For perusal at leisure

[dailywitchlings]

Witchy *Free* PDF book list Masterpost

Hey lovely witches! I wanted to share some of my PDF witchy books I have on my computer. I know it’s hard to find these books and not everyone has money to buy them or easy access. I hope I can help someone with this <3

Most of the books are on my google drive library, you can click on the link and then download if you’d like to.

A Manual of Occultism, by Sepharial

Mastering Witchcraft, by Paul Huson

Natural Magic, by Pamela J.Ball

Pagan Spells, Author Unknown

Herbal Magick - Herbal enchantments, folclore and divination by Gerina Dunwich <3

Spell Crafts - Creating magical objects, by, Scott Cunningham and David Harrington <3

The Book of Power, by Idres Shah

The Complete book of Incense, Oils ad Brews, by Scott Cunningham

The Essential Skills of Magick - Benjamim Rowe

The Ultimate Book of Spells - Pamela J. Ball *my favorite spellbook*

50 of The Most Powerful Spells, by unknown author

Witchcraft Today, by Gerald Gardner

The Gardnerian Book of Shadows

The Basics of Magic, by K. Amber

8 Sabbaths of Witchcraft, by Mike Nichols

Witchcraft Today, by Gerald Gardner

Celtic Mythology and Religion, by Alexander Macbain

The Art and meaning of Magic, By Israel Regardie

An Introduction to the Study of Tarot, by Paul Foster Case

The Alchemy of Abundance, by Lisa McSherry

Encyclopedia of Acient Roman and Greek Mythology, by James Belton

Asgard and the Gods, by M. W. MacDowall,

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Spells by, Michael Johnstone

Witches’ Bible by, Janet and Stewart Farrar

The Witch’s Master Grimoire, by Lady Sabrina

The meaning of Witchcraft, by Gerald Gardner

Aleister Crowley book collection (google drive)

Lid Off the Cauldron, by Patricia Crowther

A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk, by Peter Paddon

The A to Z of Dream Interpretation, by Pamela J. Ball

The Dream Oracle, by Pamela J. Ball

The Great Book of Spells, by Pamela J. Ball <3

The Techniques of Astral Projection, By Dr. Douglas M. Baker

The Opening of the Third Eye, By Dr. Douglas M. Baker

Historical Dictionary of Witchcraft, By Bailey Michael

The Goddess is in Details, by Deborah Blake <3

Circle, Coven and Grove, by Deborah Blake

A Witch’s Dozen, by Deborah Blake <3

Witchcraft on a Shoestring by Deborah Blake

Egyptian Magic, By Ernest Budge

Advanced Candle Magick, By Raymond Buckley

Amulets and Magic, By Budge Walli

Pen and Ink Witchcrafr , By Collin Calloway

Basic Sigil Magic, By Philip Cooper

The Occult Properties of Herbs , By W.B Crow

Shadow Work Guidebook, by Jessica Cross

Gemstone Sorcery, By Gerina Dunwich <3

Wicca A to Z By  Gerina Dunwich

Every Witch Way By Ellen Dugan <3

Power Of The Witch By Laurie Cabot <3

The Spiral Dance By Starhawk <3

Spiritual Power - Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

Book of Shadows By, Phyllis Curott:

Witchcrafting By Phyllis Curott

Spells for the Solitary Witch By Eileen Holland

Wiccan Magick By Raven Grimassi

The Witch’s Familiar By Raven Grimassi

Magical Candle Crafting By Ember Grant

Magical Powder Recipes By Lady Gianne

Wicca For Beginners By Lisa Chamberlain

Scott Cunningham’s Books:

Divination for Beginners

Wicca in the Kitchen <3

Book of Shadows

Living Wicca

Crystal Gem and Metal Magick <3

Wicca

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

Magical Household, Rituals and spells for the home <3

D.J Conway’s Books:

Mystical Dragon

Norse Magic

Wicca, The Complete Craft

Falcon, Feather and Valkyrie Sword

Celtic Magic

Christopher Penczak’s Books

Gay Witchcraft - Christopher Penczak

The Living Temple of Witchcraft V. II- Christopher Penczak

The Gates of Witchcraft

The Living Temple of Witchcraft V.II 

Mystic Foundation

The Outer Temple Of Witchcraft

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft

The Witch’s Shield

Cassandra Eason’s Books:

A Practical Guide of Witchcraft and Spells, 

Fabulous Creatures, Mythical Monsters and Animal Power Symbols

Candle Power

The Art of Pendulum

The Complete Guide to Psychic Development

Illes Judika’s Books:

Magic When You Need It - 150 Spells

Pure Magic

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft

Ellwood Taylor’s Books:

Pop Culture Magic

The Pop Culture Grimoire

Multi-Media Magic

Manifesting Prosperity

For those of you who wish to see my full library on the drive, feel free to send me a message and I will send you the link!

HAVE FUN!  :)

[samwisethewitch]

Earth-Friendly Witchcraft

Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs.

And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the destruction of the natural world. Most developed nations have a linear economy, which means resources are extracted and then sent on a one-way trip to consumers who will use them and then throw them away. This leads to overflowing landfills, air and water pollution, and quickly disappearing resources. The World Economic Forum predicts that, if our habits don’t change, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And I dearly hope that by now we’re all familiar with the reality of climate change and its devastating impact on global ecosystems.

I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to point out the hypocrisy of drawing power from the Earth in our magic while simultaneously contributing to her destruction. If we truly want to consider ourselves spiritual allies of the planet, we need to make an effort to live our lives — and practice our magic — in ways that are less harmful to her.

You don’t have to become an environmentalist or switch to a zero waste lifestyle, but we can all make little changes for a more sustainable life. There’s lots of information out there about how to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle, so in this post I’ll be focusing on how to apply that same philosophy to your witchcraft.

Steps to a more Earth-Friendly Practice:

Limiting your consumption will automatically lower your negative impact on the planet. Follow my previous guidelines for avoiding consumerism to start shrinking your carbon footprint.

Avoid plastic as much as possible. According to the WEF, 70% of our plastic ends up in a landfill or in the world’s waterways, and according to Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living Well, only 9% of household plastics get recycled. Plastic (unlike glass and metal) cannot be recycled indefinitely — it can only be recycled a handful of times before it becomes too degraded to be repurposed any further. There really is no way to make plastic safer for the planet, so it’s best to just avoid it altogether. Look for tools made of metal, wood, or glass instead of plastics, and try to order things shipped in paper and cardboard when possible.

Create spells that won’t leave leftovers. One of the big contributing factors to our current environmental crisis is that we just produce too much waste. You can avoid this in your magical practice by crafting spells that won’t leave you throwing away a big ball of candle wax, herbs, and paper. Kitchen magic is a no-brainer for this, since kitchen spells are meant to be eaten. If you want to do a candle spell, use small candles that will burn up completely — I find larger candles are more likely to leave leftover wax. Making magical bath salts is another great option for leftover-free spells — just make sure everything you include is safe to go down the drain and won’t contribute to water pollution!

