RMH
todays bird

祝日 / Permanent Vacation
occasionally subtle

⁂

@theartofmadeline
will byers stan first human second

izzy's playlists!
One Nice Bug Per Day
hello vonnie
Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ

Product Placement
Monterey Bay Aquarium

Discoholic 🪩

Andulka
macklin celebrini has autism
almost home

if i look back, i am lost
dirt enthusiast

Love Begins

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@valithrex
Unbinding You and Your Tarot Deck
I recently obtained a Tarot deck (Bonestone and Earthflesh) that unbeknownst to me had a binding spell/contract embedded into the pages of its book and upon opening the deck itself, it would be activated regardless of the user’s desires for it or not. I cannot even begin to explain how much this feels like a violation of trust and free will. As someone who is of a spiritual modality where bindings, oaths, and contracts are of a serious nature and all parties need to be able to consent willingly and freely before such happenings can take place, I felt total ick when learning about this situation.
Before I begin, I want to say that this is my experience and what I did to help myself with this weird situation I was in. While not everyone may have this issue or deem it important to unbind themselves or their deck, I felt that sharing my process may help those who may be in a similar situation as myself. As with all my posts, take what you need or what you find resonates and leave the rest. Because of this, I decided to unbind my deck and book from the creator, the artist, and any and all oaths or bindings that may have been embedded into it without my knowledge or consent.
Items:
Selenite
White Plate
Salt
Three Secret Ingredients or symbols/sigls*
Your thoughts/or words
Step One: Place your deck in the center of a white plate.
Step Two: Place some Selenite near or on top of your deck.
Step Three: Place salt on the four corners of your plate in the direction of north, south, east and west.
Step Four: Place three secret ingredients or symbols of your choosing that you deem appropriate for banishing disharmonious energies that do not belong to you, taking control of the situation, and breaking/nullifying contracts you did not willfully make, on the outside of the plate.
Step Five: You may say words of power if you choose for example:
I am in total control of my divination practice and life. I unbind myself and this deck from any and all coercion, manipulation, and binding contracts I have not made willfully. I release and break apart any and all spiritual oaths, hooks, and tendrils attached, embedded, activated, and installed to this divination tool by anyone and anything including the creator, artist, and manufacturer. I unbind myself and lift all bindings made without my consent and without my previous knowledge. I free myself and this deck from all spiritual attachments and claim it as mine and mine alone.
Step Six: Allow the deck to stay on the plate for a minimum of twenty-four hours.
Step Seven: Remove your deck from the plate. Dispose of your ingredients. Do whatever type of cleansing you feel comfortable doing for your deck afterward such as passing it through incense smoke or knocking on the deck.
Step Eight: If you believe in dedicating your deck to yourself, do so by holding it up to your heart and declaring it as your divination tool and yours alone.
*The purpose of the three secret ingredients is so that this unbinding cannot be undone by someone else.
———————
Post Notes: Please do not remove the captions. Title: Unbinding You And Your Tarot Deck Copyright: © Ivan Ambrose 2020 Disclaimer: Please make sure the ingredients provided in this post are safe for you to use. You are free to substitute anything and everything if needed. I will not provided substitutions or further explanation. As with all of my posts and content, this post in no way, shape, or form is intended to tell you how you must go about this topic. The intention of this post is to share my experiences. This isn’t the only way, the absolute right way or the way that you “should” approach this topic. I encourage you to use what you find useful and tweak or dismiss what you do not find useful. I am sure there are various other people in the world who choose to do things differently regarding this topic and that is perfectly okay. I can only speak from personal experience and what has worked for me. I encourage you to do your own research, to do what you are comfortable with and to tailor any advice provided henceforth to your specific needs and individual situation. Safe Space Tags: Long Post, Consent, Bindings, Spiritual Oaths
Witchy Items for Your Altar
I share a very small room with my sister, and obviously don’t have much room for an altar. I use most of my space for my Hellenic shrines and altar. I keep my witchy stuff on my shared bedside table. Here is what I use, and how I store/display it. This is element based, but you can use it however you like.
