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[awitchycloset]

Charging a Sigil

Fire:

Write it on a flammable surface and set it on fire (I favour bay leaves)

Carve it on a candle and let the candle melt (you can pick the candle colour according to the spell/wish)

Carve it on a surface with a pyrograph/something hot or carve it on something and put it close to fire where it can charge up.

Draw it on a firework and set it off.

Draw it at the bottom of a tea light and put the candle back in.

Air:

Draw it on a windchime and hand it up.

Make prayer flags with the sigils on them, or a simple flag that’ll blow in the wind.

Draw it on something light and non-polluting and let it go with a gust on wind.

Draw it on a balloon and pop it.

Draw it on a paper kite and let it go in the wind.

Water:

Draw your sigil on a soluble material and let is dissolve, it’ll also charge the water or draw it at the bottom of your cup and it’ll charge both the water and sigil.

Draw it on something non-soluble like a rock and let it soak or even throw it in the river;

Draw it on yourself when taking a shower and let it wash off.

Draw it on the shore where the water will wash it away.

Earth:

Draw it on something from nature (so as not to pollute) and bury it.

Charge it with a crystal grid/previously charged crystals

Draw it on the earth.

Draw it on the leaf of a plant.

Light;

Place it in the sun or moonlight and let it soak it up.

Draw it with a glow in the dark paint.

Draw it on something that’ll disappear like fog on a mirror, lemon juice, ultraviolet pen and such.

Your own Energy:

Meditate on your sigil by focusing on it while you direct your personal energy into it.

Have it near you or on you during sex or masturbation.

Draw it on yourself and dance, sing, workout.

Have it on or near you during extreme pain or emotional states (anger, joy, sadness, etc.)

Draw it with your blood/drop some blood onto it.

Extras:

Place it on a charging device (phone, computer)

Place it on speakers and blast music that matches the intent

Sing/Play an instrument to it

Draw it on the sole of your shoes

Draw it on/near a grave/with grave dirt/anything symbolic of death

Post it on a website such as tumblr where likes charge it and reblogs cast it.

Draw it on paper and tear it up

If you have your own way of charging sigils, do tell me, I am curious, and I’d like to add to the list, since this is in no way the only ways of doing so.

[awitchycloset]

Bad Occult Ghost Tip

Learn a martial art. Spar with a ghost. It gives them validation. Exercise not exorcise.

[awitchycloset]

A Basic Glossary of Herbal Medicine Effects

Image Credit: Herbal Academy of New England

As a part-two to my glossary of herbal preparation techniques, I decided to make one for some of the effects too! What’s the difference between an emmenagogue and an abortifacient? What’s the fancy word for “cures fevers”? Here’s a list of the most common terms used to describe herbal medication effects.

—

Abortifacient - Promotes or induces abortions of foetuses

Adjuvant - A therapy that is used to increase the action of  another therapy, rather than as a treatment in and of itself, such as  adjuvant chemotherapy for cancer.

Anaesthetic - Causes loss of sensation, and usually  unconsciousness, by suppressing nerve function rather than through analgesia.

Analeptic - Stimulates action or restores correct action in the  central nervous system

Analgesic - Relieves pain without suppressing functionality of  pain-receptive nerves

Anaphrodisiac - Reduces libido or sexual arousal

Androgenic - An agent that mimics the action of, increases the production of, or blocks the reabsorption of androgens (e.g. testosterone). May not actually act as androgens themselves.

Anorectic - An agent that suppresses the appetite; not related  to anorexia nervosa, which is a psychological disorder.

Anorexia - Abnormally low appetite, a common symptom of many  infections or diseases. This is a physical symptom, unrelated to anorexia  nervosa.

Anorexia  nervosa - A psychological disorder which manifests itself  through extreme and abnormal reduction in consumption of food, resulting in  extreme weight-loss. Most commonly related to feelings of lack of control, or  an obsessive need to maintain thinness. Frequently causes death. Not related  to anorexia the physical symptom.

