I was having an autistic moment and I come with the realization that a cd or dvd are AMAZING AND CHEAP WARDING TOOLS! Let me explain…
The inner layers of the basic discs (cheap one side DVD and almost all the Cd’s) are usually made of aluminum. For double-sided DVD-ROM discs, the semi-reflective layer contains gold and silver alloy.
Now let’s remember some facts about metals (more in this post)
Aluminum, associated with Saturn, reflects incoming energies and makes the perfect base for magic mirrors, works as magical protection, and great to soothing energies.
Gold, associated with the Sun, brings good luck, protection and against robbers, protect childrens, is great against harm and curses, and especially the evil eye.
Silver, associated with the Moon, is the representation of truth and trust, great to cleansing, is a metaphysical reflective metal, so can reflect negative energy and help prevent psychic attack, great as hex-breaking, and protection.
All of them are reflective metals, so a cd/dvd can have a combination to until 3 different reflective metals. This what means? Protection! Protection af!
But there is MORE. The round form with the hole in the middle is a perfect representation of the Sun.
You know what have that symbol too? The Nazar amulet.
Even MORE! The iridescent reflections not only reflect the light, but it do it in all the ranges of the visible spectrum, so instead to reflect white, it reflects each single color from the rainbow, in all the scales.White is know to be a protective color because it encapsulate all the colors, but a cd/dvd do it in the opposite way, blasting ALL the colors as a shield.
So instead a big white heavy shield, you have a colorful shield with an arrow to each enemy (?)
Even MORE… What if you do a nice protective sigil with water on it (in the plastic side, please, or you will rust the metallic side)? Or paste a sigil in the back!
Next time you think in throw that old useless cd with the lame songs of 1998, keep it, because you can have an amazing amulet to hang in a window, or the rear-view mirror (plus is great to witches in the closet, “is just a pretty cd, mom”)
I wouldn’t want anyone to click on this link and search from a database of thousands of free books, many of which are about witchcraft and occult practices…
Do NOT cast spells for positive effects that involve:
Burning a picture of yourself*
Burning a piece of paper that anywhere contains your name*
Burning a piece of hair or other taglock*
*Unless you really know what you’re doing
I don’t know how sigil culture got people to think that burning anything = sending it off for spirits, but NO. Across pretty much every magical practice, burning involving a person = destruction. Burning as a means of generically sending things off is mainly used for offerings.
On a similar vein, do not cast spells for positive effects that involve taking a human figure and ripping up, burning, submerging in soil or water, or doing anything else to that figure that would maim or kill a real human. (unless you really know what you’re doing)
Remember the Law of Similarity. Destruction of an image = destruction of the thing itself.
I’ve left a group over this one. Though it was drowning not burning. To get rid of negativity in the group, we were supposed to make poppets of ourselves and then make a paper boat and put the poppets in the river. Where the river would carry them away as they sank. And drowned.
I said no. This refusal created more negativity. Okay, I may have also said something like “I don’t know what Ophelia shit you’re up to here, but I’m not doing the spell.” Which probably caused more negativity because the reference was probably went over some heads. But…
You do not create representations of yourself and destroy them. If anyone who thinks they should teach witchcraft or lead a group tries to get you to do that, you have every right to leave. Or to severely question what they think they’re up to.
(Need to get rid of negativity or excess energy? Get a good size rock. Not a fancy crystal, just a hunk of basic rock. Hold the rock and let your energy flow into it. Then put the rock outside on the ground and the energy will flow into the earth. This transfers the energy without destroying anything. I know witches who have a specific rock just for this purpose.)
I can’t believe they wanted you to make a poppet of yourself and sink it. Besides the environmental impact, based on what materials used put in the river, this feels more like a curse than a remove negativity spell. Did the person who put the spell together want yall to be miserable together, stuck in a river? What happens when the river floods…. I love the Ophelia comment because definitely that feel.
I like the rock idea, I’ve done this with negativity, with harmful spirits too. If you really want it gone gone for good, that’s when you throw that rock in the river that contains your negative energy, etc.
New witches, if you do not curse personally remember to research into what cursing holds! This is exactly why.