Forage for your own spell materials. One of the best ways to avoid plastic packaging and cut down on emissions from shipping is to use materials from your backyard! Learn about the plants, animals, and minerals native to your area, and take regular nature walks where you can gather what you need. Remember to only take as much as you need and to be careful never to damage the plants you harvest from. Make sure to carefully disinfect any animals bits you pick up — you can do this by burying them in salt for a full moon cycle and/or setting them in the sun/under a UV light for several days. If you find a dead animal and want to strip and clean its bones for use in ritual, this is a much more involved process and will require special research, equipment, and lots of time. And, of course, never eat anything you have foraged unless you happen to have an advanced degree in botany.

Keep a magical garden. Another great way to connect with the planet and shrink your carbon footprint is to grow your own herbs, vegetables, and fruits. You can, of course, grow food for your kitchen if you have space, but even if you live in a tiny apartment you can grow a handful of magical herbs in pots. For a list of common houseplants and their magical associations, check out this post.

Shop for spell materials at a local farmer’s market. Buying local is a great way to avoid the environmental impact of shipping produce, and it allows you to support small farms. Farmer’s markets also typically carry seasonal produce, which can help you align your magical practice with the cycles of nature. Farmer’s markets are a great way to find seasonal fruits and vegetables for kitchen magic, but you can use the produce you find there for other types of spells as well.

Trade paraffin wax candles for beeswax or soy wax. Paraffin, the material used for most cheap candles, is a by-product of crude oil, which is not only highly unsustainable but contains carcinogens (chemicals that may cause cancer). Beeswax is a sustainable alternative, and beeswax candles produce a “clean” burn, meaning it does not negatively affect air quality. Soy wax is a slightly pricier, vegan-friendly sustainable option that also produces a clean burn.

Use undyed, unbleached paper for your written spells. The bleaches and dyes used in most commercially available paper have a toxic effect on the environment. Colored paper cannot be recycled or composted because it will contaminate everything it touches. Use plain, unbleached paper for your written spells, especially if you plan to bury them in the ground or dispose of them outside.

Make sure your essential oils are ethically harvested. Essential oils are tricky — although they are marketed as natural, many of them are produced through unsustainable methods. Because essential oils are concentrated, it may take thousands of pounds of plants to produce a single pound of oil. This can have a devastating impact, especially for endangered plants like white sage or palo santo. Look for ethically-sourced, wild-harvested essential oils — these are oils that are gathered from the wild in ways that don’t hurt the local ecosystem. Mountain Rose Herbs and Eden’s Garden are two brands that are committed to sustainable essential oil production.

Instead of burying a spell in a jar, bury it in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. Many traditions call for spells to be buried in the ground. Items like jar spells and witch bottles are traditionally buried on the witch’s property. The problem with this is that plastic and glass bottles do not biodegrade, and will remain in the ground for years. Instead of putting these materials in the ground, bury your spells in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. As a bonus, you can choose this item to support your intention. For example, you might use an apple for a love spell or a spicy pepper for protection. Just make sure everything inside the spell is also biodegradable!

Keep a compost pile as an offering to your local land spirits. Compost is an easy way to reduce food waste, and it gives your garden a boost! Even if you don’t have your own garden, you can give your compost to a fiend who does or look into donating it to a community garden. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” ingredients (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. Start your compost with a layer of brown — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil.

Make your own tea blends with loose herbs and a reusable tea strainer instead of buying teabags. Witches and tea go together like peanut butter and chocolate, but the individual wrappers on teabags create a lot of waste. On top of that, since many of these wrappers are dyed, they may not even be recyclable. Keep your teas earth-friendly by buying dried herbs in bulk and blending your own teas. Making your own blends is not only better for the planet, but also allows you to choose each ingredient for a specific magical intention.

Find ways to use your trash in your craft. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Instead of throwing things away, find ways to use them in your magic! Use food scraps from cooking, like carrot greens and potato peels, in spells. Turn an old shoe box into a travel altar. Add your coffee grounds to spells to ground them and manifest results in the physical world. You get the idea. Be creative!

Research different models for Earth-friendly living, like the zero waste/low waste lifestyle, sustainability, and the solarpunk movement. This will give you more ideas for a sustainable lifestyle, as well as a sustainable magical practice.

The funny thing about Earth-friendly living is that, the more time you spend taking care of the planet, the more connected you feel to it. I encourage you to try some of the ideas on this list — you’ll be amazed by how quickly you develop a deeper relationship with the Earth and all her creatures.

Resources:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says” from The Washington Post

A Sustainable Mind podcast

Practical(ly) Zero Waste podcast

[elegantshapeshifter]

.:: Defining Traditional Witchcraft ::.

What is Traditional Witchcraft?

According to Michael Howard, Trad Craft refers to “any non-Gardnerian, non-Alexandrian, non-Wiccan or pre-modern form of the Craft, especially if it has been inspired by historical forms of witchcraft and folk magic”.

Traditional Witchcraft, therefore, is not a single monolith. We can, in fact, distinguish between:

Operative Witchcraft or Folk Magic

Ritual(istic) Witchcraft

This first difference is taken from Margaret Murray; she used the first term for indicating the practice of magic, as carried out by cunning folk and folk magicians, and included the non-religious practice of spells, charms, divinations, etc. “whether used by a professed witch or by a professed Christian, whether intended for good or for evil, for killing or for curing. Such charms and spells are common to every nation and country, and are practised by the priests and people of every religion. They are part of the common heritage of the human race and are therefore of no practical value in the study of any one particular cult.” (The Witch-Cult, p. 11.)

The second term (also called “Dianic cult” by Murray) indicates, instead, “the religious beliefs and ritual of the people, known in late mediaeval times as ‘Witches’. The evidence proves that underlying the Christian religion was a cult practised by many classes of the community, chiefly, however, by the more ignorant or those in the less thickly inhabited parts of the country. It can be traced back to pre-Christian times”. Therefore we can say that Ritual Witchcraft is the cult of pre-Christian Deities or Spirits connected to the witches.

While the ideas of Murray about this cult have now been discredited, other scholars have reopened this field as a viable area of study, discovering many ecstatic witch-cults. The most known academics in this field are: Carlo Ginzburg, Éva Pócs, Emma Wilby, Claude Lecouteux, Wolfgang Behringer, Sabina Magliocco, Gábor Klaniczay, Gustav Henningsen and Bengt Ankarloo.

Relying on the work of these scholars, we can say therefore that Ritual Witchcraft was/is the religious system surrounding the Sabbath, the Procession of the Dominae Nocturnae from house to house, the spiritual flight, Elphame, the Wild Hunt, the Night Battles, etc.

