#safe witchcraft

[w-itchtips]

I saw a few posts about warning people to never try and put down an out-of-control fire with water. this is so important! but what can you do instead?

I personally always keep a little cauldron or cup full of sand on my altar. I use the sand for some of my rituals too but the main load is reserved to put out a fire in an emergency. stay safe and never let your candles etc. burn unattended!

[chiapetofficial]

How to cleanse spaces without a flame

So this is a little post about how to cleanse your spaces for spells/purifying and whatnot without the use of incense/sage/candles and the like. 

This can apply to anyone!

people with pyrophobia

people in dorms/other spaces where fire is forbidden

people with asthma/lung complications

or maybe you just don’t prefer open flame or the smell of smoke!

These are all normal things that can happen to any witch so it’s important to have safe alternatives when a lot of the materials available rely on the use of smoke cleansing (which also has some conflicts with certain closed practices). 

So here are some ways that I have learned to cleanse without fire or smoke:

Meditation

This can take a lot of effort, but it is possible to dispel energy from your workspace through thorough meditation. One can possibly visualize a wave or barrier of your choice emanating from your center and dispersing all outside influence. Be wary that this can potentially be very draining, especially if there is a heavy force present. If you prefer this, start by trying in combination with other methods! Personally, meditation has never been my strongest suit so I tend to do this only in preparation for a real, deep cleansing. 

Sound

I don’t hear this one mentioned as often as I think it should. It is personally my favorite. To me, bells are a language. I have different bells for different intentions. Most commonly, I use my brass mortar and pestle which has a lengthy ringing sound. This is very similar to what singing bowls sound like! It is a very pure sound and feels like it touches every corner of the room.

Mist/Steam

The use of steam can actually produce an effect very similar to smoke! Tea blends and other herbs can be infused into water, heated and then presented to the corners of a room as seen in some cleansing rituals. This method can incorporate a very wide variety of materials used in typical smudging (like lavender, rosemary, even crystals). One nice aspect of using steam is that you can heat moon/sun water and disperse their effects throughout the room. 

If it isn’t obvious, I use the latter two most often. I really believe that these are as equally valid and effective as smoke cleansing and just not talked about as much. Of course, you must remember that the method of any cleansing is driven by your intention. That is part of what drives the fluidity of the craft. I hope you found these suggestions useful! Let me know if you have anything to add or tried it out!

[diamond-cavalier]

Energy Balms and Bandages

Holy Wowsers.

There are a LOT of you guys now. What Is Magic took off beyond my wildest dreams, in fact I thought it was going to be my least popular post. Instead we’re only a little less than 24 hours in and already over 150 notes! By the time I post this we’ll probably hit over 175 and I will die of Positive-Reinforcement-Overload.

This morning, before I logged on to see a sea of amazing people coming and reading my posts, I did a lesson on Energy Healing. Specifically in relation to creating balms and bandages, knowing what to use for each situation, and how to triage them! Without further ado, the lesson!

1. Balm Types

I call it energy balm because that’s sorta what I make it as, it feels like a balm to my hands when I use it. Before I show you all how to make the balm, I thought I’d tell you a little about the types I combine when I make it.

I use 6 colours to represent the types of energy for mixing the balm, and 1 colour to make the bandages afterwards. The energy types are: Burning (Burns out bad energy) Protection (Protects the wound) Cleansing (To cleanse the energy of the area without burning) Healing (Heals the wound) Soothing (Astral painkillers/aloe vera) and Restoring (Sets the patient’s energy to rebuild itself).

Between these six colours you can pretty much mix together a balm for almost any problem, and I’ll be talking about a few mixes I use later.

2. Making The Balm Pt 1 (Colours)

I always get people to make the balm by first taking white light energy, then splitting it into the traditional colours of the rainbow. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

The reason that I use this system is because it lets me use six of them for the six types of energy I want to use, then the remaining one I can use for bandages. It all depends on what you associate the colours with or what colours you want to use! One of my students used a blue-green spectrum instead of a rainbow, and then related the energies to that. I’ll put my system below as a quick guide on how you can relate colours and energies.

Red: Burning, I associate red with burning so I just picked that. Orange: Protection, I don’t know why but I always think of magic shields as orange. Yellow: Cleansing, it’s a very pale yellow which I normally use for cleansing myself. Green: Healing, it’s just a heal-y colour. Very life related. Blue: Soothing, blue is always a mentally soothing colour to me. Indigo: I use it for bandages. Purple: Restoration, again, no idea, but it always felt like the right colour for it.