You can definitely make poppets of yourself for positivity but you should never EVER destroy or harm those poppets unless you have already removed all connections to you from them - or else you are essentially unintentionally setting up yourself for the possibility of allowing some very negative unexpect outcomes to rear their heads into your life.
Remember the aspects of cursing and what different steps in cursing means to avoid doing that to yourself.
Actions to avoid doing to yourself or a poppet of you (this includes anything with your name or photo or other taglock unless you are doing very specific spirit work contracts but that is a whole different thing):
1. Burning: burning brings not only destruction it is often done to poppets and items of people to represent anger, hateful energy, bringing complete chaos and ruining good things that they have. In cursing you burn poppets of others as one of the more severe types of curses and often to get very large outcomes.
2. Submerging in Water: as discussed above this represents drowning which isn’t literal in most cases but often represents anxieties, sinking emotions, flooding or drowning someone with negative emotions or misery, losing control of one’s life and paranoia. Drowning is usually connected to extreme punishment connected to another’s emotions and their own self-views.
3. Burying: burying a poppet represents caging, confining, repressing and smothering them. It can also be used to ‘bury a person away’ or toss them out of your life. Doing this to something strongly connected to you outside of a properly made witch’s jar or well researched ritual is not only environmentally bad if its not made out of safe materials but can repress yourself from achieving goals, reaching milestones or succeeding in things you do such as trying to improve upon something.
4. Cutting/Slicing: never cut or slice a poppet meant to represent yourself! This represents pain, bringing old wounds to the surface and suffering. I’ve seen way too many younger communities try to say cutting up something with your face or name on it is letting go - it can be but not in this context. Cutting things like strings, ribbons, tangled up knots, etc is much safer and proper without risk of the above.
5. Tying, Knotting, Hanging: using thread, ribbon or anything else to bind up a poppet or photo even if its in a pretty bow is the same actions done as in binding spells - which are meant to restrict and immobilize others. Make sure you do not hang your poppet especially not by the neck or limbs for this can also represent suffocation (usually not literally but emotionally or socially) and removing someone’s ability to protect themselves and making the vulnerable.
Remember intent only goes so far! You can put as much intent as you want into things but that doesn’t always ensure that they will happen - do your research! Research what correspondences are to everything you use, make sure any actions you are using are not going to counteract with the spell or worse possibly ruin the whole spell and make sure you are well researched in self poppet and taglock work!
Note: all craft is different, everyone walks their own path, just research before you try to tackle things that may go against what you are trying to do. As said intent only goes so far. If you are certain that you have a safe method for anything above and have done it before thats great! this is intended for witches who are new, finding their footing and may not realize how to properly protect themselves or master their craft yet. All craft is valid! We just want to make sure people do it safely and know the basics before they jump into things they aren’t prepared for
Ambergris: Lust, sex Anemone - health, protection, healing
Angelica: Protection, exorcism, remove curses and hexes, healing, visions, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house, increases life energy bringing warmth of Fire element, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house
Anise: Divination, psychic awareness, joy, dreams, luck, love, enthusiasm, Winter Solstice, entices the spirits to aid in spells
Apple: Love, healing, garden blessing, buried in the garden on Samhain as food for the departing spirits, to be shared with one you love, immortality, happiness, luck, broken heart, spirit food, the goddess
Betony: Love, healing, burn at Litha for purification, protection; place under pillow to be rid of nightmares; sprinkle around doors to ward off despair, psychic awareness
