Elminx's "Seeds of the Future" Gourd/Pumpkin Cauldron Spell
Preface Note: this spell is based on the following associations:
Gourd/Pumpkin: both the abundance of the harvest season (the flesh) and the promise of harvests to come (the seeds) Cauldron: an object of transformation
If you do not agree with these associations, this is not the spell for you.
Additional note: please read through this entire post - there will be alterations and other information that will help you to prepare for this
You will Need:
1 pumpkin or gourd that looks like a cauldron
Carving tools (a serrated steak knife and a spoon will be fine)
Seeds - see notes
Other items to load this spell - see notes
Undyed natural string such as butchers string
Seasonal Incense (optional)
A candle to charge the spell (optional)
A seasonal offering to the spirits for their help
This spell is designed to load next year with the seeds of your successes from this year. To honor and hold gratitude for your wins and give them back to the earth as a means to compost them into future wins and successes. As this is by its nature a burial spell, please keep in mind what you are putting into your pumpkin or gourd cauldron - please ensure that it is natural and compostable. I assume that you will add your intention and will into this at any point in the process that feels right and works for you.
This spell needs to be specific to each caster so this will be the bones of a spell. It is your job to add your own personal touches and practice to make it your own. I am assuming that you will set sacred space at any point in this process that feels right for you and your traditions.
Sit down and make two lists. The first list is of your wins for the year - this can be big important things or small moments of gratitude. You know what is right for you. Then, make a list of what you want to focus on next year - whittle this down to a single type of intention - such as love, abundance, or good health.
Find yourself a gourd/pumpkin. This process will be personal; trust your instincts here. Keep in mind the size of your vessel (it should be big enough to easily carve but small enough to bury). You can use color magic to match your intention if you wish. Keep in mind that it should look like a cauldron.
Get to know your gourd/pumpkin. This is the process where you turn your vessel into a cauldron. You may wish to cleanse it, meditate with it, or talk to it. As an animist, I like to talk to it and tell it its job (to be the cauldron of transformation that will bring the seeds of this season to life next year).
Carve out the inside of your vessel. Make sure to keep the top intact as we will be resealing our vessel when we are done with the spell. You can carve as little or as much out as you wish - keep in mind that if you wish to keep your cauldron on your altar for a time, removing more of the insides will keep it from rotting quickly. You need enough space for anything that you wish to put inside.
Begin to layer your objects into your vessel. First, we begin with our wins for the year. You can use physical objects here, write a list, or do what feels right for you.
Add a layer of seeds to cover the base layer. These can be the seeds that you pulled out of your pumpkin or gourd (dry them first in that case - in the oven on a low temp for 3-4 hours should do the trick), seeds that you have collected from your garden, or seeds that you have bought in the store.
Top with objects that represent your intention for the coming year. You can use all manner of objects here: herbs that represent your intention, petition papers, sigils, or anything that feels right for you.
Return the top to your vessel, and seal the pumpkin or gourd by wrapping natural fiber string around it and tying it fast. You can use knot magic here if that is a part of your practice.
Depending on your practice and your pumpkin, you can charge this spell further by adding candle magic at this time. If you have a flat pumpkin, you may be able to burn a candle directly on top of the pumpkin (allowing the wax to drip down and over it). Or, you could add wax to the top from a burning candle that you then set next to the pumpkin to charge the spell. Please practice safe candle magic.
Work this pumpkin spell in a way that feels right for you for a number of days that feels right for you. This could mean multiple candle burns or chants done upon it. You can use numerology here or any other form of magical increase that makes sense for your project.
When the spell feels complete, it is time to dispose of the pumpkin. This spell is designed to be buried - either in a garden or in a compost pile. This won't be possible for everybody - if you cannot do that, you can dispose of it in your trash after releasing the spell. If you can bury it, do so close to home as you want to keep your abundance with you at all times.
Notes on seeds: I'm a big fan of using wild seeds in a spell like this - either seeds that I harvested from my garden or from my natural environment. "Sticky" seeds are even better - think milkweed or thistle. Keep in mind that if you bury seeds, though, there is a chance that they will grow so be careful what you wish for!
Notes on your herb/item choices: this is not meant to be a spell that breaks the bank. Use the items that you have in your own house and already use in your magic.
Notes on candle choices: candles are very personal and you should choose to burn a type of candle that you are comfortable with. Keep in mind the type of wax you add if you are thinking of burying this spell - stick to natural (undyed) beeswax for the safest environmental option.
There are so many ways that you can further alter/enhance this spell to suit your personal needs. I am a big fan of eating my magic - if you enjoy pumpkin seeds, consider roasting some with the same herbs used in the spell (if you are using edible herbs...do I need to say that?) and eating them. Or, if you like to eat pumpkins, you could choose a small pumpkin for this spell and cook a lovely pumpkin feast to accompany it. This way you can have your magic and eat it, too.
You could carve your intentions or sigils into the outside of your vessel. The options are, I'm quite sure, endless. If you do this spell and come up with a neat idea - please feel free to share! My inbox is always open.
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