Tamsin Brân-Fendigaid

Diary of a Witch

[skepticaloccultist]

A Folk Witch Library

Hidden like Viking gold under the landscape there is a rich body of nearly lost folkwitch tradition hiding in plain sight on the internet. Particularly in the 18th and 19th century antiquarians, folklorists and ethnologists documented the rural and occasionally urban folk beliefs of practically all of the UK and much of Europe. Organizations like the Folklore Society, founded in 1878, were created to help catalog and publish this body of collected ethnological data. A vast repository of a spectrum of witch and cunning craft practices.

Below are a list of links to various sources on the internet. The non Abramhamic roots of British folk traditions date from an era of Celtic settlers, and thus much of the spirit tradition concerns beings we now collectively call “fairies”, though their origins and nature differ greatly.

Books Available Online for free:

Folklore Society/Folk-Lore Journal:

Over 100 publications made by the Folk-Lore Society can be found on Archive.org. Unfortunately these are mostly unsorted, although they represent a massive amount of folkwitch information. Particularly in the realm of curses, hexes, salves, second sight, and boundary magic.

I will be launching a separate blog dedicated to delving into the contents of the Folklore Society’s publications in the next few weeks. In the meantime - Happy digging: Link to archive of FOLKLORE JOURNAL

Books whose content focuses on first-hand accounts of folk traditions, alpha by author. (* denotes particularly important titles)

Richard Blakeborough - Wit, Character, Folklore and Customs of the North Riding of Yorkshire (1898)

J G Campbell - Witchcraft & Second Sight in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (1902) - Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, Collected entirely from Oral Sources (1900)*

Edward Clodd - Tom Tit Tot - an essay on savage philosophy in folk-tale (1898)

Oswald Cockayne - Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England (1864)

Thomas Crofton Croker - Fairies Tales and Legends of the South of Ireland (1834)*

John Graham Dalyell - The Darker Superstitions of Scotland (1834)*

Walter Evans-Wentz - The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries (1911)

Richard Folkard - Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics (1892)

W. Gregor - Notes on the Folklore of the North East of Scotland (1881)

Lady Gregory - Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland (1920)*

William Henderson - Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1866)*

Thomas Keightley - The Fairy Mythology (1828)

Robert Kirk - The Secret Commonwealth (1893, written 1691)*

Fiona Macleod (William Sharp) - Where the Forest Murmurs (Nature Essays) 1906

James Napier - Folk Lore - Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within this Century (1879)*

Sir Walter Scot - Letters on Witchcraft and Demonology (1884) - The Existence of Evil Spirits Proved (1843)

Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe - A Historical Account of the belief in Witchcraft in Scotland (1884)

Wirt Sikes - British Goblins Welsh Folklore fairy mythology legends and traditions (1880)

Eve Simpson - Folklore in Lowland Scotland (1908)

Benjamin Thorpe -Northern Mythology, Comprising the Principal Popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and the Netherlands Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3

Lady Wilde - Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland * Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3

Thomas Wilkie - Old Rites, Ceremonies, and Customs of the Inhabitants of the Southern Counties of Scotland (1916) (History Of The Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club Vol 23 1916-18, pages 50-145)

Suggested books that are unfortunately in copyright or otherwise not currently available online:

(Links to goodreads and worldcat.org)

Katharine Briggs - The Anatomy of Puck (1959)* - Pale Hecate’s Team (1962)* - Fairies in English Tradition and Literature (1967)

Thomas Davidson - Rowan Tree and Red Thread (1949)

George Ewart Evans - The Pattern Under the Plow (1971)* - Ask the Fellow Who Cuts the Hay (1965) - The Crooked Scythe

Harold Hansen - The Witch’s Garden (1978)

DA Mac Manus -The Middle Kingdom (1959)*

Emma Wilby - Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic (2005)* - The Visions of Isobel Gowdie: Magic, Witchcraft and Dark Shamanism in Seventeenth-Century Scotland (2010)

C. L. Zalewski - Herbs in Magic and Alchemy: Techniques From Ancient Herbal Lore (1990)

Misc Short articles:

Frederika Bain - The Binding of the Fairies: Four Spells (2012)

Thomas Forbes - Witch’s Milk and Witches’ Marks (link to pdf)* (Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, XXII 1950)

Fae Honeybell - Cunning Folk and Wizards In Early Modern England (2010) (link to pdf)

Canon J. A. Macculloch - The Mingling of Fairy and Witch Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Scotland (Folk-Lore/Volume 32/1921)

[root-thorn-flame-deactivated202]

This is actually amazing

[water---damage]

Lenby Terms -Enby Orientations

Enby Lenby: term for nonbinary person whose orientation is toward other nonbinary people. (Derived from NBLNB)

Wenby Lenby: term for a nonbinary person whose orientation is toward women and nonbinary people (Derived from W&NBLNB)

Menby Lenby: term for a nonbinary person whose orientation is toward men and nonbinary people (Derived from M&NBLNB)

WoLenby: term for nonbinary person whose orientation is toward women. (Derived from WLNB)

MaLenby: term for nonbinary person whose orientation is toward men. (Derived from MLNB)

WoMaLenby: term for nonbinary people oriented toward binary men and women (Derived from W&MLNB)

PanLenby: term for nonbinary person who is oriented toward people regardless of gender

NopeLenby: term for a nonbinary person who is not oriented toward people of any gender

[tamsinbranfendigaid]

Happy Lughnasadh!