Burdock: Protection, healing, wards off negativity, purifies, protects (washing floors or dried root on red string around the neck), happy home, clears space & holds the space safe, spirit of north
Comfrey: (TOXIC) Money, root or leaves for healing, carry for safe travel, protection, stress management, safe Journeys (Worldly or through Meditation) , Winter Solstice
Copal: Love, purification, exorcism, protection, spirituality, earth element, sets sacred space, allows guides and guidance to come
Dill: Love, lust, seeds draw money, leaves for protection, flowers for love
Dittany of Crete: Manifestations, astral projection
Dock: Money, healing, fertility
Dodder: Love divination, knot magic
Dogbane: Love
Dogwood: Protection, wishes
Dong Quai, Slices: Health, vitality, fire element rituals
Dragons Blood: Power, protection, exorcism, potency, love, courage, fortune, catalyst, magick power, strength, purification, stimulates action of other herbs in incense blend, stimulates movement of energy
Dulse: Harmony, lust
Dutchman's Breeches: Love
E
Ebony: Protection, power
Echinacea: Strengthening spells, health, strength, wards off negativity or undesirable energies
Edelweiss: Invisibility, bullet-proofing
Elder: (CAUTION: SEEDS ARE POISONOUS, TOXIC) Money, wishes, theft protection, exorcism, healing, prosperity, sleep, wards negative thoughts when used as wind chimes, blessings, do not burn the wood of elder for it is sacred to Hecate, see fairies in the trees at Litha, flowers used as an alter offering, berries for esbat wine, flowers added to candle spells directed at hecate during the new moon, cleansing, offering
Foxglove: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, TOXIC) Faeries and elves, lust, grow in garden for protection of the house and yard
Fragrant Bedstraw: Love
Frankincense: Exorcism, purification, protection, spirituality, power, meditation, blessing, concentration, banishing, courage, divination, healing, love, purification, consecration, sets sacred space, sets safe space for guides to come in, spirit of east or north
Fumitory: Money, exorcism
Furz/egorse: Burn at Ostara for protection and as a preparation for any conflict
Ginger: Love, money, success, power, aphrodisiac, psychic ability, apathy, lust, good health, magickal power, fire element rituals, brings into existence, bringer of the manifestation, 3rd chakra vitality, inner strength, stimulates flow of energy, spirit of south
Ginseng: Longevity, sexual potency, protection, healing, love, lust, wishes, beauty, vitality, fertility, desire, encourages a long lasting affect, strength
Goat's Rue: Healing, health
Goldenrod: Prosperity, money, divination, luck
Goldenseal: Money, healing
Gorse: Protection, money
Gotu Kola: Meditation
Gourd: Protection
Grain: Protection
Grains of Paradise: Love, lust, luck, money, wishes
Hawthorne Berries: 4th chakra strength and vitality, love, contentment
Hazel: Luck, fertility, protection, wishes, nuts strung on cord in house or ritual room to invite the help of plant fairies, used for wands, healing, anti-lightning, love, aphrodisiac, wisdom, divination, mental powers, intelligence, inspiration
Heather: Luck, protection, red to start or end an affair, white for protection, purple for spiritual development, use at samhain to invite spirits to visit, rain making, spirituality
Hops: Healing, sleep, stress management, opens the channel in and out of the body in relationship with the universe
Horehound: Exorcism, healing, purification, protection, mental clarity, balance, banishing, opens air element within body & in the world, opens channel for clear communication
Juniper: Protection, love, exorcism, health, anti-theft, banishing, peace, wishes, aphrodisiacs, sets sacred space, spirit of north
K
Kava Kava: Lust, protection while traveling, astral projection, visions, luck, visions, protection, love, opens one to receiving guidance and guides
Kelp: Wind spells, psychic powers, protection, connection to divine source through the physical and spiritual, unity, life-force strengthening, spirit of center
Knotweed: Health, binding spells, protection
L
Lady's Mantle: Love, self control
Lady's Slipper: Protection
Larch: Protection, anti-theft
Larkspur: Protection, health
Lavender: Protection, call in good spirits, love, sleep, longevity, happiness, peace, healing, burn for purification, peace, use in bath for purification, burn at Litha as an offering, psychic awareness, chastity, liberation, menopause, childbirth, grief or loss, youthful vigor, stress management, travel, anger management, attracts elves
Magnolia: Fidelity, past lives, peace, sex, broken heart, beauty, wisdom
Mahogany, Mountain: Anti-lightning
