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Daily Spell: June 12th

Moonstone Spell for Wisdom and Guidance

You’ll need:

A moonstone ring or pendant, or a loose stone

A bowl of water

June’s birthstone is the moonstone, and it is considered sacred in many cultures. Many believe the moonstone allows those who wear it the gift of prophecy, and it’s also closely tied to matters of wisdom. If you feel like you need a bit of help when it comes to wise decision-making, or in issues that require you to know what lies ahead, use this moonstone spell to give you a little extra guidance. Try to time the spell for the week before the full moon, and do it at night when the moon is visible.

Position the bowl so the moon light is reflected in the water, and play some Moonstone inside. Place your hands on the side of the bowl, look up at the night sky, and say “Wisdom, I need you. Guidance, I call to you. Perception, I welcome you.”

Allow the moonstone to sit overnight in the water, under the full moon. In the morning, put the ring or pendent - if it’s a loose stone, carry it in your pocket - and allowed the moon’s wisdom to guide you as you go about your day.

-

“Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch: Quick, Simple, and Practical Magic for Every Day of the Year,” by Patti Wigington

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Daily Spell: June 14th

Sun Spell to Light Your Way

You’ll need:

A gold candle

Have you ever been outside in the dark in the middle of the night, when the moon and stars weren’t out to illuminate your path? It can be pretty frightening to stumble around with no idea where you’re headed. Sometimes we get lost emotionally or mentally, and that’s when a bit of metaphysical light can come in handy. In June, we have the longest days of the year as the summer solstice approaches, so it’s a perfect time for the spell. Start this working just before sunrise - you may have to get up pretty early to do it.

Sit outside, facing East, and light the candle. Make sure you’re in a location where you’ll have a clear view of the sun as it breaks over the horizon. As you wait for the sun to come up, say “I have wandered off my path, I have walked blindly in the darkness. Now I am ready to see where I am headed. I am ready for new journeys and new directions. I am ready to follow the sun and welcome the light.”

Repeat this as the sun comes up, and when the sun has risen enough to shine directly on you, extinguish the candle and be glad the daylight is back in your life.

-

“Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch: Quick, Simple, and Practical Magic for Every Day of the Year,” by Patti Wigington

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Daily Spell: June 23rd

Spell to Expose a Hypocrite

You’ll need:

A knife

A black candle

A box of whole cloves

Got someone in your life whose hypocritical words and actions are causing strife? Why not use some magic to expose the person’s true nature? This simple working will make the individual show his or her colors, and will end the problematic behavior.

Use the knife to inscribe the person’s name on the candle, then poke the cloves into the wax, making sure you puncture through the individuals name. As you do so, say “I banish your duplicity, your false pretenses, your two-facedness. The truth is exposed, your hypocrisy will be known, and your words can do no harm.”

Light the candle, and let it burn all the way down. Once it’s finished, leave what’s left in the person’s yard. If he or she lives far away from you, take it away from your home for disposal.

-

“Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch: Quick, Simple, and Practical Magic for Every Day of the Year,” by Patti Wigington

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the gods are not dead. when men speak to me like i can’t read, i feel athena awaken somewhere in my bone structure. her mouth spits words i had forgotten i memorized, facts from the deep pockets of libraries. she revels in the way they stutter at the quickness of my tongue, whispers, here’s what it feels to be above the cities. i know demeter for the way i feel in dirt, i catch sunlight in my palms and beg people to be disgusted at girl unhaunted by pretty, my hair a mess and my legs hairy and my body thick. i’ve kissed aphrodite, i’ve met her not in lust only but in the girl who listens like she is tied to your soul. she comes out and we go dancing, unashamed of our sexuality. i have even been her, once or twice, on rare moons where the stars aligned. i know the rage of artemis. i hunt those who hurt my sisters, i slay demons, i run in night with red lips. and i am persephone, always, goddess of the spring, goddess of the pomegranate, of wanting, of riding her own horse to hades, of being two queens. when men take power from me, i hear her whispering. take it back, she says, tongue sweet, ambrosia in the blood stream, take back your city.

the gods are not dead. they live in women. they live in me.

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Liminal Spaces in Witchcraft

First of all, what is a liminal space? A liminal space refers to a place or time that is in a period of transition between two phases. These are usually places where reality feels altered because you are neither moving forward or backward, like a rest stop. The word liminal originates from the Latin word limens, meaning threshold. These places often give off a sense that time stands still and that you are experiencing some sort of reality shift. 

        In magic and witchcraft these spaces are considered to be the boundary between our world and the other, it is known as “the in-between”. These places are considered areas of great magic because it is believed this is where the veil is thin. These places are great for divination, spirit work, meditation and astral travel; they are ideal for hedge witchcraft.

Times & Spaces of Liminality:

crossroads manmade or natural

river, creek or lake shores/ beaches

hallway/corridor/stairwells/landings/doorways

graveyards

dawn, dusk, afternoon, midnight

valleys

forest glades

many more!

      Samhain/Halloween is considered the best time to communicate with spirits and faeries because of its liminality, it is a time of transition between autumn and winter. Irish folklore tells that this is the day faeries and ghosts come out to play because of the veil thinning. The equinoxes and sabbats like Beltane and Imbolc are also days of liminality because the time of day and night are equal (equinoxes) or it is a transition between seasons.  

       Mental states of liminality are also times of spirit communication. While being in a meditative state we are in a state of transition between our concious and sub-concious minds, this is where we sometimes experience astral projection or messages from spirits. People often experience spirit while falling asleep because this is another state of liminality. 

