a-side-of-witchery

[a-side-of-witchery]

Things my Granny taught me.

Sometimes I will say or do something and my husband will give me the strangest looks. Over the years I think he’s come to accept my quirks without question, but I wonder if any of y'all have any traditions/superstitions that were passed down through your family. Here are some of mine:

Never sweep after the moon has risen. If your nose is itching, you’ll soon have good company. If a broom falls over on its own, you’ll have unwanted company. Never say thank you for plants given or they will die. If you drop a pair of scissors and they stick into the floor, don’t pick them up until they fall over. (I don’t know what would happen if you did.) Never lend a needle or salt… charge a penny each. Keep an amethyst by your bed to ward off bad dreams. If you tell your dreams before breakfast, they won’t come true. If the stuffing of your pillow forms a ring, a death is near. Put a piece of wedding cake under your pillow and you’ll dream of your future spouse. A mirror laying flat under a full moon will show you what you need to see. Prick the corners of your bread dough to “let the fairies out” so that the bread will rise high. Bad luck comes in threes. Paint your window sills blue to keep bad spirits away. They can’t cross water, so the color tricks them. Alternately, you can keep a bottle tree in your yard to capture them. When the sun rises, they’ll be banished. Copper by your door will keep insects away. Rain on a wedding day is good luck. If it rains while the sun is shining, the devil is beating his wife. Red sunrise means rain is on the way. Cows lying down means bad weather is coming. You can find clean water by looking for crawdads. Carved wooden spoons given to a new bride ensures a happy marriage. Bread, candles, and salt are traditional housewarming gifts. Hang a horseshoe over the door with the open side up to catch good luck. Rainwater caught during a full moon will cure warts. (among other things) Keep rosemary in the garden to ensure a thrifty home.

The rational part of me knows that most of these are just superstitions. Still, that doesn’t stop me from grabbing an umbrella when the cows are laying down, and making sure my floors are clean before dark. I know I’m not alone, either, because my aunt gives me clippings from her garden all the time and always says “you know what not to say” and I always assure her that I do! :)

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I don’t see why they say the gods are gone

The gods were never gone, they were never dead. The only thing that changed was that we stopped listening.

We still have the weather, thunder and rain. Zeus calls down his storms both in peace to keep our lives safe, and in anger to wreak destruction. We might be better at predicting what is coming, but if the rain stopped coming, what would we do? We depend on the rain, and fear the storm.

More than 90% of the world’s trade comes by the sea. Poseidon watches over the sailors on the oceans, gives to fish to those who hunger, and gives protection to more than half of the life on the world, guarding the oceans and rivers.

Death is still is a part of our lives. When we die, Charon takes us across the rivers of the Underworld, and we face our fates. Hades still watches over the sick, giving strength and life to those still with work left undone, and guards those who find their end, judging them as befitting their deeds.

Love is as strong as before. Love still finds it’s way, no matter how we might try to crush it under a world of apathy and industry. Aphrodite finds those that need love in their lives, and she gives them the courage to take their leaps. Young couples still find Eros, families find their Storge, and marriages find their Pragma.

Homes are still as strong, and as broken as ever. Hera gives lovers the strength to overcome their problems, the endurance to see past the faults in those they love to find the perfection inside. She guards the children of broken homes, and shows the light to those that need it in their lives, to build their own families.

Warfare has changed drastically, coming at longer ranges, but war is as terrible as ever. Ares gives his strength to the weary legs of a soldier on march, and stills the nervous hands gripping at a rifle. He gives life to the wounded, and courage to the broken.

War is bigger now, more complicated. General staffs spend years drawing and redrawing their plans, preparing the perfect ideas to spare the world as much horror as they can. Athena gives wisdom to her field marshals, her officers, that they might know the best path.

Food is needed for every single person in the world. Demeter gives us a bountiful, full harvest so that we might not starve. She holds the hand of those working in the scorching fields, that their work may not be for nothing. She protects the abused animals in the factory farms, and she feuds with her brothers and sisters so that their wrath may not destroy the harvest.

Creation is an essential part of life. Hephaestus watches over not only the smiths, but the writers, the artists and every other smith of creation. He watches men build their battleships, lay the bricks of their buildings that might touch the sky, and the production of that which might not only keep us alive, but to make us prosper.

The gods aren’t gone, and they haven’t forgotten any of us. Even if we stop listening, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.