Maidenhair: Beauty, love
Male Fern: Luck, love
Mallow: Love, protection, exorcism
Mandrake: (TOXIC) potency, exorcism, protection, fertility, money, love, health, protection, catalyst, prosperity, divination, increase psychic powers, aphrodisiacs, cursing enemies, building, banishing, protection in the subconscious, unconscious and underworld,
Maple: Money, longevity, love
Marigold: Prophetic dreams, protection, legal matters, marriage spells, enhanced psychic powers, pick in full sun, business and legal matters, clairvoyant dreams, mixed with water and rubbed on the eyelids to see fairies
Motherwort: Balances within, self empowerment, 2nd chakra
Mugwort: Astral projection, strength, psychic powers, protection, prophetic dreams, healing, divination, rub fresh herb on crystal balls and magick mirrors to increase their strength, pick on full moon night, clairvoyance, purification, sex, renewal, fertility, clearing, sleep, visions, opens one to the teachings of the subconscious and unconscious self, 6th and 7th chakras
Mulberry: Protection, strength
Mullein: Exorcism, health, protection, courage, love divination, calling spirits, dreams, opens life energy flow through the body
Persimmon: Healing, luck, changing sex, insight into others
Petitgrain: Protection
Pilot Weed: Protection
Pimento: Love
Pimpernel: Protection, health
Pine: (TOXIC) Protection, exorcism, money, healing, fertility, brush outdoor ritual area with a branch to purify and sanctify, burn for cleansing, needles in money spells, spirituality, gambling, dreams, cleansing, banishing, purification, prosperity, employment, birth, rebirth, strength, life and immortality
Rowan: Protection, success, psychic powers, healing, power, wands and amulets for knowledge, incense of leaves and berries for divination, fires to call upon spirits for help, grow for protection of the home, inspiration, wisdom, enhances magic, attracts faeries
Rue: Exorcism, protection, purification, break hexes, health, mental clarity, healing, blessing, consecration, use in altar oil, love, money and wealth, gossip management
St. John's Wort: (TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, courage, strength, happiness, health, love divination, burn at Litha to send away negativity, wear for invincibility, willpower, gathered at Litha, power, stress management
Star Anise: Psychic powers, luck, good fortune, spiritual powers
Stephanotis: Lust
Stillengia: Psychic powers
Straw: Luck, attracts fairies, do not burn magik infused straw, it will bring ill-fortune, used as an image to protect an area, image magick, fertility
Strawberry: Love, luck, joy, broken heart
Sugar Cane: Love, lust, prosperity, sympathy
Sumbul: Psychic powers, love, luck, health
Summer Savory: Mental clarity and strength, mental powers
Woodruff: Protection, money, victory, add to Beltane wine to clear away barriers, success, changes, psychic awareness, prosperity
Wormwood: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, BURN IN WELL VENTILATED AREA, PREFERABLY OUTDOORS TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, love, psychic powers, calling spirits, protection while traveling, evocation, divination, scrying (stronger when combined with Mugwort) at Samhain, sacred to the moon, good luck, clairvoyance, divination, safety in cars
Y
Yarrow: Hhealing, divination, exorcism, protection, courage, love, psychic powers, happy marriage (wedding bouquet), wards negativity, defense, protection, gather at Litha, happiness, fidelity, broken heart, prophetic dreams, spirit of south, clears, stimulates movement
First, boil the salted water in a big pan and add your pasta. Stir for around 8 minutes, check and strain them if they are cooked. You know the deal, basic pasta making. For charging with intentions, stir clockwise and occasionally draw a pentacle with your stirring tool.
For the sauce, add some butter, custard and your spices into a pan and stir well. Chop your fresh mints, garlic and stir until it becomes more smooth and puddingy texture. Add the pasta into the sauce and eat with intentions.
Acacia: Burned with sandalwood to stimulate the psychic powers.
African Violet: Protection and to promote spirituality within the home.
Allspice: Attract both good luck and money.
Aloes: Attract good fortune, love, spiritual vibrations, and strength.
Althea: Protection and to stimulate the psychic powers.
Amber: Love, comfort, happiness and healing
Ambergris: Burn for dreams and aphrodisiac
Angelica: Protection, harmony, integration, insight and understanding, stability and meditation
Anise seeds: Meditation and emotional balance incense.