As you can see, I use emotional associations, but I don’t really know where all of it came from. So do what works for you, it’s all about giving intent the easiest path.

3. Making The Balm Pt 2 (Mixing And Changing)

To make a balm, start by picking out which energy types you need. Then, I get the colour spectrum my splitting an energy orb of white light into the colours of the rainbow in the spectrum. Then, pick the colours which you associate them with. Make sure to keep them as energy and not a balm consistency for the next bit.

Take the colours one at a time, we’ll start with how to do the first two: Pick the colour orb and use your intent to encode the command into the energy, a lot like when you’re making energy constructs. Then get the next colour you need and do the same thing, now you have to mix them together. Merge the orbs but make sure they stay different colours, a mottled, spiralled, or striped effect will work best for this. Then take the other required colours and mix them in!

The energy ball you have now should include everything you need! But it’s still not a balm, so you have to change it into one. I change them into a balm by visualising the energy slowing until it’s a balm-like consistency. That tends to work.

Now you have an energy balm! To apply it to people simply use some bilocation to put it on their wounds.

4. Bandages and Triage

To make bandages, start by taking the leftover colour of the rainbow, or by taking any colour you associate with bandaids, and start spinning and stretching it out into a long piece of cloth. After that, you should have some bandages to put on someone if needed.

I have a triage list when it comes to a group of injured witches. Mainly because I act as an emergency astral first aid and protection contact. It goes like this:

1. Unknown Unidentified Pain 2. Parasites 3. Extremely Bad Cuts 4. Cuts and Scrapes 5. Burns 6. Broken Bones.

The first one can be treated by looking for reasons behind the pain as quickly as you can. It’s best to deal with this early, it could be anything from void energy, to a curse, to a continued attack from an entity. Parasites can be removed, burned, and then assisted with the Burning energy to make sure you have everything related to them out.

5. Some Quick Recipe Mixes

It is always best to make the mixture on the spot rather than keeping it. But here are a few recipes to remember.

Burns: Cleansing Healing Soothing Restoring

Parasite Care: Burning Protection Soothing Restoring

Cut and Stab Wounds: Cleansing Healing Soothing

Happy energy healing everyone! I hope it’s fun.

Art Credits: 1. TLCook (Deviantart) 2. Eudora EK 3. Aleksandra T 4. Christina Kozlova 5. Lindsey Robbins

[grimmoiresque]

It is okay to say no to a ritual or spell that you are not comfortable with, for any reason. Whether it is a coven or a friend, if it does not feel right, it probably isn't right for you.

《 daily witch tip 186. 》

[eliot-rose]

PSA! Herbal Interactions with Medicine!

Here is a list of herbs that are dangerous to take with SSRIS/Anti-depressants/Anti-psychotic/Anxiety meds. 

Feverfew/Ginger/Ginseng - while this is a great herbal option for feel-better/pain-relieving spells and teas, it is also a blood thinner. Potentially mixing this with warfarin or other anti-anxiety/PTSD meds that also are blood thinners (this allows your body to calm down easier and stay that way), the two could create a dangerous mix that could lead to severe bleeding. This could be especially dangerous if you have ulcers or other internal bleeding issues or are a person with a uterus that has an excessive bleeding condition.

Ginkgo bilboa - a less common witchcraft piece, but still….Ginkgo is a blood thinner as well, like Feverfew, but this could also potentially lessen the effectiveness of anti-seizure medicine. Additionally, Ginkgo can change the effects of synthetic insulin so DO NOT INGEST THIS if you are diabetic. While taking Gingko with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOIs) can be risky, it is actually a helpful supplement to take with selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors if you are experiencing sexual-problems that can be common with SSRIS.

St. Johns Wort. - DO NOT TAKE THIS IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY ANTIDEPRESSANT, EVER. St. Johns Wort has been shown to alleviate some mild depression, but it does this by creating more serotonin, which, when paired with an antidepressant that also works with serotonin, can cause something called serotonin syndrome. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION. It can slow your breathing, heart-rate, and lead to death.

Additionally, St. Johns Wort can also impact HIV/AIDs medication and generally shouldn’t be taken if you’re taking any medicine, really. 

Ginseng - DO not take this with MAOI anti-depressants or PTSD/Anxiety meds that work with your blood. Ginseng has been known to cause tremors, headaches, and manic episodes in people taking MAOIs, especially phenelzine. It stops the action of warfarin.