Antianaemic - Reduces symptoms of anaemia

Antibacterial - Kills or otherwise prevents the spread, growth or  reproduction of bacteria

Antibilious - Reduces stomach disease, most typically indigestion

Anticatarrh - Reduces inflammation of the mucous membranes of the  head and neck

Anticoagulant - Prevents or limits the clotting of blood;  colloquially known as “blood-thinning”

Antidepressant - Reduces the effects of or causative agents of  psychological depression

Antidiabetic - Reduces, relieves or treats diabetes

Antidiarrhetic - Reduces or cures diarrhea

Antiemetic - Causes the stopping of vomiting (emesis)

Antifungal - Kills or otherwise prevents the spread, growth or  reproduction of fungi

Anti-inflammatory - Reduces and controls inflammatory histamine  responses

Antimicrobial - Kills or is otherwise destructive to microorganisms  generally

Antioxidant - Prevents or inhibits the formation of oxygen  radicals within the body; prevents or inhibits the oxidation of molecules,  usually proteins

Antipruritic - Reduces, cures or treats itching

Antipyretic - Reduces, cures or treats fevers

Antirheumatic -Reduces pain caused by rheumatic disorders of the  joints

Antiseptic - Opposes the actions of sepsis such as the formation  of pus; promotes asepsis

Antispasmodic - Causes a reduction in spasms and convulsions of the  muscles

Antitussive - Reduces, cures or treats coughing

Antiviral - Kills or is otherwise destructive to viruses or  virion particles

Aperient - A form of very mild laxative

Aperitive - Stimulates the appetite; combats anorexia (the  symptom)

Aphrodisiac - Promotes an increase in libido and sexual arousal

Asepsis - Sterile, without lifeforms (especially microbial);  healthy blood is always aseptic, for example

Astringent - An agent that causes the coagulation or binding of  proteins, especially in cell membranes

Bitter (as in  medicine) - A form of aperitive; may also stimulate digestive  function and metabolism

Cardiac - Of or related to the muscles, structures and  extracellular matrices of the heart

Carminative - Causes relaxation of the stomach and its associated  sphincters

Catarrhal - Of or related to inflammation of the mucosal  membranes of the head and neck

Cathartic - Causing the purging of waste, typically in the  faeces or by promoting bowel movements

Cholagogue - Induces the production of bile

Cicatrizant - Aids in the formation of scar tissue; helps heal  wounds

Contusion - A subdermal bursting of the capillaries; a  bruise

Counterirritant - An agent that produces an inflammatory response in  an adjacent region to an area of damage as a means of treating that damage

Demulcent - Soothes, reduces pain and inflammation, or regulates  proper mucous production in mucosal membranes

Depressant - An agent that temporarily reduces metabolic and  functional activity of the body or a specific organ or tissue

Dermatitis - Inflammation of the skin, producing raised weals,  itchiness, redness, or other indications of rash

Diaphoretic - Increases production of sweat

Diuretic - Increasing or promoting urine flow or production

Dysmenorrhea - Painful or abnormal menstruation

Dyspepsia - Painful or abnormal digestion

Ecbolic - Increases uterine contractions, usually used to  faciliate or induce labour

Emetic - An agent that causes vomiting (emesis)

Emmenagogue - An agent that induces normal menstruation processes,  usually through breakdown of the uterine lining

Emollient - An agent that softens and soothes skin, especially  chapped, dried, or damaged skin

Errhine - Inducing sneezing; related to demulcents

Escharotic - A caustic agent that induces destruction of tissues,  often causing aseptic necrosis. May induce sloughing.

Euphoriant - Induces feelings of euphoria, pleasure, or  enjoyment. Frequently associated with narcotics and other drugs of  addiction.

Expectorant - Causes the removal of or facilitates the removal of  fluids, usually mucous, from the body.

