I received an ask about how to make a blasting rod a while back, and through a series of events, I delayed answering so I could gather some additional information because this tool has a very powerful mystique, coupled with a relatively simple premise.
I’ll start off with some possible ways to make a Blasting Rod aka Black Rod before I delve deeper into some of the references and my ramblings. One thing that seems clear to me, but seems obvious is that to make a blasting rod, that must be your intent. It isn’t simply a wand made of blackthorn (powerful enough on its own) but one made with the intent to utilize it for both beneficial and malefic magic. In European/Celtic tradition it is made of Blackthorn, though other sources do not specify the wood needed. Designate it as a blasting rod, include iron, thorn, or bone, and connect to it as an extension of yourself. It is called a blasting rod, because of its use as blasting the witch’s power in the direction it is aimed, alternatively named a blasting rod for the fact that it will blast or destroy if that is the witch’s intent. Aside from that, I believe the further fabrication of it should be personal to the one creating it. If that is including an inscription, a symbols or sigil of power, or a glyph that represents the witch or the possible workings. The blasting rod should mirror the witch as an inanimate representation of how the witch works, how they view themselves, and the endless possibilities that encompass the witch’s work.
There are of course specific rituals one can do to make the rod, but their validity is again an issue that one must sort through to find what is someone’s idea of how it was done traditionally, someone’s own creation, or a remnant come to light from times gone by. I’m not going to police you and tell you that it must be done one ritual is more valid than another, especially because I’m not going to share my own ritual for crafting a blasting rod. My goal is to provide some context, food for thought, and to show that it’s not as simple as spouting some universal truth in the matter of crafting it.
Top: Blackthorn and bone blasting rod. Middle: Bone and rosewood wand. Bottom: Bone and rosewood want with fossilized belemnite tip by traditional witch Gemma Gary.
Another blasting rod from the Museum of Witchcraft (Cornwall) Braided blackthorn.
More Below the Break!
The blasting rod is a tool used in witchcraft that can vary greatly depending on the creator. It has a history of being used for multiple purposes, but it is eclipsed by the possible malefic usages. It is known to be able to purify, banish, protect of course, but it also used to wither crops and wombs, cause illness, accident, break up storms and divert lightning. Absorbing clouds and controlling spirits and demons alike, as well as being a tool that can intimidate or offend the Fae.
Most times when it’s described, it’s made of blackthorn. Prunus spinosa, or the blackthorn tree, sloe berry etc is a perennial plant that grows in Europe, notably in Ireland, Scotland, and England, though it is also found in the United States near the coasts. It’s a relative of Rowan and Hawthorn, but unlike the other two, has a notable penchant for more “aggressive” magics. All accounts can agree that whether or not you have a sensitivity to energies, or spirits, care must be taken when working with the plant because on the mundane front, black, vicious thorns sprout from the branches. Left untreated, the wounds have been known to fester and grow septic. For this, and the history of burning witch’s with their rods, canes and walking sticks, as well as tossing additional blackthorn wood, the reasoning that it is a purifying wood may come from that.
I’ve spoken at length with several other witches about the ins and outs of blasting rods and changed my opinion on their creation more than once. The conclusion, I have trouble deciding to this day. While mentioned in traditional witchcraft based on European, especially Celtic traditions, it is almost inexplicably tied with blackthorn. It’s possible that it has that connection because of the common practice of having blackthorn staffs, canes, and shillelagh, but in another famous text (although the origin is a bit dubios), blackthorn is not mentioned.
According to the French text “The Grand Grimoire”, it is described as a hand wand that has two forks, capped with magnetized steel. This text, supposedly written in 1522, but researches place the text as written most likely in the 17th and 18th centuries, also claims that the blasting rod is an ancient tool that harkens back to the Garden of Eden, being the tool that God gave to the Angel when Adam and Eve were driven from paradise. Further account says that the blasting rod was used to smite the rebellious angels and condemn them to the pit.