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Historically Accurate Offerings to the Theoi

Zeus

Oak

Carnations

Olive branches

Styrax incense

Eagle, bull, swan images

Hera

Lilies

Peacock feathers or images

Pomegranate

Incenses

Cuckoo images

Athena

Olive branch/oil/fruit

Weavings

Myrrh incense

Perfume

Owl images

Apollon

Laurel

Red roses, sunflowers

Frankincense (manna) incense

Palm tree

Raven, swan, wolf, mouse, dolphin images

Artemis

Cedar, palm and cypress trees

Tokens of deer

Jasmine

Myrtle, white flowers

Frankincense (manna) incense

Amaranthus

Peanut

Wormwood

Deer, dog, bear, partidge, quail images

Hestia

Incenses

Chaste-tree

Pig images

Poseidon

Sea anemone

Myrrh incense

Pine

Bull, dolphin, horse images

Dionysos

Ivy

Grape vine

Pine

Styrax incense

Leopard, panther, donkey, bull images

Hermes

Tongue-shaped tokens

Rosemary, saffron

Almond tree and pine tree

Frankincense and styrax incense

Mint (for Kthonios epithet)

Cow, ram, hawk, turtle, hare images

Wild strawberry (purslane)

Ares

Bronze weapons

Frankincense (manna) incense

Swan, vulture, dragon/poisonous snake, owl images

Aphrodite

Roses, myrtle, anemone (poppy)

Quince

Apple, pomegranate

Perfumes and fragrances as incense

Dove, goose, sparrow, turtle images

Hephaistos

Daisies

Frankincense (manna) incense

Donkey, dog, crane images

Asklepios

Frankincense (manna) incense

Bread

Serpent, dog, goose, rooster images

Pan

Pine, beech trees

Fern

Wild flowers

Herbs burnt as incense and the smell of perfumes

Reeds

Goat, turtle images

Demeter

Poppy

Tokens of pigs

Styrax incense

Mint (for Kthonia epithet)

Wheat

Dove, bee, pig images

Persephone

Asphodel

Wheat

Hades

Pitchfork

Pomegranate

Daffodil

Styrax incense

Dried laurel leaves

Poplar, cypress trees

Mint

Daffodil

Hekate

Saffron

Rosemary

Garlic

Red Mullet

Amphiphon (candy)

Styrax incense

Dry laurel leaves

Oak

Ferret, dog, bull, lioness images

Source: LABRYS’ Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship and Theoi.com

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I want to put a protection spell on the first page of my spell book so that if someone reads it w/o my permission nothing will work for them or it will backfire. My idea is one protection spell (like, writing) in the middle and a bunch of sigils around it. Is there such a thing as “too many” sigils? Also, do u have a spell for me to write on it? Thank u

Is there such a thing as too many sigils. That’s actually a really, really good question. Here’s my take on the matter. Sigils are often made up of affirmative and short statements of intent so while you absolutely can use multiple different sigils, like “this book is protected from prying eyes” or “this book’s secrets are hidden to anyone but me,” you need to make sure that you’re not giving too many instructions that could possibly contradict each other. So, yes, you can use multiple different sigils but make sure you’re not overloading your book with any contradicting instructions. I also recommend covering the sigils once they’re in the book just because a lot of sigils work best passively - after you’ve activated it you dispatch it (through covering, burning, whatever). As for a written/chanting type spell I don’t often use them preferring to state my goal verbally as straightforwardly and specifically as I can. Still, maybe something along the lines of “this book is protected against all those who would seek to use it for ill, its secrets and knowledge are guarded against strangers and wandering eyes. this book is sealed against trespass and shall yield only sorrow for all transgressors” - But, like I said, I don’t often write spells like that.  Here’s a grimoire protection spell  and another that you might find helpful though. 

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This is possibly the coolest video I’ve ever taken.

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spoonie + closet + travel witches, heads up! :D

☆ sigil pockets witch circle ☆

what you need only once:

sealing wax and stamp

candle and spoon

paper, pen, scissors

a coin, if it helps you

instructions:

create each one simple sigil for representing the 5 elements

draw each sigil in coin size on paper and cut them out round

heat up your wax with a spoon and candle and start creating

when all five sigil pockets are done you can start charging!

