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livredelombre · 4 years

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Building a Magical Home

One of my favorite quotes about the magic of homemaking comes from Cory Hutcheson, host of the New World Witchery podcast. He says, “Home is a transformational act. It is the thing you do to turn a space into a space… that is full of ritual and significance and meaning. So there is sort of this ongoing relationship you have with the space that makes it a home.”

The act of creating a home, of making a space your own, is inherently magical. But if you want to make your space feel a little more witchy, here are some ideas to get you started.

Charms and Talismans

Making your own magical objects can be a powerful way to bring magic into your space. The best thing about making your own charms is that you can make them look however you want, so it’s easy to disguise them as ordinary household objects. You can make a charm for any intention by combining objects based on their magical correspondences.

I’ve talked about protective charms in previous posts, so I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on it here. The simplest protective charm is keeping a large piece of iron under your bed to keep away nightmares, evil spirits, and negative energy. You could also make your own protection charm, like a witch bottle.

You can create a “happy home” charm to bring peace, harmony, and happiness into your home. This charm could include herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and/or bay leaves, as well as other items that you associate with peace and good fortune, like lucky coins, crystals, or black cat fur. Write your desires for a harmonious and happy home on a piece of paper, fold it up, and add it to the charm. You could store these items in a green bag, bury them in your backyard (in this case, make sure you’re only using biodegradable plant matter — leave out the coins and crystals), or place it inside a household object like a lamp or an end table.

If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues, try making a dream charm to help you sleep well and have sweet dreams. To make a simple dream charm, fill a blue or purple bag with lavender, chamomile, peppermint, and any other objects that you associate with peace, restfulness, and sleep. If you want to have lucid dreams or receive psychic messages in your dreams, include a bit of mugwort. Place the charm in your pillow or under your mattress. (I personally swear by this one, as it’s helped a lot with my insomnia.)

Charms are great for homemaking magic because you’re actually creating a magical object, which can then become a permanent fixture of the space.

Magical Decor

You can use magical items to decorate your home to bring certain qualities into that space.

Hanging or displaying a broom is said to bring good fortune, protection from evil, and good hospitality. Cauldrons are used to represent the Goddess, rebirth, and raw potential. Horseshoes hung above door frames bring safety and luck to all who cross under them, and keep unwanted guests away. If you can get them legally and ethically, animal bones, teeth, claws, and feathers can represent the spirit and energy of that animal. You can also put up images of spiritual and occult symbols — I have an image of the Sun tarot card hanging in my bedroom to promote positivity and growth.

If you need to be a little more subtle with your witchy decorations, working with the magic of color is a great way to do that. Gathering a lot of items of a single color in one room changes the energy of that room. Here’s a quick guide to give you some ideas:

Yellow is associated with divination, mental clarity, the element of air, success, communication, and inspiration.

Purple is associated with divine power, spiritual awareness, mystery, astral travel, magic, and authority.

Blue is associated with healing, psychic abilities, the element of water, peace, truth, and patience.

Red is associated with protection, the fire element, sex, power, vitality, and love.

Orange is associated with ambition, creativity, breaking through blockages, and career success.

Pink is associated with romantic love, friendship, self love, compassion, and emotional well-being.

Green is associated with nature, herbalism, the earth element, money, wealth, prosperity, and luck.

Brown is associated with grounding, animal magic, stability, and balance.

White is associated with purification, cleansing, the full moon, new beginnings, healing, and spiritual growth.

Black is associated with protection, truth, outer space, banishing, and transition.

Decorating your home with colors that are meaningful to you can create a powerful magical space. You may also have your own color associations (for example, yellow is a very “happy” color for me), so feel free to incorporate those into your decor as well!

Growing Magical Houseplants

Most witches feel a very deep connection to nature and draw power from the natural world, but we can’t all live in a cottage in the heart of the forest. Even if you live in a tiny apartment in the city, you can still bring nature into your space by keeping houseplants. Many popular houseplants have magical uses, and many popular magic herbs can be grown inside. Here are a few to get you started.