Whether through this text, other folklore, or individual’s experiences with their own rods, it is known as a tool with an affinity for banishment and control of spirits and demons through intimidation. One could assume that, similar to lore of vampires being afraid of the sign of the cross, demons and spirits fear the replica of the tool originally used to seal their fate…again, simply an extrapolation if you go off The Grand Grimoire.
There is another story that I read ages ago that, apologies, I know I’m missing some details, but included a man who had business to attend with The Good Neighbors, or the Fae. He had a blackthorn cane as many did, but to conclude his business, he had to lessen his terrible weapon, by removing the iron tip. Only then, by lessening the fatal nature of the blasting rod, was he allowed entry under the hill to ask his favor.
From this story, and common practice of having metal at the tip of the cane for stability, another aspect of the blasting rod is revealed that mirrors that of the Grand Grimiore. Rather than a forked wand with magnetized caps, it is a simple cane of blackthorn with an iron tip.
Another supposed traditions from an article, claims that to make a blackthorn anything into a blasting rod or black rod, the rune Thurisaz is inscribed or burned into it. This may be some holdover from viking or Norse interactions with Ireland and the British isles. Speaking with some traditional witches I know of various backgrounds, an iron blade is attached to the rod, preferably from a knife that the witch had used previously. Some say that it is in the harvesting of the plant that the rod gains its power. By communicating with the plant spirits, either an agreement is formed where witch and wielded work together, or by infuriating the plant enough to lend its power to the witch through the gift of a branch. Either are valid depending on your tradition, and this is where I get stuck myself on the creation.
The Blasting rod in Celtic tradition is always made of blackthorn, though in other texts, the blackthorn is not listed specifically. Does that mean that this powerful tool gains its power through any baneful plant, or that blackthorn is the catalyst? Does that make it a blasting rod if you use any thorned plant, or do you follow the tradition of utilizing metal and forked branches. I’m not quite sure, to be honest. It could be a case of creating a powerful tool that has those usages, but referring to it as a “Blasting Rod” is a misnomer. Similar to referring to the magistellus flora of a plant as an “Alraune” when it’s not made of mandrake.
What I can surmise from wand lore, folklore, tradition and locale, is that a branch with some marking, whether metal or burned into it, is ritually consecrated to connect to the witch. It is from a woody plant that has import and history, connected to power, purification, and a connection to the land. If a metal is included, it is of iron, or a metal that is magnetized, and it must be treated with care. Of course, there are variances, as there is with any tool crafted by the witch. Some examples keep the thorns, an outward symbol of its offensive power, others are disguised as simple walking sticks, what is agreed is that it is a powerful tool if it is in fact a blasting rod and not just a wand. If made with the proper intent, it can be your greatest ally, or worst enemy. And after seeing more than one post about someone’s pet being found eating their “blasting rod” I urge you to refrain from trying to make one if you can’t be responsible.
The last thing I will say is that I believe that a tool like this is crafted once, and not created again until broken. Let me clarify, I think that you can have multiple blasting rods of various sizes, and possibly purposes if one seems to meld better to a specific type of magic. I’ve seen people talk about making wands of 12 different woods, and some with crystals, and some with wire, and some with feathers. Don’t make it if you aren’t going to use it. Spend time getting it right the first time, instead of abandoning it as soon as you find a “better” piece of wood. But who am I to tell you what to do? You do you, but this is my answer to a question I received and my rambling opinions.
🦋Cheers, Barberwitch
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So rather than waiting to post once it’s done, I figured I’d give you guys the process I’m working on currently! You may have seen my portable plant press I posted about yesterday, well it’s part of a larger project I’m working on and one you can do too.
Especially with winter creeping away, and the spring equinox getting ready to occur, there are many plants, weeds and wild things growing that you can take advantage of, not just for your day to day Witching, but making a tangible, expansive, and personalized tool that will be just...fucking awesome, and an heirloom if done right.