☆ charge your sigil pockets ☆

☆ create the witch circle ☆

align your sigil pockets as if you would draw a star like the usual witch circle. now you can charge items or do spellwork with the power of the elements by putting said item into the middle of your circle (yes that’s a pineapple):

☆ tips and tricks ☆

perfect for every wallet, purse or travel altar box bc small

you can hide them pretty easily if you’re a closet witch

if someone throws them away, they are easy to replace

use a waterproof pen so they don’t smudge when you charge

easy method to carry around representations of the elements

perfect for low spoons bc once created they only need charging

happy crafting ♡♡♡ i hope this is fun or helpful for some people ^____^

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Easy Witchy Things to do

-Spelled bath salts in your night bath to lift mental and physical exhaustion of the day. I recommend a recipe with frankincense, geranium and rosemary in it as they aid in purification of body, spirit and soul but you can customize for your needs. You can do SOOOOO  many things in the bath. Imma do another post on this.

-Rose hip tea before bed to bring prophetic dreams.

-Rosemary/athame placed beneath the pillow to protect from nightmares and psychic attacks.

-Incense of lavender. Or a candle dressed in lavender oil. Or lavender fragrance oil on your pulse points. Whatever is more feasible to you. Lavender, promotes peaceful sleep.

-Keep a dream journal. Meditate for a few as soon as you wake up and record everything you recall in the journal for reflection.

-Do a card pull for the day ahead. Tarot or oracle. Your choice.

-Brew tea in the morning. I like green tea. Its simple. Its available. Most importantly, its cheap.

-The house you live in is an entity too. Clean it up a little. It can be something as simple as vacuuming, floorwash, dusting windows, changing curtains, letting in some sun, hanging wind chimes, vastu or feng shui, sprinkling infused water, smudging…..you get it. 

-Water your plants. Talk to them. Sing to them. See if anyone is sick and needs attention. Plants like that. Bond with your plants and they will aid you more.

-I like to shower in the morning  (I’m Indian and terrified of my mother. Also. Hygiene.) Visualize the water infusing you with its flow and clarity to help you flow and be clearheaded throughout the day.

-Eat breakfast with intention. You are what you eat. Do not put trash in your tummy. It messes with your frequency. I like to stick to apples and milk/coffee. 

-Wear clothes with intention too. Colors are a massive force in our lives and aid in our purpose. Wear red for passion, confidence, sensuality and resoluteness. I like to wear at least one red item everyday.

-Nail polish, if that’s something you’re into. You can incorporate color magic by doing this too if you do not wish to wear colored attire or if its not your style.

-Put a fragrance oil/itr (pronounce:EEH-tr) on you with. I like to put jasmine on me. It corresponds with divination, sensuality, confidence and luxury.

-Jewellery. Period. Rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, anklets…intention people. Intention is your best friend. For my broom-closeted witches, this is an excellent way to mask your crystals in plain sight. Crystals are pretty and jewellery goes unsuspected. Amethyst ring? Lapis studs? Pearl bracelet? Obsidian pendant? Crystal magic!!!

-Enchant your makeup if you use any.

-Put pre-energized yantras/glyphs on the inside of your laptop bag/school bag/work bag to promote clarity and fluidity in work.

-Enchant your pens/brushes/pencils/tools of trade for productivity and efficiency.

-Carry snacks with you. Dried drupes, berries and fruits are fulfilling and keep you in touch with earth. Also, cuz they’re snacks.

-Eat your food.

-When you get back home, shed you’re clothing and visualize all the weight of the day going with it.

-I like to have a post-work day shower too. Again, visualize the water carrying away your woes with it.

-Brew your post-work tea. Chai is a very good option. I brew it in milk and add a host of powders/roots to it. Nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, grated ginger and cardamom are my favorites in any season. They promote positivity, good energy, relaxation, healing and peace.

-Listen to your favorite music.

-Do something artistic. Maybe paint, sculpt, write, sing out loud, freestyle….whatever you like.

-Read and research. I like to update by grimoire everyday. I, like many other witches, believe that my grimoire is a living entity and needs attention in order to flourish. You don’t have to do a lot. Just research for a couple minutes and write down your notes in it. It don’t have to be fancy.

-Bathe

-Tea! Again!

-Incense

-Sleep my little birdie.

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Magickal Uses for Kisses

A kiss is a very powerful thing, even in fairytales and lore of the past the power of kisses are told of (true love’s kiss, siren/mermaid kiss, first kiss, etc). a kiss can be a powerful tool for any witch. Here are a few suggestions for using kisses and the power they hold.