     In my craft I often practice in liminality in order to connect with the faerie realms.

-Moonlight 🌙

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Intro to Spirit Work

Throughout history those who practice magic have had a close connection to the spirit world, from fairy doctors who were said to learn their craft from the fae, to ceremonial magicians invoking angels and demons, to witches working with familiar spirits. To practice magic is to open yourself to this connection and to become aware of a whole new world of intelligent beings.

In modern Western culture, there’s a lot of fear around working with spirits. There are countless horror stories about malevolent hauntings, seances gone wrong, and violent possessions. It’s easy to see why many new witches are reluctant to work with spirits.

Ironically, in most other times and places, the spirit world was and is accepted as a normal part of life. All over the world, since before recorded history, people have honored their ancestors, left offerings for local land spirits, and built relationships with deities. We’re actually the weirdos for not having a healthy relationship with the spirits around us.

I personally have found working with spirits to be incredibly rewarding, and being aware of the spirits around me adds a lot of depth to my spiritual practice and my witchcraft. As long as you do your research, keep your wits about you, and are polite, you have nothing to fear and everything to gain from working with spirits.

Some Philosophy Terms

Animism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects.” An animist believes that all things have a spirit, from animals and plants to rocks and even man-made objects. Animism is a big part of many magical practices, especially in folk magic. It’s also a part of several modern religions, including Shinto and Anito. I personally am an animist, and my magic includes connecting with the spirits of the plants, crystals, and objects I work with.

Pantheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.” A pantheist believes that the physical world is the Divine. Whereas an animist believes that all things have their own spirit, a pantheist believes that the entire world shares a single, divine spirit. Many Wiccans are pantheists, and in some cases pantheism can coexist with animism (all things are both individual spirits and part of the divine whole).

Panentheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “the doctrine that God includes the world as a part though not the whole of his being.” A panentheist believes that the world is a part of the divine, but that there is also a part of the divine that exists beyond the physical world. Some Christian groups are panentheists. Another example of panentheism is ancient Egyptian religion, where natural objects like the sky and the sun were seen as the bodies (but not the souls) of the gods.

Which of these philosophies you resonate with will shape how you interact with spirits and the spirit world.

Types of Spirits

This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but here are some of the types of spirits witches commonly encounter or work with:

Ancestors: deceased human spirits, especially those with a familial link to you. Ancestor veneration is a huge part of some magic systems, as well as many religions. Some witches ask their ancestors for help in every single spell or ritual, while others honor their ancestors on certain days, like on Samhain or on a deceased loved one’s birthday. Honoring the ancestors is a good place to start with spirit work because they already have a connection to you and are more likely to be willing to help you. However, working with ancestors can be difficult if you don’t know your family’s history or if you don’t feel close to your family. As author Aaron Oberon says, “Sometimes ancestor work is undoing the blocks our ancestors have built.”

To begin connecting with your ancestors, start by researching your family history. Ask your living relatives about their parents and grandparents. Try your hand at genealogy research and see how far back you can trace your family. If you feel called to do so, you can create a special altar to honor your ancestors. Light candles and leave out offerings of food that your ancestors enjoyed while they were alive.

Land Spirits: spirits that embody and are connected to a natural object or landmark. There are many, many types of land spirits, from individual tree and plant spirits to the spirits of great mountains and rivers. Some land spirits are even worshiped as gods – like Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Some modern witches even choose to recognize cryptids like Mothman or the Jersey Devil as land spirits! Working with your local land spirits can help you develop a deeper connection to your environment and can make your magic feel more localized and personal.

To begin connecting with land spirits, start by learning about the biology and folklore of your local area. Offerings for land spirits are usually left outside, so be sure to offer things that won’t harm local wildlife. Wild bird seed, fresh fruit, and unsalted peanuts are a few examples of safe offerings.

Spirits of Place: spirits tied to a specific building or location. Unlike land spirits, these beings aren’t always connected to a natural feature. Houses and other buildings can have their own spirits that embody the energy of that place. In Germanic folklore, these spirits are called house wights or husvaettir, and in English folklore they’re called brownies. For people who grew up in non-animist cultures, it can feel strange to leave offerings for the spirit of a man-made building, but there’s a long history of these types of spirits being honored all over the world. I personally see house wights as being similar to land spirits.

If you want to begin connecting with the spirits of your home, start by greeting them by name and leaving out an offering for them. Establishing a relationship with the spirits of your living space can help you create a more harmonious and productive home. Traditional offerings for house wights include dishes of cream, grain-based porridge (like oatmeal or grits), and clean water.

Animal Spirits: the spirit of a specific animal, the archetypal Spirit (with a capital “S”) of an entire species of animal, or an individual spirit that appears as an animal. The concept of animal spirits that act as protectors and guides is found in many cultures, especially those with shamanic traditions. In Norse mythology, fylgjur were protector spirits who often appeared as animals. In British Traditional Witchcraft, witches work with familiar spirits that often take on animal forms. It’s worth noting that the terms “spirit animal” and “totem animal” come from Native American spiritual traditions and should not be used by people who don’t belong to those cultures. The concept of animal guides exists in other cultures, so there’s no reason to appropriate indigenous words and ideas. In my experience, animal spirits are often friendly and easy to connect with, so this is a good place to start for witches who are new to spirit work.

If you’d like to work with animal spirits, you can begin by connecting to the animals that are local to your area. You may feel called to bring a part of the animal you’re connecting with into your sacred space – for example, I keep crow feathers on my altar. Offerings depend on the type of animal spirit you’re connecting to – some require only fresh water, while some traditions state that familiars should be fed with blood (not human). Use your intuition to choose what works for you.