The easiest way to make this is with an expandable/post bound scrap book, or if you’re adventurous, making the book yourself. I’m doing the scrap book version because easily adding and removing pages, organizing etc is going to be easier. They also tend to look a little cleaner than a binder imo.
Here’s the concept: A book that has identifiers, pictures, correspondences, spells, and plant material. A book that, if that’s the only thing you could grab for some rushed spellwork, you would be able to complete it.
Collect plants that you have around you, especially those that you may already use in your craft.
Find out their name with some fancy googling, reverse image searches, local plant and foraging guides etc.
You can visit this site, click on the search magnifying glass on the photo stream , and type in the name. It will pull up antique botanical prints. You can then print these out and save yourself the frustration of not being able to draw like an 1800’s naturalist.
Pick the one you want/what’s most accurate, and print it out!
Now comes your descision about how you want things formatted. Depending on how much information you have, or if you want to leave room to add and keep everything contained, you can tape the pages together to form fold outs.
So I used 3 sheets of paper. Enough room to hand write notes, additional spells, meditations, growing instructions etc. also tissue paper envelopes take up very little space and are cheap to make. In each entry, you can write the info of when it was harvested, how, moon phase etc.
As you go, you can hand write an index and table of contents. Make it alphabetical, organize it by when you can harvest them on a seasonal basis! Do common, secret or scientific name in the index, write what spells you can do with them. This is an easy way to create a useful, personalized grimiore with the stuff you use.
Additionally, you can really trick it out by using a font made of your handwriting! Unfortunately I was rushed and wasn’t able to do it for this example, but I may do it in the future!
I’ll probably post other examples as I go, I’ll use the tag #herbal grimiore
🦋Cheers, Barberwitch
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So my bitchin witches, you’re starting to wake up from the haze of the never ending january and are looking to the rest of the year struggling to stay on track? Well, do I have a post for you! Also...sorry I didn’t do this in January, that was the plan, but then...life!
Includes: Moon Phases, Mercury retrograde (no Venus or Mars retrogrades this year), and more. Also, full moons and new moons that land on Friday’s are debuted due to specific rituals that require that.
Please note, that the dates and times are based in North America PST, so some math and actual date tracking may still be needed for those who aren’t based here in the US. Holidays from the Wheel of the Year are added, though not listed for the Solstices and Equinoxes.
February
🌑New Moon: 4th @ 104:pm
🌓First Quarter: 12th @ 2:26 PM
🌕Full Moon: 19th @ 7:53AM (Super Moon)
🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 3:29AM
March
🔄♓️Mercury Retrograde 5th - 28th (Pisces)
🌑New Moon: 6th @ 8:05AM
🌓First Quarter: 14th @ 3:27AM
🌕Full Moon: 20th @ 6:42PM
🌷Spring Equinox: 20th
🌗Last Quarter: 27th @ 9:09PM
April
🌑New Moon: 5th @ 1:50 AM (Friday)
🌓First Quarter: 12th @ 12:05PM
🌕Full Moon: 19th @ 4:12AM (Friday)
🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 3:18PM
👹Walpurgisnacht:30th
May
🔥Beltane: 1st
🌑New Moon: 4th @ 3:45PM
🌓First Quarter: 11th @ 6:12PM
🌕Full Moon: 18th @ 2:11PM (Blue Moon - 3rd Full Moon in single season)
🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 9:33AM
June
🌑New Moon: 3rd @ 3:01AM
🌓First Quarter: 9th @ 10:59PM
🌕Full Moon: 17th @ 1:30AM
🌞Summer Solstice: 21st
🌗Last Quarter: 25th @ 2:46AM