[the-witches-glossary]

Hey, I was wondering if you know anyone who has a spell to separate two ties? One of my friends is being stalked by someone whose parents (the stalker's parents) tried multiple times to try and make them not talk anymore, I want to try and give the stalker a push to f off

Check the ‘banish’ and ‘antilove’ tags. Good luck and power to you.

[tamsinbranfendigaid]

I’ve had good luck with a freezer spell a few times. It’s not Wiccan - it’s hoodoo. You can google around for specifics but basically you freeze them in ice to stop their negative actions (similar to binding) and freeze them out of your (or your friend’s) life. It’s not a harmful spell but it shouldn’t be done with people you may want in your life later on.

[beetlejuicesuglycousin]

Money and Prosperity Spell Jar💰

Salt 

Strawberry Leaves 

Vervain

Bay Leaves (lightly burned)

Honeysuckle (lightly burned)

Clove (lightly burned)

Fehu Rune 

Coin 

Green Candle Wax

[water---damage]

*realizes she mayba tually have these ingredients *

[orriculum]

rose salt & rose sugar 🌹

*use pesticide-free rose petals to avoid making yourself sick

rose salt 🌹

making - rinse and pat dry rose petals, spread on a plate and microwave for a minute. grind to a fine powder / process with equal parts pink salt. 

in witchcraft - add a pinch to encourage grounding/clarity reality in love

rose sugar 🌹

making -  rinse and pat dry petals. cut the white tip off each petal. layer sugar and petals in a jar in thin layers. store in a cool dark cupboard for 3-5 weeks, remove the petals before using the sugar.

in witchcraft - add a pinch to encourage sweetness in love and affection

[unbidstatue]

Reblog if you’re a queer witch!

My dash is lacking queer magic x

[draiochtaguscait]

Business Prosperity Spell Jar

Today I had a moment to myself and decided to do a bit of spell/energy work to improve our business prosperity! I tried to keep it simple because I had about ten minutes before my toddler came crashing in simple energy is best and easiest to work with!

✨ you will need ✨

A small sealable jar

Fireproof bowl

Lighter or matches

A small piece of green paper

Green pen

Green candle (I used a ginger candle for added prosperity, success and money) a white candle will also work in a pinch

Small spoon to handle your herbs

Oats (I used sprouted oats because they symbolize a power boost generated for growth) for money

Cinnamon for abundance and success

Clove for money

Dill for luck and money

Basil for wealth and success

Comfrey root for attracting money

Himalayan salt for protection and boosting

Bergamot essential oil for business success, prosperity and money

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have cleansed yourself, your spell items and your workspace. I do this by visualizing a strong wind coming to dispel negative/unbalanced energies, and then by drawing energy from the Earth to flow through everything until it’s been balanced again. You can use whatever method of cleansing works best for you though!

Light your candle, take a moment to thank it for its energy, and then pick up your slip of paper. Write down your intent with the green pen (keep it simple and close loopholes). I chose ‘money and customers come to us in abundance - with no harm to others and no harm to us, so I will it and so mote it be.’

Take a moment to let your intent flow freely into the paper, then fold it three times towards you — the idea being you are attracting things to you. Once it is folded, carefully light the paper and place it in your fireproof bowl to burn to ash. As it burns, imagine your intent being sent outwards to the Universe.

After the paper had burned completely, make sure it is out so you don’t burn yourself, and add a pinch of Himalayan salt to the bowl. Mix well until all the ashes are combined with the salt, visualizing the salt both protecting and boosting your positive intent as your spell begins to connect to the Universe. Set aside.

Take your spell jar and begin to add your ingredients: I went with clove, cinnamon, comfrey, dill, basil, oat, then repeated backwards to balance. I then added a pinch more oats with the ashy salt, and filled the jar to the top with salt. Lastly, I added a few drops of bergamot essential oil to complete the ingredients.

After stoppering your jar, take a moment to balance the energy from your candle and then complete the spell by sealing your jar with melted wax.