Fairies: fairies are a specific kind of land spirit, and most fairy lore is based on mythology and folklore from the British Isles. Fairies have a reputation in modern pop culture as being sweet, friendly creatures – some authors even compare them to angels! However, I think it’s important to remember that historically, fairies were known for being mischievous and sometimes dangerous. In folklore, fairies are less Tinkerbell and more Spiderwick Chronicles. As author Morgan Daimler says, “They can be cruel and vicious, or generous and kind. Some of them are helpful. Some are indifferent. And some of them think we make a very tasty meal indeed.” For this reason, fairies should be approached with caution.

If you want to honor the fairies in your practice, I recommend checking out Morgan Daimler’s books – they have several on this subject that are both easy to read and well-researched. There are a lot of rules for working with fairies, such as not telling them your full name and not saying “thank you” to a fairy, so this is one type of spirit that you should definitely research before beginning to work with them.

Angels: divine messengers; spirits of love and light that come from the Divine and have no physical form. Strictly speaking, “angel” refers to a messenger of the Abrahamic God, but there are other spirits from other religious traditions that fill a similar role. Angels and similar spirits embody divine love, and as such they are both incredibly powerful and incredibly supportive. Because of their loving nature, working with angels is a good place to start spirit work. Some witches who have had negative experiences with Christianity, Judaism, or Islam may feel uncomfortable working with angels. I have personally found that angels don’t really care how you identify in terms of religion, and have had good experiences with Christian angels even though I identify as pagan. However, your experiences may be different, so please don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable!

There are a lot of bad resources floating around the Internet when it comes to angels. If you’re interested in working with them, I recommend Chantel Lysette’s books Azrael Loves Chocolate and The Angel Code. There’s also a YouTube channel called Ask Angels with Melanie Beckler – I don’t agree with 100% of her ideas, but it’s a decent free resource. Offerings to angels are typically non-physical, like the light from a candle or the smoke from incense.

Demons: spirits of mischief, strife, and/or evil with no physical form. In Western culture, we associate the word “demon” with Christianity, but demons appear in many other religions, including Hinduism and Kemetic paganism. I personally define “demon” as a spirit who: 1.) is not and never was human, and 2.) is antagonistic towards humans. Most witches only deal with demons when they’re trying to get rid of one. However, there are some magic traditions, such as Goetic Magic, that call on demons in magical rituals. Let me just say this: in my experience, there are very few reasons why someone would want to work with a demon, and doing so is as dangerous for the person doing the summoning as it is for the intended victim. I definitely recommend that new witches stay away from these spirits. (But it should be noted that demons are not the same thing as dark deities!)

If you need to get rid of a demon, sulfur is used in American traditions to banish them. (It may also banish helpful spirits, so keep that in mind.) Blessed water is used to repel demons in several cultures. You can also call on an angel or deity for protection.

Deities: powerful, divine spirits who are worshiped as gods. Deities vary a lot from culture to culture, and each deity has their own personality, moral code, and mannerisms. I have found working with deities to be very fulfilling, as deities allow us to put a human face on the Divine. It’s much easier to form a relationship with, say, Odin than it is with an abstract divine force, at least in my experience. Aside from spiritually fulfilling relationships, deities can also be powerful allies in magic. It’s worth noting that very few deities are 100% good or 100% bad – they’re more nuanced than that. Just like anyone else, deities have strengths and weaknesses. (Yes, even the Abrahamic God. Read the Old Testament sometime and tell me God doesn’t have flaws.)

If you are interested in working with deities, start by doing research into the pantheons you feel drawn to. Were you obsessed with Greek mythology as a kid? (Or Norse? Or Egyptian? Or any other culture?) Read up on it! Find out how those deities were worshiped historically, and use that as a starting point for building your own practice. Offerings for deities vary from culture to culture, but I’ve found that fresh, clean water seems to be pretty much universally accepted.

This post ended up just being a whole lot of vocab, but I wanted to get some definitions straight before I start writing about how to connect with the spirit world. In my next post, I’ll talk about how to introduce yourself to different types of spirits and etiquette for maintaining a healthy relationship!

Resources:

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

Azrael Loves Chocolate, Michael’s A Jock: An Insider’s Guide to What Your Angels Are Really Like by Chantel Lysette

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Reblog if you are any kind of witch.

I’m going to follow every witch on tumblr. :D 

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All About Divination

Thank you for your trust in my guidance. But I have already answered many of your divination questions. Please refer to this list and explore as you wish.

Scrying 101

Runecasting 101

Runecasting vs. Tarot

Phyllomancy 101

Oneiromancy 101

Charmcasting 101

Cartomancy 101

Recommended Decks (with links to photos and a video)

How many decks should you have?

Who is better at which system?

