ittakesrain

[ittakesrain]

solstice & equinox correspondences

🌺 vernal (spring) equinox - new beginnings, love, hope, cleansing, fertility, inspiration, beauty

🌞 summer solstice - relationships, marriage, energy, power, abundance

🍁 autumnal (autumn/fall) equinox - endings, harvest, banishing, letting go, psychic power, divination

❄ winter solstice - reflection, introspection, family, healing, peace

© 2025 bunny-claws

[ittakesrain]

🌙 How To Build An Altar That Feels Like Home

When I built my first altar, it looked like a sad thrift store shelf, mismatched candles, half-melted incense sticks, a chipped mug standing in for a chalice. I was so desperate for it to look witchy, like the glossy photos in books. But it didn’t feel like mine. It felt like a stranger’s stage.

It took me years, and many messy, candle-wax-soaked attempts, to realize: your altar isn’t an Instagram post. It’s a heartbeat. It’s your magic’s nest. It should feel like home, because it is one.

Here’s how I’ve learned to build an altar that breathes with you, one that feels like warm floors, familiar shadows, and the exact right hush of your spirit.

🕯️ 1. Know What An Altar Really Is

Strip away the fancy words: an altar is just a sacred spot. It’s where you gather your power and your gratitude in one place.

It can be as humble as a windowsill or as grand as a dedicated room. A shelf, a table, a box, all that matters is intention.

Think of it as a tiny crossroads: your body, your spirit, and your magic meet there. The rest is just trimmings.

🌿 2. Start With What Calls You

Forget the shopping list that says you must have a pentacle, a wand, a chalice, this and that.

Ask: what do you reach for when you feel witchiest? A candle that smells like your grandmother’s kitchen? A stone you found at the river? A jar of salt?

Your altar is not a museum. It’s a nest of meaning. Let it be ugly at first. Let it be real.

🔮 3. Give It a Heartbeat

I always tell baby witches: your altar’s alive if it changes with you.

Maybe you set it up on the floor for a spell, then move it to a shelf when you get a cat who loves knocking things over. Maybe you swap the flowers every season. Maybe you leave offerings that rot a little, because magic is not sterile.

Mine has bits of charred candle wicks, a cracked seashell, and a scrap of cloth from my mother’s apron. I clean it, but I don’t bleach it of history.

🗝️ 4. Make It a Conversation

An altar is not a monologue. You don’t just speak at it. You speak with it.

When you light a candle, linger. When you place a new object, ask it, “What do you bring here?” Listen. Maybe you rearrange things when they feel stale. Maybe you sleep with a stone under your pillow before giving it a spot on your altar, so it knows your dreams.

This is the bit the books forget to tell you: your altar listens back.

🌙 5. Protect It, But Don’t Police It

It’s good to cleanse your altar, blow off dust, pass smoke over it, ring a bell if it feels heavy.

But don’t let perfectionism be your deity. I once wasted hours agonizing over where to put a feather. It’s a feather, Nyra. Spirits don’t care if it’s center-left or right.

Your hands are sacred. Trust them.

🕸️ A Few Simple Ideas To Try

Place something that represents each element, but only if it feels real to you. A rock, a candle, a cup of water, a pinch of salt.

Add one thing that smells good. Scent ties your spirit to memory.

Leave an offering to your guides or ancestors, even if it’s just a whisper of thanks.

Keep a tiny cloth or broom nearby to sweep off old energy when needed.

🌒 A Final Whisper

Your altar is not a shrine to aesthetics, it’s a mirror for your spirit.

Build it slow. Let it shift. Let it hold your tears, your giggles, your burnt matches and hopeful wishes.

One day you’ll sit at that sacred little corner, a mug of tea in hand, and think: This is mine. And it will hum back: Yes. And I am yours.

— Nyra

[ittakesrain]

Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, 25.01.25, by Manusia dan Langit (composite picture of the alignment also called “planet parade”)

[ittakesrain]

[ittakesrain]

[ittakesrain]

Your Dominant Element — How It Shapes Your Magic

To walk your path as a witch, you must know your element. Not the one you like — but the one that speaks through your very birth.

Read your birth chart, then you will find it by counting how many of your planets dwell in each sign. Each of the ten traditional astrological planets is worth one point. The Sun, for its central power, is worth two. So is the Ascendant, for it governs your gateway into the world.

The zodiac signs belong to the four ancient elements:

Fire rules Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Earth rules Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Air rules Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Water rules Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Once you know which element holds the most weight in your chart, everything changes. You do not cast spells the same way anymore. You do not feel the moonlight the same way. You begin to understand where your magic truly lives.

Fire

If your soul burns with Fire, your spells are fierce and instinctive. You do not overthink — you channel. Cast enchantments that awaken fire. You are strongest under the blazing Sun, where heat sharpens your will and power bursts through you like flame. Your magic thrives in pyromancy, in hexes and glamours, and in readings that speak with directness and passion, like the Sibilla.