Aloe. This is one of my favorite plants. Aloe brings luck and protection, especially protection on an energetic/spiritual level. I like to keep aloe in my bedroom to protect me while I sleep, as well as to bring luck and inspiration while I’m working at my desk.

Basil. Basil is very popular in money spells, and will attract prosperity and luck to your home. However, it also has protective properties — both spiritual protection and protection from bugs, since basil is a natural insect repellent! Basil can also be used in love spells, and is just generally a good plant to have around for good vibes.

African Violet. This flowering plant attracts positive spiritual energy into your space. It has associations with the moon and the water element, and is very good for promoting spirituality and psychic power.

Rosemary. Rosemary is one of those herbs that every witch should have on hand. It’s so darn versatile, it can be used as a substitute for virtually any other herb, and can be used for almost any intention. Some of the most common magical associations for rosemary include: cleansing, purification, protection, healing, mental activity, and enhancing memory. According to author Deborah J. Martin, there’s an old English saying that, “Where rosemary grows, the woman rules the house.” Like basil, rosemary is a natural insect repellent.

Lavender. Lavender brings peace, love, and gentleness, which makes it a perfect addition to any home. It can be used in spells for cleansing and purification, enhancing psychic abilities, and stress relief. Lavender is also a powerful addition to love spells. Keeping lavender in the bedroom can aid in restful sleep, while lavender in the kitchen will bring harmony to the home.

Sage. Sage is the most talked about cleansing herb, and with good reason. Unfortunately, a lot of the sage bundles you can buy at metaphysical stores are made with white sage (Salvia apiana), which is sacred to Native American peoples and is endangered due to overharvesting. Instead of buying those, why not grow your own garden sage (Salvia officinalis), which has a lot of the same magical properties? Growing sage in your home will purify the space and protect those who live there. Sage also has an association with wisdom and mental prowess.

Hoya. Hoya is a common houseplant that you’ve probably seen even if you don’t know it by name. It has a distinctive appearance with waxy, dark green leaves and clusters of white, star-shaped flowers. Hoya aligns and balances the energy centers within your body, as well as in the surrounding space. It’s associated both with grounding and with spiritual openness, so it can be great for balancing the two.

Peppermint. Peppermint has a variety of magical uses, but my favorite way to use it is for gently opening up blockages and getting things moving. It’s great for cleansing, but is more gentle than rosemary or sage. Place it in any room where you tend to do a lot of healing work, or where you could use some peace and love. Peppermint is also used in dream magic, so growing it in the bedroom may bring on vivid or lucid dreams.

Orchid. Orchids are used in magic for love and lust. Historically, orchid has been used in folk medicine to promote male virility and “Jezebel root,” used in American folk magic to attract wealthy male lovers, is a type of orchid root. If you live with a significant other, try growing an orchid in the bedroom to promote passion in your sex life. Otherwise, grow orchids in your home to promote love or to attract romance.

Catnip. If you have cats, they’ll love this one. Catnip is actually a type of mint, and has strong lunar associations. It’s said to make one more charming and attractive, and is especially useful for attracting women. At the same time, catnip promotes courage and fierceness. It is also, of course, associated with cats and feline deities, so this is definitely a plant you’ll want to keep around if the cat is one of your animal guides.

If you have a yard space that you can turn into an outdoor garden, your magical plant options are limited only by your local ecosystem. Some outdoor plants that have magical uses include roses, sunflowers, rue, lemon balm, and strawberries.

Creating an Altar

Altars are focal points of magical and spiritual energy. Many people, both witches and non-witches, find that having a designated space for their spiritual practice creates a deeper sense of sacredness and purpose.

An altar can serve lots of different purposes. Many witches use their altar as a magical work space to prepare spells, meditate, and do divination. You may choose to dedicate your altar to a deity, your ancestors, or some other spirit(s) you work with. You can also build altars for specific intentions, such as a money altar or a love altar — performing rituals at this altar everyday is a powerful method for manifestation. You altar may be some or all of these things, or it may just be a place to sit and connect with the spiritual.