North (Earth)
Small Himalayan Rock Salt Lamp - This is a tool I use all the time. It detoxifies my room, and cleanses the space. I feel so much more at ease with it on, like it’s washing everything away!
Crystals - You might want to move these or switch them out depending on what spell you’re doing, as all energy contributes to the working, but while you’re in your room, or even while you’re away, you can leave these here to represent Earth.
Salt - Little packets of salt work, or you can place a bowl with some salt in it on your altar. I use my rock salt lamp.
Dirt - A literal baby jar of dirt works, or you can put a plant on your altar if it’s by a window. I have a succulent!
Earth Imagery - A mini globe would be pretty cool! Or even a little eraser or what not. Having an actual picture of the Earth would be amazing, especially if the clouds were visible, and maybe if it had the sun in the background. Then it could be all encompassing of the elements.
Herbs, Flowers, Plants, etc - As with the crystals, you may want to change these out or put them away during spells, or switch them out. However, they would look really cool as you went with the seasons!
Fossils - I think fossils are awesome Earth representations. They have been in the ground for a very long time! I used to have some really cool fossils I used to represent Earth on my altar.
Tree Slice - Have you ever seen those little wooden slices that come from a tree stump? The ones that definitely had huge roots? Those would be perfect to represent Earth!
South (Fire)
Birthday Candles/Tea Lights - You can colour code! These are great for short workings, or even to call the elements. To make these stand up, place them in a bit of clay and let it harden.
Matches - Double whammy here- light your candles and have a representation!
Ash - I used to have volcanic ash, which was perfect. It got spilled, but for the while that I had it, it was awesome. Collect ash from incense, a fire, etc, and use it (just wait for it to cool!!!)
Charcoal - I always thought charcoal looked kinda witchy. I think a dish of it would make a good rep.
Charred Wood - If you have a bonfire, or just so happen to light a piece of wood on fire, you could let it cool and use it for your altar.
Lamp - If you have a secret altar, a little lamp could be an inconspicuous representation for fire, as it does produce light and heat.
Lantern - You can buy super cute mini lanterns at the Dollar Store. I love them, but haven’t gotten one yet. I think they would be fun to use for Fire.
West (Water)
Glass of Water - You can use whatever type of water you’d like; moon water, rose water, purified water, gem elixir; take your pick! Just make sure it doesn’t get moldy and stay moldy. Change it out each day/week.
Sea Shells - You can get these in super small sizes! Or, you can get them big and bulky.
Sea Glass - These little stone-like fragments are so pretty! They look just like crystals, and can be found on the beach or in the store!
Sea Salt - Sea Salt could work to represent Water, especially if you pour it into a seashell or add in sea glass to it. It could be like a little potpourri of water related objects!
Rain Cloud - You can create clouds out of things like stuffing for toys, cotton balls, and sometimes led lights. It could be a fun project, or you can buy one of them off of etsy.
Mermaid Image - I have a mermaid book mark made of metal, and it sits with my other water-related objects. I feel like it adds that feel of majesty to my water representation.
Drift Wood - This is so pretty! The pieces are smooth, have a fun shape, and definitely capture the essence of water!
Sand - If you go to a beach, collect some sand, and place it somewhere on your altar! Be sure to put it in a bowl, though, because it is hard to clean up.
Sea Weed - You can hang this somewhere, or put it directly on your altar. Either way, it looks great.
Coral - If you find some coral, you can place it on your altar. It looks so neat!
Starfishes/Sand Dollars/etc. - These are a little harder to find on the beach, but if you do, place them on your altar.
East (Air)
Wind Chimes - These add a little decoration to your altar, as well as give you an air representaiton. You can even listen for the tinkling of bells to see if any fae are around!
Bells - If you ring a bell, it disperses stagnant energy, and helps to cleanse a space. Having one on your altar is a great way to keep it fresh!
Feathers - This is a pretty obvious one, an oldie but a goodie. If you have some feathers, you can use them, but make sure there are no laws against collecting them in your area. Alternatively, you can use fake ones from a craft store.
Empty Glass or Bottle - Air is all around us. Use that to your advantage!
Dandelion Puff - This is what I immediately think of when I picture the wind. You can collect some puffs and put them in a glass.
