they fall – is one of the most ancient and (in my opinion) effective divining methods out there, as well as costing nothing to set up and being something you can completely teach yourself and make your own. I recently went on a trip to an incredible and magical beach where I collected an array of exceptional rocks, pebbles, shells and fossils for this purpose, so I thought I’d make a long post on creating and preparing a kit.

GATHERING

🔮 First of all – they need not be stones, or all be stones, although the name “lithomancy” refers specifically to stones. Some cast with bones, or sticks, or shells. Some cast with whatever the hell they can find at the time. Use whatever speaks to you.

🔮 It will feel more organic to find your stones out in their natural habitat, preferably in a place that you feel a connection with, but it’s okay to purchase. The most important thing is that the set is personalised to you and that each piece of it has been chosen by you, connected to you, for a reason. Even if that reason isn’t immediately clear – it doesn’t have to be yet. Assignation will happen later.

🔮 You should use a level of instinctive guidance to find your casting stones. Perhaps you’ve even been gathering them already, drawn to them and bringing them home with you – don’t rule out stones and bits and bobs already in your possession.

🔮 Take a moment for every potential casting stone you pick up. Hold it in your hand, roll it around, look at it, think on it, get a feel for it. Start to form a picture of what it may contribute to a divination. Keep what you can’t bear the thought of throwing away. Discard everything else.

CLEANSING

🔮 First of all, a physical cleaning. Nothing too harsh – you don’t want to damage the stones or scrub them raw. (For bones and the like though, research and follow good hygiene practises accordingly. Also recommended: the law.) Generally I find a shortish soak in some warm saltwater effective enough. A light sponging to get rid of any mud, sand, etc, if there is any. Apply common sense.

🔮 Then comes the more metaphysical cleansing. Depending on your practise, you could also consecrate or bless them. Some ideas: passing through incense or smoke, cleansing with blessed/spiritually purified or charged water (you could combine this with the physical cleaning), put into a grid with cleansing crystals, using bells/sound, and personally I’ve been using sunlight to cleanse as well as charge mine.

ASSIGNATION

🔮 Set aside some time, fire up the incense, get some mood music on, ground and centre and get yourself in a good headspace. Ideally you’ll also have a nice cleansed and moody space to carry out the assignation process. This will be when you give each of your stones/objects a ‘meaning’, similar to each Tarot card having its own set of meanings and associations, or the runes that some cast. But stones are more free-form and intuitive, and the meanings are discerned and given only by you.

🔮 What you’ll be doing is almost like meditating with each of your stones. Pick up the ones that speak strongly to you first, maybe the ones that you already have some idea of their meaning – these will be the easiest to assign meanings to.

🔮 The physical appearance of the stone is a good starting point. Make sure to have a good inspection of each one. Then, enclose it in your hand and close your eyes. Feel the life inside of the stone and what it says to you. Tell it what its name and meaning is – whisper it aloud into the stone if you must. Make contact. Make sure it’s working in accord with you.

🔮 The easiest way to note down these meanings for you to memorise is to set out a piece of paper or two, and once you know what a stone means, lay it down on the piece of paper and write underneath it the name, meanings and associations. This gives you a sort of physical ‘key.’ Taking a photo of the paper spread/s once it’s done will act as a handy cheat sheet.

🔮 You’ll want a nice, rounded-out set of associations in order to give your divination depth and reach. Some traditions suggest using the different planets (and their associations) for the stones, and other simple suggestions might be elements, deities, past/present/future, etc. There are some out there that suggest a lithomancy set must contain a certain number of stones and they must have certain fixed meanings, but my opinion is that using your own intuition will make it more powerful for you. Plus, most of these traditions I could find were western European in origin, which obviously isn’t where all of our practises are from anyway. Research your traditions or make your own meanings – it’s all down to you.

CHARGING

🔮 There are a ton of resources on charging out there, and you’ll likely learn or already know best what works for you. This is a good, simple post on it for beginners. My favourite method is charging by sunlight, not only because it’s simple but because of how it falls into my belief system too.

🔮 Some suggestions: sunlight, moonlight, starlight, charged crystals and crystal grids, water of various properties (rain, storm, sea), laying out on grass or soil or tree roots or in herb planters, bones (bone grid?) and feathers and such…

PRACTISE

🔮 After taking some time to familiarise yourself with your set and its meanings, it’s time to begin practising. Just chuck ‘em! Start off by doing readings for and about yourself. Get a feel for your set and how it speaks. This is also the time to make adjustments to the meanings of some of the stones, or add new associations.

🔮 You’ll also want to start putting together your pre-divination rituals. A cleanse and a charge, a bit of grounding with incense, a hearty meal, a word with your ancestors? What works for you will become clear with practise.

🔮 In terms of the reading itself: make note of the shape that they have fallen in. The stones that are close together, and the ones that are far apart. Any that line up or form a shape. Some like to use a “self” stone or object that they can use to orient the reading around.

🔮 Some don’t cast all of their stones in one reading – I don’t. You can pick relevant stones for readings that are more specific, or just grab a random handful of stones from a bag and use those. That way, which stones are ‘drawn’ will tell you something all by itself. Change up how you cast and read during your practise period, try every method you can think of. Get creative!

🔮 I don’t think casting stones is good for yes/no answers personally, but did find this quick tip: pick a stone to mean yes/positive, and one to mean no/negative. Pick a ‘self’ stone or object. Cast them. Whichever one lands closest to the ‘self,’ there’s your answer.

🔮 I don’t know if I will, but you may also want to look into creating and incorporating a casting grid. These are shape and charts (usually on cloth) that you can cast upon, and act as a ‘map’ so that stones landing in certain quadrants will let you know what that particular stone is relevant to.

UPKEEP

🔮 Over time you can add to, take away from and generally change up your lithomancy set – what you pick to start off with isn’t the end all, be all. The best divination sets will change and become more attuned to you over time.

🔮 I tie my stones up in a square of batik fabric when not using them, and also use the fabric to cast upon. Simple, neat, effective.

🔮 Remember to keep on cleansing and charging your set as required.