Kipper vs. Tarot, Lenormand and Sibilla

Lenormand 101

How to Read with Lenormand

Answering Yes or No with Lenormand

How to Predict Timing with Lenormand

How Mirroring is Done

How Lenormand Interacts with Tarot

The Twin Cards in Lenormand and Tarot

Lenormand Cards as Feelings and Thoughts

Tarot + Oracle + Lenormand Spreads

Extra Man and Woman Lenormand Cards

The 12-Step Lenormand Grand Tableau

Lenormand vs. Tarot

Tarot 101

How to Truly Master Tarot

How Tarot Readings Really Work

Recommended Books

Tarot Meanings

What It Means to Keep Seeing the Same Suit

What It Means to Keep Seeing the Same Number

What It Means to Keep Seeing the Same Card

What It Means to Get Contradictory Cards

What Tarot’s Colors Say About Your Future

The Major Arcana as People

How to Remember the Major Arcana

How to Read “Good” Cards as “Bad”

How to Tell Physical Appearance

How to Determine Locations

How to Read Pentacles for Love

How to Decide Which Meaning to Use

How Context Dictates Meaning

The Soulmate Cards

The Forever Alone Cards

The Polar Opposite Cards

The Major and Minor Twins

The “Bad” Cards as Advice

The Cards as Yes or No

The Cards as Someone’s Feelings

The Cards as Advice vs. Outcome

The Court Cards as Thoughts or Intentions

Tarot’s Extreme Meanings

Tarot’s Twins in Lenormand

Literal Card Meanings

Career and Finances Meanings

Meanings for Timing

When Reversed is Better than Upright

The Kings in Real Life

The Queens in Real Life

How the Men in Tarot Will Treat You

The Court Cards and Gender

Physical Attractiveness of the Court Cards

The Real Deal with Tarot’s Pages

The Knights in Fiction

The Queen of Cups in Fiction

When the Court Cards Refer to You

The Best Couples in Tarot

The Emperor’s Love Compatibility

Christian Symbology in Tarot

Tarot and Sexual Behavior

True Love Combinations

Old-time Tarot Meanings

The Past and Future Cards in Tarot

Tarot Meanings for Different Decks

Why We Read Tarot Symbolically

How to Read Reversals

Tarot Combinations for Health Issues

Tarot Combinations for Mental Illness

Tarot Combinations for Cheating

Tarot and Astrology

Tarot and Countries

The Kinds of Wedding in Tarot

The Hierophant is Forever

The Lovers is Not About Choices

The Hermit in Love

The Spokes of the Wheel of Fortune

The Tower’s Duality

The Moon is Not Your Friend

The Star is the Trickiest Card in Tarot

The World is Overrated

The Greco-Roman Gods in Tarot

My Favorite Card and My Least Favorite

The Three Most Misunderstood Tarot Cards

The Three Best Cards in Tarot

The 12 Most Underwhelming Tarot Cards

Tarot Spreads

Past Life Spread

Life Purpose Spread

General Life Prediction Spread

Soulmate Spread

Sex Life Spread

Future Children Spread

Death Prediction Spread

Dream Interpretation Spread

High Priestess Spread (For Quick Predictions)

True Colors Spread (For Questions of Intentions)

Two Paths Spread (For Making a Difficult Decision)

Combined Spreads (Tarot, Oracle, Lenormand)

Ancestors Spread (For Speaking with the Dead)

When Spread (Timing with the Celtic Cross)

Major Arcana Grand Tableau (Yearly Reading Spread)

The What If Spread

The Three Wishes Tarot Spread

The Storyboard Tarot Spread

Using Tarot to Find Your True Gods

Using Tarot to Find Your Rising Sign

How to Perform the Celtic Cross Spread

Tarot Tips

How to Achieve Truthful Tarot Readings

How to Be the Best Tarot Reader You Can Be

Never Pull Clarifiers

Never Use Significators

Never Hold Back Truths

Never Read for Someone You Dislike

The Perfect Deck for Everyone

Reasons to Have Multiple Tarot Decks

Where to Buy Tarot Cloths

Do Not Worry About Mercury Retrograde

How to Enchant Your Tarot Decks

How to Use Tarot to Protect Someone

How to Use Tarot to Control Another Soul

How to Use Tarot for Vengeance

How to Predict Sports Matches with Tarot

How a Tarot Reader Influences Readings

How to Use Tarot to Confirm Your Gifts

How the Rider-Waite Can Help You

What to Do with Rogue Tarot Cards

What to Do When Tarot Scares You

You are Not Cursed

The Importance of Reading Reversals

The Language of Tarot

Tarot Needs All of its Cards

Who to Invoke During a Reading

How to Stay Safe During a Reading

Do Not Confuse Honesty with Hate

On Using Playing Cards Instead

The Right and Wrong Ways of Mixing Decks

The Most Common Tarot Reader Mistakes

The Myth of Not Reading Tarot for Yourself

Tarot Rules and Superstitions

How to Close a Tarot Reading

Tarot Etiquette

Formally introduce yourself

Use it often

Acknowledge the card that it assigns to you

Respect its identity

Do not cleanse it

Never ask it the same question twice

When You Can Ask the Same Question Again

Do not ask it basic questions

Do not use it for spying

Never dismiss its predictions

Never use another deck to confirm its answers

Read with it when you are emotional

Do not talk about it negatively

Do not blame it for your own mistakes

Do not pull away from it

Do not think of it as evil

Do not anger it

Deal your cards the right way

Shuffle your cards correctly

Respect tradition

Practice etiquette, conduct and decorum

Tarot is easily offended

On Charging Your Tarot Decks

On Modifying Your Tarot Decks

On Not Using the Whole Deck

On Secondhand Tarot Decks

Pirated Decks Also Deserve Respect

How to Store Tarot Decks

How to Greet and Thank Your Tarot Deck

How to Make Amends with Tarot

Keep your tinctures away from it

Spend time with it

Never discard it

Use a cloth with it

Trust it

Sibilla 101

Sibilla Starter Kit

How to Predict Timing with Sibilla

Oracle Cards 101

How Oracle Cards Complement Tarot

Tarot + Oracle + Lenormand Spreads

Other Divination Systems

Alternatives to Tarot

How to Really Learn Palmistry

All About Spells | All About Astrology

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👑‘You Should See Me in a Crown’ Pop-Culture Glamour Spell👑