You can set up an altar on any flat surface, like a shelf or table, or inside a container like a jewelry box. Your setup can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. An altar can be huge and complex, with statues and candles and flowers, or it can be as simple as a tealight and an incense burner. It’s all about what appeals to you.

Resources:

New World Witchery pocast, “Episode 143 — The Magical Home”

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

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

“Candle colors and their meanings” by Michelle Gruben on the Grove and Grotto blog

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin

“The Magic of Orchids in Wiccan Love Spells & Rituals” on the Art of the Root blog

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livredelombre · 4 years

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thought i’d share some playlists for the sabbats, find them especially useful when i happen to be busy on those days and can’t do much else.

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Ha!

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Ward Types and Components

For the purpose of this article, “ward” is defined as: a wall of energy with a purpose. These are different types of protective wards and components.

Anti-Detection: Prevents you/your area from being sensed by hostile forces in the first place.

Reflection Ward: Repels any outside magical attacks.

Wall Ward: Simply prevents entry/provides a barrier, just like a regular physical wall does.

Offensive Ward: Damages the intruder upon entry/touch.

Redirect portal: Entering this ward will teleport the intruder to another place.

Illusion Wards: Mess up the intruder’s senses in some way. Can make the ward much thicker than it seems to be, or even cast the illusion of being somewhere else.

Binding Wards: Condense into a binding that will limit the intruder’s ability in some way.

Minor Hex/Debuff: Cast a curse on the intruder. This can be temporary, wearing off as soon as the intruder leaves or a short time afterwards, or permanent (as can be).

Sensor: This component senses anything and feeds that information to the other wards/to other security systems in place.

Warnings: A ward component whose only purpose is to warn the intruder. This component contains a prerecorded message. Usually of impending doom if the intruder proceeds.

Energy Drainer: A component that drains the energy of the intruder, so as to tire them out. Can also be used to redirect hostile energies elsewhere, where it cannot harm you.

The more detailed and aggressive portions, and the portion on recommended ward layers, have been cut out for the safety of the community. To see the complete version of this and other articles on advanced magic, please join my Patreon here.

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Crystals and Stones for the Ancestors

In the spirit of Samhain which comes ever so close, here is a list of stones you can use to help you connect, channel, and feel your ancestors and loved ones on the otherside.

1. Amber

Amber is neither a stone nor a mineral. It is a resin that oozed from prehistoric forests millions of years ago. Sometimes, encased inside are insects and even small animals, preserved through the ages as they were when they were alive. Because of this, amber is a stone of immortality, of life after death, thus it was often placed inside graves of the deceased to symbolize their eternal life. Use this old, old, resin to connect with ancestors down the ancestral line. Bonus is there is a little critter in yours!

2. Petrified Wood

Fallen trees take a hundred years to petrify. Add that to how old the tree could have been when it fell and you have a good hefty amount of time. In sort, these stone are ancient. Trees already symbolize wisdom, knowledge, and family so using petrified wood to connect to your family tree and reach your roots is perfect. I can’t think of a better stone!

3. Bloodstone

Bloodstone’s link to blood can be traced back to as far as five thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. It has long since been used to help circulation and ailments of the blood. When connecting with our ancestors, our bloodline is an important link to them. The DNA in our blood contains little genetic bits and pieces from those who have come before us. Nothing can be created or destroyed in nature. The DNA in our blood is not new, it has existed since the beginning of time and was passed down to us. Use bloodstone to tap into this, to connect, to travel through the bloodline into your ancestry as far as you would like to go.

4. Any Quartz with an Upside Down Record Keeper

These little triangles hold information. They hold records of what was and what is. They record the history of earth since the beginning of time. They hold the history of earth creatures, the secrets of our evolution. They are links into the akashic records. Use them to access your heritage, your ancestors and your lost loved ones.

5. Garnet

I chose garnet for a similar reason as I chose the bloodstone. Garnet also has a strong association with blood and it’s also associated with fire and sexuality which gives me strong life vibes. I see using this crystal as a guide to take someone living through their blood into their ancestry.

Bonus

1. Any Stone Shaped into a Skull

Skull shapes are perfect for channeling and connect with ancestors and lost loved one. The shape resembles a human who has gone to the other side. If you have a bloodstone skull, all the better!