Bird’s Nest (fake) - You can buy or make a fake bird’s nest. They look pretty real, and have this awesome rustic naturey vibe to them!
Leaves - They were once high in the sky! Collect them during the fal season or after a storm.
Incense - Another well-known one. You can burn this and use the smoke.
Tornado Making Jar - You know those little jars that you can shake up, and they make a tornado? Those would be a fun water-air duo!
Other:
Small Jewelry Box - This can store crystals, herbs, essential oils, etc. I use to use mine to cleanse my crystals becuase it played music!
Multi Colour Light-Up Candle - I found mine at Five Below! It lights up in tons of different colours, but is pretty large. However, it takes up a lot less room than a bunch of different coloured candles.
Your Wand - Having your wand on your altar makes it a sacred, special tool. It will be charged by the witchy items you have there, and will feel natural inn the environment.
A Mini Besom or Real Besom (Broom) - I use a paintbrush as a mini besom, as I can’t have real one. However, it would be nice if I did, and I’d keep it near my altar!
Your Grimoire/Spellbook/BOS/etc - If you aren’t hiding it, you could keep it on your altar!
A Fire-Safe Dish or Cauldron - If you water scry, burn things, or just like to include your cauldron in your spells, you can keep it on your altar.
Incense Tray - Incense can’t be burned without somewhere to place it. Keep your incense holder handy!
Altar Cloth - This ties everything together! It can be switched out for sabbats/festivals/seasons/spells.
Chalice - I’m not Wiccan, but I use the chalice in my workings every once in a while, usually for water-related magic. You can get these beautiful metal ones at antique stores, or regular old wine glasses at the dollar store!
Mortar and Pestle - For practical use and an awesome vibe! You can keep this near your herbs.
Coloured/Enchanted Salts - They display beautifully,and are really good to have on hand.
Spirit Vessels - These can go in their own little corner if you like. They could also be the center of your altar, especially if you work mainly with spirits.
Tarot/Other Cartomancy Cards - Find a nook for your cards to be kept safe and clean. They will be charged by the other objects all around it, which makes it an awesome idea to have on your altar.
Scrying Mirror - Make this the main attraction, or perhaps just a piece of the puzzle. If you have an ornate mirror, it could be a very drawing part of your altar!
Crystal Ball - Like the scrying mirror, it could be a background piece or the focal point.
Runes - If you cast runes, you can keep your bag or box of them on or near your altar.
Other Divination Tools - You cans store these, or just la them throughout your altar. Whatever you choose, having your tools close by will be awesome!
Twig Shapes - You can make sigils out of twigs and hot glue! Add a ribbon or piece of twin in the shape of a loop, and you can hang them above your altar as decoration and as a little energy booster!
Circle (Embroidery Hoop) - I know most people use salt to cast circles, but I actually use an embroidery hoop. I cast one around myself, and one around the items I am working with (ex: what’s in the hoop).
Knife - If you use a ritual or practical knife in your workings, it’s good to have on hand. I can’t have one, but I like my wand better anyway, personally.
Fae Garden - You’ll have to have plenty of sunlight near your altar for this one, but it will definitely be fun to have some Fae living on your altar!
Spell Supplies - Random bits and bobs, like egshells and ribbons, can be kept on your altar as well.
I forgot that I wanted o add on here to NOT collect feathers if you’re in North America. We have very few species that aren’t in the MBA (migratory bird act) and it’s illegal to possess any part of the species that are covered there.
So if you want to use feathers in your craft, make sure it’s a legal species. Best way to do this is to purchase feathers from a reputable fly making (like fly fishing) supplier or other craft supplier. But make sure they’re collected ethically!
Angus McKinnon Young. Happy Birthday (3/31/1955). His first instrument was a banjo. He and his brother Malcolm founded AC/DC in 1973. The brothers are from Scotland, not Australia. Back in Black became the second highest selling album world wide, just behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Some Palmistry (Enhancing the Body Mind Spirit by IMP)
I do have these physical pages and am thinking of selling them if people are interested on my Depop (Hilary Lavender)
Magic🌙
🕉 How to: Magick Oils 🕉
(From Left to Right: Frankincense Oil, Dragons Blood Oil, and Myrrh Oil)
Note: I will be discussing infused oils in this post. Another type of oil commonly used is essential oil - created from steam distillation - which I will discuss in a future post.
