Probably tepid take: I've never snuffed out a candle in my life. I've never understood why folks say "you'll offend the air and/or fire spirits" by blowing out a candle. How is smothering the flame somehow less offensive?
Honestly… that’s what I would call superstition.
Now, practically, your methods should make sense for your tradition and your goals.
The act of putting out a flame in spell-work in itself can be a part of the spell-work.
But the main thing to consider here is who the spirits of fire are. This will define how to act around them. Does your tradition hold these spirits to govern over fire, to inhabit fire, to be the fire itself? Do you believe the element of fire to have intelligence, or the beings associated with it?
I am not being snide when I say all this is a bit more complex than quick baby witch tips where you find the advice to not blow out your candles. In some ways we also have to deconstruct witchcraft at this point.
Witches of tumblr I'm having a hard time telling if these crystals are fake. I put them up to a light and they seem pretty see-through to me. I got them in a tourist city in NY. Feel free to ask more questions in the comments.
Hey so... im a baby witch, and iv been trying to do more witch things, and I have a question, iv just started doing rune stuff but... I have problems with my hands so... do runes have to be perfect? Also im still getting over a sun burn and I put lotion on and...
I went no contact with my abusive oldest sister and a few days later one by one everyone in my house got violently ill. First husband then my baby then finally me. When one person got better the next got sick. My green onion plant also turned to sludge over night and died. I had to deeply cleanse my house physically and energetically. I redid my wards and did everything that usually works but that gross energy is still there. I got my husband a selenite necklace to keep him safe and we both did an egg cleanse last night but the gross energy won't go away. I even yelled for it to leave and did sound cleansing. I am almost positive it's my sisters hateful energy unconsciously being sent my way (she's a really really bad person guys to the point her body is giving up on her, I'm talking going blind had a tumor. Her eldest went no contact too which is what inspired me) does anyone have any advice on what I can do beyond what I've already tried? It doesn't feel safe in my own house and it's starting to feel like my parents house (parents house was built on an old burial site and housed lots of spirits. Most were nice but a few in the back of the house scared me bad as a kid.) but yeah open to advice or ideas.
I've been getting into witchcraft the past couple months so what are some of your book recommendations or any other information providers you like? I'm mainly looking into folkmagic and focusing on my German and Italian heritage for guidance
From my archives, updated post: evil eye protection in traditional Ukrainian culture.
Intentional and accidental evil eye is feared in probably most cultures. Warding from it was (and still is on some areas!) a significant concern. For example, a new mother in Eastern Europe would not be showing a newborn baby to anyone but the closest relatives.You can still sometimes see strollers covered with a cloth on the streets for this reason.
Naturally, this belief has produced many ways of protecting yourself from any stray envious glances. There is really no doubt that these practices existed before the arrival of Christianity, and the earliest Christian advice in Eastern Europe condemned the wearing of charms as pagan. That, of course, never went away, but took on whatever new helpful spiritual resources became available.
Continued under the cut:
In summary, there are a few most common method of spiritual protection.
Stay safe
Protective pendants: crosses and ladankas, small pouches filled with frankincense or other apatropaic substances, are commonly used by Christians. For a Slavic pagan an equivalent might be, for example, a Perun’s axe necklace. If choosing the latter, be mindful that believers carrying harmful agendas unfortunately had the opportunity to make use of it first. In this case it is your responsibility to ensure other people feel safe around you, as well. In archeological finds, women are associated with lunulas, pendants in the shape of the moon facing downwards.
A red string, traditionally woolen, tied with seven knots around a person’s left wrist is worn for the same purpose; it is believed that when the string is torn or lost, it has completed its purpose and is no longer of use. In this case, the old one is burned,and a new one is tied by a person who wholeheartedly wishes you well
Sharp iron items: a safety pin can be worn pinned to the wrong side of clothes near chest area. Knives or needles by doors or windows similarly protect homes and vehicles.
Clothing worn inside out protects both from evil eye and from malicious or overly playful spirits. It is believed that when a Lisovyk leads you away from your path in the forest, putting something on inside out, boots on the wrong feet, or looking around upside down between your legs – making something one way or another wrong, not-you or not-human about your appearance or perception, – should help you see through the spirit’s tricks.
Traditional clothes – vibrant colours and reflective surfacesdistract the malicious eye from the actual body, which is considered especially important for young, attractive people. Although fashions changed, this principle can easily be followed today. Striking clothing, jewellery and accessories can all stand your guard. While it sounds like pop culture spirituality, this is a logic that served our ancestors well. You can carry a mirror for that purpose – or, once again, put one in your window, facing the street.
With all that, it is of course important to guard yourself with confidence and a sound spiritual and mental state.
And importantly, keep your mouth zipped about your plans.