Finish by thanking your candle and blowing it out, then by connecting to the Earth (or however you cleanse yourself) to let both positive and negative energies flow through you until you are once again balanced and grounded.

Your spell jar is now complete! Prosperity and wealth should soon be on their way to you. Thank you for taking the time to read this! Please let me know if you’ve tried this and it’s worked for you.

Peace, love and light be to you! ✌🏼💚✨

[saintacephale]

reblog if your blog is safe for trans witches, non binary witches, bisexual witches, gay witches, pansexual witches, closet witches, mental ill witches and all type of witches 🔮🌿

[primrosetheodora]

Sweet Dreams Potion

🌹Hello Lovelies,💋🌹

I suffer from frequent night terrors and if you are like me you have probably tried a million things to help it. I have a drink created from desperation, it taste splendid and ethereal. If you try it out let me know if you liked it and if it worked.

Ingredents

Milk

Rose honey

Chamomile

Mugwort

🌹 First warm up your milk, I use a stove top but a microwave will work, don’t make it too cold or too hot. It shouldn’t boil but be hot to the touch.

🌹 Next add the chamomile & mugwort to infuse with the milk like you would a tea. Then as they steep add a teaspoon of the rose honey. Drink all wrapped up in bed and pass out shortly after to wonderful dreams.

🌹 Added note the mugwort can be taken out and regular honey can be used but it’s honestly not the same without it so as much as I am an advocate of using what works I recommend trying it with the correct ingredients if given a chance.

[tamsinbranfendigaid]

Happy Beltane!!

[sopherielspeaks]

How to Banish a Spirit

Negative energies, pesky beings, and malevolent spirits can plague anyone who does spiritual work, or even those who don’t. It’s important to know how to banish a negative entity or to free a loved one from a negative attachment. You can also use this to powerfully shield a dwelling you newly reside in, like a house or apartment.

After following my suggestions, I highly recommend you shield. Here’s a post I made on shielding. 

Banishing a Negative Spirit

To banish a spirit, you want to take some time to meditate and imagine yourself glowing bright white. Here’s a sort of step by step meditation guide that I use for my own personal practice:

Sit calmly and take a second to breathe. Sometimes dealing with negative spirits can be intimidating and frightening, so you want to calm yourself down. Don’t worry about totally clearing your mind, no matter what state you’re in, this banishing will work. All you need to do is intend for it to work and it will! 

Once calmer and in a state where you can do a small meditation, hold your palms in a way that seems like you could create a ball of energy in them. Imagine a ball of pure, hot, bright white light forming between them. 

You can say an affirmation like “I am pure light and pure love. I have the universe’s protection and, with that, nothing negative can interfere with my actions and intentions. This light that grows from me will banish anything negative or malevolent from my space.” Saying something like this automatically makes it so this banishing will work. The universe won’t let you down. 

Imagine, with your mind’s eye, this ball of light growing and growing, being fueled from a cord of strong energy from the middle of your torso, just above your navel and below your ribs. This is your power center, your solar plexus. This light you are creating is ultimately powerful. You can also call on your spirit guides to help fuel this light, knowing only spirits that come in pure light and love can enter this space to aid you. 

Once you feel this light growing and growing:

Imagine a huge orb of white light growing and expanding. As it does this, all negative energy and spirits are pushed away and are unable to enter anywhere this light passes over.

Imagine the light expanding in the room or space. If there are walls, see it press against the them, sealing itself with a bright white bolt of light on the seams of the walls, floor, and ceiling. 

Keep imagining this expanding and expanding, and you can say an affirmation like “This light is universal love and protection, and will cleanse everywhere it touches from all negativity or malevolent energy. No spirit with ill intentions can survive here, and no spirit can trespass here after the light passes. It is forever protected by the light in my and the light of the whole universe.”

Imagine the light growing as large as you want, definitely throughout the entire house or dwelling you are in. You can travel with your minds eye through each room, seeing it glittering with bright white light, completely freed of negative energy.

If you wish to continue cleansing the space around you, you can expand this light as large as your street, city, country, the world, the universe and it provides healing space in all of these areas. Just to banish a spirit from your dwelling, though, you don’t need to do this. All you need to do is seal this light around your dwelling, knowing that once it has touched the dwelling, it will permanently protect it. 

To protect or cleanse people you know:

Spirits can cling to people and objects, and you can use this technique to cleanse a negative attachment from either.

Stay with the bright light, feeling it radiant and powerful, and imagine the person or object in your mind. 

Swirl this light around and through them or the object. Thoroughly imagine them, and run this light in and around them as much as you feel is needed. This cleanses them from all negative energy inside them, and all negative attachments around them. Most likely, you’ll get a sense if there’s something negative on them and the white energy will wipe it right away as soon as you sense it. Know that you are powerful, because you’re channeling all the light in the universe and that this will work, no matter what. You can do this to objects by slightly adapting the meditation.