2. Anything of Sentimental Value of course!

If you have a necklace or a wallet or something that someone had, it works all the better to connect with that person specifically and to call them to you from the other side.

Another Bonus–Music!

Music is always something that helps me connect. Here are a few songs you can use to help you if you’d like. These are my go to for connecting with ancestors and loved ones. Celtic Music - Walking with the Ancestors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa25ZdYCNLA Calling the Others - Anilah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUNSD063yxw Wardruna - Helvegen (the way to Hel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD65K4VR6Lw Oldest Welsh Lullaby: Dinogad’s Smack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBl7ZFI-QP8 *Because this is so old, dating to the 7th century, it always brings me to a place to think about my ancestors even though my ancestors are not Welsh. Ancestral Shamanic Ambience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CxjC8yj1g

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livredelombre · 4 years

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🔮 13 goals of a witch 🔮

How to cultivate each goal

✨ I. Know yourself: practice mindfulness and meditation, start journaling daily, analyze your dreams, define your core values, take a few minutes every day to pause and observe the world around you, make lists of everything that defines you (your favorite movies, your political beliefs, your favorite books, your best and worst memories, etc).

🕯️ II. Know your craft: understand the different types of witches, and which one you feel closest to, define your position on religion vs. spirituality, learn about witchcraft, wicca and paganism, meet with witches online or in your city, attend workshops and seminars on spirituality, tarot, and herbalism, acquire knowledge in the history of your craft.

📚 III. Learn: never stop learning, read books from different point of view, understand the intersectionality of witches’ experience, learn about witches from other cultures, understand the link between feminism and witchcraft, record everything you are learning in a journal, and learn from different sources (books, podcasts, online forums, social media, articles, academic papers, documentaries etc).

🦉 IV. Apply knowledge with wisdom: use everything you are learning to make informed decisions about your life, find mentors and experienced witches to learn from, wisdom is acquired through experience so practice your craft, and accept that you will make mistakes, write them down in your journal to remember them and learn from them.

⚖️ V. Achieve balance: embrace opposites, take care of yourself and work hard on your dreams, list your priorities for the coming months and focus on them, maintain a schedule and give yourself peaceful moments during the day, have diverse hobbies that fit into your craft (writing, gardening, crafting, cooking, baking, exercising), balance your time surrounded by people and your time spent alone.

💭 VI. Keep your thoughts in good order: journal your daily life, use tarot and divination as tools to understand yourself, practice setting intentions, use mantras as guidance in your meditation, identify your negative thoughts and practice spells and rituals of banishment for this negative energy, learn breathing exercises to keep your mind connected with the body.

💬 VII. Keep your words in good order: take yourself seriously, be mindful about what you say to yourself and to others, understand the power and bond of a promise, use words as verbalization of your intentions, practice honesty and avoid lying, speak out loud when spell casting.

🎉 VIII. Celebrate life: practice gratefulness by writing daily lists of everything you are grateful for in your life, enjoy daily rituals and the magic of everyday life, plan and organise witches’ sabbats with loved ones, or by yourself, celebrate every accomplishment and every victory.

🌙 IX. Attune with the cycles: learn about the seasonal changes and the witches’ sabbats to acquire a stronger connection to the sun and the earth, celebrate pagan festivals and the Wheel of the Year, practice your magic in connection to the lunar cycle, understand the power of each moon phase, and accept that your energy levels are not always the same, which means that you cannot hold the same expectations on yourself all the time.

🥦 X. Breath and eat correctly: learn yoga, meditation and breathing exercises, practice stretching your body and breathing to expand your muscles, do not diet or restrict but learn to eat healthy while indulging on guilty pleasures sometimes, abstain from regular usage of drugs or alcohol, practice healthy habits.

🤸 XI. Exercise the body: learn to love your body no matter what, and practice self-love by moving it in a way that feels right to you, have walks and hikes in nature, build your strength, learn flexibility exercises, practice cardio to breath better, not to lose weight, switch training exercises regularly, and focus on moving your body everyday.