Basil: exorcise and protect against evil entities such as demons and unfriendly ghosts, and to attract fidelity, love, good luck, sympathy, and wealth. This is also an excellent incense to use when performing love divinations. Also burn for concentration, assertiveness, decisiveness, trust, integrity, enthusiasm, mental clarity, cheerfulness, confidence and courage
Bay: Facilitate the psychic powers, and to induce prophetic dream-visions.
Bayberry: Attract money and also burned for protection, happiness and control
Benzoin: Purification, astral projection, clears negative energy, emotional balance, eases sadness, depression, weariness, grief, anger, anxiety and to attract prosperity
Bergamot: Money, prosperity, uplifting of spirits, joy, protection, concentration, alertness, confidence, balance, strength, courage, motivation and assertiveness
Bistort: Burned often with frankincense as a powerful incense to aid divination.
Bracken: Burned in outdoor fires to magickally produce rain.
Cardamom: Mental clarity, concentration, confidence, courage, enthusiasm and motivation
Carnation: protection, strength, healing, love and lust
Cedar: Purification, to stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers, attract love, prevent nightmares, and heal various ailments, including head colds.
Chamomile: Harmony, peace, calm, spiritual and inner peace
Cinnamon: Protection and to attract money, wealth, prosperity, business success, stimulate or strengthen the psychic
powers, and aid in healing. Also burned for stimulation, strength and lust
Citron: Burned in rituals to aid healing and also to strengthen the psychic powers.
Citronella: Cleansing, warding off, healing and exorcism
Clove: Dispel negativity, purify sacred and magickal spaces, attract money, and stop or prevent the spread of gossip. Also burn for pain relief, intellectual stimulation, business success, wealth, prosperity, divination, exorcism, protection, eases fears, improves memory and focus
Coconut: Protection
Copal: Purification, uplifting spirits, protection, exorcism, spirituality and to attract love.
Dittany of Crete: Conjure spirits and to aid in divination, astral projection, especially when mixed with equal parts of benzoin, sandalwood, and vanilla.
Dragon's Blood: Dispel negativity, exorcise evil supernatural entities, courage, purification, attract love, and restore male potency. Many Witches also burn dragon's blood for protection when spell casting and invoking. When added to other incenses, dragon's blood makes their magickal powers all the stronger.
Elecampane: Strengthen the clairvoyant powers and scrying abilities-divination by gazing.
Eucalyptus: Healing, purification and protection
Fern: Burned in outdoor fires to magickally produce rain. Also used to exorcise evil supernatural entities.
Frankincense: Dispel negativity, spirituality, purify magickal spaces, consecration, protect against evil, exorcism, aid meditation, astral strength, induce psychic visions, courage, protection, attract good luck, and honor Pagan deities.
Fumitory: Exorcise demons, poltergeists, and evil supernatural entities.
Galangal: Break the curses cast by sorcerers.
Gardenia: Peace, love and healing
Ginger: Wealth, lust, love and magical power
Ginseng root: keep wicked spirits at bay, and for protection against all forms of evil.
Gotu Kola: Burned to aid meditation.
Heather: Conjure beneficial spirits, and to magickally produce rain.
Hibiscus Flowers: Attract love, lust and also for divination.
Honey Suckle: Attract money, happiness, friendship and healing
Horehound: Burned as an offertory incense to the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Hyacinth: Happiness and protection
Jasmine: Attract love and money, and also to induce dreams of a prophectic nature, purification, wisdom and astral projection
Juniper: stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and also to break curses, exorcism and hexes cast by evil sorcerers. It is also burned for calming, protection and healing.
Lavender: Induce rest and sleep, and to attract love-especially of a man. Also burned for cleansing, healing, happiness and relaxation
Lemon: Healing, love and purification
Lemongrass: Mental clarity
Lilac: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and to attract harmony into ones life.
Lotus: Elevate mood, protection, spirituality, healing and meditation
Mace: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers.
Mastic: Conjure beneficial spirits, stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and intensify sexual desires. The magickal powers of other incenses are greatly increased when a bit of mastic is added.