Febrifuge - See antipyretic

Galactagogue - An agent that acts to increase production of breast  milk. Please note, this may not automatically mean the milk is safe for  infants to drink.

Haemogogue -An agent that promotes the flow of blood. Not  necessarily synonymous with anticoagulant.

Haemostatic - An agent that halts or staunches the flow of blood,  especially through inducing rapid clotting. Usually but not always the same  as a procoagulant.

Hepatic - Of or related to the liver and its function

Hypercalcaemia - A state of having too much calcium in the body

Hyperkalaemia - A state of having too much potassium in the body

Hypertensive - Increases blood pressure

Hypoglycaemant - Lowers levels of blood sugar , usually by acting on insulin receptors

Hypotensive - Decreases blood pressure

Insomniac - Prevents or reduces ability to sleep; does not imply a reduction in fatigue levels

Ketoacidosis - Uncontrolled ketosis resulting in too many ketones  in the blood, causing acidification of the blood. A life-threatening medical  emergency, must be seen by emergency medical professionals.

Ketosis - A state in which the body preferentially metabolises  fats and fatty tissues over other sources of energy, producing ketones as waste

Lactifuge - Reduces the production of or expression of breast  milk

Laxative - An agent that causes the loosening of faeces, by  many possible methods

Masticatory - Induces production of saliva

Narcotic - Induces drowsiness, sleep, torpor, stupor, and  lessens or totally deadens sensations of pain. Often related to euphoriants,  all narcotics are highly addictive and many are used both medicinally and  recreationally.

Nervine - Of or related to the function of the nerves; almost  exclusively used in the context of tonics; when general reference must  be made to the function of the nerves, “nervous” is more common.

Neuralgia - Sensations of pain, usually severe and acute, that  are related to direct damage, abnormal structuring, or abnormal influences  upon nerves.

Oestrogenic - An agent that mimics the action of, increases the  production of, or blocks the reabsorption of oestrogens. May not actually act  as oestrogens themselves.

Parturfaciant - Induces contractions  associated with labour

Procoagulant - An agent that induces the clotting of the blood

Purgative - A form of strong laxative, one that causes  evacuation of all intestinal contents

Resorbent - An agent that aids in the reabsorption of blood  after contusions

Rheumatism - A general term used to refer to pains associated  with the joints and  (less commonly)  the muscles, which most usually implies imflammation of the joints  (arthritis)

Rubefacient - An agent that causes the reddening of the skin  through the dilation of subdermal blood vessels; often induces pyresis,  frequently used as a means of reducing inflammation

Sedative - An agent that causes relaxation of the body,  usually inducing torpor, stupor, or sleep.

Soporific - An agent that induces natural sleep

Stimulant - An agent that temporarily increases metabolic and  functional activity of the body or a specific organ or tissue

Stupor - A state of near-unconsciousness, but not complete  loss of awareness

Subdermal - Beneath or below the level of the skin (dermis)

Sudorific - See diaphoretic

Tonic - An agent for increasing the strength, tone or  potency of some aspect of the body. This is usually specified (e.g. nervine  tonic), if not then refers to systemic increase.

Torpor - A state of inactivity, lethargy, relaxation, and  reduced metabolic function

*****

OK, so there are 93 terms here, and whilst I tried by absolutely hardest I may have got one or two partly or wholly wrong. If you think you’ve spotted a term that could be more completely defined, please do either send me an ask to clarify, or reblog it and add it on yourself.

Reblog with any additions you think should be included! I tried to include all the ones that come up most frequently in herbalism texts, but I might have missed a couple!

I sourced most of the terms in this list and tweaked many of the definitions from the American Botanical Council, which is a great little resource. However, I tried to rephrase things wherever possible (there’s a limit to how much you can change a definition, after all).

*****

Thanks lovelies!

– Juniper Wildwalk

[awitchycloset]

9 Ritual Items Commonly Found at the Dollar Store

1. Herbs and Spices. The spice section is great for picking up herbs and spices that can be used in sachets, incense blends, and mojo bags.

