My name is Nyssa, and I am new to the witchblr community! I have been practicing the Craft for almost ten years now, but I’ve always done it alone. I am in the southern US, so it’s really hard for me to connect with other witches/wiccas irl. I would absolutely LOVE to connect with other practitioners, so if you post/reblog any of the following then please like/reblog this post and I’ll give you a follow back~!!! I’m glad to be here! Blessed be!
Kitchen magic
Anything to do with tarot/any type of divination
Sigils
Grimoire things
Bargain witch tips
Crystals
Healing/love/safety spells/rituals
Anything to do with Apollo (or any of the Greek pantheon, I just specify Apollo ‘cause he’s my patron)
A bit of an exposition if you will: I was perusing the witchy section of one of my local book stores when this book caught my eye almost immediately. It wasn't set in a way that was distinct from the others, nor did it really stand out visually, but my eyes felt magnetically drawn to it in a way. I was instantly interested in the themes of magic and transsexuality, but flipping it open to see a review from my favorite drag queen, Peaches Christ, had me sold. I bought it with little other thought. After reading it, this feels incredibly fitting.
Palmieri has crafted a beautiful collage of a memoir and a reading list, telling the audience about their life through the magical books they've read as a framework. I'm typically a pretty slow reader, but I was pulled into each part of this book. I could be biased as a trans witch and aspiring author/artist myself, but this book was so relatable and real that it felt much more like a conversation. I saw myself and my friends and my family in the experiences that Palmieri shares in this book. It was both refreshing and incredibly significant to me.
Inspiration was a big part of my reading of Bargain Witch. I'm currently waiting on my first order of books that I was inspired to find from reading about them in this book. I was inspired to think more about my queerness in relation to my own practice. Palmieri's skill in leading people to books that will be impactful in one way or another is a phenomenal kind of magic that makes this book feel so personal and passionate. I'm sitting here as I'm writing to see if I can think of any solid critique as a contrast, but nothing really comes to mind. I find myself wanting to explore so much more of the things within this book, but that would make for so much longer a post!
I want to recommend this book to any other queer witches and pagans, especially those looking for some reflection and contemplation of their own. Additionally, to those who look for magic in places people don't initially assume to find it.
If you're unable to afford the more pricier metaphysical suppliees, then take a drive or stroll to your local Dollar Tree, Dollar General or equivalent store since my blog has viewers that do not live in the United Staes (or may not live close to a bargain store). The LED candle and aroma diffuser are great alternatives for people who can't burn traditional candles and incense. Everything in the photos above cost less than $7 USD, because the LED candles are $1.25 USD each. Everything else was $1 USD, plus tax. Depending on the bargain or dollar store you go to, you may even find incense, incense cones, diffusers and even glass stones that can be place upon an altar. If you don't have an altar, you can buy a storage container and cover with a cloth or towel which can also be bought at Dollar Tree (or your area's equivalent). I even found these pretty floral fans for $1 USD too and that's a great edition for your magickal practice. A video on bargain witchy finds will debut here on 12/31/2021.
If you forgot, that’s alright. We all forget things. But if you’re going to use gemstones or crystals in your magic, you need to cleanse them. Some crystals are self cleaning, or in the case of my amethyst geode chunk, basically their own geo-energy ecosystem. My salt candle holder is it’s own cleanser, and will also dissolve in water, so I just dust that.
right here’s what you do. Grab you a cup or a bowl, some salt, and some water in probably another cup. Take all the gemstones you use- some of mine are carved- and put them in your cup. Sprinkle in the salt and cover everyone with water- the more stones are actually submerged the better.
The internet witch compendium says to use sea salt or if available the actual ocean. I say to them- Salt is salt, and unless you’re cooking fancy, plain table salt will do just fine. Also if you’re using the ocean, three or four dunks in a little cloth bag or possibly a sock is plenty, you don’t need to leave them all day and night.
If you’re using still water though, you do. If you need your stones for a spell the same day, consider rescheduling.
So. At work I noticed we had some Glade wax warmers on sale from Xmas, and really the only thing about that that was holiday-ish was the dark pine green color. So I bought it. $6 is a decent deal. I wasn't feeling any of the Glade scents so I bought some Better Homes wax. Every site I checked assures me it's fine, it just probably voids the warranty (though they only say that for Scentsy).
Never has anything been so FRAGRANT. Even my candles and incense, and it's just barely begun melting. I think this'll be helpful should I move into an apartment, because I know many do not like ANY type of smoke and some have a 'no candles/burning' rule, for good reason. I'm wondering if these could be used for witchy purposes. Obviously not with divining via flames or wax drips, but at least the scents or the colors could be used.