July
🔄♋️♌️Mercury Retrograde: 7th to 31st (Cancer into Leo)
🌑New Moon: 2nd @ 12:16PM
🌓First Quarter: 9th @ 10:59PM
🌕Full Moon: 16th @ 2:38PM
🌗Last Quarter: 24th @ 6:18PM
🌚New Moon: 31st @ 8:11PM (Black Moon - 2nd New Moon in 1 month)
August
🌾Lammas/Lughnas: 1st
🌓First Quarter: 7th @ 10:30AM
🌕Full Moon: 15th @ 5:29AM
🌗Last Quarter: 23rd @ 7:56AM
🌑New Moon: 30th@ 3:37AM (Super New Moon - Friday)
September
🌓First Quarter: 5th @ 8:10PM
🌕Full Moon: 13th @ 9:32PM (Micro Full Moon - Friday)
🌗Last Quarter: 21st @ 7:40PM
🍁Autumnal Equinox: 23rd
🌑New Moon: 28th @ 11:26AM (Super New Moon)
October
🌓First Quarter: 5th @ 9:47 AM
🌕Full Moon: 13th @ 2:07PM
🌗Last Quarter: 21st @ 5:39AM
🌑New Moon: 27th @ 8:38PM
🎃Halloween/Samhain: 31st
🔄♍️Mercury Retrograde: 31st to Nov. 20th (Scorpio)
November
🔄♍️Mercury Retrograde: Cntd.- Nov 20th (Scorpio)
💀Dia De Muertos: Nov 1st ( - 2nd)
👻All Souls Day: Nov 2nd
🌓First Quarter: 4th @ 2:23AM
🌕Full Moon: 12th @ 5:34AM
🌗Last Quarter: 19th @ 1:10pm
🌑New Moon: 26th @ 7:05AM
December
🌓First Quarter: 3rd @ 10:58 PM
🔔Krampusnacht: 5th
🌕Full Moon: 11th @ 9:12PM
🎊Saturnalia: 17th
🌗Last Quarter: 18th @ 8:57PM
🌜Winter Solstice: 21st
🕎Hanukkah: 22nd @ 4:47pm
🌑New Moon: 25th @ 9:13PM (🎄Christmas)
January 2020
🌓First Quarter: 2nd @ 8:45PM
👑Dia De Magos: 6th
🌕Full Moon: 10th @ 11:21AM (Friday)
🌗Last Quarter: 17th @ 4:58AM
🌑New Moon: 24th @ 1:42PM (Friday)
🦋Cheers, Barberwitch
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For me, I grew up making them in fall and winter because that’s when my family made tamales. Hojas, or corn husks were an integral part of the process and without them, no tamales. So we always had more than we needed. Better to have more masa than meat. And better to have more hojas than both.
Here’s a little corn doll you can make as a gift, a fetish, a poppet or whatever your tradition holds. It’s not my business what there for, but here’s how I make them.
So I went a little crazy writing again and still pulled myself back, so history of corn dolls is below the tutorial 😅 Based on requests, I’ll be focusing on ways to make these poppets instead of spirit dolls (though I may make another post for the spirit component at a later date). As a poppet, these will last as long as you need them to, they will dry completely within a day and keep indefinitely. Once you’re done or you want to end the working, these poppets burn rather easily.
Materials: scissors, string, and corn husks. Optional, use the corn husks instead of string, either cut thinly, or braided....and water. Super simple.
Step 1: soak the corn husks (about 6) in warm water for at least 5 minutes to make them pliable. You may need to weigh down the husks to keep them submerged...I only had a pomegranate on hand since I’m at work.
You can add ritual oils, dyes, herbs, or whatever you need to imbue to whole thing with your purpose. I used an oil blend for protection.
Step 2: take the husks out and pat them dry with paper towels to get off excess moisture.
Step 3: gather the thinnest points of the triangular husks and tie them off about an inch from tip.
Step 4: fold the lengths over the tied off end.
Before folding over, you can add a taglock to the tied off edges because folding them over will encase the taglock and form the head of the doll. For reference, add the taglock to the right of the twine in the above picture.
Step 5: Once all the lengths have flipped over the taglock and tied off section, tie string around the folded part to create the head.
You can introduce knot magic or color magic with the string. If doing baneful magic, you may want to make this into a noose.
Step 6: take one corn husk, and fold in half. Tightly roll and tie off the ends. Trim the edges. This is also a section where in folk practice, the arms may be braided instead.