Earth

If you are woven from Earth, your magic is slow, ancient, and patient. You listen to stones, to roots, to the steady pulse beneath your feet. You work best with herbs, with spells for abundance, fertility, and protection. Let your bare feet touch the sacred soil. You are grounded by ritual, by sacred tools made of wood or stone, and your readings are practical and precise — like the Kipper.

Air

If you are made of Air, your magic is swift, clever, and invisible. You cast with thought, with voice, with symbols in the wind. You thrive in open spaces, under strong breezes, or when thunder rumbles in the clouds. Weather Magic, learn how to call storms. Your gifts lie in enchantments of memory, illusion, influence — and in cards like the Lenormand, where meaning dances lightly between lines.

Water

If you are born of Water, your magic runs deep. It is quiet, secret, and powerful. You carry the ocean in your bones. You are strongest near rivers, rain, or the stillness of moonlit waters. Talk to the Moon, she always listens. You hold the power of healing and of cursing, of cleansing and drowning, of dreams and grief and resurrection. Tarot answers you clearly, because you speak the language of emotion and shadow.

To know your element is to uncover your true magical nature. It is not a limit, but a key. A door through which your power flows freely — finally, without resistance.

So count your stars. And listen closely.

Your element has been whispering to you since the day you were born.

What if you have no dominant element? Here's the answer.

And here's what happens if you do not resonate with your dominant element

[ittakesrain]

While I’m on the subject, I want you guys to learn this…

Did you know that how you talk to yourself alters your DNA?

The way you speak to yourself, your thoughts, emotions and inner dialogue—impacts your DNA through epigenetics. Negative self talk raises cortisol, triggering genes linked to inflammation, aging and diseases. Conversely, positive self talk activates genes for healing, resilience and longevity. Chronic stress and emotional trauma can alter DNA expression and even be passed down to future generations.

This also applies to what you hear. Negative words, insults and toxic conversations increase cortisol, rewiring neural pathways to make stress a default state. Constant exposure to negativity, whether through people or media, can impact gene expression.

Just how stress harms DNA, gratitude, affirmations and meditation can rewire it positively. These practices lower stress, trigger DNA repair, and activate genes for immunity and anti aging. Consciously shifting self talk can change your biology. "It is not that easy!" Yes, it is.

Research suggests binaural beats and solfeggio frequencies influence brainwaves, promoting focus and emotional balance. Mantras, prayers, affirmations can impact cellular structures, proving sound vibrations affect genes.

How long does this take, you ask?

Immediate (Minutes to Days): A single thought can raise or lower cortisol almost instantly.

Short Term (Weeks to Months): 6–8 weeks of daily gratitude, mindfulness, or affirmations can shift gene expression.

Long Term (Months to Years): Consistent mental reprogramming strengthens immunity, reduces disease risk, and slows aging.

Your thoughts shape your body at a genetic level so choose them wisely.

[ittakesrain]

Capnomancy - Smoke Divination

The whispers rise with the smoke — will you dare listen?

Once, the ancients gathered around fire not just for warmth, but for answers. Capnomancy — the art of divining with smoke — was practiced by Greek priestesses, Roman augurs, and cunning folk across Europe and Asia. Some burned laurel, others incense or fat, watching how the smoke danced, curled, or clung. It is among the oldest forms of divination: primal, fleeting, wild. The smoke is a messenger — its language: movement, scent, direction, and shape.

All you need is fire, silence, and a question.

1. Choose your material

Loose herbs (mugwort, bay, rosemary, wormwood)

Incense (cones or resins like frankincense, myrrh)

Wood (small twigs or sacred woods like palo santo)

Paper petitions (for spellwork + reading)

2. Create sacred space

Cast a circle or cleanse your space. This art is delicate — the smoke must rise undisturbed. Call upon your spirits, guides, or ancestors if you wish.

 3. Light your source

Let the smoke rise freely. Ask your question either aloud or silently.

4. Observe

Watch how the smoke behaves. Here are some basic meanings:

Rises straight & strong: success, yes, blessings ahead

Drifts to the right: future-oriented, progress

Drifts to the left: past-focused, unfinished business

Clings to the ground: danger, hidden forces

Flickering or spiraling: chaos, change, unseen movement

Splits in two: crossroads, divided path

Suddenly disappears: answer withheld — ask another time

5. Interpret shapes

Some witches see symbols in the smoke — letters, animals, objects. Trust your intuition. Let the vision speak before your logic intervenes.

6. Record your reading

Write down what you saw, how the smoke behaved, and how it made you feel. Capnomancy is a gut art — you learn it by doing, again and again.

Notes & Tips

Always practice fire safety.