2. Sea Salt. Sometimes it’s coarse, and sometimes it’s finely ground. Either way, there is usually some kind of bulk salt available for circle-casting and whatnot.

3. Candles. Tea candles, pillar candles, jar candles. They have them all. Personally, I prefer the unscented white ones, which are great all-purpose candles for carving symbols in and anointing with various oils. They are generally much cheaper at the dollar store than almost anywhere else.

4. Seasonal decor. I usually make a trip before any given Cross Quarter holiday for altar decorations.

5. Incense. Truth be told, I am not a big fan of dollar store incense. If I’m burning it indoors, I find it’s worth it to pay extra for higher quality incense. However, if you’re burning it outdoors, I think the cheaper stuff is fine, as it dissipates quickly anyway.

6. Glass jars. If you’re into herbalism, you know that you can never have enough glass jars, which are ideal for storing herbs, tinctures, salves and brews. Plastic tends to break down and contaminate these items.

7. Spring water. For cleansing rituals and whatnot.

8. Small bowls, dishes and trays. To put on the altar for offerings, spring water, salt and oils.

9. Wine Glasses. I mean chalices. I have seen some lovely, very expensive pewter and metallic chalices, but honestly, a lot of them just look overly ornate, too ceremonial and sometimes downright gaudy. A simple wine glass is often more elegant. If you really want to dress it up, you can wrap the stem with silk ribbons or twine, glue seashells to the base or tie charms to them.

[awitchycloset]

Self

Moon (home)

Mercury (business, skills and integrity)

Venus (love)

Mars (hostility, opposition, aggression)

Jupiter (finance, acquisition and health)

Saturn (Intellect)

Question outcome

Made a pretty graphic for this Planetary Spread, not my spread, my graphic.

[awitchycloset]

Flower Associations in Witchcraft

Written by Sacred Wicca

A

Abutilon - Meditation

Acacia - Secret love

Acanthis – Secret love

Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality

Agapanthus – Love letter

Allium – Prosperity

Allspice - Compassion

Almond Blossoms – Indiscretion

Aloe – Grief

Alstroemeria – Devotion

Alyssum – Worth beyond beauty

Amaranth - Immortality

Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity

Ambrosia - Love returned

Anemone – Forsaken

Angelica – Inspiration

Aniseed - Restoration of youth

Arbutis - Only love

Apple – Temptation

Apple Blossom – Preference

Aster – Patience

Azalea - fragile passion

B

Baby’s Breath - Everlasting Love

Bachelor Button – Single blessedness

Basil – Hate

Bay Leaf – I change but in death

Begonia – Beware

Bellflower - Gratitude

Bells Of Ireland - Good luck

Bird Of Paradise – Magnificence

Bittersweet – Truth

Blackberry – Envy

Black-eyed Susan - Justice

Bluebell - Humility; constancy

Bougainvillea – Passion

Bouvardia – Enthusiasm

Broom - Humility

Borage - Courage

Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love

Burnet - A merry heart

Keep reading

[awitchycloset]

Spiritual Thoughts

Today my younger sister (of whom is very spiritual/open) told me an interesting thought. I decided I wanted to share it, so she typed it out for me so I could!

When you look back at the history of different cultures, you will come to see many of them evolve around gods and goddesses. I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot lately, and I’ve come up with a thought to ponder over. What if all these figures we hear about were not gods and goddesses, but mere people? Extremely rare, one in a million, people who were touched with special gifts. These gifts can be more psychological such as having visions of the future or being able to sense spirits. They could also be more physical. Having a special talent for hunting, combat, or even farming and harvesting. These gifts could even be just having a strong connection to the moon, the sun, trees, water, specific animals, or nature itself. So these people shared their talents. This would be why stories were made. These extraordinary people became well known for their talents, so stories were told about them. However, in these stories, they were portrayed as  gods and goddesses since ordinary people couldn’t do what they could. So when these people die, their spirits’ pick someone who has potential to bring their talent to great use in their lifetime. And so they pass their gift on to someone else. When the chosen are born, they grow up to be people with the same talent. Like genuine psychics and fortune tellers, people who have a sixth sense, or maybe something as simple as having a green thumb.