As we can understand, even if the majority of the Ritual Witches were/are also Operative Witches (practitioners of Folk Magic), not all the Operative Witches were/are also Ritual Witches. The majority of Folk Magicians/Operative Witches, in fact, didn’t go to the Sabbath, didn’t astrally fly, didn’t astrally go with the Wild Hunt, from house to house with the Domina Nocturna, to Elphame/the Otherworld or to the Night Battles. Ritual Witches did.

We can say, therefore, that Operative Witchcraft is a practice, while Ritual Witchcraft is a religion.

Traditional Witches who are secular are, therefore, usually Operative and not Ritual Witches. While the distinction between Ritual and Operative Witchcraft is an established one in the Witchcraft community, I introduce a new, according to me useful, second distinction, inside Ritual Witchcraft (i.e. Witchcraft as a religion), by borrowing the terms “Revivalism” and “Reconstructionism” from Polytheism, in which it’s an already established terminology:

Hereditary Witchcraft

Revivalist Witchcraft

Reconstructionist Witchcraft

Hereditary Traditional Witchcraft brings together all the traditions that claim a lineage from the Witchcraft of the past.

Revivalist Traditional Witchcraft is inspired by folklore, trials and the figure of the witch without any presumption of hereditarity. Unlike the Reconstructionist one, it leaves ample space for personal initiative and the influence of other traditions, without slavishly following the history in every single detail.

Reconstructionist Traditional Witchcraft, finally, tries to resume, starting from the in-depth study of folklore, historical trials and documents, the exact practices and beliefs of Historical Witchcraft. For example, the pantheon of Spirits, the festivities, the structure of the Sabbath, the structure of the offerings, and so on.

An important aspect for those who practice Reconstructionism is the resumption of the names of the Gods (or it would be more correct to say, of the “Deific Familiar Spirits” or “Major Spirits”) forgotten and remained only in the trials papers and in folklore. The idea is to reopen roads, ways to these Spirits. Reconstructing therefore means paying homage to these Spirits and allowing those interested to re-establish a connection with Them.

We said before that Traditional Witchcraft is not Wicca. What’s the difference?

According to the Traditional Witchcraft author Lee Morgan:

“It could easily be said that one of the major differences between the modern revival referred to as “Traditional Witchcraft” and the other modern revival known as “Wicca”, is that Traditional Witchcraft draws on “folkloric material” and is largely “shamanic” whereas Wicca is more of a fusion of Western Occult ceremonial and natural magic traditions.”

(From: Lee Morgan’s “A Deed Without a Name: Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft”)

[breelandwalker]

Stealth Witch Tip - Digital Grimoires

So here’s a fun thing I just figured out during the construction of my digital grimoire.

If you use a Chrome browser and you scroll through sites like Sacred Texts or Project Gutenberg and you find something you like? You can open it in a new tab, Ctrl-P to print, and save the whole damn document as a PDF. Then you can pop it into your digital grimoire folder or save it to a drive and voila! Instant searchable source material for research, light reading, and citations.

This can also be done with some webpages. You may have to finagle a bit depending on the formatting on the page, but it could be a quick way to store up info sources without forgetting where they come from. Very helpful for good blog articles.

I’ve also been saving images for constellations, crystals, tasseography, tarot spreads, herb identification, and lots more. Not to repost elsewhere (although I’m saving a Read-Me file with their sources alongside them) but just for my own reference.

So if you don’t have / can’t have / can’t afford books, this can help you get started!

[tomorrow-tomorrow-blog1]

Australian Witchcraft: Plant Life

TEA TREE

tea tree oil is super antiseptic, which means its great for a natural first aid kit. tea tree oil is also great for witchcraft, like any strong oil. i use tea tree oil for spells in banishing or cleansing.

EUCALYPTUS

eucalyptus is pretty good. so eucalyptus can clear up a stuffy nose and sore throat. did you know the leaves can also be infused and used for people with a fever and chills? the more you know. i use eucalyptus in my craft for opening up the house (chuck some eucalyptus oil in hot water, mop the floors or clean some windows, youre all set) and warding off negative energy.

EURAH LEAVES

i’ve talked about Eurah leaves before but its just so cool! Eurah leaves have been found to have the same (THE SAME) strength as some antibiotics. HOLY SHIT GUYS THATS SO COOL!!!! anyway aside from the AWESOME antibiotic strength of these plants, i dont use them in my practice as of yet. do any of youse use them? and if so, what for? 

LEMONGRASS 

lemongrass is fantastic guys, not only is it great tea, making it awesome for kitchen witchcraft, it’s also super easy to grow. i personally think lemongrass enhances what is already there, so i reckon if youre feelin sexy and you have some lemongrass, youre gonna feel extra sexy. some reckon its also good for divination but ive never tried it for that. 

LEMON MYRTLE 

okay so lemon myrtle is hella because it has the highest concentration on citral in the world (that stuff that makes lemon smell like, well, lemon), yeah that’s right, more citral than LEMON. lemon myrtle can be used like lemongrass, its generally sort of sweeter and rounder tasting. i reckon tho that you can use lemon myrtle in place of lemon in any spell or potion to give it a little extra kick. 

alright so there is way more than what i have here but like, there is so much. if i get asked to do more, i shall but for now, here ya are. aussie plant life in witchcraft, bam. 

[auricwitch]

How Location and History Affect Spiritual Practices

So I’ve been feeling this for a long time, and I’m curious to see if anyone else feels the same.

I’m an Australian witch, born and raised down under. I started practicing witchcraft about three years ago. The first year or so of my practice was pretty smooth - I learnt about the basics: how to meditate, how to cast spells, pantheons and different belief systems. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the more witchcraft you practice, the more aware you become of energies around you. In my second year I began communicating with plants and animals through reading energy. It was then, when I started to advance beyond 101, that I encountered my problem.

I’m directly related to both convicts and officers who came to Australia on the First Fleet (the collection of ships that invaded and colonised Australia in 1788). I’m the most ‘Australian’ you can be without being Indigenous, and yet I’ve never felt connected to the land around me, because this land is not mine. My people have been here for about 200 years. Indigenous Australians have been here for about 50,000. Their spiritual practices are inseparable from their everyday life. Their connection to the land is part of their soul, which is why it was so devastating for Aboriginal people when the British invaded. Their land was stolen from them, industrialised and seen as an asset rather than something living. For Indigenous Australians, land is spoken of as a person. They speak to country, sing for country, long for country. This is not a bond my people can come close to understanding.

This is where my issue lies: I can engage with the land around me on a surface level. Spiritually, I can build a house here, but I do not feel that I can build a home. I know, on a deep level, that there are levels to the nature around me that I will never be able to explore. I’ve considered working with native plants and animals in my practice, but it feels wrong. The land here constantly reminds me that I am only a guest. Working with introduced plants like lavender and rosemary feels so much more natural than being in the presence of a gum tree. I know that, as much as I want to, I will never be able to fully develop my spiritual practice in Australia.