If your tag lock was too large, or you want to include a sigil, written spell or other component, roll it into the arms. Whatever is at the most central point will sit where the heart is.
Step 7: separate the “dress” portion of the doll, and place the arms just beneath the neck. Once in place, tie off below the arms, this forms the waist.
Step 8: This section will vary doll to doll. You can leave it as is and make a dress. Or you can cut straight down the middle and make legs. I left a front and back section uncut to make this into a robe, covering the legs.
Step 9: Optional, but you can split a section and drape it over the shoulders, tying it off and creating an X, sealing the intent into the doll.
From there, do whatever you need to do with the doll to continue the spell you’ve done. You can toss it in a jar and label honey over it and other spices for a sweetening spell. Put it in a box with nasty things for a curse. Completely tie it off for a binding, or give t encouragement for some sympathetic magic/mood boosting to tour target.
You can also dress them in fabric or make adornments out of husks to further their likeness to the intended. The very first picture is a witch, capped in a hat and broom, so get creative!
🦇Cheers, Barberwitch
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Corn Dollys is one popular way of referring to these small creations made out of the husks of corn. The greek word for apparition, or spirit is “eidolon”. This root word then became shortened to “idol” and it’s been referenced that the term “dolly” is a bastardization of that root word referring to spirits.
There are many different traditions surrounding the use of grains, or corn and their pieces to make either gifts, or spiritual houses for the spirits of the land, or the crops harvested. In europe, these Corn Dollies are sometimes referred to as Corn Mothers and are made of differing grains and straws into artistic shapes out of the last sheaf of wheat or other cereal crops. The thought being that the spirit of the grain would no longer have a home after the final harvest, and as a thanks for protecting these crops, they would make a home for it to inhabit until the next planting season. There are interesting requirements in certain folk practice, like it must be made out of the last ear of corn, or the last sheaf of wheat gathered, carried onto the last wagon back home. In 7th century Germany, they called these grain dolls vetula from the latin for “old woman”. In Ireland, these were referred to as “Cailleach” meaning witch.
While most Americans may immediately think of the faceless people shaped dolls, that’s in large part because of settlers adopting Native American traditions of making dolls out of corn, stalks, husks and animal fur. They adapted that tradition with their own regarding making offerings and symbols of the previous harvest out of European cereal crops. These offerings and spirit fetishes were used to thank the land, the grain spirits or as a tool for rain and weather magic, or a charm for a prosperous next year and amulet against a harsh winter.
Across the world, there is some sort of decoration or figure made from the plants that sustain us usually made during the final harvest. From Ancient Greece, across Europe, the americas and Africa as well. There is a parallel between agriculture and thanks given before, during or after the harvest.
The Goddes Ceres in Ancient Greece and then Rome was referred to as the Corn Mother, and the term “Cereal” is derived from her name. Even in modern times, there is a statue of Ceres, faceless on top of the Chicago Board of Trade.
In pagan tradition, the people shaped dolls are made during Lammas. But in different locations they’re made in different shapes: deities, people, animals, geometric design etc.
I could honestly go on and on about human’s obsession with finding reflections of themselves in nature: the alraun(e), poppets carved from roots and branches, dolls for children and for spirits. There is an innate connection between us and nature and creating a space for spirit has been a part of that as well. I hope you enjoy making these, and following in the footsteps of countless generations and cultures before you in this tradition.
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References: The Golden Bough by J. G. Frazer
Putting Out The Hare, Putting on The Harvest Knots
Hi. Do you have a resource recommendation for correspondences?
Hi 👋🏼 No
I’m kind of...not a great person to ask for a straight up list for anything. I’m the asshole who tells you how to figure stuff out yourself...sorry.
Fighting Fear to Make Your Own Magic
This is a post with a tip and example of how to determine personal correspondences. This is especially helpful for plants and herbs that are more local or unique and not obviously “witchy”. You could use this for trees or shrubs since not everyone has access or ability to grow the classic ingredients.