Picture’s source: 👑

👸❤️So, this is a confidence glamour spell to feel like the beautiful, powerful, fierce king/queen you are.❤️🤴 (Key: Alt is an abbreviation for ‘alternative’)

Supplies:

⚜️ Gold Candle

⚜️ Red Ribbon

⚜️ Crown (Alt: Elegeant Headband)

⚜️ Lighter (Alt: Match)

⚜️ Red Lipstick (Alt: Mascara, Eyeliner, Gold Eyeshadow, Perfume)

⚜️ Mirror

⚜️This Song: 👑 “you should see me in a crown’-Billie Eillish👑

~🔥Procedure:🔥~

❤️ Get all of your utensils ready, including having the lyrics ready to sing along

🖤 Admire yourself in the mirror and look at yourself proudly

💛 Start the song and keep intent

❤️ Tie your ribbon around the candle

🖤 Light lighter/match and light the wick as you say “You should see me in a crown” along with the song. (Remember tone helps with intent)

💛 Finish the verse while watching the flame

❤️ Use mirror and apply lipstick

🖤 Blow out flame and put away utensils when satisfied

✨💖Extra Options & Tips💖✨

😊Personal alterations and exceptions are just fine!

🕯️If you can’t use a gold candle with red ribbon, then use a red candle with gold ribbon

🎧Listen to the song beforehand to know how to sing along

💄If you don’t have lipstick, just apply something else fierce. Like mascara, eyeliner, lipgloss, or gold eyeshadow

💋If you want, you can put on more than just lipstick. It’s your rules, you’re king/queen.

💅 If you don’t wear makeup, then you’re accepted too! Spray a perfume/cologne, rub on some essential oils, or paint your nails

👑 Try to keep a Gold&Red theme with some black/white accents if you’d like.

//❤️Red= courage, strength, power, energy, desire, leadership, self-esteem.//

//💛Gold= attraction, luxury, great fortune, abundance, prosperity, royalty.//

💍If you want/can, dress up for it! Wear whatever empowers you. A crown or headband is not neccessary, but effective. A pretty bracelet will suffice.

📿If there’s a deity you would like to devote this to, then maybe incorporate them with rosary, jewelry, or a message to them that you’re dedicating this to them and/or why.

💎 If you have relevant crystals, use them

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Witch Tips for City Witches

City Witch Tips for all of my fellow witches stuck in apartments, dorms or other city areas.

If you can’t burn incense you can make your own sprayable incense by mixing alcohol (usually vodka or rubbing) with essential oils and a bit of oil, spray in the air to act like incense

If you are unable to go outside for whatever reason to get rain water (in my case just no where to collect it safely), fill a jar or glass with regular water and keep it near a cracked window to charge it with the wind, sound and scent of the rain outside. Same goes for storm water

Trapped in city and unable to get ocean water? Sea salt mixed with rain/storm water can be an excellent substitute

To continue on with water substitutes, if you can’t collect snow crushed ice from your fridge will suffice

Low key warding/protection you can use: spray moon water, salt water or sprayable incense about your apartment or dorm, place sigils under doormats, furniture, inside cupboards, etc; place crystals about hidden or out in the open, sweep and dust out the door or towards windows

If you need melted wax to seal a jar or for any other magical purpose, but can’t burn candles, by a wax melter and melt that wax and imagine the light from the burner acting like a flame (plus they are rather cheap, I got mine for 25 bucks)

Need stars in your craft but too much light pollution? Glow in the dark stars on your ceiling or wall can work just as well for visualization. Print out pictures of your favorite constellations or planets and place them up on your walls or on your altar. Live video feed of the night sky can also be easily found on the internet

Bath magic is amazing for low-key ‘in the woods’ witches. Use teas, milk, oils, herbs, bath bombs, bubble baths, salts, etc that relate to your intent. It is also a good place to meditate if you have roommates or family around that would disturb you otherwise

If you do for whatever reason need to burn a candle, birthday candles are small, melt fast, and don’t create a lot of smoke or smokey scent

Sigils are another great low-key form of magic. To boost them up, use color magic related to the color you draw them in, write them using quills made of feathers related to your intent, use colored paper, rub a drop of essential oil on them, charge them with crystals or in your windowsill

You don’t have to burn sigils to activate them, which is hardly an option when you are in a dorm or apartment. Other options are: Shredding them, erasing them, soaking them in a bath or shower, using body heat or your own pulse, etc

Miss having the outdoors and plants around? Windowsill gardens can really help. Small plants you can consider keeping in your windowsill or counter-tops: succulents, cacti, bamboo, lemongrass, basic, rosemary, mint, rosemary, mosses, aloe, snake plant, pothos (and other vines), carrots, beets, shallots, lettuce, spinach, garlic, chives, parsley, oregano, thyme, and marigold

Open your window to let the wind and air from outside to help energize you and clear out negative energies inside

Fun places to put sigils: under furniture, carved into soap, onto shampoo/conditioner bottles, on your make up, inside phone cases, in shoes, under bandages, sewn into pillow cases and blankets, behind pictures in frames, underside of nail polish, carved into wax squares for your wax melter, keys and keychains, behind mirrors or in medicine cabinets, on bookmarks, on or in binders and pencil cases, on medicine bottles, and water bottles/travel mugs

Easy to make and dispose of poppets: carrot sticks (one of my personal favorites), apples or other fruit, clothe, paper, popsicle sticks, paper towels/napkins, toilet paper rolls, eggs, celery stocks, and cotton balls

The internet is an amazing thing. Need some sounds to help you focus or meditate? Easily look up the sounds of rain, storms, wind, ocean waves, jungles, forests, etc

Christmas lights are fun and great way to use discrete witchcraft. Select ones in the colors you wish for them to bring ie green for growth, yellow for inspiration, white for protection, purple for psychic abilities, etc. 