[awitchycloset]

How can I figure out what my gift is?

Well, most spiritual gifts give off clues even if they’re not fully developed yet. Your spiritual gift(s) will cause you to react or feel a certain way when processing various situations that hasn’t physically manifested yet or has. You must pay attention to your emotional and mental state, the sensations that generates from your body, and your natural instincts.

I suggest reading the article within the link below; it’s quite helpful.

Which Spiritual Gift is Your Strongest?

[awitchycloset]

DIY Miniature Clow Cards (Budget Version)

Example Measurements: .9″ W x 1.9″ L (2.3cm W x 4.8cm L)

Keep reading

[awitchycloset]

Resources for Shufflemancy

[A Guide to Shufflemancy]

[How to Do a  Shufflemancy Reading]

[How to: Shufflemancy] (primarily infographics)

[Shufflemancy] *

[Shufflemancy: 101]

[What is Shufflemancy and How Do I Do It] (an ask)

* = external links / resources

[awitchycloset]

kellys-life-is-swelly replied to your post “I need some help from the witchy community”

Yes bb toss em. Then do some kind of cleansing over yourself & your space. If you want, visualize a piece of string between you & them, & visualize cutting that string. Just for good measure.

Oh thank god I can get rid of it today, thank you soooo much

[awitchycloset]

I need some help from the witchy community

I own 3 tiny statues that I wan to get rid of (like, throw in a trash bag) but I have the feeling they’re cursed or have some weird energy on it. Can I just throw it away? What should I do?

[awitchycloset]

I have seen little to no origami being infused with witchcraft! Kind of disappointed, so i came up with a list to inspire some witches that like origami/closet witches that are looking for a peaceful simple spell/etc. -draw a sigil/write a spell on a piece of paper, and fold it into a star/boat/bird/basket/ mainly anything that can hold stuff. Make a wood raft and put the origami on top. Add herbs and such that apply to the spell or activate/charge your sigil, then send it off on a lake or river. I suggest using paper that is safe and can decompose/not harm wildlife (or float it on a private body of water, because i didn’t think this through very well haha!) -there’s this thing called a popper/snapper and when you thrust it down it makes a loud noise! Use this to call/gain attention from a spirit or deity. Use it as you scatter salt. Use it as a banishing tool. They’re amazing, and with the right paper, can be pretty loud. -fold an origami heart box filled with charmed chocolates and give to a lover. Alternative: use folded hearts as pockets to hold roses and use as a sachet spell/charm. -add origami butterflies to a garden as decor to attract spirits/fae

[awitchycloset]

okay but the enterprise bridge crew as witches though

jim kirk as an urban technowitch, making folders in his padd for self confidence and grafitting sigils on the walls of grey buildings, sending paper planes to his friends charged with artificial light, using lighters and matches as divination tools and making curses while waiting for his coffee and banishing spells with plastic bottles and cans, spreading positivity with emoji spells

leonard mccoy combining all the knowledge he has into chaos magick writing the chants he can’t say out loud in blood, using meds instead of herbs for intent, and his knowledge in anatomy to curse people. bones talking to ghosts using old textbooks about biology and enchanting and charging medical tools with his own body via chemical reactions, using statistics and old mind games to predict the outcome of a situation.

spock as an elemental witch using the elements according to the planet he’s in, a little bit more fond of earth because of vulcan, but using vulcan ground to make spells to feel safer and to ground himself, burning incense to write unseen wishes with smoke, using fire to banish emotions and water to help balance himself when humans tire him. spock not understanding why other witches make love spells and curses because for him magic is very traditional and made only to balance his experience of the world, but air helping him understand everyone’s craft is different. also lots of fighting with bones.