How to get comfortable with new herbs and spices
Just an easy way to mindfully and simply connect to edible plants and herbs by eating smelling cooking and tasting. Helpful for broom closet witches who may be relegated to only using kitchen herbs for craft related needs and not having purely craft usage ones.
Tips on how to google in a productive/helpful manner
So when I’m researching a new plant or herb, or even crystal or incense, this is usually the format I use to search. There’s also correspondences for pine and birch in this post.
So hopefully that can help you personalize your correspondences to what you use regularly and what you may be able to use that you didn’t consider before!
Last piece of advice, print or write that stuff down. Scrap book it, write it by hand, make a google doc or something so you can reference it easier and even offline. Even a quick paragraph printed out that you write a note scrawled in the margins will give you a better grasp of it and fill up your grimiore faster than you think. Filling it with stuff you researched to use means you’ll have a good reference of what you actually have access to instead of buying a book that 80% is stuff you will never even come across.
You aren’t the first person to ask this so I figured I’d expand the post a bit. I’ve spoken to several witches regarding the “What now?/What next?” issue of spellwork when it seems like something is missing, or the directions leave something to be desired.
If there’s no direction or specified next step for a spell or ritual (or you’re making an original one) it more or less depends on what type it is, or what your preference is.
Jar spells for instance have the longest commitment in my opinion aside from actually crafting something ritualistically like a tool or vessel. Jars can be left more or less, indefinitely. You can think of it as an enclosed terrarium, self sustaining and once completed doesn’t need to be messed with again. Of course, this leads to some sticky situations when you placed something especially unique, or precious or expensive in a spell and now won’t be able to use it for another unless you dismantle the jar.
Your options are: suck it up, and do without that ingredient until the jar is finished.
Suck it up and try and find a replacement for that ingredient in the jar.
Suck it up, and find a new spell that doesn’t end in you being without access to specific items, or keeping a jar for the rest of your life.
For jar spells or container spells in general, this means you have two decisions to make before even doing the working. And plenty of people forget that this should be the habit when spellcrafting:
Is this a spell with a set timeline (start, middle and end)?
Or is this a spell that, if left on its own I’d want to continue as long as it’s able/is it something I can regularly attend to to continue if indefinitely?
If you chose the latter, here is a spellbottle found intact dating to 1650 England. Included were urine, hair, fingernails, pins, nails and something referred to as belly button fluff.
Jarspells need a battery, or a power source, or to be near something to draw energy to continue the purpose of the spell. That can be a taglock and siphoning energy off of the intended, or the witch. It could be powered by a holy relic or ingredient, the moon, the sun, the earth etc etc etc, but if you want it to continue indefinitely you have to plan for how it will stay functional.
To answer that other part of saying a spell...yes. Otherwise you have a bowl of potpourri. Without giving direction somehow, it’s just a bunch of ingredients. Chant, whisper, think clearly, write it down and include it, meditate on it, visualize how it works and progresses, just do SOMETHING.
This is a difference between rituals and spellwork, a ritual may be more organized and have a beginning, middle and end, where as a spell may be just a quick one off. So designating parts to it can help you connect to the working better.
Now, backtracking real quick about the question I mentioned? If it has a set beginning middle and end to a jar or container spell. You have to go with your gut. If you’ve got a rare ingredient or special something and you’re trying to bargain with yourself about how much to use? Don’t. Sometimes witchcraft takes sacrifice, and you have to go with your gut as to what’s the appropriate amount because sometimes, the sacrifice is what makes it magic.
Think of it this way, what’s more special, more magical, and potent, honey mass produced and bottled, or that jar of honey you got from a local beekeeper who gave it to you as a gift? How much do you want the spell, the offering, the ritual to mean/to work/to manifest? Would a drop of honey be enough, or would giving up the whole thing mean more?
I realize people have budgets and constraints and all of that, but witchcraft should mean something. While it doesn’t have to cost much, it should be felt and sincere. It’s a balance but something that should be considered “What am I willing to do or give up to see this to fruition?” That’s for you to figure out.