Valerian - DO NOT TAKE THIS with any barbiturates, antidepressants,  or medications for insomnia or anxiety. It causes immense drowsiness, which is why it is good with sleep, but ONLY on it’s own. 

Kava -  this has been known to cause a calming effect for people with anxiety, but unfortunately the herb can amplify how other sedatives work. It can interfere with anti-psychotic and Parkinson’s medications. DO NOT drink alcohol with this herb.

Essentially, be CAREFUL when ingesting herbs and if you’re on any medicine always ask your doctor.  If you don’t want to out yourself as a witch, just ask them if it’s safe to take as a supplement. If you’re worried you’ve ingested something that is interacting with your drugs, the best spell for that is calling 9-1-1 (or whatever your emergency number is in your country)

This list isn’t all-inclusive and my advice will never be better than a medical-professionals, as I am NOT a medical professional, just an old witch who wants his fellow witches to stay alive.

Practice safe witchcraft!

[dabblinginhippiewitchery]

Witching Safely

So I’ve seen a bunch of wonderful safety precautions for witchcraft being passed around lately and it makes my little heart burst with joy. So today I’m going to add things that I haven’t seen in this posts, as well as re-hash some of the ones I have seen.

Essential Oils

🦇 Most essential oils should not be ingested. Just because it’s natural does not mean it’s safe. Essential oils are highly concentrated, meaning it’s pretty easy for you to invest harmful qualities by accident. NEVER ingest an essential oil unless it is specifically certified as food grade oil and has scientific research verifying its safety. ONLY ACCEPT REPUTABLE SOURCES. I don’t care if your friend swears that they’ve been doing it for months and it’s safe. If there’s not medical research saying go ahead, don’t do it.

🦇 Most essential oils need to be diluted with carrier oils. Very few essential oils are safe to just put straight on your skin. Learn what dilution ratios are recommended for each oil and follow them religiously. When in doubt, dilute it. It will keep you safe and make your oils last longer. It’s really a win-win situation.

🦇 Be cautious of using essential oils in the sun. Some oils react badly with heat or sunlight. And oils can also cause you to burn quicker (think tanning oil). When in doubt, just wait until you’re indoors or make sure the oil is covered or cool.

🦇 Always do a spot check with any new essential oil to make sure you won’t have negative reactions to it. Gently put a small amount of diluted oil on the back of your hand and wait 2 hours before puting the oil anywhere else. Hives and rashes are not fun.

Herbs

🦇 Medication and herbs do not always mix. If you take any medication, you must ask your doctor before treating yourself with herbs. Again, natural does not always mean harmless. And some medications and herbs don’t play nice. For example, St. John’s Wort can make birth control fail. Always ask your doctor how to safely utilize medicine and herbs to their full potential.

🦇 Do not ingest herbs unless they are food grade. Some herbs and flowers you buy are only meant for potpourri or bath items, and are not safe to consume. Only eat food grade flowers or herbs specifically made for tea and baking.

🦇 Do not ingest fresh herbs unless you know for a fact that they are safe to eat. You don’t know whether or not people spray their yard with pesticides. So if you are gathering wild herbs and aren’t sure if they’re organic or safe then do not consume them. And if you don’t know if it’s edible or what kind of herb it is, don’t eat it. Only consume herbs your grow yourself or know for certain can be safely consumed.

🦇 Properly store herbs you plan on ingesting. I’m all for aesthetic in the form of cool bottles and jars, but save them for herbs you aren’t ingesting unless they’re air tight. Herbs needs to be well sealed for freshness and sanitary reasons.

🦇 Do not mix food grade herbs and magic herbs. You will probably forget which ones are safe. I keep all food herbs in my kitchen, and get some for spells as needed. All my herbs just for magic are kept in the shelves on my alter. It’s just safer for you to not get confused about whether or not you can safely ingest stuff.

Crystals

🦇 Don’t drink crystal water. Not all crystals are safe to put in water. Some of them can make the water toxic, and some crystals will actually get ruined if you leave them in water. Always research before mixing crystals with water and never drink crystal water unless you have have scientific proof that it is safe.

Plants

🦇 Don’t pick any flowers, mushrooms, herbs, or plants unless you know they won’t harm you. Some plants are poisonous and can harm your skin.

🦇 Check for bugs before harvesting flowers or herbs. Some spiders really like flowers too.