Mesquite: Magickal powers of all healing incenses are greatly increased when mesquite is added
Mint: Increase sexual desire, exorcise evil supernatural entities, conjure beneficial spirits, and attract money. Mint incense also possesses strong healing vibrations and protective powers.
Musk: Aphrodisiac, prosperity, courage
Myrrh: Burned (often with frankincense) for purification, consecration, healing, exorcism, and banishing evil. Myrrh is also aids meditation rituals, and was commonly burned on alters in ancient Egypt as an offering to deities Isis and Ra.
Nutmeg: Aid meditation, stimulate or increase the psychic powers, and to attract prosperity.
Oakmoss: Money and attraction
Orange: Divination, love, luck and money
Patchouli: Attract money, love, growth, mastery, sensuality and also to promote fertility.
Peppermint: Energy, mental stimulant, exorcism and healing
Pine: Purification, and to banish negative energies, exorcise evil supernatural entities, and attract money, as well as to break hexes and return them to their senders. Also burned for grounding, strength, cleansing and healing
Poppy seeds: Promote female fertility, and to attract love, good luck, and money.
Rose: Increase courage, induce prophetic dreams, house blessing, fertility, healing and attract love. Rose incense is used in all forms of love enchantment and possesses the strongest love vibration of any magickal incense.
Rose Geranium: Courage and protection
Rosemary: Purify, aid in healing, prevent nightmares, preserve youthfulness, dispel depression, attract fairy folk, and promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams.
Rue: Help restore health.
Sage: Protection against all forms of evil. It is also burned to purify sacred spaces and ritual tools. Plus it is great for promoting wisdom, clarity, attract money, and aid in the healing the body, mind, and soul.
Sage Brush: Aid healing, and to banish negative energies and evil supernatural entities.
Sandalwood: Exorcise demons and evil ghosts, conjure beneficial spirits, and promote spiritual awareness. Sandalwood incense is also used by many Witches for protection, astral projection, healing rituals and in wish-magick.
Solomon's Seal: Mainly as an offertory incense to ancient Pagan deities
Star Anise Seeds: Stimulate or increase the psychic powers
Strawberry: Attract love and for luck.
Sweetgrass: Conjure beneficial spirits prior to spell casting.
Sweet pea: Friendship, love and courage
Thyme: Purification of magickal spaces prior to rituals, to aid in healing, and to attract good health.
Vanilla: Attract love, increase sexual desire, and improve the powers of the mind.
Vervain: Exorcise evil supernatural entities.
Vetivert: Break curses, exorcism, for protection against black magick and thieves, money, peace and love.
Violet: Break curses, exorcism, for protection against black magick and thieves, money, peace and love.
Willow: Avert evil, attract love, and promote healing. It is also used by many Witches as an offertory incense for Pagan lunar deities.
Advice for people who want to ask for witchy advice
I've had so much trouble in the past being able to give people good advice or recommendations when they hit me up with, "hey, I'm at [experience level] and looking to expand, any ideas?"
So if you're one of those people really frustrated by vague answers from blogs who seem like they should know what's up, this post might be able to help you out :)
Experience level labels are beyond useless. I know an energy worker practicing over 5 years who firmly identifies as a beginner and instructed me to stay in my lane when I advised they were probably beyond that. I have seen 17yos post stuff like, "Hi! I'm an adept who has been studying Wicca for 3 months and I am ready to begin looking for students."
Instead of telling a blogger, "I'm a beginner/intermediate" (etc. etc.,) try giving context to your practice by explaining what you can do or what you have studied. "I have been studying elemental energy work. I can make energy balls and multi-layered shields."
Months/years of practice is not helpful. Someone seriously studying and practicing magic every day for 6 months can be more skilled than someone casually studying magic and casting occasional spells for 2 years. Same as above - the length of your practice isn't useful in terms of knowing where to point you. Instead, try framing your practice as "I study every day, I want to know some really dense texts I can dig my claws into," or, "I prefer reading over active practice, I'm looking for easy ways to incorporate daily magic." Etc.