Some everyday things you can use for discrete witchcraft that don’t cost much at all or that you most likely already have: water, table salt, black pepper, paper, crayons/pencils/pens/markers, vinegar, milk, tea, highlighters, make up and beauty supplies, shampoo and conditioner, rubber bands, paperclips, thumbtacks, computer/phone/tablet, music/music player, playing cards, dice, air freshener, perfumes, toothpaste, rice, flour, sugar, honey, and all kitchen herbs and seasonings.

Can’t afford gemstones or crystals on college budget? Crackle and dyed quartz you can find super cheap at craftstores and online. I bought a whole bag for 4 bucks. Use them based on their colors and shapes. Can’t afford that but still want to use rocks in your craft? Find some rocks you like outside, again use their colors and shapes to determine their correspondences. Want to use them for a specific purpose? Paint sigils on them in the color that corresponds with what you want! Charge them in your windowsill or with your own energy and intent. There you go!

Pocket mirrors are cheap, easy to carry around and great for glamours and on the go magic. 

Seriously though, glamour spells are going to be a good option for you. use your make up, skin products, hair care products, brushes/combs, perfume, mirrors, toothbrush/toothepaste and intent. Good to do while you are getting ready for your day

Dream magic is another friend of the city witch! Use crystals, sigils, herbs, etc near your bed before you go to sleep, drink some chamomile, get yourself a dream journal (mine is literally a notebook with construction paper on it), keep it and a pen near you. In the morning write down your dreams, your thoughts, how you feel (tired, refreshed, groggy, etc), and interpret them. 

Can’t afford tarot cards? Print out some, you can usually find them online and they won’t last as long as a real deck but it is a good temporary solution. Want a Ouija board but can’t keep one or need it to be easily hidden? Print one out, draw on one on paper or cardboard, fold it up and store it once you are done. Want a pendulum but can’t afford one? Use your favorite necklace, bracelet or keychain!

Tea and coffee magic is great, make your own tea blends with the herbs you like. Or just buy simple green or black tea and add sugar, milk, etc depending on your intentions

As I said before, crock pot magic. The Modern Cauldron: brew and cook all day with it, fill your apartment with the scent of the herbs and food to fill it with the energies they correspond with and you get a delicious meal to come home to! Most dorms allow them. Rice cookers also work well.

Can’t afford fresh food? Have to survive on ramen, canned soup, and microwaved meals? That is okay! They even correspond with things! Tomato soup for love, beauty and passion. Beef ramen noodles for strength, courage and longevity. Microwave mac n cheese for beauty and feminity. Look at their ingredients and what they correspond with. Sure its not as glamorous as a making a huge made by scratch traditional meal but its kitchen magic none the less. Stir it with your intent while you cook. It isn’t fancy but it works just as well!

Use a notebook or binder for a nice grimoire, decorate it as much as you want on the inside. Print out pictures of nature, animals, planets, stars, places, crystals, etc that you cant’ access/afford and use them in your craft. Spell books and grimoires are powerful tools

Don’t have a wand? Use a wooden spoon. Tie a colored string or ribbon to it to correspond with what energy you want it to have and move and flick it as you would a wand. 

Knitting, crocheting, and knot magic is very apartment friendly. As well as sewing and embroidering plus it is super calming.

Glitter, sequins, and beads are great in witchcraft! Use their colors to determine their correspondences. Put them in spell jars, sachets, bottles, etc. Glitter tip: if you spill any don’t fret, get some packing tape, wrap it around your hand with the sticky part outwards and dab at that glitter spill. You will literally pick up all of the glitter in seconds!

Enchant and charge your pots, pans, skillets, and other cookware to make every meal magical

Make moonwater in your windowsills. Use it for cleansing, beauty, divination, clarity, protection and purification

Take walks. Even if it is a city there is still nature about. Pigeons flying about, potted flowers outside of stores, grass growing in front lawns, etc. Enjoy yourself, even if it is not some wild, vast forest you can still connect with your local nature.

Pick up litter or garbage you see outside, being in the city we all see it. The natural world around you will appreciate you helping out. Bring a bag with you when you take your walks or travel and fill it with wrappers you see on the ground.

I hope this was helpful to all of my fellow city and dorm witches!

[caffeineempress]

PSA: Schools of Magic and why you're being scammed.

Hello loves and welcome back!

Recently I came across a site that offered tarot lessons for free. I’m of the mindset that there is no such thing as too much research so I decided to check it out. I found that they also have other lessons in holistic witchery, astrology, everyday magic, and even business.

Sounds neat, but what’s the catch? Pricing.

First, let’s break down what they’re offering. Their July to September course is currently enrolling. You would get four group calls and eight pre-recorded lessons with printables for  topics like sacred space, the elements, spell-work/intention work, clearing and protecting, kitchen and household magic, and magical mindset. Upon completion of their lessons, all twelve months, you will receive “one-of-a-kind online experience and certification program.”