🦇 Don’t bury glass jars in your garden. Not only is this bad for Mother Earth, but you could potentially cut yourself when the jar breaks because of roots or because your forgot about it and broke it while digging. Bury safe and biodegradable things only.

Bones

🦇 Bleach and clean any bones or skulls you find. I’m not an expert on how to properly do this, but please don’t just bring bones inside. You could make yourself sick or attract nasty bugs if you aren’t careful.

Blood Magic

(It’s worth mentioning that I personally do not condone blood magic, but I care about your safety.)

🦇 Always sanitize any tools you use beforehand. Use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Don’t substitute vodka or just use fire to heat the blade. If you don’t have the means to properly sanitize the blade, don’t do it.

🦇 Do a lot of medical research before hand. If you aren’t careful you could lose a lot of blood or cause nerve damage.

🦇Stay up to date on your tetanus shot. This is something you should do regardless, but it’s an especially good idea for blood magic users.

🦇Only use sharp instruments that can be easily cleaned like metal or glass. Wood can leave splinters or have bacteria trapped in the grains. Plastic can also harbor bacteria in the porous surface, particular if there are scratches.

🦇 Do not use dull knives. It makes the wounds take longer to heal. It also makes you more likely to cut deeper than you mean to.

🦇 Clean all wounds no matter how small and properly care for them every day until it’s healed.

Fire 🦇 Never leave flames unattended. All candles and incense must be put out before you leave the house. Snuff, blow out, dip your incense stick in water, whatever. But make sure the flame is out and wait for it to stop smoking to ensure all embers are dead.

Legal Issues

🦇 Do not trespass for any reasons. Do not take flowers from someone’s yard. That’s trespassing and theft. Don’t jump fences to gather anything. Again, that’s trespassing.

🦇 Don’t take flowers from botanical gardens or touristy locations. Not only is this rude, but it can be illegal depending on where you’re at. Fun fact: taking flowers from Arlington Cemetery is technically a federal offense. So don’t do it.

If you have any other safety tips, please add them to this. Safe witchcraft is important, and it’s good knowledge to share.

[diamond-cavalier]

Astral Travel Guide

The rules of astral travel differ from person to person, but here are the ones which’ve saved my life over and over again.

1. Trust Nothing

It’s not that everything’s out to get you, it’s that the entities that are are clever. Demons, dragons, angels, bird people, astral winds, other witches, disguised entities, astral hitchhikers, parasites, fake gods. So many things could attack you even in places that are safe. So keep your wits about you and keep your guard up, think of it as travelling through a jungle, like the Amazon. It’s beautiful and filled with wonder but there are also all manner of dangerous things. 

2. Use Your Best Senses

Your astral senses, although the majority work the same as your physical ones, usually have very different usefulness. Someone who can see perfectly well normally may have scratched or useless sight in the astral. The important thing to do when it comes to this is to use the senses that do work instead. Time spent on trying to make some astral senses useful is time not spent on practicing your best senses. Anything can be made useful, from taste and smell to emotions and proprioception. You just need to figure out a way to use it.

3. Always Be Armed

The astral is a beautiful place, but not everywhere is safe. So it pays to be armed somehow. Energy constructs and spirit charms are usually really good methods of protection, but a lot of work in energy is required before you can start energy constructs and spirit charms only work if you have the required items, such as bones of whatever spirit you want to summon. Energy constructs can be designed for extreme power, and spirits can protect you without you needing to control them. Another option is to alter your body within the astral to be a better fighter, but this is a lot more difficult and potentially dangerous, so it’s best to start with energy and spirits. Also it pays to have shields up to keep out unwanted energy and parasites.

4. Always Have An Escape Plan

Whether it’s full dive or bilocation, it’s always a good idea to have an escape plan. If something big shows up and you’re not able to handle it, either go back to your body or somewhere safe, but make sure you absolutely can reach whenever you want in an efficient and safe manner. Be it portals, constructs, or even magic ice skates. Make sure you can get out fast.

5. Have A Friend

Having a friend with you can make you safer, and sometimes is just more enjoyable. I’m usually a rather solitary traveller but for those who aren’t used to having to fight, or just want to have some very good times with a friend. Then it’s a good idea.

Artist Credits: 1. Hekkil (Deviantart) 2. Rykart (Instagram) 3. Midorisa (Deviantart) 4. Marco Zagara 5. Jason Chan Art