Recently, I went on a trip to Rome. I was curious to see if the energy there differed, and when I stepped off the plane it hit me like a truck. In Rome, you can feel the rising and falling of civilisations. The energy has movement in it, ancient tales to whisper in your ear. It was so different from Australia. Australia’s energy signature, to me, is linear. It has history, but that history is current. Its stories are still applicable, its sacred ground still in use. Rome gave me the feeling of treading through the dust of a fallen empire. Australia’s was still alive.

If I trace my family tree back further, I’m Scottish, with viking roots. I’m planning to go to Scotland at some point to see if my practice feels right there. Rome was different and interesting, but it wasn’t home either. Australian culture is familiar to me. After being in Rome long enough, I was homesick for the way I was able to subconsciously pick up on mannerisms from strangers in Australia. I was raised in Australia, so I understand the way it works. My spirituality is in conflict with my home country; but where my spirituality is at home, the rest of me is not.

Has anyone else, particularly witches who live in areas where Indigenous cultures have a strong connection to land (Australia, North America, etc.) felt this? What are your thoughts, your experiences?

p.s. I apologise if any of this seems jumbled or doesn’t make sense, I’m tired and this is mostly all word vomit. I tried to make it as coherent as possible.

[stormbornwitch]

I understand how you feel. I too am an Australian witch. I’m not an indigenous Australian or Torres Strait Islander so my connection to the land is different. But its still there.

I was born here but I started practicing witchcraft in the US because that’s where my family lived at the time. When my family moved back to Australia things were different in regards to my practice - certain herbs that I learnt to use didn’t grown here and the land, as you said, was alive - it’s history moving like a spiral through the landscape with past and present being felt in the one moment.

It’s hard reconciling a colonial heritage with a land that has been stolen from it’s traditional custodians. But it’s worth it.

Since being back in Australia my practice feels so much more in tune with the land, the ocean and the weather because this is my homeland too. Maybe not traditionally but that’s where my practice blends the traditions of my ancestors with the practices of the land while acknowledging that we still have a lot to learn from the traditional custodians of this land.

[durranmi]

I am Wiradjuri.

I can tell you with all my heart this is not a linear place. This land is ancient and hums with stories from before, now and will be. This sovereign place is its own creation, the land carries its history and knowledge differently. A sprial is a lovely way to describe it.

When you step onto country it is a sense of homecoming so deep in your marrow. A feeling of peace and power that I certainly never felt anywhere else. I have heritage in both free settler and convicts and when I walked some of their original lands it never felt like coming home, as a historian it was pleasant and thrilling to be in a place that had visible structural history, as a witch there where spirits that gathered and whispered to me but this was not the same as walking on country and having the knowledge of history hum inside your bones.

If you know whose land you are on you can start to learn about it. Meditation will only take you so far. Engage with the land by listening to the stories, learning the traditional names of places and things, learn where you are welcome and where is sacred and where you would be uninvited. Listen to elders and lore keepers when you have the chance and always know that it is Aboriginal land but you can learn and therefore your practice can grow with that knowledge.

[auricwitch]

Thank you for your response, this was really interesting and informative to read. If you have any other insights into your understanding of magic practice in Australia that you would be willing to share I would love to hear them.

[hexandbalances]

Inexpensive Yule Decorating

While I have never been very interested in the consumerist side to Christmas, as I get older I’ve rediscovered a great deal of joy in the celebrating the winter solstice. The act of making decorations, particularly with family or friends, brings a sense of warmth and meaning. I thought I might share some of the things I do throughout the month leading up to the solstice (with unaffiliated links to tutorials if you’d like to give it a try). The ephemeral, often foraged nature of these decorations encourages attention and presence in the moment, and requires little in the way of resources.

A garland of dried orange slices, star anise (bought in a ludicrously large bag from an international grocery store), clove, and cinnamon sticks, strung together with plain baker’s twine. Dehydrating orange slices in the oven has the added benefit of making your home smell wonderful. I have made a garland of cranberries in the past but it’s a sticky, staining business that requires a fine needle and thread and gentle handling.

Alternatively, use small cookie cutters to make simple shapes of discarded orange peel if you rather not waste the food.

A minimalist tree - Lowes and other garden centers/pop up tree farms often put cut offs in a bin that you can take from for free. A single branch with the right amount of foliage in a vase makes a lovely minimalist tree - especially decorated with $3 fairy/wire lights from Aldi’s or Target. Very good for apartment living.

That same bin at Lowes is where I collect cut offs to make live garlands or wreaths. This requires floral wire (~$3) for best results, and available floor space to assemble.

Scrap fabric garland - especially useful if you have a lot of “cabbage” left over that you don’t know what to do with. We made this for the first time this year and it was an exercise in “letting go” for me. I prefer precision, but my coven mate Has Absolutely No Time for That. Rather than try to direct things, she ripped strips of fabric and I tied them to a length of baker’s twine in random alternating colors (the “tedious” job in her opinion). It turned out much nicer this way by playing to each other’s strengths. I recommend it.

Salt dough ornaments. I haven’t had luck getting these to store successfully year to year so I’ve consigned myself to making them anew each time. The upshot is that salt dough has a great deal of versatility so I can try something new every year.

One year I did also accidentally make a brick-hard batch of Lebkuchen that, while lovely to look at, where utterly inedible. They made lovely gingerbread ornaments, though; I may do it on purpose this year.

Khaire ❄️🌲💀🖤

[theoakwitch]

How to Read More Books as a Witch

[stormbornwitch]

Stormbornwitch’s Prosperity Spell Bottle

This spell bottle contains my prosperity powder. This powder is ideal for drawing money, prosperity, and success. Just on its own, the powder could be sprinkled onto a burning candle, dusted around your home or workplace or you could even add some to a hot bath!

Prosperity Powder - Grind & Combine:

Eggshells for protection, prosperity and good fortune

Sage for helping you make wise decisions

Bay Leaves for prosperity and success

Basil for wealth and success

Peppermint for money, prosperity and abundance

Then the powder is poured into a jar or bottle. Attached to the jar/bottle is a bay leaf with the rune Fehu (wealth and prosperity) painted on it in silver paint.

Using knot magic, the bay leaf is attached to the jar/bottle and then a candle is affixed to the top of the jar so that the candle can be lit every time I need a little money to flow into my life. This little spell bottle works really well. I’ve even been asked to make one for my boss at work.

-          Marci

[stormbornwitch]

There are so many 'witchcraft' books available nowadays!

Now I know this is gonna make me sound old as shit but I gotta say it:

When I was started learning about witchcraft around 15 years ago, all 'witchcraft' books were wiccan books and they were all fucking awful. You might find 3 books in the back corner of a bookstore and they were all misinformation and blatant lies about history. You might also find a couple books about tarot, dream interpretation, healing crystals and natural remedies but that was IT. To find out any real information you had to do extensive research in historical and anthropological texts and academic journals.

So while there are thousands of 'witchcraft' books available nowadays (I saw 6 sitting on the same shelf as popular self-help books in KMART today)... they're all watered down and 'socially acceptable' spells for love, money and self acceptance....