uhura as a weather and sea witch using sea water to invoke storms and to help solve droughts, casting spells for sunny days during shore leave and using thunder to curse. uhura having snow jars to find soothing words, and seashells for better communication, sunscreen to protect everyone from negativity and dry tree leaves to bring in jumper weather whenever she feels like it. uhura connecting with the sea and keeping sea water with her all the time so her breathing will sync with the tides to help with anxiety.

scotty as a cosmic witch and stressing because dammit, there’s so much charting territory he doesn’t think he can ever get it right, trying to keep informed about the solar system and its movement patterns and making moon jars so the nights are a little bit brighter, using old star maps to make circles and using audios recorded by space probes as chants and drinking aurora glowing cocktails before astral travelling.

sulu as a green and crystal witch spending hours making sigils for each of his plants, asking for permission before using them for a spell to keep the trees on his side, making selenite and amethyst water for good intentions and self love, grinding herbs and using spices for motivation spells, with all his crystals on displays to ground easily and remember how amazing nature is, drinking tea with sugar or cinnamon for a nice day and using flowers to heal broken hearts

chekov as a pop culture witch using his favourite songs to curse mean people, talking about his favourite cartoons to create glamours and to hide himself from people he dislikes. chekov using classic literature to avoid having to write senseless rhymes, using famous photographies to make spells to bring travel, and objects from museums to make time a tad bit more controllable, and charging scenes in holovids with intent that he’ll rewatch throughout the day.

THE ENTERPRISE CREW AS DIFFERENT TYPES OF WITCHES USING THEIR CRAFT TO HELP EACH OTHER 

[awitchycloset]

Irish people; The faeries aren’t real

Irish people; No fucking way will I go in that faerie ring

[awitchycloset]

You need to not treat being a witch as superficial and a trendy fad; it is a serious and legitimate spiritual path and religion. It's not all about wearing crystals and stones. The fact you couldn't or wouldn't answer any of my questions 'on a full knowledgeable level' told a lot, especially when asked if you are merely pretending to be a witch or what you're spiritual path even is. Don't do that. don't claim to be something you're not. That insults real witches.

I understand that; thus I am declining it. I was honestly fascinated by witchcraft in general and thought I could use my own approach in learning. I did not mean to offend anyone. Thank you for showing me that I had been wrong.

[awitchycloset]

Protection Ink, Salt & Spray

I was feeling incredibly off this morning, so I decided to make some simple protection tools you can most likely make at home in the kitchen. Again, I am still not 100% “healthy” and still have energetic issues because of, well, health. This is what I consider to be Spoonie or easy magick, because it does not require ritual or hours of whatever you consider to be time/energy consuming.

Protection Sigil Ink

This is really easy to make and is akin to invisible ink, using the same concepts. You’ll need:

A jar

Water (purified if you choose)

Slice of lemon (squeeze the juice out)

White tea (I chose this to symbolize white light/energy but you can use whatever you want)

Rosemary Essential Oil (can use the herb itself)

Lavender Essential Oil ( ^ )

Pinch of sea salt

Basically just mix it all together! Use your own associations for protection. When you use it to draw sigils use a paint brush or your finger. Call upon the energies you wish to help you. Do whatever you personally feel will work.

I used this sigil on my front door with the ink, and once it dried, it’s really not very visible to the passerby.

Protection Barrier Salt

Sea Salt

Black Salt (can make like this or buy)

Rosemary

Cayenne Pepper (I used a meat rub with lots of spicy herbs in it)

Calming/Protection Room Spray

Purified Water

Lavender Essential Oil (10 drops each)

Rosemary Essential Oil

You could also rip open tea bags - blends that you feel represent protection, add lemon juice or perhaps some orange peel. I just used what I have right now. 

Just make sure that if you have pets they cannot reach/are not affected by the herbs you use.