Now let’s be clear, this is not an accredited school. This certificate holds no real world value besides saying that you paid for twelve months of programs and they printed a certificate for you.

Back to the point, pricing. For the basic holistic course which is 12 months of lessons, an optional in person “graduation”, a Facebook group, a certification, and a welcome note and sticker, you would pay $87 a month for 12 months. That’s $1,044.

If you add in the astrology bundle, it’s $147 a month for 12 months. That’s $1,764.

Before you drop that kind of money, because let’s face it with the current economical state not many of us have it, allow me to offer you some alternatives.

Project Gutenberg is completely free. This is the results for a basic witchcraft search. You can also find pdf versions of older books online, usually for free, just by searching for them. 

@my-witchy-journal​ shared a great list of books that you can download for free here. 

Embassy of the free mind currently has over 1600 occult books digitized, including The Tarot of the Bohemians. I plan to go through this more thoroughly later and see what other gems I can find but this is all free. 

There are also so many of us here that share our resources and wouldn’t mind helping you find resources of your own. The last thing I want is to see witches just starting out thinking that they have to break the bank to learn.

But let’s say that you want physical copies. For the most basic course offered it was 87 dollars for per month. With just one month’s payment you could buy multiple books from Amazon. 

The biggest selling point for me would be the online community of other witches to chat and practice with. Except we have that here. For free. If you have any questions or would like help researching something let me know. If I do not know the answer I will help you find it. 

[caffeineempress]

How I do home a cleansing

So here’s a small post on how I do a full home (or room) cleansing. I modified it to fit all religious/spiritual beliefs!

Banishing:

Need:

-two pans (or any loud objects)

-sage (preferably the dried bundles but incense or spray will work)

Burn/spray the sage in every room AND corner of the house while banging your two objects together and screaming “malicious entities begone”. Sweep in front of every doorway after.

Cleansing:

Need:

-sage (bundles, incense, or spray)

-sea salt

Burn the sage and walk through every room of the house. Open the windows afterwards to allow any unwanted energy out. Sprinkle sea salt in every corner and in front of the front and back doors.

Warding:

Need:

Any crystals good for protection or divination

Meditation music of your choice

Play your music and place your crystals in front of you, then get into a meditative state. Envision your house, and a white light surrounding the entire property, protecting you from harm. Then envision a gold light around that white light, to connect you with the Divine Thread. Focus on this for as long as you please.

[caffeineempress]

Isis

Egyptian goddess of magic, life, compassion, fertility, motherhood, childbirth, death, rebirth, devotion, royalty, knowledge, protection, abundance, healing, and the elements

Isis (called Aset in Egyptian) is the Egyptian Queen of Heaven. She is described as the first daughter of the gods Geb and Nut and was born on the first day of the first years of creation. In her human form, Isis was an incredibly beautiful young woman who was depicted with outstretched wings and sometimes holding a lotus flower, while in her animal form, she was depicted as a hawk, cobra, or cow. In the heavens, her symbol is the star Sirius, the brightest of all stars. Though she was also known as a Solar deity and later on when introduced to the Greeks, a Lunar deity as well. She is the loving wife of Osiris, with her son being Horus.

In one myth, Isis – being the people’s goddess who helped her people in many ways, devised a plan to usurp the throne. She mixed some of Ra’s saliva with mud and created a very poisonous snake. The snake bit Ra that caused him great pain and suffering. The ambitious Isis offered to make a deal with Ra to heal him in exchange for his true name. By sharing this secret, all of Ra’s personal power and knowledge was transferred to Isis, thus causing her to become the most powerful of all the gods. Isis would then utilize this vast power for her people’s benefit.

Isis is revered as an excellent mother and there are several works of art that depict her with her son Horus on her lap. She also became a fertility and Earth Goddess as shown by the following titles: Lady of Green Crops, Mother of the Gods, Mother of the Universe, and Queen of the Earth. In this role she became the protector and patron of woman and children. This great goddess is even associated with all of the elements: earth as a fertility goddess, air through her association with wind (especially the North wind), fire as a Solar deity (she is described as Maker of the Sunrise and the Brilliant One in the Sky), and lastly water as she was linked to the flooding of the Nile. 

Later, Isis also became associated with the sea and boats, responsible for bringing ships safely home. She even absorbed many of the funerary goddess roles, replacing Hathor on the solar barque, the ship upon which the dead Kings and Gods sailed the heavens. As the protector of her people and the Pharaoh, Isis would defend them in battle and was even a slayer of the evil snake Apep, who represents all the corruption of existence. She is considered the complete female from which all life form sprung and had so many different areas of influence that she earned the title of Lady of Ten Thousand Names.

Isis was seen as the protector of all and was even viewed as the mother of the Pharaoh. She was also deeply loving and devoted, especially towards her husband and son, whom she protected from the god Set in one myth. Isis was worshiped as the ideal mother, wife, and the matron of nature and magic. She is the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, and the downtrodden, listening to the pleas of even those who feel forgotten. Isis’ worship was also concerned about the acquisition of knowledge since knowledge could only be attained from the gifts of the gods.

Some of the few known forms of Isis include: Khut as a light giver, Usert as the mighty earth-goddess, Thenenet as the great goddess of the underworld, Sati when she shot forth the Nile flood, Anqet as the embracer of the land and producer of fertility by her waters, Ankhet as the giver of life, Sekhet as a goddess that cultivated lands and fields, Renenet as the goddess of harvest, and Tcheft as the goddess of foods that were offered to the gods.