Use a kiss to charge objects: crystals, tarot cards, charms, amulets, etc etc. Use it to send your emotions and energy into the object. Love is a good emotion, but any positive energies you wish to charge the object with can be transferred this way. Adding your love to something can really give it a boost as well! Especially if it is for another to use. (Note: do not kiss toxic stones please! Be safe and smart)

Spell Sealing: Use a kiss to magically seal spells such as jar and bottle spells or use it to strengthen a (cooled!) wax seal. Imagine placing the kiss its like placing an invisible seal upon it, stamping in energy to lock th spell inside. 

For Air and Wind spells: For all of my fellow witches who use air and wind spells, blowing a kiss after a chant or spell to summon a wind in the direction you wish it to blow is a good way to guide the wind but also show it positive reinforcement. Use it to show your gratitude for the wind’s cooperation. It is best for gentler wind spells.

Glamour and Beauty spells: Kiss the mirror after a beauty or glamour spell. Thank the mirror for its aid and seal any negativity into it. It also a wonderful way to reflect love back at yourself!

Love Spells: Kisses are great for powering up love spells! Kiss a candle before lighting it (careful if you are using essential oils be sure not to kiss where they are), kiss the written name of the one you desire, kiss a charm or amulet to help bring love into your life, and finally blow a kiss when finishing the the spell to close it.

Kitchen Magic: blow a kiss to finish a dish (don’t be too close though, don’t want to spread germs) to put a final charge of love into it before serving it to others. Good for with tea and coffee spells too!

Public Magic: Want to remain discrete while casting a spell in public? Blow a kiss! Its much subtler than pointing or hand motions, especially if it is a positive spell you are casting on another or a friend but it is also good for curses, either way its a wonderful way to send your intentions. Whisper the words or chant needed for the spell (if any) under your breath, imagine them them gathering in an orb of energy at your lips as you do so. Then do a subtle kiss motion on your lips (no hands and no ‘fish lips’, you are trying to be subtle). Then release the energy and words towards the target with a gentle blow of breath, sending the ball of energy in that direction.

Mourning/Remembrance Rituals: Ending such a ritual with a blown kiss to close it can help release your feelings in a positive manner and close the ritual with love and sincerity. 

Thanking tools: As someone who uses tarot cards and many other divination tools, I like to place gentle kisses to the sides of the decks after using them to help bond with them. To show them my gratitude for assisting me in not only readings but also in my spell work. I also before days where I know i will be doing a lot of divination work, I will kiss them to help charge them up (as said above). It is an excellent way to bond with your tools!

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Tarot Tips

🃏 Find The Empress in your deck. The card behind her will reveal what you need to do to nurture and care for yourself. 

🃏 When in conflict or competition with someone, look for 5 of Wands. The card behind it will reveal the solution to the problem.

🃏 If you see the same card over and over again in readings, it is a sign and you must pay attention to its message for you.

🃏 For a better understanding of each card, observe it closely and form your own interpretation that follows its themes. It will help you interpret readings better.

🃏 To find out what is making you feel stuck or delayed, look to The Hanged Man. The card underneath him will show what is holding you back. The card in front of him will show you how to overcome it.

🃏 When shuffling your cards, if any card drops out of your grasp, take it as a sign and read the card. 

🃏 You do not need crystals with you to do proper readings, but a good way to cleanse your deck is to place a clear quartz on the top of your deck before each reading. Keep in mind; there’s a variety of ways you can cleanse your deck.

🃏 Often when The High Priestess appears in a reading, she is trying to tell you that you know the answers and that you should listen to your inner voice.

🃏 There is no wrong way to shuffle or cleanse your deck. Do what feels right for you!

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Daily 3 Card Spread

One of my friends inspired me to get back into reading myself daily as an aid to daily journaling. To my basic instinct, I pulled three cards after shuffling. I didn’t want to do a basic Past/Present/Future for my daily journaling, so I decided to google some spreads.

I’ve come across handy Biddy Tarot, and I’m now using Context/Where to focus/Outcome.

This has helped me a lot understand what’s going on internally, and it also helped me reflect on the what, why and how through writing the card meanings in my journal as well as reflecting on what that means to me right now.

If you want to start reading and journaling on the daily, this can help!