Same thing with offeringns, that’s between you and who you’re offering to. Would silently leaving a bowl of milk be more significant, or sitting and talking honestly to the deity with the half muffin you saved from breakfast as the offering mean more? I can’t tell you that, it’s something you should figure out.
So, say your spells, acknowledge them, write them, but if you’re just tossing stuff together from a correspondence table and assuming that the rosemary will know what to do, or that flattened penny knows what you’re intending, you may be disappointed (or you may not. Again, that’s for you to figure out!)
Hi there! I recently performed a fiancially-focused spell to get me out of a tough situation and it worked! Now I'd like to show my gratitude but I don't worship any deities so I'm not sure how I can do that.
So, this may go over controversialy...but worship yourself.
I want to bring attention to something that I KNOW has come across other’s paths, but may not have come across certain people’s.
There’s a huge mentality that you just thank every plant, and every gust of wind, and every grain of salt that’s passed your altar, or...even the palms of your hands (because let’s be real, most of my followers are younger. Budget bound and not able to dedicate anything significant and may feel bad about not having an altar blah blah blah).
If you want to thank each individual item, then do it. Animism can be a very fulfilling practice, but it’s not for everyone.
If you want to thank a deity or spirit, do it.
If you want to pay homage to the archetype of each item once a year (“BLESSINGS TO YOU GREAT SPIRIT OF PINK HIMILAYAN SALT! THAT YOU CLEANSE AND MINERALIZE MY LIFE AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO DO NOT HAIL FROM THE LAND OF YOUR HARVEST!”) then do it.
But, if you worship no deities, work with no spirits, or...did not include them in a specific working...then thank yourself.
If through your workings you flexed your power, did your thing, pulled those strings and mixed that fucking mud...then give yourself the pat on the back.
Sometimes, yes it’s due to a bigger power that we called forth. Thank them then, pour some honey, sing a song, leave some wine. Sometimes they come uninvited vocally, but are invited subconsciously.
But...if you made no such request. You did not invoke anything or anyone and did it by the skin of your back, the scape of your teeth, the sweat of your brow...then take the wine yourself. Bathe in the honey yourself. Adorn yourself in gold and stones.
It’s more than fine to embrace the fire within yourself. Careen into oblivion with the witchfire inhand, and sing songs of your own success.
Let’s be real for a second. If someone came to a party and purposely avoided your attention, then that’s on them. So you do you boo.
Thank yourself. And if you want to thank something else, then thank the candle you lit to thank the herbs you burnt and the crystals you used then thank that candle you burnt for the other candle and so on and so forth.
Stop the cycle and by selfish enough to stop the glorified circle of social and magical justices to reduce it to a “If anyone helped, thanks. I feel good, so here’s a cigarette for me, and some tea for you. Cheers Queers 💚 ” sometimes, that enough.
I’ve covered tinctures and I’ve covered hydrosols, but another infusion method is vinegar. While the other two are more neutral and thus, more versatile in some people’s opinions, that doesn’t discount the preservation and power that can be held in a vinegar based infusion!
Vinegar is a mixture of acid and water and pretty inexpensive to boot. The edible and topical varieties are usually about 5% acetic, but white vinegar meant for cleaning*, can be 25% acetic and will not be safe to use in the ways I describe below, so check the bottle! You can use Apple Cider Vinegar, Balsamic, White Balsamic, White Wine Vinegar, or Redwine Vinegar, use your instincts for what corresponds best with your intent.
Infusing things into vinegar are great because you can use both fresh and dry ingredients in them, and as long as the ingredients are safe to ingest, it will be shelf stable and free from bacteria due to the acid content. Connected to solar energy or the element of fire, it sits in balance with water so if you use elemental associations in your workings, have at it!
How to infuse:
In a clean and sterilized container, add in herbs, roots, plant matter etc that have been cleaned and dried of excess water. If they’re dried ingredients, or particularly large leaves or herbs, roughly chopping or crushing them to release more scents/flavor/essence is suggested.