In my personal experiences with Isis, her love is profound and full of compassion, patience, and wisdom. She is friend to the outcasts and hurt, though is fiercely wrathful towards the corrupt and will seek out justice. Isis is often a soft-spoken deity with words like honey, though she is full of power and courage that burns like an eternal flame. Her gift is knowledge, as she seeks to destroy ignorance of all kinds, and she can be very cunning and ambitious at times, using her crafty mind to outwit others. The energy of Isis is both deeply soothing and powerful all at once, displaying the Great Mother goddess that she is.

| Symbolism of Isis |

Solar disks

Hawks

Vultures

Snakes

Scorpions

Cows

Swallows

Doves

The elements

Sirius

Lotus flowers

The Sun and Moon

| Personal Associations |

Lions

Lilies

Roses

Grains

Swords and Shields

Gravestones

| Some of her epithets |

Mistress of All the Stars

Mistress of Battle

Mother of God

Great of Magic

Sorceress Who Heals

Fiercely Bright One

Giver of Life

She Who Attacks the Powerful Ones

Eye of Ra

Vanguard of the Army

Sovereign Who Governs the Orb of Sunlight

Ruler of the Stars

Speaker of Magic

Sovereign of the Library

Lady of Heaven, Earth, and the Duat

Ruler of the Gods and Goddesses

Radiant Lady

Queen of All Women

Pure Jewel

Pure of Thrones

More Clever than a Million of Gods

Lady of Flame

Maker of the Sunrise

Lady of the Tomb

Great of Carnage

Fiery One / Fiery Serpent

She Who Slays Apep in an Instant

| Offerings |

Flowers, succulents, roses, lotuses,  grains, fruits, seafood, baked goods, feathers, daggers, swords, snakeskin, white wine, juice, water, milk, imagery of stars, healing herbs, magical tools, divination tools, books, graveyard dirt (obtained with spirit’s permission), selenite, garnet, lapis lazuli, sunstone, moonstone, clear crystals, jewelry, bones, perfumes, lavender, tea, sweetened coffee, honey, myrrh, chocolate, brownies, desserts, cream and sugar, incense, artwork, poetry, prose, imagery of the Sun or Moon, gold/orange/blue/red/pink candles, pictures of your children, seashells, pearls, dried scorpions, hawk/vulture skulls, and imagery of her sacred animals.

[caffeineempress]

Add Some Oomph to Your Spells with Magical Timing

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

Qabalah Made Easy by David Wells [Note: Qabalah is based on an appropriation of Jewish mysticism, and I am NOT endorsing its practice. However, much of the magical timing associations used in modern witchcraft is shared with Qabalah and other forms of ceremonial magic, which is why it’s referenced here.]

[caffeineempress]

Hera/Juno

Small devotional acts.

Be a loving and nurturing friend

Pamper yourself often

Paint 

Get peacock-feather earrings

Be nice to any kids you run into 

Get some temporary tattoos

Fight for love and marriage equality

Plant fragrant flowers near your home

Smile at strangers

Get some metallic pens

Embrace being the mom friend - always have snacks at the ready

Buy a nice set of sheets

Donate to charities that help those without family support

Drink an herbal/floral tea

Add more sparkly things to your life

Eat an apple

Go cloud watching

Blast the AC then get cozy under some blankets

Wear that outfit you love that also scares you a little

Burn a scented candle

Support small artists and display their work in your home!

Strengthen your relationships - romantic or platonic

Go on more walks, take time to smell the flowers

Gold!

Always notice little ones that seem a bit lost, and take a minute to make sure they’re okay

Support those in or escaping abusive situations

Listen to music that empowers you

Buy a succulent plant

Wear those sunglasses wherever you want

Buy yourself that extra goody you always think about while at the store

Get more iced drinks 

[caffeineempress]

Any tea lovers out there? What's your favorite?

[caffeineempress]

Unusual Ingredients For Love Spells

I find myself getting tired of using the same ingredients for spells over and over. Of course these staple items have been used so frequently by various people and traditions for a reason, sometimes I think it’s just fun and helpful to grow your practice by changing it up. So, here are some things I have used in works that aren’t typical in love magick. 

1) Strawberry Leaves- I find these especially helpful in spells that are trying to attract NEW love to a person. Strawberries are associated with love, playfulness, and innocence and although you may be trying to cultivate a romantic/sexual relationship, the foundation of long-lasting relationships is friendship, which strawberry leaves are great for!

2) Kool Aid- Yes, I actually mean Kool-Aid. In love spells flavors to be used could be cherry, strawberry, or even pink lemonade. Similar to strawberries Kool-AId is associated with innocence and childlike love. If you are interested in drawing a partner to you that is playful and able to laugh at themselves this could be a great thing to sprinkle onto your candles or put in your mojo/spell bags. It also could be used like I mentioned before to ground a relationship in friendship and childlike purity.

3) Cotton Candy- Need to sweeten someone up? Cotton candy will do it for you. Using this in a work could be as complex as melting it down and using the syrup for various bottle/jar spells, or even as simple as putting it on your tongue, letting it melt, and commanding someone to be sweet to you. This could be used for new love, rekindling love, or even just keeping someone around.

4) Maraschino Cherries- These things are super sweet so using the cherry or the syrup could be used to sweeten someone or something to be swayed in your favor. Cherries are also associated with sexual desire and could be used in spells associated with that.

5) Chili Peppers- Use this one with extreme caution. I would not personally advise anyone to use these when doing one for new love but they definitely could be used to speed something up, or spice ip a relationship if things are getting dull.