Dont get me wrong, I'm thrilled that I dont have to hide my practice as much as I had to years ago but... a lot of the witches I meet now are swimming in the shallow part of the pool while thinking they're delving in the deep seas. This lack of understanding isn't their fault though, just as it wasn't mine when all I had was books that only shared personal gnosis and misinformation.

The problem with flooding the market with shallow 'witchcraft' books, is that these books don't really help new witches and they don't help experienced practitioners either. For newbies these books can touch on some of the basics while simultaneously giving the reader the impression that this book will tell them EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW. The majority of these books also don't help experienced practitioners because they either share a rehash of 'common knowledge' or they make witchcraft out to be this fluffy-bunny, white-washed, appropriating crap.

Now, I know that this post will likely offend people, and for that I apologise. This was simply a frustrated rant by a witch who has seen too many terrible 'witchcraft' books.

[slowpurgatory]

what books would you recommend?

[stormbornwitch]

Unfortunately, its not so easy to just recommend a list of books because it would be snippets from an entire library. I will elaborate:

The majority of my practice is built around history books, recorded folklore, academic journals and anthropological texts. My general rule of thumb is, if the author cannot bother to include a workes cited, end notes or any sort of referencing system to say where information originated from then it should all be considered personal gnosis. Which isn't wrong - it's a bit like reading a diary; it's a great primary source into the thoughts and perspective of the author but it can include misinformation and bias that they believe as fact.

Now, historical sources also can't be treated as gospel and have to be taken with a heavy pinch of salt because of academia's racist interpretations of history for the last hundred years. Another thing to consider is that the majority of people in academia who write papers and publish this information about historical witchcraft... don't practice witchcraft themselves so the lense through which they understand the material is skewed and can lead to misunderstandings.

So as I said at the start, no one book will give you a complete picture of witchcraft. Some will give context and primary sources. Some will give snippets of historical practice which can be misinterpreted due to either preconceived notions about what witchcraft 'should' be or personal biases of the author.

We are all human. We are all inherently opinionated and biased. This cannot be helped. That's why its important to read a wide variety of texts critically and then test out what you learned in practice. It is only through this gruelling back-and-forth process of in-depth research and personal practice can you grow in your practice.

I'm sorry there's no easy answer for you. I wish it was easier for people to learn witchcraft but I guess that's the real rite-of-passage isn't it; if you want to practice witchcraft you have to be willing to put in the time and hard work.

[ocean-again]

I’m going to suggest that if you wanna get good at witchcraft/magic the fist step you should really look into is learning a lot of science. like, don’t read witchcraft books, read everything else. hear me out:

people say “do research” but like, it’s not research if you’re just reading every witch book in the Barnes and Noble with no ability to tell when the author is talking out their ass or not. it’s important to be able to evaluate your sources and you can only do that if you have perspective from other disciplines, and it’s especially important with witchy stuff to stay grounded in reality.

I think it was the Caretaker of The Stars Skeleton talked about this a bit ago, but basically, meditating, spiritual stuff, all this can lead to a psychotic break even in people who aren’t predisposed to them. you need to stay connected to reality, to what is possible, if you are going to try and do these things on your own or with anybody else.

we’ve all met that weird intense and creepy pagan with rancid vibes who tries to like, touch your hands too much and make unblinking eyecontact because they are deffo trying to talk to you in your head. nobody wants to be around that person. if you wanna not become that person you gotta maintain your sense of perspective and stay grounded in reality.

the other thing you’re maintaining here is your ability to not get sucked into a cult or a folle a deux by maintaining your ability to say “that’s not real, that’s not how that works.” by having a rock-hard understanding of real physical reality, it maintains your ability to tell crazy people to fuck off.

but I’d say it also helps the efficacy of your spellcraft. don’t fuck around doing rituals on the beach with candles and junk, find out what kind of offering you can give the sea that will actually help (it’s bones and shells) and why (the sea needs it’s calcium back)

Botany! Geology! Ancient History! Astronomy! the depth and breadth of human knowledge is at your fingertips!

[stormbornwitch]

I agree, a strong foundation in history and the natural sciences can provide an excellent starting point for witches beginning to practice.

Also, you can't just leave a gem like this in the tags!

[lostinphases]

How To KonMari Your Spell Drawer

One of my favorite things to say is that witches are like magpies. We are attracted to shiny things. We are collectors. We love to search out things that match our aesthetics, interests, and practices and collect them in our homes. I think that’s lovely, especially since many of the things we collect come directly from nature (you don’t need to buy anything to be a witch).

But, there is a downside to the magpie nature of witches. If you’re not careful, your collection of spell supplies, knick knacks, books, and more can become a cluttered mess. And even if you tend to be organized, your “spell drawer” can quickly outgrow its designated space. 

Luckily, we can easily use a modified version of our favorite joy bringer Marie Kondo’s system of tidying our lives to tackle our witchy spaces. For the sake of actual examples and photos, I let my own magical space get a little out of hand, so I could share this with you.

First, the Drawer

So, let’s dive into it. The first thing we have to do is look at our magical spaces. Depending on your practices and how much stuff you have, you might have a spell drawer, a spell cabinet, etc. My main focus here was my spell drawer because that was the messiest area I needed to tackle, but I also went through the small shelf under my altar for this project. 

Pictured on the left is my spell drawer. This is a small drawer in my kitchen where I mostly keep herbs, flowers, oils, moon water, and things that I can use in the kitchen. I was also keeping most of my spell candles, and small bottles of crystals in here. On the right is my shelf which while not terribly disorganized wasn’t efficient because it was also a home for candles, flowers, and other miscellaneous things. 

The first step here? Find the places in your practice that need to be tidied and recognize that there needs to be change. You can walk by it every day and ignore it and never get anywhere. You need to look at the mess and say to yourself, “This needs to be fixed,” before you can ever begin to work.

Lay it ALL Out

If you know anything about KonMari, then you’ll recognize this step. Take every little thing that you need to reassess and reorganize and lay it out so you can see everything. Of course, when you are dealing with the actual KonMari system, you typically do this by category, but with witchcraft supplies, I’ve found that it’s easier to lay it all out together, just grouping like objects together in the larger pile. You’ll notice that I’ve put all of my candles together, all of my herbs together, etc.

The Tools

Since I knew that I was going to be reorganizing, I went out and got some containers (the round metal ones pictured above) from the dollar store to put my herbs in, but I also had this small bin, lots of small boxes, and my label maker already at home and perfect for this task. I found it useful to have a clear idea of all of the tools I had to use for this project as well as all of the things I actually needed to organize. 

Kill Your Darlings

Some of William Faulkners greatest advice to writers is to “you must kill all your darlings.” This, in a way, applies to cleaning. The KonMari system asks us to thank and discard things that no longer bring us joy, but I mention Faulkner’s quote simply because I know a witch’s nature. Joy is only part of it. You also need to move out anything that is just lingering energy that you need to get rid of. I needed to look at everything that I had and think about what I could still use and what was probably spent. 