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Greek Gods You’ve Never Heard Of, Part I

Primordial Deities: born from the void of Chaos. AKA the Protogenoi (firstborn)

Chaos (m) “emptiness, vast void, chasm, abyss”. infinite abyss and darkness. the first thing to exist. foundation of reality.

Ananke (f) “force/constraint/necessity”. inevitability, compulsion. daughter and consort of Chaos. most powerful dictator of all fate and circumstance. Mother of the Fates. symbol: spindle. “Even the gods don’t fight against Ananke.” Roman: Necessitas

Achlys (f) “mist”: eternal Night before Chaos, the mist of death. Misery, sadness, poisons.

Erebus/Erebos (m) “deep darkness, shadow”. Roman: Scotus

Nyx (f) “night”. paired with consort Erebus, mother of a number of primordial gods. Roman: Nox

Aether (m): upper air (breathed by the gods).

Hemera (f) “day”. daughter of Erebus and Nyx. Female counterpart and consort of her brother Aether (light). Roman: Dies

Aion (m): unbounded time. symbol: ouroboros, hoop.

Chronos (m) “time”: linear time. symbol: Zodiac wheel. Roman equivalent: Saturn

Phanes/Protogonus (intersex) “first-born.” connected with Ericapaeus (”power”) and Metis (”thought”), also Dionysus. Intersex god, emerged from a cosmic egg, entertwined with a serpent. Equated with Eros and Mithra. Deity of light and goodness.

Gaia/Gaea (f) “land, earth”. Earth, ancestral mother of all life, parent of Uranus; coupled with him to produce the Titans and Giants; coupled with Pontus to produce the primordial sea gods. Roman: Terra

The Ourea (”mountains”), m and f children of Gaia alone. 9 of them: Aitna, Athos, Helikon, Kithairon, Nysos, Olympus, Oreios, Parnes, Tmolus.

Pontus (m) “sea”. child of Gaia alone. With Gaia, fathered Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, his consort Ceto, and Eurybia. With Thalassa he fathered the Telchines and all sea life.

Thalassa (f) “sea”. consort of Pontus.

Tartarus (m). personification of a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked.

Uranus/Ouranos (m) “sky, heaven”. Father Sky, the son and husband of Gaia. Roman: Caelus

Tekmor (f), limit and end of life, a universal principle of natural order. Appeared with Poros (path). also Skotos (darkness).

Nessoi (f, plural) “islands”. goddesses of islands.

Ophion/Ophioneus (m) “serpent” and Eurynome (f) ruled the world before cast down by Cronus and Rhea. symbols: egg and serpents.

Eros (m) “desire”. god of attraction. sometimes son of Aphrodite and Ares. Winged. Roman: Cupid

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Apollo

Wilhelm Köppen (1876–1917)

Watercolor, tempera, cardboard

** My Other Blogs & Facebook Pages

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“If you could learn 250+ Pokémon cards in your childhood, you can learn tarot.”

— Personal Encouragement of the Day

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Witch tip for when you lose something: I was DMed this on an old forum a long time ago and figured I’d share the info! Lay down somewhere peaceful, try and meditate if possible, and say to yourself either in your head or allowed, “reach.” Imagine yourself finding the lost item as you do this and once you feel you can stop, then stop and look where you feel you should! I only had to do it once, now I just say reach and find what I’m looking for so you may just have to do the meditation part one time!

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Tarot Exercise #1

1.     Sit with your deck in your hands. Get comfortable and do some deep breathing.

2.     Visualize light channeling into your deck. Call upon what you wish to be present.

3.     Ask the cards; “What card do I need to familiarize myself with right now.

4.     Shuffle your deck until you feel the card has made itself known.

5.     Take that card, and place it face down.

6.     In your journal, record what you may be expecting.

7.     Flip the card over. What’s the first thing that catches your eye? Second? Third? Write these down.

8.     How do these make you feel? Write that down.

The symbolism of this card is how this card reads to you, as a reader. There’s no right or wrong way to read a card. If you feel like you want some verification on the card, going to Biddytarot to read the explanation may lead to further insight. If their description doesn’t match yours, no worries. That’s perfectly okay.

An alternative to this exercise is starting at the first card in the deck, which is The Fool and then progressing your way throughout the cards. The cards will primarily show you what you need to learn and make progress towards in the moment, so at different times the cards may tell a different story.

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My Devotional Playlist for Demeter🌿

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