Oils have been used for magical and healing purposes for thousands of years. They can be traced back to the earliest religious texts and magical recipe books. They are widely popular due to their versatility and long shelf-life, and can be found in magical practices the world over.
An infused oil consists of two main parts: a carrier oil, and natural oils extracted from herbs.
There are many types of carrier oils, such as olive, jojoba, and almond, but any oil that is essentially colorless and odorless can be used as a carrier oil. Each type has its own unique properties, some of which I’ve listed below.
Both essential and infused oils can be purchased at grocery stores, apothecaries, farmers markets, and spiritual stores. However, they are often quite expensive for a relatively small amount, so I’ve found it is easier to just make my own.
To Create an Infused Oil
You will need:
• a clean, dry bottle for storage
• a clean, dry mason jar
• the herb(s) you wish to use
• the carrier oil(s) you wish to use
• a large pot of water
• a stove
• a strainer/cheesecloth/old t-shirt
1) Set the pot of water on the stove at medium heat. Throughout this entire process, the water should only ever simmer, never boil.
2) Place the herb(s) and carrier oil(s) into the mason jar in a 1:1 proportion. The oil should just barely fill past the top of the herbs.
3) Place the mason jar into the hot water bath (LID OFF THE JAR or else it will explode from pressure inside the jar)
4) Allow the jar to heat in the water for 2-6 hours, or until you are satisfied; stir periodically.
5) Remove the jar from the water bath, allow it to cool, strain the mixture with the strainer/cheesecloth/old t-shirt, and bottle it the oil.
For the oils I made in the picture above, the process was slightly different. These were made using the herbal resins Frankincense, Dragons Blood, and Myrrh. Herbal resins are already made entirely of fats and oils, so they will readily dissolve in heated oil.
For these, I ground each resin into a fine powder. I then added a tablespoon of each powder to each jar and filled the jar ¾ full with carrier oil. This allowed the powder to completely dissolve in the oil when heated in the water bath, eliminating the straining process.
Oils typically have a shelf-life of 4-6 months if kept unrefrigerated, though this can be extended by storing the oil in a dark place and/or adding a splash of vitamin E oil.
Common Carrier Oils
• Almond - Air 💨 Element, ruled by Mercury - used commonly in healing and massage oils because it readily absorbs into skin; also used for communication, prosperity, and wisdom.
• Avocado - Water💧Element, ruled by Venus - used for love, lust, and beauty
• Coconut - Water💧Element, ruled by the Moon; used for protection and purification
• Grapeseed - Water💧Element, ruled by the Moon; used for fertility, psychic powers, mental abilities, and goddess energy
• Jojoba - Water💧Element, ruled by the Moon; used for beauty, healing, and love
• Olive - Fire 🔥 Element, ruled by the Sun; all purpose oil, though I have found it clogs my pores, so I reserve olive oil for my exclusively magical oils, or my oils with darker intentions.
Happy Witching 🕉
Egyptian gods by Yliade
List of essential oils‘ correspondences
Bay: attain desires, success, clarity of visions or dreams Basil: intuition, optimism, psychic awareness Cedar: cleansing, strength, meditation Cinnamon: energy, courage, goals, money Citrus (lemon/lime): invigorate, joy, energy Cypress: calmative, soothes emotions, stability Frankincense: cleanse aura, enhance psychic power, energizer Jasmine: love, intuition, spirituality, confidence, sexuality Lavender: balance, calming, cleansing, exorcism, Orange: visions, psychic dreams, restfulness Patchouli: Earth energy, sexuality, strength, power Peppermint: alertness, action, mental clarity Pine: energy, cleansing, strength, clarity, action, protection Rose: energy, love, gentleness, peace, happiness Rosemary: mental clarity, memory, protection, invigorate, blessing Sage: purify, cleanse, spiritual visions, inspiration Sandalwood: cleanse, purify, energy Vetiver: internal alignment, unified energies
(source: Grimoire for the Green Witch - Ann Moura, 2003)
Full Moon, February 19th
Prints available - Instagram
I wanna live with you even when we’re ghosts
Familiars 101
Familiars, not to be confused with the closed Native American term/concept of Spirit Animals, are, in short, familiar spirits that can aid a witch in their magical practices. In pop-culture, you mainly see familiars referenced as stereotypical witch-related animals such as ravens/crows, foxes, black cats, or bats. As with many witchcraft related things that are shown in pop-culture, this is a misrepresentation. Foxes, ravens, crows, and bats are not only quite dangerous to work with, but a familiar can range from your pet hamster Fluffy to your Great Dane named Tiberius. Note: not all pets are familiars! For people who believe in past lives and their domestic (note: physical) familiar has died, they may try to relocate the familiar spirit.