Ask specific questions related to specific things you want. "I feel stuck," "I don't know what to look at next," aren't helpful descriptors, especially if you provide 0 context to your path. Try describing what you want. Do you want to learn new ways to cast spells? Do you want to be exposed to new paradigms of practice? Even if you can only point to things like, "I want to feel I have more control in my day-to-day life," or, "I want to feel more spiritual," that is so much better than, "where do I go from here?" which is inevitably responded to with, "wherever you want, its your own path!"
Don't forget, "witchcraft" can mean anything from pure, secular energy work to intensely religious ceremonial craft, folk magic, pop-culture magic, and everything inbetween. Please do not assume that the blogger understands your path/interests/needs based only on the extremely vague label of "witchcraft."
Include what you're not interested in. There is nothing that makes me die inside more than someone sending a vague "what do I do next?" message, and I'm like, "why not try out servitors?" and they follow up with, "I'm actually not interested in servitors... I had a bad experience... thanks anyway." If you are not interested in working with spirits, you don't want to do pure energy work, you have a serious issue with astral travel, etc., say so - especially if you aren't really sure what you do want.
No one is really going to be able to help you if you aren't able to even identify your own wants and needs. I know this is kinda harsh, but no blogger out here is going to be able to do introspection on your behalf. If you genuinely don't know what you want out of magic, if you don't know your spiritual needs, that's okay. If you're just out here like, "I have no idea what I'm into, what would you recommend for people who want to do what you do," that's great. But if you approach bloggers like they hold some kind of mystical key that will unlock your path for you, you'll be disappointed. They don't have that key. They can just give you ideas for what they think you'll be into, based on the context you're willing to provide.
"...plants that reach for the sun have a strong solar quality, which lends itself to workings of healing, happiness, and joy.
Plants that are poisonous or develop strong root systems and return year after year have a saturnine quality, lending themselves to necromancy, cursing, and dark spirit work.
Plants with barbs, thorns, or irritants are martial in nature and are useful for defense and success in competitive areas.
If a plant has large, fragrant blossoms, it can be said to possess a venereal nature, potent in love, friendship, and beauty.
Plants that hold watery or milky substances or enjoy the shade have a lunar quality, useful in divination and foresight.
Plants with complex, small leaves or petals that flutter in the wind often have a mercurial nature, useful for learning, communication, and trade.
Plants that produce prolific nuts or seeds are connected to the planetary force of Jupiter, useful for success, wealth, and influence."
- Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, and the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner by Roger J. Horne
A few years ago, when I was living in the housing co-op and looking for a quick cookie recipe, I came across a blog post for something called “Norwegian Christmas butter squares.” I’d never found anything like it before: it created rich, buttery and chewy cookies, like a vastly superior version of the holiday sugar cookies I’d eaten growing up. About a year ago I went looking for the recipe again, and failed to find it. The blog had been taken down, and it sent me into momentary panic.
Luckily, I remembered enough to find it on the Wayback Machine, and quickly copied it into a file that I’ve saved ever since. I probably make these cookies about once a month, and they last about five days around my voracious husband - they’re fantastic with a cup of bitter coffee or tea. I’m skeptical that there is something distinctively Norwegian about these cookies, but they do seem like the perfect thing to eat on a cold day.
Norwegian Christmas Butter Squares
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
Turbinado/ Raw Sugar for dusting
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Chill a 9x13″ baking pan in the freezer. Do not grease the pan.
Using a mixer, blend the butter, egg, sugar, and salt together until it is creamy. Add the flour and vanilla and mix using your hands until the mixture holds together in large clumps. If it seems overly soft, add a little extra flour.
Using your hands, press the dough out onto the chilled and ungreased baking sheet until it is even and ¼ inch thick. Dust the top of the cookies evenly with raw sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees until the edges turn a golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven. Let cool for about five minutes before cutting the cooked dough into squares. Remove the squares from the warm pan using a spatula.
It basically makes the platonic ideal of commercial sugar cookies, only in bar form. When I give them to people (which I do a lot, because this is one of those simple recipes where the results seem very impressive), I just tell them they’re sugar cookie bars.