🧘 XII. Meditate: thrive to meditate at least 10 minutes daily, use mantras to set specific intentions or practice breathing techniques, do not hesitate to use YouTube videos or apps to learn it, meditation is a skill just like anything else, practice for 30 minutes or 1 hour straight at least once a month, join meditation classes or zen temples to get help from a community.

🙏 XIII. Honor your deities: educate yourself on deities you’d like to follow, based on symbolism and what they represent, understand their connection to you and practice rituals to honor them, be mindful of what you ask of them, learn to draw a circle to protect yourself from harmful spirits while calling on them, and if you do not feel comfortable with personified Goddesses and Gods, honor nature deities such as the Moon, the Sun, and the Earth.

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Where/how do I begin?

This is the most common question I get on my blog.

“Where do I start? how do I begin? What should I research? What books should I read?”

I get questions like these every day. Beginning witchcraft, whether you are including religion or not, is a huge undertaking that can feel daunting. There are so many different paths, different groups, different practices, and different cultures. There are different pantheons, and hundreds of way to divine. There’s green witchcraft, and hedge witchcraft, and eclectic witches..! It is really exciting (for me, at least) to be part of a practice that is so versatile and diverse. But that can also make beginners, and even practiced witches, to feel directionless. So where do you begin…?

Your natural attractions and inclinations are not a coincidence. That is where and how you start your craft.

If you have always had a connection to astrology, and you love to look at the stars, and study astronomy, and you have an interest space, and so on… start there! Develop your craft around your natural talents and interests, and go from there. You will probably also discover a lot of things you didn’t know you would love, too.

Your craft is supposed to serve you. Use it to deepen your connection with the world, and with yourself. Learn about the things you love and embrace them as a part of your life that has a need to be there.

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Samhain Activities.

1. Leave a plate out for your ancestors to honor them.

2. Bake Samhain soul cakes.

3. Make a nice samhain dinner.

4. Try to communicate with your ancestors using a form of divination or scrying.

5. Release your bad habits you do not want to bring into the new year.

6. Go to a pumpkin patch & paint a pumpkin .

7. Make offering stones & collect a few decorations (see previous post].

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livredelombre · 4 years

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SHADOW WORK SIMPLIFIED

What is shadow work?

If I had to describe shadow work in one word, it would be introspection. Introspection is the examination of your own mental state and is necessary in order to learn more about your fundamental nature. Although it may sound off-putting and even scary at first, shadow work is a necessary component in the process of healing. We all have aspects of ourselves that we’ve rejected and hidden away out of fear. Through shadow work, we’re able to reflect on our thoughts, emotions, and habits so that we can find the root cause of our suffering and heal ourselves. By reincorporating those aspects of ourselves that we’ve denied, we feel more fulfilled and can begin to love ourselves fully.

Where does shadow work come from?

The concept of the shadow self comes from Carl Jung who believed that our shadow self is the subconscious aspect, or “dark side”, of our personality that our conscious ego doesn’t identify with. However, I would like to clarify that “dark” does not imply or equate with bad. That which resides outside of our consciousness can be either good or bad, but aren’t inherently reflective of our value or “goodness” as a person.

Although these repressed aspects of ourselves can manifest negatively, it isn’t because those parts of us are “bad”, but that the process of repression is inherently painful and toxic. This is reflected by Jung when he states, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” He believed that until we’ve merged our conscious and subconscious selves, that our conscious would be “the slave of the autonomous shadow”. This is due to the shadow self overwhelming our conscious selves by falling victim to our own self-imposed traps.

Through assimilating this shadow self, not over-identifying with it, Jung believed we go through the process of enantiodromia, thereby integrating the subconscious by reincorporating our shadow selves into our personality and allowing us to solidify ourselves through wholeness. He best described this by stating “assimilation of the shadow gives a man body, so to speak.” However, don’t fall into the misconception that shadow work is a short-term practice. Shadow work is a continuous practice and integration of the shadow self is a will take place throughout your life.

How do I do shadow work?