So, how do I obtain one?
Well, obtaining a familiar is both simple and difficult. People often jump right to their pet, thinking that of COURSE it’s their familiar, it’s their pet after all. But in reality, most pets have no interest in your practice, whereas a familiar will. It is a wild misconception that a familiar is only an animal, in reality, the familiar is not the body it inhabits, but the spirit. Meaning, you do not need a physical animal to have a familiar, but your familiar can take on the body of an animal/pet/etc. There are familiar summoning spells (some linked below) - and if your kitty takes an interest in your magic, it may very well be a familiar!
To call a familiar
Spells and sigils for animals, pets, and familiars.
Finding a familiar
Spirit companions vs familiars:
Spirit companions and familiars may seem to have a lot of crossover, but they are very different entities that hold a similar purpose. Spirit companions do not tend to take on a physical body, whereas often times familiars do. Spirit companions are also mainly astral and spirit work based, familiars have more of a physical world base and are not as related to direct spirit work.
Can my familiar perform magic?
In short, not really. Familiars are not there to cast spells (your cat isn’t going to give you a tarot reading, trust me, I’ve tried), but rather to help and strengthen YOUR magic/witchcraft. Familiars often help using their energy and presence rather than actually ‘casting’ spells, drawing tarot cards, etc.
How can I tell if my pet is my familiar?
Takes interest in your magical practice.
Does not shy away from witchcraft.
Seems to want to be around you when you are performing rituals/spells/etc.
Immediate strong bond.
Honestly, use your intuition! It will be different for everyone.
Spirit animals vs familiars:
So, I’m not going to discuss this much because the concept of spirit animals and totem is closed. But I will mention that familiars are NOT spirit animals, not even remotely the same thing. Please do not call your familiar a spirit animal and please do not use the term unless you are Native!
Outside links:
Is this my familiar?
Familiars - Wikipedia
Everything else I could find was inaccurate, highly appropriative, outdated, or all three.
Conclusion:
Go with your gut feeling and intuition on familiars, sometimes you just “know”, sometimes you don’t. The experience of familiars is different for EVERYONE. It can take some time to actually find one. If you’re in the market for adopting a new pet, maybe take familiars into consideration! If you have an immediate strong bond with them, they may be your familiar.
(artist)
“We Will Get Through This Together”
During a time when you and another person are going through a hard time, draw this sigil on a picture of you both (or all of you if your sum is more than two) And hold it to your heart for a minute or two every day at least once.
“We Will Get Through This Together”
During a time when you and another person are going through a hard time, draw this sigil on a picture of you both (or all of you if your sum is more than two) And hold it to your heart for a minute or two every day at least once.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Tarot Reading
Tarot readings are cool, but why not make them AWESOME? Here’s some ways you can be sure to get the most out of your divination situation.
🔮Have a Question In Mind- This sounds pretty obvious, but it’s astounding how many people I read for that have no idea what they want out of it. Wanting a general reading is fine, but definitely have an answer to the question “what would you like to know?” when you sit down/place an order. Thinking about what you want helps you solidify the question with the cards, and helps you avoid thinking an hour later, “Drat! I should have asked about _____.”