For me, this meant tossing out half-burned spell candles, old (energetically stale) dressed tealight candles, sticks I knew I would never use, and on and on. They could all still bring me magical joy, and I probably could have recharged some of these things or devised a spell to make them useful, but they really just needed to be moved out. 

Divide and Conquer

Since I had two spaces to organize and put my various magical tools into, I made sure to keep in mind what would be most useful in each space.

My spell drawer is in the kitchen, so anything that can go into tea or food should be in that drawer. I also included the small bottles of crystals since I often use those with the herbs to make spell jars and bottles. The herbs went into the metal containers and I labeled them and put them in the drawer alphabetically. The containers are better for storing the herbs because they hold so much air which makes them take up extra space, but I did roll up the bags and keep them because I can reuse them to get more herbs at my local witchy store instead of accumulating more.

The shelf is under my altar, so it is the perfect place to keep anything that I might be burning. This meant that all candles, incense, lighters, charcoal disks, etc. went in there. (Of course, herbs can be burned too, but it made more sense for me to keep them closer to the kitchen than to my altar.) I also reorganized my books, journals, and tarot card boxes on this shelf. 

Cleanse and Celebrate!

With everything cleaned, I cleansed both spaces to complete the whole process. Afterward, I felt like a weight had lifted and practicing magic has been easier since. Everything is in sight and can be easily accessed for whatever spell, ritual, or recipe I’m working on that day.

I think, overall, this took an hour or two, but I was also taking pictures and notes for this article, so for a space this size, I would say it probably takes an hour. Regardless of the size of your space and collection of tools, just leave yourself time and put as much of yourself into this as you would any other ritual, and you’ll likely find it goes well.

[breelandwalker]

A collection of free-use texts on witchcraft, magic, and related topics. Shared with Dropbox

Hello, witches! Since I’m always harping on about learning your history and checking your sources, I thought I’d help folks get a head start by compiling some source material.

To that end, I’ve started a Dropbox folder with a stash of historical texts on witchcraft, magic, and related topics. Nearly everything I’ve managed to find so far is public domain (thank you Project Gutenberg), with the exception of a very thorough herbal grimoire I found online some years ago and a book of witchcraft from the 1970s that appears to be out of print.

I will be continuing in this vein with future texts that I find. Everything will be public domain or cited to the source that it came from, in PDF format. I will NOT be including PDFs of any book currently in circulation with a copyright linked to a living author or estate. The point of this folder is that everything in it should be free for sharing and open use as research materials.

Below is the initial list of titles. I tried to include as many as I could find, with a focus on some oft-cited classics. I will be adding new texts as I find them.

A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by David Webster (1820)

A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718, by Wallace Notestein (1909)

British Goblins, Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions, by Wirt Sikes (1880)

Curiosities of Superstition, by W. H. Davenport Adams (1882)

Daemonologie, by King James I/VI (1597)

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, Edited and Selected by W. B. Yeats (1888)

Irish Witchcraft and Demonology, by St. John Drelincourt Seymour (1913)

La Sorcière, or The Witch of the Middle Ages, by Jules Michelet (1863)

Lives of the Necromancers, by William Godwin (1834)

Magic and Fetishism, by Alfred C. Haddon (1906)

Magic and Witchcraft, by Anonymous (1852)

Modern Magic, by M. Schele de Vere (1873)

Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics, by Richard Folkard (1884)

Practical Psychomancy and Crystal Gazing, by William Walker Atkinson (1908)

The Devil in Britain and America, by John Ashton (1896)

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, by Reginald Scot (1594, 1886 reprint)

The Extremely Large Herbal Grimoire (date unknown, internet publication)

The Golden Bough : A Study of Magic and Religion, by Sir James George Frazer (1890)

The Illustrated Key to the Tarot, by L.W. de Laurence (1918)

The Magic of the Horse-shoe, by Robert Means Lawrence (1898)

The Mysteries of All Nations, by James Grant (1880)

The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy, by Charles John Samuel Thompson (1897)

The Superstitions of Witchcraft, by Howard Williams (1865)

The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut by John M. Taylor (1908)

The Wonders of the Invisible World, by Cotton Mather and A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches, by Increase Mather (1693, 1862 reprint)

Witch Stories, by E. Lynn (Elizabeth Lynn) Linton (1861)

Witch, Warlock, And Magician, by W. H. Davenport Adams (1889)

Witchcraft & Second Sight in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, by John Gregorson Campbell (1902)

Witches’ Potions & Spells, ed. by Kathryn Paulsen (1971)

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that these texts are (with few exceptions) more than a century old, and may contain depictions, references, or language that are outdated and inappropriate. The point of including these documents is to provide access to historical texts for research and reference. Inclusion in the collection does not equal unconditional agreement with or wholesale approval of the contents.

Take everything with a grain of salt and remember to do your due diligence!

Happy Witching!   -Bree

[breelandwalker]

Additional texts added 12/31/20:

A Compleat History of Magick, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, by Anonymous (1715)

A True and Faithful Relation of What Passed for Many Yeers Between Dr. John Dee and some Spirits, by John Dee (1659)

Crystal Gazing, by Northcote W. Thomas

Malleus Maleficarum, or Hammer of the Witches, trans. Montague Summers (1486, 1928 translation)

Occult Science in Medicine, by Franz Hartmann (1893)

The Book of Ceremonial Magic, by A.E. Waite (1913)

The Complete Herbal, by Nicholas Culpeper (1652, 1850 reprint)

The Devils of Loudun, by Edmund Goldsmid (1887)

The History of Witchcraft and Demonology, by Montague Summers (1926)

The Old English Herbals, by Eleanour Sinclair Rohde (1922)

Many of these were retrieved from Global Grey Ebooks, which I suggest visiting for more information.

[stormbornwitch]

Witchcraft in a nutshell...

Secular Witchcraft, when you boil it down is the act of casting spells /rituals/ glamours/ charms/ hexes/ curses etc. to bring about action.

Within these spells/ rituals/ glamours/ charms/ hexes and curses are symbolic components which represent your desired outcome.

These symbolic components are not necessary. Period. You can cast spells without them but they help. They help you visualise clearly the outcome you want.

For example, imagine a stream. You want to get to the other side. You could run and jump to the other side but it would be harder than walking a little bit downstream and taking the stepping stones safely to the other side.

The symbolic components within a spell act as stepping stones but it's important to recognise that you could jump the stream without the stepping stones especially if you practiced.

This is witchcraft. At the start it's hard and you worry about doing spells perfectly and including all the spell ingredients down to the letter. You may not know why the spell says to include rosemary but you include it anyway. As you grow and develop in your practice you will be able to tweak spells and start developing your own. You will be able to easily hop across the stream and maybe even lend a helping hand to others trying to get across.