The OP version of this has become my go-to cookie for basically all things and I have a whole cohort of friends and colleagues who would murder each other to get them. Haven’t tried any add ons yet, since the base recipe is SO GOOD.
God king of the Underworld, God of the dead, funeral rites, defender of funeral rights. God of the hidden wealths of the earth, fertile soil with nourished the seed-grain, the mined wealth of gold, silver, & other metals.
💀 Invocation:
Hades, lord of the underworld, host of the dead, stem holder of the boundary between death and life. Cold flesh becomes spirit, bright eyes glint from the shadows, lovers long parted unite, families join once more—Kind one, fearsome one, all this you encompass, light in dark, love in death. Hades unseen, lord of all who have lived and died, I pray to you. Master of dreams, giver of wealth, receiver of those most dear to us, lost to us, treasures all, all within your realm. Great Hades guardian of all who have passed to your kingdom, gracious god to whom we all will go, I praise you.
💀 About Hades:
Sacred Animals: screech owls
Sacred plants: Asphodel, Mint, White Poplar
Other Names: Pluton, Aidoneus
Retinue: Judges of the Dead, The Erinyes, Cerberus
Cult terms: terms related to religious praxis of Hades
Ploutônion(Plutonium): Temple of Plouton
Nekyomantêion(Necyomantium): Necromantic shrine
💀 Titles & Epithets:
Ploutôn(Pluto): Of Wealth
Theôn Khthonios(Theon Chthonius): God of the Underworld
Polysêmantôr(Polysemantor): Ruler of many
Polydegmôn(Polydegmon): Host of many
Polyxenos(Polyxenus): Host of many
Nekrodegmôn(Necrodegmon): Reciever of the dead
Nekrôn Sôtêr(Necron Soter): Savious of the dead
💀 Offerings:
Libations: black coffee, black tea, peppermint tea
Honey
Dark Chocolate
Rich meats
Sharp cheeses
Breads or cakes
Pomegranates
Apples
Mint
Peppermint
Poppy seeds
Black Narcissus
Cyprus tree leaves or bark
Thyme
Rosemary
Coins
Stones: Garnet, onyx, black tourmaline, jet, black obsidian, & hematite
Small Fossils
Keys
Shedded snake skin
Owl or vulture feathers
Naturally shed black dog fur
Animal bones
Poems/prayers/hymns/letters
Art of him or for him
Statues/art of Cerberus & black dogs
Statues/art of him
Black, gold, or silver candles
Cypress, Amber, Pomegranate, and/or winter scents
Drinking horns
Scepters
💀 21+ Offerings:
Sweet dark wine
Strong dark whiskey
💀 Devotional acts:
As with other Chthonic deities, libations should be poured into the ground and food offerings are burnt or buried, never shared, unlike with Ouranic deities.
Keep a budget, save your money and spend it wisely
Honor the dead
Honor Persephone, his wife & their children: Zagreus, Melinoe, & The Erinyes(Tisiphone, Megaria, & Alekto)
Honor his siblings: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, & Hestia
Honor/learn about your ancestors
Learn avoid his history, myths, & hymns
Learn about varying funeral rites of different religions & cultures
Visit & clean up cemeteries
Visit & tour caves
Learn about necromancy & death magic
Learn about and work with spirits
Tend a garden
If youre a mortician, miner, etc, dedicate your craft to him
Wear black
Wear silver jewelry
Volunteer to walk/play with dogs
Support miners especially those who are striking against their unfit working conditions
Donate to those who can’t afford a funeral
Donate to suicide prevention organizations
Donate dog food, toys, blankets, etc to animal shelters
💀 Digital Devotions:
Make an E-shrine for him
Make a Mood board for him
Write blogs about funeral rites or the inhuman working conditions of miners
💀 Altar/shrine ideas:
Incorporate a lot of death imagery; like skulls, etc, but also connect to his wealth associated sides, incorporate stones, crystals(especially black), metals, coins, fossils, black candles, statues or art of him and/or Cerberus & black dogs, you could also dig a hole outside if possible for libations(this goes for any chthonic deity or chthonic epithet of a deity btw)