In the last question, I identified that practicing self-reflection is a key component of shadow work, but what does that mean? What am I supposed to be reflecting on? Well, the first thing that you should focus on is being present throughout the day. Identify feelings that come up throughout the day and observe them objectively. What situation or interaction triggered these emotions? How did I react to those emotions? Were my emotions controlling me or was I in control of my emotions? Why did this situation or interaction cause me to feel this way? How did I cope with those feelings (self-harming, lashing out at others, communicating my feelings, journalling, etc.)? Did I punish myself for getting upset? If so, why?

There are numerous ways to reflect on your feelings and experiences in order to get a better understanding of yourself. Through evaluating how you react to situations, which situations upset you, and how you managed those feelings, you’re able to build the foundation to understanding your emotions and bridge the gap between your subconscious and conscious mind.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll find that the emotions you feel in the present are reflective of unhealed emotions from your past. Perhaps the reason you feel that you’re unable to set boundaries as an adult is because as a child, your parents never respected your boundaries by going through your phone or diary, yelling at you when you said no to a request, forcing you into situations that made you feel you had no choice.

By identifying the root cause of your emotional pain, you’re able to address it in the present and heal from the trauma. The simplest way that I’ve found to address them is through journalling. You can purchase a physical journal or even use your notes app, either way, you’re writing out your feelings and reflections to gain deeper insight. It’s important to remember that this looks different for anyone and that the best way to approach shadow work is by doing what feels most natural! You can choose to stick to self-reflective journal prompts, vent about whatever is upsetting you, write letters to whoever has hurt you, etc. Ultimately, you can guide yourself based off of what you feel you need and where you are in your journey.

What parts of yourself do you find yourself rejecting the most? Many of us have experienced the pain of rejection in some aspects of our lives and sometimes, it’s incredibly painful and leaves us with long-lasting wounds. We end up going through our lives carrying baggage that we don’t even know we have! Many times, I’ve found myself wondering why I felt so repulsed by aspects of myself and why I felt so strongly that they needed to be locked away forever. I couldn’t allow myself or others to see my truest self, my whole self, out of fear. I was scared of being rejected, shamed, humiliated by the people around me. I was scared of hurting other people by being myself and of being hurt by others. That’s no way to live, is it? When we tell ourselves that aspects of ourselves aren’t good enough, we end up going through life devaluing ourself. We’ve broken our own trust by rejecting ourselves, we’ve told ourselves that we aren’t good enough or worthy of love. In shadow work, you’re called to go inward and unpack everything that we’ve kept hidden for years and sometimes even decades.

Bring the parts of yourself that you’ve repressed to the surface and nourish them with love, allow yourself to see that ALL OF YOU is deserving of love and support. For you, that could mean unlearning your unhealthy beliefs about food or eating, allowing yourself to be emotional around the people you love (despite how much you were told that you were too emotional, a crybaby, too sensitive in the past), allowing yourself to relax without feeling guilty about not being productive because you recognize your needs (even though you feel your sense of worth is tied to being productive at the cost of your own health).

Common misconceptions about shadow work?

Shadow work is evil or bad, the shadow is evil or bad

The purpose of shadow work is healing through working with your subconscious to release repressed aspects of yourself and heal from painful, traumatic experiences. Your shadow side is simply your unconscious and to believe that it’s bad is to believe that you are bad. It’s merely the part of yourself that you aren’t aware of consciously and shouldn’t be feared.

Certain emotions are “bad”

When you let go of the idea that emotions are either good or bad, you’ll allow yourself to just be and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to feel “good” all of the time. Happiness isn’t a constant state of being so stop expecting to be all of the time, we have a range of emotions for a reason so stop being ashamed of them. Your feelings are natural and if you feel like they’re out of control and something to be ashamed of, there is nothing wrong with that! It’s okay to feel like your emotions are controlling you because that isn’t permanent. Your feelings aren’t permanent and are completely manageable with proper guidance! The reason you feel like your emotions are controlling you is because you probably don’t have the knowledge to cope with them in an effective and healthy way. It’s helpful to sit with your emotions alone and look at them objectively without placing any judgement on them, this will help you calm down and assess your feelings. From there, you can identify what you need to relax and recover as well as acknowledge to yourself that your feelings are natural. When you stop categorizing your emotions as bad, they’re no longer shameful to experience and therefore you can see with better clarity how to cope with them and move on.