🔮Think about How You Frame your Question- Tarot has different strengths and weaknesses, like any divination form. Playing to these strengths will help your reader give you a more fulfilling answer! For example, I once had a querent purchase multiple readings from me asking for very specific times of things. While tarot CAN be used in that way, it is much harder and in my experience usually comes at the expense of more valuable information. A better version of, “when will X happen?” is “what will make X happen?” or “What must I do before X?” That way you know if X requires specific action on your part, instead of sitting around waiting for “Oh, maybe about three months” and nothing happening. Phrasing your question in a way that milks the most information out of the cards makes for a better reading!
🔮Know Your Reader- First and foremost, a tarot reader is not the same as a psychic. A lot of psychics use tarot cards as a tool, but most people just offering readings can’t tell you the name of your future spouse or the color of your great-grandfather’s shirt when he died. Secondly, every reader is different! Some are intuitive readers and pull cards from the middle of the deck, some have you choose the cards, others deal from the top, and that’s just one example. Every reader has a different style to their interpretation that makes for a unique experience, so if possible, be picky with who you choose to purchase from. Some readers work better with certain types of questions. Maybe some give more detail in their interpretations. Some readers tell a little story about each card, which people can like or dislike. Some have trouble delivering bad news. Some just may not resonate with you! If you have the ability to check out multiple readers, especially online, definitely do so and find one who you think lines up with your needs the best.
🔮Don’t Be Afraid to Confide- The phrase, “I have a question in mind, but I’m not going to tell you” makes me want to rip my hair out. In my experience, people do this less because they want answers and more because they want to be impressed by a display of Tarot’s accuracy and the reader’s intuitiveness. They want to see the reader still pick up on the Truth with no outside input. This is all fine and dandy, but it’s not going to give you a lot of information. Why? It’s going to be vague! I can’t connect the dots as well if I don’t have half of them. It’s okay to give me some information about your question; it helps me pick out signs I may have not found significant without context. That said, I understand the fear of just having a reader use your words to tell you what you already know and call it divination. So don’t feel like you need to over share, either! If you want to know about whether to break up with your partner over that argument two days ago or not, a simple, “I’ve been having relationship problems and would like some insight on how to move forward.” Should work fine. That should allow you to still get a display of the reader’s intuitive ability (identifying the specifics of your situation) while still getting an actual answer.
🔮Interpret For Yourself- Yeah yeah, do my job for me. But not quite. Sometimes there are symbols that strike us that the reader may not emphasize in their interpretation. You know yourself better than they do, after all. If you think the cards are saying something extra to you, feel free to include that in your personal takeaway! If a reader asks, “what does this mean to you?/does anything stand out to you?” (this happens more in person than online) it’s totally okay to say, “I find X really interesting because Y. How do you think that ties in with the rest of the reading?” Feel free to start a conversation over it. Pick these cards apart with your reader. I, at least, love when querents do this. It shows they’re invested and engaged, and it lets me pull even more information out for them.
🔮Take a Picture- If you can. Sometimes online readings come with a photo of your spread! (Mine do.) Look back on the photo with a fresh mind later and reflect on it. Have you come up with any new personal interpretations for it? (Once I had a reading that I thought was about starting a business, but realized later it was about me writing a book!) What do each the cards actually mean? Are there any patterns in the spread you notice? It can also be fun to look back on it much later and see how accurate it was!
🔮Get Readings from Multiple People- I like a little variety, but I also just like people. I have people I go to for when I need a really solid dependable reading, but I also enjoy talking to other readers and seeing how they do it differently. I know it’s helped me improve a lot as a reader. If you’re able, consider getting your question answered through multiple sources (but be respectful, we’re still people.) See if there are any common threads between the two interpretations (it happens quite frequently.) See how they differ! It’s more work and money but is usually fairly interesting.
🔮Don’t Take it Too Seriously- At the end of the day, getting a reading is not going to change your life. Only you do that. While tarot can be a magnificent tool for insight, it is not an actual changing force in and of itself. Don’t stress too hard over it and be sure to use it alongside your own judgement, intuitiveness, heart, and common sense. And most importantly, enjoy it for the sake of enjoying an art form!
If you’d like to purchase a reading from me, you can do so here!