Some practitioners pair capnomancy with candle reading or ash reading.

Use different herbs for different questions (e.g. rosemary for clarity, myrrh for spirit communication).

Windless nights or indoor stillness are best.

Capnomancy doesn’t offer words — it offers visions. The answer may not come clearly. It may not come at all. But when it does… it feels like a truth you already knew.

May the smoke rise true.

[ittakesrain]

[ittakesrain]

wax seal stamp pngs ♡

[ittakesrain]

[ittakesrain]

“Europeans live longer because they eat FRESH FOOD!!!!” Bitch, they live on cigarettes. They live longer because they have universal healthcare. I’m convinced America is obsessed with inventing things that are killing us so you don’t have to face the actual problems.

[ittakesrain]

MICHAEL B. JORDAN as SMOKE

Sinners (2025) dir. Ryan Coogler

[ittakesrain]

Shuffles has me these last few days.

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[ittakesrain]

Things to take pictures of

-mundane things

- Your morning coffee or beverage

- The light coming through your window falling on the wall behind it

- The book you’re reading

- Your TBR list

- Your bed, made or unmade, all comfy and cozy

- Something you collect or have a lot of

- A piece of your jewelry

- A quote you wrote down or a doodle you drew

- Something that represents coziness and security

- Something that represents your personal vibe

- A cute pair of shoes on the grass underneath you

-unique things

- A rainbow in the sky

- A cloud that looks like a familiar shape

- An interesting plant you come across outside

- Any patterns you see in nature

- A flower pushing through the concrete

- A ladybug or a butterfly

- A spiderweb you notice

- The small aesthetic details of your outfit

- Your friends and family

-in your home

- Your bookshelf

- A meal you cooked

- A mirror selfie! OOTD

- Somewhere that makes you feel comfy

- A mug that smiles you smile when using

- Somewhere you feel creative

- Your favorite decoration hanging up

- A particularly organized area

-out in public

- The sunrise or sunset

- A body of water (the ocean or a lake or pond even a nice puddle)

- Street signs of familiar places

- The aesthetic of the bookstore you go to

- A concert you attend

- Cool things in stores you want but don’t have money for

- Graffiti that inspires you

- Your favorite color when you see it randomly in the wild

- Something unexpected

[ittakesrain]

Have you tried

[ ] Just being positive

[ ] Journaling

[ ] Telling your thoughts to yourself in the mirror

[ ] Whispering your thoughts to a hummingbird before it flies away

[ ] Yelling your thoughts into a bubble like fucking squidward and floating away in it

[ ] Jumping your worries away on a mini trampoline

[ ] Eating more

[ ] Not having an eating disorder

[ ] Are you sure you haven’t tried just being positive

[ ] Putting your anxieties in your shoes and walking them away

[ ] Banging on a drum to vibrate your insanity away

[ ] Try journaling again I know you never do that ever not once

[ ] Don’t be so mad

[ ] Lighten up

[ ] Go for a mindful walk

[ ] Breathe! Soooooooo soothing

[ ] Name five things you can see four things you can feel three things you can murder two things you can fuck and one thing you can tell off

[ ] Yoga

[ ] Wholistic foods

[ ] Satanic ritual

[ ] Just go outside, it’s nature!

[ ] Wash your face, your emotions will follow

[ ] Smile more, it tricks your brain into thinking you aren’t experiencing literal death

[ ] Eat three almonds

[ ] Text a friend, unless you feel annoying, then just implode

[ ] Have you tried simply choosing joy?

[ ] Schedule your breakdowns for after work hours

[ ] Remember: suffering is a mindset!

[ ] Replace every intrusive thought with a gratitude mantra

[ ] Drink more water until you emotionally drown

[ ] Drinking herbal tea made from your own tears

[ ] Rubbing essential oils directly on your soul

[ ] Building a fort out of self-help books and hiding in it forever

[ ] Meditating while screaming internally

[ ] Taking a sound bath in someone else’s bad vibes

[ ] Forgiving your depression for hurting you

[ ] Journaling in invisible ink so no one can accuse you of not trying

[ ] Manifesting stability with the power of a single $4 crystal

[ ] Smudging your trauma with sage grown on a gentrified farm

[ ] Wearing a hat that says “I’m fine” until it becomes true

[ ] Yell your fears into a jar and microwave it

[ ] Tape googly eyes on your trauma to make it approachable

[ ] Give your depression a LinkedIn profile and block it

[ ] Throw your inner child a birthday party she never asked for

[ ] Create a vision board but make it entirely black

[ ] Make amends with your anxiety by sending it a fruit basket

[ ] Redecorate your dissociation room

[ ] Let the intrusive thoughts DJ your life for one day

[ ] Write love letters to your rage and mail them to no one

[ ] Practice radical acceptance by screaming “IT’S FINE” in a yoga pose