I’ve already released it so…

Why am I still upset?

Why does it still keep popping up in my head?

Why haven’t I moved on?

Why am I not making progress?

With the rise of self development and spirituality, I find that more and more people are rushing to complete their healing. Healing is a continuous, life-long cycle and not a destination. Putting the pressure on yourself to reach the place of ultimate healing is not only toxic, but it impedes your ability to actually heal anything. Healing is about love, compassion, and patience and it’s not going to happen according to a timeline. Allow yourself the time to experience your emotions, see them objectively, forgive yourself and others and move on without the pressure of expectations.

Another reason that you could be experiencing this is that despite the work you think you’ve done, it hasn’t been sufficient. I’ve found that a lot of journal prompts provided online are surface level at best and can be more pacifying than revealing. If you’re not feeling anything while doing your inner work, you’re not doing it correctly. Ultimately, this is about uncovering what makes us UNCOMFORTABLE and moving through those feelings. When you allow yourself to experience the sadness, hurt, anger, and/or frustration than you’re telling yourself that these feelings are okay and don’t need to be suppressed. The reality is that no matter what you’re feeling, you are allowed to experience those emotions and it’s only human! Unfortunately, many people associate lower vibrational emotions as bad, but this is a huge misconception! Telling yourself that anger, sadness, etc. are “bad” implies that you shouldn’t experience these emotions and that you have to get rid of them which is not only wrong, but unhealthy. There is no right or wrong emotions so don’t buy into the belief that you should feel a certain way, simply allow yourself to be and you’ll find that it’s much easier to navigate your emotions and needs. The only way to make it to the other side is by wading through the water, be patient and know that you’re feeling exactly what you should be. When you stop censoring yourself, you’ll discover a newfound sense of freedom and wholeness.

If you find yourself circling back to certain topics, for example, your ex-boyfriend than perhaps there are triggers in your environment that remind you of the situation, you have more that needs to be addressed that you may not have been ready for or aware of previously (hence why shadow work is a practice that is ongoing), or they’re representative of a deeper issue that you’re repressing. Whatever the cause is, the same methods as earlier will apply and can be discerned through your own intuition.

What are some basic journal prompts that I can do?

What feelings come up when you think of ____?

How did that experience make you feel emotionally? How did it make you feel about yourself? How did it make you feel about the other person or people?

Write a letter to yourself, your inner child, the people who’ve hurt you, and the people you’ve hurt. Express how you feel honestly, without holding back and then forgive yourself and the other person.

If you could say anything to yourself or another person for closure, what would it be?

How have these situations and experiences impacted your mental health? How have they affected your belief system about yourself, other people, and the world?

What about yourself are you ashamed of? What about yourself are you embarrassed of? What about yourself makes you angry? What do you regret? Why do you feel this way about yourself and where do these feelings stem from?

What makes you feel most alone? What makes you feel most loved? How can you incorporate that knowledge into your life to make it better?

What’s the most hurtful thing someone has said or done to you? Why did it hurt you so much? How does it still affect you now? How can you heal from it and allow yourself to move on?

What do you need to forgive yourself for? What do you need to forgive others for?

Where do you feel you lack security in your life? Why? How does this impact your life and your relationships?

This is a list of generic prompts for you to start with, but feel free to message me if you need help with more specific topics or I can make another post altogether for journal prompts.

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Ancient Alphabets. Thedan Script - used extensively by Gardnerian Witches Runic Alphabets - they served for divinatory and ritual purposes, as well as the more practical use; there are three main types of Runes; Germanic, Scandinavian/Norse, and Anglo-Saxon and they each have any number of variations, depending on the region from which they originate Celtic and Pictish - early Celts and their priests, the Druids, had their own form of alphabet known as “Ogam Bethluisnion”, which was an extremely simple alphabet used more for carving into wood and stone, than for general writing, while Pictish artwork was later adopted by the Celts, especially throughout Ireland Ceremonial Magick Alphabets - “Passing the River”, “Malachim” and “Celestial” alphabets were used almost exclusively by ceremonial magicians

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livredelombre · 4 years

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BEST WITCHY BOOKS FOR THE BEGINNER WITCH

Buckland’s Complete Book Of Witchcraft - This book is a most have in every Wiccan’s (If you are) collection because of how informative it is. I highly recommend this book to really every witch who hasn’t read it yet.