If you wish to further protect them, imagine this light clinging to them like a glowing skin tight body suit. It fits exactly around them and protects them with universal light and love. 

Also, if the person is possessed, you can imagine this light like a forceful wave that rushes through them, carrying the negative or unwanted spirit out of their body with it. 

To end the banishing: 

If you wish, you can repeat the above affirmations about how this light is permanent protection and that nothing negative can exist in the spaces you just cleansed. 

Slowly imagine the light traveling back in your abdomen, feeling a strong and warm center there, a protection that is always with you. 

Begin to come back to your body (if you imagined yourself elsewhere, imagine yourself where your body is and in the same pose). 

Slowly wiggle your fingers and toes, opening your eyes when you’re ready. I advise sitting for a little after, and not doing any extreme exertion for around a half an hour. 

Please don’t hesitate to message me with any questions!

Image source here

[tamsinbranfendigaid]

Leaf of bay Sweeten my pay Fennel seed Reduce my need Fenugreek Bring me what I seek

Leaf of bay Good fortune comes my way Fennel seed I will succeed Fenugreek For a lucky streak

Leaf of bay Turn meanness away Fennel seed From bullshit freed Fenugreek Protect this freak

[witch-vomit-deactivated20190906]

🌺 A simple 7 day candle I did for myself. Created for self love, for more confidence, and to help me get through these next few months (along with sweetening people to me).

💐 Todo A Mi Favor/Everything in my Favor oil - self explanatory 

☀️ High John the Conqueror Oil - power, self love, confidence

💐 Rosebuds - self love, sweetening situation

☀️ White Duochrome Glitter - self love, amplify spell

💐 Pink 7 Day Candle

☀️ Sea shells - protection

💐 Sugar - self love, sweetening the situation

🌺 I’m thinking I might recreate this in the future and add it to the giveaway I’m doing once I hit my goal. I think it came out super pretty! :)

[sacredspiral]

rooting spell // full moon in Libra 🌿🌝

may the full moon shine down on this water with abundance, fertility, and stability. as my pothos cuttings sit in the water, the moon’s radiant energy will nourish them and encourage them to put down roots - all the while singing, “i welcome you home”

[ofcloudsandstars]

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My warddrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.

[anonymous-alchemist-deactivated]

🥀 Faery Sight / Awareness Jar🥀

To heighten your awareness of the fae and help you glimpse into their world.

Lavender - faery sight, heightens awareness of fae

Thyme - faery attracting, faery sight, faery travel

Wild Yarrow - faery magic, heightens awareness of fae, dreams

Clover - faery attracting, faery sight

Pansy - faery worlds, faery attracting, dreams

Acorn - faery attracting and wisdom, faery travel

Elderflower - faery attracting, faery travel, heightens awareness of fae

Dandelion puffs - faery magic, faery travel, thoughts and dreams

Cedar oil - heightens awareness of fae, protection, visions

Lilac oil - faery sight, heightens awareness of fae

Rose oil - heightens awareness of fae, faery attracting

Dye your sea salt purple in a bowl, and add the oils. Layer in jar before adding the rest of the ingredients. Drip rainwater on the cork.

(I’ve been busy today making all these jars, lol. It’s been very relaxing)

[bringthegoodones]

Hello!

Can I make a suggestion? I don’t mean to be rude I just want to add some things since I’ve been studying Irish myths and folklore for a bit.

-Instead of Pansy I would use Daisy. Daisy can attract fae. -Instead of Cedar I would actually put in bits of Hawthorn. It has more connection with the Fairy folk. -I haven’t heard of lilac being associated with fairy sight. But I could be wrong about that. You can certainly include those things though, as they are sweet smelling. However lily of the Valley may be a better choice. -I would look to the song Scarborough fair. Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Thyme can bring fae to you though so be careful. Rosemary is also good for protection. -I wouldn’t use parsley only for its connotations with the dead. Vervain is sacred to Druids and use to achieve second sight. Mistletoe and Meadowsweet are as well.

-Barley was also a traditional offering. I would probably offer to them first before trying to obtain faery sight. Milk and honey are also good traditional offerings.

Again I am not saying you are wrong. Everyone has their own personal associations with herbs so the formula you have already written my work better for you. I just wanted to add in a bit of the lore I have come across and give some references.

I don’t remember all the myths I’ve read associated with these herbs but my quick go to sources for herbal info are: M. Grieve, A Modern Herbal The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl Herbs & Things by Jeanne Rose (There is actually a recipe in here for being able to see Fairies that includes Rosewater and Thyme.  p. 257) The Black Toad by Gemma Gary is a good source for some fairy lore from Cornish witchcraft.

Best!

-K