[grimoirebabylon]

“How do spells work if there are so many different spells to cause the same effect?” one might ask.  The answer that witches give is often, “Well, the intention is what really matters,” in which cause you might wonder what the point of ingredients is at all.  Can you really replace every herb with rosemary and have the exact same result as if you used what was called for?  People may have different answers to this, but here’s what I think.  The rules of magic don’t really follow logical structures that we are used to. Magic in particular tends to be difficult to quantify, difficult to study in a laboratory setting, and the effects are difficult to reproduce. That doesn’t make it definitively not real but it means that we have to look at it through a different lens than we are used to.  I am a programmer, and I make analogies to programming a lot. When I was first learning to program, I had an incredibly difficult time with the learning curve. Of course I know now how consistent the logic of programming languages is - but despite the consistency, it is an entirely different way of thinking than the way we think about problem solving in human languages. Both ways of thinking about data have their own structures, but learning to think a different way can be incredibly difficult. People may also encounter this difficulty when learning a human language with a wildly different grammar. 

We don’t really know a lot of things about magic or why it works, and that is why there isn’t a really good, logically consistent answer to these kinds of questions. Maybe intention matters, but maybe the proximity of intention to certain ingredients matters. Maybe the timing matters. Or maybe these are all just dressings to active some force - of the universe or of our own minds - that we don’t know we don’t know about yet.  Maybe some things are just coincidences, and we can’t separate out which things are coincidences and which things are meaningfully caused. Some things are demonstrably placebos - but to most people it will not matter anyway, so long as they get the effect they want.  Witches end up feeling things out. And part of the reason everything is so individualized and non-straightforward is because different things seem to work for different people. But we don’t necessarily know why that is. So witchcraft becomes a craft of sifting through information, trying things, discovering things, and alighting on different things that seem to work for the individual practitioner. And as their magic becomes more advanced, it becomes more difficult to articulate hows, whats, and whys.  A lot of my magic is based on wishing superstitions. I have no idea why, but the trappings of those things work for me. If I ask for something while blowing all of the seeds off a dandelion, it will happen. I can’t just make that seem wish at nothing and have it come true. Does it activate some power in me? Is it based on my own belief? Is it because I was born in February? The reason why this works for me and not for other people could be any number of reasons, but I don’t have a good way of studying those reasons. Meanwhile putting herbs and stones in a jar really seems to work for some people, but doesn’t seem to do much for me at all.  So the answer to the questions I asked at the beginning is basically: no one really knows. People have guesses that are hard to prove or disprove. But plenty of science-minded or skeptical people like myself still engage in the practice of magic because there are discernible patterns to some things - and witchcraft is a search to discover one’s own patterns.

[mindfulmagics]

I like to look at it like baking (which isn’t a perfect example but roll with me here)

There’s a million and one recipes out there for “the BEST chocolate chip cookie.” It’s all highly subjective and everyone has their favorite recipe. Mine uses cinnamon. For the most part, they all have a pretty similar basic structure to get roughly the same thing: eggs, flour, butter, sugar, baking powder/soda, chocolate chips, etc

Now, you can change those things around. You can swap out the eggs for something else if you’re vegan, but if you leave them out completely you’re going to get something more like chocolate chip shortbread (my shortbread recipes don’t use egg so if yours does ignore this). You can change the flour to meet your allergies and use gluten free or coconut or almond flour, but if you leave the flour out completely you have a very odd egg mixture that might be a little like a quiche but I’ve never made quiche so I’m guessing there, and if you leave out the flour AND the egg, you basically have a chocolate chip frosting (I’m simplifying here)

But if you take out the chocolate chips/swap the chocolate chips for raisins, you have a completely different cookie, which probably won’t be bad but it won’t be chocolate chip

That’s kinda how I look at spells (which is also partly because I do a ton of kitchen witchcraft). There’s going to be one that fits your needs better and it’s super individualized so the one that works for you might not suit someone else. But if you’re going to take a spell that worked for someone else and start swapping out or leaving out ingredients, you should probably be careful not to make frosting or raisin cookies when you wanted chocolate chip cookies. If you don’t have the ingredients and you want to do that spell, there’s a ton of spells out there! You can find one you like that you can get the ingredients for more easily, or maybe you already have them or you find one that doesn’t need a ton of ingredients that actually fits your needs better

(Also a lot of cultures probably have similar recipes to the one you’re looking for, like different types of dumpling-like foods or flatbread or noodle recipes, but if you can’t find the right spices, your recipe won’t taste right even if you follow the recipe exactly, and sometimes they left out steps in the recipe that you learn from watching grandma cook but never actually write down, which is a hella oversimplified way of saying that when you’re trying to do magic from a culture that is closed/partially closed/one you’re unfamiliar with because you had to learn it from someone who knows what they’re doing you probably won’t do it right because you’re missing vital information)

[where-lies-the-strangling-fruit]

Witches of Tumblr, what are your go to books about herbs/plants/flowers?

Yesterday I learned my backyard is home to purple ground ivy and its place within herbal witchcraft and herbal medicine was fascinating so I want to continue this journey. Obviously I know a few herbs and plants that are good for certain things but I really want to educate myself deeply!

I was looking into the Green Witch but really all and any suggestions are welcome for a beginner such as myself.

[breelandwalker]

-slams mug down on the table and stands- MY TIME HAS COME.

….Ahem. Yes, I think I can help.

I’m a huge proponent of pairing magical education with mundane learning, both for safety and for context. Thus, books on plants, for spells and medicine alike, make up a big part of my library.

For the sake of convenience, I’ll break down my recs into two categories:

GREEN WITCHCRAFT

Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Cunningham) 

Garden Witchery (Dugan)

The Garden Witch’s Herbal (Dugan)

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Hopman)

The Real Witches’ Garden (West)

The Hearth Witch’s Compendium (Franklin)

The Hearth Witch’s Kitchen Herbal (Franklin)

The Green Witch Herbal (Griggs)

PRACTICAL HERBOLOGY

The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines (Fetrow & Avila)

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (Carr)

Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Peterson Field Guides)

Edible Wild Plants (Peterson Field Guides)

Herbal Remedies (Chevallier)

The New American Herbal (Orr)

The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook (Green)

I also have a few other books that deal with practical gardening techniques and plant-related folklore, which I’m happy to provide upon request.

Please keep in mind that everything should be read with common sense and a grain of salt in mind. I have a lot more books that I refer to, but these are the ones I find myself reaching for most often.

Hope this helps!

[upthewitchypunx]

A Compendium of Herbal Magick by Paul Bayerl

For a really great free resource I suggest Maude Grieves Modern Herbal available online here.

Green Witch by Arin Murray-Hiscock

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

I agree with Bree on the Cunningham book and the Ellen Dugan books and local field guides.