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft: Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells - This book is a nice add to a baby witches collection, for how simple of a read it is. Not to mention how aesthetically pleasing it is.

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - This book is also a very nice read, it has a perfect amount of information where you wont get information overload too quickly. Its unbiased and offers a great first start to starting the craft.

Wicca: by Harmony Nice - If you are a complete newbie to Wicca or the craft, then this is the book for you. This book is easy to swallow, and offers easy to understand information for newbies without being too difficult to process.

Of Witchcraft and whimsy - I think this is the book for newbies who want to seek the more modern practices of witchcraft. This is a book that focuses more on the craft than Wicca itself. It is also complete with plenty of unique and fun spells perfect for beginner level.

Pastel Spells - A perfect book for newbies looking to try out spells of all types at a beginner level.

The Green Witch - Perfect for a beginning green witch, this book is complete with all the basics of Green magick complete with the correspondences of herbs and food, recipes, and basic practices and morals of a green witch.

Spellcrafting: Strengthen the Power of Your Craft by Creating and Casting Your Own Unique Spells - Perfect for a new witch looking to formulate their own unique spells.

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide - Perfect for new witches looking to expand their knowledge on herbalism.

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs: Your Complete Guide to the Hidden Powers of Herbs - Beautifully illustrated guide to herbs and their magickal properties.

The Witch’s Herbal Apothecary:Rituals & Recipes for a Year of Earth Magick and Sacred Medicine Making - Perfect for the beginning witch interested in herbalism, ands its all around a pretty little book.

I love you all! My DMs, mail, and comments are always open!

xoxo, Angel

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Sun & Moon Sigils 🌙

You might have already seen the Moon in past sigils but here it is next to the Sun ☀️

Requested by anon

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livredelombre · 4 years

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Secret Witch Masterpost

- My Posts [A Guide To Being A Closeted Witch] [Common Witch Ingredients]

General Guides [Secret Witches Guide To Concealing Your Craft] [Broom Closet Solutions] [Broom Closet Witchery] [If You’re A Secret Witch] [Big Broom Closet Post - Part 1] [Big Broom Closet Post - Part 2] [How To Hide Your Witchy Ways] [Thriving In The Broom Closet] [Little Things For Witches Who Keep Quiet About Their Craft] Specific Stuff [Secret Witch Ideas For Moving] [Warding While Watched - A Secret Witch’s Guide] [Sigil Charging For Secret Witches] Tips [Secret Witch Tip] [Secret Witch Tip] [Secret Witch Tips] [Secret Witch Tips] (Different post) [Subtle Witch Tips] [Tips For Discreet College Witches] [Tips For Life In The Broom Closet] Spells [Low-key Spells] [Enchantments For The Subtle Witch] Sabbats [Subtle Yule Witching - 1] [Subtle Yule Witching - 2] [Subtle Yule Witching - 3] [Subtle Witch Tips - Lammas] [Subtle Witch Tips - Last New Moon Before Samhain] [Subtle Witch Tips - Samhain] Altars [Secret & Covert Altars] [Tip For Closeted Witches Who Can’t Use A Dedication Altar] [Altar Ideas For Secret Witches] [Altars on a budget] Divination [Playing Card Divination] [An Introduction To Divination With Playing Cards] [Playing Card Fortune Telling - Card Meanings] Supplies (Some of these are for witches on a budget, still useful) [Acquiring Discreet Supplies] [Inexpensive items for you craft] [Common spell items] [Witch on a budget] Other [Apps For Witches] [Witchy iOS Apps] [Witchy Uses For Your Phone For The Frugal Or Secret Witch] [Jar Alternatives]

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