Heat on the stove top your desired amount of vinegar to fit your sterilized container on low until it is just steaming but NOT boiling.
Pour into the sterile jar over the herbs and seal.
Shake daily for 1-3 weeks depending on how strong you want the flavors (keeping in mind that stronger herbs may overpower more subtle flavors, you should adjust the ratios of plants, rather than opening and adding more of a substance).
OPTIONAL, BUT SUGGESTED. Strain mixture and pour infused vinegar into a pan or pot and heat on low. Get it steaming, but not boiling. At the same time, you can sterilize your jar by baking for 10 minutes at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour strained and heated vinegar into your container and seal.
If you don’t want to do that, strain into a clean glass or bottle.
If you did step 5, it pasteurizes the infusion and will keep indefinitely, though flavor may start to decrease in intensity after about 5 months. Can be stored at room temperature.
If you did step 6 instead, it will lose flavor after 3 months, but can be extended by keeping it refrigerated. It will expire after a year.
The expiration date does and doesn’t matter depending on your intent. If you want to cook with or ingest it, that may determine how involved you get, but if it’s strictly for spellwork or topical applications, then the expiration date doesn’t matter so much!
Infused vinegars already have an immense amount of potential in spellwork because of the energy they carry. Immediately one thinks of protection, cleansing, banishment, but also for overcoming, dissolving and binding as well as hex breaking and hex casting. This is intensified and blended with whatever you add and infuse into it, creating something new.
🦋Cheers, Barberwitch
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Examples of spells below the break!
A famous example of vinegar used for protection is Four Thieves Vinegar. I’ll leave you to finding your own version of the story, but the summary is 4 thieves drank and applied externally a blend of herbs infused in vinegar to protect them from plague while stealing belongings from plague victims. While there are numerous versions of this blend, no one can seem to agree on what the actual one was, or people take artistic liberty and add in their own ingredients.
Vinegars can also have fruits and berries added to them and infused and can make a lovely offering for spirits and deities. Infuse the vinegar, and mix with honey and water and leave out. A simple way of leaving seasonal correspondences when they are unavailable from the fresh source. Ex: Infuse black berries with dandelion roots and flowers into apple cider vinegar. Pour into a bowl with a tablespoon of honey, and living water (rain, stream, storm, moon, river, snow etc) take a small sip, and leave the rest for the spirits.
Alternatively, if you are asking for a blessing from spirits or deities, reserve the rest of the vinegar after you’ve had it blessed by them, and add it to bath water, or sprinkle over your head in the shower. Apply at pressure points or however you want externally (May be a bit sticky so, less is more).
In hexes, vinegar can be added to a jar with iron nails, and water to create War Water. It can be used as a replacement for urine in witch bottles and hex bottles. submerge a photo or taglock with pins and needles and Four Thieves vinegar along with graveyard dirt and bury it on the property of the intended for a powerful hex that will fester and grow over time as they blend.
Alternatively, for hex breaking, add a few tablespoons of Four thieves vinegar it into a bath and submerge yourself, letting the (harmless amount) of acid burn away the negativity, the herbs cleanse and replenish you, and the water wash it away.
For protecting a home, or a space, setting up boundaries or wards, use an infused vinegar (in this case, it’s similar to incense, the associations of the vinegar are what you bring into the home, the opposites it repels). Take a bowl with the infusion, add in blessed water, and take branch from a plant that grows on the property. Dip the branch into the bowl and scatter the mixture at the cardinal points, and wipe the branch across the threshold. If you’re able to, you can do this process instead, by walking along the entire property scattering the infusion in the same manner from inside the property line, towards the outside.
*You can still infuse the cleaning variety to create a floor wash, but it should be done without heat, and create a stock bottle by making a concentrated infusion you can dilute with water when mopping floors.
Vinegar can also be used for the creation of flower essences (which demands its own separate post.)
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