For the next step:

The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth

Corinne Boyer Books (Plants of the Devil, Under the Bramble Arch, Under the Witching Tree)

Veneficium: Magic, Witchcraft, and the Poison Path by Daniel Schulke

Any of the rad Dave Pendell books

[theatsymbol-deactivated20210220]

Its such a rip off that flowers don’t taste good

[recoil-operated-deactivated2021]

Spoken like a woman who’s never used garlic blossom in a stirfry, had an elderflower fritter or used Calendula and Nasturtium in a salad.

[theatsymbol-deactivated20210220]

I have not but im going to now

Add pics of the tasty flowers plz

[recoil-operated-deactivated2021]

garlic blossoms (allium) balls of tiny flowers, may be white to deep purple. literally just the flowering head of the garlic you use in food. it tastes like garlic. but colorful.

elderflower, the blossom of the elderberry bush. can be battered and fried. excellent with elderberry syrup or honey. tastes fruity with a tiny hint of anise. also good in teas and sweets.

Calendula, also known as pot marigold. (please, verify you’re using pot marigold, not regular marigold. calendula is actually a daisy.) tastes similarish to bell pepper, sans crunch. leaves are also edible. should be grown with broadleaf plantain:

as a poultices of calendula and plantain can be used to rapidly heal small cuts and scrapes, and are also helpful for other dermatitis. don’t use it on deep wounds though, as it can and will cause the surface skin to heal before the underlying tissues. all of broadleaf plantain is also edible. if bitter.

Nasturtium ranges in color from bright yellow to deep red. it’s peppery and very slightly spicy.

[glumshoe]

Personally I love squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta and fried in a pan. Not ideal if you also want to harvest squash, though.

[3gallopingdogs]

Elderflowers also make great wine or cordial! I concur with the squash blossoms, can always just use the male ones so the female flowers can still form fruit.

[blackwoolncrown]

Finally a thread for the REAL folks: those who eat flowers

[therestlesswitch]

Borage! Looks like blue stars and tastes a like lightly sweet cucumber. The young leaves tase like cucumber too!

The flowers that come from any brassica (cabbage, radishes, broccoli, kale, etc) are all excellent and taste like the rest of the plant.

Queen Anne’s lace blossoms, (daucus carota, just like our domestic carrots) super common wild plant, and the flowers make a jelly that tastes kind of like pink lemonade?? It’s /delicious./ but make 100% sure you have a correct identification as water hemlock and other toxic species look similar.

Rose!!! Rose flavoured things taste exactly as they smell. So scrumptious!

Same with lavender and lilac, and violets! The list goes on! 🤩✨🌱

[heatherwitch]

Here are some of my local (PNW) favorites:

[X] Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) blossoms are excellent in fritters.

[X] Dandelion (Taraxacum offinale) is also excellent in fritters, or my favorite is separating the petals and mixing them into pancake batter.

[X] Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) flowers have a delicate, lettuce-like taste.

[X] Oregon grape (Berberis/Mahonia aquafolium) flowers are delightfully sour. I like to pick off a few small flowers from the cluster!

[X] Wood sorrel (Oxalis sp.) also sour (from oxalic acid).

[X] Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is mildly sweet.

When eating wild plants, you should be completely certain in your identification and aware of any lookalikes. Be sure you are allowed to harvest and that the area has not been sprayed by any chemicals. Many of these plants are also medicine, so you should be sure that you can safely ingest them (do your research before putting things in your face pls). This was just intended to get them on your radar!

Resources for plant identification.

[unseelie-witch]

Roses are delicious. Lavender is delicious.

[farsailing]

(Vegetable) pea flowers are also edible, though then you don’t get the actual pea. Sweet pea flowers are Not edible though so y’know, be careful.

IIRC some fruit blossoms are edible as well but again, you don’t get the fruit. (most famously cherry blossom but that depends on the species I think? so I wouldn’t unless you’re sure of the species). I like blueberry flowers

Nettle and dead nettle flowers are edible, but I can only personally vouch for common nettle and spotted dead nettle, not sure if all species are edible.

[redfacesmiley]

Adding to this!

Dandelion petals are excellent to bake with, the person above said pancakes but I’ve made a pretty good shortbread. Just fish out as much green as you can as that’s very bitter.

Pansies are edible and brighten up a salad

I think you can also use queen anne’s lace for flavoring but have never tried it

Also hosta tips taste like discount green beans! They’re bitter, but you can season them.

[norsesuggestions]

there pretty wild and complicated spelling rules of viking period runes in sweden

thought i would show a lesson in rune text writing with the source the swedish heritage found (riksantikvarieämbetet) written by Magnus Källström. direct link to original text.

i am in this text summing up what he wrote in english.

this rune stone with name: “Sö 194″ in Ytterselö parish, Södermanland, Sweden look like this.

read the text from the head and you get:

transliterate them to the latin alphabet and you get:

still not how they actually spoke old norse!

wherehas one THEN do a transcribtion of the previous text which become:

then! to modern swedish:

“Ingemund och Tjälve de reste denna sten efter Torkättil, sin fader.“

english translation:

“Ingemund and Tjälve has risen this stone after Torkättil, their father”.

the writer of the article also mention that with personal names, they in sweden has as praxis to, when writting the name in modern swedish, has as a praxis to change the names to modern swedish names form.

that is, to write them as if the names survived to modern swedish, even if they did not. therefore this happens with the 3 names mentioned in this text.

translation names: ekimunr, þalfi,  þurktil

transcribed names: Ingimundr, þalfi, þōrkætl

modern swedish: ingemund, Tjälve, Torkättil

the writer of the article, Martin Källström, explains the reasoning behind this changing the spellings of the names, is to foremost go to preserved names forms that are still in use. ingemund is a name still in use during modern times and torkättil, while a archaic form of the modern name torkel, have still been in use when the latin alphabet did its breakthrough in sweden. therefore we already have a standard for how to spell those names.

tjälve on the other hand, we do not have version preserved with latin letters, wherehas the rune text interprenter most decide how to write those names themselves.

just to give some more background to how i believe he thinks when translating names to modern swedish.

this are just from my guesses as a native swedish speaker, magnus källström do not go deeper into exactly why the names are spellt so differently in modern swedish.

but just some general notes on modern swedish vs old norse, to understand why some of these differences are logical.

modern swedish, in oppisition to old norse, is that modern swedish has (almost) no dipthongs (in most dialects). æ, which originally was a dipthongs consisting of a and e, with time became the non-diphtong ä (well for people who do not speak my stockholm accent lmao. we stronly do not believe ä exist, and hardly prounance it like that).

we also do not anymore þ sounds, which has been changed to T in most words. therefore magnus källströms translated. with æ= ä and þ=t þōrkætl= Torkättil

also the two tt in torkättil har there because of modern swedish spelling rules. 2 tt= a short vowel before it.

Source

Att läsa runor och runinskrifter. by magnus källström. published at riksantikvarieämbetet (the swedish heritage found). riksantikvarieämbetet is the the deperment that have the main responbility of taking care of the pre-historical rune texts in sweden. link: https://www.raa.se/kulturarv/runor-och-runstenar/att-lasa-runor-och-runinskrifter/